Chapter 13. Killing two birds with one wish

That winter, Master introduced him to the most basic of Hiten Mitsurugi style special attacks. Kenshin had instantly fallen in love with Ryutsuitsen – a strike that began with a high jump and then would use the fall to give more power to the clean strike aimed at the center of the forehead. It was the high jumps that exited Kenshin most, because when Master had showed him how to fall right, it was just purely fun to use ki to give jumps the extra height.

Master was pleased with his progress and kept pushing him more and more. The constant practice helped Kenshin to become more familiar with the internal ki trick and Kenta, too, learned to pass through the wall better. They still needed time to concentrate for it to work, but Master wasn't too willing to give them that while sparring.

By the following summer, they had almost learned all the basic strikes that required ki. The nightmares had slowly ceased to bother Kenshin and hadn't been an issue anymore. But what was becoming a real problem was staying in the same old and boring mountain. Master still wasn't willing to let him go out. Even during the spring when he had gone to deal with Kawase-san and to restock supplies, Master had left them behind.

And what was worse, despite the money he had gotten from his poetry, Master said that they wouldn't go travelling this year either.

To say that Kenshin was displeased would be the understatement of the year. He liked travelling and seeing new places, yes, but more than that he wanted to get away from this damn mountain.

But the rumors were still going strong, especially in Choshuu. And while it wasn't probable that anything would come out of it, Master said that it was better not to risk it.

It was in the fall of Kenshin's 12th year that the next issue arose in training.

Lately, Master had been pushing him to use ki more. And Kenshin had been getting better with the internal enhancement as his body was becoming more used to having Kenta on his side of the wall and could handle it longer and in higher amounts.

But to use the trick externally?

That was hard.

Kenta and Kenshin had realized early on that they could only push the ki to the blade while Kenta was on his side of the wall, and that would be enough to give the blade an extra edge. But even knowing how it worked wasn't enough for the damned Doryusen.

The attack required infusing ki onto the blade, and then striking the ground with such force that the debris would reach the opponent; it was an effective long-range attack.

In theory at least.

But for Kenshin, it was just impossible for them to concentrate the ki and get enough force behind it to truly work. They managed to get some tiny rocks flying, or sand and dust.

It was just pathetic.

And Master kept taunting him about it.

Kenshin was truly growing tired of the scathing words and ridicule that Master was prone to unleash on him.

Or maybe it was just living in tight quarters with the most difficult man on earth.

Kenshin didn't know nor care. His constant exasperation and annoyance wasn't letting go but kept building up, and the only thing that helped was the constant sparring with Master, which allowed him to let out some steam.

However, he still hadn't been able to score a hit on the man. Even with the internal ki usage and all those new special strikes he had been learning.

It was beginning to be a sore point.

That summer, Master didn't teach him anything new. It was just sparring, physical training and pushing them to use the ki longer, faster and better. Doryusen with sand was almost perfect for creating distractions and annoyance. Not that it would seriously manage to hurt anyone, as Kenshin couldn't manage to get enough power behind the strike.

It was during the harvest season of the second year of Bunkyu era that Master went to cash in the income from his poetry in Kawase-san. For some reason, the simple trip took him nearly four weeks and Kenshin couldn't have been happier about this little change to his mountain prison routine. Even true criminals didn't have to stay holed up in the middle of nowhere this long and stand the torture Master inflicted on them!

Being blissfully left alone, not having to endure Master's temper tantrums or needing to do humiliating and endless chores for a whole month was bliss. Only thing what would have made it even better was if Kenshin would have been able to see other people. Maybe even talk to them.

Truthfully, Kenshin just wanted to get away – back to travelling, seeing people, helping them like a proper student of Hiten Mitsurugi should. Even for a little while, please! To not be forced to endure this isolation of nothingness, hours filled with nothing but necessities and training.

Not that Kenshin didn't like training, he did! But Master hadn't taught him anything new in ages. They had just honed the special attacks, the physical fitness, had long discussion about tactics and tried to increase his prowess with ki.

Even Kenta was sick and tired of it.

Even Master himself seemed to be tired of it.

