Disclaimer: *Sigh* No, I do NOT own Rurouni Kenshin! Stop torturing
me!
SORRY! This time, I can not and will not blame it on my computer. I was just lazy . . . hehe. Oh, yeah, just to let you know anabell, that's not entirely true. I got cut with glass when I wasn't even a year old on my right cheek and it's still there. And Yahikos-Girl, I have all the episodes and movies on DVD and VHS, so I know when he gets the sword. If your reviewing from that chapter when I said I didn't know, my sister bought me the DVD so I saw it.(P.S. I have all the episodes from every season. ^^)
-
Yahiko gritted his teeth, anger flowing through his samurai blood. His nails dug into his hand so hard, he felt the cool red liquid spill underneath his fingers. He could've sworn he felt one of his teeth crack from the pressure he as putting and he was about ready to take out his fury.
*How dare he touch her? * he thought with absolute rage. He began to count backwards from ten but it wasn't helping. His eyes were no longer the bright, playful brown that they had been but now a fierce red, striking fear down Mushu's spine. Mushu had released Tsubame and stared straight into the eyes of a young man who was indeed enraged.
"Yahiko-" Tsubame began but stopped when she felt him breathe. The only times she heard him ever do that was when he was exhausted from training with Kaoru and other times from battle outside the dojo. But this breathing was different. No, it wasn't breathing. Yahiko was panting. Panting like a bear after an intense fight over territory. Tsubame realized that Yahiko had no self-control over provoked animosity. Yahiko was beyond that.
She gasped when she saw blood trickle down his palm and onto his socks. Yahiko began to pant harder. With each breath he took, the harder and fiercer the grinding of his teeth together became. Veins popped from his forehead and the muscles in his neck were strangling to stay attached to his neck bones.
Mushu took a step further. "Yahiko, you need to calm down!" he ordered and looked at the young man with curiosity. Yahiko no longer looked like the spunky person that he had met before. The spikey haired kid with an ego the size of China had become a complete barbarian. He wasn't in Japan with Tsubame and Mushu and Kenji. He wasn't in the same time period. No, he was beyond that. Yahiko was in hell.
He glanced around the room wildly, looking for something to attack Mushu with since his sword had mysteriously disappeared. He saw a broom with its long, wooden stick. But that wouldn't do. He needed something harder. A lot harder.
Not being able to sustain the suspense any longer, Tsubame spoke up. "Yahiko, we weren't doing anything! Please, control yourself! Please . . ." A tear fell down Tsubame's cheek. But Yahiko didn't notice. For once in his life, ever since he had known Tsubame, Yahiko didn't care about what she wanted. He didn't care that she was standing there, watching him with fear. He didn't care at all about it and didn't acknowledge her presence in the room.(A/N Yall probably don't care so I'll get on with it.)
"Yahiko, listen to Tsuba-" began Mushu. Yahiko didn't even wait for the rest of the sentence to come out. Almost immediately, Yahiko dashed at Mushu with unusual speed. This surprised Mushu, for he didn't know that Yahiko was capable of such speed. He tackled him, dragging them both on the ground. They scuffled for a moment before Yahiko gained the upper hand and rolled over on Mushu. He grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled his face close.
He looked Mushu straight in the eye but didn't see anything. No fear, no hate, rage, resentment . . . No emotion what so ever. Yahiko softened his grip, which gave Mushu an idea that he might be able to get away. But the image of Tsubame and him lip locking came back to mind and he regained his control. He pulled his fist back and landed Mushu one right in the eye.
-
*I can't believe that I would think that Yahiko would do such a thing! * Kenshin thought guiltily. He shook his head continued to beat himself up mentally for everything he had said to the young boy. He thought back to when Kenji had arrived in the world, about how Yahiko had been worried that he would be needed no longer.
