Kenshin: (punching) Welcome back everybody.

Mirai: Kenshin focus. But yes welcome back. Let's get started shall we?

Amaterasu: Let me.

Negima! Springfield and Kuroshi Redux.

Chapter 7

Training with Borrowed Time

Draconis: Why the fuck am I the punching bag? !

Mirai and Amaterasu: Shaddap! Begin!

(start)

Konoe Mansion (A/N: What do ya know we ain't starting with Kenshin this time.)

Eishun heard a knocking at the door. Being in the front room of mansion he answered. He blinked seeing Setsuna and Tsuruko standing at the door. "Oh...hello Tsuruko Setsuna." "What brings you here?" "I thought you were training?"

Tsuruko smiles pushing Setsuna forward. "We were going to, but Setsuna-Chan here asked if she could spend time with Konoka-Chan."

Eishun cracked an eyebrow upward. "Is that right?" "Well Setsuna Konoka's in the garden right now if you want to see her now."

"Thank you Eishun-Sama." Setsuna said leaving the two behind.

"Let me guess...Kenshin ran into her?" Eishun asks.

"Right you are cousin." Tsuruko says clapping her hands together. "I...also had a run in with his father."

"What?" Eishun says surprised. "Ryuushin was here?" "Why isn't he with Kenshin?"

"He knows what's happened to Kenshin." "I think he's blaming himself for it." Tsuruko answers. "I told him to trail him if he feels that way."

"I see." Eishun says sighing. "Well thanks for the update would you like some tea?"

"Alright." Tsuruko says then leans up to Eishun's ear. "Follow them." "I'll watch Konoka and Setsuna while your out and explain things to Konaka."

Eishun nods as Tsuruko handed him her sword. "Alright thanks." He takes off as Tsuruko turns around. "Well I'll guess I'm rooming in here till he gets back." She then heard a loud cheering telling her that Setsuna must have told Konoka that she was going to spend more time with her. Which was fine in her mind. After all she herself hadn't grown to be so powerful until her late teens.

(break)

With Kenshin and Amaterasu.

The two headed toward the palace where Kenshin was hoping to ask Daiken something. "So Kenshin-ku-"

"Hold it." "Why do you keep calling me Kenshin-kun?" He asks. "We barely know each other."

"Well... you seem like a nice person." Amaterasu compliments. Kenshin looked away annoyed. "Yeah just don't piss me off." "You'll end up deader than an elephant surrounded by a pack of hungry tigers."

The two suddenly bumped into Sanderson who scowled down at the boy. "What are you doing here?" He sneered.

Kenshin looked up at the man smirking. "Oh?" "You make it seem as though you expected me to die out there." "Whatsa matter can't handle me alone so you hired a certain little white haired prick to do your dirty work."

"That's a hefty accusation boy." Sanderson growled. "If you could make something like that stick your next promotion would be in the General range."

"Hm...then how could he have known I was there?" Kenshin said. "He seemed to be looking to lop off my head personally."

"Kenshin." Amaterasu says putting her hand on his shoulder.

Kenshin sighed and smirked again. "Ah fuck you for now Sanderson." "I've got way bigger fish to fry than you." "Come on Amaterasu-Chan." He says walking past the snake man with Amaterasu following close behind.

Sanderson turned his head to scowl at Kenshin's retreating form. "Hm...looks like someone needs a lesson in respect...hm hm." "Nothing says respect like death."

Amaterasu turned to Kenshin. "Whats his deal?" "He seems to be out to get you."

"He totally is." "His pride is insulted that a boy was able to beat a general like him." Kenshin snorted. "What he gets for underestimating me."

"Kenshin...I'd watch it around him if I were you." "I picked up a lot of ill intent coming from him." "I think he wants to kill you." Amaterasu said.

"So what if he does?" "I'm not concerned, Daiken would give him hell if he tried anything with one of his retainers." Kenshin shrugged. "Then again with him being the council's fuck boy I guess I should be a little concerned."

"Well let's just get to the emperor's office so you can ask him what you wanted to ask him." Amaterasu says grabbing his arm. Kenshin batted an eye toward her. "Shundou Amaterasu-Chan?"

"Yes." She replies. Kenshin nods and the two disappear from sight appearing in front of the palace or rather in front of Daiken's office. Amaterasu smiles. "Thanks now we can get this out of the way and start training."

Kenshin stared annoyed at the door in front of him with a light blush. "Yeah sure..." "What the flying fuck? !" "I'm blushing now? ! !"

"Ha ha ha!" "Oh this is too good!" Hikari laughs. "Some girl Kenshin doesn't even know is getting a rise out of him!"

"Who...is this girl?" Mirai wonders.

Kenshin knocks at the door. "Daiken-Sama." "Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki reporting back from China."

"You've been to China?" Amaterasu asks. "Ah man I wanna go there someday."

"I'll take you." Kenshin says then slaps a hand over his mouth.

"You will?" "Thanks!" Amaterasu says smacking him on the back. Kenshin stares down at the ground embarrassed. "Why the fuck did I say that? !"

"Enter." Kenshin opens the door and walks in Amaterasu following him in. Daiken blinks seeing the latter. "Ahem...Kenshin I know I offered you an arranged marriage with Theodora, but did you have to be so quick to refuse by picking up a girlfriend?"

Kenshin who had just taken a drink of water began choking. "D-Daiken (cough) sh-she's not (hack) my girl (cough) friend!" "I'm freakin' ten!"

"With the mindset of a mentally unstable adult." Daiken commented. "Anyway what happened in China." "The gateport reported you appearing there." "Why not just use the one in China?"

"Well the job went well." "Hell I even ran into my sisters and they helped me out." Kenshin says. Amaterasu turned her head toward him not that he noticed. "So...that's what they were doing." "Jeez they could have told me!"

