Hi, everybody! I always wanted to write a story on my favorite couple Kenshin and Tomoe. I hope thatyou will like this story.

P.S.: I speak french so sorry for my spelling mistake.


Several months had passed after the battle against Enishi, winter had come and the year would finish soon. On This morning, the dojo was animated by Yahiko's training.

"9,998! 9,999! 10,000! Finished!" exclaimed Yahiko.

"That's very good. Do 1,000 more," Kaoru ordered.

"What! Are you insane? You ugly!"

"I already told you that if you want to learn the techniques of Kamiya Kasshin, you have to train! You have to listen to me! You don't ask questions! And... DON'T INSULT YOUR MASTER, YOU MORON!" shouted Kaoru.

"HOW DO I LEARN YOUR TECHNIQUES IF I DIE OF TIREDNESS!"

"Kenshin had more intense training than you in order to learn the Hiten Mitsurugi," Kaoru said to everyone.

Kenshin, Misao, and Aoshi were there, they listened to Yahiko's miseries with amusement. Except Aoshi, who was always meditating.

"You give me too much credit, Kaoru-dono," smiled Kenshin.

"I'm very sincere," she smiled with red cheeks, Kenshin's eyes looked warmly at her.

"Hey! You ugly! Stay with me!" yelled Yahiko.

"SHUT UP!" Kaoru struck him with her wooden sword, "BE RESPECTFUL TOWARDS YOUR MASTER!"

A few seconds later, the young, romantic girl changed into a furious madwoman. Her screams resounded throughout the dojo surprising everyone, apart from Aoshi.

"Oro!"

"She's in shape this morning, ne Himura?" said Misao.

"As always." answered Kenshin with a smile, watching the brawl between the master and the disciple.

"WITCH! BAD MASTER! EXECUTIONER! MONS..."

Abruptly, Yahiko stopped and looked outside. Intrigued, the group looked as well. It was snowing.

"Whahaa! It's snowing!" exclaimed Yahiko. He dropped his sword and pounced on the snow.

"And you leave the training for this. You're immature!" said Kaoru.

"Oh shut up! It's you who's immature! Look at you!"

In fact, Kaoru was rolling a snowball. Misao joined them and threw a snowball at Kaoru, who was embarrassed by Yahiko's reply. A snowball fight began between the three.

"So kids, you having fun?"

The group stopped and looked in the direction of the voice. Sanosuke and Megumi were there.

"Sano! Megumi! How are you?"

"Fine, thanks," answered Megumi, "But it seems that it's not the case for Ken-san.

Kaoru and the rest of group looked Kenshin. It seems that the samurai didn't notice Sanosuke and Megumi, he only contemplated the snowfall. The group could see an immense sadness in his eyes and they saw easily that the smilewhich drew on his lips was false.

Kaoru's eyes were saddened too. She knew the reason for his attitude, and she knew that she could do nothing to about it.

After a few seconds, he finally noticed Sano and Megumi.

"Sano! Megumi! How are... Oro? What's wrong? Is something wrong with me?"

"No. There's nothing wrong," said Kaoru, "Kenshin, can you go shopping, please?"

"Of... of course Kaoru-dono."

"Thank you, I'm totally sure that our guests will again eat here, right Sano?" She said, glancing at Sano.

"Oh, shut up!"

A few minutes later, Kenshin left the dojo.

"Himura didn't seem to feel well," said Misao.

"That's perfectly normal. The snow doesn't bring him good memories, it reminds him of the day when he lost Tomoe-san. Moreover, the New Year is approaching and his late wife died the 31st of December," said Kaoru sadly.

"That's right. Sending Ken-san to do the chores was good idea," said Megumi.

"Thanks. But I sincerely hope that it'll be enough," answered Kaoru.


