Mama Himura

Chapter 3

That night at dinner everyone asked Tokisha about her travels and whatnot, just trying to get to know her a little better. During the meal she looked beside of her at her son, noticing the solumn look on his face and became concerned, "Shinta?"

"Yes?"

"Are ya alright, son?"

"Of course, why?"

"Ya look sad about somethin' that's why."

"Kenshin always looks like that, I'm surprised that the man even knows how to smile."

Kenshin shot a playful glare at Sanosuke and tossed a carrot at him, "Thanks a lot, Sano, I appreciate that."

"Anytime my friend."

Tokisha smiled at them, "So what have ya been up to these past twenty years, Shinta?"

"That's a really long story, Mother, that it is, but basically I did some things that I regret when I was younger and I've spent the past ten years trying to repent for what I've done."

"What things have ya done, Shinta?"

"I'd… rather not say right now… if that's alright."

Tokisha smiled and patted his hand, "Of course it's alright, Shinta, ya don't have ta tell me anything ya don't want to, that ya don't."

"Can I ask you something, Tokisha?" Sanosuke asked

"Sure, what is it?"

"Why do you call Kenshin 'Shinta'?"

"Because that's his name, that it is."

"Huh? Kenshin, explain!"

Kenshin smiled and let out a small sigh, "Hiko changed my name to Kenshin when he took me in, that he did, my real name is Shinta."

Yahiko and Sanosuke started laughing and all the girls shot them a glare, "What's so funny?" Megumi asked

"Your… your real name is… Shinta? That's… that's so wussy, Kenshin!" Yahiko sputtered out between laughs

"There's nothin' wrong with my son's name, that there isn't, I happen to like his name."

"It's alright, that it is, Mother. They've always known me as Kenshin, but truthfully… my real name sounds kind of strange to me too now, that it does."

"How long have ya had the name Kenshin?" Tokisha asked

"Almost nineteen years."

"Well your friends can call ya whatever they want but you're my son and I'm going to call you by the name I gave ya at birth, that I am."

"But…"

"Don't ya be arguin' with me now, young man, I gave birth to ya, I raised ya, I named ya Shinta and that's what I'm goin' ta call you, end of subject, understand?"
Kenshin grinned at her, "Yes ma'am."

Everyone was completely stunned by her attitude, not expecting her to be so forward or strict. Yahiko nudged Sanosuke and whispered in his ear, "She's as evil as Kaoru."

Kaoru apparently heard him and slapped them both across the head, getting a hurt look out of Sanosuke as he rubbed his now sore head, "What did you hit me for, Missy?"

"You were thinking it but he said it so you both deserved it."

"Well you are evil and ugly too!"

"Yahiko!"

"Calm down you two." Kenshin said quietly

Surprisingly they stopped arguing and went back to eating their dinner, not noticing the chuckle coming from Tokisha, "Well now, I see you're the pacifier, Shinta."

"The what?" Yahiko asked with an arched eyebrow

"A pacifier is one who brings peace, keeps things calm."

"Oh…"

Kaoru smiled at the look on her student's face and stretched, "Well it's late, I think I'll turn in."

"It is late, I need to get back and help Dr. Gensai, thanks for dinner, it was nice to meet you, Tokisha."

"You too, Megumi."
Megumi bowed slightly to everyone and headed out of the dojo towards the clinic. Kaoru helped Kenshin clean off the table and then she showed Tokisha to a room before heading off to bed herself. Tokisha quickly got settled in and changed into a sleeping robe before she headed outside to sit on the porch. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the gentle breeze that wafted over her. A few minutes later she began to nod off then she suddenly felt herself being lifted up into strong arms, letting out a yelp of surprise as she saw who had hold of her, "Shinta? What are ya doin', ya liked to startled me ta death, that ya did."

Kenshin smiled at the scold, "I'm sorry, Mother, that I am, I thought you'd fallen asleep out here and I was going to take you to bed, that I was."

"I can take myself to bed just fine, that I can, now put me down ya silly boy."

Kenshin set her back down and sat next to her on the porch, neither saying a word for several moments until Tokisha just couldn't stand the silence any longer, "So how long have ya known Kaoru and the others?"

"About two years."

"Is she your girlfriend?"

"Oro! Um… well… Miss Kaoru and I are… I mean… kind of…"

Tokisha couldn't help but smile at her flustered son, "She is your girl, isn't she?"

"Yes… but can I ask you something?"

"Of course, what is it?"

"How can you still be alive? Twenty years ago I laid next to you and watched you die but now… you're here right in front of me."

"I was put into a deep sleep, Shinta, I didn't die, your father succumbed to the disease but I didn't. When I woke up you were gone and I've been lookin' for ya ever since, that I have."

"All this time… how did you even know that I was still alive?"

"A mother knows about her children, that she does. My heart told me that you were alive and I also heard stories about a red-haired man so I figured it had ta be you since there aren't too many men that have red hair."

Kenshin suddenly turned pale, "What kind of stories did you hear?"

"Different ones, I heard about a red-haired swordsman that fought during the revolution, but most were just rumors, why?"

"No reason, no reason, just… curious is all…"

Tokisha smiled and patted his hand, a look of worry coming to her face when he tensed up at her touch, "What's wrong, Shinta? When I hugged ya earlier it was like huggin' a tree and now you're tense from me touchin' your hand. Something's botherin' ya, now what is it?"

"Why do you think something's wrong?"

"Because I know my son, you're normally so energetic and happy, always willin' ta crush my ribs in a hug but now ya won't hardly touch me and I'd like ta know why, that I would."

Kenshin looked at her for a moment before turning his gaze to look at the ground, his voice soft and unsure, "I'm afraid, that I am."

"Afraid! Of what, Shinta!"

"I'm afraid that if… if I touch you then… you'll disappear. I feel like this is some sort of pleasant dream that will vanish if I touch you and… I don't want to take that chance, that I don't."

"Oh Shinta… look at me," Tokisha reached over and placed her hand on his jaw, turning his head to face her before stroking his cheek lovingly, "Ya don't have ta be afraid, that ya don't, I'm here, my son, and I won't leave ya again, that I won't, I promise you. And you can touch me, look…"

She took his hand and placed it on her cheek, smiling at his shocked expression, "See, I'm still here, ya don't have to be afraid anymore, that ya don't."

Kenshin smiled sadly and moved his hand away from her face, "You have no idea just how wrong you are, Mother, but it's late and I'm sure you're tired, let's get you to bed."

Tokisha took his hand and he helped her up before following her down the hall to her room, getting her to smile when he opened her door for her, "Are ya happy now?" she asked playfully

"Almost…"
Without warning Kenshin lifted her up into his arms for a tight hug, his voice soft against her ear, "Goodnight… Mama…"

With that he let her go and headed off down the hall towards his room, missing the happy smile his mother had playing across her face as she watched him leave, "Goodnight Shinta."