Whew, careful story plotting is killing me. The next few updates are probably going to be a little further apart than they have been.

If you were riding a horse, the average traveling time it took to reach Edo was just under a week. Walking, it would take closer to two weeks. As Hiko Seijuurou's speed and stamina far surpassed that of an ordinary person though, he made it in five days. Several times he sensed he was right on the tail of Yoshinobu and Jisaemon, but after inquiries he always found he had just missed them. He knew he was going the right way at least, and it was only a matter of time until he confronted them.

After leaving Ishibe, Hiko had been unable to find anyone who had seen Kenshin, let alone seen him with Jisaemon or any of his men. This just solidified Hiko's conviction that Kenshin hadn't simply walked off of his own accord. He was a prisoner. The fact that no-one could attest to seeing him surely meant Kenshin was being kept from sight. Hiko would have run into him if he'd escaped, and it wouldn't make sense for Jisaemon to capture the boy just to pawn him off halfway to Edo.

Still, it was clever of them, to keep Kenshin's presence unknown. If they did it to throw Hiko off their trail, they should have known that was ultimately impossible. It was more likely that they didn't want any more incidents like the one that occurred at Ishibe. Jisaemon would have seen to it that no more chances were taken.

That was a vague source of worry for Hiko, the fact that Jisaemon seemed to be the leader of this anti-shougunate group, and he had spent many hours of his journey deep in thought about it. Hiko had known Arimura Jisaemon from adolescence. Although they had studied with different masters, they had sparred together somewhat frequently and held a mutual respect for each other even though their philosophies about the way of the sword differed. It wasn't until they were well into their teens that they'd had a mild falling out over the ideals of swordsmanship and drifted apart.

To put it shortly, Jisaemon knew Hiko well. He was familiar with his one-time friend's quirks; the subtle mannerisms Hiko unconsciously used that were a mirror to his deeper thoughts and feelings, the ones hidden so deep that they were almost impossible to pull to the surface.

Hiko was an expert at burying anything that might lead to emotion. He knew he could fool anyone he met into thinking he was a smug, uncaring bastard. He also knew that Jisaemon was playing with this aspect of his personality. Any normal enemy would have tried to grab Kenshin from under his nose, which was impossible. No one could possibly learn anything worthwhile from that scenario except that Hiko was undefeatable.

But Jisaemon . . . he wasn't challenging Hiko's physical strength, he was playing mind games. He hadn't tried to take Kenshin immediately. He'd lured him away from Hiko first, then kept the fact that he'd captured the boy a secret. He was testing Hiko, trying to learn just how deep his feelings went, how far Hiko would go for the student who would have run out on him.

Hiko had revealed a lot just by coming this far. Jisaemon didn't need Kenshin−they both knew that. He needed Hiko. Paradoxically, that was the reason Hiko had to go to Edo. Because if he didn't, it was more likely than not that Kenshin would never be seen again. Jisaemon would take Hiko's appearance in Edo it as an indication that he cared about the boy's life, and Hiko wouldn't argue that−of course he cared, he'd spent almost four years teaching the little ingrate. If Jisaemon thought Hiko was going to sacrifice his beliefs for an impudent pupil though, he had another think coming.

Regardless of beliefs, Hiko knew that even once he got to Edo Kenshin's life would still be in jeopardy. His first order of business was to seek out Jisaemon's lodgings and find his stupid deshi. By that point, Hiko would have a better feel for the situation and could work out a plan. Like beat the tar out of Jisaemon and his cronies for trying to blackmail him into what was a foolhardy assassination in the first pace.

Then he could curse out that damn baka deshi of his for being so predictably moronic.

It was with this thought that Hiko found himself coming upon the great wooden bridge that led into the heart of Edo, the Edobashi. He stood at the foot of the bridge for a moment, taking in the surroundings. It was early afternoon and people were streaming onto the bridge, coming in from the Nakasendou road as well as the Toukaidou. Hiko's giant mantel whooshed softly as traveler after traveler brushed by him, most of them glancing up with mild annoyance that melted into surprise when they saw the giant who stood in their way. Hiko ignored them.

Edo. Where would a man like Jisaemon stay in this bustling city? Hiko's eyes roved over the tightly spaced rows of houses and shops over a hundred feet away on the other side of the bridge. The roofs seemed to stretch unendingly into the distance. The clear, cloudless day made for great visibility, and rising above the field of gray roofs Hiko could see Fuji-sama, its white-capped apex reaching to the heavens. Even the tip of the great pagoda in the castle district was visible, although it was maybe a mile away.

Hiko paused, a frown creasing his features. From what he knew of the shogun's daimyou, they tended to live close to Edo castle for convenience. Surely Ii Naosuke was no exception. And as Jisaemon's ultimate goal was to kill Naosuke, he would want to be as close as possible to keep tabs on the man. Even if Jisaemon wasn't staying outside the castle grounds, he would have visited by now on some false pretense. And that meant he would have to pass by the gate guards, who surely took down the purpose of everyone's visit.

