Mirrors of the past and future
AN: Well, here we are! The final chapter… although I'm a bit blue after seeing that no one has reviewed this story, unlike when I first posted it… oh well… can't win 'em all…. Here we go… final chapter…
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Chapter 13: Remembrances: past and future – the finaleYuki opened and eyes and stretched languidly on the soft mattress, her eyes resting on a certain red head sleeping comfortably beside her. She smiled and kissed him lightly on his forehead. Slowly moving out of the bed to make sure that she doesn't wake him up, she tip-toed quietly out their room and out to the kitchen. Breathing deeply, she savored the crisp morning air that surrounded her and the welcoming view of the early morning scene of Tokyo.
She braced her arms on the rails of the balcony and smiled as she looked up at the morning sky. She chuckled when she felt someone embrace her from the back.
"Ohayou, Shinta…" she whispered, still with her eyes closed
The red head laughed gently and nuzzled her neck. "Ohayou, Yuki-channn… what are you thinking about?" he whispered to her ear as he rested his chin on the crook of her shoulder.
She smiled, "Oh, nothing… I was just thinking about our ancestors…how they were right now and if Kaoru-san has now found the letter that I left back home in the secret compartment at the dojo…"
Amethyst eyes blinked up at her face, "You left something back there? But we were gone in an instant, you couldn't have had the chance to leave something behind unless…"
Yuki chuckled, "Hai… I had the feeling that we've already done what we were supposed to do, so I decided to write a letter to Kaoru-san and hide it at the dojo where she could find it at the most appropriate time."
"Demo, I thought you didn't know why we were sent there… even I still don't know why…" he told her as he scratched his head confusedly
Yuki merely smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. Turning to face him, she told him of what she thought was the reason why they were brought back in time. After her explanation, Shinta could only laugh in answer as he realized what it meant. Destiny sure has a funny way to make sure things fall into place where it should be.
"Wait here…" she told him before she went inside their room. Returning to his a while later, Shinta raised an eyebrow in question as he saw the faded worn out journal in her hands. Hugging her snuggly to his form, he enjoyed the feeling of comfort of having her with him and closed his eyes.
"Why did you bring that out, koishii…" he whispered in her ear
"Mmmm, I just want to read the part where Kaoru-san found the secret compartment…"
Shinta looked at her and saw the twinkle in her eye, he merely shook his head and chuckled. Holding her frame closer to his, he listened as she read what happened that day at the Kamiya Dojo when Kaoru found the secret compartment…
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"Kaoru-koishii, what are you doing?"
Kaoru looked up at her husband from her task and chuckled. She looked at the wall before her and chuckled. "Genzai-sensei just gave me this notebook and told me that it belonged to my mother. He told me that it took him this long to give it to me because it was with direct orders from my mother that I was only to receive this notebook only when I have found a suitable husband that I truly love."
"Aa… wakatta, demo…" he eyed her skeptically, "I was hoping you could also tell sessha what in the world are you doing there, koishii?"
Her face brightened considerably before she answered her husband of two weeks now. "Okaasan told me that there is a secret compartment here in the dojo. She told me in her journal that it is where she kept all things important and close to her heart."
"Aa…" Kenshin nodded and helped Kaoru search for the hidden compartment and grinned when his hands knocked on the hollow wood of the dojo floor. "Yatta! I think sessha has found it, koishii!"
Kaoru bubbled with delight as she scrambled to kneel beside him, playing with the folds of her kimono as she tried to pry the wooden boards open. Her face brightened as he managed to open it just a bit and as the compartment opened, Kaoru held her breath as Kenshin slowly removed the contents of the compartment. The first one was a metallic box with engravings all over it, it was covered with dust suggesting that it was hidden for quite some time now. The second was a small wooden box with a lock on top. Next came several kimono's and a small box. As Kenshin brought out the last, he was surprised that the box practically free of dust… as if… "Kaoru… look at this box…" presenting her the small box, Kaoru tilted her head in question as to why Kenshin would present to her this specific box. "Look at it Kaoru…" he urged her. "Don't you think it's strange that all the other items her have been covered with dust, that one seems pretty new… as if…." He trailed off as he looked at his wife
"As if someone has just placed it in here…" she finished for him. As she removed the ties that closed the box, she slowly lifted the cover and blinked at the letter placed in the middle of the box as she took it out, he read it out loud for Kenshin to hear…
Dear Kaoru-san,
Hello! I guess by now you have found the hidden compartment, ne? And I'm sure that as you are reading this, we have already been thrown back to our time and that you are now happily married to Kenshin-san. I guess you're surprised that I managed to hide this letter in here when I didn't even know when we will be taken back to our own time, well I guess this is the time for me to explain.
