Disclaimer: Watsuki-sama is god of this universe. I am just a blip on the radar screen.

A Sons Guilt: Chapter Four

Kenji stood motionless in the middle of a place that had never before seemed so frightening.

The room swirled around him in alarming hues of gray and red as he stared at the figure in front of him, who shouldn't have been standing, much less still living. The man's comrades were collapsed at his feet like rag dolls, their bodies cold and lifeless.

"You will regret this!" the robber hissed, clutching the wound in his stomach. He gave Kenji a venomous glare, slashed at the entrance, and swiftly disappeared into the throng of people; so fast it seemed like magic. Kadoma frowned as he glanced after him.

Ninja skills as well..? That man couldn't have been an ordinary robber...

Kenji trembled, the sword gripped so tightly in his hand, his knuckles were white. Then he doubled over, grimacing as blood seeped from between the fingers he held over his injury.

"Kenji!"

The redhead's eyes seemed glazed, as though he were elsewhere. He blinked as Kadoma repeated his name, then looked down at his wound with almost mild surprise. "I'm cut..."

His friend grabbed the wakizashi from his hands. "Just go home!" he shouted.

Kadoma had once managed to slay a man who had attacked his home and threatened to kill him, a frequent occurence in the neighbourhood he lived in. He wasn't as affected by what just transpired. But Kenji on the other hand..."I've dealt with this before, you haven't. Just go! I'll say I did it, it's not a big deal."

"No.." Kenji mumbled, looking dazed. "No, it was me..."

"Go before the crowds gather, and before your Otou-san gets home, you idiot!"

"Home," Kenji whispered faintly. "Otou-san..."

His eyes widened as he stared at the three men on the floor. He looked down at the front of his stained gi, stained with blood that was not his. "No.."

His stomach heaved. The smell of blood overwhelmed his senses, and it both sickened and horrified him. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He wondered idly if he would ever be able to breathe again, without smelling that sickly sweet stench, without always remembering the three men he had gutted like fish...

o-o-o-o

"No!" Kenji bolted upright in his futon, his breathing heavy, his eyes wild with panic.

Then slowly, as his heart rate returned to normal, he lay down again, breathing deeply. The clean air, smelling slightly of herbs, was both reassuring and comforting. He blinked rapidly, turned and noticed the person beside him.

"Otou-san..." He sat up again, confused. "Where am I...?"

Kenshin seemed troubled, but his voice gave away nothing. "You're in the clinic," he answered. "Megumi-dono took care of your wound."

"My wound..."

Kenji glanced at his arm. It came back to him then and he flushed. He stared hard at his hands for a moment, uncomfortable, not knowing what to say.

Kenshin stood abruptly. "How do you feel?"

"...Better. Thank you."

"You nearly died."

Kenji swallowed. The hard look in Kenshin's eyes indicated he had not yet forgiven him for hiding his injury. I know I shouldn't have...but there are things far worse than that. Far worse...

"You told me you didn't think it was serious, when it was obvious that it was."

Kenji remained silent. Kenshin looked like he was trying to reign in his frustration. He folded his arms.

"We need to talk."

"I have to go..."

His father frowned. "Go where?"

Kenji pushed back the covers and stood, a little shakily. "For a walk... I promise I'll talk to you when I come back. Please." He looked at him with pleading eyes.

I have to find Kadoma and Masaki...

Kenshin sighed. "Running away from what happened isn't going to change the fact that it did," he said softly. "Recovery from a bad experience can only happen through acceptance. Pretending your wound wasn't that serious didn't change the fact that it was. You've never hidden anything from us before. You must have had a strong reason."

Kenji swallowed.

He must know! But..he can't. If he did, he wouldn't be so calm... He shivered. That was not a thought he wanted in his head. He couldn't imagine how his father would react to such news.

"It's only natural that you'd be affected by what happened. I was thinking about this while you were asleep, that I was. I now understand why you hid your injury."

"What do you mean..."

"You see, when that thief slashed you across the arm, he intended to cut through it. He intended to cut through you."

