Disclaimer: I don't own anything of importance in this story.

Chapter 26

Kenshin and Yugi made sure Ryou got home alright, and then headed home themselves. It was just past dark when they entered the back of the shop. Grandpa had already closed, and was just waiting for them to get home. He looked at them as they came walking through the door. "And just where have you two been?"

Kenshin smiled, apologetically. "Gomen, Grandpa. Yugi and I were on our way home when I realized that I had forgotten something in my locker. He went with me to get it, and along the way we ran into Ryou. I guess we just lost track of the time," Kenshin said. It was mostly true.

Grandpa nodded. "All right, but call next time you're going to be late," he said, as he walked into the kitchen.

Yugi just watched him as Kenshin walked upstairs towards his room. He was amazed at how well Kenshin concealed most of the truth while making the few parts he told very believable. Yugi would have believed him had he not witnessed the events of the afternoon himself.

Speaking of which... Yugi hurried up to Kenshin's room, and knocked on the door.

"Hai?" came the slightly muffled reply.

"Kenshin? Can I come in?"

"Yugi? Yes, just a moment," Kenshin said, and there was the sound of the door being unlocked.

Why would he lock the door...? Yugi thought to himself as he walked inside Kenshin's room.

Kenshin walked over and sat on his bed. "Now, what did you wish to speak with me about, Yugi?" Kenshin asked. He had a feeling it would be one of several topics, none of which he wanted to discuss.

Yugi took a seat at Kenshin's desk. "You didn't leave any assignments at school, did you?" Yugi asked, getting right to the point.

"Oh, I don't know. I may have left one or two there. After all, I have so many it's difficult to keep track of them all," Kenshin said, pretending to think about it. This was one of the topics he hoped Yugi would leave alone.

Yugi sighed. "You didn't go back to the school to get an assignment when we were walking home, did you?" he asked, rephrasing the question.

Kenshin considered making up a story about feeling Bakura's ki and going to investigate, but decided against it. Yugi deserved the truth--well, part of it, anyway. "No, Yugi. I didn't."

"Why? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you want me there when you and Bakura fought? Why did you want to fight Bakura at all? I thought you didn't care if he had the Mask," Yugi asked, his confusion showing clearly on his face.

Kenshin sighed. "So many questions, Yugi," he said smiling. The smile quickly disappeared as he decided exactly how much he was going to tell Yugi. "Well, I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to interfere. True, Yami saved me from one of Bakura's attacks, but it was his shout that distracted me in the first place, and allowed Bakura an opening. And after you were there, Yami was reluctant to let me fight Bakura by myself. It was my fight. That is why I did not tell you--I needed to have no distractions in order to beat him," Kenshin explained.

Yugi nodded his head to show he understood, although his expression clearly stated that he did not agree. "But, why did you suddenly want to beat Bakura?"

"Let's just say something happened last night that changed my mind. Besides, with the exception of my master, no one has ever defeated me. Monday night's battle was a draw, and Bakura would have come after me sooner or later. I decided that I would have the element of surprise if I attacked first and soon after the initial battle," Kenshin continued.

Yugi didn't look like he totally believed the second part of Kenshin's answer, but it was clear that Kenshin wasn't going to elaborate on the first part. He didn't press the issue. "How did you arrange to meet with Bakura?"

"Did I say I arranged to meet with him? I believe that particular alley is on Ryou's way home from school, is not it?" Kenshin didn't deny setting up the meeting, but Yugi didn't notice.

"How did you dodge Bakura's attacks?"

Kenshin sighed again. "Yugi, explaining how I did that would be like me trying to explain how to execute Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu's ultimate attack to someone who's never held a sword before, much less had any sort of kendo training. They don't even have the basic knowledge of stances or swings to even begin to comprehend the attack. Are there any other questions?" he said, annoyance starting to creep into his voice. Yugi seemed to notice.

"Just one. Are you willing to take the Mask back?"

Kenshin was a little surprised at that question. He thought about his words carefully before turning back to Yugi. "Yes," he finally said, "Battousai is a part of me, whether I sometimes like to admit it or not. I would not be opposed to having it back, although do not go out of your way to find it."

Yugi nodded, and stood up. He walked to the door and opened it. He looked back at Kenshin. "I'll talk to Ryou about it tomorrow," he said, as he walked out and closed the door behind him.

~*~

After Yugi left, Kenshin re-locked his door and went back to what he was doing before Yugi interrupted him--talking to Battousai. He pulled the Mask out from under his shirt, where he'd hid it when Yugi cam in, and idly ran his fingers over it as he communicated with his yami.

Kenshin had picked Ryou's pocket on the way home and retrieved the Mask. It had been concealed in a secret pocket on Ryou's coat that could only be accessed from the outside. Most people wouldn't have noticed it--Kenshin didn't even see it--but his hand had brushed against it when he had caught Ryou and he knew immediately what was inside. He had taken the Mask without either Ryou's or Yugi-s knowledge, and he planned on keeping it that way. If no one knew he had the Mask, no one would try to take it from him. Yugi and Ryou would just think that Bakura hid it somewhere. There was only one potential problem.

//Do you think that Ryou can control the Ring?// Battousai asked.

/Why do you ask?/

//Well, if he can, he can use the Ring to find the Mask,// Battousai explained.

/Well, I suppose we'll just have to hope he can't use it or he doesn't try./

Just then there was another knock on Kenshin's door. "Kenshin, dinner's ready," Grandpa informed him.

"I'll be down in a minute," Kenshin replied. He dropped the Mask back under his shirt and headed downstairs.

~*~

"I can't find it. I've looked everywhere," Ryou said, a little dejectedly. It was now Thursday and he and Yugi were sitting outside during their lunch period. Yugi had called Ryou the night before, telling him that Kenshin wanted the Mask back. Ryou had searched for it with the intent to return it to Kenshin at school, but he had not been able to find it.

