Of Wine and Water by: P.P.V.V.

Disclaimer: The Standard Disclaim applies...


AN: Thanks again for stopping by. And thanks so much to those of you who left me reviews even though the website was acting up again. You guys are the absolute best. Your gifts of inspiration are (and always will be) truly appreciated! As proof, please enjoy this next chapter.


Chapter 26

- Leading by Example –

He craned his neck from one side to the other, feeling both ridiculous and vulnerable.

"How am I supposed to see?"

"That's the whole point," Hiko said, sounding exasperated as he finished tying the knot to the strip of cloth he'd placed over his Apprentice's eyes. "You're not supposed to see. You are relying too much on your sense of sight. I want you to focus on your inner sense of intuition. Focus on your hearing and on what your body is signaling you to do."

Kenshin grimaced, turning his head yet again toward the sound of Hiko's footsteps that were coming from his right. "You need to be on the alert. Being blind is not necessarily a bad thing."

The principle was to keep a calm center and stay focused on the task at hand. Kenshin was far from focused now, though, his mind in a panic at the mere prospect of having to fight blindfolded. How would he be able to defend himself if he was met with pure darkness at every turn?

His Master's voice commanded his attention, much more so than it usually did because it seemed to boom at him from every direction. He swiveled his body around in an attempt to pinpoint its source. "A real swordsman does not rely solely on the weapon in his hands," Hiko lectured, twisting his student in the right direction so that his boy wouldn't go flailing into the forest. When satisfied that Kenshin was properly in place, he continued, "Nor does a real swordsman rely solely on his body to physically attack. You'll find that many of your fellow practitioners of the sword tend to lean on these two things.

"The Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu is set apart in that it relies primarily on your sense of surroundings; in reading your opponent."

Kenshin felt his Master poke him between his shoulder blades and he stumbled, turning around a moment too late to try and face him.

The man hummed. "Keep in mind that you don't come equipped with another set of eyes on the back of your head. If anything, fighting blind will teach you to stretch out your senses and find better balance."

Perplexed, Kenshin raised the blindfold over one eye and peered at his mentor. "But, Master, how do I stretch out my senses?"

Hiko pulled the cloth back down with an annoyed click of his teeth. "By concentrating, first and foremost," he half scolded. "Only then will you learn to feel."

Frowning, Kenshin repeated, "Feel?"

"A person's presence," Hiko explained and in Kenshin's mind's eye he could see his Master nodding. "The energy surrounding an individual. A life source. We call it 'Ki'."

Kenshin softly said the word, testing it on his tongue but it did not help him very much to understand it.

His Master must have read his mind again because he began to circle him, lecturing him as he walked. "Everything possesses a flow; a life energy. It is most prominent and easily detectable in living things. Without mastering the concept of Ki, you cannot hope to move on in your training."

Kenshin felt like he was floundering in waters that were too deep.

Life energy?

Ki?

What on earth?

"It will take time," Hiko said, "but you will learn that different things throw off different energy signatures."

Energy signatures? Kenshin furrowed his brows in confusion. His Master sounded like he was crazy. He had no time to mull over the thought because his Master was speaking again. "For example," said the man, "emotions tend to show the brightest ki."

Kenshin interrupted by blurting, "Like…a color?"

Hiko paused, his cloak flapping about his heels as he did so. "I suppose you could put it that way."

Again, the boy frowned, squinting in an effort to see said signatures. Nothing but that same darkness stared back at him.

"It's not easy, but I'm certain you can do it." Hiko stopped in front of his student and placed his hands on his shoulders. "First, clear your mind of any doubts. Then, I want you to listen." He paused then, as though waiting for him to do just that.

Bowing his head, Kenshin tried to block out his frustration and reservations.

The sound of leaves rustling seemed amplified, somehow. He could even hear the sound of the wind as it whooshed through the trees. Overhead, a bunch of birds called out to each other and he could picture them in a flock, forming a sort of pattern in the sky as they flew.

"Clear your mind, Kenshin," Hiko ordered. "Feel the energy pulsate around you."

Pursing his lips, Kenshin redoubled his efforts, effectively reining his thoughts in when they tried to wander too far. After a few minutes, he reached up to pry the strip of cloth away from his face, lifting it free from him and taking a few of his red strands with it.

…This was ridiculous.

He couldn't figure out how to feel his surroundings. In fact, he was positive that Hiko was making fun of him again. He'd probably laugh himself blue that Kenshin actually believed him, he could just picture it.

Instead of being met with a smirk, however, Hiko was scowling. "What are you doing?"

