Fading Away

Part Four

By Maria Cline

Tsubame was sweeping the front porch as always.  She had done it all day long since she didn't want to look like she was just waiting for her husband and Kenji to come back.  Sanosuke and Sayo helped out with the chores and their arrival just lightened the normally dismal mood of the dojo.  The old fighter still had that energy around him that made him so young.  Sayo was calmer, gentler, and have the ability to tame Sanosuke.  She often prayed and tended to Kenshin and Kaoru with Megumi.  It turned out that Sayo had some experience in tending to the ill and Megumi needed all the help she can get.  They get along quite well despite the strange idea that Megumi could have married Sanosuke.  Megumi shrugged that off and said that any woman who can actually make Sano pay his tab to Tae deserved to be his wife. 

She swept again and then looked out of the gate to see Yahiko and a slightly nervous Kenji following him. "Yahiko!  Kenji-chan!" Tsubame exclaimed as she dropped her broom and ran toward the two.

"I'm home." Yahiko said as he hugged his wife.  "How are Kenshin and Kaoru doing?"

Tsubame smiled slightly.  "Fine." She looked at Kenji.  "Kenji-chan, thank Kami you made it back.  I have a surprise for you."

"What's the surprise?" Yahiko asked and then a huge man came up and hugged him.

"Yahiko-chan!"

Yahiko winced at the old name and the familiar tone.  "SANO!" The young man exclaimed as he pulled himself away from the still taller man.

"The one and only." Sanosuke said as he grinned and then nodded at Kenji who was gawking.  "Hey, you must be Kenshin's kid.  You look just like him except for the hair." He came up and put Kenji in a headlock.  "Don't you dare run off again.  You have to face these things like a man." Sanosuke let go.

Kenji stared at the grinning man and asked, "Are you that Sanosuke that loves to fight and beat up politicians?"

"Yup, Sanosuke Sagara, nice to meet you." Sano said as he held out his hand.  Kenji shook it nervously.   "HEY, FOX!  YAHIKO AND KENJI ARE BACK!" The tall man bellowed causing Kenji to topple backwards.

"I know, I heard you a mile away." Megumi said as she came through the door.  "Ah, Yahiko-kun you were quick." She glanced at Kenji.  "Kenji-chan!  I haven't seen you since you were knee high." The woman said as she came up and hugged him.  "You are so tall now."

Kenji pulled away as he blushed when he felt something on his neck.  His eyes bulged when he realized that he was on a leash.  "What the hell is this?!"

"A little something to keep you from running away." Megumi replied as she smirked.

"I'm not running away." Kenji undid the collar and shook his head.  "How did my mother handle you two?"

"She is a strong woman." Sayo said as she came out carrying a laundry basket. 

"Who are you?" Kenji asked as he tried to think of anyone his mother described.  He looked at Yahiko who shrugged. 

"No idea."

"This is Sayo Sagara, my wife." Sanosuke said as he put an arm around Sayo's shoulders.

"WIFE?!  YOU'RE MARRIED?!" Yahiko's eyes bulged as he stared at her.  Sayo was a lovely looking woman, so refined and classy.  How someone like her fall for someone like Sano was beyond even his comprehension.

"Yes, we are." Sayo replied as she bowed.  "Sanosuke told me a great deal about you, Yahiko-kun."

"Please, don't call me 'kun' or 'chan'."  Yahiko said as he smiled slightly.  Then, he realized that slowly but surely, all of Kenshin's friends and family are gathering together under one roof.   They are preparing to say their final farewells. 

"You must be Kenji."

Kenji and Yahiko looked up to see Enishi leaning against the doorframe with a tea cup in his hand.  "Enishi-san, this is Kenji." Yahiko said slowly.  His heart pounded as Kenji stepped forward toward his uncle.  Kenji heard so much from his mother about the madman who kidnapped her and tried to break his father.  Enishi didn't look like a madman, but what do madmen look like?  Enishi is one of the few men who could fight the Battousai and kill him if he wanted to.

"Hello, Enishi-san." Kenji said as he bowed politely.

Enishi bowed his head.  He came up to him and whispered, "Don't try to become the Battousai.  If you do, you will make your mother cry."

