Spoilers for the Kyoto Arc from the Manga episodes 84, 85, 94, 95, 96, 97. (Although I think just about everyone already knows what happened then!) Hiko's training of Kenshin. That's basically what the spoiler is. Of course there are bits which I have added! ^_^ Slight Revenge Arc spoiler. A name and an implication.
 

Heaven's Sword, Spirit's Heart Part 2

By Jade One

 

He hadn't gone very far, at least he didn't think he had, when two figures appeared hazily in the mists before him. It was hard to keep track of time when nothing changed, not even his footfalls made a sound and so he couldn't determine how long he had been walking for. He stopped waiting for them to come closer. The whiteness seemed to thin, creating an open area around him and the two men approaching him. One of them dropped back, waiting at the edge of the clearing. The other continued forward, coming to a halt before him, out of range of his sword. They weren't threatening in any way and were the first forms of life Hiko Seijuro the thirteenth had seen since arriving in the mist. He was prepared to be civil.

"Humph! I'm surprised there's no halo. All of the successors are so sure of themselves... Not that they shouldn't be demo..." the man trailed of, shaking his head, before raising his head and looking Hiko straight in the eye. "So you're Hiko Seijuro the Thirteenth."

Ano? How did he know...?  He wasn't surprised at being identified as Hiko Seijuro but being identified as the thirteenth master straight off was not something he thought would be possible. He didn't wear a sign saying 'Thirteenth Master' did he?

Hiko looked at the pair. The man who had spoken was tall. His long black hair was tied neatly in a samurai's top knot. His eye's were experienced but still held kindness and compassion. The armour he wore was strictly functional although it was highlighted in places with ornate trim. Beneath the armour his body was that of a practised swordsman. Infact, he wore his daisho, with an unconcern which made them seem a part of him. His posture indicated surety and belief in himself and his abilities. His whole aura spoke of arrogance. He also wore the mantle of a Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Master but he was not the twelfth. Hiko did not know him.

The other man was of a smaller build. His hair had been cut short and slicked back in a more modern style. He wore a white gi and black blue hakama. The attire was customary of a dojo master. He had the same confidence as the Hiko but it was different. Hiko narrowed his eyes, concentrating, he almost felt like a more refined version of... No that can't be right.  Something told him that this man was equal to a Hiten Master but in a different way.

Hiko was sure that any attack directed at either man would be met and returned, although he felt that the return from the second man would be unusual and not anything he in turn could counter. Still, Hiko didn't feel like playing and he doubted they did. Neither of them felt threatening, although there was something intimidating about the Hiko Seijuro. A sense of absolute confidence. However, the fact that they had appeared before him bespoke purpose. The second man hung back as if giving the Hiko's privacy.

Hiko Seijuro the somethingth stepped to the side, his cloak moving an instant after him, flowing smoothly. Hiko immediately moved in defence. It was not that he was expecting an attack but rather the training that had been drummed into him by his master.

"Oh stay still and let me get a look at you boy," the newcomer snapped. "Che, cloaks annoying." The man made a gesture and Hiko felt the mantle he wore disappear back into the mist. The Hiten Master continued to walk around Hiko, keeping his distance but Hiko could hear his murmured comments. "...more muscular... ...cloak is heavier... ...perhaps not best way... ...but effective restraint..."

Hiko examined the man as best he could. The man was strong and he was obviously a good swords man. He had to be to have taken the name Hiko Seijuro and the mantle but if he was a Master from the past it stood to reason that he, Hiko the thirteenth would be stronger since each Master was forced to add further weight to the cloak. He wasn't going to challenge the man but it was good to know where everyone stood.

"I guess you pass, Kenshin."

Nani...? How did...? Hiko started in surprise.

"Oh get that expression off your face. The name Kenshin's been passed down to the deshi that will inherit the school for quite some time. Although your deshi has held it the longest." The Hiko smiled fondly, as if remembering something. "The name suits him." He looked back at the recovering Hiko, "Oh for the love of..." He sounded exasperated. "Would you prefer if I called you Sho?"

That did it. That seemingly innocent comment was what finally shook Hiko to his core. How did this man know these things? No one, no one at all, but he and his Master knew he had once been called Sho. "I would prefer if you called me Hiko Seijuro," he snapped back.

The man looked pleased. "Nope... Can't do that, that's my name."

"I'm aware of that," Hiko ground out. "Hiko Seijuro the ...?" He trailed off.

"The ...?" The man assumed an air of innocence. He was obviously enjoying himself.

"I am the thirteenth inheritor of the name Hiko Seijuro and the Hiten techniques, hence the name, Hiko Seijuro the Thirteenth. And you are Hiko Seijuro the ...?" Hiko got the strong feeling that he was the only one who did not know what was happening here. It was not a sense he enjoyed.

"Oh that," understanding dawned on the Masters face. "My apologies for not properly introducing myself. I'm Hiko Seijuro."

"Hai but which one?"

"Hiko Seijuro." The man repeated.

"Which one?"

"For a man who is supposedly intelligent you seem to be having a hard time accepting the fact that my name is Hiko Seijuro."

