Chp.5
Tara took Kenshin inside to talk to him and left an aggrivated Hiko outside. She set him down on the bed and got down in front of him.
"Wh-what's a manslayer?" Kenshin asked, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. She untied his sword and sat it against the wall.
"Now, let's see, you've learned Ryu Tsui Sen, Ryu Shou Sen, and almost Ryu Kan Sen. You are really getting good. When your done learning them, you can perfect them. Hey! You're almost six!" Tara kept trying to change the subject.
"What's a manslayer?" Kenshin said, more seriously. Tara got quiet and looked down at the floor.
"A manslayer…A manslayer is a person who kills for pleasure. He has no feelings and loves nothing more that to taste of another man's blood, licked right off the blade. He does not care about life. He thinks life is no more than a waste of time and therefore makes others suffer. He shows no love, only an evil lust-depending how old and bad he is. It's a horrible thing, and they are beginning to populate Japan by a little. I'm afraid what they're planning…"
Kenshin thought about Tomokawa Sako. He had talked about the new era, new age. Was that really a bad thing? He thought that the world needed to change. Besides, blood tasted kinda good to him. He decided to keep quiet.
"Who knows what is happening to this world? Where a man will kill another because he thinks it's fun…" Tara shook her head and tsked. Kenshin looked at his feet.
"What if…What if they were doing it for a good cause? You know, like starting better lives for all those suffering?" Kenshin asked.
"Those who are suffering would continue to suffer until the end is brought out, Kenshin. That could be years," Tara said quietly. "I just don't know why---WHY men have to be killed to succeed."
"Not everyone will die fairly, Tara," Somehow, Hiko had gotten inside. "A sword is a weapon used for kill, but that's only for when the men deserve to die. I'm not saying I'd like to be a manslayer or anything, but sometimes people will die Tara. You should have learned that people can be taken from you. You were fortunate and got them back. It won't always be that way."
Kenshin stared at his master, his eyes full of admiration. He'd never heard his master speak so heroically, so wise and full of power. He was so brave and smart. He wanted to be like him. He didn't want to be afraid anymore. He was ready to get serious with the Hiten Mitsirugi style….
"Master!" Kenshin stood up. "I wish to train earlier and come home later sir!" Kenshin felt his seriousness, hope, and readiness spill out in every word he uttered. He felt so right. This was how it should be.
"I'm glad you're finally starting to get it, kid. Allright, we'll get up at three every morning and train till the sun is down completely. Oh, and from now on, your nickname is Idiot Apprentice. That's what I'll call you from now on….Idiot apprentice," Hiko smirked, and Kenshin laughed embarrased.
"Heh…hehheh…oro," Kenshin chuckled, sweatdropping.
~~~~~~~~~~
About a week passed. Kenshin turned six during that time, but did he celebrate? Nooooo, he was way too tired. He worked non stop. Lunch break turned into meditation to build up mental ability and thought of strategies.
Now it was three o' clock AM on a Wednesday. Hiko got up no problem and went to Kenshin. He shook him a little. "C'mon get up."
Kenshin opened his eyes a little, very weak looking. He sat on the side of his bed, looking like a rag doll missing most of its stuffing. Hiko grabbed Kenshin's clothes and handed them to him. He didn't even reach for them. Hiko sighed irritatedly and began to pull Kenshin's night clothes off. He got off his white night kimono and then felt his back after sweeping his hand across. It was really hot. He pushed the kids bangs out of the way and felt his forehead. It was worse than his back. Kenshin quickly dressed before Hiko said anything and gave his little 'I'm ready to go' smiles.
Kenshin performed the Ryu Shou Sen over and over. Sweat poured from his face and down his chest, and yet he continued to train, trying to become stronger. He didn't even bother when his low ponytail fell down to put it up again. Hiko had even stopped for a minute to rest and realized how unwell the kid looked. He took a sip of his sake and watched him.
Kenshin performed it one last time, then collapsed onto the rocks. Hiko dropped his sake bottle and ran over to the kid. He picked him up and looked down at him. His body was engulfed in sweat, and his little chest heaved for air, but what pained him the most was the desperate look on his innocent face, eyes closed, mouth open. If only Tara hadn't gone back home for a couple of days. He didn't know what to do!
~~~~~~~~~
He layed the kid down on his bed and pulled off his soaked shirt. He wet a cloth and rubbed it on his body softly. He didn't know what else to do. This had never happened before. He'd never raised a child before, much less one so determined to do things right. He looked down at his feet and felt guilty for making him work so hard.
"I'm sorry…" He muttered.
Meanwhile, Kenshin was seeing his own little visions in his dreams….
Blood splattered the ground. The woman gave out her last cry of pain, except now…It was Tara! Yes, that was weird, but who was killing her? Wait…where had he seen that man before? He was short with long hair and glowing golden eyes…..
"No!" Kenshin gasped and rose up from the bed, panting for air. His eyes filled up with tears that spilled over. The moon shined in the window, reflecting his crystal tears as they fell on his hands. "mommy…." He whispered between cries.
Hiko opened his eyes and stared into the dark from his spot against the wall. "I wish that kid would stop growing on me…" He thought and went back to sleep. After awhile, Kenshin stopped crying, got up, and put a blanket on Hiko.