-* Flash-back *-
"I can't believe that I have a family of my own," Kenshin had said aloud. A week before, Kaoru had just given birth to their son, Kenji Himura on the 21st of February. (Hehe, my birthday =P). It was now the 28th and the 12th year of the Meiji.
Kenshin cradled his son in his arms, the warm sun beating down on the red heads sitting on the porch. Kenji yawned and buried his face in Kenshin's chest, his mouth open causing his light breathing to be heard. Kenshin smiled and glanced up to see Yahiko take a swing with his bokken.
He stared at the boy for a moment, curiosity written all over his soft face. Yahiko had been swinging his wooden sword relentlessly for the past six hours, nonstop. He could see Yahiko was tired and dehydrated but yet he still continued to swing.
*Now what could possess anyone to swing with that kind of attitude? * Kenshin pondered. He picked Kenji up and walked over to Yahiko.
He tapped him on the shoulder from behind. "Hey, Yahiko-" he began but was hit on the head by the bokken coming back for another round of swinging at air. Yahiko whirled around, surprised.
"I apologize Kenshin! I didn't mean to hit you! Are you okay? Want me to go get Kaoru?" Kenshin just stared at Yahiko, a bump swelling up out of the fire burning brightly on his head.
"'I apologize'? Yahiko, since when do you say that?" Yahiko looked Kenshin in the eye. He shook his head and continued his swinging. Kenshin sensed something wrong with the boy and grabbed the bokken that swung relentlessly in the air.
Kenshin looked Yahiko straight in the eye, concern written all over his face. "Yahiko, what's wrong?"
Yahiko sighed, running his hand through his messy hair. "It's Kenji . . ." Kenshin's face drooped immediately. "No, no, not in that sense. It's just that since he was born . . . I felt left out."
Kenshin waved his hand with carelessness. "Oh, Yahiko, how could you feel left out? You're very important."
"The only reason that I'm needed is because Kaoru needs someone to inherit the Kamiya-Kasshin style."
He raised an eyebrow. "Yahiko, why would you think that?"
"Because that's what it seems like. Ever since you two had a son, all I've been doing is practicing. Kaoru hasn't taught me a new move in a month. And she never notices when I steal things off of her plate because she never eats off of it. Whatever Kenji doesn't eat is what's for her."
"Yahiko, that's not the reason why you're upset. I don't think it's because you feel left out." Yahiko glared up at Kenshin. Kenshin's eyes went soft seeing the hurt in Yahiko's eyes.
He crossed his arms defiantly and looked away. "If you really want to know what's wrong, it's . . ." He looked back up at the ex-hitokiri before going on. "It's because . . . seeing you three together reminds me of the family I never knew. My mother died before I turned two and I never meant my father. I don't know what traits we share and who I got my messy hair from, who passed down their attitude to me. I hate the fact that I'll never have a family like you and Kaoru do."
Kenshin looked up toward the sky, seriousness written all over his face. "Yahiko, I never knew my parents either."
For some reason, this surprised Yahiko. Kenshin hardly ever talked about his life when he was younger to anyone except Kaoru. He told her very little even when he talked about it. "Really? I never knew that!"
Kenshin gave him a crazy look. "How the heck did you think I ended up with 'Hiko the Horrible'?" Yahiko snickered at the nickname given to the former Hiten Mitsurugi Master. Kenshin continued. "I remember only one thing about them. It's the only real memory I have of them and it was the night they died . . . My father had long red hair. It was very healthy and much better taken care of than my own. But I also remember my mother's black hair. Just like Kaoru's. Maybe even darker but what I really remember are her ocean eyes. They were so dark . . . so deep . . . My father once told me that he could drown in those eyes . . . Maybe that's why I'm so attracted to Kaoru. Besides her personality, it could be because that she looks exactly like my mother.
