OK, I know I told you guys that chapter 2 was where the real story begins,
but I think this chapter is more or less where the real story begins
because it introduce's you to all the main characters of my story. You'll
probably agree after you read it.
~Character Descriptions~
Kaosi (kay-oh-see) - 13 years old. Female. Blonde hair, blue eyes. She always has her hair pulled back into a ponytail.
Maoshi (may-oh-shee) - 24 years old. Male. (Think Captain Sagara, because that is who he looks like. He is tall and very handsome)
Raoki (ray-oh-kee) - 24 years old. Male. Brown hair, brown eyes. (Wear's the same clothes as Captain Sagara. Tall and very handsome as well. ^_^)
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"All right Kaosi. This the tenth time we've tried this today. Do you think you can get it right this time?"
"I don't see what was wrong with the way I did it all those other times."
"You were trying too hard. Just let your motions flow. When you use the Disappearing Method, your opponent is not supposed to know where you reappear next. Stop making yourself so obvious and try-"
"All right! I get the point!"
Kaosi concentrated her thoughts and did not take her eyes off of her opponent. Maoshi was acting as her opponent. He was her fighting trainer and he never went easy on her. He did not wait until she was ready, if this were a real battle, the opponent would not wait for her to get her move ready. He charged at her with his sword ready to cut, but to his amazement, she finally performed the Disappearing move correctly. He was not able to predict where she would appear next. Until he received a kick in the back of the head.
"Everything was perfect up until the kick." He said sarcastically.
"What was wrong with my kick?"
"It hurt. That's what. But good job anyway, I think you've finally got that technique down."
"It wasn't that hard."
"You're starting to remind me of your dad."
Kaosi sighed and found a rock to sit down on. She didn't like hearing about her father. It always made her sad and angry. She never asked how he died, she didn't want to know. But she did know that he was a great samurai. Maoshi always told her that she was just like her dad. Kaosi always considered Maoshi to be her dad though. He raised her since she was a baby and taught her everything she knew.
"Maoshi?"
"Yeah?" He joined her, taking the moment to lay down and relax on the warm grass.
"Tell me how my mother and father died."
Maoshi gave her a serious look.
"I thought you said that you never wanted to know how they died. That it would just cause you more anger."
"I want to know now, tell me everything. And don't leave anything out."
Maoshi took a deep breath in. He never knew how to say this to her when the day came that she would ask him. But it would be best for her to know. So he told her.
"You're father used to be a part of the Hitokiri's."
"What?!"
"Yes. He was probably one of the strongest members of their group. However, he eventually came to his senses and realized that killing innocent lives just for the pleasure of it was wrong. So he left them and formed his own group called the Bami Sotai. They protected innocent lives and became very well known throughout the country. Your father was a very well respected man, and your mother was equally respected.
There is also something else you didn't know Kaosi. You had an older brother. His name was Kaemon. When he turned ten years old, he was going to become the prince leader of the Bami Sotai group. But he was killed right as your father was proclaiming him prince."
Kaosi flinched and turned her head away. Maoshi stopped talking.
"You all right?" Maoshi asked. She did not answer, but a small tear dripping down her cheek told him she was crying. Maoshi reached over and put his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine." She said clearing her throat. "Just tell me the rest."
"There's not much after that. The man from the Battousai killed your father shortly after and another Hitokiri killed your mother. Your mother was trying to escape with you. You were just a baby. The Hitokiri who killed her must have thought you were dead as well. But you survived, and I'm proud of you for doing that."
"Then what happened? How did you find me?"
"A few men and I had rushed to the scene when we heard what happened. I found you laying under your mother's arm. My men and I buried the bodies, and I took you back with me to the village. I was so happy to have you." Maoshi smiled at Kaosi, she was smiling back at him.
"I actually raised you like you were my own kid. I was the one who gave you the name Kaosi. Kaosi Kaya. I was proud of the name."
"I like Kao better."
"All right, but you're never going to hear me call you that."
"I still remember accidentally calling you Missy when I was little. Maybe I'll start calling you that again." Kaosi smiled. Maoshi started to play fight with her. She tried to squirm out of his arms, so he started tickling her. It was not unordinary to see them play fighting with each other. They had a very strong, father and daughter bond.
"All right! I give up Maoshi!" Kaosi hated being tickled. He released her from his grip.
"Well," Maoshi said, taking in a deep breath and trying to get back into focus of what he should be doing. "We better get back to the village. You hungry?"
