Way of the Sword

CHAPTER 9

The sky was painted with a bright gray, as time stood on the transfer between night and morning. Since the sun failed to rise completely yet, the morning was still obscured in the dark, only the faintest rays providing thin streams of light. Behind the closed doors, the room was also dark, only a round ball of orange light emanating from a single candle flame. The feeble light failed to give away the identity of a man whose face was covered with his hood. He sat with his legs crossed in front of a man dressed in dark gray kimono.

Playing with a dagger, the man dressed in the dark gray kimono looked at the crossed legged man in front of him. The dagger stopped its twirling and the man looked hard at his company. A chilled voice spoke up and the flame danced violently, as if it was being effected by the coldness of the voice. “You have come highly recommended. Do NOT mess up. The situation is already muddled, thanks to that idiot Mizuki and I do not need any more slip ups. I have hired you to finish the job cleanly, without any mistakes.” In response, the man only received a nod from his company. The dagger resumed its circular course. “Shindou Shuichi is at the Kammiya dojo. You need to kill him before this upcoming Saturday. Today is Sunday. That leaves you less than a week. I am sure I do not need to stress to you the importance of finishing your job as soon as possible.”

The hooded man looked up, the slight action causing the hood the fall back a little. An American face was revealed, half hidden in the darkness, the other half glowing eerily in the candle light. An accented voice replied softly, “I understand.”

Flashes of silver danced quickly in the air, as the twirling of the dagger picked up the speed. The owner of the dagger smiled, flashing a set of perfect white teeth. “I do not expect anything less from the person who holds the name ‘White Devil,’ Mister K.”

K did not miss the underlying threat in the statement and merely gave a small nod to the dagger happy man. The American pulled on his hood, his face once again hidden in the hood, obscuring his features. With footsteps so light that the feet did seem to touch the ground, K swiftly went out the sliding doors and disappeared in a blink an eye.

***

It was six in morning and already Haruki was drinking sake. He was a firm believer that a cup of sake was the right way to greet the day. While others may drink tea, it was sake that did it for this businessman. After drinking his ritual cup, Haruki sighed happily, partly from his favorite drink and partly for surviving through Kimura and Kei’s company from the night before. The thought of Kimura brought a grimace to Haruki’s face. As if spending the night before with the intimidating man was not enough, Haruki had a meeting with him in an hour. If possible, Haruki did not want to ruin his day by meeting with Kimura the first thing in the day, but similar to Haruki, Kimura was also a morning person. With a lamenting sigh, Haruki drank a second cup sake, hoping that the nervousness settling in his stomach would disappear.
***

In his workout clothes, Yuki silently made his way towards the training room. He wanted to take advantage of the quiet morning to practice his sword. Even though he was no longer an assassin, he continued to train, continued to perfect his techniques. Despite the calm times that the Meji era seemed to project, Yuki knew that the current times were just as dangerous as before, if not more.

Opening the training doors, he entered into the large open room. The morning light filtered through the windows, creating bright square patterns on the floor. Yuki slowly started to jog around the room, warming up his muscles and getting his heart rate up. After he had broken a light sweat, Yuki grasped the handle of his katana. In a swift motion, the sword was unsheathed, its sharp blade reflecting the sunlight entering into the room. The katana danced in the air, cutting through invisible enemies, striking, slashing, thrusting, and blocking. Swiftly, the blade moved, its movements so fast that the only sign of the katana was the reflecting light that the weapon cast off.

The movements of the sword abruptly stopped as Yuki held it in front of him, with both hands, in a ready position. Without turning around to look at the door, Yuki smiled and asked, “Kenshin, would you like to train with me?”

The red haired man smiled. “Ma, Yuki, I still cannot creep up behind you, that I can’t.” Silently, he walked into the room, his hand clenched around the handle of his own katana.

“Just like how I can’t creep behind you,” replied Yuki. He looked at his friend, who stood in front of him. Without words, the two bowed towards each other. Then, almost too fast for the human eye, the two men disappeared from where they stood and clash of metal against metal was heard.

Blocking Yuki’s first attack, Kenshin found himself face to face with his friend. “Ne, Yuki, where did you go after dinner?”

Yuki backed off quickly, only to get behind Kenshin and threw another blow towards the unguarded back. “Nowhere.”

Kenshin quickly spun and narrowly blocked the attack and struck at Yuki’s knees. “So you did not visit Shuichi-san?”

Nimbly, Yuki jumped in the air to avoid the attack, spinning in the air in a long somersault. Unwinding from his position, his air borne body was perpendicular to the ground. “Maybe I did.” He struck at Kenshin’s arms and he gracefully completed his air tumbling, landing in a crouched position behind his friend.

