AN: Yay chapter two is done! I'm writing this story much faster than I've ever done before merely so that I can get back to my other stories. Geesh I hate muses!! Especially when they can't decided between 10 ideas! Anyway I'm still not too happy with the way this chapter came out but I couldn't think of anything better. *sigh* Oh well.

Disclaimer: I was talking to myself say, "Self I think we should go buy Kenshin and put him in our closet." To which Self replied, "Where would he fit?" Which is why I don't own Kenshin or any of the other characters.

Heart of a Wolf

Ch.2

Was it his imagination or did the girl get more irritating by the minute? And here he had thought she was kind of cute. Riiiight. Un-cute was more like it. She reminded him of his Aunt Misao's daughter Kumiko who would cling to his arm and talk about nonsense. Where all girls at this age like that? She was nosily chattering about everything and anything. Randomness. She would start talking about the creak on her porch and then immediately start speaking about some kimono she was hoping to get. Honestly didn't she stop talking? Or rather didn't she at least try and keep to one idea?

Kenji blew his bangs in frustration. After having to buy her a replacement tofu she had demanded, demanded not asked, for him to walk her home. Well it was late, he admonished but still she could have nicely asked so he could have refused. Of course he forgot all about the things he was supposed to buy. Now when he got home Yahiko would tease him relentlessly if he found out the cause to his forgetfulness. That is IF Kenji told him of course which was NOT going to happen.

Kenji took the moment to look at the girl out of the corner of his eye. She had stopped babbling about something and begun to walk slower until she stopped. In one sweeping motion the young Himura turn and stopped lowering his head to look at the girl.

"I'm bothering you aren't I?" The voice was so soft it was almost swallowed by the passing breeze. Her face was down cast the gentle spring breeze moving her dark tresses.

Kenji raised his eyebrows in surprise. She was doing it again! Where in the world had THAT come from? It was like one of Yahiko's strikes that blind sided him leaving him in a complete stupor not knowing what hit him nor what to do about it.

"I can take that the rest of the way. I don't live that far from here. Thank you for walking me." The petite girl bowed and reached out for the bucket.

Kenji purposely moved it out of her reach and continued walking. He could feel her eyes on him before he heard the soft thumps of her wooden shoes. "Baka." Kenji looked over his shoulder at her surprised face briefly. "You'd think I'd let a little girl like you walk home by herself? My mother would kill me."

Shiori caught up to him quickly trying to keep up with his long strides. Tugging on his sleeve she tried to reason with the red head. "No, it's okay you don't need to, really. Besides your mom won't know about it so you don't have to worry."

"I will worry about it." Kenji said slowing down unconsciously so she could keep up. Shiori blushed lightly and smiled gently at him causing his heart to flutter strangely. A comfortable silence settled between them and Kenji got the chance to look around.

It was late in the afternoon and any minute now the sun would start its decent past the horizon. Though the day was warm with the said sun a cool breeze was starting to pick up causing the young girl to shudder against it slightly. The district she lived in was much like his nothing fancy yet nice and simple. The street was not over crowded and often devoid of other travelers. It was quite and littered with small apartments within their enclosed walls. Kenji took great care in memorizing the location of the girl's home with the precision of a swordsman.

Kenji pursed his lips at the thought and once again glanced at the girl from the corner of his blue eyes. She was four years younger than him, at least he assumed she was, but spoke with a maturity, except when he set off her temper, beyond her true age. Then again looks can be deceiving he knew that from his grandfather as well as his father. She could very likely look a lot younger than she was. He didn't ask her age though, knowing it was rude to do so, or at least that is what his mother had taught him. However curiosity was eating away at him. Maybe if he saw her again he could ask her politely. Kenji mentally slapped himself. He was already thinking about seeing her again when moments ago he was thinking how undesirable her company was.

"What is she like?" Kenji jumped slightly at the musical voice. He stared at her blankly not at all understanding what she was talking about. Shiori stopped in front of a wooden door that lead to her house. Shiori giggled at his befuddled expression and smoothed the front of her kimono slightly. "Would you like to come inside for a moment?" She asked titling her head slightly.

Kenji blinked and tried to push back his slight confusion. Would he ever get used to her scattered way of conversing? "Ano, won't your father mind if you brought some strange boy home?" He asked with his eyebrow raised.

Shiori nodded slowly. "Yes, but father is not home right now."

Kenji's eyes widened. "Isn't that worse?"

Shiori laughed behind one of her tiny hands. Kenji caught a brief glimpse but what he saw surprised him.

