Chapter 19
Cho-chan! I can see a man with the kicking and screaming child slung
over his shoulder. He is accompanied by other men who are poking her as
if she is a juicy piece of meat. How dare they! My eyes dart to Liya.
She's survived these men countless numbers of times. She'll be alright,
yet I don't want to leave her. Saitou won't go and save the little girl
though. He has no reason to. I'll have to do it.
I give Liya one last look before I take off. They won't touch Cho-chan!
I'll make them pay! I leap in front of the sneering men. "Get your
hands off her."
They stop. With frightened eyes, they hover around the man carrying the
girl. "What are you gonna do about it!? Huh?" Are they trying to be
tough? I lock my jaw and remove my sword from its cloth sheath.
"Don't make me say it again."
* * *
This personal battle between Liya, Enishi, and this yakusa is not my
concern. I am here to take down the boss and the weapons. Therefore,
the woman will have to find her own way out of this. Another cannon
shot is fired. I will deal with the boss later. For now, I must take
down the one firing the cannon.
Without looking back, I race toward the sound of the weapon. Enishi is
threatening a group of men who have taken a small child hostage. I can
only guess that this is Cho. The men holding her are already scared of
the 'white tiger'. They will be easily beaten.
I pass them as the cannon is fired once more. A shack near me blasts
apart. I leap out of the way and continue on.
* * *
"You can't do anything to us when we have the kid!" My eyes narrow as
my sister appears above the bastards. She smiles for me. I love seeing
her smile. The corners of my mouth twitch into an evil smirk. I am
suddenly surrounded, as is the man carrying the child. It's almost odd
to see that the same tactic is being used for two totally different
purposes. No matter. They will all die.
I raise my sword until it is level with my eyes. My sneer widens. These
men are scared of me. Good. They better be. I crouch into my familiar
stance while two fingers point to the tip of my blade. Considering this
to be a defensive move, they charge me like the idiots they are. Thus,
they fall directly into my trap. From my position, I thrust myself onto
my left foot and spin. Like a tornado, I devour most of my opponents.
"Watoujutsu Sen Ran Tou Sei…sort of…" My eyebrow quirks as I finish my
thought. That was much too easy. Blood runs over the ground as the men
slowly die. Go to hell…
"Enishi-nii…?" I divert my eyes from the carnage to see the defense
circle still up. However, it has certainly weakened…as well it should.
"Do I have to ask again?" I ask as I adjust my sunglasses. Foolishly,
they hold their worthless swords ready for my attack. "Insects…" My
eyes narrow again as I step toward them.
"S-step any closer and the girl dies!" Cho-chan screams my name as one
of the weapons I produced is brought to her throat.
"You were speaking?" The man stares wide-eyed at the spot I once was
before turning to see me directly behind him. He barely has time to
mutter a gasp before I slice him across his torso using his body to
shield the deed from Cho-chan's watchful eyes. I don't want her to see
me kill, otherwise I would have decapitated him. As he falls to the
ground, I swipe the blood off my sword in an attempt to keep the child
somewhat innocent. "Hand over the girl."
Without thinking of the one over his shoulder, the man instinctively
falls to his knees. Meanwhile, I grab Cho-chan by her kimono ripping
her from the man's grasp. Men lunge at us. "Don't be so eager to die!"
I swipe at them weakly so that they can avoid it. My charge is crying
against my neck. She clings to my shirt as if letting go could end her
life. I would normally be more than happy to kill all of them. They
certainly deserve it. Well, that will come later I suppose.
Turning, I catch a glimpse of Liya. How many men are in this yakusa!?
Several are nearly dragging her out of the village. Suddenly to my
right however, I hear another scream. Tsubame is being taken?! Who do I
go to?! Who do I help!? I take a step toward Liya only to hear the
other girl cry out. Onee-san, What do I do!?
Wait. Liya's movements. They're very mechanical for someone who should
be struggling for her life. The men don't seem to notice however. She
has something up her sleeve. I look back toward where Tsubame is
struggling. My sister smiles. I will go this way.
