A/N: So...this should be my last chapter, at least that's what I planned. Man, I was reading over my last chapter, and found a few big mistakes...sighs still I'm too lazy to change them at the moment, heh. Sorry for wait, guys. I kinda got sidetracked the past couple of weeks. Enjoy the chapter!
Reviews:
Sakura Hopes: Yeah...what a great moment. Thanks for ur review!
Lara Chubb of Deephollow: Yeah, I thought so too. I'm quite pleased with it myself.
Ronkid8829: Really, u think so? It was a lot deeper, and did explain a lot of things. Thanks again!
Once again, Katana slowly regained consciousness. And once again she found Yahiko's face peering into her own. Yahiko blinked, and Katana fell back with a cry of surprise. Yahiko also jumped back, a little startled himself.
"You really need to stop doing that, Yahiko," she said, trying to calm herself down. After a few seconds, Katana looked around, realizing she was back in her previous room. The mid-afternoon sunrays shone through into her room, and a few small birds were chirping happily outside the dojo.
"You've been asleep for almost four days. I just came to see if you were awake, and if you wanted something to eat," Yahiko said, sounding unusually nice for well...Yahiko. Katana did feel like she could eat something right about now, as her stomach gurgled slightly.
"Okay," she said, standing. She almost felt a hundred percent better, but Yahiko stood there, watching her, as if he might have to rush to support her if she fell. Seeing that she was steady enough, Yahiko led the way.
When he opened the door, there were a lot more people than Katana remembered. Two little girls were playing with an orange ball, and an old man was sitting on the steps. Megumi, Kaoru and Kenshin were there too. Kaoru was playing with the two little ones, and Megumi was sitting beside a plate of Ohagi. Kenshin was sitting up, with his reverse-blade sword leaning against him shoulder as usual, looking better than he did before too.
Everyone turned at the open door and gave their greetings to Katana. Yahiko eyed the plate of rice balls and immediately took one, stuffing it into his face hungrily.
"Oh. Miss Katana, you're awake," Kenshin greeted with his adorable rurouni smile. Kaoru walked up to Katana, looking cheerful as usual and wearing her kendo outfit.
"Katana. How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Better," Katana replied, giving a light smile. The two little girls ran to Katana and playfully tugged on her clothes.
"Katana, let's play!" they shouted, with excitement, as if she was a visiting friend.
"This is Ayame and Suzume. They're Dr. Gensi's grandchildren," Kaoru introduced them. Suzume, picked up her ball and tossed it too Katana. A little surprised, Katana caught it. It felt strange in her hand; she hadn't picked up a child's toy in such a long time. She gently tossed it back to Suzume, but it bounced out of the little girl's grasp. Suzume watched it roll away from her, but only giggled and went after it. Megumi offered her the plate of Ohagi.
"Would you like one?" She offered.
"Thank you," Katana said, taking one and biting into it. It was quite delicious, especially after eating nothing for a few days.
"You're lucky you didn't have to eat Ugly's cooking," Yahiko whispered to her. Kaoru popped Yahiko over the head with her shinai, leaving him swirly-eyed and on the ground, with several egg-sized bumps.
"How does she do that?" Yahiko asked aloud, just beginning to recover. Kaoru was obviously a strong girl, with quite a temper. Katana sat down in front of the door, and watched everyone laugh and eat and play. She felt so awkward, that everyone treating her so nicely. Watching them interact with each other, they treated each other almost like family. Taking another rice ball, Katana chewed it slowly, watching the scene play in front of her. She felt so relaxed, and it seemed that happiness was just at her fingertips.
"Hey, Katana. Would you like a bath? It shouldn't take too long to heat up," Kaoru told her. Now that the offer was in air, Katana did feel like a bath would do some good.
"Ok, thanks," Katana said, following Kaoru to the bathroom.
Kaoru was right. Katana undressed and in about ten minutes, Kaoru knocked on the door.
"The bath's ready, Katana," Kaoru told her, kindly. There was no answer on the other side.
"Katana? Is something wrong?" She asked in a concerned tone.
"Kaoru...why is everyone being so...nice to me?" Katana questioned.
"Kenshin told us what happened," Kaoru explained.
FLASHBACK
"No matter how strong she might seem, she is just a young girl who has suffered with a broken heart for ten years, that she has. On top of that she was just betrayed...Don't be angry with Miss Katana for what she did. What she needs now more than anything is sympathy and friends, that she does."
