If you have EVER had to sit through the upcoming dialog in real life, you will understand how absolutely TEDIOUS it becomes. In a matter of mere minutes, your sanity becomes unraveled and the thought of choking children doesn't seem so bad…LMAO…It can go on for HOURS folks….but I've spared you that…nice of me huh? Wow, how in the heck did I manage 30,000 words in the fic already…that's kinda disturbing, I've managed to say a whole lot of nothing with so many words….* shrugs *…..oh well….Thanks for putting up with me and reading this…(smile)

Standard Disclaimers Apply

Chapter 8

Your father is short."

"Is not!"

"Yes he is. He's short and skinny."

"No he's not!"

"Yes he is, stupid. Just look at him. He's got to be weak, being nothing but bones."

"He's not weak. He could beat up your dad."

"No, he couldn't."

"Yes he could."

"No he couldn't"

"Yes he could."

"No he couldn't. My father is the strongest swordsman."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"OKAY! That is QUITE enough!" Kaoru shouted, causing both boys to jump in surprise and the other passengers to turn and look at them. She smacked her book down in her lap with enough force to sting her thighs and grit her teeth at the two children. She had ignored their petty argument for quite sometime, hoping the two of them would grow bored of tormenting each other, but now her head hurt and her nerves were singed by the constant bickering. "If you can't say anything nice to each other, than sit there an BE QUIET!"

Kenji snapped his mouth shut immediately and pushed himself into the corner of his seat, trying to become as small as possible. His mother's face was turning red and that was never a good sign. "Yes mama," he whispered softly, not taking his eyes off her for a moment. The book she had in her hand was a weapon, and he knew she wouldn't hesitate to smack him on the head with it if he continued.

Hideki's eyes widened at the shout from this strange woman who glared at him and the red haired boy angrily. His surprise faded into a look of defiance and he stuck out his chin. "You're not my mother," he stated, glaring at her.

Kenji sucked in his breath, pale eyes snapping open as he stared at Hideki. The boy was in for it now, back talking his mother like that was never a wise thing to do.

Kaoru arched a brow at the dark haired boy, her nostril's flaring slightly. "Maybe not Hideki chan, but I am a mother and I know all the nasty things mommies are allowed to do to foul mannered little boys." She leveled the boy with an even gaze, daring him to push her further.

"You do?" Hideki stammered, glancing at the cowering Kenji.

Kaoru nodded, "Yes, I do. And since your father left you in MY care while he stepped out, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I found it necessary to show you what us mommies are capable of when little boys behave badly."

Hideki gulped and folded his hands into his lap, "Yes ma'am."

Kenji smiled smugly at his rival and stuck his tongue out at him. "Mama could beat up your dad and mine both!" he stated proudly.

Hideki didn't object.

"Himura Kenji," Karou snapped, "If you want to be able to speak later in life, I suggest you keep that in your mouth."

Kenji swallowed hard and put his tongue back in his mouth, then glared at the smirking Hideki.

Kaoru picked up her book and heaved a mighty sigh. She wondered where the two men had gone, an hour had already passed and the children had both woken up shortly after Saito left to follow Kenshin. She hadn't minded keeping an eye on the other boy when he was asleep, but now that they were both awake and fully intent on making each other miserable. Kaoru was becoming impatient. She sighed again, glancing down the row of seats hopefully, before returning to her book.

Another hour passed and both children began to shift restlessly in their seats. Kenji whined slightly, looking up at his mother, wanting something, but obviously afraid to speak. The two of them were surprisingly silent, behaving like well mannered children should, but Kaoru felt slightly bad, knowing they both had to be bored out of their minds. "What's the matter, kitten," she asked her son.

Hideki snickered at the mention of Kenji's pet name.

Kenji glared daggers at the other boy before turning to his mother.

"I'm hungry, mama." He placed a hand on his belly for emphasis and gazed up at her expectantly.

Kaoru nodded and smiled at her child, "Okay, I packed some rice balls for you. Hideki, are you hungry too? There's enough for Kenji to share with you."

"Mama!" Kenji shouted, grabbing her hands before she could take the food out of the bag she was rummaging around in. She couldn't possibly expect him to feed that animal with his own food! He didn't care if the other boy was starving and hadn't eaten in days, he refused to share his lunch with him. "What are you doing?" he asked her as if she'd lost her sanity.

