Chapter 8: Aftermath

Hiko opened the passenger side door. "Come on. We're here."

"Oro?" Kenshin looked up at him, hazy eyed.

"We're at my house."

-

Hiko's house was enormous! It wasn't visible in the dark, but the outline of it could prove it was a two-story home. Hiko opened the garage and walked in through such, turning to the left and opening the door into the house. Kenshin trudged in slowly after him.

Hiko's garage led into the kitchen. There was a laundry room on the left of Kenshin, and on the right was the kitchen. The table was set in front of a large picture window, and it was covered with empty bowls, newspapers, magazines, and take-out boxes. Coats were strewn over the chairs, and the counter tops were covered with all kinds of things. The oven seemed to of not been used in years, and the microwave was open, boxes of cereal taking storage within it.

After leaving the kitchen, there was the living room, where the television sat up above the fireplace in the back, right corner of the room. There was a couch with a blanket stung lazily across it, and the throw pillows from it, and the love seat, were all over the floor. The coffee table had coffee cups, regular cups, soda cans, and bottles of sake set along it, as well as around the table. He had a c.d. player over in the closest, right corner that seemed to not of been used in forever. There was dust settling on it.

In between the television corner and the c.d. corner, there was a large open area that led into the foyer where the front door was. Next to the front door was the stairs, and to the left of the stairs was a small hall that led to a room with a closed door, most likely a bedroom.

"Follow me," Hiko said, stomping up the stairs. Even with his shoes off, he still made large noises on the floor. Kenshin slowly padded up after him barefooted. They went up, turned on the landing, then headed up the rest of the stairs.

There was a bathroom on the right at the top of the stairs, then on the left was a long hallway. It had a door right in the middle which likely led to a closet or attic, then on the right was another bedroom.

Hiko opened the bedroom door and showed him in. "This is where you'll stay."

The room had a bed with no sheets or comforter, just a pillow. There was a dark, oak dresser with a mirror on the left side of the room with a small television sitting on the back corner, closest to the window on the back wall. There was also a small book shelf with nothing on it, sitting in front of the closet.

"I'll get you some blankets and something to sleep in. Go take a shower and wash up. There are towels in the closet."

Kenshin stared at him for a few minutes.

"Get goin'," Hiko said, nodding his head towards the bathroom. Kenshin did as told.

-

The water was turned up all the way, but no matter what, he couldn't feel it. He stared up into the shower head, trying desperately to focus his thoughts on other things. He couldn't understand why all of this had happened, much less why it happened to good people like his parents. He felt something in him, something that was broken, but it seemed he couldn't figure out what. It wasn't his heart, for all it did was empty into a void, but perhaps there was a crack in his soul. Yes, a crack in his soul, he wondered. Was it possible? He wasn't even sure if it made any sense at the moment, for his mind was in a fuzz, like the static on a television screen.

He scrubbed desperately at the blood on him, and even when it was gone, he continued. It wouldn't seem to come off mentally. He couldn't find himself clean, and every time he finally would start to, he would see the pink water going down the drain and continue once more. He rubbed at it with a soap-lathered cloth until his skin went raw, from the material or the scolding hot water was the question, but it caused him pain.

The curtains suddenly flew open, sending a wave of cold air into the shower. "ORO!" Kenshin cried at the sight of Hiko who just stood there.

"Save some hot water for those of us that have to go to work, baka," Hiko glared at him. "I brought you a nightshirt, now give it up."

Kenshin grabbed the curtain to shield himself, blushing in humiliation.

"Hey, we're both men. It ain't like I haven't seen it before. You bathe in a public shower long enough, you get used to it. I had gym class too, ya' know." Hiko looked at Kenshin's arms. They were pinkish-red and had a few blood spots on them. "Listen…" Hiko turned the water off and threw Kenshin a towel. "No matter what you do, the blood won't wash away for awhile. You're just hurting yourself. Go to bed. Try to sleep. I know that's probably impossible, but do it anyway."

Kenshin wrapped the towel around his thin waist and stepped out of the tub. His legs weren't in much better condition than his arms, and neither was his chest or abdomen.

"Jeez…" Hiko rolled his eyes. "G'night." He left, slamming the bathroom door behind him.

-

Kenshin slipped on the underwear he had worn earlier that day since he knew he had no other choice. Hiko's night shirt was much to big on him, and he had to roll up the sleeves so that he could see his hands. It seemed Hiko had brought him a toothbrush and some toothpaste. There was also a brush sitting on a hand towel nearby, and the hair dryer was plugged in. Kenshin brushed his teeth, dried and brushed his hair, and left the bathroom, slipping on his glasses.

