Draconis: Kenshin? What are you doing?

Kenshin: Playing a video game.

Draconis: Really? Uh OK. Where's Yukari and Miyuki?

Kenshin: Off with Mom and Dad somewhere.

Draconis: I see. (looks at the game title) Let me get in on this

Kenshin: Sure.

Negima! Springfield and Kuroshi Redux

Chapter 14

Meeting with Enemies and Deceased alike.

Draconis: Dammit Kenshin no friendly firing you ass!

Kenshin: (trollface) Begin.

(start)

"So what else?" "I've got to get to the 'arc' sooner or later." Kenshin asks himself.

"Well didn't you eventually meet Amaterasu-San again?" Gen asks.

"Oh!" "Good idea we'll start there." Kenshin says.

(break)

Free Trade City Granicus.

Bar and Grill Restaurant.

Kenshin was enjoying a meal after helping Rantou level off an encampment of rouges trying to disturb the fragile peace of the magic world. It had been a month since Shirota died and he was making it through without him or trying to anyway.

"Kenshin are you going to chew any of that?" Arika asks. "You seem to just be shoveling down."

"Because he is princess." "He's devouring it." Ryuujin says.

"What?" Mirai says. "It's not like he's on a date."

"Yes, but he should at least practice good table manners at all times." Arika says. "People are starting to stare at him."

"Ha ha ha!" "So what? !" Ryuujin says.

"Well Ryuujin she is a dignified Ojou-Sama." "She's not used to it." Mirai says.

"Please." "Nagi used to do it a lot." Arika says. Mirai chuckles. "So what's that say about you?" "You married the guy."

Arika blushes. "Sh-Shut up."

Mirai chuckles as does Ryuujin. "Maybe you could help him with that."

"Take your perverse statements elsewhere." "I'm married." Arika says.

"Yeah Arika, but you gotta deal with that itch sooner or later." Mirai says bemused.

"Shut up!" Arika shouts blushing deeply.

"Here's an idea how bout all three of you stuff a sock in it." Kenshin thought. "Mirai Ryuujin leave Arika alone." "Arika I eat how I want when I'm alone and if you need help with the itch just ask."

"Ha ha!" "Go Gaki Go!" Ryuujin says.

Kenshin shook his head as Arika stammered out an unintelligible response. His eyes narrowed as a group of people walked up to him.

"Hello Kenshin-kun." "It's been quite some time since our last meeting."

Kenshin quirked an eyebrow upward. "Tertium?" "What do you want?" "Hottan send you after me?"

Tertium held his arms up in the air flashing a ghost of a smile. "I've come unarmed with no intentions of conflict." "As such my siblings and ministra share my view."

Kenshin set his left cheek on his fist. "So what do you want?" "If you're not here to fight and me being who I am I can't imagine you came here to chitchat."

"Oh." "But's that exactly what we came to do Kenshin-kun." Sextum says with a neutral gaze.

"Uh...huh." Kenshin says not buying it. Tertium sighs and slides a knife to him. "Take this knife." "If you don't believe me then go ahead and stab me."

"Tertium-Sama!" Five girls shout worried. Kenshin turns to them. They were all wearing similar dresses and all had differing colors of hair. He absently noted that one of them had dragon horns on her head and another had cat ears. He distinctly felt a sage like aura coming from the girl with her eyes closed and fiery determination coming from a petite looking girl with pigtails. The last girl seemed to be genuinely worried for Tertium most of all.

"Tamaki Koyomi Shirabe Homura Shiroi." "Relax." Tertium says. "It will be fine."

Kenshin turns back to Tertium and grabs the knife tossing it in the air a couple of times before stabbing it into the table. "Take it back." Kenshin says. "I'll humor you." "However if I do not like whatever you offer I'll stab you with something else."

Tertium nods having expected him to say something along those lines. "Well Kenshin-kun before I begin would you like to know what became of your emperor?" Kenshin's eye narrowed into a scowl. "We just started and you're treading on thin ice Tertium."

"He's not dead." Tertium says. Kenshin's eye widened. "What the hell are you talking about?" "I saw him ge-"

"Rewritten." Quintum says. "Being rewritten does not kill anyone." "It merely transports them to the eternal garden our organization is named after."

Kenshin stares at Quintum trying to find a trace of deceit and did not. He sighs. "Very well." "I suppose thanks are in order."

"Very well." "Now what we came to talk about was you helping us." Sextum says. Kenshin narrows his eyes. "Help you?" "Er...correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you four trying to kill me three years ago?"

"Yes Kenshin, but we want our freedom back." Quartum says. "We need your help to do so."

"Hm." "And just how do I do that?" Kenshin says. "I'm open to the idea don't get me wrong, but I don't like the idea of going in blind."

"That's understandable." Tertium says. "You however already know what would have to be done."

"Kill Hottan?" "Did you forget last time we fought he left me lying in a pool of my own blood." Kenshin says. He faintly notices a sickly look cross the five girls faces. "I hardly see how I could help you."

Tertium sighs. "That is also because you dropped a considerable amount of your energy fighting us and getting Hikari-San back." "If you had been at full power you would have had a chance."

"Hm." "I see." "Well...before I answer...who are they?" Kenshin says pointing at the five girls next to them. "Sorry, but I'm kind of wary about being around people I haven't met yet.

