Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Author Notes:

1. Just to clear things up before they even start, I very well know that Kenji hated his father, but in this fic Kenji loves him.

2. Character's thoughts are in italics and single quotes.

3. I have edited the story because I have come to the realization that the whole work-in-progress was peppered with grammatical mistakes. To those who have remained patient throughout this ordeal, thank you so much. -hug-

The Things I Do for You

By: Lynn

Chapter 1 (Prologue)

"Daddy, daddy!"

Kenshin Himura smiled warmly at the response his six-year old son gave him as he entered Kenji's room to say 'good night.'

"Hello, Kenji," Kenshin responded, sitting down next to the boy and ruffling his red hair. He loved his son so much; how he had ever lived without him before was a question better left unanswered. "How was your day?"

"Great!" The little boy's eyes that so resembled his father's sparkled as he recalled the day's exciting events in his head. "I helped mommy around the house!"

"You did?" Kenshin's eyes widened as he pretended to be in absolute shock (as father's usually do to their children) and his smile got wider.

Kenji grinned proudly as he saw how much he shocked Daddy. "Yep! While mommy was cleaning, a HUGE spider jumped out at her!" He spread his arms out wide to prove his point.

Kenshin appeared horrified. His mouth dropped open, while inwardly, he found it quite amusing to imagine Kaoru's face expression when she saw the spider. Yes, she was a sensei of a dojo, but she also had this inward phobia with bugs of any kind. Of course, she did not reveal this to just anyone in particular. "Oh, no! Then what happened?"

Kenji smiled slyly as the event passed through his mind all over again. "Mommy screamed, and I squashed 'em!" He imitated squashing the spider by pounding his fist into an open hand and adding sound effects.

Kenshin couldn't help but laugh. His son was too adorable. He just wished that Kenji would stay this age forever...but of course, that wasn't meant to be. Better make the best of the beautiful moments they had together. "Wonderful job, Kenji! I'm sure mommy appreciated it greatly, that she did. You're a big help around the house!"

"Yeah, yeah," Kenji nodded as if he knew that already. "Now I want you to tell me a story!"

Kenshin smiled, knowing his son always asked for his bed-time story. "All right, then. What tonight?"

Kenji looked up at his daddy with his big, innocent eyes. He pulled Kenshin into the futon with him so they were cuddled together. Kenji buried his little face into Kenshin's yukata, and mumbled something. "Whell e hmw I whas whown..."

"What was that?"

Kenji looked up at him and gave him a hug. His eyes pleaded for his daddy's consent. "Tell me the story of how I was born, please."

"Oro?" Kenshin prepared himself for something surprising, but wasn't enough for that kind of an 'outburst.' He expected Kenji would ask anything but that! For instance, he once asked out of the blue to hear a story about war. Kaoru happened to be in ear shot, and before Kenshin could even reply, she burst into his room, eyes ablaze.

"He's too young for such things!"

Or he expected him to ask about interesting things Kenshin saw or did while he was wandering (Kenshin wouldn't tell him why he was wandering, of course. His travels were just interesting to a boy of six to hear at night without asking any–erm–unusual questions...).

Kenshin gave Kenji a quizzical look, wondering if he was kidding. Boys of six never ask questions like that, so this was new news to him.

Apparently, Kenji was not. It was almost if he could read Kenshin's mind as he gave a pouty face and answered, "I'm not kidding, daddy. You always say 'oro!' when you think I'm kidding. Well, I'm not." Kenji settled down without another word, and looked up at his father expectantly.

"Well--err–you see. . ." Kenshin stammered. Then he stopped. "Why? Why are you so interested?"

Kenji shrugged. "I don't know," he laughed as he added, "I just want to know!"

Kenshin sighed, and smiled. "All right. I'm not sure if I remember everything word-perfect, but I'll see what I can do." He then closed his eyes and relaxed in his thinking position, ignoring his sons protesting groans of impatience. This was going to be a story and a half!

Before he knew it, he let himself wander into his own little world. Actually, now that he thought about it, he remembered that story fairly well, all the way back to the time when Kaoru told him the "good news"...

"Oro!" Kenshin was pulled out of his thoughts by a little hand tugging at his hair.

"Daddy!" Kenji whined impatiently with a very agitated look on his face, crossing his arms resolutely. "Story!" he whined.

"Of course, sorry," Kenshin apologized, getting his thoughts in order. "Well," he began with a small, sinister smile, clearing his throat and looking around to see in anyone else was listening besides the two.

Leaning in close, he whispered, "Now this is between just us men, okay?"

Kenji, excited about a secret being told between them, only nodded, his full attention on his father.

"Well..." Kenshin paused, letting the suspense hang. "This might be a little hard on you; maybe I should wait until you're a little older..."

That bout of playfulness on Kenshin's part only caused a barrage of comebacks.

Kenshin, grinning inwardly, outwardly nodded quietly. "All right, but don't tell your mother." He leaned in again. "She...thought you would be...a girl."

"A WHAT!?"

"Shhh!" Kenshin put a finger to his lips to quiet the boy. "Remember, it's supposed to be a secret!"

Kenji quieted down, but now he demanded to know why.

And Kenshin began from the very beginning...