Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own 'em, so don't worry about it. Just enjoy my newest chapter.
Frozen
Chapter 2
She could only pick at her food that night, half listening to Sano tell with pride about the money he had gained gambling during the day.
Biting back her sarcastic comment about the uses that money would go to, she rested her gaze on Yahiko, seated across from her. He too had been unusually quiet tonight- his laughter during Sano's story seemed to lack its normal cheerfulness, and he barely ate any of his food. Even more worrisome was that she had yet to hear one "busu" or "hag" from his mouth since he had returned.
She saw that Kenshin had also rested his gaze on the young boy, eyes thoughtful as he took in Yahiko's slight form. As the meal dragged on, Yahiko seemed to grow even worse- his face became pale, and even his laughter began to sound strained and forced. Finally, he stood, wobbling slightly as he sucked in a breath.
"Yahiko..." Kaoru reached out a hand in concern; but he brushed her off, turning towards the entrance.
"I'm going to get some air...I'll be back." The words floated back to her as he left, heading towards the door with unsteady steps. Kaoru stood up, worry etched across her face. Something was wrong...
"Kaoru-dono." From across the room, Kenshin's voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned to face him, and he smiled softly at her. "Sit down. Sessha will go."
She thought briefly about arguing, and decided it was not worth the trouble. Kenshin would take care of Yahiko. He nodded slightly at her expression of gratitude before quietly excusing himself, following the path the boy had taken.
Sliding open the door, he found the boy leaning against one of the support pillars, hand pressed to his head.
Yahiko jumped when a gentle hand landed on his shoulder, spinning around to see who had followed him. The motion caused his head to begin whirling sickeningly once more, and Kenshin's hand became a firm support as he stumbled slightly.
"Yahiko, what's wrong?" the rurouni asked, alarmed by how pale the boy's face had become.
"I'm fine," Yahiko scowled, turning away. "Just tired, 's all."
Kenshin couldn't stop a slight smile from spreading across his face. "Has Kaoru-dono been working you so hard?"
"Busu," the boy muttered half-heartedly. "She's out to kill me, you know."
The rurouni made a neutral sound; but his grin widened slightly.
"Will you take care of her?"
The question came out of nowhere, and it took a startled moment for the words to sink in.
"Oro?"
Yahiko sighed, made a face. "Will you...will you keep Kaoru safe?"
He started to smile again- then caught the seriousness in the boy's face.
"Yahiko..."
"Don't let anything happen to her." Yahiko whispered. "She...she's all I have..."
Kenshin waited quietly. The boy swallowed, hard, and then went on.
"After mother and father died...and the pickpockets.... I thought I'd never get to have a family again. But then...it was like I got another chance. I got another family- another mother and a big sister, a big brother, and...
He blushed, staring down at the ground. "...a father."
For a moment, there was silence; and then Yahiko felt a gentle hand settle on his shoulder once more, a silent affirmation.
He relished the warm feeling that spread through him, the feeling of security that he thought had died with his father. Weariness warred with pride; but in the end, the small boy won over the future warrior. Sighing, he leaned back against Kenshin, looking not so much the ancestor of samurais than as a small boy who needed to be reassured. The warmth at his back was solid, strong, and comforting.
Kenshin closed his eyes as he felt the rise and fall of Yahiko's shoulders beneath his rough hands.
A...a father?
Part of him rebelled against the thought. He was both rurouni, a wandering samurai, and Battousai, the manslayer. How could he possibly be a father? Yahiko needed someone else...someone who would stay with him, watch him grow, guide him in his training...
'But he doesn't want someone else...he wants you.' A small voice whispered.
But along with Himura Kenshin came his past...the torn and bloody past of a man named Himura Battousai.
'He knows about your past...and he doesn't care. He looks up to you, idolizes you...loves you.'
Love.
Was he still the man he had been, so many years ago? Or was he someone different...someone capable of loving? Capable of caring for...a son?
'Could you really leave now? Take off without looking back, and go back to being alone? Leave Yahiko, Sano, Megumi...
...leave Kaoru-dono?'
It was a question that weighed on his shoulders, demanding an answer he did not have.
But he could protect them, even if he couldn't love them.
'Baka...you already do.'
He brushed aside the voice, looking down at the small boy leaning against him.
Yes...he could keep them safe.
"I'll protect her, Yahiko," he murmured, not daring to offend the boy's fierce pride by including him in the statement. But in his heart, he silently swore the same- no harm would come to this boy who called him father.
