Mama Himura

Chapter 10

Everyone was silent for what seemed like an eternity then Kenshin hung his head and had to put his arms out to keep himself from falling onto the ground, "I can't believe this… I truly am a monster… first I kill me wife then… then my own cousin… what kind of man am I? I killed my own family…"

Kakeru laughed bitterly, "Now you know the truth, Battousai…"

"Sir Kakeru… I can't tell you how deeply sorry I am. Tamano and I were close but… I had no idea who he was… I swear to you if I had known I wouldn't have killed him."

"Really?" he asked softly, as if unsure.

"No! If I had any shred of an idea as to who he was I wouldn't have touched him, I would've exiled him or something but I wouldn't have taken his life away! Sir… I'm so very sorry, I truly am."

Both Kenshin and Kakeru lifted their heads to look at one another and Kakeru let out a gasp when he met bright golden eyes, but what surprised him was the single tear that made its way down the Battousai's face. The cold, cruel, heartless man who supposedly never shed a tear for his victims was actually showing regret for what he'd done and it wasn't Shinta… but Battousai himself who was crying for Tamano and that tear said more to him then anything else in the world could have said. Kakeru smiled and forced himself up, patting Kensihn on the head, "That's enough punishment for you then."

"What do ya mean, Kakeru?" Tokisha asked

"He'll have to live with this guilt until he dies… I've avenged Tamano and now I can do just what you are…"

Kakeru started to leave but Kenshin stood up and stopped him, "Sir Kakeru… where are you going?"

He chuckled, "You're not the only one who has sins to repent for… I believe there's a way of repentance out there waiting for me… and I'm going to find it, just as you did, goodbye… Shinta…"

Kakeru left without another word and the others looked on, their eyes never leaving that spot even after he'd disappeared into the shadow of the forest. After several long minutes Kenshin's voice cut through the air and reached Tokisha and Hiko's ears, "Mother… Master…"

"What is it, Shinta?"

He turned and smiled at them, his eyes once again a gentle violet, "Let's go home, this is over, that it is."

With that they all started to head back to the dojo, no one saying a word as they contemplated over the night's events. It didn't take long for them to reach the dojo and Kaoru was there to greet them the second they entered the door. She jumped up and hugged Kenshin around the neck, a happy tear sliding down her face, "Oh I'm so glad that you're alright, I was so worried about you."

Kenshin smiled and hugged her tighter to him, enjoying the scent of her hair against his nose, "I'm alright, koishii, don't worry about me, are you alright?"

"I am now."

Kaoru pulled back and kissed him, missing the look of disgust that they received from Yahiko as she did so, "EWW! Kaoru that's so gross!"

Kenshin pulled away and smiled, "Not really…"

Kaoru smiled and giggled at her student, "What are you jealous, do you want a kiss too, Yahiko?"

"EWWW! NO WAY!"

"Oh… come here, Yahiko…"

Kaoru playfully chased after him and they heard Yahiko shout from around the corner, "GET AWAY FROM ME! KENSHIN! GET YOUR UGLY GIRLFRIEND AWAY FROM ME! YUCK! KAORU YOU…"

"Uh oh, I'd better go stop them before someone gets hurt."

Kenshin took off after them and Hiko looked around to talk to Tokisha but found that she wasn't next to him like she was a moment ago. Tokisha had retreated to her room the minute she stepped in the dojo and sat down on her futon, pulling her knees up to her chest. She felt so badly for Kakeru and Tamano, and Kenshin. She didn't know who to feel more for, her brother-in-law who lost a child or her son who has to live with the guilt of killing his cousin. There was a tap on her door and before she could answer Hiko stepped in and shut the door behind him, "You alright?"

"Ay, I'm alright, that I am."

"You feel bad for Kenshin, don't you?"

"Yes, and Kakeru, I can't believe things turned out this way, that I can't."

"Hey," Hiko knelt next to her and patted her hand, "things will be alright, Kenshin's strong, he'll pull through this."

"I know… hey Hiko…"

"Yeah?"

"I… wanted ta thank ya for… coming ta help me…"

"No problem, anytime."

Tokisha looked up at him and suddenly raised her hand to let it rest on his jaw, then, without warning, she leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips, extracting a small groan of surprise from Hiko as she did so. She pulled away a second later and flushed brightly, an embarrassed giggle escaping her throat, "I'm sorry, that I am, I don't know what came over me, that I don't."

Hiko grinned, "I do, you just can't resist me."

Tokisha rolled her eyes, "Oh yes, that's it but I am sorry, I shouldn't have done that, that I shouldn't have."

