Winter has passed and spring has arrived. Myoujin-san and Ayumi's wedding draws near. Yet in these times of anticipation, I could only feel worry creep up on me. It has been a month since my father departed from Edo. The snow has melted and the cherry blossoms are blooming, but my father is not in sight. I have not received a letter from him since then. I fear the worst has happened. I have heard from Etoro about the troubles in Kyoto. She talks to everyone about the blood thirsty assassins roaming the streets, killing members of the shogunate. The samurai seem to be fighting off the revolutionaries, but why has my father not even sent word of his status?

I know I don't acknowledge it, but there is a war. And I sense its presence now.


Tomoe placed her brush down to the side and images flashed in her mind. A crimson river streams from a body covered with a white cloth. A man bends down to tug the sheet over the face–Hideo's face. She shut her eyes tightly and dug the heel of her palm into her forehead, trying to thrust away her picture of death. No, she would not go to bed with those cold feelings running through her veins. She would go to sleep with thoughts of her father's return. She knew that he would come home soon.


A Moment's Memory

Act VI: A Spring Wedding


As Ayumi put up the last bit of clothing on the line, she rested her arms, letting them go limp at her sides. A cool breeze came to pass, letting the smell of fresh laundry drift about. She inhaled it while she pushed aside her straying hairs blown about by the small wind, revealing a smile. As her hand pushed her hair behind her ear, she caught Enishi retreating out into the street. He looked so melancholy with his shoulders so loose and his steps trudging beneath him. Ayumi was saddened just at the sight of him and, her smile faded away. Dusting off her dark blue kimono, she released her sleeves from their bind and ran off to look for Tomoe.


*** *** ***


Tomoe placed her hair back. Clutching her hair with one hand, she reached for the tie when she managed to knock over the perfume bottle. Her eyes remained glued on the bottle as she put it back up. Staring at it more, she decided to pick it up, her hair forgotten now. Shaky hands picked up the bottle and she examined it pensively. It reminded her so much of that day so long ago. It reminded her so much of that day long ago...


***


"'tou-san! 'tou-san!" her small voice cried out.

Small hands raised above a small frame, the kimono sleeves sliding down to her elbows. Hideo turned around and looked down at his small daughter with a smile.

"What is it, Tomoe?" he asked with a smile as he bent to meet her eyes.

Her hands fell in front of her and she fumbled with her words.

"How long will you be gone?" she asked innocently.

"As long as they need me." he answered with a faint smile.

She was silent as she examined his face. His smiles were so rare after her mother's death. She then noticed his eyes had darkened as his nose caught a whiff of the familiar scent.

"White plum..." he breathed almost nostalgic.

"'tou-san...how can you leave like this when Enishi is still here, barely fresh from mom?" she asked without a sign of emotion, her face almost like a porcelain doll.

He looked down at his daughter as he stood up and let his calloused hand lie upon her cheek.

"Sayonara, Tomoe..." he murmured as she placed her own small hands upon his.

His hands slowly drifted from her cheek as he began to walk away, yet her hands did not leave his for a little while. As he pulled away, she found herself letting go. Why had she? It was the question that burned in her mind as she watched him leave.

Later that night, she cried in the sanctity of her room.

That night, I cried...not for my burdens, but for my father's. I knew that he had the burden of guilt of my mother's death. But to this day, I cannot understand why he left for work if he cared so much for my mother. Why couldn't he stay for Enishi? Why couldn't he stay for me?


***


Tomoe sobbed as the memory left her. With a weak heart, she bent over her vanity table and cried. Only Ayumi heard her because she stood outside her room.


*** *** ***


"So why is it that you have been spending so much time with me?" Tomoe asked curiously as they took down the laundry and placing it in the basket.

Ayumi paused and placed the last of the laundry down.

"Well, I just want to spend some time with my friend before I settle down and have to take care of my husband." she replied.

"Toson will be a great husband. I just know it." Tomoe said with an assuring smile.