-

Hiko had laid a sheet over the bed, and then an old, worn, gray-blue comforter. Kenshin didn't complain, for it must have been the best he could have done. He crawled in and laid down, but he didn't turn off the light. He set his glasses on the bedside table that matched the dresser and stared up at the ceiling fan. He watched it go around in circles for about an hour as his mind drifted to other things, anything but the subject that it seemed to stick to.

It was then that he seemed to blink his eyes, and he found the light off and sunlight beaming through the window. "O---oro?" He asked sleepily as he rose up, rubbing his eyes with his fists. He put his glasses on and looked around the room, almost forgetting where he was. He yawned and looked over at the alarm clock on the bedside table. It said nine o'clock.

"Nine o' clock?! I'm g-gonna be late for school!" He yelled, clambering out of bed. He tripped the moment he emerged from the warm covers, and when he rose up, he rose right out of his night shirt. He stared down at the floor and the memory of his mom shaking him awake in the morning flashed into his mind. He pulled himself up and turned to the mirror. "O… oro?" He found that tears were rolling down his face. He hadn't even felt them start. He quickly wiped them away and ran down the hall and down the stairs in his gray boxer shorts, his red hair flowing behind him.

-

"Hiko-san?" He called walking into the foyer. "Hiko? Hiko-san? Are you he-- oro?" Kenshin found a note on the coffee table.

Dear Himura,

Stay at my house. Don't leave. I'll be home at four thirty. There are ramen noodles in the fridge. Just warm 'em up. Or order a pizza. Just put it on my tab. DON'T LEAVE MY HOUSE. Got it? Good.

Sincerely,

Hiko Seijirou

Kenshin set it down and stared out the large window that sat behind the couch. He stepped forward to go sit down and watched television when a look of disgust came across his face. He looked down at his foot that had accidentally stepped into a bowl of cheese dip. "Oh, sweet mother of God!" He cried, absolutely revolted. "Why is he living like this? Doesn't he know how to pick up after himself?" He asked the house as he hopped into the kitchen and used a rag that laid carelessly in the sink to clean off his foot. He stopped and looked around. "I suppose not… so… why is he living in such a big house? It seems he lives here all alone."

He put the rag in the laundry room where he found piles of dirty clothing set in random places as if they were going to be washed. "How can he survive like this? My father wouldn't tolerate this, de gozaru-" He felt a sudden wave of hurt run over him, and he had to battle the tears to keep them from falling this time. "Well… I need to get my mind off of things, de gozaru yo. I wonder what kind of music he listens to."

-

"Hey, Kenshin's not here today," Sano said to Katsu as the two walked into their History class.

"Yeah, I noticed. Yahiko said that he wasn't at the tree at lunch. I wonder what happened."

Chou walked past the two and smirked. Sano caught it out of the corner of his eye and grabbed his wrist. "What did you and your little buddies do, Chou?" Sano glared menacingly at him.

"We didn't do anything," Chou said, but the way he said it proved that he knew who did.

"Then, who did?!" Sano growled. "-and what? What'd they do, Chou?!"

Chou snickered.

"Sano."

"Huh?" Sano turned around and saw Hiko in the doorway.

"Don't butt in on other people's business," Hiko said. His voice was quiet, but it had never sounded more frightening. Chou didn't even need to be told to go sit down. He seemed glad enough to get away from the daunting, middle-aged teacher.

"H-h- Hiko-san…" Sano muttered. "Wh-what's the matter?"

"Kenshin might not be back in school for awhile," Hiko said. "Don't think anything of it. When he comes back, he'll tell you… if he wants to. Don't pressure him."

"-but---"

"Do what I say, Sagara. I know what took place, and all I can say is that it was a really traumatizing event."

"O… okay…"

Hiko walked off.

Now, I'm really worried… Maybe Kaoru knows. Her and Kenshin are close… Well, as close as you can get for knowing someone for one day. Eh heh heh… Nah, I doubt she knows… Oh, well… It won't hurt to ask. Doesn't she live-

"Class is beginning now!" Hiko said, more loudly than usual. Everyone sat up straight. "We're going on with the revolution, and this time, Himura isn't here to answer your questions for you. Now, at risk of sounding like Hajime, I'm giving out… a pop quiz!"

Everyone began moaning.

"DON'T START!" Hiko bellowed, silencing them once more.

Oh, man! What happened last night?! Sano wondered, severely concerned. If only I knew where he lived…