Hi all, this is my first fanfic so I would really appreciate it if you told me what you thought of it. Thanks for stopping by.

p.s. Kenshin's name was originally shinta you find that out later in the manga series, just to clear up any confution.

Prologue

I reached my hand up to wipe the blood from my face. My body tensed as serge of pain ran through my face. It's so dark what's going on where am I, what just happened. I tried to turn and get up but my attempt was only met with serge of pain in my ribs.

Suddenly it all came flooding back to me! The other warriors they must had reached our village, I have to get back there and find my family. How long had I been unconscious hours, days even. I wobbled to my feet, the pain was almost unbearable but there was no way I was going to fall here.

The others they were at our door step we had to escape but mother and father wanted to stay and defend our small village. Truthfully I think it's a sad excuse for a village but it was all we had and we weren't about to let it crumble. At first when we heard whispers about the others arrival we just thought they were rumors. But as time passed they became more prevalent so a small army of men were gathered but we were greatly out numbered mother forced us to run, "Run as far as you can…" she called as our house fell from view. But one of the others must have seen us because before we knew it some of them where on our tail. There was nowhere to run! I was caught by the first blow I felt a sword cut into my side and then it all went black.

I guess you could call me lucky because they must have thought I was dead and left. My attention shifted to my side that was still bleeding profusely. I knelt down and tore a piece of cloth from my pants and created a makeshift band aid for my side.

Suddenly a wave of shock hit me! Shinta where was he did he survive we were running together he was trying to protect me where had he gone to?

"BROTHER….WHERE ARE YOU!" I screamed knowing there would be no answer. I was alone…but he can't be dead he must have returned to the village I thought even though I knew it wasn't true. I just wanted to believe it, I needed to believe it. Without thinking my legs broke into a run I no longer cared about the pain. Shinta was older than me and I always looked up to him. I knew if he where here he would never give in I had to reach home. By the time I reached the forests edge it was dusk and the darkness was growing by the second. My side was still bleeding and my feet had started as well considering that I had no shoes. The blood loss had taken quit a toll on me but I was desperate for any sign of life and kept running. Dust flew into the air as I just about skid to a stop. "no.." I breathlessly whispered my heart still pounding in my chest. My hands shook as I looked at the village now in shambles. My eyes searched for some sort of movement but there was only the breeze the spiraled the bits of rubble left from the buildings. I slowly dragged my body forward as I walked through the wreckage. I stood stone still as I stared in horror at my own home. I stood broken, all hope drained from my body. I wanted to cry but my body was to tired to even do that. My body began to feel heavy, I had lost to much blood. I dropped to the ground just trying to keep my eyes open.. Suddenly I heard foot steps traveling towards me in the distance. 'It's them…they have come back to gather anything that's left…they will kill me' Those were the only words that crossed my mind. I listened to my own breathing and the pounding of my heart in my ears. "no….no I will not die here…I can't, not yet" I stumbled to my feet, my knees shaking as they could barely hold me up. My eyes scanned around for anything that I could use to defend myself, they immediately picked up on the glint of a sword on the ground. My feet moved on their own, or so it seemed as I trudged over to the abandoned weapon. I began to cry as I came upon the person of witch the sword once belonged. It was a man who was once my neighbor. My mind couldn't wrap around the concept that my entire village was now completely obliterated, but I instinctively picked up the sword. Mother never let me have a sword because I was a girl, she would never allow it but Shinta had always taught me a little behind her back. The sword felt oddly off balance in my hands and my hands trembled a little as I struggled to place it in front of me. The sound of foot steps grew ever closer, until I saw an outline of a figure or maybe two in front of me. I swung with full force but only hit the air all I could see was there shadows in front of me. I swung again…but still nothing.

"Hah…look at this kid…who is she?" Said once of the figures

"Who cares, but she can barely stand, I say we out her out of her misery." Responded a gruff voice."

"Damn you!" My words came out impulsively. I let out a painful cough and lunged forward knowing this was it, this was all I had. All that ran through my mind was my family, my village I was giving all I had left for them. I let out a gasp for air as I struck something with full force. I had hit…my breath was heavy as I landed on the ground.

"Owww…damn..that little twerp actually got my arm!" Shouted a man

A small smile came across my face as a satisfaction filled my body. My knees shook as I dropped to the ground.

"Shinta…..I'm sorry….I just couldn't do it….I'm so sorry." I mumbled these words to the floating dust around me.

"Let me kill her!" Said the angry voice of the man again.

"Hmmm…no…not just yet…I think I could use this one." Replied a much calmer sounding voice from the second shadow.

My sight faded in and out as I saw more of the shadows approaching. I heard whispers around me but couldn't make out any words anymore. My eyes finally closed as everything went dark at last.

Chapter one

10 years later in Tokyo…

I sat up in a cold sweat. "Damn.." I muttered under my breath as I realized it was just the same reoccurring nightmare. It had been 10 years since that day but no matter what my mind never seemed to let it escape from my memories. How I had managed to survived that day was still a bit sketchy to me, but hey I'm not complaining. According to the story when I struck one of the others colleagues Zetsumi became impressed with my abilities at such a young age and decided to spare my life, but in return I owe him my unwavering loyalty. I can't say that it was truly a fair trade but I am alive and now rome the streets of Tokyo thieving for this gang of swordsman in the Mejia era.

