Hello all! It's been a looooong time. Now that I've completed my first quarter of grad school, I will be picking back up my fanfiction. I plan to post another update Sunday and then I won't be able to do another update until Thursday at the earliest. My plan is to try to wrap this story up before I start school again Jan. 5th. Let's see if I can do it! On to the fic…

'….' thoughts

"…" dialogue

Hiko walked out of The Lotus Room and slowly made his way to the only other place he knew in Kyoto besides the sake shop. He needed information. Rei had given him a clue as to what Yoshida was involved with, now he needed to know how to find him.

Wrapped up under his cloak, Takeshi began to squirm. Hiko noted the infant's movements and contemplated the time. 'Hmmm….it would seem it's been about three hours since we left Takeda-san's house. You must be getting hungry.' "Hang in there kid, the place we're headed is a restaurant, I'm sure they'll have some milk for ya."

Picking up the pace, Hiko wove through the crowded streets. Hiko glanced to his right and saw the sign he was looking for. 'Hmph, nearly passed it.' Walking in to the front he noted a small woman approaching him. She seemed distracted.

"Hello, sir. Welcome to the Aoiya. How can I help you?"

"Hello there Okon. Is Okina available?"

Okon looked up. "Master Hiko! I'm sorry I didn't acknowledge you."

"It's all right. Can you see if Okina is…" At that moment Takeshi decided to make his presence known with a loud wail. "..available? And could I possibly get some milk? Seems someone is hungry, again." Hiko took Takeshi out from under his cape and began bouncing him in an attempt to silence him.

Okon's eyes widened at the sight of the Mitsurugi Master bouncing a baby. "Follow me please," she said. Okon led Hiko through the public part of the restaurant to the private rooms in back. Stopping by a closed shoji, Okon knocked and hearing a reply, she opened the shoji stating, "Okina, Master Hiko is here to see you."

"Master Hiko! What a surprise! Please sit. What brings you to the Aoiya?" Okina asked. His eyes widened at the sight of the bundle in Hiko's arms, but he said nothing.

"I need some information. I'm looking for a syndicate leader by the name of Yoshida. I believe he heads one of the syndicates here in Kyoto, but I could be wrong," Hiko replied.

"Yoshida? Do you mean Aritomo Yoshida?" Okina asked.

"Perhaps. Is he the only syndicate leader with that name here in Kyoto?" Hiko replied.

"He's the leader of the Kodoro gang here in Kyoto. They're a very dangerous lot. We try to keep an eye on their activities, but it's been difficult to get information on them. Can I inquire why you're looking for him?" Okina eyed the bundle in Hiko's arms again.

"I've got a score to settle with him. Some flunkies of his paid a visit to my mountain this morning and killed someone close to me. I managed to get a hold of one of them and was questioning him when he was killed by his comrade. Yoshida's name was the last thing he said."

"I see," Okina said. "Yoshida's gang is known for keeping close ranks. It's one reason we have trouble getting information on them."

Hiko nodded in response to Okina's information. Takeshi began to squirm and Hiko looked down to see him working himself up for another wailing. He began to bounce him in an effort to stave off the meltdown that was surely coming.

Okon entered the room with a tray of tea and a bowl of milk and a cloth. She poured Okina and Hiko a cup and set the bowl and cloth down in front of Hiko. Hiko thanked her and took the cloth and soaked it in the milk. Lifting it to Takeshi's lips he breathed a sigh of relief when the infant started sucking on it.

Okina watched Hiko intently. Finally his curiosity got the best of him. "Master Hiko, may I ask where the infant came from?"

Hiko looked up from feeding Takeshi. Pausing, Hiko wrestled with his answer. "His mother was the one Yoshida's men killed. She was someone special to me. The baby's name is Takeshi…he's…my son."

Okina listened to Hiko's answer. 'A son! This man Yoshida is dead, he may not know it yet, but he soon will.' "Master Hiko, I'm very sorry to hear this. If you'll excuse me, I'll start sending word through our network to try to find the location of Aritomo Yoshida. It's late so I may not have word until morning. Would you like to stay here for the evening? It would be difficult to travel back to your mountain with Takeshi at this hour."

"Thank you, I will. Besides I don't want to waste any time finding Yoshida."

Okina nodded. Rising from his seat he left the room to notify Okon to prepare a room for Hiko and Takeshi and to prepare extra for dinner.

Okina had only been gone for a few minutes when the shoji suddenly flew open.

"Hey Gramps, guess what!" Misao's voice rang out loudly in the small room.

