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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Mamorigami

by Chiruken

Chapter 1

Fukashigi

 

 

 

 

 

“Ken-san…” Himura Kenshin looked up quickly, violet eyes anxious, and stood to face the grim faced doctor slowly approaching him, steps hesitant on the smoothly polished boards of the engawa.

 

        “M-Megumi-dono…” He whispered, fear taking root within his chest, making it difficult to breath.

 

        “Kaoru-chan has given you a son.”  Takani Megumi whispered, tears filling her dark eyes as she reached up one handed and pulled the tie from her long dark hair, a small, blanket wrapped bundle cradled protectively in her other arm against her side.

 

        Kenshin looked passed her towards the room he shared with his wife, face paling as his mind finally registered that there was no sound emerging from that direction.  “Megumi-dono…” He turned his gaze back to the woman he called friend and physician, expression pleading.  “Kaoru…is Kaoru all right?”

 

        Megumi averted her gaze, tears slowly trickling down her cheeks.  “I-I’m sorry…there’s nothing more that I can do.”

 

        Shaking his head in denial, Kenshin rushed passed her towards the closed shouji, pausing for a moment before sliding it open silently and entering.  His keen hearing detected the soft sounds of the wind outside the doujou blowing through the trees…but nothing more.  Falling to his knees beside the futon where his wife lay motionless, he reached out a trembling hand and touched his trembling fingertips to her smooth cheek, feeling the unnatural chill in her skin.  “K-Kaoru?”  He whispered, tears filling his eyes when he received no response.  “Koishii?”  Voice betraying his growing desperation, he leaned closer, listening intently for the sound of her beloved voice reassuring him and banishing the terrors of the night.  Nothing.  Not a sound, not a breath to indicate life.  Shaking his head sharply, Kenshin pulled away and sat down hard.  “No.”  The denial emerged on a hoarse whisper.  “No…not Kaoru…not my koishii…” Guilt tore through him.  He caused this.  It was his fault.  He knew she was much too slender to bear a child, yet he’d been unable to deny her what she so fervently wished for.  Raising shaking hands to cover his face he wept bitterly, knowing that he’d been responsible for the death of his second wife, the sweetly innocent young woman who’d accepted him despite his clouded past…Kaoru.

 

        Why do you weep?  Slowly Kenshin lowered his hands and raised his head.  You are not injured.  There is no reason to shed tears.  Turning his head to survey the room he could see no one else in the dimly lit room, yet he could sense a presence in the shadows.  What are you looking for, Battousai?  A low chuckle accompanied the echoing words sending chills down Kenshin’s spine.

 

        “Who are you?”  Kenshin scowled, reaching automatically for his sakabatou.  “What do you want?”

 

        Your plea has been heard.  I am here to grant you your hearts desire.  Was the cryptic disembodied reply.

 

        Biting his lip uncertainly, the former hitokiri suspected that the death of his wife while bearing his child had finally pushed him over the edge into the pit of madness he’d been fighting since the revolution that had altered his fate so many years before.  “Who are you?”  He repeated, soft voice wavering in the darkness as he pushed himself to a low crouch, alert for any hostile moves on the unknown intruders part.

 

        My name is of no importance.  Tell me, Himura Kenshin, what is it that you most desire?

 

        Detecting a hint of mockery in the disembodied voice, Kenshin cleared his throat, fingers tightening around the hilt of his sakabatou.  Eyes moving to the lifeless mound resting atop the futon beneath the light sheet illuminated by the soft glow of the full moon, a soft sigh emerged from his parted lips.  “Kaoru…” He breathed the name of his beloved wife, his friend and companion.  Turning his gaze upwards and slowly closing his eyes he whispered to the unknown entity the answer to its question.  “I want my Kaoru back.”

 

        Laughter filled the room, echoing eerily off the walls of the doujou.  Done.  Payment will be exacted over the next fifteen years as I see fit, Himura Kenshin.  This contract will be finalized on this date fifteen years from this night.  Farewell, Himura Battousai.  Enjoy the time you have remaining with your mortal wife.

 

        A soft, gasping breath echoed in the ensuing silence of the room, drawing his attention back to the futon.  “K-Ken…shin…” The wavering voice pierced the gloom that had descended upon the doujou, thawing the ice that had formed around Kenshin’s heart.

 

        Daring to hope, praying that it wasn’t just his weary mind conjuring what he so fervently wished to be, he rushed to her side, stumbling in his haste Kenshin fell to his knees and stared down into her beautiful sapphire blue eyes, his own filling with tears of gratitude that spilled down his cheeks to splash against hers.  “Kaoru?”  He whispered, almost afraid to believe what his senses told him.  “Kaoru!”  His joyous shout echoed throughout the doujou as he pulled her into his arms and wept into her shoulder, rocking her gently back and forth.  Silently he gave thanks to the being that had granted this miracle to his heartfelt wish.

 

***

 

Definitions:

 

Mamorigami:  Guardian (Deity)

Fukashigi:  Miracle

 

Author’s Notes:

I’m currently experiencing a severe case of Writer’s Block.  My Plot Bunnies when on vacation and didn’t leave a forwarding address for me to contact them in case of trouble.  **sigh**  So here I sit at a complete loss as to how to continue my other ficcies.  So…I decided to write something completely unrelated to everything else that I’m working on at the moment.   I have no idea where this is going…if anywhere.  I’m trying to get out of my slump and I feel that if I write something I may actually get over this Writer’s Block.  Wish me luck?