Chapter 19

Sons and daughters

Kenji had done his best to take the tide of new information in strides. Although he'd broken at his father's funeral and at Megumi's place, he'd worked without respite to keep an objective outlook on the situation and to keep his anger at bay. However, there was only so much more he could take. He clenched his fists and stood upright, trying to maintain the facade for the children. His body shook. He felt lightheaded. Ai, distracted by her children and her joy at introducing them to her brother, didn't perceive the change in Kenji; Fersen and Sanosuke immediately saw it. Quickly, the former walked up to the door to take care of his wife and children while the latter moved to Kenji's side.

"I got you," whispered Sanosuke, discretely grabbing on Kenji's elbow to prevent him from slumping down.

"Darling, poor Kenji is shaking from the cold," said Fersen. He rang a bell. The butler entered the room and the Dutchman quickly gave instructions to take their guest to his room. Ai apologised, unaware of Kenji's indisposition.

Following a manservant, and supported by Sanosuke, Kenji made it up the stairs and through hallways he would later have no recollection of. Once they reached his room, the manservant instructed Sanosuke on how to ring for service before taking his leave. The tall man pulled the chair from the dressing table and sat Kenji on it. He took a quick glance at the room and noticed a clawfoot tub partially dissimulated by a screen. He looked at Kenji. Colour had left his face and he stared blindly ahead.

"Ok, let's get you in there, shall we?"

Sanosuke carefully undressed Kenji. The young man, in a catatonic state, let himself be handled like a rag doll. Sanosuke scooped up his companion and eased him down into the water. Colour immediately flushed his cheeks but he didn't speak. Sanosuke grabbed a sponge and soap.

"It's just like when you were little." He lifted Kenji's arm and lathered it. "Except there was less to wash back then." His joke fell flat. He stared at the boy's soapy arm and shook his head.

"These English people have a weird idea when it comes to baths don't you think?" he asked, trying to engage Kenji. "How are you supposed to get cleaner by sitting in your own filth?"

He clicked his tongue and lowered kenji's arm in the water. Kenji didn't flinch. Sanosuke continued to wash Kenji, focusing on his upper body, hoping that the friction would bring his young friend back to his senses. Despite his focus, he couldn't help but feel fear ripple below the surface. What if this was the final straw? In his mind, images of his last meeting with an addled Kenshin played on a loop.

Done with his washing, and faced with the impracticality of having to submerge himself to wash Kenji's lower body, Sanosuke decided to take care of Kenji's head. Gently, he undid the tie and let the young man's hair flow down the side of the tub. He looked around and found a comb on the dresser. Slowly, he brushed the red hair. With patience, he undid every knot, every tangle. It took him back to his childhood. His sister always had him brush her hair at night, insisting that he was the only one who did it properly. He'd always found the activity calming, almost meditative. Not that he'd told this to anyone, especially Megumi, of all people. Her wouldn't have minded brushing her hair, however.

"Children."

A whisper. Sanosuke, woken from his reverie, lifted his head, hands suspended mid task. He crouched to the side of the tub. Kenji's gaze remained static.

"She has children."

Fat tears escaped his eyes, a disturbed sight when combined with his blank expression. He gripped the sides of the tub.

"Sanosuke."

His voice was soft and low. Sanosuke shivered. Kenshin spoke through the boy.

"Yes?" he managed.

Kenji finally turned to face him. On the water, the red hair darkened as it sank under.

"Can we go back home?"

xxxxxx

"I don't want to!" Kenji stomped his feet.

"Kenji, listen to Okan. You have to take a bath," said a young Kaoru.

"NO! I want Oton!" He cried.

Yahiko tried to take his hand.

"I'll go with you, ok? We can take the toy ship with us."

Kenji swatted Yahiko and stamped his feet again.

"NooooooOOO! Otoooon! I want Oton!"

Kaoru sighed.

"Kenji, if you don't go with Yahiko you will go to bed without dinner."

Kenji wailed.

"What's going on here?" asked a manly voice.

The trio turned to see Sanosuke and Megumi walk into the courtyard.

"Kenji is not getting any dinner because he won't take a bath," stated Kaoru for her son's benefit.

"Oh, that' too bad," said Megumi. "I brought strawberries. I guess Sanosuke will eat yours then. Such a pity."

Kenji's lower lip quivered. His eyes went from his mother, to Sanosuke.

"That's really too bad. I wanted to take a bath but I'm afraid to go alone," said Sanosuke. "If only someone could take a bath with me, maybe I would share my strawberries with them."

Kenji hesitated a moment then ran to Sanosuke who picked him up. The toddler immediately snuggled his head in the crook of the giant's neck. Kaoru, close to tears, mouthed the words thank you.

"Is he still...?" asked Megumi.

Yahiko nodded.

"I'll see what I can do…" said the doctor. She walked towards the dojo.

"Come on little man. The ofuro await!" said Sanosuke in as joyful a tone as he could muster.

The scene blurred and shifted

Kenji held his mother's hand. They both stood outside the gate. In front of them, in full travel attire, stood his father.

"Now Ken-chan, Oton is going on a very important trip. Will you be a good boy?"

Kenji nodded.

"Will you take good care of Okan and listen to what she tells you?"

He nodded again.

"You're a big boy now, just like Yahiko."

"When are you coming back?" asked the boy.

Kenshin hesitated a moment.

"Soon."

"You promise?"

Kenshin forced a smile.

"I promised."

Kenji extended his pinky towards his father. Kenshin's joyful expression wavered for a moment. He quickly recovered. He crouched down and hooked his pinky to his son's. Then, he embraced Kenji. He held the boy close and tight to his chest, he caressed his hair and kissed the top of his head. Kenji spoke his his father's chest.

