Hello again all! I'm back with another update. Most likely the last one until I get back on the 30th. So sorry to make you wait! Anyways, last chappie we had a bit of WAFF, of course, since Hiko is our main character, that can't continue. So without further ado, here's chapter 7!

'thoughts'

"dialogue"

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The Brave Ones

Chapter 7

Hiko exited the room he'd been staying in. Walking down the hall he made his way toward his baka deshi's ki. The rest had helped to eliminate the near-constant headache he'd had since this baby came into his life. Stepping out onto the porch he came across Kenshin and Karou sitting together. Noting Karou's head on Kenshin's shoulder, Hiko couldn't resist the opportunity to embarrass his deshi. "Well isn't this just the picture of domestic tranquility." Hiko chuckled as Kenshin jumped at his voice. "If you want one of your own, I could explain how to make one," Hiko teased. Karou's face turned bright red and she stalked off in the opposite direction. Kenshin's eyes focused on his shishou and narrowed. "Shishou…" he warned. Hiko smirked. "Still lacking a sense of humor I see."

Crossing to Kenshin, Hiko sat down next to him. "What did the doctor say? Is he alright?" Kenshin noted the slight undercurrent of worry in Hiko's voice. "Hai. She said he should be fine. She couldn't find anything wrong with him and thought this bottle-thing would help. She thought maybe he wasn't getting enough to eat. So far, it seems to be doing the trick," Kenshin responded. 'I don't think I'll mention the part about colic. I have a feeling shishou might get a little upset at that.' Hiko nodded. Kenshin noticed the baby had almost finished eating. Deciding to get a few questions answered, Kenshin spoke up again.

"Shishou, what's his name?" Hiko looked up at the sky while he thought. "Takeshi," he answered. "Takeshi. It's a good name. May I ask where his mother is?" Kenshin asked. Kenshin noted the stiffening of his shishou's frame. Hiko's voice lost some of it's gruffness as he answered. "She's dead." Kenshin's eyes widened. Looking down to Takeshi he thought for a moment. "Shishou, how did she die?" Hiko sighed. Fixing his eyes on a spot across the yard he answered his deshi. "She was shot to death with arrows in front of me. I'd heard a commotion in the forest, when I went to check it out, I saw her running towards me. I wasn't fast enough to be able to save her. With her dying words she told me he was my son." Kenshin's eyes softened as he watched his shishou answer. "I'm sorry," Kenshin said. Hiko nodded. Returning to his usual gruff self Hiko asked, "So is that it with the questions?" Kenshin frowned. "Actually Shishou, I have one more. Why are you here in Tokyo?" Hiko stood up and took two steps forward. "The man responsible for her death is a syndicate leader in Kyoto. I asked your friends at the Aoiya to track him down for me. They discovered he's here in Tokyo, so I came here to find him." Kenshin thought for a moment. "Shishou, do you plan to kill him?" Hiko didn't hesitate to answer, "Yes."

As they sat there in silence, Hiko became aware of a familiar ki approaching. "Oh yeah, baka deshi, I forgot to mention those folks at the Aoiya made me bring something with me," Hiko said smirking. The gate crashed open and Kenshin started as he saw Misao bounce through. He'd been so intent on listening to his shishou, he'd ignored his surroundings.

"Himura!" Misao shouted as she bounced over and hugged him. Kenshin squeaked for her to stop and Takeshi began to fuss. Misao looked down at the infant a slight frown on her face. "Is he still wailing all the time?" she asked. Kenshin smiled. "No, we've got it figured out. He should stop that now." "Thank heaven!" Misao said as she beamed. "That kid was nothing but a pain the entire way here." Jerking her thumb at Hiko she continued, "I can understand where he gets it from." Hiko smirked. "Well weasel, you find anything out yet?" Misao sat next to Kenshin. "Yup. There's going to be a meeting tomorrow at the Golden Oyster restaurant. He's supposed to be there." Hiko nodded. "Good, the sooner I can kill him, the sooner we can go home."

