Hello! This is Koyasha, trying her hand at a Rurouni Kenshin fic. I actually found this lying around. I had written it back before I knew much about Kenshin, so there are some spotty details. I'm just too lazy to go back and fix them. It's an AU fic where Katsura was basically _given_ Kenshin as a hitokiri. Sano is the same age as Kenshin in this. Oh, and don't go too hard on me. Like I said, I didn't understand it too well when I wrote this.

The year had been disastrous for many in the Bakumatsu. Separate groups were fighting the Shogunate and each other. Caught amidst this whole corrupt society, a spark of innocence clung to a youth, bright-eyed, and fresh from the mountains. "His" name was Himura Kenshin, and she was new to the city, eager to learn the layout of it. Two swords (given to her by her master, Hiko, and in the fashion of samurai) hung from her hip, drawing some interest - mostly unwanted - but not as much as her fiery red hair.

Kenshin was here to find her close friend, Tokeo. Tokeo was a man, older than Kenshin by at least twenty years. They were the only survivors of a combined destructive force of cholera and slavers. She wasn't aware that her old friend had been killed over two years ago by Imperialist soldiers.

Smiling, blue-violet eyes shining cheerfully, she asked people if they had seen Tokeo. Though each one answered in the negative, she was undeterred, and kept smiling. Finally, she found a merchant who did know of Tokeo and offered to "lead the young lad to where he was." But, this merchant was a recruitment scout, sent to find potential soldiers to add to a unit.

"Come with me, I will take you to your friend."

Kenshin bowed to the man in thanks, and followed him through the catacombs of the back alleys. Eventually, they found themselves in front of a door bearing the Imperialist symbol.

"Here he is."

"But, there is no one here, sir."

"Well, then his spirit resides here, now."

"What? Do you mean that Tokeo is dead?" Kenshin received no answer from the now retreating man. Within a few minutes, several guards had surrounded the youth, guns in hand and aimed at her. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at each of them, not really happy about the situation. One hand loosened her katana in its sheath, ready to use it if necessary. This movement didn't go unnoticed by the men.

"Make another move beyond what I tell you, samurai, and we shoot! Now, slowly draw your swords and put them on the ground!" 'How........interesting. They believe me to be a samurai,' Kenshin thought as she removed the blades from their sheathes. But she didn't drop them. Instead, she jumped to the roof, avoiding the shocked fire of all the soldiers. Sheathing her swords once more, she laughed silently at their plight, before sobering and thinking of what she had found out.

Well? What do you think? Good, Bad, Needs to DIE? Send in your honest opinions, please! I look forward to hearing from you! Onegai, this unworthy authoress would like at least four reviews before continuing.