Rurouni Kenshin: The Phoenix Saga
Episode 7 – Reluctant Parting: A Sad Battle That Should Not Be.
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Enrique drew his sword smoothly from its sheathe, for the time being holding the latter rather than discarding it or having it attached to his belt. Both Frenchmen extended the saber blades toward each other. It was easy for both Kenshin and Sanosuke to see that this battle would be very different from Japanese swordplay, both in style and in the weapons themselves. The sabers were much like those the police carried with them, with curved blades and hand-guards.
"Aren't those handle things gonna choke their sword motions?" Sanosuke asked Kenshin quietly.
"In our perception of Nihontou (Japanese sword) use, yes," Kenshin answered, "However, because they are both using the same type of weapon and specialize in its use, they shall use those sabers to their fullest potential, that they shall."
The thought of witnessing a battle with seemingly restraining weapons irritated Sanosuke a bit more than he felt was logical. He felt compelled to give Enrique a katana or the Sakabatou or something so he would have a more complete range.
However, when the two opponents leaped toward each other lightly and began a blazing exchange of flashing blades, Sanosuke realized how light and swift the sabers were, and how the limited amounts and angles of motion caused the strokes to be faster than the loose, open swings of free-handled swords. This drew upon the fighters' respective speeds and reflexes, making the battle both aggressive and controlled. Sanosuke's eyes and jaw were open wide as he did his best to keep track of the battle. They were both so fast, so potentially lethal. They both danced lightly to and fro, in circles, in lines, in diagonals, like butterflies fluttering delicately from flower to flower. Their bodies swayed in graceful dodges. Their sabers painted crescents of light in the air around them.
It was dangerously beautiful. Mesmerizing and savage, like a swaying cobra. Neither Sanosuke nor Kenshin dared take their eyes from the fight. Even the rurouni could not keep his face from betraying his astonishment. At first, he had expected to mentally tag any openings he saw that would be accessible with a Nihontou, but thus far he could see none. These men were both so incredibly skilled that he hoped never to have to fight them.
After several minutes, both witnesses finally adjusted to the new speed of the battle and could identify the moves better. The two guards not only watched each other's joints, feet, and swords, but also spent much time maintaining eye contact. Aleron was still wearing a cruel smirk, eyes like green bowls with satisfaction being poured into and filling them as time went on, and already filled to the brim with aggravating pride.
Enrique's eyes, meanwhile, were piercing and intense in their concentration, yet he was somehow maintaining this light, airy composure. His motions were almost gravity-defying, as if his feet only chose to touch the ground because they liked it in small doses. Nothing seemed to inhibit the half-Spaniard as he ducked, swayed, whirled, and leaped with confidence that his eyes seemed to lack. It soon became apparent that the younger man was fighting defensively while darting and dodging, sliding in attacks with greater speed and precision. The older one was on the offensive, his power and firm movements making him a very daunting opponent. The advantages and disadvantages of each fighter seemed to cancel each other out as blade clashed with blade or met with air. Over and over, the exchanges went on, with no new blood being shed.
Finally, Sanosuke whispered in awe, "How can 'Rique keep goin' with him, step for step? … How can they go that fast?"
Kenshin shook his head slightly a few times, eyes remaining locked on the combatants. Then, sounding a bit detached, he quietly said, " There is something sad here… Something we cannot see."
Sanosuke wasn't sure if he felt that or not, but he did know that the tables could turn at any moment against Enrique, as stressed as he was. Surely, he would easily be superior in this match had he been in peak condition. Whoever this Aleron guy was, he was most likely fighting with the intention of beating the younger guard, not caring how he met that goal.
He shook his head in negative feeling, eyes narrowing as he said, "Kenshin, I don't like this. This ain't fair enough to be a duel."
"No worries," Enrique airily replied, surprising his audience, "I know what I'm doing."
The motions of both fighters were a bit slower now, as normal decrease of energy and increase of care occurred. Enrique, lithe and swift as a cat, began to sway and glide backwards as Aleron, solid and powerful as a bear, advanced with intimidating force.
