Neither Kenshin nor Hiko spoke as they drove home. The rain had lessened but not completely stopped. Dark clouds still hung in the black sky. Hiko brought the car to a stop in the driveway. He opened his mouth to speak but Kenshin had guessed the man's intentions and had immediately bailed out. Hiko sighed, pulling the keys from the ignition. He wanted to talk about what had just occurred but the redhead had other ideas.
Hiko made his way up the walk onto the porch. He wasn't surprised to see the front door open. He entered, making his way to the kitchen. Kenshin was no where in sight. The man knew it was no use to look for the teen when he didn't want to be found. The redhead had disappeared into one of his hiding places, that Hiko didn't even know about and it was his house. Kenshin had never given an answer of how he developed the ability but Hiko was pretty sure he already knew.
He made his way to the fridge, he needed a glass of sake right now. He yanked it open gazing around the crowded shelves. A moan escaped his throat as he realized there wasn't any. "Great," he thought, rubbing his brow. "Just what I needed. The one time I don't want to be sober." He gazed around the fridge absently lost in thought.
He stood after a moment, making his way down the hall. He pushed the door to Kenshin's room open, stepping inside. He surveyed the room with a critical eye, as he suspected Kenshin wasn't there. He made his way towards a chair, clearing his throat. "I want to talk to you Kenshin," he called, sitting down at the desk. "I know you well enough, you're not going to speak to me so, all I want you to do is listen. You got that?" He paused, with the slight hope he'd get an answer but none came. "You fought with that kid, Soujiro right? That bruise on your nose tells me you did. I don't get it Kenshin; it isn't like you do something like that. I know, you never ask for help when you need it and that you take everything on your own shoulders. But you have to understand, that kid hurt your friend Kaoru and instead of doing the sensible thing of telling someone who he is, you went to get revenge instead. What happened Kenshin?"
"Can't," came the answer. Hiko looked up to see Kenshin standing in the doorway. His voice was being choked as he struggled to continue but no sound dared to escape him.
"What? What can't you do?" asked Hiko in a soft voice.
Kenshin looked up at the man, with flickering eyes that were desperately pleading with Hiko, begging him to understand. The redhead was struggling to say something but couldn't seem to find the words. "No one… must get involved," he whispered, that was all he could say.
"What do you mean?" coaxed Hiko, moving forward towards the teen. "In what Kenshin?"
"He…" His eyes welled up with tears as he began to shake his head wildly.
"It's alright," Hiko said gently, reaching out a comforting hand to Kenshin. The teen instinctively pulled away, fearful of the man's touch. Hiko sighed, letting his hand fall. "You don't have to say, if you don't want to."
Kenshin nodded, clearly relieved. "This one… is going to bed," he whispered, brushing the tears out of his eyes.
"Goodnight then," said Hiko as he slowly left the room. He paused, just before closing the door. "Kenshin," the redhead looked up at him with shining lavender eyes. "I'm here if you need me." Kenshin nodded silently as the door was close completely.
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"Kenshin! Wake up!" The redhead started, his wild lavender eyes glancing around the front entrance of Hiko's house. He couldn't remember how he'd gotten there. Hiko gripped the teen's hand tightly, breathing hard.
"Hiko?" asked Kenshin completely bewildered.
"Sleepwalking," Hiko answered with a heavy sigh, releasing his grip. He fell back against the wall trying to catch his breath, his hand holding his left side.
"Sorry," said Kenshin staring at the ground.
"It's alright, no harm done," lied Hiko but Kenshin could tell that he'd managed to inflict damage this time. Hiko let his hand fall from his side noticing Kenshin's violet eyes gazing at it. The fiery haired teen shifted nervously in the dead silence that followed. "You wanna talk about it?"
Kenshin lifted his violet eyes. "About what?" he inquired hesitantly. He watched Hiko's response closely. Hiko was taken aback not at all expecting that answer. "Never mind," Kenshin blurted, deciding it'd been a bad idea to ask. He made to dash off to his room.
"Is it always the same nightmare?" asked Hiko.
Kenshin stopped, turning ever so slowly to look up at the daunting man behind him. "Yah," he answered quietly. He intended not to say anymore but the rest flowed out on it's own. "It's mixed up memories, a single one really. This one's past coming back to haunt him." He paused there, gazing up at Hiko waiting. He was testing new ground, they both were.
"Must be horrible," Hiko muttered, shifting his position on the wall to get more comfortable. "You were fighting worse then usual."
