Past Person

Been a while. I call myself a lazy procrastinator, which takes double the time to do something. I'm kinda proud of it. Hope it was worth the wait!

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, though I really wish I could. Who wouldn't want that hot piece of sexy man?

Chapter twelve – She Might Be Worth It

XxX

It was hell on earth. Who knew that just walking could tire one out so much?

Four hours of travel, to and from Kyoto market, carrying four jugs of extremely heavy sake was killer on Kaoru's feet and zapped her strength, so early in the morning, now noon.

Kaoru vouched that she would give Hiko a piece of her mind when she saw him. But for now, she was lifting those terribly heavy jugs up onto a high shelf. Kenshin hadn't had a problem, and even offered to carry one of her jugs.

Out of pride or just plain stubbornness, she had hefted the jugs closer to her chest and strode ahead of the boy. He had snickered behind her, obviously amused by her persistence and Kaoru would have whacked him if not for her loaded arms.

Kaoru huffed out of breath as she placed the last jug on the shelf, relieved the tedious work was over. "Thank Kami that's over with. I don't think I could do that again for a while. Let's hope Hiko takes his time drinking those."

She collapsed on the ground to rub her sore, blistering feet, idly doctoring a popped blister. Kenshin clapped his hands together to free them of dirt as he calmly watched her work on her feet. He inwardly felt pity for her. She was in good shape, strong and capable of any hard work, but Hiko was a slave driver and wouldn't go easy on her. Even if this was her first day.

"We have to do this every day after strokes. It's considered warm-up." Kenshin enjoyed the slow, wide-eyed look she gave him. She looked horrified.

"What! He can't possibly drink so much in one day. Any ways, how can he afford so much with out working like a slave? What does he do, drink all day and get fees for it?" Kaoru was back on her feet and stepping from one foot to another. "He should be dead from alcohol poisoning."

"Not really, but close. Master makes pottery, and sells some jugs to the market. He pretty much gets sake for free, since he provides all of the jugs. And you'd be surprised how much he drinks in one day." Kaoru gave the large jugs a seething glare. She hoped the sake was stale. "Any ways, even if he did have sake left over, we'd still have to get more. It's conditioning."

He said it as if it were natural. Like it was something she ought to know and accept. Well, she will never accept it!

"Any ways," Kenshin cut off her inner thoughts with a nonchalant wave of his hand as he led her to the door. "Now that we're back, we have training. Master is very impatient and will not be happy if we procrastinate."

Kaoru made sure to drag her feet as she followed Kenshin to the clearing outside the hut. Any second saved to recover her energy was worth the time lost. She was tired, and would lie down in the dirt and fall right to sleep if given the chance. Be there rock or vile bug on the ground, she would sleep! Sadly, her dream of sweat dreams were interrupted as Hiko's booming voice jerked her back to reality.

"Snap out of it, girl! You must be on guard constantly if you are to learn under me. Do it again, and I will have to correct it." Luna had nothing on Hiko's ability to appear out of no where, Kaoru growled to herself. For a man his size, he could certainly move fast and undetected. He hadn't even been in the vicinity a second ago, she swore.

"Where is your weapon?" Kaoru patted her side and looked down to see she had no sword in her sash. She glanced stupidly up eye to eye with Hiko.

"Eh, heh I uh, don't –"

Her inept rambles were cut off as Hiko smacked the back of her head with his hilt. Tears almost seeped past her eyes as the pain stunned her momentarily.

That had hurt! She cried to herself as she rubbed her bump. That was hard enough that the spell should have stopped it. Damn that witch. Kaoru thought to herself.

"Don't just stand there, girl. Go get the damned thing." He raised the hilt, as if to hit her again, but Kaoru bolted into the hut, grabbed her sword, and skidded into place beside Kenshin before he could say another word.

Hiko stood militaristically stiff and strait in front of them and glared down his nose. "Obviously you need some reason, girl, because if you are to train under me, you will need to get a lot smarter. For one, you will have your sword on you at all times, even as you sleep. Two, I will have no complaints or slacking. If you are not up to working as hard as you can, you might as well quit. Three, you will wear acceptable clothing. What you have now is too large and will interfere with your movements. After practice, we will go to town and get some new ones."