"I'm not disputing that. I would just like to know which Master of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu you are."

"Oh," the man flashed a genius grin before frowning, taking on a look of contemplation. "I guess I could say Hiko Seijuro the first but that seems so presumptuous. Besides, Hiko Seijuro is my name, I don't or at least I shouldn't need to distinguish myself from others who have taken my name. It's the other way round. It's them who need to distinguish themselves from me."

The thirteenth Master of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu only vaguely heard any of the reasoning after the man had said "the first." This is... He is... This is the man who developed the Hiten Mitsurugi technique. He is... To say he was surprised was putting it mildly.

"You were cruel about that Hiko-san," the man in the background stated.

"Oh not really. Let me play a bit. I only get to do this once a generation and even you have to admit that his expression is priceless!"

Sho slowly began to get their thoughts under control. No wonder he radiates that absolute confidence. I may be physically stronger in the Hiten technique but he invented it. He'd probably see anything I tried coming a mile off and have it blocked and be counter attacking with some form that I can't block before I even knew what hit me. He reassessed the man and his chances of winning a battle against him. "Well I guess you calling me Sho is acceptable then," he said recovering his voice.

"I was certain you'd see it that way."

"To avoid any more embarrassment, may I ask who your companion is?"

Hiko sighed, looking slightly embarrassed, but Sho couldn't determine about what. "Hmmm... He is... That is... Arhh..." He fumbled around for a while.

"You make it sound like I'm your lover, Hiko-san. I'm not, my wife is waiting for me to come home." The man was very firm about this statement. "I, Sho-san, am merely a necessary third party to this meeting, and if your master can control himself, he can explain why my presence is required," the man responded in Hiko's place, addressing Sho for the first time.

Hiko looked even more embarrassed but managed to continue. "Hiten Mitsurugi is a very good technique, physically." He sounded slightly disgusted. "It is the strongest budo after all, however once you die, techniques change and the ultimate physical technique doesn't really stand up to the ultimate spiritual technique once you become a spirit. I mean, all of us have some ability here but someone who was trained in life to use their spirit as their weapon has a distinct advantage. I can hold my soul in place long enough to talk to you but I can't hold the environment or your soul stable enough for a long enough period of time to actually be able to have the conversation so that is what he is doing. Holding everything together so that we can talk." Hiko turned to look at the 'necessary third party.' "Is that a good enough explanation?"

"You don't need to sound so insulted that I can do something you can't. No technique, no matter how much you wish it to be is perfect on all levels. I fully admit that against your technique on earth my only real chance would be to hope I can run faster than you. As far as your explanation goes, it's adequate for this situation," The man answered sounding amused at Hiko's admission of a fault or rather a deficiency in the technique he had worked so hard to develop.

This is a spirit Master. "So what is your name?"

"Ah..." it was his turn to look embarrassed. "Let's just say my name is Kamiya and leave it at that. Information about me is not something you need to know and is not what we are here to discuss." He answered evasively, obviously ill at ease to be forced to identify himself.

Kamiya? As in Kamiya Kaoru? Sho would have inquired further but got the strong impression that neither individual was willing to discuss the topic. It was time to get on with whatever purpose they had here.

"So then, why are you here?"

"We're here to discuss you. Well, you and your future."

"I don't have a future. I'm dead. I passed on the final technique of Hiten and like all previous Masters died in doing so. But that's okay, my deshi is capable enough, when he puts his mind to it."

Hiko laughed. "Well, I'm glad a Master's opinion of his student hasn't changed much. But you're wrong. You're in limbo. For the first time since I developed the Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki, one of the Master's gets a choice."

"A choice..?"

"None of the successors of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu have wanted to kill their Shishou's. Not even you, correct?"

"Hai..." Sho answered quietly. Although he understood now that it had been necessary, it was not a moment of his life he was proud of.

"Your deshi is the same. But he, or rather you have some choice in the matter. That sword of his, a sakabatou gives some lee way in the matter of life and death." Hiko broke off with a sigh.

"What is it?"

"Oh, a sakaba was one of the methods I considered using as a restraint for Hiten's power. It didn't work too well. I broke plenty of bones but no one learnt their lesson. They just came back after healing so I ended up having to kill for the protection of people. I came up with the weighted cloak after that. It seems to have been adequate and quite useful in strengthening my inheritors."

"A sword is a weapon. It is meant to kill."

"A sword is a weapon. But it can be wielded for defence. It does not have to kill," Kamiya broke in.

"A sword is a weapon. It's use is dictated by its owner. We can argue about the correct use all day but that wouldn't be very constructive. We can sit down one day and really fight it out some time later."

"Hai, hai... You mentioned a choice?"

"Your choice. Between your deshi's sword, his vow not to kill and the fact that he completely mastered the technique at his first attempt and so has complete control over the Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki, you don't have to die."

"You sound surprised that he completely mastered it? I have always known Kenshin was that good. I never let him know that of course."

"Of course I'm surprised. Complete control indicates that he had absolute control over its speed, force, timing, everything. Not even all my successors can claim that. It is something that is usually developed after attaining the mantle. Complete control on the first attempt is very impressive. He hit you with just enough power to stop your Kuzu Ryu Sen. Naturally I'm happy that my technique is in such good hands. But this does not answer the question of your choice." Hiko's expression became firm as he looked Sho straight in the eye. "Do you want to die?"

