This next section is a four-part story which takes place a little over a year into Kenshin's apprenticeship.

To my reviewers: I say this often, but I'm going to say it again. Thanks for taking the time to let me know you like the story and Hikaru. That makes all the work worthwhile.

To Zip: I honestly don't think Hikaru had much of an effect on Kenshin during the actual Revolution, because once he leaves Hiko, she doesn't see him again until he returns to Kyoto 15 years later. (Yes, that's another fanfic, LOL) However, I do think she had a beneficial, if indirect, effect on his life after the Revolution. A friend of mine (my RK expert) said to me once that having Hikaru in Kenshin's life during his years with Hiko might explain why he's the warm and loving person that he was revealed to be once he shed the Battousai. We agree he didn't learn that part of his nature from Hiko (ha!), so we assumed his first 5 years, with his family, were good ones, filled with love. Even so, 3 years of slavery followed by 6 years with a man as emotionally remote as Hiko wouldn't leave him much experience in expressing his softer, gentler side. Hikaru's love for him gave us a reason that we didn't have to stretch for, and I kinda like it.

As for this chapter... Naturally, Hiko didn't let Hikaru have his apprentice any more than he absolutely had to, and naturally, the first time, it ended up with those two butting heads over Kenshin yet again. But I wanted to capture the first of the few "holidays" when Hiko released his iron grip and let the kid go and be loved. And I admit, part of the reason I wanted to write it is that I wanted to see "li'l Kenshin" in a more free environment. I hope it's as much fun for you to read as it was for me to write, and that the Kenshin fans among you will think I did him justice.

Oh yeah. The usual disclaimer ~ Kenshin and Hiko don't belong to me, no matter how much I love them. All other characters are my own invention.

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Seijuro Hiko was a light sleeper, and the first moan woke him. Not again, he thought, and waited, hoping that soft sound would be the last from the next room, but knowing it wouldn't. After a moment he heard thrashing, and the moaning climbed in volume. Resigned, he rose from his bed and went into Kenshin's room, just in time to be hit with an ear-splitting scream.

He knelt beside the boy and grabbed both flailing hands between his. "Kenshin. KENSHIN!"

Kenshin's eyes flew open, and after a second they cleared. "Master!" His fingers convulsively clutched Hiko's hands, then relaxed. "I was having a dream."

Answering the shame in the boy's voice, rather than his words, Hiko released his hands and said, "You're not responsible for what you do in your sleep."

"Thank you, Master."

"Do you remember what the dream was about?"

Kenshin shook his head. That was regrettable, Hiko thought. Often, when a nightmare was recalled and discussed, its hold was loosened. But Kenshin almost never remembered his dreams – or wouldn't admit to it – and there were so many things in his past to trouble his sleep that Hiko couldn't even make a guess. The boy's eyes looked haunted. He might have forgotten the content of the dream, but not the fear. "Can you get back to sleep?" he asked.

"I don't think so," Kenshin said, with more emphasis than he'd perhaps intended.

"All right, then, make yourself useful. Get a lantern and split and stack wood. I want it stacked as high as the second mark."

"All right, Master." Rubbing his eyes, Kenshin stumbled out. Hiko figured about a quarter hour of that kind of exercise would make him sleepy enough. Fetching sake, he sat outside to watch his apprentice work.

He wouldn't show it, but he was worried about the boy. Kenshin had always been prone to nightmares, but lately they'd been more intense and come more often. Now Hiko was planning to be gone for two days, leaving Kenshin alone. Normally, that wouldn't be a problem. Kenshin was mature and amazingly self-sufficient for a boy of nine. This time, however, was different. Hiko had suffered from nightmares himself, and he still remembered how, as a child, the terror lasted long past the wakening. Especially if one were alone in the dark. Yet this trip was one which couldn't be put off.

He had no doubt of Kenshin's courage, or he might have left him to the mercy of the dark and the dreams. But with no lesson to be learned and no test to be passed, to leave him would be unnecessarily cruel.

The rhythm of the axe had already slowed. "Kenshin. That's enough."

"But you said to the second mark."

"Now I say that's enough. Don't argue with me. Go lay down. When the sun comes up, you can make breakfast."

