Standard Disclaimers Apply
Author's Notes: School! Why does school days have to come?! Okay, I'm exaggerating, but I still have no mood to study. Apparently, since I'm going to be busy, I'm just going to write longer chaps (yay!) and I'll try to be more gentle with cliffhangers. I think I'm going to set up a schedule. Updates will come on either Saturday or Sunday. ~~; That's why I'm writing chap after chap. I'm the author, and I'm the one getting excited to finish this! ^^
This story will not last long now. It's already more than half of what I have planned. Ending, I think, will come soon. ^o~
===
Onna--Thank you for that little correction. Okay, I don't dub Kenshin as a samurai now. Arigato!
Chibi-angel--Longer chaps this time because school's surely going to keep me busy from now on, so don't expect everyday updates! Kaoru fighting Kenshin? Hmm...I'll give it a thought, though I am planning to. Maybe a short one, since our lovable rurouni doesn't want his Kaoru to get hurt! ^^ You like my story? Really now, I'm flattered. *blush*
Thank you for your reviews! Keep them coming!
===
--====--
Chapter 10: Challenged
--====--
"Now, attack me again!"
Kaoru only narrowed her blue eyes in concentration, before she disappeared from sight. Her trainer blinked twice, his guard down, before he felt something coming fast on his back. He jumped away, avoiding Kaoru's swift kick. Kaoru landed, then run towards him in a speedy pace.
"You're learning very fast, Tsuki-sama." Kaoru's trainer, Seishin, said as he avoided her attacks, but he didn't dodge one incoming punch and it hit him perfectly in the middle of his chest.
"Don't let your guard down, Seishin," Kaoru said, holding her hand out for him to take. "How can I learn fast if you take me as someone soft?"
Seishin chuckled, taking her hand. "Sou yo ne, Tsuki-sama, but then, you ARE a beginner."
Kaoru coolly regarded her trainer, her icy eyes glinting. "True, I am a beginner, but as you said to me, I learn quite fast." She said.
"Ah, you have sharp ears, Tsuki-sama," Seishin commented. "And yes, you are a remarkably fast learner. To tell you the truth, you have almost completed the training of martial arts in just five hours."
Kaoru smiled slightly, the cold glint in her eyes softening. "I take it as a compliment."
"Of course, Tsuki-sama. Shall we move on to another?"
--==--
Dusk was coming in a rapid pace, the sun quickly setting, the sky bathed in hues of red and orange. Kenshin was kneeling on a branch of a high tree, looking overhead the landscape. His amethyst orbs narrowed at the sight of several shadows lurking not too far ahead.
"Was I right, Himura-san?" Rei asked from below.
With a sigh, Kenshin jumped down to the ground, dusting himself. "Yes, you are right. There are several warriors waiting for our arrival." He said, flickering his gaze not far ahead. "There are two waiting for us five trees ahead."
Sano slightly grinned. "Let's go before the sun completely sets. That way, we'll be less vulnerable, since the last rays of the sun is still shinning."
For the first time, Rei agreed to Sano's idea. "Yes, Sagara-san is quite correct. Since there is some sort of light, we still have a chance. When darkness falls upon us, it is the time to start worrying."
"Alright, then. Rei and Yahiko, are you up to it?" Kenshin asked.
Yahiko smiled, holding his shinai up high. "Of course!"
"Hey, wait a minute! What about us?" Sano asked. "Are we not getting any fun at all?"
At this, Kenshin chuckled. "Of course we are, Sano. It's just that our 'fun' will start after their battle. There seems to be another ambush waiting for us a bit farther after the first."
Rei sighed, putting his hands on his face. "Why does Sagara-san always call serious battles as something fun?" He reprimanded. "I do not think of it as anything I'll call as entertainment."
Yahiko laughed, poking Sano's ribs a few times. "Because tori atama loves to fight. He'll only call them a 'battle' if he actually gets hurt!"
"Don't call me 'tori atama', Yahiko-chan!"
"Don't call me '-CHAN'!!!"
"Well, you started it!"
"It's because you don't take ANYTHING seriously, making you a baka!"
"Why, you! I'm no baka, Yahiko-chan!"
"Shut up, baka tori! And don't call me '-CHAN'!!!"
