Alright, I know this isn't the fic I promised in my Inuyasha story but I
just couldn't get that one to work out. Then I started getting obsessed
with Kenshin again and poof! Out came this plot. I really hope this works
out to be a good fic and don't be too surprised if there are some ooc
moments, or even if the entire character is ooc. I seem to have a problem
with that. My fighting scenes aren't too great either but I do try so
please forgive me if they are horribly bad. Okay I've done enough ranting
I'll let you guys get on with the story -
Nope, don't own Kenshin, never claimed to own him, and I accept the fact that I don't own him. There I said it three times I hope you're happy cause I won't say it again. -
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CHAPTER 1: MEET THE WANDERER
Eight year old Kaoru drug her tired feet, obediently following the dark haired man in front of her. He had rescued her from the side of the road when she was only two, cold, hungry, and abandoned, and now she traveled with him. In return for his favor, she would do small tasks for him, somewhat like a small servant. His treatment was not always what you would call acceptable, Shinji had no qualms about abusing a child, but she had no other choice. Shinji was her only other option besides going to live on the streets and trying to make her way on her own.
Conversation, at least polite conversation, was a rarity, so Kaoru had to find her own means of entertainment while traveling on the lonely back roads and fighting her way through forests. This was why she was able to read people so easily. She questioned everything around her, and always judged a reaction to her words before she spoke. She had become an expert at this when it came to Shinji. She could tell exactly how he reacted when he was angry at something or happy with another, which saved her from many bruises and beatings.
A soft tint of blue began to settle over them as light began to vanish. Still, they trudged on, Koaru hoping that Shinji would be ready to make camp soon. As darkness fell and several stars could be seen twinkling between the foliage of the trees, they finally stopped in a small open area amidst some shrubs. Her relief never had a chance to settle in as Shinji shoved a bucket at her expecting her to fill it with water from the nearby stream. Once she had filled the bucket, she set out her lone blanket on the ground and curled up onto it to sleep.
---
"Kaoru. Wake up you stupid girl we're late as it is." Shinji punctuated his words with a kick in her side.
Kaoru jumped awake and groggily tried to recapture her senses. Then as his words sunk in she was awake and hurrying to shove her blanket into the small sack she carried. Shinji was already halfway up the road.
It was then she realized that he hadn't hit her yet Shinji-sama not hitting her when she had done something wrong? It was a rare occasion that elicited a small smile from her. She wasn't going to be hit or even lectured for accidentally waking up late, maybe today would be a good one.
---
The entire day had been spent in silence, Shinji hadn't even looked at Kaoru, and Kaoru was too afraid to say anything. Even if he hadn't hit her this morning did not mean that he wouldn't later in the day. She hadn't done anything as of yet, but she wasn't in a hurry to test him.
"Kaoru, stay behind me." Shinji cautioned. Kaoru then noticed some voices from up ahead. They were coming from a small clearing and these people were not friendly, that much was clear.
"Well look what we got here. What do ya say boys, think we should show 'em what we can do? I think I need a little practice." The guy gave an evil grin and turned his gaze to Kaoru.
"Kaoru get out of here." Shinji said drawing his sword from his waist.
"But Shinji-sama."
"Go! Now!" He said blocking an attack by one of the men.
Kaoru ran but stopped when she heard a painful yell from Shinji. She turned to see him grasping his shoulder and glaring at the man in front of him. Kaoru quickly hid behind a nearby tree and watched from a distance as Shinji attacked each of the men, occasionally dodging or receiving a gash. One last man was standing, sword poised and ready for a fight. Shinji attacked sword raised above his head to be brought down upon the opposing swordsman. He was so engrossed with his attack that he didn't see another man dart from the bushes and run at him prepared to slice into Shinji's back.
From her spot behind the tree, Kaoru watched in horror as another attacker jumped from the bushes to catch Shinji off guard. Her eyes widened in fear as she called out to him.
"Shinji-sama!" she screamed to warn him of the danger. Shinji turned at her cry and did away with his surprise attacker, but didn't turn back in time to block the next slice of the other man's sword. He did, however, succeed in dodging it so that it only cut into his arm. He defeated the man with a quick swish of his sword and stood over the fallen bodies not turning or saying a word, the only movement he made was to sheath his sword.
Kaoru slowly stepped towards Shinji. She had disobeyed an order, and he was furious, she could tell by the way his fists clenched and unclenched. She knew she was in for the beating of her life, and still she went to him deciding it was best to get it over with now. She stopped behind him and stood there for many moments waiting for him to hit her. She didn't even have time to react as one of his hands was brought up to knock into her cheek effectively sending her to the ground.
"I told you to go Kaoru but you stayed. You put both of us in danger because of your disobedience. Are you happy?" His words were ground out as though trying to suppress the urge to kill her.
She knew that he could care less if she died or not, he had nearly been killed when she called out. He didn't seem to realize that if she hadn't called out to him, he wouldn't have even had the chance to dodge it. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she held the sore side of her face. He had never hit her that hard before, he must be really mad at her.