* * *
I carry the bucket out of Yahiko's recovery room and head toward the
well. My sakabatou and cross scar are in plain sight so that anyone
hoping to attack will become frightened. This once, I will use my
nickname to my advantage. Yes. Battousai is protecting this clinic.
Anyone who chooses to fight will be severely wounded.
"Kenshin…" I dump the stale water beside the well and turn to face my
wife. She is holding Kenji again as he suckles his mother's finger.
"Have you seen anything amiss?" I shake my head.
"No. I don't feel anything either." I finish drawing fresh water and
walk with Kaoru back into the clinic. After dropping the bucket off
with the doctor, we venture into an empty room.
"What did you and Enishi discuss while Liya-san and I were making
dinner today?" I knew she would ask about that. We make ourselves
comfortable, Kaoru with her back against the wall in the corner and I
on the opposite side of the same corner. My lips twist into a gentle
smile. I love watching my wife feed our son. There is nothing more
beautiful and content than a woman giving nourishment to her own child.
She loosens her kimono bringing forth her bosom. As she makes shushing
noises, she coaxes Kenji to feed. Her eyes close half-way when he
begins his meal. I can't help but run my fingers through my son's hair,
which has become as red as my own. When he was born, the locks were as
dark as Kaoru's. It seems like only yesterday that I was holding him in
my arms for the first time.
The little one really scared me back then. His eyes were as golden as
the hitokiri's. I'm glad they have changed to look like his mother's. I
shift my attention to Kaoru. She is watching me. "Are you going to
watch me breast feed? Or are you going to answer my question…?" I smile
and rub her knee causing her to smirk. She is teasing me.
"We didn't say much. I found out that he is planning on marrying
Liya-dono as soon as this is over. He also plans on tolerating me since
the two of you seem to be getting along so well." Kaoru lets out a sigh
of relief. What was she thinking we discussed?
"I'm glad to hear that. He really has changed. Hasn't he?" She gives
Kenji a break from his dinner. I fix a small towel in front of my son's
spit range as she sits him up on her knee. Really, she could do it
herself, but I like being a part of my son's daily routine.
"Aa." I say with an amused grin. She alternates between rubbing and
patting the baby's back until he produces a sound that Sanosuke would
deem healthy and manly. "Have you heard anything from Sanosuke?"
Kaoru gives me an odd look. "No…What brought this question on?"
"Hearing Kenji just now reminded me of our old friend. That's all." I
shrug and smile as I wipe the milk from my son's mouth. She shakes her
head and allows the bundle in her arms to continue his meal.
* * *
"I believe that belongs to me now." The yakusa members surrounding the
giant, yet portable, weapon turn slowly to see my glowering face. They
gasp and freeze like a group of children who have been caught doing
something naughty. Perhaps that isn't so far from the truth. They do
look young, yet no less guilty.
A few of them, in their fear, take up their swords. "How pathetic to
see children so eager to die." To mock them, I light up a cigarette.
Sure enough, they snarl at me as the rest offensively brandish their
weapons. Custom swords…They must have gotten these from Enishi. This
whole battle, if one could call it that, is strangely ironic
considering the fact that the weapons dealer is fighting to defeat his
own weapons.
I take a long drag of my cigarette reveling in the nicotine buzz
running through my veins. My eyes narrow as the 'children' approach me.
Are they trying to be menacing? They're not very good at it. I drop my
half-done cigarette and grind it into the dirt. "You w-won't be talking
like that for long, you bastard!" I roll my eyes. Barely raising my
hand, I knock each one out. It's not worth killing such amateurs.
* * *
"Cho-chan…" I race toward Tsubame as the little girl continues to cry
in the crook of my neck. "Cry as much as you want, but do it from my
back. I still have to fight." She doesn't even acknowledge my words.
"Hold on tight!" She heard that. Her tiny arms clutch to my neck.
