To Be Free

Part Eight

By Maria Cline

Little Boy Lost

(1-4 by Ami-dono)

Kaoru was stunned at the sight before her.  A young boy had broken into her dojo.  She looked down at the boy, he was dressed in a worn down gi and hakama.  He was thin and had dirty brown hair.  "Okay, kid, what are you doing in my dojo?" Kaoru asked as she pointed her bokken at the boy's face.

"Don't call me 'kid'.  I have a name and it's Yahiko!  Myojin Yahiko!" Kaoru was stunned.  Unlike Kenshin, this boy had pride in his eyes and in his voice.  Yet, it was sharp and had some pain.  He must have had a hard life before. 

"Okay, Yahiko-chan, I want you to think about what you did.  Kenshin, help me get the kid into the storage room.  We'll deal with him in the morning." Kaoru ordered as she went to the side and got a futon set.  Kenshin struggled as they forced Yahiko into the storage room with the futon.  After Kaoru put the bar on the door, she sighed in relief. 

"LET ME OUT YOU OLD HAG!" Yahiko screamed as he pounded on the door.

Kenshin stared at the door and whispered, "Kaoru-dono… what are you going to do with Yahiko-chan?"

"DON'T CALL ME CHAN!" Yahiko boomed as he pounded on the door some more.

Kaoru took Kenshin's hand and led him into the dojo.  "I don't know.  We'll keep him here for tonight and in the morning, we can ask him what he's doing here and maybe take him back to his parents."

Kenshin sighed in relief.  /For a moment, I was afraid that she might hurt Yahiko-chan.  No, she would never hurt a child./  "I am glad that you will not to punish the boy yourself."

"No, I cannot do that.  The Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu is not meant for punishment.  I hit Sano because that is the only way to knock sense into him and that he can handle it.  That idiot gets hit by friends all the time." Kaoru explained as she waved her bokken toward the storehouse.  She paused and then said, "Wait a moment.  How did you manage to catch Yahiko so easily?  I thought it's hard to wake you up."

Kenshin looked down.  "I... had a feeling that someone was in this place so I checked and found him holding a shinai.  I disarmed him and hold him until you came."

"You got him down unarmed?" Kaoru asked amazed at his skills. 'Maybe he is more skilled than I gave him credit for.'

"He was very unskilled so it was easy." Kenshin explained softly as he blushed. /I think I preferred it when Kaoru-dono didn't know how good I really am./

"Well, thank you but please be careful.  Next time it might be someone you can't handle." Kaoru pleaded, "I don't want to think what would happen if something happen to you.  We'll talk about it tomorrow after some sleep.  Okay?"

Kenshin gazed sadly at the storehouse and nodded.  "Hai."

*****

Kaoru yawned as she woke up.  She rubbed her eyes as she smelled the food cooking.  "Mou, not again." The woman held her head as she adjusted her yukata and went to the kitchen to see Kenshin cooking again.  "Kenshin!  What do you think you're doing?!"

Kenshin gulped as he looked up from the cooked rice.  "Gomen, Kaoru-dono, I had forgotten but I couldn't sleep so I cook."

'He did it again... the poor guy could be feeling bad since he had not done anything.' "That is okay but remember you don't have to do things like this." Kaoru reminded.  "I'm going to check on Yahiko."

Kenshin nodded and watched her leave.  He looked up and went to the dojo's gates to see Sanosuke getting ready to pound on the gate.  "Good morning!" He cried out.

Sano paused and looked at him.  "Hey, Kenshin, how did you know I was here?  Was it your special 'psychic' powers?" He asked.

Kenshin fidgeted.  /He's getting suspicious!  I should not have played that dice game!/ /Now, he will beat you up./

"Hey!  It's a joke!  I know that you don't have any real psychic powers." Sano laughed as Kenshin opened the gate.  "So, is breakfast ready?"

"Yes, I was just finishing it up."

