Readers--Here we are, chapter 6, finally! Sorry it took so long. I've been so bad with everything. I'm up to my ears in work and drowning slowly. I hope to pick up speed now that it's almost December. And I know I promised that I'd start working on my sequel to SAC, but I just haven't had the time! I hope to get started on that once this fic is over. For all you Tainted Blood fans, don't hate me for being slow, my beta is just as swamped as I am and we're both doing our best. Excuse the typos in this chapter and stuff, I was in a rush to get it out. Not as long as I'd hoped, but like I said, I wanted it out. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own anything Rurouni Kenshin, just Akio. She's the peanut butter on my Wanderer's Sandwich.
Chapter 6: The Story of Her life
Akio shifted the bag on her shoulder again, fidgeting to try and keep her hands busy while following Kaoru through the dojo. Too many things happening in one day were catching up to her, and heavy lids descended halfway on emerald eyes. Akio even emitted a small yawn that she quickly stifled before her hostess noticed.
"So Akio," Kaoru began politely, slowing her step to walk alongside the younger girl. "Tell me, how do you know Sanosuke?" Akio blushed a dull red. She didn't really know how to respond to that, and she knew that remaining silent would be as good as an admission of guilt.
"I just met him today," Akio began quietly. "I was rather lost trying to find somewhere, and he helped me find where I was going."
"Oh," was Kaoru's reply. She appeared to be disappointed for some reason, and Akio was feeling guilty again, so she continued her answer.
"He knew my father."
"Really?" Kaoru was interested again. "Perhaps I know him as well. May I ask his name?"
Akio smiled brilliant. Kaoru was confused by this action, not realizing that this was the first time that someone had asked Akio about her father and she had a name to go along with it. "His name was Sagara Souzou." Kaoru's impossibly blue eyes widened and she stopped walking to openly gawk at the girl in front of her. Akio only blinked back. Stares no longer fazed her, but the silence made her fidget a little. "Is something the matter Miss Kaoru?" she asked.
"No!" Kaoru said quickly, holding up a hand for emphasis. "I was just startled. I won't pretend to know much about the man, except what Sanosuke has told us, but I was under the impression that he had no children." Akio looked down, a shadow creeping into her emerald eyes. Kaoru, fearing she had said something to upset her guest, quickly pressed on. "I'm sure the stories you have to tell about him will be a good thing for Sanosuke. He was very fond of your father, and he never does like to talk much about his past."
"Unfortunately, I have no stories of him," Akio said with a sigh. "He left to fight in the war before I was born, and he didn't return. I actually look to Sanosuke, in the hopes that he might tell me something of my father."
"I'm sorry," Kaoru said kindly. "Well, you can stay here as long as you like for free. It's only right, your being the daughter of Sanosuke's hero and all."
Akio smiled and shook her head. "You people are too kind," she said. "Where I come from, people are much more suspicious and over-bearing."
"Where are you from?" Kaoru asked, intrigued. Akio was interrupted from answering by a loud yell and the sound of fast foot-falls coming their way.
"KAORU!" yelled a rather loud-mouthed teenager as he rounded the corner. The boy was gawky and tall, in that awkward stage where his body hasn't grown into itself yet. His hair was dark and spiked all over his head in a sloppy way, and his large dark eyes were wide in horror. "He just started crying, I don't know what happened!" he yelled, grabbing on to the woman's arm and pulling her along.
"Yahiko, what did you do?" she yelled, running after him. Akio, watching the exchange in fascination, followed at a slower pace. The two in the lead wound through many rooms until they exited the dojo all together to the yard at the rear. In the yard, there were two young girls. One had long brown hair and looked around ten years old while the other had to be seven or eight, with pigtails. Akio thought they were both cute, but they looked about ready to burst into tears. Behind them sat a baby, wailing at the top of his lungs.
