**Pechan does not own the Rurouni Kenshin characters.

~ the girl Next Door ~

"I still don't see why we have to live here," complained a red haired teenager. He was roughly almost sixteen, and his hair was almost as bright as red flames. His father, Kenshin Himura, was unpacking a few things from a bag.

"It's just that Miss Megumi lives here now. You remember her, don't you Kenji?"

"Sure. She was funny."

"And she's a very good friend of her's. And Kaoru would like to have our next child be delivered by her."

Kenji sighed, leaning against the wall. "Hey dad, where is mom anyways?"

"Oh, she's at Miss Megumi's. She'll be back soon."

Kenji smiled, "Hey, where'd Uncle Yahiko go? Did he go with Sano?"

"I'm sure they went to visit the Aoiya."

Kenji leaned off the wall, "Oh, can I go there? They have the best food!! I mean, that is if, ummmm, you need me to help-"

Kenshin shook his head, smiling, "Oh no, go ahead. I can manage all by myself. Be sure to tell Miss Misao I'll come by later, okay?"

Kenji grinned, "Sure dad."

Kenji left the house they were renting to stay for a year. Kenji was raised by his father, but was trained by his mother and Uncle Yahiko. Both were stern and strict with him, and he mastered the Kamiya sword. What was funny was that by his thirteenth year, he was already faster than Yahiko. And he could spar with him all day. Which was why he felt he should carry a kendo stick at all times. Yahiko had done so, always ready for danger or stuff of the like. Kenji had it because he felt it completed him. He wore white hakama pants, and blue tabi socks with sandals. His top was a deep green. He wore armguards, because they didn't bother him that much. His hair was swept back in a ponytail like his father's. In fact, he looked exactly like his father. Except, he was a little taller than his father. Plus, his eyes were brown. His father had azure blue. The only trait he got from his mother were these brown eyes, and the inability to cook.

Yahiko had once muttered thank god he didn't have her temper, and Yahiko was soon after silence by a bowl. Kenji smiled in remembrance. He liked his family. He remembered uncle Yahiko used to live there. But when he got older, Yahiko only visited every other day. However, Sano seemed to never leave. But that was okay, he was fun to be around. He even taught him a few basics of karate. Of course, Kenji was particularly weak when it came to had to hand combat. He preferred the kendo stick, anyways.

He turned a corner, and was pushed to the ground. He fell, shouting, "Hey!!"

His pusher, a young girl with brilliant green eyes stopped in her tracks. She turned to him, and her pigtails flipped in the wind. She wore a beige hakama with a matching top, but wore boots instead of sandals, and her lips were slightly tinged red. "Oh, shoot, I'm really sorry kid!! I didn't mean to hit you, you got in my way!"

Kenji groaned, and sat up, "I see....."

He narrowed his eyes. In her hand she clutched a kendo stick. He smiled, "Hey! You practice swordsmanship?"

She smiled, and put the blade part on her shoulder, "Hey, you got one too! Kendo stick, I mean. And yeah, my dad makes me. Says it'll build my character and keep me from getting raped."

Kenji's eyes widened. ".....uhhhh.... oh?"

She grinned, "Yeah, he get's right to the point." she walked over to him, "Hey, sorry I pushed you." She held out her hand.

He looked at her hand, and grabbed it, and then looked at her face closely. What a mistake that was. She was beautiful!! He found himself lost at words, staring into the emerald eyes. Her jet black hair shined in the sun, and two strands of hair framed her face. Her lips were rather pouty looking, and the red tinge seemed very alluring.

She giggled, "Hey, you gonna help me help you get up or what?"

Kenji stammered, "Uhh d-duh duhh....." he shook his head, "Sorry, I was thinking of something else."

He was surprised how easily he yanked him up. He was also surprised to find her height taller than his. He was taller than most girls.

She looked beyond him, then looked around, "Saaaayyy..... did you happen to see some ugly guy lurking around here?"

"Umm, like what?"

She smiled, and walked down the road. He followed her. She tapped her kendo stick on the floor as she went, "Oh, I dunno..... he's got black hair, like me........ tall like me...... he's got green eyes like me..... and uhh, oh yeah! He's wearing black hakama and a navy blue top."

Kenji racked his brain, trying his best to help this pretty kendo girl. "Uhh, n-no I didn't see one!"

She cursed, "Dammit, where is he now.....?"

He mumbled, "Uuuh, why are you looking for him? Is he a relative..... or a friend, or uhh....."

"He's my partner right now."

"Excuse me."

