Legacy

 

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

 

Chapter 19- Providence

 

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" I'm dreaming of you tonight."

 

                                              -Selena

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Aoshi lay barebacked on his futon with one hand behind his head and the other thoughtfully tracing the spot where Hideki had slapped him. On his way home that night, he had failed to use his intended route, away from the Seta residence. As a result, Misao had spotted him before him before he could realize his error and both she and her husband had proceeded to give him a lengthy interrogation as to where he received the angry bruise on his cheek.

 

"Maa, Aoshi-san," Soujiro had said, "That looks just like a handprint on your face."

 

Embarrassed at his honest observation, Aoshi had gruffly remarked that the shape of bruises can look like many things, and that his imagination was running away with him. However, they were not easy to fool. Misao quickly deciphered that not only someone had slapped him, but that the person who did must have been left-handed for the mark lay on the right side of his face.

 

"You're right love," the former rurouni agreed with his young wife, "But the only person I know who is left-handed is Hideki-san."

 

Aoshi's heart dropped down to his stomach, if his face had shown any guilt at all he would not have been the least bit surprised.

 

Misao gave her husband a puzzled look, "How did you know that?" she asked.

 

Soujiro's smile was open and honest, "At Kaoru-chan's birthday party, you girls were drinking sake remember? Hideki-san was pouring the sake with her left hand, not her right, you can't do that with your weak hand."

 

Misao's eyes widened, "You're right!" she cried turning her attention back on Aoshi, "But why would she want to slap you? Did you offend her or something?"

 

Aoshi looked form husband to wife and back again. He was cornered and he knew it, what else could he say but the truth?

 

"Yesterday I came across Kusokube-san sparring by herself in the woods." he confessed, " She stopped to chat with me and because of her skill level, I asked if we could spar together today and she agreed."

 

Misao eyebrows went straight up, as did her husbands. "Hideki-san's skill level is up to par with yours?" he asked in disbelief.

 

Aoshi nodded. "Aa," he replied, "As a matter of fact, I think she's even better than I am."

 

Misao almost swooned, "Hideki-chan's a better fighter than you?" she repeated.

 

Aoshi was now speaking more to himself than his audience as images of the blue-haired woman flooded his thoughts.

 

"I could barely hold my own against her, once she puts herself in the role of a warrior she becomes almost superhuman in her speed, strength and control. Some time into the match, I lost my kodachi while she was attacking me, and to save me from being injured, she threw away her sword ad pulled me down to the ground with her. We rolled over a couple of times and when we stopped I…." A faint trace of a blush appeared under his bangs, "I ended up on top of her. She got angry, threw me off and…well." His hand unconsciously came up to his injured cheek.

 

Misao was scandalized to say the least, "Aoshi-SAMA!!!" she cried in disbelief.

 

"Oh my…" was all that Soujiro could say.

 

Misao was practically in tears, "Aoshi-sama you didn't! You have got to make this up to her!"

 

Aoshi had sounded genuinely beaten, "How?" he asked as if irritated with himself, "She probably hates me by now. It's useless."

 

Soujiro seemed to be deep in thought, then suddenly his face lit up and he turned to Aoshi with a confident smile, "I know!" he said excitedly, "Bring her flowers when you apologize for your mistake."

 

Aoshi looked at Soujiro as if he were retarded. "You don't honestly think that is going to work do you?" He could almost hear Hideki's voice telling him where he could stuff the said bouquet.

 

Misao snapped her fingers, "Soujiro you're a genius!" she said with laughter in her voice, "It's the best thing you can do Aoshi-sama, it will show that you respect her as a lady if you bring her such a sentimental gift. "

 

Aoshi had to admit that Misao's explanation made a lot of sense. The only way to rectify this mess was to do as Misao said, treat Hideki like a lady.

 

"But what kind of flowers to get her?" Misao mused aloud, "You don't happen to know what are her favorite, do you Aoshi-sama.?"

 

Aoshi almost looked ashamed, "I'm afraid I don't." he admitted.

 

Soujiro rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "How about roses?"

 

"Too romantic," Misao replied, " we don't want to scare her away."

 

"Daisies?"

 

"Too cheerful."

 

"Irises?"

 

"No."

 

"White lilies?"

 

"Those are for funerals, Sou."

