Birthday Surprises

Disclaimer: *whines like a 3 year old* I don't wanna!!!......Do I hafta?......*mutters* Oh alright......I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any
of the characters from it.

Summary: A night it the life of everyone's favorite Hitokiri. This is just a one shot about Kenshin on the night of his sixteenth birthday. I hope you enjoy and REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!! Oh also just to let you know the song is called 'Gotta Get Away' and is sung by Offspring. (I don't own that either!) ^_^

Chapter 1: "I never claimed to be a samurai..."

Drunken laughter rang out of a second hand inn in that of the cursed city of Kyoto. The revolution was in full arc and those who were respectable were scared to just come out of their homes in fear for those they loved and their own lives. The shadows that were cast by the faint glow of the moon gave everything an eerie glow and only foretold of the city's danger. The clouds had covered the moon making even its faint glow scarce. The rough times this city had come upon were only reflected more by that of the inn's condition. The maids were trying to clean hastily as they flirted with the drunken men that were trying to drown their troubles away...
A figure sat in the back unnoticed, blending into the shadows as if he belonged there. He was at a lone table and it was odd to see an inn as full as this one with empty tables. He kept his head down as he held a cup of sake. The bangs of his red hair were covering his eyes as he wore the rest in a high ponytail like that of all soldiers. He wore a dark green kimono and a gray hakama making it all too easy to mistake him as just another shadow. Though it was noticeable, however, that not one man ever went to talk to this figure. They left him to his business and it seemed the figure had no problem with this.
No one would have ever guessed that this man was only that of a fifteen year old boy waiting for the turning of his sixteenth birthday.
A maid reluctantly drew near to the small table he sat at. She was shaking badly and it was noticeable even though she was the bravest who served there.
"C-can I offer you more sake, samurai?" she stuttered, fear clearly stated in her tone.
"I never claimed to be a samurai," a cold voice replied even though the man did not stir.
"I am sorry, I just assumed.....by the swords you carry." she replied almost tripping over her own words.
An unseen hand slipped to the hilts of two swords placed at the man's side. One a short sword with the name of wakizashi, and a longer sword called a katana. True these swords were that of all samurai but these swords were used for less honorable tasks than that of samurai. Now a days, however, even samurais were losing their noble air and only becoming snobbish pigs.
"Well, you assumed wrong," the man replied as he looked up as he held his cup out indicating he wanted more to drink.
"Yes...sir," she spoke as she took a step away from his piercing lavender eyes.
She poured the sake barely able to keep from pouring it on the table. She probably would have if he had not adverted his gaze.
His sharp eyes glazed the room and most kept their heads down and went along with whatever they were doing. His cold eyes however paused as they held that of another pair. The man quickly turned back around keeping his head extra low.
The man however only turned back to his drink, the maid now gone and the cup full. He stared at the sake twirling it absently thinking only one thought....'He's late....'

Author's Note: I'm going back to my longer chapters for this one shot. I think it'll fit the story better. As always please read and review!!!