Thanks for the feedback from my reviewers: Miztical-Dragon, Jasmine blossom625, AlterEgoSadist, caseyedith, SRAS9, Scarred Sword Heart, donhisiewen, SeaSaltChocolate, LimeGrass, geckohawaii, Rihannon, Emi Violet, and Crau-san.

There is a pic on DeviantArt that goes perfectly with this drabble—search for 'Mushroom Samba' by Lady Battousai. It's awesome.

I do not, unfortunately, own Rurouni Kenshin.

And sorry about the late review replies to the last chapter—I caught the stomach flu and have been drugged to my gills.

Galore

-adjective

In abundance; in plentiful amounts.

It's ugly. It's been a long time since the thirteenth master of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu has been nervous, much less intimidated, but the situation is… ugly. He doesn't know if he's going to be able to cope with this.

"Shishou!" A tiny redhead looks up from where he is plunked on his fanny on the loamy forest floor and beams. "Hi, Shishou."

"Kenshin," Hiko says cautiously, "What did you eat?"

"Mushrooms!" Kenshin grins. "There were brown mushrooms and little white mushrooms and a squirrel and clouds and I like the little purple flowers and—"

"How many did you eat?" Hiko breaks in, a little desperately.

Kenshin looks around, gaze a bit unfocused. "Lots," he said fuzzily. "Lots'n'lots."

"Lots." Hiko's heart sinks. His deshi is normally stupid, but at least he is sane and quiet—two of the few reasons Hiko can tolerate him and not the rest of the people in Japan.

Now he has a hyperactive child to deal with until the effect of the mushrooms wear off.

"Can you stand?" Hiko asks.

Kenshin makes an abortive attempt to get his feet under him. "Nope." He grins happily up at Hiko and giggles. "Piggyback ride!"

Not a snowball's chance in Hell. Wordlessly, Hiko grabs Kenshin by the back of his gi and swings the boy over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Kenshin makes appreciative noises regarding the ride.

Hiko turns to go back to the cabin. With the flexibility only a student of their ryu could possibly possess, Kenshin twists in his master's grip so that he is facing the older man's shoulders, and wraps his arms around his Shishou's neck, where he proceeds to snuggle like a happy kitten.

Hiko's spine stiffens, and Kenshin lets out a peal of happy laughter.

"Shishou!" he giggles. "You smell like old person!"

Sighing (and praying to the kami Kenshin will pass out soon) Hiko heads back to the cabin.

It's going to be a long, long night.