Kaoru pushed past the teenager and then around the two girls to snatch up the baby, rocking him in her arms and hushing his tears. Soon he quieted, only sniffling and hiccupping as he clutched at Kaoru's kimono. Akio watched, removing her bags and placing them on the deck before walking out into the yard. "I take it this is your son?" she asked, cocking her head in the direction of Kaoru and the baby.
"Yes, this is Kenji," Kaoru replied with a smile. "He's only a few months old and is still very fussy."
"Ah, all babies want to be by their mothers when they are this young." Akio took a few steps closer until she was only a foot away. She leaned over, looking at the baby held tightly to his mother. Two violet eyes peered back at her, and he smiled. A small hand shot up and opened in her direction. Akio gave him a finger, which was promptly stuck in his mouth. Akio wrinkled her nose, but didn't say anything. Babies had always loved her, whether they were human or animal. That was why she wanted a child of her own very badly, but no matter the maternal urge, Akio wanted to be married beforehand. Since she and Soujiro were not properly married yet, Akio was careful about such things. Having lived her life a bastard, she would never wish that upon anyone, let alone her own child.
"I've never seen Kenji not to be fighting someone before," Kaoru laughed. "He's such a strong little one."
"Ah, he's a lamb in lion's clothing," Akio replied, removing her finger, but running her fingers over his hair before straightening so he wouldn't be put out. "And who are these?" Akio inquired, motioning toward the three other people in the yard.
"Oh," Kaoru said with a smile. "I almost forgot to introduce them! This is Yahiko, my apprentice," she said, indicating the teenager. He puffed himself up to appear more threatening. Akio smiled to herself. "And this is Ayame and her little sister."
"Hello," Akio said with a wave. "I'm Akio. I'll be staying her for a little while." The two girls immediately latched on to her legs, both talking very fast. Akio laughed, making her way to the deck for a seat before trying to answer all the questions at once. Yahiko had shifted his position to stand near Kaoru, questioning her under his breath about the woman on the deck.
After a little while, the two girls had to return home, and Akio still had to put her things in a room for the night. Kaoru had been hovering nearby, Kenji in her arms, watching Yahiko doing a few practice exercises. Seeing that she was no longer kept away by children, Kaoru came back over to Akio.
"Grab your things, I'll show you to a room," she said with a smile. Akio bowed and smiled and followed. After walking for a few minutes, Akio worked up enough courage to ask something of her hostess.
"Are you married, Miss Kaoru?"
Kaoru grinned, shifting Kenji to her opposite shoulder. "Yes, however, I didn't take my husband's name."
"Would it be out of line for me to ask why?" Akio was intrigued. In Renko Village, a woman was required to take her husband's name or else the marriage wouldn't be legal.
"For the sake of the dojo I guess," Kaoru answered. "I wanted to stay a Kamiya for all of my life, even if I'm married."
Akio smiled. Kaoru had just become one of her heroes. "I have my husband's name," she said absently. "Since I grew up without a name, I figured the one I take should be the best one of all."
"You're married?" Kaoru asked with a raised eyebrow. "You don't look old enough."
Akio blushed and smiled. "Well, love knows no age limit, I suppose. Seta is his name, but I took it for my own. Doesn't Seta Akio just have a wonderful sound?" Akio sighed dreamily. She loved the sound of the name, the way it made her feel. It was like that part of herself that had been missing for so long had finally be found in that little thing of a name.
When they reached a room, Akio placed her things in neat places, then followed Kaoru on her daily routine. They chatted about this and that, Akio volunteering to do selected household chores to earn her keep since Kaoru had turned down payment. It was a while afterwards that Kaoru got around to the question she had been dying to ask.
"Akio, if you don't think it to forward of me, why are you in Tokyo?"
Akio sighed thoughtfully. "It's a complicated story, Miss Kaoru, perhaps we should sit down for me to tell it to you."
"Alright." And so they had a seat in one of the larger rooms in the dojo, Kenji sleeping peacefully next to Kaoru while the two women sipped tea and talked quietly.
