Author: Arashi
Website: www.kenkaya.com
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin nor am I making any money off this story!
------------------------
One Week Later
"Ok, now I want you to do fifty more strokes. Ready? Begin!" Yahiko paced the floor of the dojo wearing his practice uniform, the sakabatou at his side. The room was full of young students all wearing the practice outfits of the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo and swinging their bamboo swords in the air. Yahiko walked the line and inspected each of their techniques. Flashbacks to all the time he'd spent swinging his shinai filled his mind. He had been so enthusiastic about learning Kamiya Kasshin Ryu that even the boring exercises didn't seem that bad in his mind as he looked back over the years. As he watched the young aspiring swordsmen a smile crept to his face. Now I'm Master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Master Myoujin Yahiko.
As he watched the students complete their set of swings he noticed one of the young apprentices was having a little trouble with his form. Higashidani Outa was screwing up the footwork again.
"Outa, step forward with your other foot." Yahiko told the young boy as he walked over in front of him. When Outa looked at Yahiko in confusion he continued, "You have to step forward with your right foot as you swing. If you're right handed it helps to bring more power into the swing itself." Yahiko took Outa's shinai in hand and demonstrated. "You see?"
Outa nodded meekly and said, "Hai."
A faint blush crept up on his face in embarrassment.
"Now you do it." Yahiko said handing the shinai back
to the student. Outa took the shinai in a two handed grip and
a look of concentration came over his face. He stepped forward
with his correct foot and brought the bamboo sword down with
enough force to create a puff of wind. Yahiko smiled. "Excellent,
now do 'that' fifty more times." Outa's shoulders slumped
as he began his set from the beginning. The other students were
almost halfway done with their practice swings.
Another smile turned the corners of Yahiko's lips as he thought to himself; once again, how strange it was to be teaching Sanosuke's little brother. Even stranger was the fact that Outa was living there at the dojo for the summer while he took lessons. Yahiko never would have believed that the kid was Sano's brother if Kenshin and Kaoru hadn't been so sure. He really seemed to be the exact opposite of Sano. Slowly Yahiko had started to see more of Sano's personality come out in Outa. And whenever Outa wore around his shirt with the makeshift character of evil sewn on the back, Yahiko could see the family resemblance. When he wore 'aku' on his back he seemed to become a different person. And more than once Yahiko had seen Outa's determination and bravery. But usually he was, submissive, shy, and quiet. Probably a result of his overprotective childhood. Yahiko mused to himself.
The sound of footsteps alerted Yahiko to a late arrival to the practice session. Yahiko turn and shot Tsukayama Yutarou a narrow eyed look as the young man casually walked into the dojo. "And where have you been?"
"Sorry I'm late, I was out having some fun last night and I accidentally slept in." Yutarou's yawn seemed to confirm his tiredness. In turn, Yahiko scowled at him angrily and was about to yell at him when he noticed a woman and a young boy following Yutarou in. "Oh and by the way, we have a new prospective student. This is Fujita Tsuyoshi and his mother. They wanted to stop by and check the place out before Tsuyoshi starts taking lessons."
Yahiko decided there would be time to chew Yutarou out later so he ignored him and walked toward the woman and the boy. He looked them over, appraising them, as he approached. Reading people was a skill he was trying to perfect, after all. But whatever he may have learned from his appraisal was cut short as he noticed a significantly more important thing: the woman was hot! Her hair was done up in a traditional Japanese style and her kimono hugged the curves of her body in a way that made Yahiko uncomfortably aware of the fact that he had recently entered into what Kenshin and Kaoru called 'young adulthood.' Not enjoying the warm sensation that was starting to creep up his neck, Yahiko turned his focus to the young boy. There was an air about him. Yahiko noticed it immediately and could sense the boy's potential. This one comes from a long line of samurai. Yahiko was sure of it. "Hello, I'm Myoujin Yahiko, teacher of the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo."
