Title: Step to the New Road
Series: Rurouni Kenshin
Rating: T for Teen
Started: 25-June-2006
Finished: In Progress
Summary: Everyone has an adventure when they start something new.
Why: While reading the last volume of the Rurouni Kenshin manga, I thought about the things that Enishi might have gone through after he dove off the boat. I decided that I wanted to make it a fan fic. Then I decided, "Hey, why not make this about everyone?" So…I did. Heh.
Disclaimer: Do I own Rurouni Kenshin? Wow, you people don't read the credit page at the front of the manga, do you? Dorks.
First up is Enishi.
Icy cold water rushed up to meet him. It first touched the diary, then hands, handcuffs, shoulders, head, torso, and finally the whole body. Yukishiro Enishi was engulfed with the freezing water of the Pacific Ocean.
He held the diary close to his body as he broke the surface. Gasping for air (he was after all, still beat up from the fight) he began to swim back to the island he had been on. There was a boat he had kept hidden from sight that he would use to get back to the main island. After all, even though he was Yukishiro Enishi, he was still human, and could not swim from this remote island to Honshu.
He dodged the fire from the boat. At one point, a bullet came close to him, and he pretended he had been shot, and sank down into the water, all the while swimming towards the island. He stayed under for a while, came up for air a few more times, and made it to the island without being seen by any of the police.
When Enishi emerged from the water, he shook himself off before proceeding to the boat. As he arrived, he saw the body of Woo Heishin, crumpled up in a heap. Not far off, his lackeys were still knocked out. Spit landed next to the Chinese man's head, and the white-haired man headed to the boat. He set Tomoe's diary down with great care, and pushed off.
Enishi dared not to open the book that lay before him. He didn't want to read the inside. He had just been defeated by Battousai, and Tomoe no longer smiled at him. He wasn't ready for what his older sister's diary might say.
It was a painful journey. Even though the island was only ten days away from Honshu, Enishi's body was in shambles. He had been beaten to a pulp by Battousai, and ripped his own ear drum out. He had the right to take a long time before getting back to the main island. He also survived off of fish, which he was forced to eat raw. What else could you eat in the middle of the ocean?
When the ten days were finished, Enishi docked on a beach. He stayed away from the ports, lest the police recognize him, but he made sure that he landed near Tokyo. Anything could be done from Tokyo.
The brother wandered around the streets for quite a while. He was looking for help, but not whole heartedly. He was still trying to recover from the fact that he had been beaten by Battousai, and that Tomoe did not smile at him. As he was thinking about nothing one day, he happened to pass by a village. Glancing by the sign, it read "Fallen Village." The word fallen applied to him, and he walked in, right past the men at the entrance. They tried to get him to talk about what had happened to him, and why he was here, but he ignored all of it. He wandered around inside for a moment, and found a place to sit against the side of an old building. As soon as he sat down, he stopped moving, and just let his mind stop. He was exhausted in mind, body and spirit. He thought of nothing, and did nothing.
After a few days, he received a visitor.
"You're a new face around here."
Enishi did not respond to the old man that sat down next to him. He continued to stare at the ground before him, thinking about nothing.
"Hmm…is it just in my head, or have we met somewhere before?"
The white-haired man could see the old man out of the corner of his eye, but did not say anything again.
"Ha ha ha…sorry, it must be my mind playing tricks."
Enishi actually looked at the older man this time. He stared for a few seconds, and looked back at the ground.
"My mind must be playing tricks too…I've seen your face before," he responded.
"Hmm, this is interesting. We are acquainted by a mind trick." The geezer took a deep breath, and looked up to the sky, watching the birds fly quickly past the village, and onto the trees in the distance. "Well, what you have lost and why you so beat up, I have no intention of asking such things. You will not throw that away, and so like him…you will not become a resident of this filthy village, and someday will stand and leave this place. Until then, think of this as a kind of fate…and take your time to rest."
With that, the geezer left Yukishiro Enishi by himself, and left for another three days. When he came back to the village, he was told that the young white-haired man had up and left yesterday, after finally opening the book that he had had with him. The geezer chuckled, and said,
"That's my family for ya."
One year later
Wind ruffled the white hair that sat upon Enishi's head. One hand pushed up his glasses while the other held the diary that had once belonged to Tomoe. If one looked closely, they could see that there were marks on the binding, indicating that the book had been opened recently, and indeed read.
