AN: Sorry this took so long to get out, I've been busy with other fics lately, but here it is. ^_^ I really need to get some conflict going here, any suggestions?

-Rhyein

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

***

Kenshin was just hanging the laundry when the sound of a carriage wafted over the wall to his ears. They didn't receive many visitors who came in carriages. He dried his hands and walked casually over to the door. He opened it slowly and found a carriage waiting just outside the door. Kenshin glanced up at the driver and raised an eyebrow.

"Is this the Kamiya Dojo?" came a soft voice from inside the carriage.

"…Hai…" Kenshin replied cautiously. The door to the carriage opened and a small woman stepped out. She was shorter than Kenshin, with long black hair tied into a bun on top of her head. Kenshin could see a few grey wisps had escaped the carefully fashioned hair, and he smiled.

"Good day oku-sama, what can I do for you?" Kenshin asked, bowing to the lady. She kept her eyes downcast and bowed back.

"I am looking for Himura Kenshin," she told him.

"I am Himura Kenshin." The woman looked up at him and blinked. This violet-eyed boy with messy red hair was the Hitokiri Battousai?

"…I-I must have made a mistake… Are there any others from the Himura family around? Maybe someone… older?" Kenshin shook his head.

"I am the only Himura that lives here."

"You're so young!" she finally blurted out. Kenshin started laughing as the lady began to turn a lovely shade of red.

"It's alright, would you like to come inside? I assume you are Hashimoto Keikoku…" he said, offering her his arm. She took it sheepishly.

"Yes, I am."

***

"I can't believe this! I'm stuck with you for three days!" Misao exclaimed loudly, glaring at the hem of the white and red mantle in front of her. "Why do I have to deliver the stupid letter? Jiya could have sent anyone… Argh! This is so not fair! …I'm probably going to be arrested for travelling with you because you're carrying your sword! Baka!"

Hiko kept walking, making no indication that he had heard her; he had actually started blocking her voice out a few miles back. He stared at the road ahead of him, trying to remember the last time he had travelled on it. It had been a while since he'd been to Tokyo; a while since he'd even left the solitude of his mountain retreat. He smiled slightly to himself; it felt good to be travelling again… Now if he could just get rid of the weasel girl…

"…got chased all over the country-side for having a sword, even if it was only a Sakaba-tou sword… Are you even listening to me? Hiko-sama? Hiko?! HEY!" Misao balled her fists and grit her teeth tightly.

"Quit twitching and come on," Hiko scoffed, rolling his eyes. Misao scowled at him and followed him slowly.

"I hate you."

"You have no idea how many times people have said that to me, and only one person ever meant it," Hiko replied as he glanced back at her. Misao blinked and halted. She had seen something in Hiko's dark eyes that she hadn't seen before …regret.

"Okay, so I don't hate you, but you annoy me," she grumbled, following him.

"As you do me, weasel-girl," he replied smugly, becoming himself again. Misao growled and lunged for him, only to run into a tree as he stepped out of the way.

"…Ouch…"

"Tsk, tsk… Serves you right. You should respect your elders, not attack them." Misao rubbed her nose and glared at him.

I'll get him back… Grrr….

***

"Mother! You came!?" Meishuu exclaimed, standing up. Keikoku glared at her daughter who fell silent. Kenshin raised an eyebrow and then coughed.

"Uh… Hashimoto Keikoku, this is Kamiya Kaoru, she is the headmistress of the dojo. Here is Myojin Yahiko, a student; Sagara Sanosuke, a friend of ours-"

"A moocher," Kaoru murmured. Keikoku suppressed a laugh. Sano glared at her but didn't say anything. Kenshin only smiled and continued his introductions.

"The two young girls are Genzai-sensai's granddaughters, he is the local doctor, who lives near here," Kenshin finished. "Everyone, this is Hashimoto Keikoku, she is Meishuu-dono's mother." Everyone except Kenshin and Meishuu bowed deeply to Keikoku. Kaoru took a step toward the tiny woman.

"It is an honour to have you here with us, would you like to come inside?" she asked. Keikoku bowed back to everyone and smiled at Kaoru.

"It's is my pleasure," she replied. Kaoru nodded and motioned for her to follow. Keikoku, Meishuu, and Kaoru all walked into the dojo, leaving Yahiko, Sano and Kenshin outside. As soon as they were out of earshot, Yahiko scratched his head.

"How do you figure a girl as tall as Meishuu-san has a mother that's only a little taller than me?" he wondered. Sano shrugged.

"I dunno. I always kinda wondered how Kenshin is Japanese, but has bright red hair like those European traders?"

Kenshin pursed his lips and ignored the comment. "I'm going to finish the laundry…" he said, moving toward the clothesline. Sano and Yahiko grinned at each other; Kenshin was so easy to pick on.

***

"Will you please stop whining?" Hiko sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I'm not whining!" Misao growled in reply. The restaurant owner stood in between them, looking somewhat bewildered.

"Yes you are, and it's giving me a headache. You're worse than that dumb-ass student of mine."

"Who are you calling a dumb-ass!?" Misao stood in her fighting stance, ready to take on the master of Hiten Misurugi Ryu. Hiko rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"So would you two like dinner or not?" the restaurant owner ventured.

"No-Yes!" came the reply.

"We have to get there as soon as possible!" Misao argued again.

"We also have to eat," Hiko countered.

"Fine! You eat and I'll go to Tokyo!" Misao finally cried in frustration. She got about five feet away before she realised that Hiko had all the money. She turned around and stormed back. "Fine, we'll eat," she murmured. Hiko smirked at the restaurant owner and walked in, followed closely behind by Misao.

They sat near the entrance, where Hiko could watch the people come and go. Misao had noticed that he liked studying those around him, and was normally a lot more quiet that she had originally thought he would be. For some reason, she had always envisioned him as a taller, more handsome, and older version of Kenshin. She now realised she was not correct in that assumption. They ordered food, just rice and pork, with sake for Hiko. While they waited, Misao's mind wandered from ways to get Hiko back for the things he'd done to her so far to how Aoshi was doing. Her mind came back to the table as food was served, and she noticed Hiko was re-reading the letter that Kenshin had sent him.

"Is it really that interesting?" she asked, leaning toward him to peek. Hiko folded it up and put it away before she could read any of it.

"Eat your food."

"Fine," she replied icily. Misao reached forward to take some meat as Hiko pulled the letter out again. He didn't seem to be as hungry as he had been whining about earlier. Misao shrugged, just means more for her.

Hashimoto Meishuu… Hashimoto… Hashimoto… No… It couldn't be… Hiko frowned at the letter and then put it away again. When he looked back up, most of the food was gone and Misao was still stuffing her face.

"Done yet?" he wondered.

"Arr 'oo 'oin' 'oo weat?" she asked, her mouth full of food.

"I'm not hungry," Hiko replied, taking another drink of sake. Misao swallowed her mouthful and stared at him. He had been the one that had wanted to come in here to begin with.

"…But-"

"If you're done, then let's go," he interrupted. Misao blinked and shovelled a few more bites into her mouth before standing. Hiko paid the bill and they left a lot more quietly than they had come in.