**Happy Easter, says Pechan to all!! Anyways, what do you do when you're
typing and your cousin keeps b!tching about how poorly you type? Well, you
tell the ho to fix the damn typos herself!! *thanks for the second half,
Hannah* And yeah, DISCLAIMING ALL RIGHTS TO RUROUNI KENSHIN HERE.
~I Hate Him~
Ryu was sitting in his room the next day, tying his yukata. Something was troubling him.
--Flashback
A night before, he had found his room empty. Where Mina would have been sleeping before, she wasn't there. Ryu hated being alone. He crawled through the dark house, and slid open the door to his mother's room, finding that man in there again.
**Why?**
Ryu looked, and found Mina sleeping in his lap, and his mother leaning on his shoulder.
**Why did they ............**
Ryu stared at them. His mother never was one to get close to people. She didn't even hug long time friends. But that day he came back, she started to cry and smile. Ryu had never seen that reaction before in her face. So much so, she dropped her basket of laundry, and ran to him, not even caring this man had a sword clipped to his belt.
**What was so special about this guy, anyways?**
He had been to their house before, at week and monthly intervals. True, this last time, he was gone for four months, but who cares? It's not like anything got any better when he was here. In fact, it made things worse for Ryu. This man........ he didn't like him. He was scared him.
He didn't like those eyes, the way they seemed to judge his every little move, the way they narrowed at every little thing.
He didn't like the way his sister so eagerly slept in this stranger's lap.
Ryu frowned, and looked away from the scene. **Why.........** Why couldn't he like his father, too? Everyone else was!!
Ryu grit his teeth, "He's not my dad," he whispered, 'A real dad.......... a real father would have been there for us."
He clenched his little fists, "A real father would never leave," he sniffed, and rubbed his stinging eyes. Why was he crying? - he was mad!!
He suddenly felt a presence, and jerked his head.
The man had turned his face to his direction, and was looking at him.
Ryu felt shock sweep over him, as those slanted eyes seemed to sift through his thoughts. They knew Ryu wasn't thinking of anything pleasant.
"What's the matter?"
Ryu gulped, and then gave a short bow, unsure of what other gesture to give, "Nothing." He turned, and crawled back into his room, alone.
Alone.
--End of Flashback
He slid open the door, and saw his mother was walking down the hall. She looked up at him, and beamed, "Ah, there's the sleepy head!!" she knelt down, "How are you feeling, hon? You weren't coughing any more last night, were you?"
Ryu shook his head, "No Mom, I slept fine."
She smiled, "That's good then. The doctor says your lungs are really getting better. Are you sure, though? You're not hiding it anymore, are you?"
--Another Flashback
When Ryu was born, he couldn't stop coughing up red. It just wouldn't stop. Ryu heard that his mother would collapse in tears, clutching Ryu to her chest as he hacked blood on her. She didn't know what to do. And so, she spent a lot of money, and time, and energy finding a doctor for him. They had found one. And finally, Ryu was given the right medicine to cure his bleeding lungs. Although, his sickness wasn't something he caught.
Ryu was born this way, and the doctor had asked Tokio, "Did the father ever smoke tobacco, or had an opium pipe?"
Tokio nervously fumbled with her hands, as Ryu stared into her worried face from her lap, "M-My husband smokes."
The doctor shook his head, "Lately, I've found children with parents addicted to any type of drug tend to have sickly children born. There are medicines to keep them alive, but only for so long........."
His mother was quiet, and finally uttered a small, "I see............"
For the next few nights, Tokio had slept with Ryu at all times, in a tight embrace. But even as Ryu tried his hardest not to disappoint her........... not to make her cry... his body would hunch anyways, and he'd spit up red again......
And oh, she cried...........
Ryu was sorry. Sorry that he hurt his mother so much. And every time he tasted that coppery taste in his tongue, trickling down his chin, he cursed himself. He was making his mother sad, and he hated watching her cry.
Mina didn't know what was going on, until Tokio told her. But Mina didn't understand.
