Apprentice
Chapter Two
The immovable object has met the irresistible force?
Kenshin and his son had arrived at the train station in Kyoto, finally. Rousing Kenji from his drowsing with a gentle shake of one shoulder, he ushered him and carried their things to the platform.
Kenshin surveyed the milling crowd, looking for a particular familiar tall silhouette.
"Shinomouri-san, over here," he called, finally seeing what he'd been searching for.
Aoshi Shinomouri, Okashira of the Oniwabanshu ninjas, had noticed the two red heads as soon as they had emerged from the train. Hard not to notice two heads of flaming crimson in a sea of mostly dark hair, parasols and assorted Western and Eastern headgear. Not to mention the fact that the man observing was particularly good at noticing without being noticed himself. He could have found Kenshin and Kenji in the dark, blindfolded and half dead, just from the familiar feel of Kenshin's chi.
He thought of that old and familiar saying, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer." Kenshin, at various times in their lives, had been both friend and enemy, and because of that, Aoshi knew few people better than Kenshin Himura.
"Not that I have a large list of friends," Aoshi thought to himself, awaiting Kenshin's approach. "Not that I need a large list of friends," he added mentally, his normally unreadable expression holding a slight hint of amusement at that thought. His wife, used to reading subtle expressions, looked up at him and smiled.
Thanks in part to a wife who happened to be his emotional, spiritual and physical opposite, Misao, Aoshi was a far cry in many ways from the obsessive man Kenshin Himura had first met more than 10 years ago. Tiny, demonstrative, and clever, not to mention quite lovely, Misao made the two of them an interesting study in opposites to anyone who cared to observe as they stood there waiting. "Misao-dono!" Kenshin called out, finally seeing her standing next to Aoshi.
Misao smiled and waved enthusiastically, pointing at Kenji and pulling Aoshi down to say something in his ear. Aoshi nodded impassively, apparently agreeing.
Misao broke free from Aoshi's side as they drew near, impulsively rushing forth to embrace her old friend. "Ah, Himura-san, I'm so glad you got here on time, I hate waiting! Just look at Kenji-chan, he's so BIG!" she enthused.
Kenji tried to scowl at her, but it was impossible. She was as irrepressible as ever and her bubbling personality would not be vanquished by a mere child.
"I'm so sorry Kaoru-dono could not come too, Misao-san," said Kenshin in apologetic tones. "She would not leave Tsubame so close to her time." Misao nodded, agreeing. "I understand, Himura-san. I would expect nothing less from Kaoru, she is so kind and thoughtful."
"Besides," interrupted Kenji, earning a slight frown from his father, "Yahiko-onisan is too nervous to leave alone right now. He acts like Tsubame-san is the only woman in the world to ever have a baby. And she's done it once already!" He smirked, thinking of how his older adopted brother was acting like a total baka because his wife was expecting another baby any day now.
His little friend Toshiro, Yahiko's six year old son, had been filling him in on the general mayhem going on at their house the last few weeks, which thrilled Kenji to no end. He liked hearing how silly his big adopted brother could be. Perhaps because having an onisan widely known throughout Tokyo as "Master of the thousand shirahadori" was a gigantic pain in the backside.
"Well, that is to be expected, Kenji-chan; perhaps you are still to immature to understand adults," retorted Misao archly, but with a glint of humor in her eyes. She was letting the boy off easy in front of his father, no doubt remembering how often her own mouth was the source of inappropriate comments.
"Shall we be going now, minna-san?" inquired Aoshi, exquisitely polite as usual, ignoring the exchange of words between his wife and the boy.
Aoshi took Misao's arm and guided her to the carriage that awaited to take them to the Aoiya, first instructing the driver to assist Himura-san with his luggage.
"So," said Misao, settling herself in the carriage, "are you going to stay long, Himura-san? We enjoy your visits so much."
"Probably only long enough to get Kenji-chan settled in with my Master," replied Kenshin. "You remember I wrote to you he is here to start his apprenticeship with Shishou Hiko this summer?"
Aoshi actually raised an eyebrow at that. "None too soon, Himura-san, the boy is somewhat older than the average apprentice to kenjutsu."
"His mother and I have been instructing him in the Kamiya Kasshin style until this summer," replied Kenshin, looking at Aoshi for his reaction to that.
"I see," said Aoshi, eyebrow still lifted. "And why have you decided to change that, if I may ask?"
