If Only Things Were Different

By Penjutsu

Disclaimer: Today I woke up and realized as I ate my breakfast that I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Then I wondered why I thought that, and wrote it down because I thought it would be a funny disclaimer. Go figure.

This is my first fic, so here we go!

Prologue: The Choice

He woke up, early and groggy as usual. It took him only seconds to come completely awake when he saw Hiko Seijuro standing over him. Fear makes you do that.

"Shishou!" He exclaimed, quickly throwing off his blanket and bowing. The winter air was extremely cold and he wore nothing but his underwear, but to disrespect Shishou would bring even more pain.

Hiko only smiled. "You forgot to empty the bath water last night Kenshin."

Kenshin looked up at him. This couldn't end well. "I-I'm sorry S-Shishou." He stammered. Hiko just dumped a bucket of cold, dirty water on him. The unforgiving cold seemed to multiply, and he felt as if he was suddenly completely frozen. Ah, winter.

Hiko stopped smiling. "Now hurry up and get some clothes on! You're going to be late for training!" With that he stormed out. "Baka."

Kenshin groaned as he dried himself off, put his clothes on and tied up his hair Today was just going to be terrific as usual, full of pain and lessons. It wasn't so much the pain anymore; it was becoming less and less frequent as he improved, even if the consequences were worse.

What was the most annoying part was the fact that despite his training, he had not helped a single person. Not one. So many were dying, and he was going to use the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu to save them. Wasn't that its purpose? He continued to ponder as he collected his sword and training equipment. After double-checking he had everything, he headed outside into the snow.

"Today Kenshin, we will focus on your ability to predict the flight of arrows and other ranged weapons such as the shuriken." Hiko stood next to a large pile of snowballs.

Kenshin gulped. There was something else to this, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Something told him this wasn't going to be pretty. He put his right foot forward and prepared in traditional battoujutsu stance.

With no warning, Hiko flung a snowball, it screamed towards Kenshin. Kenshin unsheathed his sword to slice it, but as it connected, the ball split into two haves instead of splattering into snow as he expected. The two halves of ice slammed into him, taking him aback. These were no snowballs; these were ice balls. He looked up, but Hiko just smiled. Two more came screaming towards him.

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As it turns out, it wasn't pretty. By the time the entire pile was gone, Kenshin was in the snow, covered in cuts and bruises.

"You did good…for an baka! Out of the 75 balls I threw, you managed to dodge and deflect only 62. Have I taught you anything?"

Kenshin just lied there panting. "I apologize Shishou." Came the ragged response.

"Come, Let us have breakfast and play a game of Igo," Hiko said as he helped up Kenshin. "As punishment, you will cook for today." Kenshin sighed. First off, he always lost at Igo; no matter how hard or close he came. Second, he was probably going to have to cook anyway. There was also no doubt in his mind that Shishou would call his cooking lousy. It was tradition.

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Himura spun around to avoid the outward thrust using the Ryu Kan Sen, but Hiko jumped to the side and executed a swift slash, the two swords colliding. Pushing himself close to Kenshin, Hiko managed to elbow jab Kenshin in the face, and followed with a two-handed downward slash. Not to be outdone, Kenshin quickly parried the attack over to his right. Hiko followed by quickly spinning his sword under Kenshin's, pushed it away from him and horizontally sliced. Kenshin was sliced across the chest, but it wasn't a deep wound.

"Well, my baka deshi is doing better I see!" Hiko exclaimed sarcastically.

Kenshin grasped at his injury, his body aching. Shishou's sword was like a great pain stick, and it beat him everyday. Not today. Today I will beat Shishou! Kenshin looked at Hiko in defiance.

Hiko just looked back at him. Good. Without the determination he has, none of this matters. He will be a great swordsman. "Come at me!"

Kenshin was gone in a blur, but Hiko already anticipated this, countering with a Do Ryu Sen, sending a wave of exploding earth into his path. Kenshin quickly jumped and executed the Ryu Tsui Sen, but Hiko just jumped up towards him with a Ryu Shou Sen, something Kenshin clearly hadn't thought of.

The impact sent Kenshin flying backwards, but he landed on his feet and charged again. Hiko slashed across, but it was only an image. Kenshin had ducked under the slash and stabbed upward, but Hiko just pivoted to the side and kicked him.

Kenshin rolled back and recovered himself and swung his sword. The two connected, the metal clang echoed through the mountain range. Jumping back quickly, Kenshin swung his sword in an uppercut, in an attempt to break Hiko's stance. He just leaned back as the stroke missed him, and it left his deshi open to attack. But as Hiko executed a counter strike, he could see that Kenshin had already anticipated it and put himself in a defensive stance. Impressive. He smirked, but not good enough.

Kenshin was back to admiring the winter cloud formations. They looked so close on the top of the mountain.

"Well? Is my baka deshi going to put up a challenge today?"

Kenshin just got up again, no matter how much his body screamed out it agony. Clearly angered and gritting his teeth, he dashed forward again.

What a glorious day.

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"You're not allowed to leave the mountain!"

"Shishou! Many die as we speak! It's time. Time to use Mitsurugi-Ryu to protect others!"

"Baka! What can you possibly do?! You can't truly change the world alone but with others. To be used politically for your sword... You were not taught Mitsurugi-Ryu technique for that purpose. Don't worry about the world, but your training."

"People suffer. Many are disconsolate. I can not leave them!" exclaimed Kenshin.

"Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu is a strong technique. Compare the hardships -,"

"That's exactly why I must! I must protect the people from hardship! That is Mitsurugi-Ryu's -" Kenshin replied, but Hiko cut him off.

"The sword is a weapon! Kenjutsu's a killing technique! It can't honestly be described any other way." Kenshin is obviously taken aback by this.

"To kill to protect. Kill so that others may live, this is Kenjutsu. Just like when I saved you. I killed many, but they were human. During these embroiled times, many struggle to live. What awaits you is killing for justice. In a different situation, Mitsurugi-Ryu would make you a murderer." Hiko said, Kenshin listened with eyes wide because he finally discovered the truth about his sword skill.

"…To kill to protect…" Kenshin said, submitting. Hiko nodded his head.

"To protect individuals, to not be used as a tool by others, that it Mitsurugi-Ryu's purpose. Do you understand?" Everything hinged on his answer.

There was a pause, and Kenshin clearly looked in conflict with himself.

I can save so many if I go…

Who?! They will only ask you to kill!

But the outcome will be peace, and no more slavery and disease and-

How many times has that been used as an excuse?

Too often…but…but I believe I can make a difference.

Even so, at what price! How many will you have to kill? Will you ever stop? They will use you to destroy anything in their path. You will protect nothing!

With the help of others…I can…

In war you will only kill. You will not protect anyone and you will not value your own life. You will fight for someone else's cause.

Himura Kenshin looked up and finally reached a conclusion.

"…Yes Shishou, I understand."

Hiko smiled. "Good, come with me."

And suddenly, everything was different.

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Author's Notes:I realize nothing is really different yet, this is only the prologue.

I tried to use as little Japanese as possible, mainly because I'm not Japanese. However, Shishou is just more suited than the word 'Master'. And I liked saying baka deshi. It was funny.

From what I've seen, Kenshin never trained with a wooden sword.

I hope that the combat had a good flow to it, but I could always use some criticism.

PLEASE review it. If I get good reviews, I'll keep going with this.