Because Kenshin is sweet and respectful and looks much younger than he is...

Setting: About 15 years post Manga.


Kenshin was sweeping the yard, carefully not watching his eldest son flirt. She was a pretty little thing, the older sister of one of Kaoru's students, and she had long, shining hair and huge, soft dark eyes. Kenji became a stuttering, red faced mess every time Aiko came around.

Kenshin smiled down at the dirt, under this carefully concealing bangs. He's growing up, so he is. It was cute, seeing his fierce, bold and focused son reduced to a blushing, head-scratching wreck by a girl. Kenji would shriek like a banshee if anyone ever expressed that aloud, but that didn't make it less true. Yahiko had been teasing Kenji mercilessly.

.

.

.

The next day, Kenji was out fetching groceries for dinner when little Aiko came around. It was unusual, that; it was not her brother's day for lessons. Perhaps he had forgotten something yesterday. Kenshin put down his laundry and turned a pleasant smile her way.

"Good morning, Aiko-dono. Can this one be of assistance?"

"Oh, um, Kamiya-san. Good morning. I was just... passing by, and I thought, um..." She was looking up at Kenshin through thick lashes and twirling her hair around her finger. Kenshin felt himself break into a nervous sweat. Surely not.

"I just thought that I would come by, and- and ask if maybe you would like company?" She was blushing. She- she was wearing makeup!

"A- Aiko-dono, this one is- is quite busy, that I am. My wife will be done with classes any minute and this one must make lunch. Kenji will be home soon; this one is certain that he will have time to spend with you, that I am."

She looked disappointed briefly, then lifted her chin. "I would rather not. I find that I do not care overly much for spending time with children."

Kenji was twelve to her thirteen. Kenshin began edging away from her. "Well, then, Aiko-dono. This one must return to my chores. Please excuse me." Then he fled into the house like a rabbit pursued by wolves; he didn't stop until he reached the kitchen. Once there, he clapped a hand over his eyes and counted to twenty.

Kenshin could imagine the newspaper headlines now: "Local Man Killed in Explosion as His Son Combusts."

This one is a dead man...