Tanuki To Ryuu
Chapter 2: Kenshin hits Town
***
Kenshin woke up late at night covered in a thin film of cold sweat. He
had that dream again, the one where Kaoru died by Enishi's sword, pinned to the
dojo's wall. He wiped his forehead and shivered as he felt how cold the sweat
was. Kenshin suspected that if this nightmare repeated itself for the rest of
the week, he would give himself a cold. He knew sleep for the rest of the
night was impossible, and a lingering question was in the back of his mind. He
had to know if she was alright.
Kenshin carried his sakabato in his left hand as he walked silently
towards Kaoru's room. Outside the door, he stretched his senses inside the
room and felt only Kaoru inside, sleeping. He should have felt relieved, but a
small nagging doubt still bothered him. He slowly slid the door open and saw
Kaoru sleeping, her hair braided as she usually wears it in bed. Kenshin
sighed and sat down near her head, setting the sakabato down next to him, and
looked down at her sleeping face. He smiled slightly and watched her sleep for
a while.
***
Kaoru woke up the next morning and was greeted by seeing Kenshin's
sleeping face hovering over her. Kaoru gasped loudly in surprise. The gasp
woke Kenshin from his slumber immediately. Kenshin noticed he was in an odd
predicament and lacking the reason to explain it said the only thing he could
think of. "Good morning?"
What happened next was easy to expect. Kaoru gave a loud scream as she
threw Kenshin through the wall of her house and into the couryard. Kenshin
landed a good distance away from the house on his head. Kaoru immediately
rushed out of the house from the hole she made with a worried look on her face
as she apologized immediately, "Oh god, Kenshin I'm soo sorry! You scared me
that's all. Are you ok?"
Kenshin, who was sitting upside down on his head outside the house,
quickly got up and brushed the dirt off his sleeping clothes and calmed Kaoru
down. "Its alright, Kaoru. See? I'm fine. I could take some of Sano's
best punches, remember?" He put his hand on Kaoru's shoulder in a reassuring
way and hoped that his words calmed her fears.
"Alright, Kenshin." Kaoru said as they started walking back into the
house. "Its just that I don't want you to be hurt on my account and..."
Kaoru's face changed expression slightly as she realised something "HEY! What
were you doing in my room, WATCHING ME SLEEP?" Kenshin's eyes widened in fear
as he heard Kaoru's tone rise.
"Umm, you see, Kaoru..." Kenshin said with a slight blush on his face, "I
had a nightmare. One about the doll..." Kenshin's face looked more serious as
he was speaking. "I had to make sure you were alive." Kaoru's face paled;
Megumi told her before her departure to Aizu about the corpse doll and how its
image haunted Kenshin.
"Oh, Kenshin..." Kaoru said, worried. "Don't worry. You'll always
protect me, right?" she said smiling, trying to reassure him.
"Right" he said, smiling his usual kind smile with a touch of sadness behind it.
"Always, Kaoru. We better get inside."
***
"Kaoru, when will Yahiko be coming, you think?" Kenshin asked, turning his
head towards Kaoru as he was sitting on the porch.
"I'm not sure. He should be here by now. Of course," Kaoru mused "he
IS living in Sanosuke's row house, so who knows what would delay him." Kaoru
walked out of the main house wearing her kendo clothes and carrying her bokken,
ready for practice as usual. "I'll be in the dojo warming up. If Yahiko
shows up, send him in." she said with a small smile.
"Alright, Kaoru." Kenshin said in a slightly distracted tone as he stood
up, threading the sakabato into his belt and walking towards the other end of
the property. Kaoru noticed the way Kenshin was walking seemed slightly tense,
but shrugged it off as she entered the dojo and prepared for her daily exercise.
Kaoru's focus seemed off, even though she was performing her moves with
the same precision as always. She couldn't get the image of Kenshin walking
away out of her mind. Even if she was doing the movements right, she knew if
her mind was abscent that this exercise had little purpose. She groaned in
annoyance and walked out of the dojo to see what Kenshin would be doing, and
hopefully talk to him some more. What she saw surprised her.
Kenshin was standing, sword unsheathed, eyes and body tense, staring at
several boards of wood that were fixed to stand vertically. Even Kaoru's
relatively untrained ki sensing ability could feel Kenshin's ki was active, not
passive. Kenshin moved swiftly, smashing his sword against the boards,
shattering them on impact. Kaoru watched, spellbound by Kenshin's precise,
swift motions. Kenshin slowed his motions, staring at the final board
standing. Nine arcs of light seemed to emit from his body as he rushed the
board, shattering it into sawdust and smaller wooden fragments. Kenshin's back
seemed to straighten and he turned and saw Kaoru watching him, then he smirked
slightly and disappeared in a blur.