"Huh?" Kenji blinked at the strange request.

The taller man grabbed his shoulder and stared at Kenji in the eyes.  Kenji gasped at the look of desperation and fear in the older man's eyes.  "Don't be stupid like your father… don't kill another… sister… just… don't kill." Enishi let go and put his hand over his eyes.  After a few moments, he regained his composure and saw Kenji staring at him. "What are you gawking at?  Hurry up and see your parents."

"Right." Kenji took a deep breath and hesitantly stepped into the dojo.  He knew he should not have run away from his mother but he did.  If he didn't see his mother or his father before they die, he cannot forgive himself.

He walked through the familiar hall and ended up in the bedroom.  Sleeping quietly in their futons were Kenshin and Kaoru.  They were thin and worn out.  Neither one looked like the vibrant parents who raised him before.  Kaoru opened her eyes and smiled, "Kenji, welcome back." She lifted her hand and nudged Kenshin's shoulder.  "Shinta, wake up, Kenji's here."

Kenshin moaned as he looked up at his son.  "Ken… ji.  So… sorry."
Kenji sighed as he bowed his head.  He wanted his father to be sorry for what he did but he knew.  "No, don't apologize.  I should apologize for not coming back sooner." He paused as he got out his sword and said, "Look, Yahiko gave me this sword."

Kenshin reached out and rested his hand onto the sheath.  "Good."

"Congratulations, Kenji." Kaoru smiled at him.  "Did you meet your uncle, Enishi?"

"Briefly, he… was interesting." Kenji said as he looked down.  Enishi was not the psycho he was brought up to believe when Yahiko told him scary stories about the former mafia leader.  Even after Yahiko carefully explained to him about Enishi on the train back, he was still stunned at meeting the man.

Kaoru reached out and took Kenji's hand.  "Listen to Enishi.  He had changed so much.  He is a good man."

"Hai, Mother.  The cherry blossoms are coming; maybe we can have a picnic like before." Kenji suggested as he remember all the picnics he had with his family when he was a little boy.   The picnics stopped when Kenshin started to travel again.

"That would be nice." Kaoru smiled again, "Enishi, Sanosuke, Megumi, Yahiko, Tsubame… it will be so nice to have everyone together again like in the old days." The woman closed her eyes and went to sleep. 

Kenji watched her breathe slowly and then looked at Kenshin who was still staring at him with the sword.  Kenshin gazed at him and then reached out.  "It's okay, Father." Kenji said as he took his father's hand and held it.  "I won't leave you."

His father smiled and then lay back to fall asleep.

An hour passed as Kenji watched his parents sleep.  He clenched his fists in anger and sorrow.  Why did his father have to come back in such a sorry state and how did his mother end up the same way?  He got up and left the bedroom.  He collapsed onto the hall and buried his head in his hands.  "Why?  Damn it, why?" He sobbed.

"I found myself asking that question for over ten years."

Kenji looked up to see Enishi standing over him.  "Enishi…san.  Why are you helping us?  I thought you hate my family."

"I hated your father, a long time ago." Enishi sighed as he sat down beside him.  "When my sister died by the Battousai's hands.  I thought of nothing but revenge.  I planned, trained my body and mind to become a vicious killer, and forged a vast empire that would make Genghis Kahn jealous just to get back at the Battousai.  I did all that to avenge my sister.  I failed and then I realized I was wrong.  Neesan never wanted me to kill him."

"You didn't answer my question.  Why are you helping them?  Does seeing them suffer make you happy?" Kenji asked bitterly.

"Of course not." Enishi shook his head.  "I cared for your parents now, especially your mother.  I don't know why I am helping but they needed help.  I promised Kaoru that I will help take care of you and I will keep my word."

Kenji stared at him.  "How powerful was my father?"

"He's very strong but Kaoru is stronger." Enishi smirked as he got up.  He reached into his pouch and handed the teenager a worn out book.  "This is my sister's journal.  She wrote about your father in these pages.  I read this journal constantly to learn about my sister, my real sister, and to find my answers.  If anyone can help you learn more about your father back when he made it rain blood, my sister can."

