"Kenshin! Kenshin!"
He turned to see a small brunette with her back to him. She was kneeling on the
ground, cradling their child in her arms. He dragged himself over, sitting
beside her.
"She won't eat anything...." Tomoe was uneasy. Yoriko refused to eat anything,
and this worried the poor mother greatly.
Kenshin only chuckled softly to himself. "Maybe she's just full..." He wrinkled
his nose a bit. "And also needs a diaper change." He pinched his nostrils to
keep away the smell.
Ashamed, Tomoe carried Yoriko to the bedroom to change her cloth diaper. I
should be used to this by now, she thought. Their child was already 3 months
old, and yet she could never tell what Yoriko needed.
Sensing her distress, Kenshin followed her for reassurance. Yes, Tomoe knew how
to change a dirty diaper...but she always blamed herself whenever Yoriko was
crying...or not doing something Tomoe thought she was supposed to do.
"You should be more sure of yourself. You're doing fine as a parent." Kenshin
stood to her side as she removed Yoriko's tiny clothes.
"You always say that.... only to reassure me. She's my child...shouldn't I have
gotten used to her feeding and changing habits by now?"
"Well, she is a growing child...you're just nervous and unsure about yourself."
He held out his finger for his daughter to grip onto with her tiny chubby hand.
She gripped onto it tightly, much stronger than Kenshin thought she could.
The life of this tiny child...such a contrast from what he used to be. He took
others lives.... for a better future.....? Was that right? If someone came and
killed his wife and child.... could he really believe that that would be a step
closer to a better future? Conflicting ideas and thoughts swarmed his mind.
Katsura had told him to lie low until he was needed again.... but could he
really return to that life...to return to killing?
Overwhelmed with emotion, he placed his other arm around Tomoe's waist, drawing
her a bit closer to him. When she was finished changing Yoriko, she returned the
offer, placing hers own around his, resting her head on his shoulder.
"A place where you won't have to use your sword..." she whispered, smiling down
at her daughter kicking her feet at the air.
"Yes, I remember those words." He rested his head on hers. "But.... do you think
that's temporary?"
".........I know Katsura will need you again soon."
"Maybe.............maybe not." At this, he turned to smile at her lovingly.
"Do...do you mean that...." Surprised, tears of joy rushed to her eyes. Seeing
the answer in his, she enveloped his small frame in her arms. Of course, they're
loving moment was interrupted by the gurgling and giggles of their daughter.
"Guess she wants some attention too." Kenshin broke from Tomoe's embrace,
picking Yoriko up from her back. He held her over his head at the full length of
his arms. "Don't you?" He brought her down to his face, so that their noses
touched. In the same instant, he tossed her into the air. He caught her as
gently as he could, making sure he hadn't caused any harm.
This felt like a REAL life.
It was the next afternoon...Kenshin held his dieing, bloody wife on the ground.
"Please don't cry...the last thing I want to see is your smile." She smiled
sadly up at him, the life draining from her. The sealed fate of his cross scar
dripped down his cheek falling onto hers.... it almost seemed to trace the same
horizontal cut that was recently made on Kenshin's face. "I know what you need
to do.... place her with a caring family."
"Never. I can..."
She interrupted. "Katsura is going to come back. Would you really want to hold
your daughter with your bloodied hands?"
She had made her point. Kenshin had vowed that there was no way he was going to
return to that life.... but things needed to be done. Nothing would change if he
remained selfish, and he could only bring danger into his daughter's life. Soon,
someone would want his head.... and there was no way he was willing to leave his
daughter father-less.
He nodded. Tears streamed down his face, washing Tomoe's bloodied cheeks. "Just
know that I always love you."
She struggled through the blood surfacing to her throat. ".... and....I....
you..." Her eyes closed peacefully.
"Kenshin! Kenshin!"
He winced, struggling to open his heavy eyelids. Blurred faces of Megumi and
Yahiko hung over him. Startled and surprised, he pulled himself to sitting
position, but winced from a sharp pain in his side. The final memories of what
took place earlier returned to his mind.
"Are you alright, Kenshin?" Megumi tried to get Kenshin to return to his back so
as not to cause any more damage. Luckily, he reluctantly returned to lying
position, as he covered his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Where is she?" "We don't know..." Kaoru answered. She walked from the doorway
to his side, placing her hand in his for comfort. "I.... we were all worried
about you. We came to look for you when we realized how late it was and you
weren't back yet. I..." Kaoru coughed, struggling with a lump of emotion in her
throat. She was worried that maybe he had decided to leave again.... or worse...
"Kaoru..." Kenshin gently squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry for making you worry."
"You didn't look too good when we found you." Sanosuke stepped up to his side,
his hands in his pockets. "But it wasn't anything the fox couldn't handle."
