Kendo Club
Here we go... have fun reading. Sry it took so long (ducks rotten tomatoes) I SAID SORRY! (sheesh)
If your wondering, its in diary format, with Kaoru reading it, in case anyone gets confused. ;)
Have fun!
Sept 7 1995
A few days ago, after my parents died there was a big custody, I think that's the word, battle over who I would live with now. My uncle Hiko and my aunt Ishi are the only family I have left, and they're not brother and sister so I would be in two different houses. I wish my mom and dad were still alive, then none of this would be happening.
Sept 22 1995
The battle's done now, I'm living with my uncle Hiko at his house. I'm glad that he lives only a few miles from where my parents live, used to live I guess. But uncle's kinda weird; right when I had finished putting my stuff in the room I was supposed to use, uncle came to talk to me and said that he was changing my name to Kenshin and would begin teaching me his sword style the next morning.
When I asked why he was changing my name, uncle only said that 'Shinta' was too gentle for a swordsman. So, I guess from now on I'll be known as Himura Kenshin, not Himura Shinta.
On the bed in Kenshin's room Kaoru stifled a gasp, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Hiko had changed her friends name after his parents died? It was so sweet of Ishi to name her son with Kenshin's birth name, even years after it was changed. And Shinta was such a cute name, even for her friends cousin.
Wishing that she had been able to meet Kenshin before whatever had happened, Kaoru began reading his diary again…
Sept 23
I finished my first day of what uncle calls 'training' and my body is so sore I can barely move. My hand is shaking as I write. Uncle made me hold a weird wooden stick, he called it a shinai, and taught me how to hold it; I'm pretty sure he corrected my grip more then a thousand times, and a few simple swings. I can't write any more… too tired.
Oct 23
More then a week later I am finally getting used to the hard training uncle puts me through every day. Now he's taken to calling me 'baka deshi' which he thoroughly enjoys, I can just tell. He also keeps telling me to call him 'shishou.' I looked it up in my dictionary and learned it means 'master' in English and there is absolutely no way I am calling him that… ever! Although I doubt that he'll ever stop this 'baka deshi' thing, he's really attached to the nickname. But I'm not an idiot. Aunt Ishi says that its just a term of endearment… right.
Aug 31, 2000
Today's the fifth anniversary of my parents death, so uncle, Ishi and I had a small party at our house. Everything seems so… empty, I guess, now. I turned eleven a few months ago but nothing really seems different, except that I wish mom and dad could be here to celebrate with us.
I start middle school in a few days, I'm a little nervous about it, Uncle says its really different then elementary school and harder. Hopefully I'll be able to make a few friends, it would be nice to have someone to talk to and spend time with. I'll just do my best, like mom always told me to do.
Kaoru stifled a laugh behind her hand, so Hiko had been calling Kenshin by that nickname for over ten years. I guess he did get used to it, and started calling Hiko 'shishou' after a while, even though was still probably by protest. She quietly reread the part about his parents, we're almost the same, both of us have lost our parents and we feel like we're lost sometimes.
But what had happened to him and why had there been a five year period between the entries, had he just forgotten?
July 2, 2001
Uncle and I have been arguing lately, more and more during the past month. I think aunt Ishi has given up on us since she rarely visits anymore. We fight over the smallest things, fights that turn into shouting contests or physical contact. But whenever I attack him he always defeats me easily, even though I'm getting better at sword fighting. Uncle always makes me feel small and pitiful… it makes me angry.
July 12
Uncle and I just had another of our usual fights again, this one about my 'role' in the house. I ended it by stomping off to my room and loudly slamming my door, immature I know but I couldn't take any more. I'm tired of my uncle, his never-ending insults and this stupid demanding teaching of swords I'm being put through. He wants me to be perfect and I know I can't be!
I've decided that I'm going to run away, I think I have enough money for a hotel room, or maybe even for a taxi to aunt Ishi's house. Right after I finish this entry I'm going to pack my bag and climb out of the window… then I'll be free.
What in the world? Kaoru thought, biting her lip. She had observed that Kenshin and Hiko argued a lot, but except for that one time it had seemed to her like only friendly, family banter. But if Kenshin had felt so angered and annoyed that one time, and had run away because of it, would he run away from his life again?
July 14
I just woke up in a strange room I've never seen before. There's nothing to see really, it has stone walls, a small window with bars and the hard, old mattress I'm sitting on.
Why am I here? I don't remember going to sleep here or stopping here. This is such an odd place. Plus there's no one nearby, that I can sense at least.
There's no way that I would come here, except that…
I just went over to the window and tried to look out of it. As far as I can tell I'm in a warehouse on the edge of town, one of the old abandoned ones.
But the problem is why am I here?
I suppose I was kidnapped, that would be the only way for me to end up here.
July 15
My mind seems so foggy now, such a difference from how sharp it was from using Hiten. Vaguely I can remember a man coming in, he smiled at and spoke to me…
"Hello there Mr. Redhead. You're sure young to be wandering among the streets. May I ask why my men found you walking along the remote areas in this city of ours?"
I muttered something under my breath and looked away, off to the side.
The man smiled and sighed softly. "I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Katsura Kogoro, I run the organization that takes place in this building. A business I would like you to join."
