Rurouni Kenshin is the properties of Nobuhiro Watsuki-dono not mine. So
please don't sue.
Act 1 Karou, Kamiya Battosai (Pt. 1)
She walked calmly down the quite Tokyo streets, minding her own business when a strong commanding male voice called out "Hitokiri Battosai!" The woman turned her face a mask of questioning. There in front of her stood a young man no older then herself and not much taller either. His deep red hair flamed out behind him, his dark violet eyes burning, the aura of anger radiated off him in waves.
"I've found you." He whispered harshly. Then from his right hand he pointed a bokken at her chest. "For two months you have murdered at your own will. It ends here - tonight!"
All the young woman could do was squeak out an "Oro?" and stare blankly at the young man in surprise, her bright blue eyes stunned. At first he didn't appear to have anything to him, but as she soon realized - he did.
Growling he said "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about! Who else would defy the sword ban!?" His heel twitched and he was in flight...right for the young woman, the bokken raised high. The woman saw the arch of the bokken and tried desperately to dodge it. But it seemed that luck was not on her side.
The man gawked at the now prone woman who had unknowingly thrown herself into a wooden fence. Her eyes faintly resembled spinning tops as she moaned another "Oro".
The man stood back and squeaked out an astonished "THIS?! Is the Hitokiri Battosai?!"
"Nope" Came his answer. Rubbing her slightly swollen head the woman said "Sessha is but a rurouni, a swordswoman traveling with not apparent destination. But to answer your question how can I have murdered for two months when I have only just arrived?" She smiled coyly up at the man.
Her smile disarmed him for a moment, but he regained his composure and pointed (with out the bokken this time) at her chest and said "Then how do you explain your sword?! Don't you know about the sword ban?! And...and what about that scare on your face?!" With that he grabbed hold of the hilt and drew the sword. The sheen of the blade gleamed in the pale moonlight but the surprise of the holder was far more evident then the shine of the blade. "It's a...it's a sakabato?"
The woman merely laughed and said "How can I kill anybody with a reversed blade?" but her shoulders sank with the mention of her scar, she gingerly touched it as thought it were still a fresh wound. "And this...well it was a gift from someone dear to Sessha."
The man, ignoring the change in his 'prey', gingerly touched the blade and sputtered "N...not many. But the blade doesn't show any wear either, not even a hint of blood. I don't think it's even been used once." Looking back down at the woman who now was able to rise continued to say "That means that you're really..."
"Yes a rurouni." She said once again recovering her bright smile that had at once brought many a man to his knees, but in this case it didn't seem to work. The sound of a whistle echoed through the still night air
"Police whistle! Got to go!" he yelped as he tossed the woman's blade to the side and dashed off in the direction of the sound. While the woman had to scramble to retrieve her sword, she cried a desperate "Oro".
The woman watched as the young (and might she say handsome) man ran off. 'It seems that I have found a reason to stick around Tokyo after all...' and silently followed the young man.
There the young man came upon a scene of carnage that no one would have nor wanted to believe. Men and blood flowed freely, the police tried frantically to stop the man they faced but every attempt they seemed to fail. The young man showed up just as a massive overbearing man shouted at the tops of his lungs "WEAK!!!!! YOU'RE ALL WEAK!!!!!" his mammoth size kept the police at bay but not the young man. Everyone started to cry that this man...this crazed lunatic was the great killer Hitokiri Battosai! The young man sprang from the crowd in to the waiting arms of the 'Battosai.' In mid air he yelled "It's over Battosai!!!" his bokken came crashing down on the giant but it seemed that the young man was out strengthen, and the 'Battosai's' blade found it's mark. The young man skidded to a halt, bright red blood flowing from a wound on his upper arm, greatly demising his ability to fight. The giant turned to face him, and the sudden realization that there was to be no way for him to win, backed him into the near by wall. Then to his utter and total surprise, the young (and might he add beautiful) woman was standing in front of his attacker.
"Quite the risk taker aren't we?" she asked, once again that sweet innocent rurouni smile on her lips. And pulling him up beside her with more strength then one would imagine sprinted off, but soon landed in a heap, the woman holding her stomach and groaning "Oh....damn...cramps..."
