Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Long Way Home ❯ The Aftermath ( Chapter 2 )

A MUST READ A/N: HI there! To all those people who had the heart of reading and reviewing this fic, I thank you very much. It took me a long time updating this fic since I got so depressed and I only got two reviews! One from MM.org and another from FF.net, so there... But for those two people, I wrote this chapter just for you!!! It might not be good enough for you but just to let you know, I tried hard to bring this out. And to those of you who aren't reviewing, please do so. It makes us writers know how you see about our works and it helps us a lot, may it be criticism or praising... It wouldn't hurt to try, ei? I hope you do understand... Enjoy!!!

Chapter 2

The Aftermath

Waves crashed violently on the shoreline threatening to destroy its weak foundation while the rain splashed all over the city. Dark angry clouds covered the whole place and the wind howled and blew, leaving the population of the proud city hiding out of protection or fear-but one man… This man didn't seek shelter from all of these. No shock there because this simple harsh event matched his gloomy demeanor. Yes, this one man just sat there, leaning on a burned pillar-his head bowed low. Severe burns and big cuts can be seen in various parts of his body. His clothes are almost totally obliterated and torn but thankfully, the dirty rag still covered his private parts. His hair looked as awful as his pathetic form-burned in every imaginable place! He just sat there, unmoving and if someone happens to look on his way, he/she would probably think he's dead.

"Who is that man?"

"That's Kenshin Himura. Poor guy. He has lost it."

"Hey, isn't he the one rumored to be the Legendary Battousai?"

"Yes, I heard it too."

"Why? What happened to him? Does this has to do with the bombing that destroyed houses within a 50-meter radius just three weeks ago?"

"Uh-huh. Unfortunately, his house was completely incinerated and what's worse was that his wife got burned with it!"

"That's horrible! But doesn't he have any close associates?"

"Well, now that you mentioned it, there's this one boy who daily comes to him. He'd always nag that fellow to 'wake up' but to no avail. That guy hasn't even eaten yet since that terrible event and HE kind of developed a bad smell too. Ha! What worries me the most are those huge burns and wounds on his body, they might get infected. No one wants to tend him.."

"I don't blame them. Just look at him. That's the look of a guy who has already lost hope. How can someone be able to help him if he himself had given up already. He has to stop feeling sorry for himself or he'll someday regret it…"

"Hey look! Isn't that Sir Urumura, the chief of police?" he pointed at a man nearby "Where's he going and who's that boy with him?"

"That's Urumura right. That boy is Yahiko, the one I told you who frequently visits Himura. I guess they're going at it again but I'm afraid they'll never succeed. Himura retreated back to his shell of his own accord. No one would be able to ply him out of it but himself."

Yahiko padded silently towards the rubble that was once the proud Kamiya Dojo. It had once been his home and it cut him deeply that it was gone now and so was... so was Kaoru... He felt a familiar constriction tug his heart followed by a stinging feeling on his eyes. Yahiko gritted his teeth in a pathetic attempt to control his loosening emotions. He was not going to break down... again. He had spent days mourning the loss of one of the most important people in his life but he had to go on with his life--the life Kaoru had protected countless of times in the past. He peered on his shoulder and frowned at the uniformed man tagging behind him. It was Urumura. The chief insisted on coming along with him to go see Kenshin. KENSHIN... The poor man took the event into a very dangerous level. 'Why does fate hate him so much?' he found himself asking at times. They finally stopped a few paces away from Kenshin.

"Young man,"

Yahiko turned his head towards Urumura. "Sir?"

"Would you leave us for a while..."

Yahiko blinked a few times before nodding his head and strolled past him. He peered on his shoulder and caught a sight of the police chief stooping down on Kenshin. 'What have you done, sir?'

