Standard disclaimers apply.
**********************************************************************
She didn't really have a plan for beating him. She just knew that she had to. Her body twisted away from his initial attack, surprising herself with it's agility.
"Luck," Rizzu told her, his voice sounding strange through his busted nose. "The technique of the Hittokiri Battousai -"
"The Kammiya Kasshin Ryuu is the swordstyle that revitalizes life," Kaoru interrupted, bringing her bokken to a offense position. "I will defeat you without killing." She forced the words out for her own sake. Sometimes people needed to be reminded of who they were. If they didn't constantly aspire to keep their personal moral code, it often was lost and forgotten in the heat of a battle for their very future. She couldn't let that happen.
"You will die," Rizzu said with a snort. He slashed towards her with inhuman speed.
Kaoru raised her bokken away from the slash and brought it down sharply on his knuckles. He was trying to disarm her first, she realized. That was why he had adjusted his attack to hit her bokken mid shaft.
His eyes seemed slightly surprised. Clearly he hadn't meant for her to realize his plan. "Fine, I'll just kill you!" he exclaimed. He stepped back, sheathing his weapon and getting into a battou-jutsu stance.
Kaoru looked at him scornfully. "For a girl not even armed with a sword, you would use the Final Technique of the Hiten Mitsurgi Ryuu?"
He nodded his head slightly. "Oh yeah," he breathed.
Kaoru felt the beginnings of fear to begin fluttering through her body again. There was no way to dodge or block the upcoming attack. She was as good as dead and what was worse, was that she knew it. "I'm sorry, Enishi," she whispered. "I.... I really did want to marry you. I really did... love you. I still love you."
She squared off against Rizzu. Regardless on the inevitable outcome, she would fight to the last, giving ever possible second of her life to protect her friends and new found family.
**********************************************************************
Okon was dressed in her combat ninja outfit. "This trail is pretty straight foreword," she called over her shoulder of Enishi. "Misao-chan must have anticipated being followed."
"Are you sure that it wasn't Shinamori?" Enishi inquired. He tried to keep conversation light and restrain the panic that wanted to romp freely through him. He couldn't take it. Every second passing was one more that might mean the end for Kaoru.
"Aoshi-sama would never leave a trail this blatant. It would be too easy for enemies to follow. He's an excellent shinobi, leaving no trail is second nature to him. And that's a good thing."
"How?" Enishi forced himself to ask. Maybe it would have been a better idea to find the other shinobi. He was having a hard time focusing on all the conversation that Okon was effortlessly keeping up.
"Isn't that obvious? It means that he's probably already with Misao-chan and Kaoru-san. The kidnapper doesn't stand a chance."
Enishi didn't contradict her, although he felt slightly less panicked. Shinamori was a good fighter. He would be able to fight on the Battousai's level for a period of time. That meant he had to get there in time to finished the damned priest off!
"Hey, it's Enishi!" Yahiko exclaimed.
Enishi stopped his rapid pace. "Why aren't you with Shinamori?" he asked softly, fearing threatening his calm composure.
Yahiko rubbed the back of his head. "I am, it's just that he lost the trail of the girls and that priest guy -"
"So they're still alone!" Enishi hissed angrily. He smashed his fist into a tree in frustration. "If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself," he cursed.
Yahiko didn't say anything. Although he finally understood what Kaoru and Enishi had. They weren't doing what they were doing for appearance sake. They honestly and truly loved each other. And somehow or another, they wanted the best for Kenshin as well.
"I'm sorry, Yukishiro-san," Yahiko said with a heavy sigh. "This might not be the time or place, but... I could never live with myself if I didn't say it. I'm sorry for protesting to you and Kaoru getting married - and everything about Kenshin - I'm sorry that it came to this. You really do love her, don't you?"
Enishi nodded mutely. "Yes, I do."
"Then let's go find her and save the day!" Yahiko proclaimed. He caught a glimpse of white through some trees. "You find anything, Sano?"
"No! And Aoshi's having some sort of break-down. You gotta help him -"
"Why me?!" Yahiko shouted back, running closer by the second with Enishi hot on his heels.
"I have to go save the little missy," Sano said. His warm brown eyes fell onto the silent form of Enishi and he nodded his head slightly. "We'll take off now. You stay with him."
"Hai!" Yahiko agreed.
Sano tilted his head in one direction and started running that way. Enishi followed him.
