Author-chan's notes: Hey all! Chapter twenty-four here! I decided to be kind, and give you all an extra long chapter. Read carefully, because here is a BIG Turning point.
Key:
"talking"
'thoughts that can only be heard by thinker, a.k.a. private thoughts'
/thoughts that can be heard by thinker and spirits, a.k.a. telepathy/
writing in a letter
qpqpqpqp indicates scene/time change
Like Father Like Son
(Chapter Twenty-four: Hitokiri)
Aoiya
Kenji sighed to himself. He had just gotten back from that strange restaurant, and things couldn't be worse. He had never been more confused in his life.
"Oi, ya look like ya had a rough day," a familiar voice commented. Kenji blinked a few times before raising his head to meet Chou's eyes.
"Lieutenant!" Kenji blinked, "What are you doing in Kyoto?"
"Tracking down a criminal," another voice said from behind Chou. Kenji grinned as he saw Chou's assistant, Sai, appear from behind his boss.
"Sai-san," Kenji greeted, "I should have known you were here too."
"Relax, I'm not going off to kidnap your children," Sai said, "I'm not suicidal."
"Good, because I don't feel homicidal," Kenji quipped back. Chou shook his head as the two younger men grinned at each other. Despite what had happened in the past, there were no hard feelings between the two since the kidnapping had been mostly Genji's idea. Well, the two had to be friendly, considering Kenji's part time job with the police continuously forced the redhead to work with the Sai and Chou constantly. In fact, between Kenji and Sai, the kidnapping had become something of an inside joke. Kenji's son's, Sasuke and Kenichi, also found the exchange between the two amusing and would sometimes sneak off to the police station to have lunch with Sai only to jokingly claim the former thief kidnapped them when Kenji joined them later. It was a strange friendship, but it worked.
"You look like crud, Red," Sai commented in his blasé manner, "Something happen while you were in town?"
"Yeah," Kenji nodded, "Went to this place east of here and met the locals. They were…strange."
"How so?" Chou asked, entering the conversation.
"They acted like they were scared of me," Kenji said, "They knew my name too. I mean, I know a couple of the kendo schools here and there know that I'm good with a sword, but I never had anyone terrified of me! It was like they saw a ghost."
"Maybe they did," Sai murmured thoughtfully, "Did they call you Kenji or Himura?"
"Himura," Kenji answered.
"Well that explains it," Sai sighed, "Red, you're a menace to Kyoto with that face of yours."
"Oro?" Kenji blinked.
"Don't tell me yer clueless!" Chou yelped, "Himura-han, ya look exactly like yer father!"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Kenji grumbled unconsciously running fingers through bright crimson locks.
"Um, hello, Battousai?" Sai pointed out, "The red-haired demon of Kyoto?"
"Oro?" Kenji blinked, "But surely they wouldn't think…"
"Red-hair, carries a sword, knows how to use it, goes by the name Himura," Sai ticked off, "Not to mention there are enough Bakumatsu veterans wandering about who actually saw your father, and you more or less have his face. All you need is the scar and you're Battousai incarnate."
"Oro!" Kenshin's son squeaked.
Suddenly, it was as if a bright burning lamp was lit up in Kenji's mind.
'Kami-sama,' Kenji thought quietly, 'is this how Tou-san is remembered? Is this how he was treated by the people he tried to save? No wonder…'
"Really, you didn't realize?" Sai snickered, still amused at the fact that it never dawned on Kenji that Battousai's legacy wouldn't follow him in Kyoto, "Look Red, you have to be careful in Kyoto. Say in the Aoiya. Dye your hair. Sign up to be a kabuki actor. Wear a big hat."
"So that's why Michiyo-san told me to wear the hat," Kenji muttered under his breath.
"Michiyo?" Sai blinked, getting a slightly perverted look on his face.
"Oro?"
"SHINIMORI!" Chou yelled, a wicked gleam in his eye, "SAI IS GOING TO GO AFTER –"
"NOTHING! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!" Sai yelped, before dark ninja showed up out of nowhere and skewered him with sharp point objects, "I'M BEING GOOD!"
"Sai, are those wounds from a kodachi?" Kenji blinked as he looked the younger police officer over carefully.
"It's nothing!" the former thief hissed.
"Uh huh," Kenji snickered, "Michiyo-san is very nice, ne? Very cute. And single."
"Yeah…" Sai sighed dreamily, drool trailing down his chin.
"SHINIMORI!"
"NO, NO! BOSS! DON'T SELL ME OUT! DON'T SELL ME OUT!"
"Oro…"
qpqpqpqp
Hiko's mountain
Hiko groaned slightly as his eyes flickered open. The Hiten Mitsurugi master loathed to admit it, but he was in pain. Not as bad as when he got hit when Kenshin learned the ougi, but still bad.
"You shouldn't get up yet," a strangely familiar voice cautioned.
Hiko froze. He hadn't sensed anyone near by. And that voice, young as it was, was impossible. It was impossible that particular voice had just spoken.
"I'm dreaming," Hiko muttered throwing an arm over his eyes, "Impossible."
"Oro?"
Dear Kami-sama, the dream even made that sound…
Hiko slowly turned his head, removing his arm in the process, to get a good look at the presence next to him.
Dear Kami-sama, the illusion even looked the same! And here Hiko was thinking he had, over the years, forgotten the details of that young face.
"What are you doing here?" Hiko grumbled tiredly at the vision.
