Summary: Alternate Universe. Set in Meiji Tokyo, but with some differences. Kaoru meets a rurouni by the name of Himura Kenshin, but he isn't what he seems to be. What is he, really? It may not be easy, but Kaoru is determined to help Kenshin find peace in a world where he'll never belong.

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and related characters are copyright of Nobuhiro Watsuki. Chasing the Sky was inspired by Amanda Stott's album by the same name.

Note: Japanese glossary at the end.

Chasing the Sky

Chapter 1 - If I Just Breathe...

"Mou!" The black-haired girl feinted quickly to the right and aimed a thrust at her current opponent. Her bokken connected solidly with the man's stomach, but she didn't pause to watch him drop from the blow.

"Why..." She spun around to block a swing at her head, her high ponytail whipping around wildly.

"...is it..." Another feint, to the left this time. "...so hard..." Two more men dropped from blows to the gut, the expertly wielded bokken delivering hard and rapid hits.

"...for you men to understand..." She was grabbed in a bear hug from behind, but it failed to immobilize her. Instead, it only made her angrier. "...that people...just want to be left..." She leapt into the air for the grand finale, delivering a merciless blow to the leader's head. "...alone!"

Kamiya Kaoru landed perfectly on her feet and spun around to face her opponents challengingly, her breathing strained but even and controlled. She received no answer from the men lying unconscious on the ground, nor had she expected one. She bent down to pick up her dropped bags with a sigh and checked to make sure their contents were still intact.

"Next time," she warned the twitching bodies on the ground, "I hope you'll know better than to assault innocent women." She ignored the groans of pain that answered her as she tied the bag to her bokken and swung it over her shoulder. "Really, men these days..."

Neither she nor her failed attackers noticed the watcher leaning casually against a tree by the roadside. The light from the full moon revealed curiosity in his eyes. "She's quite adept at protecting herself, that one," he murmured, "It appears that sessha need not have worried after all."

x o x o x o x o x o x

Mou, men these days...

Kaoru slid the door shut behind her and slumped against it. "I'm home, Father," she said with a tired smile. She swiped a hand through her bangs and covered her mouth to hide a yawn. "Some thugs were being a pain in the rear, but I taught them a lesson or two." She brushed a hand across her eyes as though chasing away a bad memory. "I think Tokyo has changed a lot more than people admit. The streets aren't safe anymore."

The girl turned away from the life-sized portrait on the wall. "But don't worry, Father, I can take care of myself." She started down the hallway, still carrying her bokken. "I'll keep searching for my own happiness. I won't break my promise."

I'll be strong. I won't let the world get me down. If I just keep breathing...

x o x o x o x o x o x

"Kaoru-chan! Can you give me a hand with these orders?"

"Hai," the girl chirped, "I'll be right there!" Kaoru balanced two plates in one hand while using the other hand to hold the curtain open for her friend and employer, Tae. She made her way over to one of the tables near the door and presented the dishes with a flourish. "Here you are! Please enjoy." Kaoru could feel their leering stares and suggestive smirks as she turned to leave, but she kept a smile frozen on her face.

Remember, she told herself, they're customers...never hurt the customers... She could still remember the first - and last - time she had been forced to ward off unwelcome advances with her bokken, which she always kept with her nowadays. She heard the man went home with a black eye and bruises that lasted several days. In her opinion, he deserved a much harsher sentence than a few days in bed for putting his hand in all the wrong places - several times in a row - but Tae had only shook her head with a smile and warned her to never use a bokken on a customer while inside the restaurant. Kaoru had reluctantly agreed with the logistics of that order. The Akabeko didn't need to go looking for trouble, not in these times.

Kaoru hurried back toward the kitchen of the Akabeko with her face still burning with indignation. She needed this day job to bring in some extra money, but really...what kind of world was it when waitresses had to give up their right to defend their pride in order not to lose customers? At least Tae sympathized, but there wasn't much she could do while keeping the business running in place of her ailing father.

She tried to comfort herself with encouraging thoughts of the kenjutsu exercises she could look forward to in the afternoon as she gathered up empty bowl from a recently vacated booth, but her daydreams were interrupted when a man swaggered past her and sideswiped her with one of his arms. She cursed her movement-restricting kimono as she felt herself falling backwards, helpless to regain her balance with her legs trapped together by the kimono and unable to buffer her fall with her hands full. There was a distant cry of "Kaoru-chan!" before she found herself enveloped in a soft cushion of...

...magenta sleeves?

"Oro," Kaoru heard her cushion grunt as two hands gripped her arms to steady her. The customer that had very nearly bowled her over was already gone by the time Tae arrived hurriedly at the scene and began fussing over her. Kaoru was aware of many curious stares as she regained her footing and silently rued the day that Akabeko had decided that uniforms were necessary. She wished, not for the first time, that Tae would let her wear her kenjutsu uniform. Hakamas were just so much more practical, lady-like be screwed. Working at a restaurant was almost as physically exerting as practicing kenjutsu.

