Just Your Average Teenage Samurai

(DISCLAIMED: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, or anything like it… Note that this has a full connection to the series, it is not really AU, merely somewhat of a continuation of the original program.)

Time went by, and they all grew old. Some died by disease, some were murdered, some died of old age, living a fulfilled life of love and happiness. They all soon faded away like the seasons, legends and heroes among their comrades, and among themselves.

…but they weren't finished yet…

Many, many, many years later…

Chapter 1: The Handsome Swordsman of Legend Rises Again!

"Meiji High School… I believe that's named off the Meiji Era right?"

"That's right, Himura-san," A woman said, walking down the hall of a large school with red lockers. "You've done your homework."

"Well, I've done my share of it, de gozaru yo."

"I hope you like it here," The woman said. "This is your first period class. If you get lost, refer to the map, or ask someone, okay?"

"Thank you, ma'am. I'll use it well, de gozaru yo."

"Have a good day! Goodbye!" The woman waved and walked away.

The boy took a deep breath, tugged on the collar of his blue uniform, and opened the door.

-

He was a short child, especially for eighteen years old. He had red hair, long, but tucked in the back of his uniform. His large, violet eyes were framed by large, round glasses, and he carried a black bag over his shoulder.

"My name is Himura Kenshin, de gozaru yo," He said to the teacher after she asked.

"Go sit over there," The woman pointed to an empty desk.

"Thank you, ma'am," He bowed politely and sat down. He could hear people whispering, and he could see them staring at him. He adjusted his glasses and pulled out his book.

This seems like a good place. Everyone keeps their thoughts about others to themselves, and it's a very nice school, de gozaru yo, He thought to himself as he examined his new classmates.

A young man in the front row, two seats down from him, eyed Kenshin with his cerulean eyes, peaking up from his paper as he wrote something down. His cropped, brown-black hair fell in his face. Himura… Kenshin… He smiled.

-

"Let's see," Kenshin said, walking along down the hall. "Where do I go to next?" He looked at his schedule and then at his map. He had gone to half of his classes, and now he was trying to figure out where everyone ate lunch. He had quickly begun to change his mind about the people, for he hadn't spoken to anyone at all, though he did notice a strange, azure-eyed boy staring at him. "Let's see… Well, I guess I go outside, de gozaru yo." He smiled sweetly and walked out.

-

There were tables outside on the concrete and under the large canopy that people sat under when it rained, or when teachers were hungry. He looked around and found all the tables to be filled up, and places on the wall with people he wasn't sure he should associate with.

He walked past a table of strong, muscle-bound creatures screaming about arm-wrestling which seemed to be taking place. He wasn't sure. He couldn't see over the crowd. A few more tables down sat a group of girls in red cheerleading outfits, giggling and pointing at the boys they liked.

Kenshin turned and made eye contact with one of them, a woman with her silky, black hair pulled back in a ponytail. He quickly turned away and walked faster. He knew that she was way out of his league… Besides, he didn't want a girlfriend at the moment, even if he could get one.

Leaning against a wall by himself, stood a man, the tallest teenager he had seen in awhile, dressed in baggy, black pants covered in chains, and wearing a black, baggy t-shirt with the word Oniwaban-shu written across it in white. There were three studs above his left eyebrow, and his right ear was pierced four times, his left twice. There was a nose ring in his right nostril, and Kenshin betted that there were more piercing. His icy, blue eyes glared at him as he passed, and he ran a hand through his thin, black hair.

Kenshin made on his way quickly.

There was a brick wall built up for dodge ball, and a group of many people stood around it, strange beings. One was very thin and had blonde hair that stood up way above his head. There was another person, a woman, that had a very peculiar feel about her, and there was also a bulky man with dark brown circles around his eyes and a bandana tied around his head. There was also a bat-like man dressed in a trench coat. Batman, much… He thought. That's when he spotted him.

