A study of memories.

KENSHIN

"Why would you meet up with a criminal??"

I am fighting the feeling of surging anger,a habit that was once a rare action for me but now is becoming a common sensation that i would be well to avoid at all costs.

"Because Yukihana asked me to.The man claims he has repented of what he did to her and for his other crimes and would like a fresh start,he hoped that if he could show how well he would fight to better himself publicly and through the program then perhaps it could benefit all of us."

My father scoffs,turning harshly and walking out of the study and out.

"He is as stressed as you are son,i understand his argument though but i know you.The only reason you even went was because you wanted to hurt him for her scars.Did you not?"

I really have a hard time even standing in this study right now,let alone my courage is running low so i try to keep my gaze down.

"I can't see how anyone could hurt her,i just want her to be okay.
She is a gentler soul than she even realizes, i wanted to see for myself if it was worth the possible danger she could be in.Though,what happened to Oiha...only a devil could do something so awful, and i know that poor girl needs him,yet i can not risk Yukihana in such a way.So....i was tempted..Yes."
"You were not taught to use what you inherited to harm another Kenshin,only to protect and teach.You are truly the most devoted boy but you will be a man soon,a responsible one for a lot of people and a face for the world to watch,closely.Remember that my son."

Mother walks out after that,my heart hurts so much.

I am only trying to protect her,if the public thinks i am some lowlife because of a brief conversation in a park then let them!
I needed to know.
And know i do.

He truly was so sorry,he even saw how i barely kept in my anger over what he did.
Over all that he told me that Lovely did not fully reveal and that made it worse how cruel he was.

That young man cried like he lost everything,that was the extent of his pain over his actions.

I wanted to hate him but he knew why i was really there and he told me his whole reasoning,the drugs and the pressure at home to be provider and protector for Oiha and drug fetcher for his mother.

The 'Happy'that Yukihana praised in her life felt to him like being stabbed so he found some buddy of his to follow her parents as they would stealth there way away to be with their lovers then later the drugging and violence.

Just thinking that makes my hands tighten to the point of pain but he,Kaigo,he seemed so truly sorry.

I agreed but only on the terms that i will not leave them alone together and if he wants in on the program,to make it for adults to redeem themselves which admittedly was exceptional to me.

Still....

It is so much now.
i have little school to do now,Mother is force feeding as much conglomerate knowledge in me as fast as possible with how...
How..

"What am i going to do if they die?"

I mutter to myself,thinking about how scary this is all becoming with the program growing,Father raging worse and worse at me while i am trying to help him with Grandfather and Grandmother.

This study,it holds all of my most fond memories with Grandfather.

Grandmother was always in the kitchen when not working on charity projects,he would always have a way of explaining business strategy,dojo management and love like a game.

These eyes of mine can only hold back so much but when my eyes begin to overrun do the cameramen show up at the window which i hastily shut,falling to my knees and doing my absolute best to mourn silently even though no one is gone to mourn for.

Yet.

"Miss me yet?"

My phone beeps,the sound of a shamisen.

I read the message and relish the cool relief it is just to read her words,seeing the picture i took of her in the park that i took as she argued with me over it.

She said she looked awful with windswept hair,no make up and wearing jeans with a purple and green layered shirt but i..

I adore it.

I like her grumpy face as i took the picture.
The way she laughed as we sat on the blanket beside a forgotten picnic basket,i am trying to be very convincing in getting another photo but for every kiss i got a giggle and gently pushed away.
Her cheeks were so red.

"GOD gave me an escape with you my Lovely....a pure and blissful escape."

My finger trace the lines of her grumpy,pouting face and enjoy even just the virtual sight of her but the real her i will see later.
I am so scared of that.

When I rise to get out of the study I am thinking about that,tonight.

I am so scared that my Father will scare her away by being so sharp like every katana decorating the walls of this study.

My response is typed quickly,I apologize to her for it but I am hearing more beeps and stressed sounds coming from Grandfathers room that I can not ignore.

When I reach his room the nurse has already readjusted his pump,Grandmother is still calmly asleep holding her copy of an british classic.
I take a seat beside Grandfather after I put a new pillow behind his back and help clean his sides where the nurse can not quite lift him properly.

"You are not very alive and youthful looking today."
"My thanks to lacking of sleep because someone decide to karaoke to a long list of ballads that sounded like frogs croaking..."

He laughs hard at that,but he coughs as hard as well making me regret it but Grandfather shuts that guilt faucet off quickly before I can even let it pour.
I clean the little blood dribble from his lip,check to see Grandmother is still asleep when I turn to smirk at him.

"You being very loud for a charmer,I thought you said 'To woo is to be quietly worthy of swoon?'"

My Grandfather just smiles the broader,even in the pain he is in with a tube going from his abdomen and his weight too thin in some places and fluid filled in others.

He is still the same even if his body is hurting him.

My phone beeps,the shamisen sound again.

"Is it the grumpy princess?"

I nod,smirking as I read her bye message that is almost a book long.

"She has to choose now,he will try to run her off  but you cannot let her be afraid of him.Like a wolf in many ways,he loves and thrives on fear.You tell me she is strong,Still you will need to strengthen her for tonight."
"I feel wrong for not being here though."

Grandfather lets a face show he rarely does,it is his' I will not hear it' face.

"You have a destiny and a responsibility to perform,and do you not love that girl more than your own hands?"

I nod,I have never found a good defense for slightly angry Grandfather.
He pats my hand and puts small emerald and sapphire colored toy bracelet in  my hand,I shy back.

"I couldn't Grandfather."
"Your Grandmother chose and so do I.Take it,give it to her.She will need it,she needs you.Go,I need beauty sleep...."

I step up and back,smirking at his never ending sarcasm....
Never ending...

I am quietly out of the room as i see for a brief moment how Grandfather looks on at Grandmother like no time at all has passed.
I finger this toy bracelet and recall the story behind it,behind them

By the strength of GOD and by the sight of the love of two who have been wed since they were twenty years old.

I feel a bit stronger now.

"Be strong for me Lovely,I can't take much without you."