Heart of a Sword: Ch. 2

"Clumsy Kenji!"

…

It was one of Kenji's favorite passtimes to play with the other children around town. Most everyone knew him in these parts, and so long as his parents were in town shopping or the like they gave him rather free reign. Kenshin could, after all, be there to help in a moment's notice if he sensed danger.

This day, Kenji was playing with fellow students of the Kamiya Kasshin while being watched by Yahiko, Yutaro, and Tsubame, who were all quietly sipping tea and chuckling at the younger kids and their shenanigans.

"Hey, Kenji!" One, by the name of Taro, said. "Can you do this?"

Kenji watched as Taro jumped, ran along the top of a low fence, and fliped when he reached the end, landing on his feet like a cat. Kenji was impressed.

"Kenji can do that, that I can!" Kenji beamed.

Yahiko and Yutaro shared a glance, then burst out laughing. They knew better than that.

Kenji frowned at them. "What is it, Yahiko-sensei, Yutaro-sensei? You don't think Kenji can do it, that you don't. Kenji will show both of you, that I will!"

Kenji leapt up onto the fence. The boy could actually jump very high, a feat that surprised people all the time, considering his age and stature. That is, everyone except those who'd seen his father in action and knew where he'd gotten it from.

However, Kenji was also... well...

"Oro!" Kenji shouted as the fence gave under him. (He could blame it on bad luck, since it had held the other, older boy who was much bigger than him without a problem.) Unfortunately, there was also a little stream right by the fence, and he fell right in.

Luckily, though, the stream was quite shallow, and he could sit up in it. Kenji was, however, thourougly soaked.

Kenji started crying.

Yahiko, Yutaro, and Tsubame all ran over, as did Taro and the other boy, Ota.

"Kenji, it's okay. You're not hurt." Yutaro said, offering his good arm for Kenji to grab onto.

Kenji took it, sniffling. "No, but Kenji's all wet, that I am."

By now, Kenshin and Kaoru had joined the group, looking rather bemused. It wasn't a rare occurance for Kenji to get into some kind of odd situation, though, so they'd gotten used to it.

"I'd say he's still wet behind the ears," Yahiko said, laughing.

Kenji only frowned cutely at Yahiko, tears welling up in his eyes.

Then Kaoru picked him up, patting him on the back. "There, there."

"No tears," Kenshin said, eyes closed in a calm manner, as he smiled faintly and held up a finger in the manner he often used to chide his son.

Kenji just looked at Kenshin with big, teary eyes that never failed to melt the old warrior's heart. Kenshin sighed and rubbed Kenji's head softly. "Come on, we should get you out of those wet clothes, that we should."

And with that, the Himuras went back to the Kamiya dojo, though Yahiko and Yutaro hung back with Tsubame and the boys a while longer.

…

Back at the dojo, Kaoru had gone a step further, and heated a bath for Kenji as well, as the boy had been shivering by the time they'd come home.

Kenshin, meanwhile, was working on the laundry. He usually did it earlier in the day, but since they'd had errands to run he'd only started later. He was humming to himself when Kenji ran along the floor, wearing new clothes... And with a towel over his head.

"Daddy, Daddy, stop Mommy! Kenji wants Daddy to make dinner, that I do!"

"Oh, dear..." Kenshin sighed, wincing as Kenji slipped and fell right into the laundry tub. When Kenji popped his head up out of the laundry, white bubbles covered his red hair like snow and the two of them shared a glance before bursting into laughter. Kenji's sweet, bubbly giggles only made Kenshin laugh even harder.

Kaoru walked over to them, shaking her head, but smiling.

Kenshin pulled himself together and picked Kenji up out of the water. "Kenji, you should watch where you're going, that you should..."

"And all this because he thinks I'm a bad cook." Kaoru now had her "boo hoo" face on. Kenshin sighed and tried to reassure her, but she wouldn't have any of it.

Finally Kenshin sighed and sent Kenji to go get fresh clothes (again) as he went to the kitchen to "help" Kaoru with dinner. It was a compromise Kenji was willing to accept.

The boy himself had made a habit of staying out of the kitchen while dinner was being prepared, no matter who was cooking, after several "incidents" in the past. Better to avoid it all together.

…

That night, as Kenshin tucked Kenji into bed, Kenji smiled bashfully and said, "Kenji's sorry I was so clumsy today, that I am."

"It's okay," Kenshin chuckled, messing up Kenji's hair. The boy wore it down at night, making him look even more like a girl than usual, but Kenshin and Kaoru thought it was adorable. "You'll grow out of it, I'm sure. You have the makings of a great and talented swordsman in you... You just need to realize how to use the skills you have, that you do."

Kenji smiled, snuggling up under the covers. "Night, Daddy. Kenji loves you."

Kenshin smiled, kissing Kenji gently on the forehead. "And Daddy loves you."

He stood up and went over to the doorway, light from the hall spilling into Kenji's room, Kenshin's shadow falling over the little boy's small form. He stood there, a wistful look in his eyes until the boy fell asleep. Then Kenshin smiled, even as Kaoru came up behind him, putting an arm around his shoulders.

"Ah, parenting," Kenshin sighed.

Kaoru smiled up at him. "Exhausting, isn't it? I think it's time we get to sleep, too."

"Yes," Kenshin agreed. "That it is."

He closed the door gently, without making a sound, and Kenji smiled in his sleep, blessed with sweet dreams despite the events of the day.