Fanfiction page...

Sorry, i only have one fic up at the moment, but keep coming back and i should have more up...K? -_-xfor now, you can just read the prologue from here.

Disclamer; Rurouni Kenshin belonges not to me, but to Watsuki Nobuhiro.

Note: I couldn't make up my mind while writing this, on what language i wanted to stick with...since in some sceens, it works better using the japanese phrases, and in others, i like the english better, so just try to deal with the shifts(for those of you who don't know japanese, Father=Tousan, Mother=Kaasan, and Hitokiri Battousai, and Battousai the Manslayer, are essentialy the same. I'll repost any i've missed at the end for latter chapters.~Star Wolf) -*-x
The day was quiet. A light dawned from the far west, but none paid heed to the occurence, for most were fast asleep, in their homes awaiting the dawn. Most, yet not all. Kenji sat up, unable to sleep. He'd been getting bad feelings ever since the day before, when he went for a walk down by the riverside. He'd always felt that something must have happened there, but could never figure out exactly what it could be. He'd tried to ask his parents, but was always turned away from the obviously tender subject. He was turned away from it so often, that he eventualy descided to just drop the subject. He shivered in the night. The night air, the icy breeze, the stillness of the life around him. It was all... wrong. Everythign he saw, and everywhere he went for the last few days, just felt, *Wrong.* he thought to himself, as e braced himself against a small gust of freezing cold air. *Whay does this all just feel...wrong? Something's going to happen, but what? Why can't i figure this out?* Kenji shivered again, against the pickup of wind, that was pummeling the outside of the dojo where he lived with his father, and his mother, adjudent master of the kashin school of martial arts. He'd asked to learn swordsmanship from his mother, but was told over and over again that he was too young. He'd just stopped asking after bearing witness to the sharp looks of forgoten pain that entered his father's eyes every time he brought the subject of Kenjutsu up. It was like he had been trying to forget somethign from long ago in his past, but that couldn't be. What could his father have to hide or even fear from his past? It wasn't like his father was even a master of kenjutsu himself, being so meek and small, so what right did he have to be biased against his learning his mother's school, or any school for that matter? *oh well, it's not like it matteres anyway. Man, i'd better get back inside before i freeze to death, and then 'kaasan would kill me for sure.* Kenji stood up silently, a technique he had been able to do ever since he was little without ever realy knowing how. *he- i wonder if kaasan, and tousan ever realized how it was that i could sneak up on them even when i was a little kid. I think tousan might know, but i don't think kaasan ever realy figured it out.* He walked back to his room, and tried to go back to sleep, ignoring the gut wrenching knot that had been slowly building for the past couple days. *i'll figure it out in the mor-* he promised himself as he fell sound asleep even mid-thought. He hadn't even pulled the covers over him before he was unconcious.






The first thing that Kenji noticed, when he awoke the next day, was that he'd sleapt WAY longer than he'd meant to. *man- MORNIGNG! oh, wow, i didn't know i'd been THAT tired... gee i guess that this whole thing has been wearing on me more than i'd thought. I'd better go see if Kaasan wanted me while i was asleep.*

Kenji walked out the door after getting dressed, and looked around the kitchen, where he could usualy find iether his mother, (or more preferably his father) preparing a meal or a snack for everyone. "Kaasan?" He looked around but didn't see anyone in the kitchen, so he descided to go look aroround the yard, to see if he could find his mother practicing Kenjutsu, or his father doing laundry or cleaning like he normaly was. "tousan?" *Man, where is everyone?* He was just about to start freaking out wehn he heard his father's voice coming from a few paces away. "Kenji? What are you doing out here? Is something wrong? You look upset." Kenji sighed, and then turned around to face his father. "No, nothing's wrong, i was just wondering where you and Kaasan were." "oh, ok, Kaoru-dono and i were wondering if you wanted to come with us, since we were going to take a walk. Would you like to come?" Not for the first time, Kenji wondered about the honorific title, that his father insisted he use when refering to his mother. When he had asked about it they had both just said that it was personal, and it had to do with something from long ago. He had wanted to ask them to elaborate, but as usual, stopped himself when he saw the hurt expression plauging his father's carefree face. He put on a cheerful face to hide the inner turmoil he was facing. "sure." he replied with a grin. He'd just been struck with a bad sence of foreboding, and didn't know quite what to make of it. He DID know however, that he WAS going to go and have a nice peaceful walk with his parents. Something he hadn't done on a while. "Ok dad, let me just go get some thing to eat, and i'll be right out, k?" "ok, i'll be here at the gate waiting with Kaoru-dono that i will."

