Prologue: Memory of a Final Night (Rewrite)
(A/N: I decided I didn't like having Kenshin talk like that so I changed it so he talks normally now))
Two people sat around a fire a man with red hair and a cross-shaped cheek and a girl the age of no more then six.
"Battousai-Sama..." The girl's eyes started to tear up. "You're not really leaving are you? You aren't going to leave me behind right? Please say it's not true!"
Kenshin smiled and looked down on the girl. "Tsukiko-Chan. The era is different now and I must go... You know that..." He set a hand on the girl's head "I'll come back I promise"
"Battousai-Sama...You can't just leave me...I don't have anyone... Even Oba-san is gone..." Suddenly the little girl burst out into tears. Battousai-Sama..." She looked up her gray-blue eyes looking deep into Kenshin's. "You'll forget about me."
"Never Tsukiko-Chan I promise... Now lets burn away the name Battousai. I must live my life as a wanderer now... Kenshin Himura." He pulled out a small dagger he had found and he held it out to the child "This will help you remember me." Suddenly he looked up hearing men coming for him. "I will return to get you. That I will." With that he ran off
"Battousai-Sama..." The girl wiped her tears from her face and picked up the dagger. Inscribed on the dagger's sheath the kanji for 'full moon' which also meant 'year'.
"You! Get up!" Tsukiko felt a sharp kick to her side and the familiar metallic taste of her blood as she was pulled from her memory/dream. "You have work to do."
The girl's eyes looked up at the man kicking her. "I told you I'm done... I... I have paid you what I owe for your boarding me from the time my master left... Ten years actually... but I'm done... Finished..."
"Do you think we care about that? You are the greatest asset to us. The night is young. The moon is high. This is your night. Your name does mean 'moon child' does it not Tsukiko?"
"Nii-San..." Tsukiko looked down at her dagger and sighed. "I will do it."
"Good." The man turned and began to walk away. "Someday you might be as great a manslayer as your precious Battousai." With that he disappeared into the shadows.
Tsukiko sighed and rolled up her things into a single pack and connecting what looked like a collapsed rod next to her dagger on her hip. I have to leave... Battousai-Sama never came back for me so I'll have to find him... With that she leaped up into a tree looking at the full moon allowing it to reflect in her eyes. The dagger seemed to dance with glee. I will show I haven't forgotten.