Disclaimer- I don't own any of the characters.
AN: Character are going to be OOC. I'm also going to mess with the RK timeline so this takes place before Kenshin meets Karou. I'm going to try my hardest to finish this but I've been known to be sidetracked by other fics that I want to write.
Kenshin looked up at the sky and sighed. It had been ten years since he had stopped being Battousai and began wandering. But now he was tired of wandering. He wanted to find a place where he could settle down for good. Unfortunately, that was going to be a difficult task. Every time he thought he had found a place to stay for good, something from his past would pop up and he'd be forced to leave. No one wanted the legendary manslayer living near them. And the frightened expressions the people had after they realized who he was made that clear. Maybe the next town would be different. He didn't think it would be, but it was worth the try.
Misao was tired but she kept on running. She didn't care where she was at or where she was going as long as it was far away. She was so wrapped up in her own little world that she didn't see the short red head until she ploughed into him. Kenshin caught them both before they both fell to the ground. Kenshin silently chastised himself for not watching where he was going.
"I'm very sorry." Kenshin said letting her go.
"No." Misao said. "It's my fault. My fault."
She let herself drop to her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Kenshin stepped away and looked down at her. Her head was lowered so he couldn't see her face but she seemed young. Her long dark hair pulled back into a braid. She was wearing a kimono that looked to be two sizes too big for her.
"Miss, you are getting yourself dirty." he said. "Let me help you up."
She didn't make any move to get up so Kenshin grabbed her arms and pulled her up. Misao just stood there and stared at the ground.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Even though she already knew the answer, Misao actually took a moment to ponder this question. No, she wasn't okay. Her heart felt like it had been ripped into shreds, her head was pounding mercilessly and she felt incredibly hot even though the temperature was falling. The only thing that was going to make her okay was to keep on running until she dropped. First she had to thank the man for helping her. Misao lifted her head.
"Than..." she stopped mid word when she saw the face of her rescuer.
It couldn't be. It was starting to get dark. Maybe she was seeing things. She closed her eyes for a second and then opened them to look at the man again. Short, red hair, cross-shaped scar. It definitely was him. Battousai!
"Murderer!" Misao yelled.
Kenshin looked at the girl in shock. He had no idea who she was yet she was calling him a murderer. He was glad that they were in the forest so that no one could hear her. The last thing he wanted was for people to think that he was killing again.
"I'm no murderer."
At least not any more.
"Liar! The blood is still fresh on you."
Kenshin was about to deny it but a quick glance down confirmed that he did have blood on him. He hadn't done anything for there to be blood on him so it could only come from the girl. He looked her over again and finally noticed the blood. What happened to her, he wondered. There was an equal amount of dried and fresh blood on her.
"I will not let you spill any more innocent blood."
He quickly returned his gaze to her face. She was furious. Her face was beginning to look slightly familiar but he didn't think he had done anything to her. At least not to warrant this reaction.
Maybe she was insane. Didn't she realize that the blood on him was hers? Or that he wasn't her enemy? Apparently not, he thought as she whipped out her kunai. Misao threw her kunai at him even though her eyes were too blurry with tears to see. Kenshin dodged the kunai's with ease. He did notice that she was barely paying attention to what she was doing. She was grabbing some of the knives by the blade. And judging from the death grip she had on them, the blades were surely cutting into her hand. Kenshin decided that it was time to end this. He caught one of them mid air and rushed toward her. Misao kept throwing her kunai until she felt cold metal pressed against her neck. What the.... She hadn't seen him move. Nor had he drawn his sword. That meant he was using her very own kunai against her.
Stupid, stupid stupid Misao. What kind of ninja are you?
One who refuses to let it end like this.
"You're not strong enough to beat me." he said when she went to struggle.
Not strong enough. Misao froze at these words and the last kunai slipped from her hand. He was right. She wasn't strong enough to beat him. She wasn't strong enough to do anything. She was a pathetic, weak ninja girl who let her enemy use her weapon against her. Now wonder why.... Misao stopped herself from finishing that thought. It didn't matter anymore. Nothing did. She tilted her head to the side to expose her neck.
"Kill me already. It'll be a blessing." she said tiredly.
Kenshin instantly dropped the kunai.
"I have no intention of killing you."
Misao heard him say something but didn't even try to make out what it was. Every ounce of energy was draining out of her. She was so tired of fighting. When she continued not to respond, Kenshin turned her around to face him. She was staring at him but he doubted that she was seeing him. Her eyes were glazed over and she had a painful far away look on her face. He waved his hand in front of her face but she didn't even blink. She suddenly gasped and went deathly pale. With a strangled sob, Misao fainted into his arms.