Fanfiction by Blueroseulan

January 2, 2006

AN: Ei guys! The update you've been waiting for (Sweatdrops with all the stares and glares of others ,) I'm sorry… Oh well, I wont start blabbering now… if you want to hear my lamentations etc, go see the AN I've posted in my other fic Open Your Eyes and See Me…

I've held you long enough so there. Now, I'll let you read in peace.

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"KAAA-SAANN!"

"KAA-SSAANN!"

Cloudy sapphire eyes woke up in a flash as the ear-splitting shrieks of Kenji and Kiriko filtered in her room.

"Kenji! Kiriko! Look at you! What are you both shrieking and yelling for?" she gently scolded, eyebrows twitching up when she saw the two prancing and jumping up and down beside her bed in an effort to wake her.

"Tou-san's preparing food! 'Tou-san's preparing food! 'Tou-san said he'll bring Kir'ko and Kenji to the river!" her daughter chirped, pulling at her arm. "Come, come 'Kaa-san! Get dressed! 'Tou-san's waiting outside!"

Surprise was painted on her face as she went to the kitchen to find a busy Kenshin preparing sushi and rice balls in a basket.

"Ohayou gozaimasu!" he greeted cheerfully, noticing the expression evident on her features.

"Ohayou." She greeted back. "Um Kenshin… what's all this for?" she asked quizzically.

He smiled sheepishly, a hand coming up to scratch his head. "Anou… er.. I thought the weather's just right and it would be perfect for us to bring Kenji and Kiriko to the river for a picnic."

Unwittingly, her mouth dropped slightly open as she took a seat across him and nodded her head. "Um… you go ahead with the children… I can't go. I—I have a class to teach…" she slightly stuttered, glancing at him just in time to see a flash of disappointment spark in his gaze. "G-gomenasai…" she murmured silently.

Disappointed as he was, he could not afford to cancel the picnic knowing how excited his children already were. So, nodding his head, he offered her a small smile instead. "I understand… Just take care of yourself alright?" he reminded her. "I guess I better get going with Kenji and Kiriko…" he gave her one last smile before he left the room, leaving her a bit stumped and disappointed herself.

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"Tou-san, why isn't 'Kaa-san coming?"

"She has a class to teach Kenji-kun."

"Is she mad with 'Tou-san?"

"No hime-chan. 'Kaa-san just needs to go to work."

His words echoed well over his head for quite a time, even as they settled under the weeping sakura blossoms. Kaa-san just needs to go to work… I wonder if Kaoru has been telling my children the same thing when they ask for me and I'm away…

The river was running a bit high and so Kenshin decided it was best for the children to keep away from the waters lest one of them falls. Spreading out the lunch he had prepared for them, Kenji's constant chatter and Kiriko's endless babbles kept him entertained and amused despite the fact that someone important was missing in the picture.

It made him think there and then, on how many scenarios, similar to this one happened when he was away. How many picnics and gatherings he had missed all together just because of his job and his atonement. It was only now that he realized how much he missed his family, his children and his wife. Well at least my children recognizes me and Kiriko feels more at ease when she's with me… I still have a long way to go though… But Kaoru… I wonder… what will really happen?

By the time he had finished his inner musings; Kenji and Kiriko had eaten their fill and were lying comfortably on both his laps. Watching them quietly with gentle amethyst eyes, he was just about packing up their things when a familiar voice startled him.

"There you are. I was wondering where the three of you went."

Startled amethyst eyes met deep sapphire ones.

"KAA-SAAANN!"

In a flash, the two children were up on their feet, hugging her legs and pulling her towards where their father sat. Laughing silently with their silly antics, nevertheless, she allowed herself to be cajoled, sitting across the red head.

"I thought you had a class to teach?" he muttered almost inaudibly, surprise nipping at his voice.

She shook her head. "I told Kojima-san I wouldn't be able to make it today. Said I had a very important meeting to attend to." she finished, taking a beaming Kiriko in her lap.

"Wai! Wai! 'Kaa-san's here! 'Kaa-san's not angry with 'Tou-san!" Kiriko shrieked with delight, jumping up and down in her mother's lap and placing wet sloppy kisses on Kaoru's face.

Though Kaoru was far too busy laughing at Kiriko's gestures, Kenshin, on the other hand, couldn't help but become terribly suspicious.

"Hime-chan, who told you that idea?"

The peals of laughter stopped as his daughter placed a finger on her mouth and nipped gently. "Um… Sanosuke-jiisan?"

Inwardly, he slapped a hand to his forehead. That baka! What on earth is he trying to talk into my daughter! I swear that insufferable rooster head…

"Tou-san? Tou-san are you mad at Kirko-chan?" the child pulled at his arm, violet blue eyes filling with tears.

Hastily, he patted her head in a reassuring manner. "Iie Hime-chan. 'Tou-san's not mad." he admonished gently.

