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Chapter Two: The Past Remembers
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Meiko Hanijimi sat underneath the old tree just outside the dojo. The sun shone down hotly on her shoulders as she scribbled something down on a small piece of paper.
"That worthless Yukimura, couldn't even do a simple job." She muttered as she scribbled.
A young boy sat beside her, his short black hair covering his pale handsome face. He would seem to be around ten years in age, but his eyes could have been over a hundred with his haunted, tired look.
"Are you saying that my uncle's death was wasted?" he demanded indignantly, his hands tightening into fists.
"Hush Jiro, it wasn't all that pointless, but it wasn't enough. They still got together. I don't want that bastard's daughter ever to be happy again." Meiko stated as she finished writing and handed the piece of paper to Jiro. "Now go to the market and deliver this to my contact. He'll be waiting by the last rice stand at the end of the street, near that beef pot restaurant called the...Aka...something." she waved him away and continued her watch on the Kamiya dojo.
"As you wish...mother..." Jiro said obediently.
.....................
After the incident with the fire, Kaoru eventually wore herself out chasing Kenshin around the house, everything settled down. Kenshin managed to dig something up from the kitchen for them to eat.
"So what are you planning on today, Kenshin?" Sano asked through a mouthful of food.
Kenshin looked thoughtful for a moment, his chopsticks pausing in his mouth. "I was thinking of going to the market to get more food, that I am." He said as he set down his bowl.
Kaoru yawned and stood up. "I've got to go now, Kenshin. I'm running late, I was supposed to be at the Kirei dojo to help with training."
Kenshin stood up too and walked her to the door. "See you later, koishii." He whispered softly into her ear, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. Kaoru flashed him a smile before she ran out the door.
Kenshin walked through the market, a bucket of tofu in one hand as he made his way to the rice stand. The marketplace was full of the hustle and bustle of people, many of them stopping to greet...and congratulate Kenshin on his new marriage. The people finally were satisfied with him, even though he still carried a sword and had a knack for getting into trouble. Their thought was that at least he was no longer living in the same house as a single woman. Not that anyone who knew him would doubt his honor, but no one could deny his and Kaoru's growing relationship. When they had first got married there had been rumors that he had only married her because he had gotten her pregnant, but that rumor had been tossed aside when afterwards Kaoru showed no signs at all of being pregnant. Therefore the citizens of Tokyo had come to unanimous conclusion that it was just true love developing after a long friendship.
Kenshin was just purchasing his rice when he noticed a small boy standing hesitantly by the stand. He seemed to be nervous and uptight, as if he was waiting for someone or something.
"Good morning." Kenshin greeted politely. The boy seemed to jump when he saw Kenshin and he seemed frightened.
"Is there something wrong?" Kenshin asked, concerned for the boy.
The boy frantically shook hi head and took a step back. "Nothing sir!" he said quickly, his eyes downcast.
Kenshin smiled and said one last thing before turning away. "If you ever need anything I'm at the Kamiya dojo. I'll be waiting...." He said, his eyes twinkling.
By the time Kaoru returned from the neighboring dojo, Kenshin was already halfway through the laundry. Most of it had been scrubbed and hung out to dry in the breeze. A few more rebellious garments were still soaking in the soapy water while Kenshin scrubbed furiously at them.
Kaoru carefully snuck her way across the yard, trying her best to cover up her footsteps. Kenshin could sense her presence, but he played along pretending not to notice her. She giggled quietly and moved to pounce on top of him. With a grin he dodged aside and she went splashing into the soapy water.
"Kenshin!" she sputtered, trying to climb out of the tub. "You knew I was there the whole time, didn't you?!"
Kenshin smiled innocently. "I don't know what you are talking about, that I don't. Do you need some help?" he said, trying his hardest not to laugh.
Kaoru pouted, her lips twisting into a grin as she grabbed onto Kenshin's legs and pulled him on top of her.
Kenshin fell face first into the water, while Kaoru giggled hysterically. His legs and arms were tangled in Kaoru's, his face only inches from hers. They paused for a second, just looking into each other's eyes before Kenshin cupped her face with one hand and brought her closer to capture her lips in a soft kiss.
Kaoru moaned softly into his mouth, both of them standing up so that they could reach each other better. Kenshin drew her closer, wrapping his dripping wet arms around her small waist. Slowly he broke the kiss and nuzzled his face into her neck, planting small kisses on her pale skin. Kaoru sighed and leaned into his caress.
"Kenshin! Kaoru!" They heard a high-pitched, very excited, feminine voice call from the other room.
Kenshin and Kaoru looked up just in time to see Misao fly into the yard, her pig tails swinging followed by a very solemn Aoshi.
"Battousai....What are you doing?" Aoshi asked, feeling unusually talkative.
The scene was rather odd from a glance. They were both standing in the washing bin in each other's arms, covered in water and soap suds.
"Aoshi...Miss Misao...What are you guys doing here?" Kenshin asked quickly, trying to change the subject as he climbed out of the bucket.
"Didn't you get our letter? Aoshi and I said we were coming to visit you because we couldn't come to your wedding. I wanted to come earlier, but Aoshi said that we should probably give you two some time to yourselves."
"Misao, maybe we should give them a chance to change out of those clothes..." Aoshi stated, slightly amused.
There was a lot of banging and scrapping and Yahiko and Sano tumbled into the yard.
"Hey, Kenshin, busu, why are you guys wet?" Yahiko exclaimed, for a moment forgetting their guests.
"You little brat, don't call me—"Kaoru began to scream, but Kenshin quickly put his hand over her mouth.
"Excuse us for a second." Kenshin interrupted, pulling Kaoru back into the house.
