Oh my gosh, I wasn't expecting such an insane amount of support for this fic! In just the first week of Chapter 1 being up, I've already had an amazing amount of feedback. I'm so grateful to all of my readers, followers, and reviewers. You guys seriously make my day!
I was expecting this chapter to be longer than it is, but I ended up cutting it in half to make chapter 4 because I thought it would flow better. Please be patient with me and I hope you like it anyway! Again, thank you all so much for following this and for putting up with my general nonsense. You guys are the best.
Disclaimer: I will never own RuroKen, no matter how badly I want to. Sob.
"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on this earth will be blessed through you."
-12:3
The pounding on the door is forceful and incessant. It echoes like a thunderclap through the flat and like a shot Kenshin is up and searching blindly for his sword. When he does not find it within reach, he's momentarily confused until the memories of yesterday come flooding back. He suddenly remembers where his sword is, where he is, and who is slumbering down the hall. Dread fills him.
Gangs hold grudges. He's intimately acquainted with this fact. For lackeys such as the ones he had encountered yesterday, losing out on new bodies oftentimes means losing out on pay. And if there is one thing that Kenshin has learned from his time in the slums, it is that being cheated out of one's money is a perfectly acceptable reason to hunt someone down and make them pay in blood. He swallows thickly, the pounding of his heart synchronizing with the pounding on the door.
Kenshin had managed to lose them by ducking and weaving through the labyrinth of Tokyo alleyways, but it's naïve to think that they would just give up searching for him when he is the reason why they did not manage to capture that girl last night. She had been a young, pretty thing; well-dressed with a ribbon in her hair and fire in her eyes—it sickens him that he knows just how much she would have been worth on the black market. It's almost guaranteed that they're still furious about losing her, and by some chance one of them had managed to spot Kaoru-dono with him… he has to take a deep breath to calm the nausea.
How could he be so selfish as to have stayed and endanger her like that? He should have left last night, not stayed and eaten and bathed and slept and been comfortable—
The banging grows more frantic and his eyes harden as they scan across the room for impromptu weaponry. It's startling to think of how easy it is for him to slip back into this militaristic mindset, but right now he foregoes reason in favor of well-honed instinct. Regardless of his choices the gangsters had followed him, expecting both retribution and compensation. An eye for an eye and a girl for a girl. He glances down the hallway towards the door of the girl who had taken him in and his quaking nerves steel.
"Jo-chan!" Kenshin can hear the gruff voice shouting through the door between the heavy-fisted beatings. "Jo-chan, it's me, open up!"
The words don't really register in Kenshin's mind, only their biting tone. Hardened eyes take quick inventory of his surroundings. There are plenty of blunt objects in the apartment, but fighting with them would make his movements slow and clumsy. His opponent sounds large and from the ferocity of his banging, strong. Speed would be his ally, and if he can find an opening, he could attack. And he would find an opening.
Kenshin's fists tighten and he can feel the scabs on his knuckles cracking, but the stinging only gives him a center of focus. Focus. The banging pauses only for a moment before starting up again with fervor.
"Jo-chan, if you don't open this door in the next five seconds I'm bustin' it down, ya hear me?"
Kenshin's amethyst eyes are fixated on the door with a predatory intensity. His wiry muscles flex and twitch restlessly beneath sore, bruised skin, but he ignores the pangs of discomfort. He focuses instead on the door, the bangs, and the steady in and outs of his own breath.
"Five, four, three—" The man bellows, enunciating each number with a bang. Kenshin's fingernails dig into his palms in anticipation. His keen hearing picks up more noises coming from the opposite side of the flat, and he turns with shock to see Kaoru-dono charging towards the door with fury rather than fear. It confuses him, throwing him off enough to actually take a moment to process what he's been hearing.
"All right, all right already!" Kaoru-dono shouts angrily, storming across the room and throwing open the deadbolt. "I swear on my father's school that if there is so much as a scratch on my door you are dead, you stupid rooster!"
