Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Birth of the Wolf ❯ Chapter 1

Ok, I am well aware that this is (for the most part) historically inaccurate. Don't flame me on that alone. Anyways, enjoy.

Birth of the Wolf by Demon DarkHorse c2001

Part 1

"Pay attention, rats. Your lives are forfeit to me as of this moment. I am your master. There is no hope for you outside these walls. Do you understand?"

A dozen mouths replied, "Yes, Master!"

"Good. Now, line up so I can take a closer look at all of you."

The boys all moved into a single file line in front of their Master.

"Mmm hmm, yes, very nice." A few of the boys looked scared, some looked nervous, and one or two looked defiant.

"Your name, boy," said Master, walking up to a defiant one.

"Why should I tell you?" the boy snapped.

Master frowned. "Because I will kill you if you don't, insolent whelp."

The boy laughed. "Go ahead! Death would be a release over this!"

Master backhanded the boy across the face. He tongued his split lip.

"Boy, don't tempt me. Your name or your life."

The boy's head came up and he looked Master straight in the eyes with no fear.

"Saito Hajime."

"Was that so hard? Now then, I will tell you the rules of this establishment. Each of you will be assigned specific chores that must be done every day, no exceptions. If you're sick and can't do your own work, you had better find someone to do it or you will be punished. There will be no fighting unless I am personally there to supervise it, and you all will be required to learn basic fighting and swordsmanship skills. Any questions?"

"Yeah, when do we get to eat?" asked someone from the end of the line.

"Oh, whenever I feel like feeding you. Now, who here can read and write?"

Only Saito and one other boy raised their hands.

Master groaned. "All right, you, what's your name?" he asked, pointing at the other boy.

"Suzunagi Genichiro."

"Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it? Ah well. You and Saito will teach the other boys how to read and write. I suggest you two get to know each other. Okay, have it, boys," Master said, then waved and walked away.

~~A few days later~~

"So, Saito-chan, how'd you end up here?"

"My parents sold me to him to pay off their debts," Saito said emotionlessly.

"Damn. You're only ten, Saito-chan, and younger than the rest of us by two or three years. Doesn't it bother you that your parents abandoned you?"

"It's no big deal. Hand me that shoe, Genichiro, and stop asking me silly questions."

Genichiro did as he was told. Even though Saito was the youngest of the boys, they thought of him as their leader. He was the only one that could and would stand up to Master.

"Hajime! Get up here this instant, boy!" Master yelled.

Saito dropped the shoe he was repairing and ran to the master.

"Heh. You're quick. Whose job is it to wash the bed sheets around here?"

"Mine, sir."

"Mmmhmm. And did you do your job yesterday?"

"Yes, sir."

"LIAR!!" Master roared. "You made Ishiko do it! Look!" Master pointed at

a pile of blankets on the floor. Saito saw that they were holy and ragged. "Ishiko doesn't know how to wash these things, since it's not his job, so I won't punish him. But do you know who I am going to punish, boy? You! You better look at me when I'm talking to you! I'm going to tan your hide till it glows in the dark! C'mere!!" With that, Master grabbed Saito before he could get away and laid the boy over his knee. The slaps could be heard through almost the whole compound.

Incidents like this between Master and Saito grew more and more frequent as the years passed. Finally, during a practice sword fight with one of the other boys, everything came to a head.

Saito cracked the boy between his neck and shoulder with the wooden sword. The boy dropped to the ground and howled in pain.

"Come on! I didn't hit you that hard!" Saito shouted, and kicked the boy. The boy screamed some more.

Just as Saito was going for another kick, Master intervened.

"ENOUGH! Saito, boy, you try my patience. Ishiko, get up and get that shoulder tended to. Saito! Did I say you could leave? Stay in the ring!" Master drew his sword. "Since you're so anxious to injure people, you'll face me."

"Ooooo. I suppose you feel like a big man, taking on a 16 year old boy with a real sword," Saito sneered.

Master tossed the blade to him. "Satisfied? You use the sword, and I'll use my fists."

Saito looked shocked at first, and then a feral grin spread over his face. "I'll make you a deal, Master. If I win, I get to go free."

"And if you don't?"

"Then you can do whatever you want with me."

Master smiled. "Okay, boy. You have a deal. Now, come!"

Saito rushed in with the sword pointed straight at Master. At the last second, with speed belied by his size, Master darted out of the way and came to a stop behind Saito, sending a kick into the boy's back. Saito lay sprawled out on the training ring floor, momentarily stunned. He got up again, just barely avoiding another kick. Master stood patiently, waiting for Saito to make the next move. And move Saito did. He charged straight at Master again, only this time he feinted right, landing a shallow cut on Master's upper left arm. Saito stepped back and laughed.

"I don't know what you're laughing about, boy. You only scratched me. Now I'm gonna have to get serious." He literally flew at Saito, his right arm outstretched.

Saito moved, but it was too late. Master's injured left arm snaked out and grabbed Saito around the neck. He lifted the boy several inches off the ground.

"What should I do to you? Hmm? Torture? Beating? No food?" Master taunted.

Saito only smiled. He kicked out with his right foot as hard as he could, catching Master squarely in the groin. Master dropped Saito as his legs buckled and he sank to the ground. Saito sat there for a few seconds, catching his breath. The he shot to his feet and grabbed the sword he had dropped when Master caught him. Saito walked up to the fallen man and leveled the sword at his throat.

"You don't have the guts," Master sneered.

Big mistake.

Saito ran him through without so much as a flinch. Master gurgled a little though the hole in his throat before becoming still. Saito wiped the blood off the blade and onto Master's pants. Then, without a backward glance, he walked away from the compound that had been his home for the past six years.