The Terrible Hidden Truths

Written

by

Randa-Chan

Copyright 2007


Chapter One

The Rurouni Reveals the Hitokiri

The sun was warm, pleasant, comforting even.

He smiled, genuinely enjoying the wonderful feeling as it caressed his skin and brought his hair to a blazing glory.

Pushing the crimson strands back behind one ear, he allowed his smile to widen as he gazed around the peaceful meadow he stood in. He didn't know where he was but that wasn't important. It was just nice to be here in the end and nothing else mattered except that.

A voice, bright and cheerful called to him upon the breeze. Turning to the voice he waved back as he recognized the figure standing in the distance. She was still as beautiful as ever and for once wearing her training outfit rather than the kimonos she so often seemed to wear these days; her long raven hair pulled back from her pale face and his brilliant blue eyes sparkling with life as she waved to him.

'Kenji! Come on,' she called to him.

He laughed at his mother's impatient expression, ever still the vibrant instructor he had witnessed in the dojo during countless years of lessons.

'Hai, I'm coming!' he called setting off at a steady jog towards her.

He had only covered half the distance when he noticed that someone else was standing next to his mother. He was easily recognisable; his shockingly red hair a dead give away as to his identity.

Kenji immediately stopped as he recognised his father's familiar wiry frame. Disgust welled up within him and he glared venomously at Kenshin. The man only grinned back with his usual peaceful expression, his face giving nothing away.

'Come on Kenji!' called Kaoru, seemingly oblivious to Kenji's fury.

Kenji didn't budge and slowly the scene faded. Strangely, when he looked at his father's face one last time, it was now sad. Kenji paused, not understanding the expression he saw there before the darkness finally surrounded him.

Kenji frowned in his sleep as the last of the dream slid away; fading back into his subconsciousness. Mentally grumbling about it, he buried himself further under the covers, wishing it hadn't woken him up so much. Already the last remnants were fading from his mind but sleep didn't seem to be coming back.

Distantly he sensed a presence, recognising the sounds of footsteps heading towards his room. Something about those footsteps sounded awfully familiar.

Groggily, his mind tried to concentrate but was interrupted by the sound of his bedroom door opening, the noise awfully loud in the previously quiet room.

Too late, he realised his 'assailant's' intent and desperately threw aside the covers and tried to scramble out of the way.

'Too slow Kenji!'

A loud, shocked yell suddenly vibrated through the Kamiya Dojo and the occupants sighed. Yep, it was going to be another typical morning.

If anyone had cared to look into the room of one, Himura Kenji; they would have discovered a medium built man with a spiky mass of black hair and fierce, cinnamon eyes standing over said room's thoroughly drenched owner.

Silence resounded through the house in the after shock of Kenji's yell. Myojin Yahiko grinned triumphantly down at the drenched red head, savouring the moment of his victory.

Finally Kenji seemed to overcome his shock and gradually lifted his face to glare up through his sopping hair at his attacker.

If Yahiko felt threatened by the young Himura's gaze, he gave no sign of it. He had received similar threatening blue eyed gazes after all.

'Yahiko,' whispered Kenji, still glaring.

'What Kenji? Gonna get me are you?' Yahiko glared back as good as he got and then with a laugh, he tossed Kenji the bucket he'd used to soak him with and bolted out the door.

'Get back here Yahiko!' roared Kenji swatting aside the bucket and leaping after the man's retreating form. If there was one thing Kenji couldn't stand, it was being made a fool of. Actually…make that two. He also hated been woken up and his sensei was so going to pay for this.

'Yahiko!'

0-0-0-0-0-0

Those seated around the breakfast table that morning were unusually quiet. Kenji sat, 'sulking' as Yahiko liked to say but in reality, seething. Yahiko himself sat on the other side of the table, well out of reach of the sixteen year old teenager and beaming like an alley cat that had just been presented with free meals for the rest of its life.