Kenshin wasn't always obedient, but he was drowsy by now, and he went back to his room. There, Hiko was sure, he would drop into a sound sleep that would take him well past dawn. He'd miss breakfast, but at least he'd get enough sleep. Hiko remained where he was, sipping sake and pondering unpalatable alternatives.

As he expected, Kenshin slept well past daybreak and emerged babbling apologies. Hiko pointed out that he had already missed eating breakfast, gave him a few extra chores as punishment for oversleeping, then said, "I've been thinking about tonight and tomorrow, Kenshin. I don't think I want to leave you here alone."

"I can take care of myself, Master. I'll be all right."

The boy had no idea how open and expressive his face was. The words were brave, the tone cool, but the eyes were full of apprehension. Hiko snorted. "Nice sentiment, but I prefer a little honesty. You will not be all right. You'll have bad dreams and wake the whole forest with your screaming."

Kenshin looked down at the ground, abashed. Hiko snapped, "I told you, you aren't responsible for what you do in your sleep. Nevertheless..."

Kenshin's head came up suddenly. "Master, I could work at night and sleep during the day!"

"I can see you think that's a brilliant idea, but has it occurred to you that two days of doing so will make you unfit to take up your training again on the day I return?"

"Oh."

"Right. I had another thought. You haven't been a good enough apprentice to deserve this, but I might give you a holiday, and let you spend the time with Madame Kimiyama."

"Really?"

For once the voice, blazingly eager, gave away as much as the face, reinforcing Hiko's opinion that this was a bad idea. But he simply didn't have a better one. "Yes. She may be less fond of you once you've disturbed her sleep for a couple of nights."

"I'll try not to."

Hiko let his expression tell Kenshin his opinion of that fatuous remark. "We'll have to ask her if she wants you. It may not be convenient for her to have you visit her." That's a laugh. He knew damned well that, for this, Hikaru would overturn not only her own schedule but that of the entire Kimiyama Ceramics shop. "She may not even want you to come." Ha. "So don't get your hopes up until we see her."

"What if she doesn't visit us today?"

"Then we'll go to Kyoto to see her."

"Yes, Master." Humble words, humble tone, brilliantly smiling eyes and huge grin. Hiko sighed. She was going to spoil the kid. He was sure of it. Well, he would just have to hope that his training and discipline would be able to stand up to two days of Hikaru's indulgence.

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Hikaru left the servant behind at the usual spot, where Toshiro had long ago had a bench built in a shady place just for that purpose, and stepped eagerly up the path toward Seijuro's cottage. She was already anticipating the pleasures of the afternoon. As much as she loved her life in Kyoto, the high point of her week was nearly always these few hours she spent in the company of Seijuro and Kenshin.

She paused at the fork in the path, wondering whether to bear left toward the falls and the training ground, or to go on straight toward the cottage. Usually Kenshin was there to meet her, but not if he was training or if he had chores. Her decision was made for her by Kenshin himself, however, who just then came racing down the path from the training ground, waving at her and calling, "Hikaru-san!" About ten feet from her, he recalled his manners, came to an abrupt stop, and bowed politely to her. She could barely keep a straight face, the formal bow was such a contrast to his sweaty, rumpled appearance and the flying red hair flopping into his face.

"You've been training hard today," she remarked.

He came up from his bow with a wide smile and eyes sparkling with pleasure. "Yes, I have."

He must have done something to earn praise from Seijuro, she thought. She rarely saw him so happy.

He fastidiously cleaned his hand on his pants leg, then held it out to her. "Let me help you over the rough part of the trail, Hikaru-san."

Something was definitely strange. He always "helped" her. It was something they'd started shortly after he'd come here, a way for some comforting physical contact between them when all other contact was forbidden by Seijuro, and the formality of his verbal offer had long ago been cast aside. She took his hand, puzzled. "Is something going on?"

"Yes. No. Not really. It's just..." He looked up into her face. His expression was such a mingling of hope and apprehension that her curiosity, already stirred, became intense. What in the world was going on here? "Hikaru-san, if I... am I... I mean, I wanted to ask, do you...?"

