Tanuki To Ryuu
Its me, your friendly author! Been working hard on my rants on my
website! My CACC rant especially! Every RK fanfic author should give
the CACC rant a hard look, same with the HtH rant(all can be found on my
webpage http://tanukitoryuu.anifics.com/). It took me a while to
decide which direction to take Chapter 7 in, but I'm happy with it.
Please excuse these notes, its just that I'm getting dellusions of
greatness.
Chapter 7: As Leaves Fall...
***
With Kaoru's permission, Kenshin started to sleep outside of her
room daily. It was a welcome change for Kenshin, who liked the
oppritunity to protect Kaoru without the need for her to feel insulted.
He woke up early like any other morning and started to chop firewood.
A few minutes passed as Kenshin sliced the wood into managable pieces
with the sharp edge of his sakabato until Kaoru opened her bedroom door,
dressed in a kimono. She yawned and wiped her eyes, then turned to
Kenshin.
"Good morning, Kenshin!" Kaoru said as she walked over to where
Kenshin was chopping the wood. "I've been thinking," Kaoru was saying
as she bent down to look at Kenshin's face, "its going to get colder so
it won't be really healthy for you to sleep outside like that,"
Kenshin chuckled slightly then tossed a piece of wood up into the air.
"Kaoru, when I lived with my Master, he made me sleep in the
snow. A Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu master has full control over his body,"
Kenshin answered with a smile as he made an upward slice with his
sakabato and split the wood he tossed earlier into two even pieces.
"But, Hiten Misturugi Ryuu will become inaffective, remember?"
Kaoru pointed out.
"The physical part, perhaps, but the mental conditioning will
always remain," Kenshin answered. "Even then, I won't be an invalid.
In fact, I think that if I avoid using the ougi, Hiten Misturugi Ryuu
might prove effective for quite some time," Even after he said this,
Kenshin still considered alternatives to Hiten Misturugi Ryuu.
"How long until we get a response from Aoshi and Misao, you
think?" Kaoru asked.
"Probably a few days, although I doubt Aoshi and Misao will be
able to give us any assistance," Kenshin answered as he bundled the wood
he cut and carried it into the kitchen. "Yahiko and Yutaro are coming
this afternoon for their lessons, right?"
"Yeah, in a bit. Yahiko said he had some work to do at the
Akabeko and I'm betting Yutaro went there to tease him,"
***
"Hey, waiter! More rice!" Yutaro ordered with glee from his
booth at the Akabeko.
"Is this enough?" Yahiko said as he scooped a large amount of
rice and plopped it into Yutaro's bowl with excessive force. Yutaro
looked at his bowl and then back to Yahiko.
"I have speak with the management about the poor service here,"
Yutaro commented with a sour voice.
"Look you!" Yahiko began, "You don't have to support yourself
thanks to that small fortune your father gave you!" Yahiko turned away
and started to carry the bucket of rice. "You're still a spoiled
brat,"
"That's not fair!" Yutaro shouted at Yahiko's back. Yutaro
sighed in aggrivation and sat his chin on his left hand. "But," he
pondered to himself, "perhaps he's right. A person doesn't get strong
by being smothered, maybe I need a job. Excuse me," Yutaro said as he
held his hand out to a passing waitress, "Do you know of any jobs I can
get in the local area?"
Tsubame turned to face Yutaro. "Well, the Akabeko isn't in
need of any help at the moment," Tsubame replied, "But I'm sure some of
the local merchants might need help," Yutaro gave Tsubame a
scrutinizing look then smiled in a devilish manner.
"Wow, didn't know this place has such cute waitresses! What's
your name?" Yutaro asked in a coy fashion. Tsubame blushed at the
question and stammered slightly.
"M..my name is Tsubame. We met before, remember?" Tsubame
pointed out in a nervous voice. Yutaro's eyebrow lifted and he
realized this girl must be Yahiko's girlfriend.
"So, when do you get off work?" Yutaro asked as he turned his
charm up a few notches. Yutaro's attention to Tsubame blinded him of
to both Yahiko's return, and his fist. As the later connected, he moved
in between Yutaro and Tsubame.
"What Tsubame does off work her own business!" Yahiko shouted.
"You're not only a brat, but a womanizer! Get out!" Yahiko grabbed
Yutaro by the collar and hauled him out of the Akabeko. "Tae doesn't
appreciate BRATS hitting on her help, so I doubt you'll be welcome again
anytime soon," Yahiko said callously as he dumped Yutaro out of the
front door.
