Farewell

"Kiriko……Kiriko!" He squeezed her tightly, "Kiriko, don't leave me…… Please, I need you…. Come back to me…please, please come back to me… please….PLEASE… I'm sorry."

Kenshin watched with tears in his eyes. He could see that Kiriko was slipping away. They had to get her to Megumi right away. He touched Shio shoulder. "Shio, she's dying. We have to get her help."

He didn't move. He just held her.

"Get up, Shio. I know you love her but I love her more. She's my daughter and she's not going to die here. I'm not going to bury my child. She's going to bury me. Now GET UP and help me." Shio still didn't move. Kenshin thought he might have to pry him off her but slowly Shio scooped her up into his arms, stood up and looked at Kenshin sadly.

"Okay, follow me and hurry!" They all ran out of the forest.

"I hope everything is okay." Kaoru said nervously to Megumi.

"Don't worry. Kenshin is there and so are the boys. Everything should be fine." Megumi rubbed Kaoru's arm to try to make her feel a little better.

Suddenly they heard someone burst through the front gate. Kaoru and Megumi ran out to the front to meet Kano desperately trying to catch his breath.

"Kano what happened!" Kaoru practically screamed the words.

"Kiriko………hurt-"

Then Kenji, Saganno, Kenshin, and some guy holding Kiriko came storming into the house. Kaoru figured that the guy holding her was Shio. When she got a good look at Kiriko, she covered her mouth and screamed.

Megumi took charge right away. "Okay, bring her over here." She ushered Shio to Kenshin and Kaoru's room, since it was the second biggest in the house. "Kenji! Kano! I need you to get me some clean rags and hot water. Saganno run to the house and get my things." Saganno was gone even before she asked. "You can put her down there." Megumi pointed to the futon. Shio gently laid her body on the soft futon but still cradled her head in his arm. Saganno came back with her doctor's clothes and her bag of supplies. Sano, Yahiko and Tsubame were with him. Megumi changed quickly. She was ready to get started however Shio still didn't let go.

"Shio you have to let go of her so that Megumi can get to work." Kenshin tried to say it patently but time was running out. Shio didn't move. He was afraid that if he let go of her, she would fall into the darkness like she did in his nightmares. "I can't." Was all he said.

Kaoru knelt down and gently touched his arm. Shio looked up at her. Kaoru own heart screamed out with more pain when she saw the utter sadness and grief in his beautiful eyes. She had never seen anything so painful in her life. She swallowed and spoke softly, "Shio…she's going to be all right but she doesn't have much time. We don't want to lose her just as much as you don't want to lose her. Kiriko's a strong girl. Believe me. She's not going to leave you but she needs help and Megumi is the only one that can help her right now. I know this is a hard thing for you to do but you're going to have to let go." Kaoru pulled his arm as gently as she could. Shio resisted a little but finally eased his arm from Kiriko's body. When he got up, Kaoru lead him and the other guys out of the room. She and Tsubame stayed behind to assist Megumi.

Kenshin watched Shio leave the house and walk in the direction of Kiriko's secret spot. Kenshin and the others followed far behind just to see what he was going to do. Shio sat down at the base of her tree and put his head on his knees.

"What do you think we should do about him?" Sano whispered to Kenshin.

"He needs to be taught a lesson. So he knows not to mess with the Kenshin group again." Yahiko and Saganno started to walk towards Shio but Kenshin stopped them.

"No! Leave him alone."

They looked at him surprised. Kenshin continued. "Believe me. Whatever punishment he deserves, he's already doing it to himself." And I should know, he thought to himself and touched the cross-shaped scar on his cheek. "Come on. Let's go back inside."

They all left but Saganno stayed for a minute. He looked at Shio with deep hatred and surprisingly a small bit of pity. He hated him for taking Kiriko away from him and for what he did to her, however, he felt sorry for him because he will never know what it feels like to hurt the one you love the most. Saganno finally walked back into the house.

The sun was starting to set. Shio still sat under the tree. There was still no word about Kiriko's condition. Kenshin was right about the self-loathing. Shio's heart was breaking in million pieces and his mind was attacking him with questions he didn't have the answers to.

What have I done? Why didn't I listen to her? I didn't understand. Why didn't I understand? Am I really that blinded by revenge? Why couldn't I read between the lines? She was telling me things that I needed to hear but why wouldn't I listen? My heart is crushing. Is this how it's supposed to be? Am I really supposed to sacrifice the one that loves me in order to receive love? That doesn't make any sense…..I'm so stupid. I'm a worthless human being. Why does she care for me so much? Why does she love me? I don't deserve it now. She going to die because of me……oh what have I done? Shio's eyes welded up with tears once again. He let them fall into the grass. Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming in his direction. He thought that the Battousai was finally coming to kill him for murdering his daughter. He wasn't going to fight back. I want death if that's the only way I can be with her. However, the footsteps stopped a few feet away from him. Shio looked up at Kenshin.

"Shio…she's going to be fine."

Shio's eyes lit up slightly.

Kenshin continued, "The first word that came out of her mouth when she woke up was your name. I think that means she wants to see you."

He got up slowly and followed Kenshin back into the house. Everyone watched him closely. Kenshin opened the door to the room. The woman he figured was Kiriko's mother was sitting by her side holding her hand. She got up and ushered him to sit were she was sitting.

