Chapter 1: Arrival to the Past

He sighs, the deep, glorious exhale of all the negative thoughts that plagued his mind. Lids opening like the slow-moving tide, until the waves hit the rift, then color. Amber pools, blazing as the hot desert sun peered through the afternoon glare. These eyes held nothing of warmth or emotion. They glared through the crowd predatorily.

His sandals whispered against the ground eerily. His small stature was not to be fooled with the large aura surrounding him. The long flaming ponytail paired with the dark blue gi made a stark contrast. It had been two years since returning to this remote village. The sight of him gained whispers from the smaller groups.

Returning home had been a tough decision. One that weighed heavy on what was left of his mind. War was not something he wanted to think about. Nor the prying eyes and ears of the townsfolk. They certainly seemed to have gotten through the war unscathed. Perhaps it was their residential guardian. The thought of the large intimidating man made matters worse. Exhaling a small grumble, he pressed continually forward. These people were becoming a nuisance.

There were a few brave souls gathered and following him from a safe distance. The chatter grew and died down as he weaved through more people. The market was definitely growing crowded. His trained hears picking up bits of hushed voices

"Do you think the rumors are true?" "Isn't that? No it couldn't be?!"

The young Samurai turned his eyes in their direction. He smirked as the color drained from their faces. If they feared him now, he would give them something real to fear.

"Shhhhhh! He's right there do you want him to kill us all?" "Be cautious when around him."Did he ever have that scar? Is it true?" "Be quiet! That's the Battousai!"

The whispers and gossip faded as he glared at one of the girls whom had pushed another in front of him. He was not a fable or a rouse; something that they could play with. The girls scrambled out if sight, hurry as fast as their kimonos would allow them.

Woman were such feeble creatures. Playing with their naivety, these girls wouldn't know how to handle a man of his caliber. He paid them no mind. Not unlike a woman he had known. He grimaced, tracing a finger around the still healing scar on his cheek. This mark would be his reminder, forever keeping those memories in the front of his mind.

The long walk would take him to a more secluded part of town. The path becoming more thick with foliage and trees. The area was more serene and calmer. No wonder why it was a wonderful area for a sturdy secluded shack. The smoke stack on the roof said there was a fire inside from a distance. Tightening his hand on the hilt of his sheathed katana he made his way to the door.

"Baka-deshi, were you expecting a warm welcome?" A gruff voice replied most sternly but with a hint of teasing. The young lad turned to the sound of the voice. How he hadn't seen him before. A large sake bottle was in his hand and it tilted it back to his smirking mouth.

"You haven't changed." He replied smoothly sizing up his old friend. The boy had changed somewhat. At least his eyes, but for the most part he could sense the smug angst of teenage rebellion still hanging off of him.

" I would have thought you would have grown up you baka. Yet you return to the master you betrayed. How can you possibly think I would favor your presence."

Dark aggressive eyes met his molten gold. His master had another two feet to his height. Of all the men he had encountered, his sensei was the most intimidating. He straightened his posture. His gaze eventually breaking away from his master, he looked at his feet.

He knew he would get some flack from the old man. He was practically his father. Leaving home at 16 with the high hopes of becoming a soldier was not the plan his master had for him. A year into gaining ground he had been pulled into war.

"You think you have become a man. You think you are ready to learn because you have fought for this country. I don't think you have grown up at all you are still that lost child that has no idea what to do with himself. You may stay the night but after that you are on your own." His master replied. " Don't think I'll take you back as my student so easily Baka-deshi."

The pupil nodded his head waiting for the tall man to walk beside him. His hand never strayed away from the hilt of his sword. There was much to discuss with his master, and only he could provide some answers.

"Sensei, would you teach me the final technique?" He stated flatly. His eyes meeting his masters once again. The tall ogre of a man used a fist to bop his pupil over the head.

" Kenshin you'd have to do a hell of a lot of training and growth before I'd ever think about doing that. I wouldn't keep your eyes set on that… After all isn't the fable of the Battousai enough. The star pupil of Himura Hiko. That was what you thought I wanted!" He laughed the last line out.

"You make me laugh kid, I don't know if you'll ever be ready… If you can stand a day of training with your old master tomorrow. Maybe… just maybe I might keep you around to cook for me!"

Wrapping a large white coated arm around Kenshin he guided him along to his shack. Kenshin's frown spoke volumes but there was no way to sway Hiko. He was a man set in his ways. If he wanted to learn that technique then he would have to live and play by Hiko's rules. This was going to be anything but thrilling.

The night began just as he had remembered from his youth, his sensei drinking too much. The redhead growled as he was made to cook another meal for the big goof. Why did he allow this guy to walk all over him? No matter what, Kenshin knew his master was way beyond him.

Threatening Hiko wouldn't get him anywhere aside from being under a freezing waterfall. That was just a matter of when his sensei would throw that into the mix of training. A long night of pondering brought the young man to the wall by the window.

Sitting up, with his katana hilt leaning against the wall, he let his eyes close. Little did he know his master's view of him.

The boy was severely troubled. Hiko didn't even know if he would be able to bring him out of it. Training pertained to focus but in the matters of the heart and mind, that's where sake came in. Well it at least worked for Hiko, that and a partner with loose connections for a night down at the bar.

With a glare like that no sort of relief was going to come to the little idiot. Perhaps he had a solution. That sort of plan couldn't be executed anytime soon.