Exasperated, Rei's line of patience snapped into two. "Would both of you PLEASE be QUIET for once?! I've been hearing the same arguement over and over since we left Tokyo!" He yelled, making the two look at him in awe. "If I am not a VERY compassionate vampire, I might say that I'll have to levitate both your bodies to the nearest shark-infested waters!!!"
Sano looked absolutely dumbstruck. Yahiko fumbled with his fingers, actually taking interest in the dirt in his tabi. Meanwhile, Kenshin seemed to be impressed with Rei's scolding. Not violent--unlike Kaoru, still implicably polite, yet it held some unknown firmness that cannot be left unheeded. A small smirk formed on his lips. Rei had controlled Sano and Yahiko's arguements...for now. He was one heck of a guy.
--==--
Hoshi stared at the quickly darkening landscape, her green eyes glinting. It had been a very boring day. She had witnessed the training Kaoru had-- and she admits--Kaoru was a very fast learner. Seishin had reported not long after that Kaoru had mastered the martial arts, and basics of ninja arts. Seishin also told her that Kaoru had read books of potions and their antidotes of their clan, and had memorized every single one of them, from ingredients, down to how to use it.
In truth, Hoshi didn't expect Kaoru to last much long. She thought that she was only weak, but, seeing what she had learned in just a day, Hoshi was mystified as to why she ever looked 'helpless'.
"Hoshi." Hoshi turned, surprised, to see Kaoru standing on the doorway, a smirk on her lips.
"Tsuki, what brings you here?"
"Seishin told me that there are a group of humans trying to go into the clan. Is this true?" Kaoru asked, seating herself.
"Yes, it is true. Rei and his foolish human companions." Hoshi answered.
"What do they want?"
"They wanted to rescue--I mean, they wanted to break in and take something."
Kaoru quirked an eyebrow. "Is that so? Well, I should train much harder then." She said, standing. But before Kaoru walked out from the room, she shot Hoshi another smirk. "By the way, I somehow dislike you, Hoshi."
Hoshi's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you, my dear cousin, I dislike your attitude. That's why, when Seishin commented that I have trained far more better than you ever did makes me proud of myself," Kaoru said. "And that is why, no matter how hard you try, I think that I WILL surpass your skill and knowledge. So, be careful around me, Hoshi. I might take the clan for myself right from under your nose." With that, a soft laugh escaped from Kaoru and closed the door.
Irritated, Hoshi banged her fists on the table, glaring still at the door Kaoru had just closed. "Oh, no, you don't, Tsuki. I'll make sure of that."
But somehow, deep in her mind, there was doubt lingering on her thoughts.
--==--
Sano was a bit bruised, Yahiko escaped with a slight wound on the shoulder, while Rei and Kenshin was just dirtied by dust from the ground. It was completely dark now, and they were very near the place where the vampires stay. They had to be on guard at all times, since vampire warriors were active at night.
"So, when do we go in?" Sano asked, putting medicine on his scratch.
Yahiko rolled his eyes. "You know, Sano, when it comes to times like this, you sure are stupid."
"Hey!"
"Keep quiet, you two," Kenshin said, poking at the wood of the fire with a stick. "Anyway, Sano, we are going in the clan in the morning or afternoon, when most of the warriors are sleeping."
Rei shifted from his place, looking at the fire. His blue-green eyes were even more piercing than before, when the flames were reflected in his eyes. "Himura-san, Sagara-san, Myoujin-san, I suggest that we wake at early morning."
"Why?" Yahiko asked.
"Because that is when the warriors are just starting to sleep, meaning that they are still tired from their night shift. When we go in the afternoon, surely they have some strenght from their sleep, hence the power. So, we must enter the clan at dawn, at least we have a speculate advantage over them." Rei explained.
Sano smiled. "I like your way of thinking, Rei," He mumbled, his eyes drooping. "I'll take a rest for awhile. You and Kenshin take the first shift for the night."
Rei chuckled slightly. "Sagara-san, I can have only three hours of sleep, and still my powers are in excellent condition. You, humans, should rest in an approximate eight hours to have a good night's rest."
Kenshin grinned. "I don't. I only sleep for about four to five hours."
Sano shrugged. "Suit yourselves. Yahiko and I are sleep." He mumbled.
"Aa, both of you need it. You're not accustomed to less than ten hours of sleep," Kenshin answered.
They were answered by the two boys' soft snores.
