Hi everybody! Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! I enjoy reading them so much! Some of your comments are too funny! ^_^ And the last I checked, I finally made it to 200! Excuse me while I pass out from shock………….okay, I am better now! On with the author's comments and story!

Nim: I decided I had better address your review first since you didn't sound too happy with the last chapter. ^_^ I have nothing at all against Hiko, and in fact my favorite things about him is his terrible ego and the way he irritates Kenshin so much! So what would be the only thing (to me at least) more fun than that? Him annoying EVERYONE! LOL! Well, almost everyone! And as for Kaoru being so ticked with him, its her natural reaction to someone who makes fun of her cooking skills AND is disturbing the tiny bit of peace she is getting before Soujirou and Kenshin come home. By now I am pretty sure she is really getting tired of the houseguests who keep showing up. I hope that clears that up for you! :-)

Sasura: I like your suggestions! I will have to see what I can do with them later in the story, hehe! BTW, you are the 200th reviewer! You get…uhhh…(Looks around, panicking)…the author's eternal gratitude! -_-;

Firuze: Your comments are so great! I really enjoy reading them and thanks for the compliment! And Kenshin won't leave, but maybe he will get a job as an exterminator, LOL!

Andromadalia: That was a very flattering comment you made! My head is getting really big! And your right, the episodes where Hiko is training Kenshin are hilarious, I just love a man with a big ego! They make great targets!

Firefury: LOL! Liked the title, and your right about it too! And that thought did cross my mind about his kiln, but Hiko doesn't strike me as the type to bother making excuses or explaining things, so I didn't include it. ^_^

Hotohori: I think I have run out of good characters to add in, any suggestions anyone?

Midori: So true! But then, anything normal to Hiko is probably NOT normal to anyone else…

Thank you everybody else who reviewed too!

Oh, and Tortured Harasser (Sherah) had changed her mind and wants to write a waff story with me, LOL, so watch out, it could be very scary if it comes into being! It will probably be part humor too, since that's just the way I work. But who knows, maybe I can manage something serious at least once! LOL!

Disclaimer: I am not really related to sister Weasel or Sherah. I believe I was really adopted. And I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or Tylenol, but those are just minor details…



The Morning After

Chapter 13

(Kyoto)

"If you say 'are we there yet' one more time, I am going to leave."

Misao looked repentant. "I'm sorry. I know we are back home and everything, but I said it so much I just can't seem to stop!"

Aoshi sweat dropped. {This is going to be a LONG life…what year do they invent Extra Strength Tylenol?}

****

(Tokyo)

The happy little family is about to be together again at last! It was the next morning after breakfast, and as promised, Kenshin and Soujirou had promptly been thrown out of Dr. Genzai's home. Megumi hoped the faster she got rid of them, the less of a chance there was that freeloading Hiko would come back.

Back at the dojo, Kenshin entered the gate several steps behind Soujirou, afraid of what he would find. The house in ruins, or maybe his master's dead body after a few insults over breakfast. He steeled his resolve and looked around, trying to be prepared for anything. But some things are just impossible to prepare for…

There, leaning over Kenshin's laundry tub was the great Hiko, muttering as he tried to wash what looked like red paint off his precious white cape. Seeing the two enter the gate, he looked up and glared at Kenshin. "Your little girlfriend is evil, baka deshi! Look what she did to my cape!" Lifting it out of the soapy water, he showed where big red circles had been painted on it to resemble a target. Kenshin sweat dropped and turned toward Kaoru who was standing on the porch, doing her imitation Megumi laugh.

"Oh hohoho! That will teach you to get drunk in MY home!" When he growled she just waved it off. "Anyway, now we know where Kenshin gets his laundry skills from!" She walked off laughing again, obviously proud over her revenge, and Kenshin couldn't blame her. Only Kaoru could get away with something like that!

After washing out his cape and regaining his now bruised male ego, Hiko turned his attention to the other houseguest with interest. After being introduced and recognizing the name, his interest doubled. And after he noticed Kenshin's dislike of Soujirou, his interest went through the roof!

Kenshin abandoned the two as soon as he could manage and went off to find Kaoru. NOT a smart thing to do as we are going to find out! With Kenshin gone, Hiko was free to question Soujirou, who smiled and answered everything he was asked. Hiko became aquatinted with all the events after Soujirou's arrival, as well as why Kenshin seemed to dislike the boy so much.

In return for this information, Hiko was more than happy to regale Soujirou with accounts of the many women in his life, and the boy was very impressed. That really fed Hiko's bruised ego after the cape incident, and caused him to come to an interesting decision, which he planned to announce later at dinner. Curious? I bet!

****

Soujirou cooked dinner that night, much to Hiko's secret relief. He would never admit to anyone that eating the breakfast cooked by Kaoru that morning had been the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. He would rather eat some of his pottery than go through that again!

Everyone was peacefully eating, including Yahiko, who was back now that someone else was cooking. So when Hiko made his announcement, the evil little rice animals that had tasted so good before suddenly stuck in everyone's throats. "Your going to WHAT?" choked out an amazed Kaoru.

"I have decided to take on a new student! HAHAHA!" Repeated an amused Hiko. Everyone was staring at him is shock, especially Kenshin. "Why would you do that for? I am your only student de gozaru!" He was starting to look a bit hurt, but Hiko just laughed and waved it off. "I have decided to teach Soujirou here all my most secret and powerful techniques. He has what it takes, and I am going to make a man out of him, just like myself! HAHA!"

Kenshin was bewildered. "What other techniques could you have that you haven't taught me do gozaru na!" Hiko grinned with that irritatingly amused look. "Don't look at me like that, baka deshi! I am a master of many other things than just the sword! In fact, my skills with women are even greater than that of the sword!"

