Kendo Club
CH 10
We're to chapter 10 already! Watch out, we've hit a landmark! hee hee hee Well, who knows how long this'll keep going for, but hopefully awhile. Truthfully, this chapter is mostly just a filler, except for the last part. Next chapter BIG plot turn... but you'll just have to wa-ait!
Please enjoy reading and please review!
Kaoru, Kenshin and Hiko walked out of the gym into the school parking lot, which was nearly empty of cars and people. Kenshin walked slightly ahead of the others, the keys jingling from the key ring hanging off his finger, then stopped next to a dark green Camry.
"Here we are, climb in Kaoru." Kenshin said smiling, then unlocked the car, climbed in and started the engine. He looked back over his shoulder to find Kaoru buckled into the back seat, then turned forward again to see his uncle trying to squeeze into the passenger seat. The redhead had to cover his mouth with a hand to force himself not to smirk or laugh.
After his uncle was mostly comfortable and buckled in, Kenshin put the car in reverse, his foot on the brake and announced happily, "Lets go!" he slowly backed out of the parking space, "Kaoru, you'll have to give me directions." Kenshin told Kaoru as he changed to drive.
"Hold onto your seat." Hiko recommended, shifting uncomfortably in the cloth chair. Kenshin took his foot off the brake and pressed down on the gas pedal, causing the engine to rev and the car to blast out of the parking lot.
"Slower boy, are you trying to kill us all?" Hiko scowled, pressing himself into the chair. "Oh my gosh!" Kaoru exclaimed as they abruptly stopped at a stoplight.
"Relax, Uncle." Kenshin glanced over at him as the light turned green and he sped down the street. "I'm a wonderful driver Hiko, besides," he grinned, "you have insurance."
Hiko scowled at his nephew, then called to Kaoru, "Kamiya. Tell this baka the directions so we can get out of this vehicle quicker."
"I can't believe you two don't have a directional device in this car." Kaoru muttered softly. Kenshin laughed. "Are you kidding me? This car is older then old." He glanced over at Hiko who was looking very annoyed. "Much older then Uncle here."
Kaoru sighed. "Right. As for the directions, he's at Choshu Middle School on Market Street." She informed the driver who nodded and took off down the street again.
"I know where that is." The redhead said shortly, then suddenly turned down a side street and went barreling down that. "Did you go to Choshu?" Kaoru asked curiously, realizing she didn't know this route to her brother's school. She was surprised to see Kenshin flinch at her question, and then respond quietly, "No."
The rest of the drive was quiet as the redhead soared up a hill and rocketed down another side street, his eyes narrowed but distant with Hiko scowling. Finally, the Camry screeched to a halt in front of the middle school, and the engine turned off.
Kaoru glanced at her two companions, but when neither of them moved she took off her seatbelt and opened the door. She hesitated outside the car, looking in at Kenshin's distant expression. "Hey Kenshin?" She asked hesitantly.
The redhead started and turned to look back at her. "Yes Kaoru?" She smiled at him. "Do you want to come with me? You can meet my little brother." Kenshin looked over at Hiko who scowled back, then back to Kaoru. "Why not?" He said, climbing out of the car and walking around to stand next to her.
She smiled at him and they turned around to walk up the step of the middle school and stop in front of two double doors. A young boy with black, spiky hair was sitting alone on a bench beside the doors.
When he saw them the boy jumped off the bench and ran towards them, shouting angrily, "Oi buso! What took you so long?" Kaoru glared at him as the boy stopped in front of her, panting and scowling.
"Well sor-ry your Highness, but I had kendo practice, which you knew about, and it ran a little late today." Kaoru said sarcastically, making a small mock bow as she finished.
"A little late? I've been waiting for hours!" He complained, gesturing wildly with his hands. Kenshin leaned forward to whisper in Kaoru's ear, "It looks like he's already cranky."
The boy rose on his tiptoes to study the redhead. "Who're you, buso's new boyfriend?" Kaoru choked and began coughing harshly while Kenshin patted her on the back. When she could breathe again Kaoru pulled a bokken out of nowhere and began chasing her brother around with it.
"YAHIKO I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" She yelled, hitting her brother on the head. Yahiko scowled, "Stop hitting me buso! That hurts!"