Kenshin steps towards her in concern as Kaoru-dono rips open the door to reveal a tall, irate-looking young man. He's dressed in a pair of white track pants and a red half-zipped hoodie, sleeves pushed up to his elbows with bandages swirling down his forearms and torso. His scrunched brow is covered by a red headband, although it does absolutely nothing to keep his wild mane of chestnut hair out of his dark brown eyes. He gnashes the fishbone in his teeth with irritation as he forces his way inside.
Kaoru-dono thrusts her calloused finger roughly against his chest and manages to sound threatening despite the man being almost a foot taller than her. "Do you have any idea what time it is? Don't you have even an ounce of consideration?"
"Consideration is why I'm here, Jo-chan. Now where is he?" The man demands, pushing her aside to barrel further into the apartment. His head snaps this way and that until his sights fall on Kenshin. The man jabs a finger in his direction and narrows his eyes. "You!" Kenshin bristles, inconspicuously shifting his stance into one that is more accommodating for defense as the man approaches. Reason tells him that Kaoru-dono obviously does not regard him as a threat, so he shall not act unless given a reason to.
The man snarls at him. "Who're you, and what kind of trouble did you get in that Jo-chan found you all fucked up?"
"Sanosuke, you're being rude!" Kaoru-dono snaps, arms akimbo. "Leave Kenshin alone. He's done nothing wrong!"
The man, Sanosuke, throws her a look over his shoulder. "Jo-chan, you don't even know this guy. You found him half-dead in an alley. Aren't you even a little curious as to how he got there?" Sanosuke-san turns back to him, eyeing him accusingly. Kenshin doesn't miss the way that he slides himself between him and Kaoru-dono. "So what is it, sparky? Owed your dealer money? Gang fight? What?"
"Sanosuke!"
Kenshin sighs heavily, holding up a hand towards Kaoru-dono. "It's alright, Kaoru-dono. Sanosuke-san's concern is a valid one."
"See? Even he agrees with me!" Sanosuke-san says, throwing his thumb back at Kenshin. Kaoru-dono glares at him.
"Why does it matter what put him in that alley? Kenshin has been the definition of a perfect gentleman the entire time he's been here, which is more than I can say about you, Sano."
"Oi, don't go pointin' fingers at me. I'm just tryin' to make sure you don't get yourself murdered because your latest charity case turns out to be a criminal." Sanosuke-san snorts. He swirls the fishbone around his mouth with his tongue and sinks down into an armchair, not bothering to move any of the clothing that's on top of it. He props his long legs up on the coffee table and gestures for Kenshin to sit down. "So, Kenshin, was it? Start talking."
Kaoru-dono is hovering by the couch now, arms crossed tightly over her chest. She's chewing on the inside of her cheek and Kenshin silently hopes to never be at the receiving end of the look that graces her heart-shaped face. She turns to him, ultramarine irises imploring. "You don't have to tell him anything you don't want to, Kenshin."
"Will you stop being stupid for like, ten freakin' seconds? Shit." Sanosuke-san snaps. He rubs his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, sighing. "I mean come on, Kaoru. Have you even tried to ask what his deal is? What if he's being hunted down or somethin'? You know how Tokyo is getting."
Kenshin shifts uncomfortably on the couch. His arm throbs dully, but it's not as distracting as the blood rushing in his ears. Adrenaline still buzzes in his veins and it makes him uneasy, but he controls himself enough not to fidget. In fact he is so unnaturally still in his apprehensiveness that he must remind himself of small, rudimentary things like blinking. Sanosuke-san seems too distracted in lecturing Kaoru-dono to notice his tension, however. He glances at the young lady out of the corner of his violet eyes. She is now sitting on the armrest of the couch, lips pursed in indignation.
Sanosuke-san crosses his feet at the ankles and slouches in his seat. He uses the fishbone to pick at his teeth like a toothpick. His eyes slide to Kenshin expectantly and Kenshin meets his gaze, straightening in his seat.
"Sanosuke-san is right, Kaoru-dono. Tokyo is not a safe city, and gang crimes are becoming quite common. It's reasonable for him to be concerned for your safety, that it is." He closes his eyes and grimaces. His mind is muddled with memories of a young boy and freezing water and high-pitched screams and blows to the stomach. He shakes his head. "If it will make him rest easier, then this one shall answer any questions that he has."
