Hundreds of years ago; there were great lords and legends among the samurai that rose up as legends among the humans.
One such demon was the Legendary Battousai, Kenshin Himura
But after years of being a merciless killer, Kenshin became a Rurouni.
This is his story. The story of Kenshin Himura.
Or as he came to be known: Rurouni Kenshin.
Xxx
Our story begins in the village of Musashi, where a young woman, the Shikon no Miko, Midoriko, held up her legendary blade, Kiboken, against Kenshin.
"Battousai!" Midoriko said. "I have found you at last! I shall exorcise your demonic power from this land! No longer will you shame my jinja with the cursed sword So'Unga!"
Kenshin turned. He had long red hair tied back in a pony tail, and wore a red traditional gi, with a gold belt. At his waist was a sword, but rather then the distinctive cursed blade So'Unga, it was the Tensaiga, the Sword of Heaven. It was also a sword that cannot cut.
He gave Midoriko a good once over with his sharp eyes.
She was a young miko, wearing a miko's hakama and armor of a samurai over the top. She had bright blue eyes and long dark hair. The sword that she held was one of purification, rather like his own, as he could tell the reiki of the sword she held. Around her neck was a small pink bead—the Shikon.
A time ago, he would have come to steal a treasure such as this. It was coveted by many. The Jewel of Four Souls. It was in truth, Midoriko's soul, as well as the Yoki of every demon she had purified, and as she lived and breathed she purified the demons.
"Answer for the murders you have done!" Midoriko said. "Who else would defy the law and walk around with a sword. You are Battousai!"
"Rurouni." Kenshin said finally. "I am a Rurouni, Mido-dono."
"How do you know me?" Midoriko said.
"Everyone knows of the Shikon no Miko." Kenshin said.
"Then explain that sword!" Midoriko said. "According to the law only police and miko can—"
Kenshin drew Tensaiga.
"The sword...it does not cut!" Midoriko said.
"Precisely. This sword cannot cut ningen." Kenshin said.
"I see." Midoriko said. "Well I have to go find the real Battousai."
With that she stormed off, leaving Kenshin determined to discover who was using his name and wielding an evil blade such as So'Unga.
Kenshin entered a clearing and found a man raising So'Unga.
"DRAGON TWISTER!" He shouted.
The police went flying in a swirl of blood and gore.
"Battousai!" Midoriko ran forward. "Prepare to be exorcised! Shi—"
"Drago—"
"May I cut in?" Kenshin grabbed Midoriko and pulled her out of range. "Must you live dangerously, Mido-dono?
"Hmph!" Midoriko pouted.
The man sheathed So'Unga. "I am Battousai, wielder of the So'Unga! The great sword of the Hikawa Jinja!"
Midoriko growled, but Kenshin covered her mouth.
"Live to fight another day," he warned.
And with that, Kenshin carried her back to Hikawa Jinja.
Xxx
Back at the Hikawa Shrine, an older woman was treating Midoriko's injuries.
"We are the shrine known for our purification of many demons through the Shikon technique, passed on by me and mastered by Midoriko here." Kaede said. "That scoundrel broke into our shrine and stole the So'Unga, the Sword of Hell, that was being purified here."
"Rurouni." Midoriko pulled free of her grandmother and growled at him. "Lend me your blade."
"What? Tensaiga?" Kenshin said.
"Yes." Midoriko said. "I sensed you, or rather, your sword, drawn here by the call of fate—by So'Unga's destruction."
"It can only be sealed by Tensaiga and Tetsusaiga." Kenshin said. "So my sword alone is useless to you. However. There is another way."
"What? Tell me tell me!" Midoriko said eagerly.
"I believe that you could render that sword useless all by yourself, little miko." Kenshin said. "Allow me...to be your protector."
Midoriko blushed and muttered something unintelligible.
Xxx
Midoriko was on her way home from the market when she ran smack into Kenshin again.
"Wh-What are you doing, Baka!" Midoriko groaned. "Oh no, all the rice..."
"Allow me." Kenshin handed her a bag of rice.
"Where did you—?"
"No need to worry about such things." Kenshin smiled. "I do not."
He started to walk away but she caught his hand. "You saved me last night. I want to repay you. Besides, the shrine is a sanctuary for wanderers, for innocent people—like you."
"I see...innocent." Kenshin said softly, and smiled. "I accept."
"About last night." Midoriko said. "That man...he was possessed by So'Unga. Clearly human. Battousai Kenshin is many things, but not weak-minded enough to become possessed by a sword. Also that man looked to be the lord of Castle Setsuna."
"Setsuna?" Kenshin said.
"Hm?" Midoriko said. "Yes. But it's just a thought. And I am a miko, not police. I cannot just storm a castle and take back a demonic sword, even if I feel it is my duty."
With that she led Kenshin back to the shrine.
Xxx
Later that night, Midoriko got up and brought a blanket to Kenshin's room, to find that he was gone.
"I see." Midoriko sighed. "Well. He is a rurouni after all."
She returned to her room to find Kaede shakily holding an ofuda barrier between her and the man wielding So'Unga.
"Takemaru of Setsuna." Kaede said. "It has been twenty years, but you have remained a fool."
"And you have become a hag." Takemaru said, slashing at the ofuda barrier. "But I remained powerful and young. I have come to slay you after dragging your legend through the dirt using the blade you could never seal!"
"All because you could not win my heart." Kaede said. "You know what a miko is. A woman who is not a woman, for she is without a heart. She cannot love. Your quest was forever in vain."
At this moment the blade cut through the barrier and into the old miko's shoulder.
And then the world went dark, cold, and bloody.
Xxx
Midoriko awoke, and her kimono was covered in blood. Blood was in her mouth, and it was not hers. All down her lips, and face as well.
She looked up. Takemaru of Setsuna was dead.
There was a hole in his chest, and in her hand was a bloody heart with a bite torn from it.
Midoriko dropped it with a scream, bringing shaking hands to her lips, and backed off in horror, right into Kenshin's arms.
"Calm down." Kenshin said. "I see. Believe me. 'You' are innocent of any bloodshed, Mido-dono."
Midoriko shuddered.
"For future reference. The real Battousai Kenshin wields Bakusaiga, not So'Unga. And the legendary Battousai would have stolen this..." Kenshin's hand lingered on her Shikon, now completely black. "Before it had become tainted."
"You are...Battousai?" Midoriko woke from her reverie finally.
The shikon flashed, turning pink again, surprising the thief.
After a moment he smiled.
"I like that." Kenshin said. "But you may call me Kenshin. I apologize that someone used my name and caused you such pain."
Kenshin turned and prepared to leave the shrine.
Midoriko picked up So'Unga, and it flashed silver, then the yoki left it, and she placed it in Saya, it's sheath.
"Kenshin." Midoriko said. "My Grams is wounded. My spirit is weak. You made me a promise. You called yourself my protector. I do not care that you are Battousai. Who am I to judge such things. Stay?"
A small smile graced the legendary samurai—no, wanderer— and he replied. "With such a profound case you make, how can I say no?"