Prologue

By Crystal Snowflakes

Author's Notes: This is the rewritten version of 'Blood and White Plums'. Even though it is the rewritten version of it, I intend it to be quite different in a lot of parts. Perhaps more description of the relationship between Tomoe and Kenshin, because I feel like as if I haven't really shown their love. Either way, thank you. I hope you enjoy it all.

Oh, and last thing, the chapters will be put together. Less updates.

Thank you Heddy.Thanks with the notes, as you can see, I've tried to use your notes and you're actually quite right about Kaoru training, she is too young. As for the dojo, if you find anything about it, please tell me. For the time being, I will still have the dojo in the story. And I will look over the tenses. As for Toshiko, she does have plans, although little, but I might change that. Even though she has plans, it will come later (at the sequel). If I have a sequel, that is. I might just continue it onto this story. I really don't know for now, but anyways, thank you once again. I appreciate everything you've said

Disclaimers: All things that are remotely familiar do not belong to me, but to Nobuhiro Watsuki.

February 8th, 1864

On a street in Kyoto, he became a person never to return... I am on a mission to kill the Hitokiri Battousai.

Softly, I closed the journal. I felt my eyes burn with tears, yet none came. The only thing I felt like I had to do, like I had to fulfill, was Kiyosato-san's revenge. I will avenge him. My ignorance of this occurrence has passed. I no longer believed that Kiyosato-san's death was a lie, although it pains me to remember that he did not even bid a farewell to me before he passed away. I burned for the Battousai's death. I yearned for revenge.

Slowly, I turned towards my sister, her form sprawled on the ground, taking a nap, her breath even. I felt my anger burn away and all that was left was love. Love for Toshiko-chan, love for Enishi, Father... Kiyosato-san...

I turned my glance away from my sister and towards the moon...

He has red hair like the color of blood, his eyes amber like the dying fires in Hell.

"Battousai..." I whispered his name out unconsciously. My fist clenched slightly, anger filling my heart again as I felt my heart freeze up. Even though I believe that Kiyosato-san was dead, there is always the possibility of it being false information lingering in my heart. That possibility always at the back of my head, always there, never leaving. I was always praying that it would be someone to tell us that it was a mistake in the information every time someone knocked on our property.

I choked on my breath for a second, and then relaxed myself, knowing it was no good for anyone to be so worked up. The revenge has been planned. Whether or not it will be completed is a matter of fate. It is not in my hands.

Closing my eyes, I began picturing how the Hitokiri Battousai would be. An old man with a slash on his left cheek... A slash that Kiyosato-san has caused. On his head would be dry crimson red hair tied in a high ponytail, the hair threatening to fall off from aging, golden eyes that narrowed with anger and hatred, a katana at his head, sheaths for the daisho at the sides... His clothes... His clothes tainted and drenched in blood. My eyes opened as I heard the shoji slide open.

Enishi... My dear Enishi. Why has fate been so cruel to our family? Why? Why have you always been so lonely? Why so much like me? Why could you not have been a normal boy, one that would be carefree, one that would not care about the family as much... That way... That way... You would be spared of this horrible truth. You would be safe from this revenge...

Why Enishi? A small smile, barely visible came from my lips as you approached. I cupped your cheek as I looked into your eyes, full of fury and rage for this world. Despite what you believe dear, this world is not as horrible as you think... There are many good things in life, although it is a shame for the both of you to be born in such a period... To be born in such a violent and bloody era... It is just not fair. If only... If only the two of you could live happily in a more peaceful period of time. A period of time that had no worries about watching your back every second for fear of getting killed...

Toshiko-chan stirred beside me and I watched her. I am going to miss the both of you... I picked her up gently, fully intending to carry her to her futon, but when my eyes met Enishi's, I was shocked at the intensity of his stare.

"Enishi..." I flattered and decided not to tell him of tomorrow's leave. Slowly, I stood up with Toshiko-chan in my arms.

"Neechan, what's wrong?" I heard him ask. I knew he had seen the traveling bag lying near my futon.

Knowing I had no other choice but to tell him, I did. "I am going away tomorrow. And do not protest. There is something I had to do, and it is not something I can just forget, nor is it something I can not due because you don't want me leaving."

"Neechan..." His head hung and I felt guilty, but there was nothing to be done.

I felt my eyes burn again, "Enishi..." I started, "Remember, Aishiteru...Zutto. Sayonara." I slid the shoji closed and carried Toshiko-chan to her futon.

When I returned back into my room, Enishi had already disappeared. I put my journal in my bag before I blew out the candle, then I caught myself gazing at the stars.

If the stars are beautiful to you, it means something. It means that you are happy, that you are contented and satisfied about your life. If the stars don't look particularly lovely at all, then it is not the problem of the stars, but yours. There is something wrong with you. In that case, I would advise you to fix whatever that is wrong, because life is short, and we should not spend our time unsatisfied about our life. The stars are always the same, never changing. Whether they are pretty or not has nothing to do with them, it has to do with you and your thoughts. Keep this advice in mind, Tomoe-chan... It will serve for the future.

