A/N: Usual disclaimers etc... Hopefully this chapter will be better...

Chapter 4:

Kotaro arrived at the river and looked around to make sure he was alone before slipping into the icy water. He stood awhile, allowing his body to acclimatize before dipping his head in a few times. Once his body was used to the water, he checked to make absolutely sure he was alone again before taking a deep breath and submerging himself. He pushed a large boulder aside slightly and slipped into the cave it concealed, allowing the boulder to slip back into place. Kotaro then swam up the tunnel until it was shallow enough for him to be able to walk. Wading through the water, Kotaro reached the slight incline which told him he had reached dry land. He then walked the short distance to the door. Inside he could hear Katashi moving around within the hideout. Taking up the flint and stave set out, Kotaro lit the torches on either side of the door and allowed his eyes to become accustomed to the dim light which seemed bright after the total darkness. He then turned his attention to the door. Kotaro tapped thrice in quick succession. The movement within the hideout ceased. Kotaro repeated the pattern. No response. Just as he was about to tap again, a hesitant pattern of one quick tap and two slow ones answered him. Kotaro tapped two slow and four quick taps followed by two slow taps. When Kotaro returned the three quick taps which had answered him, the door opened a crack.

"... Kotaro...?" Katashi's voice asked uncertainly.

"Yes, it's me."

The door opened wider at his affirmative and Kotaro instinctively raised his hand to protect his eyes from the bright light emanating from the room.

"Douse the torches, I'll dim the lights." Katashi's voice said.

Kotaro did as his brother said, then entered the slightly less bright room. As his eyes got used to the brighter lit room, Kotaro saw that Katashi had already set out two rucksacks with rations and equipment. He was just adding some ninjutsu scrolls, shruiken and other paraphinalia to the largest rucksack when Kotaro turned to him.

"I won't be needing that." He said. "I'm no longer a ninja."

"If you think that, then you truly are a fool, brother." Katashi ignored his older brother and did up the straps of the rucksack and picked up an intricately decorated arquebus.

Kotaro stared at the arquebus.

"Where...?"

Katashi chuckled.

"You remember when Kenshin stole this from you?"

Kotaro nodded, still a little confused. It had been one of the few times when the brothers had seriously argued. Kenshin had been angry that Kotaro had decided to side with their father against Katashi after he had performed one of his pranks and had stolen one of Kotaro's precious arquebuses.

"I thought that this one was lost..." Kotaro shook his head slightly to clear it and rid himself of the nostalgia as he reached out to take the offered matchlock. "I saw Ken throw it into the river..."

Katashi shook his head, his smile slightly sad as the same memories assailed him.

"No, brother, Ken threw one of his into the river." Katashi answered. "You remember that father had a twin-set made for each of us..."

"Yes, I remember." Kotaro replied, taking the arquebus from Katashi. "And they were absolutely identical, except for our names inscribed on the butts..."

"It's no small wonder you mistook it for your own..." Katashi nodded.

"If I remember correctly, wasn't that the day you almost drowned...?"

Katashi laughed.

"Yes indeed." He answered. "I was trying to retrieve Kenshin's arquebus when there was a flash-flood. If it weren't for you and father, I would've been washed away..."

"Father was beyond livid..." Kotaro reminisced with a laugh. "I really thought he was going to kill you that day, so I told you to come hide out here until he had cooled down."

"But I wasn't safe even here..." Katashi continued. "At least not from Kenshin. I was forced to listen to him rant at me, since I had nowhere else I could go."

Katashi laughed again and shook his head.

"To be 21 and listen to your 18-year old brother rant at you, telling you what an absolute idiot you are, for half an hour, every so often for four hours straight is a situation I never want to relive!"

Kotaro and Katashi both laughed.

"I wonder what became of Ken's set..." Kotaro trailed off sadly.

"You remember that I had another one made for him which was identical to the one I cost him?"

"Yes, and he used that one more than the original!"

Katashi smiled as Kotaro chuckled at the memory.

"I've wrapped the matchlocks in silk and had them stored away." Katashi continued. "I plan on giving them to his son, once Kenta comes of age. Maybe sooner..."

Katashi suddenly looked up as a dark grey-and-black owl glided down to the two of them through a hole in the upper branches of the hollow tree-trunk. This tree was something of a marvel to the few who knew about it. It was hollow in the middle, yet still survived and flourished with strong branches and deep roots. It was by accident that Katashi had found this tree as a boy, and had enlisted the help of his brothers to make it their own private retreat.

"Isn't that..." he began.

"Kuromaru, Hisao Takashiro's owl." Kotaro answered as the owl landed on his arm.

"Hisao Takashiro?" Katashi frowned at the familiar name. "Isn't he the one who brought Kenshin's body back to us?"

"The very same." Kotaro read the note. "Hmmm."

Kotaro turned to his younger brother.

"He says it is now safe to come out via the forest path."

"Then let's go."

Kotaro sent out the owl with their reply then picked up the remaining rucksack. He and Katashi walked to the forest exit. Katashi rolled away the boulder, set the rucksack he carried outside the hideout, then clambered out, checking to make sure the coast was clear. He then took the rucksack and arquebus from Kotaro and held open the entrance while he climbed out. The two brothers then picked up their burdens and turned to face the road that would lead them back to their hometown.

A/N: Hopefully this chapter wasn't too bad. Please read and review!