*****

Kaoru cautiously went to the storage shed and opened the door.  Sprawled out on the futon asleep was Yahiko snoring away.  "He's so cute." Kaoru gushed and then she shook her head.  "Yahiko-chan!  Wake up!"

The boy jumped to his feet and ordered, "Don't call me 'Chan'!  I'm not a kid!  I'm twelve years old!" 

"Fine, whatever, are you hungry?"

Yahiko pouted and shook his head.  "No." Then, his stomach rumbled and he blushed.  "Maybe, a little."

"Well, come with me then.  We'll talk during breakfast." Kaoru said as she led him out of the small room.

"Good morning, Yahiko-chan." Kenshin greeted as he came up.  "How are you feeling today?"

"Fine." Yahiko turned away and crossed his arms. 

"Good.  Sit down.  We need to talk." Kaoru ordered as the group sat down at the table.  "Like for one thing, do your parents know about this?"

"Maybe but there's nothing they can do about it.  They're dead."

Kaoru and Kenshin gazed at him sadly.  They both know the pains of losing their parents.  Kenshin's parents were lost to him when he was a child and Kaoru's mother died when she was a small child and then her father just a year ago.  "Who was raising you?" Kaoru asked in a firm but soft voice.

"No one important just a group of guys." Yahiko shrugged again.

"It doesn't happen to be the Yukaza would it?" Sanosuke asked, "I remember you from those idiots I beat up."

Yahiko paled and then closed his eyes.  "So, I'm part of a gang so what?"

"Why did you break into my dojo?  I don't have much money." Kaoru asked, "Did this gang force you?"

"No way!" Yahiko pounded his fist.  "I was just trying to get a sword or some weapon so I can go back and kill the gang leader.  If I do that, I will be respected and I can leave that place!  I was going to bring it back."

"You are going to fight a large group of men who are stronger and bigger than you all by yourself?!  That's insane!" Kaoru yelled, "If you do, you will get killed."

"Well… big deal.  I'd rather die than be a pickpocket anymore.  I'm a son of a samurai, and samurais don't pickpocket or do anything they don't want to do.  If I die in a fight, that's fine with me." Yahiko proclaimed proudly. 

Kenshin smiled sadly as he put his hand on his shoulder.  "Sometimes death is a better option but you are too young to throw your life away, Yahiko-chan.  Don't you have anyone besides the gang?"

"If I do, do you think I would be with them in the first place?"

"Then, you can stay with us." Kaoru said firmly, "We have room for you." She paused and asked, "If that's okay with you, Kenshin."

"It is your dojo, Kaoru-dono and I fully agree." Kenshin agreed.

"Don't I get a say in this?" Sano moaned.  Kaoru glared at him and Kenshin quickly pulled Yahiko out of the way. 

WHAM!

Sano found himself in the wall.  "YOU DON'T LIVE HERE!" Kaoru screamed.

Yahiko sweatdropped, "He's the infamous fighter Zanza?  Why is he being beaten like that by a girl?"

Kaoru glared at him and Yahiko jumped back.

Kenshin gulped and sighed.  "Never underestimate the power of a woman."

"You got that right, Kenshin." Kaoru winked. "Yahiko, I can tell that you are telling the truth so you can either stay here or we will take you to the police.  It's your choice."

The boy frowned and crossed his arms.  "Well, any place is better than jail.  Okay, I'll stay here."

"Good.  Why don't we eat now?" Kaoru said as she picked up her chopsticks.  She took a bite and looked up in surprise.

Kenshin fidgeted at the look and said, "I am sorry if my food is not up to expectations, Kaoru-dono."

"No, in fact…" Kaoru smiled sheepishly, "It's much better than my food."

Relieved, Kenshin fell over.  After he got up, he sat back down and said, "I am glad."

Sano took a bite and agreed, "Yeah, you are much better than Jou-chan."

Yahiko looked at the three baffled.  "Hey, Kaoru, Kenshin, how long have you been married?" He finally asked.

