The Legend of Rianeshi Chapter 1 Kaoru came running up to Kenshin as he entered the dojo. "Did you get the rice?" Kaoru called. "Yes Miss Kaoru, two barrels more are coming," Kenshin called back. "Well, it's time for chores," Kaoru commented. "Kenshin, you need to fix the gate in front of the dojo. Yahiko and Sanosuke, you two need to scrub the floors," Kaoru ordered. "What are you gonna do Kaoru," Yahiko sneered, "sleep?!" "Actually, Yahiko, I'm going to be teaching classes to raise money," barked back Kaoru. "Well," Kaoru began, " no need to waste time!" As Kaoru began leaving, Yahiko went to get supplies for cleaning, and Kenshin followed him around back to get his own supplies. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 'smack!' Yahiko had thrown a brush at Sanosuke's head in attempt of waking him up. "Hey Rooster-head," Yahiko yelled," get off you're butt and help me start cleaning! You have to!" "Whatever kid," Sanosuke yawned. He just sat there leaned up against the post and fell back asleep. Kenshin rounded the corner and headed towards the gate with his tools. As he put his tools down, he grabbed and adjusted the gate, grabbed a nail, and began hammering. Minutes past and Kenshin started sweating in summer's mid-day heat. Suddenly he paused, as he sensed something moving far off behind him. He turned and quickly stood up, his Violet eyes scanning his surroundings, searching for whatever source of power he felt. Then his eyes fell upon a young girl. As he looked at her, he could see that she wasn't the average Japanese child. He also took notice that there was something wrong with her, very wrong. She was a brunette, with her hair reaching just below her shoulders; she had big brown eyes and very fair skin. She wore a tight pink shirt, dark blue jeans, and a pair of tennishoes. She looked as though she had been beaten up, and had cuts and bruises all over her body. Her clothes were practically torn to shreds. She just stared into Kenshins' eyes until she lost consciousness and collapsed. Kenshin ran to the stranger's side with deep concern. He knelt down next to her, preparing to pick her up. But something caught his eye. There was a shape, a symbol on her forehead. One that was very similar to a symbol he had seen before. 'Huh,' Kenshin gasped He paused as the strange mark slowly vanished. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Kenshin burst through the gate, practically at a run. Sano and Yahiko looked up, a little shocked by the sudden (and loud) entrance of Kenshin. They lurched forward to see what was in Kenshin's arms. "Sano," Kenshin called, "please get Miss Megumi, quickly!" Seeing the young girl in Kenshin's arms, Sano jumped up and dashed away. "Yahiko, get out the spare futon, hurry!" Kenshin said quickly. He took the young and new stranger to a room and gently placed her on the futon Yahiko had pulled out. Kenshin stared at the child listening to her heavy breathing, till his thoughts were broken by Megumi bursting in. Kaoru was surprisingly following her. She took one look at the figure lying on the futon, and began giving orders. "Sir Ken, heat up some water, Sano, get more blankets, Yahiko, get some clean bandages, Kaoru, start checking for more cuts, bruises or broken bones." Megumi stood quickly and left to get medication. Kaoru lifted up the girl's shirt and felt all over her stomach, sides and the rest of her body. Just then Megumi came running back in followed by Sano and Yahiko. "We have to keep her warm and clean her wounds thoroughly to reduce the risk of infection. She's also running a high fever." Megumi explained. Kenshin suddenly came rushing in with a pot of boiling water. "Thank You Sir Ken," Megumi said. Sano leaned against the wall, while Kenshin stood behind Megumi, as Kaoru and Yahiko knelt down beside the new girl. After two-and-a-half hours of cleaning and wrapping. Megumi sighed in exhaustion and relief. "All done," Megumi said sleepily. "Megumi," Kaoru said, " you can go to sleep now, I can tell you're tired. I'll watch over her. If there's any trouble I'll call for you." "Are you sure you can sit here all night?" Megumi asked. "Yeah, I'll manage," Kaoru replied smiling. Megumi agreed and left the room. "Well, it's late and I'm pooped out, well, night Missy," Sano yawned as he left the room. "Night, Baka!" Yahiko called as he ran out. "Why you little!" Kaoru began to yell and figured it was no use since he was already gone. "Miss Kaoru," Kenshin said quietly, "You will be alright, right?" "Yeah, it'll be easy. I'll be fine," Kaoru replied "If you need anything, just call me name," Kenshin said comfortingly. "OK, thanks Kenshin," Kaoru answered while a blush began to appear. Kenshin stood up and slowly walked out. 'I better sit out here tonight,' Kenshin thought, ' a girl can't just be beaten up like that by herself.' Someone dangerous could be looking for her, that they could.' With that in mind, Kenshin shut the door behind him and sat down, holding his sheath. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ As Kaoru moved near the girl's head, she started speaking to her in a low voice, asking her questions as if she weren't unconscious. "You know," she began in a soft and quiet voice, "You're really strangely dressed, and you look kind of weird too. But I wonder how did you get yourself so beat up? Is someone out there looking for you? Huh-(sigh), well, I'm Kaoru Kamiya, and I'm gonna protect you and keep you safe till you wake up. Even after you regain consciousness." "Huh, wah, huh, wah.." The beaten stranger started breathing hard and quick. Kaoru instinctively grabbed a rag, dunked it in hot water, rung it, and placed it on her forehead. She put a single hand on her chest, trying to help her breath normal. "Come on, you can beat this kid. Come on, control, you can control it!" Kaoru was now talking normally and realized how loud she was. 'Oops,' she thought. Suddenly the girls' breathing began to slow to normal as if Kaoru's guidance and words were helping her. "That's it, good girl, good girl," Kaoru whispered relaxing. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 'snap' Kenshin's head shot up at the sound of a twig breaking. His sharp eyes focused on a tree hanging over the wall surrounding the dojo. He listened intently, all his senses lurching forward. He stared and listened for thirty minutes, till he felt it was safe to relax. 'Someone's definitely on the look for this girl, and I think I know why, but who?' he thought questioningly.