Spanish: hijo=son, Hermano=Brother, bruja=witch, Muer=Dead,
Glossary: Zabuton=Floor Cushion for setting/kneeling, Honto=Truth,
Note the translations, they are set apart with ( ), and then note that Soujiro takes over translation. This is for both Kenshin's and Christian's benefit and well as your's (the readers.) This was a very difficult chapter to write. Trying to integrate the two languages while keeping the integrity of both without losing the train of thought and the flow of conversation was a ..... well, it was dang hard!. I think I rewrote this dang thing at least four times. I hope this version works. My Kami-sama help this unworthy one.... as well as my new beta reader...Nigihayami Haruko. God Bless Haruko-san. :)
Haruko: hellow! I'm pretty new to this 'beta' business, so please cut me some slack k? I'm also trying my best to keep to the original storyline and not deviate from Tsuki-sama's wonderful 'style' so do let me know if I've done anything wrong alright? Alrighty, Haruko signing out!
Chapter Nine
The Becoming of The Warrior of Truth
After the 'Incident', Kaoru and Tokio ushered everyone out of the room who did not need to be there, and when they were finished, the only ones remaining were Kenshin, Hiko, Yahiko, Soujiro, Christian, and Kenji. Saitou had moved a good distance away from the family, but had
remained just in case something untoward occurred. He was still not willing to trust this young Spaniard even if he was Kenshin's son. He was also that bloody witch's son as well, and there was something about him that just did not sit right with the old Shinsingumi Wolf. So he maintained his watchful vigil over the group of men as they began to talk.
"Chri-stan, there are things you want to know?" Kenshin looked gently at his emotionally distraught son with warm comforting violet eyes and reached out to rest a hand on his arm. "Ask me, and I will try to tell you what I know."
"Me speak bad, Otou." Christian shook his head in dismay. "Hard to speak thing... no words. I hearing better than speaking."
"I know," Kenshin said slowly. "Perhaps it would be helpful if we tried speaking in YOUR language instead of mine? Yes?"
Christian's head shot up and he stared at Kenshin's face in shock. "You speak my words, Otou?"
"Some, I was better at it many years ago, but perhaps with a little practice..." He smiled in a self mocking manner and shrugged for his son's benefit and was pleased to see Christian smile. It was the same smile he shared with Kenji.
"I did not know you spoke Spanish, Otou?" Soujiro looked at Kenshin quizzically as did Yahiko and every other member of the circle.
"It has been many years since I have. Since I was with... "
"Since you were with HER?" Yahiko's voice was dry and flat as he deftly refereed to Elsbeth without mentioning her name.
"Hai... since then. I am probably very bad at it by now, but there was a time when I was very good." He grinned and laughed. "I guess we shall see." He turned back to Christian and took a deep breath. "Say something to me, and I will try to say something back. All right?" Christian smiled and nodded. For some reason, this seemed very amusing to him.
"I would like to ask you some very personal questions, Father."
Kenshin looked hard into his son's face as he concentrated on the foreign words, and slowly the meanings of several began to come back to him. "Ask questions?" He repeated awkwardly.
"Si." Christian's smile grew wider and he signaled his Father to continue.
"Does anyone else speak any Spanish?" Yahiko looked around the circle, and when his eyes fell on Soujiro, his brother nodded slightly.
"I know a fair amount... enough to get me by when I went to Spain to buy and sell merchandise, and procure whatever else I need."
"Then maybe you can act as interpreter for the rest of us while these two TRY to talk." Yahiko grinned into his Father's unamused face and offered a wink but no apology.
"Be quiet, Raion, before I help you be quiet." Kenshin growled, but Yahiko just chuckled in the face of his Father's displeasure; however, he did keep the rest of his comments to himself after
that.
'All right,' Kenshin thought to himself as he readjusted his aching body on his Zabuton, 'I can do this, I just have to concentrate. That is all, just concentrate.' He turned to face Christian again training his eyes with direct intensity into the dark blue pools of his son's and then nodded for him to continue.
"Ask me."
Christian had waited for this moment for more than 15 years, and now that it was upon him, he did not know where to begin. His mind had gone completely blank, so he was forced to set for several long seconds before he was able to gather his scattered thoughts into a semblance of order.
"Father," He began in a low respectful voice, "I wish to know if you loved my Mother?" It was somewhere to start, but he may as well have dropped a bombshell on Kenshin as ask him that particular question.
"Did me amo su Madre?" Kenshin's voice was heavy with shock and his face looked as if he had eaten something that tasted very bad. Anxiously his eyes darted to those of his own Father, and he found that the look on Hiko's face was not much better than that of his own after he finished hearing Soujiro's translation. 'What can I tell him? Dear Kami, what can I tell him?' Tell him the truth, something deep inside of him seemed to say. Tell him the truth, he deserves nothing less
so Kenshin squared his slender shoulders and took another deep breath and faced his son again.
"Chri-stan, usted Madre y le..." He struggled to search his brain for the words he wanted but they eluded him. In frustration he switched to Japanese for the moment. "Your Mother and I... we loved each other very much... at that time." Soujiro tried to relay Kenshin's meaning to the confused young Spaniard, and Christian's brows drew together as he absorbed that benign piece of information, however; he could not help but feel like his Father was keeping something from him - Something of great importance.
"Is it true my Mother never told you about me?" Soujiro translated.
"Si."
"Is it true you would have come for me if you had known?"
"Si, me hijo. A Habria venido para usted si tenia." Kenshin managed on his own. (Yes, my son. I would have come for you if I had.)
"And would you have loved me just because I was your son, no matter what my Mother had done to you?"
"Si, Chri-stan. Tendria le ame', Mi Hijo." Again, Kenshin was able to speak for himself. (Yes, Chri-stan, I would have loved you, my son.)
Christian sat for a long moment with his head lowered and his hands clasped loosely in his lap. He made no movements nor was a sound uttered, and as the seconds ticked away, Kenji turned a worried look in his father's direction. Kenshin met the clear aqua-blue gaze and shook his head in confusion, so they both simply waited, and when, at last, Christian spoke, his question rocked the Clan-Himura to the very core of its soul.
"Where is my Mother? Is she really dead as I believe her to be?"
"Muer? Who told you?" In his shock, Kenshin shifted back into part Japanese as he stared at Christian's bent head.
"No one told me. When I was a boy, I felt her die. At least that is what I thought I felt." Soujiro had to translate the complex sentence pattern.
"You felt her die? How?" Kenji reached over to touch his brother but stopped just short of actual physical contact as he was not quite sure what would happen if he did. Soujiro translated for Kenji.
"It is in our blood. The blood of the de'Angeles." He also translated for Christian so that he could speak to his brother.
"It is Bruja blood." Kenshin spoke softly and Christian's head shot up locking his dark blue pools of shifting liquid cobalt with his fathers glittering violet crystals.
"How do you know THAT?" He rasped. "No one ever knew THAT about the family... How can YOU know that?" A strange shadow passed over his handsome features and Christian's eyes began to take on an eerie incandescent glow of radiant indigo even as his Ki began to register a
malevolent fury which threatened to burst from the confines of his soul. 'What is happening to you, My Son?' Kenshin's eyes narrowed in defensive concern as he detected the dramatic dangerous shift of emotions within his powerfully gifted son.
"Know mucho usted de Madre, Chri-stan." Kenshin spoke without needing Soujiro's assistance once more. (Know much of your Mother, Chri-stan.)
"What do you know? Tell me what you know?" The anguished desperation in his voice nearly broke Kenshin's heart as did the painful look of grief on his face. At that same moment, he felt the massive fury and anger that had been growing at such an alarming rate within Christian suddenly disappear beneath the weight of his overwhelming need to know the truth. Had it not been Kuumi who had said that Christian told her he had never known his Mother, and that someone besides Elsbeth had raised him? He had never even seen so much as her face in all of his life. Kenshin was at a loss as to what to do. How could he tell this young man the horror his Mother had become? And how could he tell him that it was his own hands that had taken her life? The ache in Kenshin's heart grew as his dilemma became insurmountable.
"Tell me, Father... Please... please, tell me."
"No... I cannot." Kenshin looked away from the pained entreaty in Christian's eyes, and swallowed hard against the lump that rose in his throat.
"Why? Why you no speak me?" Christian reached out and grasped Kenshin's arm forcing the torn man to look at him. "Why, Otousan? Why?" He asked in Japanese as he tried everything he knew to coax a Father whose resolve was and personal strength and honor were unknown to him.
