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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A Meiji Murder
by Chiruken
~1880~
I blink sweat out of my eyes
as I lift the hoe and bring it down forcefully, turning the packed dirt and
exposing the black, fertile soil underneath.
It’s hard work, but well worth it, I think. A larger garden means more vegetables to harvest and maybe even
enough left over to sell at the market in the fall. Every little bit helps, especially now. Yahiko’s a growing boy and his appetite reflects on this. At thirteen, he’s already showing signs of
the growth spurts of a teenager. I lean
against the hoe and grin, pushing my hair out of my eyes and swipe my forearm
across my face. I think he’s going to
be tall, like Sanosuke. This morning I
noticed his clothes aren’t fitting quite as well as they used to and I think
he’s already reached my own height. It
just proves that proper nourishment is needed for a growing boy. I’m happy to see his early years of hardship
haven’t left lasting negative physical effects.
As much as I’d like to take a break, I know that if I do I’ll
never get the garden prepared before Kaoru returns home from teaching. Nodding decisively, I raise the hoe again,
continuing in my labor. If I hurry, I
can have the garden ready for planting by tomorrow. I wonder if I should try growing new types of vegetables or just
plant more of what we had last year. Daikon grows especially well here,
as does nasubi. I’d like to try growing
ninjin and maybe
extra imo. I shake my head with a
grin. Since Kaoru seems to be
especially fond of the imo, I think I’ll plant more of that this year. A little indulging of preferences couldn’t
hurt.
I pause in mid-swing, my eyes narrowing as I sense the approach
of a familiar ki. I lower the hoe and slowly turn to face the
front gate, frowning in concentration, and raise a hand to shield my eyes from
the brightness of the midmorning sun.
My frown deepens to a scowl as I recognize to whom the familiar ki
belongs. I drop my arm to my side, my
hand clenching into a tight first and, schooling my features into a carefully
neutral expression, I watch as a moment later a shadow falls over the threshold
of the front gate and a tall, uniformed man steps through. I tighten my grip on the hoe until my
fingers ache, but wait to see what he’ll do first, rather than making the first
move. It’s times like this that I wish
I didn’t leave my sakabatou in my room while I do the daily household chores. Facing this man unarmed isn’t wise, that it
is not. He pauses just inside the gate,
folding his arms over his chest, and smirks at me in that infuriating and
arrogant way of his. “Battousai, hard at work I see.”
“What do you want, Saito?”
Saito Hajime, formerly known as the captain of the third squad of the
Shinsengumi, now known as Assistant Inspector Fujita Goro of the Keishichou. He’s one of the last people I want to see today…or any other day,
for that matter. Kami-sama but I can’t like this man.
I tense as he walks towards me, but relax my stance slowly when
he makes no move to draw the katana at his side. “Where is
the tanuki girl? Out working again
to put food on the table I presume.” I
frown in annoyance at his disparaging tone, but hold back an angry retort. Resorting to trading insults with Saito
Hajime is a waste of time. It’s better
to wait for him to get to the point.
The sooner he leaves the sooner I can get back to my garden. “And the boy? Is he out washing dishes at the Akabeko earning a living to aid
in the upkeep of this household?”
As usual, his tone is irritating enough, but the words themselves
are almost enough for me to wish fervently for my sakabatou. “Do you have a point or are you just
drumming up wasteful words? I don’t
have time for this, so get on with it.”
Exerting extraordinary self-control I attempt to keep my tone civil.
“Very well.” He swiftly
closes the distance. I frown up at him
warily as he stops before me, eyes narrowed against the brightness of the sun
at his back. Without warning he raises
his hand and pokes a finger into my chest.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, Battousai, for allowing women and
children to support you.”
I slap his hand away and glare up at him, feeling my temper
rise. So much for remaining civil in
the face of my adversary, I think ruefully. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
His smirk and amused gaze give me fair warning that I should have
just told him to leave. “You play the
part of shufu and the jou-chan acts as shujin. Don’t you have things
reversed?”
