-Ten-Faced Paladin
Rurouni Kenshin: Runaway Swordsman By Ten-Faced Paladin Chapter 3: Kasshin-Ryu Reborn Again
Several days had passed since Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Yahiko defeated the hall monitors. The principal himslef heard of the incident and personally suspended almost all of them. Ujiki got expelled. The three boys were also somewhat like celebrities already. People always whispered around them wherever they went and it didn't seem to escape Sanosuke's notice that many of them were girls.
Not that it was any easier for Kaoru, Megumi, or Tsubame. Everyone thought they were dating the three boys. Everyday they were cornered by a number of curious girls who piled question upon question on them about the three boys. They knew plenty about Sanosuke already, him beeing a jock, but Yahiko had been practically invisible before now and everyone knew next to nothing about Kenshin.
"Sheesh," Kaoru sighed as she and Kenshin walked home. " I can't believe some of the questions that those girls can think up. And I thought only boys were perverts."
"What questions did they ask Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked curiously.
"Well," Kaoru replied. "Some of them asked if you were single."
"That does not sound perverted to this one," Kenshin commented.
"Oh yeah?" Kaoru smiled. "Another asked how long your 'sword' was."
"This one's sword?" Kenshin asked. "The sakabato is no longer than a katana."
Kaoru sweatdropped as she looked at Kenshin, "Not the sakabato you idiot. Your 'other sword'."
"Oro?" Kenshin blinked. "This one does not own a second sword."
"Oh never mind!" Kaoru sighed.
Kenshin shrugged and the two of them headed for the dojo. As they walked to the main walkway, both their eyes bugged out. Standing at the main gate was a group of people all apparently waiting for something. They were other people from school. Kaoru shook herself out of her surprise and began counting the number of people. Kenshin just continued to stare.
"Fifteen!" Kaoru smiled excitedly. "We'll have the school back in no time!"
"Oro," Kenshin sighed. "This is not good."
Kaoru watched Kenshin walk around the crowd and stood on the porch so that everyone could see him.
"Everyone," he called, catching everyone's attention. "This one is merely a guest at this dojo. This one is also not taking on any students. If you have come because of the fight with the hall monitors then please leave."
Kaoru only blinked before everyone who had come to the dojo. Kenshin just nodded and turned to go into the house. He didn't get one step before a bokken came crashing down on his head.
"Kenshin you jerk!" she shrieked. "How could you do that!"
"Orororororo," Kenshin mumbled. "But...thrill seekers like that never last long. This one has seen it happen."
"That doesn't matter!" Kaoru shouted as she took another swipe at him. "Once they were in I'd make sure that they stayed!"
The argument was stopped as they heard someone laughing. They both looked and saw none other than Sanosuke and Yahiko standing at the gates.
"Looks like you've learned not to get Jou-chan mad," Sanosuke smirked.
"What do you two want?" Kaoru grimaced.
"I want to learn swords," Yahiko answered curtly.
"I'm just here to hang out," Sanosuke smiled. "Met up with the kid down the road and decided to follow him here."
"Yahiko," Kenshin sighed. "This one is not taking students. You know that, right?"
"I know that," Yahiko huffed. "I heard it from those guys walking down the streets. I guess I'll have to learn from Ugly."
"You call me that again and I'll strangle you!" Kaoru growled.
"Just try it Ugly!" Yahiko shouted.
Kaoru shouted something that Kenshin couldn't understand and leaped at Yahiko with her bokken. The two of them erupted in another dust cloud battle with insults raging.
Kenshin shook his head and stood up. There was a huge bump on his head. He walked over to Sanosuke to watch the fight.
"Why does Yahiko wish to learn swords?" Kenshin asked curiously.
"Dunno," Sanosuke shrugged. "Never gave me a clear answer. Nearest I can figure is it has something to do with Tsubame."
"He wishes to protect her," Kenshin smiles. "Even if he refuses to admit it."
Sanosuke sweatdropped as he watched the battle continue. If the kid wanted to protect someone then he had a funny way of showing it.
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The streets seemed peaceful for the moment. Everyone was walking along and minding their own business. That was short lived as someone shouted, breaking the silence.
"Hold it!" an angry voice shouted.
