AN: Well guess what I saw this weekend… Seisou Hen. Yeah I knew it was a bad idea to watch it. Not only am I suffering from SDS but I was inspired to write a long one shot dealing with Kenshin and Sano. Yeah… not one of my brightest ideas. Ro-Chan VERY much NOT happy… -_- ... … … … and my batteries just died. Chapter 5 is almost done and just needs to be proof read so be on the look out for that!

Disclaimer: I realized something… I DO own Kenshin. I own 5 art books, 3 dooujinshis, 1 CD, 4 mangas, and 2 DVDs… and if no one sues me I could own some more. ^-^ Maybe one day I'll put all this stuff to make a site too! So don't go throwing me in jail either!

Heart of a Wolf

Ch.4

The shoji door slide close quietly as Kenji stared down at two figures sleeping in the middle of the room. Kenji felt his lungs burn for air that they had been denied when he held his breath unconsciously. The young Himura took two small steps and stopped. His heart was pounding loudly in his chest and once again he held his breath. He could feel his bottom lip quiver slightly as he slowly sank to his knees placing the tray next to the futon where his parents lay.

Kenji stared at his father's face for what seemed like an eternity, memorizing each and every detail on the delicate face. His heart wrenched as he heard his father's shallow breaths signifying the battle that was still being fought within the tiny frame. Sunken eyes were framed by pale, grayish skin with only red covering the cheeks. Sweat caused the fire red hair to cling wildly to Kenshin's forehead and neck. Kenji swallowed roughly trying to keep the choking feeling back.

The young boy reached out a hand slowly towards the older man brushing away the damp strands with nimble fingers. Kenshin's forehead burned at his son's touch causing the latter to gasp and retract his hand quickly. Once again Kenji just stared at the face that was before him. It was peaceful and smiling softly almost laughing at a joke that Kenji didn't hear. It made him sick.

Kenji snarled and then his face softened. His dark eyes shifted with so many emotions, so of which he knew, others he didn't understand. Once again Kenji reached out this time his fingers shook slightly.

The red haired boy traced his father's features lightly with slim fingers. He first touched his forehead feeling every single wrinkle and lingering over ever tiny scar that nicked the area. His fingers traveled down the bridge of the older man's nose carefully noting how it curved outward. He felt the lashes that surround the violet eyes he knew where under the soft lids before stopping at the cross scar on the left cheek.

Kenji stared at the scar as if he had never seen it before in his entire life. Hesitantly at first he traced each slash, top to bottom, left to right. He could feel the heat radiating off the wound as well as something more painful.

Something wet splattered against his hand breaking him from his reverie. He looked at it curiously before another one joined it. He was crying? Kenji tried to get them to stop but they wouldn't and only seemed to flow much faster. He rose to his feet quickly he had to get away. He couldn't be here. He had to…

He ran. Kenji ran throwing open the rice door and closing it in one motion. His vision blurred making it hard to see making him miss the small body that he ran past. He just ran and missed the soft voice and the raised hand that called out to him.

Shiori fidgeted at the silence that over came the three in the dinning area. It had been a few minutes since Tsubame's request and she had not touched her meal. Her light brown eyes keep flickering back and forth from the spot that Kenji had occupied to the door that he had left through. Her mind rattled on as to what was happening at that moment as well as past memories that stubbornly refused to stay down. Her heart ached and the room seemed too hot at the moment. The small girl quickly made up her mind and set her bowl down making the clay thing thump loudly.

"I'm done." Shiori blinked at the couple that stared at her briefly. "If you'll excuse me I'd like to go outside for a little while." Shiori didn't even wait for the two to acknowledge her request before standing and walking out the door.

Yahiko watched the tiny retreating figure his mind whirling about. He had been watching her throughout the entire meal since Kenji had left and had noticed the way her eyes dimmed with sadness as she gazed back and forth. She had paled briefly before setting her food and chopsticks down and asking to leave. He and his wife had said nothing as she walked off both knowing that she needed it.

Yahiko let out a deep sigh before glancing at Tsubame. The dark haired woman had been watching him for quite some time now with a small smile on her face. Yahiko's eyes pleaded with her brown ones asking her to take away the stifling pain that still harbored within his chest.

Tsubame understood the pain for she too felt it. The Himuras had been a large part of her life and she cared for the both of them as much as her husband did. She reached out a small hand caressing his cheek before drawing him in towards her. She embraced him tightly giving him strength that she didn't know she had. She felt his shoulders shudder and then violently shake as the sobs racked his strong body. Tsubame just whispered softly towards her husband stroking his thick dark hair amazing her self once again at how strong she really was.

