Disclaimer: Me no own Kenshin or his wife, master and friends.

Quick a/n: I was torn in two on Hikos reaction to Kenshin eavesdropping and apparently so were my reviewers! So I chose the two most popular and added them together…anyway as usual mild spoiler for OVA Trust & Betrayal now on with the fic!

((()) Hikos Cabin ((()))

Kenshin snuck into the clearing, surprised that his master hadn't sensed him yet. He paused for a moment to catch his breath, no way was he going to give his master more ammunition to tease him with, and then continued on to the cabin. Master hasn't changed much…he though as he crept up to the door. He ducked into the cabin silently, once again surprised that his master wasn't sensing him. Well, sure he was masking his ki, but his master had the odd ability to sense him no matter how hard he tried.

"Why did I call him my son?" Hiko was saying at the moment. Kenshin half-listened, expecting his master to turn around and start teasing him. Or knock him out. One or the other. "Kenshin is really my student. He was eight when I found him, but I care a lot about my little baka deshi." Wait what!

"Did I just hear correctly?" asked Kenshin from the shadows. Hiko and Tomoe turned around to look at him, both having looks of disbelief on their faces. Kenshin was sure he had an equal look of disbelief on his face. After all the taunting, teasing and general hell Hiko made him go through growing up, Kenshin was sure that Hiko didn't care a whole lot about him. But apparently he'd just been proved wrong. This was what he thinking when Hikos sword (sheathed) swung towards his head. Kenshin collapsed but stayed conscious.

"You little idiot! Why on earth were you sneaking around? I could have sworn that I taught you better than that!" said Hiko, but at the same time he was squashing all emotions about seeing his apprentice again out. He's grown, he found himself thinking. Then he smirked, not that it makes much difference, he's still a runt!

Tomoe ran over to her husband as he collapsed. "Are you ok?" she murmured, sounding both worried about him and relieved that he was ok and that she was seeing him again. Kenshin nodded then looked back up at his master. He scowled when he realized that his master was smirking. "What's so funny," he asked darkly, deciding it was easier to just stay on the floor.

"Oh, nothing I was just hoping that you'd grow out of that," said Hiko innocently.

"Grow out of what?" asked Kenshin, genuinely confused. The only two things he had with Hiko and still had now were his top and his swords. He couldn't grow out of his swords and he doubted that Hiko meant his top.

"You're still so damned small!" said Hiko. "I bet everyone you verse just bursts out laughing when they look at you," said Hiko, smirking as his little baka deshis scowl deepened. But then Kenshin brightened as he remembered something.

"Apparently that doesn't stop you from caring about me. Or, apparently, from calling me your son," said Kenshin, looking at Hiko triumphantly. This was the first time he ever had ammunition against his master.

Damn it! Thought Hiko as his apprentice's words registered. Why of all things did Kenshin have to come and hear that? And how was he going to dodge that one. Even if it was true, no way was he going to admit it.

Tomoe was looking on with some amusement. Although she had only seen Kenshin fight once or twice, he always finished those fights easily and she assumed that it was the same every other time since, other than that one cut on his cheek, he'd never gotten hurt. Yet this man seemed to be able to defeat Kenshin with one blow. And he had no fear of teasing him either! I'izuka tried teasing him but Kenshin just put his hand on the hilt of his katana and I'izuka, or anyone else that tried teasing him, just shied away as though burned. But it seemed as though Kenshin was almost afraid to draw his sword against Hiko.

"What do you mean? I suppose I have to care about you, after everything you put me through. I remember a bright autumn day when you were 11 years old…"said Hiko, with a mischievous glint in his eye. Fine so he half-admitted it, but if he played his cards right, Kenshin would forget all about it…

What is he talking abou- Oh no! Kenshin paled and, just as Hiko had hoped, forgot about what they were just talking about. Tomoe just looked even more amused and wondered about what Kenshin had done when he was 11 that would get such a strong reaction from the normally emotionless man.

"Master, please don't…" began Kenshin, slightly panicked. But Hiko interrupted. "Don't what? Mention in front of your wife that you wet the bed when you were 11?" said Hiko, smirking as he remembered the memory. Kenshin just turned red and turned to look at the floor, not daring to look his wife in the face.

