Sorry for the delay, a new chapter begins, as the young apprentice makes his way towards Kyoto new friends and potential enemies emerge, I hope you enjoy it =)

The sun burned down on Derek as he continued his journey to find the ultimate master of the Hiten-Mitsurugi style. Yet no matter the danger, Derek was determined to press on, aware that his injuries were not fully healed from his match against the ninja Han'nya, for three days he traveled towards the city of Kyoto, his passion still blazing in his heart…three days before he realized...

He was utterly lost.

"How did I let this happen?" Derek sighed, glancing over the map. He thanked inwardly he had decided to bring, however in the end it didn't appear to be doing any good. "And I haven't eaten for hours, pretty soon I'm going to be bird food if I don't…huh?"

As if in answer to his prayers glancing over the map Derek spotted just over the horizon the silhouettes of far off buildings.

"A town! I'm saved!" He shouted, using as much of his god-like speed as he could muster to race towards the far off village.

It appeared to be a small fishing town, yet bustling with activity in the streets as Derek arrived, so busy in fact no one even seemed to find the presence of a traveler to be of any great concern. He found it easy enough to secure provisions with the money he had brought from his tips at the Akabeko, hastily filling his stomach before thinking of the next stage of his journey.

"Pardon me," he asked the nearby owner of the shop where he was buying food. "Can you point me in the general direction of Kyoto? I am quite lost."

"That's funny coming from a traveling swordsman," he chuckled, causing Derek's cheeks to flush with embarrassment. "It's in that direction," he noted pointing towards the forest and a distant mountaintop. "If you go in that direction and manage to hold a straight course, you should come to Kyoto in only a few days, a week at the most."

"Thank you good sir," Derek bowed, throwing his sack of supplies onto his back he turned to leave.

"Be careful out there kid," the owner called out as he left. "There's been a rash of recent robberies on the roads nearby, wouldn't want to see you back here tomorrow complaining about losing all your money like the last dozen customers we've had."

"I shall be careful, thank you for the food and warning," Derek shouted back in as he made his way out into the bustling street. "I can handle bandits and thieves just fine," he muttered under his breath.

Eight years earlier…

"Sensei," a ten year old Derek whispered loudly to Kenshin beside him. "I thought you said these roads were safe this time of year."

Kenshin only chuckled slightly, sweat dropping from his forehead. "I guess I was wrong young one that I was," he continued to chuckle nervously as the dozen armed thugs surrounded them slowly.

"Give us all your belongings and we may decide to spare your lives!" shouted the nearest bandit, raising his katana towards Kenshin.

"I have no intention of handing over our food to you that I don't," Kenshin replied calmly, lowering his head, causing his eyes to be covered in shadows. "A traveling child requires it much more than a dozen grown men."

"You think we give a damn?" he shouted, causing every bandit surrounding them to charge in full speed.

Derek crouched down in fear, barely having time to grab a nearby branch before the first wave of attackers reached Kenshin.

In the blink of an eye eight of them dropped to the ground, not even requiring to unsheathe his sword Kenshin had incapacitated them in a single swing.

"Get the kid!" one of the remaining bandits shouted, two advanced on Derek, the remainders pointlessly rushing Kenshin once more.

Derek scarcely ducked the first attacker's sword stroke, rolling clumsily in between his legs, making sure to deliver a blow with his branch to the man's groin, he dropped like a rock.

The second man, however, was much more composed, in one swing he sliced Derek's makeshift weapon down to a nub, kicking the boy to the ground.

"You won't survive to regret your mistake!" he shouted, rage in his eyes he raised his blade to strike.

A quick rush of air was his only warning of his impending defeat, yet passed too quickly for him to notice, the last attacker slumped to the ground, a massive bump swelling up on the back of his head.

Kenshin's drawn sword shimmered as the man dropped, for an instant Derek could not see his eyes; however his fears alleviated as his master raised his face, revealing his ever-cheerful grin.

"I apologize for cutting that so close pupil," he apologized, helping Derek to his feet. "It is impressive that one as young as you could take down even one of these men that it is."

Derek could only grin, trying to hide his blush of embarrassment, scratching the back of his head nervously he looked up at his master. "Thank you sensei."

"You went for his weak spot, one of the nine locations all swordsmen must know. I did not think you had studied as much as I had hoped; perhaps it is time to begin actual practice lessons.

Kenshin replaced the hat on his head and continued down the road, ignoring all the unconscious bodies now littering the road, Derek rushed to catch up.

"You are no doubt tired today; we can start first thing tomorrow, I'm sure it will be a simple task finding you a suitable practice bokken."

"Sweet, thank you sensei you won't regret it!"
Nine swordsmen locations? All I did was aim for his crotch, Derek thought as he pushed himself to catch up.

Present day…

Derek walked peacefully through the forest the owner had pointed out, with all the reminiscing and memories he had scarcely noticed night had fallen.