Tsubame came running through the hallway her short hair whipping about her face as she stopped flinging open the door on her side. She watched in horror as Kenji fainted on the ground with a loud resounding thump covering the wails of Kaoru. A girl child whipped her head at the noise dark hair floating around her in the movement. She called out his name but the wailing coming from Kaoru drowned out her own cries. Slowly the woman turned her attention back to the little girl or rather the still form beside her. Tsubame became numb; she couldn't handle situations like these. Her heart thundered in her chest threatening to break free from its imprisonment as she took everything in.

Someone was yelling out her name and she turned her head slightly to her husband who was restraining a hysterical Kaoru. Tsubame shook her head tears spilling down her cheeks. She couldn't do this! It was too much! Yahiko's eyes pleaded with her and Tsubame remembered the time that he had valiantly saved her from those yakuza thugs. She remembered her vow to become stronger like him. Taking a deep breath Tsubame went over to her husband and took the shaking and flaying woman. It was hard to keep her back and Tsubame's soothing words weren't heard. But she surprised her self, she was able to restrain the older woman and still stroke away the tears that fell from the blue pools.

Yahiko quickly went over towards Kenji and checked on him but was more worried about Kenshin. The little girl had returned to her movements trying to breathe life into the small body. Yahiko watched and waited the tension making everything seem as though an eternity had passed. Kaoru had subsided and it was just her wails that sounded now drowning out the breaths that tiny girl was giving.

Suddenly Kenshin shuddered and coughed gasping for breath. He tried to sit up but the girl used a surprising amount of strength and pushed him back down gently. Yahiko released the breath he didn't realize he had held. His brown eyes danced with happiness. Kaoru had become silent her tears never stopping. Tsubame once again felt her body stiffen before she embraced Kaoru tightly.

"Wha-what happened?" Kenshin breathed out his eyes wide trying to focus on those around him feeling the uneasiness that was slowly dissipating.

"Nandemonai." Was the soft reply. "Nothing happened at all."

Kenshin stared at Shiori for a moment his violet eyes trying to focus on her familiar face. "Who… who are you?" Kenshin asked his brows knitting together. The girl just smiled at him before falling foreword in exhaustion. The adults gave out a cry of alarm as Kenshin rapidly sat up to catch her..

Tsubame releasing Kaoru quickly checked on the small girl. "She's alright, just tired." Silence ensued until Kaoru flung herself upon her husband.

"Ken… shin. Ken… shin." Kaoru repeated over and over again tightening her hold on her soul mate's form.

"Maa, maa Koshii," Kenshin kissed her forehead tenderly pulling her away softly to look at her face. "Koshii I am alright now. Don't cry, Kaoru." Kenshin wiped away some of the tears that spilled from her blue eyes. "Sessha is sorry he made you worry so." His voice was weak but his eyes were strong. "Sessha could not leave you."

"Oh Kenshin!" Kaoru was just so happy that he was alive that he lived and kissed him softly on his lips. "I could never live without you and neither could Kenji."

"Kenji?" Kenshin looked over to his son his face contorted in pain suddenly. "What happened?" He once again tried to rise but again a small hand stopped him.

"He just fainted." Tsubame explained while she looked at her husband. "Kenji-kun has had a long day today and needs rest as much as you do. Yahiko will take him to his room while I prepare some tea for us." Tsubame softly padded through the hallway towards the kitchen.

Yahiko looked at the two lovers both trying to make sure that this was not a dream. "You two gave us quite a scare there." He tried to smile as if it was all a big prank that someone pulled but it faltered slightly and never reached his eyes. Kenshin bowed his head slightly but Yahiko shook his in response. "I'm going to take the big hero to his room now." Yahiko slung the smaller boy over his shoulder leaving the two alone.

Kaoru looked over at her husband placing a hand on his cheek turning his face towards her. "Kenshin," Her bottom lip quivered as her sapphire eyes glistened as more tears threatened to come.

"Shh." Kenshin cupped her face lovingly before falling into a coughing fit.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru exclaimed worriedly patting her husbands back gently, helping him to ease his pain.

"Gomen." Kenshin said sheepishly as his face flushed again with fever. Kaoru looked at him worry written across her eyes. "All I ever seem to do is make you worry Kaoru-dono."

Kaoru smiled slightly and she kissed him tenderly. "Anata aishiteru, forever… aishiteru." Kenshin leaned in for another kiss this time more passionate than before. He breathed the words back to her on her lips as he deepened it. The two parted after a long while and embraced the other not wanting to let each other go.

The door to their room slide open and Tsubame padded into the room a tray in her hand. "Drink this." She said as she handed the red haired man a cup. "It will make you feel better Himura-san."