The young man in his anger yelled out, much to the woman's embarrassment "Damn women and their cramps!!!"
The giant's voice rang out he turned to run "I am Himura Battosai! Master of Himura Kasshin-ryu! You will know me as the Hitokiri Battosai!" Unknown to the fleeing assailant the young woman glanced up from her crouching position to watch with a careful eye the giant's retreat.
The man rose to follow and yelled "STOP!!" but was soon stopped himself.
"No, you stop." Calmly said the woman pulling down heard on the man's pony tail, the hair was smooth and she didn't really want to let go, but once she had stopped the rash young man she did, it also didn't help that he turned and walloped her one on the head. To her defence she said "Running while injured could further your wound. At least he's told us what kind of technique he uses. It will help us deal with him later."
Growling her own assailant said "Himura Kasshin-ryu is MY technique! He's murdering in our name!" this stopped our happy rurouni, she watched the man with sad eyes, being disgraced in such a way was not something to be taken lightly. "I'm going-"he began to say but was stopped short when once again the woman grabbed hold of his ever sore pony tail.
"Remember your wound...anyway I think we have out stayed our welcome. Sessha thinks that we should leave before the police decide to ask us what we're doing out at night." And with that grabbed his wrist and yanked him from the scene and ran for high heaven dragging a grumbling (good looking) man behind her.
The rurouni soon found herself in the home of her would be killer staring up at the plaques that lined the once covered wall. 'Himura Kasshin- ryu. Himura Kenshin – instructor' at that point she had to utter a startled "Oro?"
"We're a small dojo but we had ten good students. Then two months ago that murder shows up, and now...it's like this. One after the other the students left, they didn't want to have anything to with the Himura dojo. And even now the townspeople fear to be near me." The sadness evident in his voice while an older gentleman tended his wound. The older man seemed a quaint kindly fellow but the woman knew that looks were deceiving...as she herself knew.
Still facing the wall she said "Yes it would seem that even in this time of the Meiji era the name Hitokiri Battosai still strikes fear in people."
"What I can't figure out is why he is using the name Himura Kasshin- ryu...and if he really is Battosai...I don't know what to do, but I don know that his murdering spree has to stop!"
"Mmm...But I think that it would be best for you to stop patrolling at night. The night is dangerous as it is, and to knowingly put your self in danger is foolish. He seems to be far too strong for you Kenshin-dono." Said the woman turning to face Kenshin...she was now able to give a name to that oh so handsome face. Kenshin glared at her as she continued, "And a swordsman has to be honest about his own skills before ever facing an enemy especially a stronger one. You should know what will happen before you ever step up to fight again. Is the prestige of your school really worth your life?"
Kenshin breathed deeply trying desperately to calm his nerves and said "Himura Kasshin-ryu was developed by my father who survived the Bakumatsu revolution. He decided to reject the ethics of Satsujin-ken, swords that give death. He worked long and hard for ten years to create a style based on Kasujin-ken, swords that give life. Six months ago he was drafted for the Seinan war...and left this earth. This...this Hitokiri Battosai has murdered ten people, in our name. My father's ideal – his last gift to us all – has been defiled! But then again such shame can not be understood by a mere rurouni." Kenshin glared up at her, and she could not turn away. His violet eyes burned in to her soul, calling forth feelings that she had not felt in a very long time. But she found herself falling and she smiled, trying everything to break to connection.
"But that arm still says no for the night patrolling, at least for a while. You should get some rest." She continued as she headed for the door. "If you really believe in Katsujin-ken you have a duty to keep yourself alive, and anyway I doubt that your late father would want to trade his only son's life for the good name of his sword style." She pulled the door open soundlessly and stepped out. "Excuse me." And was lost in the dark.
When she had left the older gentleman that she had felt bad vibes from spoke "We are finished here Kenshin-san."
"Thank you Kihei." Noted Kenshin, he had been entranced by the woman's eyes, so blue that he was drowning in them.
