--This story was co-written with my sister, Rosemary, whom you may contact at gohorses@yahoo.com.
--The story idea itself belongs to her, though I contributed to adding details to them. I was
--also the one who wrote the story, while she only made decisions. As a result, neither she nor
--I actually own Rurouni Kenshin. Heck, we don't even own Tsuyosa because we protray him along
--the elusive lines of Kaoru's father. We're not sure Tsuyosa is his real name even, but it's
--Japanese for strong and we thought it sounded pretty, so we decided to use it. Apoligies for
--any Out of Charactor you see, though we tried greatly to keep them out of that rut. Heck, we
--don't know how Tokio is supposed to act eithor, so we're not too sure about her . . .
--One final word: This story is slightly crossed over with Ranma 1/2. You don't need to be familar
--with it to be left in the dark, since I believe I explained everything in the story. However,
--it might be helpful for any inside jokes/puns I felt like tossing in. ^_^ C&C is ever so welcome.
--Please do not take and distribute this anywhere without my permission (dalimata@yahoo.com), or
--even run off with the idea. Thankyouverymuchos!
Soujirou trudged through the woods. His feet hurt. But that was okay, because it was just
another reminder of how alive he was. He smiled; it was a habit. He was also lost.
This was a problem. Especially since he had been seeing the same tree for over three days now,
over and over and over. He wasn't sure how he was doing it. Okay, he passed that one village a
few days back, and then he came up here to the mountains . . .
Being lost meant he had a lot of time to think. As many people could tell you, it is dangerous
to do so much at one time. You just might strain something important. But Soujirou had nothing
better to do, other than contemplate why he always saw same tree over and over, so he remembered
his past.
Not the past where he lived with his abusive uncle, but the past before that. Back in the
happier times, when his mother was still living, and he was staying with his cousin, uncle, and
aunt.
They had been an odd group; he an illegitimate child with a kind mother, a motherless cousin,
his mother's childless sister, and his cousin's odd father. His mother was always happy, his
aunt was always crabby, his uncle he wasn't too sure about, and his cousin cried all the time.
He knew it was because her mother had died and she missed her. He could remember seeing her in
the garden, crying because she missed her. He told her that they should bury her mother's jewelry,
and every time she could think of her mother, then they could dig up a piece.
Soujirou laughed as he remembered that. His mother and aunt were not too happy about it, but
no amount of spankings from either would reveal where they had hidden it. It was with wistful
fondness that he remembered those old days.
His cousin's mother had died, and both her sisters had come to the funeral and to care for his
cousin. After a year, he and his mother left for Kyoto, and there she died. He had been sent to
live with his uncle and his family until such a time could be found where his aunt could leave
her niece (who had fallen out of the cherry tree, hit her head, and lost her memory) to fetch
him back. It did not help that her husband (who ever he was, no one ever told Soujirou anything)
would not allow her to come to Kyoto during the war.
Soujirou sighed, and then continued on his way, once more getting lost until he found himself
back at the same tree. He glared at it as if accusing it of following him, and sat down on a
tree stump. He listened to the birds singing and cheerfully watched the clouds float by him. It
reminded him of the time he had been laying in the grass, his head piled up in his aunt's lap as
she patched his torn gi. As crabby as she had been, there were many times when she was generous
and kind beyond what she needed to be, and he loved her for it.
Soujirou's ears perked up with interest suddenly as he heard someone limping through the bushes.
He glanced to the side to see an older man trying to get through the thick brush, parting it
with his cane-shaped walking stick. His hair was jet-black with the exception of the streaks of
white that ran through it. Soujirou could not estimate his age, other than it being beyond his
forties.
"Oompha!" The old man slipped. Soujirou jumped up and hurried over to him.
"Are you all right?" he asked kindly with his customary smile, helping the old man to his feet.
"Oh, thanks. It's just that my leg is killing me," the old man replied. Soujirou grabbed his
elbow, picked up the pack the old man dropped, and steered him over to the stump he had been
sitting on earlier. "Thank you kindly," the old man said with a grateful smile. Soujirou returned
it with one of his customary 'I'm-an-innocent-person-who-would-never-hurt-you.'
"Where are you heading?" he asked.
"Tokyo. Been a long time since I was there; see, it's my home, and I've been away from it too
long."
"Ah. I was thinking about heading there myself, but I really don't know how to get there. I'm
sort of lost right now." Soujirou smiled sheepishly. The old man laughed with him.
"I know what that's like! Don't worry. I got directions on how to get through the forest from
the small village back there." He gestured with his hand and then frowned "At least, I think it
was back there. But you're welcome to travel with me if you'd like."
"Thank you," Soujirou said gratefully. The old man shrugged, then leaned on his cane, looking
Soujirou over. The young rurouni grew nervous. "Is something wrong?" he asked finally. The old
man jumped, then smiled.
