A/N

Here's chapter thirteen! I'm sorry for not updating sooner … but I had a small accident. I know it's stupid … but I was trying to cut some 'screen tone' pasted on one of the pictures I was drawing … and I kind of cut four of my fingers with the blade. That only resulted in blood messing up the picture, the blade being taken away from me, and me being unable to type properly.

I hope this chapter's okay, coz I had to type it slowly … and it is a bit shorter than the previous one, but I will make it up in the next chapter … it's just that my fingers kinda hurt.

mrs. b: I am telling you the world is GOING to END. You actually read at least a chapter of my story!!! Heh ... thanks! You could keep on reading, you know! And tell me what you think I should do ... (something which i've been asking you to do for YEARS). Heh, thanks for the review, and hope you like this!

kitsune kenshin: Before anything else, are you alright? I heard about the typhoon/tornado thing in Florida and remembered that your profile said that you were from there ... Heh ... yes, I did feel sorry for Will at that point. He didn't need to make it that blunt (Jack). I also liked the part where Jack fights Will at the blacksmith's place and Jack asks him 'who makes all these?' (meaning the swords) and Will goes 'I do ... and I practice with them three hours a day!' and Jack replies 'You need to find yourself a girl, mate.' Heh ... they should hurry up and make a sequel to that! I can't wait!

I know that there's nothing wrong with Hiko being 'bullied' by girls. It's just that the thought struck me as being amusing. Heh, thanks for your review! (i'll type more in the next chapter when my fingers get better, if it's okay with you).

Oniwabanshu: Thank you for your review! And ... please don't use your kodachis and kunais on me this time ... maybe next time, please? Heh ... yes, you were right about Aoshi helping Misao! (Hmmm ... i wouldn't advise being less like you and more like me ... i think the world's had enough of one of me ... ). Sorry about the length of this chapter ... but i'll make it up. I promise!

minna san: Thanks for your review and for correcting me. I'll remember it for future use. Thanks!

Leila Jenkens: Sorry that this chapter's not as long as the others ... and like i said before, i;ll make the next one longer. Thanks for the review!

sess tiger: Thanks! Tokio and Saito ... could be ...enishi facing kenshin ... hmm ... Hope u like this too!

Illusions-chan: Heh ... thanks for all the compliments! I kind of liked the 'thought' of Aoshi and Saito being related (imagine if it were real ... poor misao ...) and I was trying to make Soujirou's and Misao's characters seem that way. I'm glad it worked!

Hitokirisky: Yes, I was thinking that I was making Saito a little too mean ... heh ... thanks for the reivew!

jt: Oh, he will help her more ... thanks for the review!

sonia: Heh ... I wouldn't say that Saito's going to get pounded! Heh ... and I completely understand Aoshi's frustration. Thanks again for your review!

Chapter Thirteen: No Change

Hiko glowered at Nakamura sensei, an almost 'evil' aura surrounding him. He didn't care whatever impression he was giving off to the Head of the Sports department. What he cared about, was that the fool wasn't letting him do what he wanted to …

"And why can't you dismiss him?" he asked, harshly.

"Because, whether you like it or not, he is the athletics captain," said Nakamura sensei. "He will remain the captain, if not until the end of the year, until the tournament is over."

"But I'm telling you, we won't win with him as our captain," said Hiko.

"You had nothing against him when we selected him as the captain, so why are you complaining about him now?" asked Nakamura sensei, looking thoughtfully at him.

"That was because we didn't know a single thing about him when he joined school," said Hiko sensei. "You don't know what my team has told me – and I assure you, my team does not lie."

"What did your team say about him?" Hiko smiled grimly.

"To tell you will take a long time," he said. "But they basically said that he was making stupid decisions and forcing them to do stupid things." Nakamura sensei frowned.

"Who told you that?" he asked.

"Who? My team who else?"

"No, I meant the names …" said Nakamura sensei. Hiko frowned this time. He didn't mind giving him the names, but he did mind the fact that the creature was taking a long time arguing with him about keeping Saito on the team.

