Heart Of The Battousai
Chapter 4 - Don't Leave Me!
This chapter's kind of long but I hope you like it :).
EIGHT YEARS LATER
A man and a little girl walked silently down the dirt road side by side, his left held the bag over his shoulder while his right hand protectively held hers as she skipped up and down happily. The little girl was quite pretty for her age, long black hair that went to her waist and dark blue, mesmerizing eyes, the only flaw she had was the horizontal scar on her right cheek. Her pink kimono bounced up and down with her as she skipped, the light blue flowers seeming to glow in the sun when they hit just right. As they passed a field they saw some children playing ball and one of the boys kicked it too hard and it rolled over and hit the little girl in the ankle. She removed her hand from the man's and picked the ball up, handing it to the little boy that came after it, "Sorry about that, my brother kicks too hard, do you want to play with us?"
The little girl looked up at the man next to her with pleading eyes and he smiled softly, "Alright, you can play for awhile, that you can."
"Thanks Daddy."
The little girl patted his hand and ran off with the boy to play with the others. The man sat against the nearby tree and watched with a smile as his little girl laughed and played. She was so bright and full of life and even when she was playing she never seemed to get her clothes dirty, the man on the other hand was quite the opposite. He looked nothing like the little girl, he had waist length, blood red hair tied into a ponytail at the base of his neck, his long bangs partially covering the cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. His dull red, almost pink gi was ripped, torn and dirty from traveling, his white hakama was about in the same shape. He chuckled when she knocked down one of the boys to get the ball, she was rough sometimes but that didn't take away from her innocence, she had so much where he had none. She hadn't changed much in the past eight years, where he had changed almost beyond recognition. Gone was the normally icy cold glare and his stone face, he now wore a cheerful smile and was very expressive. His once piercing gold eyes that shone only with hatred and anger, never revealing his true emotions, were now a shy violet, warm and gentle and full of emotion as he watched the little girl laugh and play.
He ran his thumb over the hilt of his sword thoughtfully, this sword was different then the one he previously carried, his last sword was a dull maroon, stained with the blood of many men and dull from repeated use. This sword, however, was just the opposite, he had never used it to fight, only to train and keep in practice, the blade was shiny and sharp, except the edges were reversed so that if he did have to fight he could do it and not kill his opponent. He smiled to himself, he had changed a lot but for the better, his little girl knew nothing of who he really was and he never intended to let her find out. They had been traveling for many years but he never tired of it, his little girl's smile gave him a reason to push on and forget about his bloody past, even if it was only for a few minutes at a time. He looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was starting to set, he got up and dusted himself off before calling out into the field, "Tamaiya!"
She looked up at him and smiled, "Yes?"
"It's time to go, that it is!"
"Ok, coming!"
She waved goodbye to the children and ran up to the man and took his hand as they started down the road again. One of the boys ran up to her and patted her shoulder, "Hey Tamaiya, do you want to play tomorrow?"
She smiled almost sadly and shook her head, "I can't, I won't be here tomorrow, that I won't."
"Why?"
"I'm wanderer, that I am, my Daddy and I don't stay in one place for too long, that we don't."
"So I won't see you again?"
"Maybe, who knows, we may pass through here one of these days."
"Great, I'll keep an eye out for ya, see you later."
"Bye."
The man watched as she waved goodbye to the young boy before she started walking again, looking at the ground, "Are you alright, Tamaiya?"
"Yes, why?"
"You seem sad, that you do."
"I'm alright Daddy, that I am."
"I know being a wanderer isn't much fun, but I promise you, one day you and I will find a home and stay put, then you can make as many friends as you like, that you can."
Tamaiya looked up at him and smiled, "I know, but I don't mind traveling, that I don't, I enjoy being a wanderer, that I do."
The man smiled, "You don't know anything else, do you? I'm sorry for raising you as a vagabond, that I am but soon we'll settle down and lead a normal life, that we will, just be patient for a little longer, ok?"
"I'm not worried Daddy, that I'm not," she leaned in and rubbed her cheek against the back of his hand, "it doesn't matter if I'm a wanderer or a sit still person, as long as I'm with you I'm happy, that I am."
He smiled softly and noticed her strides getting a little slower, "Are you tired?"
"A little."
"Do you want me to carry you?"
"No, I'm alright, that I am, don't worry about me."