Deflecting Yuki’s attack, Kenshin quickly turned around with his katana over his head and struck a overhead shock towards the crouched Yuki. “Ah. I guessed right, that I did.”
Yuki, while using his blade as a guard, slipped sideways, knowing better than to try to overpower a powerful strike. Instead, as he slipped sideways, he used his right foot as a pivot, using his straightened left leg to strike at Kenshin’s feet. “What are you trying to say baka? If you are going to say something, just give it to me straight.”

Purple eyes widened in surprise as Kenshin lost his balance momentarily. He had not expected Yuki to pull such a move in that position. Quickly recovering from the surprise, Kenshin side stepped lightly, regain his balance, just in time to block another strike from Yuki. “I think you like Shuichi-san, that I do.”

This time, hazel eyes widened in surprise as a stunned look was pasted on the normally expressionless face. “Eh?”

Kenshin took advantage of Yuki’s surprise and ran to pinch the blond’s nose. “I won, that I did.” Laughing, Kenshin took a seat on the cold wooden floor, enjoying his moment of victory.

Glaring at the laughing man, Yuki rubbed his now pink nose and sat across from his friend. Both too scarred with the horrors of the war, the two had constructed their own sparring game. Instead of pointing their blades at the other’s throat, it was better both to pinch the other’s nose. The end objective lightened the seriousness of the weapon, the heaviness of wielding such a sharp blade. After seating himself comfortably, Yuki asked Kenshin, “What do you mean?”

Kenshin cocked his head towards one side, thinking about Yuki’s question. “Well, the rule of the game is that when a person pinches the other’s nose, that person is the winner, that he is. You know that -” His explanation was cut short as Yuki lightly bonked him on the head.

“Baka swordsmen. You know what I mean.”

“You mean about you liking Shuichi-san?”

“Ha.”

Unfolding his arms, Kenshin scratched his chin thoughtfully. “I just thought that you had feelings for Shuichi-san, I did. When you look at him or when you hear his name, your eyes have a different glint to them, they do.”

“Souka.” Yuki cast his eyes down, focusing on a knot on the wooden panel. With much difficulty, he lifted his chin to stare directly in to Kenshin’s eyes, knowing that he needed to ask this question. “Kenshin?”

“Yes?”

“Do you... what do you think of this Meiji era?”
His eyes taking a sudden sharp look, Kenshin did not fail to understand what Yuki really asked. “I think it is a good start but it still needs more work done, that I do.”

Yuki merely nodded. “And the people?”

“Hmm.” Looking out the open doors, Kenshin took in the view of the bright green leaves of the tree shimmering with the morning dew. “I think the people lived through enough during the war, I do. It is time for them to finally gain some peace, it is,” he answered softly.

“Do you think that is possible?” asked Yuki as he trained his hazel eyes onto Kenshin.

Kenshin closed his eyes, knowing what Yuki was trying to ask. Taking in a deep breath, Kenshin returned Yuki’s gaze. “We cannot change what we did. However, that does not mean that we are still like that.” He ran is fingers lightly across his sheathed sword. “Kaoru believes the sword can protect people. I know better. But what she says is true. It is a double edged blade, the sword. So sharp, yet so blunt on the other side.” He paused, trying to find the right words to express his jumbled mind. “It is just a matter of knowing which side to use when.”

Yuki took in a sharp breath, taking in Kenshin’s last statement. Then, displaying a rare smile, Yuki bonked Kenshin lightly on the head. “Next time I’ll win.”

“Oro?” Kenshin stared at Yuki as the blond got up to leave.

Stopping at the doorway, Yuki turned around and called over his shoulder, “Arigato,” before continuing to walk out.

Kenshin picked up his katana from its resting spot on the floor. He stretched and took in a breath. “I guess it is time for me to cook breakfast, it is.”

***

(Flashback:

Twelve year old Junichiro walked happily down street, trying to whistle a new song. This new song had a difficult note, a note that he still could not whistle out. The tune now always skipped that note, almost sounding like a new song. As he continued to whistle the revised tune, he walked home. He stopped immediately as he turned around a corner. In front of him were three kids, who looked bigger than him. In the middle was his friend, with the corner of his lip bleeding. Seeing his friend in that condition over powered any fear that had settled in Junichiro. “What do you think you are doing?!”

The three big boys turned around, taking in a skinny kid who had his fist clenched. The boys laughed at the thought that such a skinny kid would even dare to pick a fight with them. One of the boys sneered, “I think he wants some this.” With that, the boy turned around and punched the already bleeding kid in the stomach. The little boy hunched forward and dropped to the ground, gasping for air.

“No!” Junichiro ran blindly to his fallen friend, only to run into something that felt like a brink to his chest. In a reflex, Junichiro’s right fist shot out, to meet a cheek.

