Oya…Writing is harder with that stupid wall blocking my way! Darn you writer's block!

It takes a lot to be a good writer; experience, knowledge, word choice, creativity, and research (a LOT of it on some occasions- trust me, I know, pathetic as it may seem). If my story is too unbearable to read, then I suggest the authors: omasuoniwabanshi or SiriusFan13 (applying to both: Which I'm SURE you've all heard of) Man do I wish I could get some in my left brain. It's completely dead. Would anyone kindly lend me some?

Iknownot: I know what you mean. I realized the difference after you mentioned it. I did put effort less of what's required (To me, that is) I'm usually very critical of myself. I'll try harder. And if you see the same results, consult me asap, because I know I have some major problems in my works. My English grade isn't any better either. Poowey… –n-

Anyway, on with the story!


Losing Pleasures of Simplicity part II

"So…you see her as well, do you, battousai." The tall man grinned, as malice as the devil. "Do you know what she wants? She wants your head, as much as I do."

Himura stepped aback from him, lowering his head and narrowing his amethyst eyes in sorrow. "No…I don't understand. Why are you here again, Enishi?"

Thick darkened brows dropped at the mention of that name, "Enishi? You are as blind as a mouse, battousai! I…am NOT, Enishi."


She heard two voices. Two distinct voices that she'd known through care.

"Iya, not again Kenji…You can't be such a coward. Your otouto needs scold you more often. He should! Kenshin's never laid an angry finger on you; I guess it's always been in his nature to be so gentle."

"Jisan."

"And don't call me jisan! I feel old! Call me niisan."

"…Jisan."

"Kenji!"

Kaoru let morning wetness of her eyes flow down. Silently yawning, she rubbed her eyelids for a moment, unthinking about yesterday's disaster.

"Haha ue!" Kenji immediately called. Smiling, Kaoru spread her arms out to him as he ran into her embrace.

Yahiko followed the child into the dojo, watching the reunion. "You know, your kid got stuck on that tree again."

"Again? Kenji…I told you not to climb until you knew how to get down by yourself."

"Hm." He grunted.

"That's it. I'm through with this spoiled thing, he asks too much of me. I'm never getting you off a single tree again." Lightly pouting, Yahiko turned away from Kenji and playfully walked off.

There came a knock on the door, surprising Yahiko as he hesitated to take his current step forward. The boy looked over his shoulder to Kaoru in silence; she shrugged and permitted entrance. Yahiko Lifted the heavy lock, and opened the pair of doors each with one hand. "Tsu-Tsubame? What are you-"

The young girl helped herself in with two other children, ignoring the gapping swordsman. "Kaoru-san, I'm sorry to have Yahiko here bothering you all this time."

"B-Bothering? But-"

"Kenji-chan!" Ayame called full of happiness and laughter. Kenji responded with a similar liking, and ran towards Suzume and Ayame and ran around the dojo.

Kaoru smiled, "Irasshai Tsubame-chan, I'm glad you came over."

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Kaoru-san." She bowed.

Yahiko crossed his arms and glared at the women suspiciously, "What's this all about, Tsubame?"

"You didn't come home yesterday! Yahiko, you worried me. You should run to tell us first, then run back."

"Gomen Tsubame- but I needed to stay with Kaoru! And...Yesterday night…Wait- I have to talk to Kaoru about this- Can you look after Kenji, Suzume, and Ayame first? It's important." Tsubame nodded, understanding the gleam in his eyes that had meant the desperation of a grown man, and not a boy. She kissed his cheek and left with the children to the back of the dojo. Yahiko smiled and watched her leave, almost forgetting the matter in his hands.

"Yahiko- you are very lucky." Kaoru commented.

"Yeah…-! Oh! About yesterday." He came towards Kaoru and sat next to her, "Kaoru, when those two men came, do you remember?"

"Hai…I do, now. And Kenshin didn't come back…yet." She turned her head away to think about her husband.

"No…and I bet I know why." Kaoru whipped her head back around for answers, "Yesterday, after you'd fainted, I saw…I saw…him. E-Enishi."

"Enishi!-"

"I couldn't catch him, and by the time he got away, so did that other man."

"…Doushite?...He still craves to fight with Kenshin? And to capture me again?"

"I…don't know."

"Demo…I gave Enishi the diary, doesn't he understand now? Kenshin…he's completely innocent."

"Well, Enishi doesn't think so."

The young mother tilted her head down in dismay of the news; she clutched her silk sleeves and sunk into thoughts. Yahiko huddled closer to Kaoru, replacing words for actions. He saw that none of his kindness had worked, and telling Kaoru to be strong wasn't the right time to do it. Enishi was an important deal to her, for it was the first time Kenshin had confessed to her and his love.

The boy sharply snapped his head up, watching the open doors like an alert dog. A moment passed, and a man came in slowly. A man with a weary look, and a weak body. "Kenshin!" He smiled at Yahiko, and followed his voice. "Where'd you go, Kenshin? Kaoru was so worried about you."

"Gomen nasai, koishii."

"…" Kaoru stayed silent, and Yahiko had known better not to urge her to rejoice, "…Welcome home, Kenshin."

"Kenshin. Are you alright? Did anything happen to you?" Yahiko questioned.

"No. I needed some time alone, that is all."

Yahiko felt a hint of unease and hesitation from Kenshin's responses, "You sure? ...nothing, or no one came to meet you?"