"Yeah! Let's eat, that's the best idea you've had all day!"
"Hey, you better watch it now."
Kaosi laughed and ran back to the village.
"Kaosi!" A man from the Sekihoutai yelled when he saw her coming.
"What's wrong Raoki?"
"Where's Maoshi? I need to talk to him!"
"He's back in the training area. Can't you talk to me?" But he didn't hear her. He was already running in the direction of Maoshi. Kaosi was puzzled, Raoki rarely looked distressed. But she could tell something was wrong. Whatever it was, she wanted to know too. More than anything, she hated being left out of something important.
"Raoki, what's wrong?" Maoshi asked when he saw him approaching.
"It's the Hitokiri's, we're sure of it. We've been spotting them variously near the village, but they'd disappear before any of us could make a deal out of it. Maoshi, we've got to get ready for them."
"Right. Make sure all of the men are alerted and constantly on their guard. I'll move on out."
Raoki left and rushed back towards the village. If Kaosi bothered to keep count, than the amount of times they had battled the Hitorkiri's would be well over fifty. It was very often that a Sekihoutai encountered a Hitokiri. But never had the Hitokiri's approached the village for a surprise attack.
As soon as Kaosi reached the area Maoshi was, Raoki was already running her way again.
"Get ready." Raoki said as he ran past her. Kaosi glared at him.
"It would help if he told me what to get ready for." Kaosi said to herself.
Maoshi came up from behind her, his hand on the hilt of his sword like he was ready to attack. Kaosi swung around to face him.
"Maoshi, what is going on?" Kaosi was getting impatient.
"The Hitokiri's are coming. Who knows how many, but I'm going out there to fight." A serious look was on Maoshi's face. He didn't even look at Kaosi as he spoke.
"I'm coming too!" Kaosi ran towards him.
"No you aren't!" he now looked at Kaosi. "You're staying here in the village."
"But Maoshi."
"You're still too young, it's not safe for you."
"I've fought them before too!"
"I don't care Kaosi, now just do as I say." Then he disappeared into the woods. Kaosi sighed. She hated being left out. Then she realized she was still in the training area, far from the village. She was all alone. Being alone was very bad thing when you knew that there were Hitokiri's around.
"HAA!" A Hitokiri came at her with full force and ready to use a sword technique that could kill with one shot. Kaosi easily dodged him.
"Nice try Hitokiri." Kaosi spat. "Now what is it that you want here?"
Without acknowledging that he had even heard her, he came at her again, this time with one of his techniques ready. He sliced at her arm, but she took the opportunity as he attacked her to attack him. Stabbing him right into the shoulder. Kaosi hovered over the Hitokiri, who was on the ground in pain.
"I can't stand you Hitokiri's. You were the ones who killed my entire family and you will pay!" With that said, Kaosi swiftly slew the Hitokiri. It was not that often that she killed a man. The Hitokiri group killed people more than anyone else, but the Sekihoutai killed as well without feeling any grief. Kaosi then headed towards the direction she saw Maoshi run. She was not going to let the Hitokiri's win this battle.
Before she knew it, she had arrived in the area where the huge battle between the Hitokiri's and Sekihoutai's was taking place. A couple of dead bodies were lying around the place. Kaosi hoped none of them were Maoshi. Another man leapt at her with his sword. This one was much stronger than the one she had killed and she was barely able to dodge him. He had long orange hair pulled back into a pony tail. An x-like scar was on his left cheek. This guy looked fierce and determined, no matter how hard Kaosi tried, she couldn't lay a single hit on him.
Not before long, Kaosi was surrounded by three Hitokiri men. She was able to evade the other two men, but this orange haired man was remarkably good. Kaosi could not afford to let her guard down and attack, but she couldn't defend herself forever. Getting away from these three men seemed hopeless, but she had to try. When the two men charged towards her to attack, Kaosi leaped above their heads and began running in the other direction. She felt cowardly running away, but that orange haired man sent chills down her spine. Something about him gave her a very bad feeling.
All at once, Kaosi found the orange haired man towering above her, ready to attack. Kaosi could not believe how fast he was. Without hesitation, she drew her sword on him. She swung at his shoulder but missed, then spun around to slice at him again. This time cutting him in the face. The orange haired man muttered a few words and began speeding towards her. He was using some technique she had never seen before, but it worked remarkably well on her. In an instant she found herself down on the ground, dazed by the fatal blow of the sword that the orange haired man had swung at her.
