Greetings! Sorry I haven't updated this as quickly as my other story on That story, "Control" has really been coming along in my head, pushing this one to the backburner. However, for your wonderful reviews, here's the next installment! By the way, thanks to all those who've pointed out that I've been spelling Kaoru wrong. I've corrected it here and will fix it in other chapters after I finish the story.

'thoughts'

"dialogue"

I don't own, you don't sue.

The Brave Ones

Chapter 9

The streets cleared in a wave as an impressively large man with a sword strapped to his belt and a scowl made his way past. Clutched in his arms was an infant, cooing and trying to grab the edges of the white cape the man wore. As people watched him walk past they shook their heads in confusion at the group seen following him. Right behind him a young girl walked with her head down. She was dressed in a ninja outfit. Following behind her was the former fighter-for-hire Zanza, now known as Sanosuke Sagara. Sano's head was down as well and judging by the hunch of his shoulders he wished he could melt into the ground. Behind Sano, Kenshin walked, trying to calm people with a weak smile. Every few moments Kenshin would look over his shoulder, confirming that the former Wolf of Mibu followed along. Saito was smoking a cigarette and smirking. People clustered into groups discussing the strange group after they'd passed by.

Reaching the gate at the dojo, Hiko pushed it open and entered the yard. Kaoru came out of the house, after hearing someone arrive. Her eyes widened as she took in the look on Hiko's face. He was barely controlling his fury. Yahiko joined Kaoru at her side and gave an involuntary tremble at the imposing presence that Hiko currently was.

Walking up the steps, Hiko shoved Takeshi into Kaoru's arms.

"Take him inside," he growled.

Kaoru was about to say something when she saw Misao and Sano behind Hiko with a look of utter fear on their faces. Scanning behind them, she saw Kenshin enter the yard and give her a small nod. Cooing to the infant, Kaoru turned away and entered the house. Yahiko took a second look at Hiko's face and scurried after her.

Kenshin looked behind again and saw Saito had followed the group into the yard. Narrowing his eyes slightly Kenshin inquired in a low voice as to what Saito was doing.

Smirking, the cop lit another cigarette.

"I've come to see the show, of course. Those two ahous ruined an investigation that took months to build. Besides, someone should be here to make sure your Shishou doesn't lose control," Saito smirked.

Kenshin merely shook his head, knowing that the Wolf wouldn't leave unless he wanted to. Kenshin realized that Saito had a valid claim. Sano and Misao had disrupted an investigation, but Kenshin didn't think they'd done it on purpose. Either way, Saito wouldn't be satisfied until he saw them punished. Raising his eyes, Kenshin stared at his Shishou's back. Hiko had yet to turn around and Kenshin could only imagine what was going on in his mind.

Hiko stood, taking deep breathes and trying to calm some of the rage boiling in his blood. He knew if he didn't get a modicum of control, he would likely injure the two standing behind him. Although in his mind a portion was arguing for it. Nothing could describe the fear that had gripped his heart when he saw those men bearing down on Takeshi. Hiko had felt powerless and for a master of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, powerlessness was not a feeling he was accustomed to. He was still working on getting ahold of himself when Sano's voice broke the silence.

"Look, we're sorry. We didn't plan to get into a battle. We'd just come down to offer a hand if need be," he tried to explain.

Hiko lost control of his emotions. Spinning around he locked eyes with the fighter and Sano felt his stomach drop into his feet at the blazing look of fury on Hiko's face.

"You're sorry? You're sorry?" Hiko questioned, taking a step toward the fighter.

Sano gulped.

"Y-yeah…," Sano said, trailing off.

Hiko walked until he was nearly toe-to-toe with the fighter.

"And would you tell me you're sorry when you'd gotten Takeshi killed? Would sorry make it alright? You have no sense in that head of yours. Give me one reason why I should let a total baka like you live for one more moment," Hiko yelled, his voice shaking the dojo walls.

Kenshin's eyes widened. He'd never seen his shishou like this before. The anger and rage pouring off of him was a tangible thing. Taking a step forward, Kenshin meant to intervene.

Hiko sensed movement and pinned his baka deshi with a look that froze him in his tracks. Turning his attention back to Sano, he stared at the fighter.

"Well? Aren't you going to tell me why I should let you live? Or should I just end your miserable existence right here?" Hiko said, just loud enough for Sano to hear.

Sano shook. Racing, his mind tried to comprehend that he was going to die here. Misao's voice broke his thoughts.

