Raising Kenshin
(DISCLAIMER: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any other anime. This is fan based, and the only thing I really do own is an original character that will appear quite a bit in the story. In fact, she's one of the stars!)
Chp.1
Seijiro carried little Kenshin back to his home. He had felt sorry for the poor red-headed five year old that was now asleep in his arms. The poor kid had already been through so much, but, of course, he was about to go through more. His home came into sight. He pushed the door open with his foot and threw the kids sandals outside the door while kicking off his boots. He layed the kid on the bed and began to sip at some sake at the table.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
"The door's unlocked," Seijiro said to the person outside, hidden by the door. Kenshin didn't even flinch from Hiko's powerful voice, he was just so tired.
The door opened and slammed. A woman of about twenty-two stood in the doorway. She was quite a tall woman, her eyes right at Seijiro's chin. She had dark brown hair that went halfway down her back and dark brown eyes. She had on a red ninja shirt that opened at the top, revealing the bandages wrapped around her chest. She had on black ninja shorts, and a white belt with a sword in it around her waste. She was wearing white socks, and had left her sandals outside.
"I saw you leave and come back with that kid. Who is he?" The woman asked.
"Tara, since when was it your business what I did?" Seijiro asked in more of an annoyed sigh.
"Well, that doesn't answer my question, now does it," Tara crossed her arms and smirked slightly.
"Look, the kid's lost everything, and he's only five. I decided to take him in as my pupil for the Hiten Mitsirugi style. His name was Shinta. Now his name is Kenshin," Seijiro said and took another drink. Tara sat down and joined him.
"Him? That little, bitty, skinny, baby? Your pupil? You really think that kiddo can handle it?" Tara asked.
"Of course," Seijiro said, confident that he would be the perfect teacher.
"Heh, miracles happen. So, how're you gonna take care of him? You've never raised a child. Hell, you've barely even seen one," Tara said.
"It can't be that hard," Seijiro said. "You feed it, keep it clothed, keep it happy, no big deal." Tara fell out laughing.
"PUH-lease! It's far from that easy. Raising children is tough. I would know because when my parents abandoned our family, I took care of my brothers and sisters, being the oldest. Now little five year old boys? Well, that really killed me," Tara said.
"That's only because you are a woman," Hiko shrugged.
"Hmph. Yeah? Well, I'll watch you raise up that kiddo. You SO cannot do it. I'll give you a week at the most before you crack," Tara said.
"Hmph. We'll see," Seijiro always loved a challenge, espiacally one he thought he could win. Tara stood and left him alone in the light of the fire.
"Who was that?' Hiko turned around and saw little Kenshin sitting up sleepily with his ponytail spazzing out just a little.
"Her name is Tara. She lives down the road. She'll be joining us in your training of the Hiten Mitsirugi style," Seijiro said. "Go on back to sleep."
"But where will you sleep?" Kenshin asked climbing out of the bed.
"I can sleep comfortably anywhere, kid," Seijiro said.
"Oh, okay. So is Tara a friend of yours?" Kenshin climbed up into the seat Tara had previously sat in and kicked his legs off of the side.
"Eh. Sorta. We both know the Hiten Mitsirugi style. We grew up together, and after her brothers and sisters got sick and were taken from her, she lived with my family," Seijiro said. "Her brothers and sisters live with her now, along with their husbands, wives, and children. That makes, let's see---thirty five people."
"Wow! I've never known of that many people living in the same home together, that I haven't," Kenshin said.
"Oh, so you restate yourself eh?" Seijiro sipped his sake.
"Huh?" Kenshin blinked his large starry purple eyes.
"Nevermind," Hiko said. "By the way, you are to call me Master."
"Yes, Master. So, what does Kenshin mean anyways?" Kenshin asked.
"It means heart of sword," Hiko said.
"Wow," Kenshin said with sparkly eyes. " I don't even think I'm worthy of a name like that right now, that I don't."
"Right now, you aren't. But when I'm threw with you, hopefully you will be," Hiko grinned.
"Well, I'm gonna sleep so I can start training first thing tommorow," Kenshin hopped out of his seat and crawled back into the bed. "Oh, and Master?"
"What do you want now?" Seijiro a little irritated because the kid hadn't fallen asleep yet.
"Thank you. For taking me in and letting me live here, I mean," Kenshin said and flopped down on the big bed that the raven-haired swordsman would usually lie. He snuggled up under the covers and was asleep in a heart-beat. His quiet breathings sounded out to prove it so. Seijiro walked out side and went to his pile of wood. He grabbed a bunch of it and layed it on the porch. After getting the tools he would use, he began to get to work.
"Tommorrow this kid is gonna be a handful," Hiko muttered and began to put the wood together and nail it down and make some of it shorter and a whole lot of other stuff.