Kenji accepted the book and stared at the sword and the journal.  Two objects that meant a great deal to Kenshin; the sword that never killed and the journal stained with blood.  "If this belonged to your sister, don't you need it?"

"Not any more.  Don't tell anyone about this.  I don't want people to think that I had grown soft." Enishi bowed and walked away leaving Kenji alone.

*****

The cherry blossoms filled the trees as the dojo buzzed with activity.  Enishi and Sanosuke went out to get the drinks.  Tsubame was in charge of food.  Yahiko was out getting past allies together to invite to the party.  Sayo was tidying up the dojo for the guests.  Megumi was preparing Kaoru and Kenji volunteered to prepare Kenshin.  Everyone was very busy. 

Enishi and Sanosuke were walking together toward the dojo with their arms filled with drinks.  "I don't get why you need all that fancy wine?" Sanosuke said as he heaved the sake jugs over his shoulders.  "People don't drink wine on picnics they drink sake."

"Isn't sake a type of rice wine?" Enishi asked as he smirked.

Sanosuke frowned at his mistake and then shook his head.  "No way, sake is sake.  That is all to it."

"I fully agree."

The two looked up to see a tall man in a long flowing white cape coming forward with a pair of sake jugs in both hands.  "Hello, I'm Hiko Sejiro the Thirteenth.  Kenshin's mentor."

"Oh, you're that Hiko guy." Sanosuke nodded.  He heard a great deal about him but he never really got a chance to talk to him since Hiko preferred to keep to himself.  "Hi, I'm Sanosuke and this is Enishi."

"I know about you." Hiko said as he came up and studied Enishi.  "So, you were the one who were able to counter the Hiten Mitsurigi moves, especially the succession move.  No one was able to that before.  I commend you."

Sanosuke nearly fell over in shock.  He knew from Kenshin how arrogant Hiko was.  How can he compliment the man who nearly killed his student?  Still, to Hiko, someone who can actually pick out the Hiten Mitsurigi's flaws must be impressive even to the old man.

Enishi sweatdopped and then bowed.  "I only did it to defeat your student."

"I brought sake." Hiko said as he held up the jugs. 

"We are going to get very drunk at that picnic if we're not careful." Enishi muttered as he eyed the sake.

"Sake is a tradition.  It is best when your soul is at ease and everything is right in your heart." Hiko boasted.  "Now, where's Kenshin?"

"At the dojo, getting ready." Sanosuke replied as he pointed toward the building in the distance.  "I gotta warn you.  Kenshin's… he's pretty sick."

"I am aware of that." Hiko sighed as he shook his head. 

"Shinta might still remember you." Enishi pointed out, "He still remembers some names and faces."

"Shinta?" Hiko raised an eyebrow.  "You call him 'Shinta'?"

Enishi nodded firmly.  "I cannot call him anything else beside Shinta.  Kaoru calls him 'Shinta' so I felt I should call him the same way."

"Shinta… the name of the boy I took in." Hiko looked up into the sky.  "Has it been so long since I had first met him?  Oh well, I must go." Hiko strode off leaving the two behind.

Hiko walked down the street barely noticing everyone getting ready for the cherry blossom picnics.  He should have come to visit sooner but he hated people.  People kill and cause pain.  People ignore what was in front of them just because it's convenient.  He hated civilization because civilization was destined to crumble.  At least, that was he thought years ago.  Now, he wasn't sure.

*****

It was another day as a lone security guard walked down the hallway.  His hand twitched at his side like it normally did.  He wasn't allowed to carry a sword since he retired from the police force but he couldn't just sit around and drink tea all the time.  It would be boring.  The man sighed as he stopped in front of the exhibit with the pictures and the Shinsengumi uniform.

"Incredible how they honored the Shinsengumi now."

Saitou looked to see Yahiko standing there.  He could still remember the times when he was small and cocky.  Now, Yahiko was a confident man who could have made a fine addition to the Shinsengumi.  "Yes." Saitou nodded as he put a gloved hand over the picture.  "I'm surprised you know where to look for me."

"Chou told me where to look for you." Yahiko said as he looked at the picture.  "I couldn't picture you as a security guard."