" … Makimachi …" he said. Nakamura sensei looked quizzically at him. "Makimachi Misao …" Hiko glared at him. "Why do you want to – "

"I am sorry, Hiko san," said Nakamura sensei, shaking his head. "But … it is against the school's rules to change captains without having proof of whatever it was that they – "

"Proof? You want proof? I can arrange that," said Hiko, looking relieved. Nakamura sensei shook his head again.

"And it is also not allowed to change captains so suddenly – especially with a tournament coming up," he said. "I know that you haven't understood what I've tried to tell you, but do you know what will happen if the team loses again, after we remove Saito from his captaincy? Everyone will say that it was our fault, for changing the captains …"

"And if we lose with Saito as the captain, no one will ever say it was because Saito captained the team that we lost," added Hiko.

"Once again, Hiko san, I am sorry," said Nakamura sensei. "That is my final word on this matter … although, once this tournament is finished, I will ask your team if he really is as bad as you say he is, and then take the necessary action to deal with him …" Hiko said nothing. He couldn't say anything. Not because he was at a loss for words – well, he was at a loss for words, but it was because of the unfairness of the whole thing. He knew that Nakamura sensei wouldn't change his mind; that Saito would captain the team for the tournament.

What the dolt didn't know was that there wouldn't be a team if Saito remained as the captain.

"There won't be a team to participate in the tournament …" he said, icily. "If you don't do anything …" With a curt nod, he walked off, leaving a resigned Nakamura sensei behind. The only thing he did – that Hiko approved of – was cancel the detentions that he had given Sano and Yahiko.

Meanwhile:

"Kenshin! Kenshin! Over here!" called Yahiko, as he, Sano and Soujirou turned around and spotted Kenshin walking towards the field. The red haired vice-captain smiled as he saw his friends.

"You guys look cheerful …" he commented.

"Duh! You're going to be our new captain!" said Sano, grinning.

"Oro?"

"Oh come on, don't act so modest," said Yahiko. "You know that, being the vice-captain, now that Saito's history, you'll be the captain!"

"D – Demo – "

"They're right Kenshin," added Soujirou. "And, quite frankly, I'm happy that we're going to have a decent captain …" Kenshin shook his head. How could they be so optimistic?

"I don't think that I'll – "

"Oh shut up," said Sano, good-naturedly. "Come on, let's go – sensei's already there!" They hurried towards the field, where Hiko Seijiro and the rest of the team were already gathered. Kenshin spotted Fujita Tokio standing next to Aoshi, in the crowd and smiled. Great … now all he needed to find was a runner for the Under 17 group.

"Heh … just wait until sensei announ …" Yahiko's voice died out in his throat as he saw the tall figure standing beside Hiko sensei. He blinked twice, thinking he was seeing things. He soon knew he wasn't.

"What the #$%#?!!!" growled Sano, clearly having seen him as well. Soujirou sweat dropped.

"What is he doing here?" he asked, softly. Kenshin said nothing, as his mind whirled with questions. He had thought that Hiko sensei would have done something about Saito by now … not that he wanted to become the captain or anything. He had just thought that Saito would have been punished for his behaviour … but it appeared that he hadn't been punished. Why else would he stand beside Hiko sensei with that smirk on his face?

"Are we all here?" asked Hiko sensei, looking around the crowd. They all nodded. "Good … now, as you may or may not be knowing, the trials for the tournament are in nine days – "

"What?!"

"Nine days?! But I thought we had 14 days!"

"We can't do anything in nine days!"

"Sensei – " Kenshin sweat dropped as he saw Hiko's eyebrows twitch. He knew from experience that talking too much, and that loud … was not something that Hiko Seijiro liked. At all.

"Are YOU doing the talking, or am I doing it?!" asked Hiko, glowering at them all. No one said anything, allowing him to continue. "Good. Now … as you might have noticed – though I don't think you have – we have a lot of work to do for the trials. And I mean a lot of work to do." He looked at everyone standing in front of him. "And, no matter what we do … we will win this tournament. To win, however, we need to practice. We will be training rigorously from now until the tournament is over, though that does not mean that we will be having extra practice, though I will call for extra practices if I feel they are needed." He turned to the team. "Any questions?"

