Disclaimer:

This statement will not be shown in any of the chapters. The story is totally and completely fictional. I do note that Himura Kenshin-Hitikori Battousai is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki. Produced first in 1992 as a short story in Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump Special, and then as an anime, along with several O.V.A.'s, this story quickly became popular. There are many other fan-fiction and fan-art out there, so I thought I could contribute. At the beginning of each chapter, there will also be a legend of translation for the Japanese words being used. With that said please read and enjoy!

Prologue Translations:

Buntai: Team

Enka: Related Family

Subeawaseru: To bring together; Unite

Tankyuu: Adventure; A Quest

Zokuto: Bandit; Robber

(…Memories of the Edo-period, year 1852)

Goosebumps pierced her skin all over, even though the heat from the sun was beating down upon the wooden deck. Slowly the swaying motion of the ship caused her to fall asleep; and as in many times before, she experienced a dream. A dream of repetition…

"But, mom, where are you going? Why come I can't go? It's not fair! I wanna…"

"Stay here! You will be safe here. I don't want them to find you. If you stay here in the brush and keep quiet, they won't find you. You'll be ok."

"Who? Who wants me mommy?"

"You need not worry about that, but we must save Shinta. They would want him the most. Hide now and I'll be right back. Please, love…"

"Sakura! Please, hurry! We must get to the next town over. We must go!"

"Mommy! You said you'd be right back…"

"There they are! Get back you little witch!"

'Ooof! Uhhhnn….my arm! That hurt! Why would he do that? Mommy's leaving? My arm hurts. I want to go with mommy! Oh no…NO! AKANE! KASUMI…MOMMY! NOOO…!'

…the vivid memories made her spring up; and she almost banged her head on a nearby railing. Her breathing was hoarse, ragged and rapid. It had obviously started raining since she fell asleep, for her face was damp due to her tears mingling with the moist air. Her skin was heated from the dream, but cold to the touch because of the cooling rain. Though trying her best to control herself, she began shaking all over. Successfully she calmed herself down, but almost methodically, she started crying.

"All these years, and I still can't shake that from my mind. That was night where the full moon shown brightly on death. Zokuto roaming and destroying many lives, murdering mothers and fathers…even entire families wiped out. The Edo-period of Japan, which brought so much blood-shed, was a country torn apart." – she reasoned through tears.

'Sakura's gone. Her sisters all killed at the same time. Then they went after Shinta. That's all I remember. After that, I must have blacked out.' – she paused in thought.

Looking up hesitantly, she noticed that the ship was still in opened waters. One of the crew had told her that it would take three weeks at the least for them to reach shore. That was a week ago.

"I need to get up out of this rain. Being wet isn't healthy. With night beginning to settle in, it's starting to make the rain cold also. I didn't know how long it would take to get from New York to Tokyo. A train ride from New York to San Francisco, and now a three week boat ride to Tokyo? I hope this isn't going to be too boring." - though she kept her voice low, she began talking to herself.

She vaguely noticed that some of the crew she passed was eyeing her with some interest. Finally she came upon her small cabin.

"I can't blame them. I must look awful. Heh, I'd say crazy. A five foot Japanese woman from America dressed like a man and carrying a sword; walks around talking and answering herself. But they don't understand. How could they?" – she undressed quickly, and grabbing a towel, begins drying her long hair.

It was amazing how long it stayed…even when she cut it. Every time she whacked it off, it seemed to grow longer than before. She hated it. The most recent cut was very short. It was hardly longer than a man's. She didn't mind either. It kept the 'wolves' away.

"I guess I should try to get some sleep. Maybe I won't have the dream again. Heh…I've had my nightmare for the day. I just can't believe that happened, and I still have these vivid dreams. But, for Shinta to have survived…I can't believe it! And now I'm on my way to see him. It's been decades since. Will he know me? Will he recognize his own sister?" – and with that she sank in a cloud of memories…