Tanuki To Ryuu
Hello Again! This chapter was supposed to be a letter from Sanosuke, but I just couldn't
get it flowing right, so instead, its Yutaro's reappearance!
Chapter 4: The Second Disciple
Tsukayama Yutaro leaned on the guard rail of the boat he was riding on. It was a
difficult set of months, but after the treatments and the expensive doctors, his right arm
had some semblence of normality, although he doubted he would ever get the full
dexterity back. But Yutaro wasn't focusing those long months in Germany on just
treating his right arm. Yutaro trained his left arm to be his primary arm with a high rate
of personal success. He was almost certain he could defeat Yahiko in their promised
duel.
'But', Yutaro thought as he turned around and leaned his back on the rail, 'he
would have gotten better as well. Perhaps I should study under Kamiya-sensei again'
Yutaro felt nervous about his arrival back in Japan. His father stayed in Germany and
sent a percentage of the family fortune with Yutaro to ensure his son would live
comfortably back in Japan.
Yutaro turned around and saw Japan ahead and knew he was home.
***
Kenshin woke up outside of Kaoru's door as usual early in the morning. Late at
night he was able to effectively sneak out of the equipment shed and planned on locking
himself back in and appear as if he never left. Kenshin took only two steps away from
Kaoru's door before it slid open and revealed a slightly annoyed Kaoru dressed in her
kenjutsu uniform.
"Kenshin," Kaoru began in a serious tone, "I can guess why you didn't sleep in
the shed and I have been thinking about it. Its good you're worried and I have decided
not to punish you for caring about me." She then smiled. "Now come with me to the
dojo. There's something I need you to do for me." Kaoru grabbed his hand and
dragged him over to the dojo like an excited child eager to show something to a friend.
Kenshin smiled and laughed at Kaoru's enthusiastic nature. She led him inside
and placed a cushion on the floor for him to sit on. Kenshin was slightly puzzled, but he
sat on it, then watched Kaoru walk in front of him and kneel on the ground. "Kenshin,
please help me pass the final tests of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu," Kenshin started to
laugh slightly and was about to object when Kaoru continued. "Ok, it DOES sound
strange, but let me explain."
***
The day before, Kaoru was looking through her father's journal and text on the
Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu's final tests. Even though she had all the forms down, there were
three tests left before total mastery. The first was learning how to sense ken-ki and the
test was to successfully block a kenjutsu master's strike when blindfolded. The second
was to successfully give off a controlled aura of ken-ki. The third one baffled her the
most. The third test's completion would be marked when she would save an opponent's
life.
***
"So, you see, that's why I asked" Kaoru explained. She bowed her head again
and for some reason felt extremely embarassed. She knew Kenshin was many times
more powerful than she was, but she never asked him to take part in her instruction.
That wasn't the worst part. She KNEW he was smiling at this situation.
"You want me to teach you how to sense ken-ki, right?" Kenshin asked, just to be
sure. Kaoru still had her forehead against the ground and felt the blush on her cheeks
spread.
"Yes," she replied curtly and thought, 'if he says no, I WILL get mad'. There
was a brief pause and Kaoru began to feel her eyes were getting moist. 'Please say yes?'
she thought, 'please?'
"Kaoru," Kenshin began saying with a serious tone of voice, "I never had to teach
before so I'm not sure if I'll do it right." Kaoru felt tears almost ready to fall from her
eyes when Kenshin continued. "But, for you, I'll try to do it right." Kaoru looked up
with an astonished look on her face and the tears still fell, and she tried to smile. "Its
alright Kaoru," Kenshin said as he wiped away the tears. "Did you think I was going to
say no?"
***
Yahiko walked into the gates and heard a yelling contest in progress. He ran
around the side of the dojo and pressed his ear against the wall. "Its like seeing without
seeing, Kaoru. Now close your eyes again." Kenshin's voice explained.
"I still don't get it! OWW! Do you have to throw the pebbles that hard?!" Kaoru
yelled.
"I told you, that's how Hiko trained me! Just picture me. Close your eyes and
try to see me, the position of my arm, how I'm holding the pebble. Reach for me."
Kenshin's voice explained again. "Do you see it?"
"I think so, yeah, I think I see it! Go!" Kaoru's voice shouted. Her voice was
followed by a sharp thwack. "I did it, Kenshin!" Kaoru cried happily.
"Keep the blindfold on!" Kenshin shouted. Yahiko felt something was wrong.