Kenshin, seated next to his furious son, seemed utterly oblivious to Kenji's anger and was calmly dishing out servings to everyone, smiling as always. Unlike the smile Kenji vaguely remembered dreaming his mother wearing that morning, Kaoru did not look pleased, once again forced to play peace maker between the two younger men of their little 'family.'

Only Sanosuke Sagara, having as usual invited himself to breakfast, seemed totally unaffected. Unlike Kenshin, he seemed to have noted the early morning events and other than a quick laugh at Kenji's expense, he'd moved on and forgotten about it. Kenji scowled, knowing that though Kenshin wasn't making a fuss now, hewould be pulled aside later and Kenshin would use the same usual lecture on him.

His scowl darkened. Kenji had heard it that many times that he knew it off by heart. It had never changed much in all the years Kenshin had used it on him and it made him furious. Why couldn't his father be like everyone else around here? He never got angry and Kenji could never remember seeing Kenshin get into any kind of fight. He'd seen Yahiko and even Sano get into a fight a few times to defend him when he had been younger but Kenshin never had. Usually his father just smiled and either talked his way out of it or on occasion, actually allow himself to be hit before picking himself up and moving on.

His father was a weakling, through and through and it disgusted Kenji. As a young child, he'd often wondered why his father had a sword when he never seemed to use it let alone know how. Once it had been given to Yahiko however, that just proved what Kenji had suspected: that his father had merely used the sword for show as a way to discourage fights with him. Not that Kenji thought that dishonourable but he just simply couldn't understand why his father, surrounded by all these people who practiced fighting as a living, had ever come to be known or accepted into their 'family.'

Kenshin wasn't like the rest of them. He never fought and he never got angry. It only puzzled him and made him feel ashamed to think that he was Kenshin's son; the son of a man who would never defend himself or his family.

Growing steadily more and more frustrated and annoyed, Kenji slammed his chopsticks down on the table. Kenshin jumped slightly, his face turning to Kenji in surprise as everyone else looked at him as well.

'I'm not hungry. I'm going into town,' said Kenji, refusing to look at anyone as he stood and stalked out of the room.

'Gee, what's eating him?' grumbled Yahiko.

'I wonder,' answered Kaoru sarcastically as she shot her student a scathing look.

'Shut up buso!'' retorted Yahiko ducking under Kaoru's swipe. What Yahiko didn't expect, was Sanosuke coming to Kaoru's rescue by boxing his ears as he leaned away from Kaoru and consequently into Sano's reach.

'Watch it brat! I don't need you putting your grubby paws in my breakfast,' growled Sano.

'Sanosuke!' yelled Yahiko, trying unsuccessfully to box the ex-fighter for hire's ears in return.

Kenshin sighed as he watched the three across begin another infamous argument. It was sure to continue on for several minutes so Kenshin did his best to ignore it and let it run its course. He was wise enough now to know it was much easier to stay out of it.

Instead, he turned his thoughts inwards, musing over Kenji's abrupt departure. Unlike the other's, he already knew what was upsetting Kenji: him. He would be a fool not to recognise it. It was exactly the way he'd reacted to his former master right before he left to join the Revolution. The things that Kenji had said and done lately seemed to replicate exactly what he remembered himself doing, the only difference being that Kenji was a few years older than he had been. Still, it was highly disturbing.

He was well aware that Kenji disapproved of his 'apparent weaknesses' in the face of a fight. Though he was a little older now, Kenshin held no disillusions that in a fight, he was still most likely to win. His body had aged well and with quite a few years rest under his belt, Kenshin was feeling surprisingly fit and healthy. Megumi-dono might disagree with him but Kenshin wouldn't hold that against her. The body could be surprisingly resilient and Kenshin knew that his limits were exceptional.

Wanting Kenji to only ever learn the Kamiya Kenshin style however, had been a choice he had decided years ago. He never planned on teaching Yahiko the sword style and it would be unfair if he taught his own style to Kenji when he had denied Yahiko.

When Kenji had first begun to learn swordsmanship, Kenshin had witnessed his son's alarming ability to learn moves almost instantly through watching or from what he'd heard. It usually took him several months after to work out and perfect the move but it meant that Kenji could never be allowed to hear anything about Kenshin's swordsmanship.

