Diary of a Manslayer
A sequel to Kendo no Go
by Akai Kitsune ::: 09.Jun.2004
Chapter 06: A Change of Pace
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"Daddy!" Kenji's voice called out to him from the front yard, as Kenshin was doing laundry. "There's a weird man at the door!"
Kenshin was on his feet and hurrying towards the door immediately. From past experience he knew what strange men at the doors usually meant - either one of the police officers had come calling, or it was yet another madman screaming out for his blood. In his opinion, he'd rather not have either of those, but more often than not life offered no choice.
He turned the corner of the house to see Kenji chattering amiably with a shadowed figure in the doorway. "Kenji? Who is it?"
Kenji looked over at him and shrugged. "Dunno."
At Kenshin's voice, an unfamiliar head curved its way around the open doorway. Kenshin raised an eyebrow at him. "Can I help you...?"
Then the man announced, "Hello homeowner! Would you like to buy some rare and unusual medicine?"
Kenshin stared at the man for a long moment. He had to try very hard to keep himself from falling over.
It was also difficult for him to admit that he was paranoid a lot of the times; years of living on his toes in Kyoto, wandering through the post-war countryside of Japan, and even his peaceful time in Tokyo at Kaoru's dojo had taught him that no matter how well things are going, something bad can always turn happiness into chaos. Always.
But things had settled down after his marriage to Kaoru, which was nice enough. Kenji was hard enough to look after without shadow assassins running around threatening to kill people.
I'd like to see one of -them- try to babysit him, he sometimes thought glumly. He loved his son to death, but dear gods was he ever a handful.
He'd probably run then into the ground faster than I ever could...
When Kaoru first announced to everyone that she was pregnant again, Kenshin noticed an unusual change in Kenji, one he hadn't expected. Though truthfully, he hadn't been sure what to expect of anyone. He had been the youngest child of his family, and Kaoru noted that hadn't had any brothers or sisters... neither of them knew what it felt like to be an elder sibling. But Kenji was certainly about to find out, and it made them both nervous.
The boy was far more reserved than he had ever been before Kaoru's news, tiptoeing around the dojo as if he was afraid of waking the baby who had yet to arrive. When asked what he was doing, he would shrug and disappear, often giggling quietly to himself. Kenshin and Kaoru exchanged baffled glances and shrugs during such times, unable to understand their small, suddenly thoughtful child.
"It's a phase," Kaoru decided one day, watching Kenji run circles around the latest alley cat who'd made the dojo her home, "And he'll get over it. Once the baby's born there'll be so much to do he'll probably get lost."
"Maybe that's what he's afraid of," Kenshin mused, turning his gaze to the boy as he rolled in the dirt. "He knows something is coming, now... I think he's known for a long time, even before we told him. And since he knows, it worries him..."
Kaoru snorted, sipping her tea and shaking her head. "He shouldn't worry. Of course we'll be busy with the baby, so he'll have to share us far more than he's used to, but... well, he'll learn. This is part of life, you know. He has to understand that."
Kenshin chuckled. "He's five years old. His entire life revolves around us. I doubt he'll be as understanding as you hope."
"Daddy, daddy!" Kenji wailed from the yard. "The kitty ran away!"
Shaking his head, Kenshin stood up, moving towards the door. Kaoru's soft voice made him halt for a moment.
"He doesn't call for me as often as he used to."
He glanced back at her, a small smile on his face. "Maybe he's learning to share with the baby already."
Kaoru laughed lightly as he continued his way towards their son, soothing the boy and taking his hand to go on a hunt for the missing cat. She covered her face with her hand, still smiling despite the sudden tears that shone in her eyes.
"Just a phase," she murmured under her breath, the other hand pressed against her belly so firmly it almost hurt. "Just a phase."
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