***********************************************************************
He felt emotionally drained. He felt weaker then he ever had in the past. He couldn't seem to find the strength to keep going. Aoshi Shinamori had never been in this type of a situation before. He had never really tasted the fear that came when you knew your loved ones were in danger.
With Hannya and the others, he didn't have any time to fear for their lives. He didn't feel the cold despair - only the icy desire for revenge. But this time it was different. This time it was Misao.
She had always loved him. Ever vibrant and cheerful, she stood by his side with an unwavering love. He and put her through so much, and somehow had never managed to tell her how he felt. He had never told her how he felt for her.
And now. . . . . . . . . . . he was alone and she was gone. It was drawing close to the end for him. He could practically feel him life fading into the nothingness that he had surrounded himself with, but first he had one final piece of business to attend too. First he had to find Rizzu and make him pay for killing her.
Because there was no way that she was still alive. He was left with despair once more. This time there wasn't any Himura to bring him back. There wasn't any Misao to return to.
He stood up, eyes like chips of burning ice. He would find the trail and then he would kill Rizzu. Everything would be much simpler with that mind set.
***********************************************************************
Yahiko frowned. Aoshi had been completely ignoring him. Then he had gotten up with a look screaming death and started walking slowly uphill.
"Uh, did you find the trail?" he asked hesitantly.
There was no response.
"Great, I got stuck with the one that doesn't talk."
***********************************************************************
Okon stopped and turned back to Enishi only to find him gone. "The trail splits two ways from here -" she started to say. "Huh? Where'd he go?" she asked out loud. She had arrived at the cabin, having stopped talking to Enishi a little ways back when the trail had gotten scarce.
She stilled her body, listening for any noises that would indicate people nearby. Birds chirped along the path leading down, but the one leading into the woods remained devoid of animal noises. Which was a sure sign that there was someone in that direction.
She broke into a light run, deciding not to go back of Enishi. He could catch up at his own pace. The trail led to a hollow tree. From inside the soft sound of baby snores were still keeping the forest critters uncertain enough to be silent.
Okon crouched down and picked the baby up. "You must be Kaoru and Enishi's baby," she told the little red haired boy." She started back through the forest trail and back into the clearing with the cabin. There was no sign that anyone had been there since she had come through.
She started back towards Tokyo, hoping to run into Enishi before she got there.
"Kenshin!" Enishi exclaimed, spotting them first. "Did you find Kaoru, is she all right?" He stroked the baby's face tenderly with on finger.
Okon looked at him curiously. "I'm going to get the baby out of here and back to Tokyo. If you keep going straight you'll come to a log cabin. There's a narrow path leading into the ravine... several people have been up and down it recently. You should find Kaoru and Misao down there."
"Thanks!" Sano shouted over his shoulder, racing off after Enishi.
Moments later, Okon noted Yahiko and Aoshi heading in the same direction. Deciding that they looked rather serious, she didn't both with them and neglected to call out a greeting.
***********************************************************************
Everything hurt. Misao twisted from her position and fell flat on her back. Breathing was seeming to be a harder task by the second and the heat soaking through her clothes let her know that the cut was very serious.
But still, even with a deep cut like that, she had no business lying around uselessly while her best friend was being pursued by a psycho priest. She forced her weary body to a sitting position, a wave of blackness swimming in front of her eyes. When they focused, she saw several things.
Enishi, Sano, Yahiko, and Aoshi was making there way down the ravine in a dead sprint. All of them had their weapons at the ready. And then she saw Rizzu and Kaoru, facing off with unfavorable odds. There was no question what was going to happen. The others would never be close enough in time.
That meant things were up to her. She drew her remaining kunai, not bothering to search the ground for any others. She watched Rizzu's body, waiting for the tell-tale signs of movement. Hoping that she would be able to see the move start - and never finish.
He was bleeding from his nose - having been hit by a lucky kick from Misao. His eyes were narrowed on the slender sword instructor standing before him. And then they widened slightly. His weight shifted foreword slightly and then he vanished and Misao flung her single kunai with a scream of fury.
She heard noise, but couldn't focus enough to see what happened. She collapsed foreword, her body refusing to support her anymore. The blood on her back was beginning to feel cold. She was starting to feel sluggish and chilly. Then she passed out.