Kenshin was silent for awhile lost in thought. "This one… can't remember what happened. He was heading to-" He faltered struggling to speak. "To…" the words refused to come. He was shaking, the designer to speak so strong, yet the words refused to leave him. He closed his eyes, focusing, trying to say what he wanted to. He wanted to tell Hiko, to let the man know. There were too many secrets already, too many bottled up inside. "Defeat Shishio." The words had been hard to say but the rest were even harder. "This one… went to kill him." He chanced a look at Hiko, his face had paled slightly. Kenshin had never told that to anyone before. He was exposing himself, standing right out in the open. Panic shot through him, he wanted to speak but all his defenses clamped down on his voice. "Shishio…" his throat constricted stopping him. He wanted to speak. He wanted to tell Hiko. "He… did something…" Kenshin's mind hit a wall, drawing a complete blank from his memory. "He… wanted to be called stronger then Battosai. This one went to face him…" Kenshin's eyes became glazed as he struggled to find the lost memories. "There was fire, blood everywhere. No matter where I… turned. I was consumed by rage… my cheek…" His left hand instinctively rose, tracing the scar. Hiko started, realizing how Kenshin was speaking. "I could smell flesh burning, screams of pain… and the sound… didn't scare me… I welcomed it. Even though… we all died then. Shishio, me, and…" he fell silent again. "Why isn't he dead?" Anger and frustration filled Kenshin's voice then, trying to answer the question he had posed.
Hiko swallowed, completely unnerved by the teen's tone. "You were found by a firefighter in a warehouse out cold. The place was burning down around you. There wasn't anyone else there."
"That was his headquarters," answered Kenshin.
Hiko was silent for a while. "Every time I've caught you sleepwalking you've seemed to be talking to someone who was trying to stop you. Do you remember at all?"
Kenshin thought about it for a moment. "This one doesn't know." Hiko was secretly relieved Kenshin's tone was calmer again. "Hiko…" began Kenshin nervously. "What was Megumi's message?"
Hiko froze, he'd been afraid that Kenshin would ask. "The message was sent to the Battosai, you told me you don't answer to that name anymore. Besides if Sano finds out-"
"This one will deal with it," answered the redhead. He knew Hiko was trying to avoid answering the question but the teen refused to let it drop.
"Can you really?"
"Yes," replied Kenshin.
"Alright."
"What was the message?"
Hiko grimaced inwardly, Kenshin always seemed to have a one track mind. "We don't know what it means. But it's probably where Shishio is located." Hiko paused, studying Kenshin.
"This one won't be rash, that he will not," Kenshin answered Hiko's unspoken question.
"I expect you too keep your word," Hiko took a deep breath. "It was 'go to Tomoe'."
Kenshin's breath caught, his violet eyes going wide. "Tomoe…" he choked.
Hiko's expression changed to worry as he said something that Kenshin didn't hear. There was a growing roar in his ears that blocked out all other sounds. The room was suddenly gone, swallowed up around him. The last thing he felt was the sensation of falling.
"Promise me… I… Please, just this one thing. I want you to-"
His eyes slid open, looking around to find himself in his room. A cold cloth rested against his forehead, a dense fog lying over his mind. He tried to sit up but a wave of dizziness stopped him. He shut his eyes to block out the room that twisted sickly around him. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, pushing him back down onto the bed. "You're running a fever," Hiko informed him. "What were you thinking staying in those wet clothes for so long? You nearly gave me a heart attack last night when you collapsed."
"Sorry," rasped Kenshin, his throat feeling like it was on fire. He slowly opened his deep lavender eyes, staring up at Hiko.
"What happened Kenshin?" Hiko asked with concern. "You knew that name." Kenshin tried to keep his face blank but his eyes betrayed him. "Please, I want to know."
Kenshin opened his mouth, trying to say something. His large eyes gazed up at Hiko, hoping the man would understand. "This one… will not allow anyone to get involved," Kenshin struggled out.
Hiko sighed, a kind look in his eyes. Kenshin looked at him guiltily, knowing he hadn't given an answer. "Get some sleep, the school knows your sick today." He leaned back in his chair, watching as Kenshin closed his eyes falling back into sleep. "Wouldn't allow anyone to get involved?" Hiko thought to himself. "Why do you keep saying that Kenshin? What are you trying to tell me? He's never said it towards me before." He sighed rubbing his stinging eyes. He'd been up most of the night keeping watch over Kenshin. In his feverish state the teen had tried to escape a few times in his sleep. "Maybe sending him to school so soon was a mistake. If I'd kept him here longer then… who are you kidding Hiko. He made some friends because you sent him back into the school system but…" He shook his head sadly. "Being the Battosai has left its mark on him though." He rubbed his eyes again. "Tomoe… what happened? A message just for him, 'go to her'. He tried to tell me something and if I don't figure it out then…" He bit his lip, rose quietly making his way out of Kenshin's room. "I have to protect him." He reached out a hand, grabbing the phone.
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Kenshin woke later on to find Hiko standing above him. "You… don't have to hang around," Kenshin told him in a hoarse whisper. "This one will be fine, that he will."
Hiko placed a fresh cloth against Kenshin's forehead. The redhead relished the cool dampness against his burning skin. "Your fever hasn't come down yet. It's almost four in the afternoon. I could make you something, but it might end up making you worse."