"I was getting too old for the sword.  I could have become a clerk but that is not in my nature.  I don't have a need for money, the money I saved over the years could have supported me and my family but I would still be bored.  Funny, here I am an unofficial exhibit to a museum; a relic to a bloody past."

"I'm sorry." Yahiko said as he stepped forward.  "Kenshin and Kaoru are dying and… we are having a final cherry blossom picnic.  The others are joining us… including Sanosuke."

Saitou tossed his head back and laughed.  "So, that idiot decided to finally come home.  Good.  Tell that idiot that he had nothing to worry about.  There was a mysterious fire that engulfed the records department and not many people care for him anyway."

"That's a relief." Yahiko sighed.  "So, will you come?"

Saitou looked toward the picture.  "I will not visit a dying man.  I know about the disease from my sources.  His mind had worn away to virtual nothing and his body was just as bad.  I close my eyes and I see the Battousai as a young teenager fighting me in a duel to the death.  I will not see that man dying by some disease.  Not again."

"I see." Yahiko said as he frowned slightly.

"No, you don't." Saitou glared at him.  "Captain Souji Okita was a powerful Shinsengumi Captain; he was as strong as me.  He was a prodigy who was destined for great things.  Then, he got tuberculosis and withered away.   He gagged on his own blood and spent the last days of his life in bed suffocating.  I cannot watch another powerful swordsman die like that."

"No, of course not.  I understand." Yahiko bowed, "But, if you do want to stop by, the picnic is at the cherry blossom groves near the dojo this afternoon."

"Thank you." Saitou said as he bowed his head.  Yahiko walked away and Saitou looked across the hall to see a sketch of the Battousai hung on the opposite wall.  "A relic of the past."

*****

Kenji wrapped the bandages up Kenshin's right arm carefully.  He spent a great deal of time with his parents, taking care of them, feeding them, and making sure they took their medicine.  They slept more as the days passed and it ached his heart to see them in so much pain.  Around him, Kenshin tried to talk as often as he could, Megumi found it amazing that he can focus more around Kenji and Kaoru than anyone else.  It was Kenshin's strong will that was keeping at least some parts of his mind his.

"Kenji-chan."

Kenji looked up to see his old master and Sayo standing at the door.  "Shishou, you came." Kenji said as he bowed his head. 

Hiko nodded as he walked into the room and saw his former apprentice sitting in the futon.  The old man gasped at the sight.  Kenshin was wearing a light green gi with white hakama.  His hair was shorter and in a low ponytail.  His eyes were hazy and full of pain.  Before his eyes, he can see a little boy looking just like him.  "Sh-Shinta." He gasped out.  He closed his mouth.  What made him say that name?  The name he had given was 'Kenshin' but that was the name of a swordsman.  Shaking away the fear, he knelt down in front of Kenshin and whispered, "Do you remember me, idiot apprentice?"

Kenshin stared at him and stuttered, "Shi-shi-shishou?"

Hiko nodded and his hand tightened.  "Yes, Shinta, that's me.  You… you were a good fighter." He stood up and patted Kenshin's shoulder and then walked out.  As soon as he got out of the hallway, he collapsed and his cape covered his body.  Tears threatened to overwhelm him but his pride kept him from letting it take over.  "Idiot apprentice… no father should bury his son."

*****

Megumi finished brushing Kaoru's hair and helped her put it in a bun.  It was the first time that Kaoru got to go anywhere outside of the dojo and she wanted to look her best.  The doctor couldn't help but be amazed at how lovely Kaoru looked despite the illness.  "There you go." Megumi said as she did the final touches. 

"Are you decent?" Enishi asked as his silhouette appeared through the door.

"We're done.  You can come in." Megumi called out amused at Enishi's shyness. 

Hesitantly, Enishi entered the room and looked at Kaoru.  He gasped at the woman.  "Kaoru… you're beautiful." He paled and then crossed his arms.  "I mean, you look healthy."

Kaoru blushed as she put her hand to her face.  "Arigato, Enishi."

"Well, I have to check on Ken-san now.  After that, we can go to the cherry tree groves." Megumi said as she stood up, brushed her hands, and then walked out leaving Enishi and Kaoru alone.

