Ah, I did find time over Christmas break to work on my story! Here's chapter 13, enjoy!

Chapter 13

A heavy silence filled the room as Meko and Kenshin sized each other up. Katsura watched Kenshin closely. It had been a while since he'd last seen the ex-hitokiri fight. The two swordsmen moved at the same time, hands on their katana as they dashed forward at a speed almost impossible to follow. Meko drew his sword first. Katsura nodded with approvement. Himura would try a battoujutsu then.

Kenshin zeroed in on Meko's sword arm as soon as he drew, watching for the slightest movement that would give away which direction he would choose to attack from. Knowing his opponent was doing a battoujutsu, Meko would probably choose to use a strong attack from–Below! A strike from underneath that would aim to cut off his arm. Kenshin moved his hand to draw as soon as he saw it. "Oooooh!"

The strike to the shoulder was blocked by Meko's second sword. Kenshin saw with a start that it wasn't the standard wakizashi which swordsmen usually carried but a kodachi. So Meko was set for both a strong defense and offense. There was no way his kodachi technique could compare to Aoshi's though.

Kenshin and Meko traded several blows, assessing the other's abilities as they did so. Meko kept on the defensive the entire time, and Kenshin wondered what he was up to. A sword fight like this couldn't be won by defense only. He and Meko continued to trade blows, Kenshin keeping the offensive and Meko defending with his kodachi. It wasseveral moments before Kenshin discovered the other's strategy buthe found out soon enough.

As Kenshin swung his sakabatou at Meko's arm, Meko blocked with his kodachi as he'd been doing. This time though he followed up with a blow from his katana. Caught off guard, Kenshin almost missed it and didn't move fast enough to completely avoid the blade. He hissed as the katana glanced across his saiya and hit his arm. Luckily it hadn't disabled him. And he hadn't let Meko get away free either. Kenshin had struck Meko in his sword arm with the saiya and from the way the other swordsmen was shaking his arm Kenshin knew it was numb. He had the advantage, all he needed was to speed up–

Kenshin's mind froze mid-thought when he saw a small figure creeping along behind Katsura and the monk, as yet unnoticed by anyone except himself. The clothes and the katana he held at his side–Kenshin's mind told him there was no way it could be Kaiba but his eyes refused to agree. A wave of alarmed anger passed over him for a second. Why wasn't the boy at the dojo? It didn't matter at the moment though, Kenshin needed to make sure that he stayed unnoticed. He would draw everyone's attention by prolonging the fight as long as possible.

Watching the fight from the side and oblivious to his son's presence, it looked to Katsura like the two swordsmen were evenly matched. He knew from previous experience though that Kenshin wasn't fighting as strong as he could. Why that was, Katsura didn't know. Naturally anyone's sword skills, no matter how phenomenal,would become rusty after living the life of a rurouni for ten years. But if Kenshin only sped up by a fraction Meko wouldn't be able to follow him. He frowned when he saw Meko's katana slide down Kenshin's arm. Himura, what're you waiting for?

Kenshin was unobtrusively keeping his eye on Kaiba. On his present course, the boy was going to run right into the monk and looking at Kaiba's hand resting on his tsuka, Kenshin saw he was preparing for a surprise attack. Something didn't seem right though. Seeing the monk's hand move casually, Kenshin knew what it was. The monk knew Kaiba was behind him and he was going to stab him with the sword he was reaching for under his robes.

"Kaiba!" Kenshin yelled, thrusting the tsuka of his sakabatou into Meko's face before speeding towards Katsura and the monk. Katsura whirled as the monk plunged his sword behind him, slicing through his robe. Kenshin heard Kaiba gasp in surprise and heard the clang as he clumsily blocked the monk's sword.

"GET BACK!" Kenshin shouted fiercely, shoving Kaiba out of the way and taking the monk's next blow with his sakabatou. His arms shook as they crossed swords. The man had immense power, and there was something familiar about the way he wielded his katana. Somewhere in the back of his mind Kenshin registered Meko shouting something. He couldn't afford to take his attention from the monk though, who was pressing forward unremittingly.

