Part 5: Hiroe's Story
Sanosuke, overjoyed at the good news, ran into the room with the young
girl lying on the floor. Yahiko quickly followed, curious to find out
who this girl was. Megumi sighed, leaning against the wall. She saw
the sun heading toward the western sky.
"Goodness! Genzai-sensei going to kill me! I was supposed to be
back at the clinic ages ago!" she said in exasperation. "I
have to go, Ken-san, Kaoru. I'll return in the morning to check on Hiroe,
but she looks like she'll be fine."
Megumi gathered her belongings and ran out of the Dojo, hastily saying
her good-byes to the others. When Kenshin and Kaoru walked into the
room, they were surprised to see Sanosuke holding Hiroe's hand in utter
concern. Yahiko had introduced himself and inquired about her health,
but aside from that, Hiroe had not much more to say to him. The girl
was strong enough to even stand, to the surprise of everyone.
"Hiroe," Kaoru smiled. "Welcome to the Kamiya Dojo.
We know you've had a hard time, but I'd like it if you stayed for a
while."
"I don't really have anywhere to go," Hiroe said softly.
Such a shame, Kaoru thought. Her entire family, gone. She certainly
knew what it felt to be alone.
"Well, we're here to help make things easier on you. You've just
got to give us a little trust, and we'll go from there. Okay?"
They seemed nice enough, Hiroe thought. That lady. . .Megumi, was it?.
. .tended to her wounds and gave her something to bring back her energy.
And Sanosuke. . .he was the most surprising of all. He appeared to be
such a gruff character, but he was really a caring man.
"Okay," Hiroe agreed slowly, rationalizing that if they were
friends of Sanosuke, they could be trusted as well. Belatedly, Kenshin
realized the time of the day, and that there was nothing to eat in the
house.
"Yahiko! You have to go and get us some tofu for tonight,"
he said, patting his back.
"Me?!" Yahiko balked. He wanted to stay around and find out
more. The look on Kenshin's face told him to don't even THINK of backing
out of it. "Okay, okay. I'll get it."
While Yahiko ran off into town to get some tofu, Kenshin declared he
was going to start cooking. He would find out more from Hiroe about
Ryutaro Matsumoto, if she knew anything at all, after they ate. Hiroe
looked famished. In the meantime, Kaoru and Sanosuke kept Hiroe company
while Kenshin cooked.
"Hiroe, tell us about yourself," Kaoru inquired, leading
her outside to the steps for some fresh air. Sanosuke reluctantly followed.
Hiroe looked into Kaoru's eyes. She seemed like a nice enough lady,
but Hiroe was cautious about letting them know anything intimate about
herself. However, it wouldn't hurt to soften up a bit.
"What do you want to know?" she asked in a low apprehensive
voice. Immediately sensing her apprehension, Sanosuke and Kaoru looked
at each other.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to, Hiroe. We
just want to know you a little better," Kaoru replied. "Sometimes
it's better if you talk about it. ."
The look on Hiroe's face spoke volumes. Suddenly, she began to tell
them some basic information. "My name is Hiroe Takano. I'm twelve,"
she began, sighing audibly. "I'm the eldest in my family. My father
always said I was the "most responsible". . ." Hiroe
closed her eyes a moment. She could see the faces of her brothers and
sisters. . .her parents. . .
Kaoru knew she was reminiscing of her family. Perhaps it would be better
if they talked about something less emotionally caustic.
"Hey, why don't I tell you about us? You should know more about
the people you'll be staying with," Kaoru smiled softly, laying
a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Willingly, Hiroe sat and listened to the whole story of how Kaoru's
father had died, how they all came to be one big "happy" family,
as well as what she taught at the Dojo. When Kaoru revealed herself
as the master of Kamiya Katsushin Ryu, Hiroe's interest peaked.
"So you teach it here? To whom?" Hiroe asked politely, after
Kaoru had stopped speaking.
"Well, I only have one active student right now. You met him briefly
before. His name's Yahiko," Kaoru said, chuckling to herself.
"I have learned to fight before," Hiroe declared after a
long pause.
"You HAVE?!" Kaoru and Sanosuke asked in shock and unison.
"Yes, but it has been a long time since I've even practiced it.
