I don't own Rurouni Kenshin; I'm just borrowing it..
This is the sequel to my fic May 14th. I wasn't really planning on
writing one but I got a couple of requests from readers and some from
my friends too ^_^ I'm glad you guys liked the first one!!!! I hope
you like this one too. Well, enough of my talking, ON WITH THE
STORY!!!!!
May 14th (Kenshin's P.O.V)
Everything was peaceful. well it was until thunder crashed, waking me up from my surprisingly peaceful sleep. Sighing I rolled over, trying to regain my sleepiness, but to no luck. As soon as I closed my eyes a swift kick to my stomach snapped them back open, pulling me from my sleep world for the second time that night. I looked down and found a small chubby little foot suspiciously close to my gut. * Gee, he sure has some leg power for a little Four-year-old * I smiled as I watched the miniature me yawn and stretch like the little kittens that he loves so much to play with. His tiny feet kicked again, but this time I made sure that my stomach was out of reach. A hushed giggle made me look up and I was met with deep-blue eyes, a slight sparkle shinning in them. I sat up slowly, careful not to wake up the sleeping mini body double of me. "What are you laughing at koishii?" I asked quietly, a curious smile playing on my lips. She smiled back, that same smile that she always gives me every morning; only today it was a little brighter than usual. "Oh nothing really koibito, really." I gave her a small smile and stood, readying myself to leave. "Where are you going?" I looked at her, then at Kenji. "I'm just going out for a walk. I need to get some fresh air." It was still dark throughout the house but I saw her confused look anyway. " But, Kenshin, it's still raining outside." I smiled, more fully this time, showing my pearly whites. "I know. I just want to go for a walk. Don't worry I'll be fine." I heard her huff and puff a bit, but eventually she gave in and laid back down, draping an arm over Kenji, and whispered "Be careful" just before I slid the shoji screen shut behind me.
Silently I walked down the cool and dark hallways of the dojo, the rain falling quietly outside. I reached the family room and looked around. It was clean like always, everything in its place where it belongs. I looked at the low brown table sitting in the middle of the room, smiling as I remembered the current events that took place earlier. Sanosuke had stopped over with a very pregnant Megumi. We had all talked and laughed about life so far while Kenji just stared and stared at Megumi's swollen belly. Finally, after watching Kenji stare at her stomach for what seemed like forever, Megumi asked him if he wanted to feel the baby kick. Of course Kenji's eyes lit up and all but jumped at the chance to feel the little life growing inside the woman's stomach. He placed his hand on her stomach and Just as the baby moved Kenji's eyes grew wide with wonder. He looked up with those wide eyes of his; utterly shocked, and simply said "it moved". We all laughed. Megumi then said that he looked like Sanosuke when he first felt the baby kick, and of course we all laughed harder.
I chuckled to myself silently as my eyes traveled the wall and came to rest upon the calendar placed every so delicately on the wall. It was May 14th, the day that my life had changed forever. Sighing I gracelessly picked up the parasol lying in the corner as I made my way towards the front door, swinging it up over my shoulder as I slid it open. Little drops of water hit my nose and cheek, signaling that I was now out in the practice court, or at least that's what we use it for. Quickly I opened up the parasol, blocking the falling rain from coming in contact with my clothes and I. Kaoru would have a fit if I came back home soaking wet. I exited the final parts of the Kamiya, well, Himura Dojo and started making my way down the street. It was fairly quiet save the rain and animals running around here and there. Some people were up also, doing their early morning work like always. Some waved to me and I waved back, smiling. Walking along the well-worn path I allowed my thoughts to fly free. I don't really have time to think that much anymore, not that I really want to. Now that I was out in the rain and the countryside, I had nothing to distract me, thus my thoughts took over.
Today is May 14th. So much has happened in the past on this very day. The first thing that happened to start these chains of events was over five years ago. I looked up, staring at the huge gray clouds that covered the usually blue sky.