"Sessha will protect her."
Yahiko nodded drowsily, leaning further into Kenshin's hold. He had expected no less.
The setting sun illuminated them both as they stood on the porch; the small, fierce boy with the stubborn face, and the fiery haired man who stood behind, regarding him with warm violet eyes.
And from far away, the dark man watched...and laughed.
***
"One...uhh...two...uhh...three..."
Yahiko glared at the back of Kaoru's head as he swung the practice sword. She had sentenced him to one hundred swings for insulting her; not that she hadn't deserved it.
"Six...busu...seven...hag..."
He found some satisfaction in muttering to himself- though he dared not say it loud enough to evoke her wrath.
Once was quite enough, even for Yahiko.
To make matters worse, rain had fallen once more the night before, causing the front courtyard to become one large mud puddle.
A mud puddle he was now standing in the middle of.
At least he wasn't feeling funny anymore...like he had at dinner last night. For a while, he had thought for sure that he was getting sick.
'Or maybe it was just busu's food,' he thought scathingly, shooting Kaoru yet another glare. It was a mystery to him why he hadn't burned holes in her back yet.
"Uhh...twenty-one...uhh...twenty-two..."
His frustration continued to grow as he swung. Why didn't she turn around? He would give her face so awful she'd have nightmares for weeks... Angrily, he put all his force into the next swing of the bokken-
And yelled as he felt his feet begin to slide out from under him. Caught up in his frustration, he had overcompensated, and lost his footing in the slick mud. He had time for one startled oath before he hit face first, arms and legs thrashing as he was instantly coated with the thick mud.
Only then did Kaoru look up.
She regarded him over the top of her book, one eyebrow raised. Yahiko resembled one of the mud pies Ayame and Suzume were so fond of making. For a moment, they stared at each other wordlessly- and then Yahiko noticed Kaoru's mouth twitching uncontrollably. She stared for another moment- and then burst into peals of laughter.
Yahiko could only watch in mute amazement as she clutched her book, laughing so hard tears ran down her face. He honestly didn't know whether to be angry...or whether to laugh along with her.
So, in his moment of indecision, he settled for the next best thing.
Kaoru was slumped the ground, clutching her aching stomach and trying to stop laughing long enough to breath when a mudball hit her square in the face.
In an instant, her laughter was sheared short as she felt the mud drip down the front of her kimono.
She could only stare in shocked silence as Yahiko folded his arms, tilting his head to better examine his handiwork, a smug smile stretched across his face.
There were, of course, a million things that she could do at that moment. But somehow, only one of them seemed fitting in the wake of the loss of her favorite kimono.
With a loud cry, she flung herself from the porch, tackling Yahiko in the mud. He yelled in surprise- but there was laughter in the exclamation, too.
"Oro?"
The soft voice sent two heads whipping around, two sets of eyes widening simultaneously.
Kenshin looked in bewilderment at the sight in front of him, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Ohayo, Kenshin!" the smaller of the two moving mud heaps waved cheerfully.
"Ya...Yahiko?" Kenshin ventured cautiously.
"Yup." Came the careless reply. "Busu's here, too." He pointed happily to the larger mud-covered figure, which had apparently been trying to inch away.
"I see." Kenshin answered, obviously at a loss for words.
"Come play with us, Kenshin!" the boy called joyfully.
"ORO?" The redheaded man choked out. "Yahiko...Sessha...too much to do... Sessha...oh look, is that some laundry?"
Yahiko turned, eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Where?"
Kenshin was halfway across the yard before Yahiko caught on, whirling around and nearly falling once more. "Hey, no fair!"
The rurouni felt his heart leap as he drew nearer to the door- safety was just...another...few feet...
But sadly, the unnatural speed and lighting reflexes of the former Hitokiri Battousai were useless against the well-aimed mudball that was speeding directly towards the back of his head.
"Ororooo!"
Yahiko collapsed against Kaoru, laughing hysterically. Kaoru bit her lip, determined not to join him... but Kenshin looked so utterly bewildered, eyes wide as he stared at them, one hand raised to the mud coated back of his head.
Kenshin briefly considered snatching at what was left of his dignity and making a hasty exit- Kaoru-dono and her student had quite obviously gone insane.
It was, he reflected, probably a result of Kaoru-dono's cooking the night before.
But when Kaoru-dono started to laugh, he knew it was a lost cause.
