Chapter Twenty One

The Swords Master

Kenshin's POV

The fire flickered and danced across the logs, burning through layer after layer of wood, and sending a magnificent display of orange sparks spiraling toward the impossibly black, night sky. On one side of the graceful flames sat a powerful samurai. He wielded a formidable blade with refined technique and deadly accuracy. This samurai had soiled his sword with the blood of man for what was said to be a noble cause. He was the epitome of a warrior. Ruthless, strong, and efficient. This samurai carried the name Battousai on the battle field. He was the 'Man Slayer'. On the other side sat his master. Hiko Seijuro is the undefeated swords master of the legendary style of hiten mitsurugi. A sword style designed to strike down one's opponent in a single shot. He had been Kenshin's master and his father. Hiko had taken the boy under his wing and filled him with the knowledge of the hiten mitsurugi. This was one of very few men that the Battousai respected. He was also, perhaps the only samurai in all of Japan that was strong enough to defeat the deadly Battousai. Kenshin adjusted Kaoru in his arms, subconsciously bringing her closer to him "What brings you here Master?" Kenshin asked suspiciously. Neither man was particular grateful for this tense reunion. In fact, they had agreed long ago to never see one another again.

Hiko pulled the cork out of his white clay sake jar, and took a swig of the potent alcohol. Ever since Kenshin was little Hiko had had an affinity for sake. It was oddly bittersweet to see that his master hadn't changed much over the years. Hiko sit his sake aside "It wasn't intentional." He responded gruffly "I received a letter from a good friend in Kyoto." Hiko paused to pulled a crinkled piece of paper from within his loose fitting gi "Her family was trapped in the aftermath of the Sen Shin Gumi take over. I intend to help them evacuate to Tokyo." Kenshin gave his master a knowing look. This good friend of his was more than just a friend. Arching a single inquisitive brow Kenshin refrained from asking him about this woman, and just how she had managed to pull the old hermit out of his shell. Quickly registering the expression he was receiving from his student, Hiko wisely decided to change the subject. Clearing his throat Hiko turned his gaze to Kaoru "What's her story?" He asked motioning to her with his sake jar in hand.

"Her name is Kaoru. She worked as a doctor in the Choshu clan's base." Kenshin replied, intentionally being as vague as possible.

Hiko took another quick drink, and tossed a smug smile at his student "And I assume you hold all the company doctors like that?" Kenshin didn't allow his impassive mask to falter. His master found great pleasure in embarrassing his apprentice, and Kenshin was highly aware of this warped sense of humor. Hiko scoffed "I don't blame you. She's a pretty little thing." A dark gleam sparkled in his coal black eyes. Kenshin recognized the warning and prepared himself for the immense humiliation his master was intending to throw at him. Hiko took a sip of sake from his jar "Tell me, have you defiled her sweet innocence?"

Like always, no matter how prepared he believed he was, Hiko always managed to catch him off guard. Kenshin's ember eyes burned hotly as he shot Hiko a molten glare "I most certainly have not." Kenshin snarled, the edge of his lips crinkling just enough to give the man a glance at his white canine. A dangerous threat lingered just below the surface as his inner demon also became enraged by Hiko's perverted question. It had been a long time since he had felt that uncontrollable need for blood shed.

Hiko chuckled in amusement "Well that girl must really be something." He motioned to Kaoru with his sake jar in hand "I've never seen you so riled up. Not even when you wanted to join that godforsaken rebellion." Kenshin's bloodlust settled into the pit of his stomach, and his eyes cooled to a hard ember. It had been years since the day he had left that small hut in the mountain side, abandoning his training and the closest thing he had ever had to a father. Still that evening was so very vivid in his mind. He could clearly recall every detail of the fight that had caused an irreparable rift between the two of them.

"But master shouldn't we at least try to help?" A very young and naïve boy stood before his master, pleading his case on joining a rebellion to 'better' their country "We are so much stronger than your average samurai. If we offered our swords we could give them a real chance to rebuild our corrupted government…" Hiko turned his back on his student and began to walk away. Kenshin on the other hand was not in favor of ending their conversation "Don't you feel any kind of obligation to…"

Hiko turned on his student, the dying rays of light flickering across his stern features from underneath the vivid, red leaves of the old, gnarled maple growing alone into the side of the cliff. Hiko studied his apprentice's young face, soaking in the determination and displaced vigor to fight for a 'greater cause'. This child didn't understand the first thing about war. His heart was still too soft. Such death and devastation would surely destroy him. Distantly the nearby water fall fell steadily, sending out a gentle mist along with the autumn air. The breeze ruffled the tall grass and retrieved Hiko from his thoughts "This conversation is over." He growled resolutely, leaving no room for arguments.

Kenshin stubbornly made room "Will you not at least hear me out?"