Sanosuke-san smirks, sitting up a bit. His boots scrape on the table and Kaoru-dono almost vibrates with barely-contained fury. "Well it's nice to know that somebody is willing to cooperate with me." He looks pointedly at Kaoru-dono who angrily sticks her tongue out at him before turning back to Kenshin. "So let's start with the most obvious questions. Where are you from?"
Kenshin frowns, thinking of the small cottage he'd called home all throughout childhood. Something bitter creeps up his throat. "This one grew up just outside of Niigata. But I did spend a good amount of years in Kyoto when I was younger."
"So what're you doin' here in Tokyo, then?"
"This one is a wanderer. I was passing through, that I was."
"And why's that? Runnin' from something?"
Kaoru-dono frowns disapprovingly. "Sano, that's Kenshin's business!"
"It's alright, Kaoru-dono. This one does not mind answering." Kenshin gives a small smile to appease her. It seems to work because while she doesn't look particularly thrilled, she does not argue further. "This one wanders in order to help people. There is much suffering across Japan and this one merely wishes to help as many people as I can."
Sanosuke-san hums as he appraises his answer. He sucks on the fishbone loudly in thought. "A missionary, huh? So you're not connected to any gangs? Kaiten-tou? Yakuza? Nobody?"
"No."
"And no drugs?"
"None."
Sanosuke-san sits up and leans towards Kenshin, narrowing his eyes skeptically. Kenshin can feel his ki radiating from him in waves, brash and unequivocal. It's an honest, stubborn ki and despite the somewhat hostile interrogation, Kenshin finds himself appreciative of such an upfront person. He's spent many years dealing with people whose ki would flutter and swirl like smoke from a fire, dark and secretive with their intentions. It's refreshing to meet someone who for once is forthright about their motives.
He holds his gaze and after a long moment Sanosuke-san gives one curt, decisive nod. The young man crosses his arms before announcing, "I believe you."
Kaoru-dono looks bewildered. "So what, that's it?"
Sanosuke-san shrugs, smirking as he slips back into his lackadaisical slouch. "Whaddaya want from me? The guy's got good eyes." He turns to give Kenshin a grin and immediately he can feel his tense muscles relax a fraction as the man's threatening air goes lax.
Kaoru-dono's exasperation is evident in her heavy sigh. "You're unbelievable, Sano."
Sanosuke-san sniggers. "You know it."
Kaoru-dono quirks a brow. "Wait. How did you know that Kenshin was even here? I just brought him home last night."
Sanosuke-san shrugs. "Jī-san told me. I stopped by his place earlier for a quick patch job and he mentioned that he was coming over here to check Kenshin out."
"Wait, you got into another fight?"
"You say it like you're surprised or somethin'."
She slaps her forehead with her palm, groaning. "Honestly, Sanosuke."
Sanosuke-san pumps his bandaged right fist in the air for emphasis, a cocky grin on his face as he announces that he had managed to win ten thousand yen on the fight. Despite his lingering anxiety, Kenshin manages a small smile as he watches the two's exchange. He stands and they pause briefly to look at him. His polite guise settles back onto his face and he gestures a hand towards the kitchen.
"As an apology for troubling you both, might this one be allowed to cook you breakfast?"
It takes a few minutes of polite arguing with Kaoru-dono to convince her to relent to something she views as her personal responsibility, but soon enough he is in her kitchen whisking eggs and dicing vegetables. He laughs at Kaoru-dono's surprise at the discovery that she even owns a whisk in the first place.
"This one takes it that you do not cook often?" Kenshin smiles over his shoulder at Kaoru-dono as she rummages through the cabinets for dishes. He can spot the rosy blush spreading on her cheeks as she reaches for the glasses. Sanosuke-san cackles from his seat in the other room.
"Are you kiddin' me? The only meal Jo-chan here knows how to cook is charcoal." Kenshin watches as Kaoru-dono whips around on her heel and in one fluid motion hurls a plastic cup at Sanosuke-san's head. He whirls around in his seat, rubbing spot on his temple where the cup had connected. "Oi!"
"Make yourself useful and set the table." She says breezily. "I'm going to go change."
Sanosuke-san rubs his head with a grumpy pout. "Hey, isn't that my shirt?"