Recovered from Kenshin's hit, Meko was quickly covering the distance between him and the rurouni. "Your fight's with me!" He called, readying his katana. Seeing Kenshin was occupied, Katsura turned to his son.

"Kaiba, give me your katana." He ordered, holding his hand out. Kaiba relinquished the sword without a word and Katsura went to meet Meko head on while Kaiba watched the two separate fights in scared silence, face white. He hadn't anticipated how much more overwhelming a real battle was compared to practicing.

Kaiba could see his father was having trouble keeping up with Meko. Katsura hadn't spent as much time practicing as he used to, and it showed. Meko was doing the attacking now, his kodachi back in its saiya.

Suddenly, Katsura stumbled backwards, katana falling from his hands and clattering to the ground several feet away. What attention Kaiba had placed in Kenshin's fight left completely. "Tou-san!" Hardly thinking what he was doing, Kaiba ran towards the fallen sword, prepared to take it up and continue the fight. Still catching his breath, Katsura made an effort to stand.

"Kaiba! Stay away!" Heedless of the command, Kaiba picked up his sword. It felt heavier than usual. He saw Meko's katana lifted for the final blow. Kaiba wrapped his hands tightly around the tsuka. It's my job. Holding his katana over his shoulder, Kaiba ran towards Meko, prepared for the fact that he would probably be struck down with a single strike before he came within five feet of the man. "Khehhhhh!" Kaiba didn't even get to deliver one blow. Meko fell forward just as Kaiba reached him, eyes white. Kaiba stared at him, assuring himself that Meko was indeed unconscious, then glanced to the side.

"Himura-san!" Kenshin was standing between Katsura and the fallen Meko, breathing heavily. The monk was nowhere to be seen. Kenshin slid his sakabatou back into its saiya as his breathing slowed.

"Katsura-san, daijoubu?"

Putting an experimental hand to his side, Katsura stood up slowly. Kaiba watched him with concern. "Yes, it's shallow." Katsura answered. "I'm in your debt Himura, this is the second time you've saved my life." Kenshin didn't reply and Katsura saw the drained look on his face. "What about yourself Himura, do you need to rest?" Kenshin shook his head.

"I'll be fine. Megumi-dono can treat me when we get back."

"Takahashi, did he get away?" Katsura asked, referring to the monk.

"Takahashi?" Kenshin echoed. His eyes widened as he realized the identity of the monk. "Takahashi Genji," he said, almost to himself. One of the men who had led the attack on the Ikedaya the night Katsura and Takasugi Shinsaku were having their conference. He was also one of the few who had escaped with his life. Kenshin pulled himself back to the present. "Aah, he escaped. Suman, Katsura-san."

"I don't care," Katsura assured him. "It's enough that Kaiba didn't get hurt." With that, he turned a strict gaze on his son, who was still on edge from the intensity of the fight. "Why did you come here?" Katsura demanded.

"Sessha would like to know as well," Kenshin added. "You should have gone back to the dojo with Kaoru-dono." Kaiba looked unsure.

"Well . . . It's my duty to look after tou-san," He said hesitantly. "I just wanted to help."

"You almost got yourself killed!" Katsura said sharply. "Fine help that would've been, leaving your sister and brother alone. What if something had happened to me, what would they have done?" Kaiba scowled.

"That's why I came, to make sure nothing happened! I didn't do anything when they killed kaa-san, so this time I did!" Kenshin noted the heartfelt words.

"You meant well, but ten-year-old boys shouldn't have to be in these kind of situations. Leave that to someone like me." Kaiba nodded.

"Sorry Himura-san, for getting in your way. Sorry Tou-san." Katsura clapped a hand on Kaiba's shoulder. Kenshin gave a warm smile.

"Why don't we return?"

000

"Still waiting, Jou-chan?" Sano asked, stepping onto the porch. Kaoru was sitting with her feet dangling off the edge, holding a blanket around her. "Kenshin said he'd be late."

Kaoru glanced at the full moon, already halfway across the sky. "I know but I want to be up when he gets back. Remember what Misao said. Katsura may need help." She looked to where Shinta and Yumiko were sleeping. "And Kaiba too." She hadn't discovered Kaiba was missing until they had gotten back to the dojo. Sano had volunteered to go look for him and it was then that Yahiko decided to let them know he had run off after Kenshin. Kaoru had been furious at Yahiko and promptly given him an unending list of chores (Hiko had seemed to find this amusing).