"I must admit that when Kaoru came at me with her wooden sword, I thought she was my mom. The first thing that ran through my mind was . . . 'Mother?'. But when she smacked me with it, I knew it wasn't her. My mom wasn't all that strong with a sword. She never wanted me to even touch one. But when it comes to hitting her husband, she and Kaoru are just alike. On average, I get hit 42 times a day. And that's if she's in a good mood."
Yahiko chuckled. "I guess I'm not the only one who has had such a hard life to go through, huh?" Kenshin shook his head no.
"Besides," he started again, "you could have a family with a certain waitress at the Akebeko . . . right???" Kenshin began to nudge Yahiko in the shoulder playful.
"Erg . . ." Yahiko growled. If not for Kenji in his right arm, he probably would do the same thing he does to Sanosuke when he gets on his nerves. Chew on his head for hours on end.
Yahiko smiled widely and jumped out in front of Kenshin. "You know what! You're right! From now on, I'm going to be Kenji's guardian! That way, you guys can stay a family. Unlike us, Kenji has parents and relatives, me and Sano!" Kenshin face became confused but before he could say anything, Yahiko dashed into the dojo, dropping his wooden sword.
Kenshin looked up into the sky and began to think about his parents. He hadn't known them for but 8 years of his life, which have faded into the past, as he became more and more into the Revolution. He could barely remember what they sounded like but remembered his mother's last words precisely.
A squall of wind passed by. Kenji's unusually long hair brushed his soft skin, tickling him on the chest. Kenshin's eyes went blank, his facial utterance left unsure. He was unsure of what to do, seeing as Yahiko felt like he didn't have a family. He'd been helping them out with the baby as much as he possibly could but when he did, his face had hurt written all over it.
-* End Flashback *-
*Maybe I'm just not paying much attention toward Yahiko. Maybe he needs a little more. He probably just wants a real family, like the one he never had . . . * Kenshin's thoughts were all over the place as he stopped outside the Akebeko door.
"Why, hello there Kenshin. What brings you here on such short notice?" Tae asked greeting him as he walked into the restaurant.
"Yahiko had to work here today, didn't he? May I speak-" he began but was interrupted by the fulminating sound of dishes breaking on the floor.
"Yahiko! Stop, please!" Tsubame screamed. Kenshin and Tae ran toward the kitchen without hesitation. When they arrived, the floor was covered with shattered glass with Yahiko's back facing them. He was sitting on whom they could only guess was Mushu.
Kenshin picked Yahiko up but the young boy struggled out of his. "Yahiko, stop! Calm down- Yahiko!" Kenshin yelled turning him around. He jumped back after seeing the color of his eyes. Yahiko was still breathing hard and wouldn't talk. He gritted his teeth together, anger still flowing through his blood. There was a mysterious silence in the room, only the sniffing of Tsubame could be heard.
"Kenshin, I think it'd be best if Yahiko stayed at the dojo for a while," Tae stated, breaking the silence. He looked up at her, then Tsubame. Her face was red and her eyes puffy, mused hair falling down into her face.
Yahiko's breathing had returned to normal and Kenshin grabbed him by his and pulled him to the door, not looking at the young man that Yahiko had smite.
-
The front door the Himura dojo slammed open and Yahiko stepped through, not bothering to take off his sandals.
"Hey, Yahiko, how was-" Kaoru began her greeting but Yahiko strutted past her and straight into his room, slamming the door. Kenshin walked through the door, running his head through his colorful hair.
"Kenshin, what happened?"
Kenshin sighed, thinking about what had just occurred. "Yahiko and Mushu had a scuffle . . ."
Kaoru looked down at where Kenji was sitting, reading a book with pictures in it. "So . . . is he alright."
"Neither of them are I think. I definitely know Yahiko's not but I didn't want to look at Mushu. So can't tell you about Mushu."
Kaoru looked up and closed her eyes. *Oh, Yahiko. What's wrong with you? * -
Hehe, I got lazy, sorry. I was going to post this about a week ago but I have track practice after school every day from 3:00-4:45 EST, so I'm pretty sore when I get home. Which means I don't want to do anything.