"We're very sorry Master Hiko. We never meant for anything like this to happen. We couldn't find anyone else to take care of him. We figured if we were careful nothing bad would happen. I-I can't give you a reason not to be mad, but would hurting us really make things better?" Misao asked, her head hanging low and her voice thick with emotion.

Hiko stepped away from Sano and approached Misao. Reaching out he lifted her chin. Looking into her eyes he could see tears rolling down her cheeks. Removing his hand he walked past to stand behind Misao and Sano. Facing the gate, he addressed the two.

"If you ever do something so stupid with my son's life ever again, I will not hesitate to cut the two of you down where you stand. Do you understand?" he ground out.

Both guilty parties mumbled, "Hai."

With long strides, Hiko began to cross the yard to the gate. When he reached Saito, Saito spoke.

"Personally, I would've killed the ahous. But I guess you're just a soft-hearted fool like your deshi," Saito said smirking.

Hiko stopped and regarded the police officer for a moment.

"Personally, I don't give a damn what you think," he said as he walked out of the dojo.

Kenshin watched his shishou leave. He was pretty certain that Hiko would be looking for the nearest sake-house. Shifting his eyes, he regarded Saito.

"Is there anything else you need Saito?" he asked.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Saito said, walking forward to address Sano and Misao.

"Rooster, why did those men attack you?" he asked.

Sano narrowed his eyes at the officer. Despite his censuring before, he still wouldn't cower before the former Shinsengumi leader.

"I'd had some dealings with them back when I was a fighter-for-hire. I'd been hired to fight them by a rival gang when they invaded territory. I was bored and figured, why not? They'd pledged to pay me back one day. I guess they figured today was the day," Sano said.

"Hmph…," Saito snorted. "More likely they figured you were working for that rival gang and trying to break up their meeting with Yoshida's group. Gangs tend to be protective of their territory."

"Whatever," Sano said. "Either way I showed them that you don't mess with me."

"Yes, they won't mess with you," Saito said. "But you'll tremble with fear at mere words from Battousai's shishou. Some intimidating figure you are…"

Sano's eyes narrowed. "You want to make something of it?"

"I really don't have time for idiots like you. I have to pick up the pieces of an investigation you ruined. If I see you around another meeting like today, I'll kill you on the spot. I'm not merciful like Battousai's shishou is," Saito said, walking away.

Misao watched him leave, clenching her fists. Moving her eyes, she saw Kenshin look at the two of them, shaking his head.

"You learned an expensive lesson today, that you did," he said. "What possessed you to take Takeshi with you?"

Misao snapped. "Well if your arrogant, thick-headed, prideful, infuriating shishou had listened to me, we wouldn't have had to! Why won't he listen to anyone?"

"Shishou doesn't want anyone else to be involved, that he doesn't. He was looking out for your well-being. By not listening to him, you not only put your own lives in danger, but Takeshi's. I think that scared Shishou," Kenshin said.

"And he's not a man used to being scared," said Sano. "We really screwed up, didn't we?"

Kenshin nodded his head. "However, Shishou will forgive you. I would just stay clear of him for the time being. C'mon, you can help me prepare dinner for everyone."

Kenshin and Sano walked toward the house. Misao watched them for a moment. Turning back toward the gate, she whispered, "Sorry Master Hiko," before turning and following the two into the house.

Elsewhere in Tokyo, Aritomo Yoshida sat in a lavish room in an inn. Before him a hired geisha poured sake while he contemplated what to do with the information he'd discovered today. He'd never forgiven Seijuro Hiko for the bond he'd formed with the girl Yuriko. From the moment Hiko took the girl away from him, he'd sworn revenge. Each time he visited the teahouse he exacted that revenge on Yuriko, torturing her body in whatever way he could. The ultimate slap in the face had been when he'd purchased the girl from the teahouse and she'd run before he could get her. She'd managed to evade him long enough to bear a whelp, a whelp he knew wasn't his. When his men tracked her down and she ran for the mountains, Yoshida knew she was running to Hiko. That's when he'd put two and two together, the whelp was Hiko's. Seeing Hiko here in Tokyo with an infant confirmed it. If Yoshida couldn't get his revenge on Yuriko, there was always her son. Calling out, he waited for one of his men to arrive.

The shoji slid open, revealing one of Yoshida's lieutenants. Staring at the man, Yoshida noted the slight glaze of fear about his eyes.

