A/N: Thank you all for you reviews! Mae, you were right about the ending being too short. I over looked this chapter and said to myself, "You know, the ending's just way too abrupt here." So I fixed it. It still seems sort of abrupt but not as bad as before. I'm not too good with ending chapters and transitions. Gha! Transitions kick my ass!
Hey, anyone remember episode 18 in the series where,
SPOILERS
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After Yahiko takes the reverse blade sword to fight Gohei those brothers (forget the name) try to kill Kenshin. So Yahiko was getting all misty eyed at the thought of Kenshin's bloody death so he cuts his wrists up to free himself and try to get the reverse blade back to Kenshin before they kill him. Then, of course, after the battle Yahiko realizes how arrogant he was and then Kenshin allows him to cry into his chest. That was so cute! That scene was actually what inspired me to write this. That and when Yahiko was crying over the image of Kenshin being killed.
I Wish
The sun beat down gently on the courtyard of the Kamiya dojo as the familiar scent of soapy water snaked through the air. Kaoru was out giving lessons, Yahiko was sleeping, and Kenshin was just finishing the laundry. After he hung the last piece of clothing to dry, he shook his hands frantically sending a shower of suds in all directions. Satisfied with his work, the redhead set off to complete the other chores that were required of a clean dojo.
A warm gust of wind whipped past him and tugged at his fiery ponytail. Tilting his head back slightly, he deeply inhaled the fresh smell of the spring afternoon. "It's a beautiful day de gozaru." He smiled as the flutter of bird wings and songs hovered over his head. The day was so peaceful. He allowed his eyes to ease themselves close as he enjoyed the surrounding nature. Nothing was heard except the rustling of leaves in the soft wind, the playful chirping of birds, and…
Kenshin's eyes snapped open when a loud grumbling noise reached his ears. A faint blush burned his cheeks as he placed a hand on his belly. "Oro, I had no idea I was so hungry de gozaru." He mumbled slightly, embarrassed even though the only company within hearing distance was the birds. "Mm, Yahiko will be hungry too when he wakes. Best make lunch now."
Speaking of Yahiko, how was the squirt doing? Kenshin kept on his toes in order to produce as little sound as possible for fear of waking the ill child from slumber. Upon reaching the boy's room he gently eased the shoji open. A warm smile appeared on his lips as his eyes softened. Yahiko had thrown the blanket halfway from his body and was snoring rather loudly. His hair was more of a mess than usual and glistened slightly with sweat. His arms and legs were spread out atop the futon as a stream of drool poured from the corner of his mouth. It certainly wasn't the most attractive thing anyone has ever seen. However, one did have to admit it was cute in a repulsive sort of way.
Kenshin gingerly set foot into the room, placing one foot in front of the other as if his feet never truly touched the floor, but rather hovered slightly above. Ever so slowly he knelt beside the boy and cautiously brushed his forehead with his fingertips. There was a small wince that washed across Kenshin's face for a moment. He removed his hand and curled it into a loose fist. His fever has risen a bit.
Violet eyes harboring worry cast down towards the bowl of water and washcloth by the boy's bedside. Releasing his hand from its previous fist form, he dipped his fingers into the water. He knew it was time to change the water when a crisp cool sensation did not great his hand, but rather a luke warm one. He slowly rose from his position with the bowl securely in hand. The footsteps were even more cautious than before so as not to spill the water that seemed so desperate to do so. The water tipped and reached for the edges of the bowl as he pushed the door open with his foot. Steady hands and swift reactions managed to keep the water from staining the wooden floor. Making his way towards the well, Kenshin's mind registered something he had forgotten before.
We ran out of tofu this morning de gozaru. I'll have to buy some, but… His eyes narrowed slightly at his predicament. Yahiko was sick and Kenshin didn't want to leave him alone. It would be hours before Kaoru returned from her lessons and who knew when, or even if, Sano would make an appearance. However, his own hunger, as well as the knowledge that Yahiko would need to eat to regain his health, would not allow him to wait. "It shouldn't take me more than a half hour at most de gozaru." He stated as he pulled lowered the bucket down the well. "I just hope he won't need anything while I'm gone."
A half-hour wasn't really that long of a time period. However there was still room for something to go wrong. This is what fed Kenshin's reluctance to leave the boy alone. Determined to get the deed done and out of the way, he pulled rather hastily on the rope that was now holding cool water. The accelerated movement caused the bucket to tip a bit and water to splash out the side, but there was still more than enough to fill the bowl upon reaching the top. After throwing out the old water and pouring in the new he made his way back towards Yahiko's room in a speedy, yet cautious manner. He slowed his pace with each step that brought him closer to the kid's room. By the time he reached the shoji his pace had been the same, his footsteps just as cautious, as when he had checked up on him a minute earlier.
