Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Unexplained Happenings ❯ Unexplained Happenings ( Chapter 1 )

Bakumatsu no doran

A lone young man with long, fiery-red hair and a menacing aura walked silently down the deserted road. He closed his eyes and pushed his ken-ki around him searching carefully for any hostile ki's aimed in his direction. Finding none he sighed and slowly opened his amber eyes to once again survey the dark, winding roads ahead of him.

It was like this every night, he thought, moments of extreme when either he would be ambushed by the Shogunate forces or would lead the attack himself. The young hitokiri found he didn't care much anymore who the attacker was, all that mattered was that he was the only one who walked away from the battle field after the exchange. The blood on his hakama was proof of that, but lately he found that he almost preferred the moments of adrenaline and blood-shed to this deadly calm that followed, when he was fighting his thoughts were busy his mind and body one as he fought to survive and kill, his mind detached in the face of the battle. However when it was quiet he had time to reflect and remember the atrocities he had committed. Infinitely more disturbing was that lately he had even found himself craving for new opponents, more swordsmen to pit his skills against, anything so that he could distract his mind for a few moments more.

Almost unconsciously his left hand drifted to his scarred cheek, he sighed and once again closed his shocking amber eyes.

'Tomoe…' he whispered sadly into the slight breeze.

His eyes suddenly snapped open as he sensed a strange ki moving in his direction. He leapt effortlessly into the thick branches of a nearby tree to observe the newcomer without being seen himself. He masked his ki and waited for the person to pass by underneath his tree.

The ki became stronger as the person moved into the red-haired young man's field of vision a very tall man was walking in his direction, he was covered in a long navy coat and was carrying a staff topped with a green crystal.

The man reached the bottom of Kenshin's tree and stopped, slowly turning his face upwards towards the startled young man sitting above him, he put his free hand at a slight angle to his body and languidly lifted the hand holding the staff a few inches off the ground.

Then as the hitokiri gripped his saya in one hand and the worn hilt of his katana with the other, the man's feet slowly lifted off the dewy grass beneath the tree, never taking his strange vacant green eyes off their target. Once he had reached the same height as the red haired assassin he halted floating in mid-air.

Kenshin narrowed his amber eyes menacingly warning the man silently to keep his distance as he thumbed the katana partially out of its sheath.

The floating man studied the expression on the young mans face before bowing gracefully and incredibly deeply a small smile, the first sign of emotion appearing on the handsome but weather beaten face.

'I have found you at last.' He said finally, in a gravely voice, husky with some unknown emotion. 'Now I have discovered you once again I will return when the time is right. For the prophecy to be fulfilled all aspects must first come into play.'

The mysterious stranger bowed once again before raising his staff, the stone glowing with an immense inner-green fire. A flash of brilliant light bathed Kenshin's startled face as the floating man disappeared right in front of his eyes.

He heard the words. 'Await my return.' Echoing deeply inside a hidden chamber of his mind as the last traces of green light faded from the night sky.

***

Kenshin was crouched in front of the laundry bucket, his skilled swordsman's hands immersed in the soapy water. But they were completely stationary. He had just had an awakening of sorts. While washing one of Yahiko's training hakama a flash of green from Kaoru-dono's newest wind chime caught the light as it hung swinging in the summer breeze, bringing about the flashback of the man with the staff.

Kenshin shook his flaming head sharply attempting to shake off the feeling of wrongness; he resumed his task as he pondered the new mystery.

The most disturbing part was that now Kenshin could remember the incident clearly, he was certain that even the morning after the encounter he hadn't given a single thought to the man. He sighed softly to himself, shifting slightly as he reached for a new garment. One just doesn't forget about floating men. He thought as he continued with his train of thought, especially floating men with strange magic who say they will be back for you. So why did I? He paused to push his flaming red hair out of his eyes with the back of one soapy wrist.

'Kenshin?' The red haired rurouni carefully plastered his trademark clueless smile on his face before turning towards the young girl with the blue eyes behind him.

'Hai, Kaoru-dono?' He answered politely.

'There's someone here to see you.' She answered somewhat stiffly turning around and placing her shinai over he should as she walked away.

Kenshin stared after her retreating figure a little confused; she was usually much friendlier than that. Which told the ex-hitokiri one of two things was amiss, either she was upset with him for some reason, real or imagined. Or two she didn't approve of his guest.

He was still pondering the strangeness of her behaviour as he reached for a towel to dry his hands, when a familiar ki came from behind him it suddenly became clear.

'What are you doing Battousai?' came the amused drawl which accompanied it.

Kenshin glared over his shoulder to the newcomer, well he thought, at least she isn't mad at me.

'Exactly what it looks like Saitoh.' He answered sarcastically. 'I'm gathering flowers to make daisy chains.'

'Sarcasm doesn't suit you Battousai.' Saitoh informed him a malicious glint in his eyes.

'I know what would suit you,' Kenshin retorted. 'Having a yukata shoved up your nose,' he held up a lovely pink one to demonstrate. 'Would you care to try?' he finished sweetly, a frighteningly angelic smile on his face.

'My, my Battousai what has got you all riled up today?' Saitoh asked in that irritatingly detached voice.

'Absolutely nothing Saitoh, I always enjoy when people who regularly try to chop me into toothpicks turn up on my doorstep.' Kenshin answered between gritted teeth flinging the now clean yukata into the clean clothes bucket with so much force it slid over a few inches.

'I'll keep that in mind.' Saitoh answered not taking his eyes from Kenshin's face and taking a long pull from his cigarette.

Kenshin sighed, 'What do you want Saitoh?' he asked wearily.

'I have a favour to ask.' Saitoh answered.

Kenshin's head stayed down the only thing betraying his shock, a small start in his shoulders. He turned his face slowly towards the smoking policeman.

'What kind of favour?' he asked carefully.

'I'd like you to come with me.' Saitoh answered calmly, lighting a new cigarette with the very end of his old one. 'There are a few murders being investigated with some gaping holes in them. My superiors would like you to help us with…professional advice.' Saitoh smirked as Kenshin's eyes darkened.

'And why should I?' Kenshin growled.

Saitoh calmly pulled the cigarette from his lips and leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing in wicked amusement. 'Because we'll pay you well for it.' He straightened up again casting an appraising eye at the broken shutters on the windows and cracks in the walls. His golden eyes slid back to Kenshin's violet ones which were narrowed in fury.

Kaoru-dono could use the extra money. He thought to himself. It's the least I can do for her after she took me in. He wiped his wet hands on his hakama and stood up to face Saitoh.

'Fine,' he snapped. 'Lead the way.'

***