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
Chapter 7
Monowakari
Kaoru peeked through the partially open
shouji and bit her lip in concern as she watched her husband as he stared up at
the night sky. Suddenly he clutched his
chest and bent forward, gasping for breath his shoulders shaking as he
coughed. Covering her mouth to stifle
her horrified gasp she turned and ran for their room, throwing the shouji open
with reckless haste. Grabbing a blanket
off the futon they shared she turned and ran back the way she came. Pausing only to catch her breath, she exited
slowly, expression calm and serene, hiding the inner turmoil she felt. “Kenshin…” She whispered softly as she
placed the blanket around his shoulders.
He glanced up at her, violet eyes wide and surprised. “It’s chilly out here and you’re only
wearing your yukata.” She sat by him
and surveyed the yard of the doujou.
“Kaoru…” He
began slowly, reluctantly, uncertain of what to say.
Tilting her
face upwards, Kaoru focused her eyes on the sparkling stars dotting the velvety
expanse of the night sky. “When were
you going to tell me, Kenshin?” She
asked softly, eyes shining with unshed tears.
“How long did you think to hide this from me?” Her lips trembled as she spoke.
She drew in a calming breath and turned her gaze back to his. “I’m your wife, Kenshin…let me share your
burden.”
He shook his
head slowly, lips curving in a sad smile.
“I’m sorry, Kaoru, that I am.
This is something for me to bear alone, that it is. I never told you because I didn’t want to
worry you unnecessarily. Please forgive
me, koishii.”
Kaoru closed
her eyes and felt the tears slip out to trace wet trails down her cheeks. “Have…” She swallowed and tried again. “Have you spoken to Genzai-sensei?”
Kenshin
reached out and gently cupped her face, brushing away her tears with the pad of
his thumb. “No, but I did speak with
Megumi-dono, that I did.”
“This is
good. What did she say?” She leaned into his tender touch and tried
to stop the flow of tears with another deep breath.
Kenshin
shrugged and allowed his hand to fall back into his lap before turning to gaze
back up at the stars. “She isn’t
certain, that she is not.” He was
silent for a moment before sighing deeply.
“Kaoru…” He stopped as if searching for the right words to express what
he wanted to say. Kaoru held her peace,
giving him time to gather his thoughts.
“I…” He bowed his head and closed his eyes. “I’m not certain I did the right thing…giving Yahiko the
sakabatou…giving up swordsmanship.” His
hands closed into fists where they rested in his lap. “I-I’m lost now, koishii…I don’t know where to go from here, that
I do not. I don’t know what path to
take to find redemption for all the evils I have done…to seek atonement…to…”
Kaoru leaned
forward and placed her fingers against his lips, stilling the words he spoke so
painfully. “Shh…anata…you have already
done so much. Perhaps it’s time now for
you to rest. But if you feel that there
is still something you need to do, then I will support you in whatever decision
you make.” She placed her arms around
him and rested her head against his shoulder.
“Come inside, Kenshin. It’s late
and it’s always easier to think after a night’s rest. In the morning I’m certain that things will be much clearer for
you.”
Kenshin
smiled and returned her embrace. “I
don’t deserve you, Kaoru, that I do not.
You’re much too good for me…” He whispered against her hair, inhaling
the familiar scent of her perfume.
She sighed
softly and shook her head gently.
“We’ve been through this before…you deserve to be happy despite what you
may think and I’ll do everything in my power to see to it that you are
happy.” She pulled back slightly and
gave him a fierce look. “So stop
arguing and come to bed.” She stood and
held her hand out to him waiting impatiently.
He looked up
at her with wide violet eyes and slowly stood as well, a gentle, loving smile
spreading across his features. “Yes,
ma’am.”
Her answering
smile warmed his heart and eased the ache in his soul. “You can tell me all about what Megumi had
to say in the morning, anata.”
Kenshin
paused for a moment on the engawa, realizing for the first time just how late
it really was. Turning his head he
caught sight of his son’s form in the shadows.
“Kaoru, you go on without me.
I’ll be just a moment, that I will.”
Kaoru turned
to protest and then sighed. “All
right. But don’t be too long.” Her feet padded softly on the smooth wood of
the floor as she continued on to their room a short distance away.