"Kenshin-san you shouldn't be so trusting especially with someone like that. A rurouni is one with no destination, no path. Don't be too kind."
"I know," he whispered, "I know."
It was a few days later when the mystery woman appeared again. Kenshin and Kihei were walking through the busy Tokyo streets when they heard a commotion.
"Oh...an arrest" said Kenshin walking towards the quickly gather crowd.
"Stop struggling! Come along!" shouted the police. They seemed to be having a hard time with their capture. And there down face first with the Tokyo ground was our young woman, appearing to have been out done by the police.
"Rurouni!" yelped Kenshin as he dashed to her rescue. "Your still here?!"
Looking up from the ground, she meet Kenshin's feet as they came upon them. "Oh Kenshin-dono! I didn't recognize you in formal wear. You look so manly."
Kenshin turned on his heel and said "Oh then...I guess you don't need my help do you?"
"W-wait Kenshin-dono!" she cried reaching out for him.
"Ok officer what did she do?" he said turning to face the officer.
The officer a tall arrogant looking man said "she's violating the sword banning act. But wait...aren't you from that Hitokiri Battosai School?"
That did it - Kenshin began to yell at the officer. "I told you we were framed!"
"Don't you yell at a police officer! I could have your dojo for that!"
"You don't have the power to tell me who I can yell at and as for my dojo-"
"Now...now, let's all get along and calm down." Spoke up Kihei.
The same officer spun to face the old man and burst out a "Who the hell are you?!"
Kihei came up to the man and taking his hand said "Is there really any need for anger?"
The officer glanced down at his hand and sputtering said "A-all right. We'll let her be this once, but next time we won't be so easy. Don't make any trouble, you got that!"
Kenshin in a soon to be typical manner pulled the sides of his mouth apart and said "Not me..." all the woman could do was chuckle uncomfortably.
"Weak in body and in spirit." She said quietly, she had seen the 'transaction' and was disappointed with the local police.
"What did you say?" asked Kenshin turning to face her.
"Oh nothing, Kenshin-dono."
"So your still in town are you? Do you have some sort of business to attend to?" he inquired. After the night of the fight he had thought she had left right after, which would explain why she left so suddenly.
"Umm...not exactly..." was all she could get out. "Anyway how's the hunt for the murder going?" She tried desperately to change the course of the conversation, which worked like a charm.
"Oh...well...I do have a suspect. There is a dojo called 'Kiheikan' on the outskirts of the next town over."
"A dojo?"
"No. not any more, it's more like a gathering place for gamblers and rouges. A former samurai took it over about two months ago. They say that he's a giant of a man. It's too much of a coincidence he shows up two months ago and some giant proclaiming to be the Battosai begins killing people. I have no real proof so I can't really do anything but soon..."
It was then that Kihei spoke up. "Kenshin-san I must leave to prepare dinner."
"Oh...oh yes thank you."
"If you'll excuse me." The old man's eyes meet those of our resident lady as he passed by, and she got the sneaking suspicion that something wasn't right.
"That fellow that was with you..." she said the question in the air.
"Who? Kihei? He's a sort of live-in-apprentice. It was right after father died that he appeared at my gate and I helped him out. He doesn't really believe in what I'm doing, he tells me to sell the dojo and find a nice house away from the main city."
"Where's he from?"
"I don't know. I never bothered to ask."
"Never asked?!" gawked the woman surprise marring her features.
"Should I have? Why should it matter? We all have things in our past that we are ashamed of, why should I press? You do don't you? Why else did you become a rurouni?"
"True..." was all that she could say. She bowed her head in thought.
"So you can't have much money rurouni, so why don't you stay with me?"
"Oh, no! Sessha has an errand to run. Maybe another time?"
"But you just said..."
"Oh how forgetful. Excuse me."
"B-but wait."
"There's more?" she questioned.
"Umm...the other day...I never thanked you for saving me. Umm, well I'm sorry..."
"Do you have a fever?" she questioned gently touching her calloused hands to his forehead feeling for a temperature.
In turn he glared at her and growling said "Why can't I just apologize?" while whacking her arm quite forcefully.