Of all the presumptuous…I grit my
teeth as my temper flares and attempt once again to remain calm in the face of
his insulting manner and innuendos.
“The arrangements between Kaoru-dono and myself aren’t any of your business, Saito. Go away.
I have things to do.”
“You are content with this dishonor?” I grit my teeth and grip the hoe tighter. So help me…if he doesn’t take the hint
and drop this, I’ll show him just what a hoe can do! “When are you going
to be a man and lighten Kaoru-chan’s burden? It can’t be easy
for her to bear all the responsibilities of supporting this doujou and freeloaders like yourself
and the tori atama.”
“Damare-yo!” It comes out as a low,
furious growl as I point to the gate with my free hand...the other is gripping
the gardening implement tight enough my fingers hurt and my knuckles
whiten. “Get out. Go bother someone else.”
“When you’re ready to regain your honor come see me and we’ll
continue this discussion in my office.”
He turns on his heel and strides away.
“If you’re so inclined at that time, we will then discuss the terms of
your employment.”
“Employment?” I stare at
his back in bewilderment with a frown of uncertainty. “Wait a minute, Saito.
What are you talking about? What
employment?”
He steps through the gate and glances over his shoulder with a
condescending smirk. “Your employment
in the Keishichou, ahou.”
He strides away leaving
me staring after him in wide-eyed shock, utterly speechless. I close my mouth with a snap and turn back
to my garden. Saito’s sense of humor,
on the rare occasions that it surfaces, can only be described as
ridiculous. Work in the Keishichou…right. Like that would ever happen. I honestly can’t see the police commissioner
wanting someone with my past working for him.
***
I sit back on my heels to study the floor I just polished as I
place my hands in the small of my back and stretch the kink out of my cramped
muscles with a soft groan. It looks
good…but I think I missed a spot. I
sigh as my thoughts turn to the unpleasant visit from my old adversary from the
Bakumatsu. In a way, Saito was right yesterday. Kaoru does work very hard to maintain
this household. Sure, I do the cooking,
cleaning and washing, but in comparison, it really isn’t a lot. The garden and extra vegetables I sell at
the market really doesn’t bring in much of a monetary supplement to Kaoru’s
income from teaching. I wish I could
help more, but the sorry truth is I have no skills beyond the obsolete ones I
acquired during the Bakumatsu and I hope I never have to use them ever again.
I lean forward and polish the spot that appeared a little duller
than the rest of the floor enthusiastically, a slight smile tugging at the
corners of my lips. I find an odd
enjoyment in the daily cleaning of the doujou that most men of my past
acquaintance would find more than a little disturbing. The skills of a hitokiri never included washing
laundry and polishing floors. I sit
back and frown down at the shining boards.
No, a hitokiri’s skills were definitely very different from those of a
rurouni. I sigh and bend to the task of
cleaning again. The skills of a
hitokiri shouldn’t be needed in the Meiji Era.
That was the whole purpose behind the revolution…to end the necessity
for violence and needless death. Still,
things haven’t quite worked out the way I envisioned them to all those years
ago. Of course, not everyone fought for
the same reasons, but it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth when I think
of how the government I helped to bring into power is becoming just as corrupt
as the one we replaced.
I sigh and shake my head sadly, rubbing the cloth over the floor a little more vigorously. There isn’t much I can do about it now. What’s done is done and that is the way of it. For the most part the people seem to be content and I suppose that’s the most important thing. I did what I did during the revolution to ensure the people’s happiness and so the weak could live their lives in peace. It is my belief that at least something turned out the way I hoped. I have to believe that or all the lives I took…all the suffering I caused…would be for nothing.
I sit back and survey my work again and nod in satisfaction,
forcefully pushing the negative thoughts and unwanted memories away, pointedly
refusing to fall into the old habits of guilt-ridden self-condemnation that I
had before meeting Kaoru again. That
should do it I think. I stand slowly,
gathering my cleaning supplies, and head for the open fusuma leading into the other room where I quickly finish the
dusting. It occurs to me that this
should have been done last night by Yahiko as part of his training, but I don’t
suppose it’ll hurt anything if I do it for him just this once. I can’t help but wonder if Saito was serious
yesterday. It doesn’t really make
sense, but then again I can’t see him saying something like that for no
reason. Insults aside, I think Saito
meant what he said about me working in the Keishichou.
