Standard Disclaimers Apply
Author's notes: This chapter has a bit of a flashback, and I'm going to try and fill the space I noticed during the Kyoto Arc, so forgive me for any mistakes I may make somewhere in this chapter. Ah, you guys make me happy! Please keep on reviewing, guys!
This chapter, actually, is a revised version of the original. When I read my work all over again, it felt so abrupt that I had to revised it. I'm much more happy with this chap. I have uploaded this chap since, I think, it will be a long time before I upload the next one. I'm in somewhere between life and death in my school grades...^^;
--Reviewers--
Omochi -- Smart one! I left so many clues in that last chapter. You're the one who got it! You go!
JML -- (Oro...) Thanks to you, this "baka ryuu" will stand! ^__^
Willow -- *sweatdrops* Wow...and here's the update you asked for...
Kamimura Kaoru -- Haven't seen you in a while! No, I won't have any angst here, ne?
Kraci -- I won't let Kenshin give up just yet! And special thanks to you for putting me in your fave list!
SPECIAL NOTE: This is VERY IMPORTANT. Keep this in mind and you won't get lost.
--==*****==-- = flashback
/.................../ = thoughts
[...................] = remembering a scene or someone's words
--==-- = change of scenes
So, let's go one with the fanfic!
--====-- Chapter 17: A Promise to Keep --====--
--==*****==--
Kenshin's body lay down on the ground, his face was etched with a silent cry. The flames cackled and roared, affected by Makoto Shishio's aura. He stood with his sword, a bit disappointed but rejoicing. Hitokiri Battousai, a forminable enemy because of his sword skills and fast speed, was dead.
Sanosuke's eyes were wide, stunned with disbelief. /No, Kenshin couldn't be dead.../ "It just can't be!" He shouted. "Kenshin! Get up! Now!"
--===--
Violet eyes blinked blankly at his surroundings. It was unfamiliar, but a welcomed sight. The meadow was vast and beautiful, with fresh, green grass and colorful, scented flowers. The sky was a peaceful blue, with white, fluffy clouds. He sat beneath a standing oak tree, still unbelieving at what he was seeing.
"What is this place?" He asked to himself, feeling the cool spring breeze blow through. It was literally perfect.
"Kenshin."
He turned to the sound of his name, eyes more confused than ever. "Kaoru- dono?" He asked uncertainly. The raven-haired shihondai looked at him, her bright blue eyes sparkling. She took a seat next to him, taking care of her red silk kimono.
"Kenshin," Kaoru started, "Can I ask you something, if it isn't a bother." He was puzzled, but he nodded.
"Do you think...this place is beautiful?"
"Oro?" Kenshin looked at her oddly, tilting his head. "Why do you ask, Kaoru-dono?"
Kaoru said nothing, closing her eyes. "This meadow is peaceful and quiet. No one wants to look for the Battousai, nor does anyone want to kill him." Then, she placed her gaze on him. "Is this place beautiful? Do you want to stay here?"
Kenshin broke away from her gaze, his eyes scanning again the surroundings. "It is beautiful, Kaoru-dono, and I could stay here forever." He turned to her and was surprised to find a sad smile on her face. Her face showed of heavy disappointment and sorrow.
"I see. So, you have decided a path to take." Kaoru murmured. She stood, once again flickering her gaze to him before she started to walk away.
"Kaoru-dono, wait! Where are you going?!" He asked, standing quickly. Kaoru stopped, turning her head back to him. She pointed soundlessly straight ahead of her. Confused, he looked to the direction of Kaoru's finger, and gasped. It was a dark oblivion, an uncertain path to which he knew not the direction.
"If I would go there, would you come with me?" Kaoru asked, her voice hopeful. "Or would you rather stay in this place and be contented?"
Kenshin couldn't answer her. He looked at the peaceful meadow, a place where he could be assured it would be safe for people to stay. Then, he turned to the oblivion, a place of unfamiliarity and uncertainty.
"I..."
"You promised me." She said sadly.
He blinked. "What?"
Kaoru continued to gaze at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "You promised me, Kenshin. You promised that you'll come back to us--to me--and that we'll go home to Tokyo together." She said. "If you wanted to keep that, you have to pick the right path to go back home."
/The right path to go back home.../ He looked at Kaoru, and he realization hit him. No matter where he went, if Kaoru was there, that would be the path.
That would be home.
"I'll come with you, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said firmly. She smiled brightly, wiping away useless tears and held her hand out.
"Let's go home, Kenshin."
He took it, and he let Kaoru lead him to where she knew was surely home. When they stepped through the entrance of the dark place, there was a flashing bright light, and Kenshin had to close his eyes.
"I'll be waiting for you, Kenshin," Kaoru whispered beside him, her hand there to support him. "You promised that you'll come back with me, so I promise that whatever happens..."
The light faded, and he felt being reunited with something. A body.
"...I'll always come back to you."
