Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin, and most of the characters related to and featuring in the following fictional stories are property of creator and master manga artist Watsuki Nobuhiro, and no copyright infringement was intended in any way in the creation of these projects. Used without permission.


Light of the Snow-Red Village
Part IV - The Third Candle: Arrival in Tokyo - Chapter 2

by Akai Kitsune

~*~

    "Let's see... breakfast, breakfast... where are the-"

    "Who're you?"

The next morning, as Kenshin ventured through the house searching for a way to help their somewhat reluctant host, he was halted by two young girls in the yard. They watched him suspiciously, and he gave them a gentle smile to reassure them. "I'm just looking for a pot to cook breakfast in. Do you know where Kaoru-dono keeps them?"

The girls sent each other puzzled glances, and the older shrugged. Kenshin could only imagine what they were thinking; by knowing her name, was he a friend?

Finally, the taller girl showed a smile and took his hand trustingly. "Here, I'll show you where they are. Kaoru-neesan keeps them in the kitchen and they're really hard to find... um, who are you, mister?"

Kenshin sweatdropped. "I'm just... a guest that Kaoru-dono allowed to stay for the night. Are you her sisters?"

    "Ayame-chan, Suzume-chan! Where are you?"

An elderly man came into view a moment after the girl took his hand, and she called back to him cheerfully. "Ojiisan! Over here! We're helping niisan find Kaoru-neesan's pots!"

Kenshin bowed his head to the approaching visitor. "Good morning."

The man raised an eyebrow at him curiously. "Good morning. If you don't mind my asking, what are you doing in Kaoru-chan's home?"

    "Making breakfast!" The smallest girl piped at his feet, her pigtails bobbing up and down as she waved for attention.

Kenshin nodded, meeting the old man's gaze. "Aa, that's true. I can explain in just a moment, but I really would like to finish preparing breakfast before she wakes up. She's had a rather long night."

The man's eyebrow rose further.

    "Maa maa, not like that! I didn't mean..."

Any of his further protests were halted by the girl's hard pull, dragging him towards the kitchen. "Niisan, breakfast! We're hungry!"

    "... Aa, fine, fine..."

~*~

    Kaoru awoke to the pleasant scent of well-cooked stew and rice; a quite unfamiliar feeling. She blinked back weariness and surprise, letting the smells guide her outside. Her memories rushed back to her mind as she met the rurouni from the night before, carefully stirring the boiling food with a spoon, the strange sword rested between his knees. "Rurouni-san?"

He turned to greet her, violet eyes friendly and alert. "Good morning, Kaoru-dono. I hope you don't mind, but I made breakfast for you. Hikari-chan and I greatly appreciate your kindness, allowing us to stay the night."

Kaoru's eyes widened, and she looked up, catching sight of the young girl who traveled with him as she played with the visiting children. 'What a strange thing,' she thought distantly. 'Traveling with a child...'

    "Ohayou," the girl greeted, tossing the ball in Ayame's direction. "The room you lent to us was really comfortable... thanks."

    "Y... you're welcome." Kaoru watched the two girls laugh as the newcomer played with them, and she smiled. "Rurouni-san... you and your daughter are welcome to stay here as long as you're in town."

He gazed back at her in surprise. "That's very kind, however, you don't know us at all-"

She waved him off, interrupting. "I heard it all last night. I don't care about your past. Your secrets are your own, right? And you helped me yesterday. Besides, you don't look like you can afford to stay at an inn."

The girl laughed out loud, beaming at her father. "She's got you there, tousan. My name's Hikari. Yorushiku."

Kaoru grinned. "Nice to meet you, Hikari-chan. Now, let's eat! Rurouni-san?" She looked at the wanderer expectantly, hoping for an introduction.

He either didn't catch her curious gaze or he chose to ignore it, instead serving up the heated meal. "I believe it's ready now."

Kaoru didn't allow his ignorance to bother her, and began eating ravenously. She blinked, gazing down at the food in surprise. "Eh?"

    "It is not good?"

Her eyebrow twitched in mild annoyance. "It's... better than I can cook..."

    "... O... oro..."

~*~

    "Kaoru-dono, has this nighttime attacker explained what he wants from your school?" Kenshin asked in a serious tone after they finished breakfast.

Kaoru shook her head, her eyes narrowed as she gazed into her empty bowl. "No... he hasn't asked anything from me. But he must have something against my father's dojo. I can't think of any other reason..."

He frowned, lips taught and expression focused. "Have you considered the possibility of it being a former student of your school?"

