Apprentice
Chapter 14
The Letter
(AN: This is a transition chapter, as I can't seem to get the Kenshin-gumi exorcised yet, that last chapter was so much fun to write! Anyway, it's now about six weeks since Kenji's impromptu "swim".)
"Kaoru-dono! It's here!" Kenshin's voice rang through the dojo's training hall. "What's here?" Kaoru called back. She and Yahiko were training a younger class of students this morning, which Kaoru loved and Yahiko tolerated.
"Yahiko, take over, please," as she walked over to her husband.
Yahiko frowned slightly. "Assume the first position once more!" he called out, folding his arms and pulling himself erect.
"It's a letter from Misao-dono!" said Kenshin, opening it and showing it to her.
"News about Kenji?" asked Kaoru, reaching towards the paper, but not taking it.
"Yes, anata, I'm sure there is," they went outside on the engawa and sat down together to read.
"Dear Himura Kenshin and Kaoru," it began.
" 'I'm sure you are all well. Congratulate Yahiko-hun on the arrrival of another son. I wish I were there to see the baby. You're so brave, Kaoru, I'm sure I would have fainted dead away if I had to deliver a baby!
I have news for you from the Aoiya and from Hiko-san and also from Kenji- chan.
Kenji is well, but I must tell you he had a slight accident and hurt his arm during training. Don't worry, please, he has recovered and is fine now. Hiko-san tells Aoshi he is a most challenging and apt pupil. You should be proud of your son, he is quick to learn.'"
Kenshin looked at his wife and snorted in faint disbelief. " "Challenging?'", he repeated and shook his head. " 'Hurt?' " repeated Kaoru, looking worried. "Don't worry, anata, she says he is fine now, it was probably nothing," said Kenshin to her, patting her hand.
"I think that is Misao's way of letting us know that Kenji is his usual strong-willed self," smiled Kaoru. "He no doubt is training too hard and hurt himself." She was missing her son terribly, but had been keeping busy enough to push the feelings away. Being with the younger students this morning had already started her thinking of her aisoku, and now the letter. Her eyes filled with unshed tears and she turned her head away.
Kenshin, not noticing, resumed reading to her.
" ' I'm sure Kenji-chan misses you, Kaoru, and his father. I must admit, Hiko-san seems to be taking very good care of him, and he is quite safe. Kenji seems to have grown since I last saw him and is taking to the rustic life very well.'"
Kenshin chuckled. "That means Shishou is working his little butt off," he said. "I hope he isn't too harsh with Kenji-chan," said Kaoru in a hushed voice.
Kenshin looked over at his wife. Two tears had silently slid down her face.
"You miss him so much, anata?" he said, putting his arm around her comfortingly and patting her back. "I'm trying to be brave, Kenshin," she replied, "but I do. I can't help it!"
"He'll be home soon enough, Kaoru," he told her earnestly, "and Shishou would never harm Kenji in any way, you must believe me. Training in the Hiten Mitsurugi style is difficult, but I would never have sent our son to Hiko if I thought it weren't necessary."
"Necessary?" echoed Kaoru, wiping her eyes.
"Kenji is exceptional in his 'hara'*. I've noticed it since he was very small. He must take a path that allows proper outlet of his spirit or he will not flourish," Kenshin explained carefully to her.
(*"hara" is a difficult word to translate, "aura", or "presence", or "soul" are close, but it entails that and more. A person's relationship, his connected-ness to his ki and the rest of his surroundings on many levels is how I think of it.)
"I've seen this happen, someone with an exceptional gift who is lost to himself can become something perverse in his desire for power." Kenshin said this soberly.
"Like Makoto Shishio," whispered Kaoru. "Or Jin'eh?" she shuddered, suddenly chilled, her eyes blank, remembering.
"Yes, anata," replied Kenshin, suddenly passionate as he turned to grasp her arms. "I would not do that to our son, he must learn to control his abilities."
"I understand, Kenshin," Kaoru said, meeting his eyes. They sat silently for a long moment.
Kenshin cleared his throat, and went back to the letter.
" ' I'm delighted to tell you our good news. I'm expecting again and Yuki- chan should have a new brother or sister in about six months. Aoshi is delighted, of course.'"
