To Reveal All
Chapter 23: Revealing Joining
By steelphoenix
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, or any of its characters.
Author's Notes: Too much meringue in this chapter. You have been warned. Though you expect it of me by now, don't you?
Arigato gozaimasu to Crewel for sending me some SxM fanart – I can't direct you all to it yet, because it's on my e-mail/sweatdrops/ but I can say thanks!
I have no idea where Kenshin managed to get to a waterfall in Tokyo without going a long way or flashing someone, but give me artistic licence, please! Ladies, enjoy… Naked Kenshin, need I say more?
Battousai: That's just… sick…
Rurouni: Nix-dono, you should be less perverted, that you should!
Nix: …It's artistic… um… expression!
Battousai and Rurouni/sweatdrop/
Language Notes: Misogi is purification, usually by washing, ranging from the customary rinsing of mouth and hands before worship to standing naked under a waterfall.
'Haru Kasumi' means 'Springtime Haze'… according to my Japanese dictionary, anyway…
Misao's attack Kecho-Geri (Monster Bird Kick) is best seen in the anime.
A shinobi is another name for a ninja.
The harai-gushi is a branch used by the Shinto priest in a purification ceremony, during various ceremonies, and a miko is a Shinto priestess/female dedicate.
Warnings: PG-13 for sexual situations/scenes and violence in other chapters. No language warnings.
Kenshin stood under the waterfall, its cool cascade chilling him as he allowed the water to flow over his naked form in the traditional misogi.
Kami-sama knows, I've got enough to cleanse myself of.
Flashes of duels and massacres fought their way through his mind, and he forced them back, not wanting this day to be tainted by his past.
Such a day… such a perfect day… He looked at the lightening sky through the curtain of water that purified him, and saw that the few clouds in the sky were tinted pink with the new day.
He had slept well that night, but in the early hours of the morning, he had awakened from a nightmare – one of the all-too-familiar dreams of battle.
Feeling tainted by the scent of blood that he could still unaccountably smell, he rose, pulling on his gi and hakama, and slipped out into the darkness.
Making his way to the Haru Kasumi waterfall, he had waded into the water and stood, trying to wash the blood off his soul.
It was dawning to be a perfect early-summer day – clear and warm – when a shout distracted him from his contemplation of what was to happen.
"Kenshin, you shouldn't be in there, you've just gotten over a fever!" The yell was from the bank, and Kenshin stepped out from under the torrent. Shaking the water from his eyes and hair, he waded over to where a spiky-haired man stood by his clothes.
"I merely came here because I wished to fully cleanse myself for today, that I did." His reply was level and calm, and he picked up the towel he had brought, beginning to dry himself. He had scarcely pulled on his loincloth when Sano grabbed the towel, and rubbed it enthusiastically on his hair.
"Wait – ow! – Sano, wait! – ouch! – Dammit, Sano, STOP IT!" Kenshin snatched the towel back, but the damage was done. The red thatch of hair on his head was now a puffy, tangled mess.
Sano grinned at the redhead's discomfort. "Ooops, sorry?"
Kenshin raised an eyebrow as he ran his fingers through his knotted mane. "You did that on purpose, that you did."
The tall man didn't deny it. "Yep."
Kenshin merely sighed, and pulled on his gi and hakama, and led the way back to the dojo.
-
Kaoru's hands shook as she tied the belt of her nagajuban. The knot wouldn't flatten, and she just ended up twisting the belt and making a horrible mess.
"Here, Kaoru, let me do that." Megumi's deft hands took the knot out of her hands gently, and Kaoru sighed with relief as the older woman's fingers picked at the tangle. As the snarled fabric came loose, Kaoru reached down, to attempt the tie again, but Megumi stilled her hands.
"I think you've done enough damage for now. We'll do this." With quick movements, she straightened the nagajuban, which Kaoru had also managed to crease, and tied it perfectly. "Tae!" she called across the room.