Shortly after that, Misao had come running back, Megumi in tow, with a message from Aoshi, telling them to be ready for Kenshin's return. Kaoru didn't know what that meant, and after questioning Misao found out that neither did she. Aoshi hadn't returned either though; Misao insisted he was doing business, but Kaoru wasn't about to sleep blissfully through the night while waiting for so many people to return. So she had positioned herself on the porch after supper and had been sitting there for the past several hours, getting colder and more uncomfortable.

"Maa, well, I've got nothing better to do, I'll wait with you," Sano said, sitting next to Kaoru and leaning back on his arms. The cool air felt good.

"Did Megumi already go to bed?" Kaoru asked, glad that Misao had brought the doctor. She thought she saw Sano's cheeks flush.

"Yeah, just a while ago. Told her I'd let her know when Kenshin got back. Something else too . . ." He paused, then snapped his fingers, remembering. "Oh, weasel-girl said to tell her if Aoshi got back. Funny though, I don't think I ever saw her going to bed."

"She's probably sitting on the roof," Kaoru guessed (she was right). "You can see better from up there."

"Heh, probably." Sano noticed that despite her calm talk Kaoru was staring into the night anxiously. "Jou-chan-" They both sat upright as a shingle from the roof clattered to the ground, followed by the sound of light feet running across it. "What the hell?" Sano muttered, glancing upwards. He saw a small dark shape, long braided ponytail whipping behind, fly from the roof and land still moving on the ground in front of them.

"Himura's back with Kaiba!" Misao shouted over her shoulder as she ran to the gate.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru threw her blanket off and followed Misao, face lighting up. Sano stretched and ambled after them, hiding the relief he felt with a practiced air. He broke into a trot when he heard Kaoru shriek. Misao had just opened the gate.

"K-Kenshin!" As the returning trio stepped into the moonlight, Sano saw what had caused Kaoru's reaction. The red-headed rurouni had acquired a prodigal number of cuts and was standing unsteadily. Katsura held a supporting hand behind him, and looked none the worse for the wear. Neither, for that matter, did Kaiba, Sano saw as he glanced down. The boy looked like he was about to fall over from exhaustion though.

Serve the brat right, Sano thought unsympathetically. Running off like that and making everyone worry. He would beat some sense into him later though, now he was just happy that Kenshin had gotten back in one piece. Grinning, Sano slapped the rurouni on the back, causing Kenshin to let out a weak oro as he lurched forward. "Good to see you Kenshin."

"Stop whacking him Sano!" Kaoru ordered, grabbing Kenshin's arm and pulling him towards the house.

"Ororo."

"And you can go ahead and wake Megumi up. Kaiba-kun," She called to the boy, who could hardly find the energy to lift his head. "Go on to bed." Kaiba did so happily. Kaoru looked at Katsura, following her silently. He wasn't fooling her though, she could see the dried blood on his shirt. "Katsura-san, Megumi-san can stitch your wound for you," She said.

Katsura gave his side an experimental touch. "Have her look at Himura first. This isn't serious, it can wait until tomorrow. Besides, I'd rather rest now. Thank you for all you've done."

Kaoru nodded as he turned to go inside, then turned to the energetic ninja beside her. "Misao-chan, go start boiling some water."

"Hai!" Misao said happily, winking at Kenshin as she passed him. Kenshin was too busy trying to keep Kaoru from wrenching his arm off to acknowledge her.

"Aaah, Kaoru-dono, sessha's arm–" Kaoru let go as quickly as if she'd been burned.

"Oh! Gomen Kenshin! I'm as bad as Sano." She saw the red line that encircled Kenshin's wrist. "What in the world–?" Kaoru looked at him for an explanation. Kenshin wasn't ready to launch into what had happened yet--he knew he'd just have to retell it when everyone else came out--but Kaoru had looked so concerned when the gate had opened.

"One of the men I fought dropped some kind of rope from the rafters and I used my hand to block it." Kenshin told her, sitting gingerly on the porch. He had started to feel the after affects of the fight about twenty minutes into the journey back to the dojo.

