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Rurouni Kenshin Fan-Fic - GOJOU	By : KikueMugen Category: Rurouni Kenshin > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 10110 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I am NOT the owner of Rurouni Kenshin or its characters, nor do I receive monetary PROFIT from the humble fan-fiction, "Gojou".

Chapter List
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“Thank Buddha, the men are all right!” Kaoru shouted from the front of the building. “Hurry, they’re here! Misao, hurry!”

Misao dropped the pile of sun-dried laundry to the tatami floor and dashed out to see if Kaoru’s claim held true. “Where?” She questioned with excitement almost stumbling down the two-step wooden platform. “Aoshi? Where?” That was when her eyes caught the tall handsome figure of the man she loved ever since she could remember. Next to Aoshi sauntered along Kenshin.

Ecstatically, the women ran toward the men with open arms and stopped Kenshin and Aoshi dead in their tracks, much like how army wives greeted their war veteran husbands from battle.

“Kenshinnnnn!” Kaoru sang into the air, her arms wrapped around Kenshin’s neck. “I’m so happy you came along with Aoshi. I wasn’t expecting this at all. I’m so happy, I’m sooo happy!”

“I thought I’d keep Aoshi company on the long train ride. Besides, it eases my mind to know that you will not be riding back to Tokyo alone,” said Kenshin.

Misao looked up at Kenshin after giving Aoshi a hug around the waist. “Himura-san, you’re not thinking about leaving so soon, are you?

Kaoru hopped at the opportunity to mention the wedding. “Kenshin! Maybe we can wed here—here in Kyoto!”

Kenshin pulled the excitable woman from him, “Miss Kaoru, that…”

Misao jumped in quickly in agreement, “Yes!” she exclaimed. “A double wedding! I heard they are in style these days.”

“Misao,” Aoshi interrupted to reel the conversation in before the women got carried away with planning. “Both Kenshin and myself are tired from the long ride from Tokyo. Perhaps we could discuss all of this after we freshen up?”

“Oh, yes, yes…” Kaoru nodded. “Forgive us for our excitement over this. It seems that our weddings were all we talked about for weeks. We even went and shopped for wedding kimonos and all the trimmings to go with it.”

Kenshin smiled politely, “Aoshi has a point. We have been on the train for a long ride and are both hungry…”

The women nodded at one another. “Food! We have to run and shop for the meal,” said Kaoru.

“Why don’t we all get a bite to eat now? With Aoshi and Kenshin here, I don’t think we should waste time in the kitchen preparing food when we all could catch up on things at the restaurant,” suggested Misao.

“I’m up for it,” Kaoru hopped in place and clapped her hands.”

Aoshi looked over at Kenshin and nodded. “Himura-kun?”

Kenshin nodded. “It sounds like a good idea. We can fill the women in on things then.”

“Oooo,” cooed Kaoru. “You two must have a lot to tell us— I mean with that Horie person and all.”

Aoshi took Misao by the shoulders and spun her around to face the roadway. “We can tell you about it on the way. Let us go, we are hungry.”

“Hai, hai… Let us go,” Kaoru echoed as she turned to follow Kenshin onto the roadway to cross the street.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Ever since everyone split off to take care of things it has been very quiet here at the dojo,” Mochi Hana said as she walked with Sano out to the clearing from the main house.

“Any idea what you’ll be doing from here on?” Sano asked as he pulled the strings at the top of a knapsack that held a few packed goods from the pantry for his trip.

Mochi Hana nodded, “Hai… Fujita-sama asked me to consider working for the police department under his direction as an investigator.”

Sano swung the weighted, gray sack over his shoulder, “Is that so?”

“Hai, it sounds like a good idea. I need to keep busy and find direction. More than anything, I would like to right what went terribly wrong for the length of time I worked for Horie Hisomu.”

“Good luck. Saitou…” Sano paused, “I mean, Fujita-san is a good man, though he seems to be married to his job as investigator.”