Kenshin and Kaoru looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"I wonder how one can tell if Aoshi is 'delighted'?" giggled Kaoru, wiping her eyes.
"I have no idea, that I do not," Kenshin replied in a voice choked with laughter.
"I must keep this letter in case I need to extort some information from the Okashira at a future date," laughed Kenshin. He managed to quit laughing after a few seconds and continued on.
" 'Aoshi and I would love to have the pleasure of your company when Kenji- chan is finished with his training. We plan a celebration, of course, on your arrival. Please write and let us know the date. Your devoted friend, Shinomouri Misao.'"
"Misao is expecting, I'm so happy for her," said Kaoru.
"As am I, that I am," Kenshin said absently, folding the letter and placing inside of his gi.
Kenshin looked at Kaoru. She had a slightly wistful look on her face as she toyed with the end of her long ponytail. She still wore her hair in that fashion when training, as a more elaborate hairdo was not practical. She still looked like the lovely 18 year old girl he had married.
"I had always hoped that we would be blessed with another child, anata," said Kenshin quietly to her. She raised her eyes to his, "Me, too," she said solemnly, tears forming in her eyes again.
"You're still very young, Kaoru," Kenshin whispered. "It will happen if the fates will it to be."
"I know," she whispered back. She smiled, suddenly. "But I have you and Kenji, and I'm happy, so I will not ask fate for too much, ne?"
He smiled at her gently. "I already have so much more than I deserve, I would not ask for more."
He rose from the step where he had been sitting.
"So, will you write Misao and tell her that we will be coming in a month?"
"Yes, I'll do it right away, Kenshin," said Kaoru, also rising. "But, I thought we wouldn't be going to Kyoto until six weeks from now?" she said, puzzled. "Are we changing our plans?" "Yes, anata," answered Kenshin, "I don't know why, but I have this feeling that I should be there before Kenji's training concludes."
"I would not mind seeing my Kenji a little sooner," Kaoru admitted.
"Then it's settled, we'll leave for Kyoto in a month."
Chapter 14
The Letter
(AN: This is a transition chapter, as I can't seem to get the Kenshin-gumi exorcised yet, that last chapter was so much fun to write! Anyway, it's now about six weeks since Kenji's impromptu "swim".)
"Kaoru-dono! It's here!" Kenshin's voice rang through the dojo's training hall. "What's here?" Kaoru called back. She and Yahiko were training a younger class of students this morning, which Kaoru loved and Yahiko tolerated.
"Yahiko, take over, please," as she walked over to her husband.
Yahiko frowned slightly. "Assume the first position once more!" he called out, folding his arms and pulling himself erect.
"It's a letter from Misao-dono!" said Kenshin, opening it and showing it to her.
"News about Kenji?" asked Kaoru, reaching towards the paper, but not taking it.
"Yes, anata, I'm sure there is," they went outside on the engawa and sat down together to read.
"Dear Himura Kenshin and Kaoru," it began.
" 'I'm sure you are all well. Congratulate Yahiko-hun on the arrrival of another son. I wish I were there to see the baby. You're so brave, Kaoru, I'm sure I would have fainted dead away if I had to deliver a baby!
I have news for you from the Aoiya and from Hiko-san and also from Kenji- chan.
Kenji is well, but I must tell you he had a slight accident and hurt his arm during training. Don't worry, please, he has recovered and is fine now. Hiko-san tells Aoshi he is a most challenging and apt pupil. You should be proud of your son, he is quick to learn.'"
Kenshin looked at his wife and snorted in faint disbelief. " "Challenging?'", he repeated and shook his head. " 'Hurt?' " repeated Kaoru, looking worried. "Don't worry, anata, she says he is fine now, it was probably nothing," said Kenshin to her, patting her hand.
"I think that is Misao's way of letting us know that Kenji is his usual strong-willed self," smiled Kaoru. "He no doubt is training too hard and hurt himself." She was missing her son terribly, but had been keeping busy enough to push the feelings away. Being with the younger students this morning had already started her thinking of her aisoku, and now the letter. Her eyes filled with unshed tears and she turned her head away.