"I don't know why I even keep you around. Stop crying. You're so pathetic." He kicked her and reached down to pull her to her feet by her hair. He was just about hit her again when a voice stopped him.
"You know, men should not hit women, especially young girls." Shinji dropped Kaoru, none to gently, and turned slowly to see who had interrupted his punishment.
"And just who are you?" Shinji asked eyeing the man's appearance. Bright red hair framed his face, which was marred with a cross-shaped scar. Fierce purple eyes shown through his overhanging bangs, glaring unrelentingly at Shinji.
"Kenshin Himura."
"What do you want?" Shinji demanded with a growl.
"I want you to leave her alone, that I do."
"This is none of your business so get lost."
"I've made it my business and I won't leave until that girl is safe. The only way to ensure that is if I take her with me." Kenshin's eyes were narrow and angry after witnessing the beating of this little girl.
"No. She belongs to me." Shinji spat grasping the handle of his sword ready for a fight.
"Then there is no other way." Kenshin said as unsheathed his sword waiting for an attack from Shinji.
Shinji shot forward sword pointed in front of him aimed at Kenshin. Shinji stopped when Kenshin suddenly disappeared. It was only a second later that Shinji felt a tremendous pain in his back, which had been slashed by Kenshin's sword, and he fell to the ground unconscious. Kaoru watched with wide eyes as Shinji hit the ground with a resounding thud.
"Shinji-sama. Is he-is he dead?" Kaoru asked her eyes never wavering from Shinji's fallen form. Kenshin sheathed his sword and kneeled in front of her. She backed away slightly afraid that he may hit her as well. Large round blue orbs stared into his purple ones.
"No, he is not dead, but he will be asleep for a while. Are you alright?" Kaoru nodded. Kenshin took a look at the side of her face that had been hit. Nearly her entire cheek was covered in a large ugly bruise.
"We need to do something about that cheek, that we do." He stood and Kaoru backed away from him even more. He smiled gently down at her. "I won't hurt you. Won't you please come with me and let me take care of you?"
Kaoru looked from Shinji to Kenshin. This man did seem to be a lot more caring than Shinji, however, Shinji was the one that saved her from the streets and took care of her. But then again, Shinji didn't even seem to care about her well being any more than an insect. This man though, seemed to be concerned over a bruise on her cheek (something Shinji never even acknowledged much less made a fuss over) and even saved her when Shinji possibly could have killed her. Taking one more uncertain glance and Kenshin's smiling face she stood up looking expectantly at him.
Kenshin turned and began to walk towards the edge of the trees in the direction of the stream that ran beside the road. Kaoru glanced back at a still unconscious Shinji then ran to catch up with her new savior.
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Well, there it is the first chapter. I hope to update soon, no later than Saturday. Please review and tell me if you want me to continue this fic or not. Please leave me a review and I hope to see you next chapter!
-LilInuyashaMunky
Nope, don't own Kenshin, never claimed to own him, and I accept the fact that I don't own him. There I said it three times I hope you're happy cause I won't say it again. -
-------
CHAPTER 1: MEET THE WANDERER
Eight year old Kaoru drug her tired feet, obediently following the dark haired man in front of her. He had rescued her from the side of the road when she was only two, cold, hungry, and abandoned, and now she traveled with him. In return for his favor, she would do small tasks for him, somewhat like a small servant. His treatment was not always what you would call acceptable, Shinji had no qualms about abusing a child, but she had no other choice. Shinji was her only other option besides going to live on the streets and trying to make her way on her own.
Conversation, at least polite conversation, was a rarity, so Kaoru had to find her own means of entertainment while traveling on the lonely back roads and fighting her way through forests. This was why she was able to read people so easily. She questioned everything around her, and always judged a reaction to her words before she spoke. She had become an expert at this when it came to Shinji. She could tell exactly how he reacted when he was angry at something or happy with another, which saved her from many bruises and beatings.
A soft tint of blue began to settle over them as light began to vanish. Still, they trudged on, Koaru hoping that Shinji would be ready to make camp soon. As darkness fell and several stars could be seen twinkling between the foliage of the trees, they finally stopped in a small open area amidst some shrubs. Her relief never had a chance to settle in as Shinji shoved a bucket at her expecting her to fill it with water from the nearby stream. Once she had filled the bucket, she set out her lone blanket on the ground and curled up onto it to sleep.
---
"Kaoru. Wake up you stupid girl we're late as it is." Shinji punctuated his words with a kick in her side.
Kaoru jumped awake and groggily tried to recapture her senses. Then as his words sunk in she was awake and hurrying to shove her blanket into the small sack she carried. Shinji was already halfway up the road.
It was then she realized that he hadn't hit her yet Shinji-sama not hitting her when she had done something wrong? It was a rare occasion that elicited a small smile from her. She wasn't going to be hit or even lectured for accidentally waking up late, maybe today would be a good one.
---
The entire day had been spent in silence, Shinji hadn't even looked at Kaoru, and Kaoru was too afraid to say anything. Even if he hadn't hit her this morning did not mean that he wouldn't later in the day. She hadn't done anything as of yet, but she wasn't in a hurry to test him.
