Swords and Roses

Chapter 3: What Your Eyes Can't See

It was now sunset and as the last of the sun began to hide behind the bushes of the Hiten Dojo. Kaoru turned around to face a bare chested, lavender-eyed, red head. Kaoru' s breath was caught in her chest.

At first glance you would have thought of him to be a woman with all of long hair he had, witch by the way was loose. But as she looked at him againshe noticed he was more built manly than womanly, though he would pass as one all the same.

"Um Dono? I asked you a question. Are you my master's young niece coming to stay with us?" Kenshin called out to the very fascinating young woman before him.

Her hair was such a darkmidnight blue it lummed a lavender color almost like his eyes when he was calm. Her eyes were pure sapphires as he looked into them. He could right off hand tell they were the windows to her soul. Anything you ever wanted to know about her would lie in the depths of her eyes.

Though young looking she had very noticeable womanly curses showing even from under the thickness of her kimono. Her hair was so long and shinny looking Kenshin was very tempted to just walk up to her and run his fingers through her hair. From her stance he couldn't really tell if she fought much at all or if she did. The stance she took showed she could probably swing either way.

She had a real cute face and over all was a real work of art. Though Kenshin did a great job of masking his outer appeal for the girl. And he managed to have enough self-control not to walk up to her and run his fingers through the silky strains of her lovely hair.

"Hai. I'm Kamiya, Kaoru." Kaoru spoke up.

She noticed he was taking her to size with his eyes. She knew from the teachings of her father that a warrior can come up to battle and before he even fights you he can basically sum up how well you fight. They don't have to know you to tell what you are and how you go about doing things. Witch it is wise that as a female swordsmen she most learn how to hide the fact that she could fight by playing pathetic to learn more about your opponent. Almost like a temptress thing except for the whole abuse of the body.

If any abuse were to come it would come from the damage of a sword fight and nothing more.

She loved her father and her father in turn loved her. He wouldn't trade her in for a son any day. Though a son would be nice he saw Kaoru as the apple of his eye. She was in fact a spinning image of her mother like Hiko mentioned earlier.

She got her charms, looks, temper, and figure from her mom. And from her father her ability to stay in shape and look the same regardless, to change a person's character unwarily, and her inability to cook. Though she doubt her uncle or this Kenshin character would care. With luck she would only cook for herself and just get by like that.

Inwardly Kaoru smiled as she had managed to trick Kenshin into believing she wasn't much of a fighter. Nothing ever pleased her more than shocking her new targets. From him she had summed up enough. He was just like her except he did a poor job at truly hiding his true being. Something about his stance and the way his eyes were screamed he wasn't ordinary at all. Though only a weak minded person would let such obvious clues sneak pass them like that.

"I have a room prepared for you." Kenshin said as he turned around walking expecting her to follow him. Kaoru wasn't the one to take silent orders, but since she didn't want to look disrespectful in the name of her father she followed Kenshin to her new room in a new place and home.

Kenshin slid a door open to reveal a medium sized room. He stepped in the well-cleaned room and went to another sliding door and opened it to reveal a small closet/storage space. He bent down and pulled out the freshly cleaned mat and laid it out to the side for Kaoru. Then he told her were everything was and where she was allowed to go and where she wasn' lastlytold her what was expected of her to do and what she could do during the day.

Just as he was about to leave Kaoru stopped him.

"Wait a minute!" Kaoru called out. "Yes, what is it?" Kenshin responded. "What am I to sleep in? I have nothing to sleep in tonight nor any clothing for tomorrow." Kaoru answered him.

"Well that is a problem." Kenshin said thoughtfully as he tried to think of something that Kaoru could sleep in.

Just than a knock came to the door, followed by every one's favorite young gansta walking in without any comply or acknowledgement.

"Kenshin I just checked in with the old man and he..." Sano trailed off as he saw Kenshin in the room he was forced to help prepare with a very pretty looking young girl. "Well than is she our guest?" Sano asked looking at Kenshin. Kenshin nodded his response.

"So then you're Sano?" Kaoru asked as she stared at him. "Yep. The one and only." Sano said with pride.

"Sanosuke what are you doing you were suppose to make sure her items arrived here on time!" Kenshin scolded. "Oh and what the hell am I suppose to be now? A damn bus boy? I think not. You know I don't work for damn free. You may be my friend, but even friends have limits." Sano countered as he crossed his arms.

"And if you call me by my first name again Kenshin I'll be forced to kick your ass." Sanoadded coldly.

"Yeah right Sano. We all know it would be the other way around." Kenshin mumbled. "Hey watch it!" Sano yelled as he balled his fists.

"So you mean to tell me you left my clothing and special items at the train station?" Kaoru asked growing angry.

