Fading Away

Part Three

By Maria Cline

He sat on the stump as he always did watching the young man slash through the practice dummy.  It was like over thirty years ago when he trained his father.  He can sense the power and promise coming from this boy's body.  Kenji and his father were alike in so many ways; they had the same drive, the same desire, the same potential and the same general bitterness from early life harshness. 

The main difference between them was the times they lived in.  This world was far different than the world Kenshin grew up in.  The old man glanced down at the letter in his hands.  Kenshin was dying as well as Kaoru but Kenji would not go back.  Kenji could be just as much as an idiot as his father.

Kenji stopped in his workout and said, "I am going in to make dinner, Shishou."

"Good." Hiko stared up at the boy and said, "You should go back.  They are waiting for you."

Kenji glared at him.  "Good night, sir." He walked away and Hiko downed a cup of sake.

"It has gone sour." He muttered as he stared at the cup.

*****

The sun rose as a lone man ran out of the ship he was riding on.  He inhaled the sweet salty air in joy.  It had been twenty years since he last been on these streets.  Everything looked different but he didn't care, all he knew was that he was finally home.  "I'm back." He said in relief. 

"So, this is Japan.  I haven't been here since I was a little girl." A young woman said as she walked by him.  While the man was dressed in a long brown cape with white pants, matching shirt, and a scruffy appearance, the woman was in a western style light brown dress with a cross shaped medallion hanging around her neck and an air of refinement surrounding her body. 

"Yup.  These guys are open-minded now so they won't mind us, Sayo." Sanosuke said as he put one arm around the woman's shoulders.

He looked around and asked an officer, "Hey, officer, I'm looking for the Akabeko.  Do you know where it is?"

"Sure, it's that way." The man said politely.

"Thanks." He saluted and walked off.  Sanosuke chuckled as he thought, /Looks like they finally stopped looking for me or they just don't recognize me./

"Will you finally pay that enormous tab of yours, Sanosuke?" Sayo asked as she held her bag. 

"Of course I will, Sayo.  I can't stay a moocher for the rest of my life especially with you and the big guy watching me." Sanosuke said as he bent down and kissed her.

"Good." Sayo smiled at him and they walked toward the restaurant.  Sanosuke drooled as he smelled the familiar foods. 

"Just as I left it.  We can eat here and then see Kenshin and Jou-chan.  You'll like them." Sanosuke promised as he led the woman into the door.  He saw Tae standing there minding the cash register.  "Tae!  What's up?!"

Tae stopped as she looked up to see a pair of strangers.  There was something familiar about him, something about his expressions.  She knew him.  Then, it hit her.  "Sanosuke?" She whispered.

"Hey." He reached into his pouch and got out a bunch of bills.  "Figured I might as well pay my tab." He handed her the money and grinned, "So, what's been going on?"

Tae stared at the money with a dropped jaw.  "Sano… haven't you been to the dojo yet?" She whispered as her hands shook.

"No… I didn't hear anything until I got back." Sanosuke said confused.  Something didn't feel right.  Tae was being quiet and it was not like her.  "What's wrong?  What happened?"

Tae looked up at him and suddenly wrapped her arms around him and sobbed.  "Sano… Sanosuke… *sob* I'm so glad you made it… *sob*"

Sanosuke gently put his huge hands onto her shoulders and said, "It's okay… I'm right here.  What's wrong?  Did something happen to the dojo?  I thought it was a huge success."  He paled and asked urgently, "Was it Enishi?  Did Enishi came back and hurt Jou-chan?"

Tae just shook her head and let go.  "Go to the dojo, please.  You have to get there as soon as you can." She pleaded as she clutched onto his cape. 

Sanosuke stepped back and nodded.  "Okay.  Just pull yourself together, Tae.  I won't go anywhere."

Tae nodded as she clutched the money.  "I know.  Welcome back, Sanosuke."

Quickly, Sanosuke and Sayo rushed toward the dojo.  Sanosuke's heart pounded as he tried to figure out what happened.  It didn't make sense.  All of Kenshin's enemies had either reformed or died.  Kenshin could not have gone back to being the Battousai or he would have heard about it.  Something deep in his gut told him that something wasn't right. 

Finally, they reached the dojo and Sanosuke pounded on the door.  "Jou-chan!  Kenshin!  Open up!"

The door opened to reveal Tsubame staring at him.  "Sanosuke-san?" She whispered. 

"Hey, Tsubame, where's Kenshin and Jou-chan?  I missed them." Sanosuke said quickly.

Tsubame opened her mouth and sadly looked down.  "Ummm… that way." She finally said as she pointed toward the bedroom. 

"Thanks." Sanosuke ran by her and nearly knocked Megumi and some other man down. 