"No." Hiko snapped back, quickly losing his patience with the bull-headed boy "I have not taught you this sword style for you to become a disgraceful weapon of war." He seethed hotly "The flaw with war is that every time one is started there are always ideal concepts that fuel the battles. Promises with no means to be kept. This rebellion group is just as corrupt as the government itself. They fill idiot's heads with beautiful lies about peace and equality, but in the end once the dust has settled the power that was being fought for will be given away to yet another group of greedy, corrupt men. The cycle never ends no matter how many wars are waged."

Kenshin gritted his teeth "The only one telling lies is you master. The Inshin Shishi winning this war will better the lives for millions of people in Japan." He shot back angrily.

"You stubborn, idiot." Hiko roared "This war will gain our country nothing. It's a waste of humanity."

Kenshin stood his ground "It will gain us peace."

Hiko's mouth pressed itself into a thin line "And while you are out constructing this so called 'peace' how many lives will end at your blade? Are you willing to kill for your cause? Do you wish to find a peace carved from bloodshed?"

"Some things have to be lost in order to gain. You are not given anything without losing something first. Those who die in this war die honorably." Kenshin stood his ground "I wish to join this effort."

"I forbid it!" Hiko hissed challengingly.

"You cannot not stop me." Kenshin responded defiantly "I've already made up my mind."

Hiko gave him a deadly glare "If you leave for that rebellion you are to never come back." His tone was flat and edged in finality. Kenshin said nothing more as he turned his back on his master…

After that fight, the two of them had severed ties with one another, and neither had bothered to look back. They hadn't seen each other in years. Not until this very moment "Well," Hiko began cutting through the heavy silence that had settled between them "Was this war everything you thought it would be great Battousai?" Hiko asked his tone cold and calloused.

"No." Kenshin replied, his gaze dropping to the sweet, innocent contours of Kaoru's face in the firelight. All these years he had spent in the shadows, fighting for a cause that became more and more muddled with every fresh kill, only made Kenshin realized the truth about the beautiful lies Hiko had warned him against. With each passing day those bright and shiny ideas of peace lost a little more of their luster, until they were dull and corroded in the horrors of war. In all the years of constant battle they hadn't managed to change anything. Nothing good had yet to come from the now senseless bloodshed. Nothing except for Kaoru. She was the only thing that kept him going. The only thing that he was now fighting for "I wouldn't say that it was a waste." Kenshin swept a few stray strands of midnight black hair out of her eyes, and watched as Kaoru stirred slightly, barely scratching the surface of consciousness "I met her." Kenshin murmured, the depth of his words reaching his master.

"Mmmm." Kaoru mewled softly as she began to awake. Her long, thick lashes fluttered open revealing sleepy sapphire eyes. A warm smile curved the corner of her rose petal pink lips as she gazed lovingly up at Kenshin "Kenshin." She pronounced his name in a breathy little whisper. Her fingers traced the fine, sharp underside of his jaw before moving up to outline the rugged edges of his scar. Her hand moved into his hair at the back of his neck, and she pulled herself closer to him. Kenshin had no time to stop her before her lips brushed sensually against his. Happy with her efforts Kaoru retreated, and raised her hands high above her head, her breasts bulging against the confines of her kimono. It wasn't until she was in mid-stretch that Kaoru realized another person was there. She flushed a pale shade of pink as she turned wide, embarrassed eyes to Hiko "Oh!" She squeaked quickly pinning her arms tightly to her sides.

He shot her a lecherous, toothy grin that riled up Kenshin's inner demon once again "Please, don't quit on my behalf." Hiko teased her.

Kenshin wrapped his arm around her shoulders protectively, and pressed her into his body in such a way that Hiko only had a view of her back "You perverted old bastard." Kenshin seethed, that little snarl turning back the corner of his lip once more.

Hiko laughed haughtily "Forgive me Miss Kaoru." He apologized "I simply couldn't resist seeing my idiot apprentice's reaction again." From within Kenshin's arms, Kaoru peeked out at Hiko with curiosity "He must really care for you." His observation was stated bluntly and a-matter-of-factly. Kenshin could feel the heat radiating off of her cheeks as they faded into a deep crimson "Well Kenshin, are you going to introduce her to your Master or not?" Still reeling from a mixture of outrage and humiliation Kenshin was momentarily rendered speechless. Hiko sighed dramatically and disappointedly "Forgive him. He's had these rude tendencies since he was a child. My name his Hiko Seijuro, I taught Kenshin the hiten mitsurugi sword style." Hiko nodded curtly "Nice to meet you." He greeted while taking a large swig of sake.

