Disclaimer: Nope, I still don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Tell me, do all manga authors live in Japan and have Japanese names? Just wondering, even though this had nothing to do with the disclaimer...
Scars of the Past
Chapter Six
From last time:
"And if you still don't believe he has changed, listen to this Sanosuke," said Misao, her voice filled with determination. "The only reason I was traveling with Soujiro is because he rescued me. I think I was about to be raped by these two ugly thugs when he pops up and knocks them out."
Mouths dropped open around the room, mine included, but still Misao continued to talk. "And how do I thank him? I start throwing kunai at him because I think he's going to murder me. Despite all that, he helped me and was trying to find me some place to stay cause I kind of had a mental breakdown during the fight when I realized we were headed for the dojo and I didn't say anything, wanting to see what you thought of my traveling partner. I didn't realize it would end up like this." The ninja rose, her speech completed. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going for a walk."
She exited the room swiftly, her long braid flying out behind her.
"Wow," said Yutaro softly. "That sure changes perspective, doesn't it Sanosuke?"
"Yeah, he saved the little weasel. Gotta give him credit for that." mumbled the rooster head. "When the Tenken wakes up, I'd probably apologize, shouldn't I Kenshin?"
"That you should, Sanosuke, that you should."
Yahiko POV
"FASTER!" shouted Kaoru, swinging her bokken in wide, furious circles, her black hair whipping about her face as her scowl deepened. "CAN'T YOU GO FASTER YAHIKO?"
Growling under my breath, I increased the swing of my shinai, my training clothes sticking to my sweat soaked body, the perspiration dripping into my eyes and causing them to sting something awful.
"That's better," she said, leaning on her sword and watching me, her calculating blue eyes going over my form and footwork, taking in every single movement I made. "Thrust forward a bit more on the strike though...," she offered helpfully.
Biting back a groan of frustration, I followed the advice, my tired body pushing the bamboo sword out towards the busu more. Her ugly face leered in at me, a small smirk forming on her lips as she saw the effort I was putting in and still not doing it perfectly.
"Take a break Yahiko," the kendo instructor said, although her face still held a smirk. "Go send in Yutaro, it's his turn for a one on one lesson with me. And go take a bath! And then go and sweep the front porch. After that I want you to wash the kitchen floor and...."
I tuned the chattering woman out, exiting the training hall and letting the door close behind me with a loud bang. What was I, a servant? Sure, I lived here for free and ate their food, but she had no right to treat me like a slave.
Heck, Yutaro didn't do any chores or pay, but only because Kaoru wouldn't accept the money. Hey, I have an idea....
Poking my head around the door into the kitchen I said, "Soujiro, can I talk to you for a sec?" The smiley faced man looked up from the sink, his left hand up to his elbow coated in soapy bubbles.
"Yes Yahiko-Kun?"
"Would you mind sweeping the front porch when you're done with the dishes? I kinda promised Tsubame I'd take a walk with her later and...."
"Of course. Go have some fun." A warm smile graced his pleasant face, before he turned back to washing the plates covered in burnt rice, the breakfast Kaoru had ruined this morning.
I hummed softly to myself as I headed into the bathhouse, a clean change of clothes thrown over my arm and a large grin on my face.
It had been four days since Soujiro and Misao had dropped in at the dojo. Misao had been a big help with calming Kaoru down, kind of like a stress reliever. And Soujiro is like another Kenshin. He insists on helping out around the dojo although he is still currently in a sling.
Sano apologized and they still aren't really on speaking terms, but no fights have broken out. I can tell that the Tenken has already forgiven Sano, but the tori atama can be really stubborn at times.
Sliding my exhausted body into the warm water, I heaved a sigh of relief, the bath taking away all the aches and pains. Resting my head against the back wall, I closed my eyes, the steam from the water tickling my nose and clinging to my skin.
After a nice long soak, I got out, shivering from the sudden loss of heat, and hurriedly dressed in my green gi and a dark blue hakama. Shaking my head to rid the black spikes of water, I made my way out and peeked into the training hall to see what my friend was going through.
A smirk played its way onto my face as I heard the raccoon girl yelling at Yutaro to pick his feet up more.. And then Yutaro's cursing followed by the sound of Kaoru hitting him with her bokken. Yep, no one would notice I was gone.
Stealthily crossing the yard, I was just about to open the gate when a figure seemed to appear in front of me out of nowhere. "AHHH!" I yelled, stumbling back and falling on my butt in a most ungraceful manner.
"Where do you think you're off too?" asked the ninja girl, her hands planted firmly on her hips. "Are you trying to leave Sou with all of your chores, Yahiko? Because if you are...." Several kunais appeared in her hands and she cocked them towards me.
