Disclaimer: I don't own RK, I'm just messing around with the characters a bit.

AN: Okay, touched this up a little, let's see if people like it…

It was, many would agree, a beautiful day. The skies were blue, with barely any clouds. The sun radiated a comfortable degree of warmth, and there was a light breeze that gently ruffled his long red hair.

Kenshin wasn't sure whether he should be glad of or be resentful of that fact. On one hand, it meant things would proceed smoothly for the people he was currently observing from a distance, which was definitely a positive outcome. However, the fine weather belied – mocked, even – the tragedy that the day represented.

It was, after all, the day Tomoe Yukishiro would be laid to rest.

Hidden behind a tree outside the graveyard, but still close enough for him to observe the funeral proceedings, Kenshin watched. He wasn't sure whether he would have wanted to be right there with the rest of the mourners. Not like it mattered – he wouldn't have been welcomed anyway. That itself would not have stopped him, but the very idea of causing an ugly scene on the site of Tomoe's grave – it seemed like sacrilege. Tomoe's father would most certainly have had him thrown out, probably after hurling curses at him. And he would not have blamed the man one bit.

It was, after all, his fault that Tomoe had died.

Or, more accurately, been killed. So soon after such loss, most people would have flinched from putting it so bluntly, even in their own minds, especially when the deceased had been special to them. But Kenshin had accepted that Tomoe was forever gone, and no attempt at delicate phrasing would change that fact.

The same way he accepted that he was the reason for Tomoe's death.

Tomoe…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…

Of course, he hadn't actually been the one to take her life. There was no way he could have. He had admired her, treasured her – loved her, he realized, only know, when it was too late. Ever since the day he'd met her, he had recognized that there was something special about the quiet, serene girl. When circumstances had brought them together, she could have chosen to hold herself apart from him, slipping away like he was some kind of infectious disease. And he would have thought her wise for it. Instead, she chose to stay by him, recognizing that he had needed someone to pull him away from the darkness that threatened to consume him. He should have pushed her away, but like a drowning man struggling to save himself, he could not resist taking the lifeline that had been offered to him. It hadn't taken long before he felt that he could never let her go. She had been the only source of happiness in his life…

And look at how I repaid her…

"Shit…shit…shit…"

"You bastard, what the hell did you stab the bitch for?!"

"I didn't mean to man…I was going for Battousai…crazy chick just jumped out in front of me…" The clatter of a knife being dropped. "Shit…"

A third voice. "T-this is more than I came for, man. I'm outta here."

Footsteps, the sound of someone running away. Then there were more of such sounds, as one by one the Ishin fled.

Kenshin barely noticed their departure. He was too busy using his shirt to stem the blood flow from Tomoe's stomach.

"Oh, God…No…Tomoe, just hold on, alright? Just hold on…" Blood, blood, so much, oh God, no, Tomoe, no…ambulance. With one hand holding his shirt against her abdomen, he rummaged around Tomoe's bag for her cellphone with the other. No, please, please, I can't lose her, not Tomoe…

"Ken…shin…" Her whisper caught his attention. She smiled weakly at him. "S'alright… not your fault…"

It's my fault, all mine, should never have brought you – "Please, Tomoe, don't try to talk. Just-" There. His fingers closed around the mobile phone.

But before he could dial, Tomoe's eyes fell shut, and her body went limp.

"TOMOE!"

Legally, he was innocent. But he knew better. He had been responsible. He should have anticipated that the Ishin would try and get back at him for leaving. He should have stayed the hell away from her. He was nothing but trouble – he'd proved that so many times before. Sure, he would still have been stuck with the Ishin, but at least she would have been alright. Instead he'd sought what wasn't his to have, and now it was lost to the world forever.

As the funeral drew to a close, Kenshin turned away and began to walk. He went through the motions of putting one foot in front of the other, moving forward, but with no destination in mind. The movements required little concentration, which unfortunately allowed him to think. And with only one thing – person – on his mind…

Bitterness, self-loathing – these emotions welled up inside, and he allowed them to fill him. Tears of anguish had formed in his eyes, but he did not let them fall, denying himself whatever minute relief crying might have provided. But as much as these things occupied his attention, he could not fail to notice the presence that had approached him from behind. He stopped.

"Come to tell me how stupid I've been?"

From behind him, his guardian Seijuro Hiko – former guardian, rather, the man had kicked him out after he'd joined the Ishin – gave a snort. "Looks like you've been doing a good job of that yourself."

Barely hearing Hiko's words, Kenshin continued to speak. He wasn't sure why, it wasn't as if Hiko didn't already know what he had to say. "Everything I did was a mistake – joining the Ishin, trying to get close to Tomoe…" He trailed off for a moment, then bit out, "I should be the one in that grave." Except that there wouldn't be any mourners.

"I'm not going to argue with that." Kenshin barked out a bitter laugh, but Hiko went on. "But it doesn't look like the girl agreed, now, does it? God knows how, that girl saw that something in you that was worth saving. Enough to give you her life. The least you could do is live well."

The words took Kenshin completely by surprise. He whipped his head around to face Hiko, but the man was already walking away. Not like Kenshin could find any words to say anyway. He could only stare mutely at Hiko's retreating back.

Suddenly, Hiko stopped, and without looking back, called out, "If you don't want to be locked out, make sure you're back by eleven."

"What-" It took a moment for the implication of Hiko's words to sink in.

Anger, derision, an "I told you so" –he would have expected all that from Hiko. But this…I don't deserve– "Why…?" He finally managed, his voice hoarse.

At first, Hiko continued walking as if he hadn't heard Kenshin. Then all of a sudden, he stopped. "They say real men don't cry," he said, staring at the sky, as if he was addressing no one in particularly. "But when it's a loss that great…I think some tears are called for, wouldn't you think?"

As Kenshin watched Hiko walk away, he found that his view of the man's back was becoming increasingly blurred, and a strange wetness had settled upon his cheeks.

I'm sorry, Tomoe…

Goodbye…

Enishi Yukishiro did not bother suppressing his scowl as he observed his father, who was listening to some woman blabber on about how sorry she was for Tomoe's death. The scene had disgusted him. He turned away and instead, studied the white stone that marked his sister's final resting place. Tomoe Yukishiro. Beloved daughter, sister and friend.

Someone had told him that it was good that many turned up for Tomoe's funeral. It showed just how much she was loved. But as far as Enishi was concerned, these people didn't deserve to be here. These people didn't know Tomoe like he did, didn't care for her as much as he did. They had even let the bastard responsible for her death walk free. To hear the affected words of sympathy, see their fake tears – God, it grated at him.

After this, they would all just move on with their lives, as if Tomoe had never existed. Even his father, who had never given a damn about his children since their mother's death. Right now the old man was probably worrying about how work was piling up at the office while he was stuck at his daughter's funeral.

But I won't ever forget you, nee-san. And I won't let him either…

Enishi stared at his sister's gravestone, and clenched his fists. I promise you, nee-san, I'm going to make Himura pay…

AN: Good? Boring? Should I continue? Tell me what you think...