Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me.
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-- Memory --
written by: Ice Angel Kaoru
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He stared at the powder white flurries around him, but his mind was somewhere else completely.
Tomoe…He could still smell the heady, stomach churning scent of white plums mixed with blood. Her face, pale and more beautiful than snow ever could be, floated before his mind's eye; a pained smile graced her lips as her slim, gentle hand came up to caress him for one last time.
But she never completely left him behind.
He still remembered many a night during the Bakumatsu when he could still feel her comforting embrace around him as he slept.
She continued to watch over him as he continued to fight.
You never stopped being my sheath, even when I stopped fighting, did you Tomoe?
He continued to watch the snow with faraway eyes, completely unaware of what was coming.
Hearing a distant snicker, he turned to look in the direction of the bell-like sound…only to receive a very cold and very wet kiss from a snowball.
"Oro?" He blinked rapidly, violet eyes clearing the damp whiteness to see a pair of twinkling blue eyes staring at him as a small hand clasped over a mouth to cover bubbly giggles.
Even with his confusion evident on his face, he couldn't help but feel the small warmth blooming in his heart at the sight of the vibrant woman shaking from mirth in front of him.
Her smile is so warm…so unlike the snow…Kaoru doubled over slightly, still trying to contain her laughter.
"Sorry, Kenshin, but I couldn't help myself."
He smiled, bent over, and picked up a handful of the powdery stuff in his own palm.
"Sessha can see why," he murmured quietly, his fingers playing with the snow.
"Kenshin? What are you doing? Hey, Kenshin?" Kaoru questioned the redhead as she backed up a few steps.
Looking more closely at his hands, Kaoru's eyes widened and she turned and ran.
"Himura Kenshin! Don't you dare throw that snowball at me!"
A spirit floating by a nearby tree smiled sadly to itself.
But that young girl is your sheath now.
Flying away with a small breeze, the spirit continued to smile and watch the couple.
Please take care of him, Kaoru. Until I see you both again…
…Farewell…