"I was born and raised in a small town called Renko Village. It was a place of craftsmen and weapons-building. Warriors came from all over Japan for our trade. That is how my father first ventured into the town, and how I was made into being." She paused to smile at her tea, then continued. "After the death of my mother and grandmother, I remained in the town even though I was not very welcome there. People didn't like having a girl of no name who lived her life by the sword coming and going."
"That's ridiculous!" Kaoru interrupted. "Women living their lives by the sword...not all of us can be helpless!"
"Miss Kaoru, I agree with you completely."
"Forgive my outburst," Kaoru blushed. "Please continue." Neither women observed the three men who were eavesdropping from the doorway, ones Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Kenshin.
"Well, I lived and worked there all my life, until...I guess it would be a little over a year now...I met a young man." Akio's eyes glazed over as she looked back into her memories, a look of serenity on her face. "He had been wounded by the village guardians and left for dead, but I tended to his injuries and he recovered quickly. I guess you could say that I fell in love from the start, but he was the first person who could look me in the eye, even knowing that I was a bastard. And he was the first person who needed me." Akio sighed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, you asked about my coming to the city and I'm telling you a love story." She laughed a little, sipping her drink.
"It's quite alright!" Kaoru said, smiling kindly. "Go on."
"It was during the time that I was caring for him that we discovered a plan set by a local man from the village. He had hired a great number of characters from the cities to destroy Renko Village and everyone in it. Together, we were able to stop his plans and save the lives of the townspeople, but there was a cost. I lost my home, and what I had come to love. Once the town was put to right again, I left with the man who later became my husband. We've been wandering Japan ever since."
"So you came to Tokyo together?" Kaoru questioned.
"No," Akio said with a deep sigh and a frown. Her emerald eyes darkened with unspoken pain and worry. "Someone from my past, a man named Mori Ryu, has been following us for the last several weeks. Ryu was once my friend, when we were children, but he was the very man who tried to destroy my town a year ago. I thought he was dead." Akio paused to take a deep breath, panic evident in her voice. "But somehow he survived and has vowed revenge upon us for destroying his scheme. My husband sent me here, to Tokyo, so I would be safe while he 'handled' the situation. He wants me to hide while he faces potential death. I did not want to come to Tokyo, but he promised me he would return. So I will wait here until he does."
Kaoru looked upon the girl with compassionate eyes, knowing all to well the pain that she was going through. Why was it that men always left the women behind? It was such a depressing life. "I'm sure he will be alright, that he'll come back," Kaoru offered.
Akio looked up with a bright smile, even though her eyes were shimmering. "I know he will. He knows that if he gets himself killed, I'll never forgive him." Kaoru smiled back, liking Akio's attitude. This was a swordswoman worth knowing!
"What's your husband's name?" Kaoru asked, looking up to see the three men who had been listening and were now entering the room. First came Yahiko, then Sanosuke, then Kenshin at the rear.
"Soujiro," Akio said with a calm sip of her tea. "Seta Soujiro." That made everyone in the room freeze, turning wide, unbelieving eyes to her. Akio blinked, suddenly becoming horribly nervous. "What ever is the matter?"
"Did you just say...Seta Soujiro?" Sanosuke asked, glancing behind him to Kenshin. All the color had drained from both men's faces, leaving them to look increasingly upset. Akio followed his gaze, emerald meeting violet eyes in a stare-down. The cup of tea slipped from her hands to spill on the floor beside her.
"Violet eyes...red hair...cross-shaped scar..." Akio whispered. "You're Mister Himura..."
The room seemed to grow colder. Kaoru grabbed up an alert Kenji, getting to her feet and standing beside Yahiko. Sanosuke had moved back beside them as well, leaving the still-kneeling Akio and Kenshin standing a few feet in front of her to continue their interlude.
"I'm Himura Kenshin," he replied, suddenly looking tense.
"I am Seta Akio," she said quietly, getting to her feet and bowing before him, breaking their eye contact for the first time. "It seems that I owe you a great deal of gratitude, Mister Himura."
