Rurouni Kenshin: The Phoenix Saga

Episode 4 - Farewell and Departure: The Westward Journey Begins

Kaoru awakened slowly, eyes opening with reluctance.  But then they snapped wide as she saw Kenshin's side of the bedmat empty, and the extra length of blanket folded over her.  She sat up quickly and looked around.  He hadn't left without saying goodbye to her, had he?!

But then the smell of some wonderful food reached her nostrils, and she closed her eyes and sighed with relief.  Only Kenshin could make the air such a delight to breathe.  She lay back down to reflect on the previous night, a light blush lifting to her cheeks.  She had never thought she'd see herself acting so intimate and mature.  And yet, it had felt right, and she felt no real regret over it, just as she'd said.  She smiled a bit.  Yes, Kenshin was leaving, but she felt she could tolerate it now.  She felt strong and ready to take care of things until he returned.  He would return, too, of that she was certain.

She rolled up the bedding and carried it to her room, where she put it away then changed from her nightclothes to her training gi and hakama.  She planned to keep herself and Yahiko quite busy.  She began to leave the room... When she paused and opened a box of her things.  She shifted a few nicknacks through her hands until she found what she was looking for, then tucked it into the front of her gi and headed to the cooking room.

Everyone else was there, seated eagerly around the table, talking amongst themselves as Kenshin cooked over the fireplace.  Kaoru smiled warmly and wished them good morning.  "Ohayo gozaimasu."

Everyone looked at her and returned the greeting, either in kind or with a cheerful "Domo".  Kenshin, hair once again tied back in its familiar ponytail, had turned his head toward her and sported his adorable puppy-eyed grin.

"We're gettin' one more dose of Kenshin's cooking before he goes," Yahiko announced.

"It smells great as usual," Kaoru acknowledged, taking a seat.  "We'll sure miss it, but I aim to improve myself by the time you guys get back."

"Heh, yeah,"  Sanosuke chuckled, "Like that'll ever happen."

Kaoru became the image of a monster, eyes narrowed in rage, a spoon in her hand like a weapon. "SANOOOO!!!!"

"Eep!" he exclaimed, trying to cover his head as she repeatedly attacked him with the spoon.  "Ow! Ow! Itai!"

"My cooking WILL improve!" she declaired, "It will it will it WILL!"

The others were chuckling, quietly so as not to turn her lighthearted rage on them.  Kenshin gently mediated with the simple act of laying the finished food on the table, daring to laugh a bit louder than the others.  Soon Kaoru quit trying to "kill" Sanosuke and everyone began to eat.  It was a simple yet fulfilling pot of rice with mild fish, various rehydrated vegetables, and just the right amount of spices and herbs to give it a unique flavor and blend everything together.

There was a surprisingly optimistic air about everyone, as they were determined to enjoy this time together and look forward to the men's return, rather than grieve over a temporary departure.  Much of it was thanks to Kaoru's exeuberance and Kenshin's extra warm personality.  With them happier than usual, everyone knew things would be just fine.

Soon, Kenshin and Sanosuke both had some supplies packed into shoulder bags:  Some ration biscuits, a few bags of rice and a pot to cook it in, flint to make a fire, some water canteens, soap to keep clean, and a blanket to each.  Megumi insistantly also gave them some bandages, "just in case."

As they packed, Sanosuke seemed to have something on his mind, but would not speak of it.  When Kenshin asked him if he thought they needed to pack something more, Sanosuke declined without pausing to consider, as if he knew of something that Kenshin did not.  The rurouni did not prod, however, figuring there would be time to do plenty of that on their trip.

When all was almost ready, Dr. Genzai and his granddaughters showed up to wish the travellers well.  Kenshin smiled sadly as the little girls clung to his gi as he hugged them, crying their little eyes out.

"Don't go away, Ken-nii!" Ayame sniffled, "We don't want you to go bye-bye!"

"No go bye-bye," Suzumi sobbed.

"I am sorry, little ones," he said, patting their heads gently, "but big brother must leave to stop a very bad man, that he must.  I am sorry to leave and will miss you both greatly, that I will."

"We wanna go too!"  Ayame declaired with tearful determination, "We can help!"

"We can help!" Suzumi echoed.

Kenshin's smile grew.  "I am sure that you could help, that I am," he said, "However, your grandfather needs his two big girls to help him protect the house.  Can you do that for him, I ask of you?"