"I am not allowed to visit?" came the soft question, coupled with the slow blink of all too familiar violet eyes.
"I didn't think I was ill enough that I started hallucinating," Hiko grumbled, glaring at the apparition as if it was the source of all his problems.
"Oro?"
Hiko felt like gritting his teeth. Right next to him was an almost perfect replica of his baka deshi at age nine. There was the red hair tied up in the short ponytail, the pale skin, small frame, and tiny hands. The voice was the same too: high and clear with none of the strange speech patterns developed later on in life besides that odd little nonsense word. The only break in the illusion was the eyes.
Those wide violet eyes were not the eyes of his nine-year-old baka deshi. No, those eyes belonged on the face of his adult baka deshi, the one who had lived through the horrors of the Bakumatsu and the strain of wandering. It was strange seeing such old eyes on such a young face.
"What are you doing here," Hiko growled again, angry that his mind had taken to playing tricks on him, "Kenshin?"
The illusion seemed to stiffen, those old eyes widening in shock/happiness/surprise/strange unnamed emotions. The illusion licked dry lips and cleared a dry throat that felt strangely…free…for the first time in years. A small hand shifted to touch Hiko's and lips move warily, hesitating as if afraid of being disappointed.
"Sh —"
"Oi, Kenichi!" Sano's voice hollered from outside, effectively cutting off the nine-year-old's speech. Hiko raised an eyebrow as his deshi's look-alike coughed, the words he was about to say strangled in his throat.
At that moment, Sano and Megumi entered the hut, Megumi carrying a basket full of freshly plucked herbs.
"Hey, Hiko!" Sano said cheerfully, "When's lunch?"
qpqpqpqp
Aoiya
A fight had broken out at the Aoiya.
After Chou and Sai left the Aoiya to head off to the police station, Kenji had entered the dinning area of the Aoiya to find Yahiko and Shinya were at each others' throats again after yet another argument.
Kenji didn't bother to ask either one of them about what the fight was in regard to. Judging by Shinya's furious glances at him, Kenji easily deduced that it had something to do with the sakabatou.
Shinya's obsession with the sword was obvious. At times, Kenji was tempted to hand the boy the blade just to have some peace and quiet. But then his common sense would come back and smash him on the head with his mother's bokken.
The sakabatou was no ordinary sword. Even if he hadn't been told that the sword was actually a holy sword, a principle forge, which had once been housed in a shrine, he would have been able to tell that it was special. There was a special something about it. Not to mention that the sakabatou was heavier than any sword he had ever come across. Even though the reversed edge added a bit more weight than a usual katana, it still did not account for most of the extra heaviness. Yahiko once said to him that the sakabatou bore the weight of Kenshin's guilt and atonement. That made perfect sense to Kenji since Hiko had once told him that a true swordsman was connected to his sword. Kenshin's connection with the sakabatou was so strong that it lasted even after the former rurouni's death and the sakabatou's changing of hands.
The sakabatou was not Kenji's to give, it was Kenshin's.
And Kenji could feel that neither the sakabatou nor Kenshin's spirit were willing to allow the sword to change hands yet.
Meanwhile, Yahiko and Shinya continued to face off, both males stubborn and unwilling to give in. Finally, Shinya snarled like a rabid wolf and stormed out of the Aoiya, a crackle of hot anger in the air that burned like a live coal trailing in his wake.
"Shimatta," Yahiko hissed, slamming a fist against a wall in frustration.
It was in times like these that Kenji thanked the gods that both of his sons were well behaved, despite the…odd…things (cough-ghosts-cough) that seemed to surround them.
"Do you want me to go get him?" Kenji offered, jerking his head toward Shinya's direction.
"Let the brat cool off, Himura," Misao, who had also witnessed to exchange, suggested, "Unless he does something stupid beyond belief, nothing should happen to him. Then again there are a lot of psychos out there…"
"I'll follow him," Michiyo, who had appeared behind her mother, offered, "I won't reveal myself, but I'll follow."
Without further ado, Michiyo left.
"This is getting out of hand," Kenji sighed, "It's not Shinya's time to carry the sword. It doesn't seem right. But he still keeps pushing. Yahiko, can't you do anything about Shinya?"
"I've been trying!" the spiky-haired swordsman protested, "He doesn't seem to listen."
"Well, he is at that age," Misao shrugged, "Both you and Kenji were little brats back then too. He'll grow out of it."
"I hope so," Yahiko sighed, to tired to even get mad at her over the "little brats" comment, "The last thing I want is to alienate my son."
"Shinya isn't going to leave the sakabatou matter alone you know," Kenji pointed out, "Eventually, something is going to have to happen."
"Like what?" Yahiko asked.
"No idea," Kenji shrugged, "But we need to be ready."
Suddenly, Kenji remembered something.
"Hey, did anyone take the food to Hiko-sensei's hut?"
qpqpqpqp
Elsewhere in Kyoto
Hamano Genji, leader of one of Kyoto's many yakuza gangs, had just finished listening to the report his henchman had relayed. Ever since the headquarters of in Tokyo had burned down, there had been nothing but problems.
Genji had the police on his trail, which was nothing new, but the fact that one of the officers after him was Fujiwara Sai, his old comrade, was a bit of a surprise. Genji had never pegged Sai down as someone who would go straight like that. It sickened Genji to see Sai's new life. But what was worse, Sai knew many of his habits making it easier for the thief-turned-cop to follow Genji's movements.
