From: Cherry1700@aol.com Hello everyone! This is the first fic that I've posted up, and as I am a pure amateur, it's not spectacular like some of the well-written work I've read (all you people's stuff gets me kind of intimidated >.<). The chapters are short, so I decided to send them in two at a time. Hope you like it. ^_^ This is a short story that occurs after Kenshin left his master and before the beginning of RK. It is just a little window into Hiko’s hidden past. It is also my version of why Hiko gives Kenshin advice about being alone in Vol. 12 of the manga. In my opinion, he has a kind heart although he acts mean to others. Kenshin thinks he hates people, but on the contrary, he really wishes to help them, which is the actual purpose of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu. (Look to Vol. 12 for further details) BTW, later in this story, there are Jinchu Arc spoilers...Enjoy! DISCLAIMERS: All characters of Rurouni Kenshin are copyrighted Watsuki Nobuhiro, Jump Comics, and any others not mentioned. The following is not a source of any income. ******** "Within the Mist" by Tomie Episode 1 - After the Storm Hiko Seijuurou walks down a desolate street as it is late at night. He is going home from an inn drinking, although he is not drunk. He takes a deep breath of the cool, night air. Hiko: It’s quiet. Good… Further down the road, four men are pursuing a beautiful, young woman. She has long, black hair that is parted to the side with two locks flowing in front of her shoulders. She wears a white kimono that is patterned with tiny, pink sakura and carries a sword in a intricately designed sheath. The restricting kimono stifles her speed and she begins to falter. One of the men reaches an arms lengths distance of the woman; he hits her from behind and she falls to the ground. At that moment, a flash of lightning brightens the dark sky. Man #1: Give that sword to me! Woman: (breathing hard) Alright….I’ll give it to you…. She looks at him with the corner of her eye and a faint smile touches the corner of her mouth. Thunder is heard. She quickly unsheaths the sword and slices the man in the stomach in one motion. Woman: There! A look of surprise appears on the man’s face as he clutches his stomach that is gushing out blood. Man #1: You hag…. The man falls to the ground. It begins to pour. Rain trickles down the woman’s face as she glares at the next man. He moves toward her angrily and strikes. She maneuvers her blade into an ‘S’ curve, seeming to wrap her blade against the other, snapping it. Woman: Zaaaaaa!!!! Man #2: Aaaaarrggggg!!! The woman slices him across the heart. A bit of blood splatters on to her cheek, but is nearly instantaneously washed away by the falling rain. The third man approaches. He moves with dignity and control. Man #3: They were nothing…it is now that you meet you’re doom, girl. You’re going to wish you stayed home in your precious bed… He moves like lightning, scooping his sword upward, injuring her right arm before she could block. He takes a step back and an evil smile spreads across his face. Water has soaked the three that remained standing from head to toe. Man #3: It’s over. He scoops the blade again, but on the left side and as she attempts to block, he gives a hard cut to her stomach. She goes down bleeding profusely. The mixture of rain and blood form a puddle around the girl and stains her kimono. She clasps the area of her wound and begins to tremble. The woman thinks: I don’t deserve any other way to die. Justice will be done after all. The man towers over her, still with a wry grin. He lifts his blade above her vehemently while she closes her eyes. Man #3: Oyasum— In an instant, the woman hears a loud clanking noise above her. She sees a tall man blocking the path of the sword with his. Hiko: What is this? Four men against one little girl? Such cowards are such a waste of time, but since I’m already here and I’m wet… He instantly kills the last two men with one strike. The handsome swordsman looks down at the girl as the rain falls upon them in heavy, fat drops. She stares at him as he speaks. Hiko: Sheesh. Now, what am I going to do with this girl? She blacks out. The woman later awakens dry, in a warm house. She