Kaoru had lifted her arms to look at her clothes as Hiko finished his little speech. She was wearing the clothes Kenshin had given her at the inn. They were a bit large, but not cumbersome like Hiko made them out to be. If any thing, she needed new sandals. She toed her loose shoe against the gravel, wondering whether to be irritated or grateful for the chance to get new clothes. And the lovely second trip back to Kyoto for the second time that day.

Hiko sided Kenshin a look and he stepped back a few feet. Hiko pulled his sword from its sheath and crouched slightly in position. He gave an irritated grunt and Kaoru snapped her head back to attention and mimicked his stance. He watched her move and assessed her form. "How much do you know about swordsmanship?"

Kaoru popped her shoulders and neck, relaxing her body. "I'm not to sure on any level, but I think I'm pretty good. I've fought enough to know I'm not much of a novice. I have no memory of how I learned or from whom."

He nodded slightly and eased his stance. "Then let's see what you know. Attack me with all you got and don't be afraid of cutting me." He added when he saw her hesitate. No matter how strong she was, she would never lay a hit on him.

Kaoru took a breath and let it out, relaxing her body and readying herself to move. His stance was lax, not intimidated. It irked her. He may have been the master of one of the strongest sword styles, but he should at least put some effort into faking interest.

It was almost enough to make her forego the sword and just jump on him and beat the crap out of his obnoxious face.

"Any day now, please. Should I use a stick? Would that make you feel better little girl?" Hiko taunted as he swung the blade in a lazy circle around him, his attention off in some other direction. The easy goad and insult had Kaoru bristling to her toes. No one insulted her like that.

"Shut it old man! If this is a test of my strength, then don't push me to act rashly. I know what I'm doing." She tightened her grip on the hilt and bent her knees more to get level with the ground. She saw Hiko's death glare at her comment, and snickered softly. If he wanted to call her insulting names, then curtsey called for repayment in turn.

Hiko would have smacked any one else who dared to talk back to him, but he found it rather amusing to hear it from this small girl before him sizing him up with a sword. If he was younger and softer, he would have been attracted to her. She had fire and spirit, and knew a thing or two about battle. He admitted to himself that he was trying to offset her, to make her charge him, but she surprised him. The girl was observing his strength and trying to find an opening; strategically planning an attack.

She obviously was familiar with his style as she bent low to the ground to counteract his own defensive stance. She was a mystery, one he would figure out soon enough.

Kenshin was on his toes waiting for something to happen. He was curious as to Kaoru's ability, but he was even more astonished as he saw her stance that of the Mitsurigi. Well, close to it in form.

He knew his master wouldn't harm her much, maybe bruise her or knock her around, but after seeing her fighting stance and careful study of his master's form, he knew it would be a challenge for his master, if just a little.

Kenshin watched as Kaoru rolled her shoulders again and smirked. She had something in mind. Before his eyes, though, her form changed as she sheathed her sword and disappeared. His eyes popped as he recognized the form of batou-jutsu from his Mitsurigi Ryuu. Where the hell did she come from, he thought frantically.

Hiko was as much surprised as Kenshin when she sheathed her sword. His curiosity grew as she disappeared and moved around him lightning fast. She was slower than godlike speed, but fast enough to keep Hiko's eyes shifting from one place to another, keeping up with her form but still challenged.

He saw her strike and easily blocked as she struck out at his side. Kaoru didn't look surprised or even peeved by his block as she jumped back and held her blade strait in front of her. She smirked at him and flipped her blade lazily before sheathing it again in her batou-jutsu. "I know I'm not a match for you, but that doesn't mean I'm going to back down. Ready?"

Hiko returned her grin as he mimicked her stance and faced her again, this time her ready opponent. "That's just what I like in fighter. Let's dance, girl."

Both of them disappeared as they circled each other. Kaoru moved around his defensive guard as she struck with her blade at his sides and openings. Hiko easily kept pace with her, not going easy on her but not letting her hit him. When she passed his guards, he easily blocked or ducked her slashes but didn't strike back. He was just testing her after all.

Kaoru knew she had little to no chance of striking the Mitsurigi master, but she didn't let it scare her. She was a swordswoman and didn't back down from a fight, no matter how impossible it was. She had to prove her worth as a fighter, and who best to prove it to than an imposing figure like Hiko?