The two siblings continued to chase each other around, screaming and hitting, until Kenshin's patience wore out and as Kaoru ran by he ran up to her, grabbed the top of her shinai and held her arm, managing to stop the girl in her tracks. When her brother realized he was no longer being chased he stopped and turned back.
"Kaoru, we should leave for home," the redhead smiled, "or you might miss dinner." Kaoru turned confused, "W-what?" Kenshin squatted down and held his hand out to Yahiko. "Hello Yahiko, I'm Kenshin Himura, a friend of your sister's." The young boy looked doubtfully at him, "So you're not buso's boyfriend?"
Above them Kaoru groaned and looked ready to hit her brother again. "No, no I'm not." He answered smiling. "I apologize for kendo practice running late, my uncle wasn't watching the clock."
"Doesn't matter." Yahiko shrugged, "happens a lot." Kaoru looked like a light bulb had gone off above her head. "Hey Kenshin, could you give me a couple tips about that kata we're working on?" When the redhead looked up at her she added, "It's just that you were really good with the demonstration Hiko had you do, and I just thought-"
Kenshin smiled reassuringly, "Of course Kaoru, I'll help if I can." Yahiko spoke doubtfully as the redhead stood up. "Hey Kenshin, if you're not my sister's boyfriend, then why did you come with her to pick me up?"
"He came, because I've been staying over at his house for the past couple days." Kaoru explained. "He was kind enough to offer me a place to stay after an accident at work."
"Kind," Kenshin whispered softly to himself, looking distantly away from the siblings. "Accident?" Yahiko blurted. "You're okay right?" Kaoru laughed at how worried he looked and leaned down to ruffle her brothers hair. "I'm fine Yahiko, Kenshin and his Uncle have been taking good care of me." She smiled at the redhead, then noticed his distant expression. "Kenshin?" Kaoru asked worriedly.
Kenshin started and rubbed his eyes, "Oro?" He asked questioningly. Yahiko laughed, "'Oro'? What kind of word is that?" Kaoru hit him on the head with her bokken, "Yahiko!" She reprimanded, but couldn't hide the worry in her eyes about Kenshin.
"It's quite alright Kaoru." Kenshin commented, then winked at the spiky haired boy. "We should go, Uncle's sure to be impatient with us for taking so long."
"Oh, right." Kaoru agreed.
Yahiko jumped, "Oh no! My bag!" He exclaimed, running back to the bench and grabbed a backpack and a small duffel bag. Soon he was back, and commented, "Kay, ready." They boy threw his backpack over his shoulder and dragged the bag on the ground.
Kenshin quickly grabbed the duffel bag and hefted it onto his shoulder "Let's go then," he proclaimed, ushering the siblings down the steps and over to the car. The redhead threw the bag into the trunk and climbed into the drivers seat as Yahiko and Kaoru did the same in the back seat.
"Took you long enough." Hiko commented as his nephew started the car. Kenshin rolled his eyes, "Yahiko had to get his things and we made introductions." He explained, pulling away from the curb and speeding down the street. "Which we need to repeat," Kenshin realized out loud, then looked at Yahiko in the rear mirror, "Yahiko, this is my uncle Hiko Seijiro. Uncle, this is Kaoru's younger brother Yahiko Kamiya." The redhead introduced, pointing at them.
"Get your hand back on the wheel." Hiko instructed sternly, glaring at the driver who abruptly stopped at a stoplight. "Wait, if you two are related then why do you have different last names?" Yahiko asked curiously, leaning forward in his seat, stretching the seatbelt.
Kenshin glanced back at him in the mirror. "I kept my fathers last name and Hiko is my uncle on my mothers side." He explained, rocketing down the street.
"I still can't believe they're related." Kaoru told her brother, glancing up at the pair in the front seat. Yahiko nodded understandably. "Watch your mouth girl." Hiko instructed annoyed while Kenshin rolled his eyes at Kaoru in the mirror.
Yahiko started, "Hey wait, if your Kenshin's uncle, then you're also the kendo club instructor right?" Hiko groaned, "Now what did you say boy?" He asked Kenshin annoyed. "Nothing." The redhead responded secretively, causing Hiko to groan. "Yes I am." He answered Yahiko who positively beamed.
"That's so cool!" The spiky haired boy exclaimed. "When I get to the high school can I join too?" Hiko looked skeptical. "How old are you?" Yahiko answered surprised, "Twelve."
