"Ken-san! Ken-san! Over here!"
Kenshin swatted the paper ball in Ayame's direction, wincing slightly at the pull on his muscles. The day was clear, the summer heat having lessened. It was still enough to dry the clothes swiftly, and for that he was grateful. It meant that he would have more time to play with Ayame and Suzume without worrying about the clothes taking all day. There were days when the girls seemed to have endless amounts of energy, and days when a few rice balls would put them to sleep for hours.
Today was definitely one of the former.
"Maa, maa," he said as they chased after the small ball, knowing there was no way they would calm down anytime soon.
"Yahiko, you're blocks are still too high!"
Kaoru's annoyed voice carried from the dojo.
"They do what they're supposed to do!" Yahiko yelled back. "You cant get through them!"
He could practically see the steam rising from her head. "Because I'm not really trying too. Those few inches could be used against you in a real fight! I wont be the only person you ever have to fight against!"
"Listen ugly-"
"Ugly? Ugly!" he heard the sound of feet running, and seconds later Yahiko emerged from the dojo, running full tilt with Kaoru chasing after him.
"Yahiko, get back here this instant!"
"If I'm such a bad student, why do you even bother teaching me anyway?" he shot back over his shoulder as he ran through the gate.
Kenshin watched the exchange with a sigh. By tonight, Yahiko would have wandered back to the dojo, and tomorrow Kaoru would be teaching him as if nothing had happened. These fights happened at least once a week, sometimes more, depending on what else was happening in their small world.
"Kaoru-dono?" he asked.
She looked his direction, smiling as he absently batted the paper ball back to the little girls. "He's hopeless, isn't he?" she asked.
Kenshin shook his head. "Head-strong, yes. Over-confident, perhaps. Hopeless, no. He will make a fine swordsman one day, that he will."
She sighed again. "I'm going to take a bath," she plucked at the damp gi.
"Hai," he answered. "I'll start the fire."
As she walked towards the house Kenshin and the girls made their way to the bathhouse. The small break in their play must have been all they needed, because their energy level was dropping rapidly. He could tell that their energy was waning by the constant sighs and yawns that they gave as he had them run back and forth to check the water temperature. Hopefully, they would be asleep soon, and he would have a chance to work on dinner.
Once Kaoru was in her bath he carried the little girls to the house, both of them complaining sleepily. Once they were laid down, though, they went to sleep without a problem. The clothes were still damp, so he went to the kitchen. He could at least begin cutting up vegetables for dinner. He thought of his dreams, dreams of his past, filled with death and blood. There were times when he was almost able to forget who he was, what he was. Then they would come, reminders of what lurked beneath his calm surface.
"Still going?"
"Hai," he said cheerfully as Kaoru walked past almost an hour later. He turned to get the laundry, but she stopped him.
"Taken care of, Kenshin. Why don't you take a break? Ayame and Suzume should be asleep for another hour or so."
Kenshin nodded, not really sure what to do. Idle time wasn't something he'd been used to. Growing up had been a routine of chores and practice, his time as an assassin spent in between sleep and wakefulness.
He yawned, them smiled to himself. Perhaps he needed a nap too.
_____________________________________________________________
Two days later Kenshin sighed as Kaoru practically stormed out of the dojo, the ribbon in her hair streaming behind her. The day had been particularly difficult. Yahiko had come back, refusing to apologize as always, and as always she began training him again, though he noticed that there was more contact of bokken on flesh than was normal. The stubbornness between the two of them was astounding. He'd known donkeys that were less inclined to be difficult.
"They will do as the wish," he murmured to himself, staring at the sky. It would be dark soon, giving them a respite from the waning heat. Dinner needed to be started soon. As he rose to fetch water from the well he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rising. Someone was near. There was a spark of ki, but it disappeared before he could find the source.
"You okay, Kenshin?"
He turned towards Yahiko, hiding his apprehension. "I'm fine, Yahiko. You are supposed to be practicing, are you not?"
The boy scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Just taking a break."
Kenshin smiled. Taking a break indeed. He'd stopped almost the moment Kaoru went shopping. "My Shishou constantly watched me to make sure I completed my tasks. Only once did I attempt to get out of exercises," well did he remember that single time. He'd deliberately miscounted his strokes, believing Hiko was not paying attention.