“Kenji-chan…it’s
late, that it is.” Kenshin approached
his son slowly, his anxiety increasing when the boy remained silent. “Kenji?”
“I’m not a
little kid, ‘Tou-san.” Kenshin winced
at the unmistakable anger in the boy’s tone.
“No, Kenji,
you aren’t. I’m sorry, that I am.” He reached out to place his hand on Kenji’s
shoulder and grimaced when he pulled abruptly away. “Kenji…” He began only to be interrupted.
“Why did you
do it?” Kenji glared up at his father
with all the fury a five year old could muster. “Why, -‘Tou-san?”
Kenshin
frowned uncertainly and slowly crouched down before his son. “I don’t understand, Kenji, that I do
not. What has you so upset, my
son?” He reached out again, eyes
widening in shock when the boy slapped his hands away.
“You gave
Yahiko-kun your sakabatou. Why? Why did you give it away?” Kenshin closed his eyes and tried to think
of a suitable reply, one that would satisfy Kenji’s obvious hurt anger and also
one that he could understand at his young age.
“And why won’t you teach me swordsmanship?”
“Kenji…” He
sighed and shook his head slowly. “I
have no intention of passing the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu along to future generations,
that I do not. You are learning your
mother’s budo…the sword that protects.
I gave the sakabatou into Yahiko’s keeping because I will no longer be
needing it.”
“Why?” Kenji looked puzzled. “Why won’t you need it anymore, ‘Tou-san?”
Kenshin tilted
his head to the side and smiled at his son gently. “I don’t intend to practice swordsmanship any longer, that I do
not.”
The boy
scratched his head with a frown of concentration. “Why?”
With a low
chuckle, Kenshin pulled his son into a warm embrace. “So many questions when you should be sleeping. Off to bed, Kenji, before your ‘Ka-san
catches you out of your futon.”
“But…” Kenji
sighed and hugged his father in return before pulling away again with a
scowl. “All right.” He pouted before casting a sly look in
Kenshin’s direction. “Will you tuck me
in, ‘Tou-san?”
“Ano…”
Kenshin sighed with an indulgent smile.
“Of course.” He stood slowly and
held his hand out to his son.
The boy
hesitated for a moment before placing his small hand within his father’s much
larger palm. “Will you tell me a story,
‘Tou-san? One about when Sanosuke-san
was still here?”
Kenshin cast
a helpless look towards the open shouji where his wife stood watching with an
exasperated expression. “Ano…maybe just
a short one, Kenji…”
“How about a
story about the Oniwabanshu? And
Misao-san and Aoshi-san and…”
“Just one
story…” Kenshin began to protest only to be cut off by Kenji’s growing
excitement.
“Oh! And how about the story of how you saved
Yahiko-kun from the nasty yakuza?”
“Where did
you hear tha—“
“And the time
when ‘Ka-san followed you to Kyoto…”
“Oro?” Kenshin shook his head sharply. “Kenji, I said a short story…” He
blinked when Kenji looked up at his with tears in his blue eyes…eyes so much
like his mother’s. He blinked again
with his lower lip trembled. Finally he
sighed, his resolved broken when the boy drew in a shuddering breath, small
shoulders shaking with barely contained sobs as the tears gathering in his eyes
trembled on his lashes, threatening to fall at any moment. “All right, all right…I’ll tell you all
about those stories, that I will.” He
reached down and gently brushed away the tears that had fallen on his son’s
smooth cheeks.
Behind him,
out of his line of vision, Kaoru shook her head with a knowing smile. “Mou, Kenshin…” She turned back into their
room and slid the shouji shut soundlessly before crossing to the unrolled futon
and laying down, preparing to sleep.
She knew that her husband wouldn’t be joining her anytime soon. She wondered with a yawn when he was going
to realize that Kenji’s tears weren’t always genuine? That boy knew how to play his father like a well-tuned
shamisen. She shook her head and pulled
the blankets up to her chin. She knew
that even if Kenshin did know it wouldn’t change anything. He’d always be a big softie when it came to
children…especially his own. She would
have to remember to question him further in the morning about his illness that
he’d obviously been trying to hide from her for kami-sama knew how long.
***
Definitions:
Mamorigami: Guardian (Deity)
Monowakari: understanding