(A/N: I got fewer reviewers for the last chapter...could it be that I
scared them away with my horrible grammar problems? NOOOOO!!!!!! Tell me
it is not so!!!!!!!! I'm fine now.... I'll fix my mistakes later so
please don't get upset. Anyway, gomen ne for the late update, I've been
busy lately and my grade have fallen to critical levels that I will not
mention for my parents were none to happy to see them. *Sigh* Well, ladies
and gents on with this fic!)
Disclaimer: Don't own, never have, and never will. If you say otherwise I will kick your arse to Jupiter and back. If I can't do that I'll catapult ya there. Ya hear me?! Thank you for your cooperation.
KEY
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
^~^~^ Dream/Flashback ^~^~^~
~~~~ Change of Scene ~~~~
A Reason to Live
Chapter 3: Of Memories and Revelations
Megumi exited the shoji door of the guest room and closed the door behind here and walked toward the Kenshin-gumi who were now sitting in front of a now empty dinner table. She sighed and sat down next to Sanosuke.
"Well, Megumi how is Jin-san?" Kaoru asked with a concerned expression on her face while the others leaned in for her reply.
"He has suffered several mild scars but blood loss and infection would have killed him, but fortunately it didn't. He lost a significant amount of blood, but amazingly there was no infection. He had multiple wounds on his back, some suggested the use of a whip and the more recent ones were inflicted by the use of a sword most likely from a scuffle with the local yakuza. More wounds were found on his arms legs and chest. He also suffered a mild concussion and it still amazes me how he got her without immediate medical treatment with all of those injuries," Megumi told them her analysis of the situation, rubbed her temple, and drank her tea, "other than that, he should fully recover with treatment and rest."
They all grimaced at the extent of the status on Jin and relaxed knowing that he will survive. Silence encompassed them all as they contemplated upon Jin's arrival.
Sanosuke broke the silence, "All we have to find out now is if he's a good guy or a bad guy." Kenshin and the others except Kaoru nodded in agreement.
"I don't think he's a bad person. I mean he used to be a student of my father," Kaoru stated.
"If sessha remembers correctly Kaoru-dono, Gohei used to be a student of your father and became a hitokiri and sought revenge on your dojo," Kenshin reminded Kaoru of the past ordeal. 'If he turns out to be someone like Gohei, I won't hesitate to strangle him, slice him to pieces, and set his remains on fire." Kenshin thought to himself as he eyed Kaoru.
Kaoru grimaced at the mention of Gohei's name and spoke up, "I guess we don't really know for sure until we ask him why he came here, ne?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Megumi took her chance to speak, "That will have to wait, since he is now my patient, I don't want any strain on him."
"Aw come on kitsune, we're only going to ask him a question not poke him and prod him to death." Sanosuke joked.
"Baka tori-atama! Don't you have any consideration for the well being of people other than yourself, you egotistical pig," Megumi retorted.
"What'd you just call me?!"
"You heard me,"
They continued to argue loudly into the night as the others observed and tried to calm them down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
A small blonde haired boy ran around playing with four older brown haired children while their parents watched. He laughed and saw that the oldest child (a boy) had decided to change the game.
"Can I play too? Can I? Can I? Onii-chan onegai can I play?" The blonde smiled up to the older boy with bright blue eyes filled with mirth.
"Gomenasai Jin-chan, you can't play this time, you're too little," The older boy smiled down at him and ruffled the Jin's hair.
"Oh ok," Jin looked down at the ground, the older boy gave him a stick and told him to use it like a shinai to practice Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Jin nodded and went to the back of the house to practice alone.
After 20 strikes he heard his mother scream. He dropped his stick and ran toward her panicked voice. When Jin finally got there, he saw his onii- chan and the other children bound by their hands and legs writhing in a pile. Four large burly men were beating his mother and father as they screamed in pain and anguish. Jin hid in a bush and was frozen to the spot and dared not move lest he risk being discovered.