***********************************************************************
It was useless, but she attacked. She moved foreword when he vanished, swinging her bokken towards he opponent. She put her body into the blow, channeling all of her power and speed into the one blow. Even if it never landed, she would have given it her all. 100% of her skill, with nothing held back for any reason.
The bokken connected solidly with the side of Rizzu's face, sending him spiraling to the side with the force of the blow. The katana went sailing through the air, landing beside Enishi and the others as they hit the bottom.
Kaoru was still holding her finishing position, astonished that she had managed to hit him, much less knock him out. Her weapon fell from her shocked fingers and she drew herself upright, looking down at the priest.
His body was changing again. The lines of age filling out and his hair changing color from dark to white and whispy.
"Nani?" she murmured, feeling confused. She felt arms close around her from behind, and tilted her head up and back at an angel. "What happened?" she asked, knowing that it was Enishi, but not much else.
"I love you," Enishi responded. He squeezed her tighter in his arms, and rested his head on hers. "I thought that I had lost you. I thought that I was going to watch you die." His voice was thick with unshed tears. "Our son... he's all right. Okon is taking him back to -"
"I... love you," Kaoru said with the barest hint of a stammer. "I just realized that a moment ago. She twisted in his arms, tilting her head up. He was crying shamelessly and she knew that tears were streaming down her face. "I didn't know if you were going to live or -"
"Sorry to interrupt, but how did you beat him Kaoru?" Yahiko asked. "I didn't see anything except you clocking him in the head."
Kaoru shook her head wordlessly. She didn't know how she had won, and at the moment, she didn't care. She leaned back into Enishi's arms feeling them tighten protectively around her. She was safe now. And he was safe. They would finally be able to make a new life for themselves. And the good thing was that it seemed her friends finally weren't against her anymore.
Sano knelt down beside the unconscious old priest. "I think I can explain," he said after a quick investigation. "The Hiten Mitsurgui Ryuu isn't meant to be used like he was using it. Kenshin had to learn to value his life again before he mastered it fully. I don't think Rizzu expected to -"
"It could be how you're explaining it... or it could be because he's got a kunai in his swordhand," Yahiko announced. "Guess which way I'm voting. That Weasel-girl must have flung this in anticipation of where he was going to end. It probably distracted him and caused him to revert to normal stats and then - BAM!"
Kaoru felt another wash of horror sweep over her. "MISAO!" she shouted, breaking free of Enishi's grasp and rushing towards the spot where she had been lying. The grass blades were crushed and coated with a layer of crimson blood, but the ninja wasn't there.
Kaoru felt a hand on her shoulder. "Shinamori is with her." Kaoru looked and saw Aoshi holding her gently in his arms. His white trench coat was wrapped around her still form.
Aoshi seemed oblivious to the eyes watching him. He pressed a kiss to Misao's lips, murmuring something close to her face. Although the others couldn't hear it he voiced the name to the feeling he had tried to squash for Misao from the first time that he saw her. "I love you. I never told you." He had tears brimming in his eyes, but they didn't fall.
Misao's eyes fluttered open for a second. "That's silly, Aoshi-sama. I've always known that you cared... somewhere deep inside." She smiled shakily.
"Don't die," Aoshi ordered softly. "I need you. I want you."
Misao nodded her head slightly and leaned against his chest. "I'll be okay. I going to be your bride someday.... you'll see."
"When you're better, we will get married," Aoshi whispered. He looked at the young woman in his arms and was surprised to see tears flowing freely down her face. "That is... unless you do not wish too," he said, struggling on the words.
"Just happy," Misao sobbed. "I love you forever."
Enishi kissed the top of Kaoru's head. "I love you forever," he repeated Misao's line.
"What was that?" Kaoru asked.
"We should get going. Misao is going to need to see a doctor," he answered. He started moving away from the clearing. Aoshi followed, carrying Misao protectively and lovingly in his arms.
Sano hoisted Rizzu onto his back. "I still say he lost because he doesn't know the value of life."
"And I still say it's because he had a kunai rammed through his hand," Yahiko fumed right back at him.
Enishi held Kaoru close to his side and started up the ravine. "I love you." Their words came at the same time. And for the first time in a long time, they both felt content.
**********************************************************************
Author's notes; That's the end. Thank you to everyone who reviewed this story. I loved your support and your comments aimed towards making my story more sound. For those of you who wished that Kenshin be returned to his own age - I'm sorry, that wasn't in the story agenda.
