I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

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Rurouni Inuyasha

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Chapter 6: Interlude II: Kenshin

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As Kenshin made his way through the forest surrounding his Shishou's home, he wondered what he was getting himself into.

After six years, he was leaving.

He could hardly remember what his life was like before his Shishou had taken him in. His Shishou, Hiko Seijuro, who was the 13th Successor to the mysterious and powerful Hiten Mitsurugi technique. The man who had taught him everything he knew about sword fighting. The imposing man, for whom nothing he did had ever been good enough. The man who had driven Kenshin to become stronger; who had driven him beyond anything that Kenshin had ever thought he could do; and then drove him harder. Kenshin had always thought that he would never do anything to displease his Shishou, not on purpose, anyway. But here he was.

Leaving.

Idly he wondered if he would ever see his Shishou again. No, probably not. Hiko thought he was a disgrace and had told him so, announcing that he would never teach Kenshin the succession techniques, and that if he ever came back he would kill him.

So, Kenshin was on his own. Or at least he would be until he found a patriot faction to join. He had a vague idea of where to look; a villager he had come across lost in Shishou's woods had mentioned that a group of patriots, the kihei-tai, were hanging about the village and causing a ruckus. The villager had gone on to talk about how the movement had no hope and that the kihei-tai would "all be wiped out in a matter of months, good riddance." Curious, Kenshin had asked about the "movement." When he did, the villager had looked at him in amazement. "What do you mean, 'what is the movement?' Have you been holed up on this mountain for the last five years?!" To that Kenshin had nodded, saying, "More or less, yes." The villager had sighed, exasperated, but since Kenshin had had the good nature to guide him back home through the forest, he humored him, and Kenshin had found out that the "movement" was actually a revolt against the Tokugawa dynasty, and that the patriots were promising to remove the caste system if they won. That meant that everyone would be equal....

Over the years, whenever Kenshin had gone to the nearby village with his Shishou, he had observed the serfs working in the fields. Some of them had seemed happy, smiling up at Kenshin when he walked by; but he soon found out that most of them were in all actuality quite miserable. They were paid nothing for the back-breaking work that they performed, many of them were not given enough food to feed their starving families, and the samurais, just because they were in a class above, were allowed to do with them what they would, which in many cases involved beating, punishing, and raping the serfs.

As he observed, Kenshin began to understand that this would have been his fate if his parents had never died. He had been someone else's property, sold off by the lord who owned him to slave traders the first chance the lord got. Why? Because as just a child, Kenshin was useless; he couldn't work, and there was no one left to work for him, and it was the lord's right because Kenshin, or rather, Shinta, hadn't been of any worth to him. But the lord got a good price for him anyway because to the slave traders he was valuable because he was…unusual.

Kenshin shook his head as he made his way down the mountain. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that people could own other people. It wasn't fair that an entire class of people were miserable and dying while another class ruled happily over them, ignorant of and not caring about the plight of the peasant class.

That was what had convinced him finally to do what he was doing now. If he could help, in some way, in any way, those people that he had seen suffering at the hands of others, he would do what he could. No, he didn't have any illusions that he would make a huge difference, he knew that his skill with the sword wasn't much, at least not compared to his master's, but at least he had some skill, and maybe that would be just enough to make a small difference. And as he got older, Kenshin was sure that he would get better, because even if Shishou wouldn't be around to train him, Kenshin felt that he knew just enough to continue his training. He had learned pretty much everything that his Shishou had had to teach him, everything except the succession techniques, which Hiko probably wouldn't have taught him for a while yet, and now, never. All he needed to do now was perfect the techniques he did know, and if he could do that, perhaps he could be a decent swordsman, in spite of his size.

It was around noon by the time Kenshin made it into the small village. Now all he had to do was find a member of this "kihei-tai." That shouldn't be too hard, considering the suspicious glances he was getting from the villagers. They were probably suspicious of all strangers, especially strangers with swords. Kenshin breathed a sigh of relief when he remembered how worried he had been that morning when he realized that his Shishou might not let him take his sword. Would the kihei-tai take him if he didn't have anything to fight with? But luckily, his Shishou had let him keep his sword, though whether it was out of sympathy or simply forgetfulness, Kenshin wasn't sure. He was leaning towards forgetfulness though.

Kenshin glanced around. Hopefully a kihei-tai member would walk by soon. He was hungry, having not eaten since last night, and he didn't have any money. That was assuming that the kihei-tai would take him in, which they might not. They might just take one look at him and say, "Get lost, kid. We only want real fighters here." What would he do if that happened? He didn't know, he would just have to figure out some way to prove himself before they turned him away.