Turning Hiko glared at her as Takeshi jumped at the sudden intrusion and began to fuss. "Okina's not here. Do you have to be so loud?" Hiko responded, glaring ice at Misao.

Glimpsing the infant in Hiko's arms, Misao gasped. "What are you doing with a baby?"

"Hasn't anyone explained the birds and bees to you, weasel?"

Stomping her foot Misao took a deep breath about to let Hiko have it when Okina stepped into the room. "Misao, there you are! We've been wondering when you were going to return from the temple. I take it Aoshi enjoyed his tea?"

Turning toward Okina, Misao remembered what she was going to tell Okina. "Gramps, guess what! I got Aoshi to smile. It was just a little one, well just the corners of his lips turned up a little, but it was still a smile and I know there's a bigger one in there somewhere. I'll bring it out, I know I will!"

Smiling Okina replied, "Ah Misao that's wonderful. I knew you could do it. Listen, Master Hiko and his son…"

"SON???" Misao shouted turning back toward Hiko.

Looking up at the girl Hiko glared as Takeshi again was startled and began to fuss.

Unphased Okina continued, "Yes, Misao, Master Hiko is here with his son, Takeshi. They've had a difficult day. Please show them to their room and then help Okon and Omasu prepare another setting for dinner."

"Yes Gramps. Master Hiko, follow me."

Nodding his assent, Hiko stood with Takeshi in his arms. Takeshi had eaten his fill and was looking around with wide eyes. Misao led the way from the room up the stairs. She stopped at a shoji and opened it.

"This is where guests stay. It looks like it's been prepared for you, except I don't know where you're going to put the baby. I can't believe you have a baby! Where's his mother?" Misao asked.

"Weasel has anyone tried to teach you manners?"

"Excuse me, but you live on a mountain by yourself and then you all of a sudden show up with a baby? You can't blame a person for wondering."

"His mother was killed this morning and I would like nothing more than to just sit down and relax for a bit and try to figure things out. So leave me alone!" Hiko ground out.

"I'm sorry…I didn't know." Misao looked down at her feet. Hiko brushed past her into the room and slammed the shoji. 'Hiko has a son and his mother was killed. Poor little guy. I wonder what happened. He was in Gramps' room. Gramps'll know!' Rushing off Misao went to look for Okina.

Misao searched the entire Aoiya and couldn't find Okina anywhere. Stopping on the back porch she noticed the door to the storage shed was open. Walking up she peered inside. "Gramps! What are you doing?"

"I was just looking for…a ha! There it is." Okina pulled out a lump wrapped in fabric.

Coughing, Misao tried to fan away the dust that was rising. "You found what Gramps? We never go in here."

"This!" Unwrapping the lump, it turned out to be a rectangular basket.

"What is it?" Misao said, looking at it confusedly.

"It's your baby basket! You stayed in this while you were an infant. I was trying to think where we'd put Takeshi when I remembered this was out here. We have some clean linens inside which can be put in here to cushion it."

"I stayed in that?" Misao said looking at it closer. "But it's so small!"

Laughing Okina replied, "Yes Misao, you were once this small. It's the right size for Takeshi and will make it easier for Master Hiko to sleep this evening. What little sleep he gets."

"Gramps, where did Takeshi come from? I mean, I asked Hiko about his mom and he got upset."

"Misao, you shouldn't pry. I didn't ask the particulars, but I understand she was killed. That leaves Takeshi to Master Hiko's care. From watching, I can tell Master Hiko is awkward with him. I don't believe Master Hiko has had him very long. I have asked Okon and Omasu to help him learn the basics of how to take care of him. I've sent Omasu to go get some diapers."

"So you noticed he was wrapped up in a shirt too?" Misao asked, smiling.

"I might be old, but these eyes don't miss anything! I can just imagine the proud Master Hiko having to take off his shirt to wrap a baby in it." Okina said, chuckling. "All kidding aside, things will be very difficult for Master Hiko. Infants require a great deal of care and it can be hard for two parents, much less a father on his own."

"Poor little guy." Misao said looking back toward the Aoiya.

"Yes, Misao, Takeshi has learned very early the cruelties of life." Okina said looking toward Hiko's room.

Awww, I ended it on a sad note. But on the bright side, the next chapter will hopefully move the story along and bring in everyone's favorite baka deshi! (If you don't know what that means, read a few RK fanfics, you'll figure it out!) I hope to have it out by Sunday. Also, I don't want to be a whiney person who says review or I stop, but honestly reviews (even negative ones) let me know people are reading this and can help motivate me to get it done (just ask Unseen Watcher!). Let me know what you think!