Elvengirl: Wow, been awhile since I updated this, huh? I apologize for that, but I've been trying to write more on this story so that I stay ahead of what I've typed up. Did that make any sense?
Sain: Nope.
Elvengirl: Didn't think so. So, yeah. Here's an update about what's been happening in Elvengirl's life:
- In terms of writing: I'm into the Kyoto arc now and am almost done with volume seven. It's going quite well. With G-project, I'm onto chapter two. I really like where it's going and hope to have it up soon.
-I had my sixteenth birthday. I'm now sixteen and very happy. I got the Spamalot Soundtrack from my brother and I haven't stopped listening to it. (Spamalot is the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
-I have seen Final Fantasy Seven: Advent Children. That has got to be one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. I was really impressed...and it has resulted in what will be several months of Final Fantasy obsession.
Sain: Yup...really busy.
Elvengirl: On with the fic.
Chapter 15.
"Things are pretty boring...D'ya think that Brendan got scared after you beat his goons so easily?" asked Hector, as he and Karel walked back toward Kamiya dojo from an errand.
"It wasn't that easy. The one with the double blades was very talented," replied Karel, shifting the wieght of the food he had bought while shopping. They turned up the walk and opened the door to the dojo.
"WHO'RE YOU CALLING A MINIATURE MONKEY, YOU CAT-EYED FREAK!" Guy yelled. Karel and Hector were nearly knocked off their feet.
"Everyday for the past ten days..."Karel sighed, watching Guy and Nils beat each other up.
"It's quite the sideshow," smiled Hector, sheepishly.
"That's enough! Start practicing!" yelled Lyn, pulling the two boys apart for the upteenth time. "Guy, put on a mask. Nils has to practice his lunging."
Guy grumbled the whole time, put on the training mask and faced Nils, scowling from behind the mask. Nils put his shinai up and waited.
"Lunge already," Guy mumbled, only to be caught off gaurd by a stunning lunge from Nils that came along the side of the head. Guy barely had time to react. Karel and Lyn watched in surprise as the lunges continued.
"He certainly has potential..." smiled Karel, glancing at Lyn, who nodded in wholehearted agreement.
'Ten days ago, this guy couldn't even hold a shinai...and now he's this good,' thought Guy, amazed, but still annoyed at the same time.
"I'm getting sick of you hitting me!" he yelled, tearing off the mask and hitting Nils in the back of the head. Nils whipped around, infurirorated, and returned the favor. Lyn sighed irritaby. Would it ever end? Not likely.
"Hey, I want seconds!" Nils announced, for they had ended practice with a meal at the Akabeko. He held his bowl out to Guy, who sweeping the floor nearby. Nils grinned as Guy turned around, wearing a bandana and apron, glaring.
"We've no food to waste on you!" he yelled, poleaxing Nils in the head.
"That how you treat a customer!" Nils responded with several hits of his own.
"You're not stopping them?" asked Karel, glancing at Lyn. It was more question that statement.
"I give up," Lyn replied, "Oh, Hi Florina-chan."
"H-hello. Is that a friend of Guy-kun's?" she asked, indicating Nils, who was trying to free himself from Guy's headlock.
"Sorta..."Lyn laughed. Karel and Hector exchanged glances.
"They seem friendly."
"We're fighting here! How is that friendly!" Guy yelled, forgetting Nils.
"S-sorry..." Florina sobbed. Lyn gave Guy several blows to the head.
"Don't yell at Florina-chan," Lyn ordered. Nils grinned.
"You're all against me," Guy mumbled, walking away.
"Nils, we were thinking..."Lyn began, focusing her attention of Nils, who had starting eating again.
"About what?" Nils asked through a mouthful of food.
"We would like you to join our dojo. That way, you and Guy can be the first graduates of Kamiya-Kasshin Ryu," Lyn smiled, hopefully. Nils swallowed and put his chopsticks down, not saying anything. After what seemed like and eternity, he spoke.
"I'm sorry Lyn-san, you're a great teacher and I'm glad you see much in me. And I can see that Karel-san is a great swordsman. However, I want to master the blade under Brendan-sensai."
Later that evening, Nils led Karel, Lyn, Guy, and Hector to a small stretch of path, surrounded by forest.
"It was here that I first met the master," Nils began,"Our carriage was attacked by bandits. I wanted to fight, but my father only groveled. I was so ashamed and tried to fight them myself, with little luck. Then, Brendan-sensai appeared. It only took one swing of his sword for the bandits to scatter like rats. In that moment, I believe, no, knew her was invincible."
"Brendan helping people? You're lying right?" asked Hector, sarcastically.
