A/N: Just a simple chapter while I was on vacation! Now…I finally thought of something that I can use! Let's just say…curiosity killed the cat.

VIII

Kaoru had been in the palace long enough to know where everything was. So, when Kenshin requested that she come to his room instead of the throne room, she was a little stumped at where he wanted her to be. She took her normal route until she made it to the throne room. There were still guards there, but she was short one Kenshin. She asked one of the guards where his room was. Kaoru got a shrug.

"Where's Sojiro when you need him?" Kaoru begged and went across the throne room and started back the way she went to go to dinner. She was trying to follow the way that Kenshin had both entered and exited the first night they were at dinner. The guards only glanced as she went through the curtains. There was about another mile of hallway that she trekked through. At the first corner, she turned and started down. There weren't many doors, or many elaborate decorations that she had encountered. Maybe that's a sign, thought Kaoru as she went down. At the end of the hallway it wasn't a dead end, rather an eerie set of steps. She took them though. Only halfway down, the lights stopped, and she did she.

"This can't be the right way…" she drawled off. Taking one step forward, the rest of the way down lit up for her. "Well…then again. Maybe it is."

She went further down until on the first platform. There were no lights, but there was a set of two doors. There were sounds coming out that were not exactly something she would want to enter. She went down the next flight of steps with the lights flaming up as soon as she did. At the end of the steps, she realized that she was getting so far down that there were cobwebs. She paused at the second platform looking at a set of crimson double doors. There was a fire crackling inside and a sloshing of water. Kaoru stepped closer and pressed her ear against the door.

"Come!" a voice yelled. Kaoru pressed her books hard against her breast while backing away. "I said come!"

Kaoru gulped and grabbed one of the handles to push the door open. The room was extravagant with large open windows that smoke billowed out of it. The curtains rustled in the light wind. In the middle of the room, there was a man crouched over a small clay pot. She noticed that he wouldn't open his eyes. His head rose up. "You are not from about around here are you?"

"How do you…"

"Talk girl. Always talk."

"And you are?" Kaoru asked afraid to go closer. She saw the man's eyes open, but there was no need for him to. They didn't look toward her, but they didn't look away. They were covered by a thin film; hence the reason that he had kept them closed and could sense her.

"My name is Hiko, and I am nothing more than a mere potter."

"Why are you so far down…?"

Kaoru stepped closer to Hiko, noticing that he was the only other person than Sojiro who grasped his English well. She kneeled down.

"I like the peace down here," he turned back to the pottery and closed his eyes. "What is your name?"

"I'm Kaoru, Kamiya Kaoru."

"Na Kaoru, that's what I hear a lot. He must like you."

"Who?"

Hiko chuckled. As he was about to answer, the door flung open to Sojiro. "You shouldn't be in here Na Kaoru." He told her grabbing her upper arm. Kaoru helped herself up looking back to Hiko who'd opened his eyes again. Though they could not see, she noticed that he seemed disappointed.

"You came at the perfect time Sojiro."

""I'm sure you told her much consueta; now, she has a meeting with Sher Humapk."

"Oh, so she's the tutor, yes?"

"She's not much concern of you," Sojiro nearly snarled. His grip was tightening on Kaoru's arm, and the way that his expression was fueled was showing that he was less than happy.

"Sojiro, you don't need to get so mad," Kaoru pulled her arm away. She stared at Hiko who worked with delicate hands. Sitting next to him was a long sword, for protection she surmised. "K-Battosai is patient; let me make a new friend around here."

"You mustn't," Kaoru was jerked out the door. "Good bye Hiko."

The potter gave a shallow wave while Sojiro slammed the door shut. Kaoru had tightened her jaw, afraid to say anything. She supposed that maybe these two had never gotten along, but it seemed a little more than that. She stopped, which was forcing Sojiro to stop as well.

"Is there something bothering you?" he asked in a much kinder voice.

"What does consueta mean?" she asked. Sojiro just stared at her.

"It's just a title."

"But translated?"

"You must not bother yourself with him," Sojiro explained. "He is nothing…just a palace worker."

Kaoru found herself going up the steps and down the same hallway to a door that she had completely missed because it was completely hidden from her. Sojiro allowed himself in and bowed to where his head was at the floor.