Yutaro sat on the ground outside of the Akabeko for a minute or
so, taking his time to wipe the small trickle of blood from his lip.
"It seems I've struck a nerve," Yutaro mumbled to himself.
***
Yahiko and Yutaro both walked into the dojo for their lessons
and ignored eachother for the most part, except for a random insult
every other step. Kaoru frowned at her two students' display of open
hostility.
"Alright you two," Kaoru said in her most strict voice, "you are
BOTH my students and I do NOT want you two fighting over stupid little
things! Now I want you two to learn how to get along," The two boys
remained silent. "Fine. I guessed it would come to this. You two
have to get along eventually, and I'll see to it that it'll be sooner
than later, so we will settle this now. Yahiko, what happened today?"
Kaoru asked as she turned her fierce glare at her first disciple.
"That spoiled playboy flirted with Tsubame so I decked him!"
Yahiko complained, then gave his fellow student a glare.
"Hey, she didn't say she was seeing you!" Yutaro replied
bitterly. Kaoru sighed in frustration.
"Oh great, its about a girl," Kaoru muttered to herself.
"Sorry, Yutaro, but I think Tsubame's spoken for at the moment.
Yahiko, you shouldn't hit people just because they give Tsubame a second
glance. So I want you two to apologize. The both of you have to
learn how to work together,"
"Fine," Yutaro said as he bowed to Yahiko, "I'm sorry I talked
to your girlfriend,"
"And I'm sorry I beat you up," Yahiko answered with his own bow.
Kaoru's left eyebrow twitched at their insincere apologies.
"I better not see the two of you fighting again outside of a
match in this dojo, or else I WILL show you why I am your master," Kaoru
stated in a cold voice. "Now I want you two to move SLOWLY through the
basic head strike, 100 times, in synchronization with each other,"
***
Kaoru walked out of the dojo a few minutes after Yutaro and
Yahiko left for the day. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and
felt the autumn breeze sweep across her. Kaoru looked up at the sky
and saw it was a clear night with all the stars out. It was nights
like these that she usually found Kenshin on the roof.
Kaoru lept to the roof and scanned its surface and saw a large
bulky figure on the far side of the roof. She quickly scanned the
person's aura and realized it wasn't Kenshin. The person in question,
though, was far stronger than she was, and she knew it. "KENSHIN!"
Kaoru shouted, in hope to attract her usual protector. The bulky
shadow heard the shout as well and stood up.
"I knew I sensed kenjutsu skill in you when you came to my hut,
woman, and I saw you in a hakama at that Aoiya" the gruff voice of the
large shadow, and from those shadows Hiko Sejiro the thirteenth emerged.
"So this your dojo? Where's my stupid apprentance?"
"Behind you, master," Kenshin answered from behind Hiko. "Your
age must be catching up to you, master. You would have never allowed
me to get behind you eighteen years ago. Why are you here?" Hiko
turned his head and let his cape flutter in the cool breeze and smiled
at his former student.
"I can't drop in and see my stupid apprentice's home or his
fiancee?" Hiko answered in a snide matter. Hiko then turned his
attention back towards Kaoru, "So, woman, what's your school's goal?"
"My name is Kamiya Kaoru, Hiko-san. Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu's goal
is to control one's opponent totally, and to bring out one's inner
potential by the sword and to protect life above all," answered Kaoru
with a slight touch of annoyance. Hiko grinned at Kaoru's answer, but
with a grin that was not at all kind.
"The Sword is meant to kill," Hiko replied in a serious voice,
"Kenjutsu is learning how to commit murder," and Hiko took another step
towards Kaoru, "Whatever words you use, you cannot change that truth.
Kamiya-san, do you honestly believe your truth can be the world's?"
"I seem to recall you showing Fuji mercy," Kaoru pointed out.
"You can save some with words instead of swords, Kamiya-san, but
not all. Never everyone. The whole world cannot be saved by one
sword or one philosophy. To try and force one's point, be it a sword
or a belief, you destroy more than you save, isn't that right, Kenshin?"
"Kaoru isn't trying to change Japan or the world, Master,"
Kenshin answered as he walked past his former master and stood next to
Kaoru. "In a way, her philosophy is much like yours. She is trying
to ease the pain of those around her," Kenshin's eyes narrowed, "Does
your visit have a purpose besides annoying Kaoru? We could go for a
rematch you know,"
"Fine fine, can't get into a philosophical debate, eh?" Hiko
said. "I was passing through town and decided I could stay here for a
few days. That IS ok with you lovebirds, right?"
