Of Wine and Water by: P.P.V.V.
Disclaimer: The Standard Disclaim applies...
AN: As of this chapter, I've reached 200 reviews! I'm so very happy. Thank you guys so, so much! Because you are all so awesome, I made the time to write. This is for you, my dear reader(s), because you inspire me. A lighter chapter ahead. Enjoy.
Chapter 24
- Sticking to Routine -
Kenshin cringed and tried to burrow himself under the covers as a shaft of sunlight hit him.
"Rise and shine," Hiko announced, propping the window open with a stick. A breeze from the winter winds wafted into the small room, filling it up almost immediately. He made sure that the small slat was properly settled before turning away from it to regard his pupil who was groaning in protest.
"Come on, now," the Master coaxed. "It's not like you to stay in bed this late. I've actually given you leeway as it is."
He could not have possibly seen the face Kenshin was making from beneath the blanket. It was a cross between a pout and a grimace. Pulling himself out of bed was getting harder and harder nowadays, especially when it was so warm and comfy.
The boy sighed, "I'm still sleepy…"
"Are you sick?"
"No…"
"Then you have no reason to stay abed," Hiko said, firmly, beginning to stride over.
Kenshin clutched the blanket to himself. "Aw, please, Master? Just this once? Let me have a lie in?"
Hiko raised his tone slightly in warning. "Kenshin."
"Please? I'm tired…"
For a moment, he was positive the man would just rip the covering away and accompany the action with a harsh scolding so he was surprised when Hiko paused and took a step back. Peeking out at him curiously, Kenshin waited to see what he would do, feeling more than apprehensive at the Master's hesitance.
Hiko passed a hand over his face, letting out a heavy sigh. "Very well," he acquiesced at last. "But just this once, do you hear me?"
Shock caused Kenshin to be speechless but he finally found his voice and yelped once in triumph. He proceeded to pull the covers up over his head entirely and curl into a ball. "Thank you, Master!" he shouted, his voice muffled by the sheets.
The man merely rolled his eyes and called over his shoulder, "Don't stay in bed for too long, or you'll regret it."
But Kenshin did not reply, quickly finding a comfortable spot and settling down for sleep again.
Inwardly, Hiko chastised himself. He was proud of the fact that he was intimidating, strong and powerful. Most men fled from his mere presence and he could end a fight faster than it took to start one up. No one could tell him what to do. No one could stand in his way. He could safely say that no one would ever be able to defeat him in battle and yet… those purple eyes positively killed him. Who would have known that a child's pleading gaze was all it took to undo him?
Angrily, he stomped off to a spot where he could take out his anger doing swings with his sword. And if that didn't work, he'd go for a run. He needed to move or else he'd go mad with the realization that he really was a softy.
Stripping to the waist despite the cold, he took up position close to the waterfall a few meters away. The late winter air was cool against his bare skin but he forced himself to bear it; to endure it. After all, little distractions were fatal in a fight and this was good training for that. It was almost time for Kenshin to learn that very important lesson.
But that would come later. He cleared his mind with the sound of the crashing water, letting it fill him up, letting it symbolize the washing away of his doubts and fears.
He closed his eyes and began breathing deeply, falling into a meditative state. When he opened them again, he began to go through the various forms of Kata, gaining speed as he went. Unlike Kenshin who was lithe and graceful when he went through the dance-like routines, Hiko's movements were eerily smooth, executed with a powerful precision that surpassed his student's.
By the time he had gone through everything three times, he was breathing hard and perspiring. Beads of sweat along with droplets of water clung to his pixilated torso. His long hair was now a tangled mess about his neck and shoulders. Somewhere along the way, it had become undone from the string he usually tied it back with and he absently reached behind him to try and smooth it down. As he did so, the cords of muscles along his body flexed and he stretched them out, inhaling and exhaling, enjoying the feel of the burn that indicated a good workout.
Overhead, a bird squawked its appreciation of the clear skies, rising so high that it momentarily cast a shadow upon the young swordsmaster. He watched it move away, shielding his eyes from the harsh glare of the sun which now stood at its peak.
It reminded him that lunch was in order.
When he got to the cabin again, he was most surprised to find his charge still fast asleep, the food from the morning's breakfast still sitting on the low table by the hearth, no doubt stone cold by now.
What a waste.
But that wasn't the primary thought that was going through his head.
Maybe the kid was sick after all…
It was not like Kenshin to skip a meal.
Now officially worried, Hiko entered the room and felt his forehead. Finding the temperature normal, he nudged his apprentice awake. "Hey," he said, gruffly. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
Amethyst eyes opened blearily and it took a moment for Kenshin to come to his senses. Then seeing Hiko's scowling down at him, he quickly sat up out of bed, teetered for a moment and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Get dressed and come outside," the Master ordered. "There's work to be done and you've dawdled enough."
"Yes, sir," Kenshin scrambled to comply, hearing the warning in the elder man's voice. His actions were wooden and clumsy though and it slowed him down further. By the time he shuffled out into the main cabin space, Hiko had lunch prepared and was busy setting up the table.
"You look terrible," he commented.
"I feel terrible," Kenshin agreed, pressing the palms of his hands into his eyes. "Like I'm so…so…"
"Heavy? Exhausted?" Hiko supplied, when the boy trailed off at a loss for words.
His student nodded, dumbly, reaching over for his chopsticks when Hiko handed him a bowl of rice. "It serves you right," his Master was ever unsympathetic. "Your body is not used to such long hours of sleep. You've broken it out of its routine. I told you you'd regret lying in." He motioned with his own chopsticks at the food. "Eat. You'll need your energy for the training ahead."
"Training?" Kenshin repeated in a groan at the very prospect.
"You've earned yourself two extra hours," Hiko informed him. "And may it serve as a lesson that laziness does not go unpunished."
The next morning, no matter how tired he felt, Kenshin was up at the crack of dawn as usual. Remembering the harsh training from the day before, he decided it was better to stick to routine. Hurriedly, he slipped on his shoes, tugged on his coat and dashed out the door for his daily morning run.
From inside the cabin's bedroom, Hiko chuckled to himself and pulled the covers up to his chin. He still had a little time left before he had to get up for the day. Maybe he would indulge in a little lie in…
Word Count: 1,253
Moving Forward…
AN: This chapter was a little lighter than the others I've written for a while. Gotta have some Hiko-glorification in there, after all. I hope you enjoyed it! I look forward to your thoughts/criticism. Until the next chapter!
Thanks for reading, (don't forget to review!)
-P.P.V.V.
Edited: August 26, 2016
