Disclaimer: I do not Rurouni Kenshin or its characters though I wish I did

'..' indicates thought

The Secret Kept From Yahiko

Chapter Seven

From Last time:

"No there is nothing wrong with it Kenshin. I'm just not used to eating so much."

"How much do you eat?"

"I'll give you a hint. The amount of food on the tray, all of it, would have fed me for a month."

"Then they barely fed you?"

"No, they never fed me. It was up to me to find enough food to eat to survive. They didn't care and I had always wondered why until now."

"Why?"

"If I died from starvation all it would mean for them is that they lost the free cash that they earned everyday."

"Well Yahiko you do not have to be worried about not eating enough here."

"Thanks Kenshin, for everything. You didn't have to you know."

"I might not have had to but I wanted to Yahiko."

"Kenshin I have to tell you-" my voice stopped suddenly as I saw my face in the mirror; my eyes were turning a vibrant shade of blue.
Yahiko POV

Not now. Not here. I hadn't explained. I then suddenly felt the same jolt that I had felt the first time I had a vision and I knew my second one was about to come. Sure enough it was.

I was once again in the room where my other vision had taken me, but this one was different. There was no one in the room. Wait a minute, there was. A figure was huddled in the darkest corner. I strained my eyes to see who it was, but instead of getting closer to the figure a sharp pain cracked over my head and I blinked several times to see Kenshin looking at me with a confused expression and heavy breathing behind me.

"Yahiko?"

"Kenshin, is he okay? I didn't mean to hit him too hard; but that was freaky. He was in a trance or something!"

"Ow," I groaned as I rubbed at the large bump that was forming on my head, "what the heck was that for?"

"Your eyes turned blue," the kendo instructor accused,"and I didn't like it so I hit you. Are you all right?"

"As much as I'll ever be."

"Yes I think he all right Kaoru-Dono. Seesha believes that the bokken may have taken more damage. Yahiko would you care to explain? Kaoru-Dono and Seesha are a bit lost."

"Well," I began hesitantly, "that was what I sort of wanted to talk to you about?"

"Go on."

"Uh... you see, I'm still not hundred percent sure of what is going on myself. But when I died and came back Igotpowerstoseethefuture." I said the last part very fast so that maybe they would not understand it and think I was going crazy.

"Did you catch the last part Kaoru-Dono? Seesha did not."

"Nope, I didn't either Kenshin. Yahiko could you repeat that?"

I felt the sense of dread growing in the pit of my stomach. One they found out what I could do they were going to most likely throw me back to the streets.

"I can see the future," I said meekly as I looked down at my feet. "I guess I'll be going now. Thanks for everything." I stood up and started heading towards the door.

"Why?"

"I'm a freak. Abnormal. No one is going to want me."

"Not everyone is like that. Seesha does not want you to leave."

I turned and looked back at Kenshin. "But why? I only cause more trouble than I'm worth, which is nothing."

"I do not believe that you are the one who causes trouble Yahiko. Others do and they put the blame on you and then you believe that everything is your fault. Is that right?"

My gaze traveled back to my feet and I dug my toe into the wooden floor board.

"Yahiko, how long were you part of that gang?"

"About five years."

Kaoru gasped. "He's been abused since he was three?!"

"No," I said looking up at her, "since I was five. I'm ten."

"Yahiko we do not want you to leave, that we do not."

"Don't you hate me? I'm a freak; a nobody."

"We do not hate you Yahiko. And you are not a freak, you are just different."

"And if I stay what am I supposed to do?"

Kaoru spoke up. "You would start learning the Kamiya Kasshin style of martial arts. I do need an apprentice."

"Me learn Kamiya Kasshin?" My eyes lit up. If Gasuke was coming I could use this to defend myself and attack back. Dare I tell them about my premonition?

"Yes. Once we get some meat on your bones we can start training." The assistant master smiled at me.

"Ok." I smiled; not a big smile but a real smile.

"Kenshin gave a rurouni grin. "Why don't we go down to Akabeko for dinner tonight?"

"That's a great idea Kenshin!" said Sano who was walking up the path to where the three of us were sitting.

"Sanosuke! I don't think he was talking to you! You still owe Tae a big bill for all the food you keep robbing off of her and I for one am not paying for you."

"Please Jou-Chan? I'll never ask for another thing again."

"Humph. Fat chance."

"I got an idea!"

"The idiot rooster has an idea? What could that be?" said Megumi as she walked up the front path to the room we were in.

