My first Kenshin fanfic! Hopefully I'll do an okay job with it. However, after reading some other Kenshin/Hiko fics, I realized that mine was awfully similar to some other ones. Please note that I'm not trying to copy anyone, and I had these ideas before I read any other ones. But don't worry because my next chapters (I hope) will be 100 percent original, since this story will cover from the time when he meets Hiko to the day he leaves to join the revolution. But anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. It is owned by the owner…

Red hair. That was the first distinguishable feature Hiko had noticed. But was it truly red? Or merely dyed with the blood of the men that had been slaughtered in front of him?

Violet eyes. That was the second thing Hiko had noticed. Eyes that had been subject to look upon the mangled corpses of those he had once cared for mingled with the ones he despised most.

And then there were his hands, raw and bloody as a result of the grave digging he had done for over thirty bodies. A task not fitting for any child, but then again, this wasn't any child.

"What's your name kid?" Hiko finally asked after he had spent some time examining the child.

"Shinta," the boy replied softly, in a voice that could have been mistaken for that of a young girl's. Hiko stifled a laugh. Shinta, the red haired samurai, oh how that would strike fear into the hearts of the samurai…no…Shinta has to go…

"Not a name very fitting for a swordsman." The boy looked up wide-eyed at the giant samurai, who was looking off into the distance, still deep in thought. He then quickly flicked his gaze down to the child, then said,

"From now on, your name is to be Kenshin. I will also give you my most precious knowledge." It was silent for a time after that, and a crow landed on one of the crosses that had been used to mark the grave of one of the slavers.

"You—you think I can become a swordsman?" asked the boy timidly, avoiding eye contact.

"Of course I do or else I wouldn't have said it." Hiko eyed the boy for a few seconds before he turned around briskly and walked out of the makeshift graveyard, weaving in and out of the crosses. A strong east wind blew, and his cloak billowed behind him, his hair following suit. He didn't look back to see if the boy would follow; he had told him of the village at the foot of the mountain a week before, and if that was the kind of life the child had wanted, he would have gone. So when he heard the soft patter of footsteps behind him, he smirked in expectance.

So they trudged up the mountain, without a word exchanged between the two of them. However, despite the fact that Hiko believed he was walking relatively slow, it wasn't long before Kenshin began to lag behind, out of breath. Hiko sighed in annoyance and grabbed Kenshin's hand, practically dragging him along. This kid better grow…Hiko thought to himself, No way am I having an apprentice who can't even break five feet…

"Here we are," Hiko announced proudly as the cabin came into view. It was nothing much, just a log cabin with a bathhouse to the side of it and a large clearing ideal for training. The rumble of a waterfall could be heard a ways off, but it was hidden from view by the numerous trees that surrounded the cabin.

He let go of Kenshin's hand, which caused the child to fall limply to the ground. "Eh?" Hiko turned at the sound of a soft thump in the grass. He groaned inwardly and swung the child over his shoulder, then stepped into the cabin. Hiko shoved a table to the side to make room for the futon, which he pulled from out of the closet. This should do… He tossed a blanket and a pillow carelessly onto the bed, and then gently placed the child down on the futon. The child was incredibly light, he observed, no more than fifty pounds perhaps.

Hiko sighed long and hard, wondering if he'd done the right thing, and about what he'd gotten himself into. He'd never taken care of a child before, and was dreading it. But the boy had potential, he could tell, he just had to nurture that potential, and mold him into a Mitsurugi master. He continued to think on these things while he prepared dinner. He began to cook the Domburi, which was his favorite dish-a simple rice bowl with chicken and beef-not really caring whether or not the child would like it.

He stirred the concoction patiently, observing his young deshi who appeared to be sleeping soundly. He stared at him for a long minute, observing that he would definitely need some new clothes-his bloodstained Gi would never do-and that he was far to skinny than was healthy for any growing child. No wonder he had gotten tired so probably hadn't found anything good to eat during that past week, for the child didn't seem as if he was very apt for hunting. The slavers he had lived with probably hadn't fed him too well either. He must have been nearly starved to death by those bastards…

"Mmm…" Kenshin stirred, then flicked his eyes open, his violet eyes reflecting the stove light beautifully. He sat up slowly, and then looked upon his master, who had stopped stirring the rice.

"You passed out earlier." Kenshin nodded in understanding, as if it were a common thing. There was a long silence between the two of them, and Hiko began to cook the meat over the coals in the depression in the floor, allowing the rice some time to cool. Kenshin seemed somewhat distant, and appeared to be staring at an intricately patterned vase sitting on a shelf beside the wall. His eyes drifted onto a katana propped against a table, the sheath detailed and embellished with wonderful jewels and rubies. The gems formed a small rainbow of color against the wall when reflected by the firelight. Kenshin could only imagine the kind of sword that was hidden within the sheath.

"You like the sword, huh?" Kenshin turned suddenly and faced his master, almost forgetting he wasn't the only one in the room. Then he nodded, looking back over at the brilliant weapon.

"I hardly ever use that one, far to flashy for my taste." He added more coal to the fire, causing embers to fly. "It was a gift my father gave me when I completed my kenjutsu training. He died not long after." Hiko opened the jug of sake that had been lying next to him, unscrewed the top, and took a good long swig before talking.

"So…how old are you anyway?" Hiko asked gruffly in between sips.

"Well, nine, I think."

"Nani!" Hiko gagged, nearly choking on the sake he was swallowing. He had surmised that the child could be no more than seven years old.