"Kaosi!" Kaosi heard a man's voice shout. She felt to weak to try and understand whom it was though. Despite her pain from the attack, Kaosi managed to climb up to her feet. Slight disbelief was on the orange haired man's face. He thought for sure he had killed Kaosi. Kaosi realized that the man's voice was probably Maoshi's.
Her eyes met the orange haired mans'. He quickly came towards her with an attack ready, Kaosi used the Disappearing method to dodge it. Appearing right behind him, she tried to kick him in the back of the head. But he quickly spun around and grabbed her around the neck and squeezed tightly. Maoshi came form out of nowhere and cut the orange haired man's arm. He quickly let go of Kaosi and she fell to the ground gasping for breath.
Maoshi and the orange haired man were already locked into deep combat. They both showed an equal amount of strength. Kaosi felt too dazed and weak to watch. But she wanted so badly to get up and beat up the orange haired man.
Almost twenty minutes later, the Hitokiri's called for a retreat. Maoshi and the orange haired man's fight was over. Maoshi waited until each Hitokiri was out of sight, then he ran over to Kaosi. She was laying on the ground, not moving, but still breathing. She had suffered a couple of wounds, and she still felt dazed from the orange haired man's attack.
"Hey kid, you all right?" Maoshi helped lift her up into a sitting postition, he saw that she was hurt, but at least still alive.
"You bet I am."
"Well you don't look it. You're badly hurt, let's get you some medical help." Maoshi lifted her up and carried her back to the village. It hurt to try and move Kaosi in her state, so Maoshi had to be gentle.
"What about you Maoshi, are you okay?"
"I'm okay physically, but we lost almost ten men."
"Those Hitokiri's." Kaosi's voice angered. "They must think the same of us though. I slew one of their men."
"Kaosi!"
"He was trying to kill me! And besides, I couldn't stop thinking about my family."
Maoshi sighed. "Don't let yourself get angered by your family. Just fight in honor of your family, but don't kill for them, Kaosi. It's not right." Kaosi just held her head down and listened. She knew that he was right, but she still felt some pride for avenging her family by slaying a Hitokiri.
After a while they both stopped talking. Maoshi still was holding her, and walking as fast as he could to the village. He needed to find Raoki to treat her. Raoki was the most reliable man Maoshi knew, he was also the most medically experienced person in the entire village.
As Maoshi and Kaosi approached the village, they could hear the voices of the people from the Sekihoutai. Maoshi felt relieved that they were all okay. Raoki came running towards them when he saw them coming. When he saw Kaosi being carried by Maoshi he grew very worried.
"Kaosi! What's wrong with her?" Raoki panicked. Kaosi now had fallen asleep. She gave Raoki quite a scare because he thought she was dead.
"Just hurt from battle." Maoshi said. "It's pretty serious though. Do you think you can take her for me? I'm going to go back to the battle sights." By the tone of his voice, Raoki could tell that Maoshi wanted to be left alone. Maoshi usually always acted this way after a battle occurred and some of his men were killed.
Raoki rushed back to the village with Kaosi in his arms. He hurried into his shack and placed her on the bed. She was still asleep, but Raoki could see that she was very hurt. Raoki quickly dressed her wounds and gave her some medicine to make her feel better.
Ever since Kaosi could remember, Maoshi and Raoki have always been there for her. While Maoshi was like her dad, Raoki was like her uncle. And all though Maoshi and Raoki weren't brothers, they had a bond like they were. Maoshi, Raoki and Kaosi were like a family who could always depend on each other.
Raoki stayed by Kaosi's side for a whole hour. Once he knew she would be okay without him, he asked one of the men from the village to watch over her while he helped everyone else bury the dead bodies. By midnight, they had all the bodies burried and gave them each a proper burial. Then Maoshi announced that they would have a ceremony for all of them the next day at three.
At midnight, Maoshi and Raoki headed back to the village to check up on Kaosi.
"How's she doing?" Maoshi asked Raoki as they were walking.
"She'll be fine. I'd say give her tomorrow to recover and she'll be perfectly fine by the next day."
"You know, I can't say I feel at ease with Kaosi fighting those Botosai's. If something ever happened to her I don't know what I'd do."
"She's a strong kid, Maoshi. She's probably stronger than I was when I was her age. You've trained her very well."