Once Tae was satisfied that Kaoru (or the expensive china bowls) hadn't been done in by the treacherous Akabeko uniform and returned to the kitchen, Kaoru turned to thank her saviour. "Mou," she said and frowned when she realized that the person had left immediately after she had released her arms. A quick glance around the small restaurant confirmed that no customer was wearing a pink kimono. "I didn't even get a chance to say thank you..."

"Kaoru-chan!"

Tae's voice from the kitchen snapped her out of her reverie. "Coming!" she called back. Hiding her disappointment, she picked up her serving tray and stepped into the kitchen. Magenta sleeves, huh? I'm sure she won't be too hard to recognize if I ever run into her again. Normally she wouldn't spare a second thought for such a random incident, but the mysteriousness of the stranger's appearance and departure, not to mention their hideous choice of colour for clothing...it intrigued her.

x o x o x o x o x o x

Kaoru quickly melted back into the normal routine of her day as she immersed herself completely in her kenjutsu exercises at the Maekawa dojo. Without a sparring partner at the dojo her father had left her, she taught basic lessons instead at the dojo across town, to keep in shape and bring in some extra money.

"Do!" she cried as she demonstrated a strike to the torso. The thwack sound when the practice shinai connected with the torso pad on the practice dummy was extremely satisfying, especially when she imagined it was one of the any men she had served at the Akabeko who had wandering hands. "Men!" This time she executed a furious strike to the head of the dummy. The students of the Maekawa dojo standing at the side watched wide-eyed as the assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu systematically took apart the practice dummy.

"She's scary when she's angry, Kaoru-sensei is..."

Kaoru finished her demonstration with a flourish and turned to challenge the students. "Now, I hope you were watching carefully. Who's ready to try it on me?" She took a step toward the group of students. "No volunteers? Here, Raiko-kun, give it a try."

A pair of violet eyes watched the practice with interest, observing the fluid grace with which the young kenjutsu instructor sparred with the student and corrected his stance with words of encouragement whenever he faltered. Her skill in kenjutsu was blaringly apparent. The girl finished training one-to-one with the first student and turned her eyes to the young kenjutsu practitioners waiting at the side. Her eyes flickered toward the open door, perhaps to gauge the time from the position of the setting sun, and then...

She saw him. She looked straight at him. Her blue eyes widened with recognition.

"Oro," he said, for lack of a better word, before his common sense took over and he was several metres into the safe darkness of the forest before anyone was the wiser, and quickly increasing the distance between himself and the dojo. His mind stumbled over his thoughts although his feet moved surely over the uneven floor of the forest; the last few moments replayed in his mind. She had looked at him, recognized him...

How?

Before he could muse any further on the subject, a slender hand clapped down firmly on his shoulder and spun him around. His shock was so great that he actually tripped over his own feet and tumbled to the ground, legs tangled hopelessly as he propped himself up with his hands and nervously faced the girl. "Oro?" he choked out.

The girl was just as speech incapacitated. Whatever she had on her mind had instantly evaporated the instant she got a good look of the person she had stopped the practice to chase down, yelling back at the students to practice head strikes until she got back and grabbing her bokken on the way out. She took a few seconds to admire her captive's fine red hair, tied in a low ponytail currently draped over a firm shoulder, and the brilliant violet eyes that stared up at her in wide-eyed surprise. There was no doubt about it, this was the one she had caught a glimpse of watching their practice, the same person who had caught her in mid-fall at the Akabeko. The bright magenta kimono gave that away. What surprised her was the sword at his side, the cross-shaped scar on his left cheek and...

She gaped at him. "You...You're..."

He winced, peering apprehensively up at the very intimidating girl currently towering over him. Sessha...What about sessha de gozaru ka? Oro... "Um, miss..."

Kaoru interrupted him. "You're a man."

"Oro?!" the man frowned and sputtered. He might have laughed if he wasn't still as confused as hell. "Did you think sessha was a woman?" It would almost be insulting if it wasn't so funny.

"Oh...I..." Kaoru was still too stunned to be embarrassed, "I'm sorry, I...it was your magenta gi, I just assumed you would be a woman. I-In any case," she stumbled on, "you were the one who caught me when I was falling, right? You left before I could say thank you, so..."

By now the swordsman had gathered up his wits from where they had scattered on the ground and he hoisted himself to his feet, laying one hand on the hilt of the sword he kept at his waist to keep it from moving to an uncomfortable position as he got up. "Yes, at the Akabeko..." he started, keeping his head lowered and his eyes hidden behind his bangs.