Mochi Hana grinned slyly, “Don’t worry about Fujita-sama. I promise you, I’ll keep watch over him while you’re away.”

Sano looked up from staring at his feet. “Thanks. I know I shouldn’t worry about the guy, but I can’t just forget about him like that.”

“Everything in this life takes time.” Mochi Hana patted Sano on the shoulder. “I have a feeling you both will be all right, given you two some time.”

“Hmmm yeah, I know you’re right,” he nodded.

“You take care of yourself, Sanosuke Sagara!”

“Yeah, you do the same,” Sano said with a gentleman’s bow. He turned to walk to his room.

“Sanosuke-san?”

Sano stopped and glanced back toward Mochi Hana. “Yes Mochi Hana-san?”

“Will you be coming back?”

Sano nodded and smiled, “There’s nothing out there that can keep me away for very long… Yeah, I’ll be back someday.”

Mochi Hana smiled, “That is good to hear— Very good.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Saitou tied the obi around his hip and walked through the entry to the door. “Who is there?”

“It is I, Katsu…”

Saitou unlatched the door and pushed it open. “Come.” He turned and walked through the shoji partition and entered the kitchen.

“I just made ocha. Take some with me?” asked Saitou as he took the teakettle from the open burner and poured the brewed concoction into a server. He then set it on a tray that held their cups along with an offering of rice confections.

“Am I here too early?” Katsu asked.

“No. However, if you came any sooner you would have ran into Sanosuke on the way out.”

Katsu’s expression was one of surprise. “What? I had him swear to go to the dojo and sleep it off. I did as you asked— Got him to drink a lot of sake. The downfall to that was—he could always easily out drink me. However, I did make him promise to go straight to the dojo after he left my place.” Katsu blew the steam from the lip of the teacup and sipped making a slurping sound. “Apparently he changed his mind.”

“He rose early this morning,” said Saitou. “I pretended to be asleep. Without a word, he left.”

“Did he mention anything to you about going to China last night?” Katsu asked.

“No. He did try to discuss something with me last night when he came in. I assumed it had to do with his leaving Japan with you. I immediately changed the subject. Since he had a lot to drink, he fell asleep before he said anything about it. Apparently, he changed his mind about telling me when he woke this morning.”

“I see,” said Katsu, “that was close.”

“Excuse me.” Saitou rose to his feet and left the room for a minute and returned with a small wrapped bundle. He sat again at the chabudai. “Here,” Saitou set the tan colored bundle before Katsu. “There should be enough to pay Sano’s way, his meals, and also it should help the two of you with lodging for awhile.”

Katsu reached for the bundle, picked it up from the table, and then squeezed it in his grip. “Hey, Fujita-san… I know this can’t be easy for you.”

“You are correct,” replied Saitou as he glanced from his teacup to peer into Katsu’s eyes. “However, I wish not to keep Sanosuke from living his life. My life had already been decided for me when I fathered children. It would not be fair to Sanosuke to sacrifice his life for them. He should have namesakes of his own.”

It was the first time Katsu saw any type of emotion on the police inspector’s face by which he knew that Saitou was experiencing deep inner pain and regret. He wanted to help ease the anguish for Saitou right then, but he didn’t know what to do or say. He slipped the bundle into his kimono’s sleeve and tucked it into a small purse that he had secured to his forearm. “I’ll keep an eye on him,” said Katsu.

Saitou said nothing to that as he tried to reject the hollow feeling that seemed to overwhelm him at that moment. It was the second time in Saitou’s life that such an emotion blinded him from all else that was going on in his life. Yet, Saitou knew that there was no other way for he and Sano. As much as he regretted having to separate from his soul mate Saitou had to stand firm in his decision to do so—for Sano’s sake.

“Well sir… If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way. Sano is expecting me to meet him at the dojo, then we will return here and Sano will fill you in on our trip as he and I originally planned.”

