Irasshaimase! Well, I'm hoping you enjoyed the previous chapter. If you did, that's great and thanks for coming back. If not and you're just hoping that the author-ess was having a very bad day, thank you for being kind. ;P Bear with me while it gets moving. Thanks!

Tsukiyo opened her eyes blearily. A shaft of light illuminated the room. She jolted into awareness; it was well past dawn. She sat up, rushing, and noticed three different sets of clothing waiting for her. She touched the foreign material, almost frightened of it. She slid out of her soiled clothes, and avoided the first two. Both were too beautiful. She instead chose the spare practice clothes left by Kaoru. It was durable, if the pants were a little short for her five foot four. She looked out the door; the garden was empty. She sighed, and let her hair out of its constricting braid.

Dark tendrils slithered down to her waist, glinting with deep mossy accents. She leaned against a tree, breathing in the air. She smiled slightly, and had almost composed herself in these strange surroundings when she felt someone's eyes on her. She reached for her dagger, and then grimaced. She twirled her chain idly.

"What do you want," she asked. Yahiko came out from a tree.

"Why did you stop that crystal thingy from hitting me?" he asked, pouting. Tsukiyo looked at him. She was not at her best this particular morning. She did not want to be questioned by an adolescent upstart. She took a stroll through the Dojo instead.

Kenshin was gathering vegetables from the garden. Tsukiyo didn't say anything; she just bent down to wash the vegetables as he picked them. No words were needed anyway. Both recognized the need to do work for the sake that work was needed. Both recognized the sign of pained histories that were slowly healing through life.

Tsukiyo helped Toshio to his feet. He passed her the dagger. She was back in her own clothes now. Another day at the Dojo had replenished their strength. Toshio was well and she was rested. Tsukiyo had earned their keep by doing all of Kenshin's normal jobs, such as cooking and laundry. She had also cleaned the Dojo. Kaoru looked slightly unhappy; this woman's cold exterior hid a quick study with a quicker tongue, as well as a good friend.

Toshio looked better. He could walk without exhaustion, though he couldn't move quickly.

Tsukiyo had one last thing to do in order to repay her debt.

"Toshio will lead you, if you wish. I would be honored if you would join us for a feast of sorts," she said, bowing. Toshio bowed as well, though he was eyeing his adoptive sister with interest; Tsukiyo never had much to say to outsiders. Kenshin-gumi accepted. Toshio was to lead them to the house while Tsukiyo picked up some food from town.

They split at the market place, Kenshin-gumi heading towards the woods while Tsukiyo made her way through the market, picking out food for that evening.

Tsukiyo arrived to find Kaeko and Akiko baring the entrance with their staffs. Toshio appeared to be trying to talk them around, with no success. Tsukiyo ran up, smiling slightly. She ruffled their hair.

Aki glared murderously at Yahiko. "They say they are friends. But we have our orders, and we can't let anybody in. Toshio's being an idiot, too." Kaeko nodded her agreement. Tsukiyo laughed, her eyes alight with good humor. She dipped her shoulder down and swooped Kaeko onto one shoulder, Akiko on another. She motioned for the others to follow as she entered her home hidden in the woods.

Kaoru looked at the house. Perhaps it had once been decorated with gold and silver. Now, vines blooming with pale flowers crept up the walls occasionally, each cultivated purposefully. A small kitchen was separated from the house. A river wasn't far away, serving as a clean water source. It wasn't needed. A well was in the back yard, surrounded by ancient trees. Despite its worn appearance, everything was cared for, giving an air of forlorn elegance to the abandoned home.

There were many rooms, each containing its own futon and spare blanket, along with a bucket for water. Only one room was left unfurnished. Instead of a futon, mats woven of reeds served as the bed, though similar mats were used for sitting on throughout the house. The bucket here was little more than an ancient jar, cracked in several places. She noticed an assortment of clothes and two kimonos airing. It struck her that this was Tsukiyo's refuge.