"What happened?" Yahiko asked. Kenshin usually didn't talk about his past.
"I had to perform 5000 strokes before the next dawn," he remembered battering the large tree outside their small hut, imagining that it was his Shishou. "I did every single one, that I did," he saw himself stopping and dipping his hands into the stream, watching as the blood turned the water pink before being washed away.
The small boy grimaced. "I knew he was an ass."
Kenshin started. Most people never knew that about Hiko, mostly because he never gave people the time to learn. Perhaps his Shishou had stayed at the Aoyia when he was injured. He had the vague memory of his master sitting next to him, telling him to recover, that there was still work to be done, and that if he didn't get up off his ass soon his master would have to take matters into his own hands. Kenshin shivered. If Hiko told his friends half the things he'd done as a child, he'd never be able to look them in the face again. There was a reason his Shishou called him his baka deishi.
"He does have a shitty attitude," he said, fighting to not laugh at the expression on Yahiko's face. He seldom cursed, and never without just cause. In his eyes his Shishou was all the reason he'd ever need. "Come, Yahiko, you should really-"
He stopped, looking over his shoulder. The ki was back, stronger this time. Closer.
"Kenshin?"
"Hai?" he turned to his friend, this time not bothering to hide his feelings. Something was wrong, and he couldn't tell what it was.
The next week passed without incident. It was oddly quiet for someone who was used to fighting what seemed to be a different person each week. His body had been given the much-needed time to rest and recover from Shi Shi O, and he could feel his old strength returning. There were still time when he felt his muscles protesting when he stretched or moved a certain way, but even that was beginning to fade. It was relaxing, not having to worry about where his friends were, what was happening with them. His life had slipped into a calming routine of babysitting, cleaning, and practicing with Yahiko. He refused to teach the boy Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, but never turned down the opportunity to spar with him.
Yes, things in their lives were almost normal.
_____________________________________________________________________
"Hello?"
Kaoru blinked. That voice, so soft and clear, was odd coming from such a serious face. She started at the worn sandals and followed the body up, taking in the well cared for but worn grey hakama and blue gi. "Hello, can I help you?"
The boy smiled. "Hai. I'm looking for a man. He has red hair and violet eyes, and goes by the name Himura. I was told I might find him here."
She smiled. The boy was practically embarrassed to be talking to her, his hands twisting in front of him, a slight blush painting his cheeks. He couldn't have been older than 15, but she forced herself to pause. Not thinking about what she said had gotten them in trouble before, and Kaoru narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out if the boy was a threat. Over the past few months they had been given a respite from the crazed killers who seemed to dog Kenshin's footsteps, but she had come to be very wary of strangers. "Why are you looking for him?"
The dark eyes warmed. "Kenshin-san saved my life years ago, but I never really had the chance to thank him for helping me and my village," his cheeks were practically flaming by the time he finished that sentence. "I'm from Shozu, its about four days from here. We'd heard that a swordsman had come to Tokyo, and that he looked like the man who saved us," the hands started twisting again, and the blush deepened. "I was the only one who could come this time of year, with the harvest so close. I have a gift for him."
Kaoru smiled in spite of herself. The boy was too cute, almost dancing in place with his embarrassment and hope. "Well, I'm sure Kenshin would be pleased to see you again."
The smile she was given was blinding. "Really? He's here, then?" at her nod it seemed like a weight lifted from his thin shoulders. "It's the first time I've really traveled alone, and I was praying that he'd be here. My mother's probably worried about me," he looked down.
"She'll be seeing you soon," she stepped aside. "Come in."
"Seiji," the boy leaned down and picked up a large cloth bag and a wrapped bundle. "Osama Seiji."
Kenshin opened his eyes. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. The ki that had teased him the week before was back, flaring painfully bright, and too close to the dojo.
The rurouni walked to the door of the dojo and froze. Someone was walking next to Kaoru. At first he thought it was Soujiro, for the boy was roughly the same size and shape as the Ten-ken. But Soujiro had never had this kind of energy pouring off him.
