Penalty prompt: Hunger Games
Fandom: Rurouni Kenshin, (Hunger Games)
Setting: Crossover fusion AU
Characters: Kenshin Himura, Kaoru Kamiya, Megumi Takani, (Yahiko Myojin)
Word count: 997
"For god's sake! Ken-san, you cannot just ignore the girl!" Megumi burst out in a fit of temper.
As always, the widely popular socialite was dressed to kill, and her features were painted in the newest styles. However, even layers and layers of make-up did nothing to hide how angry she really was with him.
Kenshin sighed, and looked to the side – unwilling to acknowledge her tantrum in any way. Part of it was that Miss Megumi Takani, the presenter for the 99th Hunger Games, had no right whatsoever to condemn his actions or the lack of them. After all, she hadn't been forced to watch the youths that were made her responsibility to march into their deaths for 13 years in a row.
Unlike him. Being a survivor was hell - there wasn't a day Kenshin hadn't regretted how Tomoe had jumped in front of his sword to save him.
"Kaoru Kamiya – she reminds you of her, doesn't she?"
"No… not really." Frowning, Kenshin finally turned to look at one of his only friends these days. Megumi's dark eyes held terrible sympathy, and he swallowed – and nodded towards the training area where the tributes were sparring. "Kaoru Kamiya is nothing like Tomoe, that she isn't. She is loud, full of opinions and charisma. If she hadn't stepped out and volunteered to save that little girl… Miss Kaoru truly would have had a bright future ahead of her, that she would."
"So why you aren't helping her? The other districts' tributes have years of training and the very best of teachers pushing them up to par! Even with her kendo… that brave girl is going to die if you don't man up and stop avoiding her!"
"…yes."
"You can't mean that, Ken-san. You can't… or if you do, you aren't the man I thought you were." Megumi demanded, her eyes glistening with frustrated tears. "Do you really think Tomoe would have wanted you to live like this? You have to learn to trust yourself again!"
They say the best strikes are the ones when you don't notice you have been hit until you start bleeding. Kenshin clenched his fist tight, and inhaled sharply. She is right, damn her.
"…I, I – this one is " He stammered, trying to find the right words in his shock.
However, the beautiful presenter wasn't having any of it and interrupted him decisively, "Save your apologies and just go!"
There was nothing he could say to that, so he stood and turned to leave. As he reached the doorway, Megumi hollered after him; "You can thank me by saving my favorite tribute – I've got a lot of money riding on her!"
"Heaven forbid that you couldn't afford a new dress daily, that is." Kenshin quipped, shaking his head – but he did start to walk towards the tribute's training area. The training room reserved for District 11 was at the end of the hallway, and both of the young tributes were inside, sparring.
Stopping to gauge the situation, Kenshin frowned. Miss Kamiya was teaching basic strikes to the male tribute, the ten year old Yahiko Myojin. It seemed that their public profiles were accurate and the boy had little to no fighting skills – or any sort of education for that matter.
"Just show me the next move, Ugly!" Inwardly Kenshin cringed at the coarse language, and the disrespect for his teacher the boy displayed. Master would have had my hide for that…
"Focus, twerp! There is a reason why we take this one step at a time!" The young lady retorted hotly, and went through the basic kata again. Her movements were precise and her technique was perfect – Kenshin raised his brow in surprise. Very impressive, especially considering that she was only 17 - and a woman, no less.
However, that bokken… why hadn't he seen her holding a real blade even once? His heart sinking in his chest, Kenshin swallowed and recalled the ugly rumor the other mentors had been talking about. The gossip in the Capitol was that Miss Kaoru Kamiya's sword style didn't condone killing. Without stopping to think it through, Kenshin drew his sword, and interrupted: "May I step in, Miss?"
"You…" She gasped, her sea blue eyes widening in recognition. Then she bit her lip and nodded once – accepting his implicit challenge. Slowly, she started circling him, focusing on him completely.
Taking in her defensive stance, Kenshin nodded in approval. Let's see, what she can do -
And then in a smooth but painstakingly slow motion he began the age old dance of death, of blood and steel, testing her form, trying out the gaps and her reactions. One strike after another, she dodged his lunges and feints, and parried his blunted reverse blade with her bokken.
Almost in spite of himself, Kenshin smiled and danced faster.
Not giving in even for an inch, she defended against his attacks. Even when the pace became so fast that she couldn't keep up, even when her breath started wheezing, even when the bruises and cuts he dealt kept adding up… those utterly magnificent blue eyes never left him.
She is good… far better than I had even dared to hope for, Kenshin paused to stare at her in awe. But why hasn't she attacked?
With skill like that, she must have seen some gaps in his form – he was well aware that he had gotten complacent and rusty during these last few years. Frowning, Kenshin voiced his thoughts: "Your style is definitely a good one, that is is. However, when you spot an opening, you need to take advantage and go for the kill."
"I don't kill."
Only three words, and somehow they left him utterly speechless. "You do realize what will happen if you continue like this? Those pretty ideals are not worth your life, that they aren't."
"Even so…" She gritted her teeth, and looked at him. Her eyes were blazing with fire: "I will find a way."
AN: Or how win yourself a stalwart protector - AKA "angsty fluffball" Kenshin.