Disclaimer: Since Misanagi isn't here, Kenshin is now MINE! ALL MINE! (insert evil laugh in your choice of spelling here). What, wait a minute, what are you saying? You mean he isn't actually mine? He's owned by someone else? Ah well.......Coffee, anyone?
WARNING: Rated R, for just about everything! See the first chapter, this is another chapter that doesn't require the rating as much so I feel no need to ramble on about warnings. I will warn you about drink driving though - no, not the alcohol kind, drinking hot coffee! It's a bit embarrassing explaining to people how you got second degree burns all over your lap.
Author's note: As usual, thanks to the reviewers, and thanks to the people who have the self-restraint to not flame (I assume you're out there somewhere. It's one of those 'I'm-not-entirely-sure-of-you-exist-maybe-I'm- just-paranoid' things. And let it stay that way.) Prepare yourselves once again for the big long response to reviewers before you can make it to the chapter. Gee, I'm running out of interesting stuff to put in the Author's note already! Maybe I'll have to start resorting to pointless anecdotes that have nothing to do with anything.
Now for my personal favourite part: Response to Reviewers!
Koorinoen: Another new reviewer! Hello! Thanks for the review! Yes, there are many things in this fic that we have to just accept as OOC for the benefit of the story. I don't usually write stories like that, but then, I originally wasn't even going to post this story anyhow.... then again, I also find it difficult to believe as some people seem to think that anyone who seems to be drinking sake in an anime as much as we see Hiko doing wouldn't at least OCCASIONALLY get drunk and do something weird. Doesn't matter, though, since I am a big Hiko fan sober Hiko is still going to be cool, strong and caring about Kenshin. Hope you keep reading and reviewing, and I'll try to keep writing.
Crazy Girl Person: She's back! And she's bigger than a breadbox! (I ripped that from somewhere, don't know where.) Yes, it seems odd for Hiko to not suffer from hangovers, but again, there are accuracies that I don't usually let slide that I have to for the benefit of the story in this one. Anyhow, thanks for the praise, and especially for abusing all the non- reviewing people out there. Though to be honest, I'm still pretty psyched with getting as many reviews as I'm getting for an R-rated fic - the stupid search engine means you have select 'All' all the time. But then again, if there's less reviewers that means I can write longer replies to you all! In the meantime, I'll set my evil guardian spirit cat-thing on to haunt all those who don't review. Mweh heh heh.... I think your craziness may be contagious, Crazy Girl Person. Let's just hope your luck with the law at FF.net isn't.
Emz: ANOTHER new reviewer! That's so cool! Wow, this story got bookmarked! How flattering.... Thanks a mil, and hope to keep hearing from you.
Chiruken: Welcome and thanks for the review! I think I've already convered all the comments in ther other responses - but don't be put out, that doesn't mean I loved your review any less!
Hmmm, I think that's everyone. Thanks! This chapter's probably among the more light-hearted bits of the fic, hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to review! It's all that keeps me going in this depressing season.... Oh yeah, that reminds me, Merry Christmas!
_________________
Routine
Chapter 3 - A Jolly Good Fellow Hiko
By Sinnatious
************
Kenshin finished chopping the firewood and was carrying it inside the fuel the stove to make dinner when he saw Hiko making his way back up the path towards the hut. He felt weariness overtake him when he noticed the fresh sake jugs the swordsman brought with him. He hoped his master was far enough away to not notice his sour expression.
By the time Hiko arrived he was already boiling the water for rice. "It will be ready in about twenty minutes," was his only greeting. The swordmaster simply grunted in reply. Kenshin knew he was likely looking forward to his sake afterwards, rather than paying attention to anything the younger man had to say. Sighing to himself, he briefly wondered which Hiko he would be confronted with that evening. He was still tired and sore from his previous wounds, lack of sleep and the day's training; he wasn't sure if he could stay awake tonight. He always did, though. If there was one aspect of his sword training he never doubted himself in, it was his indominatable will. The same will that not even the great Hiko Seijuuro could crush, though when he was drunk he certainly made a good effort at it.