Kenshin NEVER yelled at Kaoru. He ran quickly to the door and slid it open. The sight
before him was something he would have never expected. Kenshin was standing in one
of the corners of the dojo with a hand full of pebbles and Kaoru was standing blindfolded
in the center of the dojo, shinai held at ready stance. Kenshin looked at Yahiko and
smiled. "Kaoru, we have a guest" Kenshin said as he made a gesture for Yahiko to keep
silent. "Its someone you are familiar with. Try to sense who it is."
Kaoru concentrated for a moment and said, "Its someone. young? Yahiko?"
Kenshin smiled. Yahiko wasn't amused.
"Lucky guess, buso," Yahiko muttered as he walked in the dojo, kicking the
pebbles out of his way.
"Kaoru, take off the blindfold. You made a lot of progress today. I'd say within
the end of the week, you can pass the first test." Kenshin said. Kaoru took off her
blindfold and rubbed a few spots on her shoulders and back where a few of Kenshin's
stray pebbles hit her. "I didn't throw them too hard, did I?"
"No, nothing like that. I don't want you to take it easy on me. Yahiko, can you
go get some water?" Kaoru asked her student. Yahiko muttered as he closed the dojo's
door and went to the well. Kaoru rotated her left arm and rubbed her shoulder. "Ahh,
it's a bit sore."
"Kaoru, can I take a look? I do have some basic medical knowledge for combat-
based wounds." Kenshin suggested. Kaoru shrugged and slipped her arms out of the
sleeves of her shirt and laid face down, relying on her bindings to preserve her modesty..
"Alright, but not too long." Kaoru answered. Kenshin looked at Kaoru's back
and rubbed around the slight bruise on her shoulder. As he examined her back, he saw
several slight scars that were obviously made from a sword. Kenshin surmised that there
were probably 8 or 10 scars total, and they all looked like they were made in the same
general timeframe, possibly the same battle. Kaoru felt embarassed. She had no doubt
Kenshin saw the scars on her back, possbily a few she had on her arms as well. They
mostly faded, but were still there.
Kenshin, though, tried to remain tactful, "There. I see no signs of swelling so
I'm guessing the bruise will fade in a day or so," Kaoru sat back up and slipped her shirt
back on.
"Aren't you going to ask?" Kaoru said, to the point. Kenshin tried to have a
blank, clueless look on his face, but all that did was make Kaoru sigh. "Alright, I'll tell
you. It was sometime when I first took over the dojo when my father left. I didn't get
much respect then. A dojo destroyer by the name of Akiro challenged me. He was very
good. He made a show of it, taking small swings and every time he made a slight cut, he
taunted me. He got overconfident and I used that against him. In short, I defeated him
but he left scars on my body"
The room felt colder and Kenshin sat with his head down, his hair hiding his eyes.
"Where is this Akiro now?"
"He ran out of Tokyo with his tail between his legs, ashamed of being defeated by
a 'mere woman'," Kaoru explained. "You going to run all over Japan just to beat him
up?" she joked.
Kenshin lifted his head up and looked straight at Kaoru. "I'll never leave this
place without you," he explained. "Besides, no one will ever attack you from behind
again. You are a lot better than you were, Kaoru,"
***
Yahiko got a bucket filled with water and was about to walk to the dojo with it
when a familiar voice shouted from the gate. "Hello? The gate was open. Kamiya-
Sensei?" Yahiko set the bucket down and ran to the gate. What he saw was a surprise.
Tsukayama Yutaro stood at the gate holding a small bundle slung over his shoulder,
dressed in japanese clothing and holding a cane in his right hand. "YOU!" he shouted as
he set down his bundle and switched his cane into his left hand. Yutaro lept into action
and swung his cane down at Yahiko. Yahiko took his shinai off his back and blocked
the strike.
"Heh, living in Germany has made you soft!" Yahiko taunted as he made a swing
at Yutaro. Yutaro barely blocked the strike and pushed back.
"Shut up! I'm going easy on you, that's all!" Yutaro retorted as he swung back.
"Besides, I'm here to resume my lessons with Kamiya-sensei. Obviously you still got
your lessons while doctors poked and prodded at me!" Yutaro lowered his cane.
"Heh, alright, but after a few weeks of Kaoru training you, we WILL have our
rematch!" Yahiko returned as he lowered his shinai.
The racket the two boys made did not go unnoticed. Kaoru and Kenshin walked
out of the dojo and saw Yahiko with Yutaro. "Yutaro!" Kaoru exclaimed, "You're back
in Japan so soon?"