"Why do you say that?" he asked, still not dropping his guard.
"Were it not for you, I would never have met Soujiro. For that I am eternally grateful to you. Also, for allowing me board at your wife's dojo." This gained surprise from everyone. Akio almost smiled. "Kenji gave it away, red hair and violet eyes are unusual colorings."
"What do you want here?" seemed to be the question that everyone wanted to know.
"Only a place to stay until Soujiro returns. If it makes you uncomfortable to have me here, I will leave. Truly, I didn't come here on purpose. It was Sanosuke who brought me here."
"I didn't know she was married to Soujiro!" he denied quickly. "She's Captain Sagara's daughter, what could I have done? Left her in the street?"
"You should have asked her!" Yahiko yelled at Sanosuke.
"She didn't tell me her name was Seta until she was already here!" he argued.
"That's a dangerous game, Sano," Kenshin replied, eyes flickering from the girl to his friend.
Why people always seemed to talk about her as if she wasn't there always annoyed her. Really, she was in fool enough a mood as it was. Soujiro was gone, she was sick with worry, she had just found out who her father was, and now the man who ultimately saved the life of the man she loved had appeared and yelled at her. Too much in one day. Akio wanted out, so she sighed while walking to Kaoru and bowing. "Thank you for the tea Miss Kaoru. It was a pleasure to meet you." Then she turned to retrieve her things and leave.
"Wait," Kaoru stopped her. Akio turned with a raised eyebrow, the picture of polite manners. "Nothing has changed. You are still welcome to stay here." Akio glanced at the men in the room, shifting under their stare.
"It would cause unrest in your family."
"It's my dojo, so they can be unrested for all I care," Kaoru said, giving a sharp look at the offending men. Kenji grunted his agreement, holding out his two fists to Akio. The girl could never resist the lure of a child and she smiled, giving him her finger again. "Stay as long as you need, until your husband comes for you." Akio looked from the mistrustful face of Yahiko, to the surprise of Sanosuke, to the unreadable visage of Himura Kenshin.
"I won't stay long," Akio said, looking to Kaoru again. "Just until I can find somewhere else."
"So be it."
"I will not be a burden," she continued. "I will work for my keep, and do double of whatever you ask. I am no stranger to hard work."
"It would be appreciated very much if you did help," Kaoru approved.
"Since my affiliations make it so I will not be welcomed here, I do not expect warmth, but I do ask for respect." This she directed at the men. "I may not be the picture of all things pure and good and feminine, I do expect you to have manners. I am not the enemy here, even if you think I am in your own minds."
They all remained silent, then dispersed without a word, going their separate ways. Akio's spirits fell. She had hoped they would yell at her or something, just make it so they knew what she was saying. "Don't mind them," Kaoru continued. "They'll come around. For now, you can stay around me and Kenji if you like." Kenji agreed, wiggling in his mother's arms.
"May I?" Akio asked, opening her hands to the baby. Kaoru nodded, hesitating only a moment, then surrendered her son to the open arms of Akio. Kenji was a warm and comfortable weight for Akio, one from which she drew a great deal of new strength. It wouldn't be easy here, but most of the things that matter are hard achieved. If they wouldn't give her respect, she's earn it despite them. And she would wait for Soujiro to return.
That night, when laying on the borrowed bed and looking to the ceiling in the unfamiliar yet becoming familiar dojo, Akio sighed. She prayed that wherever Soujiro was, that he was safe and unharmed. She prayed that he was strong enough to return. Mostly, Akio prayed that she would not end up like her mother had, but she was fast understanding why her mother had done what she did. Love is the hardest thing in the world, and if you aren't strong enough to endure, it could destroy you. Akio doubted her own strength, and she hoped that Soujiro was stronger than she was.