"Feeling distracted, Kaoru?" Kenshin said with a slight tone of humor in
his voice from his new position behind Kaoru. "I'm sorry." Kenshin apologized
as he sheathed his sakabato, " I usually don't beat on boards like this, Kaoru,
but its just that I feel a little tense from last night."
"Last night?" Yahiko said as he entered the area as he saw Kenshin and
Kaoru standing so close together and coming up with his usual conclusions.
"Kenshin, there is just some things you shouldn't say out loud!" he said,
laughing.
Both Kenshin and Kaoru turned and saw Yahiko standing there, dressed for
practice, looking as if he was using all his willpower to keep from laughing out
loud. Kenshin and Kaoru's faces turned a bright shade of red at the youth's
suggestion. "Yahiko!" Kaoru cried in protest, "Its not like that! Go in the
dojo and work on that form I showed you last week, a thousand times! Oh, and I
better not see you doing anymore of those Hitem Misturugi Ryuu imitations
without Kenshin's approval! Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu is your style, not Hitem
Mitsurugi Ryuu, and you should remember that."
Yahiko made a face at his master then headed towards the dojo with a reply
of "Yeah yeah, alright buso."
Kaoru's face turned even more read as she said "That kid will be the end
of me, I know it." Then she realized her immediate proximity with Kenshin, their
faces inches apart. She stepped back hesitantly. "I, uh, better go give
Yahiko his lessons."
Kenshin became slightly embarassed himself and nodded. "Yes, and I
should probably clean up the mess I made" he said as he indicated the destroyed
wooden boards. "Oh, Kaoru, we should probably go shopping this afternoon."
Kenshin shouted to Kaoru's retreating back.
"Ok, Kenshin, we will!" Kaoru replied, turning back with a smile.
***
Kenshin and Kaoru walked down the streets of Tokyo, both dressed as they
usually would when out in public during autumn. Yahiko was out, probably
working at the Akebeko or training on his own. Kaoru was still upset about
Yahiko's rush to learn. He already had the ougi, but lacked several other key
parts of Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu. Even then, he only had another 3-4 years tops
before he was a master himself. Kaoru smiled slightly at that thought; a 14
year old kenjutsu master. Of course, Kaoru still had some final tests to pass
before she would rise above the rank of adjuncent master to master.
Kenshin purchased the groceries the house needed and carried them on his
back like he was an ox and walked with Kaoru down the streets of Tokyo. He was
still smiling as usual, even though the load on his back seemed unnatural
considering his small frame. "Kenshin?" Kaoru said, "are you sure you have to
carry all of that? I could take some of it." She was still worried about
whatever injuries he still might have from his fight with Enishi.
Kenshin turned his head to face Kaoru and smiled and said "No no, its
alright, Kaoru-dono." Kaoru's face turned red with a slightly angry look and
she turned and walked into an ally, motioning for Kenshin to follow her.
Kenshin realized his error; the honorific!
"Kenshin, I thought you understood I want you to just call me Kaoru."
Kaoru said, looking more sad then upset at the moment. "Did you forget
already?" Kenshin was thinking of what to say in response when the perfect
response came to his mind.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Kaoru, its just that I'm used to calling you 'Kaoru-dono'
in public. Plus, it seems more proper to address you as such out in public,
but when we are alone, I'll just call you Kaoru, if that is alright." He said
with a big smile, hoping that his lame reasoning would hold out better than 'I
forgot'. Kaoru seemed to think about it for a moment then nodded.
"Yes, I guess when you put it that way, it seems alright if you call me
'Kaoru-dono' out in public. I mean, some people might get the wrong idea if
you sound too familiar with me" Kaoru said with a slight giggle.
"Well, we better head back home, Kaoru." Kenshin said as he stood flush
against a wall giving Kaoru a passageway out of the alley. Kaoru used the room
Kenshin offered her to manuver back into the main street and Kenshin followed.
"Kaoru-dono, shouldn't you be a master of your style already?" Kaoru turned
her head to face Kenshin, one eyebrow raised.
"What makes you ask?" Kaoru inquired. "But to answer your question, not
yet. I'm almost there, but there are a few more tests for me to pass."
Kaoru's expression seemed to fall slightly when she revealed this. The couple
continued to walk back towards the dojo undisturbed until someone called towards
Kaoru.
