Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters. Thank you.

Summary: (AU: Takes place in modern Japan) When war calls a certain expert (Himura Kenshin) to help fight the war and command its troops, Kenshin is happy to oblige. When a young, half blind girl (Kamiya Kaoru) signs up to partake in the fighting, everyone throws a mad fit. Kenshin sees more to this girl then just a handicap; he sees her gift. He accepts her and takes her as one of his own troops. What will happen on the battlefield? What will happen on the battlefield of love?

Romance/Action/Drama

Rating: PG-13/R

Reader Discretion is advised

Please forgive an misspellings or grammar errors

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Gun Smoke and Sword Blades

Chapter One: Battle Calls, Life Falls

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Himura Kenshin watched as people fired their guns, shaking his head slightly as he inwardly criticized their posture and handling.

"No Sanosuke! That is still not the correct way to shoot a gun," Kenshin stated with a soft, but sturdy voice. He walked over the much taller man than he and gripped Sanosuke's hands in his as he stood behind him.

Sanosuke's body shadowed Kenshin's small frame as his arms reached out and gripped the gun. Kenshin kicked the left foot of Sanosuke's forward. "Always put your left foot first if you are right-handed, Sano. Then control your breathing."

Sano did as he was instructed.

"Breath in a deep breath and exhale half of it," Kenshin said and he felt Sano rise and fall with breath, "Hold your breath now and slowly pull the trigger."

Sano held his breath and brought his index finger towards him, pulling the trigger slowly. BANG! The bullet zoomed out at an amazing speed toward the bright yellow target. It hit the target in the chest. Bull's-eye.

Kenshin stepped aside. "Do it again. Follow my instructions correctly and you will never miss. You have great upper body strength so you cannot use the excuse of the kick-back."

Sano nodded and then raised his arms again, holding the gun firmly.

"Right pushes the gun, left pulls the gun," Kenshin said and watched as Sanosuke readjusted his arms. "Keep the left arm under the weapon. That's it. Good."

Sanosuke shot again. BANG! It hit its target.

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"Miss Kaoru, your bath is ready and prepared for you," Megumi stated.

"Thank you Miss Megumi," Kaoru said as she finished putting the small patch over her left eye. She stood up and flipped her dark hair over her shoulder. "Any news of the battle?"

Megumi shook her head. "No, but I'm sure your father will be fine."

Kaoru nodded and forced a smile, "My father is always fine. He won't die on me. Not after mother died to the flu."

"Of course," Megumi agreed as she followed the bright-spirited girl out towards the bathroom.

"Where is your husband, Miss Megumi?" Kaoru asked as she turned the knob. She paused to wait for an answer.

"At the range, practicing. He keeps telling me about this young man who knows how to shoot a deck of cards square in the middle from a great length away. Sanosuke is practicing because...he hopes to get involved with the war..." A shakiness flowed throughout Megumi's body at the mention of war.

Kaoru nodded and went in, "I will pray for him, Miss Megumi."

Megumi smiled. "I know. He'll be okay. He can't die on me. After all we just got married. I don't want to hear about that stupid rooster getting shot."

Kaoru laughed from inside as she got into the hot water. She heard Megumi walk away and she let out a sigh. 'If my father dies I will sign up for the war. I will gladly fight...but my eye...' her hand flew up to her left eye. 'They wouldn't let me in for two solid reasons. My eye and me being a woman...' She chastised herself for even thinking those two things would stop her.

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"Himura Kenshin," a voice spoke from inside the small observing hut at the gun range.

Kenshin stepped inside. "Saitou, you wished to speak with me?" He sat down in a chair as tea was brought to him.

"Yes, Battousai. First you were known as a great swordsman and now a great guns man. You have proven yourself by helping many wars in the past. You are currently aware of the war we are having with China?"

Kenshin nodded as he drank his tea. He set his tea back down, "I am highly aware of the issues that have fallen from the news and newspapers."

"Good," he replied. "We want you to be a commander in chief to some of your handpicked guys. Of course we will give you some guys as well."

Kenshin looked mildly surprised. "I told you long ago I wished to stop killing, that I did." His soft tone returned to him.

"This will ensure Japan's safety from China if we win. They've attacked several cities near our beaches and bays. Killing women, children, fathers and sons. Do you want this to go on?" Saitou said angrily.

"I will have to think about your offer, Saitou," Kenshin told him as he stood up. "Some of my men are willing to go yes, but I am not willing to put them in danger, that I am not."

"I see," Saitou rose with him as he set the teacup on the tray. "I shall have your answer by tomorrow then?"

