Foundling

Chapter 1

A/N: My friend came up with the title. I like it, so I kept it. This is just a random fic that I wanted to write to get it out of my head. It's part of what I've begun to call the White Plum Blossoms series. It comes before White Plum Blossoms. There'll probably be a story before this one, explaining who I think Kenshin is and what happened to him.

Oh, by the way, he's six here. If you want to know where I got that, read the Profiles book. There's a timeline in the front part that has his ages. He meets Hiko when he's six.

Disclaimer: Don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

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He's really big…the small boy thought to himself as he gazed up at the broad back of the man before him, the man who just moments before held a bloodied blade. The boy had met plenty of big people, who mostly hit him and ordered him around. However, he saw no point of running away from this man. Shinta wasn't exactly sure if he could trust the man, but he thought that he could try.

"Hurry up boy," the man said as he turned slightly. Shinta hadn't realized that he had stopped and he ran up to the man.

"Yes sir," he said respectfully. That made the man smirk, but Shinta wasn't sure why.

"Remember, from now on you should call me shishou. I am going to teach you after all," Hiko said.

"'Teach me', sessha remembers you saying something like that before," Shinta said.

"Kenshin, I am serious," Hiko said.

"Yes, shishou," Kenshin ducked his head in respect. Hiko sighed.

Hiko didn't know how long Kenshin had been a slave, nor how many masters the boy had. However, Hiko did know that it would take a while to break Kenshin of his slave spirit. To be a swordsman, a person had to have a certain amount of self confidence. Kenshin would have to gain that bit of self confidence. Hiko hoped that he would be able to break the slave spirit before he started training.

Behind him, Kenshin caught his foot on a sharp rock and fell flat on his face. He didn't say anything as he stood, but when he caught sight of Hiko looking at him, Kenshin fell to his knees and started apologizing as if he would be hit for falling. This of course just solidified Hiko's thinking. He didn't bother with word, for words held little meaning. Instead, he stepped forward and picked the small boy up. He smiled a bit when he saw that Kenshin fit perfectly in his arms.

Kenshin was so surprised when he felt himself rising that he couldn't help but mutter "Oro?"

"It's all right," Hiko said, and they continued on. The little boy snuggled against Hiko's chest, shutting his eyes and falling asleep. Hiko smiled down at the sleeping boy. Kenshin's head was resting against his chest, his eyes shut, snoring softly. Hiko continued on his way, cradling the boy.

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It was early morning when Hiko finally got to his little home high in the mountains above Kyoto. The sprawling city could be seen if one went more than fifty kilometers from the house. There was a well situated by the bath house and a stump for chopping wood. The little house was in a bit of disrepair, but it was cozy for a bachelor.

Hiko didn't bother to wake Kenshin up when they got to the house. He just laid the little boy on his futon until he was able to pull out the extra futon, then he moved the little boy to the extra futon. The boy was covered from head to toe in dirt and there was also some dried blood. The thing that surprised Hiko, when he actually thought about it, was the fact that the boy had red hair. That was very odd. Hiko decided to ask Kenshin about that later. It seemed an important detail to know. He pulled the blankets up over the small form, tucking them around the boy. Kenshin moaned softly in his sleep and Hiko smiled. He stood, then walked out the door, heading for town, bent on getting some more sake, since he had used his best on the graves last night.

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Kenshin awoke late the next afternoon, then winced. His bed was wet and he crawled out from under the blankets. He's going to kill me…

He quickly gathered up the bed coverings, rolling them into a ball and carrying them out into the yard. He filled a tub with hot water and some soap, then dumped the bed coverings into the tub. He started washing the sheets, scrubbing hard to remove the stains. When he was finished with that, he dragged the futon outside, starting to wash that as well.

While he was scrubbing, Hiko came home, holding a few bottles of sake and some food. The large man frowned when he saw the little boy. "What is this?"

