Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin]
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Kenshin walked throughout the city of Tokyo, his thoughts wandering from one to the other, just like his years as a rurouni. Although the ideas in general drifted away form each other, they all revolved around one main idea, Ayeka. Of course Kenshin didn't want to be around his friends when they learned of Ayeka, he didn't want to face them, he didn't want to face her either.
Kenshin rounded the corner headed for the Kamiya dojo, not caring for a fast pace, his mind set a pace which was not considered quick in any culture but that which would eventually get him to his destination. Seeing Ayeka again had earned a degree of shock like no other. The feelings he had held within himself over the years, for a brief period in time, they were buried.
Dead and gone, never to be felt again, but if only it were so, that particular feeling he had locked away had once been released by Tomoe. After a year of being a hitokiri, Kenshin had lost all hope. He couldn't go back to Ayeka, he was too undeserving, the blood that covered his hands almost daily. But when he had fallen in love with Tomoe, he had felt a deep sense of betrayal.
Once again, Kenshin had gained it back unknowingly. After Tomoe died, giving into his feelings had become too painful and would only result in heartbreak later. And oath he had kept to himself, until the eleventh year of Meiji.
He had to admit, Kamiya Kaoru was something he had never expected. The fire in her eyes, the same fire he once saw in Ayeka's, a fiery passion for anything she believed in with all her heart. But giving into those feelings again would only result in people getting hurt, Kenshin getting hurt. In times of the revolution, he may have once been known as the fearless Hitokiri Battousai, but Himura Kenshin, was a coward to his own heart.
He exhaled deeply and walked through the doors leading to the Kamiya estate. Kenshin wearily made his way to what was once his room, his feet having a mind of their own. He unfastened the sakabatou from his waist and laid it down next to him by Ayeka's side. The minutes ticked away, uncountable, time having no bow to anyone. He imagined Shishou telling the story of Ayeka to his friends and their reactions as the story continued to unfold. He wasn't sure how his Shishou would tell it, but much to Kenshin's regret, his Shishou would tell it nonetheless.
Next to Kenshin, Ayeka stirred slightly and as more time passed, her eyes fluttered open, landing on that of Himura Kenshin. She rolled her eyes at the sight of him and began to speak, "I must still be unconscious, I have not seen Himura Kenshin in more than years. Although I have to admit, my imagination has gone a little wild."
"No Ayeka, it is me, Kenshin."
Ayeka's eyes widened with realization, "I haven't heard that voice since the early times of the revolution." She quickly tried to sit up but winced with pain and just as quickly fell back onto the futon. "Not to mention it hurts too much to just be a dream. Ayeka watched his curious expression and smiled, "Not to mention you never spoke in my dreams."
Kenshin's eyebrow in even more curiosity, "I've been in your dreams Ayeka- dono?"
"Don't let it go to your head Kenshin." For the second time, Ayeka tried to sit up only with more caution and studied him for a moment, "You've changed."
"Oro? Have I really Ayeka-dono?" Kenshin inquired, still wearing ever the polite face.
"Well, for one, you never use to be this polite." She joked, Kenshin only nodded his head and Ayeka again took the time to study the man from her past that she had once been in love with, "You've been through a lot," she paused, "too much for any man." She lightly traced a finger across his cross-shaped scar but instead he only turned away in shame, she nodded and withdrew her hand. "I have heard many legends of you Kenshin. Legends of Hitokiri Battousai, and the cruelty of his blade."
"I have tried to leave my past behind me Ayeka-dono, that I have."
Ayeka nodded as if understanding and continued, "As many of a legend I have heard of the hitokiri Battousai during the revolution, I have heard legends of a man running from his past, a man called Himura Kenshin. Himura Kenshin who uses his sword to protect."
Although Kenshin heard her words, he did not respond to them. He swallowed hard, dissolving the cold, hard lump in his throat that was lodged there only moments ago. "Ayeka-dono, it is difficult to hide the vastness of our blade."
