Hikari
By KCSobe
Disclaimer: If we owned it, the world would be really screwy. Totally.
A/N: Well, thanks to everyone who reviewed! Feedback is very welcome, whether it be by email or review. Ideas and suggestions are also welcome. You can email us
Once again, a special thanks to our pal Elizabeth!
Split Personality
Himura Kenshin, known to most of his comrades as the Hitokiri Battousai, left the government building, his thoughts in turmoil over the latest assignment. A part of him was furious that he had been reduced to cleaning up government filth when he had once wielded his sword on behalf of the people. Yet to stand by as the government was threatened would bring chaos upon Japan, and the very citizens whom he had sworn to protect would be the ones who suffered.
Banishing the matter to the back of his head, Kenshin tried to focus on the mission. In order for his disguise as Himura Shinta to be successful, he had to regain control over the bloodlust and fury that made him such a formidable fighter.
Closing his eyes, Kenshin attempted to concentrate. Shinta would be exactly the type of person who would never have survived during the Bakumatsu. He would be meek, polite, and humble- almost excessively so. He carried his sword for protection only, but was suitably unskilled with the blade to avoid drawing attention. Gentle and kind, the type of person you could have been, a voice inside him whispered.
When Kenshin again opened his eyes, any traces of amber were gone. The irises were a soft shade of violet, devoid of the demonic intensity of Battousai. Kenshin sighed and started on his way to Kyoto.
Myojin Yahiko threw his entire weight behind the lunge. Despite it's impressive force, his sensei, Kamiya Kaoru, immediately marched over.
"Look Yahiko. We've been practicing this over and over. Your form is so sloppy, a drunk could get his katana through your defense." She roughly adjusted his arms. "Honestly, if you're not going to concentrate, Yutaro will be ahead of you in no time." The other boy, Tsukayama Yutaro, pulled off his mask and grinned.
"Hear that Yahiko? You'll be eating my dust by the end of next week!"
"Just put the mask back on and shut up, Kohai!" Yahiko snarled. He tightened his grip on the shinai, and narrowed his eyes. His entire body was concentrated on the target before him. With a cry, he sprung forward, the shinai slamming into the framework of the mask. Stumbling backward from the blow, Yutaro barely managed to keep his balance.
"Finally! I thought you'd never get it, Yahiko-chan." Kaoru teased with a mischievous smile.
"I'm not little, busu!" Yahiko snapped. Turning to Yutaro, he smirked. "Maybe in a few decades you'll get to where I am, but I doubt it." Yutaro glared at him, as he replaced his pads in the cupboard.
"Uh, sensei? My father already paid you for my lessons, right?" Kaoru smiled and nodded. "Ok, then I'm off! Bye sensei!" He turned to leave and smirked at Yahiko. "At lest my family can pay for my lessons." He said under his breath before running off.
Yahiko started to chase after him, but gave up when he saw the speed at which Yutaro had retreated. Turning to Kaoru, he smiled weakly.
"Don't worry, busu. I'll get the money by tomorrow."
"Listen, Yahiko, you really don't have to do that. I'm making plenty with my other students, and as long as you keep chopping firewood and doing chores around the dojo, I'll consider your debt paid in full." Kaoru smiled, and ruffled Yahiko's hair. Slapping her hand away, Yahiko turned to go.
"I'll be at the Akabeko if you need me!" He called, and took off into the heart of the city. Despite Kaoru's protestations, he knew he wasn't earning his keep. Not only did she instruct him for free, but he was living under her roof, and (unfortunately) eating her food. Yutaro, for a cat-eyed freak, was right. He had to find a way to pay Kaoru. Fortunately, he had a plan…
Kenshin strolled down the streets of Kyoto slowly. Breathing in the sights, sounds, and smells, he could only marvel at how different this town was from the hellish battlefield of five years ago.
However, this was not time for leisure. In his absence, Kyoto had become an entirely new place. No longer familiar with its winding alleys, he would need to do scouting, mingle with the crowd, and preferably pick up the latest gossip.
About to head towards an open market, his stomach growled menacingly. Wincing,
Kenshin decided on a change of plans. He scanned the nearby stores for a restaurant. A brightly colored sign caught his eye.
"The Akabeko Beef-Bowl Shop," he read aloud. "That sounds promising." Kenshin pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Sekihara Tae smiled warmly at her new customer, a peaceful looking man.
"May I help you?" She asked. He looked up at her with a tranquil, violet gaze.
"Yes. This one would like a table for one, and some miso soup, please."
"Right away." As Tae led him to an open table, she could not resist asking the stranger a few more questions.
