Sorry for the long wait, the Master's Discovery Arc begins, I hope you like the new characters soon to appear.
Time moved slowly at the Kamiya Dojo, only days had passed since the incident at Kanryu's Mansion, and already everything was slowly but surely returning to normal.
Derek's injuries were healing steadily, though he had found time to disappear from the dojo even when he wasn't on shift at the Akabeko for hours on end, his purpose still unknown.
Kenshin and Sanosuke's had already healed and the two were back to their normal ways; Kenshin working, Sano lounging.
"Come on," Sanosuke pleaded, following the shuffling Derek around the dojo as he swept.
"No Sano," Derek reprimanded, continuing to sweep.
"Pleeeaaaasseeeeeeeee? I'll treat you to a full meal."
"And how would you pay for the meal?" Derek grumbled. "Increase your tab at the Akabeko?"
"Doesn't matter how, you haven't said no yet."
"For the last time Sano I'm not telling you what I've been making for you, I only said it before so you wouldn't die."
"And your plan worked wonderfully, now if you would be so kind as to…"
A powerful blow to the head silenced further pestering, as Miss Kaoru stepped back, allowing Sanosuke's bruised body to drop to the ground.
"Honestly, I can't believe you Sano, Derek is kind enough to work despite his injuries, and all you can do is bother him while still getting no work done!"
"Thank you Miss Kaoru, I am quite grateful," Derek replied, setting down the broom. "But I believe that is all for today, if it is alright I would like to rest for a bit."
"Of course Derek," Kaoru replied, dragging Sanosuske's dazed body out of the dojo, as Derek leaned against the wall, gripping his sides.
Sensei took nearly as bad injuries during his fight, yet healed much faster, is there truly this large a gap in abilities between he and I?
His thoughts were interrupted by the dojo's door sliding open once again, this time it was Yahiko.
"Hey Derek! Are you ready to spar yet?"
"Not today Yahiko," he replied smiling, ignoring the gradually fading pain in his side. "Tomorrow for sure I promise."
"Oh alright, but you better heal up soon or my skill is going to get rusty," with that he left, once again leaving Derek sitting alone…thinking.
****
Kenshin hummed to himself as he washed the clothes, his smile ever present on his face. He was so engrossed in this task he almost didn't notice his apprentice approach him from behind.
"Why hello Derek, how are you this day?"
"The pain has subsided sensei," he replied, sitting in front of his master. "However it returns when I exert any force, I won't be doing any exercises for some time."
"That is understandable young one, but I sense that is not the reason you have come here, what is on your mind."
Derek's eyes fell towards his lap, hand shaking gently as he responded. "You are the greatest man I have ever met, in both skill and what kind of person you are. Had it not been for you I have no doubt that I would have died on that hill ten years ago."
Kenshin slowly stopped washing, focusing all his attention on his pupil.
"However my abilities, while great thanks to your training, aren't enough to face our recent foes, and Han'nya I defeated with great difficulty. To get to the point…"
Derek paused once more, looking Kenshin in the eyes as he shouted.
"I wish to seek out your master Seijuro Hiko to become as strong as you sensei, so I can protect not only the people whom we have come to care for here, but you as well."
Kenshin was silent; Derek loudly swallowed awaiting his response, after a moment Kenshin got to his knees, leaning towards Derek.
Laying his hand on his students shoulder his smile never faded, yet Derek could tell there was sadness behind his face.
"I understand that I do, I have my reasons for never desiring to lift a sword, yet you have scarcely started your own journey. Have you thought of this thoroughly?"
"I have master," Derek replied, barely able to believe what his master was saying. He had expected to be lectured on why he should stay at the Kamiya Dojo. "I swear I shall return once I have attained the strength to protect everyone…without killing."
"Then Godspeed young one, my master was last scene in the hills surrounding Kyoto. If there is any hope of you finding him, it is there."
"Thank you master," Derek finished, getting to his feet. "Please don't tell the others until after I have gone, but give these to everyone." Extending his arm he handed a bundle of letters to Kenshin.
"What are these?" Kenshin wondered, looking over the massing of envelopes.
"Gifts…to everyone, goodbye Master. I swear I shall return soon, do not worry." At last he turned and walked out of the dojo, nabbing a pre-prepared bundle at the entrance, disappearing into the sunset.
****
"He did what??" Yahiko shouted, stomping his feet angrily several times.
"He has gone on his own journey to discover his own potential," Kenshin answered truthfully, ignoring Sanosuke's hand that had appeared over his throat upon hearing the news. "We cannot be angry at him for such a decision."
