Disclaimer: I do not own "Yu-Gi-Oh!" or "Rurouni Kenshin."

Chapter 21

The next morning, everyone sat around the table eating breakfast in the Mutou household. Yugi had talked to Grandpa on Kenshin's behalf the night before, so Kenshin was now allowed to move around the house as he pleased. He was not allowed to go to school until Monday, couldn't leave the house until then, and he had to let Grandpa check his wound every night, but it was a start. Yugi noticed that while Kenshin was back to his normal cheerful self, he was not wearing the Mask. He decided to ask Yami about it. \Yami?\ he called softly, not sure if the spirit was awake yet.

\\Yes, Yugi, what is it? \\ came Yami's reply.

\Well, I was thinking about last night. Battousai and Kenshin seemed to have a big fight about something. Kenshin's still not wearing the Mask. But, Kenshin was just telling us about his past. Why would that make Battousai angry? We're Kenshin's friends,\ Yugi said, eating his breakfast.

There was a pause before Yami replied. \\Well, Yugi, it sounds to me like Kenshin has led a very lonely life. His parents died and he was sold to slave traders. It sounded like the only three girls he got close to during that time were killed a few days after that. Then he lived on a mountain with his master for several years. I'm not sure, but I think he became a hitokiri shortly after leaving his master, and the life of an assassin is a lonely one. Because of his level of skill, it is likely that his own comrades feared him. Also, if anyone got close to him they could be used against him by his enemies. It doesn't sound like he has had a lot of friends, so naturally Battousai was the only one he could talk to. Now, Kenshin has found himself in a position where he not only has friends, but they also know one of his most well-kept secrets--Battousai. While Kenshin is enjoying this, Battousai might be having trouble adjusting. He's used to his very existence being secret, and now Kenshin is talking to two other people about him, one of them being a potential enemy, in his eyes. That's also part of the problem. Battousai probably wouldn't object so much were it not for Bakura. He doesn't like giving information out, especially to people who could use it against him, as I said. However, these are just my speculations. It's possible that I am not even close, \\ Yami explained. He had been thinking about it for the better part of the night, and that was the best explanation he could come up with.

Yugi was silent as he finished the rest of his meal, contemplating everything Yami had just told him. This was going to be a difficult problem to solve. (Author's Note: Yugi has not yet realized that Kenshin was actually the Hitokiri Battousai Even though Yami just told him, there was too much other information and Yugi missed it. Okay, now back to the story.)

~*~

After breakfast, Yugi went to school, Grandpa opened the shop and Kenshin tried to find things to occupy himself for the day. There wasn't much to do. He tried to help Grandpa in the shop, but was quickly shooed back to the living quarters upstairs. After walking around for awhile and still finding nothing to do, Kenshin decided to do what he'd been putting off--talk to Battousai.

He went to his room and pulled the Millennium Mask out of the desk drawer he'd stored it in last night. He put it around his neck, laid down on his bed, and entered his soul room.

Once there, he walked into the hallway between the two rooms and knocked on the other door. He was greeted by silence. Becoming impatient, his next knock was accompanied by a yell. /Battousai! I know you can hear me! Come out and talk to me!/

The door was slid open to reveal an irritated looking Battousai. //Oh, so you've decided to come to visit? What a generous gesture on your part,// he said, sarcastically. //What do you want, Kenshin?// he asked, annoyed.

/I want an explanation./

//For what?//

/Why did you feel the need to threaten my friends?/ Kenshin asked, glaring at his counter-part.

Battousai shrugged, folding his arms and looking indifferent while leaning against the door frame. //They were being too nosy.//

Kenshin's eyes narrowed further. /I don't see how questions about my past should concern you in any way./

//Then what about the questions about the Mask?// Battousai countered. His body remained in a relaxed position, but his eyes clearly showed his emotions.

/I don't see how telling them what its power is will hurt us. They do not know how to use it and they have to get it first. Besides they would probably have figured it out, anyway,/ Kenshin said. He was not going to let Battousai turn this back around on him. /What I don't like is you taking over my body without my permission and threatening my friends!/

//If you keep giving out information, then you had better get used to it. We're better off alone. You don't need friends or allies. Relying on someone else is a good way to get killed. Your friends will always betray you if they get the chance!// Battousai snarled. Why didn't Kenshin understand?! He was only doing this to help the hikari!

Kenshin looked at him coolly. /I'm sorry you feel that way, but I suppose it's a good thing you enjoy your solitude so much,/ he said, his voice low and cold. Before Battousai could react, Kenshin was back in his body putting the Millennium Mask back in the drawer. Kenshin sat on his bed, taking deep breaths to calm himself. It wouldn't be good for Grandpa to see him this upset over nothing.