"I saw no one this morning, or late at night. Sumimasen, Yahiko, but I must rest now. A night without sleep does not well for me, that it doesn't."

Watching him retreat past Kaoru and the dojo, Yahiko slightly dropped his eyebrows in frustration. Kenshin had always made his business his own and never informative to others, even if the situation was hopeless. 'I don't care if he was battousai or not, I know that he's Kenshin now and no less. Kenshin is a changed man…all that he's been through...he's willing to pay a high price to atone for his sins. He deserves what he has now…he doesn't deserve to suffer. He must've seen Enishi, one way or another. He's just not telling us.'

"Yahiko." Thoughts fell to Kaoru as she called him, "Please... Leave Kenshin alone. He needs to sleep."

Astonished by her knowledge, Yahiko hung his mouth momentarily, and closed it giving her a quick nod. 'So Kaoru knew what I was going to do…But I can't stop…I have to speak with him, for the sake of his life…and you, Kaoru.'

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"So, you're going to ruin that boy's life, just so you can stay clean. If it means being driven into the jaws of death, or leaving a name that will shame generations to come, you should draw your own sword instead. That boy can do a lot in his life, and you are going to dispatch all the innocence left in his little hands. Are you really that desperate to have a Hitokiri, that you'll take a boy instead of a man who can be old enough to decide his fate, Katsura?"

"If I could, I would do the Hitokiri's job myself, but I'm the head of the Choushuu Ishin Shishi now, don't think I haven't thought of that. Today is the anniversary of the death of Katsura Kogorou, the swordsman."

'I'm ready to face the path I've chosen for myself. For a new order, and peace, I will kill any opposing man...'

The remembered conversation was as clear as water, never forgotten by the eavesdropper. The Hitokiri to be overheard his superior and the second commander of the Choushuu Ishin Shishi, Takasugi Shinsaku. He was so immature to realize that he'd become destruction himself, the opposite of achieving peace.

He was a man of mystery, and of skill. Surpassing speed, and undeniable strength, the legend of Kyoto lives. He lives, for the sake of the peace, but he will die, for the sake of his life alone. That same man lives in his shadowed corner, unknown to others because of the deception of his conserved expressions. The naïve Hitokiri would've given anything to live a peaceful life. But without suffering, there can be no peace. A hard lesson learned, but confusion was still present. Fifteen years on to the future, and he ends up sleeping in the dark, almost undisturbed.

"Kenshin…" A breathless boy called.

"…Hai, Yahiko?"

"Can I come in…?"

"Of course…" Kenshin's body remained unmoved as Yahiko's presence came closer, "Yahiko, you are a fine young man, and I understand that you've never surrendered to anyone's but your own beliefs. So I must tell you, what you've wanted to ask me about, ne?"

"Hai."

"I understand your determination… I have seen someone early morning, that man has confronted me after compressing his anger for several years. I don't remember him…nor do I know him. But he knows me well."

"Enishi…I saw him too."

"Enishi?" Kenshin glanced at Yahiko carefully, absorbing the name, "Enishi was here? You saw him?"

Finally looking unsure, Yahiko leaned back in uncertainty, "Well, didn't you?"

"No, I saw someone else. Someone very similar to him..."

"But- I saw him! Enishi!" The boy got excited too fast.

"I thought that as well, Yahiko. At first glance, I thought Enishi had come back to hunt me again."

"You mean…Enishi has a twin or something? That can't be right…"

"No…this man I saw…" Trailing off, Kenshin caught his words again and continued, "he looked taller, wiser, and only with hateful expressions, he had no fighting-ki, like Enishi."

"Come to think of it…he did look older, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be Enishi."

"As far as I know, he didn't have any other siblings…His mother…died while giving birth to him."

Yahiko said nothing, what could he say to a death? Kenshin leaned over and rested his hand on the young man's shoulder, "He had Tomoe, and that was enough to take what little morality in him out. But this man I dealt with, he had nothing."

"I guess….Kaoru will be more restful after knowing it wasn't Enishi that I saw."

"No…" Kenshin pondered down, "Without identifying who that man is, we're at a disadvantage."


"You understand," he said, "I've told you everything…nothing can come between our trust, and love, koishii. If it is the past I must face, then I will. I've done many dire sins as a Hitokiri, and to repent them is the only way my guilt can rest."

Kaoru kept quiet as if ignoring him and the harmful words. Yes, she understood him, but not the way he lived. Kenshin had a family, he had a son and a wife, and he had people who care for him. Couldn't he see that…? Was he willing to throw that all away for his past? Any man, as lucky as Kenshin, would not leave his home for whatever the trouble. He would stay and live peacefully until death, and he would be able to die a happy death. Not by a sword, not in a battle, but from accomplishment.

From the past, she realized, the situation from Enishi, the man who made her husband confess his past. Remorseful, was what she felt. But now, it was confusion and regret.

"Kenshin…" she called, as he was about to leave the room, from the result of her silence.

"Hai, koishii?"

Forcing herself to look at him, Kaoru compressed tears, but they freely fell, ignoring her plea. "Let me ask you…" On the verge of dumbness, she hardly spoke to ask him. "If...Tomoe, hadn't died…would you go back to her?"


Not exactly the longest chapter in the world, but I am the most impatient person in the world. A lot of shit happened to me this week, so I'm sorry I didn't get back to this sooner, let me sulk on it a few more days and I'll be fine.