The Guardian

By: Wildfire Sky

Another chapter for all you "Guardian" fans out there. Thanks for enjoying it and yes; Toorima is about to come back into the spotlight. Just be patient and watch for it. This chapter focuses closely on Toorima's past. Let's welcome in the New Year! 2006 here we come!

The Guardian

Chapter Twelve

Breathing deeply, Toorima nervously waited in the black of his dwelling for the return of the one who made him what he was. So much was owed to his master; Toorima could barely comprehend the magnitude of it all. Trembling slightly from anxiousness, Toorima clutched the single piece of parchment in his hands, a hint of a smile on his features. Akoshin-sama had sent the letter only last night, some how managing to slip in and place it on the small table in the cavern where Toorima slept. When he had awoken, his eyes were immediately drawn to the folded slip of paper with his name neatly scrawled across the front in smooth calligraphy. The sight of it had sent a small twinge down his spine and he shakily stood, limping over to retrieve it and read it. Now, he sat in waiting…waiting as patiently as a dog waits for his master.

Then there was movement, the tattered cloth over the opening of the cavern rippled slightly from some movement behind it. Holding his breath, Toorima quickly came to his knees, his hands neatly folded in his lap, eyes riveted on the entry as the cloth was pulled back and a figure entered. Before giving himself time to really look, Toorima pressed his face to the ground humbly, greeting Akoshin in a loud clear voice.

"Welcome, master, to my home. I am honored that you've traveled to be in my undeserving presence."

There was no immediate response; instead, a cough was heard, echoing off the blank cavern walls. The figured shuffled forward, the sound of scrapping and a sigh as Akoshin sat himself in the single chair. "You've grown strong, Hikaru…very strong indeed."

Toorima stiffened at the sound of Akoshin's voice. It sounded different…weak and unsure. So unlike the Akoshin he knew. Why…?

"You are distressed. For what reason, I'm sure I can guess." Akoshin coughed again. "So many years have passed since you were taken from my care and sent off to kill. So many years since you met Tomoe-san and learned of her tragic fate as I did…" he pulled in a ragged breath. "Look at me, Hikaru."

Toorima slowly lifted his head, scared to see what his mind was telling him. When his eyes fell upon the face of his old master, only his excellent training prevented him from physically reeling back in horror. The once smooth, hardened figure of the warrior turned mentor that Toorima had come to know and love, had been replaced with an ugly, hacking form of an old man. His back bent slightly, his clothing hanging off him in loose rags; Toorima would have been convinced that a stranger had entered his home, rather than that of his master. Akoshin coughed again, uncaring of the spittle that dribbled from his lip on onto the floor. Only after a moment did he reach up and wipe it away.

"Yes…I've grown old, Hikaru…or is it Toorima now?" Akoshin smiled, his teeth the only thing that seemed not to have changed. "Unfortunately, I was unable to join my warrior brothers in death on the battlefield…and now, I will not have the fitting death of a samurai, but that of a poor, lonely man."

Toorima blinked, coming to his feet and walking over to where Akoshin sat before kneeling again. He took the old man's hand in his, letting his fingers run on the leathery skin, slicked with oil and perspiration. A distinct smell wafted from his body, threatening to clog his nostrils. He'd had not bathed in what seemed like weeks. Never had Akoshin gone more than a few days without a clean scrubbing, and that was only when the army was on the march. He could feel the bones beneath the skin, the discoloration signs of malnutrition or drug use…neither of which characterized of his master. Something had gone terribly wrong in the old one's life.

Toorima looked up into his dull eyes with a tight frown. "Where is Akara-chan? Why has she allowed you to diminish into this state?"

Akoshin's eyes took in a distant, pained look, staring at some point over Toorima's shoulder. Had Toorima not known him better, it would have seemed that Akoshin was threatening to cry. The old man drew in a shaky breath, his voice hitched. "My dearest Akara…she passed long ago, a few months after you left."

Toorima was shocked. Akara was so youthful and happy; it wasn't possible for her to die naturally. "How?"

"There was a surprise attack on the convoy she was with," Akoshin said, his eyes still not focusing on Toorima's face. "I would be lying if I said she died quickly." Akoshin brought up his finger and thumb to massage the bridge of his nose. "But enough of my painful past. I've come here to see you, haven't I?"

Toorima frowned at him. "You seem tired, sensei…would you like to rest?" He couldn't have his master staying up.

Akoshin pulled out a shiny, silver pocket watch. "It is late now isn't it? Tell me, Hikaru, does the disease still plague you?"

