Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me it is the property of Studio Gallop and Nobuhiro Watsuki. There is no money being made from this. It is for entertainment purposes only.
Title: Chosen of the Gods
Author: Shandrial
Rating: Pg–13, to be on the safe side.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Angst
Synopsis – The Bakumatsu No Douran has been over for 11 years, but old enmities die hard. Kenshin and company pass through a troubled village where the peace of the Meiji Era has not yet spread and an ex Imperialist is treated with hostility. Can Kenshin help a village that despises him? At what cost does peace come? Kenshin / Sano centered. Slight Kenshin / Kaoru implied.
Setting – Soon after episode 63, Legend of the Fireflies
Warnings: Violence and some language. Also may contain spoilers.
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Author's note: I can't seem to get away from these anime fics! Okay, just two quick notes on names. Yes, I am fully aware that in Japanese unless it is a close relationship a polite suffix such as –san is always used. However, since the story is written in English, and for sake of making it flow in English I will probably leave out most of the formality. Also, Japanese sure names come first, whereas in most western cultures that is not that case. In keeping with the before mention idea, I will write the sure names last.
And, hehe, for anyone who hasn't read my other fics, this story is labeled angst and when Shan-chan actually labels a story angst it has a tendency to get so when things get rolling… very much so. You have been warned, but if you like it like the rest of us ffic fanatics, stick around for the ride! Also, I apologize ahead of time for any grammatical/ spelling mistakes that may get overlooked. It's what happens when you write late at night. And finally! On with the story! *Thanks for the letter thing Red*
Enjoy everyone! Feedback is always appreciated.
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Chapter 1: An Unexpected Letter
"I don't care what is written about me as long as it
isn't true."
~ Katherine Hepburn
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Kaoru Kamiya sat on the steps of the Kamiya Dojo, in a pink kimono, next to Dr. Genzai watching Kenshin Himura run around with little Ayame and Suzume. One was on Kenshin's back and the other hanging from one of his legs. Dr. Genzai chuckled merrily as he watched Kenshin over balance, swing his arms, and go crashing to the ground with the two girls laughing all the way.
The group had barely been back a week since the whole ordeal in Kyoto. Watching Kenshin now, it was hard for Kaoru to believe this was the same man who had left to go to Kyoto and that had beaten Shishio. Something warmed in Kaoru as she thought about the day they finally arrived home. She still couldn't believe that she had called this Kenshin's home and taken his hand, but she had no regrets. This would always be where he belonged and where he was welcomed... as long as it was with her. Now if she could just work up the courage to tell him that.
"This is boring."
The muttered statement snapped Kaoru out of her thoughts and she turned to glare at the freeloader lounging on the wooden walkway.
"Well if you feel that way Yahiko, I have plenty for you to do! For starters there is plenty of cleaning to still be done!"
Kaoru's shout caused the three running around in the grass to stop and stare.
"No way! I'm just barely healed and you want me to do all that? Ugly women sure are demanding!" Yahiko yelled back.
At that Kaoru's eyes widened and everyone could tell what was to come. In a very un-lady like fashion Kaoru took off after Yahiko, the two shouting at each other the whole time.
Sanosuke Sagara picked the worse possible time to enter the courtyard of the Kamiya Dojo. The fighter stepped out into the open and was about to give a greeting when Yahiko and Kaoru turned the corner. The two ran head first into Sanosuke and all three went sprawling to the ground. The three immediately began to yell at each other to get off wanting to be the first one up.
"Now, now, now, there's no reason to get angry, no there is not," Kenshin tried to say patting the air.
"Um, excuse me," an unfamiliar voice said.
Everyone stopped to look at the nervous looking man standing by the entrance to the yard.
"I am looking for the master of this dojo," he said.
"That would be me!" Kaoru called finally untangling herself from the other two.
She stood and straightened her kimono while giving a nervous laugh as she came to stand next to the stranger. Sanosuke rose too and in the process used Yahiko to push himself up, which sent the kid face first into the ground.
"Hey Sanosuke!" he yelled, but by that time everyone had gathered around the stranger.
"I'm Kaoru Kamiya assistant master of this dojo," Kaoru introduced politely.
"Ah, well I have a letter here for the master of this dojo," the mailman said pulling out a folded parchment.
He handed Kaoru the letter, gave a quick bow, and left. Kaoru took the letter and unfolded it. She was about to read it when she realized everyone, including Dr. Genzai was looking over her shoulder.
"Do you mind?!" she fumed.
The group all held up their hands and smiled innocently before going back to what they were doing. Kaoru read over the letter and a huge smile broke out over her face.
"Well missy, are you gonna spill or what?" Sanosuke asked.
Kaoru, not paying attention to the question, excitedly ran over to where the rest were waiting.
"Well it seems one of the Kamiya's former students, Baiko Hanari, is about to open his own dojo in Ibaraki! He was one of my father's students and above his peers. In honor of my father he would like the Kamiya Dojo's head master to come and visit his!"
"That is wonderful Miss Kaoru," Kenshin said smiling.
"But you aren't the head master Kaoru," Yahiko commented.
Without missing a beat, and keeping the happy smile on her face, Kaoru easily shot her arm straight out to knock Yahiko over the head.
