CHAPTER 2- AKABEKO
A few days later, Jiani was walking down a dirt road, dressed in a blue kimono. Normally, she could have gone to the Akabeko by a shorter route, but for the past few afternoons, she chose the longer, more exhausting way. The reason: she didn't want anyone to see her struggling to walk in such a tight outfit!
She groaned with frustration while tripping over the back of her sandal. "Augh! How in the world does Kaoru wear one of these?" She missed her hakama.
Now that her injury had handicapped her, she figured it was time to put the sword away for the time being and try to act as a typical woman of the Meiji. But so far, she wasn't having much luck.
Just then, as she rounded the bend, she caught sight of a familiar figure. 'What is Father doing out here?'
Unaware of her presence, Kenshin stood silently, his head slightly bowed and his eyes closed. And then, he let loose a loud cry. "HYAAAAAAAHHHH!"
CR-CRACK! CRACK! FOOM! All around him, bamboo cracked and split. Jiani lost her footing and fell to her knees. "Ack!"
Kenshin turned around, startled. "Jiani-chan?"
She sat up, looking sheepish. "H-Hello Papa. Staying in training, I see?"
Chuckling, he took her hand and helped her up. "It looks as though I'm not the only one. Are you worried you'll fall in front of Sano and the others?"
Jiani blushed even redder. "I do not think I'll ever get used to this thing. I can barely move my legs!"
She looked over at him. "Why are you out here all by yourself?"
Kenshin sighed. "I don't want to train in front of Kaoru and the others. I told them I was home, so they don't need to know that I still keep my swordsman ways."
Jiani placed hand on his shoulder. "Come on, let us go meet our friends at the Akabeko."
Kenshin smiled, knowing she would keep this a secret. "Well, if you can walk the whole way."
They walked along slowly so whenever Jiani tripped, Kenshin could catch her. All the while, they laughed and chatted over random things, like how Kaoru had flown off the handle and rammed Yahiko's head into the floor earlier that day.
Jiani was happy to spend time with her father after so many years. Sano and the others thought that there would be resentment at first towards Kenshin since he did leave her behind, but she was just grateful she had found him.
As Jiani predicted, Yahiko, Sanosuke, Kaoru, and the whole gang had crowded into the Akabeko and were preparing to enjoy a good meal. Sanosuke whistled at the sight of the young girl. "Hey, hey! You're getting the hang of this kimono thing, huh?"
Jiani blushed bright red and Kenshin pointed a finger at him. "Quit flirting with my daughter, Sano!"
But everyone knew he was joking.
Kaoru slid over, allowing for the two redheads to sit down. "What took you two so long?"
Kenshin and Jiani exchanged brief glances before the former replied. "Oh, we were talking and lost track of time, that we were."
"Yes, yes we were." Jiani agreed with a nod.
Sanosuke had his chopsticks ready. "Okay! Bring on the grub 'cause I'm starving!"
"Freeloader." Kaoru and Megumi muttered under their breaths.
"Jiani, how is your arm?" Megumi asked. "And the wound across your shoulders?"
"Fine, fine." The girl replied. "I look forward to using my arm again soon."
"You're so much more cooperative than the Rooster head over there." Megumi went on, shooting Sanosuke a glare. "At least you know to take it easy while he just keeps picking fights!"
"Hey, I don't pick fights anymore!" He whined. "Everyone around here's too weak!"
Suddenly, the door to the Akabeko opened. The Kenshin-gumi turned to see who it was. Kenshin's eyes widened. "That's."
A great bulk of the man entered, bearing a bandaged stump for a left hand.
Tae walked up to him, wearing a bright smile. "Welcome sir! What can I get for you?"
He looked down at her. "Your cheapest meal please."
She bowed slightly and turned to fetch it. He then took a seat in an empty booth.
Yahiko watched as Tae brought out the meal. He was surprised to see salmon on the plate. "Tae-san, isn't barely the cheapest meal?"
She nodded. "But, I'll just charge him for the barely."
Sanosuke scowled. "Don't take pity on rough-looking folks like him! They see that as scorn and pity!"
But Tae presented it to the big man anyway, who accepted it with a look of shock.
"Thank you, Miss."
Jiani noticed how Kenshin stared at him while he ate. "Papa?"
"No mistake about it." he muttered.
His mind raced back to the streets of Kyoto during the Bakumatsu. He remembered how he took on a giant of a man named Kujiranami and how during their battle, he had cut off his hand with one massive strike.
