Disclaimer: I have not, do not, and will not ever own either "Rurouni Kenshin" or "Yu-Gi-Oh!".

Chapter 6

Upon arrival at the Mutou residence, Yugi grabbed Kenshin and proceeded to give him a tour of the game shop and house, showing him the locations of the kitchen, bathroom, etc., finally stopping at Kenshin's new room. It was located next to Yugi's and contained only a bed, dresser with mirror and a closet, at present. Mr. Mutou brought up the bags containing Kenshin's new wardrobe that they had purchased on the way home. Yugi had tried to get Kenshin black leather outfits similar to his own but Mr. Mutou, seeing how uncomfortable Kenshin was in black leather, had opted for a couple pairs of blue and black jeans with several loose-fitting T-shirts, along with a pair of black and white sneakers. Mr. Mutou had also bought a black trench coat, at Kenshin's request.

"Well, Kenshin, this is your room. My room is right next to it, and Grandpa's is down the hall," Yugi said, pointing. Kenshin nodded absently. He was trying hard not to stare at everything around him. He was still in a state of shock from the car ride and the mall, and he was starting to feel quite overwhelmed at everything this new era had to offer. Fortunately, Yugi took his reaction to be exhaustion from overdoing it on his first day out of the hospital. "Kenshin, I think you should lie down for a little while. I'll come up and get you when it's time for dinner," Yugi said, leading Kenshin into the room.

"Thank you, Yugi. I think I will do that," Kenshin replied, sinking down onto the bed.

Yugi turned to go. "Oh, and don't forget to check under the bed!" Yugi said, closing the door.

/Under the bed? What do you suppose he's talking about?/ Kenshin asked, confused.

//Got me.// Battousai was stumped as well.

/Well, there's only one way to find out./ Kenshin forced his tired body to sit up and then slide down to the floor. Leaning down, he peered under the bed.

/Oh. I guess I won't have to ask Yugi after all./

There, under the bed, were Kenshin's katana, wakizashi, and arm guards. There was also a note from Yugi.

Since swords are illegal, I decided not to tell Grandpa about them. But, they do belong to you, so I thought you might want them back. I wouldn't let Grandpa see them, if I were you, though.

//Interesting. Swords are illegal, huh? Well, this makes things a bit more difficult,// Battousai said, complaining.

/Were you actually going to wear them out in public?/ Kenshin asked.

//Why not?//

/Never mind. We'll discuss this later. For now, I would like to get some sleep before dinner. I think it would be best, if we left the swords where they are, for now./ With that, Kenshin pulled himself back onto the bed and fell asleep.

~*~

Yugi left Kenshin's room and entered his own room. \Okay, Yami, what's bothering you? \ Yugi asked, sitting on his bed.

\\Nothing important. Kenshin's reactions just didn't seem, well, normal,\\ Yami replied.

\What do you mean?\

\\He acted like he was seeing everything for the first time.\\

\Well, he does have amnesia. You, of all people, should be able to relate,\ Yugi pointed out.

\\But that's just it! While I do not remember many things from my past, when I do something that I've done before, I experience a feeling of...familiarity. I know I've done it before, and I'm comfortable doing it. But Kenshin...take the car ride home, for example. Did you see his face when Grandpa started the car? His eyes were wide and he was looking around trying to figure out where the noise was coming from. And when we started moving, I half thought that he was going to jump out! It's obvious he's never ridden in a car before,\\ Yami stated.

\Come to think of it, his reactions today kinda reminded me of your reactions the first time you did that. What does it mean?\ Yugi asked, a little confused.

\\I don't know, aibou. It may mean nothing at all. Don't worry about it. I'll keep an eye on Kenshin.\\

Just then, Yugi heard his Grandpa calling him. \Probably wants me to start dinner. What do you think we should make tonight?\

~*~

Kenshin awoke to the sound of a door opening and someone entering his room. He tensed, preparing to fight. He opened his eyes to slits so he could see what the person was doing. He relaxed when he saw that it was only Mr. Mutou, carrying Kenshin's freshly washed clothes. Kenshin turned over so he could see Mr. Mutou better. Mr. Mutou turned at the sound and saw Kenshin staring up at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Kenshin. I didn't mean to wake you," he apologized.

