Chapter 2
By Crystal
Author's Notes: Time flies.
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
May 2, 1865
An year, three months and one day since the first time he has seen me, the first time under the rain of blood. I still miss him, a lot. And I'm really tired. Last week, I had gotten Hisashi-san to get me a journal since I couldn't walk that well at all. Well, right now, I'm perfectly fine since I gave birth yesterday. It's my first time writing in this journal. I'm was so happy. My son was born. No, our son. Our lovely sun with gentle violet eyes and red hair. An exact copy of his father. Except he didn't have a ponytail. Yet. I guess I'll leave it up to him whether or not he wants a ponytail or keep his hair short, I don't really mind. He's sleeping right now, peacefully. For the last few months I've been living here, it's been all happy and good. But really, how many time have I asked myself? How long will this war last? I'm sure I've asked more than a few thousand times... Maybe even more. Anyways, I hear Toku-kun whining about his empty stomach. I shall fill it up. And by the way, Toku-kun is like a second son to me, I'm sure Kenji will grow up fine with a brother like Toku-kun. Hopefully, he'll grow up with a father.
May 1, 1866
Well, Kenji's a very good child. Even started to learn arguing with Toku-kun. A great brother for him. The more Kenji grows, the more he looks like his father. He doesn't have much resemblance to me, except for probably the nose. Hisashi-san's been nothing but kind to me, and I feel in debt. I've been doing chores around the house and taking care of the two kids. However, Hisashi-san says that that is enough to pay the debt, though I really doubt it. It does warm my heart sometimes though. Once again, hopefully, I hope the war ends soon. But I've been hoping for that for years, haven't I? Anyways, I still miss Kenshin. I think I always will.
May 1, 1867
I realize that I always write on Kenji's birthday. Except for the very first day he was born. Can't expect me to write after giving birth. I mean, I am human and I get tired too. Two years passes so fast... It's weird. It's even weirder that I haven't seen my husband for years, yet, it seems like we just saw each other yesterday. I still remember the pain on my shoulder. I remember the pain in my heart. I remember the warmth that engulfed me when Kenshin burned the house. I remember the fear. The raw fear when I thought Kenshin was going to die. I remember everything. And I want to forget some of it. Because, I know. Even if I want to see him again, I know it's all a stupid dream. I know it's impossible though. A stupid dream, all a stupid dream. No, it's not that I won't see Kenshin because he's dead, but it's because I know I won't see him. Ever. I have the gut feeling.
January 3, 1868
I heard from Hisashi-san that the Ishinshishi took over the government today. It's a relief, but the rumours are also saying that Himura Battousai left the battlefields. I don't know whether I should believe that... Hopefully, he'll pass by Otsu tomorrow morning because I've already told Hisashi-san that I'm going to the market tomorrow morning and try to catch him. Hopefully, it'll work, or it won't. Take care, Kenshin...
May 1, 1868
The revolution hasn't ended yet. I never caught a glimpse of Kenshin that day. Even though I had been waiting for a day. Later when I arrived back, I heard that he passed through. Just my luck to miss him. I miss him so much... How many years more until I'll see him? I don't like this...
October 28, 1868
The revolution has finally ended. Finally. After so many years. I've been living through hell for four years. Four entire years. Four and a half actually. I've told Hisashi-san that I'm leaving for Edo on November 1st. He knows and he understands. Kenji's coming with me, of course. He is my son, after all. But I promised I'd visit him and Toku-kun when I have time. Anyways, I'm going to go sleep now and I'll pack up tomorrow morning. I'm afraid I won't have too much time to write in this journal now that I'm travelling. Two weeks, give me two weeks and a few days more and I'll start writing in here again. Sayonara.
October 31, 1868
I'm afraid the last entry wasn't my last... But I'm positive this will be my last. But I'll write again in two weeks, unless something happens, which, hopefully, it won't. Last night here. Toku-kun was crying tonight. Doesn't want me and Kenji to leave. But I guess there's no choice. I want to find my husband, and I've asked Kenji already. He wants to find his 'daddy' too. He's so adorable. Sayonara.
The morning arrived really soon and soon enough, I'm already bidding farewells to everyone in the village, especially Hisashi-san and Toku-kun. Two people I've treated as my family for the past years. Toku-kun's crying now, and I don't know what to do. Kenji's excited, but sad at the thought of leaving his brother.
"Tomoe-san, start moving on." Hisashi-san told me.
"I'll wait for him, even if it takes forever." I replied, determined.
He paused for a minute, thinking, "Forever is a long time. But I promise you this. If ever I hear word of Kenshin-kun, I'll send a letter to you. I've already gotten your address." I bowed and turned around and started walking.
We've been walking for I don't know how many minutes already, hand in hand. He his auburn hair tied up in a ponytail now, violet eyes and he's looking at everything with curiosity. We pass by a deserted graveyard and something in the wind caught my eye, and it caught Kenji's eyes too.
"Okaasan... Why does that cross have something tied on there?" He pointed at a single cross in the middle with something familiar looking swaying in the air. A blue shawl. I walk towards it with curiosity. Curious at why my blue shawl was there when I gave it to Kenshin. I was also curious at why there were three stones at the bottom of the cross. It seemed to be the only one that had that. That was weird.
"Baka deshi..." I heard a man say and I turned around. A tall man. He narrowed his eyes at me standing in front of the cross and his eyes travelled down to Kenji, where his eyes widened in surprise.
I bowed a little. "Sorry to be standing in your way." Then, I turned around and untied the shawl and started on my way until his voice stopped me again.
"Who are you?"
