A Reconciliation Fic
Written: 14 September 2006
Posted: 18
September 2006, rev. 0
Category: Drama.
Summary:
See Notes
Disclaimer: This disclaimer is listed here,
once, and applies to all chapters of this work. The characters and
story of Rurouni Kenshin are the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki,
Shonen. Jump, et al. Used without permission. This work is
for entertainment only, and no profit is intended
Notes:
Welcome to the first of the Reconciliation fics, which examine
Kenshin's relationship with Hiko when they meet after Kenshin's
wandering years. This first little collection was inspired by
LadyRhiyana's Shishou ficlet collection, tasty little bites
of Hiko's view of his student. Do go read them
Glossary:
At end of document.
This chapter: Hiko doesn't have to chastise his errant deshi—Kenshin does it for him.
1. Measuring Up
He really was as good as I remembered. Better, maybe.
I was the shadow assassin, the one who melted into and out of darkeness, who seemed to materialize from smoke and rain. I outwitted, out-tracked, and out-evaded the best of the shogunate: guards, elite troops, shinobi, none of them could match me or catch me.
But none of it measures up to Hiko Seijuro. As casually as a man listening to a hummingbird on a drowsy summer afternoon, he marks me, tracks me. He doesn't even bother to move or react, until after I start my draw, and then he just catapults up and away. It's no more effort than brushing at a fly.
"Oh. It's you." And he's no more concerned than if I were that selfsame fly.
"It's been a long time, Master."
I bow to him, but not just in supplication. I'm afraid he'll see what I know; that no matter how long it's been, and what foes I've faced down, I will never measure up to his skill, his ethics, or his wisdom. I bow, and I cannot see the shame, or the anger, or the rejection that I know must cross his face.
I bow, and hide, and hope.
Owari
GlossaryOwari—The
end
Shakuhachi—traditional Japanese flute.
Shinobi—
spy or ninja.