"It's not just my training that's made her strong. She's got the blood of a samurai running through her veins. Whenever I look at her, I always see true samurai potential."
Maoshi and Raoki arrived at Raoki's home and went inside. Kaosi was not there.
"Where is she?" Raoki panicked. The man he had asked to watch her was sound asleep on the floor. Raoki kicked him awake.
"Teijo!" Raoki yelled at him. "I told you to watch her!" Teijo rubbed his eyes and showed no recognition that he was listening. Raoki saw a bottle of booze in his hand. He was drunk. Raoki turned around to look at Maoshi.
"I'm sorry about this." he said angrily.
"I think I know where she is. Let's go." Maoshi said. Raoki quickly followed him. It turned out that they were headed towards the sight where they had buried the dead bodies. Sure enough, Kaosi was there. She was sitting against a rock, staring at the sky. Her face was full of sorrow.
"Kaosi! What on earth are you doing?" Kaosi turned her head to see Maoshi and Raoki staring right at her. Neither of them seemed too happy with her.
"You shouldn't go sneaking around when you're hurt like this." Maoshi pulled her up to her feet. Kaosi tried her best not to look at him. She had only come to the graveyard to visit the people who died today and pray for them. All most each person who died, she knew very well.
Maoshi told Raoki that he could leave so he could have a talk with Kaosi. After he left, Maoshi turned to Kaosi, who was still not looking at him.
"Kaosi, you know you can tell me anything. I know how you must feel after everything that happened today."
"I'll be fine if I just learn to except what happened and move on."
"That's right Kaosi. That would have been my advice to you. And I'm glad that you feel so much concern for the people who died today, but I'm not glad that you're out of bed. You should be recovering right now, so let's get you back."
"Sleeping in bed all day is boring." But she didn't bother arguing with him. Maoshi just ignored her.
"And to make sure that you don't try and escape, I'll be watching over you this time."
"Joy."
When they got back home, Kaosi quickly fell asleep. She was exhausted. Maoshi smiled and watched over her. Everything about her made him proud. After a while, he finally got tired as well and fell asleep.
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So what did you think? Please R & R (read and reply). My story is different from the anime of Rurouni Kenshin, but different can be a good thing. ^_^
The "orange haired man" is the Battousai (Kenshin), but Kaosi doesn't know that and just refers to him as the man with orange hair.
~Character Descriptions~
Kaosi (kay-oh-see) - 13 years old. Female. Blonde hair, blue eyes. She always has her hair pulled back into a ponytail.
Maoshi (may-oh-shee) - 24 years old. Male. (Think Captain Sagara, because that is who he looks like. He is tall and very handsome)
Raoki (ray-oh-kee) - 24 years old. Male. Brown hair, brown eyes. (Wear's the same clothes as Captain Sagara. Tall and very handsome as well. ^_^)
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"All right Kaosi. This the tenth time we've tried this today. Do you think you can get it right this time?"
"I don't see what was wrong with the way I did it all those other times."
"You were trying too hard. Just let your motions flow. When you use the Disappearing Method, your opponent is not supposed to know where you reappear next. Stop making yourself so obvious and try-"
"All right! I get the point!"
Kaosi concentrated her thoughts and did not take her eyes off of her opponent. Maoshi was acting as her opponent. He was her fighting trainer and he never went easy on her. He did not wait until she was ready, if this were a real battle, the opponent would not wait for her to get her move ready. He charged at her with his sword ready to cut, but to his amazement, she finally performed the Disappearing move correctly. He was not able to predict where she would appear next. Until he received a kick in the back of the head.
"Everything was perfect up until the kick." He said sarcastically.
"What was wrong with my kick?"
"It hurt. That's what. But good job anyway, I think you've finally got that technique down."
"It wasn't that hard."
"You're starting to remind me of your dad."
Kaosi sighed and found a rock to sit down on. She didn't like hearing about her father. It always made her sad and angry. She never asked how he died, she didn't want to know. But she did know that he was a great samurai. Maoshi always told her that she was just like her dad. Kaosi always considered Maoshi to be her dad though. He raised her since she was a baby and taught her everything she knew.
"Maoshi?"
"Yeah?" He joined her, taking the moment to lay down and relax on the warm grass.
"Tell me how my mother and father died."
Maoshi gave her a serious look.
"I thought you said that you never wanted to know how they died. That it would just cause you more anger."
"I want to know now, tell me everything. And don't leave anything out."