He'd straight away forbidden the others from telling Kenji stories about him and had decided it was best if his son never found out about his past. While he didn't like the idea of hiding the truth from Kenji, his son's strange obsession for swordsmanship simply didn't allow for the truth. If Kenji found out then Kenshin was positive Kenji wouldn't stop until he'd mastered it. Not that he believed Kenji would ever do anything bad with it but Kenshin knew that the only purpose of the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū was murder, no matter how many flowery words he hung around it. The skills he had learned he had solemnly sworn would die with him and that was final.

Sighing, Kenshin pulled his thoughts back and began gathering the dishes, for the most part ignoring the quarrel taking place on the opposite side of the table. Perhaps it was time he delivered a sterner lecture and not just about the incident this morning. That reminded him; it was also about high time he put an end to Yahiko's teasing as well. There was a limit and Yahiko was definitely overstepping it these days.

'This one is going to do the dishes, that he is,' announced Kenshin standing. As expected, the three didn't notice him. Sanosuke was too intent on prying Yahiko's fingers off his old white gi, while Kaoru attempted to beat the pair of them over the head with a soup ladle she'd picked up.

Kenshin smiled as he watched them while he calmly gathered the remainder of the dishes, deftly avoiding Sanosuke's arm as he took a swipe at Yahiko. His friends and wife were all a little older now, just like himself but some things had never changed; they still teased and tormented one another on a daily basis, the same common phrases being used over and over.

Yahiko had been the one to change the most, being in his late twenties now and surprisingly, a good two inches shorter than Kenshin. He'd never told anyone but inwardly he was smugly pleased that Yahiko had never surpassed him in height. The teasing would have known no bounds if he had and as it was, Yahiko already enjoyed taunting him about his domestic habits on a daily basis. Still, Yahiko had filled out a lot more than Kenshin and had developed broad shoulders allowing for some powerful sword strokes which Kenshin wasn't sure if he ever would have been able to deliver just as well.

Sanosuke however, had barely changed at all, just as lanky framed as ever with his dark brown hair shooting in all directions. Only a few laughter lines around the eyes indicated just how much older the man was. Of course, when it came to Kaoru he enjoyed an immense amount of teasing on his part. Kaoru had definitely grown into a beautiful, fiery woman whom Kenshin adored. However, roughly five years ago she had acquired a definite amount of silver at her temples while Sanosuke's hair remained the same as always. He crowed about it for days when he noticed and Kaoru had hotly protested the topic, saying it wasn't her fault if both sides of her family had gone grey early. She could hardly help it and in the end she'd still cracked Sanosuke just as effectively as she always did over the head. Sano had had to concede she had a point there but that hadn't stopped him smirking and pointing it out whenever he felt like it.

Yes decided Kenshin, these friends he had come to know and love were worth everything he could and would do for them, even giving up his life if he had to.

A secretive smile slipping onto his face, Kenshin entered the kitchen and dumped the dishes in the sink. As he began filling up the sink he started doing something he hadn't done since he'd lived all those years ago with his Shishou; he started humming. Hiko had once grudgingly told Kenshin that he had a good voice but Kenshin had never sung again after he'd left for Kyoto. It just hadn't seemed appropriate and in all the years since he'd honestly never thought about it.

Now though, he was feeling too happy not to hum softly to himself and he found the soothing sound of the long forgotten melody strangely warm and comforting.

Before he even realised it, he'd finished the dishes and packed them away. Still smiling and his heart light, Kenshin felt the lightness of his soul dim a fraction as he thought of the next task on his list: Kenji.

'Kaoru?' he called.

'What?' replied Kaoru distractedly. Sounds of fighting drifted from the dining room and Kenshin summarised ruefully that he'd been right in predicting to stay out of the fighting if it had lasted this long.

'I'm going to find Kenji, I'll be back soon,' answered Kenshin.