"What type of question is that? Of course I don't want to die. I still have the will to live, nothing has changed since the time I learnt the Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki."

"Well, several things have. Your student is..., how did you put it? Ah yes, 'quite capable.' So you don't have to live to pass on the technique, you already did that. Is just living a good enough reason for you to return?"

"Of course it is! Just because I've fulfilled my duty as Hiten Mitsurugi Master does not mean I'm worthless. I can do other things. Besides which, I'm not sure my deshi would be too happy knowing he had killed me. He may even kill himself for breaking his vow. Plus he'll need to be pushed before he passes on the technique so I'd say there is still plenty of reasons for me to continue. Add to those, the fact that although I was prepared to die passing on the final technique, I don't want to and what more reason do I need to continue living? It'll keep my deshi humble."

"It will at that. I wonder if the world is ready for two Hiten Masters?"

"It's going to have to be."

"Heh! Well, I guess you can have this back now," Hiko said, offering his successor the mantle he had removed earlier. "You'd better get going. If you ask Kamiya-san nicely, he may even point you in the right direction. See you later."

"Mare mare. I'll do that anyway. I don't need a Hiko Seijuro running around between life and death. I shudder to think of the damage that could be caused. But I have one thing to do first," Kamiya said approaching Hiten Masters. The mists seemed to close in around them.

He stood before the Thirteenth Master. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said, before reaching up to lay his finger tips on Hiko's forehead. There was a whispered comment, "I'm glad Kenshin is shorter," before he spoke again in a tone of absolute command. "Forget," he demanded, looking deep into Hiko's eyes, placing the restraints on his mind. "Forget and remember only when the Dragon and Flower merge. Forget."

The mist rose around them, becoming thicker, almost a solid barrier. They were making him sleepy. "Forget," a voice whispered as his eyes closed and he fell back into the mist. He didn't feel himself hit the ground.

He keeps his eyes closed, sensing his surroundings, making no movement to signal that he was awake. Years of training had taught him this. There was nothing threatening that he could sense although there was a familiar presence nearby. He identified it as his baka deshi. Hmm I guess this means I'm still alive. Yep. Kenshin is the only being who could muck up the Ogui and waste years of my training to a point where the ultimate technique is not fatal. Not that he was complaining. His deshi had learnt the technique. He couldn't remember anything that said in the teachings of Mitsurugi that the Master had to die so that the student could graduate. It just hadn't happened yet that the Master had survived the teaching of the Ogui. My genius shows through again.

Hiko cautiously opened his eyes. He had felt that he was lying on something hard, covered with a blanket but now he knew he was lying on the pallet in his hut. His deshi was asleep against the far wall. Hiko smiled at him. He had learnt the technique completely. That was good. Even if his chest was going to take weeks to heal completely.

Hiko got up, carefully so as not to open his wound and not to disturb his deshi. He changed his clothes, fastening his mantle to his shirt last. He found the small bag of herbs he keep for emergencies and tasted his mouth. That's why there's not as much pain as there should be.

He then spotted Kenshin's sword.  A sakabatou, a form of restraint. He frowned. There was something he was forgetting but he couldn't imagine what. Hiko picked up the sword. He had already seen that it was a master work of Shakkuu-san. Ah! That explains it. The combination of my genius and a master sword with a lose rivet explains why the technique did not kill. Not that he couldn't kill if he wanted to. Hiko narrowed his eyes, looking to his deshi. He'd been up and moving about. Wasn't he going to wake up? It was time to fix that.

He stood before Kenshin. It looks like he really is asleep, if he doesn't wake to my presence. Hiko lifted his boot. It was time Kenshin left anyway. One kick ought to be enough.
    "Are you going to waste the whole day? There's a lot of people waiting for your return. So quit lollygagging and get off my mountain."

"Shishou!"

Well, he looks relieved. Nani..? He stepped aside, avoiding his on coming pupil.

"The day hasn't dawned when I'd be happy to hug a man. Don't jump around like that."

"Demo... I'm glad the medicine worked."

"What? This stuff? It's just a placebo."

"But... well..? why..?"

Yes his expression is worth it. "It was probably the sword."

Hiko held the blade out for Kenshin to see, pointing to the rivet. "Look here. The rivet protrudes, so whether it's drawn or not the actual blade will shake just enough. As a result, the blade itself can absorb and weaken the power of the Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki. It's responsive to the feelings of its wielder. It's a good blade." It should be, Shakkuu-san made it.

"If I may say it again, my genius wasn't wasted in training you to make use of everything the sword can offer you," he said with a nonchalant flick of his arm. "So the passing down of the secret techniques is finished. As your experience tells you, the Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki can kill even with the reverse blade." He threw the sword back to its owner. "As a vagabond, you must control the force and speed of the technique." Nani? He's still here? "Now quit hanging around and get off the mountain. People are waiting for you."
 

The End.
I hope people liked it. Comments are welcomed.