Kenshin shook his head. "It's alright. If I sleep too much today, I won't be able to sleep very well tonight," he explained.

"I suppose that's true. I've washed your clothes for you, and I'll let you put them away so you know where to find them. Dinner should be ready in about 15 minutes if you feel up to eating." Mr. Mutou placed the pile of clothes on the dresser. "I'll be downstairs, if you need anything," he said, turning to go.

"Thank you, Mr. Mutou."

"Kenshin, a foster home is a lot like adoption. You're part of the family now, so you don't have to be formal. Just call me grandpa," Mr. Mutou said.

"Hai. Arigatou...Grandpa," Kenshin said. It felt strange calling him that, but Kenshin felt like he could get used to it.

~*~

On Monday morning, Yugi woke up early to get ready for school. He was eager to introduce Kenshin to all of his friends. He went to Kenshin's room and opened the door a little bit. Kenshin was in bed, still asleep. Yugi walked over to him, and shook his shoulder gently. Suddenly, Kenshin grabbed Yugi's wrist and twisted his arm while sliding off the bed. Surprised, Yugi fell to the floor with his arm twisted behind his back.

"Who sent you?!" a hard, cold voice demanded, quietly.

Yami was about to take over Yugi's body when suddenly Yugi's arm was released and Kenshin was helping him off the floor. Kenshin looked horrified at what he had just done.

"Gomen! Gomen nasasi, Yugi! Are you okay?! I'm so sorry! You startled me. I was having a nightmare and I thought you--I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!" Kenshin said in a rush.

Yugi was stunned. That was certainly not what he expected. He recovered and tried to calm down Kenshin, who was starting to go into hysterics at what he had just done. "I'm fine, Kenshin, I'm fine. No harm done," Yugi said with a smile, discreetly rubbing his arm.

"I'm so sorry! Are you sure you're all right? I didn't hurt your arm, did I?"

"No, no, I'm fine. I was just coming to wake you up so you could get ready for school," Yugi explained. "I'd better go help Grandpa with breakfast." With that Yugi turned and left the room.

Kenshin just stared after him, trying to get his breathing under control.

//Wonder what he thinks of us now? I bet he's regretting giving us back our swords.//

Kenshin remained silent while he got ready for school.

~*~

"Kenshin! Breakfast is ready!", Mr. Mutou called through the door to Kenshin's room.

"Alright. I'll be down in a minute," Kenshin replied.

Grandpa went back downstairs to the kitchen where Yugi had just finished setting the table. Yugi looked up. "Is Kenshin coming?"

"He'll be down in a minute. He takes almost as long to get ready as you do," Grandpa replied, bringing the food over to the table.

"Grandpa!"

Just then, Kenshin came down the stair and entered the kitchen. He was wearing his school uniform with the black trench coat over it. His hair was pulled up into his usual ponytail and swayed back and forth as he walked. He made eye contact with Yugi briefly before looking away, embarrassed. He silently took a seat at the table.

"Oh, good, you're here so we can start eating," Grandpa said as he started serving the two boys.

"So are you excited to start school Kenshin?" Yugi asked brightly.

Kenshin was a little surprised by Yugi's question. Yugi was acting like nothing had happened.

//He's in denial,// Battousai guessed, equally stunned at Yugi's behavior.

Kenshin just shook his head. Yugi, not knowing about Kenshin's private conversation, tried to cheer him up. "Oh, don't worry, it won't be that bad. You're in all my classes, so you won't have to worry about getting lost," Yugi said.

Kenshin smiled. "Arigatou, Yugi."