"Kaoru, is that you?" said a woman about Kaoru's age dressed in a bright green
kimono with an obi tied in the style of a married woman. "Oh my goodness, it
is you! I haven't seen you in years!" Kaoru turned her head towards the
young woman and smiled.
"Hiriko! How are you? Its good to see you!" Kaoru said
enthusiastically as she gestured for Kenshin to move closer. "Kenshin, this is
an old childhood friend of mine who I haven't seen in years!"
Kenshin bowed slightly, even though he was carrying a large load on his
back. "Good to meet you, Hiriko-dono." Hiriko looked at Kenshin, then Kaoru,
then at Kenshin's sheathed sword.
"You didn't tell me you were married, Kaoru. Boy, the other girls will
just have to eat their words! Remember when we were younger and they said you
would never get a husband? I guess it figures he's a kendoist. Knowing you,
he's probably extremely strong. My husband's just a merchant, and we've been
out of Tokyo for the last year or so. Its funny, first thing I get into town,
I heard from Sakura all these weird rumors of explosions and ninjas at your
dojo. I even heard you died and came back from the grave somehow!"
Kenshin and Kaoru both blushed at Hiriko's suggestion that they were
married. "No no, Hiriko. Kenshin and I aren't married yet!" Kaoru then
blushed almost as red as Kenshin's hair when she realized she said 'yet'. "I
mean..." Hiriko cut Kaoru's protest off with a smile and a wave.
"Ahh, alright. I should have noticed. How long have you two been
engaged? And how come Sakura didn't tell me about this? Only thing she
mentions about your dojo are all those weird rumors like she said," Hiriko
started giggling uncontrollably, "she said that the Hitokiri Battousai was
living in your home!"
Kenshin's face paled slightly as he looked down and Kaoru stammered
slightly, "Umm, well, you see, its kind of complicated" Hiriko looked at both
Kenshin and Kaoru then had a look on her face of slight terror as she looked back
at Kenshin.
"Ohhh, I see! So the other girls don't know you're engaged to the
Hitokiri Battousai yet? I can see why you'd want to keep it a secret. He
does look a bit scrawnier than you'd expect. Makes it hard to believe HE is the
Battousai" Several heads turned towards the trio at the word 'Battousai'
and Kenshin held his head lower hoping to escape attention. On the far end of the
street, a man called for Hiriko to come his way. "Oh, that's my husband. I
guess I have to go. Bye Kaoru!" said Hiriko as she walked down the street
waving back at her childhood friend.
"That girl.... She didn't change a bit!" Kaoru said in an aggrivated tone.
Kenshin and Kaoru resumed walking towards the dojo and Kaoru went on. "She
lived in the neighborhood and I knew her since we were 8. She moved out when
she was 15 and she was married off to someone. She's always talkative."
Kenshin nodded and snickered slightly. "I feel sorry for her husband."
Kaoru looked at Kenshin with a slightly shocked look on her face.
"Kenshin! Don't say things like that! She's my friend you know." The
two of them arrived at the dojo's gate and Kaoru quickly unlocked and opened the
door to let Kenshin in. Kenshin walked through the courtyard and into the
kitchen to put the groceries up. When he was about finished, he heard Kaoru
scream "Kenshin!"
Kenshin ran as quickly as his legs could carry him to the direction of
Kaoru's voice and saw Kaoru standing infront of her dojo, a note pinned to the
dojo door with the words "Girls shouldn't play with swords". Kenshin put his hand on
Kaoru's shoulder to calm her then stepped up to the dojo's door and stretched
out with his senses. After being absolutely sure there was no attacker or trap
awaiting them, he pulled the note off the door and studied it.
He noticed the calligraphy was fine, yet there were obvious signs that the
writer knew kenjutsu due to the harsh movements of the brush. Whoever wrote
this might be a former samurai of some sort, with a grudge against Kaoru and not
him. That made protecting her much harder, but protect her he would, because
Himura Kenshin would not lose her again.
***
Well, that's Chapter 2. What do you think? I know Hiriko is a made up name,
but it sounds about right. I always thought Kaoru would've had a lot of
friends as a child due to her friendly, outgoing nature, even though her hobby
as a kendoist might have alienated her from the other girls.
Of course naturally there should be rumors about Kaoru's dojo! I checked and
nearly every part of the Dojo had to be replaced at some point of the series due
to all the fights that happened in and around it.(the repair bill would rival
even that of the Tendo dojo!).
Stay Tuned for Chapter 3 where the mystery of Kaoru's new enemy unfolds!