Kenshin's eyes almost popped out of his head as he saw Sano raise his hand. The glint in his eyes told him that his 'question' wasn't going to be a good one.

"Who's captaining the team?" asked Sano, a scowl on his face. Kenshin, turning to face his sensei and Saito, saw the 'captain's' eyes narrow at Sano. Hiko frowned as well.

"Your current captain," he said. Yahiko's mouth dropped wide open, following Sano's. Aoshi said nothing as he felt the team's spirit go down. He frowned. With this level of morale, they were no where near winning the tournament. Hiko shook his head. It was difficult for him to reprimand Sano for asking the question, especially since he was still angry with the fact that Saito was still the captain. "Today, I will be dividing you into your groups – Under 19 Girls and Boys, Under 18 Girls and Boys and Under 17 Girls and Boys." He sighed. "I know that Makimachi – " he cursed Saito mentally. " – isn't here for the Under 17 girls … but I have acquired a 'backup' runner for her." He nodded at a girl with short brown hair. "And the rest of you, you already know what teams you are in … though the Under 18 Girls need - "

"Sensei?" called Kenshin. Hiko looked all around for his 'star' athlete, unable to see him. Kenshin made his way forward, well aware that the students standing in front of him were … taller than him, and stood facing his coach. "The Under 18 Girls' team has another runner. Fujita Tokio san …" he said, turning around and motioning for Tokio to step forward, which she did.

Hiko looked at her through slightly narrowed eyes. "Did you do a sport before this?" he asked. Tokio nodded.

"I was a member of the basketball team before this …" she said. Hiko smiled.

"Good …" he said. "Right, now, I want you all to separate yourselves into the categories I just mentioned; Under 17, 18 and 19 Girls and Boys, and start practicing." He took a deep breath. "The Under 19's will try the hurdles, the Under 18's will do the 4 into 100 meter relays, and the rest of you will practice your mixed relays."

"Hai, sensei!" Hiko watched them walk away in their different directions. Saito started moving, heading towards the hurdles, when the coach's voice stopped him.

"I'm watching you, Saito …" he said. Saito smirked, though he had to use almost all of his will power to bite back the reply that came to the tip of his tongue. Shaking his head, he walked away.

"That was just stupid!!" grumbled Sano, not in a good mood.

"I know! You'd think, that after all he's done to us – and after all Misao told Sensei about him … " Yahiko broke off, glaring at the ground. Kenshin shook his head.

"Well … I guess what Sensei said was right …" he said. "I mean, it is against school rules to suddenly change a captain – especially when a tournament as big as this is coming u – " He stopped when he saw the glares Sano and Yahiko were sending his way.

"Stop being so 'cool' about it!" snapped Yahiko.

"Yeah! Especially when you know that you deserve that captaincy – more than he does!" Kenshin scratched his head sheepishly.

"Oro?" Soujirou sighed as he listened to Sano and Yahiko. Just the other day, they had walked home looking 'drunk on happiness' and today … he glanced at Aoshi, who was walking next to him, looking deep in thought.

"Aoshi? Is something … wrong?" he asked, smiling. Aoshi didn't even look at him, making him think something really was wrong. "Er – Aoshi?"

" … What?" asked Aoshi, glancing briefly at him. Soujirou smiled, though he was somewhat taken aback … at his tone of voice.

"Ano … I just wanted to know if – "

"No, nothing's wrong," said Aoshi, coldly. As if I'd tell you if something is wrong … Soujirou nodded, though this time, a small frown was on his face. He may be called too peaceful, sweet and 'demented' (for smiling all the time) … but he wasn't an idiot. No, he certainly wasn't an idiot. This was why he had noticed Aoshi's rather … strange behaviour towards him. He noticed that whenever Aoshi was talking to someone else, he wasn't as civil and cold as he was when he was talking to him.

He racked his brain, trying to figure out a reason for him to act that way towards him. He had spoken normally to him when they had first met … and when Sano had tried attacking Saito … and during practice …

Then when did he speak coldly to him?

