Chapter Eighty-Two

"No fair, Ayame! I wanted to hug Nii-san first!" Suzume came barreling through the frozen insect demons like they were bowling pins, her large lion paws swatting aside each obstacle with ease. When she was finally near enough, she too latched herself to Kenshin's waist, and he laughed while patting them both on the head.

"How did you know it was me?"

They grinned up at him, but their simultaneous response killed his humor.

"Master said he smelled fire and sent us out to find you."

"Right." A droll purse of his mouth echoed the flatness in his eyes. He probably knew I was here the moment we arrived, that old hermit.

Ayame glanced away from him when Kaoru moved, and violet eyes lifted to find the exact expression of delight he would have expected to find on Kaoru's face. Still glowing sapphire eyes were wide with wonder, and even with the salamander perched on her shoulder, she looked like she had never seen anything as amazing as the two small lions before her.

"Is this Kaoru-san?" Letting go of Kenshin, Ayame skipped over to grab Kaoru by one hand. Not to be left behind, Suzume followed her big sister and grabbed Kaoru by her other hand.

"Hello." Smiling, Kaoru knelt down so that she was eye level with the komainu. "What are your names?"

"Ayame the Swift."

"Suzume the Strong."

A slight crease appeared between Kaoru's brows, and Kenshin fought a laugh. Her reaction nearly mirrored his own confused response when he had first met them. Their self-proclaimed titles only made sense after seeing them in real action.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both. I… guess you know me from the news?"

"No. Ken-nii/Nii-san talked about you a lot." As was usual, they spoke in tandem, and Kenshin cleared his throat before turning away when Kaoru darted a look at him. "He kept a picture of you on his phone, too." As the three girls giggled, Kenshin frowned in distraction. One of the hypnotized ant demons had fallen forward, and its legs struggled weakly as it broke free of Kaoru's spell.

"Ayame-chan." Though he spoke to the elder komainu, both turned their attention to him, and Kaoru stood slowly to her feet. She too looked around, as if recognizing that something was off with her power. "Is the barrier still active?"

"Of course. The Master never relaxes the barrier around the mountain."

"Good. We should head there now." Throwing his bag over his shoulder and across his chest, Kenshin bent to pick Kaoru up to her immediate protest.

"I can walk!" Her sputtered indignation made him grin, and he stood straight when she backed away from him.

"But can you jump?" One of her dark eyebrows lifted, and he jerked his head upwards. "It will be for the best if we go over them. Unless you would like me to make a path through?"

Her petulant frown was interrupted by a gasp, and she shook her head quickly to disagree. Going through them sounded too much like a path of fire.

"No. Let's go over them, but… I'll feel better if I'm the one holding on."

Fighting back amusement, he twisted his bag so that its weight hung in front of him instead, and then knelt with his back to her so she could ride piggyback. With her arms now around his neck and his hands tucked under her thighs, he was struck with a sense of déjà vu. The first time they had met, he had carried her this way.

At least her weight is normal now, and she doesn't feel like a skeleton.

It was most definitely easier to tell she was a girl now than on their first meeting just by the feel of her figure pressed against him.

Directing his attention to the salamander still perched on her shoulder, and now hanging partially over his, Kenshin jerked his chin again. "You. Make sure our path is clear this time." The salamander rasped an agreement, and fire flickered from his nostrils before he took off into the sky. On the ground, Suzume picked Kaoru's luggage up and placed it on top of her head.

"I got this one. Get them there as fast as you can, okay sis? I'll take my time."

Ayame nodded. "Don't cause too much damage, or you'll make trouble for Master again."

Suzume grinned mischievously, as if to agree and disagree at the same time.

"Will she be alright by herself?" Kaoru's concern warmed Kenshin's smile.

"Don't worry, Miss Kaoru. I never once beat Suzume or Ayame in a fight while I was training." The knowledge easily shocked her, but her features relaxed into being impressed not a moment later.

"My kind of ladies."

