Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Samurai Wives ❯ My Reflection ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter Eight- My Reflection

If I believed in a better future, did I believe that I would live in it? Did I believe that I'd just fade away like the past eras?

Kenshin stole a silent glance to the girl walking next to him. Her bounced step, the smile on her face as the wind took hold of her hair, while the sun shone on her, mottled with the shadows of trees, everything about her radiated joy. He turned away, scanning the forests around them.

What would I do if we ever can bring this to be? How would I get by? There wouldn't be any place for a swordsman anymore.

"You're quiet today."

He shook himself out of his reverie as she spoke softly to him. "I'm always quiet."

She placed her hands on her hips mockingly. "Not quiet like this."

He raised an eyebrow. "So? You're quiet today as well."

"You're rubbing off on me." She shot back.

"You know," He started. "It's going to be very difficult to convince people that you're my wife if you act like this."

She shrugged. "Would you rather I stay at the house?"

"If that's what you wanted, then you should have stayed there."

"I didn't ask what I wanted. I asked what you wanted. Don't you ever have opinions?"

"If I didn't, would I even be here?"

She mumbled something in reply, and tugged on the sleeves of her kimono. "Point taken." She paused, then looked up at him. "What do we need to get?"

"Rice, miso... the basics."

She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small bag, jangling it close to her ear. "Can I look around for something?"

His interrupted her gaze, which bored into her. "What is it?"

She smiled and tapped her finger on his cheek. "You'll just have to see, won't you?"

Kenshin scowled. "Whatever... just make sure that you're careful when talking to people."

"Understood." Her voice was meek and obedient, even though just as a joke.

A stab of pain wrenched through him, knowing that she should never sound submissive. "Don't sound like that." He choked out gruffly.

She blinked, then nodded. "O...okay." His tone implied something deeper to her, and she sighed. "We're almost there..." The feeling of awkwardness washed over her suddenly as the village came into view.

The same uncertainty from the night before filled her over, and she bit her lip.

"Let's go." He took a step toward the village, and she silenced herself. If she were to pass as his wife, then she would not be able to fight with him.

She kept herself quiet as he picked out the supplies they needed, introducing them whenever necessary as a newly married couple looking for a new life away from their own war-torn village. Finally, as he finished with the things they needed, she tugged on his gi. "Can I go now?"

He nodded, glancing carefully around them. "Where is it?"

"Just over here. Could you wait here?"

Stepping over to a small table, she scanned the surface of it quickly, then reached down and selected one of the items. Paying for it quickly and wrapping it, she hurried back to him. "Can we go home now?"

The words struck him in sudden realization. "H...home..." The words fell from his mouth before he could stop them. He had never, in all his memory, truly called any place home.

Slowly, mechanically, he nodded. "Let's go home."

((()))

Kaoru set the clean rice bowls back into the small wooden box by her feet.

"What did you buy today?" Kenshin's voice was quiet. The soft candlelight illuminated his face and made his hair glow eerily.

She smiled and reached over onto one of the tables, picking up her package. "I'll show you." Pressing it into his hands, she sat down next to him. "Open it."

He swallowed and opened it carefully, then found himself staring down into... himself.

"A mirror?"

She beamed.

"Wasn't this expensive?"

A wistful sigh slid through her lips. "It was... but it was so pretty... and I wanted to show you what you look like." Her smile was warm. "I want you to see what I see."

His calloused finger reached down and touched the cool glass. He had never, except in water, seen himself. The way his eyes had lightened into a cool violet, and the way his skin was a pale peach. His hair, dark like drying blood...

The ugly mark on his cheek.

He flinched and set it on the table, face down. "Thank you." His tone was curt.

She reached over the table and held it out to him. "Don't you see? Can't you see what I do? Can't you see the kindness, and the strength? You can't dwell on your faults!" She kneeled next to him, keeping the mirror held up to him. Her voice lowered. "Kenshin... you're not the monster you think you are. Don't think that you have to alienate yourself because you've been through it all."

His eyes widened as she stared into him with a mix of sadness and determination.

"You're not a monster." She set the mirror down and closed her hands on his cheeks. "You never were."

His heart raced, while his breathing became shallow. It was an unfamiliar feeling to him.

Is this... where my place would be?