Thank you very much for the reviews. They have been so good. Anyway, Rapunzel, Rose Red and any other characters that came from fairy tales belong to the Brothers Grimm and the other fine authors of fairy tales. Oh yeah, I have nothing against blonds.

The Frog Swordsman

Part Eight

By Maria Cline

Rapunzel's eyes widened in awe as she rode into town with her new friends; Kenshin and Kaoru. She was scared about what she will find. All her life, she had never been with so many people in one place. Yet, here she was surrounded by complete strangers walking and talking like normal people. There were small and tall people. People of different colors and have different types of hair and eyes. What amazed her most was the fact that some of them were not dressed in fine silks like she but different colored clothes that looked like the color of dirt and stone.

"Is this a town?" Rapunzel asked as she tugged at Kaoru's sleeve.

"Hai, now stay close to me. People are naturally nice but I don't want you to get into trouble." Kaoru advised cautiously.

"Uh huh." Rapunzel nodded slowly as she gazed at the various booths.

Kaoru sighed as she shook her head. She didn't know why she was bringing the blond along. Rapunzel was sweet and kind but she didn't know a thing about the real world. She had been trapped in a tower for ten years and before that she lived in the wilderness with no real contact with humanity. Kenshin had sensed a strong power within the girl and maybe she can help her in the quest but Rapunzel was too naïve. Kaoru could simply just put Rapunzel into a home where she can get the proper training but she felt sorry for the blond.

She came up to a place that sell ceramics and asked the woman minding the booth, "Excuse me, I'm looking for a potter who is housing a young boy, do you know who I'm talking about?"

"Hmmm…" The woman rubbed her chin. "Well, there are many potters who took on young boy as apprentices. But, there was this odd potter that lives on a mountain by himself who sends a boy down to sell off his wares and buy sake. No one had seen him for a while."

"Where can I find him?" Kaoru pleaded as she stared at her. According to the ball, Yahiko was on a mountain of some sorts.

"Up that road but be careful. I head rumors of a deadly black dragon living there."

"We'll be careful." Kaoru nodded and then looked to see Rapunzel was gone. "Where did that blond went off to now?"

"I don't know. I am sure she is all right." Kenshin said as he poked his head out of Kaoru's pouch.

"No, you can't trade your hair for a pie." The two looked to see Rapunzel holding a piece of her long blond hair for a pie.

"But, you said that I must trade gold for a pie and this is gold." The blond said as she held out her hair.

"Rapunzel, he meant gold coins." Kaoru said as she handed the baker a gold coin.

"Thank you." The baker said as he sighed in relief. He didn't mind talking to such a lovely woman but she was so dense, he could barely handle it.

"Hmmm… pie." Rapunzel put down the piece of hair and walked off with Kaoru.

"I told you not to wander." Kaoru scolded, "What were you thinking?"

"My hair is golden; I just thought I can use it to pay for food."

"No, you use coins. You'll learn more as soon as we get my little brother." Kaoru pulled the woman away.

The baker chuckled as he picked up the hair and choked. It was heavier than normal hair and it bended and remained that way. The hair had transformed into a slender piece of real gold. "What the hell?!"

Ignorant of what happened with the baker; Kenshin looked up at Kaoru and suggested, "Kaoru-dono, before we see the potter, could you buy some sake for him as a gift?"

The exiled princess's face lit up. "That's a wonderful idea. I bet Yahiko really gave this potter a hard time and it wouldn't be nice to go in without a gift."

So, Kaoru went to the sake store and got a huge bottle of sake for the potter. Her heart pounded in excitement as she led the horse carrying Rapunzel up the mountainside. Kenshin became more and more nervous as he recognized the scenery. "Kaoru-dono, I know this will sound crazy but let me stay in this pouch and don't let anyone know that I am here until we leave this mountain."

Kaoru was confused at the strange request. However, Kenshin knew what he was talking about so he must have a good reason. "Of course, Kenshin. Why?"

"Just… don't. Please."

"Very well."

Rapunzel watched the two curiously and decided not to say anything. She was curious about why Kenshin asked Kaoru not to say a word. The group went up the mountainside and saw a grisly sight of newly made graves with handmade gravestones.

"What are those?" Rapunzel asked as she fingered a cross.

"Graves for the dead." Kaoru replied.

"Oh dear." The blond paled.

The closer they got to the hut, the more graves they passed. The graves were freshly made and still had the stench of death around them. Kaoru got out her bokken ready for anything. She was the only one who can protect her friends.

"Halt! Who goes there?!" A thunderous boom echoed throughout the mountain side. A huge black dragon with scales that shone like finely polished onyx descended from the air and landed in front of them.

Rapunzel screamed in horror at the sight. Kaoru just clutched on to her bokken tighter. "I am Kaoru searching for my little brother, Yahiko." She bravely called out.

"A-And I am Rapunzel." Rapunzel stuttered after her.

The dragon blinked at the calm response. "How do I know that you are really Kaoru searching for her brother? You're not even a woman!"

"He has a point there." Rapunzel said to Kaoru.

