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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Kono Sekai no Katasumi de…
A songfic by Chiruken
Kamiya
Kaoru, dressed in her favorite yellow kimono, long dark hair tied back into a
ponytail with a feminine pink ribbon, blue eyes sparkling with unshed tears,
stepped forward onto the stage. Slowly
stepping towards the center of the stage and the waiting microphone, she wiped
her damp palms against her thighs and forced a smile, blinking the tears
back. Pausing before the microphone she
gazed out over the packed theatre and the expectant audience. Drawing in a deep calming breath, she forced
her smile to widen into a cheerful expression.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!
Tonight the cast of Rurouni Kenshin will be singing one final song for
your listening pleasure. Unfortunately,
due to an unforeseen emergency, Himura-san will not be joining us this
evening.” She paused, not letting her
hurt disappointment show, and drew in another deep breath. “I’m sorry to say that this will be our last
public appearance.” Raising her hands
in a placating gesture, she spoke into the ensuing confused rambling babble
issuing from the audience. “And now,
without further ado…”Kono Sekai no Katasumi de.” Music began as the theatre dimmed and the spotlights focused on
her in center stage. Closing her eyes,
she let the notes wash over her, waiting for her cue in the beat, mind returning
to her first meeting with Kenshin, the very beginning of the strange odyssey
called “Rurouni Kenshin”.
"Totemo chiisana deai kara
Sore wa hajimatte yuku"
( It all began with
an insignificant encounter )
Slowly, reluctantly, Myoujin Yahiko stepped forward to join the
young woman on the stage, expression determined, a faint blush of embarrassment
spreading across the bridge of his nose when he caught sight of Tsubame in the
front row. Swallowing, he took his place
at Kaoru’s side, wishing that Kenshin had changed his mind and come for their
final performance after all. He glanced
up at Kaoru briefly, knowing the young woman was close to tears. He’d have to have a word with Kenshin
later…for both their sakes. With a soft
sigh, he cleared his throat and pulled the microphone closer to him upon
hearing his cue in the music. Yahiko
smiled sadly, remembering his life before Kenshin came into it. Who would’ve thought that a street punk like
him would’ve become a regular cast member in a hit series like Kenshin’s show?
"Hitori mata hatori otozure
Sore wa monogatari ni naru"
( Alone, again, a visit alone
Then that became a story )
The two
performers prepared to take up Kenshin’s part and opened their mouths to do so
when an unfamiliar clear voice came over the P.A. system.
"Wakariau tame ni kizutsuita
Namida no tsuyosa ga..."
(Our feelings were hurt so that we can both understand
The strength tears will someday...)
In a daze, Kaoru automatically sang her
part, eyes wide with uncertainty as she scanned the dark recesses of the back
of the theatre and then her confused gaze darted around the shadowed wings on
either side of the stage, searching for the unknown singer.
"...Itsuka kitto"
(...Certainly give)
Yahiko and Kaoru glanced at each other
with identical expression of confusion.
Each read the same question in the other’s eyes: Who was this unknown singer taking over
Himura Kenshin’s part? Unfortunately
they didn’t have time to contemplate the question thoroughly as the music was
continuing and they had to go on with their parts.
"Kimi wa dare wo mamotte yuku darou
Kakegae naku omou darou
Kimi wa dare to deatte yuku darou
Kono sekai no katasumi de"
(I wonder whom you shall go out to defend
Perhaps you're thinking that person's irreplaceable
I wonder whom you shall go out to meet
At a corner of this world)
Sagara
Sanosuke made his way to center stage with his easy gate, brown eyes roving
over the stage and audience curiously, obviously trying to locate the mystery
singer as well. As the music swelled to
his part he halted beside Kaoru, placing one large, bandaged hand on her
shoulder and giving a gentle squeeze as he raised his cordless microphone,
closing his eyes and drawing in a deep calming breath. Damn Kenshin for not being here for jou-chan! He thought bitterly. But despite his anger, his mind traveled
back to his first meeting with the red-haired swordsman. A grin crossed his face as he remembered how
stubborn he’d been back then and the measures Kenshin had gone to in his
attempt to make him see reason.
"Tsuyoko naritai to omotta
Yume wo orareta yoru ni"
( On the night when my dreams fell apart
I figured I want to be strong )
Takani
Megumi, dark hair falling loosely down her back and swaying against her hips as
she hurried across the stage in Sanosuke’s wake, blinked the tears from her
dark eyes, refusing to ruin their last performance with a display of emotional
histrionics. So what that Ken-san
hadn’t shown up? She sniffed and
ignored the burning sensation of unshed tears in her eyes. So what that he’d shown her a path towards
redemption and saved her from a life of crime?
So what that she owed him her very life? She took her place beside Sanosuke, leaning in close so she could
use his microphone easily, casting a quick glance towards Kaoru, seeing the
deep sorrow in her expressive eyes, and swore softly under her breath, vowing
to hunt down Himura Kenshin and give him a piece of her mind for the callus way
he’d treated the little tanuki who loved him unconditionally and probably still
would despite the fact that he’d neglected to show up for their final public
performance. She looked up at Sanosuke
questioningly, silently asking if he knew whom the mystery singer could
possibly be. He shrugged and shook his
head slightly, moving the microphone closer to her. Pushing the questions from her mind, she concentrated instead on
the song she was singing, digging deep within herself and filling the words
with all the pent up emotion she felt inside.