They ate that evening under the branches outside. Kenshin and Megumi had helped Tsukiyo prepare the meal, but when Kaoru had offered, she had been first politely, and then impolitely, turned away. Therefore, the second the sake was opened, she had gotten drunk.

Ayame and Suzume were playing with Kaeko and Toshio while Akiko argued with Yahiko over who was stronger; Kenshin or Tsukiyo.

Sano and Megumi had gone through periods of arguing and pouring sake for the other, providing entertainment for those who were not arguing or trying to get Kaoru sober.

Tsukiyo sat next to Hiko, looking at the stars that peeked through the leaves. He was reaching for another bottle of sake when she poured him some. He smiled slightly and drank on.

Tsukiyo noticed her boldness, and said, "I am Kazeno Tsukiyo."

Hiko eyed her, not giving a comment of disapproval or approval of the haori that showed a fair amount of her bound chest, and said, "I am Niitsu Kakunoshin."

Kenshin looked over Kaoru's head and raised an eyebrow quizzically before getting brained by a drunken Kaoru's flailing arm as she almost fell into the well. Yahiko, who was now dueling with Akiko, stared at him in disbelief, missing a block and getting hit in the stomach for his inattention.

Tsukiyo smirked. "Hontou?" she asked, just to be certain.

Hiko aka Niitsu, nodded. He motioned for her to pour more sake. "You shouldn't lie, shishou," she said, holding the bottle just out of reach. He raised an eyebrow and reached for the bottle. She moved it further away from him.

"Your mantle proclaims you falsehood. I believe your title is Hiko Seijuuro, master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu. The – what number was it? – yes! The Thirteenth successor, I think," she said, watching him carefully.

Hiko put down his cup. "I am just a potter…"

"What potter wears a sword and the mantle of Hiko Seijuuro? One is the trademark of a warrior or a fool; the other is a trademark of a man who no one can defeat," she said quietly. "Besides, there is no clay on your hands, no glaze on your fingers. True, you are a potter – I can see some dried clay on the hem of your mantle. You haven't touched your materials for many days. They certainly weren't at the dojo."

Hiko sat back, looking at her with grudging respect as she poured another glass of sake for him. Kenshin-gumi had gotten quiet while she spoke. She smiled slightly to them.

"I was well educated in the arts of war. Please, ignore the ramblings of a waitress," she said. While everyone watched her with uneasiness, Kaoru actually did fall in the well, clinging to Kenshin's ponytail. It took them half an hour to get her out.

Tsukiyo looked at the bodies sleeping peacefully in the sweet long grass. She saw no point in moving them inside; the sky was clear, and the air was cool, no scent of rain on it. She instead put all of the children together in a nest of grass, covering them with a light blanket. She looked at the adults. The women and Kenshin would prove no problem. Sano would. He was sleeping restlessly, and could possibly hit her. She had moved Megumi under a tree, Kenshin and Kaoru having fallen asleep side by side, and was about to lift Sano when Hiko's muscled arms came into her view. She supported the shoulders while he picked up the feet, carrying him over close to Megumi. Tsukiyo stretched her arms. Hiko watched her carefully, and then nodded to her chain.

"Let me see your trinket," he said. Tsukiyo flicked at the chain; it slid from her hips to the grass, a shining coil of steel. He ran it through his hands. It was well over nine feet long and surprisingly light. The crystals at the end were incredibly hard, and weighted with what was the equivalent of several pounds. They were carved into a diamond shape, edges sharp.

He swung it experimentally, and was surprised to find that he had difficulty doing the full arm circles that she had done with ease. He also couldn't get the flick right; if he added power, he lost accuracy, and if he gained accuracy, he lost power.

"I spent a long time training on that thing," she said, taking it back and swinging it around the tree trunk. He ducked when the crystal end slammed into the wood, leaving a deep indent.

"That could've killed Yahiko if I didn't stop it. He asked me, wanting to learn how to swing a rope. But a manriki-gusari is no rope, just like a katana isn't a stick," she said to no one in particular. Hiko nodded, and poured two cups of sake. Tsukiyo gave him hers. He raised an eyebrow.