Kaoru-dono waves him off as she disappears down the hall. "Maa, you left it here ages ago and I needed a sleep shirt."
"I want that back."
"If you stop insulting my cooking and start doing your own laundry, then maybe I'll consider it."
He scowls as Kaoru-dono disappears into her bedroom and shuffles into the kitchen to begrudgingly do as he was told. "Violent tanuki woman," He grumbles, setting the plates around the table. Kenshin is amused at how the large man bends to his hostess' will despite his complaints.
"You two seem close." He says.
Sanosuke-san glances at him and a small smile pulls at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, I guess. I mean, we grew up together so I've known her for forever at this point. She's kinda like my kid sister." He scratches the back of his head. "Not gonna lie, I came here ready to crack some skulls earlier thinkin' you were gonna be some punk. I guess I kind of owe you an apology, huh?"
Kenshin shakes his head. "You do not need to apologize, that you don't. As you said, she is like your sister. It's natural to be protective of her." He turns to throw the diced onions into the frying pan. "This one can understand why. Kaoru-dono has a very big heart, that she does."
Sanosuke-san looks at him with an almost thoughtful expression before bursting out into a guffaw. He claps Kenshin hard on the back, making the smaller man jump. "You know, I like you." He declares. Kenshin smiles weakly in return and fights the urge to wince in pain from the force of the man's amicable gesture.
The two men fall into a pleasant silence as Sanosuke-san continues setting out the dishes and Kenshin tends to the food. By the time Kaoru-dono reemerges in a pair of jeans and a light maize cardigan, breakfast is already served and waiting.
"Kenshin, this tastes amazing!" Kaoru-dono exclaims with awe after taking a bite. Sanosuke-san wastes no time sampling his cooking as well, shoveling his own omelette into his mouth as fast as his injured hand will allow him to. When Kenshin finally seats himself, the man is already reaching for seconds.
He smiles brightly. "I'm glad that you enjoy it. It is the very least one can do to repay Kaoru-dono's hospitality, that it is." He turns to Sanosuke-san, who has yet to come up for air, and chuckles. "It seems that Sanosuke-san enjoys it as well, that it does."
Sanosuke-san looks up from his plate, rice clinging to the edge of his lips. "Sano. Don't call me '-san'. Makes me sound old." He says around a full mouth. With a smirk he swallows and looks across the table towards Kaoru-dono, who is scowling at his poor table manners. "Hey Jo-chan, you should let Kenshin cook more often. His food is way better than your culinary flops."
This time it's her slipper that connects with his face. It nails him square in the nose and lands in his food. Sanosuke rubs it, indignant. "Oi, what's with all the abuse today, huh?"
"You're the one who's been nothing but rude today. If my cooking is really that horrible, then don't eat it!" She hisses, slamming down her chopsticks. "You're the one who's always coming over here looking to bum some free meals, you freeloader!"
"Hey, you're the one who's always preachin' about helpin' the poor and downtrodden."
"You're not downtrodden, you're just stupid!"
Kenshin holds up his hands, attempting to bring peace. "Oro! Kaoru-dono, Sano! You should stop arguing, that you should!" But he sighs as his words go completely unheard over their squabble's growing volume. With defeat he picks up his chopsticks, dodges a bowl of rice and cup of tea, and murmurs a small "Itadakimasu."
Doctor Oguni arrives just after nine. He's a shorter man with kind eyes and cheeks like ripe red apples and his voice reminds Kenshin of soothing things, like running water and the sound of rustling reeds. It's a fitting voice for a man who has dedicated his life to healing others. He bows his head in apology for taking so long, citing his two granddaughters as the reason for his tardiness.
"Getting two little girls ready for school is always a feat. You'll learn when you have children of your own one day." He smiles, setting his bag of instruments down on the coffee table.
"Only you would consider nine in the morning to be tardy, Oguni-sensei." Kaoru-dono giggles. The old man waves her off with a shake of his hand.
"Old habits die hard, my dear. Back when I was in the military, the day was half-over by nine." He turns to Kenshin, who finds himself feeling oddly singled out by the comment. He brushes the feeling off as paranoia from his earlier overreaction.
