She started by running forward, gaining enough speed to be able to duck half way low to the ground. Kenshin noted that her speed was fairly average but she was hard at work concentrating. When Yuushin was halfway to him he gripped his sword. Just then Yuushin suddenly made a very sharp turn and her speed increased to a shocking degree. Not nearly Shinsoku(Godspeed) at all, but it was fairly reasonable to say she was fast for her build and age. Kenshin was slightly taken aback at how well she knew how to keep her agility up and not lose balance in such a short abrupt movement. She was trying to take him off guard and he saw she didn’t expect him to see through her diversion and predict her turn. But Kenshin was able to process it quickly as he leaped up to dodge her unsheathing attack, which nearly pierced the tip of his foot. Missing by only three centimeters Kenshin realized she would have more speed. The speed was through her sheathe having more space due to her sword being able to retract. He knew what to expect next as a gust of wind from the wind pressure hit him with reasonable force. Not nearly the force he was capable of creating with his experience at all, but just enough for him to use it to his advantage as he kicked off the top of Yuushin’s blade with the top of his foot and using the wind gust to give him a boost upward as he soared through the air. Performing a forward roll mid air he unsheathed his sakabato and declared: Hiten Mitsurugi Style: Ryutsuisen!(Flying Heaven Govern Sword-Style: Dragon Hammer Flash) as he brought his blade down in a hard swing. A crack of thunder sounded in the distance. Yuushin froze, closing her eyes tightly and attempting to block with her sword straight and above her head. Kenshin realized her fear and in the other room Kaoru, Sanosuke and Yahiko froze when hearing a loud thump and a clatter of steel coming from the room where Kenshin and Yuushin were. ______________________________________________________ “What on earth could they be doing.” Kaoru worried. “I don’t think Kenshin’s the type of guy who would fight Yuushin just to test her abilities unless he knew for certain she has some sort of defense. Even with his sakabato he wouldn’t fight a kid like that, not one we just met. But if she does have a defense and knew how he fights then I can see why Kenshin would spar her.” Sanosuke said. “I swear I heard Kenshin say Hiten Mitsurugi Style: Ryutsuisen. Why would he show her the Hiten Mitsurugi Style?!” Yahiko growled with jealousy. “That would be far to dangerous of an attack to show Yuushin. He could easily make her unconscious with it!” Kaoru gasped. “Well he’s got to have some reason to do it missy! Why are you so worried anyway?” Sanosuke interrupted her gruffly crossing his arms. ______________________________________________________ Back in the main room the sound of the metal had been Yuushin’s blade clattering artlessly on the ground when she dropped it. The thump had been Kenshin, who had used nearly all his strength to avoid hitting Yuushin. A sound no one else heard was Yuushin sobbing. While still in the position he had landed in, kneeling with one leg up, his right hand holding his sword which had smashed through the floorboards in front of him and his arm up and bent around her, Kenshin was stunned while Yuushin sobbed and trembled quietly into his chest. Yuushin...Kenshin thought, his eyes wide and trembling slightly while he sat there stiffly. Yuushin suddenly backed away. “I-I-I’m sorry.” she stuttered with tears still streaming down her cheeks. “No, it’s okay.” Kenshin said, pulling her back in the hug with a warm smile and half a chuckle. Yuushin hesitated and as her trembling slowly grew stronger and stronger she suddenly didn’t try to hold back her emotions as she cried in fear of the thunder and something else Kenshin felt that she would never tell anyone else as her sobbing gradually grew into loud cries of anguish. He just held her, hoping his steady breathing would calm her almost near screams of fear and uncertainty. Through all of this neither of them noticed Kaoru, Sanosuke and Yahiko quietly watching in stunned silence outside of the door they had came through. There was without a doubt that Kenshin had the knowledge that he had just been thrust into a deep indescribable connection with this girl. One that he knew he could never be able to put into words and explain to the others. He only knew that for some reason, he had to protect this girl, and not just through the kindness of his heart as he had for so many people since the revolution. He remembered having this strong will as fierce as a tiger to protect someone. This had been directed to only one person in the past, fifteen years ago. He never thought he would feel it again: The will to protect and the sorrow that came with that promise. He didn’t know if he was ready to feel and live through it again. He had these feelings for Kaoru multiple times, but