Ayumi smiled weakly in response and Tomoe saw the sadness in her eyes. This arranged marriage could be a good thing for Ayumi. Maybe she would be happy. It was a hope Tomoe held for her dear friend. No matter how much she knew Ayumi didn't want it, she hoped that things would fall in place once the wedding was finished. And she really didn't care about Ayumi's presence at her home. It was much warmer and less lonely now that she was there from dawn until dusk. But she could do without the early morning wake-up calls. She wrinkled her nose at the thought of that morning and Ayumi shook her violently to wake her up.

"Tomoe? Who are you going to my wedding with?" Ayumi asked almost timidly, an unlikely quality for Ayumi.

"My family, of course." Tomoe answered.

"Not Kiyosato?"

"I'm sure I'll see him there."

"Why don't you attend with him?"

"Well, I'm sure Kiyosato would tell me if he wanted me to accompany him. But if we don't come together, we will see each other there."

"Hmm...you two are odd."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Ayumi giggled and walked off.

"I'll go get lunch started. You can finish up the laundry." Ayumi said as she made her way into the house.


*** *** ***


Tomoe ventured into her room and placed her clothes away. She bent down before her vanity table to place a few ribbons in her drawer, she took out her journal. She had already written quite a few pages, she observed as she flipped through it.

"Tomoe?"

She shut her journal as she heard Ayumi's call.

"Coming!" she yelled as she put the journal into a drawer.

Outside, Kiyosato stood by Ayumi and watched Tomoe's door intently.

"She'll be out soon, Kiyosato. Don't worry." Ayumi said softly.

Kiyosato turned to his friend with a curious look on his face. Ayumi stood with her face downward and void of her common smile.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked with concern.

"Hm? What?" she asked with innocence.

"You're not like your usual self."

"Oh. It's nothing."

He looked at her with not one hint of assurance of her words. At that moment, the shoji opened and Tomoe stepped out.

"Ready to go?" he asked Tomoe.

"Where are you two going?" Ayumi asked, the smile back on her face.

"It's a secret." Kiyosato replied with a smile.

Tomoe found herself smiling as well as Ayumi gave them two curious looks.


*** *** ***


"You're quite generous with gifts, aren't you?" Tomoe asked while she held a bottle of sake in her hands.

"It's Ayumi's wedding. I want her to start her new life with a bang." he said with a chuckle residing within his chest.

"Kiyosato, I highly doubt Ayumi would like her husband and uncle drunk on her wedding night." she deadpanned with pursed lips.

"Oh, Tomoe, lighten up! I have no bad intentions for our friend."

They walked in silence for a while when Kiyosato stopped in front of one establishment. Tomoe looked confused as he turned to her and told her that he would be just a minute. She watched him walk into the place and waited patiently as she was asked. It was odd to make a stop at this place all of a sudden, and it made Tomoe curious as to what he was purchasing within the walls. Her thoughts were interrupted as he retreated from the inside with a long, narrow object covered with a cloth.

"What's that?" she asked uncertainly as she tread towards him, examining it carefully.

His hands clutched at the cloth and tugged it away a bit to reveal the hilt of a sword. Tomoe took a sharp intake of breath and her eyes never left the weapon. What was Kiyosato doing with a sword?


*** *** ***


The two walked in silence though Edo. With her shawl wrapped around her arms and the sake hanging from her grip, she felt the spring night air fall upon them. The sky was all in a red hue with the sun setting. Little children rushed past them in the streets, their giggles trailing behind them like a ghost whispering in Tomoe's ears. She kept her steady pace, even though her heart was so troubled. She decided it was now or never to ask. Kiyosato had always been someone she could talk to, so why is it that she felt it so hard to talk about his possession of a sword?

"Kiyosato...?" Tomoe called softly.

He barely caught in and his attention went to his companion.

"Yes?" he answered.

"Why do you have a sword?"

"Oh, this thing? It's a present for Toson."

"Toson?"

"Hai. It looks like he might be going off to Kyoto soon with a war nipping at our heels."

This troubled Tomoe even more. Toson was planning to go to war, but did Ayumi even know of her husband-to-be's plans? What if he died? All these questions strained her.

"Tomoe?" Kiyosato said as he broke her thoughts up.

"Hm?"

"Please smile for Ayumi. You don't know how you worry her so."

She looked at his back with a glint of melancholy in her eyes.

