Chapter Three Who is she?

There was a flash, as if lightening, and Seiko's eyes quickly fluttered open, as she gasped. Above her was a white-washed ceiling, and she slowly become aware of unfamiliar garb wrapped about her and a thin blanket over. Instinctively, she reached quickly for her sword that should've been at her side. Her eyes grew terrified as her hand searched for the handle. She breathed heavily, frightened and confused.

"It's not there." Said a soft voice, "And I know you're awake."

Seiko tried to regain senility. "Che...etto...Who are you?" She asked, breathing irregularly, quietly, still staring at the ceiling.

"I am Himura Kenshin." She knew it was the voice of the man from the morning before, and paused for a moment. Seiko let out a sigh of relief and relaxed slightly, then turned and looked. She froze, seeing what must be a ghost, a haunting memory. Only, she had expected the ghost to be frenzied and angered, and yet here he sat silently, cross-legged on the floor, watching her as if he had nothing better to do, she did not notice when he asked, "Daijoubu desu ka?"

"Makoto?" She whispered, just barely audible.

"Sumimasen?" Said the stranger.

"You are – him..."

She could tell he was genuinely confused, yet she was still out of sorts. He was exactly like Makoto was, and yet he did not know her, and he said his name was Himura Kenshin.

"Gomen nasai, you must have me confused with someone, I am Himura Kenshin." He said gently.

Slowly she began to remember the day before. She had been walking, slowly, after a sword-fight in the woods. Two thieves had come upon her, and although she had easily killed them, somehow she had come out with a slash from her stomach across the side. While walking, she had heard voices. Coming upon the rise of a hill she looked down and saw to travelers. One was simply a man walking along, but the other, it was him – Makoto. She had cried his name, at first in fright. They had turned and stared, then continued walking. Flying down the hill she had attacked, but slowly, fell into a daze. She stared, wondering why – why? – before falling to her knees as the darkness grew.

And now here she was. Obviously enough, this was not who she thought he was. Feeling confused, she turned again.

"Where is my sword?" She asked coolly.

"Over there," He nodded to a corner of the room where two swords and several long knives leaned against the wall. She smiled, relieved, and sat up to retrieve it, only to be met by a searing pain that started in her stomach and ended at her back. She gasped and fell back.

"You will be staying with us for a few days, that you will, until you are – better." Said the man casually.

"What did you say your name was again?" She asked, staring at the ceiling again.

"Kenshin. Himura Kenshin."

"Himura Kenshin," she said quietly, "Very well – Mo bettah."

"What is your name?" He asked in turn.

"I have two that are of my own, but many others that others use." She said coyly.

"Then tell me what the two are."

"Hiroshi Miyuki-Seiko." Replied Seiko.

"Is that so?"

She nodded, "Mo bettah, Yokatta."

"It seems in town the police are searching for a Hiroshi Miyuki Seiko – they say that a note was left in the woods signed by that name, along with two dead bodies." Kenshin said calmly, eyeing her carefully. Seiko at first was surprised, but calmly smiled to herself. True, a note was left in the woods, a warning to all thieves, pushed into the soft ground with a bloodied stick.

She waited but the man said nothing more, and neither did she. After several minutes of silent stares, Seiko heard a commotion from the doorway. There was a crash, and squeaking of wood floors, and yells – of course. Moments later a young boy came racing through the door, followed closely by a very angry looking dark-haired woman.

"Kenshin!" Cried the boy, turning to glare at the woman, "Make her stop it!"

"If you don't stop it now I swear I'm gonna..."

"Whatcha gonna do, ugly?" He retorted from behind Kenshin, who sat cross- legged watching the scene calmly.

"Yahiko-chan, you should be respective of your sensei and do what she says..." He finally said with a sigh after a prompting look from the woman.

"But she's being mean!"

"You're being a brat!"

Seiko remained silent but crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. The boy and woman continued throwing back and forth insults and accusations. She couldn't help but smile, finding the situation comical. It took a while, but the two finally realized that she was present and indeed watching.

"Oh," Said the woman sheepishly, "Konnichiwa."

There was an uncomfortable silence before she continued, "My name is Kamiya Koaru. Who are you?"

