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The Long Road Home: Chapter 3 - Passing Glances

by ranma15177301291

Kenshin and Hiko walked onto the main thoroughfare of roads and had been in a companionable silence for most of the trip so far until Kenshin asked an all-important question and Hiko did what he had to do...

“Where are we going?” He ignored Kenshin’s question for the third time.

Hiko looked around at each of the street vendors and when he saw the work of a local potter he turned up his nose and scoffed. “See that? The secret to being a true artist is knowing your materials...”

“Where are we going?” Kenshin interrupted again.

“Of course what would you know about that? You didn’t stick around long enough to learn the trade. You there, do you own this shop?” Hiko ignored Kenshin’s question and walked over to converse with the young man in front of the potter’s shop.

“No, it’s my father’s...may I help you?” The man bowed respectfully and spread out his hands toward his wares. He had extraordinarily long hair and it had been folded multiple times in its braid. “Perhaps something for your lady friend?”

“Excuse me?” Hiko looked around for a woman as Kenshin got a pole-axed look and passed out. “Oh, this? No, he’s not a she. He’s a he. And I’ve been refusing to buy him anything nice since he was twelve...You see...”

“Maa, Maa!” Kenshin waved his hands in a placating way from his place on the ground at the vendor’s son and then glared wakizashi at his sensee.

“Oh, Himura-san! I’m sorry I didn’t see you properly! Please excuse my rudeness!!!” The man was bowing down so low that his face was touching the floor.

“Kenshin?” Hiko looked from the seller to Kenshin and back again.

“I think Shishou was going to buy something...” Kenshin was, to Hiko’s eyes, doing an excellent job of avoiding difficult subjects too.

“This is your teacher? Of course! Please, if I can interest you in anything! Please!” The man was looking up at them both with awe and Kenshin smiled in what Hiko considered a very absent way. “Or perhaps you are also looking for information about the “stone” that went missing from the newly formed Natural History Museum. Personally...” and here he leaned in closer to the two men, “I think someone on the staff must have done it because no one else could get that close.”

“I...”Kenshin blinked “Oro!” He shook his head. “We weren’t missing the artifact...Or even looking for it. We have much to do today, however I hope your problem...sorts itself out....quickly?” Kenshin bowed out and began to look for any reason to pardon himself.

“Hold on Kenshin, how can we know if we’re searching for this stone or not? What is your name sir?”

“Hideki Hideo.” The vendor bowed low again.

“Hideo-san, what is it that you know?” Hiko raised his eyebrow at Kenshin who he noticed was losing a battle with his face...He was trying for some dopey grin, that ended in a strange sort of scowl.

“Well to be honest sir, I’m not really all that informed. I just know that some blue stone that was going to be shown at the new Natural History Museum was stolen. Apparently it was really old and worth more than I would make in ten years if I never slept.” Here he gesticulated wildly. “That’s all I know though...other than the fact that the thieves didn’t touch anything else...and that the government is getting involved because it was owned by some foreign business man.” Here he leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, “Apparently it has something to do with the deaths of four women. I think those things are unrelated though, since I don’t believe in curses myself.” Hiko nodded his head. It doesn’t seem like a pertinent piece of information unless one of those women was Akari. I think that in this case...

“It won’t really be of any use to us. Perhaps I can buy a pot here another time? I am going to be in town for a few days and won’t be purchasing anything until I have finished my business here.” Hiko bowed to the vendor and began to walk forward. Kenshin was still standing there.

“Do you know the names of the women?” Kenshin had a vacant look about his features but his eyes were still hard and questioning.

The man shook his head. “It wasn’t something the paper talked about...”

“Was that paper...?” Kenshin began, but the man cut him off before he could say anything more.

“That revolutionary one? Sure was. You think the Mejii government would let that information around?” The young man smiled too large for Hiko’s liking and so he made a mental note of his face.

Both men turned to leave as Kenshin said his goodbye and as Hiko was leaving he turned to Kenshin. “Friend of yours? He seemed to know you.”

“You know...I don’t have any idea who that was.” Kenshin didn’t seem disturbed by this so Hiko thought that maybe this wasn’t unusual behavior as far as Kenshin was concerned. “Although I guess I should find out if he has any intentions so that I can be certain he isn’t trying to track me down to kill me.” Kenshin said this with that strange grin still hovering on his face, and he looked even more vacant now that his eyes were empty.

“Your life is very complicated. Wipe that smile off your face, it’s giving me the creeps.” Kenshin looked stunned for a second and Hiko realized that Kenshin had perhaps not known that he was smiling. “Don’t tell me you look like that all the time. What in the name of eternity would make you adopt such a dopey look?”

“Shishou, would you have me scowl at the people here?” Kenshin scowled at him.

“It works for me. You’re much more real when you’re scowling.” Hiko commented as they walked past the busy stalls.

“Have you ever considered that it is not, in fact, that I am a brooding and unhappy person but that you drive me to depression?” Kenshin looked satisfied with the comment, as though he thought he’d already won their mental battle of wills on this fight.

“Have you ever considered that it might be yet another of your strange extra personalities? I have no control over the damage you did to your brain after you left my mountain. Since I never saw you smiling like some brainless girl in a tea room when you lived with me I can only assume the damage was done after I was finished with you. On the other hand...you fell on your head a lot...a whole lot...” Hiko remembered back to the time when Kenshin was learning the Ryu Tsui Sen and saw image after image of Kenshin falling squarely on his face. I remember as if it were yesterday.

