AN: Based on the theory that the woman Tomoe really fell in love with was Nanami in the past, hur hur for Issues
In the mirror, he weeps. It is not a sorrow of sadness, the only sadness is bittersweet.
He remembers now, how distinct her smile had been. His Yukiji. He remembers it because he has been seeing it for a long time now.
Teardrops, her clothes were stained with his. He felt so much pain watching her suffer.
"You helped me, I want to help you," he had said as he held her close. He did not understand at the time why she cried, or why she said what she did.
"You've given me more than enough Tomoe," she was so weak now. So weak but so strong. Everyday of her sickness he brushed her hair into that beautiful style he had first seen her wear. She had been beautiful and fiery on their first meeting, and it had captured his heart.
"I love you," he repeated over and over while he held her. Brushing her hair, tracing her lips with a beautiful color she loved to wear. She laughed.
"Do you really? Do you really love ME of all people?" Tomoe looked at her like she was crazy.
"Of course I do,"
She was dying. It killed him, but she smiled at him so brightly. He watched her writhe in pain, but then she would smile. "Don't do anything reckless," she murmured. "I'll be fine..."
He slept with her that night. It hadn't happened through a question, it was just a kiss. Then he was looking at her bare torso and tracing the tips of his claws against her skin. She shivered, blushed, gave him that fiery look again. She was not hesitant, she was happy. "I love you," and she smiles. But then he says her name when he is inside of her, and she looks so sad.
"Is it really ME you love?" she whispers as he cups her face and asks if she is alright.
"Of course," he says while their bodies are intertwined. "More than anything else," he says honestly.
In the mirror, he waits, hoping he can see her one last time.
"More than anyone else, Nanami. . ."
Because it had always been her he was in love with.
His Nanami.