"Sher Humapk, we are sorry for being late."

Kenshin merely nodded and had Sojiro shown away. Kaoru noted the eccentricity of the room. The largeness and how secluded it was. Like a catacomb. There were only window on the highest part of the ceiling showing in the light. The rest was scented candle. His walls were adorned with murals and weapons which reflected to Kaoru that he was a collector but wasn't violent. Kenshin himself was sitting on the floor reading one of the books that Kaoru had given him. She kneeled down across from him.

"You like it?"

"Soht…its very gewd."

"Good."

"What's fer t'day?"

"I want you to improve on your spelling and I will be reading aloud."

"Sounds gewd."

"gOOd," she stretched out the 'O'.

"Wat?"

"Use the vowel O," she explained. "Try using the word good."

"Gowd."

"No W sound. GOOD…"

"Good."

"Nice, very nice."

"Tank you."

"Now, here's paper and you have the pen I take it?"

Kenshin pulled up the feathery pen she had yet to break him of. "I'm going to give you a little quiz on things that we've talked about alright?"

"Soht."

"If you have trouble, try listening to the sounds alright?"

"Soht."

"I have a question to ask you first though," she whispered.

"Wat?"

"Well, it was just something I heard. I thought that maybe you could tell me what it means."Kenshin waited for her to say something. "It's uh…consueta…I think."

Kenshin's eyebrows furrowed.

"Where did you 'ear tat?"

"I don't remember I just heard it."

"Et es a derogatory word."

"Nice."

"Wat?"

"Usage of that word."

"Tank you."

Kenshin lowered his eyes to the floor. "It alm'st mean 'monster' or 'outsider' sometime 'unwanted'."

"Why would someone call someone else that?" Kaoru asked curiously. Kenshin shrugged.

"Et es sometimes used fer outlander…like you. But…for our people et es used for one who doden't belong."

"Oh."

Kenshin smiled to her. "Where you heard et must 'ave been someting not emportant."

"Alright. Thank you."

"Soht."

"Now, to the test."

Afterword, Kaoru questioned whether Hiko was really such a person. Then she remembered something that told her it was the blindness that made him unwanted. She brought it upon herself, by using her free time, to wander back down there and get to know Hiko. If she could get away from Sojiro for a long enough amount of time.

That same afternoon, Kaoru sat in the throne room carrying conversation with Kenshin and staring out. The summer was taking its toll. Kaoru felt her light clothes sticking to her back slick with sweat. Sojiro was nowhere to be seen but he was probably close by. She rose almost abruptly.

"Can I wander the palace?" she asked though she'd done it many times before.

"Soht," Kenshin nodded.

"Can you ask Sojiro not o follow me?" Kenshin was still staring at her with these innocent eyes. "I just don't like commentary…that's all."

"I can see what I can do."

Kaoru worked her way down to the second platform. There was a different sound that Kaoru was not sure of. It sounded like feet moving. The fire was no longer crackling. "Come!"

Kaoru pushed the door open to reveal Hiko with the sword out and practicing. He stopped though and turned his body Kaoru's way. "You came back?"

"This time Sojiro won't be coming."

"You must be using Kenshin as your cover right?"

Kaoru was about to answer, but remembered something that Sojiro had told her. He had told her not many people knew the Emperor's real name: his mother, his father and the priest. Unless this man was actually a woman, Kaoru took the wild guess in saying that this was Kenshin's father. It didn't seem likely though. He was much taller than Kenshin, even taller than Sano who was the tallest she had seen. He didn't bare much resemblance, but then she didn't think that it really mattered.

"I am."

"Take a seat."

Kaoru stepped over to a pillow set out next to the window. Hiko dropped in the same place that he was making the pot before. They were at a good distance but close enough that they would hear each other.

"Why have you come back?"

"I uh…" she choke don what to say. "I guess I wanted to get to know another person."

"Then why not go into town?"

"I thought that I could come down here," she leaned on the open window. "You're right, it is peaceful."

Hiko gave her this little smirk. "You are not exactly the type for peace are you?"

"I'm used to loud kids but…"

"Will you do me a favor?" Hiko interjected. Kaoru closed her mouth, nodded, and realized that Hiko couldn't see her do that.

"Yes."

"Could you tell Kenshin that…?"