"Please to meet you Yahiko-san." The beautiful woman bowed her head respectfully. "I am Fujita Tokio and this is my son." She indicated the young boy. The fluidity of her movements only served to enhance her beauty. Even her voice was attractive. The young boy stepped forward and bowed his head to Yahiko.
"I, Fujita Tsuyoshi, would be honored to learn the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu at this dojo." The young boy spoke politely. The two of them seemed to be perfect examples of proper custom and courtesy, something that Yahiko wasn't all that used to. He was more accustomed to people throwing things at him.
"Well, we'd be glad to have you join us." Yahiko returned with a smile at the boy. The boy looked up at him proudly. Yahiko once again could see the boy's potential in the determination that flashed in his eyes. Something about the boy seemed oddly familiar to Yahiko, but the feeling passed away quickly. He invited Tsuyoshi and his mother for a tour of the dojo as Yutarou took over the training of the other students.
In the back, Yahiko came across Kenshin, Kaoru, and their young son Kenji. Kaoru was standing beside Kenji as he practiced with his little bamboo sword. Kenshin was doing the laundry. The scene was a familiar one about the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo. "Oi Kaoru, we have a new potential student!" Yahiko called over to Kaoru who looked up from Kenji to appraise the visitors. She came over to the boy and his mother and greeted them.
"Hello, I'm instructor Himura Kaoru, pleased to meet you."
"I'm Fujita Tokio and this is my son Tsuyoshi. He wants to learn kenjutsu here at your dojo." Over by the laundry bucket Kenshin slowly raised his head and looked over in their direction. Yahiko noticed a look of concentration on Kenshin's face as he gazed at Tokio. Kaoru was oblivious as she continued to chat with the mother and her son. As they talked Yahiko stood watching Kenshin. Kenshin noticed and the two of them exchanged a glance. In one glance the two of them had a conversation. "Is there something wrong?" Yahiko's eyes seemed to ask Kenshin. And Kenshin's look replied, "No, it's nothing to worry about." A small smile spread itself across the red haired man's face. Yahiko realized that Kenshin had just figured something out and he silently hoped he'd hear about it later. Kaoru interrupted any further non-verbal conversations by calling Kenshin over.
"This is my husband Himura Kenshin." Kenshin smiled cheerily as Kaoru introduced him to their guests. A knowing look passed between Tokio and Kenshin, unnoticed by Kaoru and Yahiko.
"Hello Himura-san, my husband has told me much about you." Kaoru and Yahiko had a moment of confusion and that whole "have you two met before?" look was on their faces. Tokio was smiling sweetly as she greeted Kenshin like a long lost friend.
"And how is Saitoh doing, Tokio-dono?" Kenshin asked politely, cheery smile still on his face. Neither of them seemed to be surprised at all by this conversation but Kaoru, Yahiko, and even Tsuyoshi looked shocked. Kaoru and Yahiko were standing with their mouths open staring at Tokio. The young boy pulled on his mother's kimono and quietly asked, "Mom, how come that man knows Dad's real name?"
"This man is Himura Battousai that your father has told you about." The boy turned a shocked look over at Kenshin. He all but whispered to his mother, "But Mom, he doesn't look very strong."
Kenshin smiled and knelt down to be at eye level with the young boy. "I'm not Himura Battousai anymore, now I'm just Himura Kenshin, a husband and a father." Yahiko and Kaoru were still standing there with their mouths open. Yahiko slowly raised a hand and pointed at Tokio.
"You're you're you're Saitoh's WIFE?" He stammered.
She turned her sweet smile to Yahiko. "Of course." Yahiko was floored. How could Saitoh be married to a beautiful, polite, ladylike woman? What does she see in a monster like him?? These thoughts ran through Yahiko's head and went straight into Kaoru's. The two of them turned to look at each other, exchanging their feelings by the look on their faces. At least they were BOTH shocked, it was nice to have someone to fall back on.
As Kenshin had a few more words with the young boy, another realization dawned on Yahiko. He almost jumped back from the boy as he pointed down at him and stammered again, "Then that means that you're his his SON!"
