This is my baby... so please be nice. The beginning of this story is a little controversial when thought about in the wrong way, especially with pre-existing knowledge of the characters and who they originally interacted with in the story. So, please, you must understand that my story is a romance, but a slightly long one. Enjoy...

Disclaimer: I don't own Battosai...

x

"Fallen angels at my feet

Whispered voices at my ear

Death before my eyes

Lying next to me I fear

She beckons me shall I give in

Upon my end shall I begin

Forsaking all I've fallen for I rise to meet the end."

Whisper Evanescence

x

Chapter 1: First for Everything

The Hitokiri Battosai stood menacingly over the defeated woman at his feet. She had surprised him, and that angered him. First his carelessness with her husband had left him bleeding from the slice to the face, now, only shortly after he had ended the pitiful man's life, his wife had cut him as well. Two wounds in one night was not a very good way to end an evening, especially since there had been none in the months before.

This was no where near his first job as an assassin for the Choshu clan. Every one of his jobs before this one, however, had been clean, precise, and he had always came away unscathed. Even if he was only fifteen, that shouldn't matter, he should not have been so careless. The hitokiri cursed heatedly, blood running down his face and neck from the crossed wounds, as he lifted his bloody katana to finish off the woman who was not supposed to have been there. There was not to be any witnesses left behind, no one to identify their shadow assassin.

The Battosai almost felt sorry for the dark-eyed woman who knelt before him, blood seeping from her mouth where he had backhanded her. Almost. But there was no sorrow in her eyes, only pain and hatred. Lightening flashed sharply, illuminating the still room before the loud clack of thunder followed, shaking the small house on its foundation. In that instant, sorrow and a desperate need filled the woman's black eyes, giving the Battosai pause.

Suddenly she was moving, jumping to the side so harshly that the hitokiri reacted on instinct alone. Lunging forward, his blade connected with flesh, slicing through her chest like butter. A soft choking noise worked up her throat and then she splurted softly as the katana retracted from her body. Heavily her white clad figure fell to the ground and she gasped in air desperately as the storm raged outside.

"Onegai…" The woman's soft voice stopped the man in his tracks, one hand holding a bloodied cloth, the other his now clean katana. "Onegai… shimasu… my baby." Amber eyes watched stoically as she reached for a door across the room. "My Kaoru…" Eyes, dark with pain and her impending demise, turned to his pleadingly. "She's afraid of thunder." With a soft sigh, the breath left her lungs and she relaxed onto the floor in death.

Sliding his katana back into its sheath with a dull click, the Battosai turned to walk out the door and leave the horror of his work behind. The child would no doubt be taken care of tomorrow. Another statistic, just like her parents. One step was taken before he froze again, the soft whoosh and clatter of a shoji opening behind him catching his attention. Small footsteps sounded as someone, the child no doubt, ran into the room, a whimper issuing from her throat.

"Okaasan. Otousan." The girl's voice was a quiet plea in the darkness, calling out to his dark heart and touching that part of him he had thought died a long time ago. Turning back he found a small girl of four or five kneeling beside her broken mother, shaking her and faintly calling her awake. No tears were present in her voice when there wasn't an answer, and she merely picked herself up to go to her father and repeat the process.

The action was almost heartbreaking in its childish consideration. The girl wouldn't shake them overly, afraid of hurting them, but there must have been some knowledge within her of their murder, especially when she turned deep sapphire eyes to him.

Amber eyes widened in surprise as she uncannily pinpointed him in the darkness. She knew he was there, but could she see him? Did she know what he looked like? He couldn't take that chance. It would break his heart to kill a child, but he must keep his identity safe. Even from the child-like descriptions of a five year old.

Smoothly he unsheathed his katana once again, watching predatorily as she walked steadily toward him. Allowing the darkness inside of him to cover his thoughts and heart, he readied himself to take his first truly innocent life.