Hopefully.

In the tenth month of the same year, Kenshin's wishes came true.

Master had taken him to Hagi to restock supplies for the coming winter, given him a hat and some money and told him to entertain himself. It was a compromise they had settled on after a lot of persuasion, because Kenshin had claimed he would go crazy and start to do crazy things in the hut if he wasn't able to see other people even just once this year.

Master had just scoffed and raised his brow and said to him, "And you aren't already? I couldn't tell the difference, Idiot student."

But Kenshin didn't mind!

He was finally seeing people! Life! Anything but the mountain!

Of course, Master had said that the reason why he was allowed to go with him had nothing to do with the persuasion, that he just wanted his help for carrying supplies. Yet, for Kenshin it was clear that something had cowed in him.

True, part of the reason might have been that during his long seclusion, there had been larger scandals like Nawagumi incident where Satsuma samurai had assassinated a British merchant, which took the brunt of public attention. Besides, it was unlikely that many would remember the murders in Settsu, but to be on the safe side, Master warned him to cover his hair just in case.

Kenshin had agreed with the hat thing. It wasn't like he particularly enjoyed being noticed anyways. And if someone could still remember the rumors, why risk it?

So, here he was, wandering through the streets with an ugly hat and trying to drink his fill of the people and listening in on conversations. He wanted to savor this moment of freedom. Master was meeting again with Kawase-san and would be going to buy supplies afterwards. Kenshin wasn't needed until the afternoon and according to the Master, he could find Kenshin anywhere. Apparently it wouldn't be hard, just following the "teenager's moaning, whining and ruckus" would be enough.

Kenshin had scoffed in return. "And I don't need to follow your ki to see the rain-cloud looming over your head."

Truthfully, they both wanted to enjoy this momentary freedom from each other.

However, listening in on the talk around him, it was clear that something was really wrong with the government. Kenshin didn't know much about politics, of the Shogunate and Bakufu. Not really, not more than the average man at best. But even to his ears, they didn't sound very good at governing the people.

"These foreigners are pushing treaties and the Shogun is unable to stop them."

"Hah. Treaties. Just call what it is. It's blackmail, but instead of an honest blade to the throat, it's their guns and warships threatening us."

Kenshin knew – oh god, how well he knew it – not many people liked foreigners. He had been in trouble for looking like them all his life. But he wasn't a foreigner and listening in on the talk in the streets, foreigners sounded like a really bad sort. He could easily understand why honest people wanted to drive them out of the country, especially because the treaties and all that seemed to be the reason for increased taxation of the common people.

Maybe Master should be killing foreigners instead of Ronin? Surely that would be a better use of Hiten Mitsurugi style for the betterment of the common people?

But then again, it seemed that killing the foreigners was a problem already. Quite a few incidents had happened and it had ended with bodies on either side, with the government having to pay to the foreigners for it. So, killing the foreigners was just increasing the problem, not solving it.

"Che. Shogun, bakufu and their useless laws. Can't protect the people, can' stop the foreigners."

Somehow, people here in Hagi seemed to agree that the government just wasn't good enough at their work. That their laws weren't fair, their people didn't listen and they didn't protect the people. Instead of doing what they should, they just let the foreigners push them around. The heart of the problem, according to the common census, was that the shogunate didn't govern according the divine will of the Emperor.

Kenshin knew that the Emperor was appointed by the gods to rule the country. Everybody knew that. But for some reason that didn't make any sense to him; it wasn't the Emperor who gave the orders or made the laws – it was the Shogun.

And Shogun's laws didn't protect everyone equally.

The laws didn't work right.

Having witnessed a good example of Shogun's laws being unfair to Miya a year ago, well maybe these people had a point.

It seemed that the something that would fix all this unfairness and make all these people happy would be to overthrow the Shogunate and reinstate the Emperor to power. It made sense to Kenshin. As the Emperor was the divine ruler of the country, he should fix the law so that it would be fair and just to everyone and not have this Shogun do it for him.

