Hi! It's been so long...but i'm back xD
From now onwards, i plan to write /much/ longer chapters, thus the wait may be a bit longer. But i assure you, not the gap between chapter 3 and 4 o.O;; Sorry it's taking a while, but i did promise to not abandon you o.O;
The next morning, Kenshin lay in his bed aimlessly examining the ceiling above him, the crisp morning air sending shivers down his spine and darkness still prevailed even though it was already 5:30AM. The habits beaten into him by Hiko would have him up at this time every morning, practicing his kata until 6:30 where he would then hurry down to get water for his master.
Hiko, for all of his faults, was not a bad teacher and he had set quite a tough schedule for Kenshin to follow, on the ball, every day at 5:30. Yet even though this was true, it seemed that he still found it convenient for someone else to do his dirty work. He remembered one morning when he had been grumbling while scrubbing vigorously at his masters long white cape which was stained with mud and dirt from yesterdays training, he had accidentally dropped all the washed clothes in a conveniently placed mud pile, this earned him a severe scolding but he did get the satisfaction of watching Hiko wear a cape with a slight faded mud stain all day.
Kenshin sighed. He could stay here and reminisce all day but his kata wasn't going to do itself. Pushing himself upright he got dressed in a hurry and slipped his sword through his obi, the very first rays of sun light visible even though he knew no one would be awake yet.
He silently tip-toed past Akito, down the stairs and out into the silent court yard, the cool air settling in on his damp skin.
It was a perfect morning for training, as Kenshin stepped out onto the soggy earth he took a deep, appreciative breath and arched his back, beginning the warm-up excercises. Birds chirped happily in the trees and the grass whipped gently at his ankles as he bent forward to touch his ankles, back muscles stretching. He couldn't help that a small smile had somehow wormed its way onto his face.
It almost seemed perfectly like it had been in his dream.
A beat.
His dream…
He slowed down his warm-up exercises as the memory flooded back to him. It had gone from a paradise of swirling mists and crisp morning air, to a hell of death and of blood.
From spring to winter.
From life to death.
He shuddered in memory of the dead mans eyes. Wide, open, staring and glassy. The dream had been so vivid and detailed it was like he'd seen it all before, but that couldn't possibly be. He had never seen that man before at all!
A soft sigh left his lips sending out a stream of icy air, and he tapped his feet behind him to try and get the blood flowing to his legs.
Maybe this was one of those—what are they called? Premonitions that Hiko-sensei always talked about. Of course he only ever remembered having one after a heavy night of drinking.
His exercises came to a complete stop as he gazed around the courtyard. A crisp morning sunrise sent chills down his spine and dampened the sounds of the sweet birds of morning that seemed to sing tunes that followed the beat of the blowing winds and falling leaves. Kenshin smiled and pushed everything into the back of his mind. This was why he loved the morning. With that he rotated his shoulder blades once more and begun his kata.
The owner of the inn woke smartly at 6:30AM and immediately readied herself for the day ahead. One was never slack when running an inn of war hardened young men, or so they called themselves. She bustled down the hallway as she threw her long brown hair up into a loose knot at the back of her head and wrapped loudly on the doors of her two servant girls who called out cheery 'good mornings'.
She smiled and turned around, the icy morning air settling in around her skin as she made her way to the kitchens. Those men should be woken soon, once she had gotten breakfast well under way, and she had to go shopping for so more supplies as well. Heaving an irritated sigh as the two servant girls bustled in, tittering about one thing or another, and ordered them to ready the water and fire wood.
They replied in a cheery, sing song "Hai!" before skipping out the door. The woman couldn't help but smile. She was to go and help Matsuya with recruiting today; apparently he needed more servant girls to help out with the men staying there.
An irritated frown graced her face as she thought of Matsuya. That man was nearly intolerable, only ever thinking about his business, she was quite surprised when she heard he had started housing the choshuu.
"Kiiiya!"
The woman blinked. Had the men actually decided to wake themselves up this morning?
"Haa!"
There it was again. Discarding the tea towel she had just plucked from the rack, she shuffled to the door and slid it apart just enough so she could peek through. The brown eye she was using to spy widened as she gazed at the small young boy who had arrived just yesterday, doing the most amazing kata she had ever seen! Such speed and agility…how could this be in someone so young? So this was the boys other side. The reason Katsura-san had allowed him to join!
Closing the door on the icy wind that swept through the small crack, she cleared her mind and began preparing for the day ahead.
Kagoro Katsura schooled his face into that of a serene expression as he, and the various other guards whom all stood in front of a grand manor, waited for the distant view of a carriage to draw closer. His good friend, Edward Goldman, and his entire family were visiting over from America to talk about secret inter-national trades of supplies. He had been slightly hesitant about his blunt way of forcing Kenshin into such a horrible field of duty…but all of this he hammered behind calm and peace. This meeting was going to be important.
