Argh, frustration! A thousand apologies! Apparently asterisks just don't work here because I tried it again and nothing. In fact, I can't get anything to work. Hence the crazy ''O" instead, and I can't even get it lined up in the middle. Suggestions anyone?
Chapter 7
An empty rice bowl slammed onto the table with a loud thunk. "Jou-chan, why didn't you tell me!" Sano was furious. Kaoru had just told him about her conversation with Kenshin the night before.
"He's just going to talk to Hiko-sama!" Kaoru shouted back, no less angry. "He'll be back in two days!" Sano had some nerve trying to blame her for letting Kenshin leave!
"That's what he says at least! For all you know he's going to take on all of the Heaven's Judges by himself!" The chopsticks Sano was holding snapped in half. "Damned idiot!"
"Kenshin wouldn't lie to me like that Sanosuke!" Kaoru said vehemently.
"Yeah, I guess he'd just lie to me about not going anywhere alone!" Sano growled, imagining himself knocking Kenshin's head in the next time he saw him.
Kaoru made a noise in the back of her throat, voicing her frustration. "He wouldn't do that either, stop feeling sorry for yourself! He went to Kyoto and he'll be back in two days!"
"I'll believe it when I see it," Sano said. He felt better though. Kaoru was right, Kenshin wouldn't lie to her like that, or him either. Sano would just have to trust that he would be back when he said. "So he went to see Kawaji then?"
"Kawaji? What for?"
"To tell him about tonight. He said he was going to talk to him and write a letter to Misao."
"Oh, he did say that. He said he was counting on you to still protect wherever it is they're going to be tonight."
"No worries, I'll be there. Asked a couple of my friends too, they weren't too glad to help but I reminded them of some debts they owed." Sano chuckled and cracked his knuckles.
"You didn't beat them up?" Kaoru asked.
"Nah, course not," (meanwhile in an alley half a mile away . . .).
"Good. Well, I'm going to train Yahiko okay?"
"Alright, I'll watch." Sano enjoyed seeing the different styles of swordsmanship. Kenshin's was the showiest and the best but Kasshin ryu wasn't too bad either. Besides, this way he got to egg Yahiko on.
"Nothing too strenuous of course," Kaoru said as she made her way to the dojo. Yahiko was already there, as well as the Katsuras, and Yahiko and Kaiba were practice-swinging furiously, each trying to outdo the other.
"853, 854!" Yahiko shouted, voice hoarse.
"970, 971!" Kaiba was still going strong, hands steady. Over on the side, Shinta was sparring with Yumiko.
"Just a hundred more and you'll have caught up Yahiko!" Sano called, relishing the livid look that appeared on Yahiko's already red face.
"Alright, yamete! Class is starting!" Kaoru called.
"Just a couple hundred more!" Yahiko panted, speeding up.
"One thousand!" Kaiba called.
"Damnit busu, you made me lose!" Yahiko shouted. He turned to Kaiba. "That doesn't count, I was distracted!"
"Don't be a sore loser. You lost fair and square. I was almost two hundred ahead of you," Kaiba said. "And you should show more respect to your teacher."
"Who're you to talk?" Yahiko snarled. "Hey busu, I've been training for two hours already! Call off class!"
"Don't call your sensei busu!" Karou clonked Yahiko on the head with her shinai. "And I'm not calling off class! Do you want to get strong or not?" Spinning on her heel, she turned to Kaiba. "Kaiba-kun, do you want to practice with us today? We're practicing defense."
"Yeah, how about I attack and you defend!" Yahiko said venomously.
"I would like that," Kaiba said. "What about Shinta and Yumiko? They study too."
Shinta and Yumiko had stopped their sparring when Kaoru had yelled 'yamete.' "We'll practice," Yumiko said, trotting over to join them. "Come on Shinta."
"Great! Okay, line up! We're doing things properly today." Kaoru took them all into the dojo, where they bowed to the katana on the wall and went through the ritual of reverently laying down their shinai, bowing to Kaoru and then meditating. Kaoru was pleased to see that Kaiba and his siblings had been instructed in the ritual. Yahiko followed along clumsily, his scowl getting deeper the more they progressed. Sano watched them with mild interest, chewing his fish bone. "Ah, wasn't that refreshing?" Kaoru breathed deeply as they retrieved their shinai.
