Author's Note: Shameless Plug Time: RK Halloween Story, possibly under the title All Hollow's Night will be coming forth from this author right around Halloween!

Thought I would be putting this chapter, the last chapter, off until November, but I want to get the story over with before a year is up! I will also adding the entire poem here so that you can read it in its whole. I'm also far enough along in the other story that I can take a weekend (and it only took a few hours! Wow! That's the best I've ever done I think) to write. I hope you enjoy, and, as always,

Don't forget to

Review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kenshin, Kaoru, or any of the other characters. I also do not own JL Conrad, or her poem August. I do own the idea to this story though, and I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've liked writing it.

Chapter 11: Writing it Down

the page with me,
wearing the body

as you would a coat.
I will write it down.

:---:

"Hiko keeps calling me his 'Baka Deshi,' but I see the small smile on his face when I do something right or finally get a technique or a motion right. He told me at dinner tonight that I have improved greatly over the last year. I've been with him for five years now. He says I'm gaining quite a bit of muscle, toning up as he said. He said laughing that I would never be as big as he is though. I wouldn't want to be as big as Hiko though. He's huge, he towers over me with this huge muscled arms and long hair and that huge cape. He told me about the cape once, when I was littler. He said that it had been passed from one master, to the next master of Hiten Mitsurugi from the first one, to him, the thirteenth master. He said once I become a master, it would be mine. To tell you the truth, I don't want it, I would swim in it, it's so wide in the shoulders and long in length. Maybe I would just fold it up and put it in a chest for special occasions. That would be a better plan."

:---:

"Kaoru?" Kenshin whispered, sensing her there next to him.

"Hai, Kenshin, go back to sleep. We definitely shouldn't have gone for that walk." Kaoru said, smoothing his hair from his forehead.

"No. I needed it." Kenshin responded.

"You collapsed soon as we got back into the apartment. You weren't feeling well the entire time, were you?"

"I felt great. You were there with me."

"Oh, Kenshin." Kaoru whispered. "I'll always be there." She whispered as he drifted off to sleep again.

Kaoru sat next to Kenshin on the porch of the dojo, looking up into the stars. It was a companionable silence. Neither wanted to talk, but just be there with the other, both thinking of their feelings for the other.

"Are you cold Kaoru-dono? You should go inside, it's much warmer in there." Kenshin said.

"No, I'm fine. Really, Kenshin, I am."

They were silent a few more minuets before Kaoru spoke again.

"Kenshin?" She said quietly.

"Hai Kaoru-dono?"

"May I ask you a question?"

"Hai. You may ask this one anything." Kenshin replied, looking from the sky to her.

"Now that everything is done, and your wounds are healed, will you be staying here?"

"Hai, of course Kaoru-dono, this is sessha's family. I will not leave my family. I will always be here for you, Yahiko, Sano, and the others as well."

"And I will always be there for you Kenshin."

"Kaoru, Kaoru." Megumi said quietly as she shook her friend.

"Megumi?" Kaoru said, waking up.

"Why don't you go to bed, I will watch over him for awhile. You need your rest as well." Megumi said, helping her rise. "You can rest in Sano's room. I'll make sure no one disturbs you there."

"Arigato." Kaoru said, walking dazedly across the room.

Megumi sat down in the chair next to Kenshin' s chair. "Oh Ken-san. Get better soon. She's not the same with out you fully healthy."

"You get her to sleep some?" Sano asked from the doorway.

"Hai. I told her to rest in your room, so don't go in there. Let her be."

"I will. Don't worry. I'll check on her when I leave here though. Aoshi and I are going to go get some food, you need any medical supplies?" Sano asked, coming to stand behind her, starting to massage her shoulders.

"No. Thank you. His wounds aren't bleeding anymore, so I don't have to change them as often, and I still have quite a few left."

"Megumi?" Sano asked.

"Hm? What is it Sano?"

"Do you need anything? You've been working long hours, helping him, going to school."

"Everything I need is right here in this apartment. We're all worried about him. My friends are here and both Kenshin and Kaoru are here. They're both alive and that's all I need. You are here too, the man that I love." Megumi said.