"Sir…" began one of the guards hesitantly as the grand carriage pulled to a stop in front of them. With a sharp nod of his head, the guard rushed forward and pulled open the door.
There, with all of his 247 pounds, stood Edward Goldman, his jolly round face covered with a mop of silky golden hair, he was adorned in strange garments that were all held together by a thick belt with an intricately designed buckle. A smile instantly graced his face as Katsura strode forward to meet him.
"Kogoro! How nice to see you again" the man called in sloppy Japanese. Katsura resisted the urge to frown. Westerners never really understood the importance of using the last name.
Katsura smiled tolerantly "Edward" he said with a short bow which was quickly returned by the hesitant businessman "I trust your journey was comfortable?" he inquired smoothly.
Edward grinned "Of course. Before we get to pleasantries, let me introduce you to my family" as he spoke, Katsura noticed three more gold-heads tumbling out of the carriage.
"This!" began Edward, gesturing with a flourish to the tall woman who had come to stand nervously by his side "Is Elizabeth, my darling wife". Katsura smiled politely at the woman, feeling considerably shorter under this womans looming presence. However she returned the smile graciously and bowed low, her various trinkets tinkling with the movement.
"And this!" he continued, as Elizabeth hurried a young boy forward "Is Tom" he said with a wide grin as he reached down to ruffle the young boys hair. Now Katsura felt way too tall, this boy would get along well with Kenshin. He smiled at the young boy and nodded acknowledgment as theTom followed his mothers example and bowed low.
"It's a pleasure to meet you" he said formally as the guards behind him opened the sliding wooden doors for them to enter "Please.." and with that he gestured them inside.
BANG BANG BANG
"Come on you lot, rise and shine"
BANG BANG BANG
"Nngh…"
BANG BANG BANG
"Allright, damnit. We heard you!"
The owner of the inn smirked and lowered the pot and spoon she had been using as a wake up call. "Good. Breakfast is ready"
The men, grumbling and moaning as they went, sent murderous stares after the woman as they rose from their warm beds and plunged straight out into the icy morning air. She had always privately wondered why these men couldn't get up on their own. Surely, if a 15 year old boy could then why not a group of old men.
"Girls, stack the trays please" she said smoothly, her eyes settling on the two young woman huddled at the kitchen door, watching Kenshin intently as he pulled a bucket of water up from the well and dumped it firmly over his head to rid the sweat from his body. The tittered infuriatingly but immediately set out to do their work.
The older woman suppressed a sigh, absently shuffling down the hallway to the dining room where the quicker risers had started to file in. Behind her she could hear the rattling of trays as they were carefully stacked one on top of the other and carted down the hallways.
Another day.
Another morning.
Same old…
…
"YAGH-H-H-H-H-H-H-!.!"
The entire inn went deadly silent.
Kenshin started asa piercing scream interupted the peacful morning, his muscles tensing as various shouts and calls followed. Reacting immediately, he raced for the carefully locked door and threw it straight open, nearly piling into a group of horrofied group of men and women. It took him very little time to figure out what they were staring at.
Sprawled out on the ground infront of a large tree placed directly opposite the inn, lay the slashed body of a relatively tall man with a thick mop of brown hair matted in his own blood. He had been slashed expertly at the neck, and there was a large gash that ran straight across his tomach.
Kenshin shuddered.
Whispers started to break out among them as many people began to pace away, their noses turned up as if they hadn't seen a single thing. Amongst the noise, Kenshin could make out only one word that stood out likea sore thumb.
"Hitokiri"
"It must have been.."
"From the choshuu?"
After the mob had cleared, the man who must have screamed still kneeled infront of the body, hunched over and hugging his shaking shoulders. "S-sen--..." the man muttered through his sobs, gently brushing back the mans locks until the were swept over the pale forhead of his. Kenshin lowered his eyes respectfully, they must have been brothers. He started as he was suddenly grabbed by the shoulders and hauled forcibly back into the inn by the familiar form of Akito.
From the blank look on his face, and the way he just dragged Kenshin away fro the door silently, he knew immediately whom it was lying on the ground in a pool of blood. Senkaku.
Just to let you know i'm alive and kicking. Yay. Major character dead. -gonk-
Azimel: Thankyou very much! I look forward to more reviews from you
HitokiriBattosaiess: Sure sure! I think i did o.O; 'm not sure, -bad memory- -thwaps self-
Ok! I shall get to it!
CHIBIKenshinta-chan:...-glomp- I wuv you and yer long reviews xD. Aww, poor Kenny -pets-
I luff Okita, i thought he was a woman at first in the anime series o.O; I was like "HE'S A MAN?"
-faint-.
AthrunZallaLover: Thanks , i'll try updating quicker next chapter.
Hitokiri Musei: Thankya! I shall try.
Anime#1Fan : Lmao xDD -glomp- Thankyou! I shall try to update sooner o.O;
-waves a Kenny and Okita banner- xDD