"Hey" said one of the men to another. "Would you look at that? The kid has a sword at his waist, but he's just a runt, and no match for the boss."
"Yea" another said. "I bet you the boss takes that sword and shoves it right up his."
"Shhhh!" one of them hissed. "It's about to begin"
"I am Chan Yei" the leader began. "I am not as rude as some of my comrades here; I'll at least tell you my name before I take your life. Now DIE!!" he screamed.
Before she even had time to breathe, Arie-Sung was being charged at by the man they called, Chan Yei. He was fast, despite his large size, his speed was incredible. No wonder the police could never capture them, with speed like that. Kenshin. she thought.
Moving at the last minute, Arie-Sung dodged the attack, but not quickly enough. Spinning around to face her enemy once again, Arie-Sung grabbed the sword at her waist, but in that instant; her straw hat split on an angle. Without her hat, there was no way that anyone wouldn't realize that she was a female.
"Humph" she said. "I was just debating with myself about getting rid of that hat, but I guess that you've solved that problem for me" she finished coldly.
"The runt."
".Is a ."
"GIRL?!" Chan Yei's men stuttered flabbergasted.
"Arghhh!" screamed Chan Yei. "I've never been so humiliated in my life!"
"Then obviously you've never checked a mirror before going out in public" Arie-Sung retorted.
"Save your jokes for the afterlife bitch, because now you're going to die" Chan Yei shot back curtly.
In the blink of an eye, both Arie-Sung and Chan Yei, had drawn their swords and lunged into an attack. The sound of metal chimed and both fighters were thrown aback. Chan Yei immediately leapt into another attack towards Arie-Sung's right hip. Arie-Sung parries the attack, and the fight went on.
Meanwhile, on the outskirt of the battle, Chan Yei's men stood baffled. To see a girl, and a young one at that, keep up with their boss. No one had ever been able to keep up with him, and yet, this girl was having no trouble at all.
The sound of metal continued to clash, as the morning sun, rose to noon. Then, it happened, the deciding move.
Chan Yei charged toward Arie-Sung, attempting to split her down the middle. His sword came down. Arie-Sung shot up her arm and blocked it. Then as quickly as she had made her block. She executed an amazing quick and powerful spinning kick to Chan Yei's groin, followed by a powerful sword sweep down on to the back of his head.
In the moment Arie-Sung's sword was back in its sheath, her challenger fell to the ground with an enormous thud. The rest of the men fled, screaming like babbling children.
It wasn't until after the voiced of fleeing men turned to silence, did Arie-Sung realize that the fight had set her back yet another day. Damn it! She thought. Something caught her attention; Chan Yei was beginning to stir. That's not what caught her eye though. Behind a bush, there was a woman, she was trembling in fear.
"Is he." she stuttered. "Will he die?" she asked, almost hopefully.
"No, he isn't, nor will he die" Arie-Sung replied.
"But you don't understand!!" the woman cried. "Don't you know who these men are?! Do you know what they are wanted for?! Is your youth that much of a handicap for you?!" she finished coldly.
Arie-Sung stood up and drew out her sword, as quick as a cat would draw her claws. The woman looked at it fearfully, but then her fear turned to disgust.
"Pfffft" she spat at Arie-Sung. "A reverse blade sword? I was right when I said that your youth deceives you"
Arie-Sung looked up; Chan Yei was trying to get up. The woman saw Arie-Sung look away, and she smiled.
"What's the matter? Realizing the truths now are you?" she sneered.
Are-Sung did not respond, instead, she jumped and came down once again on Chan Yei with her knee. Maybe next time you'll stay down she thought.
"Someone I once held dear to me said that all life is precious. No matter who they are, each and every one of their lives should never see its end before their time" Arie-Sung finally replied to the woman. "I believe it is you who has the handicap"
"How dare you!" The women flared. "Do you even know who I am?"
"I don't care who you are" Are-Sung replied, walking away. "Did you ever ask yourself that before you judged me?" And then, Arie-Sung was gone.
By the time Arie-Sung reached a hot spring it was nearly sundown. Nevertheless, the hot water felt good. She began to think about what happened that day, when her memories of Kenshin clouded her thought once more.
It had to have been about a year after Kenshin began living with her. He seemed happy with a place to call home, and even happier working with Arie-Sung as she improved daily in her sword skills. He had grown fond of her, almost too fond, considering the age difference. He had grown to learn much about the young girl. Yet, every time he mentioned her family, Arie-Sung looked as though even the thought of them caused her pain.
One day it had occurred to Kenshin, that Arie-Sung, in many ways reminded him of his former love. That in fact, he never planned to leave her, all he wanted to do was stay there. with her.
"Arie-Sung!!" Kenshin called
"Coming!" Arie-Sung called back
As she stepped into the room, Kenshin's eyes brightened, she looked beautiful.
"Is something wrong?" Arie-Sung asked, looking curious
"I was just admiring at how nice you look today, that I was" Kenshin replied
"No, I meant, you called me over for a reason, yes?" Arie-Sung asked
"Oh." Kenshin began nervously. "You should probably sit down for this" he said. "You see," he continued warily. "In the short time that I've stayed here, I've felt as though I've become close with you, as though I truly have a home" he paused for a brief moment and continued. "In this time that we've shared, I cam to realize that. I. I love you Arie" he finished.
"I." Arie-Sung replied, stunned. "I love you too, Himura"
"But." Kenshin began doubtfully. "Out age difference, what will people say?" he asked.
"It doesn't matter," Arie-Sung replied. "So long as you're here with me. Promise that you'll never leave."
"I promise" Kenshin replied
"Promise, promise?" she whispered
"Promise, promise" he finished softly, and sealed it with a kiss.
Getting out of the spring, Arie-Sung dried the water and her tears with a towel. You said that you loved me she thought. You promise, promised to stay.
"So why did you leave me?!" she cried.