Author's Note: Before the premiere of Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning on Netflix, I wanted to submit this story. The idea came to me a few years back but was delayed for one reason or another. After some editing and polishing, here is the story. More of a Kenshin/Tomoe entry. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.


I still remember the first time I saw you. It was a dark night in 1864 and Kyoto was a dangerous place then with the streets flowing of blood. It's how we met though. In a rain of blood.

We met briefly at a restaurant that night, only I didn't see you. You were harassed by two hypocrites, and I defended you. It was the first time in a year that I had let my emotions get to me. I was going through a lot then. Many thoughts plagued my mind including what I was doing to others. I had assassinated many men, including Akira Kiyosato. The man you loved and were to marry.

I would not lay my eyes on you until later that evening in the alley. The men who harassed you had come after me only to be killed by an assassin targeting me. Quickly and coldly without a care, I defeated him. A lot of blood was spilled. I heard your footsteps, and I could sense only the danger of being discovered. My heart pounded and I felt the end.

Then I heard you speak, so eloquently with no hint of fear in your voice. I turned to you and froze. You wore a pure white kimono with a purple shawl. You had dark hair and eyes, but spats of blood were on you. Your clothes, socks, and face.

"You truly make it rain blood."

Then you passed out in my arms where I remained confused and frozen. Would I silence you or leave you in the street? I decided to take you with me to where I stayed. Then I smelt your perfume, white plums. For the first time in months, I could smell something other than blood. It was a wonderful scent and I lost myself in the pleasant aroma. I should have known then how much it would change everything.

I had you stay the night and in the morning, I found you gone, only to discover you had remained. Stay you did. For several months you resided at the Ishin Shishi headquarters and spoke with me on many things. You questioned my duties as an assassin, the blood on my hands, and if I would continue to kill. Then one day I was sleeping, you got too close, and I nearly killed you out of reflex.

It's then I realized that I could never kill you. When I told you a short time ago that I would not kill an unarmed man, you questioned if I would kill you if armed. It took me two weeks, but I realized that I would not. Never you.

Slowly but surely, you crept into my mind and kept me from a madness. Made me question my assassinations and the ideals I once held. I got so comfortable that falling asleep near you seemed natural when I never did that with anyone. Over time, you crept into my heart.

I had never been in love before, nor could I recall the last time I loved. Yet what I felt for you was strong. So, when Katsura told us to live together as a couple while we hid from threats, I wanted it permanent and real. I was fifteen, but I knew my heart and I was in love with you.

Did you love me then? I do not know. We were married that late summer evening in a quick ceremony. You wore your white kimono with a purple shawl, same as when we met, and I wore my regular uniform. The ceremony was nice from what I recalled and soon we were at our new home away from bloodshed and violence.

We spent our first five months in that small house in the country. Our first night was not what I expected. I had heard stories about a wedding night from my comrades, but we were still getting to know each other. I did not want to force anything. So, we carried on with our new life together. It was nice. You and I together. Taking walks, having meals, and quietly living were wonderful times.

During those months, you noticed my consistent smile. It was a real smile of happiness. As I told you that afternoon, I had never really had peaceful times because of a turbulent and tragic life. The months I spent with you were the happiest I had ever been. I loved you because you brought out a side of me, I never knew I missed. That carefree happy side that made me who I was once before.

We had gotten to know each other better too. I had learned all your little habits, like how well you cooked miso soup or how you were always so poised. Did you ever notice mine? Maybe.

I should have known that the happy times would not last long, but I was so content that I never noticed. Your little brother Enishi arrived and suddenly I never knew you. You were secretive about your past. I never questioned. Having come from a tragic one myself, how could I judge. Later that evening, you told me of your family and Akira. You never mentioned him by name, only that you loved him and were happy about your impending marriage before he was killed. Your words touched me, and I held you as you cried.

When you calmed yourself and we were wrapped together in a blanket by the fire, I told you of how I became a hitokiri. That my original plans to help those suffering had been lost. I had become an assassin and ended up hurting than helping. I decided then to change. As I told you that evening, the killings would continue but once I helped to usher in the new era, I would protect the happiness you once lost. I meant every word and became determined. A promise to my most important person and love.

