Negima! Springfield and Kuroshi Redux

by Draconis678

Revised edition of Springfield and Kuroshi. "I am here to tell mine and Negi Springfield's story will you lend a listening ear once more?" -Kenshin. OC-Centric at first then OC and Negi-centric. Fem and Teenage Negi.

10. Trial of the Wrongfully Accused

Draconis: Whelp here we are. The trial of Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki. (dons a judges outfit) Bring in the defendant.

Kenshin: Dude what the hell?

Draconis: What? I'm going to try to get you off.

Kenshin: Ewww.

Draconis: Not like that you little pervert! Jeez I'm surprised you even know that!

Hikari: What do you expect? My inner demon got a hold of him.

Draconis: Ugh fine let's just start.

Negima! Springfield and Kuroshi Redux.

Chapter 10

Trials of the Wrongfully Accused.

Draconis: Begin.

(start)

Miyuki was walking around in Somo's dreadnought when she noticed Kenshin standing outside on the deck. She walked out and called out to him.

"Niichan." "Aren't you cold?" Miyuki asks.

"No." "My blood already runs cold." Kenshin says. (sigh) "I'm sorry Miyuki." "Even if I'm about to die I shouldn't act cold toward you." He sat down. "Have a seat next to me."

"O-OK." Miyuki says. Kenshin turns toward Miyuki smiling. "You know I've hardly noticed, but you're kinda cute."

Miyuki blushes brushing some hair to the side of her face. "Th-Thank you." "N-Niichan...?"

"Hm?" Kenshin sounded. Miyuki wrapped her arms around him. "Niichan...I don't want you to leave."

Kenshin's eyes soften as he embraces his little sister. "Miyuki." "It's going to take a miracle to save me."

"Then one will happen!" Miyuki shouts. "I'm sure of it!"

Kenshin held back a chuckle. "OK." "I'll take your word for it."

Miyuki backed away and held out her hand. "Here."

"What is it?" Kenshin said. She places a purple piece of cloth in his hand. "It's a new eyepatch." "You lost your other one...so I made this one for you in one of the rooms in here that had a sewing machine."

Kenshin stared at it "It looks nice." "Too bad I won't wear it for long." "Thanks sis." "I'll put it on right now."

Miyuki shakes her head and takes the eye patch back. "Let me." She leaned toward Kenshin placing the eye patch over his left eye and tying it around his head. She blushes noticing how close she was to Kenshin. "O-Our lips a-are a-almost touching."

"Miyuki-Chan you done yet?" Kenshin said snapping her out of her daze.

"U-Um." "Y-Yes!" "Uh sorry Niichan I just remembered Mom needs me for something!" Miyuki said taking off.

Kenshin looked on as she ran back into the ship before sighing turning back toward the horizon. "How are you feeling?" Mirai asks.

"Like shit." Kenshin bluntly replies. (sigh) "Sorry Mirai." "I'm...just confused right now."

"On what you should be feeling?" Mirai guesses. Kenshin looks up. "Yeah." "On one hand I want to be happy that my family has been reunited, but at the same time now that I have the implications of what had to be done to do that have hit me like a Thousand Thunderbolts to the face."

"Are...you regretting what you did to escape Megalo?" Mirai asks. Kenshin shakes his head. "I will never regret doing that." He took out his pactio card staring at it. The picture was just of him in his normal clothes stroking his chin with a cocky smirk. "Mirai." "Would it be strange for me to say that I miss Amaterasu-Chan already?"

"No." "I know how your feeling." "You knew her for such a short time, but you feel as though you've known her all your life." "Like she's been walking next to you the whole time." Mirai says.

"Mirai." "You said you were me." "What exactly do you mean by that?" Kenshin asks.

"What are you talking about?" "It means what it means." Mirai says. Kenshin shakes his head. "No no no." "You said you were acting as my inner demon, but to act as my inner demon means that you aren't my inner demon in actuality." "Mirai...are you the soul of Mom and Dad's old friend trying to find peace?"

Mirai sighs. "No." "It's true I'm not your inner demon, but I am not that person."

"Then who?" Kenshin asks.

"I'd answer that, but someone's coming." Mirai says. Kenshin lifts his head continues staring at his pactio card.

"Thank you...Neechan." Mirai says. He hears someone walk up beside him and turns to find Arika. "What?"

"Why can't you tell him?" "He deserves to know does he not?" Arika says. "He's facing what could be his final moments."