"I don't drink," she said. She passed him another sake bottle and jumped over his head to stretch out on a low hanging bough. She tilted her head skyward. It was only when her fingers slipped from the cold steel of her chain that he knew she was truly asleep.

Megumi was dolling out hang-over remedies an hour after dawn. Kenshin was working in the kitchen under Kaeko's withering glare.

"No, Ken-oniichan! Don't put the spice in until you have all of the vegetables! And you need to thicken it up!" she said. Akiko was fighting Yahiko, and had managed to disarm him. Kaoru looked at her approvingly.

"Where did you learn kendo?"

Akiko looked down. She knew Tsukiyo was probably in the woods, replenishing her stock of herbs and food, but she didn't like talking behind the woman's back. She had never done so, and wasn't about to start.

Yahiko rolled his eyes. "I'm just going easy on her. I don't want to hurt her…"

Akiko's eyes blazed. She hacked at him furiously, forcing him against a tree. Yahiko yelped as she slapped his fingers sharply and then poked him in the stomach hard.

Tsukiyo's breath was raspy. She adjusted the chains on her limbs. Before dawn, she had awoken. Guests dictated that she couldn't go to work. Instead, she went for a run. The base of a mountain wasn't too far; the terrain was rocky and liable to crumble out from underneath her in some places, boggy in others. Some places were just a wooden obstacle course. It was all uphill.

She wore only her binding and pants. Sweat trickled down her neck, absorbed by the cloth that she wore over her chest. Her feet were bare, complaining slightly from overuse. Her hair was pulled back in a simple horse tail, her face slightly flushed from the run.

She was now within a mile of her house. The river gurgled, its seductive tones too much for her. Glancing around, she carefully picked a stony path and went east, no trace of her showing.

Tsukiyo looked around furtively. No one was within her sight, but she was wary all the same. She took a deep breath, stripped everything off quickly and dove in. Her hair fanned out in the water, even darker for the wetness. The current tugged at her body, cooling her feet. She felt her muscles relax in the icy water. She stretched, and floated a little. Sun peered through the leaves, hesitant, and then erupted in fiery adoration. She felt a smile play on her lips. She paused, suddenly suspicious. The birds had stopped singing. She sunk to her shoulders, eyes darting every which way. Her eyes picked out nothing. She drifted over to her clothes, and reached for her binding. A large hand grabbed her and tried to haul her out of the water. Tsukiyo shifted her weight and bit down on the hand viciously. The hand's owner let out a shocked cry.

Tsukiyo was out of the water, half dressed, and dashing through the woods faster than the eye could follow. She desperately wanted the shelter of her home, but all her instincts clamored against revealing her location. She headed back up to the mountain, and somehow, the morning's beauty ceased to exist to that rapidly pursued figure darting through the forest.

Kaeko looked out over the feast from her seat of ladyship. She had helped with the food, and was slightly miffed that her guardian was missing in her moment of glory. Yahiko's hand was moving of its own accord toward the food. Akiko lashed out with a stick, slapping him sharply. Yahiko glared murderously at the girl. She stuck out her tongue at him.

Kaeko pointed her ladle, the symbol of her office, at Sano, Kenshin, Hiko, and Aki.

"You all go find Onee-sama, or you don't get any food. We don't eat until Onee-sama is here!" she declared. Yahiko started up to follow. Aki whirled on him.

Yahiko was already smarting from his defeat at the hands of two girls in the past few days. He had been hit with a ladle, and wasn't allowed to go with the men. Aki seemed to understand his frustration.

"You need to stay here to protect the little 'uns. I know these woods better than most. Besides, Toshio needs a good teacher," she said gently. Yahiko looked up, startled. Her eyes seemed ancient as they watched him carefully. He nodded and began to walk around the house.

