Kendo Club

Ch 3

Here's the next chapter... sry it took me so long. But please read and review!

The rest of the day went by fairly normally. Sano was late for English again, and received a detention. Class was boring as usual, and the students very talkative. Many of the girls ogled over Kenshin, who didn't pay any of them any attention.

After that Kenshin had Spanish, and sat next to the very talkative Misao. She talked to him in English and Spanish until the teacher became annoyed and told Misao not to speak for the rest of the period in either language. Misao actually did as she was told and the remainder of the class was less eventful.

Finally the bell rang signaling the end of class and the school day. Everyone rushed to pick up their things and get out of the classroom. Misao grabbed Kenshins arm as he turned to leave.

Startled, Kenshin stopped and turned to her, his face still hidden under his bangs. "Miss Misao?"

She let go of his arm and stuttered, confused by his tone, "I, I was just wondering if, if you needed help finding the gym. For practice I mean."

"No thank you Miss Misao. I'm sure I'll be fine on my own." Kenshin politely refused, then used his speed to quickly exit the room. By the time Misao had blinked he was gone.

"That was weird." Misao commented, rubbing her head.

Kenshin sped down the hall and stairs, weaving in and out of the crowd. He stopped at his locker only long enough to throw his books inside and shut it again before continuing on his way to the gym, or more specifically, the back of the gym.

Besides his better judgment, he was going to meet Shishio and Soujiro. Kenshin knew he would be able to defend himself if they tried something, but hopefully he wouldn't have to use his sword.

By now, he was behind the gym where Soujiro was supposed to meet him. Kenshin stopped and leaned against the wall, slightly catching his breath. He closed his eyes and sank down onto the ground.

"Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up," chimed a familiar voice. Kenshin opened his eyes to see Soujiro walking towards him, continually smiling. He frowned, he never had been able to read Soujiro.

"I got your note." Kenshin told Soujiro who stopped in front of him and smiled.

"I see that. Shishio's waiting for us, and we don't want to upset him, now do we?" Soujiro informed the red-head and began walked back the way he had come.

"Of course not." Kenshin muttered sarcastically under his breath and followed the other down the alley.

The two men used their speed to run down the alley, easily keeping pace with each other. Then Soujiro began to slow down after they had run down the adjoining street and then up another, in front of the stairs leading to a modern, two-story building.

Soujiro walked up the stairs with Kenshin close at his heels. He nodded to the guards standing at the door, who nodded back and opened the door for them. "After you." Soujiro told Kenshin mock-courteously, waving him in.

Kenshin glared at him. "Thanks." And walked inside through the doorway, to stand in the dark entryway. Soujiro soon followed him.

"This way Battousai. Shishio's waiting for us." Soujiro reminded Kenshin, leading him down another hallway and into a brightly lit room.

"You didn't have to remind me, its not like I didn't hear you the first few times." Kenshin muttered softly.

"Well, well, well. Look who came to visit me." Shishio's voice called across the room, then laughed maniacally.

Kenshin paused in his survey of the room to look to the other end of the room where Shishio was lounging on a cushioned chair, with women on either side of him, massaging, cooing or feeding the man.

Kenshin smirked at Shishio's taste. "You always were a ladies man. But its not like I wanted to come and see you."

Shishio laughed and waved a hand lazily at Kenshin. "Of course not. Now Battousai, why don't you come here so I can see you better."

Kenshin scowled at him, but walked forward until he was standing a few feet away from Shishio. Soujiro had mysteriously disappeared and reappeared standing next to his boss.

"Please leave us for awhile ladies; I have urgent business to take care of with Battousai here." Shishio told the women around him who stood up and obediently left the room by a hidden door. When they were gone, Shishio continued, "Now Battousai,"

"My name is Kenshin, Himura Kenshin." (AKA Bond, James Bond) He snapped, getting fed up with being called by his old name. Shishio smiled sweetly at him, causing Kenshin to scowl back.

"Of course, that's the name your going by now I believe." Shishio drawled. "But you'll never stop being the Battousai to us that knew you."

