Never Say Never – Chapter 1

Teaming with life, the city dwellers of Tokyo Japan filled the streets in large crowds, enjoying the special event of that day. A special festival, signaling the first day of summer, meant that merchants brought their goods to town in order to sell. Though in all definitions of the word, it wasn't a real 'festival,' more of an excuse for the locals to have a bit of fun. And it didn't hurt the dealers in their booths; they were making some extra cash on the side.

People chattered excitedly, moving between the different booths and eyeing the sellers items and prices. Children maneuvered their way around the on lookers, laughing, obviously enjoying their day to have fun and escape from their chores.

On the other side of the river, in the shaded forest area, a huge tent sprang to life through the trees, stripped with yellow, pink and purple pastel hues. Inside, people sat, anxiously waiting for the show to begin...

"Why am I here? I could be out gambling!" Well, almost everyone. The familiar rooster-resembling Sagara Sanosuke sat with other recognizable members of the kenshin gumi. Megumi sat at the end, hooked onto Kenshin's arm as he sat with his startled expression of 'oro' plastered to his face, Kaoru sat on Kenshin's left glaring at Magumi. Sanosuke sat beside the Kamiya dojo's sensei, Yahiko beside him, and Misao sitting on the opposite end beside Yahiko.

"Oh quite complaining, you didn't even have to pay for your ticket so who are you to whine?" Kaoru scolded Sanosuke. Yahiko snickered, but Kaoru turned on her student of the Kamiya Kashin Style. "And you, did you pay for yours either?" He hadn't paid, Misao had, but Misao had paid for all of their tickets, not just Sano's and his. The boy huffed, about to protest and start another childish fight between student and teacher, when the ringmasters voice boomed through the tent, startling the group. (A/N: Who else has had that happen at a circus? Except it wasn't the ringmaster, it was a damn clown... Curse thee, spawns of Satan...)

"Ladies and gentlemen, young adults and children alike, direct your attention to the center ring, please!" The rather plump man with a large chocolate colored mustache spoke with a booming voice, echoing from the corners of the tent all around them. A tall black top hat topped his oval face, and he grinned broadly and turned slowly on his shiny black boots heels as he walked. "We humbly welcome you to our show, this performance for which we have gathered things from all across the corners of the globe!" He twirled the long bamboo cane he held in his hand between his fingers. "And so, enjoy!"

The ringmaster waved his hand quickly over the bamboo's end. Heaving in sharply, and blew out, he sent a stream of flame out over the audience, causing many of the woman to gasp, while the children screamed with delight and surprise. Immediately the crowd erupted into a roar of clapping and excited murmuring. The crowds attention turned, the ringmaster bowed as he hurried and made is way back behind a screen half concealing the exit of the big top. As he did so, six women rushed out into the ring, adoring bright, colorful, flowing outfits, each a different color with gold.

'Dancers?' Kenshin thought, examining the new arrivals, while the crowd clapped. Two women flipped to gain distance, while the other four twirled, holding high above their heads long, glinting objects. 'No, warriors.' Each of them had long, raven black hair, and tanned brown skin, while their abstained outfits covered the rest of their bodies, including their bottom half of their face from the nose down. One stood out, she seemed younger then the rest, and her hair and skin did not match the rest, her skin was more pale and hair was lighter, a light, wavy brown color.

Drums began to beat from somewhere, it seemed almost as if all around them. Each woman had a sword, one even had two, and each was different yet similar. They danced, using their swords as extensions of their bodies, making their enchanting dance more beautiful. The drums grew faster, and so did the mysterious women's dance, almost bewitching the crowd as they watched, awe struck.

One woman, adorning blues of furious shades, threw down her weapons, and began to dance upon her blade, her eyes narrow with concentration. The other warriors danced and twirled in a circle, shouting and stomping there feet. As if drawn in by the women's spell, the crowd began to stomp their feet and clap, also shouting with a sense of encouragement in air.

"This is so much fun!" Misao squealed, clapping, a huge grin on her face.

"Aye, thank you for inviting us Misao-dono!" Kenshin added, also clapping.

As abruptly as the commotion had started, it stopped. The drums thundered out loudly one last time, then were silenced. In unison, the women bowed deeply to the audience, who applauded them, cheering and whooping. The performance had the kenshin gumi clapping and cheering as well, Misao especially.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the beautiful yet deadly Desert Roses!" The ringmaster once again made his presence known, his loud voice booming as he reappeared almost out of nowhere in the center ring. His smile was beaming and shinning, even the Desert Roses had to smile faintly before moving to the back of the tent and sinking out of sight, all but one. "After that blood pumping performance, we now present our thrilling show of the Kuroi Kunai Tenshi! Don't be afraid!" Before the crowd could interpret his words, the ringmaster was scuffling away as another made their way center stage, with dark blue, almost black clothing.