Tsukiyo glared at the hateful sun. It was the only reason she didn't risk the clearing that would cut her distance in half. Her pursuer was the man and his companions from the restaurant. They were mounted, explaining their quick pursuit. Tsukiyo straightened her clothes from her hiding place in the trees. She didn't have this much time. Loosening her heavy training chain, she jumped from the tree and sprinted across. The men surrounded her. Her chain cracked in the air, coiling around a man's arm and snapping it in two easily. He dropped, sobbing as white bone pricked through the skin. Tsukiyo placed her back to a large boulder, swinging her chain idly, eyes chips of ice.

Aki was heaved up by Sano. She had led them straight to the bathing place.

"Onee-sama likes to come here when things get noisy. It helps her think," she said, walking around pool that river water collected in, only to flow down a different direction. Hiko picked up a thin strand of white with his sword. Aki snatched it up, lightly cutting her finger. She stuck the finger in her mouth and looked at the thread.

"It's hers. But why didn't she come home? It's not far…" she said. Sano was looking at the almost dry foot prints on a stony path. Aki turned pale when she saw horse tracks. She lurched forward, only to ram into Kenshin.

"Hold on now, it would not do to just run off and get lost, de gozaru yo," he said gently. Aki looked down, face red. She nodded, and fell into step.

"Girl, we'll have some fun with you," one of the men said. Tsukiyo whirled her chain, and flicked the man's cheek warningly, drawing blood. Four of the ten remained; the others had passed out from pain. They drew their horses up, using the height to their advantage. One of the men had a gun, but her reflexes were too fast for it to do any real good. She had been hit a few times, but she had extraordinary resistance to pain and hadn't been struck anywhere vital.

"Once we get you, we'll try an' find your house. Rumor has it that some nice little girls live there. I'm sure we could get a pretty price for them…"

Tsukiyo snarled, and the chain snaked out around another man, dragging him down and, with a twitch, smashed his hand. The man screamed in agony, looking at his broken hand. Tsukiyo sent the chain out to tap his temple. He fell like log.

Aki heard the scream. Her old fears flooded back, Tsukiyo being killed, Tsukiyo leaving them alone. Aki didn't want to be alone again. Blinded by this fear, she ran toward the clearing. The group surged after her, not realizing at first what had happened.

Tsukiyo's eyes widened as Aki came charging, swinging her bokken. The man leveled his gun, and aimed. Aki dropped, clutching her leg. The man dismounted, and was about to pick her up when Tsukiyo's chain wrapped around his neck.

"Don't you touch her," she hissed, eyes snapping. She felt steel tickle her throat and stomach; the other two hunters.

"Do with me what you will, but leave the girl be," she said, planting her feet firmly and loosening the chain.

One of them leered at her binding. He slowly began cutting row by row off. He punched her lightly in the face first, and then, seeing her reaction of nothing, punched in earnest. His companions joined in. Tsukiyo didn't move a muscle. She felt the blows, but was so concentrated on the tiny figure sobbing on the ground that she didn't notice the three new members.

Hiko picked his victim up and tossed him carelessly aside. Sano punched his in the stomach. Kenshin was helping Aki up. He looked at Tsukiyo, and then noticed her extremely loose binding. He looked down, and said, "We tried to get her as soon as we could, that we did. We got lost, though." The remaining man fled, eyes wide. He had not known the woman was on speaking terms with the Battousai!

Tsukiyo nodded, dazed. Aki ran to her guardian and hugged her around the waist, sobbing hysterically.

"Onee-sama! I was so scared, I thought you had died or left us…" Tsukiyo smiled gently, running bloody hands through the girl's hair, and then grinned broader at her folly.

"Akiko, I don't die easy," she said. Aki looked up, and nodded. It was true. Tsukiyo was bleeding from the mouth, her eyebrow was split, a cut had opened on her cheek, there was a gash on her shoulder, and bruises were blossoming spectacularly on her torso. Her binding slipped again, and she raised her arms to cover herself partially.

Sano draped his shirt over her. She turned away and slid her arms through the sleeves, using a few pieces of cord to keep it shut.

Sano ruffled her hair. Tsukiyo smiled wearily. "Thank you. It seems I have another debt to repay…" she said, and hugged Aki on her knees. Aki staggered back as the woman slumped slightly. Hiko moved to pick her up. Tsukiyo lashed out, glaring.