And every now and then, people would whisper of the Ishin Shishi – "men with higher purpose". They were people dedicated to this goal that the people wanted: to overthrow the Shogunate, to reinstate the Emperor and to drive away the foreigners. Maybe this was what Master and he should be doing with their strength? Wasn't Hiten Mitsurugi about protecting the people and fighting for the happiness of common people? Just like these Ishin Shishi?

The way Master had been doing his duty, killing the bandits and hunting down Ronin and outlaws, while it protected the people, it didn't seem to be working very well.

And according to the idle talk in the streets, it seemed that things had been going more wrong for years. All that time Master had said he was protecting the people, in actuality, things had been getting worse. So maybe, the right way to use Hiten Mitsurugi was to fight with others to fix the country? Hadn't the trick for internal ki usage been to work together with the spirit?

But Master didn't like working with people. He wanted to do things in his own way, Kenshin knew it all too well. But, maybe he could convince Master? That way all the common people would be happy, not just the few that Master and he had encountered in their travels.

Yes, it made sense.

On the way back home, Hiko noticed Kenshin deep in thought. He had that "head in the clouds" faraway look in his pale eyes. Hiko scowled and shook his head. Despite his best tries, he couldn't seem to figure out a way to remove the pesky habit from the boy.

Thankfully, Kawase-san had been glad to pay for his poetry and had told him that the name Kii no Hiroto was still gaining popularity even in the capital. Apparently, there had been an interest among the court nobles and it had picked up from there.

It was almost ironic.

Hiko couldn't help but feel pleased, though. Who knew that he could gain his living from art?

And more importantly, his art and the income it provided ensured that he didn't have to waste time doing odd jobs anymore, allowing him to concentrate on training Kenshin. Also, there was an additional benefit: he didn't need to deal with people, their demands and constant yapping, and he could stay in one place, enjoy the seclusion and peace.

Maybe the wanderer in his heart that had been so prominent in his younger days was finally calming down?

He would be turning thirty this winter. It was an odd thing to realize. He wouldn't be old, but it seemed that he would reach some milestone of adulthood; one where he was not exactly young anymore.

Hmmph! Well, it was not like it mattered much.

Living with the boy in the mountain had had its own challenges, though. Kenshin had entered his awkward teens and last winter his voice had finally cracked. Hiko had been waiting for it. Truthfully, he might have poked a tad bit too much fun at the boy's plight. But it wasn't like he could help himself. The kid's voice had been hilarious, high like a little girls'.

Of course he tactfully told the boy this. Kenshin hadn't deigned to speak to him for weeks afterwards. A double blessing indeed!

Truly, the silence had been just perfect after being forced to listen to all that moaning, whining and surly grumbling of not being able to travel last summer. It was like Hiko had earned some good karma for having been calm, collected and otherwise such a good mentor for the kid.

However, the reason why he hadn't wanted to take Kenshin travelling with him had nothing to do with rumors. Well, not directly. No matter how angry the Kuto clan was over their loss, Hiko didn't believe they would chase the offender for a year, or across seven provinces. And it wasn't like they had much to go with. No, it was just that "Sonno joi" movement had gotten a lot popularity and the acts against the foreigners had turned violent.

The country was slowly reaching a boiling point and travelling with a mixed blood kid would be pure madness now that people wanted to have someone to blame.

So, they had stayed home and trained. The boy had almost all the theories of special strikes in Hiten Mitsurugi; he could even use most of them. There were still some lingering difficulties, especially with that Doruysen.

But it all would settle in time, Hiko had resolved. He just needed to keep pushing the boy.

Somehow, it seemed Kenshin had a wall of some sort blocking him from reaching his true potential with the ki. It was like the kid could bypass it when needed – but it demanded a lot of concentration, preparation and Kenshin couldn't keep it up for long.

Very odd, and erratic.

It would help if Hiko could figure out how to push the kid just right. He had realized after some thinking and rechecking his memory that back in Settsu the farmer had told him that the boy had moved too fast to see.

It meant that Kenshin had first used the ability under duress, and the boy had even admitted that he had been angry. This sounded very familiar for Hiko and he could relate this to his own experiences. After all, the anger had been the trigger for his use of ki as a young man. So he would just have to get the kid angry and push him to break the wall holding him back.

