So Beautiful She's Dangerous: Rurouni Ayame

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Rurouni Kenshin... But I've got a right to dream, right? Right? RIGHT? Ah, forget it... but Ayame (Hikaruu, not the one from the show) is mine.

Prologue: Ayame, the youngest of the manslayers

First of all, my name is Ayame Hikaruu... Back then, in the year 1867, Japan was torn by civil war... I fought for the Meiji government, which had claimed it would usher in a new regime, where everyone was equal. I wasn't well known; I mostly worked in the shadows, you know, assassination. I was walking a road that could only lead to more blood and killing... Hated, feared, and shrouded in mystery. Since the day I was hired as an assassin, no one who I've set my sights on has ever seen my eyes and lived to tell about it... all but one...

Search the Past: Enter the Silver Samurai

It was a dreary day, and rain clouds covered the sky, promising duration over strength. As lighting came down from the sky, a shadow flashed out of an alleyway and onto a rooftop. As a pair of policemen rounded the corner, they spotted the figure against the lightning-streaked sky. "There he is! Get him!" shouted one of them, pointing up to the roof. As quickly as he said that, the figure was gone, running down the street.

The chase was on. The two officers split up, hoping to cut the fugitive off. The one who was pursuing him directly came down the street just in time to see a blaze of silver hair flash around the corner. When the policeman at last got around, the fugitive was gone without a trace. "Damn it! He got away!"

* * * * *

"Hey, you! Don't you know it's illegal to carry a sword around?" The young silver-haired girl turned around to face the man who was talking to her. It was a young officer, who looked like he was new on the job. "What, this old thing?" she asked, taking the sheath off her belt. Using her thumb, she flipped it up and out of the sheath, pulling the sword out and handing it to him. "That sword couldn't kill anyone, just look at it." "The blade... It's on the wrong side?" "It's a reverse-blade sword," she replied with a smile. "I guess I can let it slide this time," he said, putting the sword back into the sheath. "But what's a little girl like you doing with a sword, whether reverse-blade or not? Is it your father's or something?"

At that question, she looked away. It seemed as though she wasn't prepared for that question. "You probably wouldn't understand... The sword is mine, as strange as it may sound. Please, don't ask any more questions. You're bringing up old memories." Without waiting for a reply, she tied the sheath back on and walked away.

"W-wait!" cried the officer, making an attempt to go after her. She turned her head, looking at him from the corner of her eye, and as quick as lightning, she disappeared from sight. "Where'd she go?"

* * * * *

'It's a fine day, that it is,' thought the man who was sitting in the tree outside the Kamiya Kasshin dojo. He wore a fuchsia samurai uniform, and had a flash of crimson hair tied into a ponytail. From the inside of the dojo, he heard a woman's voice say, "Kenshin! Where did you go?" "Coming, miss Kaoru!" he replied.

In a single, fluid motion, Kenshin jumped from the high limb and landed gracefully on the ground. He walked into the dojo and went to see what she wanted.

"Yes, miss Kaoru?" "There you are! I've been looking all over for you, Kenshin. I need you to go into the market and get some things, okay?" She handed him a shopping list and sent him on his way.

From the door came a girl's voice, saying, "Hello, is there anyone here?" Kaoru went to see who it was, and was surprised to find that the voice belonged to a girl of about fourteen, with long silvery hair and a white samurai uniform adorned by a sky blue flower pattern. "Hello, can I help you?" "Hi, my name is Ayame Hikaruu. Is this the Kamiya Kasshin dojo?" "Why yes it is," replied Kaoru, as a wonderful thought came into her mind. "Are you here for lessons? Please, say you are!" "Actually, I'm looking for a certain man. I think he goes by the name of Kenshin Himura these days." "He's gone to the market now. Why are you looking for him?" "You could say I'm a friend from way back." 'In a manner of speaking...' "Well, you can stay here and wait for him if you want." "No, no, thank you, though. I prefer to take action in these matters. I'll be on my way now."

As she walked away, Kaoru noticed the sheath at her side. 'Is that a sword? Doesn't she know that real swords are outlawed? Oh, it's probably just my imagination. I mean, why would such a young girl have a real sword anyway?' "That's it, it was just my imagination. But... I wonder..."

* * * * *

Kenshin was walking back down the road in the direction of the dojo, groceries in hand, when he heard a girl's voice in the distance say, "Don't make me use this. I do not wish to harm you." Kenshin ran to investigate, and saw a girl with flowing, silver hair. 'I've never seen her in town before.' Then, he noticed that she was being surrounded by a gang of thugs. She had her hand on something by her waist, but it was blocked from his view.

"Don't joke around, little child. A brat like you wouldn't know how to use a sword. Now, just hand over your money, and we'll be on our way." Kenshin dropped the packages he was holding and began to run up toward the thugs as they began to close in. "Unless you wish to taste the ground, you wont go any nearer to her, that you wont." The one who seemed to be the leader turned around and said, "What's this? A tough guy, are you?" "Stay out of this, red-head! I can handle these third-rate goons myself!" The girl's voice diverted Kenshin's attention long enough for the leader to sucker- punch him onto the ground. "That should teach you to mess with the Shinto- San group."

Behind him, the leader heard a bunch of agonized moans, coupled with cracking bones. When he turned around, he found that half of the group had been taken out, and the conscious half were backing away from the girl, who was holding a sword in her hand. "She's not human!" exclaimed one, who had tripped over himself, and was crab-walking back, away from her. "I warned you not to incur my wrath. This is just a taste of my power!" In a split second, she took off like greased lightning, slashing to and fro, until only the leader was left.

Kenshin had been watching the spectacle, and would have been in awe of her skill, if he were not so preoccupied with thought. 'The way she handles a sword... it is almost as if she has been trained in the Hiten Mitsurugi style! But that's impossible, as I am the only one who uses that style...'

As the girl fought on against the leader, it grew more and more evident that she may well have been trained in the Hiten Mitsurugi style. Her slashes were swift, fluid motions, which would have been clean cuts, had the sword been sharp. "And now, the grand finale! Hiten Mitsurugi style, RYUUTSUISEN!"

"RYUUTSUISEN!? HOW!?" cried out Kenshin, taken aback. The girl leapt into the air, using the sun to blind her opponent. With godlike speed, she came down upon the leader's shoulder, knocking him out cold. "Pitiful man. He didn't stand a chance against Ryuutsuisen. If I hadn't held back, I'd be facing murder charges." She replaced the sword into the sheath, and looked over to Kenshin. Her crystal-blue eyes seemed to bore straight into his soul, as if she was staring straight through him.

"How do you know the Hiten Mitsurugi style?" Kenshin demanded, instinctively reaching for his sword. "Calm down, red. I've got no reason to want to fight you... yet. However, if you are who I think you are, you might have a reason to fight me." "What do you mean?" "You don't remember much from the time when you were the Battosai, do you? No, you've pushed the thoughts away, tried to leave them behind." "Battosai is a name I have no attachment to anymore." "Easy, red. I know your story... It's remarkably similar to mine. Which is why we need to end the mystery. Think back, to the revolution. In those memories, you will find all the answers you need. Until then, I will be near." She backed up and pulled a bottle from her uniform, tossing it to the ground. In a puff of smoke, she vanished. 'Back to the revolution... I must think.'

Kenshin picked up the groceries, still half daydreaming, and walked back to the dojo, where Kaoru would surely be waiting.

So, what do you all think? Bet you're all wondering what little miss Ayame was talking about, huh? Well, you'll have to wait if you want to find out. Please R&R.