Kanashimi no Hate ni
(At the Limits of Sorrow)
Chapter 2: Hitotoki no Yasuragi (A Moment of Tranquility)
"Tadaima! Busu, Kenshin!" Yahiko greeted from the entrance of the Kamiya dojo. Soujiro followed him from behind, and the picture he saw at the entrance shocked him to the roots of his hair.
Hitokiri Battousai doing laundry?!!
Kenshin immediately looked up at the strong ki that was over the entrance of the dojo. He looked at the shocked face of the 'kid' and grinned sheepishly. Almost drawn by Himura's stare, Soujiro approached the redheaded rurouni and looked at him with a rare expression.
And still that smile keeps adorning your face…
Kenshin reflected while he was cleaning his soapy hands to greet the new Soujiro. Soujiro still looked at kenshin's washtub with concern.
He found his answer in a washtub? Je, je. Don't be stupid Soujiro, maybe some merciless person obligates him to do that.
WHACK!
"Itte..." Soujiro said loosing some of his balance. He didn't see THAT coming. He rubbed his aching head and turned around to see a very tempered woman pointing sharply with her shinai.
"I'm sorry Kamiya-san, I didn't want to intrude your…" Soujiro trailed of as another swing came back to his head again. This time he dodged it easily with no problem.
"I don't care which are your reasons, I won't let you to kill or take Kenshin from us!" she growled at the poor Jupongatana rurouni.
Why do all this people think that I would kill him? I don't have my sword and I don't even…*sigh* No matter what I say or do, these people will always think I'm a Jupongatana…
Will I ever have a break? Maybe coming to Tokyo wasn't such a great idea…
"Yare, Yare, Kaoru-dono, he isn't with those purposes, so could you please low your shinai? Onegai?" Himura asked softly at the woman that was assaulting the new rurouni. Without delay the woman lowered her wooden sword and smiled like an idiot at the man next to her.
"Now could you give us a couple of minutes to talk Kaoru-dono?" a strange smile formed in the former assassin's features. Then he turned around to look a void Soujiro observing the tanuki girl. Kenshin cleared his throat making Soujiro look back at him.
"So, why did you want to see me?" Kenshin asked sitting on the porch Soujiro followed him right away.
"I only wanted to ask how did you find your answer?" he said returning to his empty state. Kenshin looked quite surprised at the 'kid's' question but even though he answered it.
"I think I only have the half of my answer, its not complete…yet." he smirked tenderly at the young rurouni beside him. Soujiro smiled in response but his eyes told something else, Himura couldn't read.
"So why are you staying in this place? Why don't you wander more to complete it?" Soujiro didn't looked at him, his dark blue eyes were focusing on the sky.
"I thought wandering was going to give me the 'answer' but when I started living here I began to search my answer among with these people…" Kenshin looked at the retreating form of Kaoru and Yahiko sparring in the dojo.
"So you think that with that people you will complete your answer." Soujiro lowered his head to eye Battousai. Kenshin nodded.
"Destiny brought me to this house, and I was tired of wandering, this is a place I now can call home" Kenshin smiled at him while Soujiro did the same.
"Is it because of her?" Soujiro pointed the woman with the shinai.
"Oro?!" Kenshin babbled. Soujiro only laughed at this. Then he sighed contently and looked back to the sky.
"In our last fight, you said that you wouldn't die because Kaoru-dono was waiting for you…Does a weak person can bring you so much happiness? Is happiness the answer?" he inquired while his eyes were blank again.
"First of all I think you should accept weak people. Shishio-san wasn't all wrong…some people are weak and some people are strong. But strength and weakness are not only measured by the weight of a sword. Kaoru-dono is strong, is just that Sano and shessha are a little bit to talented to let her show her force." Kenshin chuckled sheepishly at his lack of modesty.
"But weak people DO die Himura…" this time the young rurouni looked sharply at Kenshin.
"There isn't weak people, just stronger people that make them look that they are weak. People have their own strength in a different way. So that's why I protect lesser strong people with my strength, did I explained myself correctly?" he asked fearing that Soujiro could blur in those thoughts.
"Hai." He replied shortly. Although he had some questions and some beliefs the calm Battousai will always protect the weak people with his sword.
"When are you going to smile heartedly?" this time Soujiro's smile faded away, his eyes widened as he saw Himura's blank expression.
"Watashi…I only feel a strange 'contentment', I can't feel anything more, and if my smile is what keeps me sane, let it be…" he said with another yielding smile for Himura. This time Himura nodded approvingly.
"But who knows, some day this smile will be something more than a masquerade." Soujiro placed his elbows over his thighs placing his chin over his palms. Himura tapped his shoulder to stand up. Then he invited him for dinner, Soujiro shook his head.
"Thanks Himura-sama, but I already had a nice meal with Chou-san." He excused himself lightly.