"What do you plan to do with the kid attached to you!?" The men holding
Tsubame laugh hysterically. It will be difficult to fight with my
charge clinging to me for dear life, but I have no choice. I'm not
putting her down.
"Keep your eyes closed Cho-chan…" I whisper as I glare at the yakusa
members before me. Don't these morons know anything better to do than
to put a sword to a child's throat? This is getting old. I take a step
forward only to see a trickle of blood stain Tsubame's flesh. My eyes
narrow.
I am once again surrounded, as is the man holding the one I am trying
to save. The move is almost cliché now. Unfortunately, I can't do the
same solution I came up with last time. Cho-chan is traumatized as it
is. I don't want to risk it. What do I do Onee-san? "Take a step and
the girl gets it!"
I raise my eyebrow and adjust my glasses. So, I can't take a step. Is
that it? What about the others? Can they take a step? "All of you are
so pathetic. Taking a girl hostage and using her as a shield. You call
yourselves men?" This is too easy. I've never reduced myself to making
such lowlifes come at me. To make things even more humorous, they're
falling for it. "You rile up too easily. You have such feeble control
over your own temper. You're not even worth my time." They're growls
turn into snarls. Several swords point at me as if I should be feeling
threatened.
"Fools…" In preparation for my attack, I point the tip of my tachi
toward the ground. They charge me. As the first man approaches, I swing
my sword upwards and kick the reverse side of my blade. The sudden
movement causes Cho-chan to scream and wail as the force of my attack
causes every man opposing me to fly backwards. Most of them have died
from the impact. A few have merely been rammed. This includes the one
holding Tsubame, who crashes to the ground as he is hit by one of his
comrades. The girl slams down onto the earth and rolls away from her
captor.
"Watoujutsu Shuugeki Tou Sei…" I hover over the men as I offer my new
charge a hand. "Come." She hesitates. Her eyes dart to the blood
staining the dirt surrounding her. Lips trembling, tears fall down her
cheek. I gesture with my fingers once again in an effort to get her to
move. Liya has been taken…and I'm not taking these two with me when I
go to free her. "I will take you to the clinic where Battousai can
protect you." She nods and struggles to rise. Her body is weak from the
trauma of this situation.
"Kaemon-kun and Ms. Tae are being held in the middle building." I nod.
"They're taking Liya to some abandoned mansion not far from here!"
Speak of the devil…Kaemon guides a bleeding Tae toward us. "We'll take
the children to the clinic. You need to get Liya."
"No. You are in no condition to protect three people. I will take you.
Liya will be able to survive long enough for me to come to her."
* * *
I'm nearly thrown into a small room. My eyes lower to the floor causing
the men to laugh. "Come on guys. The girls should be here soon to primp
her up." All of them exit the thick door, except for one.
"Welcome back Tang Mu." He approaches me to smack me across the face.
My cheek stings from the impact. I can already feel the bruise forming.
"That's for struggling." Crouching beside me, he runs his middle finger
along my jaw line.
"I think I should give you a proper welcome right now. What do ya say?"
He runs his finger across my lips. "Huh?" A tear slides down my cheek.
He smiles and leans closer. "Come on Tang Mu. Show me the old you." My
lip quivers as he non-too-gently takes my hand and places it on his
pants. I close my eyes and force myself to sensuously press the already
growing bulge. With disgust, I smile and allow my other hand to join
the first. It traces the clothed contours of his chest as it travels
upwards. There. The familiar thump of his heart vibrates against my
hand. I almost peacefully close my eyes and breath according to the
rhythm set by his beating heart. Ignoring the moans coming from his
lips, I concentrate on the tempo emanating from his chest. With as much
patience as I can muster, I wait for the perfect time to strike. This
man has tried to take me before. I will show him no mercy. I thrust my
trained index and middle fingers against the soft bone located in the
middle of his upper body. Gasping, his body spasms before going limp.
"Gui Shou Ke Xiong…" I whisper to myself. Dead weight falls upon me,
but I don't mind. The dead can't use me for their sick pleasure. I push
the man off of me and stand. Briefly, my eyes look over the young man.
