Theme series notes
First off general disclaimer. I do not now nor have ever nor will ever own Rurouni Kenshin. The story and all the things and pretties that go with it are the property of somebody else (actually a few somebodies…anou). The only things that are mine are Yori, Suzuko, Umeko, Hiroshi and Matsu as well as the delightful little horror of a kami but that's it! That being said, on we go…
Melody
And the next little bit comes along showing a glimpse of life at the Kamiya dojo after the third child finds her way into the world. Japanese terms at end.
"Two hundred strokes! Then go and get some tofu!" The second master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu bellowed into the crisp morning air. Kenshin flapped the sheet he had been washing into the air to dry it a bit before hanging it up. Kaoru smiled from where she was watching Yahiko train her first born and placed her hand upon her once again rounded belly. Kenji grumbled something but began his punishment almost immediately. Yahiko watched for a while, then sighed and went to sit next to Kaoru. Kenshin wandered over to his wife as well.
"How did you manage sensei?" The young man asked the first master. She smiled and laughed a bit.
"It wasn't easy, Yahiko-chan."
"Busu…." The insults had long since lost their sting, leaving an odd sort of affection in their place. Kenshin wrapped his arms around Kaoru's waist from behind and she leaned into his solid form.
"Kaoru, you should be getting inside, that you should. It's still a bit cold outside. I'll start breakfast if you want."
"That would be lovely. Yahiko, make sure to correct his grip on the straight thrust."
"Hai sensei." The young man watched as the two people he had come to view first as his surrogate parents and then as good friends retreated from the cool air into the warmer atmosphere of the dojo. He then went and corrected the young swordsman's hand positions.
Inside, Kenshin began chopping a daikon and boiled the rice while Kaoru went to check on Suzuko. The small girl had caught a slight cold but was recovering quickly thanks to the care of a certain friend of the family that had been visiting up until a few days ago. Kenshin smiled at how over protective oniisan Kenji had been to his little sister. It was sweet.
At first Kenji had resented the brunette girl that had seemingly pushed him out of the place of favourite child, but after Suzuko had grabbed Kenshin's hair and yanked, hard, then ran behind Kenji for protection while her father rubbed his head ruefully she had taken a special place in his heart.
Kenshin had begun to grow his hair out once more, cutting it short apparently didn't stop little hands from tugging. And Kaoru liked it long.
She had proven that very well almost nine months before, and her current condition was ample proof. Kenshin smiled and took the now cooked rice from the fire, nodding to Kaoru to get Suzuko while he summoned both Yahiko and Kenji for breakfast.
--
Kaoru smiled as Yori nursed. Kenshin was assuring a distraught Suzuko-chan that mommy wasn't really going to kill daddy and Kenji was helping Dr. Genzai clean up. Kaoru watched the proceedings with a sleepy eye, until the man who had made her life so happy shut the shoji doors after Kenji and Suzuko had been safely deposited in their beds. Since very few students required rooms, the dojo still had areas completely unused, and each child could pick a room. Kenji had remained in the room his cradle was placed in until the summer before, choosing instead one a bit closer to the roof, his favourite place now that he knew how to get down. Suzuko had chosen one close to her parents. When Yori was older, she would get the room next to her parents until she too, chose a room.
Kenji had grumbled a bit at having another sister, and asked that Kaoru provide a brother next time. Kaoru had laughed and asked what was wrong with a sister. Kenji had blinked.
"Nothing, haha. I'd just like a brother is all."
"What about Yahiko-san?"
"I want someone that I can pick on, not picks on me!" She smiled at the memory even as she drifted off into slumber.
As he had done with his previous two children, Kenshin waited until Kaoru fell asleep, then moved to the cradle and picked the newest edition to the family.
"Hajimemashite, Yori-chan. I'm your father. May you grow up happy little one." He sat and rocked the baby until a familiar presence showed itself.
"Good evening, kami-sama. I was beginning to worry." He looked at the manifestation of his familial kami and blinked.