That day during break … he had spoken rather 'detachedly' when addressing him. Soujirou frowned. What had he done to make him angry with him that day? Or the day before that? He hadn't spoken to him after practice … so he was sure he hadn't said something he wasn't supposed to when they were wal – ah, he did seem him at Misao's house. Soujirou was sure though, that he hadn't said anything to Aoshi when he had come to give Misao the 'Romeo and Juliet' textbook. Then why …?

Not to mention when he had helped him help Misao to her room the other day … Soujirou frowned again. Aoshi had given off a cold aura whenever he had looked at him … Had he done anything to anger him? He was sure he hadn't? His eyes widened. Unless … unless Aoshi disliked Misao … and didn't like anyone helping her …

He shook his head. That didn't make sense. If it was true, then why had he helped her in the first place?

" – are you listening to me Soujirou?" Soujirou started.

"Huh?" Yahiko sighed.

"I thought not …" he muttered. Soujirou scratched his head, sheepishly realizing that he hadn't been paying the slightest attention to what his friends had been saying.

"Gomen …"

"Here we are – Misao's place," said Kenshin, as they stopped walking. Aoshi turned to his right, heading for the Kamiya Residence. "Aoshi … aren't you coming?" Aoshi shook his head, this time determined not to allow Kenshin to lead him anywhere.

"No … I have some work to do …" he said. Seeing the look on his face (a look which said; 'argue-as-much-as-you-like-but-I-won't-change-my-mind) Kenshin sighed and nodded. Soujirou, though, didn't get the hint.

"Why aren't you coming, Aoshi?" he asked. "I mean … don't you want to see how Misao is doing?" Aoshi glared at the gate he had turned to stare at. He didn't know why … but the last comment – about him not wanting to see how Misao was – made him want to let out a low … hiss … or rather, a growl.

" … I'll see you tomorrow …" he said, turning to nod at Kenshin, and ignoring Soujirou in the process.

"Hai," said Kenshin, smiling. Soujirou watched as Aoshi leapt over the short gate and walked towards the front door. He had done it again … tensed up and ignored him completely.

"Well? Shall we go?" asked Yahiko, rather impatiently. They all nodded, though Kenshin cast Soujirou a curious look as they walked to Misao's gate.

Kashiwazaki Residence:

"Misao, do you think Aoshi san will come to see you today?" teased Kaoru, from her place seated on a chair next to Misao's bed. Misao glared at her, feeling a little too weak to throw anything at her. Walking down the stairs and around the garden twice in one day, with the injuries she had, would make anyone feel weak.

"I don't care!" she grumbled. Kaoru raised an eyebrow as Megumi smiled in her 'foxy' way. She had come to see Misao with Kaoru, and had 'accidentally' asked her about 'her' Aoshi … After exploding around twice, and trying to beat Kaoru up quite a few times, she had denied it all to Megumi. Unfortunately for her, Megumi was twice as cunning and evil as Kaoru, and had made her admit that she did like Aoshi. Megumi had been told – by Kaoru – about the 'incident' that had taken place in the garden yesterday (after several more attempts Misao made to beat Kaoru up).

"Really? You really don't care?" asked Megumi. "So it … wouldn't matter if – "

"Okay, okay!" said Misao, interrupting her before she could continue. "Keep it down! Thanks to your … stunt yesterday, Kachan was asking me all kinds of weird questions!" She pointed at a surprised Kaoru.

"Really? What did she ask?" she asked. Misao shrugged slightly.

"Oh, things along the lines of 'who is Shinomori Aoshi,' 'does he dislike Soujirou for some reason,' 'how does he know Kaoru chan,' and so on," she said. "No thanks to you!" Kaoru grinned sheepishly.

"Heh … Kachan was asking me the same thing!" she said. She immediately wished she hadn't as Misao shot her a particularly bad glare. Megumi shook her head.

"When will you learn, Kaoru?" she muttered.

"W – what?!" spluttered Misao. "Y – You – Kamiya san – KAORUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!" Kaoru winced, resisting the urge to cover her ears as Misao screamed.

"Er … "

"Kaoru! You didn't! Please tell me you didn't!" begged Misao. Kaoru looked sheepish.

