Hello! I'm sorry for this long wait!
I want to say thank you to my reviewers for their messages and don't worry, I will not give up my story! (it's too irritating a story without end!)
Mmh. It seemed too real to be a dream... This voice... I know it... I'm sure...
Kenshin stopped to think when Tomoe and Kyosato stopped.
Kyosato turned towards her, "Are you okay?"
Tomoe nodded, "Ye-yes. You're not angry anymore?"
"Angry? Why?" astonished Kyosato.
"A little while ago, I saw you got angry with your friends and then, your friends seemed to have a grudge against you," she bowed, "I'm so sorry, it's my fault."
He hoched, "Not at all! It's not your fault, it were their fault! And then, they weren't my friends, they like to laugh at people. So, don't feel concerned by this," he patted on her head.
"Thank you," she said shyly, with red cheeks.
"So, it's him, Akira Kyosato? He's so kind!" exclaimed Misao.
"It was their first meeting," smiled Kaoru but her smile vanished when she thought at Kenshin.
His eyes were blank.His friends could practically feel his sadness and his guilt. He deeply looked Tomoe and Kyosato, they seemed so happy and this happiness will grow up with the time. Kenshin knew that he'll destroy it. Without him, Tomoe would have been happy with Kyosato. Without him, Tomoe would never have been sad. Without him, she would always be alive.
"Did you want to play with me?" asked Kyosato.
Her cheeks flushed, she smiled, "Ye-yes!"
Kyosato looked at her attentively, "Why are you turning red?"
"Is it bad?"
He sniggered, "You're cute," he patted her head, "When you'll have a problem, don't hesitate to call me! All right?"
Tomoe smiled with a big smile, "All right!"
One more time, the scene changed. Everyone saw Tomoe was walking along a street. A few seconds later, she saw a person who was walking in the opposite direction. It was a young girl who had to be twelve years old. She was dressed in black and in spite of the sunny day, a big part of her face was covered by a black scarf. When this one noticed her, Tomoe gave her a shy smile. But she didn't answer. She just looked at Tomoe with icy eyes, she seemed to be so angry. Tomoe didn't tell anything, she was wondering what she did to be the target of this look. When suddenly, a violent wind blew and took the girl's scarf away. She stuck her hands onto her face but Tomoe and the others had time to see what she was trying to hide desperately, a horrible burn. Now, Kenshin was sure, this girl was, or rather, will the woman that he saw today, Mrs. Shiro.
Shiro's eyes became more and more threatening whereas the worry of Kenshin, Enishi and the kenshingumi was growing. It seemed she wanted to pounce on Tomoe. They wanted to do something but it was impossible, they could only to look and to stay immovable. They cursed this situation, especially Kenshin and Enishi.
Abruptly, this scene was vanishing and trees were appearing. Everyone recognized this place, it was the forest of barriers.
"NO! Not now!" screamed Kenshin, "What happened to Tomoe?"
Kaoru came near him and put one hand on his shoulder, "Kenshin, calm down."
"We're came back to this gloomy forest," said Yahiko.
"Yes, the forest," said Enishi, "The place where we have let somebody," He scrutinized the area but saw anyone, "NEESAN! It's me, Enishi! Are you here?"
Kenshin shouted, " Tomoe! Please, if you're here, answer us! TOMOE! TOMO..."
"WWAAAAHHH!"
Everyone turned round and shocked, Misao was vanishing! An other scream occured, it was Megumi who was living the same fate! Then, Yahiko! Next, Aoshi! Now, Sano! Everyone was disappearing!
"DON'T PANIC! STAY CALM!" shouted Kenshin.
"THAT'S RIGHT! NO REASONS TO PANIC!" spoke Yahiko ironically before to disappear totally with the others.
Kenshin open the eyes and got up with a start. He breathed stongly and he was in a cold sweat. He looked the area and saw with stupor he was on his bed. Was it... a dream? He looked his hands which were shaking. He closed his fists to try to stop it desperately. No... It was real... How?...
"Kenshin!"
Kenshin got up and went through the door of his room and saw Kaoru who was running towards him. The others came out of their room. They were all in a cold sweat.
"Kenshin! Am I crazy or..."
"No, Kaoru-dono. It was real," answered Kenshin with dark eyes.
"What did it happen? What was this place?" said Yahiko.
"How do you want that we know it?" retorted Misao.
"Calm down! Kaoru-dono, do you know where is the Shiro-dono's house?" asked Kenshin.
"Yes, of course but why?" answered Kaoru.
"I think this woman will reply to our questions. Before to leave this place, the girl who was dressed in black was Shiro-dono. Moreover, when I met her, she told me that something would happen this evening."
Aoshi nodded, "It's right that there're much coincidence."
"All right! Let's go!" said Yahiko.
"In the middle of the night? With the snowfall? Are you insane?" said Sano.
"Someone's getting a little tense," added Misao.