The girl stopped only feet from him, blood covering her small hands and the knees of her nightgown. Fearless sapphire eyes stared up into his emotionless amber, and for the second time that night he paused. There was no hatred in them, no pain, no anger, no fear; only sorrow and questions. Emotions that were surprisingly un-childlike in her young face.

Then a flash of lightening hit accompanied by its loud clap of thunder, and the fear that wasn't there before flickered through her eyes. Rushing forward the girl latched onto the loose material of his hakama, hugging his leg tightly while burying her face in his hip. Only the fact that she was a child kept him from slashing out and killing her instantly. Only because she was innocent. Only because she had touched the blackness of his heart with her acceptance.

For the first time, the Hitokiri Battosai was at a loss as to what to do.

A frown deepened the corners of his mouth. This night seemed to be full of firsts.

The small whimper of the girl at his hip drew his attention back to her once again and he found her looking up at his face. The dark orbs of her eyes captured him, leaving him speechless and unsure of why they held so much trust. Trust and understanding were not emotions he should be seeing in the eyes of a child who was about to become his victim.

Long moments they stared. For a seemingly endless amount of time they assessed one another; studying, watching, waiting patiently, determined to be the last to move. Finally the girl blinked, closing and opening her now bright eyes rapidly before releasing his leg and lifting her arms above her head. The demand was obvious, and almost amusing in its naïve security. So the Battosai did the only thing he could and was able to do. He bent over and picked her up.

Small arms wrapped around his neck, short legs braced her weight on his hips, and her young face was held up, unabashedly looking him level in the eye. Those wondrous blue orbs bore into him, daring him to leave her there. Holding her as he was, with one arm around her waist, he sheathed his katana again and walked to the door. When he moved to cover her with his cloak, she took that as a sign and buried her face in the crook of his neck, her fingers twining through his loose hairs. Before he could step out into the angry pelt of the heavy rainfall she stopped him with her child's voice.

"Am I yours now?"

The hitokiri wasn't able to see her, but he could hear the curious and expectant tone in her voice. There was no venom or disgust, but maybe…hope? He nodded his head once, sharply.

"Hai."

"'Kay." The girl's accepting reply almost took him aback, but he was beginning to expect the unexpected when it came to her. Slowly he felt her body relax against him as he stepped out into the rain, running quickly and quietly with his arms protectively surrounding the child. A soft brush of her lashes caressed his neck and he knew she had fallen asleep, the thunder no longer frightening that beautiful oblivion away.

x

Into that stormy night the Battosai ran, cutting through the trees, stealthily guarding his every step. Now that he had made his decision to keep her there was only one place he could go. This did not include the headquarters of his clan where he should have been heading to make his report. A small girl would not be welcome in that world, and they would only break her. Strangely this angered him, her fearlessness was amazing and he had no desire to see her lose it. Though if she was able to stand up to their most feared assassin without batting an eyelash, then she was sure to do the same with the others. The difference? He was not cruel like many of his comrades, he just did his job. Well.

Slowing his headlong dash to cross a busy road, he forced himself to walk only at a slightly fast pace. Ducking his head against the rain, hiding the telling lump of the girl in the drape of his cloak, he looked very much like any other citizen caught out in the storm and in a hurry to get home.

Taking the road for a random length of time, he suddenly plunged back into the trees when he was sure he wouldn't be seen. Smoothly quickening his pace back into a run, he headed up the side of the mountain on the far side of Kyoto.

The clearing around his master's home was dark and empty, only the continuous rain keeping the grass company with its harsh pounding. The Battosai walked cautiously towards the house he had spent a good amount of his life in. There was no telling how his master would react to his sudden reappearance, given that he had left many months before without so much as a word between them since. Hopefully that would not affect his decision on whether to let the girl stay or not. Either way, he knew he would lord it over him.

Softly he knocked on the door, his search for ki energy coming up cold. What did he expect, though? He had been the one to teach him how to mask his own. If he wanted to be known, then he would let himself be known. If not, then he could sneak up on you in broad daylight with bells tied to his every limb. All he could do now was wait and see if he wanted to acknowledge him or not.

