Chapter Eleven

The walk up the mountain was starting to wear on Kenshin's legs. He had taken the bus as far as it would go, but no public transportation went further than the bottom of this particular area. Even if he could have afforded a taxi, he had been informed that the road did not go where he was headed. It was telling of the kind of man this Hiko Seijuro was.

He obviously doesn't like company, but does he grow his own food? I can't imagine he makes many trips to town.

Slightly out of breath, Kenshin stopped to lean against a tree. The woods were thick, and if not for the worn trail he would have been lost long ago. The air was also becoming thinner the higher he climbed, and he remembered something his father had once told him. Being a fire demon meant many things, but one of them included a higher dependency on oxygen than most others. While the cold of the fire extinguisher Megumi had used on him the week prior had forced him into a temporary state of hibernation, the sudden lack of oxygen had been the true reason his flame had gone out so quickly. Walking as he currently was uphill and with a decreased level of oxygen was beginning to make him dizzy.

It was coming late evening before Kenshin began to question if he was truly on the right path. There was no discernable end in sight, and he had been forced to stop multiple times to rest his weary body. As the chill of the higher elevation worked his muscles into a shiver, he braced himself with his hands on his knees and bent forward to desperately wheeze in as much of the thin air as he could. Too much further, and he would turn back.

With the angle of the sun far off to his left, he blinked as a definitive shadow caught his attention out of the corner of his right eye. Red lashes widened as the shadow focused and took the shape of a man, and he twisted his head slowly to look up into the trees behind him.

Before he could fully turn, the figure in the trees had already moved, and Kenshin was forced to jump to one side or be crushed. His first, if rather brief, impression of Hiko Seijuro, was that he was a tall, stern looking man with eyes and hair as dark as wet dirt. He wore traditional clothing underneath a cape, which seemed like a strange thing for any man to be wearing, but his stature pulled it off as if it were the most natural piece of clothing for him to have on. No additional time was allowed for observation, though, and Kenshin sucked in a breath as he dodged again to avoid the large hand that was swiped directly at his head.

What the hell is he doing?!

Some insistent instinct was telling him that any blow delt by this man would be fatal. Already short on breath, he didn't waste time trying to talk to someone who had instigated a fight. Instead, Kenshin put all of his effort into evasion, since he could manage very little else. Sliding on some damp foliage, Kenshin froze for a second as he watched Hiko Seijuro's hands form a sign that was known to him. A dangerous sign that seemed a touch excessive. Left with no other choice but to dive downhill, he heard every tree behind him crack and split apart. Now forced to duck and roll, he had no time to even study what type of power the sign had manifested, and was therefore still unsure what kind of demon he was dealing with.

Megumi had also been uninformed on Hiko Seijuro's demon type. Apparently, he preferred not to let others know. That was certainly apparent by his surprisingly human-looking features. Just like Kenshin, Hiko was obviously hiding his demon markers, and he was doing so well that there was not one single clue to be determined from his outer appearance. Which meant Kenshin would only know by figuring out what kind of powers he used. While hand signs were somewhat universal, each demon's powers manifested the correlating effect differently.

Slamming sidelong into a tree trunk, what little air Kenshin could pull from the atmosphere was ejected from his lungs. Gasping, in pain, and lying on his back, violet eyes widened as the man he was running from was already sliding upright and completely balanced down the incline after him. Whatever was happening, there was no time to rest.

Forty minutes later, and Kenshin no longer knew where he was on the mountain. It was getting harder to see, and with the sun getting lower and the trees blocking nearly all of its rays, the chill in the air was stabbing into his skin. Hiko Seijuro's attacks were getting more and more lethal. Worse, Kenshin's body was getting less and less agile. With fatigue weighing down his limbs, very little oxygen to reinvigorate his muscles or flame, his instincts were screaming and desperate.

I think I'm going to die. No. I know I'm going to die. This man is a monster. He brought me here to kill me.

The last few hits had landed, and blood was dripping into his left eye. Trying with all his might to force his legs to jump, he slipped off the branch he had been perched on and fell face first into the dirt below.

You're going to die.