Saitou nodded, but he set his gaze upon the teacup he held in his hands.

“Don’t bother seeing me out sir, I know my way.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I hope she got our order straight. It looked like we confused her,” Kaoru said as she scooted her zabuton closer to Kenshin’s and leaned her shoulder into him. She glanced into Kenshin’s eyes, but turned away coyly when he returned her gander.

“If she makes a mistake, it won’t matter much to me,” Kenshin said. “I’d eat anything she brings to the table, as hungry as I am.”

“Beef-pot is certainly the perfect choice for all of us, don’t you agree?” Misao asked Aoshi.

Aoshi nodded, and with a quick glance at Kenshin he communicated his desire for his lover without raising suspicion from the women. There was a way about Aoshi’s glances that conveyed his mood and desires, even without saying a word. Kenshin was quick to pick up on that and though they were separated because of circumstances they were joined together by a sort of spiritual comprehension, one for the other.

The waitress and table hand dressed the chabudai while the four continued to catch up with all that they missed while they were separated. Aoshi filled Misao in on the events that happened after she had left Tokyo with Kaoru. Soon, the meal was served and much tea was poured. It wasn’t until the small dessert cakes were passed around when Kenshin interrupted the women to break the news about his and Aoshi’s relationship, but before he could get in a word Kaoru burst forth.

“Uhhh, may I have your attention?” Kaoru asked looking directly at Kenshin and turned her head quickly to look at Aoshi as well, “And you too Aoshi-san.”

Aoshi stopped eating, as well as Kenshin, both setting their eating utensil across their bowls.

“Hmmm? Kenshin hummed wearing a nervous smile across his face. He was relieved that Kaoru interrupted him, for what he needed to discuss with the women wasn’t going to be easy.

“Well,” Kaoru hesitated and glanced over at Misao.

“Go on Kaoru-san, I think this is the best time to say something to them,” encouraged Misao.

Kaoru nodded in agreement. “Yes, I think this would be the right time.” She turned to Kenshin again and took a deep breath before continuing. “Well, Misao and I were talking about our plans to marry the both of you and we think that a double wedding would be perfect for us here in Kyoto.”

Kenshin and Aoshi looked at one another, then looked at the women, then back at each other.

“I know we haven’t discussed any of this with you, but we thought it would be wonderful and we didn’t think the two of you would mind— so we’d like to make arrangements…” Kaoru rattled along.

Upon Kenshin, Aoshi locked his eyes. "Kenshin?” he said reminding his lover to speak up about their relationship before Kaoru went any further about wedding plans.

Kenshin stuttered, “W...well, Aoshi and I… We have something to say about…”

Misao palmed the table hard creating a loud bang. Having caught everyone’s attention she looked over at Kaoru and scolded, “Damn it Kaoru-san, you have to tell them why we think that a double wedding would be best in our case. You’re leaving that part out!”

“Kenshin?” Aoshi repeated growing a little more impatient.

“Kaoru and I WANT to have this double wedding because we WANT to be married to each other as well!” Misao shouted.

Silence.

“I don’t understand,” Kenshin shrugged while swapping glances between Kaoru and Misao.

Kaoru sighed rather tensely as she sensed the men becoming uneasy. “I best come straight out with it all, but I don’t know where to begin.”

“Why don’t you try starting at the beginning,” Aoshi suggested curious about what was to follow.

“Just tell them,” Misao demanded. “If you’re not going to tell them, I will!”

“Miss Kaoru?” Kenshin turned in his seat to give the lady his total attention.

“All right, I will tell them!” Kaoru barked loudly snapping at Misao. She turned to face Kenshin and took both of his hands into her own.

“What is it Miss Kaoru?” Kenshin again asked encouraging Kaoru to go on.

“The fact of the matter is,” Kaoru looked down at her hands clasped around Kenshin’s fingers so tightly that it was beginning to turn Kenshin’s knuckles white. “Misao and I love each other. We found that out one night when we were missing you two more than we ever had before,” her voice began to warble. “We drank too much sake and, well…”

“Go on,” prompted Aoshi who was finding it all very amusing.

