Fanfic by Blueroseulan

December 4, 2005

AN: Hey guys! Gee, I'm really glad many of you left reviews on the last chappie. Though I must admit, KnK acted way OOC in there :sweatdrops:

Anyway, this would be a short one. Hope you bear with me. A little funny too. Oh well, I better stop my rantings And allow you to read on!

Don't forget to leave a review!

K
N
K

Although Kaoru would have lesser been likely to admit it straight to her husband's face, the female shihohondai master had indeed started to hate the growing thickness in the dojo's atmosphere ever since she admitted her problem to him. Both sides had been quiet, avoiding each other and never liked the fact of being alone together. Except for the time when she had to speak to him or ask him about some serious family matters (like the payment for the bill or Kenji's ever growing hobby of whacking and biting his sister) she did not talk to him about some trivial pursuit, which was very very un-Kaoru like.

He had noticed this too, and he took her silence as her rejection. He didn't want the growing gap to worsen. He didn't want to add fuel to the fire in her heart. That was why he kept quiet, why he kept his distance safely far from her. It would be for the best right?

Wrong.

When he finally decided to talk about his problem about Sanosuke, the man did not only succeeded in reversing his whole perspective, but making him change his decision as well.

"Man! For Jou-chan to act like that, you sure are in deep trouble Kenshin buddy."

The red haired man sent the zanza fighter a dark look as he swallowed the burning alcohol in his throat. He had found himself drinking with Sano in a booth in the Akabeko promising the man it was free, after all he had money.

Stupid money.

Sanosuke had just brushed him off and coolly said:

"I don't understand why you act so cold suddenly. Look bud, you can't cover up a mistake with another."

He then had become confused, unknowing how to comprehend the other's words. Rudely, Sano groaned, irritated by the man's lack of comprehension.

"She asked you to spend time with her children right? Then do it."

K

He had spent so many hours, trying to wrack his brain about what's the right thing to do. There must be something. He rationalized. He was silent, in pure deep thought as he lay back to back with his wife, never touching, never speaking when he heard a shrill cry.

"KAA-SSAAANN!"

It was Kiriko.

In a flash, Kaoru was up on her toes, running hurriedly towards her children's room.

If given the chance, he would have found himself laughing. It was a wonder how motherhood could change her so much. Gone was the carefree careless spirit that had once roamed deep in her heart. It was now replaced with an all consuming worry and concern for her children.

Yes, she had Soujirou's speed to prove that.

He found her gently coddling a wailing Kiriko in her lap. It seemed to him that the little one had a nightmare. Kenji was there, sitting wide-eyed beside his mother. He couldn't make out the words that where tumbling from her mouth for He could never understand baby talk. But Kaoru still continued to rock his daughter, pacifying her childish wails. For a moment, he stood still on the door, not wanting to intrude in a somehow exclusive moment made for mother-children. His ears strained to hear her babbles wanting to know what had caused his child's nightmare. Nightmares were, after all, only for grown up men like him, where it didn't matter if the devil stalked you at night. But Kiriko was still a child, still innocent on how ugly and filthy the world had become. No, he wouldn't allow nightmares to taint his pure child, to ever be given the chance of becoming just like him…

"Kirko had a dream…" the child mumbled in between deep wails, "Kaa-san was goin' away. She was goin to leave Kenji and Kirko! Kaa-san! Don't leave Kirko! Don't leave Kirko!" screeched her childish voice shrill and high.

Though her eardrums certainly thumped hard, Kaoru didn't mind it. After all, four years of hearing those loud pitiful wails over and over again were enough for her to get used to it. And Kenji certainly had it too…

"Now, now Kiriko-chan…" she admonished gently, "Stop crying now. Kaa-san is here… Kaa-san is here…" she comforted, rocking the crying child softly. By this time, Kenji had scrambled atop his father' broad shoulders, watching his sister with wide eyes.

"Kaa-san… don't leave Kirko chan! Don't leave Kirko chan!" she started to wail again.

