Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
"Kenshin..." Yahiko said one day, out of nowhere, "Why do you sleep sitting up? And with your sword? Isn't that uncomfortable?"
Kenshin had looked up and smiled when Yahiko had called his name, but at the word 'sleep' his face had fallen. Just a fraction of an inch. In a split second the smile was back. He cheerfully resumed the laundry as he made up an answer.
"This one slept in a very small space with many other soldiers and being... slighter... was often the one made to sleep sitting up."
"Huh. You'd think that with your skills they'd give you any place you wanted."
"One would think," Kenshin chuckled fakely.
Yahiko didn't see through it.
Kenshin was very glad.
He didn't want to explain to the child that it was because he still, even now, couldn't let go of the sword. That he hardly slept. That when he tried to sleep lying down the nightmares were worse, and he felt like he was drowning in the blood of the men he had killed.
Just a little white lie, soaked in blood.