Author-chan's notes: Hey everyone! Apparently a lot of people are anxious for some bonding time with Kenshin and Kenji. I'm also very glad at how everyone liked how Aoshi acted towards Sai. Remember kiddies: no messing with the Okashira's daughter.
Well, here's the next chapter!
Key:
"talking"
'thoughts that can only be heard by thinker, a.k.a. private thoughts'
/thoughts that can be heard by thinker and spirits, a.k.a. telepathy/
writing in a letter
qpqpqpqp indicates scene/time change
Like Father Like Son
(Chapter Twenty-one: Nighttime Talks)
Aoiya
Chou was snickering. Finally, finally, someone had put that brat Sai in his place.
After the thief turned cop's encounter with three angry ninja, the Shinomori family had set up a room for the two officers. Of course, Chou nearly out right giggled when Shinomori Aoshi threw Chou's assistant into the room with enough force to knock a full grown tiger unconscious.
Sai was currently on the floor, groaning, but coming to. Chou gave his assistant a once over as he started pulling out rolls of bandages from the luggage. Sai was lucky to be alive considering all the kodachi and kunai marks all over his body. Sai's hazy hazel eyes looked up at Chou's face, disoriented.
"Hey, Boss Broom," the former thief choked out.
"Ahou," Chou smirked at his assistant, "I warned ya to duck when ya see the kunai comin'. Yer not supposed to mess with ninja. Especially the Shinomori family."
"They don't look like ninja," Sai groaned as he picked himself up, "But then again ninja aren't meant to stand out, ne?"
"Right," Chou agreed, tsking a bit at his assistant, "Ya know, ya had it coming to ya. All that bad karma ya gathered was bound to backfire on ya."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Sai muttered as he inspected some of the kodachi made slashes on his flesh, "Why is it that the one cute girl I find who isn't a whore happens to be a psycho ninja with psycho ninja parents?"
"Luck of the draw, kid," Chou chuckled as he tossed a few rolls of bandages Sai's way, "Ya better patch yer self up. Shinomori will have yer head nailed on his front door if ya leave bloodstains."
qpqpqpqp
Aoiya, the rooftops
Kenshin sat on the rooftop of the Aoiya, starting out into space. From his vantage point, the former hitokiri had a perfect view of Kyoto. New buildings were scattered throughout the old city, threatening to take over the older buildings. In some ways Kenshin was glad for the change. Kyoto deserved a fresh start.
"Kenichi?" a voice called, jolting Kenshin out of his thoughts. He turned his head to find Kenji standing next to him on the roof dressed in a pale sleeping yukata, his long red hair out of its usual ponytail to hang down across his back.
"O-Otou-san," Kenshin blinked as his son/father sat down next to him, "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question, Kenichi," Kenji replied, "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
"H-Hai," Kenshin nodded, turning back to watch the nightscape of the city that had haunted his nightmares for so long, "I just couldn't sleep."
"Is something the matter?" Kenji asked, raising an eyebrow at the nine-year-old. However, Kenji was smiling softly, the slight upturn of his lips almost invisible in the darkness. It had been awhile since he and Kenichi had a chance to talk alone. Every single time Kenji tried to sit down with his son, something interrupted or Kenichi clammed up, his voice seeming to strangle him as if an unseen power forced the words back down Kenichi's throat.
'Maybe tonight would be different…' Kenji thought, 'Maybe tonight he could tell me everything…"
"What do you think of Kyoto, O-Otou-san?" Kenshin asked, avoiding Kenji's earlier question.
"Don't try to change the subject, Kenichi," Kenji ordered sternly.
"I'm not," Kenichi replied, "Answer the question please."
"Kyoto's okay," Kenji shrugged, "I've been here a few times. It's just like any other city."
"No it's not," Kenshin murmured, half unaware of what he was saying, "Kyoto is different."
"Is that what's bothering you?" Kenji asked, raising a crimson eyebrow, "You're disturbed because we're not in Tokyo anymore? You're homesick?"
"No," the other redhead replied, tilting his head to hide his not so violet eyes with his hair. He didn't bother to elaborate.
Kenji sat tight lipped. He could tell something was bothering his son. Kenichi's stance, his eyes…his soul screamed that there was something wrong. However…
"Kenichi, I can't help you if you don't open up," Kenji sighed, "Talk to me. What's wrong? People don't get insomnia for no reason."
"I can't tell you. And if I did, would you believe me?" Kenshin whispered so softly that Kenji had to strain his ears to hear it. Again, that strange chocking quality, the quality that came into Kenichi's voice whenever he was just about to tell Kenji everything, appeared in his tone. Damn that spell…
Kenji's eyes widened, before narrowing angrily. So that was it. His own son was going to shut him out.
