Disclaimer: This is annoying. No I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters there off. If you believe that I do, I truly must question your sanity.

Hope Restored

Chapter 12

Kenshin watched the insatiable flames swallow the remnants of the village indiscriminately. He was barely visible against the backdrop of fire, seeming to be a part of the inferno himself and though his expression was cold and indifferent, inside he was anything but.

Scarcely a month had past since he had joined the resistance against the renegade swordsmen that were preying on the quiet villages beneath the forbidden mountain and the enemy was still three steps ahead of them. This was the fourth village to suffer from their lack of success and while there had been less civilian casualties, any at all were still too many.

"Feeling nostalgic, Battousai?" a flat voice asked behind him.

"This is senseless," Kenshin murmured without turning.

"For once we agree," the taller swordsman said.

"Will the government not send reinforcements?"

"We are the reinforcements."

Kenshin cocked his head to smirk at the golden-eyed man beside him. "I could think of worse possibilities, Saitou."

Hajime Saitou's perpetual scowl deepened and he turned to survey the remnants of their forces. The enemy was both clever and superior in numbers. Victory required intelligence information they were still lacking because after all, even experienced swordsmen left over from the revolution could not defeat so many at one time. And the number of those among the resistance group who were experienced were few while all in the enemy's number seemed to have been trained in swordsmanship, most likely by the Yakuza.

"This is a war, Battousai. It is time we treat it as one."

"I agree."

"We will make camp outside the village and discuss a new strategy."

With narrow eyes Kenshin watched his former adversary walk away. There were many such who had served on the opposite side of the revolution and now fought for the same ideal in the Meiji Era. Of course, before these had arrived, the resistance had consisted mostly of men who simply wanted an excuse to shed blood. It was with the names of these men that Eiji had managed to convince him to add his skill to the fight. But upon arriving he was pleased to see such men as Hajime Saitou, Sanosuke Sagara, and Aoshi Shinomori. These men were a dying breed and yet still severely needed in this new allegedly peaceful era.

Shaking his head sadly, Kenshin turned his back to the fire and wandered off in search of the spiky haired fighter for higher. Sano was a good man to have in a fight though he preferred his fists over a sword any day. He was stronger than most and loyal to the bone and Kenshin was proud to call him his friend.

"Let me go!" a young voice shrieked and Kenshin launched himself into a sprint.

"Relax, kid," he heard Sanosuke's easy-going voice reply and immediately slowed his pace. Rounding the corner of a half-burnt building he espied the lanky man holding a struggling young boy by the scruff of his shirt.

"Don't call me kid!" the boy snapped as he swung his fist futilely. Sano held him effortlessly at arm's length and grinned.

"You sure look like a kid to me."

"Sano," Kenshin interrupted softly and the former gangster turned his grin on him.

"Yo, Kenshin. Look what I found! A little pickpocket. He's lucky I'm the one he tried to steal from. None of the others would let him off so easy.

"I wasn't stealing anything, rooster head!" the boy seethed. "Now put me down!"

"Oh really? Then what was my biscuit doing in your hands?"

The boy crossed his arms defiantly. "Finders keepers," he growled.

"Are you from this village?" Kenshin asked and the boy shifted his glare to him but remained silent.

"Now you're going to clam up, huh?" Sano asked as he shook the boy slightly and that harsh glare swung toward him again.

"Put him down, Sano," Kenshin ordered and the fighter looked up at him in surprise.

"What? He'll just scamper away like he tried to do when I first caught him!"

Kenshin glanced the boy over, noting the stubborn set of his jaw and the bokken slung over his shoulder. The boy was a swordsman in training.

"He won't run," Kenshin said finally. "It would be dishonorable."

The boy's set glare turned to surprise and Sano immediately released him, letting him fall to the ground. His reflexes were quick and he managed to land on his feet instead of his backside.

"Quick little thing," Sano murmured and was immediately nursing a huge bump on his head. The boy settled his bokken casually onto his shoulder and turned to meet Kenshin's amused gaze.