I tried my best to suppress the thoughts of that reoccurring nightmare as I manmade my way out of room.

"Well look who is finally up." Said a sarcastic voice from across the room.

"Oh shut it Akio." I said with a slight grin, for even though we bickered a lot he was a very close friend of mine. Akio was older than me by a long shot and had been here since I was brought in at age 5. He was the one who had treated my wounds.

"Now now, Kumiko, be nice." Said the ever calm and familiar voice of Zetsumi.

"Don't I always." I said with a laugh as I pulled my hair into a messy bun and began preparing for today's work. A few of the other guys listened in on our conversation hoping for a fight. "Well I'm going see you tonight." I said as I made a turn for the door, just as my fingers well about to slide it open someone on the other side did it instead. A cold shiver ran down my spine as I stared into Masao's face. He walked past me without saying a word, but than again he never did. He was the man who I had struck was back when I first came across Zetsumi, he hated me and if it was up to him I would be dead by now. A heavy breath left my lungs as Masao vanished into another room.

"Man…ten years and he still resents you." Said Akio as he stated what was obvious to everyone else already.

I shot him a quick glare from across the room before I stepped outside shutting the door behind me. "Now where to today…well Saturday it always full of people at the market place with money." I said thinking out load. My pace was fairly quick and it only took around 15 minutes to get to the market place considering I resided fairly close to it. I immersed myself in the crowd and scanned the area for a good pickpocket candidate. My eyes settled on a short black haired boy who was buying some food from a stand. He obviously had money and couldn't be a threat to me in anyway; this was going to be an easy swipe.

I moved through the mass of people and came to the stand looking over it as if I was going to buy something, each moment bringing myself closer to this stranger. I turned quickly a purposely bumped into him. 'this is my chance.' I thought as my fingers pulled a bag of coins from his side and slipped it into my shirt. We both collided with the ground and I immediately sprang to my feet. "I'm so sorry , my bad." I said quickly as I began to walk away. Suddenly I felt my body come to a halt as someone had grabbed onto the back of my shirt.

"Not so fast girly, I know that trick, now give me back my money." Said the boy's childish voice.

"Excuse me!" I said acting shocked at his accusation as I tried around to face him.

"Oh please don't play dumb with me." He said his tone becoming a bit harsher.

"I said I don't know what you're talking about!" My voice came out loader than I expected but I was in a bit of a panic. My body moved without thinking, I grabbed the boys arm that was holding me and whipped him around quickly slamming him into the dirt.

"Oww…" ground his voice as he lay sprawled on the ground.

My eyes widened in panic as I looked at the small crowed that had gathered around the commotion I had just created.

"Yahiko are you alright?!" Came the voice of a concerned woman as she made her way through the crowd over to the boy. "What on earth is going on here?" She questioned.

I began to back up slowly hoping to vanish myself into the abyss of people. As I got closer to the crowd I smacked into what looked like a man but his body felt like a brick wall.

"Now missy where are you off to so fast?" Said the brown haired brick man. "Kaoru what happened?" He asked the woman.

"I'm trying to figure that out have so patience Sano." She replied sounding slightly annoyed.

"That girl stole my money." The boy on the ground sad pointing at me as he tried to get to his feet. It was obvious that he was dizzy and quit shaken up.

"Aw…I see we have a thief on our hands here." Said the man, his brown hair dangling in his face a bit as he spoke looking down at me. "Now give back the money." His voice cold this time.

I broke into a sprint through the crowd and the market place. I turned my head and saw the man chasing after me, but he wasn't alone. There seemed to be a strange looking long haired red head running with him. The man also had an X shaped scar on his left cheek which just added to his odd looking appearance.

"Sanosuke stop, this one really thinks your making to much out of this." Said the red head as he trotted along side.

"Kenshin just let me handle this ok, your charity isn't always logical." Retorted the brick man

I made a shard turn at the corner of a building and skid to a halt as I met with a dead end. "Damn." I muttered to myself as the two quickly caught up with me. The brown haired one called Sanosuke moved first. He swung his fist at me. I dodge it but just barely, and I felt it skim my cheek. I regained my ground and pulled a dagger from my pants pocket. The man swung again this time I wasn't quick enough and he hit my left shoulder. "Ahh!" I shouted as I heard it make a cracking sound. It burned and my arm hung slightly limp by my side. I had to work fast now, I swung my dagger at his stomach, it didn't stab him but a nice cut was all I needed and it was exactly what I got. It was enough to make him pull back. My breathing was short and quick as I grit my teeth in pain from my shoulder.

"Sano are you alright?!" asked the redheaded man

"Yeah I'm fine." He said barely choking out the words. "Just where the heck did that dagger come from, I didn't even see it." He said his voice sounding resentful

The red head turned to look at me. "This one does not wish to hurt you, but you leave this one no choice."

"Please your stupid friend got himself into this." I said impulsively trying to act more confident than I felt.

The man pressed his thumb on the hilt of his sword and popped it from his sheath just a bit. He moved without hesitation at me. My dagger snapped in two as soon as it blocked his first movement. I was weaponless; his next technique was fast I didn't even see it coming. It smacked my full on in the stomach, sending me back into the wall. I winced as I was almost positive I had just broken a rib or two. My body fell limply to the ground. The cold dirt on my skin was the last thing I could feel before I completely passed out.