Kaoru released a sigh. It would truly take a long time before she got her daughter pacified again. She glanced sideways to watch him, noticing the passing look of hurt in his face. She knew he had somehow felt envious, somehow felt a bit jealous that his own child hadn't even recognized him or turn to him in time of nightmares. She felt slightly guilty about this, despite the fact that this was her own agenda anyway, to make him feel the need for his children, but she felt that he didn't deserve this. Afterall, he was just really trying to help.

"Kaa-san! Kirko chan loves you soo much!" The child repeated all over and over again as chubby hands made its way past her mother's neck.

Nodding softly, she added in a gentle chiding voice,

"And Kaa-san loves you too Kiriko-chan… You and Kenji kun…And…"

She suddenly felt heavy lump latch itself on her throat. She dared not look at the man standing behind her, for words cannot will itself to escape her tongue. Pain and hurt flickered in his face and it only added to make her guiltier.

"Go on Kaa-san go tell Tou-san you love him!" Kenji babbled, obviously playing on the side of his father.

She couldn't speak, couldn't speak at all, afraid that if she did, she would be misleading him. Inwardly, she shook her head, unable to think coherently.

"Go to sleep Kenji-kun." She said, trying hard to put firmness in her voice. Diverting the attention was enough, but diverting his attention wasn't.

He felt a sinking feeling down the pit of his stomach as he silently watched his son scramble under the covers beside his sister who was already starting to fall asleep. Smiling inwardly despite the pain he suddenly felt blooming in his chest, he took time to gaze at his sleeping daughter.

She very much looked like her. Save except for the eyes that reflected the color of his own. Her hair was midnight dark, just a bit darker than hers. Her colorful kimonos made him think of the old days when Kaoru wore kimonos with the color of the like. Ever since they got married, she had opted to wear simpler ones that made her look mature. Gone were the orange colored ones, the bright yellow he loved so much. In they went inside the chest that was kept in storeroom, collecting dust, waiting for the day when Kiriko was old enough to wear them. Her hair was no longer tied high up on the base of her head. Instead, she fit it inside a bun, with no more than a few wisps coming out from the tight knot.

She looked so matured, so wise… yet so jaded…so tired… it was probably his fault, leaving her alone to deal with heavy problems, of having her shift restlessly in their bed.

It made him think he never ought to marry her in the first place.

You can't cover up a mistake with another

He remembered Sanosuke's words. Unusual as it was for the man to give advice; Kenshin had to admit it was quite true. He had his entire life summed up for basis.

And suddenly, an idea had presented itself on his mind. It was so brilliant really that he really had to smile even for the fact that Kaoru had started to stare at him, watching in surprise as her husband seemed lost in thought and smile alone. It made her think if her words had made him crazy.

For a while she thought it did.

TBC…

Okay okay, I'm really really sorry for the short chapter. I promise I'll make it up on the next one, I promise.

AWW… poor Kenshin, making him suffer and all that… :

Here's a preview on the next chapter:

Interest winning the best of her, she shyly raised her eyes to meet his kind ones as she gave a faint 'hai'. He gave her a big smile, though his heart was jumping up and down in euphoria. This was it. This was his first step. He should try to make her trust him even more. Guiding the younger one's hand, he placed the thin long stick in between her clumsy fingers. After a few moments, the bait caught and Kiriko was suddenly screaming in delight.

Blue eyes widening, a look of surprise registered in her features when she saw him holding Kiriko tightly and protectively in his arms. No sooner had her father set her down, Kiriko was at her small feet, sprinting towards her mother like a small sprite, mouth bursting into life as words resembling 'trip' river' 'fish' and 'sweet' spurted like a fountain. Her geta had even fallen off in her haste but the child paid no heed, only focused in telling her mother all about the wonderful stories her father told her in the river.

So there you have it! Next one would be longer! I promise! And a bit lighter too!

Please don't forget to review!