Misao jumped in completing Kaoru’s sentence, “We tried to comfort one another and ended up on the bed roll. THAT is what Kaoru-san is trying to tell the two of you.”

Silence.

Kenshin pulled Kaoru’s chin up with his finger and asked, “Is that true?”

Kaoru nodded, but remained silent.

Kenshin started laughing, as Aoshi remained composed with a quick grin at the corner of his lips.

“What’s so funny?” Misao demanded to know.

“Miss Misao,” said Kenshin as he tried to control his laughter. “There are some things in life that are amusing. This whole thing about a double wedding, and what motivated you and Miss Kaoru desires for such a thing…”

“Is a very GOOD idea!” Aoshi quickly mentioned.

“Aoshi— What are you saying?” Kenshin asked quite surprised.

Aoshi nodded silently, his eyes bathed Kenshin expressing his relief about their own situation as though everything was going to work out. Fate had released them from their obligation to disclose their intimacy to the women.

Another moment of silence passed, and then Kenshin nodded as well. “Yes. As Aoshi said, ‘it is a good thing.’”

“Then the two of you are okay with the idea of a double wedding?” Kaoru asked her eyes bright with wonder. "You aren’t angry with us for…” she hesitated.

“No Miss Kaoru, of course we’re not angry,” Kenshin said with a bright grin. “Not at all. What Aoshi and I wanted to discuss with you and Miss Misao seems to be all a part of fate now.”

“Hmmm?” Kaoru sat back to take the full view of Kenshin in. “What do you mean? Discuss what with us? Kenshin, what is it?”

“Yes, I’d like to know too!” Misao added.

“Well, Aoshi and I thought it would be a good idea to take trips to China. There is a lot of talk about advancements for Japan there.”

“What kind of advancements?” Misao asked suspiciously.

Aoshi frowned, “Woman, know your place,” he said a bit annoyed with Misao’s aggressive temperament.

“As I was saying,” Kenshin continued, “since Aoshi and I are planning to take occasional trips to China it is good that you women will have one another’s company.”

Misao frowned. “I never expected you to be content with staying in one place for very long,” she said to Aoshi and smiled weakly. “I am glad that I will spend the rest of my life with you.”

“And raise our namesakes,” Aoshi said reminding the women.

“With honor,” Misao took her cup of tea and lifted it to the center of the four of them.

“Kaoru lifted her cup and echoed, “With honor.”

The men lifted their cups and nodded, and then the four of them drank.

Kenshin and Aoshi lowered their cups and looked over the table at each other. They both knew then that they will allow anything to ever stand in their way of the passion they had one for the other. From that moment on they knew their lives would be lived out in tandem, for fate had it so for them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I thought you said you would be here early to get me.” Sano complained as he folded the note he wrote to Kenshin and Kaoru and set it upon the chabudai in his room.

“I got here as soon as I could. It was slow going after the night I had,” Katsu replied as he picked up one of two bags Sano had placed by the door.

“You never could drink a lot,” laughed Sano.

Katsu wrinkled his brow, “Give me credit for trying.”

“Yeah, you did the best you could, but not good enough to keep up with me,” Sano said as he walked over to the remaining bag, picked it from the floor and swung it over his shoulder. “You know, I’m going to miss this place.”

Katsu set his hand on Sano’s shoulder, “It’s not like you’ll never see it again. We’ll be back,” said Katsu.

“Yeah I know, but you never know what the hell can happen between now and then. We might even find a new life out there.”

“We’ll never know unless we get our asses out of here,” Katsu pushed Sano toward the door.

They walked the short distance to the wagon that waited on them at the front gate of the dojo and hoisted the bags to settle upon Katsu’s travel cases.