"OK then what happened?" Daiken asks.

"Well as we were coming up to the gateport I tried to get Seras to activate it only for some boy to tell me that the gateport was out of order." Kenshin explains. "He called himself Tertium Averruncus."

Daiken and Amaterasu's eyes widen a margin at the mention of Tertium. "I see." "Go on."

"He fought Tertium?" "While something was going wrong with his youki?" "Is he nuts? !" Amaterasu thought.

"We fought and although I don't like making excuses, but because of the problems with my youki causing exhaustion I lost." "He...relocated me I think it was and I passed out in a meadow only to wake up three days later in Eishun's mansion." "From there I made my way to the gateport and ran into her." Kenshin said.

"I see." "Anything else you'd like to report?" Daiken asked.

"The Life-Maker challenged me." Kenshin said. Daiken's eyes bugged out. "The Life-Maker? !"

"Huh?" "You never mentioned Dad challenging you." Amaterasu said confused.

"What? !" "You're his daughter? !" Daiken shouts.

"Daiken calm down will ya?" Kenshin said. "So what if she is his daughter?" "She told me that they aren't on speaking terms."

"Well...(sigh) the council is going to want to speak with her." Daiken says. Kenshin scowls. "With all due respect Daiken-Sama, but I don't want them anywhere near her."

"Hm?" Daiken sounds. "You two sure you're not together?" "I mean Kenshin is awfully protective of you Amaterasu."

"Means nothing." "I just don't like the council." Kenshin said.

"Why?" "I've never taken you to them." Daiken said.

"I've heard enough to form my own opinion." Kenshin said. "Now then could I make a request?"

"Sure what is it?" Daiken asks. Kenshin sighs. "Crazy as it may seem I've accepted his challenge." Daiken went to say something only for Kenshin to hold his hand up. "Please let me finish." "Now I've told you how my mom's inner demon is inside of me right?"

"Well I think you said it was an imprint of her, but go on." Daiken says. Kenshin nods. "Well she told me that Life-Maker Hottan's power was weakened when Dad and Nagi beat him." "And she also mentioned a seal called the Yuusou Heiki on Mom's body limiting his power and control over her."

Amaterasu chose this time to snort. "Kinda amusing that he possessed a childlike demon's body and now a female."

"Ain't it?" Kenshin replies. "Anyway I believe with some training I could take him down." "I need your approval to use the Diorama Sphere."

"Well it's fine if you want to use the Diorama Sphere, but did you say the Life-Maker's name was Hottan?" Daiken asks. Kenshin stares at him oddly. "Yeah?" "Did I stutter?"

"No Kenshin you just don't get it." "Hottan created this world." "To think he was the Life-Maker that tried to end the world 20 years ago…." Daiken said.

"Well he can be stopped that's the good part." Kenshin said.

"Alright then very well." "I need you to appear before the council in one week to approve this." "If you screw up he could come after us." Daiken said.

"I won't let that happen, but OK." Kenshin says. Daiken gets up and goes to a door behind him unlocking it. "The Diorama Sphere is back here." "Go." "In any case you could use training."

"Right?" Kenshin said as he and Amaterasu walked into the room and disappeared into the sphere. Daiken heard the door open and turned around. "Ah." "I was wondering when I was going to see you again." "I suppose that you want to follow him in?" He gets a nod. "Well do you mind waiting a bit he just went in?" Another nod. "So...now do you believe me?" "I mean the whole reason I told him you were in China was so I could get him out of here." "On the other hand hiring someone to pose as you was...unnecessary."

"I already know that Daiken." "Seeing as Yukari and Miyuki were there must mean you either have a leak in your intel or they were around and beat Kenshin to China." Ryuushin pointed out.

"Well I wouldn't doubt the leak." "The council does like to screw me over." Daiken said.

"Still letting them walk all over you?" Ryuushin said. "Look I know it's not my place to judge, but you really need to put your foot down with them."

"Y'know." "Kenshin said sort of the same thing." Daiken said. "But there are other matters to attend to." "Whether or not Kenshin's approved by the council he's going to go after Hottan regardless." "I've seen a few men like him." "The kind that wouldn't let anyone stand in their way." He finished. "So you can't hide from him forever."

"I know." "I was planning on watching him train and keep an eye on him as he's fighting the Life-Maker stepping in when he's gone in too deep so to speak." Ryuushin says. "I...do plan of facing him, but..."

"But you're just not sure how." "It's understandable." "I wasn't sure on how to tell Noka or Theo that we were at war at first." "But I eventually faced it before they found out." Daiken said.

"You've got your way of doing things Daiken...and I've got mine." Ryuushin said. "Now could I go in?"

"Yeah, but be aware that you Kenshin and that girl Amaterasu will be spending 7 regular days in the Diorama Sphere so that's about seventy days in there." Daiken said.

Ryuushin had already gotten up and made his way toward the sphere. "Yeah Yeah." He disappeared into the sphere. Daiken sighs looking out the window. "He's going to find you eventually Ryuushin."

"Daiken-kun." A soft almost majestic sounding voice rang. Daiken turned his head toward his office door. "Oh Noka." "How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright." "The Rikudou organization sent this for you." Noka says handing him a sealed envelope. Daiken took it and opened it. Motioning for Noka to close the door Daiken read the contents aloud. "One of the nine generals is planning to kill your retainers Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki as well as Shirota Mesa." "Wherever they go you go with them- Jouhou."

"Well it seems he has a point." "If you're constantly around them no one would have the guts to do anything." Noka said. Daiken sighed a pulled out a large bottle of whiskey pouring two glasses. "I know that." "It's just getting really frustrating with the larger half of the councilors constantly trying to usurp power from me."

Noka grabbed the second glass taking a sip. "Didn't you start drinking like this when they told you that when you die the imperial power would rest with them instead of Theo and I?"