"Chri-stan, some things are not meant to be known. Please do not ask me this thing." Kenshin bent into his son and rested his forehead on Christian's hair. "I am begging you. Do not ask this thing of me."
"You know who dead Me Okaasan? Hai?"
"Onegai, Aisoka, but do not ask me. Stop... do not ask me."
"You know... speak me, Otousan. Speak me. I need know... Is Me right knowing. Speak me, Otousan. Onegai, Onegai..."
"I-I cannot... Dear God in heaven," Kenshin cried in anxiety against his son's thick chestnut hair. "Onegai, Chri-stan... In the name of all that is Holy in this world, do not do this to me... to us."
"You love me, Otousan? Hai?" Lifting his tear stained face up he stared into his Father's stricken face, but he was unable to withdraw his plea. "You love me?"
"Hai... I love you, Aisoka."
"Speak me... you love me, speak me... Onegai." At that point, Kenshin knew he was defeated, and he felt a kind of heaviness within his heart and soul that he had not felt since his rurouni days and it brought tears of sorrow to his eyes. 'Help me, God...'; He whispered deep within his spirit self, and then he sent out a cry of pain and need to the one he depended on the most.
'Kaoru! Help me! I need you, Saiai... I need you... KAORU!'
Kaoru, Tokio, Kuumi, and Quii were setting in the farthest backroom away from the male congregation at the front of the house, but it was doing nothing to alleviate her worry or sense that something terrible was about to happen. So when Kenshin's Ki came screaming down the narrow hallway and clamored over her like a clinging squalling child, it did not take her but an instant to make the choice. She was on her feet and out the fusuma before Tokio or the girls could even ask
what was going on.
'Kenshin. What is wrong, Koishii? Why are you so upset? Why are you in so much pain, Saiai? What has happened to you?' The thoughts raced through her head faster than her feet could carry her, but the foremost thought in her head was that her beloved was in terrible pain and he needed her. Kaoru reached deep down within herself and pulled on the special part of her soul that was so closely attached to her husband, and rolling it into a tight ball of hot sweet energy, threw it
ahead of her aiming for Kenshin's distraught heart in hopes of offering him some peace and comfort before she could get there.
Just as he was about to give in to the horrible despair, Kenshin felt it. It descended over him like a blanket of pure warmth, and he could feel his agonized soul snuggling into the comfort of the love and peace Kaoru's Ki was offering him. The calming effect she always had on him slipped along his nerves and flowed through his muscles easing the tension and allowed him to think clearly once more, and it gave Kenshin the opportunity to try and choose his words before speaking to Christian. A long mental sigh of relief and gratitude filled his spirit as he basked in the glory of his wife's love and devotion to him. 'Thank-you, Saiai.' He whispered in a much more controlled state of
mind as he continued to allow her energy to soothe him. 'Thank-you, my beloved Angel.' And then he felt the physical touch of her as a fragile hand came to rest on his bent shoulders, and then moved to gently massage the tense muscles of his neck.
"Kaoru." He breathed softly and raised up to find her dark blue eyes looking at him in deep concern. He touched her soft cheek and then leaned over to rest his forehead against hers. "Thank-you, Saiai. Thank-you for hearing me."
"Oh Kenshin." Her hands rubbed his shoulders in worry as she felt the deep pain unfurling within his heart. "What is wrong, Koishii?"
"It is time to face the reckoning of my soul, Saiai."
"What?" Her face was filled with confusion as she looked at his pale drawn features. "What do you mean, 'the reckoning of your soul'?"
"It is time to face my past and speak the terrible truths upon the ears of the innocent... come what may. Gods help me."
"Kenshin." Suddenly she understood what he meant, and Kaoru could feel the terrible pain he was suffering as if it were her own. "Don't do this." She pleaded with him. "You do not have to do this. There has to be another way. There must be."
"There is not." He looked so weary to her that he suddenly seemed every bit of his 47 years plus some he had yet to earn. "He is right. It is his right to know what happened, and it is my responsibility to tell him whatever the consequences. I only ask one thing of you, Koishii."
"What, Kenshin? I will do whatever you ask of me, Saiai. Tell me and I will do it." Her frantically worried eyes caressed his face as her hands cupped his pale cheeks.
"Stay with me." He whispered almost inaudibly. "Do not leave me to do this all alone."
Her eyes grew huge in her face, and she leaned forward and tenderly pressed a soft kiss against his cold lips. "I will." She breathed back. "I will, Kenshin."
"Hold my hand, Kaoru... and do not let go." He was trembling as he grasped her hand in his and his troubled eyes locked with hers.
"I will not let go, Kenshin. I promise." And she moved so she was kneeling right next to him. "I won't ever let go, Saiai. Not ever."
Kenshin and Kaoru sat closely together for several long moments, foreheads pressed together, hands gripping each other, and the vibrant essence of their living Ki's bonding and intermixing as Kenshin drew upon his Beloved's great strength and fortitude to help him through the difficult task that lay before him.
It was time to tell Christian what had become of his Mother. It was time to tell the son he never knew that his Mother had been a servant of Evil unlike any he could even imagine, and that she was responsible for the deaths of perhaps hundreds of innocent children who had been horribly sacrificed for her own demonic purposes. And, it was time to tell that same son that it was his hand and his sword that had taken her life, and that given the same circumstance, he would do it again for he felt no remorse, no guilt and no regret. He was The White Warrior, and it had been his destiny to do the things that had occurred that one terrible night, and one of those things were to kill the Devil's Destroying Angel... Elsbeth Katsura.
"I am ready," Kenshin spoke in a voice soft as a spring breeze caressing the heads of dandelions in the meadow. "It is time. I can wait no longer." His sad violet eyes drank in the warmth and love that shone and burned with life in his beautiful Wife's dark blue eyes. "Aishiteru, My Aijou."
"Aishiteru, Saiai-Kenshin. We can do this. Together we can do anything. Remember?" She smiled and he felt sunshine burst open within his heart and warm the coldness of his agonized soul.
"Yes, Saiai-Kaoru. I remember." He smiled back, but it was still a sad smile. Squeezing her hands once more, he lifted one to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss against the soft palm, and then, while still holding it tight in his grasp, Kenshin turned to face his waiting son.
He turned to face what could very possibly be the last moments he would share with Christian.
How ironic it seemed. To suddenly be gifted with the long forgotten son Elsbeth had hidden from his all these years, only to lose him in the same breath because of the same Woman's vicious evil and inescapable consequence.
'God can be very cruel,' Kenshin thought. 'I almost wish Christian had not come to me at all. The pain of losing him now... it will be the worst pain I have suffered for many long years. Help me, Kami-sama. Make me strong enough to bear this loss. Bring me peace and the tranquility I will need to endure this pain. This I beg of you, Great Kami-sama. Please, Help Me.'
"Chri-stan," He began ever so slowly in a voice filled with regret, sorrow, and despair. "I do not have enough Spanish to tell you what needs to be said. Perhaps Your Hermano can help us. I believe his words are more than mine." Kenshin looked beseechingly at Soujiro who nodded his acceptance of the task and rose from his place in the circle and moved to set down beside his father.
"Thank-you, Soujiro-Sochi."
"You are welcome, Otousan. I will do my best. I understand how difficult this is going to be, and... I think I understand also why you are so sad."
"Do you?"
"Yes. You are afraid this man is going to turn away from you once he learns the truth about his Mother, aren't you? You are afraid he will not understand why things had to be done the way they were, and he is going to despise you for taking his mother's life despite the absolute necessity for it. You are afraid you are going to lose him in the same moment of glory you found him in."
"Hai... You see much with your radiant eyes, Seta Soujiro. I had forgotten how deeply you could see into my soul when you choose to look."
"Forgive me if I have offended you, Otousan."
"You have not offended. I am glad you can see... this time. I am not bearing this pain and worry very well on my own. It was so easy to reach out and immediately love him... just like it was with you that day, and with Kenji and Yahiko as well. It was simple... and the most natural thing to do. It will be hard to let go and lose it."
"I understand, Otousan. Truly, I do. I will be here with you, and Okaa is here with you. You are not alone. You have stood for so long and let all of us lean on you through the difficult times in our lives... now it is our turn to be here for you to lean on us as you travel the path of this painful time. We are here, Otousan."
"Arigato, My Son, arigato. Let us begin." Once more Kenshin turned to look deep into the waiting eyes of his son. The pain that was already in his heart began to grow as he drank in the handsome features that were so much like his own. 'I may never see you again, Aisoka. I pray that my mind can memorize every detail of your beautiful face.'
"Chri-stan, Soujiro is going to try and speak my words to you in your language as I say them. Do you understand? Then he will say to me what you speak back."
