Somewhere in Japan, a shadowy figure stands in the darkness of the woods, the evil of his eyes the only thing being seen. Before him were plenty of men, close to twenty of them, kneeled before him. There was an area for someone to walk in between the two groups.
"Come forth." The shadowy figure spoke.
As he was commanded, a man wearing a black cape, his face hidden, stepped forward and kneeled in the front of the loyal group. "Yes, my lord?"
"Have you confirmed the arrival of the battousai?"
"Yes, my lord." He looked up at him, his face still hidden. "It was earlier tonight. One of your men told me of his arrival after he roughed him up a little. It's a good thing he was a yakuza because they're known for their attacks on the innocent."
"Good." A smirk came over his face. "It's about time things got started...because once 'he' is dead..." He raised his arms up above his head. "...then NO ONE will dare stand in my way again!!!"
"YEAH!!!!!" The men cheered.
The caped man smirked. "And I also get to abuse him more..."

Season 1, Chapter 2-The Beginning of a New Life

"Uhh..." Misao struggled to take one more step before she knocked on the door to the Kamiya Dojo, the weight of the boy to much for her now. She looked up at the sky as it was starting to blacken with the coming of night, knowing there was a storm approaching. It was due to her time spent with the Oniwaban Group during her younger days that she was taught how to predict the weather.
"Coming!" Kaoru's voice could be heard as she walked up to the doors and opened the right one, gasping as she saw Misao and the man she had. Her face started to pale upon looking at him.
"Ke...Kenshin..."
"Come on, Kaoru! He's still alive! We can save him!" Misao exclaimed.
"Right...!" The young woman stood on the other side of Misao and helped her get him inside, laying him gently on the yukata in the spare room. "How could this happen..." She whispered.
"Let's get started, Miss Kaoru..." The young leader placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "He needs us."
Kaoru wiped a tear away and nod her head, a small smile appearing on her face. "Yeah." She stood up and quickly walked out to get the supplies.
While gone, Misao looked him over. After a few moments, she gasped as she finally realized something strange about him. When Kaoru came back with the things they needed, Misao spoke up. "Miss Kaoru, look!" She pointed at his left cheek.
Kaoru kneeled beside her and gasped when she realized that there was no cross-shaped scar! "What...? Then...if there's no scar..."
"Then this is someone else looking almost like Himura." Misao looked at her. "I also realized he has no ponytail since his hair isn't as long. I was thinking it was him by the face and the eye color..." The young leader looked back to the man laying before her. "...but I now see this man can't be no older than me."
"Nonetheless, we should hurry and help him." Kaoru placed the medical box down, took rubbing alcohol and bandages out, telling Misao to carefully take the top part of his yukata off.
Misao complied and started on it, blushing as she looked at the quiet face the man had. Upon finishing, Misao took the rubbing alcohol from Kaoru and started placing it on his wounds.
It took them 30 minutes to help him out, then Kaoru wiped her forehead and sighed. "There...that should just about do it."
"We should make some food and tea for him when he wakes up." Misao suggested.
"Good idea." Kaoru stood up and started walking out, then turned back towards Misao. "Did you want to stay here in case he woke up?"
Misao smiled and nod. "Yeah. I don't want him to be scared not knowing where he is. You go on ahead."
"Thank you, Misao." Kaoru flashed her a smile, then walked towards the kitchen inside the dojo.
The young woman sighed and looked back at the man laying there quietly. "It must've been horrible..." She whispered. "But don't worry...I'll be here when you awake."