"Huh?" Kaoru nearly choked.  "Married?!  What makes you think we're married?"

"You two live together right and you're the same age." Yahiko figured.

"We're not married!  I'm her…" Kenshin blushed as he tried to think of the right phrase. /Border?  Former slave?/

"He's a friend of mine who is staying here for a while.  That's it." Kaoru finished firmly. 

"'Friend' right." Yahiko glanced at her again. 

*****

After a nice breakfast with their unexpected guest, Sano got out the fishing poles.  "I got the fishing poles.  Now, we can fish."

Kenshin frowned as he looked out of the window.  "It's going to rain before noon.  We better stay indoors until then."

"How can you say that?" Yahiko exclaimed, "There are no clouds in the sky!"

"It will rain." Kenshin said firmly, "It will be quick and then clear off."

"Great, we can start on kendo lessons for the both of you." Kaoru said as she came back dressed in her training gear. 

"Kendo lessons?" Yahiko repeated dumbfounded.  "A girl is going to teach me kendo?!"

"Yes and you will." Kaoru said, "I may be a woman but I had handled a shinai before you were even born and I am a dojo master."

Kenshin nodded as he came forward.  "Do not underestimate Kaoru-dono, Yahiko-chan.  There were female fighters in the past.  In fact, there were famous female samurais who could handle any man.  There were also powerful female ninjas during the Bakumatsu so do not believe Kaoru-dono is weak just because she is female.  The fact that she is a woman made her stronger."

Kaoru gasped at the eloquent speech from her normally quiet friend.  No one had ever made such a reasonable argument for her status as a dojo master since her father.  "Kenshin…"

"I never thought of that..." Yahiko looked at Kaoru. "But you still gotta prove that you can actually fight!"

"Oh, I can do that." Kaoru smirked as she held up her bokken. 'My first student in over a month besides Kenshin… I have to help him.'  "First, you must understand one thing.  The Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu Style is a sword that protects but does not kill.  All of the techniques are designed to defeat the opponent without fatal injury.  Also, one is not allowed to use a real sword for the techniques."

"Where's the fun in that?  I thought sword techniques are made to kill." Yahiko asked stunned.

"No way, not this style."

"Oh man." Yahiko sighed as he nodded. /What kind of style doesn't kill?  This dojo is getting weirder and weirder./ He glanced at Kenshin who was staring at him.  His eyes had darkened and changed as if he was looking at another man. 

"Don't talk like that!  This is the Meiji era!  The days of the killing sword are gone!" Kaoru screamed at the top of her lungs not noticing Kenshin's harsh gaze.

"Okay, okay.  I'm sorry, it's just... strange.  I'll get used to it and I will learn to fight." Yahiko said as he looked down. 

"Good.  Now, we will work on the basics like stance, breathing, and how to hold a sword."

*****

Megumi took a deep breath as she cleaned the examining room.  Dr. Gensai had taken his granddaughters so they can fish with Sanosuke and Kenshin.  There were no patients for a change and she had a chance to catch up on supplies and clean. 

She wiped her hands and went to the table where she had her book of Chinese symbols and a paper with the symbol on Kenshin's back on it.  There was something about that small man that just interested her.  It could be his red hair, violet eyes, and scar that had taken her attention but it was more.  Something deep within her just told her that Kenshin was more than a broken former slave.

She opened the book and carefully scanned the symbols.  At first, she looked under 'slave' and when that didn't work; she looked under typical 'slave' terms.  However, none of them matched.  What was the symbol's meaning?    She had to find out.

*****

Yahiko sighed in relief as he sat down.  They had been training for several hours.  Rather, he had been training and Kenshin had been throwing up.

"Geesh, Kenshin, what's the deal?  Every time you move that sword, you throw up." Yahiko moaned as he watched Kenshin drinking water while resting on a cushion.