"Wai! Wai!"

"Kenji-kun, you don't wander far too near the river." his mother reminded the little redhead that had started to chase a frog.

SPLASH!

"TOU-SANNN!"

Kenji had fallen in the river. The current slowly dragging him further away.

In a flash, both parents were up. Kaoru was about to jump into the waters herself, when he caught her arm and sharply pulled her back. With god-like speed he dived into the river in a flash, swimming against the strong current and towards the young boy.

For a moment, both identical red heads disappeared under the current and Kaoru held her breath with fear and shock, with Kiriko held firmly in her shaking hands. Inwardly, she was praying and praying and fervently praying to whomever gods were listening to her at the moment to save the two most important men in her life.

"Kami- sama save them!"

Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, Kenshin resurfaced, an unconscious Kenji slung onto his shoulders. Wading heavily back to the shore, no sooner had he placed Kenji to the hard wet ground did he fall back to his knees, breath coming out in short raspy pants. Rushing back to his son, he all at once pressed air back to Kenji's pale blue lips. Shoving the younger one's chest in an attempt to push out the water that had entered his system, for a moment Kenshin thought everything was lost when Kenji didn't move.

And then he heard a miraculous sound. A slight cough, followed by another, and then another and then finally, Kenji was coughing and sputtering water all over him.

"Kenji!" Kaoru exclaimed, running towards her son who lay on his father's lap. "Kami-sama! Thank god you're alive!" she cried, embracing the trembling form of the little boy, tears slipping past her cheeks. "What happened! I told you not to go too near the river!" she berated slightly, her motherly instincts still panicked and heightened.

Kenji, frightened as he was, couldn't stop sobbing; burying his face in Kenshin's wet hakama. "Tou-san! Kenji-Chan's soooo sorry!" he wailed, rocking back and forth.

Though exhausted and still a bit shaken, Kenshin managed a smile for the young red head. "Daijobou Kenji-kun. But you must promise me you'll never do that again." he added, voice sounding strangely distant as he pushed back his hair that stayed matted on his cheeks like thick wet clamps.

"H-hai." Kenji gurgled. "Tou-sannn! Kenji-Chan's sooo sorry!"

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After the episode in the river, Kenshin decided it would be best if they went home. Kaoru immediately seconded the idea, not wanting anymore river-drowning incidents, this time with Kiriko and wanting to put Kenji to bed lest he caught flu with the impromptu dunking he just had. So, silently, the family quietly trudged back to the Kamiya dojo, arriving there just before the sun began to set.

It was only after she had put Kenji and Kiriko back to bed did Kaoru notice that Kenshin was limping heavily. Inwardly frowning, she, with her haste and panic, had all and forgotten her husband who had kept quiet after the incident. Stupid Kaoru…not even handing him with a towel or thanking him for what he has done…

"Anou Kenshin…?"

"Hai?"

"What happened to your foot?" she asked, eyes straining towards his right leg.

He smiled slightly. "Anou… this is nothing." he reassured her intending to leave the topic there when she caught him in his arm.

"But it's swelling! Look!" she exclaimed, leading him towards the kitchen and setting him to a seat. Sparing his foot a look, Kenshin frowned.

"It's swelling, alright. But it would heal. Don't worry."

She shook her head, reaching towards the medical kit that lay on the cupboard. "No. Let me fix this." she murmured, kneeling beside him and starting to bandage his swollen ankle.

He sighed, remembering how his foot had smashed against a rough rock in the river. So panicked and rushed was he that he did not even notice where he was swimming into. It was only after he had assured himself that Kenji was alive and breathing did he feel the incredible pain on his foot.

He of course, kept silent. Not wanting to add to the growing list of Kaoru's worries.

"There. You should've told me you were in pain." she said gently, tying the bandage in a firm knot.

He nodded nonchalantly. "Hai. Arigatou Kaoru." he murmured.

She looked up; sapphire eyes shining with tell tale tears. "Iie… It is I who should thank you. Thank you for saving Kenji Kenshin." she bowed her head, a sign of deep respect and gratitude before offering him a smile and silently exiting the room, leaving him overjoyed and thrilled with her words.

TBC…

Whaddya think about Kenji's dunking? I hope you guys review (Assure me I haven't lost all my readers TT )

Here's a short preview for the next chappie

Kaoru was preparing breakfast for the four of them when she heard a loud crash followed by Kiriko's reverberating scream and the loud pitter-patter motion of Kenji's hurried steps.

"KAA-SAAN!"

Panic gripped her heart when she heard fear edging its way onto her son's voice.

"Doushite nan desu ka Kenji-kun?"

It took a moment before the younger red head could reply, and when he did, Kaoru felt the bowl of rice slip from her hands, crash and shatter on the floor.

"KAA-SAN! TOU-SAN'S DEAD! HE'S DEAD!"

Please review!

Blueroseulan