About four years to be exact," she sighed. The scent of something
cooking drifted about her. Food would be good, she thought, her stomach
grumbling loudly.
"Why did you stop?" Kaoru asked. "My mother wanted me
to. She kept saying we were in a time of peace. To continue sword-fighting
and practicing my Budo was a waste of time. She said I should be focusing
on having a family soon," Hiroe's voice faltered on the word "family".
Her mother sounds a lot like so many people in this day and age, Kaoru
thought. They just want to live their lives peacefully. She noticed
that Sanosuke sat a little closer to Hiroe each time a painful memory
of her departed family arose. He really was attached to her! This was
new for Kaoru, seeing Sanosuke's more sensitive side out for this long
a period of time. Hiroe's face took on a determined look.
"This may be a time of peace, but there has been no peace for
my family. None," she muttered. "I'll relearn all those skills
I lost from lack of practice. . .can you help me?"
She looked at both of them. What could they do? Help her embrace revenge
or watch her kill herself, as that was the only choice left for a girl
like Hiroe in her situation.
"Hiroe," Kaoru knelt before her, saying, "we know you
want revenge. But you alone cannot defeat a Hitokiri like Matsumoto."
"Either I fight for vengeance or I DIE! There are no other choices!"
she shouted vehemently.
"Don't be STUPID, Hiroe!" Sanosuke balked at her careless
attitude. "Do you think it's THAT simple now? No. . .it's more
complicated than you realize and killing yourself should not be a choice.
All of us are here fighting now just for you, but for all of Japan.
This bastard Matsumoto is out for war. WAR, Hiroe. . .so think before
you say any more," Sanosuke shook his head in disapproval. As if
he couldn't take any more, he stood, heading in the general direction
of the kitchen.
"Kaoru-san," Hiroe said, looking at Sanosuke's back. "Did
I really upset him that much?" Kaoru laid a hand on her back, urging
her to rise.
"Sanosuke's right, you know. Things are more complicated, and
if you want to relearn your Budo, then you'll have to eliminate all
plans of revenge. In the end, that is what will defeat you, Hiroe. You
can't allow yourself to be consumed with anger."
"Will you teach me your Kamiya Katsushin Ryu?" Hiroe asked
abruptly.
From the corner of Kaoru's eye, she saw Yahiko enter the house from
another entrance by the kitchen. Dinner would be ready soon.
"I will teach you, but ONLY if you give up this quest for revenge,"
Kaoru pointed out. Hiroe stopped to think about it. Could she really
give it up? Is that what her father would want? What would he say. .
.
<FLASHBACK START>
"Father. . .why are you making this gun for the government?
That thing can kill so many people," Hiroe pointed to the machine
in front of her.
"Hiroe," her father Kenichi began, embracing his daughter's
shoulders. "I only do this for Japan. To protect us from outside
harm. I do this because I've seen what war can be like, and hopefully,
this gun," he put his right hand on the base, " will be just
a symbol and warning. I don't want you to be caught in this. . .I just
want you to live a peaceful life. . . ."
<FLASHBACK OVER>
"I will put it aside, Kaoru-san. I promise."
"Good," a satisfied Kaoru said, smiling. "We start tonight
after dinner. Yahiko will join us."
The night sky was upon them, and so was the evening meal. Kenshin was
utterly exhausted with cooking this particular night because he was
cooking for nine people tonight. Genzai-sensei was sure to stop by to
get Ayame and Suzume, as well as his meal for the night. It was possible
that Megumi would stop by, although she said she would check on Hiroe
in the morning.
As the meal was being laid out, Yahiko was taking a closer look at
Hiroe. She was so pretty, he thought. Immediately, guilt wracked his
brain as he realized his love, Tsubame. He smiled to himself, then attempted
to introduce himself once again.
"You're looking a lot better. . .Hiroe, is it?" Yahiko knew
her name, but he wanted the confirmation from her mouth. Hiroe simply
nodded a confirmation and thanks. Part of her wanted to say something
to him, but he would find out soon enough. Silently, they moved together
around the table to eat.
Sanosuke was talking to Kenshin as they came into the room.
". . .so I think that might be the best way. What do you think,
Kenshin?" Sanosuke asked.