Kenshin fell to his knees, putting his forehead to the ground in a pose of submission. "Sumani shishou!! I…. I didn't mean to! I'll clean it!!"

Hiko looked at the sheets hanging from the drying rack and the futon lying beside Kenshin. "What happened?"

"I….I wet the bed…"

Hiko could hear the shame in the little boy's voice and he smiled, then wiped the smile from his face when the boy looked up. "Have you taken a bath yet?"

"I…iie…"

"Go take a bath. You're covered in dirt and you smell. I'll clean the futon."

"Yes sir…" Kenshin stood, heading towards the bath house. He prepared a bath, then stripped, climbing into the tub. The warm water felt good as it touched his skin, although the water and soap burned as they touched the welts on his back. He scrubbed hard, looking up as the door opened a bit. Hiko stepped in and grabbed his clothes, then left, leaving one of his shirts in the place of the clothes. Kenshin scrubbed the dirt and blood off of his body, then washed his hair. When he had finally washed the last traces of dirt off of his body, he climbed out of the bath, he pulled the shirt on. Hiko's shirt hung on his tiny frame, but he didn't care. He walked out of the bath house, greeted by Hiko, who was waiting for him. Hiko held out a strip of cloth and he took it, staring at it.

"Use it as a belt."

Kenshin quickly tied the belt around his waist, securing his shirt. "Domo, shishou."

Hiko stood. "Are you hungry?"

The child just looked at him, then shook his head. "Iie."

"When was the last time you ate?"

"I… I don't know…"

Hiko looked down at the little boy. The shirt he had given him hung past his knees and the sleeves hung down almost to his hands. The belt held the shirt in place just above Kenshin's waist. The child had bright red hair that sparkled in the light. His wet hair hung to his shoulders, dripping still. He grabbed the child's shoulder, making him stop. "You can't go around looking like a girl."

Kenshin froze as Hiko jerked his hair up into a topknot, tying it with a strip of leather. He reached up, feeling his hair, then shrugged. "Domo shishou."

"Now, don't lie to me. Are you hungry?" Hiko asked again. The child paused and Hiko sighed. "Kenshin! If you're hungry say so!"

"I… guess I am…"

Hiko frowned. "Fine. Come on, then."

Kenshin raced after Hiko as the man started down the path to the house. He sank into the corner as Hiko started dinner. He watched his master, remembering the times he had been forced to make dinner for the slaves. Hiko soon finished dinner, then filled two plates with food. He handed one to Kenshin, who sat staring at it, then started eating, slowly at first, but then his speed picked up as he devoured the food, realizing for the first time how hungry he really was.

Good. The child needs to eat. Hiko thought, watching the small boy scarf the food down. "Slow down boy. You're going to make yourself sick."

"Yes sir." Kenshin slowed his eating, but still finished quickly, setting the plate beside him.

"Do you want more?" Hiko asked. When the child didn't respond, he sighed in exasperation. "If you want more, take it. There's plenty for us both!"

Kenshin looked up at him, then shyly reached over, filling his bowl a second time. He devoured his second serving. When he was finished, he looked over at Hiko, who motioned with his chopsticks. He took a third serving, soon finishing it. "Shishou, where do I put my bowl?"

"Just leave it here." Hiko replied.

"May I go to sleep now?"

"Hai. Good night, Kenshin."

"Good night, shishou." Kenshin set his bowl down and stood, walking to his futon in the corner of the room. The fire had warmed the room and he was full from dinner for what seemed like the first time in ages. He smiled, wrapping his blankets around him. He was sleeping on the bare boards, since his futon was still wet, but he didn't care. The warmth and full stomach soon reached him and sleep overtook his young mind, stealing him away into the world of dreams.

Hiko watched as the young child fell asleep, then smiled, standing. He moved into his room, lying down, slipping into sleep himself.

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A/N: There… what do ya'll think? Good? Bad? Reviews? Ideas? Anythin'?