Reminder: Seishouhen doesn't exist.

Thank you for your faves, alerts and reviews, minna-san. One of them are quite a flame, but I took it as a lesson. Sorry for taking so long, I wrote this in the middle of promoting my second e-book.

The second series of The Kenji Chronicles. Kenji's Genpuku scratch the Seishouhen OVA. Read the first series,"Who is She", before reading this.

Yes, basic disclaimers still apply. I only own Hiro and Kotaro Miyosato.


Kenji swung his sword onto a block of wood. The wood broke into two pieces. The young boy repeated his moves to another wood, and another, and another. His hands clammy because of the sweat, but he didn't care. Even when he sensed the strong ki belonged to his Shishou, Kenji didn't stop. Hiko Seijuro, Kenji's Shishou plus Sofu, sat not far from the boy with his bottle of sake on hand. He watched Kenji cut the woods with his sword. He sipped his sake and smirked.

"Something bothering you, baka-chan?"

Another wood getting chopped. "Iie," coming Kenji's short answer.

Hiko grunted. "Your swing is aimless. You're wasting your power. If you use your sword like that, you're not going to last more than 15 minutes in a fight."

Kenji blew a breath and straightened up his posture. Since he came to stay with Hiko a year ago, the 13th Master of Hiten Mitsurugi could read him like open book. Kenji often wondered if his father endured the same thing as he was.

Kenji stabbed his sword on the pile of woods and sat next to his Sofu. Hiko raised his eyebrows. "Who told you to stop?"

Kenji shrugged and wiped his sweaty forehead. "You said for yourself my swing is aimless. What's the point on continuing?"

Hiko narrowed his eyes. His baka-chan was cleverer than his baka-deshi. Another point on why he agreed to teach Kenji Himura his sword style. He knew the young boy could do much better than his former apprentice. Hiko still remembered that time when his baka-deshi along with this redhead boy came to his hut and his baka-chan asked him to become his Shishou. His fresh memory on Kenshin argued with him in the night and then left him the next morning 29 years ago planted in his mind. But, when he saw Kenji's eyes, it was different from his baka-deshi. Kenji already had his own reason, not just wanting to prove himself to the world; just like his baka-deshi did. But, the reason on why his baka-chan looked distracted these few days probably caused by the letter from Tokyo.

Three days ago, the female member of the Oniwabanshuu came to his hut, carrying a letter from Tokyo. The young redhead only went silent after reading the letter and he left the hut, leaving the letter open for Hiko to read. It was from his baka-deshi, asking Kenji to come home on his 15th birthday. Hiko only grunted for he knew the reason why Kenji acted that way. The young boy still couldn't get away his mind from the fact that his father gave his sword to someone else. And as a son of a swordsman, Kenji probably knew about Genpuku.

"You don't want to go to Tokyo?" Hiko suddenly asked.

Kenji took a deep breath and stared at the blue sky. "I'm still thinking about it."

"The more you thinking, the more days will pass. You have to make your decision, baka."

Kenji frowned. He knew about that. But, deep in his heart, he didn't want it. Not because he wanted to escape reality, but he already accepted the truth. His father's sword was not his, and never will be. What's the point on going to Tokyo anyway?

"Even if you don't have a sword, I'll give you one once you finish your training. Don't get upset with my baka-deshi. He is often clueless, even after all these years. He doesn't want you to become like him, but he forgets he married a daughter of a swordsman, and that means you are a swordsman naturally."

Kenji still hasn't said a word. He never really minded about the sword anyway. Not anymore. He had seen his Shishou beaten him only using a branch of tree (1) and that given Kenji a new perspective; you can use even a stick to defend yourself or even to help people.

"It's not really matter to me, Sofu," Kenji said. "If I don't come, Mother will get worry. I think I'll come to Tokyo and see what they want. Genpuku or not, I missed them."

Hiko huffed. "Takes you three days to make a decision. Like father like son."

"Oro?"

x

After saying goodbye to Hiko in the next day, Kenji traveled from the mountain to Aoiya, carrying his small bag over his shoulder. He was swordless, not even carrying a shinai. It took half of the day until he came across the familiar street. Not many things had changed as long as he could remember. The street still busy with vendors, Kenji even bought a candy from one of the vendors and smiled to the children who came running to his direction. When Aoiya was on his sight, Kenji sensed a powerful, but evil ki behind him. Kenji stopped and tried to recognize the ki around him; several evil kis and one determined ki with slightest fear. Kenji narrowed his eyes and looked behind his shoulder. A commotion happened not far from the vendor where he bought his candy and Kenji approached the commotion in hurried pace. When he arrived, he saw a boy wearing light gi and dark hakama, a kendo uniform, cornered and several men with swords in front of him. The boy only had shinai with him. Kenji could sense fear from the boy, probably around 15-year-old, but he also strong and determined not to get bullied by the men. Kenji almost smiled.

"Come on, boy. What good is that shinai of yours?" And one of the men showed his sword to the crowds who already had their whispers of worried mixed with anxiety. "This sword is the best. It can cut you in a flash." And he turned again to the boy, pointing his sword forward. "Your shinai is nothing."