After Kenji had gotten a quick bite of something to eat, he turned and headed out twards the main gate, to meet his father as he said he would. "I'm ready!" he called, only to be answered by his mother's carefree giggling, that signified that she was in one of her rare good moods, she could be quite tempermental at times as he had found out early on in life. He giggled in return. Sometimes his parents were so silly sometimes. He paused as he got anouther unshakable pang of fear, coursing through his body. *Why do i feel like were going to be attacked? Who'd want to attack us, it's not like anyone here's even a fighter, well except for mom, but even then, who'd want to challenge her?* He shook off the chill, and ran up the rest of the way to his parents. who didn't appear to have noticed the momentary disturbence. "So," he cheerfuly greeted, betraying none of the fear he had previously felt, or so he thought. "where are we going?"

Kenshin carefuly studied his son's face for a moment and then searched his feelings. *so, * Kenshin thought. *he can feel it too...* He was shaken back to reality by Kaoru's voice, asking him something. "Huh?" "Honestly Kenshin, don't space out so much." she asked worriedly. He knew what she was thinking, he hadn't spaced out like that realy since Kenji was born, and they made the descision to keep their history away from him. "ano, could you repeat that Kaoru-dono, i didn't quite hear you." She chuckled slightly as he used the honorific denotation, and was, as always, reminded of the old times when everyone was still together, before they had all parted ways... she still missed all of them, even her idiotic aprentice. "I said, 'where do you want to go?'" "oh, sorry, mabey down by the brook, it'll be nice in the shade as the sun heats up." Kenshin just smiled at Kaoru, who know better than to argue with Kenshin about what the weather would be like later. Kaoru knew that his weather sence, was all part of his skills as a swordsman, that he'd developed during the Bakumatsu, to be able to predict the outcome of a possible fight, since weather conditions needed to be factored in. Of course... They could never tell Kenji the real reason behind his father's good meteorological predictions. Kaoru started thinking again of the way things were before, as she'd begun calling it, 'the break.' She let her thoughts wander, as she began down the beutiful path, lulled by the comforting shade of the trees.

Kenji just rolled his eyes at his parent's display of affection, and began to think once again,about the feelings he was getting. *something's gonna happen, i can feel it. Today.*

Kenshin just watched his son's face, out of the corner of his eye. To Kenji and Kaoru, both lost in their own thoughts, he simply looked like he too was buried in thought, reminiscing about something or other, but to one who could read feelings and intent, it would seem as though Kenshin was compleatly alert, and aware of his surroundings, taking in every sharp detail. *I can sense it. Something is not right... WHY! Why does this have to happen now, can't we all just live in peace? Kenji should not have to be put through this,* one look at Kenji's face and Kenshin could feel that his son knew that something was going on, if not exactly what, and how it pertained to them. *as he shouldn't have to. * Kenshin thought furiously, *no one should have to live through something like that, and Kaoru-dono, no. She should not have to worry like she used to. I'd hoped that those days were behind us now, but; I can sense that this new threat will cause great uproar for all of us, but the thing i cannot figure out, is just how much uproar this will indeed cause.*

As they continued walking, the trio all found themselves in their own little worlds of thinking and so it was that no one, noticed the figure, clad in black, spring silently from the tree behind them, to leap; sword unsheathed, twards it's would-be victims, no one, except Kenshin that is. The assasin never had a chance to strike out it's intended targets, before they were knocked out of the was, with a speed that greatly surpassed even his wildest notions of what these people could do. He had taken this job, origionaly, not knowing anything about his intended targets, other that the facts that they were easy prey if caught off guard, but that one possesed a godlike speed. A deadly speed. He hadn't beleived his employer before, but now bearing witness to this skill and speed, he found himself wanting to experience this battle. "Yes finaly a worthy opponent. How long i have waited!"

Kenji stood, still shakeing with fear as he looked at their would be attacker. *he- he was going to kill us... he was realy going to KILL us... but, who coulduv...?* he shakily looked up at his father, who had a look he'd never seen on his face. It was compleatly unreadable, and had an almost savege look to it... Kenji blinked. He stared up at his father thinking that he had imagened things, but it was so real, so vivid. "mom? Dad, what's going on?"

Kenshin looked at Kenji, and then back at their attacker. He could feel a strong desire not just to fight but to kill as well. He knew it would be better if he could just get them away from-

"NO!"