Megumi glared at him for only a second, but returned her concern to Kenshin.
"Luckily, no major organs were injured. Just bruises."
"Thank you, Megumi." Kenshin nodded. Sometimes, he thought that he relied on her
too much.... she was always there to patch him back up whenever he went off and
got hurt.
"No...thank you, Ken-san. For giving me a chance to see you." She winked slyly.
Kaoru knew better than to get upset. Megumi would never change, but she admitted
to Kaoru that there was no place in Kenshin's heart for her...that his heart was
already full of love for the shinai-wielding raccoon.
"Mind telling us what happened, Kenshin?" Yahiko supported Kenshin's right side
while Sanosuke was on the left, Kaoru trailing a bit behind.
Kenshin only shook his head. He didn't need to tell them; anyone could suspect
what happened. "She.... wishes I wasn't her father...." Saying those words
caused so much grief to swell up in him. He swallowed hard. He had never felt
this much grief since.... since he was child.... no, since Enishi played that
terrifying trick of Kaoru's death...that was the ultimate depth of his
depression. And now, he felt himself swaying on the very edge of that same
abyss.
The Kenshin-gumi, sans Megumi, finally returned to the dojo, easing Kenshin
through the doorway to make sure his bruises and bandages remained unhurt. They
gently placed him on his mat, leaving him in Kaoru's care.
"We'll take care of the kid." Sanosuke winked before leaving with Yahiko.
Kaoru always felt so vulnerable in front of him. Like his piercing violet-blue
eyes could see exactly what was in her mind...in her heart. Most times, words
didn't need to be exchanged for them to understand each other's feelings...this
was what made her love him so much.... and he her.
"Kenshin...." she avoided her eyes making contact with his, but it was hopeless;
she knew he was looking at her.... she could feel his eyes on her.
He patted a spot beside his mat, beckoning him to his side. "It's alright..."
"Oh Kenshin!" She rushed to his side, flinging her arms around his neck. "Every
time you take things upon yourself...you end up getting hurt. Seeing
bruises...cuts...and harm done to you...it hurts me just as much." She sobbed
between words, her tears rolling down his back. It was a cool refreshing
sensation; he smiled, comforting her with his arms around her.
"I know.... that's why I've tried to end that life. So that people would just
leave us alone. I just want a peaceful life with you here, Kaoru." He nudged her
away a bit so that he could see her face. His fingers wiped the tears from her
cheeks, and any that had surfaced on her lids.
She smiled, leaning into his head, feeling the deft of his fingers against her
cheek. "Do you think that's possible with those three out there?"
She chuckled, hearing shouts and giggling from outside.
"That may be a bit difficult, but you know how they are."
Kaoru nodded, planting a small kiss on his cheek.
"Kaoru?"
"Yes, Kenshin?"
"Would you mind asking Sano and Yahiko to take Kenji out for the evening?"
Her cheeks flushed a light red, unsure of what his intentions for the later part
of the day were, but she had an idea.
"Yes." She flashed a smile at him, almost as if she were flirting with him.
Surprising, he returned the same kind of smile. "Just rest now." She pulled
herself to her feet and left Kenshin to his rest.
His head returned to the mat, while his hand felt his side to see the extent of
the damage done to him.
Sanosuke was playfully chasing Kenji around the yard, Yahiko on his back
laughing. Kenji had apparently placed a bucket of water beneath Sano right
before he was about to sit down.
"C'mere, you!" Sano finally caught him by the back of his shirt, picking him up
with no effort. "Ha! Who's laughing now?"
"Aw, c'mon uncle Sano. Lemme go!"
""Uncle" Sano? Where'd you learn that from, kid?" Sanosuke twisted the shirt,
causing Kenji to face him, as he peered at the little redhead with a raised
eyebrow.
"That's what mommy said I should call you. You and uncle Yahiko and aunt Megumi
and aunt Tae and aunt Tsubame and aunt Misao and uncle Aoshi..."
"Uncle Aoshi?!?!?" Yahiko and Sanosuke both asked at the same time. Had Kaoru
and Kenshin lost their minds? Giving someone like Aoshi even an ounce of
responsibility for a child?
"Uh huh."
"Kid, between you and me..." Sano brought him closer. "I think you're mother's
probably lost it."
"Lost what?"
"Yes, lost WHAT, Sanosuke?" "Eek!" Sanosuke let out a yelp. The three spun their
heads around to see a smirking Kaoru on the porch.
"Eh heh heh heh." Sano gently placed Kenji on the ground, wondering how much of
the conversation she had heard. "Did I say lost? I meant..." But she cut him
off.
"Aoshi took care of Misao when she was younger. And look how she turned out."