Has it really been five years since that fateful day?
I can still remember it as if it were yesterday. I had been having reoccurring memories of the Bakumatsu period. I remember staring at the small creek just outside the dojo, the cherry blossoms falling around me. I was trying to think, trying to figure out why these memories were coming back to me all of the sudden. I had finally found some peace in my life, some true peace there at the dojo with Yahiko, Sanosuke, and Kaoru, so why were the terrible memories coming back now. Just then, a single cherry blossom had fell into the creek, and suddenly the creek was filled with blood.
Shaking my head I continued on the path, now muddy thanks to the rain that had started to fall harder. The sound of the mud squishing beneath my sandaled feet could easily be heard. At first the sound was bearable but after a while it started to get irritating, making me stare at the noisemakers as I walked on further. My gaze drifted to the right and I ceased my walking as I looked at a small flower drinking in the falling rain. I lifted my head and observed my surroundings, realizing where it was I had wandered off. It was the same place where five years ago on this exact day I broke a young girl's heart. I closed my eyes as the memory replayed itself in my mind.
It was earlier that morning; I had made a promise with Kaoru to watch the fireflies together later that night. I guess it was her attempt to cheer me up. I had agreed to it, not knowing what was about to happen in the day's later events. A certain narrow-eyed police officer had stopped by the dojo looking for me but instead ran into Sanosuke.
We had walked through the Dojo gates, Megumi, Kaoru, Yahiko, and I, and the first thing we were greeted with was a rather large hole in the side of the practice hall. I smelled blood and immediately I knew something was horribly wrong. Rushing towards the shoji doors, I quickly slid them open and found Sanosuke lying on the ground wounded and unconscious. Luckily for him, Megumi was there to help him out. Later that day I had received a challenge. Not wanting to burden Kaoru and the others any further I just simply said I was going out for a while, and indeed I was going out, to handle some business. While I was gone, a certain police officer by the name of Fujita Goro stopped by, claiming he was sent by the chief of police to protect everyone. It took a while but I managed to beat my opponent, and hurried back to the dojo. When I arrived back, an all too familiar face greeted me in the practice hall.
He hadn't even turned around to greet me. He started talking and immediately I understood what he was doing there. Unknown to everyone, he had in a sense, been holding everyone hostage, and as soon as I had walked through the door he started making his demands. "Ten years." he started, staring me with those narrow ones of his, "It's been ten years since we've last seen each other." I had remained silent while Kaoru and Yahiko looked on with wonder.
Hmm. ten years. such a long time. Sighing again I turned my attention away from the purple Iris and continued on my way going nowhere in particular. Closing my eyes the image of that lonely iris in the rain came to me again, followed by another image that often haunts me on days like these. Tomoe. Her pale lifeless body lying there on the ground, her kimono stained with blood, blood that's hers' and mine.
No, that was something I don't want to remember. Shaking my head I somehow was able to push those thoughts from my head and continued on the path.
My thoughts drifted back to the events that unfolded from Saito and I reuniting for the first time in ten years. He claimed that I had become soft during those ten long years of peace, and in return I claimed he had turned rotten, after all he used to fight fair and not take hostages. In a matter of minutes the time for exchanges of words were over and the time for the exchanges of blows had begun.
Of course Kaoru had been against this, and had pleaded with me to not fight, but I had to. I could not forgive him for what he had done.
We fought for what seemed like hours. However much to my dismay, each time I swung my blade I slowly started to become the thing that for ten years I had fought so hard to bury deep inside me. The fight was in the Kamiya Dojo, but for Saitou and I it was back in Kyoto, the revolution. I was fighting like I was no longer twenty-eight, but eighteen instead, and fighting for my life like I had all those years ago. I'm sure the same was happening to Saitou also. Our battle started out as innocent as a battle could, and bit by bit it started to get more and more violent. I had taken a wound in my torso area and had also managed to knock a tooth or two out of Saitou's mouth, as well as knock him through the dojo wall. His sword was broken and we were finally down to the last strike. Both charging at the same time, we prepared to finish the battle once and for all, that is until a tall bearded man interrupted.
