Heart of a Sword

Part One

"Kenji, Where?"

I could start this story many ways... I could start it with the birth of one Himura Kenji, as that is where some would say his story begins. I could start it before then, with the fallout from Jinchuu that led to the wedding of Kenshin and Kaoru. I could tell about how Yutaro came back from Germany and turned the dojo on it's head with his fencing skills. I could include the many horrors that befell Kenshin, Yahiko, and Yutaro, not to mention anyone else that came too close, during Kaoru's pregnancy. Oh, yes. I could.

Instead, I'm starting it with... bad parenting. That's right.

They really need to keep a closer watch on that kid...

…

"Kenji!" Kaoru's voice was full of worry. "Himura Kenji, where are you?"

"Hey, Kenji!" Yahiko, too, had no luck finding the little guy.

Kenshin appeared the calmest out of the three of them, but it was plain that his rurouni face was only covering up the turmoil within him. "Kenji? You should come on out, that you should. It isn't funny..."

"Maybe he's gone to town by himself?" Yutaro suggested.

Kaoru frowned. "No. He knows better than that."

Kenshin sighed. "Perhaps we should go looking anyway, yes?"

Kaoru nodded. "I'll come too. Yahiko, Yutaro, you stay here in case he turns up. And come get us if he does."

Yahiko nodded, sitting down by the door to the dojo, sakabato pulled up to his chin much as Kenshin had often sat in the past. "See you guys later. I think I'll take a nap."

They both shot him the same warning glare, as did Yutaro. "You better not slack off," it said.

"Okay, I get it. No napping!"

Kenshin and Kaoru nodded, then went on to town.

"That boy, I swear..." Kaoru sighed. "He should know better than to scare us like this."

"I will have to have a talk with him, that I will."

…

Meanwhile, the boy in question was actually just outside of town, up a tree, crying. A passerby glanced up, saw him, and blinked in shock. "Oh, hello little boy! Do you need help?"

Kenji opened his eyes and stared at the stanger in absolute silence for a moment. Then he shook his head, folding his arms. "Kenji can get down, that I can."

The young man just smiled up at him. "Kenji, is it? Here, I'll help you." He used his staff to catch Kenji by the collar and picked him up.

Kenji looked relieved, though he was reluctant to show it.

"What's the matter, though? Why were you all the way up there?" The man asked.

Kenji huffed. "Kenji is not a sissy, no I'm not. Kenji was just proving that to the older boys from the other dojo. Only..." Kenji shook slightly, "Kenji is scared of heights... just a little, that I am."

"Oh," The man said. "I see. Well, why don't we get you home, Kenji? I'm sure your family's worried about you."

Kenji opened his mouth, staring at the guy again. The man laughed at his cuteness. Kenji smiled, too, and giggled, then said, "Kenji likes you, that I do. What's your name, sir?"

The man chuckled. "That's not so important for now. I'm just a wanderer."

…

Kenshin and Kaoru were, to say the least, shocked when they saw the young man coming down the street with Kenji by the hand. Kenji, meanwhile, was looking all around at anything that caught his attention, as usual. At the moment, it was a little blue butterfly going past. He giggled, and the man laughed. "Come along, Kenji."

Kenji caught sight of Kaoru, then, and ran to meet her open arms. "Mommy! Mommy, Kenji made a friend, that I did!"

"Did you, now?" Kenshin said, but his eyes were on the man, not Kenji. He smiled, and the man smiled back.

"Long time, no see, Mr. Himura."

"It has been a while, Sojiro. It has."

"You look well," Kaoru smiled at him. "Would you like to stay the night?"

Sojiro smiled. "That would be wonderful. Your son, by the way, is a nice boy. You have to keep a close eye on him, though, don't you?"

"Oro..." Kenshin sighed.

"Oh, yes," Kaoru agreed. "He's quite a handful."

…

That night, Kenshin stayed up to speak with Sojiro. Kenji fell asleep quite quickly, allowing the men to talk in peace.

"So, how's the wandering going?" Kenshin asked. "Have you found your answer yet?"

Sojiro smiled. "I've been wandering for only seven years, Mr. Himura. I still have three years left to go. But..." He looked up at the moon. "I have begun to see things my own way. I know Shishio was wrong. The weak... They don't deserve to die. In fact, they show remarkable strength at the strangest of times. Besides..." He looked down. "Everyone starts out weak, don't they? Children are weak, but they grow stronger. Kenji, for example. I can see he'll be strong someday. As strong as you or Kauru-san."

Kenshin smiled. "No. He will surpass both of us."

Sojiro nodded, smiling. He could believe it.

Kenshin motioned for Sojiro to follow him. He quietly opened the door to Kenji's room, the light spilling in across the floor onto his peaceful face.

"He's very cute," Sojiro whispered. "So innocent."

Kenshin nodded. "He's a bundle of energy when he's awake... But when he's out, he's out like a rock, that he is."

Sojiro laughed. "Lucky for you."

Kenshin chuckled. "For now, yes. Hopefully someday he'll hone his senses better, but for now..." Here he smiled at his sleeping son. "For now, let him be."

…

The next day at dawn, Kenshin walked Sojiro to the edge of town and said his farewell. When he came home again, Kaoru was waiting, Kenji beside her.

"Did uncle Sojiro go away?" Kenji asked.

Kenshin nodded, looking back towards the horizon. "...Yes, but I'm sure we'll see him again, that we will."

Kenji smiled. "That we will."

...

Author: So, this is my version of Kenji fluff. Ten chapters of it, if things go as planned. Seriously, though, this is a lead-in to something more serious, if it goes over well. Reviews would be appreciated!

Also, in this Kenji would be about five.