Subj:	 [KFFDISC] [Angst] Return to the grave.
Date:	4/20/00 12:36:18 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From:	vampireanneke@yahoo.com (Cynthia Delker)


I have a list of story ideas that eventually I'll get
to writing.  I wanted to keep to non-silly stories
this week so I have another one for you.  It's sad I
tell you, or at least it better be, that was the goal.

Spoilers: All of the Manga/Anime.  
Type:  Angst

Title: Return to the Grave.
Author: Anneke

Word came to the Kamiya Dojo one cold winter morning. 
The winter was almost over but it would still be a few
days before they could travel safely to Kyoto. 
Kenshin had been the one to receive the note and Kaoru
could only read his expression as one of total loss. 
There was some very bad news in the letter.  His face
lost the smile it had just moments ago while playing
with Kenji.  Kaoru sent their now eight year old son
back inside.  "What is it, what's wrong?"  She asked. 
Kenshin handed the note over to her, and she was
shocked at what she read.  

'Baka Deshi...It comes to this.  I'm old, and tired. 
I could live a few more years but I am not going to. 
Drinking and sword fighting takes a toil on body and
soul.  I'll be dead by the time you read this, I
already find Chi slipping away.  Come to the cabin and
bury your old master.  It's my last request.'

Kaoru looked towards Kenshin.  He had turn away from
her slightly and was looking up at the sky.  Was that
tears in his eyes?  They would have to go to Kyoto as
soon as possible.  Maybe if they found Megumi she
could help them.  Kenshin sighed and lowered his head.
 "It will be alright.  We'll leave tomorrow.  I'll
make passage for us on a ship." he explained before
walking out of the dojo, heading to make those plans. 


Kenji looked around the corner of the doorframe. 
"Mommy, what's wrong with daddy?"  He asked.  

Kaoru walked over and sat down on the porch.  Folding
the letter and tucking it away.  She then motioned
Kenji to her, and took him into her arms, sitting him
on her lap.  "Just your uncle Hiko isn't feeling well,
we are going to go visit him."  She explained.  Kenji
understood his father's past, and knew that Hiko was
not an uncle but Hiko never seemed to mind being
called such when they would visit once a year.  Kaoru
rocked her son gently.  He wasn't the child he once
was.  Yahiko was only two years old when she had met
him, now things were coming to a new end.  "Why don't
you go practice?  We'll be going to Kyoto in the
morning."  She explained and sent Kenji on his way. 
He didn't argue and ran on his way, smiling the whole
time.



Arriving in Kyoto, Misao and Aoshi greeted them at the
dock.  Misao's smile was damped as they had been
messaged about what happened.  Aoshi's expression was
as calm as it ever was.  Kenshin hadn't said much the
entire trip, and Kaoru knew he had a lot going on in
his mind.

"We'll head over there this afternoon.  With the snow
we haven't be able to make our way there, but the sun
finally came out so the snow is finally melting.  I'll
take Kenji back to the Aoiya, and we will have dinner
waiting for you."  Misao took Kenji's hand and lead
him away, Aoshi grabbed their bags.  Kaoru and Kenshin
stated their thanks to their friends and turned
towards the mountains, and the hut that Hiko lived in.
 

Kaoru pulled a shawl around her a bit more.  It was
still winter weather, and she wasn't to surprised that
Hiko was in bad health with the temperatures as they
were and his hut not being a very warm place to stay.

Kenshin stayed quiet while they walked, he had to many
things to think about.  'One way or another I've
become the last master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu.' 
It was a long walk but it passed by quickly.  'I
remember traveling this road so many times.'  Then
before them was the hut.  'The place I trained at.  I
grew up here, but it was always respected as a
training hall, even if it was just a hut.  The world
is a training field, or so I remember Hiko telling
me.'

'Over there is the tree I use to practice upon, and
the river I washed my sore hands in.' Kenshin moved
towards the door, and was afraid at what he would find
inside.  Would his master still be alive, or would he
have passed in his sleep in the cold night air?

There was a sound inside the cabin, which gave Kenshin
the strength to open the door.  Inside was Hiko on his
bed, coughing.  He didn't look well.  He's cloak was
over a chair nearby, and he's hair was white, and he
had lines around his face.  He was fifty-two years
old, but how did he get to be so old so quickly. 
Kenshin took a seat next to his master.