As they approached Kaoru started laughing at something to boy said, and Kenshin cringed. Couldn't she sense the danger that came off of him? Suddenly, it stopped, and the boy looked his way. "Kenshin, this is Seiji, he said he knows you," Kaoru said, motioning to her companion. The warmth in the boy's expression froze over, leaving a cold mask behind.
"Step away from her," he said, coming off the porch and walking into the yard.
"Kenshin." Kaoru backed away from Seiji, feeling the change that came over him. His expression, which had been so open a moment before, was closed.
Seiji's eyes were fixed on the rurouni. "Had I wanted to kill her she would have been dead before opening the gate."
Kaoru paled, but kept moving slowly away from the two until she was behind Kenshin.
"Why are you here?" he asked, noting that the boy held no weapons, but that meant little. There were several weapons that could be concealed on a person.
The boy cocked his head, and Kenshin felt the battle ki again, only this time it was gentle, almost like a caress, before it abruptly ended. Something about him disturbed Kenshin, something he couldn't place. Whoever the boy was, he had training, that much was certain.
"Himura Kenshin, I will deliver Tenchuu."
Kenshin's eyes widened, and he barely had time to dodge the katana that came whirring at his head. His muscles protested against the sudden movement, but he willed them into compliance. He parried the next two blows and was surprised when the boy backed away, and watched him.
He must have been part of the Inshin Shi Shi, he thought, sizing up the boy and his weapon. Only another hitokiri would know the significance of that phrase.. The katana was shorter than normal, but wasn't truly a short sword or a kodaichi, nor did he wield it like one. Nor could the boy be old enough to have fought in the wars. He could hardly be more than 15, if he was even that, but he carried himself with the assurance of one used to fighting.
"Hey, Kenshin, what-" Yahiko game around the side of the house and froze. "Who-"
"Yahiko, take Kaoru-dono inside and don't come out until I say."
The boy bristled. "What the hell is going on Ken-"
"Please," he wished he could give the boy a reassuring glance, but he couldn't risk it. This boy was fast, almost as fast as he was. He could hear the two of them hurrying indoors, and felt a burden lift from him. They were out of harms way, for now.
"I told you, they weren't my target."
The boy's voice was flat and emotionless, and it finally struck him why Seiji disturbed him so much. The attitude, the stance, even the way he spoke and dressed, it all reminded him of himself eleven years ago.
He attacked again, faster this time, slashing at Kenshin's head. The rurouni slid under the blow, prepared to deliver one across his opponents open chest. He tried to pull his sakaba, and couldn't. The boy had one hand on the hilt, applying all his weight to it. Kenshin took the opportunity to throw him off balance and moved back, but the boy nimbly adjusted his stance.
"You're well trained," he commented after they separated again.
Some of the coldness left Seiji's expression. "I had a good teacher."
They exchanged blows again, and Kenshin fought down his frustration. Nothing he did would connect, the boy remained always just out of range, his sword just making it in time. The rurouni gritted his teeth. He knew when he was being teased.
It was time to bring this fight to a close.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu- Do Ryu Sen!"
The ground shattered under his sword, sending rock and dirt flying at the boy. With one slash the projectiles stopped and fell harmlessly to the ground, leaving Kenshin stunned.
The boy had studied Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. He knew exactly how to counter the attack.
His thoughts drifted to his master. There was no way he would have allowed another student to walk away from the training, to make his own path. It was even more unlikely that he would have taken on another student, no matter their talent. At the very least, he would have mentioned it while Kenshin completed his training, would have loved the opportunity to rub his baka deishi's face in the fact that he had another student, one that was no doubt more worthy than the moody boy he'd taken in.
Kenshin sheathed his sword, crouching down into the battou-jitsu stance. The boy may have studied the technique, could have been watching him for some time, but there were some things that couldn't be learned through watching.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu- Kuzu Ryu Sen!"
Time slowed. He saw his opponent clearly, standing there. He barely registered the calm expression on Seiji's face before he turned his blade aside, knocking away two throwing knives. They were just enough to take him off balance. He passed harmlessly, and turned in midair, determined to land a final blow across the boy's back, when he felt the jerk. Seiji had grabbed the loose material of his sleeve.
