Kenshin's Little Girl
Chapter 9
(Kenshin's POV)
The day of your funeral, Kaen, seemed to pass in black and white. There were many people there, as we all knew there would be. Your childhood friend, Jin, got home today and came to visit you. He hadn't been home long enough to hear the news of your death, so he came bursting through the door like he always does, shouting your name. To tell you the truth, little bird, I always thought the two of you would get married. You were always together, and seemed to be so well in tune…
Your mother cried. Did you see? She sat down in your room where your futon is, picked up one of your old hair ribbons and cried. I know she never showed it very well, but she did love you, in her own way. We tried to clean out your room, but then sat together remembering things that happened.
Your poor brothers…
Asuma swears he sees you wandering around outside. Your mother and I tell him that you're in a better place, but I sometimes see you too. Just flashes from the corner of my eye. Sometimes you're a child, other times you're thirteen. I know that I should ignore it, let you go, but it is hard. As I told you when you were so small on the day your brother Genro was born, you are my favorite.
There are times that I go to look in your room, expecting to see you sitting on the floor with your inkbrush or playing with one of your games. You always could beat me at chess.
Sano and Megumi are talking about getting married. I thought that they would have gotten married a long time ago… But oh well.
I feel like the air around me weighs a thousand pounds… I find myself looking out the window, thinking of open roads and fields. I know I can't leave my family, but it is so hard to think of reasons to stay right now.
Little bird… Little Kaen… I don't understand what's happening today, everything is all a blur. All I can see is a happy child, the sweet little bird you were, Kaen. Little bird, little Kaen, you always were such a pretty little thing… Gentle and kind and affectionate, what a sweet little bird you were, Kaen…
More and more foreigners are arriving every day. They talk so rapidly that even if they speak Japanese, it comes out jumbled. You would have liked the English men that I met today. They had pale hair and round blue eyes, wearing closefitting clothes and leather shoes that laced up to their ankles… One tried to buy my sword from me, and I had to explain that it was a rude thing to ask. He seemed to understand eventually. I ran into another in the temple when I was there to light incense for you, and he asked me to explain how our prayers went and who I was praying for. I think he would have made you laugh. He asked questions like Asuma does, one right after another.
I got a letter from Tokyo the other day. There is some trouble brewing, and I was asked to come and help put the rebellion down. I'll take Yahiko with me.
Watch over your mother and brothers while I'm away.