Rurouni
Kenshin Fanfic
Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original
Japanese Version ©N. Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual Works Inc. * Sony
Pictures Entertainment
All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the
sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.
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He looks into his
cup, frowning slightly. “Kaoru-dono,
why did you ask me to stay?”
“Um…Warrior’s
compassion?” I offer it nervously. In truth it was an impulsive decision, but
he doesn’t need to know that.
“Do you do this
often? Invite strangers to stay with
you out of warrior’s compassion?”
“Of course
not! I’m not a complete blockhead. There are very dangerous people lurking out
there. It would be very foolish indeed
to let them come into my home, especially since I live alone.”
“And yet you
invited me to stay, knowing full well who I am. Would you not call Hitokiri Battousai dangerous?”
I open my mouth to
protest, but the words die unspoken.
He’s right. Besides, haven’t I
been experiencing misgivings about my impulsive decision? “In all honesty I don’t know how to answer
that. When we first met you were rurouni,
then when Gohei attacked my doujou I discovered you were the real Battousai,
but truthfully, I asked Himura Kenshin to stay.”
He smiles, though
somehow it’s the saddest expression I’ve ever seen. “I thank you for your kind words, Kaoru-dono. However, I think perhaps it would be best if
I left In the morning, that I do.”
My eyes widen in
sudden, inexplicable fear. “But why?”
He looks up from
his cup, meeting my gaze with his gentle violet eyes. “For many reasons. Your
reputation may suffer for having an unrelated man living with you alone and
unchaperoned.”
I shake my head
emphatically. “I don’t care about
that!”
“You should. It would make it difficult to explain when
you wish to find a husband.”
“Is that
all?” I snort derisively…a decidedly
unladylike sound. “I have no desire to
chain myself to anyone. I value my
independence far too much to give it up to easily.”
“This will come a
day when you won’t feel that way.” He
shrugs and sets his cup aside again.
“In truth, it isn’t my business what you do or don’t do, that it is
not.” He sighs and folds his hands in
his lap and looks down at them. “There
is also the fact that I seem to cause you great discomfort. I have no wish to cause you unease,
Kaoru-dono, but my presence seems to do just that.”
I sigh and set my
own cup aside. “I can’t deny I feel a
little nervous around you, Kenshin, but I think it’s because we’re still
strangers to each other.” I lean
forward and peer into his face, past his hair, which has fall forward. “It takes time to get to know people and
maybe a little more time is what’s needed.”
I bite my lip and plunge in headfirst.
“I like you, Kenshin---and mean you, the man I’m beginning to know. I told you the truth before, I truly don’t
care about your past. I admit I’m a
little frightened of you reputation, but that’s because of all the stories
parents tell their children, I think.
You certainly don’t appear to enjoy eating children for breakfast.”
A look of distaste
crosses his face. “Um…No, I prefer miso
soup for breakfast, that I do.”
“Then it’s
settled. You’ll stay.” I smile and retrieve my cup and take a sip
of the rapidly cooling liquid with a grimace.
I stand quickly, Kenshin’s gi sliding to the engawa. “I’ll get more hot water. I’ll be just a moment.” I hurry towards the kitchen, but pause at
the shouji and look back, over my shoulder.
He’s looking at me with the oddest expression I can’t quite decipher. It seems to be a mixture of happiness and
worry, hope and uncertainty, and affection and fear. I duck into the kitchen, searching for the kettle. I don’t think I’m afraid of him
anymore. When he said he was leaving I
was afraid…but not of him. No, what I
feared was never seeing him again and not getting to know him better. I have discovered tonight under the moonlight
that there is so much more to Himura Kenshin than I first thought. No, I’m not afraid of him anymore…I’m
beginning to think I never was, that what caused my nervousness were my own
feelings towards him. If I’m lucky,
I’ll be able to prove to him in the coming days that he doesn’t frighten me any
more.
**Owari**
***
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Author’s Notes:
1.WooHoo! Part 4! You know what this means? This is the last part of this fic! Done!
Finis! Owari! No more!
2.This takes place some time between when Kenshin first comes to
live at the Kamiya Doujou and when Yahiko enters the picture.
3.Thanks for your patience with the short chapters in this
fic. I really appreciate it!