"Shut-up Bird-head," snapped Nils, "You wouldn't understand. That was the first and last time I saw him with a real sword. If I can become strong like him, I won't have to be a disgrace like my father. Karel-san, you and sensai will fight one day, right When you do, fight him fair and square, for that is how two invincible men should..." Nils trailed off, noticing Brendan coming up behind them, his sword raised for a downswing.
"Sensai!" he yelled. Karel and the others turned around. Hector and Guy flew to one side. Karel pushed Lyn to the other, just as the sword came down.
"Guess we see your true colours now," Hector smirked as he got up. Nils stared in shock, never expecting anything like this from the man he admired so.
"No, that was just a greeting! He never meant for that strike to land!" Nils yelled in protest, more for himself than anyone else. Brendan looked over at Karel and raised his sword.
"Lyn-dono, please step back," said Karel, taking a step toward Brendan.
"Sensai..." Nils whispered. Brendan ignored Nils, and lunged at Karel, planning to use the Izuna. Karel sidestepped as Brendan swung down. Brendan raised his sword and used the Izuna again and again. The destructive power of the the attack crashed into the trees, shattering them to pieces.
"It's just like Armads, usless unless it hits," muttered Hector, watching as Karel sped behind Brendan. Brendan turned around at a blinding speed, slashing down as he did so. Karel leapt up, evading the attack, and landing on Brendan's shoulder with a ryutsuisen, knocking off the feather. Brendan smirked.
"It would seem that the "Matoi Izuna," is not enough. In that case...Secret Sword Tobi Izuna!" The attack came flying toward Karel, as opposed to travelling along the ground. Karel barely evaded, the attack glancing off his arm. The attack kept going, and slammed into Nils, throwing him back.
"Nils!" Karel leapt, catching Nils before he hit the ground. Nils body was for the most part unharmed, except for a large wound on his right arm.
"We have to get him to a doctor!" Lyn yelled, running over, followed by Guy.
"I missed his vitals, he'll live," Brendan said, with no remorse for what he had just done.
"You just injured your own apprentice!" Guy yelled, enraged.
"So? Do you really think I'd take a fool like that under my wing," Brendan responded.
"What did you..." Lyn began.
"Very little money is made by swordsmanship in this modern era, however I need a large sum in order to build shinko-ryu. I needed a patron, but this patron has a son, so I let the fool call me "sensai". It's a shame to lose such a rich patron, but I suppose I can hire more thugs to fake another robbery."
"Sen...sai..." Nils gasped, the words came difficultly out of his mouth.
"I will defeat you now," Brendan pointed at Karel, "Come."
Karel picked up Nils and began to walk away.
"Running away?"
"Wait there for an hour, Brendan. Then I will treat you to a living Hell" Karel's eyes blazed with fury. Brendan glared back, annoyed at having to start again for a third time.
"Feather-doll man doesn't know what he's gotten himself into," Hector sighed, "You've finally mangaed to anger the most terrifying man in the world."
"Limstella-san, how is Nils?" Lyn jumped up hopefully, as Limstella came out of the operating room, followed by Lowen.
"What was he cut with? I've never seen anything like it, a gaping wound with hardly any blood."
"I don't get it either, but how is he?" Lyn pressed the question. Limstella sighed.
"Well, there's no threat to his life, but..." Limstella trailed off, looking down at the floor.
"But?"
"The nerves have been severed beyond repair. It's unfortunate, but he will never hold a sword again," Lowen finished what Limstella was trying to say. Everyone froze.
"It was lucky that the blow glanced off Karel-san first," Lowen continued, "Otherwise the whole arm could've been lost. He can still preform simple tasks."
"THAT CAN'T HAPPEN! Swords are everything to him, and he's good at them to! There's got to be a way! You're a doctor, do something!" Guy shouted, running angrily up to Lowen.
"I'm sorry, Guy-kun. Even doctors can't cure everything." Limstella placed her hand on Guy's shoulder, in an attempt to calm him down. Guy broke away from her and ran out the door. Karel got up to follow.
"This Izana..." Lowen addressed Karel.
Cuts with a vaccuum between two layers of air? Yes." Karel finished and answered Lowen's question.
"You knew this?" Lowen asked, shocked.
"Just now. The open wound with little bleeding fits. Both "Izuna" and "Kama Itachi", a phenomenon of rapid motion, are names for "spirit of the wind." There were clues, which came to late. At least now, this one's sword can destroy this Izuna." Karel walked out the door.
"He's late. It's been well over an hour. I guess he's gotten scared and run off," said Brendan, turning to leave. He seemed almost happy at the prospect of doing so.
