The Lost Samurai

Chapter 17 - Waking Up

After the fight’s end Kenshin started to regain his consciousness, with the cursed chi suppressed his chi started to flow naturally and his body could regain its strength.

Kenshin slowly opened his eyes and was greeted by Kyoko kissing his forehead and Hori on a chair beside the bed he was laying on, faintly smiling at them and laughing at their faces covered in tears of happiness.

“Dad! You’re alive! I thought you wouldn’t resist, I was afraid I would never see you awake again, I'm so happy you survived!” Hugging him with all of her strength Kyoko drenched Kenshin’s clothes in tears, she didn’t know what she would do if she lost her dad so the relief of having him alive in front of her was uncontrollable, she just poured all of her sadness in those tears of pure joy.

“Kenshin, i knew you could do it, i really knew, you’re always invincible and our hero, if it wasn’t for you we would have all been killed by the dragons, that’s why i love you so much, we can always trust you, no matter what!” Hori smiled so widely that it was easy to see even her last teeth, her tears flowed by her face as the worries in her heart dissolved, her face and her tears unmasked Hori’s true emotions and all the worries she had, but she was too happy to care about face, she just wanted to hug and kissed her loved one right now.

“Kyoko my daughter, i’m your father so of course i can’t leave this world until you’re an adult and can easily live by yourself haha, don’t worry about me i’m strong enough, it doesn’t matter what threat i’m facing it won’t defeat me.” Kenshin quickly comforted his daughter, reassuring her and reciprocating her hug, gently patting her head. He knew his little girl was strong and getting older, but still she obviously couldn’t bear so much pain and affliction.

“Hori, i really don’t deserve you, my best friend since we were born and always helping me in everything, i can’t take so much love, and i even hurt you when i lost control, i’m so sorry, i just can’t apologize enough for this.” Kenshin looked at Hori with deep repentance in his eyes, he couldn’t bear hurting her like this, it just wasn’t right, but when he regained his senses she was already in a horrible state.

“Kenshin it’s all ok, i wouldn’t be hurt if it weren’t for you, without you i would be dead, and everyone in Red Sand City too, be it little Kyoko, my disciples or normal citizens, you only lost control cause you needed to save everyone, so you’re the hero in this story not the villain.” Hori knew Kenshin had no fault in this, to say the truth he was their savior, Hori and her disciples didn’t have enough power to stop the dragons so Kenshin passing by the city was a heavenly blessing.

Kenshin just silently nodded thanking Hori for not holding a grudge against him, many people had grudges against Kenshin, it was a normal thing once you climbed to the top, many persons at the bottom really started hating you for doing what they couldn’t, for putting more effort, for being more talented.

“Kyoko, could you help this old father of yours? I think I'm able to sit now but you need to give me a hand.” Kyoko helped him asap, grabbing Kenshin’s upper body and sitting him in the bed, he was already able to maintain this position, just lacked the strength to pull himself up.

With this help Kenshin sat straight, now he could properly look at everyone and also give a look around the room, he was surprised by the fact that he was alone in the room, not a single wounded person besides him resting him, but giving another thought it made some sense, more persons could disturb the chi and make it harder for him to recover and also Hori was crazy for him, she would treat him better than she treated herself.

“I see i have a particular room for myself, always so caring, love you Hori.” Kenshin was quick to thank her for the treatment, he always received the best treatment from her.

“I love you too, Kenshin! Love you so so much! Since we were just kids I wanted to hear those words coming from your mouth! Marry me and let’s form a beautiful family, me, you and Kyoko, and of course she will have brothers and sisters!” Hori’s eyes instantly watered and she couldn’t stop her tongue from spitting so many things, not even her fragile condition could hide her excitement.

Kenshin and Kyoko looked at her with weird expressions, Hori soon realized by Kenshin’s weird smile that he wasn’t saying i love with this connotation, and Kyoko didn’t seem to like the idea of forming a family with her and having lots of siblings.

“Heh, Hori, I said I love you like a friend, like a sister got it? But I still love you a lot, even if I have no romantic interest in you at all, to be honest I don't have any romantic interest in anyone.” Kenshin scratched his head, he couldn’t stop himself from saying how much he loved Hori, and she seemed happy to hear it, but still it was hard having to go through this every time he said something like this to her.

“Hahahaha, i knew it, silly, i was just joking a bit, but…but of course if you change your opinion and want to marry me someday i’m always available for you.” Now her teary eyes had a mix of happiness and sadness tears, Kyoko was by her side quietly comforting her and silently sharing her kindness with this woman after she was rejected so many times by her father.

Some disciples of Master Hori quietly entered the room with tea and some food which the group gladly accepted, after all they had gone through some food and drinks was a must to recover the lost energy.

“Wow, everything is delicious! You need to teach me how to make those pastries! I’d love to cook some myself later.” Kyoko was taking note of everything they ate and drank so she could try to replicate, her joy could only be the biggest by learning how to cook.

“Haha Kyoko, of course my girls will be glad to teach you their cooking secrets, i don’t know so much about cooking but they can be even better than your father.” Master Hori said is so carelessly but looking around she saw Kyoko with a fully shocked face and Kenshin giving her disciples an angry glint.

“Aren’t you exaggerating aunt Hori? Dad is dad, he’s the best cook I've met in all my life, not even the fanciest restaurants could come near his level.” Kyoko was at the same time shocked by Master Hori’s disciples cooking skills and skeptical about anyone being a better cook than her dad.

“Haha Kyoko, your Dad is really good, but last time he cooked something for me he still wasn’t at the same level as my girls, i don’t know if he has been practicing a lot but i bet he isn’t better.” Hori was at the same time trying to provoke Kenshin and curious about his cooking, if he had become any better she would love to taste it.