She stood in front of the dojo, her hands tied in front of her, a rope tied around her neck which she was led by. She kept her attention focused on a little boy amongst the two men with her. The scent of cooking fish filled the air and the door to the dojo in front of them opened to reveal a young man with shocking, thick red hair pulled back in a low pony and a large, cross shaped scar on his left cheek. He considered them and appeared to be on guard. Behind him was a tall brunette wearing a red headband, a bandage on his right cheek from a previous fight. A woman and a child around 10 were also coming toward the door. "What's going on here?" The woman asked, stopping next to the red-head. She had long black hair pulled back by a blue ribbon into a pony, some strands falling out to join her bangs in framing her face.730Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9U7waUaAv
"We're here to speak to a...Kenshin Himura..." Katsurou, the older man standing by the little boy said, eyeing the red-head. That instantly put them further on guard.
"This one is the one you are looking for." The red-head said, his sharp gaze capturing the tied woman's. "What is it you seek from me?"
"A duel. If you win, you come work for us."
"Unfortunately, this one must decline such an offer." There was an eerie pause, and the woman's stomach clenched. She knew they weren't going to take no for an answer.
"That is unfortunate." Katsurou agreed, then looked over at the tied woman, causing her to stiffen. He roughly grabbed her hands, making her flinch, and drew a knife, cutting through her bindings, then shoved her katana at her. "See if you can convince him otherwise, Yuuka." He smiled, "And do not fail." The woman looked from her captor to the red-head, her brown eyes pleading but otherwise her grim expression did not change. Katsurou cut through the lead, leaving about half a foot dangling from her neck. She held the katana near her left hip, taking in her surroundings and calculating where the little boy was, how close everyone else was to the red-head...Kenshin Himura. She slowly raised her hand toward the hilt of her sword, everyone watching her. Then she attacked, aiming the swing down on his left shoulder, only to find herself stopping a breath away from his shirt when he didn't move a muscle, just kept eye contact with her. "Why did you stop?" Yuuka's eyes widened at the man's angry tone, realizing what she had done and turned frantically toward the little boy who was grabbed roughly by Katsurou.
"Unhand him." They all flinched at Kenshin's deadly tone, even Katsurou. "I don't know what is going on but there is no reason to tie up a woman." Yuuka's palms began to sweat, not knowing where this situation was leading and worried over the little boy.
The brunette smiled, pounding his fist into his hand. "If you want a fight so bad old man, why don't you and I have at it?"
"Yuuka." The woman jumped. "Don't mess up again. Cut down the Battousai!" She grasped her sword tighter, shaking.
Kenshin studied her before looking at Katsurou holding the boy's shoulder. "Alright, this one will agree to your terms, on one condition."
"Kenshin?" The woman with the ribbon in her hair asked in alarm.
"And what's this condition?"
"I may not know what relationship you have with them, but sever ties with this woman and child."
Katsurou smirked. "Done."
"Then let's change locations shall we?" Grim faced, they went to a deserted beachy cove, and Kenshin and Yuuka squared off once again. It was summer, the sun hot and unrelenting, the breeze they did have was heated. Sweat dripped down Yuuka's brow as her hand crept toward her hilt. As soon as she grabbed it firmly, they both attacked. The clash of metal rang out closely followed by another. It soon became clear he was matching her stride for stride. This man was by far, more talented than anyone she'd ever crossed paths with. Surpassing even her father who was a dojo instructor. She felt outclassed, but she couldn't give up. The safety of the little boy depended on her. She gave it everything she had, also attacking with the sheath, but he easily avoided it. Finally he became serious in the attack and smacked her sword hand with his sheath. She cried out and her katana flew from her grasp. She gasped, realizing she would lose and immediately changed direction, running for the large man keeping the little boy close.
"W-What?" Katsurou said. Yuuka didn't give them a chance to realize she was attacking them before she brought her sheath down on the big man's head, making him stumble back with a grunt. She scooped up the boy and jumped away.
"Now." Kenshin said. "I believe we made a deal, did we not?" Katsurou was dumbfounded, the bigger man, his guard, held his head, his face red with anger.
The brunette smiled, stepping forward. "If you're still bored, I'll play with you."
Grumbling, Katsurou stepped back. "Without Yuuka, we have no wish to cross paths with Zanza."
The brunette smiled wider. "You know who I am, I'm flattered." Grudgingly, they left.
Yuuka couldn't believe it. After years of being under their thumb, she had finally gotten her little brother to safety. She crouched with the 5-year-old while he clung to her, yelling, "Sissy!"
"Hey, you okay?" The 10-year-old asked, shifting uncomfortably at all the crying. Yuuka glanced at him through her tears.
The woman with the ribbon smiled, "For now, why don't you come back to my place?" Yuuka didn't want to trust anyone after she just got her freedom back, but she didn't know what else to do and they seemed like good people. She calmed down, holding her brother close and went back to their dojo with them. Kami ya kasshin-ryu Kenjutsu Dojo. Assistant Instructor Kamiya Kaoru. Student Myoujin Yahiko. Yuuka took the time to study the sign before following everyone inside. They were led out a side door to the cook fire and everyone sat down. "I'll go get some tea." The woman said, disappearing into what Yuuka assumed was the kitchen. Yuuka sat down nervously with her brother in her lap.
The brunette, Zanza, crossed his arms. "Just what the hell was all that about?"
"Those men were Katsurou Hisakawa and his bodyguard Juro Kato, they are responsible for my father's death and kidnapping my brother. They used me for their fights for 2 years."
The woman came back with some green tea, apparently having heard them talking. "If you have nowhere else to go, why don't you stay here for awhile? I could use some help keeping the place cleaned up."
Yuuka shifted awkwardly, but she truly did have nowhere to turn to. "That is very kind of you."
"Ah. I am the Assistant Instructor of the Kasshin Dojo, Kaoru Kamiya." Yuuka was surprised she was another woman who knew the sword, but that explained why she was wearing hakama which was not common for women. "May I ask where you learned the sword?"
Yuuka smiled, "I'm from the Inazuma Dojo."
Kaoru furrowed her brow, thinking, "I haven't heard of it."
"They're from Nagoya." Yuuka was surprised again as Kenshin spoke up and he smiled, "This one is a wanderer and have been to many places."
"So what's your name kid?" Zanza asked.
A little put off by being called a child, Yuuka introduced herself. "I'm Yuuka Fujimoto and this is my brother Katashi, thank you for letting us stay here."
Kaoru beamed, "No problem. This is my student, Yahiko Myoujin and the freeloader over there is Sanosuke Sagara."
Zanza...or Sanosuke Sagara scowled. "What do you mean freeloader?"
"Ya mooch." Yahiko put in. They seemed like a lively bunch. Yuuka didn't know what she was going to do from now on, but she was lucky to have run into this bunch. Without them she'd still be under those men's control. ~What's going to happen now?~
*Now that it has been created, I don't know if I can keep from writing a series about this. What do you think? Yay or Nay?*
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