Disclaimer: Anyway, I don't own any of the RK characters, just my own characters. And I'm pretty sure it should be easy to see who those people are. XD;

A good note would be that: This is not new. I posted the first 5 chapters before (in like 2004/2005), but I'm re-editing this fic (since it seemed a bit confusing), and going to post more than just those five chapters if there are enough people that like it. :3 Once I finish editing all 20+ chapters I have of this XD;

Title: Cherry Blossoms and White Lilacs
Author: Milai Sapphire

Rating: T

Chapter 1 - The Premonition

Kenshin sat outside admiring the sunset and its vibrant array of oranges, reds, and yellows. Fiery colors that shone like the flames of the sun, and faded into a darkness of blue, black, and indigo. Sunset changed to moonrise and stars of a distant galaxy vibrated with light. As he closed his eyes, from a distant past, the smell of white lilac remained prominent. However, it was a signal of danger. It was a sign that something was awry, and something had been wrong back then, his love for Tomoe. Petals of the fragrant cherry blossoms began to fall. The wind carried the delightful fragrance, as a lone petal flew past Kenshin's eyes falling in his hand. Sanosuke walked past the young man, and watched as he remained in deep thought.

"Something wrong Kenshin?" the former fighter-for-hire inquired, his deep voice overthrowing the power of the whistling winds.

"Beware of cherry blossoms and white lilacs…" Kenshin stood up still holding the petal in his hand. There had been something weird about the way that old lady had said those same words when he was shopping in the city earlier that day. And now, he could only wonder if it were simply that woman's premonition or just a random hunch? Her words had been half true, considering his past, but it was the past.

"What do you mean Kenshin? Cherry blossoms and white lilacs? They're only flowers…" Sanosuke replied leaning back against the post watching Kenshin's narrowed eyes like those of the Battousai.

"One reveals its true nature when danger arises, and the other breathes death." Kenshin opened his hand allowing the uncrushed petal to fly with the wind, then turned to face Sanosuke his eyes no longer those of the manslayer, but a genuine friend, "It's a forewarning Sano."

"Oh…" Sanosuke shrugged his shoulders, convinced there was something wrong with his friend, "…Okay."

"Listen to my advice, Sanosuke. Do not fall in a trap that I once did." Kenshin walked through the hallways of the Kamiya dojo back to the kitchen. Sanosuke watched as Kenshin disappeared behind the corner. Ever since his marriage to Kaoru, he had been more protective than before and slowly his instincts as a swordsman began to fade. Sometimes he didn't seem the same as before, and he got the sense that something was troubling Kenshin. But it was something that he had no desire to reveal. A cherry blossom petal with an enticing fragrance flew past his face, and landed in his outstretched hand.

"Cherry blossoms…very beautiful flowers…" Megumi stated as she watched them float by, "Lilacs suit you much better Sanosuke. I thought you'd have a better feminine nose than that…" she smirked cunningly.

"Are you hinting something Megumi?" he glared at her, crushing the petal in his hand.

"No…nothing at all." She watched as he opened his hand revealing the crushed petal, "Pink just isn't your color."

"Megumi…you'd better start running…" Sanosuke stood up straight, a flame in his eyes.

"Oh what do you know? I have an errand to run for Miss Kaoru…" she laughed cowering away from his intimidating look walking in the direction Kenshin had headed.

"Some things never change, do they Sanosuke?" Kaoru asked walking out of the door behind him.

"No I guess not. So how are things going for you and Kenshin? You seem happy together."

"I suppose so…" she sighed looking up in the sky at the bluish-gray clouds that formed above in the nighttime sky. There were times when she wondered herself, if having Kenshin by her side day and night was just a dream or indeed a reality. Even now there was no definite answer, but she was happy just having him there with her at the very least.

"You both really love each other don't you?" Sanosuke inquired causing Kaoru to look straight at him.

"Yes we do."

"Kaoru…" Sanosuke began albeit hesitantly, "…I have this feeling that he's afraid of something."

"Afraid? Of what?"

"He's warned me against something."

"What is it Sanosuke?"

"Cherry blossoms and white lilacs…"

"Cherry blossoms…?" Kaoru watched as Aoshi stepped in through the fence, cherry blossoms falling past him delicately painting a serene, pastoral picture with a dark backdrop of the night sky. "Aoshi…"

"Where's Kenshin?" he asked with the faintest hint of urgency in his tone of voice as he nodded as a greeting to both Sanosuke and Kaoru.

"He's in the kitchen." Sanosuke replied watching as Aoshi left with a brief thanks.

"He seemed to be in a bit of a hurry." Kaoru watched as he passed by.

"You can never tell with Aoshi. Well, I had better get going shouldn't I?"

"Sano…mind if I ask about you and Megumi?"

"What about Megumi and myself?"

"Is there a potential relationship there?" she smirked.

"Nah…Megumi's not really my type. We're just friends still, which I'm alright with. Plus, I'm happy just the way I am. Strong, single, sexy, and free…" he said, raising his arm while flexing his muscles. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightening, Kaoru struck Sanosuke on the head with her fist.

"A bit full of ourselves aren't we Sanosuke?" Kaoru raised an eyebrow, looking in the other direction, " You aren't getting any younger you know? Isn't it time for you fall in love…?"

