Me in a Tree, Remembering
Standard disclaimers apply
I had a teacher a long time ago, well more like a master, slavedriver, surrogate torturer who fed off my whimpers of horror after devising new and interesting ways to teach me how to use a sword. He had once been proclaimed throughout the lands as the greatest teacher a temple warrior could ask for until someone noble parent decided to sneak in some glimpses of their snotty childs life as an apprentice. Suffice to say he wasn't considered so great of a teacher after they caught their kid bandaging their own bruises. Sometimes I wish I had an interfering parent just like that, but nooo, I get a temple too eager to get rid of their unwanted orphans that' gives no thought to who they're giving them to.
I remember that bright sunny day when I first saw him. He was impossibly tall, a giant in my eyes. I must admit though, I was rather short then, still am but I'd slice anyone who say's so. He looked so sweet and handsome with a cart waiting behind him to carry me away from a life of cleaning floors and sewing smocks. His long black hair tied in a neat tail and the extravagant cloak resting on his wide shoulders, he was my savior, and then he made me walk home behind the cart which he sat in after filling it with jugs of what I now know were alcohol. Some great master.
I can still remember him fondly, he taught me a bunch of stuff. His first long winded drunken speech informed me that he was getting old (I couldn't tell), that he needed an heir for his sword style (the most I'd ever wielded was a mop), and that he really liked my hair. I must admit, he did have a way with doing my hair. Maybe he should have been a ladies maid instead of a sword master. I'll have to mention that to him the next time I see him. Strangely enough, the old, dying, 'I need an heir to learn my sword before I die' coot is still around with only a few grey hairs. I like to think they are the proud result of all my hard work.
He made me into the warrior I am today. My list of people who fear me grows daily. Why, just the other day I added 'little laundry maid who dyed my gi pink' to my list, unintentionally of course. I don't like to go around scaring people, but hey. You do what you gotta and I gotta wear a bright pink gi now. Well, more like magenta. Yeah, that sounds better. So now I have a grand total of three people who fear me. Some great warrior I am.
Tomorrow I go to the temple, the hallowed halls of peace where shy priestesses in need of protection sniffle and drop their hankies on the dirty floor and call a sleeping kitchen girl to come pick them up and immediately wash and dry and fold the properly. Yeah, I'm so looking forward to it. I'm to take my final test as a warrior, this test will allow me to escort priestesses as they travel from temple to temple. This job could lead to an actual position as a temple guard. Yay, job safety.
Can you tell how excited I am about this?
So I get to go and beat up some over painted freaks who think they know how to use a sword. The innkeeper where I'm staying for the night actually offered to let me borrow one of his girls to help with my 'ceremonial tattooing' whatever the hell that means. I thanked him kindly (Shishou did at least teach me to be polite) then said no. I have enough marks already, I don't need any weird colors to highlight my scarred complexion. I think wearing the magenta gi will be enough to make an impression in the judges minds. That and my sword, or maybe even my sword style. Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu is not a common style, known but rarely seen.
Well, the competition begins as the first rays of the sun hit the tallest spire of the temple, conveniently polished to reflect any early light so the judges can begin taking off points by declaring a late sleeping warrior as 'LATE', and here comes the sun. Hmm.. I'll have to spend more time in trees again, being away form Shishou for so long has gotten me out of the habit of finding a high and secure place to sleep in.
Why, there're some of my fellow warriors right now as brightly painted as a cheap town whore. Hmm.. I think the buff one should've gone for a slightly duller shade of blue. He's actually glittering in the torchlight.
To be continued
next chapter: introduction to wolves
Author's Note
So far so good, at least in my opinion. For those who are already questioning, this is a K&K fic with pretty much all the RK characters involved, I've even tossed Tomoe into the bunch. Now K might take a couple chapters until K shows up, but I think I can keep you entertained until then. So, wait with baited breaths please.
I ALSO DO REQUESTS
Tell em what you want and I'll see if I can work it in. And yes.. There is some lemony goodness planned for later on.