"Maybe, Sano. It's been a long time. I don't know how much he's
changed. His whole technique might be different now. I can't underestimate
him," Kenshin said solemnly, holding out a pot to be set on the
table.
Kaoru overheard the last parts of their conversation. Kenshin was probably
telling Sanosuke about Matsumoto. The more Kaoru thought of it, she
had to wonder if there was something more to this than just Hiroe. It
couldn't be just that alone. And it wasn't just about finishing a fight
from Bakumatsu (just before Meiji).
"This all looks so wonderful!" Hiroe exclaimed. She beheld
the great delights Kenshin had to offer. From traditional rice to some
Western delights, it was a well rounded meal they all would enjoy. Yahiko
was salivating over all of the food.
"Kenshin! How'd you make all this so fast?" he asked in an
amazed voice.
He just smiled, then called out to everyone, "Let's eat!"
(OK, pause here readers. I will not forsake Yahiko his "Itadakimasu!",
so I will leave that in as true Japanese in this whole script. Any food
scene would be naked without it. . .ok, back to the story. . . ^_^x
)
"Itadakimasu!" Yahiko held up his chopsticks in a ready,
set, go! motion. Ayame and Suzume jumped up, shouting the same phrase
as Yahiko, then proceeded to eat their fill.
Before anyone could put a dent in their meal, Yahiko was asking for
more. Reluctantly, Kaoru offered him some more.
"Greedy little brat. . ." Kaoru muttered to herself. "Gluttony
is a bad trait, Yahiko!"
"Whatever, UGLY!" he made an equally bratty gesture to Kaoru.
"Why you little--" Kaoru put down her chopsticks, preparing
to give Yahiko a swift kick in the rear, until she heard Hiroe's melodic
laughter.
The sound of Hiroe's laughter surprised everyone in the room. She certainly
was enjoying the uncanny adventures of Kaoru and Yahiko. She put down
her chopsticks to speak, remembering something from her past.
"You two remind me of my brother and sister, Keisuke and Megumi.
They always fought over silly things. I used to think they were so silly,
but when I see you two, I remember how much I loved to laugh along with
them," Hiroe said wistfully.
Everyone smiled. At least they could finally bring a smile to Hiroe's
face, no matter what memory it brought back. For good measure, Kaoru
gave Yahiko's head a swift, unannounced bang on the head.
"And if you say you want more ONE MORE TIME. . ." she said
in warning, leaving the threat unfinished.
Kenshin laughed along with everyone. The time for relaxing would be
now, because later, there would be no room for it. He realized that
the time had come for him to find out more about Ryutaro Matsumoto.
It seemed the only person in recent times to get to know him somewhat
personally was Hiroe. Know the man, Kenshin thought, and I'll know how
to face him.
"Himura-san," Hiroe looked at Kenshin, her voice soft. "I'm
sorry about the way I reacted to you when we first met. I didn't know."
"It's no problem. It happens sometimes," Kenshin smiled at
her.
After eating a considerable amount of the food, everyone sighed audibly.
"That was AMAZING, Kenshin! I'm wondering now. . ." Kaoru
said, putting down her chopsticks. "How DID you cook all that so
fast?"
"Well. .it wasn't all me. ." he admitted sheepishly. In mid-bite,
Sanosuke turned to Kenshin and asked in a muffled voice, "Who made
all this?"
"Tae-dono."
"TAE-SAN?!" everyone except Hiroe exclaimed. Hiroe's expression
was one of shock. Kenshin chuckled to himself. It was food prepared
earlier that day for Kaoru's proposal. Good thing she made all that
food. It was JUST enough, Kenshin thought.
"I knew it tasted like Akabeko food. . ." Sanosuke muttered,
slurping his last noodle.
At that moment, Genzai-sensei walked into the room with a big white
box in his hand.
"Evening everyone!" Genzai-sensei introduced himself to Hiroe,
then handed Kenshin the box. "You left it at the clinic early this
morning. I guess things got busy for you today," he said smiling
mysteriously.
After Ayame and Suzume greeted him with shouts of longing and love,
Genzai-sensei disappeared into the kitchen, presumably getting his meal
to go.
"What's in the box, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked curiously. She
soon realized that everyone was looking at her again, like they did
that morning.