Then there was the man called the White Tiger, Yukishiro Enishi. Genji sneered at the nickname Yukishiro had picked up for himself. The man was old, and Genji was confident he could take down Yukishiro in a hand to hand fight despite his limp. That plus Genji had his trusty gun, just in case. Yukishiro may be the White Tiger, but he had nothing on a bullet.
However, Yukishiro was still very dangerous. He had resources and spies on his side. Genji was almost positive that it was Yukishiro that had ordered the headquarters in Tokyo burned to a crisp. It was very suspicious that only the headquarters were burned, yet the fire brigade was called fast enough that none of the surrounding buildings got singed. The burning had to have been arranged. Yukishiro was crafty, but Genji was craftier.
Through the report he had just heard, he now knew Yukishiro's hidey hole. And now, there would be no escaping the wrath of Hamano Genji.
qpqpqpqp
Kyoto Police Station
"So what have ya all found out?" Chou asked, looking around at the Kyoto police officers around him. He and Sai were gathered with five or so other officers, getting briefed on the current status of the Hamano Genji case. Chou and Sai had already laid out their information on Genji's habits and doings in Tokyo and were waiting for fresher information. After all, it was the two of them that were really in charge of this case.
Well, to be more precise, Chou was in charge. After all, he was the Lieutenant. Sai was just the lackey/assistant.
'It feels good to be the boss,' Chou thought smugly.
"Lieutenant Sawagejou," one of the officers began formally.
"Just call me Chou," the blond snorted, "Nobody calls me Sawagejou."
"Ah, yes, Lieutenant Chou, then," the Kyoto officer coughed, "We have some new information on Hamano Genji. I suppose you've heard of the White Tiger?
"Yukishiro Enishi," Sai nodded, adjusting his glasses slightly, "I read about him in one of your reports. He's standing up to Genji and causing trouble on the inside."
"That's right," the Kyoto officer nodded, "However, we don't know much about him. All we know is his name and the fact that the White Tiger showed up a few years ago and formed an organization used to fight crime. Something of a vigilante. He's become something of a legend here in Kyoto."
"Right next to Hitokiri Battousai," another Kyoto officer added, "Though of course, the White Tiger inspires hope, not fear like Battousai does."
"We are hoping that the White Tiger will weaken Genji from the inside while we finish the scum off," a third officer proclaimed, "Yukishiro Enishi is a good man, even though he works from the shadows."
Suddenly, Chou burst out laughing.
"Boss Broom?" Sai blinked, "Something the matter?"
"Kyoto's screwed up!" Chou laughed, "I though I heard of Yukishiro! Now I remember! Yukishiro Enishi, that crazy bastard."
"Eh?" Sai blinked, "Yukishiro is supposed to be a good guy, boss."
"Yer all idiots," Chou chuckled, "Yukishiro is known in Tokyo…as a former crime lord who destroyed property and terrorized citizens. In Tokyo, he was the one who inspired fear. Battousai inspired hope. All ya guys here in Kyoto got it all mixed up."
"What are you saying, Lieutenant?" one of the Kyoto officers asked.
"I sayin' that we've got ta be careful of Yukishiro," Chou answered, "He could have turned over a new leaf, he might not have. I'm hopin' he did though. That way I can employ 'im rather than kill 'im and collect that bounty on his head."
"NANI?.!" Sai and the other officers yelped, shock written all over their features at Chou's statement, "Bounty?.!"
"A criminal!" a Kyoto officer gasped, "And you want to employ him?.!"
"Why not?" Chou shrugged, "The police an' government just love hiring criminals. There's been a thief, an ex-Shinsengumi captain, a couple former killers who worked for a madman, not to mention all those times Battousai 'imself would help out the police."
"That's insane," a Kyoto officer hissed. Chou laughed.
"Yeah, well, when the choice is gettin' executed or workin' for the police," Chou smirked, "bad criminals go good."
"That's not what I meant!" the same officer protested, "The police would never employ a criminal!"
"Ya sure?" Chou asked with a rouge's smile.
The Kyoto officers were silent for a moment as Sai snickered quietly.
"That's what I thought."
qpqpqpqp
Hiko's hut
"Hiko!" Sano hailed as he entered the hut with this wife, "Glad to see you're up."
"Sagara," Hiko greeted stiffly. Sano grinned back. Ever since Hiko's illness had become known to everyone at the Aoiya, the hermit had been visited frequently by not only the ninja, but by Megumi and Sano as well.
"You overexerted yourself, Hiko-san," Megumi scolded as she fussed around with the herbs she and Sanosuke had gathered, "You passed out."
"I know that, woman," Hiko grunted, "Just what the hell were all of you doing on my mountain?"
"Visiting," Sano shrugged, "Kenji, Yahiko, and their families were visiting, so Misao thought it would be a good idea that we'd all have a little reunion."
"Little my ass," Hiko snorted, before turning his gaze on Kenshin, "I'm assuming you're Kenji's brat, eh?"
"H-Hai," Kenshin answered miserably. Hiko had been so close…So close to knowing who he was. For that one instant, Kenshin had felt the spells that restricted him from revealing himself lift, but suddenly they were firmly in place the instant Sano and Megumi entered the small hut.
"This is Kenichi," Sano introduced, jerking his head toward the redhead, "Kenichi, this is Hiko Seijuuro."
"Hajimemashite," Kenichi said formally, bowing to Hiko.
"Hn," Hiko nodded to the young redhead, "You know, you look very much like your grandfather."