"Well – she was the one that told me about the 'burglar' thing …" she said. "You know what; you can thank her that I was reminded of that …"

"That – that's not the point here!" said Misao. "Kamiya san – now – I will – I won't be able to come over to your house again!"

"That's slightly exaggerated don't you think, Misao chan?" asked Kaoru. Misao's glare intensified. Megumi chuckled.

"Do you intend on telling him that you like him, Misao?" she asked. Misao turned red as she shook her head.

"H – How can I do that?" she asked. Megumi said nothing. Misao was right. Telling a normal person that you liked them was … 'okay' but telling Aoshi that … she could imagine him building a thick, brick wall around himself for safety.

"True …" she said. Kaoru shook her head, grinning evilly.

"She might not need to tell him, Megumi," she said. "He just might tell her that!" Misao shook her head vehemently. That would be the day …

"Time to get back to the real world, Kaoru," she said. Megumi nodded. She thought that the chances of Aoshi saying that were pretty low. Not that she didn't want Aoshi to tell Misao he 'liked' her … she just didn't think that he was the type of person that would say that.

"What we need to do, Kaoru," she said. "Is to make sure the two of them get to spend time together …" she said.

"True … I mean, as it is, they only see each other when Kenshin and the others come to visit her," said Kaoru. Misao flushed.

"But how do we get them to see each other instead of with other people around?" asked Megumi.

"Hmmm … I sent him to see her once saying that she needed some text book or something …" said Kaoru. Misao turned red, the memory of her asking him to stay for dinner still fresh in her mind.

"But you can't keep on doing that everyday …" said Megumi. "But there's no other way to get them together …"

"If we 'plan' their meetings once or twice, they'll get to know each other … and then they'll want to meet …" said Kaoru. Misao had had enough.

"Hallo!!! I am here you know!" she said.

"And imagine … after that …" said Megumi.

"Yeah … I wonder if we'll get any credit when they do get together …" mused Kaoru.

"Once you've finished discussing Aoshi and I!!!" exclaimed Misao.

"Oro?!"

"M – Misao?"

"Ano …"

"Er – " If there ever was a day when Misao wished the ground would open up and swallow her bed and her at the same time, it was now (and there would, of course, be more times in the future when she would wish for the same thing … heh heh). Kenshin, Sano, Soujirou and Yahiko stood at the doorway to the room, looking at Misao, the expressions on their faces, and their words from before clearly telling her that they had heard what she had said.

"Why me …" she groaned.

"Misao? Did … you just say … what I thought you said?" asked Sano, looking startled. Misao turned red.

"Er … would you believe me if I said 'no?'" she asked. Sano shook his head. "I thought so …"

"Kaoru, Megumi …" said Kenshin, smiling at them, before turning to Misao again. "Misao how is your leg?"

"It's … er … its okay …" she said, giving Kenshin the impression that she had just realized that she had an injured knee. Yahiko plopped down on the ground next to Misao's bed, grinning.

"So … what was that you were saying about Aoshi?" he asked.

"Noth – "

"Misao likes Aoshi san," said Kaoru, grinning. Megumi closed her eyes as she anticipated Misao 'killing' Kaoru this time.

"KAORUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!" Sano grinned aloud.

"Haha! It's true then! Oh man! I don't believe this!" he said, looking as though his 'birthday' had come early. "Does he kn – heh! Yesterday he – aww … your 'knight' saved you yesterday, didn't he, Misao?"

"Sou helped me too!" snapped Misao. Soujirou scratched his head as everyone turned to look at him. He didn't mind the fact that Yahiko, Sano and Kenshin were looking at him … but … Kaoru and Megumi, looking at him with those evil grins on their faces made him fight the urge to dig a burrow in the ground and crawl into it.

"Yeah … that's why Aoshi doesn't like Soujirou too much," said Megumi, smiling.

"Oro?!"

"Eh?" asked Soujirou, surprised.

"Hey! Was that why you told us that Aoshi thought Misao and Soujirou were going out?" asked Sano, turning to Kaoru. "During practice yesterday?" Kaoru nodded, grinning.