That's the blue eyed child from my homeroom! He exclaimed silently as he saw him sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall and eating a banana. He never seemed to stop smiling. He must really be enjoying that banana. He walked away.

Finally, he found a spot under a large oak tree and unpacked his rice cakes and miso soup. He began eating quickly as he always did.

"HEY! You took my spot!"

"Oro?" He looked up.

"I said you took my spot!" The boy said, his red-brown eyes glaring down at him. He had spiky black hair, and his uniform seemed a bit baggy on him.

"I'm sorry… There's enough room for both of us if you want to sit down, de gozaru yo."

"-but---"

"My name is Kenshin. I'm new here, so I didn't know that this place was taken as well. I'll find another place tomorrow, but would you mind if I sat here today?"

"Fine. Whatever," The boy sat down and Kenshin realized how short he was. His voice hadn't even changed yet. "My name's Myojin. Myojin Yahiko."

"Hello," Kenshin smiled at him.

"Go ahead and say it. Tell me how short I am."

"Oro?"

"Well, you're a senior, right? I'm a freshmen. You make fun of me, right?"

"No, I don't make fun of people, de gozaru yo. I get made fun of."

"R-really?" Yahiko looked up at him.

"Hai," Kenshin nodded. "-but I don't let it bother me all that much. Do you want a rice cake? What happened to your lunch?"

"Thanks," Yahiko took it. "I lied and said I had another one… I gave it to someone…"

"Who?"

"…Her…" He pointed to a young girl of his age with shoulder-length brown hair. He blushed.

"You like her?"

"N-no! It's just that she didn't have a meal!" He shoved the rice cake in his mouth and began chewing on it rapidly.

"All right," Kenshin said.

"So," Yahiko said, swallowing. "You know the ropes yet?"

"Oro?"

"Who to hang out with, who not to hang out with, and who you'll never get to hang out with?"

"No."

"Well, I'll tell you. I might be a freshmen, but I know this place like the back of my hand."

"Okay."

"Let's see…" He pointed over to the arm-wrestling bunch. "Those are the jocks. They're real bastards if you're small like me. They care about nothing but sports and girls… but if you get in with them, you get them," He pointed to the table of cheerleaders. "Most of them are pretty and nice like Mackimachi Misao except for ugly tanuki Kamiya Kaoru," Yahiko stuck his tongue out and made a disgusted sound. "She's stupid. Anyways…" He pointed to the pierced man in black. "That's Shinomori Aoshi. He's a goth. He's also obsessed with the Oniwaban-shu. You know, that elite service in the revolution?"

"Yes."

"Well, yeah, that. Okay… um…" he pointed to the dodge ball wall. "Stay away from them at all costs. They're truly evil, powerful guys, and they rule this school. No one can stop them, not even the teachers, and they'll hurt anyone who gets in their way. Rumor has it that they've actually murdered someone, but the police were too afraid to arrest them. I'd also avoid eye contact with them. They hate it when people look at them."

Are they really that bad? Kenshin wondered.

"Those people love to see people suffer," A new voice entered the conversation.

"Ha! Megumi-san!" Yahiko said happily.

The woman was tall with long, raven hair and amethyst eyes. She wore the red skirt and bandana, and she had a yellow tie under the bandana.

"Who's your new friend, Yahiko?" She asked.

"Himura Kenshin," Kenshin said politely and gave her his best smile. "It's nice to make you're acquaintance, de gozaru yo."

Megumi sat down next to them. "I'm Takani Megumi. I'm a senior here too."

"So, what group are you with?" Kenshin asked.

"I can be with any group I want… I just prefer to be with people who don't cat-call at me… like them…" She eyed the jocks with a revolted glare.

"Oro? What'd they do to you?" Kenshin asked.

"Not they… he."

"Oro?"

"I'll tell you later. Let's get to class."

"Oh, right!" Kenshin exclaimed. "Sayonara!" He ran off across the yard in a rush.

"Ja ne," Yahiko waved.

"You're new friend is strange."

"Yeah… he is."