Of Wine and Water By: P.P.V.V.
Disclaimer: The Standard Disclaim applies...
AN: Hehe, I couldn't help myself in this chapter. I had so much fun writing this blurb. Your reviews really inspired me. As of this chapter, I've received 100! I'm ridiculously excited. It's like reaching a benchmark or something in this community.
Anyway, the following chapter has heavy references to The Sound of Music (in both title and in events).
Onwards.
Chapter 13
- The Sound of Music -
Hiko froze.
It was so foreign…so abrupt…that he wondered if he had dreamed it up.
The sound was beautiful and, even though it was on his behalf, absolutely delightful.
How sad was it that a simple giggle – the first telltale sign of happiness that Hiko had ever heard come from his student – could fill him with such a feeling of accomplishment and relief?
It rang again, and this time, Hiko snapped his gaze up to Kenshin, who sat opposite him on a cushion before the fire. Abruptly, the giggle died, and Kenshin blushed and looked down at the calligraphy he was working on.
"Amused, are you?" Hiko drawled, reaching underneath him to pluck the offending pinecone off his own cushion.
His boy blushed harder, evidently trying to keep a smile off his face, but failing miserably. It shone in his eyes and that was just as uplifting as the tinkling sound the Master had just heard. "It's just…" Kenshin trailed off, and abruptly collapsed into a fit of more giggles, "it's just that you…the look on your face when you sat down…it was so funny!"
Hiko huffed, but had to fight his own smile from showing. He made a dramatic show of flaring his cloak and settling back down onto his cushion which caused the giggles to turn into full-out laughter.
The smile on his student's face was quite becoming. Hiko now understood what those slave traders had seen in him. They would have twisted such beauty, such innocence, and warped it into something that the Master did not even want to imagine.
Kenshin was getting better. He was on the way to recovery and nothing would be able to keep him back. That thought eased the rest of the fear that Hiko did not know he'd been harboring, away.
Finally, Kenshin was starting to show some nerve, a back bone of mischief, a piece of the little boy he'd been before those awful things had happened to him. To think that he'd played a prank – on Hiko no less! What was more mortifying was that Hiko had fallen for it. But if it meant hearing his laughter, the man did not mind in the least.
"Kenshin."
At the mention of his name, the child sobered down a little, his eyes still shining with mirth, his lips not quite relinquishing that charming smile. There was no doubt that this boy would be handsome upon manhood. "Yes, Master?"
"Concentrate on your work."
"Yes, Master!"
"And Kenshin," Hiko narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "I'd better not find a pinecone in my bed."
The Apprentice's ringing laughter filled the hut again at being predictable.
This time, the Master's joined in.
Word Count: 447
Moving Forward…
AN: Sometimes, laughter is the best medicine. I know it was short this time around, but I couldn't help having Kenshin prank his Master. He's a little boy, after all! I thought I'd pull away from the angst a little and I hope you enjoyed!
Please review and thanks for reading,
-P.P.V.V.
Edited: August 25, 2016