Christian looked at Soujiro with apprehension and mild skepticism. "He will tell Honto?" His voice was tinged with disbelief.
"Hai, trust him. He will not speak you falsely."
"Si," He nodded in acquiescence, and faced his father in expectation. In his poor Japanese, he addressed Kenshin in a quiet contrite voice. "Yousha, Otousan. I no mean make bad thing. I need
know things. I need..." He struggled to find a word, and in frustration fell into Spanish. "I need a past, I need a life." Soujiro did his best to translate the few words, and Kenshin's eyes closed in painful repose as he accepted what must come to pass.
"I understand," He spoke softly in a voice that sounded more like a feeble old man than the vibrant Samurai he had been, or the fiercely protective Husband and Father he had become. He turned to Yahiko and reached a trembling hand out to him. "Give me my sakobatou, Raion."
Yahiko's head pulled back in shocked surprise at the strange request, but the terrible despair he saw in his beloved Father's eyes prompted him to pull the reverse blade from his belt and respectfully handed it to the red-haired Samurai with bowed head. "Hai, my Aisoku." Kenshin bowed in return. "Arigato."
Christen was beginning to feel very uncomfortable. Something was very, very wrong with this situation, and it was escalating by the moment. Why were his Father and Brother's acting as if this were the end of the world? Christian felt as if he were walking down a path leading to his own death, yet there was nothing he could do to stop it because he did not know what demons or monster he may have to face with his Fathers' words. All he did know was that. His new, wonderful Father was acting in the strangest manner. He was acting as if this was the last time they would ever be together, the last time they would ever see each other, and the last time they would ever want to be together. Christian began to feel afraid. Perhaps knowing what had happened to his Mother was not as important as he thought, yet he could not back away from the terrible yearning of wanting to know.
Kenshin gently took the katana in his hands and in a flourish, deftly removed the long shining blade from its sheath. Holding the blade at a perfectly flat angle in front of him, he carefully placed the empty sheath on the floor next to his left thigh, and then he placed the palm of his left-hand flat beneath the blade thus supporting the weapon equally on both ends. With great reverence, respect, and utmost dignity Kenshin slowly lowered the sakobatou to the floor in front of him and laid it down without making a single sound. He sat up with his back straight, palms together in front of his chest, head bent, eyes closed, and then Himura Kenshin spoke. The voice his family heard uttered from his lips was one of quiet acceptance. It was the voice of a man who had at last accepted his fate without question, without fear, without guile. It was the bland almost detached voice of deep resignation to ones fate. It was the voice of ultimate sadness. Himura Kenshin was giving up his life for the life of his son.
"Himura Chri-stan, by my position in this life as your Father, and by our connection of blood and spirit I am bound by The Code of The Warrior, The Bushido, The Shin, to be truthful. As a Samurai, I am bound to The Bushido even as I am bound to my sakobatou, and my warrior's blood will not allow me to hide the truth from the one who asks in order to protect him or me." Kenshin lowered his hands and rested them as loose fists on his thighs, and then, taking a great cleansing breath of air, he raised his head and locked the anguished-hardened gazed of his amber-gold eyes with the confused deed purple-blue eyes of his bewildered son.
As Kenshin had spoken, Soujiro had done his best to translate and explain to Christian what he was saying, and as his warm cultured voice touched the heart and mind of the young Spaniard, he began to tremble with conflicting emotions. He did not understand why such a big fuss was being made over this thing he had asked. He did not understand why everything was suddenly being treated with such formal and traditional mannerisms. The feelings that he was walking the path of his own demise continued to grow, and when his Father looked at him with his demonish golden eyes, Christian felt as if his world were about to end.
"Mon Dios, Su magia?" He whispered in fear as he indicated Kenshin eyes with a shaky hand. Soujiro told Kenshin that Christian thought he was performing some sort of magic to make his eyes change color.
"No, no magic. It is the essence of the spirit of my Warrior's soul. It is the power of my fighting Ki. It is the purest manifestation of my inner-self." Once more Soujiro did his best to translate the words, and Christian's eyes grew wide with a sense of understanding, and a look of awe descended upon his face. This was the manifestation of Kenshin's Samurai spirit energy, but he had never heard of such a thing before. Then suddenly he remembered something that Kuumi had said to him about the episode he had suffered when they were out on the street. She told him that when that strange shift in his character had occurred, his eyes had changed color as well. Could that be the manifestation of HIS spirit energy? And if it was, did that mean he was evil? The very thought sent a wave of horror through him. If he were, that would also explain why he and his younger brother had such a strange effect on each other. Christian sat frozen for several moments before he spoke, and then he looked deeply into those strange golden eyes and decided he had to know whatever it was that his Father felt was so important he went to such extremes to prepare himself for the telling.
"Tell me everything. I want to know everything you know about my Mother." He waited for Soujiro to tell their Father what he had said.
Kenshin pursed his lips in thought as he considered where the best place was to begin such a terrible story, and at last he chose to ask the council of his Wife. The two sat in quiet speech for a few tense moments, and then Kenshin nodded his head and resumed his position of facing his son.
"Understand this one thing, Chri-stan. It is you who have asked to be told EVERYTHING. It is not by my choice that I would wish to tell you that much about your Mother. If it were my choice, I would tell you only that which would put your mind to rest, but you have asked for everything I know. My full knowledge consists of approximately a three-month period of time." Soujiro translated.
"Three months? That is all?" Translation.
"Hai. Three months. The three months prior to her death. Before that time, I had not laid eyes on her since before you were born. I did not know she was with child when she left me. So, it was close to ten years passed before I saw her again." Translation.
"Did you never hear anything about her at all?" Translation.
"I did hear a few years after we parted that she had gotten married." Translation.
"Married??" Christian was dumbfounded. He had never realized his Mother had married...never. "To whom?" Translation.
"One of the higher-ranking officers in the Meiji Army. General Katsura Anaki. He was a very important and influential man. Eventually, she became very important as well. She was named as a go-between for the Spanish government in order to help them with the newly formed alliance and trade agreements. She became almost indispensable." Translation.
"What was she doing when you met her again?" Translation.
Kenshin stopped and there was a tangible pause, and then he drew another deep breath before continuing. "Your Mother was a very powerful Witch, Chri-stan. Do you know this?" Translation.
"I... No, I did not, but I have suspected it. My whole family, back to the 1400's were Witches. It is in the de'Angeles blood." Translation.
"I did not know that, but it does explain many things." Translation.
"Explain? What does it explain? I do not understand what you mean by that?" Translation.
"She was incredibly well practiced. She wielded an enormous amount of power and energy, and her skill was unquestionable. Her abilities were far reaching, and her spells were terrifyingly accurate. She could do almost anything she wanted, and... and she was capable of nearly anything you can possibly imagine." Translation.
"What do you mean by that? You are using words like 'terrifying' and 'capable' as if she were... evil? Was she? Was my Mother... evil?" Translation.
"Chri-stan," Kenshin looked away with a pensive look crossing his pale features. "Remember now what I told you a moment ago. You wanted to know... Everything."
"Si." Christian felt as if all the air was being sucked out of his body.
"Hai, your Mother was evil. She was the most evil, malevolent creature I have ever met or seen, and she was vindictive and vengeful to a fault. She was responsible for many atrocities that are better left unsaid. It should suffice it to say that she was responsible, and leave it at that." Translation.
"Atrocities?" He heard was spinning and he suddenly felt nauseous and slightly faint. His Father was insinuating that his Mother had done... "What atrocities?" Translation.
"NO! Leave it as it is, Chri-stan." Kenshin's voice was hard as the steel of his sakobato and just as sharp as the reverse blade. Soujiro translated.
This vehement response shocked the younger man, who sat with his mouth gapping for a moment. Then, for whatever reason, Christian felt a surge of a blazing fury rise up within him. He had every right to know whatever it was his Father was keeping from him. Whether it was hideous, terrifying, or some other malicious act, he wanted to know. He was tired of secrets and mysteries. He wanted to put an end to all of the unknown and questions that circled his life like so many preying
vultures.
"I want to know, Father. As you said, yourself... I asked you to tell me EVERYTHING, and I want to know EVERYTHING!" Translation.
"You are stubborn, my Sochi, and you will regret the foolishness of your poorly calculated behavior one day. It is inevitable that your uncontrolled rashness will only bring sorrow and grief to your life, but you are determined to bring ruin to yourself... and to us all with your single-minded obstinacy, but I am bound by The Law of Shin to tell you the truth... God help me... God help us all." Soujiro was looking at Kenshin with the glitter of unshed tears threatening to spill over his thick black lashes as he carefully translated the harsh meaningful words of the rebuke to the angry young man. Christian had no reply, but did drop his eyes in angry submission.
