Kenshin
Himura Kenshin was a little bit disappointed that Shinomori Aoshi was on the same train as him and his family. He knew, with a sort of annoyed certainty that the man would bring up past events and somehow ruin the family outing to New York. But maybe not. After all, he had a young woman with him.
Maybe Aoshi had settled down – but Kenshin doubted it. It seemed too unlikely, especially since he had seen Aoshi on the roof taking stock of every possibility and surroundings – and the girl herself, very casually and surreptitiously – professionally, staking out Wu Heishin and evaluating the other passengers. Aoshi's eyes were still the same as they were ten years ago. And the girl's eyes were similar enough.
It's kind of sad really. She looks barely twenty and she's already involved in things like that, he thought. She seems nice enough, though. Yet there is a strong smell of blood around her that her cheerful demeanor doesn't completely cover. Despite it sounding slightly melodramatic, Kenshin really didn't know how else to put it.
"Kenshin."
…
"Ke-enshin."
…
"Kenshin!"
"O-oro!" Kenshin was jerked from his thoughts by his wife's voice. "A-ah! Kaoru-dono! Is something the matter?"
"Sheesh." She said, running a hand over her ponytail. "That's what I should be asking you." Kaoru looked at him, her blue eyes worried, laying a hand on his arm. "Are you okay? Did something happen? You only look like that when you're thinking about… Back then."
He smiled. "This one saw a few people I recognized, indeed I did." Seeing her face, he went on. "Shinomori Aoshi – head of the Oniwabanshu syndicate – he's with a subordinate, or maybe she's something else – and Saitou Hajime – he's a police detective now. I don't know what he could be investigating here, but… Things are much different. It's 1931 after all, indeed it is!" Kenshin attempted to reassure her. "This one's hair is all short now and you've helped my cover the scar, Kaoru-dono. I'm unrecognizable, indeed I am!" he smiled. "This one is a new man now."
"You better stay safe, okay?" she asked, taking his hand.
Kenshin looked at her and brushed her bangs away from her face. "With a wife like you to protect me, I am safer by your side than anywhere, I should think." He smiled.
"You really are a dumbass, you know…" Kaoru muttered fondly as she settled against his shoulder.
Kenshin smiled wider, squeezing her hand. "This one knows very well, Kaoru-dono. You say it every time you mean to say 'I love you'."
On the seat opposite, on the other side of the compartment, he could see Yahiko and Kenji exchange looks and stick out their tongues in a mime of throwing up. Kenji giggled as Yahiko mimed puking once more and Kenshin fondly shook his head.