He stood listening in the hallway as he waited for Kaoru's answer. It was several moments in coming before Kenshin heard a sigh of exasperation and a sharp thwack followed by Sano's muffled cursing and Yahiko's sniggers. 'Honestly Sano…'

'Have fun Kenshin,' called Kaoru finally and with a pleasant chuckle, Kenshin turned on heal and left them to it.

0-0-0-0-0-0

If anyone had cared to look his way, they would have immediately dismissed Kenshin as just another ordinary man, going about his daily business on the streets of Tokyo. Kenshin however, was going out of his way to be inconspicuous.

Since giving up the reverse blade sword to Yahiko, Kenshin had been extremely careful not to draw attention to himself unnecessarily. Without the sword Kenshin was well aware that he was vulnerable. He had taken to wearing a hat in public just as he had during his days as the Battōsai and wearing a bandage over his scar during the day. He'd also concealed a set of tantos in armguards under his sleeves. It wasn't much and he was by no means an expert with the blades but he was proficient enough and it was the best he could do to ensure his protection and the protection of those around him. Since the incident with Enishi he'd come to realise that he needed to stop making it so easy for his enemies to find him. He'd also discreetly requested that Police Chief Umura tell his men not to refer to him as Battōsai in public. Himura-san would do just fine.

Deftly weaving through the crowds, Kenshin kept his ki senses extended, seeking for the faintest trace of his son's ki. Kenshin had never taught Kenji to conceal his ki knowing the questions it would raise and since he was the only one who knew how to do it, it had been impossible anyway. Still, Kenji possessed a large amount of potential and Kenshin was positive that if things had been different, Kenji would have made an excellent 15th Master to the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū if he'd chosen to pass it on.

Are there it is mused Kenshin as he brushed against a familiar ki. Kenji was apparently two blocks to his right walking down near the river.

Slipping into an ally, Kenshin casually checked that no one was watching him and sprang lightly onto the roof of one of the buildings. Bending to absorb the impact, Kenshin calmly crouched for a moment before smoothly standing and setting off at a steady trot.

He followed Kenji for a quarter of a mile as his son stalked up the riverbank, his face set in a deep scowl. Other people wisely left the cross teenager alone as he walked past and Kenshin sighed at their reaction. Kenji was really mad at the moment, of that he was certain.

As Kenshin observed Kenji, he noted that Kenji suddenly seemed to see something up ahead and took off at a run. Kenshin cursed to himself as he wrenched his ki away from Kenji and directed it ahead. He'd been so busy feeling Kenji's swirling emotions and trying to judge just when to approach Kenji that he hadn't noticed anything else.

Ahead, he was worried to discover several angry auras; at least a dozen and obviously a badly hurt and frightened victim amongst them. Quickening his pace, Kenshin got as close as possible to be able to see the attackers without alerting Kenji to his presence.

Crouching down approximately 25 meters away, he was just in time to catch the last of Kenji's sentence as his son announced that he'd had enough and they could let the young woman go.

She was only a slip of a girl but Kenshin recognised her as one of the maids from the Akabeko so it was clear that Kenji knew her too. A feeling of pride stirred strongly in his chest as he watched his son take up the attack position, bohken held directly in from and right foot planted forwards. He had no doubt that Kenji could deal with the men who appeared to be a bunch of local thugs if he remembered correctly. He'd seen them hanging around the Akabeko a few days ago which would explain why they'd attacked this maid for less than honourable reasons.

Kenshin shook his head as he noted just how confident the thugs were. It had always been an advantage for Kenshin that his slighter build was usually underestimated and Kenji appeared to be fairing just the same.

The men jeered at him and of course, foolishly attacked intending to beat Kenji to a pulp. Kenji was a blur of motion and in a matter of seconds he had the leading two thugs out cold on the dirt. The others warily backed up, glaring with naked rage at Kenji.

Kenshin suddenly felt a slither of fear slide through him as the supposed "bohkens" suddenly became "swords." This was not what he had thought would happen. Kenshin hadn't encountered thugs carrying concealed swords for at least three years now and thought that had been the last of them. This was obviously not the case.