Thankfully, Hiko had been growing particularly good at pushing the kid's buttons. In fact, it was almost amusing, trying to piss off his gentle-hearted and 'too kind for his own good' apprentice. Kenshin had a pure heart, devoid of malice and evils that plagued the common folk. And though the kid could be sensitive about killing, blood or screaming – Kenshin wasn't weak.

No, his apprentice had a stubborn spirit that just endured. He endured and endured with such will that Hiko wasn't sure he entirely understood.

Yes, the kid would explode into anger, have fits of temper, answer to taunts, mouth off, but underneath all those surface emotions and flickers of temper, the kid was a thinker. Kenshin thought and considered, and when the time was right, he would go at it.

Just like in the early days the poetry and the trouble in internal ki usage, it was just that sort of thinking that was going on with his apprentice right now. Had been going since that fateful summer and the Samurai incident, Hiko was willing to admit. He had lectured about the principles of Hiten Mitsurugi, how to use the power of the style properly in protection of the weak. The kid had just nodded with that thoughtful look, but hadn't said anything about it.

Oh well, when it would be time, the boy would talk. He always did.

At Hagi, Hiko had bought some sake, for the first time in ages. Kenshin was growing and life was good. Maybe it was time to celebrate a bit?

The anniversary of the Old Bastard's death would be perfect for it. He could toast to the Bastard, pay his respects to the memory and then be glad that he had picked up his apprentice. He couldn't have found a better one. Kenshin had grown with such a speed that there wasn't much he could even teach to the kid anymore, just the succession techniques and some miscellaneous situational techniques like those battoujutsu tricks.

Personally, Hiko didn't care for those much. The fast draw was a pure dueling strike and it had no practical use in a true bout. Hiten Mitsurugi was created to pit one against many, that was its purpose, the reason for its existence and he was only too willing to use it just so for protection of the weak.

Well, had been. It wasn't like he could go to fulfill his duty to the principles with the boy in tow.

Hiko wasn't about to let the kid out of his sight and Kenshin just wasn't ready to help out yet. The kid was too young, the enduring nightmares over killing the Samurai had proved it. No, it was better to let the kid grow up and come to an age before pushing that hard life on him.

During the lonely thoughtful nights, Hiko could admit not being sure of what his duty was anymore to the sword of Mitsurugi. Well, other than training his apprentice.

So he would watch the boy and train him.

Speaking of training, Kenshin had been bored to tears lately.

Hmmm, maybe those battoujutsu techniques would help to ease the boredom and repetition that accompanied the honing of skills?

It was a clear night sky of late autumn, anniversary of his Master's death, and Hiko was contently sipping his sake and enjoying the taste.

The boy was keeping him company.

They had paid respects to the dead. He for his old Master, the man who had taught him everything he knew that mattered. The man, who adopted him and showed him the purity and purpose of Hiten Mitsurugi. For that, Hiko would be ever grateful. Who knew what he would have ended up like if the Old Bastard hadn't taken him as a hostage?

Not that he had known it at the time.

He scoffed, bitter memories flooding to his mind.

He had been an arrogant kid born to privilege, grown in the midst of politics to be a plaything in the hands of powerful scheming old men. He was born into a world where wealth and power were only used to gain more of the same. Then his Master had showed him that there were other things in life – had made it clear that the only way the power should be used would be to protect the weak.

Yes, for that Hiko would always be grateful. But at the same time those feelings didn't lessen his hate for the Old Bastard's choices and betrayals.

The Bastard had allowed himself to be used in the politics and games. He had claimed that it was for the better use of Hiten Mitsurugi's power, that joining in the politics would help the people best. The Bastard had claimed that the era of swordsmen protecting the people with only their blades was coming to an end, that the principles of Hiten Mitsurugi had to be renewed to suit the times.

That the original idea of a lonely swordsman protecting the weak just wasn't working anymore.

