Disclaimer: If I owned it, this would be in the manga and anime and I wouldn't have to work at Walmart.
Timetable:
Day 1- Kaoru- traveling; Kenshin- traveling.
Day 2- Kaoru- traveling; Kenshin- traveling.
Day 3- Kaoru et al reach Kofu; Kenshin- traveling.
Day 4- Kaoru- Kofu; Kenshin- traveling.
Day 5- Kaoru- Kofu; Kenshin- traveling.
Day 6- Kaoru- Kofu; Kenshin reaches Nagoya.
Day 7- Kaoru- Kofu; Kenshin continues traveling.
Day 8- Kaoru- Kofu; Kenshin reaches Ontako.
Day 9- Kaoru- Kofu; Kenshin- Ontako
Day 10- Kaoru leaves Kofu; Kenshin- Ontako
Day 11- Kaoru- traveling; Kenshin- Ontako
Day 12- Kaoru- reaches Ontako (dusk); Kenshin- Ontako
Day 13- Read to find out!
Chapter 11
A solitary figure walked down a lonely road. The rain was pouring down, causing the man's clothing and red hair to cling to his body, shifting slightly as he moved. The road had been turned to mud by the rain and squished under the man's feet, trying to bog him down with every step he took. A cold wind blew hard against him, as if trying to force him back the way he had come. It blew through the trees, shrieking at his defiance of it as he pressed on. The wind had chilled his rain-soaked body and he was shaking violently as his body struggled to regain the warmth it was rapidly losing. But the man took no heed of these discomforts, so lost in his thoughts was he.
Kenshin walked, unaware or uncaring of the danger he would be in if he didn't do something about his circumstances soon. His thoughts revolved around what had taken place moments before. He didn't regret defending against those bandits, even if he was on the temple grounds. He just wished Monk Yoshii hadn't seen it. The moment Monk Yoshii had recognized him as Battousai, Kenshin knew he had to leave. Even if Monk Yoshii hadn't sent him away, Kenshin still would have left this very night. He couldn't stand to see the look of horror and betrayal that would have surely graced Monk Norio's face when he found out Kenshin's true identity. It always happened this way. It usually took longer before someone found out, but Kenshin was slowly starting to realize that he could never be free from his past. It was better this way. Monk Norio would find out, but he wouldn't have to worry about getting rid of Kenshin. He was already gone.
Kenshin was jolted out of his thoughts when he came to the main road. He had been walking along the road, not paying attention to where he was going. Now, the road split and he had to choose. He could continue on to Ontako, or he could head back to Nagoya. As he considered his options, he became acutely aware of what his mind had been too distracted to notice while he was walking. The wind had not let up in its intensity, and his body was wet and, as a consequence, freezing cold.
Kenshin no baka! I need to get warm and dry as soon as possible! he thought, wrapping his arms around himself as he shuddered. Realizing that he could not get dry or warm out in this weather, Kenshin headed towards the town. He ran, knowing that he had to reach the town as quickly as possible and by running he could probably cut the time in half.
The physical exertion generated a little heat, but that was quickly taken away as the cold wind whipped past him. Every breath he took drew more frigid air into his lungs, chilling him further and increasing his chances of getting sick, but Kenshin was more concerned with speed at this point. He had to reach the town soon.
. . .
Hatayama Tsuya added another log to the fire. She owned her own inn on the south side of Ontako and, run-down though it looked on the outside, it was actually quite a cozy little place. She doubted that anyone would be traveling in this storm, but it was better to be prepared, so she kept the fire going in the common room and sat down behind her desk, mending some of her clothes. A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Setting her sewing aside, she rose and answered it.
She opened the door to reveal a red-haired man standing there. She couldn't see him very well, as she was blocking most of the light from the door. He spoke before she could offer her usual greeting.
"I'm sorry to disturb you so late, but could you direct me to the police station? Some bandits attacked the temple outside of town and the officers need to go pick them up," he said, in a quiet, slightly breathless, voice.
She stepped out onto the porch to point him in the right direction, but stopped as she got a good look at him now that he was in the light. He was soaking wet, water literally falling off him and pooling at his feet. He was very pale and his lips were starting to get a bluish tint around them. He was shaking so violently that he could barely stand. His red hair shimmered in the light, giving the appearance of blood sliding down his face and neck, standing out vividly against his pale skin. She paused, a little startled.