Kenshin nodded.

"And a list of men?"

"And a list of men," he agreed.

"Very well, good evening," Saitou nodded his head.

"Good evening to you as well," Kenshin bowed and then left the small hut.

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Kaoru brushed out her hair. She sat near the window awaiting Yahiko and Sanosuke's arrival. She spotted the black car. Kaoru smiled. "Miss Megumi! Yahiko and Sanosuke have arrived!"

"Wonderful, I just finished cooking dinner," Megumi left her chair and then down the stairs of the large mansion. Kaoru heard the door click open and then she stood up and then walked down to the entryway.

"Welcome home Yahiko," Kaoru bowed, "Welcome home Sanosuke." (You can tell she acts different sometimes)

"Hey missy, how's it going," he patted her head. "What's for eating? Smells good."

"That's because Megumi is cooking," Yahiko grinned and then ended up with a bump on his head.

"That was very rude, Yahiko!" Kaoru said, "You brat!"

"Ouch!" he gritted his teeth. "Ugly!"

"Brat!"

"Ugly!"

"Brat!"

"That's enough!" Megumi said, her soft voice rising. "Go wash up for dinner you two and no stealing a snack, Sano!"

Instead Sano stole a kiss and rushed off to the bathroom with Yahiko still throwing insults and Kaoru angrily throwing them back.

"Kaoru, help me serve the food," Megumi instructed and Kaoru followed her into the dining room, muttering things about Yahiko being selfish and bratty.

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Kenshin looked through his files. "Sagara Sanosuke. Shinomori Aoshi. Seijirou Hiko, of course." He wrote those names down. 'I can't put Yahiko in...he's much too young...' Kenshin thought. "I will have to do sign ups as well."

Kenshin sat in the small house. The house wasn't the best house he had ever owned. It was just a makeshift home until his other one had been built. He stood up and went over to the stove. "Nothing like Miso soup to get your mind of people," he said as he spooned some soup in a bowl.

He sat back down and ate his soup in peace.

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Next Morning...

"Here is a small list of the men I want," Kenshin handed the small piece of paper to Saitou. "I cannot put certain people on for they are much too young, that they are."

Saitou glanced at the list and set it down and looked at him, expecting a few more names to come from Kenshin's mouth. When no response came from Kenshin he said, "Is this is it?"

"Oro?" Kenshin looked confused.

"Quit with that innocent act, Himura," Saitou said. "You expect me to believe that three people is all you need in your army?"

"No, of course not. That would be unwise, that it would," Kenshin replied. "I was hoping for a chance for signups, that I was."

"Sign ups," he thought about it. "Do you realize that only idiots sign up?"

Kenshin blinked. "Sometimes idiots are the best students."

Saitou sighed, leaning back in his chair. "All right. I'll agree for the sign ups. Ill have you know that I will also be on your army."

"Oro?" Kenshin stared at him, "I thought you would have your own army."

Saitou shook his head, chuckling. "You honest think that I would let you have your own army without me putting myself on it? You're crazy."

"If it is what you want," Kenshin bowed his head.

"The sign up announcements will be made this afternoon. Expect crowds of old people and young boys. If women sign up make them nurses. Something that will ensure their safety. We don't want woman dying."

Kenshin nodded and then left to the shooting range and approached Sanosuke, "Sano, you said that you would join the forces if they need you, correct?"

"Yeah," he said as he shot his gun. It went dead center. "Why do you want to know?"

"I'll be in it too!" Yahiko said.

"Sanosuke I have been asked to be the commander in chief of an army. I chose you to fight with me and two other people."

"Is it me?" Yahiko asked.

Kenshin shook his head, "You are much too young, Yahiko, that you are."

Sanosuke set his gun on the table and looked at Kenshin. "You told me you hated killing."

"I did," Kenshin agreed. "But if killing means protecting the people of Japan it is something I must do, that I must."

"But you'd be killing," Yahiko and Sano said.

Kenshin nodded. "I'd be killing to protect Miss Megumi, your wife, and Miss Kaoru, your friend."

"You haven't even met Kaoru," Yahiko protested.

"But I know she is someone the both of you care about. There are a lot of people that others care for and I am willing to kill to protect the ones who are loved and love," Kenshin said. "This will be the last war I shed blood in, that it will."

"You're going to have to speak to Megumi about this," Sanosuke sighed. "It took me cooking for a week just so I could come to the shooting range and learn how to shoot."

Kenshin laughed. "All right."

"You could come for lunch. I'll ask Megumi to cook extra for you," Sanosuke said. "You could talk to her then."

