War...

There are so many reasons why people fight wars, why they pick up a weapon and turn it against one another.

I am not so different. I chose to pick up a weapon, just as many have before me and just as many more after me will.

It's strange though, to think that I tried to prevent this, to think that this was my reason for fighting a war. To think that…I never wanted another person to suffer the pain of war; the pain that comes with the loss, the despair and the hurt; the very pain that I chose to live with every day so that I could protect others from knowing such pain.

Once, I was foolish enough to believe I could protect everyone so I bared my soul and laid it on the line to protect.

I didn't fight the Shinsengumi for glory; I fought to protect.

I didn't assassinate hundreds in cold blood as I ripped my conscience apart; I fought to protect.

I didn't fight seeking vengeance for the oppressed; I fought to protect.

I fought to protect.

I fought to protect the people so that no harm would ever come to them.

And now…

Now I am older.

I am wiser and although I have saved and protected many lives, I have come to understand that I am no god, nor am I a demon without emotion.

I am human.

And sometimes, I must fight to protect myself.

I must fight for my own life because if I do not, how can I protect the people?

That is the essence of the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki.

And that is my reason for living.

I do not live to protect; I protect to live so that I might protect.

…to protect…

Disclaimer: RK doesn't belong to me even if I wish it did and I solemly swear I make absolutely no profit what so ever from this.

Author's Note: I watched "Pearl Harbor" and got inspired to write this little vignette piece about Kenshin's reasons and the lessons he has learned for his philosophy in his life.

'To Protect' is kind of like Kenshin's little motto just how Saito has 'Aku Soku Zan.' At least, that was the idea when I wrote this. I kinda wanted to put on paper how Kenshin thinks so this is the result.

Comments most welcome if you please!

Love Randa