He chuckled inwardly, she never did complain, no matter how far they traveled she never asked him to stop or to carry her. He felt guilty sometimes when he watched her sleep, knowing she was exhausted but she would never admit it, just like he wouldn't, "It seems as though you've already picked up some of my bad habits."
His thoughts were interrupted as she started walking faster, pulling him with her, "Come on Daddy, we need to find a place to sleep, that we do."
"You're right, do you want to find a place today?"
"Yeah, I know of a place, that I do, I'll race you!"
She let go of his hand and took off down the road, he smiled and took off after her, easily catching up to her as she reached the edge of the woods, "You're getting fast, Tamaiya, that you are, I'm starting to have trouble keeping up with you."
She giggled and tugged on his sleeve, leading him towards a small meadow hidden within a thicket of trees, "Will this work, Daddy?"
"This will be fine, Tamaiya, that it will, I need to see if I can catch something to eat, I'm sure you're hungry by now."
"A little, hey look, a frog!"
The man smiled, "Can you catch it?"
"I can try, that I can."
He started to pick up some wood for a fire and watched with amused eyes as she chased the frog around the clearing, trying but failing to catch it. Eventually she and the frog had a stare down and she lunged forward to grab it but it jumped out of the way at the last second and she fell onto the ground, "Shoot!"
He couldn't help but chuckle, "Hey Tamaiya, I think you missed, that you did."
She picked up a small rock and threw it at him, huffing slightly, "I know I missed, Daddy!"
She went off behind a tree and he knew she was sulking, she was stubborn just like he was and didn't like people to see her upset. After he set up the fire he got up to go look for Tamaiya but she came running up to him, holding a rather large frog in her hands, "I caught one, that I did!"
"Good job, just don't let him get away."
"I won... hey! Stop frog!"
The frog jumped out of her hands and landed on the man's head, he tried to grab it but it buried itself in his thick locks, getting Tamaiya to giggle, "Catch it, Daddy!"
"I'm trying, that I am."
He finally managed to grab it and pull it lose from his hair but it slipped from his grasp and leapt off, getting both of them to laugh, "I guess we have to fish instead, that we do."
"Can I help this time, Daddy?"
"Sure, come on."
He make a makeshift fishing pole for himself and Tamaiya before heading to the small lake nearby. They sat there for about ten minutes then Tamaiya yelled, "I got one!"
"Me too."
They both pulled their lines in and Tamaiya laughed at the puny fish her father had caught, "It's little, that it is."
He smiled, "That it is, I'll let him go."
He tossed the fish back and helped Tamaiya re-bait her line before trying again. Over the next hour Tamaiya was the only one to catch any decent fish, she'd caught about six large ones and he only managed a few tiny ones. After they were finished they went back to the campsite and he let Tamaiya help him set the fish to cook before they sat down and started to talk, "I'm very dirty, that I am."
"I know, we need to wash your clothes tomorrow, that we do."
She poked him and giggled, "You need to wash your clothes too, Daddy, that you do."
"They're not that bad, are they?"
Tamaiya sniffed his gi and flopped onto the ground holding her nose, "Yuck!"
He smiled and smelled his sleeve, "It's not that bad, that it isn't."
She sat up and giggled, "It must just be you, then."
"Hey!"
He reached over and started tickling her, getting her to giggle and squirm as she tried to get away, "I'm sorry, that I am! Let me go!"
"Alright."
She giggled a little more before she laid her head on his knee, smiling when he ran his hands through her hair, "Hey Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"What's your name?"
"What?"
"I know everyone has a name, that they do, but I've never heard anyone say your name, that I haven't, so... what's your name?"
He smiled and chuckled slightly, "My name's Kenshin, Kenshin Himura."
"Kenshin? That's a nice name, that it is, who gave it to you, your Mama?"
"No, my mother gave me a different name, that she did."
"So Kenshin isn't your real name?"
"No."
"What's your real name?"
"Shinta."
She rolled over to look up at him and giggled, "That's cute, that it is, why don't you use it? Don't you like your real name?"
"Well... it's not that I don't like it, I'm just so used to being called 'Kenshin' is all, I've been Kenshin for the past seventeen years, that I have."
"How'd you get the name 'Kenshin?'"
"My master named me Kenshin when he took me in to train me, that he did. My parents died when I was young and he was kind enough to take me in, that he was. But he thought that 'Shinta' was too gentle a name for a swordsman so he named me 'Kenshin,' that he did."
She giggled, "I know how you can have both of your names, that I do."
"How's that, little one?"