Ayame the Swift proceeded to demonstrate her title as she led them out of the intersection the same way she had made her way in, by bouncing off the outer walls of two parallel buildings. Kenshin did not follow exactly, but leaped into the air in one smooth arch, kicked off one wall, and shot them towards an opening behind the stirring crowd of insect demons. Clinging to his shoulders, Kaoru caught herself on a giggle as they came to the apex of his jump and her stomach, along with the rest of her body, briefly lifted away from his back as she remained suspended in place. The same way reaching the maximum height on a swing-set felt. As soon as he kicked and they began their fast descent, however, something dark, large, and eight-legged caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. Ingrained fear spiked her heartbeat, but when she tried to double check that she had seen what she thought she had, she found her vision obscured by the diminishing rooftop. Convincing herself that she was merely jumping at shadows, she turned her face into the side of Kenshin's neck for the remainder of the plunge.

Their landing was not nearly as rough as she expected, as Kenshin's legs took the brunt of the impact. Next to them, one of the previously immobile insect demons stumbled towards them, but fell when its legs gave out. Another one behind them, however, came back with all faculties intact, forcing Kenshin to react or be caught by mantis claws. Deciding it best to make a run for it while the majority of the Insect Clan remained motionless, Kenshin followed as close behind Ayame as he could. Keeping up with the swift komainu was not an easy feat, though, and they barely kept her in sight. It was while they were running down the barren streets with the salamander leading them in the sky, that Kenshin spoke to her over his shoulder.

"Have you been practicing that move?"

The question sounded reminisce of his teacher voice when they trained together, and Kaoru could imagine him working out the details of what she had accomplished, how to replicate it, and even how to make it better. He was a good teacher, even if he expressed awkwardness with it. The way he thought everything through carefully when it came to utilizing the dangerous power of onibi reassured her when she feared those powers on a moral level.

Despite knowing his intentions were likely instructive, Kaoru was quiet for a moment, but not because she was trying to avoid the question. She, too, had been surprised by what had happened. Grateful, but surprised.

"No…"

"Hmm." It was his turn to be silent, and his breathing remained steady as he continued to run. "Before, it always seemed like you had to be looking at your intended target, but this time I know I wasn't looking at you. Do you know what you did?"

Shaking her head, Kaoru ducked her chin onto his collarbone comfortably.

"I don't get it, either, but I did notice that it wasn't as potent as before. At the festival, w-with Cho… time sort of slowed down."

Kenshin nodded slowly in agreement.

"I remember that feeling. You're right, it wasn't like that tonight. Do you think it's because there were more people?"

"Maybe… The only thing that was the same this time was… everyone did as I commanded."

"Commanded?" The wording was very specific, and he glanced at her. "Did you command Cho to do something?"

"Yes… I made him look at me. I forced him to direct his full attention on me." Afterwards, she clearly remembered wanting to demand that he follow her so that she could lead him astray. Where her thoughts had led afterwards still gave her chills, and she shivered even with Kenshin's heat warming her through his back. Shoving the memory aside, she swallowed and put herself back on track with the conversation. "Tonight… I made everyone stop. Well, almost everyone. I'm not sure, but maybe it only really worked on those who were looking at me. I mean… I'm their target, right? It makes sense that most of them would have been looking at me and not you."

"I suppose." The low growl in his voice said he wasn't pleased with the reminder or with her being correct about it. "But again, I wasn't looking at you."

"No, but…" Fighting a smile, Kaoru tried hard not to laugh as a different memory flooded her brain. "I did… touch you when I said it. So maybe that's why?"

"You mean you punched me." His dry tone sent her laughter over the edge, and she kissed him hard on the cheek.

"You're not going to let that go, are you?"

"It hurt." Indignation lifted his soft tenor voice, and she chewed her lip. She knew she should feel contrite and not laugh at his expense, but his reaction was humorous.

"Sorry…" She truly was. Hurting him had not been her intention. She had only wished for his attention. Sobering as she recalled that desperation, her voice lowered. "I'd appreciate it if you'd listen when I'm talking, though, so I don't have to resort to a different way to try and make you."

Silence once again descended between them, and the fingers around her thighs tightened briefly.