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: School! Why does school days have to come?! Okay, I'm exaggerating, but I still have no mood to study. Apparently, since I'm going to be busy, I'm just going to write longer chaps (yay!) and I'll try to be more gentle with cliffhangers. I think I'm going to set up a schedule. Updates will come on either Saturday or Sunday. ~~; That's why I'm writing chap after chap. I'm the author, and I'm the one getting excited to finish this! ^^
This story will not last long now. It's already more than half of what I have planned. Ending, I think, will come soon. ^o~
===
Onna--Thank you for that little correction. Okay, I don't dub Kenshin as a samurai now. Arigato!
Chibi-angel--Longer chaps this time because school's surely going to keep me busy from now on, so don't expect everyday updates! Kaoru fighting Kenshin? Hmm...I'll give it a thought, though I am planning to. Maybe a short one, since our lovable rurouni doesn't want his Kaoru to get hurt! ^^ You like my story? Really now, I'm flattered. *blush*
Thank you for your reviews! Keep them coming!
===
--====--
Chapter 10: Challenged
--====--
"Now, attack me again!"
Kaoru only narrowed her blue eyes in concentration, before she disappeared from sight. Her trainer blinked twice, his guard down, before he felt something coming fast on his back. He jumped away, avoiding Kaoru's swift kick. Kaoru landed, then run towards him in a speedy pace.
"You're learning very fast, Tsuki-sama." Kaoru's trainer, Seishin, said as he avoided her attacks, but he didn't dodge one incoming punch and it hit him perfectly in the middle of his chest.
"Don't let your guard down, Seishin," Kaoru said, holding her hand out for him to take. "How can I learn fast if you take me as someone soft?"
Seishin chuckled, taking her hand. "Sou yo ne, Tsuki-sama, but then, you ARE a beginner."
Kaoru coolly regarded her trainer, her icy eyes glinting. "True, I am a beginner, but as you said to me, I learn quite fast." She said.
"Ah, you have sharp ears, Tsuki-sama," Seishin commented. "And yes, you are a remarkably fast learner. To tell you the truth, you have almost completed the training of martial arts in just five hours."
Kaoru smiled slightly, the cold glint in her eyes softening. "I take it as a compliment."
"Of course, Tsuki-sama. Shall we move on to another?"
--==--
Dusk was coming in a rapid pace, the sun quickly setting, the sky bathed in hues of red and orange. Kenshin was kneeling on a branch of a high tree, looking overhead the landscape. His amethyst orbs narrowed at the sight of several shadows lurking not too far ahead.
"Was I right, Himura-san?" Rei asked from below.
With a sigh, Kenshin jumped down to the ground, dusting himself. "Yes, you are right. There are several warriors waiting for our arrival." He said, flickering his gaze not far ahead. "There are two waiting for us five trees ahead."
Sano slightly grinned. "Let's go before the sun completely sets. That way, we'll be less vulnerable, since the last rays of the sun is still shinning."
For the first time, Rei agreed to Sano's idea. "Yes, Sagara-san is quite correct. Since there is some sort of light, we still have a chance. When darkness falls upon us, it is the time to start worrying."
"Alright, then. Rei and Yahiko, are you up to it?" Kenshin asked.
Yahiko smiled, holding his shinai up high. "Of course!"
"Hey, wait a minute! What about us?" Sano asked. "Are we not getting any fun at all?"
At this, Kenshin chuckled. "Of course we are, Sano. It's just that our 'fun' will start after their battle. There seems to be another ambush waiting for us a bit farther after the first."
Rei sighed, putting his hands on his face. "Why does Sagara-san always call serious battles as something fun?" He reprimanded. "I do not think of it as anything I'll call as entertainment."
Yahiko laughed, poking Sano's ribs a few times. "Because tori atama loves to fight. He'll only call them a 'battle' if he actually gets hurt!"
"Don't call me 'tori atama', Yahiko-chan!"
"Don't call me '-CHAN'!!!"
"Well, you started it!"
"It's because you don't take ANYTHING seriously, making you a baka!"
"Why, you! I'm no baka, Yahiko-chan!"
"Shut up, baka tori! And don't call me '-CHAN'!!!"