"These are my ministra." Tertium says. "I picked them up from areas of conflict and helped them get back on their feet so to speak." "I also picked up 57 others and put them in school."

Kenshin shot Tertium a flabbergasted look. "Say what?" "Hottan actually allows that?" "Man you're kinder than I thought."

"Yes Yes." "Girls introduce yourselves." Tertium says.

The short girl with pigtails shot Kenshin an annoyed glare. "Homura." Kenshin chuckled. "Feisty."

The girl with her eyes closed sighed. "Shirabe." Kenshin shrugs. "She seems nice."

The girl with short white hair and longish ears nods timidly. "Shiroi."

"Koyomi." The girl with cat ears said. "Tamaki." The girl with dragon horns said.

"Hm..." "You two." Kenshin says pointing at Koyomi and Tamaki. "Are you familiar with the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans?"

Both girls shake their heads. "No." "We've heard of them, but we aren't family to you." Kenshin nods. "Can never be too sure."

"So Kenshin-kun what is your answer?" Tertium asks.

"I'll help you out." Kenshin says. Tertium outstretched his hand only for Kenshin to add on. "On one condition."

"And that would be?" Tertium says. Kenshin looks him dead in the eye. "I want to see her."

"Who?" Tertium says already having a good idea who it is. Kenshin narrows his eyes removing his eyepatch. "You know who I'm talking about Tertium."

Tertium sighs. "I knew I wasn't going to be able to get your assistance without her." "She's waiting on a rooftop five hundred meters that way." Tertium says pointing outside to his left. "If that's all I will send one of my ministra to Wales to hand you reports on what's going on."

"Stay here." "If it's bogus I'm coming darting back here." Kenshin says getting up and walking out. "He's kind of rude isn't he Tertium-Sama?" Homura asks. Tertium nods. "Yes, but society made him that way." At their confused looks he sighs. "I'll explain later."

Kenshin hopped up on to rooftops going to where Tertium directed. He landed on a rooftop to find a girl with long white hair wearing a form fitting short sleeved shirt and a pair of tight fitting jeans. She turned to him, her eyes misted over with tears. "So you came." "Kenshin-kun."

"Amaterasu-Chan..." Kenshin says distantly.

"I thought...I told you to forget about me." Amaterasu said.

"You're dreaming." Kenshin says. "Amaterasu...we knew each other for a short amount of time, but...I...I feel like I've known you my whole life." "I couldn't forget you even if I wanted to."

Amaterasu sighs blinking away unshed tears. "B-But...because of me...you ne-"

"I chose to do that of my own free will." "I chose to help you." Kenshin said.

"No...not entirely of your own free will." Amaterasu says. "Wh-When w-we met...I cast a mild love spell on you so I could convince you." "It loses effect as soon as you are made aware of it." "You can yell at me now." Amaterasu says closing her eyes.

Her eyes snapped open when Kenshin embraced her. "Baka." "Dad told me about it already." "And you know what?" "I don't care about it in the least."

"Wh-What?" Amaterasu said looking up at him. Her eyes widen as Kenshin pressed his lips to hers. "Amaterasu." "Don't blame yourself for my close call with death." "I did it at your request and knew what I was getting into."

"But Kensh-!" Amaterasu said. Kenshin pressed his finger to her lips. "Shh shh." "Don't."

Amaterasu looked down. "Kenshin...at first I just wanted you to get me my father back and we'd go our separate ways." "B-But something I-I didn't account for happened."

"What?" Kenshin said.

"I-I...f-fell in love with y-you." Amaterasu stammers out with a deep blush on her face. Kenshin's eye closed as he smiled. "I see." "So we both feel the same way." Kenshin says. Amaterasu gasps as her blush deepens further.

"But...we can't...date each other right now." Kenshin said. Amaterasu nods beginning to melt into his embrace. "I understand." "It's enough for me to have gotten this off my chest."

Kenshin backs away with a lopsided grin on his face. "Ah yes your nicely developed chest." Kenshin said poking her left breast. Amaterasu smacked him over the head. "Don't do that!"

"Ha ha ha." "Sorry Amaterasu couldn't resist." Kenshin says.

"A-Alright." Amaterasu said intertwining her fingers. "S-So we love each other?"

"That's pretty much the gist of it." Kenshin says. Amaterasu sighs contentedly. "Alright." "Thank you." "When this whole situation blows over or is taken care of...lets go on a date."

Kenshin chuckles as she vanishes. "I'll remember that."

Amaterasu appears in front of Tertium. "Are you ready Amaterasu-San?" Tertium asks.

"Yes." "Thank you for bringing me out here Tertium-kun." Amaterasu said. "He will assist you." "I know he will."

"Yes, but are you sure you want that?" Tertium asks. "Hottan will have to die you know that as well as I do." Amaterasu nods. "Yes." "Sometimes death needs to be dolled out to give the person killed peace."

(break)

"So you two had your reunion and then she had to leave?" Gen asks. Kenshin nods. "Hottan was still alive." "I couldn't risk endangering her just like I couldn't risk endangering Theodora."

"I see." Gen says.

"Now then if you remember correctly Hebi gave me knowledge on where to find my grandfather's spirit to ask him how to complete the charm." Kenshin says. "However I didn't get the answer I was looking for and was left with more questions than I had answers for."

(break)

Wales

"So is it take your sisters to work day at Rikudou or something Ken-Chan?" Hikari asks as Kenshin gets dressed.

