Chapter 9: Hiko Seijirou and Himura Kenshin

Hiko walked towards his car, spinning his keys around his finger. He had a deep look on his face, and didn't stop until he spotted someone leaning against the passenger side of the car.

"Hajime," Hiko greeted promptly.

"I know what happened last night at Himura's house," Saitou said, puffing on his cigarette.

"Were you in on it?"

"No," Saitou's golden eyes turned to Hiko, but the rest of his body stood motionless. "-but I believe that I might know about why…"

"What? Tell me!"

"…Tell me…" Saitou blew smoke into the air. "Do you believe in reincarnation?"

"Why?"

Saitou drew some papers from his coat and held it out to Hiko.

"I did some research to see if Himura's family had something evil within it. I ended up tracing something completely different, and it all leads to one name."

"Battousai…" Hiko read.

"If you read through the whole thing, you find that the Battousai became a rurouni after the revolution. He had many enemies from his past life, which might explain a few things if I can find some more information, but that doesn't' really add to what you want."

"No…"

"Well, perhaps you'll be more interested when you find out what his real name is."

Hiko stared at him.

"His name was Shinta, but his master, whom I couldn't find anything on, renamed him. He became… Himura Kenshin. It's all right there. Read over it as many times as you like, but I believe it."

"You're a psycho, Saitou, did you know that?" Hiko asked, slipping the papers into his black bag. "I'm taking these with me."

"Do what you want. I can make copies, but I don't need them… I know all of it first-hand."

"What?" Hiko looked up, but Saitou had seemed to of disappeared. Hiko stared out at the parking lot. "How does he do that?"

-

Hiko pulled his car into the garage and closed it behind him. He then stepped into the kitchen. "Huh?" His eyes widened.

The house was spotless. There wasn't a corner not cleaned; everything was immaculate. Everything was organized as well. All the closed were washed, dried, folded. Not only that, but he smelled food, real food. "What the---"

"Hello, Hiko-san."

Kenshin turned around and smiled at him. He was wearing clothes that were much to big for him, and his sleeves were tied back so they wouldn't get in the way.

"Hiko-san, I'm sorry, but I had to leave the house," Kenshin said, pulling a pan from the stove and scooping some things onto a plate. "How come you didn't have any real food in your house?"

He set to plates of spaghetti on the table that was set.

"You… cooked dinner? ---and you cleaned my house?!"

"I had to have something to get my mind off of things… Can I borrow this?" He asked, holding up one of Hiko's c.ds. "It's really awesome, de gozaru yo."

"Hey, listen, kid, I-"

The phone rang.

"Hold that thought. Now… where's the phone?"

"On the hook, Hiko-san."

"Right," Hiko nodded at him then picked it up. "Hello?"

Kenshin sat down and began slurping his spaghetti, showing basically no manners at the moment. He smiled after he swallowed. "I do believe I've outdone myself this time, de gozaru yo."

Hiko came back into the kitchen, sat down, and began to eat. "This is… good!" He said, surprised.

"It's a lot better than ramen noodles and take-out, isn't it?" Kenshin beamed at him.

"I've been living off that crap for six and a half years."

"Hold on, I'll get something to drink… What do you want?"

"Sake."

"Is that… all you have?"

"Yeah," Hiko said.

"I'm not allowed to drink alcohol…"

"I won't tell if you won't. I know you don't want to drink water, right?"

"Oro…" Kenshin sweat dropped.

"Anyways, that was the police on the phone," Hiko said. Kenshin set the sake bottle and two sake cups on the table.

"What'd they want?" Kenshin asked drearily.

"They said that you should stay with me a little longer. I'm taking you back to your house to get your things… if you can handle it."

"I need some clothing… and my bed sheets… I'd like to have those… and there are a few things in the attic I'd like to get. Also… maybe… some photographs… de gozaru yo…" A glare shined on his glasses, hiding his eyes.

"Have you even thought about what I said?"

"Yes, Hiko-san… I've taken all of that into accord… and I understand that, but… It's still…" Kenshin then shoved his mouth full of food to avoid the conversation more.

"Well, I suppose you should have your first taste of sake," Hiko poured each of them a glass. "-but wipe your mouth! You have to show the sake respect."

"You didn't according to my six hour cleaning spree."

"Just drink it," Hiko said.

Kenshin wiped his mouth and then, copying Hiko, he held the glass up to his lips. He then sipped very calmly at it.

"This tastes… strange…" Kenshin said, feeling a change in his body.

"You learn to enjoy it."

"I never thought I was supposed to learn to enjoy things. Shouldn't I already enjoy them?"

"Well, sake only tastes the way you want it. You can only have it the way you want, just like making love."

"I'd rather not discuss such matters," Kenshin blushed. Hiko laughed.

"What's the matter, Himura? Am I making you uncomfortable?" Hiko chuckled.

"Hai, Hiko-san…" Kenshin lowered his head slightly and began sipping at his sake a little more.

"Whatever. All I know is that when I was your age, that was all I wanted to hear about," Hiko smirked as if he was reminiscing. Kenshin's eyes flattened. "Hey, don't give me that look. When you think about beautiful women, sake tastes its best."

"Really?" Kenshin said, suddenly interested.

"Yeah," Hiko said, slurping up the noodles of his spaghetti.

Kenshin closed his eyes and thought for a few minutes. A thought of a certain beautiful, blue-eyed cheerleader from school. He then took a sip of the sake, and it tasted surprisingly better. He opened his eyes and smiled, halfway in a haze.

"That's the first real smile I've seen on you since we met, even if it is a stupid one," Hiko said.

"O-Oro?" Kenshin blushed and began shoveling the food into his mouth.

"I take it you were thinking about a hot chick that you'll never have, right?"

Kenshin looked up at him, eyes wide that read perfectly. "Oh, no, I never thought like that," Hiko said. "… There's never been a woman I couldn't have." Kenshin sweat dropped, swallowing.

"You're a History teacher and a gym coach at a high school."

"Not if I don't tell them."

"Oro…" Kenshin almost fell into his spaghetti. They sat in silence while they ate, finishing off the spaghetti and sake.

Hiko took the dishes and laid them carelessly in the sink. Kenshin sat there, staring at where his plate once was.

"So…" Hiko said, turning on the sink and washing his hands. "When do you plan on going back to school?"

"Tomorrow."

"Seriously?" Hiko's eyes widened.

"Hai… I can't fall behind. I'm behind as it is."

"You're one incredible kid, kid," Hiko said.

"…"

Hiko could feel the unsettling feeling in his home. He knew he had to change the subject, but he didn't know how.

"Hiko-san, why do you have such a large house? You live alone, don't you?"

"Yeah," Hiko said, drying his hands.

"So, why did you-"

"I inherited this house when the rest of my family died off. I've lived in this house my whole life."

"Oh. So… what happened to them?"

"I don't wanna talk about it," Hiko said. "So, are you ready to go?"

"Okay," Kenshin stood up wiping his face with his napkin. "Oro!" He tripped over the chair leg and landed flat on his face.

"I guess you don't hold you alcohol very well," Hiko laughed, helping him up.

"I didn't really have that much, de gozaru yo!" Kenshin said.