Mornings at the Kamiya Dojo were always filled with noises and excitement. The dojo occupants were rising and preparing for another day of Budo, shopping for food, cleaning, and generally enjoying the calm that had finally settled over the Kenshin-Kaoru family after many, many months of stress and turmoil. Kenshin was back and Kaoru was enjoying the time she could now share with the young man that she loved so much. Perhaps he would now stop being the rurouni he had been for so many years and feel comfortable enough to settle down with her. Little did the group know of the newest test of their friendship and how it would affect them for the rest of their lives.
Kenshin had risen first, as he usually did, old habits being hard to break. He often checked on everyone else just before dawn, this being his favorite time of day. He would quietly dress and softly walk to the door of Kaoru's bedchamber and look in to make sure she was alright. Yahiko slept in a smaller room just off Kenshin's and occasionally, although more frequently now, Sanosuke would "hang out" for a few days and sleep over. Sano would never admit to being lonely, of course; he used the excuse that he was there as extra protection. Kenshin enjoyed the peacefulness that the new day would bring, even if it was overcast or raining. He felt mornings brought new beginnings and new opportunities; that night brought back fears and too many bad memories of the past or of things left undone. This morning was proving to be a beautiful day as the sun was just peaking over the bathhouse shingles and spreading its beams across the backyard.
As the rest of the dojo stirred, Kenshin went into the kitchen to begin preparing the morning meal. Unfortunately, with all the excitement of the past few months, income was very scarce and the group had to make do with very little. Today, they had to do with nothing!
"Oro?" Kenshin said as he looked about the cupboards for some rice or vegetables to prepare for a soup. He frowned as he found the cupboards bare.
"What's for breakfast?" said a yawning Yahiko, stretching and scratching his head as he blearily made his way to the low table.
"Well, that's a good question," Kenshin replied as he stepped back, looking at the empty cupboard with his hands on his hips. "I guess we'll have to see if Dr. Genzai has any food we could borrow." As he spoke, Kaoru came yawning and stretching into the kitchen as well.
"Oh, no. What are we going to do about food?" Kaoru said as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and shrugged. "Dr. Genzai and the girls are away for a few days visiting patients, so we can't really go over there and just take something." Kaoru thought for a moment, and then said "I know. Why don't we go into town and see if Tsubame would give us breakfast on credit. We haven't been there for some time, but I bet she would. And we could advertise that the Dojo is back in business. Maybe we could get some new students before the day is over," Kaoru said cheerfully as she turned and left the kitchen to go back to her room to dress.
"I guess it couldn't hurt," Kenshin replied looking down at Yahiko, who was yawning again. "Maybe you and I could find some work to do so we could have a little money to hold us over."
"If we didn't have to always feed HIM we'd have more food and money!" Yahiko said as a very sleepy Sano came staggering in looking disheveled and hungry. He always slept in his daytime clothes - and they looked like he did.
"C'mon, Sano," Kenshin said happily as he gathered up his Sakaba sword and slipped on his shoes. "We're going into town to find work so we can eat."
"Hmm? Nani? Work?" was all Sano could reply before Kenshin took him by the sleeve and began pulling him out of the house. They all headed on down the path in front of the dojo and began the short walk into town.
The sun was shining brightly along the river that followed the road into town. Kenshin often liked to sit by the river in the mornings and watch the dragonflies treat themselves to a fly or two. The sun shimmered and danced on the surface of the water making the whole river seem to sparkle. Kenshin thought it was a great place to hide when the dojo got just a little too noisy, but Yahiko had found him one day and his secret place was lost. Kenshin still like to sit and watch the water, even if it was with Yahiko or Suzume and Ayame. The calm cleared his mind and let him forget about the past.
As the small troop was heading towards the restaurant Tsubame worked at, they noticed a horse-drawn cart full of blankets, furniture, and food supplies being unloaded into one of the abandoned buildings across the street. Even though things had been somewhat stable for the past 11 years since the Meiji era had begun, many shop owners had to close up and leave the city. There were always abandoned buildings down every street in town, some becoming hang outs for thugs, or some, like this one, finally being put to good use.