I didn't really know when we will be able to return, but somehow, something was telling me that we have already done what we were supposed to do there in your time. I'm not really sure, but I think we were sent back in your time because we were needed to help you in pursuing your relationship with Kenshin-san. Weird ne? Anyway, I think you and Kenshin-san were just in need of a much-needed push in right direction, and Shinta and I were just the ones to do it. Our easy companionship was sure to make Kenshin-san realize what you really mean to him, ne? I really don't know, but when you and Kenshin-san finally became a couple, I had the feeling that our time with you was almost up. As for the others appearance here in your time… I have no idea. (laughs)
I just wrote to tell you that I really enjoyed our stay there with you, it was really an honor to have met and befriended our ancestors… a feat that I'm sure no one has ever done in their entire lives. I couldn't reveal much of what is to happen but all I can say is that you and Kenshin-san will finally find the happiness that the two of you deserved after all your hardships.
I left a tiny reminder of our stay there with you and wish that you will finally have the peace that you and your husband have been searching for all your lives. I could offer no counsel to you but only a reminder, Tomoe-san has been the sheath to your husband's madness as a hitokiri… but you have brought him his life back by believing in him where no one dared to believe in him, even himself. You two have no comparison but has a unique reason for his life, bring him happiness Kaoru-san… be his light as I will do the same to this lovable idiot that I am tied to now. No matter what happens… do not let him go.
Take care and may Kami shine his blessings on you and your family forever, and congratulations again to your wedding!
Yuki KamiyaTears came unbidden to Kaoru's eyes as she read the letter, eyeing the small paper enclosed with the letter, Kaoru gasped as she saw a picture of the entire Kenshin-gumi with their future counterparts each in their own clothing. Kenshin came near her and peered at the paper in her hands, he smiled as he saw the sketched portrait of their family.
"Yuki-chan left us a very beautiful remembrance of their stay here, didn't she koishii?"
Kaoru only smiled and leaned back in his embrace. Looking at the rest of the things hidden in the compartment, her eyes filled with tears as she saw the kimono her mother wore on her wedding day, on the locked box, Kaoru found her mother's precious necklace hidden inside, along with other precious jewelry and heirloom. As Kaoru reached inside the compartment to make sure that Kenshin hasn't left anything out, her eyes widened as her fingers brushed against something hard at the very end of the compartment, struggling to pull it out, Kaoru gasped when she realized that she was holding a sword covered in cloth in her hands. As she removed the cloth, a letter fell from it. Slowly replacing the sword on her lap, Kaoru read the letter and gasped when she realized that the sword came from her father.
Dearest Hime-chan,
By now, I guess I am no longer with you but another man stands by your side loving and protecting you as I did all my life. Whoever he is, I believe he is worthy enough to be by your side forever if you had managed to look into his soul as much as you always did with others. I hope that you haven't changed a bit my hime-chan, your innocence and love for life is what we need in this new world, your strength and courage will teach others what they need to survive. Protect those you love… the main ideal of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Carry it in your heart as I and your okaasan did, I have no regrets in my life Kaoru. The only thing I regret is not to be by your side as you grow to be the woman I believe you are today. Whatever happens, believe in your heart that me and you mother will always be proud of you no matter what.
The last two hidden in the compartment may help you get through with your new life, although this first one you might wonder why, I leave this sword in your possession, Kaoru… to further strengthen our ideal to protect life and those you love. Use it wisely my child and use it well, I had acquired that sword from a friend of mine before he died, he only made three of that beautiful sword. The first he gave to someone who had been a hitokiri once but changed and decided to disappear and become a wanderer, the other he gave to his only son, and the third, he gave to your mother as a gift to our wedding.
As for the man who is lucky enough to capture the heart of my little princess, take care of her well… keep her safe by your side and make her happy, for a strong, courageous girl that she is, she has been through a tough life. A child who lost her mother at an early age, and was only left with a father that could only teach her the rules of fighting… she grew up not knowing what it really is to be a lady. Teach her the joys of life and the beauty that she is as a woman and if you can do all of these, then may Kami shine his blessings on the two of you for as long as you live.
Kaoru-chan, take care my child and remember, we will always be here for you and that your mother and I loved you dearly…
'tousan
Grasping the hilt of the sword with shaking fingers, Kaoru unsheathed the sword and gasped out loud when she saw just what kind of sword it really was. Kenshin's eyes widened as he listened to the words Kaoru's father told her in the letter… especially with the origin of the sword. Someone who had been a hitokiri once but changed and decided to disappear and become a wanderer? That sounded just like him, the other he gave to his only son… he sweatdropped. Oro.. now he remembers…
Kaoru looked at him when she heard his oro she looked at him questioningly, then her sapphire eyes gleaming in realization as to his slight oro. She laughed, "Kenshin! Don't tell me that you were that hitokiri turned rurouni my 'tousan was talking about?"