"Katsura-san had better appreciate all you're doing for him," Kaoru said angrily.

"If I wasn't doing it for him I'd be doing it for someone else," Kenshin said. "This involves me, whether I like it or not."

"But it doesn't!" Kaoru protested passionately. "Kenshin, you're not the Battousai anymore! Why can't people just understand that?" Kenshin shook his head.

"No one can erase the past. Everything that's happening now I brought on myself ten years ago." Kaoru ground her teeth in frustration. It always came back to that. Why the hell wouldn't he stop lamenting about it and get on with life?

Kaoru immediately reprimanded herself silently. He was trying to get on with life, that was why he had become a rurouni. Of course, there was still the lamenting part to work on. His guilt-ridden conscience seemed to think that the actions of his past justified any and every labor he was asked to do. She was still trying to figure out how to convince him that taking on the world's problems by himself wasn't the only way to go about atoning for his crimes.

"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin was gazing inquisitively at her. Kaoru started.

"Huh? Sorry, were you saying something?" She asked.

"Do you think you could help me take my gi off?" Kaoru blushed furiously, sure her ears had deceived her.

"W-w-what?" Kenshin would never be that forward.

"So Megumi-dono can treat me," Kenshin said, blushing as well when he realized what it sounded like.

"Oh. Right. Sure." Her heart was still pounding. Kenshin had laid his sakabatou down and extricated half of his right arm from the voluminous shirt.

"Katsura-san found some medicine to rub on it and it has a numbing side effect. I didn't think it would last this long." Kenshin explained as Kaoru placed a hand on either side of the gi and pulled it down carefully.

"Oh-ho, trying to make moves on Ken-san while I'm not around Tanuki-chan?" Kaoru's hands flew from Kenshin's gi as Megumi's voice came from behind her.

"M-Megumi-san! I was just helping Kenshin–!"

"I can see that." Megumi laughed behind her hand. "However, such ministrations are no match for a real doctor's touch, ne Ken-san?" Megumi asked sweetly, going to kneel next to Kenshin while Kaoru glared lightning bolts at her. Kenshin chose to ignore the tension between the two and merely sat quietly while Megumi looked at him critically.

"Mm, it's a good thing Misao-chan came to get me. It doesn't look like you've cleaned any of these wounds Ken-san," She said reprovingly.

"I wanted to get back as soon as possible," Kenshin said.

"And if you'd gotten an infection that I couldn't do anything about?" Megumi asked harshly. "It wouldn't do you much good to get back any sooner then." Kenshin didn't have a response for that.

"Oh, leave him alone kitsune," Sano said good-naturedly. "Kenshin was just in a rush to see Jou-chan again, right Kenshin?" He laughed at the look on Kenshin's face. "Well, I'm turning in for the night. Kitsune, you're cooking tomorrow?" Sano avoided looking at Kaoru, knowing her wrathful gaze would be on him.

"We'd like that Megumi-san," Kaoru said, and Sano risked a glance over. Nothing to worry about, she was watching Kenshin. "It is a little hard to do everything with so many people, and I'm not making Kenshin cook tomorrow." Sano snickered.

"Does that mean you're not gonna cook?" This time Kaoru did glare at him.

"I suppose I can stay and help out a while," Megumi said, scrubbing at Kenshin's cuts with a wet rag.

"Yatta!" Sano cheered.

"Megumi-dono–" Kenshin said through clenched teeth. "I know there's dirt in them, but isn't that a little-"

"You should have thought about that earlier," Megumi said none too kindly. Sano hid a laugh as Kenshin dropped his head in contrition and took the rest of her ministrations without a sound. Megumi usually wasn't so strict with Kenshin. In fact, she was never strict with Kenshin. Really pisses her off when people don't take care of themselves, Sano thought. He flexed his bandaged right hand. Sometimes exceptions had to be made though.

"Minna!" Misao came hobbling out of the kitchen with the water, spilling some in her rush to bring it to Megumi. "Agh! Kuso! Sorry Megumi-san." She gave Kenshin an inspectory glance. "You don't look so weak without your gi, Himura," She commented, causing Kaoru's hair to stand on end in shock.