The Spaniard parried and guarded for several strokes, dodged a stab with silken grace, then suddenly went in low with a stab of his own, having twisted his wrist and elbow so that the sharp side was up. It looked awkward, but was still cause enough for Aleron to sidestep. However, the stab became a diagonal-upward slash, following its target and successfully leaving a substantial trail through his shirt. However, at the same time the move left Enrique's right side and part of his back open, thus now bleeding from the Captain's retaliation.
Both of them cried out and stepped back, narrowed eyes still connected as they assessed the exchange, calculating damage and recovery time, breaths heavy. Kenshin and Sanosuke watched, still tense, as the blood spread over what skin was visible, waiting to see if one of them was wounded badly enough to collapse. Sanosuke's fists were drawn tight, his anger and tension impossible for Kenshin not to sense. Kenshin remained in place though, convinced somehow that interrupting the battle would do no good.
Finally, Enrique smiled slightly once again, his confident air making a tentative return through the pain. "Was it good enough?" he asked.
"…No," Aleron growled, "Hurt you een return I deed."
"A mere scratch," Enrique said with a small laugh, dashing at the Frenchman once more as if he were perfectly fine, his half-open shirt hanging back with the wind.
"Nani?!" Sanosuke hissed in surprise. It had to have been far worse than that.
Despite the speed of the younger man's attack, Aleron managed to block the now aggressive onslaught. Both men were now equally forceful in their attacks. Aleron still tauntingly domineering, Enrique still confident and enthusiastic despite the odds against him.
And through it all, Sanosuke could now feel the sadness in the air.
"I'm gonna go to work now," Yahiko announced, putting on a thick jacket and his shoes at the doorway. He knew the Akabeko would be nice and warm, and it was pleasant working there. Not to mention Tsubame would also be working there… A small smile formed on the boy's lips. Sure, she was often too shy and soft, but he often found that kinda of cute. Besides, she was growing stronger as time went on. Not bad for a girl.
"Are there any openings?" Kaoru asked from beside him, freaking him out as he snapped out of his thoughts. She, too, was donning extra clothing and her shoes.
"Wh-what's it matter?" Yahiko asked in return, "You've got the dojo an' stuff."
"An empty dojo hardly counts as income," Kaoru said with a sigh, "And although we have only our mouths to feed, we really need to get some kind of savings stored up. Besides, I can't just sit around or train while a little boy – no offense – works all the time."
"Well what if someone comes lookin' for you, wanting to be a student after all?" Yahiko wondered.
"I guess I can leave some ink and a board out so they can write down their name under a message I'll leave."
Yahiko sighed with mild frustration. "Not everyone can read an' write, ya know."
"Oh… whoops," Kaoru realized, "I guess I kind of forget since I can and all." ^_^()
"Ego girl," Yahiko muttered.
Kaoru's fist landed hard on his head. "I don't mean it like that!!" she defended, "My father just made literacy part of my life, not caring I'm a girl."
Yahiko rubbed his head. "Yeah, that's fine for a Tanuki to read," he growled. Then he went tentative as he said softly, "Um… Kaoru?"
"Hai?"
"Um… Do you think that sometime… you can, uh… teach me how to read an' write?"
Kaoru looked surprised. "You don't know how to? I thought you could."
Yahiko twiddled his toes against the floor. "Well, I can read some, an' write a little… But not everything, an' not very well."
"Ahh, don't worry," Kaoru said with a smile, "I'll start with you as soon as I get organized. You'll be the Kanji King by the time I'm through with you."
Yahiko smirked a bit. "Well, thanks," he said, "but for now, I better get goin'."
"But are there any openings there?" Kaoru asked hopefully.
"Nope, all full after those two robber-guys joined," the boy said with a shrug. He scampered out as Kaoru pouted at that.
"Well," she said, trying to give herself determination again, "I can't quit before I've begun. Kamiya Kaoru is going to get a wonderful job that pays plenty of money!" She raised her fist in the air, a blue aura glowing around her to show her willpower.
Through the cold town of Tokyo she trekked, visiting businesses. But one by one, she found them not needing any help. And quite often…
"We don't hire women. Go back home and cook."
