Kendo no Go
In the Language of Kendo:
A Fanfic in 100 Chapters
by Akai Kitsune
44: Tadaima
~*~
When he was home, she was happy.
It was no facade, no mask, no carefully controlled joy that
almost everyone was fooled by.
When he was home, she was happy.
And when he was not home, she did her best.
Kenshin tried his best to keep
his errands and missions to a minimum. He seemed to be able to
sense her constant discomfort, her suppressed resentment for what
she had encouraged him to do.
"If you feel restrained," she had
told him once, "Then don't let me hold you back. I think
I can understand it, a little... and I can understand more if you
tell me."
"Tell me what you want."
I want...
"Just... come home, ne?"
"Come home..."
I'll always...
"Tadaima."
She loved those words with all her heart. It was a secret game
between them, between Kaoru and her wandering husband. Only those
who were truly close to them understood it, from an outsider's
observation, but no one felt it as deeply as they did.
"Okaerinasai."
Kenji didn't understand; he had not been there, hadn't seen
her when he first left them, hadn't seen their first reunion,
hadn't seen her hold out her hand and smile, a welcome on her
lips and that same, secret love in her eyes.
Hadn't seen the cold, lonely shadows in his eyes fade away,
melting in the midst of his newfound joy.
"Tadaima."
Kenshin often left for his missions
in the morning, although it was not a consistent occurance.
Sometimes the police chief would send an urgent message in the
middle of the evening, desperate and anxious for aid. He would
go, reluctant, tired, and even annoyed, and she would watch his
back disappear through the gate, her heart torn between pride and
selfish anger.
But always, every time he came home, it was at night, after
she had set Kenji down and gone to bed herself. He never
explained to her why, but she suspected that he enjoyed their
morning rendezvous. She had always been far more cheerful in the
morning than late at night.
So he returned at night, changing swiftly and silently,
slipping between the covers to join her in her rest, careful not
to disturb her.
It was strange, really, how he never realized that she was
awake all along, feigning sleep, trying to rest, waiting for him
all along. He never realized that, for the entire night, after he
fell asleep, she watched him, her hands twisted and twined
through his hair, her eyes glistening with tears.
'As long as you are here...'
'... home...'
It was strange, how she watched him the entire night, yet
always knew how to fall asleep just as he was waking, to give him
the pleasure of watching her, as she knew he did, to let him
touch her cheek, her hair, her lips, and to wake up, greeting his
sleepy violet eyes, glittering with love and mirth.
"Tadaima," he always
murmured, pressing his lips to hers.
"Okaerinasai," she
responded quietly, in and around his kiss.
'Our secret.'
'Our home.'
"I love you."
I'll always...
~*~
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