"For me to tell him who I really am would mean one of us would have to die." Mirai says. "He is not ready to face me yet." "I'm just hoping he will succeed where I failed when the time comes."

"Are you looking at the pactio card Amaterasu gave you?"

Kenshin turns around and finds Yukari staring. "Uh...yeah." Yukari noticed that usual smartassed tone in his voice was gone. "Do you miss her?" Kenshin nods.

"I see." "You know she was our only friend when we served her bastard father." Yukari said. Kenshin stared. "She never brought you up." Yukari nods. "She probably didn't want to worry you at the time."

"I see." Kenshin says.

"I heard you talking to Miyuki." Yukari says. Kenshin sighs and stands up. "Wasn't really much said." "She told me she doesn't want me to leave I told her that it would take a miracle to save me now and she gave me this."

"I see," Yukari replies and hauls her hand back slapping Kenshin across the face. Expecting to hear an outburst she hauls her hand back again. She blinks as Kenshin turns toward the sky. "Kenshin-nii?"

"Yukari..." "I'm sorry." Kenshin says.

"For what?" Yukari asks. Kenshin looks her in the eyes and sighs. "For letting you get captured by them...and for...my suicide attempt."

"Kenshin-nii...?" Yukari said distantly. "He doesn't feel cold right now, but...depressed?"

Suddenly the intercom on the ship went off. "Attention all hands we will be landing in Hellas capital landing bay in ten minutes." "I repeat we will be landing at the capital in ten minutes."

"Heh." "And the bell gets louder." Kenshin says walking into the ship leaving his twin sister alone.

Kenshin arrived in the bridge of the ship where Somo and Ryuushin were waiting. He holds his hands out. "Slap the cuffs on me officer."

Somo sighs. "You're being awfully nonchalant about this Kenshin." "What's going on?"

"Nothing." "Just embracing the end is all." Kenshin said. Ryuushin sighs looking out the window seeing it rain again.

Kenshin looks outside as well. "Tch." "This rain follows me around like a goddamn bad omen." "If someone's up there telling me I'm down in the fucking dumps got the message thanks."

Somo went to say something but his communicator went off. "One moment." He says walking away.

"Lady Noka what is it?" "I'm on my way with Kenshin." Somo asks.

"I've received the tape and reviewed it myself." Noka says.

"And?" Somo said.

"Well just bring Kenshin in to the council room." "The judge and I will be waiting." "I'll handle his defense myself."

"Very well." "General Arashi out." Somo says.

"General Somo we are coming to a landing."

"Alright." "Kenshin could you go on with and wait at the landing bay with a few of my soldiers." "I need to have a word with Ryuushin."

"Feh." "Fine." Kenshin says walking off.

Ryuushin turns toward Somo. "What is it?"

"Ryuushin I think we have a good chance on getting Kenshin cleared on the murder charge." Somo says. Ryuushin visibly stiffens. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." "But I need you to wait at the gateport with your family." Somo says. Ryuushin goes to yell, but Somo holds up his hand. "Please listen." "We can clear Kenshin's name as Daiken's murderer, but the council and Sanderson might try something." "My division will protect him and the gateport worker will activate the gateport." "That's where you come in." "I need you Eishun Hikari Shirota Yuki and your daughters to power the damned thing so she can send you out of here."

"What about you?" "Won't the councilors be angry?" Ryuushin asks as Somo walks by him.

"Please." "Mine and my division's loyalties will always be with the royal family." Somo said. "A couple of the other divisions agree while the rest are on the fence barring that snake Sanderson's division."

"Alright." "What will be the signal?" Ryuushin asks.

"Listen or look for an explosion coming from the council chambers." Somo said.

(break)

Kenshin turned to the soldiers standing with him. "You know you don't have to act all stoic and shit." "I'm not going to do anything."

"We know that, but we are sensing for disturbances." One of them said.

"Ah." "So tell me...are you at all mad that I supposedly killed the emperor?" Kenshin asks trying to start a conversation.

"Yes." "However our anger is not directed at you."

"Hm?" "So you're all wise to the councilors BS?" Kenshin says.

"Ha ha." "That's one way of putting it." "That's one thing we like about you Kenshin-San." "You tell it like it is with no worry of stepping on peoples toes." "Such a quality is rare these days."

"Ain't it?" Kenshin says. "I just wish...the late emperor had that quality." "We wouldn't be in this position and I'd be in the infirmary resting."

