by Suiren
"Chizuru-dono." He says, fixing his gaze onto me. I'm brought out of my thoughts by the sound of Kenji's voice and I turn to smile at him, blushing a little.
"Just Chizuru, please, Himura-san."
"Kenji." He says softly.
"Kenji." I repeat his name softly under my breath, then tilt my head at him. "Why are you here?"
He doesn't reply for a moment, and I place a hand on his back, noticing how sad he looks as he gazes down at the water. I think I see a solitary tear trickle down his cheek, but maybe it was a trick of the dim, post-sunset light. He looks up at me and shakes his head.
"Because I can't stand to be home...death's not finished yet." He murmurs, closing his eyes. "My mother is fading, Chizuru...and Megumi can't help her."
"Kenji...I'm sorry..."
"Don't be. I don't really want to think about it right now. Let's just sit here for now, okay?" He asks, leaning back onto the grass to look up at the stars which are starting to barely show themselves.
"Aa." I reply quietly, leaning back to lay next to him.
~*~Kaoru's POV~*~
I'm sitting by Shinta's grave looking at the pouch in my hands. My fingers tremble as I gaze inside and calmly shift through Megumi's various medicines.
"You came back for me, Shinta, and now I'm coming for you.."
I murmur, looking down at the grave. Gods, what am I thinking? He's dead. Gone. He can't hear me. I let out a loud sob and hurl the medicine pouch away from me, burying my face in my hands to weep, like I've done for so many nights when they all think I'm asleep. I must have stayed like that for a while before I wiped my eyes, stood up slowly, and retreived Megumi's bag. I've made up my mind.
I go back and sit next to Shinta's grave, then I reach into Megumi's pouch and pull out the small flask that has the medicine she's given me in it. I tilt my head to gaze at it...but my gaze has moved beyond the flask and to the trees beyond it.
Yes. I've made up my mind.
~*~Sano's POV~*~
Yes! I'm on the boat. I finally caught a glimpse of what I look like and realized that my personal hygiene at the moment will scare Megumi away faster than it will attract her, so I got a haircut and shaved. I'm starting to look like the old Sano. I even slipped some Sake from the boat's supply and found a fishbone to chew on. If she doesn't recognize me, I might have to punch her.
And then kiss her. Yeah.
In my mind I make a list of things to do, places to go, people to see, and I feel a smile spread across my face. Two days til Japan.
~*~Kenshin/Shinta's POV~*~
Tomoe left me to get better associated with my little version of heaven, and now I'm doing laundry -- for some reason there's even laundry to do here. I stop and look back at the dojo and realize this is how the Kamiya dojo must have looked back in its glory days, before Kaoru was having to teach at other schools to earn enough money. It's nice here, and calm, and peaceful, but it's not the same without Kaoru here. Kind of lonely, actually, without anyone to talk to. But Tomoe said she'd come back and bring a visitor.
True to her word, I hear the sounds of two pairs of feet approaching. One of them belongs to Tomoe, and I smile at her as she steps up to me, walking next to a young man whose face looks oddly familiar.
"Kenshin, I'd like you to meet Akira."
Akira. The name hits me like a sack of bricks as I realize this is the man I killed. This is how I stole Tomoe's happiness. He looks at me and I feel like understanding passes between us although no words have been spoken. Kiyosata Akira. I would like to talk to him alone for a moment, to tell him I'm sorry for stealing his happiness, for stealing Tomoe's happiness; to tell him I spent my life trying to atone. But I can tell by looking at him that he knows. I can't bring myself to speak, and he smiles suddenly.
"Hello, Kenshin."
When I'm still too shocked to respond, I can hear his voice in my head...
I forgive you.
They stay long enough to keep me company, and eventually I realize that in life, I could have been friends with Kiyosata-san, or Akira as he insists I call him. It is a shame what war does to men. They leave me alone in the tranquillity of the dojo, and I sit against the wall, thinking of Kaoru, and of my son.
~*~Megumi's POV~*~
I wake from a nightmare to find myself alone in Kaoru's room. She's gone! How could she have gathered the strength to go out on her own? Quickly I stand and stretch, slipping my shoes on. It's then that I notice my medicine pouch is gone.
But that's not important. I need to find Kaoru and make sure she's okay.
I know where she would go because it's where I would go in the same situation, so I head for Kenshin's grave at an all out run, as fast as my legs will carry me. As I near the grove of trees we buried him in I see her figure, resting on the ground. I quicken my pace to catch up to her. She probably needs to be comforted, because between this grief and her illness I know she's slowly fading away. She shouldn't have to deal with this alone.
When I get closer I decide she's fallen asleep, and I rush up to her to help her up, reaching for her arm. Her hands, however, are cold as ice. Sitting at her feet is my empty medicine bag and several empty flasks.
"No..."
"KAORU!!!!!!"
And that's when I lost it.