(sigh) "Yes." "I'm sorry Noka, but I don't really know how to combat this." Daiken said swallowing down his glass in one gulp. (cough) "Dammit." "Is the door locked?"

Noka nods. "It is."

"Good." "I'd rather no one saw me like this." "Much less Theodora." Daiken then turned to scowl at the large stack of paperwork on his desk. "Those scumbags keep my paperwork stacked this high constantly so by the time I get to the meetings I'm so mentally exhausted my attention loops in and out trying to listen to them."

Noka sighs. "Then allow me to stand in for you." "I'd love for them to try to say something."

"I have to do something I can't keep this shit up." Daiken says sighing.

(break)

25 days in the Diorama sphere later.

With Kenshin.

Amaterasu and Kenshin were sparring. "Come on Kenshin-kun you got to pick this up!" She shouts thrusting her blade toward his stomach. Kenshin quickly grabbed her wrist and flung her to the side before dashing at her. "This ain't as easy as you might think." He says spinning the naginata before clashing it against hers. "Unlike you I haven't had a few thousand years to prefect my art." Kenshin then slapped one of his charms on her and jumped backward already forming a hand sign. "Charm-Sam Charm-Sam, electrify my enemy!" "Raimei Jumon!"

Lightning crackled around Amaterasu's body causing her to yelp in pain. Kenshin lunged toward her slashing upward. His eye widened as his naginata cut her in half. He then felt her naginata press against his throat. "Tsk Tsk." "Too bad Kenshin-kun." "You lose again."

Kenshin turned to her with a light smirk. "Did I now?" "The fact that you've dabbled in eastern magic kinda lost it's surprising effect after our first spar." Kenshin's body then puffed in smoke being replaced by a small body shaped stencil with his name on it.

Amaterasu then felt his naginata press against her own throat. "Hm hm." "And just when did you make the clone?"

"Whatever led you to believe that I didn't have you fighting the clone the entire time?" Kenshin asks.

"Well that's all well and good, but you can't learn a damn thing if you don't fight me yourself." Amaterasu told him.

"OK OK." "When I threw down the charm for HyouMenka Suimon and used Katensho the water to coat the area in a mist." Kenshin says. "Hey making strategies is part of fighting too."

"Of course it is." Amaterasu said as Kenshin lowered his naginata. "I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up about you mastering the art in the amount of time we have left." "It takes a year at the very least."

"Well let's just work with what we got." "Between you training me in Naginatajutsu and me...well training myself pretty much in the Shinigami abilities I'm pretty much good on additional training." Kenshin looks up at the sky. "You wanna call it a night?" "It's getting pretty late."

"Sure." Amaterasu said putting her naginata away. "Is it that feeling again?"

"Yeah." "I want to fight Hottan, but at the same time...I'm kinda nervous." Kenshin said. Amaterasu nods walking over to him. "It's no big deal." "You're just anxious." "You want to get it over with so you can get your sisters and mother back." She said.

"Yeah, but what happens to you?" "What if you're old man's still a basket case and I have to kil-" Kenshin was cut off by a pair of lips pressing against his cheek. "So what?" Amaterasu says. "If he still nuts after this then it shows that he wasn't ever going to change." "I'll still be here." She said. "Now if you don't mind I'm going to go take a bath." "See ya." Amaterasu said walking away from him.

Kenshin nods laying down on the ground. He takes out the stencil he was using against Amaterasu and stares at it. "What is it about her?" "That makes me want to protect her?" "Despite my mentality I'm only ten." "I can't have fallen for her much less this quickly." "Hah I need to sleep on it." "Mom's inner demon and Mirai said I could have the night off." Kenshin sighs undoing his eyepatch and closing his eyes falling asleep.

Suddenly Ryuushin appears and stands over Kenshin's body. He then crouches down taking a knee as if to get a closer look. "No matter how many times I see it..." "It doesn't make it any easier to handle."

Ryuushin brushed a few strands of hair out of Kenshin's face. "You seem so peaceful right now." "Oh what I would give...to erase the pain...you went through."

"How long and how many times are you going to do this?" A voice called out to him. Ryuushin's eyes widened. "Well?" "Oyaji?" Ryuushin turned around to find Kenshin glaring at him.

"Kenshin...I" Ryuushin started to say only for Kenshin to bury his fist into the side of his father's face. "I don't want to fucking hear it!" Kenshin said as his clone got up off the ground and stood up next to him. "Why? !" "Why? !" Kenshin shouts angrily. "Why did you see fit to keep secrets from me? ! !"

Ryuushin stared down at the ground. "Kenshin I couldn't possibly tell you that I destroyed an entire village outpost out of rage!"

"Cause you were afraid I'd accidentally sell you out? !" Kenshin yells.

"No!" Ryuushin says. "Y-You were just too innocent!" "I-I didn't want to taint that, by telling you such things!"

"Gee really worked out for ya didn't it?" Kenshin snaps sarcastically. "I end up losing my so called innocence during a four year torture at Megalomesembria."

"Kenshin...I know you must hate me for this...so if you want to take your anger out on me go ahead." "If you want to kill me then fine." "But...I never intended to have pain befall you."

Kenshin unsheathed Shiroi Tengoku and pointed it at Ryuushin's chin who closed his eyes anticipating his son's next move. Kenshin set the blade along his arm and cocked his fist back. "Baka...Oyaji! !" He shouts punching his father in the jaw again. Ryuushin opened his eyes and looked over at Kenshin. "Kenshin...are you not mad?"

"Of course I am!" Kenshin shouts his eyes squeezed shut. "But it pisses me off more...that you would actually suggest I kill you!" "What would I tell Yukari-Chan and Miyuki-Chan huh? !" "What about Kaa-Chan? !" "You fucking moron!"

