By the way, both Rurouni Kenshin and the characters of Polgara and Beldaran don't belong to me. Rurouni Kenshin was written by and belongs to Watsuki Nobuhiro, while Polgara and Beldaran are the creations of David Eddings (even though I did change their characters a bit) I guess that ends the legality stuff =D
Chapter 10: Reliving the Past
"Why is my reflection someone I don't know? Must I pretend that I'm someone else for all time? When will my reflection show who I am inside?"
– Reflection, Mulan
“Hey everyone, look at this!” Ayame’s voice penetrated the sounds of nature surrounding the dig site. She had been dragging Tsuyoshi around all morning, pointing out all the interesting sights and sounds that surrounded their excavation site. Kenji continued to walk towards a more remote area, somehow needing to be alone after his dreams of the previous night. Through a daze he saw Shohei and Tetsuko arguing with each other, both of them looking disgruntled. Akira stood talking to Usagi and Akane, and their laughing voices floated to him on the wind. It had been a long ride from Tokyo to Yokohama, but the fresh air and sunny weather had brightened everyone’s mood considerably.
Kenji spotted a rock and immediately sat down on it Indian style. Bowing his head, his thoughts drifted aimlessly until something incredibly shiny buried deep in the earth caught his eye. Curiosity gaining the upper hand, he walked towards the object and bent down to take closer look. Violet eyes grew wide as he noticed that the shine came from the gleaming blade of a katana buried in the ground. He reached over to pull it out when suddenly a chill ran down his spine. Gasping, he stared at the hand holding the hilt of the sword and saw that his form was gradually becoming more transparent. Within a few seconds, both Kenji and the sword had disappeared.
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Kenji stared at his surroundings in shock. He was sitting on the porch of a classical Japanese dojo, staring out into the yard. Two little girls chased each other across the yard and waved at him cheerily as they ran by. It looks exactly like the place in my dream, he thought numbly.
“Kenshin!!!” a voice called from inside the house. Kenji stood up and realized for the first time that he wore not his jeans and polo shirt, but a red gi and white hakama. Reaching back with trembling hands, he also realized that his hair was extremely long and bound at the back of his neck. As the voice from inside called again, Kenji instinctively rushed towards it without a second thought.
Reaching the inside of the dojo he frantically searched until he found the kitchen and peered inside. There, slicing up some vegetables, was Kaoru, her dark hair kept out of her face with a white handkerchief as she concentrated on making dinner. She was alive! Kenji silently gave thanks and continued to stare at her face, memorizing every detail. She looked exactly the way she did in his dreams…
“Kenshin, do you mind going into town and getting some tofu?” she asked him with a bright smile. “I’d ask Yahiko but he’s over at the Akabeko helping Tae and Tsubame. And I think Sano will probably be coming over to bum off another meal later, so you might want to get some extra.”
“Tofu?” asked Kenji in a daze, staring at the girl in front of him.
“Yes!” Kaoru’s eyes widened in concern as she stepped forward and put a hand to his forehead. “Kenshin, are you feeling okay?”
“Ummm…yes. Do you happen to know what day it is?” Kenji eyed her intensely, not quite believing what had just happened.
“It’s September 15, Meiji 11,” she replied looking at him worriedly. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll just…umm…go get the tofu now.” He took the bucket that Kaoru handed to him and walked back outside, hesitating at the front gate. Suddenly he saw two figures coming towards him as the gate swung shut behind him. His hand instantly flew to the sword at his side and he bent into a battle stance, preparing for a fight. The smaller figure wore a navy blue hakama and a loose white jacket over a sky blue gi. A sword hung at her side. The second figure appeared much taller and wore a light purple kimono embroidered with flowers and tied back with a dark purple obi.
“Usagi? Akane?” Kenji stared at the two girls in surprise. “What are you two doing here?”
“He makes it sound like we’re the only ones who happened to jump across time,” muttered Polgara. Her dark hair had been pulled back into two neat pigtails, giving her a more childish air. She absently fingered the sword at her side and turned to make a face at Beldaran. “I’m going to do Xanatos some incredible physical injury once I find him.”
“Calm down Pol. Kenji here looks like he’s about to faint. Or should I call you Kenshin?” Beldaran turned to Kenji and examined him closely, the corner of her lips lifting in a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Kenji noticed that she looked very different with her hair up in a neat bun.