~*~

Saturday came and Kaiba was finally released from the hospital. As much as he wanted to pick up where he'd left off with his work, something was bothering him--or rather, someone.

Kenshin Himura was an enigma to Kaiba--and Kaiba liked to solve mysteries. So, before starting on his work, he ordered his secretary to find out as much information as possible about Himura Kenshin. She returned in about an hour.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kaiba, but there was only one person with that name, and his record starts three weeks ago," she said, handing him the papers she'd printed out. Kaiba scanned through them, annoyed. How can he have no records? he wondered.

His secretary waited for him to finish looking through the papers before continue. "I doubt this will help you, but I found a reference to one Kenshin Himura during the Bakumatsu. It is speculated that he may have been the Hitokiri Battousai, but no one knows if Battousai even existed."

Kaiba looked up at the mention of Battousai. He had recalled Kenshin saying that name when he was asleep. "Battousai? Who is this Battousai?" he asked.

The secretary answered his question, trying not to sound like a history teacher. "Legends say that during the Bakumatsu, there was a hitokiri by the name of Battousai. His skill with a sword was considerable, and he killed hundreds of men during that time, helping to ensure victory for his side. He supposedly disappeared after the war was won. As I said, it is not certain whether or not he actually existed."

"Thank you, that will be all," Kaiba said, distractedly, dismissing his secretary. She left the room, leaving Kaiba alone with his thoughts.

No records previous to three weeks ago, impressive sword skills, knows someone named Battousai...But, that's impossible! Kaiba's thoughts were getting him nowhere. This was going to be a hard mystery to solve.

~*~

Monday morning came none too soon for Kenshin. He and Yugi were walking to school, Kenshin thoroughly enjoying his newfound--albeit limited--freedom.

Yugi noticed that he still wasn't wearing the Mask.

Kenshin hadn't talked to Battousai since Friday, and he had hidden the Mask in his room before he left for school. He didn't want to lose his new friends due to his yami's mistrusting tendencies.

Yugi decided to ask about it. "Hey, Kenshin," Yugi said, trying to get the red head's attention.

"Yes, Yugi?" Kenshin answered, still looking ahead.

"Um, I noticed you're not wearing the Mask..." Yugi trailed off, not sure how to end that comment. He didn't want to pry into something Kenshin didn't want to talk about.

"Battousai is being...stubborn. And I don't think it would go over very well if he took control of my body in the middle of class and started threatening everyone," Kenshin said, simply, still not looking at the shorter boy. Yugi's eyes widened.

"Wow, that bad, huh?" he said, surprised. He didn't know Battousai, but if Kenshin was worried he'd do that, then...

Kenshin made no reply and Yugi didn't press the matter any further. They walked the rest of the way to school in silence.

~*~

Yugi's friends were all glad to see Kenshin back in school, and even Kaiba was back. Kaiba kept looking at Kenshin as if he were trying to figure something out. When Kenshin caught him staring, Kaiba just made a superior "hmph" sound and re-directed his attention to the teacher. Kenshin didn't worry about it too much.

First period was history, and apparently the test covering the section on the Bakumatsu was today. Ms. Someya assumed that Yugi had given Kenshin his notes, and so Kenshin took the test with the rest of the class. Not surprisingly, he finished first. Kenshin walked up to her desk and held out his test for her to take.

She looked up, a little surprised at how quickly he finished it. She raised her voice as she made an announcement to the class.

"When you finish your tests, bring them up to my desk and then start on the assignment on the board. I will let you know when everyone has completed their tests and then you may work on your book assignment in groups."

Kenshin sat back down and started the other assignment while Ms. Someya started grading his test. After she finished, she called Kenshin back up to her desk.

"Kenshin, would you mind stopping by after school? There's something on your test I'd like to discuss with you."

"H-hai," Kenshin, said nervously. What would she want to talk to me about? I answered every question correctly. I should know, I was there... Kenshin mentally shrugged and went back to working on his assignment. He'd know soon enough.

~*~

Rumors spread quickly and everyone knew, teachers included, that Kenshin had missed the past week of school because he was in the hospital. When he went to gym class, the teacher pulled him aside to talk privately.

"I heard you were in the hospital all last week. An injury on your leg?" Coach Gakusha asked. Kenshin nodded and he continued. "Well, we're just gonna be running today, so why don't you go ahead and just sit in the bleachers?"

Kenshin shook his head. "No, I'll be alright," he reassured the coach. Kenshin hadn't been able to get out and move around since before the tournament. He usually practiced his kata at least once every day and ran to improve his speed and stamina. He was sorely missing his usual exercises and had been looking forward to this class all day. He desperately hoped the teacher wouldn't make him miss this chance.

