A Lifetime Forgiven
Chapter Seven: Respect for the Dead
Arami digs a deep grave for what was once middle-aged man. Kenshin must look away while she places the bodily remains in the grave, and doesn't look until the grave has been refilled. A trail of blood leads to the upturned earth. Now Arami is busy tying two broken boards into a cross, before she sets it in the freshly dug hearth.
"Arami?" Kenshin is answered by a grunt. "Have you-," It seems he is unsure of how to put his question. "In your past, did you bury your victims?" Arami stays silent a moment, seemingly deep in thought.
"No. When I was the one who murdered, I didn't show any respect to my victims. The thought in my mind remained; they wouldn't have done it for me, so why should I bother myself with the obligation?" Kenshin nodded, unsure if he should continue to press or if she would go on. But she didn't go on and instead continued tying together the pieces of wood into a cross.
"Why do you not kill anymore?" He asked, a little unsure.
At this Arami didn't speak right away. She stopped tying once more and let the half-finished cross lie carelessly in her lap. For a moment Kenshin thought he had upset her and was about to start stuttering apologies.
"I was injured terribly. If I were not helped, I would not heal. And so I lay down to die. Awaiting my Fate with open arms, having lived a past no one would want to repeat. Then came the unexpected. A man arrived, a priest from a nearby village." Kenshin's breath began to bait as he waited intently for her to continue. "I was too badly injured to object. And so he went, carrying me to his village. Where in time, I healed with his help. After that I couldn't leave him alone. He'd saved my life, even if at the time I would have welcomed death with open arms. It was then I became fully aware of all the bad things I had done." She paused, and for a time just sat quietly with her head bowed, her auburn bangs shielding her sapphire-silver eyes from view.
Kenshin was about to ask if she was all right, when he noticed something drip to the ground. Soon to be followed by another drop of the same. Then he realized, she was crying.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wow, am I in a depressing rut or what? Lately all my stories on FanFiction.net have been really depressing, at least for a chapter or two. Any-how, thanks for reading, special thanks to those that reviewed!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin™.