Maoshi took a deep breath in. He never knew how to say this to her when the day came that she would ask him. But it would be best for her to know. So he told her.
"You're father used to be a part of the Hitokiri's."
"What?!"
"Yes. He was probably one of the strongest members of their group. However, he eventually came to his senses and realized that killing innocent lives just for the pleasure of it was wrong. So he left them and formed his own group called the Bami Sotai. They protected innocent lives and became very well known throughout the country. Your father was a very well respected man, and your mother was equally respected.
There is also something else you didn't know Kaosi. You had an older brother. His name was Kaemon. When he turned ten years old, he was going to become the prince leader of the Bami Sotai group. But he was killed right as your father was proclaiming him prince."
Kaosi flinched and turned her head away. Maoshi stopped talking.
"You all right?" Maoshi asked. She did not answer, but a small tear dripping down her cheek told him she was crying. Maoshi reached over and put his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine." She said clearing her throat. "Just tell me the rest."
"There's not much after that. The man from the Battousai killed your father shortly after and another Hitokiri killed your mother. Your mother was trying to escape with you. You were just a baby. The Hitokiri who killed her must have thought you were dead as well. But you survived, and I'm proud of you for doing that."
"Then what happened? How did you find me?"
"A few men and I had rushed to the scene when we heard what happened. I found you laying under your mother's arm. My men and I buried the bodies, and I took you back with me to the village. I was so happy to have you." Maoshi smiled at Kaosi, she was smiling back at him.
"I actually raised you like you were my own kid. I was the one who gave you the name Kaosi. Kaosi Kaya. I was proud of the name."
"I like Kao better."
"All right, but you're never going to hear me call you that."
"I still remember accidentally calling you Missy when I was little. Maybe I'll start calling you that again." Kaosi smiled. Maoshi started to play fight with her. She tried to squirm out of his arms, so he started tickling her. It was not unordinary to see them play fighting with each other. They had a very strong, father and daughter bond.
"All right! I give up Maoshi!" Kaosi hated being tickled. He released her from his grip.
"Well," Maoshi said, taking in a deep breath and trying to get back into focus of what he should be doing. "We better get back to the village. You hungry?"
"Yeah! Let's eat, that's the best idea you've had all day!"
"Hey, you better watch it now."
Kaosi laughed and ran back to the village.
"Kaosi!" A man from the Sekihoutai yelled when he saw her coming.
"What's wrong Raoki?"
"Where's Maoshi? I need to talk to him!"
"He's back in the training area. Can't you talk to me?" But he didn't hear her. He was already running in the direction of Maoshi. Kaosi was puzzled, Raoki rarely looked distressed. But she could tell something was wrong. Whatever it was, she wanted to know too. More than anything, she hated being left out of something important.
"Raoki, what's wrong?" Maoshi asked when he saw him approaching.
"It's the Hitokiri's, we're sure of it. We've been spotting them variously near the village, but they'd disappear before any of us could make a deal out of it. Maoshi, we've got to get ready for them."
"Right. Make sure all of the men are alerted and constantly on their guard. I'll move on out."
Raoki left and rushed back towards the village. If Kaosi bothered to keep count, than the amount of times they had battled the Hitorkiri's would be well over fifty. It was very often that a Sekihoutai encountered a Hitokiri. But never had the Hitokiri's approached the village for a surprise attack.
As soon as Kaosi reached the area Maoshi was, Raoki was already running her way again.
"Get ready." Raoki said as he ran past her. Kaosi glared at him.
"It would help if he told me what to get ready for." Kaosi said to herself.
Maoshi came up from behind her, his hand on the hilt of his sword like he was ready to attack. Kaosi swung around to face him.
"Maoshi, what is going on?" Kaosi was getting impatient.
"The Hitokiri's are coming. Who knows how many, but I'm going out there to fight." A serious look was on Maoshi's face. He didn't even look at Kaosi as he spoke.
"I'm coming too!" Kaosi ran towards him.
"No you aren't!" he now looked at Kaosi. "You're staying here in the village."
"But Maoshi."
"You're still too young, it's not safe for you."
"I've fought them before too!"
"I don't care Kaosi, now just do as I say." Then he disappeared into the woods. Kaosi sighed. She hated being left out. Then she realized she was still in the training area, far from the village. She was all alone. Being alone was very bad thing when you knew that there were Hitokiri's around.
