Author's Note: This chapter is the one most likely to be rewritten. I'm not completely happy with it but it'll have to do until I get back from Maine etc. I hope you at least enjoy it!

PLEASE REVIEW!!!

Chapter One

Every legend derived from some true tale but it is your decision to believe if what is written in these pages is true or not...

Legend has it that all Japanese maple leaves used to be green all year round. They never changed color no matter what time of the year and their leaves remained as jade in color as they had when first planted. Therefore, no Japanese red maples had ever existed. Many people were confused as to why their trees didn't turn colors – if the American's could have beautiful trees, why couldn't they?

There are many versions of how the Japanese maple's got their stunning color but this is a book of the Okamimure's and we too have our own epic tale...

"This has to be the hottest day of the year," Katsura grumbled as he tried to loosen his gi.

"I've never known you to be the complainer," Keitaro laughed. He glanced up at the sun and squinted, "I have to admit though it is getting pretty hot."

Tanaka smiled and pointed his thumb over his shoulder, "Kenshin never complains. I've got to give him points for that."

Bankotsu yawned and stretched. He eyed a group of women that was passing them, "Remind me why we're out here again. The boss has to be crazy if he thinks anyone's going to fight in this heat."

"He needs someone to scout and I suppose we just happened to be the lucky ones who got picked," Katsura said as he inspected the fish one of the street vendors was selling.

"The thing that I don't like is that he expects us to wear our uniforms whenever we're out. It's a dead give away what clan we work for and it makes it almost impossible to blend in with the rest of the crowd," Tanaka wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"It's not only that," Bankotsu said, "But whenever we're seen walking through the streets someone always thinks it's the perfect opportunity to attack."

"I wouldn't worry about it," Keitaro reassured them. "It's like you said, today is hot and no one would want to fight in this heat."

"I hope you're right..." Bankotsu muttered.

Katsura dropped behind the group and came up next to Kenshin, "How are you doing?" Icy blue eyes glared at him and Katsura shivered, "I was just asking..."

"I'm fine," came the clipped reply.

'I can't believe this guy! How does he get off being rude to everyone? He's just a kid, hasn't he learned any manners yet?' Katsura sighed and noticed that Kenshin had paused in the middle of the street. He glanced around nervously wondering if Kenshin had found someone following them. Katsura came up next to Kenshin and whispered, "Is anyone following us? How long do you think until they attack?"

The red head didn't reply and continued staring at someone in the crowd. Katsura frowned until he noticed what had caught the boy's eye.

A beautiful woman, carrying a basket of fish was walking down the steps of a business. She had brown hair and stunning eyes that shone gold in the sun.

Katsura laughed, "That's what you saw? And here I was thinking we were about to be attacked! You shouldn't scare me like that."

Kenshin ignored Katsura and said, "She smells like sakura..."

Katsura frowned and sniffed the air, "She does? Well, your nose must be better than mine because all I smell is rotting fish. That's Katsura Okamimure-"

"I thought Katsura was a boy's name," Kenshin smirked.

Katsura glared at the red head, "Her father was Japanese and mother was American. I'm guessing that her mother picked the name... but that's irrelevant. I've heard that she takes care of the family's dojo – it's only a few blocks away – because her father is fighting in the war and her mother died giving birth to her. She has people living at the dojo who teach classes and help with upkeep. I think it's strange that all she seems to do is live there."

By the time Katsura had finished his small speech, the girl had disappeared into the crowd and Kenshin had gone back to being silent. He thought of teasing Kenshin about spotting the girl but then decided against it. As he caught up to the rest of the group he thought to himself, 'If I did anything to annoy that basket case, he'd probably kill me.'

The sun was beginning to set by the time the temperature cooled down and the group was in a better mood than before. They decided to treat themselves to a few rounds of sake and no matter how hard they tried, no one could get Kenshin to drink more than one cup.

He seemed more uptight than usual and as the group grew drunk Kenshin only seemed to grow more distant. The last rays of sun were streaming through the window he was sitting next to and it made his hair appear to be on fire. No one bothered him and he guessed it was because they feared that if they said the wrong thing, he'd kill them.

Something was bothering him and as the last of the sun's light disappeared, it was obvious to even the most drunken person that something was wrong.

"Did someone follow us here?" Keitaro asked. His breath reeked of alcohol and his speech was slightly slurred.

Kenshin refrained from commenting that it wasn't very hard to find them with all the noise they were making. His expression gave away their fears but Kenshin decided to validate, "Yes..."

He didn't have to comment on how they were the perfect target. More than half of the twelve in their group were too drunk to even stand. The other half knew that they had drunk too much to defend themselves.

Katsura growled, other than Kenshin, he was the only one who hadn't had more than one cup of rice wine. 'We're done for...'

Kenshin noticed that everyone in their group was staring at him. 'They're all idiots! Didn't they notice that we were being followed...? It doesn't matter now; they'll all pay the price for their stupidity.'

An arrow shot through the bamboo slats of the window Kenshin was sitting next to and felled its first victim. Bankotsu managed to pull a look of mild surprise before the arrow sticking out of his chest took his life.

Kenshin smirked as another arrow soared through the window in his direction. In one swift movement he drew his sword and split the arrow in half. Its hollow shaft clattered to the floor while the head sank into a support beam behind him.

Katsura cursed as the first assassins stepped through the doorway of the restaurant. It was Saitou and a few others of the Shinsengumi – also known as the Wolves of Mibu – one of their strongest enemies from a rival clan.

No introductions were needed and few threats passed between the rivals before swords were drawn and blood was spilt. Keitaro was the next one to fall but he managed to take out one of the Shinsengumi with him.

Kenshin refused to fight in the confined space of the restaurant. His sword cut the slats of bamboo on the window and he leapt out onto the empty city streets. Saitou didn't take too long to follow and in no time both men were engaged in a rather fearsome sword fight.

The moon was rising and its eerie glow lit up the opponent's swords. Blood from the battle inside began to trail down the steps of the restaurant creating a slick surface on the dry ground.

Out of the corner of his eye Kenshin could see that Katsura had managed to get himself outside as well. He was limping and Kenshin wondered how much longer he would last.

Kenshin traded another attack with Saitou and noticed that more of the Mibu Wolves had shown up. Besides Katsura, Kenshin seemed to be the only one left from their original group. He was severely outnumbered and someone was still firing arrows at him. Kenshin knew that his strength wasn't going to be enough to kill Saitou and he snarled as an arrow narrowly missed his leg.

A burning pain erupted in his abdomen and Kenshin noticed that the arrow had been meant to distract him.

Saitou smirked, "I expected better from the infamous Battousai."

"Sorry to disappoint you," Kenshin coughed and tasted the metallic texture of blood. He smirked when he noticed his attack was going to work.

Saitou's smirk dropped off his face in an instant. Kenshin's sword bit through the skin under his left eye and scraped against his cheek bone. His nose was cut at the bridge and the attack had managed to slice the bone in half.

Kenshin staggered backwards and slid himself off the end of Saitou's sword. He could feel the blood from the wound drip down his leg. 'I'm not going to make it...'

A gust of wind swept through the ally and pulled a few sakura petals with it. Kenshin's eyes widened and an idea flashed through his mind. He slashed at the group of people who had circled around to watch the fight and took off running in the direction he hoped would end up saving his life.

(Author's Note: Still working on editing the 'second' chapter. You'll have just have to wait till I get it right Oo PLEASE REVIEW!!!)