The woman looked down at her clothes and realized that she was still dressed up as a man. Angered, she slammed her bokken hard on the dragon's head snapping the sword in two. "I AM A WOMAN DRESSED UP AS A MAN!"
The dragon moaned as he rubbed his head with his massive claws. He chuckled and then laughed out loud. "You are exactly like the boy described." The dragon bowed his head toward the princess. "I am the potter whom your father had sent the boy to."

Rapunzel and Kaoru gasped. The blond said, "Wow, I didn't know potters are this huge."

Kaoru and the dragon sweatdropped. "I was cursed. My real name is Hiko Seijiro the Thirteenth. Anyway, it will be explained later but first, I want some of that sake." The dragon said as he pointed to the jug of sake.

"How do I know you really are the guy who is protecting Yahiko? Let me see him." Kaoru asked as she put her hand in front of the sake jug.

The dragon smirked. "Smart." He raised his head and yelled out, "HEY, BOY, YOUR SISTER IS HERE TO PICK YOU UP!!!"

A young boy came out of the woods and stared at Kaoru. "Kaoru?" He whispered with tears his eyes.

"Yahiko?" Kaoru stepped forward. The boy had grown since the last time she saw him. There was a degree of maturity there that was hidden.

The two siblings went up and hugged each other. Then, Yahiko stepped back and said, "You look manlier than before."

Kaoru tensed up as she dropped the pouch containing Kenshin and said, "You're still a runt."

"I am not a runt!" Yahiko growled as he pounced at her. Kaoru beat the boy up. The two laughed as they rolled on the ground together.

Rapunzel stood there confused. "I know that I'm not too bright in the ways of the world but don't people beat up those they hate?"

"They are siblings, they love each other and so they express it in fighting and arguing." Hiko said as he smiled.

"Weird." Rapunzel picked up the pouch and asked, "Kenshin, are you okay?"

"Huh?" Yahiko paused and asked his sister. "Do you still have that frog with you?"

"Oh shit." Kaoru muttered to herself.

"Frog? I love frogs, especially when they well roasted." Hiko said as he licked his lips.

Kaoru glared at Rapunzel for letting the frog out of the bag so to speak and said, "Forget it! I am thankful for protecting Yahiko but I can't let you eat Kenshin!"

"Fine." The dragon smirked at the pouch. "You know. I once had a student named Kenshin. He was an idiot and did the most ridiculous things like that time he wet the bed when he was eight and that time he got stoned from some bad mushrooms and that time he-"

"SHISHOU!!!" Kenshin screamed as he popped out of the pouch.

The dragon chuckled to himself and stared at his former student. "Well, Idiot Apprentice, you've shrunk."

Kenshin realized his mistake and slumped down into Kaoru's arms. "It's not funny."

"I think it is." The dragon leaned his head toward the much smaller frog. "It serves you right for leaving before you completed your training. In our current states, we can't finish what we had started."

"Can you change back?" Kenshin asked.

"If I could, I would have. I fought a powerful boy with a cold smile. I won but my cape was torn up and without it, I can't turn back into the dashing handsome man I was before." The dragon sighed as he tilted his head toward a torn up cape.

"Why don't you just sew it back up?" Kaoru said as she picked up the remains of the cape.

The dragon held out his massive hands and asked, "Do you think that I can sew with these claws? Even if I could, no ordinary needle and thread could repair it. Only the golden needle of healing and a thread of gold spun from straw can repair that cape and you can't get those at the local market."

"Oh." Kaoru frown and then her eyes lit up. "Megumi has the golden needle! As soon as we get her and find some thread of gold spun from straw, we can repair that cape of yours!"

The dragon gazed into the woman's eyes. "You are a very sincere woman. No wonder the fire demon feared you. I can't fight like this but I can help you get to your other sister. The tower is far away. Still, stay here for the night. It will be a long journey. I have plenty of food and sake for you." The dragon advised.

"Thank you, Hiko-san." Kaoru said as she bowed.

Yahiko warmed up the food as Kaoru was reading to Rapunzel and Kenshin was just sitting to the side staring out of the window watching Hiko drinking sake out of a very large cup. Kaoru told him that Kenshin was really a man cursed into being a frog but he was never a prince. When he tried to find out more, Kaoru just shut up and went back to tending to Rapunzel. Finally, Yahiko came up to the frog and asked, "So, Kenshin, is it true that you're really a guy?"

The frog nodded.

"But, Megumi kissed you and all those other princes and you're still a frog."

Kenshin gazed at him and seemed to smile. "That only works on enchanted princes and I am not a prince."

"Oh, then what are you?"

The frog shook his head. "Yahiko-chan, you do not need to worry about me. I must tell you that the less you know the better off you will be. Just do me a favor and don't tell anyone about me."

"Okay…" Yahiko couldn't help but feel suspicious. There was something strange about this frog. Why won't he tell who he was? Did he like being a frog or does he just have something to hide? For all he knew, he have could been a cold bloodthirsty murderer who was cursed for killing the wrong person. Then, he gazed at Kenshin again who was hopping to the door. "A timid frog like him? Nah."

Kenshin hopped through a small hole in the door and came out to see Hiko gazing at the moon.

