A Child's Smile, The broken blade.

Sano: So, I'm I in this chapter

Wolf: Hopefully not bird-brain

Sano: What was that!

BB" Ok you two, sheesh, you sound like you're married or something!

W/S: WHAT!

Space! Oh, frozen Sea of Stars!

My spirit will continue to defy you!

The colder and stricter you become

The hotter my blood

Will likely continue to burn

. Anime) Arcadia of My Youth: Waga Seishun no Arcadia (Arcadia of My Youth)

Sanosuke eyes drilled holes into the front gate, his fish bone going back in fourth in his mouth. Hands in pockets and slightly slumped stance convoked his mood. Poor. He had not been to the dojo for a few days. Leavening his stomach empty. He growled in his chest, all due to that GIRL!

His hand touched the slight cut on his thourt. No one, save Kenshin had been able to wound him like that. His thoughts formed 'Cold steel seemed to be the term to fit the woman that night'. An angry smile pulled on his lips. Then vanished, a pair of hard lavender eyes flashing at him. Kenshin was protecting the girl. 'Why? He had never met her before, or had any reason to protect Wolf? So why? Could he see himself in that girl? Which was also the odd thing about the two? Wolf some what looked like Kenshin, a young and female version of Kenshin, with a nasty attitude . "

Sanosuke shook his head, cleaning the thoughts one again. Maybe he should go to the beef-pot, and eat something. Sounding like a good idea, the young man walked away. He could deal with shit better with a full belly!

It was almost dead in the morning. Tea saw the man walk in, putting on her trade mark smile. "Mrs. Sanosuke, hear to eat again I see."

Sanouske smiled at the owner, shaking his head. "Well I am a growing boy!"

All the woman could do was shake her head in invoiced at the man. "All right, but next time you have to pay on your tab."

Sano smiled and sat down, thoughts of food danced in his simple mind.

"Here's your food", a voice called him back to reality.

"Thanks" he said, but when he saw who it was, his mouth dropped to the floor. The agony of his thoughts was right in front of him! Wolf.

The teen was wearing a pair of ripped dark jeans; a black covered her long sleeved black shirt. Wolf frowned, seeing it was Sanouske. Wolf barely managed to sallow her pride, but kept a tight smile at Sano. "Well here's your meal Sir, enjoy!" Wolf walked away. Cursing all the way back to the Kitchen.

Sano slowly ate his food. What the hell was Wolf here? Tea could see how he had reacted to the young woman now working for her.

"Wolf is now working in the back Mr. Sano, she told me it was to help Kauro-dono on bills and keep the dojo up and running." Tea looked back to the kitchen, her eyes landing on a flash of red hair, cutting up the poor vegetables again.

He too looked back on the girl, knowing what she could do with a knife. Still, a little hatred he had did go away. She was helping out the Missy. Wolf was a puzzle be on any doubt!

Inside the Kitchen, the teen was thinking about something she had never done. To say Sorry…..this might cost her a huge chunk of pride on her part. Wolf signed; the last week alone had been trying and all the people's parts. Kenshin was starting to unnerve her the most. At times, he was baka, at others, the way he seemed to watch the teen. Nothing sexual or anything, just…a little unnerving for Wolf. Knowing who he once was and still was not all the good to her either. Still, hard to believe you're the granddaughter of the hitokiri Battousai. And in anyone of her family she looked like…it was him of all people! The knife flashed up and down even faster. Yahiko and Tae' watched in pure shock. Wolf was a chopping machine today! There was someone on the girl's mind, better to leave her alone.

Kenshin and Kaoru walked down the path to the Akabeko', Yahoo and Wolf would be getting off work soon. Kenshin thoughts drift back to the other night.

Someone had gone to the Kitchen, a wakening the red head. Still, he could not sense anyone. This left it to one person. Wolf. Kenshin opened his door, seeing the shadow of teen from a candle. Sounds of water reached his keen ears. Why was she up? Walking to the doorway, he saw the girl. A cloth was placed on her left cheek, her eyes where closed. Wolf's hair had been tied back into a ponytail. She had been mumbling about getting a hair cut, which Kaoru had disagreed on.

'Why does she have the cloth and water?" Kenshins''' thought 'There is an air of sadness about her too"

Wolf removed the cloth, blood having socked in deeply. His eyes widen a little. Was her scar bleeding? Kenshin touched his, the memories edging back for a moment. Her eyes held no feeling, a lifeless steel grey. Water turned the color of the girl's hair, as she placed the cloth back to her cheek.

Takeing it was time to go, the man left the teen in the kitchen, his thoughts drifting back to his scar and hers. 'Only scars made by strong emotions or grudges bleed. So had happened for her scar to bleed so?" Kenshin's thoughts ran.