"Your Mother was responsible for the murder of hundreds of innocent children. She offered them as sacrificial lambs in the Name of the Devil, whom she worshiped as her God and Master. She was his faithful Priestess." Translation.
"Nooo...." Christian began to shake his head in denial, but Kenshin continued on relentlessly.
"The first time I saw her again was after I had accepted a police assignment from Saitou-san to investigate multiple child murders in the northern mountains." Translation. "I tracked the deaths of three such children to a merchant in a small village. I watched him closely and followed him one day to a strange clearing up on the mountainside." Translation. "There was a great white square stone in the middle of the clearing and a small wooden shed off to one side. He was doing things in the Shed that I could not see, but he appeared to be getting ready for something, so I decided to stay and see what happened." Translation. "That night a great mass of people came walking up a pathway. They were all dressed in gray robes and holding burning torches. I watched them murder a little girl of no more than four or five years old as a blood sacrifice to the Devil." Translation. "I knelt behind an old rotten stump and watched as the Mistress stabbed the child to death, and then, much to my horror and everlasting grief, I watched as she split that child's chest open and literally rip out her heart with one hand. It was the most terrible, gruesome sight I have ever witnessed. Not even my years in the Bakumatsu ever showed me anything to compare." Translation. "And then, to my absolute horror, I realized I knew the Mistress in the gray robe. The perfect porcelain face was just as beautiful as it had ever been. Elsbeth de'Angeles. I nearly went insane when I recognized her."
Translation.
"Mon Dios... It cannot be... It cannot... I cannot accept... Mon Dios... " Christian buried his face in his hands and began to weep.
"I watched her use the heart and blood of that innocent child to cast a horrible spell that created a door between this world and Hell... and then I listened to her as she called out to the Devil
Himself, to come through that door. What happened after that is unspeakable." Translation.
"What? What is unspeakable? You have already told me the unspeakable, and the unbelievable. Tell me." Translation.
"Your Mother... Elsbeth de'Angeles was given more magic and more power to wield as a Witch because she had made a pack with evil. She became the whore of the Devil himself, and in return, he endowed her with incredible gifts. I watched Him walk through the door that night so they could... be together in a wanton way." Translation.
"NOOOOO! NOOOO!" Christian surged to his feet and raised both fists into the air as he began to rant hysterically. "I WILL NOT BELIEVE THAT! I WILL NOT!" Kenshin did not need Soujiro to translate. "IT IS A LIE! IT IS ALL A LIE...A LIE... A TERRIBLE LIE!"
"SIT DOWN, CHRI-STAN! CALM YOURSELF!" Kenshin spoke with a force, strength, and volume that was so unusual for him that even Kaoru was stunned into disbelief. She cautiously reached out her hand and gently laid it on his shoulder. The muscles were tensed into hard ropes and the angry ferocity of his Father's spirit caused her to pull back sharply.
When Christian did not immediately comply, Kenshin rose fluidly to his feet and grasped the younger man by the forearm, and, despite the terrible pain it caused him, he pulled it downward in a vice-like grip and forced his raving son to face him. "I TOLD YOU TO CALM YOURSELF,
SOCHI, AND YOU WILL DO SO, AND YOU WILL DO SO IMMEDIATELY." Christian tried to pull away, but found it impossible to break the grip of his Father's smaller hand, and so, with an unrepentant glare on his face, he slowly sat back down. Kenshin followed him down, BUT did not release the grip he held on Christian's arm until the man was fully seated. Then, putting his face directly in front of his son's, he snarled in a vicious and angry voice that quelled his son into quivering submission. Soujiro struggled to keep up with the translation so that the emotionally charged young Spaniard would not miss any of the well-deserved reprimand.
"You will NEVER do THAT again. We are men of pride and dignity. We may lose our homes, our families, the strength of our bodies; we may lose everything we have in the world, but if a man retains his self-pride, his dignity, and his honor then he will always be A MAN. No one can take those things from you. YOU have to give them away or give them up yourself, Chri-stan. When you lose control of your emotions, you lose all of those qualities because 'a man' always maintains his self-control, and in doing so, he will always be a man of great inner strengths and physical endurance. Nothing will ever break his spirit or his resolve, and he and his sword will always be respected by those around him no matter what other worldly things he may possess."
Kenshin leaned a fraction closer to Christian and forced his son to lock eyes with him. "YOU NEED TO LEARN SELF-CONTROL BEFORE YOU WILL EVER BECOME A TRUE MAN, AND UNTIL THEN, NO OTHERS WILL EVER RESPECT YOU, YOUR WORD, OR YOUR SWORD." Then Kenshin straightened up and turned away to retake his place on the floor opposite Christian.
Christian's emotions were seething. He felt humiliated. He felt rejected. He felt... betrayed.
Suddenly Kenshin felt a massive surge of negative energy viciously explode outward from behind him with a tremendous and shocking amount of elemental force. The full force of it slammed into his back in the form of a surprisingly well focused solid stream of white-hot Ki energy catching him just between his shoulder blades, and he felt the air ejected from his lungs in a great 'whooosh'. As a terrific pain burst inside of his chest and the darkness of unconsciousness started to ooze inward from the edges of his vision, a most extraordinary thing happened.
As suddenly as the energy-attack had struck his unprotected body, it was just as suddenly swept away from him. Kenshin's fragile body crumpled to the floor like a rag doll, but was caught by the strong frightened arms of Yahiko before it actually struck the smooth hard wood, and was then gently lowered the rest of the way down. He could hear Kaoru crying out his name in distress, and he could feel her cool soothing hands touching his face in fear and concern. He could feel the
urgency of her anxiety washing over him like an icy water fall, but as he tried to reach out and calm her fears, Kenshin realized he could no longer speak or move. His body felt heavy and warm. He felt... strange. His vision was clearing a little bit and in front of him he could clearly see Christian, and Kenshin's despairing spirit shuddered in response. His son's face was a mask of fury and hatred.
Christian was down on one knee and breathing hard from obvious exertion. He was holding his Sabre at the ready in front of him, a dangerous look of murder marred the beauty of his face, and in front of him... crouched into a deep battoujutsu stance, holding Kenshin's sakobatou in one hand, and his own katana in the other was... Kenji?
The young red-haired Samurai held both swords in front of him in deceptively simple positions, however; to the trained eye it was obvious that should Christian attack his brother's position, he would be hit from either a vicious left-handed downward slash with Kenshin's
Sakobato, or disemboweled from the more deadly right handed uppercut with Kenji's own razor sharp katana.
As the brother's looked at each other across the short empty space that separated them, a deadly garden of ambiguous emotions was planted and began to take root between them. Christian's eyes had evolved into frightening swirling, shifting liquid pools of brilliant indigo, while Kenji's had lightened into glittering pale green and gold crystalline jewels.
Christian rose slowly to his feet while never taking his eyes off his brother for a moment. He had been completely caught by surprise when Kenji had rushed him from the side hitting him in the shoulder with his elbow. The force had successfully knocked him off balance and ruined the perfect forward thrust that would have pierced his Father's lying flesh. He had not intended to kill the man, but he wanted to leave him with a reminder of the son he could have had, but had foolishly thrown away.
The pain in his shoulder where the boys' elbow had hit felt like he had been struck by an iron anvil, and he had moved with such speed that Christian had not even seen him move until he was right on top of him. No one could move that fast. It was impossible.
Love and hatred mingled in the air between the two Himura sons and the clash of elemental energy was beginning to affect everyone. They were not trying to contact each other, so there was no reaction, but the fact that their Kis were so incompatible was creating enough conflicting energy within the room it was causing headaches and nausea.
Love and Hate.
Good and Evil.
Light and Dark.
As Kaoru stared in horror at the two sons of Himura Kenshin, a terrible understanding revealed itself to her. Both sides of Kenshin's soul were manifested before her in the physical forms of his two naturally born sons.
The Ying and Yang.
The Gemini.
The Twins; one good, one evil.
The war for dominance was about to begin.
The prize; Himura Kenshin's immortal soul.
The price, Himura Kenji and Himura Christian (de'Angeles) eternal spirits and ever lasting purity of heart.
The loss of innocence. The Day of The Dead was upon them.
He He He He He.... I love cliffhangers and suspense. It warms the cockles of my little old granny's heart, that it does.
Conflict, conflict, conflict. Don't ya just love to hate it? Me too. :) Tsuki-san.