I'm ending it here, just cuz I have to skip back over to Sou, see how he's enduring a lovely session of re-programming, muhaha! Anywho, I want to thank all of my beloved readers for sticking it out with me. You guys are the best ever! I know I'm a pain, but I love you guys. I'll never abandon this story because I've invested too much time and notebook paper I could have used for my comic strip on this stuff! So there! Anyway, thanks a lot. For you guys, I got nothing but love. Happy Thanksgiving!!
~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~
Disclaimer: Don't own anything Rurouni Kenshin, just Akio. She's the peanut butter on my Wanderer's Sandwich.
Chapter 6: The Story of Her life
Akio shifted the bag on her shoulder again, fidgeting to try and keep her hands busy while following Kaoru through the dojo. Too many things happening in one day were catching up to her, and heavy lids descended halfway on emerald eyes. Akio even emitted a small yawn that she quickly stifled before her hostess noticed.
"So Akio," Kaoru began politely, slowing her step to walk alongside the younger girl. "Tell me, how do you know Sanosuke?" Akio blushed a dull red. She didn't really know how to respond to that, and she knew that remaining silent would be as good as an admission of guilt.
"I just met him today," Akio began quietly. "I was rather lost trying to find somewhere, and he helped me find where I was going."
"Oh," was Kaoru's reply. She appeared to be disappointed for some reason, and Akio was feeling guilty again, so she continued her answer.
"He knew my father."
"Really?" Kaoru was interested again. "Perhaps I know him as well. May I ask his name?"
Akio smiled brilliant. Kaoru was confused by this action, not realizing that this was the first time that someone had asked Akio about her father and she had a name to go along with it. "His name was Sagara Souzou." Kaoru's impossibly blue eyes widened and she stopped walking to openly gawk at the girl in front of her. Akio only blinked back. Stares no longer fazed her, but the silence made her fidget a little. "Is something the matter Miss Kaoru?" she asked.
"No!" Kaoru said quickly, holding up a hand for emphasis. "I was just startled. I won't pretend to know much about the man, except what Sanosuke has told us, but I was under the impression that he had no children." Akio looked down, a shadow creeping into her emerald eyes. Kaoru, fearing she had said something to upset her guest, quickly pressed on. "I'm sure the stories you have to tell about him will be a good thing for Sanosuke. He was very fond of your father, and he never does like to talk much about his past."
"Unfortunately, I have no stories of him," Akio said with a sigh. "He left to fight in the war before I was born, and he didn't return. I actually look to Sanosuke, in the hopes that he might tell me something of my father."
"I'm sorry," Kaoru said kindly. "Well, you can stay here as long as you like for free. It's only right, your being the daughter of Sanosuke's hero and all."
Akio smiled and shook her head. "You people are too kind," she said. "Where I come from, people are much more suspicious and over-bearing."
"Where are you from?" Kaoru asked, intrigued. Akio was interrupted from answering by a loud yell and the sound of fast foot-falls coming their way.
"KAORU!" yelled a rather loud-mouthed teenager as he rounded the corner. The boy was gawky and tall, in that awkward stage where his body hasn't grown into itself yet. His hair was dark and spiked all over his head in a sloppy way, and his large dark eyes were wide in horror. "He just started crying, I don't know what happened!" he yelled, grabbing on to the woman's arm and pulling her along.
"Yahiko, what did you do?" she yelled, running after him. Akio, watching the exchange in fascination, followed at a slower pace. The two in the lead wound through many rooms until they exited the dojo all together to the yard at the rear. In the yard, there were two young girls. One had long brown hair and looked around ten years old while the other had to be seven or eight, with pigtails. Akio thought they were both cute, but they looked about ready to burst into tears. Behind them sat a baby, wailing at the top of his lungs.
Kaoru pushed past the teenager and then around the two girls to snatch up the baby, rocking him in her arms and hushing his tears. Soon he quieted, only sniffling and hiccupping as he clutched at Kaoru's kimono. Akio watched, removing her bags and placing them on the deck before walking out into the yard. "I take it this is your son?" she asked, cocking her head in the direction of Kaoru and the baby.