SORRY! This time, I can not and will not blame it on my computer. I was just lazy . . . hehe. Oh, yeah, just to let you know anabell, that's not entirely true. I got cut with glass when I wasn't even a year old on my right cheek and it's still there. And Yahikos-Girl, I have all the episodes and movies on DVD and VHS, so I know when he gets the sword. If your reviewing from that chapter when I said I didn't know, my sister bought me the DVD so I saw it.(P.S. I have all the episodes from every season. ^^)
-
Yahiko gritted his teeth, anger flowing through his samurai blood. His nails dug into his hand so hard, he felt the cool red liquid spill underneath his fingers. He could've sworn he felt one of his teeth crack from the pressure he as putting and he was about ready to take out his fury.
*How dare he touch her? * he thought with absolute rage. He began to count backwards from ten but it wasn't helping. His eyes were no longer the bright, playful brown that they had been but now a fierce red, striking fear down Mushu's spine. Mushu had released Tsubame and stared straight into the eyes of a young man who was indeed enraged.
"Yahiko-" Tsubame began but stopped when she felt him breathe. The only times she heard him ever do that was when he was exhausted from training with Kaoru and other times from battle outside the dojo. But this breathing was different. No, it wasn't breathing. Yahiko was panting. Panting like a bear after an intense fight over territory. Tsubame realized that Yahiko had no self-control over provoked animosity. Yahiko was beyond that.
She gasped when she saw blood trickle down his palm and onto his socks. Yahiko began to pant harder. With each breath he took, the harder and fiercer the grinding of his teeth together became. Veins popped from his forehead and the muscles in his neck were strangling to stay attached to his neck bones.
Mushu took a step further. "Yahiko, you need to calm down!" he ordered and looked at the young man with curiosity. Yahiko no longer looked like the spunky person that he had met before. The spikey haired kid with an ego the size of China had become a complete barbarian. He wasn't in Japan with Tsubame and Mushu and Kenji. He wasn't in the same time period. No, he was beyond that. Yahiko was in hell.
He glanced around the room wildly, looking for something to attack Mushu with since his sword had mysteriously disappeared. He saw a broom with its long, wooden stick. But that wouldn't do. He needed something harder. A lot harder.
Not being able to sustain the suspense any longer, Tsubame spoke up. "Yahiko, we weren't doing anything! Please, control yourself! Please . . ." A tear fell down Tsubame's cheek. But Yahiko didn't notice. For once in his life, ever since he had known Tsubame, Yahiko didn't care about what she wanted. He didn't care that she was standing there, watching him with fear. He didn't care at all about it and didn't acknowledge her presence in the room.(A/N Yall probably don't care so I'll get on with it.)
"Yahiko, listen to Tsuba-" began Mushu. Yahiko didn't even wait for the rest of the sentence to come out. Almost immediately, Yahiko dashed at Mushu with unusual speed. This surprised Mushu, for he didn't know that Yahiko was capable of such speed. He tackled him, dragging them both on the ground. They scuffled for a moment before Yahiko gained the upper hand and rolled over on Mushu. He grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled his face close.
He looked Mushu straight in the eye but didn't see anything. No fear, no hate, rage, resentment . . . No emotion what so ever. Yahiko softened his grip, which gave Mushu an idea that he might be able to get away. But the image of Tsubame and him lip locking came back to mind and he regained his control. He pulled his fist back and landed Mushu one right in the eye.
-
*I can't believe that I would think that Yahiko would do such a thing! * Kenshin thought guiltily. He shook his head continued to beat himself up mentally for everything he had said to the young boy. He thought back to when Kenji had arrived in the world, about how Yahiko had been worried that he would be needed no longer.
-* Flash-back *-
"I can't believe that I have a family of my own," Kenshin had said aloud. A week before, Kaoru had just given birth to their son, Kenji Himura on the 21st of February. (Hehe, my birthday =P). It was now the 28th and the 12th year of the Meiji.