"I will never be able to return to the day, sensei. God has forsaken me to say in the dark forever…"

"So you're skin boils whenever the sunlight touches it?" Akoshin frowned, "Pity there is no cure for that…"

Toorima shrugged. "It doesn't matter anymore. I've grown to like the night and darkness. I find way to escape the sunlight and travel during the day."

"Is that what this heavy cloak is for?"

Toorima shifted, the long cloak bunching around his booted feet. "Indeed. Ah! Gomen! I didn't even offer you any tea or sake." Toorima quickly rose from his squatted position, hurrying over to his shelving and glancing at the contents there. "I have a cordial of sake, if you are interested, Akoshin-sensei."

"That's fine."

Toorima forced himself not to turn and look at his old master. Ever since he'd seen the old man's face there was a growing fear that at any moment, his master would suddenly die before him and he'd be powerless to stop it. As he placed the cup of sake before Akoshin, his mind began to wander back to old times…times after he'd been cured.

Balancing on one foot atop a thin stake, Hikaru clumsily tried to block the wooden pegs that swung towards him from where the hung on the tree. It was a difficult practice, every time he hit one block of wood, another seemed to appear out of nowhere, connecting with his head, causing him to lose his balance and wave his arms wildly to keep from falling in the deep mud. Already, his gi was covered in the thick sludge, evidence of his earlier failures. To one side stood Akoshin and Akara, the latter had a mischievous smile on her face while her father's was stern.

"You must concentrate, boy! How do you expect to learn ninjitsu if you are constantly in the mud?"

Hikaru struck out again, but this time, the peg flew back at him, knocking him from his feet as it connected with his right eye. With a cry of mixed pain and surprise, Hikaru tumbled from the stakes and into the mud with a splash. The other warriors watching roared with laughter as he emerged, hacking and coughing up mud. Wiping the grime from his eyes, he looked over at Akoshin. The older man was shaking his head, his wavy brown hair moving with him. As he looked up, his startling blue eyes glared. Next to him, Akara had a hand over her mouth, her own blue-gray eyes twinkling with laughter. She was a beautiful woman with a vibrant, independent personality, and though many men sought her hand in marriage, Akoshin would always consult her and ask her wishes…and they never changed. She was destined to remain at her father's side, and swore to that, but Hikaru sensed a deeper meaning in it. There was more to her story that she or her father let on.

"Hikaru!" Akoshin snapped, drawing the attention of his apprentice, "I expect to see you riding into battle with a flag bearing my family crest on it…and I'll be damned if I let you make a fool out of that name on the battlefield."

Hikaru picked himself up, trudging over to Akoshin and collapsed to his knees. "I just can't do it, sensei…the wooden blocks…"

"Are only the beginning." Akoshin interrupted, his eyes hard. He leaned closer to him, his voice dropping. "I will teach you not only to block then, but to shatter hundreds of them into pieces with a single swipe of your sword. I'll teach you the secret ways of the ninja and the honor of a samurai. When I'm done training you, the shogun himself will come seeking your services in this war, as both a fighter on the battlefield and as an assassin in the dark." Akoshin straightened, his voice returning to normal. "But in order for me to do such a thing, you need to get up and try harder! Stop trying to look for the blocks with your eyes."

Akara stepped forward, a strip of cloth in her hands. "Turn around, Hikaru-kun. We are going to practice some more using this."

The moment the blindfold fell over his eyes, Hikaru felt instantly more comfortable. After spending nearly two months walking and training blind, the darkness seemed so much more inviting that the day. Akara had trained his ears to hear like a bat, sensing the closeness of objects and people. He'd proven himself on more than one occasion while learning martial arts skills with Akara, taking down teasing samurai and foot soldiers that were looking for nothing more than picking a fight with a blind boy. Most had been beaten down, walking away with shame filled faces. He felt as though he do anything while blind.

Turning on his heel, he walked quickly over to the stakes, humming softly to himself in order to sense where the stakes where. Climbing on to the stakes again, Hikaru readied himself and struck. The pegs began to whirl around him and his sword flew, connecting with most while he ducked under the others. All the while he mumbled to himself, listening to the echoes that returned. Although he couldn't see, Akoshin had a thin smile on his face. He was proud.

Akara smiled as well, turning to her father. "It will be sad to see him go with Tomoe next week…but they seemed to like each other when she came by to visit her husband."

"Tomoe is a good woman…but I fear that he will not be seeing much of her any more." Akoshin's face darkened. "Tomoe's husband was murdered."