As they approached the building, a sweet-faced Nun emerged from the doorway and was thanking the driver for all his help. The building was going to be used as an orphanage, another problem that city seemed to be plagued with. Children were being abandoned on the steps of orphanages at an alarming rate. Some were truly left as orphans, the parents having died. Or some parents simply couldn't afford to take care of them and hoped that the Nuns who ran these orphanages could help them. As they approached the doorway, the Nun smiled at Kenshin and he smiled back. This gave him an opportunity to say hello.
"Ohayo, niso," Kenshin said politely as he walked over to the Nun. "Are you new to the city? I see you have quite a bit of equipment. Do you need any help getting settled?"
"Why, arigato gozaimas, young man," the Nun said smiling back at Kenshin. "What a nice thing to ask. As a matter of fact, I could use a little help with my supplies. The other Nuns and children were supposed to meet me here today but I got word that it will be two or three days before they can make their journey from Kyoto."
Kenshin's eyebrows shot up. He tilted his head and looked at the Nun. "Kyoto?'
"Hai. That's where we originally had our orphanage but the city leaders needed the building for other purposes and we had to move out. We thought we would try a new location; perhaps some of the children would have a better chance at being adopted or taken in if we went to a new place. And the children love the chance to see more of Japan, so here we are. Well, here I am, anyway," she said with a sweet giggle.
"We were just going to get some breakfast," Kaoru said as she came up behind Kenshin. "Would you like to join us?"
"Arigato, but no." the Nun said. "I have too much food here as it is." Then, after a beat, she said, "Say, would all of you like to help me get settled? I'd be happy to cook all of you breakfast."
Needless to say, the group all looked at each other and collectively said "Hai!"
As Sano was carrying way too much - macho stuff and all - and Yahiko was carrying way too little - lazy stuff and all, Kenshin and Kaoru were helping the Nun with the kitchen supplies.
"My name is Sister Alice," the Nun said as she moved the pot over to the stove to put up the tea.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sister Alice. My name is Himura Kenshin and this is Kamiya Kaoru. That tall fellow over there is Sagara Sanosuke, and this is Myojin Yahiko." Kenshin said as Yahiko stepped in front of him. Kenshin put his hands on Yahiko's shoulders and smiled.
"I'm pleased to meet all of you, and on my first day in this big city," Sister Alice said as she patted her hands dry in her apron. "Myojin," Sister Alice said with a thoughtful expression on her face. "Myjoin. That name sounds so familiar to me. Tell me Yahiko. Do you have relatives living in Kyoto?"
"I don't think so, Sister Alice," Yahiko said as he leaned back against Kenshin. "I'm an orphan and was taken in by some people here in the city a few years ago." Kenshin could feel Yahiko's body tense up at the bad memories those years were bringing back. "I don't really know where my family is from. But I like living with Kaoru and Kenshin at the Kamiya dojo now."
"And we like having you, Yahiko-chan," Kaoru said as she tousled Yahiko's hair.
"Don't call me chan," Yahiko muttered under his breath as he gave Kaoru his meanest look, that went right over her head as usual.
"Yahiko hates it when someone calls him -chan so we do it as much as possible," Sano said with a smirk, that caused Yahiko to lunge at him and start to chase him out of the room.
Sister Alice, Kenshin, and Kaoru were laughing at poor Yahiko's expense as they put the final kitchen supplies away and began a delicious breakfast.
After thanking Sister Alice for the wonderful meal, Kenshin and Sano remained behind as Kaoru and Yahiko headed back to the dojo, arms full of extra food stuffs that Sister Alice insisted would go to waste if they didn't take.
"Yahiko is certainly lucky to have such a nice family as you all are. There are so many sad stories I could tell you, but I shouldn't burden you with that today," Sister Alice said to Kenshin and Sano. "Now, let's see what I can have you do for me. I've never had such strong looking gentlemen help me before!" Kenshin blushed in embarrassment as Sano puffed up a bit, enjoying having been called a gentleman for the first time in his life.
After a few hours of moving furniture, repairing walls, and making the building seem more like a home, Sister Alice invited Kenshin and Sano to relax and take some tea. It was now early evening and the city was settling down for the night.
"That young boy, Yahiko," she began as they sipped their tea around a low table and nibbled some biscuits. "You say his last name is Myojin; and that he's an orphan."
