Now it's Hikaru's turn for disappointment, since, as we all know, Kenshin does end up remaining on the mountain as Hiko's apprentice.

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Hikaru did understand, at least in a vague way, what Seijuro told her. She could see Kenshin's purity. It shone like a lamp in the night's dark. She wasn't at all sure what that had to do with a sword, but again, she could vaguely comprehend by equating it to the dance. When your heart was in the dance, the dance was an inspiration to all who saw it, as well as to the dancer.

Whatever the reasoning, whether she was right or wrong, she was certain it was important to Seijuro. She'd never seen him so excited about anything. That made it important to her, enough so that she agreed to stay away from the mountain for two weeks, to allow him to start Kenshin's training without distraction.

Understanding didn't reconcile her to having that sweet child learn how to use a sword, however. As soon as the two weeks were gone, she headed up the mountain, hoping that Kenshin had proven to be as hopelessly inept, physically, as he was suitable spiritually. She had not gone through any one hour of those weeks without thinking about the boy. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel him in her arms. He was too small, too delicate, too precious to hand over to the sword. But remembering the expression on Seijuro's face that day, she knew she had no chance of convincing him of that. Her only hope was that Kenshin would be slow, or clumsy, or better yet cowardly.

They weren't at the cottage, so she doubled back for the training ground. Long before she could see anything, she heard the rhythmic clack-clack of wood on wood and Seijuro's voice counting out numbers, apparently at random. Then she heard him shout, "Good!", followed by a high crow of triumph that could only have come from Kenshin. She stopped, her heart clenching. She knew that tone of Seijuro's, rare though it was. Her hopes that Kenshin might prove inept were crushed. On the contrary, for him to get such enthusiastic approval from Seijuro, so soon, meant that he was a particularly apt student.

She stood there a moment, breathing in and out, stifling her disappointment, reaching for serenity, arranging her face to show only what she wanted them to see. Kenshin sounded happy as well as excited, and she would not cloud his joy or Seijuro's pleasure, no matter what her own feelings were. When she was certain she was in complete control, she moved forward again.

The rustle of her silk, or perhaps that swordsman's sense Seijuro talked of, had both of them staring her way when she stepped out of the trees. She bowed politely to them while her eyes quickly took in the scene. Kenshin was dressed in his new clothes, and was already sweaty and filthy even this early in the day, but he also looked taller, as if he'd grown in two weeks. That wasn't possible, and she realized it was because he was standing straight now, as straight as the wooden staff he gripped. Behind him, Seijuro had his eyes on Kenshin, not on her. He looked smug. Or happy. With him, they were often the same. Hikaru was glad she'd taken the time to prepare herself. They were so obviously Master and apprentice, they might as well have had the words embroidered on their clothing.

Seeing her, Kenshin's face lit. "Hikaru-san!"

Seijuro lifted his own staff and rapped Kenshin sharply on the back of the head. "Don't take your eyes off your Master."

Kenshin whirled on him, rubbing the back of his head, his expression rebellious. "But, Master...! We have a guest!"

"Even then."

The rebellious look deepened, and the lavender eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Is that a new rule?"

"Just one I haven't yet mentioned."

"How do you expect me to obey a rule you haven't mentioned? That's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair."

"Where have I heard that before?" Kenshin muttered.

"Your behavior is embarrassing both of us. You may now turn and give Madame Kimiyama a proper greeting."

Hikaru said, "I thought that was a wonderful greeting." She knelt and held out her arms. Kenshin grinned and started toward her, only to get tripped up by Seijuro's staff between his knees. He stayed on his feet only with a nimble effort, and glared back over his shoulder at Seijuro.

"I said a proper greeting, Kenshin," Seijuro growled.

Both Kenshin and Hikaru understood that tone. Hikaru rose slowly, her eyes meeting Seijuro's, and she saw the denial there. She let him see that it made her angry, but his expression didn't change. Meanwhile, Kenshin set down his staff and bowed to her, welcoming her politely and properly.