"Ohh … so that's why Aoshi always acts cold towards Soujirou …" said Yahiko. He slapped Soujirou on the back just as he was about to sit down on the side of the bed.

"Yahiko …" said Soujirou, rubbing the sore spot. "Demo … why is that any reason for Aoshi to hate me?"

"You mean … you don't get it?" asked Kaoru, frowning slightly.

"Soujirou, we all get it, and you don't?" asked Yahiko.

"I don't understand it either …" said Kenshin, softly. Sano let out a long sigh. Honestly, those two were more alike than they knew it.

"Man … you two are hopeless …" he grumbled.

"Oro?"

"Eh?" Megumi sighed.

"Misao like Aoshi," she said. "Aoshi thinks that Misao likes Soujirou." She looked at Soujirou, smiling at the cute expression of confusion on his face. "Soujirou thinks Aoshi dislikes him for some reason …" She smiled evilly. "What he doesn't know is that Aoshi is jealous of Soujirou's close relationship with Misao."

"He asked me – when he saw Soujirou at Misao's place one night – during dinner, if Misao and Soujirou were going out," added Kaoru. "And yesterday – you all saw the brief glare he gave Soujirou, didn't you?" Soujirou scratched his head. These friends of his were really confusing him. Were they saying that Aoshi thought he liked Misao, when Misao really liked Aoshi, and Aoshi kind of liked Misao, but for some reason thought that Misao liked Soujirou too?

He rubbed his temples as his mind screamed out in agony. Now that was confusing.

"Ahh …" said Kenshin, understanding. "Aoshi didn't come here today though … he said he had some work to do …"

"But he was talking to Soujirou before he said that he had some work to do …" said Sano, thinking hard. Yahiko grinned, catching on.

"So that means that he didn't come because Soujirou was coming as well …" he said. Misao looked at Soujirou, her eyebrows raised. Soujirou misinterpreted the look and looked apologetic.

"Gomen … maybe I shouldn't have come then," he said, scratching his head. Misao shook her head so fast she was sure she would get a headache in a little while.

"No! It's a good thing that you came!" she said. "Who cares if Aoshi doesn't come?" Kaoru, Megumi, Sano and Yahiko exchanged glances as they listened to Misao.

Did she really mean that?

"Do you mean that, Misao chan?" asked Kaoru. Misao flushed. She had been asking herself the same question.

"Well … I meant to say … that friends come first …" she said. Kenshin smiled.

"That's good, Misao …" he said. "Friends do come first …" Sano quirked an eyebrow.

"So … we come before Kaoru?" Misao grinned as Kaoru and Kenshin turned red. Megumi smiled as well – something which Yahiko found surprising, since he had thought that Megumi liked Kenshin too.

"I don't think Saito thinks the same about friends …" he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. Misao heard him, however.

"Oh yeah … who's the new captain? Kenshin?" she asked, grinning at him. Sano, Yahiko and Soujirou's faces changed immediately.

"No, Saito's still the captain …" said Kenshin.

"What?! Why?!"

"Apparently Nakamura sensei has said that they can't change captains when the tournament is so close," said Yahiko.

"So we're still stuck with dear old Saito …" muttered Sano. Kenshin sighed.

"Well … he wasn't that bad during today's practice …" he said.

"That's because Sensei was there," muttered Yahiko.

"Ah … true …"

Kamiya Residence:

Aoshi walked out of his room a few minutes after Kamiya san called them for dinner. He had, surprisingly, managed to finish almost all of his homework, and all he had left to do was to go through some last minute chemistry notes – for the 'test' they were having the next day. Closing his room door behind him, he walked down the corridor, when he heard Kamiya san call them again.

"Aoshi! Kaoru!" Turning around, he walked towards Kaoru's door and knocked on it.

"Haiiiiii!" He heard the slamming of books, before the door was opened and Kaoru rushed out, crashing into him. "Itai – ah, Aoshi san …" Aoshi nodded.

"Dinner's ready …" he said. Kaoru nodded, grinning evilly. Closing the door behind her, she walked beside him. Aoshi took his time walking down the corridor – not that he enjoyed spending time with Kaoru … he just didn't want Mr. Kamiya to think something if he saw them walking together. Knowing his luck, it could happen.