The other geisha, who was fussing with Kaoru's kimono on its stand in the corner, looked up. "Yes?"
"We have a very nervous woman here, who needs to be dressed in less than an hour. I need help, since Kaoru isn't much good for anything."
Kaoru, however, wasn't distracted enough that the remark went unnoticed. "Megumi!" she retorted, indignant. The fox-woman's grin sparkled up at her, and Kaoru realised that the teasing was to put her at ease.
The nagajuban in place, Tae brought over the kimono Kaoru was to wear, the white shiro-maku, its name meaning 'white-pure'.
The wedding kimono.
As Tae held open the sleeves, slipping them onto Kaoru's arms easily, Megumi folded the flaps across Kaoru's chest, crossing them, and tying the belt in place. Gently smoothing the material and tying the next belt, she softly said, "Kaoru, remember, we are with you in whatever – whatever – you choose to do."
Tae nodded in agreement, though Kaoru couldn't see it. "You're our sister – not blood, but heart. We'll support you."
Kaoru gave a weak laugh at the tones in their voices. I can hear joy, reassurance, hope… even a little jealousy? "You sound like you're trying to talk me out of marrying Kenshin."
Equally weak laughs greeted her feeble joke, and Megumi remarked, "It sounded like it, didn't it?" Kaoru's affirmative brought the first real laughter of the day, and she relaxed slightly at the companionable sound.
Tae shuffled over to the kimono rack, and lifted off the ice-white obi, bringing the cords and ties necessary for tying the complicated wedding pattern.
As the two geishas busied themselves tying the long sash around her, Kaoru stood silent, allowing her mind to flow.
I suppose this was destined to happen… when he told me that he loved me, that he wanted to marry me…
But I didn't know that I loved him then…
Though I think that I did know, in a strange way… Then she shook her head. She was thinking too much. All that she needed to know was that she loved Kenshin, and she wanted to marry him.
Wanted to spend the rest of her life with him… It was an incredible, wonderful feeling, but terrifying as well. While she would always have someone to support her and be with her through her best moments, he would also see all her worst moments, know the worst parts of her character.
A fresh set of shudders shook her frame as Megumi wound the obi cord around her waist. The older woman moved around to the front of Kaoru, and taking Kaoru's hands, she gently lifted them, and caressed them reassuringly.
"Kaoru, there's no need to worry. No need at all." Tae added her agreement from behind Kaoru, patting her shoulder. When the shudders stopped, the fox-woman gently hugged Kaoru around the shoulders, taking care not to crease the kimono.
Kaoru laughed shakily. "It's not that I'm worried… I'm just nervous… This is the biggest step I've ever taken on my own…"
"You're not on your own, Kaoru –" began Tae, but the bride interrupted.
"By my own decision, I mean." She turned to the geisha, and continued, "This is the biggest decision that I have ever made. Ever. I'm stepping out into the unknown, stepping off a precipice, and hoping that there's an invisible bridge…"
Megumi smiled at her younger sister's analogy. "One mistake there, Kaoru. There isn't a bridge." As Kaoru turned to her, confusion in her face, Megumi added, "But I know Kenshin will be there to catch you."
A warm smile, a genuine smile, curved Kaoru's lips at the correction.
-
The black haori on Kenshin's back warmed as he stood outside the shrine, waiting. The afternoon was about halfway through, and the sun was beginning to fade from the fierce heat of a summery midday.
Sano stood next to him, looking smart for once in black gi, grey hakama and black haori. His outfit bore what he regarded as his mon: the 'aku' character in white, surrounded by the traditional white circle.
A movement at the shrine's gate caught their attention, and they turned to see who it was.
Disappointingly, it wasn't Kaoru and her two 'sisters'. Instead, it was two people that were invited, but not expected: A tall, black-haired man, and a short woman.
"Hey, Shinomori!" yelled Sano to the tall man, "Thought you weren't coming!"