"I'd beg to differ." Kenshin retorted, glaring.

"Perhaps we should begin." Soujiro suggested, sensing a fight between the two other men. He moved to stand in-between them, still smiling.

Shishio smiled. "Yes, of course. We contacted you for a very important, pressing reason."

"And what is that?" Kenshin snapped angrily, his temper finally getting the better of him. His eyes had turned amber long ago in the conversation.

"There's someone new in town who's been asking around for you. We, I, expect that they'll be nothing but trouble for you, and us, so, we're proposing that we make a temporary truce to get rid of them." Shishio leaned back in his chair. "What would you think of that?" (Oh how tempting to make him say, 'What say you to that?' I love Pirates. sigh)

At Kendo practice Kaoru, Sano and Misao were worried when Kenshin didn't turn up with the rest of the members after the bell had rang.

They had gathered together to brainstorm reasons why Kenshin hadn't come. Misao had suggested that perhaps he had been kidnapped by someone when Hiko walked through the gym doors and loudly ordered them to grab their shinai and form a line against the wall.

For the rest of practice Hiko had them practice basic movements and techniques. They were soon partnered up and told to attack or defend themselves. One member, a freshman made the mistake of complaining that he was bored and was punished by being ordered to do 300 extra strokes. He did so with humiliation and while blushing profusely.

After forty-five minutes of this Hiko announced the end of practice and told everyone to put away their shinai and go clean up.

Kaoru, Sano and Misao took this as an opportunity to interrogate Hiko about Kenshins whereabouts.

"Hiko-sensei? What happened to Kenshin? He said he would meet us here after school." Kaoru asked, interrupting Hiko from packing his gym bag.

"How should I know?" Hiko growled, standing up.

"But you two seemed to know each other well, or it seemed that way at lunch, so we thought that you would." Misao quickly reasoned.

"Well I don't. Actually I-" Hiko began but was interrupted when Kaoru's watch alarm went off.

"Oh no! I have to go pick up Yahiko!" Kaoru announced worriedly. (Yes, their siblings in this fic) "See you later!" She called as she picked up her back pack and sped out the door.

"Bye Kao-chan!" Sano called. "See you later Kaoru!" Misao added.

Aoshi turned to Hiko. "So what do you really know about where Himura is?" He asked quietly.

Hiko sighed. "I told you already, I don't know where the baka is. But you shouldn't be worried, Kenshin can take care if himself."

Then the doors to the gym opened and Sano, Misao, Aoshi and Hiko, the only one's left in they gym, turned to see who it was.

Hiko, who had the best eyesight and could sense ki, noticed first. "Or perhaps not." He whispered, noticing how angry Kenshin's ki felt.

"There he is, Kenshin!" Sano called happily and waved. Misao began to run over to him when Aohsi caught her by her braid and ordered, "Wait."

Hiko scowled. "Let's see." He studied Kenshin from where the teen had stopped halfway across the gym, then crossed the room to take two katanas from their places on the wall.

"Baka deshi." Hiko called loudly, then threw one of the katanas to Kenshin whose head rose slightly and then he caught it by the middle of the sheath.

"Hiko-sensei?" Misao asked quietly, watching as Kenshin slipped the sheath through a loop on his jeans and stood patiently, hand on the hilt. Hiko drew his sword, letting the sheath clatter to the ground.

They stood there, master and apprentice, each ready to strike but neither of them doing so.

Sano, impatient as he was, commented, "Why doesn't one of them move and strike already. They've been standing like that for ages."

Aoshi shook his head. "They won't strike until one gives the call. Neither of them want to make the first move. Instead they'll wait and study their opponent."

Sano laughed, "Are you the expert on this or something? I mean,"

But Aoshi held up a hand to quiet his friend and pointed over at the fighters. Kenshin, reacting to some unspoken command had unsheathed his sword by an inch or so, making it easier to draw.