"True enough, my sword was sought after many times during the revolution. I remember, once I had learned the final technique from Shishou, I traveled down below and tried to help the innocent people caught up in the war. I still try to do that today," she gave a soft smile, "although with this sword banning act, it sometimes proves difficult."
"Yes," Kenshin agreed, picking up his sakabatou, Ayeka suddenly clutched her stomach, "Come, we should get you something to eat Ayeka-dono, that we should."
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Kenshin quickly fixed her a meal, neither speaking leaving a sustained awkward silence between them. Ayeka laughed once at the sight of Kenshin cooking for her, recognizing the same taste as she brought it to her lips. As she began to eat, Kenshin quietly excused himself to fetch Megumi and because of his quick pace, Kenshin returned accompanied by Megumi just as Ayeka had finished her meal. And as Megumi sat down next to Ayeka and shooed her red-haired friend out of what was once his room so she could once again continue her work.
Kenshin retreated to the Kamiya dojo, appreciating the time to himself, he went through the thoughts crowding hid mind. How had Ayeka been so badly hurt? Few could do that to the bearer of Hiten-Mitsurugi. And why, why of all dojos had Ayeka stumbled onto this one? Kenshin breathed out and heard the events happening not far from him, he heard Megumi ask how Ayeka had gotten hurt, and he also heard Ayeka respond saying how she wished to tell Kenshin before anyone else. Kenshin could only imagine in his mind's eye Megumi's reaction because she was the only one who had yet to hear the story. And as Kenshin let the voices fade away, he let time pass as he tried to clear his mind, but nothing clearing the plaguing frustration.
It was not long after Kenshin heard the sounds of his friends returning from the Akabeko. He heard their reactions to find Megumi treating an awake Ayeka. Of course they would begin to badger his old friend with questions, but knowing Ayeka, she would only give the simplest of answers and not involving anything, or anyone, that needn't be said. And as Kenshin continued to picture what was going on outside he pictured Shishou standing in a shadowed corner watching silently until the time was right. And as all of Kenshin's prophecies came to pass, the final prophecy fulfilled itself.
"Kenshin? Everyone's been wondering where'd you disappeared to."
"Recognizing the voice of Kaoru, he put out his usual polite face and turned to see her standing in the doorway of her family's dojo, "Oh, Kaoru- dono, you're back are you?"
Ignoring the rurouni's comments, she continued with a solemn face, "Kenshin, why didn't you tell anyone about Ayeka? Or at least mentioning how Hiko-san had another apprentice?"
Knowing he could never keep up the ruse with Kaoru, his tone became much more serious, "Kaoru-dono, you must understand-"
"Hey! You two having a secret meeting or something?" Sano asked slyly as he poked his head in above Kaoru's.
Kenshin quickly gained an embarrassed face and waved his hands frantically in defense, "No, no Sano, that's not it at all, that it isn't."
"Yeah right Kenshin," just like the whole thing about Ayeka you never mentioned?"
Kenshin put a hand behind his head at a loss of words. "Sano-"
"Hey you guys! Would you come out already? Or is this another one of your meetings that I can't listen to because I'm too young?" The three heard the voice of Yahiko not far away and Kenshin found his means of escape.
"We should go, you never know when Yahiko might be sneaking around again, that we don't."
Much to Kaoru's despair, Kenshin exited the dojo behind herself and Sano. And as they walked, Sano began to jab Kenshin with his elbow, "So, Kenshin, you and Ayeka huh? How come you never told me? You know you can trust me with these things."
"Sano..."
"One of those drop it and leave it along subjects, huh Kenshin?"
"Yes, Sano, that it is."
Kaoru listened as her friends conversed but never bothered to say a word, she only listened and learned what little she could.
The trio continued to walk along when Kenshin suddenly stayed behind in a dark part of the land. "They had a right to know."
Kenshin looked straight ahead, not needing to see to know that his master was nearby. "But did they need to know everything? Just telling them that we use to be both of your apprentices would have been enough."
