Swords and Roses
Chapter 7: The New Student part 2
Hiko stood in front of the unified rows of boys and began to stalk lazily back and forth in front of them. He eyed them as each and every one of them stood to their fullest height, blank expressions on their face and their arms tightly pressed to their sides.
"Rikusho!"
"YES SIR!" Rikusho yelled. "Where is Surigia?" Hiko questioned.
"HE'S NOT HERE SIR BECAUSE HE SAYS, AND I QUOTE, 'HE'S NOT WELL ENOUGH TO ATTEND PRACTICE'." Rikusho answered. "Very well then." Hiko replied as he had stopped walking and was looking down at the wood floor in contemplation.
"SIR!" Rikusho shouted as he continued to look ahead of him.
Hiko remained silent a few more moments before he looked up at his pupils with hard eyes.
"Listen up and listen well!" Hiko began, " As of today Ms. Kamiya, Kaoru of the Kamiya-Kasshin Dojo shall be practicing and studying the ways of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style. She shall be treated the same as anyone of you in here. By winning the match against Surigia she has earned her right to be here." Hiko said as he turned toward Kaoru.
"Kaoru!" Hiko called. "Hai, Sir!" Kaoru shouted as she faced him as stiff as everyone else.
"Because of your excellent performance of your skills you've moved beyond the rank of a beginner up to the rank of an intermediate." Hiko said. "Everyone, but the intermediate ranks, kneel now!" Hiko ordered.
The students who kneeled bowed their heads down as they all did what Hiko instructed.
"Now Kaoru the group over here is the beginner group. The only reason you're not over there his because you already have a basic and general idea about the ways of swordsmanship." Hiko explained as he pointed to the group to the left of her.
"This group over here on the other side of the intermediates is the advance group. They are far beyond your ranking and they exemplify great promise of mastering Hiten Mitsurugi." Hiko said as he pointed the group that contained Kenshin and few others.
"I see." Kaoru said quietly as she refocused her attention to the group she would be in. She noticed a couple familiar faces and a lot of faces she wasn't familiar with yet. One person off the top of her head she knew for sure was Sano.
"You may follow into their attention Kaoru. Just stand next to the Rooster and you should be fine." Hiko informed as he carelessly insulted Sano. "Who's -" "Hey! I heard that old man!" Sano fumed cutting off Kaoru.
"And of course that would be him." Hiko said to Kaoru as he sighed heavily.
"I didn't give you permission Sagara to get out of attention!" Hiko barked. "Yes Sir!" Sano grumbled angrily. A few snickers could be heard and everyone did their best not to laugh Sano, even Kaoru.
Shaking her head, Kaoru did as her uncle said and went in between the rows of boys and finally made it to her place right next to Sano. Kaoru then proceeded to slip into attention like everyone else while Hiko ordered everyone else to stand up again.
"Well it's nice to see you're fine and ready for action today Missy." Sano whispered to her. "Why thank you." Kaoru whispered back.
Hiko noticed Sano make a quiet exchange with Kaoru and he watched as she replied to him silently while smiling a little.
"Sano what did I tell you about flirting with her?" Hiko asked as his eyes narrowed. "Hey, hey, hey don't give me that crap! I wasn't trying to hit on her!" Sano yelled back. This time everyone couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Well then shut up and advert your eyes up here and then maybe I can believe you." Hiko replied crossly. Sano growled, but did as he said.
"Now if Mr. Sagara is finished then I can get on and say what today's lesson will be. Now are you done Sagara?" Hiko asked as he looked up at Sano. Growing dangerously annoyed Sano just nodded his head for he feared what might come out of his mouth if he opened it.
"Good then." Hiko said. "Today, like I was trying to say, we'll be doing a review of what we've learned this week. So that way we can get Kaoru caught up and the rest of you can prepare for your test tomorrow." Hiko said as he heard a few groans sound off at the mention of the word 'test'.
"Hey tough it up or leave. I don't have time to waste if none of you are that serious about learning my swordsmanship." Hiko said annoyed.
The people that had voiced their disproval now stopped and hid their disappointment behind a careless mask.
