A/N: I must say, I work as hard as I can and I get not much...sighs...can't do anythign abou tit though. I enjoy what I get. It means that people care...Okay, here we go, you'll understand the whole Tomoe thing maybe...

Gomennasii

" Gomen..."

The small drippings in the stinkhole Enishi called a dungeon were definately getting to the man that sat on his knees.

" Gomen..." he whispered once again. His voice was surely tired, and his body was starting to feel shaky as well. He was having a hard time getting himself to stay steady with what lay next to him draining. It lay in the moldy cracks of the grayish floor, along with that of others from long ago. His head lay at his chest, watching the crimson pool grow bigger and bigger with each drop of the liquid.

The red-head moved his hand the inches that he could in the binding metal, squeezing it shut and stinging the cuts as his nails hit them. The blood fell from his fingers and down his palm to hit him on his head, blending well with the red color. He started humming slightly, thinking of the reasons that he was here. Wondering.., was Enishi true? He may have been a hard man to believe, but his voice was almost too convincing to be a lie. And the warrior said slowly...

" Gomen, Tomoe..." and thought as he said this. He thought about her, and looked to the puddle that ran in the cracks touching the knee of his trousers. His eyes were blank, and he went deep into the repressed memories he told himself that he would never unlock again. He scoured these to find the reasoning behind what the dictatious ruler spouted to him.

Kenshin closed his eyes smelling the moldiness of the decay brush against his nose. He cringed and looked up for a moment to see the little white light before him. He had lost a lot of blood, he knew it could all be an illusion. Though, even if it was, it was surely better than the hell that he was pushed into.

There was a light smell of food coming from the inside of the small cottage in the middle of the forest. One man, hoeing the families food source as it was more of a past time than it was neccesity, found himself drawn to the rich aroma that came from the cottage. It wafted out of the windows and even up the chimney that billowed smoke up into the sky.

The red head came up the steps and opened the creaking wooden door, there in purpose for anyone that would dare try to enter he and his wife's sancutary. And there on the far end of the room she sat stirring the meal on the cauldren-like pot delicately tapping the wooden spoon on the side. She gazed over her shoulder and gave a smile to her husband, one of which looked as though it had something well to hide.

Kenshin of course melted at this smile, arranged marriage or not, they had found each other and that was that. He dropped to his knees next to her, oh so tempted to run kisses up her arm but knew that it would lead to other things. To stop his urges, he merely placed his arms about her shoulders with his face buried in her long silky hair. Tomoe giggled at what he did, her head turning to look at his amethyst eyes talking to her. She let a small grin creep on her face and then turned back with him still leaning on her to stir the pot again.

" Kenshin..." she said very softly..." how would you like the pitter-patter of little feet on our floor?" she asked sweetly. Kenshin at first was shocked,not knowing exactly how he should react to this situation, but then, as he thought about it, he had the ideas whirring in his mind.

" That would be great.." she nodded.

" Good, because it shouldn't be too long..." she rubbed her stomach, though hardly protruding from her dress.

All Kenshin had in his mind was...I'm going to be a father...

But, even as Kenshin thought this joyous thought, he never got jovial. His eyes were still dull and tired like, but there was a small hint of happiness in knowing that he could remember something that he had long suppressed. The next thing that he remembered was sending a pigeon to Hiko and Kaoru's father to say the joyous news that an heir between the royal blood of Eviary and Antholl was to be born. Of course the letters to them swooped in as well. Over the monthes they came to wonder if Tomoe's pregenancy was going well. Kenshin always said that everrything was fine and nothing would bother the preganancy. He made sure that Tomoe was off her feet if she was tired, or that she as taken care of when all assortment of things came from the morning sickness to the cravings that sent him to the nearest town for food. She tended to have these weird cravings at night, so he was sure to stock up whenever he went on any strange thing he felt that Tomoe would want.

Then, his mind played a time skip after the cute montage. It was in the cusp of the sixth and seventh month line. Tomoe was sleeping constantly and Kenshin, as the devote lover and husband, stayed by her side as much as he possibly could. He always sat in the corner, working on his writings while she slept. Usually when she awoke they would talk and he would ask if she was hungry or if she needed anything. Tomoe was always the modest one saying that she didn't, but Kenshin knew that she was lying and pried it out of her. Tomoe always had this thing about that would make her different from just about any princess. She never liked people doing things for her unless absolutely necessary. That was something that drew Kenshin to her.

" Koishii..." Kenshin begged to his wife as she stood. Tomoe held her arm across her stomach that had grown alomst out of her dress. A dress that use to drag past her feet but now hung at her shins.

" Hush anata, I'm just getting something. Don't be so protective." She told him. Strange as it was. Tomoe was two or three years older than her husband, but as long as the marriage was capable of working...

" What do you need?"

" Nothing anata, why don't you tend to the garden, I'll be fine. I promise."

Kenshin wanted to please her, so he did as she said. It was more than just obedience that drove him to do so. He was getting a little stir crazy in their small home and convinced himself that he needed a little bit of fresh air. He kneeled to the rippening tomatoes that he was probably lucky grew. The summer weather was being crazy on him. He pulled up his shirt to make a hammock for the red tomatoes and began to pile them in. It did keep his mind from what was at hand.

It wasn't just that he was thinking about the welfare of his wife. He was thinking about the welfare of the baby to come. He, sad to admit, was apprehensive about the future. He shook a little. He heard from others that children were a little bothersome. That they cried at all hours of the night. But, he faced the fear. He had faced all sorts of enemies before. Would a baby be that hard?