I stopped in mid-stride, glancing to my left only to find that I was in the presence of a small graveyard. The headstones ranged from small stones to huge elaborate ones, which were obviously for those who were wealthy. I shuddered a bit as a gentle breeze blew past me. My clothes were a bit wet thanks to the rain that came along with it. I stood there for a while, staring at the graves. Death. A graveyard was nothing but a place for reminding us of the ones whose lives had ended. So many people have died that I've known. As I stood there, looking at the now soaked stones, I couldn't help but recount all the times in my life that I had been so close to joining these freed souls. If Toshimichi hadn't interfered that day, I can't help but wonder what the fight would have turned out like. Would I have finally been reunited with Tomoe?? Or would I have been a wandering soul because of everything I had done.
Toshimichi Okubo, a tall bearded man, had stepped in and stopped the fight that would have determined the winner of a ten-year long battle. The first thing that ran through my mind was the question of why he was there. It has been years since I have heard anything about him, so why would he all of a sudden dhow up here? Saitou decided to ignore his presence and continue on but another barked command form his chief officer and he once again stopped. I was confused, really confused. Why was Toshimichi-san, of all people, conversating and checking in with Saitou?
I still stood there, staring mindlessly at the stone markers, and wondered slightly what Toshimichi-san's grave marker looks like. I smiled slightly. If anything he would have an elaborate grave marker, no doubt. I bet Katsura has a grave much like Toshimichi-san's. Katsura. now that's a person I haven't thought about in a while. Now that I think about it, it's because of him that I am like this.
No.
No, it's not his fault. I was the one who went against my master's wishes and joined Katsura-san. Heh, master was right. I was nothing but a whelp, knowing nothing about what I was getting myself into and always rushing into things.
I touched the faded scar on my left cheek. So many memories are etched into this permanent mark on my face. The rain was beginning to let up so I decided that I could go without the parasol. The sun was also beginning to rise now; maybe it was about time that I head back. Taking one last look at the silent markers, I turned and made my way back to the dojo, my hand still placed on my scar.
Again I passed by the 'spot', but this time, I stopped. I stared at an empty spot on the ground and the memory played again. I could see me hugging her that night, whispering the words I regretted, "sayonara". I had failed to see her breakdown and fall to her knees crying as I turned and left that night. As much as I had regret it, I had good reasons as to why I had to leave. Okubo had been killed and now Shishio was beginning to emerge from the shadows, how could I drag everyone into that? Worst of all, the government was holding my actions during the revolution against me.
Even though I was in Kyoto, the largest city in all of Japan, somehow Kaoru and everyone had managed to find me. I'll never forget when we had been reunited then, Kaoru and I. I was shocked. She looked terrible, like she had been crying all day everyday since I had left. (Which is true, as I had managed to find out later) But despite it all, she was happy, utterly happy. And I must admit, if only to myself, that I couldn't have been happier seeing her right then and there. From that moment on, she had stuck with me, and she hasn't left yet.
I found that my feet had led me home, and there to greet me was a short, slightly chubby Kenji. He smiled and giggled as he left the stray cat he was playing with and ran to me, his arms open. Skillfully I shifted the parasol from one hand to the other and scooped Kenji up with one arm, carrying him back into the house.
"Kenshin!" Both Kenji and I looked up only to see Kaoru with an upset look on her face staring at my feet. "You're muddy! Not to mention a bit wet." She walked up and gently took Kenji from me and stepped back, taking a good look at me. "Go take a bath" was all she said as she moved into the kitchen. Shrugging I made my way out back to prepare my bath. While soaking in the warm water I recounted everything I had thought about that morning, and realized, I am truly lucky.