Hiko couldn't stop a tight grin. There was a reason he called himself a genius. He was preparing to cross the bridge but stopped in his tracks when the surge of an excited ki washed over him like a wave. So his actions hadn't gone unnoticed. Someone was watching him. Hiko's gaze moved across the bridge, sweeping over the muddle of houses and people in front of him, looking for a clue that would lead him to the source of the disturbance.

There.

The man had dark clothes and a wide-brimmed farmer's hat pulled low over his face, and was provided further cover by the shadow of the two buildings he stood between, but to Hiko he might as well have been holding a neon sign.

So, Jisaemon thought he could covertly keep tabs on the greatest swordsman of the era. Well, Hiko would let him play his game. He'd just make sure to win. Not here though. There were

too many people milling around, too many respectable citizens who didn't need to get mixed up in something like this. It would be unavoidable in the future, but for now Hiko would do what he could to prevent dragging innocents into this mess.

The spy had shrunk even further into the shadows as Hiko looked his way, and Hiko let his eyes pass over him without stopping. He gave a shrug then, scratched his head−maybe that was too much−and headed in the direction of Edo castle with a ground-eating stride. He made sure to pass directly in front of the buildings the spy had hidden between, and smirked inwardly as he felt a wary ki begin trailing him as he passed.

The game was on.

000

"You still refuse to talk?" The bamboo flail in Kobori's hand swished ominously, its strips dripping red. Kenshin flinched in response, his back begging him to give Kobori an answer. Off to the side, Houjou's lifeless eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, the blood pooling from his head proof of Kobori's wrath.

You're going to end up like that if you don't tell him something, said the voice in Kenshin's head.

But what do I tell him? Kobori took a step closer to him.

Anything.

Kobori lifted the flail. "Well?" His hand began its descent.

"Wait!" Kenshin cried. "Jisaemon is lying! I'm just a student of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, and my shishou is Hiko Seijuurou! He's going to come and you'll know it was all a mistake." Kobori laughed then.

"Sure, I bet you just made up this Hiko Seijuurou."

"No. He didn't."

Kenshin's heart nearly leapt from his chest at the familiar voice. "Shishou!" Hiko was suddenly standing between him and Kobori.

How had he done that?

No matter, Kenshin was safe now. Hiko grabbed his deshi and shoved past Kobori, knocking the man into the wall with such force that the flail fell from his hands.

"Let's go, Kenshin." Hiko lifted his sword and sliced at the cell door. There was a horrendous grating noise, and sparks flew, but the door didn't give.

Laughter erupted from behind them and Kenshin saw Kobori regain his footing. "It's impossible to cut your way out of here. You have to fight me."

Hiko just raised his sword and swung at the door again. Again, the horrible sound. "Try again, shishou!" Kenshin said frantically, but even as he said it Hiko began to evaporate before his eyes.

"Shishou?" Kenshin reached a hand towards Hiko's shoulder only to meet with air. "Shishou?!" Kenshin was inexplicably on the floor again, and now Kobori was in front of him, laughing crazily, metallically . . .

Ultimately, it was metal clattering against stone that pulled him from the feverish slumber. Kenshin opened his eyes, the harsh sound echoing in his ears, and stared blearily at the wall in front of him for several long seconds. His back burned and throbbed but what hurt worse was the knowledge that his almost-rescue had only been a dream. He was still stuck here.

Gradually, he managed to bring his head to face the source of the sound, and saw that another bowl of food had been shoved into the room. His stomach growled at the sight, but Kenshin didn't think he'd be able to keep anything down if he ate. Besides, what was the point if he was just going to die?

Kenshin choked down the lump rising in his throat. Why couldn't they just kill him now and get it over with? If only there was some way . . .

A memory surfaced, some story he'd heard in town of men biting through their own tongues to end an unbearable life. It sounded horribly grotesque and painful, but at least he'd only have to do it once. No more wondering how long he would be tortured. Could he go through with it though? Kenshin placed his tongue between his teeth and gave an experimental nip. That hurt. Then he thought of the flail on his back, the sand rubbed in afterwards. That was arguably worse. Kenshin took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He needed to psyche himself out about this, think about something else-

"AHHH!" He screamed and his tongue instinctively curled to the back of his mouth as blood began pouring down his chin. He heard fumbling at the cell door and a shout of alarm, and then someone was at his side and a hand was being shoved in his mouth. He shook his head wildly but then something slammed into his back and he almost passed out.

By the time his head had cleared, a gag had been placed in his mouth, and he was being held in a sitting position. Kobori stood in front of him and Kenshin couldn't help but notice that the flail wasn't in his hands.

"So, lively enough to attempt suicide?" Kobori said. "You know, when prisoners try to kill themselves, that tells me something. It tells me they have something to hide and would rather end their lives than have me pull it out of them." Kenshin's eyes widened in disbelief and he shouted incoherently into his gag. Kobori nodded. "Good, coming around now are we? That didn't take long." He reached out and pulled the gag from Kenshin's mouth.

Kenshin's words fell from him in a rush. "No, that's not why!" His tongue was already swelling and he could hardly say his t's. "I'm not a murderer! Jisaemon's lying!" He stopped to let his tongue recover, thinking bitterly, I couldn't even get halfway.

