Chapter 4
Joanne was unpacking the few things that she had into a corner of the room that Yahiko had shown her to. On the other side of the room, she saw a painting tacked to the wall along with a table with sake on the floor. She stood up on her weary legs that were tired of running, and crossed the room. As she got closer to the painting, she realized that this was the sekihoutai. She didn't know why, but she instinctly fingered her most treasured possession. Her necklace. She was about to take a good look at the picture when she heard a sound outside the doors. She reminded herself to examine it later and went to doors. She cautiously opened them to find herself staring into a pair of flashing violet eyes. She was startled and said "Oh, hello, can I help you with something?"
Kenshin's eyes darted to the sakabatou in the corner next to her bags and then back to her, in a way as if something highly disturbed him about her having a sword. He looked as if he was thinking of asking her something but thought better of it and said "What's your name?"
She smiled and replied "My name is Kim, Joanne Kim. What is yours?"
When she smiled at him, it was as if all his suspicion was replaced with a sense of comfort. Aware that she had asked him a question, he managed to blurt out, "Himura, Kenshin Himura."
"Kenshin?" At the sound of his name, her smile faltered and Kenshin was left with a feeling a dread. But remembering why he came here, he said "We need to talk, that we do."
"Yes, we do… but more than you realize…"Still she tried to smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Kenshin spun on his heels and walked back to his room. Joanne followed him until they were both seated in Kenshin's room.
Joanne was the first to break the silence. "I…You…um…" she hesitated.
Kenshin finally found his voice and said "Your past…it… well…how are you able to conceal your aura?"
She looked surprised "It comes to me naturally now. I concealed it every second since my skill developed. You could sense it? You are more than you show. You are…" She closed her eyes and looked like she was deeply thinking about something. When she opened her eyes again, she said "You are the legendary battousai. You've grown. Last time I saw you, you have no scars. I've been looking for you."
Kenshin was shocked. How could this girl know all of this? Without scars? It wasn't possible that she knew him before he became the battousai. He asked "How?… Why?…"
Joanne merely shrugged and said "How is not important, but why is very important. But first, Himura Battousai, I challenge you to a match…" and what she said next stunned him deeply "…hiten misurugi style."
A million thoughts raced through his brain. This girl looked about Kaoru's age. Hiko was the only one who mastered or even knew how to teach that style. Did Hiko take on another student as soon as he left the mountain? Or was this some sort of imitation style? How could this girl know he was the battousai? Why was she challenging him? I could lose this match. Her aura is hidden very well and to do that requires a great amount of skill. Even he himself cannot do this to her extent.
Joanne studied his face for a moment and said "I know what you are thinking and in time everything will be clear. But right now, we must have a match. Sakabatou against sakabatou in a hiten misurugi battle."
Kenshin thought a bit longer and finally replied "I will battle you on one condition. You will explain to me about everything once it is over."
"Agreed. Tomorrow night. Battousai, I will win."
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Joanne was unpacking the few things that she had into a corner of the room that Yahiko had shown her to. On the other side of the room, she saw a painting tacked to the wall along with a table with sake on the floor. She stood up on her weary legs that were tired of running, and crossed the room. As she got closer to the painting, she realized that this was the sekihoutai. She didn't know why, but she instinctly fingered her most treasured possession. Her necklace. She was about to take a good look at the picture when she heard a sound outside the doors. She reminded herself to examine it later and went to doors. She cautiously opened them to find herself staring into a pair of flashing violet eyes. She was startled and said "Oh, hello, can I help you with something?"
Kenshin's eyes darted to the sakabatou in the corner next to her bags and then back to her, in a way as if something highly disturbed him about her having a sword. He looked as if he was thinking of asking her something but thought better of it and said "What's your name?"
She smiled and replied "My name is Kim, Joanne Kim. What is yours?"
When she smiled at him, it was as if all his suspicion was replaced with a sense of comfort. Aware that she had asked him a question, he managed to blurt out, "Himura, Kenshin Himura."
"Kenshin?" At the sound of his name, her smile faltered and Kenshin was left with a feeling a dread. But remembering why he came here, he said "We need to talk, that we do."
"Yes, we do… but more than you realize…"Still she tried to smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Kenshin spun on his heels and walked back to his room. Joanne followed him until they were both seated in Kenshin's room.
Joanne was the first to break the silence. "I…You…um…" she hesitated.
Kenshin finally found his voice and said "Your past…it… well…how are you able to conceal your aura?"
She looked surprised "It comes to me naturally now. I concealed it every second since my skill developed. You could sense it? You are more than you show. You are…" She closed her eyes and looked like she was deeply thinking about something. When she opened her eyes again, she said "You are the legendary battousai. You've grown. Last time I saw you, you have no scars. I've been looking for you."
Kenshin was shocked. How could this girl know all of this? Without scars? It wasn't possible that she knew him before he became the battousai. He asked "How?… Why?…"
Joanne merely shrugged and said "How is not important, but why is very important. But first, Himura Battousai, I challenge you to a match…" and what she said next stunned him deeply "…hiten misurugi style."
A million thoughts raced through his brain. This girl looked about Kaoru's age. Hiko was the only one who mastered or even knew how to teach that style. Did Hiko take on another student as soon as he left the mountain? Or was this some sort of imitation style? How could this girl know he was the battousai? Why was she challenging him? I could lose this match. Her aura is hidden very well and to do that requires a great amount of skill. Even he himself cannot do this to her extent.
Joanne studied his face for a moment and said "I know what you are thinking and in time everything will be clear. But right now, we must have a match. Sakabatou against sakabatou in a hiten misurugi battle."
Kenshin thought a bit longer and finally replied "I will battle you on one condition. You will explain to me about everything once it is over."
"Agreed. Tomorrow night. Battousai, I will win."
PLEASE REVIEW!!! PLEASE! PUSH THAT BUTTON DOWN THERE! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO... I WANT YOU TO!