"You may begin your lesson!" Hiko further instructed before he turned around to walk over to the spare room where he planned to nap for a while like he always did when his students weren't really doing much that day.
With his order given everyone broke away from their groups and headed over to the racks were the swords were kept. Kaoru looked around her confused until she saw Sano and Kenshin walking up to her. When they finally reached her Sano handed Kaoru the extra sword he was holding.
"So is uncle always this funny or is it only because I'm here?" Kaoru asked starting the conversation.
"Depends on what mood he's in really. You being here today must have been his motive for acting out today." Kenshin answered her. Kaoru only smiled at him and when she did he thought that was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.
"So welcome to your first day of Hiko-sensei style fighting!" A voice rang from behind Kaoru. Kaoru turned around to see Hibiki.
'Funny…He doesn't look much like a fighter to me.' Kaoru thought as she put on a polite smile.
"Why thank you. So who might you be?" Kaoru asked as she continued to look at him up and down in a more hidden way where Hibiki wouldn't notice.
"What?" Hibiki replied in mock hurt. "You mean to tell me those two didn't tell you about me?" Hibiki said sounding offended.
"No…I'm afraid they didn't." Kaoru confirmed, slightly unnerved by Hibiki. Suddenly his gray eyes began to sparkle and Kaoru took a step back as he had reached out and dared to grab her left hand.
"Well then allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hibiki Toyama… An intermediate ranked student here at the Hiten Mitsurugi Dojo." He introduced as he lowered his head and kissed the back of Kaoru's hand.
Inside and mentally Kaoru was ready to kick the guys' ass. But outside she gave a shocked and nervous chuckle.
Sano and Kenshin, who were witnessing this, mouths dropped to the floor. Was Hibiki trying to get himself killed? Hiko had made it quite clear that Kaoru was out of reach. He had just jumped on Sano for saying hello to her for Kami's sake!
Kenshin looked on shocked that Hibiki was brave enough to make such a daring move. And Kenshin was even more shocked that Kaoru didn't do anything excepted look a cross between being disgusted and surprise.
Inside he felt something blaze within him and he couldn't name the new feeling just yet. But all he knew is if he didn't do something soon to separate Kaoru from Hibiki someone was going to get hurt.
"Hey man! Don't let Hiko catch you doing that!" Kenshin said as he stepped up and shoved Hibiki away from Kaoru, disconnecting her hand from his.
"Hey man what's your deal? I'm just being polite." Hibiki said casually. "Look I'm trying to save you from Hiko's wrath." Kenshin said as he indicated with his thumb to the spare room behind him. Then suddenly the doors opened and Hiko came out.
Hibiki's eyes widened as did Sano's. Kaoru began to rub her assaulted hand as she watched her uncle and thank Kami that her uncle and Kenshin had made Hibiki let go of her hand.
Feeling as if a pair of eyes were on him, Hiko looked up over at the group of teenagers and then simultaneously they turned there gazes away from him. Hiko only shook his head at them.
"Youth." Hiko said as he went back into the spare room feeling as though he wasn't ready to deal the stupidity going on in the room.
"Hey Kenshin thanks for having my back." Hibiki said as he broke the silence that feel upon everyone.
"Don't mention it." Kenshin said gruffly, not really meaning it. He wasn't doing it to save him, but to help Kaoru. In fact he didn't even now Hiko was going to come out. He was just referencing where Hiko last disappeared to.
"Well, now that all this fun has just passed us by, what do you all say if we actually did some training?" Sano asked trying to release the tension in the air.
"Fine." Kenshin spat as he looked away and began to arrange his swords' sheath properly to his waist strap.
"Well that's all fine and dandy, but I have one little problem. I don't really know that much about this style of swordsmanship. I need help." Kaoru replied as play pushed aside from her mind.
Sano and Kenshin had both began to open their mouths to answer her, but as usual Hibiki beat them to the punch line.
"Well I can help you dear Kaoru…That is if you will allow me." He said as he bowed respectfully. Kaoru looked down at him not really sure to except his offer or not.
'I shouldn't hold his introduction against him. Maybe he was just trying to be polite and he's really a nice person.' She thought as she considered.