Please Read and Review
Glossary: Zabuton=Floor Cushion for setting/kneeling, Honto=Truth,
Note the translations, they are set apart with ( ), and then note that Soujiro takes over translation. This is for both Kenshin's and Christian's benefit and well as your's (the readers.) This was a very difficult chapter to write. Trying to integrate the two languages while keeping the integrity of both without losing the train of thought and the flow of conversation was a ..... well, it was dang hard!. I think I rewrote this dang thing at least four times. I hope this version works. My Kami-sama help this unworthy one.... as well as my new beta reader...Nigihayami Haruko. God Bless Haruko-san. :)
Haruko: hellow! I'm pretty new to this 'beta' business, so please cut me some slack k? I'm also trying my best to keep to the original storyline and not deviate from Tsuki-sama's wonderful 'style' so do let me know if I've done anything wrong alright? Alrighty, Haruko signing out!
Chapter Nine
The Becoming of The Warrior of Truth
After the 'Incident', Kaoru and Tokio ushered everyone out of the room who did not need to be there, and when they were finished, the only ones remaining were Kenshin, Hiko, Yahiko, Soujiro, Christian, and Kenji. Saitou had moved a good distance away from the family, but had
remained just in case something untoward occurred. He was still not willing to trust this young Spaniard even if he was Kenshin's son. He was also that bloody witch's son as well, and there was something about him that just did not sit right with the old Shinsingumi Wolf. So he maintained his watchful vigil over the group of men as they began to talk.
"Chri-stan, there are things you want to know?" Kenshin looked gently at his emotionally distraught son with warm comforting violet eyes and reached out to rest a hand on his arm. "Ask me, and I will try to tell you what I know."
"Me speak bad, Otou." Christian shook his head in dismay. "Hard to speak thing... no words. I hearing better than speaking."
"I know," Kenshin said slowly. "Perhaps it would be helpful if we tried speaking in YOUR language instead of mine? Yes?"
Christian's head shot up and he stared at Kenshin's face in shock. "You speak my words, Otou?"
"Some, I was better at it many years ago, but perhaps with a little practice..." He smiled in a self mocking manner and shrugged for his son's benefit and was pleased to see Christian smile. It was the same smile he shared with Kenji.
"I did not know you spoke Spanish, Otou?" Soujiro looked at Kenshin quizzically as did Yahiko and every other member of the circle.
"It has been many years since I have. Since I was with... "
"Since you were with HER?" Yahiko's voice was dry and flat as he deftly refereed to Elsbeth without mentioning her name.
"Hai... since then. I am probably very bad at it by now, but there was a time when I was very good." He grinned and laughed. "I guess we shall see." He turned back to Christian and took a deep breath. "Say something to me, and I will try to say something back. All right?" Christian smiled and nodded. For some reason, this seemed very amusing to him.
"I would like to ask you some very personal questions, Father."
Kenshin looked hard into his son's face as he concentrated on the foreign words, and slowly the meanings of several began to come back to him. "Ask questions?" He repeated awkwardly.
"Si." Christian's smile grew wider and he signaled his Father to continue.
"Does anyone else speak any Spanish?" Yahiko looked around the circle, and when his eyes fell on Soujiro, his brother nodded slightly.
"I know a fair amount... enough to get me by when I went to Spain to buy and sell merchandise, and procure whatever else I need."
"Then maybe you can act as interpreter for the rest of us while these two TRY to talk." Yahiko grinned into his Father's unamused face and offered a wink but no apology.
"Be quiet, Raion, before I help you be quiet." Kenshin growled, but Yahiko just chuckled in the face of his Father's displeasure; however, he did keep the rest of his comments to himself after
that.
'All right,' Kenshin thought to himself as he readjusted his aching body on his Zabuton, 'I can do this, I just have to concentrate. That is all, just concentrate.' He turned to face Christian again training his eyes with direct intensity into the dark blue pools of his son's and then nodded for him to continue.
"Ask me."
Christian had waited for this moment for more than 15 years, and now that it was upon him, he did not know where to begin. His mind had gone completely blank, so he was forced to set for several long seconds before he was able to gather his scattered thoughts into a semblance of order.
"Father," He began in a low respectful voice, "I wish to know if you loved my Mother?" It was somewhere to start, but he may as well have dropped a bombshell on Kenshin as ask him that particular question.
"Did me amo su Madre?" Kenshin's voice was heavy with shock and his face looked as if he had eaten something that tasted very bad. Anxiously his eyes darted to those of his own Father, and he found that the look on Hiko's face was not much better than that of his own after he finished hearing Soujiro's translation. 'What can I tell him? Dear Kami, what can I tell him?' Tell him the truth, something deep inside of him seemed to say. Tell him the truth, he deserves nothing less
so Kenshin squared his slender shoulders and took another deep breath and faced his son again.
"Chri-stan, usted Madre y le..." He struggled to search his brain for the words he wanted but they eluded him. In frustration he switched to Japanese for the moment. "Your Mother and I... we loved each other very much... at that time." Soujiro tried to relay Kenshin's meaning to the confused young Spaniard, and Christian's brows drew together as he absorbed that benign piece of information, however; he could not help but feel like his Father was keeping something from him - Something of great importance.
"Is it true my Mother never told you about me?" Soujiro translated.
"Si."
"Is it true you would have come for me if you had known?"
"Si, me hijo. A Habria venido para usted si tenia." Kenshin managed on his own. (Yes, my son. I would have come for you if I had.)
"And would you have loved me just because I was your son, no matter what my Mother had done to you?"
"Si, Chri-stan. Tendria le ame', Mi Hijo." Again, Kenshin was able to speak for himself. (Yes, Chri-stan, I would have loved you, my son.)
Christian sat for a long moment with his head lowered and his hands clasped loosely in his lap. He made no movements nor was a sound uttered, and as the seconds ticked away, Kenji turned a worried look in his father's direction. Kenshin met the clear aqua-blue gaze and shook his head in confusion, so they both simply waited, and when, at last, Christian spoke, his question rocked the Clan-Himura to the very core of its soul.
"Where is my Mother? Is she really dead as I believe her to be?"
"Muer? Who told you?" In his shock, Kenshin shifted back into part Japanese as he stared at Christian's bent head.
"No one told me. When I was a boy, I felt her die. At least that is what I thought I felt." Soujiro had to translate the complex sentence pattern.
"You felt her die? How?" Kenji reached over to touch his brother but stopped just short of actual physical contact as he was not quite sure what would happen if he did. Soujiro translated for Kenji.
"It is in our blood. The blood of the de'Angeles." He also translated for Christian so that he could speak to his brother.
"It is Bruja blood." Kenshin spoke softly and Christian's head shot up locking his dark blue pools of shifting liquid cobalt with his fathers glittering violet crystals.
"How do you know THAT?" He rasped. "No one ever knew THAT about the family... How can YOU know that?" A strange shadow passed over his handsome features and Christian's eyes began to take on an eerie incandescent glow of radiant indigo even as his Ki began to register a
malevolent fury which threatened to burst from the confines of his soul. 'What is happening to you, My Son?' Kenshin's eyes narrowed in defensive concern as he detected the dramatic dangerous shift of emotions within his powerfully gifted son.
"Know mucho usted de Madre, Chri-stan." Kenshin spoke without needing Soujiro's assistance once more. (Know much of your Mother, Chri-stan.)
"What do you know? Tell me what you know?" The anguished desperation in his voice nearly broke Kenshin's heart as did the painful look of grief on his face. At that same moment, he felt the massive fury and anger that had been growing at such an alarming rate within Christian suddenly disappear beneath the weight of his overwhelming need to know the truth. Had it not been Kuumi who had said that Christian told her he had never known his Mother, and that someone besides Elsbeth had raised him? He had never even seen so much as her face in all of his life. Kenshin was at a loss as to what to do. How could he tell this young man the horror his Mother had become? And how could he tell him that it was his own hands that had taken her life? The ache in Kenshin's heart grew as his dilemma became insurmountable.
"Tell me, Father... Please... please, tell me."
"No... I cannot." Kenshin looked away from the pained entreaty in Christian's eyes, and swallowed hard against the lump that rose in his throat.
"Why? Why you no speak me?" Christian reached out and grasped Kenshin's arm forcing the torn man to look at him. "Why, Otousan? Why?" He asked in Japanese as he tried everything he knew to coax a Father whose resolve was and personal strength and honor were unknown to him.
"Chri-stan, some things are not meant to be known. Please do not ask me this thing." Kenshin bent into his son and rested his forehead on Christian's hair. "I am begging you. Do not ask this thing of me."
