Why oh why do I keep starting new stories? I promise one of these days I will finish my other stories. What an accomplishment that would be! Anyway, this is one of those 'I'll haunt your dreams until you write me' stories. So, far be it from me to tempt the demons! I hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. If I did, we'd meet the mysterious Tokio, Saitou would have some sort of love interest in Misao and there'd be more LOOOOVVVVE!

Warning: This is an alternate pairing (Hiko/Misao). If you don't like them, don't read it. I also realize there's a huge age gap, but I'm of the 'love knows no bounds' crowd. I'm not responsible for insanity caused by my fics. Read at your own risk.

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Progression

Chapter 1: New Student

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Misao sulked on the floor of the training hall - bemoaning the unfairness of it all. Braid pooling limply behind her, lips turned down into a pout, chin propped in a hand and eyebrows furrowed she was the very picture of sullen. She sighed exaggeratedly, as though that would solve her problems. With a fluid movement, she stood and headed for the door, feet scraping the floor as she dragged them. When she reached the stairs to head for her room, Okina stopped her.

"My dear Misao-chan! What has you looking so dejected, my pretty?"

Misao turned a pitiful pout to him. "Aoshi-sama won't train me."

Okina frowned at her. "Misao-chan. You really need to stop all this ninja nonsense. It's the new era! A time of peace and tranquility! Why not take lessons in proper etiquette from Akane-san? You'll need to know how to do all those womanly things if you intend to marry!" He ended with a bright smile, hoping it would cheer his surrogate granddaughter.

It was now Misao's turn to frown. "Jiya, those things won't make me happy and you know it! How long have you all tried to push me into those lessons? It's been years and not once have I even considered it to be something that would make me happy. This is the life I want to live. Why can't you let me live it?"

Okina sighed. Misao was just too stubborn for her own good sometimes. He loved her dearly, which is why he was trying to dissuade her from the life they had all chosen. Misao saw the expression on her grandfather's face and sighed.

"Look, Jiya. All I want is to be trained on sensing ki. I'm fine with weapons and I can hold my own against street thugs, which is really all I need. But I'm sick of people sneaking up on me. If I could just sense ki I would be happy." She hoped he would relent, hoped he would teach her the art, but he crushed her dream instead.

"No, my dear." He tried to soften the blow with a joke. If he could provoke her into a playful fight she may forget her request. "If you could sense ki, how would we play our pranks on you?" He gave her a grin, laughter making his dark old eyes twinkle.

Misao gave a small smile. "I know you're trying to make me feel better, Jiya. And while I appreciate that, I'm still not happy about having my training cut off."

She trudged the rest of the way to her room, plopping onto her futon ungracefully with a sigh. Aoshi-sama no baka! He started my training when I was four. He's the one who introduced the ninja arts to me and then he just stops them! It's not fair. He should finish what he started. He's the one who lit the fire within me to be a ninja.

And it was all true. There were plenty of normal women in the Aoiya back then who would have taught Misao the duties expected of women. Misao would have willingly learned those lessons once she got older, if she had known all along that was expected of her. But, Aoshi had allowed her to tag along, to watch him and the others train, and had gone so far as to show her some moves. That had been the end of it. Misao-chan would not be an ordinary girl, she would be a ninja!

Misao gently slapped her cheeks. "Well, sitting here will do me no good. Time to go outside for a walk." She headed out, hoping the fresh air would improve her mood.

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She strolled through the markets, the sound of bargaining and children playing brightening her outlook. As she wandered, she considered seeking outside help for her dilemma. Kenshin could read ki, but she doubted he would teach her. He'd smile that clueless smile and make up some lame excuse. Saitou could teach her, but he'd be more likely to tease her to death. The thought of spending time with him made her shudder in disgust and want to rip her own heart from her chest for even thinking it. She couldn't think of anyone else who could teach her. She was so deep in her pondering that she didn't notice the massive man heading her direction.

Hiko Seijiro, Thirteenth Master of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, smirked as he noticed the little ninja from the Aoiya. If he remembered correctly, and he knew he did, she was quite the little spitfire. His little excursion into town for supplies had just become more interesting. Maybe he could bring up the whole 'I saved you from Fuji' deal and get some free sake and a free meal. As he got closer he realized she was lost in thought and didn't notice him standing there. Smirk widening, he waited right in the middle of her path.

Misao was mumbling to herself, listing all the people she knew, hoping one of them would be willing to teach her how to read ki. She suddenly ran into something very hard and was knocked back a pace. "Oh great. How embarrassing. Running into a wall in the middle of the marketplace." She continued her mumbling as she looked up to glare at the offending wall, only to realize it was no wall she had run into.

Hiko held in his amused chuckle, opting to merely raise a perfect eyebrow. "Are you going to apologize for running into me?"

Misao scowled at him. "You could have paid attention too, Hiko-san." And then it hit her. Hiko can sense ki! He taught Himura how. But will he teach me? And if he does, I know it'll cost me something. Only one way to find out! Misao decided to butter him up first, hopefully increasing her chances of getting what she wanted.

She pretended to sigh, as if releasing stress. "I'm sorry, Hiko-san. I've just had a hard day. I didn't mean to snap at you." She looked up, hoping he was buying it.

Hiko arched the brow again. This wasn't exactly how he remembered her. Granted, he hadn't been around her that much, but he was pretty certain this wasn't normal behavior. What in the world was she up to?

Misao continued. "Would you like to come to the Aoiya for some lunch? I'm sure Okon and Omasu would be more than happy to serve you."

Hiko grinned. Oh this was perfect! He didn't even have to ask! "Sure. But, I think there's something you aren't saying. This isn't how I remember you from a few years ago."