Chapter Two: The Past Remembers
.........................................................
Meiko Hanijimi sat underneath the old tree just outside the dojo. The sun shone down hotly on her shoulders as she scribbled something down on a small piece of paper.
"That worthless Yukimura, couldn't even do a simple job." She muttered as she scribbled.
A young boy sat beside her, his short black hair covering his pale handsome face. He would seem to be around ten years in age, but his eyes could have been over a hundred with his haunted, tired look.
"Are you saying that my uncle's death was wasted?" he demanded indignantly, his hands tightening into fists.
"Hush Jiro, it wasn't all that pointless, but it wasn't enough. They still got together. I don't want that bastard's daughter ever to be happy again." Meiko stated as she finished writing and handed the piece of paper to Jiro. "Now go to the market and deliver this to my contact. He'll be waiting by the last rice stand at the end of the street, near that beef pot restaurant called the...Aka...something." she waved him away and continued her watch on the Kamiya dojo.
"As you wish...mother..." Jiro said obediently.
.....................
After the incident with the fire, Kaoru eventually wore herself out chasing Kenshin around the house, everything settled down. Kenshin managed to dig something up from the kitchen for them to eat.
"So what are you planning on today, Kenshin?" Sano asked through a mouthful of food.
Kenshin looked thoughtful for a moment, his chopsticks pausing in his mouth. "I was thinking of going to the market to get more food, that I am." He said as he set down his bowl.
Kaoru yawned and stood up. "I've got to go now, Kenshin. I'm running late, I was supposed to be at the Kirei dojo to help with training."
Kenshin stood up too and walked her to the door. "See you later, koishii." He whispered softly into her ear, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. Kaoru flashed him a smile before she ran out the door.
Kenshin walked through the market, a bucket of tofu in one hand as he made his way to the rice stand. The marketplace was full of the hustle and bustle of people, many of them stopping to greet...and congratulate Kenshin on his new marriage. The people finally were satisfied with him, even though he still carried a sword and had a knack for getting into trouble. Their thought was that at least he was no longer living in the same house as a single woman. Not that anyone who knew him would doubt his honor, but no one could deny his and Kaoru's growing relationship. When they had first got married there had been rumors that he had only married her because he had gotten her pregnant, but that rumor had been tossed aside when afterwards Kaoru showed no signs at all of being pregnant. Therefore the citizens of Tokyo had come to unanimous conclusion that it was just true love developing after a long friendship.
Kenshin was just purchasing his rice when he noticed a small boy standing hesitantly by the stand. He seemed to be nervous and uptight, as if he was waiting for someone or something.
"Good morning." Kenshin greeted politely. The boy seemed to jump when he saw Kenshin and he seemed frightened.
"Is there something wrong?" Kenshin asked, concerned for the boy.
The boy frantically shook hi head and took a step back. "Nothing sir!" he said quickly, his eyes downcast.
Kenshin smiled and said one last thing before turning away. "If you ever need anything I'm at the Kamiya dojo. I'll be waiting...." He said, his eyes twinkling.
By the time Kaoru returned from the neighboring dojo, Kenshin was already halfway through the laundry. Most of it had been scrubbed and hung out to dry in the breeze. A few more rebellious garments were still soaking in the soapy water while Kenshin scrubbed furiously at them.
Kaoru carefully snuck her way across the yard, trying her best to cover up her footsteps. Kenshin could sense her presence, but he played along pretending not to notice her. She giggled quietly and moved to pounce on top of him. With a grin he dodged aside and she went splashing into the soapy water.
"Kenshin!" she sputtered, trying to climb out of the tub. "You knew I was there the whole time, didn't you?!"
Kenshin smiled innocently. "I don't know what you are talking about, that I don't. Do you need some help?" he said, trying his hardest not to laugh.
Kaoru pouted, her lips twisting into a grin as she grabbed onto Kenshin's legs and pulled him on top of her.
Kenshin fell face first into the water, while Kaoru giggled hysterically. His legs and arms were tangled in Kaoru's, his face only inches from hers. They paused for a second, just looking into each other's eyes before Kenshin cupped her face with one hand and brought her closer to capture her lips in a soft kiss.
Kaoru moaned softly into his mouth, both of them standing up so that they could reach each other better. Kenshin drew her closer, wrapping his dripping wet arms around her small waist. Slowly he broke the kiss and nuzzled his face into her neck, planting small kisses on her pale skin. Kaoru sighed and leaned into his caress.
"Kenshin! Kaoru!" They heard a high-pitched, very excited, feminine voice call from the other room.
Kenshin and Kaoru looked up just in time to see Misao fly into the yard, her pig tails swinging followed by a very solemn Aoshi.
"Battousai....What are you doing?" Aoshi asked, feeling unusually talkative.
The scene was rather odd from a glance. They were both standing in the washing bin in each other's arms, covered in water and soap suds.
"Aoshi...Miss Misao...What are you guys doing here?" Kenshin asked quickly, trying to change the subject as he climbed out of the bucket.
"Didn't you get our letter? Aoshi and I said we were coming to visit you because we couldn't come to your wedding. I wanted to come earlier, but Aoshi said that we should probably give you two some time to yourselves."
"Misao, maybe we should give them a chance to change out of those clothes..." Aoshi stated, slightly amused.
There was a lot of banging and scrapping and Yahiko and Sano tumbled into the yard.
"Hey, Kenshin, busu, why are you guys wet?" Yahiko exclaimed, for a moment forgetting their guests.
"You little brat, don't call me—"Kaoru began to scream, but Kenshin quickly put his hand over her mouth.
"Excuse us for a second." Kenshin interrupted, pulling Kaoru back into the house.