Kaoru and Yahiko watched as the two tumbled to the ground in a cloud of dust. "Kenshin!" She yelled, pushing past her student and running into the yard. What she saw there froze her. Kenshin was standing over Seiji, his sakaba at the boy's throat. Seiji was sprawled beneath him, but the tip of his katana rested against Kenshin's chest, directly over his heart.
Neither man moved.
Kenshin watched Seiji carefully. The boy didn't move at all, he simply watched him with eyes suddenly gone warm. Slowly, his hand lowered until the katana was resting against the ground.
"Chôcho."
Kenshin backed away. No one had called him that in over ten years, and even then it was a nickname that only one person knew about. He stared at the boy, confusion plain on his face, and Seiji stared back. The rurouni's mind whirled. Who was this? How did he know? The only person who knew had been dead for more than a decade.
Kaoru watched, puzzled, as Kenshin backed away. He was watching the boy more carefully now than he had before, his eyes wide and searching. It was an expression she had seldom seen on her friend's face.
Seiji stood and calmly began dusting himself off, uncaring of the man staring at him. He looked up then, and smiled, the expression out of place on his face, as if he were unused to doing it.
"It is me, Chôcho," he said slowly, voice altering as he spoke. He reached up and touched his hair. "Remember, the dye?"
The rurouni felt his knees weaken, the grip on his sakaba slacken. It was impossible, it couldn't be. But only one person would have called him that, only one person would have known what to say. "Gin-san?"
Kaoru saw his lips move, but the word he spoke was to quiet. Before she could move he was standing in front of Seiji.
Hugging him.
Kaoru blinked. Kenshin was never one to show affection physically. If she so much as touched him without his knowledge it would knock him off balance for minutes on end. To see him hugging someone, let alone someone who had tried to kill him moments before, was confusing to say the least.
Seiji appeared to be in her boat as well. The boy stood stock still, his katana still gripped in his hand. His other hand was similarly slack, as if he were unsure as to how to react.
"What's going on, Kaoru?" Yahiko asked.
The girl looked down at her student, then at the two men who seemed frozen. "I don't know," she answered.
____________________________________________________________________________
Thanks so much for reading this!!!!! Remember to leave a donation in the feedback box on your way out, my muse needs to eat!!! :)
Kenshin swatted the paper ball in Ayame's direction, wincing slightly at the pull on his muscles. The day was clear, the summer heat having lessened. It was still enough to dry the clothes swiftly, and for that he was grateful. It meant that he would have more time to play with Ayame and Suzume without worrying about the clothes taking all day. There were days when the girls seemed to have endless amounts of energy, and days when a few rice balls would put them to sleep for hours.
Today was definitely one of the former.
"Maa, maa," he said as they chased after the small ball, knowing there was no way they would calm down anytime soon.
"Yahiko, you're blocks are still too high!"
Kaoru's annoyed voice carried from the dojo.
"They do what they're supposed to do!" Yahiko yelled back. "You cant get through them!"
He could practically see the steam rising from her head. "Because I'm not really trying too. Those few inches could be used against you in a real fight! I wont be the only person you ever have to fight against!"
"Listen ugly-"
"Ugly? Ugly!" he heard the sound of feet running, and seconds later Yahiko emerged from the dojo, running full tilt with Kaoru chasing after him.
"Yahiko, get back here this instant!"
"If I'm such a bad student, why do you even bother teaching me anyway?" he shot back over his shoulder as he ran through the gate.
Kenshin watched the exchange with a sigh. By tonight, Yahiko would have wandered back to the dojo, and tomorrow Kaoru would be teaching him as if nothing had happened. These fights happened at least once a week, sometimes more, depending on what else was happening in their small world.
"Kaoru-dono?" he asked.
She looked his direction, smiling as he absently batted the paper ball back to the little girls. "He's hopeless, isn't he?" she asked.
Kenshin shook his head. "Head-strong, yes. Over-confident, perhaps. Hopeless, no. He will make a fine swordsman one day, that he will."
She sighed again. "I'm going to take a bath," she plucked at the damp gi.
"Hai," he answered. "I'll start the fire."