--Flashback Ends Here
"Ryu, baby? Is something wrong?" his mother asked, a warm smile on her face. She was still kneeling in front of him, in the hall.
Ryu frowned.
** "Did the father ever smoke tobacco, or had an opium pipe?" **
** "M-My husband smokes." **
Ryu widened his eyes, in understanding.
It's his fault.
Tokio bit her lip, and held her son's face, "Ryu? Honey, what's wrong? Are you okay? You weren't coughing, were you-"
"It's his fault!!"
She gasped, as her son shouted, "That man- my father- he did this to me!! The doctor said so!!"
His mother's brows pinched in worry and confusion, "Ryu, baby, you're not making any-"
"The reason I'm dying is because that man smokes!! Remember?"
Tokio gasped.
"Remember?!!"
Ryu was panting, looking away from his mother's hurt face. "It's his fault. It's his fault I can't stop. It's his fault why you cry whenever I can't stop............. it's all his.............."
Tokio crawled to him, and scooped him up quickly, "Ryu, n-no, it's not his fault, the doctor isn't even sure of that-"
"It is too his fault. I hate him, I HATE HIM!!"
She shook her head, her hands running through his hair, "Ryu, don't say such-"
"He's making you cry even now, Mom!!"
Tokio jerked her head back, tears brimming. Then she gulped, and said, "Ryu, please, I know this is hard on you. I.......... I mean, I know it must have hurt, and I ............ I'm sorry, Mommy didn't realize how much........... oh, baby, I'm so sorry........"
She hugged him again, and Ryu felt his eyes burn, and his vision blurred again, "Make him go away Mom, he's only gonna hurt you. Please............."
Tokio's shoulders were shaking, and she sobbed, "No, please, don't blame him......."
But Ryu wasn't listening. All he could hear was his mother's painful sobs again, and he cried too, knowing he caused them in some way.
"I hate him..........." he sobbed meekly.
--
On the other side of the house, Saito was smoking, reading a note pad with a list of provisions needed for his next mission. With a pen, he began to calculate how much it would cost. He hated the boring part of his work.
"Daddy?"
He looked up, his daughter beaming at him, hands clasped behind her back. He smiled politely, "What is it?"
"I'm hungry."
He smirked, and set back to work, "Go find your mother, she'll cook you something."
She watched him scribble numbers down for a minute, then waddled over to his side and plopped down. She looked up at him, the way he was sitting, and tried to copy it. She pressed her back against the wall, stretched out her legs, and bent one knee up, resting her hand on it. Saito looked out of the corner of his eye, as she noticed she had no notebook to hold. To substitute, she rolled over, picked up a fan, and assumed the position again. This time with an object in her hand and she pretended to study it, calculating, as her father was really doing with the mission in his hand right now.
Mimicry. What an intelligent child he had. Almost as intelligent as a monkey. And just as annoying. But she was trying, so that was progress in itself. He smirked, "I think your mother's calling you."
She jumped up, "Oh, okay!!" and skipped off.
He placed the cigarette back into his mouth, and smirked. Stupid kid. He wrote more, and added and subtracted to the list, and then set it down. Well, half the paperwork was out of the way. He took a long drag of his cigarette and exhaled, eyes closed. It had been a while since he could relax. He usually couldn't; he was constantly thinking.
"Hey."
He looked up, and found his wife. She looked troubled.
"What is it?"
She sighed, and crossed her arms, "We need to talk."
He smirked, and nearly laughed. 'We need to talk'. Nearly every dating couple ends their relationship with those lines, everyone knew that. Divorce, perhaps?
"Goro, please?"
Oh great, she was serious. What could possibly be worrying her? He picked up his notepad, and slid his pen into his pocket. He flicked the cigarette away, into the dirt, and walked next to her, "What's wrong? Has something happened in my absence I should know about?" he slid his eyes to her, "You know I don't like it when you keep secrets from me."
She shrugged, "I know that. But the thing is, it's my.......... our son. He's been keeping things from me, too."