He looked at her imploringly. "Please, if you could tell me the location of the police station, I could be on my way," he said, his voice somewhat raspy, sensing her shock at his bedraggled appearance.
The last part of his statement snapped her out of her daze. "No, you most certainly can not be on your way! Look at you--I'm surprised you're still standing! You're soaking wet! First, we need to get you dried off--" she paused, grabbing his wrist. It was as cold as ice. "And get you warmed up! You're liable to catch your death!" she continued.
Before Kenshin could even comprehend what happened, he found himself being pushed down into a chair set in front of the fire. He also noticed a blanket had been draped around his shoulders. His numbed mind struggled to understand what the woman was saying.
"Etsuya! Etsuya, come down here!" Tsuya called. A young man walked into the room.
"Yes, mother, what do you need?" he asked.
"This young man is looking for the police station to inform them of some bandits, but he's in no condition to be traveling, especially in weather like this. I want you to find out what he needs to tell them and inform them yourself."
Kenshin, upon hearing this, stood, the blanket falling to the floor. "No, please, I don't want to inconvenience you, if you would just tell me where--"
"Don't worry, dear, it's no trouble at all. Just sit back down in front of the fire and warm yourself," Tsuya said, cutting Kenshin off as she replaced the blanket around his shoulders and gently pushed him back into the chair.
Etsuya, seeing the state Kenshin was in, walked over to his chair. "I'd be happy to go to the police station. If it's bandits, we don't have time to argue. The sooner the police are informed, the better. Also, while she's usually a bit on the over-protective side, mother's right. You need to stay here. You look terrible."
Kenshin understood that Etsuya was correct, and sighed in defeat. Etsuya's mother probably wouldn't let Kenshin leave tonight. "The temple just outside of town was attacked by bandits. The police need to go and pick them up. I believe there were about ten, in all," Kenshin said, snuggling deeper into the blanket. He really was too cold to argue.
"At the temple?!" Etsuya didn't even wait for Kenshin to respond before he was putting on his zori sandals and grabbing an umbrella that Tsuya had brought out for him. Etsuya didn't waste any time going to the police station.
Kenshin was finally able to relax, now that the he knew the police would pick-up the bandits. He leaned back in the chair, his eyes falling half closed. His shaking had subsided somewhat, and he was starting to get feeling back in his fingers and toes, albeit painfully. Trying to distract himself from the pain and the cold, Kenshin instead tried to focus his weary mind on what was going on around him.
Tsuya walked over to Kenshin, a steaming bowl of miso soup in her hands. "Go ahead and eat this, dear. It'll help warm you up from the inside-out," she said, pushing the bowl into Kenshin's hands.
Kenshin accepted the bowl, holding it in his hands to warm them enough so he could use the chopsticks without embarrassing himself.
A few minutes later, a young woman entered the room. "Tsuya-san, the bath is ready."
"Thank you, Kuniko-chan. Now, young man, if you'll allow me to escort you to the bath, we can get you out of those wet clothes," Tsuya said, walking over to where Kenshin was sitting.
Kenshin shook his head weakly in protest. "Please, I don't want to be an inconvenience," he said.
"It's no trouble, no trouble at all, and you're still shaking like a leaf in the wind," she pointed out, helping Kenshin to his feet.
As Kenshin stood, the room spun. He closed his eyes for a moment to center himself. Tsuya took his action as reluctance to leave the warmth of the fire. "Don't worry, dear, the bath water is nice and hot. You'll be warm soon enough. I'll see to that. You've already got a bit of color back in your cheeks," she said, guiding him toward the bath.
Kenshin, who was not looking forward to going back out in the rain, fervently hoped that they had an indoor bath.
Kenshin's prayers were answered when Tsuya stopped in front of the room without going outside. "Go ahead and take your time in the bath. There are dry clothes and towels on the shelf, and just leave your wet clothes in the basket. When you're finished, your room is in the next hallway, fourth door down. The shoji will be open, and your futon will be laid out for you." With that, she turned to go back to the front of the inn.
"I'm sorry to trouble you like this, that I am. Arigato gozaimasu," Kenshin said, softly.