I turned around, "Watashi wa Yukishiro Tomoe desu ka." Then I shake my head, "No... Watashi wa... Himura Tomoe desu ka."
"So... That baka deshi of mine got a wife."
Kenji stood in front of me protectively, and it surprised me, "Don't hurt Okaasan..."
Once again, his eyes traveled down to Kenji. "I'm not going to hurt your mother. I'm just surprised that my baka deshi got married and have a kid. You look a lot like your father. What's your name?"
Before Kenji could answer, I answered, "Himura Kenji. Who are you, and how do you know my husband?"
"How could I not know Kenshin? Come over to my house and I'll tell you everything."
So then, I followed him all the way up the mountain where he lived, it was peaceful, but I couldn't stop but think that he loved being alone. Then I sat down and listened to his story. Himura Shinta, his name was. Sold as a slave as a child and rescued by this man named Hiko Seijuro, then renamed Himura Kenshin to be trained in the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu style. Left his master as a teenager and fought for the Ishinshishi to protect the innocent and met me, Yukishiro Tomoe.
In return, I told him the story since he met me, and I told him the truth. No lies. I told him about the mission, I told him everything. And he nodded without interfering my story. So here, in front of me was the master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, Kenshin's master/father. Kenji was now asleep, curled up and his head on my lap. His eyes soften as he sees Kenji. He might be cold and emotionless on the outside, but from that moment on, I knew he had a soft spot for Kenshin.
"So that means, he's kind of like your grandson." I smiled at the thought. At least Kenji had a grandfather even if he didn't have a father. That was good enough for now.
"No... He isn't." I nodded, determined once again to get Kenji a grandfather if a father wasn't possible. "But I will do one thing if I have your approval." I nodded, mentioning him to go on. "I want to train Kenji the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. Since that baka deshi of mine is gone and this is his son, he has every right to receive the style."
I smiled, happy at the idea of him having a connection to his father, but sad at the idea of having to leave him. But I wanted him to have a connection with his father if ever we see him again, so I approved. "I guess we can start soon. I'm leaving for Edo in a week then, but I promise I'll visit him at least once an year." He nodded, and thus, Himura Kenji became the 15th inheritor of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu.
Before leaving, I left Kenji something that I told him to take care of. A child's top. His father's, my husband's, his baka deshi's.
* * * * *
Days have flown by fast and I'm now in front of my own house, knocking on the door. A little girl with black hair opens the door and looks up at me. I recognize her immediately as Toshiko. "Toshiko..." I said quietly.
Her eyes widen in surprise and tears quickly fill up to the brim. "Oneechan..." And hugged me, I returned the hug and pulled my head up to see...
"Kao-chan?" I asked.
Kao-chan came up to tackle me in a tight hug. "Tomoe-san!" I had no idea that these two kids would remember me. Most kids don't have the greatest memory when they're really young. The last I saw Toshiko was when she was two and the last I saw Kao-chan was when she was four.
I later learned, during dinner time when Kao-chan's father came from teaching kids, my father passed away during the second year when I was living in Hisashi. I told them I was married and had a son that was training with his grandfather somewhere in Kyoto and his name was Kenji. Other than that, I had not mentioned the family name Himura or Kenshin, in fear that Kamiya-san would know who Himura Kenshin was. I only told him that Kenji was a really cute boy and that I never saw my husband after the war. It was true, I never did see Kenshin.
I saw Kamiya-san's suspicious look. He had every right to be suspicious. Who do you know, as a mother that has just bore a child and is not excited talking about him/her to your friends? I wanted to say everything about my cute child, but there was no way. Red hair for Japanese was rare, and a red haired Japanese with the name of Himura Kenshin... There was only one. That night, I slept peacefully and I wrote in my journal once again.
* * * * *
The next morning, there was a letter for me...
Okaasan,
Ojiisan taught me how to write letter. Ojiisan says my hand write messy. I hope to see you soon!
Tomoe, Kenji's just as bad as my baka deshi, but he's doing good.
Himura Kenji, Hiko Seijuro.
I smiled. I definitely did not make a wrong choice about leaving Kenji at Hiko-san's. He doesn't call me 'Tomoe-san' anymore. He's probably the second to ever do that. Kenshin calls me Tomoe too. Anyways, I better start off taking care of Toshiko and Kao-chan. Kao-chan slept over at my house with Toshiko. They're practically best friends now and Toshiko might start learning the Kamiya Kasshin style soon. Kao-chan voluteered to teach her. Such cute kids. Now that I'm in Edo, I take care of Toshiko and Kao-chan, when I'm in Kyoto, I'll be taking care of Kenji and Toku-kun.
XenoMark – Thanks ^^
Aerisakura and Smashfriends – I don't think I'll make two Himura Kenjis, but it's a good idea.
Sakura Alex – This is a Kenshin/Tomoe fic only. I don't think I'm getting Kenshin and Kaoru married. That'll just be too unfair to Tomoe and I like K/T better anyways =p. Arigatou
Blueraingurl – It's a good idea to get Kenshin to see the birth of his child, but unfortunately, he's still in war at that time and then leaves right away to be a rurouni.
BloodHound – I do agree with you at a certain point. I'm not a K/T fan, but I do read them and I do write them.
rika – Thanks for the email and review! ^^
Author's Notes: Sorry for the slow updates on my RK fics! Next chapter, it'll be ten years later. Fast eh? Yeah, I want to get to the point. By the way, everything, at least a lot of things is changing in the fic. Can't wait to see Kenji master the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu ^^ Hiko might be a bit OOC.