“What’s going on?” asked Kenji, his confusion growing greater by the minute.
“We’ll tell you on the way. But right now let’s go get your
tofu before Kaoru starts to suspect something.” Beldaran reached out
to grab hold of the tofu bucket as the two girls led a distraught Kenji towards
the marketplace.
Chapter 11: Komiyama Kenji and Himura Kenshin
"What do we want? A girl worth fighting for. Wish that I had a girl worth fighting for"
– A Girl Worth Fighting For, Mulan
“So you’re saying that I’m really Himura Kenshin?” asked Kenji in a low voice as he walked down the street with the two girls at his side. “And you two are an immortal and an angel?”
“No wonder Hiko Seijuro calls you his baka deshi,” sighed Polgara in exasperation. “What have I been trying to explain for the past half hour?”
Kenji suddenly looked at Polgara in curiosity. “So I was brought back here to defeat some sort of demon?”
“Xanatos to be exact. I think this is what he meant by ending the battle on his own terms and on his grounds. Somehow the stupid bastard managed to send you back through time. It took Beldaran practically forever to convince Eth and Tarot to send us back along with you.”
“Who are Eth and Tarot?” asked Kenji, his face mirroring his confusion.
“They’re angels, and their job is to guard the gates of time.”
“Anyway,” interrupted Beldaran in a serious voice, giving Polgara a pointed look. “Xanatos plans to rewrite history by bringing you back to the Meiji to face him again. In your previous life you defeated Enishi and Saitoh took him off to prison for murdering Kaoru. Enishi hung himself while in jail, so Xanatos lost his right-hand man. He wants to relive that fight and get revenge for what you did.”
Polgara shook her head in frustration as she continued. “If he wins, that would allow all the evils from the demon world to take over the Meiji period and chaos would result. So it’s important that no matter what, you are prepared to face Enishi and whatever else Xanatos might have planned for you.”
“But how am I supposed to defeat him? With magic?” Kenji looked incredulous.
“Basically demons cannot directly harm people,” answered Polgara. “The most he can do is take over the soul and body of a human, using the person as his tool. And right now Xanatos plans to use Enishi. So in actuality you’ll be facing Enishi, not Xanatos. As Himura Kenshin, you’ll have the Hitokiri Battousai’s skills and reflexes, so it should be a close fight.”
“But if you lose, that would enable Xanatos to free all the other demons and take over the world, “ reminded Beldaran.
“What about Kaoru?” asked Kenji worriedly. “Will she also die again?”
Both Polgara and Beldaran exchanged looks. “We really don’t know, Kenshin,” was Beldaran’s quiet reply.
Kenji squared his shoulders and stared out along the street for a long moment. “So what do we do until Enishi comes to attack?” he asked.
Polgara cracked a grim smile. “We wait. And you’ll have to play the role of Himura Kenshin for the time being.”
Violet eyes began to glow threateningly, but all Kenji did was give a slight nod. For everyone knew that to protect Kaoru, the soul of both Himura Kenshin and Komiyama Kenji would fight to the death.
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"Hey Jo-chan! Kenshin! Got anything to eat today?" Sanosuke strutted into the kitchen and poked his head in from behind the door. Kenshin stood chopping up some vegetables while Kaoru made rice onigiri. At the sound of Sanosuke’s voice Kaoru turned around and leveled a glare in his direction.
“You are such a freeloader! I can’t believe you’d have the nerve to come over and eat up all our food everyday.” Muttering under her breath she continued to shape the rice into neat balls while Sanosuke sat himself down on the floor to watch the cooking.
“Yo Kenshin! I hope that stuff you’re making is better than what Jo-chan plans to feed us. Otherwise we’ll probably starve.” He threw a sly glance at Kaoru who glared back at him. Kenji was taken aback by how much Sanosuke resembled Shohei. After being informed about the reincarnation of his friends, he suddenly realized that there were many similarities between the two men.
“I’m sure what Kaoru-dono makes will be fine,” replied Kenji diplomatically. Kaoru beamed at him while Sano groaned in annoyance. Rolling his eyes he stepped out of the kitchen to wait outside until dinnertime. Kenji continued to chop up the vegetables, concentrating on something besides staring at the young girl next to him.