Katsu gave the driver orders and he sat himself beside Sano on the wagon bench. Sano took a long last look at the Kamiya Dojo, his mind flashed on his recent days there when Saitou stayed in the dormitory with him. There was a hollow ache that grew inside of his chest that seemed to invade the very soul of his heart.

As the wagon began moving Sano turned to Katsu and searched for the words to describe what was going on within. “Damn it, I don’t know if I can see this through,” he said to Katsu over the noise of the wagon wheels.

“You will. Don’t worry about it. After you explain it all to Saitou we’ll be on our way and you can relax about Saitou and his sons.”

“Yeah you’re right. I have to do this for Saitou. As hard as it is to tell him, it is for the best. I have to do it. I have to think about the right words to say. I can’t just swing something as important as this,” said Sano.

“You’ll do fine. Matters of the heart don’t need rehearsals. The words will come to you. Just don’t freak out about it, or you’ll choke when you see him.”

The rest of the ride to Saitou’s place was ridden in silence. Sano couldn’t help but think about all the things he and Saitou had gone through. From the very moment Sano met Saitou he knew there was something between them. The feeling overwhelmed him as though he was drowning. He closed his eyes, and for the life of him, he couldn’t push the vision of Saitou from the forefront no matter how hard he tried. Everything within Sano didn’t want to say goodbye, he didn’t want to let go of the man who, he knew, could never be replaced. His heart ached and choked at his very spirit.

The wagon rounded the bend and the sight of Saitou’s place stung Sano’s eyes. “No…” he whispered. The short word was lost by the sound of the trotting horse that pulled the wagon and creaking wooded planks that shaped the very cart that carried him closer to what Sano thought was a hellish nightmare. Before he could utter another word the wagon halted.

“You’ll be okay,” said Katsu once again as he patted Sano’s knee. “I’ll be right here when you’re done.”

Sano nodded and with a quick twist in position he jumped from the wagon, his feet hit the ground with a dusty thump. He looked back up at Katsu and every part of him wanted to tell his long time friend to leave him there, for that was where he belonged. He was about to speak those very words, but again, Katsu’s words encouraged him to do what needed to be done.

“For Saitou,” Katsu said. “For his sons.”

With that Sano turned and approached the gate to Saitou’s garden. How huge the wooden portal appeared right then. He wasn’t arriving this time, but leaving. This time it was different than that day he ran around that very bend to see, with his own eyes, the man he thought had left him. Now, Sano was leaving that very man, the third captain of the Shinsengumi. He could hardly believe he had mustered up the strength to part with that great, legendary wolf.

The gate creaked and rumbled as he stepped through. It swung shut with a clank as the latch caught shutting Katsu away. There was no turning back as he started walking up the path toward the house. It seemed like only yesterday he stumbled through that very gate to confront Saitou. The moisture stung his eyes, and the great knot in his throat choked his breath.

“That didn’t take you too long,” said Saitou. He watched Sano from across the garden as he stood waiting for him after Katsu left him earlier.

“Huh?” Sano stopped in his tracks and turned to see Saitou tossing the smoldering smoke butt off to the side along the fence. “Saitou!”

Saitou didn’t say a word after that but walked directly to Sano who stood there, right in the middle of the garden. Right where they stood the very first time they came together.

“Saitou…” The words stuck in Sano's throat as the tears stung as it welled in his eyes.

Saitou took Sano into his arms. “Be silent,” he said as he pulled Sano against his body and pressed his lips upon Sano’s mouth. “Mmmm,” Saitou moaned. His heart beat against his chest and he could have sworn he felt Sano’s heart beating against him as well. Saitou plunged his tongue past Sano’s lips pulling his mate into him. His hands glided over Sano’s back, down his spine and back up again.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Saitou said after pulling Sano from him slightly. Saitou’s heart tore by the sight of Sano’s huge eyes, reddened and riddled by tears. Saitou cupped Sano’s face in his hands and with his thumb he pulled Sano’s tears from the flustered cheeks. “Shhhush Sanosuke. You will be just fine. You have your whole life ahead of you.”