"You know," he remarked calmly, "of course, that Sessha must enact a great and terrible revenge for that."
"Bring it on!" Yahiko crowed. Kenshin nodded gravely- and then a smile broke out on his face.
And so it was that Himura Kenshin, legendary warrior, brought his battle skills to the mud pit of the Kaimya dojo.
***
Yahiko laughed as he and Kaoru launched yet another assault on the now covered Kenshin. It was times like these that his old life seemed small and far away; when the pickpockets and his years on the street seemed like a fading bad dream.
He grinned as Kaoru grabbed Kenshin's leg, upsetting his balance and unsteady footing. He fell, pulling her with him, laughing even as she cried out in mock protest.
He loved seeing them together. Talking, arguing, pulling each other's hair, it didn't matter- as long as they were together. It was then that he could pretend...almost believe...
He wanted to see them together. Wanted to watch them like he had once watched his parents.
He smiled, giving one last glance to the couple in the mud- and then quietly made his way towards the house.
Even two people as thickheaded as Kaoru and Kenshin would get it, eventually.
But in the meantime, a little privacy probably wouldn't hurt a thing.
Kaoru giggled as Kenshin reached up with one hand, rubbing mud into her hair. She squeaked in protest, trying to pull away; but he held her firmly, smiling up at her with warm violet eyes.
By the time she realized they had both stopped laughing, her heart had already begun to pound. They were close...too close...
One of his hands still rested on the small of her back, pressing her against him. She could feel his soft warmth even through the chill of the mud, even through the mud-drenched cloth of her kimono.
She tried to form words- but none came. Every ounce of her attention was firmly caught up in the soft brush of breath against her cheek, the rise and fall of his chest beneath her...She shuddered lightly, helplessly, when he idly began tracing circles on her back, his touch searing away the cold. This was...
And then...
Her breath caught when he gently pushed down on the back of her head, bringing her towards him. She couldn't breath...she was drowning again, lost in a sea of violet...
And his warm eyes...
And face, so close...
Her heart was going to burst...
"Ohhhhhh, Ken-saaaaaaannnn!"
He tensed beneath her, eyes widening as if awakening from a dream. Abruptly, he pulled back, still breathing hard-
And the moment was gone.
Frozen
Chapter 2
She could only pick at her food that night, half listening to Sano tell with pride about the money he had gained gambling during the day.
Biting back her sarcastic comment about the uses that money would go to, she rested her gaze on Yahiko, seated across from her. He too had been unusually quiet tonight- his laughter during Sano's story seemed to lack its normal cheerfulness, and he barely ate any of his food. Even more worrisome was that she had yet to hear one "busu" or "hag" from his mouth since he had returned.
She saw that Kenshin had also rested his gaze on the young boy, eyes thoughtful as he took in Yahiko's slight form. As the meal dragged on, Yahiko seemed to grow even worse- his face became pale, and even his laughter began to sound strained and forced. Finally, he stood, wobbling slightly as he sucked in a breath.
"Yahiko..." Kaoru reached out a hand in concern; but he brushed her off, turning towards the entrance.
"I'm going to get some air...I'll be back." The words floated back to her as he left, heading towards the door with unsteady steps. Kaoru stood up, worry etched across her face. Something was wrong...
"Kaoru-dono." From across the room, Kenshin's voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned to face him, and he smiled softly at her. "Sit down. Sessha will go."
She thought briefly about arguing, and decided it was not worth the trouble. Kenshin would take care of Yahiko. He nodded slightly at her expression of gratitude before quietly excusing himself, following the path the boy had taken.
Sliding open the door, he found the boy leaning against one of the support pillars, hand pressed to his head.
Yahiko jumped when a gentle hand landed on his shoulder, spinning around to see who had followed him. The motion caused his head to begin whirling sickeningly once more, and Kenshin's hand became a firm support as he stumbled slightly.
"Yahiko, what's wrong?" the rurouni asked, alarmed by how pale the boy's face had become.
"I'm fine," Yahiko scowled, turning away. "Just tired, 's all."
Kenshin couldn't stop a slight smile from spreading across his face. "Has Kaoru-dono been working you so hard?"
"Busu," the boy muttered half-heartedly. "She's out to kill me, you know."
The rurouni made a neutral sound; but his grin widened slightly.
"Will you take care of her?"
The question came out of nowhere, and it took a startled moment for the words to sink in.