"Eventually they would have found out. Especially with they way you two would act around each other. So awkwardly."
"I know how to behave Shishou."
"I will say this once and only once, Ayeka was a good pupil, the most a master could ever hope for, you on the other hand were my baka deshi. The only mistake Ayeka ever made was falling in love with you."
"I may have made many mistakes in the past, but being in love with Ayeka was never one of them, that it wasn't."
"It was both of your decisions anyway, I was only to teach you the ways of Hiten-Mitsurugi, what you and Ayeka had was never my business unless it interfered with your, studies."
"But it didn't. Ayeka and I worked just as hard to learn."
"I still say it was a mistake."
"Then think what you must Shishou."
Kenshin began to walk around until he stopped at the sound of his name, "Kenshin! I'm leaving Tokyo, there are things I must attend to back home."
"As you wish Shishou." And with that, Hiko watched his former student walk away to rejoin the people who he protected in the new Meiji Era. He watched as Ayeka walked slowly, trying to regain her strength as his baka deshi greeted him with his rurouni smile, Ayeka gave a smile back.
He could sense it, it would not be long before it would be hard not to notice it, and the years had done nothing. He watched them like that for a while, and he especially watched at that woman's response, the one that had followed his baka deshi to Kyoto. Her reactions proved to be the most complex. But from what he saw, she only remained to herself.
And as more time passed, darkness fell on Tokyo and the candles were blown out one by one Hiko emerged from the shadows. Out of his cloak, Sejirou Hiko pulled out a small piece of parchment. He ran his fingers across it, as if to judge the texture, and wedged it without a sound into the door that led to the dwelling to where Ayeka slept. Hiko then picked up his simple sack, took one last look at the Kamiya dojo, and with a swish of his cloak, Sejirou Hiko left Tokyo.
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Well, there you have it, another chapter. Do me a favor and just give me some
nice reviews. Any reviews for that matter, I'm not that picky anymore. I don't even know
why I decided to update this story.
(
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Kenshin walked throughout the city of Tokyo, his thoughts wandering from one to the other, just like his years as a rurouni. Although the ideas in general drifted away form each other, they all revolved around one main idea, Ayeka. Of course Kenshin didn't want to be around his friends when they learned of Ayeka, he didn't want to face them, he didn't want to face her either.
Kenshin rounded the corner headed for the Kamiya dojo, not caring for a fast pace, his mind set a pace which was not considered quick in any culture but that which would eventually get him to his destination. Seeing Ayeka again had earned a degree of shock like no other. The feelings he had held within himself over the years, for a brief period in time, they were buried.
Dead and gone, never to be felt again, but if only it were so, that particular feeling he had locked away had once been released by Tomoe. After a year of being a hitokiri, Kenshin had lost all hope. He couldn't go back to Ayeka, he was too undeserving, the blood that covered his hands almost daily. But when he had fallen in love with Tomoe, he had felt a deep sense of betrayal.
Once again, Kenshin had gained it back unknowingly. After Tomoe died, giving into his feelings had become too painful and would only result in heartbreak later. And oath he had kept to himself, until the eleventh year of Meiji.
He had to admit, Kamiya Kaoru was something he had never expected. The fire in her eyes, the same fire he once saw in Ayeka's, a fiery passion for anything she believed in with all her heart. But giving into those feelings again would only result in people getting hurt, Kenshin getting hurt. In times of the revolution, he may have once been known as the fearless Hitokiri Battousai, but Himura Kenshin, was a coward to his own heart.
He exhaled deeply and walked through the doors leading to the Kamiya estate. Kenshin wearily made his way to what was once his room, his feet having a mind of their own. He unfastened the sakabatou from his waist and laid it down next to him by Ayeka's side. The minutes ticked away, uncountable, time having no bow to anyone. He imagined Shishou telling the story of Ayeka to his friends and their reactions as the story continued to unfold. He wasn't sure how his Shishou would tell it, but much to Kenshin's regret, his Shishou would tell it nonetheless.