“...oro...” Kenshin got a very maligned look on his face.

“Heh.” Hiko sniggered slightly. Apparently so does he.

“Either way...I want to tell you the whole story of what happened, but I think we should get some tea and try to bore the guy who has been following me since I got on the Tokaido in Kyoto. He is standing back there.” Kenshin narrowed his eyes and Hiko watched as Kenshin confirmed Hiko’s suspicions. “I think, that he thinks I don’t notice him. He’s been a very lively companion. I was really hoping that he’d given up when I left him dangling back on that ravine but he’s apparently very into his job. Who am I to second guess that?”

“Shishou? I want the whole story. This is very odd. Why would someone watch you if you were only journeying here to honor Akari-sense’s memory?” Kenshin looked as puzzled as Hiko felt.

“To be honest I was thinking that he would disappear once I got here.” Hiko looked at Kenshin. “I thought that he’d been watching simply to make sure that I got to Tokyo, since some part of this is obviously a set up, and he would report in that I was here after I arrived. I never expected that he would follow me around like some love sick girl for the rest of my stay here.” Hiko checked back again and indeed he was still following. Hiko smiled wolfishly.

“A trick?” Kenshin looked a little stunned. Hiko shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.

“You mean Akari? I’m not sure yet. I have to go see her to be certain of that. She might be dead. His presence and her death together might be coincidental...but somehow...I can see how one might lead into the other so I’m going to give this guy the benefit of the doubt before I behead him in the street.” Hiko ambled easily and said the last words as if he were talking of serving tea to a guest. He saw Kenshin shudder slightly.

“That’s very magnanimous of you, Shishou. Hopefully that won’t be necessary.” Kenshin was still watching the man who had ambled up to talk to the young man at the pottery stand and now he held a weary look. “I really hope that they don’t know each other...I’m very tired of plots against me.”

“You should have stuck around the mountain and learned to throw pots instead of becoming some great shadow assassin then.” Hiko laughed out loud and even Kenshin let out a small and not quite smirking laugh at that.

“Shishou...I still don’t regret what I did for Japan...I just regret the misery that I caused and the people that lost their lives. There isn’t much room left for personal losses, I’m sure that I’ll eventually get around to that later.” He glared at Hiko as he said this and the older man rolled his eyes.

“Sarcasm is not a good part of your conversational skills. If you’re not careful people are going to think that you spend every day wallowing in your own despair.” Hiko shook his head and rubbed his temples. “A man can only shed so much blood in his life before he becomes something that he can’t recognize as himself...I’m just grateful that you found yourself before you fell too far to catch.” Kenshin looked like he was blinking in surprise at Hiko’s statement and the master slowed down and stopped to closely regard the younger man. “What? You don’t think I understand? Kenshin...do you remember the day that we met?” Hiko began to walk once again.

“Those men were going to kill everyone and as I ran I realized that I was too late. Every step I took seemed to take me farther away. When I finally reached the caravan I realized I could only save one person that day. Just you, Kenshin, and despite the fact that I had never met a single one of the people in that long procession I was enraged with myself. It had been boiling just beneath the surface, those men met more than the sword of the thirteenth master that day...they were torn from their lives in the claws of a vengeful dragon. I had been so lost in my own quiet contemplation after becoming Hiko that even my rage was not loud...but if I’d had a voice I would have cursed them to their deaths. It wasn’t until I began to teach you that I slowly lost some of that...” Hiko trailed off. “Has he added a few friends or is it me?” Hiko nodded back in the direction of their new suspicious looking followers.

“Apart from himself? Five. Two from the noodle stand and three from that fish market. I haven’t felt this watched since last month.” Kenshin was walking with an easy gait and Hiko was watching his eyes become hard and calculating.

“Six on two. I like those odds. I don’t think they are going to act unless we’re somewhere more private. Maybe we should give them their wish?” Hiko started to walk toward a small alley with Kenshin following at a comfortable distance. “Either way. Kenshin, I’m not going to say I understand what it’s like to mete out heaven’s judgment on the whims of a politician, but I certainly know what it is to kill. Despite what you may think of me, also I know what it is like to have regret.” They walked down the alley and the long roofs of the buildings cast them into shadow as they walked quickly toward a right angle that led into a dead end and they waited for their six adversaries to come around the corner.

The sound of feet approaching filled Hiko’s brain. Wait...that’s not six people that’s just...Kenshin and Hiko both pulled their swords and let out a small yell and the alley filled with the sound of sliding skirling steel just as an old woman turned the corner.

“Yahhhhhhhh!” The two swordsmen stopped immediately and looked at each other.

“Eee-Yahhhhhhhhh!” The old woman, startled as she was, jumped back and slipped over a small box in her fright landing with a deafening crash in a pile of rubbish.

The old woman coming around the corner was as much of a shock for Kenshin as it was for Hiko and they both put their katana back as they rushed forward to help the flailing old woman. “Obaa-dono! Are you all right? We thought you were a gang of men!”

“Well, I don’t know if my spirit has returned to my body yet since I swear it just flew off with Taketsura’s cherry tree. On the other hand, I know that I’m not a gang of men...” The old woman was glaring at the two men before her and trying to pick herself free of the trash.