"Well, it's something for you. Here --" Kenshin said, pushing
it in her direction. "Open it."
Kaoru lifted the cover of the box to reveal the most magnificent kimono
she'd ever laid eyes on. It was made of a very smooth material she had
never seen before, it was extremely long, but she knew it would fit
her perfectly. Its lush whiteness would make her look wonderful.
"Oh, Kenshin. . ." Kaoru stood, holding the kimono against
her body, posing. She couldn't help but notice Hiroe's wondrous look.
"This is beautiful!"
Kenshin had never seen Kaoru so vivid and beautiful as he did just
then. He desperately wanted to see Kaoru in it. He could carry it with
him as he fought the next day.
"Try it on, Kaoru-dono! I'd like to see how it looks on you."
"Ahh!" she chuckled, turning to Hiroe. "Hiroe-san, would
you come with me and help?" Hiroe unconsciously looked at Sanosuke.
Her security blanket, she realized. Sanosuke smiled at her softly. She
would go.
"Sure. ." The two ladies disappeared into another room, while
Kenshin, Sanosuke and Yahiko waited for them to return.
"Kenshin. . " Yahiko hesitated, looking at him with his eyebrow
arched.
"Yahiko. . .what is it?" he asked, eating the last of his
noodles.
"I have the strangest feeling I know Hiroe from somewhere before.
. ." he replied, scratching his head. He couldn't recall where
he'd met her, but Yahiko was now sure that he knew Hiroe.
"From where?" Sanosuke asked, before Kenshin could speak.
"You've been on your own for a long time. It must be from when
you were younger."
"Yeah, I guess so," he said. Minutes later, Kaoru returned
to the eating area. Barefoot, she showed off her new kimono. Her hair
was quickly piled on top of her head in an elegant design.
"Wow, Kaoru. . ." Yahiko said, his mouth agape. The two other
men in the room shared his same sentiments. She was absolutely gorgeous.
"Your hair. . ." Kenshin said, preparing to stand. He noticed
Hiroe was blushing slightly. "You did it, Hiroe-dono?" She
nodded, smiling at Kenshin, then at Kaoru.
"It reminds me of my sister when she got married. She showed me
how to do it many times, so it's really easy for me to do it now."
Hiroe returned to her place at the table, sighing softly. Kaoru realized
how much the evening meal had revealed about Hiroe. It was so sad that
her family was killed like that. Kenshin would resolve this matter quickly.
She had faith.
"I should get out of this! I don't want it to get messed up. ."
Kaoru bent to kiss Kenshin on the cheek. "Thank you, Kenshin. I'll
always remember this. ." She quickly ran back inside to change
into her training clothes.
Kenshin turned to Hiroe. It was time to talk about Matsumoto.
"We need to talk now, Hiroe-dono. I need to know about Ryutaro
Matsumoto." Hiroe gasped to herself. Every time she heard that
name, a cold shiver swept through her body. That name would forever
be associated with her family's death. Nothing could change that. Her
eyes turned cold, making Kenshin realize how difficult this conversation
would be.
When Kaoru returned, she noticed the change in moods. "Yahiko!
Help me clear all this," she pointed to the table. Yahiko nodded,
staring at Hiroe for a quick moment, then leaving with several dishes
in his hands.
Only Sanosuke, Kenshin and Hiroe remained in the room. Hiroe sat across
from them both, preparing herself to bare the secret of the gun her
father created, and why Matsumoto was after her.
"Where should I begin? There's just so much," Hiroe asked
softly.
Kenshin and Sanosuke looked at each other. Should we really do this
to her?, they asked each other silently. Unfortunately, they had to.
There was no other way. She was the only one that knew anything.
"From the beginning," Kenshin said. "How does Matsumoto
know you?"
Hiroe began her long and windy story of her parents, while the two
men remained quiet, listening. Before Hiroe was born, her mother was
in love with Ryutaro Matsumoto. They were together for nearly a year,
until she found out his past, which he kept a secret from her. Feeling
she could no longer trust him, she left Matsumoto, and within weeks,
found herself in love with Hiroe's father Kenichi.
"My mother told me that's when all the threats started,"
Hiroe whispered, remembering her mother's story. "He didn't want
to lose to my father because he thought my mother was his only hope
for salvation."