"Nope." "I'm off today." Kenshin says. Hikari blinks. "Then why are you heading out with them?"

Kenshin buttoned up his shirt. "Well wouldn't you and Dad like some time alone?" "Negi's busy with the academy and Yukari Miyuki and I are going to be out so you and Dad could do something 'alone.'

Hikari narrowed her eyes. "Alone?"

Kenshin sighs throwing on his jacket. "Jeez." "Go on a romantic date or at the very least feed your kitty."

"Feed...my...kitty?" Hikari says as Kenshin walks by her. Her eyes widen as a red hue graces her cheeks getting what he was implying. "My own son just told me to go get laid? !"

Kenshin chuckled to himself hearing Hikari shout out. "Heh heh."

"So Kenshin any particular reason why you're just taking your sisters?" Ryuushin asks walking up to him.

Kenshin narrows his eyes. "Because I'm gonna take them to a bar and see how long it takes them to get completely faced."

"Tch ha ha ha!" Ryuushin chuckles. "Alright Kenshin whats the real reason?

Kenshin shrugs. "Because I feel like it." "Besides wouldn't you and Mom like some time alone?"

"Well..."

"Just go ahead and answer truthfully." Kenshin said.

"Well...yeah I guess so." Ryuushin said.

"There ya go." "Negi's gonna be busy and we're going to be out." "Take Mom somewhere nice." "Also if you don't want another of us running around right now don't forget to pull out later." Kenshin walks away from Ryuushin.

"Pull out?" Ryuushin says confused. "Uh boss." Ryuushin said. "I think Kenshin hinted at you trying to get some."

Ryuushin chuckles. "Tch ha ha ha ha." "See ya Kenshin!"

Kenshin waved and continued walking. He walked out to the front of the building where Yukari and Miyuki were waiting for him. "What took you so long?" Yukari asks.

"Mom decided to pop in while I was changing and I ran into Dad on the way out." Kenshin says.

"Hm." "Well whatever." Yukari said.

"So Niichan where are we going?" Miyuki asks. "I mean I already know where we're going, but we can't go directly there can we?"

"Nope." Kenshin said. "I had Rikudou program this to allow us to go to Kinsou Village, but we gotta hike to our actual destination."

"Well activate it already." Yukari said. Kenshin stared at her annoyed hitting the warp button. "Keep your damn panties on."

The three of them disappeared and reappeared in front of a hospital.

"Whelp here we are I suppose." Kenshin said. Yukari turns to him. "You suppose? !"

"We could be in Hellas territory for all I know." Kenshin said. "This thing's got a tendency drop me at the wrong places."

"Piece of shit." Yukari mutters. A man walks out of the hospital. "Hello can I help you with something?"

"Where are we?" Miyuki asks.

"Why you are in Kinsou Village." The man said. "My name is Will." "I'm the head doctor of the hospital here."

"Kenshin." "Yukari." "Miyuki." The three of them introduce.

Will's eyes widen a margin. "Excuse me." "Would your surnames happen to be Kuroshi Tsuki?"

Kenshin nods. "That's right." "How'd you know?"

"Well..." Will said pointing at Kenshin and Yukari. "I'm the doctor that helped Hikari-San when she gave birth to the two of you." "I couldn't stop what happened that night however."

"It's fine." "The families' back together thanks to Niichan!" Miyuki said.

"Really?" "You must have grown powerful to have been able to stand against the Life-Maker." Will said.

"Well it would take too long to go into, but he wasn't at full strength." Kenshin said. "Say do you know which way Ryuu no Sato is?"

Will's eyes widen. "Wh-Why?"

"I need to find something there." Kenshin said.

"Yes, but it has been deserted for 20 years." "What could you possibly hope to find there?" Will said.

"Sorry, but that's our business." Kenshin said. Will sighs and nods. "Fine." "It's ten kilometers north of here." "I hope you find what it is you're looking for."

"Thanks." Kenshin said as he and his sisters walk away.

(break)

One day later.

"Are we there yet?" Miyuki said walking behind Yukari who was behind Kenshin who was ahead by a few meters.

"!" Kenshin's eye widened as he came over the hill the three were walking on. "Kenshin-nii what's...wrong...?" (gasp) "O-Oh my god."

Miyuki was the last to make it up the hill. "What the?" "This place...has been almost completely destroyed."

"Who did this?" Yukari asks. Kenshin closes his eye. "Dad." "It all makes sense now." "He destroyed this place."

"What makes you say that?" Miyuki asks.

"Remember how I told you Mom's inner demon was inside my soul?" (nods) "Well she told me that Dad lived a life like my own time in Megalo." "At the end of this time an assassin tried to kill him and nearly killed Mom." "In a fit of rage he caught Ryuujin's attention and leveled this place."

Yukari and Miyuki turned to their brother in shock. "A-Are you sure? !" Kenshin nods. "Yeah." "I've even confirmed it with Mom herself." "Come on." "Nothing will be solved if we sit here mourning something that took place 20 years ago." Kenshin hopped off the hill and flew into the village. Yukari and Miyuki followed close behind and landed behind him.

"We need to head toward the mountains behind the village." "We'll find what we're looking for the-" Kenshin clutched at his head. "Argh! !" "What is this? !"

"Kenshin-nii!" Yukari said taking a step toward him. She fell to her knees clutching at her own head. "Ahhh!" "My head hurts!"