I closed my eyes, sighing. "Okaasan... I wish you were here to give me advice. Or perhaps with that knowledge of yours, you have already. I am unsatisfied about my life, and your advice is for me to do something about it... Revenge on the Battousai... Avenge Kiyosato-san..."

Turning away from the scenery, I laid down in my futon, feeling the burdens start to pile once again, as well as the weight on my eyelids. I began closing my eyes, nervous yet pleased at my decision for leaving tomorrow. But before that... I would have to visit someone of extreme importance...

When I awoke, it was already seven and I was planning on buying some provisions before my trip. Although I have brought plenty of money, I did not know how the trip to Kyoto would be, and I'd rather be safe than sorry. Sliding open the shoji door leading to Enishi and Toshiko-chan's room, I stood at the doorway glancing and memorizing their forms for a long time. They were both sleeping peacefully without a worry... Even before I was satisfied with myself, I left, knowing that I would never want to leave if I stayed any longer...

I did not know if I were to return...

Before I left the house, I left a letter for my father...

Otousan

I approached the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo and the closer I got, her cries became more audible. So Kao-chan was up early again, attempting to practice. I am so jealous of you, Kao-chan... To be able to an atypical woman in the future. To not be useless and be able to fight with a sword, let alone master the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu...

Gomen nasai... I apologize for the leave on such a short notice... But I have no choice. Although we have never discussed it ourselves, you and I both know that one of these days, I would leave for Kyoto. I had the choice to stay, but if I had done that, I would never have been able to live with myself...

Her figure ran up towards me when I opened the door to the Dojo... She embraced me. Although her palms and she herself was sweaty, I did not mind a bit. Bending down, I lifted her up and gave her a tiny smile.

"Ohayou Tomoe-san!" She grinned cheerfully. One thing I'll forever be jealous of. Whoever married her in the future would be the luckiest man on earth.

Otousan... Onegai... Take care of Toshiko-chan and Enishi. Perhaps I will return, perhaps I will not. How this whole thing will go is out of my control and I will leave it to Kami-sama to decide... Take care of yourself.

"Kao-chan." I greeted her.

"What's wrong, Tomoe-san?" You always know when there's something wrong, Kao-chan... Always...

Quick footsteps came from the inside of the dojo and the shoji slammed open, "Kaoru-chan!". Kamiya-san... As he noticed me, he approached and scolded Kao-san fondly, "How many times have I told you Kaoru-chan? You aren't old enough to start the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu yet..."

"Demo Otousan!" She protested.

A warmhearted smile appeared on Kamiya-san's face, "Ohayo Tomoe-san." He greeted.

"Ohayo Kamiya-san... How are you this morning?"

"Quite well. How are you?"

I looked around nervously, "As all right as I can be." He looked at me strangely, "I am leaving today for Kyoto."

"Ah... I see." Kamiya-san replied. With that, he took Kao-chan gently from me. "I am guessing you won't be back for a while."

"No, I won't be. I don't know if I will be back at all... I just wanted to say farewell to Kao-chan." I smiled softly.

Her eyes started to water, "Why?" She asked, "Why are you leaving? When are you coming back?" She hugged her father and I heard her cries muffled by his shoulder.

"I don't know." I replied.

Aishiteru

"Why are you leaving?" She asked again.

"There is something I have to do in Kyoto... Something that cannot be delayed any longer..."

Kamiya-san looked at me, understanding what I felt. "I wish you good luck, and I do hope that I will see you again someday, Tomoe-san. Please be careful."

"Arigatou Kamiya-san..." Then I looked at him, "And... Kamiya-san... If you have the time, please take care of Enishi and Toshiko-chan... Father is rarely ever home..."

He nodded and I gave him a grateful smile, "Arigatou Kamiya-san."

"Sayonara... Tomoe-san."

I did not say more than that and I bade them both farewell. It was unfortunate for me to have to leave Kao-chan crying, but I had no choice in the matter. I only regret not bidding farewell to my other friend, Miyaki, but she moved in with her husband recently, and I had no intention of waking them up this early in the morning.

-Yukishiro Tomoe.

Leaving Edo was really not as easy as I thought I would be. I had the heart to turn around more than once and it was actually then I occurred that there was a chance I would never be coming back. I have told many people that I might not, but the reality of this all... I was against the Battousai... The Hitokiri Battousai. The most infamous assassin... What were the chances of me coming back?

My heart clenched at the thought of never having a chance to hear Enishi call me 'Neechan' again, never see Toshiko-chan's beautiful smile, never hearing the carefree laughter of Kao-chan and her way of calling me 'Tomoe-san'...

Everytime I had the heart to turn back, I knew sooner or later, I would head for Kyoto, because I could not stand doing nothing...

Night quickly fell with me gazing at the stars again, thinking about what was to come... Thinking about what the future would bring... Wrapping the blanket around me more tightly, I felt sadness watching the stars, knowing that perhaps the stars would never be beautiful for me again...

Little did she know that she would be seeing the most breathtaking stars a little later than year, somewhere in Otsu...