"You know who dead Me Okaasan? Hai?"
"Onegai, Aisoka, but do not ask me. Stop... do not ask me."
"You know... speak me, Otousan. Speak me. I need know... Is Me right knowing. Speak me, Otousan. Onegai, Onegai..."
"I-I cannot... Dear God in heaven," Kenshin cried in anxiety against his son's thick chestnut hair. "Onegai, Chri-stan... In the name of all that is Holy in this world, do not do this to me... to us."
"You love me, Otousan? Hai?" Lifting his tear stained face up he stared into his Father's stricken face, but he was unable to withdraw his plea. "You love me?"
"Hai... I love you, Aisoka."
"Speak me... you love me, speak me... Onegai." At that point, Kenshin knew he was defeated, and he felt a kind of heaviness within his heart and soul that he had not felt since his rurouni days and it brought tears of sorrow to his eyes. 'Help me, God...'; He whispered deep within his spirit self, and then he sent out a cry of pain and need to the one he depended on the most.
'Kaoru! Help me! I need you, Saiai... I need you... KAORU!'
Kaoru, Tokio, Kuumi, and Quii were setting in the farthest backroom away from the male congregation at the front of the house, but it was doing nothing to alleviate her worry or sense that something terrible was about to happen. So when Kenshin's Ki came screaming down the narrow hallway and clamored over her like a clinging squalling child, it did not take her but an instant to make the choice. She was on her feet and out the fusuma before Tokio or the girls could even ask
what was going on.
'Kenshin. What is wrong, Koishii? Why are you so upset? Why are you in so much pain, Saiai? What has happened to you?' The thoughts raced through her head faster than her feet could carry her, but the foremost thought in her head was that her beloved was in terrible pain and he needed her. Kaoru reached deep down within herself and pulled on the special part of her soul that was so closely attached to her husband, and rolling it into a tight ball of hot sweet energy, threw it
ahead of her aiming for Kenshin's distraught heart in hopes of offering him some peace and comfort before she could get there.
Just as he was about to give in to the horrible despair, Kenshin felt it. It descended over him like a blanket of pure warmth, and he could feel his agonized soul snuggling into the comfort of the love and peace Kaoru's Ki was offering him. The calming effect she always had on him slipped along his nerves and flowed through his muscles easing the tension and allowed him to think clearly once more, and it gave Kenshin the opportunity to try and choose his words before speaking to Christian. A long mental sigh of relief and gratitude filled his spirit as he basked in the glory of his wife's love and devotion to him. 'Thank-you, Saiai.' He whispered in a much more controlled state of
mind as he continued to allow her energy to soothe him. 'Thank-you, my beloved Angel.' And then he felt the physical touch of her as a fragile hand came to rest on his bent shoulders, and then moved to gently massage the tense muscles of his neck.
"Kaoru." He breathed softly and raised up to find her dark blue eyes looking at him in deep concern. He touched her soft cheek and then leaned over to rest his forehead against hers. "Thank-you, Saiai. Thank-you for hearing me."
"Oh Kenshin." Her hands rubbed his shoulders in worry as she felt the deep pain unfurling within his heart. "What is wrong, Koishii?"
"It is time to face the reckoning of my soul, Saiai."
"What?" Her face was filled with confusion as she looked at his pale drawn features. "What do you mean, 'the reckoning of your soul'?"
"It is time to face my past and speak the terrible truths upon the ears of the innocent... come what may. Gods help me."
"Kenshin." Suddenly she understood what he meant, and Kaoru could feel the terrible pain he was suffering as if it were her own. "Don't do this." She pleaded with him. "You do not have to do this. There has to be another way. There must be."
"There is not." He looked so weary to her that he suddenly seemed every bit of his 47 years plus some he had yet to earn. "He is right. It is his right to know what happened, and it is my responsibility to tell him whatever the consequences. I only ask one thing of you, Koishii."
"What, Kenshin? I will do whatever you ask of me, Saiai. Tell me and I will do it." Her frantically worried eyes caressed his face as her hands cupped his pale cheeks.
"Stay with me." He whispered almost inaudibly. "Do not leave me to do this all alone."
Her eyes grew huge in her face, and she leaned forward and tenderly pressed a soft kiss against his cold lips. "I will." She breathed back. "I will, Kenshin."
"Hold my hand, Kaoru... and do not let go." He was trembling as he grasped her hand in his and his troubled eyes locked with hers.
"I will not let go, Kenshin. I promise." And she moved so she was kneeling right next to him. "I won't ever let go, Saiai. Not ever."
Kenshin and Kaoru sat closely together for several long moments, foreheads pressed together, hands gripping each other, and the vibrant essence of their living Ki's bonding and intermixing as Kenshin drew upon his Beloved's great strength and fortitude to help him through the difficult task that lay before him.
It was time to tell Christian what had become of his Mother. It was time to tell the son he never knew that his Mother had been a servant of Evil unlike any he could even imagine, and that she was responsible for the deaths of perhaps hundreds of innocent children who had been horribly sacrificed for her own demonic purposes. And, it was time to tell that same son that it was his hand and his sword that had taken her life, and that given the same circumstance, he would do it again for he felt no remorse, no guilt and no regret. He was The White Warrior, and it had been his destiny to do the things that had occurred that one terrible night, and one of those things were to kill the Devil's Destroying Angel... Elsbeth Katsura.
"I am ready," Kenshin spoke in a voice soft as a spring breeze caressing the heads of dandelions in the meadow. "It is time. I can wait no longer." His sad violet eyes drank in the warmth and love that shone and burned with life in his beautiful Wife's dark blue eyes. "Aishiteru, My Aijou."
"Aishiteru, Saiai-Kenshin. We can do this. Together we can do anything. Remember?" She smiled and he felt sunshine burst open within his heart and warm the coldness of his agonized soul.
"Yes, Saiai-Kaoru. I remember." He smiled back, but it was still a sad smile. Squeezing her hands once more, he lifted one to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss against the soft palm, and then, while still holding it tight in his grasp, Kenshin turned to face his waiting son.
He turned to face what could very possibly be the last moments he would share with Christian.
How ironic it seemed. To suddenly be gifted with the long forgotten son Elsbeth had hidden from his all these years, only to lose him in the same breath because of the same Woman's vicious evil and inescapable consequence.
'God can be very cruel,' Kenshin thought. 'I almost wish Christian had not come to me at all. The pain of losing him now... it will be the worst pain I have suffered for many long years. Help me, Kami-sama. Make me strong enough to bear this loss. Bring me peace and the tranquility I will need to endure this pain. This I beg of you, Great Kami-sama. Please, Help Me.'
"Chri-stan," He began ever so slowly in a voice filled with regret, sorrow, and despair. "I do not have enough Spanish to tell you what needs to be said. Perhaps Your Hermano can help us. I believe his words are more than mine." Kenshin looked beseechingly at Soujiro who nodded his acceptance of the task and rose from his place in the circle and moved to set down beside his father.
"Thank-you, Soujiro-Sochi."
"You are welcome, Otousan. I will do my best. I understand how difficult this is going to be, and... I think I understand also why you are so sad."
"Do you?"
"Yes. You are afraid this man is going to turn away from you once he learns the truth about his Mother, aren't you? You are afraid he will not understand why things had to be done the way they were, and he is going to despise you for taking his mother's life despite the absolute necessity for it. You are afraid you are going to lose him in the same moment of glory you found him in."
"Hai... You see much with your radiant eyes, Seta Soujiro. I had forgotten how deeply you could see into my soul when you choose to look."
"Forgive me if I have offended you, Otousan."
"You have not offended. I am glad you can see... this time. I am not bearing this pain and worry very well on my own. It was so easy to reach out and immediately love him... just like it was with you that day, and with Kenji and Yahiko as well. It was simple... and the most natural thing to do. It will be hard to let go and lose it."
"I understand, Otousan. Truly, I do. I will be here with you, and Okaa is here with you. You are not alone. You have stood for so long and let all of us lean on you through the difficult times in our lives... now it is our turn to be here for you to lean on us as you travel the path of this painful time. We are here, Otousan."
"Arigato, My Son, arigato. Let us begin." Once more Kenshin turned to look deep into the waiting eyes of his son. The pain that was already in his heart began to grow as he drank in the handsome features that were so much like his own. 'I may never see you again, Aisoka. I pray that my mind can memorize every detail of your beautiful face.'
"Chri-stan, Soujiro is going to try and speak my words to you in your language as I say them. Do you understand? Then he will say to me what you speak back."
