Chapter 21:

So for the next few day Shintah and I planned on how to solve this Shishio problem that he had gotten himself involved in. I wasn't worried. I was sure that he couldn't have lost his old touch no matter how little he had used his sword. Still he insisted on having a plan.

Now as per part of his plan he was going to his old master, Sejiro Hiko, to learn the final secrets of the Hiten Mitzerugi Ryu. And of course he had to drag me along with him.

"Why am I even coming," I complained. "Are you arfaid he'll chop off your head?" I snicked, but Shintah was dead serious. "Let's just say that my master wasn't too happy about my leaving for the revolution and...ah...dropping out of my training." I glanced over at him. "You never finished training?" I asked quizzically. He countered, "You never had any training." I tilted my head to acknowledge his point. "Well if he tries to take off your head he'll be on the floor beside his own."

Shintah laughed, "He'll like your spirit." We finally arrived at Sejiro Hiko's house. Shintah knocked on the door. A large man answer the door with a sake keg tied to his arm and a sword on his waist. He was almost three times my size. That made me real comfortable. Shintah bowed. "I've come to learn the final secrects of the Hiten Mitzerugi Ryu." Hiko whacked him over the head with his sake keg. "You're a worthless aprentice that left years ago! Why should I take you in now?"

Shintah braced himself for another blow as Hiko raised his hand to strike again. I shook my head. Oh, no way. No way in hell! I uncoiled my whip and snapped it around Hiko's wrist stopping his hand. "I don't think so," I said as he glared at me. "This is my aprentice, where do you get off telling me I cant do something?" I smirked, "I'm his friend that's where." Hiko looked back at Shintah then nodded. "Fine I'll teach you, once you prove that you will work twice as hard as last time. You're lucky this girl was here to make me even consider taking you back." He stormed back inside the house after struggling with my whip ( in the end I had to untangle him)

Shintah looked over at me and smiled. "Well at least I'm in." I nodded, "Yeah but this Hiko guy's an ass." Shintah laughed. When we followed Hiko inside he said as soon as we were through the door he said, "Hey, I need some water. Girl, would you fetch it?" I put my hands on my hips. Another sexist bastard! "My name is Mizuki and I am not your goddamn hand maid!" I hissed. Shintah looked up at me. "Miss Mizuki, please." I saw something in his eyes that was begging me to just go so they could talk. "Hmph!" I grunted flipping my hair as I walked out the door, grabbing up the bucket.

I knew they were talking about something they didn't want me to hear so that meant that I really wanted to hear it. I ran to the well, drew the water, and ran back as quickly as I could. I listened at the door. Apparently they had just been catching up. I stuck out my tongue, nothing interesting. Then Hiko said, "Who's that girl, that was with you?" I narrowed my eyes at him even though I knew he couldn't see me.

"She already told you, sir," I could almost see the smile in his voice. "No, I mean who is she really? No one just picks up a whip and can use it like that." I heard silence then, "Ah, so, you met her during the revolution. Another hitokiri I would guess." I heard Shintah go to protest. "I respect her skill," Hiko ignored him. "If only I had had her for an apprentice instead of you..." He sighed.

I burst in the door. "Shintah's the best apprentice you could ever hope for you jackass!" I yelled. Then I realized that I just let them know that I had been spying. I shrugged and looked at Shintah who rolled his eyes with a slight smile. "He deserved it," I pouted.

Author's Notes:Oh! next chapter Mizuki meets Kaoru! How will this turn out?