Seeing the peaceful look on his face, I almost feel sorry for him.
Then, I recall the way he forced me to the ground a year ago. He barely
managed to rip the clothes from my body before I was able to render him
unconscious with my father's teachings. I still have scars on my legs
from where he clawed at my skirt. They still itch as if they are in the
process of healing. Perhaps now they will fully heal.
* * *
Author's Notes:
I told you Liya could fight!!
I used a technique called Dim Mak as the basis of Liya's form of
self-defense. It's a martial art that uses pressure points to render
a victim motionless, unconscious, or no longer of the living. I also
found out what goes into making Dim Mak deadly.
If someone presses a certain part of the body that is connected to a
main artery right at the moment between heart beats, a person's heart
will stop beating.
I used two web sites for this information:
http://martialarts.about.com/library/weekly/aa033102c.htm
http://www.goldlion.com.au/dim_mak/courses/master_class.html
As far as the "move name" goes. I have no idea if that sounds okay.
I know it's sort of a rule that a character has a name for all their
moves, especially in Rurouni Kenshin...so I thought I'd make some up
for Liya. I hope it turned out okay.
The deadly techniques of Dim Mak are often referred to as "Ghost Hands",
so I thought I'd play on that a bit for the name of the 'move'.
First off, let's review the tones:
first tone (1) -- straight tone (like a baby doll saying, "mama.")
second tone (2) -- upward tone (like asking a question)
third tone (3) -- down and up tone (like whining)
fourth tone (4) -- downward tone (forcefull, like you're angry)
fifth tone ( ) -- by not having a specific tone, it has a tone.
gui(3) -- (gway) ghost
shou(3) -- (show) hand
ke(4) -- (kuh) to strike
xiong(1) -- (ssheeong) chest
I know it's stupid, but I couldn't think of anything else. If anyone
has anything cooler (preferably in Chinese), I would be more than
happy to accept it.
Thanks for hanging in there and reading all of my fic!!!
Cho-chan! I can see a man with the kicking and screaming child slung
over his shoulder. He is accompanied by other men who are poking her as
if she is a juicy piece of meat. How dare they! My eyes dart to Liya.
She's survived these men countless numbers of times. She'll be alright,
yet I don't want to leave her. Saitou won't go and save the little girl
though. He has no reason to. I'll have to do it.
I give Liya one last look before I take off. They won't touch Cho-chan!
I'll make them pay! I leap in front of the sneering men. "Get your
hands off her."
They stop. With frightened eyes, they hover around the man carrying the
girl. "What are you gonna do about it!? Huh?" Are they trying to be
tough? I lock my jaw and remove my sword from its cloth sheath.
"Don't make me say it again."
* * *
This personal battle between Liya, Enishi, and this yakusa is not my
concern. I am here to take down the boss and the weapons. Therefore,
the woman will have to find her own way out of this. Another cannon
shot is fired. I will deal with the boss later. For now, I must take
down the one firing the cannon.
Without looking back, I race toward the sound of the weapon. Enishi is
threatening a group of men who have taken a small child hostage. I can
only guess that this is Cho. The men holding her are already scared of
the 'white tiger'. They will be easily beaten.
I pass them as the cannon is fired once more. A shack near me blasts
apart. I leap out of the way and continue on.
* * *
"You can't do anything to us when we have the kid!" My eyes narrow as
my sister appears above the bastards. She smiles for me. I love seeing
her smile. The corners of my mouth twitch into an evil smirk. I am
suddenly surrounded, as is the man carrying the child. It's almost odd
to see that the same tactic is being used for two totally different
purposes. No matter. They will all die.
I raise my sword until it is level with my eyes. My sneer widens. These
men are scared of me. Good. They better be. I crouch into my familiar
stance while two fingers point to the tip of my blade. Considering this
to be a defensive move, they charge me like the idiots they are. Thus,
they fall directly into my trap. From my position, I thrust myself onto
my left foot and spin. Like a tornado, I devour most of my opponents.