"I'm fine!"

"Of course. You just can't stand up right now," he said conversationally. Tsukiyo made to swipe at him, but thought better of it and settled herself in his arms, growling under her breath. Sano carried Aki while Kenshin led them through the foliage to the house.

Tsukiyo cleaned her wound herself, insisting that Megumi see to Aki first. She watched while sharpening a pair of chopsticks and placing them in a cleaning ointment. Casually, she stuck them in a hole in her leg, and pulled out a bullet and deposited it into a small bowl. Yahiko, watching this sickening display of detachment, rushed outside covering his mouth. Kaoru looked slightly green herself.

By the time Aki was cleaned up, three bullets were in the bowl and Tsukiyo was tying the last bandage. Megumi sighed, her fingers itching to inspect. Tsukiyo wasn't the sort of woman you fussed over. In fact, Megumi had the keen suspicion that if she tried to help, Tsukiyo would knock her unconscious.

The woman stood on her wounded leg and tested it. The wounds had been shallow, and no damage was obvious. Her right arm was bandaged and she had two on her left leg, but other than that she looked normal. Tsukiyo washed her hands and put the chopsticks in the fire.

Aki watched her sister in awe as she walked out the door, nothing giving away her condition.

Kenshin-gumi stayed another night. Suzume and Ayame enjoyed playing with Kaeko and Toshio, though Toshio didn't like it too much because the girls liked to play with his coal black hair. While the others were eating, Tsukiyo drew Megumi aside.

"I don't have much, but I was hoping this could help pay for your services…" she said, carefully drawing out a bundle of soft green leaves veined in blue. Megumi snatched it up, eyes wide. She looked from the leaves to the woman, and then shook her head.

"They're too expensive. You know how rare they are…" Megumi started. Tsukiyo cut her off.

"They grow up in the mountain every spring. I've been collecting them for a few years. I have enough. I sell some, keep most."

Megumi looked at the small fortune she held in her hands. This herb could be used countless ways, as a painkiller, an ointment, a salve, and additive to strengthen medicines…her mind was already racing at thought of what she could use it in.

Tsukiyo smiled. "Please, I must repay all debts. I don't want to be found wanting," she said. Megumi's hands shook as she nodded.

Hiko watched as Tsukiyo prepared to go for a night run. He picked up his katana and walked behind her for a ways. Tsukiyo paused in her stretching and raised an eyebrow.

"I felt a little sluggish today. My baka-deshi's lazy life style doesn't suit me," he said, leaning against a tree. Tsukiyo shrugged. She only spoke once in her half hour warm up routine; to ask him to pass her lead chain. He was surprised by the weight, though he didn't show it. It weighed almost the equivalent to his mantle. Tsukiyo looped it over her shoulders and around her waist and arms and down her legs a few times until the weight was distributed evenly. She went through a few punches and tumbles until she was used to the position of the weight. Clinking softly, she began to trot. Hiko followed, interested in what training she went through.

Tsukiyo pushed against the river, striving to beat the current. Water splashed her face and weighted down her clothes as she took a step at a time. By the time she reached the waterfalls bottom, she was soaking. She hopped out and went to a steep trail that led up to the top of the falls. Hiko felt a faint niggling of respect for the girl; her stamina was decent. She continued along a wooden path, jumping fallen logs and skirting mossy patches with the ease that comes from memory. She dodged low hanging vines and loose rubble. Her feet made no sound, her eyes were half closed. Her body moved as if asleep.

Kaoru looked at Aki. The girl was staring at Kaoru's bokken with a longing that made her heart ache. She was a natural with the sword. She knew how to defend herself, and she clearly only wanted to protect her family. Kaoru waited for Tsukiyo to return from her run, promising herself that she would ask the woman about Aki.