Chapter 2: Kenshin hits Town
***
Kenshin woke up late at night covered in a thin film of cold sweat. He
had that dream again, the one where Kaoru died by Enishi's sword, pinned to the
dojo's wall. He wiped his forehead and shivered as he felt how cold the sweat
was. Kenshin suspected that if this nightmare repeated itself for the rest of
the week, he would give himself a cold. He knew sleep for the rest of the
night was impossible, and a lingering question was in the back of his mind. He
had to know if she was alright.
Kenshin carried his sakabato in his left hand as he walked silently
towards Kaoru's room. Outside the door, he stretched his senses inside the
room and felt only Kaoru inside, sleeping. He should have felt relieved, but a
small nagging doubt still bothered him. He slowly slid the door open and saw
Kaoru sleeping, her hair braided as she usually wears it in bed. Kenshin
sighed and sat down near her head, setting the sakabato down next to him, and
looked down at her sleeping face. He smiled slightly and watched her sleep for
a while.
***
Kaoru woke up the next morning and was greeted by seeing Kenshin's
sleeping face hovering over her. Kaoru gasped loudly in surprise. The gasp
woke Kenshin from his slumber immediately. Kenshin noticed he was in an odd
predicament and lacking the reason to explain it said the only thing he could
think of. "Good morning?"
What happened next was easy to expect. Kaoru gave a loud scream as she
threw Kenshin through the wall of her house and into the couryard. Kenshin
landed a good distance away from the house on his head. Kaoru immediately
rushed out of the house from the hole she made with a worried look on her face
as she apologized immediately, "Oh god, Kenshin I'm soo sorry! You scared me
that's all. Are you ok?"
Kenshin, who was sitting upside down on his head outside the house,
quickly got up and brushed the dirt off his sleeping clothes and calmed Kaoru
down. "Its alright, Kaoru. See? I'm fine. I could take some of Sano's
best punches, remember?" He put his hand on Kaoru's shoulder in a reassuring
way and hoped that his words calmed her fears.
"Alright, Kenshin." Kaoru said as they started walking back into the
house. "Its just that I don't want you to be hurt on my account and..."
Kaoru's face changed expression slightly as she realised something "HEY! What
were you doing in my room, WATCHING ME SLEEP?" Kenshin's eyes widened in fear
as he heard Kaoru's tone rise.
"Umm, you see, Kaoru..." Kenshin said with a slight blush on his face, "I
had a nightmare. One about the doll..." Kenshin's face looked more serious as
he was speaking. "I had to make sure you were alive." Kaoru's face paled;
Megumi told her before her departure to Aizu about the corpse doll and how its
image haunted Kenshin.
"Oh, Kenshin..." Kaoru said, worried. "Don't worry. You'll always
protect me, right?" she said smiling, trying to reassure him.
"Right" he said, smiling his usual kind smile with a touch of sadness behind it.
"Always, Kaoru. We better get inside."
***
"Kaoru, when will Yahiko be coming, you think?" Kenshin asked, turning his
head towards Kaoru as he was sitting on the porch.
"I'm not sure. He should be here by now. Of course," Kaoru mused "he
IS living in Sanosuke's row house, so who knows what would delay him." Kaoru
walked out of the main house wearing her kendo clothes and carrying her bokken,
ready for practice as usual. "I'll be in the dojo warming up. If Yahiko
shows up, send him in." she said with a small smile.
"Alright, Kaoru." Kenshin said in a slightly distracted tone as he stood
up, threading the sakabato into his belt and walking towards the other end of
the property. Kaoru noticed the way Kenshin was walking seemed slightly tense,
but shrugged it off as she entered the dojo and prepared for her daily exercise.
Kaoru's focus seemed off, even though she was performing her moves with
the same precision as always. She couldn't get the image of Kenshin walking
away out of her mind. Even if she was doing the movements right, she knew if
her mind was abscent that this exercise had little purpose. She groaned in
annoyance and walked out of the dojo to see what Kenshin would be doing, and
hopefully talk to him some more. What she saw surprised her.
Kenshin was standing, sword unsheathed, eyes and body tense, staring at
several boards of wood that were fixed to stand vertically. Even Kaoru's
relatively untrained ki sensing ability could feel Kenshin's ki was active, not
passive. Kenshin moved swiftly, smashing his sword against the boards,
shattering them on impact. Kaoru watched, spellbound by Kenshin's precise,
swift motions. Kenshin slowed his motions, staring at the final board
standing. Nine arcs of light seemed to emit from his body as he rushed the
board, shattering it into sawdust and smaller wooden fragments. Kenshin's back
seemed to straighten and he turned and saw Kaoru watching him, then he smirked
slightly and disappeared in a blur.