He put his free hand into his pocket, "How is the boy?"
She frowned, "Tch. Don't call him that."
"Fine. How is my son? The doctor said he was getting better, didn't he?"
"Yes, and I'm grateful. But, that's not the problem."
"I'm sure it's nothing big."
"He blames you, Hajime."
She stopped. He did too.
Hajime looked away, hiding his smirk. What, was this suppose to shock him? He had seen his face. Once was enough to tell the boy didn't like him. It was clear, and that didn't bother Hajime one bit.
Ah, that was the problem. He didn't care. Most fathers were supposed to care, weren't they? Hmm. This could be problematic.
"Hajime?"
She noticed he was thinking. He crossed his arms, "What do you want me to do about it, Tokio?"
"I wasn't asking you to do anything, I..." she sighed, pushing her bangs out of her eyes, straightening her bun, "I just thought.......... maybe you should know."
He looked at her. "I already knew, Tokio. What do you expect me to do about it?"
She looked up at him, thinking, "Hmm. I dunno. Guess we should just toss him out of the house, huh?"
"I wouldn't mind."
He sidestepped from her slap, and she snarled, "INSENSITIVE JERK!!! I OUGHTA KICK YOU OUTTA THE HOUSE!!"
"You could try, but I highly doubt you would." He pulled out another cigarette, lighting it, "Let the boy hate me if he wants. I'll respect it by not bothering him. As he'll probably do the same for me."
Tokio sighed, fixing her sleeves, "He hates you with a passion, Hajime. And I really don't want to have a son who hates his father. Who's side am I supposed to take?"
"Are you convinced it really is my fault?"
Tokio looked up, eyes wide, "You heard?"
"Yes, I'm surprised Mina couldn't hear."
Tokio opened her mouth the say something, then stopped. What was she supposed to say? She closed her eyes, and sighed, "Listen, tomorrow I have to bring Ryu to the doctor. Just for a check up and to refill his prescription. Can you watch Mina for me?"
"Why can't you just bring her? The girl isn't stupid."
She smirked, "You're just saying that because she likes you."
Hajime smirked back and turned away, walking down the porch, "I don't play favorites."
Tokio leaned against the wall, "Yeah? You coulda fooled me." She watched him ignore her, as he went into the house. Probably to go into his room for privacy. She rested her head against the wall, arms crossed.
** "I HATE HIM!!" **
She winced. Harsh words. Ryu had said he hated Mina, but only after Mina had thrown dirt in his face, or pushed him. What a crybaby.
This hate was new. This hate was genuine, not a fit. How could she explain that his father wasn't to blame? Okay, perhaps the smoking DID help this sickness, but of course, Hajime didn't mean it!! What was she to tell her son? They were an accident?
She kicked the wall lightly, "Yare yare..........." Tokio liked to say her husband's stupid words, when she felt stupid herself. Proved her point that he could be dumb too. Well, not dumb at all. Her husband was incredibly smart. Infuriatingly smart. She wished she could knock out that smart aleck one of these days.
"Mommy?"
Mina interrupted her thinking, tugging on the hems of her yukata. Tokio knelt, "Yeah hon? What is it?"
"Daddy said you were calling me, but I couldn't find you."
Tokio frowned, "Did he?" Lousy jerk, sending her away like that!!
"Why's Ryu crying?"
Tokio felt her brows pinch again, "Uh? Your brother's crying?"
"Yeah. And when I tried to help, he pushed me!" Mina stuck out her bottom lip, "I don't like Ryu anymore. Let's trade Daddy for him!!"
Tokio laughed, and ruffled her bangs, "No can do, hon. Besides, Ryu's feeling mad right now. And you're kind of mean yourself, like that one time you were angry. Remember? You kicked Ryu in the stomach."
"But that was different!! He was being dumb!!"
Tokio patted her head again, and rose, "Mina, be a dear and just leave him alone today."
"Tch. You don't hafta' tell me twice," she pouted, stomping off.