"My name is Kenshin Himura and this is Sanosuke Sagara," Kenshin spoke politely, gesturing to his glowering friend.

"I'm Yahiko Myojin," the boy said proudly.

Kenshin smiled at the boy's declaration. He was the son of a samurai, there was no doubt. "Yahiko. If you are not from this village then why are you here?"

Yahiko's brown eyes darkened severely. "I want to make those creeps pay for what they did to us. They destroyed everything," he growled fiercely.

"So you decided to go after them all by yourself," Sano raised a brow.

"You'll catch up with them eventually," Yahiko pointed out. "And when you do, I want to be there. I know exactly who I'm looking for and I'm taking back the blood of seven people from him."

"Your family?" Kenshin asked gently.

"As close to one I'll ever have," Yahiko murmured.

"Okay, so you're in it for revenge," Sano surmised. "That's all well and good, but you're just a kid. You're better off leaving the revenge business to real men like us."

"Sano—"

"I'm not a kid, rooster head!" Yahiko growled. "I'm the first apprentice of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and nothing and no one is going to stop me!"

Kenshin stiffened at the boy's fiery declaration as Sano started arguing with the furious young swordsman.

"I don't care what you're the apprentice of! Those guys will slaughter you and—"

"Did you just say Kamiya Kasshin Ryu?" Kenshin asked suddenly and the two stopped to stare at him.

"That's right," Yahiko said. "They killed my teacher and the other students. I'm the only one left to defend the honor of the Kamiya Dojo."

"I do not believe the sword that protects was meant for revenge," Kenshin told him.

Yahiko scowled. "What do you know about the sword that protects?"

"Don't be disrespectful," Sano snapped as he bopped the kid on the head.

"Ow! Hey!"

"Sano, Yahiko, please—"

"You should listen to Kenshin. He's the Battousai you know!"

"Put me down, you jerk! I don't care who—did you just say…" The two turned to look at the violet eye samurai standing by patiently with a look of weary resignation.

"Sano, put him down."

The fighter promptly obeyed and Yahiko landed in a heap on the ground, too stunned to try not to.

"You're the Hitokiri Battousai?" the boy echoed in awe and Kenshin offered a slight smile.

"That was many years ago. I am simply Kenshin Himura now."

"I heard rumors that the Battousai was here, but I wasn't sure if they could be real."

"For once the rumors are right," Sano grinned as he grabbed the boy's scruff and lifted him back onto his feet.

"Then-then you can help me!" Yahiko's eyes got big with excitement and anticipation.

Kenshin shook his head. "I have taken a vow to never kill again, Yahiko. And I do not believe Miss Kaoru would be pleased to hear that you plan to avenge her through bloodshed either."

"Never kill? But you're the—wait a minute. How do you know Kaoru," he demanded.

"She still lives," Kenshin smiled, his heart exploding with joy. Miss Kaoru will be so pleased to see her young apprentice again. Perhaps it may even bring the sparkle back to her eyes.

"Kaoru is alive?" Yahiko gasped as he grabbed Kenshin's gi with both hands. "Where is she? Is she all right? Is she safe? What happened to her?"

"Miss Kaoru is safe and well," Kenshin said with amusement at the young swordsman's eagerness. "As fate would have it, our paths crossed not long after she escaped into the mountain. She was severely injured, but she is quite well now…and mourns your death still."

The boy's eyes grew big and he stepped back from the older samurai. "She blames herself, doesn't she? It wasn't her fault. There were just too many of them." He pulled open his yellow gi slightly and Kenshin and Sano could see the remnants of what should have been a fatal blow. "I stepped back when he struck. I thought I was dead for sure but I woke about an hour later. The whole village was in flames and I couldn't find Kaoru anywhere. I assumed they took her and killed her too. They didn't spare anyone in the village, so they wouldn't have spared her."

"Kami, kid," Sano whistled softly. "That is one handsome scar."

"Tell me where she is," Yahiko pleaded. "I have to see her."

