And She Said to Me
I'm dying… Kaoru could not stop the thought even as it coursed through her mind, filtering into her body as the spasms of pain erupted throughout her weakened frame.
I'm dying and leaving him behind…
Her red haired lover stayed by her side clutching onto her limp hand even as he was silently begging her to hold on.
"K-kenshin…" voice breaking, Kaoru willed herself to stay strong in her last days, for him, only and always for him. "… promise me."
The rough fingers tightened around her callused ones as his hakama let out a whisper when he bent closer to hear his love's last wishes. He cursed himself for all his powers. What was the use of all of this if it only means I have to live to see her die?
"Anything, anything at all."
She smiled. It was the one that made him sit up and notice her in the first place - Heart-wrenching and earth shattering at the same time, a smile that belonged to innocence and fragile compassion.
"Take it. My memories, please take it all."
Kenshin's eyes widened. Did she understand what she was saying? She knew how hard it was for him to live with the memories he had stolen, the ones he wished to erase forever. Cursed with the ability to steal others' thoughts, he never wanted to wrench any more memories. The more he took, the more it lengthened his life, leaving him to survive whilst the ones he loved died one by one. No more… please, no more…
"Koi, you know what it does to me…your life force…"
Pulling Kenshin close to her, Kaoru's cobalt eyes blazed while she delivered her final wishes.
"Kenshin, you must live. You must. I'll be coming back and when I do…" Her smile, that bone melting smile again, "I wish to remember."
With those simple words, Kenshin understood her final request. Kaoru wanted to return to him, she wanted him to live and she wanted them to love again.
He nodded as he cradled her in the crook of his elbow while bringing her closer to him in a gentle yet firm movement that sent their foreheads touching.
Cold, her forehead's so cold and yet… soft.
"Koi, ar-are you sure?"
He whispered apprehensively. No one had ever loved him this much before, enough to steal their memories while waiting for their second shot at this again, enough to give him some life force to hang on a little longer.
"Ahh," her hushed tones tickled his cheek as she feebly brought her hand up to stroke the scarred skin. "P-promise me that when you see me again… no- no matter h-how happy or conten-ted I may seem, prom-ise me that you'll return those memories."
She shivered as he buried his face in the warmth of her hand. "N-no matter how happy I seem. B-Because, I-… I am never as happy until I am w-with y-you."
With a quiet sigh Kenshin gathered his ki.
"Hai. In our next lives, let's love like this again Koishii…"
And then, all was white.
I'm alive, and this story has been buried somewhere deep deep deep in the recesses of my hard drive for about 3 years. I've never managed to finish it, so hopefully it'll get to you in a more timely fashion now that I'm posting it and feel responsible to update. Enjoy!