Striking a Balance

Disclaimer: I don\'t own Rurouni Kenshin.

Chapter 12

The day dawned cool and clear. There was no hint of warmth in the fall breeze, heralding the upcoming winter. The bright sunshine took the edge off the chill, but barely.

Kaoru pulled her haori closer around her as she walked with Kenshin and Yahiko to Nakagawa’s dojo. She was nervous, but was drawing on the quiet comfort of Kenshin’s presence and her faith in her father’s style to give her strength. Yahiko had even given some awkward words of support before they left.

Kenshin placed a warm hand on her back and smiled at her when she turned to him. She smiled back, and returned her gaze to the path ahead. They had made slow, tender love last night, drinking in each other with their eyes and hands and mouths. Neither felt that today would end in a fatality, but strengthening the connection between them felt vital.

As Kenshin surmised, he hadn’t slept well. He was preparing himself for the worst today, even going so far as to strapping on his sakabato, which he left at home most of the time now.

Nakagawa’s dojo came into view. Students were entering the gate, a sense of urgency and excitement in the air. It seems word of the fight had spread to all students, as there were many more than usual.

Kenshin watched Kaoru’s demeanor change as she approached the dojo. Her shoulders squared, chin lifted, and an aura of cool confidence surrounded her. This was Sensei Kaoru, kenjitsu-ka and inheritor of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu.

Kaoru banished all thoughts from her mind and focused on the present. The battle started now, and would not end until one of them was defeated. She needed to be strong, and not let Masuyama’s presence or words affect her. Today was about focus and awareness.

The three entered the dojo. Students milled about inside, and Nakagawa sat impassively on his platform. Two boken lay in front of him. Masuyama was not yet present.

Kaoru led Kenshin and Yahiko to where outerwear and items were left, conscious of the sideways glances that many of the students sent her way. Murmurs about her injury and of the presence of new faces to the dojo could barely be heard.

Kaoru placed her things down, and gestured to a spot near the platform for Kenshin and Yahiko to sit. Kenshin lightly squeezed her elbow in passing, showing his support. Kaoru smiled briefly and approached Nakagawa.

“Ohayo Kaoru,” Nakagawa rumbled, “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” she replied meeting his gaze with clear eyes.

“Good.” He looked up towards the door. “It seems your opponent is making his entrance.”

Kaoru turned to see Masuyama stride in, wearing a formal hakama and a gi with his family crest emblazoned on the front. Two of his gang swaggered in cockily behind him, shoving aside students with their shoulders as they passed. At a sharp head gesture from Masuyama, the thugs flopped down near Kenshin, snickering and murmuring between them.

Masuyama strode purposefully towards Nakagawa and Kaoru, using his height and fierce expression to try to dominate her form.

“Today you shall fall Kamiya,” he said menacingly.

Kaoru merely met his gaze briefly, and turned to Nakagawa for instruction.

“Enough. Both of you, stand to either side of me.”

Nakagawa clapped his hands sharply. The milling students took up positions around the tatami, forming a rough open square for the fight. They bowed in as a unit, Masuyama and Kaoru included. After the bow, they all sat in seiza at a gesture from Nakagawa.

“Today is a rare event,” Nakagawa began. “Many of you witnessed Masuyama’s disgraceful behavior one month ago.” Nakagawa ignored the mutters of the thugs. “Kamiya-sensei has agreed to settle Masuyama’s grievance in a fight here as opposed to on the street, as some of Masuyama’s colleagues desired.”

Students shot glances to the thugs, and Kenshin kept a careful eye on them at their obvious displeasure.

“I say this is a rare event because I expect all of you to resolve your differences without resorting to threats or dishonor. What happens here in the dojo should prepare you for facing the outside with integrity and honor, but conflicts here should not leave these grounds!” Nakagawa boomed. “Understood?”

A shout of “Hai Sensei” was heard clearly from the students in attendance. Masuyama’s jaw tightened at the noise and the rebuke. Kaoru remained calm.

Nakagawa bent and picked up the identical bokens from in front of him. He held them out in front of him.

“Pick your weapon,” he said, looking at Masuyama first. Masuyama took the boken closest to Kaoru, and Nakagawa handed her the remaining one.

“Enter the field. Do not begin until I say.”

Kaoru walked to one side of the square, boken held easily to the side. Masuyama took a position opposite her, boken brandished aggressively.

“Stand and bow,” Nakagawa commanded. Both lowered their weapons and bowed, not removing eyes from each other.

“Take your positions, and begin when ready.”

Kaoru took up a seemingly relaxed stance, boken held down and at a slight angle to her body. It was a strong pose for defense and reaction, especially when unsure of opponent’s actions.

Masuyama straightened his shoulders, and took a forceful front stance, boken held overhead for a powerful strike. Kaoru shifted her feet slightly, hips angled towards him, and raised her boken overhead in response. Her weapon was angled out from center to avoid bending the wrists, true to Kamiya Kasshin style.