"I'm sorry, Miss Kaoru. I was… afraid. I promise I won't ignore you again."

The curve of her lips softened, and she hugged him warmly.

"I promise I won't punch you again… unless we're training."

Chuckling at her, he titled his head briefly into the side of hers.

"It's a deal."

Kaoru's smile stayed as the affectionate moment warmed her chest, but it slowly faded as his words settled in her mind.

I don't want you to be so afraid all the time. I just… want you to be happy. I'd do anything to make you happy.

Abruptly, a yawn caught her off-guard, and she turned her chin away from Kenshin to her outer shoulder so that she could hide the motion. It lasted too long and was too persistent, though, to really stay hidden, and he glanced at her affectionately.

"Tired?"

"Hmm." Leaning heavily into his shoulders, she softened the hug of her arms over his chest and closed her eyes drowsily. All at once, her energy seemed to drain out of her, and she felt exhausted. "A little. It is the middle of the night."

"You used a lot of power as well, Miss Kaoru. Your body isn't used to channeling so much energy at once." Combined with her episode while boarding the train, she was surely worn out.

"You think so?" Her sleepy reply made him smile.

"We should be there soon."

"I'm fine. I'll just… close my eyes for a little bit."

Twenty minutes later, Kaoru woke with a start when their guide shouted back at them excitedly.

"We're here!"

Up ahead of them, Ayame had finally stopped and was pointing off the road they were on and into the trees. Kenshin slowed to a halt next to the small komainu and lowered Kaoru to her feet when she insisted.

"You should'uve put me down sooner."

Ruffling her bangs and smiling, Kenshin didn't respond, and she huffed when she realized she had let him carry her almost the entire way. The huff quickly turned into a yawn. Though Kenshin would never say so, his muscles were twitching and his back was stiff from having to support her for so long. The journey had been tough on her, though, even if she wanted to claim it had not. Turning his bag to hang once more from his back, he took Kaoru by the hand and was ready to follow Ayame up the path to Hiko's mountain when Suzume's voice echoed to them from far behind.

They turned as one, and flame-blue eyes widened to find the small lion cub running with Kaoru's luggage balanced precariously on her head. Behind her, the entirety of the Insect Clan made chase, whether by land or sky. Though the situation seemed dire, Ayame merely sighed and stepped in front of them.

"She knows better than to bring uninvited guests to the Master's mountain."

Kenshin chuckled, and Kaoru glanced at him like he was crazy when he merely shrugged. A second look at Suzume revealed she was grinning while being chased, as if she were simply play a game of tag.

"Please go on ahead. My sister and I will handle our pest problem." Ayame's sweet little child voice sounded even more threatening than if the promise had been spoken with the deep rumble that Kenshin sometimes used.

"But…" Kaoru tried to protest, but Kenshin pulled her towards the trees.

"Don't worry, Miss Kaoru. Ayame and Suzume wouldn't leave a pile of insects at the base of the mountain. They'll turn them away properly. I promise. And even if any slip past them, which I doubt, there's a barrier around the mountain. No one uninvited may enter."

"O-okay." Skeptical, Kaoru followed but continued to glance over her shoulder even when they were too far away to see. "It just doesn't feel right to leave two young children to fight by themselves. Even if they are strong."

This time Kenshin laughed openly and loudly enough to make her frown.

"What's so funny?"

Kenshin tweaked her nose and looked very much as if he were laughing at her expense, much to her chagrin.

"Those two are older than me, Miss Kaoru." Dark brows creased deeply with skepticism and shock. "To them, we are the children."

"Huh?!"

"Besides…" His voice grew grim, and his hand tightened around hers. "I'm more concerned about what we're walking towards, not away from."

The forest around them was dark in the absence of sunlight, and the pale moonlight from far above provided them a slightly silvery illumination that strained Kaoru's eyes. No fire was provided by Kenshin to light their way, but he appeared to have little trouble following the path without the added assistance of his flames. Trusting him to not lead her astray, and curious about his cryptic warning, she stopped immediately when he came to a sudden halt in front of her. A second later, the area surrounding them was lit so brightly and abruptly that she was forced to close her eyes.