"You will see her, but you must promise me that you will leave this battle to us, Yahiko."

"I'm just as good a swordsman as most of these guys," Yahiko protested.

"I have no doubt," Kenshin replied honestly. "However, if I should allow anything to happen to you now that I have found you, Miss Kaoru will never speak to me again. I do not think I could bear such a consequence."

Yahiko scowled slightly. "Yeah, it is a little scary when she gives the silent treatment. You just can't tell what she's scheming when she clams up."

"Good. Now, Sano?"

"Huh? What? Oh, no. You are not going to get me involved in this," he threw up his hands defensively.

"I do believe you owe me a favor, Sano," Kenshin said with a slight smile. "And you already know the trail."

Sano's broad shoulders heaved with a sigh. "Okay, fine. But this makes us even, Kenshin."

"Of course. At least until you gamble away the rest of your money."

"Hey, they were playing with loaded dice, I swear!"

Kenshin chuckled and turned back to Yahiko. "Sano will take you to her, Yahiko. Just don't let him take any shortcuts. He tends to get lost."

"I heard that!"

"What is this?" Hiko asked warily as he stared into the bowl Kaoru handed him.

"It's miso soup, of course."

Hiko raised a brow at the gray liquid. "Are you sure?"

"Just try it," Kaoru said as she did so with her own bowl.

Hesitantly, Hiko lifted the bowl to his lips and took a small sip of the soup. Kaoru watched him expectantly as the master swordsman turned every shade of color known to man before he was even able to swallow. Once his usual pallor returned, he carefully set the bowl down and met her stare without expression.

"Well?" she asked.

"That is not miso soup," he said simply as he pushed himself up and walked over to secure a jug of sake. After his first gulp, he decided it was going to take at least half the jug to wash away the ghastly lingering taste. He had half a mind to make her swear to never feed another human being that foul concoction ever again. But then, it would be quite amusing to see his idiot apprentice attempt to maintain a pleasant face when his taste buds were assaulted so viciously.

"Needs more salt," he heard Kaoru murmur and he grimaced. There wasn't enough salt in the world to save that soup.

Kaoru continued to frown at her soup, trying to think of what she could have possibly done for it to turn gray in the first place when she heard the familiar rasp of a sword being pulled from its sheath. She turned in surprise to see Hiko standing sword in hand with a strange expression in his dark eyes. He glanced it over once before sheathing it and stepping towards the door.

Where did the sword come from? I've never seen him carry one before.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Someone's coming," he replied. "Stay here."

He didn't even give her a chance to reply before he disappeared. Kaoru pushed herself up, but refrained from peeking out the window. Hiko's reaction scared her. This serious side of him had been well hidden beneath his arrogance and expressionless humor.

The silence was unnerving and Kaoru started to kneed her hands in anticipation. What was going on? Who was out there? She could not detect even the slightest sounds of battle and she knew for certain that if there was any danger, Kenshin's master would act without hesitation. So where was he?

The door suddenly slammed open and Kaoru leaped back, reaching for the nearest possible weapon. She froze before she could even grasp something, her eyes on the ghost from her past standing in the doorway with his chest heaving.

"Kaoru!"

In the moment it took for her to blink, his arms were wrapped tightly around her and Kaoru suddenly snapped out of her shock.

"Yahiko?"

"I wanted so badly to believe him when he said you were alive and now I see that you really are!" he mumbled into her shirt and Kaoru wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"Yahiko, I can't believe it!" she pushed him back slightly and searched his face with her hands, ruffling his already messy hair, just to prove to herself that he was real.

The boy tried to keep his tears from falling, but it was a futile effort when they flowed so freely down his adoptive sister's face.

"I did just like you taught me. I stepped back from the blow and it wasn't severe enough to kill me," he said as he pulled aside his gi for her to see the scar. "You were gone when I came to and I thought you were dead. Then I met Kenshin and he told me you were still alive."

