Chapter 2

Disclaimer: On previous chapter...
"Bouzu, what are you doing here?"

Kenji glared at the back of Hiko Seijuro. "I can't come here without permission or something?"

Hiko turned and smiled wryly. "You have as bad a mouth as my fool apprentice ever had… for all that you hate him…"

Kenji scowled. "Leave him out of this."

"So what do you want?"

"Teach me Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryuu."

"Ask your father if you want to so much."

Kenji's face screwed up in anger. "You think I would ever even talk to that person? Besides, he wouldn't teach me anyway! He doesn't want to pass on Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryuu!"

Hiko sighed, turning back and downing his sake. "Haven't you had enough with Kamiya Kasshin-Ryuu?"

Kenji smirked. "That's exactly it. Kamiya Kasshin-Ryuu is too boring for me. I've been learning moves from other dojos to relieve that boredom, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm still bored"

Hiko sighed again, getting up. "Ok, have it your way, but I'll repeat the same method I've used many times before. If you can hit me, then you win."

Kenji lifted an eyebrow. He knew Hiko was good but so was he. He had watched his father use Ryuutsuisen and Battoujutsu once and had even felt a grudging respect for the slender man.

Kenji led the way outside and pulled out the sakabatou as Hiko pulled out his own katana. They took their positions, standing in absolute stillness as the pressure in the air around them intensified. Kenji decided to take action, and yelled and ran towards Hiko. Hiko was relaxed as if he did not expect Kenji to be able to hit him even if he tried his hardest. Kenji struck with a few styles of Kamiya Kasshin-Ryuu and then suddenly launched into the air.

"Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryuu, Ryuutsuisen!"

Kenji managed to take a chip out of Hiko's blade with the force of the blow and immediately turned as he landed on the ground, using centrifugal force and trying to hit Hiko in the back of the head. He was suddenly blocked with Hiko's damaged katana and immediately brought up the sheath which hit Hiko in the shoulder as the bigger man tried to get out of the way from the awkward position. As Hiko stepped back and lowered the damaged katana, looking at it thoughtfully. Kenji twisted up from his position gracefully, sword at the ready once again. Hiko was smiling thoughtfully at him, impressed at the sheer strength in the somewhat slim boy.

"Boy, was that your first time doing that?"

Kenji thought. Was it? He had seen his father do it, but had never done it himself. He nodded affirmative.

Hiko raised an eyebrow. "Ryuutsuisen and then Ryuukansen, then Soryuusen straight after that. Impressive indeed."

Kenji glared at Hiko. "I've seen the Ryuutsuisen demonstrated once, but I've only heard descriptions of the other moves."

Hiko smiled. "We'll make a swordsman out of you yet… come here boy and I'll show you some more…"

Kaoru looked over at Kenshin as he silently ate. He had been pretty quiet since yesterday. She ruffled the sleeping Takashin's light brown hair and laid her down on a futon, going over to hug Kenshin.

"Kenshin? Is something wrong?"

Kenshin turned to her, smiling his usual smile. "No, I'm fine."

Kaoru looked a little skeptical at that but covered Takashin with a blanket, still sitting next to Kenshin. She glared at the food she had made. Her culinary skills hadn't improved very much over the years.

"Kenshin." Kaoru said anxiously. "I know you don't like making me worried, but I'm more worried when you don't tell me anything. Is it the food? I know I'm bad at cooking and…"

Kenshin shook his head. "No. No, its not your fault." He paused and looked at Kaoru. "I just want to be a good father, but I'm not."

Kaoru frowned and pursed her lips. "Of course you are! Just because Kenji is stubborn, that doesn't mean it's your fault."

"Good swordsman, maybe, but no father." But Kenshin grinned. "Maybe he gets that stubborness from you!" he put an arm around Kaoru.

She grinned and leaned on Kenshin.

Suddenly the sliding door banged open and Yahiko stalked in, scowling.

"Oro!" Kenshin said, looking over his shoulder tentatively.

"Just what are you two doing?" Yahiko said, eyebrows raised.

"Yahiko-kun!"

"Ohayo, Tsubame-chan!" Kaoru smiled at Tsubame as if she hadn't seen Yahiko at all.

"Oy!"

"And as for you…" Getting off her cushion, Kaoru stood up and grabbed Yahiko by the ear. "Your attitude has not changed one little bit."