When I said that, you smiled at me. For the first time since I had known you, there was a smile. It was bright and lovely. Happy and content. I was glad to make you smile and for the first time, I felt that I would have hope.

The following morning came, and I awoke with you missing from my side of the futon. It was early morning and snowing. No cooking was being done and when I opened the door, you were nowhere. Instead, I found a note and when I read it, a chill went down my spine and anger rose in my veins. You had been taken from me by an assassin group. Your location was written down and I immediately went into the woods. Had my anger not clouded my judgement, I would have noticed the little details.

'Why take Tomoe, not kill us then and there? Why wait this long? Why a note instead of a confrontation?'

I never stopped to think, only to get you back home and into my arms.


I battled with several of the group members, not caring about my life. Only to save you and protect your happiness. A promise I made to you the night before. I was not about to let you down. As I fought, most of my senses were gone including my hearing. When I finally reached you, only one of them stood in my way. I was not about to him stop me and so we fought. I did not care about the blood seeping through my clothes, the bruises, or the slight pain I felt in my spine. Only to get to you.

After battling with him, I knew I had no other choice than to commit one slash that would end him. In doing so I would most likely end my own life, but I chose to save you and wished that you would be happy in the new era. As I swung down though, I smelt the white plums and it was not until the blood spattered on my face and body that I saw your back towards me. You had come out of nowhere. I never saw you. The knife you held in your hand somehow hit my cheek and made a diagonal slash over the one I already had.

I kept thinking repeatedly, 'What have I done? Why would you do that? Why is this happening? This cannot be happening!'

I held you tightly in my arms. Your torso was covered in blood, and I could not stop crying. "Why should you die? Why do you have to die?" I kept saying it repeatedly. All you did was touch my left cheek and smile at me, saying it was okay. My heart was broken, and I held on to you as you left this world, your white plum scent lingering with the blood-stained snow and air.

"Daddy?"

I looked down and saw a little boy with auburn hair and his blue eyes staring at me. I smiled at him and rubbed the top of his head. "Yes Kenji?"

"Are you okay? You seem far away."

I sadly smiled at Kenji and tried my best to hide the pain. "I'm just thinking that I am. The snow brings back memories."

"Are they good memories?"

"Not entirely. Though the last several years have been better. The more it snows, the more refreshed I feel."


As Karou, Kenji, and I ate our dinner, I thought back to what happened after I killed you. I sat in our hut for days unable to think of anything else. Katsura had sent me a doctor to treat my wounds and I did my best to recover. Yet all I could think of is what happened, and your white plum scent was still lingering in the air. I continued to flash back to that final image of you and remembered it all. The white snow, the splatter of blood, and the smells. Cold crisp air, blood, and white plums. Then I heard the fluttering of pages and saw your diary. It was my only other connection to you, and I decided to read your thoughts.

As I read it, I could imagine you writing in that diary at the little table. Your brush and ink stroking the pages. I could even smell your white plums on one page dated a year ago. The scent was still so strong. I felt connected to you more than ever, until I came to the name of your fiancé, Akira Kiyosato. A flashback came to me at the mention of his name and death, I realized then that he was the one I killed. The one who gave me the first half of the scar. My body shook and the guilt filled me. I had destroyed your happiness and yet you loved me.

Katsura said it to me and when I continued to read your pages, it was clear how you felt. You realized your love for me during our marriage and saw me differently from the killer you thought I was. That I was too kind and gentle. Your last entry was about trying to save me from this group you got involved with. I didn't care about how we met. All I cared about was how it ended and what we had lost.

As I ate my rice, I looked out the shojo door to see the snow lightly falling and got up to close the door. I could smell the cold crisp air and snow, but no blood or white plums. Just the scent of food and the burning hibachi keeping us warm.

After I learned the truth about you, I decided that day to keep the promise I made the night before your death. More importantly to never kill again. 'I kept my promise Tomoe.'

"Daddy?"

I looked down at Kenji who tugged at my hakama clad leg. His tiny hands were strong, and I could not help but smile. 'I have a son Tomoe. A little boy who is my mirror image except for the eyes. They are blue like his mother's. Like Kaoru's.'