The owner the cheek gasped, surprised at the contact. “Why you little..” He kicked, aiming for the stomach.

Trying to remember what his karate teacher taught him, Junichiro ran forward to jam the kick, putting himself at a close distance to land two more punches to the kicker, one at the face and the second into the stomach. The bigger boy fell back, gasping for air. He stared down at Junichiro, who stared back equally hard. With a tilt of the head, the bigger boy addressed his companions. “This isn’t worth it. Let’s go.”

Only after the three boys were away at a respectable distance did Junichiro let his guarded fists down. He rushed towards the boy on the ground. “Are you ok? Are you ok?”

The fallen boy brushed the hand on his shoulders away. “Yeah, I’m fine.” He got up by himself, refusing to be helped by the concerned Junichiro. The injured boy walked away, vowing that he would never need Junichiro’s help again.

End Flashback)

***

Haruki calmly drank his fourth cup of sake for the morning. Looking at the man sitting in front of him, Haruki felt that he could drink all the sake in his home and still feel nervous. Kimura sat across the man, drinking from his own cup. However, unlike Haruki, the intimidating businessman adopted to drink tea instead. Now, placing his teacup in front of him, Kimura looked at Haruki with a look that could either have passed as a smile or a sneer.

“Haruki-san! I want to thank you for the delightful dinner party of yours from the night before.” The man reached out and patted Haruki on the shoulder, his big hands the same shade of gray as Haruki’s kimono.

Trying to ignore the bone crunching grip, Haruki smiled faintly and bowed his head slightly. “You are very welcome Kimura-san.”

“You know,” continued Kimura, “your speech in the beginning was very touching. But you know it is just an ill fated dream of yours. Business goes hand in hand with competition, you know. The goal of the game is to get rich my boy and you’ll lose the race with those fancy ideas of yours.”
“I felt I had to say what I had said, even if it does not amount to anything.” Haruki refilled his sake cup, needing the sweet drink in order to ignore his edgy nerves.

Kimura looked at his Haruki through narrow, beady eyes. His fingers, fat as baby daichon radishes, set his sake cup down. The two black marble-like eyes continued to stare at Haruki as he said, “Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

“By all means.”

“I’m here to ask you what your business’ future will be.” The fat, gray hand grasped the sake bottle and another shot was poured.

Haruki frowned slightly as the statement. “I am afraid I do not quite understand your concern.”

The cold drink was gulped, disappearing between long, thin lips. The two rolls of chin fat shook visibly as the drink was tossed back. Kimura shook thick finger at Haruki, as if he was scolding a child. “Now Haruki, don’t play dumb with me. All the businessmen in the area know that your nephew inherits the business once he turns twenty. That means you lose all control over the current Shindou business industry. We are all also aware that your nephew’s birthday is coming up; actually, it will be this Saturday, I believe, correct?”

Not believing what he had just heard, Haruki stared at the gray blob of a man in front of him. “What are you implying, Kimura-san?”

“Well, I like the current business arrangements I have with you, Haruki. It’s just one less thing I have to worry about you know. I’ve always trusted the Shindou family, especially since your brother and I have known each other since childhood.” Leaning his elbows against the table, Kimura rested his jiggling chin on the backs of his hands. “It is that bond that led to our current business arrangements. However, even such a bond can be weak with your nephew in charge. The threat that the current arrangement might disappear worries me and I want to make sure that you can keep your nephew in control.”

The hands underneath the table clenched tightly, almost shaking from the force of the grip. “Perhaps you would like to come back in a month to talk to him, Kimura-san. You can discuss your business arrangements with him then.”

Raising a bushy eyebrow, Kimura noticed the anger in Haruki’s voice. “I believe you are right,” he said softly. He got up to leave and Haruki stood up also. “I better be on my way now.”

Returning Kimura’s ungraceful bow, Haruki replied, “Have a good day.”

Kimura stopped at the sliding doors and turned around towards Haruki. “One more thing. If your nephew dies, won’t you maintain your hold on your family business, Haruki?”

***
Hiro woke up to a faint whiff of sake, which seemed to emanate from next to him. His eyes found his lover still asleep, snoring softly with his mouth open. Chuckling softly, Hiro snuggled closer to Sano, wrapping his arms around the ex-gangster.

Feeling pressure around his ribs, Sano cracked an eye open to find a reddish-brown head trying to bury itself against his bare chest. Without warning, Sano pulled Hiro’s chin up and planted a fierce kiss.

Reveling in the sake tasting kisses, Hiro moaned softly. With great difficulty, he pulled away and stared into Sano’s eyes. “No more of that now. Thanks to you, I’m all sore. No telling how much more sore I will be if this continues.”

