A/N: I'm gonna have to change POVs fromthird to first, but the only first I'll have is Kenshin so that'll make it easier on you
is mind to mind talk
[......] is Kenshin POV quickie thought
An Introduction to Roosters and Wolves
standard disclaimers apply
Hana Temple awoke to the dawn with an unfurling of celebratory flags and cheerful sounds of singing. The festival of warriors was to begin today. Apprentice warriors from around the country had traveled to compete for the coveted sashes that would proclaim them as full warriors to be respected and feared by the populace. Brightly clothes crowds had already begun to ring the tournament grounds and the connected pens where the warriors were held before combat.
"Mommy, look, that one has a fox tail on his head."
[no, must not kill children]
"Hush little one, that's his hair."
"Why is it so bright?"
"People from the north have bright hair."
"Where's north?"
[yes, thankyou. Please continue to teach your child at an early age about my home and the disgusting differences between us and you.]
"Well, Foxtail, are you gonna let that woman get away with what she just said?" A muffled voice from beside me and above me spoke up. "A warrior should never let an insult such as that pass."
I lift my head from it's hanging position and stare upwards, far upwards. Gosh, can a person be any taller. "It's not like I can do much about it from here," I reply. I use my sheathed sword to help me stand. "It's a child's words. I would concern myself more over the name you just gave me than a child wondering at my hair color, that I would."
"Hey, no harm done with a name, just correct my mistake. My name's Sanosuke Sagara, and yours is?"
I study the tall ?warrior? For a moment before replying. He doesn't seem to have a weapon or at least not one that looks to be easily brought to hand. His wrists and forearms are wrapped with bandages, ahh.. A fist fighter. The knuckles give him away. "My name is Kenshin, Kenshin Himura." He flashed me a grin as his eyes traveled over me trying to check out his competiti.... oooh.. There he goes, he noticed my secret, well not much of a secret more like a surprise.
"You.. You're.. You are a..." His eyes are wide, very nice eyes that remind me of the forest during those rare golden sunsets. All warm and brown and such.
"GIRL"
[DIE BASTARD]
"And your point is?" This one I won't let off easy. Now he's got the entire corral full of overly muscled warriors who have trained for years for a chance at the positions being offered, looking straight at me. What I wouldn't give for a good metal chest plate sometimes.
"Women can't be warriors!"
Ooooh, now he's getting me mad. "Well, let me think. If I remember my history correctly, and I'm sure that I do, some of the best temple warriors have been female, such as Aya Mikage, Miaka Yuki, and even the often times misunderstood Akane Tendo. Why don't you just close your mouth and let the judges decide if I'm good enough of a woman to become a full fledged temple warrior, ok, Tori-Atama?"
"Tori-Atama?" His eyes show his confusion. Shishou delighted in making me different than everyone else, even to the point of teaching me a dead language, one which he claimed had to have belonged to my ancestors 'cause only the northern Choshu clan ever had fire red hair like I do.
"Learn a little ancient speak and you'll figure it out, but for now, look to the fore, our premier judge has come to show her colors." I turned form him and stared pointedly at a point above the many absorbed men's shoulders where I could see a glinting shine form a golden head, and there was only one golden head in the word that shined like that. Why'd she have to be my groups judge. Shishou set this up, I just know he did.
A tall woman dressed in a dark blue kimono stepped into the corral. "I'm only going to say this once. I will not tolerate impudence, indiscretion, mutiny, or evil. You will conduct yourselves as warriors of the temple or your name will be permanently struck from the lists." Black ringed yellow eyes narrowed as they scanned the group in front of her. They stop on me, why did they stop on me. I am an inncoent apprentice, just an itinerant warrior, wandering samurai, whatever you wanna call me. I'm harmless. Please don't say anythi...
"You, with the red hair, step forward." Five steps and I'm in front of everyone again. Once more the main focus of attention. Close enough to wonder how she gets her hair to stay in that peculiar style. I've never been able to brush my hair straight back and let it hang and not have the strands continuously getting in front of my eyes, though she does have some strands hanging in front of her face, four of them to be exact. The fall from her forehead to just below her chin yet they stand out from her face like insect legs. Maybe I don't want to know how she did that.
