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Summary: Kenji meets an old friend for the first time

Tales of Kenji
First Impressions

Kenji buried his face in the fabric of his Okaa-san's kimono. He didn't want to meet the strange, loud creature who'd just arrived. The woman spoke so quickly, it was impossible for him to understand the flood of words pouring from her mouth.

"It's all right, Kenji," Kaoru soothed as she reached up to rub the toddler's head where he'd buried it against her shoulder. "I want you to meet my friend."

The small head turned ever so slightly. A wide, blue eye peeked over a chubby hand where it was fisted the yellow fabric, but he didn't release his grip. Kenji blinked at the green-eyed girl waving enthusiastically at him, just a little braver with his mother's comforting hand on his back.

"Kenji, this is Shinomori Misao," Kaoru introduced gently, feeling her son cringe at Misao's exuberance. "She, Tou-san and I had many adventures together."

"Nice to meet you, Kenji-kun," Misao said, smiling brightly at the shy boy, but Kenji hid against his mother once more, burying his face against the crook of her neck.

"I'm sorry, Misao. He's not usually so quiet," Kaoru apologized. "Say 'hi', Kenji," she prompted, tickling her son lightly to get him to look up, but Kenji only squirmed and complained in her arms.

"It's alright, Kaoru. I understand," Misao replied easily, but she couldn't keep some of her disappointment from slipping into her tone.

"Now see, Kenji? Misao-chan is sad," Kaoru admonished teasingly, throwing her friend a wink and urging her silently to play along.

Kenji heard rustling followed by a heavy sigh and soft sniffles behind him. "And I brought these treats all the way from Kyoto just for you."

At the word "treat," Kenji's head popped up. Blinking blue eyes at the falsely-pouting Misao, he cocked his head slightly to the left, clearly curious about the surprise Misao had brought with her. Something about that head tilt that was so inherently Kenshin-like that Misao had to cover her snort of laughter with a cough. Clearing her throat, she schooled her features into a soft smile.

"Would you like see, Kenji?" Misao asked, holding a box in her hands.

Kenji turned to his mother in silent question. "Go on. It's all right," Kaoru quietly encouraged, lowering him to the ground. Misao followed suit so that she was on the same level as the young boy.

Misao lifted the lid off the box, holding out the offering to the still-hesitant child. Kenji let go of Karou's kimono so that he could turn, but quickly realized he wouldn't be able to see the mystery treats unless he left the safe circle of his mother's arms. Toddling toward the box, Kenji's face lit in delight as he caught sight of its contents.

Nestled within were onigiri of many shapes and sizes: rabbits, pigs, even one that looked like…

"Hiko-jiji!" he exclaimed holding out a stern-faced rice ball. Shoving the rice treat into his mouth, Kenji munched happily as both women dissolved into fits of laughter.

AN: Kenji's use of "jiji" is most definitely meant to convey "old geezer" and not "grandfather." Think of it as Kenshin's revenge for being called "baka deshi."

This drabble, at 500 words exactly, was written for the prompt, Shy. Originally posted February 15, 2010.