One hour later~~~

Misao had fallen asleep beside the man's side, the sound of falling rain being heard outside. Thunder was close behind it, the sound of it being heard in the distance.
"Oh man!" Sanosuke came running up to the porch for some shelter. "And I just had my jacket cleaned at Megumi's, damn it all!"
Yahiko was right behind him, patting himself dry as he sat down on the porch. "It sure was nice all day until this happened. The weather changes rather quickly."
Kaoru came out of the dojo with a smile and a tray of food. "Oh, hey you two."
Sanosuke turned and grinned as he saw the food. "Is that for me!?" He reached his hands forward, Kaoru suddenly counteracting with a light slap to the cheek.
"Whoa there, mister! This is for my patient."
The man blinked as he looked at her. "Huh...? What patient?"
"Well...I guess you should come see for yourself." Kaoru led them to the room and walked in, looking to see Misao was resting beside the man.
As Sanosuke and Yahiko walked in, their eyes widened when they noticed who was laying there. "Kenshin?!"
Misao suddenly sat up and looked around. "Where?!"
Kaoru sighed and walked into the room. "Nevermind. Sanosuke and Yahiko are just startled to see the resemblance in this man."
"Resemblance?! You mean that's not Kenshin?!" Yahiko asked with a confused look.
"It isn't." Kaoru set the food down and looked at them. "Notice that he has no scar and ponytail...and that he looks 10 or so years younger."
"Well, what do you know..." Sanosuke walked closer. "And it seems the weasel girl has taken a liking to him."
Misao blinked at his words and looked down to see she was holding his hand. "Uh..." She blushed and slowly pulled it away.
"How long ago did you find him?" Sanosuke asked.
"I would have to say a little over an hour..." Misao looked at him. "I was walking home with Kaoru's carrots when I..." She gasped. "Oh man, I forgot the carrots on the ground!"
Kaoru smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about it. I can get some tomorrow and make what I had planned tomorrow."
"You mean I came all the way out here for nothing?!" Sanosuke sighed.
"And what does that mean?" Kaoru gave him a glare, but it wasn't serious. "You just LOVE to mooch off others, don't you?"
"Well..." He looked around innocently. "Let's just say...that your cooking has improved..."
"Really?!" She exclaimed. "That's so nice of you, Sanosuke!"
"Heh...yeah, right. The thing you made last week was pretty aw..." Sanosuke suddenly bashed Yahiko on the back of the head, sending him down to the ground.
"...awesome, was what he was going to say." Sanosuke started stepping on his back. "Right, brat?!"
"Yeah, sure..." Yahiko grunted.
"That's really nice of you to say." Kaoru giggled.
At that moment, the man laying on the futon winced and started to wake up. Everyone's gaze turned to him, wondering who he really was.
Misao watched carefully, not wanting him to strain himself.
"Uh..." The man's eyes slowly opened, staring up at the ceiling for a few moments before Misao spoke up.
"Hey...are you alright?" She asked quietly.
The man very slowly turned his head to see who spoke, noticing the others with her. His mouth moved slightly, but no words came out.
"Don't tell me you can't talk..." Kaoru gasped, her mouth going to her mouth in shock.
He slowly shook his head and tried to speak again. "Wa...water..."
"Sure." Misao took the cup beside her and looked at him. "This is a healing tea. It'll work better than water."
"That's good then..." He whispered, trying to sit up so he could take a sip.
Misao set the cup down and helped him, making sure his wounds didn't open again. "Be careful now..."
As he was helped up, he looked to see that the girl was holding his hand to support him. "Her hand..." He said to himself. "It feels so..."
"There we go." She smiled and grabbed the cup, holding it up to his lips. "Take a drink. It'll make you feel better."
"Thank you..." He sipped it gently and sighed.
"Even his voice sounds similar to Kenshin's..." Sanosuke bent down near Kaoru as he whispered in her ear. "This is strange indeed."
"I know..." She looked at him for a few moments before speaking. "Do...you know what happened to you? You were hurt pretty badly when Misao brought you back."
He looked at her, his eyes showing confusion. "What happened to me...?" His head lowered slightly. "Pain...that's all I remember..."
"I would assume he was attacked by yakuza." Yahiko said. "Either that or someone wanting him dead. That's all I can think of."
"Those are the only options I can think of also." Sanosuke stated. "Who knows if he's a criminal..."
"Come now, Sanosuke!" Kaoru looked at him. "Does he look the type?"
He kept his gaze down as he tried remembering back to the last moments before he fell unconcious. "Yes...yakuza attacked me. I was surrounded in the alleyway by all ways...then they..."
Misao placed a hand on his shoulder. "No need to talk about it. Focus on healing now."
The man looked up at her. "Thank you..."
She smiled. "What's your name, by the way?"
"Name...?" He looked at everyone, then back to her. "It's Tim."
"Tim...?" Kaoru blinked at the mention of it. "Sounds strange. Are you japanese?"
The young man shook his head. "I'm not, no..." He was about to continue till someone came running up through the rain.
"Oh, Kenshin." Kaoru looked at him as he walked inside. "Welcome back."
"Thank you." He said kindly, then went wide-eyed at the man sitting on the futon. "Oro?!"
Tim couldn't help but giggle when he did that. "Good ol' Kenshin..." He whispered in his mind.
"Oh yeah...this is Tim." Yahiko said to Kenshin. "Misao found him in town not to long ago."
"I see..." Kenshin looked at him for a few moments, a curious look in his eyes. "How strange..." He said to himself. "This aura that I'm getting from him..."
"Hmm?" Kaoru looked at him. "Something wrong, Kenshin?"
Snapping out of it, he looked down at her and shook his head. "No, it's nothing."
Someone else came walking up into the dojo. This time, it was Megumi. "Hello, everyone."
Everyone acknowledged her, then told her about Tim before she said anything.
"I see..." She looked at him. "Tim, is it?"
"Ye...yeah." He nod his head.
She smiled at him as she saw a certain look in his eyes. "We're glad to have you here. Don't hesitate to ask me for anything, for I am the town doctor here in Tokyo. I'll look at your wounds more closely later."
"Thank you..." He smiled, then looked at Misao. "Could I have more of that tea...?"
"Of course!" She said and picked the cup, holding it to his mouth.
Tim took it from her hands and sipped it, feeling the warmth of the liquid through the cup. "That feels good..."
Everyone smiled and felt glad to have helped a person in need of assistance.