Her mother stared at her, then gave a submissive sigh, "Smart @$$ fathers and smart @$$ kids. Talk about your apples falling close to the tree." She turned into the house, "Guess I better start lunch....."
~I Hate Him~
Ryu was sitting in his room the next day, tying his yukata. Something was troubling him.
--Flashback
A night before, he had found his room empty. Where Mina would have been sleeping before, she wasn't there. Ryu hated being alone. He crawled through the dark house, and slid open the door to his mother's room, finding that man in there again.
**Why?**
Ryu looked, and found Mina sleeping in his lap, and his mother leaning on his shoulder.
**Why did they ............**
Ryu stared at them. His mother never was one to get close to people. She didn't even hug long time friends. But that day he came back, she started to cry and smile. Ryu had never seen that reaction before in her face. So much so, she dropped her basket of laundry, and ran to him, not even caring this man had a sword clipped to his belt.
**What was so special about this guy, anyways?**
He had been to their house before, at week and monthly intervals. True, this last time, he was gone for four months, but who cares? It's not like anything got any better when he was here. In fact, it made things worse for Ryu. This man........ he didn't like him. He was scared him.
He didn't like those eyes, the way they seemed to judge his every little move, the way they narrowed at every little thing.
He didn't like the way his sister so eagerly slept in this stranger's lap.
Ryu frowned, and looked away from the scene. **Why.........** Why couldn't he like his father, too? Everyone else was!!
Ryu grit his teeth, "He's not my dad," he whispered, 'A real dad.......... a real father would have been there for us."
He clenched his little fists, "A real father would never leave," he sniffed, and rubbed his stinging eyes. Why was he crying? - he was mad!!
He suddenly felt a presence, and jerked his head.
The man had turned his face to his direction, and was looking at him.
Ryu felt shock sweep over him, as those slanted eyes seemed to sift through his thoughts. They knew Ryu wasn't thinking of anything pleasant.
"What's the matter?"
Ryu gulped, and then gave a short bow, unsure of what other gesture to give, "Nothing." He turned, and crawled back into his room, alone.
Alone.
--End of Flashback
He slid open the door, and saw his mother was walking down the hall. She looked up at him, and beamed, "Ah, there's the sleepy head!!" she knelt down, "How are you feeling, hon? You weren't coughing any more last night, were you?"
Ryu shook his head, "No Mom, I slept fine."
She smiled, "That's good then. The doctor says your lungs are really getting better. Are you sure, though? You're not hiding it anymore, are you?"
--Another Flashback
When Ryu was born, he couldn't stop coughing up red. It just wouldn't stop. Ryu heard that his mother would collapse in tears, clutching Ryu to her chest as he hacked blood on her. She didn't know what to do. And so, she spent a lot of money, and time, and energy finding a doctor for him. They had found one. And finally, Ryu was given the right medicine to cure his bleeding lungs. Although, his sickness wasn't something he caught.
Ryu was born this way, and the doctor had asked Tokio, "Did the father ever smoke tobacco, or had an opium pipe?"
Tokio nervously fumbled with her hands, as Ryu stared into her worried face from her lap, "M-My husband smokes."
The doctor shook his head, "Lately, I've found children with parents addicted to any type of drug tend to have sickly children born. There are medicines to keep them alive, but only for so long........."
His mother was quiet, and finally uttered a small, "I see............"
For the next few nights, Tokio had slept with Ryu at all times, in a tight embrace. But even as Ryu tried his hardest not to disappoint her........... not to make her cry... his body would hunch anyways, and he'd spit up red again......
And oh, she cried...........
Ryu was sorry. Sorry that he hurt his mother so much. And every time he tasted that coppery taste in his tongue, trickling down his chin, he cursed himself. He was making his mother sad, and he hated watching her cry.
Mina didn't know what was going on, until Tokio told her. But Mina didn't understand.
--Flashback Ends Here
"Ryu, baby? Is something wrong?" his mother asked, a warm smile on her face. She was still kneeling in front of him, in the hall.
