Chapter Seven

The Slayer's Past

Battousai's POV

A bright full moon shined overhead, reflecting off the still surface of the water in the rice fields. It was a dark night in the fields of Japan. Frogs and crickets played their lonely tune to the rhythm of shackles and chains as slave traders marched their merchandise through the fields. One by one the disheartened silhouettes treaded on, tired and weary, but having no other choice than to continue. Among the female slaves a child with flaming red hair walked with them. He was the victim of circumstance. His parents died when he was four of famine and disease, leaving him nothing but the clothes on his back. Unfortunately poor orphans become lost to society. Eventually he was captured by slave traders. No one wanted to buy a slave as young and inexperienced as he was, and so Shinta was moved from slave driver to slave driver. Sometimes the boy would get lucky and be given to a good driver. Those were the ones that would feed their slaves regularly and allow them to rest after an entire night of moving. Other times Shinta wouldn't be so lucky. The worst driver he had ever encountered was the one he was with this night. He was an older man named Mr. Kurosawa. He was a mean, evil man with a heart as dark as his business. He would give the women a lashing for no particular reason other than he simply felt like it.

"Move it!" The groggy old voice of Mr. Kurosawa sounded over the loud cracking of his leather whip. One of the women toward the back screamed in agony as the cruel leather printed her bare skin with bright red welts. Shinta winced at the sound. He was such a sweet, kind-hearted boy and just couldn't take the violence that this driver gave.

The woman next to him latched onto his small hand and pulled him forward "Come on Shinta, we have to move faster." She whispered "Shiori can only take so much back there." And so he and the other women continued on, faster than they were, on energy they didn't have. Shinta looked across the fields and into the forest, imagining for a moment what his life would be like if he was free. Would he have a family? Perhaps they would own a farm like the ones he was passing through tonight. If they did Shinta didn't think he would mind having to work on one at all, so long as he worked beside his father and mother. He thought they would work from dusk till dawn teaching their son everything there was to know about the land, and when it became too dark to work they would all go inside and his mother would fix dinner. Something with rice in it of course. Then once he was too full and too tired to move his father would carry him to bed, one that was probably made of wool, and both of his parents would tuck him in. He imagined that they had a small hut, but it was homey feeling and that is what made the hut worth living in.

Smiling silently to himself Shinta carried his thoughts away to that warm, cozy hut with his two loving parents. It sure beat the nightmare he was living in now. Shinta would visit this fantasy world of his often, especially when he had to walk for miles at a time without any breaks. It seemed to always make the traveling go by faster. Just as he and his parents were about to dig into a piping hot dinner Shinta was drawn from his thoughts by a high-pitched whistle. The train of slaves slowed to a stop along with the horses and drivers "What's going on?" One of the women behind him whispered worriedly. Shinta stood up on his tip toes to try and get a look, but he was too short to see over all the women in front of him. Another whistle sounded and there was some yelling toward the front of the line. Shinta wasn't sure what was going to happen, but he was sure that it would change his entire life. A tight ball of apprehension wound itself in the pit of his stomach. This was it, he was sure that after tonight he would no longer belong to slave traders.

There was a loud explosion toward the back of the line, causing all the women to drop to the ground. The woman next to him pulled Shinta down to the ground, and close to her trying her best to shield the child from the raging fire that light up the fields. Shinta looked up to see the fire and debris set a deep blue midnight sky ablaze with bright oranges and dark reds. Suddenly Shinta wasn't so sure he wanted his freedom. A man who he didn't recognize as one of the drivers grabbed the woman in front of him by her hair and pulled her to her feet "Stand up wench." He hissed holding the tip of a sword to her cheek "I said get up!" The man screamed. Tears streaming down her dirty face, and sobs racking her small figure, but the woman managed to get on her feet. Shinta watched in horror as the unknown man dropped his sword to the ground and pushed the woman up against the nearest carriage. His right hand was around her neck threatening to choke her to death, while his left was undoing the ties on his pants. Shinta knew what he was going to do to her, and he just couldn't watch it happen to her. That particular woman had been fairly nice to him, sharing a ration of her bread with the child after his had been knocked to the ground by a driver. Shinta couldn't stand to see something like this happen to such a kind person, so he closed his eyes.