Jin heard the children pleading for them to stop, but the men only laughed cruelly and continued to beat the parents fiercely. One of the men took his mother and began to rape her. Jin was horrified, his voice gone, and the piercing screams from his mother filled the air mixed in with the cruel laughter of their molesters. Jin's father began to fight back trying to rescue his wife, but another man took out his katana and sliced off his head and then kicks his partner off Jin's mother and beheaded her.
The blood sprayed everywhere and some splattered on Jin. Jin stared at the blood confused at first, but as realization struck him, his soul was consumed with sorrow.
"Tou-san...Kaa-san...TOU-SAN!!!! KAA-SAN!!!!!"
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
Jin woke up with a start staring blindly at the ceiling cold sweat pouring down his face. He blinked slowly a few times and sighed.
'It's been ten years since that incident and yet it still haunts me. Its been engraved in my mind, my soul, and my heart...'
Jin's thoughts were interrupted when Kaoru walked in with a tray of food. Kaoru was surprised that he was awake, but put down the tray and smiled.
"I see that you are awake now," She smiled helping him up to a sitting position.
"Arigatou Kamiya-san," Jin smiled warmly back at her and began to eat the food. Everything was silent except for Jin's eating.
"Anou...Kamiya-san," Jin paused his eating, "where are the others?" "Kenshin went to the market to buy stuff for lunch and dinner. Yahiko and Sano went off to spend time in town." "Aa...Sou ka..." Silence. "Anou...Jin-san, may I ask you something?" "Of course Kamiya-san, what is it?" "Well...I...WE want to know who you really are and why you are here." Jin frowned, "I guess this subject would come sooner or later." "If you don't want to tell us anything, its fine, we can wait until you're ready." "Iie, it's not too much of a problem if I tell you. Onegai...keep this information to yourself if you will." "Hai." "I'm afraid that I can't give you complete answers, so for now, this will suffice. I am as I have mentioned before, a former student of your father. I am the youngest of five children in the Katsumura family and started training when I was four years old. I left Japan for ten years because of...family issues and just arrived back." "So, are you're alone...are you searching for your home and family?" "In a way, you can say that. Onegai...let's not dwell on the subject, let's just say the past brings back demons from within the shadows of time."
Jin finished his breakfast and went back to rest again. Kaoru took the bowls and tray to the kitchen closing the shoji door quietly. Kaoru washed the dishes in silence contemplating on Jin's revelation.
'I guess, I can't tell them what he confessed. He left so many holes in his story though and he seemed uncomfortable about the mention of his family. *Sigh* I won't press on it, he'll tell us in due time.'
The day went on quietly as the rest of the gang returned and Megumi came to change Jin's bandages and join in for dinner.
TBC...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Japanese Dictionary:
Shoji - rice paper panel sliding door
Yakuza - ruffians, gangs, thugs, etc.
Hitokiri - assassin, manslayer
Kitsune - fox
Baka - stupid
Tori-atama - chicken head
Onii-chan - older brother
Otou-san/Tou-san - father
Okaa-san/Kaa-san - mother
Katana - Japanese sword Arigatou - Thank you
Anou - Um.
Aa - Ah.
Sou ka - I see
Onegai/Onegaishimasu - Please
Hai - Yes, Okay
Iie - No
Reviewer Responses:
SailorLoneStar: I know that you're upset cous, but it's pretty much a hundred to one. You're fighting a losing battle here. Oi, it's not Kamimura-san's fault that she took your spot...again. I always inform you first and I talk to you on AIM AND I e-mail you. Hm...I guess Jin is a bit faultless and does seem to be a correction to Kenshin's flaws though I didn't really intend for it that way. I'M NOT PICKING ON KENSHIN!!
Marstanuki: You're most welcome and thanks for reviewing. Anou...k+k. You'll have to stick around to find out. I want to keep people in suspense; ya know what I mean.
Kamimura Kaoru: Yea, she's my cous. She knows you're sorry, but she seems to be keeping a grudge though. Ah well, it'll pass so don't worry about it. Hope you like this chapter.
