Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic
Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original
Japanese Version ©N. Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual Works Inc. * Sony
Pictures Entertainment
All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole
purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.
By: Chiruken
I’m tired. My steps attest to this; slow, dragging and
weary. My small bag of belongings
weighs heavily on my shoulder, adding to my exhaustion. Why I impulsively decided to walk all night
is completely beyond me. There’s
nothing urgent drawing me to Edo…I mean Tokyo.
It’s already eleven years into the Meiji Era, I should be used to the
change in the city’s name by now. I
shrug wearily. Edo,
Tokyo…whatever. It’s all the same, just
a different title.
I trudge through
the early morning fog, the scents of an unfamiliar city drifting to me on a
slight breeze. I yawn, listening to
distant dogs barking, wondering where I can find an inn. As far as I can tell, I’m in a residential
area. The only non-residential building
I’ve seen so far was a doujou I passed a few blocks back. If it is any indication, I’m passing through
a lower income neighbourhood, which means the likelihood of finding an
affordable inn is much better than if I were in a more commercialized area.
The only problem is that, besides
the unkempt doujou, I’ve only seen private homes. I hope I find something soon.
I don’t think I’d like to sleep in an alley somewhere.
The sound of running feet swiftly
approaching brings me to full alertness, my fatigue fading as I ready myself
for a possible attack. Larger cities
offer a wide variety of thug’s intent on robbing lone travelers…not that they’d
get much from me. However, I’ve no wish
to lose what little I do have.
“Wait!” I halt at the command.
Female thugs?! What’s this world
coming to? “Wait Hitokiri Battousai!” I stiffen in shock. How could anyone here possible know my past
identity? I haven’t been called by that
in a very long time.
I turn slowly, hesitantly, a mixture
of curiosity and dread filling me. I’ll
play stupid, like I have no idea what she’s talking about. “Huh?”
I blink in surprise as I see a young girl, no older than sixteen,
possible seventeen years at most, glaring at me, brandishing a wooden sword.
“I finally found you!” What is she talking about? She sounds as if she’s been searching for me
for some time. Why? “You’re much weaker-looking than I expected,
Hitokiri Battousai.”
“Oro?!” Should I be insulted?
Probably.
“Prepare yourself!” With the shouted challenge she launches
herself at me, wooden sword raised in obvious attack. Interesting…she seems quite skilled. I wonder if she studies swordsmanship at the doujou I passed.
I have no desire to hurt the girl,
so instead of meeting her attack with a counterattack of my own I focus on
evasion. My hasty action lands me on a
rather unstable pile of boxes. “Oro!” It comes out as a startled yelp and rather
choked as the surface gives way and I land hard. Ouch! My poor backside
took the brunt of my fall.
“Huh?!” She’s staring at me in disbelief, relaxing her stance as I play
up the stunned reaction of landing so clumsily and unceremoniously.
“Orororo…“ Ten years of acting as opposite to the killer I used to be does a
world of good right now as I fully immerse myself into the role of silly
wanderer.
“Are you really the legendary
hitokiri?” By the look on her face
she’s beginning to doubt her original identification. I bite back a sarcastic remark.
It wouldn’t do to spoil the impression I’m trying to give her of a
clumsy nobody. She narrows her eyes
suspiciously, bringing her weapon up again.
“I heard you slew three more people last night…“ Despite her aggressive stance she sound even
more doubtful.
“Wanderer…“ I look up at her with my best innocent
expression. “I am a wanderer, merely a
wandering swordsman, that I am.” I
shift a little, moving cautiously so as not to startle her. However, the broken boxes are poking in some
very uncomfortable places. I hold up my
sheath, offering it to her for inspection.
“Do you think I could slay someone with this?”
She grasps the hilt and slowly draws
the sword from its sheath. She steps
back from me, staring at the blade in wide-eyed amazement. “What is this? The blade’s on the wrong side.”
I stand slowly and dust off my
backside as I reply. “A reverse-blade
sword, it is.” I offer the explanation
cheerfully.
“A reverse-blade sword?” She sounds a little dubious. I can’t really
blame her. She’s probably never seen
one before.
I offer her my friendliest smile as
I rearrange my clothing to a more modest covering. My fall loosened my gi and I can’t very well convince her I’m harmless if I’m only half
dressed, now can I? “It cannot slay
anyone. And no evidence of it either,
is there?”
She doesn’t look convinced. “True, there isn’t a single chip on
it.” She doesn’t sound convinced,
either. How could someone so young
appear so jaded? “It looks as good as
new.” I breathe a silent sigh of
relief. Maybe she’ll let me continue on
my way now, even if she is till a little doubtful.
“I’ve proven my innocence, haven’t
I?” I say it hopefully as her suspicion
seems to drain away as she inspects the blade.
