Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ How the Past Can Change ❯ An Invitation ( Chapter 20 )

How the Past can Change

A K&K Rurouni Kenshin Romance FanFiction

by: bunny ;D

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. I do not own and did not create the series or its characters...I'm just a fan, and I have no money anyways, so NO SUING ME!! :D

----------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------

AN: This story is altering the original story of Rurouni Kenshin / Samurai X. If you don't like that idea, or can't handle it…I would advise you not to read this fic. If you are a hard core Tomoe and Kenshin forever kind of person, I would advise you to not read this fic. Don't get me wrong, I like Tomoe, this is just a different story ok?

Ja ne,

Bunny ;D

----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------

"I'll bet he's watching you from afar…waiting until you are old enough to approach. I don't think he's going to wait until when you and I met." He finally answered.

Kaoru also began to grin. "Really? You think so?" she asked, feeling so flattered that if Kenshin ended up in the past that he would watch over her, waiting for her to grow up.

"Yeah…I know so." Kenshin answered.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------

~.~.~.~.~.~ Back in the Past ~.~.~.~.~.~

The young Kenshin lounged on a large branch in one of the sakura trees just outside of the Kamiya Dojo Property.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------

Chapter Twenty

----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------

At the end of the war, Kenshin had exchanged his katana for a sakabatou…Kaoru's ideals about not killing, and "the sword that protects" being forever engrained into his memory, he had wanted to change…and knew that it would make His Kaoru happy…or so he hoped. So when the Meiji Era had begun, instead of wandering aimlessly, he had immediately set out to the Kamiya dojo to see what Kaoru was up to. Even though she was still a little girl…7 years old to be exact…Kenshin couldn't wait to see her. So now, Kenshin found himself living in a tree, just outside her dojo. He had been there for a few days. Only leaving to get food, to train in the forest, lest he lose his skills, and to sleep. But during the majority of the day, Kenshin was in the tree, watching.

He had first only intended to get a glimpse of what she was doing, how old she was…see what her family was like, but after first glance…he had become captivated. He wanted to observe her as long as possible. The first time he had seen her, she had been running after a little boy around her age with her shinai, yelling at him about how "girls can be just as strong as boys" and then after catching up to the poor boy, had proceeded to thwap him over the head several times. Kenshin had suppressed his laughter, and felt sorry for the poor boy as much as he had thought Kaoru was absolutely adorable. From that moment onward, he wasn't sure if he would ever be able to leave his perch in the tree, lest he miss out on a part of Kaoru's life. She was so interesting to watch, and so full of spirit. It had been a deep reminder to him of why he loved her so much. It had been two long and lonely years since his time with Kaoru, and he had almost begun to forget…almost.

"Ok…I've had enough of this. Why have you been camping outside of my property for the past 4 days?" a voice suddenly yelled to Kenshin from down below.

Being jarred from his thoughts, and startled beyond belief, Kenshin fell from his perch in the tree, and onto the ground with a loud "ORO!" to boot. 'Great…I am turning into my idiotic future self.' He thought to himself as he stood back up from the ground to greet whoever was intruding on his thoughts.

"I'm sorry, what did you say sir?" Kenshin asked the man he was now standing face to face with, while absentmindedly rubbing his arm he had landed on.

"I said…why are you camping outside of my property? What do you want with my family and me? Or is it one of my students?" the man asked crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

Kenshin sweat dropped. "Uh…and you are?" he asked, trying very hard not to be rude.

This time, the man sweat dropped. "Kamiya Tetsuro, master of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, and owner of the Kamiya dojo. Now, what are you doing?" Tetsuro asked once again of the young man invading his privacy.

'It's Kaoru's FATHER!!' Kenshin's mind screamed out to him as his eyes bugged out of their sockets. Shocked, Kenshin just stood there dumbfounded for a minute. 'What do I say to him? Well, you see…I'm planning on marrying your daughter, don't mind that I'm 11 years older than her and an x-assassin.' Nervously, Kenshin blurted the first thing that came to his mind to say. "So you're Kaoru's father?"

Tetsuro's eyes widened in surprise "How do you know my daughter?" he asked the young man that was looking more and more uncomfortable with each passing second.

Just as the stranger opened his mouth to answer Kaoru herself came bouncing around the property corner "DADDY!! DADDY!! DADDY!!" she yelled excitedly. Then spotting the redheaded stranger, she stopped short. 'Wow!! What a cute guy!!' she thought to herself as she gave the stranger her biggest grin. "Who are you?" she asked the man.

Kenshin grinned at Kaoru and crouched down to her level so he could look her in the eyes. "I'm a rurouni." He answered her and gave her a loving grin.