“We had noticed.” Hiko stood as he said this. “Make sure that your new friend there is okay, Kenshin.” Hiko left by leaping straight up onto the roof of the nearest building and presumably looking for their six lost shadows, ran in the direction they had last seen them.

“Who was that, Himura-san?” The old woman looked at him strangely, and Kenshin was startled that she’d known his name. This is the second time today that someone I don’t know has called me by name, so there must be a connection. I’m not sensing that this woman is about to kill me though, so I will try to wait and see where this new farce leads. It’s possible that the men following Hiko were working for her or that she is working for them.She began to speak again and Kenshin listened. “I am not sure why I’m telling you this...since it was not my choice to bring such filth beyond my door but...My name is Matsui Yuki.”

“That was my teacher, Matsui-dono. I can’t apologize enough for what happened today. Please, if you need anything tell me.” Kenshin looked at the thoughtful look on her face and began to wonder if he should have said something else since she looked very unhappy.

“Himura-san...Was that Hiko Seijuro the Thirteenth?” The question took him completely by surprise. “Was that him? Or is it you now that holds that title of Hiko?”

“H-How do you know me? Or my master?” Now I am certain that we are being fooled...but by whom?

“I am Matsui Yuki the esteemed mother of one Matsui Akari now deceased. It was me who sent for your master...I’ve been waiting for him to come. I figured the very least he could do now that my darling one is gone is to help me. You see, your hermit of a master ruined my beautiful daughter for marriage, and now I need him to find my husband and my grandson. It’s nice to know that he still knows how to treat a lady.” She stood and brushed the trash from her very expensive looking kimono.

Kenshin was startled into silence. He blinked. The world hadn’t corrected itself yet. He blinked again. “I’m sorry Matsui-dono. I must have misheard you, did you say that...”

“Akari’s son and my husband are missing. You did not misunderstand me. I only hope that whoever killed Akari has not already killed them both. I admit that I don’t understand the circumstances that led to all of this. Just know that my innocent daughter had suffered enough...”

Kenshin was feeling very uncomfortable. There was nothing he could say to this woman that would be of any comfort. At the same time he was too busy feeling disturbed at the prospect of Hiko having any children and he very nearly fell over dead at the thought alone.

“How can I explain?” She looked up at the roof and her eyes narrowed. “I guess I should start eighteen years ago when my daughter returned to me...ruined...”

“Ahhh. You must be Yuki. Look, I’m not going to take any of your crap.” Kenshin took a startled mental gasp. Don’t...You’ll regret it later.The ex-hitokiri thought. Kenshin watched Hiko as he jumped down and he looked directly into his student’s eyes She might be telling the truth.He found himself wanting to get down to the brass tacks of this situation but found himself also desiring the feeling of freedom that went with avoidance. “Kenshin. They disappeared. It’s obvious that we’ve been fooled. Now, is it you old woman? Or is there more to this?”

“I assure you...Hiko...There is nothing that I would like more than to see you strung from a bridge and left until your flesh rots off, but I did not hire any thugs to fight you in a back alley. I’m the kind of woman that would like to face you head on...besides, I find myself in a very unusual situation.” Kenshin cocked his eyebrow at this and the old woman held herself in a very dignified manner despite her kimono being covered in stains. You can say that again.“I find that I need your help. If you would come to our home...I will explain everything. We can’t do this here. There are eyes everywhere now. Apparently I should add those who follow you to this list. These are dangerous times we live in, you know?” The matriarch began to walk and signaled that they should follow. She somehow still seemed very refined despite everything that had just happened.

“Well?” Kenshin looked at Hiko as they began to walk behind the woman.

“Well what?” Hiko looked at him.

“Did you have a son with Akari or not?” Kenshin felt unusual asking such a question.

“I have no idea.” Hiko seemed impassive.

“Oro!” Kenshin very nearly tripped over his own feet. “What do you mean? How can you be uncertain? This should be one of those times when a yes or no answer will immediately come to mind.”

“If there was anything that came of the time that we spent together she kept it from me quite well. Personally, I think this old bat is having me on.”

“And if she’s not?” Kenshin looked searchingly at his master.

“Well, he’d be a grown man by now. There’s nothing I can do about it.” Hiko was obviously disturbed, Kenshin noted, by the sudden change in his tone but was apparently doing his level best to address the situation as it came. I guess there is nothing to gain if we worry about things that may not be.Kenshin looked at Hiko questioningly, he answered, “On the positive side this is the easiest way to find Akari’s family home without having to ask around and draw attention to ourselves.”

They wended their way through the streets and turned toward the nicer district in Tokyo. Twenty minutes later they stood outside a set of gates bordered by a long wall and Kenshin couldn’t help looking around startled when they’d come to a very large European styled home. “As you can see I live well enough.”. The old woman said as she walked forward and began to walk directly for the gateway and the man standing next to it.

“Akari’s father is a famous doctor and moxibustionist to the Emperor. Their family has been in service to the his highness for more than seven generations and has probably lost very little in this Meiji despite no longer being samurai...am I correct?” Hiko stood at the gates to the home and rattled off the information as if it were common knowledge. Kenshin was a little surprised that Hiko knew all of that.