"Who runs from someone who's obviously weaker than himself," asked Hector. Brendan turned to look at him. "Oh, heh, guess I just made it harder for you to leave. Oh well, I won't stop you. You'll be much happier not fighting Karel."
"Watch it, kid. I wouldn't mind playing with you to pass the time," Brendan threatened.
"I wouldn't either. But if you lose to a streetbrawler and not a swordsman, ouch." Hector cracked his knuckles and stood up. He stared at Brendan with a confident, easy smile. Brendan began to slip into a fighter's stance when they both heard footsteps.
"Guess we lingered here long enough 'cause it looks like the real show's here..." Hector began.
"BRENDAN!" Hector fell over. It was Guy.
"Real thing?" Brendan smirked, unimpressed. Hector shot up, holding Guy back.
"Let me go! I can't let him get away with it!" Guy yelled.
"Then leave him to this one." Karel came up behind Hector and Guy. Guy shivered, for the aura Karel was emitting was that of an intense battle rage.
"Since we're avenging the same person, it's better to win, right?"
"Right," Guy replied, "I'm counting on you."
Karel nodded and walked toward Brendan until there was a distance of about five meters between them.
"At last...I will defeat you, and then bring in a new era of Shinko-ryu!" Brendan swung his sword to use the Tobi, or flying Izuna. Karel mearly sidestepped, completly avoiding the attack. Brendan blinked.
"Don't be surprised. Who falls for the same trick twice. Maybe you can't block the flying Izuna, but for a man who can track a bullet's path, dodging is easy," Hector smiled.
"Then how about this!" Brendan began swinging his sword rapidly, the flying Izuna going off in different directions. Karel evaded every strike until one grazed him on his right arm. Brendan grinned.
"Now you know the Izuna! The emblem of shinko-ryu! The essence of Satsugin-ken!"
"Happy now?" Karel asked. Brendan blinked. "If a small scratch like this thrills you so much, you're going to love the real blood." Karel licked his cut, again the red mist clouded his eyes, "I've figured it out Brendan."
"Figured what out?" Brendan asked, taking a slight step back.
"Despite all your talk, you've never killed anyone. No Hitokiri would be so happy about failing to finish off an opponent. You've no idea of the true hell bourne by a hitokiri's blade, and in your ignorance took away swords away from Nils forever. For that you will pay and equal price." Karel glared at Brendan and an eeriee silence descended over them. Guy knew that Karel would win. Something, however, was bothering Hector. It was he who broke the silence.
"Hey Karel, it's not like you to get cut twice on the same arm. Is it still-"
"The anesthetic's still in effect, yes. I can't control it well. Still, the left arm is more than enough to defeat you." Karel spoke to the shocked figure of Brendan.
"Fool! You've insulted me once to often! I've no choice but to kill you!" Brendan's attacks came at a faster pace, his face contorted into a mask of rage. Karel continued to evade. Both the Matoi and Tobi izuna came at him now. Matoi, when he came inside the zone, and Tobi when he was outside.
"How's he going to win?" thought Hector, "He can't use battojutsu and ryutsuisen is only half as effective." Both Hector and Guy gasped as a Matoi attack grazed Karel's leg.
"Won't be so fast to attack with an injured leg," smiled Brendan.
"Again, don't get so happy about a scratch," Karel muttered.
"What can you do? The only way to win would be the flying Izuna."
"That is impossible for this one," Karel admitted.
"Then I will win because I control the zone!" Brendan sensed his victory was near and put all his strength into one final attack.
"But there is still a way to attack from outside the zone!" Karel gripped his sword in his left hand, pivoting quickly. Hector, Guy and Brendan watched in amazement.
"Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryu! Battojutsu! Hiryusen!" Karel fired his katana out like an arrow released from a bow. It sailed toward Brendan, hitting him squarely in the forehead. Brendan fell to the ground with a dull thud,. Hector grinned. Karel had beaten Brendan with just his left arm.
"Karel!" Guy ran towards him enthusiastically, as Karel went to get his katana. Brendan twitchedm and grabbed Guy by the ankle, forcing himself to a kneeling position. Blood streamed down from his forehead.
"Don't move, or I'll kill the boy," he threatened. Karel continued to retrieve his katana.
"I mean it! I'll kill him!"
"So do it! Like I'm afraid to die by you!" Guy replied.
"He said do it, so why do you hesitate?" asked Hector, " You're always talking about satsugin-ken."
"Satsujin-ken. The killing art. It's not about scrolls or ancient styles, its the weight of the lives you've taken, dragging you down to hell. If you cannot understand that much, even defeating Guy is beyond you."
Brendan dropped Guy and clutched his head. He began to tremble.
"Now what? Should we break his arm?" Hector asked.
