Scraps of Time

Disclaimer: Heh heh, I am here to further destroy Kenshin! Beware my mighty keyboard! If I owned Rurouni Kenshin, and had my way with it, nobody would watch it. Most likely.

***

Wow… I didn't even see his sword move! Myoujin Yahiko watched the redheaded swordsman (wasn't his name Kenshin or something?) send Gasuke into the ceiling. That was totally awesome!

"Excuse me, but I wasn't done talking." Kenshin glared up at the yakuza hitokiri.

So cool!

"What do you say? Show your generosity and release the young one," said Kenshin easily, almost as if he was talking about the weather. A simple smile graced his features.

Oi! Not cool! I told him that I am not a 'young one'; I'm a samurai's son! Yahiko still felt a sense of unholy glee when Tanishi looked like he was about to soil his hakama.

Kenshin stopped smiling. His demeanor changed completely, and Kenshin's violet eyes turned blue with anger. "It may embarrass you less than the total annihilation of you gang…"

Somehow, I don't think he's bluffing…

Tanishi grew pale underneath all his fat. "F-fine. Go ahead and take him."

I'm free? Tanishi, famous for being like a starving dog with a bone when it comes to his 'employees', is letting me go?

"Thank you. Please forgive the intrusion." The kind aura was back.

A swordsman with manners… Weird…

"Are you all right, young one?"

Arrgh! I am NOT a young one!!! For the last time, already!

"You were hard to pinpoint, but after visiting one yakuza group after another…"

He did this more than once? But Yahiko was still angry. First, he calls me 'young one', and then he busts me out of Tanishi's gang! Is he doing this out of pity? Nobody pities me!

Yahiko slapped the outreached hand. "Who told you to help me? I could have fought them alone! I could have fought!" He could have! He could! But this swordsman had to butt in! There was so much kindness in those eyes. It reminded Yahiko of his mother. Who are you? Why do you make me feel safe?

"Of course. This one has underestimated you once again."

Why do you care?

"Then, as an apology, at least allow your wounds to be treated." Kenshin picked up Yahiko, and carried him away. Yahiko wasn't exactly a sumo wrestler, with living on the streets and all, but he still weighed quite a bit. And this small, slight man picked him up like he weighed absolutely nothing.

Why, why do you feel like family? Like the father I never really knew? Like the mother that died for me? Why? Why do you bother to help me…?

***

Author's Note: Yeah, I'm back. I typed this while listening to Heart of Sword, the Rurouni Kenshin ending for the 3rd season. Or something like that. I like it because it rocks. (Psst! Kenshin writes his name with the characters of 'Sword' and 'Heart'. His name literally means 'Sword Heart' or 'Heart of the Sword'. Really obvious, Watsuki.)

When I first saw that Kenshin cleared out one yakuza group after another, I'm like: 'That's gotta take some determination.' He doesn't even really know the guy! That's Kenshin for ya. Beats up thugs, and still manages not to come off as a bully for Ryu Tsui Sen.-ing them to next Thursday. Cool guy. Almost makes me wish I could keep him, if it wouldn't cause Kaoru to kill me.

Kaoru: Back off, he's mine!

Kenshin: Oro.