A short while later I slide the shouji open and step through, pausing on the engawa to stare at the place I now call home. Three years ago I came to this place, not intending to stay longer than necessary to help Kaoru make the necessary repairs to the doujou caused by neglect and Gohei’s attack while she worked to recover from the damage done to her doujou’s reputation. I didn’t expect to find such peace and acceptance as I did. I owe it to her to do all I can to help her keep her home and hopefully someday restore her school to its previous ranking amongst the other doujou’s of Tokyo.
There is much I want to do for Kaoru and very little that I can
accomplish as I am now. I sigh and
shake my head at my foolishness. This
doujou is my home for now, but fundamentally, I am still a
rurouni and
I never know when I’ll have to leave again.
It serves no purpose to allow myself to become too attached when we may
have to part ways forever. I wince at
how cold the thoughts seem in my own mind as I step off the engawa and briskly
cross the yard to the bathhouse. I
shake my head with a slight grimace.
It’s unfortunate that the logic is true, but my feelings contradict my
resolve. I have found happiness here
with Kaoru and somehow I just know I’ll never be able to move on as things now
stand. I may as well admit it to myself
if to no one else…I don’t want to leave again to take up the life of rurouni. Here, I have a home and friends…almost a… family?…in
Kaoru and Yahiko. Yes…a family…my
family. I can’t remember my family from
before I met Hiko…before the slave traders…but I remember the feeling of
acceptance and love that I felt with them.
I smile and look up at the clear blue sky. It has been a long time, but I remember what it feels like to be
a part of a family. But if I don’t
hurry, my family won’t be very pleased with me…I still have the
bathhouse to clean before I begin preparations for dinner. I pause before entering the bathhouse and
check the position of the sun again. If
I hurry, I’ll be able to drain and refill the furo with enough time to reheat
the water. A warm furo would be
appreciated after a long and hard day’s work, I think. I know I’d enjoy it, so I’m certain Kaoru
would, too.
I glance at the dwindling woodpile with a grimace of
distaste. I really hate chopping wood,
the rhythmic swing of the ax much too similar to the rise and fall of a katana
and not nearly mentally stimulating enough to keep my mind from turning to the
memories I carry of the nights I spent in Kyoto during the revolution and the
lives I took while there…I shake my head sharply, silently berating myself for
falling into the old trap yet again.
Someone has to do it and it may as well be me. When I’m done in the bathhouse, I’ll get it over with before
beginning preparations for dinner. At
least that way it’ll be done for a few days.
I wonder if Sanosuke will
be joining us for dinner tonight. I had
better prepare enough just in case. It
wouldn’t do to not be prepared and end up with not enough to feed
everyone. Maybe I can convince him to
help me with some repairs tomorrow…that is if he isn’t busy gambling
again. I frown and shake my head
slowly. I can’t approve of his habits,
but I suppose it’s better than working as a fighter-for-hire.
***
“Oi,
Kenshin…Where’s the hammer?” I sigh,
rolling my eyes in exasperation, and peer over the edge of the roof to frown
down at my friend.
I push my hair out of my eyes in mild irritation and gesture at
the ground. “It’s beside you, Sano,
that it is.” It seems that after
Sanosuke left the doujou after dinner last night he enjoyed the company of a
jug of sake. I survey his pale
countenance, disheveled clothing and red-rimmed eyes with a studiously blank
expression. I think it was several
jugs of sake actually. Why Sanosuke
feels it necessary to drink so much is beyond me, but if he enjoys it, I
suppose that’s the important thing.
“Oh.” He bends to retrieve the hammer, clutching
his head with a loud groan, staggering slightly and slumping against the wall
of the bathhouse.
