HakuBaikou.com

Standard Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin characters are the property of creator Nobohiro Watsuki, Shueisha, Shounen Jump, and Sony Entertainment.

Light of the Snow-Red Village
Part I - Love's Advent: The Bakumatsu and Beyond - Chapter 3

"Anata..." Tomoe breathed a soft sigh in surprise, staring at the interior of their new home. "Was this prepared before our arrival?"

Kenshin followed her inside, smiling slightly. "Aa, I asked Katsura-san if the cottage could be kept this way after we left three years ago. Someone has been caring for it every few weeks... it's going to need a good clean-up, but I don't mind it, if you don't."

Tomoe trailed her fingers along the paintings on the walls. "No... but..." she turned to look at him. "I thought you would have wanted to get away from Kyoto as soon as you could."

He took her hand and squeezed gently. "I thought... we should wait until after you... have the baby..."

Her eyes widened, and her free hand fluttered nervously to her waist. "Anata... you knew..."

Tomoe stared at him for a moment, then shared his smile. Still holding his hand, she pressed it gently to her stomach. He uttered a soft gasp and tried to pull away, but she held it firmly. "Yes. We will wait..."

Kenshin's eyes followed his arm down to his hand, then met hers. They seems to speak to her... 'I am stained, scarred, bloody... and you want me to touch your child...?'

She pulled him close to her body, hugging tightly. "Anata... the child will be yours as well... and you will be a good father. You said it yourself, the Hitokiri Battousai is dead. You, Himura Kenshin, will be the kind-hearted medicine seller, the farmer, who loves to play with children each day. You and this child will play... and they will never know who you were. Your hands are clean now, and they will stay that way."

'You don't have to kill anymore... you no longer have to hold on to your shame...'

Kenshin listened to her words, eyes shut tightly, and loved her even more for them.

'She forgives me, does not hold my sins against me... so, I will do my best to be the father she believes I can become...'

The muffled sounds of children laughing met Tomoe's ears as she woke. A thin sliver of sunlight peeked through a crack in the door, and with it, the promise of a beautiful day. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and pulled herself into a sitting position, groaning softly as the weight at her stomach pulled against her. 'Six months; so this is how it feels...'

Standing slowly so as not to aggravate the various aches and strains her body had endured the last few months, she walked carefully to the door and slid it open a little. In the front yard, just past the small, growing patch of vegetables they had planted not long ago, the usual group of village children had come to visit, along with a few newcomers as well. Since their return to the secret home, the children promptly began to use it as their playground again, and Kenshin, who had missed their contagious laughter for three long, blood-soaked years, gladly lost himself in their company. Even she herself couldn't help but smile more than usual when she heard their arrival. She still played with them; small games, ones that wouldn't strain her too badly...

She held back a small, frustrated sigh. Kenshin wouldn't let her do much anymore. Household chores, cooking, tending the garden... he took care of it all before she had a chance. Sometimes he let her help him - it was her duty as a wife and a soon-to-be mother to care for her husband and house - but often she was shooed off to rest and relax. She loved him dearly for his stubborn, protective nature, but he was also tired and needed rest...

'Perhaps I can get something done before he notices me.' Her thought dissolved as he straightened up, tousled a few of the childrens' hair, murmuring softly, and walked over to meet her.

"Good morning, Tomoe." he said quietly, giving her a gentle, wind-soft kiss on the cheek. "If it doesn't bother you, maybe you could go play with the children a little while I make breakfast."

"Anata..." she objected, then met his eyes. "Hai." 'His eyes... they've grown so tender... so soft... I know that all he does is to lessen my burden... but, love, you can't take it all upon yourself.'

She knew it was in his nature to carry everything alone. Even as a hitokiri, he had blindly, foolishly tried to bear the world's happiness by himself... even though, in the process, he had nearly destroyed his own...

"Neechan, come play with us!" the children came closer to her, tugging anxiously at her sleeves. She smiled at them, letting them pull her away from the house and into the field. They were so happy, so carefree, so dependent on their smiles. Joy was natural for them.

'Perhaps... this place... it will not be so bad, living here. We could stay... live forever in this happiness...'

Allowing her thoughts to be swept away by their games, she smiled with them, not even noticing her husband, watching from the doorway, content.

The soft creak of the wooden floor echoed through large hallway of the temple, vague light shining through the windows on the young man within. He sat on a chair outside a solitary door, his shadowed face betraying worry only in his expressive eyes. Every few moments he glanced over for any sign of movement within, his sharply attentive ears picking up only muffled shouts.

Why he had gone to *this* temple, he wasn't sure. He had a few suspicions; it had been the closest building, aside from Kyoto, but the city was still so full of fighting, he couldn't risk trying to return. Not with his wife in her condition.

There was nothing he could do, really. The healers were trustworthy and the nearby doctor was skilled enough that they hadn't needed him, and so had calmly shooed him out into the hall. Unwilling, he had agreed... but that couldn't stop his worries.

"Anata... don't worry. It will be all right..." Her hand, warm and reassuring on his...