"Yeah." Sano gave a cheesy grin. "We could have the kid get some quick cash for us."

I twisted my hands in my lap. There was no way that I was stealing any money from anyone not a chance of it even if they tried to force me to.

"I'm not stealing anything from anybody. I quit that business," I stated quite firmly, "go find someone else if you want that."

"You baka tori atama! You don't just tell a boy to go steal money to feed your bottomless stomach!"

Sano grinned sheepishly. "It was just an idea. But I don't think it's working."

"You got that right Rooster."

"Fine! Fine! I'll pay for you! I have no clue why I am, but I am and this is the very last time! Next time go earn your own money!"

"Thanks a bunch Jou-Chan! When do we go?"

"When it is time for dinner. Come back at 6:00 and we'll walk down together. Megumi you may come if you wish."

"Why thank you Kaoru, I think I will."

"All right then. Sano I'll see everyone at 6:00." Megumi then grabbed Sano by his ear and proceeded to walk out of the yard dragging him with her.

"Why did he say that?" I asked, "I don't want to do that anymore."

"He's just being stupid. No need to worry. But you can't go out to dinner just wearing those."

I looked own at myself and realized that I was only wearing a pair of white training pants.

"I'll go look for something. My father may have left something from when he was a kid..." Kaoru wandered out of the room absentmindedly.

Kenshin just smiled after her. "Why don't you get some rest Yahiko? You need to regain your strength if you are planning on meeting anyone tonight."

"Who am I meeting?" I yawned.

Kenshin just gave me a knowing smile. "You'll find out tonight."

I hadn't even realized that I was tired until Kenshin told me to sleep. I'd tell them about my vision later. For now, sleep.

6:15 at Akabeko

I had been woken up at 5:30 to get ready to go. Kaoru had found some clothes of her father's and said that they would have to do until she had a chance to take be shopping.

It was a navy blue hakama with a lighter blue gi. Both were made for a ten year old, but Kaoru learned that I fit into more of a seven year old clothes when I came out dressed. The gi came out past my hands and the pants were hanging around my legs like balloons. Kaoru had to roll my sleeves up and tightly knotted the pants.

Back at Akabeko we were led to a table by a shy girl that looked about my age. After she came back with some tea for everyone Kaoru spoke up. "I don't think you two have met yet. Yahiko this is Tsubame, Tsubame this is Yahiko."

"Hi." I said. She smiled and nodded back at me. After she left I turned to Kaoru. "She's pretty shy, huh?"

"Yes she is but she is a sweet little thing. Everyone here at Akabeko thinks she's a good little waitress."

Tsubame came back with a humongous beef hot pot. Sano immediately took charge of being the first to get his chopsticks into the rich smelling food.

An hour later I felt stuffed and very sleepy. I could barely keep my eyes open. I had never eaten such good food in my life. Kenshin seemed to have noticed this.

"I think it is time that we leave, that I do. Yahiko needs to get his rest." Kenshin cam over and scooped me up baby-style.

"I'm not a kid," I muttered, "I can walk."

"You just get some rest Yahiko. Go to sleep."

"Ok." I said my final words for the night and started to drift away towards dreamland with the nagging thought that I had forgotten something.

I woke up sweat clinging to me and the sheets as well as me tangled up. 'Calm down! It was just a dream! Nothing but a dream! You're just acting what you saw earlier. Just a dream.'

I wasn't satisfied with my train of thoughts. That was all too real to jut be a dream. For some crazy reason my dream had brought me to the same place that my vision had earlier. And I had gotten close enough to see who was in the corner... me.

It wasn't good I could say that. It looked like I had become the punching bag again. But how could that happen if I was with Kenshin? Kenshin could easily beat him up and I'd be ok, right?

"Wrong."

My head jerked around and I saw Sapphire standing on the opposite side of the room. "What's wrong?"

"You won't be all right."

"Why not?" I defended myself, "Kenshin isn't going to let anything happen to me."

"I'll say it as simply as I can. You are scared of Gasuke, Yahiko. And there is only one way to overcome that."

"And what would that be?"

"In order for you to overcome your fear, you, by yourself, must defeat Gasuke in a battle. A one on one battle."

"And how the heck am I supposed to do that? I still have a slight fever, am sick, barely allowed out of bed, and you expect me to win? I have never held anything to attack with in my life let alone trained and I have no clue how long I have!" I shouted angrily, but not loud enough to wake Kaoru or Kenshin.

"How long you have?"

"Yeah. How far into the future do my visions go?"