"Thank you," she said simply, pleased when his head snapped up in surprise and revealed his innocently round eyes. His shy and hesitant manner puzzled her, but she wouldn't let it deter her; perhaps it was how different he was from other men that drew her to him. "Um--" She stopped when his expression noticeably darkened. "What...?"

"Kaoru-dono," he frowned, one hand on the hilt of his sword, "you were followed."

What? What is he...? Kaoru fell back into her fighting stance, holding her bokken up defensively. How does he know my name? But there was no time to wonder about that now. Kaoru focused her attention on the men that had melted out of the trees and formed a circle around them, her eyes flickering angrily in the fading sunlight of the evening. "You again! Didn't you get enough punishment last night?"

The leader of the band sneered and spat at the ground, but it was clear that, with all his bravado, he wasn't about the step away from the protective cluster of men around him. "Nagaoka Mikio does not give up easily, wench. Nor does he forgive insults to his clan. We'll kill you tonight for your arrogance." At an invisible cue, the men leapt forward with their swords unsheathed and raised, hungry for blood and revenge for their humiliation the other night.

Kaoru's eyes blazed dangerously as she zeroed in on one of the charging men and delivered a paralyzing blow to his wrist, knocking the sword out of his hand and giving herself an opening to take him out with a head strike. These men... She ducked under a wild swing, sensing the blade whistling harmlessly above her head, and jabbed her bokken into the man's chin. ...they lack skill... She didn't have time to watch him collapse as another blade came dangerously close to beheading her, only missing because she had instinctively rolled and pressed herself to the ground. A sword smashed into the ground where she was just seconds ago. ...but there are too many of them...and with swords...I don't know if I can... Within seconds her world had erupted into a flurry of flashing blades and battle cries.

The girl winced as a sword sliced into her left shoulder. It was true that she was probably giving them a harder time than they had anticipated, but although this wasn't going to be the quick slaughter that the men had expected, this time they held an advantage over her. Well, maybe this time she wouldn't walk away alive, but she sure as hell was going to give them some injuries to nurse for the weeks to come.

"Hyah!" A thrust to the stomach took care of the man who had injured her and she suddenly noticed the lack of attackers that gave her a chance to catch her breath. She had seen the red-haired swordsman pull out his sword, but it was only now that she realized the adeptness with which he handled a blade. He must have kept the men off her back. Kaoru watched in awe as he seemed to disappear and reappear with unfathomable speed, landing blows before any of the men thought to defend himself.

Then...

No, something wasn't right. The men...they were staring right through the red-haired swordsman. They glared at her, and seemed to see her as the threat. Couldn't they see the swordsman that was dropping them one by one using controlled strikes from his sword? What...was going on? Their eyes were wild and confused, and very, very afraid. Quite suddenly, the remaining men threw down their swords and turned to run. Something was very wrong...and Nagaoka Mikio, where was he?

"Kaoru-dono!"

She realized her mistake nearly a second too late. It was too late to dodge the yakuza leader's strike, but she raised her bokken to try to stop it, to deflect it...

The metal blade sliced through her wooden one like a knife through butter. Kaoru winced as she felt Nagaoka's sword cut into her right side, but it was a shallow wound compared to the very real possibility of being cut in half. Immediately she took the remaining twelve inches of her bokken and, ignoring the pain in her left shoulder, smashed the wood into the man's nose with the strength of both hands.

She managed a pained smile as he hit the ground like a sack of wood. "Take that, you thug." But hell, she hurt all over now.

Kaoru examined the tattered remains of her training gi and determined that, with her chest bindings, her modesty would be more than well preserved, before she borrowed a few articles of clothing from the men on the ground to serve as temporary dressings for her wounds. It wasn't until she stopped the bleeding from her shoulder and side that she noticed the redhead standing stock still a few feet away, his head down and sword held loosely at his side.

"Um...are you okay?"

For a long time there was no response, until suddenly he looked up at her and gave her a heart-wrenchingly sad smile.

"Yes, this one is fine de gozaru. And Kaoru-dono?"

She started and glanced down at her injuries. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. These are nothing."

The man fell silent and seemed to withdraw into himself. "I'm...glad."

Her eyes widened when she saw him slowly sheath his sword, and turn to leave. "Wait!" she called, confused. "Wait, you..."

"Sessha used a sakabatou, Kaoru-dono. None of these men are dead, just unconscious. You need not worry about any questions from the police." He continued walking.

A sakabatou? It explained a lot, including the lack of blood on the sword, but why was this man using a sakabatou instead of a normal sword?

Waitasec, the red-haired swordsman was trying to leave! "No, it's not that. I mean, that's not what I wanted to ask you. Who are you--?"