Ryu frowned.
** "Did the father ever smoke tobacco, or had an opium pipe?" **
** "M-My husband smokes." **
Ryu widened his eyes, in understanding.
It's his fault.
Tokio bit her lip, and held her son's face, "Ryu? Honey, what's wrong? Are you okay? You weren't coughing, were you-"
"It's his fault!!"
She gasped, as her son shouted, "That man- my father- he did this to me!! The doctor said so!!"
His mother's brows pinched in worry and confusion, "Ryu, baby, you're not making any-"
"The reason I'm dying is because that man smokes!! Remember?"
Tokio gasped.
"Remember?!!"
Ryu was panting, looking away from his mother's hurt face. "It's his fault. It's his fault I can't stop. It's his fault why you cry whenever I can't stop............. it's all his.............."
Tokio crawled to him, and scooped him up quickly, "Ryu, n-no, it's not his fault, the doctor isn't even sure of that-"
"It is too his fault. I hate him, I HATE HIM!!"
She shook her head, her hands running through his hair, "Ryu, don't say such-"
"He's making you cry even now, Mom!!"
Tokio jerked her head back, tears brimming. Then she gulped, and said, "Ryu, please, I know this is hard on you. I.......... I mean, I know it must have hurt, and I ............ I'm sorry, Mommy didn't realize how much........... oh, baby, I'm so sorry........"
She hugged him again, and Ryu felt his eyes burn, and his vision blurred again, "Make him go away Mom, he's only gonna hurt you. Please............."
Tokio's shoulders were shaking, and she sobbed, "No, please, don't blame him......."
But Ryu wasn't listening. All he could hear was his mother's painful sobs again, and he cried too, knowing he caused them in some way.
"I hate him..........." he sobbed meekly.
--
On the other side of the house, Saito was smoking, reading a note pad with a list of provisions needed for his next mission. With a pen, he began to calculate how much it would cost. He hated the boring part of his work.
"Daddy?"
He looked up, his daughter beaming at him, hands clasped behind her back. He smiled politely, "What is it?"
"I'm hungry."
He smirked, and set back to work, "Go find your mother, she'll cook you something."
She watched him scribble numbers down for a minute, then waddled over to his side and plopped down. She looked up at him, the way he was sitting, and tried to copy it. She pressed her back against the wall, stretched out her legs, and bent one knee up, resting her hand on it. Saito looked out of the corner of his eye, as she noticed she had no notebook to hold. To substitute, she rolled over, picked up a fan, and assumed the position again. This time with an object in her hand and she pretended to study it, calculating, as her father was really doing with the mission in his hand right now.
Mimicry. What an intelligent child he had. Almost as intelligent as a monkey. And just as annoying. But she was trying, so that was progress in itself. He smirked, "I think your mother's calling you."
She jumped up, "Oh, okay!!" and skipped off.
He placed the cigarette back into his mouth, and smirked. Stupid kid. He wrote more, and added and subtracted to the list, and then set it down. Well, half the paperwork was out of the way. He took a long drag of his cigarette and exhaled, eyes closed. It had been a while since he could relax. He usually couldn't; he was constantly thinking.
"Hey."
He looked up, and found his wife. She looked troubled.
"What is it?"
She sighed, and crossed her arms, "We need to talk."
He smirked, and nearly laughed. 'We need to talk'. Nearly every dating couple ends their relationship with those lines, everyone knew that. Divorce, perhaps?
"Goro, please?"
Oh great, she was serious. What could possibly be worrying her? He picked up his notepad, and slid his pen into his pocket. He flicked the cigarette away, into the dirt, and walked next to her, "What's wrong? Has something happened in my absence I should know about?" he slid his eyes to her, "You know I don't like it when you keep secrets from me."
She shrugged, "I know that. But the thing is, it's my.......... our son. He's been keeping things from me, too."
He put his free hand into his pocket, "How is the boy?"
She frowned, "Tch. Don't call him that."
"Fine. How is my son? The doctor said he was getting better, didn't he?"