Kenshin cradled his son in his arms, the warm sun beating down on the red heads sitting on the porch. Kenji yawned and buried his face in Kenshin's chest, his mouth open causing his light breathing to be heard. Kenshin smiled and glanced up to see Yahiko take a swing with his bokken.
He stared at the boy for a moment, curiosity written all over his soft face. Yahiko had been swinging his wooden sword relentlessly for the past six hours, nonstop. He could see Yahiko was tired and dehydrated but yet he still continued to swing.
*Now what could possess anyone to swing with that kind of attitude? * Kenshin pondered. He picked Kenji up and walked over to Yahiko.
He tapped him on the shoulder from behind. "Hey, Yahiko-" he began but was hit on the head by the bokken coming back for another round of swinging at air. Yahiko whirled around, surprised.
"I apologize Kenshin! I didn't mean to hit you! Are you okay? Want me to go get Kaoru?" Kenshin just stared at Yahiko, a bump swelling up out of the fire burning brightly on his head.
"'I apologize'? Yahiko, since when do you say that?" Yahiko looked Kenshin in the eye. He shook his head and continued his swinging. Kenshin sensed something wrong with the boy and grabbed the bokken that swung relentlessly in the air.
Kenshin looked Yahiko straight in the eye, concern written all over his face. "Yahiko, what's wrong?"
Yahiko sighed, running his hand through his messy hair. "It's Kenji . . ." Kenshin's face drooped immediately. "No, no, not in that sense. It's just that since he was born . . . I felt left out."
Kenshin waved his hand with carelessness. "Oh, Yahiko, how could you feel left out? You're very important."
"The only reason that I'm needed is because Kaoru needs someone to inherit the Kamiya-Kasshin style."
He raised an eyebrow. "Yahiko, why would you think that?"
"Because that's what it seems like. Ever since you two had a son, all I've been doing is practicing. Kaoru hasn't taught me a new move in a month. And she never notices when I steal things off of her plate because she never eats off of it. Whatever Kenji doesn't eat is what's for her."
"Yahiko, that's not the reason why you're upset. I don't think it's because you feel left out." Yahiko glared up at Kenshin. Kenshin's eyes went soft seeing the hurt in Yahiko's eyes.
He crossed his arms defiantly and looked away. "If you really want to know what's wrong, it's . . ." He looked back up at the ex-hitokiri before going on. "It's because . . . seeing you three together reminds me of the family I never knew. My mother died before I turned two and I never meant my father. I don't know what traits we share and who I got my messy hair from, who passed down their attitude to me. I hate the fact that I'll never have a family like you and Kaoru do."
Kenshin looked up toward the sky, seriousness written all over his face. "Yahiko, I never knew my parents either."
For some reason, this surprised Yahiko. Kenshin hardly ever talked about his life when he was younger to anyone except Kaoru. He told her very little even when he talked about it. "Really? I never knew that!"
Kenshin gave him a crazy look. "How the heck did you think I ended up with 'Hiko the Horrible'?" Yahiko snickered at the nickname given to the former Hiten Mitsurugi Master. Kenshin continued. "I remember only one thing about them. It's the only real memory I have of them and it was the night they died . . . My father had long red hair. It was very healthy and much better taken care of than my own. But I also remember my mother's black hair. Just like Kaoru's. Maybe even darker but what I really remember are her ocean eyes. They were so dark . . . so deep . . . My father once told me that he could drown in those eyes . . . Maybe that's why I'm so attracted to Kaoru. Besides her personality, it could be because that she looks exactly like my mother.
"I must admit that when Kaoru came at me with her wooden sword, I thought she was my mom. The first thing that ran through my mind was . . . 'Mother?'. But when she smacked me with it, I knew it wasn't her. My mom wasn't all that strong with a sword. She never wanted me to even touch one. But when it comes to hitting her husband, she and Kaoru are just alike. On average, I get hit 42 times a day. And that's if she's in a good mood."