"At the recommendation of Shishou Hiko himself, to be honest, Aoshi-san. He told me many years ago that Kenji's spirit was too strong for the Kamiya Kasshin, and it seems that he was right, as usual."
Kenshin sighed a little, looking at his son, who seemed oblivious to everything but looking at the passing sights of Kyoto from his window seat. Kenshin knew better; his son was so keenly aware of his surroundings that he probably could hear Kenshin's heart beating at this very moment.
"When was Shishou Hiko ever wrong about anything?" he wondered out loud "If that day ever arrived, no doubt the end of the nine hells would soon follow afterwards."
Misao giggled into her hand, well-knowing the arrogant assurance of Kenshin's former sword Master was matched by no one.
"This should prove to be an interesting apprenticeship," said Aoshi, non- committal as always.
Kenji looked at the stoic man and scowled slightly. Aoshi narrowed his icy blue eyes at the boy for an instant and Kenji quickly looked back out of the window as though he hadn't felt a mild thrill of fear pass through him at Aoshi's penetrating stare.
"Aoshi-san is still really scary when he wants to be," thought Kenji, still attempting to pretend nothing had passed between them with that look he'd gotten.
Kenji had always been openly attracted to Aoshi's stoic demeanor from their first meeting long ago, and in return, Aoshi felt a strange affinity to the fearless, spirited and intelligent boy of his former enemy, now friend. As a toddler and small child, Kenji had exhibited the rare ability to melt Aoshi's icy facade and the two of them had spent many hours in quiet companionship during the Himura's yearly visits.
Kenshin did not question Kenji's ability to draw Aoshi out of himself, he merely marveled quietly at it. Other than Misao, Kenshin knew of no one who had accomplished that particular feat.
"The boy is too sure of himself," thought Aoshi frowning slightly. "Quick he may be, but he still knows far less than he assumes. Himura is right to turn him over to Hiko, perhaps he can mold this brat into something other than an ill-mannered ass."
They arrived at the Aoiya and were immediately confronted by Omasu and Okon, the female members of the Oniwabanshu ninjas. They had only just gotten their shoes off when a flurry of colorful kimonos and perfume hit them like a monsoon flood.
"Ooh, he's gotten so handsome, just like his chichi," cried Omasu, ruffling Kenji's long red hair in it's ponytail and pinching his cheeks until they ached. Kenji winced, but suffered this treatment stoically, remembering his father's earlier look of disapproval when he'd spoken out of turn in front of Aoshi and Misao. He was nothing if not a quick learner.
Okon also treated Kenji to another round of inevitable feminine comments about how "kawaii" he was and "tall" he had gotten.
Okon grabbed Kenji's arm and steered him towards the kitchen, "You must be starving, Kenji-chan, let us get you something."
Finally, something that got the boy's full attention. He smiled sweetly at Okon and bowed slightly, "Thank you, Okon-san, I'd love something. Everything here is so good. You ladies are such wonderful cooks, and so pretty, too." Okon and Omasu actually blushed and giggled, melting under Kenji's charismatic smile.
"I'm sure we have something special set aside just for you, Kenji-chan," said Omasu, still slightly flushed at the compliment.
"Score two victories for Kenji," thought Kenshin, shaking his head, but smiling at his son. "That works pretty well with his mother, too, I've noticed. I'm going to have to lock that boy up around females in a few years."
"See, he can be quite charming when he wants to be," said Misao, nudging Aoshi.
"Yes, I noticed," replied Aoshi dryly. "Come with me, Himura, and I'll help you put your things away, and we'll have some tea and a bit to eat."
Kenshin nodded his thanks, and picking up his things once again, followed Aoshi to their usual comfortable guest room when they stayed at the Aoiya.
He had known Aoshi long enough now that could tell that Aoshi wanted to speak with him alone. Besides, what trouble could Kenji get into having a snack in the kitchen?
Kenji was currently stuffing his face with something sweet and delicious and getting a lion cub's share of female attention, both of which were just fine with him. Especially the delicious part. It was amazing just how tolerable getting his cheeks pinched and his hair mussed was when he was distracted by a large plateful of delectable goodies.
"What are you doing here, red-headed baka, eating like a barbarian in our kitchen?"