Just then, as he popped another piece of the fish into his mouth, Kujiranami looked over at him. Their eyes met for a brief instant, but then the ogre simply looked back down at his meal and kept eating.
'Did he not recognize me as Hitokiri Battousai?' Kenshin wondered.
Jiani cocked an eyebrow. "What's the matter, Papa? Do you know him?"
Finally looking away, Kenshin reached for his chopsticks. "Nothing, it's nothing. Pass the tofu please."
.......
That night, Kujiranami made his way up Mount Ueno, on the northeastern side of the city. It was there, he saw a man with spiky hair that glowed in the moonlight waiting at the top for him.
Enishi smirked. "Well Kujiranami, how was the Akabeko?"
He looked up at him with squinted eyes. "So, you are the one behind all this. The one from Shanghai?"
Enishi nodded. "I had business there, so Gein-san has been taking care of it all for me. We are preparing for our first meeting. Do you still wish to take part in this? You look as though you had a good time.
Kujiranami thought for a moment, remembering the time he had faced the Battousai in the dark streets of Kyoto. That horrible night, he had lost everything: his pride, his honor, his hand, and the chance to die a warriors' death when the Battousai refused to finish him.
He growled furiously. "I will take part!"
...........
Finally, the Kenshin-gumi decided to head back home for the night. Kenshin and Kaoru led the way, a drunken Yahiko slumped over the former's shoulder. The boy hiccupped and was singing an out-of-character type of song.
Sanosuke placed a hand on Jiani's shoulder, stopping her. "Hey Jiani, want to go check out the sakura grove before we go home?"
Jiani cracked a smile and turned towards her father. "It is fine with you, right Papa?"
Kenshin rolled his eyes lightheartedly. "Sure, sure. Have a good time."
Kaoru glanced towards them as well. "And don't stay out too late!"
Jiani blinked in surprise. Kaoru was acting like her mother again. Oh well, she didn't mind.
She looked over at Sanosuke and nodded. They walked off together.
Kaoru shook her head. "They sure spend a lot of time together."
Kenshin sighed. "If it makes Jiani-chan happy."
"I'm hungry, Mommy." Yahiko muttered.
...........
He reached down and threw off the wraps around his stumpy wrist. Then, he picked up something, a cannon, and attached it to the cap and peg stitched onto the skin.
Enishi took a step back, smirking. "Well then, why not send a signal flare? One that represents the ideals of vengeance for all us comrades?"
............
"There they are!" Sanosuke declared, leading Jiani by her good hand. "I thought I got ourselves lost!"
Jiani was in awe. "Wow, Sano-kun! What a sight this is!"
All around them were beautiful sakura trees, ones that continued to shed pink petals as the sun continued to set. Jiani smiled and closed her eyes. This was one of the more peaceful moments of her existence.
Sanosuke saw her reaction and grinned. "I had a feeling you'd like it. And during the day, there's all kinds of animals to see. I know that you like birds a lot, so this will be heaven for you."
Jiani opened her eyes towards him. "You spoil me, Sano-kun."
"What do you mean?"
She took a step forward and held out her good hand. A sakura petal fell upon it. "Yes, you spoil me with happiness."
Blushing, he laughed and folded his arms behind his head. "Well, I guess it's my job to make sure you're happy."
Jiani felt her face flush as well. One thing was certain: Sanosuke wasn't one who hid his feelings. That was one of the traits she adored about him. If only she too could communicate her emotions so freely..
She sighed. Someday, she would make sense of how she felt. Someday, she'd have the courage to tell him how she felt. But for now, she could simply smile and enjoy what he had to offer in silence. Luckily, he didn't seem to mind.
Just then, she felt her hand enveloped. Sanosuke held it tightly in his own as he looked down at her. "So, you like it then?"
She squeezed his hand back. "Of course. Of all the places you have troubled yourself to show me, this one is my favorite."
Suddenly, the quiet was interrupted by a loud, yet distant bang. Sanosuke and Jiani whirled around as a comet-like light flashed through the starry sky. Sanosuke cocked his head. "It's the wrong time of year for fireworks!"
But Jiani frowned as it seemed to fall from the sky. 'That's no fireworks display."
...........
Across town, down the dirt road towards the dojo, Kenshin and his friends paused. They too took note of the blast in the sky. He knew the sight and sound well. 'An Armstrong cannon? One of the three great weapons of the Bakumatsu?'
It went careening straight for the innards of Tokyo! Kenshin's eyes widened. "NO!"
Minutes later, the Akabeko was in flames.