Urumura felt as though a ton of bricks landed on him upon seeing the man's state--Kenshin... He admits he has a fault on this loss too. 'If I just had let him be or at least let him took his wife...' he shook his head and bowed low. "Himura... I'm deeply sorry for all of these..." he paused and waited for a response. He received nothing even a mere grunt. "Himura, you've got to get over this, you HAVE to. It's not the end of the world! There are lots of things you have to face!" when he still didn't get a reaction from Kenshin, he growled and shook the guy with all his might. "WAKE UP KENSHIN!!! DON'T DO THIS TO YOURSELF!!! DO YOU THINK YOUR WIFE WOULD LIKE IT WHEN SHE--" a strong grip on his shoulder cut him off.

"Hey! Stop that! What do you think you're doing?!" Yahiko exclaimed.

"THAT MAN NEEDS TO STAND UP RIGHT THIS INSTANT! HE MUST GET OVER THIS MADNESS!"

"And how do you plan on doing that?! Huh?! By hurting him to death?!", the angry teenager snapped.

"IF that would work then so be it!"

"Shut up! I won't let you do something rash to him! Our friends are coming soon so you better stop this NOW!!!"

Uramura straightened up himself and murmured something. He turned to Kenshin and frowned at him, "You're a great man, Himura, a living legend. Don't waste your life. Everything happens for a reason, that's a fact... By the way, I have resigned already. I feel responsible for all of this and I think those many victims would've liked that too. So long... Himura... I'm really sorry..." He didn't wait for the response knowing that he wouldn't be receiving any. He turned away from the two.

"Leaving? Sir, if I may ask, who'll be the new chief?" Yahiko asked.

"I don't know either but I'm sure he'll arrive as early as tomorrow and young man, please take good care of him..." Uramura pointed at Kenshin. "We would not want to lose a great warrior, ei..." and he walked away.

Yahiko watched the old police chief disappear from view. 'He said it was his fault... Why? What could he have done?'. He blinked a few times before settling his gaze on his real concern... Kenshin Himura, the once feared and the greatest legendary samurai, has now morphed into a living corpse. "Kenshin, I know you can hear me well. I just want to tell you that the others will be arriving soon. Please don't let them see you like this." Yahiko paused for Kenshin's nonexistent reply. "It's not your fault, man. It was these stupid men's error. Kaoru would've never liked it this way and you know that. Go on with your life, Kenshin. "After a long moment of silence, Yahiko finally gave up and turned on his heel.

"I have no reason for living...anymore..." came an almost inaudible hoarse voice.

Yahiko quickly whipped his head to the direction of the voice. "K-Kenshin?"

"This world would've been better off without me. Maybe... maybe she would've been still alive..."

Yahiko growled and picked Kenshin none-too-gently on the hem of his tattered clothes. "That's not true! Stop blaming yourself, Kenshin! This is just your stupid fate! You cannot avoid it!"

Kenshin let out a painful chuckle. "So fate wants to torture me so fucking slowly before death would come? How sweet... This might be fate's way of punishing me for all the merciless killing I've committed in the past... I guess my vow of not killing anyone isn't GOOD enough..." There was a quick intake of breath. "But why did it had to be her..." Kenshin finished with a heart-racking sob.

Yahiko panicked and slid next to the defeated man. "K-Kenshin, that's not true..." Yahiko whimpered. "There's a good reason behind all of these events... I'm sure it has... Please stop this." tears were now pouring like rivers from both men's eyes.

"Leave me be, Yahiko... Don't come back..."

"W-What?" Yahiko blinked.

"Let me die..."

"Kenshin..." Yahiko shook Kenshin but to no avail. "Oh no... Kenshin! Kenshin!" he turned to his shell again--not to come out for a long time. After a few minutes of unsuccessful shaking on Kenshin, Yahiko finally gave up and stood up angrily. "Fine! Do what you want! I don't care!" Yahiko left Kenshin without a final glance. 'Guys, please come here soon, I can't take this anymore... He's getting worse by every moment... Sano, Megume, Misao, Aoshi, everyone... hurry up..."