Yahiko had hardly stirred from his humorous sleeping position when Kenshin went to lower himself at the boy's side. He gently rung the washcloth out, satisfied at the temperature of the water that ran through his fingers, and placed the cloth on his forehead. Yahiko stirred slightly with the addition of the compress but did not wake. Along with the bowl of water, Kenshin placed a note nearby stating that he would be back shortly, should the boy wake during his absence. With that done, he grabbed the tofu bucket, slipped into his sandals and was out the gate in less than a minute.
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Most people wouldn't have given him more than a quick glance and a wasted second wondering what the hurry was. Well, that would be the case had it not been for his unusual red hair and sword at his side. Kenshin's pace had doubled from his usual relaxed steps. Though exiting the gate took little time, locking the gate had stolen all the seconds he had saved. He stood for nearly two minutes, making sure the gate was securely locked before heading off to the market. Though the mere thought of Yahiko waking and needed his care during his trip tugged at him to sprint off and return, the thought of someone breaking in and possibly doing the sickly boy harm tugged harder. Paranoid he may be, but Kenshin'd be damned before letting anything happen to his adopted family.
His doubled pace was accompanied by short sprints in order to not only make up but get back the lost seconds he used locking the gate. If he was even aware of the strange glances he received from left and right he showed no signs on noticing. The opinions of strangers mattered very little to him. The path he traveled was near the river and was occupied by few travelers anyway. When he reached town, however, he would have to slow his pace if only enough to adjust to market place traffic. This was, of course, not in concern for the looks he would get but to prevent possible injury of himself and those around him.
Deciding to use this time to his full advantage, Kenshin prepared to launch himself into another sprint. Even as his muscles prepared for the sudden acceleration, they were frozen with the agonized shout of a nearby civilian.
"Damn that Battousai!"
Kenshin's jaw dropped open slightly and his eyes grew considerably. His errand was temporarily forgotten as he tore his gaze from the road ahead to see what had caused the mention of his former title. By the riverside two figures stood. Between the two figures, an elderly man and a younger one, there stood a tall stick embedded in the ground. Around the top a crimson ribbon was tied and waved in the wind like a proud banner. "Please father," the younger man said, placing a hand on the other's shoulder. "Don't make a scene here and now. It will change nothing."
The elder man's hands were fisted at his sides and trembled from the grip. "This would have been his thirtyfith birthday today. He would have been married and blessed with several children." The old man's voice, though whispery, was loud and dripped with pain. His whole body seemed to be shaking with violent rage and sadness. "Damn that Battousai."
"Father, I'm sure Yamato fought bravely. Brother knew he might not return and he wouldn't want us to be sad for him."
The words of comfort did nothing. He continued swimming within his own rage as his hands fisted tightly. His shoulders shook as he fought back the tears. "Even after all these years. The pain is still as fresh as it was before. I wish the Battousai could know the pain I still feel even after ten years! I wish that if that demonic bastard ever has a son of his own that he will feel the living hell that I must go through everyday!"
Kenshin's insides twitched at the scene before him. While his right hand had increased the grip on the tofu bucket considerably, his left hand had taken grasp of his hamaka. Now his body trembled as his hands squeezed the items in their grasp. "Damn that Battousai." The old man's final whisper had blazed through the air and stabbed the redhead straight through the heart. He could almost feel the blood seeping within his chest as his eyes followed the two men back to their home by the river. The words rotated around his head like an invisible halo and whispered at him from every direction.
Damn that Battousai.
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Kenshin closed the gate behind him with tofu in hand. He wasn't quite sure how many minutes he had stared off into the waters by the house. He had forced himself to put his feelings aside for the moment and get the tofu back before Yahiko woke. The entire errand he had to keep his lower lip bitten in order to stay focused on his surroundings. By the time he returned the wound in his heart had spilled blood all over his insides. He could feel the sorrowful liquid pooling in his chest and all the way down to his feet.
For every life I took with my sword there was a family that was destroyed.
The words of the old man continued to echo in the back of his mind. The vegetables and the cutting board got the worst of the situation, physically anyway. Each time the phrase pulsed in his ears he unconsciously brought the knife down harder, uncaring whether or not he would loose a finger in the process.
For every life I took with my sword there was a family that was destroyed.
Damn that Battousai.
The load thwap of the knife greeting the cutting board snapped him out of his stupor. He hadn't realized how load his chopping had become and the sound of coughing from down the hall reminded him of why he had to be quiet. Forcing the horrid thoughts to the back of his mind he resumed cutting, this time being much quieter about it.
