Disclaimer: Here we go again… Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me so no suing, k? Thanx :p

Saving Innocence

Prologue

It was nighttime again. Shadows seemed to lurk in every corner, muffling any possible signs of liveliness. The streets were emptied. Houses enveloped in silence. Stars above twinkled merrily in contrast to the gloomy city as if mocking the darkness below.

Blending into the shadows and standing against the wall of an alley stood a redhead who took in this serene sight before him. Such irony, he thought, that such a serene atmosphere could prove deadly to those unlucky enough to cross my path. Giving one more moment to take in the peaceful scene that he knew would soon turn into puddles of bloodshed, the tiny assassin readied for yet another dirty job that would be flawlessly accomplished by his hands.

This night was going to be just like the others after all.

Peace never does last.

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In another part of Kyoto, a girl with velvet hair whose blue eyes were normally bright and full of spirit was also staring into the night. The stars illuminated her body, causing the exposed skin from her white yukata to look even paler than normal. They did not warm her however, as she shuddered from a breeze that blew across her skin. The night appeared so empty to her now, so distant and lonely. It was not long ago, she recalled with a frown, that night had represented comfort and security to her. If only he was still there, her beloved. . .

"Father."

She could feel tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she whispered that word like it was something fragile, something she had to cradle carefully with her soft voice or else it might break. No! She reprimanded herself. She must not cry, must not think about that night, about what happened… she had to be strong and live on, her father would want her to. With that thought, a look of determination crossed her face as she walked back to the inn that would be her new home.

The nights would never be the same.

But she was determined to find her peace again.

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"What had took you so long tonight, Himura Battousai?" A tall man smoking a cigarette asked the smaller man in front of him; both had the same amber slits that resembled eyes of predators.

"That's none of your business, Saitou." The shorter man addressed to as Battousai replied with a hard, cold voice as he continued to walk swiftly pass the man he called Saitou without so much as a glance.

Saitou only followed his movements with eerie amber eyes, not a bit faltered by the other man's impassive attitude. The Himura Battousai was known to be an aloof person that did not have the same standards of pleasure as other human beings. Many seemed to believe that killing was his form of pleasure, but Saitou believed otherwise. Straightening up from leaning against the wall and taking his time to extinguish his cigarette, he trailed after the smaller man. Usually he would have just left the Battousai alone after making a snide comment, but he had a message to deliver tonight.

"Most members of the Ishin Shishi and I are going to a teahouse later. You are invited of course."

The Battousai habitually turned his expression to a snarl upon hearing Saitou's words: he was never one to enjoy whores flaunting all over him.

"I'm not interested in going to whorehouses."

Despite not being able to see the Battousai's snarl because he was standing behind him, Saitou let a smirk grace his face: he'd expected such an answer from the Battousai. A man with a different standard of pleasure than others, he mused.

"Katsura asked for your present there."

With that simple statement, Saitou left without another word, knowing that the Battousai would be convinced to go upon hearing it as one of Katsura's orders.

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And indeed he was right, as the redhead found himself seated in one of the most famous teahouses in Kyoto.

"Himura, I want you to relax here, no need to look so on guard. We're not on duty right now, so let's just enjoy ourselves as men tonight."

The redhead assassin was doubtful at his commander's words, he didn't make me come out here just for me to try enjoying myself, did he? His face and voice betrayed any of his suspicion however, as he replied monotonously,

"I'll try, sir."

Katsura shook his head slightly, being the boy's commander for three years, he very well knew that Himura was suspicious about his reason being here even if his expression or voice didn't show signs of it. But the truth was, he really just wanted him to have some fun tonight. He knew that all those killings he made him do was too much for his young heart to take, and if he didn't loosen up soon, he was afraid that the boy might end up hurting himself from all the guilt and stress.

"May I ask you to send someone over here to serve this gentlemen?" Katsura addressed to the women in charge of the teahouse.

It is time for me to repent for all the wounds I had created in Himura instead of causing even more wounds, he decided. After all, he was the one that discovered this 'secret weapon' of the Ishin Shishi and made him carry a burden that was not his. It would only be fair to do something so little in return as to let him take a break once in awhile.

To Be Continued
A/N: I would love to hear about what you guys have to say about this story so please review! Oh, and before I forget, I understand that Saitou was from the Shinsengumi, but just for the purpose of this AU fic, I put him with the Ishin Shishi, k? Hope that answered some questions. Anyway, for the next chapter, Kenshin and Kaoru will be meeting.