“Not exactly, Seijuro.” The woman paused as the guard outside of her home unlocked and opened her gate. “We have only been the emperor’s doctor for the last six generations, before that it was the brother in law to the wife of our ancestor. Although I imagine I’m just looking for reasons to correct you at that point. I don’t see why not, you have ruined this family.” Hiko rolled his eyes skyward as Kenshin walked silently and the old woman fumed.

“So your grandson is not a doctor?” Kenshin rolled his own eyes at Hiko’s statement. I don’t think this is the kind of woman he should spar with. She may just bite his hand off.

“No, he is.” The old woman walked them through the front door and down into the sitting room where tea awaited them served by a foreign woman. “And more...”

“Matsui-dono, I would like to know more about how Akari-dono lost her life. She was always very certain of herself. I remember that quite plainly. The way you speak, you seem convinced that the cause of her death was murder.” Kenshin watched as the refined woman set down her tea and seemed to come to a kind of decision as she stood with shaking hands that Kenshin thought may have not come entirely with age.

“Here...I wasn’t going to show you...but come with me.” They followed the old woman down a set of stairs into a very cold room. “Here you go. She’s dead.” She motioned toward the body on the table surrounded in blocks of ice. “I did many tests and a poison seems to be the cause of death. Fugu to be exact. It’s only been a week and a half. I will have to cremate her body within the week or it will begin a further state of decay, and I may not...I...I wanted Shin to see his mother’s rites, but if he doesn’t come back soon I fear that I might never see him again.”

“When will you die?” Hiko looked piercingly at Yuki and asked her with no preamble.

“I beg your pardon?” Yuki gasped and covered her mouth. “I’m not dying any time soon!” She lifted her head into the air and glared defiantly at Hiko now with her fists balled up at her sides. Kenshin was feeling left out and yet glad of it. He wandered over to the body of the old friend and teacher and felt a small pang of remorse. I’m sorry that you suffered. Your mother seems very angry on your behalf.He took the hand of the corpse and then just as he was about to let go clenched tightly once again. Kenshin vaguely heard the two others arguing in the background. Wrong. Her hands are all wrong! And the scars behind the ears?Kenshin turned the head of the dead thing slowly and noted the large scar behind both ears. GEIN!

“This is not Akari-dono.” Both turned toward Kenshin in shock. “This is another of Gein’s puppets, a creation. Do whatever you like with this body...as it isn’t who you think it is.” Kenshin felt anger roiling inside of himself as he thought of yet another person being led to believe that the person they loved had died. Left with only their remorse and the thought that somewhere...the person might be very much alive. It was a terrible situation. Kenshin looked down and disgust covered his features, and for once, he did not try to mask it.

“How...How did you know?” Yuki walked slowly toward the corpse and her hands shook as she reached Kenshin. Placing a hand on his shoulder. “I didn’t know. How could you possibly...” The woman trailed off and tears began to slide down her cheeks.

“Gein, a horrible man, replaced someone dear to me with one of these...things...before. I would have been in hell already had it not been for my friend who identified the process.” His hands clutched reflexively at his side to feel the weight of his sword. “We were all fooled. Do not feel bad Matsui-dono, there is a chance that she is in fact alive...Especially since they believed it necessary for you to think her dead.” Kenshin did not feel heartened however, because whoever did this must have had a purpose. To even think that they could hide a live person as a dead one showed that they were indeed very confident, as confident as Enishi had been when he’d stolen Kaoru. Kenshin fought the urge to give an enraged shout.

“But the dragons...How would they know?” She shook as she turned from the body that was not Akari. Kenshin was confused by this response but didn’t ask. Hiko did not seem confused, and Kenshin figured that this was something that he would eventually explain. He raised his eyebrows. Hiko turned away. Or not.

“What are the chances that someone in the family has done this?” Hiko looked at her searchingly.

“IF YOU ARE IMPLYING...” Yuki-dono had a bit of a temper apparently.

“Since you insist that I’m the only person who has made love to your daughter then it stands to reason that someone very close to her has done this. How else would they know about the dragons?”

“I...I don’t know.” She looked down. Frustration was etched on her face. “It’s not possible that they would have done this. They would lose their place. It’s all that matters now to them...” Kenshin was confused and angry, and more than a little restless.

Kenshin walked to meet Yuki and bowed his head as he spoke, voice full of angered tension, “All of this will be over soon. We will find Akari-dono for you, and the other two. I will not let another person suffer in the name of that creature Gein. It is up to Hiko whether he will help you or not, but I will help you Yuki-dono.” Kenshin bowed and began to walk up the stairs. “I will bring your family back to you one way or the other.” He stepped heavily up the steps and out the front door to wait outside for Hiko suddenly feeling that even the large house was far too closed in and confining.

Hiko looked into Yuki’s eyes. “I would know those eyes anywhere. You are going to die. When?”

“I have a short time. These things happen, you know? I’m old and...” She stopped talking because he wasn’t even looking at her while she said the last words.

“Who?” Hiko looked up and studied her intently.

“It is the way that these things happen.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“How are you involved? Who is going to hurt you? Is there anything you can tell me? Don’t let someone murder you and not at least tell me why. When I find your daughter I want to be able to tell her why and who murdered her own mother.” Hiko seemed less than interested; however his tone burned with anger.

