Disclaimer: None of the characters nor lyrics are mine, I'm just borrowing them for my sadistic pleasure, I promise I'll put it back when I'm done with it Mommy.
AN:
1) I'm not entirely sure when the first camera has been invented or whether Tomoe has a picture of Kenshin, but let's just do what all authors want their readers to do ok? Pretend.
2) If you've noticed, I've revised the format of this chapter. Poke told me that it was rather.. gimmicky, and I couldn't really stand the way it looked too, so I decided to change it. Looks better now eh?
The One for You
I hold a picture in my hand
Where are you now? I clutched the well-worn picture that has been caressed one too many times by a loving hand.
Time and tide waits for no man.
Kissing the man in the photo lightly, I held the picture closer to my heart. I needed to remember.
And though I understand
Trudging through the throng of people, I was glad for the noise they made, the comfort they invariably gave.
I could hear the murmurs from all corners of the street. The man in the shop, complaining about the terrible service, the young woman tittering with her girlfriends about her kimono, a mother, reprimanding her mischievous toddler, you, chatting...
You?
Stopping in the middle of the busy walkway, I was grateful for the cover that I got from the masses of bodies.
What were you doing here?
I'm drifting into space
Sneaking closer to you, yet afraid that you would notice me, I hid behind the crowd, like I always do nowadays. You used to call me striking; you used to say that I would stand out in a crowd, not like others who merely stand around, and that filled my heart with a type of warmth I was not used to. But now, I resented my looks for the unwanted attention it would grab.
I sighed.
'Tomoe? Doushitano? Daijoubu?'
Your voice broke out from the depths of my mind, as I fondly recall the sweet way you would worry about me even if it were needless.
'Daijoubu.' I softly answered to the voice that now belonged to the past and should have been buried long ago, just like you and I. But…
What were you doing here?
I guess I should have known, but trust had blinded me
Shock turned me into stone as I gazed at your hand. The hand that used to hold mine as gently, as warmly, as firmly, was now holding another's just as gently, warmly and firmly as mine.
Everything blurred as I blinked my eyes rapidly hoping to clear my vision.
Who was she? Who was the she who had learnt the warmth of your touch, the gentleness of your nature, and the strength of your soul?
My musings were broken when the two of you stepped into the jewelry store, she tugging at you, and you smiling fondly at her antics.
My heart clenched at the sight of you and her. What a perfect couple. So much like... us.
Entering the store, I took off my shades and went over to the display that she was cooing over - couple's matching rings. Wedding rings.
I'm not the one for you
"What can I get for you, on your birthday?"
You gazed into my eyes, your fringe blocking my vision of returning that gaze. Shifting yourself slightly to get comfortable, you rested your head atop my lap as though it was the most natural thing to do.
Surprised that you would even remember the day, I gaped at you for a second.
"My... birthday?"
You never bought me anything before. Why now?
Smiling guilessly at me, you replied while tweaking my nose mockingly.
"I want it to be special."
Blushing at your attentive ministrations, I paused for a moment, thinking. What should I get? What *do* I want?
"I want... a ring. Yes. A ring."
I'm not the one for you
I looked at the picture perfect couple in front of me picking their symbol of their relationship, a vow of sorts that they were willing to make to each other. Then, I looked down at the little sapphire embedded in the golden band that I got as my birthday present - a witness to faded love.
You are the one for me
You could only see her, even when I was standing right next to her, crying out for your attention.
Smiling softly, yet painfully to myself, I turned away, ignoring your sweet voice in my head.
I will not take your happiness away, not anymore.
Ahh… maybe it is time to forget.
AN: Don't kill me! –Raises hands in protest- the final chapter [i.e. the next chapter] would explain everything. Everything. I was wrong when I said that I didn't change the storyline, I actually will… wait, I already did. –sheepish grin- What's going to happen is that although I know that Tomoe was supposed to be with Akira after her death, I decide to let her hang around Earth for a liiittle while longer. And since that is the basis of my story, you, the reader, is going to have to accept that sad but true fact. –nods head sagely-
The song is 'The one for you' by Saybia.
As per normal, all reviews and suggestions are greatly appreciated! Onegaishimasu!
Your unworthy author,
~Haruko
Ceegee: Please hang around to see what's going to happen next, the explanation is up after this!
Shaolin and Amakakeru: What a long name! Thanks for the review, yes I will continue, stay around for the grande finale!
Caelestis Dulcis: What a cool name! Sounds… Latin, am I right? What does it mean? Anyway, thanks for the looong review, I loved reading it! Is this length long enough for you? Don't fear, the next chapter should be longer. It's not that I want to purposely keep the chapter short; it's just that I can't lengthen the story without sounding whiny and angst-y, which I'm trying to minimize. Thank you for the compliments on my usage of the language, I'll let my English teachers know! ^_^
Wistful-eyes: Man, no writing of mine has ever been graced by your extraordinary presence! It's an honor! I'm also glad that someone finally appreciates the amount of effort I put into the summary! Every time I write a new story, the summary is what puts me in a knot all the time, thank you for acknowledging that aspect of my hard work!