"And I love you too." Sano said, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you."

"No need for thanks. Comes with the job."

"So I'm a job for ya huh Roosterhead?" Megumi said turning around.

"An enjoyable one!" Sano said, laughing and pulling her into the hug he knew she needed, but didn't, and wouldn't ask for.

"Arigato anyways. For being you, and being here."

"Always."

:---:

"I have started this diary for you Kenshin. I do this because I do not know if I will ever see your face again. Enishi has captured me, taken me from you, I am sorry for this. I was always the one scared that you would leave me, I would never leave or hurt you. I did not mean to leave you, you must know this, and my love for you. I do not know if you are trying to find this private island, do not know if you are trying to find me. Maybe my love is unreciprocated, maybe you are trying to reach me, but do not know where I am, who I am with. He has allowed me this one thing. I was able to pick it out myself before we left town.

Enishi is keeping me on a deserted island, in a large European style house. The only way to reach it is by boat, we are surrounded by forest, on top of a hill, but a nice beach surrounds the outer edges of the woods. I do not know how to arrive here, he made sure that my eyes were covered. The trip was not very long, no more than a day or two. The room in the bottom of the ship was dark and I was not able to tell while down there."

:---:

"Kaoru! You're up, that's great. Did you sleep well?" Misao said when she saw her friend from where she stood in the kitchen.

"Hai. Thank you, Sano, Megumi." Kaoru said, turning to him and Megumi who were on the couch.

"No problem. You needed the rest anyways." Sano said, his eyes on the TV screen where the video game he was playing was moving in fast battle mode.

"Kenshin is doing much better Kaoru. He's been sleep peacefully for awhile now, and the fever is gone." Megumi said shaking her head at Sano as he died.

"Thank you. I think I will go see him and take a shower."
"Good idea, but I might suggest you flip the two." Megumi said. "Go in refreshed."

"Arigato, I guess it has been awhile…" Kaoru said rambling off than laughing nervously.

"You've been worried and tired, it's okay. And you don't smell that bad!" Megumi said, laughing, hoping Kaoru would too.

"That's good I suppose. I guess it will make me feel better."

"Exactly."

:---:

Kaoru quietly knocked on the door, and when there wasn't an answer, opened it quietly knowing that Kenshin would be asleep. She stood there for a moment, looking at Kenshin sleeping peacefully.

"You must be feeling better, you're even smiling while sleeping." Kaoru said quietly as she reached him and pushed his bangs out his eyes.

"I was dreaming of us." Kenshin said quietly.

"Kenshin! Your up! I thought you were sleeping."

"I've been awake for a few moments. Kind of between consciousness and sleep."
"That's excellent. I'm happy." Kaoru said, kissing his cheek as she continued to watch over him.

"You were in my dreams. It was a peaceful time, I guess everything was done. Jin-E, Kanryuu, Makoto Shishio, Enishi…That wasn't the peaceful part, but afterwards, when all of that was finished, it was you and I on the porch of the dojo, the stars were out and everyone else was either gone or asleep."

"You received all of you memories from Kenshin?"

"Hai." Kenshin replied. "What day is it?"

"Wednesday. You've been asleep for about a day in a half." Kaoru replied helping him sit up, fluffing his pillows and arranging his blankets. "No wonder you slept so long. With those dreams."

"Hai. It was strange seeing myself live these moments and events that I don't even remember. It was like seeing a movie playing out in my head."

"Well, you can tell me about it when your stronger, I want you to rest. I'll get you something to eat. How does that sound?"

"Wonderful."

:---:

"Hey man! I heard you had woken up! How was the rest?" Sano said, coming into the room, along with Aoshi, Misao and Megumi.

"We were all so worried!" Misao said.

"Arigato. I'm fine now, thank you." Kenshin replied chuckling.

"Kaoru said something about getting your memories back?" Megumi said, coming over next to him and checking his vitals.

"Hai. Megumi, I'm fine, no need…" Kenshin started.

"Let me just check my patient Kenshin. Just to make sure." Megumi said interrupting him.

"Arigato."

"Here you go Kenshin! Misao made it, don't worry." Kaoru said, placing a tray next to the bed on the night stand.