Megumi stood between them, "Calm down. Everyone wants to know the answers but we should try to sleep in order to..."
"How do you want that we'll succeed in sleeping after that?" cut Sano off.
"Megumi-dono is right, Sano. We must to take strenght for tomorow. It will difficult but we have to try,"said Kenshin.
Grudgingly, they returned in their room. Kenshin didn't allonge on his bed, he took his katana and sat against the wall. Several questions swirled in his head.
Tomoe...You seemed so sad when we saw you... What happened to you? Do you try to tell me something?...
He looked at the clock. It was been less than two minutes since he entered in his room. He didn't show to others but he was the most impatient to go to see this woman. Moreover, he couldn't forget her eyes when she have looked Tomoe. Kenshin knew she wanted to hurt Tomoe. This thought was unbearable to him, especially as Tomoe had done nothing. He wondered what he would if this woman had hurt her.
No. I have to stay calm... I have to wait... It's all right... It's all right...
"It's all right...So please, don't cry..."
Kenshin firmly closed his eyes. This scene will ever be engraved in his memory. He'll never forget the image of his dying wife. Even if she was just an illusion, he wanted to see her alive one more time... Just one time. He tried to calm down and looked at the clock.
It's been less than ten minutes.
The night will be long, very long.
A few hours ago, two men woke up with the same panic as people's dojo.
"It's pointless to look for answers now, the only thing that we can do is to take strenght," said Toya.
"Yes. Do you think what I think?" asked Enishi.
Toya smiled, "Maybe."
Enishi nodded, "Tomorrow, we'll leave for Tokyo."
They went to their room. Try to sleep wasn't a easy thing, especially for Enishi.
Neesan.
He hoped to see her one more time even if he would have to see the person that he hates the most in this world, Battosai. This man stole him the only thing he wanted to protect, his sister. But he knew very well that his beloved sister didn't die hating this man. She loved him in spite of the suffering that this damned man gave her. Enishi was very shoked when he rode Tomoe's journal.
This man stole my hapiness once. And he gave me another hapiness.
He'll kill again. But he'll protect more lives than he takes. He must not die here.
Farewell... my second love.
After this passage, Enishi has deduced that the only person whom hurt her sister was him. He finally realized that she wouldn't never wanted that he kills. She was too kind for that. Tomoe's soul was never able to rest because of his blindness, he hoped to see her one more time to tell her that he was sorry. He'll finally be ready to atone like her husband do and he'll find the sister's smile.
In the dojo, nobody slept the last night. As soon as sun rose, eveyone was in front of the doors. Kaoru guided her companions. A half-hour later, they arrived in the entrance of the forest.
Kaoru looked the area, "I believe that her house... is somewher... Ah! It's here!" said Kaoru pointing the index finger.
They came near... Kenshin knocked the door. A few seconds later, Shiro opened the door. Apart from Kenshin and Aoshi, they were shocked by her burn, they even felt uncomfortable.
"I didn't expect to see you now," she said with a firm tone, "Does it occur already?"
"Yes. What was this strange place?" asked Kenshin.
"Strange place?"
They were surprised of her question. "You don't know? You just said..." said Kaoru but Shiro interrupted her,
"I never said how it would take place."
"According to you, what did it occur?"questioned Aoshi.
"I saw with my tarot cards that something would happen to one person who was suffering and crying. And it seems that this person has got a bond with you," she answered pointing Kenshin, "But I don't know if this person is you or one of your friends. In fact, I don't give a damn about this."
Everyone frowned, they didn't like her scornful tone. Kenshin's eyes grew dark. His blue eyes were as cold as ice, "Really?"
Shiro began to exasperate, her eyes were becoming as threatening as Kenshin's eyes.These eyes and her burn were a horrible show which made everyone, except Kenshin and Aoshi, feel ill at ease.
"I don't like this type of look. You can go, now!"
"Twenty years ago, did you hurt a girl with black hair who was called Tomoe Yukishiro ?" asked Kenshin with an icy voice.
Shiro froze. A few seconds later, she said with a dark look, "Sorry?"
"Well?"
Kenshin's friends were suprised by his attitude.
"I'm sorry but I don't remember. Moreover, if I did, you really believe that I would say 'yes'? Could I know why you thought that?"
Kenshin didn't answer. As for Shiro, she was in a big reflection, "Twenty years ago...Strange place...Ah, I see. You saw the past in a dream, didn't you?"
They were surprised by her conclusion. If she could arrive to this conclusion with not many clues, she could reply to their questions.
"It seems that my deduction is correct. It's been a long time, I rode that there're persons who can meet other persons in dreams. But it's very rare so I don't know the mechanisms. You can go now, goodbye."
"Can we... Can we meet dead persons?"asked Kenshin.
Shiro was surprised, "I don't know," she said briefly.
"Can you look for in your books, please?" asked Kaoru.
"Sorry but I don't want to lose my time, unless you pay."
"How can you ask some money for that?" said Misao.
