Of Wine and Water by: P.P.V.V.

Disclaimer: The Standard Disclaim Applies…


AN: I'm glad people found some comic relief in that last chapter. I want to take this opportunity to wish a very happy Mother's day to my readers who have taken on the task of raising a family! Kudos!

This chapter is Hiko-centric, so it doesn't quite fit into the Mother's-Day-Theme, but hey, he takes on the role of both parents for our beloved redhead, so why not? Please enjoy, and thanks for dropping by again.


Chapter 25

- Words of Wisdom -

Hiko appraised his pupil, who sat at the table, scribbling the list of principles he had dictated to him. Every so often, Kenshin would shift to keep the blood in his legs circulating. His mouth moved wordlessly as he wrote - no doubt to keep track of everything he had to remember.

He'd been learning steadily, soaking everything Hiko taught him like a sponge. Always eager, energetic and curious, Kenshin would have been the perfect student if he didn't have a bad habit of day dreaming. Sometimes, while the Master was lecturing, his pupil's eyes would take on a faraway look as if he were thinking of something else.

Like now.

"Kenshin."

Hiko knew he'd been correct when the boy jumped guiltily and turned his head so fast that his red hair whipped behind him. "Yes, Master?"

"You know how much I hate lip service. I don't just want the words on paper, boy. I want you to memorize those principles and apply them in your life."

"Yes, Master."

"Which means that you are always to be attentive. I've told you time and time again - "

"-to quit daydreaming," sighed Kenshin, finishing the sentence along with him. He sounded both apologetic and resigned. "Yes, Master."

Hiko raised an eyebrow, wondering whether the kid was trying to be impertinent. But there was no hint of audacity on the boy's face, just a sort of weariness that surprised the swordsmaster. It was the same look that he'd seen Kenshin wearing on the very first day he'd encountered him.

It was a look that children were not supposed to have, a haunting quality that, in truth, Hiko hated. To see it on his boy after all this time was most disturbing.

As Kenshin bent over his work again, Hiko made up his mind. He finished setting out the dishes to dry and said, "Why don't you stop for now and go outside?"

Kenshin's eyes crinkled in his incredulity. "But Master, I haven't finished - "

"-There will be time enough for that later," Hiko said. "You look like you need some fresh air."

His student looked briefly down at his work, before obediently putting down his brush. "All right," he murmured, his voice not quite hiding the fact that he wasn't looking forward to any physical activity right now, either. "How many laps would you like me to run?"

Again, Hiko regarded his student with a critical eye. While his stature was still too small for his liking, those arms had become stronger. Those legs had become faster. His body was adjusting to the harsh training much better than he'd expected. But there was only so much a child could handle mentally, and in this, the Master expected he'd pushed the limit far enough for today.

He waved his hand and said, "No, I won't ask you to run laps."

Kenshin reached over to pick up his sword. "Then, how many swings?"

"No, Kenshin. No swings, either."

Looking perplexed, his student did an excellent job of raising his eyebrow in perfect imitation of his mentor. It looked like the child had picked up more than just sword techniques and teachings over the three years he'd spent with him. It made Hiko feel warm inside, but he made certain that none of that fondness reflected onto his face.

Heaven forbid the child see him as a softy.

"We'll go fishing, today," Hiko announced. "I want a fresh fish for lunch, and the sun hasn't been in the sky for over an hour."

Curiosity sparked at last behind those amethyst eyes. "I've never fished before," said Kenshin.

"Then you will learn," Hiko told him. "It comes in handy." Many were the times when the swordsmaster had had to rely on that particular skill set to survive the long winters. That, and he found that the activity was as calming as meditation.

If anything, Kenshin needed a distraction from the everyday routine or else all Hiko would get was a mindless idiot who parroted things back to him for the sake of pleasing him. He'd been a child once, too, so he knew the importance of appreciating days where something out of the ordinary happened.

Whenever they went down to the town, Kenshin often chose not to mingle with the other children. It wasn't that he did not have the desire to play, but it was that he was unaccustomed to their raucous ways and boisterous laughter. After that episode with the Taro boy, he had not shown any antagonism toward any of the other village children, but they were wary of him. He was sociable when needed, though and Hiko supposed that that would have to suffice.

As Master and Student swept out of their little cabin, they were met with warm sunshine that was just beginning to cast its rays over the dew of the earth. The spring breeze brought with it the fresh smell of grass, earth and moss, a welcome change from the harsh winter that had decided to stay for longer than necessary that year.

The both of them trudged over the moist ground, and Hiko absently noted how his student didn't seem as heavy-footed any more, his footsteps light and quick, not quite matching his pace, but keeping up all the same.

When the child reached out to snag a leaf from overhead, Hiko did not stop him. Kenshin proceeded to raise it to his lips and blow, a small reedy whistle vibrating from the green object, piercing through the quiet of the woods. He blew it time and again, eliciting a fragmented tune that while disjointed, was not terrible enough to set Hiko's nerves on edge.

They travelled in companionable comfort, Kenshin pausing every once in a while to gather a rock, or a twig, or to stare at something in fascination. Hiko had to remind him once or twice not to dawdle, but other than that, he allowed his boy the freedom to wander and daydream all he wanted before they reached their destination.

The water gurgled happily up at them as though inviting them to take a drink. Kenshin ran ahead to do just that, skipping up the rocks and plunging his hands into the cold stream. Hiko almost called out for him to be careful not to fall, but stopped himself just in time: he would not be labeled as a paranoid. If the fool slipped, it would serve as a lesson to be more alert in the future.

