Chapter 8

By Crystal

Author's Notes: Or question, in this case.  Does Okubo Toshimichi get assassinated on May 14, 1878/1879/1880?  I have different answers on every website I see, lol.  So I've decided to use 1879.

*We all know who this belongs to ^^;;*

May 14, 1879

It is the day Kenshin decides, whether to go to Kyoto or not, where all his memories are...  Or whether he will stay.  Though I already do know the answer.  It is in the morning right now, and I plan on saying farewell to him...  Perhaps he will be leaving very soon.  So I shall see you later tonight.

I closed my journal as I dressed up, "Kenji!"

"Hai?"  I heard his voice through the walls.

"Take care, I'm going to see your father for a while!"

I couldn't hear any voices, but I heard footsteps getting closer and closer, "Otousan has to decide today...  Can I come along?"

"If you really want to..."  I replied, and I saw him smile.  When we got ready, the three of us walked towards the dojo.  Toshiko had decided to come too.  As we reached the dojo gates, I saw Kenshin step out, his sword ready and about to leave when he spotted us, he walked over with a nod.  "Kenshin...  Where are you going?"

He looked straight at me, "I'm going to Kioizaka to meet up with him.  Okubo-kyo is a busy man."

"Kenshin..."  I said, quietly.  "I...  I need to talk to you..."

He gave a quick glance to both Kenji and Toshiko, and they went out of our way while he took my hand softly, dragging me away like that day...  On June 18, 1864...  During the Gion Festival.  I can still remember it as clear as crystal...  It was just like yesterday that it happened...  I can remember Iizuka-san coming in a warning us that Katsura-san was in danger...

"What is it, Tomoe?"  He asked softly, his purple eyes gazing into mine.

I sighed and looked downwards, "I...  I want you to be careful..."

Then surprisingly, he smiled.  "I will...  I'll come back tonight and we can settle this down."  His hands cupped my cheeks, lifting them and forcing me to look into his eyes, "Take care of Kenji for me...  I will be back tonight."  I nodded quietly once again and with one last glance, he disappeared into the shadows...

Noon passed slowly and I was spending time in the dojo, helping along Kaoru with cleaning until Kenji came running back with a newspaper in his hands, "Okaasan!"  I looked up at him, wiping the sweat on my brow, "Okubo-kyo was assassinated!"

"WHAT?!"  Shouts interrupted from all around me, as I stood there, speechless.

"Okaasan...?"  Kenji asked hesitantly.

I felt the blood leave my face...  There was no hope that Kenshin was going to stay in Tokyo.  I was hoping that something would make him stay...  But...  I closed my eyes, "I need a rest, Kenji...  Leave me."  I stood up quietly, then made my way into an empty room and sat down, thinking everything over.  Those days during the Bakumatsu...  On that fateful day that Kenshin and I met under the rain of blood...

* * * * *

It was midnight already, and I stood outside on the bridge, staring at the motionless water, waiting for Kenshin.  The moon was reflecting on the water and silence was in Tokyo.  Most were probably sleepless at the thought of Okubo-kyo assassinated...  And that was when I heard footsteps.

I turned around to see that familiar shade of red hair approach me, "Tomoe..."

"Kenshin..."  I said, looking at him.  "Okubo-kyo was assassinated."

He nodded his head, "I know, I was there...  Kaoru-dono also told me."

"You saw Kaoru...?"  I asked.

He nodded his head once again, "I was walking by the river to meet you when she showed up.  She told me he got assassinated and begged me not to go."

"She loves you."  I stated, though it hurt.

"...Aa..."  He simply replied.

"And you're leaving Tokyo now."

He sighed, "You know me too well, Tomoe."

"I have known you for eleven years, Kenshin."

"That's true...  You have known me for eleven years...  You know my darkest secrets...  And you also know how I feel right now...  Nobody else would know...  Kaoru-dono has never been to war, and even though Sanosuke and Megumi-dono have been near it, they were never as close to it as you were...  And the children...  They have not seen war."

I nodded, "Perhaps I know you best...  But..."

"There is no but...  As you probably know...  Those time have begun again."  I nodded my head, indicating that I understood, "And I am going back to fight."  I nodded my head again, "As Battousai."

