Hello all my lovely little readers!!! ::cricketcricket…cricket:: A-heh-heh, yeah.  Well here's the first chapter that I'm sure you've been waiting for with baited breath.  I've actually already written this fic once… but decided to expand it for the purposes of exploring Saya's here-to underdeveloped character.  At the time I was just trying to get the stupid thing out of my head, but now that the writer's lust has dissipated I find myself wanting to give her a bit more time to grow.  Unfortunately this means the installments might not be regular… I've already had a severe case of writer's block with chapter one… and I didn't even change it all that much -_-;; Well, bear with me, please…

To Protect: Will You Stay With Me?

Saya wandered the streets of town, stopping in to greet friends and playing with some of the village children that she passed.  She didn't go looking for what was coming, because that would only end up frustrating her.  She had learned early on that "knowing" worked best when she wasn't really paying attention to what was coming.  So, she would pass her afternoon without care and simply let what was coming greet her when it was ready.

            "Saya," the young woman behind the counter greeted her.

            Saya beamed at her friend as she entered the cloth shop, "Good afternoon, Kashi," she settled on an empty stool by the counter. 

            "What are you doing here?  You don't work again until next week," the older woman chatted as she folded long bolts of fabric with crisp movements.  Saya sighed slightly at her friend's skill.  She'd been working part time at Kashi's shop for nearly four years and still couldn't get the edges quite so smooth or the shape as neat.  She mostly helped out with the commissions that flooded the store.  Kashi was popular in the village for her unique patterns and fine taste in material.  Saya would tend to the mundane orders, allowing the seamstress more time to devote to the more elaborate requests.

            "I was just taking a stroll," Saya fiddled with a scrap piece of silk that had fallen behind the counter. 

            Kashi smiled at her friend, seeing the barely controlled restlessness in the fingers that caressed the fabric, "Is that all?" she asked.

            Saya wrinkled her nose at her friend and smiled guiltily, "Maybe not," she admitted and then leaned in, face taking on a conspiratorial expression, "I might be getting a present," she informed the seamstress in low tones.

            "What kind of present?" Kashi hunched down too, stifling a giggle.  Saya could always bring out the little girl in her.

            "If I knew, it would spoil the surprise," the ends of the ribbon bobbed against her cheeks as she nodded sagely.

            "That's true," Kashi conceded with a chuckle and then waved the girl out, "You'd better hurry, then," she advised, "It's getting late."

Saya waved goodbye as she left the shop, the fading sun catching her in the eye and causing her hand to fly to her face.  With a rueful grin she rubbed the stinging tears away and turned down the street to go to the lake.  It sat on the edge of the shops and buildings and was the perfect place to watch the sunset.

            Saya skipped down the hill that overlooked the water and skidded to a sudden stop as she realized she wasn't alone.  Sitting by the edge of the pond was a young man with red hair, a sword sheathed at his side.  The law forbade swords of any kind being worn in public, but that wasn't what had startled her.  With a happy laugh she continued her way down the hill.

            "Do you mind if I sit next to you?" she asked with a smile.  A pair of big, innocent purple eyes turned to face her.

            "Oro?" the man blinked at her in surprise and then smiled back, "Of course, I don't mind at all."

            Saya sat next to him, wrapping her arms around her knees and resting her chin on them, looking out over the water.  The man returned his gaze as well, and they watched the sun lower in the sky, sending red and orange bands of color over the rippling surface.

            "So now what?" Saya turned expectant eyes on the man. 

            "Oro?!" he looked at her, startled by the question, "I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean," he smiled a little warily.

            Saya laughed, "Well, I guess now that I've met you I should at least ask you your name,"

            The man's smile relaxed, "My name is Himura Kenshin," he bowed his head to her politely.

            "I'm Saya," she returned the bow and grinned, "You're a newcomer," she pronounced, "I know everyone in this village and I would certainly remember hair like yours."

Kenshin smiled back, "I'm a wanderer," he explained, "I was just passing though your town to get some supplies, but I'm afraid I was sidetracked by your beautiful lake."

Saya's gaze became sharp, "You're a wanderer?" she demanded.

Kenshin nodded uncertainly under her intense scrutiny.  She looked like she was trying to pick apart who he was with her eyes alone.  She leaned toward him, face mere inches from his own, her mouth set in a determined line. 

"Ah, Ms. Saya?" Kenshin stuttered, wondering if perhaps the young woman was what most villagers lovingly referred to as "eccentric."

"I can't quite figure it out yet," Saya huffed and sat back again, though still regarding him with the same curious air.

"Figure out what?" Kenshin inquired politely, relief that she'd leaned away sweeping through him. 

"What I'm supposed to do with you," the girl sighed and broke the stare.  As she did, her eyes happened to fall on his sword, "You're a warrior," she sounded surprised.

Kenshin was no less startled, "Retired," he clarified reassuringly as he wondered what she could possibly be talking about.

