Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or creations from Rurouni Kenshin. But I do share ownership of the original characters with other authors/readers. There's my disclaimer, so… have a nice day… or night.
The Black Sakura – The Birth of Warriors – By Cherry Chibi
Chapter Eight
~*~ 1/ The Black Sakura ~*~
Surreal stood a couple of steps away from Kaoru. She had cut her black hair and now it was no longer than her chin. Kaoru was teaching her how to get rid of the blades that had appeared out on the sides of her shoulders ever since the night Tomoe's curse formed.
"Come on Surreal!" Kaoru encouraged, "It isn't really hard, you can make those blades vanish." Her crystal blue eyes shone brightly. She watched the seventeen-year-old demon-vampire struggled. Surreal's ki was reeking with power that caused winds to stir up around them.
Surreal crushed her eyes shut in concentration in an attempt to make the blades sticking out of her upper forearms vanish. The blades flickered transparent and opaque a few times until they stopped flickering. She opened her eyes and realised that the blades were still there. She frowned and growled. *I can't do it! I'm so hopeless! I don't know how to do it! * Surreal fell onto her knees.
"It's not that hard Surreal, I'll show you…" Kaoru walked up to Surreal and placed her fingertips on Surreal's forehead. She closed her eyes. Power surged down Kaoru's arm and flowed into Surreal's mind.
Surreal's violet eyes swirled with amber. Surreal slowly felt what it should feel like to be able to vanish the blades. She felt the amount of energy pulsing through her body. Kaoru was allowing Surreal into Kaoru's mind to feel what its like to be able to do that task. A few seconds passed and Kaoru then broke the connection and stepped back.
"Now try Surreal!"
Surreal concentrated and then pulsed her energy to the blades. Instantly, the blades vanished and they formed metal bands around her wrists. Each engraved with a black sakura. She looked at her wrists with amazement. *Wow…*
Kaoru smiled. "That wasn't so hard was it?" She held out her hand, "Now time for your end of the deal." Surreal pulled out her beloved weapon from inside her black kimono sleeve – Ebony Kiss. She gave it to Kaoru.
*I still don't see why you would want my weapon* Surreal thought telepathically to Kaoru.
Kaoru just smiled. "Don't worry Surreal, I need it for an ornament get away in the darkness. It has an aura that is pleasant. Besides, you've already got a new weapon." Kaoru dug her small hands into the sleeve of her floral pattern sky blue kimono and took out a small silver ring. "Here, the jewel on it is jet. I've cast a spell on it that will protect you. And in case you're wondering, whenever you need a weapon, just reverse the spell and those wrist bands should turn into twin blades."
Surreal wasn't really concerned about how she would fight with her new weapons. The words that Kaoru had said worried her. Who would say that an aura from a killing weapon is pleasant? That really confused her.
Kaoru's face expression suddenly looked happier. A telepathic message had just been sent to Kaoru. "Oh, I'm sorry Surreal, Shinta is waiting for me for my first magic craft lesson. Wish me luck!" Kaoru then vanished.
'No, I wish Shinta good luck.' Surreal thought. Little does Kaoru know but her uncontrolled power was truly unimaginably strong that the thought of getting the girl pissed off would scare the shit out of anyone.
~*~ 2/ Oniwabanshuu ~*~
"Misao, I don't think that this is a good idea," Orion said as she followed Misao on the treetops. Orion's pointy furry ears were on the alert for any bounty hunters. They were on their way to see Shinta teach Kaoru craft that was pretty much a scary thought.
"If we don't see what Kaoru is capable of, when it's our turn to teach, we're dead meat. Besides, it would be fun to watch." Misao said to her guardian. She leapt over to another tree branch.
"Wait up!" Celeste called as she caught up with the two. "You two go too fast for me sometimes." She said, "I have something important to say, Okashira has called us to resign and return to the Aoiya."
The other two were shocked. "But why?" Orion finally blurted out.
Celeste shrugged. "I don't know. But we have to follow orders. He said that he wants us to go be back there today. Kari has already gone back. She seems to know what's going on." Celeste continued her report.
Misao sat on the tree branch with a wistful look. "You two go back."
"WHAT?"
"I said that the both of you could go back. I want to stay. I want to stay longer since I think that Kaoru needs support." Misao explained, "I know why he would want us to return."
"Why?" Celeste asked.
"Because he wants to come here himself."
Orion and Celeste nodded their heads. "In that case," Celeste said, "I'll go back." Orion shook her head; she didn't want to leave yet.
"I'll stay for the time being." Orion said, "After all, I'm Misao's guardian."
"Alright, it's settled, see you." Celeste said with a smile, "Take care."
"You too." Misao said.
* * * *
Aoshi pulled on his trench coat and stepped out of the Aoiya. So Misao was going to wait for him? He sighed unnoticeably. She was always there for him but he couldn't return the favour. He didn't know how to. He was going there so that he could help the Black Sakura harness her power and become the strongest she could be.
But now that Misao and Orion are going to be there as well, maybe there would be more to the reasons to go as well.
"Okashira…"
"What is it Kari?" He questioned coolly.
Kari bowed her head. "Please take care of Misao, if you let her go, you'll lose her." Kari said in a cold voice. Aoshi pondered at her words and nodded slightly to show his acknowledgement. She smiled at him.
~*~ 3/ Revolution ~*~
Sanosuke stretched his brown feathery wings. He prepared for flight when suddenly he felt a small tug on his white shirt. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Tsubame. "What is it Missy?"