"I know," Kenshin said with a slightly ironic smile. Hiko frowned as he found something a little bit too familiar in the eyes that looked up at him.
"What is your name, child?"
"Shinta…"
"That's too soft for a swordsman. From now on, your name is Kenshin."
"Ken—shin."
Hiko shook his head, clearing it. There was a moment of silence, when suddenly, a voice from the outside broke the still.
"Hiko-sensei!"
"Here comes Kenji now," Sano smirked, just as the red-haired swordsman entered the establishment.
"Kenji," Hiko nodded, lifting an eyebrow. Suddenly, Kenji found himself the center of attention.
"Um, anou, I brought food?" Kenji said sheepishly, lifting the two wrapped bundles in his hands awkwardly.
"Thank kami-sama!" Sano praised, "Food!"
"Do you always think with your stomach?" Megumi huffed as Kenji went about setting up the meal.
"I didn't bring anything to drink," Kenji blushed, berating himself internally for his lapse, "Hiko-sensei?"
"Don't look at me," the older sword-master snorted, "That little weasel-ninja stole all my sake."
"You shouldn't be drinking sake in you condition anyway, Hiko-san!" Megumi scolded, "You ought to thank Misao-chan for doing you a favor. Is there any water?"
"You'll have to fetch it," Hiko shrugged, before resting his eyes on the silent Kenichi, "Oi, kage baka deshi! Go get us some water."
"Oro!" Kenshin yelped indignantly, before sighing with resignation, knowing better than to argue with Hiko. Without another word, the small boy walked out, taking the water bucket with him as he went.
"Kage baka deshi?" Kenji raised an eyebrow at his sensei. Hiko snorted.
"It fits," the older swordsman replied simply, "He looks too much like your father for his own good. Confused Kenichi for him when I first woke up."
"You're loosing your edge," Sano scoffed, "I thought you great swordsmen could sense ki and all that stuff."
"The brat's ki is off," Hiko snorted back.
"Nani?" Kenji whispered, "Aoshi said he couldn't sense Kenichi's ki."
"Hn," the Hiten master murmured noncommittally, "A strange child. It's not surprising that Aoshi said there was no ki. It's not so much that he has no ki whatsoever, but rather that it is very elusive and strange."
"Strange?" Sano and Kenji blinked.
"I've felt ki like his before," Hiko answered, "It's a very common, actually."
"What do you mean?" Kenji asked, "How can Kenichi's ki be strange yet common?"
"The moment just before a man dies, his ki changes," Hiko began, "Most swordsmen can't even feel the change, and so it feels as if there is no ki at all, thus making it seem as if the person had died a second earlier than they truly did. I've felt ki like that on one too many battlefields, but this is the first time that I have sensed a ki like that which lasted for longer than a second."
There was a moment of silence. Kenji's eyes were lowered and his body shook with emotion.
"Are you saying," Kenji began slowly, his voice all but choking, "that my son has the ki of a dead man?"
"Aa," Hiko nodded, "And if you know what's best, keep an eye out for him."
qpqpqpqp
Later that night: Aoiya
It was a quiet night. After having lunch with Hiko and giving him some medicine, Megumi, Sano, Kenji, and Kenshin left the mountain. Hiko needed to, quote, "have some time alone."
The Shinomori and Myojin families, along with Sasuke and Chizuru had a more or less uneventful day, other than Yahiko and Shinya's fight. Shinya, after blowing off some steam, eventually returned to the Aoiya, his clothing torn in some places and a satisfied look on his face. Michiyo, who had followed him from the shadows, had returned with a disgusted look on her face, but reassured everyone in the Aoiya that Shinya had done nothing…too…illegal. (Yahiko was still suspicious when he scented smoke and sake on his son's clothing.)
Sai and Chou also returned from their meeting in at the police station. The two officers turned in early, mentioning something about having to wake up early for a briefing. No one said anything when a few of the others spotted Chou polishing his swords in his room with a maniacal look on his face or that Sai kept stashing extra bullets for his gun in the pockets of the clothing he planned to wear the next day.
Slowly everyone went to sleep, some with more on their mind then others.
Everyone that is except for Kenshin.
Kenshin had sneaked up on to the roof again, this time positive that everyone within the Aoiya walls was sound asleep.
"Still up, anata?" Kaoru's ghostly voice asked, just as her spirit materialized right next to Kenshin in a swirl of ghostly cherry blossoms.
"Kaoru," Kenshin smiled at his wife, "It's a beautiful night out, ne, de gozaru ka?"
"You should be asleep," Kaoru scolded. Kenshin chuckled.
"Are you saying that sessha is so old that he should turn in early?" Kenshin teased, "Kaoru-chan, sessha is hurt."
"Shinta no baka!" Kaoru huffed, "That's not what I meant!"
"Sessha knows," Kenshin smiled, before looking back up at the stars "Sessha is waiting for Kaito-dono, de gozaru."
"Kaito?" Kaoru blinked, before she remembered, "Oh right. The PBKB party is tonight."
"Aa," Kenshin nodded, "It would be rude if sessha missed it after giving his word, de gozaru."
"I suppose so," Kaoru sighed, "But if you start getting tired, it's back to bed for you, mister!"
"Hai, Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin saluted. Kaoru huffed, but smiled anyway. In a way, the dono suffix had become almost a pet name for her.
"Don't you think it's strange that Kaito is late?" Kaoru asked after a moment of silence, "He's such a party animal. He should have come by to pick you up by now. I better go look for him to make sure the baka didn't forget."
