AN: This is my first RKenshin fic so beware! Raar! Another thing my spelling is horrendous and my grammar worse! I'm going to ignore Seisou Hen and hopefully bring in a small twist to something that has been done… at least I think it has been done before… ::sweatdrop:: Giya! I rewrote the market scene; somehow my brain died when I was writing this and the impression I wanted to give on Shiori disappeared. Oh well I fixed it I hope! ::sweatdrops::

Disclaimers: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Wastuki and Jump Comics plus whom ever else owns the rights. I am merely borrowing them for this sad piece.

Heart of a Wolf

Ch.1

Spring had come early this year and with it came the promise of soft rains. The day was shrouded with heavy dark clouds ready to heave their over burdened load. A chill wind rustled through the leaves of the trees a small reminder of the winter past. The sun desperately tired to shine its light through the dense mass of moisture only to be thwarted in it attempts. A quiet silence enveloped a small dojo as a small figure watched the clouds move swiftly through the skies the wind dancing with his fire red hair.

It was times like these that Kenshin had come to appreciate nature in its intensity. The cool breeze and the smell of rain the permeated his senses gave him great comfort as much as it caused him a painful nostalgia. Dark days like these weren't like the bright sunny ones where he would enjoy the laughter of his family covering the painful wounds of his past. Rather these days brought with them a sense of peacefulness and of quiet serenity as he contemplated his past wrongs as well as the love that he had gained.

Kenshin shook his head softly letting a small smile grace his fine features. He knew better than to be out there in the chill Karou would scold him for sure. His old body may have appeared young but it ached with a soreness of misuse. The Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu of his master had caused his fragile tiny bones to creak and shudder against each other. Some days the pain was more bearable than others and he could continue like he always did. Other days would leave him helpless and it made Karou worry unendingly.

The sound of a shoji door opening made Kenshin turn his violet eyed gaze towards the door. He already knew who it was and it made him smile all the more. He gazed lovingly at the woman who frowned. Her pale milky complexion contrasted beautifully with her dark raven hair. Deep blue eyes silently implored the owner of the violet ones to come inside to the warmth of their home. The two lovers- no soul mates stared at each other for quite some time as the clouds released their heavy weight. The soft pattering of the rain drops added to the moment between the two before worry got he better of one of them.

"Kenshin," Kaoru's voice had matured and become more musical and womanly as much as her body had. "Please come inside. You know it's bad for your health to stay out here in the rain."

"Aa." Was all Kenshin said as he gave his beloved a heartfelt smile. He had no intentions however to go back inside at the moment. He patted the wooden floor next to him silently requesting his partner to come and indulge in nature's rarity. Karou gave him a reprimanding look before sighing and taking his offer. Kenshin wrapped his arms around his love gathering her into himself and greedily taking her warmth. Karou giggled as Kenshin buried his face within her hair his eyelashes tickling her soft skin. His calloused hands found hers entwining his thin fingers with hers in an act of possession as well as submission. Kenshin breathed in her sent fully enjoying every part of her that he could touch.

"Aishiteru." Kenshin whispered his hot breath sending goose bumps along Kaoru's skin. She craned her neck to look at him her eyes shining with an unyielding love. "Aishiteru." He repeated as he brought her pink lips to his.

Thunder crowed into the night overjoyed in its victory as the rain poured down in sheets onto the thirsty ground. A pair of violet blue eyes watched the couple curiously before creeping back into its room letting the sound of the rain lull it to sleep.

Sunlight filtered through the rice walls filling the small room with its light. The sleeping figure in the futon moaned in annoyance as the early morning light violated his dreams. Violet blue eyes fluttered open in surrender to the fast approaching morning. Kenji sat up and let out a huge yawn while he tried to stretch his still sleeping muscles. Standing her ran a thin hand through his red brown mane getting his fingers tangled in its knots. Kenji scrunched up his delicate face in annoyance and set to folding his bed.