"That's not a very good example, Kaoru."
He turned to see a small brunette with her back to him. She was kneeling on the
ground, cradling their child in her arms. He dragged himself over, sitting
beside her.
"She won't eat anything...." Tomoe was uneasy. Yoriko refused to eat anything,
and this worried the poor mother greatly.
Kenshin only chuckled softly to himself. "Maybe she's just full..." He wrinkled
his nose a bit. "And also needs a diaper change." He pinched his nostrils to
keep away the smell.
Ashamed, Tomoe carried Yoriko to the bedroom to change her cloth diaper. I
should be used to this by now, she thought. Their child was already 3 months
old, and yet she could never tell what Yoriko needed.
Sensing her distress, Kenshin followed her for reassurance. Yes, Tomoe knew how
to change a dirty diaper...but she always blamed herself whenever Yoriko was
crying...or not doing something Tomoe thought she was supposed to do.
"You should be more sure of yourself. You're doing fine as a parent." Kenshin
stood to her side as she removed Yoriko's tiny clothes.
"You always say that.... only to reassure me. She's my child...shouldn't I have
gotten used to her feeding and changing habits by now?"
"Well, she is a growing child...you're just nervous and unsure about yourself."
He held out his finger for his daughter to grip onto with her tiny chubby hand.
She gripped onto it tightly, much stronger than Kenshin thought she could.
The life of this tiny child...such a contrast from what he used to be. He took
others lives.... for a better future.....? Was that right? If someone came and
killed his wife and child.... could he really believe that that would be a step
closer to a better future? Conflicting ideas and thoughts swarmed his mind.
Katsura had told him to lie low until he was needed again.... but could he
really return to that life...to return to killing?
Overwhelmed with emotion, he placed his other arm around Tomoe's waist, drawing
her a bit closer to him. When she was finished changing Yoriko, she returned the
offer, placing hers own around his, resting her head on his shoulder.
"A place where you won't have to use your sword..." she whispered, smiling down
at her daughter kicking her feet at the air.
"Yes, I remember those words." He rested his head on hers. "But.... do you think
that's temporary?"
".........I know Katsura will need you again soon."
"Maybe.............maybe not." At this, he turned to smile at her lovingly.
"Do...do you mean that...." Surprised, tears of joy rushed to her eyes. Seeing
the answer in his, she enveloped his small frame in her arms. Of course, they're
loving moment was interrupted by the gurgling and giggles of their daughter.
"Guess she wants some attention too." Kenshin broke from Tomoe's embrace,
picking Yoriko up from her back. He held her over his head at the full length of
his arms. "Don't you?" He brought her down to his face, so that their noses
touched. In the same instant, he tossed her into the air. He caught her as
gently as he could, making sure he hadn't caused any harm.
This felt like a REAL life.
It was the next afternoon...Kenshin held his dieing, bloody wife on the ground.
"Please don't cry...the last thing I want to see is your smile." She smiled
sadly up at him, the life draining from her. The sealed fate of his cross scar
dripped down his cheek falling onto hers.... it almost seemed to trace the same
horizontal cut that was recently made on Kenshin's face. "I know what you need
to do.... place her with a caring family."
"Never. I can..."
She interrupted. "Katsura is going to come back. Would you really want to hold
your daughter with your bloodied hands?"
She had made her point. Kenshin had vowed that there was no way he was going to
return to that life.... but things needed to be done. Nothing would change if he
remained selfish, and he could only bring danger into his daughter's life. Soon,
someone would want his head.... and there was no way he was willing to leave his
daughter father-less.
He nodded. Tears streamed down his face, washing Tomoe's bloodied cheeks. "Just
know that I always love you."
She struggled through the blood surfacing to her throat. ".... and....I....
you..." Her eyes closed peacefully.
"Kenshin! Kenshin!"
He winced, struggling to open his heavy eyelids. Blurred faces of Megumi and
Yahiko hung over him. Startled and surprised, he pulled himself to sitting
position, but winced from a sharp pain in his side. The final memories of what
took place earlier returned to his mind.
"Are you alright, Kenshin?" Megumi tried to get Kenshin to return to his back so
as not to cause any more damage. Luckily, he reluctantly returned to lying
position, as he covered his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Where is she?" "We don't know..." Kaoru answered. She walked from the doorway
to his side, placing her hand in his for comfort. "I.... we were all worried
about you. We came to look for you when we realized how late it was and you
weren't back yet. I..." Kaoru coughed, struggling with a lump of emotion in her
throat. She was worried that maybe he had decided to leave again.... or worse...
"Kaoru..." Kenshin gently squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry for making you worry."
"You didn't look too good when we found you." Sanosuke stepped up to his side,
his hands in his pockets. "But it wasn't anything the fox couldn't handle."