"Kenshin can be your first name and Shinta can be your middle name."
Kenshin laughed, "Kenshin, Shinta Himura, huh? That's kind of cute, that it is."
"Do I have a middle name?"
"Yes you do."
"What is it?"
"Tomoe."
"Was that my mother's name?"
Kenshin's heart sank slightly and he had to force a smile and lie, "Yes... that was your mother's name, that it was."
Tamaiya sensed the sadness in his voice and sat up, quickly changing the subject, "The fish is done, that it is."
"It is, let's eat them then before they get away like the frogs."
Tamaiya stuck her tongue out at him and the ate their meal in silence before they decided to go to bed. Kenshin leaned back against a tree, his sword right beside of him in easy reach, just in case, his right leg was bent up while his left leg was stretched out. Tamaiya sat between his legs and rested her head against his chest, smiling softly when he put his arms around her protectively, "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you, little one."
"Night."
Tamaiya snuggled against him, listening to him sing softly as he rocked her back and forth. It didn't take long before she fell into a deep sleep, not noticing the smile on her father's face as he watched her rest. He gently traced the scar on her cheek, guilt filling his heart as he remembered the night she got it, he thought it would fade over the years but it seemed to get worse the older she got. But what surprised him is that she never asked him about how she got it, she would scratch at it once in awhile but she would never bring it up to him. He hoped he'd never have to tell her how she got it but he knew that one day she would ask and he'd have to tell her the truth, until then he would stay silent. He looked around the meadow once before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.
The next morning Tamaiya woke up and looked up at her father, smiling when she saw that he was still asleep. She gently moved out of his embrace and moved behind the tree, poking him in the shoulder before ducking behind the trunk. Kenshin felt Tamaiya move from his arms and he figured she was going to the bathroom then he felt her poke his shoulder and start giggling, he smiled and pretended to be asleep, knowing how to play this game.
Tamaiya was surprised when Kenshin didn't wake up and come after her, it was normally so easy to wake him up, a twig snapping would wake him up on normal days but he didn't even move. She moved out from behind the tree and moved the hair out of his face, "Daddy?"
"Got ya!"
Before she could run Kenshin grabbed her by the waist and started tickling her, getting fits of laughter out of her as she tried to get away, "Let go, Daddy!"
"No, you're gonna pay for waking me up."
Tamaiya somehow managed to put her feet into his stomach and pushed off, flipping away from him and getting a smile from the amused rurouni, "I'm starting to regret teaching you that."
"Can we practice today, Daddy?"
"Sure, just run through the techniques you know and do a hundred swings then we'll take off, ok?"
"Yes sir."
Kenshin handed her his sword and she took off to the other end of the meadow and started her routine. He watched her with proud eyes as she went from one attack to the next, she was such a strong girl, she was little but had some muscle to her from training, easily wielding the heavy sword as if it were nothing at all. He had started training her when she was about four, she saw him practicing one day and she wanted to try so he started to teach her. When she first started she would cry once in awhile when her blisters would bust open, then one night he saw her washing her hands whispering to herself, "I can't cry... Daddy doesn't cry when he uses his sword. I have to be strong... like Daddy..."
It broke his heart that his little girl thought she needed to be strong for him but she kept her promise, he hadn't seen her cry after that, not for pain or anything else. She was too grown up for her age, she was wise beyond her years and she never really got to be a child except on the few occasions they would stop and she could play with some children along the way. By the time she finished her routine he had the campsite cleaned up and was ready to go, putting his sword into his sash after she handed it to him, "You ready to go, little one?"
"That I am."
"Alright, let's go then."
Tamaiya took his hand and they headed off down the path, leaving the woods to get back on the road. Near nightfall they reached the next town, passing by a large house on the way, seeing many children in the courtyard. One of the boys ran up behind Tamaiya and pulled her hair, getting a scowl from her, "What did you do that for?"
"I wanted to say hi." the little boy smiled
"You didn't have to pull my hair, that you didn't."
"That you didn't? You talk funny."
Tamaiya opened her mouth to make a nasty comment but Kenshin nudged her and shook his head, getting her to sigh instead, "I can't help the way I talk, that I can' t, is there anything that you needed besides to pull my hair?"
"You want to come play ball with us?"
"I can't, my father and I have to..."
"Tamaiya, you go ahead and play."
"Are you sure, Daddy? I mean... we need to find some shelter before nightfall, that we do and..."
"I'll worry about that, that I will, you go and be a child for awhile."
