Tales of a Wandering Warrior [Part two/Protecting the Innocent] By: Kazeki Ryo Finally he's asleep... Poor guy, such a waste for him to lose so many friends like that... he's got no family, no one to call friend, no more money to keep on going... Sometimes I wish that things like this never existed... But, he's so much like me... But I know that he's had a harder life... I lost my family when I was just a baby, but he lost his when he had enough intelligience to make out what was happening all around him. He knew what was happening to his closest friends and relatives but he couldn't stop himself... What a waste... I reach out to brush away some strands of hair that covered his eyes, I felt his soft breath on my fingers, his warmth underneath my touch. I reached out to touch his face, I wanted to know how it felt like. Every beat of his heart I felt when my fingers brushed against his temples, every strand of hair brushing up against my skin. I reach out with my other hand to feel his chest but stop abruptly when Ryo started stirring. Yahiko, what are you doing?! I pulled my hand back and moved quickly back into my futon. What? What am I doing? Yahiko, get a hold of yourself! He's a guy and you're a guy, that's it! Now just get back into dreamland and stop thinking about his smooth, muscular... Shit... There I go again... Must get some sleep... * * * Maybe it's just my imagination but I thought I felt Yahiko touch my face... It couldn't be anyone else, they're all fast asleep. But, why? Little Yahiko... Come to think of it... I don't see any reason for me not to do the same to you... You look so relaxed in that state of sleep, it makes me envy you... despite the times that I tried to forget what I did to my own family, I just can't ignore the fact that I did something as horrible as that. "Yahiko-chan... Sweet dreams..." I press my lips softly on his forehead and return to my futon. Poor guy... Even though he has a new family now that doesn't take away the fact that he lost his real family. Hope he turns out better than me... * * * Ugh... Morning already? How can this be possible? I haven't had a good night's sleep yet! Oh hell, might as well get up and help with the chores... I walk out of my room that directly faced Kaoru-dono's garden. I woke up to see Kensihn doing the laundry, surrounded by two young girls. "Uhh, Kenshin...? Shouldn't Kaoru-dono be doing that?" Kenshin chuckled softly and faced me with those dark purple eyes of his, with that natural twinkle that made them shine so unearthly yet so beautiful. "Obviously you aren't used to this dojo yet, are you? Ryo, Kaoru's busy trying to keep this dojo alive, I just want to help out however I can." "Ohh... I guess I should help you guys out in any way I can as well. I'll cook lunch for us, if that's completely fine with you?" "Really? Thank you, it'll be a big help if you could do that." "Sure, Ken-san. I'll start right away." "Are you going to town to buy the ingredients? You don't need to do that, there is enough food in the kitchen. You can start later, it's too early to have lunch yet." "Hai, Himura-san." I walked back near my room, just keeping the door open for some light to creep in. I picked up several pieces of paper that was kept in a pile some feet away from my futon and began to draw with a small piece of charcoal that I kept in the pocket of my Hakama. Scenes that I remembered faintly from my travels... Fields, waterfalls, forestry... Anything that I could remember, but strangely enough, there was always something different about the scenes. A boy was always present when I drew. His foreign clothes still tugged at my mind. His kind manner, his talent for music, everything that I could remember about him flocked my brain... I softly whispered his name through my choked voice. "Charles..." I set the piece of paper down and began to sob silently, as if to wash away the painful memories that he had given me then. Memories of happiness, memories of harshness, memories that I wished never returned but still did. I stopped when I heard the sound of footsteps outside my room and I saw Yahiko looking at me, confused and surprised. I turned my eyes away from him and looked downwards, trying to elude the looks that he would give me, all in vain. Yahiko placed his hand on my shoulder and softly asked me. "Is there something you want to talk about...?" Maybe I did want to talk about it, to let all my feelings out of my body and just let someone help me to get through it. Maybe that's all that I need to forget about him? "Yahiko... I have something that I'd like to tell you..." * * * "Ryo... I, I'm so sorry..." Yahiko sputtered as he tried to make right what I have just dictated. It must be really shocking, for a kid like him, to hear of what I did... and