Karou's voice called out, "Kenshin where's the daikon radishes?" "Oro! Miss Karou, I was going to make dinner, that I was," Kenshin replied. Stepping around the corner, Karou spotted Misao. The two girls ran and hugged each other immediately asking one another about what had been going on. Standing to the side and watching all of this, Hiko shook his head. "I don't know what's a worse racket, the baby crying or those two." Both girls stopped their conversation and glared at Hiko.

"C'mon Misao, let's go talk in my room. Oh Kenshin, would you mind finishing dinner?" Karou called as she led Misao away. "No problem, Miss Karou," Kenshin said smiling. Hiko snorted and began walking toward the gate. "Shishou, where are you going?" Hiko looked back. "I'm going to get some sake, I doubt you've got any here I'd be interested in drinking. Take care of Takeshi til I get back!" With that, Hiko disappeared through the gate. Looking down at Takeshi, Kenshin gave an "Oro."

Sano exited the house he'd been gambling in since early afternoon. "Damn it all, what's wrong with my luck! I just need to win once in a while. Is that so much to ask?" Looking at the sun and feeling his stomach rumble, he smiled. "Looks like its time to swing by the dojo and see about some dinner."

A few minutes later, Sano entered the dojo yard. Looking around he noticed it was empty. A wonderful smell wafted up to his nose. Smiling he made his way to the kitchen. The sight that greeted him, made him laugh. Pulling himself together he looked at his friend bouncing with a baby strapped to his back as he chopped vegetables.

"Hey Kenshin, I can understand the cooking thing, cause no one wants to eat Karou's cooking, and the laundry's a little on the strange side, but we've got to talk about the babysitting thing." Sano taunted.

Kenshin turned and glared at his friend as he continued to bounce. "I'll have you know that while you may find it funny, my bouncing is the only thing that's keeping him from melting down, that it is. I'd like to be able to continue to hear, so I bounce. Unless of course, you'd like to do it…"

Sano put his hands up, "No I can see you're doing an excellent job," he said, chuckling. "Who's kid is it anyway?" he asked. "Shishou's," Kenshin responded. "Your master had a kid! Man, I'd like to meet the woman who's a saint for doing that. Where is she?" Sano asked. "Dead," Kenshin responded. "Whoa, you mean your master's got an infant and he's alone?" Sano asked. "Yes," responded Kenshin. Sano shook his head. "Poor kid."

Hearing the bell for the gate, Kenshin asked Sano to answer it. Opening the gate, Sano broke into a smile. "Kitsune, long time no see." Frowning, Megumi walked past him muttering, "Not long enough." Closing the gate, Sano shook his head. "Well hello to you too." Turning he followed her into the kitchen.

Just as they were rounding the corner they heard a loud "Oro!" Megumi raced into the kitchen to see Kenshin holding his gi away from his arm, with baby spit-up all along the sleeve. Laughing, Megumi placed her hand over her mouth. Sano started laughing and holding his sides. Kenshin glared at them both. "It's not funny," he said.

Megumi calmed down and walked up to Kenshin. Taking Takeshi, she smiled at Kenshin. "You gave him the bottle she asked?" Kenshin nodded. "Did you pat his back til he burped afterward?" she asked. "No…" Kenshin said. "Oh Sir Ken! You have to burp babies after you feed them." Kenshin rolled his eyes, "Thanks for telling me Miss Megumi, after you gave me the bottle."

"Kenshin, buddy, go get changed," Sano called out. "I would, Sano, except this one doesn't have a spare gi," Kenshin replied. At that moment, Misao and Karou entered the kitchen. "Kenshin, how long til din…" Karou started and then saw his gi. Giggling she tried to stop but found she couldn't. Misao joined in with her. "Hey Missy, do you have any spare gi's in the training hall or something?" Sano asked. "No. Why?" Karou asked. "Apparently Kenshin doesn't have a spare," Sano laughed. "Oh my! I guess you could borrow one of mine…" Karou said and the whole kitchen minus Kenshin busted out in more laughter.