Aoshi nodded silently to both men, but Misao was slightly more verbose in her greeting. "Hello, Sano, Kenshin! How are you, Kenshin? Are you nervous? I was talking to Kaoru yesterday, and she said that she was. Mind you, you said that you were too when I asked you last. I would think that anyone would be…"
The young woman's chatter filled the silence that hung over the two men, and Kenshin actually gave a few real, if slightly shaky, smiles at her comments. Sano laughed at his friend's expression when Misao commented that, "Aoshi-sama said that someone's wedding is the most important step of their lives." Kenshin looked like he couldn't decide between smiling and fainting.
Misao was wearing a kimono for the occasion, and her hair had been scraped back into a traditional style also. That was probably the reason why, when Yahiko and Tsubame raced in the gate, slightly out of breath, the young man took in the group, and immediately said, "Where's ninja girl?"
"I'm right here, you idiot…" Misao turned, a vein popping in her forehead. Forgetting that she was in a kimono, she leapt, crying, "Kecho-Geri –!" The constricting skirt got in the way, and she lost her balance midair. Thankfully, Aoshi reached out, catching her before she hit the ground.
"Uumm… t-thank you, A-Aoshi-sama…" she stammered as he placed her down on her feet. No-one, except the woman in question, missed the soft look that passed over Aoshi's face in the second that he looked at Misao. She had been distracted by the stately progress of the three women that had followed the young couple through the shrine gate: one in a white kimono, two in multicoloured.
Kenshin's mind blanked as he saw the icy purity of Kaoru, from the white hood on her head, to the pale makeup on her face, and the colourless swish of white brocade that was her kimono. The only colour was the inky darkness of her hair, the red-painted lips, and her incredible, crystalline blue eyes.
My Kaoru… Kaoru… she is so beautiful… a goddess, an angel…
He was snapped out of his thoughts by a firm hand – he didn't know whose – in the small of his back. He stumbled forward, then remembered that he was supposed to be on the steps of the shrine, to take Kaoru's hand.
Making his way to the red doorway that marked the opening of the shrine, Kenshin waited an instant and an infinity, before Kaoru reached out and placed her small, pale-painted hand in his.
They stepped forwards, into the shrine.
-
As they followed the bride and groom into the shrine, Sano glanced across to Kaoru's two attendants. In truth, he scarcely noticed the shorter woman. His attention was all on the woman in a mauve-and-sage kimono.
As Megumi followed Kaoru, her hips swung invitingly, the 'wings' of her obi fluttering lightly with the graceful swaying movement, and Sano's eyes were glued to her well-shaped figure.
There was a momentary pause as the nuptial couple stopped at the entrance to the shrine to bow to the priest and miko, and as the wedding party grouped around the two, Sano took the opportunity to lean forwards and whisper into the fox-woman's ear.
"You look beautiful, Fox." His voice was quiet, but he saw smiles twitch into place on two ninja faces.
"Thank you, Sano," replied Megumi, her tone warm. The look she flicked at the two smiling shinobi indicated that she had seen the twitching lips. Sano grinned down at her, the reckless tilt of his mouth indicating that he didn't care who knew.
Then the priest, who had been quietly greeting Kaoru and Kenshin, said more loudly, "Those of you who are the wedding party, please follow us." He turned, and beckoned to the bride and groom. Obediently, they followed.
Yahiko came immediately after the two: as Kaoru's brother, and only relative, he was the prime witness to the marriage. Kenshin had no relatives, and though he had sent word to his master of his marriage, there had been no reply. So instead, he had asked Sano to be a witness for him.
Kaoru had requested her 'sisters' be present also. Megumi and Tae entered the shrine after Yahiko and Sano, hanging back a little. As they entered the main hall of the shrine, Sano momentarily ducked back.
I can't let the Fox watch this without her knowing I'm thinking of her… He knew that this was a prime opportunity to let her know how he felt… and that he hoped that they would carry out this same ceremony.
