Theme: Murder

Setting: Same universe as Stranded

Pairing: KK, KT, EK if you squint, and sibling relationship ET.

Warnings: Death. Suicide.

Notes: Sequel to Stranded.

Words: 694

6. Murder

"Kaoru, someone is coming." Kenshin said to her in a low voice. She could tell form his tone it is not someone he wanted to see. She wondered who it could be to inspire this discomfort in him. Megumi and Sano would never return, she had begged them not to. There were no others she knew of that would come looking...

The door opened loudly, nearly breaking off of its hinges. There was a tall man, with white hair, staring at Kenshin like he was the devil himself. She knew who he was from all the things Kenshin had told her when she was confined to her bed; when she'd told him she was willing to die for him without regret.

"You must be Enishi." Kaoru murmured. Her voice was weak. He looked surprised that she knew him, but recovered quickly.

"You poor woman. Shacked up with a murderer."

"I am happy to be with him." She replied calmly. The rage in his eyes frightened her; it was twisted by time and hate, so much that if he lost it, he would go mad. Hen again, he probably already was.

"He's killing you."

"Kenshin is not my murderer. You are." Her words hit him like physical blows; he gasped and stared at her.

"He keeps you here even though he knows you will die!"

"I will die because of the curse you put upon him. How is it his fault? People can never refuse heir loved ones anything. I begged him to let me stay with him, I knew the danger. He tried to send away once ad it didn't work; what was to gain from us both being unhappy?"

"I...I..."'

"If my brother...were to ever behave the way you do...I would be ashamed of him. Tomoe must be ashamed of you, for hounding Kenshin for all this time."

"He killed her! He stabbed her!"

"Why was Tomoe in front of him when he attacked, Enishi?"

"She...she...he killed her!"

"People give their lives for people they love al the time. It is the mark of true love. Would you have died for Tomoe?"'

"Yes! Yes, she was my sister!"

"And Kenshin was her husband."

"You're wrong...you're wrong..." The man gripped his head painfully, tearing at his hair pitifully. He stored at an equally disturbed Kenshin, who was holding Kaoru' hand as though it were his lifeline. He couldn't believe she was saying all these things. Absolving him of the guilt he had carried for so many years.

"You chose to get involved! Its suicide, you knew that!"

"Yes. I choose death because that is what lovers do. They die for their loved ones."

"He wouldn't die for you!"

"He tried. I watched him try to drown himself, over and over." Her voice was getting weaker now, and she squeezed Kenshin's hand.

"Enishi, please." Kenshin whispered. "She's not strong enough to fight with you. Leave her."

Unable to formulate a response, the man left, leaving the door open wide. He seemed almost frenzied, insane. Losing her eyes, Kaoru spoke again, this time to Kenshin.

"You aren't...a...murderer...love you..."

"I love you, too. Kaoru." He whispered, clinging to her in terror. She was dying. When she was gone, what would he do? How could he go on?

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"Here." Enishi thrust a small vial at him. "Tomoe's last gift."

"What is it?"

"Poison. For when she dies." He understood the implication. Enishi was giving him a way out. It was his twisted idea of mercy, but Kenshin appreciated it.

"Can you free her?"

"No," The white-haired man replied bitterly. "I tried, but there is too much hate left in the spell. I cannot."

"Thank you, then. Will you bury us?"

"...where?"

"It doesn't matter."

"I will do that, for you. As repentance for her life."

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The graves were unmarked, but flowers grew in abundance where normally there were headstones.

Leaning on the shovel he had used to dig the graves ,Enishi sighed. If he looked hard enough ,Tomoe was there, tending to the graves. Looking at him, asking him for help. He moved to the phantom's side, straightening a plant.

Beside him, his sister smiled.

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Depressing, kind of like Reflections, and containing Enishi. Odyssey also contains Enishi (at least in my head, since I haven't written it) as replacing Kenshin when he vanishes. The idea is, he comes because he's been wandering for a while trying to understand Kenshin after he realizes he didn't kill Tomoe. When he learns he's disappeared, he comes to meet Kaoru, his wife, and take his place so he can really atone for causing Kenshin so much pain, and for hurting his sister.

I should be working on Contraposition, but it's so hard!

Review! This has been...chickentyrant5.