In Due Time
The men studied each other in wary silence for a long moment before Kenshin finally spoke. "Hiko-sama," he said softly. "Are you trying to say that you think I am one of the ronin who killed Miki's family? Is that what you are saying?"
The old man's expression was serious "I've already said that you're no killer. At least, not by nature. Even one such as yourself could not disguise your ki that well from me. Hitokiri or no, you are more honorable a man than those ronin were. That is why I am willing to trust you. I'm simply stating that this is an increasingly coincidental state of affairs, Himura Kenshin. And I cannot help but wonder if there is a reason for it."
"Oro?" Kenshin's eyes were wide and surprised. "A reason? For my arrival here... now?"
The old man nodded grimly. "We'll have to see how this pans out. But I have a feeling that your appearance here is possibly more important than I originally thought..."
Kenshin was staring off into space, a worried look in his eyes. "You think that Miki's life is still in danger, don't you Hiko-sama? You are worried for his life..."
Hiko-sama bowed his grey head briefly. "I am." The warm concern in his dark eyes was evident. Clearly he cared deeply about his young deshi. "But I can't constantly watch over him. He'll never learn to be strong if I don't let him go off on his own occassionally..."
The redhead nodded, understanding. His own shishou had been the same. And Kenshin couldn't fault either of them for it. He'd learned too much from fighting his own battles. From occasionally making the mistake, taking the fall, or, as was often the case, the hit... But this situation wasn't quite the same. If those ronin were still out there, then Miki's life could be at risk...
"Someone should watch him," Kenshin said softly. "Strength is important, but it isn't worth that boy's life."
"I know." There was a flicker of hope in the old man's eyes. "That's where your timely arrival comes in. I have a request for you, Kenshin." He hesitated briefly. "Would you be willing to watch the boy for me... when I can't?"
Kenshin's lavender eyes were focused on the path Miki had taken into the woods, as though trying to watch over the boy even from this distance. Finally, without displacing his focus, he spoke. "But, Hiko-sama," he said softly, "you are the one who was afraid of changing things earlier. How is this any different?"
Hiko-sama grunted roughtly and looked away. "That is true... unless you were meant to be involved..." His brow furrowed, deepening the lines in his face, making him look old and tired. "The coincidences are so great. A scarred hitokiri named for his brother? And I've been feeling dangerous ki nearby lately. Especially last night. You have no idea how grateful I was to have him return alive."
Kenshin just stared at him. "So you sent him out to the river for water last night, knowing this?"
Hiko-sama appeared amused. "Of course not. I sent him to the well."
Kenshin's eyebrow twitched in mild irritation and he sweatdropped. "Well?" he asked, a trace of annoyance in his voice. "What well? No one ever told me there was a well. I always had to go to the river..."
He shook his head, trying to ignore Hiko-sama's little snicker at that, and shifting back to the original topic. "So, you think I was sent back in time to protect Miki?"
Hiko-sama sighed. "I don't know what I think anymore. I've never been a mystic, and I don't claim to understand what could pull a man through time. All I know is that I want this boy kept safe."
Kenshin smiled gently at these words. "I will do what I can, Hiko-sama," he said softly, trying to put the older man's mind at least somewhat at ease. "I make you no promises, but I will do what I can." He secret smile spread. "Anyway, I owe him that much."
The old man's eyes widened. "You... owe him...?"
The redhead nodded firmly. "Yes, Hiko-sama. I have reason to believe that you may be correct about these coincidences... especially after having heard Miki's story..." He looked away again, back toward the woods. Seeing three sad stones resting amongst a field of crosses in his mind's eye once more. When he spoke again, his voice was very quiet. "During a run-in with bandits, my own life was saved by the man who was to become my shishou... Hiko Seijuro the thirteenth..."
Author's note: Yes, I know this chapter was terribly short. Yes, I realize also that this chapter was hideously boring. I'd apologize, but it seems easier to just throw up a random reminder that this story was never intended to be any great piece of literature anyway. (heh... well, honestly, NONE of my writing was ever intended to be any great piece of literature, but that's beside the point...) So, anyway, that sort of thing may happen now and then. It's called me not putting as much time and effort into my "fun" filler stories as I do with my other works. My fault. Sorry. If it sucks, please tell me, and I'll try to make the next chapter suck less.
Either way, thanks for reading. Please review!
Dewa mata!