She smiled another dazzling smile, and faced him, stopping, "See, my dad runs a dojo. Very strict, if ya know what I mean. Not for the faint of heart."

"Ah, I see. My mom's the same way."

"really? Oh, then you know what I'm talking about! Anyways, my mom decided the students could use some fun while my dad is like, taking a day off. So, she paired us up with other people, and set us off. We're playing tag!!"

"Tag? With a kendo stick?"

She giggled, her voice sounding like chimes, "Heh heh, yeah. We sneak up on one of the contestant, and then whack 'em somewhere where a nice red welt would show. After the game's done, loser with the most welts has to clean the dojo all by himself."

"And herself."

"'Scuse me?"

Kenji smiled, "Well, there's you...."

She giggled, "Yeah, but I'm very good-"

WHACK!!

She grunted, and fell to the side. A young man stood over her with a kendo stick.

Kenji forgot everything she said about tag, and charged at the teenager.

He slammed his kendo stick at him, but the boy narrowed his eyes, and blocked. Kenji struck again, only to be blocked again. Suddenly, the boy ducked under his next blow, and struck him sharply across his knees. Kenji grunted and fell forward.

He looked up at the assailant, and found the girl's description. He was tall, with jet black hair, but it was tied into a high pony tail. He had two strands of hair for bangs on one side of his face. He had green eyes too, but they were narrowed in anger. And he was wearing black and blue.

"Idiot, who are you? You're not in our class!"

Kenji frowned, "Huh? Class?"

"HuuuWAAAAHH!!" came the girl's scream.

KRACK!!

The boy didn't even look, and held his kendo stick behind him, blocking the pretty girl's kendo stick from landing a hit. She lunged again, and he sidestepped, and she barreled into Kenji.

"Whoops sorry!" she apologized to him, and then quickly turned, kendo stick ready, "You JERK!! THAT ACUTALLY HURT!!"

KRACK!! He batted away her stick, deflecting each of her blows, and retorted with each blow, "Maybe.... you..... should ..... stop..... flirting..... with...... any...... boy..... you..... see!!"

Suddenly, kicked his arm, casing his grip on his kendo stick to loosen and throw him off. she rolled to the side. His eyes widened, as she spun, and THWACKED her stick onto his chest. He grunted, and backed off, clutching his chest, "N-No fair! Can't... c-can't use .....your.. legs.. errrggg..."

She huffed, tapping her kendo stick, "Well, you idiot, maybe if you didn't hit my back, I wouldn't beat the cr@p out of you."

He snarled, "Just wait till we get home, moron...."

Kenji widened his eyes, "Home? you live together......?"

He felt somewhat defeated. It figures, all the pretty ones were taken.

"Well, sure we do.... that's what brothers and sisters do," she replied.

He jumped, "He's your brother?"

She grinned, and stood beside him, "Can't see the resemblance?"

And indeed, there was some. They both had high cheek bones, and both were tall and willowy looking. The hair color was the same, there was no trace of brown in their black hair. They sported the same green eyes, although he was frowning right now, and didn't look friendly in the least. He spoke, "Who is this kid?"

She pointed, "Good question! What's you name?"

"Uh, Kenji. What's yours?"

She smiled, "Kenji! I like that name!! Ken, like a sword! Well, my name's Mina. That's short for Minami."

He bowed, "Ah, nice to meet you, Miss Mina."

She giggled, "He called me Miss Mina..! How cute!!"

The boy grunted.

Kenji sweated, "And umm, what might your elder brother's name be?"

"Elder? This dork's my twin. But, I'm older by a minute. So technically, I'm, the oldest."

"The most immature, though," he said, ducking away in response to her kick. He came over to Kenji, "Forgive me, I thought you were a student. I wouldn't have attacked you then."

Kenji sweated "Ah heh, no, the fault's all mine. I wear this sword I case someone attacks me, and I guess the sword brings trouble I'm trying to be prepared for. Ah, your name?"

"Ryu. It's not short for anything."

Kenji smiled, "Ah I see."

Mina smiled, "Hey, did you see his moves, Ryu? He could be a student!'

"Perhaps. Kind of late to be joining though, wouldn't you think?"

"Ah, who cares? The more the merrier! Oh, by the way.." she pounced on her brother, and smacked her stick across butt. "YOU'RE IT!!"

She ran off, giggling. He growled, picked up his stick, and charged after her, "WAIT TILL WE GET HOME YOU......"

Kenji blinked. What a weird brother and sister. And then he sighed, but God, she was beautiful..........