The Kenshin Residence (Title Subject to Change)

Birth

It was 2 am on the morning of March 7th and behind the shades of a dimly lit room, immense groans of pain were heard. If no one had known any better, they would have thought it to be a murder or some type of burglary from the sounds. Creaking and thumping all came from that same room. A woman with snow white hair and fox ears squeezed her spouse's hand tightly as she continued to push, holding back more screams and groans, trying her hardest to stay composed while in excruciating pain.

"It's alright darling, I'm here. Everything is okay," the jet-black-haired man told his spouse. His voice was deep and felt harsh, though the woman knew that he was sweet when he needed to be. She squeezed his hand tightly once more, trying to focus more on his hand than the pain she was experiencing. She could feel the baby sliding its way down and out, just one more good push and she would be relieved of this burning feeling, finally.

Another hard push and she let out a cry, one that could be heard from their house to the other side of the village. Lights from all the other villagers began to switch on. People knew what was happening, and that the couple these sounds were coming from didn't believe in going to the hospital for this type of thing, or at least that's what they thought.

Their family held a secret, something that no one would believe even if they'd seen it with their own eyes. The mother and father were not the normal type of parents, from birth, the baby was not normal either. Even with all the precautions taken though, there was not much to hide when it came to this moment, this baby would change how they had to live forever.

The deafening whine of a baby was heard on that silent night, windows were closed and people turned their lights out, glad they knew that the baby was alive and well. The mother held her baby in her arms with the sweetest smile on her face, staring her white-haired baby in his face.

"Yushiro.. That's what his name will be.." That name spoke to her right when she laid eyes on him. There would be no disputing it either, she was not going to accept anything else. She was the one experiencing that pain so she'd be the one to name the child. The husband was fine with that also, knowing that she wouldn't accept anything else but what she named the child. He looked down to the child, with a smile but only for a moment as he realized the white strands of hair on Yushiro's head. In the brief moment that he did realize, his expression changed from relief to disgusted. Kaedae saw and realized all of this, though never said a word as she wanted to find out whether or not he actually wanted to tell her face-to-face.

White hair, nothing that a parent like him would want in a child. If anything, it's the last thing that he wanted. A white haired child was nothing but bad luck in their culture, those had the potential to be something either incredibly great or incredibly evil. Over generations, white haired children born of their people's descent were shunned because of the things they could do. The ability to learn and adapt faster than anything on this Earth was only one skill they had though just that could make them dangerous. The only reason this was even a problem was because one man that no one knows the name of brought pain and destruction among their people and he had white hair, he had more power than anyone else could handle and he brought the world into a dark time. He brought the Age of Terror, a time where humans treated their people as gods, though through the tyranny of that one man. He is the reason why his people have to live in the shadows now. And any parent with a white haired child should feel ashamed for even having such a thing.

The mother seemed okay with it though. He figured it was because of her hair also, but Kito knew she was different. With a small sigh he closed his eyes and crossed his arms, waiting for Kaedae to be finished indulging in the child's charm. At that moment, she looked up to the husband with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.

"It's our son! It's my little Yu." She was so filled with joy at that moment.

After holding Yushiro for a while, Kaedae handed the baby off to her spouse carefully. He took the baby with a smile, trying not to show any more of his disgust than at that one moment before, and carried him into the childproof room they had finished setting up a few days earlier. Before placing the boy down, the husband looked directly into the newborn's eyes as if he was searching for something. He gently placed the child down and making sure it was resting soundly, then went back into the room with Kaedae, sitting next to her and taking her hand.

"Kito, I want him to grow up with the other children. I want him to learn their way of life," Kaedae told him, wondering what he'd think.

"Are you sure? Do you think he would fit with them?" Kito replied, referring to the fact the child had white hair.

"If finding a companion or two is what you're worried about, you have nothing to fear. After all, I found you didn't I?" Kaedae replied quickly, not bothering to dispute the matter any longer. She was drained. She knew there would be a bit of tension between them from the moment she saw his white hair, and she knew that he was upset because of his white hair and all the potential the child could have.

"Though, darling... I don't think this one will turn out like us. There aren't any of us out here Kaedae..."

"We moved out here. We did this to him," Kito replied. He wasn't too sure if he was to feel glad or bad for his child. "What if he ends up with a non-youkai? What if they betray him--turn him in? What is he to do in a situation where he has to make a influential decision? If he were to become something or someone he didn't even know anymore?" Kito just wanted his wife to think about all the things that could happen to their son. Even if Yushiro had white hair, he didn't want him to think of himself to be any less than anyone else.

Kaedae's expression softened as she listened to her spouse. A small smile formed on her face before she spoke, "Kito, you're worried about him. I'm glad. I know he's fine though. We must let him find his own way and guide him as he strays away from his path."

Kito's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Kaedae's face while she spoke, her words spoke to him in a way that he couldn't understand. He wanted to believe her though his subconscious wouldn't let him. "We can only hope and wait then," Kito replied, holding back the urge to tell her how exactly he was feeling.

Kaedae nodded silently, glad that he agreed to the basics of what she was saying and showed that gratitude by pulling his hand up to her cheek and rubbing the back of his hand against it gently. "I love you," she told him. They both knew that using the word love in their culture signified a special bond between the two using the word--something that went beyond mind and body and when it was used in a context like this one, it was a thank you for everything.

Kito pulled her fragile hand back to him, brought it up to his face and planted a small kiss on her middle knuckle. "And I wouldn't ask for any more than what you've given me, Kaedae," he replied with the most genuine smile. "Now, I'll be right back," he told her, holding that same smile before walking out of the room and into their bedroom.

Inside of the almost pitch black room, a picture of the two standing side-by-side in yukatas hung over the headboard of the bed. As he looked into his own azure hues, it brought Kito back to the moment he and Kaedae got married. But instead of the whole wedding, just the moment they pledged their love for one another, using the word in their vows. He shook his head and was brought back to Earth with the thought of getting that blanket for Kaedae all over his mind. He felt around the bed for the hefty blue and black throw they once used to cover themselves during cold nights out in their old village. Finally, he grasped the throw tightly and left the room, walking into Yushiro's room to check if everything was okay. There he was, sleeping soundly in his cradle. A small sigh escaped his lips before going into the living room with Kaedae again and sitting back next to her, swinging the cover over their bodies and letting it float down on them.

Kaedae nodded to him in thanks after he sat down with her. "So, what's the plan? Do we teach him how to conceal once he's of age?"she questioned, hoping for an answer she'd like.

"You know that trying for that is dangerous, Kaedae. He needs to be around people when he practices or it wouldn't work, his nerves would get the best of him and if he messed up, who knows what these villagers would do to him. I think it would be best if we let him show his ears from the first day they met him--try to get them used to how he looks. Maybe they'll think we are just odd parents. I think that would be the best case scenario at this point."

"We can dress him up on his first day. Seems like it would be the occasion right? I mean, since we are here and this place is significant to our people, maybe the elderly will have a small connection to him. Maybe they'll show a little sympathy." Kaedae replied.

Kito nodded to her statement. He thought that it would be a decent idea for them to do that, it would at least make them seem a little more normal to them.