This is what happens when you ask your friend what "Oro" means. She gets you hooked on Rurouni Kenshin. Then your fucked-up mind churns out this. Thanks, Japan. -is sarcastic...sort of-

So, mostly the anime version, and no, I have no idea who Tomoe is. She will not be mentioned.

This was fun to write. The whole "three personalities" thing was pulled (kinda) from one of my other fandoms. Namely, Transformers Animated. Deal with it.

Note: -talk- =Shinta -talk- = Battousai -talk- = Kenshin

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Shinta, Kenshin, Battousai. The child, the rurouni, and the hitokiri. All in one body, one mind. All separate, different, and the same.

Kenshin had long ago become accustomed to his other selves, but with Battousai appearing more often...

-To save us all, and the others. Kenshin, when you die, we all do.-

-I wasn't even the first. I was the second.-

-I don't mind. I'm still a child, Kenshin. I don't think I'll ever grow up enough to face the world as it is now. And Battousai knows he's too scary.-

-Shut it, Shinta... chan-

Kenshin heard his creator "aww", and hid his smile. He could never face the world without his constant, bickering companions, but he also knew that the others could not know about them. Kaoru, and maybe Sano, had guessed at Battousai's existence being was separate to Kenshin's, but no one knew Shinta, and it had to stay that way, for the child's sake.

Kenshin had lived in Shinta for years before coming forth the day of the bandit's attack on the slave caravan, nameless. He called himself Shinta, for he knew no other name, and the man there, Hiko, named him Kenshin. He'd kept it, and kept the real Shinta safe.

Then, the Bakumatsu sprung up, and the two beings agreed they had to do something. Over time, with both unaccustomed the war and death, Battousai had been brought to life.

They had lived and laughed together for years, and now, the question was, who should be the one known? The other two were all for Kenshin, but Shinta had much to offer the Meiji Era, being both the youngest in mentality and oldest in experience.

No. The other two had to keep that sweet little child safe and protected.He felt Battousai agree.

-You worry too much. Besides, I am content with being allowed to play Ayame and Suzume. Other times, I will stay here, safe with my family.-

-We're a pretty messed-up family, Shinta. Three of us in one head?-

-Calm down, both of you. We are approaching the Kamiya dojo. Our time to ourselves is over.-

-Kenshin, before we get there…-

-Yes, Shinta?-

-Can we tell them? About all of us? I... I trust them.-

For the first time, Kenshin could not answer his creator, and, as he had countless times before, Battousai worried for the two he swore to protect.

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Wow. Did I write that. Fastest thing I've ever written. Don't expect more. I have enough on my plate right now.