A/N: This is the story by me, Formerly RurouniNikkitch13 and Crystal Renee, fuzzy-sama's mistress. Yes, this is a repost of the first 5 chapters, but that is besides the point. I hope you enjoy this story!


Colors of Love: Crimson and Ebony Trails

Chapter 1

Leaves crunched under his brown leather boots as he twisted his way through the trees and overlapping branches that lined the mountain. His jacket was much too large and slipped off his shoulder, but he casually placed it back up with a single movement from his lean arm. Right now, he was hunting. A mountain man had to hunt in order to eat. The pickings were always sparse during the winter. And even if he had been a vegetarian, he'd still have to kill something to eat. But no, Kenshin Himura was no animal rights activist, which didn't even exist in this time period. He was just a simple wandering mountain man, looking against the great towering pine trees and low hanging brush.

He closed his eyes as a gust of wind swept the snow up from the ground. It twisted around as if it was a tornado, dancing like soft fireflies did in the summer. The soft snow crashed against his face, lying in the shaggy depths of his crimson beard. He grumbled to himself, irritated at having a now wet beard. He could put up with many things, but a wet beard was something that topped his list of pet peeves. Not only was it irritating to have something wet against your face in the winter chill, but his beard would freeze and turn into red icicles that hung from his face, and that was what irritated him the most.

"Great, now I will catch pneumonia."

Shifting his weight as he trudged on, his ancient sword clanked against his side. He grabbed the hilt, instantly silencing the weapon. If he could not blend into the landscape with his flamboyant hair, he would at least be silent as he stalked his prey. His prey was fast, but he was faster. His prey was clever, but he was smarter than the average bear. (A/N: Couldn't help myself. )

Suddenly, he stopped still. His lean body stood rigid against the artic wind as he stood, eyes and ears trained to all the sounds and movements around him. Watching, his sharp lavender eyes scanned the area closely, watching for his prey. He had heard something, his soon to be dinner. A malicious grin covered his face as he picture himself next to a toasty fire stuffing his face with fresh meat. Shaking out of his thoughts, he let his eyes scan the area again.

There it was, a small white rabbit, intently watching him as its nose twitched frantically. The two sat in a dead lock, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Kenshin slowly crouched down, preparing himself to pounce upon the small animal. The rabbit it's self seemed to fall into a stance, its hind legs outstreching behind it. Slightly confused, Kenshin oro'd in his mind as he kept his eye on his food. As said before, food was scarce in the winter, and for now, this rabbit would have to do.

And then it happened. His stomach growled, frightening the rabbit enough to break into a run. He mentally cursed himself as he followed the rabbit, flying to make up for his moments delay. The rabbit was losing ground to Kenshin, wildly leaping from side to side in hopes to lose the predator. It zigzagged through brush and roots, leaving indentations of its path, unknowingly leading Kenshin on.

His sword gently rubbed against his sheath as he raised it, while silently gliding over the frozen ground. His trained eyes flashed over as he prepared to swing. A hungry smile covered his face, and his eyes trained themselves to the mystical movement of the rabbit.

Just as he was bringing down his blade, a yell pierced through the air.

Startled, Kenshin tripped over a root, falling to the ground, and effectively losing his meal. Kenshin blinked, trying to figure out what had just happened. The yell came again, this time closer and more frantic. Narrowing his eyes, he lifted himself from the ground. He recognized that sound...someone was in trouble.

Before deciding what to do, he grumbled. Not only had he lost his meal in his clumsy act, but now his beard was covered in snow which promised to freeze over soon. Clearing his mind and placing it toward the task at hand, he made his decision.

He took off at a run, aiming towards the direction of the screaming. As he approached, the growl of a cougar could also be heard amongst sounds of ragged breathing and running footsteps. He slid to a halt, analyzing the scene that lay ahead of him, half hidden by the brush.

There stood a young boy, holding a half broken bokken in his hands as he fiercely stared down a cougar. Kenshin's eyes widened as he noticed the slow trickle of blood that occasionally dropped to the ground from the boy's arm. Examining further, he noticed a tear in the boy's gi, and a smear of crimson blood on the cougar's front paw.

The boy was breathing heavily, obviously tiring. Growling, the cougar leapt at the boy, aiming for his head. That was all that Kenshin needed to go into action. A streak of red flashed across the snow as he raced the cougar to the boy. Drawing out his katana, he used the blunt side to swing upwards, striking the cougar in the neck. The large animal fell over, still breathing, but temporarily unconscious, somewhat resembling a sleeping kitten. A very large, very dangerous, sleeping kitten.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Kenshin sheathed his sword. Turning around, he looked down at the boy. His large brown eyes were wide with shock, still trying to figure out how that shaggy man defeated the cougar so easily.

Kenshin placed a large hand on the boy's spiky brown hair, causing him to look up. "Are you okay?"

The boy's eyes shifted, anger taking over as he said, "What did you do that for! I can take care of myself!"

"Oro?!?! I'm sure you can...I was more concerned about your well being, that I was. Please forgive me." Kenshin stated, grinning agaisnt the wetness of his beard.

His grin, of course, was quickly replaced with an irritated, tight lipped frown. 'I really should cut this off.........'

However, the boy was not listening. He was looking at Kenshin with an inquisitive look in his eyes. Slowly, his hand reached up and grasped his beard. Giving it a few firm tugs, he asked, "What is this? Why do you have so much hair on you chin?"

