The gate made a forlorn, eerie clatter as it swung in behind the rurouni. A deafening silence filled the air for a split second and the shock of reality set in. Kaoru then allowed the tears to fall like water from a fountain down her already tear-streaked face. "He said he'll be back, little missy," Sano said, trying to comfort her but to no avail.
"Are you just gonna cry like a little baby? Look, he said he'll be back so he'll be back," Yahiko said. Kaoru sent him a pitiful glare. She then turned and stalked off to her room. "You're a lot of help," Sano said, staring after Kaoru's retreating form.
"So what?" Yahiko snorted, crossing his arms in defiance. Then, quietly, he turned to look at the gate now resting on its cold metal hinges. A gust of cold wind blew ice crystals against Yahiko's bare cheeks, causing him to shiver slightly. The winter weather was finally getting to him.
Finally, he turned and headed toward the dojo saying, "I'm gonna go practice."
Sano watched as Yahiko walked away. He noted the soft crunch of the snow under the boy's every step. Yahiko's steps came slow, and agonizing in the already depressing environment around them.
Sano sighed into the bitter winter wind. His mind spun around and around in a horde of puzzling questions. Doubt began to engulf his mind like a dark torrent of angry, rushing water. Sano shook his head, as if trying to shake away every doubt and worry in his mind.
"He promised. Kenshin always keeps his promises. Why would he not keep this one? No! He will keep his promise. He will return. For Kaoru's sake at the very least. Perhaps for us all," Sano thought to himself, turning his back to the morning sun. The light that radiated from it was cold, dull and to Sano, seemed to reflect the emotions of the inhabitants of the Kamiya dojo. It cast weary shadows on the ground. A cold blast of icy cold wind rushed against Sano. She shivered slightly. Perhaps it was time he stopped moping and start looking for something else to do.
A noise coming from the dojo caught in Sano's ear. They were the shouts that Yahiko normally made when practicing. The sounds of Yahiko's shouts confirmed to Sano that the young boy had found his bokken and was practicing with it. His shouts, however, were cold and distant, tinged with anger, sadness, disappointment…Sano knew not.
Alas, he turned and headed toward the gate. It waited in the position that Kenshin had left it just moments before. Sano wondered where Kenshin was at that point in time. Then, he pushed the gate open and began walking toward town.
At times like this, there was only one place to go – the Akabeko!