Well, it's been a while. This semester has been really busy so I haven't had much time to work on my stories. What with dead days and finals though, I can now return to them! So here's the next chapter of Arabesque, and I hope to have another by the end of the weekend. We'll see.

Chapter 11

Kenshin's calm gait to the door belied the whirlwind of thoughts spinning through his mind. There was no doubt about it–the men who had thrown the chopstick were members of the Heaven's Judges. If the unique Choushuu clothing hadn't given them away the way the chopstick was whittled surely did. During the days of the Bakumatusu, it was the Choushuu of the Ishin who had been well-known for their distinctive style of homemade weapons.

Kenshin had watched them make arrows and poison darts from pairs of chopsticks, even hollowed them to make miniature, innocuous-looking bombs. They were the perfect weapon, seen as inoffensive by the entire populace, even the Tokugawa regime.

Kenshin was puzzled as to what the Heaven's Judges were doing at the Akabeko though. If they had wanted to attack him they could have done it any time. There was no need to make a public spectacle, going so far as to possibly harm a bystander. Maybe that was the whole point though. If they still wanted Kenshin to join–and the prior situation suggested they did–they had surely been informed of Kenshin's partiality to protect innocent, or even not-so-innocent lives, no matter the cost. They were sadly mistaken though if they thought throwing a Choushuu-sharpened chopstick was going to scare him into changing his mind. He could only hope that the following fight would get his attitude about joining across to them, once and for all.

Kenshin noticed the people gathering outside, saw passersby stopping to see why there was a crowd; he was slightly annoyed. What was so appealing about a fight? Didn't people have any concern for their own safety?

"Hey, it's not them you're fighting, it's me." The bandana-ed man's voice drew Kenshin's attention back to the problem at hand. "Or are you looking for a way to escape?" He laughed as Kenshin looked at him impassively. "Yeah, I know who you are, everyone's heard. You probably don't know me though, I'm Ikeda Masao. You're a little smaller than I thought though, what were you, six when you joined the Imperialists?" This elicited muffled laughs from several spectators.

"If there's any relevance to that, please let me know, but if not, let's get this over with," Kenshin said, letting his feet slide shoulder-width apart.

Giving a tug at his bandana, Ikeda cracked the muscles in his neck. "Okay, you want a short quick fight, I can give it to you. I think I should let you know though, I'm not some unskilled fighter. But you'll find that out soon enough." He grinned, an evil invitation. "Let's go."

Kenshin readied himself. He could tell by Ikeda's stance that he was well-trained but it wasn't enough to overcome Mitsurugi Ryu. Already Kenshin could predict his moves and began thinking of how to counter.

Going to feint sideways. Parry the punch, watch out for any hidden weapons . . . But Ikeda surprised everyone present. As Kenshin's mind raced through a battle scenario, Ikeda moved sideways, but it wasn't a feint. He thrust his arm into the crowd, confident of where it was going, and grabbed Kaoru, pulling her to his chest and holding here there with his iron-like arm. A blade had inexplicably appeared in his other hand, and he placed it over Kaoru's heart, looking up to give Kenshin a mocking smile.

Hidden weapons, Kenshin thought dimly, face seeming to turn to stone. He was still standing across from Ikeda. "Release Kaoru-dono." He ordered, voice hard. Kaoru didn't make a sound as Ikeda applied a little pressure to the knife, drawing a pinprick of blood. Don't make it harder for him, Kaoru told herself, closing her eyes. Her side was hurting again.

"And what do I get in return?" Ikeda asked, seeing Kenshin's eye on the knife. "Are you saying you'll join?"