Back then, Hiko had believed the Old man. Maybe that's why it had hurt so much when the Bastard's betrayal became clear to him. For all the philosophy and kindness, Hiko had been nothing but a plaything for the Bastard and his ambitions to affect Hiko's father. And in truth, none of the wisdom and principles had ever been intended for him.

Heartbroken and betrayed, Hiko had gone back to the Bastard and killed him with the Amakakeru Ryo no Hirameki the man had taught him.

The final technique.

Hiko had been a bitter young man for years after that. Wandering, trying to find a way to use the principles of Hiten Mitsurugi as they should have been used, as they had been used when the style had been created – a swordsman cleaning the world of evil, to protect the innocents and less capable.

And then, in that cold autumn night, he had found Kenshin.

With the boy, Hiko had realized that he had been given a chance to renew the Hiten Mitsurugi: to bring it back to its pure roots, but in a way that suited the era.

But now, Hiko was slowly coming to realize that maybe the Old Bastard had had a point in his madness. It was difficult to travel as a masterless samurai. There wasn't much he could do as a single swordsman but to clear out bandits, outlaws and degenerate ronin – and it wasn't doing much good to ease the suffering of the common people. Maybe the Old Bastard had been right that the era of lonely swordsmen was ending?

The foreigners were coming in with their technology, guns and cannons. The country was slowly opening up and moving ahead. It didn't matter what the fanatics caroled of driving the barbarians away. It was clear to anyone with a pair of working eyes and ears that the foreigners wouldn't leave Japan alone.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to admit for once that some of his old Master's words had had wisdom.

And right now, Hiko was content.

He had a good apprentice; the boy was dedicated and didn't care for violence. Maybe together they could find a way to use the sword of Mitsurugi in a way that would suit the new world that was coming?

He glanced down at his sake. Last time he had drank had been with Osumi's father. Maybe he should have accepted the offer back then? But then again, he had been too arrogant, hadn't wanted give up with his principles.

He had been young.

It was only three years ago. How could everything change in just three short years?

But the sake tasted good.

Kenshin had spat it out when he had given the kid a taste.

It had been hilarious. Well, maybe the kid just didn't understand yet. Kenshin was still so very young. Didn't know much of refinement, of delicate tastes.

"Cherry blossoms in the spring, and starry skies in the summer. Autumn brings the full moon. The winter brings the snow," Hiko tried out loud the words.

Yes, that's it.

"These things make Sake taste good."

And it had taken him time to understand it, just like the boy couldn't see it yet. When he had first turned to sake, it had tasted awful and bitter.

"If you don't like sake, there is something wrong with you."

It had tasted almost like blood. Because back then, he had been wrong, Hiko realized. He had been bitter and angry; of course the taste of sake had reflected it. He had drank to forget. It wasn't like he could do so otherwise. His exceptional memory that allowed him to remember everything he saw, that he had always prided, had been a plague for him then. But now?

Sake tasted good. He had grown older, calmed down and found his peace. He had found the good things in life.

"Someday you will understand how to taste it."

Yes, Kenshin would understand in time, without the bitter experiences that had plagued Hiko's early years.

Yes, my apprentice will have better. Hiko nodded, glancing over his shoulder at the boy and toasted, "Then we will enjoy it together."

Because truly, the first steps of his healing had been because of the boy. It was because of Kenshin that he had achieved this moment.

The stars were bright. It truly was a beautiful night.

I am at peace.

It was after the first snowfall that Hiko finally got to hear what the boy had been thinking about since the visit in Hagi and to say that he was unhappy about it would be a severe understatement.

"Master, I have been thinking…"

"Yes?"

"The way of Hiten Mitsurugi states that it should be used for the protection of the weak."

Hiko had lifted his brow skeptically, but had waited patiently for the boy to get on with it.

"But the way we have been doing it, killing bandits and outlaws, hasn't been helping the people all that much."

For a moment, Hiko had been happy hearing this, because it meant that the boy had come to the same realization as he had himself. Maybe Kenshin would have a new idea? After all, Kenshin's thoughts followed quite different paths, but still retained intelligence and a practical way of thinking.

So Hiko had listened.