"Lets leave him to eat, we'll talk later, okay?" Megumi said, pushing the others out of the room.

"Do you need my help with this, or do you want to try on your own?" Kaoru said, putting the tray on his lap.

"I'm fine, thank you."

:---:

"Lets go out and celebrate tonight!" Sano said, coming into the apartment on Friday afternoon after his classes.

"Sano, Kenshin is still bandaged up! I doubt he wants to go out!" Megumi said, coming in behind him.

"Actually, I was thinking the festival that's in the park." Sano said, noticing Kenshin doing work on the couch. "Hey man! How ya feelin'?"

"Very good Sano, Arigato for asking." Kenshin said looking up, "And the festival sounds great. We should go, and Megumi, I'm tired of seeing the same thing for the past three days."

"I suppose if it's the festival it's okay, we'll just have to take it easy, ne?" "Yes, Dr." Kenshin said.

:---:

"Isn't it beautiful?" Misao asked as they approached the park, lanterns and lights sparkling in the spring night.

"Hai. I'm glad Sano had this thought!" Kaoru said, as she and Kenshin walked a bit slower behind the others.

"Let's get something to eat, huh?" Yahiko said.

"Sounds good to me!" Sano said as they walked by the booths of food looking for one they wanted.

"Look guys! They have floating lanterns in the creek!" Kaoru said as they approached their favorite spot on the bank with their fried soba noodles and cans of juice.

"They've really outdone themselves this year, haven't they?" Megumi said as they sat down to eat.

"It's very beautiful that it is." Kenshin said, leaning against the tree.

"How are you feeling?" Kaoru asked from next to him.

"Good." Kenshin said. "Let's go for a walk when we are done, okay?"

"Sure."

:---:

"Kenshin, where are we going?" Kaoru asked. They had said they would meet up with the others in about an hour, and Kenshin had brought her to a more secluded spot of the park, still lighted with lanterns and lights, but not many had wandered out this far.

"I want you to read my memories. I know that you've recovered some of your own this week, but I want you to know mine. Kenshin and Kaoru are apart of each of us. We need to know their story as well." Kenshin said, sitting down on the bank of the creek, pulling Kaoru down next to him gently.

"Kenshin, are you sure? I mean, you're not fully healed yet, are you sure it's safe to do this?" Kaoru asked.

"Hai. I feel fine, and I won't take anything out of me, you're the one that's going to feel tired, so we will go home after this, okay?"

"Possibly. We'll see." Kaoru said, taking her gloves off.

:---:

She saw them all, Jin-E, Kanryu, Shishio, Enishi.

She saw the little fights in between, the blood of the revolution, Tomoe.

She saw him wandering, finding Kaoru, their happy moments between one battle and another.

She saw their engagement, both of them sitting on the front porch of the dojo, the sky filled with stars, the dojo quiet, for once.

She saw their son, with her eyes and his hair, saw him leaving to help the country once more.

She saw his suffering, her suffering at being apart, and each of their blissful reunions.

She saw his entire life, the full knowledge of it, in just a few moments time.

She felt the pain, sorrow, happiness, joy and love that he had searched for and finally had found.

:---:

May 14

Today was the happiest day of my life. Well, no, that is not quite true. The happiest day of my life was the day I realized I loved Kaoru. Today, I realized that happiness would follow me the rest of my life. Today, Kaoru and I, in front of our closest friends and who we consider our family, said our marriage vows. Sano and Aoshi sat behind me, as Megumi and Misao sat behind Kaoru, Yahiko, Dr. Gensai, Ayame, Suzame, Hajime Saito and Tokio sat just behind them in the temple.

Kaoru looked beautiful, a light among my darkness, and I saw that light and was drawn to that light as I had looked back over my past before the ceremony. I saw the light reaching to the end of my days. It was a small, short, and sweet ceremony. Afterwards, we all went to the Akabeko, where Tae and Tsubame had arranged for them to have a private room for our wedding meal, them and Sano's friend Katsu, joining us. Afterwards, after we said goodbye to everyone, and Kaoru and I were walking back to the dojo, we crossed our bridge. The bridge that in some ways brought us together. The place where I told her "I love you," where I proposed to her, and later on, we crossed another spot, a spot along with the bridge, held many memories. A spot that I said goodbye to her. As we walked, we held each other, arms wrapped around each other's waist, remembering our memories as we passed each of the spots. The stars were coming out, the fireflies lighting our walk to the dojo.