Kenshin just shook his head, stopping when the room began to spin. He closed his eyes, steadying himself before answering. "This one isn't hungry," his stomach was revolting against him, he knew anything that he ate he'd just end up seeing again right away. He surprised both himself and Hiko with the tiny smile that spread onto his face. The few times the redhead had been sick in his life, no one had ever been there for him. "Thanks… Hiko," he whispered.
Hiko gave a curt nod, hesitating. Kenshin frowned, something was on the man's mind. "Kenshin," began Hiko in a serious voice. He slowly sat down in a chair beside the teen's bed. "Why did you fight Soujiro?"
Kenshin was silent, pretending to think as he analyzed the man's expression. This wasn't the thing troubling Hiko. "This one…" began Kenshin slowly, buying himself time. He didn't like the way Hiko was acting. "He does not know how to explain what occurred, that he doesn't. He just… snapped. Wanting to inflict as much pain as he could upon Soujiro." Hiko watched Kenshin's face just as intently. There was no trace of regret in the teen's voice for what he had done.
"He nearly broke your nose Kenshin," Hiko said in a soft tone. "The kid's dangerous. You should just stay away from them."
There, in those last words Kenshin could sense a hint of what Hiko's mind was stuck on. "This one has been trying to avoid them since he moved in with you, that he has." He answered weakly, coughing as he spoke. "What's going on Hiko?"
Hiko was taken by surprise, he hadn't thought Kenshin would catch on this quickly. "Kenshin… I called the station," Hiko began hesitantly. "This problem is getting too big for a few people to handle, people are being put into danger. Especially with the Juppongatanna targeting you."
There's the reason, Kenshin felt fear begin to gnaw at his stomach.
"Those kids are really dangerous," Hiko continued, heading towards a point. "The police chief agreed with me, Kenshin…" He paused, looking down into large violet eyes. "We're going to move you out of the city for a while. It's for your protection, until the Juppongatanna been rounded up." Kenshin's eyes went wide, his mouth gone completely dry. He tried to say something but nothing came out. He felt like something inside him had been destroyed, crushed brutally into a million fragments but what it had been he didn't know. He barely heard the words Hiko spoke next. "It's only temporary, I promise. Afterwards you'll be able to come back here."
He felt cold, numb everywhere. "Promise," Kenshin spat with anger as he sat up. The damp cloth fell from his forehead but he didn't notice. His bangs fell into place hiding his eyes. "Everyone says that, they'll come back, it's only temporary, lying through their teeth to make sure you'll do what they want. You say only temporary? You promise? What is that suppose to mean? Why should I believe you?" He yelled, glaring at Hiko with blazing violet eyes. The teen didn't care at that moment how much pain he was putting his throat in. "I should have known. You're all the same! How could you be any different? Thinking that I'm some poor guy who's had a tough deal, a rough life, and out of the goodness of your heart take me in! But you're no different, not from anyone. Go take your compassion and shove it up your ass for all I care! You all see me as some kind of toy to play with and when you're done, what then? You get sick of me and throw me back in the garbage. I should have known. You're a bastard just like everyone else!" Hiko stared stunned at Kenshin. "Get out." His voice was cold with a sharp edge. Hiko just sat there in a daze, his mind trying to work out what Kenshin had said. "Get the hell out Hiko!" Kenshin flared with emotionless eyes.
Hiko slowly rose, dumbly to his feet, the boy watched him with an unmoving face. Hiko was only numbly aware of closing the door behind him. His mind wheeled over what had just happened. He'd blown it, he realized after a moment. The feeling of numbed shock still strong. He'd completely broken Kenshin's trust and the boy, had immediately pulled away, breaking every connection, every link he had with Hiko.
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(squeals) This was an awesome chapter, if I do say so myself. I worked so darn hard at it to. (sniff) I'm so proud.
I hope I succeeded in blowing you guys away with this. Wheee! I'm on a sugar buzz!
Big thank-yous to my three reviews, Marcus, MikaylaMae and Crewel. (Sniff) I just take this moment to say that with 22 reviews this is the most response I've gotten out of a fanfic. Lots of fun Kenshin messing in this chapter (grins evilly). I'll hopefully have a good SxM moment for you Crewel with the next chapter. As for the chapter length… I know some of them are really short but I don't really get to decide how long they are, they decide it on their own… weird huh…
It's scary kind of, how a story gets a life of it's own. It's really great when that happens though, the characters all develop their own flow.
And on my final note, man I'm long winded today, TT.TT I finally broke down, if you noticed… I now have this also under romance. To be completely honest I'm not a big fan of romantic stuff, especial writing it and, tying back into a fic getting it's own life, my character demanded it giving me, the author of this, no say in the matter. Well that's my reasoning behind it, well then, see you next chapter!