"Indeed why not?!" she sputtered while trying to get out of reach of his hands. "Well this rurouni doesn't mind such things. Kenshin-dono shouldn't worry either." Her sweet smile on her lips once again. "Bye now!" and she walked off, disappearing quickly in to the crowd.
"Oh...I forgot to ask about the sakabato. Oh well." 'I wonder what errand she had to do that was so important.' He thought to himself.
'Kiheikan dojo in the neighbouring town...no wonder there was nothing to find in Tokyo.' She thought as she focused on the task at hand...whatever that might be.
That night, a star filled night a sweet voice called out.
"Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hel-"
"Oh shut up already! Who the hell are you!?" yelled another tall man with an angry and anal-retentive glare on his face.
"Is the sensei...?" she began.
"Master Himura is out! Come back latter lady!"
"Oh so his name is Master Himura." She said faking the surprise in her voice.
"Y-you didn't know?" he sounded surprised, but then again anything could get by this dolt.
"Sessha thought his name was - Murder Himura." She smiled coyly up at the man, putting her smile to use. "Kenshin-dono's suspicions were indeed correct."
A voice from behind the man broke the moment. "What's the matter Nishiwaki? Who's the female runt?"
In turn the man now known as Nishiwaki said "Huh...not even a runt. Get rid of it."
Back at the dojo, Kenshin sat reading, when his cup cracked. "Oh...the cup cracked."
"Kenshin-san?" Kenshin was so startled that one could almost see his hair rise up on end his pony tail almost reaching the roof.
"Kihei, you startled me. What is it?"
"It's about selling the dojo sir."
"What? Kihei I told you I won't sell. This place means too much to me."
"Yes, sir, but...the paper work has already been made up."
"Kihei?"
"All I need now is your seal." Just as he finished that sentence in burst the man of his nightmares. It was the 'Battosai', and he had a gaggle of goons behind him. He smirked and said in a deep gravely voice, "Hello."
Kihei continued "Then this property will be ours!"
"Y-you're..." Kenshin scrambled for the bokkens that lined the wall.
"Himura Gohei, Master of Kiheikan. This is my brother."
Act 1 Karou, Kamiya Battosai (Pt. 1)
She walked calmly down the quite Tokyo streets, minding her own business when a strong commanding male voice called out "Hitokiri Battosai!" The woman turned her face a mask of questioning. There in front of her stood a young man no older then herself and not much taller either. His deep red hair flamed out behind him, his dark violet eyes burning, the aura of anger radiated off him in waves.
"I've found you." He whispered harshly. Then from his right hand he pointed a bokken at her chest. "For two months you have murdered at your own will. It ends here - tonight!"
All the young woman could do was squeak out an "Oro?" and stare blankly at the young man in surprise, her bright blue eyes stunned. At first he didn't appear to have anything to him, but as she soon realized - he did.
Growling he said "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about! Who else would defy the sword ban!?" His heel twitched and he was in flight...right for the young woman, the bokken raised high. The woman saw the arch of the bokken and tried desperately to dodge it. But it seemed that luck was not on her side.
The man gawked at the now prone woman who had unknowingly thrown herself into a wooden fence. Her eyes faintly resembled spinning tops as she moaned another "Oro".
The man stood back and squeaked out an astonished "THIS?! Is the Hitokiri Battosai?!"
"Nope" Came his answer. Rubbing her slightly swollen head the woman said "Sessha is but a rurouni, a swordswoman traveling with not apparent destination. But to answer your question how can I have murdered for two months when I have only just arrived?" She smiled coyly up at the man.
Her smile disarmed him for a moment, but he regained his composure and pointed (with out the bokken this time) at her chest and said "Then how do you explain your sword?! Don't you know about the sword ban?! And...and what about that scare on your face?!" With that he grabbed hold of the hilt and drew the sword. The sheen of the blade gleamed in the pale moonlight but the surprise of the holder was far more evident then the shine of the blade. "It's a...it's a sakabato?"
The woman merely laughed and said "How can I kill anybody with a reversed blade?" but her shoulders sank with the mention of her scar, she gingerly touched it as thought it were still a fresh wound. "And this...well it was a gift from someone dear to Sessha."