"What?" Akara blinked. "When? By who?"

Akoshin never took his eyes off of Hikaru. "Not three night ago. By the one they call Battousai. He was on escort duty when the hitokiri cut them down without mercy. Now, he's still wandering the streets of Tokyo, the bastard."

"Does Hikaru-kun know?"

"He needs to concentrate on his training right now. When the time comes, I will tell him."

Akara turned back to watch Hikaru practice. "And how is Tomoe taking it."

"How do you think?" Akoshin stepped forward as a wooden peg rammed into Hikaru's back. "Use the brains your father gave you, Hikaru! Damn it, boy, stop anticipating the hits, let it flow naturally. Does a snake hesitate? No, he strikes out without thought or warning!"

Hikaru lashed out with his boken again, knocking aside the peg as he spun around on one foot to hit the returning ones. Akoshin nodded in approval. "Good. Good. That's enough for now, let's get some food."

Hikaru whipped off his blindfold with a silly grin. "Hai! Arigato, sen--" Suddenly his world exploded in a bright flash of white before collapsing into darkness. He felt his body fall forward, pain lancing from his face, and then nothing.

When he awoke the next day, he felt a growing fear that he'd become blind again. For a moment he lay on his futon, struggling to see, but for some reason, his eyes would respond. As the panic started to rise in his chest, Hikaru's breathing increased rapidly, sweat dripping from his face in rivulets.

"Easy, boy, easy…" came the hard voice of his master, "Stop all that fighting now, you're not a silly woman are you?"

Hikaru froze, his head moving from side to side slowly. "Akoshin-sensei?"

"Aa…that's it…nice and easy." A pair of rough, calloused hands settled on his forehead, "The doctor doesn't want that bandage to come off just yet. We need to keep the opening sterile."

Hikaru felt the panic rising again with tremendous force. "Opening? Sensei…what happened?"

There was a long pause and for a moment, Hikaru thought his master had left. He reached out blindly, his fingers searching until they connected with fabric. Taking a small ball of cloth in his hand, Hikaru asked the question again. Akoshin's hand came down, brushing the boy's from his gi.

"The wooden peg came back…" he took a deep breath. "And hit you directly across your left eye."

Hikaru took in a deep hiss of air. "And? How is my eye?"

"I'll tell you when I find it." Akoshin stood up, his clothing rustling. "Understand, Hikaru, your deformity will not hinder your training. You will continue and learn to use this handicap as an advantage, am I clear?"

"H-Hai…"

Akoshin turned, looking down at the young boy's shaking form. Even from beneath the medicine cloth, he could see the tiny streams of tears falling from his one remaining eye. How could he tell him the extent of the damage that one peg had done? When the boy fell, he slipped from the stakes he was on. Not only did that stake rip out what remained of the pulpy mess that was once his eye, it had torn off half of his face. The blood vessels in the right eye had exploded from the impact, filling the right eye with blood and leaving it a deep, crimson red. The boy had mutated into a hideous man in a matter of seconds.

And to make things worse, he made the boy cry.

"Otoosan!"

Akoshin turned to look at Akara, who'd just entered the tent, glancing between him and the boy. She frowned tightly, nodding behind her. "The doctor says that it is alright to remove the bandage. He'll be here in a moment to examine and redress the wound."

Akoshin nodded. "Did he give any mention of when I can begin the boy's training again?"

For a moment, Akara's eyes narrowed dangerously before she shook her head in exasperation. "No, otoosan, he did not."

Nodding, Akoshin motioned with his hand towards Hikaru's form. "Take care of the wound and get him what he needs. I must go and speak with the General. He's asked to be informed of Hikaru's condition."

"The General's obsession with Hikaru is unhealthy." Akara leaned towards her father. "Did you see how he was watching up the hill while we were training with the pegs? He always seems to be near whenever Hikaru is training for something or another."

"I don't care for the General's obsessions." Akoshin snapped with a glare. "And you should not worry about them either. The General has made an investment in this young boy by letting him live. It's in his best interest to see the child succeed so he can be of use against the rebels." Brushing past, Akoshin whispered to her: "I hate to make you take the role of a woman, but at this time it is necessary. Stay by his side and do not leave until you're given permission. The men grow nervous with your freedom and since most see you as Hikaru's sister, it is time you act like it. Do this for both of us."

Akara glared down at the ground and forced out. "I will…otoosan."

