::MIRAI:: (future)

Himura Kawaii

Prologue

****** RK isn't mine though I wish it was..... hail to the great Watsuki- sama********************************

"What is Hiten Mitsurugi?"

"What is Himura Kenshin?"

And what am I if I can't even protect the one who's most important to me?"

"Kaoru.dono!!!!!"

"KAORU!!!!!!"

The Kenshin gumi came rushing in. Kenshin was already there clutching his heart as if it to stop it from beating. He didn't even bother to hide his violet orbs that were screaming ultimate pain behind his red bangs. Everything was a blur. There was Kaoru pinned to the walls of the dojo, Enishi's sword mercilessly struck through her. On her left cheek etched a cross scar similar to Kenshin's, fresh blood spilling from it. Her eyes were blank pools of never-ending blue. Her eyes gave the impression that she was killed very quickly, and she didn't know what got to her.

Sano was shouting "Iie!! Iie! No..no.no.no.no!!!". He turned away and stared at the floor.

Megumi slowly walked towards Kaoru's lifeless body, looking for a sign, any sign at all that would prove that she might still be alive. After checking all through Kaoru, it was unmistakable. Kaoru, her friend, her younger sister, the one who gave her a family and a new life is gone.. gone.

Taking in a deep breath, Megumi tried to speak, keeping her voice from cracking. "Go-gomen ne minna. Kaoru-chan is. is." Megumi couldn't bring herself to say it. Seeing Kenshin's slouching body was enough to make her hesitate, and if she spoke, she would definitely break down.. and she wouldn't want that to happen. She wanted to be strong, strong for everyone's sake. But she knew she has to say it, or else no one would bring them all to the reality of the situation.

"Ken-san.. sh-"

Kenshin cut her off, tears streaming his handsome face "Iie Megumi-dono, gomen.. gomen nasai, iie.. don't say it.. iie!" Kenshin pleaded, desperately trying to run away from the truth, hoping he'd wake up from this nightmare.

"Ken-san, we have to face it, you have to face it." Megumi held Kenshin's shoulders "Kenshin, Kaoru is gone. She's dead."

The words hit them with so much finality, so much sorrow. Kenshin fell to the floor, his sakabattou plunged to the floor, making a loud clanging noise that reverberated through the dojo walls. Megumi slid down and sobbed.

"Masaka" Yahiko whispered. "Masaka!!" he said it again louder, as if saying it would give the words more strength.. that they would be true. What was he gonna do now? Kaoru was the one who taught him about everything. All he was and all he'll ever be were due to Kaoru. She was his sensei, his onee-san.. sure, there were times they fought. But underneath it all was pure affection only siblings could share. They had a bond. But now she's not around anymore.. she was gone. "Masakaaaa!!!!" and with that, he left, not knowing where to go, hoping he could escape the truth.

Kenshin just stared into space, tears streaming down his scarred face... violet eyes blank with almost no feeling. Almost expressionless. But all he could see was Kaoru, her scarred face bloodied, tears pouring down her blue eyes. She was calling his name.. asking him to save her. Everywhere he turned Kaoru was there. And all he could think about was death..death not revenge, all he wanted was to be with her, to die and be with her again..

It was a simple ceremony. The weather was warm and sunny, promising a pleasant day ahead. The Kamiya Dojo's backyard was cleaned and flowers were arrayed everywhere. Kaoru's coffin was set on a small long table inside the dojo. Bouquets from the people who knew her and well-wishers surrounded her coffin, giving the impression that a fairy princess was in her sleep and the townspeople were only awaiting her arousal. But that couldn't be, because Kaoru won't be waking up- not ever.

As Yahiko mustered up the courage to peer into Kaoru's face in the coffin, he saw the still estranged samurai wander off the area towards the streets. Poor guy Yahiko observed.

True, if there were one person who is awfully suffering from Kaoru's untimely passing, it would undeniably be Kenshin. Sure, he's a legend, a master in his art, but it is also widely known that even legends have their weaknesses. Kaoru, in particular, is this certain legend's penchant.

For days after Kaoru's death, Kenshin had been wandering aimlessly at day, coming home at night to fall into a sleepless slumber. He clearly blamed himself for his beloved's death.

Yahiko had to smirk at the irony inspite of himself They obviously loved each other enough to have the will to survive, yet until the day of Kaoru's departure, he didn't had the chance to tell her how he truly felt! he mused at the thought. He also felt real sorry for Kenshin, this was all too much for him to take.

