Summary- Ever wonder what happened the first night Kenshin stayed at the dojo, when did they fall in love? When did they first kiss? Read and find out what happened between the manga chapters.
Chapter Summary- Kenshin and Kaoru's first and second meeting, just like the chapter heading says…
Disclaimer- I don't own Rurouni Kenshin in the slightest, I just like to fill you in on what Watsuki-san never wrote about.
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"Time passed and legends were formed about him. How he was the strongest samurai to walk the face of this earth, and so, are story begins . . ."
-Introduction, Manga Volume I chapter I
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Chapter One- The First and Second Meeting
The streets of Tokyo's markets were bustling with merchants and their customers. People weaving in and out through the stalls, stopping when they found something that caught their eye, talking over the commotion so their companions could here them. Everything was busy with daily life, it was all a little too much for one young man in the crowd.
Urban cities like Tokyo reminded him of the past, women fluttering down the streets in their fine Kimono, street vendors calling to him, men with their chin high ignoring the world around them. Everything was a little to familiar for him, even the names sounded the same now since Edo was renamed to Tokyo. It was like Kyoto, a place he vowed he would never go back too. Of course here there were no men walking around with Daisho, there were no Shinsengumi on the prowl for him, not as dangerous at all. 'Still, a little too familiar for my liking yet . . . .'
The twenty-two year old man eventually steered himself down some alleyways so he could find a quieter part of the town to walk through. He only ever went into populated parts of the town like that when necessary; this time it was hunger that drove him there. He needed to purchase some food items that would last him for a few days. It was time to stock up again, he was going to leave the city today and head into to more desolated areas on the road of life.
Besides the fact that the quiet help his thoughts become a little more clearer, it was also to avoid the rude stares he got when he ventured into those parts of town. He was short and delicate looking, with soft sad violet eyes. His long hair was tied back in a ponytail at the base of his neck, the high modified samurai knot he use to wear was long out of fashion and he didn't want to draw anymore attention to himself as it was. The colour of his hair and scar did enough of that for him. They were both reds in colour, different shades each but very unnatural looking. His hair was shades of a fiery sunset and the cross scar on his left cheek was a very angry crimson. Yes, he was twenty-two but he still looked like he was a young foreign teenager, and a young stupid one for that because he carried a sword at his side. It always got him in trouble, either with the law or some old proud samurai looking for a fight, but today he managed to avoid it. Taking the back roads would spare him the questioning looks he got for his appearance indeed.
Himura Kenshin let out a sigh of relief when he took to the quieter roads finally, it was time to lose himself in thought again. It was always the same subject.
"How can I find out the answers I need . . . . " Kenshin whispered only to himself as he walked through the residential district.
It had been about four years since he left the bloody battlefields behind, and for those four years it has always been the same subject on his mind. He needed to find a way to help the new era, but in a way that was very opposite of the first time he tried. That only brought about death and sadness to the families of the ones he slaughtered. 'How could any happiness come out of that?'
Kenshin sighed again deeply lost in thought. 'Of course I can only help the people I see in front of me in the new age, I'd be an idiot if I thought otherwise. I have already tried to reach everyone once and that only brought horror stories of the Hitokiri Battousai.' On any usual day he would be aware of his senses but today the former Hitokiri was to sadly wrapped up in thought to notice what was going on around him.
Thud.
"Ara!?" Kenshin let out in surprise as he fell backwards on the ground. 'That hurt! That's what I get for not being aware of my surroundings, four years ago I would have been killed if-' Kenshin stopped mid thought when he heard a whimper in front of him.
"Itaaiii. . . ." moaned a small female voice.
With curious eyes Kenshin rose to the back of his elbows to see what he hit. It was a young girl, probably no older than ten or eleven. She had long black hair tied up in a blue ribbon to match her sparkly eyes. Her little kimono was lavender with a simply Sakura design, she made a very lovely appearance. 'What a cute little girl and I'm such an idiot to not watch where I was going.'
"Gomen. Gomen. Daijobu ka?" Kenshin asked as he sat straight up after the shock wore off.
"Hai, I'm sorry, I . . . .ano . . ." Her train of thought was lost after she looked down to Kenshin's sword.
Kenshin noticed what she was looking at right away. 'It's either the red hair or the sword that gets people distracted, but the sword always seems to scare poor children, I did it again.' Sigh.
"No need to be sorry. Here let me help you." Kenshin extended a hand to the small girl to help her up as he did the same thing himself.
"Arigato. Ano . . . .?"The girl replied as she tried to think of a way to put what she wanted to say.
"Yes?" Kenshin said as he bent down again to pick up a few things that had fallen out of his bag when he fell.
"Your not afraid of being in trouble?" The raven-haired girl asked as she stared at the man.
"Trouble for what?" Asked Kenshin a little confused but amused by her question.
"Oh, for your sword I mean, they are not allowed you know Kenkaku-san . . . ." She trailed off but then made a serious face at him, "They are very bad!"
Kenshin chuckled at the little girl. 'The children do speak the truth don't they.' He then put on his best Rurouni smile he had been working on for fours years, it seemed to have the effect he hope to achieve. The girl's expression soften into a pretty smile as she waited for a response. She wasn't threatened by him at all as most children where at first. It was only at first though, most children liked Kenshin after they got over their initial fear; they had some kind of sense that told them he was a good person.
"Aa."