Next to Kenshin, Ayeka stirred slightly and as more time passed, her eyes fluttered open, landing on that of Himura Kenshin. She rolled her eyes at the sight of him and began to speak, "I must still be unconscious, I have not seen Himura Kenshin in more than years. Although I have to admit, my imagination has gone a little wild."
"No Ayeka, it is me, Kenshin."
Ayeka's eyes widened with realization, "I haven't heard that voice since the early times of the revolution." She quickly tried to sit up but winced with pain and just as quickly fell back onto the futon. "Not to mention it hurts too much to just be a dream. Ayeka watched his curious expression and smiled, "Not to mention you never spoke in my dreams."
Kenshin's eyebrow in even more curiosity, "I've been in your dreams Ayeka- dono?"
"Don't let it go to your head Kenshin." For the second time, Ayeka tried to sit up only with more caution and studied him for a moment, "You've changed."
"Oro? Have I really Ayeka-dono?" Kenshin inquired, still wearing ever the polite face.
"Well, for one, you never use to be this polite." She joked, Kenshin only nodded his head and Ayeka again took the time to study the man from her past that she had once been in love with, "You've been through a lot," she paused, "too much for any man." She lightly traced a finger across his cross-shaped scar but instead he only turned away in shame, she nodded and withdrew her hand. "I have heard many legends of you Kenshin. Legends of Hitokiri Battousai, and the cruelty of his blade."
"I have tried to leave my past behind me Ayeka-dono, that I have."
Ayeka nodded as if understanding and continued, "As many of a legend I have heard of the hitokiri Battousai during the revolution, I have heard legends of a man running from his past, a man called Himura Kenshin. Himura Kenshin who uses his sword to protect."
Although Kenshin heard her words, he did not respond to them. He swallowed hard, dissolving the cold, hard lump in his throat that was lodged there only moments ago. "Ayeka-dono, it is difficult to hide the vastness of our blade."
"True enough, my sword was sought after many times during the revolution. I remember, once I had learned the final technique from Shishou, I traveled down below and tried to help the innocent people caught up in the war. I still try to do that today," she gave a soft smile, "although with this sword banning act, it sometimes proves difficult."
"Yes," Kenshin agreed, picking up his sakabatou, Ayeka suddenly clutched her stomach, "Come, we should get you something to eat Ayeka-dono, that we should."
--------------
Kenshin quickly fixed her a meal, neither speaking leaving a sustained awkward silence between them. Ayeka laughed once at the sight of Kenshin cooking for her, recognizing the same taste as she brought it to her lips. As she began to eat, Kenshin quietly excused himself to fetch Megumi and because of his quick pace, Kenshin returned accompanied by Megumi just as Ayeka had finished her meal. And as Megumi sat down next to Ayeka and shooed her red-haired friend out of what was once his room so she could once again continue her work.
Kenshin retreated to the Kamiya dojo, appreciating the time to himself, he went through the thoughts crowding hid mind. How had Ayeka been so badly hurt? Few could do that to the bearer of Hiten-Mitsurugi. And why, why of all dojos had Ayeka stumbled onto this one? Kenshin breathed out and heard the events happening not far from him, he heard Megumi ask how Ayeka had gotten hurt, and he also heard Ayeka respond saying how she wished to tell Kenshin before anyone else. Kenshin could only imagine in his mind's eye Megumi's reaction because she was the only one who had yet to hear the story. And as Kenshin let the voices fade away, he let time pass as he tried to clear his mind, but nothing clearing the plaguing frustration.
It was not long after Kenshin heard the sounds of his friends returning from the Akabeko. He heard their reactions to find Megumi treating an awake Ayeka. Of course they would begin to badger his old friend with questions, but knowing Ayeka, she would only give the simplest of answers and not involving anything, or anyone, that needn't be said. And as Kenshin continued to picture what was going on outside he pictured Shishou standing in a shadowed corner watching silently until the time was right. And as all of Kenshin's prophecies came to pass, the final prophecy fulfilled itself.