Kenshin, not noticing, resumed reading to her.
" ' I'm sure Kenji-chan misses you, Kaoru, and his father. I must admit, Hiko-san seems to be taking very good care of him, and he is quite safe. Kenji seems to have grown since I last saw him and is taking to the rustic life very well.'"
Kenshin chuckled. "That means Shishou is working his little butt off," he said. "I hope he isn't too harsh with Kenji-chan," said Kaoru in a hushed voice.
Kenshin looked over at his wife. Two tears had silently slid down her face.
"You miss him so much, anata?" he said, putting his arm around her comfortingly and patting her back. "I'm trying to be brave, Kenshin," she replied, "but I do. I can't help it!"
"He'll be home soon enough, Kaoru," he told her earnestly, "and Shishou would never harm Kenji in any way, you must believe me. Training in the Hiten Mitsurugi style is difficult, but I would never have sent our son to Hiko if I thought it weren't necessary."
"Necessary?" echoed Kaoru, wiping her eyes.
"Kenji is exceptional in his 'hara'*. I've noticed it since he was very small. He must take a path that allows proper outlet of his spirit or he will not flourish," Kenshin explained carefully to her.
(*"hara" is a difficult word to translate, "aura", or "presence", or "soul" are close, but it entails that and more. A person's relationship, his connected-ness to his ki and the rest of his surroundings on many levels is how I think of it.)
"I've seen this happen, someone with an exceptional gift who is lost to himself can become something perverse in his desire for power." Kenshin said this soberly.
"Like Makoto Shishio," whispered Kaoru. "Or Jin'eh?" she shuddered, suddenly chilled, her eyes blank, remembering.
"Yes, anata," replied Kenshin, suddenly passionate as he turned to grasp her arms. "I would not do that to our son, he must learn to control his abilities."
"I understand, Kenshin," Kaoru said, meeting his eyes. They sat silently for a long moment.
Kenshin cleared his throat, and went back to the letter.
" ' I'm delighted to tell you our good news. I'm expecting again and Yuki- chan should have a new brother or sister in about six months. Aoshi is delighted, of course.'"
Kenshin and Kaoru looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"I wonder how one can tell if Aoshi is 'delighted'?" giggled Kaoru, wiping her eyes.
"I have no idea, that I do not," Kenshin replied in a voice choked with laughter.
"I must keep this letter in case I need to extort some information from the Okashira at a future date," laughed Kenshin. He managed to quit laughing after a few seconds and continued on.
" 'Aoshi and I would love to have the pleasure of your company when Kenji- chan is finished with his training. We plan a celebration, of course, on your arrival. Please write and let us know the date. Your devoted friend, Shinomouri Misao.'"
"Misao is expecting, I'm so happy for her," said Kaoru.
"As am I, that I am," Kenshin said absently, folding the letter and placing inside of his gi.
Kenshin looked at Kaoru. She had a slightly wistful look on her face as she toyed with the end of her long ponytail. She still wore her hair in that fashion when training, as a more elaborate hairdo was not practical. She still looked like the lovely 18 year old girl he had married.
"I had always hoped that we would be blessed with another child, anata," said Kenshin quietly to her. She raised her eyes to his, "Me, too," she said solemnly, tears forming in her eyes again.
"You're still very young, Kaoru," Kenshin whispered. "It will happen if the fates will it to be."
"I know," she whispered back. She smiled, suddenly. "But I have you and Kenji, and I'm happy, so I will not ask fate for too much, ne?"
He smiled at her gently. "I already have so much more than I deserve, I would not ask for more."
He rose from the step where he had been sitting.
"So, will you write Misao and tell her that we will be coming in a month?"
"Yes, I'll do it right away, Kenshin," said Kaoru, also rising. "But, I thought we wouldn't be going to Kyoto until six weeks from now?" she said, puzzled. "Are we changing our plans?" "Yes, anata," answered Kenshin, "I don't know why, but I have this feeling that I should be there before Kenji's training concludes."
"I would not mind seeing my Kenji a little sooner," Kaoru admitted.
"Then it's settled, we'll leave for Kyoto in a month."