“Buhh…but…”

“No Sanosuke, there are no buts, none at all.”

Sano set his hand upon one of Saitou’s, “It hurts.”

“Hmn,” Saitou nodded. "Yes, and it should. If it didn’t there wouldn’t be a reason to look forward to another time when our paths will cross again.”

“Will you be here?”

“I will be here,” said Saitou, and as he took Sano’s hand in his, he kissed his lover’s lips gently and said, “I will always be here for you, Sanosuke. Remember me as you move on and remember us as we were. I will.”

“Oh shit Saitou. How did you know about this... About China?”

"I saw it coming. From the very beginning, I knew..." Saitou squeezed Sano’s hand and kissed the side of Sano’s throat. “Goodbye my lover,” he whispered, and then he traced his lips up the side of Sano’s neck until his lips met with the well of Sano’s ear. He held steady there for a long moment, and then he finally whispered barely audibly, “Goodbye, my friend.” He released Sano, turned, and then began walking toward the platform of his home.

“Saitou, I love you.”

Saitou stopped in his track, took a deep breath and then continued to walk to the landing. He took another deep breath as if he was pulling all his strength to open the door and step through to have it close behind him with Sano on the other side. However, before the door shut and separated them Saitou turned and looked at Sano for the last time that day.

“I love you Sanosuke…”

The door slipped shut.

Silence—and several minutes later.

“Father, who were you talking to?”

“Tsutomu-chan,” Saitou turned and knelt to look into his son’s eyes.

Saitou smiled and gently wrapped his arms around his eldest son and waited until Tsutomu circled little arms around his neck, and then he lifted the young boy off the floor.

“Someday I will tell you all about him.”

“Why not now father, why not tell me about him now?”

“I’m afraid I cannot talk about him now,” replied Saitou. “I don’t have the words.”

Tsutomu looked at Saitou with curiosity. He had never seen his father hug another man before as he had seen when he peeked out the side window after Saitou set him down with specific orders to watch over his little brother who was sleeping on the pile of zabutons in the gathering room.

“Promise?”

“Hmn,” nodded Saitou.

“Now will you show me more sword takkits?”

“You mean, ‘tactics.’” Saitou corrected.

“Yes, that. Will you?” Tsutomu’s voice filled with excitement.

“Let us find your bokken,” said Saitou as he set his son down to lead him by the hand.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“You’ll be okay,” Katsu said as the wagon continued to wobble its way through the streets of Tokyo.

“Will you stop saying that? It’s over and I’m still alive. Shit can’t you talk about anything else but that?” Sano scolded.

“I’m just concerned about my buddy. I know it isn’t easy for you.”

“Yeah well, I just want to get on that ship and get the hell out of here."

“You mean that?” Katsu questioned as he eyed his life long friend noticing the intense pain written across Sano’s face.

“Yeah…” Sano response was slow. “Yeah, I think so. It is not like we’ll never see each other again. I’ll check Saitou out when I get back to Japan.”

“Of course,” Katsu agreed.

“It’s just that he’s been the one for me, and now… I’m kind of lost.”

“Time,” Katsu said, “give it a little time.”

THE END

Author's Note:

Now, wasn't that loads of fun? I enjoyed writing Gojou because I loved both the Rurouni Kenshin anime and manga. This little (long) fan-fic spurred me to writing a bunch of short stories and am in the process of writing a couple longer ones too. Of course, count yourself invited to read them, free of charge at my website. You can contact me there if you have anything to ask me, or if you feel like dropping me a personal note. I would love to hear from you about your thoughts regarding this 'long-winded' story. If our road together ends here, do take special care of yourself. Remember that you are worthy of the best of the best this world has to offer, so start expecting positive things for yourself, and it will come. Enjoy your life. Make it count!

Good bye my friend ...<3
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Rurouni Kenshin Fan-Fic - GOJOU