"Yes, this is Kenji," Kaoru replied with a smile. "He's only a few months old and is still very fussy."
"Ah, all babies want to be by their mothers when they are this young." Akio took a few steps closer until she was only a foot away. She leaned over, looking at the baby held tightly to his mother. Two violet eyes peered back at her, and he smiled. A small hand shot up and opened in her direction. Akio gave him a finger, which was promptly stuck in his mouth. Akio wrinkled her nose, but didn't say anything. Babies had always loved her, whether they were human or animal. That was why she wanted a child of her own very badly, but no matter the maternal urge, Akio wanted to be married beforehand. Since she and Soujiro were not properly married yet, Akio was careful about such things. Having lived her life a bastard, she would never wish that upon anyone, let alone her own child.
"I've never seen Kenji not to be fighting someone before," Kaoru laughed. "He's such a strong little one."
"Ah, he's a lamb in lion's clothing," Akio replied, removing her finger, but running her fingers over his hair before straightening so he wouldn't be put out. "And who are these?" Akio inquired, motioning toward the three other people in the yard.
"Oh," Kaoru said with a smile. "I almost forgot to introduce them! This is Yahiko, my apprentice," she said, indicating the teenager. He puffed himself up to appear more threatening. Akio smiled to herself. "And this is Ayame and her little sister."
"Hello," Akio said with a wave. "I'm Akio. I'll be staying her for a little while." The two girls immediately latched on to her legs, both talking very fast. Akio laughed, making her way to the deck for a seat before trying to answer all the questions at once. Yahiko had shifted his position to stand near Kaoru, questioning her under his breath about the woman on the deck.
After a little while, the two girls had to return home, and Akio still had to put her things in a room for the night. Kaoru had been hovering nearby, Kenji in her arms, watching Yahiko doing a few practice exercises. Seeing that she was no longer kept away by children, Kaoru came back over to Akio.
"Grab your things, I'll show you to a room," she said with a smile. Akio bowed and smiled and followed. After walking for a few minutes, Akio worked up enough courage to ask something of her hostess.
"Are you married, Miss Kaoru?"
Kaoru grinned, shifting Kenji to her opposite shoulder. "Yes, however, I didn't take my husband's name."
"Would it be out of line for me to ask why?" Akio was intrigued. In Renko Village, a woman was required to take her husband's name or else the marriage wouldn't be legal.
"For the sake of the dojo I guess," Kaoru answered. "I wanted to stay a Kamiya for all of my life, even if I'm married."
Akio smiled. Kaoru had just become one of her heroes. "I have my husband's name," she said absently. "Since I grew up without a name, I figured the one I take should be the best one of all."
"You're married?" Kaoru asked with a raised eyebrow. "You don't look old enough."
Akio blushed and smiled. "Well, love knows no age limit, I suppose. Seta is his name, but I took it for my own. Doesn't Seta Akio just have a wonderful sound?" Akio sighed dreamily. She loved the sound of the name, the way it made her feel. It was like that part of herself that had been missing for so long had finally be found in that little thing of a name.
When they reached a room, Akio placed her things in neat places, then followed Kaoru on her daily routine. They chatted about this and that, Akio volunteering to do selected household chores to earn her keep since Kaoru had turned down payment. It was a while afterwards that Kaoru got around to the question she had been dying to ask.
"Akio, if you don't think it to forward of me, why are you in Tokyo?"
Akio sighed thoughtfully. "It's a complicated story, Miss Kaoru, perhaps we should sit down for me to tell it to you."
"Alright." And so they had a seat in one of the larger rooms in the dojo, Kenji sleeping peacefully next to Kaoru while the two women sipped tea and talked quietly.
"I was born and raised in a small town called Renko Village. It was a place of craftsmen and weapons-building. Warriors came from all over Japan for our trade. That is how my father first ventured into the town, and how I was made into being." She paused to smile at her tea, then continued. "After the death of my mother and grandmother, I remained in the town even though I was not very welcome there. People didn't like having a girl of no name who lived her life by the sword coming and going."