He couldn't brush a kiss on Megumi's lips, as he wanted to do, so with a quick, affectionate movement, he took her hand and laid a light peck on it before going to stand beside where Kenshin had knelt down.
-
Tsubame wavered at the entrance, wondering what to do. The wedding party had entered the shrine, and she and the two ninja were to wait outside. As Misao came over, they began chatting easily, but the young meiko still cast flickering glances at the tall man. She didn't trust him entirely. And, to be honest, she was still a little scared.
Shortly, the Okashira began to make his way over to the two of them, and she made a quick, frightened squeak to Misao – something the kunoichi didn't entirely catch, but decided that it was equivalent of "I need to go to the toilet."
The girl scuttled off around the corner, and a quiet, deep chuckle followed her.
"She's still nervous around me." Aoshi's voice was amused, and he folded his arms gently around Misao's shoulders, laying a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Misao smiled gently, and stepped out of Aoshi's embrace. "She's a good girl, and she'll do well as a geisha. I was just saying that to her, two days ago – I think – and she blushed and stammered out that she wasn't sure that being a geisha was the best thing for her. I think I know what she means, but even if she stopped being a meiko, she'd have to move, and then –"
"You mean, I suppose, that she likes Yahiko." Aoshi interrupted Misao's stream of chatter with a concise statement. To this Misao nodded, and was about to answer, when Aoshi added on his next statement. "She will need to calm her emotions if she is to be successful as a geisha. What were you talking of?"
Misao nodded again, and this time, got to answer the question. "We were talking about the wedding. Tsubame especially said how beautiful Kaoru looked. Did you think that she was beautiful? That was a gorgeous kimono she was wearing, too. I think that it would look very good on me. I wouldn't mind being where Kaoru is –"
"I would not mind being in Kenshin's position one day." Aoshi's quiet words cut off Misao's prattle as easily as a katana. The kunoichi turned to him, eyes wide.
"You mean you wouldn't mind being married one day?" For once, she didn't babble, but posed the question and left it at that.
Aoshi nodded silently.
The young woman was almost afraid to ask the question that logically followed. "And… and would you… would you like to marry anyone…?"
The man's face went blank for the merest moment. "I have… I have some idea of what I would like the woman I marry to be like."
Misao's eyes fell, and her phrase was flat. "Oh." I probably don't measure up to his standards…
Though she couldn't see it, Aoshi's eyes twinkled briefly. "I want her to be pretty – with long black hair, I like that – and sparkling eyes."
A brief spark of a thought shot through Misao, and the man's voice continued.
"I want her personality to be bright and bubbly. I want her to be full of life and spark. I want her to be able to love without condition, to be able to be loved without condition. I want her to be able to handle any weapons life throws to her, and throw herself into the fight with reckless abandon. I want her to be my match in every way."
As he said this uncharacteristically long speech, Misao's head lifted slowly.
"Oh!" The phrase was stunned, this time. Misao had had an inkling of what he meant when he mentioned long black hair, but as he said that he wanted her to be able to handle weapons, her suspicion peaked.
"I want her to be you, Misao." Aoshi's voice was quiet and sincere.
Aoshi-sama's proposing… Aoshi-sama's proposing… Aoshi-sama's proposing… echoed through Misao's mind for a full minute before it actually sunk in, and even then it hadn't entirely made connection.
"Oh…" This time, the phrase was considering and disbelieving.
O Kami-sama, if you were ever good to me, be good to me now… Aoshi waited, nerves more on edge now than they had ever been before a ninja mission or a battle.
Then Misao's mouth opened, and the tall man hung on the silence.
"Yes. Yes, I will marry you, Aoshi-sama… Aoshi…"
She said my name… the Okashira had longed to hear that voice saying his name without any respectful suffixes.