"I uh…might be ten already, but that depends if summer has started yet."

"Even worse. You have a lot of growing to do if you plan on becoming a samurai."

"Well…If I remember correctly, my father wasn't much taller than my mother..."

"And I'm guessing your mother wasn't some Amazon," he said with a quick grin. Kenshin didn't fully understand what his new master was talking about, but from the way his master was acting, it seemed as if he thought he was too small for a nine-or ten-year old.

"Well, I suppose we can't help that." He looked thoughtfully at the young child-whom he had just discovered really wasn't all the young-and then choosing his words carefully, spoke.

"The style of kenjutsu I'm going to be teaching you is a very old style, a style that takes much physical effort, and the utmost fitness as well…but it seems to me that your body wasn't meant to practice the Mitsurugi style." Kenshin looked sadly at his lap, and dug his fingers into the blanket. His new master was going to turn him away because he wasn't good enough, or "fit for duty" a term that his previous master had used to describe him.

"However," Kenshin quickly looked up at his master, waiting for him to continue, "If you can find the strength to dig thirty graves in less than a week, you will have no problem mastering the Mitsurugi style." Kenshin looked at his master with an expression of shock, which turned into delight. He didn't smile, it wasn't really expected, especially after spending an entire week in a field full of corpses, but the child was hopeful, and that was good.

"Now go back to sleep. I'll wake you up when the food's ready." Kenshin nodded obediently, then lied back down on the futon, snuggling up under the covers. But as Hiko continued to cook the meal, he was faintly aware of a pair of violet eyes watching him intently.

"I heard one of them survived."

"So did I. And a large samurai was there as well." The short man set his cup of sake on the table, then wiped his mouth gruffly.

"They say the ronin were wiped out so fast, they were barely given time to scream," another one said.

"I doubt that," a taller man argued as he ordered another round of drinks. "That man would have to be a god. And if he were so good, he would have eliminated any witnesses. This is probably all rumor."

"Excuse me, but I heard all this straight from the horses mouth. A traveler I know spotted the swordsman and hid in the woods. He saw the whole thing."

"Pft." The tall man chugged down his drink, then belched loudly.

"A tall swordsman you say?" The three men in the bar turned to look at the man who had spoken. He must have been at least six feet tall, with jet-black hair tied neatly into a samurai topknot. A daisho hung at his waist, but whether he wore it to intimidate or because he was skilled in kenjutsu was yet to be determined.

"Who are you?" The short one asked, clearly drunk.

"Just a wandering samurai is all, but I'm quite fascinated by your story. You say the man was very tall and killed with god-like speed? Do you remember what he looked like at all?"

"Well I wasn't actually there…"

"But the style of kenjutsu! What did the traveler say of it?" The samurai inquired fervently.

"Well, he's known to be a bit irrational…but he sure raved on about how fast he was, and that it only took four-"

"-Three" The shorter man corrected,

"-Three swings and that was the end." The samurai smiled vindictively at the man's reply.

"So, he's here…" He stroked his chin thoughtfully, ignoring the cup of sake that had just been placed in front of him by a frivolous waitress.

"Who?" The short man asked, but when he looked around, but the mysterious samurai was already gone.

"I know you're awake," Hiko said once the dinner was finished. "So you might as well get up and eat." Kenshin slowly poked his head out from under the covers, and blushed.

"Here." Hiko handed Kenshin a bowl of the Domburi, then when the child had settled on the floor across from him, he handed him a rice ball. Kenshin eyed the food with surprise.

"This is all for me?" he asked softly, his tone suggesting he didn't feel he deserved it.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Hiko asked between bites, a bit surprised by the question. Kenshin looked at the bowl in his lap, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"No reason," he answered, his voice barely audible. He separated the chopsticks and used them to pick up the pieces of meat before depositing them into his mouth. Then he headed onto the rice. He was finished fairly quickly and had just started on the rice ball when Hiko filled his bowl with another serving of Domburi.

"Quit staring and eat up. We have to put some meat on you." Kenshin continued to stare at the food. He had never been given seconds in his life.

"You're still hungry, aren't you?" Kenshin nodded feebly. "Then eat." Kenshin finally picked up the chopsticks and picked at his second serving, still feeling a bit chary. I really have my work cut out for me…Hiko thought as they finished up the dinner. Once they were done, he took the bowls and set them away to be washed, then turned his attention back to Kenshin.

"Now take these and go take a bath. You could use it." The samurai handed the boy a bundle of clothes and a bar of soap. "The clothes will be a bit big for you, but for now it will have to do. The bathhouse is outside to your left." Kenshin took the bundle in his arms and began to head outside, but stopped at the doorway.

"Arigato Shishou, arigato for everything." Then he bowed deferentially, slid the shoji door open, and stepped out. He smiled slightly and bowed again before sliding the door back into place.

Hiko raised his eyebrows for a moment, then smirked. He wasn't used to people bowing to him, and felt a bit uncomfortable with the fact of some child worshipping him, but found it flattering nonetheless. He definitely wasn't going to have a problem with obedience from the child; it seemed to him that the problem would be pulling him out of that slavish mind set, and getting him to have a mind of his own. This kid is going to change everything… Hiko sighed and pushed away the thought, then snuffed out a few of the candles, causing the items in the room to cast eerie shadows. Then he retreated to his futon, awaiting his young apprentice's return.

What do you guys think? My first Kenshin fanfic, so I'm still working on getting their personalities right…and crits…? Things you liked…? Well as always, please leave a review!