Kaoru blinked once at her son, yanking the bag out of his grasp and giving him a hard look. "It's called being nice Kenji. You should try it sometime," she retorted.

"But mama," Kenji whined.

"Kenji, listen up, if you don't want to share with Hideki chan, then you don't need to eat anything either. Eating in front of people with out offering is just plain rude. It's your choice." She eyed her son waiting for his answer. Kaoru was completely baffled how the two children could dislike each other so heatedly after only knowing each other a couple of hours. It had to be the male hormones, that was the only logical explanation she could come up with.

"Hmph," Kenji snorted, crossing his arms and sticking out his bottom lip slightly in an ungracious defeat.

"That's what I thought," Kaoru grinned. Her son was a glutton and his stomach often spoke for him, she knew he would relent eventually, not able to pass up food when he was so hungry. She continued to dig in the bag and pulled out two rice balls, handing one to Kenji and the other to Hideki.

Kenji eyed his momentarily, sniffing it to see who had done the cooking of their lunch. Everything smelled okay and he was certain his father had made to food, so it was safe to eat. He smiled sheepishly at his mother who was frowning at him, and proceeded to eat the rice in three solid bites. Wiping his face with the back of his arm, he held a hand out for another, which he finished off in much the same manner.

"Kenji, if you eat like that, you'll choke. Chew your food, son," Kaoru scolded gently, handing him a third ball of rice.

Hideki ate his in a courteous manner, chewing each bite thoughtfully in silence. He glared at Kenji though, watching the littler boy scarf down the food like a starving peasant. Halfway through his part of the lunch he stopped and smirked. "My mother is a much better cook," he said smugly, chestnut eyes glinting slightly.

Kenji paused in mid bite, a bit of rice falling from his open mouth. He wasn't sure what shocked him more, the fact that the other boy was insulting the people whom were feeding him or that the wicked boy actually had a mother. Kenji gave Hideki a nasty grin, "My father made those," he announced proudly. Stupid boy, trying to insult his mother like that. Everyone knew Kenji's mother was a horrible cook, so what the other child had said was probably the truth, and Kenji wouldn't deny it. He smirked triumphantly and took another bite of his lunch.

Hideki started to giggle, then out right laugh hysterically, causing Kenji's face to grow slack and Kaoru to set down her book. "Your father cooks?" he asked, gasping for breath.

Kenji glared, "Ya, he does." Didn't everyone's father cook? What was wrong with this boy?

Hideki laughed harder, "I bet he does the laundry too, then!"

"So what," Kenji replied blandly.

Hideki's face fell in shock and then he broke out into hysterics, laughing so hard tears ran down his face. He dropped his rice ball on the seat next to him and clutched his stomach in pain, trying to catch his breath through all his laughter.

Kenji grit his teeth and stiffened. "What's so funny?" he demanded, pointing a finger at his rival, growing angrier by the minute at the mocking laughter.

"Boys," Kaoru warned.

Hideki took a deep breath and trying to contain his laughter, "A woman's chores! Your father does a woman's chores!" He doubled over again, slapping a skinny leg at the thought of a man cleaning house and preparing meals.

Kenji arched a brow at Hideki. He had no idea what the other boy was talking about. His father always cooked, did the laundry, and the shopping. His father liked to do those chores, and Kenji liked to help him. Everyone in their household was capable of doing the tasks that needed to be done to keep the dojo in order, not just his father. Having grown up in a non-conventional household, Kenji knew nothing really of what society expected from women and men. Able hands worked where they were needed, regardless of gender, in his home.

"Does he wear a dress too?" Hideki laughed, hiccuping slightly as he glanced at Kenji.

Kenji's entire body stiffened. It was one thing to try insult his mother's cooking, but to disrespect his father in such a way was totally unacceptable. In a synaptic instant, the red haired boy's glare went from icy pale to a steaming violet, and he throttled Hideki in the face with his half eaten rice ball. The movement was so swift that neither Kaoru was fast enough to stop it or Hideki quick enough to dodge it.

Hideki sputtered in surprise, momentarily stunned that the other child had actually taken action on him and even more shocked that he hadn't seen it coming. He pawed at his smarting face and tried to wipe the rice from his eyes and nose. Once his vision was cleared he roared in outrage and made a short leap for Kenji.

