(A/N: Hello, peeps! Um... I wanted to say something to mr/miss ? D.F. Veda... Hey, I'm really glad you like the story, but uh... You're startin' ta freak me out. The last review you sent left me quite uncomfortable, and I thought I'd just tell you, I'll update at my own pace, don't rush me, and please don't write poems like that to me anymore. The praise is nice, but you don't have to worship me and threaten my life-even if you don't really mean it. It's kinda scary, and I really don't feel safe when I read stuff like that, even if you don't know where I live. I'm not in any means trying to offend you or anything, but I just thought I'd tell you to calm down. Also, pay attention in class. My story is merely something done within my free time, and you should take it upon yourself to think about it -in your free time-. Thank you. That's all I have to say. Now, on with chapter 10!)

Chapter 10: Protect the Ones You Love!

Hiko pulled up to Kenshin's house. Kenshin didn't move. He stared out the window at his home surrounded in police lines and people looking around.

Hiko got out and walked up to the police. "Hey, I've brought the kid over to get his stuff. Have you checked out for evidence in his room?"

"We've gone over the whole house. There's not a trace of who did this. It's almost as if the person found some way to avoid leaving any indication of DNA. Go ahead and take him in, but I don't think it'll be a pretty sight. There's still blood on the floor."

"I'll go get him," Hiko backed up and went back to his car, opening the door. "Do you want me to get your stuff?" He asked.

"No," Kenshin climbed out. "You don't know what I want to get," He looked up at him with a blank smile and walked slowly towards the house.

-

He stepped in through the front door and avoided looking at the kitchen at all. He hurried through the house and up the stairs, and even Hiko could hardly keep up. He walked up the stairs and walked to his room.

He ripped the sheets and comforter off of his bed and began pulling clothing out of his dresser. Hiko picked up the comforter and sheets and watched as Kenshin neatly packed everything into his suitcase.

"I---I just finished unpacking this the other day," He said, a panicked laugh in his voice. "I shouldn't have unpacked at all, de gozaru yo." He closed the suitcase. "I'm going into the attic."

"Okay," Hiko said. "I'll take this out to the car."

-

Kenshin sat on his knees in the attic, staring down at a picture of his family. He gasped as a drop of water fell upon it, and soon many fell. He shut his eyes tight, trying to control it, but it only made it worse. "Ah…." He muttered. "N-no…" He grabbed his head with his free hand and dropped the picture. "DAMN!" He cried, opening his eyes.

He settled down and wiped the tears away. "Why… Why wasn't I there to protect you?" He said to the picture. "I--- I have to be able to do something! Mom! Dad!" He hung his head. "I'm not okay… not without you!" He pounded his fist on the floor. "Send me a sign or something! Damn…" He stood up and turned away. "O-oro?" He blinked twice.

He stepped over to a long, black chest. It had rusted hinges and looked like it had been there forever. "I---I don't remember moving this," Kenshin said, kneeling down and running his hand across it. "Hm? It says something here… Property of… Himura Kenshin? That's me, de gozaru yo. Who… Why?" He pulled on the rusted lock, and it broke off, making him fall backwards. "Oro…" He said, swirly-eyed. "Oh…" He crawled back over.

Kenshin opened the chest and dust flew everywhere. He coughed and sputtered and then waved the dust out of the way. "O-oro? What is…" He reached into the box and pulled out the long object that lay upon a purple pillow and was wrapped in a lavender scarf.

Do you believe… in reincarnation?

"uh--Uh!" The scarf fell beautifully to the floor.

What he held was tall and lean with a black covering until it reached the golden area near the top. The rest was wrapped in yarn, making small, diamond shapes upon it's base. It ended with a silvery covering over the top.

"A… sword…" Kenshin said, wide-eyed.

Even if it's only the handful of people I happen to meet on the street or in my home, I can still protect them with one sword.

"I…can… protect…" Kenshin mouthed.

The will to live is strong - stronger then anything else!

"With… this… sword… I will…" He muttered.

"Himura!"