"Hiko-san, while we do appreciate you visiting, I don't think,"
Kaoru was cutoff when Kenshin tugged at her sleeve.
"Master, I think you can stay for a few days," Kenshin answered.
Kaoru gave Kenshin a glare and he knew he had to explain his reasoning
to her later.
"Good... can I talk to my former student, alone?" Hiko asked.
Kaoru mumbled several unpleasant things as she left the roof. "You
always liked spirited ones, eh Kenshin? Although she's a bit of an
otemba, but to each their own,"
"What do you want, Master?" Kenshin asked, straight to the
point. "We don't have that much sake and I don't believe Kaoru thinks
much of you after you pulled that stunt,"
"You notice something feeling 'off' lately with your body?" Hiko
asked. "After performing the ougi repeatedly? I have an
explaination,"
"How did you know?" Kenshin was sure there was no way Hiko would
know what Megumi told him.
"Its because you refused this," Hiko stated as he gestured to
his cape. "Its over 80 pounds of counterweights, remember? Do you
think all Misturugi masters started with such a dashing frame as mine?
Quite a few started as scrawny as you. After inheriting the ougi, they
usually wear the cape and after a few months, their frames become
stronger against the stress of godspeed,"
"Master, I still won't wear the cape," Kenshin stated. "The
thing's bigger than me,"
"I thought you would object, so I got you something else," Hiko
responded. He reached in the back of his cape and pulled out several
shirts of the same style Kenshin wore. "These shirts are all weighted
much like my cape. I suggest you keep this a secret, even from your
fiancee,"
"She's not my fiancee, Master, at least not yet," Hiko laughed
with a booming voice at Kenshin's sad tone of voice.
"You're kidding! Your ki and hers are linked like newlyweds!
If not married, I would have thought at least engaged!" Hiko's
laughter stopped after a few minutes. "My stupid apprentice can't tell
when a woman's attraction is mutal?"
"Its not that! I know she loves me and I love her. Its just
that there's never a right time! There's always some madman or attack
or something really... odd!" Kenshin shouted.
"Well, she looked pretty upset so you should talk to her... I'll
go find myself a room to stay in, and possibly some sake," Hiko said as
he walked off the roof.
***
Kenshin knocked on Kaoru's bedroom door and hoped she was in a
better mood. "Kaoru? Can we talk?"
Kaoru slid the door open and looked right at Kenshin. She was
dressed for bed and her hair was halfway braided. "Talk then. Why
should he stay?"
"Thirty Men," Kenshin answered. "That's how many were at that
abandoned courtyard. Right now the more strength we have, the better
off we will be," Kenshin walked into Kaoru's room and placed his hand
on her shoulders. "I know he's an arrogant, self-centered, sake-
drinking swine, but he always raised me. I didn't turn out bad, now
did I?"
"Well, I guess you're right," Kaoru responded as her features
softened, "Although you are still a little rough around the edges
yourself," Kaoru said with a smile. "Now it'll be a little chilly at
night, so I insist you sleep inside,"
"Now wait a minute, Kaoru!" Kenshin stammered, "I don't think
we're ready for that yet,"
"Kenshin, you pervert," Kaoru muttered, "NOT THAT! Just in my
room, not in my BED!" Kenshin sighed in relief and disappointment.
"Ah, sorry, Kaoru," Kenshin said as he took the sakabato out of
his belt and propped himself against a wall in his usual sleeping
position. Kaoru settled into her bed and pulled the covers over her.
She saw Kenshin propped against the wall, and just couldn't settle into
sleep.
"Dammit Kenshin," Kaoru cursed, "I can't sleep seeing you in
that position. It looks so uncomfortable! I have an extra futon,"
"Oh, I don't want to impose, Kaoru," Kenshin answered.
"I INSIST," Kaoru stated in a voice which made it clear that it
was more of an order than a suggestion. Kenshin took the extra futon
and rolled it out on the other side of Kaoru's room, then laid on it.
"Kaoru?"
"Yes Kenshin?"
"I can't sleep on my back,"
"TRY!"
***
Well, that's chapter 7! First off, I based Yutaro's actions from the
short manga "Yahiko's Sakabato" where the 15 year old Tsubame stated
Yutaro visited her at the Akabeko every day when Yahiko was away
teaching at another dojo. The weighted cape... Yes, this was in the
manga. The thought that the cape would keep HMR effective was a theory
that popped into my mind about the weight training.