As she walked towards the house Kenshin and the girls made their way to the bathhouse. The small break in their play must have been all they needed, because their energy level was dropping rapidly. He could tell that their energy was waning by the constant sighs and yawns that they gave as he had them run back and forth to check the water temperature. Hopefully, they would be asleep soon, and he would have a chance to work on dinner.
Once Kaoru was in her bath he carried the little girls to the house, both of them complaining sleepily. Once they were laid down, though, they went to sleep without a problem. The clothes were still damp, so he went to the kitchen. He could at least begin cutting up vegetables for dinner. He thought of his dreams, dreams of his past, filled with death and blood. There were times when he was almost able to forget who he was, what he was. Then they would come, reminders of what lurked beneath his calm surface.
"Still going?"
"Hai," he said cheerfully as Kaoru walked past almost an hour later. He turned to get the laundry, but she stopped him.
"Taken care of, Kenshin. Why don't you take a break? Ayame and Suzume should be asleep for another hour or so."
Kenshin nodded, not really sure what to do. Idle time wasn't something he'd been used to. Growing up had been a routine of chores and practice, his time as an assassin spent in between sleep and wakefulness.
He yawned, them smiled to himself. Perhaps he needed a nap too.
_____________________________________________________________
Two days later Kenshin sighed as Kaoru practically stormed out of the dojo, the ribbon in her hair streaming behind her. The day had been particularly difficult. Yahiko had come back, refusing to apologize as always, and as always she began training him again, though he noticed that there was more contact of bokken on flesh than was normal. The stubbornness between the two of them was astounding. He'd known donkeys that were less inclined to be difficult.
"They will do as the wish," he murmured to himself, staring at the sky. It would be dark soon, giving them a respite from the waning heat. Dinner needed to be started soon. As he rose to fetch water from the well he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rising. Someone was near. There was a spark of ki, but it disappeared before he could find the source.
"You okay, Kenshin?"
He turned towards Yahiko, hiding his apprehension. "I'm fine, Yahiko. You are supposed to be practicing, are you not?"
The boy scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Just taking a break."
Kenshin smiled. Taking a break indeed. He'd stopped almost the moment Kaoru went shopping. "My Shishou constantly watched me to make sure I completed my tasks. Only once did I attempt to get out of exercises," well did he remember that single time. He'd deliberately miscounted his strokes, believing Hiko was not paying attention.
"What happened?" Yahiko asked. Kenshin usually didn't talk about his past.
"I had to perform 5000 strokes before the next dawn," he remembered battering the large tree outside their small hut, imagining that it was his Shishou. "I did every single one, that I did," he saw himself stopping and dipping his hands into the stream, watching as the blood turned the water pink before being washed away.
The small boy grimaced. "I knew he was an ass."
Kenshin started. Most people never knew that about Hiko, mostly because he never gave people the time to learn. Perhaps his Shishou had stayed at the Aoyia when he was injured. He had the vague memory of his master sitting next to him, telling him to recover, that there was still work to be done, and that if he didn't get up off his ass soon his master would have to take matters into his own hands. Kenshin shivered. If Hiko told his friends half the things he'd done as a child, he'd never be able to look them in the face again. There was a reason his Shishou called him his baka deishi.
"He does have a shitty attitude," he said, fighting to not laugh at the expression on Yahiko's face. He seldom cursed, and never without just cause. In his eyes his Shishou was all the reason he'd ever need. "Come, Yahiko, you should really-"
He stopped, looking over his shoulder. The ki was back, stronger this time. Closer.
"Kenshin?"
"Hai?" he turned to his friend, this time not bothering to hide his feelings. Something was wrong, and he couldn't tell what it was.
The next week passed without incident. It was oddly quiet for someone who was used to fighting what seemed to be a different person each week. His body had been given the much-needed time to rest and recover from Shi Shi O, and he could feel his old strength returning. There were still time when he felt his muscles protesting when he stretched or moved a certain way, but even that was beginning to fade. It was relaxing, not having to worry about where his friends were, what was happening with them. His life had slipped into a calming routine of babysitting, cleaning, and practicing with Yahiko. He refused to teach the boy Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, but never turned down the opportunity to spar with him.
Yes, things in their lives were almost normal.
_____________________________________________________________________
"Hello?"
