This is my second RK fic! ^___^ well, actually third if you count the poem one....but anywhoo. My first one was a flop and practically no one reviewed. But lately I've been wanting to write an RK fic, so here it be. I dreamed it up one night. I haven't the foggiest idea where it's going, but your reviews will keep it going, so get this straight: no reviews=no new chapters. Lots of reviews=new chapters. Keep that equation in mind as you read this story. ^___^

Whispering Sunshine

Chapter One:

The Road to the Dojo

A bright autumn sun shown through the canopy of leaves that shaded a well- known path to a well-known dojo. The wind rippled through the dry and fading leaves, causing them to clack together as some lost their grip on their host limbs. They floated down and scattered about the path.

"Hmm." A dark haired rurouni smiled as he took in the sunshine of the bright fall day.

"Uncle Ken, wathca stopping for?" A youngster pulled at his pant leg.

"Yeah, uncle Ken, why ya stop?" Her little sister echoed.

The rurouni's smile only widened as he patted the girls' heads. "I was just thinking of what a pretty day it is, that I was. You know, it shall be winter soon. We won't have many more days like this, that we won't."

"Ooh." The girls echoed as they stopped their jumping around to take in the scenery.

"Well, maybe if we hurry home Kaoru will let us go on a picnic, that she might. What would you say to that?" Kenshin, the ex-revolutionary beamed at the two innocent children that clustered by his feet.

Dr. Gensai's grandchildren, Ayame and Suzume's eyes widened with question. "Could we really? Could we really?" The jumped around excitedly.

Kenshin nodded back at them as he shifted the weight of the tofu that he was carrying to his other hand. "I'm sure if you ask Kaoru-dono very nicely."

"Yay! Picnic!" The girls danced about and chased each other around Kenshin in circles.

"Hmm." The scarred warrior chuckled. "Hm?" His always-alert violet eyes caught a motion in the side of them.

A girl rushed by in a blur, leaves stirred up in her wake.

"Oro?" He spun around as he tried to keep the tofu from spilling.

"You worthless, good for nothing, ungrateful stupid head! Go ahead! Get out of here!" Two angry men stood at the edge of town. They held a pile of rocks in their hands. "Here take another going away present!" They cursed as they threw a barrage of stones.

The rurouni gasped as he dropped the tofu and rushed to push the little girls that were in his charge out of harms way. He slid with them into the ditch, but still some rocks hit them. He shielded them as pebbles scattered all around them.

"Uncle Ken, what going on?!" The little girls cried as they clung to his shirt.

"I don't know!" The rurouni grunted as another rock hit his back. He turned his purple eyes to look up ahead on the path. The girl that had rushed past lay in a heap on the road. A crimson color, one the warrior knew all to well, seeped from her unto the dirt.

Kenshin closed his eyes and braced himself as more rocks poured down around them.

"Heh!" The angry men rubbed the dirt off their hands as they started towards the fallen figure. "Now let's see what the boss has to say about this!" They kicked the girl in the side. "C'mon, get up!" They spat on her body.

The girl groaned and reached to the back of her head where she felt blood oozing from a nasty gash.

Kenshin's eyes narrowed as he set Ayame and Suzume safely on the ground. "I don't know what your business with this girl is, but what you're doing is wrong." He spoke coldly as he placed a ready hand on the hilt of his sakabato, a reverse blade sword.

"Hey buddy, back off! This our own little problem and as you can see we have it under control!" One with messed up hair turned to face him.

"C'mon get up!" The other one muttered as he continued kicking the girl.

"I must ask you to stop." Kenshin breathed deeply as he tried to contain his rage.

"Why? Watcha going to do to us?" One swaggered slightly and Kenshin could tell that they were drunk.

"I don't want to do anything, but if this results in conflict, I am prepared." He revealed to the men that he was carrying a sword. The former battosai's flashed a golden hue.

"Hey, whoa. If it means that much to you, take her. She's not good for anything." The men backed off. They had seen the warrior within and we're not about to cross Kenshin. They quickly ran away. "But we'll be back for her!" They called over their shoulders.

Kenshin sighed as he clicked his sword back into its sheath. He bent down beside the girl, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright now. You can come home with me and we can treat your wounds." He offered.

The girl felt blindly around the ground in from of her and around until she grasped Kenshin's foot. She pulled herself up beside him. She began to feel for his face.

"Is she okay?" Ayame and Suzume climbed up unto the road again.

"I don't know." Kenshin studied the girl. He couldn't tell what color her hair was, it was caked in mud and dust and appeared to have never been combed. And he guessed by here tattered rags for clothing that she was nowhere near being from the upper class.

"Here, let me help you." He grasped her hand in his.

The girl gasped as he guided her hand to his face. She whined as she turned back and began feeling around the ground.

"You're wounded. Come with me." Kenshin repeated his offer. Sighing, he picked the girl up and carried her in his arms. He was amazed by how light she was.

The girl didn't say anything, but the rurouni could tell that she was afraid. "Don't worry." He tried to reassure her. "You're safe with me. Everything's going to be okay."

The girl softly whimpered as she laid her head on his shoulder and let her arms droop in her lap.

"That' right, take it easy." Kenshin noticed that the girl was gradually fainting into unconsciousness. Inwardly the redhead groaned. Kaoru would kill him when she saw that he had gotten blood on his best outfit.

With that dread in mind, the little procession made their way down the path.

Yay! First chappie! I think I spelled most things correctly....anywhoo- plz review. All things good and bad are accepted and I do acknowledge suggestions. In fact, I welcome them with open arms! So whatever you think of this chapter, it doesn't matter, as long as you review I'll be happy ^____^