FH: Thanks for all the views, alerts, and reviews! I am really enjoying writing this fanfiction! I hope you guys are as excited as I am to delve into Kaoru's past! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin; if I did, this show/manga would have been done MUCH more different to what it is now, and I would not have sold my rights to idiots so they can make such fake and crappy OVAs (not counting Trust & Betrayal).

Song: "Hymn For The Missing" - RED /watch?v=iWEsrQx6A2U (For Koshijiro Kamiya in the beginning) & "These Times" - SafteySuit /watch?v=la-btESfs9c (For Kaoru Towards the middle/end of the chapter) (Recommended To Listen To While Reading) Just go to youtube and paste that on the end of the URL. Please read lyrics in video decription. And repeat as you read.

WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS GORE, HARSH LANGUAGE, AND GRAPHIC SCENES! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! THAT IS WHY THIS STORY IS RATED M!

…...Chapter 1: Strength Within ...

-Last Time-

"What is your name?," he asked sternly and forcefully. Kaoru could tell that this man was no joke. Her eyes fluttered as she struggled to reply.

"Kami...ya...K-Kao...ru...," she gasped out, before she fell into the blissful oblivion of unconsciousness.

The man sighed in exasperation and leaned down and scooped up the young 6 year old girl into his arms before walking off.

"And I only wanted to get some more sake...What a bother...," he stated, as he walked off into the night, the young injured girl unconscious in his arms.

-This Time-

~June 23rd 1868~

Kamiya Koshijiro's hand shook as he read the missive that had been delivered to him this morning. He had read and re-read it numerous times in shock and disbelief. Tears smeared the letters on the page and caused the ink to run. His wife had been killed, and his daughter was missing. Curling down over the letter, Koshijiro began to cry anew. His family was gone. All he was fighting for was gone. But, he still felt a small amount of hope come to him. His daughter's body was not found anywhere, so there was a chance that she was still alive. Koshijiro couldn't leave his post yet, but he knew the war was almost over; Perhaps before autumn everything would be said and done. Then he could go and search for his missing daughter. Kami-sama knows he needed at least his little girl to still be alive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~With Kaoru~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaoru woke to the sound of birds chirping in the distance and the sun on her face. She went to try and curl onto her side and cover herself more with the blanket, before she gasped in pain. The pain woke her faster than anything else ever had. Kaoru's eyes fluttered open and her vision was blurry. She blinked a few times before her eyes became focused once more. Looking around, she noticed that she was on a futon inside a small house or hut. There were shelves near the door and along the walls all lined with beautiful but simple pottery. Kaoru blinked. How did she get here? Suddenly, the events from before crashed through her memories and her eyes watered. Her mother was surely dead, and her father...Kami-sama knows her father most likely thought her dead as well. Thankfully, that murderer thought she was dead too.

Kaoru reached her hands up to her face and scrubbed away the tears. Her father would want her to be strong for him and mother. Interested in her injuries, Kaoru gingerly lifted the light blanket that covered her. Looking down with minimal effort, since breathing seemed hard, most likely due to the damage her sternum obtained from the killer's kick, Kaoru saw that she was dressed in a clean plain grey yukata. Her chest was bandaged tightly all the way down to her hips, covering the gash she obtained to her right side. Kaoru let the blanket drop down to her chest again and reached her left hand up to her left cheek and winced. The cut was still there, but Kaoru could smell the herbs from the salve that had been applied to it. It was no longer bleeding, but it would most likely leave a very small thin scar. Kaoru did not attempt to sit up; if the pain in her chest was any indication, that would be a very bad idea. However, Kaoru remembered the strange man who had appeared the night before and saved her. Kaoru could not see him or hear anything, so she settled herself down to wait and began to count the ceiling planks in boredom.

After what seemed like hours, Kaoru finally heard the door to the hut open and close, and turned her head towards the insanely tall and muscular man standing imposingly in the doorway. He smirked at her as they made eye contact.