"Why do you keep using that form?"
"I like it."
"But…"
"I like you, and I am proud and thankful for what you have done for the clan. Yori is a strong child."
"Thank you kami-sama."
"Don't thank me yet. Kenji will be getting into a rough spot in the next few days, I suggest you be on your guard, and tell him what he asks to know. But, this is just a suggestion."
"It is appreciated."
"Kenshin?"
"Hai?"
"Don't get Kaoru pregnant again too soon, okay? Kamiya-kami-san will have my head." Kenshin laughed.
"I'll be careful."
"Arigato, oyasuminasai."
"Oyasumi…" The red head of the child Kenshin had once been faded into the moonlight.
If you don't know the Japanese terms you must be new to the fan fiction world but here they are anyway.
Aa - informal yes
Ai shiteru - I love you - this is a emphatic way to say this and is considered impolite to utter it in public. If you need to express yourself or your feelings when others are around suki da will suffice and that too is a little much. It is not a light phrase - like 'I love spaghetti' this is more along the lines of 'I value your continued existence so far above my own that it is not even mentionable and I'm about to have a conniption if you don't love me back with your entire being.' type of thing.
Anata - you, an endearment when used from wife to husband
Anata wa? - and you?
Anou - um…literally
Ara - oh!
Arigato - thank you
Baka - if you don't know this one it's a descriptor - idiot, moron, imbecile…
Battousai - unsheathed blade, slasher
Busu - ugly/old hag
Chichi - father, used by family members, more like daddy than father
Daijoubu - alright
Daijoubu ka/ daijoubu desu ka - are you alright? Everything alright? Second more formal
De gozaru/ yo/ka - equivalent to desu or da but highly archaic and formal. Yo is an emphatic and ka indicates a question. All mean - if meaning can be assigned really - is, are, was, etc…
Dojo - training hall
- dono - an archaic suffix meaning along the lines of Mr. Mrs. Ms. But much more polite
Futon - a sleeping mat that can be folded up and stored during the day so the space can be used for other things, very comfortable I may add.
Genki - health, good spirits
Gomen - sorry
Gomen Nasai - very sorry
Haha - mommy
Hai - yes
Hajimemashite - pleased to meet you
Hiko - flight/ act of flying
Hiroshi - generous
Iya - informal no
Jinchuu - earthly revenge
Kami - spirit/ancestor/god/goddess/etc
Kaoru - fragrance
Kenji - not sure I'd have to see the kanji but something to do with a sword most likely
Kenki - fighting spirit
Kenshin - heart of sword
Ki - chi, prana, life energy
Koibito - girlfriend/boyfriend though I imagine at the time it would mean more like lover
Komban wa - good evening
Matsu - pine tree
Megumi - blessing/bounty
Motto - much, more, bigger
Musuko - son, used by family members
Neko-chan - kitten, kitty
- nii - uncle
No - indicates a possessive… Kenshin no baka - Kenshin's an idiot - shin no kami - god of death
O genki desu ka? - are you feeling healthy?
Okaasan - mother - less formal 'kaasan
Omegami-sama - goddess
Oniisan - older brother
Ore - informal, even gruff, male 'I'
Oro - Kenshin's surprise, shock, stupefied, embarrassed noise, possibly a mispronunciation of ara
Otousan - father - less formal 'tousan
Oyasumi/oyasuminasai - good night (when going to bed)
Rurouni - a made up word by the wonderful creator of rurouni Kenshin -sama that means roughly wanderer
Sakabato - reverse blade sword, really two words - sakaba and to
- sama - more polite form of -san
- san - Mr. Mrs. Ms.
Sekihotai - Sanosuke's political affiliation
Sensei - teacher
Sessha - another archaic term used by Kenshin meaning 'I' or more literally 'this unworthy one'
Shamisen - guitar like instrument with three strings
Suzuko - little bell child
Tanuki - raccoon
Umeko - plum blossom child
Yori - trustworthy
Zutto - very much so, similar to motto