Christian looked at Soujiro with apprehension and mild skepticism. "He will tell Honto?" His voice was tinged with disbelief.
"Hai, trust him. He will not speak you falsely."
"Si," He nodded in acquiescence, and faced his father in expectation. In his poor Japanese, he addressed Kenshin in a quiet contrite voice. "Yousha, Otousan. I no mean make bad thing. I need
know things. I need..." He struggled to find a word, and in frustration fell into Spanish. "I need a past, I need a life." Soujiro did his best to translate the few words, and Kenshin's eyes closed in painful repose as he accepted what must come to pass.
"I understand," He spoke softly in a voice that sounded more like a feeble old man than the vibrant Samurai he had been, or the fiercely protective Husband and Father he had become. He turned to Yahiko and reached a trembling hand out to him. "Give me my sakobatou, Raion."
Yahiko's head pulled back in shocked surprise at the strange request, but the terrible despair he saw in his beloved Father's eyes prompted him to pull the reverse blade from his belt and respectfully handed it to the red-haired Samurai with bowed head. "Hai, my Aisoku." Kenshin bowed in return. "Arigato."
Christen was beginning to feel very uncomfortable. Something was very, very wrong with this situation, and it was escalating by the moment. Why were his Father and Brother's acting as if this were the end of the world? Christian felt as if he were walking down a path leading to his own death, yet there was nothing he could do to stop it because he did not know what demons or monster he may have to face with his Fathers' words. All he did know was that. His new, wonderful Father was acting in the strangest manner. He was acting as if this was the last time they would ever be together, the last time they would ever see each other, and the last time they would ever want to be together. Christian began to feel afraid. Perhaps knowing what had happened to his Mother was not as important as he thought, yet he could not back away from the terrible yearning of wanting to know.
Kenshin gently took the katana in his hands and in a flourish, deftly removed the long shining blade from its sheath. Holding the blade at a perfectly flat angle in front of him, he carefully placed the empty sheath on the floor next to his left thigh, and then he placed the palm of his left-hand flat beneath the blade thus supporting the weapon equally on both ends. With great reverence, respect, and utmost dignity Kenshin slowly lowered the sakobatou to the floor in front of him and laid it down without making a single sound. He sat up with his back straight, palms together in front of his chest, head bent, eyes closed, and then Himura Kenshin spoke. The voice his family heard uttered from his lips was one of quiet acceptance. It was the voice of a man who had at last accepted his fate without question, without fear, without guile. It was the bland almost detached voice of deep resignation to ones fate. It was the voice of ultimate sadness. Himura Kenshin was giving up his life for the life of his son.
"Himura Chri-stan, by my position in this life as your Father, and by our connection of blood and spirit I am bound by The Code of The Warrior, The Bushido, The Shin, to be truthful. As a Samurai, I am bound to The Bushido even as I am bound to my sakobatou, and my warrior's blood will not allow me to hide the truth from the one who asks in order to protect him or me." Kenshin lowered his hands and rested them as loose fists on his thighs, and then, taking a great cleansing breath of air, he raised his head and locked the anguished-hardened gazed of his amber-gold eyes with the confused deed purple-blue eyes of his bewildered son.
As Kenshin had spoken, Soujiro had done his best to translate and explain to Christian what he was saying, and as his warm cultured voice touched the heart and mind of the young Spaniard, he began to tremble with conflicting emotions. He did not understand why such a big fuss was being made over this thing he had asked. He did not understand why everything was suddenly being treated with such formal and traditional mannerisms. The feelings that he was walking the path of his own demise continued to grow, and when his Father looked at him with his demonish golden eyes, Christian felt as if his world were about to end.
"Mon Dios, Su magia?" He whispered in fear as he indicated Kenshin eyes with a shaky hand. Soujiro told Kenshin that Christian thought he was performing some sort of magic to make his eyes change color.
"No, no magic. It is the essence of the spirit of my Warrior's soul. It is the power of my fighting Ki. It is the purest manifestation of my inner-self." Once more Soujiro did his best to translate the words, and Christian's eyes grew wide with a sense of understanding, and a look of awe descended upon his face. This was the manifestation of Kenshin's Samurai spirit energy, but he had never heard of such a thing before. Then suddenly he remembered something that Kuumi had said to him about the episode he had suffered when they were out on the street. She told him that when that strange shift in his character had occurred, his eyes had changed color as well. Could that be the manifestation of HIS spirit energy? And if it was, did that mean he was evil? The very thought sent a wave of horror through him. If he were, that would also explain why he and his younger brother had such a strange effect on each other. Christian sat frozen for several moments before he spoke, and then he looked deeply into those strange golden eyes and decided he had to know whatever it was that his Father felt was so important he went to such extremes to prepare himself for the telling.
"Tell me everything. I want to know everything you know about my Mother." He waited for Soujiro to tell their Father what he had said.
Kenshin pursed his lips in thought as he considered where the best place was to begin such a terrible story, and at last he chose to ask the council of his Wife. The two sat in quiet speech for a few tense moments, and then Kenshin nodded his head and resumed his position of facing his son.
"Understand this one thing, Chri-stan. It is you who have asked to be told EVERYTHING. It is not by my choice that I would wish to tell you that much about your Mother. If it were my choice, I would tell you only that which would put your mind to rest, but you have asked for everything I know. My full knowledge consists of approximately a three-month period of time." Soujiro translated.
"Three months? That is all?" Translation.
"Hai. Three months. The three months prior to her death. Before that time, I had not laid eyes on her since before you were born. I did not know she was with child when she left me. So, it was close to ten years passed before I saw her again." Translation.
"Did you never hear anything about her at all?" Translation.
"I did hear a few years after we parted that she had gotten married." Translation.
"Married??" Christian was dumbfounded. He had never realized his Mother had married...never. "To whom?" Translation.
"One of the higher-ranking officers in the Meiji Army. General Katsura Anaki. He was a very important and influential man. Eventually, she became very important as well. She was named as a go-between for the Spanish government in order to help them with the newly formed alliance and trade agreements. She became almost indispensable." Translation.
"What was she doing when you met her again?" Translation.
Kenshin stopped and there was a tangible pause, and then he drew another deep breath before continuing. "Your Mother was a very powerful Witch, Chri-stan. Do you know this?" Translation.
"I... No, I did not, but I have suspected it. My whole family, back to the 1400's were Witches. It is in the de'Angeles blood." Translation.
"I did not know that, but it does explain many things." Translation.
"Explain? What does it explain? I do not understand what you mean by that?" Translation.
"She was incredibly well practiced. She wielded an enormous amount of power and energy, and her skill was unquestionable. Her abilities were far reaching, and her spells were terrifyingly accurate. She could do almost anything she wanted, and... and she was capable of nearly anything you can possibly imagine." Translation.
"What do you mean by that? You are using words like 'terrifying' and 'capable' as if she were... evil? Was she? Was my Mother... evil?" Translation.
"Chri-stan," Kenshin looked away with a pensive look crossing his pale features. "Remember now what I told you a moment ago. You wanted to know... Everything."
"Si." Christian felt as if all the air was being sucked out of his body.
"Hai, your Mother was evil. She was the most evil, malevolent creature I have ever met or seen, and she was vindictive and vengeful to a fault. She was responsible for many atrocities that are better left unsaid. It should suffice it to say that she was responsible, and leave it at that." Translation.
"Atrocities?" He heard was spinning and he suddenly felt nauseous and slightly faint. His Father was insinuating that his Mother had done... "What atrocities?" Translation.
"NO! Leave it as it is, Chri-stan." Kenshin's voice was hard as the steel of his sakobato and just as sharp as the reverse blade. Soujiro translated.
This vehement response shocked the younger man, who sat with his mouth gapping for a moment. Then, for whatever reason, Christian felt a surge of a blazing fury rise up within him. He had every right to know whatever it was his Father was keeping from him. Whether it was hideous, terrifying, or some other malicious act, he wanted to know. He was tired of secrets and mysteries. He wanted to put an end to all of the unknown and questions that circled his life like so many preying
vultures.
"I want to know, Father. As you said, yourself... I asked you to tell me EVERYTHING, and I want to know EVERYTHING!" Translation.
"You are stubborn, my Sochi, and you will regret the foolishness of your poorly calculated behavior one day. It is inevitable that your uncontrolled rashness will only bring sorrow and grief to your life, but you are determined to bring ruin to yourself... and to us all with your single-minded obstinacy, but I am bound by The Law of Shin to tell you the truth... God help me... God help us all." Soujiro was looking at Kenshin with the glitter of unshed tears threatening to spill over his thick black lashes as he carefully translated the harsh meaningful words of the rebuke to the angry young man. Christian had no reply, but did drop his eyes in angry submission.