A strong kick on his the side brought him back to the world of the living. He slowly opened his eyes and flinched at the harshness of the rising sun. His attention was brought to a familiar pair of polished black shoes but he couldn't put a finger on who it was. 'It doesn't matter...' he began in his thought. 'Why don't they just leave me alone...'

"Oi, I don't want smelly garbage scattered in my terrain." said a strong rough voice.

That voice... It was very familiar as well. Feh! Who cares anyway? 'Just leave me to die here. It's better this way, I'll finally see her...' Suddenly, he was hoisted up by his hair and was met face to face by none other than--

"Hello, Himura.", came the cool voice of the man.

Saito Hajime!? Why the heck was he here?!

"Either get up and clean yourself or I'll be forced to throw you in a garbage pit." Saito said calmy.

Kenshin remained emotionless outside but he listened half-heartedly to the other guy's rambling nonetheless. Something tells him that Saito has some important things to tell him like he always does when their roads meet.

"Since I know you have no idea why I'm doing this--being a complete dick-head and all-- I'll be so kind as to tell you so. All of this place is under my power now. Why? Because I'm the newly appointed Police Chief of this state! Isn't that great? AND part of my job is to maintain the cleanliness of this place but that's where you interfere. You're so dirty and smelly that garbage might even look human than YOU."

'The new Police Chief? Saito? So what? I don't care...'

"Nothing to say, huh? Well, aren't we still affected by a whore's death?" Saito taunted.

Kenshin almost jumped at Saito but he regained his control and stopped himself from doing so. Saito was trying to provoke him to fight back but he won't give him the satisfaction of reacting towards his cruel words. NO. He'll just purse his lips.

"Quite a control you got there. Very nice..." Saito clicked his tongue before speaking again in a more serious tone, "I need your SERVICE." Saito waited for a reply but as expected, he hasn't received any. He snorted in disgust and threw Kenshin on the dirty ground. Kenshin didn't even attempt to fix himself in a much better position. Saito clenched his fists and stalked towards Kenshin's form. He ungracefully pulled at Kenshin's feet and dragged Kenshin with him on the road. "Fine then! I'll just dump you somewhere." Almost everyone witnessed the harsh display in the street.

"HEY! What the hell do you think you're doing to him?!" Yahiko's angry voice stood out.

Saito felt the teenager pull at him but but he just shrugged him off. "What does it look like I'm doing, smarmy pants?"

Yahiko blushed at this little comment. "You're hurting him so let go!" Yahiko exclaimed and stood in front of Saito, blocking his way.

"I'm about to dump a rotting garbage here, so back off." Saito menacingly said and side-stepped Yahiko. To his surprise, Yahiko allowed him to do just that. He sensed the boy's presence following him to--

"Where are you taking him, Saito?" Yahiko worriedly asked.

Saito smirked. "I've already told you, haven't I? Why to the dumpster of course."

"Damn it! Tell me the truth, will you!"

Saito ignored his out burst and proceeded walking.

Kenshin suddenly felt himself being scraped as the rough contours of the road clawed on his back like shards of broken glass. But he knew that this physical pain is nothing compared to the pain that's tearing his very soul slowly. They've finally stopped but he didn't care where they are now. 'He's probably gonna bury me next. Hurry up...' he thought.

"SAITO!!!! What have you done to him?!" a familiar feminine voice appeared out of nowhere.

"M-Megume?!" Yahiko cried out in disbelief. "What are you doing here? How--"

"Later... Kenshin!" Megume kneeled beside Kenshin and touched his bruised face. Suddenly, she gritted her teeth and glared murderously on Saito. "What did you do?!"

"Nothing. It all happened that he was too heavy to carry so I have no choice but to drag him all the way here." Saito answered back.

"Liar! What about the numerous burns and wounds?!" Megume was fuming now.

"He got them from the bombing, Megume." Yahiko softly said. "Don't worry, he's still okay. I talked to him yesterday."