"I remember you. You're Hiko's little girl, aren't you?" I nod slightly. "Think you'll be able to win without killing too many people?"
[what? Another female sharing a joke with me? And a female of her status? Wonder of wonders]
"I've taken care of that Lady Fujita. I'll shed no blood today." Let her dwell on that.
"Hmm, it'll be interesting to see of you've truly learned as much as your master claims to have taught you. Your skills, at least on paper," Lady Fujita smirked. "They've placed you with some of the strongest warriors. Maybe you should rethink your position. You are a little on the small side."
"My thanks for your concern, but I will take my place among these fighters, that I will." I take a step back to signify the end of the conversation, she allows me this privilege.
She looks me up and down, her eyes widening as she sees the sword at my side. "Well, we will just have to keep a close eye on you. Hiko would attempt to hurl something at me if his little golden girl got abused at the tournament." She raised an eyebrow and shook her head slightly. "On with the show"
"Listen up you morons, as you already know, you've signed up for the Tournament of Warriors so here are the rules. You will each be given a set of sashes, these are to be tied one around each wrist and ankle, one around your waist, your forehead and you're neck. To win your first fight you must keep at least one sash intact after slicing or pulling off all of your opponent's sashes. Your first fight of the day will be a group melee consisting of six of you. There will be a total of three of these fights, therefore only three of you will pass to the next level. Any questions?"
Tori-Atama was stupid enough to walk forward. "I'm a fist fighter. How am I supposed to slice a sash?"
Lady Fujita grinned. "That, moron, is for you to decide. These are the rules."
"But...." A quick glance of full force eyes of doom at the silly boy and he hushed up.
"I will now call the names of the first six to participate."
Neither Tori-Atama nor I get called leaving twelve of us in the pen. The chosen six leave quietly to be given their sashes and a more thorough briefing, or maybe not. In the distance i can hear the crowd beginning to yell. The first fights must be underway. Gods, but it's hot, where did that water girl go?
To be continued
next chapter: A Plague of Hakama Ties
A/N: Well? How'd you like it? Tell me Tell me! If there's anything you'd like to see.. Tell me Tell me! Don't look for waff for about another couple of chapters. I'm developing the harder side of the characters right now.
is mind to mind talk
[......] is Kenshin POV quickie thought
An Introduction to Roosters and Wolves
standard disclaimers apply
Hana Temple awoke to the dawn with an unfurling of celebratory flags and cheerful sounds of singing. The festival of warriors was to begin today. Apprentice warriors from around the country had traveled to compete for the coveted sashes that would proclaim them as full warriors to be respected and feared by the populace. Brightly clothes crowds had already begun to ring the tournament grounds and the connected pens where the warriors were held before combat.
"Mommy, look, that one has a fox tail on his head."
[no, must not kill children]
"Hush little one, that's his hair."
"Why is it so bright?"
"People from the north have bright hair."
"Where's north?"
[yes, thankyou. Please continue to teach your child at an early age about my home and the disgusting differences between us and you.]
"Well, Foxtail, are you gonna let that woman get away with what she just said?" A muffled voice from beside me and above me spoke up. "A warrior should never let an insult such as that pass."
I lift my head from it's hanging position and stare upwards, far upwards. Gosh, can a person be any taller. "It's not like I can do much about it from here," I reply. I use my sheathed sword to help me stand. "It's a child's words. I would concern myself more over the name you just gave me than a child wondering at my hair color, that I would."
"Hey, no harm done with a name, just correct my mistake. My name's Sanosuke Sagara, and yours is?"
I study the tall ?warrior? For a moment before replying. He doesn't seem to have a weapon or at least not one that looks to be easily brought to hand. His wrists and forearms are wrapped with bandages, ahh.. A fist fighter. The knuckles give him away. "My name is Kenshin, Kenshin Himura." He flashed me a grin as his eyes traveled over me trying to check out his competiti.... oooh.. There he goes, he noticed my secret, well not much of a secret more like a surprise.
"You.. You're.. You are a..." His eyes are wide, very nice eyes that remind me of the forest during those rare golden sunsets. All warm and brown and such.
"GIRL"
[DIE BASTARD]
"And your point is?" This one I won't let off easy. Now he's got the entire corral full of overly muscled warriors who have trained for years for a chance at the positions being offered, looking straight at me. What I wouldn't give for a good metal chest plate sometimes.
