Chapter 24
The next week flew by. Everyone went about their business. Kenshin was improving and completing his formations, Ichiro was training chakra control, trying to concentrate it in his feet for walking on walls. Aya fulfilled her role as a loving wife and mother, taking care of household chores. And Keiji was growing up fast.
Kenshin decided to take about two hours each day to relax and have fun, wanting to give his second son a happy childhood. The family went to the forest, fished, and relaxed on their favourite river, and before Kenshin knew it, on the thirteenth day after Keiji's birth, or the forty-fourth day after Kenshin's arrival in this world, Keiji had grown into a 15 or 16 year old boy, almost as tall as his brother and father.
The next batch of wine was finally "ripe" that day, and early in the morning Kenshin and Ichiro set off for town again. Keiji begged his father to take him with him, but Kenshin refused, not wanting to let him go until he was fully grown.
- Be careful! - Aya said, hugging each of them.
- Don't worry, it'll be fine. We'll be back by evening. - Kenshin replied with a smile, and kissed his wife.
- Yes, Mum, don't worry, we've been to town before and everything was fine! - Ichiro said.
- And you, don't pout. Next time you'll come with us. - Kenshin said, and tousled Keiji's hair.
- Good, father... - Still in a disgruntled tone, Keiji replied.
- All right, Ichiro, let's go. Time's running out and we're standing here!
****
By 1pm, Kenshin and Ichiro were already in Shukuba City. Kenshin sold 15 bottles of wine and got 7500 ryo. Five more bottles were left at home and "matured" to 20 years of ageing.
To the seller, Kenshin explained that their deceased grandfather, was a wine collector, and there were many bottles left in the cellar, and now he and his brother had decided to sell it.
After the liquor shop, Kenshin and Ichiro went to other shops, looking out for purchases, and deciding to take a shortcut to another street through a deserted alley, Kenshin heard a familiar voice.
- Ha-ha-ha, you again! You were lucky last time, but you won't get away with it today. - The big bald man Koga laughed with a laugh. The two scrawny henchmen were still beside him.
- Gee, you're having a bad day, kid!" said one of the lackeys with a laugh.
"Damn, we're in trouble. Don't panic, Ichiro. I'll take on the two skinny ones. On you big guy, try to hold him for half a minute, then I'll help you. Got it?!" - Mentally commanded Kenshin.
"Father, are you sure you can handle two at once...?" - Ichiro reported excitedly.
"I'm sure. Just be careful, don't let the big guy get too close, and stall for time if possible!" - Kenshin added, and noticed that the trio had come to a distance of about two metres, and had stopped.
- I see you're not alone this time. Did you decide to go with your older brother? - Koga said with a laugh, looking relaxed but still not daring to get too close.
"Come on!" - Mentally Kenshin commanded, and at the same time Ichiro took a sharp step forward, and lunged.
The bald big guy, seeing Ichiro's very fast punch, instantly jumped back, almost getting hit in the face. One of the skinny henchmen received a precise punch to the lower jaw, and instantly fell to the ground. The second henchman was so frightened that he decided to run away, and only after taking about five steps did he stop and return to his boss.
- Not bad, not bad. You take care of our old friend. His older brother is on me. - Koga said firmly, turning to his assistant.
The scrawny henchman wanted to object, but seeing the boss's menacing look, he headed towards Kenshin.
Kenshin was one-on-one with the second henchman and immediately made his move. The big man, seeing that Ichiro was not attacking, made an attempt to intervene in Kenshin's fight, but almost missed Ichiro's lunge, dodging at the last moment and bouncing away.
Ichiro immediately moved after him, lunging with his right hand, aiming for the big man's jaw, who managed to block at the last moment, and took a blow to his forearm, recoiling slightly. Ichiro didn't give him time to think, and lunged with his left hand at the big man's face, but he took the blow to the block again.
Ichiro didn't calm down, and was quick to throw punches at the big bald man, which were mostly blocked, but Koga still missed a few of his punches to the body.
Ichiro blocked Koga's attempt at a counterattack easily enough, and struck the big man's right cheekbone, causing him to recoil and miss more punches.
Kenshin, in turn, had long since finished with the second henchman, and wanted to help his son, but he saw the game in one gate, and stopped worrying, and only with a satisfied look on his face watched his son masterfully attacking his opponent, who was only able to close his hands, having gone into deep defence.
After a few seconds, Koga missed a dozen punches to the body, and a few to the face. One of them was particularly strong, and knocked the big bald man out.
"Well done, Ichiro!" - Kenshin praised him mentally, deciding not to speak, or give any clues to possible listeners.
"Thank you, father! That was quite easy" - Ichiro answered him with a smile.
Then the two, father and son, picked up their belongings from the ground, and went about their business.
At seven o'clock in the evening, Kenshin and Ichiro were already home, sitting at the kitchen table, telling the open-mouthed Keiji about their incredible exploits.
- God, that's terrible! - Aya said fearfully, covering her mouth with her small hand. - You could have been beaten up! Kenshin, you should choose your route more carefully. What if you had been beaten, or worse?" said Aya, starting to cry.
- Shh, calm down. - Kenshin whispered, sitting her down on his lap. - Nothing would have happened, our Ichiro is much stronger than he looks. - Kenshin said, and kissed his wife on the cheek.
- Yes, Mum, nothing could have happened. That group of bandits was made up of weaklings, and even with training, they didn't stand a chance! - Ichiro said proudly.
"Keep your nose clean, Ichiro. If they had prepared, who knows how it would have ended. Never underestimate your opponent, got it?" - Mentally, Kenshin besieged him.
"Yes, Father" - Ichiro replied, realising that he had become proud of his powers too soon.
- And then what happened? - Keiji asked with burning eyes, curious about everything that had happened to his father and brother.
- And then... Then we had lunch, went shopping, and came home. - Kenshin said with a laugh, kissing Aya on the cheek.