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 13
Urami
Kenji sat on the engawa beside
his father and slowly sipped at the rapidly cooling tea, blue eyes focused on
the leaves swirling across the hard-packed earth of the doujou’s yard. They had been sitting thusly for some time,
an uncomfortable silence hanging over their heads like a cloud of doom. Finally the boy set his cup aside and rested
his hands against his thighs, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned
white. “Why are you here?” He finally asked, tone harsh with his
resentment.
Kenshin closed his
eyes and wished that Kaoru were still with them. Somehow, she’d made it easier.
Kenji had been much more civil when she’d been there. “Kenji…” He began only to stop abruptly, his
cup falling to shatter against the boards of the engawa as he gasped, closing
his eyes tight against the sudden onslaught of pain gathering in his chest,
choking him, making it nearly impossible to breath as he bent forward to
relieve the unbearable pressure.
Kenji’s eyes widened
in shock, face draining of all colour as he watched his father bend double, as
if in great pain, clutching his chest as his breathing became uneven. “’Tou-san?”
His voice quavered as he leaned forward. “What is it?” For the
first time he realized that all he had been told of his father’s failing health
had been true.
Hearing the fear in
his son’s voice, Kenshin attempted to catch his breath and push the pain
aside. Slowly sitting straight again
with one shaking hand pressed against his chest, the former hitokiri smiled
shakily at his son in reassurance. “It
is nothing, Kenji, that it is not.”
The boy shook his
head with a frown and reached out to tug on the sleeve of Kenshin’s gi. “It is something. Should I get Genzai-sensei?”
“That isn’t
necessary, that it is not.” Wearily he
rested his head against the support post behind him and closed his eyes,
slowing his breathing to ease the pressure within his chest. He felt lightheaded and weak. Not a good sign, in his mind. “Kenji…” He began softly, turning his head
slightly as he opened his eyes again to meet the boy’s anxious gaze. “Don’t tell your mother.” He whispered it softly, violet eyes silently
pleading.
Shifting closer,
Kenji lowered his voice to a whisper as well.
“Why not?”
Lips curving upwards
into a gentle smile, Kenshin closed his eyes again with a soft sigh. “I don’t wish for her to worry unnecessarily,
that I do not.”
“Why did you leave
us, ‘Tou-san?” Biting his lip to still
its trembling, Kenji inched closer, blue gaze fixed on his father’s drawn and
pale features. Slowly he reached out and
touched a hesitant hand to his father’s shoulder. “Tell me. Why did you
leave us all alone?”
With another weary
sigh Kenshin shook his head slightly.
“I needed to, Kenji, that I did.
My path for atonement had always lain with the sakabatou, that it did. Without it…I was lost.” He raised a hand slowly and pushed his hair
out of his eyes as he focused on his son again. “I needed to find a new way…”
“Why did you give it
away then?” He never had understood why
his father had given his sakabatou to Yahiko all those years before. No one had explained it to him, as if they
didn’t think he would understand.
“Megumi-dono told me
that I could no longer practice swordsmanship.
Though the spirit was more than willing, the body was unable.” He smiled sadly. “That is why I gave the sakabatou to Yahiko for his genpuku. You were much too young to have to carry all
that it represented, that you were.”
His smile faded and with infinite sorrow he shook his head and sighed. “I never wished for you to carry that
burden, my son.”
“What gives you the
right to take that decision away from me?”
Kenji scowled and sat back on his heels. “Besides…that doesn’t explain why you abandoned us.”
“Your ‘Ka-san and I
discussed it…and this seemed to be the best path to follow. Though I was unable to use the sakabatou to
help people, there was still something that I could do. I could help to ease the pain and suffering
of the people afflicted by disaster, sickness and war, that I could.”
Eyes widening in
sudden understanding, Kenji stood abruptly.
“That’s what happened!” He
shouted angrily. “You went out, ignored
us, and got sick. Now you’re back. How selfish.”
Kenshin could feel
his patience slipping. “That isn’t
how…” He paused and blinked up at the boy, uncertainty crossing his pale
features. Could Kenji be right? He was suddenly struck by the fear that it
had all been for nothing…that he hadn’t accomplished anything at all beyond
bringing pain and suffering when all he desired was to bring peace and
happiness.
Kenji watched the
conflicting emotions flit across his father’s face, dread settling within his
heart. “What? No arguments in your defense?”
He bowed his head
and closed his eyes, holding his hands outstretched in silent
supplication. “I’m sorry, Kenji…”
“You’re sorry?” He barked out a bitter laugh. “Yeah.
I’ll bet you are. I wish you
never came back. You’re just going to
make ‘Ka-san cry again when you leave next time.”
Kenshin looked up
slowly. “She…cried?” He whispered softly, violet eyes stricken
with the knowledge that he’d made his Kaoru cry.
“Well, yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “What did you expect? Her to throw a party and celebrate?”
He stood slowly,
using the post for support. “I didn’t
know…” He whispered softly, knowing that it was a poor excuse. “She never told me…” He should have known
that she hid her tears from him. “I’m
sorry…so very sorry…” He bowed his head, his hair falling over his eyes, hiding
the expression in them. “I…”
Kenji sighed and
placed his hands on Kenshin’s shoulders, pushing him down onto the engawa
again. “Sit down, ‘Tou-san. ‘Ka-san would be upset if you fell down and
got hurt.” What was it about this man
that made him so angry yet at the same time…sad? Sitting beside him again he smoothed his hands over the material
of his hakama. Drawing in a deep breath
he leaned back against the support post beside Kenshin and gazed up at the
clear blue sky dotted with soft white clouds above. “Tell me a story, ‘Tou-san…” He whispered softly. “About when Sanosuke-san was still in
Japan…about the Oniwabanshu and Misao-san and Aoshi-san…” His mind drifted back
through the years to the night after Yahiko’s genpuku when Kenshin had given
him the sakabatou. He’d asked for these
stories then, too. “Tell me about how
you saved Yahiko-san from the yakuza and how ‘Ka-san followed you to Kyoto…” In
the distance a cricket chirruped as a gentle breeze fluttered the leaves of the
trees around the doujou, the delicate wind chimes hanging above their heads
tinkling softly. He glanced to the side
and saw the gentle smile curving Kenshin’s lips upwards and felt an answering
smile tugging his up as well.
***
Definitions:
Mamorigami: Guardian (Deity)
Urami: grudge; malice; bitterness