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 New Day Has Come”
written by: Aldo Nova,
Stephan Maccio
Kenshin closed his eyes with a sigh, tilting his face up to the
sky. He leaned back, resting on his
elbows, and slowly opened his eyes to view the vast expanse before him from his
vantage point on the roof of the doujou. A gentle smile curved his
lips as he remembered another roof at night in another city. For a moment he’d been content then, too,
sitting on the roof of the Aoiya with Kaoru by his side.
Slowly, Kenshin’s mind drifted to the past, to the night in Kyoto when he’d felt the peace in his soul that only Kaoru could inspire. As the images flit through his mind, slowly coalescing into silent memories full of emotions, music plays softly in the distance, heard by none, yet felt by all, a soft melodic voice putting words to his thoughts and feelings of the present to his memories of the past.
He sighed softly and shook his
head. He’d wandered for ten years,
searching…waiting…for something he hadn’t dared to name. Afraid of being alone, yet also afraid of
allowing someone to get close to him again.
{For a miracle to come…}
A miracle…that was what it would
take for him to atone for all that he’d done.
A miracle was needed for him to find someone who could accept his
battle-scarred soul and body, and forgive him for his past.
{Everyone told me to be strong…}
Sometimes it had been so hard to
keep going…nearly impossible to find the strength to live. Only his promise to his first love kept him
from ending his lonely existence. To take
a life…even his own…would betray her memory.
And so, whispers of the past…those who had gone before him…encouraged
him to be strong, to live, and to wait for his miracle to come.
{Hold on and don’t shed a tear…}
Her voice, growing fainter, had told
him not to cry…that it had been better that way. It had been impossible to do as she’d asked. His heart had been shattered by his
thoughtless actions, feeling as if his blade had not only pierced her body, but
also his soul. But he’d promised…sworn
to do all he could to atone for his sins and seek forgiveness for them. To honor his vow, he had to hold on.
{So through darkness and good times…}
Time passed, healing his physical
wounds. Slowly, he emerged from the
darkness and tried to rebuild his life.
He tried to remember the good time he’d shared with Tomoe, but it had
been so hard…every memory overshadowed by his grief and deep sense of loss.
{I knew I’d make it through…}
He continued on, existing only to
honor his vow to his first love. That
simple promise, uttered with conviction, would see him through the
years…hopefully to redemption. He knew
he’d make it…if only to keep that promise to Tomoe.
{The world thought I had it all…}
Years
passed and he’d met so many different people…most good and kind, some not. They saw only what he wanted them to see, no
more. He had been afraid to let anyone
get too close. They saw him as a happy
wanderer, not as the sad and lonely man he truly was inside. He’d worn his mask well. Even he began to believe he was content with
his life of wandering.
{But I was waiting for you…}
Until…until one early, fog
enshrouded morning in a deserted street of Tokyo. Kenshin smiled, remembering how weary he’d been after walking all
night. Unexpectedly, he’d been accosted
in that empty street by a fiercely determined young woman. He’d been momentarily frozen in place, his
shock holding him immobilized as his heart thudded almost painfully in his
chest. Her foolish bravery and innocent
beauty had captivated him from the start.
{Hush now…}
Time seemed to stop for him. For the first time in years the ghosts of
his past were silent. It felt as if
somewhere deep inside of him a soft voice whispered for him to be silent, to
listen…not with his ears, but with his heart.
{I see a light in the sky…}
Behind the girl, over the rooftops,
the sky lightened, night giving way to morning as she did the impossible. She’d challenged him…not the wanderer, but
the man he’d been ten years before.
{Oh it’s almost blinding me…}
The light blazed in all its glory as
he’d realized that she wasn’t afraid of him…that rather than running in fear
from Hitokiri Battousai, she was facing him in blatant challenge.
{I can’t believe I’ve been touched by an angel…}
The purity of her spirit, the
innocence of her youth, and the courage of her actions all captivated him,
ensnaring him like nothing else ever had.
She was an angel, his salvation…and as time passed and he came to know
her, his first impression seemed truer than even he could’ve guessed.
{With love…}
Always she was there, beside him, with him…inside his heart. Kaoru had become his focus, his hope for redemption. She forgave him…and offered quiet acceptance and love.
{Let the rain come down…}
Kaoru…She became his reason to
live. This he had discovered while
facing his shishou in the rain
as he moved to follow through with his threat of ending his life. He’d realized that he couldn’t allow himself
to die… that he had to return to Kaoru, if only to keep her safe…always.
{And wash away my tears…}
The realization that his life was
worth something…that all life, including his own, was precious…and how
so many had suffered to bring him this understanding…He’d been grateful for the
rain as it washed his tears away.
{Let it fill my soul…}
Somewhere, deep inside, he felt a shifting, a swelling, as his newfound understanding filled him. He was loved…and that gave him strength.
{And drown my fears…}
When he’d been engaged in the hardest trial of his life…fighting not only Shishio Makoto and his insanity, but also his own sense of low self-worth…he’d drawn strength from his friend’s support and faith. As the battle grew more desperate, his fears were swept away by the memory of Kaoru and their promise to each other…that they’d return to Tokyo…together.
{Let it shatter the walls…}
A simple gesture, so tender and
innocent…the offering of her hand and a gentle welcoming. With her quiet acceptance of all that he
was…past and present…the walls surrounding his heart were breached.
{For a new sun…}
As the protective barrier around his heart and soul fell away, hope replaced despair, happiness took the place of grief, and contentment ended his loneliness. It had been like the first rays of morning…a new sun brightening the day.