Its me, your friendly author! Been working hard on my rants on my
website! My CACC rant especially! Every RK fanfic author should give
the CACC rant a hard look, same with the HtH rant(all can be found on my
webpage http://tanukitoryuu.anifics.com/). It took me a while to
decide which direction to take Chapter 7 in, but I'm happy with it.
Please excuse these notes, its just that I'm getting dellusions of
greatness.
Chapter 7: As Leaves Fall...
***
With Kaoru's permission, Kenshin started to sleep outside of her
room daily. It was a welcome change for Kenshin, who liked the
oppritunity to protect Kaoru without the need for her to feel insulted.
He woke up early like any other morning and started to chop firewood.
A few minutes passed as Kenshin sliced the wood into managable pieces
with the sharp edge of his sakabato until Kaoru opened her bedroom door,
dressed in a kimono. She yawned and wiped her eyes, then turned to
Kenshin.
"Good morning, Kenshin!" Kaoru said as she walked over to where
Kenshin was chopping the wood. "I've been thinking," Kaoru was saying
as she bent down to look at Kenshin's face, "its going to get colder so
it won't be really healthy for you to sleep outside like that,"
Kenshin chuckled slightly then tossed a piece of wood up into the air.
"Kaoru, when I lived with my Master, he made me sleep in the
snow. A Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu master has full control over his body,"
Kenshin answered with a smile as he made an upward slice with his
sakabato and split the wood he tossed earlier into two even pieces.
"But, Hiten Misturugi Ryuu will become inaffective, remember?"
Kaoru pointed out.
"The physical part, perhaps, but the mental conditioning will
always remain," Kenshin answered. "Even then, I won't be an invalid.
In fact, I think that if I avoid using the ougi, Hiten Misturugi Ryuu
might prove effective for quite some time," Even after he said this,
Kenshin still considered alternatives to Hiten Misturugi Ryuu.
"How long until we get a response from Aoshi and Misao, you
think?" Kaoru asked.
"Probably a few days, although I doubt Aoshi and Misao will be
able to give us any assistance," Kenshin answered as he bundled the wood
he cut and carried it into the kitchen. "Yahiko and Yutaro are coming
this afternoon for their lessons, right?"
"Yeah, in a bit. Yahiko said he had some work to do at the
Akabeko and I'm betting Yutaro went there to tease him,"
***
"Hey, waiter! More rice!" Yutaro ordered with glee from his
booth at the Akabeko.
"Is this enough?" Yahiko said as he scooped a large amount of
rice and plopped it into Yutaro's bowl with excessive force. Yutaro
looked at his bowl and then back to Yahiko.
"I have speak with the management about the poor service here,"
Yutaro commented with a sour voice.
"Look you!" Yahiko began, "You don't have to support yourself
thanks to that small fortune your father gave you!" Yahiko turned away
and started to carry the bucket of rice. "You're still a spoiled
brat,"
"That's not fair!" Yutaro shouted at Yahiko's back. Yutaro
sighed in aggrivation and sat his chin on his left hand. "But," he
pondered to himself, "perhaps he's right. A person doesn't get strong
by being smothered, maybe I need a job. Excuse me," Yutaro said as he
held his hand out to a passing waitress, "Do you know of any jobs I can
get in the local area?"
Tsubame turned to face Yutaro. "Well, the Akabeko isn't in
need of any help at the moment," Tsubame replied, "But I'm sure some of
the local merchants might need help," Yutaro gave Tsubame a
scrutinizing look then smiled in a devilish manner.
"Wow, didn't know this place has such cute waitresses! What's
your name?" Yutaro asked in a coy fashion. Tsubame blushed at the
question and stammered slightly.
"M..my name is Tsubame. We met before, remember?" Tsubame
pointed out in a nervous voice. Yutaro's eyebrow lifted and he
realized this girl must be Yahiko's girlfriend.
"So, when do you get off work?" Yutaro asked as he turned his
charm up a few notches. Yutaro's attention to Tsubame blinded him of
to both Yahiko's return, and his fist. As the later connected, he moved
in between Yutaro and Tsubame.
"What Tsubame does off work her own business!" Yahiko shouted.
"You're not only a brat, but a womanizer! Get out!" Yahiko grabbed
Yutaro by the collar and hauled him out of the Akabeko. "Tae doesn't
appreciate BRATS hitting on her help, so I doubt you'll be welcome again
anytime soon," Yahiko said callously as he dumped Yutaro out of the
front door.
