Kendo Club
Ch 12
Thank you to everyone for all those reviews! I appreciate it!
Welcome back! Kay, here's the new chapter... with a lot of twists, fluff and tear-jerker moments... ENJOY!
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The next morning Hiko woke early as usual, walking quietly with the skills that came from the sword style he and his nephew practiced, as to not wake Kaoru or Yahiko who would hopefully sleep in. When Kenshin didn't show up for their sparring practice, the tall man put away his sword again and went back into the house.
Hiko was worried about his nephew, although now or later he would never admit it, usually the boy was very resistant to sickness or fatigue. He locked the door behind him and closed the curtains roughly, in case some of this 'Katsura's' men had decided to spy on the house, then walked to Kenshin's room and stopped before it, knocking lightly he entered.
He was certainly surprised to find the boy still in bed, confirmed by a tuft of red-orange hair peeking out above the bed sheets. As he walked closer the boy mumbled something and turned over, burying his head in the pillow. Hiko smiled slightly and when the redhead still didn't wake, he turned on his heel and exited the room.
Kaoru and Yahiko woke a few hours later, and finding that they only had an hour to get ready for school started an uproar, during which Hiko was surprised Kenshin didn't wake. Kaoru questioned him surprised when he ordered them out to the car without Kenshin, to which the man answered that the boy had fallen asleep after a shower and that he would come back to pick his nephew up later.
The girl muttered something under her breath and turned away, but Hiko could tell she was still worried about the boy. In the back seat Yahiko said nothing.
Hiko dropped Kaoru off at the high school, after she clambered out and ran through the gates. A few minutes later Yahiko had also been gotten rid of, leaping up the stairs of the middle school two at a time and vanishing over the top of the stairs.
He quickly returned to the house, nearly running into the back of the garage, then slammed the garage door down and made quick use of the key, quickly opening and closing the door during his entrance. Hiko locked the door again, checked it several times, then went to check on his nephew for a second time.
This time the boy was sitting up in the middle of the bed, reading a book with what seemed to be mild interest. When Hiko walked in, without knocking, and closed the door again behind him, the redhead glanced up with curious amber eyes.
Hiko swore silently in his head, then glared irritably at the boy who looked calmly back at him.
"Hiko Seijuro, correct?"
The said man's glare grew even colder and growled, "Yes, Battousai." He spat the title out at the boy who smirked at him, then marked the page in the book and laid it down beside him and folded his arms. "What's the matter Seijuro?"
Hiko winced at being called by that name, only Saito called him that, and responded irritated, "I want to talk to Kenshin."
Battousai grinned at him, "He's not here right now." Hiko rolled his eyes, "that's obvious, but get him here." Amber-eyes tilted his head slightly, still smiling in that unnerving, eerie way.
"No."
His uncle scowled at him, "You're more annoying then Kenshin," he added under his breath, "If that's possible." Battousai smiled politely but picked the book up and started reading again.
"Don't ignore me boy, look at me." Hiko ordered annoyed, but Amber-eyes continued to read the book, which couldn't be that interesting anyway, and completely ignored him. Finally Hiko sighed and turned around, when he was at the door the man paused then questioned, "Are you hungry?"
"No." The redhead glanced up briefly.
"Fine, tell me when you are."
Battousai had already gone back to the book. "Fine."
Not wanting or seeing a reason to continuing the conversation, Hiko continued out, closing the door behind him and leaving to make some food for himself.
'Is that book really that interesting?' a plaintive voice questioned him.
Amber-eyes sighed, "Go away and leave me alone"
'Someone's not a people person.' There was a slight snicker.
Battousai glared at the door, "Neither are you, now shoo."
'Wow, I didn't know you were a poet.' The voice said very sarcastically, so sarcastically that Battousai rolled his eyes and chose not to respond. 'Why did you upset Uncle? He was just worried.'
"It's not like I meant to upset him, I'm really not hungry." Amber-eyes clarified, feeling sober now.
'Hmm.' The voice said, but didn't converse further.
A few hours later, after Hiko had made, and ate, breakfast and showered for a second time then dressed in clothes more suitable for his work, and fretting for a few minutes and finally exerting the stubbornness he was known for, Hiko returned to the front of Kenshin's door. Knocking briefly, the man barged into his nephew's room, then stopped a few steps inside.
The redhead, who had been sitting up reading earlier, was once again submerged within the sheets only a small burst of flame-red hair visible among the whiteness of the sheets and covers.