"Ah, such a full moon." The dragon mused as he turned his huge head toward Kenshin. "Idiot Apprentice, have a seat."

Nervously, Kenshin hopped to a comfortable looking log and sat on it. Dragons normally don't make him nervous. He was small and would be missed. However, it was Hiko's ego and teasing he was really afraid of.

The dragon smirked as he raised his claw and sipped some sake. "I won't bite. Besides, you look only like a mere morsel for me."

Kenshin's eyes twitched. "It's not funny."

"Why not? It's hilarious for me."

"You are a fine swordsman but still have a crappy personality." Kenshin snapped.

"At least I listened to my master when I was young and cocky. I may know how good I am but I knew my limits. Now, thanks to you, I'm stuck like this." Hiko glared down at Kenshin with red eyes.

"How's that my fault?!"

The dragon raised his head and smoke rolled out of his mouth. "Baka, a Hiten Mitsurigi Master's power was not meant to grow this high. Most masters pass on their powers before they grow too high. They don't depend on the cape like I did. Now, thanks to your stupidity, we're trapped like this."

The frog looked down. While he was a frog, he accepted the curse but he never thought his decision could affect his old mentor. "I'm sorry. I will do everything I can to help you get back to normal."

Hiko rolled his eyes. "Typical, you worried more about others than yourself. I know how to get back to normal but not you. Still, it's nice to know that you still have some respect for me. Not that it would do any good now. Forget it. It's not fun teasing someone who looks like a good snack."

Kenshin tensed up and screamed, "I'M NOT A SNACK!"

"Of course not." The dragon tilted his head to the hut. "Well, I see that princess friend of yours seems to like you. She's cute."

"You're old enough to be her father."

"Details, details. Jealous?"

Kenshin stared at the hut and answered, "No."

"Ha, I can smell a lie a mile away. Don't worry, I won't hit on your woman."

"Oro?!"

"You had always been a little slow with women but with you traveling naked with two lovely ladies, you must be catching up."

"I'm not-" The frog looked down to see he was not wearing any clothes. "Okay, maybe I am naked but they are just my friends. Rapunzel is looking for her beloved and Kaoru-dono don't… don't want to commit in any romantic relationships."

The dragon chuckled. "Please, all women are the same. They all look for someone to share their lives with."

"Not Kaoru-dono she wants to be independent. Besides, she can never love someone like… someone like me." Kenshin bowed his head down in sorrow. Hiko sighed as he stared at him. Despite all the teasing he gave his former student, he did care for him. If it weren't for the fact his huge claws could kill the frail frog and for his own ego, he would have petted the frog.

The dragon snorted as he got out the sake jug. "Well, there's a sake cup over there next to the tree stump. There is a full moon tonight; we might as well drink to it."

Kenshin smiled slightly to Hiko as he went for the sake cup. Through the window, a group of relatively normal people watched the scene and smiled to each other.

Kaoru packed up her stuff as the sun rose the next day. "I can't believe Dad sent us away because he knew about this invasion." Yahiko said as he helped his sister.

"I know but it makes sense. We are the heirs of the throne and if we're dead, this Fire Demon can't be stopped. Now, we have to go and get Megumi and find an army to help us." Kaoru wiped her brow.

"I will help." Rapunzel offered, "I don't know how but I will do what I can."

"I wish I can help you, Kaoru-dono." Kenshin said as he looked down.

Kaoru picked up Kenshin and held him close to her body. "You are helping me right now. Don't worry about me; I will get you back to normal."

"I don't know how a frog and a blond can help you regain your kingdom but I can help especially as a handsome dragon like myself." Hiko said as he looked at the group.

"You are so humble." Kaoru muttered as she smiled. With her oddball group of friends gathering together, maybe they have a chance of her and her family regaining her kingdom.

"Well, turn that horse loose, I'll take you to your other sister. I am far faster and more reliable." Hiko offered as he spanned out his wings.

"Great! We need to get to Megumi as soon as possible." Kaoru climbed onto the dragon's back.

"Oh boy." Yahiko muttered as he followed his sister.

"This feels strange." Rapunzel commented as she lifted her dress and followed Yahiko.

"Get use to it."

"Everyone hold tight." Hiko said as he flapped his massive wings and flew up high in the air.

"EEEKKKK!!!" Rapunzel screamed.

"WHOA!!!"

"YAHOO!"

"ORO!!!"

The dragon flew off into the distance towards the third sister.

"Gold, her hair turned into gold." The baker said as he held up a long piece of thin gold.

"Interesting." Rose Red said as she fingered the gold. "Who gave you this hair of gold?"

"Some blond, eh… name is Rapunzel. She was with this small guy with a high pitched voice."

"Rapunzel, another word for rampion. The rampion child is near." Enishi said as he smirked.

"I can smell her." Rose nodded. All of a sudden, a gush of wind flew over them and they looked up to see a huge black dragon flying overhead.

"A dragon?!" The Baker screamed as he ran inside. The various villagers did the same except for Enishi and Rose Red. They stared at the dragon and watched him flew away.

"I smell blood." Rose whispered as her eyes glowed.

To Be Continued…