Author's Note: Just a little drabble, a character study if you will, to help me understand the different viewpoints of our lovable motley crew. Un-beta-ed for you viewing confusion; enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, Hitokiri Kenshin, or any Kenshin in between.
Why Can't They See?
Part One: Similarities
At the gate Yahiko and Sano waited in silence, but it was the red-head before her that drew her attention.
There was a slight thickness to the air around him as he stood there. It was depression, desperation, and determination. She almost moaned with the recognition. Great, she thought, she had to deal with a guild-ridden rounin who was about to inform her that he was leaving. Again. And this time he was taking the members of her make-shift family. She made sure a sweet and innocent smile masked her true emotions and thoughts. She wasn't supposed to be intelligent enough to recognize that look of his. She was the sweet and naive kenjutsu instructor. A foolish little girl to innocent to know the dangers and hardships of the world around her.
Right. And that's why she trained every day with a sword in her hand. Alright, a bokken. But it was just as effective as a sword. Even more so, as her techniques could be applied with the result of a wounded but still very much alive opponent. An enemy who would be forced to heel through law, forced to make amends.
So she taught a style who's basic philosophy was 'a sword that protects life'. That did not mean she had no understanding of why men took up swords. Why there was war. No, she understood the desperation and fear that enabled slaughter. She understood it well.
Swords were created to protect people. Her style followed this. Swords were created to defend beliefs. Her style followed this. Swords were created to enforce, to kill when needed. Her style had a specialized technique for this.
Kenshin wore a reversed-blade sword on his hip, and he would kill only when forced with no other options. Kaoru had a wooden sword at her call, and she would kill only when forced with no other options.
Why did they think her weak?
Why could they not see that she was a warrior? Why must she always be pushed away? Why was she always left behind to watch her family leave on a mission that was to defend Japan? If only they would allow her to help, to truly help…
Why could he not see that they were alike?
