Oh... so cute:) I don't care about the little detail about "shishou", because the fic is so adorable:)

Sirius

That's a really cute story. :) I'd now do the little heart thingie if I knew how to. ;D

The first time Kenshin said "Oro" I was like "uhm...huh?" (so coherent...) and a bit annoyed. By now I think it's adorable. ...I'm one of these stark-raving-mad Kenshin fangirls. -_- I love it when he's acting more innocent and stupid than he really is! It makes me want to cuddle him. ^_^

Thank you for writing this, it's really cute! (And I should stop as I get repetitive...)

Nice slice of life fic. I think Hiko went a little easy on him, without calling him an idiot for example, but I liked the interaction. Showing Kenshin as a willful yet mostly obedient child was spot on. "Did he detect a gleam in those eyes?" heh.

When I left the place I was raised, I was also told that any problems people had understanding me were my fault since I can't expect others to take the time to learn the slang from my home. Your fiction is the first I've read to make that connection for Kenshin and allude to how he would use that later as a wanderer. Good work and nice attention to detail.

I really like this.. simple and amusing and, as i'd been expecting, a great end.

I'll be looking forward to more from you :)
..

^.^

I always like stories of Hiko and Kenshin in the early days, and this one is no exception.

In particular I enjoyed his characterization as an independent thinker and strong willed. His playing dumb when he didn't see the need to do something was a cute hint at his behavior as rurouni. And, being the mother of an assortment of strong willed boys, I found it very familiar as well!

"'Oro?' he mimicked in a childish voice. "It makes you sound like an idiot." "

Amen to that! Loved your explanation of where 'oro' came from. Hiko's thoughts on the need for Kenshin to learn correct speech patterns was very parental and so like him.

Nice story!

And later, he picked the 'oro' back up as well! ^__^ This was really cute, I liked a lot. :)

As far as I know, shishou is based on the traditional Chinese way of addressing a master/instructor ("shi fu"). In Japan, it is used as an ancient appellation for an instructor in some sort of martial arts. Since Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu was over 300 years old back in Kenshin's day, the style originated in the 1500s -- when the word was more commonplace. Kenshin probably calls Hiko "Shishou" by his request (to follow tradition), since I can't imagine where an orphaned peasant child would've heard such a term in the first place. In any case, calling Hiko "Shishou" is nowhere near as strange as Kenshin's other verbal quirks.

I'm glad you took the time to research what most people easily ignore. I have a similar love for nitpicking. =P

lol, sweet. i can picture hiko doing something like that ^_^

Ah, this is so so so cute! I love how you show that Kenshin has a lighter side even as a very little boy.

I *love* this little one-shot! What a wonderful explanation for Kenshin's odd way of talking (as a rurouni) -- that it's a reversion to the way he learned as a child in some isolated village! The three "Oro?"s were hilarious. And the observation about strength of will was spot-on.

Thanks also for the historical notes at the beginning. They add a certain depth and solidity that one doesn't often get.

Heh, I always figured that Kenshin picked up his unique mannerisms from his days as a rurouni rather then it being a consequence of his origins. I liked the idea that 'Shishou' is a title Kenshin decided to bestow on his teacher instead of Hiko being the one to foster that into him. It makes the relationship they share more personal ^_^

so charming, so delightful! i laughed out loud, and my heart twinged a bit with what i know is to come for him, for both of them, but felt and enjoyed the gentle warmth of Right Now, of these moments of what family they would have.

simply lovely.

That was adorable. I like how you capture Hiko's gruffness and Kenshin's mischievousness and stubbornness but also the affection between them. I love the idea of Kenshin rolling his head with the smacks and smirking. Kenshin playfully asserts his individuality and his master is strong and caring enough to let him. Nice comeback for a former slave.