Kaoru blushed at the rurouni's look. "I'm Kamiya Kaoru." She offered. "It's really nice to meet you…would you like a place to stay?" she asked the stranger.

"Kaoru!!" her father scolded for inviting a stranger into their home with out his permission.

Kaoru grinned up at her Dad. "It's ok Daddy!! He's a nice guy!! See!!" she said as she grabbed Kenshin's grinning face and showed his smile to her Dad. Kenshin sweat dropped as Kaoru continued her case, "He can help you with the upkeep around the dojo in return for our extra bedroom, can't he?" she asked. "You are always complaining that we need more help." She continued.

Tetsuro sighed. There was no use; Kaoru had her heart set on helping the wanderer with the flaming red hair and x scar on his face. "I suppose that would be ok." He replied.

As Kaoru squealed in delight while clapping her hands together and jumping up and down, Tetsuro said to the rurouni "I could use the extra help if you would be willing to stay with us."

Kenshin was torn. He wanted nothing more than to stay with them, but at the same time, he didn't want to change things for Kaoru, or put her in any sort of danger. Deciding he could always leave if he felt he got to close, he gave Tetsuro a nod. Then he looked down to Kaoru and said, "I am a rurouni. There is no telling when I might have to leave, or where I might be going...but if you don't mind that, then I will stay with you a while."

Kaoru just nodded her head in acceptance of his words.

Kenshin looked back up at Tetsuro and grinned his thanks.

"Well, there is no need for us to stay out here, let's go inside." Tetsuro said as he slapped a palm on Kenshin's back, he leaned closer and whispered into Kenshin's ear so that Kaoru couldn't hear. "I'm going to want an explanation on why you knew my daughter's name later."

"Oro!" Kenshin said as he stumbled forward a bit, not expecting Tetsuro to hit him so hard, and startled at the older man's hidden protectiveness.

Kaoru grabbed Kenshin's hand and began to pull him around the property. "I'll show you where your room is ok?" she said to him excitedly.

"Oh yes, that reminds me." Tetsuro said. "What is your real name anyways? Rurouni won't do if you are to be staying with us."

Kaoru stopped walking and turned around, very interested to know his name as well.

Kenshin just grinned once more. "Kenshin. Himura Kenshin." He answered.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------

A/N: It's the beginning of something new!! That's the end of Chapter 20. ;D I can't wait to write the rest of this fic!! I hope everyone likes it as much as I have been enjoying writing it!!

I'm really sorry that it took me so long to get this out. I've been so busy lately it's really exhausting! Anyhow, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter? Did you? Please let me know, but please be nice.

SMALL RANT:

I don't mind negative feedback, as long as it's put nicely. If you don't know what I mean, compare these two examples under my reviews: Das Weisshund (rude, and unconstructive, an obvious put down who must be friends with Sevarem, who for some reason has decided to hate me and flame me for all I'm worth, and make a "let's flame bunny" fan club.) with Sakura Seta's (nicely put, constructive, obviously meant not to be rude or mean.) Since my fic has been more popular I have received a few flames. ^_^; Here's how I feel: I never said I was an aspiring author. I never said I was good at this. I do this for myself, and for anyone who enjoys reading it. If you don't enjoy my story, just don't read it, there is no reason to bother me with flames or be rude or mean to someone you don't even know. However, if you really would like to see a few improvements because you actually LIKE my story and you are nice about it, busy as I am, I take that into consideration and make appropriate changes. On that note,

I wanted to address the following:

The OOC. Yes, my characters at times are very OOC. This is intended. If you don't like OOCness at times, then please just don't read the fic.

The Japanese insertions. This is a bad habit that I picked up from reading other fix, and also from chatting. I HAVE been making a conscious effort to take this out of my fix, and just stick to English. There will still be occasional words, but for the most part, everything will be English. I stopped doing this for the most part a few chapters ago; I think it's gotten better. When I have the time, I am planning on editing the older chapters, but I wanted to let you all know that I am planning on fixing this. I read through some of the old stuff, and I agree, it gets annoying. There is no need for it especially.

That's all ;D

Special Thanks:

I wanted to especially thank the following for their wonderful reviews and support even though I suck at writing fanfiction:

Almira

Fall Angel

Jade Anime

Slightly_offkilter

Bao blossom

Macy

Dramaqueen

Gypsy-chan

Sync*in

Omochi

Rurouni angel

Koneko-dono - who finally updated her ficcy!! YAY!!

AND susan

Got any suggestions for the 300 review party? I'm taking them now. Hopefully the party will happen…

Till Next Time,

Bunny ;D