Chapter Three
River
"Father, if you can't read someone's ki, is he a foe?" Kenji asked his father curiously. His father wrinkled his forehead, and then looked at his son.
"Not exactly Kenji, not exactly. If you can't read his/her ki, it usually means that he/she is hiding it. But sometimes…" Kenshin drifted into deep thought without finishing his sentence.
"Sometimes what? Please tell, father."
Kenshin snapped out of his thoughts, and continued making the sushi that was meant for lunch. Kenji waited patiently for the answer that his father owed him. Suddenly, his eyes felt heavy and he drifted off…
"Kenji. Kenji. Kenji! Wake up!"
The boy showed no sign of waking up. Instead, his head leaned on Kenshin's arm. Kenshin knew just what to do to get him up.
"Kenji, do you want to know the answer?"
"Yes, father." Kenji showed no sign of sleepiness at his father's question. Kenshin smiled at his son.
"Well, maybe you did not try hard enough. It's as simple as that."
"Thanks father, your advice was really very good. I'm sure it will help me."
Kenshin motioned for his son to go off, since he wants to continue cooking. But actually, something else was bugging him. His thoughts had flown to the currently wandering Seta Sojiro. Sojiro just shut up his feelings somewhere deep down, but I had awakened it. If Kenji is talking about Tensho…well, actually I had noticed it too. His lack of ki is unusual for a businessman's son in this peaceful era…and I don't think he has learned kendo before.
Kenshin silently watched his son's retreating figure and said silently to himself, "Maybe it's just me…" Kenshin gave himself a sushi he was making to reassure himself that everything will be ok.
Kenji did something that he usually never did – knock on the door. He knocked his room door softly, and entered. He saw Tensho carefully fingering the origami swan. When Tensho saw Kenji, he put the swan on his futon.
"Is it time yet? For lunch, I mean."
"No, mother told us to go fishing near the river for fish as our dinner depends on the catch."
"Then let's go. I'll inform Kamiya-san and Himura-san, while you go get the equipment."
It was all set and soon they were on their way to the river. The leaves of sakura trees accompanied them all the way to the river, because it was late autumn now and quite cooling. They reached the river without talking much as Kenji was thinking about Tensho's ki and the other was worrying about the catch.
Tensho sneezed. Kenji looked at him worriedly. Both boys were now sitting by the river, waiting for the bait to be eaten. Kenji's fishing rod vibrated slightly. He reached out his right hand and pulled. Then he pulled using both hands.
"Tensho, what did you think I've caught?"
"A whale? A salmon? A dead body?"
"I don't know, but come help me pull! Quick!"
As Tensho got up and ready to help him, Kenji was nowhere to be seen. He looked round, even up the sakura trees, yet he did not see any sign of Kenji's blue gi. He even called out Kenji's name a few times, but no one answered. Then only he noticed that Kenji's fishing rod was missing too.
I suppose that Kenji has gone home by himself…without me. Well, he has got his revenge for me being faster than him this morning, so we're fair, thought Tensho. He packed up and climbed the small hill that led to the bridge. He caught a glimpse of Kenji in the river. Tensho then sensed a surge of ki from the river. He threw the fishing equipment on the bridge, and then jumped into the river to save Kenji.
Tensho swam against the strong current, trying to get to Kenji. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Kenji's limp arm resting on the bamboo fishing rod. He then grasped Kenji's arm, and tried to swim to the bank as best as a six-year-old could do while lugging another six-year-old.
They reached the bank, soggy, wet and shivering with cold. Tensho was struggling to drag Kenji home. He was shivering more and more with every step he took. His vision blurred…
Ki Reading
Chapter Three: River
Plot: Kenshin and Kenji's suspicion of Tensho.
Thoughts: I know it is a bit far fetched, but…hehe…Kenji really is impossible to wake!
Feelings: I don't know what to call this, but my first two reviews! I feel some sort of happy… Thanks gabyhyatt, flip-flop108!
Preview:
Chapter Four: Down!
Plot: Nobody cares, nobody notices. Shivering in a corner, eyes almost closing…