"Hai," Kenshin replied, as Sano reached over and helped himself to a large handful of biscuits. Moving furniture gave him a fresh appetite, but then again anything gave him an appetite. "Kaoru and I met him over a year and a half ago. He was working for a shady group of thugs known as the Shuei as a pickpocket. From what we understand the Shuei had taken him in after his parents died, but we don't know much else about him. He's not even sure how long he was living with them." Kenshin put his tea down and looked at the table. "I sometimes wonder what it must be like not knowing where you come from. Yahiko is pretty, tough, though," Kenshin said, a smile returning to his face.
Sister Alice looked very pensive for a few moments as she seemed to suddenly remember something. "Let me just see..." she began as she rose from the table and went over to some of the remaining boxes not yet put away. "Let me see..."
Kenshin and Sano looked at each other and shrugged there shoulders. They weren't sure what was going on.
"Ah, here it is," Sister Alice said, as she pulled some papers out of the third box. She came back over to the low table and sat down.
"I thought I recognized the name Myojin. And Yahiko looked somewhat familiar to me," Sister Alice said as she leafed through some official looking documents. She paused as she came across an old piece of parchment that had the name "Myojin" written on the top. The word "Unresolved" was written next to that.
"Here it is. I thought Yahiko might have been the Myojin boy I remembered from over ten years ago." Sister Alice smiled as she looked up at Kenshin and Sano. "I try very hard to remember all the children that I look after here at the orphanage. Yahiko reminded me of that woman so much. His face was so familiar. I remember I felt badly for this case because of the way the adoption was handled." She continued to leaf through some pages as Sano leaned closer to try and read some of the writing on the pages. He wasn't very good at reading, which made this all the more difficult. But Kenshin could read very well, and he studied the pages with increased interest.
"What do you mean, this adoption was handled badly," Kenshin said softly to Sister Alice as he put down the biscuit he was holding.
"Well, according to this file, a young woman using the last name of Myojin came to us with an infant boy ten years ago. You know, we sometimes take in destitute or unwed mothers before they leave their children with us and disappear. I remember this case now because it seemed so sad," Sister Alice began, the memory of this affecting her. "It seems her husband had been killed fighting against the new government and she was without any family or money. She had been ill and having the child had made her very weak. If I remember correctly, she only stayed with us about six months before she died as well..." Sister Alice's voice trailing off as she remembered those sad events.
Kenshin began to tremble. His mind began to race. "Sister," he whispered. "You say that this boy's father had been killed in Kyoto. Do you think it was by the government police...or someone else?"
"Oh, that much I don't think I can remember," she sighed as she closed the file and rose to put it away. "I do know that the woman was very concerned for her life. She said she and her husband were being targeted by someone. It was like she wanted to hide out with us, and, of course, we felt we had to take her in."
Sano, who had been very quiet as he listened to the story, suddenly looked over at Kenshin. He immediately knew what Kenshin was trying to find out.
"Kenshin," Sano asked softly, "you don't think..."
Kenshin looked over at Sano, his eyes suddenly filling with tears. He looked at Sano with such a pleading look in his eyes that Sano felt his heart begin to beat faster.
"I'm sure you didn't...you couldn't have. The chances are too remote. Kyoto is a big city, Kenshin," Sano said trying to convince himself what he, too, was thinking couldn't possibly be true.
"Gomen nasai, Kenshin," Sister Alice started as she put her hand on Kenshin's shoulder. "My story has obviously upset you and I see that you care very much for Yahiko." She tried to read Kenshin's face and understand what was so wrong, but she couldn't possibly know what was going on in his head, or his heart.
Kenshin tried to compose himself as he rose from the low table. He brushed a tear away with the back of his hand as he attempted to thank Sister Alice for the food. But he turned and left so quickly she could only look over at Sano with concern and question in her eyes.
"Arigato, Sister" Sano said to her as he quickly got up to follow Kenshin out the door. "We appreciate the meal. I'm sure we'll see you again..." he said as he raced after Kenshin.
As Kenshin made his way through the streets to the path towards the dojo, he mind was a blur. Tears were stinging his eyes as they ran down his cheeks. Sano had finally caught up to him and grabbed him by the shoulders, making him stop. Kenshin couldn't look at Sano's face. He roughly wiped his sleeve across his face in an effort to hide his tears but his quivering chin gave him away.
"I couldn't have...I couldn't have..." was all Kenshin could whisper shaking his head as Sano looked at Kenshin with concern.
