This is an AU fic. It takes place before the Meiji Era. The story focuses on Kenshin (I hope you know who he is o.o;) and Kinpaku (my OC).

–swaps Kenshin and Kinpaku- Now it's Rurouni Kinpaku, making Kenshin my OC xD Just kidding. As hard as it is for me, Kenshin and all related themes/items are property of his creator, Watsuki Nobuhiro. I will never own Kenshin, but perhaps one day I will come back as Watsuki Nobuhiro-kyou's cat and in some way I will own a little bit of Kenshin o.o;

Kinpaku is mine –pokes Kinpaku- She is a creation of my imagination as well as anyone you are unfamiliar with.

Okay, enough rambling, we begin xD

Italics are Kinpaku's thoughts.

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A small child stares knowingly at her mother. Things have been bad for awhile now. Families had to move to avoid the coming war between the government and rebels or they would be sucked into it. And Kinpaku thought her family was going to be part of the lucky group that got to stay, but her mother's expression told her a different story.

Kinpaku watched her mother pace thoughtfully. She was a child that shared her mother's long black locks. Her eyes, however, were a deep ocean blue like her fathers. Kinpaku's kimono was fresh and unwrinkled, her hair tied into a loose ponytail.

Though I just turned eight the week before, I know more then an average child should. I know of the troubled government and how people are trying to overthrow it; I know of how the Shogen (leader) and daimyos (local lords) abuse their power to do whatever. But what can a kid like me do? After all, I belong to the peasant class and have no dad and a mom who has to resort to stealing to provide food. I do have one savior however.

Kenshin has been my friend for as long as I remember. As soon as we met, we hit it off great. Although Kenshin's family is in the samurai class, his father nor mother object to us playing together. Kenshin has flaming red hair about as long as mine and you could get lost in his soft violent eyes; though we he gets angry, they turn to a fiery amber. It's almost scary.

Kenshin is my age and is as skilled in the art of swords as his father. He can slice an apple in half on top of your head! He promised to teach me his technique one day. The Hitenmitsirugi I think he called it. I can't wait, but I don't think he will be my sensei (teacher) anytime soon.

My mother came home today with a small loaf of bread, nothing unusual, but she seemed different, scared almost. For a moment, I thought she got caught, but that isn't her style. She's good at what she does, not proud of the fact, but good none the less.

The look on her face was haunting when she came through the door. Her eyes flickered with fear and anger, but the rest of her features were calm. She broke the loaf of bread in half and told me to eat. I did as I was told, wanting to know what was going on.

After our small dinner, she sat me down at the makeshift table in our living room that consisted of a few cardboard boxes. She held me hand tightly as she told me that the fighting was headed our way and that we would have to move. Kenshin's family would have to move too, but they would be able to stay put. We, being peasants, were going to be thrown into the war. Mother would be trained to be an on-field nurse. And I would be trained to fight. As I let everything sink in, I wanted to run, but my legs would not allow it. I sat like a statue in my place.

Even now, an hour later, I still sit in the same spot, staring at my pacing mother. I know she wants to get me out of here, but escape means death—for the both of us. So we have no choice but to do as we are told.

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There you go. I hope you enjoy it (: Next chapter will involve Kenshin. Please review!