{A new day has come…}
Kenshin closed his eyes with a
gentle smile as the memories played out in his mind. He could acknowledge that it had been a new beginning for him
when Kaoru had welcomed him home after their return from Kyoto.
{A new day has come…}
A new day, a new life…a second chance at finding happiness.
{Where it was dark now
there is light…}
Kenshin lay flat on the roof,
staring up at the sky, watching the deep midnight lighten to shades of pink,
mauve and blue as the night gave way to morning. He could admit it now…before he met Kaoru he’d been trapped in
the darkness of his past.
{Where there was pain, now
there’s joy…}
He’d spent ten years reliving the
pain he’d caused himself in one moment of careless inattentiveness. One month with Kaoru had eased it to a dull,
muted ache. One year with her had
replaced the hurt with joy.
{Where there was weakness, I found my strength…}
Before his life had finally settled
into the routine of peace that he’d longed for, his enemies had discovered that
his weakness…his only weakness…were the people he cared about. And his own brother-in-law, Tomoe’s younger
brother Enishi, had used this knowledge to his benefit. Kenshin’s hands closed into fists at his
sides in remembered anguish. Enishi had
used Kaoru in his twisted thirst for revenge, nearly destroying Kenshin in the
process. Slowly, he relaxed again. What Enishi, in his madness, hadn’t realized
was that his weakness was also his greatest strength.
{All in the eyes of a
boy…}
But it had been Yahiko who brought
him back from the verge of self-destruction.
Yahiko…a boy he’d come to view as a son. Kenshin smiled as he pictured him now compared to then. Yahiko was growing into a fine young
man. He’d come a long way from the
foul-mouthed pickpocket he’d first met.
If it hadn’t been for Yahiko, Kenshin knew he’d still be in Rakunimura,
if not dead. His ‘son’ had needed
him…and so he shook off his despair and emerged, to live again for those who
remained.
{Hush now…}
He sat slowly and watched as the sky
lightened further, the hushed silence of predawn inspiring an answering calm
within him.
{I see a light in the
sky…}
The sun rose in all its glory,
touching his hair and turning it to blazing fire.
{Oh it’s almost blinding
me…}
He closed his eyes against the brightness and stood carefully.
{I can’t believe I’ve been
touched by an angel…}
Kaoru would be waking soon. If she discovered his absence she’d be
worried. With casual grace he jumped to
the ground, silently giving thanks for the second chance he’d been allowed.
{With love…}
He returned to the room he shared
with his wife, steps silent. Kaoru, his
second love…and all the more precious for being the one who renewed his faith
in life and taught him to love again.
{Let the rain come down…}
He stood just inside the shouji and watched his wife sleep, his mind returning to Kyoto. He hadn’t been able to move forward and embrace new happiness without first bidding farewell to the past. To do that he’d faced his grief and returned to Tomoe’s grave, a place he hadn’t visited in ten years.
{And wash away my tears…}
As he’d knelt by the lonely stones
in prayer, he’d felt Tomoe’s presence offering tender comfort and quiet
encouragement. The gentle rain had
washed his tears of gratitude away.
{Let it fill my soul…}
Kneeling by his first wife’s grave in the rain he’d felt his heartache being washed away, making room for hope and love to grow anew.
{And drown my fears…}
Slowly, Kenshin’s mind returned to
the present again and he smiled as Kaoru murmured in her sleep. He had nothing to fear…not anymore.
{Let it shatter the
walls…}
After
laying his past to rest once and for all, he had no reason to raise barriers
around his inner self anymore. He was
free to love…and to be loved in return.
{For a new sun…}
A soft hiccupping sound drew his
attention and he moved quickly to the squirming bundle beside Kaoru. A gentle smile curved his lips as he lifted
his son into his arms, cradling him against his chest.
{A new day has come…}
A new life had been granted to
him. He’d cherish each day as precious
and take joy in his family.
{A new day has come…}
His son, Kenji, was the symbol of
his hopes for the future…the embodiment of his own acceptance of
happiness. Kenji was the future.
{Let the rain come down
Kenshin closed his eyes and pressed
his cheek to the top of Kenji’s head, tears filling his eyes.
{Let it fill my soul
His happiness was complete. He had a family…Kaoru and Kenji…and friends
who meant everything to him…Yahiko and Sanosuke, Megumi and so many more. All accepted him for himself; no one
condemned him for his past.
{Let it shatter the walls
He drew in a deep breath and opened his eyes, meeting eyes so very much like his own, only young and full of innocence. First Kaoru, now Kenji…they were his reason to live on. They kept his heart and soul free of the crushing guilt and debilitating grief. They gave him a reason to look forward to each new day with hope.
{A new day has come…}
The room slowly brightened with the
first rays of the morning sun. Another
day, he thought. Another day that I’ve
been granted.
{A new day has come…}
Kenshin smiled as Kaoru stirred, her
eyes slowly opening as the light found its way to her face. “Ohayou…” He murmured softly. The
music faded to soft undertones, the voice a bare whisper as Kaoru smiled up at
her husband.
“Ohayou, Kenshin…” She whispered
lovingly and stood to take Kenji into her arms.
Owari no hajime
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Definitions:
Doujou:
place for practice or tournament [martial
arts]
Battousai: Devoted to
the Art of Sword-Drawing Master
Shishou:
master, teacher
Owari no hajime: the end
of the beginning