He settled down on a rock and readied his fishing gear, and called for his apprentice to do the same. Willingly, Kenshin hopped back over, watching as his Master's fingers deftly put everything together and readied their bait. When Hiko gestured for him to try, he succeeded in the task, though not quite as quickly or as efficiently, but the grin that split the child's face made Hiko's swallow his exasperation.

It was a good first try as any, he supposed.

Settling next to his Master's big bulk, Kenshin happily looked out over the water, unaware of Hiko's scrutiny. A flush had risen to his cheeks and his red hair, sun kissed, was swept all over his face. It looked like the kid needed another trim. Sitting as he was, Hiko could see that the boy had indeed grown: he'd have to let out the hems of his clothing yet again. He made a mental note to go into town and trade for some more milk to aid in his growth.

"Master?" Kenshin's voice snapped him out of his own daydreams.

He had to struggle to maintain an innocent face. "Yes, Kenshin?"

"The other day, when we were in the village, Nishimoto-kun was teasing Hiromi-chan that she was 'interested' in me."

The news did not surprise the man at all. Kenshin was turning out to be very handsome indeed. In a few more years, he would be considered a man. It wasn't so hard to believe that he was starting to turn heads with the ladies.

Still, courtship was not important right now. In fact, it would serve to distract his student even more. "Listen to me and listen well," Hiko said, knowing that he was treading dangerous grounds. "Women are not your priority. They will fill your head with useless ideas and romantics. You would be an idiot if you deign to entertain them, now."

"So…it's wrong to fall in love?"

The question of the century. Hiko never expected that today would be the day when he would talk to his apprentice about such matters. To say he was uncomfortable with the subject matter would be an understatement. "It's not wrong to fall in love," the Master said, choosing his words carefully. "But there is a time for everything. And in all situations, you must always keep your head. Your heart will tell you otherwise and so will your body. But a sound mind and good reasoning will help, if you're careful to think."

Kenshin's eyes took on a pensive look as his Master continued, "Everything you do has a consequence. Remember that."

"Yes, sir."

"Sex, while pleasurable, is a tool that can be used to hurt, as you well know. It is not something one should wield unsparingly. Forcing yourself upon someone is the most disgraceful act of all. And bedding every woman that bats her eyelashes at you is neither responsible nor honorable. Sometimes you will have urges, and that's all right. However, I expect you to be rational and control yourself when you do."

His student had the grace to blush at his bluntness, but Hiko didn't care. "Diseases spread that way. It would be a shame if you were to contact something of the sort because of poor judgment. It would render your hard work and training a complete waste."

Nodding, Kenshin turned to look out over the water. "Why didn't…I mean…did you ever…?" he trailed off, ducking his head a little toward his chest, too embarrassed to finish the question.

Hiko let out a huff of breath. "If you must know, I have never mistreated a lady. But we are talking about you, not me. Always remember that women are more trouble than they seem. Leave such things for the future and focus on the present."

His boy crossed his legs and settled the fishing pole against them, so that he was bracing the bulk of it with his knees. "They always make me uncomfortable," he confessed, quietly.

It was all Hiko could do not to laugh at him. Instead he bent to flick at his fishing line to make the water ripple with the hope that the fish would be attracted. "They have that effect. So long as you show them respect, no matter their age, they'll learn to respect you right back. It is always about honour."

Kenshin's eyes took on that faraway look once more, which told Hiko that he'd gone off into his own world again, probably musing about the future possibilities. There was no doubt in Hiko's mind that Kenshin would find someone to marry and have a family with. Despite his shadows, that would not stop him: love was his greatest capacity. It was in the way he attentively tended a patch of garden, or the way he helped nurse a bird's broken wing. It was in the way he desired to stand up for others and pushed himself to the limit to be able to find favor with those he looked up to.

"Sir?"

Ugh. The boy's daydreaming ways were rubbing off on him. Hiko shook his head in disgust at himself. He grunted in response, too mortified with his behavior to turn it into anything less harsh. Luckily, Kenshin didn't take it to heart.

To his surprise, his boy flashed him a shy grin. "For what it's worth…I think you would have made an excellent father."

Sentimentalities.

Hiko thought he would be sick.

That warm, fuzzy feeling rose up in him again and no matter how hard he tried, he could not stop it from flooding through his chest. Not knowing how to respond, Hiko grunted again, repositioning his fishing pole so that he would have something to do with his hands.

He was saved from any more emotional talk because Kenshin suddenly jumped up, excitement radiating through his slim frame. "Something's biting! Master, something's biting!"

"What are you -? Kenshin, get down from..."

"I got one!" Kenshin squealed in delight, ignoring his Master's rather half-hearted reprimand. He tugged at the pole. "It's so strong!"

Rolling his eyes, Hiko watched the struggle, knowing how it would end.

For lunch, a tired but happy boy, whose hair was still matted down from his fall in the river, shoveled in bowl after bowl of rice and fresh fish, eyes alight, all traces of weariness gone.


Word Count: 2,141
Moving forward…


AN: I'm not a parent, but I can imagine how awkward it is to talk to a pre-teen about things like love and sex. I hope I managed to convey the Master's guidance without putting him too out of character. I couldn't help writing a mortified Hiko.

Let me know your thoughts again in the form of reviews!

Thanks for reading,

-P.P.V.V.

Edited: August 26, 2016