Ryuushin stared as tears came rushing out of Kenshin's eyes. "I-I just want to know...why couldn't you tell me anything..."

Ryuushin sprung up wrapping his arms around Kenshin. "Kenshin...son...I-I'm so sorry." "Your father made a huge mistake that hurt you." "Can...you ever forgive me?"

Kenshin backed away. "On one condition." "I want there to be no more secrets." "I want to know everything from your past...from you personally."

"That's fine." Ryuushin said. "But...could we hold off on that till we get your mother back?" "I'd...like to have her there when I tell you."

Kenshin sighs and nods. "Alright." "But could you answer one question for me?"

"What?" Ryuushin asks. Kenshin closes his eyes "Who is Kenshin?"

"Huh?" "Kenshin is you." Ryuushin answers. Kenshin shakes his head. "No no no." "When Hottan challenged me he mentioned someone named Kenshin who fought alongside you and Mom and the rest of the Ala Rubra."

Ryuushin's eyes softened. "I see." "Well Kenshin...that Kenshin you're talking about was actually an old friend of your mother's and mine." "He...ha ha...he had a bit of a crush on your mother." "He was a pretty strong bastard to boot." "He defended an entire fleet of ships while the rest of us brought down the Cosmo Entelecheia."

"Man...what happened to that guy?" "I'd like to meet him." Kenshin said. "Um Kenshin did you forget?" Mirai says.

"Well Kenshin...the thing is no one can really meet him anymore these days." "That battle I mentioned cost him his life." Ryuushin said. "Hikari and I actually named you after him in his memory."

"Oh." Kenshin said then the two heard footsteps walking up to them. "Kenshin is everything alright?" "I heard yelling and fighting."

Kenshin looked over. "Huh?" "Oh yeah Amaterasu-Chan it's nothing." "The old man and I were just having a family venting session."

"Oh this is your father?"/ "I'm only 29 you little shit." Amaterasu and Ryuushin said.

"Whatever." "Anyway Amaterasu-Chan I'm going to go train." "I kinda could sleep anyway." Kenshin says walking away. Ryuushin turned to stare at Amaterasu who blinked. "What?"

"You're using a spell on him aren't you?" Ryuushin said. Amaterasu shook her head. "No I'm not." She said turning around to walk away. Ryuushin used Shundou to stand in her way. "Don't lie to me." "You cast a mild love spell on him didn't you?" "His mentality is broken enough to where he couldn't notice it."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Amaterasu said stammering slightly.

Ryuushin turned around. "Tch I bet you don't." "Y'know I don't really mind if you take a liking to Kenshin, but I'm warning you." "Do not hurt him." "He's been through enough." "Be you man or woman if you hurt my children I'll deal back the same measure to you." Ryuushin vanished leaving Amaterasu to her thoughts. "Does he know who I am?" "I...never intended to hurt Kenshin-kun." "It's just that I wanted to get my own father back."

Ryuushin stood behind a rock and let out a light smile. "Well." "If that's all I can let it slide." He vanished again and reappeared again to see Kenshin with Ryuujin's Avarice activated. "Huh?" "What's he doing?"

"C-Come on!" "Fight it!" Kenshin shouts looking at his arms which already had black scales covering his red scales. "Kenshin deactivate Ryuujin's Avarice for now." Mirai said. "If you do it any longer you'll lose it again."

"J-Just a little longer!" Kenshin thought.

"Kenshin." Ryuushin said gaining his attention.

"Huh?" "Dad?" Kenshin said. "What's up?" He said deactivating Ryuujin's Avarice.

"What are you doing?" Ryuushin asks. After Kenshin explained what he was doing Ryuushin stared at him oddly. "Losing control of yourself?" "That never happened to me." "You sure you aren't activating the Shinigami's powers when you do that?"

"Positive." Kenshin sighed and told Ryuushin about his predicament. "I see." "Well Kenshin I hate to say it, but you might not be able to combat Ryuujin's will at your age." "No matter what you've been through your mind hasn't developed fully yet." "So long as that is he will always beat your will."

"Why don't I believe you?" Kenshin said staring at him oddly feeling insulted. "I was able to resist him for thirty minutes just yesterday."

"Well there have been some exceptions." "But don't you have to train the Shinigami's power as well?"

"I have." Kenshin said as his hair dyed white. "Man Man Terro Terro:" "Veniant Spiritus Aeriales Fulgurientes! Cum Fulguratione Flet Tempestas Austrina!" "Iovis Tempestas Fulgriens!"

Ryuushin stared as the attack sprang to life and condensed into a ball in Kenshin's hand. "Spell...Assimilation!" Kenshin intoned groaning as the spell absorbed into him. Lightning starting crackling around his body as his hair shifted to a light violet shade. Kenshin set his blades to the side and raised his hand. "Fight me." "I haven't really tested the limits of my assimilation yet."

Ryuushin nods and unsheathes his sword. Kenshin stares for a moment before vanishing. Ryuushin blinked as Kenshin appeared right in front of him. "What the?" "Gruoh!" Ryuushin grunts as Kenshin buried his palm into his father's stomach. Ryuushin punched toward Kenshin's head only for him to dodge in the blink of an eye. "Hm." "He's gotten way faster, but not overly so that I can't track him." Ryuushin closed his eyes and listened. He then stabbed his sword into the ground and punched to the left catching Kenshin in the jaw. "Gotcha." He said smirking. Kenshin himself smirked and bent his arm driving his elbow into his father's ribs. Ryuushin grabbed Kenshin's arm and tossed him away.

Kenshin stood up and set his fists together bowing slightly as his assimilation cut out. "Hm...a minute." "Eh that's plenty of time."

"I bet it is." Ryuushin said then looked at him curiously. "Are you practicing Chinese Kempo?"