"Come upstairs with me." Kaoru suggested. Hiko didn't let the idea shock him, but she did notice that he seemed a bit unnerved. He hummed.

"No."

"Why not?"

"People don't want me up there," Hiko nearly dipped venom. "Besides, I'm good down here."

"Come on," Kaoru stood up, but noticed that Hiko had already put a hand to her.

"Sit down Kaoru," Hiko told her. "You already asked, I supposed, what consueta means. Do you know why?" Hiko asked scowling. "You don't understand. This is a ruthless people. They do not care what you might be…but if you have something wrong, they will dismiss you. I like my place down here."

"They exile you because…?"Hiko nodded slowly. Kaoru lowered her head. "Why?"

"Must you really ask that? They think that I'm being punished. If this had happened when I was born, there would have been no question. But it just slowly went away, so the Gods are punishing me for something. The people think that I will infect them. It's how it has always worked."

"But Kenshin protects you right?"

"I don't need my son protecting me. I…"

"Then go upstairs."

Kaoru placed her hand on Hiko's to which he didn't move away as quickly as she thought he would. His hand gripped tight the sword as he rose to his six foot something height. He nearly shoved Kaoru away, but she realized that he didn't need any help. She smiled.

"You'll go then?"

"I need to speak with my idiot son," Hiko stated. Kaoru let herself laugh at Hiko for what he said. He pushed the door open, starting up the steps. She followed close behind, almost to make sure that he was alright. They were into the hallway quickly. Kaoru always second guessed herself going down the twists and turns of the palace but Hiko's feet never stopped. That was, until he reached the dining room entrance.

"Is there something wrong?" Kaoru asked, standing at Hiko's side. He took a step forward, moving the curtain out of the way. He closed the feared eyes and strode through with confidence. With quick observation, Kaoru realized the guards were looking unsure, slightly angered at the presence. At the threshold of the throne room the confidence seemed over-rided, but not with something that was taking it away. His long strides inched him toward his son, putting a hand on the slim shoulder. Kenshin turned and smiled.

"Hello," he greeted. Hiko sat on his heels next to his son.

"Have you been speaking to Shishio?"Hiko asked in their tongue.

"Soht."

"He has been talking behind your back."

"About what?"

"He seems to want to over throw you."

"He can't. He is at a holy position," Kenshin tried to argue. "This is what you've come to tell me?"

"Of course. You think I'd start chatting about the weather?"

"It would have been a nice start."

Hiko shrugged. "He wants to reveal the truth."

"What truth?"

"You really think I'm about to tell you in broad daylight? You know what truth."

"Oh…"Kenshin put his cheek in his hand. "How will he?"

"He'll start with a child, children spread things quickly. It will sound like a rumor, until it gets into the palace."

"What do you want me to do? Get rid of the only man who can do what he can? Or tell him that I know something that I can't say out loud?"

"You need to find a way. Especially before the girl leaves."

"What does she have anything to do with this?"

Hiko shook his head. "If they find out your…well…you know… they'll look at her and think something I know you wouldn't want them thinking."

"You're very cryptic, you know that?"

"Thank you. I spend my days thinking of ways to annoying when we speak," Hiko said delighted.

"The silence hasn't changed your demeanor I see."

"I'm content." He admitted. Kenshin looked forward to the city, then around to the people in the room that were listening. They all returned to their business after he glanced around, but he noticed the way that they looked at Hiko. He was the one that was protecting Hiko, it was true. He was a God, and if he protected this man, then he must have been worth something. Apparently being the former ruler was not enough.

"Well, I've had a full day," Hiko said rising up. "I think I'll return to my peace."

"Stay," Kenshin said in English. "Please."

Hiko paused. "You may be Emperor, but you still can't ask or tell me to do anything."

Hiko walked away and past Kaoru with a smirk on his face. Kaoru took Hiko's seat nest to Kenshin asking,

"What was that all about?"

"Et was nuthing," Kenshin said. "Tank you, fer getting 'im out fer once."

"No problem," she said. "You're still not using the 'H' sound yet."

Kenshin gave a smile, but internally thought that this was going to be a pain.

A/N: So…is Kenshin really tainted or not…no eyes all ears for Hiko…please ignore that…it just works….till next time, KenSan out!