I gulped and tried my best to look innocently up at her. But the innocent smile quickly changed to a frustrated grimace. "Come on Misao, move! I have got to get out of this dojo!" Scrambling to my feet I attempted to sidestep the ninja only to have my path blocked.
"You know you shouldn't be leaving the yard," she scolded, shaking a kunai dangerously close to my face. "Anohorea's out there somewhere and none of us want to see you hurt."
"I know," I huffed. "But keeping me cooped up in here all day is no fun! I haven't seen Tsubame in two whole days! And besides, Soujiro didn't seem to mind... He told me to have fun. And you wouldn't want to get Sou mad at you would you?" I asked, a teasing grin on my face.
I had figured that Misao had a small crush on smiley boy. She'd even given him the nickname of Sou. Plus the fact she was always trying to show off when he came by her and maybe the reason she had been in one of Kaoru's kimonos yesterday....
"Don't talk about Soujiro like that," she hissed, aquamarine eyes flashing. "I don't know what he was thinking letting you out, but if you want to go, you have to beat me. And don't smile at me like that!" the weasel exclaimed, noting my cocky grin.
"Aww, come on Misao. Just let me through... You know I can't beat you..." Hey! How many times have I heard a bit of flattery can go a long way?
"Nice try Yahiko. But I was given strict instructions to watch this gate and.... Hi Sou!" she exclaimed, her voice immediately perking up with a higher pitch. I turned and saw the former manslayer coming towards us, his free hand holding a tofu bucket.
"Hello Misao," he said pleasantly, his smile widening a tiny bit. On the ninja's orders, he had been told to call her Misao, not Makamichi-San or anything else, just Misao. Raising the bucket, he said, "I'm off to get some tofu for Kaoru-San."
The girl nodded her head enthusiastically, her black braid bobbing up and down, nearly hitting me with her wild antics. "Yes, we do need more," she gushed, "Yahiko ate the rest this morning."
"Is that so?" His grey eyes turned to focus on my pouting face. "Would you like to come with me to get some more Yahiko-Kun?" Very discreetly, he gave me a small wink and I understood at once what he meant.
"I guess so," I said sullenly, scuffing my sandals in the dirt.
"I'll see you later Misao," said the Tenken, heading down the road towards town, me tagging along in his footsteps. As soon as the dojo was out of sight he turned to me. "Run along now Yahiko, I won't tell."
"You're the best Soujiro! Thanks!" I took off down the street, straight for Akabeko, my smile taking up my entire face. The Tenken really was one awesome guy.End Yahiko POV
Soujiro POV
Strolling down the busy streets of Tokyo, I took in every sound that I had never really come across in my life. I don't mean to say I've never been in a town, but I was always either doing an errand for ShishiO-San or on the run after the Kyoto incident. I've never had time to actually enjoy a real life setting.
Bustling crowds throng through the crowded streets, merchants yelling out names of their wares. Exotic, yet tantalizing smells waft through the air, my stomach grumbling in response. As I passed by an awning placed on the side of the road, my smile saddened as I saw two small children, no older than four, playing with their dolls. I never really had that kind of life.
Forcing my lips into an upturned position, I continued on my way towards the tofu vendor. I had gotten directions from Himura-San, who had been very busy gardening and hadn't had time to get to the market. I, of course, offered to do it for him... it was the least I could do. The red haired man had seemed almost reluctant to let me wander into town to get the needed item, but he was probably concerned for my safety.
Honestly though, there was no reason to fret. I am a very deadly swordsman, even with my left hand. I do worry a tad though about my sword arm. Will it ever get better? Am I going to be handicapped for life? What happens if it heals crookedly?
Strolling down the well worn dirt road I crossed over to a small stand with a bright blue awning. "I need a pound of tofu please," I said, smiling at the slightly over weight shopkeeper who kept mopping at his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Alrighty there Son." Taking the bucket from me, he filled it with a square of the white food, putting some water in to make sure it didn't dehydrate. "Ten sen," he said, handing the bucket back to me.
Digging in my small purse that Himura-San had given me, I took out several of the coins, placed them on the stand and continued on my way back to the dojo. It was such a peaceful day, maybe I should head through the woods.
Veering off my normal route, I struck into the dense forest, the branches of tall evergreens supplying me with some much needed shade. My eyes wandered around the sight, taking in the graceful arcs of trunks, the crunching of pine needles beneath my feet, the shaking of a tree branch. Wait, there isn't any wind....
A figure leaped down from the evergreen to my left, his dark green uniform having given him complete coverage in the trees. His hair was tied back in a ponytail on the top of his head, his hands open on both sides as he stood there with no threat of attack. Definitely a ninja.
"You are the one they call Tenken no Soujiro?" he asked, his voice melodic sounding, yet holding deadly malice.
"I am," I replied, my left hand moving to rest on the hilt of a bokken Kaoru-San had loaned to me for the time being.