"Watoujutsu Sen Ran Tou Sei…sort of…" My eyebrow quirks as I finish my
thought. That was much too easy. Blood runs over the ground as the men
slowly die. Go to hell…
"Enishi-nii…?" I divert my eyes from the carnage to see the defense
circle still up. However, it has certainly weakened…as well it should.
"Do I have to ask again?" I ask as I adjust my sunglasses. Foolishly,
they hold their worthless swords ready for my attack. "Insects…" My
eyes narrow again as I step toward them.
"S-step any closer and the girl dies!" Cho-chan screams my name as one
of the weapons I produced is brought to her throat.
"You were speaking?" The man stares wide-eyed at the spot I once was
before turning to see me directly behind him. He barely has time to
mutter a gasp before I slice him across his torso using his body to
shield the deed from Cho-chan's watchful eyes. I don't want her to see
me kill, otherwise I would have decapitated him. As he falls to the
ground, I swipe the blood off my sword in an attempt to keep the child
somewhat innocent. "Hand over the girl."
Without thinking of the one over his shoulder, the man instinctively
falls to his knees. Meanwhile, I grab Cho-chan by her kimono ripping
her from the man's grasp. Men lunge at us. "Don't be so eager to die!"
I swipe at them weakly so that they can avoid it. My charge is crying
against my neck. She clings to my shirt as if letting go could end her
life. I would normally be more than happy to kill all of them. They
certainly deserve it. Well, that will come later I suppose.
Turning, I catch a glimpse of Liya. How many men are in this yakusa!?
Several are nearly dragging her out of the village. Suddenly to my
right however, I hear another scream. Tsubame is being taken?! Who do I
go to?! Who do I help!? I take a step toward Liya only to hear the
other girl cry out. Onee-san, What do I do!?
Wait. Liya's movements. They're very mechanical for someone who should
be struggling for her life. The men don't seem to notice however. She
has something up her sleeve. I look back toward where Tsubame is
struggling. My sister smiles. I will go this way.
* * *
I carry the bucket out of Yahiko's recovery room and head toward the
well. My sakabatou and cross scar are in plain sight so that anyone
hoping to attack will become frightened. This once, I will use my
nickname to my advantage. Yes. Battousai is protecting this clinic.
Anyone who chooses to fight will be severely wounded.
"Kenshin…" I dump the stale water beside the well and turn to face my
wife. She is holding Kenji again as he suckles his mother's finger.
"Have you seen anything amiss?" I shake my head.
"No. I don't feel anything either." I finish drawing fresh water and
walk with Kaoru back into the clinic. After dropping the bucket off
with the doctor, we venture into an empty room.
"What did you and Enishi discuss while Liya-san and I were making
dinner today?" I knew she would ask about that. We make ourselves
comfortable, Kaoru with her back against the wall in the corner and I
on the opposite side of the same corner. My lips twist into a gentle
smile. I love watching my wife feed our son. There is nothing more
beautiful and content than a woman giving nourishment to her own child.
She loosens her kimono bringing forth her bosom. As she makes shushing
noises, she coaxes Kenji to feed. Her eyes close half-way when he
begins his meal. I can't help but run my fingers through my son's hair,
which has become as red as my own. When he was born, the locks were as
dark as Kaoru's. It seems like only yesterday that I was holding him in
my arms for the first time.
The little one really scared me back then. His eyes were as golden as
the hitokiri's. I'm glad they have changed to look like his mother's. I
shift my attention to Kaoru. She is watching me. "Are you going to
watch me breast feed? Or are you going to answer my question…?" I smile
and rub her knee causing her to smirk. She is teasing me.
"We didn't say much. I found out that he is planning on marrying
Liya-dono as soon as this is over. He also plans on tolerating me since
the two of you seem to be getting along so well." Kaoru lets out a sigh
of relief. What was she thinking we discussed?
