The More Things Change (RK)

[candyfics]

Title: The More Things Change
Author: Candyland (candy__chan)
Fandom: Rurouni Kenshin: Years after the Meiji Revolution ends, a hitokiri tries to settle into life helping at a dojo. Unfortunately , people keep showing up and making trouble. Samurai ass-kicking ensues.
Wordcount: 553
Taunt: My fandom makes pink look manly.



When Soujiro had first made the decision to go wander, he had done so to follow the example of another. A man far wiser than he had wandered for ten years to find a path and a philosophy by which to live his life, and Soujiro sought the same.

It had been a long time since he had been here. It was one of the only places he really avoided, given what had happened here. The last time he had ventured to this place had been on a mission of assassination. It was strange to be here now, after so many years had passed. It was different, yet very much the same.

For a while, he simply wandered the streets. People pointed at him, probably because of the sword at his belt. He still carried it and still trained with it; it was a trusted partner. It would be interesting to see how a rematch with the Battousai would go. Somehow, he doubted that it would be as interesting of a battle as the one they'd had in Kyoto.

But after a while, he found himself pausing outside a building. He stood and pondered the dojo for a moment. The Kamiya dojo, the worn sign on the front said. He remembered the name--a young woman, he had been told, and a friend of the Battousai.

Well-trained eyes scanned the area. There were obvious signs that the place was occupied. The dojo building itself, while old, had been kept up relatively well, and there were signs that one of the poles supporting the overhang on the walkway had recently been repaired. Possibly a mishap with a student? The lawn was well-maintained, and he thought he saw the flutter of laundry blowing on a line around the corner.

After a few minutes of standing there, he began to turn to move on, but paused when he saw motion: a door was sliding open. He paused and watched as a form stepped out.

Someone he knew quite well, if only in memory.

The years had taken their toll on the one who had been Battousai, just as they had taken their toll on the building from which he had emerged. But there was still something in the man's very presence that said if pressed, this was a man who could be very, very dangerous.

And then he seemed to notice he had an observer.

Soujiro froze at Himura's questioning look. He didn't really believe that he would be remembered, not after all this time and the changes the years had wrought. There was no chance that...

Himura smiled. And nodded to him, a slight bob of the head that spoke volumes.

After a second of surprise, Soujiro felt his own head move to return the gesture. And he smiled as well.

"Kenshin?" a female voice called from within the dojo.

Himura stood there for a second longer, holding his gaze. Then he turned and went to follow the summons. Now alone, Soujiro remained motionless for a time before he, too, began to move again, walking away from the dojo.

It was incredible, really--some changes could take years and years to happen, while others could happen in the space of a glance. Particularly if that look was with the one person who could truly understand.



PS. Written on request for ytak. It’s been AGES since I read/watched this series, but I don’t think there are any glaring errors in this. Thanks for reading, all! Much love!