Sorry bout the wait. School just started, and I've been busy.
But now I'm posting the next chapter! Rejoice, for thy continued reading pleasure be at hand!
Disclaimer: See every other Ruruoni Kenshin fanfic in _existance_ (Well, at least most of them, I guess)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun had just begun to set properly now as Kenshin reached the swampy area near the bridge. Here he had fought Sanosuke and won, and more recently fought a mysterious stranger and lost. He heard the other's yelling in the distance, but ignored it for now. This was bigger then they thought.
"Jeeze Kenshin, why'd you run off like that?"
He ignored the question.
"Hey! You could at least say _something_, Kenshin!"
"Please stay back now Kaoru-dono."
"What?"
"This concerns only me. I know you are there, show yourself!"
It was quiet for a moment after Kenshin yelled, but soon a deep mocking voice rang out.
"So, when I paint it in front of you, you can figure it out! I'm almost surprised!"
The man stood in front of Kenshin. None of them saw him move but he was just suddenly there.
"Now, we fight."
Kenshin drew his Sakabatou as the man drew his own sword. Kenshin held his out straight in a defensive position while the man took an attack stance. The fading sunlight gleamed on the Katana's edges.
"That guy's crazy! His sword's got blades on both sides!"
Sanosuke's warning fell on deaf ears as the two combatants faced off. The man made a mocking bow.
"If you are just going to defend yourself, Hitokiri, then I shall just have to start us off!"
The man lunged forward. He swung his sword down and to the left, easily blocked. Then both fighters began moving fast, loud clangs ringing out as sword met sword over and over again.
"They're both so fast," Kaoru breathed.
…
Kenshin knew he was being toyed with. If this was who he thought it was, they were much faster then this. This was simply a measure of his skills. And if he was found wanting…
'Better to find out now.'
He leapt back, seeking room to maneuver in.
"Hiten Mitsurugi, Do-Ryu-Sen!"
As he spoke, Kenshin slammed his sword hard against the ground, causing the characteristic crack that hurtled towards his enemy. But the man miraculously dodged in time. Although there were shouts of astonishment from the sidelines Kenshin was inwardly pleased he had made the correct assumption. Now he had to end it, and quickly.
"Hiten Mitsurugi, Ryu-Sho-Sen!"
Kenshin leapt for his opponent, who was still hanging in midair. He would be completely helpless to prevent the attack!
Or so Kenshin hoped.
…
"He's gonna take him out in one blow! Way to go Kenshin!"
"Hold on those cheers Yahiko, that guy knows what's coming!"
Sanosuke and the others gasped as the stranger brought his sword into a blocking position impossibly fast, and used his sword to push off the Sakabatou and land perfectly safely. Kenshin landed and barely had time to prepare himself before the man launched his own attack.
"You think you're the only one that knows that sword style, baka? That little idea will get you killed! Hiten Mitsurugi…"
And here the man grinned.
"Ryu-Tsui-Sho-Sen!"
Kenshin scrambled to defend himself as the man jumped into the air. The Rurouni managed to deflect most of the downswing, but was caught completely unprepared for the uppercut. Kenshin flew a few feet before managing to roll into a crouching position. His right shoulder had been hit, and was bleeding a little.
"I don't believe it! This guy knows Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu _too_!"
"Watch out for this guy Kenshin!"
"You can't even see me that well can you? And you were always so dependant on your precious eyesight too. How pathetic."
Kenshin had just managed to get back to his feet when the man attacked again.
"Hiten Mitsurugi, Ryu-Kan-Sen Tsumuji!"
Kenshin staggered from the blow to his head. Luckily it was from the flat of the other's Katana, or else he would have lost his head quite literally. It sent him straight into the dirt, and Kenshin didn't move afterwards. The man stepped over him with a wave of disgust.
"Look at you now, you're completely unworthy to even bear the title Hitokiri Battousai, let alone wield the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu. I could kill you and your friends right now and not even break a sweat. In fact, I think I will!"
Yahiko and Sanosuke leapt in front of Kaoru, both ready to throw down. Kaoru, on the other hand, was staring where Kenshin was still lying on the ground. He looked dead.
"Say goodbye!"
The man charged but something intersected with him first. Everyone turned to see a red-eyed Kenshin holding his Sakabatou in a ready battle stance.
"Were you saying something about not being worthy of the name Battousai?"
Kenshin spoke in a low growling voice and then laughed in the same way.