Standing underneath the short awning as much as he could, he unconsciously ran a hand up the girl's back in a soothing manner. Her breathing was still deep and even, ghosting hot and reassuringly across his neck, but there was still some concern that the rain would make her sick. Though she was dry for the most part, there was only so much his cloak could withstand, and this driving rain was not one of them. Already it was soaked through, hanging heavily around his body, weighing him down. Now that he had time to concentrate on himself, he could feel the water slowly seeping into his clothes, everywhere except where her small body covered. They would both be soaked soon.

Cursing softly, he turned to leave when the door opened sharply behind him.

"What the hell do you want?" Hiko sounded irritated, but not surprised by his presence. He'd known exactly who it was the moment he'd knocked.

The Battosai turned sharply, arms holding the child steady and out of his master's view, before bowing formally before him.

"May I come in?" Long moments he waited, his dark red hair plastered to his face, mixing with the blood still dripping from his wound.

Hiko finally grunted and stepped back inside, leaving the door open for him to come in. Taking the offer before it was retracted, stealing his pride for the sake of the girl, he closed the door behind him. Shoes slid smoothly from his feet in a practiced movement before he stepped fully inside, the lamp in the corner illuminating his bloody face. Hiko took in his soaked and bloody figure without comment, his eyes drawn to the steady rise and fall of the cloak at his chest instead.

"I'll ask again, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I need a favor." With that he reached up to pull back his cloak, revealing the dryer form of the girl sleeping peacefully curled against him. The Battosai's amber eyes stayed fixed on his master while he took in the slightly soaked and bloody pair they made.

"Iie." Hiko turned away, his voice and eyes flat with his decision. The hitokiri took a step forward.

"There is nowhere else for her to go."

Hiko turned again sharply, his eyes blazing in anger. "And what about her parents? Where are they and why can't they take care of her?" He snorted when hard amber eyes were diverted to the corner. "You make me sick."

The Battosai felt the girl stir in his arms but ignored the warning and took another step closer. "I did what I had to do. For the people of this country and for her future."

"By killing families? By taking away those children's parents? What kind of future are you creating, boy?" Hiko felt disgust well inside of him for the idiot.

"One without suffering!" Golden eyes sparked in remembered fury of his master's callousness to his surrounding environment. Would he never understand why he felt he needed this? To help those in need.

"By causing more? How do you think this girl's life is going to be without her parents? Without their guidance and love?" Hiko took the step forward this time, leveling his own glare down at his stupid apprentice.

"I brought her here in hopes that you would help!"

"Help you? If this is some poor attempt to make you feel justified in your actions then I will not help you! I will never help you in this stupid crusade, and I never want to see your face again! Get out! You stupid, low-life wretch!"

Whapp!

Hiko stood, dumbstruck by the blow that landed smartly across his face. Both men turned surprised eyes to the girl sitting straight in the Battosai's arms. Her sapphire eyes stared unwaveringly at the taller, dark-headed man, and for the first time that night the hitokiri saw anger flashing in their depths. And it wasn't directed at him. Staring in amazement at the fearless wonder he held, he watched her cross her arms, trusting him to hold her steady.

"You 'pologize," she practically demanded of his master, her stern tone comical in its seriousness. Hiko seemed to agree as he burst out laughing the moment it was said, but the hitokiri was relieved to find it amused and not sinister.

"I can't believe she's sticking up for you."

The Battosai could only agree, after all that he had done to her family, but secretly, in the deepest parts of his heart, he was relieved that she was. It meant she did not hate him, and for some reason that mattered greatly to him.

Hiko watched as his idiot apprentice looked at the girl in surprise and…delight? Yes, he was happy that the girl was angry on his part. Amber eyes softened in affection as she still stared expectantly out at him. She definitely was fearless, and he could feel her fighter's spirit, faint as it was because of her age and upbringing. He doubted his idiot apprentice even noticed. Still, he had brought her here, maybe in the long run it would save him. This girl could very well mean more to him than he realized.