At the sweet sound of Misao's answer, he swept her up into his arms, holding her tight, heedless of the creases he was imparting on her kimono, and ignoring the fact that she was hanging a foot off the ground.
Gentle, his lips searched out hers, and a quiet kiss sealed both question and answer.
Cradling Misao still closer, Aoshi carefully lowered himself to sit on the shrine's steps, and his next words were ones of relief.
"You don't know how long I've wanted to hear you say that… to hear you say my name…"
"I always wanted to call you just Aoshi, too," Misao giggled gently, snuggling into his chest.
A soft smile lit both faces, and they sat for a while, Aoshi stroking the back of Misao's neck gently.
Misao giggled again. At the questioning look thrown to her, she said, "Kaoru was teasing me yesterday about how long it would take us to become engaged after her wedding… I'll have to tell her that we got there first!"
-
The nuptial couple knelt on the wooden floor of the shrine. The Shinto priest knelt beside them, and brought two bowls of water to them: dipping their hands in, and rinsing out their mouths, they performed the misogi.
After the simple purification ceremony, the priest lifted the harai-gushi, doubly cleansing the two who knelt before him. In his quiet voice, he called for the kami to bless this couple, and to make their life together fruitful and full.
Then a miko in the traditional white-and-red shuffled forwards, a tray in her hands. It carried a sake set: three dishes stacked on top of each other, small, medium and large. A jug full of the colourless rice wine sat next to them, and as the miko set down the tray, she turned its handle towards Kaoru.
With a polite bow to the miko, then a deeper one to the priest, and a still deeper one to Kenshin, she picked up the jug. It was time for the ritual of San-San-Ku-Do, the eighteen sips of sake that would seal them as husband and wife.
Her hands shook slightly as she poured the smallest cup full to the brim of sake.
I'm not supposed to be shaking. It's the happiest day of my life… she thought, but her hands trembled nonetheless as she lifted the dish, and extended it to Kenshin.
Kenshin saw the quivering of her hands, and as he took the cup, he smiled at her warmly, reassuringly, though inside he was shaking just as much as she.
I shouldn't be nervous… I'm finally marrying Kaoru! he thought as he brought the cup to his lips in the three customary sips. Reaching to Kaoru, he placed the dish in her hands, noting that the trembling was subsiding.
A shaky smile passed over her lips before she brought the cup to her lips. Three sips, and she placed it down, reaching for the jug again, and filling the medium-sized cup.
The cup was placed in Kenshin's hands, and he lifted it to his mouth – three more sips. Kaoru's three sips were through tense lips, which Kenshin's smile did nothing to ease.
Then the largest dish was filled. Kaoru handed it to Kenshin, thinking, This is the last… he takes this drink, I take this drink, and we are married…
Three sips of sake crossed Kenshin's lips, and as he handed the cup to Kaoru, he knew that he had done everything. Three more sips of sake, and we are married…
Kaoru paused for a long moment before she brought the third cup to her mouth. Then the sake was sliding down her throat, and she was a married woman.
After deep bows to the priest and the miko, Kenshin's hand extended to hers, and they moved to the altar, where a bundle of small twigs lay – the sakaki that were the symbolic offering.
The last gesture made, the new husband and wife turned as one, and walked out into the bright sun – together.
Author's Notes: I have tried to follow the traditional wedding ceremony as closely as possible. Unfortunately, there are numerous variations, so there are some versions which include misogi, some which include using the harai-gushi, some have vows included, etc. However, they all include San-San-Ku-Do. I have tried to construct the wedding ceremony as accurately as possible. Family and close friends are the only people allowed at the Shinto ceremony, so I have used the term 'witnesses', as this is effectively their role.
No complaints, please, about the AxM. Aaah, the joy of meringue. I did warn you… And since everyone else seemed to be getting the action, I wanted to put at least a little AxM in there.
Review Replies: Thanks to all my reviewers!
Brittanie Love – Thanks! Here's the update – enjoy!
inuyasha/kenshin gurl – Thanks. Isn't it just all meringuey and wonderful!
