A/N - I am SOOOOOO sorry about the really late update! My computer died (I had to get a new one) and a lot of things have been happening in my family, and friends of the family. Like, last Friday, my sister's boyfriend's boss had a semi run through his bedroom at four o'clock in the morning, which flung his wife from the bed and broke his neck. Thank goodness he's doing fine, and didn't get paralyzed! Yay for Harborview Medical Center!!

Oh…..I fixed the links from the web pages for the songs in the last chapter, so if you go back there, you can check them out…..for real this time!

Oh….if I haven't replied to your reviews, gomen gomen gomen! My e-mail's been crazy too so I have to sort through everything!!!! Aaaargghhhh! Sometimes, I hate technology!

Disclaimer - I regret to inform you, I don't own Kenshin or the gang.


Chapter 8 - Rain by Breaking Benjamin

Take a photograph. It'll be the last thing that you'll remember me by.

I don't have a past of peace or tranquility, just one full of bloodshed and war. After being with you these past few years, I realize that, even though my happiness is within my grasp, there will always come a day when some past enemy will try to steal it, you, away from me, and I find myself constantly worrying that I won't be able to protect you, that I will fail you. Now, there is one thing I do have.

I just have a chance to save you from myself, and my past sins that haunt me. That's why I have decided to leave. So I can keep you out of harm's way. Although, I think I am leaving just to rid myself of the temptation at achieving my happiness which I know I don't deserve.


It's been two days since I left the dojo, and it's still raining hard, just like when I left. The rain reminds me of my trespasses, pounding down on me endlessly, never relenting or easing up. I just want to scream out, 'Rain rain! Go away! Come again another day. All the world is waiting for the sun.'

All of me, body, soul, mind, and heart, are waiting for the sun to come out. That's impossible now, though, You were my sun. Your smile could brightened the darkest corners of the world, of the universe. Only you can keep me warm with your radiance.


It's been three weeks since that awful day, the rain never letting up. I feel like a complete fool. I should never have left the dojo, my home, or you. Then again, you and home are the same to me. I would be content living in an underground cave without clean water if you were there with me. They say home is where the heart is, so my home is wherever you are.

You're getting closer now. I started walking back towards Tokyo, during which I began to think over some things, such as, 'Is it you I want? Or just the notion of a heart to wrap around so I can find my way around?' I shake my head at this. Of course I want you! There is no one else I would rather be with than you!

I begin to think of all the things we've been through. All the happiness and pain. I realized something. Both of us wore smiles through it all, and I'm sure we still do. It's as if we are never sad cause we are not allowed to be. The two of us wear masks of happiness, so as not to let the others in our abnormal family worry over us.

Are you wearing one right now?


I stop on the outskirts of the city, and decide to set up camp. It's too late to go knocking on your door, even though I am sure you would answer. The never ending rain thumps relentlessly on my worn out body. I lay down, not even bothering to shelter myself from the torrent, and look up at the rain coming down, as if each little raindrop represented a victim of my blade.

To lie here, under you, is all I could ever do, but not anymore. I won't let my past dictate who I am now. I won't let it discourage me from taking hold of that which I've longed to grasp.


I finally arrive at the gate, but I can't bring myself to knock. What if you reject me? After what I have done, it is only right that you turn me away. I still cling to the hope that you'll forgive me. The rain is pouring down on me. Rain rain, go away, come again another day. All the world is waiting for the sun.

Suddenly, I hear squishing mud behind me. I hear a gasp, and I turn.

There you are, holding an umbrella with your left hand while your right one holds the tofu bucket.

"Kenshin," you whisper. You look like you're in shock, and then you suddenly drop your loaded hands, dash towards me and yell. "Kenshin!" You run straight into my arms, and I hold you tightly.

"I'm home, Kaoru, that I am," I whisper in your ear. You pull back, and look into my eyes, with your

beautiful smile. I smile back, and claim your lips with my own. I realized then…..

it stopped raining.

………………………………