"I'll keep her." Hiko spoke up as if he was granting a great boon. "But you're going to have to find clothes for her. She's still your responsibility."

The Battosai nodded sharply, eyes hardening once again as he bent to sit her down on the floor. The girl stood on her own willingly, but one hand fisted firmly in his hakama when he turned to leave.

"You're leaving?" Suddenly she was a lost little child again, tears collecting at the corners of her eyes as she stared up into his quickly softening amber.

Bending down eye level with her, he tried to soothe her as best as he could. "I have to leave now, but I will be back later."

"Promise?" Her soft voice shaky with suppressed tears.

"Promise, but no tears."

He watched in amazement as she set her face stubbornly and wiped the tears away roughly with the back of her hand.

"'Kay." Instead she smiled at him, and it was the sweetest sight he could have ever wished for. So for the first time in a long while he smiled back.

Hiko snorted in disbelief.

Amber eyes hardening at the noise, the Battosai stood sharply, angling a glare at his master before glancing back down at the girl. "Stay with Hiko-sama. Be good…little one," he added affectionately before turning to leave.

"Hey, baka! What's her name?"

The Battosai threw another glare over his shoulder, only to find the girl doing it for him. He had to bite the inside of his check hard to keep a straight face.

"Kaoru." He looked to the girl for confirmation, only having heard the name briefly from the lips of the dying mother. Kaoru nodded happily, a smile on her face for him.

"No family name?" Hiko knew the answer, or rather lack-there-of.

"No."

"Fine." Hiko looked down at the girl who looked over at the fire-headed man in the doorway. But, he's still just a boy. "Well, get outta my house."

The Battosai turned away from the girl's blue eyes and slipped his shoes back on before disappearing out the door without a backwards glance. Melting into the darkness of the trees and shadows, he wondered why he suddenly felt lost.

x

Walking briskly through the heavy wooden doors after avoiding the light traffic and questioning eyes, the Battosai accepted the washcloth from the woman who ran the inn without question. Handing his drenched cloak to her in return, he stepped past her without a word, pressing the cloth to his cheek and wiping away as much of the blood as he possibly could. Down several hallways he proceeded, ignoring the curious and prying eyes of anyone he met on the way.

The inn itself was small and out of the way, making it the perfect spot to run the hidden movements of the clan he had sided with. So far the struggle for power had remained under the surface with only shows of force in the daylight, unaffecting the population as much as possible. Their public headquarters was a monstrosity of metal and glass that looked more like a bank or business building than the center to a world of idealists and trained killers. Its intricate layers of offices, dormitories, training halls, and information rooms did not appeal to the Battosai. In his mind it was ugly and too flashy for his traditional tastes, as he leaned more toward the simplicity of old Japan. Although, he would admit there were many advantages to the advancement of technology, he was just glad that the country he was fighting for still honored the older ways.

Standing in front of the door to his boss, he silently tucked the bloodied cloth away before knocking sharply. The reply was immediate, and he entered to find the smiling form of his boss, Katsura Kogoro. Halting, he bowed formally then took his seat on the cushion across from him.

"It is done then?"

"Hai."

Katsura studied his assassin's appearance, taking in the wounds and blood on his hakama and top.

"Kiyosato-san put up a good fight? I did not expect he would be on your level."

"No." Katsura raised an eyebrow at his definite answer, but he could detect no arrogance in his voice. "I was careless, and underestimated his will to live."

"He does have a family, though few know of them. But…in the end, he will be at ease in the afterlife when this is over and they can live in a much needed peace."

"No, they won't." Battosai's voice was level as ever, ready to tell his half-lie and let the girl begin her new life.

Katsura looked at him in shock, surprised confusion on his face. "But they were not meant to be there."