Kaoru pushed up a sleeve, eyes narrowed and fist tight. "You see these muscles?" she asked, "These don't come from keeping house. What makes you think I can't keep up with the guys around here? Besides, perhaps my beauty and grace would draw more customers." She became feminine again, batting her eyelids.
The man looked on for a moment, then shrugged. "Sorry, but the place for women is at home. Or maybe you can hop over to a brothel—"
He was suddenly quivering on the floor with his eyes crossed and an angry Kaoru standing over him, rubbing her fist. "Become a woman for a day and try having that said to you, baka!" she growled.
She continued her search for a job, sighing in frustration from the bigotry she found everywhere. It was nothing new, of course, but that didn't mean she had to like it. They all expect me to cook and clean, but don't expect me to make money? What do they want me to cook, water?? She shook her head. She couldn't become so discouraged yet. Thus, she pushed all possible negative thoughts from her mind and pushed onwards.
The battle had been going on for nearly an hour now. A grueling amount of time to be constantly moving, constantly dancing with death. All concentration had to be used. One slip, one instant of relaxation could mean the end. The tale of this was told upon the faces of the combatants, in their slightly reddened eyes, sluggish movements, and sweat. Steam rose and clouded around their heated forms as it met the cold air. A small crowd had gathered, watching in awe the battle that would seemingly never end.
But it had to end soon. For every wound one fighter gave, they received one as well. None of the injuries seemed life-threatening, but still bled substantially from their sustained movements. More time proved that Enrique was exhausted from his ill condition, exposure, traveling fatigue, and now the wounds and weariness of the fight. His limbs were shaking, his breath heavy.
Yet, the Captain did not overtake him. His own movements slowed to match the Spaniard's, though not with the same hopeless sense of dead weight.
Sanosuke's teeth ground harder together. "He's toying with him," he growled, "Draggin' it on to break 'Rique down."
"Geeve up," Aleron stated with bored irritation, wishing the audience, and of course his opponent, to understand his superiority.
"I… can't," Enrique panted painfully, "…I'm… not dead."
Aleron did not answer, but kept on making his now taunting attacks on the younger man. He practically rested while continuing to drive Enrique toward collapse.
"Why must this happen?" Kenshin asked, breaking his long, grim silence, "What is going on, I ask of you both?"
There was no answer, though many of the spectators also asked this. The onslaught only continued, the cruelly grinning Captain now forcing Enrique to defend while on his knees.
"I can't take this anymore!" Sanosuke burst, running for the scene. Kenshin made no move to stop him as he barreled down upon the standing fighter. Aleron only stopped his attacking, not even looking at the intruder. Sano still had to skid to a stop, eyes wide, as a blade aimed at him.
It was Enrique's.
Sanosuke looked down at him in shock. Enrique looked back up at him with tired resolve and apology. His eyes were full of extreme sadness, his confidence almost completely gone.
"…'Rique…" Sano softly said.
"I must finish this," the guard affirmed quietly.
"Damn it, I can't stand just sittin' here watchin' this go on," Sanosuke helplessly said, spreading his open hands apart, "Why're you puttin' us through this? Don't you realize it hurts your friends to see you hurt?"
Enrique lowered his head, only making Sanosuke feel worse. "…I'm sorry," he said, "But… I must finish this." His blade turned back toward Aleron, who stood still as before, waiting for the Japanese youth to move away. Sanosuke glared at the full-blood, then slowly backed away.
But there was no movement for a while, aside from heaving breaths and the half-Spaniard's unsteady blade. Finally, Aleron took his blade away and wiped it on a bandana he pulled from his shirt pocket. "Eet ees feenish," he stated. "Your eyes almost cry."
Aleron sheathed his saber and addressed the closest witnesses, Sano and Kenshin, "Make heem een house. We return to France tomorrow." He then walked away toward the main part of town.
As the puzzled crowd muttered amongst themselves, Enrique's friends knelt by him. He could barely remain on his knees. Kenshin remained quiet, for he knew Sanosuke would ask the necessary questions. Sure enough, the tall man asked once more "Why, 'Rique? What was that all about?" His voice was half irritated, half pitying.
