Author's Notes–Hi again and welcome to the second chapter of Passage. ^^* This is my first fanfic and I think it's going pretty well. Anywho, thanks for reading this far. As to the reviewers, there are little notes at the bottom. The chapters following this may contain a few spoilers of Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal (Tsuiokuhen). Yea, my chapters are now notoriously short. And I love cliffhangers. So be ready. ^^*
03.13.04–Chapter 2 updated and edited. Stares intensify. KENSHIN HAS AN UMBRELLA IN PLACE OF THE SAKABATOU.
Disclaimer–I don't own any of these characters, though I really wish I did.. what RK fanatic doesn't wish that they owned Kenshin? But, yea, this is just for fun.
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The road to Satsuma was indeed a long one–taking about a week. Kenshin traveled by day. He had no money for an inn, but had learned to sleep in slightly wooded areas at night.. with his faithful umbrella leaning against his cheek. A habit that he had actually kept from his hitokiri days. He carried no luggage, save his the umbrella strapped to his back. He found that if he walked stiffly and appeared odd with an umbrella faded in color strapped to his back, travelers would be more wary of approaching him. Kenshin loved to travel this way, he could ignore the stifling, sidelong glances his clothes afforded him.
Every once in a while, Kenshin would pick up traces of the conversation around him. About halfway to Satsuma, he stopped at a local tavern for a cup of tea. The guys in the booth behind were holding a conversation about him in hushed tones. The first man pointed Kenshin out, "That man's the Battousai."
"How can you tell, Tojo-kun?" Another man asked, "He looks a little too.. well, little to be the famed hitokiri."
"Nah, trust me on this one. I was a trainee of the Kihei-tai, that man's it. Cross-shaped scar, red hair. Those are none-too-common attributes." Tojo said shrilly, his voice barely above a whisper. Little did he know that his former companion could hear every word of what was being said.
"But he carries no sword." The second man remarked. "He carries.. an umbrella?"
"Who knows? Those hitokiri could kill anyone with anything. I saw one man felled by mop." Tojo exclaimed, his voice still not carrying far.
Losing all interest thus, Kenshin left a few yen on the table to cover his drink, he stalked out into the night. It would be a few more days until he reached Satsuma.
Three more days to be presice, until he reached Satsuma at twilight one evening. An ancient-looking city and its ancient-inhabitants greeted him. Nobody in Satsuma seemed to notice anything about him, very out of the ordinary. In fact, he saw a few wakizashi and katana unhidden, tied to the hakama of several townsfolk. And their police squad waltzed by them without even noticing. His eyes bugged at this. Again, though, no one seemed to notice.
He stopped and asked a passerby in Western dress for directions to Katsura's residence. This was apparently an easy task, Katsura was a well-known government official now, going by his unadopted name Kido Takayoshi. He followed the man's directions, which lead him to a wealthier part of the city. Kodachi and other defensive swords hung on the passerby there as well. Was this suddenly a new fashion trend that he hadn't learned of? He continued on to a very large, antique-looking estate. Kenshin hesitated for a moment, then knocked on the large gate.
A woman dressed in kimono greeted him almost instantly. She had never met him before, but had heard many stories. Cross-shaped scar on his left cheek, fiery red hair, and a commanding presence.. this had to be him. The chief assassin for her husband's former Chosuu clan. She had almost been afraid to write to him. But what was he doing in a pink gi? And his eyes were–lavender? Nevertheless, she masked her confusion and welcomed him with a soft, whispered "Welcome, Himura-san."
Kenshin just looked at her for a moment. He had heard stories of her as well, a beautiful young geisha that had captured to heart of his leader, Katsura. From her brow, he could tell that she had aged prematurely–undoubtedly out of worry. But there was something about her that still made her seem so beautiful. Like an antique porcelain doll that every one is afraid to touch. Creamy white skin, black hair slightly lined with gray. She reminded him of.. Tomoe. "Thank you, Katsura-dono," he said quietly.