"HAA!" A Hitokiri came at her with full force and ready to use a sword technique that could kill with one shot. Kaosi easily dodged him.
"Nice try Hitokiri." Kaosi spat. "Now what is it that you want here?"
Without acknowledging that he had even heard her, he came at her again, this time with one of his techniques ready. He sliced at her arm, but she took the opportunity as he attacked her to attack him. Stabbing him right into the shoulder. Kaosi hovered over the Hitokiri, who was on the ground in pain.
"I can't stand you Hitokiri's. You were the ones who killed my entire family and you will pay!" With that said, Kaosi swiftly slew the Hitokiri. It was not that often that she killed a man. The Hitokiri group killed people more than anyone else, but the Sekihoutai killed as well without feeling any grief. Kaosi then headed towards the direction she saw Maoshi run. She was not going to let the Hitokiri's win this battle.
Before she knew it, she had arrived in the area where the huge battle between the Hitokiri's and Sekihoutai's was taking place. A couple of dead bodies were lying around the place. Kaosi hoped none of them were Maoshi. Another man leapt at her with his sword. This one was much stronger than the one she had killed and she was barely able to dodge him. He had long orange hair pulled back into a pony tail. An x-like scar was on his left cheek. This guy looked fierce and determined, no matter how hard Kaosi tried, she couldn't lay a single hit on him.
Not before long, Kaosi was surrounded by three Hitokiri men. She was able to evade the other two men, but this orange haired man was remarkably good. Kaosi could not afford to let her guard down and attack, but she couldn't defend herself forever. Getting away from these three men seemed hopeless, but she had to try. When the two men charged towards her to attack, Kaosi leaped above their heads and began running in the other direction. She felt cowardly running away, but that orange haired man sent chills down her spine. Something about him gave her a very bad feeling.
All at once, Kaosi found the orange haired man towering above her, ready to attack. Kaosi could not believe how fast he was. Without hesitation, she drew her sword on him. She swung at his shoulder but missed, then spun around to slice at him again. This time cutting him in the face. The orange haired man muttered a few words and began speeding towards her. He was using some technique she had never seen before, but it worked remarkably well on her. In an instant she found herself down on the ground, dazed by the fatal blow of the sword that the orange haired man had swung at her.
"Kaosi!" Kaosi heard a man's voice shout. She felt to weak to try and understand whom it was though. Despite her pain from the attack, Kaosi managed to climb up to her feet. Slight disbelief was on the orange haired man's face. He thought for sure he had killed Kaosi. Kaosi realized that the man's voice was probably Maoshi's.
Her eyes met the orange haired mans'. He quickly came towards her with an attack ready, Kaosi used the Disappearing method to dodge it. Appearing right behind him, she tried to kick him in the back of the head. But he quickly spun around and grabbed her around the neck and squeezed tightly. Maoshi came form out of nowhere and cut the orange haired man's arm. He quickly let go of Kaosi and she fell to the ground gasping for breath.
Maoshi and the orange haired man were already locked into deep combat. They both showed an equal amount of strength. Kaosi felt too dazed and weak to watch. But she wanted so badly to get up and beat up the orange haired man.
Almost twenty minutes later, the Hitokiri's called for a retreat. Maoshi and the orange haired man's fight was over. Maoshi waited until each Hitokiri was out of sight, then he ran over to Kaosi. She was laying on the ground, not moving, but still breathing. She had suffered a couple of wounds, and she still felt dazed from the orange haired man's attack.
"Hey kid, you all right?" Maoshi helped lift her up into a sitting postition, he saw that she was hurt, but at least still alive.
"You bet I am."
"Well you don't look it. You're badly hurt, let's get you some medical help." Maoshi lifted her up and carried her back to the village. It hurt to try and move Kaosi in her state, so Maoshi had to be gentle.
"What about you Maoshi, are you okay?"
"I'm okay physically, but we lost almost ten men."
"Those Hitokiri's." Kaosi's voice angered. "They must think the same of us though. I slew one of their men."
"Kaosi!"
"He was trying to kill me! And besides, I couldn't stop thinking about my family."
Maoshi sighed. "Don't let yourself get angered by your family. Just fight in honor of your family, but don't kill for them, Kaosi. It's not right." Kaosi just held her head down and listened. She knew that he was right, but she still felt some pride for avenging her family by slaying a Hitokiri.