"Kenshin?" Kauro's voice brings the man back. She was tugging at his sleeve a little at the same time. He blinked, getting out of the hazy of his mind. This one did it way to much!

He smiled saying " This one is all right Kauro-Dono, just still wakening up a little!"

She smiled at the man. Yet he seemed in such deep thought today. Even Wolf had seemed drone to the bright fall day. ' What's wrong with these to today?" Kauro scowled a little. Still hoping it was nothing big.

"Kaoru and Kenshin, come to some dinner?" Teas bright mood blocked out any doubts in the pairs mind. "Well, sit down and I'll bring some coffee for the two of you."

"Make that three coffees Tea!" Wolf had walked from the back, smiling.

The bight woman nodded, going back to the back. Kauro smiled a little more, it seemed Wolf was out of her dark mood for a while. The three sat at the end. Ken shined looked around, then to Wolf.

She saw his question before he could speak. "Yahiko went out with Tusme to get some supplies for Tea. They should be back when we leave."

He nodded; she leaned back on the wall, her legs crossed. It had been a long day for Wolf. He smiled at the girl, and Kauro. When the teen had given money to Kauro this morning for the food. She was about to refuse, Wolf gave her the death glare. And all questions came to an end for the woman.

" Sano was here." Wolf's spook.

Kaoru looked up asking "Did anything happen?" Her tension carried in her voice slightly. "No, he ate his food then left." Wolf opened up one blue eye, her face relaxed slightly.

Tae soon came with the food; Wolf gave the woman a grateful look. Forks! No matter how hard the teen tried, the art of the chop sticks was lost. Kenshin and Kaoru were glad to see the teen eating more, she was not looking so thin, a healed like shape was going to her body and face. Wolf when she had first come ate very little. Her reasons was "On the street, a full tummy could cost you speed and energy, so you ate only enough to live" Wolf stated blankly at a meal. Now she ate as much as Yahiko did!

Soon the trio where about to go home for the night. Wolf remembered something, snapping her fingers. Kenshin looked back. "I told Kagome I would meet her for tea today, she wants me to meet one of her friends." Wolf said "Look, I'll be later tonight. See ya!" Before anymore was said, the teen disappeared into the moving river of people.

Kauro signed again, Kenshin only laughed lightly. Youth was a good thing in this day and age.

She walked her hands in pockets. Finding her way though Tokyo was getting was easier for the teen. Then she heard something, turned her head. A small like voice was asking for help. Wolf looked around, seeing a flash of bright yellow in the crowd

"Could someone please help me?" English voiced out, belong to a tiny like doll girl. Wolf blinked; she was speaking English, which meant she was not from here!

The teen walked to the girl. She had brown curls, a victory bright yellow dress made the green eyes of the girl stand out pretty. A defined young girl in manners and class. Even a tear dropped face seemed to doll like. Yet a splash of feckless made the illusion go away. The girl looked up at Wolf, tears running down her cheeks and a somewhat running nose. Wolf kneeled down, using the corner of her gi to wape the child's tears

"You seemed lost kid." Wolf slipped into native tongue, causing the girl to reaction supremely. "Now where is your mother?'

Hope filled the emerald green eyes of the child. "We got separated, and I can't speak Japanese at all Miss!"

"Well do you know where you're staying then?" she kept a gentle tone, calming down the child. "Yes, at the American Ambassador house!" she answered

Wolf nodded to the girl saying "Ok, let's get you back to the inn and your mom!" Wolf bent down saying "Lets just piggy back it for now, I and move faster, and you won't get dirty so much."

She nodded, climbing onto the teen's back. "My Name is Valerie Smith; my father is here on a busing trip with our ambassador!"

"Mine is Wolf, nice to meet ya Val!" Wolf smiled walking and asking ways to the place.

Valerie chatted on, forgetting her fear. Wolf noded and answered what she could to the young child? By the time they reached the large estate. Twilight was breaking over the sky. A woman, like looking like the girl seemed frantic to a cop.

"MOMMY!" Valerie slide of the teens back, running to her mother. The woman stopped for a moment and ran to the girl. Tears and kisses between the two pair. Wolf smiled a little.

The two walked over to the teen. "Thank you ever so much for helping my daughter." Her tone was a little stacked, but polite.

"It was nothing. She need some help. Theo she should learn to stick closer to her mom in strange nations!" Wolf smiled a little, seeing the girl flush in reaction. "Would like to come in for some tea then?"

Wolf nodded something hot to drink sounded good after the long walk here. The house was huge; making the teen a little nerve about entering it. The pair led the girl to a small sun room. Hot tea being put out by a serve. Wolf sat down in a real chair, a little relived for it. The mother was named Sarah Smith; her husband was trade dealer in goods. He was hoping to make a deal with the Japanese government.

"So Wolf, how do you know English" Miss. Smith looked over the girl.

