Disclaimer: I casually approach a lawyer. "Guess what? I own Kenshin!
Mwa ha ha ha! Oh, look, a giant taco!" I then proceed to run away whilst
they are distracted so they can't track me down. Because the truth be, I
don't own Kenshin. Life's cruel, ne?
WARNING: Rated R, for just about everything! See the first warning. Yet another chapter the warning is for, now for the sexual and yaoi bits yare yare, you've all read the warnings, unless you're one of those morons that opens up the book in the middle, but if you are you have no right flaming because you didn't read the warnings! Standards rules apply. I shall also warn people who haven't caught the clue yet that I tend to get caught up in the response to the reviewers, so if you hate reading the prattle of the author feel free to skip on ahead to the chapter at any point in time.
Author's note: Hey, cool, after this we'll have broken the fifty reviews barrier! For some reason I think this is an amazing accomplishment (well, it is for me), and thus would like to dedicate this chapter to you, the amazing reviewers who made it all possible. What a cliche. Ugh, I need some coffee.
Now for my personal favourite section: Response to Reviewers!
Sakura Alex: Good to see you again! (You have exams every month? Ugh, how stressful. I thought four times a year was bad.) Thanks for your praise and support and your review! Love hearing from you. I think you've reviewed enough that I won't be offended if you call me Sinnatious-chan now. Sinnatious-san is just too dang formal for me.
Sailor Gotland: Heh heh.... I'm glad someone picked up on that line, I thought I was so funny.... well, not really, but I'm glad you got a chuckle out of it all the same. Gee, a lot of people are sure getting angry that Hiko isn't getting the clue. But let's stop and think about this - if someone close to you were acting strangely and you couldn't yourself remember doing anything to offend them or anything, would the thought even come to mind? Hiko isn't that thick, he just doesn't entertain the possibility because it would be too absurd to him in his ignorance..... for now. (Insert evil laugh in your choice of spelling here). BTW, feel free to pick, your picking made the reviews section into a forum again! (I always get a laugh out of that for some reason.) Thanks again for your review.
Vesca: Vesca's still hanging around! Hello! (Laughs). You're probably going to be getting really upset at me, because the 'big drunk' is still a couple of chapters away from figuring it out. Though we sure get close this chapter..... I insist that this all has a point, I'm not just trying to draw out the suspense to annoy you all, it's just that things have to happen in a certain way. If you think you can't handle another chapter of Kenshin torture, let's think about this - I jumped into this story at the middle, Kenshin's been doing this for months now..... Thank you for your review! Glad to see you're still reading.
MsJadey: Ack! She did it again! You're as bad as I am when it comes to reviewing and/or responding - it sure is easy to be carried away with length, isn't it? Good, though. Thanks for the more in-depth info on kissing in Japan, it about checks out with my albeit limited knowledge as well. However, though I do often like to make a point of writing fairly close to context, to omit the kissing I would have had to reconstruct the connotative signs of their relationship - to our western understanding, without the connotations associated with kissing and romantic love, it would have been a purely physical relationship, and in order to add depth I would have either had to go for sap or kindegarten denotative narration of emotions, both of which don't go terribly well with my writing style. Besides, in modern day Japan kissing and romantic love is as common-place as here (you only have to watch anime to know this) so I figure there's no harm in it. Interesting theory about Hiko/Kamatari fics, but I don't think this fic has reached enough people to really encourage a spate of any sort. Thanks for the compliment, though. You are getting better at the title thing, dammit, now I have to start making sure I put some real thought into titles, people are watching! I would like to point out that I am trying to avoid simple re-iteration of events - such as how Seductive Hiko appears again in this chapter, I think that makes three times, but each time in a different light and for a different function in the story - because otherwise that would be just boring. Just so you know (I thought I made it clear, but perhaps not), violent Hiko was looking for explanations into Kenshin's behaviour in the only way he knows how to. Jeez, you gave me a lot to reply to..... I would also like to note that though Kenshin's ki control is very good (as it obviously was in the series), I am not implying that he's better at it than Hiko, just that Hiko is noticing the effort Kenshin must be putting in to mask it from him and the subsequent suspicions. Hmmm, maybe Saitou could have defeated Kenshin at that point in time, but back as a teenager or in the second half of the Kyoto arc I would have to disagree (Yes, I am a rampant Kenshin worshipper). LOL - I'm intentionally trying to build up the suspense, but maybe I'm stringing you all out too far. You're all starting to get ahead of me, here. I don't want to rush to the end of this fic like I did in Servitude. Glad you liked the realism in the training scene, I love writing them, and one of the things Hiko said to Kenshin in one of the chapters was actually taken directly from the mouth of my sensei. Pity I can't kick butt like Kenshin does though..... Hey, someone actually read my bio! This amazes me, I'm not quite sure why. Ugh, I'd better stop it there, this response is so long maybe I should have just sent you E-Mail..... Thanks, though, I loved your review, gave me lots to think about! Cheers!