"Oro?"
Yahiko sighed, made a face. "Will you...will you keep Kaoru safe?"
He started to smile again- then caught the seriousness in the boy's face.
"Yahiko..."
"Don't let anything happen to her." Yahiko whispered. "She...she's all I have..."
Kenshin waited quietly. The boy swallowed, hard, and then went on.
"After mother and father died...and the pickpockets.... I thought I'd never get to have a family again. But then...it was like I got another chance. I got another family- another mother and a big sister, a big brother, and...
He blushed, staring down at the ground. "...a father."
For a moment, there was silence; and then Yahiko felt a gentle hand settle on his shoulder once more, a silent affirmation.
He relished the warm feeling that spread through him, the feeling of security that he thought had died with his father. Weariness warred with pride; but in the end, the small boy won over the future warrior. Sighing, he leaned back against Kenshin, looking not so much the ancestor of samurais than as a small boy who needed to be reassured. The warmth at his back was solid, strong, and comforting.
Kenshin closed his eyes as he felt the rise and fall of Yahiko's shoulders beneath his rough hands.
A...a father?
Part of him rebelled against the thought. He was both rurouni, a wandering samurai, and Battousai, the manslayer. How could he possibly be a father? Yahiko needed someone else...someone who would stay with him, watch him grow, guide him in his training...
'But he doesn't want someone else...he wants you.' A small voice whispered.
But along with Himura Kenshin came his past...the torn and bloody past of a man named Himura Battousai.
'He knows about your past...and he doesn't care. He looks up to you, idolizes you...loves you.'
Love.
Was he still the man he had been, so many years ago? Or was he someone different...someone capable of loving? Capable of caring for...a son?
'Could you really leave now? Take off without looking back, and go back to being alone? Leave Yahiko, Sano, Megumi...
...leave Kaoru-dono?'
It was a question that weighed on his shoulders, demanding an answer he did not have.
But he could protect them, even if he couldn't love them.
'Baka...you already do.'
He brushed aside the voice, looking down at the small boy leaning against him.
Yes...he could keep them safe.
"I'll protect her, Yahiko," he murmured, not daring to offend the boy's fierce pride by including him in the statement. But in his heart, he silently swore the same- no harm would come to this boy who called him father.
"Sessha will protect her."
Yahiko nodded drowsily, leaning further into Kenshin's hold. He had expected no less.
The setting sun illuminated them both as they stood on the porch; the small, fierce boy with the stubborn face, and the fiery haired man who stood behind, regarding him with warm violet eyes.
And from far away, the dark man watched...and laughed.
***
"One...uhh...two...uhh...three..."
Yahiko glared at the back of Kaoru's head as he swung the practice sword. She had sentenced him to one hundred swings for insulting her; not that she hadn't deserved it.
"Six...busu...seven...hag..."
He found some satisfaction in muttering to himself- though he dared not say it loud enough to evoke her wrath.
Once was quite enough, even for Yahiko.
To make matters worse, rain had fallen once more the night before, causing the front courtyard to become one large mud puddle.
A mud puddle he was now standing in the middle of.
At least he wasn't feeling funny anymore...like he had at dinner last night. For a while, he had thought for sure that he was getting sick.
'Or maybe it was just busu's food,' he thought scathingly, shooting Kaoru yet another glare. It was a mystery to him why he hadn't burned holes in her back yet.
"Uhh...twenty-one...uhh...twenty-two..."
His frustration continued to grow as he swung. Why didn't she turn around? He would give her face so awful she'd have nightmares for weeks... Angrily, he put all his force into the next swing of the bokken-
And yelled as he felt his feet begin to slide out from under him. Caught up in his frustration, he had overcompensated, and lost his footing in the slick mud. He had time for one startled oath before he hit face first, arms and legs thrashing as he was instantly coated with the thick mud.
Only then did Kaoru look up.
She regarded him over the top of her book, one eyebrow raised. Yahiko resembled one of the mud pies Ayame and Suzume were so fond of making. For a moment, they stared at each other wordlessly- and then Yahiko noticed Kaoru's mouth twitching uncontrollably. She stared for another moment- and then burst into peals of laughter.
Yahiko could only watch in mute amazement as she clutched her book, laughing so hard tears ran down her face. He honestly didn't know whether to be angry...or whether to laugh along with her.
So, in his moment of indecision, he settled for the next best thing.