"He will answer when he is less exhausted, that he will," Kenshin said, beginning to help the young man to his feet.
Enrique began to protest, "No… I will stand on my own… Or not at all…"But Kenshin drew him up anyway, telling him he needed warmth and rest in a sheltered area. He then proceeded to ask where the least expensive hotel was, or who could spare this man a room for a while. An elderly man offered his front room, and soon the guard was warmed and rested, his wounds cleaned and bandaged. His friends stayed with him.
"I'm sorry," he finally said as he sipped tea near the fireplace, "I kept you for too long from your search, and now cannot come with you."
"We could not just leave you in a dangerous situation, that we could not," Kenshin replied.
"But what was the point?" Sano asked, "Why didn't he kill you? Why did he even wanna fight anyway?"
Enrique sighed quietly, looking down into the warm cup and turning it in his hands. Slowly, softly, he forced his eyes to look into those of his friends and he said, "The Captain… He tests me often. He finds it hard to trust me, you see… Trust? Is that the right word? Maybe I mean to believe in me."
They only seemed more puzzled and unhappy, but were obviously waiting for him to elaborate further.
His eyes slowly filled with both pride and shame. "He… Captain Aleron… He is my father." He then looked down at his drink to avoid the expressions of sad disbelief in the faces of the others.
"But… But he's cruel!" Sanosuke burst in a shocked whisper, "How c'n he treat his son like that?! Why d'you take it?!"
Kenshin kept Sano's words in mind for a future conversation.
"Because," Enrique answered, "I suppose… (sigh) I may not say the correct words. But I suppose he did not want a child of half-blood. He and my mother did not have true love… I was a product of this. My mother took care of me, but he went away."
The stunned silence continued, with Sanosuke shaking his now lowered head, looking angry.
"I know, it seems bad of him," the guard acknowledged, smiling sadly, "But I learned to fight and went to France so I could serve under him. So I could show him I am a worthy son. I feel that, someday, I will succeed in his tests enough. And he will love me."
Maybe that was why he so readily forgot his Spanish language. Maybe that was why he tried to appear confident no matter how hopeless he felt. And it certainly was why the battle had been so miserable.
"You didn't tell us cuz you knew we'd be even more pissed," Sanosuke guessed, voice low in anger yet too drained to be truly menacing, "I know I woulda taken his head off if I coulda. You damn well better hope I don't see him again."
"I understand your feelings," Enrique said, sounding a bit thankful for those sentiments, "But I will respect him as anyone should respect their father. I feel he can change. I will give him the time he needs." He sipped his tea again, tilting the cup forward rather than his head back, to keep the latter lowered. Doubt at his own words showed in his eyes, yet stubborn hope still clung there as well. This deeply impressed both of the natives sitting near him.
Kenshin leaned slightly forward, sincerity in his eyes. "That is a strong attitude, Enrique-dono," he said, leaving the honorific on the name out of respect, "I hope you can find happiness soon, concerning this. Do not feel bad for the delay, I ask of you. We are willing to stay with you should you need companionship."
"I agree," Sanosuke said with a nod, his anger fading to sympathy, "You c'n count on us. We'll be your buddies no matter what goes on with this. You've got lotsa spirit to be goin' through this."
Enrique smiled and blushed slightly, eyes lowering to his drink once again. "Thank you," he said, "I really don't deserve such heavy praise."
"Sure ya do," Sano said with a full smile of his own, "Seems your only weakness is you're too humble, even if ya do act like yer perfect. Get some self-esteem, man!"
They spent some time talking a bit more, all slowly cheering up, though still haunted by the earlier events. The travelers felt they would remain so for a long time to come. But for now, they felt Enrique deserved some time feeling wanted, and that was what they gave him.
Yahiko was doing some kenjitsu stretches in the house as the door slid open and a defeated Kaoru stumbled in. She started with a slumped walk, which became a bent drag, which became a crawl, which became her lying on her stomach, arms limp at her sides.