~*~Yahiko's POV~*~
Tsubame and I had gone back to the small flat that used to belong to Sano. I didn't want to go back to the dojo -- it held too much sadness. For the most part we sat there just talking, or correction, me just talking, because I feel comfortable pouring my heart out to her in a way I've never felt with anyone else. I hadn't realized so much time had passed until I looked out the window.
"I should go. I don't want Kaoru, Kenji, and Megumi to be worried."
Tsubame nods, and I kiss her forehead as we head back to the dojo. I have to pass by the trees and the grave on the way, and that's when I hear Megumi scream.
"KAORU!!!!!!"
No. Not now...
I run to find Megumi at Kenshin's grave, Kaoru's limp body resting over the doctor's lap as she tried over and over again to revive her. She stared up at me with tearfilled eyes.
"Y-Yahiko-kun...Gomen...I-I... couldn't save her."
Megumi's burst into tears again and I sink slowly to my knees, taking one of Kaoru's hands in mine.
"Busu.." I murmur, using that old nickname. "You too...You left us.."
I feel Tsubame's arms slip around my shoulders and lean into the warmth as the three of us sit silent with our grief. I've lost another mentor.
And Kenji's lost another parent.
When Megumi comes to her senses she explains that Kaoru took her medicine bag and then overdosed in order to cause her own painless death. We agree to keep this from Kenji to protect his mother's honor. It's our secret now, a burden I will bear silently until I am placed in my own grave. I know Megumi and Tsubame will do the same, for the sakes of both Kaoru and Kenji. I know what it's like to lose parents...I just wish I knew what to do to help him.
~*~Kenshin/Shinta's POV~*~
To my surprise Tomoe and Akira come running into the dojo, sliding to a halt in front of me.
"Kenshin...news..." Tomoe murmurs between breaths. She never was much of a runner. Akira seems to have himself in a better state of mind and can speak without having to gasp for breath.
"Kaoru has died, Kenshin."
At first I feel overwhelming sadness, but then it dawns on me...if she's died, and I'm dead, then we should be able to see eachother.
"Then she's here, right?! Can I see her?! When can I see her?!"
Akira closes his eyes and looks away.
"Never."
I feel like I've been kicked sharply in the stomach. All my air is gone and I can hardly breathe as I stare at him in shock. Tomoe attempts to explain.
"She's commited suicide, Kenshin. She violated the natural cycle of life."
I feel anger building up inside of me as I stare at both of them, and I'm certain my eyes are slowly turning amber.
"Are. you. saying. that. my. wife. went. to. hell. because. she. died. to. be. with. me?" I ask coldly. Tomoe looks away and Akira manages to answer.
"You don't understand. Suicides go somewhere else."
"Then I'll have to get her and see her there."
"You can't." Akira responds automatically. "You don't get it! You'll never see her again, Kenshin. That's the way it is."
"Tomoe told me I'd never communicate with her again and I managed that. You don't know us, Akira."
We stare eachother down for a while, my golden gaze fixed on him.
"You don't know us."
A/N: Righty... time to put up responses to people who have kindly left me reviews.
For those of you who have left reviews asking about my thoughts on a sequel... I'm considering reincarnation but I will -not- write another "kenshingumi in highschool" fanfic to match all the others out there. If you *really* want to know what I'm considering please email me (faith@o-keiko.com) or talk to me on AOL: rainonyourday . Time for notes to individual reviewers, in no particular order.
Jason M. Lee Thanks for your constructive criticism -- you know much more about Japanese culture than I do ~_~;; As for the -dono used by Kenji in the last chapter, I did that on purpose, because I wanted to give him some "Kenshin-isms" in his character.
Dark Maylee Are you sure that's cranberry juice? ^_~ Thanks for your kind reviews!
EK I thought about slipping Enishi into this fic, but I wouldn't know what to do with him in either Earth or Heaven or Hell, so I have... erm... left him out. >_
Ming-Chan Thanks for reviewing -- I'm so glad to see some of the same people coming back for each chapter... it means I've succeeded in hooking you! mwahaha! ^_^
Raziel the Reaver Don't worry, Akira's in here.
gracianeko You're too kind... lots of people use POV much better than I can. >_
Skipper Yeah...I didn't want it to be this angsty, but it'll resolve in the end. I promise ^_^
tenshineko Yes...Sano's in for a bit of a rough time -- but I'm sure Megumi can make him all better... *fox ears pop up from behind Author's head* hey! where did those come from?!
Firefury Thanks...I have a hard time getting into certain character's POV's.. it is hard, and I'm glad you think I'm doing a good job!
TheAnomally Thanks. I hope I'm staying true to my style.
Pia-Chan I hope I give them what they deserve.
okashira Hopefully the end of this will make you undepressed. ^_^
Mia-chan Thanks, I hope I'm staying true to all of the characters and their feelings like you said...
I think that's everyone! Thank you all... and if I forgot anyone feel free to beat me over the head with a frying pan.
--suiren