The man smiled at him weakly and replied, "I do not know.  This has never happened to me before." /I can't keep doing this.  Every time I hold a bokken or shinai, those images appeared in my head./ /You have to stop or you could die./

"We will handle that but in the meantime; you just rest and keep drinking water." Kaoru instructed, "I don't want you to dehydrate."

"Thank you, Kaoru-dono."

"And what's with that 'dono' suffix?  This is not medieval times, you know." Yahiko asked as he frowned. 

"That is just the way I talk, that is all." Kenshin replied.

"Oh."

Kenshin looked out of the window.  "I hope Sano will make it indoors before it-" *boom* all of a sudden, thunder boomed and rain pattered on the rooftops.  "rains."

"Wow, it was going to rain after all." Kaoru observed.  "How did you know?"

Kenshin looked down and blushed.  "Just a feeling."

"Oh."

"You are so weird.  You look fifteen and talk like a fifty year old.  You get sick just by holding a training sword.  And you live with a girl and you're not married to her!  What's the deal?" Yahiko asked and then Kaoru glared at him.

"Don't call Kenshin 'weird'." She threatened. 'No one insults Kenshin like that.  I won't let it.'

"Maa maa, it's okay.  Yahiko is just being curious." Kenshin excused as he came up to her and waved his hands.  /Children are so open.  They are allowed to be that way./

Kaoru frowned.  "I still don't like it."

Then, the door opened to reveal a very soggy Sanosuke.  "How do you do it?!" He exclaimed in shock. 

"Gomen, Sano, I should have worked harder to make you stay here." Kenshin apologized as he bowed repeatedly.

"Hey, that's okay.  Besides, I got into a great wet fight with a couple of guys stalking out this place." Sano said as he pointed outside. 

"A couple of guys." Yahiko paled, "Was it one tall creepy looking guy and a short friendly looking guy?"

"Nah, they were just your average sized thugs.  Not much of a challenge but a great way to relieve stress." Sano grinned as he punched his fists.

For a second, Yahiko relaxed and then tensed up.  /No!  It can't be them!  How did they find me so fast?  They'll attack this place… Roosterhead could handle several of them but…/ He looked at Kenshin and Kaoru. /They might not have it so easy.  Especially Kenshin, he can't even hold a shinai.  They could get killed because of me./

"Well, you might as well dry off.  I think I have a hakama and gi your size around here somewhere.  I don't want you to catch a cold." Kaoru said as she went to the cupboard to find the training clothes. 

"Oh, here's some fish for you guys." Sano said as he reached into jacket and pulled out a pair of fish. 

"Good.  We can have that for lunch." Kenshin said as he accepted them and took them into the kitchen.

"You're going to cook again!  Yes!" Sano exclaimed as he went with him.  "Good fight, good fish, and finally some decent food from this place!"

Yahiko sat alone and stared at the bokken on the floor.  His fists tensed as he bowed his head down.

*****

Kenshin's hands shook as he held the knife in his hands.  Blood appeared in his mind and he tried not to throw up.  /Don't throw up.  It's just a fish.  Fish are food./ He thought rationally.  He took a deep breath and slashed through the fish.  Guts and blood spilt onto the cutting board and Kenshin relaxed.

"Hey, you okay?" Sano asked as he came up, "You look a little pale."

The man grinned falsely.  "I'll be-" He clamped his hand over his mouth and rushed to the door.  After sounds of regurgitation came through the kitchen, Kenshin came back wiping his mouth.

"You have a weak stomach." Sano observed, "It's just some fish.  Here, let me do it." The tall man took the other fish and Kenshin closed his eyes and looked away. 

"Gomen, Sano, I did not mean to do this.  I just don't… like the sight of blood." /It brings back so many memories./

"Hey, that's okay.  It's normal for some men to be squeamish at the sight of blood, especially girls.  Jou-chan and Megumi are the only ones I know of who didn't mind for obvious reasons." Sano said as he cleaned the other fish with ease. 

Kenshin's hand shook as he looked down.  "Still, I can't be sick like this all the time.  I hate it.  I hate being like this and yet there is no other way for me to be."

