Okay, back again with another update. Whoowee. Included in this one is a touch of WAFF for the romance lovers. Don't worry though, we'll correct that next chappie. :) As always, comments are welcome and flames will be used to burn pics of my ex.

'thoughts'

"dialogue"

I don't own, I borrow.

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The Brave Ones

Chapter 6

Hiko shook his head as he stared at his fallen baka deshi. "I see he's still the same weakling he always was." Shifting his bag to hang on the arm holding Takeshi, Hiko grabbed the back of Kenshin's gi and dragged him over by the porch. Setting his bag down, Hiko sat on the porch and proceeded to try to quiet Takeshi by bouncing him. Instead of quieting him, Takeshi began to wail even louder. Hiko glared at the red-faced infant and cradled him with one arm as his other hand came up to clasp the bridge of his nose. "Will you ever shut up baka baby?" he grumbled.

Karou Kamiya had been in the dojo overseeing Yahiko's training when she heard the faint sound of an infant crying. Not thinking much of it she continued with Yahiko's instruction. "Your back needs to be straighter Yahiko!" she yelled, "And watch your stance! Your legs are too close together, you'll be thrown off balance!"

"Grrrr….shut up ugly! You try doing this after cleaning this floor a hundred times," Yahiko shouted in reply.

"I'm not ugly and I did Yahiko-chan! You think you're getting any different training than I did? If I could do it, surely you can. Unless you can't do what a girl did!" she taunted back.

Growling, Yahiko began his swings again. As she watched, Karou became conscious of the sound of a baby crying getting louder. Yahiko's voice broke into her thoughts, "Hey ugly, do you hear a baby crying?"

"Actually I do. It sounds awfully close too. I think I'm going to check on Kenshin outside," she replied, ignoring the ugly comment.

Stepping outside Karou's eyes widened as she saw Kenshin laying on the ground, passed out. Ignoring everything else, she ran to his side. "KENSHIN!" she screamed. She began calling his name over and over and patting his face. Yahiko followed behind her. Swinging his gaze from Kenshin he looked over to the mountain of a man sitting on the porch watching the scene before him with a glazed-over look as he tried to silence the screaming baby in his lap. "Master Hiko?" Yahiko called out. Turning, Hiko cast a look to Karou's apprentice and turned back to the scene in front of him. Karou's patience had finally reached its limits, "Kenshin you jerk!" she called out as she walloped him on the head.

Kenshin's eyes flew open as he muttered, "Ororororororororo." Sitting up he put a hand to the lump forming on his head. Karou's eyes brightened and she called out, "Kenshin," as she glomped onto him.

Hiko watched the two and snorted. "Have a nice nap baka deshi? You know, most people show their guests some courtesy and invite them in. But no, you go and decide to have a nap instead."

Rounding on his master, Kenshin's eyes widened as he called out, "A nap?? How was I supposed to react? You live on a mountain by yourself and you show up with a baby and announce he's your son! Where'd he come from anyway?"

"Baka deshi, were you listening when I explained what happens between a man and a woman?"

Kenshin's face reddened to nearly the same shade as his hair. "Shishou!" Karou looked at Hiko and her face screwed up in confusion. "Son?" she questioned. Hiko looked at her and shook his head, "Kamiya I had hopes for you. Don't tell me you need to be explained the birds and bees as well as my baka deshi?"

Sputtering, Karou tried to regain her composure, "What…I…I…how…" Yahiko's voice silenced her. "So Master Hiko, the screaming baby's yours?" Turning to face the youngster, Hiko nodded. Yahiko's eyes widened as he said, "Wow…."

Kenshin stood up and looked over to the crying bundle in his master's arms. "Shishou, is he okay? Should he be crying like that?" Hiko turned back to his apprentice, "He should be okay, but the baka baby won't stop crying. He cried all the way here on the train despite checking his diaper and trying to feed him. He was dry and ate, but still won't stop. I know he didn't get this from my family line, must've been his mother's." Looking over to his apprentice's landlady, Hiko asked, "Hey Kamiya, you're a woman, what do I do to shut him up?"

Karou's eyes narrowed, "I may be a woman, but I don't know the first thing about babies. Why don't you shut him up yourself? Yahiko, come on. You still have training to complete." With that she stalked off back to the dojo. Yahiko threw a look at the Hiten Mitsurugi master and his apprentice and laughed. "Good luck!" he called out as he ran off after his instructor.

Kenshin shook his head and turned his attention back to his master. "Shishou, you said he's been crying for a long time. Perhaps, something is wrong with him. Maybe we should take him to see Miss Megumi. She can check him out and see if everything's okay." Hiko stood off of the porch. "Well baka deshi, that's the first good idea you've had for awhile. Here you go." Dropping the infant in Kenshin's arms, Hiko turned and strode into the house, calling back over his shoulder, "I'm a bit tired from the trip, I'm going to lay down. You want to show me where I'm staying?"

Kenshin stared after his master his mouth opening and closing, but no sound coming out. Hiko's voice once again broke the silence, "You going to show me my room or stand there, gaping like a fish?" Looking down at the wailing infant in his arms Kenshin said under his breath, "Well, little one let's hope you get your mother's temperament because I don't think I can take another one of him in this world." Kenshin followed his master into the house and showed him the guest room. After helping his master settle in he took the baby and began making his way to Dr. Genzai's clinic. Hopefully the doctor or Miss Megumi could help to stop the wailing.