"So, are you new to Kyoto?"
"This one has not been here for many years. It has changed a great deal," he replied. "This one's name is Himura Shinta, by the way."
"Sekihara Tae. Are you planning on stay here long?"
"This one has been a traveler for many years. It would be nice to spend a few weeks here, at least. Of course, that is only if this one finds a place to stay."
"Well, I hope you enjoy your visit. But be careful. There has been an unusual amount of violence lately," Tae warned him.
The red-headed customer leaned back with a causal air. Only a very keen observer would have noticed the sudden gleam of interest in his eyes.
"Violence? This one hadn't heard of anything like that," he commented with seeming indifference.
"Well, unfortunately it's true. And I don't just mean brawls in the street, although there have been a lot of those too. But many government officials and wealthy businessmen have been mysteriously murdered. The police are trying their best, but they don't have a clue as to who the man responsible is. Still, you do have a sword. I'm sure that any criminals attacking you will get more than they bargained for," Tae finished up on a cheerful note.
"You're wrong there, Sekihara-dono," the customer laughed sheepishly. "This one has very little experience with the blade. In fact, this one would prefer to not carry a weapon at all, but in the wilderness it's generally a necessity." He handed her the bill, along with the required amount of money. Tae blushed when she realized she had been talking to the stranger throughout his entire meal.
"Thank you for eating at the Akabeko. Do come again!" She beamed, trying to hide her embarrassment. With a gentle nod, the man made his way out of the restaurant.
Yahiko grinned from the corner where he had been sweeping. This man sounded like the perfect victim. Not only was he new to the area, but it didn't sound like he had ever won a fight in his life.
He put down the broom, and quietly slipped out of the restaurant unobserved. Tae probably would not notice his brief absence, and if she did, she would easily forgive him. Besides, with a mark like this, he would be back in a few minutes.
Meanwhile, Kenshin was carefully assessing the information that Sekihara had given him. An outbreak of violence now of all times, was not a coincidence. Undoubtedly, the mysterious murders were connected to Shishio. But the fact that the former hitokiri felt safe enough to assassinate people at will was disturbing. The government must have underestimated how dire the situation really was.
Suddenly, Kenshin stiffened. He could feel a young and inexperienced aura following him. Although relatively weak, there was no doubt that this aura was hostile. Was this some low-level grunt that Shishio had sent to shadow him? Experimentally, Kenshin took a left turn. The aura followed, quickening his footsteps into a run. He turned around just in time to see a small boy shove past him. As he felt fingers slipping into his pocket, he reacted without thinking.
Before the thief could escape, he grabbed the arm, and twisted it behind the pickpocket's back. Glaring down, he saw a boy with messy black hair and brown eyes, who was trying vainly to squirm out of his grip of steel.
Yahiko was scared. Scratch that. Yahiko was terrified. It had all been going according to plan. The Himura guy had been oblivious to his presence. He had brushed past him, lifting the money as he did so, and before he knew it, was trapped. His captor was glaring down at him with those previously peaceful eyes. But now they didn't look so peaceful. Flecks of gold stood out amongst violet, and the face was twisted into a scowl.
Even worse, now that he was caught, Kaoru would know he had been stealing. He could never look her in the eye again, even though he had only been trying to pay her back.
Just as Yahiko was about to stop struggling, he felt the hand on his wrist relax and let go. Confused, he looked up again. The man was looking down at him with a placid, purple gaze.
"If you really need the money so much, young man, you may have it. But try not to get caught next time, all right?" Shinta smiled kindly.
Yahiko felt his entire body sag with relief. Everything would be okay. He had the money to pay back Kaoru, and she would never need to know what he had done. So why did the coins feel so heavy in his hand? Exasperated, he flung them towards the red head.
"Take your stupid money. I don't want it," he sneered, balling his fists. Then he turned to go.
"Well, just remember, stealing is wrong, even though the cause may be just," the man called after him. "There is almost always another way to get what you need." Yahiko froze. He remembered the conversation this Himura Shinta had been having with Tae.
It would be nice to spend a few weeks here, at least. Of course, that is only if this one finds a place to stay. Yahiko smiled.
"Hey you! Himura Shinta!" The man stopped and turned. "I was thinking, uh, I overheard your conversation with Tae, and if you need a place to stay, well, I know just the spot!" He stammered nervously.
"Well, this one does need a place to stay. But I have very little money." Kenshin frowned.
"Hey, that's no problem! I live at this dojo on the outskirts of town, with my sensei, Kamiya Kaoru. She's really nice, and I'm sure she'll let you stay in an extra room." The man regarded Yahiko with a quizzical air.
