Buckets First!

Kenshin heard the door slide open. Before he had time to react, Hiko had grabbed him by his ankles and was dragging him out of the room to the buckets. Hiko didn't let go of Kenshin's ankles till they'd reached the buckets.

"Master!" cried Kenshin.

"Buckets first, then rest! NOW GO!" barked Hiko, jabbing his finger toward the river.

Kenshin got slowly to his feet, looking Hiko directly in the face, jaw jutting out stubbornly. Insolence and indignation shone in the boy's violet eyes. Moving with deliberate slowness, Kenshin picked up the buckets and sauntered haughtily out of the hut.