"No." Yahiko said flatly. "There's no point in it, it's like something Aoshi does."
"Misao-chan wouldn't like to hear you say that about Aoshi," Kaoru giggled, thinking of the reaction the hyper kenpoist would have if she heard Yahiko talking about her Aoshi-sama that way. "Ok, we'll work in pairs today. Yahiko, you work with Yumiko, Kaiba with Shinta and I'll supervise."
Yahiko and Kaiba glared at each other. They hadn't had a chance to have their duel yet. "First thing, defense against a sword coming from above!" Kaoru grabbed Yahiko's arm and dragged him to the center of the dojo. Yahiko looked at her blankly.
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Attack me from above."
Yahiko smirked. "Heh, no problem. KYAAH!" He leapt into the air, shinai held high above his head. Kaoru just stood there, still standing in ready position with her shinai extended. I've got her! Yahiko swung his shinai down.
"Kamiya Kasshin ryu, boueiyou no daiikken!" Kaoru shouted. And suddenly Yahiko was behind Kaoru, thrown off balance as his shinai was knocked from his grip. He pushed himself to his feet, retrieving his shinai.
"Could you see it?" Kaoru asked, holding out a hand. Off on the side Shinta jumped up and down and raised his hand.
"Once more," Yahiko said, glowering at Shinta. He hadn't seen it but he did see Kaoru after he'd fallen. She'd been standing behind him. Somehow, she had gotten behind him. He would watch this time. "KYAAH!" Yahiko jumped into the air again. Almost there...his eyes widened. Kaoru was stepping towards him at the last second! Once again, Yahiko went flying over her shoulder and his shinai clattered to the floor. He was smiling triumphantly though. "I get it! You shorten the distance, so you get more room to maneuver before your opponent strikes! You knock the sword from his grip then and use a judo twist to send him to the ground!"
Kaoru nodded. "Right. It's difficult to perform though because if you step too little the attacker still has room to adjust his strike, and if you move too much you can't disarm or throw your opponent, giving him the chance to spin around and slice you in the back."
"It would never work against Kenshin," Yahiko said.
"Kasshin ryu is used for protecting people Yahiko, not to pick swordfights. You shouldn't be fighting anyone at Kenshin's level if you're just protecting people."
"Kenshin fights lots of people at his level while he's protecting people." Yahiko argued stubbornly.
Kaoru ground her teeth. "That's because everyone he fights wants revenge from the times he killed people!"
"Oh. Right." Yahiko thrust his shinai in front of him. "Alright Kaoru, come at me!"
Kaoru stared at him and then burst out laughing. "Haha! You think you're going to be able to do it after watching it only once?"
"Hey," Yahiko growled. "I'm not that bad."
Kaoru wiped her eyes. "Sorry, it's just funny. This is one of Kasshin ryu's more advanced moves. It took me a week to get it right."
"Well maybe I'm just better than you," Yahiko said arrogantly. "You're just an assistant master after all." Yahiko could swear he saw steam coming from Kaoru's head.
"Oh yeah punk! Let's just see! HAH!" Kaoru shot into the air and flew towards Yahiko, shinai raised. Yahiko was surprised to see how fast Kaoru could move if she wanted.
Okay, watch for the right moment and step first, then . . . Yahiko never completed his thought. Kaoru's shinai crashed down on his shoulder and sent him face first into the floor.
"See? It's more difficult than it looks," Kaoru said, hefting her shinai onto her shoulder.
"Sugoi, Kaoru-san!" Yumiko exclaimed. Shinta clapped appreciatively.
Kaoru tossed her ponytail with a high and mighty smile. "Don't underestimate me because I'm just an assistant master, Yahiko," She said sweetly.
"You did that on purpose!" Yahiko said accusingly.
"Well maybe if you didn't always act like such a know-it-all I wouldn't have to do stuff like that!" Kaoru retorted.
"I think you just like torturing your students," Yahiko muttered. "Let me try it again."
"Hold on, you'll get your chance. Kaiba-kun, do you want to try? Do you know how to do it?"
"I saw it the first time," Kaiba said, giving Yahiko a taunting grin.
"Oh really? Why don't you come try."
"Okay." Kaiba stepped out onto the floor, holding his shinai slightly lower than was customary. "Come at me."