Not at all caring if Kenji saw him now, Kenshin rose to his feet on the rooftops and prepared to defend his son. Kenji however, surprised Kenshin by smartly disarming another two thugs with barely a hitch. Kenji had definitely moved a lot faster that time noted Kenshin and seemed to still be remaining deadly focused. However, Kenshin felt his stomach knot with dread as he noted the stances of the remaining eight thugs. The first few had only been amateurs but the rest clearly seemed to be far more experienced. As Kenshin looked at them, he realised they were a lot older and had spread out to surround Kenji. They could only be ex-samurai then.

Kenshin leapt immediately, using all the god-liked speed of the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū to its full extent to cross the distance to his son. The samurai were fast and nearly upon Kenji as Kenshin flicked out the two tantos and slashed his way into the centre of the circle beside Kenji. As it was, he was nearly too late as Kenji deftly avoided one blow but unknowingly spun into the path of another.

Kenshin slashed the man's arms, forcing him to drop his sword as he clutched at the deep, ragged wounds.

'Father!?' said Kenji disbelievingly as Kenshin flashed through his line of vision.

'Focus!' yelled Kenshin as he hurriedly caught a blade aimed to slice him from head to groin by crossing the two tantos together. He grunted under the impact and held it for a second before dropping to the ground. The samurai lost his balance as Kenshin gave ground and went flying face first towards were Kenshin had dropped. Thrusting himself sideways, Kenshin twisted around the path of the blade by dropping his left shoulder and smashed his right hand using the hilt into the samurai's temple. The man dropped like a stone but Kenshin moved fluidly out of the way to avoid the dead weight crushing him.

On his feet, Kenshin shot Kenji a glance and was horrified to see blood dripping down his son's arm from a slash across his shoulder. It could only mean Kenshin's appearance had caused Kenji to lose focus but in a battle where your life was on the line it was almost certainly a death sentence.

Another blow and Kenji's lost his grip on his bohken as it was flung aside. The thought of harm coming to his son stirred something in Kenshin and almost like opening a gate, a deadly calm rage descended on Kenshin's senses as the instincts of the hitokiri Battōsai took over for the first time in nearly twenty years.

Kenshin welcomed them without a second thought as his eyes blinked shut and reopened to reveal raging gold, replacing the usual gentle violet.

It was over within seconds. Twelve men lay around them, unconscious for the moment. Kenshin could feel Kenji's confused, shocked ki behind him and the maid's equally frightened one further back to the right. Struggling to crush the desire to kill the men and make sure they could never harm again, Kenshin stood silently as his emotions raged unchecked.

The silence rang for several long, tense moments as Kenshin stood, gripping the two tantos so tightly his knuckles felt like they would crack under the pressure. It was Kenji's voice that finally succeeded in calming Kenshin down as he softly called his name and with a slight shudder; Kenshin forced himself to relax.

He heard rather than saw the maid they had rescued stand up. She seemed to hesitate a moment, glancing uncertainly at Kenshin's back before she directed a thankful look at Kenji and then hurriedly departed, sensing that now was not a good time to interrupt whatever was going on between the pair of them.

'Father?' queried Kenji more loudly this time. Kenshin sensed Kenji moving closer to him and he stiffened. The Battōsai was still raging even if he was a little calmer.

'Don't,' hissed Kenshin as Kenji moved to touch him, whether to gain his attention or help him, Kenshin wasn't sure.

Kenji stopped and Kenshin felt the surprise flaring in Kenji's ki but also underlying fear. He knew exactly how he sounded: his voice deeper and strangely cold. It was not a tone of voice Kenshin was aware Kenji had ever heard him use.

'Don't touch me,' Kenshin warned again, refusing to turn around.

'Why?' stuttered Kenji.

'I'm dangerous like this!' snapped Kenshin. 'Just don't touch me,' he repeated.

Shocked, Kenji drew back. Kenshin could sense the alarm and it only further made him increase his efforts to calm down. Kenji didn't know it but if he touched Kenshin right now he knew he'd react before thinking about what he was doing. It had been so long since he'd been in this mindset that Kenshin was struggling to keep up with his emotions.

