Chapter 8: Making an enemy out of me was like inviting death to your door.
"I-I'm sorry for disturbing you. My brother was busy and I am not allowed to go off alone." Anki spoke quietly as she stared at the ground, so as to not make eye contact with me.
The child was very timid and shy. I watched her small hand grip the rope handles of the bucket a little too hard. She was so tense I was afraid that even if I brushed past her she would scream, not that I would ever hurt a child....of course, I thought I would never kill a woman either...
"Please do not apologize, it is the least I can do." I glanced down at her my voice taking on a friendly tone, probably the only kind of tone it had held in a while.
I followed Anki down to a small stream that seemed just to be a small branch off of a big torrent of water. She knelt down by the stream dipping the bucket in. I watched for a moment as the water flowed by. Everything was so pure and simple in this town nothing fancy or corrupted, even the water here sparkled clear. I would have to leave soon...
"Excuse my manners, I never did thank you." I spoke up as I stared out into the distance.
I could feel Anki look over at me curiously.
"After all, you are the one that found me and save me. I believe I owe you a debt." I smiled softly as I looked down at her from where I stood.
She was so innocent looking up at me, though a kind of sadness was set right behind her eyes. A grief that she had succeed in hiding from others. It was so familiar. Yet a child so young as this...feeling so much pain...what times were these? Then again, I can also remember a little boy.....no, he died a long time ago.
"You owe me nothing." her voice though small was suddenly strong and confident. "I don't like people dying."
I looked at her, studying her for a moment. I had never heard her speak so forcefully.
I nodded, "Neither do I." I found it contradicting for me to feel such.
True, I once was a hitokiri and I killed, but that didn't mean I had to like it. Though in some small twisted part of my soul it loved the challenge.
"You've seen it, haven't you?" she stared at me, holding my gaze.
I looked at her surprised and a bit nervous. I wasn't sure how much I liked being studied, even if it was only by a child.
"I can tell...I recognize the pain and sadness it brings." she let out a deep sigh as she looked at her now filled pail, staring at her reflection in the clear water.
My eyes softened as I watched her, "You want to know something?"
She looked up at me curiously, once more.
I dipped the pail filling it up before resting it by my side, "My parents died when I was young as well."
"Do you miss them?" she asked rather innocently.
I jerked to a stop. My father? My mother? I hadn't thought of them since...was it the beginning of the war? Or later then that? I couldn't even remember their faces....only impressions...maybe that was for the best, no one would want a son like me. Maybe I should give up my surname to not disgrace them further then what I've already done.
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make you sad." Anki quickly apologized.
"No, don't be. You remind me of something I forgot....and I seem to be forgetting a lot." I sighed as I looked upstream.
The holes in my memory were gradually become bigger. When I was a hitokiri I never had time to reflect, or should I say I couldn't reflect...if I did...I would go insane. It's a thin line...and razor sharp.
She smiled back at me. I felt a small glow of warmth and comfort. An innocent smile is a rare gift in times of war. Even if it was now in fact peace, the after effects of war still weighted heavily on this land.
Anki stood holding the pail in front of her, smile still warm. In that moment I realized something...and it kind of startled me. I had gained this child's trust. She should not give her trust out so easily, yet then again, if danger were to occur, I would make sure no harm came to her...
"Thank you very much Himura-san." she bowed politely.
"Please, just call me Kenshin." I shook my head.
Someone like me doesn't deserve an honorable name. There was no honor in what I did.
Though Anki and I now had something in common, she began to open up to me. She spoke little, but what she had to say was always thought through and held knowledge I'm not sure she realized.
We made our way back to the house her stating she heard I was a great help in the kitchen and how good dinner had been that day. She was truly a sweet child.
We took off our sandals once inside, though we had no idea what we would be greeted with once inside.
"ANKI! Where have you been!" her older brother demanded as he stormed into the room.
"I--I-we-" the little girl stuttered, scared.
I cut in, I couldn't stand anyone who tried to intimidate children, especially one as shy as Anki, "I accompanied her to the stream to fetch water. That is one of her chores isn't it?" I spoke my tone had a sharp edge to it.
"Enough from you! I warned you!" he growled.
"I am only holding up my keep. I was informed that is the rule, is it not? I must earn my stay?" I added setting down the water gently, as if I was uninterested in this argument.
He grabbed Anki's wrist and pulled her behind him roughly, "You stay away from her!" he shouted.
I straightened rigidly and ignored the urge to strike this man. I can't blame the man for protecting those he cared for, but making an enemy out of me was a very foolish thing to do... Making an enemy out of me was like inviting death to your door. This man needed to pick his foes better.
"What is wrong, Suko? Are you afraid she'll catch my plague?" I spoke my tone cold and harsh.
