"Daddy?"

"Yes, Kenji?"

The three of them were on the road toward the market, the little redhead happily swinging the hands of both his parents as they walked. The weather was warm, and Kenshin basked in the peace that he felt radiating from his new life and family. That is, until Kenji lifted his curious blue eyes and finished his question.

"What's a Shishio?"

Kenshin stopped in his tracks.

"Uncle Yahiko said that Hiten Misugu came from Shishio," his son explained seriously.

Thoroughly confused and a tiny bit alarmed, Kenshin searched through his mind for an appropriate response, and came up empty. Questions about his past were bound to come someday, but… Shishio teaching him Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu? Yahiko knew better than that, didn't he?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his wife's bright laughter. Kaoru was doubled over, eyes watering as she tried to control her mirth. For a few moments he just stared at her, bewildered.

"He means 'shishou', Kenshin," she finally gasped out, still grinning as she brushed tears from her eyes with her free hand. "Your face was priceless!"

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Shishou: The title (similar to "master") that Kenshin used when referring to Hiko Seijuurou XIII, who taught him Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu.

Shishio: Kenshin's enemy from the Kyoto arc.

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Reviews and critique are always appreciated! :)