Standard disclaimers apply. I do not own RK.
A/N: Chapter Three!! Ok, this is a breakthrough for me. I know it sounds pathetic but I have never gone beyond chapter 3. Basically, I like to make sure each chapter has about or more than a thou words, so… … mathematically speaking, one of my fics has seven chapters! Ok, I'm crapping.. anyway, yah, just continue to read wateva it is… By the way, spoiler warnings ok? Don say I didn't warn you. And thank you reviewers!!~~ Love you!
~~
"So was I, Megumi"
The words were like a sharp slap across her cheek. She couldn't deny the fact. Words failed to form in her brain and Megumi was left gaping. Silence ensured and it was broken moments later by Soujirou's soft voice.
"Himura-san, leave it. It's fine with me. I wouldn't have expected anyone to accept me readily. It's already surprise enough to have been part of this family. Even if it's only one night or so. I'll.. I'll… leave now."
With that, he made to stand and leave, but was restrained by Sanosuke. Soujirou's liquid black met Sano's warm brown. Giving him a slight shake of his head, the ex-gangster turned to Megumi and spoke to her in a remarkably gentle voice.
"I accepted you didn't I? I gave you a chance even though you killed my best friend! You didn't reject Kenshin either. Be fair won't you?"
Megumi could hardly take in Sano's words. She was overwhelmed by her warring emotions within her. Guilty, confused, frightened, tears threatened to break. Swallowing a sorrowful hiccup, the lady turned to Kenshin.
"Demo, Ken-san, how can you be sure he has completely changed. He might be faking for all you know."
Soujirou felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. For the first time after so many years, he realized he hadn't cried once during his wanderings. Had they been so warm and perfect? Or was he still his normal self? Even now, he didn't feel the urge to cry. At that point of time, Soujirou felt as though his spirits would never lift again.
"And what, Megumi, motive would he have? Shishio is dead."
The doctor retaliated by saying Shishio wasn't the only evil-doer on earth. For the first time ever, Kaoru saw Megumi and Kenshin fighting a verbal game of wits. It went on for sometime, ending with Kenshin winning.
"I'm willing to give him the chance. Are you?"
And she couldn't continue. Megumi already knew she was wrong to be so harsh. She knew Kenshin always gave second chances. That was the only reason why she was here. She didn't want to cry in front of them but Megumi couldn't hold back. Her emotions were too bruised. The floodgates opened and the tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. Her breath came in painful gasps and her shoulders heaved in an effort to calm herself down. Kaoru got to her side and motioned for the others to leave. They complied and left the consoling to her.
~~
"You'll stay, won't you?"
Soujirou bit his lower lip at Sanosuke's question. After this commotion, he wasn't so sure anymore. Though he had heard Kenshin about giving him a second chance, he knew that there would still be doubts. Such unhappiness was not what he sought for.
"You know, Soujirou, I have a nasty habit of taking silence for consent."
Soujirou looked at Sano in surprise. He didn't think Sano would still joke with him anymore.
"Demo… Takani-dono, she won't be happy, would she? I can understand how she feel. I was, after all, a killer. And I did injure Himura-san badly during our fight."
Sano sighed and sat down on the porch. He had predicted that Megumi wouldn't accept Soujirou readily. She hadn't been around when Yahiko and Soujirou returned. Kenshin had wanted him to send her back once his wound was tended to. Her presence might add to the confusion.
"I think, Soujirou, it's about time I ordered you to do something."
From the way Kenshin was looking at him, it was clear to Soujirou that Kenshin was not about to let him leave. The red haired swordsman had noticed that Soujirou had slipped back to his formal speech but left it. Just then, the door opened behind the trio and they turned to see Megumi and Kaoru stepping out.
Unable to make eye contact, Soujirou hung his head, only to snap it up in surprise when Megumi said, " Stay, Soujirou-san, Ken-san would have my blood if you leave. I know I was too crude, forgive me."