Hiko eyes narrowed at that burst of red and growled, "Whether or not you want to boy, you will be going to school today." In response the burst of red vanished, then quickly reappeared again as they boy sat up, murmuring a sleepy, "Shishou?" after with a cry of dismay he fell down again onto his side then caught himself with his arm.
The man let out a quiet sigh of relief, Kenshin was back. "Yes its me. What on earth made you think you could sleep so long?" He asked irritated.
Kenshin looked back at him with dull, sleepy violet eyes. "Why, what time is it?" The boy blinked and rubbed his eyes vigorously.
"You've already missed your first class and half of the second." Hiko said as way of explanation, using the opportunity to open the curtains covering the window, flooding the room with more bright light.
Meanwhile, his nephew was now sitting fully upright, looking surprised and annoyed at the news. "What? Uncle, I can't believe you let me sleep so late!" He moved to the edge of the bed, but fell back when he tried to stand. "Nng." The boy groaned, a hand resting on the side of his head.
"What are you groaning about now?" Hiko questioned, masking his worry with irritation. The redhead moved his hand to cover his eyes.
"I don't feel good, Hiko."
The uncle snorted, "you're just trying to get out of going to school. Don't give me that."
Kenshin shook his head. "No, I really don't feel good." He waited until Hiko walked over and sat next to him to continue. "I, I ache all over and my head feels like its going to explode."
Hiko sighed and stood up, looking down at the redhead. Now that he could see the boy more clearly the baka did look paler and his eyes didn't seem as alert as usual. Kenshin shivered quietly, wrapping his arms around himself, which didn't go unnoticed by his Uncle.
"Fine, get back underneath those covers and rest," he carefully stressed the last word, "while I go make some chicken soup or something." Kenshin grimaced but did as he was told.
Neither of them spoke until the redhead was once again submerged underneath the covers and his head laying on the pillow. He closed his eyes and sighed while Hiko took that as a signal to leave.
He was at the door, his hand on the doorknob, when Kenshin spoke from the bed.
"Uncle?"
Hiko paused at the door and half-turned back, "Yes?"
"Thank you."
The man laughed grimly, "don't thank me yet." Then Kenshin was left alone in the room to 'rest.'
Kenshin stayed in bed for the rest of the day, feeling worse after forcing himself to eat the food his uncle had made, and was left alone in house after school when Hiko went to instruct the kendo club members although he complained about doing so.
Later, when practice had finished and they had picked up Yahiko up from school, Hiko and Kaoru returned to the house. The adult went about cooking dinner, and Kaoru and Yahiko being wary of this, decided to make themselves scarce: Yahiko making himself comfortable on the couch and watching TV and Kaoru to check on Kenshin.
She quietly walked down the hall and stopped in front of the redhead's door, taking a deep breath she turned the doorknob and let herself in. When the shapeless lump in the bed didn't move Kaoru let out the breath she had been holding and closed the door.
The girl tiptoed over to the right side of the bed and sat down next to the lump in the bed. After Kenshin still didn't wake up, although Kaoru was sure he should have, especially after that talk about sensing ki they had had a few days earlier, she gently pulled the covers back to so she could see his face.
Kaoru had to resist the urge to giggle, Kenshin looked so cute asleep! He looked completely at peace and innocent, like an angel she mused, with his red hair bright against his pale skin. She paused, noticing a dark mark on his cheek, partially hidden by his hair.
Kaoru put her weight on one hand and used the other to gently brush the hair away from Kenshin's face. She gasped and sat up straight when she saw the cross scar on his cheek, which the girl was very sure hadn't been there the day before. 'What was that from? Its so deep and… harsh.' Kaoru pondered, studying it closely.
She gently traced the horizontal mark of the scar but suddenly her wrist was seized in a strong grip and looking down, Kaoru saw annoyed amber eyes gazing up at her.
"K-Kenshin?" The girl asked surprised, trying to resist the urge to yank her hand away.
The redhead stared at her then blinked; the next time he opened his eyes they were the usual violet. He quickly let go of her wrist and laid his arm back on the bed.
"I'm sorry Kaoru, I didn't mean to hurt you." Kenshin apologized quietly and sat up, leaning on his arm. He sleepily rubbed his eyes then suddenly smiled disarmingly at her.
Kaoru smiled back, not realizing that he was distracting her from the odd reaction he had had. Gently rubbing her wrist the girl replied, "It's okay Kenshin, I didn't mean to wake you up. I was just worried, considering you slept in late and didn't come to school today."
Kenshin winced slightly, avoiding Kaoru's eyes. His Uncle was right, maybe he was getting too attached to this girl.