"I was raised in the states my whole life, but my father was Japanese. He died, so my grandmother took care of me. I came Japan after she passed, hoping to learn more about that half of my blood..." Wolf replied, drinking the tea slowly.

Sarah was little taken for words. The girl was an American! Yet the answer she gave left any more questions to be asked. Sounds of yelling broke up the tea party. Miss Smith got up, Wolf followed her. She opened the door. A man with the same eyes as Valerie seemed lost, he small and skinny. Wearing a suit. Anther was a police man, talking in Japanese. Then too the back made Wolf blink. Kenshin and Sanouake! Both men saw the younger teen. They seemed to a little surmise by the sight of the girl.

Wolf walked over to the pair "What are two doing here Kenshin?" her eyes tailing to Sano a little.

"The police chief asked our help in stopping a murder threaten to the English Ambassador... Why are you here Wolf?" Kenshin's eyes studied the yelling pair of men.

"I was helping a little girl get home, and having tea with Misses. Smith and her daughter." Wolf said, seeing the disbelieve in the bird-brain's eyes a little. Wolf locked her eyes with his, but broke off. This was not the place for their fight right now. Kenshin nodded a little in agreement, he to seeing Sano coming to the same conclusion

She took moment I dropping into the fight.

"We don't need these bang a bonds in our house SIR! So take these japs and leave! How can a womanly like man and some street thug protect by family I ask you?" Mr. Smith's voice yelled.

Misses. Smith lowered her head in shame of her husband's actions and works. Looking at the clench lips of Wolf. She looked more down. Kenshin saw how the teens, body langue changed from relaxed to pure anger in moments. What had been said?

"Sir, these two men you happened to insult are the best fighters I know off!" Wolf slipped into the English tongue. Catching the man off his rocker for a moment, all yelling ending. "Kenshin was the most feared man during japans bloodiest civil war, Sano is the toughest fighter in all of Tokyo, maybe Japan. And if I hear one more word pass from that hole in your face, insulting these. You won't be right for a fucking week asshole!" she spat the last word.

All the men in room who could understand the girl stood still. Mr. Smith open and closed his mouth like a fish. His wife smiled a little, not use to seeing her husband caught off guard and by a woman no less! Kenshin and Sano shared a look, from Wolf's tone, they could tell she was pissed, and had said something about them. The red head could only guess, but smiled. She had stood up for them! Even for Sano.

Before she could speak, in her mind Wolf saw glass braking and the flash of a blade, hitting the little girl known as Mary in the heart. The image was so real, she fell to one knee. Why was her foresight kicking in down? Panic rippled though the teen, her azure eyes flashing.

Kenshin had seen the blank look on the girl, and saw how she seemed in pain for a moment falling to her knee. Even Sano was a little taken back. What was wrong with the teen now? Kenshin's swordsman's incepts picked something up, outside the house. Giving a look to Sano.

Then with out even thinking, Wolf stood up, and rushed out the door. Hoping she could make it in time to save a little girl's life. Panic rose in the teen, but she shut it out; she had to save the girl! No matter the price! Wolf ran into the paler where they had been having tea. Valerie was not there! Her foresight showed in a flash she was in the other room, near the window! Valerie took a step back in surprised, seeing Wolf burst though the door. Before any words could be speaking. She grabbed the girl, turning. Flashing with the shattered piece of glass. A knife found its way into the teen's left shoulder. Wolf hissed out in pain, the hot metal nicking the bone a little. Valerie starting panting in shock! Someone had tied to kill her!

Wolf turned her face calm. Yet the girls eyes where not the blue of before. Amber danced in her eyes, like that of a wolf's. A large man dressed in ninja gab stepped though the window, his eyes narrowing on the small teen, protecting the girl in front of him. His skin was painted black, matching his mask. The aura of the teen embodied pure violent, at him! Never in his life had felt such a thing, from a female of all people! Was this a demon of some kind?

"Valerie, get into the closet and stay put. Do not come out until I tell you to." Her tone composed

The child only nodded, hearing the blood drip from the wound on the girl, the knife still in her back. Once Valerie was safely in the closet. Wolf reached behind her, pulling out the dagger. No pain showing her on her face or eyes. She was dead locket on the man. Her eyes hold a promise of death for any to cross the path of Blood.

BB.: ok chap 11 is done

Next Chap: Crimson blade

Her eyes flashed at the man, fear gripped his heart. This teen had umpired cuts on her blood fell like rain from her body. She her self had taken already taken down 3 men. And now she was coming for him.

"You won't live to see the dawn, which I promise you..." Wolf's voice chilled her person to no end.

Flashing in the moon light, her dagger was ready to kill. Every cell in her being was ready to attack. From the window above the yard. Sano had seen the fight, still in disbelief! Was this girl even human?