My relief is short lived as she
glares at me again. “You know…“ My eyes widen in apprehension as she waves
the sword around carelessly, sharp edge turned to me. “Battousai has been appearing every night…“ I hastily back up as she advances, not once
taking my eyes from the blade she’s waving around. Doesn’t she realize the sharp side is still dangerous?! “Killing people on the streets with his
sword!” I reach out tentatively, trying
unsuccessfully to remind her that she’s still brandishing a very deadly
weapon…at least the way she’s pointing it at me, that is. I continue to retreat until my back is
pressed against a wall. “Wandering
around at this time of day with a sword, anyone would think…“ I open my mouth to request she give me back
my sword before someone gets hurt…namely me!
However, she continues admonishing me.
“But first, it’s forbidden by Meiji law to carry a sword…“ I can’t believe I’m being lectured by this
slip of a girl! The sounds of a
policeman’s whistle sounds in the distance.
“Is it the real one this time?”
She turns abruptly, running in the direction the alarm was sounded,
carelessly tossing my sword towards me.
“Oro!” I hastily move around, positioning myself so as not to be
skewered by my own sword.
“Orororo…“ I dance around
quickly, lifting my sheath. As it
slides home with a click I look in the direction the girl ran, momentarily
dropping my mask. Someone’s obviously
killing people and using my name and reputation while he’s at it. Such an individual could be very
dangerous. I should follow and find out
who he is. Could it be someone from my
past seeking revenge? If so, how could
he know I’d be here, in Tokyo? I
hastily follow the girl, knowing she could be in grave danger. Her attack on me would mean she’s acting in
the role of a vigilante of sorts which means she’s about to confront this
imposter. I’m not certain what’s going
on, but I can’t stand by and let her get hurt.
If it is an old enemy of mine I can’t let innocent people get caught in
the middle. If it isn’t anything to do
with me directly, by using my name he has involved me, even if it is
indirectly.
The sounds of battle reach me before
I arrive on the scene. I turn a corner
and groan inwardly. Foolish girl! She has confronted someone, using her wooden
sword, but he has a real one. Unlike
mine, his sword is NOT specially made to avoid killing. From the looks of things it’s just been used
to slay more innocents. The
unmistakable scent of freshly spilled blood reaches me, reminding me of my own
bloody past. “Oh no…“ The girl is pressed against a wall, her
wooden sword sliced in two, staring in horror at the false Battousai as he
raises his sword to strike. The
bloodlust in his eyes leaves no doubt as to his intentions. I rush forward and scoop her into my arms,
removing her from the path of the falling sword. “Wanderer?” She’s staring
at me in shock. The sound of steep
slicing through wood reaches my ears.
That was close.
I hold her a little tighter as I
notice the wound on her right arm.
“It’s rather reckless to fight a real sword with a wooden one.” I admonish her gently. Poor think looks terrified…and angry, I
realize with surprise.
“It’s Battousai!” I wince inwardly at the shout behind me.
“Don’t let him escape this
time!” I relax a bit. At least I wasn’t recognized.
“I am Battousai!” I stiffen again in reaction. I don’t recognize the voice, so that answers
the question of whether or not he’s an enemy from my past. “Hitokiri Battousai of the Kamiya Kasshin
Style!” Kamiya Kasshin Style? The name is familiar, but the style he was
using doesn’t match the techniques in my memory. Who is this false left-handed Battousai?
“Wait!” The girl is struggling against my hold, obviously intending
giving chase.
I tighten my grip, careful to avoid
her wounded shoulder. “It’s reckless,
it is.” I remind her gently.
“The Kamiya Kasshin Style is my
family’s style!” That explains a lot,
that’s for sure. “He’s randomly slaying
people in our name.” Her burst of
energy deserts her and she faints in my arms.
I look down at her and smile,
tenderness for this strange girl filling me.
“A courageous girl…“ I murmur
the words with admiration. I’ve known
many men without even half of her bravery.
I stand, holding her limp form close and quickly depart before the
remaining police remember we’re here and approach us for answers to some very
awkward questions. I head back the way
we came, towards the doujou I passed earlier.
The Kamiya Doujou. Her injuries
must be tended quickly lest infection set in.
I think it’s best if I intervene and discover the identity of that man
quickly…for both our sakes. It would
have been different if he wasn’t using my name…I could have easily let the
police handle this. Unfortunately, for
too many the mere mention of Hitokiri Battousai is enough to send them
scurrying for someplace to hide. It’s a
bitter legacy I left behind, that it is indeed.
**Owari**
***
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Author’s Notes:
1.This fic is based solely on the anime and has nothing to do with
the manga.
2.I wrote this a while ago…it was
actually one of my earlier attempts at writing a fanfic for RK. Please go easy on me, ‘k?
3.This is taken from the first part of the first episode…and only
that part.
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Definitions:
Doujou:
place for practice or tournaments (martial arts)
Hitokiri: manslayer; literally people cutter
Battousai: Devoted to the Art of Sword-Drawing Master
Gi:
short kimono (like a tunic)
Owari:
end