Meiji High Samurai

By

Chosha Kurenai

Chosha's Notes

Konnichiwa minna-san! I want to thank you all for giving this fic a try. I know that RK set in the modern times has been done before, but to those who have read my other stuff, they will also know that I tend to do things a little differently than most, even if I'm doing something that's already been done. Hopefully, this will be one of those, so I hope you enjoy this as much as I will. If at any point you want to comment, query or give advice, ideas or constructive criticisms about anything you read here, then please review and I will do my best to help with the best of my ability. I love to here what you guys have to say about my writing, so please, don't hesitate.

I wish to inform you all that this story is meant to be based in Japan, however, being an British collage student, things might be a bit different that what it is meant to be, so if so, Gomennasai. But if you need any explanations, as said, just review them to me.

One last note, I will be basing this on a mixture of the manga and the anime, depending on which is more suited for adaptation the modern day settings.

Disclaimer: Chosha Kurenai does not own any rights to the Manga or Anime of Rurouni Kenshin. Rurouni Kenshin belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki and companies such as Viz, Shonen Jump and Sony, to which all copyrights and rights are reserved.

Key

"Blah" - talking

Blah - thinking or reading something.

MHS - time or place change or PoV change.

Anyway, with that out the way, let the games begin!

Prologue:

Rurouni - Himura Kenshin

The street was bustling with people, despite the fact it was throwing it down with rain in a way that put Niagara Falls to shame, blanketing the world in a grey curtain. They dashed in and out of doorways, or strode quickly along, heads bowed and umbrellas covering their heads as they tried to get to wherever it was they were going.

Inside one of the small restaurants along this street sat a young man, gazing out at the world. He looked barely older than sixteen; perhaps twenty at the most, with long, ruby-red hair that fell down his back like silk, but was tied back into a low ponytail. Some of his hair fell loosely around his face, framing it with crimson tresses. He wore a deep navy, slightly baggy sweater and loose combat-like trousers, while a rather old and slightly worn coat was slung over the back of the chair, while a large, threadbare canvas rucksack sat by his feet. His face had a strangely innocent look to it, cherub-like, even more so when he smiled. However, the left cheek was married by a strange, cross-shaped scar, red as the day it was made, though how it was made, the young man would never say. Yet somehow, it seemed only to enhance his looks, rather than ruin them. His eyes were, arguably, the most intriguing things about this young man, however. They were a deep amethyst in colour that seemed to look into your very soul, but sometimes, only sometimes, you could see secrets hidden in those eyes, telling stories of a hidden past that would never be told.

Outside, rain slatted hard against the café window it was a wonder it didn't break, covering it in a liquid sheen that figures dashing about outside couldn't be distinguished, even if they were only centimetres away from the window. Inside, violet eyes rested on the vailed window for a second, before closing with a small sigh. As something of a wanderer, or a rurouni as he would call himself, the young man, Himura Kenshin, hated the rain on principle. For one thing, Kenshin found it very uncomfortable to travel when his clothes and very few worldly belongings were absolutely soaked and, with the fact that he didn't have a place to call his own to get dry once more, he would most likely catch pneumonia, knowing his twisted luck. Thankfully, today it looked like Kami liked him, as Kenshin had just managed to find shelter within this café before the heavens opened.

Besides, the rain depressed him.

Opening his eyes again, he ignored the window and turned his attention to the cup of tea that sat on the glass-topped table, taking a sip from it as he pulled a folded newspaper towards him, flicking it open with his free hand. The newspaper was an old one that had been sitting on the table when he had entered, the previous day's date printed along the top, but Kenshin didn't mind. At least he didn't have to use up any more of his meagre savings in order to buy one. He shook his blazing red bangs from his face as his soft, violet-coloured eyes ran over the print idly. The headline on the front page caught his eye.

"Oro?" Kenshin sat up a little straighter in order to read the headline properly.

Hitokiri Battosai Strikes Again

Kenshin almost choked on the tea he was drinking at the headline and had to sit there coughing for several minutes straight, causing the woman behind the counter to look round, concerned.

