Me: Mahahahahah! I am updating! OMG! X3 Yes BE AFRAID O.O
Disclaimer: I don't own the chracters used from Samurai X, Peacemaker Kurogane or Rurouni Kenshin. So...
"Practice" repeated the young red-haired boy before her. Ookami sighed. "Yes I heard what you said. I've just never really had anyone ask me that before" she said, regarding the youth carefully. Kenshin blinked. The first one? Surely these were all skilled samurai. Skilled samurai with amazing sword styles...that surely didn't improve on their own.
Or it could just be that the bakufu just aren't skilled...Pfft yeah, right.
He sighed as she gestured to the main hall.
Kenshin bowed and thanked her before hurrying into the hall, his hands fingering the sheath of the sword at his side. Okami sighed. They just got younger and younger. She could remember the last one like it was just yesterday. Nothing like this boy though. Cold, hardened, and ruthless. He had probably been human at one point, but all trace of that humanity and been wiped from his stone cold face and rigid posture. They said he was very skilled, 'perfect' for the job apparently. That's why he was killed in the first three weeks.
Okami sighed. The boy didn't even know what he was in for. She actually felt sympathetic for him. According to Katsura-san he had been brought up solely by his isolated master on a mountain, no friends, and no family. But...in the end...he did have something.
She turned her head to stare out thoughtfully over the garden. He had something...so why did he choose to become a killer. A murderer. Why would he want to spill the blood of a man at such a young age, even though his skill will most definitely be of help to the choshuu.
Why had he thrown his life away? Did he even know?
A cold wind blew past.
Kenshin slipped into the hall unnoticed, his eyes scanning the room filled with the crack of wooden swords that, being brought up on a secluded mountain, made him flinch involuntarily. He paced the nearly completely empty room, his eyes locked on the path in front of him until finally he stopped in the center of the room. A pause in the fluent strike of wooden swords around him signaled that he had caught some curiosity.
A cold breeze blew from outside.
He began.
In one fluid movement he had applied the pressure to his blade and it emerged from its sheath smoothly. He spun and begun his first kata.The sword moving as smoothly as if it ran through water, slicing the air in two with his movements, carefully and precise. A quiet gasp was heard from the gathering crowd as he began the next kata, movements more fluid, faster. His mind was empty, blank. Nothing else existed as all thought escaped him.
Third kata.
Faster. Higher. Smoother. He flipped mid air and landed on the ground with a dull thud.
On and on this went, the expressions of the crowd turning from mild interest to that of awe. The hall had by his time fallen silent, wooden swords going limp in the hands of their practioners.
On and on. His mind blank. His thoughts erased.
He swung and leaped high into the air, coming down with such force that the air made a giant whooping sound.
Within him memories started to stir. Hikos stone cold face appeared before him, de-grading him, raising his limply held sword into the right position for what seemed about the fifty millionth time. Yet deep within that stone gaze of his, amusement flickered like a candle in a pitch black room.
Finally Kenshin completed his final move and straightened, smoothly sheathing his sword and blinking in realization at the crowd gathered around him.
Among them Senkaku.
Kenshin blinked and slowly made his way through the crowd, them parting without a word as he wove through them.
Just as he stepped out of the hall, whisper broke out, loud conversations as to 'how he moved' and his 'odd technique'.
Kenshin rolled his eyes and continued on his way. He would let them speculate in peace, but as he moved away he though he distinctly heard the word 'demon'.
"So...what style exactly is that?" asked Akito, shuffling over to stand over the red-head
Kenshin looked up from slipping on his shoes. "What do you mean?"
"It was really amazing stuff" continued Akito "In fact, I don't think I've ever seen anyone move like that before" he turned a suspicious gaze on Kenshin "are you sure you haven't been in any employ before?"
Kenshin raised an eyebrow and cleared his throat, refusing to spell it out for him.
Akito blinked and glanced over Kenshins small form and boyish face. "Ah" he said grinning and hopped down to slip on his own shoes. "Where ya headed then?"
Kenshin blinked up at the man before him. "I was actually heading out to look around and get...familiar" he replied lamely, shifting under the heat of the burning sun as they stepped out of the gate and onto the dusty road.
In all truth it was basically all he could do. He couldn't bear to be locked up in their with those calculating stares anymore, he'd attracted too much attention to stay any longer. Plus he hadn't really been assigned a job as of yet, and it was probably best to figure out Kyoto before he did anything.
"Alright then! I proclaim it my duty to give you the tour to beat all tours!"
"…"
"…"
Akito grabbed Kenshin by the arm and sprinted, laughing merrily, off down the road.
Kenshin let Akito lead him around Kyoto, listening carefully as he laid out a basic map for Kenshin to follow.
"And you see that place there? Best place in town, waitresses aren't that bad either" he said, winking at Kenshin and giving him a small nudge in the side. Kenshin blinked.
"Ah don't worry kid, anyway wanna catch something to eat" he asked, sighing with amusement at the boys confusion. Finally, that was one thing he couldn't refuse. With a smile and a nod he let himself be pulled into the enterance of the resteraunt.
"Welcome to the Shirobeko!"
Kenshin smiled politely as his nerves were blasted apart as two waitresses popped up out of nowhere. They were almost as bad as the two maids back at the inn. But….something about them seemed…different, why couldn't he pinpoint why. Casually, he followed one of them to an empty booth and watched the waitress sharply as she spun around.
C-CRASH!
Their went the tray. The waitresses' eyes widened in horror as she tripped up and sent the tray of steaming hot teat flying.
A curious glint appeared in her eyes, Kenshin didn't miss it of course, in fact, and it seemed vaguely familiar. In one swift move she ducked and caught the tray with trembling hands, watching helplessly as the pot of tea went flying….
…and landing deftly in two out stretched hands, the steaming liquid scolding them as it overflowed onto bare skin.
Kenshin flinched in pain at the touch.
But he now had it confirmed in his mind. That woman was a trained fighter. Nimble, athletic, and amazing at her guise.
He smiled patiently as she rushed over to him, smothering thanks and apologies from left and right and quickly taking the boiling pot from his hands, hurrying it back to the kitchen.
Slowly, he sidled into the booth and slumped to his seat. Akito stared "Your pretty quick, kid" he said,a grin forming on his lips "Just like Katsura-san said..."
Kenshin shrugged it off quickly and glanced around. "Akito-san?". Akito flinched at being addressed by the mostly silent young boy
"Yeah?"
Kenshin looked carefully over at the waitress again. "Have you ever…noticed anything about this place?" he asked, lowering his voice as about two or three samurai passed their table.
Akito blinked and grinned "Yep" he replied, glancing mischieviously over at the same waitress.
Kenshin rolled his eyes.
And the worst interpretation of a question award goes too...
"Not like that" he said, a small amused smirk tugging at his lips "Never mind" he sighed and patiently listened to Akito for the remainder of the meal.
So didja like it? I'm sorry i haven't made longer chapters. I swear i fo try! But i've got tonnes of homework at the moment -- I'll type up a long one on the weekened . Until then...review...now...I COMMAND YOU OO