Hey there and welcome back to RKatCoS! Thank you for all those reviews and I'm glad you didn't kill me for not getting to the spar part. Mind you, if you did, you would never have got to read it, would you. Speaking of that, I want to say an apology for last time, because I stopped just when you guys were ready for the big Harry-and-co-get-to-see-Kenshin-and-Hiko-spar bit. So, yeah, I'm really sorry about that. But anyway, I now have that much-awaited spar match right here! So, without further ado, here it is! Ta-da!
Disclaimer: although someone did ask me if I was actually Watsuki and JK Rowling working together on this, I'd have to say that I'm not, unfortunately (though maybe channelling them? …Nah!) So that means I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or Harry Potter. They belong to the real Watsuki-sama and JK Rowling-sama, to whom all rights are reserved.
Last time on RKatCoS
Kenshin received his punishment from Hiko, but when Harry and Ron find out, they decide they want to see Kenshin and Hiko actually sparing. So, with the Weasley tins, they make a plan to go and see them sparring and, under the invisibility cloak, they head off for the sparring grounds…
Chapter Six
Speed of the Sword
Invisibility cloak covering them, Harry, Ron, Fred and George made their way down the stairs and into the yard, the silence only punctuated by a yelp or curse as one person managed to stand on the other's foot. Harry had to wince each time. Even though the invisibility cloak could make you invisible and, according to Kenshin, hide your 'life-force' or 'ki' from people who were ki-sensitive, it did not hide sound. And if either Kenshin or Hiko heard them, (and with such sensitive hearing, it wouldn't be unlikely) it would be all over and they would most likely be in a hell of a lot of trouble. Much to Harry's relief, however, by the time they were half way to the paddock, they had managed to synchronise their movements to avoid hurting each other at such close quarters. Harry sighed with relief. Perhaps this was going to work after all…
The paddock owned by the Weasley's was surrounded by trees, which reminded Harry of a small football stadium of some kind like those he had seen Dudley watching on the television, with a wide clearing in the middle covered with thick grass and daisies. Standing in the middle of the paddock was Kenshin, dressed in a white gi and pale-blue hakama that reminded him of some sort of Samurai, especially with the sheath of that strange backward sword of his resting in his belt. The sword itself was held in his hands and he looked as if he was just finishing off practising a certain move. A little further over, leaning against the side of the paddock was the large form of Hiko, complete with his impressive white cloak that Harry remembered from the time he had seen him at the station at the end of last term. His dark eyes were fixed on Kenshin.
"Umaku. Yori yoi, Baka Deshi," (Alright. Better, idiot apprentice.) Harry heard the giant man say - though he didn't understand what it was he had said as he had spoken in Japanese. They all came to a halt and crouched down near the edge of the paddock.
"Hai shishou!" (Yes master) answered the boy in kind, wiping the sweat from his forehead and grinning. Harry guessed that what Hiko had said must have been good.
"What's he saying?" whispered Harry to the Weasleys, seeing as they had spent longer with Kenshin than he had, with him staying with them and all.
Ron shrugged. "I don't know. I recognise a few words from things Kenshin has slipped before. Shishou is what Kenshin calls Hiko – I think it means master or something. 'Hai' means 'yes'. Hiko always seems to call Kenshin 'Baka Deshi'…does that mean idiot student or something?"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Hiko calls Kenshin that? But he's got to be the cleverest guy we know! I mean, he rivalled Hermione in the exams!"
"I think it's an on-running joke or something," Ron said. Fred nudged him.
"Look"
Hiko, who was now smirking, pushed himself from the side of the paddock and made his way over to Kenshin, who looked back at him with a look of ominous foreboding, as if he knew what Hiko was going to do next. Hiko pushed back his cloak to reveal a sword at his hip and he drew it, sending a ringing sound vibrating through the air.
"Ima, Suparingu no junbi wo suru, Deshi." (Now, prepare to spar, apprentice)
Damn, Harry wished he knew what Hiko had just said. Obviously Kenshin did, because he grimaced and stepped forward, falling into some sort of stance.
"It looks like they're going to spar," said Fred, excitement in his voice.
Hiko also dropped into stance, his sword at the ready and his eyes narrowed. "Yoi ga dekite iru ka?" (Are you ready?)