"Women can't be warriors!"
Ooooh, now he's getting me mad. "Well, let me think. If I remember my history correctly, and I'm sure that I do, some of the best temple warriors have been female, such as Aya Mikage, Miaka Yuki, and even the often times misunderstood Akane Tendo. Why don't you just close your mouth and let the judges decide if I'm good enough of a woman to become a full fledged temple warrior, ok, Tori-Atama?"
"Tori-Atama?" His eyes show his confusion. Shishou delighted in making me different than everyone else, even to the point of teaching me a dead language, one which he claimed had to have belonged to my ancestors 'cause only the northern Choshu clan ever had fire red hair like I do.
"Learn a little ancient speak and you'll figure it out, but for now, look to the fore, our premier judge has come to show her colors." I turned form him and stared pointedly at a point above the many absorbed men's shoulders where I could see a glinting shine form a golden head, and there was only one golden head in the word that shined like that. Why'd she have to be my groups judge. Shishou set this up, I just know he did.
A tall woman dressed in a dark blue kimono stepped into the corral. "I'm only going to say this once. I will not tolerate impudence, indiscretion, mutiny, or evil. You will conduct yourselves as warriors of the temple or your name will be permanently struck from the lists." Black ringed yellow eyes narrowed as they scanned the group in front of her. They stop on me, why did they stop on me. I am an inncoent apprentice, just an itinerant warrior, wandering samurai, whatever you wanna call me. I'm harmless. Please don't say anythi...
"You, with the red hair, step forward." Five steps and I'm in front of everyone again. Once more the main focus of attention. Close enough to wonder how she gets her hair to stay in that peculiar style. I've never been able to brush my hair straight back and let it hang and not have the strands continuously getting in front of my eyes, though she does have some strands hanging in front of her face, four of them to be exact. The fall from her forehead to just below her chin yet they stand out from her face like insect legs. Maybe I don't want to know how she did that.
"I remember you. You're Hiko's little girl, aren't you?" I nod slightly. "Think you'll be able to win without killing too many people?"
[what? Another female sharing a joke with me? And a female of her status? Wonder of wonders]
"I've taken care of that Lady Fujita. I'll shed no blood today." Let her dwell on that.
"Hmm, it'll be interesting to see of you've truly learned as much as your master claims to have taught you. Your skills, at least on paper," Lady Fujita smirked. "They've placed you with some of the strongest warriors. Maybe you should rethink your position. You are a little on the small side."
"My thanks for your concern, but I will take my place among these fighters, that I will." I take a step back to signify the end of the conversation, she allows me this privilege.
She looks me up and down, her eyes widening as she sees the sword at my side. "Well, we will just have to keep a close eye on you. Hiko would attempt to hurl something at me if his little golden girl got abused at the tournament." She raised an eyebrow and shook her head slightly. "On with the show"
"Listen up you morons, as you already know, you've signed up for the Tournament of Warriors so here are the rules. You will each be given a set of sashes, these are to be tied one around each wrist and ankle, one around your waist, your forehead and you're neck. To win your first fight you must keep at least one sash intact after slicing or pulling off all of your opponent's sashes. Your first fight of the day will be a group melee consisting of six of you. There will be a total of three of these fights, therefore only three of you will pass to the next level. Any questions?"
Tori-Atama was stupid enough to walk forward. "I'm a fist fighter. How am I supposed to slice a sash?"
Lady Fujita grinned. "That, moron, is for you to decide. These are the rules."
"But...." A quick glance of full force eyes of doom at the silly boy and he hushed up.
"I will now call the names of the first six to participate."
Neither Tori-Atama nor I get called leaving twelve of us in the pen. The chosen six leave quietly to be given their sashes and a more thorough briefing, or maybe not. In the distance i can hear the crowd beginning to yell. The first fights must be underway. Gods, but it's hot, where did that water girl go?
To be continued
next chapter: A Plague of Hakama Ties
A/N: Well? How'd you like it? Tell me Tell me! If there's anything you'd like to see.. Tell me Tell me! Don't look for waff for about another couple of chapters. I'm developing the harder side of the characters right now.