Hi, please forgive me for the long update, life has been hectic. I planned for this to be the last chapter, because I can't imagine it going any further. So yes, it ends here, thank you so much for your reviews and your support. They kept me going.

DISCALIMER: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Japanese terms:

hanten- short Japanese coat; Kenshin wears on in flashback as a boy in Kyoto, the first time he faced off with Saito

sakabatou- reverse-blade sword

Genpuku- ceremony signifying the entrance of a boy-swordsman into manhood (usually at age 15)

I choose to wear a blue hanten, I'm sure he's never seen me in one before. I've never worn one since the Revolution, back then, in the streets of Kyoto, I wore them often. I dressed that way, because it partially concealed my swords, and today is no different. I do not want my sword or rather 'our' swords to be the first thing he notices.

My journey to Kyoto had been rather short, it had not been a social visit, lingering was uncalled for. I had a mission to accomplish, that was all.

I chose not to stop by the Aoiya or Hiko's cabin. They would all have been disappointed that I did not bring Kaoru and their beloved Kenji anyways, especially Miss Misao, and Hijiro, Master's son.

Finally I am at the cherry blossom path along the river. I slow my steps. I am in no hurry to do what I have to, besides, I am a day early. The festivities will not begin till tomorrow. I have time; but this will take time, that it will...

Flashback

I kneel behind her as I do every other night, taking great care with my task. I am not good at braiding, but I enjoy brushing the midnight silk she has for hair, so she allows me to attend to it nightly.

There is silence between us. I am in no mood to talk, my thoughts are a far off.

"Kenshin" she interrupts.

"Yes darling?" I mumble.

"What's bothering you, dear?"

My hands freeze, one holding her dark locks, and the other holding the brush in mid-air.

"Won't you tell me Kenshin?"

I sigh before lowering my hands, and my eyes.

"It's Kenji, isn't it?" she says without even turning to face me.

"He's almost fifteen- Genpuku, I know it troubles you, because you want him to know who you are." she says to me.

Perhaps she senses my hesitation and unwillingness to speak.

She turns to face me and cups my cheeks. "Kenshin, I hate when you worry. You have no need to be scared of what he will think or say. No matter what happens, he will always be your son and he will always love you. When the time comes, just tell him how you feel, that's all you need to do Kenshin."

"Thank you Kaoru" I tell her, her gentle comfort, soothes me somewhat. I've decided to forget about it until the time comes.

As if reading my thoughts she tells me, "When we get to that river, we'll cross it together, but until then, please leave it alone."

I smile and nod gently.

Before I respond she closes the tiny distance between us, and her soft lips taste mine. I embrace her as we melt together into the kiss.

Breaking away momentarily, she looks into my eyes.' "Let me make you happy Kenshin"

Her words confuse me, and I do not understand them until she motions for me to lie flat on my back, and I close my eyes as I feel her slender frame mount my body.

I will obey her; I will let her make me happy, as she always has.

Even if my fears concerning Kenji return to me as I expect them to, I will make no room for them tonight. I will disregard my worries and allow my love to have her way with me.

I need her as she needs me.

With my eyes still closed, my features grace a small smile as I hear the sound of fabric fall from her slender shoulders to the floor...

End Flashback

Today is different. I can no longer hide behind the warmth of Kaoru's love to escape what I must do. Today is the day my son will become a man, today he will decide whether or not to accept this sword I have taken from Kyoto to give to him.

Today he will either love me or hate for who I really am.

"Kenji" I call without even entering the premises. I will not go in, I cannot, not yet. Memories flood my mind.

I can almost feel the warmth of spilt blood on my hands as my mind travels back to my days in Kyoto. Telling him won't be easy, that it most certainly won't.

My guilt threatens to swallow me whole, as the pang of fear I feel tempts me to run away. I cannot bear for my only son to reject me; I will not be able to stand his hatred.

What if he decides I am too tainted to be a father, just like I thought years ago before he was conceived? What if...

"Father! You're back." The teenager rushes towards me, crushing me in a warm embrace, totally unaware of the bloody truth I must eventually reveal to him.

"Father, it is good to see again, come inside, mother will be so happy to see you. You've only been gone for a few days, yet she's behaved as though she'd lost you forever."

Kaoru. Still fearing that I will leave, is she. I'll make certain her fears are never realized.

"Your mother has good reasons for her behavior Kenji." I tell him solemnly.

"Oro?"

I can't help but smile at his expression, perhaps he has taken more from me than I imagined.

"There is much you don't know Kenji, I promised I would tell you many things when you turned fifteen, things that only a man can bear. Come, it's time."

We walk along the same path; the one I was coming from, as head towards the river bank. He follows obediently as he always does, and I sense his confusion.

Poor child, he will hear some hard things from me today; I repel the thought of hurting him, and him hurting me.

I find a rather shady spot, to shield us from the afternoon sun, and we sit cross-legged, facing each other.

