Roses in Winter: a Fairytale Revisited - A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfiction
Chapter Two: Coming Home
For what perhaps was the fourth time this hour, Kaoru glanced at the road outside her home. And for the fourth time this hour, not so much as a hint of a traveler had appeared in the distance. She pursed her lips into a frown. She had expected Father to arrive last week and had been watching the road for any sign of his appearance since then. Okay, to be honest, she had been expecting her father to arrive last week, but had started watching the road for him the week earlier. She was a worrier at heart, as her sisters would often mention, and try as she might she never could get rid of the habit. And that was why, on this freezing afternoon, she was sitting by the steps outside her family dojo staring beyond yonder.
She brushed strands of stray hair across her face, and sighed. While she was a worrier, she had to admit even to herself that she had been behaving uncharacteristically more anxious than usual. She couldn’t quite explain it. There was this tension in the air, this prickly feeling she would get that had nothing to do with the cold weather. She was jumpier, more so than usual that even Misao—often more focused on her training than anything else—had noticed it. She had that sense of expectation, anticipation, almost an eternal feeling of bated breath. And this waiting, this constant waiting, was driving her up the walls.
He should be here by now. Father was usually correct on his travel estimations. He had learned a long time ago the consequences of leaving his daughters waiting for indeterminate amounts of time. He was sometimes a day or so off, but never (at least none that she could remember) a week. What was taking him so long?
Her over-active imagination was running rampant and none of the scenes she had in her mind were any good. Something had to be wrong. There had to be a reason for that twist of nervousness in her gut, that sickly sensation.
“Kaoru,” her sister voice came up from behind her, “you’re getting your kimono dirty sitting down there at the steps.”
She frowned and turned to face Megumi. “It’s fine,” she replied. She smiled, “I placed a cloth underneath to prevent just that.” She turned back to face the road and heard her sister sigh behind her. To her surprise, she found Megumi crouching down to join her.
“Then why don’t you share some of that cloth this way,” she said, her voice slightly impatient as she crouched down to join her sister.
Kaoru’s face broke into an understanding smile as she scooted over to give Megumi some space. Megumi was always irritable when she’s worried. Seeing her own sister worried, however, gave Kaoru mixed feelings. On the one hand, it was satisfying to know that she wasn’t being totally unreasonable in her agitation. Megumi’s level-headed presence gave substance to her worry. On the other hand, Megumi’s level-headed presence gave substance to her worry. It made the reality of her father’s lateness even starker.
With a sigh, she leaned against her sister in silent support. She felt Megumi’s arm rest on her shoulders as the weight in her chest grew heavier. Where was he?
Just then, she felt someone squirm between her and Megumi.
“I don’t want my clothes to get dirty either,” Misao stated.
Kaoru laughed, joined by Megumi. “Since when did that become one of your concerns?” she asked teasingly, pulling at her sister’s braid.
Misao gave her a mock frown and a pointed glare before slumping her shoulders dejectedly. “Where is he?” she voiced their unasked question. She looked down on her kunais as she played with them between her fingers.
With no answer to give, Kaoru and Megumi took each of Misao’s hands and held them silently. And there, hand in hand, the three sisters held their vigil.
It was perhaps hours later when they heard a slight commotion in the horizon. Squinting her eyes against the setting sun, Kaoru attempted to see the source of the ruckus. Amongst the cloud of dust that began to appear, the shape of a horse and…a rider? emerged. The pace they set was neither fast nor slow as they approached her and her sisters.
Kaoru stood slowly, her hand going to her throat. The rider…the rider of the black horse seemed unconscious. With careful steps, she went to the road to meet horse and rider, aware of her sisters following closely behind. The closer she got to the visitors, the faster her steps went. The knot of dread that was her gut made itself even more felt as she began to see the form on top of the horse.