After breakfast he'd been kicked out of the kitchen by Kaoru-dono who insisted he rest while she and Sanosuke cleaned up, so he's seated in one of the armchairs in the living room. He goes to stand and greet the older man with no small amount of difficulty; his body has begun to feel the effects of his strenuous movements earlier. Doctor Oguni must notice this because he raises a hand and tells him not to trouble himself.
"I can consider us even if you can forgive me for not bowing as well," The man jokes. "My back is not what it used to be."
"Not at all, Oguni-sensei. Please forgive this one for troubling you so much." Kenshin manages to bow his head and chest in apology.
"Such manners!" He exclaims. He turns to Sano, who is sprawled across the couch beside him. "And you were worried about Himura-san here hurting our dear Kaoru-chan."
Sano shrugs. "Can't be too careful. Knowing the tanuki, she'd take in a serial killer if he looked like he could use a hot meal."
Kaoru-dono sticks her tongue out at Sanosuke as she adjusts her purse strap over her coat. "Come on, I want to go to the store. I didn't get to go last night and I'm officially out of rice and eggs. Speaking of which, thank you again for breakfast, Kenshin. It was wonderful."
Kenshin returns her smile from his seat. "No trouble at all."
Kaoru-dono sets her sights on Sano, who is prying himself off of the couch. "Hurry up, I want to beat the rain back!"
Sanosuke grumbles, scratching the back of his head as he follows her out the door. "Why do I gotta come with you, again?"
"Because you don't expect me to carry back groceries for three all by myself, would you? Especially since I'm feeding you. It's the least you can do!"
"Yeah, yeah…"
The door shuts behind them, muffling the sounds of their pattering. Kenshin turns his attention from the door to Oguni-sensei who's chuckling as he digs through his medical bag. "Those two haven't changed one bit since they were children."
"They both have very strong personalities, that they do."
"And strong heads. Stubborn as oxen, that pair. But they mean well."
Kenshin smiles and brushes his fingertips against the bandage on his cheek. "I know."
I should have asked him what he likes to eat.
Kaoru stares down at the fairly basic list in her hand—eggs, rice, milk, veggies, fish, soy sauce, dashi, nori, tofu—with a furrowed brow. Now that Sano is back in town she'll have to double her food supply, but she already knows what he likes: meat, rice, and anything deep-fried. But Kenshin…she doesn't know where to even start. He seemed to like the mackerel they had the other night, but then again her father always said that hunger was the best seasoning. And to be able to ignore that culinary monstrosity's flavor, he must have been starving.
She frowns. He's got muscle on him, that much she can tell, but he's wafer-thin. After seeing the way he ate last night she had vowed to herself that she was going to put some meat on his bones, but she wants it to be with food he likes! It's obvious that he's had a rough time without knowing all of the details, so Kaoru wants to make sure that he's as at-home as possible during his stay.
Kaoru wanders down the toiletries aisle as she contemplates dishes she could make for him with the vague memory that she's almost out of shampoo. She pauses as she passes the male body wash.
I should probably get him some, She thinks, he probably isn't going to want to smell like my girly floral stuff the entire time he's here. Kaoru picks up a bottle of shower gel and pops the lid, taking a small sniff. It's a musky, clean smell with a strong note of sandalwood. She lifts another one and sniffs it as well, this time being greeted by the smell of pine.
"Oh my God!"
Kaoru's neck snaps around to look down the aisle at two girls huddled near the facial scrubs about six feet away. The taller of the two, a girl with long, dark hair tied back with a bright pink ribbon, hushes her friend loudly. She looks around and locks eyes with Kaoru, who quickly looks away.
"Be quiet! I don't want everybody finding out I almost got snatched up." Kaoru can hear the girl hiss. "Could you imagine if Oji-san heard? I'd never be allowed to leave the house again!"
"But you almost got kidnapped last night! How do you expect me to react?" The other girl gasps.
Kaoru glances out of the corner of her eye to see the girl with the ribbon pull the sleeves of her sweater down over her hands, but the act is in vain as they simply ride back up her forearms. Beneath the light purple fabric she can see the faint hint of rope burns marring her fair skin. Something in Kaoru's blood goes cold at the sight.