"That hanten fits you well, father; I don't remember ever seeing you wear one before." he says.

"Back in the Revolution, I wore them all the time; back when I was a very different man."

"I see, what manner of man were you father?"

I take a deep breath, "Kenji, what I tell you today, will not be easy for you to hear, but you must promise me you will hear it."

He nods.

"I traveled to Kyoto, to have a reverse-blade sword made for you, as a gift for Genpuku, and as a symbol of me passing my legacy to you."

His eyes light up, like a midnight sky with fireworks." Father! I..."

"Kenji" I cut him off. "Listen to me first."

"Yes father" he says, trying to contain his elation.

"Before you accept this sword, you must hear its story, you must hear my story. When you know everything, then you can decide whether or not to accept this gift."

He nods, and I see no more reason for delay. I hang my head so that my eyes are completely covered by my bangs, looking at him will only make this harder for me...

"My story is a long one, please listen carefully." I tell him, ensuring that my eyes are fully concealed and fixed on the ground.

I was born to a poor family, my father was a farmer, I remember little of my early life and the only thing I have left from those days, is a simple top, my father gave me."

"Is it the one you gave me when I was younger, I still have it."

"Yes, it is." I tell him. "My birth name was Shinta, I was born in a violent time.

When I was seven, my parents died of cholera, and I was left in the care of three slave women. I didn't know them long but they were good to me. Back then, the revolution had begun and times were dangerous, everyday promised bloodshed."

"I know" he tells me "We are taught about it at school."

I nod "One day, while we were traveling, bandits attacked us and murdered the women who took care of me. I had nothing left. They were going to take me too, they were going to end my suffering, but I was saved that day. Fate did not allow me peace so easily.

Master Hiko happened to pass by us, and he saved me. He murdered the bandits, took me in, and renamed me Kenshin, which is to say 'heart of sword', just as Kenji is to say 'protect with sword'.

He was good to me, he taught me the all the secrets of the Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryu, except for the final attack, which I did not master till many years afterward.

"Why? Why did you not learn it, father?"

"Patience Kenji. When I was fourteen, I left the lonely cabin of my master. I had a warped sense of justice; I thought I could help those who suffered in the Revolution by wielding my sword. I didn't listen to my master's logic, I refused to understand, I was stubborn, and I paid dearly for it."

I stop to take a breath, he says nothing. I am grateful for his patience; perhaps he realizes that this is truly difficult for me.

"Master and I had a bitter argument, and then I left, I left to a life of pain and darkness, deceiving myself that I could obtain justice and salvation through violence.

I joined the Kiheitai—a Choushuu Ishin Shishi militia. One day during our training, a man called Katsura Kogorou, who was the head of the Choushuu Ishin Shishi came to inspect us, the troops.

He took a liking toward my skill and had me trained as a hitikori. That is where it fell apart..."

I felt my voice begin to break, "I...I murdered men, many men, in cold blood, without remorse, without feeling...I took lives many lives. For the sake of a new era, one which in my eyes would bring a better Japan; but instead, it is as corrupt and as bloody as the men who helped create it; as I am.

I led a dark life: spending my days, at inns, or drinking sake, and my nights, drowning my sword in blood.

I became known as Battousai- the manslayer...

"Batt...ou..sai...you?" I heard a small voice stutter, I dare not raise my eyes to meet his; I can't bear to.

"Men across Japan feared me, and trembled at the sound of my name. I was a demon of night, the one whose hair was forever stained red with the blood of those he had killed.

My sword showed no mercy, I knew nothing but the ways of blood and murder. I was cold, cold and empty, even...lonely.

When I was fifteen, I took the life of a man, who was betrothed to a beautiful girl. I killed him; he died with her name on his lips, after he managed to give me the first stroke of my crucifix scar.

Days later I met his betrothed, unknowingly of course, she had seen my kill a an assassin, but she was drunk. I contemplated silencing her, but in the end I took her back to the inn...

Tomoe, she was called. She became a servant girl there, and I would see her daily. She spoke to me of peace, of a life without the sword and violence. Her words confused and tormented me. I knew nothing but the sword, I knew nothing but murder. I could not see her ideals.

In those days life way hectic and dangerous, and eventually, a turn of events had it to be that I was forced to leave Kyoto, for my own safety. I was young and valuable to the Ishin Shishi, so Katsura thought it best for me to leave until things settled down.

So I left, Tomoe was ordered to come along with me, and to pose as my wife. I was to move out into the country as a simple married man, who led a quite life. Such a pretense forced me to lay down my sword for the time being. I was to live peaceably; it was odd at first, but I adjusted well; I loved my life. I loved the peace.

And soon I loved also Tomoe."

I pause in an attempt to assess his emotions. Anger, I feel. I glance up momentarily to steal a look at his eyes. All I see is fury, but I expected no less; I lower my head again.

So I go on, "We continued our lives, and one day I decided to make her my real wife. I made love to her that night, the night I proposed. But when I awoke the next day, she was gone.