"HAAAH!" Yahiko watched Kaoru jump into the air. As much as he teased Kaoru about her only being an assistant master and therefore not that good, he didn't think Kaiba could beat her.
"Katsura ryu imitation boueiyou no daiikken!" Kaiba shouted, and Yahiko saw the boy take the step forward and knock Kaoru's shinai from her hands. Instead of completing the move and throwing Kaoru over his shoulder though, Kaiba continued sliding his shinai forward until it hit Kaoru's chest. Kaoru went sliding backwards, crossed hands held in front of her blocking Kaiba's shinai.
"Good move Kaiba," She said. "That was a nice twist you added."
"Thank you," Kaiba said. "Tou-san always tells us to improvise whenever you can."
"Your father must be very skilled," Kaoru said. She knew he must be to have fought and lived through the Bakumatsu.
"You've done something like that before," Yahiko said suspiciously. "It was too natural."
"So what if I have? I still did it before you," Kaiba said frostily.
"Kaoru! I request that you allow me and Kaiba to have our duel!" Yahiko said loudly. This jerk was getting on his nerves.
"That would be a good way to start training," Kaoru mused. "Okay, Yahiko and Kaiba, to the middle of the room. I'll give the signal." Kaoru walked over to where Sanosuke and the other two Katsuras stood.
"He's really serious about this," Sano noted, taking in Yahiko's grim expression.
"Yes. They need to get past it though, I'm not listening to them argue every day." Kaoru held her right hand up. "Ready!" Yahiko gripped his shinai tighter, glaring at Kaiba who simply stared at him impassively. "HAJIME!" Kaoru dropped her hand and the fight was on.
OOO
Trains amazed Kenshin. Exhausted from staying up the night before, it seemed he had hardly gone to sleep before the whistle blew, announcing their arrival in Kyoto. There weren't many people on the train; it had left at six thirty that morning. Kenshin stepped onto the station platform, remembering the last time he had been there. He stood for a minute, enjoying the cool breeze, and then glanced at the clock that was standing inside the station's platform. Just after twelve. Good, he had half the day to find Hiko. Hopefully he was still on his mountain.
Kenshin hadn't sent a letter to Misao after all. He had decided to stop by on the way back. Maybe he could spend the night there and they could leave the next morning. First thing on the agenda though was to get Hiko. And some lunch as well.
Kenshin hadn't brought much money with him (he hardly had any and he wasn't about to borrow some from Kaoru), just enough for his train ticket, so he was counting on getting something at his master's house. By the time Kenshin began his trek towards the mountain Hiko Seijurou resided on, the rest of the passengers had left and the train was restocking its coal supply, getting ready for the trip back to Tokyo.
The walk up the mountain was a pleasant one. Although it was cool, the day was sunny and clear and the rainbow of colors embodied in the sere autumn leaves made the walk a picturesque treat.
Kenshin walked quickly, despite the beautiful scenery. He was eager to get things over with. It wasn't that he didn't want to see his shishou, he just wasn't particularly looking forward to Hiko's snide comments. Because he would make them, Kenshin knew. Sometimes he thought he would rather fight than ask favors from his shishou.
Kenshin stepped over the tenth felled log he had encountered that day. There must have been a mudslide recently. "Almost there," He said to himself as he stepped into the forest that came out at Hiko's cottage. Already he could see smoke rising from the treetops. Hiko was still there alright, and still intent on making pottery judging from the smoke. Kenshin had to admit, he wasn't doing a bad job of it. The cup with sakura blossoms on it he had given Kenshin after his fight with Shishio wasn't a bad piece of art. Kaoru certainly adored it. But then, Kenshin had a nagging feeling that she would adore anything Hiko did for them.
Kenshin stepped out of the forest and saw what had become a familiar sight. The thirteenth master of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, in all his cloaked brilliance, was sitting on a log in front of his kiln, his back to Kenshin. Kenshin continued to walk towards him, head down as he tried to conceal his ki.
"You can stop trying to hide your presence," Hiko said, still facing his kiln. "Baka deshi." He turned with a sardonic grin as Kenshin gave up and let his ki resume its natural course.
"Shishou, ohisashiburi," Kenshin offered, stopping a few feet from Hiko.
"What, you're not going to show me the respect I deserve?" Hiko asked with feigned incredulity.
