Ohayo! Here's Koyasha again! I have gotten enough encouragement to continue, so here's the next part. But first, to answer some questions sent by reviewers:

*Chiruken*: To answer your question as to why Kenshin is a girl, it's just part of the story. The main part of the AU is.............you'll have to read. And wait. Arigatou!

*Youkai-Onna*: Arigatou gozaimasu! Demo, sessha is not that great of a writer.

*XZanayu*: Arigatou for the encouragement! I will keep it going just for you!! Demo, for the others as well...(sheepish look)

Anyway, on with the story!!!!!!

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Sheathing her swords once more, she laughed silently at their plight, before sobering and thinking of what she had found out. "That man must have meant that tokeo was dead. And this group is the recruitment party, that's why he took me here. The area smells of so much blood.....I can't tell if Tokeo's is among it. Their recruitments muct have been dwindled here, Tokeo among them. Honor requires that I avenge him,' she reasoned, drawing her katana and dropping back down among them.

They almost shot "him" when "he" just appeared in the middle of them. "Is there any particular reason for you to draw your weapons against me?"

"I - I - I thought you were a samurai! That is enough reason!" the leader said.

"So I noticed. I have no markings, nor am I a samurai. Who is your superior? I have matters to discuss with him."

"My superior is Katsura Kogoro! What matters could a ronin have to discuss with him?!"

"You misunderstand me. I am not a ronin. And I thank you for your cooperation." Kenshin bowed, and turned to the door. Going past a few open mouthed men, she opened the door and entered.

From "Heaven," Bastet watched the whole scene and smiled. That is, until something disrupted her.

"I see that Kenshin is doing well," said a slithering voice from behind her.

"Apophis, leave. I told you, it's over."

"She certainly has the traits of her mother - - - helping out those in need. Disgusting, really. What she doesn't have are the traits of her father."

Bast hissed at the red-haired demon. "I would not have her be like you! Now, leave, before I claw your eyes out, you serpent!" An airy chuckle escaped the demon of darkness, as he disappeared. "If he does anything to Kenshin, I'll skin him and use his skin to make a new purse......" she grumbled, turning back to the viewing panel.

Unknown to her, Apophis traveled, invisible to all, to the same building as Himura Kenshin. Quickly, silently, he passed the youth before his scent could register. But he led her to the chamber where Katsura Kogoro was drinking tea. As soon as Kenshin was there, he took partial control of the commander.

"What? What are you doing here?!" Katsura demanded of the strange red- headed "man."

"Sessha wa Himura Kenshin desu. I needed to speak with you of the actions of your men."

"Well, then speak."
"My friend was killed in front of this building. I was wondering if you knew of the measures your recruiting officers took." With that, Apophis took full control. "No, but are they the same as mine?" he smirked, sending a wave of demonic power at Kenshin.

Instinctively, the fourteen-year-old girl tried to avoid it, but was caught by a darker energy. Between the two powers, the combined mass of energy slammed into Kenshin, knocking her to the floor, where she lay unconscious. The sharp katana clattered to the floor beside her hand.

Apophis left the dazed leader of the Ishin Shishi's body and revealed himself to him. "Mortal, I have just recruited this person for you. He will be perfect in every way for the assassin you wanted. He will do every mission you order."
"Wh-what shall I do with him now?"

"Put him in a room by himself. When he wakes up, he will be a danger to mortals. Unless, of course, you can make his hands useless. But then you can give him the assignments."
Katsura bowed, as Apophis disappeared. Thus was the beginning of the Hitokiri Battousai
A few years later _Kenshin is seventeen_
Battousai stared at the blood staining the fresh snow. Her enemies' blood, her best friend in all the time she had been Battousai, Tomoe's blood, her own blood. It made a gruesome mixture. The golden, feral color of her eyes faltered, and changed to red, then purple, and finally, her natural blue-violet. Her lips formed a word, then she said it.

"...........To...mo...e........." It came out a harsh whisper. The sound of her voice shook Battousai from her stupor. A tear fell over the deep cut on her cheek as she picked up Tomoe's tanto. Closing her eyes, she drew the sharp blade across the other cut, making a cross. Then she stood, and turned away from that portion of her life.
The next day found another mission, as did the next, and the next. But the Hitokiri Battousai was different. Instead of killing "his" victims slowly, she did it quickly. Those who she got in fights with sometimes survived.

It was a year later when she disappeared, at the age of eighteen. Battousai was gone. What may have replaced "him" was a sad, lonely young "man" with a cross scar on his cheek. This was the Rurouni, Himura Kenshin. Eventually, ten years later, she found herself in Tokyo, facing a young woman named Kaoru because she had challenged "him" to being the Hitokiri Battousai.

'She doesn't know how right she is. I am -- no, I was....'

A fleeting thought for a fleeting scene. When Kenshin met Sanosuke, she recognized him. Not as a fighter-for-hire, but as someone from her village. A boy believed dead, Tokeo's younger brother, who was her age. But he didn't seem to recognize her.

Sanosuke sat outside at Kaoru's dojo, looking up at the stars, reminiscing of times when Captain Sagara was still around. But he kept going back to that last day, when they went to the Imperialist camp.....

Koyasha's Yappings: Evil, aren't I? That's where it's gonna end unless I get some more reviews! Aw, damn. You people know me too well..You know I'll update even without the reviews..But I'll be gone for about a month, unless I get the use of a computer where I'm staying...but don't get your hopes up.

Next time: Sano has a flashback! Sano has a flashback! Oops. I shouldn't a told ye that.