Thanks for reading,
Kissa-chan
**********************************************************************
She didn't really have a plan for beating him. She just knew that she had to. Her body twisted away from his initial attack, surprising herself with it's agility.
"Luck," Rizzu told her, his voice sounding strange through his busted nose. "The technique of the Hittokiri Battousai -"
"The Kammiya Kasshin Ryuu is the swordstyle that revitalizes life," Kaoru interrupted, bringing her bokken to a offense position. "I will defeat you without killing." She forced the words out for her own sake. Sometimes people needed to be reminded of who they were. If they didn't constantly aspire to keep their personal moral code, it often was lost and forgotten in the heat of a battle for their very future. She couldn't let that happen.
"You will die," Rizzu said with a snort. He slashed towards her with inhuman speed.
Kaoru raised her bokken away from the slash and brought it down sharply on his knuckles. He was trying to disarm her first, she realized. That was why he had adjusted his attack to hit her bokken mid shaft.
His eyes seemed slightly surprised. Clearly he hadn't meant for her to realize his plan. "Fine, I'll just kill you!" he exclaimed. He stepped back, sheathing his weapon and getting into a battou-jutsu stance.
Kaoru looked at him scornfully. "For a girl not even armed with a sword, you would use the Final Technique of the Hiten Mitsurgi Ryuu?"
He nodded his head slightly. "Oh yeah," he breathed.
Kaoru felt the beginnings of fear to begin fluttering through her body again. There was no way to dodge or block the upcoming attack. She was as good as dead and what was worse, was that she knew it. "I'm sorry, Enishi," she whispered. "I.... I really did want to marry you. I really did... love you. I still love you."
She squared off against Rizzu. Regardless on the inevitable outcome, she would fight to the last, giving ever possible second of her life to protect her friends and new found family.
**********************************************************************
Okon was dressed in her combat ninja outfit. "This trail is pretty straight foreword," she called over her shoulder of Enishi. "Misao-chan must have anticipated being followed."
"Are you sure that it wasn't Shinamori?" Enishi inquired. He tried to keep conversation light and restrain the panic that wanted to romp freely through him. He couldn't take it. Every second passing was one more that might mean the end for Kaoru.
"Aoshi-sama would never leave a trail this blatant. It would be too easy for enemies to follow. He's an excellent shinobi, leaving no trail is second nature to him. And that's a good thing."
"How?" Enishi forced himself to ask. Maybe it would have been a better idea to find the other shinobi. He was having a hard time focusing on all the conversation that Okon was effortlessly keeping up.
"Isn't that obvious? It means that he's probably already with Misao-chan and Kaoru-san. The kidnapper doesn't stand a chance."
Enishi didn't contradict her, although he felt slightly less panicked. Shinamori was a good fighter. He would be able to fight on the Battousai's level for a period of time. That meant he had to get there in time to finished the damned priest off!
"Hey, it's Enishi!" Yahiko exclaimed.
Enishi stopped his rapid pace. "Why aren't you with Shinamori?" he asked softly, fearing threatening his calm composure.
Yahiko rubbed the back of his head. "I am, it's just that he lost the trail of the girls and that priest guy -"
"So they're still alone!" Enishi hissed angrily. He smashed his fist into a tree in frustration. "If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself," he cursed.
Yahiko didn't say anything. Although he finally understood what Kaoru and Enishi had. They weren't doing what they were doing for appearance sake. They honestly and truly loved each other. And somehow or another, they wanted the best for Kenshin as well.
"I'm sorry, Yukishiro-san," Yahiko said with a heavy sigh. "This might not be the time or place, but... I could never live with myself if I didn't say it. I'm sorry for protesting to you and Kaoru getting married - and everything about Kenshin - I'm sorry that it came to this. You really do love her, don't you?"
Enishi nodded mutely. "Yes, I do."
"Then let's go find her and save the day!" Yahiko proclaimed. He caught a glimpse of white through some trees. "You find anything, Sano?"
"No! And Aoshi's having some sort of break-down. You gotta help him -"
"Why me?!" Yahiko shouted back, running closer by the second with Enishi hot on his heels.
"I have to go save the little missy," Sano said. His warm brown eyes fell onto the silent form of Enishi and he nodded his head slightly. "We'll take off now. You stay with him."
"Hai!" Yahiko agreed.
Sano tilted his head in one direction and started running that way. Enishi followed him.
