HAJIME AND KENSHINA servant had sat tea down in front of Kenshin once the new comer Ikari had been given her portion of the food that Hajime was forced to leave behind. Honestly, he had never met anyone who could pack away so much food, and it hasn’t stopped surprising him since they first met just an hour prior. Ikari was not hard on the eyes. Ikari was more ‘rougher’ looking that the girls usually found around here, and with Kenshin, just due to her physical state. But it also made her more noticeable. She had her good points, and Kenshin made note.
Hajime was engaging in small talk with one of the servants that filled his glass with sake, his cheeks red. It didn’t taste good, and it made him feel strange and loopy, but in a good way. Just as quickly as Hajime was getting drunk, the servants came and cleared everything away, tidying up any remaining mess from the spectacle Kenshin and himself had put on. “Eh?” Hajime said, slightly confused, until the announcement of the Shogun.
“His excellency the Shogun, supreme general of his Imperial Majesty, Ashikaga Yoshiharu!”Hajime’s heart pounded loudly in his chest, his nerves on edge. For a few moments, he had forgotten that he was here to see -the- Shogun. He gulped loudly, following Kiyoyori, Ikari, and Kenshin who snapped his fan closed and gave a calm, fluid bow, in giving a bow of his own. Even for a 12-year-old boy, he was scared at the presence the Shogun brought once he entered the room.
Both Hajime and Kenshin lifted their heads once allowed to. Hajime was shocked when the Shogun bowed to them, and had a momentary reality check. The Guardians were -that- important. Hajime did understand and knew it was real when Seimei came by, and when they appeared in his dreams. But to have the Shogun himself bow, just solidified how serious this was.
Kenshin just stayed still, and showed little emotion on his face in the Shogun’s presence, giving a gracious bow at the shoguns own. Once the weapons were brought forth, Kenshin was able to tell exactly who was who just based on their weapons. The Bow, just as the shogun said, was Raiko. The twin swords were Tsuna, and now the staff.
Kenshin stood, leaving his dream walker staff behind. Kenshin had every intention of refusing the staff, but to do so would make him look ungrateful for the generosity of the Shogun, and the Emperor for guarding his past lives weapon.
Urabe no Suetake’s weapon. He recognized it immediately when the samurai removed the fine silk cloth over top. The metal rings that hung on either side jangled once Kenshin lifted the staff from his hands. A familiar sound that he heard many times. The Staff was taller than him by only a few inches, and the small designs within the middle ring were worn from age. But the Dream Walker needed the Dream Walker staff. There was no other staff that would allow him to walk through dreams. He would have to send the staff back to Nagasaki to his home, but he would do so once they set off the next morning.
“Hando Kenshin, Urabe no Suetake-sama, your staff. May it protect you now, just as it did then.” The Shogun said, adding “Your dream walking has surpassed even that of your predecessor, Yumeki. May you walk for me one night after this battle is all over.” Kenshin gave Seimei a quick millisecond glance while clenching his teeth together, and proceeded to give the Shogun a grateful, low bow. “Arigatou Ashikaga-tono.” Returning to his seat, he placed the staff beside him carefully, right beside the Dream Walker staff.
Hajime was called next, and he was eager to find out what his weapon was. Standing, he made his way to the next samurai who unwrapped an axe from the gold silk cloth. “Sakataa no Kintoki-sama. Samaki Hajime. This may not be a weapon befitting of a healer, but I hope it will protect you on your journey. Futoki-sensei spoke quite highly of you and your potential. I’ll have you know that just a little over 20 years ago, Futoki-sensei tended to me when I fought a battle. I barely survived, and would have perished if it wasn’t for him. The Guardians couldn’t be in more safer hands than yours young one.”
The axe had two skulls on either side with the blade of the ax coming from the mouth of one of them. A Metal point off the tip, and a red jewel at the bottom that seemed slightly dirty. The skulls looked identical.
Twin skulls? They look like they could devour my size in 3 bites, maybe 4. Hajime thought. Giving a smile to the Shogun, and gave an honest bow. He was forever grateful for the story he told, and for the kind words he gave. It gave him courage, but it also oddly gave him stomach flip flops. “Thank you!” Returning to his seat, he continued to examine the axe.