"Niichan!" "Neechan!" Miyuki shouts then grabs her head. "Ahhhhh!" "Wh-What's going on? !"

Just as fast as the pain appeared if vanished. "Hah!" "Hah!" "Hah!" "Yukari Miyuki...are you two alright?"

"Y-Yeah." Yukari says. Miyuki nods. "Wh-What was...that?" Miyuki looks around. "Erm...wasn't this place destroyed?"

"What are you talking about Miyuki?" "Of...course it...was." Yukari said.

"What is this?" "The village is suddenly rebuilt?" Kenshin said. A loud shout is heard and all three of them turn around. A boy with short crimson hair runs through Kenshin as a mob chases after him.

"Who was that?" Miyuki asks. Kenshin's eyes widen as he removes his eyepatch. "No..." "We're caught in a glimpse?"

"Of what?" Yukari says. Kenshin glares down at the ground. "This is what Ryuu no Sato looked like before it was destroyed...that boy that just ran through me was Dad." Kenshin takes off.

Yukari and Miyuki follow him. "Kenshin-nii wait! !"

They arrive in the city square to find the child getting abused by the mob. Yukari moves in to try to save him, but Kenshin sets his hand on her shoulder stopping her. She turns to him and he closes his eyes and shakes his head. "We are nothing but ghosts to them."

"S-So what are we just supposed to watch this? !" Yukari shouts.

"We can't do anything to help him!" Kenshin shouts. "If we could I'd have already done it by now!"

"Everybody's leaving." Miyuki said. Kenshin and Yukari blink and look around. The only person left was the boy who was a bloody mess. Yukari squeezed her eyes shut as tears began leaking out. Kenshin reached over and pulled her into an embrace. He was used to seeing this. He had went through something similar, but his sisters weren't used to seeing this kind of torture. Miyuki walked over and Kenshin pulled her into an embrace as well.

Suddenly a girl's voice called out to the boy. "Ryuushin-kun?" "Ryuushin-kun! !"

Kenshin let go of his sisters and watched as a girl with long red hair wearing a red shirt and shorts ran up to the boy. He pried open his eyes and smiled wearily. "Ah...hey...Hikari-Chan."

"D-Don't talk!" "I-I'll heal you!" She shouts placing her hands on his chest. "Cura!"

"Heh." "Another day of this." "I'm...sorry I have to keep putting you through this."

"R-Ryuushin-kun just shut up and let me heal you!" The girl says tears dripping off her face.

Kenshin closed his eyes. "Kaa-Chan..." "Tou-San..."

Suddenly the vision shattered and the village was destroyed again. Kenshin wiped his eyes and put his eyepatch back on. "Come on."

"Kenshin-niichan." Miyuki says. "Are you alright?"

"I'm wondering why we saw that." "I have a feeling if we continue onward we will find out." Kenshin said grabbing Yukari and Miyuki's hands. "So let's keep moving."

The three come up to the mountains behind the village. Kenshin stares up at it. "It looks like a...dragon."

"Hey Kenshin-niichan." "There's an opening." Miyuki says pointing at a cave.

"Let's go." Yukari says walking ahead. Kenshin nods and enters the cave with Miyuki.

The came up to a hole shortly after entering. "Huh?" Miyuki says. "A hole?"

"Looks like it's time to see just how far the rabbit hole goes." Kenshin says jumping down into the hole. Yukari and Miyuki follow him in and find themselves in a dimly lit room.

"So you've come." Kenshin turns his attention to a man with black hair done up in a braid wearing a battle kimono with eastern dragons coiling around it. He had black irises with a red slit for pupils. Standing next to him was a slender looking woman with long purple hair wearing a purple button up shirt and matching pants. On the back of the shirt was the kanji for tigress. She had purple eyes which were round in shape as contrasted to the man's nearly closed eyes.

"And you are?" Kenshin asks.

The man says nothing, but charges Kenshin with a dragon arm with black scales covering it. Kenshin matched his strike with one of his own. The man looked down. "You've made a pact with him at your age?" "Are you insane?"

"Ryuu-Taisho-kun don't!" "The woman says. "Your time is limited as it is!" "Don't waste it anymore!"

The man sighs and lowers his arm. "Yes." "I apologize Kenshin."

Kenshin narrowed his eye. "How did you know my name?"

"The woman who sent you here told me." Ryuu-Taisho said. "Hebi was it?"

"What the?" "She loved you and you can't even remember her? !" Kenshin says flabbergasted.

The woman stepped forward. "We apologize." "It's just we've been dead for so long our memories have deteriorated. Kenshin's eye softens and he nods. "I see." "Who are you?" "Or have you forgotten that as well?"

The woman bows her head. "My name is Aki Tsuki." "This is Ryuu-Taisho Kuroshi." "If I'm correct we are your grandparents." "Now could our granddaughters step out?" "We'd like to see them."

Miyuki and Yukari walk up next to Kenshin. "Ahhhh...you two...have grown beautifully." Aki said.

"Yes..." Ryuu-Taisho says. "And you." "Did you intend to make the pact with Ryuujin?"

"No...it just kind of happened." Kenshin said. "I was losing a fight where my life was on the line and got desperate." Ryuu-Taisho nods. "I see."

"Um." Miyuki said. "When we entered the village we saw an illusion where our father was getting beaten." "Why did we see that?"

