The Hardest Goodbye
fluffity little drabble, bit of Sanosuke/Kenshin, set after Kenshin leaves for Kyoto. The reasons for his goodbyes, or lack thereof. The second chapter is called "Rooftop Reflections" and is basically the same format, but set after episode 46. (just a warning so you don't go jumping on ahead if you haven't watched that far)
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"Thank you for everything... and goodbye."
The rurouni trudged along his chosen path, sakabatou at his side, his mind miles away.
"Did I take the coward's way out?" he thought, eyes downcast. "Did I choose her because she was the easiest?"
Kaoru, the only one he had said farewell to. The only one he could. Yahiko, Megumi - they would have followed him, fought his decision. Ayame and Suzume - their innocent tears he wouldn't have been able to bear. Sanosuke...
Sano...
Sanosuke was his weakness in the truest sense, not because Sanosuke himself was weak, but because... Sano would never have let him leave, not without taking him along. Kenshin's heart would gainsay what he knew had to be done, and he would let Sano become a target for Shishio's men. Targeting Sano would be like targeting Kenshin's soul, and if he were taken away?
Battousai would be truly all that remained.
So Kenshin had avoided him, avoided them all. All except Kaoru... She was the only one not strong enough to follow, the only one who wouldn't be able to argue...
She was the only one he could tell goodbye.