Kaoru was slumped the ground, clutching her aching stomach and trying to stop laughing long enough to breath when a mudball hit her square in the face.
In an instant, her laughter was sheared short as she felt the mud drip down the front of her kimono.
She could only stare in shocked silence as Yahiko folded his arms, tilting his head to better examine his handiwork, a smug smile stretched across his face.
There were, of course, a million things that she could do at that moment. But somehow, only one of them seemed fitting in the wake of the loss of her favorite kimono.
With a loud cry, she flung herself from the porch, tackling Yahiko in the mud. He yelled in surprise- but there was laughter in the exclamation, too.
"Oro?"
The soft voice sent two heads whipping around, two sets of eyes widening simultaneously.
Kenshin looked in bewilderment at the sight in front of him, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Ohayo, Kenshin!" the smaller of the two moving mud heaps waved cheerfully.
"Ya...Yahiko?" Kenshin ventured cautiously.
"Yup." Came the careless reply. "Busu's here, too." He pointed happily to the larger mud-covered figure, which had apparently been trying to inch away.
"I see." Kenshin answered, obviously at a loss for words.
"Come play with us, Kenshin!" the boy called joyfully.
"ORO?" The redheaded man choked out. "Yahiko...Sessha...too much to do... Sessha...oh look, is that some laundry?"
Yahiko turned, eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Where?"
Kenshin was halfway across the yard before Yahiko caught on, whirling around and nearly falling once more. "Hey, no fair!"
The rurouni felt his heart leap as he drew nearer to the door- safety was just...another...few feet...
But sadly, the unnatural speed and lighting reflexes of the former Hitokiri Battousai were useless against the well-aimed mudball that was speeding directly towards the back of his head.
"Ororooo!"
Yahiko collapsed against Kaoru, laughing hysterically. Kaoru bit her lip, determined not to join him... but Kenshin looked so utterly bewildered, eyes wide as he stared at them, one hand raised to the mud coated back of his head.
Kenshin briefly considered snatching at what was left of his dignity and making a hasty exit- Kaoru-dono and her student had quite obviously gone insane.
It was, he reflected, probably a result of Kaoru-dono's cooking the night before.
But when Kaoru-dono started to laugh, he knew it was a lost cause.
"You know," he remarked calmly, "of course, that Sessha must enact a great and terrible revenge for that."
"Bring it on!" Yahiko crowed. Kenshin nodded gravely- and then a smile broke out on his face.
And so it was that Himura Kenshin, legendary warrior, brought his battle skills to the mud pit of the Kaimya dojo.
***
Yahiko laughed as he and Kaoru launched yet another assault on the now covered Kenshin. It was times like these that his old life seemed small and far away; when the pickpockets and his years on the street seemed like a fading bad dream.
He grinned as Kaoru grabbed Kenshin's leg, upsetting his balance and unsteady footing. He fell, pulling her with him, laughing even as she cried out in mock protest.
He loved seeing them together. Talking, arguing, pulling each other's hair, it didn't matter- as long as they were together. It was then that he could pretend...almost believe...
He wanted to see them together. Wanted to watch them like he had once watched his parents.
He smiled, giving one last glance to the couple in the mud- and then quietly made his way towards the house.
Even two people as thickheaded as Kaoru and Kenshin would get it, eventually.
But in the meantime, a little privacy probably wouldn't hurt a thing.
Kaoru giggled as Kenshin reached up with one hand, rubbing mud into her hair. She squeaked in protest, trying to pull away; but he held her firmly, smiling up at her with warm violet eyes.
By the time she realized they had both stopped laughing, her heart had already begun to pound. They were close...too close...
One of his hands still rested on the small of her back, pressing her against him. She could feel his soft warmth even through the chill of the mud, even through the mud-drenched cloth of her kimono.
She tried to form words- but none came. Every ounce of her attention was firmly caught up in the soft brush of breath against her cheek, the rise and fall of his chest beneath her...She shuddered lightly, helplessly, when he idly began tracing circles on her back, his touch searing away the cold. This was...
And then...
Her breath caught when he gently pushed down on the back of her head, bringing her towards him. She couldn't breath...she was drowning again, lost in a sea of violet...
And his warm eyes...
And face, so close...
Her heart was going to burst...
"Ohhhhhh, Ken-saaaaaaannnn!"
He tensed beneath her, eyes widening as if awakening from a dream. Abruptly, he pulled back, still breathing hard-
And the moment was gone.