Chapter 3: The Speed of a Warrior!

"Hey, Sano?" Kenshin asked as he walked out of the classroom with him.

"Yeah?"

"What happened when Chou grabbed me?"

"Uh… You were there…" Sano said.

"Yeah, but---" Kenshin looked away. Sano noticed the worried look on his face.

"You kicked him in the face!" Sano said excitedly. "It was awesome!"

"I what? No--- I--" Kenshin looked even more worried than before.

"You okay?" Sano asked.

"Oh! Um- yeah, fine," Kenshin smiled politely. "So, we have gym together too, right?"

"Yup, it's this way. Follow me, Kenshin," Sano said. "I'll show you the works, but I warn you, I'm the best athlete in this school."

"I'm not good at sports, so don't worry about me. I'll probably just get in your way…" Kenshin said. "Then, after that… I have Math."

Sano leaned over the schedule. "That's my Math class!"

"So, you're in my Math class too, hm?" Kenshin asked. "That's cool!"

"Yeah! The only problem with Math is the teacher. You'll see later. Let's go to Gym!"

"O-okay…"

-

Sano sat on the bleachers in his red gym shorts and white tank top with MEIJI written across the chest of it. He talked with Katsu who was in the same outfit and tying his shoes.

Kenshin walked out, humiliated to be wearing such an outfit. He hated showing his thin legs and arms, and everyone was so much taller and more muscular than him. Of course, the thing that worried him the most was his waist length hair. He was afraid they'd call him girly, which he seemed to be, though he was straight as a board.

"Hey! Kenshin! Over here!" Sano waved to him.

Kenshin pushed his glasses up on his nose and slowly walked over. "Hey…" He said.

"Dude, nice hair," Katsu said, lifting up Kenshin's ponytail.

"Uh… thank you…" Kenshin said, blushing in embarrassment.

"Yeah, why were you hiding that in your jacket?" Sano asked.

"I thought I'd be made fun of…" Kenshin said, rubbing his arm.

"Nonsense," Katsu said. "I have long hair too."

"R-right…" Kenshin smiled, not feeling quite so guilty.

"A-hem!"

All the boys turned around as Hiko walked in, dressed in an outfit identical to theirs. "All of you, line up," He said.

They all did as told.

"All right… As you must all know, we have a new student. Himura. Also, we're running track today. Tomorrow, we'll be doing kendo club---Oh, it's the cheerleaders," He said as a group of females filed in.

"Hiko-san, do you mind if we practice in here?"

Kenshin turned around and looked at the girl from over his shoulder. It was the girl he had seen earlier that day. She's pretty… Kenshin thought to himself. She looked over at him and smiled. "duhh…." He blushed and looked away.

"Hey… the little missy's smilin' at you," Sano nudged Kenshin.

"Kamiya… Go ahead and practice, but stay away from the edge of the track. We're running laps today."

"Okay!" She said.

"Hey, Kaoru!" Sano waved.

"Hi!" She said happily.

Kamiya Kaoru… Where have I heard that before? Kenshin wondered.

"Ooookay," Hiko said. "I'm going to pair you in twos and have you race three laps around the gym. Winner gets to go sit and watch the cheerleaders practice. Let's see… Sagara and… Himura."

"Oro?!"

"You heard me," Hiko said, smiling at him. "You two get in your places."

"-but-"

"Don't worry… I won't leave you too far in the dust," Sano said, winking confidently.

"Oro…" Kenshin felt the hope drain from him.

Sano smacked him on the back in a friendly way. "Don't be scared! Ha ha!"

"…" Kenshin said nothing.

"On your mark…" Hiko said.

The two got into position.

"Get set…"

Kenshin gulped.

"GO!"

They shoved off. Sano was in the lead immediately.

"oh… Slow down!" Kenshin cried.

"Haha! You're funny, Kenshin!" Sano said over his shoulder.

"So…" A man emerged from behind the stands, cigarette in his fingers. "You see something in the red-head?"

"There's something about him, Hajime," Hiko said. "You can see a warrior's spirit hidden deep within him."

"Sounds like mushy child's talk."

"Hey, I know swordsmanship."

"So do I…"

Kenshin ran around the corner twenty seconds after Sano. He looked exhausted and seemed to have lost all confidence.

Seta Soujirou peeked in from behind the other pair of stands where he sat during study hall. "Wow… He's not bad," He said, smiling. "I wonder if he'll come through during this…"

"What's the matter, Kenshin? Are you tired already?" Sano yelled, trying to give him confidence.

Kenshin hung his head and looked at his feet. His legs felt like they were going to fall off. The gym was huge! His thin little body couldn't go that far.

"Come on, Kenshin!" Sano yelled. "Can I at least have it fair?"

Kenshin stopped. Sano stopped too.

"Are you okay?" Sano asked.

A pulse ran through Kenshin's body. His breath caught in his throat.

"Kenshin?"

Kenshin started running.

"H--hey!" Sano yelled, running up next to him. "That was dirty!"

Kenshin continued staring straight ahead. I think my glasses are fogging up… He thought to himself. I can't see…He pulled them off to clean them, and looked up. Oro?! I… can see!

Sano and Kenshin tied the next lap.

"Hey! We tied!" Sano said. "Last lap! Winner takes all!"

Kaoru stopped her cheer squad and turned around. "Hm?"

Kenshin sped ahead of Sano.

"Woah!" Sano stopped in his tracks. Kenshin smiled as he turned away from Sano, a smile on his face, his eyes thin and confident. He passed the finish before Sano but stopped right then. His face started bleeding, and he was panting.

"How did I… do that?" Kenshin wondered out loud.

"Woah…" Sano came walking up behind him. "You… you beat me…"

Kenshin looked over at him and found his face fuzzy. He slipped his glasses back on.

"Hey, Kenshin, your face is bleeding," Katsu said, handing him a towel.

"Did you see that?" Hiko asked the other man.

He puffed on his cigarette. "It appears you were correct. Maybe he was something special in a past life, huh… If you believe in that sort of thing."

"Maybe…" Hiko said, watching Kenshin as he laughed, wiping his face off, while the other boys cheered him. "Where… have I seen that kid before?"

"Who knows," The other man walked off.

"Well-played, Himura-san, well-played," A high, child-like voice said, silencing the gym class.

Seta Soujirou stood a ways away from them, clapping and walking towards them. "You're really fast. I'd like to have a match with you sometime."

"Oro?"

"Maybe you should come hang out with our group in awhile, Himura-san. We'd love to have you," Soujirou said.

"Get lost, Seta," Hiko said. "You're not even in this class, much less a senior like the rest of these kids."

"I know," Soujirou beamed at Hiko. "I was just admiring your previous apprentice's speed, Hiko-san."

"Apprentice?" Kenshin said, looking at Hiko as if he would know.

"I'll go then. Sayonara," Soujirou turned away, and then turned back. "-but if there's anything you ever wanna know, Himura-san, we have ALL the answers."

Everyone stared after him.

"Okay… let's continue. Himura, you go and watch the cheerleaders."

"Um-okay…" Kenshin said, blushing.