"Yes, however do you happen to see the mountains of paperwork he constantly has on his desk?" "It may not seem like it, but that is really tiring." "He can't think straight when he gets to the meetings and the councilors know that."

"And it drives him to drink to excess." "You may not notice it, but I constantly smell whiskey on his breath when I was around him." Kenshin says. "By the way what's your name?"

"Ronald." "Ronald Sevensheep."

"Huh?" "Do you have a kid named Emily?" Kenshin asks.

"Yes?" "What about her?" Ronald asks.

"Well nothin', but I ran into her in Ariadne on my way to China." Kenshin says.

"Oh I see." "You were that boy she was talking about having met." Ronald said dusting off his black army uniform before tipping his cap. "Somo's coming." "Hold out your hands." Ronald says pulling out a set of cuffs and shackles. "Sorry, but it's protocol."

"I know I know." Kenshin says. He then hears someone calling out to him. He turns to find Theodora. "Oh crap."

"Kenshin!" Theodora shouts running up to him. She sees him in chains and turns to Ronald. "Colonel release him this instant!"

Ronald breathes inward going to say something, but was interrupted. "Princess I'm afraid we can't do that."

Theodora turns to see Somo disembarking with Ryuushin his family Eishun Shirota and Yuki. "Why the hell not? !"

Somo swallows a load of saliva in his mouth. "Because...your father is dead Theo."

Theodora's eyes widen as tears stream down her face. "N-No!"

Kenshin closes his eyes. "It's true Theo-Chan." "I was there when he died...there was nothing I could do."

"Th-Then why are you chained up? !" Theodora cried.

"Because...his murder is being pinned on me." Kenshin says.

"I don't believe that for a second!" Theodora shouts.

Miyuki turns to Yukari. "Neechan who is this and why is she crying over Niichan?"

"She's...the emperor's daughter." "And one of Kenshin-nii's closest friends." Yukari says.

"I'm sorry Theo-Chan, but it is what it is." Kenshin says. "Do...you have any last words to say to me?"

Kenshin's eye widened as Theodora's lips pressed against his. "I-I...love you."

Kenshin blinks several times. "Love me?" "But you're just..."

"Actually Kenshin." Ronald says. "The princess uses magic to remain a kid." "She knows what she's saying."

"I see." "Kinda sucks...I find out what that kind of love is and I'm probably going to be executed." Kenshin says. "Thanks Theodora...I'll carry your feelings with me." He finishes as Ronald and Somo escort him to the council chambers.

Ryuushin sighs and walks forward. "Hey Theo."

"Wh-What?" Theodora asks trying to regain her composure.

"Kenshin isn't going to be executed." Ryuushin says. "We aren't letting it happen."

"Huh?" Yukari Hikari and Miyuki all say. "You have a plan? !" Hikari pointed at him her eyes bugged out. "You of all people have a plan? !"

Ryuushin shoots his wife a disapproving glare. "I'm not a one hundred percent moron like Nagi." "Come on we're heading to the gateport." "You mind giving us a hand?"

Theodora wipes her eyes and nods shooting him a hardened gaze. "Yeah." "Let's go."

(break)

Council Chambers.

Kenshin is walked to the center of the the room where a woman with silverish hair a voluptuous body wearing robes with the crest of Hellas adorning them. She had gray eyes and was smiling warmly at him horns wrapped around her head similar to Daiken's and Theodora's. Next to her was a man wearing a black gown and was bald. He had scales running over his body. He had a wizened looking face and stared neutrally at him.

"Excuse me Somo-kun." "Could we unbind the defendant now that he's here?" The woman asks.

"Of course your majesty." Somo said cracking an unseen smirk as he and Ronald undid Kenshin's cuffs and shackles.

"Uh...thanks?" Kenshin says unsurely.

"I don't think we've been properly introduced Kenshin-kun." "My name is Noka." "The Empress of Hellas."

"Then why don't you have the power around here?" Ronald tapped Kenshin on the shoulder. "Remember what I said about paperwork being tiring?" "The councilors pulled a fast one on him."

"Oh." Kenshin says with a deflated look getting the gist of it.

"Anyway I'll be your defense attorney." "You do know what that is right?" Noka said. Kenshin shot her an annoyed scowl. "Of course I do." "Don't treat me like some kind of inept moron."

"Hm hm." "My apologies I didn't mean to." Noka said.