“I can tell you that I’ve been waiting for my freedom for almost twenty years...and I’m very tired. She will understand that well enough. Don’t get the wrong idea, just because you know that I’m going to die and I admitted it doesn’t mean I like you, and just because I welcome death doesn’t mean that I want to share with you in it. When you find them...tell them that I am gone. Now, if that is all please get out!” Hiko walked toward the door. “Wait!” The old woman stopped him with the desperation in her voice. “What is your Himura’s interest in all of this? He seemed very concerned.” Hiko bowed stiffly and walked for the door.

“I don’t imagine that it’s really your concern. Don’t tread where you aren’t wanted, woman.”

“That was the problem the first time around. I haven’t been allowed the comfort of having my own life. Everything I have done has been in the service of this family. Now I will die, but it will be on my own terms, Hiko Seijiro.” Hiko paused as she said these words and then turned.

“Have fun with that. I’m going to try and find Akari and your family so you don’t have to...You want them all returned?” Hiko narrowed his eyes and felt a scowl come to his face.

Her eyes narrowed. “If they are alive...But in my death...I have no choice.”

“Interesting. Are you going to tell me anything more useful before I go wandering all over Japan?”

“I know that it has more to do with our art than our craft.” She stared at the floor and began speaking very fast. Her hands shook almost as badly as her voice. “My husband died under unusual circumstances...then I was given to his brother. My young daughter and I have been trying to fix this situation ever since. If she is alive...We can fix all of this, finally. There is no second son...no twin...everything is at an end for us. Shin can not be allowed to take over the family art. There are reasons, and he would have died anyway if the family got a hold of him when the month is out. They must be hidden. I will not be able to explain now, I have company coming very soon, and they would not find your presence consoling. I believe that the presence of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu in this house would drive them insane with power...” Hiko shook his head because honestly none of what she was saying made sense anymore.

“So this is the last desperate act of a woman who is already dead?” Hiko, despite spending all of his time on a mountain, knew the face of fear. He knew that she was panicking. Her calm façade didn’t fool him at all.

Yuki had a very stricken look on her face. “I will die today. Because the new family of the Ryu awaits their chance at the top. My cousin and his two sons will arrive today. I can go quietly...or I can fight. I believe that the outcome will be the same so I will not fight.” Hiko narrowed his eyes.

“So you would give up before the facts are known?”

“I TOLD YOU THERE IS NO SECOND SON!” She yelled, and then calmed herself. “At least this way, if I say nothing, they will believe that Shin is dead and they may not look for him. If you find her...if you find them together...Send them far away. You have to find Shin, even if you do not consider him your son. He will be killed senselessly. You can’t stay here though. I would ask you to leave now.”

“I will do what I can.” Hiko swept from the room and left to find Kenshin. “I don’t know if he is my son...but you are Akari’s mother. Don’t die today. Run...or simply fight. I know that she will want to see you again.”

“Uneventful.” if there was one way he could describe the Akabeko after the amazing display between Kenshin and Hiko this morning that would be it. “Boring,” would be the other, if he was allowed two. Sure it was always great to see Tsubame, but the restaurant was doing zero business today, and Yahiko had nothing to do. It wasn’t long before he’d begun doing sword forms in the kitchen. Yahiko thought on the garden that Kenshin had demolished. If he could do that to the earth...what would it be like...to be on the other end?At the end of a particularly long kata a small clap resounded from a very awed Tsubame.

“Yahiko-kun...Amazing!” She half hid her blush behind a tray.

“It was ok...I messed up a couple of times. And there’s this block to strike that I always step off the wrong foot for...I have to hop just to get back into it...” Yahiko’s voice trailed off as the ten year old finally noticed Tsubame had small tears running down her cheeks. “Aww, come on Tsubame. Don’t cry okay? I don’t know what’s wrong but it’ll be okay. Okay?” He gave her a nervous hug and drew her head toward him to look into her eyes. He’d seen other guys do it, and he hoped that he’d done it right. “Have I ever been wrong before?”

Her smile was like the sun coming out of the rain. “No Yahiko-kun. You’ve never been wrong before. I’m just so worried. Tae’s business has been bad lately, and I’ve been afraid that I’ll be let go...I would have to find work again. In the mean time what would my family do? There has to be a way...but...I”

“No buts! Everything will be fine. The Akabeko’s business will be great again soon, and your family’ll be fine. I would never let you get hurt.” Yahiko felt his cheeks burn. He meant all of it, but when he heard it out loud it sounded really lame. Tsubame didn’t seem to look like she thought him the slightest bit lame. Her eyes were dancing with warmth. He was almost shocked dead when the usually shy Tsubame leaned in and gave him the slightest whisper of a kiss. Yahiko didn’t have much time for contemplation however because it was at this moment that an ever so slightly hysterical Kaoru flew into the room. They had only time to separate before the running girl threw herself at Yahiko’s feet.

“I...I’m so...Sorry! I...I didn’t know. I’m sorry.!” Her cheeks were extremely red and she was completely out of breath.

“Hey listen it wasn’t what it looked like, well maybe it was. But there ain’t no reason to cry and apologize with your head on the floorboards!” Yahiko felt his face turning red. I’ve never seen someone get so emotional over walking in on someone.

“Huh?” She looked confused. Then Yahiko knew she’d noticed the bright red waitress standing next to the Tokyo samurai. Sometimes he wondered if Kaoru was slightly imbalanced. She stopped crying and blinked back and forth between the two.