Kaoru’s focus narrowed down to just Masuyama. She let her natural stance and years of training take over, entering a Zen-like calm. The internal dialog of his weaknesses and her father’s teachings melded into her being, leaving her void and ready to respond.

It all happened in an instant.

Masuyama sprang towards her, boken arcing down in a devastating overhead strike. Kaoru stepped one foot to the side, angling her boken along her head and body to allow his weapon to slide down hers. She released the connection with a light jerk, causing him to stumble just barely. Her block fluidly moved into a powerful cross strike, the step of her left foot and turn of her body fueling her power as she hit him solidly at the back of his head.

Masuyama grunted, and dropped like a stone.

There was silence.

Kaoru held her position, waiting for him to rise.

He did not move.

Nakagawa strode to Masuyama’s form, and lifted his head slightly. He stood next to Kaoru, and placed a hand over her head.

“Kamiya-sensei!”

The room erupted into cheers.

Masuyama’s friends growled and got up, hands reaching in their gis for weapons. Kenshin appeared in front of them with his godlike speed and placed a hand on the hilt of his sakabato.

“That would not be wise,” he said, eyes flashing gold. The thugs swallowed and slowly backed off, heading towards the door.

Kaoru looked at Nakagawa in a bit of disbelief. Her success was somewhat surreal. She looked down at Masuyama.

“He is alive?” she murmured to Nakagawa.

“Yes, but he may sleep for some time. That was quite a blow you delivered.” He gestured to two students who picked up Masuyama and brought him in back for treatment. The students settled down into their positions again.

“Kamiya-sensei will return to class in a week,” Nakagawa proclaimed. “Today, instead of class, we will prepare the dojo for winter, seeing how we have record attendance.”

Groans were heard from many students, though none dared sneak out under Nakagawa’s watchful gaze. They milled about, getting tools and cleaning implements from various closets.

Kenshin and Yahiko approached Kaoru.

“Sugoi Kaoru. I’m in shock,” Yahiko exclaimed, proud to have Kaoru as his sensei at her performance.

“Yes, well done.” Kenshin seconded. He had to admit at being as surprised as Yahiko at the outcome, not for lack of faith, but for the speed in execution.

“Well, we should go if we do not want to be pressed into service,” Kaoru said jokingly. She turned to Nakagawa and bowed deeply. “Thank you for allowing this. I feel I have done service to my style today and restored my honor.”

To Kaoru’s surprise, Nakagawa bowed back in response.

“Thank you Kaoru. You’ve given my students quite the motivation, seeing one of their best classmates taken down by you.” He winked at her. Kaoru smiled, and bowed again as he turned to berate his students.

The trio walked out onto the street, hearts lighter for the happy outcome. A distinguished older man approached them.

“Kamiya-san?” he inquired, voice deep and cultured.

“Hai?” Kaoru stopped to regard him. He looked somewhat familiar.

“My name is Masuyama Hidefumi. Hideaki is my youngest son.”

Kaoru regarded him carefully.

“How may I help you?”

“I take it you have defeated my son?”

“Yeah, and in one blow!” Yahiko blurted, ready to defend Kaoru’s hard-won honor.

Kenshin put a hand on Yahiko’s shoulder and shook his head.

“I see,” he said. He bowed his head slightly in Kaoru’s direction. “Please allow me to apologize for my son’s behavior. He has become involved with distasteful friends and I have been remiss in reining him in. I had hoped he would outgrow this foolishness.”

Kaoru looked at him, surprised that a head of household would show her even a small amount of deference.

“Well, perhaps this will help him do so,” she offered.

Hidefumi nodded.

“Perhaps. Excuse me while I collect my son.” He strode past them into the dojo.

Kaoru looked after him, still surprised. Kenshin took her hand gently.

“Come, Kaoru-koi, let’s go home.”

Kaoru nodded happily and began walking home with them, Yahiko retelling the fight animatedly as they traveled.

…………………..

Kaoru stood on the engawa in the moonlight, gazing at the stars in the clear night sky. She felt so relieved for this crisis to be over. Things could go back to normal, but she hoped that they wouldn’t be the same. Kenshin trusted her more now, and she was willing to admit that his protection did more good than harm. She sighed softly as a star shot across the heavens.

Strong arms enveloped her middle, and warm breath tickled her neck as Kenshin embraced her. Kaoru leaned back into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Happy, anata?” His quiet voice brushed over her hair.

“Hai, and relieved.”

He squeezed her tighter, kissing the top of her head.

“Me too.”

They stood in companionable silence, watching the night sky.

“Thank you for not interfering.”

“There wasn’t much to interfere in.” He nuzzled her neck and kissed up the pale column towards her ear. She shivered lightly in pleasure.

“You looked amazing,” he said, tracing the shell of her ear with lips and teeth.

Kaoru turned in his embrace, and drank in his darkening gaze. She smiled coyly.

“So that’s why you watch me practice,” she said sultrily, licking her lips.

Kenshin blinked, and then grinned. He’d have to get better at hiding.

He pulled her into their room with a passionate kiss and closed the door. It was time to show his wife how much he loved her.

OWARI