Note due to new format: I officially hate the new update to FF.net. Whatever this edit thingy is that they added has really screwed up my html formatted chapters. So... I'm kinda mad and still working on a way to fix everything.

Note: A few things first: Italics indicates thoughts while -italics- indicates mind-speech.

Some random side notes: Ok. So this fic is suppose to be my sorry attempt at humor. So far, it hasn't gotten that good if you ask me. You'll see when you read on. So I think I'll just keep it in the general section until someone tells me otherwise...

Yea, Imalefty, if you continue to read this... you should get it now. It was just a prelude to what's to come. Of course, sense it doesn't name the chapters when there's only one, you might not have gotten that. Then again, I did say it was incomplete and the title under the rhyme did say Prelude. Heh.

Well, here's the next part. Have fun. Or, try despite my cumby attempt at writing.

Disclaimer:

A beautiful black wolf steps up with amber eyes, antennae like bangs (yes bangs), and a sign around its neck. The sign reads:

Kethry does not own Ruroken or the children's rythme "Mary Had a Little Lamb." She is merely using the two in conjunction to poke fun at me.

Kenshin Had a Mibu Wolf...

By: Celena Schezar

Kenshin had a Mibu wolf,

Mibu wolf, Mibu wolf,

Kenshin had a Mibu wolf,

Its fur was black as coal.

Kenshin's Mibu Wolf

Kenshin bolted upright as the sudden appearance of a strange ki entered his awareness even while asleep. He looked around the room before he realized that the presence was outside the dojo. He quickly gathered up his sheathed sakabatou and headed towards the backyard. When he got there, the most usual sight met his violet eyes.

Standing in the middle of the yard was a black robed figure, its hood drawn over its head hiding its face, trying unsuccessfully to shake off a very large dog from its sleeve. The figure began to tug at the over-sized sleeve with its arm and other hand as the ebony furred creature gave a low growl. Kenshin's eyes grew slowly larger as he continued to watch the two play tug-o-war with the black garment.

"Oro?"

The soft-spoken word of confusion made both of the figures glance his way. Kenshin could have sworn that the dog threw him a 'stop-saying-that-you-ahou' look before the robed figure suddenly realized its opportunity and yanked its sleeve from the creature's teeth.

The animal jerked its head back to its opponent and gave another growl. They squared off, glaring at each other in the darkness. The robed person swatted at the beast with the sleeve it had previously held between its teeth. It quickly snapped at the flailing cloth, but this time the figure yanked its arm away before its jaws could grab the material. Kenshin watched in silence, blinking a few times before quietly clearing his throat.

The gesture worked and the two were eventually facing him with a glare at the other every so often. He gave a sweatdrop before finally taking an air of unsure authority. Clearing his throat one more time to make sure he could speak, he addressed the robed figure. "Yoroshiku, sessha would like to know why you are here this late at night with such an uncontrollable animal, de gozaru."

The former hitokiri could have sworn he saw the beast roll its amber eyes at him when he said that, but he tried to keep his attention on the person. It shifted around under his gaze a bit before finally replying.

"I am here to give this to you." It waved an arm towards the black creature. "You are to be its charge until I have decided to return and put things back into their proper order. His name is Saitou. Please take good care of him, and keep the yarou out of trouble."

"Oro? Did you say... Saitou?" He looked at the black dog. No. Wolf. The swordsman could tell now that what he had once thought a abnormally large dog was in fact a very majestic wolf. Its beautiful black fur was as dark as coal and yet shined where the moonlight hit it right. The amber eyes glowed with an intelligence that Kenshin hadn't just imagined up. And most notable were the few stray pieces of fur that dropped into the wolf's face, so similar to Saitou Hajime's antennae-like bangs it was unmistakable. This wolf truly was the former Shinsengumi.

Kenshin's eyes had slowly begun their enlargement for the second time this night. "Sa, Saitou?" He managed to sputter at last.

The wolf snorted in response, shaking its head as if it sneezed, but the look in its eye clearly said: yes, ahou, that's what she said.

Kenshin's dazed look continued to grace his face as he stared at the ookami in disbelief. This wolf was somehow, someway, Saitou Hajime. His protagonist. His worst enemy as a hitokiri. And he had to take care of him?

"N, nani? What did you say?" He looked back up to the robed figure, but it was already gone. With it, the strange ki had also disappeared. How it could have moved so quickly and without his detection the rurouni might never know. In the mean time he would simply have to figure out what to do with the ookami.

"Saitou?" Kenshin implored hesitantly.