"Kiyosato, I don't mean to. It's just that I worry so much about my father. I have not received any sign nor word of his safety in Kyoto. I heard from your aunt that many men serving the shogunate are murdered in the cover of darkness. What if-?"

"Don't ever think like that, not when there is a happy event about to take place."

"Kiyosato..."

"See Ayumi off with a smile from your heart...she has troubles ahead of her."

They walked on a bit more and came upon a bridge. As they began walking on it, Kiyosato spoke up again.

"The revolt is getting worse. More warriors from samurai families are being sent, thus Toson's entry."

Tomoe's worries rise within her and she looked down at her feet. A lump formed in her throat and her eyes were so naked, showing so much of what she was feeling. Kiyosato snuck a glance at her and saw that she looked a bit dissatisfied and a bit bitter instead of sad.

"Each man must do everything to please his family and the shogunate. This is his way of life and duty." he said.

Tomoe's face changed to thoughtful. What Kiyosato said made sense. Toson was trying to please his family and his government as Kiyosato stated. It was just a simple answer that caused so much enlightenment on everything.


*** *** ***


The shoji door and Tomoe padded into the room. The only sound audible was the crickets chirping in the night. His favorite thing was to sit by his door and hear the little bugs sing. Now, it was so empty and cold. Her father had been gone too long. Placing the laundry basket down, she took her father's gi from the basket and clutched it to her chest with a soft smile.

"I understand, 'tou-san." she whispered softly.


*** *** ***


Tomoe watched the wedding ceremony with Enishi on one side and Kiyosato on the other side of her. The wedding went as planned. They exchanged the sake between families and Toson's vow of loyalty to his blushing bride. Tomoe couldn't help but giggle. Her friend's cheeks were stained with the red hue from her embarrassment. Ayumi had never been told such words before in her life and to hear it tumble from her fiance's lips, it made her heart beat faster and the heat rushed to her face. While the end of the ceremony came, Kiyosato and Tomoe smiled warmly. Watching the couple now wed, Tomoe felt a stirring of emotions within her and a familiar warmth brush across her hand. She looked down to see Kiyosato clutched her hand almost hesitantly.

"Kiyosato..." she murmured with a flutter of her heart.

Had he just held her hand so boldly? He looked up to meet her gaze almost shyly, but his smile was so radiant with his usual beatitude. And in response, she faintly smiled back. Enishi then tugged on her sleeve and she looked down to meet her little brother's eyes.

"'nee-san, everyone's leaving." he said almost impatiently as a child of his age could permit.

Later, in the day, as the couple's carriage arrived to take them away to Aizu to meet the rest of Toson's family, the two newly-weds strolled past the people. Ayumi's eyes searched through the crowd for Tomoe and as she reached the end, she saw Tomoe on the side with Enishi and Kiyosato. Ayumi's eyes brightened in spirits and her smile widened. Tomoe was smiling for her, truly smiling. Ayumi blinked back tears of joy and nodded a goodbye as Toson led her into the carriage, it's destination to depart from Edo.


- End of Part VI -



Author's Note: Thought I was going to send Kiyosato to war because he bought a sword? Fooled you! * I am so childish* I love the reviews! Keep 'em coming! It encourages me! As for Kenshin (my baby!), he won't be coming in until the end. I guarantee that. I already know where I want this story to end, but I don't know how many more acts I will write. I would love to write a K/K story, but I don't have the guts or talent or time to do it! This is a challenge all on it's own. I am still trying to gather ideas for two original stories I started but can't get through. Damn the writer's block! But thanks to your encouragement, my mind has been reeling for this story. Thank you! Also, I just heard the perfect song for Tomoe! Sarah MacLachlan's "I Love You" is so fitting. I can just imagine Kiyosato walking down the road and Tomoe smiling at the beginning of the song. Actually, that song kind of inspired a lot of parts in the story. I just imagined Tomoe falling down and Kiyosato kissing her on the forehead when she sings the part starting with "And I fall down". Listen to it! And thank you, Firuze! You've been a big help! Also, I'm going to be focusing on some of my classes more, so I won't be updating a lot. Sorry! But I will write on my free time and do as much as possible. Oh! I just saw "Fruits Basket". I love it!