That was not the response the little girl wanted from Kenshin, she crocked her head to the side and gave him a curious look. He noticed the look and let out another chuckle.
"But you're not afraid of me for carrying the sword so why should I be afraid of it being bad?" Kenshin asked a little playfully. Now it was the little girl's time to giggle at his question. Kenshin's smile brightened into a real one.
"I think-." The little girl was cut off when someone called her.
"K-chan! There you are." A man walked out through gates of one of the residents as he called the little girl to attention, "Time to come inside."
The man was evidently her father as the girl responded to his request. She started to walk towards the home but then turned around to face the man she was just talking too.
"Ano . . .. Sorry for not looking where I was going Kenkaku-san," The little girl gave a quick bow, "But remember they are bad . . . . But you look good so you are right, I would never be afraid of you."
The girl giggled and blushed as she ran away to go inside the gates. Kenshin just gave an amused smile and a quick nod at the girl as she ran out of sight. Kenshin's spirits lifted that day like they had not done in a very long time. 'I look like a good person and she could never be afraid of me? Hmmm maybe this new Meiji era is going to turn out what I dreamed it to be like after all. For children like her not have to live with fear anymore.' Before Kenshin started walking again he noticed a little sign by the gates the girl just went through.
Kamiya Kasshin Ryu
The house the little blue-eyed girl lived in was a dojo that taught sword arts. 'The sword that protects life? Yes, that is what a sword should do, protect, not kill.' Kenshin set out again feeling his questions were closer to being answered.
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Six Years Later
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Kenshin quietly walked down a road with residents densely lined up on each side. It had been six years since he had come back to the city but curiosity made him return. Tokyo had been making a name for its self and was progressing day by day; it would be a very important city in the future. Most of all he was looking for a change of scenery, trees and dirt roads can get boring after a while. The natural surroundings changed his attitude towards life to be gentler and he became very humble after ten years of wandering around Japan. 'Still, a little variety in my life nowadays won't kill sessha.'
'I think I have been in this part of town before.' Kenshin looked around at the houses and buildings as he passed a sense of familiarity came over him. 'Nonetheless I should find a place to stay tonight it's getting pretty late and I would like to see what the new Tokyo has to offer in the morning.'
Kenshin tensed a little when he felt a hostile ki coming his way that was still far of in the distance. 'Relax Himura, there is no way someone could know you are here. It has been ten years and Hitokiri Battousai is all but a legend now.' The presence was not one of a murderous vengeance but it was definitely one of an angry one. Trying to blend in with the scenery with red hair was a little hard but his skills of a retired Hitokiri came in handy if he needed to disappear. So he kept up his quiet pace while trying to make himself blend in so no one would take notice of him. He didn't need to hide; no one was after him anymore.
The presence was closer. Running footsteps could now be heard. Kenshin tensed a little more but kept walking like nothing was bothering him. 'Relax, Himura . . . .''The person was right behind him and screeched to a halt. 'Relax . . . .'
"Hitokiri Battousai!"
Kenshin froze to the spot. No one had addressed him that way in many years. 'Time to panic Himura.' He slowly turned to see who it was that knew of the Battousai. 'Did someone recognize me? A Samurai? An Inshin? Maybe even a retired Shinsen Gumi? Sessha hopes not . . . .' Kenshin was meet with something that he would have last expected.
'A girl?'
Kenshin's eyes meet accusing blue ones. The girl was almost as tall as him with long black hair tied in a high ponytail. She was wearing a blue gi, a darker blue hakama and pointing her weapon right at him. 'A Boken? She's lucky I'm not the Hitokiri everyone thinks I am.' Kenshin sighed in relief, when he looked in the girl's eyes, he saw no harm was going to come to him, she was mad yes, but not a killer. He even got the sense of familiarity at the sight of the girl and another sense of warmth surrounded him. 'What a pretty girl, what am I saying . . . .'
"I've got you now!"
'What? Has she been looking for me?'
"Your two months of terror and bloodshed ends tonight!"
'What?!'
"Prepare yourself!" With that the blue eyed girl lunged herself in a full out attack against Kenshin.
"ORO!?"
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To be continued . . . .
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Author's Notes- Now that Kenshin or should I say Battousai and Kaoru have met are story begins. The stories I am going to write are going to be based mostly on the two and maybe more. I'm going to write about the in between stages of the manga. Like what happen the first night he stayed, when did they first start loving each other, first kiss, and stuff like that. I'll take you from the beginning to the end. Some stories might be a chapter long maybe even a few or more. Hope you enjoyed let me know what you think.
Glossary-
Sessha- Kenshin's archaic way of saying 'I', instead of using 'Watashi', 'Ore' and so on…
Ara!?- Huh/What!?
Gomen- Sorry
Daijobu ka?- Are you okay?
Hai- Yes, also said when agreeing with something
Kenkaku-san- Mr. Swordsman
Aa- It's kind of like yes, men usually say it when they are agreeing with something
Oro!?- Just like 'Ara', but Kenshin style, it makes Kenshin, well, Kenshin
Important- My stories are based on the Manga version of RuoKen, not the anime. The only thing I really took from the anime are his violet eye colour because that is what everyone uses in their fics, he really has blue ones in the manga. Also the colours are different from what Kaoru was wearing when we first saw her in the anime too. I have the colour manga pages of when they first meet and those are the correct colours I wrote about. So stuff like that will happen in my stories, so if you have only seen the anime I'm sorry but you are missing out on too much!
Thanx!
