Disclaimer: Again, I don't own any of the Rurouni Kenshin characters, nor will I ever. I take rights to the female character, however, she IS mine. And yes, this probably ISN'T Hiko's real past or genealogy. But it's a blasted fan fiction for crying out loud, and it goes hand-in-hand with my characters past. So deal with it or don't read it. *ahem* So yes, enjoy!
He couldn't believe it. His past was haunting him again. Not only does his baka denshi show up out of the blue, he brings a fish-snatching long-lost niece with him. It wasn't his fault his brother was a complete idiot and went off and had a family right near the end of a war! And wasn't it his only brother that killed his father: his teacher, the one who had taught him the Hiten Mitsurugi Style? Sure, his father might have had some strange ideas about how to use the swordsmanship skills, but that hadn't been any good reason just to slaughter him. Which was exactly what his brother had done. Of course, this came from the only eye-witness: his brother's daughter, who had also been learning swordsmanship from his father at the time. Who says that anyone should believe her anyway?
Though as Hiko turned all this information around in his mind, he supposed it made sense that this could be his brother's daughter. He had only seen the girl once before, and she was a young teenager then. And even at that meeting, she had only stayed long enough to pay respects for her grandfather and her father, who had died the same night coincidentally, before disappearing to who knows where. No one ever truly found out how her father died. All the police could tell him was that when they had arrived at the burning dojo, they rushed into the fiery building to find the two men lying dead in the main kendo room, two bloody swords, and the girl sobbing over the bodies. Her word was what they had to take.
But for whatever the reason, here she was, sitting in front of him, grinning like there was no tomorrow. Hiko almost felt sick.
"So, do you believe me now?"
"I suppose I have no choice."
"Nope!"
"That was not the answer I wanted to hear."
"And what would that answer be?"
"Silence."
"Just as I thought. You haven't changed one bit since the last time I saw you!"
"Neither have you. From what I can tell."
"Hey, I'm only going off of what I saw when you showed up for the funeral. It's not like I could have talked to you . . ."
Kenshin decided to take this opportunity to get out while the sea was still somewhat calm.
"Um, yes, master? She's the reason I wanted to know where you learned the Hiten Mitsurugi Style from . . .she finally told us that her surname was Hiko. I thought maybe there was some sort of connection . . ."
Hiko glared over at his apprentice. "What does that have anything to do with where I learned Hiten Mitsurugi?"
Kenshin looked slightly taken aback. "Because . . .Miss Yumika uses the technique as well. . .oh never mind. I'll leave you two to reminisce . . ."
Hiko grabbed the back of Kenshin's yukata. "Hold it, you use the Hiten Mitsurugi?" Hiko asked Yumika accusingly.
"Of course I do! Your father taught it to me!"
Kenshin was slowly worming his way out of Hiko's grasp as the two continued conversing.
"But you were only around ten when he died-!"
"Thirteen and a half, thank you very much! And I learned very quickly!"
"That's impossible. It took me-my baka denshi years to learn the entirety of it. Not even considering the fact that he skipped out on the final technique-just as he is now skipping out of a situation he created himself!"
"Just thought I'd better be getting back!" Kenshin called over his shoulder, having already sprint halfway down to the dirt trail.
"Get back here, you baka denshi!!" Hiko called after him, though not wanting to put forth the effort to get up and catch him. Though he knew without a doubt that he could.
"No, no! I'm sure you two have plenty to talk about!!" the red-haired swordsman called one last time before disappearing down the mountain path. When he was at a distance that he knew Hiko wouldn't chase after him to, he stopped running. "I just don't want to be there if master Hiko blows a fuse . . ." he said to himself, "and knowing Miss Yumika-it won't be long or difficult for her to get him to . . ." He shook his head, hoping that the two didn't kill each other before they would be able to get to know each other.
Meanwhile, Hiko glared at the young woman sitting across from him.
"So, what do you want?!"
Yumika blinked at him. "What do you mean?"
"What did you come here for? So you can leave."
"Do you really not like me that much?"
"Less."
"Why? 'Cause you hated your brother? That's kinda prejudiced if you ask me."
"But no one did."
"You really don't want me here, do you?"
"You're a quick one, aren't you?"
"Well, to tell you the truth, I just wanted to see how you had come along, you know. I mean, you were just a wandering nobody the last time I saw you."
Hiko slightly raised an eyebrow.
Yumika sighed, leaning back, putting her arms behind her head. "Quite frankly, I'm sorta disappointed. Sheesh, you don't even have that wandering mystique about you anymore. Now you're a sit-at-home nobody."
Hiko was barely able to refrain from strangling the girl on the spot.
"I happen to do some very important training up here!" he annoyingly muttered, though thinking that if she really had any sort of relation to him, she probably wouldn't buy it.
"Uh huh. Like teaching baka denshis unlearned techniques? Sounds riveting."
"You don't have to like it. It would probably be preferable if you didn't."
"All right then, I will."
"What?!?"
The black-haired young woman grinned. "I think I'm gonna hang around here for a while, you know, 'learn from the master'."
"No. Way. You're going to get up and follow right behind my baka denshi. And never come back."
She sighed heavily. "All right. If you really want me to . . . guess you don't want to hear about all those secret family techniques of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style . . ."
Hiko stared hard at her smug face. She could be lying. It was quite possible actually. She could be using her knowledge of his past to buy some time to annoy him. But was that the only reason, though? He had a hunch there was some other hidden motive, but he couldn't put a finger on it yet. Of course, there always was the slim chance that she was telling the truth. His father might have mentioned those techniques to him once. Yes! His memory pulled up a single comment of his father near the beginning of his training. But why hadn't he taught them to him? What did this little girl know that he didn't? Now he felt he had to know. But there was still that 'reason' part of his brain saying: 'You moron. What do you think you're talking about?! She's only here to annoy the heck out of you. There is no way.' But as he watched the girl walk backwards towards the path, that smug smile still painting her face, his infamous pride took over. He was not going to let this girl get the best of him. He vowed to keep his cool, no matter what.
"One night. You have one night, and then you're gone. Got it?!"
Yumika pumped a fist into the air. "Yeah!! I knew that would get you! I'll teach you one of the techniques tonight, kay? You won't be sorry!"
"I already am. You'd better give me something I don't know . . ."
"Don't worry! I'm positive you don't know any of them!"
"How's that?" Hiko asked blandly, already plotting to have her go catch him another fish.
Yumika pointed at his sword. "You carry a katana. That's how I know."
Hiko's brow furrowed at this statement. He sighed, deciding to file that away for future contemplation. "Well, get me a fish."
"Huh?"
"Get me another fish. You stole my other one. Hop to it!"
Yumika grinned. "Right!" She pushed back the sword at her waist and zipped off, fast as lightning, for the stream.
Hiko leaned back, the sun on his face. Eh, maybe he could get used to this. For a day.
* * * *
Thar it be! Chapter two! Thank ye very much for reading, and we'll see you next week. *cough* month *coughcough* Okay, now-review! Go, lemmings, go! Luv ya! *huggles the cute little furry mammals*