He refused to turn to look at her. "Sessha is just a rurouni passing through. Please forgive me, but this one must not stay," and then, after an uncertain pause, he spoke in a quieter voice. "Sayona--"

"Stop right there!" Kaoru growled in frustration. She ran after him angrily and stepped in front of him, her eyes searching in vain for a glimpse of his eyes behind those red bangs. "Tell me, who are you? What are you?" She refused to back down.

"Kaoru-dono," he said helplessly, "sessha...sessha is but a rurouni. You need not worry about me, sessha intends to continue wandering. I will not trouble you again--"

"No," she interrupted, "what are you? Those men, they couldn't see you at all. You didn't just take them by surprise, they looked right through you. Why? How?"

The tension that followed was unnerving as she glared at him.

She couldn't stand it anymore. "You're..."

"A spirit," he said finally, his eyes everywhere but looking at her, "sessha is a spirit. That is why those men could not see me. That is why I was so surprised when you saw me. It has been a long time...since someone has spoken to this one." When she didn't reply, he bowed his head goodbye and turned his back on her for the last time, ignoring the pain in his chest. "I'm sorry. Sessha had hoped that Kaoru-dono need not find out about this one if at all possible, but...this one apologizes...for everything." Sayonara. The swordsman stepped into the woods, finally leaving her behind him.

He could feel his heart clench at the silence behind him. So she cannot accept it after all, he thought sadly, I really wish...I could have watched her a little longer. I never expected that she would be one of them...one of those with eyes for spirits... Well, soon enough he would be out of Tokyo. Perhaps he would give Hokkaido a try next; he would really like to try the hot springs there. Kami knows how much he needed a chance to rela--

Without any warning at all, he felt a hard pull on his hair that was so unexpected that it sent him toppling to his rear for the second time that day. "Oro," he blinked. Once again, Kaoru had left him absolutely speechless. "Kaoru-dono..."

She stood planted before him. "You didn't even tell me your name," she said accusingly, although her eyes were averted with uncertainty. "I don't know why it should matter that you're a...rurouni. You don't have to wander forever, you know. Don't you ever get lonely?" Nothing but silence answered her. Kaoru was afraid to look at his face, but she wouldn't be able to decipher his expression even if she did. "I...At least tell me your name. I won't bother you anymore. I just...want to know your name, okay?"

Neither of them said a word as the swordsman slowly got to his feet and rearranged his sakabatou. They stood facing each other, both looking everywhere but at the other, neither daring to break the silence. Kaoru finally heaved a sigh of defeat and turned, her hand clenched tightly around the remains of her bokken. It was getting late...she was tired and her shoulder was starting to hurt. I should probably be getting home...

"Kenshin. Himura Kenshin."

Her heart fluttered. She had hoped he'd trust her, and yet she hadn't expected it at all. "Kenshin," she murmured, testing out the name. "Thank you, Kenshin. I...I hope we'll meet again someday." She shifted on her feet uncertainly. Did she dare turn to look at him one last time? "Well, I guess I..."

"Oro?" Kenshin mumbled as she suddenly fell back against him. He supported her weight easily, but... "Kaoru-dono? Sessha..." He froze. Her eyes were dilated and her breathing was unnaturally shallow. His eyes narrowed when he felt her ice-cold skin. "Her injuries...these men, they'd go so far as to use..."

...poison.

x o x o x o x o x o x

Glossary

mou - Kaoru's expression of frustration/exasperation

bokken - wooden sword

sessha - Kenshin's way of referring to himself; translates literally to "this unworthy one", but Viz shortens it to 'this one' (I occasionally use 'this one' in my story, simply because it flows better)

-chan - an honorific used at the end of someone's name, usually used with small children or younger women; can be considered a term of endearment when used by friends/family

hai - yes

Akabeko - the name of the restaurant

kenjutsu - "art of the sword"; swordsmanship

dojo - swords training (or martial arts) school

do - torso strike

men - head strike

-sensei - honorific used at the end of someone's name, usually indicates a doctor or teacher

-kun - an honorific used at the end of someone's name, usually used with young men

oro - Kenshin's cute little exclamation/expression of surprise

de gozaru ka/de gozaru yo/de gozaru - very old-fashion, polite phrase that Kenshin likes to add at the end of his sentences

-dono - an honorific used at the end of someone's name, extremely polite; roughly translates to "mister" or "miss"

yakuza - gang/mafia

sakabatou - a sword with its blade on backward, so the dull edge is where the cutting side normally is

rurouni - a word made up by the creator of Rurouni Kenshin that roughly translates to "wanderer" or "wandering masterless samurai"

sayonara - farewell; roughly means "goodbye for the last time" or "goodbye forever"

kami - god

Please let me know what you think. I know the writing is awkward in a few places and it doesn't flow very well, but sessha is still developing my fanfiction writing style. I would appreciate feedback very much de gozaru yo!

- San-chan