Kenji held his ground, answering the other boy with his own snarl, his violet gaze never wavering. His hand shot out, snatching his mother's bag and delivering a solid hit across the older boy's head before he was slammed back into his seat by the impact of the much larger Hideki. He felt a stab of pain as the air exited his lungs, but nothing could compare to the seething wrath igniting his soul. He bared his teeth in an ugly grimace and prepared to defend himself and his father's honor.

Kaoru gasped in surprise at her son's violent reaction, having never seen him react out of hatred and such rage. She shouted at the two of them, standing swiftly and prying apart the thrashing hands and feet. "STOP IT! Both of you!" Several other passengers stood, ready to help the tiny woman if she needed it, but it quickly became apparent she did not. She tossed Hideki back into his seat by the front of his kimono and swiftly lifted a kicking and growling Kenji off his seat by the back of his shirt.

"What are you doing? You're behaving like animals!" she yelled, her patience finally sapped of all energy. These two were products of their father's rivalry, and she no longer wanted to deal with such foolishness. She quickly surveyed the two children, and when satisfied that neither had received any serious injury, she grabbed Saito's son by the collar of his kimono and threw Kenji over her shoulder, then stormed down the isle to the back of the train.

***********

"Why are you so interested in my son's affairs," Kenshin asked Saito bluntly. Both men were leaning over the railing, unaware of how much time had passed by already, but neither prepared to go inside just yet. From a stranger's point of view, they looked almost friendly with each other, but anyone who knew them would know the truth.

"Just curious, Battousai. I'm hoping to hear you tell me you have plans for that boy, instead of letting him roam wild his entire life. The last thing the police need is a criminal of that caliber roaming around." Saito smirked and glanced at Kenshin.

"Kenji isn't a criminal, Saito. He has morals, he understands right and wrong. I'm not that ignorant," Kenshin snapped. He wondered why he was engaging in this conversation, it was doing nothing to temper his mood and ease his fears. He had to admit, some of what Saito was saying made sense, and it was only the cold, honest truth.

"Not yet he's not," Saito stated, "There's a very fine line between right and wrong, and sometimes that line is totally indistinguishable. People who have power tend to abuse it." It was those people who found justice at the end of Saito's sword. It was his job as a wolf of Mibu to hunt down those who abused their power and sentence them accordingly. He was teaching his son's the same ideals, hoping that the Wolves of Mibu would live on through them, in order to maintain peace in the coming eras. The battousai's son would make a powerful ally, or a dangerous one.

Kenshin nodded slightly, he knew all to well how power corrupted people and even more so how thin the line was between right and wrong. "Kenji is a smart boy," muttered lamely, knowing that would offer no solace. Smarts had nothing to do with it either, smart people were sometimes the most dangerous when gifted with amazing skills. No matter how much he thought things over, he only found himself becoming more worried. He was afraid for his son, fearful of the pain and corruption that could throw the boy over the edge of peace and into a chasm of madness. Anything was possible, and life was not forthcoming with its answers, but Kenshin was determined to find out as much as he could, and prevent his child from suffering as he did.

"Do you plan to train him?" It was a simple question, with a hidden meaning. The former shinsengumi captain wanted to know the sword school Kenji would learn. Would the boy take up his fathers style or be trained by his mother? Saito knew what the answer should be, but waited to hear what the Battousai would say.

"Do I have a choice?" Kenshin shot back, his words cracking sharply over the sound of the train.

Saito shrugged, ignoring the annoyance in the other man's voice, "There are only two choices. The wrong one and the right one." He reached in his pocket and dug around for his cigarettes, feeling the icy glare of the Battousai on him.

Kenshin was steaming now and he grit his teeth, "I don't need you to tell me that, Saito."

Saito smiled as he found his pack of cigarettes and pulled one out between two slender fingers. "Just trying to be helpful, that's all," he smirked, placing one of the sticks between his lips and lighting it carefully.