"So, I see that you are awake. Would you like anything to eat? I'm afraid that you can only have broth at the moment," the man said as he walked over to a pot above a fire-pit that Kaoru had overlooked. He grabbed a small clay bowl from the shelf behind him and ladled a spoonful into the bowl and brought it over to Kaoru. As Kaoru struggled to sit up, the man, using one hand to hold the bowl and the other to support her back, helped her to drink the hot and delicious broth. Kaoru sipped the broth steadily; never to fast nor too slow. Once the bowl was empty, the man helped Kaoru to lay back down, and he turned back to the pot. Kaoru turned to him and spoke.

"Thank you very much Mr...?," Kaoru cut off, not sure what to call him.

"The name is Hiko Seijuro; but you can call me Hiko-sama for now," Hiko stated, as he poured a bowl for himself. He blew on it and drank the hot broth in a few guzzles. He sighed in contentment before pulling out a large bottle of sake and a small sake cup. He sighs in happiness as he pours himself a cup and sips the alcohol dutifully. Kaoru quirks an eyebrow at this, but says nothing. After pouring himself another cup, he finally turned to her with serious eyes.

"So Kaoru-chan, can you tell me what happened to you? Why were you in the middle of the forest with wounds from a katana?," Hiko stated, sipping his sake. Kaoru's eyes became sad as the memories flashed through her mind.

"A man came to our home and he spoke of gaining revenge against my father by killing my mother and I and then killing my father. My mother held him off as long as she could so I could get away, but he was too skilled. I ran into the forest and he tracked me there. I was able to dodge a few of his attacks, but he was too fast for me and got me in the end. He only left when I pretended to be dead. Once he was gone, that is when you appeared. That is all I know Hiko-sama," Kaoru stated sadly. Hiko stared at the 6 year old girl, deep in thought.

"Do you know why this man might have wanted revenge on your family," Hiko asked thoughtfully, taking another sip of his sake. Kaoru nodded.

"He said something about my father killing his family. But I do not know for sure, since my father is serving with the Ishin Shishi at the moment; he isn't home. Mother and I were running the Dojo in his absence...," Kaoru stated sadly. Hiko nodded, and then he realized what she said.

"Your father ran a dojo? How were you and your mother running it in his absence?," Hiko asked in interest, forgetting his sake for the moment as he leaned forward intently. Kaoru's eyes widened as she turned her face to fully see Hiko.

"My father taught my mother his style; he created the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu Ougi. He also started teaching me a few years ago. I'm better than mother, but I was not strong enough to save her...," Kaoru muttered, as her eyes became shadowed and she grit her teeth. Hiko stared thoughtfully at the young girl on the bed before coming to a decision.

"Kaoru-chan...How would you like to be able to protect yourself and your loved ones? Do you wish to become stronger?," Hiko asked, as he stood to his full height and stared menacingly down at the young girl on the futon. Kaoru stared up at him in shock for a moment, before pure determination entered her eyes.

"Yes...," she bit out,"I never want anyone I love to be hurt or killed ever again!" She glared up at Hiko at the last part and never broke eye contact with him. Finally he closed his eyes and turned away.

"Then from now on...You shall call me Master," Hiko stated as his walked out the door, shutting it behind him loudly. Kaoru stared at the door in shock for a moment before turning her gaze back to the ceiling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~With Hiko~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Perhaps the brat will turn out to be a better pupil than that idiot other apprentice of mine...,' Hiko thought as he walked to the nearby waterfall. As he stared up at it, another thought crossed his mind.

