Hi, I'm Himura_Shinta and this is my first fic! *yay! (not really)* It's not very good, so bear with me please (and please, be gentle with the ratings!). ^_^x

I'd like to dedicate my first to my little sister Misao-dono... She's crazy and has inspired me to begin writing fanfiction.

*If I owned Watsuki-sama's masterpiece, I'd be the happiest person on earth*

********************************************************************

An indigo blanket protected the heavens from the earth, shrouding the secret beauty from the frigid cold. Himura Kenshin looked up and a smile found its way to his face; stars were spread above him. They're just like smiles, he thought. You can never tell when or where they'll actually appear, but when they do, they light up the world. Kenshin's expressive eyes were pulled away by the dim light of the moon that had not yet ascended completely, a tight sliver among the shining fireflies. He frowned a little, though not unhappily. In that state, what can the candle-like glow of the moon do but accentuate the brightness of stars...? Shaped like a sliver... Like a sword.... A swift and gentle wind mingled about the tall grass in which Kenshin was lying, rustling the cherry trees and gently caressing the water in the somnolent river. Catching a particular spot quite hard, fireflies burst suddenly into existence, as if by magic, adding to the shine of the stars and the steady light of the moon. A single petal from a cherry blossom was released from its flower and came to land upon the cross-shaped scar. A cherry blossom is a cherry blossom; a hitokiri is a hitokiri; Kenshin is Kenshin. Blinking furiously Kenshin sat up quickly, only to catch a face full of fireflies that had unwittingly occupied the scenery. Forgetting his muses for a moment, he smiled and shook them off, carefully fingering the round piece of metal he had earned, making sure it was still there. Shaking the grass from his hair, Kenshin found that, surprisingly, he was being impatient. He reached impulsively for his sakabatou, only to remember with a start that he had left it in his room. Though this one is sure that now, every villain in the city will want to start a fight. Still... I want to be free from it... for just this night... a night with worries, yes, but no violence. Kenshin gazed at the little piece of silver in his hand by the light of the smiles. He then closed his hand quickly but gently. This one wonders if it will be enough... After all, this one is unworthy of her love - . Sharply cut off by the quiet and yet ever-present sound of sandals against the grass, Kenshin swiftly and gracefully got up... only to fall heavily into a kneeling position as he reeled. Much of his blood has rushed to his head in that instant that he saw her face. Kaoru smiled, and Kenshin's heart sang for the love of the second smile that forced him to embrace life rather than live in cold unity. An instant passed so quickly that he couldn't remember anything he had said afterwards. The fireflies braced against the wind that had picked up speed again, drawing faint lines in the air. Kenshin held up his hand and opened it, exposing the ring and a lone firefly that had been caught in Kenshin's grip. Another joined the current of Kaoru's hand and the light was amplified twice over as Kaoru put her hand in his. Looking steadily into Kenshin's eyes, Kaoru remarked,

"You have a question in your eyes"

Slowly, Kenshin drew up the happiness he had not allowed himself to feel and put it behind the smile that he returned to Kaoru.

"Yes," they said in perfect unison.