"Feeling distracted, Kaoru?" Kenshin said with a slight tone of humor in
his voice from his new position behind Kaoru. "I'm sorry." Kenshin apologized
as he sheathed his sakabato, " I usually don't beat on boards like this, Kaoru,
but its just that I feel a little tense from last night."
"Last night?" Yahiko said as he entered the area as he saw Kenshin and
Kaoru standing so close together and coming up with his usual conclusions.
"Kenshin, there is just some things you shouldn't say out loud!" he said,
laughing.
Both Kenshin and Kaoru turned and saw Yahiko standing there, dressed for
practice, looking as if he was using all his willpower to keep from laughing out
loud. Kenshin and Kaoru's faces turned a bright shade of red at the youth's
suggestion. "Yahiko!" Kaoru cried in protest, "Its not like that! Go in the
dojo and work on that form I showed you last week, a thousand times! Oh, and I
better not see you doing anymore of those Hitem Misturugi Ryuu imitations
without Kenshin's approval! Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu is your style, not Hitem
Mitsurugi Ryuu, and you should remember that."
Yahiko made a face at his master then headed towards the dojo with a reply
of "Yeah yeah, alright buso."
Kaoru's face turned even more read as she said "That kid will be the end
of me, I know it." Then she realized her immediate proximity with Kenshin, their
faces inches apart. She stepped back hesitantly. "I, uh, better go give
Yahiko his lessons."
Kenshin became slightly embarassed himself and nodded. "Yes, and I
should probably clean up the mess I made" he said as he indicated the destroyed
wooden boards. "Oh, Kaoru, we should probably go shopping this afternoon."
Kenshin shouted to Kaoru's retreating back.
"Ok, Kenshin, we will!" Kaoru replied, turning back with a smile.
***
Kenshin and Kaoru walked down the streets of Tokyo, both dressed as they
usually would when out in public during autumn. Yahiko was out, probably
working at the Akebeko or training on his own. Kaoru was still upset about
Yahiko's rush to learn. He already had the ougi, but lacked several other key
parts of Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu. Even then, he only had another 3-4 years tops
before he was a master himself. Kaoru smiled slightly at that thought; a 14
year old kenjutsu master. Of course, Kaoru still had some final tests to pass
before she would rise above the rank of adjuncent master to master.
Kenshin purchased the groceries the house needed and carried them on his
back like he was an ox and walked with Kaoru down the streets of Tokyo. He was
still smiling as usual, even though the load on his back seemed unnatural
considering his small frame. "Kenshin?" Kaoru said, "are you sure you have to
carry all of that? I could take some of it." She was still worried about
whatever injuries he still might have from his fight with Enishi.
Kenshin turned his head to face Kaoru and smiled and said "No no, its
alright, Kaoru-dono." Kaoru's face turned red with a slightly angry look and
she turned and walked into an ally, motioning for Kenshin to follow her.
Kenshin realized his error; the honorific!
"Kenshin, I thought you understood I want you to just call me Kaoru."
Kaoru said, looking more sad then upset at the moment. "Did you forget
already?" Kenshin was thinking of what to say in response when the perfect
response came to his mind.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Kaoru, its just that I'm used to calling you 'Kaoru-dono'
in public. Plus, it seems more proper to address you as such out in public,
but when we are alone, I'll just call you Kaoru, if that is alright." He said
with a big smile, hoping that his lame reasoning would hold out better than 'I
forgot'. Kaoru seemed to think about it for a moment then nodded.
"Yes, I guess when you put it that way, it seems alright if you call me
'Kaoru-dono' out in public. I mean, some people might get the wrong idea if
you sound too familiar with me" Kaoru said with a slight giggle.
"Well, we better head back home, Kaoru." Kenshin said as he stood flush
against a wall giving Kaoru a passageway out of the alley. Kaoru used the room
Kenshin offered her to manuver back into the main street and Kenshin followed.
"Kaoru-dono, shouldn't you be a master of your style already?" Kaoru turned
her head to face Kenshin, one eyebrow raised.
"What makes you ask?" Kaoru inquired. "But to answer your question, not
yet. I'm almost there, but there are a few more tests for me to pass."
Kaoru's expression seemed to fall slightly when she revealed this. The couple
continued to walk back towards the dojo undisturbed until someone called towards
Kaoru.
