Elvengirl: Alright, the Raijuta arc. I'm moving right along.
Legault: Indeed you are.
Elvengirl: Sain's away right now, so Legault's filling in for abit. At any rate...time for my regular crap at the beginning, since no one's told me to shut up yet. So, I've started the Kyoto arc, and it's coming along beautifully. I'm really proud of it, and the sub-plot I've developed. The sub-plot's been in my head since before I started writing this story and is actually one of the driving forces behind it.
Legualt: You have far to much free time on your hands.
Elvengirl: I have nineteen original mobile suits to design, of course I have way to much free time. G-project is going well. I've started writing it, and my friend showed me his master grade Freedom model, so that was a booster. I'm also thinking of getting a Gundam Model myself. I was thinking the Providence, my all time favorite mobile suit. I going Gundam obsessed.
Legualt: You've been there for awhile.
Elvengirl: So, yeah, now that you know about that stuff, on with the fic.
Important note: Before we begin the Raijuta arc, I would like to remind everyone that I am using the manga version. While both anime and manga are similar, the Raijuta is the most editted arc I have seen. Thus, please do not review me saying: WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU CRAZY WOMAN! THIS IS NOT RIGHT, take time to consider that it is the manga. On that note, the Raijuta arc spans volumes five and six, and if you want a website to download them, I get it to you via email. Also, I am aware of the crappy ending to this arc. I might have used the anime ending, but due to the fact that I have no time between school, work, and my own free time, I barely have enough to watch my friend's animes, much less re-watch my own. I thank you for your indulgence and patience in reading this. Please enjoy the chapter.
Cast:
Maekawa: Carlyle
Isurugi Raijuta: Brendan Reed.
Tsukayama Yutaro: Nils
"Oro!" Karel looked in the direction of the dojo. A loud ruckus came from inside there. A few minutes later, Lyn came striding out, carrying Guy, tied up on the end of a shinai.
"Don't even start. He deservered this," she stated, with an edge. Karel nodded.
"All beaten up as usual."
"Is there any other way? We're training at Maekawa dojo today...want to come?"
"Oro?"
"Maekawa-san wants to meet you," Lyn smiled.
"Well...I still have chores. I mean, laundry, firewood, baths." Karel listed his chores on his fingers, trying to get out of the visit.
"And you have shopping. I need miso, soy, sauce, rice, vinegar..." Lyn began to list the groceries. Karel looked up.
"Then this one can do..."
"Now you're talking!"
In a few minutes, Karel, unwillingly followed Lyn, and the still bound Guy, out the door.
"This will be fun!"
"Or not...thinks this one."
In another part of the city, a small hooded figure ran through a temple gate. The figure glanced around until it found what it was looking for. A large man sat under a sacred tree, a straw hat pulled over his eyes.
"Master...I finally found you!" The figure walked toward the man. "It took awhile, but I got it all. There are about four dojos in this city. The busiest one is dedicated to Chuetsu-ryu, Maekawa dojo. The master is probably the best swordsman around. There's also a rurouni who's staying at Kamiya-kashin ryu dojo, rumoured to be great...but I think that's just a rumour."
"Alright. Come with me." The man got up, proving himself to be a giant. He strode off south, in the direction of Maekawa dojo. The hooded figure followed at a run.
Lyn opened the doors to Maekawa dojo to an enthusiastic greeting. All of the young men immediatly stopped their training to help her as she walked in with Karel and Guy.
"Don't mind us...just continue training," Lyn blushed, unused to such attention.
"Listen to Lyn-kun," said an older man, parting the group of men.
"Yes Carlyle-sensai!" replied the men.
"So...you are the Karel that Lyn-kun is always talking about," said Carlyle, walking up to Karel.
"...the rurouni that's supposed to be powerful..."
"...the one sensai wants to fight..."
Lyn gasped at the murmurs of the crowd. Carlyle hadn't told her anything about wanting to fight Karel. Carlyle and Karel started at each other, neither moving, the crowd of men debating who would win. Then suddenly, Carlyle looked away.