"I wonder what everyone thought of my gifts for them," he spoke to himself, feeling like the woods were too quiet. "Sano's sword was quite a challenge, never had to work on something so larg…"

He stopped in his tracks, taking a quick jump back instinctively as a cloaked individual descended from a high tree-top and landing on the very spot Derek had been standing on just a moment earlier.

"That was pretty good," the masked assailant muttered in a rather attractive voice. "You're the first to evade my attack."

"Why hello miss," Derek grinned, waving as kindly as he could at his would-be attacker. "You really shouldn't be out this late; I hear that there are bandits about."

Derek could have sworn he heard a growl of annoyance from the hood, the woman pointed directly at him.

"I AM the bandit you moron! Now give me all your money or I will tear you apart!"

Remember Kenshin-sensei's teachings Derek thought as he stared at the woman still hooded beneath her cloak. Kindness will win more battles than a hundred swords; just have to keep her calm.

"There is no reason to attack me ma'am, I have very little money on me, just some tips, and besides it's quite wrong for you to attack travelers that it is."

That it is? I'll make sensei proud yet!

"That's good enough for me! HYAH!!"

The woman leaped straight for Derek's head with a forward kick, he easily avoided it.

In an attempt to prevent her from trying again he made sure to nab the trailing end of her cloak, hoping she would stop fighting once he had her.

The hood and cloak slid from her shoulders as he pulled, she passed by unhindered.

The attacker was revealed as a young girl, her long black hair was tied in a twisted ponytail, and she was dressed in a female ninja outfit adorned with a rather large pink bow on the back.

"You're…just a kid," Derek muttered as she flew past. Her voice sounded much older.

"WHAT!??" she shouted, eyes enlarged to horrifying proportions, she drew multiple kunai from her belt. "And what part of me makes you think I'm a kid??"

"O n-no!" Derek shouted, waving his arms in front of himself, trying with all his might to keep his eyes above her shoulder line. "I...I didn't mean it like that, you are a lovely young woman and…"

"So now you're a pervert!" screaming she threw the handful of knives.

Sidestepping Derek narrowly avoided the barrage of throwing knives, which seemed to only anger the ninja girl, she charged in fists and feet blazing.

For her size she was very quick, Derek found it difficult to keep up with her at such close range, and his unhealed injuries weren't helping. After several barrages she finally landed a blow, kicking his lower abdomen.

The pain of the wound surged, without thinking Derek reached out; grabbing her shoulders he spun her about, locking her arms behind her back.

"Let go you punk you're gonna regret it!" she shouted, struggling with all her might.

"I will as soon as you agree to stop fighting and attacking innocent travelers."

"Never! No one can defeat the strongest duo of the Oniwaban Group!"

"Oniwaban?" Derek muttered, failing to realize the truly important word she spoke until it was too late.

"Duo?"

A previously unseen fist descended from the trees, nearly catching the weary swordsman across the face, he swiftly released the ninja girl and hopped back to avoid it.

That fighting style…it can't be!

Silently the new attacker dropped from the trees, landing beside the recovered ninja girl.

Derek's mouth dried up, feeling as if ice was coursing through his veins as he caught full view of the face of the new attacker.

Though nearby bushes obscured his body in shadows, his mask was unmistakable, an oni mask.

Identical to Han'nya's.

The only difference between Han'nya's mask and the face Derek now stared into were the radiating blood-red stripes across the face; it was as if the demon of the Oniwaban had returned to settle the score beyond the grave.

Derek instantly took a fighting stance, prepared to draw his sword.

"That was sloppy," the figure spoke to the first ninja. "And you said you wouldn't need my help.

"Shut up!" she replied. "Can we just take this guy down first?"

"How are you here?" Derek shouted to the masked fighter. "Have you come back for another rematch Han'nya?"

The two combatants stared, seemingly dumbfounded.

"How do you know that name?" the first girl asked, the second figure stepped forward as she spoke.

Reaching up to their mask, the second attacker unlatched the strap, allowing their hand to remove it effortlessly.

Derek gasped in surprise, for he had been expecting the mutilated face of the Oniwaban's number one master of disguise.

Instead the mask fell away, allowing long red hair to fall freely, revealing the face of a beautiful girl. She looked very similar to the first attacker and couldn't have been more than a year or so older. Now standing in the light he could see she was dressed in the same clothes Han'nya had worn, albeit with alternating blue arm bands rather than red, Derek could only stare as she looked him in the eye.

"I am Akira Makimachi, this is my sister Misao…how do you know Uncle Han'nya?"

Derek, still dumbfounded, could not think of a single response, all he could do was stare, hand resting limply on his sheath as he stared at the sister kunoichis.

Finally got to return to this, I hope no one saw that little surprise coming until the end, Read and review, I hope you enjoyed it. =)

Poor Derek, his journey to Kyoto continues next time, though the path will be less quiet than he's used to. Next time on Battousai's Apprentice: Estranged Paths Converged, you won't want to miss it.