"Thank you, Kaoru," Kenshin smiled. Kaoru grinned back before giving him a kiss (or at least as close as she could get since the two couldn't really touch) and disappeared.
"That was very cute," a voice from behind Kenshin commented. Kenshin's eyes flew wide, surprised he hadn't sensed anyone, and turned.
"Konbanwa, Kenshin-san," a familiar voice greeted, coupled with a familiar face with green/gold eyes.
"Shinigami-dono!" Kenshin gasped, recognizing the kami that brought him back to life instantly, "You startled sessha, de gozaru."
"Sorry about that," Shinigami laughed slightly, rubbing the back of his head, "How have you been Kenshin-san?"
"Good," Kenshin replied, "It's been awhile since sessha has seen you. Where have you been?"
"Doing my job," Shinigami shrugged, before getting serious, "Anyway, I don't have a lot of time, so I'll be blunt. I need your help, Kenshin-san."
"What sort of help?" Kenshin asked, puzzled about what he could do for a kami.
"You'll see," Shinigami grinned childishly, "It involves Hiko Seijuuro-san."
"Shishou?" Kenshin blinked, "What about Shishou?"
"I'll explain when we get there," Shinigami replied, "Now come on!"
"But the PBKB…"
"Don't worry, it'll be quick," Shinigami smiled, as he took Kenshin's small hand in his own equally small hand, "You'll be back in plenty of time. Besides this is very important! A matter of life and death for Seijuuro-san!"
"Oro!" Kenshin yelped, "Then we should leave immediately!"
"Don't worry about a thing, Kenshin-san," Shinigami soothed, just as he teleported them away, "Knowing you, everything will be very quick…"
qpqpqpqp
Meanwhile, in the Aoiya, someone woke up.
Myojin Shinya, yawned, rubbing his hair as he got out of bed. The boy looked rather rumpled, his hair a mess, his clothing wrinkled. He hadn't even bothered to change out of his day-clothes into his nightclothes, and was still wearing the western shirt and slacks. He headed towards the kitchen for some water, when suddenly he noticed something on one of the dinning tables.
Shinya blinked his eyes a few times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.
There on the table lay the sakabatou.
'What's it doing there?' the teen asked himself before he suddenly remembered a conversation at the dinner table.
Michiyo had asked to observe the blade, and Kenji had offered to lend it to her for the night. As Shinya looked around the table, he noticed a cleaning kit, and some used pieces of rice paper. Michiyo had obviously been cleaning it. Shinya easily guessed that after cleaning the sword, the young kunoichi had gotten tired and decided to go to sleep. Michiyo, being the polite young woman she was, didn't want to wake up Kenji to return the sword, so had left it on the table for him to pick up in the morning. She wasn't worried about thieves since what idiot would break into an inn housing two police officers, not to mention some of the best fighters in Japan. And Shinya knew that around this area, everyone heard rumors of the Aoiya being a secret ninja base.
"Che," Shinya snorted, as he picked up the sakabatou and its saya.
As soon as his fingers brushed the braided hilt, a strange chill washed over him.
'What is it about this sword?' Shinya asked as he sheathed it.
Suddenly, he got an idea…
…a foolish, foolish idea.
Without another word, Shinya went to the front door, slipped on his shoes, and left the Aoiya, the sakabatou still in his grasp.
qpqpqpqp
Hiko's hut
"Oro!" Kenshin yelped as he and Shinigami materialized right outside of Hiko's hut. Shinigami laughed sheepishly.
"Sorry about that," Shinigami apologized, "Teleporting takes some getting used to."
"Sessha teleported before as a spirit," Kenshin replied, as he rubbed his arms, "That was different, de gozaru."
"Aa," Shinigami agreed, "Teleporting via kami and teleporting via ghost are two different things. Anyway, putting that aside, let's go wake up Seijuuro-san."
"Shishou is going to be cranky," Kenshin sighed.
"Seijuuro-san is always cranky," Shinigami snickered as he entered the hut. Kenshin trailed behind, deciding to hang back to stay at the door and not come in.
The two found Hiko already awake, sitting up on his futon.
"Seijuuro-san!" Shinigami chirped happily, "Konbanwa!"
"Shinigami-sama," Hiko nodded, "I suppose you're here to take me."
"Don't be silly," Shinigami laughed, fully aware that Kenshin was listening, "I already told you that I won't be the one taking you to the next life…"
Suddenly, Kenshin felt himself being propelled forward by an unseen force. He collapsed on the floor of the hut, a disoriented pile of limbs, clothes, and red-hair.
"Oro!"
"Hiko Seijuuro, I believe you know your executioner, Himura Kenichi? Or should I say, Himura Kenshin?"
qpqpqpqp
Aoiya
Kaoru grumbled to herself as she dragged Kaito's body behind her with her right hand, his head firmly in her left hand's grasp as she held it up by his dark brown hair. The stupid, sake-loaded, party crazy, beheaded Shinsengumi ghost had indeed forgotten to take Kenshin to the party. Again!
"Baka," Kaoru scowled, "If you're going to invite my husband to the party, at least have the decency to take him to said party! You know he can't vanish and reappear wherever he wishes like a ghost!"
"I'm sorry, Kaoru-kun!" Kaito's head cried, "I swear, I was going to go get him…and you!"
