Kenjutsu Beauty

Chapter three

"Oniwaban"

As the sun sinks low into the horizon, a golden hue settles on the dojo. The wooden roof almost looks new again and the whole place has a certain undeniable brilliance. Megumi and Kaoru are calmly talking about anything other than Megumi's past. Both are enjoying the peace. As we focus on them we pick up on their conversation. "Some would tell you that my father always wanted a son, and that's why he taught me Kendo. It's not true. He was an amazing man who loved his little girl more than anything. He didn't want me to be anything I didn't want to be." Kaoru paused in her little speech her face looking a little sad, "I still miss him more than anything." Megumi just sat there with a faraway look, gazing at her tea.

"I miss my father too." She stated calmly almost as if she hadn't said anything at all. Kaoru looked up at her surprised.

"Will you tell me about him?" She asked gently. She didn't know if it was a painful topic for Megumi or not.

Megumi just sighed and nodded slightly. "You've been telling me about yourself, I almost feel as if we're close friends already. I guess I owe you a little bit, ne?" She closed her eyes in remembrance before she started talking again. "I came from Aizu. We were a family of doctors. My father was the best there was. He believed in equality and treatment for all patients. When the battle of Aizu began, my family left to serve as doctors in the field. I was too young so I was left alone. My father died there and the rest of my family was declared missing. I still don't know if they're even alive." She was just considering what to say next when the dojo gate opened revealing Sano. Kaoru narrowed her eyes at him. He didn't even knock! How rude. At the thought of the word rude her anger diminished, that's just how Sano is.

"Hey Jou-chan!" He greeted Kaoru, ignoring Megumi. "When's dinner I'm starved." Kaoru sighed heavily.

"Actually I was just going to go make something." She said sounding slightly distressed as she got up to go into the house. Before she got inside a wicked grin settled on her face as she suddenly called out, "You're welcome to stay Sano!"

Sano leaned back against the walls and regarded Megumi nonchalantly. Soon though, his mischievous side got the best of him and he flashed her a grin. "So Takani, ever had the pleasure of Kaoru's cooking before?"

Megumi looked over at him surprised that he was even talking to her, "No, last night I was too tired to eat anything, I completely forgot about food. Why?"

Sano was looking very smug though she wasn't sure why, "Because it's an experience you won't ever forget."

Megumi was seriously ready for something good to come her way, even if it was just a good meal. "Really? Is it that good?"

Sano laughed, "Just wait, you'll see." Then he settled down to wait for Kaoru. He hoped she wouldn't disappoint him and bring something edible out. Che, that would be a change. Megumi went back to watching the sun set.

In the kitchen, Kaoru was working furiously. This is her big chance to show Sano, that she can cook decently. Earlier while she had been training, Megumi had surprised her with some delicious tea. Now she just had to show that she could make something right. After about seven tries, she finally had something that looked good. She was about to bring it out when she heard the dojo gate being smashed. "Sano!" She screamed as she dropped the food and ran outside where he and Megumi were sitting. Arrr What did that idiot do now? She stopped short when she got passed the door, because there was a huge man standing where her gate used to be. She immediately forgot Sano and her anger turned to this giant of a man … who also happened to be half-naked, gross. "Who are you and why are you ruining my gate? Don't you have any respect for other people's property?" She was standing there glaring at him waiting for an answer and Sano was about to tell her to be careful, when the guy chuckled.

"Ha, ha, I am Hyottoko of the Oniwaban, little girl. Hand over Megumi and I might leave you alone!"

By this time Sano was standing next to Kaoru. "Hyottoko? That's way too cute for you. I'd change it."

Megumi was standing back on the porch watching everything. Sano's statement made her cringe. He's just looking for trouble I know it! Oh, the idiot.

"Well, who do I fight first? I don't care if you come together!" Hyottoko said as he lowered his center of gravity for balance.

"I'll take him Jou-chan, he seems to be more proud of his strength than anything." Kaoru just looked at him as if he were crazy.

"Are you kidding? This guy ruined my gate! I'm not going to let him get away with it!" Sano sighed in exasperation. "Listen, we don't have time to argue over this! There's probably more of them and you'll get your turn. Just let me have this guy." He didn't even wait for her to reply before going to attack.

"Sano!" Kaoru yelled as he dodged hyottoko's punch and hit him in the ribs. Sano ignored her focusing on Hyottoko.

"Doesn't matter how strong you are if you can't connect." He said as he went in for another hit.

"Thanks for stepping into range!" Hyottoko said before he snapped his teeth together and breathed out flames. Sano tried to dodge but his jacket and right leg came out burnt. When Kaoru saw the fire she almost immediately started running the other way. Megumi, who was watching, gasped and turned away ready to leave. If I leave now, no one will notice and they won't have to be hurt anymore than they already are. As she rounded the corner though a young sounding voice stopped her. "Where do you think you're going?"

Surprised, she looked up and saw Yahiko sitting on the roof.

"What are you doing up there?"

Yahiko refused to answer, "I'm the one asking questions! As far as I know, they're fighting for you! You could at least stay and watch!" Megumi looked back to the fight to see Sano standing on his feet before Hyottoko looking like he was going to go at it again.

"No, they're not fighting someone they can beat." Yahiko looked at her with more anger than she thought was possible in a boy his age.

"So you're just going to leave!" He yelled at her, "Whether they can defeat him or not they'll need help after the battle! They're doing this for you!" Megumi looked like she had been slapped. She turned back to see Kaoru running in front of Sano completely soaked. I thought she was running away! Yahiko's voice brought her back from her thoughts. "I'll go get Dr. Gensai, you stay at least until I get back okay?" Megumi nodded once and headed back to the porch to watch the fight as Yahiko ran out of the yard.