Enishi adjusted the black coat he had on. He moved his hand up to the wooden door that he had once broken, and knocked on it. He could hear the sounds of students working on their swordsmanship, and waited for a moment, before a young boy came to the door.
"Yes?"
"Are the masters of the house here? I'd like to speak with them."
"Yes, Kaoru-sensei and Kenshin-san are in the back. Who should I tell them is here?"
Enishi thought for a moment.
"An old acquaintance."
The door opened fully, and Enishi was let inside. The young boy led him a small room that was obviously used for entertaining guests. He was given tea, and told that Kaoru and Kenshin would be in shortly. Enishi did not touch the tea, and instead looked around the room from his standing point. It was incredibly simple, from the wooden flooring to the oak table, to the cup the tea was served in. You would think that a room used for guests would be a little fancier, but than again, both Kenshin and Kaoru were simple people. The white-haired man could hear the two lovers coming closer, and clutched the diary closer to his chest. He closed his eyes, and saw Tomoe. She had a soft smile on her face. He knew that she wanted him to see Kenshin, and for Tomoe, he would do anything. Even see Battousai again, though he really didn't want to.
The door slid open. Both Kaoru and Kenshin had smiles on their faces, but when they realized who their guest was, the smiles dropped instantly.
"Hello."
Kaoru gasped and took a step back.
"Enishi…" Kenshin's eyes were wide, but they soon narrowed, and his hand reached for his sword.
"I did not come here to fight you Battousai."
"Then why did you come here," asked Kaoru.
Enishi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I have something that I need to tell you."
Kenshin sheathed the part of his sword he had pulled out, and closed his eyes. "Then please say what you must. This one will listen."
Kaoru watched as the man who had kidnapped her opened a page of Tomoe's diary. He flipped a few more of the brownish pages before he stopped on a page closer to the back of the book. He cleared his throat and began to read aloud.
"November 4th. It has snowed a great deal today. Kenshin and I had a hard time getting back to the house from town with all the snow. I tripped a few times, and got my kimono all wet. Even though it fits me, I do not like the snow.
I have begun to realize that Kenshin is a wonderful man. He treats me so kindly every day. He hasn't ever asked about my past or how I came to be in Kyoto. He will sometimes give me a flower, or will cook our dinner if I am too busy to start it when it needs to be started. I am amazed to say this, but I believe that I love Kenshin. I have forgiven him for killing Akira. He did not know that Akira was to be my husband, and it is his job to kill those on the other side.
Yes, I am able to write it whole-heartedly. I am in love with Himura Kenshin."
Enishi closed the book and his eyes as well. The room was quiet, and no one moved. When Enishi opened his eyes, he made eye contact with Battousai.
"I read this entire diary many times. I have analyzed it over and over, re-reading things if necessary. I have asked others their opinion on situations similar to the one you and Tomoe were in. I have realized that despite everything that you did to her, Tomoe really did love you. Even though you killed Akira, she was happy to be with you. It brought her great joy to be able to be married to you, Battousai." There was a pause as Enishi looked down to the diary.
"I am sorry…and thank you…for making sister happy."
With that, Yukishiro Enishi walked to the porch, and stepped into his leather shoes. He quietly walked to the gate, and left without turning back.
As he went back to the inn he was staying at, the white-haired man felt water on his face. He brought a hand up to feel what it was, and when he realized it was a tear, he rubbed it away instantly. Looking up towards the sun, Enishi closed his eyes to shield himself from the brightness. A look of surprise came upon his face, and finally, Yukishiro Enishi smiled. For when his eyes were shut, he could see Tomoe, giving him the biggest smile he had ever seen.
Fin.
Author's notes: Okay…what do you think? I had a difficult time trying to think like Enishi. He's always crabby and moody, and thinks that everyone needs to die. The exact opposite of me. Anywho, I hope you liked it. This is going to be my first multi-chapter fic (I really like one shots) and I hope I don't screw up to bad.
Shameless plug! I have a Kingdom Hearts II story that I made a while back. I didn't know that so many people upload stories onto the KH section everyday. It has two reviews which I am incredibly thankful for, but me being me, I'd like more. Anyway, if you happen to like Kingdom Hearts, please go to my profile, and read it! I would really appreciate it. Please review for this one. Having you guys tell me what and didn't work in this one will help me with the next chapter.
Next up is Megumi.
Tamababymiko-chan