"Trying." Kenshin rushing toward Ryuushin punching toward him, Ryuushin caught his fist with his left hand and lifted him up. Kenshin drove his knee toward his father's head only for Ryuushin to block it with his right hand and throw him back. Kenshin noticed Ryuushin grabbing his sword and hastily dove for his own. However it was too late. "Katensho!"

Kenshin's eyes widened as his left eye glew brightly the attack engulfing him.

Ryuushin walked toward his son who was laying on the ground. "You're getting better."

Kenshin stared at him with his left eye closed. "Heh heh." "You're still the best though."

"Give it some time son." "You're going to surpass this so called old man someday." Ryuushin said smiling. "I've been meaning to ask." Ryuushin said taking a seat. "What's with the eye?"

"Kenshin." "Let me explain it to him." Hikari said.

"Uh Dad." "This is gonna sound really weird, but Mom wants to talk to you." Kenshin said.

"Huh?" Ryuushin said cluelessly. "What are you talking about?" He got no response as Kenshin's right eye shifted from blue to green.

"Ryuushin." Said man blinked as his son said that in a lighter feminine voice. "Yes it's me." "Or rather I'm her inner demon."

"W-Wait...how exactly?" Ryuushin said. Hikari sighed explaining just what had happened the past four years. "Th-That...bastard!" Ryuushin shouts.

"Yeah." "I've been trying to keep his mind together." "It helps actually that he came to Hellas." "I mean other than Sanderson and a few others everyone's been really kind to him." "He just isn't receptive to it."

"He doesn't trust a lot of people anymore that's why." "I'm frankly surprised that he accepted me." Ryuushin said.

"He never blamed you." "He was just angry that you kept these things from him." Hikari says then asks "And are you stupid or something?" "'If you want to kill me go ahead.'"

"Well my bad." Ryuushin said annoyed. "I thought he was that mad."

"Well he wasn't." "And...Ryuushin." Hikari said.

"What?"

"This part your not going to like one bit." Hikari said as she had Kenshin's body unbutton the shirt he was wearing and pointed at Kenshin's heart. "Look at these scars."

"O...Ok." Ryuushin said leaning in. "What's so special about them?"

(sigh) "Ryuushin these...four scars...Kenshin put there himself." "H-He tried to commit suicide."

Ryuushin backed away in shock. "Wh-What?"

"If...Yukari and Miyuki didn't show up to heal him...he would have succeeded." Hikari said.

"No...no no...Dammit!" Ryuushin shouts.

"I'm...sorry." "He can hardly cry unless something is really hurting him emotionally." Hikari said. "The Megalomesembrians...really fucked him up."

"Dammit...I didn't want this...neither of us wanted this for Kenshin and Yukari." Ryuushin said struggling to keep it together. "I-I am going to make it up to all of our children...for not being there when they needed me." "Even if it takes me the rest of my life." He finished.

"Well...I'll let you get to that." Hikari said her voice tapering off. Kenshin's right eye shifted back to blue. "Dad?"

Ryuushin pulled Kenshin in close and held him there. "Kenshin...I'm...so sorry." "No...that doesn't even cut it."

"Dad...it's in the past." "It's something I did and I regret doing." "Doing so really hurt Yukari-Chan and Miyuki-Chan." "I've been thinking of ways to make it up to them for having to witness that." "If anyone should make it up to anyone it's me."

"Alright." "Let's...do so together then." Ryuushin said pulling away from Kenshin.

"Hey...Dad." "Can I ask another question?" Kenshin said.

"Shoot." Ryuushin told him. Kenshin nods. "Well it's about Mom." Ryuushin nods. "What is it?" Kenshin sighs looking up at the sky. "I've already asked her inner demon and I kinda want a second opinion, but...was she looking forward to having kids...or were we..." Ryuushin stopped him.

"Kenshin I already know what you want to ask." "Hikari...loved the fact that she was about to have you and Yukari." "I'm sure if she was here in my place finding out about this...she would have cried her eyes out and probably hugged you into a brief coma." Ryuushin said smiling. "And no you were not accidents...we intended to have you two." "Hell we were also planning on having Miyuki...just not so early."

"I see." "Thanks." Kenshin said.

"No problem." "Uh hey Kenshin." Ryuushin says. "How exactly do you feel about that Amaterasu girl?"

Kenshin blinked. "Well." "How exactly do I explain?" "We're friends, but...I just kinda really want to protect her." "I don't know what it is I mean I don't love her because of my age and not really knowing what that kind of love is, but she just seems like she wants someone to give a damn about her."

"Oh?" "And you feel like being that person?" Ryuushin asks.

"Yeah." "But anyway uh could you train me in some moves for Ryuujin's Avarice?" Kenshin asks.

"Alright."

(break)

45 days later.

The three had trained vigorously since that day and today was the day the council would hear Kenshin. Ryuushin was grilling Kenshin in the techniques he taught him using Ryuujin's Avarice.

"Alright Kenshin once more!"

"Right!" Kenshin shouts thrusting his left arm forward. "Scale Shuriken!" Six scales shot out of his palm and pierced through a tree causing it to topple.

"Nice." "Now try the Imari again." Ryuushin said.

"Hah." "Fine." Kenshin said holding out both palms as a small dark blue sphere of light light before Ryuushin shook his head. "No no no." "Blue always indicates that you haven't perfected it."

"I know, but I've been at it since you started teaching me." "With learning Naginatajutsu and expanding my armaments and being trained by Mom's inner demon I've been strapped for time."

"I know I know." "Just relax just because it isn't perfected doesn't mean you can't use it it just means the damage is lowered." "Fire it at that tree." Ryuushin said pointing at a tree 10 feet away.