Kenshin opened his mouth to make a smart retort back at the man, but was stopped short when Kaoru kicked open the door of the train, almost knocking Saito over the railing as the force of the door hit him in the back. She stalked out onto the platform, dragging a frightened Hideki by the front of his kimono, and carrying a distraught Kenji over one shoulder by the back of his shirt. Both children were covered in rice, their clothing in total disarray, and faces flushed. Kenshin looked at his wife, his mouth slightly open, not certain what or if he should say anything. She was mad. Fuming, blazing mad, looking as if she would like nothing more that to throw the children off the train and then push their respective father's over after them.

Saito righted himself and glanced at the threesome. "What's going on here," he demanded sharply.

Kaoru glowered at the tall man for a moment and shoved his son at him with such a force that the tall man took several steps backwards. Hideki clung to his father, hiding his face in the heavy fabric of the dark blue jacket. Kaoru snorted slightly and turned to her husband, leveling him with a smoldering glare. She lifted Kenji over her shoulder and thrust the boy into his father's chest, causing Kenshin to utter a slight " Oof." Kenji snatched his father's gi, one had instinctively reaching for the man's hair and twining his small fingers into it.

"It's your turn." she hissed, making a point to look both men in the eye before turning on her heel and stomping back to her seat.

Kenshin and Saito watched her go, both faces surprised to say the least. They glanced at each other, then at their children, who were also watching Kaoru's retreating form with great relief.

Kenshin shifted Kenji in his arms, trying to remove the small hand from his hair. He had cut it shorter as relief from the heat, but also hoping the boy would stop pulling it so much. For some reason, Kenji attached security to grabbing his father's hair and it was apparent that anything short of being bald would not break the boy of the habit. Giving up, Kenshin winced and tried to look at his son's face. "What happened?" he wondered out loud.

Saito pried his son off of him and stared down at the boy, amber eyes glinting slightly. "Yes, what went on in there, Hideki?"

The dark haired boy swallowed hard under his father's scrutiny, afraid of being scolded, or worse, for misbehaving on the train. It was never a good idea to get on his father's bad side, punishment was often swift and severe. The dark eyes started to well with fearful tears and the boy fell to his knees before his father. "He hit me in the face with a rice ball!" Hideki wailed, pointing an accusing finger in Kenji's direction.

Any fear of his mother's return disappeared at the sound of the other boy's voice and Kenji swung his head around and bared his teeth at Hideki. His eyes glinted violet again in the sunlight and he released his father's hair, his wrathful stare smoldering on the boys fallen form.

Kenshin knitted his brows together disapprovingly. "Kenji, did you do that?"

Kenji hissed at the other boy before wrenching his gaze away. "He started it," he stated, clenching his hands into tiny fists.

"What?" Saito snapped, looking back and forth between both children slowly, before fixing Kenji in an amber stare.

Kenji met the Wolf's eyes with an icy coolness, undaunted by their intensity. "I said," he replied boldly, "He started it."

Kenshin almost laughed at the look on Saito's face when Kenji answered him, he never thought he'd live to see the day that the Wolf of Mibu was totally stupefied, especially by a six year old child. He gallantly retained his composure and frowned at Kenji. "Kenji, it doesn't matter who started what. If you hit Hideki chan with a rice ball, that was not a very nice thing to do."

Kenji made a sharp sound of protest, "But father! He was making fun of you! He said you were short and weak!" Kenji grabbed his father by both sides of his face and looked at the man seriously, "And he said you like to girl things!"

"Oro?"

"Well, he got the short part right at least," Saito huffed, reaching down to yank his son up by his kimono. "Is this true Hideki? Were you harassing the Battousai's boy and giving Himura san a hard time after I left you in her care?" He gave his son a sharp shake, when the boy didn't answer quickly enough.

"Hai, father. I'm sorry," Hideki whispered, avoiding the eyes of his father.

Kenji smirked and uttered, "I told you so," but Kenshin shook his head, cutting the boy off before he could continue. He set the small child down on the ground and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Kenji, you let your temper get the better of you…again. It is wrong to hit someone like that and it is wrong to react so rashly. What did I tell you a few days ago?"

A look of hurt passed over Kenji's face, "But father, he…"

"I don't care what he said Kenji. What he thinks of me is not important. What is important is how my son behaves and conducts himself, and right now I'm not very happy with the results. Wanting to protect your families honor is a good thing Kenji, but only when it's appropriate. What you did was wrong. You reacted with out thinking things through and out of pure spite."