The Kagu-tsuchi appeared in his hand with a roar of flames mere moments before Kenshin reacted to block the attack aimed for his head. The pure blue sheen of his opponent's blade sang than clashed with the Kagu-tsuchi inches from his crown, and Kenshin grunted under the water weight of Hiko's strength.

"You've grown slow again, boy. Did you give up after leaving my mountain?"

"Hello to you, too, Master." Straining to push him off, Kenshin jumped to the side to lead him away from Kaoru.

Blinking the stars from her eyes, Kaoru rubbed her lashes aggressively, and tried to follow the fight happening in front of her. A spike of concern pierced her heart first, as the man attacking Kenshin was large and obviously powerful. Following closely in second, however, was awe as she recognized the intense and expertly tactical duel between two battle-hardened warriors. It didn't even enter her mind to interfere as she was too mesmerized by spectating. A silent part of her easily recognized that she wouldn't last anyway. Caught in her admiration, undercut by a drop of jealousy, Kaoru took a step forward… only to find her advance stalled by two sets of hands clutching either of hers.

"Don't worry. They're just saying hello."

The komainu had caught up with them, and stood once more on either side of her, just like the tiny guards that they were. They had clearly mistaken her intentions, but it still relieved her to hear that this man meant Kenshin no harm. Instead, their sudden appearance brought about a different form of concern, and she bent at the waist to look them both over quickly.

"Are you okay? Were you hurt at all?" Even if Kenshin had claimed they were older, they looked so young, and she couldn't help but worry for their safety and well-being. Both komainu blushed under her scrutiny, and they grinned at her with a show of large canines.

"We're fine. We gave those insects a good thrashing and sent them home."

Kaoru relaxed in relief, and then found her attention drawn away by the sharp swish and clang of swords coming together in rapid succession. Dividing her attention between the komainu and what she now recognized was a greeting and a test between master and student, Kaoru's smile lessened into absorbed appreciation. Kenshin was holding his own, of course, but this man he fought against was amazing.

"Is that the Master?"

Both lion-dogs nodded their heads eagerly, and a thrill of excitement raced up her spine. Kenshin had claimed he was going to introduce her to a dragon. Was he it? If so, she couldn't wait to actually meet him, and see him clearly, for that matter. The shadows from the trees were annoyingly keeping him, and her, in the dark. Next to her, she missed the way the komainu stared up at her wonder filled expression, and the look they shared with each other that spoke of their own excitement. They traded a nod of agreement, and then they once more tugged on her hands to gain her attention. She gave it to them reluctantly, but blinked when they revealed what they wanted.

"Can we ask you a question?"

Kenshin's back slammed into a tree, and he winced through gritted teeth while maintaining the air in his lungs. Their blades screeched together as Hiko held him there, effortlessly to his annoyance, and then the water dragon leaned forward until the light reflecting off their steel illuminated his features. They were stern, and the intensity in his eyes studied him carefully. When he spoke, his voice betrayed amusement.

"Did you get taller?"

Trying to hold back his frustration, Kenshin pushed against him, but failed to unpin himself. As if to mock his inability to budge him, Hiko lifted one hand, effectively showing-off that he could keep him down with one arm only. With that free hand, he snatched the winter toboggin from Kenshin's head and revealed his stunted red horns. Laughter roared from Hiko's chest, but he didn't step back or let up. Instead, his voice turned rueful.

"That's about what I expected."

"Wha…?" Irritated, Kenshin meant to question him, but their stalled battle was interrupted by the enthusiastic calls of the komainu.

"Master! Master!" Their unison voices pulled Hiko's gaze to his left, and he watched as Ayame and Suzume pulled a young woman closer into the clearing. Blue reflected off her hair from the moonlight, and when she glanced up from watching the two lion-dogs, her sapphire eyes glowed softly in the dark, like water sparkling in a cave.

"A human has come to call on you!"

"There's a human on the mountain!"

The announcements were absorbed without haste, and the gravity of what had been claimed appeared to come together in his mind. Slowly, Hiko turned his head back to Kenshin, and he frowned as he understood the gravity of what her presence meant in connection to his.