The bald scaled man stepped forward. "Very well seeing as the defendant is here the trial of Hellas v. Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki can now commence." "I, Judge Renji Kouna will preside Head Councilwoman Sakara." "State your case."

Sakara stepped into the center of the room. "The day before I ordered the defendant to remain in Hellas." "I-I was concerned for his well being as well as the capital's if he went and challenged Hellas."

"Tch." Kenshin sounded under his breath. "What a load."

"But he flagrantly disrespected myself and the council when we were just looking out for his best interest." Sakara said faking a sob.

"My best interest?" Kenshin said aloud. The judge turned to him. "Do you have something to add Kuroshi Tsuki?"

"Yeah." "If anybody bought that crap for a minute then she deserves an award." Kenshin says. "I know most of you councilors don't like me, but damn!" "If you're going to try to have me executed at least use the facts!"

Renji narrows his eyes. "And what part of what she said wasn't true?"

"The part where she's concerned about my well being." Kenshin answers. "She could give a fuck less about me." "Yes I was told to remain in the capital, but let me ask you something personal your honor."

"Your honor I object!" "This has nothing to do with the case at hand!" Sakara shouts.

"Overruled." Renji says then turned to Noka. "Your his attorney milady you ask his question for him."

"Very well." Noka says. Kenshin sighs and whispers in her ear. Noka turns to Renji. "Your honor have you lost your mother?"

"Yes." Renji says. "She died last year what of it?"

Kenshin whispers in Noka's ear again. "If you could get her back by any means necessary would you?" "Damning the consequences?"

Renji stroked his chin in thought. "I see." "I will neither confirm nor deny, but I see where the boy was coming from."

"What does the boy's mother and his honor's mother have to do with this? !" Sakara screeched.

"Tell me whose body was Hottan running around in?" Noka asks.

"Hikari Tsuki's what of it?" Sakara demanded.

"You idiot." "Hikari Tsuki...Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki." "See the similarity?" Kenshin says. "I'm her son!"

"The situation is bigger than your family you little fool!" "Hottan could march right down here and kill the rest of us like you killed the emperor!" Sakara shouts.

"Order! !" Renji shouts as both parties shut up. "Kenshin I realize that you like to tell things like they are, but keep it calm." "As for you Sakara." "The boy has not been found guilty by me of the murder of Emperor Daiken." "And the fact that his wife is acting as his defense tells me she believes that he is innocent."

"Sanderson." Sakara says. The snake man appears behind her. "Go fetch Eishun Konoe." "He's needed here."

Sanderson disappears and returns with the man in question. "Unhand me." Eishun snaps.

Renji turns toward him. "It is an honor to have a member of the Ala Rubra stand in our presence." "Eishun Konoe you have been called as a witness." "Stand next to me."

Eishun nods and walks over to the judge standing to face the two sets of people. Sakara dusts off her robes and walks over to Eishun. "Tell me Eishun Konoe." "Were you present when the Emperor was murdered?"

"No I was not." Eishun says. "Because no murder took place." "Kenshin his friend Amaterasu Daiken and I were all fighting against demons on the back of his summoned goki Tatsu." "The Life-Maker appeared and Kenshin began fighting him getting the better of him." "Amaterasu joined in an-"

"Ah ah never mind no further questions." Sakara said storming back.

Renji turned toward Kenshin and Noka. "Your witness."

Noka made her way toward Eishun. "Tell me." "What exactly happened in the events surrounding my husband's death?" "Wait." "Did they look like the events in this video?" Noka says sliding a video into a playback machine.

"I object!" "What does this have to do with the case?" Sakara said.

"Everything." Noka says. "Your honor I received this video from the Rikudou organization." "It is the untampered copy of what happened."

"Overruled Councilwoman." "Milady if you would play the tape?" Renji says.

The video played and Renji nods. "Is this really what happened?"

"Yes your honor." Eishun says. "Kenshin went on to successfully defeat Hottan albeit he nearly died, but a man like Hottan cannot be killed so easily."

Renji waves his hand. "You are dismissed." Eishun nods and leaves. "Well well." "In light of this evidence I must rule in favor of the defendant." "Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki is innocent of the charge of murder in the first degree of Emperor Daiken."

Kenshin turns toward Sakara. "Kinda funny that you take you're cues from Sanderson." "You're a tiger demigod I thought tigers killed snakes."