"Oh no, not at all. It's just that you look familiar." Soujirou felt a wave of panic. The old
man sighed as he continued. "You're the spitting image of one of my sister-in-laws. She died
some years ago," he added sadly.
"I'm sorry," Soujirou said automatically, relieved that the old man did not recognize him as
being one of Shishio's men.
"Yeah, especially since that shrew of her sister is still alive," the old man replied dryly.
He looked thoughtful for a moment. "At least, I think she is." He made a face. "I dearly hope
she isn't!" He then gave Soujirou a smile. "Well, since we'll be traveling together, why not
give me your name? I'm called Tsuyosa."
Soujirou shrugged. "Well, I'm in a bit of trouble with the law," he began slowly, "so if you
don't mind, you can just call me Rai." Tsuyosa gave him a penetrating glance.
"Ah well, then I won't ask. A lot of people have had problem with police." The old man laughed.
"Even I have, though it was merely personal, as I insulted an officer's wife and he didn't care
for it." He laughed again, then shrugged. "Shall we be on our way then?"
Kenshin was doing laundry.
He was doing laundry as an argument between Kaoru and Yahiko took place. It was a loud argument,
as was almost all that took place between them. Currently, it was heading along the lines of:
Yahiko: "You have the face of a rabid raccoon not even a mother could stare at!"
Kaoru: WHAM! "Good one, coming from a stubby little boy like you!"
Kenshin hummed in an off-tune sort of way as he scrubbed away at the clothes. The argument was
a secure moment in his life, and the little rurouni cherished it deeply. His humming ceased
though, as his eyes caught sight of a familiar tall figure stepping onto the dojo property
through the gates. Kenshin's open and friendly face frowned as the figure approached him.
"What do you want?" he demanded suspiciously as the fighting between his two companions ceased.
Saitou gave him a feral grin before glancing over at Kaoru.
"I come by to give my niece a domesticate warning, and this is the thanks I get?"
"Niece?" Kaoru cut in before Kenshin could reply. "Here? At my dojo?"
Saitou nodded, an unpleasant gleam appearing in his eyes, Kaoru and Yahiko began to glance
wildly around, wondering if anyone had entered the dojo during their fight. Kenshin's hand came
to rest almost casually and very lightly upon the hilt of his sakaba.
Kaoru scratched her head. "So," she began, "where is she?"
Saitou smiled coldly. "It's funny you should ask," he began slowly, "It's you, Kaoru-chan!"
Kaoru's jaw dropped to the vicinity of her knees.
Yahiko was stunned himself. "But-but-but-but-but—"
Saitou rubbed his gloved hands together in barely suppressed glee. His thin lips twisted into
a wry smile. "Your Aunt Tokio says hello," he continued.
Thump.
Kenshin and Yahiko glanced down at Kaoru's prone body. "Yahiko, go get a bucket of water to
wake Kaoru-dono up with de gazaro."
Yahiko sighed. "Do I have to?" he whined.
"Yes." Kenshin turned to the smug Saitou. "Would you place explain what is happening de gazaro?"
he asked pleasantly, not wanting to fight Saitou now, or ever, for that matter.
Saitou gave him the Evil Eye. "I do hope you realize you are living unchaperoned here. This
will damage Kaoru's innocent reputation, and Tokio is going to kill someone—very likely, it will
be you."
"Oro?"
Saitou shrugged and folded his hands behind his back. "She's coming down this afternoon when
she's finished with her shopping—" in his mind's eye, he could see his hard-earned yen floating
away on faery wings, never to be seen again "—and she plans on staying until Kaoru is married."
Or until the house was repaired, whichever came last. But the Battousai needn't know that!
Yahiko returned just then with a bucket of water, and tipped it over Kaoru's head. She came
to, sputtering mad and sopping wet. She took one look a the bucket in Yahiko's hands and did
some quick mathematical thinking
--------- (Yahiko + Bucket = Wet Kaoru)
and came to the conclusion as to what happened.
She snatched the bucket out of his hands and beaned him across the head with it. Yahiko went
down like a lead balloon, his eyes little spirals. Once the more important matter was finished
with, Kaoru recalled her current crisis.
"Quick!" she exclaimed, running around in circle. "Finish the laundry sweep the decks dust the
walls polish the floors rake the grass beat the futons this place must be spick and span before
Aunt Tokio gets here!"
Kenshin sweat dropped. "Kaoru-dono, perhaps you should trying breathing first de gaza—Oro?"
Kenshin found his arms full of more dirty laundry. Kaoru dashed back into the house and came out
with a bucket and some dust rags. These she thrust into Saitou's arms.
"Yahiko!" She skidded to a halt in front of him, glared down, and then grabbed a foot.
"Hmmmm . . . You can help me polish the floors!" she declared, dragging him behind her as she
hurried through the dojo.