this was instant. He only knew Yuushin so much and yet this will had suddenly burst into flames inside of him. Even though the thunder progressively grew louder outside, Kenshin was able to soothe Yuushin enough to where her loud uncontrollable wails had diminished into quiet whimpers and sobbing as Kenshin held her close. Kaoru watched in a sense of ignorance that was uncharacteristically dark and selfish as she wondered what this girl meant to Kenshin now. Did he even know? Kaoru knew it was wrong of her to think this way but the current events and the thunderstorm that this girl seemed to have brought with her had an unsettling razor sharp edge. This persistent thunder had, excluding Kenshin and Yuushin, poisoned them all with fear and suspicion. One that enslaved them even if their hearts fought against it. Chapter 3: A New Enemy From An Old Era! The Yukimaruganshu! Everybody was still for the longest time. Kaoru, Sanosuke and Yahiko stood at the entrance to the main room that sectioned off into a hallway just staring at the seemingly dumbfounded Kenshin holding Yuushin, whose cries slowly diminished little by little. When Yuushin stopped sobbing Kenshin stayed where he knelt unmoving as Yuushin approached the other three timidly. “I-I’m sorry...for any trouble i may have caused you.” she spoke quietly and literally bowed on her hands and knees with her lead low, almost touching the ground. “Please forgive me.” she asked humbly in very deep apology. Everyone could hear the undoubtable guilt in her small voice. “Oh Yuushin…” Kaoru whispered as she sat eye level in front of the girl. “You don’t have to apologize.” she said. Yuushin looked up slowly in confusion. “Yeah Yuushin. I mean it’s not like you caused all those villagers to get sick...or even the storm, that would be impossible! You didn’t do anything wrong just because you're afraid that’s only natural.” Yahiko added supportively with a confident smile. “Little Yahiko here’s right kid...seems this storm’s set us all a little on edge, especially with the villagers getting sick and all. I think we’re all pretty stressed out as it is.” Sanosuke said. “If i were you I wouldn’t let it get to your head to much so don’t worry about it.” he finished. Kaoru looked concerned as Kenshin stood up and turned. He smiled gently as if nothing had just happened. “Well our supper has to be getting pretty cold right about now, that it is. Why don’t we all go and eat. I’ll make Yuushin a bowl if she can stomach one. How does that sound?”. Kaoru gave him a sour look with her eyes bulging. “Hm? Is something wrong Ms. Kaoru?” Kenshin asked. “Oh boy.” Sanosuke suddenly backed up. “Uh-oh.” Yahiko sounded, joining Sanosuke and pulling Yuushin back with him as a look of rage spread across Kaoru’s face. “Kenshin!” she growled. Sano pointed frantically to what she was so angry about and Kenshin’s eyes bulged. “Ooooooooorrro.” he sounded. “You broke the FLOORBOARDS you IDIOT!!!” Kaoru shouted. “M-Ms. Kaoru I can work to pay for the damages that I can!” Kenshin said, smiling nervously and backing up. Yahiko had Yuushin’s eyes covered, so she didn’t see what had caused the huge thud followed by an injured ‘Orrrorororooo!’ from Kenshin. A few seconds later Kaoru took Yahiko’s hand away from Yuushin’s eyes. “Sorry about that.” she smiled. “You can stay here Yuushin. At least until we find your parents that is. I don’t know what just happened in here but I guess that’s between you and Keshin.” she said. “Hehehe. That it is Ms. Kaoru, but I'm sure I can explain a few things over supper.” Kenshin said, smiling and rubbing the swelling lump on his head. Yuushin wondered what had caused it, and why he was smiling just after being hurt. ______________________________________________________ Again as everyone ate there was a tense atmosphere in the room, but this time it was far less. “Yuushin. Why do you keep looking at everyone like that?” Yahiko said. Yuushin couldn’t hide her look of discomfort and kept shivering every time a crack of thunder sounded loudly from outside. “Oh...I'm not used to eating with a lot of people and…I'm sorry Kenshin.” Yuushin dipped her head sadly. “It’s alright, Yuushin.” Kenshin said, opposite of the others, he seemed to have a full understanding of why Yuushin was apologizing to him for. “What’s going on Kenshin?” Sanosuke asked, putting down his cup of tea. Kenshin sighed deeply and smiled calmly even though Yuushin hid her eyes toward her lap. “Yuushin and I-”. The others couldn’t understand Kenshin’s strange smile that couldn’t be put into words until he said this: “are siblings in training.”. Everyone stopped in sudden shock as another crack of thunder sounded. Yuushin couldn’t handle the pressure of whatever she was thinking and her tears naturally spilled from dark violet eyes. “She knows the Hiten Mitsurugi Style?!” Sano gasped. “So that's why you two were fighting!” Kaoru and Yahiko concluded, not realizing why Kenshin’s smile faded