Kenshin measured the Master's reaction carefully. "It's impossible," he said, at last, swallowing whatever accusations he'd thought to present.

"I wouldn't have asked you to try if it was," said Hiko, matter-of-factly.

Kenshin protested, "No one can possibly fight blind folded."

For a moment it looked like Hiko would scold him again, but he surprised Kenshin by snatching the cloth from his hand and tying it around his own eyes. When he had finished doing so, he tested it by mimicking the boy's earlier actions of moving his head from left to right.

Then he lifted his sword.

In a blink, he attacked. Instinctively, Kenshin stumbled back, managing to catch the elder man's blade at the last second. He'd been fast. Too fast for Kenshin to even draw his weapon in defense. It merely tapped the boy's still-sheathed sword, showing him the Master's full control over his swing despite not being able to see.

Adrenaline now piqued, the student dove to the side, using his legs to put distance between the two of them. Without hesitation, the Master followed. Seeing this, Kenshin decided to change his course to try and throw the man off, but he kept up just as easily as if he had him within sight.

Kenshin felt his blood churn in disbelief. It was almost eerie the way he moved so swiftly, so surely. He suddenly felt like prey that had no escape. As if to spite him in his moment of panic, he tripped over a patch of dirt and the ground rushed forward eagerly to meet him. Throwing his hands out to take the impact of the fall, he arranged his body into a crouch. His right hand closed over a fistful of earth and rocks and when he rolled to a painful stop, he whipped these up and around in a pathetic attack with the hopes that maybe that would slow the Master down a little.

Hiko's sword became a blur, the rocks deflected, one by one. The steel made muted clangs as each one was met with ease and precision. They fell back to the floor, not a single one meeting their target.

Kenshin didn't even have a chance to gasp as the Master literally sailed past that feeble assault. His breath caught in his throat when he felt the flat of the blade rap him lightly on his right shoulder, ending the chase.

In shock, he sat on the ground, panting, staring up in both fascination and dread at the man he considered his mentor. For a brief moment, he wondered what his opponents must feel like on the battlefield. Then he was suddenly very glad that he'd never have to be the victim of his Master's wrath.

Still blindfolded, Hiko's hand came out to grasp his Apprentice's arm and hoist him to his feet.

Unable to speak, Kenshin shook before him, awed.

Hiko sheathed his sword calmly and pulled the blindfold off. Pressing the cloth into his apprentice's hands he said, "The mindset of a swordsman who practices the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu must always be willing to embrace the teachings." His tone, though neutral, held an underlying disapproval for Kenshin's earlier stubbornness.

Kenshin stared down at the strip of cloth. He felt small and weak and immature all over again, and he hated it.

"When you encounter a battle, you must be ready for every circumstance," Hiko stressed the word in a way that was both pleading and authoritative, the urgency in his voice evident. "A fistful of sand to the eyes will effectively render you unable to see. What then? Will you surrender and fall to your opponent's blade? Will you flee? Or will you fight to the very end with everything left in you?"

He paused, waiting for his student to respond.

When Kenshin remained silent, he sighed in exasperation. "Listen, you. The more you think something is impossible, the more it will be. I just showed you it can be done, so you have no excuse. You can do it but it will take time and patience."

Kenshin raised his head slightly, considering the Master's words.

Hiko frowned and cleared his throat, pushing his cloak to the side. "What?" He averted his eyes and cleared his throat again, rolling back on his heels as he spoke. "I already told you I believe you can do it. So don't disappoint me."

The Apprentice tried hard not to grin, enjoying the way Hiko squirmed with self-consciousness. "Yes, sir. I won't, sir." He resolutely fisted the blindfold and slowly brought it up to cover his eyes once again. He yanked the cloth into place, securely plunging him into the world of darkness once more.

His Master was right. So far, he'd risen to every challenge and conquered each obstacle. If he said it was possible, then Kenshin would do it. It was as simple as that.

Hiko smirked, mentally patting himself on the back for his little motivational speech and his stellar example.

From behind the blindfold, Kenshin concentrated. If emotions gave off key energies, he could detect one emanating strongly from his left.

…Ah.

So, that was the color of pride.


Word Count: 1, 737

Moving Forward…


AN: The concept of Ki was very hard to describe. I hope that it wasn't too far-fetched. This was the way I pictured Hiko teaching Kenshin how to sense it. Believable? I'd love to hear what method you guys thought Hiko used to teach him. After all, I don't think the kid miraculously learned how to do so on his own. Review, please! Those keep me happy. And inspired.

Thanks for reading,

-P.P.V.V.

Edited: August 26, 2016