Sakara scowled at Kenshin as claws came out of her fingers. "Silence." She snarled as her beige colored fur began to stand on end. "I take orders from no one!" "Guards attack him!"

Kenshin turns looks around as various soldiers began running toward him. "Ah crap." Kenshin went to unsheathe his Kuroi Jigoku when Somo and Ronald stepped in front of and behind him respectively.

"Spec ops division!" "Defend Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki and her majesty and assist in their escape!" Somo shouts.

"Sir! !" Many voices shout running into the now empty council chambers.

Kenshin flashes next to Noka grabbing her wrist. "Come on!" "We gotta go!"

"My decree still stands boy!" "You will never serve in the nine divisions again and when we capture you...we'll kill you! !" Sakara screeches.

"Go take it up the ass from your boy toy ya cunt!" Kenshin shoots back taking off. Noka tried to gain her footing to no avail. Kenshin pulls her forward and scoops her up in his arms. "Just hang on your majesty!"

"Just Noka will do!" Noka said back to him.

"Whatever!" Kenshin said jumping from building to building. Suddenly nine soldiers surrounded Kenshin causing him to land. "This ain't good..." "I can't set you down and these guys probably want to kill you too."

"I wouldn't doubt it." Noka says. "With me gone they could marry Theodora with no ones say in the matter."

Kenshin scowls. "Those rat bastards."

Suddenly two figures wearing mage cloaks appeared and began fighting the soldiers. "Huh?" Kenshin said confused. Noka's eyes widen slightly. "Kenshin-kun keep moving these two are friendly they're with the Rikudou!"

"If you say so!" "Thanks guys!" Kenshin shouts jumping to the next building. One of the figures shot his hand out toward Kenshin as a small seal appeared on his back. "Tracer seal...applied."

"Toushi" "Finish them off!"

"Right!" The second figure clapped his hands together. "Kagetou!" (1 ) "Watch your step boys." Black columns shot through the mens hearts killing them. "Wouldn't want to have your shadow stab you."

Kenshin saw the gateport building coming into view and sense his families' energy coming from it. "Those...they planned this!" Kenshin landed and ran into the building. Theodora turned and saw the two. "Mom!" "Kenshin!"

"Sorry Theo-Chan not now." "This place is gonna be swarming in about thirty seconds." Kenshin says. "You!" "How long until it's ready? !"

"Shouldn't be long." "Just step into the gateport." The secretary says.

Kenshin nods. "Theo." "I ain't sure if I love you back yet, but can you give me some time to sort things out?"

"Yes!" Theodora says just glad to know he's alright.

"Yeah Yeah Yeah hurry up and get in here you can kiss later!" Yukari shouts.

"Right." "See ya Theo-Chan Lady Noka." Kenshin said running into the gateport. "Hey Miyuki-Chan you totally called it!" "Remind me not to doubt you!"

"Better not!" Miyuki shouts.

"Alright gate port activating in three two one!" The platform flashed brilliantly as Eishun Ryuushin Hikari Yukari Miyuki and Kenshin all vanished.

Theodora looked down. "Mom?"

"Yes Theodora?" Noka asks.

"Will I see him again?" Theodora asks.

"Oh I'm sure Kenshin-kun will find a way back here to visit." Noka says. "I'm also certain he returns your feelings, but he just needs to sort things out like he said."

"Lady Noka!" Noka turns to find Somo and Ronald running up to her and Theo. "Did they make it?"

"Yes." "They've all left Mundus Magicus." Noka said. "Did Jouhou-kun and Toushi-kun make it out of here?"

"Yes we 'handled' their removal." Somo says.

Noka turned back toward the gateport. "Good." "We're going to need them and Rikudou now." "More than ever."

(break)

Kyoto.

The group appeared at the pedestal and Yukari and Miyuki plopped down onto it. "I'm beat." Miyuki said.

"You're telling me." Yukari says.

"It'll pass." "Come on." Ryuushin said.

Kenshin threw on his jacket and flipped the hood on. "Yeah." "Lets...go."

"Kenshin are you alright?" Hikari asks.

"I'm fine." Kenshin replies not turning around to her.

Eishun walks up to Kenshin setting a hand on his shoulder and looking over at Yukari and Miyuki. "I'm going on ahead." "Would you three like to rest when we get to the house?"

"Yes!" "Sure..." "Fine." Miyuki Yukari and Kenshin all said.