Exasperated, Rei's line of patience snapped into two. "Would both of you PLEASE be QUIET for once?! I've been hearing the same arguement over and over since we left Tokyo!" He yelled, making the two look at him in awe. "If I am not a VERY compassionate vampire, I might say that I'll have to levitate both your bodies to the nearest shark-infested waters!!!"
Sano looked absolutely dumbstruck. Yahiko fumbled with his fingers, actually taking interest in the dirt in his tabi. Meanwhile, Kenshin seemed to be impressed with Rei's scolding. Not violent--unlike Kaoru, still implicably polite, yet it held some unknown firmness that cannot be left unheeded. A small smirk formed on his lips. Rei had controlled Sano and Yahiko's arguements...for now. He was one heck of a guy.
--==--
Hoshi stared at the quickly darkening landscape, her green eyes glinting. It had been a very boring day. She had witnessed the training Kaoru had-- and she admits--Kaoru was a very fast learner. Seishin had reported not long after that Kaoru had mastered the martial arts, and basics of ninja arts. Seishin also told her that Kaoru had read books of potions and their antidotes of their clan, and had memorized every single one of them, from ingredients, down to how to use it.
In truth, Hoshi didn't expect Kaoru to last much long. She thought that she was only weak, but, seeing what she had learned in just a day, Hoshi was mystified as to why she ever looked 'helpless'.
"Hoshi." Hoshi turned, surprised, to see Kaoru standing on the doorway, a smirk on her lips.
"Tsuki, what brings you here?"
"Seishin told me that there are a group of humans trying to go into the clan. Is this true?" Kaoru asked, seating herself.
"Yes, it is true. Rei and his foolish human companions." Hoshi answered.
"What do they want?"
"They wanted to rescue--I mean, they wanted to break in and take something."
Kaoru quirked an eyebrow. "Is that so? Well, I should train much harder then." She said, standing. But before Kaoru walked out from the room, she shot Hoshi another smirk. "By the way, I somehow dislike you, Hoshi."
Hoshi's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you, my dear cousin, I dislike your attitude. That's why, when Seishin commented that I have trained far more better than you ever did makes me proud of myself," Kaoru said. "And that is why, no matter how hard you try, I think that I WILL surpass your skill and knowledge. So, be careful around me, Hoshi. I might take the clan for myself right from under your nose." With that, a soft laugh escaped from Kaoru and closed the door.
Irritated, Hoshi banged her fists on the table, glaring still at the door Kaoru had just closed. "Oh, no, you don't, Tsuki. I'll make sure of that."
But somehow, deep in her mind, there was doubt lingering on her thoughts.
--==--
Sano was a bit bruised, Yahiko escaped with a slight wound on the shoulder, while Rei and Kenshin was just dirtied by dust from the ground. It was completely dark now, and they were very near the place where the vampires stay. They had to be on guard at all times, since vampire warriors were active at night.
"So, when do we go in?" Sano asked, putting medicine on his scratch.
Yahiko rolled his eyes. "You know, Sano, when it comes to times like this, you sure are stupid."
"Hey!"
"Keep quiet, you two," Kenshin said, poking at the wood of the fire with a stick. "Anyway, Sano, we are going in the clan in the morning or afternoon, when most of the warriors are sleeping."
Rei shifted from his place, looking at the fire. His blue-green eyes were even more piercing than before, when the flames were reflected in his eyes. "Himura-san, Sagara-san, Myoujin-san, I suggest that we wake at early morning."
"Why?" Yahiko asked.
"Because that is when the warriors are just starting to sleep, meaning that they are still tired from their night shift. When we go in the afternoon, surely they have some strenght from their sleep, hence the power. So, we must enter the clan at dawn, at least we have a speculate advantage over them." Rei explained.
Sano smiled. "I like your way of thinking, Rei," He mumbled, his eyes drooping. "I'll take a rest for awhile. You and Kenshin take the first shift for the night."
Rei chuckled slightly. "Sagara-san, I can have only three hours of sleep, and still my powers are in excellent condition. You, humans, should rest in an approximate eight hours to have a good night's rest."
Kenshin grinned. "I don't. I only sleep for about four to five hours."
Sano shrugged. "Suit yourselves. Yahiko and I are sleep." He mumbled.
"Aa, both of you need it. You're not accustomed to less than ten hours of sleep," Kenshin answered.
They were answered by the two boys' soft snores.
To Be Continued...