His words were forgotten at the sight and the crowd cheered.

The newcomer wore a veil, though the kenshi gumi were almost certain it was a female because of the visible eyes; lined with think black lashes.

"You." The attention of the group and several people around them was jerked to where Kenshin sat. A finger pointed in Kenshin's face, causing him to blink in confusion. The one woman who had stayed behind, the youngest and fairer skinned of the group, was now in front of the Rurouni bending down slightly to look into his eyes. Then the eyes closed with a huge grin. "You shall be our volunteer!"

"Oro?" But he really didn't have much say in the matter as the girl was quickly dragging him to the center ring.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru called, mostly out of confusion. Yahiko and Sanosuke grinned.

"This should be interesting." The gambler said through his grin.

Meanwhile, Kenshin was being position in front of one of the support beams for the tent. She showed him exactly where to stand, where to position his shoulders and feet, even his head.

"Now remember, don't move Kenshin-dono!" The fact that she had identified him might have bothered him and get Kenshin to question her, "I don't want to have to pull you off that beam!" if not for that last comment.

"Oro!" Kenshin felt he was in over his head. How did he get into this situation anyway, he hadn't really volunteered; he hadn't volunteered at all.

"Clear!"

SHIIIIINK!

THUNK!

A dagger flew by Kenshin's cheek and stuck into the beam behind him. Kaoru and Megumi gasped, while everyone else erupted into cheers. The blue robbed figure had her arm stretched out in front of her, her other slightly behind her near the sash around her waste.

"Remember Kenshin-dono, don't move!" The girl said, still smiling. "Clear!"

SHIIIIIINK!

THUNK!

Another dagger zoomed past Kenshin and was sticking out of the beam fairly close to his shoulder area. As quick as lighting the girl in blue had reached into her sash and whipped out a dagger and flung it at Kenshin.

More cheers from the audience.

Sanosuke and Yahiko were laughing uncontrollably, Megumi also allowing herself to giggle. Kaoru and Misao were amazed by the girl's skill. Even though everyone else seemed to be enjoying the performance, Kenshin was not; 'oro' was still thick on his face.

Then the dagger flinger brought out a long, thin, piece of cloth, and started to bring it to her eyes.

"Oro!" Kenshin did not like where this was going, not one bit. With Kenshin's distress, the audience's laughter grew louder and their enthusiasm more enhanced.

The pail skinned girl poked Kenshin in the shoulder, causing him to start to fall to one side. She quickly grabbed his sleeve and steadied him.

"Still Kenshin-dono, you must be still and in the same place!" And she continued to smile. The blue girl finished tying the blindfold and assumed her previous position; out stretched hand, other toward her sash.

The audience shushed each other to silence, waiting.

Perspiration started to form on Kenshin's brow.

"Clear!"

SHIIIIIINK!

THUNK!

Right next to Kenshin's other cheek, the other dagger landed. It was close, too close.

Cheering, whooping, and stomping erupted from the audience. They had held their breaths in those brief few seconds, but it had felt life so much longer.

"Well done Kenshin-dono!" The girl beamed at him, the other starting to remove her blindfold. "Most people would have fainted before that last one!"

"Tenshi you really must learn not to be so blunt, you scared him half to death!" The ringmaster's voice boomed in as he appeared, seemingly, out of nowhere. "Ladies and gentlemen, he's survived without a scratch, while staring down the Kuroi Kunai Tenshi!"

The ringmaster shook Kenshin's hand; but with how shaken he was his head bobbed up and down like a bobble head's. Kenshin looked over to the girl in blue, really examining her eyes.

They were a cold navy blue.

She was glaring at him, challenging him.

And her eyes held a cold look, a hardness; like a bloodthirsty killer.

End Chapter 1

Eevee-Actually, this is the second version of this chappy. I like this one much better than the first…. Oh gods, their so out of character! Well, one story updated, two more being written, and at least two that need to be updated…

Peggi-Hurry up and update, lazy person! (whacks)

MisaoChan-You should talk….

Peggi-(attacks and bites)

MisaoChan-AIYE!

Eevee-Um…. Okies?

Special Thanks:

chelsea – Now now you two, be nice X3 I'd love to include you both in my stories, just wait for the right one to come along (grins) Like my new Saiyuki fanfic (zips lip) Thankyuu!

MISAO-CHAN – Lol, not taking those ADD pills, Misao-chan? Hehehe, I'll update as soon as I can!

Please review!