Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic
Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original Japanese Version © N.Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual Works Inc. * Sony Pictures Entertainment
All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.
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Lightning
by: Chiruken
Chapter 1
Himura Kenshin hurried along the road, taking care to step lightly to protect his precious burden…the tofu for dinner. Every few minutes his violet eyes would turn up towards the sky, anxiously watching as the angry clouds rolled in over Tokyo towards the inland from the coast. Biting his lip in concern, he increased his pace yet again as the wind picked up, send clouds of dust up into the air to choke anyone unlucky enough to be caught outdoors with the approaching storm. Pausing just long enough to balance the tofu bucket precariously on one hand, the rurouni reached up and pushed his wind-blown hair out of his eyes and surveyed the sky again. "This is not good, that it is not." He muttered under his breath, his worry increasing with the first few patting drops of rain that fell, splashing against his upturned face. Eyes moving back to his precious tofu, he groaned inwardly when he saw the raindrops plinking into the tub. "Oh no…"
Putting on a burst of his legendary god-like speed, the tofu bucket balanced precariously on one hand while the other held the hilt of his sakabatou out of the way to avoid tripping, Kenshin raced against the storm, hoping that he'd make it to the doujou before the sky really opened up. He skidded around a corner at top speed, expression intent and full of determination as he glanced upwards again. "Hey!" The startled shout so close in front of him was the only warning he had.
"Oro!" The next instant he was laying flat on his back staring up at the dark grey sky and gasping for breath, clutching the precious bucket of delicate tofu. Slowly moving to a sitting position, he shook his head sharply to clear it, raising a hand to gingerly touch to bump forming on the back of his head. "Itai!"
"Why don't you watch where you're goin', you clumsy buffoon?"
Kenshin turned his attention to the owner of the angry voice, ignoring the insulting manner with practiced ease and offering him a patented rurouni supreme cheer smile. "I'm sorry, that I am." He bounced to his feet and offered a hand to the fallen man. When his proffered hand was slapped aside rudely, he merely shrugged and smiled a bit more. "I truly am sorry, that I am."
"Yeah. Whatever. Just watch where you're goin' next time, kid."
With that the other man strode away without a backward glance leaving Kenshin staring after him with a perplexed frown. Scratching his head in puzzlement, he shrugged and continued on his way to the doujou. "Kid?" He shook his head with a grin, accepting the mistake of his age as a compliment rather than an insult…not that he really cared one way or the other. Continuing on his way at a much more sedate pace, Kenshin couldn't help but notice the oddities the storm was bringing. For instance, that orange and white cat that belonged to that nice old lady who ran the fresh vegetable stand at the market place…what was her name again? Kenshin paused in his thoughts and frowned at the cat in question. Suddenly he snapped his fingers, expression triumphant. "Kotara-dono!" At that moment a loud crack of thunder shook the ground. Eyes wide with surprise, Kenshin stared at the cat's blurred form as it scooted up the nearest tree as fast as its little orange legs could take it. "Ano…" With a soft sigh Kenshin set his bucket of tofu down in the doorway carefully so as not to spill the water protecting the tofu. Turning back to the tree and the cat the hapless rurouni sighed again. "If only I hadn't remember to whom you belong, neko-chan." With another sigh he approached the tree. "Now hold still and I'll have you down in just a moment, that I will." Crouching low and gathering his strength, he jumped, landing lightly on the large branch the cat was perched on. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty…I'm not going to hurt you, that I am not." Carefully shuffling across the branch towards the cat, he smiled when it stayed put. "That's right…just a moment longer and you'll be down, safe and sound, that you will." Another fierce crack of thunder heralded the arrival of the rainstorm in earnest. The next instant the cat jumped to the ground leaving Kenshin standing in the tree rapidly getting drenched in the sudden downpour, magenta gi swiftly plastering itself to his lean form as the wind lashed the driving rain against him relentlessly. Another jarring crack of thunder split the evening and Kenshin's violet eyes widened in horrified shock as he felt his hair begin to stand on end, a charged scent filling the air. "Oh shit!" It was all he managed to get out before the lightning struck.
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