A/N: Would you believe me if I told you I was carried off by gremlins to be their queen and just returned from their lair in the New York sewers? You would? Well, aren't you gullible. Of course I wasn't kidnapped, I was just being lazy again. But, anyways, I know y'all just been dying to read the next chapter. Heck, you might have been inspired and gone and looking up what the heck a chiang-shi is or how to drink sake. What? You didn't! An outrage! Go do research now! Really, I can't do all the work in here...wait, yes I can, it's my job as an author to clarify things for the unenlightened. Of course, you know that I'm abosolutely joking, dear reader. All will become clear as I sweep away the veil. But who says I have to do it in this chapter? Mwahaha. Cliff hangers will be coming, so watch your step. Please review, because I'm starving for attention. :P
Disclaimer: I do not own anything here. It all belongs to someone else. Not mine, someone else's.
000000000 Chapter 2 00000000
Humming a wordless tune to himself, Himura scrubbed the dirty clothes by rote. Up and down his arms went, rubbing the clothes on the washboard gently, yet firmly, cleansing the items of the dirt, sweat, and a little blood from a dojo accident on them, of course coming from yet another headbanging of Yahiko's for disrespecting Kaoru while training. Kenshin felt happier in the spring than any other time of year. It made him feel truely alive and well. It also made him think fondly of his little boy who currently was splashing his hands into the wash bucket playfully. Kenji, his pride and joy, would be three very soon. It seemed like just yesterday that Kaoru had first handed him a tiny bundle that contained his precious treasure, his son.
In the dojo, Kenshin could hear his wife shouting out the orders to her class. Shinai hit shinai with loud clacks and yells. The practices occured every day now, with hordes of enthusiastic learners coming to be students of his talented wife. He sat on the sidelines, every once in awhile, and watched the students spar and practice their forms. Such pride he saw in his wife for her pupils. She loved them all, and hoped for each one to surpass their best efforts thus far. Soon, her very first student, Yahiko, would become a graduate of the art. He would then become the second instructor, leaving some time for Kaoru in which she could spend with her budding family.
Their family was not rich, nor were they poor. They could afford extra pleasures on occassion, and were never in want for food, clothing, or shelter. Sanosuke, who was currently in China, sent them little presents from time to time along with a letter detailing a few of his adventures. Lately, Sano employed himself as a bodyguard, with which he made a decent enough living. Someday, he would be back, though. Sano told them in every letter that he missed them all and someday would return to stay. Kenshin and Kaoru's friend, Megumi the doctor, would not be sad to see Sanosuke return. Whenever a letter came from Sano, Kenshin and Kaoru reaffirmed their plan to get Sano to marry Megumi when he returned. They would be just right for eachother.
Into this happy thought line, Kenshin was so busy with his mind and hands that he did not notice a visitor in the entrance of the dojo until the person coughed politely to warn Kenshin of his presence. Looking up from the tub, Kenshin saw Hiko Seijiro waiting patiently. "Shishou!" he exclaimed in surprise, standing up in a hurry and wiping his soapy hands on his gi absent-mindedly. "What a surprise!"
"Is it?" Hiko asked in a teasing tone. Hiko's eyes caught sight of Kenji still playing with the bucket of water. "Is that your son?" he asked, already knowing the answer, for who else could pass on such red hair other than Kenshin?
"Yes," Kenshin answered proudly. "Kaoru's and mine."
"Congradulations, he looks like a fine son," Hiko complimented with a rare smile. Walking over for a closer look at the boy, he stopped a few feet away from Kenji. The boy looked up from his play and grinned up at the stranger in the long white coat. "What's his name?"
"Kenji." Kenshin looked happy, but mildly puzzled as well. "If you don't mind my asking, why are you here?"
"Can't a person visit his favorite baka deshi?" asked Hiko innocently.
"I was your only deshi," Kenshin responded wryly. "But you are certainly welcome, especially since it seems you carry no bad news with you."
"Oh, most gracious of you," mockingly replied Hiko. "Perhaps, later on, we might spar to see how well you are keeping up with your studies."
Kenshin half-glared at his former teacher. "I do not practice at all any more. Megumi has warned me of the foolishness of that many a time."
Hiko silently cursed that foolish woman. She truely had no idea, of course, of Kenshin's abilities, but now she had placed in the baka deshi's path a block that needed to be removed. And mental ones were the hardest to remove. "But of course."
A/N: And there is where I end it for now. Hmm...what shall I do next? Sanosuke will definitely be in this fic. And oh, it's going to be interesting. Do I see a full moon out my window? Wait, no, that's a crescent moon. Darn. Ah, well, I hope you like this so far, mina-san. I have no idea when I'm going to update again, but it won't be very soon. Unless a block of inspiration drops on my head, that is. Ja ne, mina-san! Please do review.