"No. He's lost his confidence and will never recover. It also won't bring Nil's arm back."
"Oh Nils, you're awake," said Lyn, as the green-haired boy strirred and tried to sit up. "No, don't move yout..."
Nils fell from the bed with a sob.
"My right hand...not moving. It wasn't a dream. I was betrayed by my own master."
"That was pathetic Sword Demon," sighed the cloaked figure, wiping off his katana. The still body of Brendan lay in a pool of blood behind him. "You may have won with just one arm, but you gained three scratches and left a wound that will last a lifetime." He sheathed his sword and glanced up at the moon, "I guess it's all up to me now."
A few days later...
"I'm sorry, but the young master refuses to see anyone," said the butler of the Tskuyama estate to Lyn, Guy and Hector. They all nodded solemly.
"I see. This is for him," Lyn held out a small package, "We'll come again soon."
"Please do," said the butler with a bow.
"I'm not surprised by his actions," sighed Hector as they walked away, "betrayed by his "ideal" master and now he can't even hold a sword."
"He was making such progress to," Lyn gave a small sob. "I don't know what to do for him. I feel so helpless."
Guy remained silent, a frown on his face.
"With the sudden changes of Meijii, I, a lower-class samurai with nothing, became a weapons merchant. My knowledge of swords was valued and so my fortune rose while others fell," Moulder explained to Karel. "My life, to me, however, is a failure. Although I can support my family, everyday I must way my tail and drop my head. That's why I wanted Nils to be strong and live by his ideals in my stead."
"You said that " a man must be strong in any situation." This one would say yes."
"Karel, we're ready to go!" said Lyn, approaching them.
"That was quick," Karel blinked, then turned to Moulder, " This one must take his leave, Moulder-dono, but will come again soon"
"Thank you," Moulder sighed, "But the next time will probably be the last. I've been thinking about things, and I've decided to take Nils to Germany."
"Germany!"
"They have the most advanced medicane is the world, so we might be able to recieve treatment from Nils's arm. And maybe...if he lives in a foriegn country, Nils will forget about swords. We depart in a week. We don't know when we'll be back.
A week later...
"Thank you for everything," Moulder bowed, "Hey Nils, it's time to say goodbye."
They stood in the plaza of Shinbashi Train station. People bustled around them. Nils continued to look at the ground, leaning on a small cane. Lyn looked away, trying to hid her tears. She couldn't think of anything to say. Hector and Karel were going through a similar expierience. Guy glared at Nils, who did not respond.
"Farewell," said Moulder. as he and Nils turned to go.
"NILS!" Guy yelled, lunging at Nils with a downswing. Nils brought up his cane to block. "Are you just gonna sulk your entire stupid life! If Brendan's betrayal was so painful then make yourself better! And better than the one you idealised! If you can't do that, then you really are a loser!"
"Shut up! Who are you to call me a loser!" Nils yelled back, breaking the block and launching an attack of his own. "I'll never quit the sword! If I can't fight with my right arm, then I'll fight with my left! It's all I need to beat you anyway!"
"Quit bragging you cat-eyed wimp!" Guy and Nils began to beat each other up.
"So..." smiled Lyn.
"Yup," smiled Hector.
"It's good," smiled Karel, "No worries here."
"Listen up!" Guy said, as Nils boarded the train, "You better come back."
"Your place as a student of Kamiya-kashin ryu will remain open for you," smiled Lyn, with a small sniff. Nils smiled and stepped onto the train.
"Since we're in Shinboshi, let's go eat some western food!" shouted Hector, punching the air.
"Let me guess, I'm paying again?" sighed Lyn, "What is it, Karel?"
"I was just thinking. Carlyle-dono had so little faith in the future of swords, as did Isurugi Brendan. But when I saw Guy and Nils, the phrase, "No worries here," came to mind." Karel smiled, watching the train dissappear off into the distance.
"I agree," Lyn smiled back and took Karel's hand, pulling his toward the croweded streets of Tokyo.
"They're good people," Moulder smiled, looking down at Nils.
"He swung at me for real, even though he knew I was injured," Nils said, looking out the window. "Myojin Guy," He smirked, "I'll clobber you first thing when I get back."
From that day forward, three nameplates hung in Kamiya Dojo. Kamiya Lyndis, assasstant manager, Myojin Guy, student, and Tskuyama Nils, (reserved).
Reviews:
Wandering Cat: Thank you for all of your editing assistance. I really appreciate it. I like the manga better than the anime to.
Gijinka Renamon: Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.
Authorof thedark: I hope that my review was somewhat helpful to you. Thanks for your continuing support.
Elvengirl: That's all for now. Next time: Flames of the Revolution.