Awww... That was sweet. Poor Kenshin, coming to believe Hiko won't sell him if he turns out to be useless. And Hiko's grand speech about *his* apprentice destined for great things? Well, of course *his* apprentice would be extraordinary.

Comparing Kenshin's terrified elusiveness to a particularly slippery fish was a nice touch.

oh poor baby! i just want to hug him and feed him and make all his monsters go away. *cries*

wow, very nicely described and hiko's thoughts and reactions. loved the end, he's going to be so hurt and putout when kenshin leaves at fourteen. one doesn't build a bond like that without becoming inextricably emotionally entangled.

"he enjoyed the spectacle he created, the sidelong, appraising glances from the bolder girls, the open envy from other men. His height alone prompted amazed stares, and he moved with a self-assurance that parted crowds before him and trailed a wake of turned heads and open mouths."
That was such a great description of Hiko! I can totally see him thinking that way. I love that he let the merchant in on his plan to let Kenshin overhear that Hiko values him - though the merchant's "different is sometimes just different" comment didn't really go the way Hiko was intending.
The toy was a really sweet touch. Hiko can be kind, in a gruff sort of way, and pinwheels are a very traditional toy in Japan so I enjoyed the historical accuracy.
How heartbreaking, that Kenshin would think Hiko would sell or trade him! It does explain his baffling (to Hiko at least) mood and attitude change once they hit the marketplace. Good chapter! It's always a joy to read your work.

I love the wonderful Kenshin/Hiko interaction. I especially like the way Hiko drapes his usual garments of arrogance around himself ("This boy will carry the sword into the new era.") while he manages to ignore his newly discovered hopes for the future. And the last scene deserves the highest accolade for a Shishou-Deshi fic, namely "Aww."

Hiko had the sweetest, truest reaction here - he knows he's not giving his deshi away, so it never occurs to him just what his twitchy child is worried about...

So much love for this fanfic! The funny first story (I'm still trying to decide if Kenshin was asking genuine questions or if he tricked Hiko into taking him on a trip. Probably a bit of both. Smart kid. XD) and the heartbreakingly sweet second one.

I hope you'll write more! :D

And that is why it takes patience to deal with a traumatized ex-slave with bed wetting issues. Patience and lots of sake.

Ah, Sue-san! Forgive me for not reviewing sooner! I can only plead a complete life-upheaval! But on to the review-

I love the portrayal of Kenshin's earnest, innocent dedication: "Are there lots of ropes?," indeed! Just what our eager-to-please Little Dragon would say. And how well you have portrayed one of the teacher's greatest joys, learning the pupil. It calls to mind a line from a great horseman, Arnold Rojas, who said "The horse is an intelligent animal. We must allow him to teach us how to teach him." How well Kenshin lessoned Hiko, and how well the Master appreciated his own shortcomings in this vignette. It lightened my day to read this.

Ciao,

M-chan

WHAHHAHAHAHHAA! I love this! I practically burst out laughing! :DDD

Thanks for the great read! kenshin and Hiko characters are really believable. Funny part i love, "where are the rest of the ropes?" lolzz Cute and smart kenshin..

I love Hiko and Kenshin moments, and this one was most adorable. The way you portrayed Kenshin - with a mixture of innocence, stubbornness and a dash of mischief - was spot-on. I hope you find the inspiration to continue!

this is cute )

i'm thinking that many people learn in different ways. personally i'm predominantly an aural/hearing learner, other people may learn better by touching, or or by seeing/reading better.

another thing that i would think interesting is fishing. one can use a rod or one can stand in a pool at the side of a stream and scoop a fish out with their hands. if one is to do that with their hands- they would have to not only be quick, they would have to anticipate the fish's next move. they would have to calculate the way the water refracts (reaching to where the fish is, not where you see the fish since the water distorts the angle of the light put a stick into a body of water and watch the way the stick looks when part of it is under water). anticipating the fish's movement, the calculation of angles, and the agilities one needs to not only stay upright in the water (form), but the strengthening of one's muscles while moving with speed in water would help with his sword training...

Okay, complete and utter adoration of this fic. Somehow you made it even BETTER than it was when I beta'd it.

My fav parts "The map shows this clearly" (I can see Hiko just gritting his teeth here)

and

"What is wrong with this kid's brain?" (Hiko just sitting there trying to figure out how you can possibly think the Tokaido is small. Honestly, how the kid could even CONSIDER making such a stupid comment. And thinking to himself "Dammit... he seemed so smart when I picked him up. Is he just one of those kids who can only think of one thing at a VERY LONG time... Maybe he only understands burying people... the whole farming thing and all... Must have had some pretty creepy parents...")

Anyway, completely hysterical!

Other learning/ teaching moments... What about trying to explain to a kid how to write.

Hiko: (writes kanji for mountain or something) "This is a mountain"

Kenshin: (puzzled) "Isn't that kind of small for a-"

Hiko: DAMMIT! Not THIS again!"

hehehe...

Sirius

I love little Ken-nii-chan and Hiko-sama. Very Kawaii. You really should write about Hiko explaining money to his redheaded Chibi Deshi.

Perhaps little Baka Deshi isn't as much of a baka as he would like Shishou to believe.

So if the Meiji Tokai road goes through Otsu, does that mean that Kenshin and Misao would have passed through Otsu when they came to Kyoto in the Kyoto Arc?