Kenshin nods and points the sphere at the tree letting it go. It collided against the bark of the tree breaking it slightly making it creak before falling. "Hm." "Not bad it could cause some physical pain to distract them while you get up under their guard." Ryuushin says holding his left hand out away from him. "Now watch me."

Kenshin watched as a gray sphere roughly twice the size of his own appeared in Ryuushin's palm. It suddenly shot out into the clearing vaporizing a row of trees before expanding dramatically and taking out the whole section of woodland leaving a smoldering crater behind. "Wh-What the hell? !" Kenshin said stunned.

"My my that was powerful Ryuushin-San."

Both of them turned to see Amaterasu spinning her naginata. "Amaterasu-Chan when'd you get there?"

"I've been here." Amaterasu said. "So you ready?"

"Yeah." "About as ready as I'll ever be." Kenshin said.

Amaterasu smiled and walked up to Kenshin. "Well no matter what happens can you promise me something?"

"I thought I already was?" "Damn girl two promises off one fight?" Kenshin asks.

"Ah shush." Amaterasu said then kissed the boy on the cheek. "Just make sure you stay alive."

Kenshin blinked several times as Amaterasu walked by him and toward the warp point. Ryuushin chuckled. "Well well Kenshin I think she likes you." "Ha ha h-" (groan) Kenshin took his fist out of his father's stomach. "Shaddap." Kenshin made his way toward the warp point leaving his father alone. "Well this is it." "If I'm correct then if we wait any longer than we won't be able to get her back." "We're coming Hikari...just wait for us."

(break)

Daiken's Office

"Hey Daiken I'm done in here." Kenshin said walking back into said man's office. Kenshin and Ryuushin then noticed an extra occupant. "Eh?" "Eishun?" "What are you doin' here?"

"Well Kenshin I thought what better way to ensure you come back alive than to drag your ass back myself." Eishun said. "Ah Ryuushin I see you were in the area like Tsuruko told me."

"Yeah..." Ryuushin said. "Jeez I know she probably filled him in, but looking at us he should realize that we've moved on."

"Well Kenshin Eishun seems to want to accompany you to fight Hottan." Daiken says. Kenshin sniffed catching a scent. "Daiken there's a strange smell on your breath." "You been drinkin'?"

"No." "Something must be up with your nose." Daiken lied.

"Meh." "Maybe." Kenshin shrugged turning to Eishun. "Well I'd say the more the merrier, but what about Kono-Chan?" "If you wind up getting seriously injured what are we supposed to tell her?"

"I'll tell her it was a accident during a workout with Tsuruko." Eishun said. Kenshin sighs. "Alright."

"Well Kenshin the council waiting." Daiken said. Kenshin nods as the group walked toward the council chambers. Kenshin turned to Amaterasu. "Hey Amaterasu-Chan you wanna grab a bite to eat after this?" "I'll get ya those cinnamon buns ya like so much."

"OK." Amaterasu says smiling.

Eishun turned to Ryuushin. "Who is that?" Ryuushin shrugs. "Says she's the Life-Maker's little rugrat."

"Why doesn't that surprise me in the slightest?" Eishun said to himself. Ryuushin chuckled. "Because Kenshin's done weirder and you know it."

The group arrived at a large room where people were seated in a circle around them. Kenshin looked around that there were people above them as the seating arrangement towered above him. Kenshin estimated that there were about as many councilors in Hellas as there were Senators in Megalomesembria.

"So Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki." "Why have you come before us today?" A man asked.

Kenshin turned to him. "Did you not get the memo?"

"We already know officer, but we must ask why?" A woman asked. "Why undertake such a task? " "To think you can battle the Life-Maker is both foolish and arrogant."

Kenshin cracked an eyebrow upward. "Hm...correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Nagi Springfield a teenager when he and the also teenage ShinkuRyuu defeated the Life-Maker?" "Wasn't the man who defended the entire fleet of the combined forces of the three nations from Ryuujin himself only 15?"

"Ha!" "Comparing yourself to your father and the Thousand Master as well as the deceased Slayer of Ryuujin? !" "That's even more arrogant!"

Kenshin smirked at the woman. "Well I'm not as strong as them, but the Life-Maker isn't at full power either." "Then again what would you know about that?" "You and the better half of the councilors are too busy getting off on undermining Daiken's authority." About ten of the councilors shared a chuckle while the rest glared heatedly at the boy. "You will watch your tongue boy!" The same woman said.

Kenshin actually laughed at this. "Hah!" "Or what?" "You'll throw me in jail?" "Give me the Megalomesembria treatment?" "Well you know what happened to those jackasses?" "I killed them!"

"Daiken what are you waiting for? !" "Arrest this boy!"

"For what exactly?" Daiken said. "You insulted him and he's just speaking his mind." "Or did you forget that until I keel over you all have no power?" "Blake would you arrest him for that?"

A elderly man with gray hair shook his head. "Not at all Daiken-Sama." "It's actually quite humorous to see a boy piss the council off." "Sakara I keep telling you that you and the rest of the councilors need to remove that tree you all got jammed up your asses."

Kenshin turned to Blake smirking lightly. "I like him."

"Not only that." "Blake said. "I do not see what you all see in Jake Sanderson." "Without your backing he would be a lieutenant at the very best." "I believe Kenshin beating him so easily proves that." "Somo Arashi would have given the boy a real run for his money."

"Silence Blake." Sakara snapped "You know his conquest to defeat the Life-Maker will end in failure so why should we bother heeding his words?" Murmurs resounded throughout the council chambers.

Kenshin looked around. "So." "Am I to believe that you will be denying me?"

"That's right you little fool." Sakara said. "If you leave the capital either by the gateport or through the gates you will expelled from the Nine Divisions and place on our most wanted list."

"You can't do this!" "I will not allo-" Daiken goes to shout Kenshin however raised his hand cutting him off.