“Ummm...You were apologizing for something else...weren’t you?” Kaoru, although still breathless and unhappy looking, peered at him more owlishly.

“Pardon me.” The waitress moved faster than Kenshin, and she seemed to share a resemblance to a cherry. Yahiko wished that he could run out too but he didn’t think it would be that easy.

“I just ruined something...didn’t I, Yahiko-chan?” Kaoru looked up at him from the floor with red rimmed eyes and he couldn’t be mad.

“Only a little. Don’t call me chan ugly! I thought you were supposed to be teaching today...Why were you apologizing?” Immediately Yahiko saw a deep sorrow cross Kaoru’s face and a tear threatened to slide down her cheek. Jeez, what’s with these girls today?

“I’m s-s-sorry. For leaving you alone.” Kaoru curled up into a ball on the floor and her face was probably touching her knees.

Yahiko’s mouth went dry. He didn’t want to talk about this. Not now, not yet, and if he could help it, not ever like this, certainly not alone with Kaoru. “I told Kenshin he wasn’t allowed to apologize this morning. He left on his own. You didn’t have any choice. Enishi took you. I can’t believe that you would think I’d hold you responsible for...what happened.” Yahiko stopped and realized that he’d just said something that might lead to a lot more discussion. Don’t ask questions...please. You don’t know Kenshin left yet, and I didn’t just tell you.

“But I left you alone. I left when you needed me most.” Yahiko watched her shake her head. Kaoru must not have noticed.He had to end the conversation before he let more information leak out.

“Shouldn’t you be over this? It’s been weeks.” Yahiko tried to walk toward the back door but Kaoru had caught his hakama and she was crying freely.

“But I died!” She cried out, and Yahiko was suddenly shocked. He turned around and looked down at Kaoru in horror. Did Kenshin? No, he told me that he’d talk to her later...he said we would all talk about this together.Kaoru shuddered and clutched his hakama as she looked back at the floor. “I died...”

“Kaoru...I’m sorry. I didn’t...Don’t.”

“I’ll never leave you again. I’ll never let you down. No wonder you hate me! I knew you were avoiding me, but I figured that it was just that you were thinking about what might have happened. I didn’t know you were thinking about what had already happened. Please don’t be angry...”

“Of course I’m angry!” Yahiko sat down and looked Kaoru in the eyes. “I was so angry when I saw your body going into the ground. I thought that you’d been weak. Then I thought that you let Enishi kill you and I hated you more because Kenshin fell apart and you weren’t there.” He watched as his teacher became further upset by his words but something was propelling him forward, and he was compelled to speak. “Then I thought about it for a while and there was no way that Enishi could have killed you so quickly. Even if he did fight dirty. You’re my teacher and there was no way you’d have gone down in one hit, but the only mark on you was that giant wattou through your chest, and the crossed scar on your cheek.”

Kaoru took a great gulp of air and jumped off of the ground and ran out the back door. “Kaoru!” He ran after her and saw that she hadn’t gone far. She was vomiting over the side of the building and Yahiko hoped that nobody could hear her in the restaurant. “Don’t do that here...it’s bad for business.” He dropped down next to her and hugged her shoulders.

Kaoru looked at Yahiko and he felt awful. “I have to know the rest. Tell me.”

Yahiko shook his head. “Promise not to puke again and I will.” She nodded her head. “Everyone left me alone. Sano ran off. Kenshin was in some living hell. I couldn’t believe it though; I couldn’t believe that you could be gone forever even if they were. We buried you and I remember that day I sat at your shrine and I just glared, because it wasn’t you. It couldn’t be.” Kaoru was shaking slightly, or maybe he was. “Misao and Aoshi came, just to visit, but when they got here they helped me. Misao believed me right away, then Aoshi remembered this old ninja trick with these...puppets. He dug you up and he knew right away that it wasn’t you. I believed him because the chance of finding you alive was better than not.” Yahiko hid his face from her as he said this, because in truth he was ashamed that it had even gotten that far. “There’s a lot to tell...I don’t think this is the right place to do it. Everyone should be here. It’s Kenshin’s story too.” Yahiko felt a tear slide down his own face as his “sister” held onto him and cried. “I never gave up. I never gave up on the dojo, or you, or Kenshin. Things kept getting worse, and then there was no one left to protect everyone but me. I mean, there was Aoshi and Misao...but they were out a lot looking for evidence to prove you weren’t dead...Or at least to find Enishi since we had to have revenge if we couldn’t have you back. Then there was this guy blowing holes in all the buildings down here...I was really afraid when I fought that guy.”

“What guy?” Kaoru was startled out of her listening and stared at Yahiko.

“Oh, there was this psycho guy with a cannon for an arm and he blew up the Akabeko and someone had to stop him. So I did. Well, Kenshin stopped him, but I held him off until he got there. Kenshin wasn’t really in any condition to fight anyone so it was a good thing that I was able to kick him around for a while.” Yahiko said this with a bit of pride and then continued his story. “When I started to fight him I was scared because I knew that if I died...I would never see you again.” He looked down and felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. “Of course I believed in Kenshin, but I thought that he might not get out of his funk in time to save me. I was just positive that now that I knew you were alive you would hate me if I didn’t live to see you again and get you back.” The Tokyo Samurai glanced up at Kaoru with an askance look.

