Tales of a wandering warrior [Part one/prelude] By: Kazeki Ryo Had I only listened to mother, maybe I might have found a good home to stay in. But, nooo, I always had to be the one that had to follow his heart and crap like that, I hate my personality... But maybe, if I'm lucky... I'll be able to find a place to stay for the night. But for now... I need some food... No more money, no more food, no one to call friend... Was this the life that I had longed for? No, I don't think this is what I really wanted, maybe I can do something about this... Ugh, the air, it's so filthy... I think I prefer the days of staying back home, if back home did exist... Maybe I can work for some food here. Ughhh, my stomach... My head... "Good eve..." I couldn't make out whatever it is she said after that, I've already passed out... * * * "Oh my god! Hurry, Tsubame, go help that boy!" The young girl ran towards the body that lay on the ground. She held him, checked his pulse and breathing, and sighed relief... "Tae-dono, don't worry, he just passed out." "Well, bring him inside. You just can't leave an unconscious person on the floor, can you?" Several other people have already volunteered to help Tsubame carry the boy into the back room for some rest. They placed his body on the futon and let him sleep. Tsubame however, had lots of thoughts. "What happened to you? Poor guy..." Tsubame wlaked out of the room after saying this and went back to her job of being a waitress. You just don't pass out for no reason at all Tsubame thought to herself. She was sure that something had happened to the boy, she just couldn't say what it was. Why was he carrying a weapon like that? A spear is an unusual choice of weaponry and yet it looks like it has seen many deaths... Maybe tomorrow, maybe I can ask him tomorrow... * * * Ohh... My head... Is it morning already? Wh, Where am I? Oww... My stomach... Must have some food... I stand up, ignoring the ever constantly growing pain in my gut. My steps are obivously rendered with much trouble, with my hunger cramps and all. I drop to my knees, moan in pain, and ask for someone, anyone... A woman, maybe in her twenties walk up to me, carrying a bowl of miso soup and some rice. "Good morning, I take it that you slept well?" "Wh... Where am I? Who are you?" "Eat first, the questions later. My name is Sekihira Tae, and you're currently sleeping in the back room of my store. Now it's my turn to ask you, who are you? But more importantly, what happened to you?" I look up from my bowl of soup that I, on habit, drink down by the bowl when I'm starving. Her eyes look so gentle and so loving, she reminds me of my mother... "Me? My name is Ryo, Ryo Kazeki. What happened to me is a long story... A very long story." "Never mind the past, I just want to know why you ended up like that, you know, famished and everything else." "Miss Sekihira... Y'see... I'm... kinda alone and..." The words that I had planned to speak had inadvertedly been cut short as the sound of men screaming outside of the store was unmistakingly heard. Curses were muttered, punches were thrown, and screams were shrieked. By habit, I quickly picked up my yari and rushed outside to investigate the matter. Outside, 3 men were harassing a boy, perhaps a a few years younger than myself. The boy was dressed in a yellow Hakama and olive green pants and was clutching a shinai as the large men towered over him, cracking their knuckles. "So what'cha gonna do about it ya little punk?" "Tch... You think that you're gonna get away with that?" "Yahiko-chan... Please, it's okay, just let them be." "Yeah, listen to the girl, kid! If you know what's good for you!" "Tsubame... You know I just can't..." I tap the boy on his shoulder and nod at him saying "Don't worry, leave this to me." The boy looks at me, in surprise and in confusion. I guess people aren't used to me quite yet... "So, what've you guys been up to? Bullying a little kid like that." "I'm not a little kid!" "That's what you say, but don't deny the fact that you're more likely than not an 11 year old boy. Sit back and leave this to me." "Ha ha ha! You heard that boys? Leave it to me! Who do you think you are you little so of a bitch! You think that that little stick of yours is gonna scare me?" I swirl my yari over my head and plunge the sharp end into the earth. I pull it out and point it at the biggest member of their group. "So, you still think that this is just a little stick? If you're so sure then come and let me test it's sharpness on your gut." "Why you little..." The big guy broke off a piece of wood from one of the stands that littered this particular area of Tokyo and ran towards me. He swung the heap of wood at me, however he hit nothing but air. "What? Were'd the punk go?" "There! Up there!" I dropped in on him from the top, reversing my Yari's side so that the blunt edge was used for striking. I jabbed it at the back of his head and kicked him from behind, dropping him to the ground in seconds while making him spit out a considerable portion of blood. I landed on my knee, using my Spear to support myself and turned around to check up on my opponent. "I'll give you just one more chance, leave the boy and girl alone or you're going to have to answer to Ryo Kazeki, you get me?" "H-hai! C'mon, let's get out of here!" The thugs ran away like dogs fleeing from the sound of a loud firecracker. I