After that task had been finished he swiftly ran to the well at the back of the house hoping to awaken his lax senses with a good douse of cold water. Stripping to nothing but a loin cloth he poured the bucket of water over himself letting his body shiver as the chilly well water caused his skin to produce goose bumps. He set the bucket back in to the well pulling up yet another bucket full of the cold water. Once again he dumped the contents over his body letting his muscles flutter in response. Kenji carefully set the bucket beside the well before reaching for the towel he had brought with him. Just as it was in his reach a sharp cry brought him to turn quickly.

"Kenji!" Kaoru held her sleeping yukata closed with her hands. Her eyes were wide with panic but that felling was soon covered with surprise and amusement. Kenji looked towards his mother with concern before noting her change. "Ano… Kenji-kun, do you always do this in the mornings?" Asked his mother in a soft laughing tone.

Kenji looked down at himself before blushing red to his roots while grabbing the towel in one swift motion and covering himself. "Mother!" Came out Kenji's embarrassed cry.

"Humph. It's nothing that I haven't seen before." His mother stated she then switched back into her panic as she remembered her cause to shout for him. "Kenji! Get dressed quickly and go get a doctor!" Kaoru shook with fear and tears covered the corners of her eyes. "You're father is deathly pale with a high fever. Onegai hurry!" Kaoru ran back into her husband's and her bed room hoping to somehow comfort the sick man with her presence.

"Kuso!" Kenji cursed as he rushed towards his bedroom and changed into a decent pair of gi and hakama. He didn't really care if he matched at the moment and ran at top speed out through the dojo gates in hopes of finding the nearest doctor.

Kenji sighed as he paced outside of his parent's bedroom. The red head wrung his hand as his forehead creased in worry. If his father died now his mother would be infinitely sad. 'Why didn't that idiot go inside when Okasan told him to? Doesn't he know how much pain she was in now worrying over her baka anata?!' Why did she stay with someone like him?

It was always the same, the same questions plagued his mind over and over again. He couldn't understand what it was about that man that made his mother care for him so very much. There were so many things that Kenji didn't understand about that man who now lay deathly ill with his wife crying over him. Anger covered the young boy as he continued to pace red brown eyes watching him in annoyance.

"Oi Kenji-chan," Yahiko called out snapping Kenji out of incisive pacing and causing the younger boy to glare at his surrogate brother. "Stop your pacing you're making me dizzy." Yahiko had grown up to be a fine young man and though he had matured greatly it seemed that his incredible knack for teasing just got worse instead of disappearing. He towered over Kenshin and Kaoru with his height and body build. Broad shoulders and well defined muscles under years of kenjutsu practice caused the Tokyo Samurai to be one of the best looking young men around. Unfortunately for a lot of the single female population Yahiko was already married to the shy, but beautiful Tsubame.

Kenji reined in his temper and held his tongue at the rash retort he had for his older sibling. Ignoring Yahiko completely he continued to pace until the shoji door slide open and the doctor strode out. Kenji looked at the old man expectantly waiting to hear the diagnoses. Yahiko also fixed his gaze on the aged man his heart clenching with worry but his face showing nothing of the emotion.

The old doctor sighed and ran one of his withered hands through his white hair. "It's nothing serious just a small cold." Kenji tapped his foot impatiently noting the uncertainty in the man's voice. "It can get worse if he doesn't rest and eat properly. Make sure he takes his medicine regularly three times a day with some broth. As for the young woman she is just under some fatigue and stress and just needs some rest as well." Kenji blinked and ran into the room. Yahiko nodded and expressed his gratitude while walking with the sensei to the gates.

Kenji frowned at the site of his tired mother sleeping close to his sickly father. It irritated him. His father was pale and skin took on a grayish hue as his cheeks flushed under the fever. Kenji narrowed his eyes at the man and snarled. Because of his carelessness his father had gotten sick making his mother worry herself ill. Kenji attempted to slam the shoji door shut but it just slide into place with a soft thump.

