This is a short collection of thoughts of both Kaoru and Kenshin.
Chapter 1: Only Her
It doesn't matter when they look at me with fear.
As long as she offers her hand and welcomes me home.
It doesn't matter that I have slaughtered men like pigs.
As long as she's okay, safe and unharmed.
It doesn't even matter that I make it rain blood.
As long as I get to sit beside her and watch the cherry blossoms fall.
She is like sunlight, a balm to my ancient soul yet blinding to my wicked eyes.
She is like spring rain that washes away my pain yet stings my open wounds.
Her name is my prayer, one I tell myself every night. Longingly. Desperately.
These hands of mine have purged many, both wicked and innocent alike.
Yet when she clutches them in her own, they tremble and weaken like that of a small child.
My emotions mirror her own.
Her happiness and grief, her anger and compassion, they all become mine.
It is by my strength that I vow to make her smile.
It is my duty to help her have peace of mind.
No worries, no fear nor pain.
I wish to stay forever and make her mine in every right.
Yet this wanderer may never deserve such a gift.
With this endless burden and this eternal fight.
So I wait.
Day by day, I wait for that one glance, that one touch that she offers.
And I am healed again.
Healed enough to live for another day, for another struggle.
These hands can never be cleaned.
I chose this path of death, still uncertain if it ever brought anyone peace.
Surely out of all those that I have killed, many others were saved.
Of that I am still uncertain.
But if I could.
If I could do something right for once in my life.
I would do anything.
For her.
If it is for her sake I could kill another thousand men.
Even if she hates me for it.
If it is for her safety I could murder without hesitation.
Even if she hates me for it.
I would understand.
After all I am but a tool.
A tool for massacre and destruction.
But I have a mind too.
And a heart.
One that is battered but still beats.
One that was dead but was brought to life.
Because of her.
By her.
..and only her.