He rushed through the hall and flung open the door.  Sitting there in their nightgowns were Kenshin and Kaoru.  The man's jaw dropped as he stepped in and knelt down.  "Kenshin?  Jou-chan?"  They looked old and worn down despite the fact that Kaoru was two years younger than he was. 

Kenshin weakly looked up with a dazed expression.  "Ken…shin?"

"This is Sanosuke, Shinta.  He's your friend." Kaoru said comforting as she gently put her hand on his shoulder.

"Sano… Sanosuke." Kenshin repeated sounding confused and then he looked at Sanosuke again.

"What happened to you?" Sanosuke asked as he sat down completely.

Kaoru smiled at him and replied, "I'm glad you're here, Sanosuke.  I'm sorry we don't look so *cough* well.  But, we're dying."

"Die… you're going to die?" Sanosuke whispered as he stared at them.  "Can't… can't Fox do anything to help you?"

Kaoru reached out and held his hand.  "No… this disease is incurable.  The most they can do is slow it down and make it easier to handle.  I'm glad you're here.  I want to see you one last time and I know that Shinta is glad too even if he cannot express it." She gazed at Kenshin who was staring at him.  He smiled slightly.

"I…" Sanosuke was at a loss for words.  He ran his hand through his hair.  "I should have come sooner.  I'm sorry."
"You didn't know.  What happened to you all these years?" Kaoru asked sweetly.

"Oh nothing much except..." Sanosuke looked toward the door and gestured Sayo to come in.  "Guys, this is Sayo, my wife." He held up his left hand to reveal a wedding ring.

"How do you do." Sayo said as she bowed and then knelt down.  "I heard great things about you." She looked at Kenshin.  "Was he really the Battousai?"

Kenshin tensed up at the sound of the name.  "Yes." Kaoru said, "He was but he is not any more.  I'm sorry we did not meet under more favorable circumstances."

"No, that is okay." Sayo held her cross.  "I… I will pray for you." She bowed her head and walked out.

"She seems like a nice girl." Kaoru said as she smiled at him. 

"Yeah, she really is a nice woman.  I met her in Holland and lived with her and her brother for a couple of years.  Her brother is a great swordsman.  He'd give you a run for your money, Kenshin, when you were younger." He said to Kenshin hoping his words are coming through.

Kenshin nodded at him slightly.  Sanosuke could not take it anymore.  He jumped up and hugged the both of them despite the disease.  "You did so much for me, Kenshin, Jou-chan, I'll do everything I can to help you.  I won't let you down."

"Thank you, Sanosuke." Kaoru whispered as she hugged back.

*****

Sanosuke walked back into the room and sat down.  "Oh, God." He muttered as he reached into his pocket and held his cross.  "God, why do you have to be so unfair to those who deserve it the most?"

"We cannot understand only have faith." Sayo said as she sat beside him.

"I know, it's still hard." Sanosuke sighed and then looked up at Megumi.  "Hey, Fox, I see you got yourself a man." He said as he nodded toward Enishi.  "He looks okay."

"Me?" Enishi said as he gestured to himself.  "I… you don't know recognize me, Sanosuke?"

"Should I?  You're way too tall to be Yahiko and there's no way you can be Saitou or Katsu.  You're way too… refined to be one of my gambling buddies." Sanosuke figured as he scratched his head.

Megumi laughed and then put her hands onto Enishi's shoulders. "This is Enishi.  You know, Ken-san's brother-in-law?"

"The psycho?!" Sayo gasped in shock as she stood up.  "I… I thought you have white hair!"

"I used to and I have no grudges against Kenshin." Enishi said annoyed as he glared at her.  "Why do people think that I am a psycho for what I did over twenty years ago?"

"Because you were a mafia gang leader who wanted to destroy the Meiji Government and torture and kill Kenshin." Sanosuke replied as his eyebrow twitched.

"That was only one time." Enishi said as he crossed his arms.

"Will you two behave?" Megumi asked exasperated.  "Roosterhead, Enishi has been a perfect gentleman and he actually cared for Ken-san now.  Tiger, Sanosuke was Ken-san's friend and he didn't really know you."

"Of course, Megumi-san." Enishi said as he bowed his head.

"Sure." Sanosuke shrugged, "Kenshin and Jou-chan are the type to forgive.  If Fox trusts you with her 'Ken-san's' life, I can too." He glared at Enishi and thought, /But, if he does anything bad… I'll kill him./

"You've changed." Megumi observed, "I never pegged you as the marrying type." The woman said as she pointed to Sanosuke's ring.

"Yeah… we got hitched.  This is Sayo Sagara.  Sayo, these are my friends, Megumi, Tsubame, and that guy of course is Enishi."

"How do you do." Sayo said as she bowed again.  "I'm sorry about what is happening but I believe that if your friends are as good as Sanosuke said they are, they will go to Heaven."