Kaoru stared at him in alarm, then slammed the bowl down, standing angrily. "How can you say that?! My father taught the sword that protects life, and we condone killing of any kind! No student of this school would ever kill!"

Kenshin turned away, saying nothing in response. She glared at him for a moment, then returned to her seat. Ayame pulled lightly on her sleeve. "Kaoru-neesan, are you mad?"

Kaoru softened, patting her head gently. "No, just a little frustrated. Did you have fun playing with Hikari-chan?"

    "Mm!"

Hikari grinned. "Hey Kaoru-san, is your kendo hard to learn?"

    "What?" Kaoru glanced over at her, puzzled. "Well... any budo is challenging..."

    "I like a good challenge," Hikari shrugged. "Can you train with me today? I want to practice and anything new that I can learn would really add to my experience."

    "Na-nani...?"

Kenshin shook his head with a small smile. "I think what Hikari is asking for is to become a temporary student of yours, Kaoru-dono. It is your choice - I expect that if you wanted a student you'd like a paying one - but it seems as though your dojo needs to regain its popularity."

Kaoru blinked, then nodded. "Yes, that's true. All right, Hikari-chan, I'd be happy to train you. I've never had a girl student before; it's nice to see another girl interested in kenjutsu."

Hikari smiled slyly. "Well, we're full of surprises. I'll go get my shinai."

Kaoru glanced quizzically at Kenshin as the younger girl ran off, but he merely shrugged and stood up. "I will take care of the dishes, then... afterwards I'll be going out for a little while. I can trust Hikari to you for a few hours?"

Kaoru nodded again. "Hai... but where are you going? Didn't you just arrive in town?"

    "I need to... check into some things," he answered cryptically. "Hikari shouldn't be any trouble; she can take care of herself, mostly. I won't be gone late... if you prefer, I can also make dinner when I return."

    "Um... sure..."

She watched him disappear, then headed for the dojo, feeling puzzled, but elated at the thought of having a student again.

  'Even if she is a wanderer who may disappear at any time... she's still a student, and I'll put my whole heart into her lessons! Hikari-chan... I'm sure you'll love the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu!'

~*~

    She did; she loved the ideal with every fiber of her being. The sword that protects; the school that echoed what she had known of her father for her entire life. It made her excited, made her heart pound in her chest when she thought of it.

    "It seems as though you already know quite a lot about kenjutsu," Kaoru observed, watching Hikari move through her usual exercises and forms.

She nodded, performing a downward slash as she replied. "Yes... I've been learning from various schools all across Japan for almost two years now."

    "Is that why you're wandering?" Kaoru perked up, interested and curious. "On a training journey?"

Hikari's gaze lowered to the floor, her expression suddenly saddened. "... Something like that."

  'We are on a journey... to learn... to find something... to find...'

  '... to find...'

    "Well," Kaoru shrugged, moving closer, a bokken gripped in her hands, "Kamiya Kasshin isn't something you can learn on a whim. It takes dedication and a lot of work. Are you prepared?"

    "Of course!" The girl brightened, and all signs of unhappiness were washed away, leaving Kaoru more confused than before. "I'm always ready to learn!"

From outside the doors, Kenshin listened, then closed his eyes and headed for the front gate. Hikari was safe and in good hands; it was time to repay the kindness and trust given to him.

  'It is also time to find out why this man thinks he can pretend to be a swordsman he is not... and why he is using my name - that name - to commit common murders of innocents...'

  '... I was a killer... but never like this...'

  'Are you prepared to fight, Battousai-san?'

~*~

    "Konoyarou!"

    "Hold still, dammit!"

  'Day after day,' Kenshin thought distantly, diverting the sword aimed at his head and casually knocking the attacker away, 'It always comes to this.'

'All they care about is fighting, killing...'

The last man glared at him, anger and denial glinting in his eyes, even as his body shook with fear. "You demon," he cursed, "What are you?! Why won't you die!"

Kenshin sighed inwardly, dodging the swordsman's charge and slamming the sheathed sakabatou into the back of his knees. He caught the man as he fell, and placed the sword against the unprotected throat, slowly drawing the sword as he brought it up. "I won't die because you have given me no reason to," he murmured into the frozen man's ear. "Now give me a reason not to let you die. Your leader, the one responsible for the street killings. What are his intentions towards Kamiya Kaoru?"

The man grimaced, trying to avoid his gaze. "That kendo instructor...? He wants her school... the land is worth a lot of money in the Meiji era. A dojo is just a waste of space."