Hiko returned in time to see dinner being placed on the table. Taking the seat Karou indicated, he quirked an eyebrow when Kenshin entered wearing a white gi that came just past his elbows. "Trying a new look, baka deshi?" he asked. Growling, Kenshin ignored his master. Karou's eyes narrowed as she shot a glare at Hiko. "Your son decided to mess up his other one and he doesn't have a spare. You might want to apologize," she said. Hiko looked at Kenshin and back to Karou. "Knowing my baka deshi, he probably brought it on himself. Were you bouncing him or something?" Hiko asked. Kenshin turned red and started stuttering. "I…well…he wouldn't stop crying unless I did!" Kenshin finally spat out. Hiko merely shrugged. Megumi narrowed her eyes. "Master Hiko, I need to speak with you after dinner about your son's care," she said. Hiko looked at her. She raised her head higher. "Okay," he said.

Everyone ate with the usual antics. Yahiko and Karou got in a fight and Kenshin tried to calm them down. Megumi and Sano traded insults back and forth at each other. Takeshi slept through the whole thing wrapped in his blanket on a cushion. Misao and Hiko at the end of the table sat and watched it all. Misao sat with a bewildered look and Hiko sat with a bemused look. Once dinner was complete, Hiko stepped out onto the porch with his sake and Takeshi. Sitting next to a pole, he sat the sake next to him and looked at his son's sleeping face. Megumi had followed him out.

Standing behind him, she watched the scene in front of her with interest. Hiko became annoyed. Turning, he addressed her. "You going to just stand there or did you want something?" Megumi bristled at his gruff demeanor. Walking over, she kneeled next to him. "I told you earlier we needed to speak about your son's care." Hiko uncorked the sake jug. "What about it?" Megumi gave him a sidelong glance. Tossing her hair over her shoulder she continued, "You didn't come with Kenshin to the clinic. Weren't you worried about your son?" Hiko took a gulp of sake. "Not really. I figured he was in pretty good hands." Megumi turned to him as she began to get angry. "How could you not be concerned about your son whom I was told had been crying incessantly? What kind of father are you?" Hiko chuckled to himself. Turning back to Megumi he stared at her intently. "What kind of father am I? That's a good question. I'm not sure yet. One thing I can tell you though, I'm the kind of father who knows when he's reached his limits. I gave him to my baka deshi so I wouldn't hurt him. I've had a near-constant headache ever since I've gotten him. This isn't exactly my area of expertise."

Megumi sat and thought for a moment. Turning back to Hiko she looked at Takeshi in his arms. "You're alone with him, aren't you?" Taking another swig of sake, Hiko looked up at the night sky. "His mother was killed in front of me, so yes I'm alone with him." Megumi put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm very sorry, Hiko. You must still be hurting." Hiko didn't say a word, he just took another swig of sake. Megumi stood. "Hiko, come by the clinic when you have some time. I'll teach you a few tricks that will make it easier to take care of him." With that, she turned and left Hiko alone.

Sitting and staring at the night sky, Hiko thought over Megumi's question. 'What kind of father am I? I wish I knew. I didn't ask for this. When I took in Kenshin, I was taking in a student, not a son. I don't know how to be a father. This isn't something I ever planned on. Maybe it would've been different if Yuriko were here, but me alone with this? Kami, why didn't I take her out of there? I told myself I had nothing to offer her, but surely a life on a mountain with a grumpy master swordsman would've been better than what she had.' Stroking Takeshi's cheek, Hiko scowled. 'You don't deserve this kid. You deserve a happy life. I'm not sure I can bring anyone anything but pain.' Hiko removed his hand from Takeshi as he felt his baka deshi approaching.

"Shishou, can I join you?" Kenshin asked. Hiko nodded. Kenshin sat down and looked up at the stars. Silence stretched between the two for a few minutes. Hiko finally broke it. "Listen baka deshi, not that I expect it, but if anything happens to me tomorrow, I want you to take care of Takeshi." Kenshin's eyes bugged out. "Shishou? Are you feeling okay?" Growling, Hiko replied, "I'm fine. I just don't want to leave Takeshi without someone to take care of him." Kenshin nodded. Looking back up to the night sky, he wondered what his shishou was thinking about.

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Okay, sorry for the short chapter all, but right now that's about the best I can do. However, next chapter will be my first ever big fight scene! Oooooh. Oh yeah, look for another character that we all know and some of us love to enter the picture. See ya on the 30th! Happy holidays all!!!!