/No other way?/ Sano thought stunned as he put the fish to the side.  "Hey, Kenshin, you can get stronger and make yourself not get sick at the sight of blood and guts.  Just fight a few guys and it will get out of your system."

The smaller man tensed up and cried out, "Is that all you can think about?!  Fighting others?!  There is more to life than fighting you know!" Kenshin gasped as he clasped his hands over his mouth.  "Gomen, Sano, I didn't mean to snap like that.  I lost control." He bowed.

Sano blinked as he looked behind him.  "Hey, that's okay.  People yell at me about that too.  I'm kinda glad that you did snap at me, that means that you are not as broken as I thought you were.  I like it when others are honest with me." His eyes became dark.  "I hate hypocrites and liars.  The government is full of them."

Kenshin looked down and backed away.  "I see.  And you think that the Battousai is one of them?"

"He's the strongest of the Ishin Isshi so he must have a great position in the Government.  I want to fight him since he represents everything I hate about them.  He was a mass murdering psycho who is most likely a politician now." Sano observed.

Kenshin winced as he looked down.  Then, he looked up and realized something.  "Oh, so it's nothing personal?  I mean, he didn't kill anyone you cared about?" Kenshin asked hopefully.

"No, it's personal." Sano stared out. "I will get him and slash him with my zambatou."

"Ehhh... isn't it in the shop?" Kenshin asked and then Sano facefaulted.

"One detail at a time." Sano laughed.

"Sano!  Kenshin!" Kaoru called as she entered the kitchen holding a gi and hakama.  "Is Yahiko here?"

"Isn't he out there?" Kenshin inquired as he looked through the door.

"No, I thought he was with you." Kaoru looked over to the dojo training room again.  "One of the bokkens are missing too.  You don't think…"

"Damn that kid!" Sano exclaimed as he smashed his fist onto the counter.  "He's going off to fight the Yukaza by himself!  Hey, Kenshin, I know that you might not be feeling so good but can you-" he looked to find the smaller man gone.  "Kenshin?"

He and Kaoru looked out to see the dojo door open.  "No!  Kenshin!"

*****

Rain poured down as the young boy ran through the streets with the bokken in his arms.  "I'm sorry but I had to do this alone." Yahiko muttered as he turned the corner.

Unseen in the rain, a pair of figures watched.

"Damn it!  He's rushing off without thinking." Tetsu growled as he reached for his sword.

Then, a figure jumped high over them and landed onto a rooftop.

"No need." Saitou held out his hand in front of his partner and smirked. "This could turn out to be quite interesting."

*****

He was running on adrenaline as he ran up to the two guards.  "Ya!" Yahiko proclaimed as he attacked them.

"Hey!  It's Yahiko!" One of the thugs laughed as he dodged the blow and struck the boy.  He fell onto the ground and moaned.  "Do you think you are going to fight all of us that easily?  Come here!"  The huge thug picked up Yahiko and lugged him inside.  "We will have some fun.  Hey, Boss!  Look what I caught!"

Sitting on his makeshift throne was a tall muscular man with short black hair.  He had been known and feared as Ryu in Untouchable.  "Well, look at that, it's the runt.  You should not have run away like that." He got up and grabbed the boy by the short hair.  He looked down in his hands to see a bokken.  "A bokken?!  That's so cute." Fiercely, he knocked Yahiko down.  "You cannot hurt me with that toy."  He kicked him in the ribs and laughed.

Yahiko moaned as he tried to stand up.  /Maybe it was not a good idea to come here./ He thought as he was punched again.  /But what else could I do?  I should have ask those two for help but that would expose me./ Another punch hit his head.  /Please, someone help me./

"Gah!" A cry came out from outside of the room.

Yahiko weakly opened his eyes to see figures being flung across the room.  "Who's there?" He winced at the pain and then darkness surrounded him. 

"Do you want to die?" A soft but deadly voice echoed in the darkness.

