Disclaimer: you know it, I know it, the owners of RK know, it. That all rights belong to them, not me. Just borrowing the character, nothing else.
Dear Kenshin
You definitely don't want to hear this. Kenji ran away from home today. I know, you are probably shocked because yes, he is very young to have run off like that. Here's the bigger shock. He ran to Hiko.
I'm sure your mouth is hanging open now. So here's what happened.
*Flashback*
Yahiko approached the gate to the Kamiya residence with a slow shuffle. It was still early morning and he wasn't awake, but he had promised to have breakfast with Kaoru and Kenji this morning, and Kaoru had asked him to get the tofu. Honestly, he thought the invite was a way of getting him to buy tofu for them.
As he entered the gate, heading for the house, he shouts his usual "Oy! Busu! Acting Master Myoujin Yahiko is here." He loved saying that. Insulting Kaoru and boosting his ego all in one statement. He smiled waiting for her quick witted response, but there was nothing. He eyed the house strangely, waiting for even an oversized radish to come flying at him. But still nothing.
"Kaoru?" He called out before entering the house. Worry washed over him momentary. Although the house showed no signs of any malicious happenings, he still felt something was amiss.
He arrived at Kaoru's bedrooms and tapped on the shoji door first. When there was no response, he slid it open, only to find that she was not there and her futon had already been folded away.
He continued down the hall to Kenji's room and found the door slightly ajar. "Kenji?" He called quietly, only to hear a muffled sob. Yahiko quickened his steps and slid the door open.
There was Kaoru, still in her yukata, sitting on Kenji's unfolded futon. Her head was downcast, and her bangs covered her face. Besides her slightly labored breathing, she was silent.
"Kaoru?" Yahiko spoke quietly.
She raised her head to stare at him and he could see the tears brimming in her eyes. She had a look of terror on her pale face. Immediately he felt a rush of fear wash over him, and his mind created dozens of scenarios of why she would be sitting in her son's room, crying. He questioned her with his expression, but she said nothing. Her only response was holding out a piece of paper to him.
Yahiko kneeled in front of her, taking the paper from the shaking hands.
Okaasan,
I'm sorry to leave you like this. But I am going into the mountains to find Father's master Hiko Seijurou. I want to learn Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. I know that you were hoping I would learn Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and be your successor, but I cannot do that. People say my father was the strongest swordsman, I do not know if that is true. But if I want to find strength, then I must see what Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu can do for me. I hope you do not feel betrayed. Please, don't try to find me.
Love,
Kenji
Yahiko wanted to rip the paper to shreds. Didn't he know that Kaoru had lost enough of the men in her life? How could he be so selfish?
"That brat," was all he was able to mumble of the thoughts running through his head. He raised his hand and stroked Kaoru's hair. "Don't worry, I'll go get him right now and give him the beating of his life."
He began to get up when a hand snaked around his wrist. "No."
Yahiko looked at Kaoru with confused eyes.
"He doesn't want us to go get him." Kaoru spoke softly.
"That's not his choice!." Yahiko snapped, attempting to pull from her grip, but her fingers tightened, and he felt like he had been the hilt of a sword just then that she gripped desperately at. "Kaoru, he's too young. Besides, his place, his budo, should be Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Kenshin wanted to be the last one. He wanted to stop the death. Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu is a killing art. And aside from all that, it will end up killing him. Kenji is just like Kenshin. Too small for that style. It will tear his body apart. You know this."
Her grip was unrelinquishing. "Let him be." She spoke again. "You are right, he is like Kenshin. He needs to wander. It is in his veins. Kenji wants answers. So he will go to Hiko to find them. Hiko will not turn him away, I know. But Kenji, even if he doesn't want to be, is more like his father than he thinks. He knows where home is, and he will return. Just like Kenshin will return. Their spirits just need time to wander."
Yahiko turned his head in disgust. She had such blind faith in her loved ones. She always had. Always smiling. She was always smiling.
*Flashback*
So she made me stay back. She let him run away. Just like she let you leave. Sometimes I wonder if the two of you know how much she sacrifices for you guys. She puts her own happiness on hold so that your wandering spirits can fly free. If you guys love her, you will come back. She deserves to be happy too. The both of you are idiots to not recognize that.
A/n: Woooo, longest one yet.