Everyone fell over except for Soujirou, who looked excited. "Eh? Are you really going to teach me your ways master Hiko? I admire Himura-san, but he sadly lacks in that department. He can cook and wash laundry with the best of them, but it was much to easy to steal Kaoru-chan's love from him."

That had Kenshin up in a flash trying to choke Soujirou, but Hiko held him back. "Sorry baka deshi, but you can't kill him. I must have a worthy student to pass down my greatest skills to, and I have finally found him! Our lessons will begin first thing tomorrow! HAHA!"

****

Bright and early the next morning, the lessons started just as promised. Kenshin made a hasty exit, forcing a surprisingly uncomplaining Kaoru with him so they wouldn't be able to practice on her. Yahiko tried to stay and watch, but after just a few minutes, he ran off in disgust. What COULD Hiko be teaching Soujirou?

"Okay, lesson one. Always have a good pick-up line prepared. I find classic ones always work the best, although women are so taken with my looks they can rarely hear or even care what I say." He flashed his most conceited grin, and his teeth gleamed. Soujirou was in awe of this great master. "My personal favorite is 'Buy me a drink?' or another good one is 'Hands that can tie an obi like that must be good for something! Buy me a drink?'! Women always go for that one! HAHAHA!"

Soujirou listened with fascination, taking in every word. Finally, after Hiko had spouted off every pick-up line he could think of that ended with buying him a drink, it was Soujirou's turn to come up with a few of his own. He thought very carefully. "Are you tired? You've been running through my head all night!" Hiko glared at him and pointedly cleared his throat. Soujirou got the hint. "Running like that, you must be thirsty, so buy us both a drink?" Hiko happily patted Soujirou on the back. The boy was a genius! (Well, now we know who invented that terrible pick-up line! ROFL!)

After Hiko felt they had practiced sufficiently, it was time for the true test. But WHOM could they test it on? "We can't use baka deshi's girlfriend. He would be furious and despite his size, he is dangerous. After all, I DID train him!" They both considered their problem until Soujirou respectfully suggested Megumi. "Brilliant idea!" agreed Hiko. Soujirou was a boy after his own heart!

****

Megumi was performing a very delicate operation. She needed complete silence so she could concentrate. Sweat beads were forming on her brow, but the needle in her hand was steady as she worked. One slip though and it would be all over.

She was close to finishing when out of nowhere, the last voice she wanted to hear boomed loudly, making his presence known. He hand jerked violently is response. RIP! Megumi began to cry. "All that hard work, and now look what happened!" she wailed. Ayame, who was standing next to her, patted her arm in a comforting manor. "It's all right. Grandpa will get you another dress." This was no help though, and Megumi was unable to be consoled. "But I loved this dress! Where am I ever going to be able to find another one like it?"

Ayame looked confused. "What do you mean? You have two more just like it!" Megumi stopped crying suddenly. "You're right? How silly of me! Oh hohoho!" (Uh oh, sounds suspiciously like PMS…Soujirou better run while he can!) But no, everyone's favorite boy was oblivious to the time of month it was, and entered the house with Hiko trailing behind.

Without the usual polite greetings, Soujirou walked right up to Megumi and smiled suggestively. Before she could ask him what his problem was, he tried out his first pick-up line ever! "What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?" Megumi sweat dropped and answered. "I LIVE here!"

Soujirou just kept smiling, and with a nod from Hiko he tried again. "Haven't we met somewhere before? I would never forget a face as beautiful as that!" Hiko cleared his throat and Soujirou hastily added, "Buy me a drink?" Megumi had a sweat drop bigger than her head by the time she managed to answer. "Yes, we have met somewhere before. YOU LIVED HERE A WEEK WITH ME AND ONLY LEFT JUST THIS MORNING YOU BAKA!"

This was obviously not going well. Megumi was starting to fume alarmingly and Soujirou was getting another taste of that thing called fear. But as suddenly as it appeared, Megumi's anger was gone. It had finally dawned in her exactly what was going on, and she decided to take full advantage of the situation. Soujirou was going to learn a valuable lesson that day about women with PMS. Don't go near them!

Fox ears popped up. "Oh hohohoho! You want a drink? I don't need to buy you anything! I'll prepare something myself! Oh hohohoho…"

****

"What happened to you two?" Asked Yahiko as they stumbled in the dojo gate. They both looked more than a little sick, although Soujirou was still smiling as always. Hiko didn't bother to answer. He just ran for the very rustic bathroom facilities as fast as he could. Understanding dawned quickly on Yahiko's face and he grinned evilly.

"You went to see the fox lady and made her mad, didn't you?" Yahiko asked, although he was pretty sure of the answer. Soujirou just nodded wordlessly. After a while Hiko came back, looking a little better, but very, very angry and determined! "No woman makes a fool of the great Hiko Sejirou or his brilliant student! Tomorrow we will have lesson number two, and I promise she won't be able to resist you!"

Soujirou smiled and nodded in agreement, before running for his turn in the bathroom. He will do whatever his great master tells him to, AFTER he didn't feel like he had just eaten something cooked by Kaoru anymore! But as bad as he felt, he was excited about what the next day might bring!



HAHAHA! (Claps hand over mouth) Ughh, now I am starting to sound like Hiko. Anyway, what do you think? Is Sano going to find out what is going on and get in on the act? Or can Megumi take care of those two single-handedly? Guess you will find out soon! Until then, review and make this poor little author happy! Oh, and special thanks to my mother for helping me with the pick-up lines! LOL! And everyone thinks she's so serious! And to Sherah for the pick-up line idea, although I am pretty sure she doesn't realize she gave it to me! ^_^