Sano blinked a few times as he saw the anguish become apparent on Kaoru lovely features.

"Um...y- yeah." Sano answered. "And you left my stuff there because?" Kaoru questioned growing even angrier. "B-b-b-because I didn't feel like..." Sano studdered. "You didn't FEEL like it? You didn't feel like it? Oh you better come up with something better than that." Kaoru growled.

Slowly, but surely fear started to rise within the tough little gangster, but the more he got a taste of Kaoru's growing anger the more he felt smaller than he was.

"Well you can't blame me! You and your uncle were just down there! Surely ya'll couldn't have been that lazy not to get your own stuff." Sano said defensively. "As reasonable as that sounds it also sounds like a load of bull. My uncle told me someone would deliver my stuff. If it was your job than I expect for you, in the next hour, to go pick up my stuff from the train station. And I swear if one item is missing or out of place your ass is mine." Kaoru said as she, with quick speed, grabbed Sano by the collar of his jacket and threw him against the wall.

Kenshin watched her on with shock and amusement. Never before had he known a girl, besides Shuura, to have such speed. Or even to shake up Sano like that, besides Shuura.

'So maybe there's more to this girl than what meets the eye.' Kenshin thought as the edge of his eyes glew amber. He would make note to keep a close watch on her.

Quickly Sano got up to do as he was told. Never before had he felt so whipped in his life as he did that moment.

Morning came the next day in a rush. Little fragments of the sunrays shone upon the sleeping form of Kaoru. The sounds of a morning bird singing awaken her. Kaoru slowly opened her eyes and sat up in her futon. She looked around in her new room and remembered that she was living at her uncle's dojo and not at her own.

'Damn the government.' Kaoru thought bitterly. They just never cease to come up with ways to make her and herfather struggle threw life.

He had fought to defend them and when he resigned to marry her mother they became all of what they tried to eliminate from the Japan they were trying to model.

'And since she happened to the only replacement for her father why not make her suffer in his place. First let's start off with holding the fortune and then the dojo.' She thought in her head. Kaoru began to tug at her bread as she always did when she was nervous. She would bread her hair than tug on it.

To make her relaxed some she thought of her arrival last night.

It wasn't as bad as she thought. She learned a lot about the people she would be living with for the next 2 years. Her uncle was a kind, caring man. But the grudge he held against her father threw her through a loop. Sano, now there was a tough cookie. He was a good-looking guy, though he acted like a big tough guy.

But through all the act he's an overall big push over. As an example last night's events. Just one little push and he went running to get her stuff. Then there was Kenshin.

Man! Talk about your complex mind. Now he... he was a different story. A whole other ball park if you will.

Just when you thought you had him figured no he do something to mess up your final conclusion of him. She would have to be very wary of him. Though he looked like nothing at all on the outside. Something... something just screamed about him that he's more dangerous than he appears.

Not like he would jump out and attack you dangerous, but piss him off, face him in a battle type dangerous.

She didn't know and so with just excepting Kenshin as that she shook thoughts of everyone aside and got up to go take an early morning bath.

Kenshin woke up with the sun that morning like he always did. Though he was use to waking up so early it felt like he hadn't gotten any sleep at all last night. He could have sworn he just laid down for some shuteye.

But he just shrugged it off as he straighten out his room like he always did every morning. And always as a regular morning routine Sano came busting into Kenshin's bedroom and sit in his favorite corner waiting for Kenshin to finish so they could have their early morning discussion.

"You know Sano one of these days I'm gonna attack you if you keep busting threw my door like that." Kenshin stated as he folded up his mattress.

"Oh come on Kenshin you say that every morning and you have been for 12 years now. Do you honestly think after not listening to you for 12 years say the same threat gonna make me listen now?" Sano questioned as he looked over at Kenshin.

"I'll make a believer out of you one day Sano that I will." Kenshin said as he too now was able to sit down to talk.

"Yeah, yeah." Sano sighed.

Silence crept upon them for a moment before Sano picked up the conversation again.

"Kenshin there's something about that girl, Kaoru." He said suddenly.

"I'll say. She threw you against the wall so fast and as if you didn't weigh a thing. It was almost scary." Kenshin commented. "To you almost scary, for me it was. Only Shuura managed to do that and she only did it once! But it took her 5 years to do that! And here little Miss Kaoru comes and what happens. The first five seconds I meet her she introduces me to the damn wall." Sano stated bitterly.

Kenshin chuckled.

"At least know you know not to mess with her or to take her lightly." Kenshin said amused.

"Yeah, yeah laugh it up. It'll only be a matter of time until you get yours." Sano said as he shot daggers at Kenshin. "That won't happen." Kenshin said growing serious.

