The snow angel

By: Crimson Abyss

Chapter 1: Remembrance (Spoilers from the 19th book are in this chapter)

(Kenshins POV)(When someone is remembering/dreaming in this story it will be in italics)

I stood holding my left cheek, fear of what I had done flashing through my eyes as a hot red liquid weaved its way through my calloused fingers. There in front of me a man laid his left shoulder split open spilling crimson blood onto the streets for all to see. He looks lifelessly out into the darkness of the night his hand reaching out for some unknown object. Slowly I pulled my katana from his throat leaving a gaping hole, pulling out a cloth to clean my blood stained katana. I cast my fear away reminding myself that it was my job, I worked as an assassin that's all. But still I writhed inside knowing something was wrong with this kill, I had made a big mistake I did not know what yet.

I turned looking at the corner of an old building just as to men stepped out from behind it, rather sleazy looking men if I say so my self. I watch their mouths move, but no words. I hear myself reply to the two sheathing my sword, "Thank you, for fulfilling your duties."

Again one of the men makes a remark a surprised look painted upon his thin face. Once again I reply back my face as hard as stone, "It's nothing."

I observe the blood covered streets as I finally hear what the man is saying to me. "But…this man must have been quite a swordsman…to injure the great Himura..."

I almost want to laugh at the two, I do have to admit the man that lay before us in a pool of his own blood did have an amazing desire to live, I give him that, but skill? No. I look blankly at the two regretting that I had killed the man, tarnished my blade with yet another poor soul. "No. His skill was nothing, but his desperation to live…was terrible." Turning, I began walking away to go learn of my next assignment telling the others to, 'Please take care of the rest.'

After a few more steps I glance back something tugging at my heart as I watch the two men place a Tenchu sign upon the lifeless mans back. In a hushed whisper I tell the man who so, boldly tried to take me down, "Please achieve happiness…in your next life…"

(Kaoru's POV)

For a moment the fire in the room even seemed to be frozen not even Sano uttered a word as Kenshin… No, Battousai continued to glare daggers into my eyes. "Kenshin...?" I questioned, trying my best to keep the frightened tone out of my voice. At the sound of my voice the amber slowly began to fade out of his wide eyes, violet filling them like water being poured into an empty cup.

"Kenshin…" I whispered again, this time to assure myself it was indeed him.

Slowly Kenshins hand slid from my small wrist looking at the floor in shame for what he had done. "Kaoru-dono…I-Sessha, is sorry…very sorry…"

I smiled at him despite what had happened brushing it off, "It's okay." Slowly my smile faded away as I caught sight of his pale sweaty skin and his brightly flushed cheeks. Anger immediately filled me, anger I had not had at the ex-fighter for hire in a long time. "Sanosuke!" I yelled rising to my feet, "Did you even take time to notice who sick Kenshin is? Don't you think you should have got Megumi first instead of me?"

"Hey, well I thought it could wait… and thought you would like to be the one who saw him first, besides you always said you wanted to take care of him Jou-chan," huffed Sanosuke gnawing at the fishbone in his mouth.

"I did, but this isn't the kind of take care of I meant," I huffed, still angered. What I had meant by taking care of him was I wanted to heal all his mental scars. "Now get you rooster butt out there in the cold and find Megumi!" I heard the annoyed rooster shuffle his feet muttering curses as he made his way out into the biting cold.

"Kenshin, are you okay?" I asked finally turning my attention to the sickly redhead. He nodded a bit in return his glazed eyes finding mine.

"Sessha isn't his best, but Sessha would pass for okay," Smiled Kenshin in return. Slowly the smile disintegrated from his lips his eyes scanning the run down shack stating the obvious. "This isn't your dojo Kaoru-dono, so why is Sano here?"

