Awakened

Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever own the rights to Kenshin.

As a note, I have nothing else planned for this story. If someone has suggestions, feel free to tell me. I wrote this quite some time ago and don't exactly remember where I was going with it. On with the story!

Chapter One

I threw my backpack down onto the ground, digging myself deeper into the rut of familiarity. I've had the same exact routine over the past years, and there was nothing I could really do to change that. I was never a person to get myself involved with anything. I really don't think it would ever be possible. I would simply lose myself in my thoughts, in the mindless television that has captured so many people already. Of course, I could not deny myself as being one of these many people. As I flip through the channels, I'm reminded just of what place I have in this world.

What is that exactly? What makes me, a small speck in comparison to the massive tidal wave of humanity, important?

Nothing.

I'm an average student, with average classes, and average grades.

I have an average, middle class family. A stay at home mom, an office dad, and a protective older brother. The only strange thing about my family is my mom's choice of decoration. She believes we should embrace the sliver of a percentage of the Japanese blood we have, although my family hasn't been associated with Japan for generations. The simple ink paintings and basic furniture can be nice, but it's all topped off by what rests above our fireplace: an ancient katana. A one hundred percent real katana. Me and my brother have never been able to tell what she was thinking, putting a dangerous weapon on display in a house with young children. Apparently, it belonged to our great-however-many-times-over grandfather.

That's about as interesting as we get. A mysterious family heirloom. At this point, it's hard to focus on not focusing, so I turned the TV off, and headed into the kitchen. None of the leftovers in the fridge interested me, and I'm too lazy to cook something for myself, so I'm just going to sleep.

This is Alison, signing off.

Alison closed her journal with a sigh. Her mother had thought she should keep some kind of record of the "most important years of her life," as if she hasn't heard that before. As she got up from her desk to get into her bed, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and paused.

Most people would see a beautiful, young 16 year old. She had light brown hair sprinkled with a natural golden blonde that gently rolled down her back in slight waves. Eyes that were vibrant, sapphire orbs flecked with violet, able to see a person for who they truly were. Soft features complimented by a harsh jaw line, providing a perfect balance. A body toned from always walking wherever she needed to go. She was someone with a classic beauty, unlike the more flashy appeal of the current times.

On the other hand, Alison saw herself to be an average girl. She saw the brown hair as being common, unlike the jet black or brilliant red that was common in her family. Her hair was untamable, unable to be perfect like everyone her age preferred. Her eyes clashed with the lightness of her hair. Her jaw was too sharp, too masculine, and her face looked like it did not belong. Alison could never see her features uniting into what people would call beauty.

Alison shook her head. She hadn't stopped to think about what she looked like in ages, and she wouldn't start now. There was no reason to. And with these final thoughts, Alison fell asleep.

The next morning, the teenager slowly blinked herself awake, ridding herself of the last remnants of sleep. Alison struggled to remember her dream, but she could only remember flashes. There was a man, with blood red hair, demonic amber eyes, and… a sword? She tried to make sense of what she could recall, but put it out of her mind with a growl from her stomach. Of course, she forgot to eat dinner last night. She would be all alone again today. Her brother, Jake, was away at college. Her parents were away visiting some distant relatives that Alison had no interest in seeing, or even meeting for that matter. At least, she thought she was alone, when she heard a door shut.

"Jake?" she called out. Could her brother be on break and forgot to mention it? She pondered this, and all her thoughts were once again halted.

Crash. There was no doubt. Alison knew that there was someone in the house who certainly didn't belong there. As possibilities ran through her mind, one thought recurred: she has to find a way to protect herself. Immediately, she thought of the sword. Her room was near the living room, and it sounded with the crash was farther away. She could possibly reach it…

But that moment wasn't a time for possibilities. She had to try. There was no point to hiding, and even if there was, the adrenaline coursing through her veins had awakened some kind of instinct. And it was calling for the sword. Time would be key for her. She had already wasted enough time trying to decide what to do. And her body started to move, not needing to think of what it was doing. Alison ran with an eerie silence that could have only been achieved through practice, which she had none of. As she grabbed the sword, she wondered where the sudden confidence came from. She was by no means a swordsman, but a voice from inside her told her differently.

Alison held the sword with confidence, knowing that her instincts could guide her. Just as the intruder stepped into the room, she unsheathed the sword. It was plain that whoever this man was, he was intending on stealing whatever he could find that could be valuable. Amusement flashed through his eyes as he saw the sword in Alison's hands. He could not help but laugh.

"What's a small little woman like you gonna do with a big ol' sword like that?"

The only answer Alison gave him was a small smirk, showing her intent. She ran forward with deadly speed and accuracy, thrusting the sword through his chest. The last thing he saw was a flash of molten amber in her eyes and the splatter of his own blood on her face.

Alison Himura had stolen the thief's life. And she could never turn back.