“Kenshin?” Kaoru’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Are you sure you feel okay? You’ve been acting a bit unusual since this afternoon. Is something bothering you?”
“Of course not, Kaoru-dono. Please don’t worry about me.”
“If you say so,” replied Kaoru uncertainly. She turned back to her food and put the finishing touches on their meal. “Well let’s eat then. I’m sure Sano is probably ranting and raving about what’s taking us so long.”
Kenji quietly followed Kaoru out of the kitchen, a thoughtful look on his face as he balanced the many bowls on the tray in his hands.
Both Kaoru and Kenji found Sanosuke and Yahiko sitting on the floor, waiting expectantly for dinner. Akira, thought Kenji to himself while taking a closer look at Yahiko. There was no mistaking his cocky, take-on-the-world attitude he thought to himself with a slight smile. Everyone began to eat once the food was put on the table, Sano being the first to finish his bowl of rice and ask for seconds.
“Hey, Jo-chan, I’m sure you didn’t make this stuff. It’s way too good.” Sano continued to stuff more rice into his mouth as he looked up at Kaoru with a teasing smile.
“You’d better watch it, rooster head,” grumbled Kaoru in annoyance. Without warning an empty rice bowl flew across the table, smacking Sano right in the face. Ignoring the load groans coming from the large man, Kaoru nodded with satisfaction. “Serves you right for insulting my cooking.”
Yahiko glanced at Kenshin curiously, wondering why the Rurouni was so quiet today. His usual silly smile was replaced by a quiet, thoughtful yet intense look as he watched the bickering going on around the table. It was almost as if he was attempting to memorize everything going on at the moment…Trying to draw him into conversation, Yahiko said, “Hey Kenshin, this is really great food! Maybe you shouldn’t let ugly over there cook so often!”
“What!!!!” Kaoru stopped shouting at Sanosuke long enough to glare at her student. “After dinner, I’d better see you doing a hundred katas, Yahiko-chan!”
“Stupid hag,” muttered Yahiko, but everyone could tell he wasn’t truly angry.
Kenji smiled at the light-hearted arguing that continued around him. He suddenly realized that not long from now this happy atmosphere might not exist any more in couple of days. Kaoru might not survive…Kenji closed his eyes and refused to think such morbid thoughts. He just wouldn’t let that happen again.
“Well everyone, I think I’ll be getting back to my place now. I’ll see you guys later and thanks for the dinner!” Sanosuke got up to leave when Yahiko got up from his seat also.
“Hey, I’ll go with you. I forgot something at the Akabeko this afternoon and I want to get it back.”
“Be careful you two!” called out Kaoru as the two prepared to leave. “And Yahiko, if it gets too late, either get Sanosuke to walk you back here or stay at Tae’s for the night. Understand? I don’t want you wandering around alone at night.”
“I can take care of myself, ugly!” replied Yahiko as he walked
out the door. The sound of Sano and Yahiko’s bickering grew softer as
the two made their way across the dojo yard.
Chapter 12: A Little Night Music
"Your eyes will only tell the truth, and the truth isn’t what you want to see, in the dark it is easy to pretend that the truth is what it ought to be"
– The Music of the Night, The Phantom of the Opera
Kenji sat outside on the porch, staring out into the darkness with unseeing eyes. Fireflies flew around the yard, their bright light helping the moon and stars to illuminate the night. He’d spent almost a month in the Meiji period, and according to both Polgara and Beldaran, he probably had only a couple of days until Enishi would show up to attack Kaoru and complete his plans of revenge. Or rather, the demon Xanatos would show up to attack him in retaliation for killing his favorite disciple. And Kaoru…if he failed to protect her this time, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. Failure was definitely not an option.
“Kenshin?”
Kenji turned around and found himself staring at the girl who had occupied his thoughts for the past month. Kaoru sat beside him and continued to look at his face curiously.
“Yes, Kaoru-dono?” asked Kenji, suddenly feeling very nervous at being alone with Kaoru on a dark porch.
“I want you to tell me what’s wrong!” declared the young girl in an angry voice, her blue eyes flashing in the dim moonlight. “You’ve been acting strangely for weeks now, and I want to know why!”