“Father,” she whispered, running now, trying to suppress the feeling of nausea that made its way to her throat. She saw as the horse itself began to gallop towards her in earnest, only to stop abruptly once reaching her. With a choked sob, she approached the side of the horse, gasping at the rusty smell of dried blood that permeated her nose. She touched her father’s shoulder, as if to gently waken. “Father,” she whispered again, hoping for some response.
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“Let’s get him to the house,” urged Megumi, her voice trembling as she noticed the pallor of her father’s face. “Let’s get him to the house now!” she ordered, suddenly pulling at the horse that carried her father towards their home.
She ran as fast as her feet would take her, leading the horse along the way. She had to keep a clear head, she had to be steady. Her father was hurt, maybe dying.
But not dead yet.
“Call Dr. Genzai!” she ordered Kaoru once they’ve reached the dojo.
She saw Kaoru shake her head. “Let me help you bring him inside first,” she said as quiet tears fell on her cheeks. She turned to her young sister, “Misao, get some hot water ready please.”
Misao nodded, her hand in her mouth, unable to speak. “Will he be alright?” she asked with a tremor. “Will he be alright?” she shouted to her sisters, clearly distressed.
Megumi took a deep breath before turning to her. “Please Misao,” her eyes pleaded, “help us take care of him.”
Misao bit her lip hard, before nodding, her eyes never leaving her father.
“Get us some hot water, Misao,” Megumi repeated gently but firmly. Once Misao obeyed, she turned to Kaoru, who was untying the straps that held their father to the horse. She took down the bags that were tied to the horse also, so that they wouldn’t get in the way of her father’s descent. “Ready?” she asked.
Kaoru nodded. “I think we can lift him up now,” she replied, digging her heel on the ground. “You take that side, I’ll take this.”
Megumi nodded. “Have you seen where the blood is coming from?” she asked, concerned. “We don’t want to aggravate something more than it is already.”
Kaoru shook her head. “But Megumi,” she said softly, “it smells of old blood.”
Megumi nodded and grunted as her father’s weight settle on her shoulders. Slowly, but with great efficiency, she and Kaoru carried their father inside the house to his room. There, they laid him gently in his cot, and began to work on his clothes, one by one.
Their search for the source of blood was finally revealed when they saw his throat. Jagged cuts adorned his neck like a necklace, but Megumi was relieved to notice that the sour stench of infection was not present.
“I’ve got water!” yelled Misao as she burst in.
“I’ll fetch Dr. Genzai,” Kaoru stated once Misao appeared to help Megumi.
Megumi nodded almost absently, her focus on her father. “Hurry,” she said under her breath. “He’s unconscious, but there’s no infection that I can see. Let him know that he has a high fever of indeterminate cause. That should give him enough information to bring any other medicines he might need that we don’t have here.”
Not waiting of a reply, Megumi began cleaning her father’s wounds, aware of Misao’s watchful gaze.
“Will he be okay?” Misao asked again, her eyes filling with tears.
“Of course he is,” Megumi answered, trying to instill some confidence in her voice. “We need more water, Misao. And get that box of medicine from my room too, please.”
She noticed Misao give a slight pause before running to the next room. She licked her suddenly dry lips as her full attention turned once again to her father. He had to be okay.
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Misao tried to hold back the tears. She really did. She choked back on her sobs and held on to her cries as she followed her sister’s orders. But, as she entered her sister’s room and leaned down to grab the black box containing Megumi’s concoctions, the blurred vision of her hands were her only warning as she felt her silent tears fall copiously over her hands and Megumi’s medicine box. She felt a knot deep in her throat try to escape and make that first keening sound, but she wouldn’t let it. Wouldn’t let it.
She had to be strong, like her sisters. They had to take care of father. Hysterics would not be good at this time. Still, she felt her eyes water as she clamped down her lips; she tasted the metallic flavor of her blood as they mingled with the saltiness of her tears. She laid the box down and placed both her hands against her mouth in an attempt to cover the sounds.