***********************************************************************
He felt emotionally drained. He felt weaker then he ever had in the past. He couldn't seem to find the strength to keep going. Aoshi Shinamori had never been in this type of a situation before. He had never really tasted the fear that came when you knew your loved ones were in danger.
With Hannya and the others, he didn't have any time to fear for their lives. He didn't feel the cold despair - only the icy desire for revenge. But this time it was different. This time it was Misao.
She had always loved him. Ever vibrant and cheerful, she stood by his side with an unwavering love. He and put her through so much, and somehow had never managed to tell her how he felt. He had never told her how he felt for her.
And now. . . . . . . . . . . he was alone and she was gone. It was drawing close to the end for him. He could practically feel him life fading into the nothingness that he had surrounded himself with, but first he had one final piece of business to attend too. First he had to find Rizzu and make him pay for killing her.
Because there was no way that she was still alive. He was left with despair once more. This time there wasn't any Himura to bring him back. There wasn't any Misao to return to.
He stood up, eyes like chips of burning ice. He would find the trail and then he would kill Rizzu. Everything would be much simpler with that mind set.
***********************************************************************
Yahiko frowned. Aoshi had been completely ignoring him. Then he had gotten up with a look screaming death and started walking slowly uphill.
"Uh, did you find the trail?" he asked hesitantly.
There was no response.
"Great, I got stuck with the one that doesn't talk."
***********************************************************************
Okon stopped and turned back to Enishi only to find him gone. "The trail splits two ways from here -" she started to say. "Huh? Where'd he go?" she asked out loud. She had arrived at the cabin, having stopped talking to Enishi a little ways back when the trail had gotten scarce.
She stilled her body, listening for any noises that would indicate people nearby. Birds chirped along the path leading down, but the one leading into the woods remained devoid of animal noises. Which was a sure sign that there was someone in that direction.
She broke into a light run, deciding not to go back of Enishi. He could catch up at his own pace. The trail led to a hollow tree. From inside the soft sound of baby snores were still keeping the forest critters uncertain enough to be silent.
Okon crouched down and picked the baby up. "You must be Kaoru and Enishi's baby," she told the little red haired boy." She started back through the forest trail and back into the clearing with the cabin. There was no sign that anyone had been there since she had come through.
She started back towards Tokyo, hoping to run into Enishi before she got there.
"Kenshin!" Enishi exclaimed, spotting them first. "Did you find Kaoru, is she all right?" He stroked the baby's face tenderly with on finger.
Okon looked at him curiously. "I'm going to get the baby out of here and back to Tokyo. If you keep going straight you'll come to a log cabin. There's a narrow path leading into the ravine... several people have been up and down it recently. You should find Kaoru and Misao down there."
"Thanks!" Sano shouted over his shoulder, racing off after Enishi.
Moments later, Okon noted Yahiko and Aoshi heading in the same direction. Deciding that they looked rather serious, she didn't both with them and neglected to call out a greeting.
***********************************************************************
Everything hurt. Misao twisted from her position and fell flat on her back. Breathing was seeming to be a harder task by the second and the heat soaking through her clothes let her know that the cut was very serious.
But still, even with a deep cut like that, she had no business lying around uselessly while her best friend was being pursued by a psycho priest. She forced her weary body to a sitting position, a wave of blackness swimming in front of her eyes. When they focused, she saw several things.
Enishi, Sano, Yahiko, and Aoshi was making there way down the ravine in a dead sprint. All of them had their weapons at the ready. And then she saw Rizzu and Kaoru, facing off with unfavorable odds. There was no question what was going to happen. The others would never be close enough in time.
That meant things were up to her. She drew her remaining kunai, not bothering to search the ground for any others. She watched Rizzu's body, waiting for the tell-tale signs of movement. Hoping that she would be able to see the move start - and never finish.
He was bleeding from his nose - having been hit by a lucky kick from Misao. His eyes were narrowed on the slender sword instructor standing before him. And then they widened slightly. His weight shifted foreword slightly and then he vanished and Misao flung her single kunai with a scream of fury.
She heard noise, but couldn't focus enough to see what happened. She collapsed foreword, her body refusing to support her anymore. The blood on her back was beginning to feel cold. She was starting to feel sluggish and chilly. Then she passed out.