They were silent for the moment. The only sound was the rustling of the leaves as a wind swept through the trees, blowing through Kenshin's scarlet hair and Hiko's cloak. A second later that was gone too, as if the wind itself was holding its breath to see what master and apprentice were about to do. Everything was still…
Hiko's eyes flashed and he darted forward, followed seconds later by Kenshin. They got closer and closer when suddenly – they vanished! Harry gasped. He wasn't the only one either. Where on earth did they go! He whipped his head round, trying to look for them.
"Where'd they go?" gasped Ron.
Squinting, he tried to make out any sign of them, like he would if he was looking for a snitch. That's when he saw them and gasped.
"Up there!"
Both the fighters had leapt into the air, but Kenshin was higher up than Hiko and brought swung his sword down as he began to descend.
"Ryutsuisen!"
Hiko swept up his sword as he rose. "Ryushosen!"
The sword connected with a loud keening sound that tore through the paddock, vibrating through the air with metallic waves that made the hidden wizards wince. Both Kenshin and Hiko seemed to hover for a moment, but Kenshin was overpowered and thrown back. Harry opened his mouth to yell, but choked it off as Kenshin flipped in the air and landed like a cat as he bent his knees into the impact.
"Woah…!" The twins gasped.
Hiko landed seconds later, light as a feather, and once more they dashed forward.
Hiko brought round his sword and Kenshin brought up his to block it, sending him skidding back several inches, but he managed to keep his feet. He did a back flip back as Hiko swung down his sword, landed and pushed from the floor, bringing up his sakabato at the same time, but Hiko spun away, bringing round his sword at the same time. Harry saw as Kenshin's eyes widen in shock as the sword bore down on him and he managed to duck and roll away as Hiko swept out his leg at Kenshin's unprotected side.
"That's unfair!" Ron growled out, but Harry and the twins clapped their hands over his mouth, staring at the two fighters wide-eyed as Kenshin leapt to his feet again, but neither, thankfully, had heard the Ron's voice.
Kenshin's eyes narrowed and he dashed forward, striking the ground with his sword, Shooting dirt, grass and rocks towards the older man, who met it with the same attack, effectively neutralising it. But when the ground settled, Kenshin was gone.
"Where'd he go this time?" George asked, looking round.
Harry would have missed him too if it wasn't for his training as a seeker. "There!"
Kenshin was once more airborne, and brought down his sword in a way that Harry knew if it was a real sword in his hands than his sakabato, he would have sliced Hiko in two. But Hiko was fast and brought up his sword to meet the attack. Kenshin's eyes widened a fraction as he was caught in mid air. Hiko smirked and shoved down hard.
Kenshin yelled as he as thrown down into the floor, not enough time to land on his feet and crashed, skidding across the ground.
"Kenshin!" The group cried in horror, jumping to their feet.
Suddenly something hissed through the air and the invisibility cloak was wrenched from their shoulders. They all froze and gasped in alarm as something hit the tree behind them hard. Harry spun round to discover a sword vibrating in the tree behind them, the cloak skewered by the blade and still fluttering from the force of the impact. Harry felt himself shivering – the blade, if it had been only millimetres lower, would have sliced open his head. A jittery feeling in his stomach, Harry swallowed hard and, slowly, turned round.
Hiko was straightening; his sword hand now empty as the weapon was now planted into the tree behind them, his eyes narrow and unreadable as they fixed on the small group. Harry felt himself freeze inside, petrified after watching that display. They had been so fast, unbelievably so, as if they weren't human, and this man had just sent a twelve-year-old crashing into the ground like a rock. He was…so ruthless!
Hiko's eyes scanned over them for a moment. "Come out here." He commanded coldly in English, causing everyone to flinch as if they had been hit. Ron's face had turned green and the twins looked pale, every one of their identical freckles stood out against chalky skin. Harry swallowed nervously, feeling butterflies in his stomach. Unable to refuse the command, they made their hesitant way forward and stood in the paddock, unable to meet those raptor-like onyx eyes. He looked at them for a moment, before walking passed them to where they had been, yanking his sword from the tree and sheathed it, grasping the cloak in one hand. He stalked back towards them, his cloak billowing out behind him in a way that even Snape, their bad-tempered potions master, had not yet managed, placing himself in front of them.
