Rurouni Kenshin:

And The Princess of the Wolves

Chapter Two: Face to Face

A/N: Well the men finally came to, and Kenshin is getting his ride coughfreeloadercough

Man #1: So, what's your name?

Kenshin: Kenshin Himura.

Man #1: My name's Heike.

Man #2: I'm Futa.

Heike: Me and Futa have been friends since we were kids.

Futa: Yeah, I feel more like his brother!

Heike: Obviously with a different mother!

All: (laugh)

Heike: Huh? What is this!

A/N: Four figures dressed in black are standing in front of the cart.

Figure #1: Give us anything of value, and be quick about it!

Heike: Why should we?!

A/N: The figures pull out swords, knives, miscellaneous sharp objects, A MACE!!!! (just kidding about the mace; there is no mace)

Futa: You make a hard bargain, but we'll cooperate! (nervous laugh)

Kenshin: (anime fall) Are you serious? You don't have anything valuable left!

Heike: Yes we do.

A/N: The men reach into the back of the carts, and pull out the five wolf corpses (remember from ch.1?)

Kenshin: (looks freaked out) How long have those things been lying back there?

Figure #1: Good, these will do nicely.

Figure #2: We'll take your oxen and carts as well!

Futa: You can't do that!!!

Figure #3: Let's take the clothes on their backs while we're at it.

Figure #4: That young woman with red hair has a katana at her side; that could be worth a bundle.

Kenshin: (jumps down from the cart, and faces the bandits) First of all, I'm not a girl, I'm a man. he draws his sword Secondly, you're not taking anything.

Figure #2: I'd like to see you try!

Figures: NOW DIE!!!

A/N: If you blinked you would have missed it. Kenshin swung his sword with speed and precision. He killed three bandits with ease. Only one was left standing. The bandit charged at Kenshin, swinging his sword wildly. Every strike Kenshin would block; they seemed equal. The bandit swung a mighty blow toward Kenshin, but Kenshin leaped up to doge, and brought his sword down to the ground; he sliced the man in half.

Heike: O.O

Futa: o.O

A/N: A twig snaps in a nearby bush. Kenshin throws his katana at the bush.

Kenshin: Who's there? Show yourself! (steps closer)

A/N: Kenshin peers into the bush and can see Aleena crouching behind it. She is baring her teeth at him; she tries to growl at him, but it ends up sounding more like a muffled cry. It finally occurred to Kenshin that she saw him murder the bandits.

Kenshin: (thinking) She's a lot younger than she seems; why, she's only a little girl. (speaking) I am sorry; here, let me help you up. (holds out his hand)

Aleena: (tries to scoot away from him)

A/N: A giant black wolf dive-bombs Kenshin. Kenshin scoops up Aleena in one arm and grabs his katana with the other; he manages to side-roll out of the wolf's way.

Wolf: Give me back my daughter!!!

Kenshin: You can talk?!

Aleena: Papa! (starts to bite, punch, claw, and kick Kenshin) Let me go! Papa help!!

Kenshin: (trying to ignore Aleena's attacks) What kind of father are you? You nearly killed your own daughter back there!

Wolf: Do you know who you're speaking to, human? I am Akira, the supreme ruler of the wolves. Don't you ever tell me how to act, whelp!

Aleena: (continues what she's doing to Kenshin)

Kenshin: Ow! Will you stop that?! It hurts!

Aleena: Just let me go, and I'll stop!!!!!

Kenshin: (out of pure agitation) NO!!

Aleena: (continues)

Kenshin: Will you just calm down?!!! (strikes her hard in the stomach with the katana's handle, causing her to knock out) (sighs) What a relief.

A/N: Akira charges Kenshin.

Akira: (digs his fangs into Kenshin's side) HOW DARE YOU HARM HER!!!!!!!!

A/N: Well Kenshin is in a bit of a bind right now. Akira was very reckless; he nearly crushed Aleena with his fangs. Luckily Kenshin moved her out of the way; unfortunately, Kenshin dropped his katana in the process, leaving him utterly defenseless.

Kenshin: (thinking) I have to get my sword, but I can't, not with Aleena in the way. (to the men) Here catch! (he throws Aleena to them)

Futa: (catches her) If I keep holding her, that wolf will come after me… Heike, catch! (throws Aleena to Heike)

Heike: (catches her) You think I'm going to hold her after I hear that! (throws her back to Futa)

Futa: (throws Aleena back to Heike)

Heike: (throws her back to Futa)

A/N: This continues for awhile. Think of it as a game of hot potato, with Aleena as the potato. Kenshin isn't doing very well. He's on the verge of fainting or worse. All he can think about is one burning memory.

Kenshin's memory:

Tomoe: "You seem so happy right now."
Kenshin: "Is that so?"
Tomoe: "If your life had taken another route, you could have been content living like this, working your field, eating the food you raised with your own hands…"
Kenshin: "I've been thinking since we arrived here. I was trained in the teachings of Hiten Mitsuguri Ryu. I was taught to live in balance with the world around me. I wanted to create a new world for those who do not have the power. I wanted to insure the safety of the common man. But now I realize this was a misguided idea. The best thing I can do is live here, and create life instead of destroying it. I've never known peace until now. It is only recently that I have understood what that word means. Living here, walking to the village, and coming home with you. It made me realize how horrible my life as an assassin really was. There's one reason I've learned this essential lesson. It's you. You are the one who showed me this new way to live."
Tomoe: "May I tell you something?"
Kenshin: "Yes."
Tomoe: "My father is an employee of the Shogunate in Edo (Edo was the first name given to Tokyo). He is neither a skilled swordsman nor a statesman, but he is a kind man. My mother died while she was giving birth to Enishi, my brother. That's why I'm both a sister and a mother to him. He's a sweet little brother. We were never wealthy, but we always lived happily. I was engaged to be married late last year. I'd known my fiancé since we were children, and he was an envoy for the Shogunate. My brother was very jealous, but otherwise everything was going smoothly. Shortly before the wedding day, my fiancé was killed in the streets of Kyoto. When I heard the news, I couldn't stay in Edo any longer. Tragedy often causes people to think the wrong thing. So, I came to Kyoto. Trying to escape the pain of what my life had become. That's when I met you. That is the kind of woman I am. I am sorry. I've... You...You have to go Kenshin. You… need to save this world… continue to be a hitokiri! "

A/N: In the morning, before Kenshin wakes up, Tomoe dresses and leaves. ("This man destroyed my happiness. Then, he replaced it with a new one. Farewell. Farewell to you, my second love.") All she leaves behind is her blue shawl.

A/N: By the time Kenshin wakes up, Tomoe is gone.