The two took on newly determined looks and nodded, Suzumi making that decision without looking to her older sister first.  Kenshin nodded his approval.  "I have faith that all will be well thanks to you two, that I do."  He kissed the tops of their heads as they hugged him again.

Kaoru watched from the porch with a contented expression.  Kenshin was so good at washing away sadness.  But there was still so much that would be there until he returned.  She looked down at Yahiko, who stood beside her with a stoic expression.

"It's alright to cry, if  you need to," she assured the boy.

Yahiko looked up at her, eyebrows cocked in puzzlement.  "Huh?  Why would I need to cry?  He's comin' back, ya know."

"It's alright, Yahiko," Kaoru's voice quavered, her eyes beginning to swell into big teary puddles, "Everyone needs to cry sometimes... *sniffle* ...  There's no shame in crying, Yahiko."

She grabbed him up in a hug and began to bawl, tears roaring out in twin waterfalls, as Yahiko just hung there with a large sweatdrop on his head, eyes dotted.

"Cry all you need to, Yahikoooo!" Kaoru wailed, "Everything will be aaalriiiiight! Waaaaaaaaah!"

"Who's crying, Tanooki?" the boy muttered.

Sanosuke, who had been standing off to the side, approached Kaoru and poked her on the shoulder.  "Uh, Jo-chan," he said, "Yer gonna drown your student."

Kaoru promptly dropped Yahiko, who fell over like an inanimate object, and clung to Sanosuke, who's eyes widened.  "I don't want you guys to go!" she sobbed, "Not even you, you big, annoying, opportunistic jerk!  Waaaaah!"

Despite the insults, true as they may have been, Sanosuke hugged her and began to gently pat her back.  Soon, her crying became less humorous to behold and slowed down to quiet little sniffles, her emotional burst having passed quickly.  "Why are you being so nice?" she asked.

"Hey, thought you figured by now," Sanosuke answered, "If I'm gonna be as annoying as a big brother, I may as well be as nice as one too.  An' either way, ya do a lot for us all.  I may be a pain to have around, but I appreciate you."

"We are indeed like a family, that we are," Kenshin agreed with a smile, the little girls at his side.

Kaoru nodded slowly, and closed her eyes as she and Sano embraced warmly.  He stroked her hair gently, smoothing it out.  "Even if your cooking sucks," he said, "I'll still miss it.  But hey, we'll be back an' ready for it before ya know it."  He then shifted to mussing up her hair, and they drew back smirking at eachother.

"Goodbye, Rooster-head,"  she quipped.

"Seeya Racoon-girl," he answered in kind.

"Well, if Kaoru's got you," Megumi teased from nearby, "does that mean I get Kenny?"

Sanosuke held Kaoru back by the ponytail as she clawed and roared insults at the giggling fox.

"Oh, I'm kidding, I'm kidding," the young doctor chortled, "I'll settle for hugging Sano-chan though, if you stop trying to rip out my throat."

"Sano.... chan?" he muttered, eyes narrowed.  He let go of Kaoru, who by now was no longer angry at Megumi.  She skipped over to Kenshin and the two smiled at eachother warmly.

Megumi glomped the street-fighter, who's eyes popped open wide.  "Yes," she announced, "I knew you'd like that nickname!"

Yahiko pointed and laughed.  " 'Sano-chan'!  Now you know how I feel! Hahahaha!"

Sanosuke blushed.  "I didn't say I like it.  Doncha think I'm a little big for that?"

"Of course," Megumi said with a smile.  "I suppose I forget how to stop kidding."

Sanosuke smirked, then suddenly leaned down and gave Megumi a kiss on the cheek.  Her eyes widened and she blinked in utter surprise, her grip slipping off of Sano's shoulders.

"Now it's YOUR turn to react and MY turn to laugh!" he chuckled, ruffling her hair and walking toward Yahiko.  She stood there with her eyes twice their normal size, hand on her blushing cheek, jaw dropped, hair now frazzled.

It was now Yahiko's turn for his hair to be tousled.  Sano smiled down at him, hand still amidst the boy's spikey locks.  "Yer a lot like me at your age," he said, "though I hope you'll make more of yourself than I did.  Train good with Jo-chan an' take care o' the place bud."