Ryuu-Taisho sighs. "I wrapped you in that illusion." At the three's glare he added. "I know there was no good reason for it, but I felt you should know a bit about your father's childhood."

"Fine." Kenshin said. Aki laughed. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing it's just I can sense something coming from you three." Aki said.

"Huh?" Yukari said. "What are you talking about?"

"You all love each other don't you?" Aki said.

"Uh...we're siblings so yeah we do." Kenshin said. Aki shook her head. "No no no." "I mean you all 'love' each other."

The three siblings all blush. "N-N-No we don't!"

"Oh really?" Aki said. "Alright then you won't mind if I cast this spell on you." Aki said as her hand became surrounded in a pink glow.

Ryuu-Taisho narrows his eyes. "Aki did you really have to do that?"

"Well they can't go around lying to themselves." Aki said.

Kenshin turns to Yukari who blushed. "K-Kenshin-kun..."

"Yukari-Chan." Kenshin said as they moved closer to one another. The two press their lips together in a shy kiss.

"Ken-kun..." Miyuki said in a daze.

Kenshin broke away and turned to Miyuki. "Miyu..." He cupped her face and kissed her just as shyly as he did Yukari. Aki snapped her fingers and all three sets of eyes widen. Kenshin and Miyuki break apart. "N-Niichan!"

"W-What the hell? !" Kenshin said.

"Don't do that again please." Yukari mutters. Aki giggles. "All I did was bring your true feelings to the surface."

"Y-Yeah right lady!" Miyuki said. "Y-You just brought our inner demons out." "Mine is constantly saying how she loves Kenshin-niichan's and Yukari-neechan's inner demons!"

"So?" Aki says. "It's the same thing."

"It is not!" The three siblings yell. Aki shrugs. "Keep deluding yourselves." "Doesn't matter to me."

"Aki that's enough." Ryuu-Taisho says. "Now then I assume you had a question for me."

Kenshin nods and goes to speak only for Ryuu-Taisho to cut him off. "However at this point I can't answer it."

"Wh-Why not? !" Kenshin says. Both Ryuu-Taisho's and Aki's bodies begin breaking apart. "Because I can no longer remember how to construct that charm." "Aside from that our time here is up."

"H-How long ago did you forget? !" Kenshin shouts. Ryuu-Taisho strokes his chin in thought. "I suppose I forgot...around ten years ago." "If you had come before me any time before that I might have been able to help you." "Also...could you...tell my daughter...to take good care of herself?"

"And...my son." Aki said. "Tell them we're sorry that we couldn't be the parents they needed."

"W-Wait." "What do you mean? !" Kenshin said.

"Just tell them." The two said smiling. "They will understand." "Goodbye...our grandchildren." Ryuu-Taisho and Aki both disappear and Kenshin Yukari and Miyuki suddenly appear outside of the village.

"Ryuu-Taisho's daughter?" "Aki's son?" "What did they mean when they said that?" "The last Kuroshi is Dad and the last Tsuki is Mom." Yukari said.

"Wait...Kenshin-niichan." "Yukari-neechan...you don't think Kaa-Chan and Tou-Chan are...related do you?" Miyuki said.

"I don't know." "Let's find out." He takes out his communicator and hits the warp button. "Welsh Magic Academy."

The three appear in front of the magic academy. They walk in and find Ryuushin and Hikari watching a movie. "Oh Ken-Chan Yukari-Chan Miyuki-Chan you're back." "How was your trip?"

"Alright..." Kenshin said.

"Mom Dad." "Can we talk to you outside for a moment." Yukari said.

"Hm?" Ryuushin sounded. "Sure." "I guess." Ryuushin puts the movie on pause and he and Hikari walked outside. The five made their way to a meadow away from the academy and Kenshin turned to them.

"I guess it's fair to tell you where we went." Kenshin said. Ryuushin quirked an eyebrow upward. "And that would be?"

"Ryuu no Sato." Yukari said. Ryuushin and Hikari stared at their children stunned. "Why?"

"Kenshin-nii needed to find someone there and decided to take us with." Yukari answers

"Rrgh!" "I mean why would you want to go there? !" "Who could have possibly been there that you needed to see? !" Ryuushin shouts.

"Ryuu-Taisho Kuroshi." Miyuki answers.

"!" Ryuushin felt his body go stiff. "Y-You...mean you saw...my father."

"Ryuu-kun?" Hikari said setting her hand on his shoulder.

"I went there to find answers about the charm I was asked to make for Hebi, but he told me he and Aki Tsuki had been dead so long neither of them remembered." Kenshin said. "They also told us something that greatly confused us."

"Wh-What?" Ryuushin said.

"Ryuu-Taisho told us to tell his daughter that take good care of herself and Aki told us to tell her son that they were sorry that couldn't be the parents these two needed at the time." Kenshin said. "But that's confusing seeing as Ryuu-Taisho is a Kuroshi and Dad is a Kuroshi." "Mom is a Tsuki and so is Aki." "So how can they have a second child when Dad and Mom are the last Kuroshi and Tsuki unless..."

"Unless Kaa-Chan and Tou-Chan are related." Miyuki said.

Kenshin nods. "Dad...Mom." "You're siblings aren't you?"

Ryuushin and Hikari looked to each other and to the ground. "We were never really sure." "We never bothered to find out after we got married."