END OF FLASH
"He didn't say much about the details, but he it was right of him to not talking openly about your past. But I'm sorry for whatever happened," Kaoru said to the girl on the other side.
"Thank you," Katana said softly, before stepping into the steamy bathwater.
BREAK
Feeling quite a lot better after a soothing bath, Katana stepped out of the water and dried herself off. She was half-dressed when Kaoru came by and offered to help with the kimono.
After tying the obi, Katana thanked Kaoru once again.
"You're welcome," Kaoru said with a bright smile.
"You're clothes have been washed, and they're almost dry. I'll just take these to get washed too," Kaoru said, taking the pile and leaving.
Katana just stood there, feeling almost silly in the pretty kimono. It was Kaoru's yellow and orange one, decorated with the flowers. Katana hadn't worn a kimono for such a long time, and since she had been poor, she hadn't worn one often even then. It felt a little binding, but she'd manage, until her normal clothes were dry.
Katana found her way back to the others with little trouble, but didn't expect their reaction.
"My, don't you look nice," Megumi commented.
"Katana pretty!" Suzume exclaimed with her broken sentence. Even Kenshin looked a little surprised at Katana's appearance.
"Lookin' good!" Yahiko said with a grin. Kaoru appeared out of nowhere and all they could see was Yahiko flying like a bullet into the nearest dojo wall. He peeled himself off, wishing he had just kept his mouth shut.
Meanwhile, Kenshin was suffering Kaoru's wrath as she gave him several good shakes, until he too was swirly-eyed.
"Oro, oro, oro, oro, oro!"
"I saw you blushing Kenshin, so don't try and deny it!" Kaoru growled. After a good while, Kaoru let go, and Kenshin decided not to say anything but 'yes ma'am!' to Kaoru for a while. Could she be scary or what?
A light smile played over Katana's lips at the crazy scene. It was her first smile in so many years. Despite everything that had happened to her, she felt a small, but warm, good feeling rise from her heart. It was nice to feel happy for a change. Still...
Katana turned and went to her room. Kneeling, she found that her sword had been retrieved and cleaned. It was lying beside her futon. Staring at it, she wondered whey she never noticed it there before. Katana heard the room door open and Kaoru was there, breathing heavily from before, with a broken shinai in her right hand.
"Katana, here you are. We were wondering where you went to," Kaoru said, brightly. Katana stood and turned to face Kaoru.
"Kaoru...is there anything I can do to repay you-" she asked.
"You don't need to worry about that," Kaoru said, brushing it off. They shared a few silent minutes.
"I doubt you have any place to stay, so you're welcome to stay here if you want," Kaoru offered.
"Thanks," Katana said in return. Although she didn't say so out loud, Katana knew she going to leave soon. But it wasn't that Katana didn't appreciate their sympathy. As odd as it would sound, she felt like a small part of her didn't want it...and as nice as it might seem, staying would make her restless inside.
"I'm going to go for a walk, Kaoru," Katana said, hoping she didn't sound too rude.
"O-okay," Kaoru replied, a little surprised as she watched her retreating form.
Katana left the dojo gates, and went down the dirt path, not really caring where she went. Although, as she kept on her walk, she found she was heading back to the river. The air was comfortably warm, interrupted by a few cool, early summer breezes.
Katana stopped and turned around, feeling like she was being followed. And sure enough, Kenshin was right behind her.
"Is there something you want, Kenshin?" She asked, wondering why he came up behind her like that.
"Oh. Uh..." Kenshin said, scratching the back of his head with a nervous laugh. "I...just wanted to see if you were ok, that I did." He said, coming up beside her. Katana started walking again, keeping her eyes on the level ground.
"You didn't come with me to enjoy the scenery," Katana said, in a dry-humor kind of tone. Kenshin paused.
"Katana...I'd like to ask you something, that I would," Kenshin began. Katana looked up so she could see his face. He waited, as if he needed her permission.
"Ok," she said slowly.
"You haven't battled with a lot of people, am I right?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes..." Katana answered, wondering what on earth he was getting to.
Kenshin looked at her as if he wasn't sure he should be asking this.