The wolf simply stared up at him form where it sat. -Ahou-

Kenshin blinked. "Wha...?"

The wolf shook its head in disgust. -Ahou. Don't just stand there like a mindless idiot. Do something! Anything...-

Kenshin couldn't believe it. Was the wolf actually talking to him? No. He couldn't hear the words spoken aloud. He could however feel the words in his mind. It was as good as speech, but quite a bit unsettling. "Ahh... Saitou. Could you please not call me that?"

The wolf suddenly snapped its head up to look at Kenshin. -What? You mean... You can hear me?- There was a feeling of hope set in the words that the wanderer could distinctly hear.

"Yes. I can."

-Hmmm... That's odd. No one else seemed to. On the trip here that is. Perhaps it has something to do with reading ki's... most cannot after all.- But I hope he cannot read all my thoughts, the ookami tested out.

"I suppose it could."

The wolf grinned in response. Kenshin thought it eerie to see the Miburo bare its fangs in an attempt to smile. He gave a slight shiver as a chill ran up his spine from the sight.

Saitou was pleased when Kenshin did not reply to his 'unspoken' thoughts. So he could communicate through a type of telepathy with those who could sense ki. That meant he was probably stuck with Kenshin as his only talking partner, but anything was better than nothing.

"So, what exactly happened to you?" Kenshin's question brought the wolf-turned-human away from his thoughts.

Saitou told his story of the stormy night, including the awful train ride he was forced to endure inside of a cramped box with hardy enough air coming from the small holes. When he was finished the sun had begun to rise and the birds where chirping in the treetops above.

"Anou, I suppose sessha will simply have to do what sessha was told to: take care of you. Saitou, sessha knows you will not like this, but sessha needs you to promise me something. You must obey my commands. Yare, yare... before you complain. You must try and act a bit like a normal dog. It is going to be hard enough to explain where sessha got you..." Kenshin trailed off as he began to think of this. What would he tell the others?

The rurouni didn't have much time to think before a loud commotion announced the dojo's other inhabits' waking. First there was a complaint about something wrong with a busu, then the sound of wood hitting someone's head, followed closely by a loud "Itai!" Kenshin smiled at the usual antics of the student and teacher.

The wolf merely rolled his eyes. He was not going to like this unexpected sojourn. Especially in this form, of which he did not want to dwell on just how had happened.

Kenshin opened the sliding door and closed it, only to be rewarded with a yelp of surprise and a growl of annoyance. He blinked before hurriedly opening the shouji again, this time letting the wolf's tail to enter with the rest of its body. He grinned guiltily down at the ebony creature who glared murder up at him.

When Yahiko heard the yelp, he quickly ran to the back to find out what had made the noise. What he saw surprised him. "Kenshin! What is that thing?"

"Oro? Oh, yes, anou... you see, sessha was out for a walk this morning when sessha came upon this creature near the trees of the forest, de gozaru. It followed me home and sense it didn't hurt me, sessha thought it could be tamed. So, sessha tried giving it commands and when it followed them, sessha found out it was already trained. Anou... I'm thinking about keeping it, that I am." The horrible story maker plainly shrugged his shoulders at the end of his long winded speech.

"Riight..." The boy replied, looking at the sheepishly smiling Kenshin with skepticism.

Kaoru walked up behind Yahiko and stared at the wolf warily. "Is it really safe to be picking up stray animals off the streets and letting them in the house?"

"Anou, he is very well trained. I think someone might have owned him at some point in time. But now it is homeless and wishes to find a new master. What could it hurt?" Kenshin gave her a pleading look, hoping to win her over.

"Well..." She looked from one to the other. "I suppose it couldn't hurt..."

"Of course not." The rurouni gave her a reassuring smile for good measure. "Watch." He turned to the black wolf and gave him a look that said 'you-better-do-what-I-tell-you.' "Saitou, sit."

Reluctantly, the ex-Shinsengumi responded to the command. Though he didn't like it, the Battousai had been right when he said he needed to act as normal as possible. He just hoped this humiliation didn't have to last too long.

"Good boy. Now lay down." Kenshin told the loathing ookami. Obediently, the black 'dog' lay down on the wooden floor.

-If you give me one more command...-

Kenshin almost visibly paled at the silent threat. He glanced over at the others and gave a sigh of relief when he was certain they hadn't heard the Miburo's comment. Saitou was right though, it must have something to do with the ability to sense ki. Unless of course, he was made specifically to be able to hear the foul-mooded police officer... Kenshin shook his head. Better to not dwell on such things.