"Ready baka deshi?" Hiko called, dropping into a ready stance. Kenshin nodded once, and then ran forward, drawing his sword as he neared his opponent. To the onlookers he was a blur as Kenshin striked at Hiko who easily blocked it, then began attacking himself. Kenshin had to quickly duck and dodge as Hiko combined two attacks, then moved to hit Kenshin in the side, but the red-head had already leapt into the air and landed lightly behind his master.

Hiko spun around and began strike using attack after attack causing Kenshin to have to continuously dodge and block his master's sword. Finally Kenshin began to grow bored of this and leapt into the air, ready to unleash a full-force head blow, but Hiko sensed his ki and easily dodged Kenshin's attack. In response, Kenshin curled into a defensive pose, making several showy flips in the air, then landed in front of his master.

Hiko swung at him in a frontal attack, which Kenshin blocked then suddenly had his feet swept out from under him when he miscalculated his master's attack and landed on his butt on the ground. He felt cold metal on his neck and looked up to see Hiko holding his sword at his neck, smirking down at him as usual.

"You're dead baka deshi." He told Kenshin smartly, then lowered his sword from his apprentices throat, allowing Kenshin to do a little flip that landed him back on his feet to stand up.

"Better baka?" Hiko asked as he took Kenshins resheathed sword.

Kenshin smiled. "Yes Shishou." He paused uncertainly, "Um… well, thanks Hiko."

Hiko smirked smugly but just resheathed his sword and replaced the two katanas in their places on the wall.

Meanwhile Sano and Misao, thoroughly impressed by the spar, had rushed forward and began commenting on how fast and agile Kenshin was.

"Wow Kenshin, that was amazing!" Sano heartily clapped him on the back causing Kenshin to cough and nearly tumble forwards.

"That was sooooo cool Himura!" Misao practically squealed. "You were so fast that I could barely see you!"

"You're so small and short, but your also very fast." Sano agreed, once again clapping Kenshin on the back.

"Where were you during practice?" Aoshi asked, breaking off Sano and Misao's comments and causing all three to turn and look at Kenshin.

"I'm sorry, what did you say Aoshi?" Kenshin asked politely, his smile not slipping at all through his panic.

"I said, 'where were you during practice?'" Aoshi repeated, slightly irritated.

Now Kenshins smile did slip, but he managed to calmly answer, "I was talking with an old acquaintance of mine and lost track of the time. I certainly didn't mean to miss practice." He finished, trying to sound apologetic.

"Ah." Aoshi commented, but Kenshin could tell from his ki that he didn't believe him.

"Stop interrogating him you three and go home." Hiko ordered, coming up behind them.

"Alright. C'mon guys, you heard the man." Sano instructed, hooking a finger at his friends. With only one backward glance, they picked up their things and left through the door.

Hiko turned to Kenshin, his eyes narrowed. "So what really happened after school with you?"

Kenshin shook his head. "Not here Shishou. We can talk about it at home. But not here."

"Fine. Let's go then." Hiko told Kenshin, slinging his bag over his shoulder and leading the red-head out of the gym by a heavy hand on his shoulder.

They were safely, and comfortably seated in Hiko's jeep before Hiko took the chance of asking Kenshin again what had happened.

"So…" He drew out the word and glanced sideways over at Kenshin as he turned the car on and pulled out of the parking lot.

"'So' what?" Kenshin asked innocently from his place in the passenger seat where he had brought his legs up to his chest and had his chin resting on his knees.

Hiko rolled his eyes and turned to point threateningly at Kenshin. "Don't you 'so what' me boy, you know perfectly well what I mean, and your not leaving this car until you give me an answer that I like." To prove his point he locked all the doors and windows in the car, and just to be sure, the trunk. (Hey, you never know!)

Kenshin felt even more caged after he heard the clicks of many simultaneous locks locking. He paused to try and find anyway out of telling Hiko, but when he found none Kenshin sighed and blew his hands off his face. "Fine. I'll tell you then."

Hiko nodded. "Good." Then honked his horn at a car that had pulled out in front of him. "Crazy teenagers." Hiko muttered to himself.

