Title: A Father's Love

Author: Kenshin's Soul

Summary: Kenshin's POV on his infant son, Kenji

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I love Ruroken! I don't own it, darn it, but Watsuki-sensei does.

A Father's Love

My son, my beautiful little son.

You still cease to amaze me.

I never dream I'd be a father.

I thought I wouldn't be because of my painful past.

So tiny, so fresh, so innocent.

I study your tiny smooth face free of any physical and mental scars.

Oh, just looking at you, so new to the world.

You mewled, you made me laughed

then you made me cry for no apparent reason.

I don't know why I cry.

I guess because I'm feeling a lot of different emotions.

As I held you, you're nice and warm and soft.

I still can't get over how tiny you are.

I count your fingers, toes.

I caress your soft cheek.

You smell so innocent

And I like it.

They say you're a mini carbon like me,

I'd like to refuse to think about it but

You got red hair like me except it's darker

And I can't tell of your eyes

Because they're of milky-blue color

I think they'll be blue-violet, which will be darker than mine

You're here for a reason on this earth.

Looking at you, you have me pulled back into my childhood

You got me wondering how my parents think of me

During the Bakumatsu era when I was a deadly hitokiri

At the tender age of 14.

Oh, how I wished to go back in time to change!

I could make sure my parents safe from the disease.

I would have grown up to be a farmer, free of chaos

I know my life would be hard.

Hopefully a normal childhood.

But I would have to fight against the soldiers to defend my life.

It would not be the same as being a hitokiri.

I would be free of guilt, sadness, anger, confusion,

no attachment to the name, hitokiri battosai

But of course though, I wouldn't have met your kassan

And you wouldn't be here in my arms.

I hope my parents are proud of me and looking down at us right now.

I'm glad to be your father.

I'm glad to become a rurouni to make amends of my bloody past.

I'm glad I made a vow not to kill.

I'm glad to help the weak.

I'm glad to help the innocent.

I'm glad to be a human being again.

I couldn't have asked for a better new life.

I hope you'll never have to go though like I did.

Or like your Sano-oji, Megumi-oba, Yahiko-nii, and finally your kassan.

I hope you'll never have to stain your hands with blood.

I really hope you'll live a much peaceful era

Than any of us here.

Free of chaos, blood, fear

I hope you will grow up strong and confident.

I hope I can "grow" up with you

To be a kid again

So I can enjoy them while I can.

I hope I can watch you grow up to be a man.

I hope I can watch you get married.

I hope you can give me grandchildren.

Now, that's an interesting thought!

I hope I can live long enough to see you go

Through different stages of growing up.

I'm watching you taking a grab of my finger

Gripping like a vise.

Strong!

I smile down at you.

I'm proud to be your tousan.

Welcome to the world, my musuko.

Owari

Bakumatsu --- (from the Viz, LLC) final, chaotic days of the Tokugawa regime

Kassan --- mother

Musuko --- son

Nii(san) --- brother

Oji(san) --- uncle

Oba(san) --- aunt

Tousan --- father