Kaoru blinked. That voice, so soft and clear, was odd coming from such a serious face. She started at the worn sandals and followed the body up, taking in the well cared for but worn grey hakama and blue gi. "Hello, can I help you?"
The boy smiled. "Hai. I'm looking for a man. He has red hair and violet eyes, and goes by the name Himura. I was told I might find him here."
She smiled. The boy was practically embarrassed to be talking to her, his hands twisting in front of him, a slight blush painting his cheeks. He couldn't have been older than 15, but she forced herself to pause. Not thinking about what she said had gotten them in trouble before, and Kaoru narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out if the boy was a threat. Over the past few months they had been given a respite from the crazed killers who seemed to dog Kenshin's footsteps, but she had come to be very wary of strangers. "Why are you looking for him?"
The dark eyes warmed. "Kenshin-san saved my life years ago, but I never really had the chance to thank him for helping me and my village," his cheeks were practically flaming by the time he finished that sentence. "I'm from Shozu, its about four days from here. We'd heard that a swordsman had come to Tokyo, and that he looked like the man who saved us," the hands started twisting again, and the blush deepened. "I was the only one who could come this time of year, with the harvest so close. I have a gift for him."
Kaoru smiled in spite of herself. The boy was too cute, almost dancing in place with his embarrassment and hope. "Well, I'm sure Kenshin would be pleased to see you again."
The smile she was given was blinding. "Really? He's here, then?" at her nod it seemed like a weight lifted from his thin shoulders. "It's the first time I've really traveled alone, and I was praying that he'd be here. My mother's probably worried about me," he looked down.
"She'll be seeing you soon," she stepped aside. "Come in."
"Seiji," the boy leaned down and picked up a large cloth bag and a wrapped bundle. "Osama Seiji."
Kenshin opened his eyes. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. The ki that had teased him the week before was back, flaring painfully bright, and too close to the dojo.
The rurouni walked to the door of the dojo and froze. Someone was walking next to Kaoru. At first he thought it was Soujiro, for the boy was roughly the same size and shape as the Ten-ken. But Soujiro had never had this kind of energy pouring off him.
As they approached Kaoru started laughing at something to boy said, and Kenshin cringed. Couldn't she sense the danger that came off of him? Suddenly, it stopped, and the boy looked his way. "Kenshin, this is Seiji, he said he knows you," Kaoru said, motioning to her companion. The warmth in the boy's expression froze over, leaving a cold mask behind.
"Step away from her," he said, coming off the porch and walking into the yard.
"Kenshin." Kaoru backed away from Seiji, feeling the change that came over him. His expression, which had been so open a moment before, was closed.
Seiji's eyes were fixed on the rurouni. "Had I wanted to kill her she would have been dead before opening the gate."
Kaoru paled, but kept moving slowly away from the two until she was behind Kenshin.
"Why are you here?" he asked, noting that the boy held no weapons, but that meant little. There were several weapons that could be concealed on a person.
The boy cocked his head, and Kenshin felt the battle ki again, only this time it was gentle, almost like a caress, before it abruptly ended. Something about him disturbed Kenshin, something he couldn't place. Whoever the boy was, he had training, that much was certain.
"Himura Kenshin, I will deliver Tenchuu."
Kenshin's eyes widened, and he barely had time to dodge the katana that came whirring at his head. His muscles protested against the sudden movement, but he willed them into compliance. He parried the next two blows and was surprised when the boy backed away, and watched him.
He must have been part of the Inshin Shi Shi, he thought, sizing up the boy and his weapon. Only another hitokiri would know the significance of that phrase.. The katana was shorter than normal, but wasn't truly a short sword or a kodaichi, nor did he wield it like one. Nor could the boy be old enough to have fought in the wars. He could hardly be more than 15, if he was even that, but he carried himself with the assurance of one used to fighting.
"Hey, Kenshin, what-" Yahiko game around the side of the house and froze. "Who-"
"Yahiko, take Kaoru-dono inside and don't come out until I say."
The boy bristled. "What the hell is going on Ken-"
"Please," he wished he could give the boy a reassuring glance, but he couldn't risk it. This boy was fast, almost as fast as he was. He could hear the two of them hurrying indoors, and felt a burden lift from him. They were out of harms way, for now.
