A/n: here I go, folks. I just watched a very tear-jerking video of kenshin and kaoru on youtube. I'm still in an after shock. -- …
Title: Hotaru
Summary: When he left, time stopped for her. When she cried, his heart shattered. Kenshin and Kaoru's thoughts on his farewell to Kaoru. Kyoto arc.
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11th year of Meiji. May 14, 1878.
The time when my world ended.
The time when he left.
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It wasn't a dream.
Because if it was, then it would have been the worst nightmare I had. But then, that nightmare happened. For real. And no one was happy.
Especially me.
"Me" who waited for that certain man's small figure only to see him appear before the darkness.
"Kenshin!"
The fireflies lit his figure. Fireflies. Hotaru. They were beautiful. Fascinating. Mesmerizing. Enchanting.
He was so calm. His face was soft and his features were fine. Everything was fine about him. But I wasn't happy. Something was etched on his face. And I didn't like it one bit.
He stopped before me. Dead silence.
I wanted to ask him. I wanted to know what he was about to tell. And yet, I got the feeling I wouldn't like the answer.
He was smiling. A sad smile that passed directly to my heart. And by that moment, I was sure I know what he will say.
"Kaoru-dono."
I kept quiet. His voice saying my name caught me. I was at a total loss of words. Yet my mind was screaming. It was screaming badly. Don't say it. Please. Don't go.
"You told me that you didn't care about my past."
Please. I know where this will lead. Please, don't say it.
I tried to tell it to him. My mouth shut.
"I was happy to live with you and the others. Memories. I had made memories with all of you. And I thought, that I can be a normal swordsman."
Tears weren't visible in my eyes yet. Then why was my heart beating so loud that his words were almost unheard? Why was it that my mouth had ran dry?
…
Fireflies.
They were around. Beautiful. Fascinating. Mesmerizing. Enchanting.
Kenshin hugged me.
And they were still around.
"Kaoru-dono…"
He told my name once again. Shock was still over me with his warm embrace, and yet my heart still won't stop beating madly. Tears. They started to blur my eyes.
"Thanks you for everything."
And I knew it.
He was leaving.
He was really leaving.
"I am a wanderer…"
No. Please.
"I must be wandering again."
And then my time stopped.
"Ken-..Kenshin."
Tears where flowing down endlessly on my cheek, staining his clothe. Kenshin.
Kenshin.
His embrace loosened, taking a step back. Distance. I never wanted distance.
"Sayonara."
…
Everything went slow.
Kenshin turned his back on me, his red locks swaying as he silently walked.
I can hear his footsteps. I can't hear his voice. I can't hear him.
And then, darkness enveloped him. NO!
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Dame.
Knees bended, I faced the ground. My tears won't stop. It can't stop. Why?
WHY?
I shook my head. I cried. I can't stop. I kept asking myself. "Naze?"
I knew it was coming to this. And yet I can't accept it. How could I?
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Fireflies.
The fireflies danced around me. Mocking me.
I hate them.
My time stopped. My world ended. But even so… they still kept on dancing.
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Kaoru's thoughts.
Kenshin's thoughts on next chapter.