Tomoe was just plain surprised. To think that Kenshin, who had such rigid control over everything, had wet the bed just 4 short years ago…Tomoe had to struggle to stop herself from laughing. She knew that if she surrendered herself to laughing Kenshin would just get annoyed and even more embarrassed. Never before had her mask have this much trouble staying maintained! "Um, perhaps we should just sit down and talk about this," said Tomoe, struggling to keep the amusement out of her voice. One day when she was alone, she would just have to let it out, never before had she had such an urging to laugh!

But of course Kenshin and Hiko both noticed it and for one it mad them smirk and the other scowled. Guess which was which…

But Hiko consented to sit down and then got ready to start teasing and telling off his apprentice about getting married and not telling him! And Hiko would be lying if he said that he hadn't missed this reaction. The passion, the fire, the life this was what he truly missed about his apprentice. The spark of hope and joy that, although out in the world it was turning into bloody chaos, there was still someone that held the old compassion and still really lived. Yes, that was what he truly missed about his little baka deshi.

Tomoe reached out and put her hand on Kenshin's shoulder, steering him to turn around and face Hiko. Kenshin finally looked up, and Tomoe didn't miss the look of compassion that flickered briefly in his eyes as, for the first time in over a year, master and apprentice, to all the world like father and son, truly looked each other in the eye.

Tomoe knew that Hiko had not been kidding when he said Kenshin was like his son. They both cared about each other more than they showed, both to proud and to ignorant to acknowledge the truth. So Hiko tried to hide his compassion and caring by taunting and teasing 'his little baka deshi' and gathered as much 'incriminating' evidence against him as possible and used it.

And the funny thing was? Tomoe was thinking as she also settled down to talk with the two men, she didn't think Hiko was done yet. Oh no, she thought he was just beginning.

((())) A few hours later ((()))

Well, Tomoe was definitely right in her assumption. In the last few short hours, Kenshin had, reluctantly, told his master about Kyoto, Ikedaya and Otsu, knowing though Tomoe did not, that it would most likely result in more teasing. He wasn't disappointed.

In her entire life, Tomoe's emotions had always been hidden by a mask. Today though, laughter was threatening to break through that mask as she listened to Hiko talk. So far, in the last few hours, she had already learnt that her emotionless, famous for his deadly skills with a sword, seemingly unafraid of everything husband, fell into waterfalls on a regular basis and had to be fished out by Hiko, got sick on a regular basis, loved chasing rabbits but always got lost and had to be rescued hours later by Hiko, was terrified of girls (courtesy of the talk Hiko had with him about the 'birds and the bees'), loved making things more pleasing to the eye and in doing so accidentally broke a hive and got stung by about a hundred bees and had fallen for the oldest trick in the book: he had actually turned around when his master told him to.

And Kenshin's reactions weren't helping. At first he just got mad and glared at Hiko, with the amber eyes that were famous for terrifying men in their last moments but to Hiko it was just plain amusing. Now though, he was just blushing, which was amazing in and of itself, nobody had ever gotten that far in teasing him but Tomoe had a sneaking suspicion that Hiko had managed it often. Well, that does it. This is definitely why Kenshin never talks about his childhood. After all what would he say? My master's main purpose in life was to embarrass the hell out of me? Hardly likely. Especially since he is supposed to be the most feared man in Kyoto.

Kenshin could sense Tomoe's barely restrained amusement and that didn't sit well with him. Why did Master have to say all of that? As if the wetting the bed story wasn't enough why did Master have to add the stuff about the 'facts of life' thing. It was taking all of Kenshin's self control not to groan out loud.

"Well, we should be going," said Kenshin, hoping beyond hope that they be able to get out of here before Hiko had the chance to think up any more embarrassing stuff about him. And Kenshin had no doubt that Hiko knew more. The man had an incredible memory, especially when it came to his embarrassing moments.

Tomoe and Hiko, on the other hand, were both thinking the opposite. For Tomoe, seeing Kenshin itching to get away from his master when it was usually other people trying to get away from him was just to much and she wanted to see more interaction between them. Besides, not even she and their peaceful life in Otsu hadn't been able to drag out: pure passion and emotion. If Katsura had wanted a sheath he should have asked Hiko, although she was certain that Kenshin would be less than happy with the idea.