Unfortunately, Kaoru's wishes weren't realized. All during his walk, Kenshin's face remained blank. He was slowly walking in the snow, thinking only of his tender and dear Tomoe, his first love. Although he has found his answer during the fight against his brother-in-law and he lived with his present love, the pain and guilt of losing Tomoe still reigned his heart.

Tomoe. I would so like you to live still in this world. If you knew how I regret. I only gave you suffering whereas you... you saved my soul several times, showing me the light when the madness was invading, teaching me happiness, saving my life instead of yours, and telling me to go to Kaoru-dono. You gave me so much while I... I brought you pain taking the live of your fiancé... I gave you death. But you... You protected me... You forgave me... You loved me.

A few minutes later, Kenshin arrived at the front of the shop. Lost in his dreams, he knocked over a woman who was leaving the shop.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?" said Kenshin holding his hand out to the woman.

But she didn't take it and stood up alone, "It's nothing," she answered with an icy voice.

Kenshin looked her. This was a woman who had to be in one's forties, she dressed in all black. Her dark kimono harmonized with her black hair, in a bun, and her cold, ice-like eyes. But the thing which shocked the samurai was the horrible burn on her face. It spread over the entire right side of her face. Without the burn, Kenshin could see from left part of her face, that she would have been a beautiful woman.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"No-Nothing."

What a terrible burn! I hope I didn't offend her!

"You lie horribly, Hitokiri Battosai." said the woman calmly.

Kenshin was surprised, "Have we meet in the pas..."

The woman interrupt him, "Legends have always fascinated me since my childhood... I know the legend of the assassin with a cross scar on his left cheek and red hair. The legend told that he killed for his own ideal, but it forgot to say that his scar contained many emotions." She raised her hand towards his scar, "They say that if someone attaches strong feelings to a sword wound, as long as he carries those feelings, the scar will not fade. I can see that your scar is a perfect example. It contains resentment... hatred... sadness... and... Forgiveness."

Kenshin was shocked. This woman felt Tomoe's forgiveness! How did she know that? The only ones who knew his past were his friends and Enishi. Ignoring his reaction, the woman left.

"Wait! How do you know..."

She stopped and turned her head towards him, "Sorry. It will be for another time. The only thing I can say to you, is to warn you."

"What?"

"Something will happen this evening."

She took again her walk. Kenshin followed her, "Wait! What are you talking about?" But the woman ignored him, "What's your name?"

Abruptly, she stopped and turned her head. Kenshin could see her burn and icy eyes. She said with a cold voice, "I don't give my name to strangers," and she turned again to the road.

Kenshin gave up. He knew that it was pointlessness. Moreover, he felt like they would meet again.


On the way to the dojo, Kenshin stayed thoughtful. He wondered what this woman wanted to say. Not arriving any answers, he concluded that he'd have to be careful that evening if he wouldn't want that something happen his friends. He had decided that he wouldn't talk to his friends about this. He didn't want them to worry.

He arrived at the door of dojo. Kaoru came towards him, "Kenshin. I was worried. Did something happen?"

"No, no. I just met a woman." answered Kenshin.

"A WOMAN?" exclaimed Kaoru.

"No! No! This is not what you believe! I just talked with her! It was the first time that I've ever seen her!" he said rapidly before Kaoru got something to strike him with.

A few hours later, they were eating Megumi's cooking. Megumi and Sano intended to stay the night. This was an obligation to Megumi because Kaoru, Yahiko, and Misao fell ill in their snowball fight.

"The woman's name is Shiro. Everyone in town knows her because of her burn and her clothes. It would appear that she can read the future and the past of everyone." said Kaoru.

"That's just a superstition." said Misao.

The time rapidly passed, everyone was sleeping, except Kenshin who was on guard. The time passed and nothing happened. All was quiet.

I think that I shouldn't worry over this. Misao is right, it is superstition. This was all a coincidence.

Kenshin looked at the snowfall.

It's over. I found my answer. I will fight in the future to pay for my crimes. I shouldn't worry.