"Huh?" The crowd was confused.
"Thank you for coming. We look forward to learning from you."
"Actually...this one just came with Lyn-dono," Karel smiled.
"Really? Well make yourself comfertable and I'll get some tea."
"Carlyle-sensai..."Lyn began as he walked away.
"I'm sorry Lyn-kun, but it's a swordmaster's desire to fight anyone strong. However, it's not a matter anymore, for I can see that I've already lost."
"I don't understand."
"I gave him my fiercest glare and he just laughed it off. Those eyes are truly deep."
They watched as Karel refused the assassistance of a young student, offering him a cushion.
"What confounds me is how one of such young age could have such eyes."
"He's actually twenty-eight," intergected Guy.
"WHAT! But...then...he...there's no way," Carlyle sputtered.
"Oro?" Karel looked over at the odd scene being preformed not fifteen feet away.
Half an hour passed. Lyn gave her lessons and Guy trained. Karel watched the busy dojo, his glance wavering between Lyn and Guy.
"What do you think of the dojo?" asked Carlyle, taking a seat beside Karel.
"It's nice. You have many students here," Karel smiled back.
"Usually, not even a third show up. But the days that Lyn-kun comes," Carlyle paused,"The "kenjutsu princess" makes them sweat. I think only ten are really serious about swords. It's embaressing that this dojo was once "Best in Edo" and even more that so that I would have to use the legacy of Kamiya Hassen to draw students." Carlyle sighed and took a sip of his tea.
"You're being to hard on yourself," said Karel, "Kamiya dojo, with so few students, benefits from this as well. Help and be help?"
"Agreed. Still, what is to become of kenjutsu? It declined so quickly in Meijii, but had a slight revival after the Seinan war, but after that? It can't go on. It's hard to believe that there used to be challenges to this dojo every day."
As if to emulate the past, the door to the dojo again slid open. This time revealing a large muscular man. He was tall with a strong build. He wore an outfit similar to that of a samurai, with black feathers covering both shoulders. A triangular shaped hat hid the stranger's eyes.
"Hey! Take your dirty sandals off!" yelled a student as the stranger stepped in. The stranger walked past him without so much as an acknowledgement. He went to go stand in front of Karel and Carlyle.
"Who cares for the future of kenjutsu? I do."
"And, who are you?" asked Carlyle, standing up.
"My name is Isurugi Brendan, and I request a match," Brendan removed his hat, revealing a stern, heavily scared face. It looked like it could've been friendly, evne happy once, but those expressions were gone. A silence descended over the room.
"Very well. I accept, but it will be best two-out-of-three in the popular way. Agreed?"
Brendan glared down at him. Karel looked up, concerned.
"He is no average man, Karel-kun. He has the skills to back his challenge. I may have aged, but I am still the same Maekawa Carlyle, considered one of the twenty-best in Edo. I will not go down easily." Carlyle picked up a shinai and took a step toward Brendan.
"A shinai is not worth the time," spat Brendan.
"What..."
"Sensai!" A young boy appeared at the door. He was wearing a heavy white cloak and was sweating heavily, as indicated by his matted green hair. His red eyes showed signs of exhausten. He carried a sword-holder as well.
"Nils, you're late." Brendan adressed the boy.
"Forgive me sensai, but your stride is very long. It was all I could do to catch up. But, about the match, katana or bokuto?" Nils asked, beginning to open the holder.
"A shinai."
"A shinai! They wish to play with toys!" Nils burst out laughing. The dojo members looked away, offended/
"Shut up! Just who do you think you are?" yelled Guy, giving Nils a swift kick.
"What are you doing, squirt?" reponded Nils, getting up off the ground.
"Who are you calling a squirt, squirt!"
"You're both squirts," sighed Lyn.
"Me? I'm Myojin Guy, first student of Kamiya-kashin ryu. Remember that name."
"First apprentice of Brendan-sensai, Tsukayama Nils! That kick's gonna cost you!"