"Kaoru, stay behind me." Shinji cautioned. Kaoru then noticed some voices from up ahead. They were coming from a small clearing and these people were not friendly, that much was clear.
"Well look what we got here. What do ya say boys, think we should show 'em what we can do? I think I need a little practice." The guy gave an evil grin and turned his gaze to Kaoru.
"Kaoru get out of here." Shinji said drawing his sword from his waist.
"But Shinji-sama."
"Go! Now!" He said blocking an attack by one of the men.
Kaoru ran but stopped when she heard a painful yell from Shinji. She turned to see him grasping his shoulder and glaring at the man in front of him. Kaoru quickly hid behind a nearby tree and watched from a distance as Shinji attacked each of the men, occasionally dodging or receiving a gash. One last man was standing, sword poised and ready for a fight. Shinji attacked sword raised above his head to be brought down upon the opposing swordsman. He was so engrossed with his attack that he didn't see another man dart from the bushes and run at him prepared to slice into Shinji's back.
From her spot behind the tree, Kaoru watched in horror as another attacker jumped from the bushes to catch Shinji off guard. Her eyes widened in fear as she called out to him.
"Shinji-sama!" she screamed to warn him of the danger. Shinji turned at her cry and did away with his surprise attacker, but didn't turn back in time to block the next slice of the other man's sword. He did, however, succeed in dodging it so that it only cut into his arm. He defeated the man with a quick swish of his sword and stood over the fallen bodies not turning or saying a word, the only movement he made was to sheath his sword.
Kaoru slowly stepped towards Shinji. She had disobeyed an order, and he was furious, she could tell by the way his fists clenched and unclenched. She knew she was in for the beating of her life, and still she went to him deciding it was best to get it over with now. She stopped behind him and stood there for many moments waiting for him to hit her. She didn't even have time to react as one of his hands was brought up to knock into her cheek effectively sending her to the ground.
"I told you to go Kaoru but you stayed. You put both of us in danger because of your disobedience. Are you happy?" His words were ground out as though trying to suppress the urge to kill her.
She knew that he could care less if she died or not, he had nearly been killed when she called out. He didn't seem to realize that if she hadn't called out to him, he wouldn't have even had the chance to dodge it. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she held the sore side of her face. He had never hit her that hard before, he must be really mad at her.
"I don't know why I even keep you around. Stop crying. You're so pathetic." He kicked her and reached down to pull her to her feet by her hair. He was just about hit her again when a voice stopped him.
"You know, men should not hit women, especially young girls." Shinji dropped Kaoru, none to gently, and turned slowly to see who had interrupted his punishment.
"And just who are you?" Shinji asked eyeing the man's appearance. Bright red hair framed his face, which was marred with a cross-shaped scar. Fierce purple eyes shown through his overhanging bangs, glaring unrelentingly at Shinji.
"Kenshin Himura."
"What do you want?" Shinji demanded with a growl.
"I want you to leave her alone, that I do."
"This is none of your business so get lost."
"I've made it my business and I won't leave until that girl is safe. The only way to ensure that is if I take her with me." Kenshin's eyes were narrow and angry after witnessing the beating of this little girl.
"No. She belongs to me." Shinji spat grasping the handle of his sword ready for a fight.
"Then there is no other way." Kenshin said as unsheathed his sword waiting for an attack from Shinji.
Shinji shot forward sword pointed in front of him aimed at Kenshin. Shinji stopped when Kenshin suddenly disappeared. It was only a second later that Shinji felt a tremendous pain in his back, which had been slashed by Kenshin's sword, and he fell to the ground unconscious. Kaoru watched with wide eyes as Shinji hit the ground with a resounding thud.
"Shinji-sama. Is he-is he dead?" Kaoru asked her eyes never wavering from Shinji's fallen form. Kenshin sheathed his sword and kneeled in front of her. She backed away slightly afraid that he may hit her as well. Large round blue orbs stared into his purple ones.
"No, he is not dead, but he will be asleep for a while. Are you alright?" Kaoru nodded. Kenshin took a look at the side of her face that had been hit. Nearly her entire cheek was covered in a large ugly bruise.
"We need to do something about that cheek, that we do." He stood and Kaoru backed away from him even more. He smiled gently down at her. "I won't hurt you. Won't you please come with me and let me take care of you?"
Kaoru looked from Shinji to Kenshin. This man did seem to be a lot more caring than Shinji, however, Shinji was the one that saved her from the streets and took care of her. But then again, Shinji didn't even seem to care about her well being any more than an insect. This man though, seemed to be concerned over a bruise on her cheek (something Shinji never even acknowledged much less made a fuss over) and even saved her when Shinji possibly could have killed her. Taking one more uncertain glance and Kenshin's smiling face she stood up looking expectantly at him.
Kenshin turned and began to walk towards the edge of the trees in the direction of the stream that ran beside the road. Kaoru glanced back at a still unconscious Shinji then ran to catch up with her new savior.
-------
Well, there it is the first chapter. I hope to update soon, no later than Saturday. Please review and tell me if you want me to continue this fic or not. Please leave me a review and I hope to see you next chapter!
-LilInuyashaMunky