Ikumatsu admitted Kenshin entrance into the complex, whilst being very curious at what had happened to the former hitokiri. He still carried an... umbrella? But hadn't Katsura told her of Kenshin's vow of pacifism? He still looked young, probably not a day past 26. But his dress was that of a worn traveler. His hakama, formerly white, were now caked with a thin layer of brown dust. He wore a magenta gi that looked as if it had been mended one too many times. His tabi and zori were almost too muddy to recognize as socks and shoes, respectively. But Ikumatsu could not stop staring at his umbrella. Had the Tomoe-girl not served as enough of a sheath? Had he taken up his famed Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu again.. With an old umbrella? Where was his sword? Was he once again a hitokiri?! Would he try to kill her?!?? Would he try to kill Katsura?!??! It was driving her insane, but she remained stonily silent and rigid. She continued to stare.
Kenshin felt his gaze burning small holes into umbrella. "Katsura-dono," he said slowly, reaching for it. Ikumatsu continued staring at him; however, her expression was now one of sheer horror. Did he intend to kill Katsura and her? She knew it! He only came to take the life of the one that had spun him into his madness. Not that she didn't blame him.. Katsura probably deserved it. But it had been years since then. Surely he could have forgiven and forgotten by now? "It is but an umbrella." He showed her, and Ikumatsu appeared now frightened out of her wits and confused. "I fight with this. It prevents me from killing and reminds me of.." He bowed his head.. "Her.."
Ikumatsu continued to stare at him, speechless, as he re-strapped his umbrella. How had the years treated this man that now he carried an old umbrella of a former lover? What had happened to him? What was he doing? What was it with this man, no taller than she, that half-amazed her and half-chilled her to the bone? Still wordlessly, she motioned Kenshin to follow her. They removed their shoes at the steps to the walkway of the main building. Such was tradition. Kenshin stood at the entrance for a moment. He counted sixteen pairs of geta before Ikumatsu's impatient stare finally pulled him away. More than sixteen comrades. What would this bring about? She was still nervous, he could tell. But she was not nearly as nervous as he was. His past still haunted him.. and here he was about to confront it. It chilled him to the bone as well.
The walked in a silence that seemed ever-growing, only the sound of their stockinged feet and the trees of Katsura's estate rustling in the wind. They arrived in a room, behind which came the voices of many people whispering. "This is it. Are you ready to meet these people after these some ten years, Kenshin?" Ikumatsu asked, worriedly looking at him. She raised her eyebrows in question, not knowing if the man would even condone her with a response. For a while, he didn't.
Kenshin merely stared at the shoji-sliding door and could see the shadows of the people moving within. People who knew him only as "Battousai" and the murderer "hitokiri". What would this do to him? None of these people knew him as a rurouni. Only as that heartless killer that hid in the shadows for two years (before Makoto Sishou picked up the assinations) and three more just protecting Chosuu's men during the Bakufu. But it had been almost ten years since them. Many of them probably knew of the Otsu-incident as well. Many of them knew of Tomoe. That's probably why Ikumatsu was so worried and nervous around him. He was quite sure that she hadn't always been like this.
Behind the shoji.. this room contained all walks of life. Undoubtedly many new top-government officials, maybe a few fighters-for-hire.. were any of the people from this part in is life going to recognize him? Were any of them on the path of peaceful repentance, as well? Kenshin turned to Ikumatsu and merely nodded, not wanting his near-quaking fear to be readable. But he was sure that it was. Even a geisha could pick up on his emotions these days.
Ikumatsu slid back the shoji and the room and its inhabitants fell silent. Ikumatsu said in a very slow, very quiet geisha-voice "Himura Kenshin". After he took two steps in, Ikumatsu slid the shoji shut unceremoniously, quickly, and noisily behind him and padded away to attend to her other household duties.
Kenshin stared at the room, and his past stared back at him.
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Ahh, to the reviewers has been slashed. In its place, a biiiig thanks to Lady Nomad-san. ^^* I really dunno where this story would be headed without her. She has tons of ideas. Thank you again!