"That's ridiculous!" Kaoru interrupted. "Women living their lives by the sword...not all of us can be helpless!"
"Miss Kaoru, I agree with you completely."
"Forgive my outburst," Kaoru blushed. "Please continue." Neither women observed the three men who were eavesdropping from the doorway, ones Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Kenshin.
"Well, I lived and worked there all my life, until...I guess it would be a little over a year now...I met a young man." Akio's eyes glazed over as she looked back into her memories, a look of serenity on her face. "He had been wounded by the village guardians and left for dead, but I tended to his injuries and he recovered quickly. I guess you could say that I fell in love from the start, but he was the first person who could look me in the eye, even knowing that I was a bastard. And he was the first person who needed me." Akio sighed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, you asked about my coming to the city and I'm telling you a love story." She laughed a little, sipping her drink.
"It's quite alright!" Kaoru said, smiling kindly. "Go on."
"It was during the time that I was caring for him that we discovered a plan set by a local man from the village. He had hired a great number of characters from the cities to destroy Renko Village and everyone in it. Together, we were able to stop his plans and save the lives of the townspeople, but there was a cost. I lost my home, and what I had come to love. Once the town was put to right again, I left with the man who later became my husband. We've been wandering Japan ever since."
"So you came to Tokyo together?" Kaoru questioned.
"No," Akio said with a deep sigh and a frown. Her emerald eyes darkened with unspoken pain and worry. "Someone from my past, a man named Mori Ryu, has been following us for the last several weeks. Ryu was once my friend, when we were children, but he was the very man who tried to destroy my town a year ago. I thought he was dead." Akio paused to take a deep breath, panic evident in her voice. "But somehow he survived and has vowed revenge upon us for destroying his scheme. My husband sent me here, to Tokyo, so I would be safe while he 'handled' the situation. He wants me to hide while he faces potential death. I did not want to come to Tokyo, but he promised me he would return. So I will wait here until he does."
Kaoru looked upon the girl with compassionate eyes, knowing all to well the pain that she was going through. Why was it that men always left the women behind? It was such a depressing life. "I'm sure he will be alright, that he'll come back," Kaoru offered.
Akio looked up with a bright smile, even though her eyes were shimmering. "I know he will. He knows that if he gets himself killed, I'll never forgive him." Kaoru smiled back, liking Akio's attitude. This was a swordswoman worth knowing!
"What's your husband's name?" Kaoru asked, looking up to see the three men who had been listening and were now entering the room. First came Yahiko, then Sanosuke, then Kenshin at the rear.
"Soujiro," Akio said with a calm sip of her tea. "Seta Soujiro." That made everyone in the room freeze, turning wide, unbelieving eyes to her. Akio blinked, suddenly becoming horribly nervous. "What ever is the matter?"
"Did you just say...Seta Soujiro?" Sanosuke asked, glancing behind him to Kenshin. All the color had drained from both men's faces, leaving them to look increasingly upset. Akio followed his gaze, emerald meeting violet eyes in a stare-down. The cup of tea slipped from her hands to spill on the floor beside her.
"Violet eyes...red hair...cross-shaped scar..." Akio whispered. "You're Mister Himura..."
The room seemed to grow colder. Kaoru grabbed up an alert Kenji, getting to her feet and standing beside Yahiko. Sanosuke had moved back beside them as well, leaving the still-kneeling Akio and Kenshin standing a few feet in front of her to continue their interlude.
"I'm Himura Kenshin," he replied, suddenly looking tense.
"I am Seta Akio," she said quietly, getting to her feet and bowing before him, breaking their eye contact for the first time. "It seems that I owe you a great deal of gratitude, Mister Himura."
"Why do you say that?" he asked, still not dropping his guard.
"Were it not for you, I would never have met Soujiro. For that I am eternally grateful to you. Also, for allowing me board at your wife's dojo." This gained surprise from everyone. Akio almost smiled. "Kenji gave it away, red hair and violet eyes are unusual colorings."
