Request from kaoruca (on FFN)- Don't want to impose or anything like that, but have you thought about writing one drabble about how Koshijiro could feel leaving Kaoru alone (when he went to the Seinan war and died -what could he have thought before dying?) or having to bring her up all by himself?
A/N: So, this was a scene I cut from the original oneshot. It's a more lighthearted moment between father and daughter and didn't really fit with the rest of the tone... but I liked how Koshijiro's earnest yet clueless parenting came across here, and the way it shows how much he respects Kaoru while still maintaining his authority as a parental figure.
Title: Katsujinken: The Sword That Gives Life
Part 2: Teacher
Author: Kenkaya
Series: Rurouni Kenshin
Genre: Drama/Family/Humor
Type: Pre-series expansion
Rating: General, PG
Pairings: Kamiya Koshijiro/Kaoru's mother
Summary: Kamiya Koshijiro had always been comfortable with his place in the world… then the Bakumatsu happened. Now, he has to navigate a new era and confront his inner turmoil, all while raising a daughter who barely remembers him.
Disclaimer: The characters and story of Rurouni Kenshin are copyright to Nobuhirou Watsuki, Sony, and other corporate someones who aren't me.
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"Kamiya-san? May I have a word with you? About Kaoru-chan?"
Koshijiro abandoned his morning meditation on the porch and turned to face Manami-san, brow furrowed in concern. The woman stood nervously in his kitchen entryway, sleeves of her lavender kimono still tied back from their meal preparation.
"Yes? I hope she hasn't been causing you trouble," he frowned. His daughter should still be in the dojo, completing her daily chores, not in the kitchen disturbing their kind neighbor. Though that behavior seemed odd, especially since (if he recalled correctly) Kaoru rarely went anywhere near the kitchen.
"Oh, no, nothing of that sort," Manami waved a slender hand, quick to assure him. "I just felt the time to have a discussion about Kaoru-chan's future was... a bit overdue."
"Ah," Koshijiro nodded, understanding exactly what she meant. Kaoru had celebrated her twelfth birthday just last month. In all honesty, now that the subject had been broached, he was surprised it hadn't come up sooner.
"I understand that it is a... difficult matter to consider, but Kaoru-chan will have suitors before you know it. You need to be prepared for that day, and Kaoru-chan must learn how to present herself as a desirable bride."
"I see," Koshijiro responded, though in reality he really didn't. Training his daughter to be a master in Kamiya Kasshin was familiar territory, a common ground they both shared; the thought of teaching her to be a proper wife triggered flashbacks of those awful, uncertain days after the Bakumatsu. Days when he felt helpless in his lack of knowledge. He rubbed sweaty palms dry on the pale blue fabric of his hakama, unable to help the fleeting (dully painful) thought that his wife would have known what to do.
"I would be happy to give her some basic lessons in household upkeep… cooking, entertaining... things she should know to attract a suitable husband."
"I am already indebted to you, Manami-san," Koshijiro protested, though not too vehemently. He had no idea how to teach those skills to his child, after all. The man was in no position to refuse.
"Nonsense! It would be no trouble," Manami insisted. "I am already here most mornings... she can start by helping with breakfast tomorrow."
"I will send her to the kitchen then," Koshijiro said with a grateful nod. "Thank you, Manami-san."
"Of course," the woman bowed her head, humbly accepting his thanks.
Neither one had the slightest clue of the chaos in store for them the following morning-
"Why did you fan the flames!" Manami exclaimed as she hurriedly picked blackened vegetables from the pan.
"It was taking so long! I thought it would cook faster!"
"Kaoru-chan," the older woman groaned with a head shake, numerous flyaways swaying as they escaped her usually immaculate hair bun. "That's not how it works!"
"But if the fire's hotter the food should cook faster. It makes sense!"
"Patience, Kaoru-chan," though, judging by Manami's restrained tone and harried appearance, the words were directed more towards herself. "A hotter flame will only burn the outside and leave the inside raw. You cannot rush a good meal."
"Apparently... I could have been halfway through my morning exercises by now," Kaoru grumbled, crossing her arms petulantly.
"The rice!" her mentor cried out suddenly, pointing at the rice pot as it bubbled over. The younger girl rushed to lift the lid and release excess steam. A moist heat billowed outwards, wafting across the already irritably-summer-hot kitchen.
"You must keep an eye on every pot and flame! Inattention in the kitchen can have dangerous consequences!"