Yutaro smiled and moved his right arm stiffly. "Yes, Kamiya-sensei! I've come
to resume my lessons. The doctors said my arm is as good as it will ever be, so I might
as well resume my lessons now. Besides," Yutaro said as he looked snidely at Yahiko,
"I only need my left arm to defeat HIM."
"Yutaro-dono, where will you stay?" Kenshin pondered. "Besides, Kaoru would
need some time to come up with modified lesson plans for your unique condition."
Kenshin pointed out. Yutaro shrugged slightly.
"I guess I'll look around. I don't want to impose and I better look for a
permanent place right now," Yutaro answered.
***
After five hours of looking, Yutaro found a small rowhouse in the more seedy
part of Tokyo that was available to him. Yutaro set his pack down and looked at the
samll room. For now, it would be 'home'. Yutaro slid the door open and was greeted
by the surprising image of Yahiko, his rival, as he slid open the door of the rowhouse that
was right next to his. Yahiko turned his head slightly and saw Yutaro standing inside the
rowhouse next to his.
"YOU!" both boys shouted. "Out of all the luck in the world," Yutaro mumbled.
"Why did I have to live next to you?"
"You? What about me?" Yahiko mumbled back. "I just started living on my
own a month ago and YOU become my neighbor!" The two boys spent the rest of their
afternoon tossing insults back and forth.
***
Tae stepped inside the Kamiya Dojo's gates and saw Kenshin standing with
Kaoru ontop of the dojo's roof. Tae snuck closer to the dojo and listened in on their
conversation. "Now I don't want to bruise you anymore for today, so we might as well
get you ready for the second test. You remember when I busted the tiles on the roof,
right?" Tae heard Kenshin instruct.
"Kenshin," Kaoru replied in an uncertain tone, "I can't do THAT! I probably
don't have that much ki inside my body!"
"Its alright, Kaoru, I just brought you up here so you can see the tile. Go ahead,
pick one up. Feel how heavy it is? Remember I busted a bunch of tile when I did that
flare during the dojo attack. You have to remember this. An extreme emotion is usually
related with ken-ki. Your mastery of your sword will control how focused you release it.
If you have any other doubts," Kenshin mused, "remember, you broke Jinei's Shin no
Ippu, so you obviously have stronger ken-ki than him,"
Kaoru didn't respond for a few seconds, so Tae assumed she was thinking about
what Kenshin said. Then Kaoru replied, "But what do you think the test implies?"
Kenshin leapt off the roof and Kaoru followed behind him. "Most likely bursting
a leaf in half. That is the most common sign of controlled ken-ki," Kenshin then turned
around at Tae's direction and smiled. "Hello, Tae-dono!"
Tae stepped back, startled. "Hello Ken-san! Kaoru-chan!" Tae replied. "Ken-
san, would you excuse Kaoru for a second? There's some girl things we have to
discuss," Tae said as she grabbed Kaoru's arm and dragged her inside the dojo and shut
the door behind them.
Kenshin looked at the shut door and said the only thing he could in that situation.
"Oro?"
***
"Tae, what is it?" Kaoru asked, concerned. Tae looked straight at Kaoru with a
serious look on her face.
"Kaoru, Akiro the Destroyer is back in Tokyo,"
"What? Are you sure?"
"I saw him on the outskirts of town when I visited Katsu. I'm certain its him!"
Kaoru looked at Tae with a disbelieving eye.
"Wait a minute," Kaoru said, "You and Katsu?"
Tae blushed at the suggestion, "No, its not what you think. I was asking him to
make some paintings of my family. But seriously, Kaoru, what are you going to do?"
Kaoru looked at the shrine in the dojo. "I'll protect my ryuu and my dojo. If he
wants to come again, then he will come again." Kaoru then turned back towards Tae.
"Don't worry about me, Tae. Besides, I doubt Akiro would get a chance to touch me,
RIGHT KENSHIN?" Kaoru shouted.
A loud "ORO!" was heard from the other side of the door and Kenshin slid it
open and replied "Right you are, Kaoru!"
Tae saw the way Kaoru was looking at Kenshin and excused herself. "Well, I
must be going. Good to see you Kaoru-chan, Ken-san,"
"Kenshin," Tae heard Kaoru say as she was leaving the dojo, "What exactly did
you think when you hear the words 'GIRLTALK'?"
"I'm sorry, Kaoru!" *TWAP* "ORO!"
***
That's Chapter 4! Where will this story go, you all ask? You'll see! Do you think I
rushed Yutaro's reappearance?