"I was already kind warning you and loosing my time with you for nothing. I only give my aid to persons who deserve it, I'm even very difficult with the choice. Sorry, I repeat you, you can go," she said with a scornful smile.
After these words, she closed the door.
They came back to the dojo. This long walking has been tiring, moreover, they were very angry.
"You wicth!"said Yahiko.
"WHAT DID I DO AGAIN?" yelled Kaoru.
"I DON'T TALK ABOUT YOU, YOU PRAT! I talk about this madwoman! I can understand she couldn't answer us but I don't bear her attitude!This crazy believes she is superior!"
"I agree! But the thing which disturbed me the most was her face. I wanted to run away,"said Misao.
"That's right. Her look was scaring!" added Kaoru.
"Moreover, she saw very well that persons need her and she said 'I only give my aid to persons who deserve it'. The only thing which interested is money. As doctor, I can't bear it!" said Megumi.
"Oh! Don't care about this! She's just a madwoman whom hates people" said Sano.
"Go-Good afternoon."
Everyone turned towards the voice,
"Tsubame-chan! said Kaoru, "Yesterday, I had invited Tsubame-chan for this night," explained Kaoru.
"I hope I'm not bothering you. It's seems you've got problems," she said shyly.
"Oh no! Not at all, don't worry Tsubame-chan," reassured Yahiko.
"On the other hand, don't annoyed her, Yahiko!" warned Kaoru.
"WHAT?"
This night, apart from Tsubame, everyone was tensed in their beds. They were wondered what'll happen. Will it begin again? This question didn't help them to fall asleep, especially Kenshin.He was very anxious, he wanted to see Tomoe one more time but at the same time, he was scared to know if she was really her late wife or just an illusion. What would he do if he sees her? Could he talk with her this time? All these questions prevented him from sleeping but a few hours later, tiredness arrived finally, he closed his eyes and a few seconds later, he felt a cold wind. He opened the eyes and saw he was in this forest.
"Kenshin!"
"Kaoru! Everyone is here? But … Tsubame? You're here too?"
"Yes. Before you come here, they already explained me," said Tsubame.
"You're the last," said a voice.
Kenshin turned towards the voice and saw, "Enishi! Toya-san!"
"Hello!" said Toya smiling.
Enishi ignored him, he was looking the place in order to find a shadow, his sister' shadow.
"Neesan ! Do you hear me? It's me, Enishi ! Neesaaaaaan !"
Kenshin moved near his brother-in-law, "Tomoeeee ! Are you here? Answer us!"
But there weren't any answers. Nobody said a word in order to hear her.
"I feel her... She's here... She's coming..."
"Huh? Who said that?" asked Kenshin.
"What are you talking about, Ken-san?" answered Megumi.
"But...Someone just talked!" said Kenshin.
"Nobody talked," claimed Aoshi.
I didn't dream. It was the same voice that I heard yesterday.
Kenshin went out of his thoughts when he saw a person who was walking toward them. Smiles drew on the faces when they recognized this person, Yukishiro Tomoe.
"Neesan !"
"Tomoe !"
Tsubame looked the young woman, she was impressed by Tomoe's beauty.
Kenshin and Enishi rushed towards her. This one didn't seem to hear them, she didn't even look them. She stayed quiet, there was a deep sadness in her eyes and she was shivering.
"Tomoe. What's wrong?" said Kenshin anxious.
Enishi looked at her, "You're cold? Your hands are covered of chilblains and your lips are chapped... You're here for a long time?" said Enishi.
"It'strue that it's very cold here," noddedYahiko.
They watched Tomoe trying to warm up desperately. She was blowing on her hands, she untied her black hair in order to cover her nape. Everyone could see that her chilblains were hurting her. She laid her purple scarf on her shoulders and took her walk again. She walked through them but abruptly, she collapsed onto the snow. They were very worried about her, especially her family.
Kenshin's heart was beating rapidly when he watched Tomoe rubbing her frozen legs, "Tomoe! Do you hurt?"
Kaoru move towards him, "Kenshin... She can't hear us."
Suddenly, Tomoe disappeared and a street was forming. They were come back to the last scene: a young Tomoe in front of a threatening girl. Tsubame was scarred by the face of this girl. She looked like a monster.
They were worried for Tomoe but this one didn't seem to be afraid by the behaviour of the young Shiro, she was just... surprised.
Tomoe picked up the black scarf and went towards her. She held out the scarf to the young Shiro without hesitation with a little smile, "Here. Don't worry, it's not dirty."
Everyone was surprised by her acts, especially Shiro. She was completely astonished! Her threatening eyes had disappeared but it remained doubt in her look.
"What's wrong?" asked Tomoe.
"That's odd. You don't seem to be afraid of me," said Shiro.
Tomoe astonished, "Huh?... Why would I be afraid of you?"
See you on the next chapter! Good holidays!
P.S.: Sorry for my mistakes.