"She's awake. Let her hear your voice, Shio." Kaoru told him and placed Kiriko's hand in his. Kaoru and Kenshin left them so that they could be alone.

Shio took a good look at her face. She's so pale, he thought, then leaned down and whispered into her ear, "Kiriko?" Her eyelids twitched then they slowly fluttered open. She looked into those gorgeous eyes of his. He looks so sad, she thought to herself. She managed a small smile so that he could see she was all right.

"Hey, Tom." She whispered out.

He sighed with relief and fought back tears. He managed a small smile for her, "Hey, brat." Her smile widened. Shio couldn't hold the smile for long. He took her hand and brought it up to his cheek. "I'm so sorry, Kiriko. I should have listened to you. I should of-"

"Shh…it's okay." Kiriko could see that her words didn't convince him. She guessed nothing she could say would convince him that it really was all right. Yet she smiled at him anyway and thought of something that might lighten the mood, "You know……You never answered my question."

Shio smiled a little but said nothing.

Kiriko's smile widened and there seemed to be a little glimmer of mischief in it, "Why didn't you come out of the tree when you saw it was me in the water?"

At first, he didn't know what she was talking about then he started to chuckle and answered, "If you saw what I seen, you wouldn't have come out the tree either." She started to giggle but grimaced from the pain.

He grimaced a little after seeing the pained look on her face. "Kiriko, why don't you get some rest?"

Kiriko frowned at seeing the pained look on his face. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault." She whispered.

Shio's eyebrows knotted in frustration, "Why do you keep say that? This isn't your fault. You did everything to try to save a soul that is not worth saving."

A tear fell from the corner of her eye. "Shio don't say that-"

"Why not? It's the truth……I'm a worthless human being who almost murdered the most wonderful creation in existence."

This made Kiriko angry. She summoned up all her strength and started to sit up.

"What are you doing!" Shio almost screamed from surprise and a small amount of anger. How dare she try to sit up in her condition. Kiriko ignored his shocked out burst but dizziness claimed her fast. He caught her before she fell back. Instead of laying her back down he kept her cradled in his arms. When she looked at him, he was shocked to see the anger in her eyes.

"Do you really think that little of me?" She asked in a harsh whisper.

"No. Kiriko, I-"

"Yes you do……Do you remember when we went to the festival and you told me that you would protect me?…All my life I've been screaming to my father that I can protect myself because I didn't understand the honor in having someone willing to die for me just so I would be safe. But I understood when you told me that. I finally understood what an honor it was….Do you really think I would have placed my life in your hands if I thought you were worthless?….Do you really think I would have fallen in love with someone I thought was worthless?"

Shio just stared at her flabbergasted.

"You told me there are no words to describe my worth. Yet there are three words that describe your worth to me…" She brought her hand up to his soft cheek, "I love you……So don't you ever say you are worthless. You'll never be worthless because I love you, Shio Makoto……Don't you understand. You're not worthless. You are priceless."

Shio looked deeply into her eyes. He just didn't know what to say. Well, there was something he could say but he was afraid that saying it would hurt her again because of the decision he made before he came to see her. Instead of speaking, he slowly took her lips into his own and kissed her tenderly. Kiriko moaned slightly, relaxing in his arms as she kissed him back. She'd wanted to taste his lips again ever since the first time. However this time it was different. There was something more to this kiss. She didn't understand what it was and soon dismissed the thought.

It took all his will power to pull away from the sweet taste of her mouth but she had to get her rest.

When he pulled away, he smiled. "Has anyone ever told you how cute you are when you blush?"

Kiriko blush just deepen. He slowly placed her back down onto the soft futon then pulled the blanket up to her neck. With in seconds, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Before he got up, he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "I promise I'll never hurt you again………Goodbye, Kiriko." Then he got up and left the room.

When Shio went back out side, all of Kiriko's family was waiting for him. Kenshin took a quick look at their faces. They looked very intimidating. Shio cleared his throat, "Um….she went to sleep." He looked over at Kenshin. "Battou……um….I mean Mr. Himura. May I please speak with you alone for a moment?"

"Of course, Shio. Please follow me." They walked out towards the lake. Shio said nothing at first. Finally he spoke up, "You probably won't believe me but I am truly sorry for everything."

"Oh, I believe you."

Shio looked at him slightly surprised. Kenshin continued, "You can believe me or not but I did something similar to someone I loved a very long time ago. However…she died."

Shio was quiet for a moment then finally decided to get what he wanted to say off his chest. "Well, Mr. Himura. I no long have any interest in avenging my father's death."

Kenshin raised his eyebrow but said nothing.

Shio continued, "If I hurt you that means I'm hurting Kiriko. And I can never bear doing that again. However, I still love my father……I guess what ever happened between you two was your choice and his. It's in the past and so is my grudge……If you decide never to forgive me I can understand that. And maybe I don't deserve forgiveness. I don't deserve love either but Kiriko has given it to me and as long as I have Kiriko's I can live happily. ……… You don't have to worry about me hurting her ever again. I made a promise to protect her and I plan on doing that. I have to protect her from the person who caused her the most pain……… What I'm basically trying to say is……to please tell her I said goodbye." Then he turned and started to walk away.

"Do you really think what you're doing is best?" Kenshin called after him. He knew this would break Kiriko's heart and Shio's heart.

He turned his head slightly in Kenshin direction, "Yes…I do. Farewell."

Kenshin shook his head sadly and watched Shio disappear into the night.