Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin..yet. (evil laughter heard in background)

thoughts time separation

A/N: Okay here I go. Again. I wrote this story a few months ago but tragedy struck and I was left with no story and no internet. In fact, I didn't have a computer at all. But now I'm finally back to business. Anyway this is my time doing this so help me out all you geniuses out there. Was it good, bad, horrible? Should I never write again? Please R&R afterwards. It will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Chapter One: Bring it on!

"Oh no, I'm late" said a newly awakened Tsubame. The alarm clock had just shouted out that it was time to get up with its annoying voice. To bad for her that the voice had sung an hour later than it was supposed to. Who in kami-sama's name set back my alarm? Oh well, better get dressed quick before the guys get back. It's my turn to cook dinner before our training session with Master Hiko With that, Tsubame quickly got out of bed and got ready.

She raced to the kitchen hopping that none of her relatives were home. She had no such luck. The open doorway that connected to the dinning room told her that much. Inside the dinning room was a large, rectangular, maple wood table that could easily hold up to fifteen people. But instead of having an enormous group of people around it, (as it was meant to) only six bored males surrounded the table. "Sit down Tsu-chan." The voice was stern. Hiko-san was not pleased.

"Gomen nasai everyone. Pleases forgive me for being so late. I know it's my turn to cook but I needed some rest really bad from all the volunteer work I did at the library today. So I took a nap and I even set my alarm clock to wake me up but someone messed with it an-d and." Tsubame looked down at her hands knowing that a scolding was on the way.

"We all know that Tsu-chan. That is why I set back your alarm that I did. So you could get some much needed rest" said her red haired older brother. "Master is just depressed that Sano ate his piece of pie that you saved for him from yesterday that he is."

"Kuso Kenshin, didn't I say that I didn't do it!" replied a pissed off Sano.

"Ahou, we all know that you did it. You can't resist any type of food. Whether it's cooked or not" said a golden eyed Saito.

"You guys" piped Tsubame.

"Shut up Saito, I wasn't talking to you! Just because I love food," he winked at Tsubame "especially yours Tsu-chan, doesn't mean that I ate it. So don't assume, it makes an ass out of you and me."

"To late ahou, you're already one" replied a smirking Saito.

"Saito is correct in his assumption. This would all be much easier if you just confess already" said a soft, cold voice.

"Um, you guys"

"Stay out of this icicle boy!" Sanosuke screamed at Aoshi who was on the opposite side of the table.

"Will all of you dimwitted kids listen to your little sister! She has something to say to all of you. Maybe if you stopped arguing so much you would have heard her ask for your attention" their sake-drinking Master said.

"Gomen Tsu-chan. What is it that you have to say?" asked an impatient Sano.

"I know who ate the pie"

"Nandatte??" replied everyone at the table.

"Who took it?" asked a bewildered Hiko. They had been arguing about this incident for the past two hours! When he had gotten home from work, the pie was the first thing, other than his sake, that he went to get. Only to find crumbs instead of a delicious masterpiece made by his daughter. Hiko just couldn't let it go. He was looking forward to that pie all day.

"Sojiro" replied Tsubame. A general face falt followed soon afterwards.

"So, the truth finally comes to the surface" Sano muttered. During the entire showdown of proving his innocence, Sojiro hadn't said one word.

"Uh oh, looks like I'm caught" said a smiling Sojiro. "How did you find out?"

"Well... I came downstairs this morning after Dad left for work to finish some of the posters for the library. I saw a figure running away from the kitchen and it was so fast that I barley saw it. Since the figure was moving so quickly it could have only been you or Kenshin. And since the figure didn't have long hair it had to be you."

"Excellent deduction Tsu-chan" praised Aoshi.

"Oh well. Seems I get to work out a little bit more than the rest of you tonight."

"You got that right baka! I was looking forward to that pie. How could you do such a thing?" scolded Hiko. "Tsubame sit down so we can all eat. Then I want you all to get ready for tonight's torture. I mean training. And remember an old friend of mine is coming to visit very soon. She is also bringing her children with her. So I want all of you to be on your best behavior you got that!"

"Hai" cried the six children at the table. Tonight was going to be a very long one indeed.

"So, how 'bout an apology for all the psychological damage that you put me through huh?" asked Sanosuke who was feigning hurt.

"In you dreams ahou. Eat your dinner before it gets cold" said Saito.

"Hai mother" was Sanos answer.

After Torture (practice)..

Dark figures move swiftly through the yard. They are silent as they dodge and weave through the dense trees. They push down their ki as low as possible so not to attract any attention. Soon they surround the dojo where their targets are located. They wait patiently for the right moment to attack their unsuspecting prey.

Inside Dojo..

"Water, water, my kingdom for some water"

"And what kingdom is that ahou? The kingdom of you appetite?" huffed a tired Saito.

"You guys. I think Sojiro's dead" Tsubame said worriedly for she couldn't find his pulse.

"Good, maybe. next time he'll.(gulp) think twice before. eating another persons food" panted Sano.

"I never thought that I would ever hear those words come out of your mouth" Kenshin proclaimed.

"Well there's a first time for everything."

Crack. A twig outside snaps in two as one of the attacker's foot steps on it. The young boy curses himself for he knows that he has just given away his presence to those inside. And now the fight shall start sooner than it was supposed to. They all released the holds on their ki. If they were already detected, why concentrate on hiding something that was already noticed.

"It seems that we have visitors" announced Aoshi.

"Yeah. With not so good intentions" added a resurrected Sojiro.

All fatigue forgotten, each student grabbed his or her own all to real weapon. At the beginning of their training, each student was taught with a bokken. As they progressed, Hiko-san made them practice with the real thing. Kenshin, Saito, and Sojiro each grabbed a katana. Aoshi went for his two kodachis; Tsubame retrieved her wakizashi, while Sanosuke got his zanbatou. They were now ready.

In an instant they were there. Six to be exact. Each attacker chose a dojo student, gave a slight bow, and moved into a fighting stance. If it weren't for their fighting ki, the men in the dojo would have thought that someone was playing a joke on them. No one in their right mind would attack them out right like this. Hiko-san's adopted children were known for their great fighting abilities by all. But come on, why send five delicate looking girls and one boy all clad in ninja gear. They could understand the boy's presence for he was obviously sent to fight Tsubame. But why the girls? Never underestimating an opponent, each student was on guard as soon as their attackers showed their beautiful faces. For they were quite beautiful. Each girl wore the same ninja outfit. They were dark blue with a lighter shaded blue as trimmings. The short sleeved tops reached down to the mid thigh of each girls' legs. For freedom of movement, the shirt/dress like tops had very high slits on each side. Completing the outfits were loose dark blue pants. The young boy wore the same colors. The only difference was that he had on dark blue pants and a black shirt with a dark blue jacket over it. The dojo students realized that the strangers in front of them wore the exact same clothes as they did. The girls' outfits matched Tsu-chan's and the boy's matched theirs. What the hell was going on?

Tbc...

When thinking of their outfits just picture the oniwabans' (did I spell that right?) female tops. Also if any one could be kind enough to direct me to a place were everyone's: a) name of fighting styles (correct spelling) b) techniques that go with styles are at please e-mail me

Arigato