"Did Hiko talk to you?" Enishi asked as he knelt down next to the woman who helped turned his heart.

"Only for a while.  He barely changed, he looks so strong." Kaoru sighed as she looked down.  "I am so happy that Shinta and I will see our friends here just one more time." She winced as she clutched her stomach and leaned over.

Enishi stared at her.  Kaoru had been so cheerful despite her pain and her husband's deterioration.  Shinta and Kaoru had only so much longer to live.  "Kaoru, I-" He stopped as he closed his eyes.  He wanted to tell her.  He wanted to let her know how much she meant to him and how much she changed his life.  But, he was scared, what if she rejected him or it made things awkward. 

"What is it?" Kaoru asked as she gazed at him.  "Are you all right?"

Enishi looked at the bandages peeking out of Kaoru's sleeves.  As much as he wanted to deny it, it might not matter how awkward she may feel right now.  "Would it hurt you to say that I love you?"

The woman shook her head and placed her hand on Enishi's cheek.  "It feels good to be loved by others."

"Even if you cannot return that love?" Enishi asked.

"You will find someone just for you." Kaoru comforted gently, "There is someone you can love and she can love you back.  Believe in yourself, Enishi."

"It's hard to do but for you I'll try." Enishi said as he put his hand over hers.  

Megumi sighed as she stepped away from the walls.  She should not have been spying but she just heard him.  Everyone else besides Kenshin and Kaoru knew about Enishi's feelings towards Kaoru.  The way he talked to her, the way he looked at her when she was not looking, and even the way he spoke her name was different than how he treated everyone else.  Kaoru was so lucky to have two men who loved her. 

Megumi stared at the reverse blade sword sitting alone in the corner.  She knew how Enishi felt.  She longed for Kenshin to be available to her.  From the moment she saw him, all she wanted was to keep her to herself.  Unfortunately, she cannot take a man whose heart belonged to someone else.  Enishi was so brave to admit his love to a dying woman who can never loved him back.  She wished she had the same courage to tell Kenshin how much he still meant to her. 

"You know, if you keep on staring out like that, you'll drool." Sanosuke said as he came up and leaned against a wall. 

Megumi scowled as she crossed her arms.  "I was not going to drool."

Sanosuke stared at her and finally he said, "You know, Kenshin's not going to last much longer."

"I know that.  I'm his doctor." Megumi quipped. 

Sanosuke shrugged like he normally did and tilted his head toward Kaoru's room.  "You know, Enishi has a lot of guts telling Jou-chan how he felt.  He caused a lot of pain for them and it's pretty awkward but he still did it.  Maybe, you should do the same after all, have you ever told him how you feel?"

Megumi's jaw dropped at the speech.  How can this idiot sound so poetic and smart?  He had grown up.  The woman tightened her fists and marched down the hallway.  It was time that she faces her fears once and for all before it's too late.

She went into the room to see Kenshin sitting in his futon like he normally did.  He looked up at her with half glazed eyes.  As a doctor, she knew that he was delusional and might not know what is going on right now but as a human, she was hopeful that Kenshin would have some idea of what she will say.  "Ken-san?" Megumi said as she knelt down beside him and then took his hand.  "Kenshin, you're everything to me.  I want to live my life to the fullest like you had.  I wish I could spend my life with you but… I can't.  I love you, Ken-san, I'll always will."

The woman stiffened up as she fought the urge to cry.  "Damn it." She muttered as her frame shook from pent up emotion.

"D-don't cr-cry." Kenshin whispered as he put his hand onto her shoulder.  "Pl-pl-please."

Megumi grabbed him and held him in her arms.  She smiled slightly.  "You always want others to be happy."

*****

Enishi sat on the porch as Megumi got outside.  The woman sat down next to the man.  "I see you told him." Enishi said softly as he stared at the sun.

"And you told her."

The two sat in silence.  Finally, Enishi said, "Do you regret it?"

"Not at all.  You?"

"No regrets."

"We have to get ready for the picnic.  It has to be perfect."

"Exactly."

Megumi's eyes watered up as she bowed her head and covered her face with her hands.  Enishi stared at her and finally put his arm around her shoulders.

To Be Continued…