"Um… I…" Tsubame started nervously.
Sano sighed. "If you want something say it out loud."
Tsubame blushed and nodded. "Could you teach me… how to fly?" Her black feathery wings nervously. Sano looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. She decided that she should continue and explained in a shy voice. "I… was never taught. My parents were killed by bounty hunters and the rest of my family flew away, leaving me behind. Kaoru took me in."
Sano nodded. "Fine, let's start with basics."
Tsubame smiled. "Ok."
"First, show me how you flap your wings. You should do them like this." Sano demonstrated by flapping the brown wings on his back forwards and backwards. Tsubame concentrated and copied his actions. At first, it felt uncomfortable since she hadn't ever done anything like this but soon it became almost instinct. "Relax a little." Sano interjected. Tsubame nodded. "That's better."
Next, Sano showed Tsubame how to properly do a run-up and lift off. "You need to gather as much speed as you can so you can get higher faster." Sano explained while Tsubame nodded. "I'll help you first time round." He stood behind Tsubame while she sprinted forward, she leapt and spread her wings out. She couldn't lift off but a sudden grip around her waist helped her.
"This should make you understand how it should feel to lift off." Sano said, they both landed. "Try it again, this time, don't hesitate."
Tsubame nodded. Perspiration was gathering and dripping from her face. It was hard work.
* * * *
Yahiko watched Tsubame from inside the dojo with a smile. A part of him wished that he had wings so that he could fly up. At least Tsubame understood who she was. A Kite, beings of the skies and mountains. He however, was told before by Kaoru that he was a Fighting Guardian. He didn't exactly know how to word it out to put an answer to it. Did that mean he was a demon? Or some sort of elf?
Yahiko shook his head with frustration. He couldn't figure it out. Suddenly a gust of wind blew him back. He looked outside and grinned Tsubame had finally taken off by herself.
* * * *
"I did it!" Tsubame said, amazed that her feet were inches off the ground. She flapped her wings steadily to remain in the air. "I did it!"
Sano grinned, "Yeah, you did." He flapped his wings slowly and lifted off the ground, "Now that you've gotten the basics down, all you need is to practice and you'll be gliding in the skies in no time."
"Thank you Sanosuke!" Tsubame said with a broad smile. "How about I cook you lunch?"
"That's not a bad idea."
~*~ 4/ The Black Sakura ~*~
Shinta faded the shield that he had placed around him. Maybe teaching Kaoru basic craft wasn't a very good idea. He looked around at his surroundings, once clutches of trees now only plains of grass, rivers and other natural things. Kaoru was able to do some really amazing things; she could make waterfalls, rivers and trees come to life but she couldn't even concentrate her power to lift a single rock!
Kaoru frowned and kicked the rock that hadn't budged all afternoon with frustration. "I'm hopeless! I can't do it!" She made a boulder appear and sat on it boiling inside.
"All it takes is practice Kaoru." Shinta said calmly with a warm smile.
"Oh yeah, me, I'm just a power-packed girl just like Battousai thought." Kaoru mumbled. "I can't even lift a rock without turning my surroundings into grass, water, dirt or air." She neatened her raven hair back into a ponytail and tightened the ribbon which them vanished in a puff of flames. "ARGH!"
~*~ 5/ Oniwabanshuu ~*~
"Oh dear… Kaoru's having a tough time." Misao said as she gazed down and the scene from the treetops. Orion was beside her.
"She's attracting attention from Bounty Hunters." Orion said with a growl. "Those two better get out of there before the Bounty Hunters reach this area."
Misao furrowed her eyebrows together. She hadn't heard a word that Orion had said, she pondered about how can someone have so much power and be able to do so many difficult things but not be able to do simple things.
A surge of energy pulsed heavily in the air and blew Misao and Orion in the wind. A loud frustrated growl echoed in the air.
"Shit! Get out of here!"
Orion quickly teleported the two of them away from the area. An explosion engulfed the area with a sea of water.
~*~ 6/ The Black Sakura ~*~
Kaoru felt the water quickly freeze over her skin as she felt her frustration build. Shinta once again faded the shield that was protecting him. A nervous look was plastered all over.
"I think that's enough lesson for now Kaoru." Shinta said. "You should get some relaxation."
~*~
AN: Another chapter! *smiles* Hope you all enjoyed it! Thanks for the support! I'm so happy!
Fire Kitsune: Nice to see you again! Thanks for reading and reviewing! ^o^x
Nee-chan: Well, whether you did or didn't review chapter 7 doesn't really bother me. As long as you're reading and enjoying. ^-^x You were right about why Kaoru was so powerful. Her powers aren't yet controlled as you can tell in this chapter. ^-^x
RKKL: You're grounded? Oh dear, well, you're not the only one. Someone else was grounded as well. Hope that it wouldn't be too long.
Fanfiction Wanderer: Thanks for reading and for the feedback! Glad that you said that it was getting more interesting. ^-^x
LittoGrrlStephie: Yeah… my last chapter was actually two pages but this one is longer. ^.^x And yep, no more bad guys for a while. A long while. And no problems for the poem, happy to help. ^-^x Hope that your exams go well! Good luck! BTW, update as soon as you can, of course, studying is a priority hm? V^.^x
Moonlight's Sorrow: That's good that you didn't get into trouble. A few of my friends/reviewers get into trouble for reading my stories at the wrong time. -.-; Thanks for reading!
Thanks everyone! Until the next time…
~ Cherry Chibi