Kenji sputtered, not knowing quite what to say to that. “What makes you think that?” he asked with a self-conscious laugh.
“There’s something different about you. I’ve realized it for a while, but….it’s like I know you and then I don’t. You’re not the Kenshin that I’ve come to know. And I want an explanation.” The young girl crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the man in front of her. Suddenly a frown crossed her face and she gave him a nervous glance. “Is it because you’re not happy here anymore? Are you thinking about leaving again?”
Kenji hesitated. Should I tell her the truth, he thought, or should I just try to pretend I’m Himura Kenshin? With a sigh he shook his head. “No it’s not that.” Kenji took a deep breath before blurting out, “Actually, I’m not Kenshin. My name is Komiyama Kenji. I’m a reincarnation of Kenshin from the future.”
Kaoru’s jaw dropped and her eyes grew wide. “Youre joking right?” she questioned on a laugh. Noticing the serious expression on Kenshin’s face, Kaoru immediately sobered.
She raised her eyebrows and gave him a scared glance. “Then where’s the real Kenshin? In the future?” she asked, her voice growing a bit shrill.
“I really don’t know. But I’m here to complete a task, and if everything goes well then I assume I’ll be returned to my own time while Himura Kenshin resumes his life in the Meiji.”
A long moment passed while Kaoru stared at her hands in silence and refused to meet the purple gaze that was focused on her. Then she raised her head and looked Kenshin straight in the eyes.
“I don’t know why I believe you,” she said on a sigh. “But I do. But I want to know what task you’re supposed to complete. Can you tell me?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. But don’t worry, because I promise I’ll protect you, Kaoru-dono.”
Kaoru’s voice rose in frustration. “How many times do I need to tell you that it’s not your job to protect me? I can protect myself. Hmmpph…you’re the same no matter what lifetime you’re born in.”
Kenji smiled as Kaoru crossed her arms over her chest and continued to look disgruntled. “I’m sorry. But I guess I just can’t help wanting to protect you.”
Kaoru sniffed in annoyance. Suddenly she noticed the fireflies around the yard and a sad look crossed her face. “You…or Kenshin…you were always trying to protect me. Even that time when Kenshin left for Kyoto, he said it was for my protection. What he didn’t know was that I’d have faced any danger just to be with him.” She sighed.
“When he left for Kyoto?” Kenji looked confused and Kaoru gave him a sad smile. Wanting to comfort her, but not knowing how, he leaned over and put his hand over hers.
“I suppose you wouldn’t know about that,” she said. “It was when Shishio Makoto was planning to take over Japan and the government wanted you to go to Kyoto…”
Kenji listened quietly as Kaoru told him stories of Kenshin. He sat with her all night long, listening and learning about the Himura Kenshin that he had been. Himura Kenshin, the silly rurouni who was attacked by a young girl with a wooden sword one day while walking down the busy streets of Tokyo&
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"Come on Kenshin! Hurry up! We're going to be late!" Yahiko's voice penetrated his daze as Kenji hurried to catch up with the others. They had decided to take a trip to the river that day and enjoy the warm weather before winter set in. Even Megumi had come along, and everyone had spent the afternoon fishing and eating by the riverbanks. But Tae had invited everyone to dinner at the Akabeko that night, and Yahiko was excited to see Tsubame again.
It had taken quite a while for Kenji to become comfortable around the dojo after all the dreams which had haunted him for so long. But during the past month they seemed to be lessening, and gradually he was able to let go of the worries and anxieties that plagued him. Smiling as he watched Yahiko attack Sanosuke for making some comment about his crush on Tsubame, Kenji continued to lug the leftover food from the afternoon as he trailed behind everyone else. The sun was already setting by the time they reached the Kamiya dojo.
“Oh, you guys! I forgot my ribbon inside the practice room! Kenshin, could you put the food away? I’ll come help you after I get my ribbon, okay?” Kaoru called out gaily, waving as she rushed into the opposite direction. Kenji looked after her retreating form uncertainly, an odd sense of unease taking over him.
“Hey, Kenshin!” Sanosuke put an arm around his shoulder. “Don’t worry about Jo-chan, she’ll be fine.” Kenji smiled and continued to follow everyone as they made their way to the kitchen.