(A/N: I know this probably wasn't a very exciting chapter. Next chapter should be better, yakusoku desu! Well, sayonara.until next we meet.)
Disclaimer: Don't own, never have, and never will. If you say otherwise I will kick your arse to Jupiter and back. If I can't do that I'll catapult ya there. Ya hear me?! Thank you for your cooperation.
KEY
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
^~^~^ Dream/Flashback ^~^~^~
~~~~ Change of Scene ~~~~
A Reason to Live
Chapter 3: Of Memories and Revelations
Megumi exited the shoji door of the guest room and closed the door behind here and walked toward the Kenshin-gumi who were now sitting in front of a now empty dinner table. She sighed and sat down next to Sanosuke.
"Well, Megumi how is Jin-san?" Kaoru asked with a concerned expression on her face while the others leaned in for her reply.
"He has suffered several mild scars but blood loss and infection would have killed him, but fortunately it didn't. He lost a significant amount of blood, but amazingly there was no infection. He had multiple wounds on his back, some suggested the use of a whip and the more recent ones were inflicted by the use of a sword most likely from a scuffle with the local yakuza. More wounds were found on his arms legs and chest. He also suffered a mild concussion and it still amazes me how he got her without immediate medical treatment with all of those injuries," Megumi told them her analysis of the situation, rubbed her temple, and drank her tea, "other than that, he should fully recover with treatment and rest."
They all grimaced at the extent of the status on Jin and relaxed knowing that he will survive. Silence encompassed them all as they contemplated upon Jin's arrival.
Sanosuke broke the silence, "All we have to find out now is if he's a good guy or a bad guy." Kenshin and the others except Kaoru nodded in agreement.
"I don't think he's a bad person. I mean he used to be a student of my father," Kaoru stated.
"If sessha remembers correctly Kaoru-dono, Gohei used to be a student of your father and became a hitokiri and sought revenge on your dojo," Kenshin reminded Kaoru of the past ordeal. 'If he turns out to be someone like Gohei, I won't hesitate to strangle him, slice him to pieces, and set his remains on fire." Kenshin thought to himself as he eyed Kaoru.
Kaoru grimaced at the mention of Gohei's name and spoke up, "I guess we don't really know for sure until we ask him why he came here, ne?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Megumi took her chance to speak, "That will have to wait, since he is now my patient, I don't want any strain on him."
"Aw come on kitsune, we're only going to ask him a question not poke him and prod him to death." Sanosuke joked.
"Baka tori-atama! Don't you have any consideration for the well being of people other than yourself, you egotistical pig," Megumi retorted.
"What'd you just call me?!"
"You heard me,"
They continued to argue loudly into the night as the others observed and tried to calm them down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
A small blonde haired boy ran around playing with four older brown haired children while their parents watched. He laughed and saw that the oldest child (a boy) had decided to change the game.
"Can I play too? Can I? Can I? Onii-chan onegai can I play?" The blonde smiled up to the older boy with bright blue eyes filled with mirth.
"Gomenasai Jin-chan, you can't play this time, you're too little," The older boy smiled down at him and ruffled the Jin's hair.
"Oh ok," Jin looked down at the ground, the older boy gave him a stick and told him to use it like a shinai to practice Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Jin nodded and went to the back of the house to practice alone.
After 20 strikes he heard his mother scream. He dropped his stick and ran toward her panicked voice. When Jin finally got there, he saw his onii- chan and the other children bound by their hands and legs writhing in a pile. Four large burly men were beating his mother and father as they screamed in pain and anguish. Jin hid in a bush and was frozen to the spot and dared not move lest he risk being discovered.
Jin heard the children pleading for them to stop, but the men only laughed cruelly and continued to beat the parents fiercely. One of the men took his mother and began to rape her. Jin was horrified, his voice gone, and the piercing screams from his mother filled the air mixed in with the cruel laughter of their molesters. Jin's father began to fight back trying to rescue his wife, but another man took out his katana and sliced off his head and then kicks his partner off Jin's mother and beheaded her.
