Chapter 1
By Crystal
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
I wasn't scared, I knew this would have happened. Sooner or later. I was in a place without colours. All black. Well... I wouldn't really know if the place was black or there was simply no place. I heard father say that when you were near dying, you would see a tunnel with a light. He told me not to walk towards the light. But the problem here now, you see, is that I don't see anything. It's like I've gone blind or something. Well, at least that's changing. It's turning into navy blue. I turned my head up to look at the sky... And gasped. On my left side, the stars were the prettiest thing I ever saw... On my right side, the stars... Were like the ones I saw at home in Edo all the time... Nothing too nice. I looked down. Kiyosato... He smiled at me. Mother was there too... I looked back on my left side... Kao-chan... Kamiya-san, Toshiko, Enishi, Father... Kenshin in his usual sleeping position. But somehow, I knew he wasn't sleeping, but crying. Suddenly, I felt a pull on my sleeve and looked down. A child, no older than three was pulling my sleeve towards my husband. I smiled, if this was going to decide whether I die or not... I picked up the child, my child. Our child. And walked towards the crying figure of my husband. I looked back once and smiled. "I'll be back... When I want to."
Then I walked towards him, a light... A bright light. I shut my eyes and then look up. The pretty stars. On top of Kenshin. Did that mean I loved Kenshin more than I had loved Kiyosato? Most likely. Mother said you don't know who you love by saying it, it's by feeling and right now, I want to see Kenshin a lot more than I want to see Kiyosato. Soon, this image disappeared and darkness surrounded me once again, making it impossible to know where I was... Then, I hear the voice. The voice from the man who I protected.
Tomoe... Now that you are gone, I finally understand your pain. You have endured such feelings allt his time. It must have been awful. You must hate me. But you protected me... A guy like me... You let me live... But youd on't have to suffer anymore... You don't have to endure pain anymore...
I feel his finger touche my face softly... Like he always did. Nothing has changed. Except, I'm dead. Maybe I'm not. I try to open my mouth to speak, but no words came out, nor did I feel my mouth open. One drop of his tear drops on my cheek. I want to brush his tears away from his cheeks, but I couldn't. A man like him shouldn't cry...
I will bear your pain for you now and find a path of repentance... I must make amends for you, who gave your life to protect me, for those who I have killed... It will be hard, but I think I will be all right. As long as I can remember what human warmth feels like. I... I... must bid farewell to you... But now, with you, Tomoe, for now, we are together...
Himura, I found out happened.
Katsura-san...
I found out who was the spy. I found a skilled swordsman. All assassinations has been delegated to the new man. Nonetheless, I must have you wield the sword even more than before now. Today's situateion is very bad. The feudal government is continuing its hung, using the Shinsengumi at it's forefront. We must retaliate with sword, or else, we will all be destroyed.
I see.
Himura.
Yes?
I have asked Tomoe-san in the past, that she become the sheath of your sword.
A sheath?
She is your sheath, even now. I want you to believe that. And I want to believe that too.
Katsura-san.
Hai?
All I can do now is keep wielding the sword. I believe that Tomoe desired this of me, thus she protected me.
I see.
But when the new era arrives...
You will throw away your sword?
I do not know... But when that time comes, I will never kill anyone again. Never again. Farewell, Katsura-san.
Never again... He did say that to me... He kept that promise, but I was hoping he would be able to keep the one about returning to me after the war... Only that... I'm dead. I guess... I never did deserve any happiness. Perhaps Kami-sama gave me a little while more on earth with my husband... Perhaps.
Tomoe... I'm going now...
A little while later, I feel heat all around me, and I fall into darkness once again.
Author's Notes: Well, this took a little shorter than I expected. It might have to do with it being half the size of my usual chapters though. Anyhow, expect the next chapter of this story in around... Less than 5 days maybe? I have a really good idea where this is going for now, so yeah. 'The Difference Between Rain and Tears' is coming out either tonight OR tomorrow. So, see ya!