Kenshin glanced up as felt a larger than normal ki come into the town. Could that be one of them? He stood up and went in the direction of the ki signal, hoping to track down the owner. He walked around a hut and there he saw the man that the large ki belonged to. He was fairly young, in his mid twenties or so. His hair was disheveled and his eyes had a dangerous glint to them. Kenshin sighed in relief. This man must belong to the kihei-tai. This village could not have produced such a man. Kenshin watched as the man let himself into an inn. After a few moments, Kenshin followed.

Wham!

Thunk!

As soon as Kenshin had entered the inn a wooden club came flying down at his head. Without even a thought Kenshin brought up his sword, easily slicing through the wood, sending the two halves flying to opposite sides of the inn. (sorry, I couldn't help myself, I just had to throw this in. If you don't know what I'm babbling about, go see "Seven Samurai")

A split second passed before Kenshin processed what had actually happened. Someone had tried to club him? He looked in direction where the club had come from, and to his surprise he saw the man that he had followed from outside. To Kenshin's further surprise the man was grinning like a crazed maniac.

"I thought so," the man said.



Kenshin raised an eyebrow, sensing that he had just passed some kind of test.

The man took his hand off the hilt of his sword.

"I'm Takasugi Shinsaku, leader of the kihei-tai."

Kenshin immediately brightened. This was perfect! Not only had he found a member of the kihei-tai, he had found their leader!

Kenshin bowed to him. "This humble one's name is Kenshin. I come from the mountains, that I do."

Takasugi scratched his chin. "Just Kenshin, huh?" Kenshin nodded. Takasugi thought for a moment, then looked outside the window, watching the villagers go by.

"Hmmmm.... Red hair...discovered in a village.... Himura!" Takasugi nodded to himself, "Yes, Himura Kenshin. It has kind of a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" (um, I think I read somewhere that Himura means "Red Village." Yeah...ahem.)

Stunned, Kenshin could only stare up at Takasugi in astonishment. A full name? For him?

"This humble one does not know how to thank you, Takasugi-dono."

Takasugi regarded him quizzically. "For what?" he asked. "The name? Oh, that was nothing. If you're going to be in my kihei-tai, you're going to need a full name."

Kenshin's eyes widened. This Takasugi wanted him in his kihei-tai? Just like that? Kenshin felt something release in his chest, as if he had been holding in an expectation of rejection. It was a tremendous relief to know that he hadn't given up his only home and family, granted his family consisted of only one person, of the last six years for nothing.

"Come on," Takasugi gestured to him. "I'll take you to our training grounds." He stopped briefly to pick up a couple of jugs of sake, then turned and walked out the door of the inn. Kenshin followed, excitement and nervousness fighting for domination in his stomach. He was going to be in the kihei-tai! But would he be good enough? Would Takasugi-dono expect too much of him?

"You know, Himura," Takasugi began as they walked. "You don't have to be so formal." Noticing Kenshin's confusion at his statement he went on. "I mean the 'sessha's and 'dono's and 'de gozaru's."

Kenshin nodded though he was a little perturbed by this. It was strange to him; his Shishou had always told him to be respectful to his elders. Was this some sort of patriot thing?

Apparently Takasugi had noticed Kenshin's discomfort because he said, "Just call me Takasugi, or Takasugi san if you have to. 'Takasugi dono' is just a little too old fashioned. And no one says 'sessha' or 'de gozaru' anymore except for fanciful old farts."

Oh. Well, then...Kenshin guessed he wouldn't be using those words anymore. Suddenly an image of a doddering old Hiko popped into his mind and Kenshin repressed a snicker. Imagine, Shishou described as a "fanciful old fart." Heh, heh, Kenshin wondered what Hiko would think of that.

By the time they reached the camp Kenshin had managed to curb his grinning to only once in a while. Strangely enough, he felt proud of himself. He was out on his own. He was doing what HE wanted to do, not what Shishou wanted him to do. And for the most part, he was being treated like an adult.

"Oi, Takasugi! What's with the runt?"

Kenshin heard snickering coming from his left. He turned to look at the kihei-tai members who were currently mocking him, mimicking the way Kenshin walked and stooping over so they looked short. So much for being treated like an adult.

Takasugi began laughing with them, and for a brief moment Kenshin felt betrayed until Takasugi said, "I wouldn't recommend calling him a runt when I'm not around, Hideki. This "runt" could probably pummel you into the ground without even breaking a sweat." With those words Takasugi clapped Kenshin on the back hard enough to make him step forward a couple of steps and then walked off, leaving Kenshin alone with the other kihei-tai members.

While Takasugi walked away to do whatever kihei-tai leaders do with three jugs of sake, Kenshin couldn't help but acknowledge his growing respect for the man. He had taken in a virtually unknown swordsman and had defended him against the taunts of his men, men whom he had probably known for years.

