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Losing Pleasures of Simplicity

It was a hot summer day in Edo, and the bazaar was full of civilians and their bargains.

"Kenshin, come here." Kaoru sweetly called.

And obediently, her husband came to her bidding, "Hai, koishii?"

"Can you take care of Kenji while I look for some herbs? I'm scared that Kenji will play with everything he sees in that place, and I bet you the owner won't be as forgiving like last time." she handed him the rebelling child, knowing he would accept, "I'll be back as fast as I can. And don't drop him okay?"

Kenshin chuckled, "Of course I won't, koishii. Take your time."

"Haha ue! Haha ue!" Kenji cried helplessly. He turned to his father whining more spoiled than any other child. "No! No chichi ue! Kenji don't want chichi!"

"Oya Kenji…" Kenshin smiled. Stepping aside from his place, Kenshin decided to head for a quieter setting, one with no crowd, until Kaoru got back. The people and the noise weren't making his job any easier. "Let's go here, Kenji. Until okaasan gets back."

"Haha ue! Haha ue!" he cried again. (Haha ue: "Mommy" affectionate way to call mother.)

An unattractive and remote place he chose. Rotten wood still stood against time and termites, but managed to gain a few peaks and cracks. Light shone through, though helpless to guide the father. Into an old tavern, shortly abandoned, he stepped inside the shadows to conceal his child from the light, hoping him more ease.

"Kenji…" he smiled at the most precious creation, "Okaasan will be very angry with me if you continue crying when she comes back."

The toddler wailed on, unmistaken to Kenshin that his cries grew louder. His tears were real and made Himura question what was making him fear like so.

With slightly furrowed brows, the father rubbed Kenji's back a little more vigorously unable to calm him. "What is burdening you, Kenji? …Have I done something?"

Himura…

He heard a bitter voice call to him.

Battousai…

He immediately shot sharp glares into the dark. "Do not toy with me. Come out." Through the child's cries, he listened instinctively for the third message, but found none. Lightly, the hated feeling had gone from his senses, and left him to think, 'Am I going mad…? That voice—' Even his keen eyes couldn't find anything in the dark. But that loathing presence that had came and gone so quickly, felt much familiar.

"Excuse me, sir- Oh, Kenshin-san- is that you? What are you doing in this old dorm?" from the entrance, Yashiro asked with kindness.

"Forgive me, this unworthy one is in your way-"

"No, no. I don't mind. I was to come here for inspection. This old beauty has lasted for years on end. But unfortunately, I don't think it'll last much longer than it already has. Selling it would be an option, but who do you think will but this place? So we're deciding whether to keep it, or construct a new building. Personally, I don't recommend keeping it."

"Only if it would seem more safe, Yashiro-san."

The small man grew merry and nodded. "That's the main point, really. –This is Kenji?" he referred to the being his Kenshin's arms, who stopped crying shortly after the landlord's arrival. "I haven't seen him since he was one years old! My, he's starting to look much like you, isn't he? Just you wait till he grows up- a spitting image of his father."

"I would hope he'd grow up to be a good and fine man."

"That's good to hear. Well, I better not waste anymore time pondering around here. It gives me chills, I hear it's haunted." He watched Kenshin's pleasant reaction, "-But of course that can't be true! right?"

Unknowing what to answer with, Himura shrugged with a gesture of friendliness.

Yashiro stepped further to explore the damage inflicted by duration.

Surprise!

"No! –stop!" He was late to warn and yield Yashiro from the obstructive intruder. In an instant, from the reflection of the blade, a flash of light blinded Kenshin. The splotches of red ink applied the wooden floor and his white hakama. Kenji was fortunately in time to be hidden from the gorge. Kenshin stared unbelievingly at the head of his friend, "No…"

"What's wrong Battousai, I know it's not the first time death has met your eyes."

Kenji began crying again.

"Who…"

Gentle words found him, "Kenshin? Kenshin- what are you doing here? It's so dark in there. Please, come out. Kenji is crying now." Kaoru insisted.

"Kenji want Haha ue!" His son desperately reached for his mother.

"We'll meet, Himura."

"Wait-!"

"Wait? Who was that? Kenshin…? Are you…"

"No, do not enter, koishii, that you shouldn't. Your eyes do not deserve the sight here, let's go outside." He quickly said, softly pushing her back to the face the sun.

