"This is Tomoe's sheath," the Okami said as she placed the sheath on the wooden table. Kenshin was sitting across the table with the Okami. They had returned to Yamanoya and the Natuso's mother greeted them. "It was found with Tomoe when my husband found her. It was because of this that we called her Tomoe." The Okami explained as she gave the sheath a light push towards Kenshin's direction.
Kenshin picked up the sheath and looked at the carving on it - "Tomoe." It was common for sheath to be decorated with carvings, as well as, the name of the owner. Kenshin nodded, "Yes, this indeed belongs to Tomoe."
"My, may I ask how do you know Tomoe? My daughter explained to me you claimed to be her husband."
"We met during the war in Kyoto," Kenshin started to answer briefly.
…
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Natsuo was preparing tea for the guest.
"Say, Tomoe, do you remember anything about Himura Kenshin? "
"No. Why would I remember anything about that pervert," Tomoe answered as she remembered that he was the one who stole her first kiss. She frowned, "but come to think of it, he does look familiar."
"Hmm, then maybe you do know him, after all," Natuo said as she poured the boiling water into the tea pot.
Tomoe rested her hand on her chin and mumbled, "I am certain I did not meet him anywhere, ah!"she exclaimed as if something struck her. Without warning, she ran up to her room and stared at the books on the table. After she flipped through them, not finding what she sought, she turned around and pulled out the drawer. She took out the stack of papers in the drawer and began flipping through them until a yellowish piece of paper caught her sight. "Found it!" She glanced through the information on the paper again, satisfied, she went down to the reception room.
''Okami san!" Tomoe greeted when she slid the shoji open. "Sorry for interrupting but there is something important I must tell you." She positioned herself next to Okami. Natsuo was already in the room, serving tea to them.
"What is it?" Okami asked, looking at her eagerly.
"I know this man," she turned her head and looked at Kenshin.
"You remember?" Kenshin asked, hope filled his heart.
Tomoe shook her head and continued, "You are hitokiri battousai."
Natsuo gasped.
Kenshin remained silent. Not sure whether to be glad she remembered something about him after all. Maybe it was better for her to not remember about that part of him.
Tomoe paused for a while to take out the yellowish paper and showed it to the others, "Well, your face was shown all over Edo some times ago. The government was looking for you though they seemed to give up on that."
"Oh! It is true. It does look like him," Okami exclaimed as she lifted the poster up and compared the drawing with that of Kenshin's face. Natsuo silently nodded in agreement.
"Okami san, let's get him out of the house. I know he is up to no good," Tomoe suggested, ready to grab a stick or broom nearby to chase him away.
"You have mistaken me. It is true I was the hitokiri battousai. However, I have vowed never to kill a gain after the war," Kenshin said as he handed his sword over to the Okami, alarming the rests in the room, "I became a wanderer and carry this sword to protect people."
The Okami drew the sword and inspected it.
"A Sakabatou?" Natsuo said as she noticed the reverse blade.
"A sword that does not kills," Tomoe said.
"There was no clouds of tallow on the blade, it looked like it 's never been used," commented the Okami as she handed the sword back to Kenshin.
"You carry this sword to protect the people because of the revolution?" Tomoe asked.
"Hn. I fought for the Ishin Shishin. In this new Meiji era the shape of revolution has been complete. However many people still live in the old world where the weak are still oppressed and justice and equality is still just an ideal. That is why. This is my atonement for all the people whose lives were sacrificed in the name of the Meiji Revolution. That it is."
For a while, no one said anything.
"If you are a wanderer then you do not have a home?" the Okami asked, changing the subject.
"In fact, I live in Kamiya Kasshin dojo. My landlady is the Master of the Kamiya Kasshin school."
"My, then you must be bored," the Okami replied, "Why don't you find some work. You know, I always wanted a bodyguard. I can hire you."
"Oro?"
"Mother, you should not try to take advantage of people," Natsuo said.
Tomoe agreed, "Okami san, you cannot just hire anyone."
"I am not taking advantage of him. I said I would hire him, which means I will give him salary. Plus, there is no way we can make profits if times remain bad. Not forgetting the fact that the Yakuza gang had been pestering the other inns recently. The Yamanoya might just be their next target," the Okami turned to look at Kenshin, "So what do you say, Himura san?"
"I would gladly accept your invitation but I am afraid I have to discuss this matter with my landlady," Kenshin replied with a courteous smile.
"Well, it is alright. You can give me your answer anytime," the Okami grinned. "I am looking forward to you working as my guard soon."
They can't be serious. Tomoe thought. The idea of the once legendary hitokiri working in as a bodyguard was bizarre, not to mention at the Yamanoya. That meant she would face him everyday then. She certainly did not like the idea.
…
"Why did you want to hire him, mother?" Natsuo asked the Okami. "Do you believe him?" It was not a long while that Kenshin had left the Yamanoya.
"Hn. He may once be a hitokiri but he's changed. There is something in him that makes me believe him. That's why I want to hire him," answered the Okami.
Natsuo turned her head to the side and pondered about her mother's words.
"Moreover, he claimed to be Tomoe's husband. I am sure he will be glad to work in Yamanoya," the Okami smiled knowing.
"Speaking about that," Natsuo said and turned to face her friend, however, she was not in the room. "Where's Tomoe?"
"Is it true that you did not take another's life after the war?" asked Tomoe. She was sitting on the river bank with Kenshin. She had followed him across the river. It had been a long time since she met someone from her past. There were many questions she wanted to ask him.
"Yes. I made that vow when I was in Otsu. It is my promise to you," Kenshin answered as he looked at her.
Tomoe shifted uncomfortably and avoided his gaze, "You mentioned we met before the war."
"Yes."
"Tell me what do you know about me."
Kenshin nodded and inquired, "What do you want to know?"
"My name. Start by telling me my name," she requested softly. It saddened her that she could not even recall her own name.
"Before we married, you are Yukishiro Tomoe," Kenshin replied, he closed his eyes to recall everything he knew about her. "You were born in Edo. Your father was a retainer of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Your mother died shortly after she gave birth to your younger brother, Enishi. You raised him since he was born."
"Eni-shi. My younger brother?"
"Aa."
"Where are my family now?"
Kenshin shrugged his shoulder, "I have never met your father before. Though I met Enishi recently."
"Really? How?" Tomoe enquired. She was overwhelmed with the information Kenshin told her. It had been a long time since she knew something about herself. On one hand, she was excited to learn about her past. On the other hand, she was afraid it would be too much for her.
For a moment, Kenshin did not speak. His shoulder was tensed. It had been four days since Enishi confronted him. That left six days before Jinchuu. He was lost and in despair of what to do. Never had he thought, he would meet Tomoe again. He was overjoyed and relieved. But at the same time, he felt remorseful and regret. How was he going to explain to Enishi about the fact that Tomoe lived? And how was Enishi going to react?
He sighed as he thought hard about how to explain the situation to Tomoe. It would not be wise to tell her the whole story, would it?
"Sighing makes you an old man," Tomoe said as she turned to look at him with a small smile, "So how did you meet my brother?"
This time, Kenshin turned and looked away at the river. "Tomoe, there is something I need to ask you."
"Alright. But you have not answer my question."
"I will answer you after you answer my question."
"Fine."
"Do you- do you have a scar on your back?"
Tomoe gasped, "How did you know that?" No one knew about her scar except Okami, her husband and Natsu. She was always conscious to hide it. It was not so bad in the public bath house since the bathtub were dark and people cared only about getting out of the hot and stuffy public bath soon.
"Tomoe there is something I must tell you. I was- I was the one who inflicted the wound on you."
"You what?" she whispered in disbelief.