"You practice budo?" He whispered more to himself than to her.

Shiori stopped her laughter and stared at him with wide brown eyes. "H-how did you know?" Kenji softly reached for her hand turning it over with his thumb he rubbed the base of her fingers. Shiori blushed bright red at his forwardness but did nothing to move her hand away.

"Not many young ladies have blisters here especially if all they do is cook and clean." He let her hand go and nodded. "I'll stay for a little while." Kenji tried to stop the words but his mouth had other ideas. What was it about this girl that caused him to just loose any and all restraint on his flapping lips?

Shiori forced her face to cool down before opening the gate and walked in holding the door open for the young man to step in. She knew that she shouldn't have asked him to stay, the neighbors would be sure to talk, but she couldn't help but be drawn to the boy. He was very handsome though impolite at times, but there was something about him that reached her heart. He felt… lonely and that was something that she understood very well. Was that why she demanded that he walk her home? That he stay with her a little while longer? Shiori sighed inwardly. She very well knew the answers.

She led him to the living room glancing behind her as he looked around at her tiny home. It wasn't much but it was enough. The house had five small rooms, the largest being the living quarters which also was the dining area. That room ran right in the middle of the home connecting the back with the front. To the room's left were her father's room and the kitchen. The kitchen was tiny but spacious and was in the farthest corner in the left back. To the other side of the living area was her room as well as her brothers' room. Her room, like the kitchen, occupied the farthest corner of the back of the house. She didn't care since her one of her doors opened up the koi pond behind their home. Beside the pond was their watering well that lay next to a small wooden building that was the bath house. A wooden walkway surrounded the entire rectangular home with a small porch in the front of the house that lead to a small front courtyard. The courtyard had two wisteria trees guarding the stone walkway lending their shade to the passersby.

Inside the house was simply decorated with a traditional flourish and colors. Colorful bonsai trees and fans covered corners and walls of rooms and accented the dark wood furniture. Kenji admired the small but spacious room that was decorated comfortably and beautifully. Unbeknownst to him each room had a different animal motif. The main hall had beautiful white cranes carved within furniture or painted against black panes. Her parents' room had a wolf motif that was also carried into her brother's room. Her room however was decorated with the colorful koi fish that lived in the pond. They swam against her walls in kites and fans, their golden scales shimmering on her panels and furniture. Everything was delicate and tasteful in her home giving way to the personality behind the decorating.

Shiori quickly took the tofu from Kenji and placed it in the kitchen while boiling some water to make tea. While waiting for the water to heat up the tiny girl quickly located a small tray and two tea cups. Placing the off white porcelain cups down she began to start dinner until the water was ready.

"Your home is beautiful." Kenji commented as she walked in. "Your mother has a wonderful decorating hand." Shiori faltered slightly making the cups clink against each other briefly. Kenji looked at the girl as she frowned a sad look crossing her pale face. "Did I say something wrong?" He asked softly accepting the cup that was handed to him.

Shiori refused to meet his eyes as she served him tea. "No, you had no way of knowing." Shiori looked around the room briefly a sad smile on her face. "My mother died a long time ago." She whispered softly turning towards him. He noticed how her eyes took on a shade of darker brown.

"I'm sorry." Kenji said sincerely.

She shook her head and refilled his cup. "It's okay. She died with no regrets and watches over me and papa in heaven." She flashed him another smile that caused his heart to quiver slightly. Another silence filled in between them but unlike last time Kenji felt quite uncomfortable with it.

"So," Kenji began not quite sure how to venture on. "You and your father live in this big house alone then?"

Shiori nodded before adding, "Yes, but my brothers used to live here with us."

"Brothers?"

She once again nodded sending wisps of black hair to fall before her eyes. "Yes, four older brothers." She brushed the annoying strands back and continued. "They are all married and have families of their own now. Three of them don't even live in Tokyo and the one that does isn't here very often either."

Kenji drank some more of his tea and hummed to himself. He couldn't help but wonder why she was telling him all this. She had a sort of innocent trust in him that he couldn't understand. It briefly reminded him of his mother.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters, Kenji-san?"

Kenji sipped some more tea and nodded. "I guess you could say I do." Shiori creased her brows together and titled her head slightly in confusion. Kenji smiled at her expression and waited to see if a giant question mark would appear near her. "My parents found and rescued a young boy raising him like he was their son. When I was born he kind of became my big brother of sorts helping me get into trouble as much as he helped me out of it."