"I doubt I'll still be the instructor in two years," he smirked at Kenshin, "Red here is going to drive me to an early grave." Kenshin's gaze flickered over to his uncle before refocusing on the road.
"Don't you practice the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu sword style Yahiko? Along with your sister?" Yahiko shifted uncomfortably, "Yes, but I want to learn more! I want to be better!"
"Listen brat, just because your younger then me doesn't mean that you can't learn and use Kamiya Kasshin." Kaoru scolded, folding her arms. "Kendo club is just for practice."
Hiko growled, "Even if it's just 'practice' doesn't mean-"
"We're here!" Kenshin announced, pulling into the driveway. He shut off the car and walked around to grab things out of the trunk. "Kaoru, Yahiko you go inside, here are the keys." Pulling the car keys off the key ring, he handed the latter to the girl.
Kaoru took them, smiling. "Thanks Kenshin!" She grabbed the back of Yahiko's shirt and dragged him towards the front door. Kenshin pulled his and Kaoru's backpacks out and was wrestling with Yahiko's duffel bag when he realized his uncle was standing near him at the side of the car. "What Uncle?" He asked annoyed.
Hiko smirked back at him. "You're becoming attached to her." Kenshin's eyes hardened as he glanced up at his shishou then continued tugging on the strap. "Maybe."
"Just what you said you wouldn't do." The taller man moved to Kenshin's side and easily took the bag from the trunk, handing it off to his nephew. "That's none of your business Uncle." The redhead said icily, then walked to the front door and through, soon followed by Hiko.
Inside the house Kaoru and Yahiko were arguing about who was sleeping on the couch or the bed in the guest room. "The bed's mine brat, and there's no way you can change it!" Kaoru declared, hitting her chest with her thumb.
"No way! It's mine!" Yahiko protested, gesturing with his hands. His sister scowled and glared at him.
"Mine!"
"Mine!"
"Mine!"
Kenshin stepped in between them, throwing the duffel bag at Yahiko's feet. "Wait, isn't there some other way you can settle this without fighting?" He asked, tiredly.
"We can settle this ourselves Kenshin." Kaoru argued, eyeing Yahiko angrily and it was obvious her shinai would appear soon. "Move." Kenshin smiled grimly. "I'm sorry, but I can't." He paused thoughtfully. "I know how we can settle this." The redhead dug in his pocket and came up with a penny. "Yahiko, heads or tails?"
"What! Why does he get to choose?" Kaoru asked, then quieted by a look from Kenshin.
"Tails."
The redhead flipped the penny and caught it in his hand then placed it on the top of his other hand. "Heads." He observed.
"What!"
"Kaoru, it seems you get the guest room." Kenshin smiled slightly as she let out a shout of joy and Yahiko groaned. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go start dinner." He began walking towards the kitchen.
"What? Why are you making it?" Yahiko protested, as if he were outraged. Kaoru hit him on the head.
Kenshin grimaced mockingly. "Because if Kaoru cooks the food will burn or we may get food poisoning." The teen girl gave a cry of outrage and rushed at Kenshin, holding the shinai above her head. "What's that supposed to mean?" She yelled as she neared the redhead. He easily dodged to one side and as Kaoru rushed by, he grabbed the back of her shinai to stop the girl.
"You know it's true Kaoru." Kenshin teased lightly, letting go and backing away slightly. "What about your uncle?" Yahiko asked curiously. The redhead made a face, "When Uncle cooks the food becomes crunchy or burnt so he adds sake to make it taste better. I basically grew up on sake enriched food."
Kaoru shook her head. "I can't believe that man sometimes." This made Kenshin chuckle. "It would take us more then one night for me to tell you all the stories I know that involve my uncle. But instead, I'll go make dinner." He walked over to the kitchen and disappeared inside.
"Just wait until you taste Kenshin's cooking, it's amazing." Kaoru told her little brother, ruffling his hair.
After dinner, when the dishes had been cleared by Kenshin and the glaring between Hiko and Yahiko had ended, they all sat down again around the table so Hiko, as he had said, could explain the house rules to their, 'unexpected and annoying guests who have booked themselves into my home without permission, as if we're a motel.'
Kenshin rolled his eyes at this and reassuredthem, "You don't really have to follow them, Uncle just likes to feel authoritive."
