THE IMPOSSIBLE

By: Chiki Yumeshisa

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin….all original characters/ideas are mine to claim though.

AN: No update for WTWRAY today, but this will help you to understand it better. I hope you like.

Warnings: This chapter will go back to a cliffhanger I left off from before, and time has fast forwarded a bit to the future. The ride is still bumpy: caution, wear your seatbelts.

Chapter 6:

- Intruders In The Dark -

He didn't know what to do: comfort his nephew, or run out to look for the intruder. It hit him as strange: what did Jineh want with him this time? He had already refused his latest offer, and he wondered if the man was still sore about his rejection – but enough to go break into his house?

Kenshin was crying now, at full blast, cranky and scared. The emergency alarm was supposed to mean trouble. He groped for his uncle's arm, pleading for him not to leave him alone, and to stay. Hiko pat him on the head.

"I'll be right back. Don't worry……."

"No, Uncle Hiko. Don't go!" Kenshin cried, gripping his uncle's sleeve with small hands.

Hiko gently took them off, pulling the blanket around his nephew again, tucking him in. "I'm not going to leave you; I'll be right back." He told the child. Huge, beseeching purple eyes looked back at him. They were filled with tears. His small body shook, as he cowered away. "You stay put, do you hear me?"

Kenshin nodded. "Yes, Uncle Hiko." Tears slipped won his little face. It was better to do as he was told.

"Good." And with that, Hiko left in search of the source of the problem. He was ticked: he would give Jineh a piece of his mind. He hoped that he hadn't hurt Nakamura in any way, or he would never forgive himself.

Kenshin sat trembling, watching as his uncle stormed down the hall. He hoped that he would come back soon. Well, at least he had left the door open – that way, he wouldn't be left alone in the dark by himself. He was scared of the dark.

He poked his thumb into his mouth, leaning against his pillows, sullenly. Then he sat up straight when someone poked an arm into the room. Very soon after, a body followed. It was tall, lean and toned lightly with muscles. He was wearing gray and black, his greasy hair hanging in uneven strands over his face; that of which Kenshin had trouble seeing because the man's head was turned in attention toward the door.

Terrified, the child stared. He didn't want to attract any attention to himself, so he pulled his thumb out of his mouth, holding back his whimper. He crawled under his blanket, trying to disappear. This was a stranger; Nakamura-san had always told him not to talk to strangers.

Not jus that, but this man had an aura about him that was threatening. His mere presence was something that made a person's skin crawl.

However, Kenshin could feel that he was still there. He waited to see if this stranger would leave after a while. He peeked out cautiously, only to see a face peering down at him.

It was pale, and beady eyes watched him through red rimmed sockets that were sunken and hollow. They glittered with malice and mischief. His face was ruddy and thin, a grin spreading across it. Kenshin gave a little yelp of surprise and fear. He tried to go back under his covers, but one of the man's hands reached down and pulled the covering away, exposing the child to him.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" He peered closer. It had looked like a little girl, but he realized that the child was actually a little boy. What was a kid doing in the estate of Hiko Seijuro? Wasn't he supposed to be a bachelor?

He reached over to tussle the child's hair, but he never got the chance to, as Kenshin pushed away. "No! Don't come close to me!" He screamed.

Jineh turned to face the door, listening intently. He heard no one coming. A new thought formed into his head, and he turned a wicked-grinning face toward the child. "Come now, I won't hurt you. I'm a friend of Hiko's."

Kenshin didn't believe him. "Leave me alone!" He cried. "Nakamura-san! Nakamura-san!"

The hand clamped over Kenshin's mouth. "Shut up, kid." He hissed dangerously. "I'm warning you."

Kenshin froze at the contact of the hand on his mouth. Instincts told him not to move or else. Mustering up as much courage as he could, which was not a lot, Kenshin pulled away from him. "What do you want?"

"Just to have a friendly chat with you." Jineh answered casually. He sat on the bed next to him. "What's your name?"