"A human?"

The low word rumbled, and Kenshin's emotions switched fast from annoyance to cautionary.

"Hiko-sama…"

The master disappeared a mere half-second before Kenshin followed. Tall and imposing, Hiko stood before Kaoru, his height blocking her from the moonlight. Between them, Kenshin was poised at the ready with the Kagu-tsuchi in hand, willing to defend her from even a dragon. Lifting his own weapon, the dragon of the mountain knocked him off balance, and then pushed him into the dirt with his other hand. Like swatting aside a naughty child.

"Settle down, boy. Can't you see I have a visitor?"

Feeling threatened, the salamander plummeted from out of the sky, and landed on Kaoru's shoulder with a hiss of fire and anger. Both of his wings spread wide for balance, and the tuft of flames at the tip of his tail twitched in warning. Dropping his sword back on to his shoulder, Hiko drew himself up to his fullest height, and stared down his nose at the salamander. Kaoru, however, was not affected by the salamander's aggression or by Hiko's intimidation in the slightest. In fact, her sapphire eyes shown with open delight as she studied the coral horns sprouting from his temples, his long sea-blue hair, and his rather impressive scales.

"Are you a dragon?" The question was half-breathless, and she bounced once on her toes to gain his attention. Her hands were still help captive by the komainu, so she could not move to get any closer. "I've always wanted to meet a dragon."

The declaration shot Hiko's sea-blue eyebrows into his hairline. Glancing at Kenshin as he sat himself upright on the ground, Hiko laughed at the fire demon's petulant expression, but ducked a cursory bow of his head towards Kaoru in greeting.

"Then I shall count myself honored to be your first." Her cheeks flushed, but with joy and not any true affection. Irked by the encounter, Kenshin's head turned away to hide his jealousy. If only his growth had not stunted, he would have been the first dragon she met. Lost to his own disappointment, Kenshin missed the moment Hiko's eyes lowered to study a point directly at the center of Kaoru's chest. After several long seconds, his gaze returned to her face, and irises the color of sea-foam narrowed on her in return skepticism. "Are you actually a human?"

"Oh." Her smile dimmed slightly, and she closed her eyes sheepishly. "My mom would be ashamed." Fulling committing to her own bow, she introduced herself from her ninety-degree angle. "My name is Kamiya Kaoru. Both my father and mother were humans."

From her now bent position, Hiko stared at the same spot in the center of her ribcage, now at the center of her spine, and his brows creased as he reached to touch what appeared to be a blinding golden glow in her chest cavity. Displeased by the interaction as well, but most specifically by Kaoru's range of emotions, the salamander proceeded to bite Hiko's hand in warning. Instead of reacting, Hiko conjured water from his scales which spilled into the salamander's mouth from the contact. The small fire lizard immediately snapped open his jaws and nauseously let the vile liquid spew out from between his teeth.

"Be gone. We're having a conversation." Brushing the salamander off her shoulder, it too fell to the ground next to Kenshin as if dismissed to the peanut gallery. Kaoru stood and opened her mouth to protest the rough treatment, but Hiko placed a hand at her back and urged her forward.

"Tell me, Kamiya-san, how do you feel about living in the mountains?"

"Oh, well… you have a beautiful home."

Next to Kenshin, the salamander turned on him in clear distress.

"You can't lose her to that stupid water dragon!"

Sighing, Kenshin pushed himself to his feet. Ayame and Suzume hurried on after Hiko and Kaoru, her luggage still balanced on Suzume's head.

"Relax. He's just trying to get under my skin." Waving him up, Kenshin grabbed the salamander by one clawed foot. "You need to rest now. Hiko's house is cold at night, so you'll be sleeping with Kaoru." Pleased by the prospect, as the salamander had been deferring its favored spot to Kenshin the last couple of nights, the salamander returned to its dormant form compliantly. Mentally preparing himself for the questions Hiko surely had for him, Kenshin stuffed the hair charm into his sweater pocket before trudging after them up the mountain.