"I can't do that," Kenshin said. "But I'm warning you, if you don't-"

"You'll do what?" Ikeda interrupted. "Try and stare me to death?" That got a laugh out of his accomplices. "By the way, I'm supposed to tell you this. If you insist on refusing the sincere requests of Heaven's Judges, you'll spend the rest of your nights sleepless because the next time you're asked, it might not be so cordially. I have the upper hand, Battousai, now you can either-" Ikeda stopped, because Kenshin wasn't in front of him anymore. "Ran away?" Ikeda clucked, turning Kaoru around. "Well what a shame, I guess-"

That was as far as Ikeda got. The last thing he heard before he was hammered into the ground was what sounded like the rushing winds of a typhoon and the shouted technique, "Ryuu Tsui Sen!" Kenshin's sakabatou effectively rendered Ikeda unconscious and sent him skidding several meters across the ground. Kenshin could hardly land fast enough, hurriedly reaching to steady Kaoru as Ikeda went flying.

"Kaoru-dono! Daijoubu de gozaru ka?" Kaoru didn't need to hear the worried voice to know that Kenshin was already berating himself for letting Ikeda get near her.

"Eeh, daijoubu yo. Thank you-"

Kenshin shook his head. "There's nothing to thank me for. If I had been thinking I would have known what he was going to do. As it is, you're hurt." Kaoru could feel Kenshin's grip on her arm tightening with anger. Anger at Ikeda, but mostly at himself.

"I shouldn't have come out here Kenshin, it's my fault," Kaoru said, trying to assuage his guilt. Kenshin didn't say anything else but she knew from the dark look on his face that he was still dwelling on it.

Yahiko came out from behind the wall just then, still slightly green in face but looking considerably better. The crowd was rapidly dispersing, murmuring among themselves. "Did I miss something?" Yahiko asked as he wiped his mouth, seeing Kenshin heading inside with Kaoru. He may as well have been talking to himself because no one answered him. Annoyed, Yahiko stomped back to the Kenshin-gumi's table, determined to find out what had gone on while he had been feeding the wild animals.

"Kaiba!" Yahiko caught up to his friend. "What happened?"

"Some guy from the Heaven's Judges almost hit that server girl in there, and then he challenged Himura-san." Kaiba related in an excited tone. "That move he did–it was great! You couldn't even see him!"

"Oh, ryuu tsui sen?" Yahiko asked with affected disinterest. "Yeah, I've tried it a couple of times myself," He said proudly.

Kaiba snorted with disbelief. "You're a liar! There's no way you could do that! You can't even move half that fast."

"I can too!" Yahiko said indignantly. "I need a little help though to get so high." He added. Kaiba still didn't look like he believed him so Yahiko huffed in annoyance and sped past him into the Akabeko. "Someone tell me what went on!" He demanded, crashing into his seat with folded arms. Everyone was busy talking among themselves though and hardly heard him.

"Kaoru-san, are you okay?" Misao was hovering around Kaoru like an inquisitive puppy. "I can't believe that guy! Did he really think he was gonna beat Himura?" Misao fingered the small blood-stained hole on the front of Kaoru's kimono. "We should wash that out or it'll stain," She said, spitting on her hand.

"Misao-chan! What're you doing?" Kaoru pulled her kimono away from Misao's helpful grasp.

"What? I'm gonna clean it!" Misao insisted, slapping Kaoru's hand away. "I'm good at this, trust me. When I was out in the forest with the Oniwabanshuu we had to do stuff like this. I was the official laundry girl!" She laughed. "Hey, kind of like Himura is! Alright Kaoru-san, just give me a minute . . ." And Misao went to work with a studied amount of diligence.

Kenshin was still brooding about the incident, staring unseeingly at the beef hot-pot that Yahiko had noticed by now and was wolfing down with gusto. The Katsuras quickly followed suit, Yumiko and Kaiba holding their own against Yahiko and Sano. Shinta, holding his rice bowl and unable to get a chopstick in edgewise, watched with a worried expression as the beef dish got smaller and smaller.

Kenshin still didn't make an effort to eat. It was still three days until the Heaven's Judges' planned attack. What was he going to do until then? He couldn't leave the Kamiya dojo. That would be an open invitation for an attack. He didn't want to send anybody away, he knew the list of contacts the Ishin had possessed stretched long and far, and the Heaven's Judges would be no exception. There was the option of finding their headquarters before they attacked but Kenshin was pretty sure they had built up more than one by now. The only solution he could come up with at the moment was to stay alert. No one would go out by themselves, and he would make sure the dojo was guarded at night.

