Hana's Story
I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. If I did, then I wouldn't be writing this now would I.
Chapter Two: Sakabatuo
/:Hana's PoV:/
It was really early the next morning. The two of us spent a good portion of yesterday talking about the last ten years. He was surprised that I didn't kill anymore. I was surprised about him staying at a dojo, with a girl, a kid, and a freeloader. We fell asleep eventually, and I woke up with my head leaning against his chest. His eyes were open which confused me.
"How long have you been up?" I asked. He looked down at me with his purple eyes.
"Not long Hana- dono."
"*yawn* So what are we going to do today?" I asked.
"Depends on what information Okina- dono has found. Why?"
"So I know what to wear. If we were just going to stay and rest then I would 'dress up' but if we are going to visit someone then I would." I explained. He nodded, showing that he understood.
"We should get up soon or Misao- chan will barge in." He once again nodded and we both stood up and stretched. Just as we started to fix our clothes the door was thrown open, just my luck it was Misao- chan and Okina- dono.
"It's Morning! Wake up Himura!" Misao- chan yelled.
"Oh, you're up already. I wanted to see what you looked like half asleep." She continued. Her notions were so childish, I couldn't help but chuckle. She turned to me with an irate look on her face.
"AND just what are YOU doing in Himura's room?"
"I-I um… was uh, … getting Himura- san up." Misao- chan didn't look convinced, but Okina-sama looked amused.
"Misao-dono, your clothes?" Himura asked after noticing the Koichi's clothes.
"Normal clothes, for Kyoto." She explained.
"Walking around in batty gear is weird even for me "She elaborated.
Okina-sama looked at Himura and asked if He was ready to go, earning himself a confused rurouni. "Kyoto has changed a lot in the ten years you have been gone, so I thought that I would show you around."
As Misao-chan and Okina-sama were discussing where to have lunch, I noticed the troubled look on Himura's face.
"This one cannot walk around in Kyoto, what if Shishio's men spot this one!"
"Shinsho's men would find you no matter where you hide." O kina soma countered. Himura still didn't look convinced so Okina- sama went on to say:
"Himura, you're fighting Shishio for the people of this country, so stand up straight for all to see! That's the way of the honest man!" The rurouni looked at the old man in shocked amassment. Okina-sama and Misao-chan walked ahead, leaving me with Himura.
"He always says that, but in the old days Okina-sama was so good that he was in line to be the next Okashira, but he said 'Now is the time for the young' and recommended Aoshi- san, and took up a minor role of agent in Kyoto. Now he's just a worn- out old man, but…" I never got to finish, because Okina-sama informant Himura that the search for the two people had begun last night. Misao-chan heard this and asked Himura who they were searching for.
"No one you know." Was the curt reply she got. I walked toward Okina-sama when Misao-chan jumped on Himura and started pulling on his cheeks.
"Okina." Kuro said from the door, he handed Okina-sama a folded up paper. Okina-sama's eyes turned serious as he read the small note. I could only assume that one of the two people died.
"Sorry Misao, looks like we'll have to go to Shirobeko another time." He said to Misao-chan, then turned to Himura and said:
"Himura, we found one of them… well more accurately, we found out about his death." I knew it.
"Who, Okina-sama?" I asked.
"The sword-smith who made the sakabatou, Arai Shakkuu." Misao-chan had a thoughtful look on her face.
"A sword-smith? I see… to replace the broken sakabatou…" her face suddenly went from thoughtful to shocked.
"But if he's already dead…"
"There's never going to be another." I finished for her.
/:Third person P.O.V.:/
The four were walking down a path as Okina talked about Arai Shakkuu's history.
"Arai Shakkuu, at the time of the Bakumatsu, he had a name among the Ishin Shishi as the 'Finest Sword-smith. Because he dedicated himself to the pursuit of the 'Katana that kills' and not the 'Katana that cuts' he was considered somewhat of a Heretic in the world of sword making."
"A sword-smith who tried to make the "Katana that kills" made the unkilling sakabatou? I don't understand!" Misao put in after Okina was done with the brief history lesson.
"A man's life may sometimes contain many contradictions, right Himura-san?" Hana asked, knowing that she wouldn't get an answerer out of the rurouni.
"According to my sources, Shakkuu passed down his secrets to his son. There were hopes for him to be the next "great sword-smith" but there are few orders for swords in the Meji Era: a sword-smith couldn't survive for long. Now it seems he makes a living by making knives, scythes, and other daily tools." A house came into view as Okina continued
"Shakkuu's son, Arai Seikuu… maybe he can make a new sakabatou!" Misao exclaimed.
"Excuse us…" Himura started to say when he opened the door to the house. Inside sitting right before a display of knives was a baby boy, who was grinning.
/:Hana's P.O.V.:/
To say I was shocked would be an understatement, we all were. This little boy couldn't possibly be Seikuu.
"Seikuu?" Himura asked Okina-sama, who didn't have and answer.
"Anfake! Anfake!" the little boy said.
"He's saying handshake." I told the confused rurouni.
"Oh, a handshake? Okay, okay…" he said smiling and shaking the little boys hand.
"Don't play with them Iori." A woman said to the little boy. SO he wasn't Seikuu, that's some good news.
"Mama!"
She then noticed the four of us and when into business mode.
"Welcome, sir. Were you looking for something?"
"Actually, this one wanted to see a kitchen knife." He said. This surprised Okina-sama, but I kinda expected it.
"Himura?" Okina-sama questioned.
"Do you mind if this one tries it out?" the woman shook her head. I knew it. He pulled out a Daikon and sliced it, a few seconds later the cut disappeared. Figures making a knife that did that should be no problem for the son of Shakkuu. Okina-sama and Misao-chan looked at the Daikon in shock.
"This is the first time I've seen the "Return Cut." He said amazed.
"Nothing has been crushed along the lines of the cut, so it can be put back together exactly as it was. When a fine blade and the arm of a master come together for the first time, a test cut could be of this quality, but that it could be done with a mere kitchen knife show the skill of Shakkuu's son." Okina-sama explained.
"Wow! Then this is it! Arai Seikuu can make a new sakabatou!" Misao-chan exclaimed happily.
"Ma'am, could this one speak to Seikuu-dono? This one needs him one make to make a new katana." The woman looked hesitant for some reason.
"Excuse me..." A new voice said from around the corner.
"Papa!" Inri yelled.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Arai Seikuu." His dorky looking guy said. Not what I was expecting, but who am I to judge. It also seems like I'm not the only one who had that thought because Misao-chan told him that he wasn't what she expected.
"Yeah, I get that a lot. I overheard you're your conversation. You need a Katana?" He bowed and continued.
"I'm sorry but I no longer make katana's. I cannot fulfill your request."