Kenji looked up from his two-fisted slurping into a pair of icy blue girl's eyes surrounded by a blue black fringe of bangs. "Yuki-chan?" he choked, trying to talk with his mouth full of sweet bean paste confection.
"So, you remember my name, baka," said a girlish voice full of feminine archness. "Suprising."
"How could I forget you, stupid girl, it's only been six months since I was last here," Kenji retorted, swallowing his last mouthful rather painfully.
"Oto-san says you're going to be sent into the mountains as punishment for being such a bad boy this year," replied Yuki, smiling a slight superior smile.
"She has her father's talent for gaining information on her enemies," thought Kenji sullenly. "And her mother's talent for running her mouth." He stuck his tongue out at her, which still held a small amount of chewed-up food. Yuki winced delicately and looked away, Kenji grinned.
"That's not true, stupid little girl, I'm being sent to Seijuro Hiko, my father's former master to learn the superior sword style of the Hiten Mitsyurugi. So there!" he ended triumphantly. Just for added emphasis he stuck his tongue out at her again and made a horrible face.
"I know that you dared Myojin Toshiro to jump off the dojo roof and he broke his leg and his head," retorted Yuki in a silky voice, pulling out her big gun with relish.
Kenji looked outraged for second, and then flushed bright red. "Where did your okasan hear that?" he gasped, looking around to see if Okon and Omasu had overheard.
"Your okasan writes to my okasan every month, baka, and I know how to read," Yuki purred. "What do you think I am, some little baby who doesn't know how to read yet, I'm almost seven years old, you know!"
She squared her slender shoulders in their blue and pink flowered kimono and managed to look amazingly like her tall and austere father for a second.
Kenji glared at her and resumed stuffing his mouth, but with considerably less gusto than previously. He refused to look at his girlish tormentor, which she suddenly found more annoying than she had anticipated.
"Yuki-chan, tell your mother that I need to ask her something about the new menu additions, please," asked Okon, looking over what appeared to be a list in her hand.
"Of course, Okon-san," said Yuki, suddenly the very picture of obedient politeness. As she walked gracefully to the kitchen entrance, she quickly looked to see if the older women were watching, and stuck her tongue out quickly over her shoulder as a parting shot at a very deflated-looking Kenji.
Chapter Two
The immovable object has met the irresistible force?
Kenshin and his son had arrived at the train station in Kyoto, finally. Rousing Kenji from his drowsing with a gentle shake of one shoulder, he ushered him and carried their things to the platform.
Kenshin surveyed the milling crowd, looking for a particular familiar tall silhouette.
"Shinomouri-san, over here," he called, finally seeing what he'd been searching for.
Aoshi Shinomouri, Okashira of the Oniwabanshu ninjas, had noticed the two red heads as soon as they had emerged from the train. Hard not to notice two heads of flaming crimson in a sea of mostly dark hair, parasols and assorted Western and Eastern headgear. Not to mention the fact that the man observing was particularly good at noticing without being noticed himself. He could have found Kenshin and Kenji in the dark, blindfolded and half dead, just from the familiar feel of Kenshin's chi.
He thought of that old and familiar saying, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer." Kenshin, at various times in their lives, had been both friend and enemy, and because of that, Aoshi knew few people better than Kenshin Himura.
"Not that I have a large list of friends," Aoshi thought to himself, awaiting Kenshin's approach. "Not that I need a large list of friends," he added mentally, his normally unreadable expression holding a slight hint of amusement at that thought. His wife, used to reading subtle expressions, looked up at him and smiled.
Thanks in part to a wife who happened to be his emotional, spiritual and physical opposite, Misao, Aoshi was a far cry in many ways from the obsessive man Kenshin Himura had first met more than 10 years ago. Tiny, demonstrative, and clever, not to mention quite lovely, Misao made the two of them an interesting study in opposites to anyone who cared to observe as they stood there waiting. "Misao-dono!" Kenshin called out, finally seeing her standing next to Aoshi.
Misao smiled and waved enthusiastically, pointing at Kenji and pulling Aoshi down to say something in his ear. Aoshi nodded impassively, apparently agreeing.
Misao broke free from Aoshi's side as they drew near, impulsively rushing forth to embrace her old friend. "Ah, Himura-san, I'm so glad you got here on time, I hate waiting! Just look at Kenji-chan, he's so BIG!" she enthused.
