Chapter 1

Ok so here's the first chapter of a story I've been thinking of for a long time now. Please enjoy. :D

*Important: As you all know Nobuhiro Watsuki is the wonderful author that came up with these wonderful characters. I just like to write about them. :D

And it begins

Kneeling by a wash tub up to my elbows in soap and water; I vigorously scrubbed a worn piece of clothing. Muttering about how careless my younger brother Yahiko is when it comes to his own clothing, and keeping it clean. Sighing I rose to my feet while wringing out the gi and walked over to where I hung the other clothes I've already cleaned. Slowly running my hands over the thinning fabric as I hung it on the line to dry I sighed once more, before returning to my kneeling position by the tub and starting on the next piece of clothing. My mother tries so hard to provide for me and my younger brother while our father is off fighting for the new era, but the limited amount of money our father sends home is scarcely enough to put food on the table, leaving dreadfully little to purchase cloth for much needed new clothes.

Rising I repeated my actions from before. A gentle breeze blew thru the trees causing the clothes to sway around on the line. A wisp of black hair fell across my face as I turned back towards the tub. Reaching up I put it back into place, and glanced around the small back yard. An uneasy feeling suddenly filled me, as if I was being watched. I have been getting these feelings ever since that fateful day about a month ago. Over this last week this feeling has only been increasing… this feeling of being stocked. After scanning the yard again but seeing nothing I knelt back down and continued to do the wash. Shoving the emotion aside as if it were really nothing I tried to think of something other than that horrible memory those feelings bring back every time I get them. Shaking my head to clear away my fear, I rose again and began wringing out the kimono I had been washing when I froze.

It felt as though a dozen needles had just pricked my spin. Dropping the kimono back into the tub I spun around to see him sitting casually on the wall that surrounds our dojo. Flipping with ease off the wall he landed in a crouch position on his feet. I felt my blood run cold with fear as my blue eyes locked with his gold ones. His face was emotionless as he slowly straightened up and walked towards me, he spoke in a voice as soft as velvet, yet conveying an underlying premise of death. He merely whispered one sentence.

"I see you remember me."

Those haunting eyes! My thoughts raced back to that day. The day I had been trying so hard to forget.

Flashback

Slowly I made my way through the market stopping occasionally to look at things I wished to purchases but knew I never would. Mother said I could buy something for myself sense it was my birthday. I had argued with her to no avail about spending the money on myself when it should be spent on food. But she had only said that if I did not come back with something she would go out and buy something herself. So here I am walking with my arms full with food for this week, trying to find something that won't cost too much.

I looked over trinkets of all shapes and sizes until something fanciful caught my eye. It was a pink silk ribbon. Smiling I paid for it and began my walk home. Walking slowly I sighed happily and glanced up at the sky. Noticing for the first time how dark it was getting as the sun began to set in the distance casting its orange glow on everything. Clutching my purchases tightly and quickening my pace I ran down the streets. It wasn't safe to be out when it was dark and I silently cursed my stupidity for losing track of the time. There were far too many dangers once the sun goes down, do to the war that had begun over three years ago.

I felt myself beginning to relax as I got nearer to home turning down street after street. Until I passed by an ally I froze dead in my tracks. For there stood a man dressed in a dark blue gi, his sword was drawn and dripping with blood as he fought three men. A forth was behind him on the ground either dead or dying. His long blood red hair was tied high in the traditional samurai topknot, and even though he had his back to me. I could tell he knew I was there. Though even with this knowledge I could not make my feet move from there spot as I watched the graceful and precise way he moved as he slashed though his opponents as if they weren't there at all. With a sickening thud they hit the ground one after another never to move again.

I realized then that the men had not been ordinary solders but rather bodyguards for someone important and that this man was an assassin A HITOKIRI and I was a witness to something no one should have seen. When he turned around and looked at me with his emotionless face I couldn't help but shiver in fear as his bloodthirsty gold eyes locked with mine. They seemed to convey a message as if saying, you're next! In a panic I began to run as fast as I could, my mind in a frenzy of unclear thought as I dashed towards my home in an attempt to get away. As I ran I could feel his eyes drilling into my back but not once did I look over my shoulder. I was too afraid. Fearful I'd see those golden eyes staring back at me just before his katana cut me in two.

Rounding the last corner I slammed head long into my door, I struggled for a moment not remembering how to open it before tumbling inside. Regaining my senses a little I slammed the door closed behind me, locking it as fast as I could. Still not feeling safe only having the outer dojos wall between me and him I turned and ran inside my house closing the door behind me and then slowly backed away until my back was touching the far wall. Silently I slid down to the floor, breathless, with all my senses focused on the door and tears flowing from my eyes. I stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity, too afraid to move for fear that he would somehow find me if I did, my mother's soft voice asking me what was wrong brought me back to my senses. I hadn't even heard her approach I had been so focused on the door. Whispering that I was fine I silently gave her the food I had purchased and then went to bed in a daze. I sat in my room all night waiting for him to come and take my life, but he never did.

I didn't come out of that daze until the next evening when my mother finally gave up on trying to figure out what was wrong and instead asked me what I had bought for my birthday. That's when I realized I had lost it. In my frenzy to get away I had dropped my new ribbon. Sighing I told her that I had forgot and would get something on another shopping trip. She smiled and shook her head saying. "Really Kaoru don't worry so much about the money that's my job not yours. Just go and buy something nice for yourself." I smiled back and nodded, I just couldn't tell her about the ribbon and what had happened. Not ever...

Back to present

Suddenly my mind snapped back to the present when I realized he was standing only a mere three feet away from me. I didn't know what to do my feet felt like lead. Yet I couldn't look away from his eyes, and I caught myself contemplating there peculiar color. Slowly shaking my head to clear it, I took a step back as I watched him reach into his sleeve and pull out something before extending his hand toward me his voice gentler then it was before when he spoke.

"I believe this is yours."

I stared intently at his hand for a moment before it dawned on me that he was holding my ribbon. A soft smirk pulled at his lips as he watched my reaction to his unexpected gesture. Slowly and with unsteady hands I reached out and took it. A soft but nerves smile pulling at my lips as I stuttered out a thank you. But when I looked up again he was gone...