"Pardon this one's rudeness, but may this one inquire as to the change of mood? Only minutes ago you were trying to rob this one." Yahiko felt his face redden.
"Look, Kaoru could really use the money, okay? And I never can pay her for any of my lessons, so I was just trying to help out. But if you rent a room in the dojo, it'll be almost the same as me paying her back, since I was the one who found you," he explained in a rush. Why did this have to be so complicated?
"Are you coming or not?" He finally asked, after an awkward silence.
"Well, maybe…"
"Great! I'll take you there myself!" Yahiko grabbed the man's arm, and started dragging him down the road.
Kenshin laughed softly to himself as he was pulled along. After all, everything was falling perfectly into place. It sounded as is he had found himself a cheap room that was far enough away from the heart of the city that his presence would be unnoticed.
Of course, there was the small problem of almost losing his temper. He had been expecting a spy, not a pickpocket, and had risked blowing his cover. From now on, whatever happened must be dealt with as Himura Shinta, not Himura Battousai.
No damage had been done, though. Quickly remembering his role as the mild traveler, he had merely given the boy a scare, as opposed to a sword between the ribs.
They were coming up to a small dojo, with a sign that read "Kamiya Kassin-Ryu
Kenjustu". This was no doubt the place that the kid had spoken of.
A woman with long black hair pulled loosely back was in the yard doing laundry.
Her kimono was not particularly fashionable, and her entire person spoke of a down-to-earth approach to life. Yet that could not conceal her obvious beauty. Large blue eyes and pale skin made her look fragile, similar to a doll, but her hands were red and chaffed from the laundry and countless fighting lessons.
"Busu! Stop doing chores, we have company!" The boy snapped.
"Yahiko-chan, that will be fifty more swings for you this evening. Call me busu again, and it will be a hundred," the girl said, her hands on her hips.
"Now then sir, what can I do for you?" Kenshin cleared his throat nervously.
"Well, this one was wondering if you had a room to let," he managed at last.
"Yahiko? Since when am I renting rooms out? This a dojo, not a hotel!" The girl glared at her student. Kenshin noticed that she had picked up a shinai, and was tapping it against her palm menacingly while looking at Yahiko.
"Look, Kaoru, why not? There's plenty of extra rooms, and we could use the money!" Yahiko retorted. Suddenly lunging forward, Kaoru brought the shinai down on his head.
"OW! That hurt busu!" Yahiko yelped.
"One hundred swings," Kaoru smirked.
"What for? I was only trying to help!"
"Maybe next time you'll learn not to talk back to your sensei!"
"Uh, excuse…"
"Fine! The next time I get a good idea, see if I tell you!"
"Hello?"
"Look, your attitude is awful. And I already told you I don't need the extra money!"
"Oh yeah?" Yahiko started, but Kenshin had had enough. He walked over, and stood between them.
"What do you want?" They both snapped angrily.
"This one is sorry for bothering you, since you obviously are not interested in letting a room," Kenshin started, but Kaoru jumped in.
"Actually, I do have an extra room. My student was just speaking in a manner not befitting a samurai," here she glared at Yahiko, "But there really is no problem. Would you like to see it?"
"Yes, please." Kenshin replied, relief evident in his voice.
"Right this way. What did you say your name was?" Kaoru asked frowning.
"It's Himura Shinta, Kamiya-dono." Kenshin looked around the room. It was small, but perfectly adequate for his purposes.
"You can also eat with us," Kaoru added, trying to persuade him.
"Don't scare him away!" Yahiko snickered.
"Why I…" Kaoru began. Sensing another outburst, Kenshin interrupted hastily.
"Actually, this room suits this one's needs just fine."
Later that day, Kenshin walked into his room and closed the door, looking around. It had been a long day, and he was ready to settle down to rest. After that… experience… that was Kamiya's cooking, his stomach definitely needed a rest.
Note to self: Don't let Kamiya cook again. Kenshin thought bitterly as he sat down against the wall. I'll cook dinner tomorrow. Kenshin looked over at the futon and sheets folded up in the corner of the room. He couldn't even remember the last time he had slept on one of those.
Kenshin sighed as he propped his sword against his shoulder and slowly drifted off to sleep.
A/N: Be a pal, and review please! Flames will be used in our oven to make cookies, or a pie maybe! Ciao!
Kohai: Underclassmen or newcomer.
Next time on Hikari:
Dinner guest! But could this rooster headed guest be an obstacle in Kenshin's mission? And what about that creepy Kyoto cop, who seems to know Kenshin from the revolution?!?