Chapter Three

The Final Hours

'Kaoru. Come with me. Come with me. The words echoed inside her head. Slowly Kaoru made her way to the clearing by the pond. Stopping suddenly, she darted behind a tree, peaking her head out.

In the center of the meadow, a woman sat, a mans head in her lap. She gently stroked his fiery red hair, talking quietly and looking out over the pond.

"I wonder how long the cherry blossoms will last. Kenji, Yahiko, Tsumbame, Megumi-san. I want to have a cherry blossom party and invite everyone. I want to have one the next year too. And the year after. Who knows, by then Yahiko might be a father." The woman giggled softly. She then drew her attention back to the man.

"Shinta? You're so tired, aren't you?"

Carefully she reached down and pushed aside a lock of hair. A small gasp escaped her lips as tears formed at her eyes. A moment later, they fell to the man's cheek.

"Shinta. Its.... finally finished." Her tears came quicker now, and she leaned over the man's prone form, her sobs echoing around the clearing.

A sense of déjà vu and a deep sadness filled Kaoru's body. "That's...me. And Kenshin. Shinta. As he died."

Suddenly, a hand was on her shoulder. Turning around, Kaoru found herself in Kenshin's arms.

"Are you ready?"

Kaoru snuggled into his gi. "Yeah, but give me a few minutes. I have to say goodbye to a few people."

She pulled away carefully and looked into Kenshin's eyes.

"Ill wait for you." He said. Kaoru nodded and kissed him lightly before turning anf heading toward the crying woman.'

~~

"Yahiko...Kenji..."

Both men jumped from a light sleep at the words uttered by Kaoru.

"Yes Mother. We're here." Kenji scooted closer to her bedside.

Kaoru smiled faintly. "Shinta....He's here..."

Yahiko was at Kaoru's side in an instant. "I'm going to miss you, Kaoru."

She looked at him with a faint smile. "Don't be sad, Yahiko. I will always be with you." She took his hand and kissed it softly. Her gaze then turned to Kenji.

"I will miss you, Son. I leave the dojo to you and Yahiko. I love you."

Kenji leaned forward and Kaoru kissed his cheek tenderly. When he pulled away, tears had formed in his eyes.

Kaoru took a shuddery breath. "Yahiko..."

Yahiko nodded his head and leaned in.

"Kenshin has one last request."

Yahiko nodded solemly again. "Anything."

"He wants us buried together in the clearing by the pond... Where you found us..."

"Yes Kaoru. I will see that it is done."

Another ghostly smile graced Kaoru's lips. "Also, tell everyone goodbye for me."

Kenji nodded. "Yes Mother."

Her eyes where getting heavier as Kaoru finally stopped fighting. Slowly she looked up and over her bed. Kenshin stood before her, his arm outstretched to help her up. Smiling gently, Kaoru reached up, her hand firmly grasping his. "Then my time here is gone..."

Her arm fell to her side and her eyelids slid shut as her shallow breathing died away.

~~

Kenshin gently pulled Kaoru up from the bed. He held her close as the two watched Yahiko fall forward to Kaoru's body and Kenji bow his head. Kenshin suddenly started for the porch, Kaoru in tow. As he continued walking, she stopped.

"What is it?" Kenshin stopped to face his wife. As with him, the years had melted from her face, reveling a young girl known fifteen years ago.

"The wind chime. I never took it down."

~~

Kaoru was gone. She was really gone. The reality hit Yahiko like a ton of bricks. His throat tightened as silent sobs wracked his body. Kaoru was all he ever had. All he had ever really known. She was the only one to show him the motherly live that he had ever received.

"My sister..." His voice was soft as he fell forward, grasping the quilt in his hands. He then sat up and kissed her on the forehead.

"My sister. I will miss you."

After about ten minutes, Yahiko had finally managed to get control of himself. A gentle breeze wafted through the open doorway. Wait, he didn't remember opening the door. As he stood and walked outside, the wind chime began chiming softly.

Kenji stood in the doorframe, his arms crossed and leaning against the worn wood. Yahiko approached him from behind and saw with great amazement at what Kenji watched.

Kaoru stood at the wind chime, poking it softly. Kenshin stood beside her, his arms wrapped around her waist.

"It's their souls." Kenji's words were barely audible as he watched the two.

Three days later, Kenshin and Kaoru's bodies where laid to rest in the small clearing by the pond, just as Kaoru had asked them. Atop the grave of the two lovers where three items; flowers, a shinai and a small teacup, adorned with a tree branch in blossom. And as Yahiko and Kenji claimed, it you stood there long enough, a gently breeze would sweep through the clearing. And as it did, a whisper of voices could be heard.

Along with the gently chime of the Kamiya dojo wind chime.