Feeling better now that he'd come to a conclusion, Kenshin picked up his chopsticks and reached towards the bowl of beef.

"Oro?" His chopsticks hit the bowl's clay bottom.

"Hey, Kenshin, you missed out," Sano said, picking his teeth with his ever-present fishbone.

"It's only been here five minutes!" Kenshin said in disbelief.

"Was here," Sano corrected. "You know what a pig Yahiko is, we had to make sure he didn't get everything to himself."

"You're one to talk!" Yahiko retorted, feeling too bloated to do anything else.

Kenshin looked down at the bowl of rice he held. "Well . . . I guess I'll just eat this," He said with feigned enthusiasm. "It's what I had when I was training anyway." He added with a hint of reproach.

"You act as if you starved," Hiko said. "Rice makes a healthy meal. Besides, that's not all you had."

Kenshin gave an astute nod. "You're right, I had pickled vegetables sometimes too."

"Really Hiko-san?" Yahiko asked, suddenly interested in the conversation. "Wow, we don't even eat that bad when Kaoru's out of money!" Hiko saw the satisfied gleam of revenge in Kenshin's eyes and smirked. So his baka deshi thought he was getting one up on Hiko Seijurou. Well, he would let it slide for now but he'd make sure Kenshin regretted it later.

"Is everyone done?" Kaoru asked, inspecting her kimono. Misao had done a good job. "Kenshin?" Kenshin set down his still half-full cup of rice. He couldn't concentrate on it right now anyway.

"Aah." He agreed, watching as Kaoru all-too-happily went to remind Sano that he was paying. Sano seemed displeased that she had remembered but walked over to Tae uncomplainingly and handed her the money with a grand air. Tae carefully counted out the handful of coins, then looked Sano in the face with a bright smile.

"Wonderful! You only owe me 163 yen now!" Sano recoiled, glancing back to see Kaoru's reaction. Luckily, she was talking to Kenshin (or trying to, Kenshin wasn't being very responsive) and wasn't paying attention.

"That much?" Sano asked, looking like he'd just swallowed something awful. "Well, heh, no problem, shouldn't be long before I can pay it off. Just need a little more time." Sano placed a hand behind his head and gave a syrupy smile as he backed away. Jeez, I'll never be able to pay it! He thought as he made his exit, almost running over Misao. "Oops, sorry." Sano muttered.

"'S alright!" Misao assured in her unfailingly cheery voice. "Say, Aoshi-sama, do you want to take a tour with me? I'm going to explore Tokyo!"

"If you'd like me too," Aoshi said, so flatly that Sano wondered what the hell Misao saw in the guy.

"Alright! We can make it an Oniwabanshuu reconnaissance mission!" Misao lowered her eyes in what she deemed a covert manner. "Heaven's Judges, beware!" Dragging Aoshi's hand, she half walked, half ran out the door and down the street, keeping behind the buildings.

"Misao-chan?" Sano turned at the sound of Kaoru's voice behind him.

"She went to sightsee." He told her, noticing that Kenshin was still standing at the table and talking with his master. It looked more like they were having an argument than a friendly conversation though and from the irate look on Kenshin's face, he wasn't winning. "What's with Kenshin?" Sano asked, nodding towards the two. Kaoru glanced behind her. Hiko was pointing a reprimanding finger at Kenshin's chest.

"I don't know, he's still upset that that guy managed to cut me. Really though, it wasn't his fault. There's no way he could have known what was going to happen. He just won't listen to me though."

Sano shrugged. "You know how Kenshin is Jou-chan. He'll figure something out." Sano looked around then, just noticing something. "Hey, where'd Megumi and the kids go?"

"They're waiting outside for us," Kaoru said. "I guess we'd better go. Go ahead, I'll tell Kenshin and Hiko-san." She walked over to the two swordsmen, not sure how to interrupt their heated discussion. Although they were talking in lowered tones, she could still hear them halfway across the restaurant.