Kenshin could only chuckle in response, "I guess you could say that, koishii…"
She looked at him and at the sword in her hands, "Your first sword broke… then that means that's second sword, the sword which belonged to his son…" Kenshin could only nod, "And now you have the third piece, koishii…"
Kaoru smiled brightly up at him, leaning down, she groped in the compartment until her fingers brushed another box, slowly pulling the box out from its place, her eyed Kenshin questioningly when she tried to lift the box.
"Heavy."
The former hitokiri leaned forward and gripped the box and lifted it from its place, puzzled he looked at it. "It is heavy, koishii…"
Opening the lid, Kaoru gasped when she saw what was inside, she hugged Kenshin and mentally thanked her parents thoughtfulness. Looking at the box, Kenshin could only laugh at loud. The box contained of money. Enough for him and Kaoru to get a head start in their newly married life and enough to keep them settled without any of them ever worrying of money for the next five years or so.
Thank you okaasan, otousan… thank you Yuki…000000000000000000000000
Closing the journal in her hands, Yuki grinned happily at he fiancé. "So, what happens now, Shinta?" she whispered as she hugged him back.
"We, get back to our lives… meaning, you go back to that stuffy office of yours and I get to irritate you again by being your shadow bodyguard." He told her before flicking a finger on her nose.
Pouting cutely at him, she was about to tease him when she remembered something. She gasped as she shrugged out of her embrace and ran towards the dojo surprising everyone she passed.
"What the heck is with her?!" Hiko-chan grumbled out loud as Yuki whizzed by him.
Shinta could only shrug and follow her towards the dojo with Hiko-chan behind him. Upon entering the dojo, Shinta and Hiko-chan looked curiously at Yuki. Before Hiko-chan could ask her, she lifted her head and smiled warmly at them.
"She left us a remembrance…" she whispered
Curious, the two came forward and looked at the picture Yuki held out to them. The same picture that she left almost a hundred years ago. With the picture was an enclosed letter with her name on top.
To Yuki Kamiya: 6th descendant of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and grand child of Kamiya Kaoru. To be opened only on November 15, 2003.
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It has already been a week when she had seen the letter from Kaoru, and a day after her wedding with Shinta. Now, Yuki stood in front of two gravestones and laid a bouquet of flowers on each tombstone.
Himura Kenshin
The most legendary swordsman that has ever lived, "Hitokiri Battousai"
Last direct successor of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu
"To protect the weak and uphold the peace that the people have longed for… that is my wish
That is my mission…"
Himura Kaoru
Last descendant of the Kamiya family
Kenjutsu Shihondai of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu
Wife of Himura Kenshin
"Protect the ones you love…
With a smile it can brighten the darkest souls and melt the coldest of hearts..."
"The pillar of our family, the light of an assassins dark soul…
You shall forever be remembered."
Smiling at the engraved words, Yuki closed her eyes as she gave her respects of her ancestors. Holding the letter in her hand she smiled as she remembered its contents…
Dearest Yuki-chan,
How are you little one? I guess you've now found out that I myself left a letter for you before I passed away. I would like to thank you for what you have told me. About me and Tomoe-san, and about me not letting go of Kenshin. I understood what you meant only after I let Kenshin go to help the oppressed even when there is nothing he could do about it. I urged him to stay and not go after his first departure, despite his reasons, I didn't let him go and thank Kami that he listened to me. Now, I realized that if I had let him go, I wouldn't have had a happy life with him. That he wouldn't see our son grow up. I thank you for your timely warning. Kenji now has a girlfriend and would you believe that he chose someone who resembles me of all people! Kenshin could only shake his head in disbelief every time he saw our son with his girlfriend. I do not care anyway… all I want is for them to be happy. Especially Kenshin… his cross scar has now disappeared and he told me that his happiness with us was the reason. Megumi married Sano after six years when he first left Japan. Yahiko and Tsubame are also happily married, including Misao and Aoshi. I know you already know this, yet I still want to tell it to you my self. I hope all of you can experience the joys and happiness that we have experience all these years. Kenshin sends his regards to all of you, so does the others.
Take Care and continue to be strong, never give up. Protect those you love, Yuki. Uphold the ideals of the Kamiya Kasshin within your heart. Make him happy as well, Yuki-chan…
Kaoru Himura
Standing beside her husband, Yuki leaned her head as she looked up at the sky. "Thank you Kaoru-san, Kenshin-san… I hope you're happy… wherever you may be…" Shinta smiled kissed the top of her head before they left grave of their ancestors and walked back to their waiting friends.
Back at the dojo, sunshine glimmered at the old portrait of the Kenshin-gumi and their grandchildren.
Past and Future, we are one and the same, bound forever in an interlocking chain of life…
owari