"Why don't you stay with us tonight? Tomorrow we will be going to Kyoto so we could give you a lift." A chirped voice came from a bush. The shinai-woman was now smiling at him and offering hospitality in apologize to her rude manners minutes later.
"Kaoru-dono it isn't polite to sneak into a private conversation…" he half frowned half soothed. Kaoru only made a face and blushed cutely.
"Ah, I couldn't help it. It's because I thought Seta-san was still…" she trailed off knowing that it would be boorish to judge people's past.
"Don't worry Kamiya-san, I would like to join you for dinner, and for the Kyoto trip, I'm not quite sure." He sniggered lightly.
"Oh come on, Seta-kun! I have a vacant for this trip because Sano went sick when I said we were going on train." She sighed exasperated. Soujiro half beamed at her reaction.
"Well, I guess I have no choice then, I would love to come with you." He bowed respectfully. Kenshin and Soujiro stayed there for a little longer while Kaoru was dragging Yahiko back to the kitchen.
"Are you sure you want to return?" Kenshin said with hints of concern. Soujiro looked at his reflection over the koi.
"Don't worry Himura-sama, if destiny wants me to return to Kyoto, let it be…" he whispered as he threw a little pebble.
They both sat on the koi's rock for a long quiet time, Kenshin looking at the stars, while Soujiro was looking at the reflection of the moon.
"Owari! Kenshin! Seta-kun! Dinner is ready!!" someone yelled from inside. Soujiro stood up graciously while Kenshin was still siting there.
"Himura-sama, aren't you coming?" he asked looking at the red figure beside him. He inched a little bit closer waving his hand over the white former rurouni's face.
"Himura-sama! Daijabou?! Himura-sama!" he shook the redheaded shoulders vehemently slight 'Oros' were babbled in the process. Finally Kenshin looked up at him with a sicken expression.
"I didn't make dinner…we are going to die…" he alleged lamely with a teary face. Soujiro didn't understand and lugged the ex-rurouni back to the house.
"I hope you like it Seta-kun, I made it all by myself!" Kaoru said excitedly, Yahiko who was sitting next to her had the same expression as Kenshin's. What was wrong?
"Oi! It smells good Kenshin! What have you made for dinner toni…Hey! What's that sickie smilin' freak doin' here!" the ex-gangster positioned in a battle stance looking fiercely at Soujiro.
Here comes again…
Soujiro only smiled while he mentally sighed. It was going to be hard to get used to this kind of reactions.
"Sano sit right now and eat your food. Do you see Seta-kun harassing anyone?!" Kaoru defended the poor young rurouni. Sano grunted something and sat on next to Yahiko. Seta only thanked Kaoru silently.
"Hey! You two! Why are you looking like that?! It's like Jo-chan made the dinner or something!" Sano mocked as he looked at the sick expressions of the redhead and the brat. Realizing Kaoru's rage aura he turned into the same state like his friends.
"Maa, maa, minna-san. Kamiya's cooking can't be that bad, every woman can cook." He exclaimed cheering up the table. The three men looked at him like if he was a complete idiot. Soujiro gulped, then he looked at the food, then to Kaoru's expecting eyes.
Me and my big mouth. It can't be that bad, ne?
Lastly Soujiro moved his chopsticks to the good-looking rice with weird sauce beneath him. He grabbed the rice with the weird sauce, opened his mouth and then he froze as he saw Yahiko, Sano and Kenshin looking at him with wide frightened eyes.
Then to Kamiya's glaring ones and then he dig the thing right into his mouth. He tasted it and let his tounge receive the flavor and mixture. Then his senses went dull, his neck and arm hairs crisped, and his eyes began to water.
Heck! The freaking thing was toxic or what?! His throat burned like hell and he believed that his tongue no longer existed. Now that weird thing was stuck in his throat as he began to cough madly.
Everyone in the table including Kaoru looked terrified just by looking that Soujiro was as blue as the color of his gi.
Kaoru passed him a glass of water but Soujiro's teary eyes blurred his vision. Was the 'never crying Jupongatana' was crying because of Kaoru's food? Impossible…well, it is now.
Finally Sano stood up to help the suffocating rurouni with some strokes on his back, Sano crushed his head on the table and the young rurouni's coughs subsided.
"You see! I the mighty Sanosuke saved the day!" he said with his triumphant idiot grin.
"No, you moron, you knocked the poor thing out!" Yahiko growled. Everyone fell down from their place X_x. And Sanosuke only scratched his head in bewilderment.
~*~
But strength and weakness are not only measured by the weight of a sword…
The strong will live the weak will die…
People have their own strength in a different way…
The strong will live the weak will die…
If my smile is what keeps me sane, let it be…
Are you crying? *smiles* No, it's just the rain…
I haven't realized before, but that day it was the rain, but mixed with my own tears…
GASP!