"If you're ashamed then don't be." Kenshin said. Ryuushin and Hikari look toward their son. "You didn't know till now and honestly I don't think any of us care that our parents are related by blood."

"No." Yukari said. "You two love each other who should have any say in how you express that love."

"Yeah!" Miyuki said. "It's not like being siblings has stopped you from being great parents!"

"Besides it's not like we're deformed in anyway because of it." "I think being demons stops that." Kenshin says.

"So...you don't care about it?" Ryuushin asks. All three of them shoot him a flat stare. "No."

"OK then...if it doesn't matter to you then it doesn't matter to us." Hikari says turning Ryuushin around and kissing him full on the lips.

"Alright then." "Let's head on back then." Kenshin said.

(break)

"Ryuushin and Hikari were siblings?" Gen said.

"Yeah." Kenshin said. "They never wanted to deal with the public backlash of making it public so they never told anyone."

"I see." Gen said.

"Now then the last thing that happened in this year was considerably...calmer so to speak." Kenshin said. "My warping capabilities had been put on hold so Rikudou could put it into maintenance." "However that didn't stop me from flying out to Japan to see Konoka-Chan and Setsuna-Chan who I found out had enrolled in Mahora Academy."

(break)

Mahora

Kenshin was walking through the academy city making his way toward the headmaster's office. The only problem was he had no idea how to find it. He bumped into a man with graying hair wearing a beige suit. He stared down at him then jumped backward.

"You...what are you doing here?" He asks.

"I'm visiting friends." Kenshin said. "Waaaaaiiiiiitttt." "Is your name Takamichi?"

The man nods. "Yes." ""What of it?" "Are you here to attempt killing me?"

"No." Kenshin says flatly. "I'm not working right now." "My name is Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki." "You know my parents for cripes sake."

"So..." "You're not here to endanger anyone?" Takamichi asks. Kenshin shrugs. "Unless an assassin bothered to follow me here." "In which case I'll deal with him or her and be on my way."

Takamichi visibly relaxes. "OK." "Sumimasen Kenshin-kun it's just I don't want to take any chances."

"Ma ma." Kenshin said waving him off. "It's cool." "I'm still single because of that same reason." "Now could you direct me to the headmaster's office." "I need to ask him if his granddaughter around."

"Do you have an omiai with her?" Takamichi asks. Kenshin shot him an irritated look. "Please." "I'm not the marryin' type."

"Ha ha I see." Takamichi said. "Well I hate to say this Kenshin-kun, but Konoka-kun left to visit her parents just today and won't be back for a couple of days."

Kenshin's mouth gaped open. "Whhhaaaaaattttt? !" "W-Well is her bodyguard Sakurazaki Setsuna here at least? !"

"I'm afraid not Kenshin-kun." "She went with Konoka-kun."

"Aaiiigh." Kenshin groaned. "Fine."

"Well Kenshin-kun you're free to roam the school grounds if you promise not to start anything." Takamichi offered.

"I guess I could use a stroll to get rid of the jet lag." "Aside from that I really don't feel like hopping back onto a plane."

Takamichi nods. "Very well." "I'll leave you to your business." "But if you should start any trouble I'll be coming after you."

Kenshin smirks. "I like to fight the strong Takamichi." "You're just tempting me to be a nuisance."

"Hm hm." "If you don't cause a ruckus I'll pencil you in for a spar." Takamichi says successfully bribing him off as he nods. "Ya got me I'll be a 'good' boy."

"Good." "So long Kenshin-kun." Takamichi vanishes leaving Kenshin alone. He looks up and see snow falling to the ground. "Hm...It is about time for the holidays ain't it?" Kenshin began walking. "I wonder what I should get everyone?"

"Ah...I've got plenty of time to think it over." Kenshin pulls out his orange book and begins reading. Because of this he doesn't notice someone walking toward him carrying a large stack of books obstructing their own view. The two walk into each other and the person carrying the stack of books and Kenshin both fall backward landing on their butts. Kenshin looked over and noticed the person was a girl with shaggy purple hair that covered her eyes. She was wearing a tan coat and a maroon skirt.

"I'm sorry." "I-I'm s-sorry." Kenshin and the girl both say at the same time. They blink. "I wasn't paying attention." (blink)

"Uh...so...you mind closing your legs?" "I can see your underwear." Kenshin said.

"Ehhh? !" The girl blushes and closes her legs. "I-I'm sorry." "I-I didn't mean for that to happen." She said.

"Don't worry about it." Kenshin said getting up. "Need a hand?"

"U-Um...th-thanks." She says grabbing his hand and pulling herself up.

Kenshin starts collecting her scattered books. "Aren't you cold in that skirt?" "It's starting to snow."

"I-I'm fine." She says.

Kenshin hands her the books he had gathered and noticed half of them were still on the ground. "Uh...neesan you mind if I give you a hand with this?" "You really shouldn't be handling this many at once." He says gathering the rest of the books.

"N-No no." "I-I'll be fine." She says.

"Uh OK, but what if you walked down these stairs here?" "And you missed a step and tumbled down them and broke your neck?" Kenshin said.

The girl gulped audibly. "U-Um...wh-when you put it that way I guess I could use the help." Kenshin smiled. "Alright then." "Where to?"

"U-Um." "Library Island." She said. "Just follow me."

"So what's your name?" "I'm Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki." Kenshin says.