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With lunch complete and tray in hands, Kenshin took slow and steady steps towards Yahiko's room. The whispering voices and guilt seemed to willingly recede to the back of his mind after forcefully placing them there while cooking. However, the guilt was always there, gnawing at the back to his brain no matter what the circumstances were. Today, he wasn't surprised that the nibbles were considerably stronger but were, thankfully, not to the point of taking him over. At least for the moment anyway.
After pushing the shoji open with his foot, Kenshin was once again greeted by Yahiko's sleeping form tangled up in the most ridiculous positions. As expected he had hardly stirred and was sawing logs as loudly as a boy his age could. The swordsman slowly crept to his side and settled the tray of food down with a gentle clank. He reached over with his left hand and shook the boy's shoulder gently, but firm enough to ensure he would wake.
"Yahiko." At the sound of his harsh whisper the boy's eyelids twitched slightly. Yahiko smacked his tongue against the roof of his mouth a few times before unconsciously sniffing the air. After three sharp nasal inhales his eyes snapped open and he launched himself into a sitting position. Kenshin quickly withdrew his hand, not wanting it to get bitten off, as he watched Yahiko snatch up a bowl of miso soup and down it like there was no tomorrow. He sweatdropped as he reached for his own bowl of soup with shaking hands. When the kid was this hungry, the slightest movement around food could set him off like a rabid wolf (Kenshin had the bite marks to prove it).
With the bowl safely out of the danger zone, Kenshin calmly sipped at his soup while Yahiko had just finished his. A satisfied gasp radiated from his mouth when he tore the bowl from the death grip his lips had on it. The shine in his eyes would make one think he had discovered the secret of life as he reached over and took a bowl of rice, replacing it with his empty soup one. His chopsticks plunged into the rice and began shoving it into his mouth at a frantic pace. Needless to say, it wasn't unexpected when several stray grains were sent spiraling across the room. Still Kenshin remained, eyes closed and legs crossed, calmly drinking his soup even as a few rice grains sprinkled his hair.
Yahiko set the empty bowl back on the tray while wiping the rice that had collected around his mouth off with his sleeve. Kenshin peeked at the boy from over the rim of his bowl as he drank a cup of green tea in a much calmer manner than he had treated his food. He smiled lightly and lowered the bowl from his mouth. "How are you feeling, Yahiko?" He peeked at the redhead while keeping the cup at his mouth and dipped the cup down just enough to mutter a "better" before resuming with his drink. "Well, if that's the case then let's check your temperature."
Yahiko bit back the urge to roll his eyes and sigh. Instead, he chose to block Kenshin's hand with his own before it could make contact with his warm face. "Honestly Kenshin, it's not like I'm dying or anything. It's a cold, not tuberculosis." Kenshin blinked several times after applying his trade mark "oro" face. While some might be annoyed and angry at the boy's attitude, Kenshin just smiled warmly. The kid's spirit was showing that he was doing well and that was all the swordsman wanted at the moment. He gathered the empty dishes onto the tray and prepared to excuse himself. "Hm, Kenshin?"
Kenshin stopped before he could lift the tray from the floor. Just as he opened his mouth to reply Yahiko's words cut him off. "Thanks for lunch." That said he placed the empty cup onto the tray and settled back down to his bed. The rurouni blinked a few times, not quite sure what the boy was thinking at the moment. "You're welcome, Yahiko." The ill child was already closing his eyes before Kenshin stood to his full, yet unimpressive, height and turned to exit.
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Blood was everywhere. This void he was in was blood. Pure blood in all forms. The ground on which he stood was frozen blood. The liquid form of blood covered every square inch of his body and soaked his clothes and hair, collecting in an ankle high puddle that stretched over the ground for an eternity. Even the air he breathed consisted of blood. A thick crimson fog surrounded him on all sides. The air was warm and sticky against his face and the smell of death was all around.
Kenshin looked around frantically; his blood soaked ponytail slapping him in the face with each quick turn of his head. He had no idea how he got there but he wanted out. The blood covering his body dripped from him. Drop after drop fell from his fingertips, nose, and hair. Yet even after that there was just as much blood as before. He couldn't even see his skin anymore. His entire body was covered with a coat of thick red liquid.
The unexpected sound of a blade whisping through the air startled him. He turned and looked behind him, where the noise had come, but he saw nothing. Nothing but red. Just as suddenly, there was an agonized scream and the sound of flesh being torn by steel. Soon after a wave of blood splashed out at him from the direction the sound came. He shut his eyes tightly in order to shield them when several cries echoed out from all directions. With each cry there was a sound of killing and another wave of blood.
It wasn't long before Kenshin was bombarded with waves of blood from left and right. With each kill the blood level rose and soon he was up to his knees in it. The blood was like acid on his skin, eating him alive just like the guilt had for so many years. He covered his head with his arms and ran. He wasn't sure where he was going but he didn't care.
