Trees drip onto the clearing and four men laid on the ground, their bodies broken by vicious cuts to guts and heads. A fifth stood panting to one side, his hair a deep red in color, blood splattering his face and his clothing, his sword clotted with gore. One slender hand was pressed against a slash at his side before, he took a deep breath and crouch, the stance bringing his sword to the ready. Across from him was an older man looking fresher than the swordsman, his arms wrapped with heavy leather straps and his hair pulled up in what was a true samurai's knot. A little to the side were two unarmed people, one a young boy about ten another a woman dressed in exquisite silks, her hands covered in sleeves decorated with flowers pressed against her lips.
The older man taunts the young swordsman, calling him many things chief among them being murderer and demon and dog. The swordsman doesn't listen as he kept his sword steady, watching the older samurai for any break in his guard. And then came the last words, of how that this was his punishment for the murder of Tomoe's first lover, the man the young swordsman had replaced. He tensed, looking over at the woman and saw her tears.
Was it anger or was it guilt that had him throw himself at the older man? It was hard to tell in the dark as the two figures were suddenly locking weapons and exchanging blows. Smaller than his opponent, the young swordsman was tossed back and he caught himself in the mud, leveled himself up and threw himself back into the path of the older man's sword. A sword the man was not swinging because of the woman who was in his way, her hand gripping his wrist.
Kenshin could not stop his sword from moving in that final swing. His blade went through her, bit deep into the old man's shoulder as well, and he left it there as he caught her before she fell to the ground. She had a dagger in her hand and she brought it up to his face, cutting across the scar already there, making an X before telling him to live.
The memory faded and Kenshin - older, carrying a sword that could not kill unless he had to - stared into the darkness before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
the scar | passive -- kenshin himura
The older man taunts the young swordsman, calling him many things chief among them being murderer and demon and dog. The swordsman doesn't listen as he kept his sword steady, watching the older samurai for any break in his guard. And then came the last words, of how that this was his punishment for the murder of Tomoe's first lover, the man the young swordsman had replaced. He tensed, looking over at the woman and saw her tears.
Was it anger or was it guilt that had him throw himself at the older man? It was hard to tell in the dark as the two figures were suddenly locking weapons and exchanging blows. Smaller than his opponent, the young swordsman was tossed back and he caught himself in the mud, leveled himself up and threw himself back into the path of the older man's sword. A sword the man was not swinging because of the woman who was in his way, her hand gripping his wrist.
Kenshin could not stop his sword from moving in that final swing. His blade went through her, bit deep into the old man's shoulder as well, and he left it there as he caught her before she fell to the ground. She had a dagger in her hand and she brought it up to his face, cutting across the scar already there, making an X before telling him to live.
The memory faded and Kenshin - older, carrying a sword that could not kill unless he had to - stared into the darkness before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
"Tomoe."