Fear however, had unexpected consequences sometimes and Kenshin immediately tensed as fury roared through Kenji.

'How could you lie to me?' The voice was soft, low, desperately trying to hold back fear as anger took over and made Kenji lash out. When Kenshin didn't answer Kenji only grew angrier.

'How could you hide something like this from me!' raged Kenji. 'How could you lead me on? Make me think you were nothing, that you're harmless? I'm not stupid. No one in our family fights like this, no one! No one can do what you just did.'

Kenji paused in his rant but Kenshin did not reply as he listened to his son's frightened, angry panting. 'Answer me damn it!' yelled Kenji reaching out to wrench his father around so he could see him.

Only dropping the tanto prevented Kenshin from lashing out as he caught Kenji's wrist in a bruising grip before it could touch him.

Head bowed, Kenshin didn't dare look up least Kenji see the truth as Kenshin answered in a flat voice, 'I thought I told you don't touch me.'

The deadly indifference seemed to melt Kenji's anger on the spot and Kenshin nearly flinched under the wave of fear that suddenly welled in Kenji. He knew he was the cause of that fear and he abruptly let Kenji's hand go as if he had been scalded.

Kenji instantly backed up several steps and regarded Kenshin with what felt horribly like something akin to terror. Kenshin did flinch then as his wife's spirit came out in Kenji. Kaoru loved him but Kenshin was well aware that she feared the Battōsai. Even Yahiko had and only Sanosuke ever seemed to be able to cope with Kenshin when he was like that. Sometimes, Kenshin had been very frustrated with the fact that they feared him. They should have known he would never harm them in a million years and that Battōsai and Kenshin were one and the same.

Surprisingly though, Kenji gathered himself very quickly and Kenshin was once again reminded that Kenji was more like him than he thought.

'I'm…sorry…I-,' said Kenji.

A flare of ki interrupted Kenshin telling him that one of the thugs was suddenly awake again and lucid. Alarmed, he whirled away from Kenji as he levelled his gaze on the first thug he had slashed to get him away from Kenji. The man was kneeling and stricken, Kenshin noticed that'd he'd pulled a gun from his gi and had aimed it directly at Kenji.

'No!' yelled Kenshin leaping towards his son and simultaneously hurling his remaining tanto at the man in a desperate attempt to change the bullet's trajectory.

There was a horrendous bang which echoed through the air and hurt Kenshin's ears as he jumped. However, he already knew it was too late. Even if he'd had a sword and had been able to direct a Doryūsen at the gunman he wouldn't have been able to change anything.

He crashed into Kenji a fraction to slow. Blood hit his face as a sharp gasp tore its way from Kenji's throat. As they hit the dirt Kenshin didn't even need to look to know his tanto had hit the gunman and knocked him out cold and that Kenji had been hit in the end anyway.

Kenshin wanted to scream as he pushed himself off his son and observed the damage. There was blood everywhere already and Kenshin's frantic panic nearly made him lose control but for the second time that day, Battōsai took over even though Kenshin's heart continued to pound wildly as he ripped away Kenji's shirt oblivious to everything else.

Finally Kenshin got a good look at the wound which was on the left side and dangerously low. But not low enough reasoned Battōsai.

Kenji's face however, was a picture of shock, his eyes wide open and staring and if Kenshin hadn't had his hand on his son's chest and felt his heart beating against it, albeit weakly, then he very well would have believed Kenji dead.

Hold on Kenji, I will not let you die! vowed Kenshin scooping his son into his arms. Megumi's clinic was at least fifteen minutes away at a dead sprint and Kenshin only prayed he would be quick enough.

Please Kenji, please don't leave me…


Japanese Terminology:

Doryūsen - A range technique that sends debris flying at the enemy from a powerful sword strike to the ground.

Gi – A jacket type garment that can either hang open or be tied shut. Sanosuke's jacket is a gi. It's important not to confuse a gi with a kimono like Kenshin wears. A hakama, which is the pant type garment Kenshin wears, is generally always worn with a kimono because a gi is too short where the hakama splits at the thigh.