"If that's how you want to act, so be it," Kenji said, his jaw tightening, "If you won't tell me anything, I can't help." The Kamiya Kasshin master stood up to leave.
"O-Otou…"
Kenji didn't bother to turn around. There was no point to continue the conversation at the moment. Kenichi would not, could not, talk.
"Kenichi," Kenji sighed, "Go to sleep. We're going to visit Hiko-sensei in the morning, so you need your rest."
"Hai," Kenshin murmured quietly, climbing off the rooftop into his room. With in moments, both father and son were completely out of hearing range.
'Why won't you talk to me, Kenichi?' Kenji thought to himself as he made his way off the rooftop, 'You never talk to me. There's something wrong. Sasuke mentions ghosts and Aoshi mentions lack of ki. You know something is wrong too, but you won't tell me! Don't close me out, onegai…'
"Gomen nasai," Kenshin whispered, slipping into the Rurouni tone once Kenji was gone, "Sessha is so sorry, Kenji-chan."
As Kenichi climbed into his futon, Sasuke breathed shallowly, trying not to have his brother notice that he was awake and had heard every word.
qpqpqpqp
The PBKB Party, late that night
Nakamura Kaito smiled happily to himself, his detached head resting in his arms. The party was going along smoothly. The decorations were hung, those of the PBKB who could make it were there, the guests were there, the (ghostly) food was set, the incense was burning, and there were many, many sake jugs to enjoy.
"It's just perfect…" Kaito sighed, sounding like a dreamy school girl.
"Ahou," Takumi sighed, taking a long drink from his sake cup, "You're supposed to be a samurai, not a bubblehead."
"Shows what you know," Kaito sniffed, "My family were merchants."
"Great," Takumi sighed again, the disemboweled Mimiwari rolling his eyes.
"Kaito-kun, Takumi-kun!" a cheerful voice hailed. The two PBKB members looked up to see the smiling form of Okita Souji, first captain of the Shinsengumi, floating towards them. Behind him, the ghostly form of Harada Sanosuke, tenth captain of the Shinsengumi, followed.
"Okita-sama, Harada-sama," Kaito greeted back, "Glad you could make it."
"Glad we came," Harada laughed, grinning at Kaito (who had been part of his patrol before his death), "Saito's been boring lately."
"Don't be so cruel towards Saito-san," Okita scolded gently, "There's no way he can be getting into fights anymore; he's sixty-one now."
"While we are forever young, eh Okita?" Harada finished a bit sadly.
Kaito frowned slightly, knowing how hard it was to watch those you knew grow old while you were a spirit, eternally young.
Of the leaders of the Shinsengumi, only Saito Hajime, captain of the third unit, and Nagakura Shinpachi, captain of the second unit, still lived. The other captains, who had already passed on, spent their afterlives haunting the last two survivors. Mostly they haunted Saito, since Saito was a spirit medium while Nagakura was simply an ordinary man, oblivious to the voices of specters.
"Where is Saito-san, anyway?" Takumi asked, "You didn't bring him along?"
"Are you kidding?" Harada scoffed, "Saito hates you guys, especially you, Kaito-kun."
"It's because he's so fun to mess with!" Kaito squealed happily, "Ah, Saito-san…He's so fun to irritate. And he can't banish us cursed ghosts like he can with other spirits! And he's so easy to manipulate! Did you know I once got him to burn fifteen sticks of incense just so I would leave him alone? AND it was the expensive kind. Next time, I'm aiming for fresh flowers on my grave."
"Impressive," Harada whistled in awe.
"Kaito…" Takumi sighed. It was no secret among the PBKB Club that Kaito enjoyed irritating the former third captain of the Shinsengumi. And unfortunately, there was nothing permanent Saito could do about Kaito due to decapitated swordsman's status as a ghost killed by Battousai's cursed blade. Those killed by Battousai were different from other spirits.
"I'm so happy everyone was able to come," Kaito smiled, his head still in the clouds, "The Shinsengumi captains are here; Katsura-san and others of the Choshu clan are here; we were even able to get a hold of those Oniwabanshu members Himura-kun knew!"
"Speaking of Himura-san," Okita began, "where is he?"
"He should be around here somewhere," Kaito answered, "Takumi, we did send Tomoe-san to get him, right?"
"What are you talking about?" Takumi asked, "She was here putting together the final touches for your party."
"What about Hideki?" Kaito asked, starting to get a bit nervous, "Didn't we send ninja boy for Battousai-san?"
"He was getting Katsura-san," Takumi replied.
"Oh Shimatta," Kaito moaned, "You mean our guest of honor isn't here?"
"I guess so," Takumi shrugged.
