Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, thank the Lord.

A/N: Sorry for not putting reviewer responses on here, but I am very anti-social, so I probablywon't ever put responses on here. But thank-you for all the wonderful reviews nonetheless!

Warning: This is rated T for a reason. Sorry I didn't put this in the prologue or something, but there will be mild violence (maybe more later) and mild language.

Claw & Fang

Chapter Two

Kenshin POV

I arrived at Hiko's about ten minutes later. I had walked the rest of the way, my mood considerably lighter than it had been when I left the school grounds. Until I heard Hiko's voice, that is.

"Couldn't be any slower if you'd tried, could you, baka deshi?"

I sighed. I had even run most of the way. How on earth was I slow?

"Twenty laps around the house, then go do your homework!"

My jaw dropped. Twenty? Our home wasn't exactly the smallest place you'd ever see, and when Hiko said 'around the house' he meant 'around all my property', which meant I had to run around a field twenty times. I clamped my jaw shut and ran outside, keen to leave before he gave me even more laps.

By the time I got back, I was tired and sweaty, and all I wanted to do was to flop down on my bed and sleep. Instead, I grabbed my folder and took out all of the disclosure statements I had collected, going to find Hiko so he could sign them.

I poked my head around the corner, glancing into the kitchen to see if he could possibly be in there. He was currently sitting at the table, drinking his preferred drink, saké. I was very grateful for the fact that Hiko could hold his alcohol really well, because, if he couldn't, he wouldn't have been sober enough to sign my papers (he doesn't mind getting drunk on work days).

"Well look who's finally back!" he smirked, taking my assignments from me to sign them.

I glared at him. So what if I wasn't fast enough for God-speed yet? I was still faster than most of the people I've met.

"Go get your katana," he said, scratching 'Seijuro Hiko' onto one of the papers, not even bothering to read it, "and head to the dojo. We haven't sparred yet today."

I suppressed a groan and left to do as he said, knowing full well how sore I would be in the morning.

Kaoru POV

I was lost. When I had run after Kenshin, I hadn't realized that we had gone into a district that I didn't know too well, and, me being the way that I am, I had run to the left, not even bothering to check if I was going in the right direction.

Stupid, stupid impulsive decisions, and what a great time to not have my cell phone.

So, I had decided to backtrack, and head in the direction Kenshin had gone in the first place.

Well, that might have helped…

…If I had done that five hours ago.

It was getting dark, and I had no idea where I was going. I kept heading to the right, hoping to find my way back to where I had been before I had run off. Little did I know, I was less than a block from Kenshin's house.

Suddenly, I jumped. I could have sworn on my mother's grave –even though she wasn't in her grave yet- that I had heard something coming from the bush off to my left. I sighed when I saw that it was just a small snake, something I didn't like, but something I could easily avoid.

I frowned when I noticed that peculiar but faint glow that signified the snake as one of my kind, and I could have sworn that I saw whoever it was smirk at me. I grew nervous and quickened my pace, hearing a slight hissing sound behind me.

Snake POV

I smirked –as well as a snake could smirk- when the girl finally noticed what I was. The frown that marred her pretty face was positively laughable. However, I did laugh when she sped up, enjoying how nervous I was making her feel.

I slid into my human form, my bones making small cracking sounds, which the girl heard. She started to turn around, but I slipped behind her, roughly grabbing her arms and clamping my hand over her mouth.

"If you cooperate, I won't have to hurt you," I said, my voice a scratchy whisper.

I released a cry of pain when she bit my finger, my hands accidentally losing their grip.

She screamed, a shrill noise in the night that would easily carry to the nearest houses, while she backed away and turned to run.

I snarled and smacked her in the face, silencing her cry and sending her to the ground. I was reaching for her again when I heard the sound of running feet and thought better of it, instead sliding into the form of my second soul and retreating into the bush where I had first made my appearance.

Kenshin POV

I was sitting on the front porch, resting after the long training session with my 'shishou', as I had come to think of him.

Then I heard it.

I heard someone scream, a sound that was meant only to make noise, to make someone hear and come to his or her aid, not out of any real fear.

I picked up my sword, a beautiful sakabato that was given to me for training, and ran toward the source of the scream, ignoring the weariness pulling at me. When I got to wherever I was going –I wasn't paying much attention at the time- I saw the person I least expected to see.

It was Kaoru.

I ran over to her, extending my arm to help her up. She looked surprised to see me, but I just smiled at her and asked what was wrong.

"There was someone… he grabbed me…I didn't have my bokken… I screamed… you came and he left," she said, stumbling over her words while grasping my hand and pulling herself up.

"Well he's gone now, so why don't you come over to my house and we can drive you home?"

"Or you can give her here, and leave alive," a voice from off the left of the sidewalk called threateningly.

I turned and looked at the man who had endangered Kaoru. He was about average height, medium length black hair falling around his face in matted clumps. He snarled and waved a wakizashi in our direction.

I stepped in front of Kaoru, sliding into the stance Hiko had taught me only a week ago. I bent my right knee, extending my left leg behind and unsheathing the blade of my sword partially with my thumb. I waited.

The man looked confused, as if he had never seen my sword technique before, which he probably hadn't. He was about to take the offensive, but hesitated, retreating a step, trying to assess my strategy.