"And meet ugly," Yahiko muttered.

"I'm sure she isn't ugly," Kenshin assured.

"The little missy is blind in her left eye. She won't tell anyone what happened though. Not even Tae or Megumi, who are close to her," Sanosuke explained.

"Yeah and her iris and pupil are black," Yahiko shuddered. "It's freaky to look at."

Sano hit him on the head. "The little missy is good enough to let you stay on her estate and teach you how to use a shinai!"

"She teaches how to use a sword?" Kenshin asked, interested.

"Yeah," Yahiko said. "She teaches the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu."

"Well that settles it," Sano said roughly. "You are coming for lunch. I suggest you not wear that pink shirt."

"But it's not pink," Kenshin protested, "It's red."

"Fuchsia," Yahiko grinned.

"Same goes for your pants. Who wears white pants?" Sano asked and Yahiko and Kenshin stared at Sano's white clothing.

"Besides me," Sano said.

"I'll dress appropriately," Kenshin said, "You needn't worry."

"Right," Sano said and returned to his shooting.

Yahiko grabbed his rifle and started to shoot as well.

Kenshin observed the two and then went off to help his other students.

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Megumi hung up the phone and turned to Kaoru. "That was Sanosuke," Megumi explained. "His teacher is coming over here for dinner tonight."

"Do you need any help in cooking?" Kaoru asked. "I could help."

"I'll need your help," Megumi said. "I'll tell you what to do, okay?"

Kaoru nodded. "I'll be out in the garden if you need me," Kaoru said as she walked out.

Megumi sighed as she leaned against the wall. She didn't tell Kaoru that the reason for him coming was because Sano wanted to join the army. She wanted so badly to yell at that stupid rooster. Kaoru would've begun sobbing at another male member leaving off to battle. What made things worse was that she could hear Yahiko in the background arguing with Kenshin about fighting as well.

Kaoru stood on the porch, looking at all the flowers and trees. She sighed. When would her father return to her? He hadn't written in so long and she had heard that post was slow due to the troops trying to contact their families and vice versa.

"Miss Kaoru, I need your help now," Megumi called from the window. "We have an hour before they come."

"Coming," Kaoru said and entered the house. She walked in the kitchen and began peeling the potatoes. "What are you planning on cooking?"

"Mashed potatoes, rice, steamed carrots and chicken," Megumi said, "That sound good?"

Kaoru smiled and nodded as she rinsed the potatoes. After she was done peeling the doorbell rang.

"I hope it's not them," Megumi hoped. "Get the door, please."

Kaoru swept out and went to the door. She opened the door and her heart crumbled. 'Oh God no! Please no! Don't let it be!'

"Telegram," the man said. "Here you go ma'am." He looked sadly at her as he handed the small paper to her.

Kaoru took it with shaky fingers and slowly opened the note. She read it aloud, "Miss Kamiya. Stop. Your father is dead. Stop. He died in honor. Stop. He has already been buried. Stop. We will notify location later. Stop. Best wishes. Stop. Sympathy. Stop..." Kaoru's voice cracked at 'sympathy' and her face crushed in sadness and fury.

"I am sorry, Miss Kamiya," the man said and bowed. He left without another word. Leaving her in the doorframe, the note in her shaky hands.

"No...no..." tears filled her eyes and she dropped the note. "NO!" She fell to her knees and sobbed. "Dad! Daddy! Daddy!" Her mother was taken from her and now her father. An emptiness swept over her. She couldn't believe it, but it was on that note.

"Kaoru?" Megumi entered the living room, to see Kaoru sobbing on the floor, the door still opened. "Kaoru!" She rushed beside her and put her hand on Kaoru's back. "What's wrong."

"He's...dead!" she choked. "Daddy!" She shook her head, her hands in her face.

Megumi looked at the telegram and picked it up. She read it aloud, making Kaoru sob louder. "Oh Kaoru!" she held Kaoru tightly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"DADDY!" she screamed between sobs. "He's gone!!! He left me!"

"Shhh," Megumi said and gently helped her up. "Let's take you to your room."

Kaoru shook all the way to her room and then toppled willingly on the bed and sobbed. Her entire body shaking violently.

Megumi left and closed the door. She went to finish dinner, leaving Kaoru to mourn.

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Crisa Rei: Well that's the end of the first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it like I enjoyed writing it. I look forward to your reviews.

Kaoru's blindness in the left eye has been caused by some unfortunate event. I cannot tell you for it will be in later chapters as to why she had been blinded in that eye. Her blindness serves a purpose in this story.

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