Tsukiyo passed Hiko a water flask. He sipped it delicately. Her run had managed to get his blood pumping again. He was beginning to see how her muscles had become so well coordinated. By training on a variety of fields, her body had adjusted to all sorts of conditions. In doing so, she had analyzed how her body would react in said conditions, and had perfected them for combat in said conditions.

Tsukiyo stretched her legs, and then began to walk back toward the house. Hiko had expected her to run, or to at least jog. Instead, she walked, swinging her practice chain absentmindedly. He nodded with understanding. The second half was returning at a pace the body could recuperate to while doing drill training. Tsukiyo saw him watching her and nodded slightly, acknowledging his correct assessment of her program. He followed her at a leisurely pace, enjoying the silence.

Tsukiyo was gratified to see that the children had been put to bed. She checked on them before sitting in the main room with the others. Megumi was pouring tea for Sano, as they had run out of sake. Kenshin for one was glad that there was no sake; Kaoru had no alcoholic tolerance of any kind.

Kaoru looked up as Tsukiyo sat down. "Ah! Tsukiyo-san! I was wondering…have you ever considered training Akiko in swordsmanship?"

Tsukiyo cocked her head to one side as she often did when thinking. "Yes. I made her that bokken. I let her watch me train," she said, satisfied with her answer.

Kaoru blinked. "You use a sword?"

"Not a sword; a bokken. And it is only for strengthening purposes. I prefer the jo myself," she said, blowing on her tea, watching the ripples. Kaoru blinked again, her mouth slightly open. Tsukiyo smiled. "I am extremely flexible. The price I pay is that I run the risk of dislocating joints. I strengthen my shoulders by using a bokken. It also helps to keep up the old traditions," she murmured, sipping her tea.

Kaoru looked towards the rooms. "I was wondering; could I take Aki on as a student? She has incredible potential…" Tsukiyo didn't move.

"That is Aki's decision. Whatever she chooses I will support," she said slowly.     

"Tsukiyo-dono, I am sure Kaoru-dono would take good care of Akiko-chan," Kenshin said, smiling just at Kaoru. Kaoru blushed.           Tsukiyo smiled into her tea.

Tsukiyo waited until everyone was in bed, and then crept outside. Settling herself on the roof, she watched the stars. Tracing designs in the roof, she remembered when she had lived in a house like this.

"Maybe I can change. I have a new home, and I have a family. And if nothing else," she paused, her jaw clenching, both words and gesture reminiscent of a father from years ago, "I have my duty."

Tsukiyo and the children were walking Kenshin-gumi back to the dojo. They were almost there when a figure caught Kenshin's eye. He shifted Kaoru behind him, sword drawn. Sano moved in front of Megumi, who lightly caressed the symbol on his back, eyes worried. The children were pushed into the center. Hiko and Tsukiyo were ready, Yahiko's shinai and Aki's bokken poking out from behind them. Kaoru had the knife Tsukiyo tossed her.

It was someone dressed in a shroud. The voice was a raspy hiss.

"Himura Kensssssssshhhhhhhhhhin?"       

"What do you want?" he asked, voice hard. The figure looked as if controlled by strings. The arms were floppy and its head hung.

"I have businesssss with you. I have been ordered to kill you, Battousssssai," he whispered.

"If you have business with me there is no need to involve the others," Kenshin said, eyes icy.     

"Perhapssssss…" the figure suddenly lurched forward. Kenshin leapt up, preparing an attack only to find that the other had done the equivalent. The stance was the identical; every muscle was exactly in the same place.

Tsukiyo tore away from the group, screaming, "Kenshin-san! He's a Fukusha master!! He'll copy your attacks! Get away!" The figure jerked, and turned glazed green eyes down to Tsukiyo. The eyes widened. It landed, watching Tsukiyo, who regarded it with hatred. Her eyes blazed; the man took a step back. Toshio could almost feel the heat coming from her skin.

"Thissss isss quite interesssting," he murmured shakily. Turning to Kenshin, he said, "I will deal with you later, Himura," and darted away into shadow.

That's a little better, nee? What ever. Review if you want, I am open to comments and like audience participation (to some extents ;D) Laterz.