A/N: This is a little one shot I did for WhiteRabbit5's challenge of writing a fic based on Robert Frost's poem, "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening." It's from Soujirou's point of view.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, nor do I own any poems by Robert Frost.

Promises to Keep

It has been a while since I have stood before these woods. A year to this day, to be exact. Not much has changed since then. It is just as snowy as the day that I left. The soft sweep of the wind brushing through the trees, the echo of silence in the dark night sky. Yes, nothing has changed about these woods. Her woods.

Her. She must be in the village now. She will not see me stopping here, see me watch her woods fill up with snow. She must be sitting in her house, curled up by the fireplace, bathing in the soft flame of the cackling fire, every contour of her beautiful face gently glowing in the dim light.

Glowing, glowing, she is the light in my heart.

I can still see her in my mind. Her dark hair, tumbling over her shoulders when let loose, framing her pale, heart-shaped face. Her sparkling eyes, looking at me with sincerity…with love…

One winter past, I left her, left her standing in this very spot outside her woods.

These woods…they are lovely. Like her. But at the same time, they are dark and deep. Like me. How could someone like me deserve her love? I am so filthy, my hands stained with the blood of others. No, I do not deserve someone so pure and selfless, like her.

Yet my heart yearned for her.

She guided me back from the wrong path I had taken, brought light to my once blackened heart. Even as I tried to bury my emotions within me, she pulled them out, making me feel vulnerable...but at the same time, better than I ever had before. No one, not Shishio-sama, not even Yumi-san, had ever made me feel as if I…belonged.

Never, will I forget the look of forgiveness in her crystal eyes, which continue to haunt me in my dreams. The way her soft hands cupped my face, how her tinkling voice told me that she understood. She understood.

I knew, then, that I had fallen for her.

But it could not be. I was a killer, forever to be stained with crimson blood. She should never be with one as tainted as I. She didn't care. But even while she forgave my past, I had not.

I must atone for my sins, and search for my answers in life. Until I was rid of the sins of my past, I could never love her free of guilt. In order to be with her, I was forced to leave her first.

So I left her, standing before her woods. She had cried for me, but I kissed her tears away. I told her that I had promised myself that I would wander until I had atoned for my sins. But I also promised her that I would return.

Now, here I am, so close to her, yet so far. Every fiber of my body wishes to run to her…embrace her, after so long. But I cannot.

I have already discovered my purpose of life. Her. But I have promises to keep. And until I fully atone for my sins, I cannot go. So tonight, I stand here, reminiscing about her…about us…

There is still much for me to do. I do not know how much longer it will be before I can be free of the guilt. I know I have miles to go before I do…miles to go before I can sleep.

But I have not forgotten my other promise. And one day, I will return to her. Return to this dark, snowy patch of the woods, of easy wind and downing flake.

When that day comes, these woods will be filled with sunshine.

-Owari-