"Really? Hmph We'll talk about this later. He needs medical attention. Hurry, get him inside!" Megume ordered to the two males. 'Kenshin... Why are you doing this to yourself? It's... it's only Kaoru, right? I'm still here for you... Why are you ignoring that fact? I won't forgive you if you continue this facade on me, Kenshin, NEVER. Please... Please don't die on me... I beg you....' she didn't notice the tears that were unashamedly falling from her eyes. 'Kenshin, forgive me but you'll never see her again...'

A tall guy with spiky gray hair walked slowly in the middle of the road. Sunglasses framed his handsome face and a basket filled with food was being held on his left arm while the other arm was stuck on his pocket. He stopped in front of a dojo and knocked. He waited for a while before a muffled 'Coming!' reached his ears from the other side. The door slowly opened. He smiled and watched as a female with shoulder-length dark hair beamed at him. His heart burst as she grinned shyly at him and beheld him to enter. He reluctantly followed her and they settled on the porch. He handed her the basket for which she eagerly accepted.

"Thank you. This is a lot of food!" she piped out.

"I bought them just for you. It'll make up for the weight you've lost!" the guy said matter-of-factly.

"Did I really? Oh well..."

"How are you feeling?" the male asked.

"I'm fine now, although I occasionally experience minor headaches." she answered back.

"Did you tell your cousin about this?"

"Yes but she told me it's quite normal. How about you, oh so high and mighty Enishi Yukishiro? What were you up to this past two days?"

"Oh nothing of importance. And please, call me Enishi, you're worthy enough to be granted the privilege of speaking my glorious name. When will your cousin be back?"

"Funny... Oh and Megume? I don't know... She didn't tell me anything other than she was called for an emergency in Edo."

Enishi furrowed his brows. "By whom?"

"Um, let me think, a... Saito Hajime. I believe it was him. He came here yesterday and she'd left almost immediately. She--"

Enishi abruptly stood up and stared at her wide-eyed. "D-did he see y--I mean were you able to meet him?"

"No, I haven't. I was at my room at the time tending a mind-boggling headache... A-are you okay?" she asked worriedly.

He let out a deep sigh and grinned nervously at her. "Of course! Don't worry, you know me, I tend to overreact on everything... Just ignore it please..." he waved animatedly in front of her.

She blinked a few times before smiling back herself. "If you say so... Anything else?"

"Oh yes, there is still another thing I have to tell you. Our dearest Miss Takani Megume has requested me to take good care of her lovely cousin while she's away. Is that okay?"

The woman blushed. and averted her eyes from his penetrating gaze. "I'm not a child anymore." she pouted.

"Enishi chuckled. "We know that but you're still recovering from your accident."

At this words, the woman's face fell and he felt like turning back time and erasing that he ever said that.

"I guess so... You have no idea how I'm feeling right now, Enishi. I'm just glad Megume and you are here to help because this is really pretty hard to bear." she wiped the tear that escaped her eye.

Enishi saw this and felt a pang of guilt arise from inside of him. 'Why did I do it? I shouldn't have done THAT...' He held the woman's hands on his own and smiled warmly at her. "It's okay... At least you still got us to help you in every step of the way. Hey! Let's start with a memory busting game, okay?" he watched him nod slowly at him. "Do you still remember your name? The one we told you last week. At least bear that one on your mind."

"Baka!" she playfully slapped his hands away. "Of course I do. You and Megume always nag me about it."

"Oh? Well let's see... What was it again?" Enishi coolly asked.

"Whatever... It's Tomoe, big guy, T-O-M-O-E."

"Very good... You're right, it's Tomoe..." Enishi sighed outwardly and smiled at her. "A beautiful name indeed..."

A/N: So there it is... What do you think? Do I need to erase this fic or do I better cancel my account now? Please review or e-mail me ( jaganro@yahoo.com )... I know that there are lots of good people out there... : ) Now click that review button... PLEASE... Questions are welcomed too!