Subject: [kffdisc] A Mother's Elegy: Pt 2A (draft) Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 02:45:04 EDT From: EJG87478@aol.com Reply-To: kffdisc@onelist.com To: kffdisc@onelist.com From: EJG87478@aol.com I've just completed a possible Part 2A for AME. I'm not very confident about it though. I'm worried particularly that I'm OOC and being superfluous and inconsistent with the rest of AME put out so far. I may actually consider throwing out this entire segment. I have no idea. I gladly (desperately) welcome any comments and suggestions. Thanks. Eric ----------------------------- A MOTHER'S ELEGY IN FIVE PARTS By Eric ------------- Disclaimer: All rights and privileges to "Rurouni Kenshin" belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki, Shuiesha, Sony Music Entertainment, and associated parties. The characters of these series are used WITHOUT permission and for entertainment purposes only. This work of fiction is not meant for sale or profit. Original portion of the fiction included here is considered the sole property of and copyrighted to the author. ------------- II. "On the Other Side of the Mirror" A. (Diary Entry of 8.12. Meiji 13) Hiko Seijurou visited me today. He forbids me from marrying Kenshin. I respectfully acknowledge that Hiko Seijurou is my fiancé's surrogate father, and I pray that God bless him for everything he has done for Kenshin. I am, however, unable to understand why he disapproves of me so much. I told him that I am not Himura no Yukishiro Tomoe. He replied that my future was not his concern. "We are talking about my stupid pupil and no one and nothing else. You are the greatest danger he has ever faced because neither he nor you can see what you are. I do. It's as simple as that." "You owe me more of an explanation," I said. "I owe you no explanation," he retorted. "The samurai class no longer exist, but this only means that every Japanese is now a samurai under the nation. You have an obligation to obey me since I am essentially your future father-in-law. As the daughter of a samurai, you should understand this duty better than most. You also claim you are the heir and master of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, your father's legacy, the sword that does not kill and protects at all cost. You are Kenshin's fiancée, and you say you love him. Protect him. Do what I'm telling you as Kamiya and as samurai, and if not that, then as the woman who loves him." "You and I both know that happiness is the one the thing greater than life and death," I said. "I'm marrying Kenshin because I know I can make him happy." "I know, but you know nothing about keeping someone's happiness." I had reached the limit of my patience. "Killing you right now would not be a violation of the creed of Kasshin Ryu. YOU are the enemy that he needs protecting from. I would only be affirming of my loyalty to my family, my country, and the man I love. Get out of my house," I said angrily. I half-expected him to laugh at what I had said. Hiko Seijurou knew as well as I that the only person I could hurt in a duel with him was myself. Instead, however, his shoulders sagged, and he suddenly seemed ancient and weary. I actually felt a tinge of sadness seeing him like that. I've never known a prouder man than Hiko Seijurou XIII. He always carried himself as if he were a god-man. At forty-five he was still strikingly handsome and looked more like he was twenty-eight. I admit that I admired him very much before today. "I know that you are not a bad person, Kamiya Kaoru," he said at length. "You're just too innocent, too stubborn, too human." "Don't patronize me," I snapped. "I am twenty years old." He chuckled. "I wish you were more like Tomoe." "You can't compare me with her. Tomoe is Tomoe. I am me." "That's the problem. Emperor Go-Yozei said once that the marriage of sin and innocence bears a sun. Tomoe and Go-Yozei believed being that sun was the worst thing that could happen to a person. You, on the other hand, think it would be wonderful to be the sun. You even hope the child you give my stupid pupil will be that sun. That's why I forbid you to marry Kenshin." "You could have told me that before," I muttered dryly. "You wouldn't have believed me, and you still don't," he answered. He seemed not to notice my sarcasm. "You're even more ungrateful than my stupid pupil. If you truly love my dorky student, you will not marry him. You really will be the doom of your husband and your children, but I suppose I really can't do anything to stop you short of killing you." I observed his hand resting atop of the hilt of his sword. "Don't worry," he said with a smirk. His eyes had followed mine. "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu isn't meant to be used on the innocent. You may be dangerous, but you're still innocent. I suppose I still shouldn't expect any gratitude from you even in the form of a little sake." "Get out," I said as coldly as I could manage. I was relieved that he obeyed that time because I couldn't afford to let him see how shaken I really was. I knew even as we spat words at each other that he believed he was acting as a father protecting his son. I'm scared by how hurt I really am. Are my convictions that weak? Can I be wrong? No, that's not possible. My heart can't be false. How can two hearts oppose one another and both be right? A Buddhist monk once told me that absolute and perfect Truth is the world on the other side of the mirror. I want to reach out, touch that Truth, and make it a part of me. I want to stand on the other side of the mirror. Why am I not worthy to be Kenshin's wife? I saw an old daguerreotype of Himura no Yukishiro Tomoe once. I've never seen a more beautiful or more perfect woman. She makes me feel ashamed of myself. She must be the kind of woman who lives on the other side of the mirror. I think I'm going to Kyoto tomorrow. I must have an answer to my question. -- Kamiya Kaoru August 12, 1880