"Kenshin? Everyone's been wondering where'd you disappeared to."
"Recognizing the voice of Kaoru, he put out his usual polite face and turned to see her standing in the doorway of her family's dojo, "Oh, Kaoru- dono, you're back are you?"
Ignoring the rurouni's comments, she continued with a solemn face, "Kenshin, why didn't you tell anyone about Ayeka? Or at least mentioning how Hiko-san had another apprentice?"
Knowing he could never keep up the ruse with Kaoru, his tone became much more serious, "Kaoru-dono, you must understand-"
"Hey! You two having a secret meeting or something?" Sano asked slyly as he poked his head in above Kaoru's.
Kenshin quickly gained an embarrassed face and waved his hands frantically in defense, "No, no Sano, that's not it at all, that it isn't."
"Yeah right Kenshin," just like the whole thing about Ayeka you never mentioned?"
Kenshin put a hand behind his head at a loss of words. "Sano-"
"Hey you guys! Would you come out already? Or is this another one of your meetings that I can't listen to because I'm too young?" The three heard the voice of Yahiko not far away and Kenshin found his means of escape.
"We should go, you never know when Yahiko might be sneaking around again, that we don't."
Much to Kaoru's despair, Kenshin exited the dojo behind herself and Sano. And as they walked, Sano began to jab Kenshin with his elbow, "So, Kenshin, you and Ayeka huh? How come you never told me? You know you can trust me with these things."
"Sano..."
"One of those drop it and leave it along subjects, huh Kenshin?"
"Yes, Sano, that it is."
Kaoru listened as her friends conversed but never bothered to say a word, she only listened and learned what little she could.
The trio continued to walk along when Kenshin suddenly stayed behind in a dark part of the land. "They had a right to know."
Kenshin looked straight ahead, not needing to see to know that his master was nearby. "But did they need to know everything? Just telling them that we use to be both of your apprentices would have been enough."
"Eventually they would have found out. Especially with they way you two would act around each other. So awkwardly."
"I know how to behave Shishou."
"I will say this once and only once, Ayeka was a good pupil, the most a master could ever hope for, you on the other hand were my baka deshi. The only mistake Ayeka ever made was falling in love with you."
"I may have made many mistakes in the past, but being in love with Ayeka was never one of them, that it wasn't."
"It was both of your decisions anyway, I was only to teach you the ways of Hiten-Mitsurugi, what you and Ayeka had was never my business unless it interfered with your, studies."
"But it didn't. Ayeka and I worked just as hard to learn."
"I still say it was a mistake."
"Then think what you must Shishou."
Kenshin began to walk around until he stopped at the sound of his name, "Kenshin! I'm leaving Tokyo, there are things I must attend to back home."
"As you wish Shishou." And with that, Hiko watched his former student walk away to rejoin the people who he protected in the new Meiji Era. He watched as Ayeka walked slowly, trying to regain her strength as his baka deshi greeted him with his rurouni smile, Ayeka gave a smile back.
He could sense it, it would not be long before it would be hard not to notice it, and the years had done nothing. He watched them like that for a while, and he especially watched at that woman's response, the one that had followed his baka deshi to Kyoto. Her reactions proved to be the most complex. But from what he saw, she only remained to herself.
And as more time passed, darkness fell on Tokyo and the candles were blown out one by one Hiko emerged from the shadows. Out of his cloak, Sejirou Hiko pulled out a small piece of parchment. He ran his fingers across it, as if to judge the texture, and wedged it without a sound into the door that led to the dwelling to where Ayeka slept. Hiko then picked up his simple sack, took one last look at the Kamiya dojo, and with a swish of his cloak, Sejirou Hiko left Tokyo.
-----------------------
Well, there you have it, another chapter. Do me a favor and just give me some
nice reviews. Any reviews for that matter, I'm not that picky anymore. I don't even know
why I decided to update this story.
(