Two young men could be seeen running from two guys in black jackets. Both of them were wearing black sunglasses.
"Get back here!" one of the pursuers shouted.
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Everyone was sitting inside the dojo again. Kaoru and Yahiko had finished their battle and headed inside for something to eat. Kenshin had cooked and everyone was enjoying it. Sanosuke was helping himself while Yahiko was promptly pigging out.
"Not bad Kenshin," Sanosuke smirked. "It's better than the stuff I can throw together."
"Well, this one has had plently of time to practise," Kenshin smiled.
The conversation would have continued if not for the shouting that was heard outside.
"What's that?" Yahiko asked with a mouthful of food.
He soon got his answer when the doors to the dojo burst open and two boys about the same age as kenshin and Kaoru came running in.
"Kaoru!" one shouted. "Please help us!"
The doors to the dojo slammed again as two more men came in. They were holding weapons and seemed to be aiming for the two boys who came in.
"Got you!" one of them shouted.
They didn't even get anymore words out before Kenshin's sword and Sanosuke's fist met with their faces. A large crack echoed from them as the two men were hurled outside from the force of the blows. They both crashed to the ground, out like lights.
"What was that about?" Sanosuke asked.
"I'm curious about that too," Kaoru spoke. "Hira, Sato, what's going on?"
Everyone turned to face the two boys who had entrered. They both gulped before one started.
"Well," Hira spoke. "We uh, saw some yakuza guys bugging some people."
"Yeah," Sato continued. "We stopped them but then their friends showed up. We couldn't take them all so we ran."
Sanosuke's eyes were narrowed as he listened to their story. Yahiko gulped down the last of his food before wiping his mouth. Kaoru picked up a bokken while Kenshin kept an eye on the door. No doubt more yakuza thugs were going to show up.
"Why don't I believe you two?" Sanosuke remarked while glaring at the two boys.
"Sano!" Kaoru scolded. "What are you talking about?"
"You are so dumb," Yahiko muttered. "Can't you smell the booze on their breath? I bet they got drunk and picked a fight with those Yakuza guys."
Kaoru's eyes widened in disbelief. The concept of her students doing such a thing was almost impossible to her. Even so, Yahiko wa snever one to lie about anything. It was about the only good quality she and Tsubame could agree on.
"You didn't...did you?" Kaoru siad slowly to her former students.
Neither of them spoke. Kenshin glanced at them both with his nrrowed gaze.
"After today," he spoke seriously. "You will forget that you were students here. You abandoned it in a time of need and abused it's teachings. You will never hold a sword again. Understand?"
Both boys nodded their agreement. Kenshin turned his gaze back to the door. Sanosuke joined him while Yahiko snorted his dislike and sat with them. Kaoru couldn't find herself able to move as tears leaked into her eyes.
That all stopped when an explosion ripped through the air.
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Through the streets of Tokyo, a blick limo drove through with higher than average speed. At the back the occupant was feeling quite nervous. It had been only a slight lead.
"I hope you're here," the person spoke. "Shinta."
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The explosion that ripped through the air had come from the destruction of the western wall. Kenshin and Sanosuke raced over and saw that it was now a huge gaping hole. On the other side was a group of men in black jackets. They also had a truck-mounted cannon with them.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Sanosuke gasped.
"Yakuza usually go to such extremes," Kenshin sighed.
"Shut up!" a guy with spiked hair shouted. "We're after those two punks who beat up our guys! Since you let them hide here we'll have to take you out too!"
"Like to see you try that," Sanosuke smirked.
The leader smiled sinisterly, "My pleasure."
Kenshin's gaze narrowed as he watched the cannon the thugs had with them. That alone was going to be a large enough threat to everyone.
"All right guys!" the leader shouted. "Fire!"
A guy who was near the end of the cannon pulled a string and the cannon ripped off a large blast. Then cannonball ripped through the air towards Kenshin and Sanosuke. Kenshin flipped his sword over as he saw the cannonball coming.
"Sano!' he shouted. "Get behind this one!"
Sano didn't argue as he stepped back and Kenshin took a step forward. What happened next was nothing short of precision. Kenshin gripped his sakabato. He then slashed at the cannonball with enough speed that made it seem like a flash of light. The cannonball then split in half before it could hit Kenshin and the two pieces the crashed into the ground, missing both Kenshin and Sanosuke.