"That's not good. I wonder where Bakura would have put it?" Yugi wondered out loud. He saw Kenshin and called him over. "Hey, Kenshin!"

Kenshin, who had just happened to be walking by, looked up when he heard his name and made his way over to Yugi and Ryou. "Yes, Yugi?" he asked, politely.

"I'm sorry, but Ryou can't find where Bakura hid the Mask," he said, apologetically. To his surprise, Kenshin looked relieved. "I thought you wanted the Mask back?" he asked, confused.

"Yugi, the only reason I told you I'd take the Mask back is because I didn't feel like arguing with you about it. I really don't want an arrogant spirit that can't seem to stop talking back in my mind," Kenshin replied.

//What?! Kensh--// Battousai started, but Kenshin cut him off.

/Don't even start. Frail little boy?! I looked into your memories and I know what you said about me to Bakura,/ Kenshin said, annoyed.

Battousai fumed. //But that was to get him to meet you after school!// Battousai argued.

/And this is just to convince Yugi and Ryou that I don't want the Mask back so they would keep looking for it!/ Kenshin smiled at Yugi, not betraying the argument that had just taken place in his head. "Don't worry about it, Yugi. I am rather relieved that Ryou could not find it."

Yugi hesitated a bit longer, then he nodded his head. "Alright, Kenshin. If you're sure you don't want it back, then we won't look for it," he said. Kenshin nodded again, and resumed walking in the direction he had been before Yugi called him over. Yugi wasn't entirely convinced, but Kenshin never did anything without a reason, and the last time he'd tried to intervene he'd almost gotten Kenshin killed.

~*~

After school, Kenshin decided to stop by the Fujita dojo. Grandpa hadn't been upset when he and Yugi had come back late last night, and he hadn't had the chance to practice his kata since before the tournament, and he thought this would be a good time to do so. He had been honest with Yugi when he asked where Kenshin was going. As a consequence, Yugi wanted to tag along and watch. Kenshin had no objections, so they started off toward the dojo. When they arrived, they knocked and Naomi answered the door.

"Oh, hello, Kenshin. Haven't seen you in over a week. Master Fujita was wondering if you had found another dojo to practice at. Who is your friend?" Naomi asked, as she led the duo to the practice hall.

"This is Yugi. He wanted to come watch me practice," Kenshin said, ignoring the implied question of his whereabouts the previous week. Naomi didn't press the issue.

Naomi slid open the door to the practice hall and bowed. "Then I will leave you to your practice," she said, before she walked away. Kenshin walked in, follow closely by Yugi. Kenshin motioned for Yugi to have a seat by the wall and walked over and deposited his coat and katana on the floor next to a different wall. He was careful not to let Yugi see his katana, although the short boy already knew he usually carried one with him at all times.

Kenshin then walked over and selected the bokken he would be using for the practice. After finding a suitable one, he walked to the center of the room and closed his eyes. He slowed his breathing while blocking out everything around him. He fell into the beginning stance, and started his kata. He started out with slow, gentle motions, but they soon became quick and forceful. Kenshin went through all of his attacks, starting with the basics and moving on to the more powerful ones. He flung his body into every attack, just as he would in an actual fight, expending all of his energy. His breathing became heavier, and sweat was starting to run down his face, but he kept up the strenuous pace he had set for himself. On an impulse, after he had completed the last attack his master had taught him, he tried to execute a "Ku-zu-ryu-sen." Surprisingly enough, he executed it flawlessly and it flowed along with his kata. Having completed his attacks, he began decreasing the strength and speed behind the swings for the last part of his kata. He went through the 'cool down' swings, and by the time he was finished his breathing had returned to normal.

The entire practice session had taken about an hour to complete. Yugi was speechless. Kenshin had started out relatively fast, and then he had just become a blur. At one point, Yugi couldn't even see him! He would just get glimpses of Kenshin as he paused for a split second to change stances before rushing into the next attack. Most of the time Yugi would only hear the swing of the bokken slicing through the air. Yugi shuddered as he got a mental picture of Kenshin in a dark alley with a real sword, doing these attacks on real people. Yugi was brought out of his morbid thoughts as he noticed that Kenshin was now moving at a slower speed, allowing Yugi to see him. Soon after that, Kenshin stopped moving entirely, and just stood still for a few seconds before calmly walking over to the wall and replacing the bokken. Kenshin's expression was serious as he walked over and collected his coat.

Yugi, sensing Kenshin was getting ready to leave, got up as well, his foot scarping on the wooden floor. Kenshin whirled at the sound, smoothly drawing his katana from its sheath and falling into a fighting stance in one smooth motion. He was startled to see that it was only Yugi and hastened to apologize. "I'm sorry, Yugi. I got so caught up in my kata that I guess I forgot you were here," Kenshin explained apologetically, re-sheathing his sword and replacing it under his coat.

Yugi was a little surprised. \Kenshin thought an enemy was behind him and was getting ready to attack. He's so serious all of the time,\ Yugi commented to Yami as he walked over to Kenshin and followed him out of the dojo.

\\Well, a month ago he probably would have been killed had he not reacted that fast,\\ Yami said, logically.

\Yeah, I know; but, still, he's so serious all of the time. He's no longer fighting a war. When's he just gonna relax?\

\\It's not that simple, aibou. He isn't thinking about what he's doing, these are just his reflexes. He needed to rely on heavily them during the Bakumatsu and they have become ingrained. Over time he may learn to suppress them, but they will always be there,\\ Yami explained.

Yugi shook his head sadly. He felt bad for Kenshin. He hadn't had an easy life. It'll get better Yugi thought to himself, I'll make sure of that.

~*~