He held out the cloak, his face still stoic. "This would be an invisibility cloak that I've heard so much about?" he said coolly, causing the boys to flinch at the tone.
"Y-yes sir…" Harry managed, his voice nothing more than a rather unmanly squeak.
Hiko glared at them for a second, before looking over towards where Kenshin was lying with a small smirk. "Well, Idiot Apprentice, it seems that you were right for once and it wasn't just you slacking off on you ki training. Get up, we have company."
Kenshin sat bolt upright in shock, his eyes wide. "Oro!"
The boys jumped as well and stared back at Kenshin as Kenshin clambered to his feet slowly, their eyes wide. It was hardly a wonder: they had just seen Kenshin crashing into the ground in a way that would have rendered anyone else unconscious, if not sent them with a one-way ticket to the afterlife, while he had got up in seconds. Kenshin, on the other hand, was staring at them with shock that they were there in the first place, and embarrassed that they had seen him training and losing. He could feel them all gaping at him stunned and concerned.
"Harry-kun," he stuttered. "Ron-kun…George…Fred…I, uh…what are you doing here?"
Harry suddenly found he could talk again and exploded. "You just got pummelled into the floor and you ask us what we're doing here!" he yelled. "You could have got hurt!"
Kenshin blushed a little and looked at the floor in embarrassment. "I didn't get hurt much de gozaru…" he mumbled.
"It was a defensive fall," Hiko explained calmly. They all whipped round to stare at the Swordsmaster. "To use attacks such as the Ryutsuisen, you have to know how to fall." Suddenly, he smirked, sending Kenshin a sly side-glance. "If anything, My idiot apprentice should be a master of falling by now, the amount of time he's done it."
"Shishou!" Kenshin yelled, his face as red as his hair.
Hiko just smirked and ignored him, while Kenshin muttered something in Japanese under his breath. Somehow, Harry got the idea that it wasn't something very nice by the way the redhead was shooting dark glares at the large man. Hiko just ignored him (he didn't hold any illusions that Hiko hadn't heard at all – he spotted him glance at Kenshin, the corner of his mouth twitching in suppressed mirth.) Instead, he looked at the guilty four again.
"So, you decided you wanted to see the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu by watching us with this," he said, indicating the cloak in his hands. "An interesting tool, but Useless if you don't know how to stay silent using it. It was also dangerous and foolish, because if you might have got yourselves hurt if you had got much closer."
"Is it…really that dangerous…?" Ron managed, looking at Kenshin, whose bangs were now covering his eyes.
"Aa…it is."
Harry knew Kenshin wasn't lying – he had seen with his own eyes just how deadly the Hiten Mitsurugi was. It was just as Kenshin had said – It was a most deadly art form. Yes, Harry could call it an art form, because even in the heat of battle, it almost seemed like a dance.
…A dance with death.
Hiko looked at them hard for a moment. "You four had better go back to the house before your Mother thinks you have done something else stupid. Of course, I might just have to tell her anyway…"
Ron, Fred and George gaped at Hiko in horror and Harry grimaced, already knowing what was going through their heads after that yelling fit they had received when they had come to rescue him from the Dursleys. However, Hiko just smirked and threw the cloak back to Harry who fumbled with it as he tried to catch it. "Use that with better care, child." He said simply, before turning to Kenshin. "That's it for now."
Kenshin nodded, sheathing his sword that he had, somehow, managed to hold on to and bowed in Hiko's direction. "Hai shishou."
They all bolted, not wanting to give Hiko the chance to change his mind about it.
As they were walking back, Kenshin thought over what just happened. He guessed he should have known Harry and the others would try something like that, what with the suspicious ki Harry had only the other day. Still, he was surprised that they had done it. He was also surprised that Hiko had admitted that Kenshin had been right – he had teased Kenshin mercilessly about the not sensing Harry's Ki thing at the end of last year after he told him (though he left out just what they ended up doing. Kenshin vowed he was not going to tell anyone what he saw in the mirror of Erised that day. Never.) Not that Hiko was going to apologise or anything. Kenshin would probably die from shock if he did that.
He was pulled out of his thoughts as the twins said, "Kenshin…that was…amazing!"
Huh? Had he missed something? "Oro?"
"Those moves! They were so amazing!" Fred said excitedly.
"Just like art!" George said. Suddenly, they both clasped his hands.