"Kenshin." Seijuro had come up behind him, and his one word was both a reprimand and a command. Kenshin dropped her hand and backed a respectful step away from her, lowering his eyes. Seijuro said, "Get back to the house and finish your chores. You barely got anything done."

"That's because there was too much to do before you wanted to start training today!"

"Standing around here embarrassing me with your bad manners in front of Madame Kimiyama is not going to get the work done. And it certainly isn't going to make me confident in my belief that you deserve a holiday."

Kenshin's mutinous look changed to one of alarm. "Yes, Master," he said, and ran off up the path.

Hikaru looked at Seijuro. "What's gotten into him? He's acting very strangely. Come to think of it, you look rather odd, too. And since when do you let Kenshin take a holiday?"

Seijuro made a vaguely disgusted noise. "Come on, lets walk. I'm not going to help you over the nonexistent 'rough' places, however."

She laughed and opened her fan, waving it gently between them. "We'll walk, but only if you tell me what's going on."

"That's what I had in mind." They fell into step together, Seijuro adjusting his long stride to match hers. "I want to ask a favor of you."

"You have it, of course. What is it?"

"I have to go away for the next two nights, and I don't want to leave Kenshin alone here."

"You've left him alone before," she said, unable to keep the disapproval from her voice.

"We're not getting into that again."

She nodded her agreement. "What's different about this time?"

"He's been having nightmares. Very bad ones, from which he wakes up screaming."

"Oh, no. What is he dreaming about?"

"He doesn't remember. Which is probably fortunate, given their severity."

If Seijuro called them severe, they must be dreadful. "Poor Kenshin!"

"He'll survive a few nightmares, Hikaru."

"How typically callous of you. No matter what you think, he's still just a child! He's only nine years old! Nightmares are devastating to a child that age."

"You act as if I've never had them and have no comprehension of what they're like."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Do you at least go in and hold him until he's not afraid any more?"

He gave her a look.

"No, of course you don't," she sighed.

"That kind of statement is exactly why I'm reluctant to ask you this favor. I don't think I will ever get it through your head that Kenshin is not an ordinary child. He's my apprentice, just like your husband's apprentices are his. Except that Kenshin isn't learning pottery, but the Hiten Mitsurugi style of swordsmanship, which is much more demanding. You keep thinking of him as a little boy, and what he really is..."

"Is a little boy!" she said firmly, but grinning. This was such an old argument that she couldn't even work up irritation at him about it anymore.

"He is a young man, and one with extraordinary strength, both of body and of will. However," he sighed, "I will agree with you that his mind is at least as naive as any other child's his age. That's why I'm not taking him with me. Otherwise I would."

She spread the fan across the lower part of her face and let her eyes smile at him over it. "I think you're keeping some bad company, Seijuro Hiko."

His lips twitched. "Worse than even you can imagine."

"Definitely no company to take a little boy into, then. What do you want me to do? Stay here with him? Naturally I will."

"I think Kimiyama might have some objection to that."

"Not if I have Bunto with me. Don't look at me like that! I can talk Toshiro into sparing me for a couple of days."

"I'm sure you can talk Kimiyama into anything, if you set your mind to it, but he'll blame me, not you. No. What I want you to do is take Kenshin to Kyoto to stay with you there. He's worked hard, and he's earned a holiday."

She couldn't believe her ears. Take Kenshin to Kyoto with her? Except for Seijuro himself, there was nothing in the world she desired more. She was filled with such a sudden, overwhelming happiness that she couldn't even answer him for a moment, but lowered her eyes to keep it from spilling out. She wanted to laugh and dance right there on the path. Two nights and an entire day with Kenshin? Without Seijuro around? Bliss!

Hiding her glee, she said coolly, "He certainly has earned a holiday. You work him far too hard."

"You aren't fooling me," Seijuro growled.

She burst into laughter. "You know I'll love having him."

"I know you'll spoil him rotten."

"I will not!"

"No hugging him every few minutes."

"Of course not."

"Don't hold his hand all the time."

"Of course not."

"Don't take him shopping and buy him sweets. He's not used to them. They'll make him sick."

"I understand."

"I work him hard to increase his strength, his courage, and his agility. Don't pamper him. Give him chores to do."

"I will."