"Oh why not. What makes you so special?" Sano questioned. "Because I won't allow it to happen. And you already know that so why ask a dumb question?" Kenshin answered.

Sano smirked not answering his best friend's question. Kenshin raised an eyebrow.

"Well I'm gonna hit the streets. See if I can win my house back." Sano said as he stood up. "Sano." Kenshin said in a warning tone. "What?" Sano whined as he looked back at Kenshin.

"Sano don't 'what' me. The last time you tried to win your apartment back I ended up having to help your slow ass get it back by force." Kenshin said angrily.

"Look don't worry about it. The person who has it I've heard is wrecking my home and so I'm gonna have a nice little talk with them." Sano said as he began to crack his knuckles.

"Hope you won't need my help." Kenshin replied knowing that would tick Sano off.

"Hey! I can handle my own problems!" Sano said as expected. "Sure. I'll come by after training to hel- I mean check on you." Kenshin joked again.

Sano growled as he existed Kenshin's room. "Some friend you are." Sano mumbled.

Everyone gathered into the training hall of the dojo for their days lesson. Hiko standing at the head of the rows of young men waiting for his command.

"Listen up! From now on I'm going to be more demanding of you." Hiko began. "SIR!" The boys shouted in unison.

"As you all know about a week ago I received a message concerning my niece's arrival and she had just came yesterday. I expect all of you to treat her with respect. One breathed word of an insult or crack I will personally deal with you." Hiko passed to looked at the frightened faces of his pupils except for Kenshin's.

He knew why he wasn't afraid.

Kenshin wasn't that type of person at all. Sure if he wanted he could be, but for some reason after that last girl he was seeing he suddenly just lost his interest with girls/women in general.

The boys gulped before they all responded again. "SIR!"

Hiko nodded his head in approval with their hesitant, unsure response witch wasn't a bad thing. Witch also brought up another topic he wanted to put out in the open.

"I hear a lot of you sound unsure." He stated calmly. "Well if I were you I won't even wanna try to mess with her. Though she may not be a Shuura, she can defiantly pack some dangerous moves. She knows very well how to fight. Not only that but also how to judge people movements and everything. She isn't any amateur. She may or may not come in to practice her training in the spare room in here or not. I'm not sure, but do remember I told you she can and will fight if necessary." Hiko added.

"Just asked Sano if your still not convinced." Kenshin mumbled under his breath so that no one could hear him.

Then the door to the training hall opened and then Kaoru's frame stepped inside closing the door behind her.

Many heads turned to glance at her. And may heads found it a very challenging to turn their glances elsewhere. As well as to abide by their master's new rules. They were starting to sound a little, if not, unjust.

The young vixen was in her training uniform of a cream top and blue bottoms. She had a white headband on and her hair in its usual ponytail.

But there was just something even more different about her to Kenshin than it seemed real obvious to everyone else.

The womanly figure from before really showed now and it was like she really grew a chest and butt over night or she stuffed that area. Though her chest was wrapped in white bandage so not much chest skin showed to many of the boys dismay.

Not only that, but she seemed so less shy in the room filled with boys she didn't know and with swords, real swords, than when she did when she first meet him and Sano without any weapons at all.

"Speak of the she devil." Hiko said as he watched her walk into the crowd of boys and they parted out of her way staring in awe at her. She smirked some.

"Uncle I've taken up your offer to train with you." Kaoru stated. Hiko nodded.

"Well then the room is..." "No you miss understand me. I want to train with you and the boys." Kaoru interrupted.

Finally one of the boys got the nerve to come out of their dreamland and speak up.

"Hiko Sensei! With all do respect sir, you can't let her train with us. Even if she can fight it would be too dangerous for her." He said politely. Kaoru turned to stare daggers at the boy who dared to speak against her request.

She hated it when people try to shot her down. That was how she got into swordsmanship in the first place.

"What do you actually think I can't handle what my uncle has to provide?" Kaoru asked surprisingly sweet to the boy.

He looked up her confuse as to how one minute it looked like she was going to kill him to the next speaking to him in a very pleasant voice.

"Well it's not so much that it's just..." "Well then what's the problem? Do I have to prove myself worthy?" Kaoru asked in a taunting voice. The boy gulped in response.

"Surigia answer her." Hiko encouraged. Highly amused at his niece's calm resolve.

"Then how about this than... You fight me in a match." Kaoru said after not getting a response.

"WHAT!" Surigia shouted.

"I didn't stutter. And I don't repeat myself. If you win I don't get to train with the rest of you, but all by my lonesome. But if I win I earned my right to practice with all of you." Kaoru said her patients obviously fading and her eyes twinkling with danger and amusement.