    "Where is he?" Kenshin's eyes narrowed, quietly demanding. "Where is Hitokiri Battousai?"

    "Ba... Battousai?" The man gulped, wincing as his skin brushed against the sword's blade. "He... he's not here."

    "I can see that," Kenshin replied, his voice patient and level. "But that was not my question."

    "I-I don't know where! He does as he pleases..."

Kenshin tightened his grip on the sword. "Then your usefulness has ended."

    "Wait!" The man yelped, shrinking away from the blade. "The Kamiya girl - he wants to kill her if she won't sell the school! He's probably gone there now, so he can-"

The man never finished his sentence, as Kenshin cursed softly and buried the tip of his sheath into his stomach, pushing him away and letting him fall. He sheathed the sword with a quick snap of the wrist, and rushed from the building the false Battousai had been using as a base ground, his heart pounding loud in his chest.

  'A fool, I was a fool...'

  'Please, let me reach it in time...'

~*~

    "So, Kaoru-san..." Hikari rested her shinai against her shoulder, gazing up at the wooden blocks hung on the wall, displaying the adjutant master's name. "You're sure that this man couldn't possibly have been a member of your school?"

Kaoru shook her head with a scowl. "No, it really is impossible. We only accept students who are willing to follow our ideals, otherwise the school would be inconsistent and no more than a joke. If he was a student of my father's, he would never have killed those people." Her anger faded for a moment, and she glanced over at her temporary student curiously. "Just wondering... why did you get so angry when I spoke of Battousai last night? He's just a merciless killer; there's no need to defend him."

Hikari turned away. "I just think... well, he could be anyone. Just because he calls himself Battousai doesn't mean he's telling the truth. Anyone can use that name. You could run around saying you were Battousai if you liked; the only difference is that you're a girl and probably too young anyway. The difference is the name." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "People get scared... when they hear the name."

Kaoru's face knotted in confusion and concern. "Hikari-chan-"

Her words were cut off by a sudden crash, as the dojo entrance fell apart, revealing the murderer from the previous night, a sneer on his face and a sword clenched in his hand. He was flanked by a group of his followers, all armed and fearless.

    "Kamiya Kaoru," he growled, eyes narrowed, "I've had enough of your meddling."

Kaoru grit her teeth in anger, rushing forward to stand in front of Hikari, bokken raised in defense. "Battousai, how dare you come here! Your vicious slander of my family name stops here!"

    "You're right," he smirked, moving closer, "It will, because I will kill you and you'll no longer have any worries at all. Are you prepared?" His eyes were drawn to the younger girl behind her, a shinai in her hands. "Oh, and your little rescuer, as well. Where is that damned samurai friend of yours? I have to kill him for daring to attack me yesterday."

    "You're busy tonight, Master Battousai," one of his men grinned. "Can we kill her nice and slow? She looks like she'd be fun."

Kaoru glared at the man, bokken raised threateningly. "Stay back! A master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu will not be easily brought down!"

She charged the leader of the group, but he dodged her thrust and knocked her aside, slashing through the bokken and tossing her towards two of his men. They caught a hold of her arms, their eyes drawn leeringly down her body. Hikari snarled in challenge, shinai twisting to face the men. "Stop it, now!"

    "I think you should take her advice immediately," a breathless voice cut through the mocking laughter of the offenders, and they turned to face the man behind them.

    "Tousan!" Hikari cried out in relief. "About time!"

Kenshin nodded slightly, his breathing harsh from his rush from the fake Battousai's hideout to the dojo. One hand drifted towards his sakabatou, eyeing the men around him as he addressed their leader. "You will take your hands off Kaoru-dono and stay away from my daughter, or you will forfeit your freedom today. I swear to you now, if you harm them you will not walk away unless it is with the police." His eyes narrowed darkly. "Or the doctor."

The henchmen rushed him, and Kenshin brushed them with ease, using the sheathed sakabatou and smashing them into the walls, darting through the ranks and taking them all down in seconds. Kaoru watched in awe, eyes wide and disbelieving. She glanced sideways at Hikari, but the girl looked clearly unimpressed.

The leader of the men gazed at his fallen troops, then moved his eyes to Kenshin, who stood before him and waited. "Do you still want to fight me, boy?" he rasped, turning his body to face the smaller swordsman. "Hitokiri Battousai is no one to be trifled with."

Kenshin raised an eyebrow, watching him with a glint of contempt in his eye. "Tell me, can you actually wield your sword or can all you do is wag that tongue of yours?"