Back in the front Kaoru had convinced Sano to let her take over even if only for a second. Standing in front of Hyottoko at that moment she had to wonder if this was what her dad had in mind. She was doing her best to protect people just like he taught her. She was even trying to protect her enemy. Hit him, hurt him, but don't kill him. Was her thought as she advanced in her attack. He's a really big boy. She mused while trying to figure out where to best attack while keeping in mind her own size and dodging the flames. Thank goodness I went to soak myself or my clothes would surely be on fire by now. There! She spotted an opening and went for it. He had bent just a little too low trying to burn her and she had the perfect opening for a solid hit to the color bone. "Hya!" She yelled as she struck. There was a last burst of flames before Hyottoko fell to the ground. Megumi stood on the porch watching jealously as Sano ran over to Kaoru and gave her a hug. "I knew you could do it!" He said excitedly as he released her. He really had been worried despite his faith in her, which was just growing. As Kaoru stood there to catch her breath Yahiko and Dr. Gensai finally showed up. Dr. Gensai immediately started to fuss over them as Megumi stood by. I guess … it's time to go then. She exhaled silently as she bent her head and turned to go, holding back her tears.

"Watch out!" She heard Yahiko shout behind her. She whipped her head around just in time to see him fall to the ground at her feet. At that moment three things happened. Megumi immediately bent down to examine him, Sano went to go kill Beshimi, and Kaoru started scolding Yahiko.

"Yahiko! What do you think you're doing? That thing's small but what if it hit your heart or something! This is dangerous, so stay back!" She was so worried for him. She had no idea when she had become this attached.

"What are you talking about, ugly? I know you're fighting to protect her, and I know I can't fight, but I can still help! I want – " His speech was cut off as he collapsed into unconsciousness.

"Yahiko!" Kaoru called to him uselessly. Sano finally came over to see him on the ground. He looked over at Dr. Gensai who had also come over to inspect the boy, "Can you do anything, Doc.?"

"Hmm, I'll have to find out what was used on this dart, it might take a while. Take him inside and try to keep him cool and comfortable. I'll go see what I can do." He stood to leave but Megumi stopped him.

"The poison is Jimson weed, this is a race against time I'll give you the prescription. Kaoru boil some water, I'll need that and a washcloth for the medicine. Sano, go buy as much ice as possible." For a second they just stood there looking at her not sure what to do. Then Doctor Gensai broke the spell, he too knew that treating poison was a race against time. "Hurry!" The urgency in his voice caused everything to erupt into a blurred frenzy as Sano ran out to get ice and Kaoru ran to start boiling water. Dr. Gensai, realizing that Kaoru was not exactly fit to be boiling water quickly stood. "My medicine bag is just outside, please feel free to use it Takani-san." After he left the room Megumi quickly went outside to get his bag, but two thoughts were warring in her mind. The first was obviously Yahiko. The second? How does he know me? When she got back inside Kaoru was sitting next to Yahiko with the washcloths. Megumi began to prepare the antidote, and a few minutes later Dr. Gensai was back with boiling water just as Sano ran into the dojo with the ice. Megumi quickly shooed them all out with the exception of Dr. Gensai.

Outside Kaoru and Sano were standing next to the door staring at the floor. When Kaoru finally looked at Sano, the look he gave her surprised her. She didn't know he cared for the little guy that much … but then, didn't she just think that about herself a few minutes ago? "You were pretty quick getting that ice Sano." She said smirking as she tried to make him feel a little better.

Sano looked at her thinking of how ridiculously random that was, then he realized her intent. "Hmph, there was no line." He said hiding his face from her. He didn't want her to see the faint smile that had grown there. To his chagrin Kaoru started to giggle. "What?" He asked as he finally faced her. She giggled some more.

"'There was no line'? Is that the best excuse you could come up with?" She teased.

"You know, if I didn't know any better I'd say you are just as worried as I am." He said challenging her with his eyes.

"Well you'd be wrong. I know Dr. Gensai is a very good Dr., and did you see the way Megumi acted? She seemed very confident. I'm sure he'll be fine." It didn't escape her notice however when his look turned dark at her mention of Megumi.

"Yeah I'm sure he'll be fine." Sano said as he went back to leaning against the wall and staring at the floor.

A few minutes later Megumi came out. "We're done, you can come in now."

Kaoru looked excited as she went into the room and saw Dr. Gensai just getting up. "This should do it. He'll be all right in three or four days."

Kaoru went over to hug him. "I'm so glad Yahiko!"

Yahiko just groaned as Dr. Gensai reprimanded Kaoru. "As long as he isn't disturbed."

Sano jovially slapped him on the back. "Thanks old man, you're the greatest."

The Doctor the brought his hands up. "No need to thank me. Takani-san is the one who did the real work."

In a room in Kanryuu's mansion Aoshi was sitting at a desk looking over some papers. "I see, so I won't be able to use Hyottoko or Beshimi for a while. You're not badly hurt are you Hanya?" Hanya dropped down from the ceiling to stand in front of Aoshi's desk.

"No, not at all."

"Good, it says here that you found out some information on the girl. Is this all of it?"

"Yes it is."

"She is the one who defeated Hyottoko is she not?"

"Yes she is."

"No crimes, no secrets, no parents, just kenjutsu, and a brat?"

"That's correct Okashira."

"You may leave."

Hanya didn't reply, just disappeared into the ceiling again. Aoshi stood and walked to a large window. No parents, no secrets. He sighed as his eyes took on a distant look, remembering another person with no parents, secrets, or crimes. Someone he had trained, who hadn't wanted him to leave. Who are you really Kamiya?

"Oniwaban: End"

AN: Not that it didn't take a little while for this chapter to come out, but it might take some time for the next one too. Just a warning.