The man, ignoring the change in his 'prey', gingerly touched the blade and sputtered "N...not many. But the blade doesn't show any wear either, not even a hint of blood. I don't think it's even been used once." Looking back down at the woman who now was able to rise continued to say "That means that you're really..."
"Yes a rurouni." She said once again recovering her bright smile that had at once brought many a man to his knees, but in this case it didn't seem to work. The sound of a whistle echoed through the still night air
"Police whistle! Got to go!" he yelped as he tossed the woman's blade to the side and dashed off in the direction of the sound. While the woman had to scramble to retrieve her sword, she cried a desperate "Oro".
The woman watched as the young (and might she say handsome) man ran off. 'It seems that I have found a reason to stick around Tokyo after all...' and silently followed the young man.
There the young man came upon a scene of carnage that no one would have nor wanted to believe. Men and blood flowed freely, the police tried frantically to stop the man they faced but every attempt they seemed to fail. The young man showed up just as a massive overbearing man shouted at the tops of his lungs "WEAK!!!!! YOU'RE ALL WEAK!!!!!" his mammoth size kept the police at bay but not the young man. Everyone started to cry that this man...this crazed lunatic was the great killer Hitokiri Battosai! The young man sprang from the crowd in to the waiting arms of the 'Battosai.' In mid air he yelled "It's over Battosai!!!" his bokken came crashing down on the giant but it seemed that the young man was out strengthen, and the 'Battosai's' blade found it's mark. The young man skidded to a halt, bright red blood flowing from a wound on his upper arm, greatly demising his ability to fight. The giant turned to face him, and the sudden realization that there was to be no way for him to win, backed him into the near by wall. Then to his utter and total surprise, the young (and might he add beautiful) woman was standing in front of his attacker.
"Quite the risk taker aren't we?" she asked, once again that sweet innocent rurouni smile on her lips. And pulling him up beside her with more strength then one would imagine sprinted off, but soon landed in a heap, the woman holding her stomach and groaning "Oh....damn...cramps..."
The young man in his anger yelled out, much to the woman's embarrassment "Damn women and their cramps!!!"
The giant's voice rang out he turned to run "I am Himura Battosai! Master of Himura Kasshin-ryu! You will know me as the Hitokiri Battosai!" Unknown to the fleeing assailant the young woman glanced up from her crouching position to watch with a careful eye the giant's retreat.
The man rose to follow and yelled "STOP!!" but was soon stopped himself.
"No, you stop." Calmly said the woman pulling down heard on the man's pony tail, the hair was smooth and she didn't really want to let go, but once she had stopped the rash young man she did, it also didn't help that he turned and walloped her one on the head. To her defence she said "Running while injured could further your wound. At least he's told us what kind of technique he uses. It will help us deal with him later."
Growling her own assailant said "Himura Kasshin-ryu is MY technique! He's murdering in our name!" this stopped our happy rurouni, she watched the man with sad eyes, being disgraced in such a way was not something to be taken lightly. "I'm going-"he began to say but was stopped short when once again the woman grabbed hold of his ever sore pony tail.
"Remember your wound...anyway I think we have out stayed our welcome. Sessha thinks that we should leave before the police decide to ask us what we're doing out at night." And with that grabbed his wrist and yanked him from the scene and ran for high heaven dragging a grumbling (good looking) man behind her.
The rurouni soon found herself in the home of her would be killer staring up at the plaques that lined the once covered wall. 'Himura Kasshin- ryu. Himura Kenshin – instructor' at that point she had to utter a startled "Oro?"
"We're a small dojo but we had ten good students. Then two months ago that murder shows up, and now...it's like this. One after the other the students left, they didn't want to have anything to with the Himura dojo. And even now the townspeople fear to be near me." The sadness evident in his voice while an older gentleman tended his wound. The older man seemed a quaint kindly fellow but the woman knew that looks were deceiving...as she herself knew.
Still facing the wall she said "Yes it would seem that even in this time of the Meiji era the name Hitokiri Battosai still strikes fear in people."