Crazy Girl Person: Get to work on 'I Wish' and your yaoi already! Maybe I really should start holding out. (There you go everyone, if I'm late with my next update you can blame Crazy Girl Person). I suppose I don't make Hiko pry too hard, mostly because I see Hiko as being an immensely private person thus couldn't see him being terribly nosy. You go to night school? (Cram school, cram school! I so hate cram schools.) Here's your coffee. It's so strong I have to get a license to make it. Congrats on your great marks. Seeing as this has nothing to do with anything, and I already spent about a page replying to MsJadey's amazingly long and in-depth review, I'd better just say thanks for the review and it's always great hearing from you! Your reviews always make me laugh.
Emz: Thanks for the tip on the penname, maybe I'll cruise around and check out your stories - they might not be as crap as you think, heck, I thought this story was going to be crap and wasn't even going to post it. And look at the response it's getting! (Laughs.) Thanks for the review, as always.
Wow, response to reviewers is reaaaaaaaallllly long. It's almost as long as the chapter. Sorry about that. Here's the chapter (finally.) Don't forget to read and review, but please remember not to flame!
_________________
Routine
Chapter 10 - Not Quite Revelations
By Sinnatious
************
Kenshin sighed to himself as he sat against the wall across from Hiko drinking his sake. His master hadn't even bothered to tell him to go to bed tonight - either the older man was becoming used to the habit, or he had other more important things on his mind.
The young red-head cringed to himself. He had not put out a convincing act at all that day. He wished his bruises would heal faster, but this evening when he had checked they looked even worse than they had the night before, though they were slightly less painful. If he had to keep this up, he'd be reaching impressive threshholds of pain tolerance. It'd probably be the death of him one day.
Please, by the Kami, may it not be a violent Hiko again. It was hardly ever two nights in a row, but even so.....
Kenshin was aware of his Shishou standing and shedding his white mantle. He raised his velvet gaze to scrutinize his opponent, wondering which Hiko he was about to be confronted with.
The man approached him casually, squatting next to him and taking his chin in his hand to raise his gaze to meet his. The sake stank on his breath, but it wasn't a terribly foul odour.
Kenshin forced himself to remain still and to meet the dark gaze of his master. The man smiled when he made contact with those lavendar eyes. "Your eyes are so piercing, Kenshin."
Some of Hiko's pick-up lines were decidedly lame. Still, Kenshin was halfway relieved - Seductive Hiko again. Tonight, of all nights, he could use the comfort.....
Hiko was saying something else, but Kenshin didn't really pay attention, simply agreeably following his Shishou as he coaxed him to his futon. Once his master was certain he wasn't going to abscond on him, he pulled him into the customary kiss to distract him while he toppled the red-head back onto the futon and pushed his gi off his shoulders. Did he not even try to resist anymore because he knew it was pointless, or was it because he didn't want to?
There was so little he understood these days.
Kenshin was so distracted by his own musings he didn't notice at first, with the top half of his gi thrown somewhere across the room, that Hiko had stopped, still poised above him, supporting himself on his forearms. "Shish- Hiko?"
With a sudden panic, he realised that his gi was no longer covering the bruises littering his arms and body. And that Hiko was staring at these bruises with a frightening expression on his face. Oh no, this could be big trouble.
"Kenshin," he said, voice low and almost threatening, "How did this happen?"
Wildly scrambling for any excuse, any excuse or way out of this at all, Kenshin replied, "It was an accident, Shishou, I'm sorry!" Complete babble was the best he could come up with. He knew that even drunk as a dog, Hiko was smart and coherent enough to know no one could get those sorts of injuries from just an accident.
"Kenshin," he said again, sitting up and pulling the youth with him, grasping him by the shoulders. "What happened? Tell me, who did it?!"
Kenshin was frantic, now, fearful that if he couldn't provide the right answer Hiko might turn violent again and he didn't have the strength to keep up the facade with another set of injuries upon his current ones. "I don't know who did it, Shishou, I swear it!"
"Liar!" Hiko shook him, shouting now. Kenshin felt tears come to his eyes as the movement disrupted his injuries again and the emotional turmoil became too much to bear.
"It's the truth, Shishou! Please, just believe me!"
"Kenshin! I won't ask again! Who did it? Answer me! Who did it?!"