Hello Again! This chapter was supposed to be a letter from Sanosuke, but I just couldn't
get it flowing right, so instead, its Yutaro's reappearance!
Chapter 4: The Second Disciple
Tsukayama Yutaro leaned on the guard rail of the boat he was riding on. It was a
difficult set of months, but after the treatments and the expensive doctors, his right arm
had some semblence of normality, although he doubted he would ever get the full
dexterity back. But Yutaro wasn't focusing those long months in Germany on just
treating his right arm. Yutaro trained his left arm to be his primary arm with a high rate
of personal success. He was almost certain he could defeat Yahiko in their promised
duel.
'But', Yutaro thought as he turned around and leaned his back on the rail, 'he
would have gotten better as well. Perhaps I should study under Kamiya-sensei again'
Yutaro felt nervous about his arrival back in Japan. His father stayed in Germany and
sent a percentage of the family fortune with Yutaro to ensure his son would live
comfortably back in Japan.
Yutaro turned around and saw Japan ahead and knew he was home.
***
Kenshin woke up outside of Kaoru's door as usual early in the morning. Late at
night he was able to effectively sneak out of the equipment shed and planned on locking
himself back in and appear as if he never left. Kenshin took only two steps away from
Kaoru's door before it slid open and revealed a slightly annoyed Kaoru dressed in her
kenjutsu uniform.
"Kenshin," Kaoru began in a serious tone, "I can guess why you didn't sleep in
the shed and I have been thinking about it. Its good you're worried and I have decided
not to punish you for caring about me." She then smiled. "Now come with me to the
dojo. There's something I need you to do for me." Kaoru grabbed his hand and
dragged him over to the dojo like an excited child eager to show something to a friend.
Kenshin smiled and laughed at Kaoru's enthusiastic nature. She led him inside
and placed a cushion on the floor for him to sit on. Kenshin was slightly puzzled, but he
sat on it, then watched Kaoru walk in front of him and kneel on the ground. "Kenshin,
please help me pass the final tests of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu," Kenshin started to
laugh slightly and was about to object when Kaoru continued. "Ok, it DOES sound
strange, but let me explain."
***
The day before, Kaoru was looking through her father's journal and text on the
Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu's final tests. Even though she had all the forms down, there were
three tests left before total mastery. The first was learning how to sense ken-ki and the
test was to successfully block a kenjutsu master's strike when blindfolded. The second
was to successfully give off a controlled aura of ken-ki. The third one baffled her the
most. The third test's completion would be marked when she would save an opponent's
life.
***
"So, you see, that's why I asked" Kaoru explained. She bowed her head again
and for some reason felt extremely embarassed. She knew Kenshin was many times
more powerful than she was, but she never asked him to take part in her instruction.
That wasn't the worst part. She KNEW he was smiling at this situation.
"You want me to teach you how to sense ken-ki, right?" Kenshin asked, just to be
sure. Kaoru still had her forehead against the ground and felt the blush on her cheeks
spread.
"Yes," she replied curtly and thought, 'if he says no, I WILL get mad'. There
was a brief pause and Kaoru began to feel her eyes were getting moist. 'Please say yes?'
she thought, 'please?'
"Kaoru," Kenshin began saying with a serious tone of voice, "I never had to teach
before so I'm not sure if I'll do it right." Kaoru felt tears almost ready to fall from her
eyes when Kenshin continued. "But, for you, I'll try to do it right." Kaoru looked up
with an astonished look on her face and the tears still fell, and she tried to smile. "Its
alright Kaoru," Kenshin said as he wiped away the tears. "Did you think I was going to
say no?"
***
Yahiko walked into the gates and heard a yelling contest in progress. He ran
around the side of the dojo and pressed his ear against the wall. "Its like seeing without
seeing, Kaoru. Now close your eyes again." Kenshin's voice explained.
"I still don't get it! OWW! Do you have to throw the pebbles that hard?!" Kaoru
yelled.
"I told you, that's how Hiko trained me! Just picture me. Close your eyes and
try to see me, the position of my arm, how I'm holding the pebble. Reach for me."
Kenshin's voice explained again. "Do you see it?"
"I think so, yeah, I think I see it! Go!" Kaoru's voice shouted. Her voice was
followed by a sharp thwack. "I did it, Kenshin!" Kaoru cried happily.
"Keep the blindfold on!" Kenshin shouted. Yahiko felt something was wrong.