Kenji closed his eyes briefly. I don't want to be reminded..I don't want to remember...I won't!

"You must have attacked him in the nick of time. To prevent the blade from going all the way. It would have been something that required great speed... I understand why you would be shaken from such an experience."

"You have no idea," Kenji whispered, almost to himself.

Kenshin gave him a tight smile. "I think, perhaps I do."

The teen stared at him, furrowing his brow in confusion. Kenshin's gaze seemed distant. When he spoke again his voice held a tinge of sadness. "Kenji, I've told you about my childhood, when I was rescued from the bandits..."

"Yes..." Kenji's eyebrows knitted together. What has that got to do with anything?

"...There is something regarding my youth I have never told you, because I have never come across a suitable time. It was one of my greatest fears. When you were a baby, I often thought of how I would tell you." He held up his hand, and gazed at it, looking distant and a little sad. '"Of how I would tell my son the history behind these hands."

"I don't understand..."

"We'll go back to the dojo where you can get some fresh clothes. Then I'll accompany you on your walk, and explain it to you."

Kenji nodded. "Okay," he said, both interested and apprehensive.

o-o-o-o

Saitou dropped his cigarette and ground it into the dirt path, before opening the gates to the Himura home. Just as he was making his way to the entrance of the dojo, he turned to see Kenshin and his son approaching. A satisfied smile played on his lips as he waited for them, his sharp gaze falling upon the stiffness of Kenji's arm movement.

Ah..so he's wounded. I wonder if he has lied to his father about what happened. He must have, if he told his friends to cover for him. For a moment Saitou almost felt sorry for the boy, knowing all too well what his father's strongest beliefs were. Almost.

Kenshin frowned as he noticed the police officer. Though he no longer held a grudge against the ex Shinsengumi captain, his presence usually meant bad news.

"Saitou-san. Is something wrong?"

Kenji froze. His eyes locked with the the officer's. There was a gleam in the man's amber eyes.

"M-mister Fujita..." he whispered.

"I need to talk to your son. About what happened yesterday afternoon."

Kenshin gave him a questioning look. "I'm surprised an officer of your ranking would be handling such a case. Is there something more to this that I should know?"

Saitou looked amused. "Still as acute as always." His eyes hardened.

"To answer your question, yes. It's probably better for both you and Kenji to know. You see, it seems the recent robberies are no coincidence. We have discovered they are all linked to one man, a former Oniwabanshu spy by the name of Akura Yamanato."

Kenshin digested this slowly, a faint line appearing in his forehead. Kenji tried to look calm but his own thoughts were racing. A former Oniwaban spy?

Saitou lowered his voice a little. "We have reason to believe Yamanato is ultimately planning to attack the government. He has a deep hatred of foreigners and the Western nations. This is presumably why he has been hiring men to carry out the robberies. But it is also appears he is doing it to distract the police from his more important plans."

"Wait. How does my son fit into all this?"

Saitou raised an eyebrow.

"He hasn't told you what happened?"

Kenshin's brow furrowed as Kenji's heart rate increased. Is he going to tell Otou-san, just like that? But he can't! Not this way...not from Saitou!

"He was injured," his father started slowly. 'It's clear that he fought these robbers."

Saitou smirked. "Ah. But with what?"

It was Kenshin's turn to raise an eyebrow. "With his sakabatou I expect."

"You mean this one?"

Kenji's eyes widened as Saitou held out his coat and withdrew the sword from his belt.

I forgot that I left it behind...I wasn't going to take it off that man...I thought Kadoma would...

"I found this attached to the waist of one of the dead men."

Kenji's heart was pounding so hard now, it seemed to drown out Saitou's voice. It was pounding so hard he thought his chest would break. Kenshin however, seemed oblivious to the panic written all over his son's face. He didn't so much as glance at him as he moved closer towards his old rival.

"Saitou-san," he said quietly, his heart refusing to believe what his mind already had. "I want you to explain to me what you mean by that statement."