"I love you, Oton."

Kenji opened his eyes. The world around him was a blur. Light hurt his eyes. His head pounded. His mouth was parched and his bedding stuck to his clammy body. He tried to move but set the room spinning. He closed his eyes and moaned. He felt a large, cool hand on his forehead. A cup touched his lips. He drank as best he could, coughing up every other sip. He heard words but they made no sense. The darkness crept on him anew. He slipped under.

"Why can't I go to Kyoto?" yelled a twelve year old Kenji.

Kenshin sat on the engawa.

"Because you don't need to learn my style. Kamiya Kashin Ryu is enough."

"I've learned every technique! I'm stronger, faster and better than Yahiko. I can't stagnate forever."

"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu is not a sport. To it,swords are weapons. They way of the sword is the way to kill. However you dress it up in righteousness killing will be your truth."

Kenji clenched his fists.

"You don't kill. Why can't I do the same?"

Kenshin got up.

"Enough!" Kenji froze. His father had never risen his voice to him before.

"You will stay here and go to school. You'll take care of your mother and be a dutiful son."

"You're such a hypocrite! Why don't you stay and take care of her? I hate you so much!"

Kenji opened his eyes. He stared at the wooden ceiling for a while. The green scent of tatami, the soft whisper of the wind against the shoji… He was home. Comforted, he closed his eyes anew. He was on the cusp of sleep when his brain kicked in. He sat up abruptly and looked around. This room was undeniably Japanese. Tokonoma, irori, tansu, byobu… They were all there. He looked down; he wore a silk naka-juban and was comfortably sitting in a futon. Where the Hell was he?

The shoji slid sideways. He sheltered his eyes from the sun.

"You're awake. Good," said a voice he didn't know.

The shoji closed and he saw a kimono clad middle aged Japanese woman take off her shoes and climb up to sit next to him. She fiddled with the ambers in the irori.

"Are you comfortable?"

He nodded.

"Good. I'm Iribe Yumiko. Ai's mother. It is nice to meet you at last."

"Where are we?" asked Kenji, unsure if he was awake or in some other dream of his.

"We're still at Penningcox Park. This is my house. I had it built when Fersen inherited the property. Ai loves her mansions, but this suits me better. Everything has been imported from Japan, even the inoki of the ofuro. I have a kamado as well. But I did compromise and got plumbing in. Running water and toilets are rather nice, don't you think?"

She smiled at him gently.

"Is Sanosuke here, too?"

She shook her head.

"He's back at the house. He wouldn't leave your side, despite Fersen being more than qualified as a doctor to treat you. We gave him a sedative so he would sleep. He'll be awake by now."

"What happened to me?"

"I think the fatigue of the trip combined with the shock of learning about the children completely drained you. I did warn Ai about this. You ran a high fever for two days. Once you were out of danger I asked to bring you here, so you'd wake up in more familiar surroundings. I didn't want to go through your trunk so this garment is mine. I hope it doesn't upset you."

He looked around anew. This was an older building style than his house, but it was close enough to his shisho's hutt - minus the clutter - to feel like home. He shook his head.

"Thank you. I needed this. Now if I could only get a Japanese meal, I would be in heaven."

Yumiko smiled. Crinkles formed at the corners of her eyes.

"I've asked my cook to be on the ready. If you can wait a little bit more I'll have some delicious delight for you."

He felt so happy he could have cried. They sat quietly for a moment. He took in the smaller details of the room. The finely chiseled ranma with woodland creatures, the tansu and its delicately gilded corners… He looked at her and she let him. She knew how to be admired. There was something about her demeanor that put him at ease. It invited natural familiarity and intimacy. No doubt, these traits had helped her in her work as a geisha. He wondered if she had learned the behaviors. A dark shadow suddenly clouded his mind.

"The children. I hope I didn't scare them," he said.

She shook her head.

"Don't worry about them. They'll be fine. Why don't I go check on the food while you dress up?"

She pointed at his clean clothes, neatly folded by the futon. It felt like being back home with his mother. It was an amazing feeling.

xxxx

Kenji was adjusting the strings of his hakama when the shoji opened. He turned around, expecting Yumiko

"Baa-chan?" asked a small voice.

A small red head poked through the opening, searching. His niece froze when her eyes fell on him.

"Good morning," said the young man with his best smile.

She stayed in the doorframe and gave him a furtive curtsy. She then stood there, biting her lower lip.

"Your grandmother is in the kitchen. Do you want to wait for her with me?"

She shifted her weight from one foot to another. Kenji walked to to edge of the raised floor and sat down. He patted the tatami next to him. The girl stepped inside but left the door open.

"What is your name?"

"Emily," whispered the child.

"How old are you?"

"Eleven."

She was a mere 5 years younger than he was yet she looked nothing like he had at that age. She was so small and delicate. She looked like she ought to: like a child.

"Are you better now?"

"Much better. See?" He flexed his arms. Her lower lip quivered.

"Icarus and Kenneth said you were dying."

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"They said I did this to you. They said I'm so ugly I scared you to death."

Her face crumpled but she fought hard to maintain her composure. He admired her pride. Kenji got up and crouched in front of her. He felt his heart swell with love for his niece. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. Her little chest heaved with each sob she fought. He took her hands in his.

"Your father is a good doctor. I'm not dying. I promise."

He tucked a stray curl behind her ear.

"Icarus and Kenneth are liars. You are very beautiful, just like your mother. You and I shall be very good friends. Let's make them jealous, shall we?"

She looked up, her gray eyes filled with hope. He smiled. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. Surprised, he almost lost balance. Without thinking, he hugged her back. In this moment, nothing else mattered but this little girl's happiness.