She wasn't going to punish Kenshin because she was angry at Seijuro. She smiled down at him and said, "Are you enjoying your lessons? It sounds as if you are doing well."

He beamed up at her. "I am! They're difficult, but Master says I'm not totally hopeless." His eyes twinkled at her, inviting her to share his knowledge that such faint praise was a great deal, coming from Seijuro.

She at once responded, "I'm sure if you apply yourself, someday you'll even get him to say you are nearly... adequate."

Kenshin grinned.

Seijuro said, "He'll have to concentrate better than he has been."

Kenshin rolled his eyes, but when he turned back to Seijuro, his expression was one of respect. "Yes, I know, Master."

Seijuro's lips twitched. "Go down and make tea for Madame Kimiyama."

"But I wanted to tell her about today's lesson."

"Now, Kenshin. I wish to talk to her."

"Oh. Yes, Master." With a cheery wave at Hikaru, he grabbed his staff and trotted down the path.

Seijuro pointed her after him, then fell into step beside her."You're encouraging him in insubordination."

She grinned. "You didn't stop me."

"There is a difference between insubordination and disrespect. Although he is beginning to push that line."

"You say that as if you don't object to it."

"I'm relieved his spirit isn't broken. A broken spirit is something which can only be mended with time and care, the kind of care I would find it difficult to give him. If it can be mended at all. As it is, his spirit is strong. He only needs discipline."

She scowled at him. "It wouldn't hurt to let me hug him."

"On the contrary. Does Kimiyama let you hug his pottery apprentices?"

"Yes!"

"If they are ill or in pain, yes. But in simple greeting? Or whenever you wish it?" She didn't reply, and he nodded. "I didn't think so. Even he isn't that lax."

"You're going to keep him, then."

"Kenshin? Yes, of course. He shows promise. More than I could have hoped, but don't tell him that. If he grows conceited, he will cease to learn."

"There is not an ounce of conceit in that boy."

"There is pride. And pride slides easily into conceit if allowed to grow unchecked. Even in a boy like Kenshin."

His tone made her take a closer look at him. "You're growing fond of him, aren't you?"

"He's my apprentice," he growled.

She folded her hands and kept silent. His growls did not intimidate her. They never had. But she realized now that, however he acted, Seijuro was beginning to love Kenshin already, too. He might never admit it, most likely not even recognize it, since he was unaccustomed to loving. The word was only in his vocabulary as a motive for the actions of others. Not once had he said it to her, even. Yet she knew he loved her, and just as surely, she knew that Kenshin was relieving a loneliness that he had been suffering unaware. Reluctantly, she tossed away all her schemes for prying the child away from Seijuro. Seeing Kenshin today, she had no doubt Seijuro was good for him. More significantly, Kenshin was good for Seijuro. If anyone could work his way into that carefully guarded heart, it would be Kenshin.

This was fate. She couldn't fight it.

Kenshin had already laid out the tea things neatly and was ready to pour when they arrived. He served them with a grace beyond his years, but there his skill ended. Hikaru took her first sip of the tea and repressed a shudder.

Seijuro was not so tactful. "This is terrible. You should let Madame Kimiyama make the tea."

"But, Master, you told me to make it."

"Next time."

"Would you like sake instead, Master?"

"Two weeks with me, and at last you are beginning to show some glimmer of intelligence. Yes, I would like sake."

Kenshin fetched sake and a cup and placed both beside Seijuro. Then he glanced at Hikaru, a look both questioning and apologetic.

Heroically, Hikaru said, "The tea is fine, only a little strong. I'll stay with the tea." Then, with even greater heroism, she said, "Tell me about your lessons now."

Happily, innocently, with the eyes of both adults on him, equally unaware of Seijuro's pride in him and of Hikaru's desire that he were speaking with such enthusiasm about some other art, Kenshin sat beside her and told her everything that came to his mind about the past two weeks and what he had learned.