"Very well I understand and accept these demands." Kenshin said with his eye closed smiling. (A/N: Has his eyepatch back on.)

"Oh ho?" "A change of heart?" "Very well you may leave." Kenshin nods and walks out of the chamber. Ryuushin runs up to him with Amaterasu Daiken and Eishun behind him.

"Kenshin did we knock something loose training?" "What about the Life-Maker?" Ryuushin said.

"Eh sorry Dad I guess you gotta handle this." Kenshin says shrugging. "I can't leave."

"You sure?" Ryuushin asks. Kenshin nods. "Yeah." "Sorry." "Oh by the way here." Kenshin said handing Ryuushin a folded up note. "Don't open it until you get outta here OK?"

"Alright." "I'll be sure to bring them back for you." Ryuushin said. "Come on Eishun."

"See ya Dad Eishun." Kenshin said. "Come on Amaterasu let's go get those cinnamon buns."

"O-OK." Amaterasu said unsurely.

Daiken set his hand on Kenshin's shoulder. Kenshin jerked his shoulder away. He then handed Daiken another folded note. "I'm playing with Theo-Chan alright?"

Daiken stared at Kenshin confused as he and Amaterasu walked away. Daiken opened the note and held back a chuckle. It read

Daiken,

I'm sneaking out tonight and joining Dad." "Think you could vouch for me while I'm out?"

Kenshin.

Daiken folded the note back up and inserted it into his robes. He heard someone walking up behind him and turned to find Blake.

"Oh Blake." "What's going on?" Daiken asks.

"The council...has overstepped their boundaries numerous times ever since you had to convert them into the war council." "Your position is almost a figurehead leader."

"I know." Daiken said then got an idea. "Say Blake can you do me a favor?"

"Sure what is it?" Blake said.

Daiken handed him Kenshin's note. "I'm out with my daughter." "Noka's in charge till I get back."

Daiken left and Blake opened the note. He smiled reading it before putting it away. "Ah." "Well well." "Good luck." Blake said.

(break)

Later that night.

Kenshin walked up to Amaterasu who was asleep. "Amaterasu-Chan." "Wake up."

"Mmm...huh?" "Ah!" Kenshin slapped his hand over her mouth. "Shh Shh." "Relax." "It's just me."

"Dammit Kenshin!" She yelled with her voice muffled. "You scared the hell out of me!"

"I know I know get over it." "Let's go." Kenshin said uncovering her mouth.

"Go where?" Amaterasu said.

"Where else?" "To find your old man." Kenshin said as they began sneaking around.

"What about the councilors?" Amaterasu whispered.

"Who gives a fuck about what those old windbags think?" Kenshin whispered back.

"True." Amaterasu said. Kenshin came up to a corner and he looked past the corner seeing two soldiers shooting the breeze. "Come on Come on shut up and move on."

Kenshin groaned quietly when they did nothing refusing to move. He took out a roll of coins. "Shhh." He sounded to Amaterasu who nodded.

He then launched two coins at the men knocking them out cold. "Come on." Kenshin said taking off down the street with Amaterasu in tow. The two eventually came up to the city gates and Kenshin cursed seeing two more men. "Fucking hell they're wearing armor." "Rakansen's not gonna work here."

"Hold on Kenshin-kun." Amaterasu whispered. "Three people are coming."

"Damn." Kenshin formed a hand sign as his outfit turned back and he set a hand on her shoulder having the same effect. "At least with this they won't sense us."

The two watched as three figures walked up to the two gatekeepers. "Come on...head out so I can rush over and knock them out." Kenshin said.

Suddenly the two shorter figure drove their palms into the two gatekeepers stomachs driving the air out of them and incapacitating them. "What the?" Suddenly the tallest figure called out to him. "Kenshin you can come out now."

"Wait a second I know that voice." Kenshin thought as he canceled his technique and made his way toward the three.

"Hey Kenshin deciding to piss off the councilors are ya?"

"My my Kenshin-kun always the brash one are you?"

"Shirota Yuki?" "Daiken you're supposed to be vouching for me." Kenshin said.

"Blake's vouching for both of us." "I've left Noka in charge." Daiken said.

"Why are you coming with?" Kenshin asks. Daiken shrugged handing him the envelope. Kenshin opened it and narrowed his eyes. "So Sanderson's planning to off me and Shirota." He face then became one of disinterest. "What a surprise." "If you don't mind I'll be hanging on to this Daiken." Daiken shrugs. "Go for it." Kenshin threw a tag on the ground and made a handsign. "Come Forth Goki!"

A large green scaled dragon appeared in the tag's place. "Kenshin?" "What do you need?"

"Sense out Dad and Eishun and take us to them." "While your at it Tatsu sense out your brother Enkou." Kenshin said. Tatsu lowers his head. "Very well get on."

Kenshin Daiken Amaterasu Shirota and Yuki climbed on to the dragon sitting on his back or in Kenshin's case sitting on his head. "Tatsu whenever you're ready."

"Hang on to your asses back there!" Tatsu said taking off suddenly. Kenshin laughed turning to see the other four hanging on for dear life. "Aw come on it's not that bad! !"

"Says you!" Amaterasu shouts back.

"Yeah Kenshin what the hell? !" Shirota shouted.

"Actually he's right." Yuki said getting her bearings on the dragon. "It's actually pretty fun." "Just use magic to stick yourself to the dragon."

"Ugh thanks for the heads up Colonel Kirei." Daiken muttered. Yuki nods in response.

Kenshin squinted his eyes seeing something in the sky. "Shit a ship's coming!" Kenshin made a handsign and set his hand on Tatsu. "We're going camouflage Tatsu." Tatsu made a sound of approval as his scales turned black along with Kenshin's and the other passengers clothes. Kenshin began panting. "Come on." "Pass us already."