Himura Kenji – Son of Kenshin and Kaoru, he takes after Kenshin more than he realizes growing up as a child. He dislikes Kenshin strongly and hates him for always leaving Kaoru behind but eventually comes to understand him a little after Kenshin's death. Of course, for this tale things are going to be a little different.

Himura Kenshin – Our hero of course, I don't really think I need to tell you about him but I will anyway. Subject to harsh circumstances growing up, Kenshin ran away from his master Seijiro Hiko before he'd finished his training to join the rebellion. He became an assassin for the Ishin Shishi and very nearly lost his soul to madness but had it healed somewhat thanks to Tomoe and her fiancé, both of whom were eventually killed by his hand and gave him the infamous cross shaped scar. Took off after the revolution and spent ten years wandering trying to atone for his crimes as a hitokiri by never slaying again and protecting people with his sword. He is a confused soul but extremely wise beyond his years. Kenshin has no true comparison save his old master who learned his lessons long ago it seems but it took Kenshin ten years of wandering to.

Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū – The name of the sword style technique taught to Kenshin by Seijiro Hiko the 13th. It's a sword style intended to fight many people at once using powerful sword techniques and god-like speed to avoid attacks and execute them as well. Kenshin mastered and perfected the Battōjutsu techniques of the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū because originally the style was created for bigger, muscular men like Hiko so Kenshin used a move which maximized his astounding speed. Kenshin believes the style originated in the Sengoku period of Japan's history and there has only ever been one master and apprentice at any one time.

Hitokiri Battōsai - The manslayer who has mastered the Battōjutsu.

Kamiya Kaoru – Owner of her own dojo and Assistant Master of the Kamiya Kasshin Style, Kaoru is a very independent young woman with a fiery nature but fears loneliness above all else. At first this was why she clung very strongly to Kenshin fearing that he'd leave her alone again but she quickly came to love him and eventually Kenshin admitted his feelings for her and they were married.

Myojin Yahiko – Son of a samurai of the Shogunate during the Revolution, Yahiko grew up as an orphan being forced to work for a gang of local yakuza in Tokyo. He was rescued by Kaoru and Kenshin and became Kaoru's apprentice in the Kamiya Kasshin Style. Eventually Kenshin passed his reverse blade sword onto Yahiko as a coming of age present. Yahiko is fierce and determined with a cheeky steak a mile wide. He very much admires Kenshin and takes a lot of courage from him.

Sagara Sanosuke – Former member of the Sekihoutai and fighter for hire; he was eventually convinced to stop fighting Kenshin and he became a valuable ally. Strong and loyal, Sano can also be lazy about paying off his debts and working but he has a quick sense of humour and is very well liked by many people. He has an unusual phobia of modern technology and can be very brash in a fight but he is also unnervingly perceptive and shares more in common with Hajime Saito that he cares to admit.

Shishou – Swords master; Kenshin refers to Seijiro Hiko the 13th who trained him as a child in his sword style by this name.

Takani Megumi – Local doctor in Tokyo rescued by the Kenshin gang from Kanryu Takeda. He was forcing her to make opium but Kenshin managed to defeat Kanryu's henchmen and the Oniwaban group who were working for him at the time. Megumi is a very cunning woman and enjoys making Kaoru jealous by making suggestive comments about her relationship with Kenshin. Although obviously liking Ken-san, she eventually gracefully gives in and allows Kaoru to happily marry Kenshin. She seems to have a love hate relationship with Sanosuke and there has been a lot of romantic interest suggested between the two even though that has never been confirmed.

Tanto – Japanese equivalent of a dagger.


If there's anything people want me to explain then please feel free to ask me. I may not remember all the terms and I won't be repeating every single one every single chapter. Please also remember that I interpret the characters of Rurouni Kenshin in my own way and I will do my best to stick to canon with small exceptions so I'm sorry if it's any different from how you view them.


Don't forget to R & R Please!