"You should have ended it earlier, there was no need to take it outside!" Hiko was saying with a rebuking tone.

"People could have gotten hurt!" Kenshin snapped. "I'm not going to put lives of people I don't even know in danger!"
"But you'll put the lives of people you do know in danger?" Hiko asked pointedly. "I seem to remember someone telling me that's what happened at the end of the

Bakumatsu-"

"That's not how it happened!" Kenshin cut his master off sharply.

"Isn't it?" Hike riposted. "You stupidly didn't even think about the consequences that leaving the Ishin would have on your fellow members, you just accepted everything as it was."

"That's the past!" Kenshin said furiously. "It's not like that's what I wanted to happen! I did what I thought was right! I tried to stop it!" Kaoru was almost there and still hadn't decided what to say. Kenshin looked as angry as she had ever seen him, not counting the times he had reverted to the hitokiri Battousai. In fact, if she hadn't of known better, she would have thought he was about to cry.

"Make all the excuses you want," Hiko said unrelentingly, "it's still no one's fault but your own." And he turned suddenly, startling Kaoru who was right behind them now.

"Ano . . . we were going to leave," Kaoru stammered, glancing sideways at Kenshin, who was glaring at the floor. He looked up as she spoke, and seeing her worried expression, gave a strained smile.

"That sounds good." He brushed past Hiko and Kaoru without another word.

"Kenshin–" Kaoru didn't know what to do. Hiko shook his head in annoyance.

"Baka deshi."

000

Somewhere on the way back to the dojo, Kenshin seemed to forget his grudge with Hiko, something for which Kaoru was grateful. After all, Hiko was going to be staying with them for the next several days.

"Ken-nii, put me down! I want to race Shinta back!" Ayame pounded her hands on Kenshin's head for emphasis.

"Maa maa, no need to hit so hard," Kenshin said reprovingly as he lifted Ayame off his shoulders. Ayame took off without offering an apology.

"Suzume, tell us when!" She waved at her sister before lining up next to Shinta.

"One . . . Two . . . GO!" Suzume threw her hand down as she'd seen Kaoru do many a time to start a duel and Ayame and Shinta were off, albeit not at a very fast pace. Ayame was finding it hard to run in her kimono. Yahiko snickered.

"That's why girls shouldn't do stuff like kenjutsu," He said, knowing Kaoru could hear him. He got the expected smack on the head.

"Well then maybe I shouldn't be teaching you." Kaoru shot back.

"I could teach that boy some manners for you," Hiko offered, falling into step beside Kaoru. "I may not have been able to instill any sense into my baka deshi but at least his manners are relatively good." Kenshin glowered at him.

"Maybe I'll let you," Kaoru said, giving Yahiko a supreme look. "Would you like to join our lesson tomorrow?" Kenshin had to cover a laugh. His shishou sitting in on a lesson with Yahiko? Just the thought of it was amusing.

Kaoru heard the choked sounds Kenshin was making and whirled. "What's so funny?" She demanded, grabbing his gi. Kenshin waved his arms.

"Nothing, nothing. I was just thinking of shishou tortu–uh, training Yahiko." He laughed out loud this time and Kaoru, having heard stories from Kenshin about his training with Hiko, joined him. Yahiko scowled at the two of them.

"I'd probably be a great student." He muttered. "It'd be better than learning Kasshin ryu anyways." Kaoru's laughter stopped abruptly.

"You wanna repeat that?" She demanded, letting go of Kenshin's gi to grab hold of Yahiko's. Yahiko looked off to the side disinterestedly which was just the thing to do to tick Kaoru off more. "Moooouuu . . .!" She tightened her grip on Yahiko's gi, and Kenshin thought she would have strangled him if Ayame hadn't trotted up at the moment, out of breath.

"Nee-chan, there was a letter on the door!" She said, holding a folded piece of paper up to Kaoru. Kaoru dropped Yahiko to the ground where he drew several raspy breaths.