Yutaro sat on the ground outside of the Akabeko for a minute or
so, taking his time to wipe the small trickle of blood from his lip.
"It seems I've struck a nerve," Yutaro mumbled to himself.
***
Yahiko and Yutaro both walked into the dojo for their lessons
and ignored eachother for the most part, except for a random insult
every other step. Kaoru frowned at her two students' display of open
hostility.
"Alright you two," Kaoru said in her most strict voice, "you are
BOTH my students and I do NOT want you two fighting over stupid little
things! Now I want you two to learn how to get along," The two boys
remained silent. "Fine. I guessed it would come to this. You two
have to get along eventually, and I'll see to it that it'll be sooner
than later, so we will settle this now. Yahiko, what happened today?"
Kaoru asked as she turned her fierce glare at her first disciple.
"That spoiled playboy flirted with Tsubame so I decked him!"
Yahiko complained, then gave his fellow student a glare.
"Hey, she didn't say she was seeing you!" Yutaro replied
bitterly. Kaoru sighed in frustration.
"Oh great, its about a girl," Kaoru muttered to herself.
"Sorry, Yutaro, but I think Tsubame's spoken for at the moment.
Yahiko, you shouldn't hit people just because they give Tsubame a second
glance. So I want you two to apologize. The both of you have to
learn how to work together,"
"Fine," Yutaro said as he bowed to Yahiko, "I'm sorry I talked
to your girlfriend,"
"And I'm sorry I beat you up," Yahiko answered with his own bow.
Kaoru's left eyebrow twitched at their insincere apologies.
"I better not see the two of you fighting again outside of a
match in this dojo, or else I WILL show you why I am your master," Kaoru
stated in a cold voice. "Now I want you two to move SLOWLY through the
basic head strike, 100 times, in synchronization with each other,"
***
Kaoru walked out of the dojo a few minutes after Yutaro and
Yahiko left for the day. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and
felt the autumn breeze sweep across her. Kaoru looked up at the sky
and saw it was a clear night with all the stars out. It was nights
like these that she usually found Kenshin on the roof.
Kaoru lept to the roof and scanned its surface and saw a large
bulky figure on the far side of the roof. She quickly scanned the
person's aura and realized it wasn't Kenshin. The person in question,
though, was far stronger than she was, and she knew it. "KENSHIN!"
Kaoru shouted, in hope to attract her usual protector. The bulky
shadow heard the shout as well and stood up.
"I knew I sensed kenjutsu skill in you when you came to my hut,
woman, and I saw you in a hakama at that Aoiya" the gruff voice of the
large shadow, and from those shadows Hiko Sejiro the thirteenth emerged.
"So this your dojo? Where's my stupid apprentance?"
"Behind you, master," Kenshin answered from behind Hiko. "Your
age must be catching up to you, master. You would have never allowed
me to get behind you eighteen years ago. Why are you here?" Hiko
turned his head and let his cape flutter in the cool breeze and smiled
at his former student.
"I can't drop in and see my stupid apprentice's home or his
fiancee?" Hiko answered in a snide matter. Hiko then turned his
attention back towards Kaoru, "So, woman, what's your school's goal?"
"My name is Kamiya Kaoru, Hiko-san. Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu's goal
is to control one's opponent totally, and to bring out one's inner
potential by the sword and to protect life above all," answered Kaoru
with a slight touch of annoyance. Hiko grinned at Kaoru's answer, but
with a grin that was not at all kind.
"The Sword is meant to kill," Hiko replied in a serious voice,
"Kenjutsu is learning how to commit murder," and Hiko took another step
towards Kaoru, "Whatever words you use, you cannot change that truth.
Kamiya-san, do you honestly believe your truth can be the world's?"
"I seem to recall you showing Fuji mercy," Kaoru pointed out.
"You can save some with words instead of swords, Kamiya-san, but
not all. Never everyone. The whole world cannot be saved by one
sword or one philosophy. To try and force one's point, be it a sword
or a belief, you destroy more than you save, isn't that right, Kenshin?"
"Kaoru isn't trying to change Japan or the world, Master,"
Kenshin answered as he walked past his former master and stood next to
Kaoru. "In a way, her philosophy is much like yours. She is trying
to ease the pain of those around her," Kenshin's eyes narrowed, "Does
your visit have a purpose besides annoying Kaoru? We could go for a
rematch you know,"
"Fine fine, can't get into a philosophical debate, eh?" Hiko
said. "I was passing through town and decided I could stay here for a
few days. That IS ok with you lovebirds, right?"