*****

"NO!" Yahiko sat up and sweat poured down his face.

"Welcome back to the living." An old man said as he smiled at him.  "Relax, you are at the clinic.  I'm Dr. Gensai, a friend of Kaoru's."

"Clinic?" The boy looked around to see Kaoru, Sano, and Kenshin sitting by their sides.  "What happened?"

"We want to know ourselves." Sano pointed out, "Kenshin said he founded you just outside and carried you back here."

"You did?" Yahiko paled as he thought of the strange dark voice in his nightmares.  "Did you kill all those people?"

"Oro?" Kenshin gulped, "What do you mean?"

"No one died, Yahiko, I went to that gang hideout and saw unconscious bodies and police officers everywhere." Sano said as he waved his hands. "It was weird.  The ones who were conscious were scared witless, even more than when I beat them up.  Did you see who did it?"

"No… I didn't see anything but I heard him say 'Do you want to die?'.  It was creepy like an angel of death was looming over me.  It must be my imagination or I misheard." Yahiko shrugged.

"Well, you have severe bruises but they will heal in a couple of days.  I suggest that you don't train for a week." Dr. Gensai stated.

"I am glad that you are okay." Kaoru sighed in relief.  She tensed up and screamed, "DON'T YOU DARE PULL A STUNT LIKE THAT EVER AGAIN!"  Yahiko and everyone else fell over and Kaoru loomed over him.  "DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND HOW WORRIED I WAS?!  YOU'RE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE!" Tears came down her face as she looked down.  "Don't do that again, okay?"

Yahiko frowned.  /She was just like my mother.  Why would anyone be that worried for a pickpocket like me?/ "Fine, I don't want to make you get more wrinkles you old hag."

"Don't call me that, Yahiko-chan!  I'm seventeen years old!" Kaoru glared at Kenshin, "And you, why did you go off by yourself!  You can't handle an entire gang, what if they caught you and do something to you too?"

"Gomen, Kaoru-dono." Kenshin bowed his head.

"Well, you two are alive and mostly well." Kaoru confessed, "That is good, Yahiko, I have some old clothes you can use until we have some new ones and I think I have another room for you to stay in.  You will be a good student." A warm feeling erupted in her despite her worry for Yahiko and Kenshin.  /Another person living here and he's a student.  I believe that good things will come from this./   

*****

"They are all alive and not even critically injured." Tetsu said in amazement as he looked at the moaning thugs.  All around him was destruction sliced up boards and barely conscious people.  On the floor was a cracked bokken with a nearly destroyed hilt. 

"He wasn't human.  He vanished and reappeared all around knocking us down." A thug with a few broken teeth moaned.  "He can't be a normal human."

"He's a demon, a demon from hell." Another man moaned.

"No, worse than that." Ryu said as he shook from his throne.  "He is a full fledge manslayer, those eyes, that voice, I haven't seen anything like that since the Bakumatsu!"

Tetsu tensed at the mention of the war.  /The Bakumatsu, has it been that long?/ He saw Saitou looking around on the ground.  With a single gloved hand, the tall man picked up a single hair.  Tetsu gasped as Saitou bared his fangs and held up the strand of hair that lit up red in the dim candlelight.

To Be Continued...

Okay, now for the author review replies.  I thought that I should try it out from now on with my future fics/chapters. 

Sailor-Earth13-Well, sorry about your theory.  It was a good one and I had considered not putting it in but what's Kenshin without his reverse-blade sword?

Kaoru Gal- Yeah, this story is plowing along.  Don't feel bad, some fics I never did finish.

CrimHeart- Yeah!  That's Yahiko!  How did you guess?  Poor Kenshin, he does have a sad past and it might get sadder.  *sniff* Thanks.

tsukino-chan- The sky is the limit.

victoria- Yes!  It's definitely Yahiko. Battousai is how I spell it and as for Yahiko's fate… you probably know it already by the end of this chapter.