Kobori exchanged a glance with Houjou. The guard must have been the person who'd shoved his hand into Kenshin's mouth, because his fingers were bloody.

"He could be telling the truth." Houjou said uncertainly. "He's just a boy."

Kobori nodded. "And he could also not. Don't be deceived by children, that's one of the first things I learned." He pulled a length of rope from around his waist. "I think this child knows more than he claims. So we'll continue for a few more rounds."

Kenshin sat stoically as his hands were pulled behind his back and tied at the wrists, causing his back to flare with pain. Kobori crossed Kenshin's legs next, tying them together and then pulling the extra rope over Kenshin's shoulders where he passed it through the rope binding his hands.

Then Kenshin screamed, because Kobori had placed a foot on his back and was shoving him towards the ground even as he pulled up on the ropes. Gradually, Kenshin was shoved to the ground so that his legs lay flat against his chest, and Kobori tied the ropes off before letting his foot fall from Kenshin's back. Already Kenshin felt the muscles in his legs clenching painfully from the constricted position.

"Some people can stay like this for hours." Kobori said. "They'll turn all shades of colors, starting with pink, then changing to red, violet. Blue is the last color." He knelt in front of Kenshin. "It's up to you how many colors you change. I'll be waiting right here if you want to tell me something."

Lying on his stomach with his legs folded under him, Kenshin couldn't see what color his body was, but his legs felt warm, like he'd just finished a rigorous training session. He could stand this, it wasn't so bad.

"Give it time." Kobori said, as if reading his mind.

Time indeed. The minutes ticked away, and as time wore on Kenshin felt a fiery pain begin to build in his chest, slowly at first, crawling to his arms and legs, then spreading like wildfire to his stomach, his head, even the tips of his toes and fingers. A sound like rushing wind filled his ears, and he wanted so badly to scream, to beg them to stop. It was different than the pain in his back: this pain wasn't a flesh wound, with the ache coming in pulses, it radiated from the very core of his body, constant and steady.

Kenshin had thought the torture had reached its peak, but unbelievably the burning sensation intensified again, so that he felt as if waves of flame were consuming his entire body inch by inch, and he couldn't bear it anymore.

"Stop, please, just stop!" He sounded ridiculous with his swollen tongue, but he didn't care. He just wanted this to end.

Kobori looked at him dispassionately. "A name?"

He couldn't say his master's name, that was what Jisaemon wanted. But if Kenshin offered nothing this would continue, and he was finding it hard to breathe now, sucking in air in short gasps. Was this it, was he dying? It was unbearable, this agony, and like loosed floodgates Kenshin's determination not to say anything about his shishou crumbled. "Hiko Seijuurou!" He had to stop and force air through his uncooperative lungs. "He's−my shishou." His voice sounded horribly wispy, and he blinked as black spots popped in front of his eyes. He couldn't even take a breath anymore.

"Hiko Seijuurou? Where?"

Couldn't Kobori see that he needed air? "K-kyoto." It was the last Kenshin could get out before the spots in his vision merged into a swamp of blackness, and he fell into it gratefully.

He couldn't have been unconscious for long, because he came to his senses still gasping. He could breathe though, thankfully, even though he was gagged.

Kenshin heard the sound of his cell door closing, and the fading sound of footsteps as Kobori and Houjou walked down the hall. The ropes had been removed from his body but he was still burning with pain; even the slightest twitch of a finger sent was enough to send waves of fire through him.

And then it hit him, what he'd just done.

Shishou! Kenshin's heart pounded. Was that Jisaemon's plan? To have the shogunate send forces after his master, so many that not even Hiko Seijuurou could best them? Then he'd have no choice but to be on Jisaemon and Yoshinobu's side.

Who would save Kenshin then? Would he just be forgotten? Would shishou be so mad at him that he'd leave Kenshin at the hands of Kobori?

The idea was too much for Kenshin's already overtaxed body, and he tried to choke back a sob. All this managed to do was send his body into a new paroxysm of pain. Kenshin gave up then and cried without reserve: from pain, from fear, from helplessness; but mostly, he cried because he'd failed his shishou.

Kenshin is pretty screwed, isn't he? But Hiko's finally in Edo so rescue must be imminent, right? (Did anyone notice that I finally decided to use the correct spelling for Hiko's name? :) ) One thing's for sure: there's a showdown coming! Also, I'm sorry for the zeros indicating the story break (they're really bothering me), but freaking fanfiction won't even let me use asterisks UNcentered now, so, yeah.

Althea M: Yeah, Kenshin's one of those "hands on" learners. Hiko's vengeance is coming, just give it time. ;)

literaryrxn: He's going, he's going!

Amamiya: Torture's almost over, but there might be one more scene to stomach. Hiko's reaction definitely isn't going to be nice for those on the receiving end!

Iri Wind: Yay, new reviewer! Love the enthusiasm, hope you stay psyched for the rest of the story!

t42n24t: Yeah, the "adult at twelve" that some cultures still use today is hard to wrap your mind around. Hiko's definitely going to need proof of innocence now, isn't he?