A few days later, Jiani was walking down a dirt road, dressed in a blue kimono. Normally, she could have gone to the Akabeko by a shorter route, but for the past few afternoons, she chose the longer, more exhausting way. The reason: she didn't want anyone to see her struggling to walk in such a tight outfit!
She groaned with frustration while tripping over the back of her sandal. "Augh! How in the world does Kaoru wear one of these?" She missed her hakama.
Now that her injury had handicapped her, she figured it was time to put the sword away for the time being and try to act as a typical woman of the Meiji. But so far, she wasn't having much luck.
Just then, as she rounded the bend, she caught sight of a familiar figure. 'What is Father doing out here?'
Unaware of her presence, Kenshin stood silently, his head slightly bowed and his eyes closed. And then, he let loose a loud cry. "HYAAAAAAAHHHH!"
CR-CRACK! CRACK! FOOM! All around him, bamboo cracked and split. Jiani lost her footing and fell to her knees. "Ack!"
Kenshin turned around, startled. "Jiani-chan?"
She sat up, looking sheepish. "H-Hello Papa. Staying in training, I see?"
Chuckling, he took her hand and helped her up. "It looks as though I'm not the only one. Are you worried you'll fall in front of Sano and the others?"
Jiani blushed even redder. "I do not think I'll ever get used to this thing. I can barely move my legs!"
She looked over at him. "Why are you out here all by yourself?"
Kenshin sighed. "I don't want to train in front of Kaoru and the others. I told them I was home, so they don't need to know that I still keep my swordsman ways."
Jiani placed hand on his shoulder. "Come on, let us go meet our friends at the Akabeko."
Kenshin smiled, knowing she would keep this a secret. "Well, if you can walk the whole way."
They walked along slowly so whenever Jiani tripped, Kenshin could catch her. All the while, they laughed and chatted over random things, like how Kaoru had flown off the handle and rammed Yahiko's head into the floor earlier that day.
Jiani was happy to spend time with her father after so many years. Sano and the others thought that there would be resentment at first towards Kenshin since he did leave her behind, but she was just grateful she had found him.
As Jiani predicted, Yahiko, Sanosuke, Kaoru, and the whole gang had crowded into the Akabeko and were preparing to enjoy a good meal. Sanosuke whistled at the sight of the young girl. "Hey, hey! You're getting the hang of this kimono thing, huh?"
Jiani blushed bright red and Kenshin pointed a finger at him. "Quit flirting with my daughter, Sano!"
But everyone knew he was joking.
Kaoru slid over, allowing for the two redheads to sit down. "What took you two so long?"
Kenshin and Jiani exchanged brief glances before the former replied. "Oh, we were talking and lost track of time, that we were."
"Yes, yes we were." Jiani agreed with a nod.
Sanosuke had his chopsticks ready. "Okay! Bring on the grub 'cause I'm starving!"
"Freeloader." Kaoru and Megumi muttered under their breaths.
"Jiani, how is your arm?" Megumi asked. "And the wound across your shoulders?"
"Fine, fine." The girl replied. "I look forward to using my arm again soon."
"You're so much more cooperative than the Rooster head over there." Megumi went on, shooting Sanosuke a glare. "At least you know to take it easy while he just keeps picking fights!"
"Hey, I don't pick fights anymore!" He whined. "Everyone around here's too weak!"
Suddenly, the door to the Akabeko opened. The Kenshin-gumi turned to see who it was. Kenshin's eyes widened. "That's."
A great bulk of the man entered, bearing a bandaged stump for a left hand.
Tae walked up to him, wearing a bright smile. "Welcome sir! What can I get for you?"
He looked down at her. "Your cheapest meal please."
She bowed slightly and turned to fetch it. He then took a seat in an empty booth.
Yahiko watched as Tae brought out the meal. He was surprised to see salmon on the plate. "Tae-san, isn't barely the cheapest meal?"
She nodded. "But, I'll just charge him for the barely."
Sanosuke scowled. "Don't take pity on rough-looking folks like him! They see that as scorn and pity!"
But Tae presented it to the big man anyway, who accepted it with a look of shock.
"Thank you, Miss."
Jiani noticed how Kenshin stared at him while he ate. "Papa?"
"No mistake about it." he muttered.
His mind raced back to the streets of Kyoto during the Bakumatsu. He remembered how he took on a giant of a man named Kujiranami and how during their battle, he had cut off his hand with one massive strike.