"I am acting master you idiot!" she said merrily.
"And as my apprentice you are coming along Yahiko," she added before he could say anything else.
Kaoru looked up at Kenshin's smiling face and looked thoughtfully at him for a moment. Kenshin had been severely wounded in his recent fight and although he seemed back to normal she doubted anyone, not even Kenshin could be over it that easily. And Megumi's warning still hung heavily in her mind. Maybe a fun and easy trip would be good for him, good for them all.
"You should come as well Kenshin," she suggested quietly.
An emotion she couldn't read flashed in Kenshin's eyes and she was afraid he was about to say no.
"You should all come," she began quickly, "a quiet trip wouldn't hurt any of us."
"Yeah!" Yahiko shouted, "it will be less boring if it's not just Kaoru."
Kaoru ignored Yahiko trying to read Kenshin's reaction. Please say yes, she thought.
"Why not?" Sanosuke said patting Kenshin on the back, "You need someone to keep you out of trouble!"
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Kenshin, for his part, really didn't want to be traveling anywhere. Thoughts of the past two months weighed heavily on his mind. And even after a month and a half the major wounds he received, the long cut on his back and the stab to the side, hadn't completely healed. Granted, it had been some time, but a troubled mind could slow the healing quite a bit. And his mind was troubled. He could have easily lost everyone dear to him then and that was something that had been plaguing his sleep. If it wasn't that unbidden dreams of the past had been haunting him of late. Truthfully, Kenshin was tired. A fatigue he had managed to keep from the others, but if they went traveling together could he still keep it up?
Kenshin was drawn out of his thoughts by the sound of Kaoru clearing her throat. He looked up to see everyone staring at him and he smiled nervously not sure what he had just missed.
"Well?" Kaoru asked.
"Uh?"
"Have you been listening to anything we just said?!" Kaoru asked.
"Well with you, Yahiko, and me of course Kenshin is coming along, right?" Sanosuke asked.
"Right," Kenshin replied smiling.
Inwardly, his shoulders dropped.
"Good," Kaoru began practically beaming, "we can leave in the morning! I'll go make something to eat."
It was a good thing Kaoru was walking as she said it, so that she didn't hear the groans come from Yahiko and Sanosuke. Dr. Genzai politely excused himself and headed back to town with Ayame and Suzume.
"Oh well, you gotta learn how to survive in this world, bad food and all," Yahiko said despairingly before walking into the dojo.
At seeing Kaoru walk away beaming like that, Kenshin put a little of his real smile into the fake one. If it meant that much to Kaoru that they come along to share the moment, then he would simply have to deal with it.
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Sanosuke might be a bit of a thug and had certainly been called worse, but he was an observant one at that. If he hadn't of said anything before he was sure Kenshin was about to say no to coming with them. Something he would normally never do. He also didn't miss the fact that his friend had been more withdrawn lately. Not that he wasn't always, but there was something different about it now.
"So,' Sanosuke began casually, "want to tell me why you don't want to go with the missy?"
"What are you talking about Sano?" Kenshin asked lightly.
Sanosuke almost signed in frustration. This wasn't going to be easy, but he owed it to his friend to try.
"You know what I mean Kenshin. The others might not have noticed, but I have. Something is troubling you and quite a lot I would say. You haven't been yourself lately and just now you would have actually said no to Kaoru. What was it about the fight with Shishio that has you so… so down?"
Sanosuke watched as Kenshin's soft eyes turn to a hard gray and knew his last question had pushed too far.
"If you'll excuse me Sano, I have the laundry to do," Kenshin said.
Sanosuke recognized the slightly cold edge Kenshin's voice held. He watched as the red-haired swordsman turned and headed away.
Sanosuke decided to leave it at that for now. He had let Kenshin know that he, Sanosuke, knew something was wrong. Maybe a peaceful trip would do his friend some good after all.
"This isn't over yet Kenshin, not by a long shot," Sano promised quietly to himself.
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Sano and Kenshin said nothing more about that moment and the four spent a peaceful, if not noisy, dinner together. Eventually Sanosuke went back to his own place and everyone settled down for the night.
Three settled down and went to sleep looking forward to a restful and fun trip in the morning and one lay awake dreading what dreams the slumber may bring.
Kenshin Himura lay awake thinking about Sanosuke's words from earlier. Would it just be easier to talk to someone? To relieve this pent up cacophony that echoed inside his head? Or would it be too selfish to burden someone he cared about with such a wearisome load? Maybe this trip would be good for him after all. A chance to just simply be around his friends in peace and solitude, well as peaceful as it got with Sano, Yahiko, and Miss Kaoru all together. That thought brought the ghost of a smile to the small man. Not having any answers Kenshin let himself settle down into a trouble sleep. A respite would be nice indeed…
Little did the group know that fate liked to play around with such circumstances.
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TBC…***************
A/N: Well, here's the first chapter! I have never written a Kenshin fic before, so I am trying to keep everyone in character. Oh, and the opening here is a little shorter than my normal chapter size. Hope everyone enjoyed! As mentioned above, feedback is appreciated, even flames are welcome. THAT will use them to roast mimes with.