"AH! Saitoh's son!!" Kaoru said and jumped back. The boy looked at Kaoru and Yahiko in confusion.
"Mom, Dad was right. The Battousai's friends ARE really weird."
"Just a minute you! I'm Kenshin's WIFE, not just some friend!" Kaoru said stepping back toward Tsuyoshi, hand instinctively pulling up one sleeve of her kimono threateningly. This time it was Tsuyoshi's turn to step back in fear. Kenshin stood up with a nervous smile and held up his hands in an attempt to calm his wife.
"You two need to relax a little. Come on, let's go inside and have some lunch. Tokio-dono would you and your son care to join us?" Tsuyoshi looked like he'd rather not but Tokio gladly accepted the invitation. Kenshin and Tokio headed inside with the young Tsuyoshi at his mother's heels. Kaoru and Yahiko stood outside for a while thinking to themselves.
"I can't believe it." Kaoru said.
"Me either." Yahiko agreed. Meanwhile, Kenji continued to swing his little shinai over his head, oblivious to all the confusion going on around him.
Kenshin set about making lunch and Tokio quickly volunteered her services. The two of them whipped up a lunch that rivaled anything Yahiko had ever seen Kaoru and Kenshin cook.
"Wow Tokio-dono, you sure are a good cook!" Yahiko said as he helped himself to another rice ball. "Even with all her cooking lessons Kaoru will never be able to cook like you!" Yahiko's head and a flying rice bowl quickly became acquainted. Kaoru sat fuming and glaring at Yahiko.
"Watch your mouth Yahiko! How about you show a little appreciation for everything that I've done for you once in a while? You could at least PRETEND you like my cooking!"
"I like your cooking." Kenshin put in happily as he munched away at his lunch. "But I have to admit you're an excellent cook too Tokio-dono."
"You flatter me Himura-san." Tokio said good-naturedly. She smiled and laughed quietly and the whole time Yahiko still couldn't get over the idea that she was Saitoh Hajime's wife. Kenji and Tsuyoshi silently eat their lunch, both ignoring the other people in the room.
"So you still haven't answered my question Tokio-dono. How is your husband doing these days?" Tokio looked at Kenshin for a moment before continuing.
"I think he's doing well. It's hard to say with him sometimes because his situation can change so quickly. When I last spoke to him everything seemed to be going alright."
"That's good to hear. I wonder how he's doing from time to time so it's good to hear news of him."
"He'd be touched to hear you say that Himura-san." Yahiko almost spit out his food. Kaoru looked like she was finding it a little hard to swallow as well. Neither of them thought Saitoh would care at all to hear that Kenshin was concerned for him. Maybe she's married to a different Saitoh Hajime who uses Fujita Gorou as a code name? Yahiko thought to himself.
"And how are you doing Himura-san? I had heard from my husband that you were declining in health."
"Oh I'm doing just fine. I have no complaints." Kenshin smiled happily and helped Kenji who was making a bit of a mess with his food. Yahiko looked down at his bowl of rice as he grabbed a chunk of fried tofu and ate it. Kenshin's declining health had been a concern of his for the last few years. Ever since Megumi had informed them that Kenshin had suffered from too many injuries and the stress of learning the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu succession technique and that his body was degenerating, Yahiko had felt bad. Kenshin was his hero after all. The man he looked up to and wanted to be most like. Did he still want to be like him? Did he only look up to him because of his superior sword skills? Why did he feel something that could only be pity for Kenshin? Never once in all the years after Kenshin had started failing in health had he ever complained of his lost abilities. Yahiko wondered if he himself was taking the whole thing worse than Kenshin was. Not much to wonder there Kenshin doesn't seem to care at all. That, of course, was just one more thing that made Yahiko admire him still. But he couldn't shake his feeling of pity. Aloud he still maintained that Kenshin was the greatest sword fighter in all of Japan, but inside Yahiko had started to wonder if he was better than Kenshin. For almost a year he'd been carrying around Kenshin's sakabatou, protecting the weak. His skills had increased phenomenally, a fact he was careful not to gloat about in front of others. I finally really feel like I've gotten stronger. But, poor Kenshin.