"I'm a faaaiiiluuuure," she bawled into the floor, "I couldn't find a jooooobb. My feet huuuuurt." A growing pool of tears formed under the rivers gushing from her eyes.
"So nobody had openings at all?" the little boy asked with some surprise as he sat down nearby.
"Maybe some did," she answered, turning her swimming blue orbs toward her student, "But just cuz I'm a giiiiiirl…" She sniffled, "Now I can't earn money."
"Oh, well, I guess I have a change in news," Yahiko said, "Those two guys ain't working at the Akabeko after all; they found a job at a rice market. So there's an opening after all."
Kaoru's eyes widened. "There… there is?? But… But then I hurt my feet for nooooothiiiing!" More bawling. She was so frustrated and tired and sore and discouraged. And now she was too tired to walk all the way over to talk with Tae-san about the job opportunity. But since they were friends, surely she'd find a way to squeeze her in if she went by tomorrow. She calmed down slowly at the thought.
She suddenly sat up, asking apprehensively, "But what will I do about dinner? I don't want to start going into debt like Sanosuke, to the store or anywhere else."
"Well, ya don't have to worry about tonight," Yahiko said, opening a small cloth package, "I brought home some stuff from the restaurant figurin' you wouldn't have new money." Inside was, indeed some food that was still mildly warm.
While her eyes narrowed at the lack-of-success comment, she still thanked him for his consideration as she accepted the food. "At least I can earn like I'm supposed to tomorrow. And don't worry, I won't snoop around when you're with Tsubame-chan."
"Shut up," Yahiko muttered, blushing and turning around. But he knew this was true, she would most likely respect their space when it came down to it. That's why he had decided to let her know about the job. At least it would give Kaoru something to do, anyway. He knew the house was too quiet without the other guys around, and knew that she would be miserable at home in that silence.
"We'll do ok," he said quietly, more to himself than to his big-sister figure.
But she heard, and paused in her eating to nod and smile strongly, saying, "Yes. We will."
"Thank you so very much for the dinner," Kenshin said with a smile, bowing to the elderly man who had insisted they stay and eat before setting off. Despite the sun being low in the sky, he had not been able to convince them to spend the night.
"You're quite welcome," he answered, "and your friend here will stay for the night, so the frost stops eating him up."
"I guess you do well to avoid the open," Enrique said from the porch steps he sat on, his face now cleanly shaven excluding his small moustache and chin-tipping beard, "But really, I can give you a password so you can take public routes too. No more need to worry about the other guards."
"Really?!" Sanosuke asked with a perk, "What is it? Maybe we should write it down or somethin'."
"I have already done so for you," the French Spaniard said with a smile, handing them a card with some kind of markings on it. The travelers looked at it, blinking at the odd symbols.
"You have it sideways," Enrique said, turning it for them. But question marks only continued to float above the heads of the Japanese men.
"Oh," Enrique said with a small chuckle, hand to the back of his head, "I guess you cannot read French. But anyway, just hold it out with that side up and they should believe you. They all know me."
"Thanks buddy," Sanosuke said as Kenshin put the card away in his supply pack, "And remember to stop by at the Kamiya Dojo or Akabeko in Tokyo when you come back to Japan."
"I gladly will," he said with a smile and grateful bob of the head, "I cannot say how long that will be, but I wish you best of luck with the monster. I truly hope you can bring him to justice without being harmed."
"Not like we plan to fail," Sanosuke chuckled while crossing his arms.
They all knew it was time to really say goodbye now. However, that felt far more difficult than it had to be. There was their new but close friend Enrique, in the midst of a possibly hopeless situation but looking as if he knew he would succeed. Smiling and sitting straight in confidence despite the latent pain in his deep green eyes. He would have to fight his ongoing battle alone, even though both of them wanted so badly to help. Enrique could see this desire, and widened his smile for them.
"Not to worry," he said with as much perk as he could muster, "We will meet again."
Kenshin slowly nodded and put on a smile as well. "We shall," he agreed.
They left it at that, and the travelers set off once again.
(From Sonja: If enough of you express a liking for Enrique, I'll write his very own story.)