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An hour had gone by and the storm passed. Fireflies occupied the area outside, the coolness of the air attracting them. The young man Tim had fallen asleep again, Misao right outside his room so he could have some time alone. "How strange to be so similiar to Himura...and he isn't a relative." She said to herself as she looked up at the moon. "And yet...I feel a connection with him."
Someone walked out of the dojo and was heading for his room, a box in her hands. "Misao...is he asleep?"
The young ninja girl looked up to see Megumi standing there. "Yeah..."
"Okay. I can come back later..." As she turned to leave, Misao looked back into the room and saw him sitting up.
"Oh, wait...he's awake now." Misao stood and walked in, then kneeled beside his yukata. "Can't sleep...?"
Tim looked up at her. "No...my wounds hurt still." Then he noticed Megumi walking in.
"I'll help you out then." She smiled and kneeled on his other side, set the box down and got bandages, cotton balls, and rubbing medicine out. She gently took the top part of his yukata off and started rubbing the wounds with the medicine. Upon getting to the bandage to place upon the sword wound on his back, she stopped for a moment and thought in her mind, "Why does this seem so familiar...? It's just like...that time in Kyoto with Sir Ken..."
"Megumi...what's wrong?" Misao asked with concern in her voice.
"Oh...!" She looked at her. "Sorry...just a little tired, is all." She finished up with the other remaining wounds and smiled. "There we go. You should be good within a few days."
"I appreciate this..." Tim looked at her. "Thank you."
"No need to apoligize, Sir Tim. I'm a doctor...so it's my obligation to help the weak and suffering."
"Yeah...sounds wonderful." He said as he looked at her, then Misao who was smiling. "What is it...?"
She giggled. "Nothing."
Just then, a loud boom could be heard outside. Upon looking, Kaoru gasped at who it was behind the smoke of a bomb that had gone off. "Kenshin...come quick!"
He ran up to her side, his sword on his belt. "Wait...is that...?"
Misao and Megumi ran out of the room, fear in their eyes as to what was going on.
Sanosuke and Yahiko came out of the dojo as well, their eyes glaring at who it was.
"Hehhehheh..." The figure stepped forward at his large stature, an evil grin on his face. "It's been a while. How's it going, battousai?"
"Gohei..." Kenshin glared. "What are you doing here?!"
Tim struggled to stand so he could see what was going on, then walked up behind Misao and used her for support.
"What are you doing?" Misao asked worringly. "You shouldn't be standing."
Upon hearing her voice, Gohei turned his glance towards her and laughed. "Found ya!"
Misao turned to him and got her kunais at the ready. "What?! You've been looking for me!?"
"No...but the one behind you is."
Everyone gasped when they heard him and turned towards Tim.
"You...you want Tim?!" Misao gasped as he looked at the young man behind him. "Tim...do you know this man?"
Fear was in his eyes as he saw the intent in Gohei's eyes. "Why do you want me...?!"
"Don't deny it." He stepped towards the porch where they were standing. "You're a fighter, just like Himura. From what I heard...you're as good as him."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Sanosuke yelled. "Wherever the hell you got your information, it's all untrue!"
"Sano..." Kenshin raised a hand up in front of him, then looked at Gohei again. "Tell me why you pursue Sir Tim."
"Simple." Gohei glared at him. "Our leader plainly ordered us to get rid of him before anything get's in his way."
"Who's your leader? Answer me!" Kenshin got in a sword stance.
"Save your breath. I only came for him." He stepped towards the porch more.
"You're not going to have him!" Misao yelled, her body starting to shake, her kunai held between her fingers.
Megumi quickly got out of the way, not knowing what to do. "Misao, get out of there!"
Gohei laughed as he got closer, eyeing Tim behind the girl ninja. "Come down here and fight me."
"Fight...?" Tim's eyes widened. "But...I've never used a sword before!"
"HAH! Don't give me that crap! Our leader specifically said that you were close to the best, and I for one can see the swordsmanship in you! Either come down now or I'll kill your woman!"
He gasped and lowered his head, knowing he had to go. He didn't want Misao to die because of him. "Fine..." He walked past her and slowly stepped off the porch.
"Tim, no!" She yelled. "You're to weak! You'll die!!"
Tim turned to look at her. "Misao...sometimes running away doesn't solve anything. Besides..." He looked at everyone on the porch. "...people can do foolish things..." He looked back at her. "...when they want to protect someone."
"Tim..." Misao's eyes saddened.
"I thank you for what you've done for me, that I do..." He looked at Kenshin who had a shocking look in his eyes at what he just said...and a certain thing he sensed in the young man. "Kenshin...toss me your sakabato."
"Huh...?" Kenshin snapped out of it and took it off his belt. "Sir Tim...are you sure about this?"
He smiled and nod his head. "I refuse to let anyone close to me die..."
"I see the honor in his eyes...and the pain..." Kenshin said to himself as he clenched the sword in his hand. "Perhaps..." He sighed and tossed it up into the air towards him. "Catch!!"
Tim raised a hand out towards it and caught the sword, the weight becoming accustomed to his hand. "The sakabato...in my hand..." He whispered, then placed it on his belt, turning to face Gohei. "If you're ready...then we can begin."
"Excellent." They walked out away from everyone and stared each other down. Within Gohei's eyes was the intent to kill Tim...and within the eyes of the young man, was the will to fight. With no experience with a sword and his only power being the strength of his soul and his passion for others...would he survive this?