"I told you, they weren't my target."
The boy's voice was flat and emotionless, and it finally struck him why Seiji disturbed him so much. The attitude, the stance, even the way he spoke and dressed, it all reminded him of himself eleven years ago.
He attacked again, faster this time, slashing at Kenshin's head. The rurouni slid under the blow, prepared to deliver one across his opponents open chest. He tried to pull his sakaba, and couldn't. The boy had one hand on the hilt, applying all his weight to it. Kenshin took the opportunity to throw him off balance and moved back, but the boy nimbly adjusted his stance.
"You're well trained," he commented after they separated again.
Some of the coldness left Seiji's expression. "I had a good teacher."
They exchanged blows again, and Kenshin fought down his frustration. Nothing he did would connect, the boy remained always just out of range, his sword just making it in time. The rurouni gritted his teeth. He knew when he was being teased.
It was time to bring this fight to a close.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu- Do Ryu Sen!"
The ground shattered under his sword, sending rock and dirt flying at the boy. With one slash the projectiles stopped and fell harmlessly to the ground, leaving Kenshin stunned.
The boy had studied Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. He knew exactly how to counter the attack.
His thoughts drifted to his master. There was no way he would have allowed another student to walk away from the training, to make his own path. It was even more unlikely that he would have taken on another student, no matter their talent. At the very least, he would have mentioned it while Kenshin completed his training, would have loved the opportunity to rub his baka deishi's face in the fact that he had another student, one that was no doubt more worthy than the moody boy he'd taken in.
Kenshin sheathed his sword, crouching down into the battou-jitsu stance. The boy may have studied the technique, could have been watching him for some time, but there were some things that couldn't be learned through watching.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu- Kuzu Ryu Sen!"
Time slowed. He saw his opponent clearly, standing there. He barely registered the calm expression on Seiji's face before he turned his blade aside, knocking away two throwing knives. They were just enough to take him off balance. He passed harmlessly, and turned in midair, determined to land a final blow across the boy's back, when he felt the jerk. Seiji had grabbed the loose material of his sleeve.
Kaoru and Yahiko watched as the two tumbled to the ground in a cloud of dust. "Kenshin!" She yelled, pushing past her student and running into the yard. What she saw there froze her. Kenshin was standing over Seiji, his sakaba at the boy's throat. Seiji was sprawled beneath him, but the tip of his katana rested against Kenshin's chest, directly over his heart.
Neither man moved.
Kenshin watched Seiji carefully. The boy didn't move at all, he simply watched him with eyes suddenly gone warm. Slowly, his hand lowered until the katana was resting against the ground.
"Chôcho."
Kenshin backed away. No one had called him that in over ten years, and even then it was a nickname that only one person knew about. He stared at the boy, confusion plain on his face, and Seiji stared back. The rurouni's mind whirled. Who was this? How did he know? The only person who knew had been dead for more than a decade.
Kaoru watched, puzzled, as Kenshin backed away. He was watching the boy more carefully now than he had before, his eyes wide and searching. It was an expression she had seldom seen on her friend's face.
Seiji stood and calmly began dusting himself off, uncaring of the man staring at him. He looked up then, and smiled, the expression out of place on his face, as if he were unused to doing it.
"It is me, Chôcho," he said slowly, voice altering as he spoke. He reached up and touched his hair. "Remember, the dye?"
The rurouni felt his knees weaken, the grip on his sakaba slacken. It was impossible, it couldn't be. But only one person would have called him that, only one person would have known what to say. "Gin-san?"
Kaoru saw his lips move, but the word he spoke was to quiet. Before she could move he was standing in front of Seiji.
Hugging him.
Kaoru blinked. Kenshin was never one to show affection physically. If she so much as touched him without his knowledge it would knock him off balance for minutes on end. To see him hugging someone, let alone someone who had tried to kill him moments before, was confusing to say the least.
Seiji appeared to be in her boat as well. The boy stood stock still, his katana still gripped in his hand. His other hand was similarly slack, as if he were unsure as to how to react.
"What's going on, Kaoru?" Yahiko asked.
The girl looked down at her student, then at the two men who seemed frozen. "I don't know," she answered.
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