He struggled through the now waist high ocean of blood as the screams continued to beat down on his thin form. Each cry for mercy, each beg for life, squirmed into his ears and floated around in his brain. "How can I repent?" he said, no more than a whisper. The words were strained and dry in his throat. "How can I.."
If that demonic bastard ever has a son of his own..
Cold fingers wrapped around his ankles, causing him to fall face first into the blood.
..feel the living hell…
More hands broke from the icy ground, clawing at his gi and hair.
..the pain I still feel…
He tried to scream, only to be given a mouthful of blood for his efforts. He couldn't breathe.
..even after ten years!
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As he jerked awake his hand flew instinctively to cover his mouth, keeping him from screaming. The breathing was muffled by his hand as his wide violet eyes darted across the moonlit room. Lips trembled as he removed his shaking hand, his heart beating harshly in his ears. Kenshin eased his eyes closed and took several deep breaths, trying to stop his body from shaking.
He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat and placed his hand over his chest as if trying to sooth his frantic heart. Ever so gradually his body began to calm as the realization that the horrid image was not real swam through his mind. Letting out a deep breath, he eased his head back until his sweat soaked hair touched the wall, which he had been leaning against. He forced his left hand to release its deadly grip on the sakabatou by his side. There would be no need for violence.
As his body seemed to cool down after the fright it had been given, Kenshin opened his eyes and slowly glanced about the room. His eyes came to rest on Yahiko's sleeping form as the boy stirred disturbingly in his sleep. Alarm gripped his heart again as he moved from his resting spot to the boy's side. His face was contorted with pain, eyes clenched tightly as well as teeth, and was covered with a coat of sweat. An agonized moan from the back of his throat hissed through his teeth. Kenshin didn't wait a second longer. He gripped both the boy's shoulders and shook him firmly while whispering his name, hoping that would be enough to wake the child without disturbing Kaoru from her much needed sleep.
Fortunately that had been all that was required to bring the child out of his nightmare. Yahiko bolted up slightly, being restrained by Kenshin's hands, and blinked rapidly as if trying to remove the images of the dream from his eyes. Kenshin kept his hands on his shoulders, looking on at the boy with a calm and reassuring manner. He waited patiently as Yahiko took stock of himself and allowed his eyes to wander towards his violet ones.
"Kenshin, I just had the weirdest dream." Yahiko spoke no louder than a mumble and Kenshin smiled gently in response. He lightly nodded his head and eased the child back down into a resting position. "I know. Go on, get back to sleep de gozaru. I'll be right here." Kenshin knew Yahiko wouldn't admit that he even had a nightmare, let alone that it had scared him. However, he still offered his reassurance as he couldn't be fooled easily. The boy allowed him to push him back down as fatigue never seemed to give him a moment's rest. A silent sigh escaped him as he felt the swordsman's fingers gently brush his forehead. The caring touch had a calming effect and he was too tired to play 'big tough descendent of Tokyo samurai' at the moment anyway.
It must have been the fever that disturbed his dreams. Kenshin came to that conclusion when he noticed the burning in the boy's skin was hotter than it had previously been that day. He sighed, irritated at the stubbornness of the disease, and placed a fresh cool compress on the child's forehead. Yahiko relaxed with the addition of the compress and indulged the comfort it provided. He breathed slowly through his mouth as he willed his body to calm. Closing his eyes, he pulled the blanket back up to his shoulders and shifted. Kenshin's presence seemed to chase away the lingering fears and allowed sleep to slowly flow through his body.
The redhead allowed his own body to relax after seeing how easily Yahiko seemed to slip back to sleep. Never the less, the small peek in his temperature caused an uneasy feeling to sweep through his body. All he could do was hope the compress would tame his raging fever to a more acceptable degree. With the back of his hand once again pressed against the boy's cheek, he narrowed his eyes at the heat that bit back. Please let this end soon. After dipping his fingers into the cool water he gently brushed a thin layer of liquid onto the boy's burning face. He smiled slightly when Yahiko seemed to be leaning into his cool hand. I hope this will at least keep him comfortable until his illness runs its course.
For the rest of the night Kenshin did all he could to keep the kid cool and comfortable. His worry was more than enough to keep him awake and going through the break of dawn. However, his guilt kept his body trembling with awareness. "How can I repent?" he whispered as he combed the child's hair with his fingers. His gaze was fixed on the early morning sunrays raining down upon the city. So many people who will never see a morning like this. In the company of Yahiko's peaceful form the words from the previous day once again plagued him.
Damn that Battousai!
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Okay, that wasn't nearly as bad as it was before. Reviews are appreciated greatly! Reviews are good for the soul man, the SOUL! Yes, I'm weird.