"-and then last night you came in, but wouldn't say anything, and it was so late." She looked away, biting her lip. "I was really scared Kenshin, I didn't know what to do."
The redhead winced visibly, no one except for Katsura-san and his uncle had ever really been worried about him, and of course, Hiko had never showed it.
"I didn't mean to worry you Miss Kaoru," he said softly and slowly, "It was something that I-"
Abruptly he fell back onto the bed, his head hitting the pillow with a 'thump,' his eyes closed and breathing slower. Kaoru gasped and leaned over him, studying his face and brushing the red strands away.
"Kenshin? Kenshin!"
When he didn't answer Kaoru quickly slid off the bed and ran out of the room yelling for Hiko. The man quickly appeared at the end of the hall leading into the living room, and raised an eyebrow at her. "What's wrong Kamiya?"
She ran up to him, wringing her hands together in front of her and skidded to a halt. "Hiko! I was talking to Kenshin and all of a sudden he fell back onto the bed, I think he's unconscious!"
Hiko pushed her aside and walked up then into his nephew's room. Immediately his eyes went to the redhead's form, laying in the bed; the problem was that instead of lying still, the boy was shaking violently. Worried, he strode over to the side of the bed and studied his nephew.
"Kenshin? Kenshin can you hear me?" He pause but the redhead didn't respond. "Wake up baka. You need to wake up."
Kenshin didn't respond.
The man swore under his breath and hurried to the door, standing tensely in the doorway. "Kamiya call 911 and get an ambulance, our address is in the contact book on the table." Kaoru appeared at then end of the hallway. "Then call Saito, he's in the phonebook under 'S' and tell him to get over here right away."
He disappeared back into the room while Kaoru ran to the phone and began dialing.
"Hang in there Kenshin, just fight it. Fight as hard as you can." He told the boy, standing beside the redheads writhing form. The man felt helpless just standing there, but it was all up to the paramedics and the boy himself now.
A few minutes later the sound of blaring sirens came blasting through the windows and then four paramedics carrying a stretcher poured through the door.
Kaoru led them to outside Kenshin's room and then was pushed aside as they went in. She started to follow but the doorbell rang causing her to pause and Hiko to curse under his breath. The girl waited until the bell rang again, then scowling she walked back down the hall, through the obstacle course that was the living room, and stopped in front of the door. With a cross sigh Kaoru swung open the door then let out a startled cry of surprise "Hajime-san!"
The man let out a cloud of smoke and ground the cigarette out beneath his shoe. "Kamiya. Well it's certainly a surprise to see you here," he drawled. "I see the paramedics have already arrived."
"Ah, oh, yes!" She stepped out of the way and let Saito inside. "They're in Kenshin's room." Kaoru informed him, pointing towards the hall.
"Mm." Saito commented then strode across the room and down the hall. The girl caught her breath, bur a few seconds later the paramedics rushed past her, carrying the stretcher with a pale, still Kenshin laying on it.
From the glimpse of him Kaoru saw that he looked like he was only sleeping; but from the heated conversation Hiko and Saito were having as they came back into the room, Kenshin was doing anything but.
The men stopped a few paces away from her. "Kamiya I'm going to the hospital with the ambulance; Saito will drive you there after us." If Kaoru hadn't known any better she'd say that the man was worried, and could only nod.
"You're going to Meiji Hospital right?" Saito asked, taking out a key ring from his pocket. Hiko nodded, grabbed a coat and hurried out of the house after the paramedics and a while later they heard the ambulance pull away from the curb.
"Come on Kamiya, let's go." Saito instructed, twirling the keys around his finger. When Kaoru didn't follow him through the door he turned back, "What is it Kamiya?"
She stuttered, "I, I-" Shaking her head, Kaoru couldn't find the strength to continue and wiped away the tears that threatened to fall.
Saito sighed, "if you're worried about Himura, you shouldn't be; he's strong enough to get through this." He then turned again and continued down the front steps.
Kaoru sighed, made a last desperate wipe at the tears and followed Saito.
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Like it? See, I told you there would be fluff. Not too much, but its there.
If anyone's confused about anything thats happening feel free to pm or email me and I'll try to help!
Thanks to: michelle.gilman (x2), Yanikei, wolfwood, Kristy-chan, ELLIE, MikaylaMae, NeverForget99, zenfry, book-manga-freak and enchantedsleeper for reviewing!
I know I said I'd do an Omake Theater for this chapter, but I've been sick recently and my brains still on hold... but next chapter, promise.
Ja ne
miji-chan