The loud shout startled him from his thoughts, and Kenshin looked up suddenly. A few of the children from Otsu hurried in, bearing small bundles of flowers and wide, hopeful smiles.

Kichiro, the eldest, led them over to him, a few florets of irises held tightly in one hand. "Um... oniichan... my okaasan told us to bring flowers, because oneechan is having a baby... can we see it?"

Kenshin smiled slightly. "She hasn't arrived yet, but when she does, I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."

"I..." he sent a long glance to the door. The sounds from inside had ceased, leaving him lost and even more concerned. "I'm not sure." 'Soon... I hope... soon...'

The children began to chatter about potential names, and he only vaguely listening, losing himself in the buzz of their conversations. His gaze was drawn to a small, dark-haired girl in the back, a newcomer with piercing eyes and a fistful of fragrant white plum blossoms...

'Shadows... the Hitokiri Battousai was born into shadows. My life has been dark, hidden, unhappy... until she came...'

'But she also held many shadows... her past, never fully revealed... her eyes, so dark and shaded... and white plum, always white...'

'White kimono... pale skin... like a ghost, a lost phantom of darkness and light...'

'Light... yes, she has brought me light... shining on my madness, my sins, the false beliefs that clouded my mind and allowed me to commit such... vicious acts... revealing all I had become, and leading me on a path towards something much... brighter...'

"Himura-san." a calm, relaxing voice pulled him away from his wonderings, and he turned to face the doctor. Immediately he stood, eyes wide and fearful, worried, hoping...

Kenshin dashed through the door, stopping short at the sight. Tomoe lay breathless on the bed, covered with a thick blanket, a small bundle cradled in her arms. She looked up as he entered, and gave him a weak smile. "Anata... come see her..."

Slowly, numbly, he approached, pausing at her bedside and leaning down to stare into the face of his daughter.

"Kirei..." he breathed, his eyes shining and, to her surprise, damp. Bright, enduring violet...

"You should have seen her, anata..." Tomoe's voice floated through his bliss. "Her eyes... a moment ago, they were the same colour as yours..."

He glanced at her sharply, then turned back to the child's fairly glowing countenance. 'Like... mine?'

- Burning, cold amber in the dark night, gleaming with the foreshadow of blood and death -

His own eyes widened, as a soft, welcoming amethyst began to wear away at the darkness in the child's gaze. 'Like... mine... wakatta... oh, love, the light in those eyes...'

'A child of former shadows, blazing with light to take away the remaining darkness of our lives...'

"Hikari..." he murmured, reaching out to brush some of the dark strands from the baby's face. Their daughter curled her fingers tightly around one of his, scrunching her eyes shut and cooing contentedly.

Tomoe turned her eyes to her husband, and watched him as he knelt and gazed, unheeding, at the newborn girl in her arms. 'Hikari...' the word rolled through her mind a few times, growing more favourable with each round. Her smile grew, and she placed her hand on top of his, her voice barely above a whisper.

The soft pleadings from behind the door startled Kenshin out of his admiring stare, and glanced up slightly to Tomoe. "The village children." he explained quietly. Tomoe nodded.

Slowly, the children filed in, anxious, wondering, and curious all at once. The made their way to the bedside, peering at the newcomer's face.

Tomoe watched the children compare the name to their earlier suggestions, then turned to her husband, who was gazing at the baby again. "'Her'? How did they...?"

She smiled and reached out to brush her hand through his hair, kissing his forehead. "I know."

Tomoe turned in surprise at the voice, then smiled as she recognized the face it belonged to. "Kioku-san, it's been a long time. How are you?"

Kioku smiled warmly at the younger woman, then leaned down to wiggle her finger playfully at the baby in her arms. "Not nearly as well as you, I see. What an adorable child! Healthy, I assume?"

Tomoe nodded. "Hai, though the doctor wasn't sure at first. She was very quiet."

"Well that's no surprise, considering her mama and papa!" Kioku grinned, straightening up. "You were both so quiet when you first came here a few years ago... almost nobody noticed you were gone." her eyes were a little puzzled. "Except the children, of course. They were always asking about Ken-san."

Their eyes drifted to the young man, selling the summer crops with a wide, friendly smile on his face. Tomoe's eyes crinkled slightly in amusement. "He missed them as well. But there was... pressing business to attend to, and he could not do that without leaving."

"You are to become squad swordsman, fighting in the front lines to protect the patriots."

"However," she continued without even blinking at the memory, "I am glad we were able to return home. Otsu is a beautiful place to live, even though it is near a city such as Kyoto. My husband is still unsure about whether we should continue to stay or not."

"Ano... speaking of Ken-san..." Kioku's small smile faded. "There have been rumours..."

Kioku rubbed her arm nervously. "Well... some are saying... he... Tomoe-san, you know the stories of the war. Red hair, scar on the left cheek... three years, Tomoe! You and he disappeared from here three years ago, then reappeared soon after the battle in which... *he*... vanished. Haven't you noticed people staying out of your way? How many can't believe that... he can stand there, selling vegetables as if he had never... he..." she struggled, fists clenching and unclenching. "Just answer me truthfully, Tomoe-san. Who is that man?"