Standard disclaimers apply
I had a teacher a long time ago, well more like a master, slavedriver, surrogate torturer who fed off my whimpers of horror after devising new and interesting ways to teach me how to use a sword. He had once been proclaimed throughout the lands as the greatest teacher a temple warrior could ask for until someone noble parent decided to sneak in some glimpses of their snotty childs life as an apprentice. Suffice to say he wasn't considered so great of a teacher after they caught their kid bandaging their own bruises. Sometimes I wish I had an interfering parent just like that, but nooo, I get a temple too eager to get rid of their unwanted orphans that' gives no thought to who they're giving them to.
I remember that bright sunny day when I first saw him. He was impossibly tall, a giant in my eyes. I must admit though, I was rather short then, still am but I'd slice anyone who say's so. He looked so sweet and handsome with a cart waiting behind him to carry me away from a life of cleaning floors and sewing smocks. His long black hair tied in a neat tail and the extravagant cloak resting on his wide shoulders, he was my savior, and then he made me walk home behind the cart which he sat in after filling it with jugs of what I now know were alcohol. Some great master.
I can still remember him fondly, he taught me a bunch of stuff. His first long winded drunken speech informed me that he was getting old (I couldn't tell), that he needed an heir for his sword style (the most I'd ever wielded was a mop), and that he really liked my hair. I must admit, he did have a way with doing my hair. Maybe he should have been a ladies maid instead of a sword master. I'll have to mention that to him the next time I see him. Strangely enough, the old, dying, 'I need an heir to learn my sword before I die' coot is still around with only a few grey hairs. I like to think they are the proud result of all my hard work.
He made me into the warrior I am today. My list of people who fear me grows daily. Why, just the other day I added 'little laundry maid who dyed my gi pink' to my list, unintentionally of course. I don't like to go around scaring people, but hey. You do what you gotta and I gotta wear a bright pink gi now. Well, more like magenta. Yeah, that sounds better. So now I have a grand total of three people who fear me. Some great warrior I am.
Tomorrow I go to the temple, the hallowed halls of peace where shy priestesses in need of protection sniffle and drop their hankies on the dirty floor and call a sleeping kitchen girl to come pick them up and immediately wash and dry and fold the properly. Yeah, I'm so looking forward to it. I'm to take my final test as a warrior, this test will allow me to escort priestesses as they travel from temple to temple. This job could lead to an actual position as a temple guard. Yay, job safety.
Can you tell how excited I am about this?
So I get to go and beat up some over painted freaks who think they know how to use a sword. The innkeeper where I'm staying for the night actually offered to let me borrow one of his girls to help with my 'ceremonial tattooing' whatever the hell that means. I thanked him kindly (Shishou did at least teach me to be polite) then said no. I have enough marks already, I don't need any weird colors to highlight my scarred complexion. I think wearing the magenta gi will be enough to make an impression in the judges minds. That and my sword, or maybe even my sword style. Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu is not a common style, known but rarely seen.
Well, the competition begins as the first rays of the sun hit the tallest spire of the temple, conveniently polished to reflect any early light so the judges can begin taking off points by declaring a late sleeping warrior as 'LATE', and here comes the sun. Hmm.. I'll have to spend more time in trees again, being away form Shishou for so long has gotten me out of the habit of finding a high and secure place to sleep in.
Why, there're some of my fellow warriors right now as brightly painted as a cheap town whore. Hmm.. I think the buff one should've gone for a slightly duller shade of blue. He's actually glittering in the torchlight.
To be continued
next chapter: introduction to wolves
Author's Note
So far so good, at least in my opinion. For those who are already questioning, this is a K&K fic with pretty much all the RK characters involved, I've even tossed Tomoe into the bunch. Now K might take a couple chapters until K shows up, but I think I can keep you entertained until then. So, wait with baited breaths please.
I ALSO DO REQUESTS
Tell em what you want and I'll see if I can work it in. And yes.. There is some lemony goodness planned for later on.