'She can't go back anyway; at least not now. Once that murderer learns that she survived, he will return to finish the job. I must prepare her to protect not only the lives of her loved ones, but also herself. Otherwise my efforts from the last night would be wasted,' he thought, as he sat down near the waterfall and poured himself some sake. The next few years were boound to be trying...

~~~~~~~~~~6 Weeks Later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaoru took a deep breath in and let it out. Man did it feel good to be able to breath normally! The slash to her right side had healed well, as well as the one on her left cheek, but both left scars. Thankfully, the one on her face would be easy to conceal when she got older, but for now, she had no need for make-up. She wore a dark blue hakama and a lighter blue gi with a white under kimono. Today would be her first day of training. Now that she was fully healed (they visted the local doctor to be sure) Hiko-sama would begin her training. He wanted her to be in good condition before training, as he did not want her permanently damaged from her wounds. But thankfully, what had taken the longest to heal was her broken sternum. And now that they had the all clear, he would begin her training. Kaoru ran outside the hut and to the nearby waterfall, excitement and determination written on her face.

Hiko stood waiting near the waterfall, waiting for his new student to appear. He turned around as he heard Kaoru's approach and smirked. No he could do what he truely loved; tormenting a poor student.

Kaoru appeared before him and bowed low to him.

"I am ready to begin my training Master," Kaoru stated reverently. Hiko smiled and pointed to a pile of what looked like 4 metal blocks that had straps attached.

"The first thing you need Kaoru-chan, is strength. You are to wear these weights on your arms and legs always; even when we train. After a while, you will get used to them and when that happens, we will up the weights of them. Go ahead and strap them to your arms and legs. I won't have you too weak when you get older to learn the final technique!," Hiko stated, as Kaoru scrambled to the weights and went to put the first one on her right leg. Kaoru grunted as she dragged the weight over to her leg and strapped it on. As she dragged the other one over to her other leg, she grunted again.

"Master? How heavy are these again?," Kaoru asked, as she went to strap one on her arm, and found herself barely able to lift it. Hiko chuckled and pointed to the weights.

"They weigh, at this time, 20 pounds each. This will also help to increase your speed should you ever decide that you need to fight without them. Now, once you have them on, I want to see 5,000 swings! Do NOT stop until all of them are done! And I better hear you counting loudly! If you stop at all, you will begin from the beginning again! Now start!," Hiko stated firmly as he turned to sit on a nearby rock to watch. He had procured a real katana for the young girl, as with him, she had to learn how to fight with a real blade in her hand. She must get used to the weight of a real katana; those shinai and bokkens never taught as well as a real blade in his book. Kaoru struggled to stand, but she got up and once she took her stance, she drew her new katana and planted her feet, one slightly in front of the other one, and began swinging, counting loudly. He could tell that it was hard on her, but her determination was greater. She had what it took to become a real master.

...End Of Chapter 1: Strength Within...

Glossary:

-Sama: It is the formal version of "san". It's used in addressing persons higher in rank than oneself, and in commercial and business settings to address and refer to customers. It also forms parts of set phrases such as o-kyaku-sama (customer) or o-machidō-sama ("I am sorry to keep you waiting"). "Sama" also follows the addressee's name on postal packages and letters. "Sama" is also often used for people considered to have some high ability or be particularly attractive. At the peak of his popularity, Leonardo DiCaprio gained the nickname Leo-sama in Japan. "Sama" is also occasionally used about oneself, as in the arrogant male pronoun ore-sama, "my esteemed self", meaning "I". However, this is not common outside fiction or humour.

-Chan: It is a form of "san" used to refer to children and female family members, close friends and lovers. The change from "san" to "chan" is typical of a kind of "baby talk" in Japanese where "sh" sounds are turned into "ch" sounds, such as chitchai for chiisai, "small". "Chan" is also used for adults who are considered to be kawaii (cute or loveable). For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger gained the nickname Shuwa-chan (シュワちゃん). "Chan" is sometimes applied to male children if the name does not fit with the kun suffix. For example, a boy called Tetsuya may be nicknamed Tetchan rather than Tekkun for reasons more to do with phonetics than anything else. Although it is usually said that honorifics are not applied to oneself, some women refer to themselves in the third person using chan. For example, a young woman named Maki might call herself Maki-chan rather than using a first person pronoun like watashi. "Chan" is also used for pets and animals, such as usagi-chan.

-Katana: Historically, katana were one of the traditionally made Japanese swords that were used by the samurai of feudal Japan. Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods. The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands.

FH: Well, I hope you guys like it so far! And yes, Hiko Seijuro is Kenshin's Master! This is where her past gets fun. :) Just know that things will be different from the moment she meets Kenshin. :) I will not have Kaoru be weak in this story, but she will still use her style, AND the Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryu Ougi. :) The next chapter will go more in depth into her training and her realtionship with Hiko, and maybe we will learn some things about Hiko's past! :D Please review and ja ne!