"Kenobi, I want you to post men to watch over the actions of the man we saw today in a white cape. His name is Seijuro Hiko. Warn your men, he's a swordsman of excellent skill and he has the ability to detect surveillance unless your men are very careful about it. I want to know where he's staying, with whom and what his activities are. I want answers quickly. I will punish from the top down, should it take too long. Am I clear?" Yoshida said, narrowing his eyes.

"Y-Yes, sir," Kenobi said, bowing and racing off to fulfill his orders.

Yoshida smiled as he held his cup out for a refill of sake. 'Soon Hiko, I'll have everything I need to punish you for taking what was mine!'

Across town, Hiko sat at a table alone, a jug of sake before him. Covering his eyes with his hand, he tried to erase the memory of those men racing toward Misao and Takeshi. The fear that had gripped him and the rage were uncommon to him and the after-effects were disturbing. Taking another drought of the sake, he placed the jug back on the table. He noticed he wasn't alone. Raising his eyes he saw the waitress seated across from him.

"I don't recall asking for company," he said, narrowing his eyes.

The woman merely smiled at him.

"Sometimes it isn't necessary to ask," she said.

"I'm not here for company, find someone else to bother," Hiko ground out.

"You look like you need someone to bother you. What happened?" she asked softly.

"None of your business," he responded.

"Alright, that's fair. However, being a waitress in a sake house allows me to see all sorts of people, who drink for all sorts of reasons. I can tell you've had something traumatic happen. Talking about it helps it fade quicker. I was just willing to lend an ear if you needed it," she said, beginning to rise.

Hiko's hand shot across the table and clasped her wrist lightly. Smiling she looked down at her hand and slowly sat back down. Hiko took another long drought of sake. Shaking his head, he thought to himself that he must be going soft.

"I witnessed my son nearly killed today," he said softly.

The waitress gave him a sad smile. "That's a very difficult thing for a father to watch," she said.

"Hmph…a father, there's something I never thought I'd be," Hiko said, staring at the table in front of him.

The waitress cocked her head to the side and appraised Hiko. "You haven't been a father for very long, have you?" she asked.

"Almost a week," Hiko replied.

"How old is your son?" the waitress asked.

Hiko's brow creased. The waitress watched with an amused glint in her eyes.

"Not sure?" she asked

The corner of Hiko's mouth twitched. Looking at the waitress, he sighed.

"I don't know. He's a baby. His mother was killed before I learned anything more than he was my son and his name," Hiko said, picking up the sake bottle again.

"I'm sorry, that's a lot of responsibility to take on so quickly," the waitress said softly.

Hiko placed the sake bottle on the table and nodded.

Reaching across the table the waitress laid her hand on Hiko's arm lightly. Giving him a warm smile, she spoke again.

"If you'll allow me to make a suggestion. You'd said that you witnessed him almost get killed, which means he's still alive. He needs you. You're the only family he has right now. I can tell you have doubts, all of us who are parents do. The most important thing for you to remember is that you're his father and despite your fears, you are the only father he has. You are the only one who can teach him how to grow into a man. He needs you right now, far more than the sake bottle in front of you needs you," she said softly.

Hiko looked into her eyes. Snorting, he lightly removed her arm and stood. Looking down at her he gave her a sparkling smile.

"Where were you fifteen years ago when my baka deshi decided to run off? Your words would have been able to change his mind, I'm sure. I thank you for your concern. I probably should return. As for my son needing me, I'm not so sure about that yet. We'll see. Good evening," Hiko said as he strode out of the sake-house.

The waitress watched him go, a small smile on her face. Whispering she addressed Hiko's retreating form.

"Say what you will mighty swordsman, but judging from the fact that you were shaken enough to come here, I'd say that baby has a lock on your heart already. How long will you deny it?"

Hiko made his way back to the dojo. His thoughts were mulling over the conversation the waitress and he had had. He didn't notice the three men who kept a good distance back, communicating with hand signals. As Hiko entered the dojo gate, the three men looked to each other and smiled. They knew where Seijuro Hiko was staying and they knew with whom. Two stayed in position while the third returned to report to their boss. The boss would be pleased, very pleased.

Okay folks! An update! Sorry it took so long. As I said, my other fic is just rolling along and it's hard to come back to this one. Also I apologize, this chappie is just kind of a filler, with some necessary emotional development. Look for another action-packed chapter next time. What oh what could Yoshida be planning?

You can always hit the review button and give me your thoughts! 