Kenshin NEVER yelled at Kaoru. He ran quickly to the door and slid it open. The sight
before him was something he would have never expected. Kenshin was standing in one
of the corners of the dojo with a hand full of pebbles and Kaoru was standing blindfolded
in the center of the dojo, shinai held at ready stance. Kenshin looked at Yahiko and
smiled. "Kaoru, we have a guest" Kenshin said as he made a gesture for Yahiko to keep
silent. "Its someone you are familiar with. Try to sense who it is."
Kaoru concentrated for a moment and said, "Its someone. young? Yahiko?"
Kenshin smiled. Yahiko wasn't amused.
"Lucky guess, buso," Yahiko muttered as he walked in the dojo, kicking the
pebbles out of his way.
"Kaoru, take off the blindfold. You made a lot of progress today. I'd say within
the end of the week, you can pass the first test." Kenshin said. Kaoru took off her
blindfold and rubbed a few spots on her shoulders and back where a few of Kenshin's
stray pebbles hit her. "I didn't throw them too hard, did I?"
"No, nothing like that. I don't want you to take it easy on me. Yahiko, can you
go get some water?" Kaoru asked her student. Yahiko muttered as he closed the dojo's
door and went to the well. Kaoru rotated her left arm and rubbed her shoulder. "Ahh,
it's a bit sore."
"Kaoru, can I take a look? I do have some basic medical knowledge for combat-
based wounds." Kenshin suggested. Kaoru shrugged and slipped her arms out of the
sleeves of her shirt and laid face down, relying on her bindings to preserve her modesty..
"Alright, but not too long." Kaoru answered. Kenshin looked at Kaoru's back
and rubbed around the slight bruise on her shoulder. As he examined her back, he saw
several slight scars that were obviously made from a sword. Kenshin surmised that there
were probably 8 or 10 scars total, and they all looked like they were made in the same
general timeframe, possibly the same battle. Kaoru felt embarassed. She had no doubt
Kenshin saw the scars on her back, possbily a few she had on her arms as well. They
mostly faded, but were still there.
Kenshin, though, tried to remain tactful, "There. I see no signs of swelling so
I'm guessing the bruise will fade in a day or so," Kaoru sat back up and slipped her shirt
back on.
"Aren't you going to ask?" Kaoru said, to the point. Kenshin tried to have a
blank, clueless look on his face, but all that did was make Kaoru sigh. "Alright, I'll tell
you. It was sometime when I first took over the dojo when my father left. I didn't get
much respect then. A dojo destroyer by the name of Akiro challenged me. He was very
good. He made a show of it, taking small swings and every time he made a slight cut, he
taunted me. He got overconfident and I used that against him. In short, I defeated him
but he left scars on my body"
The room felt colder and Kenshin sat with his head down, his hair hiding his eyes.
"Where is this Akiro now?"
"He ran out of Tokyo with his tail between his legs, ashamed of being defeated by
a 'mere woman'," Kaoru explained. "You going to run all over Japan just to beat him
up?" she joked.
Kenshin lifted his head up and looked straight at Kaoru. "I'll never leave this
place without you," he explained. "Besides, no one will ever attack you from behind
again. You are a lot better than you were, Kaoru,"
***
Yahiko got a bucket filled with water and was about to walk to the dojo with it
when a familiar voice shouted from the gate. "Hello? The gate was open. Kamiya-
Sensei?" Yahiko set the bucket down and ran to the gate. What he saw was a surprise.
Tsukayama Yutaro stood at the gate holding a small bundle slung over his shoulder,
dressed in japanese clothing and holding a cane in his right hand. "YOU!" he shouted as
he set down his bundle and switched his cane into his left hand. Yutaro lept into action
and swung his cane down at Yahiko. Yahiko took his shinai off his back and blocked
the strike.
"Heh, living in Germany has made you soft!" Yahiko taunted as he made a swing
at Yutaro. Yutaro barely blocked the strike and pushed back.
"Shut up! I'm going easy on you, that's all!" Yutaro retorted as he swung back.
"Besides, I'm here to resume my lessons with Kamiya-sensei. Obviously you still got
your lessons while doctors poked and prodded at me!" Yutaro lowered his cane.
"Heh, alright, but after a few weeks of Kaoru training you, we WILL have our
rematch!" Yahiko returned as he lowered his shinai.
The racket the two boys made did not go unnoticed. Kaoru and Kenshin walked
out of the dojo and saw Yahiko with Yutaro. "Yutaro!" Kaoru exclaimed, "You're back
in Japan so soon?"