"Sister Alice didn't know who killed Yahiko's father," Sano said trying to catch Kenshin's eyes. "You have know idea of knowing if it was you."
Kenshin looked up into the night sky as tears ran down his cheeks. He hated the night. It brought back too many memories. And now it was bringing back this one. Blurred images of too many street fights. Too many bodies lying bleeding in the street. Up 'til now none of them had a name. Up 'til now.
Kenshin finally looked at Sano. "I need to be by myself, Sano," his voice choked. "I need to think. Tell Kaoru-dono....tell her and Yahiko...." Tears flooded his eyes as he tried to speak, but what words could he possibly say right now. "Tell Yahiko...." And with those last words Kenshin pulled away from Sanosuke and ran, leaving Sano to try and think what he was going to say when he returned to the dojo without him.
As Sano rounded the entrance to the dojo, Yahiko came running out to greet him.
"Hoy, Sano! You should see all the great stuff Sister Alice gave us! So much food!" Yahiko said very excitedly. "Say, where's Kenshin? Is he still in town? Why didn't he come back with you?"
Kaoru had come out of the dojo to greet them as well, and looked at Sano. "Where is Kenshin?" she asked, as she looked at Sano. She began to frown as she saw the disturbed look on his face. "Is something wrong?"
Sanosuke inhaled deeply and let the air out in a long sigh. He looked down as his shoes and scuffed one of them at the dirt. He looked up at Kaoru and then at Yahiko. "I've got something I need to talk with you both about..." he said softly and walked into the dojo. Kaoru and Yahiko looked at each other, and quickly followed Sano inside.
"I'll make some tea," Kaoru began but Sano interrupted her. "Don't...I don't want any tea, arigato. Please, just sit here and listen," Sano said as he led her and Yahiko to the living room and sat down. "This is really hard and really important and I need you to listen carefully," Sano said to Yahiko and sat facing him directly.
"Hai," Yahiko said, getting a bit concerned over the mysterious way Sano was suddenly acting. Kaoru sat down close to Yahiko as Sano began relaying the incredible story he and Kenshin had just heard.
"I don't believe it," Yahiko said, staring back into Sano's eyes. "Kenshin wouldn't do that."
"Kenshin didn't do that," Kaoru said, taking Yahiko's hands into hers. "The Battow-sai might have done that but we can't know for sure. We could never know," Kaoru said as gently as she could, her own heart aching for Yahiko and Kenshin. "Sister Alice even doesn't know and she was there at the time. We have to believe in our Kenshin. Could you do that, Yahiko? Could you find it in your heart to believe in him?" Then Kaoru said just above a whisper, "Could you forgive him?"
Yahiko felt as if his heart would burst. The friendship that had developed between himself and Kenshin, up to this moment, was as strong as any bond could be. Kenshin had saved him from a life on the street and perhaps a terrible fate. But could Kenshin have been the cause of putting his life in danger in the first place. It was more than Yahiko could bear and he began to cry. He reached over and hung on Kaoru's neck as he sobbed onto her shoulder. Sano reached over an rubbed his back and Kaoru's own tears ran into Yahiko's hair and she held him tightly and rocked slightly. Sano felt his own eyes tearing up as he listened to Yahiko cry.
Kenshin had run as far and as fast as he could but his strength was failing him. He found himself on the outskirts of the city near one of the many rivers that ran along the road. His mind was a blur again. Images of people he had assassinated came haunting back at him and he couldn't get Yahiko's face out of his mind. Which one was your father, he thought, over and over again. He let himself fall onto the grass near the river, covered his face with his arms and sobbed.
After a while, Yahiko's tears subsided and he sat like a baby in Kaoru's lap, sniffling occasionally.
"Are you gonna be okay?" Sano asked as he touched Yahiko on the knee. Kaoru kissed Yahiko on the forehead and he actually didn't complain.
"Kenshin is probably just as upset as you are, you know," Sano said as Yahiko got up off of Kaoru's lap and sat beside him, leaning against his arm. Yahiko looked up at him with a frown. "Kenshin was crying when we left the orphanage. He was really upset about this. He kept saying over and over that it couldn't have been him, but I think in his heart he thinks it could have been."
"Kenshin was crying?" Yahiko asked softly as Sano put his arm around his shoulder.
"Hai. He really likes you. I think he even loves you like a son," Sano told Yahiko, trying to sound reassuring as he rubbed Yahiko's arm.