"N-Nodoka M-Miyazaki." She says. Kenshin chuckles. "That's a cute name."

(blush) "Th-Thank you." Nodoka says embarrassed.

Kenshin looks behind him. "Wh-What is it?" He turned back around. "Nothing." "It's just you ever get the feeling you're being followed?"

Nodoka looks back seeing nothing but the falling snow. "I don't see anything." Kenshin shrugs. "I guess I'm just being paranoid."

"Um." "Kenshin-San." "What happened to your left eye?" Nodoka asks. Kenshin looks away from her. "Let's just say I got into an accident and it became unusable."

"O-OK." Nodoka says. "I-I guess he doesn't like to talk about it."

"My little sister actually made this eyepatch for me." Kenshin said fingering around with said patch.

"She must really care about you." Nodoka said. Kenshin chuckles. "She does." "I have a twin sister as well, but we kinda argue a lot."

"W-Well it is kinda normal." Nodoka said. "When it come down to it you two probably care a lot about each others wellbeing."

"Heh." "You're pretty sharp Nodoka-Chan." Kenshin said.

Nodoka blushes at the suffix. Kenshin shakes his head. "I use that suffix for all my lady friends."

"O-Oh." Nodoka said.

The rest of the trip to the island went by in a peaceful silence. They reached the building and entered. "Hello?" "Haruna?" "Yue?" Nodoka's voice echoed. She sighs. "I guess I'm doing the sorting alone again."

"I can give you a hand." Kenshin said. Nodoka blushes. "U-Um...arigatou." "Do you know how to sort books?"

"Yeah." "I actually have a library where I'm staying." Kenshin said removing his jacket.

"Um Kenshin-San." "Do you wear that jacket all the time?" Nodoka asks as they begin to sort. Kenshin quirked an eyebrow upward. "Yeah why?"

"Because I think I saw you or someone who looked like you with Konoka-San in early September." "Weren't you hot in it?" Nodoka asks.

"Nah." "It's made to keep me cool in the summer and warm in the winter." Kenshin says.

"Oh." Nodoka says.

"So you like this job here?" Kenshin asks.

"U-Um it's not a job." "It's actually one of over one hundred school clubs in the academy." Nodoka said. "And yes I do." "I love books."

"I see." "Well if you have something you're passionate about stick to it." Kenshin said.

"W-Well s-seeing as you said that what are you passionate about?" Nodoka asks.

Kenshin strokes his chin in thought. "Hm...I never really thought about it."

"Killing people?" Ryuujin suggests. Kenshin inwardly groans. "Not now dammit!"

"Your friends?" Mirai said. Kenshin inwardly sighs. "I'm never around, but it works."

"Family." Arika said. Kenshin nods. "Yeah." "I'd protect them with everything I have."

"Well I guess I'd have to say my friends and family." Kenshin said. "If anything happened to my family...I don't know what I'd do."

"What about your friends?" Nodoka asks as Kenshin set a book up. Kenshin stared downward.

"Well...I don't have a lot of friends I keep in touch with nowadays." Kenshin said then sighs deeply.

"Are you alright Kenshin-San?" Nodoka asks.

"Yeah...it's just one of my friends died a few months back." Kenshin said. Nodoka let out a light gasp. "Oh...I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Kenshin said holding a hand over his heart. "It still kind of stings here though." "I was with him when he died." "He was married and his wife told me not to blame myself for it, but...I still can't help thinkin' that there was something I could have done to prevent it."

"Kenshin-San...I'm sorry to hear that." "But she was right." Nodoka said.

"I know...I'm just still grieving for him is all." "He was like a brother to me." Kenshin said. "Ah...I'm rambling and we're wasting time."

"It's OK I'm the one who asked." Nodoka said. The two finish sorting the books an hour later whilst chatting about themselves and the like. The two make their way toward the exit. Two girls wearing school uniforms run up to them. One had long dark green that hung down her back and the other violet hair that was long and done up into two large tails in the back.

"Nodoka." "We told you we'd help you why'd you take off?" The taller of the two asks.

"Haruna I wanted to get it out of the way before it started snowing badly." Nodoka answers. The taller girl nods and turns to Kenshin. "Oh?" "And who is this hunk of a boy?"

Kenshin blinks. "Hunk?"

"Oh I see what's going on." "He's Nodoka's secret boyfriend!" Haruna said. "

"Eeeeehh? !" "N-No!" "I-I only just met him today!" Nodoka shouted embarrassed.

"It's OK Nodoka." The shorter girl said.

"Really Yue?" Nodoka said.

The girl named Yue took a sip out of a juice box. "Yeah I mean if you wanna randomly hook up with a guy you just met who are we to criticize you."

"Tch ha ha ha!" Haruna laughed. "Good one Yueechi!"

"You guys!" Nodoka shouts. "Come on cut it out!"

"Alright alright." Haruna said. "So what's your name handsome?" "I'm Haruna Saotome."

"Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki." Kenshin said. "And uh...not to say you ain't attractive, but please don't try to come on to me." "I'm single and I'd like to keep it that way."

Haruna visibly deflated. "Damn." "OK if you say so."

Yue walked up to Kenshin. "Yue Ayase." "Did you help Nodoka?"

"Yeah." "We bumped into each other and she was carrying a stack of books almost as half as tall as she was." Kenshin says.