What was she doing? She was behaving like a weak idiot. She was angry at herself for doing this when she should be helping Megumi. Why was it that of all her sisters, she was the one who always ended up being so emotional? She gritted her teeth. Gods, she was useless this way.
Roughly, she tried to wipe away here flowing tears with her fists. Megumi needed her medicine and she was going to get it. Drying her hands in her makeshift kimono, Misao let out a deep breath before lifting Megumi’s box once more. She walked slowly back to her father’s room.
Megumi said he was going to be alright and in this situation, she had to trust her sister. To do anything else…well, it didn’t bear thinking about.
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Kaoru ran outside, intent on getting to Dr. Genzai as fast as her feet would take her. Outside, she encountered the black horse that brought their father home to them. She gave it a cursory glance before heading outside the gates. To her surprise, the black horse gave her a nudge from behind, almost causing her to stumble forward.
She looked back at him (and it was a him) and stared at those intelligent eyes that reproached her to…do what exactly? Again the horse nudged his nose against her face and swung his head back. Almost as if to say…
Something clicked. What was she waiting for? She could ride this horse to Dr. Genzai’s small clinic! She could almost swear that the horse gave her an approving grin before she swung behind and led him to the village. “Good boy,” she whispered to him to his ear as they made their way. Their pace was fast, furious, as if the horse himself understood her urgency. She leaned against him, her heartbeat following the rhythm of his gait.
Please, she thought. Let him be alright.
He will live, a voice replied to her plea.
Kaoru jerked up. Where was that from? She looked around, noticing the quickly passing scenery. She shook her head. She was hearing things now. She must be more upset than she realized.
He will live, the voice in her head repeated.
She gave a tiny gasp. Now she could have sworn she heard that one. She swept her hair away from her face and tried to listen once more. At first, all she could hear was the thunder of her horse’s hooves against the hard ground but then…
You should not worry so much, that you should not, the voice said again. There is nothing wrong with him that a whole lot of bed rest would not cure.
Kaoru stared at her horse in askance. If she did not know any better…
We are here, the voice came again.
She looked up and found herself in Dr. Genzai’s office. As luck would have it, the good doctor was on his way out of his clinic and was waving hello as he caught sight of her.
Voices in her head forgotten for the moment, Kaoru jumped off the horse and ran towards the doctor.
“Doctor,” she shouted, her eyes wild, she was sure, for Dr. Genzai stepped back at her approach. “Please, doctor,” she continued, “you must come with me.”
“Kaoru?” Dr. Genzai replied questioningly. “What’s wrong, child?”
With worry in her voice, she answered, “It’s father.” She tugged at his hands. “Please, you must come.”
“Koshijiro?” he exclaimed. “He’s back then?”
Kaoru nodded. “Please, we don’t have a moment to waste. Megumi said that he had a fever. She didn’t know what the cause was yet, but you must come prepared.”
“Of course,” the little man replied as he stepped back in his clinic. “Let me just get some things,” he said almost to himself as he rummaged through his medicines.
Kaoru waited outside impatiently, watching the setting sun, as she worried her lips.
He needs to be alright, she thought.
I told you not to worry, came that voice in her head again.
This time, she slowly looked up to the horse. There was no one else around but Dr. Genzai and he was in his clinic. She shook her head, as if trying to clear it. She must be more tired than she thought. Again she looked intently at the horse.
She would have sworn that he gave her a smirk.
“I’m ready,” she heard Dr. Genzai call out to her.
She turned to face him quickly. “Doctor,” she said gratefully, “please take this horse and ride to our dojo as fast as you can.”
She helped the doctor up to the horse. “Please hurry,” she implored him.
I am not leaving without you, that I am not.
Kaoru looked at Dr. Genzai and the horse. “What did you say?” she asked.
“Huh?” the doctor looked at her. “This horse does not seem to want to move. Are you sure it was trained properly, Kaoru?”
She stared at the horse intently.
I am not leaving without you.
“Did…did you hear that?” she said carefully.
“Hear what, dear?” replied Dr. Genzai as he tried without avail to get the horse to move.