"Kuso…"
qpqpqpqp
Meanwhile in Tokyo; the Fujita/Saito residence
Saito Hajime was for once, very relaxed, reading a book. So far no ghosts had come to irritate him (Especially that damn Kaito. For goodness sakes, he was Harada's man! Why the hell did that beheaded spirit have to mess with the third captain all the time?). The night was peaceful…he was relaxed…everything was calm and quiet…
"A little bit too quiet," Saito muttered to himself, puffing on a cigarette. His eyes narrowed suspiciously, as he glanced all around. A storm was brewing, but where?
Yare, yare, like it was his problem. He was too old for such nonsense.
Nevertheless, he put down his book, pulled out a few sheets of paper, and began writing down some warding spells.
qpqpqpqp
Back at the Aoiya rooftop, a few hours later
Kaoru sat on the rooftop, thinking about the short "talk" between her husband and son. It…hurt…her to think that her Shinta and Kenji still had so much distance between them. And she knew what was making that distance: the spell. Or to be more specific, the spell on Kenshin that forbade him from giving clues about his past.
Despite Shinigami's optimism, there would always be a part of Kenshin that Kenji would never be allowed to see to if the spell was in effect. And Kaoru could tell that Kenshin wanted to tell Kenji everything…badly.
"This is just too hard," Kaoru groaned, burying her head in her arms.
"What is, ma'am?" a kindly voice asked from her right.
Kaoru's eyes snapped wide open as she jumped up from her sitting position, quickly transforming into her training clothes with a bokken in her hand in an instant. She whirled around to come face to face with a ghost she never met before.
"Oh, terribly sorry about surprising you," the male ghost apologized, bowing politely to her, "That was very rude of me."
"I-It's no problem," Kaoru said, regaining her breath and putting down her weapon as she studied the ghost before her.
He looked young, but then again when it came to ghosts there was no telling the true age. The strange ghost had dark brown hair tied up into a samurai topknot, and was dressed in a gi and hakama. A pair of daisho where secured at his waist. He wasn't part of the PBKB. Kaoru was pretty sure she had met all, if not, most of them. That plus, the PBKB carried a strange aura around them that this spirit lacked.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm looking for someone," the ghost continued on politely, "This is the Aoiya, correct?"
"Hai," Kaoru said slowly, her suspicious nature rising.
"Ah, then you might know where I might find Himura Battousai-san, ne?" the other ghost said cheerfully as his outfit blurred slightly and changed, "It's been quite awhile since I've seen him. You see, I want to finish our duel…"
"NANI?" Kaoru growled, bringing her bokken up to a ready position again, as she eyed the clothes the ghost had changed into, "I recognize that outfit! You're Shinsengumi! Damn it, first Saito, now you…Can't you stupid wolves leave my Kenshin alone!"
"Eh?" the other ghost blinked as Kaoru swung her bokken at him.
"If you want to fight him, you have to get through me!" Kaoru raged as she prepared another headshot at the ghost, who quickly dodged it.
"Now wait one moment!" the ghost protested.
"Like hell!" Kaoru yelled as she swung her bokken again, grazing the other ghost's arm.
"Yeah! Go Kaoru-kun!" a very familiar voice cheered.
"Damn it, Kaito, stop them!" an equally familiar voice snapped.
"Kaito-san, Takumi-san?" Kaoru blinked, looking up at the two PBKB members who were perched in the air watching the fight below.
"Hey Kaoru-kun!" Kaito waved cheerfully, "Don't stop now, it was just getting good! Damn, but this fight might go in the records alongside the time when you first met your husband!"
"EH?" Kaoru blinked confused. The ghost she had been fighting sighed.
"Would you two be so kind as to come down and explain what is going on?"
Takumi and Kaito floated down and Kaito instantly clapped Kaoru on the shoulder, giving the female ghost a huge grin.
"That was great, Kaoru-kun!" Kaito bubbled eagerly with excitement, "The passion, the power…Ah, the only thing better than watching Battousai-san fight is when you're beating the crap out of someone you think is going to hurt him."
"Kaito…" Kaoru growled, "What's going on? And who is he?" Kaoru jerked her head in the direction of the unnamed ghost.
"Ah, this is Okita Souji," Takumi replied, "First captain of the Shinsengumi. He just wanted a sparring match with Himura-kun, honest! He's not after Himura-kun's life."
"He better not," Kaoru hissed, glaring briefly at the Shinsengumi captain, "I don't care who you are, but if you harm my Shinta I will make you wish yo had never died!"
"Eh?" Okita blinked, his eyes betraying his confusion, "But Himura-san is dead, ne? I can't harm him if I tried."
"You didn't tell him?" Kaoru asked, glancing at the PBKB members.
"We wanted it to be a surprise," Kaito shrugged.
