Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ —¤: Boy meets dad :¤— ❯ I spy ( Chapter 11 )

 

 

- CHAPTER 11 -

 

Another one bites the dust. After he finished his assassinations for this night, the Battoussai flicked the blood off of his sword and put it away. Not waiting for Iizuka who made to clean up after him, he couldn't help but think of how his perspective in life was radically changing right now.

 

When he was 14, he felt like he was right when he said that he could save people from suffering using his sword. With that in mind, he defied his master and stubbornly offered his sword to one side of a conflict, going against the teachings of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style.

 

Being a manslayer, he began slaying parts of himself each time he assassinated someone. The little boy who was once a son of a poor farmer turned slave turned apprentice was now a murderer. He truly hit rock bottom.

 

But now… meeting Kenji, he had found a confidant. Someone who offered him a glimmer of light beyond the darkness.

 

Remembering a certain conversation, Kenshin's amber eyes softened and adapted a purple hue.

 

“Does it bother you that your father is the hitokiri Battoussai and it's my job to kill people?”

 

“Was Kenshin, was. It's kind of disturbing, but I know you're doing it for the greater good.” Kenji paused. "There are many things we must do in life that we dislike. Bearing these situations only makes us stronger and more wise. No matter how harsh the reality of the nature of your job right now may be, just remember that you're fighting for a good cause. Years from now, you'll learn to repent for the `sins' you have committed. No one can truly forgive themselves, or find 100 percent salvation, but you can't be so hard on yourself, Kenshin."

 

“Easy for you to say. Someone who never tasted blood on their sword can never sympathize with murderers like me.”

 

“Puh-leeze. Stop putting yourself down, Kenshin! You can't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders alone you know!”

 

Trying to get used to his son calling him `Kenshin', the Battoussai continued. “It's not about me carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. It's about redemption.”

 

“You can only do so much to achieve redemption that you will never give to yourself. Don't try to justify hurting your loved ones, your family, with some twisted sense of self-redemption. It's not worth it.”

 

The manslayer weighed those words in his mind, repeating them over and over again. I can never forgive myself or find salvation, but I must not be so hard on myself? Was that why I chose to abandon my family in his future? Because I felt so unworthy of accepting the happiness that was practically handed on a platter for me to enjoy? He frowned at this future self of his, not really liking that decision so much anymore. Was hurting my wife and child more important than not allowing myself to settle down and just be happy?

 

He really didn't know the circumstances in which his future self came to such a decision, but he can say for sure right now that he didn't intend to make the same mistakes. He was going to repent for his sins, yes, but not at the expense of his spouse and child.

……

 

Celebrating after a kill seemed wrong to the young hitokiri, but the older son insisted that they were just going to town to have a good time.

 

“A celebration of our new-found relationship if you may.” Kenji reasoned, so Kenshin reluctantly allowed himself to be dragged into town.

 

Seated at some restaurant, they ordered saké and Kenji even challenged his father to a drinking contest. The younger Himura objected to Kenji drinking at first, not sure if he was being a good example to his kid, but the `kid' reminded him that he was technically older than him, and if Kenshin was allowed to drink, then so was Kenji.

 

Agreeing to drink, but not to a contest and only within a bare minimum, the Battoussai's tongue was loosened enough for him to ask Kenji a barrage of questions which the other tried to answer truthfully but without giving too much information away.

 

“Tell me about your mother.”

 

“Hm. Where to start. Mom… was… a strong woman. She was orphaned at a young age but managed to keep her dojo afloat all by herself. She was caring, warm, compassionate and a very good kendou instructor.”

 

“Really now.”

 

“Yes really. She also has a mean right hook, I'm warning you now.” Both of them chuckled, Kenshin not really believing it.

 

“Did you leave anyone special back at your own time?”

 

Kenji was thoughtful for a minute before he replied, “Nah.”

 

“Did you finish your training with shishou?” came the unexpected question.

 

Kenji smiled a sheepish smile and scratched the back of his head, looking kind of embarrassed. “Yes, I'm officially the 15th successor of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style.”

 

“Fifteenth? Does that mean that… I get to finish my training as well?”

 

Crap! Open mouth, insert foot. “Um… well, um… I'll tell you in another life, when we are both cats.” He said, trying to avoid the question.

 

“Since you are the 15th and shishou is the 13th, I can safely conclude that I am the 14th successor. There is no other logical explanation. Come on, you can tell me, can't you?”

 

Kenji sighed, defeated. Kenshin is too observant for his own good. “Yes,” He reluctantly confirmed. There was no use denying what he let already slip in the first place. “You go back to finish your training, indeed you do.”

 

“That's nice to know,” Kenshin said, the corner of his eyes crinkling in merriment.

 

“So all that stuff you said about me lacking in training is so not true. I have more training than you do, technically. I could be considered your master and you can be my apprentice right now.” Kenji said mischievously and Kenshin sweatdropped at his son's conceit.

 

“Does a large ego come with the succession technique as well?”

 

“I'm not conceited like a certain someone we know!” (Somewhere in the mountains Seijuro Hiko XIII sneezes)

 

“I think you're in denial.”