"Yes, and I'm grateful. But, that's not the problem."
"I'm sure it's nothing big."
"He blames you, Hajime."
She stopped. He did too.
Hajime looked away, hiding his smirk. What, was this suppose to shock him? He had seen his face. Once was enough to tell the boy didn't like him. It was clear, and that didn't bother Hajime one bit.
Ah, that was the problem. He didn't care. Most fathers were supposed to care, weren't they? Hmm. This could be problematic.
"Hajime?"
She noticed he was thinking. He crossed his arms, "What do you want me to do about it, Tokio?"
"I wasn't asking you to do anything, I..." she sighed, pushing her bangs out of her eyes, straightening her bun, "I just thought.......... maybe you should know."
He looked at her. "I already knew, Tokio. What do you expect me to do about it?"
She looked up at him, thinking, "Hmm. I dunno. Guess we should just toss him out of the house, huh?"
"I wouldn't mind."
He sidestepped from her slap, and she snarled, "INSENSITIVE JERK!!! I OUGHTA KICK YOU OUTTA THE HOUSE!!"
"You could try, but I highly doubt you would." He pulled out another cigarette, lighting it, "Let the boy hate me if he wants. I'll respect it by not bothering him. As he'll probably do the same for me."
Tokio sighed, fixing her sleeves, "He hates you with a passion, Hajime. And I really don't want to have a son who hates his father. Who's side am I supposed to take?"
"Are you convinced it really is my fault?"
Tokio looked up, eyes wide, "You heard?"
"Yes, I'm surprised Mina couldn't hear."
Tokio opened her mouth the say something, then stopped. What was she supposed to say? She closed her eyes, and sighed, "Listen, tomorrow I have to bring Ryu to the doctor. Just for a check up and to refill his prescription. Can you watch Mina for me?"
"Why can't you just bring her? The girl isn't stupid."
She smirked, "You're just saying that because she likes you."
Hajime smirked back and turned away, walking down the porch, "I don't play favorites."
Tokio leaned against the wall, "Yeah? You coulda fooled me." She watched him ignore her, as he went into the house. Probably to go into his room for privacy. She rested her head against the wall, arms crossed.
** "I HATE HIM!!" **
She winced. Harsh words. Ryu had said he hated Mina, but only after Mina had thrown dirt in his face, or pushed him. What a crybaby.
This hate was new. This hate was genuine, not a fit. How could she explain that his father wasn't to blame? Okay, perhaps the smoking DID help this sickness, but of course, Hajime didn't mean it!! What was she to tell her son? They were an accident?
She kicked the wall lightly, "Yare yare..........." Tokio liked to say her husband's stupid words, when she felt stupid herself. Proved her point that he could be dumb too. Well, not dumb at all. Her husband was incredibly smart. Infuriatingly smart. She wished she could knock out that smart aleck one of these days.
"Mommy?"
Mina interrupted her thinking, tugging on the hems of her yukata. Tokio knelt, "Yeah hon? What is it?"
"Daddy said you were calling me, but I couldn't find you."
Tokio frowned, "Did he?" Lousy jerk, sending her away like that!!
"Why's Ryu crying?"
Tokio felt her brows pinch again, "Uh? Your brother's crying?"
"Yeah. And when I tried to help, he pushed me!" Mina stuck out her bottom lip, "I don't like Ryu anymore. Let's trade Daddy for him!!"
Tokio laughed, and ruffled her bangs, "No can do, hon. Besides, Ryu's feeling mad right now. And you're kind of mean yourself, like that one time you were angry. Remember? You kicked Ryu in the stomach."
"But that was different!! He was being dumb!!"
Tokio patted her head again, and rose, "Mina, be a dear and just leave him alone today."
"Tch. You don't hafta' tell me twice," she pouted, stomping off.
Her mother stared at her, then gave a submissive sigh, "Smart @$$ fathers and smart @$$ kids. Talk about your apples falling close to the tree." She turned into the house, "Guess I better start lunch....."