"Misao-chan! You shouldn't say things like that!" She screeched.

"I'm only saying it like it is," Misao said stubbornly. "Besides, you already know Himura's strong. Remember that time at the hot spring-" Kaoru and Kenshin both clapped a hand over her mouth, speaking at the same time.

"That's enough!"

"Please be quiet, de gozaru yo."

"But it was funny!" Misao insisted. "Right Megumi-san?"

"I thought it was wonderful," Megumi said, aiming to get a reaction.

"MEGUMI-SAN! Watch what you're saying!" Kaoru didn't think she could be more horrified.

"Do you disagree then, Kaoru-chan?" Megumi asked, smiling like a cat that had just cornered a mousse. Kaoru stared at the ground, suddenly flustered.

"Ano–that is–well–I really didn't–"

"The moon was beautiful tonight." Everyone looked over at Kenshin's non sequitur, Misao with disappointment, Megumi like she'd lost her prey and Kaoru with unbounded relief.

"Eh, it was," Kaoru agreed, relaxing. She couldn't have been more thrilled to change the subject. "Ne, Megumi-san, it's getting a little cold, why don't we go inside?"

"It's been cold," Sano remarked and Misao shivered in agreement.

"All the more reason to go in," Megumi said. "We wouldn't Ken-san to catch a cold on top of everything else. Ne, Ken-san?" Kenshin was already shrugging his gi back on. "I'm not done yet," Megumi warned. "Kaoru-chan is right though, it would be better to finish inside." She looked at Sano and nodded her head towards Kenshin as he stood stiffly. Sano caught her drift and went to stand by his friend. They both knew Kenshin wouldn't admit if he needed help.

The rurouni made it inside by himself, although Sano was following closely behind. "Sanosuke, Kaoru-chan, Misao-chan, you can go to bed now. I can handle it from here," Megumi said as Misao sat down the bucket she'd been carrying. Sano took her up on the offer without hesitation, yawning widely as he mumbled a goodnight.

"I'm going to wait for Aoshi-sama," Misao said, gathering her energy to spring back onto the roof. Silence reigned as Megumi began grinding two leaves into the hot water.

"Kaoru-dono-" Kenshin began.

"Don't tell me to get some sleep Kenshin. I've been waiting the whole night for you, and I want to hear what happened."

"As do I," Megumi said. "This cut around your wrist, what made it? It's a clean cut and it's fairly deep. No katana cuts like that."

"No, it wasn't a sword. It was very flexible. It seemed to be made from a material similar to Chou's sword. It was longer and thinner though, more like a rope." Megumi was looking at Kenshin's neck now.

"I thought so. Kaoru-chan, hand me that gauze." Kaoru picked up the roll of white bandages and gave it to Megumi. "Ken-san, your gi," Kenshin shrugged it offhimself thistime.

"How are Kaoru-dono's injuries?" He asked as Megumi rubbed the mixture she had just made onto Kenshin's neck, and then the gauze. Trust Kenshin to ask something like that when he was sitting with more cuts than her own on him.

"Healing nicely," Megumi said. "As is Yahiko. Except for Kaoru-chan's ribs and Yahiko's lost teeth, everything was mostly superficial."

"That's good," Kenshin murmured. Megumi had finished wrapping his neck. She glanced towards the closed shoji to make sure no one was lurking around.

"Ken-san, Katsura was fairly well off for a prisoner, don't you think?" She asked casually. "What if his defection and capture was just a ruse to get here?" Kaoru's eyes widened. She hadn't thought of that.

"No." Kenshin rejected the idea flatly. "His wife's dead, he has three children. Katsura-san wouldn't have risked all of that." Kaoru saw him tense suddenly as Megumi rubbed the rest of her salve into the long cut across his stomach. Megumi frowned slightly.

"Your sakabatou?" She asked. Kenshin nodded and Kaoru looked at Megumi with admiration.

"How did you know?" Megumi pointed to the cut.

"Look, see there? The angle the cut was made at is wrong for an attacking stroke."

"Oh." Kaoru didn't see but she found her respect for Megumi's skill grow. An hour later, Megumi closed her medicine box with a soft dan.

