Echo *a Rurouni Kenshin fanfic*

Chapter 1: Reunion

It was a calm and peaceful afternoon, a perfect time to be out getting groceries. If there was anything the Revolution taught me though, it was to always be alert. I constantly scanned our surroundings as Kaoru and I walked along the street. "Yahiko added his favorite treat to the list again," Kaoru commented.

"We can just tell him we didn't see it, like last time," I said.

"That won't work. He made sure we'd see it," she replied, handing me the paper. Sure enough, she was right. I chuckled a little.

"I guess we've got no way out of it this time, then," I smiled. She smiled back and shrugged. Suddenly we heard a scream. Kaoru and I looked at each other momentarily before running towards it. We saw three thugs who cornered a lady, and one of them had a real sword which was against the law. Then again, I carry a real sword too, except it's a reverse blade.

"Hey tough guy! Pick on someone your own size!" I said to get their attention. They turned to us as I got in my batou-jutsu stance.

"See? The boss said Battosai's little sister would come if we caused a ruckus," the one holding the sword smirked as he approached me. So they're working for the Juppongatana. The Juppongatana were a group that had been after me since before I met Kaoru, which was a few months ago. I didn't know who their boss was. Yet.

"Kaoru, stay back. These guys were hired by the leader of the group that's been after me," I whispered to my friend.

"No way! I can help," she protested. I sighed in defeat. I focused and right when he attacked, I took out my sword just in time to block him and redirect his sword away from me.

"Your boss must be getting desperate if he's recruiting thugs like you. During the Revolution, I remember hearing stories of the Juppongatana being only for elite warriors. But I guess that was back when its leader was smart," I taunted them.

"You're just a bunch of jerks!" Kaoru exclaimed as she attacked them, only to get a cut on her arm.

"Kaoru! I told you to stay back. Are you okay?" I asked.

She nodded. "I'm alright," she replied.

"Good. Now stay put," I said as I faced them again. I attacked and we were locked in combat for a couple short minutes before he hit the top of my right shoulder hard. I winced and stumbled back.

"Aka!" Kaoru exclaimed as she ran to my side.

"I'm fine," I answered, though it hurt a lot and I knew it was a pretty deep gash. I covered the wound with my left hand. Because I was right handed, I couldn't really use my sakaba now.

"This is your end. Today, the boss will reward us greatly," the one with the sword said with a smirk as he lifted his sword, ready to kill us.

"Not this time," I heard a voice that I hadn't heard in many years say.

They turned and I saw a red haired swordsman. That voice and that hair...

"You! You're the Battosai!" they said as they attacked him. The way he's fighting...that's the Hiten Mitsurugi style! No doubt, he's definitely my brother! There had been others before on occasion, claiming to be Battosai the Manslayer, but I knew the real one of the legends because he was my brother, Kenshin Himura. The battle only lasted a few minutes before the cowards staggered off in retreat with a few small injuries.

"Kenshin!" I exclaimed happily as I went up to him and hugged him as tight as I could with my shoulder.

"Akasuki?" he asked, a bit surprised.