Misao giggled lightly. "It was four years ago, Hiko-san! I'm twenty now, not sixteen. Of course I'm different."

Hiko frowned. Maybe being on the mountain too long had dulled his skills at reading people. He pushed the thought away. Nah, there was no way he could lose his sharp senses. He was Hiko Seijiro, Master of the Sword and Stud Extraordinaire! Hiko Seijiro did NOT lose his touch. He decided to let the matter rest. Whatever it was bothering the tiny girl, he figured she'd tell him soon enough.

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As they entered the Aoiya, Misao called out to Okon and Omasu. The two squealed happily when they saw the enormous man she had in tow. "Would you two serve Hiko-san some lunch? I…" She trailed off, the two not even listening as they latched onto an arm each, escorting him to a table. Misao sighed and went into the kitchen to think about how to breach the subject with him.

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This was the part of life Hiko loved. Free food, free sake, and women willing to do his bidding because he was such a lady killer. He was mid-way through his meal, sending a smirk to Omasu and Okon every now and then just to watch them swoon. He started to wonder where Misao had gone off to. She wanted to say something to him, he was sure of it. As if on cue, the kitchen door opened and Misao walked out, heading straight for his table.

He looked up expectantly, waiting for her to speak first. He noticed her looking at her feet as she shuffled one of them back and forth, hands clasped behind her back. A smirk formed on his lips. Another one with a crush. Yes, yes, the reason for her nervousness could only be that. He would have to let her down gently. She was just too young for his tastes. As he opened his mouth to speak, Misao's head shot up, determination in her eyes.

"Hiko-san, would you teach me to sense ki?"

The swordsman abruptly closed his mouth, shocked. The reason for the shock was not her question, no not at all. He had been…wrong! It was unthinkable. He shook his head slightly, which Misao took as rejection.

"Look here, Hiko-san! All I want is for you to teach me to sense ki! I don't care about Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, I'm fine with my own weapons. I just want to learn to sense ki. No one here will teach me!"

Hiko sighed. Did he really want to take on another student? The girl had courage and determination. He was sure she'd be a quick learner and a fine student, but that attitude of hers could be the death of him. She would annoy him, he was certain of it. Then again, she could prove entertaining. He mulled the thought over silently, looking her over. At her pleading expression, he felt sorry for her. Introduced to the life of a ninja, but they won't complete her training. He sighed as he knew he'd been suckered in. He was a bit of a softie underneath the arrogant exterior, not that he'd let anyone know it. But, before letting Misao know that, he had to pull her along a little. "What's in it for me?"

Misao held in the grin. He was close to agreeing! She bit her lip. What IS in it for him? She considered various possibilities. "A year's supply of sake?"

Hiko's lips twitched. The girl sure knew how to make him happy. However…"I'm giving you something you can use your whole life and all I get is one year of sake?"

Misao frowned. "Two years?"

Hiko pretended to think it over, knowing he'd agree. "I suppose."

Misao's face lit up, excited that she'd found a teacher. But, Hiko wasn't done just yet. "There are rules, Itachi."

Misao's face turned into a scowl. She wasn't aware he knew of the accursed nickname. Dang it all! She silently cursed Saitou for coming up with it in the first place.

Hiko continued. "You must live on the mountain. It's too far to travel up there daily and our training will sometimes be dawn to well into the night. You will do the cooking and cleaning."

Misao interjected. "Hey! You're already getting free sake!"

Hiko put up a silencing hand. "Not only am I teaching you, but I am also giving you shelter and providing for you." Misao grumbled and he continued, undaunted. "You will do what I ask, when I ask. If you talk back to me, the lessons stop. You will refer to me as 'Shishou.'" Hiko smirked. His last rule would surely get a rise out of the young shinobi. "And you will learn to be a proper lady."

Just as predicted. "WHAT? Surely, you aren't serious! What does sensing ki have to do with being a lady?"

"Baka deshi, my lessons don't just include the skills of swordsmanship. I expect my students to better themselves in many ways. If you want to learn from me, you will also learn how to be a proper woman. Understand?"

Misao sighed in defeat. "Yes, Hiko-san."

"What was that?"

Misao blinked at the growl. Oh, she had forgotten. "I mean, yes, Shishou."

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Hiko stuck around that night, watching as Misao tried to convince her family to let her go. After much pleading and puppy dog eyes and begging, Misao had finally convinced her Jiya to let her go. Omasu and Okon were slightly jealous.

"Misao-chan, you are so lucky! You get to be around Hiko-sama all the time!" Okon gushed and Omasu nodded in agreement.

Misao rolled her eyes. "You're kidding, right? He's going to drive me nuts. I just know it. But he's the only one who would agree to teach me."

After Okina extracted promises from Hiko that Misao would be safe with him, everyone retired to bed.

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Misao and Hiko stood at the Aoiya gate, saying their goodbyes to everyone. Okina pulled Hiko aside. "You do know what I mean when I ask if Misao will be alright with you."

Hiko arched an elegant eyebrow. "The girl is young enough to be my daughter. I have no intentions of a romance, if that's what you're implying. She approached me to teach her ki. I agreed."

Okina let out a breath. "I just worry, that's all. She's my adoptive granddaughter and I love her dearly."

Hiko nodded. "She will be fine."

Everyone waved as the two began their journey to Hiko's mountain. Misao glanced at the bulky man by her side and sighed. Just what the hell had she gotten herself into?

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A/N: And there's the beginning. I don't know what it is about this pair, but they're cute. I've only seen one story about Misao and Hiko by Chiruken called, "Tanabata." I suggest you read it. It's very good. Anyway, to continue or not? Let me know. Hugs & Kisses!