The man came forward and the boy surprisingly ducked and hit the man on the back before holding his stance again. Kenji made a face and couldn't help to admire the boy. Another man approached and the boy, again, easily avoided the attack and hit the man's leg. The last two apparently decided to attack in the same time and the boy seemed surprise, trying to block the attacks with no avail. One of them kicked the boy until he fell on the ground. When one sword ready to hurt the young boy, Kenji decided it was time for him to help. Using a stick around him he could find, Kenji, using his speed, blocked the sword and lifted his other hand to push the man backward.

"What the-"

The men, four of them, already stood again and held their stance.

Kenji smiled lazily. "You called yourself a swordsman? Attacking a boy who only has a shinai and four against one? Where is your manner?"

The men blinked and suddenly one of them laughed. "Look at him. He only has stick on his hand. You think you can beat us, boy?"

Kenji shrugged. "I can hit one of you earlier only by this stick."

The men growled and Kenji looked behind his shoulder. He gave the boy his innocent smile. "May I borrow your shinai?"

The boy only gaped at him and slowly handed Kenji his shinai. Kenji grinned and after holding the wooden sword, he smirked. "Perfect."

Kenji turned his attention to the men and held his stance. Even those men cowered a little when they saw the gleam in Kenji's eyes. Long gone the playful boy earlier. This one was a real swordsman. Even the boy could sense Kenji's strong aura.

"Give me your best move!" Kenji said in deep voice.

One of the men screamed, and swung his sword vertically. Kenji easily avoided the attack by moving his body to the left and hit the man on his back. Another man attacked by swinging his sword in random moves and Kenji, using the boy's shinai, blocked the attacks with amazing speed. When the man swung his sword over Kenji's head, the young redhead ducked gracefully and swatted his legs onto his opponent, causing him fell on the ground. The last two, just like previous, attacked him in one move and Kenji smirked a little before doing a little acrobatic jump by jumping on one of their shoulders and hit one of the man's shoulder. In between the surprise face, the last man standing was defenseless and Kenji, using his mother's sword style, knocked the man really hard on his stomach using the shinai. Apparently the other three were still standing and Kenji tilted his head before attacking them in full speed. Shinai hit several spots until the four of them were lying on the ground, grunting in pain. Kenji smiled and glanced back at the boy who stared at him with awe in his eyes. He rotated the shinai and gave it to the boy.

"Thank you for the shinai," Kenji said.

And then, a high whistle was heard and the commotion was broke for a while, revealing several officers and a man was wearing a kendo uniform.

"Otousan!" said the boy.

The man quickly hugged his son and looked over to the boy's body. "Are you all right, Kotaro?"

The boy nodded and pointed to Kenji. "I'm all right. He helped me."

The man stared at Kenji and for a moment he looked between shock and awe. Kenji shifted uneasily on his feet being stared like that.

"I was just helping your son, sir. I'm so glad he's unhurt." Kenji bowed lightly and quickly left the commotion where the officers were still busy straightening the men to their feet.

"Wait!"

Kenji stopped.

"It has been more than two decades since I met you, Himura. Himura Battousai."

Kenji's eyes widened and then he chuckled lightly. The day couldn't get even better. He slowly turned around and stared at the man.

"I believe you addressed the wrong person," Kenji said with humor in his eyes.

The man blinked and after watching Kenji closely, he realized the differences. "The same redhead, but you have no scars. It can't be. You look just like him. Himura never told me he had relatives."

Kenji shrugged. "I believe my father has been busy these past twenty years so he never wrote you a letter."

"Father? Himura is your father?"

Kenji nodded and bowed again. "I'm Kenji Himura. Kenshin Himura is my father."

The man's eyes widened and he slowly approached Kenji and held his shoulders. His eyes turned misty and Kenji almost raised his eyebrows. "I'm so glad finally your father can live in happiness. Kami, you look just like him. I almost think I return to Bakumutsu era."

Kenji's curiosity peaked. If this man knew his father, then… "Do you know my father?"

"Hai." The man released his hold on Kenji's shoulder and the young boy was glad for it. "I fought with him in the same faction. My name is Hiro Miyosato. And that is my son, Kotaro Miyosato."

Kenji smiled. "It's really nice to meet you, Miyosato-san. I'll tell my father about you. Hopefully, he still remembers you."

Hiro smiled and gestured Kenji to follow him. "Please, have a tea with us. How rude of me after you saved my son's life and I offer you nothing."

Kenji pursed his lips and looked at the bright sky. "I'd love too, Miyosato-san, but I'm afraid I can't. I have to catch a train to Tokyo today. Perhaps later?"

Hiro looked disappointed, but then he smiled. "Of course. I understand. Have a safe trip to Tokyo."

"Arigatou, Miyosato-san." Kenji bowed again and smiled briefly to Kotaro before turning around and lost in the crowd.

Kotaro approached his father. "Otousan, who is he?"

Hiro blinked and looked over to his son. "How did he save you earlier, Kotaro?"

Kotaro looked thoughtful. "He was very fast. That's all I can say. And his moves…" Kotaro stared over the retreat figure of Kenji. "He can beat the men only using my shinai. I want to be strong like him."

Hiro smiled and rubbed his son's shoulder.

Kenji, meanwhile, approached the front gate of Aoiya and Aoshi already stood in front of it, greeting him.

The okashira raised his eyebrows and Kenji only grinned. The young boy never thought his journey to Tokyo could be this fun.


(1). The scene from the third movie of RK live action when Kenshin meets again with his Shishou. Hiko only use a branch of tree, but he could beat his baka-deshi senseless.