Breakfast was pretty uneventful. Kenshin watched Yugi and Grandpa eat and then mimicked their movements. He found homemade food tasted much better than what he had been served at the hospital. Soon after breakfast, Yugi and Kenshin were on their way to school. Yugi was talking animatedly about his friends, while Kenshin listened.

"Hey, Yug!"

Yugi turned. "Hey, Joey!"

A blond haired boy, a little taller than Kenshin, ran up to them. "Joey, this is Kenshin. Kenshin, this is one of my best friends, Joey," Yugi said, making the introductions.

Kenshin bowed. "It is nice to meet you, Joey. Yugi has told me much about you," Kenshin said.

"Hey, you're the kid that Yugi found that lost his memory, right?" Joey asked.

"I suppose you could put it that way, although I would not define myself as a kid," Kenshin said, frowning.

"Oh, sorry. Didn't mean it like that. Anyway, this your first day of school?" Joey asked.

"Wouldn't you have seen him before, if it wasn't?" said a brown haired boy as he walked up to them. A girl, also with brown hair, who was a little shorter than him, accompanied him.

"Hey, watch it, Tristan! I was only trying to make conversation," Joey shot back.

Yugi stepped in. "Kenshin, this is Tristan and Tea, my other two best friends," Yugi explained.

"Hey," said Tristan.

"Hi," said Tea.

Kenshin bowed to them. "It is nice to meet you. Yugi has told me much about you," Kenshin said.

"Wow, you don't have to be so formal. We're all friends here," Tea said, a little embarrassed.

"Yeah, any friend of Yugi's, is a friend of ours," Tristan confirmed.

Kenshin smiled. "Arigatou."

"Hey, guys, if we don't hurry, we're gonna be late! Come on!" Yugi said, as he took off running. The other four followed suit.

They got to the class room and took the last five seats available. Fortunately, there were two seats right next to each other near the back of the class, so Kenshin and Yugi sat there. Tea had to sit in the front of the room by the door, with Tristan two seats to the left, while Joey sat in the fourth seat from the back on the last row. Just then, the teacher came in.

"Good morning, class. Today, we have a new student. Mr. Kenshin Himura."

Kenshin stood up and bowed to the class before returning to his seat.

"Today, I will be lecturing, so you can put your history books away. We will be studying a very bloody time in the history of our country, the Bakumatsu," the teacher said.

Kenshin froze. He gasped softly, his eyes wide, but quickly regained his composer. There was no way they could link him to the Bakumatsu, right? He was a shadow assassin for half of the war, and he left no survivors in any battles he fought in for the other half. No one even knew of his existence, right?

"In the Bakumatsu, each side had employed manslayers, also known as 'hitokiris,' the most legendary of these being the infamous Hitokiri Battousai himself."

So much for no one knowing of my existence, Kenshin thought to himself.

"The legends describe him as a demon, with blood red hair, glowing amber eyes, and a cross-shaped scar. They say he was a monster of a man, standing 7' tall and that he moved so fast that he couldn't even be seen. He killed many men, numbering in the hundreds, and without him, the revolution very well may have failed. It is said that he vanished after the last battle of the Bakumatsu was won. While legends generally become blown out of proportion over time, the legend is often based on fact. So, while it was true that there was a man named Hitokiri Battousai who was obviously very good at what he did, seeing as his name still brought fear for the next few decades, I doubt he is as the legend describes him. For instance, I doubt that he could move so fast that no one could see him. That is just not humanly possible. Seven feet tall? I think not. And who's ever heard of someone with yellow eyes? What is he, a cat?"

The class laughed half-heartedly at the teacher's attempt at humor. Kenshin, however, while remaining composed, had turned pale when the teacher started describing him. At the mention of his scar, he leaned forward, resting his left elbow on his desk, and rested his chin in his palm, effectively covering the scar with his fingers. Beads of perspiration had begun to form on his forehead. His right hand curled and uncurled itself in his lap, while his foot was tapping the floor nervously.

