I had first planned this to be a one-shot, but as I came up with more ideas…well…it ended up being more than one. It probably will be three shots, one happening right after the other. And there will be a lot of flashbacks in these.
Well any way, I do NOT own Rurouni Kenshin, though I wish I did.
Hero
Eighteen-year-old Himura Kenji sat on the porch of his family's dojo in deep thought. And quite honestly, he was thinking of a girl. Her name was Chiziru, and he had known her for a few years now, and well…that was the problem. He didn't know. He knew he cared deeply for her and he pretty sure she did as well, but he didn't want to express his feelings and, if rejected, lose what he had between the two of them.
I need help, some advice, he finally thought. I'm lost at what to do…I can't tell Okaa-san, she'll just start squealing and I won't get a word out of her. Maybe I can ask…
Kenji smiled at the thought of his father. Yes, Otou-san could definitely help in this situation.
He shook his head, chuckling to himself. He remembered his mother telling him that when he was little, he didn't like his father.
"You would pull on his hair, your face all scrunched up, and refuse to be held by him," Kaoru had explained, acting her son's expression.
Obviously, his opinion of Kenshin had changed, for Kenji remembered much of his childhood idolizing his father. He believed it must have been triggered when he saw his father fight with Yahiko during the boy's genpuku.
"It's time for a match, Yahiko," Kenshin said, touching his sakabato. "One match point. All right?"
Yahiko looked confused.
Kenji smiled happily in his mother's arms, as Kaoru asked, "Yahiko, you don't remember what day it is, do you?"
Yahiko stared at his foster sister/mother.
"It's your fifteenth birthday," she answered. "You must have heard of the tradition. In the past, samurai become adults at fifteen."
Kenji watched as Yahiko's face turned to shock at the gravity of the situation, as he turned to Kenshin.
Kenji remembered his father's aura. It was strong…powerful…it had almost sent fear into his young bones, but Kenshin's next words had assured him and Yahiko.
"Don't worry.
"From the time you first chose the path of swords, remember all the battles you have been in…The battles you have seen…the battles you have seen…the battles you have fought.
"Remember all that you have felt in these battles. Put it in a sword strike and unleash it."
Yahiko's face filled with determination and set his feet and bokken. "All right!"
Kenshin smiled approvingly. "That's good." Without taking his eyes off of Yahiko, he called to his wife. "Kaoru-dono."
Kenji looked at the two before him and his mother and felt Kaoru raise her arm to start the signal.
A moment passed as the two stared at each other…
"BEGIN!" Kaoru dropped her arm, and Kenji watched as the two flew at each other.
It was over in seconds, but little Kenji's eyes were wide. His father had beaten Yahiko!
Kenji smiled to himself. Yahiko had always been invincible to him, but when he had seen Kenshin fight him…This was a side of his father that he had never known existed. That's when everything changed.
"Tou-san! Tou-san!" eight-year-old Kenji cried, running to the dojo gate to meet his father.
Kenshin smiled down at his son. "Hi, Kenji. Were you good to your okaa-san?"
Kenji nodded firmly. "Hai!" Then, Kenji's face softened. "And Tou-san?"
"Hmm?"
"Can you practice with me?" He held up his shinai to distinguish what he meant.
Kenshin seemed to hesitate, but then smiled. "Hai. We need to work hard if you want the sakabato from Yahiko, that we do."
"Uh-huh!" Kenji agreed.
Kenji's mind moved to another memory.
"Yahiko-nii!" Kenji ran up to the young man, who was practicing in the dojo.
Yahiko sighed a bit, slightly frustrated at being interrupted, but if he ignored Kenji, Kaoru would smack him. "What is it, Kenji?"
"Tell me about, Tou-san! Tell me about his swordstyle! The one that Hiko-oji taught him!"
Yahiko sometimes wondered how in the world Hiko was considered Kenji's grandfather, considering his attitude. But, to everyone's surprise, Hiko had spoiled the boy furiously. He was pulled out his thoughts, as Kenji began tugging on his gi for an answer.
"All right, all right. Here, sit down." Yahiko sat on the dojo floor, and Kenji did the same, looking up expectedly at him.
First time he's actually paying attention, thought Yahiko ruefully.
Kenji listened with enthusiasm as Yahiko told short stories of his father's feats.
That's how I mastered the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Kenji thought. I listened to so many stories, I learned his style. In a way, I hurt Otou-san by learning it, but I wanted to. I never understood why he wouldn't teach me it.
He was…
My hero.
There we go! First chapter. I realized later this kind of like the Reflection OVA, when Kaoru remembers. Oh well. But I hoped you enjoyed it.
It's just something I needed to write to show that the Reflection OVA is NOT what happens.
Upcoming: The Battousai