To everyone else, thank you so so so so so so so so so so much for caring to read this far. ^^* More chapters to come! See ya in chapter 3!....
03.13.04–Chapter 2 updated and edited. Stares intensify. KENSHIN HAS AN UMBRELLA IN PLACE OF THE SAKABATOU.
Disclaimer–I don't own any of these characters, though I really wish I did.. what RK fanatic doesn't wish that they owned Kenshin? But, yea, this is just for fun.
-----------------------------------
The road to Satsuma was indeed a long one–taking about a week. Kenshin traveled by day. He had no money for an inn, but had learned to sleep in slightly wooded areas at night.. with his faithful umbrella leaning against his cheek. A habit that he had actually kept from his hitokiri days. He carried no luggage, save his the umbrella strapped to his back. He found that if he walked stiffly and appeared odd with an umbrella faded in color strapped to his back, travelers would be more wary of approaching him. Kenshin loved to travel this way, he could ignore the stifling, sidelong glances his clothes afforded him.
Every once in a while, Kenshin would pick up traces of the conversation around him. About halfway to Satsuma, he stopped at a local tavern for a cup of tea. The guys in the booth behind were holding a conversation about him in hushed tones. The first man pointed Kenshin out, "That man's the Battousai."
"How can you tell, Tojo-kun?" Another man asked, "He looks a little too.. well, little to be the famed hitokiri."
"Nah, trust me on this one. I was a trainee of the Kihei-tai, that man's it. Cross-shaped scar, red hair. Those are none-too-common attributes." Tojo said shrilly, his voice barely above a whisper. Little did he know that his former companion could hear every word of what was being said.
"But he carries no sword." The second man remarked. "He carries.. an umbrella?"
"Who knows? Those hitokiri could kill anyone with anything. I saw one man felled by mop." Tojo exclaimed, his voice still not carrying far.
Losing all interest thus, Kenshin left a few yen on the table to cover his drink, he stalked out into the night. It would be a few more days until he reached Satsuma.
Three more days to be presice, until he reached Satsuma at twilight one evening. An ancient-looking city and its ancient-inhabitants greeted him. Nobody in Satsuma seemed to notice anything about him, very out of the ordinary. In fact, he saw a few wakizashi and katana unhidden, tied to the hakama of several townsfolk. And their police squad waltzed by them without even noticing. His eyes bugged at this. Again, though, no one seemed to notice.
He stopped and asked a passerby in Western dress for directions to Katsura's residence. This was apparently an easy task, Katsura was a well-known government official now, going by his unadopted name Kido Takayoshi. He followed the man's directions, which lead him to a wealthier part of the city. Kodachi and other defensive swords hung on the passerby there as well. Was this suddenly a new fashion trend that he hadn't learned of? He continued on to a very large, antique-looking estate. Kenshin hesitated for a moment, then knocked on the large gate.
A woman dressed in kimono greeted him almost instantly. She had never met him before, but had heard many stories. Cross-shaped scar on his left cheek, fiery red hair, and a commanding presence.. this had to be him. The chief assassin for her husband's former Chosuu clan. She had almost been afraid to write to him. But what was he doing in a pink gi? And his eyes were–lavender? Nevertheless, she masked her confusion and welcomed him with a soft, whispered "Welcome, Himura-san."
Kenshin just looked at her for a moment. He had heard stories of her as well, a beautiful young geisha that had captured to heart of his leader, Katsura. From her brow, he could tell that she had aged prematurely–undoubtedly out of worry. But there was something about her that still made her seem so beautiful. Like an antique porcelain doll that every one is afraid to touch. Creamy white skin, black hair slightly lined with gray. She reminded him of.. Tomoe. "Thank you, Katsura-dono," he said quietly.