of what I am... "Yahiko-chan... That's how it is. I'm different from you guys... Please, please don't hate me for what I am... please... Don't..." "Ryo, do I look like someone that shallow? Do I look like someone capable of doing something so heartless? Of course I don't hate you, and Ryo... I think I understand you." "Ne? What do you mean?" Yahiko answered me by covering my mouth with his and moving his tongue alongside mine. I pulled back in shock but found that he wasn't going to quit just yet. I let myself go in the feeling and just let him play with me, the way I used to play with Charles... My mind raced with all these feelings, all these emotions, but all were immediately destroyed upon hearing a voice from the door. "Oh my god... You, You bastard! I knew Kaoru shouldn't have let you come in this dojo! You freakin' pervert!" I looked up to see an angry Mizumo glaring at me, this time, with a stare that only a hitokiri from the Bakumatsu would give his opponent. Yahiko fell back as he was surprised by Mizumo's sudden entrance to the scene. "Mizumo, wait! I, I can explain!" "Explain what you did to Ototo!" Mizumo quickly unsheathed the two swords that acted as her wazikashi and, in an extremely quick movement, dissapeared in a blur of speed. I saw her movements fast enough and evaded just in time as she struck, missing me but not missing my hakama as her katana tore off part of the cloth. While I was still in the air, she quickly jumped up after me, katanas in hand, striking me down with the hilt of her blade. I fell to the floor while destroying part of the flooring. I shook my head and looked up to see Mizumo put her katana on my neck, the edge just barely grazing the skin and in any moment, she could render me lifeless... "Mizumo-san... Please, don't hurt Ryo... I was the one that kissed him first, if anyone's to blame, it's me... Please Mizumo-san..." Mizumo felt a slight tug at her pant leg and she looked down to see Yahiko sobbing, and on his knees... "Yahiko-chan... You, did what? I didn't think..." "Mizumo-san, if I was in Ryo's place, would you attack me like that as well? Would you?" "Ototo... I'm sorry... Ryo, gomennasai..." With this Mizumo left the room, a gloomy air hovered above her presence. I shouldn't have done something like that with Yahiko... He's far too young, he won't understand what happens in the future, I don't want him to live the desolate life that I lead. Living without friends, living in a world of isolation... It hurts, it hurts so much but I can't deny the truth, can I? Mizumo... So that's why you didn't like me in the first place... Is it the fact that you knew what I was the very first time you laid your eyes on me? Is that why you didn't like me? Is that the reason why you hate me? I'm sorry, Mizumo-san... * * * Ryo, I know how it feels to be mistaken for someone else. I know that it's awkward feeling so alone... I had no family until Kenshin and Jo-chan took me in, that's when I knew the comfort of a family. I... I know how you feel and I know that it must hurt... But, please, don't take your sadness out on Yahiko and seek refuge with him. He's like a brother to me, I don't think I can do much but please, try not to do it again... "Mizumo-san?" A voice rang in the back of her head. That same voice that she heard when she sent that body spiraling to the floor in a drop to death. But this time, it called my name... "Kazeki-kun... What is it...?" "Mizumo-san... I... I'm sorry. I know what I did was wrong but... I didn't want to, I didn't think I would. I didn't think that I could... I know that Yahiko is just probably confused. He doesn't understand how he's feeling, and neither do I. I hope you understand... Gomennasai..." I heard his soft footsteps as he backed away from me, going away, going his seperate way... Please, Ryo... I didn't mean anything, I just wanted to protect him... I just wanted to keep him innocent... * * * "Kaoru-dono, I'm leaving the dojo..." The words dropped from my mouth like hot coal from my hands. Kaoru turned to look at me and I could see the questions in her eyes before she even said them. I can't stay here... Not after what I did... "Kaoru... Please, no questions..." I turned my back and stepped out from the room, leaving only Kaoru in the room and the thoughts that I had already implanted... * * * "Ryo-chan!" It didn't take me long to recognize that voice. It had already began to haunt me, ever since I left her alone in that room. "... I have nothing to say." "But I do, Ryo! Where do you think you're going? Where are you going to sleep? Where are you going to eat?" "I don't know... I'll think about it, maybe... Bye..." Out of the gate, out of her sight, hoping to be out of her life... Hoping... * * * [End of Part two/Protecting the Innocent]