Reflections Of Another
You reviewers have been great! Thank you so much once again.
Crewel: Lol, thank you! You're too kind. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Sky Fairy 77: Yes, I thought so too. But I was rather confused over how to end, so yeah. I might change it when I get better ideas. :S
Kenshinfan2000: Yes, yes! Exactly what I was thinking too! I was thinking of childbirth too! But I haven't exactly thought out a proper chapter for it yet. However, this chapter will be about Gensai's death. Ah, you and I think alike!
Shysie: Thank you! There was much frustration, but I never really thought it out to be angst. However, I'm glad you caught on to the emotions! Thank you so much!
EDITED after reading Sky Fairy 77's review.
Disclaimer: You know the drill. RK isn't mine, the end.
It was shortly after dinner when Yoshi insisted on Sanosuke telling him a good night story about his father's "mighty warrior days". Sano enjoyed boasting to his son about how awesome it was to fight side by side with the legendary swordsman, Hitokiri Battousai. Yoshi even got excited every time his father shows him the Futae no Kiwami extreme fist move.
Megumi sighed and a soft smile played along her lips. She stood by the door listening as Sanosuke wrapped up his story and put Yoshi to bed. The bond between father and son was really great.
Sanosuke blew off the oil lamp and walked out of the door grinning boyishly at Megumi as he put an arm around her waist and walked her to the kitchen where she washed the dishes. Sano sat on the wooden stool and helped her to dry the plates. Megumi paused and contemplated for a fair bit.
"Yoshi and you certainly have a strong connection…" Megumi praised with a secret smile on her face.
Sano chuckled and put the plates away as he stood up and walked towards Megumi. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and murmured in her ear.
"Why, love? Do you happen to be… jealous?"
Megumi laughed and turned around to face Sanosuke. She looked into those deep dark brown eyes she loved so much. Never in her mind had she ever planned on marrying this man that she used to call crazy, stupid, childish, idiotic… Almost any insult she could find!
"Oh yes, I'm jealous that my husband pays more attention to our child than me…"
Sano gave a mysterious smile and suddenly whisked Megumi up into his arms. Megumi screamed with shock and surprise and asked Sanosuke to put her down.
"I bet you haven't had such thrill and excitement for a long time, right?" Sanosuke asked cheekily as he let Megumi down.
"Right," Megumi replied sarcastically as she stifled a laugh.
They spent the rest of the night together in their room, talking about their love and what brought them together. Megumi loved to discuss on how they got married and confessed their love for each other. She felt like it brought them closer each and every time.
"I love you, Megumi." Sano said abruptly.
"I love you too, Sanosuke." Megumi replied with emotion.
"You know what? I would want myself to die before you," Sano started and received a strange and awkward look from Megumi. "I wouldn't want to see you die…"
Megumi thought about this for awhile and tears flowed out of her eyes silently without Sano knowing. Finally, she gave her reply.
"I'd rather you die before me, so that I'll suffer the grief of losing you than you suffer the loneliness."
Sano sighed and hugged Megumi tightly.
"We won't lose each other,"
Sanosuke finally fell asleep but Megumi couldn't help pondering over the night. Especially the day Doctor Gensai passed away… It strengthened her friendship with Kenshin and Kaoru and made everyone appreciate each other more. She still couldn't believe she lost her beloved teacher.
10 years back. Megumi: 32, Sanosuke: 29.
Doctor Gensai's Death.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" A loud voice bellowed from the doorway.
Kaoru together with Kenshin stood at the edge of the door. They rushed down to Doctor Gensai's house after receiving news that he was in critical condition and could pass on any moment.
Suzume was sobbing quietly at a corner as Ayame, though very upset, tried to be strong and consoled her sister. They couldn't believe their favourite grandfather who took care of them, and doted on them for so many years is going to pass on.
"How is his condition, Megumi-dono?" Kenshin asked politely.
Megumi turned around and looked at Kenshin's face. His face had turned rather mature and older in a way, and he sported shorter hair now. Tears welled up in Megumi's eyes.
"It's… going to be hard for him to survive. T-That's all I can say." Megumi choked between tears.
Kaoru stopped in her tracks and fell to the floor as tears flowed out of her eyes as well. Kenshin put an arm around her sadly and comforted her as Sano and Yahiko looked at each other blankly.
"Aya-chan… S-Suzu-chan…"
Doctor Gensai whispered hoarsely from the bed for his two grand daughters. Sanosuke ushered them over as they harshly tried to wipe their tears away from their eyes. Suzume, being the younger one cried so hard her eyes were red and swollen.
"Y-You're grown up now… D-Don't let future obstacles bring you down… G-Grandpa loves you…"
"Grandpa… D-Don't worry, I'll take care… I'll take care of Suzu-chan and everyone… I-I'll be strong, Grandpa…" Ayame sobbed amongst her tears.
Suzume didn't say anything but just sobbed and hugged her grandfather for the last time.
"K-Kenshin-dono, everyone, please take care of my granddaughters for me… T-They're my treasures in this…"
With that last breath, Doctor Gensai passed away, with Ayame and Suzume screaming and wailing. Even Sanosuke and Yahiko blinked away their tears as they watched the old man struggle for life and fail.
Megumi and Kaoru dropped a white cloth over Doctor Gensai's body and continued to sob in the arms of their loved ones.
"Don't worry, Suzu-chan, I will be here to take care of you and protect you," Ayame said strongly.
"Ane-san…" Suzume cried as she hugged her sister tightly.
Megumi ran out of the room, dropped onto the floor and cried terribly. Her memory was once again implanted with another death. She wanted this to stop.
"M-Megumi…" Kaoru choked between tears as she came out looking for Megumi.
Megumi looked at Kaoru forlornly and fell into each other's arms.
"I-I lost someone close to me important again… I-I can't believe I couldn't do anything to save him… H-He was my greatest teacher ever!" Megumi cried angrily.
"I-I know, I lost my father too… M-Megumi, don't worry… We'll always have each other… We always will."
"He believed in me... He trusted..." Megumi choked out as the tears fell to the floor endlessly.
"W-We all believe in you, Megumi. K-Kenshin, Sanosuke and myself, even!" Kaoru said as she tried to hold back the tears.
"Oh Kaoru… I'm so sorry..."
They both tried to give a weak smile, but were overwhelmed by grief. The wooden planked porch was soaked with tears. It wasn't until Kenshin and Sanosuke came out to comfort them an hour later, did they leave the porch. However, just these few words that were exchanged between the two women changed something in their friendship forever.
A few days later, Doctor Gensai's burial ceremony was completed. Monks were called in to chant prayers and many of Doctor Gensai's old patients and friends came for the ceremony. The Kenshin-gumi, Ayame and Suzume were all slowly recovering from the grief and accepted Doctor Gensai's death.
It was an obstacle they had to learn to move on with.
Many people brought flowers and placed them on the grave. Ayame and Suzume both placed a paper crane on Doctor Gensai's grave, the paper crane their dear grandfather had taught them to fold while they were still young kids. They all said their last prayers at the grave and began to disperse.
"Come on, let's get going now." Kenshin said as he ushered them out of the graveyard.
As they walked out of the cemetery, a strong gust of wind blew, and both the paper cranes flew up into the sky.
How was it? I liked this chapter the best, for a strange reason. Anyway, sadly, this is NOT the end of the story! I still have more I want to write about. Hehe. Give me ideas, people! Chapter 4 will be up soon!