As Kenshin approached the clinic he noticed quite a few people milling about on the front porch. 'Great, figures she'd be busy today.' He offered an apologetic smile to the glares he got at the crying infant. One woman went so far as to mutter under her breath, "Some people should learn how to control their infants." Kenshin waited patiently in the front room. Megumi soon came out escorting a patient. "You just remember to take that medicine morning and night and you'll be fine in two weeks." The patient bowed respectfully and left. Glancing around the room she soon noticed familiar red hair and an unfamiliar screaming bundle in his arms.

"Sir Ken! Please come this way, what's happened? Where did you get that baby?" Leading him to one of the back examining rooms, she noticed the uncomfortable shifting of Kenshin. Reaching the room she directed him to lay the baby on a padded table. Beginning to examine him she asked the question Kenshin was dreading, "Who's baby is this?"

Kenshin looked at his feet before answering. "Shishou's." Megumi stood up in surprise. "Your master's? Well where is he?" Kenshin babbled over his answer. "Well, you see, it was a long trip and I guess he's been crying for awhile and wouldn't stop and Shishou was tired so he asked me to bring him here and well, here I am." Kenshin smiled weakly. Megumi's eyes narrowed. "You mean your master's child has been crying incessantly and he's not here! Where's the child's mother?" Kenshin's brow furrowed. "Actually Miss Megumi, I don't know. I, ah, didn't quite get the chance to ask." Snorting, Megumi turned back to the examination.

After a few moments of feeling around and looking at the child's body she sat down. "Well, he appears to be healthy enough. I'd guess he's about 2 months old. Since he isn't with his mother, I'd assume he's not being nursed. I wonder if maybe he's not getting enough food. Wait here a moment, Sir Ken." Standing she left the room and returned a few moments later holding a strange glass contraption in her hand.

"What's that?" Kenshin asked. Megumi smiled. "It's something a western importer brought in. They call it a bottle. He brought me a couple and some of the new mothers who've been having trouble nursing have used them. You put milk in the glass part and the rubber top is shaped something like a nipple. There's a small hole in the top and the rubber part screws on with this metal thing. Babies seem to take to it fairly easily. Oh Sir Ken! Ohohohohohoho!"

At the mention of the word nipple, Kenshin had blushed to the roots of his hair. Megumi composed herself. "The mothers that have used them, swear by them. Just make sure soak the glass part in some boiling water when you clean it and be careful not to wash the rubber part in hot water. If the baby doesn't take to it, and that doesn't solve the problem, it may be a condition called colic. If it's colic, there's nothing I can do, except recommend that you take turns with him. He'll outgrow it."

Kenshin nodded at Megumi's instructions. "Thank you Miss Megumi for your help." Megumi picked up the baby and rocked him. His cries subsided somewhat. "So he's your master's?" Kenshin nodded. "Is your master staying with you at the dojo?" Megumi asked. Kenshin appeared to think for a moment, "I believe so. He didn't mention anything about staying at an inn." Megumi handed the baby back to Kenshin along with the bottle. Kenshin mimicked Megumi's rocking action and eventually the baby seemed to calm. "Good," she said, "I'll be by later tonight. Your master and I need to have a discussion about his son's care." Kenshin felt a shiver at the intensity of Megumi's words. "Yes, Miss Megumi." Bowing Kenshin left the clinic and headed to the marketplace.

Returning home awhile later, Kenshin put away the groceries and filled the bottle with milk. Taking the baby out to the porch he sat down and offered the baby the bottle. At first he refused but once Kenshin got the nipple in his mouth he began sucking away. Smiling, Kenshin loosened the wrappings of the infant. A small arm came out. Kenshin smiled at the sight. Putting his finger near the baby's hand, he was surprised at the strength of the grip on his finger. Brushing over the small fingers, his mind began to wander.

Karou had finished with her bath. Walking down the hall she noticed the guest room shoji was closed. She figured Kenshin had shown Hiko to the room and he was resting. Continuing on, she entered the kitchen looking for Kenshin. She noticed the purchased groceries. Turning she headed out to the porch.

The sight that greeted her eyes, surprised her. Kenshin was sitting with the baby on his lap, feeding him from a strange glass thing, while stroking the hand holding his finger. Karou could only see the side of his face, but she'd never seen Kenshin look so contemplative. She softly approached and noticed Kenshin turn to her. His eyes were wide and she felt like she could see through to his soul.

"Kenshin, can I join you?" she asked softly. "Please, Miss Karou," he replied, scooting over to make room for her. Sitting down next to him, Karou was awed at the gentle way the rurouni held the small bundle. She noticed the far-off look in his eyes as he continued to feed the baby.

Karou's voice broke into Kenshin's thoughts, "Kenshin, what are you thinking?" Kenshin turned and looked into Karou's beautiful blue eyes. Turning back to the baby he felt a surge of warmth that crossed over the walls he'd put up in his heart.

"I was just thinking what a wonderful gift Shishou's been given. This little one is innocence embodied. Shishou doesn't yet understand how special he is. Shishou will be able to watch him grow and teach him and be able to feel pride as this little one learns things." Stroking the baby's cheek, Kenshin continued, "This is what I fought for, a world where this little one will never have to know the horrors of the previous generation. He will be able to grow and learn in peace and he can choose his own path in life."

Karou felt tears welling up in her eyes at Kenshin's heartfelt words. Putting her hand on his shoulder, she reached out with her other hand and stroked the baby's head. "Kenshin, your sacrifices weren't in vain." Replacing her hand on his arm with her head, she leaned against Kenshin watching him continue to feed the baby.

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Awwww….I'm leaving you guys with a touch of WAFF. Don'tcha just love it? Don't worry, Hiko isn't gonna let this continue for long. After all, it's sugary enough to give you tooth decay.

I hope to have the next chappie out tomorrow. Til then!