--The story idea itself belongs to her, though I contributed to adding details to them. I was
--also the one who wrote the story, while she only made decisions. As a result, neither she nor
--I actually own Rurouni Kenshin. Heck, we don't even own Tsuyosa because we protray him along
--the elusive lines of Kaoru's father. We're not sure Tsuyosa is his real name even, but it's
--Japanese for strong and we thought it sounded pretty, so we decided to use it. Apoligies for
--any Out of Charactor you see, though we tried greatly to keep them out of that rut. Heck, we
--don't know how Tokio is supposed to act eithor, so we're not too sure about her . . .
--One final word: This story is slightly crossed over with Ranma 1/2. You don't need to be familar
--with it to be left in the dark, since I believe I explained everything in the story. However,
--it might be helpful for any inside jokes/puns I felt like tossing in. ^_^ C&C is ever so welcome.
--Please do not take and distribute this anywhere without my permission (dalimata@yahoo.com), or
--even run off with the idea. Thankyouverymuchos!
Soujirou trudged through the woods. His feet hurt. But that was okay, because it was just
another reminder of how alive he was. He smiled; it was a habit. He was also lost.
This was a problem. Especially since he had been seeing the same tree for over three days now,
over and over and over. He wasn't sure how he was doing it. Okay, he passed that one village a
few days back, and then he came up here to the mountains . . .
Being lost meant he had a lot of time to think. As many people could tell you, it is dangerous
to do so much at one time. You just might strain something important. But Soujirou had nothing
better to do, other than contemplate why he always saw same tree over and over, so he remembered
his past.
Not the past where he lived with his abusive uncle, but the past before that. Back in the
happier times, when his mother was still living, and he was staying with his cousin, uncle, and
aunt.
They had been an odd group; he an illegitimate child with a kind mother, a motherless cousin,
his mother's childless sister, and his cousin's odd father. His mother was always happy, his
aunt was always crabby, his uncle he wasn't too sure about, and his cousin cried all the time.
He knew it was because her mother had died and she missed her. He could remember seeing her in
the garden, crying because she missed her. He told her that they should bury her mother's jewelry,
and every time she could think of her mother, then they could dig up a piece.
Soujirou laughed as he remembered that. His mother and aunt were not too happy about it, but
no amount of spankings from either would reveal where they had hidden it. It was with wistful
fondness that he remembered those old days.
His cousin's mother had died, and both her sisters had come to the funeral and to care for his
cousin. After a year, he and his mother left for Kyoto, and there she died. He had been sent to
live with his uncle and his family until such a time could be found where his aunt could leave
her niece (who had fallen out of the cherry tree, hit her head, and lost her memory) to fetch
him back. It did not help that her husband (who ever he was, no one ever told Soujirou anything)
would not allow her to come to Kyoto during the war.
Soujirou sighed, and then continued on his way, once more getting lost until he found himself
back at the same tree. He glared at it as if accusing it of following him, and sat down on a
tree stump. He listened to the birds singing and cheerfully watched the clouds float by him. It
reminded him of the time he had been laying in the grass, his head piled up in his aunt's lap as
she patched his torn gi. As crabby as she had been, there were many times when she was generous
and kind beyond what she needed to be, and he loved her for it.
Soujirou's ears perked up with interest suddenly as he heard someone limping through the bushes.
He glanced to the side to see an older man trying to get through the thick brush, parting it
with his cane-shaped walking stick. His hair was jet-black with the exception of the streaks of
white that ran through it. Soujirou could not estimate his age, other than it being beyond his
forties.
"Oompha!" The old man slipped. Soujirou jumped up and hurried over to him.
"Are you all right?" he asked kindly with his customary smile, helping the old man to his feet.
"Oh, thanks. It's just that my leg is killing me," the old man replied. Soujirou grabbed his
elbow, picked up the pack the old man dropped, and steered him over to the stump he had been
sitting on earlier. "Thank you kindly," the old man said with a grateful smile. Soujirou returned
it with one of his customary 'I'm-an-innocent-person-who-would-never-hurt-you.'
"Where are you heading?" he asked.
"Tokyo. Been a long time since I was there; see, it's my home, and I've been away from it too
long."
"Ah. I was thinking about heading there myself, but I really don't know how to get there. I'm
sort of lost right now." Soujirou smiled sheepishly. The old man laughed with him.
"I know what that's like! Don't worry. I got directions on how to get through the forest from
the small village back there." He gestured with his hand and then frowned "At least, I think it
was back there. But you're welcome to travel with me if you'd like."
"Thank you," Soujirou said gratefully. The old man shrugged, then leaned on his cane, looking
Soujirou over. The young rurouni grew nervous. "Is something wrong?" he asked finally. The old
man jumped, then smiled.