Out the corner of her eye she looked over at Kenshin and Sano who were looking shocked that she would even consider thinking about it.
'Well I didn't really think that much of Sano when I first met and now I know he isn't half as a bad as I originally perceived him to be.' Kaoru thought again. Before Kaoru gave her answer she prayed to Kami that Hibiki didn't make her regret her decision.
"That would be fine. It would be nice if you will help coach me." Kaoru said kindly as she looked at Hibiki. "Really?" He asked happily. Kaoru nodded her head.
"Very well then, lets get started!" He exclaimed. He and Kaoru then left Sano and Kenshin to go to a deserted area in the room to practice.
Sano and Kenshin watched on at the exchange completely flabbergasted and angry.
"Kenshin…We got to do something!" Sano said worriedly. "And why should we?" Kenshin said as he finally overcame his shock.
"Kenshin if we just let her alone with him then that's bad!" Sano said. "I'm not her keeper first of all. I don't have to be there holding her hand and protecting her from every little thing Sano." Kenshin replied angrily.
"Oh come on don't say you're willing to let Hibiki go after her!" Sano exclaimed. "She's not mines!" Kenshin growled growing even more angry.
Sano sighed in defeat.
"Sure whatever you say buddy." Sano gave in to Kenshin's relief.
It had nearly been two hours since Kenshin and Sano had left Kaoru to her private lessons with Hibiki. All the while Kenshin was trying his best not to seem into what Kaoru was doing, but it seemed inevitable that he would look occasionally at her.
But every time he did he regretted doing so as he only grew angry as he would watch Hibiki wrap his arms around Kaoru to try and help reposition the way she was holding her sword.
"Wow…Hibiki is really going for the gold isn't he?" Rikusho voice sounded as he walked up to Sano and Kenshin.
"You could say something like that." Sano said almost angrily. "Who cares?" Kenshin added.
"Don't you all start complaining about how bad this situation is all at once. I only have two ears." Rikusho said sarcastically while looking surprised at the pair.
"So you two are just gonna allow her to be fed to the hungry, horny lion?" Rikusho asked. "She's capable of defending herself." Kenshin replied simply.
"But come on you two now you are seeing what I'm seeing! Half of those moves he's teaching her he don't have to get all up behind like that to correct. He can simply point it out with his hands!" Rikusho exclaimed.
"It's not any of my business. It's hers and if you want to get technical you add Hiko-Sensei and that's it. End of decision." Kenshin said growing agitated with all this worrying about the Kamiya girl.
But to be honest he was ready to go over there and whop Hibiki's ass to a bloody pulp for practically getting free feels of Kaoru's body. He wasn't stupid. Rikusho was right , Hibiki didn't have to correct Kaoru by getting behind her and repositioning her stances the way he was.
And even if he did have to physically fix her, he didn't have to get close to her like that at all.
'Damn hentai.' Kenshin thought.
He also knew Hibiki was a big play boy and womanizer. Any woman he wanted he just about got. Though he knew his limits and would mainly stay away from the females he knew were a bit out of his lead. Though Kaoru was about to be his exception.
'No doubt he's going to try and add Kaoru to his endless list of woman to capture. That is if he hadn't done so already.' He thought again.
"Look if you're so concern about Kaoru why don't you go save her. I have no intentions on doing anything if she isn't obviously disgusted by now." Kenshin stated as straightened up and then left Rikusho and Sano alone.
"What's up with him?" Rikusho asked. "I don't know." Sano shrugged.
Kaoru sighed heavily as she had finally got away from Hibiki. Training was over now and she had just finished taking a warm bath. Now she was on her way to go check on Yahiko.
All day long during her first day in her uncle's dojo Hibiki was relentless on his 'attempt' to court Kaoru. During the time he was helping her he would 'accidentally' brush an arm or hand somewhere on her body. Kaoru could easily tell he was doing so purposely.
What she had a problem with though was deciding whether or not she wanted to kill him on the spot or just suck it up and move on.