OWARI
AN: Wow! If you're here then you've finished reading this crap! Okay, maybe it's just me, but does this seem a little rushed to you? Well review and let me know what you all think! Thank you so much for reading this! If you have any suggestion, feel free to e-mail me Thankkies!
May 14th (Kenshin's P.O.V)
Everything was peaceful. well it was until thunder crashed, waking me up from my surprisingly peaceful sleep. Sighing I rolled over, trying to regain my sleepiness, but to no luck. As soon as I closed my eyes a swift kick to my stomach snapped them back open, pulling me from my sleep world for the second time that night. I looked down and found a small chubby little foot suspiciously close to my gut. * Gee, he sure has some leg power for a little Four-year-old * I smiled as I watched the miniature me yawn and stretch like the little kittens that he loves so much to play with. His tiny feet kicked again, but this time I made sure that my stomach was out of reach. A hushed giggle made me look up and I was met with deep-blue eyes, a slight sparkle shinning in them. I sat up slowly, careful not to wake up the sleeping mini body double of me. "What are you laughing at koishii?" I asked quietly, a curious smile playing on my lips. She smiled back, that same smile that she always gives me every morning; only today it was a little brighter than usual. "Oh nothing really koibito, really." I gave her a small smile and stood, readying myself to leave. "Where are you going?" I looked at her, then at Kenji. "I'm just going out for a walk. I need to get some fresh air." It was still dark throughout the house but I saw her confused look anyway. " But, Kenshin, it's still raining outside." I smiled, more fully this time, showing my pearly whites. "I know. I just want to go for a walk. Don't worry I'll be fine." I heard her huff and puff a bit, but eventually she gave in and laid back down, draping an arm over Kenji, and whispered "Be careful" just before I slid the shoji screen shut behind me.
Silently I walked down the cool and dark hallways of the dojo, the rain falling quietly outside. I reached the family room and looked around. It was clean like always, everything in its place where it belongs. I looked at the low brown table sitting in the middle of the room, smiling as I remembered the current events that took place earlier. Sanosuke had stopped over with a very pregnant Megumi. We had all talked and laughed about life so far while Kenji just stared and stared at Megumi's swollen belly. Finally, after watching Kenji stare at her stomach for what seemed like forever, Megumi asked him if he wanted to feel the baby kick. Of course Kenji's eyes lit up and all but jumped at the chance to feel the little life growing inside the woman's stomach. He placed his hand on her stomach and Just as the baby moved Kenji's eyes grew wide with wonder. He looked up with those wide eyes of his; utterly shocked, and simply said "it moved". We all laughed. Megumi then said that he looked like Sanosuke when he first felt the baby kick, and of course we all laughed harder.
I chuckled to myself silently as my eyes traveled the wall and came to rest upon the calendar placed every so delicately on the wall. It was May 14th, the day that my life had changed forever. Sighing I gracelessly picked up the parasol lying in the corner as I made my way towards the front door, swinging it up over my shoulder as I slid it open. Little drops of water hit my nose and cheek, signaling that I was now out in the practice court, or at least that's what we use it for. Quickly I opened up the parasol, blocking the falling rain from coming in contact with my clothes and I. Kaoru would have a fit if I came back home soaking wet. I exited the final parts of the Kamiya, well, Himura Dojo and started making my way down the street. It was fairly quiet save the rain and animals running around here and there. Some people were up also, doing their early morning work like always. Some waved to me and I waved back, smiling. Walking along the well-worn path I allowed my thoughts to fly free. I don't really have time to think that much anymore, not that I really want to. Now that I was out in the rain and the countryside, I had nothing to distract me, thus my thoughts took over.
Today is May 14th. So much has happened in the past on this very day. The first thing that happened to start these chains of events was over five years ago. I looked up, staring at the huge gray clouds that covered the usually blue sky.
Has it really been five years since that fateful day?