"When Miss Megumi was changing your clothes and bandages she said she saw quite a lot of scars all over your body, that she did," Kenshin said to her, and Katana averted her eyes to wavering blades of grass, and the rushing water her expression darkening a little.
"I told you that Katsuro trained me in swordsmanship. He would show me the move once, then attack me. That's how he taught me, and that's how I learned," Katana explained.
"Oh," Kenshin answered. It was kind of how Hiko taught him. Still...
"It sounds like he was pretty rough with you-"
"It's not like we were friends. Even though we traveled together for ten years, there was little trust between us. And I understand why now," Katana told him softly. Both were silent for quite a while. Katana sat down under the bridge, with a little trouble in Kaoru's kimono. She had to tuck her legs beneath her, instead of sitting cross-legged like she normally would. Kenshin sat down beside her. Katana plucked a blade of grass and slowly tore it up.
"Kenshin?"
"What is it, Miss Katana?"
"Does loving make you...weak?" Katana asked, in a quiet breath. Kenshin's eyes widened a little at her unexpected question. A moment passed of stilled silence, except for the frequent sounds of nature. Kenshin didn't know quite how to answer her. It was such a simple question, yet so complex.
"I remember when I was little, my family was poor, and all we had was love for each other. But it was enough, because I remember that I was happy, despite all the things we went through. All these years, I've been running away from my past. The thought of revenge led me away from loneliness and pain. I realized that last night," Katana said, but more to herself than to Kenshin. Katana refused to let the waves of cold pain wash through her, or the tears escape from behind her hidden dark, brown eyes.
"Loving doesn't make you weak or unhappy, that it doesn't. I believe it does the exact opposite. Love makes one strong, a pure kind of strength that can't be found in anger or hatred. Life is the hardest journey that you will ever make. There will be times of happiness, along with times of tears. But the true essence of love, the part where you're happy, should be worth all the suffering you might endure. Don't you think?" Kenshin told her. Katana waited for some time and thought about his words. It was true; although she lost her family, she still had her future. And as long as she was lived, there would always be hope.
"I don't have any place to go, Kenshin," Katana said.
"I'm sure Miss Kaoru would let you-" Kenshin started, but Katana shook her head.
"I know. It's not that, I mean, I'm grateful to all of you. It's just that...I don't know," Katana told him.
"Miss Katana, if you don't mind my asking, what is your sword's style?" Kenshin asked, curiously. Katana stopped, as if she had to think about that.
"I...don't know. I mean, I never asked. It never occurred to me to ask Katsuro that," Katana replied in realization. Katana closed her eyes, and just listened to the sounds of nature, letting her mind wander.
BREAK
Katana followed Kenshin back to the Kamiya dojo. The sun was slowly setting, and a few orange-brushed clouds drifted in, blocking the sun every now and then, cooling the air. Katana and Kenshin went in through the gates, and found everyone gathered around outside.
"Kenshin! Katana! You're back. I was afraid something might have happened," Kaoru said, in a welcoming tone.
"We're all right Miss Kaoru, that we are," Kenshin said in his usual, cheerful tone. Yahiko had a shinai resting on his shoulder, and Ayame and Suzume were still there, chasing each other playfully.
"Dr. Gensai had to return to the clinic," Kaoru told Kenshin and Katana.
"Katana? Want to train with me?" Yahiko asked, readying his shinai in anticipation.
"No...that's ok Yahiko," Katana said, turning down his offer. She didn't have practiced with wooden swords much.
"Okay," Yahiko said, a little disappointed.
For the rest of the afternoon, Kaoru and Yahiko trained for a bit, while Kenshin caught up on some of the laundry. Although, Katana didn't join in, she did enjoy watching Kaoru and Yahiko train together. It was a lot different then the way Katsuro told him, even if Yahiko and Kaoru did fight like brother and sister.
BREAK
"Dinner is ready everyone!" Kaoru called.
"Yeah!" Yahiko said excitedly. It didn't take long to gather everyone up.
"Tae stopped by and brought some extra food over," Kaoru said.
Kenshin and Katana realized that Sanosuke was here too. Megumi whispered something to Sano, and he muttered something back to her. Megumi looked a little ticked and went to help set the dishes of food out.
"Katana. Look, uh, sorry about before. I didn't know," Sano apologized. It took Katana a couple seconds to realize what he was talking about.