"Alright, just yell when you want to leave."
Tamaiya went off with the boy and Kenshin leaned against the wall to watch her play. The children immediately warmed up to her and started to laugh with her, impressed by her, above average, athletic abilities. A woman went up and spoke to her for a moment then Tamaiya pointed to Kenshin before the woman came up to him and smiled, "Hello sir, is that your little girl?"
"Yes, I'm sorry to intrude, that I am, but your son wanted her to play, I hope it's alright."
"Oh, he's not my son, he's one of the orphans that lives here."
"Oh, so this is an orphanage?"
"Yes, most of these children lost their parents during the revolution or they were abandoned. When I saw the little girl I thought maybe someone had left her here."
"Oh no, we're just resting for a moment, is all, so do you run this place by yourself?"
"No, my husband helps me and some of the townsfolk help out, as well. Forgive me if I'm being too forward, but... why are you and your daughter so... dirty?"
Kenshin smiled, "We're wanderers, that we are, she fell chasing a frog last night and we haven't found a decent place to wash up yet, is all."
"I see, how long have you been a wanderer?"
"About eight years."
"Has your child always traveled with you?"
"Yes."
"Where's her mother?"
"Her mother... was killed in the revolution, that she was."
"I see... I know this is going to be hard for me to ask you but I'm not going to beat around the bush, I think it would be best if you leave her here with us."
"What!"
"I think it would be best for your child if she stay here with us until you can find a place to live."
Kenshin's eyes narrowed in anger and turned a slight gold as he glared coldly at the woman, "If you think that I'm going to leave my child with people that I don't know then you're dead wrong! I refuse to leave her here!"
"Listen to me, what if she gets sick and you need medicine?"
"I used to be an apothecary, I think I can make some medicine and even if I can't then I can..."
"You can what, steal it? And what if you manage to take it and not get caught but you get the wrong type of medicine and make her worse?"
"I'm not leaving her here and that's final!"
"You have to, it's best for her, Battousai."
Kenshin's eyes went wide and he just stared down at her with his icy glare, "How do you know who I am?"
"Don't you remember me? I helped you out that night in the bar."
Kenshin looked at her face for a long moment then he suddenly remembered who she was, "I recognize you now, you're that girl that taught me how to change diapers."
"Yes, when I first saw you I didn't think it was really you, but then I saw your eyes and I knew it had to be you, I've never seen anyone with gold eyes except for you, Battousai."
A realization donned on him and he lowered his voice to a dangerous level, "Is that why you want to take my daughter from me? Because I'm a manslayer, because I'm Battousai?"
"That's part of the reason, what if your enemies happen to catch you gone hunting or fishing and take her and hurt her, or worse, kill her?"
"That won't happen, I take her everywhere with me, I never leave her alone."
"What if she decides to go off by herself? You can't be with her for the rest of her life, Mr. Himura. Just listen to me for a moment, she needs a stable home, one she knows she can go to and be safe and not have to worry about sleeping on the ground or scavenging for food or trying to survive the winter out in the cold."
"We've survived just fine for the past eight years and we can continue to do so."
"Think of your child, look at her."
Kenshin looked out at Tamaiya as she played with the children, her face was flushed from running but she was bright and happy, full of energy. The woman cleared her throat and continued, "She's happy here, and we'll take good care of her, it's just until you can find a permanent home for her, no longer."
"What if someone comes and wants to adopt her, what then?"
"The townspeople know that there are some children that aren't up for adoption, see that boy over there?"
"Yes."
"He's been here for three years, his parents were wanderers too, they're coming by next week to pick him up. Several people wanted him but as you can see, he's still here and so will your little girl. All I ask is that you find a good home then you are more than welcome to come and take her with you."
Kenshin clenched his fists together and gave the woman a look that would kill if it were possible, "You won't let me leave with her, will you?"
"No."
Kenshin looked out at the field again and put his hands to his mouth, "Tamaiya!"
"Yes?"
"Come here!"
Tamaiya ran up to him and smiled, "Ready to go, Daddy?"
"Tamaiya... do you... like it here with the children?"
"Yes sir, they're a lot of fun, that they are, and they really seem to like me, that they do."
"How would... how would you like to stay here for awhile?"
"You mean... stay as in live here?"
"Yes."
"I'd like that, that I would."
Kenshin smiled, "Well then... you can stay."
"Aren't you staying too, Daddy?"
"No, I... I can't... you have to stay here while I go look for a place to live."