Ikumatsu admitted Kenshin entrance into the complex, whilst being very curious at what had happened to the former hitokiri. He still carried an... umbrella? But hadn't Katsura told her of Kenshin's vow of pacifism? He still looked young, probably not a day past 26. But his dress was that of a worn traveler. His hakama, formerly white, were now caked with a thin layer of brown dust. He wore a magenta gi that looked as if it had been mended one too many times. His tabi and zori were almost too muddy to recognize as socks and shoes, respectively. But Ikumatsu could not stop staring at his umbrella. Had the Tomoe-girl not served as enough of a sheath? Had he taken up his famed Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu again.. With an old umbrella? Where was his sword? Was he once again a hitokiri?! Would he try to kill her?!?? Would he try to kill Katsura?!??! It was driving her insane, but she remained stonily silent and rigid. She continued to stare.
Kenshin felt his gaze burning small holes into umbrella. "Katsura-dono," he said slowly, reaching for it. Ikumatsu continued staring at him; however, her expression was now one of sheer horror. Did he intend to kill Katsura and her? She knew it! He only came to take the life of the one that had spun him into his madness. Not that she didn't blame him.. Katsura probably deserved it. But it had been years since then. Surely he could have forgiven and forgotten by now? "It is but an umbrella." He showed her, and Ikumatsu appeared now frightened out of her wits and confused. "I fight with this. It prevents me from killing and reminds me of.." He bowed his head.. "Her.."
Ikumatsu continued to stare at him, speechless, as he re-strapped his umbrella. How had the years treated this man that now he carried an old umbrella of a former lover? What had happened to him? What was he doing? What was it with this man, no taller than she, that half-amazed her and half-chilled her to the bone? Still wordlessly, she motioned Kenshin to follow her. They removed their shoes at the steps to the walkway of the main building. Such was tradition. Kenshin stood at the entrance for a moment. He counted sixteen pairs of geta before Ikumatsu's impatient stare finally pulled him away. More than sixteen comrades. What would this bring about? She was still nervous, he could tell. But she was not nearly as nervous as he was. His past still haunted him.. and here he was about to confront it. It chilled him to the bone as well.
The walked in a silence that seemed ever-growing, only the sound of their stockinged feet and the trees of Katsura's estate rustling in the wind. They arrived in a room, behind which came the voices of many people whispering. "This is it. Are you ready to meet these people after these some ten years, Kenshin?" Ikumatsu asked, worriedly looking at him. She raised her eyebrows in question, not knowing if the man would even condone her with a response. For a while, he didn't.
Kenshin merely stared at the shoji-sliding door and could see the shadows of the people moving within. People who knew him only as "Battousai" and the murderer "hitokiri". What would this do to him? None of these people knew him as a rurouni. Only as that heartless killer that hid in the shadows for two years (before Makoto Sishou picked up the assinations) and three more just protecting Chosuu's men during the Bakufu. But it had been almost ten years since them. Many of them probably knew of the Otsu-incident as well. Many of them knew of Tomoe. That's probably why Ikumatsu was so worried and nervous around him. He was quite sure that she hadn't always been like this.
Behind the shoji.. this room contained all walks of life. Undoubtedly many new top-government officials, maybe a few fighters-for-hire.. were any of the people from this part in is life going to recognize him? Were any of them on the path of peaceful repentance, as well? Kenshin turned to Ikumatsu and merely nodded, not wanting his near-quaking fear to be readable. But he was sure that it was. Even a geisha could pick up on his emotions these days.
Ikumatsu slid back the shoji and the room and its inhabitants fell silent. Ikumatsu said in a very slow, very quiet geisha-voice "Himura Kenshin". After he took two steps in, Ikumatsu slid the shoji shut unceremoniously, quickly, and noisily behind him and padded away to attend to her other household duties.
Kenshin stared at the room, and his past stared back at him.
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Ahh, to the reviewers has been slashed. In its place, a biiiig thanks to Lady Nomad-san. ^^* I really dunno where this story would be headed without her. She has tons of ideas. Thank you again!
To everyone else, thank you so so so so so so so so so so much for caring to read this far. ^^* More chapters to come! See ya in chapter 3!....