"Aoshi san … why are you walking so slowly?" she asked.

" … … …" Was he supposed to say 'it's because I don't want your father blaming me for something again?' " … Why don't you go ahead?" he asked instead, stopping all together.

"Eh? Why?" asked Kaoru, stopping as well. Aoshi sighed as he looked at her puzzled blue eyes, darker than his own. Didn't she understand?

" … Your father … he might … think something …" he said. Kaoru furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, before she understood what he was saying.

"Oh …" she said, sighing. "Okay …" She walked hurriedly towards the stairs. Waiting for a few minutes, he followed her, hoping Mr. Kamiya wouldn't start saying that he was watching his daughter from behind.

Meanwhile:

"I WANT THAT!"

"NO, IT'S MINE!!"

"MINE!"

"MINE!" He looked up from the paper he was reading, his head throbbing as he heard the yelling. Did the people up in the sky hate him this much? Standing up, he walked away from the desk he was seated at, and walked into the living room, closing his eyes as he saw the 'situation' there. As it was, there were soup and milk stains all over the couch which he usually liked sleeping on when he got home from practice late.

Walking to the room that he had given to the two children, he stood outside it, taking a deep breath and mentally repeat; 'no matter what happens, I will not lose my temper. No matter what happens, I will not lose my temper …'

Peering in through the door, he sighed again. This was not good.

"Suzume! Give it to me!"

"No, it's mine!"

"That pillow is MINE!!!"

"It doesn't have your name on it!"

"It doesn't have your name either!" This would have been amusing – really amusing – if it hadn't been happening to him. As it was, the two girls were standing on the bed, arguing with each other. He frowned as he saw Ayame close to the edge of the bed, trying to pull the blue pillow away from her sister. Suzume, it appeared, wasn't about to give in.

"MINE!!!"

"MINE!!!" And that was when Ayame lost her balance … and fell. He moved forward, effortlessly catching her before she fell. Suzume looked somewhat frightened as she saw her older sister's eyes closed.

"Neechan … neechan?" she whimpered. Hiko stared at the little girl in his arms. Ayame opened her eyes slowly, enabling him to see the frightened tears in her huge eyes. He sighed inwardly, wondering for the millionth time if his cousin had done the right thing in asking him to look after them.

"Are you okay?" he asked her. Ayame nodded slowly.

"Go-gomen, Uncle Sei … I should have been more careful …" Hiko sighed inwardly again. There she went again, blaming herself for everything. True, this had been because of her carelessness, but if Suzume spilt milk on something, or did something wrong, she would still take the blame, and say she was sorry. Even when she didn't do it.

"I won't say you're wrong," he said at last. "About being more careful …" Ayame looked at her hands. "But, they always say that you learn from your mistakes …" he said, hurriedly. "And I'm sure you won't be fighting with Suzume on the edge of the bed again … right?" he asked, lightly. Ayame nodded meekly. "Good. Now why don't you two stop fighting over the pillow? Is it really that important?"

"No … but neechan like it … so … so I thought I wanted it …" said Suzume, childishly. Hiko rolled his eyes – mentally of course. Great. Now it was a competition they were having …

"Well, there's another pillow over there Suzume," he said, calmly. "Why don't you take that and let neechan have this?"

"Iie … she can have this if she – " Hiko shook his head sternly at her.

"Don't give in to all of her demands," he whispered, whilst Suzume was looking at the other pillow. "That'll definitely be a problem when you two are older. She'll become a spoilt brat." Ayame smiled as she imagined an older Suzume bossing her around.

"Hai …" she said. Hiko, seeing Suzume satisfied with the other pillow, and Ayame not about to give in to her sister, stood up, placing Ayame on the bed.

"In ten minutes, it's 'lights out' for you two, okay?" he asked. Ayame nodded.

"Hai," she said. Satisfied, Hiko walked out of the room wondering if he'd find his head full of grey hairs next week, what with all of his 'problems.'