***********************************************************************
It was useless, but she attacked. She moved foreword when he vanished, swinging her bokken towards he opponent. She put her body into the blow, channeling all of her power and speed into the one blow. Even if it never landed, she would have given it her all. 100% of her skill, with nothing held back for any reason.
The bokken connected solidly with the side of Rizzu's face, sending him spiraling to the side with the force of the blow. The katana went sailing through the air, landing beside Enishi and the others as they hit the bottom.
Kaoru was still holding her finishing position, astonished that she had managed to hit him, much less knock him out. Her weapon fell from her shocked fingers and she drew herself upright, looking down at the priest.
His body was changing again. The lines of age filling out and his hair changing color from dark to white and whispy.
"Nani?" she murmured, feeling confused. She felt arms close around her from behind, and tilted her head up and back at an angel. "What happened?" she asked, knowing that it was Enishi, but not much else.
"I love you," Enishi responded. He squeezed her tighter in his arms, and rested his head on hers. "I thought that I had lost you. I thought that I was going to watch you die." His voice was thick with unshed tears. "Our son... he's all right. Okon is taking him back to -"
"I... love you," Kaoru said with the barest hint of a stammer. "I just realized that a moment ago. She twisted in his arms, tilting her head up. He was crying shamelessly and she knew that tears were streaming down her face. "I didn't know if you were going to live or -"
"Sorry to interrupt, but how did you beat him Kaoru?" Yahiko asked. "I didn't see anything except you clocking him in the head."
Kaoru shook her head wordlessly. She didn't know how she had won, and at the moment, she didn't care. She leaned back into Enishi's arms feeling them tighten protectively around her. She was safe now. And he was safe. They would finally be able to make a new life for themselves. And the good thing was that it seemed her friends finally weren't against her anymore.
Sano knelt down beside the unconscious old priest. "I think I can explain," he said after a quick investigation. "The Hiten Mitsurgui Ryuu isn't meant to be used like he was using it. Kenshin had to learn to value his life again before he mastered it fully. I don't think Rizzu expected to -"
"It could be how you're explaining it... or it could be because he's got a kunai in his swordhand," Yahiko announced. "Guess which way I'm voting. That Weasel-girl must have flung this in anticipation of where he was going to end. It probably distracted him and caused him to revert to normal stats and then - BAM!"
Kaoru felt another wash of horror sweep over her. "MISAO!" she shouted, breaking free of Enishi's grasp and rushing towards the spot where she had been lying. The grass blades were crushed and coated with a layer of crimson blood, but the ninja wasn't there.
Kaoru felt a hand on her shoulder. "Shinamori is with her." Kaoru looked and saw Aoshi holding her gently in his arms. His white trench coat was wrapped around her still form.
Aoshi seemed oblivious to the eyes watching him. He pressed a kiss to Misao's lips, murmuring something close to her face. Although the others couldn't hear it he voiced the name to the feeling he had tried to squash for Misao from the first time that he saw her. "I love you. I never told you." He had tears brimming in his eyes, but they didn't fall.
Misao's eyes fluttered open for a second. "That's silly, Aoshi-sama. I've always known that you cared... somewhere deep inside." She smiled shakily.
"Don't die," Aoshi ordered softly. "I need you. I want you."
Misao nodded her head slightly and leaned against his chest. "I'll be okay. I going to be your bride someday.... you'll see."
"When you're better, we will get married," Aoshi whispered. He looked at the young woman in his arms and was surprised to see tears flowing freely down her face. "That is... unless you do not wish too," he said, struggling on the words.
"Just happy," Misao sobbed. "I love you forever."
Enishi kissed the top of Kaoru's head. "I love you forever," he repeated Misao's line.
"What was that?" Kaoru asked.
"We should get going. Misao is going to need to see a doctor," he answered. He started moving away from the clearing. Aoshi followed, carrying Misao protectively and lovingly in his arms.
Sano hoisted Rizzu onto his back. "I still say he lost because he doesn't know the value of life."
"And I still say it's because he had a kunai rammed through his hand," Yahiko fumed right back at him.
Enishi held Kaoru close to his side and started up the ravine. "I love you." Their words came at the same time. And for the first time in a long time, they both felt content.
**********************************************************************
Author's notes; That's the end. Thank you to everyone who reviewed this story. I loved your support and your comments aimed towards making my story more sound. For those of you who wished that Kenshin be returned to his own age - I'm sorry, that wasn't in the story agenda.
Thanks for reading,
Kissa-chan