"Your Mother was responsible for the murder of hundreds of innocent children. She offered them as sacrificial lambs in the Name of the Devil, whom she worshiped as her God and Master. She was his faithful Priestess." Translation.
"Nooo...." Christian began to shake his head in denial, but Kenshin continued on relentlessly.
"The first time I saw her again was after I had accepted a police assignment from Saitou-san to investigate multiple child murders in the northern mountains." Translation. "I tracked the deaths of three such children to a merchant in a small village. I watched him closely and followed him one day to a strange clearing up on the mountainside." Translation. "There was a great white square stone in the middle of the clearing and a small wooden shed off to one side. He was doing things in the Shed that I could not see, but he appeared to be getting ready for something, so I decided to stay and see what happened." Translation. "That night a great mass of people came walking up a pathway. They were all dressed in gray robes and holding burning torches. I watched them murder a little girl of no more than four or five years old as a blood sacrifice to the Devil." Translation. "I knelt behind an old rotten stump and watched as the Mistress stabbed the child to death, and then, much to my horror and everlasting grief, I watched as she split that child's chest open and literally rip out her heart with one hand. It was the most terrible, gruesome sight I have ever witnessed. Not even my years in the Bakumatsu ever showed me anything to compare." Translation. "And then, to my absolute horror, I realized I knew the Mistress in the gray robe. The perfect porcelain face was just as beautiful as it had ever been. Elsbeth de'Angeles. I nearly went insane when I recognized her."
Translation.
"Mon Dios... It cannot be... It cannot... I cannot accept... Mon Dios... " Christian buried his face in his hands and began to weep.
"I watched her use the heart and blood of that innocent child to cast a horrible spell that created a door between this world and Hell... and then I listened to her as she called out to the Devil
Himself, to come through that door. What happened after that is unspeakable." Translation.
"What? What is unspeakable? You have already told me the unspeakable, and the unbelievable. Tell me." Translation.
"Your Mother... Elsbeth de'Angeles was given more magic and more power to wield as a Witch because she had made a pack with evil. She became the whore of the Devil himself, and in return, he endowed her with incredible gifts. I watched Him walk through the door that night so they could... be together in a wanton way." Translation.
"NOOOOO! NOOOO!" Christian surged to his feet and raised both fists into the air as he began to rant hysterically. "I WILL NOT BELIEVE THAT! I WILL NOT!" Kenshin did not need Soujiro to translate. "IT IS A LIE! IT IS ALL A LIE...A LIE... A TERRIBLE LIE!"
"SIT DOWN, CHRI-STAN! CALM YOURSELF!" Kenshin spoke with a force, strength, and volume that was so unusual for him that even Kaoru was stunned into disbelief. She cautiously reached out her hand and gently laid it on his shoulder. The muscles were tensed into hard ropes and the angry ferocity of his Father's spirit caused her to pull back sharply.
When Christian did not immediately comply, Kenshin rose fluidly to his feet and grasped the younger man by the forearm, and, despite the terrible pain it caused him, he pulled it downward in a vice-like grip and forced his raving son to face him. "I TOLD YOU TO CALM YOURSELF,
SOCHI, AND YOU WILL DO SO, AND YOU WILL DO SO IMMEDIATELY." Christian tried to pull away, but found it impossible to break the grip of his Father's smaller hand, and so, with an unrepentant glare on his face, he slowly sat back down. Kenshin followed him down, BUT did not release the grip he held on Christian's arm until the man was fully seated. Then, putting his face directly in front of his son's, he snarled in a vicious and angry voice that quelled his son into quivering submission. Soujiro struggled to keep up with the translation so that the emotionally charged young Spaniard would not miss any of the well-deserved reprimand.
"You will NEVER do THAT again. We are men of pride and dignity. We may lose our homes, our families, the strength of our bodies; we may lose everything we have in the world, but if a man retains his self-pride, his dignity, and his honor then he will always be A MAN. No one can take those things from you. YOU have to give them away or give them up yourself, Chri-stan. When you lose control of your emotions, you lose all of those qualities because 'a man' always maintains his self-control, and in doing so, he will always be a man of great inner strengths and physical endurance. Nothing will ever break his spirit or his resolve, and he and his sword will always be respected by those around him no matter what other worldly things he may possess."
Kenshin leaned a fraction closer to Christian and forced his son to lock eyes with him. "YOU NEED TO LEARN SELF-CONTROL BEFORE YOU WILL EVER BECOME A TRUE MAN, AND UNTIL THEN, NO OTHERS WILL EVER RESPECT YOU, YOUR WORD, OR YOUR SWORD." Then Kenshin straightened up and turned away to retake his place on the floor opposite Christian.
Christian's emotions were seething. He felt humiliated. He felt rejected. He felt... betrayed.
Suddenly Kenshin felt a massive surge of negative energy viciously explode outward from behind him with a tremendous and shocking amount of elemental force. The full force of it slammed into his back in the form of a surprisingly well focused solid stream of white-hot Ki energy catching him just between his shoulder blades, and he felt the air ejected from his lungs in a great 'whooosh'. As a terrific pain burst inside of his chest and the darkness of unconsciousness started to ooze inward from the edges of his vision, a most extraordinary thing happened.
As suddenly as the energy-attack had struck his unprotected body, it was just as suddenly swept away from him. Kenshin's fragile body crumpled to the floor like a rag doll, but was caught by the strong frightened arms of Yahiko before it actually struck the smooth hard wood, and was then gently lowered the rest of the way down. He could hear Kaoru crying out his name in distress, and he could feel her cool soothing hands touching his face in fear and concern. He could feel the
urgency of her anxiety washing over him like an icy water fall, but as he tried to reach out and calm her fears, Kenshin realized he could no longer speak or move. His body felt heavy and warm. He felt... strange. His vision was clearing a little bit and in front of him he could clearly see Christian, and Kenshin's despairing spirit shuddered in response. His son's face was a mask of fury and hatred.
Christian was down on one knee and breathing hard from obvious exertion. He was holding his Sabre at the ready in front of him, a dangerous look of murder marred the beauty of his face, and in front of him... crouched into a deep battoujutsu stance, holding Kenshin's sakobatou in one hand, and his own katana in the other was... Kenji?
The young red-haired Samurai held both swords in front of him in deceptively simple positions, however; to the trained eye it was obvious that should Christian attack his brother's position, he would be hit from either a vicious left-handed downward slash with Kenshin's
Sakobato, or disemboweled from the more deadly right handed uppercut with Kenji's own razor sharp katana.
As the brother's looked at each other across the short empty space that separated them, a deadly garden of ambiguous emotions was planted and began to take root between them. Christian's eyes had evolved into frightening swirling, shifting liquid pools of brilliant indigo, while Kenji's had lightened into glittering pale green and gold crystalline jewels.
Christian rose slowly to his feet while never taking his eyes off his brother for a moment. He had been completely caught by surprise when Kenji had rushed him from the side hitting him in the shoulder with his elbow. The force had successfully knocked him off balance and ruined the perfect forward thrust that would have pierced his Father's lying flesh. He had not intended to kill the man, but he wanted to leave him with a reminder of the son he could have had, but had foolishly thrown away.
The pain in his shoulder where the boys' elbow had hit felt like he had been struck by an iron anvil, and he had moved with such speed that Christian had not even seen him move until he was right on top of him. No one could move that fast. It was impossible.
Love and hatred mingled in the air between the two Himura sons and the clash of elemental energy was beginning to affect everyone. They were not trying to contact each other, so there was no reaction, but the fact that their Kis were so incompatible was creating enough conflicting energy within the room it was causing headaches and nausea.
Love and Hate.
Good and Evil.
Light and Dark.
As Kaoru stared in horror at the two sons of Himura Kenshin, a terrible understanding revealed itself to her. Both sides of Kenshin's soul were manifested before her in the physical forms of his two naturally born sons.
The Ying and Yang.
The Gemini.
The Twins; one good, one evil.
The war for dominance was about to begin.
The prize; Himura Kenshin's immortal soul.
The price, Himura Kenji and Himura Christian (de'Angeles) eternal spirits and ever lasting purity of heart.
The loss of innocence. The Day of The Dead was upon them.
He He He He He.... I love cliffhangers and suspense. It warms the cockles of my little old granny's heart, that it does.
Conflict, conflict, conflict. Don't ya just love to hate it? Me too. :) Tsuki-san.
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