"Thank you, Sayo-san." Tsubame said as she bowed.  "Sanosuke-san, Yahiko missed you."
"I missed him too.  How's the kid doing?"

"He's doing very well." Tsubame replied as she smiled, "You really should have seen him, he's good with a sword.  I hope he comes back with Kenji soon."

*****

Yahiko trudged up the path toward the old cabin.    He could vividly remember the first time he walked the old path with Kaoru and Misao.  Back then, he was a mere boy who was learning how to fight.  He was cocky, young, and at times acted like a brat.  In fact, he acted a lot like Kenji.  He wanted to learn the Hiten Mitsurigi Style but he learned that the Kamiya Kasshin Style was better.  It wasn't as lethal as the Hiten Mitsurigi but that made it stronger for him.  Kenshin told him that it takes more strength to protect rather than kill.  That was one of the reasons why he respected him so much. 

He cannot let Kenji suffer the same way his father had.  Finally, he reached the small cabin.  It still had the same pottery shed and other small buildings.  At a glance, a normal person would not guess that a mere potter is one of the most powerful swordsmen in the world.  He could see Kenji slashing at a dummy at super speeds with Hiko still watching.  Kenji had his long hair tied up in a topknot with a shirt and pants looking so much like his father back when he was fifteen.  Yahiko could not help but feel strange to see the man who had raised Kenshin in perfect health while his former apprentice was withering away into nothing.  Kenji looked up and said, "Yahiko."

Yahiko calmly went up with his sakabatou in his hand.  "Kenji, come back to Tokyo.  Your parents are waiting."

"No." Kenji said as he sheathed his katana and crossed his arms.

/I knew it wouldn't be easy.  He is Kaoru's son after all./ Yahiko thought.  "Why not?"

Kenji tensed up as he stared at him.  "My father left me and my mother alone for years at an end.  He is waiting for me for a change.  Why should I give him the satisfaction?"

"Because he's dying you brat!" Yahiko said firmly as he held out his sword.  "You told me you wished to experience the power of the Battousai, of Kenshin.  This sword holds his power, his soul.   Study it, hold it, and think about it tonight.  Maybe, this sakabatou would give you the answers you seek."

Hesitantly, Kenji reached out and took it.  It was heavy in his hand.  He studied the sword and entered the building.

Yahiko sighed as he sat down on the log.  "I will stay outside if you do not mind, Hiko-san." The young man said, "I know how much you hate people."

"Not at all." Hiko said as he nodded, "People I do not mind, it's the idiots I hate."

*****

Kenji sat against the wall like he normally did and stared at the sword.  Ever since he was a child, he knew it as 'Yahiko's sword' or his future sword.  The only fight he saw his father fought was when Kenji was a little boy and he watched Kenshin and Yahiko fight.  It ended in two swift strokes and then Kenshin handed his sword to Yahiko for his fifteenth birthday. 

He couldn't understand how a backwards sword could hold so much meaning.  Logically, a sword with the sharp edge on the wrong side can be better than a sharp sword?  He can never understand that part.  He can never understand his father. 

"How can you be so powerful?" Kenji asked as he unsheathed the sword and stared at the reflection.  He glanced up to see an image of himself sitting on the opposite wall with golden eyes.  "Why can't I be as strong as you?"

*****

Kenshin weakly opened his eyes and stared out of the window.  "Shinta?" Kaoru whispered as she sat up and looked at her husband.  "Are you okay?"

The man nodded slowly and then looked down.  "Kaoru… Ken… ji."

"Shhh… save your strength." Kaoru said as she took his hand and held it.  "I know you're worried and scared but you're not alone.  You're never alone."

The man nodded again and lay down to sleep.

"Is he okay?" Sanosuke asked as he stood at the door.  "I… thought I heard something."

"He's just worried about Kenji." Kaoru said as she stroked Kenshin's red hair.  "I know that he may not act like he understands but he does.  He knows that he is surrounded by friends even if he can't remember their names or where he met them.  Just go back to sleep, Sano, we'll be fine."

The man came up and put his hand on Kaoru's shoulder.  "Okay, but we'll be right outside if anything happens.  If you need anything at all, just call."

Kaoru looked up at him and smiled, "You finally grew up."

"Everyone grows up sometime." Sanosuke said as he got up and walked out.  He closed the door and collapsed onto the floor.  "Kenshin was worried about Kenji." He said to his friends who were sitting in the room.  Ever since he and his wife showed up, none of the dojo dwellers left the room.  Everyone wanted to stay until Kenji comes back. 

"That kid should have shown up weeks ago." Enishi muttered as he sat back staring at the tea cup with the plum blossoms on it.

"Kenji is a good boy but he… he's just hurt." Tsubame said as she looked down.

"Kenji's a teenager.  All teenagers rebel in some way." Megumi recalled, "Does everyone remember when you were fifteen?"