I'm watching her sleep now, the moonlight falling across our futon, lighting her porcelain skin, making it glow in the dark of our room. I sit here and watch her chest slowly rise and fall, the breathing of someone in deep slumber, and I think of how lucky I am to find love not only once, in Tomoe, but again in Kaoru. Not only do both love me, but accept who I was, forgive me for those sins.

I am extremely lucky to have such a woman in my life.

I am extremely lucky to love such a woman.

And to be loved by her in return.

:---:

"Kenshin." Kaoru said simply before she threw herself in his arms.

"Now you know. Now I know."

"Hai." Kaoru said. Kenshin could feel her tears on his neck, seeping through the collar of his gi.

"Don't cry. He lived a good life, as well as she did."

"I know. It's just that they both went though so much. We've gone through a lot less considering."

"But we lived another good life. One without pain, or sorrow, and most of all, one with love and joy." Kenshin said, picking her head up.

"Lots of love and joy, and good friends too." Kaoru said, laying her head on his shoulder once more.

"Kaoru?" Kenshin asked quietly.

"Hai?"

"I've been thinking of something lately."

"Really?

"Haha, yes I have. One reason why I wanted to come here tonight, and to this spot." Kenshin started. "You know I love you right? That you will always be in my heart, in my soul?"

"Hai." Kaoru said, pulling away to look at him.

"Kaoru?" Kenshin asked, pulling something out of his hakama pocket, "Will you be my wife?"

"Kenshin?" Kaoru said, then the next moment she was throwing herself into his arms. "Hai! Yes! Oh Kenshin!" She said kissing both of his cheeks, his forehead and lips.

"Okay, Okay, let me breath!" Kenshin said laughing as he sat up, pulling her into his lap.

"OH! Gomen nasai! I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine. I really don't mind." Kenshin said, kissing her softly. "Here," he said slipping a ring on her finger, kissing it. The ring was a silver band with an oval sapphire stone on it. "To match your eyes."

"Thank you Kenshin." Kaoru said, looking at the ring.

:---:

"Otou-san? Where is Okaa-san?" Kaoru said quietly as she stood in the doorway of her father and mother's room. " Otou-san? Otou-san!" Kaoru said when he didn't answer her.

"Oh, Kaoru-chan, aijou. Okaa-san isn't coming back. Kami-sama has taken her to a better place. A place called Heaven, where she won't be sick anymore, a place where she can smile all day long and not feel pain, where she can watch over you aijou, and keep you safe, and watch you grow into a beautiful woman." Her father said, gathering her in his arms as she cried.

"Okaa-san won't feel pain anymore? She'll feel better?"

"Hai, Kaoru. She won't feel pain and she'll be better there."

"I'm happy than. I didn't want mama too feel pain. I like her smile."

"I did too Kaoru, I did too."

:---:

"That's it Kaoru! You've got it, very well done. Another technique mastered." Her father said smiling at her as she caught her breath in the dojo behind the house. He had finished classes, and as always, she had come in her practice Hakama and Gi to practice with him. She'd been doing this for as long as she could remember, since before her mother's death. But of course, her mother had taught her the more feminine characteristics too, but Kaoru had never really done things like clean and do laundry very well. She could do both of those better than she could cook though.

"Arigatou, Otou-san."

"You'll be able to become Assistant Master soon, Kaoru, maybe even with in the year."

"Arigatou, Otou-san."

:---:

"Otou-san? I'm back Father! Where are you?" Kaoru said, walking in through the front gate. "Otou-san? Father?!" Kaoru put the groceries down and walked towards the dojo. His class would have ended just a bit ago, he might be cleaning up still.

"Otou-san, I'm home!" Kaoru said walking into the dojo. "Where is he? That's strange."