"Daijobu ka?" she asked worriedly

Kenshin waved a hand in her direction for a moment until he could get everything back under control. "D-daijobu," Kenshin wheezed, rubbing his chest. He sent her a shaky smile. "Sessha just swallowed the tea the wrong way. Don't worry, Onna-dono, I'm fine."

The waitress looked at him concerned for a moment, before shrugging and went back to cleaning the counter again. Finally getting his breathing back under control, Kenshin picked up the paper again, reading the article in something close to disbelief, hardly believing what his eyes were seeing.

Hitokiri Battosai Strikes Again

Last night, the Hitokiri, codenamed Battosai has once more killed in central Tokyo. Battosai (whose true identity is unknown) has been killing people in Tokyo with a katana for the past two months. However, his motives seem unknown. Police are still investigating the murders in hope to find some sort of motive behind these seemingly random attacks. (Story continued pg. 5)

The picture on the front page looked like some type of representation of the killer. His face covered by a thick, jet-black scarf, so only harsh looking eyes glared up at him from the newspaper.

Kenshin stared at the page for a moment, tea temporarily forgotten. Battosai… Kenshin had not heard that name in many years. In fact, he had hoped not to have to hear the name again. But…Battosai killing in Tokyo? That was impossible. Whoever it was could not be this Battosai. After all, Sessha…

Kenshin folded up the paper, a small frown on his youthful face. Well, it seems there was something very interesting to check out in Tokyo. Even though that name brought rather dark thoughts to the surface of his mind, it was not something that he could just ignore. The police were just not truly equipped for a fight against this man. And Kenshin could not just allow him to continue. Not when he used that name.

Well, it looks like Sessha's next stop is Tokyo, he thought, rummaging in his bag for his money for the tea. As he came up again, he caught sight of the window. Outside, the rain, it seemed, had finally come to an end, though the sky looked a little ominous still. Well, best not to put it off then. Sessha was going to go there anyway. Sessha heard the schools in Tokyo are nice... I never did get to finish High School…

The waitress, seeing that Kenshin looked ready to finish, approached with the bill. "How was everything, Otoko-san?" she asked as she took the money from Kenshin.

"Fine, Onna-dono. Arigato gozaimasu."

The woman smiled, bowed and made her way over to one of the other customers. With a small sigh, Kenshin stood up, stretched and pulled on his worn coat over his shoulders and grabbed his bag. Hopefully the weather would hold out for him, at least until he got to Tokyo. After all, it would take him about a day to get there by foot and walking in the rain was not what he would call a desirable option – especially since he disliked to hitchhike and didn't have enough money for bus or train-fare. He allowed himself a small chuckle at the mental image as he slung his rucksack over one shoulder and made his way to the door, making a wind-chime tinkle as he pushed open the door and slipped outside.

MHS

Three days later…

Meiji high school was not the most extravagant school in the world, but it wasn't the worst, either. All right, so the cafeteria food was, to be honest, awful, but most the teachers were nice and the material they were taught from were all up to date and relatively new as well, so you couldn't complain.

In the history room, there was the usual crowd of students who were chatting pleasantly in their little groups as they waited for the teacher, Inouye-sensei, to arrive. Everyone, that was, but for one girl, sitting separately from the others. She was a pretty girl, not by a model's standards, but pretty nonetheless, wearing the school uniform of a short, bottle green pleated skirt and white jumper. She had long, blue-black hair that most girls would kill to have, tied back into a high ponytail by an indigo ribbon. Her eyes under her bangs were a sapphire blue and would have been the prettiest thing about her, if it weren't for the simmering anger that burned within them.

Kamiya Kaoru was having a very bad day. No, scratch that, Kamiya Kaoru was having days so bad it was as if Kami himself had a vendetta against her. This 'Bad streak', as she began to call it, had begun around a month ago, the day in which the murders committed by this Battosai person had started.