"Sumanai, shishou," Kenshin muttered, bowing. "Although since I'm not really studying under you anymore I don't see why I should have to bow."
"Such impertinence. Well, you always were disrespectful." Hiko stuck a pair of tongs into the kiln, rotating whatever was in there. "So baka deshi, I know this isn't just some friendly visit. You never visit your master to check on him as a good student should. I take it you've come to beg more favors from me?"
"Shishou . . . really, you make it sound like I'm here to torment you," Kenshin said through clenched teeth.
"Okay then, what are your reasons for coming?" Hiko asked, standing. "To bring me a nice bottle of sake perhaps? You're way behind in repaying me for the superior training you've received and all the extra help I've given you."
"I'm a little short on cash . . ." Kenshin began, thinking to himself that the only thing superior about his training was that he got beat up more than any other student.
"Oh, so now you're ungrateful for all the wisdom of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu I've imparted you with?" Hiko asked with raised eyebrows.
"Oro?" Did I just say that out loud?
"Although I see you've been using my impeccable training badly again. How did you get that?" Hiko pointed to the bandage that was still wrapped around Kenshin's left arm.
"Oh, that? Just an accident." Kenshin dodged the question as he let his gi fall over the bandage.
"You were careless enough to let someone cut you? Your skills really have deteriorated." Hiko gave a melodramatic sigh. "Why couldn't I have been rewarded with a good student, one who would complete their training, show me the respect I deserve . . ."
"Shishou please, I'm not here to argue with you about my training."
"Then spit it out, you've been standing there fifteen minutes already."
Kenshin controlled his temper. "I need to ask you a favor."
"Hmph, I knew it. I can see right through you. Come into the house, I'm hungry. We'll discuss it inside." Kenshin trailed after Hiko, running through his head a variety of rationalizations to convince Hiko to come to Tokyo.
OOO
Yahiko took off as soon as Kaoru gave the signal to fight, rushing at Kaiba with his shinai held off to the side. "KYAH!" Yahiko switched his attack at the last second, bringing his sword up to Kaiba's head. The boy had been in formless stance though, and he quickly brought his own shinai up to block Yahiko's strike. The force of the block sent Yahiko and Kaiba skidding backwards several feet.
"TAI!" This time Kaiba ran forward, somersaulting into the air as Yahiko ran to meet him. Yahiko twisted recklessly as Kaiba flipped behind him. He had to win this fight. He'd show that stuck-up kid that Kasshin ryu could hold its own against any style.
Kaiba was quick though; as Yahiko swung his shinai towards Kaiba's side, Kaiba bent sideways, grabbing Yahiko's shinai and using it to propel him to the side, where he slammed his own shinai into Yahiko's shoulder. "Urk!" Yahiko somehow managed to keep his balance. "T-that was nothin'," He gasped out, trying not to let Kaiba see him breathing too heavily. He would try a straight-forward attack next, no feinting. Kaiba would see through that anyway. "Tchiah!" Yahiko ran forward, purposely holding his shinai high.
"You're wide open!" Kaiba shouted, turning his shinai for a do strike.
"Hah, you fell for it!" Yahiko crowed. He slid to his right, causing Kaiba to overextend and stumble forward. Got him! Yahiko swung his shinai at Kaiba's exposed back, tasting victory.
"Don't think so!" Kaiba huffed. He had used his shinai to catch himself and used it as a pole now, swinging around and then letting the tip swing up and catch Yahiko in the throat.
Yahiko gagged and took several shuddering breaths before he had his wind back. "Okay, so you wanna get serious huh?" He growled somewhat hoarsely, setting his shoulders.
"I don't think that kid's fighting serious at all," Sano said aside to Kaoru, who was holding one hand over her face while the other was on her hip.
"Yahiko could use it to his advantage though," Kaoru said, not too hopefully. Yahiko had yet to improve his strategic skills.
"Kaiba-nii's going to win," Shinta said with certainty. "He's never lost."
"There's a first time for everything," Sano informed the boy. "Look."
Yahiko had stuck his shinai into his hakama tie, and turning sideways, he held his right hand just in front of the handle.
"He's not going to try a battoujutsu," Sano said with disbelief. He may not have been a swordsman, but he knew the move that had become Kenshin's signature during the Bakumatsu, earning him the nickname Battousai.