"Ow, ow! Let go!"

Kenshin grinned at the two and gathered up the stirring Takashin as Tsubame hovered anxiously around them. Takashin squirmed in his arms and give him a hug. Kenshin stared down at her, surprised, but then gave her a hug also. He was quite happy that his daughter at least seemed to like him.

Kenshin stood up and walked past the quarreling two and out the door.

"Kenshin? Where are you going?" The pair momentarily stopped their comical bashing.

"I'll get some tofu and I'll be right back." Kenshin smiled at the two of them and holding Takashin more closely, walked down the step, slipped on his sandals and walked out of the courtyard, sliding the door quietly closed. Kaoru and Yahiko stared after him, slightly too amazed to continue.

Kenshin smiled at Takashin as he walked down to the marketplace. He scanned his sharp eyes over the things on sale on the tables. Not that he had all that much money anyway. Takashin fell asleep again in his arms as he roamed around, browsing. He smiled again. He had always liked children and had played with them many times. His sole regret was Kenji not liking him, but he couldn't do anything about that so would have deal with it. He knew very well when he had to deal with things out of his control.

As he started back home with the tofu, there was a yelling from down the road. Kenshin frowned and turned around, hesitated for a second, before joining the crowd which was assembled around the fight. Kenshin had long stopped fighting, and yet now seeing the brawl in front of him, felt he had to intervene. It wasn't safe though, especially since Takashin was asleep in his arms. Kenshin put her down on one side, asking a woman to watch over her, and put the tofu in its container on Takashin's lap. Then he turned back to the fight.

"Stop." He said coldly, eyes narrowed and he stepped forward. "This fighting profits noone, turn around now and go home." He looked at the crowd as well, including them in his death-glare.

The men leered at him. "And? What are you gonna do about it?" They jeered.

Kenshin's eyes narrowed further, having made a decision of sorts. "Leave now and you won't get hurt."

One man raised his eyebrows. It was blatantly obvious the man (Kenshin) had no weapons and did not look like he was a hand-to-hand combat fighter either. This would be too easy.

He attacked. Kenshin dodged the attack easily and elegantly. He might be weaker now, but there was definitely nothing wrong with his eyes. The man smashed into the wall and Kenshin dodged again as the next man attacked.

"You coward!" The man jeered. "Stop dodging!"

"I will when I can." Kenshin responded calmly.

Pulling a long stick which had snapped at the end, he faced his opponent, making sure to glance back and check that Takashin would be safe. He could feel some stagnation already, legacy of the 'illness' which he had.

He leapt up and smashed the man on the head, swiftly and forcefully.

"Ryuutsuisen!"

He landed with some force on the ground and spun quickly. He had to fight mostly with pure strength now and couldn't be sure if it was really enough, but he would have to make do… after all, he was good at that.

A man came running into the dojo as Kaoru and Yahiko were practicing their Kenjutsu, sparring playfully (albeit viciously) with each other.

"Yahiko-sama!"

Yahiko stopped and wiped sweat off his forehead as the man ran into the dojo from the back.

"What's wrong, Gosa?"

Gosa frowned as he said his news. "You're not going to like it. My men said they saw a slender man fighting some street brawlers down near the marketplace. We couldn't see his face but we think its Himura-sama."

Kaoru rushed over. "Is he with anyone?"

"I think so. I think he was with a little girl, but he put her down."

Kaoru and Yahiko looked at each other. "Kenshin!"

Kenshin caught his breath, gathering Takashin up and thanking the woman as the police swarmed into the street. Muraki came over to Kenshin.

"Thank you, Himura-san, that was just about to get violent."

Kenshin nodded solemnly, eyes still narrowed as he took in the scene.

"Kenshin!"

Yahiko and Kaoru came running up with Tsubame in tow.

Kenshin turned smiling "Ah, Kaoru-"

He was met with a fist. ("Oro…")

"What were you doing? Especially with Takashin!"

Yahiko glared at him. "Megumi told you not to fight remember?"

"Of course I do…" Kenshin said, looking a little abashed and looking down at the floor. "uh, Kaoru-dono?"

"What?" she said sulkily

Kenshin looked back at her and pointed with his free hand at the ground below where Takashin had been before. "I spilled the tofu…"

Kenshin ran as Kaoru chased after him, waving her Bokken.