She started tapping her head.
Only you can hear me, came the reply.
That horse…it was staring at her.
I can take both of you at my back.
She stepped back from the pair. “I…I,” she started to mumble.
“Kaoru,” Dr. Genzai interrupted her thought. “Perhaps it’s better if I walked. This beast seems to be a stubborn one.”
Beast? came an indignant reply
Did the horse just…talk to her?
Dr. Genzai started getting off the animal at her lack of reply. “Wait,” she shouted.
There’s only one way to find out, she thought to herself. “I’ll ride with you,” she suggested. “Maybe he’s just getting used to a new rider.”
The horse snorted and, to her surprise, leaned down to allow her better access. Once astride behind Dr. Genzai, she clung for her life as off they went in the same fast pace they used to get into town. She heard Dr. Genzai give a slight yelp.
Try…try not to scare him, she tried hesitantly. And felt like an idiot once she finished the thought. Was she really trying to talk to a horse?
Just hold on tight.
And she did.
And on that ride on the way home, one thought dominated her mind: she must be going crazy.
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Misao was startled out of her vigil of her father when she heard the commotion outside. She stood up and saw Kaoru help Dr. Genzai off that horse that brought her father back. She watched as Dr. Genzai hurried up the steps at Kaoru’s urging, his bag of remedies clutched tightly in his arms.
“Dr. Genzai,” she greeted. “Thank you for coming.”
The elderly man smiled tenderly at her and replied, “I could not have done anything else, Misao-chan.”
She glanced back at Kaoru who was staring strangely at the horse. As if feeling her gaze, Kaoru looked up to see her. Giving her a reassuring smile, Kaoru approached her and they both followed Dr. Genzai to their father’s quarters. Without words, their hands clung to each other as they watched Megumi and Dr. Genzai prepare linens and medicines.
After what seemed like hours of just watching, Misao leaned against her sister for support. She felt Kaoru’s arms go around her and give her shoulders a squeeze. The familiar comforting scent of jasmine enveloped her. “Don’t worry, Misao,” she said gently. “I think…I think that Father will be alright.”
“But…but,” she choked. “Why hasn’t he woken up yet?”
“He’s just…tired,” she explained. “He’s in good hands with Megumi and Dr. Genzai.”
She looked up and saw Kaoru’s intent look at the scene before them. She stared back and forth between her sister and the tableau taking place in her father’s cot. By chance, she caught a speaking glance between her sisters, and she felt Kaoru’s body relax.
“He’s going to be okay,” Kaoru whispered to her.
She looked back at Megumi, who gave them both a smile. She tried to smile in return as Kaoru led them out of the room.
With a deep breath, Kaoru looked at her and said, “We should probably prepare dinner. I’m sure Dr. Genzai would appreciate a meal after this.”
Misao nodded. “I’ll take care of it,” she replied, knowing that it was probably better that she handled dinner instead of Kaoru.
Kaoru gave her a knowing smile. “Of course,” she agreed. “I’ll gather father’s things from outside. With all the commotion, I forgot that we just dropped his things on the ground without taking them back in.”
Misao smiled as they went their separate ways. It would feel good to do something with her hands.
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Kaoru stepped outside carefully, aware that darkness has fallen. Shivering slightly, she looked for the fallen satchels and packages that were hastily strewn about in their efforts to get their father in the house.
They are over here.
With a startled gasp, she looked up at the horse who gently nudged the packages in the ground. Slowly, she approached the stallion, fear and curiosity warring within her.
“How…” she said loudly as she stood in front of the animal, “how is it that you can communicate with me?”
The horse only snorted and started pawing at the ground.
She gave herself a self-deprecating smile. I must be really tired, she thought. Why did I even think this?
You are cold.
She frowned. Slowly, she raised her hands to touch his head, only to have it brushed aside.
You are cold. Gather your things and go inside.
“Is that you?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Again the horse snorted.
Go.