"But I didn't! I'm totally fine!" She protests, crossing her arms.
"How did you even manage to get away from so many guys?"
Eavesdropping is a nasty habit, but Kaoru can't help it. Her mother always used to say that she was a naturally curious child, and her father would never really discourage the practice because he was just as guilty of it as she was. So she moves closer inconspicuously, pretending to browse for shampoo. She risks a peek again.
The girl's bravado has visibly deflated, face marred by concern. "There was this weird guy," She starts. "He came out of nowhere and started beating on them. I don't know how he managed to do it, but he cut me loose and gave me an opening to run by trying to fight the creeps." She rubs her wrist absently and frowns. "I didn't even get to thank him, he just took off. I hope he's okay, though. Those guys did a number on him."
"Do you remember what he looks like? Maybe if you see him again you can give him a proper thank you."
She hears a giggle and a fierce 'stop it!' before their voices start to trail off. They're walking away now, voices growing fainter amongst the average bustle of the store. Kaoru has to strain to make out what the girl with the ribbon says.
"I don't think I could forget someone that strange if I tried. I mean, he was really short for a guy. And he had this crazy red hair…"
Kaoru's heart jumps to her throat as she stares down at the bottle of body wash in her hand. Red hair? It couldn't possibly—Kaoru looks up to the girls but it's too late; they've already disappeared around the corner. She bites her lip, fighting to choose whether or not to pursue them when she feels a large hand clamp around her shoulder. She jumps a bit and looks back to see Sano standing there with three large bags of something that Kaoru knows from experience to be completely void of any nutritional benefits.
"What's with you?" He asks her. "You look like you saw a ghost."
Kaoru stares dumbly for a moment before laughing weakly. "Oh! Yeah, I guess I just got distracted. I was trying to pick out a body wash for Kenshin." She swallows as Sano stares her down before shrugging and plucking one of the bottles from her hands. He drops it in her basket and turns on his heel, marching down the aisle towards the registers.
"Well get your head outta the clouds and hurry up. I want lunch, woman."
He careens into a promotional display when the second bottle of body wash smacks him in the back of the head.
Oguni-sensei helps him shrug off his sweater. He does not understand the small raise of the older man's brows until he glances down and sees the ugly purple bruises blooming across his chest like dahlia blossoms. Well, Kenshin thinks, that explains the tenderness.
The doctor begins the exam by applying firm pressure to each rib to check for fractures. Kenshin stiffens beneath his touch out of pure instinct; his mind hasn't fully settled from the scare earlier and he's still on edge. Years of sharpened survival skills have taught him not to let someone so close to such a vital part of his body and he has to fight the urge to sink deeper back into the chair to create more distance between them. His eyes flicker to the door.
Oguni-sensei informs him that he cannot find any fractures on his ribs, but that the bruising is extensive and will take at the very least two weeks to fully heal. He unwinds the bandages from Kenshin's arm to examine the gash beneath it as well. Kenshin looks away, hoping that the kind man does not press for answers. He doesn't, and Kenshin is thankful. But relief is a short-lived mercy.
"So," Oguni-sensei says as he dabs at the wound with an alcohol-doused cotton swab and a pair of tweezers, "Where did you serve?"
Kenshin jumps. His violet eyes grow wide as he meets the doctor's knowing gaze. The old man's face does not hold any sort of contempt or aggression, but a rather melancholy expression. His own face is jolted.
"How did you—"
"I can see it in your eyes, my boy." His voice is low and somewhat sad. "They're gentle, but I can tell. You don't spend forty years as a military medic without coming to know the eyes of a man who's seen battle."
Kenshin bows his head. The room is silent as the doctor continues his attentions. "I served in Kyoto about ten years ago. I was a member of the Tokushu Sakusen Gun." The cotton swab freezes against his arm. He cannot see his face, but Kenshin can hear the surprise in his voice when Oguni-sensei speaks.
"You were a member of the Special Forces Group?" He stops, realization dawning on him. "So that means that you were serving during the—"
Kenshin nods. The unfinished sentence hangs in the air like a curse.