"I heard in Hagi that the disturbances are caused by the Shogunate not being good enough in its job, that they cannot keep the foreigners in check, cannot drive them out like they should, and that the laws are unfair, so there are these people—"

And then the kid began spouting that "Sonno joi" radicals' bullshit. And the best thing that came out of the kid's mouth?

"Maybe we should join with them in their fight? Together, we could help the people better."

Wasn't that the exact same garbage that his Old Bastard of a Master had ranted out to him decade earlier? That had been already proven wrong in the very worst way! So Hiko had done what any sensible Master would have done.

"Stop it, idiot student."

He had told the boy that he lacked sense and sensibly pointed out the errors in his judgment.

"Listen to the garbage that comes out of your mouth! Joining in with the radicals would increase the disturbance, not lessen it. The nonsense of that "Sonno joi" movement? It's ridiculous extremist shit, that's what it is! The foreigners are here to stay and the government will deal with it as they can. The new era is coming and politics will grow to answer the challenge. It they don't, they are overthrown. It has nothing to do with the common people or us."

And then the kid had the gall to talk back to him. Absolutely ridiculous.

"But Master, if we join in the movement and fight together, we can help the people better!"

So he had spelled out the facts to the kid as clearly as he could.

"The Hiten Mitsurugi is used to aid the people without the influence of others. Only the Master of the style can judge how to best use his skill to aid the people. The style is too strong to be given into the hands others."

"But, but… you just don't want to admit that you are wrong! You are always making the decisions on your own, you don't listen to others! If we—"

At that point Hiko had had enough. "Idiot Student, I won't hear any more of this nonsense." And he had walked out of the house.

He wanted to cool his head. Of all the idiotic notions the kid could have gotten in his head, this was the worst. Had nothing he had taught the boy during these six years stuck? It was like being thrown back in time, straight to hearing his Master's delusions and lies again.

Never again.

Hiko had sworn to himself that he would find a way to use Hiten Mitsurugi as it should be used. And the last thing on earth that it should be used for was to join in with radical extremist politics. Hah! For the good of the people, indeed!

He spat on the ground, then scoffed. "Idiot student."

Kenshin scowled. To say he was disappointed in Master would be a severe understatement. He had always thought of Hiko as an example of who he should try to be like. But try as he might, and he had tried, Master just wouldn't listen.

All winter!

He had been trying to convince Master throughout the season that there was a way they could help the people better, the common people, who had been suffering for years!

It was a duty of the practitioners of Hiten Mitsurugi to help the people. Master had taught him this, had even agreed that the way they had been going at it wasn't very efficient!

And earlier with Miya, and the Samurai, Master had said that he hadn't been wrong to kill the Samurai. That the samurai had been evil men! And Master had told him that though the Samurai had been evil men, they had been in their legal rights! That the law allowed bad things to happen! That the law didn't protect the people! That the law was wrong!

So when Kenshin had tried to tell Master that maybe they should try to do more, to change the law that was so wrong, Master stopped listening! Instead, he would yell at him that he was an "Idiot Student" and "naïve child!"

Why can't Master just listen to me?

The spirit had been trying to comfort him. Kenta, too, had agreed that Master was being ridiculously unfair.

And training?

What training?

Master hadn't taught them anything new since autumn, and even then it had been only those miscellaneous battoujutsu techniques that even Master admitted to being pretty useless in a real fight. Only Souryuseen – the double quick draw technique seemed worth anything, but even that was a dueling technique. It wouldn't be worth much in a fight against several opponents.

And the rest?

Throwing his sword out of its scabbard as a ranged strike? True, it worked better for Kenshin than his version of the Douryusen – throwing tiny rocks and dust at the opponent. But it was only because Kenshin still hadn't managed to work it out right! And what was the point in throwing your sword at the opponent?

It would leave you unarmed!

It was ridiculous!

And all the time Master kept pushing him in their dueling to use ki faster, for longer, but the man didn't listen to him there either when Kenshin explained time and time again that his ki didn't work like that. That he couldn't make it any faster because it needed concentration and just how could he get it to require less? He had no idea! Even Kenta didn't have any idea!