It didn't help much because her loud sobbing could still be heard over the sound of the terrified screams and raging fire. It didn't matter whether or not he saw her being raped, Shinta could still hear the terror in her cries. Then there was silence. Shinta opened his eyes in time to see the man slice her neck open. The tight ball in his stomach dropped like a heavy brick when the woman's lifeless body fell mere inches away from his face. Blood flowed freely from her throat, soaking into the dirt, and staining the land with her death. She never had a chance. Wide, innocent lavender eyes stared at her cold body with uncontrollable fear.

Another woman was picked up from their group, and lived the same fate as the last. Were they going to do that to all these women? The woman whom had shielded him from the fire was next. The bandit ripped her from the ground by the roots of her long, black hair as she screamed in horror. Shinta just couldn't sit by and watch this happen to all of these women. He had to do something… Suddenly a faint glimmer caught the Shinta's attention. It was the bandit's sword sparkling against the warm glow of the fire. In this moment something deep inside the young slave broke free. Something dark. Something that drew him to that sword with a hungry passion. Kill him. His heart pounded against his ribs, playing to a beat that was almost primal. He had to make it to that sword. If he had any chance of saving her he would have to act now while the bandit was distracted. It was his only chance to kill him. Pushing with his feet and pulling with his hands Shinta slid along the ground slowly, ignoring the dirt that clung to his skin and clothes, and concentrating solely on obtaining the katana. Behind him the fire grew higher and reflected in the blade of the sword. Just a little farther... Stretching out his arm as far as he could Shinta touched the hilt of the sword. Sweat rolled down his face as he began dragging the katana across the dirt, being careful not to draw any attention to himself.

Once he had managed to get a good grip, Shinta grasped the katana between both hands. If the bandit wanted it back he would have to pry it from the boy's cold, dead fingers. Standing up Shinta angled the sword with the bandits back. He had only one shot at this and Shinta was not going to miss. This was for those deceased women... Warm blood pumped heavy in his veins as his feet began moving on their own accord. Faster and faster he ran. Gaining speed. For a split second Shinta closed his eyes and then it happened. The blade pierced something solid, sliding effortlessly through the object. He had done it. His eyes shot open in triumph, but his blood ran cold. Beside him stood the bandit who was glaring down at the boy. Shinta had missed.

"What are you trying to do there?" The man seethed as he wove his hand through Shinta's mass of red hair. The man pulled his head back to get a good look at the dirty faced boy. Shinta stared at him with wide, horrified lavender eyes "Let me give you a lesson in killin' boy." The bandit threw Shinta to the ground and pulled the katana free from the carriage "You don't hesitate." He hissed as the man ran his blade threw the older slaves neck, pinning her to the back of the carriage door.

The other slaves loud sobbing and screams of terror could be heard over the sound of the raging fire. The bandit removed his sword and let Hanna's lifeless body fall to the ground, mere inches away from Shinta's horror-stricken face. Blood flowed from her neck and her eyes stared up at the sky in fear. Tears fell from his cheeks as he laid a shaky hand over her eyes. He couldn't bear to see her like that. Especially when he knew that he had wasted the chance to save her. This was not what he wanted, not again, not at all. Someone please help them. Anyone.

Yet another woman was picked up from their group "I suggest that you release her." The deep baritone had come as a breath of relief to Shinta and the other women. Looking up the boy saw a tall, strong man standing beside the carriage with his katana drawn. Had his prayers been answered?

"Who the hell do you think you are?" The bandit demanded as he quickly slit the throat of his latest victim.

The mystery man stepped into the light of the fire, his face illuminated by the flames "I do not tolerate assholes." Shinta never saw the man actually move, but that didn't matter because the bandit was now dead. The samurai flicked his bloody sword clean and turned to the slaves "You are all free now." He announced as he began slicing his blade effortlessly through a few shackles. Whenever the samurai came to Shinta he paused "What's your name boy?" The man asked with a warm smile on his face.

It took a moment for Shinta to find his voice, and once he did it came out a little hoarsely "S-Shinta Himu-ura."