The blood sprayed everywhere and some splattered on Jin. Jin stared at the blood confused at first, but as realization struck him, his soul was consumed with sorrow.
"Tou-san...Kaa-san...TOU-SAN!!!! KAA-SAN!!!!!"
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
Jin woke up with a start staring blindly at the ceiling cold sweat pouring down his face. He blinked slowly a few times and sighed.
'It's been ten years since that incident and yet it still haunts me. Its been engraved in my mind, my soul, and my heart...'
Jin's thoughts were interrupted when Kaoru walked in with a tray of food. Kaoru was surprised that he was awake, but put down the tray and smiled.
"I see that you are awake now," She smiled helping him up to a sitting position.
"Arigatou Kamiya-san," Jin smiled warmly back at her and began to eat the food. Everything was silent except for Jin's eating.
"Anou...Kamiya-san," Jin paused his eating, "where are the others?" "Kenshin went to the market to buy stuff for lunch and dinner. Yahiko and Sano went off to spend time in town." "Aa...Sou ka..." Silence. "Anou...Jin-san, may I ask you something?" "Of course Kamiya-san, what is it?" "Well...I...WE want to know who you really are and why you are here." Jin frowned, "I guess this subject would come sooner or later." "If you don't want to tell us anything, its fine, we can wait until you're ready." "Iie, it's not too much of a problem if I tell you. Onegai...keep this information to yourself if you will." "Hai." "I'm afraid that I can't give you complete answers, so for now, this will suffice. I am as I have mentioned before, a former student of your father. I am the youngest of five children in the Katsumura family and started training when I was four years old. I left Japan for ten years because of...family issues and just arrived back." "So, are you're alone...are you searching for your home and family?" "In a way, you can say that. Onegai...let's not dwell on the subject, let's just say the past brings back demons from within the shadows of time."
Jin finished his breakfast and went back to rest again. Kaoru took the bowls and tray to the kitchen closing the shoji door quietly. Kaoru washed the dishes in silence contemplating on Jin's revelation.
'I guess, I can't tell them what he confessed. He left so many holes in his story though and he seemed uncomfortable about the mention of his family. *Sigh* I won't press on it, he'll tell us in due time.'
The day went on quietly as the rest of the gang returned and Megumi came to change Jin's bandages and join in for dinner.
TBC...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Japanese Dictionary:
Shoji - rice paper panel sliding door
Yakuza - ruffians, gangs, thugs, etc.
Hitokiri - assassin, manslayer
Kitsune - fox
Baka - stupid
Tori-atama - chicken head
Onii-chan - older brother
Otou-san/Tou-san - father
Okaa-san/Kaa-san - mother
Katana - Japanese sword Arigatou - Thank you
Anou - Um.
Aa - Ah.
Sou ka - I see
Onegai/Onegaishimasu - Please
Hai - Yes, Okay
Iie - No
Reviewer Responses:
SailorLoneStar: I know that you're upset cous, but it's pretty much a hundred to one. You're fighting a losing battle here. Oi, it's not Kamimura-san's fault that she took your spot...again. I always inform you first and I talk to you on AIM AND I e-mail you. Hm...I guess Jin is a bit faultless and does seem to be a correction to Kenshin's flaws though I didn't really intend for it that way. I'M NOT PICKING ON KENSHIN!!
Marstanuki: You're most welcome and thanks for reviewing. Anou...k+k. You'll have to stick around to find out. I want to keep people in suspense; ya know what I mean.
Kamimura Kaoru: Yea, she's my cous. She knows you're sorry, but she seems to be keeping a grudge though. Ah well, it'll pass so don't worry about it. Hope you like this chapter.
(A/N: I know this probably wasn't a very exciting chapter. Next chapter should be better, yakusoku desu! Well, sayonara.until next we meet.)
