Revised March 24, 2003.
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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by Chiruken
~1880~
I lean back against the support post of the engawa, one knee tucked up against
my chest in comfortable repose and, with a soft, contented sigh, direct my gaze
upwards towards the darkened sky, feeling as I do so a smile tugging at the
corners of my mouth, curving my lips upwards as I enjoy the early spring
nightfall. I can’t help but think what
a beautiful evening it is…so quiet, so peaceful. I think every star is shining with uncommon brilliance in the
dark sky, rivaling the moon’s silver light, brightening the velvet black
expanse of the sky and casting a hoary glow over the doujou’s yard. I lift my cup, tearing my gaze from the
dazzling display of light in the sky and swirl the contents gingerly, watching
the warm green liquid as it eddies in the small container, sloshing fragrant
green tea precariously close to the rim before lifting it to my lips to sip
slowly, indulgently, of the aromatic fluid, my eyes moving casually over the
yard before finally resting on a corner by the far wall. I study the area with a thoughtful
frown. I really should make the garden
bigger this year. Maybe I’ll do that
tomorrow morning, after I’m finished with the day’s laundry.
I glance at my silent
companion and smile, lowering my cup slowly and setting it aside. She’s very engrossed in what she’s reading
this evening. I take the opportunity to
study her unobserved for a moment, taking in her profile, watching as a stray
strand of her midnight locks drift on a slight breeze across her cheek,
catching on her lips before she absently brushes it aside, tucking it behind
the delicate shell of her ear again. A
little frown of concentration is puckering her brows and a slight pout is
turning down the corners of her lips.
Idly I wonder if she has enough light to read by. I stand slowly and she looks up, away from
the newspaper she’s studying, her beautiful sapphire blue eyes questioning me
silently. “I’ll get a lamp, that I
will.” I answer the unspoken question
softly before moving across the engawa to the closed shouji.
She smiles up at me with a warm expression, and nods, the
moonlight bathing her features with soft silver light, casting her face in half
shadows, blue eyes dark and mysterious…bewitching…causing my thoughts to
temporarily shut down as I silently think that it creates a breathtaking
picture…one I can’t help but admire.
I’m thankful for the poor lighting as it helps to hide my expression, as
well as the slight flush of embarrassment my thoughts bring. “Thank you, Kenshin.” Her sweet voice is hushed in the quiet of
the clear night, the soft tones melodic and enchanting. I clear my throat silently as I nod in
return and hurry inside, uncomfortable with the odd turn my thoughts are
taking. I’m not certain what it is
about the fresh spring night, but it seems to be the perfect compliment to
Kaoru’s open personality, and that seems to draw me to her more than ever
before. I shake my head with a rueful
smile and hurriedly set about my chosen task.
I don’t want to keep her waiting.
A lamp may be a small thing, but it’s something that I can do for her to
make her more comfortable. I glance
over my shoulder and see her shiver in the early spring breeze. She’ll catch a chill if she sits outside too
long in only her thin cotton yukata. I set the lamp aside
and hurry down the hall to my room, steps light and silent. A quick search of my room and I grin
triumphantly as I hold up my haori, quickly shaking it out before hurrying back to where I left the
lamp. Snapping my fingers in sudden
realization I head to the kitchen in search of matches.
A few minutes later, I return to the engawa and kneel beside
Kaoru, and striking a match I carefully light the lamp, setting the lit lantern
on the boards close to her. “It’s still
cool, Kaoru-dono, that it is.” I murmur softly
as I stand behind her and gently place the haori around her shoulders before
sitting beside her again.
She smiles up at me, lips curved upwards into a sweet smile as
she pulls the edges of the haori closed tighter against the rising chill
breeze. “Have you read today’s
newspaper yet?” I shake my head slowly
and pour more of the cooling tea for myself.
“It seems another government official was murdered last night. How many is this now? Three murders?”
“Four actually. I wonder
if they’re connected to each other, that I do.” I raise my cup and sip thoughtfully in silence for a moment
before lowering it again. “Do they have
any idea who may be committing these murders?”
I turn slowly to face her more fully, waiting patiently for her reply as
she sets her cup aside as well.
She shakes her head slowly, pretty features drawn down into
another frown. “None at all. It’s a real mystery.” She lifts the newspaper again and points to
the article she’d been reading. “No one
seems to know why they were murdered either.”
That bit of information gives me momentary pause. With no known motive, it will be rather
difficult indeed for the police to solve these crimes. “Hmm…Random acts of violence perhaps? Or is there more to it?” I shrug and raise my cup again. “It’s a shame that people have to die like
this, that it is. The Meiji Era is supposed to be safe and
peaceful for everyone.” I sigh and
shake my head sadly. “It truly is a
shame.”
**To Be Continued…**
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Definitions:
doujou’s: place for practice or tournament [martial arts]
yukata: informal summer kimono
haori: short jacket worn over kimono
engawa: veranda
Kaoru-dono: Miss Kaoru, archaic formal term of address, now obsolete
Meiji Era: 1868-1912