“I could never hate you Yahiko, never. I get mad but it’s not the same thing. I would be really mad for a long time if anything ever happened to you. I bet I would feel like you did. But I’m going to make a promise now that I will spend the rest of my life trying to keep...” Yahiko started a bit when Kaoru took his hands. “You are more to me than just a student Yahiko. You, Kenshin, Sano, Tae, even Megumi and the Oniwabanshu that live so far away now, you are more than friends to me...you’re family.” Here Yahiko nodded because he couldn’t help but agree that yes, they were their own small family. “You and Kenshin most because we all live under the same roof like family should. I promise Yahiko, to you especially that I will always be there when you need me. Five hundred years from now if you need me in the afterlife I will always come. Believe in me, Yahiko.” Yahiko tried not to concentrate on the hope welling up inside of him at the words Kaoru spoke, but then he remembered what Kenshin had said.

“Kaoru...” Yahiko looked into her eyes and she had a fierce determination in them. “Kaoru...You can’t keep that promise. Anything can happen. I don’t expect you to...”

“Shhh. Just let me try.” She was on her feet again and she looked down. “I am going home to sort out this nonsense. I can’t stay here...I can’t go to my lesson, I feel bad. I’m going to just spend the day in and see what I can still make sense out of.” She turned to leave and Yahiko watched her slow measured steps and thought that it looked as if a great weight had landed on her shoulders. Suddenly she turned, “Yahiko...what happened to...?”

“Kenshin? Uh-uh. That’s his story and I don’t understand it enough myself to tell you, and it wouldn’t be right to tell you because he can explain stuff that I can’t. Besides, I’m still a little pissed.” Yahiko shrugged his shoulders as he said this one rather matter of fact thing.

“Are you really still angry? Do you hate me?” Kaoru looked worried to find out the answer.

“Yeah, but just because you’re my ugly teacher. I just don’t want to talk about this again today. Tell Kenshin we can talk again some other day.” He paused and took a deep breath, and said as quickly as he could, “It hurts a lot to talk about it. Don’t blame yourself. I can’t help it.” He waved his hand dismissivly.

Now, get out of here and deal with “stuff.”She turned to leave and as she started to walk again Yahiko mumbled. “I was only alone on the outside, you were with me the whole time. So was Kenshin. You’re my family...and I need you.” He mumbled the last words as quietly as possible, but Kaoru had stopped walking again when he said the last part. Yahiko on the other hand couldn’t believe he was saying these things, and despite being flushed from embarrassment, he continued. “If I ever suffered it was because I thought that living without you was the worst thing I could face. The world needs at least one ugly tanooki with a bokken to remind us that things could be worse.” Kaoru seemed to consider the intent of the words for a second before deciding they weren’t terribly offensive. “Before you and Kenshin, I was really alone. I guess looking back into that was a bit of a shock.”

“The dojo is your home Yahiko, with or without me in it. It’s yours. I want you to know that.” She looked intently at her student and he looked back for the first time in months with a kind of certainty that he’d lost.

“Kaoru...I knew that already, but it just wasn’t home without you there. So try not to get killed again.” He felt a horrible lump in his throat that seemed to stick even the air. He closed his eyes and looked down hoping that she wouldn’t see the shine his eyes had taken on since they filled with unwanted tears. He was surprised when warm arms closed around him and gently held him there.

“Even so, I’m very proud of you, and I would like you to think of our house as your home. Don’t ever change Yahiko. You’re proud and talented, and even if you are an annoying student you make an excellent brother. I’ll see you later.” She kissed him on the head and he felt his face blaze. Kaoru slid the door closed and he slumped off toward the well splashing his face with water before slowly going back toward the kitchen. He didn’t want anyone to know he’d been crying no matter what the circumstances might have been. This is the second time I’ve cried today. I must be seriously pussing out, I’m crying like a girl. Oh well...At least now I’m not bored. Hey...I got kissed twice too...weird. I have a strange feeling that Kenshin is going to have a lot to talk about...Oh, he’s definitely not ready to talk about this with a hysterical Kaoru. I’d better tell him about it before he gets in over his head.

Yahiko walked back inside and began to scrub the dishes. I don’t know what to think anymore. Sure I’m upset over this whole situation but Kenshin already said he was sorry. Even though he was doing an excellent job of avoiding me for a while there. Kaoru didn’t know what was going on and I just took it for granted that everything would sort itself out. Now that it’s done that I feel like I’ve done something wrong by waiting all this time and not saying anything. She was looking terrible when she ran in here. She never said one word about what we’ve done by not telling her about the dead Kaoru. She’s busy blaming herself for hurting me... I never wanted her to feel guilty. I’ve just been kinda depressed for a while. I want to talk to her but at the same time I wish we could go back before any of this happened and just not let Enishi take us by surprise. We can all go around in circles blaming each other forever or we can get over it. I feel like I’m still getting over all of the shock and it’s been weeks. I guess that was heartless of me, to sit around and mope while everyone else needed to hear the things I’m hearing from them. Kenshin needed me to say that I wasn’t upset with him. Kaoru needed to know that I missed her and that things were messed up when she wasn’t there. We’ve all been dumb...but that’s what family is like I guess. It’ll be okay after everything calms down again.