"Hiko-san, while we do appreciate you visiting, I don't think,"
Kaoru was cutoff when Kenshin tugged at her sleeve.
"Master, I think you can stay for a few days," Kenshin answered.
Kaoru gave Kenshin a glare and he knew he had to explain his reasoning
to her later.
"Good... can I talk to my former student, alone?" Hiko asked.
Kaoru mumbled several unpleasant things as she left the roof. "You
always liked spirited ones, eh Kenshin? Although she's a bit of an
otemba, but to each their own,"
"What do you want, Master?" Kenshin asked, straight to the
point. "We don't have that much sake and I don't believe Kaoru thinks
much of you after you pulled that stunt,"
"You notice something feeling 'off' lately with your body?" Hiko
asked. "After performing the ougi repeatedly? I have an
explaination,"
"How did you know?" Kenshin was sure there was no way Hiko would
know what Megumi told him.
"Its because you refused this," Hiko stated as he gestured to
his cape. "Its over 80 pounds of counterweights, remember? Do you
think all Misturugi masters started with such a dashing frame as mine?
Quite a few started as scrawny as you. After inheriting the ougi, they
usually wear the cape and after a few months, their frames become
stronger against the stress of godspeed,"
"Master, I still won't wear the cape," Kenshin stated. "The
thing's bigger than me,"
"I thought you would object, so I got you something else," Hiko
responded. He reached in the back of his cape and pulled out several
shirts of the same style Kenshin wore. "These shirts are all weighted
much like my cape. I suggest you keep this a secret, even from your
fiancee,"
"She's not my fiancee, Master, at least not yet," Hiko laughed
with a booming voice at Kenshin's sad tone of voice.
"You're kidding! Your ki and hers are linked like newlyweds!
If not married, I would have thought at least engaged!" Hiko's
laughter stopped after a few minutes. "My stupid apprentice can't tell
when a woman's attraction is mutal?"
"Its not that! I know she loves me and I love her. Its just
that there's never a right time! There's always some madman or attack
or something really... odd!" Kenshin shouted.
"Well, she looked pretty upset so you should talk to her... I'll
go find myself a room to stay in, and possibly some sake," Hiko said as
he walked off the roof.
***
Kenshin knocked on Kaoru's bedroom door and hoped she was in a
better mood. "Kaoru? Can we talk?"
Kaoru slid the door open and looked right at Kenshin. She was
dressed for bed and her hair was halfway braided. "Talk then. Why
should he stay?"
"Thirty Men," Kenshin answered. "That's how many were at that
abandoned courtyard. Right now the more strength we have, the better
off we will be," Kenshin walked into Kaoru's room and placed his hand
on her shoulders. "I know he's an arrogant, self-centered, sake-
drinking swine, but he always raised me. I didn't turn out bad, now
did I?"
"Well, I guess you're right," Kaoru responded as her features
softened, "Although you are still a little rough around the edges
yourself," Kaoru said with a smile. "Now it'll be a little chilly at
night, so I insist you sleep inside,"
"Now wait a minute, Kaoru!" Kenshin stammered, "I don't think
we're ready for that yet,"
"Kenshin, you pervert," Kaoru muttered, "NOT THAT! Just in my
room, not in my BED!" Kenshin sighed in relief and disappointment.
"Ah, sorry, Kaoru," Kenshin said as he took the sakabato out of
his belt and propped himself against a wall in his usual sleeping
position. Kaoru settled into her bed and pulled the covers over her.
She saw Kenshin propped against the wall, and just couldn't settle into
sleep.
"Dammit Kenshin," Kaoru cursed, "I can't sleep seeing you in
that position. It looks so uncomfortable! I have an extra futon,"
"Oh, I don't want to impose, Kaoru," Kenshin answered.
"I INSIST," Kaoru stated in a voice which made it clear that it
was more of an order than a suggestion. Kenshin took the extra futon
and rolled it out on the other side of Kaoru's room, then laid on it.
"Kaoru?"
"Yes Kenshin?"
"I can't sleep on my back,"
"TRY!"
***
Well, that's chapter 7! First off, I based Yutaro's actions from the
short manga "Yahiko's Sakabato" where the 15 year old Tsubame stated
Yutaro visited her at the Akabeko every day when Yahiko was away
teaching at another dojo. The weighted cape... Yes, this was in the
manga. The thought that the cape would keep HMR effective was a theory
that popped into my mind about the weight training.