A New Start

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't 't go away."

Philip K. Dick

Pale sunlight fell on the shut eyes of the teen girl, drawing her from the darkness of her dreams. Eyes fluttering from the light, she forced her sight on the shadowed limbs of a tree. Chasseing itself branches back its' own start. For moment, she wondered if she was still dreaming. Almost half way expecting her best friend to bust open the door, tea and soup in hand saying "Well Wolf, once again you kicked ass and fell into the dark on us. Yet as well always bitch-head. I come like a servant with drink and food oh might one!" The teen tired to sit up, but the ache attacked, shooting her young body. Yes, she still alive, back in the past.

Wolf laid still, feeling out her body slowly. Every part ached, her left shoulder was wrapped and knees as well. Her head pounded as her eyes scanned to some cold tea. Reaching out her good hand she brought the drink to her nose. The scent of herbs licked her sense, it was a pain relief. No doubt by the lady vixen. Wolf drained the cup, letting the drink help to push back the pain and ache in her body once again. Soon movement was hers' to claim. Sitting up, she frown at her sleeping p.js. A white kimono lay loose around herself. "They could have chosen something less girly.." she thought. Standing up, her gaze fixed on her cloths. Carefully changing, she put on some loose black slacks and a dark gray gi, having been cut to her waist. Final teeing, Wolf made her way into the late afternoon sunlight. The familiar sounds of the gumi reached her ears, biting back a smile. Kitchen seemed the best choice for now, hunger roaring in her waist area.

Cold rice and meat made the best sleep in her tummy. Half an hour had past, looking at the clock. Wolf took a long breath and made her short walk to the main area of the house. Coming on a played out seen in the day route. Kaoru had some chop sticks forced into the unwilling mouth of Yahiko, as he fought to break loose of her steel group. Sano just sat, a amused smile playing on his youthful face. Drinking some sake now and then, saying a smart alike thing to the two. Everyone froze thou, when Wolf stepped into the door way. Seeing the girl up and moving was a bit out of frame, seeing how hurt and banged up she had been.

"So, I see I haven't missed much." she said, smiling softly

Kaoru stood up, worry playing over face "Wolf, should you be up? Both you and Kenshin where hurt badly a week ago."

She blinked, a bit shocked at the time passed. Her eyes once again scanning. "He went out for some food for the Missy." Sano answered, seeing her look over the room. "You gave us a worry and a chew out my the Fox Wolf. She throw Kenshin over the wall believe it or not. Which is a first for her!"

She sat down, a hiss of pain lacing her breath. Yahiko stood up to help her. Yet by a pair of flashing blue eyes, he sat down. Her pride would not others help her, not right now. "So I was out for a week…..How is Himura?" she asked

All three looked at each other and Yahiko anwered her "He's fine, save for his shoulder."

Wolf saw his face darker at the last word, feeling the stainlessness of guilt swell in her breast. She leaned on the door frame, looking a bit outside at the setting sunlight. A hushes falling onto the group. Kaoru's mind set back to the night of a week ago.

Flash Back

Moonlight touched the feet of a young woman, giving her skin the luster of marble to the fine eye. Silken black hair fell loose around shoulders in gentle waves. Many a man would have fallen to her, thinking an unearthly beauty. Save for one red head at this time that held her heart in his hands. Her pale pink lips sharply turned into a frown. A feeling of some kind had brought awoke. Worry was such a thing now racier her thoughts for the two red heads now gone for some time now.

Kaoru's blue eyes looked at the front gate, hearing it open. Kenshin was hurt, a deep stain on his red gi. Yet what he held was more of a shock, Wolf lay in his arms, more hurt then it seemed he was. She ran to the pair, worry and a bit off frit playing in her eyes to the man. Yet he shock his head no, before a word bloomed from her lips about their state.

"Go and get Megumi." was all Kenshin spoke as he walked to the house. She nodded and ran down the road without a word at all.

He made his way to the girl's room. Putting her gentle down to the futon. He had roughly wrapped his wound before setting out for the house. Taking of the girl's cloths, a low growl rumbled in his chest. Her own chest would was ripped open and slowly bleeding. He ran to the next room, grapping the med pack from the Lady Doctor. Taking care of the sword would was an easy thing for the samurai, being use to such things. Buries formed under her far skin, the guild hitting Kenshin at what he had done. Rewrapping the cut on the teen wrist again. Megumi burst in, taking one look at the girl and the man.

"Get out and let me take care of this Kenshin. We'll talk later." she growled, as the man walked out. Kaoru followed, to the help the woman out.

It seemed hours had gone by, but the two women emerged out. Kenshin stood up. "She'll live, but it will take some time for her to heal. Not only with her chest wound ripped open, her left shoulder is cracked, cracked rips, more then half her body is bruised over, and a cut wrist. Kenshin what happened? I want the full truth, or the gods help me on this one!" she yelled out.