"I didn't mind, in fact, I wouldn't mind another…"

Hiko leaned down and kissed her softly, smiling to himself when she began to kiss back. His hand came up to cradle her head, tilting her head back to deepen the kiss. The need for air caused them to part and Tokisha smiled up at the Hiten-Mitsurugi master, "I didn't expect that, that I didn't…"

"Was it bad?"

"Not at all, I actually found it quite… enjoyable, that I did."

"Good, then in that case…"

Hiko pushed her down onto the futon and pinned her wrists on either side of her head, getting a startled cry out of Tokisha as he rested on top of her. She couldn't help but giggle, "We jumped on Shinta for this very thing, that we did."

"Well this is different."

"How so, Hiko?"

"I'm not Kenshin and you're not Kaoru."

Before she could protest he kissed her again, earning himself a sigh as she let herself get lost in the feel of his lips dancing over hers. But before things could progress further the door slung open and Kenshin entered, "Mother, I heard you shout are… you… alright… MASTER!"

They parted and Hiko simply smiled up at him, "Can I help you with something besides a kick out the door, that is?"

Kenshin was so stunned by the scene before him that he began stuttering horribly, "M… master… w… what… what are you doing… to my mother!"

"What do you think I'm doing, stupid?"

"From where I'm standing it looks like something very bad!"

Hiko let go of her and sat on his legs, his smile never leaving his face as he stared at his flustered apprentice, "What's the matter with you?"

"You're molesting my mother, that's what's the matter!"

"I am not molesting your mother… she's molesting me and I must admit that I'm actually quite enjoying it."

Kenshin turned green and he looked to the ground, shaking his head, "That's… SO nasty! I didn't want to know that! Just… just leave now!"

Before Hiko could make a smart remark Kaoru came in and smiled, "Is everything ok?"

Kenshin answered, "NO! Hiko's in here being a pervert and attacking a defenseless woman!"

Tokisha laughed, "Oh Shinta calm down, son, if he was doin' somethin' ta me that I didn't want him to I would let ya know, that I would."

"But as you can see she's not objecting too much." Hiko boasted

"I don't care! You don't need to be touching my mother!"

"Come now, Shinta, there's nothin' wrong with touchin', that there isn't, how do ya think you got here after I met your father?"

Kaoru giggled and Kenshin turned bright red, his voice taking on a deep baritone as he shook his head once more, "That's… beyond… gross! I could've gone my entire life without that disturbing mental image."

Kaoru laughed and poked him, "Now what's the difference between Hiko and your mother having fun and me and you?"

Kenshin flushed brighter and smiled sheepishly, "That's different… you're not my mother…"

Kaoru shook her head and left, brushing past Yahiko as he came to see what the commotion was all about, "What's going on, Kenshin?"

"Trust me, kid, you really don't want to know, that you don't."

Kenshin started off down the hall and Yahiko looked in to see Hiko and Tokisha then a look of disgust came across his face and ran down the hall as he yelled, "EWW! Old people love!"

Hiko and Tokisha laughed as she rested her head on his shoulder, "I'm never goin' ta live this down, that I'm not."

"Hey let me ask you something."

"What's that?"

"Do you think that we have a future together?"

"I don't know, why do ya ask?"

"Why don't you come to Kyoto with me and we can see how it goes from there, away from everyone, just me and you."

"Can ya put up with me that long, Mr. Seijiro?"

"I think I can…"

With that he smiled and pulled her to him for another kiss.

ABOUT A YEAR LATER

Kaoru went to the kitchen and tapped Kenshin on the shoulder, getting him to turn around and smile at her before he gave her a friendly peck, "Hey koishii, is something wrong?"

"No, but you got a letter in the mail."

"Oh? Thanks Kaoru."

Kaoru nodded and left the room to go help Yahiko who had started yelling for her. Kenshin opened the letter and smiled at the words there, but then his eyes grew wide and his jaw hit the floor as he read the final line:

"Dear Shinta,

I hope everything is goin' well for you and Kaoru, that I do. Hiko and I are doin' fine, that we are, I haven't killed him yet but I'll try harder, that I will. Any ways, son, I just wanted ta check on ya and see how ya were doin' and if you've made me any grandchildren yet. I'm jokin', but I do hope that ya have a family someday, you'll make a wonderful father, that ya will, I love ya son, now and forever.

Love,

Mama Himura.

P.S. I just thought I'd warn ya just in case ya decided ta come and visit someday. I'm not really Mrs. Tokisha Himura anymore, that I'm not, my new name is Mrs. Tokisha Seijiro and… you know have… a stepfather…"

THE END.

Hope you liked it! Tell me what you think, I do so enjoy hearing what you have to say, anyways, thanks for sticking with me, love ya, that's all folks! (for now; evil laughter :).