Yahiko nodded as much as the hand would permit him, smiling.  "I will.  You c'n bet on that."

"I only do good betting when Kenshin's around," he pointed out,  "But then, hey, he'll be around me so sure, I think I'll do that."

"The outcome will be favorable for all of you here, that it will," Kenshin predicted without missing a beat, looking very optimistic.  Kaoru had been staring at him with a soft smile all this time, and she now wordlessly leaned on him.  He hugged her, eyes closing, smiling as well.  The little girls cooed at how beautiful that was.  Megumi watched, hand still on her cheek, then she looked at Sanosuke, still blushing mildly.

He smiled at her.  "Not gonna croak on me, are ya?"

She smiled back slowly.  "No... In fact, I wouldn't complain if you shocked me again."

"We'll have to see about that," he said, smirking  "Though that ain't always my style; I was payin' you back for the lipstick incident."  There was a pause, then he added, "I'll settle for bein' asked though."

She smoothed her hair and smiled more in earnest now.  "I think I'll take you up on that sometime."

He winked at her, then shouldered his pack and walked over to Kenshin and Kaoru.  "Well, we best be goin'," he announced, "Otherwise we'll never escape."

"I agree, that I do," Kenshin said with a nod.  He and Kaoru gazed at one another for a bit longer, then he looked at everyone else.  "I shall miss all of you, that I shall.  But Sanosuke and I, we are careful, that we are."  He then added with a small smirk  "At least, I am."

"Bah, you," Sanosuke growled lightheartedly,  "Bein' hard-headed works when yer hard-fisted too!"

There were some chuckles, then Kaoru spoke up.  "As long as you two come back," she said, "Then the sun will continue to shine."  She then reached into the front of her gi, and pulled out a piece of familiar looking blue cloth.

Kenshin looked reminiscent as Kaoru held it out to him.  It was her old indigo ribbon, the one she had given him before his battle with Jinei.  The rurouni had tried so hard to wash out his bloodstains, but traces still remained and the dye was a bit faded.  Should he apologize again for this?

Kaoru did not seem to think so as she placed it in his hand, holding her fingers over his and looking straight into his eyes.  She had the same expression as the time on the riverbank.  "Do you promise to bring this back when you return?"

"I promise," he said softly, "... That I do."

***

Hands raised in waves, as the two travelers began to walk down the path toward town.

"Bye bye!" the little girls called, hopping up and down eagerly, "We'll be really good!"

"Seeya guys," Yahiko declaired, "By the time you come back, I bet I can whup both of ya!"

"Farewell, men of the house," Megumi chuckled, "Come by my place if you get scrapes that need taken care of."

Kaoru only stood watching them go, a sad smile on her face.  Sanosuke was waving over his shoulder at everyone.  Kenshin was at first merely walking, but now he turned around and walked backwards to take one more look at everything.  The beautiful, secluded house.  The dojo.  His family...

And the woman he loved.

The smile they shared in that moment was one that would remain engraved on their minds in the days to come.

Suddenly, the rurouni was jerked back by his ponytail, as he had stopped moving without realizing it.  His eyes popped wide immediately and an "Orooorooroo" accompanied the sound of his dragging feet.

"C'mon, ya starstruck Romeo," Sanosuke teased as he hauled the goofy one behind him,  "All those years o' travellin' an' you forget that ya gotta walk to get somewhere?"

"Let me go, I shall walk now, that I shall!"

***

They were gone.  It was so quiet.  Kaoru sighed, looking at everyone.  It was up to her to run things now.  They wouldn't be the same of course...  But she had to make it manageable.

"Well," she said, "Now that you're here, Dr. Genzai, you and the girls may as well come in and have some breakfast; there's still food left.  Yahiko, get ready.  We're going to start training early today."

"I've been ready since I woke up," he said, "It's you who takes too long."

"Keep in mind who the teacher is, bub," she retorted with a smirk.

"I'd love to stay and watch," Megumi said, "but I should get to work since Dr. Genzai is here."

"Alright," Kaoru said with a smile, "We'll see you later; you're always welcome here.  Especially since you can't be flirting with Kenshin now."

"Does sending nonstop love-letters count?" the woman joked.

Kaoru became a monster and began swinging the broom at the fox.  "OUT OUT OUT OUT!"