Megumi glared at him for only a second, but returned her concern to Kenshin.
"Luckily, no major organs were injured. Just bruises."
"Thank you, Megumi." Kenshin nodded. Sometimes, he thought that he relied on her
too much.... she was always there to patch him back up whenever he went off and
got hurt.
"No...thank you, Ken-san. For giving me a chance to see you." She winked slyly.
Kaoru knew better than to get upset. Megumi would never change, but she admitted
to Kaoru that there was no place in Kenshin's heart for her...that his heart was
already full of love for the shinai-wielding raccoon.
"Mind telling us what happened, Kenshin?" Yahiko supported Kenshin's right side
while Sanosuke was on the left, Kaoru trailing a bit behind.
Kenshin only shook his head. He didn't need to tell them; anyone could suspect
what happened. "She.... wishes I wasn't her father...." Saying those words
caused so much grief to swell up in him. He swallowed hard. He had never felt
this much grief since.... since he was child.... no, since Enishi played that
terrifying trick of Kaoru's death...that was the ultimate depth of his
depression. And now, he felt himself swaying on the very edge of that same
abyss.
The Kenshin-gumi, sans Megumi, finally returned to the dojo, easing Kenshin
through the doorway to make sure his bruises and bandages remained unhurt. They
gently placed him on his mat, leaving him in Kaoru's care.
"We'll take care of the kid." Sanosuke winked before leaving with Yahiko.
Kaoru always felt so vulnerable in front of him. Like his piercing violet-blue
eyes could see exactly what was in her mind...in her heart. Most times, words
didn't need to be exchanged for them to understand each other's feelings...this
was what made her love him so much.... and he her.
"Kenshin...." she avoided her eyes making contact with his, but it was hopeless;
she knew he was looking at her.... she could feel his eyes on her.
He patted a spot beside his mat, beckoning him to his side. "It's alright..."
"Oh Kenshin!" She rushed to his side, flinging her arms around his neck. "Every
time you take things upon yourself...you end up getting hurt. Seeing
bruises...cuts...and harm done to you...it hurts me just as much." She sobbed
between words, her tears rolling down his back. It was a cool refreshing
sensation; he smiled, comforting her with his arms around her.
"I know.... that's why I've tried to end that life. So that people would just
leave us alone. I just want a peaceful life with you here, Kaoru." He nudged her
away a bit so that he could see her face. His fingers wiped the tears from her
cheeks, and any that had surfaced on her lids.
She smiled, leaning into his head, feeling the deft of his fingers against her
cheek. "Do you think that's possible with those three out there?"
She chuckled, hearing shouts and giggling from outside.
"That may be a bit difficult, but you know how they are."
Kaoru nodded, planting a small kiss on his cheek.
"Kaoru?"
"Yes, Kenshin?"
"Would you mind asking Sano and Yahiko to take Kenji out for the evening?"
Her cheeks flushed a light red, unsure of what his intentions for the later part
of the day were, but she had an idea.
"Yes." She flashed a smile at him, almost as if she were flirting with him.
Surprising, he returned the same kind of smile. "Just rest now." She pulled
herself to her feet and left Kenshin to his rest.
His head returned to the mat, while his hand felt his side to see the extent of
the damage done to him.
Sanosuke was playfully chasing Kenji around the yard, Yahiko on his back
laughing. Kenji had apparently placed a bucket of water beneath Sano right
before he was about to sit down.
"C'mere, you!" Sano finally caught him by the back of his shirt, picking him up
with no effort. "Ha! Who's laughing now?"
"Aw, c'mon uncle Sano. Lemme go!"
""Uncle" Sano? Where'd you learn that from, kid?" Sanosuke twisted the shirt,
causing Kenji to face him, as he peered at the little redhead with a raised
eyebrow.
"That's what mommy said I should call you. You and uncle Yahiko and aunt Megumi
and aunt Tae and aunt Tsubame and aunt Misao and uncle Aoshi..."
"Uncle Aoshi?!?!?" Yahiko and Sanosuke both asked at the same time. Had Kaoru
and Kenshin lost their minds? Giving someone like Aoshi even an ounce of
responsibility for a child?
"Uh huh."
"Kid, between you and me..." Sano brought him closer. "I think you're mother's
probably lost it."
"Lost what?"
"Yes, lost WHAT, Sanosuke?" "Eek!" Sanosuke let out a yelp. The three spun their
heads around to see a smirking Kaoru on the porch.
"Eh heh heh heh." Sano gently placed Kenji on the ground, wondering how much of
the conversation she had heard. "Did I say lost? I meant..." But she cut him
off.
"Aoshi took care of Misao when she was younger. And look how she turned out."
"That's not a very good example, Kaoru."