"Please teach us some of your moves!" They begged. Harry and Ron gazed at him as well in awe.
"ORO!" Kenshin blurted out. He shifted uncomfortably under their stares, fiddling with the straps of his sakabato, his face blushing crimson. "I can't teach anyone!" he said finally. "I mean, I'm only in training myself, so I don't know where to start, and besides, its an ancient tradition in the Hiten Mitsurugi style that there is only one Master and One heir at any given time. I can't just go about breaking the rule. Hiko would literally kill me."
"Awwww…" Ron and the twins pouted, but Harry looked at Kenshin nervously. Kenshin could understand. After seeing what they could do, Harry most likely had an inkling of what Kenshin had known the first time he saw the man – that Hiko was deadly and ruthless when it came to his sword. Kenshin shivered a little and pushed back the memories that followed that thought.
"Sorry, but I can't teach you, de gozaru."
"Well, we could always ask Hiko," Ron said. The thought was met with silent, disbelieving stares. "All right, all right! Forget I said that."
"Still, we must salute you for that stunning performance, old chap," Fred said, his eyes shining.
"You must be one of the strongest swordsmen around!" added George.
Kenshin blinked at them, surprised, before shaking his head with a small smile. That wasn't what his master told him…
They reached the small yard and Kenshin spotted a few chickens being chased by one or two gnomes that had made their way back again. Ron pushed open the door of the Burrow and they went inside, Harry stuffing his invisibility cloak deep into his pocket. Kenshin winced as he remembered the rip from Hiko's sword in it. If he hadn't known Hiko was so good at what he did, Kenshin would have shouted at the man for putting their lives at risk, launching his blade like that. However, now all Kenshin could think of was that Hiko had just damaged an extremely expensive invisibility cloak. He just hoped that Harry wouldn't make them pay to have it fixed…
"Oh, are you finished practice Kenshin dear?"
Mrs Weasley turned round from the stove as the boys made their way inside, blinking in shock as she spotted the other boys coming in as well. "My word, you lot are up early, aren't you." She looked hard at her sons. "You haven't been causing Mr Hiko and Kenshin any trouble have you?"
The twin's eyes widened. "Mother! What a terrible thing to say!" Fred said, looking hurt.
"Don't you trust your own sons?" George asked in a choked voice. "I'm shocked, I tell you. Shocked!"
Mrs Weasley sighed heavily and rubbed her temple with a hand, her eyes glinting dangerously. Kenshin decided he should save them all from a repeat of the day before. "Maa, maa, Weasley-dono. They came to watch my master and I practice this morning."
The dangerous look faded from her eyes. "Well, as long as they weren't disturbing you or anything."
"No, no, it was alright," he answered, flashing her his best disarming smile.
"That's alright then," Mrs Weasley said with a smile. "Well, breakfast should be ready soon, so just wait at the table," she turned back to the stove as she flicked her wand. Eggs began to break themselves on the side of the pan, tipping the contents into it before throwing themselves in the bin.
"Would you like the help, Weasley-dono?" asked Kenshin politely.
"Oh no, that's alright Kenshin. You just relax."
Kenshin nodded and followed the others to the table. As soon as he sat down, Fred and George rounded on him excitedly. "How do you do that!" exclaimed Fred.
"It's as if she can't get angry at you."
"Is it something to do with your sword style?"
"Teach us! We are not worthy!" they cried, dropping to their knees and bowing low to him over and over again while Ron and Harry burst out laughing at their antics. Kenshin blushed and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
It wasn't long before the most delicious smells came from the stove and they all dashed to their seats. Seconds later, Hiko arrived. Kenshin wondered why it had taken the man so long, but he decided not to say anything. Besides it was probably the only chance for Hiko to get any form of peace and quiet he enjoyed back on the mountain. For what must have been the one-hundredth time, Kenshin found himself wondering just why Hiko decided to come with him.
His musings were cut off when Ginny entered the room, but as soon as she set eyes on Harry, she let out a squeak, her face turned crimson and she looked round wildly. She turned even redder and edged into the room as if she was entering a lion's pit. Kenshin had never seen her act like that before.
"Oro? Ginny-dono?"
