A Touch of Hell
A/N: I've been trying to write this for a while. If the fight is sketchy, that's cause I don't really remember it….anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own RK.
The bleak landscape stretched for what seemed like miles in front of me. What looked like white hills rising in the distance was, in reality, human skeletons. I could barely make out some of the specific bone, such as human skulls or the occasional rib cage. The bones crunched under my feet as I walked. I hate that sound… the crunch of bone. I'd heard it so many times in my younger days. Why was I here? What had happened?
I struggled to remember, then it all flooded back in a storm of images. The fight! I had been in a
battle with Shishio Makoto for the freedom of Japan. He had used his Guren Kaina on me. I could still remember the burning that the explosion had caused. I could remember falling though the air, then hitting the rock hard.
I must have been knocked unconscious. However, in a way, I wished that I was dead. It would be so easy to just escape into the afterlife. The sound of footsteps made me look up. I gasped as I saw who was coming towards me. Tomoe!!
Hello Kenshin. Why are you here?
I was just asking myself the same question. I replied dryly.
Tomoe laughed a bit. You're unconscious. Sano and Saito are fighting for you, but they both have been defeated. Right now, Aoshi is fighting for you.
Why? Why do they persist against Shishio?
Because they care for you. You must go back. They're waiting on you. The whole nation of Japan is waiting for you.
But….I want to stay here with you….forever.
Tomoe grinned at me, taking my hand in both of hers. She raised my hand to her cheek. I smiled to feel the soft skin under my fingertips. She raised a hand and gently traced the scar on my cheek, a sad expression on her face. I know, but you have people who are waiting for you.
Who?
Sano. Saito. Aoshi. Yahiko. The Oniwaban Gang. And someone else. Someone special.
I frowned, then grinned as I remembered the young woman who I knew would be waiting for me at home. She wanted us to go back to Tokyo together. I'm going back.
Good. Tomoe kissed me gently, then stepped back. Continue to live, Kenshin. Continue on and know that I am smiling down on you.
Thank you, Tomoe. I turned, walking back through the hills of bones. I suddenly felt my consciousness come flooding back and I looked up. I could see the sky, faintly, but it was there, blue above my head. I stood, hearing a muted voice yelling. I remembered the voice belonged to Hoji, Shishio's right hand man. I couldn't understand what he was saying, but it didn't matter. I looked over at him and my sight returned in time to see him fall over. I'm back.
I took a breath and let it out in a long, loud yell, letting all my pain and anger out. Miss Karou, I'm coming back for you. Don't worry.
A/N: There. I hope you liked it.