"I have to be patient, I have to pay attention to everything… what don't I have to do?!"
A few minutes later, Koshijiro (having finished his morning meditation) followed the smoky scent of char to the sight of a kitchen in complete disarray. A grey haze distorted the room, coloring everything inside. Dirty bowls and used pots, lined with crusty black bits, dominated the counter space. And, in the middle of pandemonium, stood his normally composed neighbor- running frustrated hands through a mussed hairstyle while his daughter loudly declared that, "cooking makes no sense!"
"Kaoru!"
The girl immediately snapped to attention at her father's stern reprimand. A long black ponytail swished behind her as she spun on heel to face him. Manami (in sharp contrast) froze, wide-eyed, before falling into a low bow.
"I… I beg your pardon for the... delay, Kamiya-san," she stuttered. "Breakfast shall be served soon… and I will personally see to it that your kitchen is set to rights afterwards."
"Manami-san," he raised a placating hand, halting another litany of apologies. "There is no need for pardon. You have been nothing but generous to us over the years… and I know my daughter. I know how hard-headed she can be."
"But father-"
"And," he cut off her indignant protest with a steely glare. "If she will let me continue, I also know how diligent she can be when she applies herself," the harsh set of his jaw relaxed further with each continuing word. "I am confident, Kaoru, that you can learn to cook in a kitchen... just as you were able to learn swordsmanship in the dojo."
Kaoru's defensive demeanor melted under his blunt praise, cheeks flushed and expression beaming. Small shoulders straightened as she met his determinate gaze with an identical one of her own.
"I'll do my best, father!"
Manami stood to the side and watched their shared moment with a weak, fond smile. After an appropriate amount of comfortable silence had passed between them, she cleared the air with a sharp hand clap.
"Well, I think we have all seen enough of the kitchen today. Kaoru-chan, would you grab the bowls while I salvage what I can here? Kamiya-san, I apologize again… your meal shall be ready shortly."
"Of course, my thanks," Koshijiro responded gruffly.
"Yes... thank you, Manami-san!" Kaoru parroted enthusiastically.
The meal turned out surprisingly well, in spite of a few burnt edges. Manami continued to instruct as they ate: reciting rules of etiquette Koshijiro was only peripherally aware of and correcting posture. Kaoru took to these lessons well, easily relating them to those early dojo days: when her father explained the freshly penned tenets of Kamiya Kasshin as he guided her stances. The tense atmosphere from before still hung thickly over the table, though it's intimidating air had greatly diminished.
Afterwards, when their empty dishes had been set aside, Manami returned to tend her own family while Kaoru prepared for her usual morning routine. She walked into the dojo, changed out of her soft yellow kimono into a more practical white gi and hakama, to see her father stacking a collection of bound journals. Koshijiro paused in his motions at her entrance, giving a curt nod to acknowledge her presence.
"Start your warm-up katas while I place these in the house," he dictated, rising from his crouched position with full arms. "I'll be back momentarily."
"What are those?" she asked, ever curious.
"Old financial records," he answered simply, seeing no reason to skirt around the information. "An… issue came up when I was balancing our books last night. Hopefully, I can find a solution later today by referencing these."
"That makes sense."
He figured that would be the end of their discussion- until he saw the way her blue eyes crinkled thoughtfully, staring pensively at the books in his hands. Koshijiro was struck then by a sudden notion: Kaoru was not only a girl to mold into someone else's wife, she was also heir to the Kamiya household. She would need to know how to run it. For once, he stopped second-guessing whether his wife would have done things differently. He didn't consider asking Manami's advice on the matter first, too caught up in the excitement of finally having a purpose in this aspect of Kaoru's upbringing.
"Actually… I think we should cut practice short today," he declared, jostling the stack in his arms as he spoke. "I'll teach you how to decipher these numbers properly and we can look for a solution together. Does that seem agreeable to you?"
"Yes, father!" Kaoru smiled at his restrained zeal and slipped fluidly into her first stance. The man watched her first swing with critical grey eyes before rushing off to complete his task. The mantle of fatherhood always seemed to hang slightly crooked on his shoulders: like a cloak that functioned well enough, but never quite fit right along the seams. However, as a teacher, Koshijiro was in his element again.
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TBC...
A/N: Since starting this, I've now thought up a third (and final!) part to bring the story full circle. It's just a short vignette and should be up soon!