Flipping onto his back, he stared up at the man that had landed next to him. One foot was already lifted, as if to stamp out his soul, and the impassive expression on his face made it clear that it would bother him little.

I don't want to die.

"Stop!"

Fire burst from him like an ignited gas leak, but even he could tell that it was not nearly as strong as he would have managed with more air, less fatigue, and in a warmer climate. It didn't matter. As long as he did something. Anything to stall death.

A new hand sign immediately slammed his attacker's knuckles together, and Kenshin found himself doused from head to toe by what felt like a waterfall.

Horrified, and gulping in one deep lungful of air after the other, Kenshin rolled to one side and vomited until there was nothing left. Then continued to dry-heave until the shock wore off.

"Good." The booming voice was heavy, like the crushing weight of the ocean. "I have your measure now. Superior instincts, decent reflexes, and a passable will to live." One large hand outstretched to offer him assistance. Still coughing, Kenshin hesitated, but ultimately accepted the pull to his feet. "Too many of your kind were willing to kill themselves in that damn war. I'm not interested in wasting my time on one of those."

"Hiko… Seijuro?" Down to simply wheezing now, Kenshin fought with the rhythmic jerking of his diaphragm. The water still clinging to his clothes, skin, and hair hissed as his body temperature slowly started to evaporate it. It didn't matter that it would soon be gone. He still felt disgusted by it covering him.

"That's right." A slight jerk of the large man's head acknowledged the name as belonging to him.

Forcing himself through the motion, for politeness if nothing else, Kenshin bowed as he introduced himself. "Himura Kenshin."

"I know who you are, boy." Waving an arm, and the cape with it, Hiko lead him deeper into the darkening woods. "This way."

Boy? Surely, I don't look that young. The last time Kenshin had looked at his own reflection, he had thought himself to be sufficiently adult-enough in appearance. He certainly didn't think he looked as young as Kaoru did.

"Don't expect me to be impressed that I'm in the presence of the last living fire demon. I have no respect for your kind."

That's quite obvious. Not that Kenshin could fault him for it, but there was something about the way he spoke down on him that was irritating. Clearing his throat, Kenshin pressed a hand against his aching ribs and held in a wince.

"You are a water demon?" Trying to change the subject, Kenshin offered a new topic.

"No." Except he provided no further explanation or embellishment on the response, and Kenshin frowned at his back.

"Where are we going?" As far as Kenshin could tell, they were no longer heading up the mountain, but around.

"My home. Unless you prefer to sleep in the woods."

"Uh… I left my bag…" Kenshin looked behind him as they walked, but could see nothing but an endless sea of trees. "…somewhere."

"I had it brought to the house." His replies were clipped and partial grunts, as if he was unused to conversations lasting as long as this one had.

"Brought? Is there someone else?"

"Hmm. Maybe your instincts aren't as good as I thought." As they trudged deeper into the woods on their unmarked cross-path, Hiko Seijuro explained why there were no roads for outsiders to traverse. "This entire mountain is mine, but it is much too large to monitor on my own. Two komainu live here as well and protect the mountain from intruders. They informed me immediately of your presence the moment you first stepped foot onto my land."

Komainu? I thought they generally protected sacred areas or shrines. "They must be quite skilled if I did not even notice them." Trying to continue his show of politeness, Kenshin attempted a smile, but earned a snort for his trouble.

"You're a few centuries too young to be on their level."

Their trek continued, and Kenshin found that his breathing was becoming easier despite the persistent ache in his side. With a better supply of oxygen, he closed the wound above his left eye with a precision burn, and wiped carefully at the blood trying to seep into the crack of his eyelid. The man he followed seemed happy to remain quiet, but Kenshin found he was full of unanswered questions.

"What did you mean when you said you had my measure?" Features twisting in sardonic shame, he averted his gaze out into the woods. "I did nothing but run away."