After a while they both stopped talking. Maoshi still was holding her, and walking as fast as he could to the village. He needed to find Raoki to treat her. Raoki was the most reliable man Maoshi knew, he was also the most medically experienced person in the entire village.
As Maoshi and Kaosi approached the village, they could hear the voices of the people from the Sekihoutai. Maoshi felt relieved that they were all okay. Raoki came running towards them when he saw them coming. When he saw Kaosi being carried by Maoshi he grew very worried.
"Kaosi! What's wrong with her?" Raoki panicked. Kaosi now had fallen asleep. She gave Raoki quite a scare because he thought she was dead.
"Just hurt from battle." Maoshi said. "It's pretty serious though. Do you think you can take her for me? I'm going to go back to the battle sights." By the tone of his voice, Raoki could tell that Maoshi wanted to be left alone. Maoshi usually always acted this way after a battle occurred and some of his men were killed.
Raoki rushed back to the village with Kaosi in his arms. He hurried into his shack and placed her on the bed. She was still asleep, but Raoki could see that she was very hurt. Raoki quickly dressed her wounds and gave her some medicine to make her feel better.
Ever since Kaosi could remember, Maoshi and Raoki have always been there for her. While Maoshi was like her dad, Raoki was like her uncle. And all though Maoshi and Raoki weren't brothers, they had a bond like they were. Maoshi, Raoki and Kaosi were like a family who could always depend on each other.
Raoki stayed by Kaosi's side for a whole hour. Once he knew she would be okay without him, he asked one of the men from the village to watch over her while he helped everyone else bury the dead bodies. By midnight, they had all the bodies burried and gave them each a proper burial. Then Maoshi announced that they would have a ceremony for all of them the next day at three.
At midnight, Maoshi and Raoki headed back to the village to check up on Kaosi.
"How's she doing?" Maoshi asked Raoki as they were walking.
"She'll be fine. I'd say give her tomorrow to recover and she'll be perfectly fine by the next day."
"You know, I can't say I feel at ease with Kaosi fighting those Botosai's. If something ever happened to her I don't know what I'd do."
"She's a strong kid, Maoshi. She's probably stronger than I was when I was her age. You've trained her very well."
"It's not just my training that's made her strong. She's got the blood of a samurai running through her veins. Whenever I look at her, I always see true samurai potential."
Maoshi and Raoki arrived at Raoki's home and went inside. Kaosi was not there.
"Where is she?" Raoki panicked. The man he had asked to watch her was sound asleep on the floor. Raoki kicked him awake.
"Teijo!" Raoki yelled at him. "I told you to watch her!" Teijo rubbed his eyes and showed no recognition that he was listening. Raoki saw a bottle of booze in his hand. He was drunk. Raoki turned around to look at Maoshi.
"I'm sorry about this." he said angrily.
"I think I know where she is. Let's go." Maoshi said. Raoki quickly followed him. It turned out that they were headed towards the sight where they had buried the dead bodies. Sure enough, Kaosi was there. She was sitting against a rock, staring at the sky. Her face was full of sorrow.
"Kaosi! What on earth are you doing?" Kaosi turned her head to see Maoshi and Raoki staring right at her. Neither of them seemed too happy with her.
"You shouldn't go sneaking around when you're hurt like this." Maoshi pulled her up to her feet. Kaosi tried her best not to look at him. She had only come to the graveyard to visit the people who died today and pray for them. All most each person who died, she knew very well.
Maoshi told Raoki that he could leave so he could have a talk with Kaosi. After he left, Maoshi turned to Kaosi, who was still not looking at him.
"Kaosi, you know you can tell me anything. I know how you must feel after everything that happened today."
"I'll be fine if I just learn to except what happened and move on."
"That's right Kaosi. That would have been my advice to you. And I'm glad that you feel so much concern for the people who died today, but I'm not glad that you're out of bed. You should be recovering right now, so let's get you back."
"Sleeping in bed all day is boring." But she didn't bother arguing with him. Maoshi just ignored her.
"And to make sure that you don't try and escape, I'll be watching over you this time."
"Joy."
When they got back home, Kaosi quickly fell asleep. She was exhausted. Maoshi smiled and watched over her. Everything about her made him proud. After a while, he finally got tired as well and fell asleep.
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So what did you think? Please R & R (read and reply). My story is different from the anime of Rurouni Kenshin, but different can be a good thing. ^_^
The "orange haired man" is the Battousai (Kenshin), but Kaosi doesn't know that and just refers to him as the man with orange hair.