The yakuza thugs were all agape at what they had just seen. Even Sano was amazed. The guy in front of him who was probably a year younger than him had just sliced a cannonball.
"Homemade cannonballs," Kenshin remarked. "Made of stone no doubt."
Kenshin turned his gaze to the yakuza leader on the truck. The man gulped when he saw the look in Kenshin's eyes.
"Well boss?" Kenshin asked. "How about showing your manners and letting us deal with the two young men inside?"
"Why you-?" one thug shouted.
"Shut it!" the leader shouted nervously. "Let him deal with it."
The thugs looked to their leader and back at Kenshin. Sanosuke slapped his fist into his open palm. The thugs then gulped and started piling back onto the truck. The leader took one last look at Kenshin and shivered visibly. Eyes like his were something no one saw these days. Not even in the underworld.
"So many things go on at once these days," Kenshin sighed.
"Yeah, well we can keep up," Sanosuke smirked. "Come one. Let's see if the kid and Jou-chan are okay."
Kenshin nodded and the two of them headed out to the dojo again. They opened the door to see Everyone was still alive and well. Kaoru seemed a little downhearted but otherwise fine.
"We heard another explosion!" Yahiko cried. "You guys okay?"
"We're fine," Sanosuke shrugged. "Now, about these guys."
Hira and Sato nodded wordlessy. They both stood up and began heading for the exit.
"You should check those wounds," Kaoru spoke quietly. "It wouldn't do to get seriously hurt over this."
Both her former students nodded and walked out the door. Kaoru stood up and walked outside. Sanosuke seated himself on the floor while Yahiko began digging into the food again. Both boys looked up to Kenshin.
"Well?" Yahiko asked. "What are you waiting for? Comfort her already."
"Oro?" Kenshin asked.
"Jou-chan's hurting right now," Sanosuke grunted. "Being alone sometimes helps but she's been alone enough. Get going already."
Kenshin sighed and stepped outside. He walked to where the yakuza blew a hole into the wall and found Kaoru standing in front of it. he walked over to her and found that tears were coming out of her eyes.
"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked.
"Where did I go wrong?" Kaoru asked. "Is this what my ancestor felt like when she saw sword battles?"
Silent tears streamed down her face. Kenshin walked closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. Kaoru buried her face in his shoulder and started sobbing. Kenshin just held her close and rubbed her back to help comfort her.
"It cannot be helped Kaoru-dono," Kenshin spoke softly in her ear. Kaoru sniffled. "No matter how hard you try, you cannot reach some people. Although, you can reach others. Like Yahiko."
Kaoru looked up into Kenshins eyes and smiled. She nodded and removed herself from Kenshins arms.
"Thank you Kenshin," she smiled. "Come on. We'd better start fixing this mess. I also have to start training the pointy-eyed midget."
Kaoru walked to the front of the dojo with a small smile on her face. Kenshin followed closely. As they walked to the front, they saw a limo pull up to the front.
"Who's this?" Kaoru asked.
"Oro," Kenshin sighed. "Oh no."
Sanosuke and Yahiko stepped outside to see the newcomer. When the limo came to a stop, a man dressed in a black suit exitied the front. He walked to the rear of the limo and opened the door. What came out made Yahiko ans Sanousuke begin to drool with large eyes.
A woman camw walking out of the limo. She wore a magenta kimono with cherryblossom desings on it. Her hair was a beautiful shade of red which she had tied back with a blue ribbon. Her eyes were an emerald green. Her gaze was on Kenshin as she began to smile.
"Hello, Shinta," the woman smiled.
"Who's the babe?" Yahiko gasped. "Who's Shinta?"
"I dunno," Sanosuke grunted. "I think I'm in love though."
Kenshin smiled slightly at the sight of the woman. He then swung his sword over his shoulder.
"Hello Mother," he spoke.
To Be Continued.
A/N: Ooooooh. I bet no one was expecting that! The next chapter is going to answer some questions I have concerning Kenshin and Kaoru's lineage. I've been asked if they are reincarnatios or just haven't met yet. I assure you, the next chapter will answer all. Until then.