Kenshin watched in wonder as Kaoru struck and jabbed with her blade, dancing around Hiko like a wild panther. Though her eyes were serious and calculating, her mouth was sharpened with a grin. Hiko too had an amused twist to his lips as he easily blocked each of her strikes. She was amazing, and Kenshin had never seen someone look so enchanting with such a deadly weapon.

Her grip on the sword was as familiar to her as her own body, and she worked that like a master. Absently, Kenshin wiped a bit of drool from his lip.

Kenshin brought his attention back to the battle, and noticed Kaoru's footing hitch slightly. Looking closer, he saw her toes clenched tightly to the bottom of her sandals, keeping them firmly to her feet. Her straps had loosened, leaving her shoes to flop against her heels.

He huffed to himself in disappointment, knowing that the fight was going to end soon.

Sure enough, Kaoru stepped forwards awkwardly, trying to keep her sandals on, and Hiko took the opportunity to hit her blade with his own and shove her down to her back.

They both froze, Hiko with his sword struck out and Kaoru on her back, and Kenshin waited for the next move.

She took the time to get her breath back as she lay down, hating the fact that Hiko was right about her clothes. She had never lasted this long with Kenshin, though it couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes, and he had fought back. She was exhausted.

Hiko stood and sheathed his sword as he looked the girl up and down. He was ashamed to see her feet were bleeding and smacked himself mentally for not seeing it before. The gravel had slipped under her bare feet and sliced up her sensitive skin, leaving her with a bloody mess.

"We're going to town after lunch to get you new clothes. You should know better than to fight or even walk with shoes to big for you." Kaoru's head fell back and she covered her face with her arm.

"Ya, that's a good idea. It's a humiliating way to loose." Kenshin glared at his master's callous remark, and Hiko hated the guilt that it gave him. Growling to himself, Hiko grabbed Kaoru's arm and hauled her to her feet, pulling her against him and helping her back to the hut. She didn't seem to mind or even notice the bodily contact - which he was well aware of- as she limped along side him.

Kenshin was ahead of them, already getting the medical ointment and wrappings.

Hiko was glad Kenshin couldn't see him. He was barely controlling the blush across his nose at how close she was. He wasn't a man for bodily contact, hated to be touched by any one, but Kaoru was an attractive and strong young woman. And to make it worse, she didn't seem to mind or notice anything! Wasn't it the woman who was supposed to be shy and embarrassed at such closeness?

Kaoru suddenly stopped in surprise with a soft gasp. She looked at Hiko with wide eyes and open mouth, her face was against his side suddenly, shocking him. "What is it? We're almost there; you think you can make it?" he worried over her, looking at her feet or any other injuries.

She shook her head and smiled brightly, shocking Hiko with her changing moods. "No, I'm alright. It's just, you smell like something."

He choked on his tongue and almost fell when she confessed in smelling him. He could feel a blush redden his nose and didn't know whether it was from embarrassment or anger. "I live in the forest, silly girl. I don't bathe in scented oils or any thing so I know I'm not the best smelling man." Settling on anger, Hiko dropped his arm from her side and grabbed her wrist instead, pulling her harshly to the hut.

"No, I didn't mean it in a bad way." Kaoru grabbed the arm pulling her and stopped him, limping back to his side as he gave her a considering look. "It's a good smell. You smell like pumpkins. It made me remember something. Pumpkin reminds me of Halloween."

"What is Halloween?"

She shrugged her shoulders but smiled any ways. "I don't know, but it was something that I'd forgotten. It's like baked pumpkin, full of spices and rum. It's very alluring, and calm." This time, Hiko blushed out of embarrassment which made Kaoru giggle. He grunted at her flirty look and helped her to sit down on a cushion.

He didn't look at her while Kenshin doctored her feet but he knew she was looking at him with that damned cheshire grin.

She was teasing him! Hiko couldn't remember a time when a woman had teased him like this girl was. Sure he had women flirt and flee from him, but never taunt him so playfully like she was.

He had to admit, though, it was a nice change. He could really like the girl, more than he already did. Hiko resolved the fact that she was already part of his small family.

He smirked to himself. Though they were a few years apart, Kenshin and Kaoru would make a nice couple. He knew the boy already liked her and had a feeling she liked him too. By the way her eyes grew soft and longing while she watched Kenshin bandage her feet so carefully, he knew she felt something more for the boy than simple friendship.