He hesitated for a moment, before answering, "Himura…..Kenshin…….." It was better to play it safe. He was angry. Angry at this man for intruding, and angry at his uncle for leaving him. What was he going to do?

"Himura…….huh?" Jineh asked, tasting the name. Now he knew that Kenshin was not Hiko's son. Perhaps he was one of the servant's children. "Is Nakamura-san your mother?"

Kenshin shook his head. He didn't want to answer this man. He was afraid he'd say something wrong, and get cut up. He had noticed a little switch blade that Jineh was holding. Still, if he didn't answer, then he'd get cut up anyway. This was not a friend of Hiko's! Where was his Uncle when he needed him!

"How are you related to Hiko?" Jineh demanded.

"Nephew…." Kenshin mumbled, nervously.

Now that was sweet. Jineh could practically read the headline already: "Himura captured? Business Deal Struck!" It was all about politics, and if he had to play dirty, he would. But…..how would he lure the kid? He seemed smart. And he didn't like the kid's eyes. He liked the child's hair. Maybe he could skin the child alive and keep the hair as a trophy afterwards. A sadistic smile took the place of his menacing scowl.

It was about high time Hiko paid for the way he had embarrassed him at the embassy two months ago. He felt himself get angry, but forced his voice to be sly and coaxing. "Say, Himura…...your uncle said it would be okay if we played together."

"I don't want to play with you." Kenshin said bluntly. "Go away."

Jineh ignored him. "If you don't go with me, I'll be forced to hurt you. You don't want that do you?" He asked.

Kenshin shook his head, and he watched as Jineh showed him the knife. It glinted. He knew how sharp knives were. He had accidentally cut himself with one when he had tried to cut an apple by himself, without waiting for Nakamura-san. He desperately didn't want that to hurt him.

Just as Jineh was telling Kenshin to go stand by the window, his Uncle barged in. "Kenshin!"

"Uncle Hiko!" Kenshin cried, looking up. He stood by the open window, shivering. Nakamura-san stood a little ways behind him. His uncle looked pissed.

"What is going on in here! Jineh…….." He saw the knife point in the man's hand. "What do you think you're doing?" He roared.

"Oh, Hiko-san……there you are. I was tired of waiting for you in the library, so I decided to look for you. Instead I found your dearest nephew." He gestured toward Kenshin, the knife point waving in the child's face.

Nakamura made to go rush toward him, but Hiko stopped her. It was too risky. "Put the knife down, Jineh, and we'll talk." Hiko warned him.

"Now you're willing to talk?" Jineh drawled. "I see you have a weak point, Hiko-san."

Hiko glanced at Kenshin, who was shifting uncomfortably on his spot. He all of a sudden needed to go to the bathroom. "Just don't hurt the child." Hiko said. He was trying to buy time as he inched closer and closer toward the sword hanging by the side of Kenshin's desk. If he could only get to it…..

"Make your proposal, Jineh, and we'll see if it will be granted."

"A simple contract with your company is all I ask." Jineh told him. "It will guarantee that my company will do well too."

Leeching off the M.R.I in other words, Hiko thought darkly. He tried to stall a bit more. Instead of paying direct attention to Jineh, he turned his eyes to his nephew. If he could only direct Jineh's attention somewhere else, that was all he needed to get to the sword. And from there on, he would be able to do anything.

His luck was rewarded when Jineh turned his attention to the child too. "Did he hurt you?" Hiko asked, addressing Kenshin.

Kenshin shook his head. "Uncle Hiko, I have to go pee………"

How cute.

It was the split second chance to get the sword, and it was down and off the wall in his hands, unsheathed. At that moment though, Jineh saw the scabbard fall out of the corner of his eye and brought his arm with the knife down.

It hit Kenshin with a solid thunk.

The child let out a piercing scream, and staggered backward.

"NO! Kenshin!"


To Be Continued….

AN: Thanks for reading, guys! I hope you liked it…now it shows why Jineh had such a grudge against Kenshin and the other way around. I hope to see you next week for WTWRAY. Please review!