Chapter 3

"I'm done, Hiko." Hotaru said dropping a bucket of fish in front of her feet. The waterfall made a relaxing sound in the background. It was so quiet you could hear everyone breathing. Kenshin's breathing was hard and constant; Hotaru's was quick at pace. Hiko's breathing was calm as always, but there was a hint of pain. Hiko looked at the bucket in Hotaru's hand.

"You're missing a plate."

"I broke it; if you want the pieces, take them."

"No you idiot. Why would I want some broken dishes? No..."

"Dinner for you tonight." Hotaru finished. Hiko sighed and turned his back to Hotaru. Hotaru left the dishes and bucket next to the waterfall. She bowed to Hiko and left him knowing she was not needed at the moment.

The streets of Kyoto are quieting down when the sun begins to set. You start to notice that the streets are almost empty and most people are closing the shop for the day. As it gets the darker the streets become more dangerous: no one can be too thoughtful about how to protect themselves. Too bad when everything seems so peaceful you let your guard down.

Hotaru walked down the streets of Kyoto not taking any note of anything around her. 'I just wanna get away from the world today.' Hotaru groan and walked past a dojo into a dark alley. 'Well, life was worse at a time. If only I could remember.' The soft breeze played with her hair. Stray leaves rustled and danced in the wind. Shadows around the alley flicker. 'Something isn't right...' Hotaru then felt a sudden pain rush into her shoulders. Hotaru quickly slid and turned to her opponent or should I say 3 challengers?

"What do you want? I quit at your dojo three months ago." Hotaru glared and took her bokken into hand.

"Only to kill you, Hotaru."

"What the hell, it wasn't even your dojo!"

"Yes, but making of fool out of me gives you no mercy."

"Feh, you're weaker than I thought." Hotaru closed her eyes, relaxed, and turned her back to her enemies. "I don't have time for this." Hotaru started to walk away when she heard fast pace foot steps. Hotaru quickly turned around and looked forward. 'One, two... where is that third one?' Hotaru felt a swift extreme pain in her shoulder. "AAAHH!" Hotaru feel to her knees and started to whistle.

"You really think a bird is going to help you?"

"It showed you up didn't it?" Hotaru slowly started to get up. "Tochi, do as you please!" A small yellow streak sliced the skin of one of rivals. 'Take care of those fools, Tochi. I get this one.' Hotaru started to run towards her opponent. She took a step and quickly kicked her enemy in abdomen. "You don't deserve to let me use my sword on you." She brought her elbow as fast as she could to her opponent's neck. Her opponent fell and Hotaru smirked.

"Tochi, let's go." Hotaru turned, to not see her winged friend, but to feel a jagged blade strike at her arm, then slam against her ribs. 'I always stop fighting before I win the battle. Too arrogant for my own good.' Hotaru let herself fall to the darkness and swore that if she ever woke up she would seek her vengeance at all costs.

Hotaru felt herself start to wake-up but kept her eyes closed. 'Maybe if I never open my eyes, I'll never know I died. But, if I don't open my eyes how will I know if I'm dead?' Hotaru continued her argument on whether to open her eyes or not when she heard the thin sliding door open. By human nature, Hotaru sat up and turned to see Kenshin.

"This one sees you're awake." Kenshin continued to not keep eye contact and set down a tray. "Eat if you want, you probably used a lot of energy trying to take on those boys. Especially that bruise that you got on your ribs." Hotaru looked down on her chest and noticed that under her gi top were white bandages. 'Those was nice of him... but wait, that means...'

"You perv!" Hotaru attempted to stand up, but failed when she realized how tired she was. "I know I don't have any of those things, but that still wasn't nice!" Kenshin first let his eyes widen, then he closed them and started to chuckle.

"You're mistaken; I had Misao do the bandages."

"Oh..." Hotaru lay back down and closed her eyes. "Why didn't you just leave me there? Why did you take the time to save me? I tried to kill you..." She said softly.

"No one deserves to die, no matter how much they have done wrong. There are very few exceptions." Hotaru turned her head and tried to read Kenshin's eyes. 'Those eyes, they don't belong to a killer... They look lost, calm ...kind.' Hotaru made herself sit properly on her knees as she continued to observe Kenshin. Slight pain rushed her ribs, but she did her best to ignore it. Hotaru bowed down to Kenshin. Kenshin was about to question this action when Hotaru began speaking.

"Please accept my apology, for attacking you, for keeping the past too close to my heart, and for-" Hotaru took a breath and told herself to calm down. "And for my mistake of judging a person without even knowing them. I truly am a fool..." Kenshin smiled.

"I'll accept all but one of your apologies." Hotaru lifted her upper body and gave a questioning look.

"I don't understand-"

"You didn't let this one finish."

"Sorry."

"Holding on to the past is not a fault, I still hold on to my past. In fact, I'm still making up for it." Kenshin stood up and walked out the sliding down. Hotaru quickly struggled to her feet. 'Oh great, now I find out my leg is wounded too! How I'm I going to explain this to Hiko?'

"Kenshin?" Kenshin turned around.

"Yes?"

"Thank you." Kenshin turned around and smiled to himself, knowing that he had changed this girl. Changed this girl into accepting the world around her, herself, and maybe even the life that she was given.