I can still remember it as if it were yesterday. I had been having reoccurring memories of the Bakumatsu period. I remember staring at the small creek just outside the dojo, the cherry blossoms falling around me. I was trying to think, trying to figure out why these memories were coming back to me all of the sudden. I had finally found some peace in my life, some true peace there at the dojo with Yahiko, Sanosuke, and Kaoru, so why were the terrible memories coming back now. Just then, a single cherry blossom had fell into the creek, and suddenly the creek was filled with blood.
Shaking my head I continued on the path, now muddy thanks to the rain that had started to fall harder. The sound of the mud squishing beneath my sandaled feet could easily be heard. At first the sound was bearable but after a while it started to get irritating, making me stare at the noisemakers as I walked on further. My gaze drifted to the right and I ceased my walking as I looked at a small flower drinking in the falling rain. I lifted my head and observed my surroundings, realizing where it was I had wandered off. It was the same place where five years ago on this exact day I broke a young girl's heart. I closed my eyes as the memory replayed itself in my mind.
It was earlier that morning; I had made a promise with Kaoru to watch the fireflies together later that night. I guess it was her attempt to cheer me up. I had agreed to it, not knowing what was about to happen in the day's later events. A certain narrow-eyed police officer had stopped by the dojo looking for me but instead ran into Sanosuke.
We had walked through the Dojo gates, Megumi, Kaoru, Yahiko, and I, and the first thing we were greeted with was a rather large hole in the side of the practice hall. I smelled blood and immediately I knew something was horribly wrong. Rushing towards the shoji doors, I quickly slid them open and found Sanosuke lying on the ground wounded and unconscious. Luckily for him, Megumi was there to help him out. Later that day I had received a challenge. Not wanting to burden Kaoru and the others any further I just simply said I was going out for a while, and indeed I was going out, to handle some business. While I was gone, a certain police officer by the name of Fujita Goro stopped by, claiming he was sent by the chief of police to protect everyone. It took a while but I managed to beat my opponent, and hurried back to the dojo. When I arrived back, an all too familiar face greeted me in the practice hall.
He hadn't even turned around to greet me. He started talking and immediately I understood what he was doing there. Unknown to everyone, he had in a sense, been holding everyone hostage, and as soon as I had walked through the door he started making his demands. "Ten years." he started, staring me with those narrow ones of his, "It's been ten years since we've last seen each other." I had remained silent while Kaoru and Yahiko looked on with wonder.
Hmm. ten years. such a long time. Sighing again I turned my attention away from the purple Iris and continued on my way going nowhere in particular. Closing my eyes the image of that lonely iris in the rain came to me again, followed by another image that often haunts me on days like these. Tomoe. Her pale lifeless body lying there on the ground, her kimono stained with blood, blood that's hers' and mine.
No, that was something I don't want to remember. Shaking my head I somehow was able to push those thoughts from my head and continued on the path.
My thoughts drifted back to the events that unfolded from Saito and I reuniting for the first time in ten years. He claimed that I had become soft during those ten long years of peace, and in return I claimed he had turned rotten, after all he used to fight fair and not take hostages. In a matter of minutes the time for exchanges of words were over and the time for the exchanges of blows had begun.
Of course Kaoru had been against this, and had pleaded with me to not fight, but I had to. I could not forgive him for what he had done.
We fought for what seemed like hours. However much to my dismay, each time I swung my blade I slowly started to become the thing that for ten years I had fought so hard to bury deep inside me. The fight was in the Kamiya Dojo, but for Saitou and I it was back in Kyoto, the revolution. I was fighting like I was no longer twenty-eight, but eighteen instead, and fighting for my life like I had all those years ago. I'm sure the same was happening to Saitou also. Our battle started out as innocent as a battle could, and bit by bit it started to get more and more violent. I had taken a wound in my torso area and had also managed to knock a tooth or two out of Saitou's mouth, as well as knock him through the dojo wall. His sword was broken and we were finally down to the last strike. Both charging at the same time, we prepared to finish the battle once and for all, that is until a tall bearded man interrupted.
