Kenjutsu Beauty

Chapter Four

"Life"

Yahiko wasn't sure what he was feeling, only that he was aware. He couldn't seem to get past the fact that he did in fact exist. Therefore, he had no inclination to do anything other than lie there. There was no light behind his eyelids but somehow the inky blackness still managed to swirl. Am I breathing? He asked himself, the first coherent thought he had since … he didn't know when. He felt his lungs fill with air, and that little bit of knowledge served to bring him closer to conscious thought. I am breathing. Then more than a little surprised at the awareness that suddenly came with being awake, he resentfully pushed it back wanting to go back into that blissful nothingness. Lying there with his head under the covers and his eyes wide open he knew it was useless. Taking the blanket off his head, he looked around the room, not quite ready to get up yet. When he heard footsteps outside, he figured it'd be Kaoru coming to check on him. He was wrong. As the door slid open he recognized Megumi.

"I thought you were going to leave when I got back." He said giving her a confused look.

She was silent a moment before answering him. "I'm a doctor Yahiko, I didn't want to leave my patient until I was sure he'd be alright."

That seemed to satisfy Yahiko for a moment, before he realized something. "Whoa, you're a doctor?" She gave a small laugh as she saw the gears working in his head. "So that means … you're not so different from Kaoru than."

Megumi hid her surprise pretty well, along with her indignation. I am nothing like that sweaty little tomboy! Then she remembered the symptoms. Ah yes, he's confused. She reached down and touched the boy's forehead. "Yahiko, how are you feeling? Are you upset? Do you understand what happened yesterday? You're not hallucinating are you?"

Yahiko swatted her hand away from him in annoyance. "I'm fine! I know what happened yesterday! I saved your life." He paused dramatically. "You should thank me you know." He said with a smirk.

One of Megumi's very elegant brows rose, "So then, I suppose I'm going to get a thank you for saving yours?" Yahiko scoffed and looked away mumbling. "I thought so. Well Yahiko-chan, if you're not fine now, you will be in a few hours. I suggest you go get some breakfast. Kaoru's been worried."

Yahiko stared at his feet as he walked down the hall to the kitchen. He had made his decision to ask Kaoru to teach him. His recent experience had taught him that she had the skill if not the manly-ness to help when the need arose. Something he didn't have. He also wanted her to know he was serious about it. As he entered the kitchen Kaoru was just finishing her breakfast. Heart pounding wildly Yahiko just stood there and stared at her. Sensing something was up she gave him her full attention. When he just stood there longer she started to get impatient. "What are you doing?" She asked him. Suddenly Yahiko got down on his knees and knelt down his forehead touching the floor. "Kamiya-san, I humbly request your training." He really felt very awkward. What do you do with your hands when you're kneeling like this? Is that how I was supposed to ask? Man! I should have thought about that more! Is it alright if she sees me breathing? He was going to wait patiently for a reply when he heard her chuckle. He grit his teeth determined to show her that he was serious and waited for her to take notice. She didn't. He quickly sat up and glared at her as fiercely as he could.

Kaoru was shocked at how serious and angry he looked. She hadn't meant to make fun of him, she was just so happy that she was going to have a new student finally. She smiled gently hoping to calm him down a bit, "Yahiko-chan, I'm so—"

"Don't call me Chan! I'm serious Kaoru! I know I can't fight and no matter where I go I'm never going to be able to help people in trouble the way you can unless you teach me! Please! I need to learn!"

He was staring up at her with pleading eyes when she finally spoke again, very softly, "Yahiko, you've already learned the most basic lesson. The Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, is the sword that protects life." She took a deep breath and gave a big smile. "This is the sword style that I will teach you."

Did you ever notice how much harder it is to stay away from something when you're trying to as opposed to when it happens coincidentally? Sano was noticing this as he was trying to stay away from the dojo and that opium woman. It shouldn't have been hard. He'd known of it's existence for what seems like ages before he ever went there, and it's not like Koru and Yahiko had become his whole life or anything. There was much more to life than that raccoon girl and the little brat. Though ... his friend did just die. But it's not like he only had one! He had lots of friends! Of course that's because most people were afraid of him ... Miss Tae wasn't! Though, she couldn't really be considered a friend. Sano finally brought his eyes up when he came to a very familiar looking gate. Ahh man, well I suppose I can't really leave them here with that woman. She might poison them or something. He had just barely got the gate opened when Kaoru spotted him and ran over speaking so fast he couldn't understand her. "Ey Jou-chan!" He said laughing slightly. "Calm down! Is that anyway to greet a weary and hungry traveler?"

She openly scoffed at him before remembering exactly what it was she had been trying to say. "That's just the thing Sano! Megumi's going to teach me how to cook!"

She seemed so happy about it, but he just couldn't keep the dread off his face. He stood there a few moments while she elaborated on the things Megumi had already told her. When he finally found his voice, it wasn't as strong as he'd remembered. "Kaoru, are you … sure? I really like your cooking. I'm really sorry if I made you think I didn't. Really. She doesn't need to teach you anything."

Kaoru stared at him like he was a crazy chicken or something. "Sano … are you alright?"

"Yes I'm alright Kaoru! Don't you realize? My friend is dead because of her! She makes opium! How can you trust her? What if she does something?" As he was talking his voice had gotten louder and louder until he finally yelled the last question. Kaoru just looked sad.

"Sano, she doesn't do that anymore. She never did it because she wanted to. She was basically a slave. She ran away at the possible cost of her life."

But Sano was being stubborn. "How can you say that? You don't know anything except what she tells you!"

And Kaoru was getting angry. "Why else would the Oniwaban attack us?"

"I don't know! Because she wanted them too?"

"For what! Or is Kihei and Gohei in on this too?"

"Geez Kaoru! I don't know! Why can't you understand? I'm just trying to keep you safe!"

She inhaled sharply at that. Suddenly much calmer, she came up with a solution. "Then you stay and keep an eye on her. I'm not sending her away."

Sano was only slightly relieved. "Are you still going to let her teach you to cook?" He asked sounding somewhat like a hopeful child.

Kaoru giggled slightly and turned to hit him with her boken. "Don't get your hopes up."

(AN: I wanted that to sound like he was hopeful that she wouldn't let Megumi teach her. It sounds more to me like he's hopeful she will take the lessons. Any Idea on how I could do that better?)