"Uh huh," Kaoru snorted as she gave the head in her hand a vicious shake. Kaoru couldn't help but feel a bit of satisfaction as Kaito winced. Having long hair herself, she knew perfectly well that her fingers digging in the dark strands hurt like hell, especially since Kaito was wearing it tied up tightly.
"You better apologize to Shinta," Kaoru growled as the two ghosts landed on the Aoiya's roof.
"Sure thing, where is he?" Kaito agreed, trying to appease the angry female ghost with flashing blue eyes.
"He should be right here," Kaoru blinked, letting go of Kaito's body.
"Maybe he's inside?" the beheaded ghost suggested. Kaoru nodded, handed Kaito back his head, and the two ghosts flew into the building.
"Shinta?" Kaoru called.
"Battousai-san!"
"Kami-sama, where could he be?" Kaoru whispered as she looked.
"He's not anywhere!" Kaito stated, panicked, "I can't even sense his presence!"
"Sense?" Kaoru blinked. Kaito nodded, making Kaoru start in surprise when she noticed that Kaito's head was on his shoulders and there was no trace of a wound. Kaito looked almost…alive.
"All PBKB members can sense our killer, no matter where he is," Kaito replied, "It's one of the benefits of being a cursed ghost. But now I can't feel his presence anywhere! It's like he dropped off the face of the planet!"
"NANI?.!" Kaoru yelped as she began shaking the other spirit, her eyes flashing with rage, "Then what happened to him?.!"
"The only times I haven't been able to sense his aura were the seconds just before he died, and the time when he was being reborn!" Kaito babbled, obviously in distress as, out of nowhere, he summoned a long spear and began twirling it nervously, "This is bad, Kaoru-kun!"
"What are we going to do?.!" Kaoru cried, "Kenshin wouldn't just wander off! Not unless he had a good reason!"
"We should round up the rest of the PBKB," Kaito said, looking serious for the first time Kaoru had known him, "Unless Himura-san is being reborn or is dying, the only other way his aura could disappear was if he was in really deep…"
qpqpqpqp
Hiko's hut
The silence in Hiko's small hut was so thick none of its occupants could breathe. It was as if they were underwater rather than on dry land. Tension crackled in the air as Shinigami's last words hung in the air like Damocles' sword.
"Hiko Seijuuro, I believe you know your executioner, Himura Kenichi? Or should I say, Himura Kenshin?"
"Ken…shin?" Hiko murmured slowly, staring at the red-haired piled lying on the ground, "So then I wasn't wrong. You are Kenshin…brought back from the dead."
"Shishou?" Kenshin blinked, the restriction spells on him lifting, "W-what's going on, de gozaru ka?"
"Kami-sama!" Hiko breathed, not quite believing what was happening.
"Yes?" Shinigami grinned at Hiko, causing the old swordsman to glare at the small kami.
"You didn't tell my baka deshi anything, did you?" Hiko hissed.
"Of course not!" Shinigami chirped, smiling so wide, his face almost split open, "Kenshin-san would have never come with me if he knew I was planning on making him a hitokiri again."
"Nani?.!" Kenshin growled, his eyes narrowing, amber sparks blooming to life within his violet pools.
"Hello to you too, Battousai-san," Shinigami greeted, still smiling despite the death glare aimed at him, "Glad to see you're awake. As much as I like Rurouni-san, you're much more fun."
"I don't appreciate your type of fun," Kenshin hissed coldly, his eyes all but amber. Shinigami laughed, his eyes also whirling to become more gold than green.
"That's why you were the best," the golden eyed Shinigami replied calmly, as he waved a hand. Suddenly, a dark shape clattered on the ground, appearing out of thin air.
"A gift, Battousai-san," Shinigami said, his voice sounding like Hokkaido's iciest winter, "Seijuuro-san will fill you in on what you need to know."
And with that, the not so childlike kami disappeared into thin air.
Moving slowly, almost unwillingly, Kenshin bent down to pick up the object Shinigami left lying on the ground.
It was a sheathed katana.
qpqpqpqp
Aoiya rooftop
Kaoru bit her nails, worried out of her mind. Surrounding her were various ghosts, most from the PBKB, but there were also a few Shinsengumi captains Battousai fought against, Ishin Shishi Kenshin fought for, and the few Oniwabanshu that the Rurouni fought with.
"Kaoru-san," a voice murmured next to her. Kaoru looked over to see Hannya, one of the Oniwabanshu she and Kenshin had first met at Kanryu's mansion with Aoshi.
"Hannya-san," Kaoru greeted, "Any news?"
"Iie," the masked ninja answered, "I am sorry for your loss."
"Himura-san is not lost yet," an authoritative voice retorted. Kaoru blinked to see Katsura Kogoro, Kenshin's old commander from the Bakumatsu materialize on the rooftop, "Kaoru-san, I promise we'll find him."
"Arigato," Kaoru smiled, as she remembered Kenshin's old stories about Katsura. Although she did not appreciate what the man had done to her husband in the past, Kenshin assured her that Katsura had never broken his word.
The Choshu commander smiled kindly at the woman, patted her shoulder and disappeared, no doubt to search the area once more. Hannya also nodded, before he too vanished.
"Katsura-sama is correct, Kaoru-chan," a gentle feminine voice that belonged to one Kiyosato Tomoe told Kaoru, "We will find him. Nearly every Bakumatsu ghost is on the case."