She knelt down next to him, tenderly removing the bandage from his face, all the while cooing soothing words of encouragement to calm and distract him. Even as the cloth was removed Hikaru winced from the dried blood pulling at his tattered skin. He slowly opened his one eye, instantly aware of the disproportion in his sight. Akara could only sit back and watch as his fingers traced over the contours of his face, his expression seeping into one of shock and dismay. He pulled his fingers back from his eye, staring in horror at the clear puss hanging from the tips. A tiny quiver formed in his bottom lip and Akara was sure he was going to cry, but instead he quickly bit it, closing his red eye to get himself under control.

"Does it look that bad, Akara-san?" he whispered, opening his eye to look at her directly. She knew what was going through his head…thoughts of self-pity and anguish. He wanted her to tell him that he was ugly, because subconsciously, it was the thing he needed to hear. Instant, she leaned towards him and pressed to lips to his battered face.

"Not matter what you look like outside," she whispered against his skin, "You're handsome inside. Remember that, little brother…"

Akara felt the wet tears slipping down his face and pooling where they touched cheek to cheek. His hands slowly came up and wrapped around her small but muscular frame. As a ninja, she had also trained with her father since birth, building the strength and cunning that had aided her in so many missions.

"Am I really your little brother?" he mumbled, his voice thick from tears. "I've never…never been called…"

Akara hushed his with another kiss, nuzzling the side of his face affectionately. "Always. No matter what happens…even if we're separated in life or death, you'll be my little brother for all eternity." She disentangled herself from his grasp. "Now, let's take care of these wounds and get ready for the doctor."

Hikaru glared at her through his one eye. "I hate doctors…"

A content Akoshin sat in the warming sun, his eyes lazily yet carefully watching the movements of his apprentice. The boy's movements were still unsure and jerky, even with his daughter nearby to assist, and occasionally he would pause and rub at the patch over his left eye. The doctor had declared the boy finally fit to continue his training, albeit with much more care on Akoshin's part now that improvements had been made. Hikaru paused in his exercises again, lifting up a hand to rub at the glass eye that now replaced his missing one.

When the doctor mentioned the glass eye, Hikaru had almost instantly declined stating it would bring more attention to his weakness than before. That is, until Akoshin made it seem worthwhile. He told Hikaru that with their technology, he could choose a color that would aid him, a dark color that would not reflect in the light. It had taken nearly a full hour before Hikaru complied with his master's wishes and accepted a pure black glass eye. The doctor said it had a base of onyx, which was what gave the color and the strength. By many standards, it was indestructible…not even fire could destroy it. But it had to be carefully maintained, cleaned every night and checked for damages every two months. An expensive and laborious task.

"Come on, Hikaru, hit me!" Akara teased as she neatly dodged Hikaru's punch with a laugh. "You'd better hope the gods are watching over you if you ever get into a fist fight, Hikaru-chan!"

Akoshin glowered. He'd learned about Akara's unofficial adoption of Hikaru into their unique family. He had warned her in the beginning not to become too attached to the boy for eventually he would leave or die. But, it was inevitable. Almost from the movement they met, the two were destined to become the closest of friends and develop such a relationship that has formed. Now, he was hesitant to go to the General and make it official. There were marching towards Tokyo and would be there by tomorrow, indeed he would see the tops of the massive castles and temples in the distance. If he wanted, they could travel ahead of the army and allow Hikaru to settle in before continuing his training.

Akoshin never moved at the sounds of soft footsteps coming up behind him. He merely nodded his head in signal that he was listening.

"Akoshin-sama, there is a visitor for you in you tent."

The old warrior sighed. "Who is it this time?"

"A young woman, Akoshin-sama. She calls herself Tomoe…"

Akoshin stiffened, and turned this time towards the bowing messenger. "She has come from Tokyo then? Why?"

The messenger kept his eyes downcast as he shook his head. "Forgive me, sir, but I do not know. She waits for you and your family."

Akoshin nodded, waving a dismissive hand. "Arigatou." He stepped towards the fighting pair. "Hikaru! Akara! We have a visitor."

Hikaru turned as Akoshin approached and threw an unexpected punch. Akoshin blocked the punch, then grabbed the boy's arm and tripped him, causing Hikaru to fall to the ground in a messy heap. Groaning, Hikaru glared up at the two standing above him, his back aching from the hard fall. Akoshin had something close to a smile as he put his hands on his hips.

"You'll always be too slow, Hikaru, if you hesitate like you did. In your mind, imagine that the punch had already connected, and your body will respond accordingly." He held out a hand, helping Hikaru to his feet. "You see, the body is nothing without the mind. All of your movements and emotions are based from there. If your mind says that something is, your body will make it so. Therefore, you must always care for your mind."