Kaoru's POV

To say that she was shocked would be an understatement. Kaoru was petrified with mortification. Again, her improper behavior ran through her mind and deepened the blush burning hotly against her cheeks. Her actions were rather intimate, and was not intended to be viewed by company. God how she must have looked to him—Kenshin's sword master! Her eyes planted themselves firmly to the ground. She simply couldn't look at him. Kaoru had long since abandoned the comfort of Kenshin's lap, and was now sitting very stiffly beside him "Well Miss Kaoru." Hiko paused just long enough to draw her attention away from the ground. For the sake of not being incredibly rude Kaoru turned her gaze to him. Hiko seemed to be a very tall man, for even sitting down he seemed to loom well above their heads. For an older man, he was quite handsome despite his perverse tendencies. Hiko had a very muscular physique that was mostly hidden beneath white cape. In fact, the only indication of his physical strength came from the wide opening in his gi, were his bulging pectoral muscles were on display. His face was made up of firm angles and fringed in long black hair. His black eyes twinkled mischievously as he met her gaze "Since I have embarrassed you, I would like to make you a peace offering." He began with a wolfish smile. Next to her Kaoru was unware of Kenshin's irritated twitch "Please ask me anything you wish to know about my stupid apprentice. I basically raised him, and know many personal things about him. I will tell you any of these things, even if they risk embarrassing him."

Kaoru glanced to Kenshin with uncertainly. He however did not notice her concern because he was busy trying to kill Hiko with a murderous glare. She placed a finger against her chin as she thought about what she wanted to ask Hiko. Finding the right question proved to be a difficult challenge. She had many questions for the man that had raise Kenshin. In the end Kaoru settled on one she thought was the most interesting "What was he like as a child?" Kaoru asked.

Hiko took a drink from the jar sitting beside him, and gave her a wide smile "He was a disobedient brat. Always causing me trouble." He replied, his face becoming distant "He has always been such a stubborn boy, but he had such a soft heart on him. I recall this time that he found an injured chipmunk. I had told him to leave it alone, but he didn't want the thing to die. When I wasn't looking he hid the animal in his shirt and brought it back home. He secretly took care of it until it got well enough to escape the bucket he was keeping it in. The damned thing stole bread from us for months after that. Not to mention chewing holes through our clothes and stealing anything he could get his filthy little paws on. He wouldn't let me kill it either. I swear that chipmunk knew that he could get away with it." Kaoru laughed heartily at Hiko's story as she imagined this large man and his trials with a small little creature like a chipmunk. The swords master sighed heavily "I'm telling you, he brought me nothing but trouble. He was such a crybaby before I toughened him up, every little scratch would send the tears flying."

Momentarily Kaoru was reminded of the scars that marred Kenshin's body. The conversation turned serious "Are some of those scars due to you and your training?" Kaoru asked quietly. A seething rage boiled in her stomach as she awaited his answer.

Sensing the blatant change in the mood of the conversation, Hiko took a sip of his sake before responding with a low "Yes."

Kaoru's eyes flashed a dangerous shade of deep blue "You. Why did you not take him to a doctor?" Kaoru demanded as she jumped to her feet and pointed an accusing finger at him, her doctor kicking in "Those scars were senseless, and if they had been properly treated most of them wouldn't even be there." She simply couldn't stand the complete disregard for the human body that this man had shown. Hadn't Kenshin bore enough scars before he and Hiko had met? How dare he add to those numerous wounds.

"It's his fault that his body is scarred. If he had been a better student than perhaps we wouldn't have been so easily injured." Hiko replied coldly.

Kaoru took three steps toward him, her fury about to boil over. Her lips pressed themselves into a very thin, flat line. Her small fists were drawn tight "Perhaps you should have been a better teacher." Kaoru seethed venomously.

"I see now." Hiko murmured as he rose to his feet "Kenshin, if I was you I would hold on to this woman. She cares deeply about you." Dusting of his hakama, Hiko grabbed his jar of sake and tied it into his belt "I must be on my way if I plan on making it to Kyoto before sunrise. It was nice to meet you Kaoru." And with that Hiko vanished into the darkness, leaving behind a very stunned Kaoru.

She turned to Kenshin with confusion written all over her face, and anger still reeling throughout her body "What was that supposed to mean?" Kaoru asked irritated.

Kenshin sent her a half-hearted smile and motioned with his hand to the ground beside him. Without a word Kaoru sat down and nestled herself against his side "I believe that his goal was to figure out whether you cared for me as much as I do you. So, when you freely confronted him on my behalf I think that he received his answer." Kenshin explained simply. Kaoru accepted this explanation, but she was still very angry with his perverted, cynical Master.

A/N: Hello everyone! I hope you are having a good Labor day weekend, and I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. Please leave any comments in the box below. Also I wanted to tell you all to expect another chapter update by the end of this week! Thank you so much! Happy reading!