I looked straight into his eyes, "You promised me...  That you would return to me and you will protect.  Are you willing to break that promise after eleven years?"

"I am not willing to break it...  But you must understand-"

"That if you become Battousai, you will not be able to control it."  I finished for him.  He nodded his head, "Then promise me...  Promise me that you will do all you can to refrain yourself from killing anyone else.  You have killed enough during the revolution...  And don't feel guilty for it, it was war."  I forced a smile, "Yakusoku?"  I asked.

Suddenly, he embraced me, "Yakusoku...  koishii..."

I sighed contently, it was nice to be in your husband's safe arms again after eleven years, "Aishiteru, anata..."  Then I added, "Come back to us alive and well."

"Aa...  Take care of Soujiro"  He smiled one last time at me, and vanished into the night.  And then I allowed a smile on my face.  I was going to follow him, no matter where it took me.  I walked home and took out my journal and began writing.

It is the midnight of May 14, 1879.  Kenshin has left for Kyoto already and I assume I will be leaving within a day or two.  Perhaps after I persuade Kaoru to go.  She will need to go too, for she loves him.  But...  How are things between Kenshin and I going to go?  That, I will not know.

* * * * *

A day has passed since Kenshin has left and I was eating lunch at the Akabeko along with Kenji, Soujiro and Toshiko.  I was about to visit Kaoru later when in came Sanosuke-san, sitting down at a table roughly, then mumbling curses under his breath.  As we watched him in silence, he suddenly stood up and smashed his fist into a table, "That bastard, that fuckin' asshole!  So he thinks he can just waltz off without a word to anyone!"

"Sanosuke-san!"  I shouted.  He looked at me with anger in his eyes, "Watch your language."

"How could you eat lunch here without a single care?  Your husband left you!"

I frowned, "I am aware of that, Sanosuke-san.  What are you trying to hint at?"

"How are you not worried?  Aren't you even slightly mad that he left without a word?" his anger was not even going down a notch, if it was moving, it was certainly moving upwards.

"As a matter of fact, I am not worried for I know he can take care of himself.  And I am not mad because I happen to have spoken with him last before he left Tokyo." I answered calmly.

He cursed under his breath again, "I'm going to Kyoto!  I won't be happy until I've given him just one good punch!"  I sighed as he left the Akabeko.

Yahiko-kun came in later, asking for Sanosuke-san.  And when Tae-san asked how Kaoru was doing, my ears perked up, "Not good.  She still hasn't gotten out of bed.  Ever since he said goodbye."

I followed Yahiko-kun to the dojo, watching Kaoru in her bed, crying.  I waved them away, wanting to talk to her personally.  "Kaoru...?  Kaoru?"  I asked, but she didn't answer at all.  "Kaoru...  You can't continue like that.  Kenshin left, but he'll be back.  Or if you're still not happy with that, you can go to Kyoto..."  Another shake of her head, and I gave up for now.

When I walked out, Tae-san and Tsubame-chan told me that Yahiko-kun had gone to do something important.

For the whole day, I stayed beside her, trying to get her to eat something, but Megumi-san arrived, "Yahiko?!  Didn't you go to Kyoto or did they leave you home alone?"  I walked towards Megumi-san.

"Megumi-san...  Kaoru's still in bed...  Maybe you will have better luck than me getting her out of bed and packing.  I will be leaving Tokyo with Kenji and Soujiro once Kaoru and Yahiko-kun leaves."

She nodded, "You are going along with Kaoru then?"

I shook my head, "No.  I have places to go and people to visit to get help from.  But I will meet up with Kaoru sometime in Kyoto."  I brought Megumi-san to Kaoru's room, just as we watched her refuse another meal.

"I'm disgusted.  You're still here."

Kaoru glared at her, "What do you want?"

"Isn't it obvious?  I came to laugh at the tanuki Ken-san rejected." 

I frowned upon her words, "Megumi-san..."

Megumi-san suddenly held up a jar and handed it to Kaoru, "This is medicine, a family treasure. Ken-san told me before how well it worked. Now, it's something he needs, but I guess I can't ask you to give it to him. I'll have to ask Yahiko."