"They were. The woman surprised me with her presence, again a careless mistake on my part. She landed the second blow before I could salvage the situation. She will be meeting her husband in the afterlife."

Katsura sighed. "It could not be helped." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Her name was Yukishiro, I believe. Though she is unknown to the populace she does have a father who will be upset to hear of the loss. Hopefully his son will be able to comfort him. The child, too, will no doubt be transferred to his custody. What a shock it will be for him to find out he has a grandchild."

The Battosai looked away, his mind racing with the information he had just been given and what his boss should be told in return.

"No, he will not." The words left his mouth smoothly.

"You killed the child as well?" There was a pained horror in his voice now, but at himself for requiring that Himura stay unknown.

"It was necessary." It was not exactly a lie, as the girl had seen him and he was obligated to kill her by the same rules that Katsura himself laid down.

Katsura narrowed his eyes at the other's tone and took in the blood stains on the hitokiri again. Though his assassin was the best, he was not known to be completely heartless enough to kill a child. In the two places around his neck and thigh the red took on a distinctive pattern that was not the random splattering of a sword's path. Once again raising his dark eyes back up to the hard amber, he just caught the barest flicker before they steadied. He was lying to him.

"Where is the child?" His voice dropped to an almost inaudible whisper, knowing full well the Battosai could hear him. When he answered back in kind he was not fully prepared for him to respond so openly.

"She is safe."

"She? What are you planning on doing with this young child?" Katsura pressured him knowing full well how honorable the man was, but still curious of his true intentions. In his heart, he was just relieved that the hitokiri had not killed her.

"What do you take me for?" The Battosai's question came out on a low growl, his amber eyes darkening dangerously.

"I am merely pointing out the fact that some would question your motives."

"My motives are not your concern. However…to ease your mind, she did not come unwillingly."

Katsura's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "She went with you after you killed her father and mother?"

A sharp nod was his answer.

"Amazing." Katsura sat, lost in thought for long moments, a theory forming in his mind that deserved testing. "You do not think she would be better off with her grandfather and uncle?" Amazement and a definite understanding filled him when the eyes of the hitokiri hardened to a solid gold and his voice practically hissed his displeasure and disagreement of this offer out.

"No. She is mine."

The Battosai watched his boss nod, a small smile forming on his lips, and his insides relaxed in relief. The girl was his now. No strings attached.

"I will make sure any rumor or unofficial document of her birth disappears. A group will be sent out immediately after this to collect any belongings of hers and burn them. As of this moment, that girl never existed. Now if that is all, you are dismissed."

Battosai bowed again before rising gracefully to his feet and turning to leave. At the door he paused and whispered his question to the wood.

"How did you know?"

"From the blood on your clothes, Himura-san."

The Battosai looked down at his bloodied hakama, and found he could pick out the small hand prints she had made when she had grabbed him so pitifully.

"I was once a swordsman as well. Blood does not escape my eyes."

The hitokiri nodded and once again lifted his hand to the door to leave, but his thoughts held him there for a moment longer. Turning around he looked at Katsura, and the boss was amazed to find uncertainty in his eyes.

"She needs clothing."

He chuckled softly at the man's obvious discomfort. "I will have some saved and brought here for you to pick up tomorrow. Now, if you please. I have important business to finish tonight."

"Arigato." And he was gone.

"No, my friend, I think this is something you need. To keep the madness from consuming your once pure heart. And who else is better to find that innocence and purity in you than a child?"

x

Glossary

onegai shimasu - please (request)

okaasan - mother

otousan - father

hai - yes

iie - no

baka - idiot, stupid

arigato - thank you

A/N: Ok, Kaoru's parents have a significance when it comes to the scarring of Kenshin's face. Hopefully you have realized this already. Also, this is a present day AU, so the mention of technology should not be laughed at, it is actually there, I didn't mess up. Promise. Though a TV in old Japan would be quite the attraction, don't you think? Anyway, hope you like, and as always, leave a review and tell me what you think. Thanks for reading.