Ginny just blushed and sat as far away from Harry as possible, but almost knocked over the sugar bowl in the process. It was only due to Hiko's reflexes that it didn't clatter to the floor. However, Only Harry (who pretended not to), Hiko (who was smirking, his eyes dancing with mirth) and himself seemed to notice, as just then, Mrs Weasley looked out the window to see the form of two owls flying towards the house. "Oh, it looks like Mika and Errol are back." She said.
Kenshin watched as the two owls got closer and closer to the window, when suddenly –
BANG!
Errol slammed head first into the shut side of the window, just as Mika flew through the open one, causing Ron to smack his head on the table, Mrs Weasley to look shocked and the rest of the to roar with laughter into their cereal. Seconds later, the old owl flitted onto the windowsill as if nothing had happened.
"That bloody bird!" Ron growled as he stormed over to untie the letter from his leg, while Harry and the twins attempted to control their giggles. (1)
Mika just stood still and proud, as if trying to tell Kenshin that she was much better than the old moulting feather duster. Kenshin just chuckled and took the letter from her leg. It was from Kaoru and Sanosuke by the look of the handwriting. Kenshin opened it while Harry and Ron leaned over his shoulder to see what they had to say.
Dear Kenshin, Ron and Harry, if you got there alright, (it started in Kaoru's neat handwriting)
I hope that you guys are alright and nothing went wrong. I can't believe that the Dursley's would do such a thing, but I hope you were careful and you didn't get hurt.
I can't believe you did something like this without me! (The handwriting switched to Sanosuke's lazy scrawl) I can't believe you were so selfish and taking all the good fights again. I though we said we weren't going to do that any more, Kenshin! Do it again and I swear I'll-
Anyway! (What Sanosuke would do was cut off with a squiggle) we've been really worried. Hermione sounded a little frantic, so I guess you'll hear from her soon. Please could you send us an owl back if everything goes alright-
And if it hasn't, send us an owl and I'll make 'em let him go with my fists!
Sanosuke, stop writing on my letter! Get your own!
But it's so much easier this way, Jou-chan-Freeloader!
It went on like this for a while. They could almost see the two arguing over the quill, which had Kenshin and the others laughing at the mental images. Finally, it seemed like Kaoru won, (a pummelled rooster-head came to mind) as Kaoru got control of the quill again.
But anyway, Hermione, Sanosuke and I made arrangements to go to Diagon alley next Wednesday to get our books and everything. If you can, meet us there!
Let us know soon, alright?
KaoruAnd Sano
"Hermione mentioned that as well," Ron said, holding up the letter that came with Errol. Harry and Kenshin glanced at that as well and smothered laughs as they saw the comment about Errol and getting another owl. Kenshin thought that would be rather mean to do so.
"Well, that fits in nicely," said Mrs Weasley as she held up several more envelopes, complete with familiar purple seal of an eagle, lion, serpent and badger and emerald green handwriting on the front. "Your letters came today with the equipment. Dumbledore already knows Kenshin and Harry are here – doesn't miss a trick, that man. So we can all go and get your things together."
Kenshin and the others took their letters, broke the seal and began to read through them. The first letter told the date and time that they would catch the Hogwarts express from Kings-Cross station. The second letter told them all the books they would need for the term. Kenshin skim read the list and blinked. Apart from The standard book of Spells, Grade Two by Miranda Goshawk, the other seven books all seemed to have been written by the same person.
"Oro? Who is Gilderoy Lockhart?"
TBC
Chosha's notes
Woah! That was a long chapter! I hope you enjoyed the long awaited spar scene! Anyway, to business…
I'm not sure if the Japanese phrases used were correct, but they are accurate to my knowledge. I put the meaning of what they said next to the words, just to make life easier for you! Just because Harry and the others don't know what they said, doesn't mean you don't have to. If you want any translations to any Japanese I have used before now, please tell me.
This was actually an adaptation from part of the movie of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but I couldn't leave it out. Its just too funny (oh well, simple things for simple minds…)
Anywho, if you can find anything you want to comment on, question, criticise (in a constructive way, of course) then please inform me and I will do my best to answer.
Next time on RKatCoS:
Kenshin, Hiko, Harry and the Weasley head off to Diagon alley, but something goes wrong and Harry goes missing! Next episode: Floo Fowl-ups!
But until that time, Ja ne!
Chosha Kurenai xXx