"You should listen baka, you have a part in this as well." Hiko responded shortly, glaring at the redhead who frowned.
"If you're not going to tell us the rules then I'm going to go play DDR." Yahiko announced, starting to rise from his seat. "Sit down boy." Hiko ordered, glaring sideways at him. The redhead sighed and blew his bangs off of his face, "Uncle you have no right to order him around, he's not related to you."
Hiko turned to smirk at his nephew, "and since when have you had any consideration for the law?" The redhead's eyes narrowed and hardened, then he lowered his head so his face was shadowed.
Kaoru turned to look at him, worried by his sudden change in mood. She felt like hitting Hiko over the head sometimes when he acted like this, and especially when the man hurt Kenshin, whether physically or otherwise. "Are you going to stare at the baka all day or listen to me when I'm talking to you, Kamiya?" Hiko asked gruffly, causing Kaoru to start guiltily.
"Like it's such a hard decision." Yahiko muttered into his hand, glancing away from the annoyed kendo instructor. Kaoru quickly spun to hit her brother on the head with a random fork and shout his name in anger. "Ya-hi-ko!" She exclaimed, pronouncing each syllable.
"Do siblings always fight this much?" Hiko growled annoyed, leaning back in his chair with a loud sigh. The redhead turned slightly to glance at his uncle then turned away again. Finally Hiko said loudly, "Have you two gotten over yourselves yet, or will I have to wait for your majesties permission to speak?"
Kaoru and Yahiko stopped fighting to stare and look at him, poised with their eyes wide. "Huh?" The girl managed to say, lowering her arm.
The man smirked, "Thank you. Now that we can finally start with this, the house rules are simple and direct," Kenshin laughed shortly, "quiet you. First of all, no excessive yelling, shouting or arguing inside this house. Under no circumstances may anyone run around this house. Second,"
"Hey, but Kenshin ran that morning Sano and Misao came over for breakfast and you never told him off!" Kaoru protested, raising her voice.
Hiko smirked openly at her and glanced across the table at his nephew. "Actually I did, for showing off and misusing his skills Kenshin sparred with myself early this morning. Very early." At this the redhead muttered something under his breath, frowned, then looked away. The man shook his head, "baka deshi. Alright, the second rule: no complaining, about anything, at least in my hearing." Hiko sat up straighter, "Of course I can whenever I want."
"Right, cause adults can do anything they want." Yahiko interrupted, scowling. Hiko smirked but didn't comment. "Quiet Yahiko." Kaoru scolded gruffly. "Third rule is that you'll have to help out with chores. There aren't very many but I doubt that you two will let Kenshin do them by himself." Hiko said annoyed.
"As I've done by myself for the last ten or so years." Kenshin commented quietly, still not meeting anyone's eyes. Kaoru looked surprised but was interrupted from talking when Hiko continued.
"Right." Hiko rolled his eyes. "Anyway, we're on number four. Thursdays are laundry days, put yours in a hamper or basket and the baka here will do it for you. But if you forget, you're on your own." Kaoru turned confused towards the redhead, "You do the laundry?" She asked disbelievingly.
He nodded. "Yes, and most of the cooking as well." Kenshin smiled slightly and turned to meet her gaze, his expression still guarded. "Uncle's not very helpful around the house." Yahiko snorted with laughter then covered his mouth. "You're not helping, Yahiko." Kaoru scolded frowning.
"I don't know how I'm going to be able to put up with you two." Hiko commented sourly. "Go on Shishou." Kenshin instructed quietly. "Right, rule five. I will drive you to and from school unless you've talked to me beforehand."
"Why can't Kenshin drive?" Kaoru interrupted, "Or me? We have our licenses." Hiko snickered, "You've risked your lives driving with him twice, do you really want to push your luck? As for you," he told Kaoru, "I haven't seen you drive, but I doubt that you're safe."
Kaoru glared at him and folded her arms across her chest, but kept silent. Hiko bobbed his head at her, "Exactly, thank you for your cooperation. Now the sixth rule is fairly simple so your smaller brains should be able to remember." He said, smirking teasingly.
The siblings rose to the bait. "What's that supposed to mean?" Yahiko shouted, glaring at the older man while Kaoru bared her teeth and replied testily, "You may have lived longer but my memory is undoubtedly better then yours." Hiko laughed, "You two are as bad as my baka deshi. Of course my memory is better then yours because I have more to remember." He leaned back in the chair smirking. "If you want to argue, come up with a better defense. Take a lesson from the redhead over here."