"Baka Deshi."  Hiko managed to get out.  "Why did you
have to come?  You could have left me more time to die
in my sleeps, so you don't have to watch the master of
Hiten Mits-" He was stopped with coughing.  "Hiten
Mitsurugi Ryuu."  He breathed again.  Each word was
tiring.

Kaoru made her way into the cabin, and not having
thing to do, went about to make some tea for everyone.
 Trying not to be in the way.  Kenshin and Hiko needed
time to be alone but she couldn't bare to be far away.
 Hiko was a part of the family.

"Sensei why did you not write earlier, we could get
you a good doctor." Kenshin pleaded.

Hiko shook his head.  "No, it's to late.  I'm sick of
fighting.  Why won't you let me die in peace."?

"Because you're old and foolish and have lots still to
teach."  Kenshin was desperate; he had to reach his
master's will to live.  Spark him even if it's by
anger to get him up and living again.  Kenshin
couldn't let Hiko just slip away.

Hiko coughed again.  "It's no use, you won't win this
time."  Hiko coughed again.  "Never thought I would
die of old age.  When you almost killed me with the
succession technique that felt right.  I'm suppose to
die passing on the skills, just as I killed my master
before me."  Hiko sighed.  "Baka deshi, can't you even
get my death right."

Kenshin raised his eyes and had to smile.  Hiko was
going to blame him till the very end.  "Gomen Sensei."

"Stop apologizing, now let me just rest."  Hiko
complained and leaned back against the bed.
"Get out and let a man die.," he complained.

Kenshin nodded, and Kaoru and him left the room.  They
sat outside on a fallen log.  Kaoru held Kenshin's
hands in her's.  Kenshin was remembering the time he
thought he had killed his master, only have Hiko stand
before him again.  Would his master do that again? 
Could he get past this?  Kenshin turned his head to
look at the door; he swore he saw a ghost of Hiko in
the doorway.  Was he actually feeling better?  Kenshin
stood up and moved towards the door but the ghost was
gone.  "Hiko?" Kenshin asked, and re-opened the door
to the hut.  "He's gone."  Stated Kenshin, as he
closed the door to the cabin.  Kaoru burst into tears
and leaned her head against Kenshin's chest.  He
wrapped his arms around her lightly.  "It's okay, he
had a full life."

"I know, I know.  It's just hard to deal with.  He's
gone.  Who will be next."  Kaoru asked from under her
tears.  Maybe she was a little afraid to lose the
student, when the master had finally fallen.  

Kenshin turned her face up to look at him.  "I will
never leave your side."  Kenshin stated and then
kissed his wife.  A little while later, Kaoru returned
to Aoiya with the sad news, Kenshin took care of the
body.

"So...?" Asked Misao, as she saw a very quiet Kaoru
enter the building.  A shake of her head told Misao
all she needed to know.  Everyone in the Aoiya was
quiet that night, which was odd for them.  Kenji
stayed by his mother's side and everyone waited for
Kenshin to return.

Kenshin buried Hiko by the graves of Kasumi, Akane and
Sakura.  "This is were we met, so it is only proper
that this is the place we part."  Kenshin poured sake
on the grave.  "No man should die without the taste of
good sake."  Kenshin then turned and left the mountain
the sun having set long ago.

Kenshin entered the Aoiya, and everyone looked up with
relief.  Kenshin had buried many friend and even
family but Hiko was more then that.  Over his arm, he
carried with him, Hiko's white cloak.  Kaoru looked up
and didn't know what to say, so felt it best to be
quiet, the whole room was.  Kenji had been told to go
to sleep hours ago, but he had refused, he now was
sleeping with his head on Kaoru's lap.  

Kenshin sat next to Kaoru, and ran a hand through his
son's hair.  Setting the cloak beside him.  "Well
visit Tomoe's grave before we leave."  He stated.  

Kaoru simply nodded.  Now they would have two graves
to visit each time they visited Kyoto.  Kaoru feared
how many more would be left as each person grew older.
 Would the next be, Misao, or Aoshi, perhaps Sano, or
Megumi.  Kaoru pushed these thoughts out her mind, she
didn't want to think about losing Kenshin, just yet.

The End.

V.1.0 - I didn't know if I was going to have Hiko
alive or dead, I ended up flipping a coin.