I raise a skeptical eyebrow before schooling my features into an
expression of concern. “Sano, are you
all right?” I drop down beside him
lightly and frown up at him in anxious concern. “Maybe you should sit down for a while.” I offer helpfully, fully expecting him to
agree with my assessment of his current level of health. If Sagara Sanosuke’s anything, it’s
predictable.
He starts to shake his head, and then stops with another loud
groan. “Yeah…maybe I should.” My lips curve upwards into a knowing smile
as he leans against the bathhouse wall again and slowly slides down until he’s
sitting with his back propped against it.
“Damn futsukayoi…knew I should’ve slept a
little longer…”
I crouch in front of him and purse my lips thoughtfully. “Maybe you shouldn’t drink as much.” I point out reasonably.
He grins weakly and shrugs.
“You could be right. But it was
fun at the time.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. My last experience with a similar ailment taught me a valuable
lesson in moderation. It’s too bad he
hasn’t learned a similar lesson. “I
imagine it was.” I shake my head slowly
and move to stand. “Well…you just sit
here for a while, Sano, and when you’re feeling better you can help me with the
roof, all right?”
“Sure. I don’t s’pose you
could get me some water, could you?” I
sigh inwardly but nod all the same.
Sanosuke’s ‘help’ usually ends up with more work for me. I should’ve remembered that yesterday before
I asked for his assistance. Oh well…no
point grumbling about it now.
After giving Sanosuke his water, I climb back onto the roof. Most of these tiles need replacing. Patching isn’t going to do much longer. If the tiles aren’t replaced before the
rainy season, the roof will be no better than a sieve. I sigh dejectedly. New tiles don’t come free and as things are now there’s barely
enough money for food, never mind extra expenses. I glare over the edge of the roof at my friend. He isn’t helping the situation either. I shake my head and return my attention to
the task at hand. It’s ultimately
Kaoru’s decision, not mine. If she
wanted him gone, she’d have said so long ago.
I grin at the thought and shake my head at the unlikelihood of that
happening. He’s also a part of my new
family…the delinquent younger brother.
I chuckle under my breath at the oddity of my adopted family.
I sober, frowning at the hammer and then at the roof. Something must be done about this. Kaoru deserves so much more than hard work
and no rewards. It is time, I think, to
seriously consider what Saito said two days ago. If he was serious, then maybe this is a way that I can help
Kaoru. She’s done so much for me over
the last three years and now it’s time for me to do for her.
I nod decisively and raise the hammer. Tomorrow morning, after Kaoru and Yahiko leave for the day, I’ll
go to see Saito. I think it would be
best to keep my plans to myself for the time being. Kaoru doesn’t like Saito…for good reason, I suppose…and she’ll
stubbornly reject any explanations I may offer. Besides, I want to learn more of the arrangements he has in mind
before committing myself to any course of action. It wouldn’t do to find out after the fact that his expectations
include something beyond my ability to provide.
I certainly hope this works out.
If it doesn’t I may have to seriously consider finding employment in a
trade that I can learn. I frown
thoughtfully as I secure another tile in place. Perhaps the skills I gained as an apothecary could come to some
use. It’s unlikely, though. With the opening of our borders to the rest
of the world, Japan is being introduced to new and highly effective western
medicine. Once again, my skills are
obsolete. I shrug with a rueful
grin. At least I still know how to use
a hammer.
“Sano…Are you feeling better yet? I could use your help now.”
I wait, but there’s no reply.
“Sano?” I peer over the edge and
scowl in annoyance. He’s asleep…I
should’ve known. So much for getting
some much needed help. I resist the
urge to drop the hammer on top of his head and bite back a few choice words,
the least of which questioning his ambition in life.
***
I lean against the
wall and try to ignore the curious stares being sent my way. I’d like to think it’s my sakabatou worn at
my side in the bukezuri that’s attracting so much attention,
and it may actually be part of it.
Unfortunately, I’m beginning to suspect it’s actually my appearance
that’s causing these officers to gawk.