Kenji tried to scowl at her, but it was impossible. She was as irrepressible as ever and her bubbling personality would not be vanquished by a mere child.
"I'm so sorry Kaoru-dono could not come too, Misao-san," said Kenshin in apologetic tones. "She would not leave Tsubame so close to her time." Misao nodded, agreeing. "I understand, Himura-san. I would expect nothing less from Kaoru, she is so kind and thoughtful."
"Besides," interrupted Kenji, earning a slight frown from his father, "Yahiko-onisan is too nervous to leave alone right now. He acts like Tsubame-san is the only woman in the world to ever have a baby. And she's done it once already!" He smirked, thinking of how his older adopted brother was acting like a total baka because his wife was expecting another baby any day now.
His little friend Toshiro, Yahiko's six year old son, had been filling him in on the general mayhem going on at their house the last few weeks, which thrilled Kenji to no end. He liked hearing how silly his big adopted brother could be. Perhaps because having an onisan widely known throughout Tokyo as "Master of the thousand shirahadori" was a gigantic pain in the backside.
"Well, that is to be expected, Kenji-chan; perhaps you are still to immature to understand adults," retorted Misao archly, but with a glint of humor in her eyes. She was letting the boy off easy in front of his father, no doubt remembering how often her own mouth was the source of inappropriate comments.
"Shall we be going now, minna-san?" inquired Aoshi, exquisitely polite as usual, ignoring the exchange of words between his wife and the boy.
Aoshi took Misao's arm and guided her to the carriage that awaited to take them to the Aoiya, first instructing the driver to assist Himura-san with his luggage.
"So," said Misao, settling herself in the carriage, "are you going to stay long, Himura-san? We enjoy your visits so much."
"Probably only long enough to get Kenji-chan settled in with my Master," replied Kenshin. "You remember I wrote to you he is here to start his apprenticeship with Shishou Hiko this summer?"
Aoshi actually raised an eyebrow at that. "None too soon, Himura-san, the boy is somewhat older than the average apprentice to kenjutsu."
"His mother and I have been instructing him in the Kamiya Kasshin style until this summer," replied Kenshin, looking at Aoshi for his reaction to that.
"I see," said Aoshi, eyebrow still lifted. "And why have you decided to change that, if I may ask?"
"At the recommendation of Shishou Hiko himself, to be honest, Aoshi-san. He told me many years ago that Kenji's spirit was too strong for the Kamiya Kasshin, and it seems that he was right, as usual."
Kenshin sighed a little, looking at his son, who seemed oblivious to everything but looking at the passing sights of Kyoto from his window seat. Kenshin knew better; his son was so keenly aware of his surroundings that he probably could hear Kenshin's heart beating at this very moment.
"When was Shishou Hiko ever wrong about anything?" he wondered out loud "If that day ever arrived, no doubt the end of the nine hells would soon follow afterwards."
Misao giggled into her hand, well-knowing the arrogant assurance of Kenshin's former sword Master was matched by no one.
"This should prove to be an interesting apprenticeship," said Aoshi, non- committal as always.
Kenji looked at the stoic man and scowled slightly. Aoshi narrowed his icy blue eyes at the boy for an instant and Kenji quickly looked back out of the window as though he hadn't felt a mild thrill of fear pass through him at Aoshi's penetrating stare.
"Aoshi-san is still really scary when he wants to be," thought Kenji, still attempting to pretend nothing had passed between them with that look he'd gotten.
Kenji had always been openly attracted to Aoshi's stoic demeanor from their first meeting long ago, and in return, Aoshi felt a strange affinity to the fearless, spirited and intelligent boy of his former enemy, now friend. As a toddler and small child, Kenji had exhibited the rare ability to melt Aoshi's icy facade and the two of them had spent many hours in quiet companionship during the Himura's yearly visits.
Kenshin did not question Kenji's ability to draw Aoshi out of himself, he merely marveled quietly at it. Other than Misao, Kenshin knew of no one who had accomplished that particular feat.
"The boy is too sure of himself," thought Aoshi frowning slightly. "Quick he may be, but he still knows far less than he assumes. Himura is right to turn him over to Hiko, perhaps he can mold this brat into something other than an ill-mannered ass."
They arrived at the Aoiya and were immediately confronted by Omasu and Okon, the female members of the Oniwabanshu ninjas. They had only just gotten their shoes off when a flurry of colorful kimonos and perfume hit them like a monsoon flood.
