TOMOE'S DEATH
A Rurouni Kenshin Sketch by Mistress Lilith
Kenshin sat alone in the middle of his room. He closed his eyes and tried to reflect on the new day…
"You'll never get me ya old hag!"
"Yahiko!!!"
"Oi, Jou-chan! You got any edible food?"
His eyes snapped open. There was too much noise; he needed to get away…
*****
The riverside… The peaceful bank of the river was a welcome change to the sometimes too-noisy dojo. He nestled himself on the base of the cherry blossom tree and sighed contentedly. He stared at his reflection in the clear water. The running water made the 'horizontal' part of his cross-scar look fresh and newly made. Instinctively, his hand reached up to wipe the blood that wasn't there. Memories from the past flooded his mind, as he closed his eyes and brought himself back to that night…
The feeling of his movements, as he executed his unstoppable death strike, was unmistakable.
The sound of metal, searing into flesh, deafened his unhearing ears; when he saw he took one life more than intended.
The air had the scent of white plums with the faint mixture of blood, while the fresh, white snow was stained with blood. The blood of his enemy and the blood of his beloved…
He took her body in his arms, as the snowflakes swirled around them. Why didn't I notice her, a second earlier? he thought, angrily. Or smell her perfume, before it became too late? Now it is Tomoe, who will pay for my mistake. Tears slid down his cheeks, mingling with the blood from the small wound her tanto inflicted.
She gave him her last smile, and as the life disappeared from her bottomless black eyes, she said her final words; "It's better this way, so please don't cry"
"Tomoe…" he whispered, like a prayer that could never be answered. Tomoe…
*****
Kenshin slowly opened his eyes. Remembering her death always brought back a wave of sorrow and pain; sorrow that she died and pain that she died by his hand. But, that was the past. A part of him would always love Tomoe, but she, too, was a memory to be treasured and her death, was to be accepted, just like the other memories of the past. That was her place in his heart, he now realized, for his heart had learned to love another.
A single tear slid down his cheek, it would be the last he would cry for her and his past. Tomoe… I'm sorry.
*****
Well, that was my first piece on Rurouni Kenshin. Any comments should be sent to winged_sylphyde@white-star.com. I hope you liked my sketch. ^^; Standard disclaimers apply. All characters used belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki, Shueisha and Sony Entertainment.