I love your reviews! They never fail to make my day! And I am glad no one got upset over the Soujirou/Misao thing! That was a vast relief! ^_^ I really had to think hard to keep myself out of trouble. I don't think I will end up pairing him with anyone, but when you see the special final chapter I plan, you will see why! So just put up with me and don't hurt me please! :-)

Susan: LOL! I wouldn't take my advice about love to heart. It will probably get you nothing but a headache. Ask Kenshin, he knows!

All4Waff: (I know who you are because you obviously know enough to hide from my glare, hehe) Okay, if you want me to write some WAFF so much, help me come up with a serious story plot and co-write it with me, LOL! Not so eager now, are we? And everyone can say thank you to her for the story getting posted a few hours earlier than usual. I go to turn on the computer and the exact moment I do, the phone rings, and its HER asking where I am and where is the next chapter?!?!?! ^_^

Sister Weasel: I say stuff like that all the time, so now is a fine time to get offended. That comment was about your hentai mind, LOL! :-P

Gypsy-chan: Okay, okay, you get your wish, but this is gonna be scary! Hiko and Soujirou in the same household. It gives me lots of evil ideas!

Nim(bus): Hey, someone remarked on the reversed blade knives! I was hoping that sakabatou joke was not so far back that no one would remember it!

Shinsetsu & Sasura: When I wrote that parts about the warring brain cells, the thought of all the rabid Aoshi & Soujirou fans fighting with each other inspired me. ^_^

Chibi-Angel: I am so glad you actually liked what I did! Whew!

Andromadalia: Oh, I loved your review so much! I can't believe you took the time to read the whole thing at once. Thank you! You really had me laughing!



Disclaimer: I am not as crazy as you think I am. Oh yeah, and I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.



The Morning After

Chapter 12



(Aoshi and Misao traveling to Kyoto)

"Are we there YET?"

"Iiya."

A few moments pass.

"Are we there NOW?"

"Iiya."

Misao waits another few moments.

"How much LONGER?"

Aoshi grits his teeth. {Is it too late to turn around and leave her with Soujirou? I could just have one of them sterilized so they can't have kids…}

****

(Tokyo – Kamiya Dojo)

"It is so nice and quiet around here for once. I miss Kenshin, but his absence is a small price to pay to get rid of Soujirou. Too bad they both have to come back in a few days." Soujirou and Kenshin had only been staying at Dr. Genzai's for four days, and Kaoru was already talking to herself. Maybe they do both drive her crazy, but their help obviously isn't necessary to accomplish the task either.

Yahiko was off somewhere with Tusbame, and Kaoru was making lunch. With Kenshin laid up, she had to do the cooking, so Yahiko was suspiciously absent during meal times. She had just managed to burn the rice to perfection and was working on the fish, when a huge shadow fell over her from the doorway of the kitchen. Feeling a stab of fear she turned to face her visitor, and nearly passed out in surprise.

"Don't tell me my baka deshi isn't here. And I came all this way just to see him, too. Judging by the smell of your cooking though, I can understand why he left. HAHAHA!" Standing in the doorway was Hiko Sejirou, Kenshin's sword master, huge white cape and all. Kaoru immediately bristled at the insult to her cooking and for calling Kenshin baka deshi, but even she wasn't stupid enough to try to hit him. She may have attacked and defeated some of the most powerful men in Japan, but in his own way, Hiko was much more dangerous than any and all of them! His ego alone could make the bravest warrior cower in fear.

Trying very hard to control her temper, she gave him a tight smile and he smirked in response. Feeling her anger rise another degree, she tamped it down harder and tried distracting herself by asking a question. "What brings you here?" She gritted her teeth to stop herself from adding that she hoped he didn't plan to stay.

He raised an eyebrow, noticing her obvious annoyance and enjoying it immensely. "Do I really need a reason to visit my baka deshi? And anyway, since my house in the mountains burned down and I need a place to stay until a new one is built, I thought it would be a good time to visit. Do you have any sake?"

All this was said as if it was the most normal thing in the world and he thought it odd that he should have to explain anything. Kaoru just stood with her mouth hanging open, galled at the thought that he could just waltz in and stay like he thought he owned the place. She finally gathered her wits enough to bite out "Isn't there anyone ELSE that you can stay with?" And then before he could answer she continued in her most sarcastic tone of voice. "Oh wait, I forgot, your such a jerk that nobody else would have you."

His eyebrow rose a fraction of an inch higher in annoyance. He finally decided though to let it pass just this once, because he needed a place to stay so badly. That, and the fact that it IS the truth. Not that he would ever admit it, of course. "Where is my baka deshi anyway? He does still live here, doesn't he?"

Kaoru thought about what she should answer. If she tells him Kenshin doesn't live at the dojo anymore, he might go away. But if she did that, Kenshin could get upset with her. But she told him he does still live there, he will stay and make her life miserable! What's a girl to do! A devious little voice in the back of her head said to invite him to lunch and poison him with her cooking, but she always refuses to listen to any voice that says her cooking is bad, even if it is her own, so that idea is out!