"There is something we must discuss," he said, moving towards me, other dark shapes appearing behind him. "Follow us."End Soujiro POV
Yahiko POV
"How did you manage to get out of the dojo Yahiko?" asked the brown haired girl, swinging our locked hands back and fourth. "I'm pretty sure Kaoru-San wouldn't let you out that easily."
"Soujiro let me. He, unlike several others I can think of, trust me enough to be able to take a walk. Besides, I have my shinai." My free hand lightly touched the smooth wooden sword that rested on my back, my defense to use if needed.
"Of course you do Yahiko. You're my little samurai, how can you not have a sword with you?" she giggled, adding a light spring to her step. "I have no reason to fear anything when I have you with me."
My chest swelled in pride and my eyes twinkled. I knew she was just playing with me, but it still felt good. And besides, she really didn't have any reason to be scared of anything, I was a pretty decent fighter.
"So what do you want to do?" I asked, bending down and plucking a flower out of its companions. Slipping the violet blossom behind her ear, she giggled again, her hand tracing the velvety petals.
"I really don't know. What do you want to do Yahiko?"
My stomach growled answering for me, and a blush tinged my cheeks. 'You always have to do that, don't you?' I asked my stomach, embarrassed on how loud it could be.
"Sounds like you have plans for us Yahiko. Come on, I think there's a little sweet stand back up on the road. I'll treat...."
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Pulling her along behind me, I raced up the small incline towards the street, her laughter echoing behind us.
"Slow down Yahiko!" she called, "I can't run very well in a kimono!"
"Sorry," I muttered sheepishly. 'Look what you did,' I scolded my stomach.
Minutes later we were both sitting happily on a bank of grass overlooking a small pond, eating our candy. Licking my fingers, I turned to look at my companion, who was still eating hers.
"You eat slow Tsubame," I commented, noting how she took a tiny little lick on the sweet, hard candy.
"No I don't Yahiko. You just eat too fast."
I dropped down next to her, folding my arms underneath my head and glanced up at the clouds that floated lazily overhead. Tsubame lay down next to me, mimicking my movements.
The hot summer air, the gentle occasional breeze, along with the comforting smell of flowers soon did its work. Before I even knew it, both of us were sound asleep, our hands intertwined with the others, our head resting against each other in a gentle slumber.End Yahiko POV
Soujiro POV
I followed the lead ninja, or at least I presume that to be him, deeper into the forest, well aware of all the side guards on my right and left. It doesn't look like they appear to want to harm me in any way, which would be odd if they did since ShishiO-san never had conflicts with ninjas.
Strangely enough, I was still carrying the tofu although the reason was beyond me. "Stop," commanded the leader. I looked at him puzzled as I viewed my surroundings. We were still in the middle of the forest...
"I am Hijino, leader of the Tozuma ninja clan. And you are the famous Heavenly Sword, right hand man of ShishiO, murder of Okubo, emotionless killer, are you not?"
"I am also but a mere rurouni now," I said, my smile becoming fixed. "I no longer kill for anyone else."
"But what about me?" boomed a loud voice from the shadows. Parting through the brush came a large man. He stood around 6'4'' with a pack of muscle. His bronze skin gleamed at me, a sword resting on his hip.
He was clothed in a simple pair of pants, much like the ones Sanosuke wears with nothing but a large necklace on his chest. He had almost no hair, the black left was tied in a small ponytail that sat on top of his head.
"And who might you be?" I inquired, sizing the man up. He did appear to have some knowledge about sword skills, the way he stood, ready and poised to attack. A formidable opponent.
"You can call me Anohorea." He walked towards me with a purposeful step, his eyes scanning my form. "What happened to your arm?" he asked, looking at the dark sling against the light blue gi I wore.
For some reason, I don't think I should answer him the truth. I'm not sure why, but his name sounds familiar, someone who had been mentioned around the dojo. "A mere accident," I said with a wave of my left hand. "Why?"
"Can you still work as efficiently with only one good arm?" he asked, his deep brown eyes holding question.
"Yes, I can. If you don't mind me asking Anohorea-San, exactly who are you?"
"Sit down Tenken," was his reply as he gestured for me to sit down on a fallen log. "I have a story to tell you."
I settled myself comfortably on the tree, the tofu resting on the pine needle covered ground near my feet, my hand resting on the bokken for my own reasons.
"Where to start?" he mused, looking up into the air. "I think I'd better explain to you from the beginning. I had an older brother by the name of Jimbatsu, a decent swordsman himself. We were fighting the Shougunate during the revolution, a large and powerful group. It was at that battle that my brother died.
He was slain by a man by the name of Myojin Kuamba, and I picked up the small battle from there. In the end, I won but was wounded quite badly. Kuamba was no farmer, he was a samurai.
