Part10

Kaoru brushed the hair from Kenji's forehead with loving fingers, though sadness was in her eyes. The boy still hadn't woken since Kenshin had brought him home nearly 5 hours ago, and she was getting worried. Kenshin was sleeping as well, worn out from the day's events. He had told her what had happened, and she was truly frightened for her son. He had killed, and Kenji was still at a young age. How would he take the knowledge that he had killed a man?

She heard light footsteps and looked up to see Kenshin coming into Kenji's room, his hair loose and hanging rumpled around his shoulders, face pale and faint shadows under his eyes. Kaoru stood and embraced him, worriedly observing his tired features. "Are you alright Kenshin? You don't look well."

He smiled at her gently. "I'm only afraid for Kenji koishii. I couldn't sleep, and I'm just tired. I'll be fine."

Kaoru nodded, understanding Kenshin's concern. He, more than anyone, had been afraid of the consequences of something like this happening. They had never told Kenji of his past as the Battousai, and Kenshin had strived since Kenji's birth to keep the boy sheltered from such horrors. Now it seemed that time had come to an end.

Kenshin sat beside his son, who was still asleep on his futon. Kaoru had cleaned him up and put him in a dry yukata, and the boy's red hair was left loose, like a blood halo around his head. Kenshin stroked Kenji's bangs from his face with worry, settling himself down. He would be able to sleep no more this night.

Kenji suddenly moved and his eyes fluttered open to focus on Kenshin. "Tousan?" Kenji's voice was soft and hesitant. "Are you okay?"

Kenshin nodded and smiled. "I'm fine Kenji, thanks to you." His face grew serious. "What about you? How are you feeling?" Kenji looked away, and Kenshin could feel the fear and sadness in his son's ki. "Onegai Kenji, talk to me. Don't shut me out."

Kenji sighed. "I killed someone tousan. How am I going to live with that?"

Kenshin sighed. This was the time he had tried to prevent all of his life, and now he had no choice. If Kenji was to realize that it was possible to move on he had to have a role model to follow, and Kenshin was the best candidate for that. "The same way I have lived with it Kenji."

Kenji sat up, staring at his father with wide eyes. "N-nani? What are you talking about tousan?"

Kenshin sighed again, focusing on Kenji. "Do you remember the stories that I used to tell you? When you were young?"

Kenji cocked his head, but nodded. "About the Hitokiri Battousai and the revolution? Those were good stories tousan, but what does that demon have to do with this?"

Kenshin looked down, shame flooding through him when Kenji said this. "Do you remember how I described him?"

Kenji blinked, thinking. "You never finished describing him tousan. You always made sure that before you could tell me kaasan said it was time for me to go to sleep."

"The Battousai was small, for a man. He was mistaken often for a woman or a young boy. Nobody thought he was a threat, because he was so small. They thought he was a demon, because of his golden eyes and blood red hair. And the cross-shaped scar on his left cheek was his marking feature, almost as though it was a brand." Kenshin said softly. He looked up at Kenji, almost afraid of what he would see.

Kenji's mouth was open, and he was staring at his father with a look of mixed awe, fear, and uncertainty. "You?" Kenji asked in disbelief. "You were Battousai?"

Kenshin looked down again in shame. "Hai Kenji. You can live with this, as I have lived on with the guilt of my past."

Kenji stared at his father, and then his face broke into a wide grin. "That is so cool!" Kenshin's head shot up with a startled look. "My tousan was the Battousai! That's awesome!"

Kenshin stuttered, completely and utterly flabbergasted at these words coming from Kenji's mouth. He didn't know what to say. Kenji laughed and hugged his father. "Did you think I would hate you tousan? You're my father, and you're being the Battousai only makes it so much cooler. Do you know that you're the talk of all the kids in town?"

Kenshin was still silent, staring at Kenji uncertainly. "Nani?" he whispered slightly.

Kenji laughed. "All of the kids in town talk about the famed demon of the night. We even used to play Catch the Battousai. One of us would be Battousai and try to hide from the rest. I was almost always chosen because I was so good at hiding."

Kenshin suddenly smiled. "Really Kenji?"

Kenji hugged his father tighter. "You bet."

Kenshin hugged his son close, allowing the boy to twist the fabric of his yukata around his fingers. "Arigatou Kenji. For understanding. Do you still feel bad?"

Kenji shook his head against Kenshin's chest. "Iie."

From outside the room Kaoru listened with a knowing smile, turning to go make some tea. 'I knew Kenji would understand anata, you just had to trust him to make his own decisions.'

Kenshin held his son tightly, happy that he was safe and that he had finally been able to get the truth off his chest. He felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and he felt better than he had for a long time.

Kenji snuggled into his father a bit more, pushing his nose into Kenshin's gi. "I love you tousan."

Kenshin smiled and kissed the top of Kenji's head. "I love you too Kenji."

HM: Awww…. I liked that. I hope the rest of you did too, though I'm still not sure it was my best work. Please review, and I hope you enjoyed this final chapter!