"True enough." There was a thick amount of amusement in Hiko's now mellow voice. There was something deep and melodious about his tone, though, that spoke of power. "You were tired, breathless, and out-of-your-element. The air is thinner and colder on the mountain as a fact, but I know well that it is twice as hard on fire demons. I sent you up this mountain for that exact purpose. You were already stressed when I attacked you, but you did not once blindly use your fire to counter my attacks. Which tells me one important thing about you, Himura Kenshin. You do not like destruction, and I respect that. Fire is as much life as water, wind, and earth, but too many have used it for nothing but death. Unfortunately, I can assume your lack of use means you have little to no control over your flame. Just how long have you been suppressing your powers?"

Violet eyes looked at his feet, and his voice lowered. "Since the war."

A low hum vibrated the large man's chest, but he did not look back. "So, you are afraid of them."

"I… suppose."

"But they are yours, are they not?" The question was matter-of-fact, and red brows creased towards one another.

"I…"

"If you wish to be less afraid of anything the best thing you can do is learn more about it. Do you know so little about your own powers that they terrify you?"

"I know enough about my own powers to be terrified of them." Correcting him in a meaningful voice, Kenshin lifted his chin, but the action was pointless since he was still only looking at the other man's back.

"How can you even know what you're capable of if you haven't tried to use your powers to the fullest?" The deep words were impatient, as if he should already know what he was explaining to him. "I'm not talking about raw power, boy. You have that in spades. I mean complete control. True power is not about maximizing damage. True power is about precision. True power is balance. True power is an awareness of all that is inside and outside of oneself. You are not here to learn how to keep a lid on your strength. You are here to master it. Or am I wasting my time?" Finally, he looked back at him, and Kenshin's spine unwillingly straightened.

"Yes, Shisho. I-I mean no. No, Shisho" Bowing his head quickly at the shoulders, he looked up when Hiko began to laugh.

"You're not as stupid as I first thought you to be."

"W-what?"

The small house that was Hiko's residence rested in a pristine clearing on the southern side of the mountain. It was not grand, but was well-kept and felt peaceful after the turmoil of the day. Through the trees, Kenshin could see the lights of Kyoto as they grew brighter in the coming gloom of night.

So, he's not that far from town. Feeling a touch cheated, Kenshin let his lashes fall so he could roll his eyes without being noticed.

"Welcome home, Master."

Two small voices chorused the greeting together, but Hiko all but grunted in return before jerking a thumb at Kenshin.

"Get him some food and show him where he'll be sleeping. We start training at first light."

"Yes, Master."

With the bulk of the large man, and his white cape, gone, Kenshin blinked down at two small girls about waist height. Their hair and eyes were a golden-brown, and thick, rounded ears covered in fur protruded upright from either side of their skulls. Large paws covered in the same golden-brown fur replaced their hands and feet, though they stood upright, and ivory fangs could be seen overlapping their bottom lip. One was taller than the other by only a finger width. She stepped forward first.

"Good-evening, Himura-sama. I am Ayame the Swift." A full, ninety-degree bow accompanied the strange introduction. The other took a quick step forward so that she was level with her sister, before she too bowed perfectly at the waist.

"Good-evening, Himura-sama. I am Suzume the Strong."

Curious about their self-proclaimed titles, Kenshin bowed politely in return. "It is a pleasure to meet you both."

"Follow us." Their voices chorused once more in unison, as if they were used to speaking as one. They turned as one, as well, and he trailed behind them towards the entrance to the house. Though they appeared to be but children, Kenshin thought about what Hiko had said and wondered how old they truly were.

Later, Kenshin found himself resting on warm bedding with a full stomach and the sound of the komainu breathing peacefully in sleep and tucked together in their own futon. Hiko Seijuro either did not sleep in the house, or had other business to attend to that night. Crossed hands braced the back of his head, and he stared up at the ceiling of this foreign place as he digested his day. With an indrawn breath, he reached one hand out to dig through the bag next to him, and withdrew a replacement phone he had bought with some money he had saved. It was not a new or even recent model, but it suited his needs.

As he expected, there was already a message from Tomoe waiting for him, and he opened it without fanfare. Briefly he scanned her words of concern for his lack of communication, and touched instead the picture she had sent already hours before. Warmth softened his expression into a slight smile, and a soft laugh huffed from his nose.