"Quiet, both of you," said Brendan. Guy and Nils glared at each other. Brendan sighed. "I don't own a shinai," he stated. Carlyle indicated the shinai rack.
"Pick whichever you like but don't blame the equipment later." Carlyle and Brendan took their places.
"To assure fairness, I, Kamiya Lyn will judge. Round one, begin!"
Carlyle glared at Brendan and gave off a magnificent battle aura.
"Come...see if this is "worth the time"."
Brendan stood unmoving. "I already know. When you suggested a three-round match with shinai...I already knew you weren't worth it!"
"No! Carlyle-dono, run!" yelled Karel, realising to late what was occuring. The warning was never heeded, as Brendan's shinai went crashing into Carlyle's shoulder. Lyn stared in shock. She hadn't even seen Brendan leap.
"Was the hit null?" asked Brendan.
"Valid head hit! One round!" Lyn called out.
"Wow, missing the first strike, but that downswing..." Guy breathed in amazement.
"That was no miss," smirked Nil," Everyone in old-school kenjutsu knows that if you're going to swing down, you should traget the shoulder. If this was real, the old man'd be on the other side right now." Nilsd pointed to Carlyle, who kneeled down on th ground, grasping his shoulder. His students croweded around him.
"The shoulder's broken! Someone call a doctor!" yelled Lyn in a panic.
"No. The match isn't over yet! As a swordsman...I cannot retreat now," Carlyle struggled to his feet, leaning heavily on his shinai. He looked over at Karel.
"Don't interfere, Himura-kun. Lyn-kun, begin the next round."
"Round two! Begin!" yelled Lyn.
"You're not stopping? How absurd. I will end this match with the first strike!" Brendan leapt and brought the shinai onto Carlyle's head with a strong wing, knocking Carlyle out.
"Clean hit! Match over!" Lyn exclaimed, her voice strained. In a move that surprised everyone, Brendan picked up the unconcious Carlyle from the front of the shirt.
"What are you doing? Stop!" Lyn yelled, shocked.
"Can you see when you're beaten?" Brendan pulled the shinai back, aiming the tip for Carlyle's chin. It was obvious that the intention was to break the neck. Karel leapt into the fray, his katana pointing at Brendan's neck. Brendan stopped and stared at him. Karel glared back.
"The match is over. You've won. You mean to kill him?" Karel asked.
"Yes. A man recieves one life. There is no three round match. A life is one round, kill or be killed." Brendan dropped Carlyle, "After the shinai came into being, swordsmanship became more popular, but it lost it's purity, it's power. Sword arts became weak. It only grows weaker and weaker! Fools who happily swing shinai don't deserve to hold a sword..except...one such as you." Brendan continued to watch Karel, who stared back intensly.
"Are you of this dojo?" Brendan asked.
"No. For now, this one imposes on Kamiya kashin ryu."
"So, you are the rurouni who's rumoured to be strong. I challenge you to a match...with real swords."
Karel sheathed his sword, never taking his eyes off Brendan. 'A reverse-blade wo dao' Brendan noticed.
"This sword is weilded not to display this one's strength. As you can see, killing is what this one avoids."
"Is that so? Nils."
"Yes?"
"The dojo's sign...burn it."
Everyone gasped.
"I defeated the dojo's master, so I have the right to do whatever I want with the sign, unless one of you objects..."
The students of the dojo looked away and said nothing.
"All at once if you like..." Brendan offered.
"Let's do this in the street! It'll be a better show," Nils became enthusiastic.
"Hold it right there," said Guy, grabbing the front of Nils's cloak.
"Let go, unless you want to die," Nils threatened.
"No one? Pathetic," muttered Brendan, as the students all looked down and away.
"Alright, I'll take you on."
"Lyn-san!"
"As a dojo master, thought not of this one, I cannot let this stand. Even if I can't win, I can at least get in a blow." Lyn stepped forward, her face set in a grim expression.
"Are you sure?" Brendan glanced down at Lyn, "I don't hold back for women."