    "Nani?!"

    "Truly, I grow tired of you using that name," Kenshin bent his knees, slowly drawing his sword. "When it is not yours to even utter."

    "How dare you!" The impostor barked, raising his katana. "You'll die for those words!"

    "Will I?" Kenshin shrugged uncaringly. "I would like to see a pretender defeat the real thing. Hitokiri Battousai was a manslayer, that is true, but never in the Meiji era and never for pleasure or your dark purposes. Nor is his school that of Kamiya Kasshin or your own, but the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, a lightning-fast technique that is the ultimate of assassination styles, unless the user has a reversed blade such as this."

His opponent halted, and Kaoru gasped in alarm, one hand rising to cover her mouth. "You... you're the real Battousai?" Her gaze flickered to Hikari, whose surprise was only shown at Kenshin's admittance of the fact.

    "You lie, boy," the fake Battousai growled between clenched teeth. "I'll make you regret that. There can only be one Battousai!"

Anyone who focused purely on Kenshin's face may have been able to notice the small, barely visible smile on his face as the man charged.

 - snap -

  '... day after day...'

As Hiruma Gohei fell to the ground, unconscious, his fingers crushed from the impact of the Ryu Tsui Sen, Kenshin sheathed his sword and gazed down at the downed body, shaking his head. "I no longer have any desire to answer to that name, but a cruel murderer who kills innocents for pleasure doesn't deserve to have it."

After a brief moment, he turned back to his daughter and tenant, a soft smile on his face. "I'm sorry for not telling you everything, Kaoru-dono," he murmured, "But my identity has always caused problems, and I like to keep it a secret when possible. I didn't want to worry you further." She was silent, gazing at the floor, and he gave Hikari a saddened nod. "Come, ume-chan... I think it's time we moved on."

Hikari struggled for a moment, wanting to object or deny his request, yet knowing that remaining at the dojo would only bring him grief. Finally she nodded unhappily, replacing the shinai back in its strap across her back. "Hai, tousan."

    "Wait," Kaoru whispered, raising her head to meet them. Kenshin turned in surprise, his eyes wide. She took a step forward and, with a swift movement of her hand, slapped him across the face. "Just wait a minute!" she shouted, her body shaking in anger. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Kenshin placed a hand against his sore cheek, baffled. "... Sumanei... but what are you so angry about?"

Kaoru glanced briefly at Hikari, then pointed a finger at her as she looked back at her badly confused target. "You're dragging this poor girl all around Japan for who-knows how long, with probably no excuse at all! A child her age needs a home, a real life and family! She needs stability so she can grow up properly, and living on the road isn't going to help!" She relaxed for a moment, trying to calm herself. "I finally begin to rebuild my dojo after all this time, with your daughter as a student, and you want to leave before I even get the chance to teach her anything? Can't you be of any help at all?"

Kenshin smiled gently, shaking his head. "While you have a point, you already know my identity as a hitokiri."

Kaoru grit her teeth in frustration. "I already told you, I don't care about people's past!"

    "Considering what's happened, you should probably care a little more," Kenshin pointed out quietly, his eyes flickering over the fallen attacker at his feet. "After all that this impostor has done, having the real Battousai staying at your dojo would only cause more trouble, would it not?"

    "But I never asked Battousai to stay; I want the rurouni-" she halted, covering her mouth, then set her jaw and turned away. "Fine, if you're leaving then you'd better go now! But... before you do... can you give me your name? Are you really hiding it for a reason? I know you said you didn't want to answer to Battousai..."

Kenshin watched the girl for a long moment, catching sight of her lowered head and shivering form. 'She's afraid,' he thought distantly. 'She's afraid of being alone...?'

  'But... how could I stay here? How will she stand to live with me, and all the consequences that will come from it?'

  'I'm nothing but trouble. It's always been so. Doesn't she understand that?'

  '... a manslayer like me... doesn't deserve to have a home as I once did...'

He felt a soft tug on his sleeve, and looked down to meet Hikari's face. She gazed imploringly at him, a silent question in the depths of her violet eyes.

  'Can't we...?'

  "Hikari needs to grow, and traveling the country living on nuts and berries isn't going to cut it."

  "Which would you rather have, your sword, or a safety which would make her unhappy?"

  "A child her age needs a home, a real life and family!"

  '... can't we...'

