Beyond the Darkness Chapter 3: A rather eventful Visit, a rurouni kenshin fanfic

Kenshin really wasn't sure what to think of the sites that were now being displayed before him. The various men within the dojo seemed to be leering up a storm as Kaoru passed, even Yahiko was looking at them all with disgust. Kenshin's insides twisted as he looked at the number of men in there, each staring at her as though they had never had the privilege to look at a woman. He gave glares to those who were leering the most, and they all backed away, their faces turning a little pale. He noted that with satisfaction, and then did a double take. Why was he behaving so? Shaking his head he dropped his eyes to the floor and kept them there. If Kaoru didn't like it then she would say something about it, but she had said nothing and, in fact, apparently didn't notice. Kenshin sighed and followed her across the room to where the dojo's master stood waiting for them. He bowed to them and all three bowed back.

"Kamiya-san, thank you for coming to train in our dojo." He said. He was a big man, his hair was long and graying and kept in a neat topknot. Kenshin had no doubt that this man, too, had probably once served in the bakamatsu. He really wasn't sure what to think of this man, he seemed very hardened and his cool gaze wasn't quite so welcoming, in fact, it almost contradicted his courteous words.

"Who is it that you have brought with you?" He asked, indicating Yahiko and Kenshin with a slight gesture with one hand.

"Sakaki-san, this is my student Myojin, Yahiko. And, this is Himura, Kenshin." She told him. Kenshin bowed once more.

"A swordsman are you? Well then, we shall spar." He proclaimed. Kenshin gave him a smile and put up his hands.

"No Sakaki-san, this one will not spar. I do not use my sword, save to protect." Kenshin answered. The man stared at him for a couple of moments before blinking.

"No?" Kenshin shook his head. "Too bad then, I was looking forward to sparring with someone today, guess it won't be you." He said.

"Sakaki-san? I would like to start practice now, if that is alright." Kaoru piped up. He nodded gravely and sat down, gesturing for Kenshin to do the same. Kenshin sat and folded his arms into the sleeves of his gi, crossing his legs. He laid the sakabatou on the floor next to him, within easy reach.

"So, Himura-san...are you also Kamiya Kasshin Ryu?" Kenshin shook his head.

"No, that is not the sword style that is this one's choice." He told the larger man. He looked up and noticed that he was receiving a rather avid death glare from the other man. Kenshin glared back at him, though not as harshly as he had at the students who had been staring at Kaoru, for a few moments and then smiled, trying to tell him that if he fought with him, he would not win the battle. The other man seemed surprised at his reaction. He had probably expected Kenshin to take offense, at the prominence of his glaring, and challenge him but little did he know that Kenshin was not that kind of man. Instead he started a conversation.

"So Sakaki-san, if you do not mind this one asking, did you act within the bakamatsu?" The man seemed to take pleasure in this conversation. He probably thought that it was just a youth's curiosity. Little did he know that he was not as young as he appeared.

"Well of course I did, but those were dark days."

"Hai, dark indeed were the days when the streets ran with blood and all feared that they would die if they went to sleep." Kenshin said, remembering the chaos and bloodshed of those days when he had been but a youth, a simple child, but one that had been able to kill. He looked over at the other man and saw that he had a look of surprise on his face. Kenshin smiled.

"I am not all that young." His lavender gaze turned to the dojo floor where so many were practicing. He couldn't make out Kaoru, but didn't worry about it.

"Yes...none of the youth today could possibly have eyes as deep as yours." Sakaki agreed, also turning his gaze to the crowd.

"Then you too must have lived in fear of the name of Hitokiri Battosai. He took the lives of many in my family...what about you, did he take any of your loved ones?" Kenshin's smile became rueful and his eyes turned sad.

"Yes..." Sakaki grunted.

"Well, I'm sure he got what was coming to him. He's probably dead by now anyway. He must've been quite old then to have such mastery over a sword."

"I'm sure that he suffers because of all the pain he caused, and I am quite certain that he is not dead, I would say he is only about thirty." He answered.

"That young? Well, I hope that his death will be painful and lonely." He said, his voice seeming to seethe with hatred.

"Hmm. Can you not forgive him and move on?" He asked. Sakaki gave him a dangerous look.

"I can never forgive him for all of the pain he caused in my life." Sakaki hissed.

"But, how then, can one make atonement for one's past, without the forgiveness of those who have been wounded?" Kenshin asked quietly. His eyes widened even farther than they had before.

"Y-you." He whispered, his voice cracking.

"Hey! Stop it!" Kenshin's attention was immediately diverted to the crowd of people as Kaoru's shout invaded his senses. A man had Yahiko by the collar and his fist was half raised. Kaoru had caught his arm in her hand and was staring at him angrily. The man scoffed and threw Yahiko to the ground. The youth landed with a dull thud on his rump. He raised his hand to Kaoru this time and Kenshin moved almost without being seen. He grabbed the man's wrist and held it in an iron grip, not caring whether or not he was hurting him.

"That is quite enough!" He hissed. The man's eyes widened in fright and he paled. His hand went limp and Kenshin let go. The man simply let it fall to his side as though he could no longer work it. He bent and helped Yahiko to his feet and turned to Kaoru.

"Are you alright Kaoru-dono?" She nodded her cheeks red with a blush. Kenshin didn't see why, but it was not his place to question women. He turned to face where he had come from up on the dais. He had somehow found a way to take his sakabatou with him when he got up and now placed it back into his belt.

"If we may Sakaki-san...I think it would be best if we returned to Kamiya dojo and never came back here again." He told the other man earnestly. Sakaki nodded.

"Yes Himura-san I think that would be a marvelous idea." He said tightly. Kenshin bowed to him, his stomach tight. He had just made himself another enemy. Sighing tiredly he turned and headed out the dojo door, Kaoru and Yahiko close on his heels.