"I think maybe you and Kenshin should talk about this," Kaoru said, as she wiped the tears away from her own eyes. "I know Kenshin loves you and would never, ever hurt you. I know he would want us all to be together. We're like a family. I know I feel that way since I don't have my parents with me anymore, either." Then Kaoru said gently, "Is there anyway we can work this out?"
Yahiko leaned against Sano as he looked at Kaoru's face. Kaoru looked back at Yahiko and frowned as she wondered what he was thinking, his expression suddenly looking very calm.
"I think I know of a way..." Yahiko said calmly, as he got to his feet. "Sano, where is Kenshin now?"
"I don't know," Sano replied as he and Kaoru rose to their feet as well. "Last I saw him he was running away from the city. He could be anywhere right now."
"I think I know where he is," Yahiko said softly and left the dojo, Sano and Kaoru following close behind.
Kenshin had slowly wandered back to his secret place by the river near the dojo. He sat down roughly and leaned back against a tree. He was exhausted, emotionally and physically. Now he had to think of a way to speak to Yahiko; or perhaps just quietly gather his things and leave the dojo when no one was around. He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around his legs, resting his forehead on his knees. He didn't hear his friends approach him from behind.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru said softly as she put her hand onto his shoulder and knelt down next to him. "We were worried about you, when you didn't come home with Sano..." her voice began. "Sano told us what happened."
Kenshin looked up at Kaoru with tired eyes and said softly, "then you know?"
"We only know what you think might have happened. We don't know what really happened, no one does, Kenshin," Kaoru said softly and gently, trying to hide her own sadness in her voice.
"How could he ever look at me again? What could I possibly say to him? That I think I killed your father? That you became what you became because of me..." Kenshin's voice trailed off into a choked sob as tears flooded his eyes again. "How can I ever expect him to forgive me; I can't forgive myself," Kenshin said as tears rolled down his cheeks. As he put his head back down onto his knees, Yahiko came out from behind the tree and stood in front of Kenshin. Kaoru rose and took Sano by the arm and led the two of them away. This was a private time for Kenshin and Yahiko.
Yahiko knelt down in front of Kenshin and stared at him, his face full of sadness. He listened to Kenshin cry for a few minutes, then leaned forward and touched him on the hands. Kenshin pulled away and couldn't face Yahiko. Kenshin couldn't think of anything else to say but a whispered "Gomen nasai...."
"Kenshin, please look at me," Yahiko said softly, pulling on Kenshin's fingers that were clenched around his legs. Kenshin looked up slowly at Yahiko, feeling the tears stream down his face and drip off his chin. "I think I have a solution to our problem."
Kenshin looked at Yahiko and frowned. "Nani?" he asked softly, as he brushed his cheek with the back of his hand in an effort to slow the tears down.
"Well, I was thinking. Since you treat me like a child all the time anyway, and... since you believe that you took my father from me...that...maybe...since you're old enough anyway...you could adopt me and be my new father."
Kenshin stared at Yahiko. "You would want me to be your father? Even after all this?"
"Well," Yahiko started, "it's the least you could do. You're always telling me what to do and stuff so I figured it made sense since you're alone and I'm alone." Yahiko slightly smiled. "Then you'd have to teach me that progression technique 'cause I'd be your heir and junk." Kenshin felt himself lose control as he reached forward and grabbed Yahiko and held him to his chest. He let himself sob as he rocked Yahiko in his arms. Yahiko felt his own tears begin again and they held onto each other tightly.
Kaoru and Sano, who had just managed to hear most of the conversation from behind the tree, each tried to not let the other see as they wiped away tears from their eyes. Sano cleared his throat as he motioned to Kaoru they should head back to the dojo. Kaoru smiled up at Sano and nodded. Kenshin hugged Yahiko for a long time before finally letting him go. They looked at each other and smiled. Then they got up and went back to the dojo together.
First thing the next morning, the friends showed up at the doorstep of the new orphanage. Sister Alice greeted them with her usual bright smile. "What a pleasant surprise, two days in a row!" she said. "What can I do for you today?" she asked.
Kenshin put his hands on Yahiko's shoulders and said "Tell us the procedure for a proper adoption." Yahiko stood up a little taller with a big smile and seemed to mature right before everyone's eyes.
The End