Kenji was handed to Kaoru, wanting the infant to stop crying in his mother's arms. "Kenshin? -There's blood on you! What happened Kenshin?"

"Kaoru…there has been a murder there…That man, he killed Yashiro-san." His head dipped into guilt, "I couldn't not see that man's face, let alone stop him."

"Iya…No, Yashiro-san…"

"Go home, koishii. I'll settle this. This unworthy one does not wish for you to be caught with my problem."

"But Kenshin- You problems are mine. I won't leave you alone! Especially in a case like this!"

He stroked Kenji's back, and smiled at her, "Take care of Kenji. That is all I ask of koishii."

"…Don't be killed. There are so many problems we dealt with in the past. And every one of them drew a thin line between life and death. Come home tonight, Kenshin."


"Do you intend to keep killing like this?..."

"I thought about my answer. Whether I would have killed you, if you had had a sword. The answer is no. I wouldn't kill you. Whatever happened, I could never do that to you. Not to you, never …Let's live together. I don't know how long it will last, but, it doesn't have to be for show. Together, till death do us part."

"--I want to find a way to protect others without taking life. While finding a way to atone for the crime of stealing other's happiness with my own hands. Tomoe…"

"Tomoe…"

Warm air filled the night, and the sun had just set though it was late evening. Kenshin sat against the railing of the balcony, wondering why there were sudden thoughts about his old love. Why Tomoe had left him with such unhappy memories of death. 'I don't understand why you have haunted me for this time…What is it that I have unfulfilled?' His eyes shut tighter, trusting that phantoms of the past were not to be touched.

"Himura-san, am I disturbing you?" Yamayoshi respectfully interrupted his brief reminiscence and caught Kenshin off-guard, "I would like to discuss the matters of this afternoon. –Kawaji-san will be arriving shortly too…"

"Yes, of course." Both men retreated back into the office, and stood unmoved in wait of the Police Commissioner's presence.

"Himura-san, you're sure you know nothing of the man who attacked and murdered Ochira Yashiro?"

"No. But that voice seemed vaguely familiar. I've never heard of it...but I know."

"Most interesting concept, Himura-san." Sighing exhaustingly, Yamayoshi cleansed his eyewear as if they were dusty, "I don't know how to respond to this depiction, but one thing is for sure; we have a murderer on the loose. The streets of Edo will not be safe unless he, or god forbid a she, is brought to justice."

A pair of redwood doors opened at Kawaji's arrival. He bowed mannerly at Kenshin and reached his hand out, "It is pleasant to meet again with you, Himura-san."

"And to you, Kawaji-san."

Making his way to the coordinated sofas, Kawaji offered them seats before the long discussion to come, and sat last. "Your concern of this is great to us, Himura-san. What can you relate this common man with? Can you recall anything of the past of him?"

"Or her." Yamayoshi added.

The harsh looking man nodded uncertainly, a bit annoyed by his cut-off. "Yes...or her."

"Ano...When I sensed his presence, I only sensed hate, revenge, and nothing else. It was pure emotion. I haven't felt such precision since my battle with Soujirou, one of Makoto Shishio's ten swords. The loath was so great, that I could hear what he was thinking...It sounds skeptical; my contradicting recognition, but I do recall some kind of history with his ki." Two officials gave him blank stares. "Killing-ki. With Joy comes fighting-ki, and with anger comes killing-ki. He wanted to kill me, but he restrained his rage against his will. I don't know why..."

"I see. Do you think he might be one of Makoto's followers?"

"I'm afraid not, Kawaji-san. I would've recognized who it was."

"-What about this Soujirou character? You say he is similar to this foe?"

"Yamayoshi-san- let me handle the questions. You listen." Kawaji drew his impatience out. "Now, where do you prefer us looking first?"

Himura paused in his thinking, "That I do not know...I suggest keeping alert at all times. And I will do so for my family."

"If that's all you can tell us, Himura-san, then we'll have to let you go. I understand your position as a father and a husband. I promise you our best tries in capturing this criminal."

"There is nothing more I ask of you." Kenshin bowed deeply and headed for the doors, opening them. "Kawaji-san, Yamayoshi-san, I bid you farewell." The heavy doors shut quietly behind the departing guest.