Now, Kaoru was not your normal, everyday kind of girl. Her Mother had passed away when Kaoru was a young girl. It was so long ago, really, that Kaoru's memory of her was a little vague. Her father, Kamiya Koshijiro, had died about a few months ago. He was a lovely man, kind, gentle and generous, and had always taught her to help other people. His kendo style, which he had created, was all about that – helping to protect oneself and other people – the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu. His real job, however, was with the Tokyo police and, in a robbery that had got out of hand, her father had been shot and that same man had been stolen away from her on that same night. From that point on, Kaoru was alone. She'd be lying if she said that it didn't hurt, because it did. She had loved her father dearly, and to know that she would never again see his kind smile struck her hard. However, it was not in Kaoru's nature to let anything drag her down for too long. Koshijiro had always said his Kaoru was stubborn that way.

Normally, though it hurt badly, Kaoru could have coped. Her friends at school would be able to take her mind off things. They did. They really did – but not in the way she had thought. Something had happened that made everyone spurn her, turn away from her. And it was this Battosai's entire fault.

When the murders first began, Kaoru had been shocked when police came to her door at her dojo where she was now the assistant master. It seemed that this Battosai was claiming to be killing in the name of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu. Well, she gave them an earful about that. The Kamiya Kasshin-ryu was not a killing art, Baka, she had yelled at them. It's a sword that protects people, and none of the students would ever use it to hurt someone. However, even though they left, so did everyone else. Because, however distantly, she was connected to this murderer, and they didn't want anything to do with that.

She sighed; crossing her arms and leaning her head against them so her eyes beaked up from behind them. Kami, how could they have just left her like that, even though she had never done anything wrong. Hmph…who needs friends anyway… she thought, closing her eyes. Yes, she wished she could say that sincerely, but… Why did it hurt so much…?

"Did you hear, did you hear," one of the girls nearby was saying excitedly, her pigtails bouncing as she burst through the door. "Our class is getting a new transfer student! And it's a guy!"

Whoop-de-do… Kaoru thought bitterly, but listened anyway, just out of bored curiosity, seeing as no one would even give her the time of day anymore.

"Nani? Are you serious?" another girl exclaimed, jumping to her feet and clasping the other girl by the jumper. "Did you see him? What's he like?"

"Oh, yeah I saw him. Really, he's so cute!" the first girl giggled loudly, her eyes almost heart-shaped. Kaoru sweat-dropped. Ugh! It was people like her that made Kaoru ashamed to be a girl…

"Alright, settle down, class, settle down," Kaoru looked up as Inouye-sensei entered the room. Inouye-sensei was a short, balding man with a kind face; small, rectangular glasses sat on his tomato-shaped nose. However, even though he was a nice guy, Kaoru couldn't say much for his dress sense. Unfortunately, Inouye-sensei had a habit of wearing rather brightly patterned suits and today was no exception. Although he was wearing black trousers and a white shirt, he was also wearing a bright, eye-stinging waistcoat, bearing all the colours of the rainbow and a tie that was bright blue with Mickey Mouse heads covering it. If Kaoru wasn't feeling so down, she might have laughed at the odd assortment, or winced at the colour scheme.

However, something, or in this case, someone, caught her eye as he followed the small teacher into the room. Kaoru allowed her self to prop her head in her hands to get a better look at the new guy.

Well, the guy was quite the stunner. His hair was a bright ruby red that reminded Kaoru of a sunset – and, apart from Inouye-sensei's waistcoat, it had to be the brightest thing in the room. He had softly tanned skin and the strangest eyes Kaoru had ever seen. Amethyst – Kaoru had never seen such eyes before. Even as he cast a small glance round the room, they seemed to look right into your heart, yet were so kind and gentle – something she rarely saw in boy's eyes. He wore the dark blue blazer and trousers that all the boys had to wear for school. The boy turned to face the class next to the teacher and Kaoru's eyes widened in surprise. On his left cheek was a cross-shaped scar. Around her, she heard the students whispering like little hisses of fire, but it seemed that not even a scar could put off the girls in the class, who, from the corner of Kaoru's eye, were all staring up at him dreamily. However, to Kaoru's surprise, the boy didn't seem to notice the attention he was getting.

"Anyway, your attention, class," he said, as the class finally got to their seats and the noise slowly dissipated. "Now, we have a someone new joining our class today." He turned to the blackboard and scribbled up a name. "And I hope you will all make him feel welcome." He moved away to reveal the name he had wrote.