Shiori giggled at this and nodded her head in agreement. "Ee. I know exactly what you mean." Kenji raised a dark brow motioning for her to continue. Shiori just laughed behind one of her hands again and shook her head. "No, no. Those are memories I rather bury than indulge in." Once again her speech pattern caused him to doubt her age. "What are your parents like? They seem to be kind and compassionate people to take in someone and raise them as their own child."

For a brief moment Kenji hesitated. Talking about how loving and generous his mom is was no problem but when it came to putting those same words with his father it became a little harder than normal.

Shiori frowned at the look that crossed his handsome face. She seemed to have touched a nerve when asking that question. It wasn't that one of them died that was not the emotion he seemed to emit when he looked at her. There was something else that danced behind the violet eyes something that made Shiori wonder.

For the third time that day silence settled in between them each one divulging into their own thoughts. In the corner of the room a western clock ticked away the time and it caused Kenji to look at it briefly.

"Where is that from?" He asked indicated with his head that he was speaking about the clock.

Shiori turned to look at it before shifting her gaze back to his. "My father travels a lot and visits some interesting places and people. I think that was a gift from some westerner that he helped on one of his longer missions."

"Aa." More silence. "You're father travels a lot? What does he do?"

"He's a Police Captain." Shiori was a bit reluctant to tell her father's position in the police force after all, his name wasn't meet with too much kindness. "He goes around saving people throughout Japan. He's the best officer they have." Shiori inhaled sharply as narrowed blue eyes stared at her intently. Anger brimmed those eyes and caused her to swallow slightly.

"Does he leave you here alone?" Kenji roughly asked.

Shiori squirmed under his intense look and kept her head down. She ran in her head her answer to see what it was that could have offended the young man so. Did he hate westerners that much? Or was it the police that roused his anger? "Y-yes he does. But it's okay I-"

"But you're just a little girl! How can he do that?" Kenji interrupted her while slamming his hand down on the tatami floor. The cups clattered against each other slightly filling in the gap of surprise that enveloped them.

Shiori straightened her shoulders and narrowed her eyes at him in anger. "I can take care of myself! I don't need him to coddle me every minute!" She shouted back.

"That may be so but I doubt that even you could defend yourself against a group of thieves on your own." Kenji stated with a flat cold voice.

Shiori huffed indigently and shook her head. "That's what you think. My father taught me how to use a sword and I am very capable with it!" Shiori let out a shout of terror as Kenji grabbed her shoulders and slammed her on the floor straddling her hips. It was very quiet for a while as the two of them stared at each other.

Kenji's narrowed eyes darkened to a darker shade of violet and his voice became a soft whisper. "Where are your sword skills now?" After another few moments of silence he released her and stood up looking away as she placed a hand over her racing heart. For a moment there he saw the terror and helplessness in her eyes. He saw through the façade that she put up hiding that she was really afraid and alone.

Shiori wanted to cry. For the briefest of moments she had been afraid that she had misjudged his character, that she had opened herself up for an attack. More so she was ashamed, ashamed that a mere stranger had done that to her. That she had opened herself for an attack. Was she so desperate to seek out another human that she was willing to risk her life? She had done so already by letting him walk her home, by letting him enter her sanctuary. She wanted to cry because she was alone, alone and afraid.

Kenji tried to reel in his anger tried to temper his thoughts with other things. 'Just like him… that man is just like him.' The thought was like a mantra stuck in his head. Kenji took in a depth breathe and exhaled it slowly trying to curb his anger so as not to frighten the girl more. He tired to focus on something else anything that would cause him to not think about it anymore.

He looked over his shoulder slightly and for once saw the little girl that she was. She shook with fear and her ki became a vibrate array of emotions the most prominent being shame and guilt. Kenji slumped his shoulders and turned to face her, his mouth twisted into a frown.

"I'm sorry."

"D-don't be." Shiori took a shakily breath to steady herself. "You are right. I-I wouldn't be able to defend myself like that. I should've… shouldn't have let you in." Shiori clenched her hand tightly and stood.

Kenji watched her fascinated with her ki. Defiance permeated through the other emotions swirling in between anger and hopefulness. The young man's frown deepened. Was that what drew him to her? Her entrancing aura? The thing shimmered and flowed smoothly from one color to another, each emotion sure and determined. It was beautiful.

"Do you know anyone that you can stay with?" Kenji asked softly his eyes softening.

"My father doesn't trust people." She said as she looked down at her curling feet in thought.