Kenshin went to his room and slept. One hour later, Kenshin fidgeted in his sleep. He opened his eyes and discovered that he wasn't in his room any more, he wasn't even in the dojo.

But where am I? What is this place?

He was in a strange forest. Immense trees hid the sky which made the forest gloomy and dark. There wasn't anything on the horizon, the forest seemed large.

How did I arrive here?

Suddenly, shadows appeared in front of him, he saw with astonishment that they were his friends! There was Kaoru, Sano, Yahiko, Megumi, Misao, and Aoshi.

"It's you!"

"Kenshin! Where are we?" exclaimed Kaoru.

"I don't know." answered Kenshin, "I don't know how we arrived here, either."

"I justremember that I was in my bed," said Yahiko.

"The same thing for me!" yelled an excited Misao.

"Me too, I was having a beautiful dream with a woman. I was taking her in my arms and... and...Huh..."stopped Sano realizing what he was talking about with friends' looks.

Suddenly, two shadows appeared in front of them, everyone's eyes widened when they recognized one of then. That was Enishi Yukishiro!

"Enishi! What are doing here?" exclaimed Kenshin.

"I thought that you would tell me, Battosai," answered Enishi.

"Stop calling him likethat! He's not the Hitokiri Battosai anymore!" yelled Kaoru.

"I don't think that this is the good place for a quarrel," said the other person.

Everybody turned towards the second shadow. Kenshin, Misao and Yahiko recognized him with a start, he was the one who had taken care of Kenshin when he was in Rakuminmura.

"Oibore!"

"Hello!" he said with a big smile.

"What a surprise! What are you doing with Enishi?" asked Kenshin.

"He's my father." answered Enishi.

"WHAT?"

Oibore laughed at their reaction. He smiled, "My real name is Yukishiro Toya, delighted!"

Kenshin was intimidated. After all, he was standing in front of a person whom he never expected, Tomoe's father. He moved towards him.

"It-It's very nice to meet you, Yukishiro-san. I didn't know that Tomoe and Enishi still had relatives," smiled Kenshin.

Sanosuke moved near Enishi, "That wouldn't have been you who brought us here, white-hair?"

"Sano!" said Kenshin.

"In case where you weren't listening to me, I don't know what I'm doing here so it's not me who brought you to this place. And I advise you to change tones with me," said Enishi with a scornful air.

"Really?"

"Sano! Calm down!" said Kenshin, "Enishi. Were you asleep before coming here?"

"How do you know this?"

"Because we were as well," explained Aoshi.

"That's really strange. Could it be a dream?" said Toya.

Enishi looked around, "That's strange... I get the feeling I know his forest."

Kenshin's look grew dark, "I have the same feeling... It feels like I have already been here..."

Megumi looked around at the trees, "I don't."

"Me neither," added Yahiko.

"I haven't this feeling either but I feel that this forest is strange in some way," said Aoshi, "like I've lost one of my senses."

Kenshin froze after Aoshi's words. He remembered this place, this forest.

Anxious, Kaoru moved near Kenshin, "Kenshin?"

"I know where we are," everyone turned towards him. "We are in the forest of barriers."

Suddenly, snow began to fall, another shadow appeared. This time, they saw a person with long black hair, dressed in a white kimono. It was a beautiful woman who was asleep on the snow, near the trunk of tree. Everyone was impressed by her beauty.

"She's so beautiful," said Sanosuke.

"Does anyone know her?" asked Misao.

"Not me." said Yahiko.

"Ken... Kenshin? What's wrong?" asked Kaoru.

Everyone turned towards him. They saw Kenshin, Enishi and Toya acting oddly, they were pale and shaking.

"But that's..." said Toya, still shaking.

"Do you know her?" asked Megumi.

Enishi didn't answer her, he moved forward one step, "It can't be..."

"Kenshin?" said Kaoru moving near him.

He opened his mouth, "Tomoe."


See you later!