"Thank you, Tomoe-san," Kaoru murmured to her husband's first wife. Surprisingly enough, the two women got along quite well when they had met for the first time. At first Kaoru had been worried about romance still existing between her husband and Tomoe, but Tomoe had quickly assured the younger woman that she was not interested. After all, both Tomoe and Kenshin had moved on, loved others, and could never see each other as more than friends, and strained ones at that. Too much water under the bridge, after all. If anything, Kaoru and Tomoe got along much better than Tomoe and Kenshin.
"Tomoe-chan?" Kiyosato's voice called, just as the bloody ghost materialized next to his wife, "I'm sorry, but my group didn't find anything in our sector."
"This is bad," Kaito muttered as he and his partner Takumi floated over to Kaoru's group, "What if something happened to Himura-san? Kami-sama! What would happen to us?.!"
"Nani?.!" Kaoru blinked, "What do you mean?" Kiyosato sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Kaoru-san," Kiyosato began, "the PBKB is made up entirely of cursed ghosts. We get benefits that other ghosts don't get, such as being able to contact the living more easily along with other abilities. However, none of us can move on to the next plane of existence."
"Why?" Kaoru asked, curious.
"That's where the cursed part comes in," Takumi jumped in to the conversation, "You see, our fates are entwined with your husband's. Why else do you think that all of us more or less forgave him? You can't hate the man who is going to be your savior. Not to mention Himura-san has a good soul, much better than most of us."
"What do you mean your fates are entwined?" Kaoru asked, still puzzled.
"The PBKB can't rest until our killer does," Takumi shrugged, "As long as Himura-kun is bound to the Earthly plane, so are we. We have no choice. Unlike you, who can move on whenever you wish, none of PBKB can go to heaven, hell, get reincarnated, or whatever until Himura-kun decides to finally rest his soul. Unfortunately, he has a lot of guilt."
"That's why we asked Shinigami-sama to help bring Himura-san back to life," Kiyosato added, "Himura-san felt so guilty about his bad blood with your son that his soul refused to leave the Earthly plane. So we asked Shinigami-sama to help him. We all thought that if Himura-san fixed his relationship with Kenji, he'll stop feeling guilty and rest peacefully, thus setting us all free."
"Also, since he's a forced reincarnation," Tomoe added, "we could communicate with him also, giving him advice, cheering him on, and telling him that we at least forgive him."
"So you were the ones who gave Shinta this second chance?" Kaoru asked, her eyes tearing up, "Thank you."
"It wasn't just us," Kaito shrugged, "Shinigami-sama did most of the work. We were kind of surprised that he agreed to help so quickly, though."
"We're a selfish lot, Kaoru-san," Takumi murmured, "We want Himura-kun to move on, so we can too. You shouldn't thank us."
"Still, you helped give Shinta a second chance with Kenji," Kaoru said firmly, "It's not perfect, but his bond with Kenji is much deeper now. And you're not completely selfish. If you were, you wouldn't go out of your way to cheer up Shinta with your parties or make friends with him. You could have never revealed yourselves, but you did."
The PBKB members blinked at her, smiling slightly at her words.
"We'll keep searching, Kaoru-chan," Tomoe assured the other woman firmly.
"Wait a moment," Kiyosato requested, "When on a search, the more people the better, ne?"
"We have every deadbeat from the Bakumatsu searching for Battousai-san!" Kaito protested, "We don't need anymore!"
"There are places where the living can reach that the dead cannot," Kiyosato pointed out.
"Where are we going to find a medium that can speak to ghosts at this hour?" Takumi asked, "Not to mention one that won't try to banish us on the spot."
"We don't need a spirit medium," Kiyosato grinned as he pulled something out of his sleeve.
It was a bright crimson flower.
"What the heck are you doing with a Spirit Focus?.!" Kaito yelped, staring at the luscious red blossom sitting innocently in Kiyosato's palm, "Those things can be dangerous you know!"
"Spirit Focus?" Kaoru blinked, unfamiliar with the term.
"A magical item," Kiyosato replied, "It has supernatural powers. A living person with a Spirit Focus can summon certain spirits whenever they want, talk to them, get the ghosts to do their bidding, so forth and so on. It works whether or not the human is a spirit medium or not."
"So why do you have one?" Kaoru asked.
"This is not really a Spirit Focus, but more like an alarm for the real Spirit Focus," Kiyosato replied, "Using this, I can make the mortal with the corresponding Spirit Focus to pay attention to it. There's a compulsion spell interlaced with the Spirit Focus. Once I activate my 'Spirit Focus' the mortal that has the real Spirit Focus will have an undeniable urge to activate the Spirit Focus and call on the ghosts that respond to the Spirit Focus."
"Okay, I'm going to regret this," Kaito muttered, "But what ghosts does the Spirit Focus in question call?"
Kiyosato gave a devilish grin, "All of the PBKB."
"NANI?.!"
"Are you insane?.!" Kaito yelled, whapping his spear against Kiyosato's head, "Do you have any idea how many PBKB there are?.! We're the largest group of cursed ghosts in the Afterlife! One mortal can't have that sort of power to call all of us!"
"Don't worry, I adjusted the Spirit Focus so that when it's activated it will only summon a small group of us at a time," Kiyosato assured, as he rubbed his abused head.
"Wait a second!" Kaito growled, "You were the one who made that blasted thing?.! Kiyosato-san, I thought I was the crazy one in the group!"
"Who has the Spirit Focus?" Tomoe asked. Kiyosato gave another mischievous smile.
"Himura Kenji."
qpqpqpqp
Hiko's hut
Kenshin was staring at the sheathed katana in his lap, his shishou's explanation washing over him like rainwater.