"You're all set Ken-san." She stopped him as he began pulling his gi back on. "Chotto, you should put on some clean clothes. Kaoru-chan, do you have a yukata?"

"Kenshin's got one in his room, I'll get it," Kaoru volunteered.

"Ch-chotto, I can change in my room," Kenshin assured them hastily. "Arigatou, Megumi-dono."

"Dou itashimashite," Megumi replied as she slid the shoji open, box in hand.

"Ano–Kenshin," Kaoru said as Megumi left. "With so many people . . . I told Hiko-san he could sleep in your room. You don't mind do you?" Kenshin thought of the last time he had stayed in a room with his shishou. Somehow, he had ended up halfway off his futon without a blanket. It had been the middle of winter.

"No, that's fine," Kenshin lied beautifully.

"I just thought you could catch up-" Kenshin had done all the catching up he wanted to in less than ten minutes.

"It was a good idea Kaoru-dono," He assured her, inwardly dreading walking into his room. He hoped his shishou was sound asleep already.

"Oh, good." Kaoru sounded relieved. "Hiko-san didn't seem to mind but I know he likes to tease you sometimes-" Understatement, Kenshin thought sourly. When wasn't his shishou teasing him?

Kaoru finally reached the end of her excuses for sticking Hiko with Kenshin. "I'm glad you got back," She said, smiling at him. "Don't worry about doing anything tomorrow okay? Yahiko'll cover for you." No doubt he would be thrilled to find out about that. "Oyasuminasai, Kenshin,"

"Oyasumi," Kenshin sat thinking for several minutes after Kaoru had gone. Maybe he was being paranoid but Megumi had got him thinking. He couldn't see Katsura sacrificing his family just for the cause of a Bright Revolution, or any half-baked cause for that matter. But then, so many people had been changed since the Revolution. Maybe Katsura really did see it as the new revolution, the one to change the Meiji government for the better. If Katsura truly believed the Heaven's Judges' cause, he probably wouldn't hesitate to do anything to aid them, even at the expense of throwing away his life. But on the other hand, it wasn't just his life he was throwing away. But on the other hand, if he was able to be so distant from his wife–

Kenshin shook his head vigorously. This was getting him nowhere. He would just rely on his instincts for the moment and trust that Katsura was truly in a tight spot. Everything he'd said had made since so far, and he had told Kenshin about two of the raids already. Three if he counted the one planned in three days.

Kenshin pushed all thoughts of the Heaven's Judges and Katsura out of his head as he made his way to his room. He paused briefly outside the closed shoji, listening for Hiko's telltale snores. He let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Good, he was asleep. Slipping in, Kenshin could hardly keep his eyes open long enough to drag himself to his futon. He pulled his yukata on unthinkingly and slid underneath the cover, eyes already closed. Ten minutes later, he was dreaming.

I'm kind of a history buff, so I thought I would explain the reference to the Ikedaya. This is a true part of Japanese history. The Ikedaya was a hideout of the Ishin Shishi, andon June8th in 1864, they used this as a meeting place before they set fire to the city of Kyoto.They were ratted on though, and the Shinsengumi came to try and foil their plans. Takasugi Shinsaku was the leader of the kiheitai (the anti-shogunate groupYahiko's father was part of),a faction of the Ishin Shishi.

arigatou - thank you

chotto - hold on, wait a second

daijoubu - are you okay, I'm okay

dou itashimashite - you're welcome

gomen - I'm sorry

kitsune - literally "fox", Sano's nickname for Megumi

kodachi - a small sword, shorter than both a wakizashi and katana

minna - everybody, everyone

oyasumi(nasai) - good night

sessha - a very humble way to refer to oneself

suman - I'm sorry

tou-san - dad

tsuka - a katana's hilt

wakizashi - a mid-size sword, shorter than a katana

yatta - alright, yes!

yukata - a light kimono worn in summer or for bed

Fighting abounds. I just can't seem to get away from the fight scenes. Please feel free to offer any crticisms or suggestions! Which brings me to . . .Thank you, Whatever Star, for bringing up Yahiko's natural competitive streak. I'll try and work on that.