"I suppose there are many surprises," Okita laughed, turning his cheerful gaze towards Kaoru, "Including you, ma'am. You know me, but I don't know you."
"Okita-san, this is Himura Kaoru," Takumi stepped in before Kaoru could reply, "She's a master of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, Katsujin-ken."
"Himura Kaoru?" Okita repeated, raising an eyebrow at the name.
"Battou-kun's wife!" Kaito chirped.
"W-Wife!" Okita sputtered, his eyes widening, "Himura-san is too young to have a wife!"
"What, is that so surprising?" Takumi asked humorlessly, "Saito-san has a wife. And remember, it's been years since you saw Himura-kun. He's no longer the young teen you remember. He's got older, started a family…"
"You should see their son," Kaito piped in, "Kenji-chan was so cute when he was little! And now he's quite the strong swordsman…I feel like a proud uncle…"
"You forgot to mention our grandson," Kaoru snickered as she watched Okita become paler at the thought of Battousai now being older and having a family.
"Kami-sama, times have passed," Okita breathed, "Now I really do have to duel him…"
"There might be a little problem with that," Takumi winced, "Himura-kun is in a bit of a condition right now…"
"Eh?" Okita blinked. Kaoru sighed.
"Here, come with me and I'll show you," Kaoru explained as she floated down to the window leading into Sasuke and Kenshin's room, "Good, Sasuke's asleep. With luck, Shinta won't be…"
Kaoru floated over to Kenshin's bedside, leaving the male ghosts behind her by the window. Kenshin lay tangled in the covers, his face twisted in a nightmare.
"Anata?" Kaoru whispered, trying to wake the redhead from the dark dream, "Shinta, wake up. You're having a nightmare…"
Cautiously, she stroked his cheek with her icy hand. Kenshin woke with a gasp.
"K-Kaoru?" He murmured sleepily, his eyes still slightly dilated with imagined fear, "S-sessha was dreaming that…"
"Hush, dear," Kaoru cooed, "It's alright. It was only a dream. And you have guests."
"Aa," Kenshin nodded, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes in a very childish way.
"Himura-san?"
"Okita-san," Kenshin blinked, looking up at the dead Shinsengumi captain, "No wonder I was having dreams of your patrol chasing me down the streets of Kyoto."
"Aa," Okita murmured tightly, "I used to have dreams too…of you fighting my patrol, and then me."
Kenshin chuckled slightly, "Sessha was not what you were expecting."
Okita knew a statement when he heard one, but nodded in answer anyway.
It was true. He had not been expecting to see a sleepy nine-year-old at all.
"Sessha should (yawn) explain," Kenshin murmured sleepily.
"No, that's alright," Okita shook his head, "You look tired. We'll talk again at the party."
"(Yawn) Party?"
"The PBKB party," Okita clarified, "Tomorrow night."
"Aa," Kenshin nodded as he slid back under the covers, "Sessha will be there."
"As will I," Kaoru nodded.
Slowly, the ghosts began to leave the room.
"Kaoru?" Kenshin began, his eyes flickering shut.
"Hai?"
"Stay?"
"Forever, anata," Kaoru smiled as she curled up in the bed with him.
Outside the room window, Takumi, Kaito, and Okita looked into the scene.
"Kawaii, ne?" Kaito sighed dreamily. Takumi rolled his eyes.
"You're an idiot."
"So I'll be seeing you two tomorrow?" Okita asked cheerfully.
"Tomorrow?" Kaito groused, "The party was supposed to be tonight!"
"Himura-san is too tired to have the party tonight."
"B-But my plans! My preparations! Everything is ruined!"
"Quit being the drama queen," Takumi snarled at his partner, "We can reschedule. And the guests won't care if the party is tonight or tomorrow. We're dead, remember? We have all eternity."
"That's right!" Kaito gasped, his eyes wide, "We have all eternity! Did you hear that, Okita-sama? I have all eternity! I have all eternity with Takumi-kun!"
"NANI?" Takumi yelped, his eyes bulging out of their sockets, "Now wait one moment, Kaito…"
"Oh, Takumi-chan, I had no idea you cared!" Kaito cried, hugging his partner in crime, "I wuv you!"
"GET THE HELL OFF OF ME, AHOU!"
Okita laughed.
-
Author-chan's notes: Yes, I know…The story is progressing slowly. Sigh
I had the Kenji and Kenshin time, but I'm betting it's not what everyone was expecting. At least now it's understandable why Kenji and Kenshin are having a hard time reaching out to each other.
Kaito is still an idiot. Takumi is still a prude. Hiko is still in his shack…dying. Eh, the story is eating my SOUL! Cries
Check out my profile! I added a section that explains the orgins of my OCs, including several of the PBKB!