 

Soujiro thought again for a moment before his face lit up, "Peonies!" he cried.

 

"Perfect!"

 

Aoshi didn't know many couples that tended to high-five each other at every victory but the Seta's was definitely one of them.

 

"Peonies!" the happy couple said in unison as they turned to him again.

 

"They're attractive, fragrant and unassuming." Soujiro said proudly.

 

"The perfect gift!" Misao agreed.

 

Aoshi looked at them both for a long moment. Peonies. This was his salvation?

 

"You've got to admit it's worth the try Aoshi-sama," Misao said matter-of-factly, "After all, you do like Hideki-chan don't you?"

 

"Gambatte Aoshi-san." Soujiro said encouragingly.

 

Aoshi bowed slightly as he began to leave, "I will…consider it."

 

Misao just beamed at him.

 

"Here, I will walk you to the gate," Soujiro offered, falling in step with the older man. Once they were out of earshot of Misao he spoke again.

 

"It is not a sin to love twice Aoshi-san." He said casually.

 

Aoshi slowed down and looked at the younger man who continued to smile benignly as if he had not spoken at all. He could say nothing as his companion spoke again.

 

"Do not be afraid of your own heart Aoshi-sama. That is where the danger of love lies."

 

Aoshi stared at Soujiro for a long moment more. The young man hadn't meant anything malicious by it, it was just honest advice. And though he dared not admit it aloud, damned good advice at that.

 

"I will remember that." he said as he walked away.

 

 

Now as he lay alone in the dark he pondered those words, so simple and yet so true. It was up to him and him alone. Should he let this amazing woman pass through his life with no more effect than a pebble skipping across a pond? Or would he hold on to this second chance like the gift that it was?

 

As sleep overcame his tired mind and body, he let one word slip pass his lips, the one word that had consumed his thoughts for weeks but was yet to be said aloud.

 

"Hideki…"

 

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Hideki flopped down hard on her futon only to fly back up with a protesting shout when her butt landed on something that was definitely not part of the bedding.

 

"What was that?" she thought as she looked back down at the place where she had sat. All she could see was the scarf she had been wearing that day. Too tired to think of being neat, she grumbled and grabbed it up, intending to cast it roughly aside. It was then she realized that something was wrapped inside of the scarf.

 

Curious as to what it might be, she quickly undid the folds of the cloth to reveal, what she had in her misplaced anger, forgotten about.

 

The shinobouai that Aoshi had given to her that day.

 

Immediately her eyes softened as she ran her fingertips lightly over the smooth wood. Even in the dim light she could see that the instrument was beautifully crafted, it's polished surface catching even the faint beams of moonlight that made their way inside her room. Aoshi must have had some experience with musical things to pick such a lovely specimen for her.

 

"When you've practiced with it a bit with it, maybe you could play a song for me."

 

As if compelled to do so, she raised the instrument to her lips.

 

Sure enough, her fingers found the places where they needed to be as she gently breathed life into the instrument. The sound built up slowly, gently rising in volume like the sound the waves of the sea make as the roll onto the shore. Her fingers danced in a familiar pattern, as her breathing dipped and slowed, deepened and faded as she made the flute sing with more feeling than she could have portrayed with her own voice.

 

 

Kaoru and Kenshin held each-other in the dark as they listened to Hideki play. Kaoru had her eyes closed and was leaning against Kenshin's chest as he sat with his head resting against hers and his arms wrapped comfortably around her shoulders. No words were necessary as they both listened to what Hideki could not bring herself to say with her own mouth, but now dispensed freely through her music. Sadness, loneliness, regret, anger but above all those determination, hope, and unchanging, ever increasing love. These were the things that made up Kusokube Hideki, this was the song of her soul.

 

Hideki played with the fullness of her heart for almost a half an hour. When the song finally ended and the last note had whispered to a stop, the other residents were left both disappointed that there was no more to be heard, but strangely grateful that they had experienced what they had.

 

As she brought the instrument down from her lips, she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. She had forgotten how wonderful it felt to just let her feelings go like that. It was as if her soul's burden was already made lighter just by the simple act of playing. Instead of setting the instrument aside, she simply crawled under the covers and clutched it tightly to her chest, a faint, but grateful smile gracing her lips as she closed her eyes to sleep.

 

"Thank you…Aoshi."

 

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