Kenshin leapt into action, pushing his familyout of the way again, as a wave of darts, and throwing knoves came flying twards them, in a deadly confrontation that would only end in blood. "No." Kenshin said coldly, causing Kenji to look up just at the tone of his voice. "M-Mom? What's going on with dad? he's never used that tone of voice before, and how did he move so fast, What's going on?!" Kenji's Pleas for answeres fell onto deaf ears, as his father stood, adopting a cold, unreadable stance, and faced his newly apointed opponent. "If it's a fight you want, then come, and i will be your opponent, however. You will leave these two others out of this, Understood?" "KENSHIN, NO DON' T DO IT! YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE SAKABATOU! YOU CAN'T!" Kenshin paused for a moment to give Kaoru a comforting glance, before gently telling her "you know i have to do this, just get Kenji out of here safely." "Oh, Kenshin, PLEASE come back to me this time, and try, try not to, well..." Kenshin Nodded, obviously understanding what his son did not. "I'll certainly try, that i will, but, if it does resurface..." He glanced at Kenji, who was having a harder and harder time keeping silent about what was going on. "DAD! TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON! WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY RESURFACE, AND WHY ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT! MO-" "Kenji." "Mom?" Kenshin took the time to study his opponent's actions for the correct time. He knew that his son was having a hard time with all of this, and that was precicely why they had never told him. Why they had hidden, his horibly ancestry, just like he had hidden the Battousai inside of him, that he could feel resurfacing at the prospect of new battle, and new blood...*NO! I musn't start thinking like this again, i can't surrender to the Battousai, I can't and WON'T kill again, i'll uphold that vow no matter what, but; if they stay... I can't allow myself to loose controle.* "Kaoru..." Kenshin began slowly, and Kaoru unfortunatly quite used to this unfortunate predicament by now, tensed herself and grabbed onto Kenji's shoulder, ready to move at the sound of his voice. She knew that she'd have only one chance at getting Kenji out of there before the fighting started, and she was aware that it would be getting intense. Kenshin was still Kenshin, no matter how much time had passed, and she knew that sword or not, he'd fight to the finish. She could see it in his eyes, the eyes that were..."no." she wispered, her eyes widening, as she realized just to what extent he had been put to again. "Mom?" "no. it's just, it's just like when he fought 'jine....ken-shin...." Kenji just looked on, not being able to comprehend what was going on. Why wouldn't they tell him anything? and why was his father fighting this new guy? What was his mother doing?! SHE was the adjudent master of the Kashin School, right?

"WHAT'S GOING ON!"

"NOW!"

The two commands came simultaniously, although Kaoru listened only to Kenshin's voice, ignoring, but being aware of all else, like she used to do, and would have to do again., if she wanted to survive. She grabbed onto Kenji, and with all of her might, pulled him along with her, as she rolled out of the way of anouther attack, and ran as far as she could, only to be stopped by the guy waiting to fight Kenshin. "ah."

"Now, now. Where do we think were going now? The fun's just about to start, and i think i'll start with you..."

His advancecs were stopped short, as a furious Kenji leapt in front of his mother. "HEY! YOU GET AWAY FROM HER!"

"fool." The Shadow assasin lightly pushed poor Kenji away, but a light push for him, was like a full blown punch from any normal person, and it sent Kenji flying accross the ground to look up in fear and confusion as he heard his father speak in a voice he had never heard before, and it froze the blood in his vains.

"Stop."
That simple word, that carried so much, MUCH more than Kenji was ready to accept at that point, almost in shock, seeing this new threat, turn, and face his 'helpless' father, or so Kenji thought. Kaoru managed to crawl over to Kenji's side without being noticed by the Assasin Standing near, putting all of his attention on the new chalenge infront of him. "Mom," Kenji asked franticly, just needing some answeres. "Mom, i- what's going on here?" Kaoru looked at her son, who was pleaing for answeres, Kenji may have been 12 years old now, and better able to understand things, but he was still a child, and felt fear. "Kenji," "Mom, please tell me, why is dad out there saying he's going to fight? He can't fight, can he? you always told me that he didn't know how, what's going on?" "Kenji, PLEASE trust me when i say this, we only wanted to keep you safe, everything will be explained after this battle, but for now all we can do is wait." "WAIT!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN WAIT, DAD'S GONNA GET HIMSELF KILLED OUT THERE IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING!!!!!!!!"

"shut up kid." the Shadow Assasin snapped.

"ah, wha???"

"I said shut up. You have no clue what you talking about brat, so shut up." The Assasin turned to address the glaring man before him. "So, The rumers Were true." "Rumers?" Kenshin Questioned, trying to find out any scrap of information that may be of value, since it was obviously just the baggining of a new threat, and if this new enemy had such powerful underlings... Kenshin paused to think of what his family would be forced to go through again, now that there was a new uprising.