"Kenshin you feeling alright?" "You can tell me no one else will hear you." Arika says.

"Arika...I got Kaa-Chan back, but now the entire freakin' magic world wants me dead." "It's only a matter of time before Ariadne's pressured into it." "I'm just confused on what to do next and it's bugging the hell out of me."

"I think it's more than that Kenshin." Arika says. "The entire world hates me as well if you remember correctly." "It's a pain that's hard to deal with." "To know you have almost no one to turn to." "That assassins could be coming after you at any time."

"Stop." "I-I don't want to hear any more." Kenshin thought clenching his fists.

"But that's not me I'm talking about." Arika says. "It's your father."

Kenshin's eye widens. "Dad?" "He...had to deal with this shit too?"

"Yes." "From Megalomesembria." "He's dealt with it for years." Arika says. "Because he had Hikari and later Nagi Albireo and I...then you and Yukari."

"Me?" Kenshin thought confused. "Why me?" "I was just a whiny little brat."

"Yes, but he wanted to protect you...from the life he had." "He tried so hard yet it happened anyway." Arika says. "He's probably going to tell you all sooner or later, but he led a life similar to your own." "From the time he was four to the time he was twelve...the citizens of Ryuu no Sato beat him mercilessly." "His grandfather tried vainly to stop it, but no one would listen." "He even protected Hikari whom he met when he was seven from it all." "Not only did he bear his own pain, but he took hers for her."

Miyuki looked over at Kenshin. "Niichan?" "Are you alright?"

Kenshin's head snapped up. "Ah..wh-why do you ask?"

Miyuki set her hand on his face before retracting it. "Why are you crying?"

"Huh?" "Kenshin-nii?" "What the hell are you crying about?" Yukari asks. "Are you relieved that you aren't going to be executed?"

Kenshin sighs. "Yeah." "That's it." "Can we quit talking about it?"

Ryuushin and Hikari stared at Kenshin. "What's your take on it Ryuushin?" Hikari asks.

"Something's up, but I don't think it's anything major or he would run off." Ryuushin replies. "Ask him about it when we get inside." He says seeing Eishun's house come into view.

"What are you going to do?" Hikari asks.

"Well I recall Nagi and Arika saying they had a kid." Ryuushin says. "He or She should be Miyuki's age." "So I thought I'd ask Eishun if he remembered where the kid is staying and we could go there."

"I see."

The three see Eishun standing at the door with a couple of red hand prints on his face. Ryuushin bit back a laugh. "In the doghouse?"

"Yes..." Eishun said. "Luckily my doghouse is pretty big compared to yours."

Ryuushin's eyebrow twitched. "OK Daddy Warbucks stop flaunting your wife's cash and come with me I need to ask you something."

Eishun chuckles. "Alright." "Uh kids we got plenty of rooms do you mind sleeping by yourselves?"

"No." Kenshin replies flatly walking inside.

"Three Two One." Eishun counted then a loud cheering was heard. "Ken-kun!"

"Konoka?" Yukari asks.

Eishun replies. "Yes."

"Hey Neechan can I sleep with you?" Miyuki asks.

Yukari looks down. "What's wrong with sleeping with Kenshin-nii?"

"Well..." Miyuki trails off pushing her fingers together. "Niichan looks like he wants to be alone right now."

Yukari sighs. "OK fine." "I kind of had stuff I wanted to think about alone though."

"Sorry." "I just don't want to be alone." Miyuki says.

Yukari grabs her sister's wrist walking inside. "It's fine."

Hikari walks inside to find Konoka and Setsuna playing. "Hey Onee-San!" Hikari looks down seeing Konoka. "Yes?"

"Are you Ken-kun's Kaa-Chan?" Konoka asks.

Hikari giggles at the cute look on Konoka's face when she asks. "Yes I am." "Do you happen to know where he went?" "I need to talk with him."

"He said he was feeling tired and went right to bed." "He's in the second room on the left." Konoka says pointing down the right hallway. "Oh...and could you tell him something?"

"Sure what is it Konoka-Chan?" Hikari asks.

"Thanks for telling Secchan to come back." Konoka says.

"OK I'll tell him." Hikari says ruffling the girl's hair and walking off

"Ojou-Sama I have to be leaving soon." "I just hope you know that." Setsuna says.

"I know." Konoka says smiling cheerfully. "You'll be back though right?"

Setsuna blushes lightly. "O-Of course."