"What are you talking about? You're acting weird…" Sanosuke inched away, noticing the hearts in her eyes. "Then again, is that really any different from the usual?" He mumbled softly to himself. For all he knew, she could be trying to arrange an o-miai for him in her mind.

"Thanks." Kaoru glared at him slightly, replacing that expression with a more pensive look, "I think that's what Kenshin's trying to tell you about. A warning about love, but a warning to be careful in falling for someone."

"I don't need love at all." He began to walk away.

"It's inevitable Sanosuke…" Kaoru spoke as he walked to the kitchen, where Aoshi and Kenshin were meeting. It's truly unavoidable. Deep down inside you need that love. I wish you the best of luck. It might not be all glamour for you. You just may meet your match. Kaoru placed her hand against the post, and watched as Sanosuke walked away, his head bent down.

In the kitchen…

Kenshin and Aoshi sat down together to discuss important news of which Aoshi had heard. Watching the pools of steaming liquid, Kenshin never removed his eyes from his translucent reflection.

"There's a fighter out there looking for you, the Battousai. He's part of a group known as the Tatsukoshi, which is a very dangerous group of ninjas and swordsmen. " Aoshi glanced over in the hallway as Sanosuke walked in.

"Is that so? What's the name of this fighter?" Sanosuke asked, joining the conversation as he took a seat between Aoshi and Kenshin.

"The fighter? His name is Hatsuma." Aoshi watched as the wind howled outside. A storm is kicking up.

"So his name is Hatsuma?" Sanosuke asked crossing his hands across his chest.

"I've only heard rumors about the guy, but he's a very talented swordsman. They would compare him to you, Kenshin."

"How do you know that this challenge is genuine?" Sanosuke inquired looking at Aoshi, as he removed a sealed note from inside his trench coat. Kenshin looked down at the note, and picked it up, "Is that from Hatsuma directly?"

"I have no clue. The person walked past me, and told me to hand this note to Kenshin. When I turned around, they were long gone."

"That's interesting." Kenshin opened the letter placing down his cup, "So…he wants a challenge by the river."

"What are you going to do Kenshin?" Sanosuke asked watching as Kenshin stood up. A flash of lightening brightened the room, revealing Kenshin's face and defining it with shadows. His face hadn't changed a bit in their years of knowing each other, and he retained that youthfulness they all remembered in their times together during the Meiji era. However, his eyes, which were full of wisdom and had seen many battles, revealed the truth of his life and his definite age.

"Quite frankly, Sanosuke…I have no clue as to what I'm going to do, that I don't. From the terms given to me in the letter, it seems as if my choices are very limited and I would be forced into a fight."

"So you're going to fight the guy?" Sanosuke inquired, his eyes remaining closed as his arms remained crossed against his chest. Before Kenshin could speak, Sanosuke started, "It's different now Kenshin…different than it was three years ago. You have Kaoru and Kenji to worry about…let me handle it for you."

"…Sano…" Kenshin looked over at his friend.

"It's the least I can do for you Kenshin…" he opened his eyes and looked up at Kenshin from the top of his eyes, "So what do you say?"

"Thanks Sano, but…" Kenshin allowed the letter to drop from his hand onto the table, "…I can't let you do that."

"You've got to be kidding me Kenshin. Would you really put your life on the line for a challenge?"

"I must agree with Sanosuke, Kenshin. Is it worth the risk?" Aoshi spoke up, glancing up at Kenshin.

"Would I prefer to live without those I love by my side?" he replied softly referring to the letter. A silence reigned throughout the room as Sanosuke and Aoshi glanced quickly at the letter. A friendly look replaced Kenshin's stern expression, as he turned to Aoshi, "By the way Aoshi, cherry blossoms and white lilacs…beware…"

"What?" Aoshi whispered, as Kenshin walked out of the room. Leaning against the wall, he sighed and walked towards the storage room, where his sword remained. Pulling out the reverse-blade sword slightly from its sheath in the dark night, he watched as the moonlight glistened on the blade. Cherry blossoms continued to fall from the tree, and with the quick movement of the wrist, the full sword was revealed slicing a collection of petals in half as they suspended in the air. From behind a door, a pair of crystal sapphire eyes peered through the opening watching Kenshin transform. Heaving a sigh, she stole another look at the man whose eyes narrowed, and closed the door leaning against it.

"My greatest fear has come true…" Kaoru whispered softly clutching a hand to her heart gently, "Kenshin…"

Author's Note: Wow…it's been a while. I'd say, 5 years? Since I've touched this fic, and this series (my love for it has been renewed 3). Reworked some things since coming back and reading it later, I could see what was confusing. ; Totally wrote this back in like 2002 using the English dub as my main reference. (A dub series that I actually still like), so I won't change any of the "Miss Kaoru" to "Kaoru-dono" and stuff like that for my sanity in editing. Tell me how I've done by reading and reviewing (makes me sad when people read and don't comment D:). It at least gives me an idea of whether or not I should put time and effort into editing and posting up chapters (finally something I can update religiously, almost weekly, since I have a lot of it written already X3 coughsunlike my tenipuri fanfic since I'm still writing the chapter I have to update withcoughs).