Yahiko sighed and rubbed his temples as a small headache began to appear. "Kenji," Kenji stopped his stomping and looked up at the older man. "Go into town and buy some rice and vegetables. I'm sure you know how." That earned him a glare. "I'm going to continue the classes for today."

Kenji glared at the brown haired man. 'In other words you want me to act like a house maid while you do a man's job.' Kenji gritted his teeth and walked out of the gates without saying a word. Yahiko sighed and thinking he should write his wife a note begging for her presence here at the dojo.

"It's going to be one of those days isn't it?" Yahiko asked as he looked up into the clear blue sky.

Kenji grumbled quietly to himself as he walked to the market place. In his state of anger he didn't notice the clear azure sky that was dotted with white fluffy clouds nor did he notice the soft breeze that played with his pony tail. The day was beautiful as the sun stretched out its fingers touching all that it could. Birds sang the songs of courtship while other animals danced out their rituals as well. It was that season again… the season of love. But of course Kenji didn't notice that either.

Kenji Himura had taken after his father in his looks but they were slightly off because of his mother's interventions. Kenji was taller than both his parents and just a head shorter than Yahiko. His parents had found that strange since they were both short, however Kaoru's father Tetsuo Kamiya had been rather tall. Kenji had also inherited his father's hair coloring though his was a darker shade of red. Pale complexion, thin but firm frame toned with sword practice, and piercing blue violet eyes made Kenji a very desirable young man at the age of sixteen. By now most boys would have been trying to court some cute young girl. Kenji however was more interested in figuring out why his mother stayed with a man like his father, which was why he never noticed the stares of all the eligible young ladies as well as the non eligible ladies young and old. He didn't notice their giggling and their fluttering of eyelashes, their flirtatious attempts to attract his attention.

Kenji had kept his eyes down cast having the blue violet orbs covered by his messy auburn bangs. Though he was not technically looking where he was going he could tell where every thing was. His some-what grandfather had taught him how to read 'ki' or rather a person's life energy. Everything organic emitted a ki those that were alive had brighter kis while this that were dying or dead had dull kis. It wasn't hard to tell the inorganic apart from the organic when walking around. It was sort of like looking at a quilt made of many colors and noticing the holes where something should be. That didn't necessarily mean that one can distinguish all the elements especially while walking.

Take for instance the innocent little rock that had been bothering several people already. It jutted out just nicely so that someone who was careless would nick their toes or heel; every once in a while someone would trip. But alas… Kenji still wasn't paying attention and his ki sensing skills were not going to help him with this one. By the time Kenji noticed the rock he was already on his way to getting a face full of dirt. Thankfully though he inherited his father's god-like speed and reflexes, unfortunately they weren't as developed as the late hitokiri.

Kenji had managed send his arms in front of him to break his fall and he tried to save some dignity by trying to roll into a head stand and then flip back over to his feet. Though a good plan the young Himura forgot to factor in the body of someone in front of him, he only made it to pushing his arms out groping the body before him and sending them both crashing to the hard ground. A small 'itai' was heard from the person underneath him. Kenji blushed in embarrassment and stood only to blush to his roots when he realized he knocked down a young girl.

"G-gomen nasai!" Kenji stuttered as he tried to help the girl up. He reached for her hand but she batted it away.

"Mou!" Came a muffled reply to his attempts of helping the distressed girl. She swatted his helping hands away again as went on her hands and knees before sitting on her them. Kenji crossed in front of her and bent down to her level worry creasing his brow. Kenji gasped softly as soon as he caught a glimpse at her eyes. Like his they were an odd coloring that was not commonly found. Honey colored eyes glared at his violet ones. Kenji swallowed the lump in his throat the young girl was very angry and … dirty.

Kenji reached into his sleeve and produced a small blue cloth that he often carried with him. "Here." She blinked at him and then looked at the dark fabric. "It's to um… wipe your face with." Golden brown eyes narrowed slightly and full pink lips pouted indigently. Kenji had one word running through his head at the act. 'Kawaii.' But as fast as it filled into his head it disappeared.