"Again Nodoka? !" Haruna said. "How many times do we keep telling you that it's dangerous to do that!"

"S-Sorry." Nodoka says embarrassed.

"Thank you." Yue said. "That was kind of you for a stranger."

"Not at all." Kenshin says. "I was originally here to visit a friend and found out she and her friend left to Kyoto."

"Konoka-San?" Nodoka asks. Kenshin nods. "Yeah she and I have been friends since we were kids." "Whelp seeing as everything's done here I'll be on my way." Kenshin said.

"Hey wait!" Haruna shouts. "Where are you going?"

"To take a nap." Kenshin said taking off leaving the three girls confused.

Later that night the three were laying down to go to sleep. Nodoka however couldn't sleep. She knew that this place was an academy and as such lodging was only available to students and teachers. Grabbing a blanket she went outside her room and outside the dorm complex. She didn't have to go far as she found Kenshin sitting under a tree. "Kenshin-San."

"H-Huh?" Kenshin said.

"Here." Nodoka said. Kenshin chuckled whilst shivering. "Don't worry about me just go back into your dorm room and get to sleep.

"Your shivering." "Just take it." Nodoka said.

"Heh." "Don't worry I've been in colder." Kenshin said. Nodoka shook her head and walked up to him and unfolded the blanket wrapping it around herself then knelt down and wrapped herself around Kenshin. "I'm usually as shy as a church mouse, but you were so nice to me...I want to repay you." (1 )

"Fine." Kenshin said wrapping his arms around her. "We'll share body heat."

As soon as Kenshin was sure Nodoka was asleep he picked her up and carried her back into the dorm complex. Locating her dorm he kicked his foot lightly against the door. Haruna answered. "Nnneh?" "Kenshin-San?" "What are you doing with Nodoka?"

Kenshin told her what happened and Haruna nods. "OK." "Bring her in and lay her down." Kenshin nods and walks in laying the petite purple haired girl on the bottom bunk of the bunk bed in their dorm. "Do you have a piece of paper and a pen?" "I'm just gonna write her a short letter explaining why she's back in her room."

"Oh." "Sure." Haruna said grabbing a pen and tearing a piece of blank paper from her notebook.

Kenshin thanks her and walks over to their desk and begins writing. He folds up the note and hands it to Haruna. "Make sure she gets it please."

"OK." "Where are you going?" Haruna said.

"Well I guess seeing as I couldn't sleep I'll just hop a train back to the city and catch a plane back home." Kenshin said.

"You don't live in Japan?" Haruna asks. Kenshin shakes his head. "Nope." "I'm staying in Wales with a friend."

"Oh." "Well will you becoming back?" "I'm sure Nodoka would like to see you again." Haruna says.

"Eh every now and again." "I have a job back home." Kenshin says walking out the door. "See ya."

The next morning Nodoka awoke confused to find herself in her dorm room. "Huh?" "How'd I get back in here?"

"Kenshin-San carried you back here." Haruna says already awake. She handed Nodoka the letter. "He wanted me to give that to you."

"E-Eh?" "M-Me?" Nodoka says taking the letter. She unfolds it. It reads.

Nodoka-Chan.

I carried you back to your dorm room when you fell asleep. Sorry it's just you woulda caught your death of cold out there. Thanks for caring, but by the time you've read this I'll already be on my way back home. Maybe we'll see each other again.

Till then.

Kenshin.

Nodoka looked down and saw a chibi drawing of Kenshin waving at her. She folded the letter back up and smiled.

"He's a nice guy isn't he?" Haruna said.

"Yes." "I...felt comfortable around him." Nodoka said.

"He he." "That's saying something." "You're usually scared to death of boys." Haruna said.

(break)

"So you met a girl that was afraid of boys." Gen said. Kenshin nods. "Yup." "Now then I do have just one more arc in this...timeskipish part of my story, but I believe I will save that for later."

"I see." "I would like to go enjoy the festival tonight." Gen said.

"Then get the hell outta here!" Kenshin said mockingly.

"Ha ha ha." "Very well I'll see you later." Gen said getting up and leaving.

Kenshin got up and popped some joints in his body. Suddenly a voice called out to him. "Kenshin-San."

Kenshin turned around and found Nodoka. "Jeez Nodoka-Chan you'd think after all this time you'd just call me by my name."

"Sorry." "It's a force of habit." Nodoka said. "So what you thinking about?"

"Why don't you pull that artifact out and see for yourself." Kenshin said.

Nodoka held a book in her hands and blushed. "Th-That's...a bit much Kenshin-San."

"So what's up?" "I thought you were spending time with Negi-Chan?"

"I was, but she Amaterasu-San and Yuki-San wanted me to come and get you." Nodoka said.

"Ah." "Well lead me my little bookworm." Kenshin said.

Nodoka shook her head smiling. "Very well."

(chapter end)

Draconis: Draconis isn't here right now leave a message at the beep (Beeeeeppp)

Kenshin: Dude what are you talking about?

Draconis: I don't know. Anyway will Nodoka be paired off with Kenshin? I can't answer that right now, but what I can answer is that she will be close to Negi either way I take it.

Kenshin: Like a yuri relationship?

Draconis: Mayyyybe.

Anyway till next time

Footnote

(1 ) I was writing Nodoka to work over her shyness in this one instance because she was thankful to Kenshin for being kind to her.

Anyway see ya.

Draconis678 out.