Soujirou froze at the commitment in her voice. He wanted to refuse. He wanted to leave, to bring the unhappiness away from the place. Such a cheerful home didn't need depression, like him. However, something held him back. Another part of him wanted to taste more of love and family life. Soujirou nodded in response to the question, which brought upon a round of cheers.
~~
The next few weeks went smoothly. Everybody went about his or her normal routines until three weeks after Soujirou arrived.
Yahiko burst into the hall where everyone was.
"Kaoru, I was on the way home after buying the tofu you wanted when I heard this person asking for directions here and I brought her back. It's a young lady. She's outside now."
Nodding, Kaoru rose from her seating position and stepped outside with Yahiko. Inside, Sano, Megumi, Kenshin and Soujirou continued with their conversation.
~~
A tall and slim girl greeted Kaoru with a bow. She looked in her twenties and had a warm smile on her face. However, the tiredness in her eyes was obvious. Kaoru could tell the girl was under tremendous stress.
Kaoru sent Yahiko away for tea and introduced herself to the girl.
"I'm Himura Kaoru. That was my eldest disciple, Yahiko. He heard you asking for directions and brought you back. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Ah, yes. I'm looking for somebody. It's a long story… …"
"Then, come in. There's a crowd in my hall already but if you don't mind, they can help out too. Come, let's get you settled in first."
With that, Kaoru politely ushered the girl into the room.
~~
The conversations in the room trailed to a stop as the shoji opened, revealing Kaoru standing outside. Apparently the stranger Yahiko brought back was beside her but blocked by the door. All stood up to welcome the visitor as Kaoru led her in.
The moment she came into view, Sano exclaimed, "Uki!"
Everybody looked at him in confusion but his vision was fixed on the girl he claimed "Uki". And the girl stared back in return.
~~
A/N: Heh heh, close readers of the manga, think you should know. If not, wait for the next chapter… On second thoughts, the name might be wrong. Anybody out there know who I'm talking about, and knows I'm wrong, tell me… don keep quiet…
To:
Kyouhi: Ok, your suggestion is taken into serious consideration. Thanks for your support!
Spas104: Here's your chapter 3.
A/N: Chapter Three!! Ok, this is a breakthrough for me. I know it sounds pathetic but I have never gone beyond chapter 3. Basically, I like to make sure each chapter has about or more than a thou words, so… … mathematically speaking, one of my fics has seven chapters! Ok, I'm crapping.. anyway, yah, just continue to read wateva it is… By the way, spoiler warnings ok? Don say I didn't warn you. And thank you reviewers!!~~ Love you!
~~
"So was I, Megumi"
The words were like a sharp slap across her cheek. She couldn't deny the fact. Words failed to form in her brain and Megumi was left gaping. Silence ensured and it was broken moments later by Soujirou's soft voice.
"Himura-san, leave it. It's fine with me. I wouldn't have expected anyone to accept me readily. It's already surprise enough to have been part of this family. Even if it's only one night or so. I'll.. I'll… leave now."
With that, he made to stand and leave, but was restrained by Sanosuke. Soujirou's liquid black met Sano's warm brown. Giving him a slight shake of his head, the ex-gangster turned to Megumi and spoke to her in a remarkably gentle voice.
"I accepted you didn't I? I gave you a chance even though you killed my best friend! You didn't reject Kenshin either. Be fair won't you?"
Megumi could hardly take in Sano's words. She was overwhelmed by her warring emotions within her. Guilty, confused, frightened, tears threatened to break. Swallowing a sorrowful hiccup, the lady turned to Kenshin.
"Demo, Ken-san, how can you be sure he has completely changed. He might be faking for all you know."
Soujirou felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. For the first time after so many years, he realized he hadn't cried once during his wanderings. Had they been so warm and perfect? Or was he still his normal self? Even now, he didn't feel the urge to cry. At that point of time, Soujirou felt as though his spirits would never lift again.
"And what, Megumi, motive would he have? Shishio is dead."
The doctor retaliated by saying Shishio wasn't the only evil-doer on earth. For the first time ever, Kaoru saw Megumi and Kenshin fighting a verbal game of wits. It went on for sometime, ending with Kenshin winning.