"Kaoru, is that you?" said a woman about Kaoru's age dressed in a bright green
kimono with an obi tied in the style of a married woman. "Oh my goodness, it
is you! I haven't seen you in years!" Kaoru turned her head towards the
young woman and smiled.
"Hiriko! How are you? Its good to see you!" Kaoru said
enthusiastically as she gestured for Kenshin to move closer. "Kenshin, this is
an old childhood friend of mine who I haven't seen in years!"
Kenshin bowed slightly, even though he was carrying a large load on his
back. "Good to meet you, Hiriko-dono." Hiriko looked at Kenshin, then Kaoru,
then at Kenshin's sheathed sword.
"You didn't tell me you were married, Kaoru. Boy, the other girls will
just have to eat their words! Remember when we were younger and they said you
would never get a husband? I guess it figures he's a kendoist. Knowing you,
he's probably extremely strong. My husband's just a merchant, and we've been
out of Tokyo for the last year or so. Its funny, first thing I get into town,
I heard from Sakura all these weird rumors of explosions and ninjas at your
dojo. I even heard you died and came back from the grave somehow!"
Kenshin and Kaoru both blushed at Hiriko's suggestion that they were
married. "No no, Hiriko. Kenshin and I aren't married yet!" Kaoru then
blushed almost as red as Kenshin's hair when she realized she said 'yet'. "I
mean..." Hiriko cut Kaoru's protest off with a smile and a wave.
"Ahh, alright. I should have noticed. How long have you two been
engaged? And how come Sakura didn't tell me about this? Only thing she
mentions about your dojo are all those weird rumors like she said," Hiriko
started giggling uncontrollably, "she said that the Hitokiri Battousai was
living in your home!"
Kenshin's face paled slightly as he looked down and Kaoru stammered
slightly, "Umm, well, you see, its kind of complicated" Hiriko looked at both
Kenshin and Kaoru then had a look on her face of slight terror as she looked back
at Kenshin.
"Ohhh, I see! So the other girls don't know you're engaged to the
Hitokiri Battousai yet? I can see why you'd want to keep it a secret. He
does look a bit scrawnier than you'd expect. Makes it hard to believe HE is the
Battousai" Several heads turned towards the trio at the word 'Battousai'
and Kenshin held his head lower hoping to escape attention. On the far end of the
street, a man called for Hiriko to come his way. "Oh, that's my husband. I
guess I have to go. Bye Kaoru!" said Hiriko as she walked down the street
waving back at her childhood friend.
"That girl.... She didn't change a bit!" Kaoru said in an aggrivated tone.
Kenshin and Kaoru resumed walking towards the dojo and Kaoru went on. "She
lived in the neighborhood and I knew her since we were 8. She moved out when
she was 15 and she was married off to someone. She's always talkative."
Kenshin nodded and snickered slightly. "I feel sorry for her husband."
Kaoru looked at Kenshin with a slightly shocked look on her face.
"Kenshin! Don't say things like that! She's my friend you know." The
two of them arrived at the dojo's gate and Kaoru quickly unlocked and opened the
door to let Kenshin in. Kenshin walked through the courtyard and into the
kitchen to put the groceries up. When he was about finished, he heard Kaoru
scream "Kenshin!"
Kenshin ran as quickly as his legs could carry him to the direction of
Kaoru's voice and saw Kaoru standing infront of her dojo, a note pinned to the
dojo door with the words "Girls shouldn't play with swords". Kenshin put his hand on
Kaoru's shoulder to calm her then stepped up to the dojo's door and stretched
out with his senses. After being absolutely sure there was no attacker or trap
awaiting them, he pulled the note off the door and studied it.
He noticed the calligraphy was fine, yet there were obvious signs that the
writer knew kenjutsu due to the harsh movements of the brush. Whoever wrote
this might be a former samurai of some sort, with a grudge against Kaoru and not
him. That made protecting her much harder, but protect her he would, because
Himura Kenshin would not lose her again.
***
Well, that's Chapter 2. What do you think? I know Hiriko is a made up name,
but it sounds about right. I always thought Kaoru would've had a lot of
friends as a child due to her friendly, outgoing nature, even though her hobby
as a kendoist might have alienated her from the other girls.
Of course naturally there should be rumors about Kaoru's dojo! I checked and
nearly every part of the Dojo had to be replaced at some point of the series due
to all the fights that happened in and around it.(the repair bill would rival
even that of the Tendo dojo!).
Stay Tuned for Chapter 3 where the mystery of Kaoru's new enemy unfolds!