"That idiot," Sanosuke grumbled, balling up his other fist. "Leaving without even telling us, didn't he think of how much we'd miss him?"
"He even skipped out on my lessons on treating wounds and medicinal herbs," Megumi mused, though her face was emotionless as if she were more annoyed than sad.
"Kenshin…" Kaoru whispered, fearing how the red-headed swordsman would be affected by his beloved pupil's departure.
"O that reminds me," Kenshin shouted, reaching into his Kimono's sleeves. "He said these were for you."
One by one each of them; Sanosuke, Megumi, Yahiko, Kaoru, and even one marked to Kenshin, took a letter, hastily opening them.
"Dear everyone," Sanosuke read. "I hope these will bring you some joy despite recent events, to find them please check in the back of the shed behind Miss Kaoru's grandfather's ink paintings."
"Why did he bother giving us all letters if they all say the same thing?" Yahiko asked; sweat dropping as they compared letters.
"Hehe, mine was marked with a heart," Megumi laughed as fox ears popped out of her hair.
Opening the shed they moved aside the dresser filled with "ink paintings," their eyes widened in awe at the sight.
A group of items were wrapped in white cloth, all labeled to each of them.
Sanosuke didn't need to open his to realize what it was, probably due to its six foot sized wrappings.
"He didn't!" Sanosuke shouted, pulling off the cloth.
His reforged Zanbato stood proudly before him, the damage caused by Kenshin's attack completely unseen. To even a trained eye it appeared that the sword had never even been in a fight.
"Way cool," Yahiko yelled, revealing an ornate chest plate marked with the Kanji of the Kamiya School. It was a bit large for Yahiko, as Derek seemed to have taken his upcoming growth spurts into account when making it.
"Oh my," Megumi gasped, unveiling her gift. It was a beautiful brooch, cut in the shape of a fox, her eyes swelled as she held it.
Kaoru stared in awe at her gift, a chiseled marker for the Kamiya Dojo, with a level of craftsmanship she couldn't believe. In her mind she was already deciding all the different places to put it.
Kenshin smiled pleasantly as he held his, an iron sheath, perfectly accommodating his sword. He had yet to replace the wooden sheath destroyed during his match against Aoishi.
"He always said I needed a metal one," Kenshin muttered. "Always complaining on how many times it would break and he needed to make a new one."
"What?" Sanosuke shouted in surprise. "You mean Derek MADE all of these?"
"Of course," Kenshin explained, turning to face everyone. "My pupil is an extraordinary artist in terms of metal smithing and carving. He even crafted his own reverse blade sword simply by using my own as a template."
Kenshin scarcely had time to move as everyone suddenly rushed to him, glaring menacingly.
"Why didn't you ever tell us this?" They all shouted angrily.
"I…It slipped my mind?" Kenshin stuttered, sweat dropping as the others moved in closer to him threateningly.
****
The hill leading out of Tokyo seemed steeper than Derek had remembered when he and his master had come to the city what felt like so long ago.
Pushing his body hard Derek could see the top of the hill, screaming inwardly to make it to the top, knowing the trip would be substantially more relaxing going downhill.
Breaking out into a run, he finally leapt to the top…just in time to collide with a traveler coming from the opposite direction.
"O crap!" he shouted as the two collided, throwing Derek's pack to the ground, knocking the man's pack he had been carrying on his back to off his shoulders.
"So sorry my good man," the stranger muttered under his breath, getting to his feet. "Are you alright?"
"Yea yea, I'm fine, entirely my fault," Derek apologized, picking up the man's belongings. "A medicine pack, are you a doctor?"
"Doctor and salesman," he replied, hefting the pack onto his back once more. "And it seems you are a swordsman."
"Of sorts, though this sword can harm no one, my master has taught me to ignore such thoughts."
"That is very good of you," he replied, his eerie smile never dissipating. "Your master must be a great man."
"Yes, Kenshin-sensei is," with that he brushed himself off, heading back down the hill away from Tokyo.
"It was nice to meet you, my name is Derek."
"Likewise, I am Goro Fujita," he finished, replacing his straw hat, eyes now concealed he turned, heading towards the city below…
Whew, good to write this again, my schedule slacked a bit so I have some time, I should be able to get new chapters out soon.
Derek's lone path leads him through a small town threatened by corruption, but still unable to fight due to his injuries, will he require help from new friends? Next time on Battousai's Apprentice, "The twin Goddesses of Shadow, you wont want to miss it. =)