"I'm glad to hear that. He really has changed. Hasn't he?" She gives
Kenji a break from his dinner. I fix a small towel in front of my son's
spit range as she sits him up on her knee. Really, she could do it
herself, but I like being a part of my son's daily routine.
"Aa." I say with an amused grin. She alternates between rubbing and
patting the baby's back until he produces a sound that Sanosuke would
deem healthy and manly. "Have you heard anything from Sanosuke?"
Kaoru gives me an odd look. "No…What brought this question on?"
"Hearing Kenji just now reminded me of our old friend. That's all." I
shrug and smile as I wipe the milk from my son's mouth. She shakes her
head and allows the bundle in her arms to continue his meal.
* * *
"I believe that belongs to me now." The yakusa members surrounding the
giant, yet portable, weapon turn slowly to see my glowering face. They
gasp and freeze like a group of children who have been caught doing
something naughty. Perhaps that isn't so far from the truth. They do
look young, yet no less guilty.
A few of them, in their fear, take up their swords. "How pathetic to
see children so eager to die." To mock them, I light up a cigarette.
Sure enough, they snarl at me as the rest offensively brandish their
weapons. Custom swords…They must have gotten these from Enishi. This
whole battle, if one could call it that, is strangely ironic
considering the fact that the weapons dealer is fighting to defeat his
own weapons.
I take a long drag of my cigarette reveling in the nicotine buzz
running through my veins. My eyes narrow as the 'children' approach me.
Are they trying to be menacing? They're not very good at it. I drop my
half-done cigarette and grind it into the dirt. "You w-won't be talking
like that for long, you bastard!" I roll my eyes. Barely raising my
hand, I knock each one out. It's not worth killing such amateurs.
* * *
"Cho-chan…" I race toward Tsubame as the little girl continues to cry
in the crook of my neck. "Cry as much as you want, but do it from my
back. I still have to fight." She doesn't even acknowledge my words.
"Hold on tight!" She heard that. Her tiny arms clutch to my neck.
"What do you plan to do with the kid attached to you!?" The men holding
Tsubame laugh hysterically. It will be difficult to fight with my
charge clinging to me for dear life, but I have no choice. I'm not
putting her down.
"Keep your eyes closed Cho-chan…" I whisper as I glare at the yakusa
members before me. Don't these morons know anything better to do than
to put a sword to a child's throat? This is getting old. I take a step
forward only to see a trickle of blood stain Tsubame's flesh. My eyes
narrow.
I am once again surrounded, as is the man holding the one I am trying
to save. The move is almost cliché now. Unfortunately, I can't do the
same solution I came up with last time. Cho-chan is traumatized as it
is. I don't want to risk it. What do I do Onee-san? "Take a step and
the girl gets it!"
I raise my eyebrow and adjust my glasses. So, I can't take a step. Is
that it? What about the others? Can they take a step? "All of you are
so pathetic. Taking a girl hostage and using her as a shield. You call
yourselves men?" This is too easy. I've never reduced myself to making
such lowlifes come at me. To make things even more humorous, they're
falling for it. "You rile up too easily. You have such feeble control
over your own temper. You're not even worth my time." They're growls
turn into snarls. Several swords point at me as if I should be feeling
threatened.
"Fools…" In preparation for my attack, I point the tip of my tachi
toward the ground. They charge me. As the first man approaches, I swing
my sword upwards and kick the reverse side of my blade. The sudden
movement causes Cho-chan to scream and wail as the force of my attack
causes every man opposing me to fly backwards. Most of them have died
from the impact. A few have merely been rammed. This includes the one
holding Tsubame, who crashes to the ground as he is hit by one of his
comrades. The girl slams down onto the earth and rolls away from her
captor.
"Watoujutsu Shuugeki Tou Sei…" I hover over the men as I offer my new
charge a hand. "Come." She hesitates. Her eyes dart to the blood
staining the dirt surrounding her. Lips trembling, tears fall down her
cheek. I gesture with my fingers once again in an effort to get her to
move. Liya has been taken…and I'm not taking these two with me when I
go to free her. "I will take you to the clinic where Battousai can
protect you." She nods and struggles to rise. Her body is weak from the
trauma of this situation.