I just knew I should’ve worn my new gi and hakama. The gi I’m currently
wearing has been patched and sewn so many times it’s difficult to discern where
the original material ends and the repairs begin. I grimace inwardly. It’s
also so faded from years of use and uncountable washings that the initial red
colour is now more like pink. Added to
my height…or rather lack there of…I probably resemble a vagrant woman with a
katana. Not exactly the image I was
striving for.
I glance out of the corner of my eyes at some of the men pausing
to openly stare at me. I swallow and
try to appear as uninterested as humanly possible. I hope Saito hurries up and lets me into his office soon…before
someone does something regrettable, preferably. I look towards the clock for what seems like the hundredth time and
suppress a sigh of boredom. I’ve been
standing here for close to an hour and except for the embarrassing interest
being directed towards me by some of the officers passing by, nothing
interesting has been going on. Saito
had better have a good excuse for keeping me waiting like this.
The door opens beside me and an officer steps out, a grim
expression tightening his blunt features.
Whatever he was discussing with Saito obviously didn’t have favorable
results. He glances my way and halts
abruptly, staring rudely. I smile
innocently and try to appear casual, silently praying he doesn’t do something
that will humiliate me further.
“What’re you doin’?” I’m almost
relieved to hear the belligerence in his tone.
I smile cheerfully up at him.
“I am waiting to see Inspector Fujita, that I am.” That was another surprise for me. It wasn’t until I saw the new title on his
office door that I found out that Saito had been promoted from Assistant
Inspector to Inspector in the Keishichou.
His scowl deepens as he
takes a step towards me, obviously intending to intimidate me. “Don’t you know it’s illegal to carry a
katana by Meiji law?”
I school my features into typical rurouni innocence and look up
at him with wide eyes. “It is?” I hope Saito comes out soon. This could become…unpleasant. I try one last time to avert the inevitable
confrontation swiftly approaching. “Is
Inspector Fujita available to see…”
“Himura…Get in here.” I
grit my teeth in irritation at his imperious tone, but I hurry inside all the
same, thankful for the timely intervention even if he was using that annoying
tone of superiority. “Close the
door.” I do as he says, resisting the
urge to slam it. “Well, Battousai, to
what do I owe the honor of this visit?”
I wrinkle my nose in distaste
as my senses are assailed by the scent of stale tobacco smoke. He really ought to air out his office once
in a while. “You know why I’m here,
Saito.” When he smirks at me I cringe
inwardly and shake my head slowly. I’m
beginning to think it was a mistake to come here.
“Hmm…” He leans back in his chair and presses his hands together,
lightly resting his chin against the tips of his fingers. “I see.
So you’re finally ready to face up to your responsibilities. How does the tanuki girl feel about your
decision?”
“I haven’t spoken to Kaoru-dono yet, that I have not.” I tuck my hands inside my sleeves, hiding
the clenching and unclenching of my fists, and force my tone to remain
neutral. “I haven’t decided anything,
Saito. I need more details before I
do.”
“Details, huh?” He smirks, again, and reaches inside his
uniform jacket, withdrawing a package of cigarettes and matches. “So…what do you want to know, Battousai?”
I fold my arms over my chest and regard him steadily. “What, exactly, are you asking me to do?”
I wait as he slowly lights the cigarette, inhaling deeply and
slowly exhaling. “It’s a position that
would allow you to use the skills you honed during the revolution.” My eyes narrow in annoyance and I turn on my
heel, striding for the door. “Where are
you going?”
“Don’t waste my time,
Saito. I actually thought you were
serious the other day. The skills of a
hitokiri have no place in the Keishichou.”
“Ahou.” I halt with my
hand on the latch but don’t turn to face him immediately. “You jump to conclusions like a toad changes
lily pads. Sit down, Battousai, and
listen for once.” I turn slowly and
reluctantly take the chair he’s pointing at.
I draw in a shallow
breath, trying to not choke on the cloying cigarette smoke drifting my
way. “All right, Saito, I’m listening.”