"Oro?" Kenshin blinked and came back into reality. "Oh, Hiko-san!" Kenshin said, smiling. "Look at this!"

"Hm?" Hiko looked at the boy. It was a real smile… and there was something different about him.

Hiko took the weapon in his hands. "Hm… Looks like a sword." He pulled it out of its sheath. "Uh? The blade… it's on the wrong side!"

"It's a… sakabatou…" Kenshin said, looking at the blade, entranced in its reflection.

"Who's it belong to?" Hiko asked.

"I-It's mine."

"Heh?"

"Well, the chest said that it belonged to Himura Kenshin, de gozaru yo… Also, it had this," Kenshin held up the lavender scarf. "I've never seen these things before. I just found this old chest in the back. We didn't even move it… or at least I don't remember moving it, de gozaru yo." He pushed his glasses up on his nose.

"So, what're you going to do with it?"

"I'm bringing it with me, de gozaru yo," Kenshin said.

"You have two suitcases… What do you want me to-"

Kenshin tied the scarf around his waist and slid the sakabatou into the side of it. He picked up his bag and smiled at him. "Let's go, shishou!"

"Shi-- You did it again!"

"Did what?"

"You---"

"What?"

He sighed. "Forget it. Let's get out of here… By the way, you look much happier. You've… gotten over it?"

"I think you might expect to much of me…" Kenshin said, looking up at him. "It's just that… Well… I suppose that from now on I need to protect what I've got left…"

Hiko stared at Kenshin's back as he walked out of the attic and down the stairs, and he didn't move for quite awhile. He smirked. "The kid's not as dumb as he looks…"

-

The next morning came early. "Get up!" Hiko bellowed.

"O… oro?" Kenshin opened his eyes halfway. He'd set up his bedroom and hung his sakabatou up on the wall. He rose up and rubbed his head.

"You have twenty minutes to get ready and out the door. If you aren't ready, I'll leave without you."

"okay…" Kenshin said lazily. He decided it'd be best if he did get ready though he seriously contemplated laying back down. He crawled out of bed and put on a clean uniform.

After brushing his hair and pulling it back, he slipped his glasses and socks on. He headed down the hall and brushed his teeth quickly, then hurried down the steps.

Kenshin had packed his lunch the previous night after he had gotten back. He put it in his backpack and zipped it up.

-

Kenshin stepped out of the garage and onto the driveway. Hiko was nowhere to be found, so he decided to walk up the driveway.

He looked around the neighborhood lazily as the hazy, cool morning settled against his thin body.

"Kenshin? Kenshin? What're you doing here?"

"Oro?" Kenshin turned around to face the house next door.

"Kenshin?"

"K-Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin said, amazed, as she ran up in the girl's uniform. "What are you-"

"I live here… What are you doing at Hiko-san's house?"

"Oro?" Kenshin blinked. "I'm staying here." He pointed at himself blankly.

"Oh… why aren't you staying at your house?"

"Uh-" It hit Kenshin hard. He hung his head, his bangs shadowing out his eyes.

"-and why weren't you at school? I never got the chance to-"

"Huh?" Kenshin looked up through his hair.

"--thank you… for saving me…" She smiled at him warmly.

Hiko-san…was right…Had I not been at school, Kaoru-dono would have…but…I just…It doesn't matter…not anymore, I suppose.

"It was no problem…" Kenshin blushed. "I've decided to do all I can… to protect anyone who I may come across… de gozaru yo…"

"Kenshin…"

"My parents… they were brutally murdered in their own home…"

Kaoru gasped, tears escaping from her eyes as guilt washed over her.

"Don't… cry…" Kenshin said. "There was nothing anyone could do… and…" Kenshin beamed at her. "I do not wish to make women cry, de gozaru yo."

"How cute."

"Oro!" Kenshin's ponytail stuck up in the air, and his eyes bulged out. Hiko sat in his car, peeking out the driver's window and laughing.

"Kamiya, you want a ride?"

"Oh, thank you, Hiko-san!" She smiled at him, wiping away her tears. Kenshin blushed and bit his lower lip.

Now he's just trying to humiliate me… He thought to himself.