===
/I'll come back for you, Kaoru-dono. I promise./ He thought, starting to feel the intense pain in his whole body. /Thank you...for bringing me back./ That was the time when Shinomori Aoshi stood his ground against Shishio that he slowly rose to stand, sakabatou in hand.
--==*****==--
Kenshin snapped his head up, his breathing a bit harsh. He found himself sitting with his sword resting against his shoulders, leaning underneath the shade of a tree. He saw Rei standing by the cliff, looking down. The waterfall's sound raged loudly, so he couldn't hear what he was saying. Sanosuke and Yahiko were clearly not believing that Kaoru was dead, and like Rei, their eyes were looking down, searching for her. Honou was sad, he could clearly read that. Even though Hoshi was being hostile to her cousin, she was still his daughter--his only child.
He remembered after what the messenger had told them, he had cast himself away from reality. His body had numbed, and his whole mind went blank, his eyes dimmed. After that, he was only aware that he was moved or carried. Somehow, someone had brought him along here, in this steep cliff, where Kaoru and Hoshi dropped.
/I...dreamt all that?/ He asked himself, staring at the ground. The dream now was clear in his mind, but he was familiar with the scene in the meadow. /It's a bit faded, but I can still recall that it happened...during that time with Shishio...when I was hovering between life and death still.../
[I promise that whatever happens, I'll always come back to you.] He could hear Kaoru's sweet voice telling him that, and somehow, he seemed a bit reassured by it. With a smile, he stood, holding unto his sakabatou as support. /She promised me...so I won't lose hope. I will find you, Kaoru, and then, we'll all go home.../ Kenshin walked slowly towards the others, his eyes filled with renewed hope.
/Together./
--==--
Rei looked down at the cliff, only to find that useless. A blanket of mist covered the ground because of the waterfall and he couldn't see. Sighing with frustration, he punched a nearby tree trunk, leaving a dent on the wood. /Where are you, Kaoru? Hoshi?/
Suddenly, a soft, female voice spoke through the forest, catching their attention.
"Help...me..."
Yahiko looked around, holding his shinai. But, he froze when he heard the voice speaking again. He recognized it, and when he looked at the others, he knew they did, too.
"Onegai..."
All of them went near the cliff. Kenshin looked like he was ready to jump, but Sanosuke and Honou stopped him.
"I'm losing my strength...help me...quickly..."
Finally, all of them called for one.
Her.
"Kaoru!!!!"
To Be Continued.....
Author's notes: This chapter has a bit of a flashback, and I'm going to try and fill the space I noticed during the Kyoto Arc, so forgive me for any mistakes I may make somewhere in this chapter. Ah, you guys make me happy! Please keep on reviewing, guys!
This chapter, actually, is a revised version of the original. When I read my work all over again, it felt so abrupt that I had to revised it. I'm much more happy with this chap. I have uploaded this chap since, I think, it will be a long time before I upload the next one. I'm in somewhere between life and death in my school grades...^^;
--Reviewers--
Omochi -- Smart one! I left so many clues in that last chapter. You're the one who got it! You go!
JML -- (Oro...) Thanks to you, this "baka ryuu" will stand! ^__^
Willow -- *sweatdrops* Wow...and here's the update you asked for...
Kamimura Kaoru -- Haven't seen you in a while! No, I won't have any angst here, ne?
Kraci -- I won't let Kenshin give up just yet! And special thanks to you for putting me in your fave list!
SPECIAL NOTE: This is VERY IMPORTANT. Keep this in mind and you won't get lost.
--==*****==-- = flashback
/.................../ = thoughts
[...................] = remembering a scene or someone's words
--==-- = change of scenes
So, let's go one with the fanfic!
--====-- Chapter 17: A Promise to Keep --====--
--==*****==--
Kenshin's body lay down on the ground, his face was etched with a silent cry. The flames cackled and roared, affected by Makoto Shishio's aura. He stood with his sword, a bit disappointed but rejoicing. Hitokiri Battousai, a forminable enemy because of his sword skills and fast speed, was dead.
Sanosuke's eyes were wide, stunned with disbelief. /No, Kenshin couldn't be dead.../ "It just can't be!" He shouted. "Kenshin! Get up! Now!"
--===--
Violet eyes blinked blankly at his surroundings. It was unfamiliar, but a welcomed sight. The meadow was vast and beautiful, with fresh, green grass and colorful, scented flowers. The sky was a peaceful blue, with white, fluffy clouds. He sat beneath a standing oak tree, still unbelieving at what he was seeing.
"What is this place?" He asked to himself, feeling the cool spring breeze blow through. It was literally perfect.
"Kenshin."
He turned to the sound of his name, eyes more confused than ever. "Kaoru- dono?" He asked uncertainly. The raven-haired shihondai looked at him, her bright blue eyes sparkling. She took a seat next to him, taking care of her red silk kimono.