"Don't worry about it, dear. Breakfast will be brought to your room in the morning. Pleasant dreams," she said, disappearing around the corner.
Kenshin entered the room and peeled off his wet clothes, leaving them in the basket as instructed. He was still wet, so he soaped up and rinsed off quickly, eager to soak in the steaming furo. He sighed as he slipped into the tub, feeling the hot water encompassing his cold skin. It burned at first, but the sensation was welcomed.
Kenshin stayed in the bath until the water started to cool down. He got out and started drying off, but had to pause as another wave of dizziness came over him. Brushing it off, he dressed and started towards his room, shivering slightly and feeling very drained. He reached his room and collapsed on the futon, vaguely noting that extra blankets had been left. Still feeling cold, he piled all the blankets on top of himself before allowing himself to succumb to sleep.
. . .
A wagon pulled up in front of the temple gates, and two officers got out and went inside. Monk Norio had just finished tending the last bandit's wounds, when he heard the door of the temple open. Upon seeing the officers, he walked over towards them.
"We heard that some bandits attacked--are these them?" one of the police officers asked, gesturing towards the men laying on the floor.
Monk Norio nodded and the second policeman went back outside. He returned with several more officers, and they began moving the bandits to the wagon.
The first officer turned back towards Monk Norio. "I'm Sergeant Daishi. Could you tell me what happened here?" he asked.
"There was a rurouni who was staying here. He defended us and defeated the bandits, but he left after the battle. I don't know where he went."
Sergeant Daishi opened his mouth to ask for a description when a child's voice interrupted him.
"Monk Norio?"
Norio looked over to see Roku standing in the doorway. Norio glanced around the room, relieved to see that the officers had moved all of the bandits and were waiting for their commanding officer outside. Norio walked over to the child. "You should be in bed, Roku," he scolded, gently.
"Did you talk to Monk Yoshii? Is Rurouni coming back?" he asked, hopefully.
"I'm sorry, Roku. He's gone." Norio turned to Sergeant Daishi. "If you'll excuse me, I need to put Roku to bed."
"Thank you for your time. I need to get those men back to the jail before they wake up and start causing trouble," he said. Bowing to Monk Norio, he pulled his coat a little tighter around himself, and stepped back out into the rain.
. . .
The next morning, Tsuya walked up to Kenshin's room, breakfast tray in hand, and knocked on the shoji. She was a little worried about him becoming sick, so she was checking up on him personally. There was no answer, so she knocked again, louder. "Are you awake, dear? I have breakfast for you," she said. "I'm coming in," she announced, when she still received no reply.
Sliding the shoji open, she saw that Kenshin was still asleep. Deciding to leave the tray so he could eat when he woke up, she walked over nearer the bed and set it down. Looking again at Kenshin, she noticed that the color she had seen returning to his cheeks the previous night had gotten brighter, giving him a flushed appearance. This could signify a fever.
She placed her palm on his forehead and then touched the backs of her fingers to his cheek. His temperature was higher than normal; not enough to be worried about, but enough to warrant attention.
Kenshin began to stir from the contact, dragging himself up from a deep sleep, feeling someone touching his face. What's going on?! Who's here? Startled that someone had managed to sneak up on him while he slept, his first thought was to grab his sakabato. Almost before his hand could begin to reach out, though, he stopped when he realized that he couldn't sense any hostile ki. He opened his eyes and looked around, trying to orient himself. The inn. . . I'm at the inn. When he saw Tsuya, he tried to sit up. The movement caused the room to spin, and he closed his eyes to help center himself.
Tsuya, noticing the glassy look in his eyes when he looked at her, quickly placed her hands on his shoulders, gently pushing him back down onto the futon.
He practically collapsed back onto the futon under her hands, as if he didn't have enough strength to fight against her. I feel so weak! What's going on?! After the dizziness passed, Kenshin opened his eyes and looked at her again.
"Honey, you're sick. You have a fever, so you shouldn't try to get up. You stay here, and I'll go make you some tea," she said, taking the tray and standing up.
Kenshin's voice stopped her. "Please, you don't have to do this," Kenshin whispered, his voice raspy. Too much time in the cold night air had made his throat very sore.
Tsuya looked at him and smiled. "You're right. I don't have to, but I want to. You stay here, and I'll bring you some tea," she repeated, walking out into the hallway.
