Legacy

 

An RK Fanfic: i.e. the author doesn't claim rights to the anime used.

 

Chapter 9- The girl with the bright smile and the sad eyes.

 

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Onna no kotoshite…

 

Battle Angel ending theme, "Just Once".

 

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Hideki ducked under the warm water of her bath and remained there, sitting completely still with her eyes closed as her hair floated around her shoulders giving her the appearance of a naked angel. She had no idea how long she was down there until she became mildly aware of a dull thudding sound coming from the wall next to the tub. Resurfacing with no more noise than a porpoise coming up for air, she opened her eyes to stare blankly at the opposite wall.

 

"What is it Yahiko-kun?" she asked sweetly.

 

"Are you alright?" the boy asked somewhat timidly, "I asked if the water was warm enough and you didn't answer."

 

Hideki smiled as her eyes focused on the window above the tub, "I'm perfectly fine Yahiko-kun," she said calmly, "and the water is just fine. Would you like to come in and check for yourself?"

 

There was the sound of a crash on the other side of the wall. "No! I mean I shouldn't! I mean you're all…ara, I gotta go!!!" Yahiko managed to squeak before scurrying away.

 

Hideki chuckled at the sound of Yahiko's footfalls as he hurried away before ducking herself under again. "You're so innocent Yahiko, you and Kaoru both," she thought.

 

"You'll never know how much I envy you for that."

 

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Clean and refreshed, Hideki emerged from the bathhouse wearing a simple lavender kimono with a dark blue obi. Her damp hair hung straight from a leather tie at the base of her neck. Slipping on her sandals she walked back toward the house humming as she went.

 

Inside, the scent of dinner wafted from the kitchen to the inner rooms. Hideki headed straight there to see if her help was needed.

 

"Need some help in there Ken…Kaoru! What are you doing here?"

 

"What do you think uni-chan? I'm cooking!"

 

Kaoru was standing at the counter with a large bowl of rice, shaping the white mass into rice-balls that were steadily growing in number under her clever hands. Next to her sat Kiro who was lapping at cup of sweetened milk, probably a peace offering from Kaoru.

 

Hideki was so shocked she let the use of her nickname pass without comment. "If marriage changes a person this much I'm all for it," she remarked, "When did you finally learn?"

 

Kaoru shrugged, "Misao's husband showed me the basics a while back," she admitted, "From there it was pretty easy."

 

"The one who works as head-chef at the Akebeko?"

 

"The very one." Kaoru answered.

 

Hideki watched as Kaoru reached for a handful of rice and formed a perfect ongiri with a few deft movements of her tiny hands. Suddenly it seemed to her that she was no longer watching her baby cousin performing a near-miracle in her kitchen, but she was seeing a scene replay from a past that she had all but forgotten.

 

"Hey, are you listening to me at all?" Kaoru asked.

 

"What? Oh, of course I am Kaoru-chan."

 

Kaoru sighed, "I said I'm out of soy-sauce and tofu," she repeated, "Could you go get some for me? Kenshin's busy and Yahiko's disappeared on me again."

 

Hideki gave a sheepish smile at that last comment, "Sure thing Kaoru-chan." she answered cheerfully.

 

Kiro looked up from his bowl, "Bring me back something sweet, pleeeaaassee?" he pleaded in the cutest voice.

 

Hideki reached out and scratched him behind his ear, earning a loud purr and a loving look. "No problem, Kero-chan." she said.

 

 

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Hideki emerged from the house with a tofu bucket in hand and a yellow scarf around her shoulders smiling at the prospect of roaming her old hometown as Hideki Kusokube and not some nameless drifter gaijin.

 

"Hang on to your tabi Tokyo, Hideki is back!" she thought triumphantly.

 

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner Aoshi?" Kenshin's voice asked inside the dojo.

 

"I already promised Misao that I would spend the evening with her and her husband." Aoshi's voice answered.

 

Hideki froze on the spot; she was unable to control the color rising in her cheeks as memories of the night before replayed in her mind.

 

"Get a grip, " she told herself, "he was under the control of the flower card! He probably doesn't remember a thing, right?"

 

Still her legs refused to move.

 

Aoshi appeared in the dojo's doorway, his ice-blue eyes quickly focusing on Hideki's face as she stood frozen like a painting of a gaijin milkmaid. Hideki's mind began to race as quickly as her heart.

 

"Ohshitohshitohshitohshitohshitohshitohshit!"

 

"Hello." the okashira said softly.

 

"Hey." she managed to answer.

 

Kenshin appeared beside his friend, "Oh Hideki, it's you! Are you going out?" he asked.

 

"Hideki managed to force a smile on her face, "Uh-huh," she answered, "Kaoru sent me to get a few things from the market."

 

Surprisingly enough, Aoshi was the next to speak, "I'm heading into town as well, would you like me to escort you?"

 

Hideki's jaw almost hit the ground, "I…o-of course!" she managed to respond.

 

"Good," Aoshi answered, "Let's be on our way then, goodbye Kenshin." he said bowing sedately at his friend.

 

"Um, goodbye Aoshi." Kenshin answered, still somewhat shocked at Aoshi's response to Kaoru's relative.

 

"May I help you with that?" he asked, taking the tofu bucket from Hideki even before she could answer.

 

"A-arrigatou Shinomori-san," she stuttered as his fingers brushed against her own briefly as he took the burden away from her.

 

"Shall we go?" he asked softly as he offered her his free arm.

 

Hideki could only nod dumbly as she timidly linked her arm in his.

 

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About ten minutes after leaving the dojo's gate Hideki worked up enough courage to speak.

 

"Shinomori-san, why are you…why are you being so nice to me?"

 

She could not read his expression because of the long bangs that obscured his face; "I am simply escorting you to town as only a proper gentleman should." he answered simply.

 

Hideki could not hide her disappointment as she turned her gaze toward her feet.

 

"Oh." she said softly.

 

They continued in silence for several moments until there came a point where they had to part ways. Aoshi handed Hideki back her bucket and after a curt good-bye headed off in the direction of the Seta residence.

 

Hideki wanted to turn away just as easily and be done with it, but something kept her glued to the spot as Aoshi began to walk away. She began to feel as if something were slipping away from her grasp, as she stood there frozen.

 

"Shinomori-san…!"

 

As he turned around his bangs lifted a little allowing her a glimpse of his eyes. So beautiful, like jewels set in his carefully sculpted face. Also, like jewels, they were devoid of any warmth he might have offered.

 

"T-Thank you." She finished quietly.

 

Turning away quickly before she could do anything too embarrassing she made a show of practically skipping on her way off to the market district. A formidable task when your heart weighs about fifteen stone.

 

Aoshi watched as the girl turned and continued on her way, humming as she went. His face held no expression, as always, but if one was standing close enough, they might have been able to pick up the self-loathing in his barely audible voice as he spoke again.

 

"Aoshi no baka."

 

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Japan-Speak

 

Onigiri- rice-balls

 

Onna no kotoshite- I'm an insignificant girl (or so says my anime tape)

 

Baka- idiot. Therefore, Aoshi no baka = Aoshi you idiot (did I really have the state the obvious?)

 

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