I stopped in mid-stride, glancing to my left only to find that I was in the presence of a small graveyard. The headstones ranged from small stones to huge elaborate ones, which were obviously for those who were wealthy. I shuddered a bit as a gentle breeze blew past me. My clothes were a bit wet thanks to the rain that came along with it. I stood there for a while, staring at the graves. Death. A graveyard was nothing but a place for reminding us of the ones whose lives had ended. So many people have died that I've known. As I stood there, looking at the now soaked stones, I couldn't help but recount all the times in my life that I had been so close to joining these freed souls. If Toshimichi hadn't interfered that day, I can't help but wonder what the fight would have turned out like. Would I have finally been reunited with Tomoe?? Or would I have been a wandering soul because of everything I had done.
Toshimichi Okubo, a tall bearded man, had stepped in and stopped the fight that would have determined the winner of a ten-year long battle. The first thing that ran through my mind was the question of why he was there. It has been years since I have heard anything about him, so why would he all of a sudden dhow up here? Saitou decided to ignore his presence and continue on but another barked command form his chief officer and he once again stopped. I was confused, really confused. Why was Toshimichi-san, of all people, conversating and checking in with Saitou?
I still stood there, staring mindlessly at the stone markers, and wondered slightly what Toshimichi-san's grave marker looks like. I smiled slightly. If anything he would have an elaborate grave marker, no doubt. I bet Katsura has a grave much like Toshimichi-san's. Katsura. now that's a person I haven't thought about in a while. Now that I think about it, it's because of him that I am like this.
No.
No, it's not his fault. I was the one who went against my master's wishes and joined Katsura-san. Heh, master was right. I was nothing but a whelp, knowing nothing about what I was getting myself into and always rushing into things.
I touched the faded scar on my left cheek. So many memories are etched into this permanent mark on my face. The rain was beginning to let up so I decided that I could go without the parasol. The sun was also beginning to rise now; maybe it was about time that I head back. Taking one last look at the silent markers, I turned and made my way back to the dojo, my hand still placed on my scar.
Again I passed by the 'spot', but this time, I stopped. I stared at an empty spot on the ground and the memory played again. I could see me hugging her that night, whispering the words I regretted, "sayonara". I had failed to see her breakdown and fall to her knees crying as I turned and left that night. As much as I had regret it, I had good reasons as to why I had to leave. Okubo had been killed and now Shishio was beginning to emerge from the shadows, how could I drag everyone into that? Worst of all, the government was holding my actions during the revolution against me.
Even though I was in Kyoto, the largest city in all of Japan, somehow Kaoru and everyone had managed to find me. I'll never forget when we had been reunited then, Kaoru and I. I was shocked. She looked terrible, like she had been crying all day everyday since I had left. (Which is true, as I had managed to find out later) But despite it all, she was happy, utterly happy. And I must admit, if only to myself, that I couldn't have been happier seeing her right then and there. From that moment on, she had stuck with me, and she hasn't left yet.
I found that my feet had led me home, and there to greet me was a short, slightly chubby Kenji. He smiled and giggled as he left the stray cat he was playing with and ran to me, his arms open. Skillfully I shifted the parasol from one hand to the other and scooped Kenji up with one arm, carrying him back into the house.
"Kenshin!" Both Kenji and I looked up only to see Kaoru with an upset look on her face staring at my feet. "You're muddy! Not to mention a bit wet." She walked up and gently took Kenji from me and stepped back, taking a good look at me. "Go take a bath" was all she said as she moved into the kitchen. Shrugging I made my way out back to prepare my bath. While soaking in the warm water I recounted everything I had thought about that morning, and realized, I am truly lucky.
OWARI
AN: Wow! If you're here then you've finished reading this crap! Okay, maybe it's just me, but does this seem a little rushed to you? Well review and let me know what you all think! Thank you so much for reading this! If you have any suggestion, feel free to e-mail me Thankkies!