Kenshin stared at the door after she left. He would have gotten up and insisted that she not concern herself with his well being, but he knew he would collapse after only one or two steps. He felt too shaky to do anything. Of course, he also felt bad for imposing on her like this. Last night, I practically collapsed on her doorstep, and now she has to take care of me because I got sick! Kenshin no baka! He thought, berating himself. The fact that he couldn't do anything about the situation only served to further his negative feelings. He felt extremely weak, his throat was dry and sore and he could feel heat radiating off his face while he couldn't seem to get his body warm enough. All in all, Kenshin was miserable.
Tsuya returned with another tray, containing a steaming cup, a bowl and a cloth. She sat down near Kenshin's head, placing the tray beside her. "Here, drink this. It's willow bark tea, it'll help bring your temperature down," she said, handing him the cup.
Not wishing to endure another dizzy spell, Kenshin managed to drink it while laying down, only spilling a little bit. Tsuya took the cup back, and dipped the cloth in the bowl, carefully wringing it out before she placed it on Kenshin's forehead.
The damp cloth was soothing against Kenshin's skin and he closed his eyes as at least some of his discomfort was lessened. Was it normal to feel this tired when sick? Kenshin tried to remember. The last time he had been this sick was when he was still living with Hiko. His master had taken care of him, muttering almost non-stop about baka deshis getting sick just to get out of training.
Kenshin felt the cloth removed, only to be replaced a few seconds later, having been dipped into the cool water again. Tsuya brushed Kenshin's hair behind his ear, stroking his face as a mother would with her sick child. That thought sent a pang of regret through Kenshin's heart.
Is this what my mother was like? I have very few memories before my training with Hiko. I don't remember much from when I was a slave, and I remember even less before that. I don't remember what mother or father looked like. I can't even remember their voices, he thought, sorrow filling him for things lost in the past, never to be regained. A single tear fell, unknowingly, down his cheek.
He was distracted from his thoughts when he noticed someone had started singing. The song was soft and soothing, and Kenshin felt himself start to be lulled to sleep by it. Somewhere in the back of his mind he thought it was ironic that he, not only a grown man, but a legendary killer as well, should be put to sleep by a stranger singing a lullaby. However, that was a very small and distant part of his mind. Kenshin let himself drift amongst the music, feeling his body relax in response to the beautiful melody. I think this must have been what my mother was like, he thought, before drifting off to sleep, a small smile gracing his lips.
Tsuya smiled, but didn't stop singing when she saw the tension leave Kenshin's face. He was finally asleep. She couldn't help but feel a motherly concern every time she looked at Kenshin. Not only was he young, but also he was so vulnerable right now. That's why she was taking care of him herself and letting her husband, Natsu, take care of the other customers at the inn. Tsuya had noticed Kenshin's tear. She wasn't sure what had caused it, but he had just looked so sad. So, she sang the song that she had often sung to her own son, when he was sick. It had the desired affect, and now Kenshin was sleeping peacefully. Not wanting to wake him by lack of music, she continued to sing, periodically checking his temperature and re-wetting the cloth on his forehead as necessary.
. . .
Enjoying being able to sleep in an actual bed again, and recuperating from the trip, Kaoru and the others didn't get out of bed until sometime around noon. After getting ready for the day (or what was left of it) and breakfast/lunch, Kaoru decided to take a walk and do some sightseeing.
After walking around for four hours, she was more than ready to go back to the inn. She was walking through the marketplace, when two older ladies' conversation caught her attention.
"I'm telling you, it was the Battousai!"
"Shh! Not so loud, people will hear you!"
It was obvious that the ladies didn't want anyone to overhear their conversation, so Kaoru turned to the nearest stall, pretending to examine the merchandise. She waited for the conversation to continue.
"Like I was saying, Teruyo's cousin's brother-in-law works at the jail, and he was there when they brought them in last night. He got it straight from the men's mouths. They say it was Battousai that beat them. They were travelers, trying to seek shelter before the storm hit. Came out of the dark, he did, surprising the lot of 'em. Was the leader of a gang of bandits, too, and they defeated the travelers. They say that Battousai was about to slaughter the lot of 'em when the police showed up. Battousai and his men escaped and the police arrested the travelers, mistakin' them for the bandits," the first woman said, excitedly. She was always eager for new, juicy gossip.