"What I can't figure out is why he is using the name Himura Kasshin- ryu...and if he really is Battosai...I don't know what to do, but I don know that his murdering spree has to stop!"
"Mmm...But I think that it would be best for you to stop patrolling at night. The night is dangerous as it is, and to knowingly put your self in danger is foolish. He seems to be far too strong for you Kenshin-dono." Said the woman turning to face Kenshin...she was now able to give a name to that oh so handsome face. Kenshin glared at her as she continued, "And a swordsman has to be honest about his own skills before ever facing an enemy especially a stronger one. You should know what will happen before you ever step up to fight again. Is the prestige of your school really worth your life?"
Kenshin breathed deeply trying desperately to calm his nerves and said "Himura Kasshin-ryu was developed by my father who survived the Bakumatsu revolution. He decided to reject the ethics of Satsujin-ken, swords that give death. He worked long and hard for ten years to create a style based on Kasujin-ken, swords that give life. Six months ago he was drafted for the Seinan war...and left this earth. This...this Hitokiri Battosai has murdered ten people, in our name. My father's ideal – his last gift to us all – has been defiled! But then again such shame can not be understood by a mere rurouni." Kenshin glared up at her, and she could not turn away. His violet eyes burned in to her soul, calling forth feelings that she had not felt in a very long time. But she found herself falling and she smiled, trying everything to break to connection.
"But that arm still says no for the night patrolling, at least for a while. You should get some rest." She continued as she headed for the door. "If you really believe in Katsujin-ken you have a duty to keep yourself alive, and anyway I doubt that your late father would want to trade his only son's life for the good name of his sword style." She pulled the door open soundlessly and stepped out. "Excuse me." And was lost in the dark.
When she had left the older gentleman that she had felt bad vibes from spoke "We are finished here Kenshin-san."
"Thank you Kihei." Noted Kenshin, he had been entranced by the woman's eyes, so blue that he was drowning in them.
"Kenshin-san you shouldn't be so trusting especially with someone like that. A rurouni is one with no destination, no path. Don't be too kind."
"I know," he whispered, "I know."
It was a few days later when the mystery woman appeared again. Kenshin and Kihei were walking through the busy Tokyo streets when they heard a commotion.
"Oh...an arrest" said Kenshin walking towards the quickly gather crowd.
"Stop struggling! Come along!" shouted the police. They seemed to be having a hard time with their capture. And there down face first with the Tokyo ground was our young woman, appearing to have been out done by the police.
"Rurouni!" yelped Kenshin as he dashed to her rescue. "Your still here?!"
Looking up from the ground, she meet Kenshin's feet as they came upon them. "Oh Kenshin-dono! I didn't recognize you in formal wear. You look so manly."
Kenshin turned on his heel and said "Oh then...I guess you don't need my help do you?"
"W-wait Kenshin-dono!" she cried reaching out for him.
"Ok officer what did she do?" he said turning to face the officer.
The officer a tall arrogant looking man said "she's violating the sword banning act. But wait...aren't you from that Hitokiri Battosai School?"
That did it - Kenshin began to yell at the officer. "I told you we were framed!"
"Don't you yell at a police officer! I could have your dojo for that!"
"You don't have the power to tell me who I can yell at and as for my dojo-"
"Now...now, let's all get along and calm down." Spoke up Kihei.
The same officer spun to face the old man and burst out a "Who the hell are you?!"
Kihei came up to the man and taking his hand said "Is there really any need for anger?"
The officer glanced down at his hand and sputtering said "A-all right. We'll let her be this once, but next time we won't be so easy. Don't make any trouble, you got that!"
Kenshin in a soon to be typical manner pulled the sides of his mouth apart and said "Not me..." all the woman could do was chuckle uncomfortably.
"Weak in body and in spirit." She said quietly, she had seen the 'transaction' and was disappointed with the local police.
"What did you say?" asked Kenshin turning to face her.
"Oh nothing, Kenshin-dono."
"So your still in town are you? Do you have some sort of business to attend to?" he inquired. After the night of the fight he had thought she had left right after, which would explain why she left so suddenly.