"Oh no, not at all. It's just that you look familiar." Soujirou felt a wave of panic. The old
man sighed as he continued. "You're the spitting image of one of my sister-in-laws. She died
some years ago," he added sadly.
"I'm sorry," Soujirou said automatically, relieved that the old man did not recognize him as
being one of Shishio's men.
"Yeah, especially since that shrew of her sister is still alive," the old man replied dryly.
He looked thoughtful for a moment. "At least, I think she is." He made a face. "I dearly hope
she isn't!" He then gave Soujirou a smile. "Well, since we'll be traveling together, why not
give me your name? I'm called Tsuyosa."
Soujirou shrugged. "Well, I'm in a bit of trouble with the law," he began slowly, "so if you
don't mind, you can just call me Rai." Tsuyosa gave him a penetrating glance.
"Ah well, then I won't ask. A lot of people have had problem with police." The old man laughed.
"Even I have, though it was merely personal, as I insulted an officer's wife and he didn't care
for it." He laughed again, then shrugged. "Shall we be on our way then?"
Kenshin was doing laundry.
He was doing laundry as an argument between Kaoru and Yahiko took place. It was a loud argument,
as was almost all that took place between them. Currently, it was heading along the lines of:
Yahiko: "You have the face of a rabid raccoon not even a mother could stare at!"
Kaoru: WHAM! "Good one, coming from a stubby little boy like you!"
Kenshin hummed in an off-tune sort of way as he scrubbed away at the clothes. The argument was
a secure moment in his life, and the little rurouni cherished it deeply. His humming ceased
though, as his eyes caught sight of a familiar tall figure stepping onto the dojo property
through the gates. Kenshin's open and friendly face frowned as the figure approached him.
"What do you want?" he demanded suspiciously as the fighting between his two companions ceased.
Saitou gave him a feral grin before glancing over at Kaoru.
"I come by to give my niece a domesticate warning, and this is the thanks I get?"
"Niece?" Kaoru cut in before Kenshin could reply. "Here? At my dojo?"
Saitou nodded, an unpleasant gleam appearing in his eyes, Kaoru and Yahiko began to glance
wildly around, wondering if anyone had entered the dojo during their fight. Kenshin's hand came
to rest almost casually and very lightly upon the hilt of his sakaba.
Kaoru scratched her head. "So," she began, "where is she?"
Saitou smiled coldly. "It's funny you should ask," he began slowly, "It's you, Kaoru-chan!"
Kaoru's jaw dropped to the vicinity of her knees.
Yahiko was stunned himself. "But-but-but-but-but—"
Saitou rubbed his gloved hands together in barely suppressed glee. His thin lips twisted into
a wry smile. "Your Aunt Tokio says hello," he continued.
Thump.
Kenshin and Yahiko glanced down at Kaoru's prone body. "Yahiko, go get a bucket of water to
wake Kaoru-dono up with de gazaro."
Yahiko sighed. "Do I have to?" he whined.
"Yes." Kenshin turned to the smug Saitou. "Would you place explain what is happening de gazaro?"
he asked pleasantly, not wanting to fight Saitou now, or ever, for that matter.
Saitou gave him the Evil Eye. "I do hope you realize you are living unchaperoned here. This
will damage Kaoru's innocent reputation, and Tokio is going to kill someone—very likely, it will
be you."
"Oro?"
Saitou shrugged and folded his hands behind his back. "She's coming down this afternoon when
she's finished with her shopping—" in his mind's eye, he could see his hard-earned yen floating
away on faery wings, never to be seen again "—and she plans on staying until Kaoru is married."
Or until the house was repaired, whichever came last. But the Battousai needn't know that!
Yahiko returned just then with a bucket of water, and tipped it over Kaoru's head. She came
to, sputtering mad and sopping wet. She took one look a the bucket in Yahiko's hands and did
some quick mathematical thinking
--------- (Yahiko + Bucket = Wet Kaoru)
and came to the conclusion as to what happened.
She snatched the bucket out of his hands and beaned him across the head with it. Yahiko went
down like a lead balloon, his eyes little spirals. Once the more important matter was finished
with, Kaoru recalled her current crisis.
"Quick!" she exclaimed, running around in circle. "Finish the laundry sweep the decks dust the
walls polish the floors rake the grass beat the futons this place must be spick and span before
Aunt Tokio gets here!"
Kenshin sweat dropped. "Kaoru-dono, perhaps you should trying breathing first de gaza—Oro?"
Kenshin found his arms full of more dirty laundry. Kaoru dashed back into the house and came out
with a bucket and some dust rags. These she thrust into Saitou's arms.
"Yahiko!" She skidded to a halt in front of him, glared down, and then grabbed a foot.
"Hmmmm . . . You can help me polish the floors!" she declared, dragging him behind her as she
hurried through the dojo.