She was a mystery too. Her fighting style would have to be brought up at some time, but for now, Hiko decided to amuse himself with the blossoming couple.

Maybe he could play a little matchmaking while he was at it.

"Idiot, stop drooling over her feet and hurry up. Lunch doesn't make itself." He was quite satisfied to watch the boy flush and drop Kaoru's foot and scramble to the kitchen. Kaoru blushed slightly at his comment but threw him for a loop when she smirked evilly at him.

"That was a terrible thing to do, old man." Both of them laughed together at the situation, and Kenshin tripped over his feet in embarrassment which sent them into more of a riot.

Hiko had never laughed so hard.

XxX

They knew where she was, and Tomoe didn't know what to do.

Should she finish her duty to her lover, or her duty to her husband?

Kenshin was the kindest man, slaving in the garden and doing most of the work. He had fixed the roof and repaired the walls of their little abode. He loved her so tenderly at night and never failed to tell her of his love.

His eyes were blue, but softer and happier. Tomoe was having more trouble every day trying to remember her dear Akira.

If she didn't go to them, then they would come to her and Kenshin would find out the awful truth about her.

She loved him with all her heart, but she knew that there were pieces left with Akira. Those pieces bled in agony, torturing her whenever Kenshin was out of her reach.

She had already lost one man, but could she help kill the other?

She would be alone then, torn between fulfillment and emptiness.

To kill the man you love in revenge for another, did it make any logical sense?

She curled up on the small porch, forcing her tears back. The last months were happy for her. Kenshin was so easy to love, and so eager to love her. Tomoe couldn't ask for more than that and it was what she had always wanted.

"Tomoe, love, what's wrong?" His strong arms wrapped around her shoulders, lifting all her sorrows and relaxing her. He was always there, ready to lift her burdens and give her everything a woman could want.

She really did love him. But was it enough?

He wasn't just Kenshin, he was also the Battousai, and it was he who killed the one she loved.

Never could she love that monster. His strong arms lifted her sorrows and guilt, but never her hatred. How could she love him with all her soul but hate him with a passion?

"It's nothing, Anata. I was just thinking of someone." She laid her head on his shoulder, feeling his soft breath fan her hair. She hated to indulge in his strength, but loved the comfort it gave her.

Such conflicting thoughts.

She had a week or more to decide what she was going to do. The men would sooner or later contact her, and Tomoe knew she would have to be sure of her decision, what ever it may be, because she was going to have to live with it.

"I love you, Kenshin." What ever comes, I will still love you. Tomoe sealed her promise as she kissed him, hoping to somehow find some other way to end it. Her heart broke as she felt his love in his touch.

She was going to betray someone, and Tomoe wished Kaoru were still with her.

Kaoru was the only one who she could talk to, and the only one who could talk her out of this mess.

XxX

I actually got that pumpkin thing on a bus. I was in a terrible mood when a man sat beside me, and said I should smile more. I could tell he was a bum by the way he looked and by all the stuff he carried,(and I don't mean it in an insulting way) but he smelled really nice. I turned to him.

Me: Hey, you smell like pumpkins.

Him: well I live in the woods so I kinda smell like it. (He looked so bothered and turned his head away)

I felt bad, but amused. Me: No, I mean you smell like pumpkins. It smells good, it reminds me of Halloween.

Him: Oh, well thank you. You are very pretty and have lovely hair. (its extremely long)

We chatted for the remainder of the bus ride, and I felt I boosted a poor mans ego a bit. He wasn't an ugly man, just a little ruffed up. Any ways, he did smell good, in a natural way, and I was in such a bad mood at first. And he did say I needed to smile, in such a considerate way. Of course, I wanted to kick some other guy as soon as I got off the bus. It's so rude to holler and whistle at some one you don't know.

Damn men. Any ways, if you haven't noticed, I have rewritten the first two chapters of the story and have begun the third. Kaoru seems like she is extremely strong in this chapter, which she is, but not at the level of Kenshin even at twelve. She has speed and knowledge of Hiten, but other wise needs a lot of work. She did train with Kenshin while at the inn for a while. I first thought I was making Kaoru and Hiko too flirty with each other, and Hiko is anything but flirty. It's hard to make him rude and gruff. But I tried. Well here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it!

Laters

Ymir-chan