Suko's eyes flared. I had struck a nerve. He did not trust me and did not want me near anyone I could hurt. My mind suddenly narrowed in on his anger and that was when I realized I had made a mistake. I had pushed him too far.
He placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. Something inside me flared to life, my senses sharpened with each second. My hand was itching to draw my blade. It took everything I had to just keep still. I was trying to break a habit...and it wasn't working out too well.
"Don't be foolish." I hissed, but it was too late, he lunged at me, katana drawn.
My eyes suddenly narrowed as I felt icy coldness fill my veins causing me to go numb with the spark of battle. My feet shifted to a counter stance.
A scream ripped through my mind. My eyes darted to Anki standing where her brother had left her tears running down her cheeks.
I had my hand on the hilt of my sword without even realizing it.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON!!!!" I heard a shout of outrage.
This caused Suko to stop dead in his tracks. I turned dropping my hand to my side.
Natsru stood there, her eyes bright with rage, "Suko, you fool! I told you to watch yourself and your manners!"
"He was out with Anki collecting water!" Suko spat as he turned.
"So I heard. Anki has returned unharmed and the buckets are full. NOW EXPLAIN to me why you are ATTACKING HIMURA-SAN!!" she yelled her voice booming through the house, this woman wore command like it was a cloak, she made even me think twice.
"Are you that blind! Why am I the only one that is not blinded! He is only acting nice, he'll cut our throats when we are all sleeping one night." he glared.
Not many words ever struck deep in me, but these did. I turned my eyes flashing, "I was in the war there is no doubt about that, but I will not ever hurt a child or a woman." my eyes narrowed dangerously.
I choose my words carefully, I had hurt a woman once…and I would never do it again.
Suko glared at me. The pathetic man couldn't even hold my gaze for a second before storming outside, shutting the sliding door so hard the whole wall shook.
"That boy is going to get himself killed with a temper like that." Natsru sighed as she shook her head, her voice had returned to the normal tone of a kind elderly woman.
I could not stay angry for long at Suko, though foolish as the man was he was only protecting his family or so he thought. It had already started...I had to leave soon.
Ever since that day Suko seemed scarce, though I could always seem to feel his eyes on my back.
Author's Note: Yep, there was a nice big chapter for everyone. I hope you enjoyed! This chapter is one of my favorites. I just loved the whole conversation between Anki and Kenshin. Well, keep the reviews rollin' and until next time!
"I-I'm sorry for disturbing you. My brother was busy and I am not allowed to go off alone." Anki spoke quietly as she stared at the ground, so as to not make eye contact with me.
The child was very timid and shy. I watched her small hand grip the rope handles of the bucket a little too hard. She was so tense I was afraid that even if I brushed past her she would scream, not that I would ever hurt a child....of course, I thought I would never kill a woman either...
"Please do not apologize, it is the least I can do." I glanced down at her my voice taking on a friendly tone, probably the only kind of tone it had held in a while.
I followed Anki down to a small stream that seemed just to be a small branch off of a big torrent of water. She knelt down by the stream dipping the bucket in. I watched for a moment as the water flowed by. Everything was so pure and simple in this town nothing fancy or corrupted, even the water here sparkled clear. I would have to leave soon...
"Excuse my manners, I never did thank you." I spoke up as I stared out into the distance.
I could feel Anki look over at me curiously.
"After all, you are the one that found me and save me. I believe I owe you a debt." I smiled softly as I looked down at her from where I stood.
She was so innocent looking up at me, though a kind of sadness was set right behind her eyes. A grief that she had succeed in hiding from others. It was so familiar. Yet a child so young as this...feeling so much pain...what times were these? Then again, I can also remember a little boy.....no, he died a long time ago.
"You owe me nothing." her voice though small was suddenly strong and confident. "I don't like people dying."
I looked at her, studying her for a moment. I had never heard her speak so forcefully.
I nodded, "Neither do I." I found it contradicting for me to feel such.
True, I once was a hitokiri and I killed, but that didn't mean I had to like it. Though in some small twisted part of my soul it loved the challenge.
"You've seen it, haven't you?" she stared at me, holding my gaze.
I looked at her surprised and a bit nervous. I wasn't sure how much I liked being studied, even if it was only by a child.
"I can tell...I recognize the pain and sadness it brings." she let out a deep sigh as she looked at her now filled pail, staring at her reflection in the clear water.
My eyes softened as I watched her, "You want to know something?"
She looked up at me curiously, once more.
I dipped the pail filling it up before resting it by my side, "My parents died when I was young as well."
"Do you miss them?" she asked rather innocently.
I jerked to a stop. My father? My mother? I hadn't thought of them since...was it the beginning of the war? Or later then that? I couldn't even remember their faces....only impressions...maybe that was for the best, no one would want a son like me. Maybe I should give up my surname to not disgrace them further then what I've already done.
