Here is the next installment of Fin. It picks up where I left off, and goes to the end of the OVA. I have tweaked the lines at the end a bit to suit my purpose; hope no one is offended. And I added some dialogue at the end. Oh, Amaya is sort of my character; she is a character in the Seisouhen, at the very end, but she did not have a name. Since I'm setting this scene just a few days after their deaths, it is logical to assume that Kaoru knew about Kenji's girlfriend; so I gave her the name Amaya: night rain- I liked it. Anyway, I think that it should be a few days at least since they have died. I really poured my heart and soul into this story; hope its good!

Disclaimer; I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, and never will. I have simply stolen the characters, but I promise to give them back.

"Now we are together for ever; we can watch our son grow up and live a happy life with Amaya; we can watch Yahiko finally marry Tsubame; we may even see Sano and Megumi admit their feelings. And when they die, they will come here and join us in this paradise."

"Even Sano?" she asked, smiling.

He smiled back, and pushed her hair back from her face.

"Even Sano; though it may be by the very skin of his teeth."

She laughed, a clear, sweet sound that echoed and re-echoed in the stillness.

"Kaoru," he said softly, tracing a finger down her cheek, "Koishii. This is only the beginning of the beginning; we have eternity before us."

"How do you know so much?" she asked.

"I was here a whole ten minutes more than you," he said, teasingly, "and you learn much in this place in a short time. Can't you feel how much you know already?"

She could. She suddenly realized that she felt eternally wise, as though all the world's secrets were revealed to her. It was a wonderful sensation.

"I hope they're not too sad," she said, more to herself than to Shinta, "It doesn't seem fair if they are, with us so happy; but how would I know if they are?"

"You can see for yourself," he answered, and all at once they were looking at the sakura grove where all their pain had ended forever; and the blossoms continued to fall.

"What...?" she began, but Shinta put a finger to her lips, and gestured to the path before them. A young man wearing a purple gi and carrying a sakabatou over his shoulder was walking up it, followed by a girl in a pink kimono with an indigo ribbon in her hair; a ribbon so like the one she had worn long, long ago. Seeing that ribbon brought back many happy memories; but they paled in comparison with the glorious present. Kaoru recognized the two figures as her son and his sweetheart Amaya; normally it would have made her happy to see them together; but her small son looked so lost and bewildered...

"Kenji," she breathed wistfully as they passed.

She saw her son stop and turn to look at the sakura grove; he stared right at the place where the two of them were standing, with a questioning look on his face.

"Kenji-kun," asked Amaya, her brow furrowing, "What's wrong?"

Kenji continued looking and the clearing where the sakura blossoms fell the thickest.

Kaoru could almost swear that he could see them. She smiled gently at him, and bowed her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shinta do the same.

After a moment, he turned back to his sweetheart and said,

"Nothing. Much." in a brisk, almost cheerful voice. He continued on his way, smiling.

"Hmm," said Amaya, not convinced. She turned to follow him, giving one last glance towards the small clearing. The blossoms really were beautiful this time of year...

"What was that about?" she asked as they strolled down the path.

"I'll tell you about it later," he said. "By the way, that ribbon looks very nice on you."

"Really?" asked the girl, pleased.

They continued walking.

"Let's be happy together, you and I," Kenji said thoughtfully, smiling at her.

"Aa," sighed Amaya joyfully.

"You, and I, and some friends of mine," he continued, after a moment, "No matter where we end up, we should come back here, every year, and watch the blossoms fall. They are so beautiful..."

"Of course," she said, and took his arm. They kept walking down the dirt path, growing smaller and smaller; just before they were out of sight, Kaoru saw her son turn and quickly plant a gentle kiss on the girl's cheek.

Kaoru eyes filled with tears as her son and his beloved passed out of sight. She felt her own anata wrap his arms around her neck from behind.

"Do you feel better now, koishii?" he asked, and she could feel his smile in his words.

"Hai," she said, and she meant it with all her heart.

Shinta looked down the path with a pensive but content smile on his face.

"It seems fate," he said, "is giving our son the happiness she begrudged us for so long."

"Until now," she answered, turning her head to give him a long, sweet kiss.

"Hai," he answered when they pulled away, smiling, "until now."

Terms

Aa: yes, sure

Anata: darling, beloved (wife to husband)

Hai: yes

Koishii: beloved, darling

-kun: Mr., master, boy (title of respect-honorific)

Sakura: cherry, or cherry blossoms

Thanks to all who reviewed: Ymir-chan, my first reviewer (^_^) asked a provocative question; what disease did Kenshin and Kaoru have? Sites I have been on say anything from TB to leprosy to some kind of STD -. If anyone knows for sure, or if it says in the magna, please include this information in your review.

This is not the end, although, like last time, it seems like it; there is one more chapter; and to all the Sano fans, I have thought of a way to include him. Megumi too. The next installment will be short, but sweet, I hope. Happy reviewing! ^__^ ~Atropos