Kenshin sat up with the help of Kaoru and took the cup. "Thank you Tsubame-san."

The young woman shook her head. "Iie, you should thank her." She motioned to the small girl that Yahiko was gingerly picking up.

Kenji ran until his legs begged him to stop. He didn't know how long he had run or how far except that it wasn't far enough. The pain still lingered in his chest. It still spread through his body. It hurt. It was like a thousand needles piercing at him slowly. His heart felt as if it was laden with weights making a burden to hard to bare. Kenji leaned against a tree and tried to catch his breath. He closed his eyes attempting to stop it but he couldn't, his father's face would always be behind those lids haunting him… no taunting him.

It was always the same. It didn't change now. His father's face was always taunting the young man, always there behind his eyes when he closed them. That smiling stupid face was always there!

Kenji slammed a fist into the truck of the poor tree. "Why…" He murmured out between gritted teeth. "Why?!" He punched the tree again as his father's smiling face whispered words that he could not hear. Another memory resurfaced of the man's face. It looked pained at the words Kenji threw at him and those violet eyes ached deeper boring into the young Himura.

Kenji growled out in frustration and was vaguely aware of the presence near him. He pressed his head against the bark of the tree twisting it not caring if the skin broke under the rough texture. "Go away." Came out his horse reply as he heard the feet shuffle towards. "Go away!" He repeated with more force swinging an arm for added emphasis. He didn't want to be seen like this, he just wanted it to go away.

"Kenji."

Kenji stopped at hearing the voice. It was small, childlike. 'Shiori…' Kenji stood slightly and turned towards the small child. Her brown eyes had darkened dramatically almost appearing black, her small lips forming a sad frown.

"Kenji." She repeated taking a step towards him.

"No! Go away!" He clutched his head in anger. "Go AWAY!" The young man fell to his knees as more tears escaped his tight hold.

Shiori padded over before kneeling before him. She covered his hands with her smaller ones coaxing them to relax before prying them away from the red brown tresses. "Kenji, look at me." She forced his chin up making his violet eyes clash with hers. "It's okay to cry you don't have to be strong all the time." The words tumbled out of her mouth causing the young man to look up at her briefly.

It was those same eyes deep with hurt and sadness. It echoed back to him a hundred fold and he shut his eyes tightly. His lips moved and words came out far before he could stop them.

"Wha-what?" Shiori asked her eyes wide not sure if she heard correctly.

Kenji balled his hands tightly his finger nails breaking the soft skin. "I hate him."

Shiori shook her head frantically. "Don't say that! You don't mean it!" She grabbed hold of his face between her chubby hands and squeezed his cheeks forcing his eyes to open. "Don't ever say that." Her eyes pleaded with him as they shifted colors from dark to light and back to dark again.

Kenji briefly wondered about her and that pain but that filtered out of his head as fast as it had come in. He broke free of her grasp groping her hands tightly. "No. I mean it. I hate that man! I hate him and his eyes! I hate everything about him!" He yelled in her face. "I wish… I wish-"

"DON'T!" Shiori roughly pulled her hands away covering her ears stopping him from continuing. "Don't say it! DON'T Kenji!" She cried. It hurt so much. "Don't say it… onegai… don't say it..." She whispered.

Kenji watched as crystal like tears fell from her closed eyes. He couldn't take it, the picture she made was not one he was used to seeing. He felt an unfamiliar feeling pass through his body slowly warming him up from the inside out.

Kenji let out a big sigh before gathering the tiny girl in his lap. She clung onto his neck tightly burying her face in the crook of his neck. The young man rubbed small circles on her back not saying anything but letting his actions speak for him. 'I don't understand. Why?'

'Take it away… please just take it away.' Shiori continued to sob into his chest each sharp intake of air making her little body shake against his.

Kenji finally noticed where they were at. Large sakura trees lined either side of a small river next to the worn dirt path. The trees had already bloomed and were shedding their small blossoms onto their feet. A soft breeze shook some of the trees making it rain the pink petals on the two below.

His heart ached still but the pain seemed to have lifted half way at the simple action of easing someone else's pain. Kenji looked down noticing that some of the pink flowers landed on the black mass that was now calm. His eyes searched her ki trying to figure out buy their colors what it was that hurt her so. As he watched the shifting colors of dark blues and violets he noticed a bright color small and hidden amongst the swallowing darkness of her emotions. There was something that she cherished that brought her pain… 'Like me.'

Kenji planted a small kiss on the top of her head for once noticing how she smelled like the trees that showered them. Shiori shifted and then pulled away wiping her face with her sleeves.