"Dakedo hitori ja nai koto wo
Kimi ga oshiete dureta ne"
( But you told me
You're not alone )
Kaoru
pushed her curiosity aside and leaned closer to the microphone set up in the
center of the stage, closer to Yahiko, placing her arm around his shoulders and
squeezing lightly. She smiled when he
reached up and covered her hand with one of his own. She glanced down into the boy’s dark eyes, affection softening
her features when she saw his smile. He
can be such a brat sometimes…but he’s still a good kid. She counted off the beats then drew in a
quick breath, closing her eyes and continuing with the song.
"Furimuku eagao no mukougawa
Hirogaru sora e to..."
( Behind the smile you show when you look back
The wide skies...)
Looking up at Sanosuke’s familiar
grinning expression, Kaoru couldn’t help but smile in return. He was like an older brother to her. She leaned her head against his shoulder
briefly in a show of affection for the former gang member. She was thankful to Kenshin for bringing
them together…for making them into a family.
Even if the show was over, the series cancelled, and Kenshin had
disappeared, she knew the remaining members of the cast would remain steadfast
friends no matter what the future held.
"...Itsuka kitto"
(...Someday certainly )
Placing
their arms around each other, they leaned close, their deep fondness for each
other clear for anyone watching them under the bright glaring spotlights of the
stage. All four smiled and swayed
slightly to the music, counting silently until the musical cue signaled that it
was time, then all same in unison.
"Kimi wa dare wo shinjite yuku darou
Aishitai to negau darou
Donna tooku hanarete shimatte mo
Kimi no basho wa koko ni aru"
( I wonder whom you shall believe
Perhaps I think you'd like to love
No matter how far away you are
You're place shall always be here )
A
soft, familiar voice sounded throughout the theatre, singing sweetly. Slowly, Sekihara Tae stepped forward from
the audience, making her way towards the stage, tear filled eyes shining with
love and admiration, and when she looked at Kaoru, compassion filled her
friendly features.
"Kaze ga ato daete mo toki ga nagarete mo
Kitto...kitto..."
( Even if the wind take the footprints away Even if time passes
Surely...surely...)
Kaoru smiled and held her hands out to
Tae in welcome, urging her onto the stage with them. Looking out over the audience, she saw several other people
standing and making their way towards the stage. Squinting into the bright lights, she struggled to see clearly
who was approaching. Suddenly her eyes
flew wide as she gasped, thankful the microphone wasn’t directly in front of
her yet since Yahiko was now handing it to her. She shook her head in awe as she watched everyone she’d met
through Kenshin coming forward with smiles and tears. So distracted was she that she almost missed her cue to sing,
joining Tae in a duet of sorts, even if it was for one word only.
"...Wasurenai"
( I will never forget )
As
Tae finally made her way up onto the stage by way of the steps to the side,
Sanosuke and Megumi each greeted her with a hug, pulling her closer, just in
time for the next chorus.
"Kimi wa dare wo mamotte yuku darou
Kakegaenaku omou darou
Kimi wa dare to deatte yuku darou
Kono sekai no katasumi de"
( I wonder whom you shall go out to defend
Perhaps you're thinking that person's irreplaceable
I wonder whom you shall go out to meet
At a corner of this world )
As
the instrumental started, Kaoru smiled at everyone, returning hugs hastily,
then froze as the unknown singer’s voice rang out once again, this time
clearer, closer. Slowly, almost afraid
to hope, Kaoru turned to face the audience again. Tears filled her eyes as she saw the one person she most wanted
to see slowly approaching the stage with a gentle smile curving his lips
upwards. Despite everything, the
questions that should be running through her mind, the accusations she should
be flinging, she found everything ending in one small, insignificant thought: I didn’t know he could sing!
Himura Kenshin, violet eyes steady on
Kaoru’s smiling face lifted the microphone and, to everyone’s utter shock, sang
in a clear and perfect tenor. This is
where I belonged…with my family…the people I love.
"Kimi wa dare wo shinjite yuku darou
Ai shitai to negau darou"
( I wonder whom you shall believe
Perhaps I think you'd like to love )
Moving
to stand beside Kaoru, he offered her an apologetic smile before gently
encircling her slender form in his strong arms, holding the microphone for both
of them to sing together.
"Donna tooku hanarete shimatte mo
Kimi no basho wa koko ni aru"
( No matter how far away you are
Your place shall always be here)
Everyone,
the whole cast of Rurouni Kenshin, stepped forward, surrounding Kenshin and
Kaoru, each raising their voices to sing joyfully to the audience of their
hopes, fears, loves, regrets and prayers for the days that both came and left
and for the future spreading out before them.
Those in the audience found themselves moved close to tears by the pure
emotion emanating from the group of people standing up on stage singing their
final farewell to each other, the world, and the man who’d drawn the least
likely and most bizarre group of people together with the shear magnetism of
his personality and the generosity of his heart: Himura Kenshin.
"Kimi wa dare wo mamotte yuku darou
Kakegaenaku amou darou
Kimi wa dare to deatte yuku darou
Kono sekai no katasumi de
Kono sekai no katasumi de"
( I wonder whom you shall go out to defend
Perhaps you're thinking that person's irreplaceable
I wonder whom you shall go out to meet
At a corner of this world
At a corner of this world )
(End)