He shut his eyes tightly, his heart pounding loudly in his ears. It was too much; far too much to ask. He had no right to stay, to put her in danger, to linger in her home and leave after a time, leave her hurting and alone -

She was afraid of being alone...

  '... Then why ask a wanderer to stay with her?'

  'Doesn't she know what that means?'

Hikari's hand closed around his own, and he opened his eyes, his decision made. He slid the shoji closed, catching sight of Kaoru's head droop lower.

    "Kenshin... sessha wa Himura Kenshin, de gozaru."

She let out a soft gasp, whirling around to meet his eyes.

He gave her a small, wistful smile. "I'm a little tired of traveling. Wanderers such as us never know where we are going or for how long, so if this doesn't bother you... we can stay here, for a little while."

Kaoru blinked back tears, a broad smile on her face. "H-hai... arigato."

Kenshin looked down, surprised, as Hikari squeezed his hand. She smiled back at him, then rested her forehead against his arm. "Thank you," she whispered for his ears alone. "Thank you, tousan."

He nodded, not entirely sure why she seemed so relieved, then looked back to the girl who had invited them to stay. "Now, Kaoru-dono... I believe your lesson was interrupted by these men. Shall I take care of them while you continue?"

Kaoru grinned. "Of course! Hikari-chan, let's practice in the yard, ne?"

    "Hai!"

Watching them hurry off, Kenshin's heart felt a little lighter, a little warmer. It was a good feeling.

  'Day after day...'

~*~

    Author's Notes: Okay, now we're going somewhere... ^_^ I hope this wasn't too bad. I'm trying, I really am...

    I'd like to give credit where credit is due; the original idea of Kaoru using Hikari as an excuse to keep Kenshin from leaving was suggested by my friend Katt. I thought it was as awesome idea and hopefully I applied it the way she imagined it would turn out to be. ^_^ Thanks a million.

    Kenshin's thoughts on leaving: This is something we never got to see; why did Kenshin actually say yes to Kaoru's invitation? Was it because he loved her already? Was he thinking of helping someone in need and nothing more? Or was he really seeking a home, knowingly or not? I took a guess and figured on all three - though the love idea in a lesser degree in this fic. He's not ready to fall in love yet; even ten years past, Tomoe is still too close to his heart. When I was first planning this fic I hadn't actually decided if they would fall in love or not. His devotion to his first wife is still strong since they are tied together by a child, and he has a responsibility to both that child and Tomoe's memory. I wasn't sure if he would break those ties (at least, in his mind) by remarrying.

    To be honest, Kaoru's presence in the story is at least in part my way of showing that I don't play favourites. ^_^;; I love Tomoe and Kenshin's relationship, but that is not to say that I don't like Kaoru. What I don't like is the idea of loving one couple and hating the other; it's unfair to the characters because they're tied together so closely. Without Tomoe, Kenshin probably would have been killed or gone mad long before meeting Kaoru, and she is the one to liven up his life and show him a little spirit again, as well as showing him that he is capable of loving again (and successfully!). Both are good matches for the time period: Battousai and Tomoe, two anti-social people who are desperately in need of someone to love (and misery loves company, right? ^_^); Kenshin and Kaoru, a lost wanderer of the shadows and the light that leads him home again. In my story, Kenshin isn't in such desperate need for that light because of Hikari, but he can only love her to a certain degree (... and don't be ecchi, you people out there...). He needs someone closer to fill the gap he created when he killed Tomoe. Thus Kaoru comes into the picture.

    And yes, I was just making fun of Gohei this whole time. It's easy and too damn funny. Speaking of which:

    Random Omake: Will the Real Battousai Please Stand Up?

Gohei *grinning broadly*: I am Hitokiri Battousai!
Kenshin *sheepish*: Well, actually, I am...
Gohei *confident*: That can't be true! Only I am strong enough to be Battousai!
Kenshin *shrugging*: To be honest, you're not even strong enough to beat Kaoru-dono; they just wrote you like that to make me look good...
Kaoru *in the background*: (HEY! That's not fair! MOU!)
Gohei *turning bright red*: You lie! I am the real Battousai!
Kenshin: I am, I swear...
Gohei: I am!
*the two exchange arguments, as Kaoru and Hikari wait impatiently*
Gohei *charging forward, sword raised*: I AM Hitokiri Battousai!
Kenshin *calmly unsheathes his sword and with a quick -snap- of a Battoujutsu, chops Gohei's head from his shoulders*: No, I am.
*Kaoru and Hikari applaud*

More coming soon! Hm... check back next Monday, k? ^_~

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