"Gomen." She mumbled out behind a sleeve before facing him. His blue eyes searched her amber colored ones for something that would make him understand better. Another breeze passed by making her dark tresses dance lightly against her skin. Her eyes seemed to shine as if she remembered something, an important secret that no one else knew but her. "I was supposed to comfort you not the other way around." She smiled at him and Kenji felt his heavy heart left at that small thing. He didn't understand it. How could something so simple cause his heart to swell?

"Iie." Kenji reached out and caressed her face softly each stroke causing his heart to feel lighter and lighter. "Shiori…" The little girl's eyes widened as he approached her slowly. Shiori stood up quickly moving back one of the dark strands from obscuring her face. Kenji stared after her not quite sure he knew what had just happened.

The small girl looked up at the trees as another soft breeze passed by. "The sakuras are lovely today." She smiled again this time extending her tiny hand towards Kenji. "I'm sure everyone else will want to see them too."

Kenji stared at the hand as if he'd never seen a hand before in his life. Gingerly he reached out for it and grasped it in his letting it help him to his feet. As soon as he was there he pulled the hand towards him sending the body towards him as well. He embraced the fragile thing tightly not saying anything. Releasing it slowly he tapped her pert nose with his forefinger.

"Aa. I think they will too." He began to walk back towards the dojo placing his hands behind his head. "Maybe well come and see them tomorrow."

"Everyone?" Shiori asked as she smoothed down her green kimono.

"Hai, everyone." Kenji stopped and turned towards her smiling foolishly. "Everyone de gozaru yo."

Shiori tilted her head sideways before giggling. "De gozaru yo?" He repeated before quickly walking up to him. "Kenji-san you are a very silly ninjin."

Kenji let his hands fall down as he gave her a mock glare. "Quite calling me a carrot Chiisai."

Shiori punched him hard on his arm causing the young man to wince. "And I am not tiny!"

"Why you…" Kenji growled out slowly before turning his head up and walking briskly in front of her. "And here I thought you were actually kind of cute."

Shiori blushed before sprinting to catch up to him. "Matte!"

"Kawaisou." Kenji muttered as she caught up to him.

"AHOU GA!" Shiori yelled out once again punching his arm.

"Daaaame!" Kenji taunted as he ran in front of her.

"Grr….KenJIII!!!" Shiori raced after him kicking up sakura blossoms as she went.

---- tsudzuku ----

Translations

Nandemonai: Nothing.

Ninjin: Carrot

Chiisai: Tiny

Kawaisou: Pathetic

Ahou ga: You moron

Dame: hopeless

Arrigato Mina!

Takato Taikashi- Maa, maa! You did perfectly fine with this chapter! Not only that I kinda ended everything differently on Ch.3. ^^;;

AngelsExist- No, Kenji has never seen his dad in action, mainly because Kenshin can't do the Hiten Mitsurugi moves anymore. Don't worry they'll get better. See? Hum... maybe...

dementedchris- THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm so glad you're a regular reviewer!! I need to get off my lazy arse and review the other story you're doing with Chibi Angel! Goodness you too are so good! And it's so funny!! *sigh* Yeah I wish I had more reviews too... Lord knows I need all the encouragement I can get. , This story is so hard for me!! Hey thanks about the translations! I usually write them at the bottom... wonder why I didn't last time... ^^;; Thanks for the insight on Shiori! I'm going to see if I can keep her away from being perfect to almost perfect...or rather appears to be perfect. You'll see why later... or maybe even now.

supernaturalove- No, no. I plan on making Kenshin and Kenji reconcile before the guy dies. There are just a few things that have to get the two moving in the right direction ne? hee hee hee... ^-^

crystal wolf- I'm using some part of the OVA yes. And yes it did have a touching ending... I almost cried... almost. I have such a rock for a heart. -_-;;

Dragon0fDarkness- Whoa! O.O They're not dead!! See!! ::points above:: Kenshin's breathing! hee hee! Thanks for thinking so!

~oLd NaVy~ I have to say that you reviewed the exact moment I uploaded the last chapter! Glad you like the two! ^-^

fujifunmum- Yeah! Another of my favorite authors reviewed!! Man I love your site! I went there several times and dopey me never wrote in your guestbook. *sigh* I can be such a gimp sometimes. I'll eventually do so... man my arse is getting lazier and lazier everyday! :B

Gypsy-chan- See!! See! He LIVES!! ::lightening crackles behind her:: Ano... I need to stop watching B movies. ^-^ Yeah I need him alive too for the next chapter which will have a part just for you! You know why? Because you saw my pictures! ::blush:: Someday I'm going to be an animator, but first I'm going to draw my own comic! But once again my lazy arse gets in the way. -_-;;

Marta- Thankies!! ^-^ I'm going to finish this one or else die trying!