Hikari
By KCSobe
Disclaimer: We don't own Kenshin! If we did, well, we wouldn't need to be writing this, would we?
A/N: PLEASE READ THIS so you don't get confused! Hikari is based on the question "What if Tomoe never existed". It takes place 5 years after the revolution and Kenshin, who is 22 years old, is still working as a hitokiri for the government. He is sent to Kyoto to stop a former fellow-hitokiri, Shishio Makoto, under the disguise of a poor traveler, Himura Shinta. As Shinta, he meets the rest of the Kenshin-gumi (who are the same ages as in the manga and are living in Kyoto), and begins to subconsciously turn into the man he is playing the role of. The title "Hikari", or Light in Japanese, is a reference to this inner journey from the darkness of Battousai to the light of the Kenshin we know and love today.
This story is also more influenced by the original manga, rather then the anime. We believed that we should try to stay true to the original as much as possible, but since it's hard to translate the Japanese manga, we're going to have to use some things from the anime until the entire series comes out in English. Also, there are some major SPOILERS in this story, just so you know, so please don't get mad at us!
On a completely different note, KCSobe is in fact two people. Since one of us is at boarding school, the entire story must be e-mailed back and forth. Because of this, chapters will often take longer to update, although we will try to compensate by making the chapters longer. Remember, two heads are better than one!
Also, a special thanks to Elizabeth for acting as our editor!
Prologue
There was a cool evening breeze in Tokyo. An old man sat at his desk looking over some papers, an almost urgent expression upon his tired face. He glanced upwards as he heard the door click open and then close again.
"You called?" A cold voice echoed through the room.
"Yes. We have an pressing matter at hand." Okubo Toshimichi sighed. "In Kyoto, Shishio plots again." He looked up from his desk to where a figure stood, silhouetted against the window. The figure was small, almost frail looking, with startling red hair that was pulled back out of his face. However, whatever notions of frailty one might have entertained up until this point were shattered when the man turned. His skin was pale in the dim room, and glowing from underneath his red bangs were two burning amber eyes. He looked down at Okubo in silence for a moment, and then spoke.
"And I suppose you want me to go and clean up the Government's mess again."
Okubo shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and then answered, "Himura, please try to understand. We did what seemed best at the time."
"I understand." Himura said slowly, his calm tone betrayed by the cold fury in his eyes. "But I never approved of what the government did. It disgusts me that the era I fought so hard to create ever stooped to such actions."
"We had no choice. Some of the assassinations he committed, if known, would have toppled the Meiji government. His ambitions and greed would have torn the entire country apart if we had entered the peaceful times with Shishio alive."
"I never met him, so I'll take your word about him. Yet knowing his nature, you still used him as a weapon, and then when his usefulness expired, you discarded him." The man paused for a moment. "I understand that the chaos during the Boshin War was an opportunity too good to miss, so he was erased by the government for the good of everybody. But I also understand that the government had no qualms about such treacherous actions, and it makes me wonder what the government will do once I have outlived my usefulness. For I too am a hitokiri."
"It doesn't change the fact that we still need you, Battousai. I don't know how he survived, but Shishio Makoto is in Kyoto with a large band of followers. We don't know what his plans are, we don't know who his allies are, but we still need to stop him. You have served us loyally throughout the revolution, and for the past five years. Please take this mission, Battousai." Okubo pleaded. Himura glared at the larger man.
"I don't really have a choice, do I? After all, a hitokiri assassinates whoever his employers tell him to."
"I knew you would understand in the end. What we need is for you to go to Kyoto undercover, and try to discover Shishio's plans. For now he is gathering forces, and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. If he finds out how little we know about what he's up to, he won't feel the need to wait for that perfect opportunity. His followers, the Juppon-Gattana, have probably been settled in Kyoto for months, waiting for his signal. If you can discover who they are, and find Shishio's location from them, you can kill him before his plans are even set into motion."
"Undercover. I suppose I can manage that." Himura mused.
"Nobody knows what the mysterious Hitokiri Battousai looks like, so there's no danger of you being recognized. You'll also have assistance from the local police force. I suggest that you play the part of a poor traveler. Try finding a small apartment to rent temporarily, so as not to gain too much attention."
"I guess that should do. When do I leave?"
"As soon as possible. But first, what name do you plan to use for your
disguise?"
The hitokiri thought for a moment, before the shadow of a smile appeared on his face.
"Shinta. Himura Shinta."
A/N: How did you like it? Please feel free to give us feedback, positive or negative, but flames will be used to heat our hot chocolate and nothing more. Review please! We'll have the first chapter up soon!
Next Time on Hikari:
Kenshin starts out on his mission, but doesn't get very far before he has to face the troubles of everyday life: a pickpocket. But might this loud mouth kid be helpful in fulfilling his mission?