Disclaimer: I do not own Ruoni Kenshin. So leave me alone!

Gently now, don't break it" said Misao to her little cousin Yuuyake

"I am, Shan!"

"Misao smiled at her cousin's nickname for her.

I don't know why she calls me Shan, I am most defiantly NOT beautiful Misao thought to herself not after that man came.

(Flash back)

"Misao run!" screamed Tomoe

"Mommy!" Misao screamed as a masked man drove his sword through her mother's heart.

Tomoe screamed at the pain, and then fell forward into a pool of black blood

Misao ran as fast as she could out of the dojo but the time she lost while watching her mother be mercilessly slaughtered cost her dearly. The assassin was close on her heals. Suddenly anger at having her mother killed made her turn around and face her attacker. She took out her Kunai and threw them at the man. Two ripped through his eyes tearing through his skull and past his thick bloodied hair. The other eight buried themselves in his torso till only the handles were visible. The man fell forward on top of little Misao, his sword cutting through her arm, severing it from her shoulder.

Misao screamed at the pain then fell into a puddle of her own blood. Blood now mixed with that of the assassin, the man who had killed her mother. Then every thing went black.

(end of flashback)

Misao shuddered, that was 10 years ago when she was 6.

"Shan?" asked Yuuyake

"Hummm. Oh, I'm sorry, what was your question?" asked Misao coming out of her daze

"Did you want it here or on the other shelf?" the little girl asked putting her small hands on her hips.

Misao smiled at the little five years old, she looked absolutely adorable in her little blue kimono.

"Right there is fine, don't you think?"

The little girl pondered the question as if she were deciding the fate of the world

"Yes. I think it looks good there." She smiled up at Misao.

"Come on lets go make dinner, Aoshi and Uncle Saitoh will be home soon" Misao said trying to take the younger girls hand in hers.

"Okay, let's go!"

Misao laughed as the little girl pulled at her limp kimono sleeve that should have been filled with an arm.

(flash back)

"Misao-chan, Misao-chan, please wake up"

Misao opened her eyes to see the face of her aunt Tokio. where was her mom? As soon as the question entered her head the events of the past few hours flashed through her mind.

"Auntie… Is mommy… Is she." Misao stammered

"Oh, Misao-chan I'm so sorry!" said Tokio bursting into fresh tears.

Misao looked at the sealing wanting to be strong, needing to be strong, but no matter how hard she tried to hold them back the tears still came, fast and silent.

"Misao you are going to be living with us now since, since my sister is no longer here" said a gruff voice that had only a hint of emotion. This tone could only belong to one person, Saitoh.

Misao tried to sit up but the pain in her shoulder was too much. She brought her left hand over to her right side to rub her right arm that felt so numb. Her hand met only air.

(end of flash back)

The two girls went into the kitchen where Tokio was already starting dinner.

"I'll cut the tomatoes" said Misao walking over to the door to go get some from the garden. "Misao-chan, I would rather you stir the soup and let Yuuyake-chan get the tomatoes." Said Tokio in a you-better-do-as-I-say-or-you-are-in-big-trouble voice.

"Yes auntie" sighed a very annoyed Misao

Gosh, just because I only have one arm does not mean that I can't do normal things like normal people! Why do they always treat me like a handicap?

Because you are one another voice in her head answered.

So? That does not mean they have to treat me like one! And besides I am NOT a child

As Misao stirred the soup thoughtfully, the door opened and Saitoh and Aoshi walked in. The both went directly to there rooms without a word.

Misao kept her eyes on Aoshi the whole 3 minutes that she could see him.

My gosh, he's handsome, he's so strong, and tall, and he has the nicest butt. Oh, my gosh I did not just think that! Misao blushed a bright pink at the thought of her thinking about Aoshi-sama's butt of all things!

well it's true, and it's not like anyone can read my thoughts.

Misao snapped out of it just in time to save the stew from burning.

"Shan, If you don't start watching the food more closely it will end up tasting like Auntie Kaoru's cooking!" said little Yuuyake

Misao laughed at the comment.

Kaoru was her mother's sister. So was Dr. Magumi. They were both married, Kaoru to Uncle Kenshin and Magumi to Uncle Sano. Every one in misao's family was very close.

Misao sighed putting dinner on the low table at which they were to eat.

"Yuuyake, will you please get Uncle Saitoh and Aoshi for dinner?" Misao asked the little girl.

"OK!" Yuuyake said running to get the two men while humming softly to herself.

Such life Thought Misao as she watched Yuuyake run off.

She smiled and finished putting every thing on the table.

Please R&R!