Kaoru shook her head trying to forget what had happen. But all she knew is if he tried that again she would embarrass the hell out of him. She was only lenient today because she needed an instructor for the day and she didn't want to scare anyone off.
Kaoru sighed heavily blowing a few still wet strands of her bang out of her line of vision. While she had done this a thought had struck her. She had left something very important to her that was back at the bath house.
Kaoru's heart sank.
'Kenshin's probably in there by now.' She thought. 'And if not Kenshin then maybe Uncle Hiko or even Sano.' Kaoru added. She could just hit herself for being so careless.
In the bath house was something she wanted to share with Yahiko when he woke up. It had originally belonged to her father and with his recent passing it has become a very valuable item in Kaoru's heart. Kaoru sucked her teeth as she turned around and looked back in the direction of the bath house.
'Maybe…Maybe I'm just over-reacting. Kenshin might already be out of the bath now and there's no one in there now.' Kaoru reasoned in her head. Yeah…yeah that had to be it she heard herself chanting in the back of her mind.
"Well…I guess I have no choice but to go get it and pray no one is inside." Kaoru thought aloud as began her journey to the bath house.
Kenshin groaned in satisfaction as the warm water had met his tired and aching flesh.
He had never pushed himself this hard in practice since he first started Hiten Mitsurugi. And it was all because of his master's beauty of a neice. After he had left Sano and Rikusho he went outside and did some intense work out routines.
As he splashed warm water onto his face he allowed his mind to be penetrated with thoughts of her.
So far from what he has gathered in this short amount of time in knowing her was that she was very attractive, deceptive in more ways than one, very skilled and ultimately stubborn.
In his mind he could not let the events of earlier that morning escape his head.
Kaoru had risked everything going to help Yahiko the way she did. Not only did she nearly get Yahiko hurt, but she nearly got herself killed. Though he admired her courage and strength to ward off all the foot ninjas she took on, he still wished she would have listened to him and waited.
Steam began to fill the small room from the heat of the water. Kenshin laid back and allowed his now amber eyes to shut close a moment, trying force thoughts of Kaoru out of his head.
But he couldn't.
Thoughts of Gohie nearly over powering her flowed in his head. How Gohie was so desperate to fight and defeat her that he would even dare try to harm her even when she was clearly defenseless.
'Only cowards stoop that low.' Kenshin thought angrily.
Then to top off his already running mind, memories of Kaoru's first day at training today with Kyoto's biggest pervert training her flooded his mind, making his fist ball. And he knew she knew what Hibiki was doing, he could tell.
The reason he walked away from Rikusho and Sano was not because he was jealous or anything, but he didn't want to be tempted with the desire to beat Hibiki up for something he knew Hibiki was doing that Kaoru was already aware of and capable of making him stop.
"But why do I care?" Kenshin thought aloud as he opened his eyes and watched as the steam rolled on and curl into the air around him. Heating on his already hot body.
He then lolled his head to the side and closed his eyes again as he tried to think of something else that wouldn't really upset him so much the way thinking about Kaoru did.
Kaoru finally came up to the bath house after many mental fights with herself to get her there. She would stop mid-step and try to turn around. But then she would talk herself herself back into it, keeping in mind why she needed to go back and then she would be fine.
Kaoru stood in front of the door and noticed as steam was seeping from the crack at the bottom of the door as well as the actively fueled fire was burning on the other side.
'Maybe I should just come back.' She thought. But it was too late as her hand had betrayed her and already knocked on the door.
But no one answered.
Kaoru tried knocking again and calling in, but still no one answered. Concluding that no one was inside and either forgot they left the fire going or was either coming back, Kaoru finally gathered her courage to go inside and retrieve her abandoned item.
She opened the door witch unlatched without effort and prepared to step inside, but a hug mass of steam instantly blinded her and Kaoru shield her eyes with her arms until the steams became bearable.
When Kaoru lowered her arm she could faintly make out much of the room. But she did however find what she was looking for. It was over near the tub wrapped in white cloth. She quickly headed over to it careful not to trip over nothing as the steam was still a bit blinding.