"Shouldn't you take it yourself, without relying on others?  All the way to Kyoto."

Megumi-san glared at her, "Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of free time, like you.  I have patients to take care of.  I can't go off on a journey."

"Your patients over Kenshin?  In other words, he's not that important to you."

I sighed, "Kaoru..."

"What?"  She said, looking at me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Oh, so now you're going to cry?  You really are weak."  Megumi-san said as she stood up abruptly and opened the door, getting ready to leave.

Kaoru suddenly yelled, "You don't understand, Megumi.  How it felt for him to say goodbye to me, face to face...  You don't understand at all!"

"Perhaps I don't...  But what makes you think that he won't say goodbye to Tomoe-san face to face either?  She is his wife and she loves him too...  though she has not shown anything.  She has not wept a single tear.  She is strong, and you are weak.  But we are also even.  You don't understand how it felt for him not to say goodbye to me at all.  So next time, before you start going to extremes, consider your own feelings once more."  She left the room and by looking at her, she was close to tears.

"Megumi-san..."  I looked back at Kaoru, then walked swiftly out the door and after Megumi-san.  "We'll bring Kenshin back...  Don't cry."

I saw her smile, "It's not a wonder why Ken-san fell in love with you, Tomoe-san."  She looked at where we came from and I looked there to, to be met by the scene of Kaoru and Yahiko-kun packing.

"Thank you, Megumi-san...  But I should warn Soujiro-kun and Kenji that I'm leaving tomorrow and they should pack tonight..."  I smiled slightly and turned to look at her, "Megumi-san...  Take care of Toshiko for me.  She has no skills in fighting and I don't want her in a dangerous situation."

She frowned, "You have no skills in fighting either."

"You're absolutely right."  I said, smiling, "But Kenshin's my husband and I can find a few people that can help him along the way...  I have also been accustomed to danger due to the time with Kenshin eleven years ago in Kyoto.

* * * * *

Kaoru has already left a few hours ago and now, I am standing here, watching the dojo one last time.  Then suddenly, a figure appeared and I heard Megumi-san beside me gasp.  "Shinomori Aoshi..."

* * * * *

XenoMark – Yep...  Well, I decided to at least try and get everyone to stick to their characters.  So...  I don't know if Kenji will challenge Kenshin...  But I do doubt it, I don't like Kenji to not like Kenshin =\  Anyways, I'll update soon.  I'm just going to finish this before I do the other stories...  I've noticed that if you work on four stories at the same time, on the same subject, you get easily distracted =\  Thanks!

Blueraingurl – I can't believe I finally updated either!  And I'm updating again!  I'm twisting this whole story around.  I mean, Soujiro was saved by Kenshin and not Shishio...  So...  *grins*  Yeah, they have their little short talk in this chapter ^^  I will let Kaoru heal, of course.  With Soujiro, I dunno...  I was thinking of Soujiro pairing up with either Misao or Toshiko, lol.  I don't like Aoshi/Misao =\  Anyways, have a great day!

rika – Woohoo!  Yep.  I'll keep writing.  I'm halfway through the next chapter!

ReAcH – Woohoo!  Well, it's kind of awkward to see your husband after eleven years and after having a son =\  I mean... Lol...  If that happened to me, I probably die of shock =\  Anyways, me loves Tomoe and Kenshin too.  And Kenshin said goodbye to both, but he did not hug Kaoru.  Kay?  Kay ^^

CardMistress Sakura – YAY!  Well, I'll exclude her as much as possible, but that's near impossible =\ LoL.  And yeah, Kenshin's still married to Tomoe ^^  Hope you check this out soon!

tsaieric – I'm following both.  Usually, I follow the anime, but I don't have the anime script for a few of the things.  Cause well, my stupid brother deleted a few episodes and it's just too much of a bother to download it again ^^  Thanks!

DiaBLo – Woohoo!  I like K/T waaaaaaaaay better too ^^

Author's Notes: For those that are waiting for my other fics to update, I'm sorry.  Because I'm going to finish and finalize this fic before I move on to another.  As I have said in XenoMark's reply, it's distracting to write four stories on RK at the same time ^^  So yep.  See you all!  But I will update my Soujiro/Misao once in a while.