turned to the boy and offered him my hand. "Need some help?" The boy smiled and grabbed my hand, pulling himself up into a standing position. He smiled at me once more and patted my shoulder. "You're pretty good for a teenager. My name's Myojin Yahiko of the Kamiya Kashin dojo. Thank's for the help back there." "No problem kid. You might already know but the names Kazeki Ryo. You say you're of the Kamiya Kashin dojo? Please, take me there, I need to see Kamiya Kaoru." "You know Jo-chan? Well, if you say so, I'll take you there." "Really?! Thank you. If I'd known you for a longer time, I could just kiss you, y'know?" "Uh... You'd better not... Well, if there's nothing else you need to do..." "Wait, one last thing... Sekihira-san?" "Yes?" "Thank you for you're kind hospitality... I promise to pay for the food and the lodging and somehow make it up to you both..." "Oh never mind that Ryo... You just get along now, okay?" "Hai. Very well then Yahiko, take me there." We walk side by side, but we looked more like family than friends. I was taller by about a foot and we both had short hair, practically the same if only mine wasn't so darn long in the front... I need a hair cut soon... "So, Ryo, Where'd you come from?" "Oh, somewhere around the offbeat paths to Satsuma." "... Where'd you learn to use that thing?" "Thing? Oh you mean the Kaze no Yari. It's just a made up style, nothing special..." "Oh... I know I'm starting to sound a bit too nosy but, you know Kaoru?" "Old family friend. Don't worry, I'm no assassin out to kill her." "Are you sure?" "Sigh... That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! Yahiko-chan, you just don't walk around asking people if they plan on killing someone or not. And besides, I don't think I look like a murderer, don't you think?" "I know all there is to know about real looks. And Ryo?" "What is it?" "Don't call me chan..." * * * "Well here's the dojo. Please, come in..." Sigh... The smell of soil and the smell of nature... How I missed it so... This dojo was just the same as it was the time we visited 10 years ago... I could still remember it all... "Kaoru! Kenshin! Sano! Mizumo! We got ourselves a visitor!" Seconds later and everyone was already out and checking what all the commotion was about. I could tell who Kaoru-chan was... But I don't think I should refer to her as Chan anymore... She's quite a woman now... "Kaoru-sama? IS that you?" "Yes, and who might you be? Wait... You're Ryo right?" "Glad you remembered... It's been quite a while hasn't it? I could still remember when we still played together while your father ran this dojo. Sorry about your father..." "No, it's all right... I'm over that now. Well, what brings you here to Tokyo?" "... Kaoru... It's a long story... A very long story..." "Sure, you can tell me later but for now, I'll introduce everybody in the household. This is Himura Kenshin." "HI. Glad to meet you, Ryo." "So, you're the legendary Hitokiri Battousai, eh? It's nice to meet you too." "RYO! You don't have to greet people like that!" Kaoru yelled at me at the top of her voice, obviously disturbed by my rude behavior. "I'm sorry, Himura-san... But don't worry, you just hear these things on travels. No harm meant... And don't worry, I understand it..." "Understand what Kazeki-chan?" Yahiko asked me just before Kenshin had a chance to speak. "I said it once Yahiko and I'll say it again... It's a long story... I'll explain later..." Kaoru introduced the two others after Himura and everything seemed to go by fine... except for Mizumo... She glared at me in a menacing way, the way most people do when they harbor hatred for someone. Maybe it's just my imagination... I'll let it go... * * * "...And so that's how it is... I hope I didn't scare you people too much." "Ryo-chan... That... That's awful..." Kaoru-Dono muttered as she clenched the edge of her yellow Kimono. she was in a state of shock, I guess anyone would have been if someone told them news this disturbing. Yahiko just sat there, his mouth agape and it looked like as if it was going to stay like that. Kenshin had a troubled look on his face, a very unsettling look, coming from the battousai himself... Sano had the same look as Kenshin, the same frightening look. Mizumo was shaken, but was still her usual self, her eyes were stil cocked and it still ran a chill down my spine. What have I done to have disturbed Mizumo so? "Well... What can we do about it? It's in the past and the past just doesn't come back and haunt you." "Maybe... But memories do... I should know... So must Kenshin." Mizumo inserted, that look already faded and the casual look that I always wanted to see was it's replacement. "Isn't there anything else that you can do, Ryo?" "Nothing Yahiko... Just hide... I went all the way here to Tokyo to see if I can stay with you Kaoru-dono... Is it okay with you if I stayed here for the mean while?" "Ryo, of course! You're like family to me! Of course I'll let you stay!" "Arigatou... Kaoru-dono... Thank you very much. Kaoru-dono, please... I'm still tired after my trip..." "Of course! You can share a room with Yahiko." I followed Yahiko and Sagura-san to a small room. I quickly dropped onto one of the futons and went to sleep upon contact... "Does this mean he's sleeping in the same futon as me?" Yahiko asked his tall friend. Sano just shrugged and laughed... * * * [End of Part one/Prelude]