**Gomen!!! I have left this piece of work alone for tooooooo long!
Aiko-chan is very sorry to all readers. But now that I'm back on track, here's a short chapter, and the rest will follow up soon thereafter. Thanks
for all who still supported!**
story summary: The Kenshin-gumi live their lives in a presumed "happy ending" after the Jinchuu arc. However, ever since Yahiko bumbed into a worn out Enishi and Kaoru accepts him into her home, their lives take on an unexpected turn. Kenhin-gumi doing voluntary work in Rakuninmura? Enishi teaching at a dojo? And what's this? Soujiro is married??? Read on to find out more! Arigatou!
Chapter 16: The Accused
The sounds that once echoed through the dojo walls are now no more, what's left behind are the ashes that held so much memories. 'Kamiya Kasshin Ryu' the name plate that was hung proudly outside the cement gate are all that remains of identity. A burnt smell still lingered in the air, as did a worn man of his late twenties, hair of ghostly white, and hands behind his back, cuffed. He refused to budge, even when a group of policemen attempted to drag him away.
No, not this. No...please no. Why? Why is all that I touch, destroyed? All that I care, gone? WHY?
No more. I shall cause harm no more.
**
"Mother and Father are worried," Miko said quietly in the carriage, next to her loved one. She timidly reached a hand above him, and clutched his warm fingers. "I was too..." Soujiro tensed, but didn't show it. He knew this would come sooner or later, he knew happiness wouldn't last for long in his life. Most of all, he knew Misao was walking home alone.
*flashback*
"Miko"
Miko walked down the carriage, ran down the gravel road into the green field and threw her arms around him.
Soujiro didn't flinch, but stood in a daze. Soon, he felt his hakama go wet at the shoulders, Miko was weeping.
"Please...please don't leave me again..." she whispered between tears, tears she had held within her for so long, now flow freely out to her loved one.
"Miko-san..."
She's crying...for me? Does she love me?
He heart felt weak, and arms reached very slowly to wrap tightly her trembling body.
What is love? Did someone ever love me before? Miko-san...she loves me.
But he couldn't settle comfortably with that thought. There was a nudge deep inside that told him the story doesn't end yet, that there was still something that didn't feel right. He knew Misao was watching, in pure confusion. "Sou-kun...dare ga?" Misao stood in the distance, and forced a smile. She had a similar feeling of uncomfortableness, and couldn't point out what it was. A strong gust of wind blew through the fields, petals that laid in a design now flew all over, circling around and brushing faces and clothes.
He released his embrace and turned to face Misao. Miko, aware of another's presence, took out her handkerchief from her kimono folds and wiped her tears dry, never letting go of her cling on his arm.
"Misao," he started, softly but loud enough for her to hear. "this is Miko..."
Miko bowed politely while Misao nodded her head.
"...my wife."
The winds picked up speed again, this time determined to erase all traces of recognisable words on the grass.
** Kenshin carefully dabbed the forehead of Kaoru with a hot damp cloth, signs of stress and anguish present on both their faces. Sano and Yahiko sat on the other ends of the room, both silent not knowing what to say in such depressing times. None of them could hardly believe what happened.
The Kamiya dojo, the home which her father built...collapsed.
The training ground that helped train Yahiko to the standard he is now, endless hours of practice... only memories remain.
The happy and sad times spend on the porch, waiting for Kenshin to
come back, seeing Sano walk through the gate, Yahiko tread in with
baskets of tofu....even the laundry area was not spared.
"I promise I will get to the bottom of this matter, Kaoru." Kenshin whispered in her ear, with undescribable rage and determination burning deep within. If this was caused by someone, he swore by his life he or she will not get away with it.
Aiko-chan is very sorry to all readers. But now that I'm back on track, here's a short chapter, and the rest will follow up soon thereafter. Thanks
for all who still supported!**
story summary: The Kenshin-gumi live their lives in a presumed "happy ending" after the Jinchuu arc. However, ever since Yahiko bumbed into a worn out Enishi and Kaoru accepts him into her home, their lives take on an unexpected turn. Kenhin-gumi doing voluntary work in Rakuninmura? Enishi teaching at a dojo? And what's this? Soujiro is married??? Read on to find out more! Arigatou!
Chapter 16: The Accused
The sounds that once echoed through the dojo walls are now no more, what's left behind are the ashes that held so much memories. 'Kamiya Kasshin Ryu' the name plate that was hung proudly outside the cement gate are all that remains of identity. A burnt smell still lingered in the air, as did a worn man of his late twenties, hair of ghostly white, and hands behind his back, cuffed. He refused to budge, even when a group of policemen attempted to drag him away.
No, not this. No...please no. Why? Why is all that I touch, destroyed? All that I care, gone? WHY?
No more. I shall cause harm no more.
**
"Mother and Father are worried," Miko said quietly in the carriage, next to her loved one. She timidly reached a hand above him, and clutched his warm fingers. "I was too..." Soujiro tensed, but didn't show it. He knew this would come sooner or later, he knew happiness wouldn't last for long in his life. Most of all, he knew Misao was walking home alone.
*flashback*
"Miko"
Miko walked down the carriage, ran down the gravel road into the green field and threw her arms around him.
Soujiro didn't flinch, but stood in a daze. Soon, he felt his hakama go wet at the shoulders, Miko was weeping.
"Please...please don't leave me again..." she whispered between tears, tears she had held within her for so long, now flow freely out to her loved one.
"Miko-san..."
She's crying...for me? Does she love me?
He heart felt weak, and arms reached very slowly to wrap tightly her trembling body.
What is love? Did someone ever love me before? Miko-san...she loves me.
But he couldn't settle comfortably with that thought. There was a nudge deep inside that told him the story doesn't end yet, that there was still something that didn't feel right. He knew Misao was watching, in pure confusion. "Sou-kun...dare ga?" Misao stood in the distance, and forced a smile. She had a similar feeling of uncomfortableness, and couldn't point out what it was. A strong gust of wind blew through the fields, petals that laid in a design now flew all over, circling around and brushing faces and clothes.
He released his embrace and turned to face Misao. Miko, aware of another's presence, took out her handkerchief from her kimono folds and wiped her tears dry, never letting go of her cling on his arm.
"Misao," he started, softly but loud enough for her to hear. "this is Miko..."
Miko bowed politely while Misao nodded her head.
"...my wife."
The winds picked up speed again, this time determined to erase all traces of recognisable words on the grass.
** Kenshin carefully dabbed the forehead of Kaoru with a hot damp cloth, signs of stress and anguish present on both their faces. Sano and Yahiko sat on the other ends of the room, both silent not knowing what to say in such depressing times. None of them could hardly believe what happened.
The Kamiya dojo, the home which her father built...collapsed.
The training ground that helped train Yahiko to the standard he is now, endless hours of practice... only memories remain.
The happy and sad times spend on the porch, waiting for Kenshin to
come back, seeing Sano walk through the gate, Yahiko tread in with
baskets of tofu....even the laundry area was not spared.
"I promise I will get to the bottom of this matter, Kaoru." Kenshin whispered in her ear, with undescribable rage and determination burning deep within. If this was caused by someone, he swore by his life he or she will not get away with it.