Hiko also wanted his apprentice to stay. Not that he'd ever admit it. But watching Kenshin and his amusing reactions to his teasing was like breathing air after a long bout of swimming underwater. Wonderfully refreshing. Teasing Kenshin about getting married (and to such a gorgeous woman) made him forget about the event of the past year. And he'd also noticed that Tomoe was right, Kenshin was no demon. Perhaps it really was Tomoe that was keeping Kenshin human, sane, but if it was he thanked whatever kami had sent her that his apprentice had had another chance at living life. Not just by living through it, but actually living in it. And he once again saw his young little baka deshi, innocent and compassionate about what he believed in. And he didn't want to lose that just yet. Those damned wolves already had him, least they could do was give him a little break every once in a while!

"Anata, I think we should stay for at least the night. It's gotten much to dark to head back to Otsu tonight," said Tomoe softly to her husband.

"Yeah, knowing you you'd probably get lost or something, you can leave tomorrow," said Hiko putting on his arrogant mask again, but pleased that he'd get to see his apprentice sleep again. Or to be more exact wake up…and if a little help came from him then so be it.

Kenshin considered their words and realized with a sinking feeling that they were right. It was much to dark to leave now and if they did they'd get lost. And then he'd never hear the end of it. Kenshin had no doubt that Hiko would find out if he got lost. So he grudgingly agreed, thinking that it might not be too bad.

"Now, no funny business between you two," warned Hiko with a smirk. He directed this comment to both Tomoe and Kenshin and to his satisfaction both blushed, ducked their head and started protesting unintelligently. Hiko's smirk just deepened as he stood up to get some sake. He never went to bed without having at least half a jug and if he managed to get his idiot apprentice drunk, well then all the better.

Early the next morning Hiko awoke, his telltale smirk on his face as he remembered last night. He had managed to get Kenshin drunk, much to the amusement of the woman. She had confided in him that Kenshin never got drunk, no matter how much he seemed to drink. And since he wasn't in his right senses he had, to his mortification, accidentally let slip about his search for Tomoe. Including the children. Hiko had to stop himself from laughing at the thought. And now for one more thing before he leaves, though Hiko mischievously.

Slowly, making sure to keep quiet and to mask his ki, he stepped outside and filled a bucket with water. Ice cold water. Then he snuck back inside and poured the entire thing on Kenshin's head. Kenshin, of course, awoke with a yelp and a string of curses. The next few minutes included a lot of ranting from an annoyed redhead and a highly amused wife.

But then it was time to leave. Tomoe was disappointed, she would have wanted to spend more time with the man who was apparently her 'father-in-law' and even Kenshin was slightly reluctant to leave. While Hiko may be annoying and vindictive, he was still the person who had taught Kenshin everything and the closest thing he had to a father. But he had promised to wield his sword for the Imperialists and he would continue to do so until the new era was no longer a dream but a reality. And after that maybe he would come and visit again. With Tomoe. No longer did he think he was going to die soon, not with Tomoe to come back to.

Hiko was thinking along the same lines. He knew there was no way that Kenshin would back out on his word. But hopefully, with Tomoe, he would continue to do his job but would stay human. And then, if and when the war was won, they could come and visit him up on his mountain. He could tell his apprentice off for not listening to him in the first place, and tease them both. Hell, they might even have kids in the future. Hiko snorted at the idea. Who knows, it might be interesting. Nothing else seemed to matter because for now, Hiko knew that his baka deshi, his son, was safe for now.

And so the 3 parted ways, all hoping that the war would be over soon so they could go back to some semblance of a normal life (although one was thinking that if only a 'normal life' did not include a master whose greatest joy in life was teasing the hell out of him).

Not one of them realized the tragedy that was springing forth and would occur in just a few short months…

((())) Authors Note ((()))

I have to say that that was probably the hardest chapter I had to write. It was hard! I'm still not completely sure that it's good…I hope you guys liked it and critique is most welcome! Oh and I apologize if I delayed a bit with this chapter I had a massive math test today and my history project is due on Monday…but hopefully I didn't take to long with this update!

Thank you VERY much to akisu-san, ilovekenshin, inuwolf04, Hitokiri Jinchuu, kenji's girl, DragonWolfStar, starfruit-22, MikaylaMae, TeZukAb0ch0u. Love you guys! I hope you liked this chapter! Please, drop me another comment!

So anyways hope you enjoyed it and please review!