The Perfect World
by: Ceres Mikage
E-mail: miyacka@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and its characters all belong to the mighty Nobuhiro Watsuki. This is just my fan-made story. Also, gomen if this isn't good. Hey, this is my first RK fanfic, after all!

Notes: It is my own version on how Tomoe died. Some spoilers from the Tsuiokuhen series of Rurouni Kenshin.

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So this is death.

Pain isn't the importance nor does suffering. My whole body is bleeding so badly. But my soul does not feel any pain at all. Nothing at all. My soul seems to be very light. It couldn't feel the moist earth on its feet. The only thing my soul can feel is his heart.

"You are going to be alright," Kenshin told me gently, though certainly that is not the case. I can barely breathe and what is this---he is crying? Softly, like the rain mists at the end of the summer. Truly, he is not as strong as I have thought.

"Why are you crying?" I asked gently. "Are you going to let me die with a heavy heart? Your tears weighs a burden that I couldn't possibly carry in afterlife."

"What are you saying, Tomoe?" he asked with a smile. "You are going to be alright. You are strong---very strong. You can handle this."

"I suppose, everything cannot be handled," I said breathing heavily. "And everything has an end."

Grasping all my strength left, I took my tanto---a small dagger, and I touched the scar on his left cheek. It is very deep. Carefully, I drew a deep wound on top of it with the use of my tanto. It must have hurt, but Kenshin let me. He just held me close and he didn't even complain. After that, I suddenly let go of my tanto.

"I want you to remember me with that," I told him.

"Hai," he answered. "You are always remembered because you stay," he held my hand into his left chest. "Here. Always."

I watch his eyes stare at me. They were beautiful yet very sad.

"You don't need to be sad," I told him. "Someone far better than me will love you much more than I did."

"Iie," he shook his head. "You are the only one who'll accept me. And you will always stay here beside me."

"That scar of yours is me," I tenderly said. "And the past behind you. One day, you'll see, that will heal perfectly. Your true happiness will be yours."

"Tomoe, it is time..." a familiar voice entered my ear.

"Akira? How did you get here?"

The pain of my wounds hurt me badly. My vision blurred, I couldn't see Kenshin well anymore. I am even more burdened by bleeding. Yet a hand---a hand from heavens held my hand tightly.

"Akira?"

"We'll be together again in heaven, Tomoe,"

I gaze at Kenshin for one last time the words, "I am sorry, Tomoe," escaped from his lips. I finally smiled for one last time and my body breathe no more.

I am now with Akira.

From the clouds of heaven, I looked upon his shadowy expression. When the time comes, Kenshin, we too, shall meet again. In this perfect world of no pain, no sadness, no goodbyes, no regrets and no problems at all.

Until that time, Kenshin...Shinta.

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Author's Notes:
That is probably the shortest and the saddest fanfiction I've ever written. Gomenasai, minna! But please review. Flames is highly accepted too ^__^.

Glossary:
Hai - A Japanese word for 'Yes'.
Iie - A Japanese word for 'No'.