"Kaemon-kun and Ms. Tae are being held in the middle building." I nod.
"They're taking Liya to some abandoned mansion not far from here!"
Speak of the devil…Kaemon guides a bleeding Tae toward us. "We'll take
the children to the clinic. You need to get Liya."
"No. You are in no condition to protect three people. I will take you.
Liya will be able to survive long enough for me to come to her."
* * *
I'm nearly thrown into a small room. My eyes lower to the floor causing
the men to laugh. "Come on guys. The girls should be here soon to primp
her up." All of them exit the thick door, except for one.
"Welcome back Tang Mu." He approaches me to smack me across the face.
My cheek stings from the impact. I can already feel the bruise forming.
"That's for struggling." Crouching beside me, he runs his middle finger
along my jaw line.
"I think I should give you a proper welcome right now. What do ya say?"
He runs his finger across my lips. "Huh?" A tear slides down my cheek.
He smiles and leans closer. "Come on Tang Mu. Show me the old you." My
lip quivers as he non-too-gently takes my hand and places it on his
pants. I close my eyes and force myself to sensuously press the already
growing bulge. With disgust, I smile and allow my other hand to join
the first. It traces the clothed contours of his chest as it travels
upwards. There. The familiar thump of his heart vibrates against my
hand. I almost peacefully close my eyes and breath according to the
rhythm set by his beating heart. Ignoring the moans coming from his
lips, I concentrate on the tempo emanating from his chest. With as much
patience as I can muster, I wait for the perfect time to strike. This
man has tried to take me before. I will show him no mercy. I thrust my
trained index and middle fingers against the soft bone located in the
middle of his upper body. Gasping, his body spasms before going limp.
"Gui Shou Ke Xiong…" I whisper to myself. Dead weight falls upon me,
but I don't mind. The dead can't use me for their sick pleasure. I push
the man off of me and stand. Briefly, my eyes look over the young man.
Seeing the peaceful look on his face, I almost feel sorry for him.
Then, I recall the way he forced me to the ground a year ago. He barely
managed to rip the clothes from my body before I was able to render him
unconscious with my father's teachings. I still have scars on my legs
from where he clawed at my skirt. They still itch as if they are in the
process of healing. Perhaps now they will fully heal.
* * *
Author's Notes:
I told you Liya could fight!!
I used a technique called Dim Mak as the basis of Liya's form of
self-defense. It's a martial art that uses pressure points to render
a victim motionless, unconscious, or no longer of the living. I also
found out what goes into making Dim Mak deadly.
If someone presses a certain part of the body that is connected to a
main artery right at the moment between heart beats, a person's heart
will stop beating.
I used two web sites for this information:
http://martialarts.about.com/library/weekly/aa033102c.htm
http://www.goldlion.com.au/dim_mak/courses/master_class.html
As far as the "move name" goes. I have no idea if that sounds okay.
I know it's sort of a rule that a character has a name for all their
moves, especially in Rurouni Kenshin...so I thought I'd make some up
for Liya. I hope it turned out okay.
The deadly techniques of Dim Mak are often referred to as "Ghost Hands",
so I thought I'd play on that a bit for the name of the 'move'.
First off, let's review the tones:
first tone (1) -- straight tone (like a baby doll saying, "mama.")
second tone (2) -- upward tone (like asking a question)
third tone (3) -- down and up tone (like whining)
fourth tone (4) -- downward tone (forcefull, like you're angry)
fifth tone ( ) -- by not having a specific tone, it has a tone.
gui(3) -- (gway) ghost
shou(3) -- (show) hand
ke(4) -- (kuh) to strike
xiong(1) -- (ssheeong) chest
I know it's stupid, but I couldn't think of anything else. If anyone
has anything cooler (preferably in Chinese), I would be more than
happy to accept it.
Thanks for hanging in there and reading all of my fic!!!