Oguni-sensei goes quiet. After a moment of silence, he continues to dab at the wound on Kenshin's arm. "I see. I know better than to pry any further. That was a difficult war for a regular soldier; I can't even begin to imagine what you must have seen. You have my respect." He pauses, as if debating whether or not to continue. He opens his mouth and closes it again before finally saying, "And my deepest apologies."
Kenshin finally meets Oguni-sensei's eyes. He searches them for something, anything like what he's used to seeing: disgust, loathing, fear. He is not expecting sympathy. But this is what he sees glimmering dully in the old man's eyes. The look deepens his crow's feet and ages him twenty years, and resentment knots in Kenshin's gut that a man with such a pure-hearted mission has to have such worn-down eyes.
He gives a soft smile to the man to relieve him. It does not reach his eyes, but it is an expression that he has spent a decade mastering and he can see it working as the good doctor's shoulders relax. Kenshin has never really known what to do with pity, so he just bows his head mechanically and thanks him for the thought.
"We're back!"
Kenshin perks up from his spot in the kitchen, bent over the sink scrubbing dishes. Kaoru-dono walks in with a handful of groceries followed closely by Sano who resembles a well-stocked pack mule. He rushes over to help the larger man but nearly doubles over when he runs straight into Sanosuke's extended foot. Even though the blow almost winds him, he can't help but be impressed with the man's balance.
"Woah there, buddy. You're in no shape to be doin' any heavy lifting, so go relax. Jo-chan and I will take care of this stuff."
"But this one—"
Sanosuke raises his foot again and Kenshin immediately clamps his mouth shut and scampers away to the sink. Kaoru-dono set the groceries on the table and Kenshin can almost hear the smile in her voice as she starts to unload the food.
"So what did Oguni-sensei say?"
Kenshin pauses as he scrubs the frying pan in his hands. Slowly, he continues the mindless circular pattern with the scouring pad. "Oguni-sensei said that this one's wounds aren't as serious as they could have been. I'm very lucky, that I am."
"I'll say. You're lucky that you didn't catch pneumonia by the time I found you." She turns to Sanosuke and swats him lightly on the chest for emphasis. "He was soaked to the bone!"
Kenshin laughs along with Sanosuke, but he's a liar if he said it was from genuine amusement. By the time Oguni-sensei had left, Kenshin had felt as if he had been peeled raw. Between the poking and prodding from the exam and the doctor's unexpected questions, the auburn-haired man had been left both mentally and physically exhausted. The encounter had drudged up old memories that he'd been hoping would be left to rot, and the hour between his departure and Kaoru-dono's return had been spent in a deafening silence as his mind went rampant.
"Kenshin?"
He turns around when he feels a small finger tap his shoulder. Kaoru-dono's bright indigo eyes greet him. "Are you okay? You seem distracted."
Kenshin gives her the same smile that he had given Oguni-sensei. "I'm fine, just a little sore from the check-up." She searches his eyes, for what he does not know, before giving him a half-smile of acceptance. She looks like wants to say something but decides against it, and it makes him curious.
"Ah, of course…" She decides to say, flashing him a strange smile. She's fiddling with something in her hands and before Kenshin can ask what it is, she shoves it towards him. He blinks and examines it; a bottle of sandalwood-scented body wash. He looks at her questioningly. A small blush dusts her cheeks as she stammers an explanation as he pops open the lid and sniffs it.
"I hope you like the scent; I just figured that if you're going to be here for a little while, I might as well get you something since you probably didn't want to go smelling like a girl every time you bathe. I probably should have asked you if you had a preference before you left—"
Kenshin silences her by holding up a hand. Even with bitter thoughts still looming in his head, the smile he gives her is a legitimate one. He's almost surprised at how effortless it is for his lips to quirk upwards when the rest of him feels like lead. "Thank you for thinking of me, Kaoru-dono. You didn't have to."
She smiles with relief, and somehow Kenshin feels a little lighter. "I'm glad you like it."
"Oi, if you two are done having your weird soap moment, can we start on lunch? I'm starvin' here."
Kaoru-dono's smile switches to a scowl almost instantly. "Excuse me, you lazy bum. Who paid for that food?"
"And who carried it? C'mon Jo-chan, I think I've earned my share."
Kenshin shakes his head with a small grin. "Shall this one help with lunch, then?"
