Next chappie! Kenshin and Kenji's talk! (if you could call it a talk)

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Kenji sat up in the cherry trees that stood on the riverbank. He was not ready to go back yet. Not after that.

"Why?" he cried. "Why can't I make him happy? Nothing I do satisfies him! He doesn't understand anything."

"I could understand if you told me, Kenji, that I could."

Kenji frowned, turning away from his father's gaze, who looked up from the ground into Kenji's hiding place. "What are you doing here? I don't want to talk to you."

Kenshin sighed. This was going to be harder than he thought. "Look, Kenji, I'm sorry—"

Kenji dropped to the ground and yelled, "No, you're not! If you were, you'd teach me, and I wouldn't have to sneak it from Hiko-ojii-san when he visits!" He growled. "I wouldn't spend hours drilling Sano-oji and Yahiko-nii to tell me stories, so I could hear how you did it!" He turned away and kicked a non-existent rock.

Kenshin was a little peeved to hear that his master was teaching his son behind his back, but he ignored that for the moment. "Why do want to learn it so much, Kenji?" he asked softly.

Kenji froze and retorted harshly, "Why don't you want to let me learn it?"

Kenshin sighed. This was going nowhere and he was simply making things worse. He looked out at the rippling water. "Because…because…I could not stand to see my only son ending up like…me," he answered softly.

His son's face was void of emotion. "Is that the reason?" he growled. "Thanks for thinking so little of me, Tou-san."

At hearing the title said with contempt, Kenshin cringed. "I'm not thinking little of you, that I'm not. I simply am trying to protect you."

"Really? I'm not a child anymore, Tou-san!" Kenji cried. "I'm fourteen! You were assassinating people at that age!"

His father stiffened. "That is exactly my point, Kenji."

Kenji bowed his head, clenching his fists. "I…I just want you to…I try to make you happy, but nothing I do works! You're never proud of me! What can I do to get your approval!" His eyes were bright with tears. "Why, Tou-san? That's all I want." His voice became a whisper. "Just like you did when I was younger."

Kenshin was frozen. Is this what his son thought? Had he never shown his pride in his son? "Of course I'm proud of you," Kenshin finally said, shocked. "You're my son."

"Then why do I never see it!"

"I am proud of you, Kenji!" Kenshin felt his anger rising. "I simply do not want you practicing the Hiten Mitsurugi!"

"Why not? Just because you didn't use it right? I'm not you, Tou-san!" Kenji yelled back. "And does it matter anymore? You aren't the Battousai anymore, Tou-san!"

"There's always a chance I will go back!" Kenshin retorted.

"But you won't!" Kenji cried. "I won't let you, Tou-san! Kaa-san, Kaori, Yahiko, Sano-oji, Megumi-oba, they all need you!...I need you, Tou-san."

Kenshin stared at his son, who continued. "You used the Hiten Mitsurugi to help everyone. Even during the Bakamatsu you only wanted to help people. I…I want to do that. I want to help everyone I can see. I want to be like you, Tou-san."

His son's confession, to be honest, scared Kenshin. "Why me, Kenji?"

"Because you are my father! Who else would I want to be like? You did so much good, how can I ever amount to that? But, I want to try."

Kenji's eyes were filling with tears again, his heart raw with telling his father such things. Suddenly, he felt strong arms wrap around him, and he sobbed into Kenshin's chest. He felt like he was a small child again, when he would run to his parents to hide from a raging storm.

Kenshin held his son tightly; making sure Kenji knew he was there. "You do make me proud, Kenji," he said softly. "I could not ask for a better son. I'm so glad you understand what I never did until much later." He took a deep breath. "I will let you finish your training in my style."

Kenji's heart felt like it was bursting. He hugged his father tight. "Arigato, Tou-san. I'll make you proud."

Kenshin smiled into his son's red hair. "You already have."

Aww. I know really angsty until the end. But I really enjoyed writing this. EAT THIS, PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE OVA! Sorry, I hate it. (How many times have I mentioned this?)

I really glad how this came out. I had something else planned for how Kenshin would let Kenji train, but I like how it ended up instead. Kenji shows his father he doesn't want it to be stronger, but to help people just like Kenshin did.

Well, let me know if you liked it!