Kenji watched her toes briefly a stray thought running to his mouth. "Stay with me." Shiori's head shot up with an audible snap, blood rushing to her cheeks. Kenji blushed and looked away coughing into his hand. "My parents won't mind and we're a good family. My father worked with the police on several occasions so they can also vouch for him. " For once in his life Kenji was happy that his father did help the police. Kenji looked at her directly his face serious. "And if you say no I'll take you anyway, kicking and screaming."

Shiori made a face and snorted. "That is IF you can."

Kenji smirked. "I think I can take on a little girl."

Shiori shifted her hips slightly and wagged a chubby finger at him. "Need I remind you that I four older brothers?"

Kenji gaffed at her remark and shook his head waving his hands in front of him in mock defense. "Maa, maa! Gomen!" Shiori smiled brightly at him laughing as she shook her head making him laugh in response. Kenji took the moment to glance at her aura and was stunned. Gold wove into bright reds and greens light fire before shifting into pinks and violets cascading around yellows and blues.

After their laughter died down the raven haired girl picked up the tea tray gently. "I shall need to write a letter to my father explaining my whereabouts. What is your family name Kenji-san? You failed to give it to me when we first meet."

"As did you." Shiori blushed but said nothing. "Himura. My name is Himura Kenji and you'll be staying at Kamiya dojo."

"Himura!" Shiori breathed in with a gasp. Kenji nodded and looked at her quizzically. She merely shook her head saying, "Father has spoken well about your family is all." She looked up the corner of her eyes crinkling with happiness. "Papa won't mind me staying there at all! He always speaks highly of your father!"

Kenji deadpanned and said nothing. Shiori wanted to ask him what was wrong but said nothing moving into the kitchen and resuming her cooking. Kenji looked out side noticing that the sun was already near the horizon causing the sky to become vibrant reds and oranges. Kenji sat down again watching nature paint its goodbyes with soft strokes his mind turning back to the girl who was shuffling back and forth.

His mind wandered onto something his mother had told him a long time ago when he meet his parents' friends. They each were a strange and separate character, each one more different from the next. When she had explained to him how they all meet Kenji was quite confused. Some of them became friends immediately others took a while to work on. Kaoru had explain that every once and a while someone will come into his life unexpectedly and he would be drawn towards them. He wouldn't have a choice about it and his mind wouldn't understand, but his heart would know theirs from the moment they meet.

---- tsudzuku ----

Arrigato gozaimasu!

First of all many, many thanks to Takato who is my BETA reader! YATTA! So wonderful and nice!! \^0^/ I'm so happy that you did such a good job that I'll rethink about torturing you OHOHOHOHO!

Kenshin: ORO!

dementedchris: Thank you for reviewing twice! I really appreciate your feedback to the re-write! ^-^ The first time I wrote it I was kinda on borderline Brain Dead so it came out kinda funky and rushed. The next day I re-read and practically screamed at my stupidity but I'm glad you like her this way! It makes more sense as to who her father is! About Kenji noticing her above others I hope my little explanation at the end made it clearer. I was trying to keep up the whole Kenshin-gumi gathering that they do. Honestly they meet and become friends (even risking their lives) becoming a big family later. I know that in reality it doesn't always work like this but hey! This is fiction! ^-^ Besides it's kinda hard not to notice someone when you practically run them down. Hee hee! Father? Hum? Who could that be? LOL! Well I always wanted to make Kenji squirm a bit! ^0^

sulky girl: Oh I hope I do good! ;_; I know what you mean! I hope I can make Kenji see that too! But then again he is a stubborn fool! Grrr... Thank you for reviewing!

Gypsy-chan: Don't worry I won't! I can't believe they did that! I mean it makes sense but why did they have to die!!! ;_; *sniff sniff*

Gochan: Yes Kenji can be a real jerk at times. I'm hoping I can soften him up just a bit (I don't do mean too well ^^;;) Eh heh... yes... well... He's a strong kid I think he'll survive... kinda. ^^;;

Beige Chocobo: Nah... I don't think he'll kill him. After all Kenji would have to do something Evil first. Although talking to his daughter would constitute as evil in his eyes! ^0^ OHOHOHO! I want to thank you! After your comment about Hiko I got a whole scene sketched out concerning just that! Arrigato gozaimasu!! ^.~

Monica Chung: Eh heh... I haven't seen it yet either which is another reason why I'm ignoring it completely. ^^;; BUT! I will see it soon! I just have to pay for the dumb DVD! Yatta! I'm just itching to see them fight! Oooh I know it's going to be good!! Thank you again for reviewing!!