Before he had left, he had explained to Kaoru that eating was a part of gaining strength, and she therefore had a duty to eat, per their agreement. She was never to skip a meal again, otherwise he would assume their agreement was null and void. The expression she had rewarded him with for that revelation had been comical, and he still chuckled when he thought of it. Hastily her head had shook, and she had agreed fervently to eat her meals without complaint or denial.

The picture Tomoe provided proved her to be true to her word, but in her own strange and unusual way. Both cheeks were stuffed full like a squirrel, and upon seeing that Tomoe was photographing her, she had lifted her left arm into a demonstrative flex. The message was perfectly clear, and he was glad she seemed to be doing well in his absence.

Typing a quick response to confirm he had arrived safely, Kenshin placed the phone next to his pillow and closed his eyes for sleep. Tomorrow, it seemed, he would hold up his own end of their agreement.

X

One loud, dangerous bang rattled the steel door that Sojiro stood before, and he blinked as he studied the single, bandaged occupant through a small glass opening. Black marks and deep gouges decorated the interior walls of the small room, and the window behind a row of steel bars across from the door was broken. Again. There was a lot of rage in the bandaged creature, that had nothing to do with Sojiro's powers.

"Forgive me, Master Shishio. I know you are angry with me." A single touch of true sorrow trembled his voice, before it faded into nothing, and his smile became empty once more. "But her singing was affecting you unfavorably. Once you calm down, I will let you out again." Another strong kick jarred the door. Sojiro took a small step back.

"It's my fault, Sojiro-sama." A tall man appeared at his elbow, dressed in black and wearing a human skull mask. "I failed to create a body strong enough for Master Shishio."

"Thank you, Gein, but the fault is my own. His body had all but disintegrated by the time I found him. If I could have saved more, he would not have turned out so… incomplete. It truly is a shame."

Bowing his head, Gein placated him. "No one could have foreseen that he would not retain his reason."

"True. He has the intelligence and mentality of a toddler. Never-the-less, I will see that he has his revenge. Whatever the cost." Turning away without hurry, Sojiro paced down the dark hallway, Gein at his heels. "I have a new project that will require your expertise."

"Excellent, Sojiro-sama. I am here to serve."

Reaching into the inner lining of his jacket, Sojiro removed a black box roughly the size of his hand with a folded piece of paper. "The exact description and specifications are on this paper, and you will use the contents of this box as its core. This build will be more complex than any other I have asked of you. You must take your time to make sure it is nothing less than perfect."

"Of course, Sojiro-sama." Glancing over the instructions, Gein grinned behind his mask and his voice rose with excitement. "It will be the most beautiful doll I have made yet."

"I thought you might be pleased." There was nothing smug about his expression or tone, though, to suggest Sojiro felt anything similar. "I must leave to collect the remaining necessary ingredients to bring it to life, but it will not be an easy task. You will look after Master Shishio while I am away."

"It would be my honor." Another deep bow, and a wicked smirk twisted Gein's features as Sojiro walked away.

X

A/N: I wonder if anyone noticed that Kenshin doesn't sleep with a blanket. Ah well. Ayame and Suzume were a new addition, but as I thought things through for Hiko's mountain, I realized they work better than I thought they would. Unfortunately, they will not be related to Genzai in this story, even though I have already hinted at him being a character as well. I do look forward to them warming up to Kenshin, though. Such cute thoughts. Oh, and if it wasn't clear, komainu are the lion-like statues that guard the entrances (or other areas) of Shinto shrines. It's kind of fun to think of them as two little lions: adorable, but exceptionally dangerous.

And one other character's debut. He's kind of an important one.

Strangely unrelated, I started looking up videos on Japanese apartments, for future reference, and got hooked on videos of deep cleaning and extreme garbage removal. (I, too, know it sounds weird, but it's strangely satisfying seeing everything all clean at the end.) I'm a little excited for Kenshin to have his own place again, just so I can put my references to good use, lol. Sadly, that won't be for a few chapters. Sigh.

Coming up, a peek in on Kaoru, and Kenshin trains in earnest under an element incompatible with his own. Hope everyone still wants more!