Kenshin had his head hung low as Hiko waited for him to respond. Finally, he couldn't take any more of it. He hesitated, but raised his head to stare his master in the eyes.
"It was you, Shishou."
The silence that followed was long and painful. Hiko didn't respond at all to this. He simply stared at the boy for a long moment, but Kenshin couldn't hold the gaze forever. He broke away, trying to hide his tears. He was too old to still be crying like this. But even though he knew his master was drunk, it had hurt to say it.
To his surprise, Hiko pulled him into a gentle embrace, and rocked him back and forth, stroking his hair to calm him. "I'm so sorry, Kenshin. I'm so sorry."
He felt so safe just then. Even when making love to him Hiko had never hugged him like that before. He hadn't been hugged like that since his parents died, and that was so long ago in his memory it seemed like nothing more than a dream.
"Hiko?" he whispered.
"Yes, Kenshin?"
"I - I - .....could you......? Please?"
Hiko pulled back and smiled almost coyly at him. "I was hoping you'd say that. I'll make it up to you."
For the next hour Kenshin was so distracted he didn't even get the chance to think any deep and complex thoughts, but when Hiko finally fell asleep, he was thinking of plenty. Had he actually ASKED his master to pleasure him that time? Where had that come from?
Well, anything to get Hiko off the topic of the bruises. Thank the Kami he wouldn't remember anything come morning. He couldn't believe he'd broken down like that. It was frightening. It was far too easy to imagine the same scene playing out in the hours of daylight. It was a contingency he'd never considered before. He'd have to have an alibi ready in case.
However, again he was forced to put this potential problem on hold as it appeared Kenshin had now been confronted by another more immediate dilemma. Given his customary bad luck - or the end of a run of good luck, depending on how you looked at it - Hiko had fallen asleep in such a way that the apprentice was half-trapped under him. The young swordsman tried to roll the man over, but after all the events of the day there simply wasn't any strength left in his muscles. His arms felt like jelly. Kenshin was just about to start crying again in frustration, but right now, after all the physical and emotional punishment, he didn't have the strength for even that.
Sighing in defeat, Kenshin laid back again, forcing himself to remain calm and rational by contemplating his choices. If Hiko awoke the next morning and found him in this very compromising position, it would be nothing short of a disaster.
He mustn't dwell on the what-ifs. That would never get him anywhere. A solution would have to present itself. He'd simply have to wait either for an opportunity, or until he got his strength back.
He had a feeling it was going to be a long wait.
WARNING: Rated R, for just about everything! See the first warning. Yet another chapter the warning is for, now for the sexual and yaoi bits yare yare, you've all read the warnings, unless you're one of those morons that opens up the book in the middle, but if you are you have no right flaming because you didn't read the warnings! Standards rules apply. I shall also warn people who haven't caught the clue yet that I tend to get caught up in the response to the reviewers, so if you hate reading the prattle of the author feel free to skip on ahead to the chapter at any point in time.
Author's note: Hey, cool, after this we'll have broken the fifty reviews barrier! For some reason I think this is an amazing accomplishment (well, it is for me), and thus would like to dedicate this chapter to you, the amazing reviewers who made it all possible. What a cliche. Ugh, I need some coffee.
Now for my personal favourite section: Response to Reviewers!
Sakura Alex: Good to see you again! (You have exams every month? Ugh, how stressful. I thought four times a year was bad.) Thanks for your praise and support and your review! Love hearing from you. I think you've reviewed enough that I won't be offended if you call me Sinnatious-chan now. Sinnatious-san is just too dang formal for me.
Sailor Gotland: Heh heh.... I'm glad someone picked up on that line, I thought I was so funny.... well, not really, but I'm glad you got a chuckle out of it all the same. Gee, a lot of people are sure getting angry that Hiko isn't getting the clue. But let's stop and think about this - if someone close to you were acting strangely and you couldn't yourself remember doing anything to offend them or anything, would the thought even come to mind? Hiko isn't that thick, he just doesn't entertain the possibility because it would be too absurd to him in his ignorance..... for now. (Insert evil laugh in your choice of spelling here). BTW, feel free to pick, your picking made the reviews section into a forum again! (I always get a laugh out of that for some reason.) Thanks again for your review.
Vesca: Vesca's still hanging around! Hello! (Laughs). You're probably going to be getting really upset at me, because the 'big drunk' is still a couple of chapters away from figuring it out. Though we sure get close this chapter..... I insist that this all has a point, I'm not just trying to draw out the suspense to annoy you all, it's just that things have to happen in a certain way. If you think you can't handle another chapter of Kenshin torture, let's think about this - I jumped into this story at the middle, Kenshin's been doing this for months now..... Thank you for your review! Glad to see you're still reading.
