Chapter 3: Dreidel

Kenshin sat silently through dinner, how could he speak? His lovely wife, Kaoru, sat at his side, talking with these new guests as his son played with his newly made friend, Ryu.

But, she did not speak

Kenshin found himself in a place he had never imagined, at his side, his wife Kaoru, across from him, his wife, Tomoe. He could never choose between the two of them, and he knew that there would be no need to, Tomoe would leave without a fight. She would never want to destroy a family, to deprive a boy of his true mother, like Enishi had been.

But, could he let her just vanish again? Walk from his life, leaving only the scent of white plums as the reminder of their life together?

Tomoe's companion, Namie, was eating happily as she talked with Kaoru, Kenji and Ryu. None of them knew of the dilemas in his mind. He rose suddenly, startling even himself, "It has been wonderful to meet you all, but I am very tired." he gave a small bow, before leaving, walking past his room, and out of the dojo, 'I knew to think that I do...' he thought as he walked to the river, sitting by it's calm waters.

"Kenji, will you do dishes?" Kaoru asked as she gathered the plates.

Kenji nodded, "Come on Ryu!" he dragged his friend out doors to wash the dishes with him.

"Those two sure hit it off." Namie nodded.

"They most certainly did." Kaoru smiled, then frowned a bit, "...Miss Tomoe, are you alright? You have been terribly quiet."

"She's just shy." Namie shrugged, and smiled sadly at her almost silent frown.

"I think I shall head home. Namie, bring Ryu when you come back." Tomoe said as she rose, "Thank you for the meal." she bowed deeply, "It was wonderful." with that she was gone from the dojo.

Kenshin sat, skipping stones silently when he heard someone approach him, "I will be in bed soon Kaoru, dear." he said.

"...I will tell her so..." came Tomoe's quiet voice.

He spun around, "Tomoe! I..." he sighed, "....Please, Tomoe, can we just speak for a moment?"

"Very well..." she sat down beside him, "What shall we speak of?"

"...What happened? How...How did you survive?"

She took a deep breath, "...I am not sure... I..." she sighed, "I am sorry I do not have answers... I only remember awakening in our burning home..."

Kenshin felt a pang of guilt hit, "...A fire?" he asked meakly.

She nodded, and reached into her sleeve, "..I..saved this for you..." she held out a tiny burnt dreidel to him.

"...My...dardel..." he took it from her hand, recalling how sweet, and smooth her hands had always been, how her touch had always seemed to calm him.

She nodded, and slowly stood up, "...There is a message for you in it... Something my lips could have never spoken."

He blinked, and looked down, on the edges of the dreidel was a simple statement, 'I love you.'

He looked up at her, his words caught in his throat.

"...I am sorry, I have seen you again Kenshin... It would have been best had I stayed dead to you..."

"Tomoe no..." he stood up, and, without thinking about it, embraced her closely, "Seeing you could never be a mistake..."

She did not hug him back, but he felt a single teardrop land on his cheek, he couldn't tell if it was hers or his, it didn't seem to matter anymore. His life seemed complete, but then she brought him back to his dilemma.

"Your...wife...will be worried..." she whispered.

He let of go of her, "...Tomoe...please... don't leave me again."

"...I will not destroy your family Kenshin..." though her face remained impassive, a lone tear rolled down her cheek, as she turned to leave.

"....I have to see you again, Tomoe!" he called, his voice choked.

"...If it's meant to be it will be Kenshin..." with those soft words she had vanished from sight.

Kenshin turned and looked at his reflection, holding the dreidel tightly, his heart ripped to shreds by love.

***************** Sorry, it's taken so long ^^() I've been busy. And sorry for misspellings, my comp doesn't have spell check, but I do run it through an online one... not that it works very well... *grumbles* Anyways, does anyone have suggestions or ideas of what might happen next? ^_^ *gives all reviewers a cookie* **********************