Kenji stuttered again, his bottom lip trembling slightly, but Kenshin stared hard at his son. "I'm not finished," he snapped harshly, "Even worse, you allowed someone to feed your anger and force you to react. That is very dangerous Kenji chan, very dangerous indeed." Kenshin watched as his son dropped his gaze to the ground, his small body trembling slightly. Scolding his son was difficult and tore his heart in two. He hated the sound of his own voice and the sadness in his son's eyes, but it had to be done, he could not expect the boy to take him seriously if he continued to coddle him as he had done for the past six years. Yet every clipped sentence or harsh word tore his heart in two, and Kenshin found it difficult to maintain his abrupt demeanor.

Kenji clamped his jaws shut so tightly they began to hurt and he stared at his sandals. His father's hard-heartedness sent his mind spiraling into a wheel of shame, indignation, and turmoil. He didn't understand what his father wanted of him anymore, these coarse scoldings were completely uncharacteristic of the man, and only confused Kenji. He hated the coldness in his father's voice, the hardness of his disapproving stare, and the untouchable stiffness of the man's posture. He squeezed his eyes shut as he began to feel angry with his father, something totally and utterly new to him, and he didn't like the feeling one bit.

Kenshin watched his son, wondering if the boy was actually going to cry. His son was visibly shaking now, his fists clenched at his sides, and eyes shut tightly. He forced his feet to remain solid, suppressing the urge move forward and hold the boy close. For many long moments the only sound to be heard was the clacking of the wheels on the tracks and the wind in their ears.

Finally, Kenji looked up, his eyes dry and void of any emotion, save one. He was angry. A hurt and confused angry, but he remained silent, only meeting his father's stare briefly before turning to face Saito and Hideki. "I'm sorry for hitting you with my lunch, Hideki," he said in a monotone and dry voice. The apology left a bitter taste in his mouth, for it was a lie. He wasn't sorry for hitting the other boy, but an apology was expected for this incident to be over.

Hideki acknowledged the apology with a slight nod, wiping an eye with the back of his hand. Saito thumped his son on the back of the head and Hideki jumped forward. "I'm sorry for saying all those bad things too," the boy mumbled. Saito thumped him again and the boy frowned, then looked at Kenshin. "I'm sorry, Himura san," he said, kicking at the grating of the platform.

Saito nodded and pushed his son to the door, "Now you go apologize to Himura san's wife."

Hideki's eyes widened and he shook his head slightly. "She's scary," Hideki whispered.

"GO! You should have thought of that before you behaved like such a brat! Do you want me to tell your mother about all this?" Saito shouted at his son.

Hideki leapt forward and dashed through the doors at the mention of his mother and Kenshin began to wonder what kind of woman Saito's wife actually was to make a child move so quickly with the mere mention of her name. He arched a brow in Saito's direction, but the man just shrugged.

Kenshin turned his attention to his son again, but the boy was already moving for the door, his face downcast and dark. "Kenji," Kenshin started, and the boy stopped, not turning to face his father.

"I'm going to mother now. Is that okay?" he asked quietly.

The dagger turned in Kenshin's heart, yet he managed to choke out a simple, "That's fine son." He watched the boy disappear behind the doors and felt his shoulders sag in despair.

"You're too soft, Battousai," Saito replied, noting the other man's sorrow. "He'll get over it. Children are like that, I've got four of them, so I know."

Kenshin cast Saito a gloomy stare, too lost in his own misery to be surprised at the man's almost sympathetic advice. The officer didn't know his son well at all and he had no words to explain his worries to the man. The samurai glanced at the sky, watching the clouds pass by as the train sped onward to Kyoto. He could only hope that things would work out for the best when he got there.

Kenji isn't taking to kindly to his father's new found ability to scold him…and Kenshin isn't dealing well with having to do it either….the two of them are going to have to meet in the middle…hmmm…we'll see…Hey! I like Yahiko (giggles), but he's too fun to torment. I don't picture Kenji playing tricks on his mother and father the way he does on Yahiko…and Sanosuke isn't around enough for Kenji to really get to him (hmmm….thinking)….Anyhoo, next stop, Kyoto and the Aoiya….wonder what ole Aoshi sama will have to say about all this…LOL…