Saya pinned him with a knowing look, "Really?" her tone was doubtful.  Kenshin felt a drop of sweat roll down his neck. 

"Can I see?" she asked, indicating the sword again.  Kenshin nodded as he withdrew it from the scabbard, metal hissing against the leather. 

Saya examined it in the fading light.  The sun's rays ran along the length of the blade like blood, "It's," she touch the metal delicately with a finger, "It's backwards." She looked to the wanderer, puzzled.

Kenshin gave her a bright smile, "A wanderer doesn't need a sword made for killing, only to protect himself and others." He slid the blade home again with a snick.  Saya nodded thoughtfully at the statement and seemed to withdraw into herself for a moment.

"Hmm, do you like wandering, Kenshin?" she asked, leaning her cheek on top of her knees. 

He could only stare at her for a moment.  The certainty in her voice, like she already knew the answer better than he did was shocking. 

"Well, it is lonely sometimes," he admitted.

Saya nodded, "Good,"

"Good?" Kenshin echoed, confused.

Saya grinned at him, looking very impish, "Since you've admitted it, you can't turn down my hospitality."

            Kenshin blinked at her, "Your… Oro?"

            The girl stood and offered him a hand up, "Will you stay with me?  I'm sure my uncle won't mind since I knew you were coming."
            "Oro?" Kenshin let himself be tugged to his feet by her insistent grasp.  He felt like the ground around him had turned to quicksand and he was powerless to stop his sinking.  Still, he couldn't deny that despite the strangeness of the circumstances he wasn't nearly as uneasy with them as he felt he should be. 

            "There's no need for that!" he assured her, "I'm fine living in this way."

The girl made a very unladylike snort, "Nonsense.  You're looking for somewhere to settle and I'm providing you with a safe place to do just that."

The redhead shook his head again, still trying to put up the arguments he felt obligated to make, "Please do not feel that you need to protect me from anything, Ms. Saya."

            Saya grinned at him, "Just who will be protecting whom?  I'm a young woman living defenselessly with my crippled uncle.  You," she poked a fingertip at his chest to emphasize her words, "are a retired warrior." Kenshin bowed his head in defeat, his remaining arguments suddenly feeling silly.  She certainly had him on that point.

"I don't think your uncle will approve," he tried again anyway.  Saya grinned, realizing her victory.  She flapped a hand at him and started along the edge of the lake towards home, "Don't worry!  You're supposed to stay here.  I know these things," she gave him a wink over her shoulder.  Kenshin could only sigh and follow her.  Hopefully her uncle would be a more successful arguer.

"Uncle!" Saya bounced into the house, followed by a more sedate Kenshin.  Muriko appeared from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel.

            "Welcome home, Saya!" he wrapped her in a hug and then held her at arms length, "Did you get your present?"

            Saya beamed and waved Kenshin over, "Uncle, this is Himura Kenshin," she turned her smile to Kenshin, "And Kenshin, this is my Uncle, Muriko."

            The two men greeted each other politely, the shorter of the two wondering what 'present' the taller had been referring to.  His question was soon answered, however.

"Uncle," Saya wasted no time once the introductions were over, "Kenshin is a retired warrior and he needs a place to settle, at least for a while." She placed a comforting hand on the rurouni's shoulder and gave him an encouraging smile.

"Is that so?" Muriko looked Kenshin over critically.  The redhead certainly didn't look like a warrior with his small stature and angelic looking face, but the sinews that stood out on the backs of his hands and the air of quiet confidence that hung around him spoke otherwise.  Muriko smiled in genuine pleasure.  He hadn't met a true samurai since his own brother had departed from the world.  It was refreshing to see that the rare breed hadn't died out quite yet.

"Please do not feel obligated to take me in, sir," Kenshin began formally but was waved into silence by the older man.

"Nonsense," he began.  Kenshin couldn't help but smile at the unknowing repeat of his niece's earlier phrase.

"I'd feel better knowing my niece has someone reliable to keep her safe," he sighed a little guiltily, "Between my work and this bum leg, I'm afraid I don't  measure up to the job," he held out a hand, smiling, "So, if you'll accept our invitation, I invite you to consider our home as your own."

Kenshin stared at the proffered hand numbly for a few moments before smiling ruefully and taking it in his own, "Thank you, sir." He chuckled, amazed at how quickly his life had made such a startling turn.

Well there ya go.  It always killed me how easily he accepted Kaoru's offer to stay with her in the manga.  Ah well, at least Saya has a bit more reason to invite him in the first place.  Some people might notice that I don't have Kenshin do that scary, yoda-ish speech thing… well, truth be told, I haven't actually seen the anime series, only a smattering of episodes.  All my writing on the series is based off the manga (all 28 glorious volumes), and the translations I have didn't come with 'sessha' speech, so I'm not really comfortable with emulating it.  So… yeah, just a little explanation…