The katana that Shinigami left was sheathed in a shining black lacquered saya, the cords decorating the sheath an unreflective ebony. The braided hilt too was darker than a moonless night and the tsuba was made from black iron, a cherry blossom pattern etched into it. Kenshin had yet to draw it, but he could already feel the aura of death that surrounded this blade.
This was no sakabatou.
"Have you been listening to what I've been saying, baka deshi?" Hiko's voice growled, snapping Kenshin's attention away from the sword.
"Hai, shishou," Kenshin answered miserably, "Shinigami said that sessha must be the one to kill you or else you will live a life of suffering, de gozaru."
"Good," Hiko nodded, "So what are you going to do, baka deshi?"
"Nothing," Kenshin answered, standing up fluidly before heading to the door…
…only to be stopped by an invisible barrier.
"Kuso!" Kenshin cursed, his eyes flashing amber for a split second. Suddenly, Hiko's sheathed sword whacked him over the head.
"Language, baka deshi," Hiko ordered, before glancing in the direction of the exit, "It seems that Shinigami-sama thought of everything, you won't be leaving here until you kill me."
"But I can't!" Kenshin protested, "I'm not…"
"Baka," Hiko snorted, "Don't you know anything? Shinigami brought you back to life, ne? He did a favor for you, now you have to do a favor for him. That is how it works. Your life for my life."
"If I had known the price," Kenshin gritted out from clenched teeth, "I would have remained a ghost! I will not become Battousai!"
"Is that so?" Hiko raised an eyebrow, "You're sounding like the hitokiri right now. And your eyes…"
Kenshin fell silent in horror. He had been speaking without the Rurouni's lilt, instead using the clipped language and harsh "ore" that he had used in the Bakumatsu.
"Shishou?" Kenshin asked, forcing himself away from the darkness that had surrounded him during the dying days of the Tokugawa, "What should sessha do?"
"The answer is obvious, baka deshi," Hiko snorted, "Kill me."
"But Shishou!"
"Baka!" Hiko snarled, whacking Kenshin again with his sheathed katana, "Think about it! A kami that you owe wants you to kill me! You can't leave until you kill me! I'll suffer for an eternity if you don't kill me! And it's beneficial if you kill me!"
"Shishou…"
"Shinigami and I already talked about it," Hiko shrugged, "He convinced me that it would be in your best interest if you were the one who finished me off."
"I cannot! Will not! Sessha's vow…"
"That vow ended when your life ended," Hiko retorted, "Besides it has always been the fate of a Hiten Mitsurugi master to die by his deshi."
"It should not be…"
"Kenshin," Hiko sighed, sounding serious, "It is either that I die by your sword or die by my own failing body. As a swordsman, there is no greater honor than to die by the sword. Live by the sword…"
"…die by the sword," Kenshin finished, tears in his eyes, "Shishou…"
"I am asking you as my pupil to grant me one final request," Hiko said, his tone more serious than Kenshin every remembered, "Would you deny me that, when I came to your aid in the past? Shinigami isn't the only one you owe."
"Hai," Kenshin agreed, holding back unshed tears, "It has been so long…"
"As I told you when you learned the ougi," Hiko murmured, "Your killing of me is outside of your vow. And I have already said that your no-kill vow dissolved."
"I can't…" Kenshin whispered, "Not you…"
"Baka deshi!" Hiko yelled, "Do it! Give me my honor as a swordsman! Either way, I die! You decided whether I die a quick death or a living one! Choose Kenshin!"
"Sessha…" Kenshin whispered, his hand gripping the braided hilt of the black katana Shinigami left. Then, slowly, as tears coursed down his cheeks like twin rivers, the red-haired man in a boy's body gave one tiny fateful nod.
'Regret…'
"Draw the sword," Hiko ordered sternly, "Let's see what manner of steel it is."
Kenshin remained silent, standing to face his master, the sword all but leaping to his hand. Kenshin couldn't help but feel surprised that the katana was the perfect length and weight for him, even in this smaller child's form.
There was a movement of bright steel. Battoujutsu, imperfect due to lack of practice, but effective.
Metal slid through flesh, blood, and bone as easily as a fish swam through water.
A ragged gasp of not quite pain. A wash of regretful tears over smooth young cheeks. Blood everywhere, the drops sparkling like rubies in candlelight.
And all that was left was Death.
Lying in his own blood was the dying form of the thirteenth master of Hiten Mitsurugi, Hiko Seijuuro. Through his fading vision he saw the small form of his deshi, the blood-spattered katana clenched in his hand.
Even underneath the blood, the katana gleamed, and Hiko smiled at the quality of the blade that had taken his life.
Hiko couldn't see his deshi's eyes, but he already knew what color they were. He could tell, even though his deshi tried to hide it.
"Ken…shin," Hiko whispered as he slowly closed his eyes.
And with one final breath, Hiko Seijuuro the Thirteenth was gone.
Glossary:
Hajimemashite- "Pleased to meet you (for the first time)"
Kage baka deshi- "Shadow idiot pupil" here referring to how Kenichi is like Kenshin's doppelganger
saya- "sheath"
tsuba- hand-guard of a sword
konbanwa- "good evening"
ore- an arrogant, harsh version of "I"; Kenshin uses ore instead of sessha during his Battousai days
ougi- final technique or secret
Author-chan's notes: Nothing can be said…Hiccupping sob
Next Chapter: Graveyard