Kaoru pulled him to her again in a suffocating hug that she was not inclined to release him from too quickly for fear he might disappear and she would once again be alone. She could feel her gi grow damp against his face while her tears soaked into his hair. Later he would deny in his usual macho way that he had ever shown such blatant emotion, but it wouldn't matter. He was alive!

Oh, thank you, Kenshin!

"How goes it down there," Hiko asked the lanky man who had accompanied the young boy up the mountain. He had been there a while before looking for Kenshin and had a strong fighting ki despite his jovial expression. Hiko was never fooled by expressions. It was this man's strong ki that had alerted the swordsman to his presence.

"They still elude us," Sano replied as he glanced towards the cabin where Yahiko had gone in. "I think they are wise to our strategies."

"Perhaps there is a traitor in your midst," Hiko suggested. "I assume my idiot apprentice is still alive?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

"I have no doubts," Hiko shrugged. "But the girl will want to know."

"I didn't even know about her until the kid showed up," Sano replied. "Kenshin isn't inclined to talk about her."

"Of course not."

The door to the cabin opened to draw their attention and Yahiko walked out beaming with a pretty young woman following close on his heels. At first glance, Sano might have mistaken her for a young boy in her gray hakama and dark green gi with her ebony hair pulled up like a samurai warrior. But if the eyes lingered, there was no mistaking a face that delicate and pretty.

Sano let out a low whistle and grinned. "So you're the Missie Kenshin refuses to talk about. I can't imagine why. The guy sure has bragging rights."

Kaoru blushed and Yahiko bristled.

"Show a little respect, rooster head."

"What, I'm just paying the Missie a compliment."

"How is Kenshin?" she asked, ignoring the comments. "Is he all right?"

"Of course he is. It would take a lot to kill a man like him," Sano winked.

"They haven't made any progress, Kaoru," Yahiko told her. "Those renegades are still killing and pillaging."

"I'll admit they are hard to catch," Sano agreed. "But we will get them and they will be sorry when we do." He emphasized the point by smashing his fist into his hand.

"Will you be staying? I made some miso soup if you are hungry."

His eyes brightened for a moment until he saw the warning expression flicker across Yahiko's face and noted Hiko stifling a gag reflex.

"Uh, I think I better get going. We need all the good men we can get, you know."

Kaoru nodded. "Okay. But please, tell Kenshin," she hesitated, so many things needing to be said but only one sufficing the moment. "Tell him I said thank you."

Sano smirked knowingly. "Sure will. Take care of her, little Yahiko."

"Don't call me little!" the boy shrieked after him.

Hiko scowled as he watched the man walk away. What does that red-head idiot think I am, an inn? Now I've got two to look after? He glanced down at the young boy now left in his care and ponder over how much trouble this one would give him.

"All right, Yahiko," Kaoru said suddenly and the boy stiffened, a wary looking crossing his features.

"We are not to be taking advantage of Sir Hiko's generosity," she stated, pointing a finger in the air imperiously. "So you can start collecting wood for the house and when you are done with that…"

Hiko chose that moment to escape, an urgent voice in the back of his head warning him that if he stayed any longer she would be assigning him menial jobs as well, or worse, forcing him to taste test more of her so called cooking.

"What? Aw come on, Kaoru!" he heard the boy whine and Hiko rolled his eyes at the sky.

I'm going to make you pay for this, apprentice.

"And when you're done with that—"

The girl sure had spunk, he had to admit that. Their voices carried clear over the cabin and he knew he would find no peace even beside his kiln as the two continued to argue. For certain half the mountain could hear them by now, he mused as he kneeled in front of his kiln and began to build up the fire. Reaching for another stick, he hesitated and raised his glance to the surrounding woods.

Something watched, uncertain and wavering between decision. The ki was not strong enough to be a threat, but it agitated the master swordsman enough to know no good could come from the unseen creature. After a moment, it began to fade and he concentrated his focus on it until it was gone completely from his senses.

The mountain stirs, he thought silently as he turned back to his fire.