"Oro!" Kenshin sweat dropped, while removing the tiny hands from his beard. "It is called a beard. This is what happens when I do not shave, that it does."

"Hmmpff...I think it looks stupid."

Kenshin chuckled, momentarily glad the boy hated the shaggy thing as much as he did, before getting down on one knee to become eye level with the boy. Reaching a hand out he said calmly, "My name is Kenshin Himura. And who would you be?"

"I am Yahiko Kamiya," he said proudly, shaking Kenshin's hand firmly. A warm liquid fell onto Kenshin's hand as he looked at Yahiko. He recognized the feeling...it was blood. Pulling back Yahiko's sleeve, he gasped at the large gash in Yahiko's arm.

"Perhaps I should clean this, that I should. Follow me, Yahiko."

Kenshin led the boy down a snowcovered path, leading to his campsite. A small tent was set up in a clearing. Smoke rose from the ground inside a stone circle, probably where the campfire had once been. Instead of a fire, though, there was a large pile of snow.

"Is this where you are staying?" Yahiko asked tentively.

Kenshin nodded his head. "Yes, I am a wanderer, that I am.

Holding the flap open for Yahiko, he crawled inside. The tent was bare, expect for one thing. There was a collection of swords half hidden behind his traveling bag. He was immediately drawn to the elegant pieces, reaching out to touch them.

"Do not touch those, Yahiko."

The boy looked down, grumbling an apology. Kenshin fished into his bag, pulling out bandages to clean the boy's wound. "It is alright, Yahiko, you did not know." He gently began to cleanse the wounds, taking care to remove all of the dried blood. Yahiko sat silent during it all, his eyes downcast to the floor.

"Kenshin?" came a small voice.

"Hmm?" he responded, picking up the bandages to wrap the boys wound.

"Thank you."

Kenshin smiled, keeping his face hidden by his long bangs. "You're welcome, Yahiko. You are brave. You will make a fine warrior someday." Looking at the boy's face, he could see the pleasure that Yahiko got from the compliment.

"Of course I will! But I want to learn to fight like you. I have never seen someone move so fast."

Kenshin chuckled before rising. "Where are your parents? They must be very worried about you."

The boy's face fell once again. "Yeah...say, do you want to come with me to meet them? I want to introduce you to someone."

A gentle smile danced across Kenshin's face, not being able to avoid the boy's enthusasium. "Of course, Yahiko. It would be my pleasure, that it would. Shall we go?"

The boy rose, waiting by the flap for Kenshin to follow. The red headed man followed passively behind Yahiko, allowing him to lead him through the wild tangles of frozen branchs and brush. Frozen, just like his beard, Kenshin noted with much irritation.

In the distance, smoke could be seen rising to the pale sky. "It's just over this hill," the boy called as his pace quickened.

Kenshin looked around, thinking to himself, 'Isn't this the area of...'

"Kenshin, there it is!" He came up behind the boy, looking down to where he was pointing. Several large tepees dotted the field as people milled around, completing their chores. Suddenly, Yahiko took off down the hill, calling out over his shoulder, "Come on, mountain man!"

Raising his eyebrow, Kenshin shook his head as he followed the boy down the hill. They walked through the village slowly. Yahiko called out greeting the people as they bowed to the boy, but glared at Kenshin suspiciously.

'Why are they bowing?' Kenshin thought as they stopped in front of a large tepee that was elaborately decorated with animal pelts and bright symbols.

Yahiko turned around, glancing up at Kenshin. "Wait here a minute, ok?"

Kenshin smiled down at the boy and nodded, making his vivid hair fly around him. The boy disappeared into the tepee, leaving Kenshin to look around. The villagers were still staring at him awkwardly. 'I wish I would have bathed first,' Kenshin thought, looking down at his rough appearance. 'But then again, if my beard is making me cold, I can't imagine how cold a bath could make me, that I can't.'

Some of the men smirked at him because of his small frame and the sword he carried. This made Kenshin feel selfconscience, but he just waited patiently for Yahiko to come and retrieve him once more.

Just then, Yahiko popped his head out from under the flap. "Come on, Kenshin."

Kenshin crawled into the tepee, immediately seeing a large man with long dark hair. In his hands was a long smoking pipe, and he greeted Kenshin with a large inviting smile.

"Mr. Himura! It is a pleasure to meet you. My, you are smaller than I thought...and hairier too. But no matter! Little Yahiko here told me that you saved his life. I am forever grateful to you!"

"Oro?" Kenshin went to speak more, when he was suddenly interrupted.

"I AM NOT LITTLE!" Yahiko yelled, clenching his fists.

The large man laughed joyously, and patted the boy on his head. "Of course not. How silly of me to forget." Looking back at Kenshin, he held the pipe to him. "Would you like a puff?"

Kenshin shook his head saying, "No, thank you , Sir. Really, it was no trouble to help Yahiko..."

"Nonsense, Himura! I owe you greatly. I would like to give you a priceless gift to repay you for your generosity."

Kenshin's eyes widened and he waved his hands in front of himself. "No, no, Sir. You really don't have to, that you don't. It is not necessary."

Receiving a slap on the back from the man, Kenshin fell over slightly from the weight of the man's hand. His eyes were bright when he said, "I will give you my daughter's hand in marriage!"

Both the large man and Yahiko looked at Kenshin strangely when cried out, "ORROOOOO!" and fell over in shock.


TBC...

Enjoy! hugs and love, Nikki and Crystal