"I think he is," Kaoru said. "Which really, I don't know how he's going to do it. A shinai isn't made for battoujutsu, it's too awkward." Especially since the shinai didn't have a saiya to help accelerate the movement, Kaoru added to herself. Yahiko looked adamant though. He didn't budge as Kaiba came towards him, keeping his shinai low.
"He'd better do it if he's going to," Sano said edgily.
Come on you idiot . . . Yahiko thought as Kaiba began a shoulder hit that would have taken Yahiko out. "KHEEEEEH!" Yahiko let out a battle cry and dashed forward, whipping his shinai from the hakama as fast as he possibly could while trying to keep in mind where his target was. "Imitation battoujutsu!" He shouted, and felt his shinai thud solidly into Kaiba's side. Kaiba went tumbling across the floor, landing upside down at the wall on the far end of the dojo. Shinta and Yumiko let out a simultaneous gasp. "He lost?"
"Alright, Yahiko!" Kaoru cheered. "I thought that was a pretty stupid move at first but looked like it worked!"
"Was that a compliment?" Yahiko asked.
"Not bad," Sano said. "You've learned a lot of stuff from watching Kenshin huh?"
"Well since he won't teach me a damn thing, it's all I've got!"
"Hey! You can learn all the Kasshin ryu you want right here!" Kaoru said indignantly.
"Yeah, well," Yahiko walked over to Kaiba, who still had the wind knocked out of him. "Oi, Kaiba," Yahiko nudged him with his foot and Kaiba's eyes opened slowly. "You fought pretty good. In fact, I think you may be better than me."
Kaiba looked at him in surprise, wondering if he was hearing Yahiko right. "But I'm using Kamiya Kasshin ryu, the sword that protects" Yahiko continued. "And that means that when I lose, so do the people I'm protecting. So you see, there was no way you were winning this fight, because I can't let a sword style that takes life beat me." Yahiko grinned and held his hand out. Kaiba took it uncertainly. "We should practice more together," Yahiko said, slapping Kaiba on the back.
"Yeah, because next time I won't be so easy on you," Kaiba replied.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yahiko growled, eyes turning to slits.
"Oh, let it go Yahiko, you won and brought honor (well, that's questionable) to Kasshin ryu, so just leave it at that," Kaoru said exasperated.
"Yahiko-kun, that was a cool move!" Shinta exclaimed. "Will you teach it to me?"
Yahiko whacked him on the head gently. "Nope, that's something you'll have to learn for yourself. I just got it from Kenshin. If you want to learn to use battoujutsu, watch him. He's the best at it."
"Battoujutsu . . ." Kaiba said slowly. "It's what he's famous for. I wish I could see him use it one time. Tou-san says that the man who has mastered battoujutsu has the most powerful sword in Japan."
"Yeah, that's Kenshin," Yahiko said proudly. "Well, I'm going to get something to eat."
"Wait just a minute!" Yahiko found himself stopped by Kaoru's shinai. "Where do you think you're going? Class isn't over yet!"
"I just won a critical battle! I deserve a break!" Yahiko shouted.
"Real warriors don't get breaks! Now, everybody get out there and give me 500 strokes!"
"What! 500! No way busu!" Yahiko changed his mind as Kaoru's shinai found its way to his head. "1, 2, 3!" He shouted loudly. At least he could annoy her with his voice.
"And just for your attitude, I'm gonna work you until you drop!" Kaoru yelled. Yahiko just counted louder. Meanwhile, Shinta looked at the shinai in his hands.
"500?" He said in a small voice.
Kaiba-nii is Shinta's affectionate way of referring to his older brother. Obviously, liberties were takenwith Kasshin Ryu. I decided that one doesn't see enough of its moves in the manga or anime so I decided to concoct a move of my own. Sorry if this offends any purists.
baka deshi- stupid apprentice
boueiyou no daiikken - first sword defense
busu - usually translated as ugly or hag
hajime - begin
ohisashiburi - it's been a while
shinai - bamboo practice swords
shishou - master, but in the sense of seniority
sugoi - cool, wow
sumanai - sorry
tou-san - dad
yamete - stop
Thanks to all reveiwers! Mip the Demon Fox, comments all appreciated, not haughty at all. Sorry for all the confusion no break signs caused!