Coach Gakusha looked at Kenshin. The boy didn't limp or favor either of his legs at all. He shrugged his shoulders. "Alright. If you get tired, you can go to the bleachers, but as long as you want to run you can run," he said.

"Arigatou," Kenshin said, smiling.

Coach Gakusha looked at Kenshin curiously before turning and walking back to the class while shaking his head. "Strange kid. Most students would jump at the opportunity to sit out gym..."

Kenshin walked back and joined the class. He sat next to Yugi in the bleachers.

"What did he talk to you about?" Yugi asked, unable to restrain his curiosity.

"He just wanted to know if I would like to stay in the bleachers during class, due to my injuries," Kenshin explained.

"Lemme guess, you said no?"

"You know me well."

Just then, Coach Gakusha blew his whistle, getting the class's attention. "Today, I will be timing you while you run the mile-" there was a collective groan from the class, "-and after a short break, I will time you while you sprint thirty yards. Your times will not influence your over-all grade for this class," he finished. "Now, go over to the mats to stretch, and then we'll go to the track outside."

After everyone had stretched and were lined up on the track, Coach Gakusha gave them more directions. "One lap around the track is 1/4 of a mile, so you need to complete four laps. Don't start out sprinting--you'll tire yourself and end up walking the last three laps. This isn't a race, I'm just measuring how much you've improved since last time. Pace yourself. Alright, you may begin when I blow the whistle. On your mark...get set...and--" he blew the whistle as he started the stop watch.

Despite his advice to not start out sprinting, half of the class did anyway. They wanted to get this over and done with as soon as possible. Kenshin was up there with them, but for a different reason. He took his teacher's advice--he was running slow. He was savoring the moment. It had been so long since he'd been able to get out and run that he had almost forgotten what it felt like! It was pure freedom after being cooped up indoors for too long. He hadn't been able to go exercise in over a week and his body was relishing being able to exert itself again. The elation he felt triggered his adrenaline and he started to speed up unconsciously. He had already left his athletically challenged classmates far behind, and even the athletes were starting to slow down, not used to running long distances as higher speeds. Kenshin felt none of their fatigue, but he did notice that he had far out paced everyone else. He lowered his speed to what he started out at, and contented himself to run the race at his original (albeit slow) speed.

He completed the first lap, noticing that only two other people were even close to him, and he was rapidly increasing the distance between himself and them. He contemplated running slower, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. They wouldn't be running tomorrow in class and he probably wouldn't get a chance to go running by himself for at least another week. He ignored the surprised looks he got as he passed other students. Most of the class hadn't finished their first lap and Kenshin was close to starting his third.

Yugi just stared at him as Kenshin passed him. \Wow, he's got a lot of stamina. He's been sprinting the first two laps, and he doesn't even look like he's tired!\ Yugi said, amazed.

\\Well, it makes sense if you think about it. Although Kenshin's skills with a sword are impressive, sometimes he would have to retreat. Running was the only option. If he couldn't run fast enough or long enough to get away, then he would be dead, \\ Yami said, logically.

\Wait a second, Yami. Why would Kenshin be in a situation like that? It was Battous--oh, right! Battousai has to use Kenshin's body, so-\ Yugi almost stopped running as the realization hit him. \Kenshin is the Hitokiri Battousai! Kenshin is studying himself in history!\ Yugi exclaimed.

Yami chuckled. \\I was wondering when you'd realize that, \\ Yami said, amused.

Yugi slowed down to a walk. \Why didn't you tell me?\

Yami smirked. \\You never asked. \\

Just then, Kenshin ran past Yugi again. Yugi had barely completed one lap while Kenshin was already on his fourth one. The teacher was looking at Kenshin as if he'd grown another head. This kid was in the hospital for a week because of an injury on his leg, and he had outrun one of the fastest members on the track team!

Kenshin was glad that he was almost through with the mile because, even though he enjoyed running, his leg had begun to throb rather painfully. He quickly finished the last lap and the coach told him his time. Two minutes and thirty-seven seconds.

Kenshin nodded. "I think I'll take you up on your offer to sit in the bleachers. I think I overdid it on my leg," Kenshin said. Coach Gakusha nodded his consent and watched Kenshin as he limped over to the bleachers, noticeably favoring his right leg. About ten minutes later Yugi came and joined him, carrying an ice pack from the coach's office. Coach Gakusha kept them in there for that very reason. He had noticed Kenshin was still rubbing his leg and he had sent Yugi to fetch one as soon as he finished running the mile. Kenshin took the ice pack and placed it on his leg, the cold soothing the wound. So distracted was he that he didn't notice when Ryou's aura shifted to Bakura's and back again to Ryou's a few seconds later.