Kenshin smirked at his Shishou, Hiko never had a patient, safe driver. He also quietly thanked God for distracting Hiko, even if it was just for a few minutes.

"Well, are you going to tell me or not?" Hiko harshly demanded of Kenshin, once he had gotten his car, and temper, under control.

"Yes Master." He paused and blew his bangs out of his eyes again. "I met with Soujiro behind the gym after school, and he took me to see Shishio."

Hiko hissed angrily between his teeth. "You idiot, no wonder I call you a 'baka deshi,' you really are one. Did you ever stop to think that maybe you didn't have to meet with Soujiro?"

"Yes I did." Kenshin sighed, "but I realized that the consequences would be worse if I didn't at least talk with them." He glared over at his master. "I told you to stop calling me that."

Hiko stopped suddenly at a stoplight, slamming on the brakes. He turned, smirking, to look at Kenshin. "You do, but I won't ever listen to you. And you, always thinking about the consequences, just do something on the spur of the moment for once. You didn't think about the consequences when you left me and joined that gang did you?" When Kenshin didn't respond he continued, "What happened to the stubborn, mule-headed apprentice I used to have to deal with every day."

Kenshin sighed, then said softly, "Everything changed."

"Yes, because you made it change." Hiko argued pointedly, stopping again at a sign.

Kenshin rolled his eyes, but secretly agreed. Hiko understood this to mean that his companion didn't want to talk about it. "What else happened with Shishio and Soujiro?"

"Oh." Kenshin thought momentarily. "Well Shishio had ladies with him as usual, and insisted on calling me by my gang name, although I continually told him otherwise." He shook his head, smiling grimly. "I swear, that man's mentally imbalanced and deaf. Anyways, Shishio said he had an important, pressing matter to talk with me about."

"And," Hiko pressed, "what was it?"

Kenshin hesitantly looked over at Hiko. "They said there's someone new in town who's been insistently asking around for me. So Shishio wanted to form a temporary truce between his group and me to get rid of the person."

"WHAT!" Hiko practically yelled, slamming on the brakes again and Kenshin braced himself against the impact. "Please tell me you said no." Hiko pleaded.

Kenshin shook his head. "Not exactly." Hiko turned to glare at him. "Then what did you say?"

"That I'd think about it." Kenshin said, taking a deep breath before he did so.

Hiko shook his head. "Idiot." Then cursed when he noticed the light was green and the car behind theirs was tailgating them. "Why did you say that?"

"Because, I wanted to get out of there alive." Kenshin answered, curling himself further into a ball."

"Mmm." Hiko said, thinking about Kenshins excuse. "Fine, I suppose you had a right to do that."

Kenshin didn't answer and the rest of the drive was silent, except for Hiko's inaudible grumbling.

Kenshin Himura, I have one question for you... Deal, or No Deal ?

I was sooooooo tempted to put that in, as well as the Mission Impossible theme song while they were sparing. But I didn't :(

Well, there's your next chapter, I hope you enjoyed. Please review! This is one of my top priorities so I'll be updating more often. So please stay tuned. Also I'm thinking of starting a fic about what would happen if Kenshin became 12 again. Please give me your opinion about such a fic. I would appreciate that.

To my reviewers:

Shuicki: Thanks.

ELLIE: Thanks, and I promise to. So you like Saito and Soujiro? Thats interesting. Oh right, pairings so far are KxK I'm not sure about everyone else.

Gypsy: Yay! I'm glad you liked it. Yes, i enjoy Kenshin vs Hiko humor. Thanks for the tip, I didnt realize that. :)

ruruken: Cool, I look forward to reading it. I',m glad you liked it. Yeah, I know it is very confusing and if they mix the schedule up its even more confusing... if thats poissible. Thanks, and I promise to.

Yanikei: Thats alright, but yeah, they are kinda annoying. They are, but ellipses? Right, so mine is confusing and urs isn't? Im sure. Thats alright, I'm glad you liked it. ;)

Thats all for now! See ya next time!

-miji-chan