But Master didn't listen him, just taunted him all the time!

It was like he hadn't heard his name out of the man's mouth in ages. Instead, he had been demoted to being "Idiot student!" all the time. It was degrading. Kenta was truly pissed off at Master because of it. Even Kenshin didn't feel alright with it anymore. It just didn't seem to mean the same thing it used to anymore.

And the newest one?

"Naïve child?"

He was not naïve, thank you very much.

Kenshin knew that joining in with the Ishin Shishi and their attacks against the Shogunate would mean that he would have to kill. He had always known that he was learning how to kill. Master had always told him that swordsmanship was a tool for murder. And he had killed before. He knew he could do it!

But Master called him naïve. That he didn't know what he was proposing – like he was a child!

Kenshin was not a child. He was almost a man. At thirteen years of age, he was just two years shy of genpuku – the rite of adulthood! He had grown. His voice had cracked! Even Master said that it meant that he was a man now. Well, it had been said with a joking tone, but Master had said it!

If Master said something, he meant it!

And Kenshin had always wanted to help the people. It was what he had been learning to do all these six years of hard training. Master had never let him.

He wanted to be a hero! He wanted to help people!

But Master wouldn't let him.

How could he grow if he couldn't fight?

And what use is it to learn swordsmanship if I'm not allowed to use it?

The people were suffering, the times were difficult. There was fighting to be done and people needed help. Now, if ever, was the time to use the sword of Mitsurugi!

Kenshin had never tried to convince the older man this seriously or with such intensity. And before, Master had always caved in or at least listened. But now, it felt like Master didn't even let himself hear Kenshin's words anymore.

But what if Master won't hear me? What if he can't be convinced?

What then?

Kenshin swallowed.

It felt like it was too big a thought to even consider.

What will I do if Master won't help me?

He wasn't wrong. People were suffering. He had the training and duty of Hiten Mitsurugi. Even Master agreed that there wasn't much that he could teach him anymore.

Kenshin resolved to try once more.

But if… if Master doesn't listen to me… What will I do?

"As you know, I have murdered hundreds of evil men, but they were all human beings. They were only trying to live out their lives in the only way they knew how. If you leave this mountain, you will live a life of murder, under the will of men who write their own justice. If you throw your lot with them, Hiten Mitsurugi will make you a mass murderer!"

Leave.

The word seemed to toll in Kenshin's skull. Leave…

Leave this mountain, to help the people.

Alone?

Without Master?

Kenshin swallowed, but steeled his resolve. I am right. I must be right. And if Master won't listen to me…

"You may be right, but I want to save those that are suffering with my own hands. Many people, countless lives… as many as I can! I want to be their protector! I must leave in order to do so," he managed to spit out.

Inside, Kenshin was terrified. I am going to do this. I really am going to do this.

Master… My teacher for the last six years, who found me, took me in and gave me everything. He isn't going to come with me?

I will be going alone?

Alone?

In front of him, Master felt cold. Kenshin couldn't read the man's expressions at all and then he turned his back.

His back!

…and started to walk away.

What? This is happening?

"Master!" Kenshin yelled, disbelieving.

"I am wasting my breath with an idiot like you. Go. Go wherever you want to go." And just for a second, Hiko-san felt warmer. Just a little, like he had accepted his decision.

Master wouldn't stop him. No, instead, he had given him permission to head out to help people. The feeling of relief was nearly overwhelming for a moment, and Kenshin bowed in gratitude, whispering, "Thank you very much."

With shaky legs, Kenshin headed out to the cabin. He needed to prepare for his journey. Master – no, Hiko-san – wasn't anywhere to be seen. Well, it wasn't all that surprising. The older man had a habit of spending time alone, especially after their more furious arguments.

However, Kenshin couldn't stop to wait for him to cool down. Not this time. After all, the daylight wouldn't last forever and if he waited for tomorrow, he wasn't sure he could find the courage to leave. His hands still shook a bit and Kenta nudged him. 'Master gave us permission. We can go.'

'I know.'

The petting comfort feeling.