"A letter?" She looked at the kanji on the front. It wasn't addressed to her.

"Kenshin . . ." Kaoru handed the letter over to him, not really wanting to know what was inside. Kenshin took in who it was addressed to, 'Hitokiri Battousai,' and unfolded it without a comment.

"Ken-san?" Megumi began.

"What's it say?" Sano finished the question for her as Kenshin scanned the letter quickly and refolded it. He handed it to Sano without looking at him.

"Sano, watch out for everyone at the dojo," He said. "Megumi-dono, please keep checking Yahiko and Kaoru-dono's injuries." There was nothing to say, so Megumi nodded. "Shishou, if you wouldn't mind . . ."

"I suppose it's in my best interest to protect the place I'm staying at," Hiko offered magnanimously. He looked at Kenshin, voice turning serious. "Remember what I said, Kenshin."

Kenshin nodded shortly, and still refusing to look anybody in the face, said, "I'll probably be back late Kaoru-dono, so don't stay up." Kaoru nodded, confused.

Sano had opened the letter, burning with curiosity to see where Kenshin was off to. His eyes widened as he read the short but concise message.

"Oi, Kenshin! Don't you think–"

"I'll handle it Sano, just make sure everyone is safe!" Kenshin called as he dashed in the direction of the city. He had disappeared in less than thirty seconds. Kaoru immediately turned to Sano.

"What does it say?" She asked. Sano read it.

Katsura Kogoro has chosen to abandon the cause of the Bright Revolution. As such, we are holding him as a prisoner, although his freedom would be allowed if we could find a mutually agreeable trade. If you wish to discuss the matter further, you can contact us at Yama-chou. Don't wait too long because dangerous prisoners like Katsura cannot be held for long.

Sano stopped reading. "The letter wasn't signed," He said. There was no need for a signature though. Kaoru looked at Sano as she realized what the letter was saying.

"He's not going to–" She stopped, not wanting to voice it out loud.

"Nah, he'll get him back," Sano said confidently. His tone belied his thoughts. He was wondering himself what Kenshin was planning to do. If the rurouni thought that the attacks on his friends would stop if he traded himself, Sano didn't doubt Kenshin wouldn't hesitate to do just that. Still, he had to keep an optimistic outlook, for Kaoru's sake as well as Yahiko's.

"Tou-san . . ." Trailing behind with Yahiko, Kaiba had heard everything. He stared in shock now at the ground. "What if they–what if they kill him too?"

"Don't worry." Yahiko slapped the boy on the back. "Kenshin won't let anything like that happen."

"I know. But it shouldn't be up to him to save him. It should be me." Kaiba's fists clenched. "It's a son's duty to look after his parents."

"Don't you think this is an exception?" Yahiko asked.

"No," Kaiba said resolutely. Yahiko could understand the way Kaiba felt. He'd had the same thoughts when his parents had died. If only I'd been strong enough to join the Shogi-tai like tou-san–if only I could've gotten a respectable job so ofukuro didn't have to go out and sell herself to provide for me

"You're right. You should go," Yahiko said. "I'll cover for you, don't worry. Better wait a minute before you slip off though, Kaoru may notice." He gave Kaiba another good-natured whack. "Ganbare yo!" Kaiba nodded.

"Un." It wasn't difficult for Kaiba to make his exit. No one was paying attention to the two boys in the back anyway. When Yahiko gave Kaiba the signal, a grin and a thumbs up, the only witness to his departure was Yahiko himself and a late sparrow in the row of dead sakura trees.

Whew, I feel better now that I've finally put it out. I always feel like there's this massive gap missing from the next chapter when I've taken so long of a break from a story. And maybe there is, let me know.

Choushuu - the province Kenshin's faction of the Ishin Shishi was from

daijoubu yo - I'm okay/it's okay

ganbare yo - literally means "do your best", but "good luck" suffices

kenjutsu - the art of swordsmanship

maa maa - now, now

mou(uuuuu) - jeez, honestly, come on

ofukuro - mother

Shogi-tai - an Imperialist faction