"After you become more experienced you may be able to see up to months, years, hard to say really."

"Fine but what about right now? How far can I see?"

"I'm guessing about maximum a week or so."

"Oh great. So I have less than a week before he tries and kills me. Sapphire, do all premonitions come true? Or is there some way to stop them?"

"Not that I know of unless you can change the future, but you do not have the power to do that so no, nothing can be changed. Why do you ask?"

"I had another one. I think I was kidnapped or something because I was in the same room where Gasuke was holding his meeting. I was tied up in the corner and it looked like I had been the anger extract item."

"Oh Yahiko. Did you tell Kenshin?"

"No, I haven't even said anything about the first one. Should I?"

"I would. They need to know so that they can also be prepared for an assault."

"But they don't even know where I live."

"How hard do you think it is? Kenshin has red hair and goes into town everyday. Plus he has a sword and that is hard to miss. They know where you are Yahiko. Tell Kenshin and Kaoru. Do it now."

"Come with me Sapphire, I can't do this alone."

"Yes you can Yahiko. Explain everything. They'll understand. I must go now." her voice faded and she disappeared.

I quietly left my room and slid open the shoji door to Kenshin's.

"Kenshin?" I called softly.

Instead of an answer I found myself pressed against the wall with a sword to my throat.

"Kenshin? It's Yahiko," I said quite calmly. After all I wasn't unused to being in these situations before.

The rurouni's eyes shot open to reveal a light purple. He saw where his sword was and immediately lowered it. A breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn't even known I had been holding. "Yahiko? What are you doing here? It's 2:40 in the morning."

"I'm sorry Kenshin, but Sapphire told me to tell you now."

"Sapphire?"

"Yeah, she's my guardian angel."

"Oh. What do you have to tell me?"

"He's coming. Within the week. To kill me. But he's not going to kill me here; he' taking me back to wherever the Yakuza's new hideout is. He'll kill me there."

"What? Could you explain Yahiko?"

"I had a vision with the Shuei, Yamchu, Dibreio, and Weuraw syndicates. They are all teaming up with one purpose in mind- to kill me."

"How do you know they are coming this week?"

"Sapphire said that I could only see up to about a week into the future."

"What do you mean he won't kill you when he gets here?"

"My second vision showed be chained up again. It was pretty bad."

"Worse than when I found you?"

"I have absolutely no idea how I looked then so no clue how bad it is in comparing."

"Can we change the future?"

"No, I don't have the power to do that."

"Can we stop him?"

"I think the only way for him to leave me alone I if I beat him in a battle and not the other way around. But no, I don't think we can stop him; so after he catches me just find me fast."

"So if you need to beat him you need to start training. Have you ever tried before?"

"Nope, but I'm a fast learner otherwise I would have already been dead." I grinned. "Can we start today?"

"Seesha would think it is a good idea to start your training, but you are in no condition to be doing anything of the sort, that you are not."

"But Kenshin, I have to try, please! If I don't..."

"Seesha will talk to Kaoru-Dono later Yahiko. You need to get some sleep. We shall see in the morning. All right?"

"All right Kenshin. G' Night."

"Good night Yahiko."

I walked slowly back to my room and opened the door. I was about to climb back into bed, but I felt like something wasn't quite right. I couldn't remember leaving the window open; even if it was only a crack.

I was going over to close it when a familiary cold voice welcomed me."It is nice to see you again Yahiko."

A hand clamped over my mouth as arms circled around me and a knife was pressed to my throat. Like it or not; my vision had come true. I was caught.
Author's Notes:

Hey everyone! Sorry it took so long for me to update! I was on vacation in Arizona and California for 8 days and didn't have time to update!

Arizona was awesome though! I went to see the Grand Canyon! It was breathtaking! So was the whole of Arizona! I loved the mountains! When we got to California we went to California Disney adventure park! I went on the California Screamer three times!!! That's the huge rollercoaster that goes upside down!

Please review! Abayo!

Reviewer's Comments:

IcyPanther Yes I did mean heart. Thanks for the spelling correction!

Bloody Akiko Nagi the Insane Yep again. And even to this chapter too!

StarofFoam Thanks for the congragulations!! I just had to add something supernatural to the story!

Kyra Rivers I'm glad you like it! As for the 110 degrees thing, I didn't know when you would die, so I picked a temperature that was relatively high!

HalownKougra No, he's not going crazy like Hitomi; I hope you found the answer in this chapter!

Tocole Future vision is cool! And I was so happy to see that you updated!!