Soujiro quickly sat up from his resting position, he find himself too dizzy to stay like that so he again lay down. His head hurt like hell, he touched his forehead and there was a huge cotton patch covering the spot.
"Don't try to sit up so suddenly…Gomen nasai, Seta-kun it was my fault…" the Kamiya girl was sitting next to him creasing the plains of her kimono.
"Iie, Kamiya-san, it's all right. Arigato for patching me up!" he cheered her up. Kaoru was now smiling and scratched the back of her head nervously.
"I have some experience…" she blurted out. Soujiro sweat-dropped by just imagine the figure of Kenshin, Yahiko and Sano all knocked out by this tanuki girl.
What does he see in her? Shiranai…maybe Battousai is a complete masochist and…never mind.
"Do you know it's no nice to stare at people for a long time?" Kaoru blushed in embarrassment.
Something in his eyes still gave her creeps; while he was sleeping he had an angelic face. But his eyes dimming in the dark, and his warm orbs watching at her, gave her creeps. He still had the stare of someone that loves death…
"Seta-kun, I saw Yahiko with your katana, and I was wondering…" she trailed off as his eyes were piercing her soul.
"Hai? And please call me Soujiro." He said graciously. Kaoru cleared her throat and chose the right words to tell him.
"In your wandering days, are you going to kill again?" her eyes were now focusing into his, and now he was avoiding her stare.
"I don't want to be rude Kamiya-san, but I really am tired…" he said giving his back to her. Kaoru puffed and blinked at him.
"Oh! Suminasen! Oyasumi nasai Soujiro-kun!" she stood up from her place and sled the door closed. Soujiro was now looking at the moon, the slight breeze of night moving some of his dark brown strands.
Answers will be given at their proper time.
Soujiro smiled slightly, there was some strange ki about that girl that made him look away…a strange feeling Kenshin protected so much.
Care…
Is that why he stayed with her? Does that feeling (from a weak person) can make you change? Can make you…weak?
Silently Soujiro was drown in sleep.
~*~
The 'innocent smile' boy woke up first. And he was damn hungry from that…creepy dinner. Anyway he decided to make some breakfast to thank Kamiya-san and Himura-sama for their hospitality. He began to chop the vegetables while he poured some water to a pot. He then smiled even more and started to place the vegetables on a pan.
"Ohayo Himura-sama!" Soujiro welcomed while he was on his breakfast duty.
"Want some help?" the addressed short man went up to Soujiro's spot. Soujiro handed him some herbs to make the tea and passed him the meat for the boiled rice. A yawn was heard from the hall and Yahiko popped from the kitchen's frame door.
"Now that just makes me sick, that wandering crap makes you this?! When I grow up I don't wanna be a rurouni, never ever!" the terrified brat scowled. It was just a mere coincidence that both stood up early, both had that annoying innocent smile and both were excessively polite. He still hoped Soujiro to not babble an 'Oro'. He just could commit suicide.
Kaoru entered the room rubbing her eyes and yawing a little, she looked sweetly at both rurounis how they made breakfast together.
The four of the at last sat and ate Soujiro's and Kenshin's breakfast. Sanosuke went early to the Akabeko and then he would go to the clinic an check if his tummy was any better. (Honestly, he only wanted to mock the fox).
After finishing breakfast everyone walked out from the dojo to go to the train station. While walking to the station Kaoru was looking sharply at Soujiro's katana. Soujiro noticing Kaoru's concern he smiled inwardly. At last they were getting in the train Soujiro was walking behind Kaoru through the corridor. Kaoru was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"Kamiya-san…" he addressed the woman in front of him. Kaoru looked over her shoulder with a tiny smile hovering over her lips.
"You have all the right to be frightened…" Soujiro's straight statement made Kaoru turn around completely.
"Nani?" she half asked half stammered. Soujiro's smile grew harder.
"I don't have a reversed blade sword with me…" he patted the weapon on his left side with an almost evil smile. Kaoru's eyes widened.
He'll kill if he has to…
She murmured silently, speeding up her steps. And she turned her back to him aiming for her redheaded rurouni.
"But don't worry, this blade will be unsheathed only if I'll ever know what anger is…" he murmured kindly.
Kaoru was half relieved half frightened…he still had the Hitokiri fully awaken, well, if he knew anger…if someone provoked him anger…just like Kenshin, no big deal right?
Right…he'll kill if his smile shatters…
She mentally shuddered while sitting next to Kenshin.
End of Chapter 2
No, Soujiro isn't falling for Kaoru and he will not fall for Kaoru. Kaoru belongs eternally to Kenshin and no Ex-Jupongatana will keep her away from our Oro-man. On the next chapter our great genki Misao will meet our young rurouni. Thanks for you two for giving me reviews. It's not a great story but at least I try. Thanks for everything!