MsJadey: Ack! She did it again! You're as bad as I am when it comes to reviewing and/or responding - it sure is easy to be carried away with length, isn't it? Good, though. Thanks for the more in-depth info on kissing in Japan, it about checks out with my albeit limited knowledge as well. However, though I do often like to make a point of writing fairly close to context, to omit the kissing I would have had to reconstruct the connotative signs of their relationship - to our western understanding, without the connotations associated with kissing and romantic love, it would have been a purely physical relationship, and in order to add depth I would have either had to go for sap or kindegarten denotative narration of emotions, both of which don't go terribly well with my writing style. Besides, in modern day Japan kissing and romantic love is as common-place as here (you only have to watch anime to know this) so I figure there's no harm in it. Interesting theory about Hiko/Kamatari fics, but I don't think this fic has reached enough people to really encourage a spate of any sort. Thanks for the compliment, though. You are getting better at the title thing, dammit, now I have to start making sure I put some real thought into titles, people are watching! I would like to point out that I am trying to avoid simple re-iteration of events - such as how Seductive Hiko appears again in this chapter, I think that makes three times, but each time in a different light and for a different function in the story - because otherwise that would be just boring. Just so you know (I thought I made it clear, but perhaps not), violent Hiko was looking for explanations into Kenshin's behaviour in the only way he knows how to. Jeez, you gave me a lot to reply to..... I would also like to note that though Kenshin's ki control is very good (as it obviously was in the series), I am not implying that he's better at it than Hiko, just that Hiko is noticing the effort Kenshin must be putting in to mask it from him and the subsequent suspicions. Hmmm, maybe Saitou could have defeated Kenshin at that point in time, but back as a teenager or in the second half of the Kyoto arc I would have to disagree (Yes, I am a rampant Kenshin worshipper). LOL - I'm intentionally trying to build up the suspense, but maybe I'm stringing you all out too far. You're all starting to get ahead of me, here. I don't want to rush to the end of this fic like I did in Servitude. Glad you liked the realism in the training scene, I love writing them, and one of the things Hiko said to Kenshin in one of the chapters was actually taken directly from the mouth of my sensei. Pity I can't kick butt like Kenshin does though..... Hey, someone actually read my bio! This amazes me, I'm not quite sure why. Ugh, I'd better stop it there, this response is so long maybe I should have just sent you E-Mail..... Thanks, though, I loved your review, gave me lots to think about! Cheers!
Crazy Girl Person: Get to work on 'I Wish' and your yaoi already! Maybe I really should start holding out. (There you go everyone, if I'm late with my next update you can blame Crazy Girl Person). I suppose I don't make Hiko pry too hard, mostly because I see Hiko as being an immensely private person thus couldn't see him being terribly nosy. You go to night school? (Cram school, cram school! I so hate cram schools.) Here's your coffee. It's so strong I have to get a license to make it. Congrats on your great marks. Seeing as this has nothing to do with anything, and I already spent about a page replying to MsJadey's amazingly long and in-depth review, I'd better just say thanks for the review and it's always great hearing from you! Your reviews always make me laugh.
Emz: Thanks for the tip on the penname, maybe I'll cruise around and check out your stories - they might not be as crap as you think, heck, I thought this story was going to be crap and wasn't even going to post it. And look at the response it's getting! (Laughs.) Thanks for the review, as always.
Wow, response to reviewers is reaaaaaaaallllly long. It's almost as long as the chapter. Sorry about that. Here's the chapter (finally.) Don't forget to read and review, but please remember not to flame!
_________________
Routine
Chapter 10 - Not Quite Revelations
By Sinnatious
************
Kenshin sighed to himself as he sat against the wall across from Hiko drinking his sake. His master hadn't even bothered to tell him to go to bed tonight - either the older man was becoming used to the habit, or he had other more important things on his mind.
The young red-head cringed to himself. He had not put out a convincing act at all that day. He wished his bruises would heal faster, but this evening when he had checked they looked even worse than they had the night before, though they were slightly less painful. If he had to keep this up, he'd be reaching impressive threshholds of pain tolerance. It'd probably be the death of him one day.
Please, by the Kami, may it not be a violent Hiko again. It was hardly ever two nights in a row, but even so.....
Kenshin was aware of his Shishou standing and shedding his white mantle. He raised his velvet gaze to scrutinize his opponent, wondering which Hiko he was about to be confronted with.
The man approached him casually, squatting next to him and taking his chin in his hand to raise his gaze to meet his. The sake stank on his breath, but it wasn't a terribly foul odour.
