Chapter 1
Kenshin had, throughout his life, had his share of angry people. He had killed many, and after a lot of practice it had nearly stopped bothering him, at least while it was happening. That was at least until Tomoe. He was, however, still convinced that ushering a new government was the only was to save their country, and he would do all in his power to make it happen. This, however, meant that he didn't have time to play with the poor man, so he would make it quick. With narrowed eyes he watched the man in front of him, and his eyes glowed amber in the low light. The man stared at him with a hate-filled twisted face, and then moved. He was fast-enough, but nothing compared to the speed of the Hiten Mtsurugi style. Kenshin calmly side-stepped the man's charge, and casually drew his sword. To his surprise the man wheeled around, and Kenshin had to move his sword to block. The man's sword crashed onto his with such angry intensity that it almost caused his arm to vibrate.
Kenshin shook his head in surprise. This man wasn't as bad as he had first thought. The man pressed his charge for an instant, but Kenshin had about had enough. He moved quicker than the man could see and sliced his sword toward the man. The man somehow managed to block, and Kenshin realized he needed to get his focus together if he was going to win this fight in time. As it was going, the man could last for several more minutes. Kenshin's eyes shone brighter as he focused his energy and moved so fast, it seemed as though he disappeared. The man he was fighting wheeled around looking for him, as Kenshin blurred into existence right next to him, sword swinging. As he was about to cut the man in half, a vision appeared in front of his face. It was a woman, her dark hair waving gently in the wind and on her face was an entreaty for pity. He managed to pull his sword to the side just in time, and instead of cutting the man in half, he merely sliced open his side.
The man screamed, blood pulsing out of the wound, and he dropped his sword and grasped his side. Kenshin dropped to the ground and sheathed his sword. "Tomoe," he whispered, his mind still filled with her image. He looked at the man before him, the twisted lips wrenched in agony, and felt pity.
He had made a vow that after the war ended he would never kill again. However, it seemed to him that for some reason Tomoe didn't want him to kill this man. The man was losing a lot of blood, and with it, he was losing consciousness. He gazed at the manslayer with a puzzled, agony-filled look, and then collapsed on the ground. Kenshin gazed at the sun. He needed to be at the meeting place soon, but first, he would tend to this man. Tomoe would have wanted it.
He carried the man to a cave he had stayed in before and dropped the man onto the floor of the cave, and ripped open the his shirt. The slice he had inflicted had cut about three or four inches in, but hadn't hit anything vital. Quickly, he ripped a thread from the man's shirt and taking a needle from his bag he sewed the cut shut. Then he wrapped the man's shirt around the wound and covered him with a blanket from his own pack. He quickly foraged for some food and formed a pool of water. For some reason it had suddenly become very important to him that this man should live.
Then he slung on his cloak and traveled out of the cave. Quickly he covered the remaining distance to the meeting place and walked out into the clearing, his face an expressionless mask. A tall man sat there, and as he approached the man raised his head and looked up.
"Himura-san," the man said warmly, "welcome."
"What is it you require?" the Battousai asked.
"We have another government official we need you to protect. He will be staying here for a time, but we have heard a rumor that the Shinsengumi know he will be here. You are the only one we can trust with the protection of this man. Will you accept?"
"Who is the man?"
"His name is Katsui Yasuke. We believe he might be able to help us win this war."
"How?" the cold voice of the Battousai asked. Inside however, he was bubbling with sudden disbelief and excitement. Win the war! Impossible. To assassin inside of Kenshin, that would never happen. He had been fighting for almost five years. To the young eighteen-year-old, it sometimes it seemed like an eternity. To the young man inside of him, however, the prospect of it being over was exciting, yet intimidating. He had no idea what he would do after the war was over. All he knew was he had a vow to keep to Tomoe.
"He has some inside information of about the heads of the government. Information that they would love to keep secret. That's why we need you."
Thinking of the man in the cave, Battousai asked, "I would remain in this area?"
"Until it becomes too dangerous to do so, yes."
"Very well," Kenshin said. "I accept your charge."
A/N: I know that chapter was short as was the fighting scene. More will come. Don't worry. Please tell me if you like it, or tell me what you think I should add.