"Come," I taunted, "unless you're afraid."

He hesitated again, but, seeing that I wasn't going to move, charged forward, inexpertly swinging his sword.

I waited until the last second, pulling my katana free of its sheath and swinging it as hard as I could, slamming my opponent in the ribs. I distinctly heard the cracking of bones as the man doubled over, wheezing.

I turned to Kaoru, grabbing her hand to lead her in the direction of my house when I saw Hiko standing in front of me, barring the way.

"You need practice, that was still too slow," was all he said before turning around, silently guiding us home.

Kaoru POV

I was surprised to find out that Hiko was Kenshin's father. They looked nothing alike. Whereas Hiko had black hair, thick muscles, and was really tall, Kenshin had his lighter, red hair, was –no offense- scrawny, and was short. I really couldn't see any similarities. Maybe Kenshin just took after his mother.

"I didn't know you two were related," I said, hoping to start a conversation.

The pair glanced at each other and, much to my chagrin, burst out laughing.

"You think I'm related to tiny, here?" Hiko asked.

"Well, not anymore…"

"Kaoru," Kenshin said, reaching for the door, "Hiko adopted me. There is no way we could ever be related."

"Oh…"

"Come in," Hiko called, "unless you want to sleep outside tonight."

"I can't stay!"

"Not you. I was talking to my baka deshi. I'll drive you home in a minute."

"Oh…" I felt really awkward in Hiko's commanding presence, especially out of school, and now I was just making a fool out of myself.

Wait… baka… deshi? Stupid apprentice? Oh, I was never going to let him live this down.

We stepped inside, and I looked around, interested in what my new friend's home looked like. I followed Kenshin upstairs and through the hallway that led to his bedroom. He pushed open the door, and said: "My room's not that clean right now, sorry."

I walked in and looked around. 'Not that clean' my ass. My room was twice as messy as his, if his could even be counted as messy.

I turned to him, a false glare on my face.

"Oh, so you're one of those are you?"

"…One of what?"

"A complete neat freak that can't stand anything out of order for a very long time and certainly not in front of guests 'cause guess what? Your room is a Hell of a lot cleaner than mine."

He merely shrugged and flopped down on his bed.

"Tired, are you?"

"You have no idea what being Hiko's 'baka deshi' means."

I laughed at that, and, upon hearing my name being called from downstairs, left the room with a quick 'goodbye'.

When we reached my house, I gave a hurried 'thank-you' to Hiko and ran inside. By now, my parents would be home, and would be worried sick. I was just glad that they hadn't called the police.

As soon as I walked inside, I was knocked over by my brother, Yahiko.

He was hugging me so tight I could barely breathe.

"Y-Yahiko, get off me!"

He obliged, but glared at me when I stood. "Where the Hell were you?"

My parents had run into the room, and I was soon squashed in another hug.

"Where were you?" the question was repeated by my parents, albeit nicer.

"I got lost."

"How did you get lost on the way home from school?" Yahiko asked incredulously.

I truly had no idea how to explain that one. "I wasn't paying attention and I went the wrong way…"

Yahiko stared at me as if I had grown a second head. "Now that is dumb, even for you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Maa, maa, calm down," my mother cried, "we're just glad you're home safe. We found your cell phone by the way."

"Yeah… that's kinda why I didn't call…"

"We figured. Now, hurry and do your homework and go to sleep. It's getting late."

"It's only eight o'clock!"

"Just wondering if you were paying attention, honey. No need to get upset." Smiling, she turned to leave. "Dinner's in the fridge!" she called as an afterthought.

My father then patted me on the head like I was some sort of dog and left to follow my mother.

I sighed with relief when they were gone. I hadn't expected that to go so well. I started for the staircase, wanting to grab a book and read, but I found my path blocked by Yahiko.

"So what really happened?"

"I told you, I got lost!"

"You really expect me to believe that bull shit?"

"It's the truth, and you had better not let mom hear you use that kind of language!"

"If that's the truth, then where did you get those scrapes?"

I looked down at my elbows as best I could, finally noticing the ugly-looking scrapes that I had gotten from being knocked over. "I tell you, I did get lost, Yahiko," I said, "I just ran into some trouble on the way."

"'On the way'? If you really were lost than there wouldn't have been any 'way'"

I sucked in my breath, trying to hold in the mounting frustration. What was he looking for, an adventure story? "Just drop it, Yahiko-chan."

"I AM NOT 'LITTLE', UGLY!"

"What was that? You said you're not a 'little ugly'?" I asked, feigning bad hearing. "Then just how ugly are you?"

He let out an exasperated growl and decided that it wasn't worth the effort to argue with me. He sent me one last glare and departed for his room.

I sighed again, hurrying to finish my homework and leave to the comfort of my room. I really was tired. Hours of wandering the streets could do that to people.

I changed into my night clothes, ready to turn in for a 'fresh start' the next day. Yeah, right. Like I could wake up that early and be happy in the morning. I hate mornings, unless someone has a cappuccino on hand and is willing to give it to me.

I crawled into bed and hummed to myself, willing the events of the day to the back of my mind for a good night's sleep.

A/N: Thank-you to everyone for sticking with this story! Please R&R!