While she reached out for her wrapped prize, an arm shot out of no where and grabbed her wrist. Kaoru instantly looked up at who or what had grabbed her and through the rolling steam she saw Kenshin's pale looking form.
His head was lolled to the side facing her with his amber eyes wide open and alert, focused on her Everyone small moment she made they followed her. His red hair was down and wet and flowed down his chest, curled at the end from the damp water.
"Kaoru." He suddenly spoke.
Kaoru couldn't hold it in any longer. Kenshin looked way to scary at that moment and then the way he said her name didn't help.
She gave a small scream as she fell backwards on her rump, her kimono opening slightly during her fall.
Kenshin remained so deep in thought that he didn't hear the knocking on the door or the voice that followed. He didn't even hear the creak of the door being opened.
But he did realize however the feel of a cool breeze meet his wet over-heated skin.
Kenshin turned his head in the direction of the now opened door. He squinted his eyes to see through the thick film of steam. After a while the blanket of steam began to vanish and the frame of someone could be made out, though Kenshin still couldn't tell who.
Suddenly he saw them make a fast move over to where he was. Kenshin prepared himself for the fact that it maybe one of his many enemies coming to attack him. And since from what he could tell they didn't notice him yet, when they bent down near him he shot his arm out towards the person grabbing their wrist.
The person he grabbed jumped slightly and then as Kenshin took an even closer exam of the body he realized who it was.
"Kaoru." He called out in a raspy tone. Suddenly he felt Kaoru tensed and she broke out of his hold. She then took a step back and gave a small scream before she fell down on her butt looking at him slightly frightened.
During her fall her light lime-green kimono opened up in the front slightly showing off a little more cleavage than before.
'Oh shit it is Kaoru!' Kenshin realized. He quickly stood up and in one fluid motion he grabbed a towel and covered his middle quickly, not giving Kaoru the chance to see anything as her gaze had never left him.
"Kaoru what are you doing!" Kenshin exclaimed as he climbed out of the tub and stood in front of her.
"Hey now what's going on? What's all the noise about?" Hiko's voice could be heard coming near the bath house.
'Oh no!' Both Kenshin and Kaoru that at the same time as they both looked toward the open bath house door.
STOP HERE!
A/N- Okay everybody I kept my promise. You should all be happy as it's one of my quickest updates in a LONG TIME possibly ever AND that it was purposefully short for your convenience. This chapter was basically giving you a taste for what's going to be going down in Swords and Roses for the next couple of chapters.
We're finally hitting the plot! HURRAY! I'm going tell you now so I don't have to tell you again. Kaoru and Kenshin are gonna have A LOT of cute little scenes like the whole bath house one that is gonna build up and help create any type of relationship they may have.
I'm trying to break away from all this action type stuff for a while so that I can actually work some romance into this thing.
Some characters you might see again either next chapter or the following is Tomoe (I've been mentioning her a few times between last chapter and this chapter) Megumi (of course she's coming back) and a few other people that are in a way minor, YET, important.
Anyways I appreciate all the love and support you all have been giving me and I'll see you next update!
Shout Out! List
PEACH- thank you for reviewing!
Royal BlueKitsune- Sorry about the wait, I hadn't intended on doing that to everyone. I'm sorry about the whole name confusion thing. Didn't mean to thank you twice but hey I really do appreciate your efforts to get me to update on time. You're my reminder of when I take too long. I know if you review more than once, if it's not to worship me again for the great author that I am it's because I'm slow in my updates. Thanks for reviewing and I didn't mean to rant.
Supremecmdr.oftheweb- Thank you for reviewing
Reignashii- Hey thanks for reviewing!
Star- Wow, I'm glad you love my story! I'm updating just for you Hun!
TinyTerry- Thanks for your opinion. I was trying to decide whether or not I wanted to keep bringing him up again in the story or not and because of your review I am. I'm glad you love my fic!
Nilnil- Get out a full 100! Thanks! Number one Reviewer then! Hehe.
Amanda H.- Hey thanks you for being honest. Personally I agree with you witch is why I'm changing my style and why I'm going to go back and correct the other chapters so they are easier to read. I'm glad that you're enjoying the story and if you have any more speech problems just let me know.