Ice Soul
Saga 1: The Girl Without a Smile: Introducing Kiya Sagara.
I knew there was something weird about her the first time I saw the girl. Her profile looked exactly like Capt. Sagara's; it was almost like he'd got up from the grave himself. She even wore a headband like him, except it was blue and barely visible beneath a curtain of black hair. She wore a short dark blue tunic like that ninja girl Misao's and pants like mine, except they were a light blue, the same color of the shirt under her tunic. She carried a short Japanese sword; --I think I heard Kenshin call it a kadochi-- the sheath tied to a braided chord that hung low around her waist. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and held in place with another braided chord and another dark braided chord wrapped itself around the long silk-like hair in the middle. But it was her dark blue eyes that, I'd have to admit, startled me. They were nothing like Captain's; his were friendly and almost carefree. Hers were, cold.
Like ice…
And it was only made worse by a slim pink scar that ran across her left eye and halfway down her cheek. She never told us where she had gotten it from, probably on a job somewhere before she met our group in Tokyo. We had never bothered to ask.
She was an imposing figure alright, but it was kinda funny though. Even Kenshin was taller than her, but not by much. But Kenshin didn't have this air around him that said 'don't mess with me'. She did.
Kiya Sagara…
What happened to you? Why are you so…
Cold…?
But enough about her attitude... Let me tell about the first time I saw her. I think it was a few years after Kenshin defeated Shishio.
May 14th, the 15th year of the Meiji era…
"You are going to pay your bill, ne?"
I swallowed a mouthful of miso soup and shook my head. Tae scowled at me and moved on to a different customer. Huh, I'd never paid my bill before and wasn't going to anytime soon. I used to work as a fighter for hire until I met Kenshin. That was my only source of cash I had, so I couldn't possibly pay it. Besides I'd rather eat here than choke through little Missie's disgusting attempts at cooking.
"You bafka! Youf never done it befo'?"
I frowned, another group of drunks wanting to cause a commotion. I watched Tae walk over to them out of the corner of my eye.
"Excuse me, sirs," She asked timidly, but surely.
One of the men looked at her; holding a clay sake bottle in one hand. He stood up and squinted his bloodshot eyes.
"Wha' you wan', woman?"
Tae visibly gulped and started to speak.
"I think you've had enough sake, you might--"
"Shudd-up woman!" The bloodshot eyed man shouted and brought his hand back to hit Tae.
I got up from my seat and started to go over to help Tae and stopped. Where'd she come from?! I blinked a few times and stared openmouthed.
It was girl…
A girl stood between the drunk and Tae, holding the drunk's hand next to her head. I didn't even see where she had come from. Somehow she'd got there fast enough before Tae had even felt the blow and blocked it.
The girl narrowed her dark blue eyes at the drunk. She began to squeeze the drunk's hand in her fist. The drunk gasped as his bones began to snap and break in her grasp. I winced, you could hear them cracking all over the now quiet Akabeko restaurant. Finally after a minute or two the girl stopped and spoke. It was so soft you wouldn't be able to hear it if the Akabeko wasn't completely silent as it was at the moment.
"I don't like drunks,"
The girl then threw the drunk out the door by his broken hand and out into the street. The other two drunks got to their feet, growling.
"Why you wittle bitch!" One of them shouted and drew one of those concealable daggers from his sleeve. The girl made no move, but to narrow her eyes at them again.
"If you want to fight, I gladly accept your challenge. Shall we step outside?" she said, pointing out the door of the restaurant.
The drunks both grinned and swaggered out the door laughing about how they were going 'rip her to pieces' and other things. The girl snorted, shaking her head and followed them. Tae walked over to me.
"Sanosuke, will you please go out there and make sure she'll be alright?" She asked; looking at me with pleading eyes. I nodded and walked out after the strange girl.
The usual bustle of Tokyo's main street had stopped. The people stared at the short black haired girl standing twenty feet across from the two drunks. As I stepped out of the Akabeko a woman started to whisper to her companion beside her.
"That girl is going to be killed for certain; I wish somebody would help her."
I grinned. "Don't worry lady, I jump in if it gets ugly" I assured the woman.
She gave me a small smile and turned back to watch the fight.
The girl stood unmoving, I guess she was looking for any weak spots her opponents might have. The drunks nodded to each other and charged toward the girl; sword and dagger upraised. She dodged their attack and jumped high over the two; landing on her feet. The girl drew her kadochi; bringing it down in a diagonal slash across both their backs. The two drunks fell; gurgling in their own blood. The girl flicked the end of her sword to the side getting rid of most of the blood before bringing out a small white cloth and cleaning off the rest of the red liquid. She sheathed her blade and looked around at the shocked faces; mine included.
"Please forgive me for the commotion I've caused. I am sorry you all had to see this." Said the girl and bowed slightly. She then started to walk down the street. The people got out of her way quite quickly, as if she was a boat and they the water.
I shook myself out of my daze and started to follow her, but it was hard because of her small height. She suddenly disappeared down a dark alleyway, and I hurriedly went in after her. She wasn't anywhere to be seen. I started to leave when a voice stopped me.
"Why are you following me?"
I turned around and there she was, her blue eyes narrowed and questioning. I don't really know what the hell I was thinking next, it just flew out.
"Whatisyourname?" I blurted.
She arched a dark eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
I blinked for a second before answering. "I...I meant to say, what is your name?"
"Kiya," The girl crossed her arms and leaned casually against one of the walls of the alley. Her eyes held no emotion that could be identified.
"My name is Kiya Sagara."
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Next time……
Kiya Sagara a.k.a. the 'Black Rose' of Osaka. Who is she and why is she in Tokyo? These are just some of the questions Sanosuke wants answered, besides a few of his own. To answer them, Sanosuke challenges Kiya to a match; his style. Last man to fall wins, or in this case last girl! But will Sanosuke win? Or is he in over his head? Find out next time on…
Rurouni Kenshin!!