"Oh, how lovely! He really can do tricks. I suppose he can stay after all. Do you think he'll follow my commands, too? Hey there, doggy. Will you roll over for me?" Kaoru asked the amber-eyed creature. It simply stared up at her like she was dumb.

"Haha! It won't follow commands from you, baka busu. It only listens to guys who know what they're talking about." Yahiko received a good whopping on his head with the wooden bokken for his outspokenness.

"Urusai, deishi. And don't speak to your teacher that way!"

The 'dog' seemed to moan as Kenshin sweatdropped at the actions of his friends. He glanced down at his new 'pet' with an apologetic look.

"Doshite? It's only the truth." Yahiko continued.

"Why you...!" Kaoru swung again at her student's head, but he dodged the stick this time. He swiftly ran past her and further into the home. Kaoru gave chase and they commenced the daily routine of fighting each other. Kenshin followed slowly behind, making sure to keep a good enough distance so not to find himself in the middle. Saitou followed more unenthusiastically.

As Yahiko flew around one of the corners he was suddenly lifted off the ground by the ruff of the neck. "Hey! What's the big idea?"

"Whoa there. Settle down, Yahiko-chan." The tall ruffian named Sanosuke said as he walked into the main room where Kaoru and Kenshin stood, dangling kid in tow.

"Don't call me that!" The samurai wannabe yelled as he began to thrash about. "Let me go!"

"Alright." Sano dropped him.

The boy landed sprawled face down on the ground with a thud. Dazed shortly, he quickly got on his feet with unsuppressed rage. "What'd ya do that for, ya big hulk?"

"You said to put you down."

"Grr... I meant on my feet, you stupid brute!"

"Hey, watch who you're calling names. I just might decide to do something to teach you a lesson about it."

"Yea, right!"

The two faced each other in a battle-ready stance. They would have leaped at each other if not for the interruption. "Maa, maa... Settle down you two."

"Yea, Kenshin's right. You two need to learn some manners." The frustrated girl added her own suggestion.

Yahiko turned to Kaoru, ready to through another insult when unexpectedly there was a low growl coming from near Kenshin. He looked over at the swordsman with a stunned look on his face. Was Kenshin growling at him?

The ex-hitokiri sweatdropped when Yahiko stared at him. He looked down at the wolf beside him. "Yare, yare... None of that now, Saitou."

"Saitou!" The street-fighter bellowed. "Where?" He looked around the room, head swinging from side to side comically before he gave up and looked at Kenshin quizzically. Then he noticed who the rurouni was talking to and he looked down.

"Hey, yea! You called him that before when you were giving him commands. What's with that?" Yahiko asked.

"Oh, well... Doesn't he kind of look like a wolf to you?" Kenshin shrugged. "Sessha thinks its a fitting name."

"Yea, well I guess so. Why is he growling at me?"

Kenshin looked down at the ookami. He very well knew that Saitou couldn't stand their antics, but he couldn't tell them that. Or maybe he could...

"Sessha thinks he's upset with the way you are acting. He can probably sense the hostility even though it is not truly a harmful bit. Animals can do that. Perhaps he is merely trying to scare you in an attempt to protect me. You know, in case you turned on sessha."

-What?! How could you lie like that? That last part was too far, Battousai. Don't ever say something like that again.-

Kenshin hid a smile at the wolf's response and turned to look at the others. They were staring at him in a stupor. His face fell as he noticed this; could they possibly have heard Saitou?

"So... that thing's your pet now or something?" Sano finally asked.

Kenshin sighed in relief and looked down at the black ookami. "Yes, sessha supposes so."

Corny announcer's voice: So just who is this black robed figure? What will Kenshin do with his new pet? And how will Saitou act with all of this stupidity surrounding him? Only time will tell...

Stay tuned for the next part of "Kenshin Had a Mibu Wolf!"

On another side note: Saitou hasn't said much yet... or reacted much upon the antics of the others, but don't worry. He soon will. He would have more this time, but I liked the way it ended done like this. So... Smiles. It stays.

Ahh... a few Jap. comments (too): Yoroshiku supposedly means 'if you please.' That's what I got from another fic... but I looked it up and it said something else. So I'm not sure. But, I'm using it in the former translation sense that makes sense. And yare, yare always seems to be used like 'now, now' or some other placating term. But when I looked it up it gave 'oh dear!' and 'oh my!' and other things like... but again, I'll stick with the former. As for the rest, if you haven't figured them out by now then you should go find a place to translate them. Some fics have translations, some don't. I decided not to bother this time around. Shrugs Oh well. Gomen.