Author's Rambles: (( '~' indicates a character's thoughts))
Hello Minna-san! :: smiles and waves to all :: thank you SO much for looking at my first RK fic ^^, I hope this little taste will intrigue at least one person out there, if it does, then my mission is complete! XD I have huge plans for this fic, and some major plot twists, just to keep ya on your toes. hehe. Anyway, please please please review and tell me what you think!! Reviews will help me to be a better writer, and I take all flames and criticism, lol, (I probably need it! ^^;) Well that's it, gets ready and enjoy as the tale unravels!! ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

Evanescence of Sapphire: {Prologue}

"Hiiit-!"

Crystalline sweat beaded on the crimson-fringed brow of the young swordsman, cascading down the shallow, shadowed planes of his face to accumulate pensively at the peak of his chin. His slanted, topaz hues narrowed defiantly at the gleaming death-spark created by the clashing of the two katanas, the heated blink of a flame ignited in the rapid friction of the blade, mirroring the swordsman's infuriated glare. His taunt, lithe form strained under the ever-accumulating pressure against his blade, and he swept his tongue out in an unconcerned gesture to rid his features of the traces of crimson that stained his lower lip.

"Yaaaa!!"

His muscles bunched instantaneously and the young wielder sprang to the left, knowing that he would hence evade the built up momentum of the opposing katana, and leave him self an opening-!

"Arrg!"

The swordsman skid across the dampening earth of the early dawn, his katana gleaming in the approaching flare of sunrise as it left his baffled grip; his small body tumbling a few more yards before landing in a rumpled heap. The stunned expression of the naïve rose up slowly to regard the possessor of the triumphant blade, wide amethyst eyes blinking slowly in wonder. No longer the hunter, no longer the prey, the young swordsman stood up slowly, his gaze never leaving the shadows as he brushed off his tainted navy gi, hastily walking over a few paces to retrieve his blade as he regarded the man before him with utmost awe.

"H-Hiko-sensei?"

"Damare, baka deshi. I merely used one of the milder of the Hiten Mitsurugi techniques, Ryu Tsui Sen, to disable your incompetent advance. Stop being so foolish in your attacks, boy. You cannot rely on your instincts or your ability to predict movements as your only path to victory. There will always be someone stronger, faster, smarter, and better than you with the blade, therefore you must constantly adapt your fighting strategy to suit your opponent. unless of course, you're me."

The man slowly stepped out from the shadows of the looming branches, an arrogant smirk on his lips as he nonchalantly sheathed his sword and looked upon the boy with a critical eye.

"Do you understand what I'm saying, Kenshin?"

The boy sheathed his katana as well, his body lax in his movements as he began to feel the weight of his injuries, his battered and bruised form slightly slumped as he looked up at the man.

"Hai, Hiko-sensei"

Hiko smiled in satisfaction, noting the look on the youth and chuckling.

"Yare, yare... that's something I'm not used to, my baka deshi accepting my words without the conviction of disagreement. Heh, my Ryu Tsui Sen could not have possibly messed up your head more than it already was, eh?"

He laughed loudly, causing the boy near him to shoot him a piercing glare, his eyes flecked with amber mist. The large man merely ignored him and stated,

"You're done for today, boy, do your chores and then get some rest, the preliminaries are over, be prepared to start your training under me tomorrow."

The boy nodded the affirmative, hiding his disbelief that in the previous months he had come to know the man and his method of training him, the real tests were to begin tomorrow. What then, exactly, had he been doing all this time? He then walked away from the silent clearing of the forest, heading towards the thicket of gigantic trees to collect firewood, noting the odd mist-like substance that clung to the sweeping, creaking limbs. Sighing softly, he ambled over to small pool of collecting rainwater in- between two protruding roots, staring down at his degenerative reflection and blinking some, wearily.

Two violet orbs regarded silently his bruised and scuffed features, the random splashing of ruby across the sharp slopes, and the overall battered appearance of him that accompanied his haggard spirit. He turned away, but something instinctive pulled his gaze back to the pool. Slightly inquisitive eyes now stared at the clear water, and suddenly widened in surprise. He felt as if the one thousand daggers that were plunged into his being were removed all at once, leaving his spirit renewed and his body free of its ritual scars. Two watery, confused pools of amethyst stared back up at him in equal bewilderment as he slowly placed his hands on his face, lightly touching his perspiring brow and then tracing a path down to his chin, then across the span of his cheeks. The startled hues looked back at him still, and he saw them encased in pale, clean flesh, it's luster radiating from the water. He pulled his hands from his face, seeing not the rivers of crimson running across his palms that he expected, as well as no trace of the calluses that generally adorned his thin fingers. ~What has happened to me? I'm healed. but how?~

Jumping up quickly, his eyes flashed amber in apprehension as a presence alerted itself to his mind. Fixing a stare upon the pool, his voice a low tenor, a hint of his curiousness and intrigue seeping through, he queried softly,

"Who are you?"

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ :: smiles a bit nervously:: So, how did you like it? Interesting, stupid, just plain all out confusing?? Hehe... well, not to worry, I promise that all will be explained! Review to make Noeru happy!!!! Also, on a few side notes: 1.) This story is set during the Sengoku Jidai period, not the Bakamatsu. I did this because I wanted to alter the timeline a bit and the revolution will actually not be included in this.. :: gasp :: , yes I know that seems odd, but I have my reasons. ^^; So, approx. time is about 1760.
2.) Kenshin is still training under Hiko because he is training to become a samurai, duh! XD he just isn't going to fight in the Revolution, is all ^^
3.) Since I know this might be floating in the backs of your minds, Kenshin is 17 here, yes, you heard me, 17!! I referred to him as small, young, etc. to try and stress his innocence still at that age, and plus Kenshin is little! ((and Hiko's a geezer.. . ))
4.) I do use a bit of Japanese in here, but if anyone has any question on the meanings of any words, don't hesitate to tell me, if it is a problem, I will start to put a dictionary at the bottom, k?
5.) Arigatou to all who have stayed with me this far!! Review onegai!! Peace out minna!