But now I'm posting the next chapter! Rejoice, for thy continued reading pleasure be at hand!
Disclaimer: See every other Ruruoni Kenshin fanfic in _existance_ (Well, at least most of them, I guess)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun had just begun to set properly now as Kenshin reached the swampy area near the bridge. Here he had fought Sanosuke and won, and more recently fought a mysterious stranger and lost. He heard the other's yelling in the distance, but ignored it for now. This was bigger then they thought.
"Jeeze Kenshin, why'd you run off like that?"
He ignored the question.
"Hey! You could at least say _something_, Kenshin!"
"Please stay back now Kaoru-dono."
"What?"
"This concerns only me. I know you are there, show yourself!"
It was quiet for a moment after Kenshin yelled, but soon a deep mocking voice rang out.
"So, when I paint it in front of you, you can figure it out! I'm almost surprised!"
The man stood in front of Kenshin. None of them saw him move but he was just suddenly there.
"Now, we fight."
Kenshin drew his Sakabatou as the man drew his own sword. Kenshin held his out straight in a defensive position while the man took an attack stance. The fading sunlight gleamed on the Katana's edges.
"That guy's crazy! His sword's got blades on both sides!"
Sanosuke's warning fell on deaf ears as the two combatants faced off. The man made a mocking bow.
"If you are just going to defend yourself, Hitokiri, then I shall just have to start us off!"
The man lunged forward. He swung his sword down and to the left, easily blocked. Then both fighters began moving fast, loud clangs ringing out as sword met sword over and over again.
"They're both so fast," Kaoru breathed.
…
Kenshin knew he was being toyed with. If this was who he thought it was, they were much faster then this. This was simply a measure of his skills. And if he was found wanting…
'Better to find out now.'
He leapt back, seeking room to maneuver in.
"Hiten Mitsurugi, Do-Ryu-Sen!"
As he spoke, Kenshin slammed his sword hard against the ground, causing the characteristic crack that hurtled towards his enemy. But the man miraculously dodged in time. Although there were shouts of astonishment from the sidelines Kenshin was inwardly pleased he had made the correct assumption. Now he had to end it, and quickly.
"Hiten Mitsurugi, Ryu-Sho-Sen!"
Kenshin leapt for his opponent, who was still hanging in midair. He would be completely helpless to prevent the attack!
Or so Kenshin hoped.
…
"He's gonna take him out in one blow! Way to go Kenshin!"
"Hold on those cheers Yahiko, that guy knows what's coming!"
Sanosuke and the others gasped as the stranger brought his sword into a blocking position impossibly fast, and used his sword to push off the Sakabatou and land perfectly safely. Kenshin landed and barely had time to prepare himself before the man launched his own attack.
"You think you're the only one that knows that sword style, baka? That little idea will get you killed! Hiten Mitsurugi…"
And here the man grinned.
"Ryu-Tsui-Sho-Sen!"
Kenshin scrambled to defend himself as the man jumped into the air. The Rurouni managed to deflect most of the downswing, but was caught completely unprepared for the uppercut. Kenshin flew a few feet before managing to roll into a crouching position. His right shoulder had been hit, and was bleeding a little.
"I don't believe it! This guy knows Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu _too_!"
"Watch out for this guy Kenshin!"
"You can't even see me that well can you? And you were always so dependant on your precious eyesight too. How pathetic."
Kenshin had just managed to get back to his feet when the man attacked again.
"Hiten Mitsurugi, Ryu-Kan-Sen Tsumuji!"
Kenshin staggered from the blow to his head. Luckily it was from the flat of the other's Katana, or else he would have lost his head quite literally. It sent him straight into the dirt, and Kenshin didn't move afterwards. The man stepped over him with a wave of disgust.
"Look at you now, you're completely unworthy to even bear the title Hitokiri Battousai, let alone wield the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu. I could kill you and your friends right now and not even break a sweat. In fact, I think I will!"
Yahiko and Sanosuke leapt in front of Kaoru, both ready to throw down. Kaoru, on the other hand, was staring where Kenshin was still lying on the ground. He looked dead.
"Say goodbye!"
The man charged but something intersected with him first. Everyone turned to see a red-eyed Kenshin holding his Sakabatou in a ready battle stance.
"Were you saying something about not being worthy of the name Battousai?"
Kenshin spoke in a low growling voice and then laughed in the same way.