Kenshin figured that his expression must have turned sour again, because Hiko asked, "What is it?"
"Nothing, Shishou," he replied, trying to make his voice sound puzzled as to what his master was referring to. It was becoming harder and harder to fool the older man; why Kenshin kept Hiko's secrets from himself he didn't know, perhaps it was only shame, or perhaps he was afraid of how his master's attitude might change to him during normal hours should he be aware of the truth. Kenshin merely knew with an illogical conviction that he had to endure Hiko's behaviour until it subsided, if it ever subsided, and continue on as if all Hiko ever did was simply get drunk and fall asleep, nothing more.
He had become practiced at lying. Practiced enough that Hiko, though the man certainly suspected something, was still forced to take his word for it.
"Hn." His master certainly didn't sound convinced, but, like always, seemed willing enough to let it slide. Kenshin stirred the miso soup, tasting it and realising it was ready. He removed the rice a moment later, and served the food, sitting down with the older man. They ate, for the most part, in silence, neither having anything to say to the other, though Kenshin's lavendar eyes kept sliding to where the sake jugs sat against the wall, waiting to be uncorked.
As usual, it was impossible to hide everything from the 13th Successor of the Hiten Mitsuryugi Ryu, no matter how hard he tried. "Don't even think about it. You're still too young."
"Of course, Shishou."
Hiko blinked; he had expected an argument, to be asked why, even a pout. He had not expected for the fiery red-head who spent so much of the day testing his patience to simply agree and resume eating as if nothing had been said. He sighed resolutely; eventually, he'd have to get to the bottom of what was eating at his apprentice.
Dinner was completed, Kenshin getting up in silence to collect the dishes and proceed to wash them. Hiko settled down, as usual, with his sake jug. "I assume you'll be going to bed after you finish that." A statement, a command, rather than a question. Kenshin said nothing. He would not attempt to go to bed only to be disturbed from his sleep unprepared for whatever mood Hiko might be in.
Hiko poured himself some sake, Kenshin finished the dishes, then promptly went and sat against the wall, head bowed and eyes closed. He knew that his master was glaring at him, but ignored him, and said nothing, just crossed his arms and settled in for the wait. It did, after all, take a man of Hiko's size and strength quite a great deal of time before he was drunk. They sat in a long and somewhat uncomfortable silence in this manner for quite some time. Kenshin remained resolute; Hiko simply annoyed.
"Baka deshi, why do you keep doing that?" the swordmaster growled from the table as he poured himself another drink.
Kenshin didn't reply, didn't move, didn't even change his breathing. It was difficult to stay awake, he had been exhausted all day and had been pushing himself to appear more awake that he really was.
Hiko mumbled something that sounded vaguely like an insult under his breath, but continued drinking. The baka deshi in question was vaguely surprised, though careful not to show it. His master had barely been drinking for an hour. The new sake must have been more powerful. He wasn't entirely sure whether he was glad for that or not.
It wasn't that much later when the swordsman spoke again. "Baka deshi! Don't look so gloomy! Come sit over here!"
Kenshin's head jerked up as he heard the light tone in his master's voice. A brief smile tugged at the edges of his mouth; more a smile of relief if nothing else. Complying, as even when his Shishou wasn't a violent drunk he was still afraid that the mood could change, the teen made his way over to where Hiko was toasting him. "What do you want, Shishou?"
Hiko waggled a finger in a most unusual manner at the him, saying, "I want a drinking companion, of course! You don't think a man like myself ever gets lonely? Course you're too young to drink..... but maybe you have some good stories?"
Kenshin forced a smile; he had been half-heartedly hoping that should his Shishou be in this mood, he would have been able to abscond and go to bed early. Apparently no such luck. Still, it was better than some of the alternatives. "I am afraid you have heard them all already, Shishou."