Megumi laughed good and loud as she fled the Tanooki Terror, knowing she'd be welcomed back anyway.

"I guess some things will stay the same after all," Yahiko observed, arms folded behind his head.

***

After some time, the town of Tokyo was left behind as the two travellers kept their pace steady.  They entered a forest, Kenshin taking point as they wove between trees.

"So," Sanosuke queried, "You say ya know this way is quicker than the East Sea route?"

"Hai," Kenshin answered, "Also, perhaps less French guards may think to look for me in the forest, that they may."

"Still, you should slap a bandage or somethin' on your cheek," Sanosuke pointed out.

"I shall," Kenshin said, "I already planned to, that I did.  I merely wanted us to be on our way."

"Well, what's wrong with doin' it right now?"

"...You will continue bugging me until I put it on, will you I ask?"  Slight smirk.

"Ya got that right, bud," Sano answered, already digging in his pack.  "Not that I ain't eager to see these fellas fight, but I really wanna get down to business, ya know."  He handed a sticky bandage to Kenshin, as they both stopped.  The rurouni hovered it over his cheek until Sanosuke nodded, indicating it would cover well enough, then he pressed it on.

"It does not seem like you to 'get down to business'," Kenshin observed with another smile as they continued walking,  "Could it be you are growing up, I ask?"

Sanosuke shrugged.  "Eh, I dunno.  I'm kinda itchin' for some fun, but I really wanna prove the people're better'n the government.  I mean, I know this one might have the right idea for its backbone, but they're just not livin' up to their promises."

"I sadly must agree with that, that I must,"  Kenshin said, climbing over a log, "However, it will take time before a new concept becomes what it is meant to be, after so many centuries of a different system.  At any rate, what is going on to the west must be stopped quickly, that it must."

"Yeah."

There was silence for a while, then Sanosuke spoke again.  "Hey, not that I'm bad at walking or anything, but I know this is a damn long trip.  Isn't there some mode of transportation we can take at some point?"

"Of course,"  Kenshin answered, "Once we get to Kyoto, there is a new train I have in mind--"

"NO!" Sanosuke interrupted, stopping dead in his tracks with an emphatic stomp, "No trains!"

Kenshin stopped and looked at his friend, puzzled.  "But Sano--"

"No trains and that's it."  He had his arms crossed and his lower lip jutted like a spoiled child, brows narrowed.

"But--"

"No!"

"....."

"........."

"Sa--"

"NO!"

(Note: Kenshin would have laughed, except that was only funny in English ^_^  -Sonja/Ice Angel)

Kenshin sighed, and sat down on another log nearby, eyes closed, face neutral.  Sanosuke watched and cocked his head.  "Uh..." the young man wondered, "What are you doin'?"

"I shall sit right here until you agree to board the train, that I shall," Kenshin stated calmly, eyes not opening.  It seemed he was prepared for a long wait.

"Aw, come on!" Sanosuke whined, "Trains are.... TRAINS!  They'll take us off the edge of the world or blow up or fly off the tracks or somethin'!  Remember what happened last time?!"

Kenshin sat still and quiet.

"Why're you makin' me do this?"

"Because, it will get us there quicker, and we are less likely to be spotted by the guards than if we are seen everywhere, that we are."

"But... but... GrrrrrrRRR!"  Sanosuke waved his fists a few times, face in a snarl, then he huffed and crossed his arms, lifting his face to the side.  "Fine.  FINE!  I'll ride the stupid Western contraption, but if I'm right and we die, I'm gonna kill ya!"

Kenshin smiled and stood, brushing the back of his hakama off.  "That seems fair, that it does."  And with that, he continued walking.

Sanosuke watched him for a bit, then stomped after him.  "You knew all along I'd be forced to agree, didn't ya?!"

"Of course,"  Kenshin said, still smiling.

"Baka."

"You are the one who wanted me to lighten up all the time, that you are."

"Eh, leave me alone...  I gotta ride a freakin' train, of all things..."

Kenshin chuckled inwardly and turned his attention on their woodland route again.  He certainly hoped they could get their business over with quickly, not only to get back home sooner, but most importantly, to prevent any more innocent people from being tortured.  He did not even want to try guessing what had been done to them, but there was no excuse for hurting anyone who was helpless.  He hoped that true justice would be done, and the people could once again be safe.