He looked down, Kaoru blinked knowing this was not like Kenshin at all. His voice whispered out. " She was going to kill herself, this one went to stop her. Wolf was not herself, she was on a edge having cut her wrist already by the time this one had made it there. The only way to bring her back and stop her death was to fight her. So this one did…." his voice trailing off.

A smack echoed in the yard, Megumi's eyes flashing with anger at the man. Her rage was wordless as she stomped off to the kitchen to make some tea. Kaoru looked at Kenshin, understanding what he done was all he could do at the moment. Gentle she touched his hand, making the man look up. Lilac eyes holding to a foreseen sadness and guilt. Still all that was needed for the pair was a simple and gentle touch to forgive all and drive some guilt from his eyes. Kenshin gave her hand a small grip and walked to look at the teen, laying banged and fast asleep in her dreams.

End Flash back

She looked at the young girl, wanting to say something more. It seemed both her red heads kept their pain deep in the heart. Wolf stood up turning around and speaking " I'll be in my room." She walked away from the gumi. Kaoru's sad like eyes watched her shadow. Kenshin walk though the door, careful of his shoulder. His trade mark smile in place like always. Yet instead of the hyper gumi, everyone seem solemn to his eyes. He blinked a little bit off at this mood of the house hold. Putting down the bag he looked at sword teacher for an answer.

"Wolf is up Kenshin." she said, a smile now being her mask.

Kenshin's own face fell into a thin line at this statement. "Is she alright Kauro-dono?" he asked her.

"She is in pain a bit, but Wolf being herself won't let that stop her from moving around." she smiled saying, but Kenshin heard the worry in her voice and make his way to girl's room.

Kenshin stood outside Wolf's door, his sense telling him no one was there. They moved to the back, a faint ki standing out from pain. His eyes changed to a steel blue from anger. Knowing full well who was trying to use the back door. He turned on his heel, disappearing for the moment from the world.

Wolf's feet made no sound as the teen walked to the back door. Her old backpack thrown on her good shoulder. A moment of regret bit into her mind. Running away like always, running from the death of father, the un caring of her mother, that night not so long ago, even running from death the most these past years it would play out. She looked back for moment at the place that had brought her a few heart beats of peace and understanding she got no where else, save from her grandmother. Yet at one last sign. Wolf turned, being nose to nose with Kenshin. His still steel eyes riveting into her, shock placed over face. She took a step back, fear shaking to her very feet. Kenshin's whole body held an anger never seen to the girl. Not even during the fight between the both of them.

"So, you seem to be taking a walk Wolf? That you do? But for what reason, with your pack, this one assumes you plan on walking and never to look back." he spoke calmly

Anger replaced her fear at the man. "Back off Kenshin, your not my father or mother if you had a sex change!" she replied angrily at the man.

Kenshin saw the change in her body, she was acting like a caged animal again. Save this time her sanity was in place. He let her alone, watching her in every form passable for him. Wolf growled at the man, walking by uncaring at his words or this place. Yet he did do something that caught the girl on the surprise side of things. He reached out with is speed and twisted her good arm into a hand cuff like way. Pain blinded the teen. Falling to one knee from the racing flame of it. Kenshin's gripped was much like a steel trap. He forced Wolf to stand and walk back to the house,

"Let me go you fucken mother of a bitch! Kenshin!" she yelled, trying to kick at him. He easily controlled her, all the time making her walk.

Yahiko heard the yelling, eyes widening at seeing Wolf and Kenshin. Or more what Kenshin was doing to a very anger teenager. "Un guys, you should see this." he whispered. The rest of gumi looking out and being as much shock as the young man was.

Kenshin shoved the girl to the ground, his hand falling back into his sleeve. Wolf tripped and landed on her knees, glaring at the earth and standing up. Flexing her hand, reminding off the pain. He stood there calm to her glaring and muttering of English words. Wolf stood up, her eyes fixed on the man, her lips pressed to a thin line. Shooting out a fist, she passed his right cheek. He merely laid his head on one side. Throwing her center of balance, the girl turned to kick him in ribs. His arm shot out, grabbing her foot in midair. Releasing it, she stepped back with a struggled of pain,

"Listen you bitch ass, you don't control me!" Wolf hissed out

Then Kenshin reached out, slapping Wolf. The girl stared at the man, the slap sting her scar cheek. Kenshin's eyes held a anger never seen only in battle. Yahiko and the other looked at the two red heads. Sano laid his eyes on the teen. Mirroring her own shock at what the man had said.

"You told this one if he beat you, your life was mine to do as pleased. So as of now, you are my student and the life of Wolf is mine." steel ran in his words. Kenshin stood straight, eye to eye with the teen.