The Assasin just chuckled, smugly. "hm hm hm hm...They told me you'd be good, but i NEVER expected this...." Kenshin's guard rose ten fold as he realized that this mystery man had just figured out exactly who he was. "hn- Red hair... Cross-shaped Scar on his Left Cheek... I NEVER would have though i'd get the pleasure of fighting, a ledgend, even when i took on this assignment." Kenshin, looked over to Kenji for a moment to see how he was handeling things so far, but snapped his attention back to the obsical in front of him as he started to speak again. "So, hn- your unarmed." The assasin, moved his arm to his own sword, in a moment and in one fluid motio, took one of his swords, and tossed it to the Battousai, who caught it, much to the amazement of his young son, who had never even known his father had even held a real sword in his life before. "wh-" "Do you think that i would take advantage of a worthy opponent, just because he was unarmed? I hardly think so, but before we begin, i'll give you a rare treat. You see i normaly would never allow an opponent to know who i am, but since this is a little different, i fugure that you should at elast know who will send you to your grave. Allow me to tell you my Code, by which i, and my clan lives through life. Aku. Soku Zan. YOU CAN TAKE THOSE WORDS TO YOUR GRAVE!!!"

"DAD!" Kenji started freaking out, thinking that his father was going to be killed, this guy was strong, and looked like a real killer too. There was no way that his father could stand up to him, and live, so WHY wasn't his mother DOING ANYTHING!?

Kenji's heart nearly stopped in his throught, as he saw the Assasin, leap, sword flashing at his father, who was just... standing there. "Wha!?!?!?"

All heard the clang of meatle against meatle, but only Kaoru was unworied. She had known that Kenshin would be fine ever since that guy threw him the sword. "he, just like evil guys to get cocky." "huh? Mom, what do you mean? AREN' T YOU IN THE SLIGHTEST BIT WORRIED ABOUT DAD!?" Kaoru just smilled gently at her overexited son, but then *this is his first battle, and he's never seen his father fight before. I can't blame him for being woried.* "Accualy Kenji, i'm accualy a bit more worried about what your father will do to that guy, rather than the other way around.He doesn't even have his Sakabatou. "

Hearing his mother's words, only woried Kenji even more, as he began to wonder about the sanity of his family. *Dad can't fight, can he?And What is the Sakabatou, it sounds important, but what is it? *

Kenji was Abruptly brought back to reality, and was shocked to the core, as HIS FATHER, the one who had never even uttered a harsh sounding word to ANYONE, began to speak, while fending off the fatal blow with a deadly accuracy, that Kenji had never even known anyone could possess. "Leave now, and i'll resign this fight with you. I don't want anymore bloodshed." "Heh, IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT, IF YOU WON"T FIGHT ME WITH ALL THAT YOU ARE, THEN I'LL JUST HAVE TO GIVE YOU A REASON TO!" and with that, he turned slightly, and threw a concealed dagger with green tinted edges, that told of *POISON!* at Kenji, and Kaoru. "NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" "WHAT!?"Kenji asked to deaf ears, as his father exploded with rage, and ran, at the small, but deadly projectile. "HHYYYAAAAIIIIII!!!!" Kenji watched, mesmerised and paralized with fear and awe, with his mother in shock that HE had been brought out once again for the sake of protection, as Kenshin's Hair Darkened to the color of Blood, and his eyes shifted, from cold Amythist, into a bloodthirsty Amber shade. "NO!" with a last burst of speed that defyed the eye, Kenshin took the only course of action left with the speed of the dagger, and the close proximity to his loved ones. "Agh" Kenshin's whole body exploded with pain, as the small dartlike object hit him in the shoulder, right near his lungs and heart. His breathing was already beggining to rapidly deteriorate, as he ran up , at an impossibly speed and delivered the final blow before the poison could finish taking hold. He knew he had to finish the battle with the assasin, before the poison finished working it's way through his blood steam, leaving Kaoru and Kenji helpless and at this madman's mercy. He hesitated only a moment longer to look at the blade of his new sword, and the beggining of his new curse, before finishing it all. "HITEN MITSURUGI, RYU KAN SEN SOIJI!!!!!!!!!!" and with that one final blow, be neatly chopped the happless man in to almost two compleatly severed parts, the gash stopping right after neatly chiping through the pelvis. As the pioson seeped still further throughout his body, he had only one last thought, as his eyes shifted back to amythist, before colapsing in physical and mental exshaustion. *I have truly become a manslayer once again, you were right afterall...'jine.....*


Ok, so? how was it?oh, and any 'mistakes' in the storyline/backround are meant to be there as well, i mean, this is a fic and all....


ok, if you accually liked that, and want to read ch2, then go right ahead. I'll be posting it soon...i hope...i realy realy hope.....