I vowed to take vengeance on his whole family. Jimbatsu was the only family I had left and he had murdered him in cold blood, so now Kuamba could watch from the skies as I murdered his whole family."
I felt a shiver race up and down my spine, the man's hatred so clear for Myojins. Could this man be the reason Yahiko wasn't allowed out of the dojo? He was wanted by a murderer?
"I hunted down the rest of his family, but it only consisted of a wife and a small child. I murdered the wife in the Shuei Yakuza Syndicate, but not a grisly death. She simply died by a poison that I administered. There was now one Myojin left, a little boy named Yahiko. But killing a child would be no fun, I wouldn't get the satisfaction I craved.
I waited patiently for the brat to grow up, biding my time. I went back to the syndicate when he was ten years old to discover that a red haired samurai, the Battousai, had taken him away.
Of course I tracked them down, discovered the boy to be living in a dojo in Tokyo. I had him captured by some of the yakuza thugs who had let him go in the first place and brought back to headquarters.
First, we tortured him. Gasuke wanted to make the boy pay for some injury he had gotten and I wanted to build up the excitement before I killed the last Myojin. But none of us were expecting the strength and will power Yahiko had.
In the end, I thought I had killed him but was amazed to find out later I had not, the Battousai had saved him once again. AGAIN!" he roared, the trees shaking with his loud cry.
"But I was not yet defeated. I managed to escape from the syndicate before the police arrived and snuck over to the dojo a few days later after I'd recuperated from the wounds I'd attained from the Battousai.
I was about to kill the boy for the second time when Zanza appeared and delayed my victory. I had successfully gotten rid of the Battousai in the very beginning but was not expecting this new fighter to appear.
Knocking Zanza out of the way, the boy's death was in my hands when a girl, a girl, enters the room carrying a tray of tea. When she saw the scene she screamed and threw the tray, hot tea hitting my face and causing to be momentarily distracted. Zanza used that moment to effectively knock me out. I woke up in a prison cell, minor burns coating my face."
"So you wish to kill Yahiko?" I ventured. "What does that have to do with me?"
"I escaped prison and employed the help of a man named Motan who had connection in the underworld. He got help from Sakiyo, the presumed owner of the Tozuma ninjas. I had their group enlisted under my control, but they are still not enough. You are what we need Tenken."
"So you wish for me to murder a mere child for you?" I asked, forcing my smile to stay on my face although it was getting quite difficult. They were talking about killing Yahiko-Kun as though it was some sport or game.
"Of course not! I am the only one who shall have that honor. I am only asking you to help us."
"May I talk it over with some correspondents of mine?" I need to talk to Himura-San first. Maybe if I agree this can be to our advantage!
"Meet me back here tomorrow at noon with your answer Tenken. We will be waiting." Like dark shadows the ninjas with Anohorea disappeared into the darkening light, leaving me alone with my puzzled thoughts.
Author's Notes:
Gomen for the long delay! But I haven't updated another fic in over a month so this isn't to bad, ne? I apologize for those of you who read SSS and already knew about Jimbatsu, but I think this explanation I wrote was much better and more pleasant to read.
Yesterday it was pouring rain and I went outside in my swimsuit (well not my swimsuit but rather a pair of shorts and a tank top) and danced around in the rain. It was great!
Please review with a piece of tofu on top??? Lol
Reviewer's Comments:
LishaChan Thank you, I'm getting better with these fluffy moments! You've been watching too much T.V..... Then again, I can quote you the Luna carpet commercial... Scary.
Aragorn821 Yep, I usually review on only one or two stories by the same author too. But come to think of it, most people I read only have one or two stories going at one time. Kami, I have too many! And I'm doing another HP cuz I just finished The Power of a Wish...
Live on Wolf Nope, not hard. Hope people follow it...
Water makes up an ocean Lucky you... Wish I had a tan.... When I go on vacation in June I should hopefully get one. Glad you liked the fight scene!
Rainbow Chaser Take it you liked the chappie then???
Tocole Hehe, Sou met Silver Wing! (That was the dragon's name, ne?) I have to give a speech Monday and I think I'm going to fail. He gave us the assignments and mine is to buy an Electric Vehicle. And I'm going second!
Coffeentoffee Don't you think they make a cute couple! It looks like Misao's got a crush...
Warhero35 I wouldn't want to be Sano either.... Getting a glare from a Battousai is not on my list of things I want..
BlueBabyAquaGirl Glad you checked it out. Hope you are enjoying it!
One Wing Writer Yep, Sano's not being a real ass anymore. I like him too much to make him seem so mean. Thanks for the compliment on the Y/T fluff, it really means a lot. And I got your e-mail, don't worry about the spelling. I thought you just accidentally spelled it wrong. Ja na!