Konnichiwa minna-san!! K, here's Chapter 17!!! I feel so special!!!! And thank you to everybody who keeps reviewing and to all those who have just started ^___^
Disclaimer: I'm not going to say this anymore: I do not, have never, and will never own Rurouni Kenshin.
Claimer: Last time: I own Akeno and he's up for sale.
~*~*~*~*~Training Hall~*~*~*~*~
"Konnichiwa, Kamiya-san," greeted Aoshi as he stepped into the Training Hall.
Kaoru jumped, "Oh, Aoshi-san, you startled me. I just finished sweeping." She bowed out the door, leaving the ex-Okashira to his training.
Sweat was beginning to drip down his back when he heard voices. "Onegai? I'm pretty strong, you know!" He smiled, he'd recognize Misao's voice anywhere.
"Hai, if you really want to, demo I don't want to hurt you…" His smile disappeared; that was Soujirou's voice.
"Mou! I'll be just fine!"
He looked up to find Misao challenging Soujirou to a spar. She knew how strong the Tenken was, but she insisted she was strong enough to beat him. That was his Misao.
Misao stopped her pleading when she saw Aoshi, "Aoshi-sama!" she cried, delighted, "You think I'm strong enough to beat Sou-chan, ne?"
Inwardly, he winced at the –chan, but outside, he showed nothing. "…"
"Aoshi-sama?"
"Hai," he replied.
It was one word, but her face shined. "See?" She pulled out her kunai; she had twenty this time, and faced him. Soujirou reluctantly pulled out his sword and got into a battle stance. And they were off! Misao, expertly flipping and dodging Soujirou's blade, evaded his attacks, throwing kunai along the way. Soujirou slowly sliced through the air, dodging Misao's kunai easily. He went incredibly easy on her, and the young ninja began to get frustrated. She flipped over him and, pushing herself sideways off the wall, threw three kunai at his unsuspecting back and, in the nick of time, jump-kicked him in the back, throwing him on his belly, the kunai missing his head by inches. They hit the wall with a dull 'thud', a few brown hairs hanging from their points.
Soujirou lifted his head and stared at his lost hairs in wonder and surprise. He stood up and smiled. "Good job, Misao-chan! I wasn't expecting you to do that!"
Misao straightened up proudly, "It never does to underestimate girls, especially Makimachi Misao, Okashira of the Oniwabaanshuu!" Aoshi smiled slightly. Yup, that was his Misao.
Misao crouched down and attacked again. They flew at each other again and again. Soujirou was clearly holding himself back, almost completely, and Misao, determined to make him attack full strength, refused to give in. Finally, Aoshi couldn't take it anymore. Misao's body was about to collapse; he had to do something. Misao struck and Soujirou raised his sword in defense. He made no move to attack, or even parry her blow, and she flipped out of the way. Soujirou closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and swinging it out in a wide arc, sheathed his sword. Misao landed softly behind him like a cat. She grinned shakily; her intense training was taking its toll. She stood up and turned around, but Aoshi, in a blur of white, stepped in front of her, blocking her view of Soujirou. "No, Misao, you have been training hard all afternoon. You need to rest. Go inside and lay down."
Misao shook her head, "Aoshi-sama! I'm not tired, I want to fight Soujirou! I want to fight him when he's not holding back!"
"You will get hurt."
"But it will make me stronger."
"The difference in your abilities if immense; I will not allow you to fight."
"Mou! What will you do to stop me? I am Okashira now."
"I am older and bigger than you are. I can stop you easily. I do not want to see you hurt. You may not be tired, but you're body is on the brink of collapse. You may train more tomorrow."
"No. Aoshi-sama, onegai, move."
He sighed, "Soujirou, do you not agree with me?" He hated to bring the Tenken into this, but it was the only way to make Misao see.
Soujirou smiled and nodded, "Gomen, Misao-chan, demo I will agree with Shinomori-san. You fought very well, and I can see that your skills are much better than I had anticipated. Why don't we do more tomorrow, like Shinomori-san said?"
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K, I now this was short, so forgive me. I'm going to start finishing up soon, tell me what you think. Btw, I LOVE SENKO TENROU FOR HELPNG ME WITH FORMATTING *huggles* ^_____________________^
Recommendations: All of sol-li's stories, this is another writer I really admire
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Bloodfang :::~::: by sol-li IY: PG-13
Lost For a Time :::~::: by sol-li IY: PG
Reunion :::~::: by sol-li IY: PG
Ice :::~::: by sol-li IY: PG-13
Dark Night :::~::: by sol-li IY: PG
Lost Shadows On the Floor :::~::: by sol-li IY: PG
The Tempestuous Lives of the Virtuous :::~::: by sol-li IY: PG-13
***Doppelganger*** :::~::: by sol-li IY: PG-13