"Kenshin," Kaoru started, "Can I ask you something, if it isn't a bother." He was puzzled, but he nodded.
"Do you think...this place is beautiful?"
"Oro?" Kenshin looked at her oddly, tilting his head. "Why do you ask, Kaoru-dono?"
Kaoru said nothing, closing her eyes. "This meadow is peaceful and quiet. No one wants to look for the Battousai, nor does anyone want to kill him." Then, she placed her gaze on him. "Is this place beautiful? Do you want to stay here?"
Kenshin broke away from her gaze, his eyes scanning again the surroundings. "It is beautiful, Kaoru-dono, and I could stay here forever." He turned to her and was surprised to find a sad smile on her face. Her face showed of heavy disappointment and sorrow.
"I see. So, you have decided a path to take." Kaoru murmured. She stood, once again flickering her gaze to him before she started to walk away.
"Kaoru-dono, wait! Where are you going?!" He asked, standing quickly. Kaoru stopped, turning her head back to him. She pointed soundlessly straight ahead of her. Confused, he looked to the direction of Kaoru's finger, and gasped. It was a dark oblivion, an uncertain path to which he knew not the direction.
"If I would go there, would you come with me?" Kaoru asked, her voice hopeful. "Or would you rather stay in this place and be contented?"
Kenshin couldn't answer her. He looked at the peaceful meadow, a place where he could be assured it would be safe for people to stay. Then, he turned to the oblivion, a place of unfamiliarity and uncertainty.
"I..."
"You promised me." She said sadly.
He blinked. "What?"
Kaoru continued to gaze at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "You promised me, Kenshin. You promised that you'll come back to us--to me--and that we'll go home to Tokyo together." She said. "If you wanted to keep that, you have to pick the right path to go back home."
/The right path to go back home.../ He looked at Kaoru, and he realization hit him. No matter where he went, if Kaoru was there, that would be the path.
That would be home.
"I'll come with you, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said firmly. She smiled brightly, wiping away useless tears and held her hand out.
"Let's go home, Kenshin."
He took it, and he let Kaoru lead him to where she knew was surely home. When they stepped through the entrance of the dark place, there was a flashing bright light, and Kenshin had to close his eyes.
"I'll be waiting for you, Kenshin," Kaoru whispered beside him, her hand there to support him. "You promised that you'll come back with me, so I promise that whatever happens..."
The light faded, and he felt being reunited with something. A body.
"...I'll always come back to you."
===
/I'll come back for you, Kaoru-dono. I promise./ He thought, starting to feel the intense pain in his whole body. /Thank you...for bringing me back./ That was the time when Shinomori Aoshi stood his ground against Shishio that he slowly rose to stand, sakabatou in hand.
--==*****==--
Kenshin snapped his head up, his breathing a bit harsh. He found himself sitting with his sword resting against his shoulders, leaning underneath the shade of a tree. He saw Rei standing by the cliff, looking down. The waterfall's sound raged loudly, so he couldn't hear what he was saying. Sanosuke and Yahiko were clearly not believing that Kaoru was dead, and like Rei, their eyes were looking down, searching for her. Honou was sad, he could clearly read that. Even though Hoshi was being hostile to her cousin, she was still his daughter--his only child.
He remembered after what the messenger had told them, he had cast himself away from reality. His body had numbed, and his whole mind went blank, his eyes dimmed. After that, he was only aware that he was moved or carried. Somehow, someone had brought him along here, in this steep cliff, where Kaoru and Hoshi dropped.
/I...dreamt all that?/ He asked himself, staring at the ground. The dream now was clear in his mind, but he was familiar with the scene in the meadow. /It's a bit faded, but I can still recall that it happened...during that time with Shishio...when I was hovering between life and death still.../
[I promise that whatever happens, I'll always come back to you.] He could hear Kaoru's sweet voice telling him that, and somehow, he seemed a bit reassured by it. With a smile, he stood, holding unto his sakabatou as support. /She promised me...so I won't lose hope. I will find you, Kaoru, and then, we'll all go home.../ Kenshin walked slowly towards the others, his eyes filled with renewed hope.
/Together./
--==--
Rei looked down at the cliff, only to find that useless. A blanket of mist covered the ground because of the waterfall and he couldn't see. Sighing with frustration, he punched a nearby tree trunk, leaving a dent on the wood. /Where are you, Kaoru? Hoshi?/
Suddenly, a soft, female voice spoke through the forest, catching their attention.
"Help...me..."
Yahiko looked around, holding his shinai. But, he froze when he heard the voice speaking again. He recognized it, and when he looked at the others, he knew they did, too.
"Onegai..."
All of them went near the cliff. Kenshin looked like he was ready to jump, but Sanosuke and Honou stopped him.
"I'm losing my strength...help me...quickly..."
Finally, all of them called for one.
Her.
"Kaoru!!!!"
To Be Continued.....