Meanwhile Hikari walks into Kenshin's room and hears a light crying coming from the bed. "Ken-Chan?"

The crying suddenly stops. "K-Kaa-Chan?"

"Yes it's me." "What's wrong?" Hikari asks.

"N-Nothing." Kenshin says hurriedly wiping his eyes.

"Don't try lying to me." "Now tell me what's wrong." Hikari says sitting at the edge of the bed.

A loud sigh was heard as Kenshin turned around. "I was just remembering something Daiken told me before I left for China." "It didn't hit me then, but it hit me now."

"Kenshin..." "I know you feel guilty about him, bu-" Hikari was cut off. "It was about yours and Dad's past."

"Thanks Kenshin." "I'd...rather not have them know I'm here." Arika says.

"It's not about hiding the fact that your sealed in me...I just don't know how to tell them." Kenshin thought as Hikari spoke to him.

"What did he say?" Hikari asks.

"He...told me that Dad lived a childhood...like the one I lived." Kenshin says.

Hikari's eyes widen. "I-I see." "Speaking...of that." "She showed me what you went through."

"Then you know." Kenshin says looking down. "Still I don't think I have any room to bitch seeing as Dad had it worse."

Hikari sighs laying down on the bed looking her son in the eyes. "Kenshin...I don't think either of you had it worse than the other."

"What do you mean?" Kenshin asks.

"Well." "I don't think Ryuushin ever tried to kill himself." Hikari says.

"I'm sorry." Kenshin says. Hikari shakes her head. "It's in the past and you're here now." "Now as I was saying." "It's true that Ryuu-kun dealt with it twice as long as you and therefore dealt with twice as much crap, but he had someone to turn to...to confide in."

"You?" Kenshin asks. "Mmhm." "Not just me, but our grandfather." "You however didn't have anyone...in a physical sense." "You were alone." "Alone...and constantly in pain."

"Mom?" Kenshin says. "You're crying...?"

"Ah...s-sorry I'm supposed to the one you're confiding into and here I am unable to take the thought of it." Hikari says wiping her eyes. "But I guess any mother would cry at the thought of their child constantly being in pain."

Kenshin sighs and looks down. "What is it Ken-Chan?"

"Wh-When I first heard about you when I was four." "I was supposed to have been asleep, but I couldn't sleep and I heard Dad talking with Nagi and Albireo about you." Kenshin says "At...first I hated you...I wanted to know why you had left Dad and I behind." "Then Dad told me that you were kidnapped and I felt guilty about hating you."

"It's OK." "I understand." "When your father and I heard about our parents we wanted to hate them too, but...then our grandfather told us that they died when we were just infants." Hikari says.

"Mom." Kenshin says. Hikari smiles. "What is it?"

"C-Could...you stay here with me?" Kenshin says embarrassed.

"Sure." Hikari says wrapping her arms around her son hugging him into her chest. "Are you alright?" "Can you breathe?"

"Hai...it's warm." Kenshin says dozing off.

"Sweet dreams Ken-Chan." Hikari say closing her eyes.

The door cracked open slightly and Ryuushin looked in. He smiles. "Thanks Hikari." "You did better than I could have." He shuts the door and turns to Eishun who was standing behind him.

"So you're going to Wales to check on Nagi and Arika's child?" Eishun asks.

"Yeah." "We're thinking about staying there and watching over the kid like they did for me with Kenshin." Ryuushin says.

"Alright, but could you stay here for a couple of days?" "I'm sure Konoka would appreciate the company." Eishun says.

"Need help getting out of the doghouse?" Ryuushin guesses.

Eishun sighs. "Konaka was furious." "She demanded to know why I left without telling her myself." "Much less to help Kenshin with Hottan."

"Ah relax I'll give you a hand." Ryuushin chuckles.

"Thanks." Eishun says.

"Shouldn't be too hard I mean you weren't ungodly injured like the first time we dealt with him." Ryuushin says. "Come on lets go have a word with her." Eishun sighs and nods following Ryuushin.

(chapter end)

Draconis: OooooK so we won't actually find out about Rikudou this chapter.

Kenshin: (singing) Staying alive! Staying alive!

Draconis: (shakes head) Well anyway I kinda wanted to introduce Negi this chapter, but it woulda made the chapter too long for my tastes.

This is kind of the coming down chapter from the fighting in the last couple of chapters.

Anyway see you all next chapter.

Draconis678 out