Kenshin looked into the windows of the ship seeing a few of the councilors that sided with Sakara and flipped them the bird. "Bitches."

The ship passed up Tatsu and Kenshin canceled his technique. "Woo!" "Damn!" "Never try to camo myself four people and my dragon at the same time ever again." "That shits exhausting!"

Amaterasu and Yuki walked up to Kenshin. "I can heal you." Yuki offered.

"Hey so can I." Amaterasu said sending an annoyed glare at Yuki who didn't notice it. Kenshin however did and sighed. "Amaterasu-Chan Yuki and Shirota back there are going steady relax." "And Yuki if you would please?"

"OK." Yuki said setting her hands on Kenshin's back. A faint light surrounded Kenshin's body as he felt his energy return. "Ah...much better." "Just a little more Yuki-Chan." Kenshin said.

"Alright." "Have you been training?" Yuki asks. "It feels like it."

"Yeah." "You can stop now by the way." Kenshin answers. Yuki nods and cuts off the flow of energy. Kenshin stands up and takes a package out of his shirt. "Hm." "I wonder why Somo had his wife make this for me?" "It wasn't really necessary." Kenshin unwrapped the package and found it was a long black jacket with a hood attached to it. He observed the bottom and noticed it looks cut up on purpose. "Heh." "Alright then." He slipped the jacket on and lifted the hood up.

"Kenshin we're coming up on your father and Eishun." "Enkou isn't with them, but two other people are." Tatsu said. "It seems that Ryuushin and Eishun are sleeping."

"Land then." Kenshin said. Tatsu nodded and came to a stop landing softly on the ground...well as about as softly as a large dragon can land. Kenshin climbed off with the rest and turned to Tatsu. "Stay here." "I'll be back shortly."

Kenshin and his group walked to where Ryuushin and Eishun was and found they were in fact asleep. Kenshin was about to kick Ryuushin awake when he picked up a scent. "What the...blood?" "It's coming from this way as well as two faint power levels." Kenshin said walking toward the scent.

He walked behind the rock it was coming from and his eye widened seeing two girls he recognized instantly battered and bloodied. "Oh...no..." "Yuki! !" "Come quick! !" He shouted panicked.

One of them opened their eyes and looked up. "N-Niichan...?"

Yuki showed up behind him and gasped. "O-Oh...my god" "D-Don't move I'll heal you!" She said crouching down and setting her hands on the girl's chest. "Cura!"

"Shirota Amaterasu-Chan wake Dad and Eishun up now!" Kenshin shouts taking out his spellbook. "Man Man Terro Terro:" "Tui Gratia Iovis Gratia Sit Cura!" Kenshin intoned as he set his hands over the other girl his hands already glowing. "H-Hang on Yukari-Chan!"

"N-Nnn...K-Kenshin-nii?" She said tiredly. "Yokatta...I...did manage to see you one last time."

"D-Don't talk like that you idiot!" Kenshin shouts increasing the flow of magic.

"M-Miyuki and I...tried to fight Mom." Yukari said. "W-We w-were utterly defeated and...cast aside like flies."

"Just relax!" "Don't talk everything will be alright!" Kenshin said.

"K-Kenshin-nii...if you find...Tou-San...tell him...Miyuki and I love...him." Yukari said closing her eyes.

"Yukari-Chan?" "Y-Yukari..." "Come on wake up!" Kenshin shouts then suddenly feels an hand on his shoulder. He turns to find Ryuushin looking down at him.

"Relax." "She just passed out." "She'll be fine as long as Yuki is here." Ryuushin said then sighed. "Dammit the both of them must have shown up while we were sleeping."

Kenshin sensed as far as he could and got a lock on Hottan's energy. Kenshin also sensed he sensed he wasn't alone as he picked up four others one he recognized as Tertium and a massive magic was releasing itself."Dad."

"What is it son?" Ryuushin asks. Kenshin turns to him standing up. "Could you stay behind with Yuki and Shirota?" "I want them to see a familiar face when they come to."

"But Kenshin yo-" The words died in Ryuushin's throat as he looked into Kenshin's eye. Despite the hard stare he could tell his son was pleading that he stay. "A-Alright."

"If my power starts to plummet rapidly come after me." Kenshin said. Ryuushin nods. "Fine...you're the only one that can get her back without killing her anyway." "Just remember to stay alive yourself."

"Of course." Kenshin said walking past Ryuushin. "There's only one person missing from this family." "There's no way I'll die without bringing her back."

He made his way toward Shirota Eishun Amaterasu and Daiken. "Shirota I need you to stay here with Dad and Yuki." "Do you mind?"

"No go ahead." Shirota said. Kenshin turned to Daiken. "Emperor this may sound disrespectful but can you fight anymore?" "Or have the councilors whittled you down to nothing?"

"Don't worry about me kid." "I can hold my own." Daiken said.

"You ready Eishun?" Kenshin asks. Eishun nods. "Bout as ready as I'll ever be."

"Amaterasu-Chan...I nee-"

"No." "I'm coming with you." Amaterasu said. "It's my father in your mother's body we're fighting." "If there's anyway I can help I will whether you like it or not."

Kenshin stared for a moment before smiling. "Very well then." "Onto the dragon." "Hey Tatsu!" "As soon as we're all on take off toward that huge magic!"

"Got it!" Tatsu shouts.

The four climbed on the dragon as it took off. "Kaa-Chan." "I'm on my way." "Just watch how strong I've become."

(Chapter end)

Draconis: Hello I'm a walking contradiction.

Kenshin: What makes you say that?

Draconis: I said I was gonna shorten up the chapters and this one's nearly 9k in word length.

Kenshin: Ah. Ha ha.

Draconis: Ah shaddap. Anyway next chapter we get into the battle against Tertium and the possessed Hikari.

Draconis678 out.