"Shinta?" The man echoed as he freed the boy's leg from its confines "That isn't a very good name for a boy." He muttered as he helped the child up "Especially for one that is so brave." Shinta's eyes widened. Had this man seen him try to rescue his friend?

"S-Shinta come along." One of the freed women stammered. The boy looked at them from behind the tall man. They had clustered together, and were all looking at him worriedly as if he was in some kind of danger.

The samurai turned to the women who was standing behind him highly concerned about their little Shinta "You are all free to leave now." The samurai told them, but not a one moved. Turning his back on the stubborn women the samurai knelt down to Shinta "I am Hiko, a master swordsmen of the hiten mitsurugi swords style. Your strength and bravery has impressed me young Shinta, and I would like to take you on as my pupil." Shinta couldn't believe this. This man, Hiko, had not only set him free but was now offering to teach him a rare sword fighting style. Looking at the dead slaves around him, and then to the survivors Shinta made one thing clear; he never wanted to be this defenseless and weak again. He wanted to protect those whom he loved, and this man was offering the skill and ability for just that "What do you say Shinta?"

The boy paused for a second, staring into the faces of the women who had cared for him so long. He wanted to remember those faces. Those horrified faces would be his motivation to learn all he could "I would like for you to teach me Mr. Hiko." Shinta decided.

The man grinned happily "I'm glad, now then about that name." He rested his chin in his hand, looking thoughtful "A strong swordsman needs an equally strong name…. hmm…. What about Kenshin?" Shinta nodded vigorously. The name was very appealing "Kenshin Himura it is then."

Kaoru's POV

After a long day of hard work Kaoru finally settled down into a chair beside Sano's cot. He was currently resting, and so she made sure to be very careful in examining his bandage. Ayame had changed it sometime that afternoon between surgeries. Kaoru smiled wide once she found everything to be in order. Ayame had become quite the nurse, and the doctor was very proud of her. Settling his blankets back into place Kaoru decided to let Sano sleep. However, as she began to get up his voice pulled her back down "Hey there doc." He rasped still a little fuzzy from being asleep. Sano shot her a huge grin "Have you ate today?" He asked.

"Yes I have." She replied.

"Good." Slowly he sit up the best he could "How have you been doc?" He asked eyeing Kaoru worriedly.

She wondered, for just a second, whether or not seem looked as tired as she felt. Between her work which cost her all hours of the night, and the nightmares that kept her up whenever she did manage to doze off Kaoru hadn't seen a solid hour of sleep in weeks. She was ran down. Running on fumes even. It was all she could do to put up this cheery front. On the inside she just wished that she could sleep. As a doctor Kaoru knew the negative side effects of sleep deprivation. At the rate she was going the prospect of her fainting wasn't too far away "I've been good." She lied with the fakest smile she had ever conjured. Kaoru really hoped that he wouldn't notice, but the sad look on his face told her otherwise.

"Doc are you-"

"Aoshi!" With a high-pitched cry a blur of blue and black rushed past the doctor and her patient. What was that? Kaoru turned toward Mr. Shinomori's cot in the back of the room and gawked in shock at what she was witnessing. A young girl was at his side, her arms wrapped around him as she was dramatically sobbing "I thought you had died!" The girl cried as she buried her head into his shoulder. Kaoru had never seen Mr. Shinomori allow anyone to touch him, even her nurse had to wait until he was asleep to even change his bandage.

He raised his good arm and patted the girl on her head. Kaoru's eyes nearly popped out of her head, while touching his was an issue, him touching another human being as gently as he did this girl never happened. After a few minutes of watching this incredible display Kaoru finally found her voice "Excuse me miss." She began as she quickly moved from her chair and to the cot in the back of the room "Miss." She repeated tapping the girl on her shoulder. The girl turned around with big tears in her eyes "What is your name?" Kaoru asked softly.

Mr. Shinomori's visitor sniffled and rubbed the tears off her face "My name is Misao."

A/N: And so enters Misao. This chapter was a little too dark for me so I wanted to lighten the mood, and that is what ultimately led me to bring Misao in the picture. I didn't go into her character too deeply yet, but you will see more of that next chapter. I really hope that you have enjoyed this latest update. Thank you for reading and as always leave any comments you have below.