Hannah – Thanks very much! Though, can you please say a little more… I would like to know what you thought was good… So I can improve everything else!
Crewel – Addicted? Oooh, I'm not sure whether that's good or not! As for reviewing… no, as you can see, you're actually the fourth person to review! (Wow, people review fast!) As for the SxM situation… sorry, that's under wraps right now! So I can't tell you if you will be sad and disappointed… Arigato gozaimasu for the fanart! It's the first fanart I've ever been sent! Encourage pika to draw more, please! It's excellent – I especially love the 'dream' picture – so cute!
scythe195 – Er, I'm not sure if you mean the end scene or when Rurouni and Battousai separated, but thanks! As for Kenshin's gi…
Rurouni: Please, scythe-dono, give this one's gi back… this one is cold, that this one is…
Battousai: Oh, harden up, Rurouni. Don't be a wimp.
Rurouni/muttering/ Says he, who is nice and warm in his gi…
Battousai/currently being hugged (strangled) by scythe/ Urk! Nix-chan… get this… author… urk! …off me…
Rurouni: Oh, harden up, Battousai. Don't be a wimp.
Battousai/muttering and massaging neck/ Says he, who is used to being hugged…
…madness, utter madness… But anyway, here's the update.
evilteddybear /embarrassed laugh/ Er, I do tend to go a little overboard on the meringue sometimes… You're welcome, for the update!
Anonymous miss – Thanks! But the ending's a little too meringue-ish… /sweatdrops/ Glad you liked it, anyway!
kenshinlover2002 – I think that there are very few people who would deny Battousai anything. I'm not sure that it 'pays off' to be Battousai… as you have to go through a lot to get there…
Battousai: Yes. Do not try to become Battousai. It hurts.
Rurouni: Master Hiko's training was rather… hellish, that it was.
…as to the SxM situation, that's not allowed to be revealed as yet. You'll see shortly!
Thefunnymonkey – Thanks for reading… but don't sneak on to get it – it tends to get your Internet privileges revoked… which is not a good thing. At all. But no, I didn't realise that 'Kenshin' rhymes with 'tension'… never really thought about it! Thanks again, and hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Crisa Rei – I read the chapter again, and yes, 'sister' is overused… /sweatdrops/ But I had to emphasise the relationship between Kaoru and Megumi. 'Beloved' I don't think I overused… perhaps more than necessary, though, yes. Pear… mmm… yummy… me like pear…
Peachie-Chan – No, it's not the end. Trust me, you'll know when it's the end… You'll have me sprawled all over the keyboard, sobbing, and Rurouni will be trying to cheer me up… I might even get too emotional for Battousai to stand…
Rurouni/patting a sobbing Peachie/ She's not listening, Nix-dono…
thechickenlittle – I just noticed, you changed your name! No '2000' on the end! Oh well, I think thechickenlittle is easier to remember.
Battousai: Who's the idiot with the weird hair?
Nix/deep sigh/ That's Chrono, Battousai. You'll be helping him to be Muse for chickenlittle.
Battousai: WHAT! You're lending me out again!
Nix: Er, no… not really…
Battousai/death glare/
Nix: Chrono'll keep an eye on her… won't you, Chrono? He won't let her use you for yaoi.
Chrono (guest appearance): Sure. She doesn't do yaoi, anyway.
Battousai/suspicious glare at Chrono/
Chrono: Honest. Cross my heart. /grin/
Battousai: Fine. /follows chickenlittle and Chrono, a black cloud hanging over his head/ Anyone would think Nix-chan didn't like me…
(Apologies for any mischaracterisation of Chrono, I've only seen one volume of the manga. /sweatdrops/)
midnite cherry blossomz – Thanks, and here's the update!
kitsune /winces/ I think I'm just going to say, well, if Battousai utterly shreds you, I can't say I didn't warn you.