"What do you want here?" seemed to be the question that everyone wanted to know.
"Only a place to stay until Soujiro returns. If it makes you uncomfortable to have me here, I will leave. Truly, I didn't come here on purpose. It was Sanosuke who brought me here."
"I didn't know she was married to Soujiro!" he denied quickly. "She's Captain Sagara's daughter, what could I have done? Left her in the street?"
"You should have asked her!" Yahiko yelled at Sanosuke.
"She didn't tell me her name was Seta until she was already here!" he argued.
"That's a dangerous game, Sano," Kenshin replied, eyes flickering from the girl to his friend.
Why people always seemed to talk about her as if she wasn't there always annoyed her. Really, she was in fool enough a mood as it was. Soujiro was gone, she was sick with worry, she had just found out who her father was, and now the man who ultimately saved the life of the man she loved had appeared and yelled at her. Too much in one day. Akio wanted out, so she sighed while walking to Kaoru and bowing. "Thank you for the tea Miss Kaoru. It was a pleasure to meet you." Then she turned to retrieve her things and leave.
"Wait," Kaoru stopped her. Akio turned with a raised eyebrow, the picture of polite manners. "Nothing has changed. You are still welcome to stay here." Akio glanced at the men in the room, shifting under their stare.
"It would cause unrest in your family."
"It's my dojo, so they can be unrested for all I care," Kaoru said, giving a sharp look at the offending men. Kenji grunted his agreement, holding out his two fists to Akio. The girl could never resist the lure of a child and she smiled, giving him her finger again. "Stay as long as you need, until your husband comes for you." Akio looked from the mistrustful face of Yahiko, to the surprise of Sanosuke, to the unreadable visage of Himura Kenshin.
"I won't stay long," Akio said, looking to Kaoru again. "Just until I can find somewhere else."
"So be it."
"I will not be a burden," she continued. "I will work for my keep, and do double of whatever you ask. I am no stranger to hard work."
"It would be appreciated very much if you did help," Kaoru approved.
"Since my affiliations make it so I will not be welcomed here, I do not expect warmth, but I do ask for respect." This she directed at the men. "I may not be the picture of all things pure and good and feminine, I do expect you to have manners. I am not the enemy here, even if you think I am in your own minds."
They all remained silent, then dispersed without a word, going their separate ways. Akio's spirits fell. She had hoped they would yell at her or something, just make it so they knew what she was saying. "Don't mind them," Kaoru continued. "They'll come around. For now, you can stay around me and Kenji if you like." Kenji agreed, wiggling in his mother's arms.
"May I?" Akio asked, opening her hands to the baby. Kaoru nodded, hesitating only a moment, then surrendered her son to the open arms of Akio. Kenji was a warm and comfortable weight for Akio, one from which she drew a great deal of new strength. It wouldn't be easy here, but most of the things that matter are hard achieved. If they wouldn't give her respect, she's earn it despite them. And she would wait for Soujiro to return.
That night, when laying on the borrowed bed and looking to the ceiling in the unfamiliar yet becoming familiar dojo, Akio sighed. She prayed that wherever Soujiro was, that he was safe and unharmed. She prayed that he was strong enough to return. Mostly, Akio prayed that she would not end up like her mother had, but she was fast understanding why her mother had done what she did. Love is the hardest thing in the world, and if you aren't strong enough to endure, it could destroy you. Akio doubted her own strength, and she hoped that Soujiro was stronger than she was.
I'm ending it here, just cuz I have to skip back over to Sou, see how he's enduring a lovely session of re-programming, muhaha! Anywho, I want to thank all of my beloved readers for sticking it out with me. You guys are the best ever! I know I'm a pain, but I love you guys. I'll never abandon this story because I've invested too much time and notebook paper I could have used for my comic strip on this stuff! So there! Anyway, thanks a lot. For you guys, I got nothing but love. Happy Thanksgiving!!
~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~