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make you sad." Anki quickly apologized.
"No, don't be. You remind me of something I forgot....and I seem to be forgetting a lot." I sighed as I looked upstream.
The holes in my memory were gradually become bigger. When I was a hitokiri I never had time to reflect, or should I say I couldn't reflect...if I did...I would go insane. It's a thin line...and razor sharp.
She smiled back at me. I felt a small glow of warmth and comfort. An innocent smile is a rare gift in times of war. Even if it was now in fact peace, the after effects of war still weighted heavily on this land.
Anki stood holding the pail in front of her, smile still warm. In that moment I realized something...and it kind of startled me. I had gained this child's trust. She should not give her trust out so easily, yet then again, if danger were to occur, I would make sure no harm came to her...
"Thank you very much Himura-san." she bowed politely.
"Please, just call me Kenshin." I shook my head.
Someone like me doesn't deserve an honorable name. There was no honor in what I did.
Though Anki and I now had something in common, she began to open up to me. She spoke little, but what she had to say was always thought through and held knowledge I'm not sure she realized.
We made our way back to the house her stating she heard I was a great help in the kitchen and how good dinner had been that day. She was truly a sweet child.
We took off our sandals once inside, though we had no idea what we would be greeted with once inside.
"ANKI! Where have you been!" her older brother demanded as he stormed into the room.
"I--I-we-" the little girl stuttered, scared.
I cut in, I couldn't stand anyone who tried to intimidate children, especially one as shy as Anki, "I accompanied her to the stream to fetch water. That is one of her chores isn't it?" I spoke my tone had a sharp edge to it.
"Enough from you! I warned you!" he growled.
"I am only holding up my keep. I was informed that is the rule, is it not? I must earn my stay?" I added setting down the water gently, as if I was uninterested in this argument.
He grabbed Anki's wrist and pulled her behind him roughly, "You stay away from her!" he shouted.
I straightened rigidly and ignored the urge to strike this man. I can't blame the man for protecting those he cared for, but making an enemy out of me was a very foolish thing to do... Making an enemy out of me was like inviting death to your door. This man needed to pick his foes better.
"What is wrong, Suko? Are you afraid she'll catch my plague?" I spoke my tone cold and harsh.
Suko's eyes flared. I had struck a nerve. He did not trust me and did not want me near anyone I could hurt. My mind suddenly narrowed in on his anger and that was when I realized I had made a mistake. I had pushed him too far.
He placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. Something inside me flared to life, my senses sharpened with each second. My hand was itching to draw my blade. It took everything I had to just keep still. I was trying to break a habit...and it wasn't working out too well.
"Don't be foolish." I hissed, but it was too late, he lunged at me, katana drawn.
My eyes suddenly narrowed as I felt icy coldness fill my veins causing me to go numb with the spark of battle. My feet shifted to a counter stance.
A scream ripped through my mind. My eyes darted to Anki standing where her brother had left her tears running down her cheeks.
I had my hand on the hilt of my sword without even realizing it.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON!!!!" I heard a shout of outrage.
This caused Suko to stop dead in his tracks. I turned dropping my hand to my side.
Natsru stood there, her eyes bright with rage, "Suko, you fool! I told you to watch yourself and your manners!"
"He was out with Anki collecting water!" Suko spat as he turned.
"So I heard. Anki has returned unharmed and the buckets are full. NOW EXPLAIN to me why you are ATTACKING HIMURA-SAN!!" she yelled her voice booming through the house, this woman wore command like it was a cloak, she made even me think twice.
"Are you that blind! Why am I the only one that is not blinded! He is only acting nice, he'll cut our throats when we are all sleeping one night." he glared.
Not many words ever struck deep in me, but these did. I turned my eyes flashing, "I was in the war there is no doubt about that, but I will not ever hurt a child or a woman." my eyes narrowed dangerously.
I choose my words carefully, I had hurt a woman once…and I would never do it again.
Suko glared at me. The pathetic man couldn't even hold my gaze for a second before storming outside, shutting the sliding door so hard the whole wall shook.
"That boy is going to get himself killed with a temper like that." Natsru sighed as she shook her head, her voice had returned to the normal tone of a kind elderly woman.
I could not stay angry for long at Suko, though foolish as the man was he was only protecting his family or so he thought. It had already started...I had to leave soon.
Ever since that day Suko seemed scarce, though I could always seem to feel his eyes on my back.
Author's Note: Yep, there was a nice big chapter for everyone. I hope you enjoyed! This chapter is one of my favorites. I just loved the whole conversation between Anki and Kenshin. Well, keep the reviews rollin' and until next time!