"I-" She began, before Kenshin interrupted her.

"This is Seiko."

"Actually," She began again, before she was again interrupted,

"She mistook me for a – a friend of hers..."

"Ohhh," Said Koaru and smiled warmly, "Welcome to my dojo Seiko. I hope you don't plan on leaving anytime soon...you have a very bad injury, you know."

"She'll be staying a few days." Said Kenshin quickly just as Seiko was about to reply.

"Yokatta, I – hey, where'd Yahiko go?" Koaru said suddenly looking around, then ran off through the door, screaming, "Come back here you little maggot, I'm not through with you!"

"I can speak, you know." Seiko said after a moment. Kenshin smiled innocently.

"You need for rest, Seiko-dono."

~*~
Sanosuke joined Kenshin who stood just outside the kitchen watching as Koaru disappeared inside the bathhouse with some towels. She had under- taken the job of bathing the mysterious young woman known as Seiko. Sanosuke could not help but grin when Koaru raced out of the bath house again chasing around the laughing Yahiko, who had been peering through the small window. Even more surprising, the other woman appeared from the bathhouse, wrapped in a lose towel, much paler with months of dirt removed.

"Wait, Koaru-dono," She said. Koaru froze in her position – just about to whack the back of Yahiko's head.

"Come here young one," She beckoned him.

"I'm not a young one," He grumbled, slowly and cautiously walking over to Seiko, who kneeled down before him, "What?" He asked.

"What is your name?" She asked.

"I am Myojin Yahiko," He said proudly, and added, "I'm going to be a warrior," and touched the edge of his wooden katana – wishing quickly that it was a real sword. Seiko's once amused expression quickly changed to a saddened one and she remained silent.

"What's the matter?" Yahiko asked.

"N-Nothing," Seiko said, shaking her head and smiling, standing up again, "You shall be a great warrior Myojin Yahiko." She gently laid a hand on his shoulder before Kaoru led her away.

"Kid after my own heart," Grinned Sanosuke, ruffling Yahiko's short brown hair.

"Hey, watch-it rooster head!"

Inside the dojo Kaoru set about finding some clothes for Seiko. As she led the girl to her room, she realized how much thinner she looked without all the dirt and grime. Her skin was pale, and she looked extremely small this way – although at least two or three inches taller than herself. The most confusing, perhaps even frightening thing, were the scars. Many of them. On the girl's back, stomach, chest, shoulders...deep gashes that had been healed and were now simply dark reddish lines on her skin.

"I'm sorry I don't have your own clothes for you," Kaoru said cheerily, "But they are quite in disrepair. I'm going to wash them and mend them –properly," She grinned, "It looks as if a man tried to fix them!" She laughed.

Kaoru immediately regretted it when Seiko blushed, embarrassed, and looked down at the floor, "Oh my – I'm sorry...did you...?" Seiko nodded silently, still looking at the floor. Kaoru turned red, apologized again, and continued leading the young girl silently until they reached her room.

"You may borrow one of my kimonos...although I'm not sure if it'll fit..." Kaoru looked at the expression o Seiko's face at the word 'kimono' and added, "Or you could borrow one of my training gis and hakamas..."

Seiko nodded and Kaoru produced some of her training clothes, only to find that they certainly wouldn't fit the girl. She sighed, told Seiko to stay there, and went to find Kenshin. He was busy in the kitchen, apparently preparing some food for the noon-meal.

"Um, Kenshin," Kaoru said with an uneasy giggle, "Could I borrow some of your clothes?"

Kenshin turned and stared at Kaoru as if she had gone mad, "Why, Kaoru- dono?"

"Well...Seiko cannot fit into any of my clothes..."

"I suppose, although I'm not that much large than you, Kaoru."

"Arigoto!" Said Kaoru quickly, and hurried back down the hall.

She helped Seiko to dress in the clothes, seeing they fit well enough although the hakama was slightly short. Seiko seemed comfortable enough.

"Oh," She said, exhaling painfully, then quickly forced a smile.

"I shouldn't have had you about so much," Kaoru said quickly, and returned her back to the spare room.