Yahiko looked up from his bowl of rice as Kenshin was wiping some soup off of Kenji's chin. Feeling Yahiko's eyes on him Kenshin looked up and met his stare with a knowing smile.
Yahiko glanced down at his bowl of rice and started eating hurriedly. There was still something about Kenshin that spoke of the power that he possessed. And Yahiko knew that Kenshin could always tell what he was thinking. He'd never lost the ability to read people perfectly. It was uncanny sometimes. Especially when Yahiko caught himself thinking about how sorry he felt for Kenshin. Somehow he knew that Kenshin knew what he was thinking, and that bothered him. He didn't want Kenshin to know that he felt bad for him.
After Tokio and her son left the three of them sat around talking for a while about Yahiko and Kaoru's disbelief at her being Saitoh's wife. Kenshin himself admitted that he had been surprised to learn that Saitoh was married and even more surprised to have his wife walk into their dojo. "When Misao and I first learned about Saitoh being married we had wondered if she was a goddess or something. It seems we might have been correct. Tokio-dono seems like a wonderful person. It should be interesting to have Saitoh's son here training." Kenshin finished with a wistful smile.
"Eek, that's right. Tsuyoshi is going to be taking lessons here! This is just so weird." Yahiko shook his head ruefully.
After the dishes were cleaned Yahiko was sitting outside on the porch watching Kenji practice as Kaoru stood by him giving pointers. Yahiko absentmindedly fanned himself. Summer will be here before we know it. He thought to himself as he looked up at the clear blue sky. A hand softly reached down and rested on Yahiko's head.
"Yahiko, why don't you come with me to the dojo." Kenshin voice came from behind Yahiko.
"Sure Kenshin, but um.. why?"
"I was thinking that I could use a little exercise." Yahiko got to his feet. Uh oh, he must have figured out what I was thinking earlier. Yahiko picked up the sakabatou and slid it in his belt. He followed Kenshin over to the dojo and wasn't too surprised when Kaoru and Kenji followed them in to watch.
That evening Yahiko had almost decided not to go visit Tsubame. He could barely move, his body was so sore. As he lay awake that night he thought to himself happily. Even without Hiten Mitsurugi, Kenshin can still kick a lot of ass. Or at least mine. He tried to roll over on his side but it was just as uncomfortable as his back. It was a satisfying feeling. Kenshin didn't usually stoop so low as to put Yahiko in his place, but somehow Kenshin had figured out that Yahiko needed a little reminder that he wasn't some helpless old man or something. Perhaps it had even been to reassure himself? Yahiko couldn't tell for sure but the one thing he knew was that he had enjoyed the hour that the two of them had sparred.
"He's still so fast." Yahiko muttered to himself. He could talk to himself all he wanted after all. He was in his very own apartment. For the last few years, Yahiko had been living at Sanosuke's old place even though he spent the majority of his time at the dojo. Yahiko enjoyed the feeling of freedom though it was still nice to be able to go to the dojo whenever he wanted to. It's been six years. Yahiko closed his eyes. For six years Kenshin and Kaoru have been there for me. We're like family. Yahiko finally started drifting off to sleep, his clothes hanging from a line strung across the room swayed gently as a cool breeze trickled through. On the back of his shirt, a small design could be seen: "Aku", The character for evil. Feels like someone is missing from our family though
------------------------
Tokio is the coolest character mentioned in Rurouni Kenshin that we never got to meet. Of course, I had to have her in "Run to You". She plays a huge role, as you will discover!
For those of you who haven't read the manga, Outa Higashidani is Sano's little brother. Go read the translations of the manga already! He's so cute!! *grin* (I guess you need pics to SEE how cute his is) So who has a guess as to how Outa is going to get along with Tsuyoshi? Read the next chapter to find out! (mini-Sano, mini-Saitoh... it's not hard to figure out)