"Oh," I replied looking at a knot in the floor, "After you left for war, the Kamiya dojo just kind of drifted its separate ways. Sanosuke left and finally quit mooching off the dojo and bought his own house….er…shack and Yahiko moved out also using the money he receives from working at the Akabeko to find himself a nice home just off the edge of town. I told him it was too early to move out at this age, but he just laughed and said: "Well, busu I can't keep mooching off you forever like Sanosuke. I mean Tsubame has to have a man she can rely on, right?" I neglected to tell Kenshin the little conflict we had about him being a man and me being ugly.

When I looked up Kenshin's face was hidden behind his thick auburn bangs his head hung as if to ward off worry.

"Is something wrong?" I questioned knowing Kenshin hiding behind his bangs equals a depressed or worried Kenshin.

"This troubles Sessha Kaoru-dono… all those names you recall, all but Sanosuke's, Sessha can not seem to remember," Kenshin mumbled raising his eyes to mine.

I put on a fake smile a bit confused, but decided to play it off like I knew what was wrong so, that I didn't worry him further. "It's okay Kenshin, trust me…You'll remember, just don't strain yourself in the meantime, okay?" I spoke in return, placing a slender hand on his calloused one. He smiled faintly in return letting me know he appreciated my words, his eyes falling shut as sleep clamed the small redhead. I sighed inwardly removing my hand from his, turning to look at the shoji door Sanosuke had disappeared out of a while ago.

Kenshin didn't seem to sick, other then a small cold he had probably caught while wondering through the freezing streets of Tokyo. I gave a small childish smile as I cast a quick glance back at Kenshins sleeping form. It seemed as if it had been forever sense she had seen her Rurouni and if you call a year forever it had been. Sanosuke had not been drafted to help in the war, because he had finally hooked up with Megumi and she would soon give birth to a healthy baby boy named, Ryousuke. Megumi still worked at the clinic and on weekends Sanosuke would come from his shack and visit Megumi and Ryousuke sense he couldn't during the week thanks to his job. Yahiko of course was indeed too young and could not be drafted which left Kenshin.

Kenshin was of course one of the main ones they had wanted drafted, they told him they could use his help more then anyone else's. On top of him being a wonderful swords man, he was not married and had no children which made him even more ideal. I could see the look written all over his face saying, "Forgive this one," even though he hadn't even spoke a word as he began to tell me that he had been drafted.

For the moment I went numb the world was completely silent other then the beat of my own heart pounding in my ears. My lip trembled a bit as I tried to hold back tears; I had to be strong for Kenshin so, that he could be strong for me. Slowly, I slipped my arms around him burring my face in his gi and mumbling, "It's okay Kenshin… I know…I know you have to, you have no other choice because, if you did…I know, I just know you would stay with me …So as long as I am strong for you Kenshin…You must be strong for me. Promise me that…promise me you'll stay alive no matter what..."

I finally looked up just as his eyes filled with unshed tears and he quickly blinked them away, replacing them with a sad smile. "You are right Kaoru…Sessha would stay…Sessha would have it no other way, then to stay… and Kaoru? Sessha gives you his promise…"

I felt my face flush a bit with embarrassment, as Kenshin dipped his head locking lips with my own. I sighed into the Ronin's soft lips as he ran a rough yet surprisingly soft hand down my cheek. Finally he pulled back a smile painted across his face; I smiled back realizing the smile had finally reached those violet pools.

"Koishii, when this one returns… will do this one an honor and marry Sessha?"

I gave a small laugh pretending to have to think about it hard, but couldn't keep a smile off my face. "Of course, I will baka! But under one condition," I demanded my face growing serious.

"And what's that Koishii?"

"Stop saying Sessha!"

I smiled a bit as I watched Kenshin stir in his sleep a lone tear escaping from my eye. I wasn't sure what had caused him to forget everything and I know we will be starting over from scratch and I know he no longer remembers his proposal… but I do and maybe someday he will, but for now I can be thankful he still remembers me…

A/N: Sorry, this chapter is so short, but I just wanted to get everyone into what Kaoru was feeling before Kenshin left and to demonstrate their bond with each other. I hoped everyone liked it! Please RxR