"Umm...not exactly..." was all she could get out. "Anyway how's the hunt for the murder going?" She tried desperately to change the course of the conversation, which worked like a charm.
"Oh...well...I do have a suspect. There is a dojo called 'Kiheikan' on the outskirts of the next town over."
"A dojo?"
"No. not any more, it's more like a gathering place for gamblers and rouges. A former samurai took it over about two months ago. They say that he's a giant of a man. It's too much of a coincidence he shows up two months ago and some giant proclaiming to be the Battosai begins killing people. I have no real proof so I can't really do anything but soon..."
It was then that Kihei spoke up. "Kenshin-san I must leave to prepare dinner."
"Oh...oh yes thank you."
"If you'll excuse me." The old man's eyes meet those of our resident lady as he passed by, and she got the sneaking suspicion that something wasn't right.
"That fellow that was with you..." she said the question in the air.
"Who? Kihei? He's a sort of live-in-apprentice. It was right after father died that he appeared at my gate and I helped him out. He doesn't really believe in what I'm doing, he tells me to sell the dojo and find a nice house away from the main city."
"Where's he from?"
"I don't know. I never bothered to ask."
"Never asked?!" gawked the woman surprise marring her features.
"Should I have? Why should it matter? We all have things in our past that we are ashamed of, why should I press? You do don't you? Why else did you become a rurouni?"
"True..." was all that she could say. She bowed her head in thought.
"So you can't have much money rurouni, so why don't you stay with me?"
"Oh, no! Sessha has an errand to run. Maybe another time?"
"But you just said..."
"Oh how forgetful. Excuse me."
"B-but wait."
"There's more?" she questioned.
"Umm...the other day...I never thanked you for saving me. Umm, well I'm sorry..."
"Do you have a fever?" she questioned gently touching her calloused hands to his forehead feeling for a temperature.
In turn he glared at her and growling said "Why can't I just apologize?" while whacking her arm quite forcefully.
"Indeed why not?!" she sputtered while trying to get out of reach of his hands. "Well this rurouni doesn't mind such things. Kenshin-dono shouldn't worry either." Her sweet smile on her lips once again. "Bye now!" and she walked off, disappearing quickly in to the crowd.
"Oh...I forgot to ask about the sakabato. Oh well." 'I wonder what errand she had to do that was so important.' He thought to himself.
'Kiheikan dojo in the neighbouring town...no wonder there was nothing to find in Tokyo.' She thought as she focused on the task at hand...whatever that might be.
That night, a star filled night a sweet voice called out.
"Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hel-"
"Oh shut up already! Who the hell are you!?" yelled another tall man with an angry and anal-retentive glare on his face.
"Is the sensei...?" she began.
"Master Himura is out! Come back latter lady!"
"Oh so his name is Master Himura." She said faking the surprise in her voice.
"Y-you didn't know?" he sounded surprised, but then again anything could get by this dolt.
"Sessha thought his name was - Murder Himura." She smiled coyly up at the man, putting her smile to use. "Kenshin-dono's suspicions were indeed correct."
A voice from behind the man broke the moment. "What's the matter Nishiwaki? Who's the female runt?"
In turn the man now known as Nishiwaki said "Huh...not even a runt. Get rid of it."
Back at the dojo, Kenshin sat reading, when his cup cracked. "Oh...the cup cracked."
"Kenshin-san?" Kenshin was so startled that one could almost see his hair rise up on end his pony tail almost reaching the roof.
"Kihei, you startled me. What is it?"
"It's about selling the dojo sir."
"What? Kihei I told you I won't sell. This place means too much to me."
"Yes, sir, but...the paper work has already been made up."
"Kihei?"
"All I need now is your seal." Just as he finished that sentence in burst the man of his nightmares. It was the 'Battosai', and he had a gaggle of goons behind him. He smirked and said in a deep gravely voice, "Hello."
Kihei continued "Then this property will be ours!"
"Y-you're..." Kenshin scrambled for the bokkens that lined the wall.
"Himura Gohei, Master of Kiheikan. This is my brother."