Work of fanfiction.

A few notes: First, when Shinji called out the attacks it was because Kenichi asked him to. Secondly, Hiko's name, cape, and sword are passed down to the next generation. This is not all told to you in the anime, but is told to you in the manga (which came first) Thirdly, (awkward word) there will be conflict in this story. This that you have been reading is simply set-up. Next, Katyn, GoS is not truly part of the timeline of Evangelion. Finally, Tenryu, you asked about a certain line. The only student of HM-Ryu that used a sakabatou in the RK canon was Kenshin, and only after the revolution. I took the story and twisted it a bit. HM-Ryu has become a school of katsujin-ken through the use of the sakabatou. Katsujin-ken takes out the destructive effect on a sword fighter's soul, and so there is no argument to not pass it on. Because HM-Ryu is now theoretically restricted to non-lethal weapons, it is taught in the same dojo as KK-Ryu. That's how thing are now. The reason students use a sakabatou instead of a plain unedged sword is because one can use the blade on things other than humans. Oh, yeah, this chapter should have a nice high Rurouni Kenshin-style sword action quotient.

Now on with the show! Screw schedules!

Blades and Love

"Right, Rei, let's go at it again."

"Hai." Rei rapped her nami iaito against Sakura's lightly, then smashed it to the side with the flat of her blade, trying for an easy 'stab win'. She started to thrust the unedged practice weapon forward, but quickly realized she needed it somewhere else.

Somewhere being blocking the slash coming in at her ankles. She stabbed the tip into the floor, gaining some extra purchase, and braced, all within a second. Sakura's blow 'spanged' off the anchored blade, unbalancing her. Rei added to the condition by pulling her nami iaito out of the ground, leading with her elbow.

The blow to her chin caught the Myojin sister and sent her stumbling backwards. Rei tried to press her advantage, but a wild wide swing nearly caught her, so she jumped back. "Nice, Rei," complimented Sakura, shaking her head. Damn! She's just as good as me now! How the hell should I do this? She sighed and sprang at Rei, with an upwards slash.

Rei dodged to the side and slashed in a wide arc where Sakura should have been. A hair too slow though. Sakura stabbed backwards at Rei's open front, but her aim was off. Rei's sword came down on her forearm. "Ahh!" yelped Sakura as she dropped her sword.

"I win," said Rei, breathing heavily, "Are we going to spar again, Sakura?"

"In a bit. Sit down." She patted the floor next to her. When Rei complied, she stretched, popping some joints. "You know, it's amazing how fast you and Shinji are learning these sword schools."

"Yes," mused Rei, "It is rather puzzling. I was under the impression that it took years to get to this level."

Sakura blew out a breath. "That's how it was for me. Same for Kenichi. Actually, to tell the truth, Kenichi is not a true master of Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu."

"What?"

"No one has since the 13th Hiko Sejiurou and Kenshin Himura could be. Since then, the ougi was not passed down. We only know its name: Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki, and that it's a form of battoujutsu."

"Strange. Battoujutsu is a well-known attack in Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu. Why would they not be able to figure it out?"

"I don't know. Strange, strange, strange."

"So I'm Kenshin Himura's reincarnation?" asked Shinji.

"I swear…everyone asks that." He shook his head. "No. What you have is Kenshin Himura's kenki, his swordsman spirit."

"So that's why…"

"You know all the techniques of the school, yes. And why you can fight so damn well."

"And why this sakabatou only feels right for me now?"

"Right. Samurai thought the sword was an extension of their soul, or something to channel it through. That sakabatou is tied to you now."

"But I won't start turning into him, right?"

"No. But from what we were told as children, you're a lot like him already. So long as you don't start saying 'oro', I think we're fine."

"Huh."

"It also means I should start calling you Hiko."

"What?"

"I don't know the Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki. Kenshin was the last one to learn it."

"It's very simple, but very effective. Battoujutsu leading with the left leg."

"The left leg. But you'd cut off your own leg like that!"

"No. One twists their body so that the blade misses themselves. The first strike generally is all that is needed, but if the enemy blocks that, you continue into a spin, making a second strike on the enemy who is drawn in by the strong vacuum created by the speed of the blade. It has never failed, but one cannot use it unless they truly wish to live. If you don't…"

"You die," filled in Kenichi, guessing the rest. "Maybe it's best that it isn't taught anymore."

"Yes, I think so. In this age of guns, it has no place."

"It is part of the past…"

"So is Second Impact."

"Yeah. Well, let's spar. You'll beat me, but it never hurts to stay sharp, ne?"

"Right." Shinji and Kenichi stood up from under the tree they had been sitting under and walked over to the waterfall. Shinji held his blade loosely in one hand, near the middle of the handle. Kenichi gripped his sakabatou tightly right up against the tsuba.

On an unspoken signal both of the males sprang at each other, blindingly fast. An interesting hallmark of Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu was the fact that its students didn't use blocks often. They slowed a person down. Dodging and swinging offensively at attacks were far more effective for 'pitting one against many'. So it was that their first swings were both attack and defense. They both sprang back and circled each other. Kenichi feinted a jump and Shinji made to defend against a Ryu Tsui Sen. The older fighter sprinted at the younger, attempting to 'clothesline' his opponent's stomach with the folded-steel weapon in his hands. Too slow. Shinji flipped over his instructor and spun around in a powerful two-handed swing. It actually caught the back of Kenichi's gi, ripping it. The older man hopped forwards, turning in mid-air in time to redirect what would've been a very painful strike at his head. His return blow missed Shinji, who he discovered was running up the waterfall. Somehow, they had gotten backed against the waterfall. Amazed at the spectacle of Shinji running vertically upwards, through the falling water, he had no time to react as Shinji flipped off the rock wall behind the waterfall and brought his sakabatou down on the other male's shoulder in a Ryu Tsui Sen. Kenichi fell. "Damn!" he said when he stood up, sopping wet, "Where did that move come from?"

"Matrix," answered Shinji sheepishly.

Kenichi laughed. "Hardly something Kenshin would've had access to."

"Want to go again?"

"Nah. Let's go back to the dojo."

Shinji was more than happy to do this.

Sakura blocked a series of blows from Rei and slashed at her head. Rei simply sat down under the blow and tried to sweep the other woman's legs out from under her.

No such luck. Sakura jumped over her leg and slashed downwards. Rei rolled out of the way and jumped to her feet. She dashed at Sakura, slashing upwards. The black-haired girl forced Rei's blade down, before trying to zip her's up it. Rei's strong kick to her stomach effectively put the kibosh on that plan.

Rei's eyes flicked to the door as it started to open. Sakura took the chance and smashed Rei in the side, sending her flying towards the door. Rei saw she was heading for the raised wood portion of the floor. It would be a painful landing.

Thank god for boyfriends training in hypersonic sword arts. Shinji caught her, giving her a discreet hug. Of course, swordsmen and swordswomen are rather observant, so both the Myojin siblings caught it, smiling slightly.

"I think that'll be enough for today, Rei. Why don't you and Shinji have some fun in town?

The still-new couple smiled and walked out the door, sheathed swords at their sides.

Like I said, screw schedules. You'll get chapter when I give them to you (yeah, like every day Kai-baka)! Figured you guys would like some sword action, so some sword action you get. Next chapter you get more Rei/Shinji interaction. The contest is still open. After the next chapter, I think I'll give you a nice long one and get Rei and Shinji back into Tokyo-3.

We'll see.

Ja na.