Tamaiya's face fell and she clutched her hands into his gi, putting her face into his neck, "No! I don't want to stay if it means you're not with me, that I don't! I don't want to stay here, I want to stay with you, Daddy, that I do!"
"Tamaiya, listen to me, little one... it's only for a little while, just until I can find a home. You remember that garden you saw in that lady's yard?"
"Yes."
"I'm going to find a place where you can have one just like it, then we can live a normal life, just like I promised."
"You'll really come back for me?"
"I wouldn't stay away for anything, I promise, just as soon as I can find a home I'll come back and get you."
"Rurouni's promise?"
Tamaiya held up her pinky and he hooked his around hers before kissing her hand, "Rurouni's promise, just be a good girl and listen to these people and I'll come back the second I have a home, I swear I will."
"I'll miss you, that I will."
"I'll miss you, my little one, but it's not forever, just... for a short time."
"Will you... stay with me tonight?"
Kenshin looked up at the woman and she nodded, "He can stay tonight, come on, I'll show you to your new room, Tamaiya."
Kenshin watched with cold eyes as the woman lead them through the house to her room, "You'll be in here with two other girls, they're really nice and I'm sure you'll love them, you go ahead and get comfortable and I'll come to check on you shortly."
The woman left and shut the door, missing the harsh glare that Kenshin shot at her back. Tamaiya sensed his anger and tugged on his sleeve, "Daddy? Are you ... angry with me?"
"Why would I be angry with you?"
"Because this is my fault, that it is, if I hadn't stopped then this wouldn't have happened and then I could still be with you..."
Kenshin cut her off by placing a hand to her lips, smiling lovingly at her, "Don't blame yourself, none of this is your fault, that it isn't. This is only temporary and when I find a place to live I'll be back for you, that I will."
Tamaiya smiled and hugged him tightly, a tear sliding down her face, "Will you... sing to me, Daddy?"
"Yes, I will."
Kenshin picked her up and rubbed her back as he sang softly to her, it was the only song he knew, it was the only song he'd ever sang to her, it was their song, the one thing that kept them together and would continue to keep them together. He paused in the middle of the song and looked at the sky, pointing to one of the stars, "Look Tamaiya, you see that star?"
"Yes."
"That's the same star I looked on at night to find my way home when you were little, that it is."
"It's your special star?"
"Yes, just like you are and do you know something?"
"What?"
"You have a star on your back, that you do, your birthmark looks like a bright star, just like that one."
Tamaiya smiled, "I guess that makes me your special star too, huh, Daddy?"
Kenshin smiled, "That it does, whenever you feel alone or feel that I've forgotten you just look at that star and sing our song and I'll hear you, no matter where I am, that I will."
"Will you sing back to me?"
"Yes, always, no matter what."
Tamaiya smiled and laid her head back against his shoulder, "I love you, Daddy, that I do."
"I love you, my little star, I love you too."
It didn't take long for Tamaiya to fall into a deep sleep then Kenshin laid her down and covered her up. He took out his dagger that he kept with him and laid it in her hands, placing a note beside of it before he kissed her scarred cheek softly, "Goodbye... my little star."
Kenshin quietly left the orphanage and headed off into the night, running as fast as he could as the rain started to fall. He didn't care about the cold rain pounding against his body, he didn't care about the mud that was caking his legs, he only cared about getting as far away as possible. He only had one goal in mind and that was to get his daughter back, no matter what it took! He would find her a home and then he would return for her, until then... he just had to run.
Tamaiya woke up the next morning and felt something in her hands, she looked down and saw her father's dagger there with a note beside of it. She read the note and gasped, "Tamaiya, I will come back for you, I promise, just be patient and keep practicing and when we meet again I'll teach you a new attack, I promise. I love you, never forget that, my little star, take care. Daddy."
Tamaiya ran out of the orphanage and headed into the road, seeing the light outline of footprints in the mud. She sunk to the ground and started to cry, it had been years since she cried, she hadn't had a reason to cry, she could handle most pain but this one was too much to bare, her father had left without saying goodbye to her, "Daddy... don't... don't leave me... DADDY!"
There's chapter 3, I know, I know, another sad chappie, but it IS going to get better, I promise. Next chapter we have none other than the Kenshingumi! Yey! Kenshin and Kaoru and the others are in for a big surprise when they get yet another visitor from the past, but is Kenshin ready for this particular visitor? Read on and enjoy!