"What kind of business?" I asked, slightly raising my head, but not enough that he could see me. Katsura smiled. "A small but influential business that is for the better cause of the city." He paused slightly and titled his head. "Would you mind telling me about yourself now?"
I laughed quietly, my hair spilling over my shoulders, coming free from its loose ponytail. "Himura Kenshin. I was walking out on the street because I left my house after I had an argument with my uncle. Walking helps me think."
"I see, it's nice to meet you Himura." Katsura took my hand and gently shook it, his hand engulfing mine. "Would you like to join my little organization?"
I started and looked Katsura directly in the eye. "What?"
"Wow, you're very handsome kid." The man commented, gazing excitedly at me. "You could maybe even pass for a girl."
I scowled at him, all too aware of my feminine features. "I do NOT look like a girl."
"Of course not. You do realize Himura that if you join me, you won't have to go home until you want to. Or perhaps you'll never want to go home." Katsura informed me in an offhand tone.
Undecided, I scanned the man's ki and found that he was honest about what he was saying.
"Sure."
Katsura smiled, took my hand again and shook it once more. "You have a very firm grip boy." The man loosened his grip and turned my hand over to look at his palm. "And all these calluses, what are they from?"
I looked away again, mentally cursing my uncle. "Swords."
"How interesting, I didn't know anyone practiced swordsmanship anymore. Are you very good at it?" Katsura questioned eagerly.
I made an odd noise, something between a snort and a laugh. "I'm not sure, no one's ever told me."
"Well then, what would you say to a small sparring match?"
In response I'm certain I looked surprised, then uncertain and finally agreed to his offer. "I suppose so."
Katsura smiled and helped the boy to his feet. "Wonderful then."
After that we went downstairs, many stairs, to stand in a large stone room. Another person stood at the opposite end, smiling with a sword in his right hand.
Katsura introduced the man as 'Tenken,' his best swordsman. He commented that we were the only two left in the city who practiced swords. That was probably true, if you ignored Uncle.
We started sparring at a call from Katsura; this Tenken was very good, fast and smart.
In the end, our match finished in a draw since we were both tired and the swords we had been using were both damaged slightly.
When Katsura called the end of the match, Tenken walked off into the darkness behind the doorway from where he had appeared. But before he did so, Tenken commented that I was 'a worthy opponent' and he 'looked forward to sparring with me again.'
I suppose that I slightly agreed with him, it would be nice to have someone to spar with who didn't insult me while doing so. Besides, he was very likable.
We returned to the room where I first woke up and talked for a little longer. It was strange that nowhere in the conversation did Katsura explain exactly what his organization did.
Then, when he had stood up to leave again, the man paused halfway across the room and turned back to me.
"I forgot to tell you Himura, there's a shot you need to get before you live here for very long." He laughed good-humoredly, "This isn't exactly the cleanest building in the world. Don't worry, there's a licensed doctor here who'll do it for free."
I frowned slightly. A whole shot, just because of living in this building? I guess... "I suppose that would be good, I don't want to get sick."
Katsura went to the door and called to somewhere nearby. A few minutes later, another man came into the room carrying a black bag.
He noticed my wary look and smiled while saying, "Don't worry Himura, it won't hurt. And afterwards you'll feel much better." The 'doctor'- was he really a doctor?- chuckled quietly until Katsura gave him a reproachful look.
The doctor kneeled in front of me, opened his bag and took out a syringe with clear liquid in it. He cleaned my arm with something cold, then stuck the thin, metal tip into my bicep.
As the liquid made its way into my body, I began to feel lightheaded and dizzy. A few minutes later, I couldn't focus and my eyes kept on closing on their own. Just before I fell back onto the bed unconscious, Katsura took a small dagger out of his pocket and cut a scar, shaped like a cross, on my cheek. I could barely feel the point of the knife.
---
The two men watched as Kenshin's eyes finally closed and then fell back onto the bed, a small rivulet of blood trailing down his cheek. Katsura positioned the boy so he was laying on the hard mattress while the 'doctor' wiped away the blood.
They stood and the second man left, leaving Katsura alone in the room with Kenshin. The former leaned over the boy and gently brushed the flame-red hair from his pale face.
"He will make a wonderful soldier," the man thought, then corrected himself, "no, his skills; the speed, the precision and the agility would be wasted as a soldier. Instead…"
Katsura leaned down to whisper into the teens ear, "welcome, Hitokiri Himura."
Dun dun duuunnnnnnnnnnn! Hee hee... cliff hanger I know, I'm sorry!
As for how long the whole 'diary' thing will take I'm not sure, I had planned on this chapter being longer so I would split it into two parts, but since it isn't it might turn out to be like three or four, not sure. Sry... I hope you enjoy them anyways.
Please don't forget to review! I enjoy them a lot... they make me happy AND inflate my ego. ;)
Thanks again to my beta reader Yanikei for putting up with me AND beta-ing my fics.
Oh, I have news for you! This year I'm participating in NaNoWriMo (the websites for more info) during the month of November, so I'm sorry but I won't be able to write (and that includes updating) during that time. Please be patient until December and I'll have a bunch of good new chapters for you. ;)
Thanks to ALL of my reviewers:
avidgokufan, Becky Yuy, michelle.gilman, ELLIE 31773, Mikayla Mae, CrystalMind and enchantedsleeper
Thanks again!
Please review... I hope you enjoyed it!
ja ne
mijichan