"Ooh, he's gotten so handsome, just like his chichi," cried Omasu, ruffling Kenji's long red hair in it's ponytail and pinching his cheeks until they ached. Kenji winced, but suffered this treatment stoically, remembering his father's earlier look of disapproval when he'd spoken out of turn in front of Aoshi and Misao. He was nothing if not a quick learner.
Okon also treated Kenji to another round of inevitable feminine comments about how "kawaii" he was and "tall" he had gotten.
Okon grabbed Kenji's arm and steered him towards the kitchen, "You must be starving, Kenji-chan, let us get you something."
Finally, something that got the boy's full attention. He smiled sweetly at Okon and bowed slightly, "Thank you, Okon-san, I'd love something. Everything here is so good. You ladies are such wonderful cooks, and so pretty, too." Okon and Omasu actually blushed and giggled, melting under Kenji's charismatic smile.
"I'm sure we have something special set aside just for you, Kenji-chan," said Omasu, still slightly flushed at the compliment.
"Score two victories for Kenji," thought Kenshin, shaking his head, but smiling at his son. "That works pretty well with his mother, too, I've noticed. I'm going to have to lock that boy up around females in a few years."
"See, he can be quite charming when he wants to be," said Misao, nudging Aoshi.
"Yes, I noticed," replied Aoshi dryly. "Come with me, Himura, and I'll help you put your things away, and we'll have some tea and a bit to eat."
Kenshin nodded his thanks, and picking up his things once again, followed Aoshi to their usual comfortable guest room when they stayed at the Aoiya.
He had known Aoshi long enough now that could tell that Aoshi wanted to speak with him alone. Besides, what trouble could Kenji get into having a snack in the kitchen?
Kenji was currently stuffing his face with something sweet and delicious and getting a lion cub's share of female attention, both of which were just fine with him. Especially the delicious part. It was amazing just how tolerable getting his cheeks pinched and his hair mussed was when he was distracted by a large plateful of delectable goodies.
"What are you doing here, red-headed baka, eating like a barbarian in our kitchen?"
Kenji looked up from his two-fisted slurping into a pair of icy blue girl's eyes surrounded by a blue black fringe of bangs. "Yuki-chan?" he choked, trying to talk with his mouth full of sweet bean paste confection.
"So, you remember my name, baka," said a girlish voice full of feminine archness. "Suprising."
"How could I forget you, stupid girl, it's only been six months since I was last here," Kenji retorted, swallowing his last mouthful rather painfully.
"Oto-san says you're going to be sent into the mountains as punishment for being such a bad boy this year," replied Yuki, smiling a slight superior smile.
"She has her father's talent for gaining information on her enemies," thought Kenji sullenly. "And her mother's talent for running her mouth." He stuck his tongue out at her, which still held a small amount of chewed-up food. Yuki winced delicately and looked away, Kenji grinned.
"That's not true, stupid little girl, I'm being sent to Seijuro Hiko, my father's former master to learn the superior sword style of the Hiten Mitsyurugi. So there!" he ended triumphantly. Just for added emphasis he stuck his tongue out at her again and made a horrible face.
"I know that you dared Myojin Toshiro to jump off the dojo roof and he broke his leg and his head," retorted Yuki in a silky voice, pulling out her big gun with relish.
Kenji looked outraged for second, and then flushed bright red. "Where did your okasan hear that?" he gasped, looking around to see if Okon and Omasu had overheard.
"Your okasan writes to my okasan every month, baka, and I know how to read," Yuki purred. "What do you think I am, some little baby who doesn't know how to read yet, I'm almost seven years old, you know!"
She squared her slender shoulders in their blue and pink flowered kimono and managed to look amazingly like her tall and austere father for a second.
Kenji glared at her and resumed stuffing his mouth, but with considerably less gusto than previously. He refused to look at his girlish tormentor, which she suddenly found more annoying than she had anticipated.
"Yuki-chan, tell your mother that I need to ask her something about the new menu additions, please," asked Okon, looking over what appeared to be a list in her hand.
"Of course, Okon-san," said Yuki, suddenly the very picture of obedient politeness. As she walked gracefully to the kitchen entrance, she quickly looked to see if the older women were watching, and stuck her tongue out quickly over her shoulder as a parting shot at a very deflated-looking Kenji.