“There are certain skills you honed during the Bakumatsu…” He
quickly holds up a hand, staying my movement as I move to stand, my expression
tightening with anger. “Your ability to
remain unseen when your enemies are looking directly at you; your ability to
blend into a crowd at will; your ability to judge your opponents, accurately
reading their weaknesses…do you begin to understand? Deductive reasoning.
Familiarity with death. An
individual with your experience is ideally suited to the position of Assistant
Inspector.”
I’m momentarily stunned speechless. “Assistant…Inspector?” I
ask slowly as I recover my ability to speak.
He nods and draws on his cigarette deeply. I frown thoughtfully.
“What would my duties include?”
He exhales towards the ceiling, the smoke forming a blue haze
around his head. “You would be
assisting me during investigations, preparing reports and allocating duties to
the junior and senior officers in our division.”
I look down at the floor, lips pursed as my mind races with the
possibilities, then back up at him. “No
killing?” He smirks and shakes his
head. “What are the hours I should
expect?”
“Be prepared to be available at any time. Your regular shift will be nights starting
at six.” I nod slowly and open my mouth
for another question. “Seven en a week. Is that acceptable?”
I do some quick calculations and come up well short of the pay I
received during the revolution. I sigh
inwardly, reminding myself that I can’t very well expect the pay of a hired
killer when acting as an officer of the law.
“When do I start?”
**To Be Continued…**
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Definitions:
daikon: large white winter radish
nasubi: eggplant
ninjin: carrots
imo: sweet potato
ki: 1. spirit; soul. 2. feeling. 3. intention; inclination. [Life
force]
sakabatou: reverse-blade sword
Battousai: nickname roughly meaning ‘sword-drawer’
kami-sama: God
katana: Japanese sword
tanuki: raccoon-like animal indigenous to Japan
shufu: housewife
jou-chan: missy
shujin: 1. husband. 2. owner. 3. master; mistress
Kaoru-dono: Mistress Kaoru
Kaoru-chan: little Kaoru
[-chan: (used after a person’s given
name to express intimacy and affection; also used as a diminutive for children
and pets)…can be used as an insulting form of address
doujou: place for practice or tournament [martial arts]
tori atama: rooster head (?chicken head?)(?bird brain?)
damare-yo: shut up
Keishichou: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, formed in 1874
ahou: moron
Bakumatsu: revolution that ended the Tokugawa Shogunate
hitokiri: assassin; literally people cutter
fusuma: sliding door of paper on wood frame
rurouni: wandering masterless samurai
samurai: Japanese warrior
furo: Japanese bath or bath tub
oi: hey
sake: 1. Japanese rice wine. 2. alcoholic drink
futsukayoi: hangover
bukezuri: the warrior method of wearing the katana through the
layers of the obi at the left hip, edge up
katana: Japanese sword
obi: kimono sash
gi: tunic type top (short kimono)
hakama: traditional men’s trousers resembling culottes
en: yen; Japanese money
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*NOTE: Added 12:31 am November 28, 2002 Very early morning! (Or late night, depending on how you view
it.) Please excuse typos…
Okay…shouji vs. fusuma:
Fusuma are sliding doors between rooms or on closets. Shouji is a sliding screen that acts as a
door to a room, usually to the engawa or as a window covering. I found this information in “The Anime
Companion” by Gilles Poitras.
Okay…Rurouni: What the heck is it anyway? The term “rurouni” cannot be found in any dictionary. Watsuki Nobuhiro, in his wisdom, created the word by accident. It was intended to mean Wandering Ronin but the kanji created something else…Wandering Guest. I debated with using the definition for rurouni as wandering ronin, but opted instead for masterless samurai because that’s what ronin means.
Okay…Ronin: True or
False?: Kenshin is not samurai. In the OAVs (The Memory Arc) he states
plainly that his father was a farmer.
The title “samurai” is inherited and comes from the warrior class. (Please don’t quibble this. I’m oversimplifying.) Kenshin never was and never will be a
samurai (unless he were to be adopted by one, but lets not go there, ‘k?). He’s a great swordsman, but not samurai.
I apologize for any confusion I may have created by
oversimplifying my definitions.