Disclaimer: I may not own Ruroken, but if you take my ideas without crediting me I'll attack you with a spork…
Okay, so maybe I'm not that violent. But you get the picture.
Rebirth of the Gentle Heart
Her joyful smile heals;
"Tadaima;" his forgiveness
by sadder smile real.
Author's Note: It's been so long! Sorry guys--school eats up all my time, but fortunately for me and you, Winter Thaw in Exeter-land means that I've got a long weekend with almost no homework. Can you say "Huzzah!"?
Even at the poignant "Welcome home" moment at the end of the Kyoto arc (which is what inspired this haiku), I don't think Kenshin quite realized that he was forgiven (by Tomoe, Kaoru, all those who truly know him…). So perhaps this is not quite aptly named, or even aptly written (suggestions are always welcome!), but I like it myself anyhow… When I was originally writing it, I thought of the "joyful smile" as Kaoru's, and the "healing" it gave (as Kenshin realized that he actually made her happy) as the "realization" of the hopes Tomoe had for Kenshin after her death - the hopes that he would finally realize that she had indeed forgiven him. Now I realize that you could also interpret it differently, saying that the "joyful smile" represents Tomoe's happiness that Kenshin has finally found a home, and the fact that Kenshin is home could be the realization of his forgiveness by that "sadder smile" Tomoe gave at her death… Long explanation, and maybe some of you have even come up with other ideas (I'd love to hear them!), but I had to say it - how can I expect y'all to get it right away when I barely understand it myself? Part of the confusion is probably because I'm trying to cram such a big idea into seventeen syllables… :sweatdrop: Also, Shinta (Kenshin's birth name) means "gentle heart" - or so I've heard; correct me if I'm wrong… (Just in case you didn't get the title. And I'm pretty sure "tadaima" means "welcome home"…)
Sorry to beleaguer you with long author's notes as soon as I come back… Please review!
Laura
P.S. I finally posted the songfic I wrote in December - sorry for the wait! It's called Alone, if anyone's interested.