Finally, after considering her options, she decides to let Kenshin handle it. She would take Hiko to see him at Dr. Genzai's and just hope for the best. The thought of having Hiko around was making Soujirou look better and better by the moment! Comparing the two, Soujirou was by far the lesser of two evils!

* * * *

Kenshin was so sick of staying in bed. He wanted to go back home and be with Kaoru and do his laundry! He wanted things back to normal! But to have that, he had to think of a way to get Soujirou to leave, but he couldn't seem to come up with anything. He had even asked Sano's opinion, but that was no help. He was too busy following around Megumi and staring at her butt to be of any use. ^_^

He was so wrapped up in these thoughts that he didn't hear the voices outside until Kaoru called his name from outside the door. He brightened up immediately, heart jumping for joy over her visit. So you can image how far it had to fall when her heard the OTHER voice with her. He felt his forehead. He must have a fever causing him to hallucinate, or at the very least he was having a nightmare! His hermit of a sword master just couldn't be here!

Watching with fear and dread as the door slid open, he saw Kaoru enter first, and then the one face he never thought he would see in Tokyo. "Please let this be some kind of nightmare de gozaru!" he muttered out loud, just to hear his master laugh loudly in response.

"I'm happy to see you too baka deshi!" said Hiko, followed by more laughter. He was enjoying himself immensely, and the reaction from Kenshin was priceless! He made a mental note to visit more often, all the while grinning at his student, who had pulled the covers over his head while he groaned.

Kaoru was beside him in an instant, worried. "Are you in pain Kenshin?" The groaning got louder and Kaoru became more worried. "Kenshin, what's wrong? Where does it hurt? I'll get some medicine from Megumi-san." She started to get up when he began shaking his head under the covers, and then she heard his muffled voice. "Iiya, Megumi-dono can't get rid of this pain, unless she can cure a pain in the butt de gozaru na."

There goes Hiko's eyebrow again. "Oi! I heard that baka deshi!" Kenshin came out from under the covers and glared at him. (I love the reactions Hiko can get out of Kenshin! No one can irritate our little rurouni like he can!) "What are you doing here? If you're just trying to make me miserable, get in line de gozaru."

Hiko grinned widely and explained his presence in Tokyo, while Kenshin silently cursed whatever had caused Hiko's house to burn down. Kaoru's thoughts were somewhere along the same line, although she decided not to comment and just wait and see what Kenshin decides. She wasn't gonna like it either.

Kenshin knew they were stuck. It would just be too rude to throw out the man that took him in and raised him. It wasn't his home, be he could tell from the way she was glaring at him that Kaoru was expecting him to make the decision. {Maybe if I'm lucky, she'll hit me hard enough that I'll be bed ridden till after he leaves.} No such luck! When he finally said his master could stay, something MUCH worse happened. She got up and stalked out of the room to see Soujirou. His girlfriend was fraternizing with the enemy, while he was stuck with Hiko. Could his life get any worse?

* * * *

Megumi was very interested in this new turn of events. "So THAT'S Ken-san's legendary sword master! Not at all bad looking. My rooster-head could take a few lessons from him! Oh hohohoho!" She and Kaoru were sitting and whispering to each other while nearby Hiko and Sano were drinking together. Sano wasn't exactly the type of person Hiko got along with, but then, does he really get along with anyway? Besides, he'd put up with anybody for some sake.

Kaoru glared at the broad back covered with the white cape. Mentally she painted some red circles on it and her hands itched for a weapon. (LOL, that red and white cape is just asking for it!) Hearing what Megumi said, she responded. "If you like him so much, invite him to stay with you!"

Fox ears pop up. "Oh hohohoho! I wouldn't want to deprive you of his charming company! Just think of him as your future father-in-law!" At this suggestion Kaoru turned a little green. The thought of living with this man was bad enough, but the thought of being related to him in anyway made her physically ill.

With a stiff back showing her annoyance, Kaoru rose and told everyone they must be getting back to the dojo for dinner. Megumi was looking VERY amused. But it was her turn to be annoyed when, without missing a beat, Hiko declared he was going to eat dinner THERE that night! He hadn't even asked! Curse Kaoru and her awful cooking!

Looking more than eager to be rid of him, Kaoru took off for home before Megumi had the chance to object. Glaring at her unwanted guest, Megumi stomped off to get dinner. She had to quell the rising desire to put something "unusual" in the contents of the dinner and consoled herself with one thought. She didn't care if they were better or not! Tomorrow Kenshin & Soujirou were getting tossed out on their butts, and Kenshin could take his annoying master with him! "Enjoy the peace while you can, tanuki-chan! Oh hohoho!" Oh, if Megumi could only know what is gonna happen, she would never THINK of putting Hiko and Soujirou in the same house together, hehehe…



Okay, I know that was something of a slow chapter, but I had to set things up and introduce the new houseguest properly. You know how vain he is! ^_^ I promise things are gonna get really interesting in the next chapter with Hiko and Soujirou living in the same house. Don't worry, Soujirou will be in the next chapter a LOT more, driving people crazy as usual! That good idea I said I got in that last e-mail I sent out, I haven't even gotten around to yet! It should happen in the next chapter though, so read and review and I will get it out in a few days! Thank you everybody who reads this!