"Then this one will fight," Karel stepped protectively in front of Lyn, "But the match stays in the dojo...and we fight with shinai,"
"Very well...but one round only."
"Are you sure about this?" Lyn asked Karel.
"Yes, despite the fact that I am unfamilier with shinai," Karel replied.
"There's something about that guy..,be careful," Lyn warned. Karel smiled as if to say thank you.
"We're starting. Stand ready!" Brendan ordered. Kenshin turned and took the position of seigan. The shinai was held at an angle, slightly above Karel's waist. Both Lyn and Guy noticed this, and were confused as to why Karel did not take his usual stance of mugyo, where the sword was down by one hand, allowing the user to strike left or right. Brendan lunged, bringing the shinan into a strong downswing. Karel evaded. Again Brendan attacked. Again Karel evaded.
"Did you see that?" asked one student.
"Not really..."
"That's nothing. Karel's usually way faster," said Guy.
"Yeah, but he wouldn't miss attacking after those giant downswings...unless..." a sudden thought popped into Lyn's head.
"To arrogant to strike back?" Brendan asked.
"Not at all. Once again, this sword is not wielded to display this one's strengt."
"So, you fight to a draw to prevent me from taking the sign. In that case, try this!" Brendan stood in front of Karel, feet shoulder-width apart, towering over him. The shinai was raised behind Brendan's head, both hands on the hilt. In an instant, Brendan swung down, hard.
"So fast..." thought Karel, raising his shinai up to block. Brendan's shinai seemed to bend in midair.
"What is this!" Karel leapt out of the way, just as Brendan finished the attack. Karel's shinai blade was split in half. A large scratch, more like a hole, lay in th floor where Brendan's shinai had come down. Brendan blinked, then dropped his shinai.
"Nil's, we're leaving," Brendan grabbed his hat and began to leave.
"Okay. Don't know what went on, but Brendan-sensai was on top all the way," Nils smirked again.
"I wouldn't be so sure. Karel didn't even use half his strength," replied Guy.
"You and I will settle this someday.." said Nils as he left.
"And when that day comes, I'll beat you bloody, blue, and raw," Guy finished the threat.
"Snot-nosed punk...and that Karel'll get his to," muttered Nils.
"...So his name is Karel..."
"Sensai?" Nils looked up and gasped. Isurugi Brendan was sweating. What had this Karel done to him.
"This man...was the first to dodge my Izuna. With that skill...he's perfect for my shinko-ryu," smiled Brendan to himself.
Back at Maekawa dojo, everyne stood around the scratch. People wondered aloud at how a shinai could've caused something fit for a sword.
"No...not like a sword, "Karel said softly, "The cut was to clean. No ordinary "showboat" fight could do this. Who is Isurugi Brendan?"
Elvengirl: So what'd you think? For the record, Carlyle's the guy you fight in Sacred Stones...he liked the Jehanan Queen. I ran out of characters...can you tell. Oh yeah, voume eightteen of the manga came out. It's so good. The Kyoto Epilougue is the one part in the Kenshin anime where I cry like a baby, and the manga made me do that to. And the Revenge Arc is so cool, I cannot wait to get there.
Legualt; So much for stopping after the Kyoto arc.
Reviews:
Wandering Cat: Not to may people like the Raijuta arc it seems. Luckily, it'll only last three chapters. I would've done the Crimson Pirate arc...but I have no time. As said in the above rant. I hope you like this though.
Nightmare3: Thanks. I'm glad you like it. As for the anime, I'd suggest ordering it online. I'm sure I've told that it's ninety-five episodes on twenty-two disks for the dub, not including the OAVS. There are three box sets. Good luck. Email me if you need more help.
Authorofthedark: I'm really glad you think so. I'm that all my skills are paying off and that people are enjoying my stories.
Legault: I'll be proud of it when I make my appearence.
Elvengirl: Chapter after this one in the notebook.
Next Time: The Raijuta arc continues. Please Read and Review