 

"I'm not in denial. I'm just very selective about the reality I wish to accept."

 

The look on the Battoussai's face was very doubtful. “Sure, whatever you say.”

 

To an outsider, the pair of them would have looked like they were having a good time indeed.

 

……

 

“You're drunk.”

 

“Am not! I've never been drunk!”

 

“Never say never.”

 

“Honest!”

 

“Sure, whatever you say.”

 

As two redheads walked along the cobblestone path, one of them leaning against the other for support, a pair of gleaming eyes waited in the dark for the perfect opportunity to attack.

 

He was hired to take out Battoussai the Manslayer, and it was said that the Battoussai had red hair… but… both of these kids had red hair. Which one was Battoussai? Not to worry, I'll just have to slay them both, double my bounty. With that thought in mind, he poised to launch his assault.

 

……

 

Kenji, a bit woozy from the amount of saké he consumed, wasn't able to sense the threatening presence until it attacked them full on. He was just a tad bit sluggish, but thanks to his father dragging him away from the blow, he managed to get away unscathed.

 

He rolled safely to the ground and raised his head, trying to judge the situation.

 

Vowing never to touch saké again, Kenji wobbly reached for his sakabatou on his hip. His father looked like he needed help… even though there were two of them against… his vision blurred a bit before it focused and he counted two enemies as well. Wait… two Kenshins? Wow, I guess I really am drunk!

 

……

 

“Die, Battoussai!!!” Those were the last words the man uttered.

 

Breathing heavily from the rage he felt, Kenshin felt the first drops of rain just as he sliced the assassin in half, blood splattering everywhere.

 

His rage was directed towards the now divided fellow cut in two by his blade, for daring to threaten his son.

 

“You're bleeding! Are you hurt?” said Kenji in a slightly slurred accent.

 

The Battoussai shook his head. His exertion from the fight caused his diagonal wound to open again and it was bleeding down the side of his face. Aside from that, there was also the matter of the other assassin's blood. “I'm fine, let's hurry back to headquarters.”

 

……

 

“We have a spy in our midst.”

 

News about the mystery assassin attacking Kenshin and Kenji traveled fast and Katsura was greatly concerned. It could only mean one thing: They had a spy in their midst. Many of the Ishin Shishi turned their eyes to the innocent-looking Kenji, who was the best target for suspicion since he was new to the fold.

 

Himura the Battoussai met their suspicious glances with deadly glares so they turned away, embarrassed.

 

“Until we figure out what happened, Himura-san, I suggest that you and Kamiya-san lay low for a while.” Katsura said and dismissed the meeting. “I would like to talk to Kamiya-san for a bit, if you don't mind.”

 

The young hitokiri didn't look too keen on the idea of leaving his look-alike alone, but Kenji ushered him out of the room and closed the shoji door behind him.

 

Kogoro Katsura realized just how much influence this look-alike is beginning to have or already has on Kenshin and he tried to explain the cause of the Ishin Shishi to Kenji.

 

Kenji listened to the man with his purple eyes as wide as saucers and his mouth forming a small “o”. He didn't know what the heck the man wanted with him and why the guy was talking about the Tokugawa regime and sheathes. It sounded kinda gay to him. Isn't this a bit of a bad time to be giving history lessons?

 

“We are trying to throw Japan into chaos because only complete chaos can topple a government that lasted for three hundred years and that alone will allow a new era to be built.” Katsura paused, trying to let the young redhead digest this piece of information before continuing. “Himura has been given the cruelest task, to be the Guardian of Chaos.”

 

Kenji nodded even though he didn't know how to respond to that.

 

“I couldn't help but notice that you and the Battoussai have formed a close friendship.”

 

Kenji raised his brow. If this guy was implying that either Kenshin or I were gay, I'm gonna have to Futae his Kiwami no matter how influential or important this guy is.

 

“My wife acts as my sheathe. She protects me, shields me from the madness that threatens to overtake a person in this day and age.”

 

This guy likes riddles, doesn't he? Meesa no speaka in riddlessa, Kenji wanted to say but kept his mouth shut.

 

“Since the Battoussai has no woman in his life right now, perhaps a good friend can act as a substitute for that sheathe. Help him, Kamiya-san, be his confidant and help him stay away from the madness.”

 

……

 

Well that was bizarre. But I did kind of understand what he was saying… I mean, that's what I came here for, right? Kenji thought as he exited the room and faced his father who was waiting for him.

 

“What did Katsura-san want with you?”

 

“He accused me of being the spy,” Kenji joked and regretted it immediately when Kenshin's eyes flashed amber and he reached for his sword. “I'm kidding! Just kidding!!! He was talking to me about sheathes and madness, something about being your friend since no one wants to befriend a weirdo like you.”

 

“That was not funny, Kenji-chan.” Battoussai said, his mouth twisting.

 

“You're too serious for your own good, you know that? Lighten up, man!”

 

“This `man' is still your father.”

 

“Whatever you say.” Kenji said, throwing what seemed like Kenshin's favorite sentence back at his face.