"It's ok," Katana replied with a slight nod. Of course Sano punching her wasn't ok, but what was she supposed to say? And he did apologize.
After a round of thanks to Tae, everyone began digging in on the delicious food. Katana hadn't eaten this well in while, everything tasted wonderful. One by one, they left, until it was just Katana, Yahiko, Kenshin and Kaoru.
"Well, I'd better get started on the dishes," Kenshin said, as cheerfully as he could.
"Wait, Kenshin, I'll help. It's the least I can do," Katana said, surprising all of them. They rolled up their sleeves and got started right away. She never thought chores could be so relaxing, but the silence was nice as she scrubbed and rinsed the dishes.
Dusk had fallen by the time they finished and stars quickly appeared, filling the vast, night sky. A full moon appeared, hidden lightly by the few, light, passing clouds. Then, one by one, the gang tucked in for the night.
BREAK
Katana found herself in a village that looked a lot like the one she used to live in. Gasping slightly she found the charred, rotting remains of her burned house. Katana began to pick through the remains, as if she was looking for something. But the strange thing was, Katana wasn't even sure what she was looking for.
"Mitsuko?" called a familiar voice. Startled she turned around and found herself facing her father, exactly the way she remembered him.
"Daddy?" Katana asked, and went to embrace him. He felt so warm...so real.
"Mitsuko, give me your sword," her father asked, gently. Katana was confused, but then felt her hands close around her sword. He took it and smiled at his daughter.
"You've learned a lot. And you've become stronger. Do you still want your sword?" he asked.
"Yes," Katana said. She remembered Kenshin's words. "A sword only brings death. And happiness never follows death. But I'll use it only to protect people from now on."
"I'm proud of you Mitsuko. I love you, don't forget that," her father said, with a gentle smile. Two other figures joined him. Katana realized them as her mother and brother. They waved good-bye to her and faded from sight.
Katana woke herself up. Pushing back her futon covers, she went outside, and took her clothes down from the line. Then she went back inside her room and dressed herself. She folded her simple, night yukata and laid it at the foot of her bed. Then she slid her sword back at her side, and went back outside to leave. She reached the dojo gates, and watched the place for a few minutes. The air was cool, and refreshing. This was as good a time as any to leave.
"Thank you, Kaoru, Yahiko and most of all Kenshin. I won't forget you," she said quietly, before turning away.
"You've decided to leave?" asked a voice. Katana stopped and found Kenshin coming towards her. He wore a faint smile, but looked a little disappointed.
"Yes. I can't stay. It would just feel...awkward. And Katsuro might come back. I don't want any of you to be in danger because of me. I'm sure you understand that," she told him. "But I want to thank you Kenshin, for everything. I really appreciate it all."
"Know where you're heading off to?" Kenshin asked curiously.
"No, I guess I don't. But...I'll remember what you told me," Katana promised.
"Kenshin? Kaoru loves you a lot. And you love her too. Take care of each other," Katana said sincerely.
Kenshin smiled, and nodded at her words.
"Good-bye, Miss Mitsuko," he called after her. She turned and headed out onto the path leading away from the dojo. Into the darkness once again. However, she walked without tears of despair, but instead with a stronger heart.
Kenshin turned back and headed toward the dojo again. The door slid open, and Kaoru was on the other side.
"I thought I heard someone outside," Kaoru said, looking a little relieved. "So what were you doing outside anyway?"
"Katana left," Kenshin told her, sitting down on the steps. Kaoru joined him.
"Left? You mean for good?" Kaoru asked, surprise written all over her face.
"Yes," Kenshin replied. Kaoru slipped her right hand into Kenshin's left. A little surprised, Kenshin smiled and squeezed it affectionately. Katana was right.
"I hope she'll be okay," Kaoru said.
'I'm sure Miss Mitsuko will be fine now, that she will,' Kenshin thought to himself, as he kissed Kaoru on the forehead.
THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A/N: Sorry if it seemed a little rushed, I wanted to get it done before school started and this was like my last chance and sorry for any spelling/ word mistakes. Wow, this was a hard chapter to write...so what I was thinking of doing like an epilogue sort of thing. I mean, to tie the story up a little more. It'd be like a few paragraphs long or so. Though, that's only if you guys want it. I really don't care either way; the open ending is kinda nice too. Thanks for any future reviews!