“How is it that you can do this?” she demanded, capturing his face in her hands.
Go.
“I will,” she replied. “But I need to know—“
Go.
“Will you please just answer—“
Go.
She let out an impatient snarl. This was not accomplishing anything. “Alright I’ll gather these things,” she snapped. “But I’m coming back out here and—“
“Kaoru?” Misao’s voice came from inside.
“I’m coming!” she called out as one by one she picked up the parcels that were scattered on the ground. Muttering to herself about unruly and bossy animals, she realized that she will have to come back for the rest once her arms were full. With a huff, she returned to the dojo to drop some of the packages.
“Did I hear you talk to someone out there?” came Misao’s voice from the kitchen.
“Just myself,” she lied with a frown. “I”ve got to get the rest of the stuff. Call Megumi for dinner okay? She’ll skip it if we let her.”
“Sure thing!” came Misao’s reply.
With a determined look, Kaoru went back outside to that stubborn horse. Her sisters were never going to believe this even if she told them. Standing in front of the horse, her hands on her hips, she gave her companion a scowl.
“I’m not leaving until you tell me how this works,” she said.
You will catch a cold.
“Just tell me why is it I can hear you and they can’t?” she asked, frustrated.
At the long silence, she hung her head to the side. What was she doing? The stupid horse was right. She was going to catch a chill just standing here. She must be insane. Mentally slapping herself, she started to gather the rest of her father’s things. She did not need this aggravation.
Kaoru-dono.
She looked up and caught a glimpse of her reflection from those purple eyes.
You hear me because I am here for you.
“What do you—“
Go. The wind gets colder.
“But—“
Your father will explain later.
And with that, the horse turned its back to her and trotted towards another part of their yard. She stared at him, her mind full of questions. She began to follow him when Misao’s voice interrupted her thought.
“Kaoru! Dinner’s ready!”
With a last look at the stallion, she gathered the rest of her father’s packages and ran back into the house.
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Dinner was a quiet and informal affair that night. The fare was simple, but tasty—a sign that Kaoru did not help prepare it. The usual chatter that was Kaoru and Misao’s response to her teasing or to each other’s antics was subdued by the events of the day. Megumi smiled as she watched both Kaoru and Misao move their food around their plate instead of eating it.
“Father will be fine,” she reassured them again. “We have his fever down and it looks like he’s on the road to recovery.” And for that, she was inordinately thankful. She did not know what she would have done, what her sisters would have done had her father’s condition been of a more serious nature.
Beside her, Dr. Genzai nodded his agreement and encouragement. “Your father is a strong man,” he added. “He should be up and about soon.”
She gave him a look of gratitude. Dr. Genzai’s calming influence on both herself and her sisters had been a blessing in those hours of uncertainty. While Megumi considered herself a competent physician, the gripping dread of first not knowing what ailed her father was something she would rather not go through again.
Megumi smiled as she noticed Kaoru’s eyes narrow suspiciously. “Be that as it may,” her sister stated, “there are still those cuts in his neck to consider. I smelled blood when we brought father in.”
“That’s true,” she replied. And those cuts were quite curious, she thought. It was something she and Kaoru would have to discuss later. “But they were superficial, barely a scratch really,” she threw nonchalantly, aware of Misao’s listening ears. “Hopefully, Father will be awake by tomorrow.” She gave Kaoru a meaningful look before turning to Misao.
“Really?” asked Misao excitedly.
Megumi’s eyes twinkled. “Really,” she answered. “He just needs rest right now and some pampering.”
A sigh of relief escaped her youngest sister’s lips and Megumi echoed it in her head. Her father was alright. Suddenly, she felt quite, quite tired. All the worries of the past few days had finally caught up with her. She felt her shoulders slouch for just awhile as she let her body relax. She watched her sisters talk quietly with each other and Dr. Genzai. For now, she enjoyed the silent peace that was their lives.
To be continued.
Home FanFiction Akane-Rei Roses In Winter