Kaoru glanced at the said teen surprised, she couldn't imagine her soft-spoken and quiet friend arguing with anyone. Except there was that one time when Misao and Sano had visited and Kenshin's eyes had turned amber and they had overheard Hiko and the redhead arguing heatedly in the teens room.
"-be polite and respectful to them when they're visiting. Hiko's voice intruded into her thoughts as she caught the last part of the next rule. "Huh?" She asked, confused. When they all turned to look at her Kaoru added, "I mean, I'm sorry, I didn't hear the first part of what you said."
"Just another example of someone who doesn't listen to me." Hiko growled under his breath at which Kenshin snickered. "What I said, was that the next rule is that when our relatives come, to be polite and respectful while they're visiting." Kaoru smiled, "Like Ishi and little Shinta?" She saw Kenshin curiously shuffle at the sound of his cousin's name, but continued, "he was so cute!" She cried happily.
Hiko rolled his eyes, "Yes Shinta is cute, we all know that." He narrowed his eyes, "may I go on?" The adult didn't wait for them to respond. "Seventh rule, well it isn't really a rule but I'll just call it one, is that Kenshin and I wake up early every morning,"
"Nearly every morning." Kenshin corrected, causing Hiko to turn and glare fiercly, but his deshi just smiled back.
"As I was saying," Hiko continued pointedly, "we wake up early in the morning to spar out in the yard, so if you wake up and neither of us are in the house, wait and then Kenshin here will make breakfast after we're done."
Yahiko sat up in his chair. "Spar? As in sword sparring?" He asked excitedly, looking eagerly between the relatives. Hiko looked bored while Kenshin seemed slightly surprised. "Yes, sword sparring." He agreed, speaking clearly.
"I didn't know you practiced swords too!" Yahiko exclaimed awestruck, staring wide-eyed at the red head. Kenshin chuckled quietly. "Yes I do, shishou started teaching me when I was seven." Suddenly his soft smile changed into a frown and his face withdrew into shadow again.
"If you're done gawking we can continue." At Kaoru and Yahiko's groans Hiko added, "There's only one more rule, the most important one." The adult turned slightly to address his nephew. "This goes for you as well baka deshi."
"Hai shishou." Kenshin responded obediently.
Hiko leaned forward, sternly looking the two teens directly in the eye. "If you are not in the house or yard, I must know exactly where you are. If you decide to go somewhere after school, you must call me first and get my permission and tell me where you're going, with who and when you'll be home. Same thing goes for if you decide to go out at night. And absolutely, no going out alone."
Kaoru frowned, "Isn't that being a little over-"
"Overprotective?" Hiko asked, cutting her off. Kaoru nodded. "It may be, but there is no way I am losing someone again."
Kenshin made a noise that sounded like he was choking then pushed his chair back and quietly excused himself from the table.
As his nephew walked away from them, Hiko said softly, "Poor kid, he's never really forgiven himself." Kaoru stared at him, turning in her chair. It was and would be, the only time she heard Hiko talk that way.
"For what?"
Hiko arched his eyebrows. "You'll see."
WAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA! Oh dear am I bad... and y'all have no clue. Tee hee. Next chapter you'll find out, promise ;p
If your interested please check out my profile, I put upa bio of myself so you can tell what I'm like, there's a link to pics from Japan, updated story news and a link to my homepage. Please look!
For those who have commented about how I say 'Saito Hajime' and 'Hiko Seijiro' instead of how their names would be written in proper English, the truth is that I think they sound better the Japanese way then the English way, so yes I do know I'm writing them wrong. I also apologize for any other names I've messed up like that.
Also I'm contemplating writing a fic (maybe a one-shot) based on volume 26 of the manga but post-manga about what would happen if Sano went back to visit his family after everythings finished and four/five years later. Please tell me your thoughts.
If you're looking for new fics to read, I have updated my favorites so please check them out... I'm sure you'll love all of them! I do!
Thanks to those who reviewed:
Draconic, Becky, Kristy, LadyOfWolves (2), ruruken, MikaylaMae and Yanikei
Thanks again!
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See ya next chapter,
mijichan