"You are looking right into my eyes and lying to me, Hikaru."

Her laughter bubbled out again. "I will not spoil him. I promise you that. I won't overdo anything, and I will give him work to do. All right?"

"I suppose that's the best I can hope for. This is bad timing on Kenshin's part. Why did he pick now to have a series of nightmares?"

"He didn't do it on purpose to inconvenience you, you great bear. Stop worrying. You told him it was a special day, a holiday. No matter what I do, he'll come back to you the same apprentice."

"I wish I could be sure of that. I didn't, after spending a day with you. You have a bad effect on Hiten Mitsurugi apprentices."

She glowed at the compliment. "When do you want me to take him?"

"Right away. I really should have left already. Bring him back the day after tomorrow. And he'd better be the same apprentice when I see him again." They were in the clearing before the cottage by then, and he yelled Kenshin's name. When Kenshin opened the door, he said, "Madame Kimiyama has graciously condescended to allow you to stay with her until I return."

Hikaru resisted the urge to punch him and added her most welcoming smile to Seijuro's words. Kenshin's little face lit up, and the beautiful lavender eyes sparkled. "Thank you, Hikaru-san!"

Seijuro said, "You're leaving at once. So clean up the mess you've undoubtedly made in there, and then pack whatever you'll need for two days. And be quick about it."

Kenshin disappeared inside without another word. Hikaru asked, "Seijuro, will you be in danger, where you're going? Is that why you won't take Kenshin?"

He stared down at her. "I'm a Hiten Mitsurugi Master. How much danger can I possibly be in? No, I won't. Don't worry about me. It's as I said, company unfit for a young boy." Looking toward the house again, he put his hands on his hips and said, "See if you can break the cycle of his dreams."

"The cycle?"

"This happened once before, where they came more and more often, and got progressively worse. Then he got sick…"

"Sick? When?"

"It was a head cold, nothing more," he growled.

"You never told me."

"He was over it before we saw you again. Why tell you? I need to add that to my list. Don't fuss over him!"

She held up the fan between them and opened it. "Such a long list of don'ts," she said coyly. Then, folding it again with a turn of her wrist, she said, "The cold broke the cycle?"

"He couldn't sleep for an entire night, then the next day he slept like the dead. The dreams went away and he didn't have another one for months. Then it was one or two, sporadically, and now this. I hope it isn't going to be a pattern for his entire childhood. It doesn't do his health any good."

"You're worried about him."

"He can't train if he doesn't sleep the proper number of hours."

"Of course that's your sole concern," she said sweetly.

"You're the only woman I've ever met who could disagree by agreeing. That's my primary concern, his training. Try not to forget it, all right?"

Kenshin reappeared in the doorway, his cheeks pink from scrubbing, wearing his shinai in his belt and holding the ends of a bundle in one hand. For two days away from home, the bundle was pathetically small, and Hikaru made a silent vow that, if nothing else, she was going to buy the boy some decent clothes. She couldn't argue about the things Seijuro considered important, such as Kenshin's health, morals, and education, but there were far too many things he didn't consider important, in her opinion. She only had two days to make up the lack, but she intended to use every minute of them. "Ready to go, Kenshin?"

"Yes, Hikaru-san, I think so. Master, I didn't get the stove cleaned."

"Typical. Well, we can't inconvenience Madame Kimiyama. You can do it when you come back."

A flicker of uncertainty banished the excitement from Kenshin's eyes for a moment, and Hikaru was reminded that the child had been nowhere else but this mountain for the past year, with no other constant company than Seijuro. What had at first looked like a treat was now becoming something to fear – Seijuro was going away for longer than usual, and Kenshin would be going to a strange place, to be among strangers.

Seijuro saw that look even more quickly than Hikaru did, and said sternly, "You'd better behave yourself in Kyoto. Try not to be too much of an idiot, and obey Madame Kimiyama and her husband as you do me. Don't make me sorry I gave you this holiday. If she gives me a bad report about you, I'll take it out of your hide when I get back."

With this rather stringent, left-handed promise that his Master was coming back, even if only to beat him, and with a duty now to perform, even if only to be obedient, Kenshin's expression cleared. "Yes, Master!" he said with a grin.