Meanwhile:

Kenshin walked out of the bathroom dressed in dark green shorts, his usual smile on his face. Switching off the bathroom light and closing the door behind him, he walked into his room. Pulling the towel off his shoulders, he pulled on a t-shirt and ran a hand through his orange/red hair. Looking at the clock on his wall, he saw that it was 9:47 p.m.

He hadn't realized that time was flying when he had been doing his homework and studying for the chemistry test his class was having the next day. Just when he thought he was finally concentrating, the phone had rung. Talking to Shogo, at some times, was similar to talking to a 'non-stop' train.

They had discussed their class, their teachers, the 'unfairness' of the fact that Shogo had got a detention for talking in class, whereas Kenshin hadn't (to be honest, Kenshin was rather relieved about that), and, finally, about their chemistry test. They had spent half an hour asking each other chemistry questions, and, after that was done, he had gone and had a shower.

Sighing, Kenshin sat down on his bed, feeling rather tired after so much of work. As he looked absently around the room, his eyes landed on the framed pictures on his bedside table, beside his lamp. One was of him, Misao, Soujirou, Kaoru, Sano, Yahiko and Megumi. The other … he frowned. The other was of a beautiful black haired girl, with her long raven hair tied in a low ponytail. He had his arm around her, and had a smile on his face … his face which didn't have a cross-shaped scar on it.

He touched his scar absently, as the memory of that night entered his head again.

Flashback:

"Kenshin! You got your license!" exclaimed the girl, smiling at him. Kenshin nodded, grinning.

"Aa …" he said. Yukishiro Tomoe looked at the license he held in his hand.

"Shall we go for a ride?" she asked. He looked at her, surprised.

"A … ride?" he asked. She nodded.

"Hai … in celebration of you getting the license," she said. "We could rent a car or something … and go …" Kenshin looked doubtful as Enishi walked into the room, glaring at him and smiling at his sister. "Here's your glass of fruit juice, Enishi …" said Tomoe, handing him the glass with a loving smile. He was only two years younger than her, but she treated him like a little boy.

"Arigato … neesan …" said Enishi, smiling back at her.

"Demo … I'm not sure if it'll be safe, Tomoe …" said Kenshin, frowning slightly. Tomoe shook her head.

"Of course it will be," she said. "You do have your license after all …" Enishi looked up, inquisitively.

"Demo, Tomoe … what if something – "

"Kenshin …" said Tomoe, cupping his cheek in her hand. "It will be fine … trust me …" Kenshin sighed as Tomoe looked pleadingly at him.

"I … guess I could hire a car …" he said, at last. Tomoe smiled.

"That would be nice …" she said.

"Neesan! What are you saying?" asked Enishi, looking worriedly at her.

"Enishi – "

"Don't go neesan! Don't go with him! Please!" pleaded Enishi, sounding like a little boy. "Something might happen! If … if something happens to you – who … who will I have?" Exchanging glances with Kenshin, Tomoe moved to her brother, smiling gently at him as she held his hand in hers.

"Nothing will happen to me, Enishi," she said, comfortingly.

"Demo – "

"I won't leave you Enishi," she continued. "Kenshin won't let me leave you … or him …" Kenshin smiled at Tomoe's faith in him. Looking at the siblings once more, he stood up and walked quietly out of the room, leaving them alone.

Now where was he going to hire a car from?

Kenshin snapped out of his 'flashback' and was surprised to find the picture of him and Tomoe in his hands. He sighed sadly, his eyes downcast. If only he had listened to his instinct … instead of listening to Tomoe … for that 'first drive' of his … had – had …

He squeezed his eyes shut. It had claimed her life.

He had tried speaking to Enishi, to apologize for everything … but the boy had snubbed him. He had said that he would never forgive him. He couldn't argue with him. He was right to feel that way – it was his own sister that had died. That … he had … killed.

His eyes fell on the picture of him and his friends, and especially on the figure of Kaoru in it. He smiled softly as he thought of the quick-tempered, sweet … and caring girl. If something were to happen to her too … he shuddered. No, nothing was going to happen to her. He wouldn't let anything happen to her.

A/N

Well ... I hope you liked that ... and once again, sorry about the length, but I WILL extend the next one!

see ya then

siriusgirl1