Sanosuke paled.  "I was a cocky fight hungry idiot."

"Shy teenager wearing a French maid outfit." Tsubame replied.

"Religious fanatic." Sayo said.

At once everyone looked at Enishi who looked back and replied, "You don't want to know."

"Okay…" Sanosuke came up and sat beside him.  "We all know Kenshin's past.  Maybe, that's why we're worried about some kid most of us never met before.  If he's Jou-chan and Kenshin's kid, he has to have good intentions."

Enishi stared at him.  His dark eyes flashed intensely.  "The path to Hell is paved with good intentions."

*****

The sun set as Yahiko stared at the stars.  Despite the fact that he was at a friend's house in the middle of nowhere, he felt vulnerable without the sakabatou without his side.  The fire crackled radiating welcoming heat.  The cool spring air chilled his bones. 

Hiko came out of the cabin with his sake jug in his hand.  His other hand rose up to reveal two sake cups.  "Care for a little warm sake?"

"Sure."

Hiko sat down and poured out the sake.  "Sake is best served with others." He handed a cup to Yahiko. 

"Thank you." He said as he sipped the sake. 

Silence passed between the two.  Finally, Hiko asked the question that has been weighing on his heart.  "How sick are they?"

Yahiko looked down at the sake cup.  The old swordsman can sense a lie a mile away and he cannot lie.  "They barely got out of bed now.  Kaoru seems strong but… Kenshin… he doesn't have long.  He had nearly forgotten everything and half the time he didn't even know what's going on."

"I see." Hiko sighed as he stared up.  "That idiot apprentice of mine, a father should not bury his son.  I… I could live for another thirty years.  After I die, that will be the end of the Hiten Mitsurigi Style.  Kenshin had changed the philosophies of the sword.  I never admitted it but if the world has people like Kenshin and Kaoru then humanity has some hope."

Yahiko nodded.  "I know.  So, you didn't teach Kenji…"

"I gave him the basics, the godlike speed, and he can predict moves but he's no master.  I can't let history repeat itself.  He has potential but he's angry.  I can't send him back by force.  He'll only run away again.  You can get through that thick skull of his." Hiko explained.

"Will… you join us on our trip to Tokyo?" Yahiko asked hesitantly. 

Hiko picked up his sake cup and sipped it.  "I want to see him but I will not go with you.  Kenji needs time away from me if he wants to go back."
"Arigato." Yahiko bowed his head. 

The two sat back and watched the moon rose.  In the distance, Kenji closed the door and bowed his head.

*****

The sun rose as Yahiko stretched and ate some food he brought along.  Kenji came up to him and tossed him the sword.  Smoothly, Yahiko caught the sword and held it.  "I will not go with you until I have the same power as my father once did."

Yahiko stared at the sword in his hand.  "I was hoping I could just talk you into coming back and make you understand but you're not like that.  No, you're not like that.  You are a fighter and the only way to make a fighter understand… is to knock their brains in." He unsheathed the sword and held it out.  "Fight me, Himura Kenji.  Let me show you my power, the power your father had inspired into me and what he can inspire into you."

Kenji took his own katana and held it up.  "I will defeat you."

*****

He had been waiting for this moment his entire life.  Yahiko had been teaching him and trying to get him to master the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu Style.  He looked up to Yahiko and he wanted to beat him and showed how strong he had become.  The two stared at each other.  Kenji was in the Battoujitsu stance and Yahiko holding his sword high in the air.  After a tense moment, Kenji vanished and reappeared behind Yahiko.  Yahiko quickly held up his sword and blocked Kenji's blow and then the teenager flipped over and landed. 

Yahiko watched him. /He's a genius with the sword.  No doubt he has raw talent but he had not fought for his life like I had when I was his age.  Kenshin, I will show him the power of this sword./

Kenji rushed at him again.  Yahiko swiftly sliced the katana in half and then knocked the teenager down.  Kenji rubbed his head as he stared at the broken katana in his hand.  How did Yahiko slice his sword with the dull edge? 

"That is your father's legacy." Yahiko said as he sheathed the sword and held it out.  He knew that he could not keep the sword forever.  It was Kenji's sword now; his father wanted him to have this sword.  "This sword will seem heavy at first but you will get used to it.  I know it's a little late but happy birthday."

Silently, Kenji reached out and accepted the sword.  It was heavier than his katana but there was a strange aura around it.  All his life, he had known about the sword but he had never had a taste of its power.  Now, after getting whacked by it, he can understand his father's power.  He cannot do it in Kyoto, he must go home.  "I… I'm ready to go home, Yahiko-san." Kenji said as he got up.

To Be Continued…

Yay!  Kenji is coming home but is it too late?  I know that in the anime Sayo died but this is a slightly AU so I'm using creative license.