Disclaimer: I own it not. It owns me. Join me in the bliss of obsession. ^_^
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Diary of a Manslayer
Akai Kitsune
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Chapter 4) Two Wives
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There were few men in the world, Kenshin knew, that were so
gifted to have not one, but two wives for whom he had such strong feelings.
The first was quiet, almost cold in her disposition - and what a pair they made
then, he thought ruefully - and so very different from any women he had ever
known. True, he hadn't known many women to begin with, but that was besides the
point.
Yukishiro Tomoe was a hard woman to describe; his comrades in the revolution
kept it simple - she was beautiful, a real treat to look at, with perfect
manners and gentle hands. She was quiet, submissive, and such things mattered to
men back then. Kenshin hadn't known what to think, exactly.
All he knew was that the woman who quietly spoke her assent when he asked her to
marry him had been the most wonderful person in the world to him.
Even after her death, the memories stirred - when the rain fell, or when the
first snowfall came. He would remember the day he met her, or the day they
finally held each other in honest, heartbreaking love.
'That night... I never thought I would make another promise like that, after
that.'
'Even more proof... such a fool I am.'
And then there was Kaoru, his Kaoru. His love, his life, his
laughter.
"It takes a very foolish man," he'd commented once, to no on
in particular, "To not realize what a gift a wife is."
It was true, he knew. He had lived that foolish existence for nearly a year
before asking Kaoru to marry him. Unfortunately, the one that heard him was
Yahiko, who was less inclined to appreciate the comment than Kaoru herself. He
had of course replied with a jibe at her cooking, and... well, that was life at
the Kamiya dojo. He and Kenshin had learned to take naps at inopportune times
such as those.
Little quirks, he decided, was what made life worth living. Of course there were
times when he didn't love her temper; of course there were times when
they fought. Sometimes it was over small, trivial things - the daily meals,
shopping, whose job it was to take care of the house when they had both
worked all day - and sometimes it was more serious issues, like paying bills or
Kenji's slow transition into more advanced schooling.
"The poor kid's only five," Yahiko grumbled one day,
overhearing them discussing it with the child sitting on his shoulders. "Let him
grow up a bit before you throw him out to be the next genius philosopher."
This had made them both stop and think. Out of all of them, Yahiko probably had
the most difficult childhood memories; he and Kaoru had at least had a family
during the earliest years.
'We try not to think of it,' he mused, 'But Yahiko was alone for a
long time before he met us.'
And that was all the more reason for him to love the woman who had brought them
all together - she was mother, sister, and friend to the little group that had
formed in that one, brief year. She may have been his wife, but she was, first
and foremost, the one he really counted on, when it came down to it.
'She's given so much... for me, of herself...'
'I can't help but feel selfish, but... really, I could never have it any other
way.'
Two wives, he thought, a small smile on his face, at night
when Kaoru was cuddled up against his side, one child sleeping down the hall,
and another growing within his wife's body. Tomoe's farewell - the scar on his
cheek - tingling with memory. The snowfall outside.
Two wives, two loves, yet how they had changed him. Two women, two very
different people to complement husbands of equally different times.
Two of them, and yet equally, infinitely precious.
~*~
Talk about a chapter of extreme tangent-hopping, oO Sorry it took so long to
write, especially since it is once again pretty stingy in content, ^^;; I wish I
could say I was busy, but I think I'm just lazy. I let my muse get away from me
before I'm done with her...
The original chapter title was "Two Women".
Reviewer Responses: (I love you guys! Really!)
animefanrk2k: I missed you last time!
^^;; I'll do my best to make it worthy of the Kendo name! ... um, does that mean
I'm getting an ego? oO
Wistful-Eyes: I find just about everything to do with Hiko amusing.
*snicker*
Velda: THAT does not exist in my mind. I'm not liiiiiiiistening... as for
Yuki, well what would you expect them to name the other kids? :P It had to be
somewhat past-involved (either that or named after Kenny) or it's not a brutal
cliche! Bwahaha.
Crystal Renee: Maybe I'm just camera shy, ^_^
YoukoKurama201: Don't forget, he gave the sakabatou to Yahiko shortly
before this happened, ^_^ So he has no sword to use, anyway.
ChiisaiLammy: *hands you a big tube of toothpaste* Brush well while
reading, ^_~
EEevee: Men and grudges - period! ^^ 'Nuff said.
LadyShiin: Yeah, I always liked that idea... I always figured he'd be an
awesome dad. Even as Battousai, he was such a creampuff with the kids...
haku baikou: ... That... sounds like a challenge. *evil grin*
Ariane: Ah, I see what you mean now. Good point. But by traveling, I
didn't mean he left a lot... well, maybe. Haven't quite figured that one out,
actually. I'll get there, though.
Calger459: I look forward you anything you write, you know! ^_^ Yeah,
"All That Matters" was one of my first as well, and it's still one of my faves.
Maybe someday... *sigh*
marstanuki: Yeah, as I said somewhere (I think) more kids = cliche, but I
don't care at this point, ^^ It's better than just Kenji. *throws tomatoes at
him* But for your idea - wouldn't Kenji be first, before Kaori?
Sean Montgomery: Actually, I think that kid would be more of a match for
Shinichi. ^^;; I think "All That Matters" was only posted at The Akabeko. I've
never seen a finished version, unfortunately. Sometimes people just don't have
enough time to write.
Regan84: You know, you totally made my day with that review. I was having
a terrible time at work and you just brightened me up. Thanks so much, ^_^
Vic'chonn: Well, I was never very sure about Kenji's character. I didn't
like the way he was portrayed in Seisouhen anyway - far too uncaring for what I
read in Watsuki-san's notes. Yuki was a spontaneous thing, so hopefully I won't
regret it.
Bando-Eido no Megami-sama: Wow, and I thought it was boring, ^^ Thanks.