A Lifetime Forgiven
When Arami didn't return by nightfall, he decided to head back to Kyoto. Fulfilling a promise, he took up the unconscious Shinomori Aoshi and began walking slowly back to where Misaou was waiting for Aoshi's return.
He got a surprise when he arrived back at the Oniwaban headquarters and Ms. Kaoru was still there, waiting for him. Misaou got one glimpse at the unconscious and bloody Aoshi and got into a yelling match with anyone that said he was fine.
"He's not fine! Look at what Mr. Himura has done! Master Aoshi is all bloody!" Came the yells from in the outdoors as Kenshin, Ms. Kaoru, and Misaou's grandfather sat in a room with a bandaged and healing nicely but still unconscious Shinomori. Finally, Aoshi began to awake, and was nearly sent back into unconsciousness as he realized where he was and who with.
"I'm alive?" He asked no one in particular as he held up a bandaged left hand in front of his eyes. Kenshin smiled warmly while the others watched Aoshi cautiously. Suddenly the door slid open and Misaou stood there, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Oh." She said calmly, and then in a blink was nearly on top of Shinomori, sobbing into his bare shoulder.
A shocked expression came over him, but soon softened as he wrapped an undamaged arm around her and smiled weakly. Everyone now smiled warmly then stood, leaving the two alone as Misaou began to hiccough apologies and such.
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2 Days Later
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Everyone was back. Misaou and her Gramps had stood on the doorstep-waving goodbye as Kenshin, Ms. Kaoru, Yahiko and Sanoske all left into the forest of Kyoto, on their way back to the Dojo. Even Aoshi had kept in the shadows of the doorway, watching them with ice blue eyes.
Ms. Kaoru sat on the steps of the Dojo, washing vegetables in a bin, wearing a smile. Kenshin sat playing with the two little girls (an: names?) and a ball they'd been throwing to one another. Yahiko sat talking in hushed whispers not too far from the scene. Every so often one would throw glances over their shoulders to Ms. Kaoru or Kenshin then go back to whispering in even more hushed whispers.
It was then Kenshin sensed it. The ki of something dangerous was quickly coming towards them… but somehow this ki he recognized, but couldn't place.
He stood and faced the entrance of the Dojo, frowning.
A shadow appeared, and steadily grew on the ground near the entrance of the Dojo, which Kenshin watched closely, trying to place it. Then someone turned the corner and it struck him exactly who he had sensed and a smile spread across his lips.
It was a girl, looking the age of nineteen. Her hair looked auburn, but was really a light brown with streaks of crimson running rapidly from scalp to tips. She wore a solid blue kimono with drastic silver flowers lining one of the long sleeves, the trail of silver lilies running across her back and most of her front as well. As her sapphire-silver eyes met with Kenshin's sapphire-violets, a small smile crept to her lips. And then someone else rounded the corner and with a jolt Kenshin realized who he was.
A boy that looked about the age of twenty-four. The blonde strands in his hair reflected silver in the sunlight, yet it was the shades of strawberry that really caught someone's eye. He wears blue pants-type-things… (AN: you know what Kenshin wears? Those white pants… type-things?) And a paler green shirt with the sleeves tied back, so a bandaged arm is clearly visible. Yet he doesn't smile when Kenshin's eyes meet his hazel, green-blue eyes.
"Are you interested in the Dojo?" Asks Ms. Kaoru, whose suddenly at Kenshin's side, surveying the couple with interest. Kenshin gives a start with Ms. Kaoru's sudden appearance, and quietly climbs back down from the tree and smiles at the couple.
"Ms. Kaoru, I'd like you to meet-," sapphire-silver eyes give a warning glow to Kenshin, "my friends, Arami and Ri."
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Sunset
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"Why did you bring Ri here?" Asks Kenshin in an undertone, just in case Ms. Kaoru is around eavesdropping.
"As his story goes, he was under a spell, cast by Shishio. He said when the spell weakened, he was able to do whatever he liked, but it always hovered around him, ready to recapture. I've forgiven him for…" Arami trails off and looks to where Ri is happily playing with the two little girls. As though he's sensed her gaze, Ri looks over to her and gives a brilliant smile, showing his fangs ever so slightly. The silver of Arami's eyes begins to dominate, warning Ri of his mistake, and quickly his fangs disappear and are replaced with omnivorous teeth. "He's letting his guard down." Growls Arami to herself.
"Shouldn't he?" Kenshin asks now, setting down his tiny cup of tea and looking over to Ri, whose gone back to playing merrily.
"When Shishio died, the spell lifted… but I'm not sure if it has completely worn off."
"I don't understand?"
"With that particular spell, anyone who knows the correct incantation can control him."
"You're not-,"
"Of course I'm not!" Snaps Arami, giving Kenshin a reappraising glare. "But I'm still worried." She stopped abruptly and though the gathering darkness made it harder to tell, he was sure she was beginning to blush. "I'll be heading back to Kyoto tomorrow." Arami changed the subject and quietly took a sip of her tea.
Kenshin nodded with a knowing smile as he finished his tea.
Author's note: Well… in my opinion this fan fiction sucked. I don't have a lot of facts on the Rurouni Kenshin show or magna, so it wasn't very accurate… sorry. I'm not planning on a sequel, but if anyone thinks of something feel free to e-mail me or something and we'll type about it. ^. ^ ß Giggles.
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin™. The Original Characters are mine, and some of this plot is too, but that's it.