Speaking of which, as soon as Takasugi was out of earshot and out of sight, Hideki, the ringleader of the imposing looking group of kihei-tai ruffians, drew his sword menacingly, and waved it around at Kenshin.

"I don't care what Takasugi says, you look like a weak little woman to me." Hideki grinned, waiting for Kenshin's response.

All right. Kenshin knew he was small; after living the past six years with someone who was literally the size of a horse, how could he not? But, since he was carrying a sword and not dressed in a kimono, he didn't think he particularly looked like a woman. But, it probably wouldn't do to get in a fight the first day he was here, regardless of what Takasugi had said earlier; so Kenshin decided that it would be best to just let it go, and began walking further into the camp.

Suddenly, he felt Hideki's fighting ki soar. Kenshin whirled just in time to block Hideki's sword, a small grimace crossing his face, not out of exertion, for all his brawn, Hideki was actually pathetically weak when compared to Kenshin's shishou, but out of anger. What was with all the ambushes today? After all the stress of the day, what with leaving Hiko and going out on his own for the first time, it was just too much. Kenshin narrowed his eyes at Hideki, amber flames beginning to kindle in violet irises. Hideki's eyes widened, and he began to realize that what Takasugi had said earlier about Kenshin being able to pummel him into the ground with no sweat was quite true.

By this point, a crowd had gathered around the two fighters to watch Hideki beat the crap out of the newcomer, as was the custom whenever Takasugi showed up with a new recruit. They cheered and whistled, impatient to see the "pretty boy" smashed to a pulp. However, the catcalls died down once the spectators began to realize that something was wrong.

The sight resembled a reinactment of "David and Goliath." The giant, Hideki, strained futilely against the implacable Kenshin, who stood his ground with no effort at all. Then, in the blink of an eye, Kenshin had pushed back against Hideki's sword and sent Hideki flying through the air to land several yards away.

That had been deceptively easy. Would all of his fights go that way? No, that was impossible; not everyone could be that weak. But as Kenshin glanced around at the grown men staring slack-jawed at him, he began to have his doubts. He had been told ever since he was just a kid that he was a mediocre swordfighter at best. But a good one? Never. But judging from these men's expressions, it was obvious that they thought what Kenshin had just done was extraordinary. Did that mean that he was actually a...good swordsman?

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Several weeks had gone by when Takasugi's friend and compatriot Katsura Kogoro came for a visit. By this point, Kenshin found that he was highly respected amongst the kihei-tai, and for the first time in his life he was treated as if his opinion meant something. While it was refreshing and great and everything, this newfound respect was somewhat...disconcerting. It was almost relieving when Katsura's soldiers treated him like he was ten years old.

"Ha, ha, the kid brought his own sword," one of them said to his friends while Kenshin went up to take his turn at striking the target. "Give it a try, kid," he said to Kenshin, amused with himself. "I'll give you a ryo if you cut it in half."

Kenshin quietly regarded the target for moment, then proceded to smoothly slice it in half with one stroke, leaving the soldier speechless.

"One ryo."

It was just too easy.

Later on that evening at dinner Takasugi had Kenshin meet Katsura, saying that the Choshuu leader wanted to talk to him about something important. What surprised Kenshin, was that the first question out of Katsura's mouth was what Kenshin's sword style was.

"I use the Hiten Mitsurugi style, Katsura san."

Katsura pondered this for a moment before speaking. "So that was the Hiten Mitsurgui ryu. I've heard of it, but I didn't know it truly existed...." he paused, considering how to begin. "But let me ask you something. Have you ever killed a man with this Hiten Mitsurugi school?"

Kenshin shook his head. "No." What was Katsura san getting at?

"Do you think you could?"

Kenshin considered this for a moment. "If with my own dirty sword and the lives I take, I could pave the way for a new era in which all can live in peace--"

Katsura interrupted him. "I see. We're leaving for Kyoto first thing in the morning. Take a room upstairs and rest."

Kyoto? He was going to Kyoto?

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A/N:

~I am so sorry for taking longer than usual to get this chapter out. But I actually have an excuse! I was busy being sunburned (damn Irish blood, no matter how much sunscreen I use, aaggh!), while training to become a lifeguard, so I can save all the unfortunate souls who almost drown in the waterslides, wavepools, etc. at Waterworld. Bleh….don't worry, I didn't have any fun.

~Also, I am aware that I am a moron, but I like to pretend I'm not one, so if I got any of my facts wrong, please correct me so I can fix it and continue fooling all of you who haven't seen through my ruse yet.

~And thank you so much for all the reviews! I feel so special! He, he, he, he, he!!!