The immediate events after that are all a blur to me, I don't remember much. After marrying your mother, I spent my days pushing my dark memories away from me, as I allowed Kaoru's happiness and fierce spirit to consume me.

But I do remember that Tomoe died, by my hand. In an attempt to protect me from a man who wanted me dead, she thrust herself between us in battle and allowed her own life to be taken instead of mine.

As a parting gift she created the other half of my scar with my katana; the first half of which was given to me by her beloved…

…The completion of this scar remains to this day, a reminder of the pain my existence had brought to those two souls. I had ripped their lives apart, and the memory of their fates was permanently engraved on my face."

I take a deep breath before continuing.

"I remained Battousai for three more years, after that the Revolution was drawing to its close, it was then that I left the shadows; and I was replaced by one called Makoto Shishio.

I became a wanderer for ten years, as a form of repentance for all the blood I've shed. I carry my reverse-blade sword, to protect rather than to destroy; reversing my gift of murder into one of peace and life.

Though I may never bring back those who I destroyed, I vowed never to take life again, only to save those who I can. I was unworthy of any good but…

…But fate showed me kindness, and in the tenth year of the Meiji era, I stumbled along the streets of Tokyo, aimlessly.

Not too far of here I met a beautiful girl with a bokken, and after a short exchange, and an interesting turn of events, my life at Kamiya dojo began. Shortly after that Kaoru and I met Yahiko, Sanosuke and then Miss Megumi, and further on we met our other array of good friends we have today.

And then on a beautiful moonlit night, not long after our marriage, Kaoru and I formed you, the perfect gift of our love. And now I am a simple swordsman, husband and hopefully, still...a father."

I feel the tears I can no longer hold back, slap against my palms as they fall from my eyes. My past pains me, what I have done pains, who I am pains me.

I was foolish if I expected him to even remotely like me after all this, perhaps he should never have known, but he deserved to…

I will never be able to live without the love and admiration he has shown me for so many years...

My tears fall harder, as I can no longer conceal the pain I feel. Amidst my silent sobbing I manage to hear him rise to his feet. He's leaving...he must be...why else would he stand?

But he remains stationed, unmoving.

I fear that he will run away and never look back, and for once I feel the pain my Kaoru felt when I took off so many years ago. I now know the fear she feels every time I step through those gates. The fear that I will never return...

I understand, and I loathe it.

I hear his footsteps; they seem to be approaching me... but why? Will he slay me for my sins? Will my long, dark history and my short-lived happiness end here and now?

Will he rid Japan of this plague, which goes by the name of Himura Kenshin?

Whatever he decides, whatever my judgment is, I will readily embrace it.

I feel his calloused hands rest on my slumped shoulders. With my eyes still downward held, I see the spotless white of his hakama press into the grass under his knees.

I feel his forehead collide gently with the crown of my head, as he kneels, slightly towering over me; his bangs intertwine with mine.

His words, the ones that follow his actions, move me beyond human understanding and logic.

"Rise father" he says to me, his voice stern, hard, dead serious, yet without a trace of hatred and coldness.

"Give me my sword, I accept the legacy of Himura Kenshin, my father before me, and I will live by the strength and honor he lives by. I will walk by the ideals he walks by. I will make you proud. My father."

I feel my frame begin to tremble as I hold back another wave of tears. My emotions threaten to consume me. His acceptance, his love, his words, there are too much for me. I do not understand him, how can he say this to me, knowing who I am.

The only love and purity of this sort I have ever experienced before was that of Kaoru's. And I slowly realize that though he may have inherited my exact physical appearance, he must have inherited his self-less, forgiving heart from him mother.

He truly is the perfect form of both of us; a gift of our love.

I silently whisper a word of thanks to Kaoru for her kind spirit, and wiping my tears away I stand to face him.

His hands fall from my shoulders as my eyes meet his.

Taking a step back, I reach around the hem of my hanten as I stretch his sheathed sakabatou before him in a horizontal fashion, my fingers wrapping around it at about the center of its length.

"Himura Kenji" I say, unable to conceal my pride, "I present to you this reverse-blade sword as a gift of Genpuku, know the legacy of your father before you, live it and take it with you even to your grave."

His palms clasp it as he releases in from my grip, and bowing on both knees, I hear him say, "Yes, with all my strength."

Sensing a familiar ki nearby, I turn to see a pair of blue eyes looking back at me with a sense of pride and pure happiness. Kaoru.

I look back with equal pride and happiness, and the smile we share is momentarily broken as the air rushes from my lungs.

Rising from his bow, my son holds in a strong embrace, "Thank you father; for everything."

At last, my life is complete; and I Himura Kenshin, am truly happy.

I know there is a plot change, because Kenshin never passed Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu on to anyone, but this is the ending to the anime I've dreamt for, for ages.

Whether good, bad or ugly, please tell your feelings and leave a review.

Thanks a lot.

;-)

Sani.