Sano tried to look innocent, only to fail at it miserably, thanks to his sly grin. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Swatting his lover lightly on the head, Hiro replied, “Don’t you lie to me, Sanosuke! Come on, I want to get some real training in this morning. And not the kind of training you are thinking of either.”

“I still don’t know what you are talking about!” protested Sano, trying to feign innocence. Still not managing to win, Sano found himself being woken up and heading towards the training room, dragged by the hand by Hiro.

***

Yuki knocked softly on the wooden frame of the door. Receiving no reply, Yuki debated on whether to leave or to enter. Disregarding the tiny nagging from his conscience, slender hands slid open the door to reveal a pink hair framing an angelic sleeping face. An angelic sleeping face that had managed to create a small puddle of drool next to the gaping open mouth. The sight brought out a small chuckle from the usually stoic man, surprising even himself. Entering the room, Yuki turned around and slid the door close behind him. He made his way across the room and sat next to the sleeping boy, awed by how peacefully Shuichi slept. Yuki could not remember when he had seen such a peaceful sleeping face; all the sleeping faces he remembered were tense, all belonging to fighters such as himself, on guard even when sleeping. Even the eternally sleeping faces were tense, all showing expressions of swordsmen who just realized that they would be facing death. The terror found in those lifeless eyes never failed to haunt Yuki; only the five years enduring with them saving him from constant nightmares. Looking at the peaceful face lying in a small puddle of drool just made Yuki realize how different he was in comparison to Shuichi. It was the this feeling of difference that Yuki had limited number of close friends and always no lover in sight. However, Shuichi made Yuki want to change that; the invisible gravity force the boy had somehow pulled Yuki towards him, despite the ex-assassin’s wariness against such relationships.

“Yuki...”

The owner of the name snapped out of his train of thoughts as the barely audible voice disturbed the quiet morning. Great, thought Yuki, not only does Shuichi drool, but he also talks in his sleep.

“Yuki...mmm...”

Yuki slightly tilted his head, almost positive that he heard a moan following his name.

“Ahh.... mmm...Yuki...”

The blond continued to register the unbelievable noises coming from the sleeping boy. A faint blush spread across the usually stoic face, the color spreading like oil in water, not quite belonging with the still cool hazel eyes. Looking at the sleeping boy, Yuki took in the view in front of him, the mop of pink hair and the milky soft skin surrounding a pair of slightly pouty lips that continued to open to let out tiny sighs and moans.

“Please Yuki....more......”

Unable to control his hand, he reached out and lightly stroked a dry cheek that did not fall victim to Shuichi’s sleeping habit. His finger journeyed through the soft cheek, across the sharp jaw line, and descended down the smooth neck. The little exploring stopped as which route to take next was contemplated. The finger resumed its way as it slowly glided across Shuichi’s chest, lightly touching the body through the yukata. Yuki was rewarded with tiny sighs from Shuichi and the blond, for a moment, thought he saw a smile on Shuichi’s face. The finger made its way back up after reaching close to the navel, not daring to venture any further.

“Yuki!”

Yuki almost fell on top of Shuichi as the sleeping boy’s arms suddenly grasped through the air. Not only does he drool and talk, though Yuki, but he also moves during sleep. The flailing arms knocked the traveling finger out of the way, and Yuki now found his right arm in a tightening grip as his forearm rested between Shuichi’s own arms and chest. Pulling lightly, Yuki found out that he could not free his trapped forearm. He found himself in an unusual predicament and despite being in more tighter spots than this, the ex-assassin did not know what to do. He was scared to pull harder because it might wake Shuichi up. Caught in a rare moment of indecision, Yuki just sat there and continued to just sit there as his hazel eyes viewed a pair of violet eyes opening and blinking at the sudden light.

Opening his eyes, the first sight he saw was of Yuki. Convinced that he was still dreaming, Shuichi blinked again, only to find that the sight of Yuki remained and what is more, is that he found himself hugging on to the older man’s arm. Not quite knowing what had happened, only feeling as though it was somehow his fault. “Oh! I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened, but I’m sorry! Wait, did I drool on you again? I hope not. But I’m sorry for holding your arm. Wait! I’m still holding your arm, aren’t I? I should let go, I’m sorry I didn’t. Here, I’ll...”
Before the boy could waste anymore breath on words, before the boy could let go of his arm, Yuki finally did something as his moment of indecision came to end. He leaned in and slowly, but firmly, kissed the moving lips before him. Quiet was once again restored in room as Yuki’s lips continued nuzzle Shuichi’s. Hands that had previously gripped Yuki’s arm found their new target around Yuki’s neck and the blond’s own arms found encircled around Shuichi’s waist, pulling the lying boy up. The soft kisses continued, strands of blond hair brushing against pink stands, looking as if one last pink petal remained on an otherwise naked flower.