"Salvation?" Kenshin thought aloud. He suddenly realized
what Matsumoto's motive was. "He wanted to live a normal life with
your mother. . . but it didn't work out --"
"-- and he was bitter about it. ." Sanosuke finished Kenshin's
sentence.
She nodded, then continued slowly. Matsumoto challenged her father
to a duel, but at the day of the duel, her mother stopped the two from
fighting by making her feelings known to them both. In the end, she
chose Kenichi over Ryutaro.
"Then he suddenly disappeared after that day," Hiroe said,
pausing a moment before continuing, "until now."
Sanosuke sat up, leaning forward toward Hiroe. "Then how'd he
know about the gun your father was making?"
"He didn't."
"What?!" they said in unison. Matsumoto must have WALKED
into the opportunity. Unbelievable, they thought.
"He brought his men to torture my father for the last few years
of his life," Hiroe said, quoting the words she heard from Matsumoto
himself. "They . . ."
Hiroe faltered on her words. Her voice was weak and so was her heart.
After the day she had been through, what Kenshin and Sanosuke were doing
was wrong. They knew it, but. . .
"Matsumoto wanted no reminders of the love he tried to have. .
. .he tortured my father. . . .strangled my brothers. . . ..raped and
killed my sisters. . . " she choked on the words as they came tumbling
out of her.
"Hiroe-dono. . ." Kenshin said, taking her hand in his. "That's
enough. You don't need to say any more. I won't press you."
Tears came flowing out of eyes like a broken dam. She ran around the
table into the arms of Sanosuke, who embraced her tightly. He looked
up at Kenshin with a muted look on his face. In resignation, Kenshin
shook his head in disbelief at the horrors Hiroe had experienced. He
put a hand on Sanosuke's shoulder, then turned to leave the room.
Kenshin walked slowly through the hallway, passing the kitchen. Kaoru
saw him pass by and ran to the doorway.
"Ken. . ." she started to say, but from the way his body
was slumped, something terribly serious had happened in there with Hiroe.
It was better to leave Kenshin alone for the time being, Kaoru decided.
"Hey, Kaoru! Was that Kenshin that just passed by?" Yahiko
asked, fingering his bamboo absentmindedly.
"It was him, but he seemed preoccupied. Whatever Hiroe said in
there, really is making him think. Let's leave him alone for now,"
Kaoru declared.
Yahiko silently agreed. He had his own past to face regarding Hiroe,
but that could be put off to a later time. They had more important things
to worry about in the next day. They needed to practice and prepare
for whatever may happen.
"I'm going to start practicing, Kaoru. I'll be inside," Yahiko
walked ahead of Kaoru, turning through the training hall doors.
Kaoru wanted to know what happened in that room. Sanosuke had to be
in there still. He was probably consoling Hiroe. She knocked twice,
then entered to find Sanosuke still embracing Hiroe. Upon seeing Kaoru,
Sanosuke stood, bring Hiroe with him.
"Calm down, Hiroe. Kaoru will take care of you for now. I have
to go home," he told her.
"But I thought you lived here!" Hiroe's eyes were fixated
on Sanosuke. "I spend most of my time here, but I don't live here.
I'll be back in the morning, don't worry," he said, brushing his
hand over her hair gently.
Sanosuke walked away from Hiroe slowly. He had a feeling she would
follow him, but he wanted to test her. As he passed Kaoru, he said shortly,
"Good luck, Jo-chan." Hiroe took a couple of steps forward,
but remained silent. Moments later, Sanosuke disappeared behind closed
doors.
"We're going to start practicing, if you're still up to it, Hiroe,"
Kaoru invited.
Hiroe nodded, slowing remembering her deal with Kaoru. The practice
would be good for her. It would help her get her mind of her worries
and problems, at least for a little while, she thought. She was about
to remind Yahiko with her technique, where they knew each other from.
At least some memories are more happy than others. Practice was good.
. .
"Let's do it, Kaoru-san," Hiroe said softly, allowing Kaoru
to lead the way to the training hall. As the doors opened up, Hiroe
was witness to Yahiko's fighting style. Suddenly, he stopped moving,
his eyes catching hers. Hiroe gasped in shock, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
He remembered. . . .
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