Yahiko walked out into the restaurant. “You there...can I order?” Yahiko looked around and the restaurant was completely full. No wonder there were so many dishes.

“Sure thing. What can I get for you?” The guy was surly looking and he had a bit of a scar running from his temple all the way down his face. It wasn’t that Yahiko often paid attention to the customers, but this guy had every hair on the back of his neck standing up. The man gave his order and Yahiko took a few more tables before he walked into the back to fill it. That was strange. Something about that guy was a little off. Maybe I’m just edgy because Kaoru freaked out on me.Yahiko promised himself to calm down.

It was five minutes before one when Kenshin and Hiko walked into the Akabeko and Yahiko had been hard at work for the last three hours since Kaoru’s departure. Tsubame needn’t have worried, business had almost tripled by noon, and Yahiko had heard Tae say that they were understaffed. Yahiko had almost thought to take Tsubame’s worries seriously as it stood to reason that someone would think that the place was bad luck after it got blown up, but it seemed to have almost gone the opposite direction. People were flocking to the Akabeko to see the “lovely new building” and try the excellent food they’d heard so much about. Tae was a marketing genius... Yahiko watched Kenshin and Hiko look for a seat and he walked over immediately afterward. “Kenshin!” He walked over to the men and tried for a less dark expression.

“Yahiko. What? Has something happened?” Obviously he failed. The young swordsman bowed to Hiko before dragging the Rurouni back toward the kitchen. “Orooooo...”

“Pardon us Hiko-san!” He got to the doorway and finally let go of Kenshin’s ponytail, “Look. I don’t want you to worry or just run out of here before I can finish so I’m asking you to remain calm now so later doesn’t happen, right?”

“I promise to respond accordingly...Yahiko. What’s happened?”

“Kaoru found out everything about what happened without us telling her. I guess that Maekawa-sensee was talking to her and he just let it out. I know we weren’t keeping it from her on purpose, but if I were Kaoru I think I’d probably be feeling a lot of strange stuff. She was feeling bad so she went home to have “time to herself” whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean. I just figured that “time by herself” didn’t dis-include you specifically.” Yahiko scratched the back of his head and shrugged.

Kenshin was starring off past Yahiko to some unfathomable point. “This is not how I would have her learn the events of the recent past. How much did she hear?”

Yahiko shook his head. “I can’t be sure. She knows that we buried what we thought was Kaoru, and I just told her a bunch of stuff about the puppet. I think she’s going to need to talk to you though. I’m sorry Kenshin.”

“Don’t worry Yahiko. We should have talked to her before now, but there is nothing we can do about it. There should be a way to fix this situation before it gets out of hand. In the mean time I would ask that you do me a favor.”

“I don’t get out of the Akabeko till two today but anything after that is great. They are having a really busy day and I don’t want to let Tae down.” Yahiko wanted Kenshin to see that he was being responsible with his job so that he would trust him with this errand. Please let him ask me to take Hiko to the rest of the places today. Please let him ask me to take Hiko to the rest of the places today. Please...

“I need to get home and talk with Kaoru. Can you take Hiko...well...wherever the hell he needs to go.” Kenshin was obviously flustered since he was cursing.

YES! WOOOHOOOO!Yahiko felt himself buzz with excitement. “Sure Kenshin, no problem.”

“I’ll go tell shisho about our arrangement. Thank you, Yahiko. I officially owe you a favor now.” Kenshin smiled his Rurouni grin and walked toward the door. I bet he’s scowling now...Yahiko walked back toward the stack of dishes and shuddered. I better be finished by two...I can’t wait to talk with Hiko by myself.

Kenshin walked out of the door to the kitchen and tried to get his face twisted into something a bit more friendly but the day had been awful. Waking up to a face full of freezing well water was fine compared to the rest of the day. Everything that was happening now was complicated. She wasn’t dead...so where was Akari? Did Akari’s disappearance, and the men following Hiko have anything to do with one another or were they separate affairs? Why did they disappear earlier? Where did they go? Who would want to kidnap Akari...she wasn’t the type to go quietly. Is it possible that we’ve missed something obvious?It was important that they gather all of the facts they could before the trail got any colder. Things were awful enough now that they were so far behind her captors. Why did Gein build a puppet for someone who had nothing to do with Enishi? I can’t exactly ask him now. I’ll have to thank Aoshi again by asking for his help. Things spiraled out of control long ago in this situation with Gein. But, it all feels connected, I have that feeling.. All I can do now is play damage control in my own life where things seem destined to be turbulent. I’m sorry Akari-dono, but I need to finish one thing before I start another.

He was running through the streets and was about to turn when he heard a man cry out. “Death of woman is attributed to the Blue Water Stone! Government denies accusations! Emporor’s, doctor’s wife is found dead alongside her husband! ” Kenshin stopped dead and ran back toward the man.

“Please...may I?” The man took a long suffering look at Kenshin’s sword and gave him the paper.

“BLUE WATER STONE KILLS TWO MORE IN UNUSUAL TWIST!”

Kenshin shook his head. “If they weren’t related before...they are now. But they could still be coincidences. I don’t believe in cursed rocks either.” The redhead who had been headed home turned and ran in the direction of the Ruffian Row houses. Katsu...I need your help. I’m sorry Kaoru. I’ll be back, and when I do, we’ll talk about all of the things that we’ve been putting aside...all of them.