Kaoru heard the first part of the woman's speech, up until she mentioned Battousai. Kaoru was so excited at the prospect that Kenshin was still alive and in this town that she blocked out the rest of the conversation on accident.
"Yes, you know how the police are, especially those police swordsmen. You really need to watch out for those ones," the second woman said, seriously. "So, where did Battousai go?"
Kaoru was instantly attentive, eager for any information regarding Kenshin's whereabouts.
"No one knows. He hasn't been seen since, so I think he must have left town. The police picked up those men on the south side of town, so I'm betting he went north..." the old women continued chatting, but Kaoru stopped listening, having gotten all the information she needed.
Kaoru practically ran back to the inn, eager to tell everyone what she had learned. Unfortunately, no one was there when she got back. This annoyed her slightly, but she just decided she'd scour the town looking for Kenshin, instead. With a smile on her face and a bounce in her step, she set off once again, searching the crowds for the telltale red hair of her rurouni.
. . .
Kenshin opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling as his memory came back to him. I came to the town and spent the night at the inn. The lady said I was sick-- Kenshin concentrated, feeling his body. His throat was sore and he felt a little weak, but that was about it. He sat up, feeling slightly dizzy, but nothing he couldn't handle. He turned when he heard the shoji slide open.
"Oh, good, you're awake," Tsuya said, walking into the room carrying a tray. "You've slept the entire morning and most of the afternoon away. Feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you," Kenshin said, his voice scratchy.
Tsuya kneeled down next to the futon, setting the tray down beside her. She picked up a cup of water from the tray. "Here, drink this. You must be thirsty," she said, handing him the cup.
He accepted the cup and drank it slowly, the cool water soothing his dry throat. After he had drained the cup, he looked at her, apologetically. "Thank you for taking care of this one. It is more than this one deserves, that it is," he said, bowing to her.
She waved it off. "Oh, it was no trouble at all. It reminded me of when I used to have to take care of my own son. Although, you are a bit too skinny for my liking," she said.
"Oro?!" Kenshin wasn't expecting that reply. I can't help it that I'm so skinny. That's just what my body's like, he thought, looking down at himself.
She chuckled at his reaction. "Sweetie, you need to eat," she said, gesturing to the tray next to her.
Kenshin grinned as he realized what she meant. As quickly as it had come, the expression faded. "You really didn't have to do this," he said, quietly. He felt like he was taking advantage of her kindness.
"Don't worry about it, it's no trouble at all," she said, smiling at him.
Kenshin couldn't help but smile back. "Arigato--" Kenshin floundered, realizing he didn't know her name.
"Goodness, where are my manners? I'm Hatayama Tsuya, the owner of this inn," she said, laughing at her forgetfulness.
"I'm--" Kenshin paused. Maybe it was because this woman had seemed so much like the mother Kenshin couldn't remember, but it just felt wrong to not tell her his name. "My name's Kenshin. Himura Kenshin," he said. See? That wasn't too painful.
"Well, Kenshin, I'm glad to see that you're feeling better. Now, I want you to eat this, and try to go back to sleep. I'll be back to check on you later. Your fever has gone down, but you still need to rest. You are to stay on your futon for the rest of the day. No buts," she said, giving him a stern look when he opened his mouth to argue. "If you're going to be stubborn about it, I can have Kuniko sit in here and watch you."
Somewhere in his memory, Kenshin recognized that look and knew it would be pointless to argue. Besides, he wasn't feeling too opposed to a nap. "That won't be necessary," he said, smiling. "Arigato, Tsuya-dono."
She looked a bit startled. "Goodness gracious! You needn't be so formal. Just call me Tsuya, like everyone else does. You make me feel like an old woman with the 'dono,' " she said, laughing at her own joke. She was getting up there in years, so she could technically be classified as an old woman.
Kenshin just smiled. "Gomen."
"It's alright, just make sure you address me as Tsuya. And eat your food, before it gets cold," she said, exiting the room.
Still smiling, Kenshin made short work of his meal. Having a full stomach seemed to intensify his need for sleep, so he laid back down on the futon and drifted off to sleep.
. . .
To Be Continued