As Yahiko reached Kaoru's wooden coffin, he winced at the sight before him. Kaoru's usually smooth porcelain skin was now gashed with the scar identical to Kenshin's. Her black raven hair lacked its luster; her naturally red lips were now chafed and pale. All in all, her face that usually emitted energy and grace, were now soulless and sullen. Yet, regardless of all these changes, she looked like a lady in her sleep. Yahiko had another reason to smile.

"Hey Busu!" Yahiko whispered, remembering the nickname he used for Kaoru, but now his voice wasn't mocking, it was cracking and beads of water were moistening in his eyes "I.. I think you look just.. just exquisite." He took one last glance and turned away, unable to hold back the fresh set of tears waiting to be released. He walked towards the sobbing Tsubame.

Sanosuke eyed the scene halfheartedly. The dojo floors were unusually clean and wiped to the hitch and the backyard was swept off of falling leaves and dirt.

If Jo-Chan could see this, she'll be so happy Sano thought bitterly. Sadness crept through him weakening his knees. Then anger replaced sadness, revenge and spite weren't far behind. "Damn you Enishi," Sano muttered angrily, tears welling up his brown eyes "I swear, I swear I'll get you for this. Just you wait and see."

Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw a blur of red pass by. Where is he going?

Why? Why did you have to go? Why? Why Kaoru? Kenshin asked himself for the umpteenth time those past few days. "Honto ni?" Kenshin asked aloud to no one in particular, knowing that no reply will come.

The funeral will be over and soon they'd bury Kaoru. He couldn't take seeing that, seeing his beloved really, really leave him behind. For days he pondered on his misfortunes in life "Sessha doesn't really deserve Kaoru-dono, ne?" Kenshin mumbled to the sky "He's that bad, huh?"

He had been walking to nowhere in particular when he stopped and looked around. It had been the place where he first said goodbye to Kaoru-dono.

Oh, Kaoru.. tears rushed down from his violet eyes "I never wanted to leave you.. that's why I wanted so much to live and return" Kenshin gasped, sucking down air, sobbing in between gasps.

He thought of all the good times he'd had with Kaoru, and the life that Kaoru gave him, the doors she opened for him, the unmerited love she gave him wholly. Then Kenshin crumpled on the ground. He rested his head on his knees as his shoulders began to sag and shake tremendously. He sobbed like a child, all his pent-up emotions mounting up like lava inside a volcano. He silently rocked himself, trying to ease the pain. But nothing comforted him, nothing except the thought of Kaoru being there beside him, safe and alive could comfort him.

But Kaoru's gone and she's gone because of me.. Kenshin looked up. "Kami-sama..if you.. if you can hear me.. onegai.. onegaishimas, just let sessha die.. onegai." Kenshin looked at his hands and wept. "Gomen.. gomen-nasai Kaoru-dono. he whispered, "gomen nasai.."

And then he wept. He wept like he has never wept before in his entire life.

Himura Kenshin, the legendary swordsman, the feared assassin, the wandering protector, the love of Kamiya Kaoru's life, the Hitokiri Battousai, was dead. His short stay at the Rakuninmura and his deteriorating body with its fatal wounds still unattended could've been the cause of his death.

But the gumi knew that the reason of his death was extreme sadness and depression. Grief over Kaoru's death.

It was also said that the last words he uttered were "Someday...someday we'll be together again. Aishiteru.. aishiteru Kaoru-dono.."

*********************************************************** This is the revised version of MIRAI.. I hope it's waaaaaay better than the first. More revised chapters coming up in a short while! The story is based on the fact that Kaoru is really dead and that she's really really really dead. Hehehe. But don't worry.. this is just the prologue.. and as the title suggest, this is a future fic. Was it angsty? Depressing? Okay, it was meant to be that way, but Kenshin won't remain that sad for long to those who didn't get the chance to read the other unrevised chapters. I'm not really familiar with the culture and ceremonies of the Jap people, so I just wrote what I know.. regarding the funerals and burials.. I don't know a thing about that! So if you can lend a hand in those matters, domo arigatou gozaimas! I want to say a big thank you to Elspeth-san and Kethry-chan for editing and proofreading and helping me make a better fic. To Pinkz-san for her very happy ML.. and for letting me post it here in the first place. To Barby-chan for posting my fic in her site!! To Cristine-san too!! To all my ML friends!! Kenshin and Kaoru forever!!! To Jo-chan for everything!! To Angel-san, for reading my fic even if she doesn't understand any of it. To my Aoshi-sama for being my only barkada who understands my passion for RK. To all those mentioned. DOMO ARIGATOU GOZAIMASTA!!!! Aishiteru minna!! ^_^

Elspeth-san and Kethry-chan, this is for you guys!