Chapter 1
Himura Kenshin breathed in the crisp evening air, a
serene smile on his face.
Yes. He just couldn't wait.
Tomorrow is his wedding day.
Could anyone be more lucky than him? After the
wedding ceremony was over, he and Kaoru would be husband and wife, and they
would live in peace, finally, after all the problems and difficulties they had
faced.
At last, he would be able to truly put down his
sword, and Hitokiri Battousai would just be a distant memory.
But…
Something still troubles me, he thought, as the tranquil
smile on his face slowly faded. I wish I knew what it was…
"Kenshin! Dinner!"
Kaoru's shrill voice jarred him out of his thoughts.
"Coming, Kaoru!" He smiled, pleased that now he was used to calling her just
plain "Kaoru" and not "Kaoru-DONO"…a small thing, but still very significant.
He walked slowly but surely, stopping at the door
leading to the dojo. Inside, he saw Yahiko, Ayame, Suzume, Genzai-sensei, and
of course, Kaoru, seated on the floor.
He entered the room quietly. The other occupants of
the dojo barely noticed him, for they were busy stuffing their faces with food.
Only one person truly noticed him, however, and that was Kaoru.
"Kenshin!" she exclaimed, waving to him. "Where have
you been? Here- eat your dinner before it gets cold. Genzai-sensei brought this
food, wasn't that so nice of him?"
"Yes," Kenshin agreed. He turned to the said doctor,
gratefully. "Arigato de gozaru yo, Genzai-sensei."
"No, no," Genzai, an affectionate, generous old
doctor, who was a long-time friend of theirs, replied. "You don't need to thank
me. Just think of it as an advanced wedding gift." He winked, good-naturedly.
"Still, thank you," Kenshin said, and sat down
beside Kaoru. He picked up his chopsticks, and started to eat his food.
"Hmm…this is good!"
"Yeah, it is," Yahiko, a young boy who was Kaoru's
student, agreed heartily. "Definitely much better than Kaoru's cooking. Well,
ANYTHING is better than Kaoru's cooking."
"NANI?!" Kaoru stood up, enraged. "WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Yahiko grinned. "I said, your cooking was terrible,
BUSU!"
"BUSU?!?!?!?!" Kaoru shouted, seething. "Watch your
mouth, Yahiko-CHAN!!!!!!"
"Yahiko-CHAN?!" This time Yahiko stood up, banging
his fists on the table. "I'm not just some dumb old kid you--"
"Ma, ma!" Kenshin stepped in between the two. "Stop
it, okay? Let's just eat."
With a huff and a grunt, the two sat back down.
Kenshin sighed, and started to sit back down, when a
voice behind him suddenly piped up, "Hey! You two already look like husband and
wife, you know?"
He turned around, smiling. "Tae-dono! What brings
you here?" He stood up and escorted their friend, Tae, into the dojo.
Tae smiled in return. "How do you do, Kenshin-san?
Kaoru-san?"
"We're both fine," Kaoru replied warmly. "Have a
seat, please?"
Tae shook her head. "No, thank you. I just came here
to give you these presents." She gave Kaoru a small bottle of perfume, and a
new blue gi to Kenshin.
Kaoru jumped up in delight. "Thank you, thank you,
Tae-san!" she gushed. "They're perfect for the ceremony tomorrow! I didn't have
any money to buy some perfume for the wedding, and this is just great--"
"I'm glad you liked it, Kaoru-san," Tae said,
pleased at Kaoru's reaction.
"Thank you too, Tae-dono," Kenshin said, beaming. "I
could wear this for the ceremony tomorrow, too."
Kaoru proceeded to opening the bottle and putting
some of the perfume on. "Hmm…it smells nice, Tae-san! What is it?"
Tae paused to think. "Um…I forgot what it's
called…um…"
That scent…"White plum," Kenshin said, in such a strange tone,
that Kaoru and the others stared at him.
"I'm surprised you know these kinds of things,
Kenshin-san," Tae commented.
Kenshin started. "Uh…someone I know used to wear
it."
"Who's--" Tae started to ask, but the expression on Kenshin's face
stopped her. Instead, she turned to Kaoru, and bid her farewell.
"Goodbye, Kaoru-san, and good luck on your wedding.
Ja!"
"Ja, take care, Tae-san!" She smiled, although this
time her eyes reflected a bit of unease.
Since Tae already left, Kenshin sat back down, and
resumed eating. He couldn't eat anymore, though, having strangely lost his
appetite, and just set down his bowl.
White plum. It was that same perfume she used to
wear, the same pleasant scent that filled his nostrils whenever she was around.
It was one and the same…
He needed to put all his strength to this attack. He had no other
choice, for all his senses had been numbed by the pain they inflicted on him.
He couldn't see his opponent, can't hear his movement…and he couldn't even feel
his way around…it was a hopeless situation. Yet he had to, if he was fated to
die, then so be it, just as long as he gets to kill his opponent too.
He gripped his katana tightly, and charged at his enemy, putting all
his energy into the attack. He just had to get this one blow right……!!!!!
I'm sorry Tomoe…live on in the new era…and be happy…
His sword hit flesh. He knew he had finally won the battle…and yet,
something was not right…
That's the scent of white plums… he thought, terror
beginning to seize him. Could it be that…he had…
"Kenshin?"
That voice cut into his thoughts, waking him from his
reverie. He looked up, startled, and looked up right into Kaoru's face.
"Doushita, Kenshin?" she said, worry etched into her
features. "You've been staring into that wall for quite a long time. Daijobu
ka?"
"Uh…yes, I'm fine," he said, a little bit distracted.
"I think…I'm just sleepy, that's all. I'm going to my futon now." Thus said, he
turned and left the others, deep in thought.
Why did it have to bother him now? He thought he already found the answers to
his questions, that day he fought Enishi. But still…
Tomoe died because of you, a small voice inside him said. You can never run you're your
true self. What if—for some reason—the same thing would happen to Kaoru?
Kenshin thought back to the time he thought Kaoru
died. He recalled feeling the anguish, the self-hatred, for not having
protected the one he loved, once again.
A cold-hearted killer—that's
what you are.. Battousai would always be within you… Battousai is your true self,
not the Himura Kenshin Kaoru so loved.
Kenshin put a hand over his ears. Stop! Make it stop…he pleaded
silently. Why is
it still bothering me now? I thought it was all over…
"Kenshin? Are you okay?"
That voice cut into his thoughts, and his eyes
snapped open, suddenly aware of his surroundings.
Kaoru was there, behind him, for she had followed him
after he left the room. "Kenshin? Please…are you all right? Speak to me,
please?"
"I'm fine," his voice coming out colder than he
intended.
Kaoru stopped, hurt at his tone. "The perfume…it
bothers you. Well then… I won't wear it tomorrow."
Kenshin turned to her, an apologetic look on his
face. "I didn't mean to sound so harsh. I'm sorry…
Kaoru looked at him. "Tomoe used to wear this
perfume." It was a statement, not a question.
"Yes, she did," Kenshin replied wistfully. He turned
away. "I shall go now, Kaoru. Oyasumi de gozaru."
"Oyasumi." Kaoru whispered, and started to go back to
the dining room, tears suddenly coming to her eyes. She glanced back at
Kenshin, waiting for him to turn back, and ask pardon for his cold treatment of
her. He didn't, though, and sighing, Kaoru went on her way.