Yami, who had been watching Kenshin since he had gasped, was a little confused. What is he so nervous about? Yami thought to himself. What would make him uneasy about the Bakumatsu? Yami happened to glance at Yugi's book, which had been opened to the chapter on the Bakumatsu. There was a picture of two samurai fighting. What caught Yami's attention, however, were their clothes. They were the same style that Kenshin had been wearing when Yugi had found them. They were also drawn fighting with two swords, one long, the other one a little shorter. Like Kenshin's swords. And the arm guards. But what does it all mean? Wait--the Millennium Mask! I believe that it's power is--the power to transcend time! So that means that Kenshin is from the Bakumatsu himself. And, judging from his reaction to the teacher's lecture, I would guess that he is the Hitokiri Battousai himself! Those sword wounds make sense now, and his reaction when Yugi woke him up this morning--wait! My aibou is sleeping in the room next to the HITOKIRI BATTOUSAI! At least he doesn't have his swords... Yami was getting a little concerned with the current situation. Yugi felt Yami's anxiety.

\Yami? Are you okay?\ he asked.

Great. I can't tell Yugi. He either wouldn't believe me, or worse, he would! I don't want him to worry. I'll banish Kenshin to the Shadow Realm, if he tries to hurt my hikari... \\Yes, Yugi, I'm fine. I was sleeping and I had a nightmare. I'm sorry to have bothered you,\\ Yami apologized.

Yugi didn't quite believe him, but the spirit had never lied to him before. \It's okay. Do you want to talk about it?\ Yugi asked.

\\I'm fine, aibou, but you should be paying attention to the lecture.\\

Yugi sighed. \Hai.\ Yugi went back to listening to the teacher, while Yami went back to watching Kenshin. The boy was short, not as short as Yugi, but not much taller, either. And he looked so fragile, as if one hit would bring him down. How much of that legend is true, I wonder?, Yami thought to himself.

\\Yugi?\\

\Yes, Yami?\

\\What did you do with Kenshin's swords?\\

\I gave them back to him.\

\\What?!\\

Yugi winced. \I didn't see why not, I mean they are his to begin with. What's the big idea? I mean, it's not like he's a manslayer from the Bakumatsu or anything,\ Yugi said, chuckling.

Yami was silent.

\Yami?\

\\I just don't like the idea of weapons being in the house, especially illegal ones,\\ 'That happen to be in the hands of legendary hitokiris,' Yami added silently to himself.

\What about my dueling deck? That can be a weapon,\ Yugi said, feeling a little annoyed that the spirit didn't trust Kenshin.

\\You know what I mean, Yugi.\\

\You mean weapons that only you can use are okay.\

\\Yugi...\\

\It's not like Kenshin is going to attack us with them. Why he has them is his own business, and I'm not going to ask for them back. I don't want to argue about this, Yami. Kenshin is my friend and I trust him. If you can't give me a valid reason why I shouldn't, then I'm going to let him keep the swords.\

Yami considered telling Yugi his suspicions about Kenshin, but he didn't have any real proof, and Kenshin had not done anything to threaten Yugi, aside from the incident that morning. Yami would just have to keep a close watch on him, then.

Auther's Notes:

I have questions about the other Millennium Items' powers for anyone who can answer them! Here are the items' powers that I do know (I think)

Millennium Ring- locate other Millennium Items

Millennium Tauk- see past/future events

Millennium Rod- control people's minds

Millennium Key/Ankh- enter people's minds

Millennium Scales- weigh and judge people's souls

Millennium Eye- read people's minds

Is that right? And does anyone know what the power of the Puzzle is? Or is the power of the Puzzle the power of the Pharaoh? Oh, and here's the power of the Mask, for my story

Millennium Mask- time travel, increases user's abilities (speed, strength, agility, endurance, etc.) In Kenshin's case, since he's already inhumanly fast, thanks to Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, the added boost from the Mask makes him fast enough to dodge any Shadow Magic thrown at him i.e. if Yami attacked him with 'Mind Crush,' Kenshin would be able to dodge it, if he was wearing the Mask)