Yamayoshi stared uneasily at his comrade, "Kawaji-san, I really don't think Himura-san has anything to do with the murder."

"That may be true...but somehow he is a hazard to us. Trouble may stir in this town because of him."

"But he is an honest man. Okubo-sama...would've thought so."

They closed their eyes in memory of the early departed governor. "I know he would've. There is too much going on. I wish to capture the slayer of Okubo-sama as you do, but our first priority is to settle matters here. I'm not blaming Himura-san, but just opening the discussion. The chances and assuming-"

"We shouldn't assume like so. I know, with all due respect, that you're presumption is wrong. I have great faith in that man."

"Then…I hope you're right."


Every while, she looked outside, wondering if he'd ever be back. Dinner was already frozen, and she hadn't eaten anything as from loss of appetite. Kenshin had worried her and she refused to rest until he returned. Kenji ceased to cry and fell into deep sleep in his mother's arms. Negative thoughts were unwelcome, though she cheated somewhat. A chance of his death had controlled her fear, and she hugged tighter to the bundle of warmth in her arms and needed what little comfort her son had to offer.

"Kaoru?" Yahiko called, "It's getting late, Kaoru. Get some sleep. Kenshin will be back, I'll keep watch."

"No…I can stay awake, Yahiko-chan. You can go home now, I'll be fine."

The teenager looked regretfully at Kaoru, knowing the consequences he'll receive for letting her stay up so late. He dropped his shoulders in loss, and sat down on the stairs next to his teacher. "No…I'll wait with you, then." A warm hand rested on her farther shoulder, the owner smiling.

In the dark night, yet so warm, Kenshin still hadn't come back. Kaoru grew weary and tense all the same. Yahiko laid backwards sprawled across the floor with his arms out. He still looked like a child, no matter how hard he tries not to. Kaoru placed the sleeping Kenji by his side, and covered them with a white shawl.

Restless, the woman who thought she was widowed walked to the entrance, looking both ways for her husband.

A light breeze brushed her iromuji against her bare legs and hands. She could see nothing besides night. Not even the danger.

"Boo!" A large hand clasped her mouth tightly, attempting to suffocate. Kaoru wormed and pounded against the muscled arm of the giant man. She felt her nerves being cut off from the rest of her body, blood stopped where he squeezed. Kaoru rolled her eyes up, unable to resist the strength.

"Bastard!" The grip of the man loosened as he stumbled forward towards the ground. "Are you okay Kaoru?" he lifted the weight of his friend on one arm, and turned to the abductor, "Who the hell are you!" Yahiko's roar even made Kenji try to escape from his hand's grasp.

"Jisan!" he yelped.

"Re-retreat! Retreat the plan!" he yelled.

"Oh no you don't!" Yahiko knocked him unconscious with one swift strike of the sakabou tou. He whirled around to find the enemy's partner just escaping in time, "Yameru!- no…It can't be."

The intruder smirked and leapt from the roof into the dark.

The toddler sniffled, tugging at his mother's sleeve, "Kenji is scared, jisan…"

"It's…alright now." 'But not for long…'


Golden light illuminated everything it touched, the scenery was beautiful as nature intended.

Dawn was reborn, and Kenshin still hadn't returned to Kaoru.

Wandering aimlessly, as he once was, Himura walked on the dirt road next to the running rivers.

"But, even though I was so happy, all I could do was look at him in amazement. No matter how much I hate it, I can hardly ever smile. Maybe that's why I never told him how happy I was. Because I thought that way, if I hadn't found something--someone to hate, I would have gone mad…you gave me another happiness…Farewell, my second love."

'No…Why must I still think of her, Tomoe.'

Relentlessly walking, he came upon a bridge…with two people on it.

"Who's…that…" Shielding whatever light he could, he saw two tall figures. One with wild hair, broad figure, and a sword in hand.

'I can't be…' violet pupils shrunk in incredulity, "…You're…Enishi." He turned his gaze beside the vengeful man, and saw his obsession. "Tomoe!"

A frightening grin was glued to his face, "What's wrong, battousai? You look like you've my long dead sister's ghost…"


How was it? My prelude wasn't good…did I make it up?

I know that the story isn't accurately placed according to the manga, (The events are switched) but this is my thing so… Enjoy what you can. Review please! 