Sneakin' was written for the LiveJournal Community, rk_challenge. In an effort to promote interest in the community, our moderator, JeniNeji, has graciously allowed the authors to pimp this week's contributions before the voting period is over and invite our readers to cast their ballots.
This week, there are 5 drabbles and 2 one shots to choose from, including the one below. I'd like to invite you all to check them out at http: // community . livejournal . com / rk_challenge (remove spaces). If you wish to cast your vote, the polls are open until 11:59pm March 16.
Summary: Kenji's caught red-handed, but is he really the guilty one?
Tales of Kenji
Sneakin'
Kenshin looked up from his chopping, the feeling of something not quite right pricking at his senses. Other than Kenji's absence, nothing seemed out of the ordinary and since he vaguely remembered seeing the boy wander toward his room earlier, he dismissed the child's absence.
Shrugging, Kenshin returned to his task. Kaoru would return home in a little while, exhausted and hungry from teaching at a neighboring dojo. Kenshin wanted to make sure everything ready when she arrived, but that nagging feeling just wouldn't leave him alone.
Kenshin ticked off his list. "Rice simmering; furo prepared. Kenji playing quietly…"
Oro?
And then he realized – Kenji was quiet… too quiet. Thinking back, Kenshin realized he hadn't heard a peep from the boy in nearly ten minute and with his son, quiet usually equaled trouble.
Kenshin made his way down the hall toward Kenji's room, noting the tightly shut shoji.
"Kenji?" Kenshin asked, sounding casual as he slid the screen open. It took Kenshin half-a-second to realize his assumptions were correct. The toddler, sitting in the middle of his futon, looked up, startled. Nothing was overtly amiss, but for a child who'd supposedly been playing quietly in his room for the past ten minutes, the space was notably free of toys.
"What're you doin'?" Kenshin asked, adopting the nonchalant tone he so often associated with Sanosuke while noting the tightly-fisted hands resting in Kenji's lap.
"Nuttin'," Kenji replied blinking, the perfect picture of innocence.
"Uh huh… What's in your hands?"
Kenji looked at his fists, then back at his father, shrugging.
"Show me," Kenshin ordered gently, but firmly.
The toddler shuffled guiltily toward Kenshin unclenching his fingers. Kenshin stared down in shock at the hard Western-style treats Misao had brought on her visit some months back. Kenshin adored the tart, lemon sweets (one of his few guilty pleasures), but Kaoru had told him weeks ago they'd been finished. At the time, he hadn't questioned her, but thought it strange they'd been finished so quickly.
"Where did you get those?" Kenji's lip quivered slightly at his father's tone, but rather than answering, turned and walked into his parents' room.
"Der," Kenji replied, pointing to the low table where Kaoru kept her hair ribbons.
Kenshin crossed the room in a few quick strides and opened the drawer. Gently moving the contents within so as not to disturb their order, he quickly found the bag of candy, still nearly half full.
Kenshin smirked at his wife's deviousness. "All gone are they, Kaoru?" he muttered to himself, momentarily forgetting his audience.
"Come, Kenji. Let's get you washed for dinner," Kenshin said. Crouching down, he took small, sticky hands in his own, winking conspiratorially. "Let's keep this a secret between you and me, okay? Don't say anything to your Okaa-san."
Kenji, wondering what his father had up his sleeve but too surprised that he wasn't in more trouble to be really concerned with it, simply nodded in obedience and went to do as he was told.
This drabble, at 499 words, was written for the prompt, Shy. Originally posted March 10, 2010. Comments appreciated.