"Pshaw!" Hiko spat, taking another swig of sake, grinning. Kenshin stared. No matter how many times he saw his esteemed master like this, it still perturbed him. The changes when he drank too much were so drastic! It was like all the emotion that the swordmaster never shared all came tumbling out at once. "I doubt that! If you don't want to share, then I will. Did I ever tell you about that time I was stung by a wasp?"
"No, Shishou."
"Stop it with the Shishou, I would like to think we've known each other long enough that you could call me Seijuuro, if not Hiko!"
"Fine... Seijuuro," Kenshin amended hesitantly. It was becoming difficult to keep track of all the different names the different personalities of Hiko demanded. When Hiko was being intimate, he required Hiko, if not koishii, when he was angry it was Shishou, when he was jovial it was Seijuuro.
"Anyway, I was walking by a nest, completely innocent, and for whatever reason this wasp, the little bastard, stung me! It flew off before my divine speed could slap the bugger, but I followed it."
Kenshin waited, wondering if there was more to the story; as entertaining as his master could be when he was in his more jovial mood, quite often he never reached any sort of point. "And....?"
"I decided to deliver Tenchuu, Hiten Misturyugi's divine justive to the scoundrel!"
That was vaguely amusing, even if it was Hiko Seijuuro, using the Hiten Mitsuryugi Ryu to get payback on an insect was definitely overkill, and THAT was the understatement of the era.
"So....," Kenshin prodded, knowing that there must have been more.
"You'd think with my perfect skills and god-like speed licking him would be no trouble at all! But I chased the stupid wasp for half an hour! It dodged a Do-Ryu-Sen, a Ryu-Tsui-Sen, a Ryu-Kan-Sen and Kami-sama only knows how many others. It was a demon!"
By now the young apprentice was actually smiling, a real smile. If he told Hiko about this while he was in his right senses..... well, it might be enough to convince the swordmaster to never drink again. Unfortunately, that would require the divulging of more information than Kenshin would want to give, but for the time being it could serve as personal amusement, if nothing else. "So what did you do?"
Hiko was grinning widely now, taking another swig of sake and leaning in on his elbows as if he was about to tell his apprentice a big secret. He whispered, "I was out of options. There was one attack, though, that he couldn't possibly dodge." He leaned back, looking triumphant.
Of course he couldn't expect the poor harried wasp to get away, Kenshin mused. His master wouldn't even let an insect get the better of him. "And what was that, Seijuuro?"
"I used the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki."
Kenshin Himura just about fell over at that. "You used the Hiten Mitsuryugi Final Attack on a WASP?!"
Hiko nodded in satisfaction. The younger swordsman simply stared at the man. His master was truly someone scary, extreme overkill didn't even come close to covering using the Final Attack on an INSECT, of all things. "He was very sorry he ever messed with the great Hiko Seijuuro the 13th."
"I don't doubt it," Kenshin muttered, making a mental note to avoid even more strenuously ever getting on his master's bad side.
The swordmaster laughed, clapping him on the back, almost sending the younger man flying forward. Hiko laughed..... "That's enough from me! You should be going to bed, baka deshi! You have bags under your eyes larger than a woman's kimono on a baby!"
He ducked his head. "Thank you, Shi- Seijuuro."
"Anytime." He resumed his drinking. Confident he could leave the older man to his devices, he made his way to his own sleeping quarters, collapsing gratefully into his futon. He liked his Shishou when he was a jovial drunk. It almost made up for the other times. He raised a hand to his black eye; the bruise should fade within the next two days. His abdomen was still sore, the marks on his stomach an ugly purple. He hoped that his master would remain in such a mood for the next few days.
________________ That was fun to write. There's that chapter done! I'm not sure when I'll get the chance to update next, but I'll try to keep them coming quickly and hopefully not too short. Have a nice holiday, people! And please don't forget to review!