Every time it snows, I think of you, especially as your death anniversary approaches. 'What do you think of me living happily with my wife and son? Are you happy for me? I believe you are otherwise you never would have come to me that day in my dreams. To smile and let me know you only wanted my happiness.'

In the ten years I wandered, I atoned and thought of your impact on me. It was not until I met Kaoru and the others that I began to live while helping those in the new era. The road was long and not easy. I neglected your grave for years and I am glad to say that I have come every year since the battle with Shishio Makoto. It felt right to place flowers at your grave that day because I had finally come to terms with the Battousai within. Then I returned several months later after battling with your brother Enishi. I don't know what has happened to him, but I hope he is well. I know you are watching over him, as you did Kaoru and me.

"Daddy?"

I stared down once more at my son and smiled before closing the shojo door. "It's cold right now that it is."

"Why are you far away?"

I could see Kaoru's face and judging by her expression, she could read my thoughts. She knows what the snow does to me and the day coming up.

"Kenji come finish your meal. No candy until you do."

"Ahh, mom!"

I laughed as Kenji pouted and ran to his seat to finish his meal. I thought how lucky I was to have my wife and son with me. The life I have now. In the years since your passing, I had wondered what our life would be like. At times, I feel guilty for thinking about it when I have this happy life. I had wanted that for us so badly.

'And yet…'

"Daddy, are you going to eat?"

I looked at my son and smiled. "Yes."

I sat down and continued to eat my rice, cold but still filling. Then I hear the wind outside and think of the snow again. How I will be shoveling a pathway in the morning and playing a game with Kenji like we do each year when the first snow falls.

'Did you ever like snow Tomoe?'


I finished washing the dishes went to put Kenji to bed as Kaoru got ready. Kenji was smiling and anxious for a story.

"What would you like to hear?"

"Something about the snow."

I gave a brittle smile. "This one does not know any snow stories."

"Cause of bad memories?"

I stared at my son, impressed by his perception. "Yes."

"Then don't feel refreshed?"

I smiled again. "It seems that it will take longer than I expected."

"Will you still play in the snow tomorrow?"

I looked at my son's eyes and pouting face, then smiled. "Yes, we will."


After finishing a cat and mouse story to Kenji, I stepped out on to the porch and looked at the snow fall, then the smell came back. The scent of blood and white plums. I closed my eyes and tried to block the scent. Trying to think of our last happy moment. Your smile and our heart to heart all on that snowy evening.

'It is a good memory that it is. And it snowed that evening too.'

As I opened my eyes to stare at the snow fall, the only thing that lingered was cold crisp air and I thought of you again. 'Are you happy for me? Are you reunited with Akira? I hope so. For I am happy. My life is full of happiness when I am with those I love and cherish. Thanks to you Tomoe I found it again as you did with me.'

It was then I realized that the snow will always make me think of you and bring back those memories. Along with the scent of blood and white plums. I will try to continue being happy though. I cherish the love we had because it made me human. It made me see how the small things and simple pleasures can have the biggest impact. I wish you could be here to enjoy this and hopefully you know the peace I have found. I will never understand all your feelings, but I know you loved me and only want my happiness. Thank you for guiding and protecting me. Thank you for watching over Enishi. Thank you for protecting Kaoru. Thank you for showing me what happiness and love can be.

End

Thanks for reading and please review!

Author's Note: I had originally planned things differently for this story. At first, it was to be about Kenshin, Kaoru, and Kenji traveling to Tomoe's grave. The title was to also be called Of White Plums and Blood. I decided to instead focus on white plums, blood, and snow as well as Tomoe's death anniversary. I am not a Kenshin/Tomoe fan, but I find their story to be a tragic and doomed love. One that could never be. This story entry was my attempt to focus on Kenshin's feelings and what Tomoe meant to him. She had a huge impact on his character development just as much as Kaoru and other characters had. Still, I believe despite the peace and closure Kenshin found that he would always have those tragic memories brought back to the surface. Time does heal though, and I attempted that here.

Thank you again!