Kenshin forced himself to remain still and to meet the dark gaze of his master. The man smiled when he made contact with those lavendar eyes. "Your eyes are so piercing, Kenshin."
Some of Hiko's pick-up lines were decidedly lame. Still, Kenshin was halfway relieved - Seductive Hiko again. Tonight, of all nights, he could use the comfort.....
Hiko was saying something else, but Kenshin didn't really pay attention, simply agreeably following his Shishou as he coaxed him to his futon. Once his master was certain he wasn't going to abscond on him, he pulled him into the customary kiss to distract him while he toppled the red-head back onto the futon and pushed his gi off his shoulders. Did he not even try to resist anymore because he knew it was pointless, or was it because he didn't want to?
There was so little he understood these days.
Kenshin was so distracted by his own musings he didn't notice at first, with the top half of his gi thrown somewhere across the room, that Hiko had stopped, still poised above him, supporting himself on his forearms. "Shish- Hiko?"
With a sudden panic, he realised that his gi was no longer covering the bruises littering his arms and body. And that Hiko was staring at these bruises with a frightening expression on his face. Oh no, this could be big trouble.
"Kenshin," he said, voice low and almost threatening, "How did this happen?"
Wildly scrambling for any excuse, any excuse or way out of this at all, Kenshin replied, "It was an accident, Shishou, I'm sorry!" Complete babble was the best he could come up with. He knew that even drunk as a dog, Hiko was smart and coherent enough to know no one could get those sorts of injuries from just an accident.
"Kenshin," he said again, sitting up and pulling the youth with him, grasping him by the shoulders. "What happened? Tell me, who did it?!"
Kenshin was frantic, now, fearful that if he couldn't provide the right answer Hiko might turn violent again and he didn't have the strength to keep up the facade with another set of injuries upon his current ones. "I don't know who did it, Shishou, I swear it!"
"Liar!" Hiko shook him, shouting now. Kenshin felt tears come to his eyes as the movement disrupted his injuries again and the emotional turmoil became too much to bear.
"It's the truth, Shishou! Please, just believe me!"
"Kenshin! I won't ask again! Who did it? Answer me! Who did it?!"
Kenshin had his head hung low as Hiko waited for him to respond. Finally, he couldn't take any more of it. He hesitated, but raised his head to stare his master in the eyes.
"It was you, Shishou."
The silence that followed was long and painful. Hiko didn't respond at all to this. He simply stared at the boy for a long moment, but Kenshin couldn't hold the gaze forever. He broke away, trying to hide his tears. He was too old to still be crying like this. But even though he knew his master was drunk, it had hurt to say it.
To his surprise, Hiko pulled him into a gentle embrace, and rocked him back and forth, stroking his hair to calm him. "I'm so sorry, Kenshin. I'm so sorry."
He felt so safe just then. Even when making love to him Hiko had never hugged him like that before. He hadn't been hugged like that since his parents died, and that was so long ago in his memory it seemed like nothing more than a dream.
"Hiko?" he whispered.
"Yes, Kenshin?"
"I - I - .....could you......? Please?"
Hiko pulled back and smiled almost coyly at him. "I was hoping you'd say that. I'll make it up to you."
For the next hour Kenshin was so distracted he didn't even get the chance to think any deep and complex thoughts, but when Hiko finally fell asleep, he was thinking of plenty. Had he actually ASKED his master to pleasure him that time? Where had that come from?
Well, anything to get Hiko off the topic of the bruises. Thank the Kami he wouldn't remember anything come morning. He couldn't believe he'd broken down like that. It was frightening. It was far too easy to imagine the same scene playing out in the hours of daylight. It was a contingency he'd never considered before. He'd have to have an alibi ready in case.
However, again he was forced to put this potential problem on hold as it appeared Kenshin had now been confronted by another more immediate dilemma. Given his customary bad luck - or the end of a run of good luck, depending on how you looked at it - Hiko had fallen asleep in such a way that the apprentice was half-trapped under him. The young swordsman tried to roll the man over, but after all the events of the day there simply wasn't any strength left in his muscles. His arms felt like jelly. Kenshin was just about to start crying again in frustration, but right now, after all the physical and emotional punishment, he didn't have the strength for even that.
Sighing in defeat, Kenshin laid back again, forcing himself to remain calm and rational by contemplating his choices. If Hiko awoke the next morning and found him in this very compromising position, it would be nothing short of a disaster.
He mustn't dwell on the what-ifs. That would never get him anywhere. A solution would have to present itself. He'd simply have to wait either for an opportunity, or until he got his strength back.
He had a feeling it was going to be a long wait.