"Kaoru-chan? Kaoru-chan, are you here!?"

"Gensai-sensei! What are you doing here?"

"Your father has been taken to the clinic. I have just finished with him, and my assistant is looking after him. You must hurry. I'll explain on the way." He answered grabbing her hand and leading her towards the street.

"Your father went into to town to look for you, since it was getting dark. He ran across some thugs beating up on a young man. He had his Bokken with him, he tried to save the young man, but was badly beaten for his good dead by the thugs that were beating the young man." Dr. Gensai explained as they hurried across the way to the clinic.

"What happened to the young man?" Kaoru asked.

"He was badly beaten. I'm not sure if he'll make it through or not." Dr. Gensai answered her as they approached the clinic and he opened the door for Kaoru.

"He's through that door there, but Kaoru, I want to warn you. He doesn't look like your father. They beat his face in very badly, and he has bruises, cuts, broken bones and other injuries as well."

"Arigatou, Dr. Gensai." Kaoru said as she walked towards the room.

"Aijou, Kaoru-chan, is that you?" Her father said quietly as she knelt next to his futon.

"Hai. Otou-san, don't talk. Rest." Kaoru answered him.

"You've become so strong Kaoru aijou. I'm so proud of you, of your accomplishments. Take care of the dojo, pass on the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, carry the name proudly, you deserve it."

"Papa, you'll be fine. Don't say such things! You'll get through this!"

"Kaoru, listen to me. Be strong, but don't forget to mourn, don't be too strong. Keep that in mind, you are a woman, find a man that will love and protect and cherish you, have a family, be happy. That is my final wish. I wasn't able to give you much, and I want you to have everything you deserve."

"Arigatou Otou-san. Aishiteruze Otou-san." Kaoru said as her father breathed his last breath. "Aishiteruze, Papa."

:---:

Kenshin and Kaoru walked back to where they were meeting the rest of the group.

"You two were on a long walk." Megumi said as they approached.

"We were sitting down on the bank of the river." Kaoru responded as they sat down with their friends.

"Kaoru, have you been crying?" Misao asked.

"Yes, but they are happy tears, don't worry." Kaoru said, looking up at Kenshin. "Should we?"

"I don't see why not. They should be the first to know, their our best friends."

"What are you two talking about?" Yahiko asked.

"Kenshin and I are engaged." Kaoru said, turning towards her friends with a huge smile.

"Your kidding!" Sano said.

"Nope, Kenshin just proposed to me."

"And, we have both recovered all of Kenshin and Kaoru's memories." Kenshin said.

"Those were the sad tears. It was how her parents died when she was young." Kaoru said.

"Everything has been figured out then." Aoshi said quietly.

"Hai." Kaoru said.

"And we now know why it seemed destined that we meet." Kenshin said.

"It was destined. Kenshin and Kaoru's love was forever." Kaoru said.

"And so will ours."

:---:

September 18, a couple of years later

Today was the birth of our son, Himura Kenji. He has my red hair, and Kaoru's sapphire eyes. He is already incredibly strong. He will be a strong willed, talented man. I am going to love watching him grow up into that man. I will not let him take the paths that I have, the Meiji Era we now live in will help with that. I will love him until my dying day, and beyond that, just as I love Kaoru for that long as well. He is the physical formation of our love, and we will love, protect, cherish him as we do each other. Even more so, we'll bring him up to follow the teachings of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, the sword that protects, not to use a sword that destroys, kills, and brings darkness into a life of light and safety.

:---:

August

Let the poem emerge,
you tell me. Bring it out

as moon draws the darkness
under trees, as gaping streetlights

line your eyes
with bands of light.

We are standing on a bridge,
have been standing on the same bridge

since August five years ago
when you said, kiss me so I will

remember. My hands
caught the rail behind

as you pulled — the paint, red,
had blackened by night.

I pressed your hands
as I would two poems,

noted their exact texture
and weight,

the way they found me
rigid. And trembling.

I knew I would remember
a scrape of gravel

like the words I could not say,
the car's taillights

receding into the hot summer
dark. Tonight, you walk

the page with me,
wearing the body

as you would a coat.
I will write it down.