Yahiko chuckled. "I guess I'm not the only one who has had such a hard life to go through, huh?" Kenshin shook his head no.
"Besides," he started again, "you could have a family with a certain waitress at the Akebeko . . . right???" Kenshin began to nudge Yahiko in the shoulder playful.
"Erg . . ." Yahiko growled. If not for Kenji in his right arm, he probably would do the same thing he does to Sanosuke when he gets on his nerves. Chew on his head for hours on end.
Yahiko smiled widely and jumped out in front of Kenshin. "You know what! You're right! From now on, I'm going to be Kenji's guardian! That way, you guys can stay a family. Unlike us, Kenji has parents and relatives, me and Sano!" Kenshin face became confused but before he could say anything, Yahiko dashed into the dojo, dropping his wooden sword.
Kenshin looked up into the sky and began to think about his parents. He hadn't known them for but 8 years of his life, which have faded into the past, as he became more and more into the Revolution. He could barely remember what they sounded like but remembered his mother's last words precisely.
A squall of wind passed by. Kenji's unusually long hair brushed his soft skin, tickling him on the chest. Kenshin's eyes went blank, his facial utterance left unsure. He was unsure of what to do, seeing as Yahiko felt like he didn't have a family. He'd been helping them out with the baby as much as he possibly could but when he did, his face had hurt written all over it.
-* End Flashback *-
*Maybe I'm just not paying much attention toward Yahiko. Maybe he needs a little more. He probably just wants a real family, like the one he never had . . . * Kenshin's thoughts were all over the place as he stopped outside the Akebeko door.
"Why, hello there Kenshin. What brings you here on such short notice?" Tae asked greeting him as he walked into the restaurant.
"Yahiko had to work here today, didn't he? May I speak-" he began but was interrupted by the fulminating sound of dishes breaking on the floor.
"Yahiko! Stop, please!" Tsubame screamed. Kenshin and Tae ran toward the kitchen without hesitation. When they arrived, the floor was covered with shattered glass with Yahiko's back facing them. He was sitting on whom they could only guess was Mushu.
Kenshin picked Yahiko up but the young boy struggled out of his. "Yahiko, stop! Calm down- Yahiko!" Kenshin yelled turning him around. He jumped back after seeing the color of his eyes. Yahiko was still breathing hard and wouldn't talk. He gritted his teeth together, anger still flowing through his blood. There was a mysterious silence in the room, only the sniffing of Tsubame could be heard.
"Kenshin, I think it'd be best if Yahiko stayed at the dojo for a while," Tae stated, breaking the silence. He looked up at her, then Tsubame. Her face was red and her eyes puffy, mused hair falling down into her face.
Yahiko's breathing had returned to normal and Kenshin grabbed him by his and pulled him to the door, not looking at the young man that Yahiko had smite.
-
The front door the Himura dojo slammed open and Yahiko stepped through, not bothering to take off his sandals.
"Hey, Yahiko, how was-" Kaoru began her greeting but Yahiko strutted past her and straight into his room, slamming the door. Kenshin walked through the door, running his head through his colorful hair.
"Kenshin, what happened?"
Kenshin sighed, thinking about what had just occurred. "Yahiko and Mushu had a scuffle . . ."
Kaoru looked down at where Kenji was sitting, reading a book with pictures in it. "So . . . is he alright."
"Neither of them are I think. I definitely know Yahiko's not but I didn't want to look at Mushu. So can't tell you about Mushu."
Kaoru looked up and closed her eyes. *Oh, Yahiko. What's wrong with you? * -
Hehe, I got lazy, sorry. I was going to post this about a week ago but I have track practice after school every day from 3:00-4:45 EST, so I'm pretty sore when I get home. Which means I don't want to do anything.