It made him feel a bit better. He wouldn't be alone. No matter what, he would never be alone. Kenta was always with him. Kenshin shook his head. Now was not the time for doubts. He needed to leave.

The cabin was as it always had been; tiny and tidy, with their possessions gathered next to the wall.

He would need food, blanket, some clothes, his hated hat, and money. Thankfully, he still had the little bit of money Master – no, Hiko-san – had given him the last time in Hagi. Kenshin didn't know how long it would last, but it wasn't like he didn't know how to live with little. So, he would be okay.

He had spent most of his youth on the road with Master and if anything, he knew how to stretch out meager funds.

There, all packed up. But what else do I need?

Oh… Kasumi's top. Kenshin swallowed and knelt to touch the toy. Back then, it had been so important to him. It was a kid's toy. He wasn't a child anymore, but at the same time, it was the only thing he had left of that time. Without further word, he took it with him. It wasn't like it weighed much or was awkward to carry.

And then there was his old wakizashi.

Kenshin had his new sword with him, always. He loved the Katana the Master had given him. But the old and worn Wakizashi was also his. It was his first sword, and it was his hand that had made those frayed prints on the hilt. But only samurai were allowed to carry two blades.

I can't take it with me.

It didn't matter. It was just an old sword.

Silently, the numbness aching in his chest, Kenshin surveyed the cabin. It had been his home for so long. For five winters he had lived there, but…

I need to do this.

He walked out of the door without looking back.

Hiko felt the kid's presence fade away and shook his head. Is this what I have become? I can't even see the boy off?

Scowling, he made his way back to the house. Truthfully speaking, though he could understand Kenshin's reasoning somewhat, naïve and ignorant as it was, if he would see the kid one more time, he wouldn't let the boy leave. Hiko knew the road Kenshin was walking and it would only end up in tragedy and misery.

However, he also knew that look the boy had had in his eyes, that desperate need to use his talents, to help the people, to follow the principles of Hiten Mitsurugi to their fullest.

He, too, had been like that – young.

If I stepped in and ordered the kid not to leave, not to do this stupidity… Kenshin would never forgive him. He would obey, yes. Hiko was his master. The boy had grown to obey his word. But, Kenshin wouldn't see why.

Not without experiencing it himself.

It would destroy the boy's heart, but so would this path that the idiot had chosen.

There was no good ending to this.

And how could he give the boy any less than what he had wanted? The freedom to decide for himself? To seek out his own path? To find a way to use Hiten Mitsurugi for the best?

Hiko wasn't worried for the kid's death, not really. He had taught the boy the best he could and Kenshin was brilliant with a blade. The ugly truth was that the boy would become a killer.

No, over everything else, he worried for the boy's soul.

Kenshin had a pure and gentle heart, and this foolish path he had chosen would forever tarnish it.

But maybe, the boy could survive the conflict with his heart intact? Before anything else, Kenshin was a survivor. He had a stubborn will that endured, endured and endured.

Maybe… Hiko spat on the ground. I am reduced to this? Hoping against all reality? Hoping that I didn't just let the kid I love walk into a lifetime of misery?

Moodily, he stepped inside the cottage. It seemed that the boy had taken most of his possessions with him. Good. Also some of the food and the hat were missing. The boy would need it.

But wait…

Kenshin left the wakizashi?

Why?

The reality dawned like a thunder strike from a clear sky: Kenshin wasn't a samurai and the boy knew it. Carrying the paired blades was illegal for him. Hiko couldn't help the bitter smile that rose to his lips. An amusing thing to realize, for he hadn't cared about birth or status in a long time, but Kenshin had been the lowest of low, and had always been aware of the fact.

Of course Kenshin would leave the blade.

For some reason, Hiko took the sword and slipped it into his belt, next to the Winter Moon. Then he knelt and picked up his bottle of sake.

He didn't feel like staying here either.

He took a swallow.

It tasted like ash.

Not surprised in the least, Hiko toasted to the empty air and uttered, "You win, Old Bastard."

Edited first by Chie in 2014, then again 05.04.2016 by BelovedStranger.