"Hmmm. Sounds like an interesting match up. And a well needed lesson. As the Master of this here dojo Surigia shall except this match with no say. It will take place at the end of this week. Giving both fighters time to prepare." Hiko stated out loud for all to hear.

"B-b-but Master I didn't..." "I don't care if you did or didn't. I've been meaning to test your skill because you've been slacking off an awful lot lately and what better way to test you than with a match with my niece." Kaoru nodded her gratitude to her uncle and turned to leave.

"Where are you going? I thought you wanted to train?" Kenshin called out to her before walked out.

Kaoru looked up at the owner of the voice and noticed Kenshin. But there was something different about his eyes. They were smaller and held a tint of gray/silver over the normal violent of his eyes. To a very well hidden point it unnerved her. Even his voice sounded slightly different.

"I am going to still. But I don't like to train in the same area as my future opponent. It takes away the possible danger that usually consumes a soul before a fight you know." Kaoru replied again happily as she winked at Kenshin and walked out the door closing it behind her once more.

All eyes landed on Kenshin giving Surigia a break, but as Kenshin grew unnerved by all the staring he made his eyes go amber and everyone returned their gaze back to the possibly doomed Surigia.

Every one walked out of the training hall exhausted and tired. Though Surigia walked out of there much more than just tired.

He was to face it off with his master's niece and he barely just meet her. Let alone know anything about her except for she was damn well built right, and had a beautiful face, eyes, voice when she wasn't angry.

Surigia was Kenshin age of 17 and was 5'5'' tall. He had short black hair that sort of naturally spiked up at a curve sort of at the front.

He wasadecent fighter. No where as good as Kenshin and some other people. They took their fighting style to a whole other game field.

"Hey lookin' good Surigia! You got a date match with the hot chick." A boy slightly taller than him with white, shoulder length hair and blue eyes said as he caught up with his best friend.

"Oh shut- up Rikusho." Surigia flamed. "Oh well sorry. I'm not the one who got Ms. Beautiful upset." Rikusho teased.

"Leave him alone Rikusho." Kenshin said as he walked up with them.

"Well looky what the wind brought." Rikusho stated.

"You know you're so lucky. You actually have to live with her for 2 frikin' years! And she's so hot. How can you stand it?" Rikusho asked.

"I don't really know actually." Kenshin replied as the came near the stairs of the dojo.

"But hey did you see the way she winked at him earlier?" Surigia asked as he elbowed Rikusho.

"Yeah! What do you think that meant Kenshin? I mean when we all looked at you, you got so nervous you made your eyes turn colors on us again to get us to look else where." Rikusho teased.

"Shut up." Kenshin said flatly. "All look he's getting embarrassed again!" Surigia half shouted pointing at Kenshin.

Kenshin started to grid his teeth in a mixture of frustration with them and when he heard his name being called out by her.

Kenshin stopped and looked over his shoulder, as did the rest of his companions.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru finally caught up to them. Once she reached them she took a second to catch her breath.

"Uncle wanted you to help me get these. He said you had money on you." Kaoru stated as she showed him the list that was defiantly in Hiko's handwriting.

Kenshin inwardly frowned. Wasn't his duties ever done?

Kenshin sighed as he nodded his head to her and she followed the boys into town with Rikusho and Surigia snickering at Kenshin the whole time.

As they entered the market and got what they needed Rikusho and Surigia had been long gone by then. And now Kenshin was telling Kaoru that they were heading to find Sano.

Lots of people turned their heads as the saw Kaoru walk alongside Kenshin. Never before had they seen her and they wandered if it was Hiko niece. It was such a small town they stayed in, so basically everyone knows your business.

Sure enough a lot of guys were turning their gazes on Kaoru because she had changed out of her training clothes into a very nice summer kimono. It was a nice red color and had nice patterns going along the edges. With a matching obi to boot. She had a wine colored ribbon in her hair this time and she took off her white headband.

"Why are people staring at me?" Kaoru whispered into Kenshin's ear. The feel of her cool breath against his skin sent an unnoticeable shiver down his back.

"You are new here and so they stare because they don't know you." Kenshin replied to her.

They turned down a corner just in time to see Sano get thrown against a wall into some garbage cans just missing a shaking woman embracing a boy who looked to be unconscious.

"Megumi! Get you and Yahiko away from here now!" Sano said as growled at the enemy Kenshin and Kaoru had yet to see.

A/N- Sorry if this chapter was a bit weak. But I did the best I could.

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Preview!

In the next exciting chapter of Swords and Roses...

Kaoru and Kenshin join the fight with Sano.

Megumi and Yahiko are properly introduced into the story.

Meet Shura and the mysterious girl Kenshin once went out with.

The fight between Surigia and Kaoru is on!

Who... Will... Win!

Review and wait until the next exciting chapter of Swords and Roses comes out!

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