"Thank you." She said hastily taking the offered material. "We should move from the middle of the street." She stood up and moved over to the side of the bustling street with Kenji following her intently. He noticed that she was about eleven or twelve summers old. Baby fat still clung to her cheeks in an enduring way and she wasn't very tall reaching to the middle of his chest yet something about her stature whispered promise of a much taller, more beautiful woman soon to come. She walked swiftly but with graceful fluid motions within the plain blue kimono. Dark black hair was left loose to fall to her mid back in length and to shine like the finest of polished obsidian.

Kenji wasn't one to stare at girls but something akin to intrigue pulled him towards the petite girl child. Kenji shook his head thinking briefly at something Yahiko had said when he had turned 14, something about raging hormones. Really could he be attracted to her? Kenji made a face, she was just a kid after all, he couldn't really like someone like her? Could he? Kenji made another face, he just meet her and he was thinking about romances and other silly nonsense! His hormones really were raging.

"What's on your mind?" A small voice asked curiously once they were out of the hustle and bustle of the market. Kenji stared down at the petite girl with a surprised look. She raised a delicate eyebrow and pursed her lips together. "What. Is. On. Your. Mind?" She asked more slowly.

Kenji frowned at her. "I heard you the first time." He replied a bit roughly.

"Didn't seem like it." She tilted her head to one shoulder. "Well?" She was waiting for an answer from him.

"That's none of your business little girl." He said drawing his lips back into a thin line.

The girl merely rolled her eyes and placed her chubby hands on her hips. "I do believe it is my business! You ran me over because of it!" She motioned to her soiled kimono. "What am I going to tell my father when he sees me? That some boy just decided that I would make the perfect carpet?"

Kenji bit back his laughter. Who was this girl? She was smart for her age that much was clear. What other twelve year old would speak as she did? "I'm sorry about your kimono I wasn't paying attention."

"Yes, we've already established that." The young girl replied giving him a dumb look.

"Did your father raise you to have such manners?" Kenji inquired with a raise of his brow. The girl pressed her lips together tightly whatever retort she had being held in. Kenji shook his head trying to clear something in his head.

"Are you always this angry?" She inquired titling her head to one side and let her lips slide into a thin line.

Kenji narrowed his blue eyes slightly towards her trying to give himself a more imposing appearance. "Aren't you being a little forward with someone you just meet?"

The girl gave a small shrug. "I suppose I am." She bowed formally before speaking again. "My name is Shiori. Hajimashite."

Kenji blinked as she raised herself back up and waited for him expectantly. Kenji gave out a small sigh. "My name is Kenji. Hajimashite."

The girl once again pursed her lips together forming a half pout. Kenji had the sudden urge to reach out and pinch her cheeks but restrained himself. "Could you be any less excited?" She asked sarcastically causing Kenji to frown at her once again. "And stop frowning! It makes your face look crooked!"

Kenji's eyes opened wide. "It does not!" He said indigently.

"It does to me." Shiori replied crossing her arms. "Since you won't give me an explanation as to your behavior then you can at least help me retrieve what you made me drop."

Kenji looked at the young girl any thoughts on how cute she was flew out the window and were replaced with thoughts he often thought about for Yahiko. "Fine." He said begrudgingly and moved to look at the area of the accident when he noticed the tofu bucket turned upside down spilling it contents all over the street. He gave himself a mental kick.

"I expect you to pay for another one." Shiori said as she stepped beside him. Kenji glared at her from the corner of his eyes but she didn't even flinch. "I could make you buy me a whole new kimono as well." She began to walk to pick up the fallen bucket. "Think of it as being generous."

Kenji snorted. "Being generous my ass." He breathed over his voice hiding the statement. But Shiori had exceptional hearing and turned and glared her honey colored eyes at him. "Come on." He pulled the bucket roughly from her hands and walked briskly before her.

"Hey! Wait up!" Shiori scampered behind him. If anyone had seen them they would have smiled and commented on how cute they were. And if anyone heard their bickering they would have thought it was just an aniki with his imotou.

---- tsudzuku ----