is dressed in a man’s large yukata and is covered in thick blankets. Turning her head, she sees Hiko and questions begin to filled her mind. Woman: Where am…why did you… She tries to get up, but feels a sharp pain in her stomach and remembers the former scene. She feels bandages around her waist with her finger tips and is suddenly alarmed as she looks down at her clothes. Woman: Did you…did you see everything?? Hiko: (annoyed) What are you worrying about? Look, you were soaked and your wounds needed to be cleansed. You would’ve died….I did you a favor. You should be thanking me. Woman: (sighs) You call that a favor… Hiko: Well, you can’t exactly call this fun. You were a lot of trouble, you know. Woman: You should’ve just left me…I rather have…. The girl’s voice trails off as a ponderous gaze washes over her face. The expression suddenly turns into anger. Woman: I didn’t ask to be saved. Hiko: Then leave, I’m not forcing you to stay. Woman: Fine! She gets up quickly forgetting her wounds, only to feel the sharp pain again. Her wounds start to bleed. Woman: (wincing quietly) aaaaa… Hiko: Baka. Just stay there before you bleed to death and all my time would be wasted. She lays there as beads of perspiration form on her forehead. She closes her eyes tightly. Hiko props the girl up into a sitting position a little roughly. Woman: he..hey…. Hiko: Here. (handing her a tray of soup and rice) Eat this, so you can get well quick and leave. They glare at each other. Woman: (Through clenched teeth) Oh, what a cordial host (smiling spitefully). Hiko: (with shown annoyance) oh, what an appreciative guest. ******** Episode 2 - A Little Truth Time seems to have passed as the girl is able to move about, but with caution. She still wears Hiko’s oversized yukata and moves slowly from the kitchen to set some food in front of Hiko. Hiko: Oi…what’s this? Woman: What does it look like? Hiko: I didn’t ask you. Woman: I know, but I just can’t stand doing nothing all day. I might as well pass the time here before I am able to leave. She moves to the center of the room and kneels. Hiko eats. Hiko: (thinking) this is pretty good… As Hiko is eating, the woman twists her hands and side-glances at Hiko. Hiko: (in a monotone voice) What. What’s wrong with you now? Woman: Uh…er…it’s…um… Hiko: Well, well? Woman: It’s nothing… Hiko: I hate it when people do that. If you got a problem just say it…besides, how come you're so shy all of a sudden…? Woman: Well, It’s just about…my kimono. Hiko: Eh? It’s gone…it was beyond repair as far as I could tell. Woman: Oh…uh…I kinda thought so… Hiko: (thinks) She’s acting pretty strange. The only belonging she ever cared about was that sword…what’s behind that kimono…I wonder… As if reading his thoughts, she answers. Woman: That kimono…my mother made that for me…it was my best, that’s all. (under her breath) I hoped maybe once in my life I’d have some luck. Hiko: (unsympatheticly) Hmph. Well, it can’t be helped. It’s just a piece of clothing, and besides, you were fortunate to have your life at the least. Worrying about such things is foolish. Woman: I know that. (she snaps back) Hiko: Besides, there is no “luck.” I don’t believe in such a thing. I resent it when people use such a false term. Woman: (he barks back) What is it then, “fate”?? Hiko: No. It’s just the way things go. You have to take what you get. People have a tendancy of blaming their situation on "luck" in order to avoid accepting it or finding their own selves at fault. There is silence as the woman contemplates this thought. Woman: (she then thinks) A jerk, yes, but he might actually have some interesting things to say. Grr…I hate that. Woman: (after she irritated herself, she speaks with a slight edge) Aren’t you honorable, accepting all blame for matters, forsaking any talk of luck. Hiko: That’s the first intelligent thing I’ve heard you say. The woman fumes, but sustains herself. Her eyes fall upon her katana and soften as she thinks back to her past. Her gaze shifts a little to the right on Hiko’s katana. The woman moves only her eyes to look at Hiko and opens her mouth as if to say something, but decides against it. Woman: (thinks) Ugghhh. I’d rather avoid talking to that man…But what was