Tomoe noticed her husband's body stiffen during Kioku's speech, and let her eyes trail downward to her daughter's face. Soft, innocent violet met her in return, mouth parted slightly. She looked back up to her friend, smile growing.

As Kioku watched her in suspicious concern, she could see Kenshin's tension fade, the smile returning to his face.

Tomoe stood at the window, shivering in the cold as a slight wind brushed against her uncovered skin. She tugged at the blanket wrapped around the child in her arms, to protect Hikari from the chill. 'It's snowing again. This would be a very bad time to be sick, especially for one so young. Perhaps Kenshin could fix the window...'

Hikari squirmed in her sleep, and Tomoe stroked her cheek and shushed her, glad that she had just finished feeding, and equally glad she was asleep and content in her arms. Handful as she was, the mother was eternally grateful for the gift, her child.

Tomoe sniffed, a small smile appearing over her face as she turned to her husband. "Wonderful. You can cook as well as I."

Kenshin shared her smile, slightly bashful. "Ah, not quite that well..." he blinked, turning towards the door. "Someone's here. Odd... we weren't expecting anyone. Perhaps one of the villagers..."

Holding the baby close to her, Tomoe watched him head for the door. 'Kenshin... I have this... strange feeling...'

Kenshin slid the door open, a curious, cheerful expression on his face. "Can I h-"

His eyes narrowed, and he shoved the door closed and jumped backwards. A split-second later, a sword smashed through the rice paper wall, knocking it to the ground. "Who are you?!"

"Himura Battousai..." one of the three approaching swordsmen said slowly, katana ready. "For the safety of the new Meiji government, you must be eliminated."

Kenshin's eyes widened, and he called to Tomoe frantically. "Run! Get out of here-!" he dodged as the attackers came at him, slashing wildly. She watched with fearful eyes, hoping, praying.

"Wait!" Kenshin demanded, eyes darting over each swordsman, "What have I done that the government wants me dead? I fought for them-"

"Your hands are coated in the blood that made the new era." the first attacker growled. "We cannot allow you to live in Meiji when there is always a chance that the hitokiri could strike against us!"

'I don't understand...' Kenshin thought, once again dodging their efforts. 'Why kill me? The Ishin Shishi know I would never retaliate against them... Katsura-san knows that, at least... who ordered this? I don't... I don't understand...' his eyes met Tomoe's for a split-second. 'Why hasn't she left yet? Hikari... they could use them as hostages... I can't let anything happen to them...'

As if they had read his mind, two of the assassins pulled small throwing knives from their dark uniforms. He threw himself in front of his family as the daggers were used. Pain shot down his arms, his shoulders struck, two in each. He slumped to his knees, stunned.

"Anata-!" a frantic cry caught his ear, and he looked up sharply as the attackers approached.

Gritting his teeth to fight the pain, he pulled two daggers out and threw them back to their owners, catching them each in the chest and sending them flying backwards. The leader growled and charged for what would likely be the last time. Kenshin stood, shaking, and prepared for the sword strike to hit. He yanked another dagger from his shoulder and raised it.

'I can't defend against this, even with the dagger... if I had my sword... but I'm not wearing the sakabatou from Shakkuu, and I can't leave my family...'

'I'll sacrifice myself, and risk it all on the last blow... forgive me, Tomoe... live on in the new era, and be happy...'

Reaching out to him, she pulled him back and stood in front of him, even as his arm flew down to meet the strike. Their eyes met; his, wide and horrified; hers, smiling and unafraid. He couldn't move, couldn't breath.

He reached out to catch her, dropping the dagger that he had plunged into her, ignoring the fierce, burning pain, as the opponent's sword went through her body and slashed his side. His eyes flared with dangerous fury, and he tore the last dagger from his shoulder and drove it into the stunned assassin's heart.

'No, no, it's not the same as the Kekkai Forest... she didn't die there... she wasn't supposed to die...'

His eyes stung with tears, pain, sharp, aching, filling his heart. She looked up at him, her own eyes equally suffering.

"It's all right." she murmured weakly. She reached down and held the dagger with one hand, keeping her eyes on him. "Please... I'm not... strong enough..."

Numbly, he helped her pull it out, watching her fight back a cry of pain. Slowly, shuddering more every second, she raised it to his face. He shut his eyes.

'Vengence, perhaps... for ruining her life on that rainy day, four years ago... please, forgive me, Tomoe... if only you had left me and went on with your life...'

'Why did you stay with me? A murderer, whom you saw kill with your own eyes? I was heartless, cold... you saw something that... didn't exist...'

'I am a hitokiri... and now, I have slain the one I love the most in the world...'

He opened his eyes again, and there was a cut along his cheek, crossing with the slash that had already branded his face forever.

"It's all right." she repeated, dropping the dagger and touching his scar gently. "It's better this way, so please don't cry..."