Sano points at him, voice stern. "Hey. What did I just get through sayin' to you? Go relax, we've got this." His serious expression melts into a smirk. "Besides, we're doing yudofu for lunch. Not even Jo-chan could screw that up."
Kenshin watches with concern as Sanosuke manages to dodge a small bundle of scallions and a package of tofu. "Oro, Sano, if you value your head you may want to quit teasing Kaoru-dono, that you might."
"Nah, too much fun." Sanosuke cackles, which only seems to make Kaoru-dono's mood worse. A sense of foreboding fills him, and he makes a hasty retreat down the hall to place his new soap in the bathroom.
Kenshin closes the door behind him, flipping the lock. The sounds of Kaoru-dono and Sanosuke's bickering have faded to white noise as he staggers to the counter. He leans heavily against it and stares grimly at himself in the mirror. If at all possible the bruise-like bags beneath his eyes have darkened. He fills the basin with cool water and splashes it on his face.
The burst of cold water wakes him up a bit and rids him of the clammy feeling that's been building on his brow. He watches the droplets as they run down his unbandaged cheek and trickle down his neck. For the briefest of moments in the flourescents of the bathroom the water is a deep crimson red and he sucks in a sharp breath, squeezing his eyes shut. His knuckles go white as he clutches the edge of the sink to steady himself.
One, two, three, four deep breaths before Kenshin is able to open his eyes again. He glances down at the small bottle of body wash on the counter beside him, and he becomes hyperaware of the water droplets snaking down his skin.
Don't worry, my boy. I won't say a word.
Kenshin swallows as he recalls Oguni-sensei's words from earlier. The elderly man had been understanding of Kenshin's request to keep Kaoru-dono in the dark about his past involvement with the military.
I've had to do things that I'm not proud of during my deployment, He had said to the doctor, and if at all possible, I do not wish to burden Kaoru-dono or any others with my past.
But still, Kenshin feels dirty. He doesn't like lying, doesn't like the feeling of looking into Kaoru-dono's big blue eyes and bending his words to shield himself. She's an honest person with a trusting heart, and every moment he's here he feels as if he's taking advantage of her. Yet Kenshin knows it's for the best; his past comes with demons, not all of which have been laid to rest. He spots his dirty purple scarf hanging on the back of the door behind him. Yes. The best way to repay her kindness is to keep her in the dark and far, far away.
Two weeks, Oguni-sensei had said. Two weeks and he would be healed enough to resume travelling. Two weeks and he can walk out Kaoru-dono's front door and never look back.
A loud crash echoes from the kitchen and a faint curse follows. Kaoru-dono sounds chipper as she calls him to lunch. He stops to stare at the scarf for a long time before finally opening the door to join them.
Two weeks, he thinks, and not a day more.
Japanese Vocabulary
-"Jo-chan": "missy", "little miss". Sano's nickname for Kaoru.
-"Jī-san/Oji-san": "Gramps"/ "Grandfather". The former is Sano's nickname for Oguni-sensei.
-Kaiten-tou: "Heaven's Clan"; (see RuroKen chapter 8.5)
-Yakuza: The famous Japanese mafia/mob.
-Itadakimasu: "I humbly receive"; often said before meals. Can be compared to phrases such as "bon apétit" or saying "Grace" before eating.
-Tanuki: A racoon dog. One of Kaoru's nicknames.
-Dashi: A type of cooking stock/soup that forms the base of many dishes, such as miso soup.
-Nori: Dried seaweed
-Tokushu Sakusen Gun: The special ops division of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force. Often called "Japan's Delta Force".
-Yudofu: A kind of tofu hot pot. A popular winter dish.
I've also gotten a good variety of questions it seems, so I'll answer a few to clear things up: As for the flowers that Kenshin dreams of in chapter one, in hanakotoba (flower language) Camellias (particularly red ones,) represent true love. For samurai, however, they're considered bad luck.
Orchids on the other hand have a variety of meanings, such as "love, beauty, refinement, thoughtful, maturity", etc. They're considered excellent representations of love because they can grow in diverse and even difficult situations.
As for where Kenshin's trusty sakabatō is, you'll find that out in chapter 3!