that ? What was that? She closes her eyes and collects the courage to ask that man…. Woman: What.....what kenjutsu did you use that night…it was like nothing I’ve ever seen… Hiko looks over at her and contemplates. He decides to answer. Hiko: It’s the secret technique, Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu…made to kill…but of course, it’s purposes are somewhat more complicated. (he stops to think and glances over to the girl) That’s quite a katana you have. It’s a shame you can’t use it properly. Woman: (turns to him) Eh? Hiko: Kenjutsu is not for women. That sword’s going to waste. It’s a shame. Woman: How dare you…(thinks) I knew I should’ve kept quiet. Hiko: Men can’t compare to me…how can a woman possibly? You couldn’t even take that ruffian… Woman: What arrogance…I am the…er…was the successor of the great Shintenmeikai kenjutsu school! I was among the top students in Shanghai…. Hiko: Shanghai. Now how many strong samurai come from there, huh? Woman: (turning red and narrowing her eyes) Ignorance…. Hiko: Am I more ignorant than one who would have rather died on the street without dignity? Woman: (angrily) You don’t know anything…(her mood changes into a softer tone. She then says quietly but still angrily) it would have been the only way to give me peace….(she twists the ends of her shirt) I don’t know what I’m living for… Hiko: Then why haven’t you killed yourself? Woman: (she pauses, her anger slowly washing away to sadness) Honestly, I don’t know. I’m waiting…for something, but I don’t know what it is. If death comes and takes me, I’ll go, but if not, I’ll wait... Two weeks later, the girl is practicing kenjutsu outside. It’s dawn and Hiko looks out of the window and watches her. He speaks from the window and surprises her. She pretends not to hear him. Hiko: No no no….(he snaps at her) More power in your left arm! No, not like th at! He walks outsides and snatches her katana away. Hiko: Yare-yare….Like this. Woman: Did I ask you? I thought you said kenjutsu wasn’t for women?! Hiko: Look, I don’t wanna have to go and save you again. If you’re going to practice, you might as well do it right. Alright, listen up. Your defense is weak. You’re not perrying correctly and that’s why when that guy scooped up he got you in the arms and stomach. You barely missed death. Those attacks could have easily been avoided. Now, you have strong strokes, but without the defense, you’re weak. Your opponent pulls one trick on you and it’s over. She looks at the ground pretending not to listen, but is obviously paying close attention. Hiko: Now, look here. He demonstrates, scooping the air, then countering, causing the surrounding leaves to fly. Hiko: You do it. Woman: What?! Just like that? Hiko: Step by step just isn’t my thing. You wanna learn, just do it. The woman grudgingly snatches the katana out of his grasp and closes her eyes. She reflects on the image she just saw, watching the demonstration in her mind. Her eyes open and with a deep breath, she completes the move exactly as he did it. Hiko: That’s better. Maybe there’s hope for you after all. Time passes and it is sunset. Hiko: OK. That’s enough for today. Try it again tomorrow. It is nighttime and Hiko sits, drinking sake. Hiko: Hey, you have a drink with me. Woman: Eh? Hiko: You don’t drink? Very well then… Woman: Oh, well, you just surprised me…but I wouldn’t mind a drink. I can take anything. Hiko: Good. Here. Have you ever tasted sake like this? One should at least try it once in his life… They sit there drinking silently for some time. Later, Hiko is still seen sitting there when the woman has gone to sleep. He looks over at her, innocently sleeping restfully after the tiresome day. Hiko: Foolishness…. ******** Not too generic is it? ^_^ On to chapers 3& 4! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get what you deserve with NextCard Visa! ZERO! Rates as low as 0.0% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR, online balance transfers, Rewards Points, no hidden fees, and much more! Get NextCard today and get the credit you deserve! Apply now! Get your NextCard Visa at: http://click.egroups.com/1/914/4/_/455156/_/951457079/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------