Akara looked from Hikaru to her father. "Otoosan…you said there was someone here to see us?"

"Aa." He looked directly in her eyes. "It seems that Tomoe-san was kind enough to grace us with her presence on this warm evening."

Hikaru was ecstatic and missed the worried look that crossed Akara's face as he leapt to his feet, the pain long forgotten. Tomoe-san was here! Just like she promised all those years ago, she was here to give him a good life. When they'd first met many months ago, she was stunningly beautiful, her soft face carefully done up and hair neatly combed. When she stood next to her proud husband, her hand on his arm, they looked like something out of a painter's finest work. He'd instantly fallen in love with her; despite knowing he would never have her. And now, after missing Tomoe for so long, he was given the opportunity to see her again.

Akara and Akoshin watched as Hikaru quickly dashed towards the streambed, intent of rinsing the sweat from his face and making himself more presentable.

"Otoosan…" Akara whispered, turning to look at him. "Should we…?"

Akoshin shook his head sternly. "Let him enjoy her presence for now. If she wants him to know, she will tell him."

Akara lowered her eyes and turned away. "I'll go keep her company."

"Akara!"

She stopped but didn't turn.

"Not matter what happens…he will complete his training."

Akara let out a dry chuckle. "Aa…that's exactly what you said when mother died."

There was no response.

Toorima sighed. That was the day Tomoe gave him is precious mirror. A symbol that he was still human, no matter what he might look like. And then…he found out many months later, after completing his training, that Tomoe was dead…killed by love.

The assassin looked over at the now sleeping Akoshin. So many things had changed…he was still young but no longer innocent. Still courageous, but more of a fool. He never should have run away to avenge her death…he never should have left Akara's side. Perhaps if he hadn't, she'd still be alive and they could both care for their ailing father together as brother and sister should. He knelt next to Akoshin, gently brushing back the gray strands of hair that feel over his face, much like Akara had done for him, watching over him as he slept.

He remember her singing to him should he fall sick. Years in the care of the two of them and he been a loving young boy. A few months on his own and he turned into a murdering criminal racked by disease. He was wrong…he was a fool.

"I want to end it…" he whispered to himself, continuing to watch Akoshin's chest rise and fall in sleep. "I was wrong to start it and now it's time for me to end it."

He moved, leaning against the wall and staring at the sakabatou opposite him. He'd pursued the Battousai for his own greedy ambitions, never recognizing the truth in what he was doing. He was trying to take from another what he'd given up…love and a family. He'd been taking it from others for years. But no more. He had to set things right…

"Hikaru…"

Toorima looked down, smiling at the sound of his name. "Hai?"

Akoshin stared up at him, his eyes half closed. "Fetch an old man some water, will you?"

"Hai."

As he stood, Akoshin reached out and grabbed the sleeve of his cloak. When Toorima looked down at him, that old familiar light had returned to his eyes. The light of wisdom, power, and loyalty to his family.

"I know you will do what is right…son."

Toorima's heart seized within his chest. That was the first time…the first time Akoshin had ever called him son. He found himself outside moments later, staring into the large pail of rainwater, a full cup in his hand. He would do what was right. Setting the cup down on top of the pail, he removed his cloak and glared at it before viciously tossing it aside.

He remembered the last conversation he ever had with Akara. It was just before he'd left and she met him further down the road that night, away from the camp. Before he could say anything, she'd wrapped him in a tight hug, her lips against his ear.

"I will always believe in you, Hikaru-chan…no matter what path you take from here, I know you will do what is right."

It was like she knew what was going to happen. Well, now he would follow her advice. He walked in, smiling like he had all those years ago, Akara's beautiful face in his mind as he gave Akoshin his water and settled back to sleep. That night he dreamed, there were no nightmares…no pain. He slept like his younger child self had and he enjoyed it.

That night the one known as Toorima began to disappear, and in his place was Hikaru. And throughout the night and into the next day, Hikaru remembered what life was really about.

Love and family.

Say something…go ahead and say something about the extreme lack of Kenshin and Kaoru. I said it before and I'll say it again. You have to develop your characters or else you don't have a story…you have an imagineless thing. You can have an amazing writing style and a wonderful plotline, but if you don't give your characters personality and history, you might as well call him blobs on paper. I don't roll like that and you will never see anything less from me. As an author, that is my promise to you, the reader. The best for the best.

Please remember to R&R!