Just then, as he popped another piece of the fish into his mouth, Kujiranami looked over at him. Their eyes met for a brief instant, but then the ogre simply looked back down at his meal and kept eating.
'Did he not recognize me as Hitokiri Battousai?' Kenshin wondered.
Jiani cocked an eyebrow. "What's the matter, Papa? Do you know him?"
Finally looking away, Kenshin reached for his chopsticks. "Nothing, it's nothing. Pass the tofu please."
.......
That night, Kujiranami made his way up Mount Ueno, on the northeastern side of the city. It was there, he saw a man with spiky hair that glowed in the moonlight waiting at the top for him.
Enishi smirked. "Well Kujiranami, how was the Akabeko?"
He looked up at him with squinted eyes. "So, you are the one behind all this. The one from Shanghai?"
Enishi nodded. "I had business there, so Gein-san has been taking care of it all for me. We are preparing for our first meeting. Do you still wish to take part in this? You look as though you had a good time.
Kujiranami thought for a moment, remembering the time he had faced the Battousai in the dark streets of Kyoto. That horrible night, he had lost everything: his pride, his honor, his hand, and the chance to die a warriors' death when the Battousai refused to finish him.
He growled furiously. "I will take part!"
...........
Finally, the Kenshin-gumi decided to head back home for the night. Kenshin and Kaoru led the way, a drunken Yahiko slumped over the former's shoulder. The boy hiccupped and was singing an out-of-character type of song.
Sanosuke placed a hand on Jiani's shoulder, stopping her. "Hey Jiani, want to go check out the sakura grove before we go home?"
Jiani cracked a smile and turned towards her father. "It is fine with you, right Papa?"
Kenshin rolled his eyes lightheartedly. "Sure, sure. Have a good time."
Kaoru glanced towards them as well. "And don't stay out too late!"
Jiani blinked in surprise. Kaoru was acting like her mother again. Oh well, she didn't mind.
She looked over at Sanosuke and nodded. They walked off together.
Kaoru shook her head. "They sure spend a lot of time together."
Kenshin sighed. "If it makes Jiani-chan happy."
"I'm hungry, Mommy." Yahiko muttered.
...........
He reached down and threw off the wraps around his stumpy wrist. Then, he picked up something, a cannon, and attached it to the cap and peg stitched onto the skin.
Enishi took a step back, smirking. "Well then, why not send a signal flare? One that represents the ideals of vengeance for all us comrades?"
............
"There they are!" Sanosuke declared, leading Jiani by her good hand. "I thought I got ourselves lost!"
Jiani was in awe. "Wow, Sano-kun! What a sight this is!"
All around them were beautiful sakura trees, ones that continued to shed pink petals as the sun continued to set. Jiani smiled and closed her eyes. This was one of the more peaceful moments of her existence.
Sanosuke saw her reaction and grinned. "I had a feeling you'd like it. And during the day, there's all kinds of animals to see. I know that you like birds a lot, so this will be heaven for you."
Jiani opened her eyes towards him. "You spoil me, Sano-kun."
"What do you mean?"
She took a step forward and held out her good hand. A sakura petal fell upon it. "Yes, you spoil me with happiness."
Blushing, he laughed and folded his arms behind his head. "Well, I guess it's my job to make sure you're happy."
Jiani felt her face flush as well. One thing was certain: Sanosuke wasn't one who hid his feelings. That was one of the traits she adored about him. If only she too could communicate her emotions so freely..
She sighed. Someday, she would make sense of how she felt. Someday, she'd have the courage to tell him how she felt. But for now, she could simply smile and enjoy what he had to offer in silence. Luckily, he didn't seem to mind.
Just then, she felt her hand enveloped. Sanosuke held it tightly in his own as he looked down at her. "So, you like it then?"
She squeezed his hand back. "Of course. Of all the places you have troubled yourself to show me, this one is my favorite."
Suddenly, the quiet was interrupted by a loud, yet distant bang. Sanosuke and Jiani whirled around as a comet-like light flashed through the starry sky. Sanosuke cocked his head. "It's the wrong time of year for fireworks!"
But Jiani frowned as it seemed to fall from the sky. 'That's no fireworks display."
...........
Across town, down the dirt road towards the dojo, Kenshin and his friends paused. They too took note of the blast in the sky. He knew the sight and sound well. 'An Armstrong cannon? One of the three great weapons of the Bakumatsu?'
It went careening straight for the innards of Tokyo! Kenshin's eyes widened. "NO!"
Minutes later, the Akabeko was in flames.