Yutaro smiled and moved his right arm stiffly. "Yes, Kamiya-sensei! I've come
to resume my lessons. The doctors said my arm is as good as it will ever be, so I might
as well resume my lessons now. Besides," Yutaro said as he looked snidely at Yahiko,
"I only need my left arm to defeat HIM."
"Yutaro-dono, where will you stay?" Kenshin pondered. "Besides, Kaoru would
need some time to come up with modified lesson plans for your unique condition."
Kenshin pointed out. Yutaro shrugged slightly.
"I guess I'll look around. I don't want to impose and I better look for a
permanent place right now," Yutaro answered.
***
After five hours of looking, Yutaro found a small rowhouse in the more seedy
part of Tokyo that was available to him. Yutaro set his pack down and looked at the
samll room. For now, it would be 'home'. Yutaro slid the door open and was greeted
by the surprising image of Yahiko, his rival, as he slid open the door of the rowhouse that
was right next to his. Yahiko turned his head slightly and saw Yutaro standing inside the
rowhouse next to his.
"YOU!" both boys shouted. "Out of all the luck in the world," Yutaro mumbled.
"Why did I have to live next to you?"
"You? What about me?" Yahiko mumbled back. "I just started living on my
own a month ago and YOU become my neighbor!" The two boys spent the rest of their
afternoon tossing insults back and forth.
***
Tae stepped inside the Kamiya Dojo's gates and saw Kenshin standing with
Kaoru ontop of the dojo's roof. Tae snuck closer to the dojo and listened in on their
conversation. "Now I don't want to bruise you anymore for today, so we might as well
get you ready for the second test. You remember when I busted the tiles on the roof,
right?" Tae heard Kenshin instruct.
"Kenshin," Kaoru replied in an uncertain tone, "I can't do THAT! I probably
don't have that much ki inside my body!"
"Its alright, Kaoru, I just brought you up here so you can see the tile. Go ahead,
pick one up. Feel how heavy it is? Remember I busted a bunch of tile when I did that
flare during the dojo attack. You have to remember this. An extreme emotion is usually
related with ken-ki. Your mastery of your sword will control how focused you release it.
If you have any other doubts," Kenshin mused, "remember, you broke Jinei's Shin no
Ippu, so you obviously have stronger ken-ki than him,"
Kaoru didn't respond for a few seconds, so Tae assumed she was thinking about
what Kenshin said. Then Kaoru replied, "But what do you think the test implies?"
Kenshin leapt off the roof and Kaoru followed behind him. "Most likely bursting
a leaf in half. That is the most common sign of controlled ken-ki," Kenshin then turned
around at Tae's direction and smiled. "Hello, Tae-dono!"
Tae stepped back, startled. "Hello Ken-san! Kaoru-chan!" Tae replied. "Ken-
san, would you excuse Kaoru for a second? There's some girl things we have to
discuss," Tae said as she grabbed Kaoru's arm and dragged her inside the dojo and shut
the door behind them.
Kenshin looked at the shut door and said the only thing he could in that situation.
"Oro?"
***
"Tae, what is it?" Kaoru asked, concerned. Tae looked straight at Kaoru with a
serious look on her face.
"Kaoru, Akiro the Destroyer is back in Tokyo,"
"What? Are you sure?"
"I saw him on the outskirts of town when I visited Katsu. I'm certain its him!"
Kaoru looked at Tae with a disbelieving eye.
"Wait a minute," Kaoru said, "You and Katsu?"
Tae blushed at the suggestion, "No, its not what you think. I was asking him to
make some paintings of my family. But seriously, Kaoru, what are you going to do?"
Kaoru looked at the shrine in the dojo. "I'll protect my ryuu and my dojo. If he
wants to come again, then he will come again." Kaoru then turned back towards Tae.
"Don't worry about me, Tae. Besides, I doubt Akiro would get a chance to touch me,
RIGHT KENSHIN?" Kaoru shouted.
A loud "ORO!" was heard from the other side of the door and Kenshin slid it
open and replied "Right you are, Kaoru!"
Tae saw the way Kaoru was looking at Kenshin and excused herself. "Well, I
must be going. Good to see you Kaoru-chan, Ken-san,"
"Kenshin," Tae heard Kaoru say as she was leaving the dojo, "What exactly did
you think when you hear the words 'GIRLTALK'?"
"I'm sorry, Kaoru!" *TWAP* "ORO!"
***
That's Chapter 4! Where will this story go, you all ask? You'll see! Do you think I
rushed Yutaro's reappearance?