Himura Kenshin

Kenshin…that was a nice name, Kaoru thought as she looked at the boy. Suddenly, she mentally slapped herself. What the hell are you thinking, Kaoru-chan? She thought, bitterly. He's not going to want anything to do withyou once he found out about that Battosai (damn the guy, whoever he is). She couldn't bear to imagine the disgusted took in those gentle violet eyes…

"Why don't you introduce yourself, Himura-kun?" Inouye-sensei said to the boy.

Himura Kenshin bowed towards the class and smiled pleasantly, causing half the female population to sigh.

"Sessha wa Himura Kenshin. Pleased to meet you, de gozaru"

Kaoru blinked a little at the greeting. Mou, what a strange guy.

Inouye-sensei looked thoughtfully around the room. "Now, were shell we have you sit…" his eyes landed on the one of the few empty desks in the room – the one, to Kaoru's surprise, which was right next to her. "Ah, the desk next to Kamiya-san is open. Kamiya Kaoru, raise your hand please."

Kaoru raised her hand, but not before the whispers broke out again, louder this time.

"Ooo, Himura-kun, don't sit there! Don't you know she's the teacher at that Hitokiri's school?"

Kaoru froze, feeling cold in the pit of her stomach, before anger almost made her erupted like mount Fuji on the spot. She clenched her fists and shook with fury. Why those little… Now they were even ruining her chances at even having a small friendship with the boy! But, just as she was about to grab her history book and lob it at them, Kenshin, to her surprise, had ignored the whispers completely and sat down next to her, before flashing her a cheerful smile. "Ohayo, Kamiya-san," He said in a soft, gentle voice. Kaoru almost fell out of her seat. He was still talking to her? But…but they had just told him she was part of 'Battosai's' school!

…Perhaps he hadn't heard them…she though glumly, but forced herself to smile in return. "Ohayo, Himura-kun"

Kenshin smiled at her gently, before pulling out his equipment out of his bag for the lesson. Inouye-sensei turned to the class with a smile and clapped his hands together. "Now, if you are all settled, we will begin the lesson. Everyone, books out and turn to page 143…"

TBC

Japanese words

Kami: the name for a deity, i.e. God, spirits, gods, etc.

Oro: Well, if you don't know this word, I'm surprised, but anyway – Kenshin's trademark exclamation. Another form of Ara, meaning, "huh"

Hitokiri: Manslayer

Battosai: A warrior name meaning, "Master of Battojutsu"

Daijobu: Can mean either "I'm alright" or "Are you alright?"

Ka: How you voice "?"

Otoko-san: Sir. Literally, "Mr Man"

Onna-dono: Madam/Miss. Literally, "Miss Lady"

Katana: Traditional, slightly curved Japanese long sword of the samurai that can be wielded either single or double handed.

Sessha: roughly translated to "this unworthy one", an archaic form of "I"

Arigato gozaimasu: Thank you very much

Sensei: teacher/ master (in this case, teacher)

-Kun: a suffix used to male students, or a 'superior to inferior' form to indicate difference in status, as well as familiarity or affection. (Or, that's what the manga says...)

Sessha/Watashi/Ore/Boku wa: I am… (In the case of Kenshin's greeting, "this unworthy one is…")

De Gozaru: from what I get, "Gozaru" is a suffix conjugation for "to be" or can be roughly translated as "...so says this humble person"

Ohayo: Morning

-San: Mr, Mrs Miss, etc

Chosha's notes

Well, I know that hasn't followed the manga or Anime properly, but then again, you couldn't have expected it to if I was going to make it into a modern setting. However, you might see some slightly more familiar stuff as the story continues. Anyway, I needed to give Kenshin a few reasons for actually going to Tokyo in the first place and, in the manga, Kenshin seems to actually be looking for this fake Battosai, ne? So, I was sort of following that idea. Anyways, so, what do you think so far? Is it good, bad or just plain stupid? Please, review and tell me.

Next time on MHS…

Kenshin is having school problems – especially with a rather violent dojo girl, and Kaoru gets her first contact with the murderer. Next episode: the Hitokiri Battosai.

But, 'til then, Ja ne!

Chosha Kurenai xXx