"I'm willing to give him the chance. Are you?"
And she couldn't continue. Megumi already knew she was wrong to be so harsh. She knew Kenshin always gave second chances. That was the only reason why she was here. She didn't want to cry in front of them but Megumi couldn't hold back. Her emotions were too bruised. The floodgates opened and the tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. Her breath came in painful gasps and her shoulders heaved in an effort to calm herself down. Kaoru got to her side and motioned for the others to leave. They complied and left the consoling to her.
~~
"You'll stay, won't you?"
Soujirou bit his lower lip at Sanosuke's question. After this commotion, he wasn't so sure anymore. Though he had heard Kenshin about giving him a second chance, he knew that there would still be doubts. Such unhappiness was not what he sought for.
"You know, Soujirou, I have a nasty habit of taking silence for consent."
Soujirou looked at Sano in surprise. He didn't think Sano would still joke with him anymore.
"Demo… Takani-dono, she won't be happy, would she? I can understand how she feel. I was, after all, a killer. And I did injure Himura-san badly during our fight."
Sano sighed and sat down on the porch. He had predicted that Megumi wouldn't accept Soujirou readily. She hadn't been around when Yahiko and Soujirou returned. Kenshin had wanted him to send her back once his wound was tended to. Her presence might add to the confusion.
"I think, Soujirou, it's about time I ordered you to do something."
From the way Kenshin was looking at him, it was clear to Soujirou that Kenshin was not about to let him leave. The red haired swordsman had noticed that Soujirou had slipped back to his formal speech but left it. Just then, the door opened behind the trio and they turned to see Megumi and Kaoru stepping out.
Unable to make eye contact, Soujirou hung his head, only to snap it up in surprise when Megumi said, " Stay, Soujirou-san, Ken-san would have my blood if you leave. I know I was too crude, forgive me."
Soujirou froze at the commitment in her voice. He wanted to refuse. He wanted to leave, to bring the unhappiness away from the place. Such a cheerful home didn't need depression, like him. However, something held him back. Another part of him wanted to taste more of love and family life. Soujirou nodded in response to the question, which brought upon a round of cheers.
~~
The next few weeks went smoothly. Everybody went about his or her normal routines until three weeks after Soujirou arrived.
Yahiko burst into the hall where everyone was.
"Kaoru, I was on the way home after buying the tofu you wanted when I heard this person asking for directions here and I brought her back. It's a young lady. She's outside now."
Nodding, Kaoru rose from her seating position and stepped outside with Yahiko. Inside, Sano, Megumi, Kenshin and Soujirou continued with their conversation.
~~
A tall and slim girl greeted Kaoru with a bow. She looked in her twenties and had a warm smile on her face. However, the tiredness in her eyes was obvious. Kaoru could tell the girl was under tremendous stress.
Kaoru sent Yahiko away for tea and introduced herself to the girl.
"I'm Himura Kaoru. That was my eldest disciple, Yahiko. He heard you asking for directions and brought you back. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Ah, yes. I'm looking for somebody. It's a long story… …"
"Then, come in. There's a crowd in my hall already but if you don't mind, they can help out too. Come, let's get you settled in first."
With that, Kaoru politely ushered the girl into the room.
~~
The conversations in the room trailed to a stop as the shoji opened, revealing Kaoru standing outside. Apparently the stranger Yahiko brought back was beside her but blocked by the door. All stood up to welcome the visitor as Kaoru led her in.
The moment she came into view, Sano exclaimed, "Uki!"
Everybody looked at him in confusion but his vision was fixed on the girl he claimed "Uki". And the girl stared back in return.
~~
A/N: Heh heh, close readers of the manga, think you should know. If not, wait for the next chapter… On second thoughts, the name might be wrong. Anybody out there know who I'm talking about, and knows I'm wrong, tell me… don keep quiet…
To:
Kyouhi: Ok, your suggestion is taken into serious consideration. Thanks for your support!
Spas104: Here's your chapter 3.