He looked up at the flarring of wings. But, it wasn't a pigeon, rather yet a hawk. It came to him. Kenshin put up his arm and it landed gently. Tied to one of it's taloned feet was a letter from Hiko.

Deshi,

It has come to attention that rebel may at hand in Keryan. I think you know the town is full of thugs. It will be simple to put down. Send your answer back.

Hiko

The red-head nodded and went inside, the hawk perching on the handle of the stairs. Tomoe saw the sterness in her husband's face as he wrote on the letter back to Hiko.

" Anata?"

" I must go, I must."

" Where?"

" Close, Keryan. I will be gone only a day or two. I promise."

" Kenshin..."

" I know, but this is my duty. I'll come back unscathed okay? Just take care of yourself until I do. Send contact to Megumi if you must." He hugged her real tightly. He felt himself on the brink of tears. He had a separation anxiety for both her and the baby...

A sound arose in the small dungeon. Kenshin drew up his head to see everything around him, bleak as it was. Guards passed his cell giving him dirty looks. He gave them back, just to fluster him, They knew they had captured the Grim Reaper, but with him in chains they weren't half as scared as they should have been. Kenshin lowered his head. Was he the Battosai though? Without his sword? Or maybe, without the love he had once had.

--

Misao and Aoshi managed their ways out of Enishi's throne room. They stayed ont he walls or on the ceilings just watching and waiting for the right moments. Misao was scared for Kenshin. They watched Enishi draw a knife on the warrior and try hard to stab him in the stomach, to no avail though. He had caught it, but Enishi still murmurred in his ear the cruel words that were making him crumble into little bits. Eventually, Enishi had gotten his guards in to take Kenshin away to the dungeon. He didn't have much fight left. His eyes has lost the luster in them. His head hung low. He had secluded himself in his mind where he knew that no one would hurt him. Misao only pitied the warrior as she watched.

" Misao..."

" Hai Aoshi-sama?"

" Come, we look now..."

They jumped down. They were in the corridor were Kaoru once sat. It unbarred now. She too was taken. Into captivity, they did not know. Enishi practically dragged her to the steps talking to her like she had done something wrong and he was the victim. Her yells had ceased, probably when they heard a smack echo in the hallway he had taken her too. Misao shuddered as she walked behind Aoshi into the empty and dim throne room. Only the moonlight was coming through and showing them glimpses of the holes in the floor.

" There is something down there." Aoshi stated.

" Like what?"

" It's probably a basement of some sort."

Misao nodded. She watched her leader pull off his tattered cloak and hers as well tying them together. He fanned them out grabbing two ends.

" Take the others. This will be our way down."

She did as she was told and grabbed them. There were no ifs. ands. or buts. They jumped and it sufficed to get them down. After a minute or two, their feet touched solid ground. There was a light ahead of them, like a tunnel. Misao gazed around seeing brick lines. As they went ahead, water touched their feet. Aoshi had stopped looking at the glittering object in the water. It was Kenshin's sword. He picked it up and held it as they went down further, the light getting nearer.

" Hello?" Misao heard heslef echo. " Himura?" she asked. Aoshi nudged her. They went up a few steps and they found themselves in a place lined with cells. Two guards walking back and forth crossing each other. Misao was quick to knock the first out. She jolted ahead to the second one. Where he had stopped, Misao looked over to see Kenshin looking half dead at the floor. She swallowed. He was singing something softly. It was just humming something though. She knew it all too well. The Song of the Crest. It's beauty for the beauty of the fertile areas in the three countries. He was in the past, for no one sang that song for two or three years. Nothing from it held to truth anymore.

" Aoshi-sama?"

" Quiet..."

He was listening to Kenshin as he stopped humming and laughed. The blood dripped from his hand to the floor with a very loud echo. Aoshi kneeled at the bars bowing his head and opening his ears.

" I told you not to come...I told you it would only be a day or two...I promised you that I wouldn't get hurt...Gomen Tomoe...Gomen..."

Aoshi looked at Kenshin's eyes that were the dullest he'd ever seen them, like he had no hope, no emotion...

But he understood what Kenshin was saying. What he meant all those years ago, for Kenshin was not the only one called to duty. Aoshi was one of the ninja that helped in the shadows.

--

His eyes scanned in the sky as Kenshin lead the small group of nearby warriors to the center of the rebel. His sword tight at his waist. Aoshi blinked for a moment and saw something odd. From far away it came with a small run in her. But it was worn down. She carried her stomach well, a scarf around her arms as she slowed down to the trees that she neared. She ducked behind one. Aoshi looked back to Kenshin and his group. Another Lotus was also there. Kiyosato Akira. He was of low rank back then, and had no choice other than to listen to Kenshin even though he didn't look all that interested.

Akira turned and looked back to they way Aoshi had, like he had heard something. He squinted, ot so it seemed. He turned back to the army as they stood, ready. He walked backward with his face forward to make sure his commanding officer was not looking at him. He then broke into a run. He was a fast one and made it to the tree that the girl was hiding behind. They looked like they were in an arguement for a moment. Aoshi saw Kenshin look back as Akira walked back. He turned back as the rebels came storming through the trees. With his hand on his sword, Kenshin rushed forward and so did Aoshi and his group. Nothing was too apparent what Kenshin was ordering of his group. But they were fighting well.

Then, Aoshi stooped on the top of the building that was near and saw Tomoe run out in to the deadlock that Kenshin had with another man. She was scared and her feet splashed in the blood and the dirt. The men were both about to make powerful strikes when.

Aoshi debated to close his eyes or not when he saw it. Kenshin's striked hitting his wife's back. He stumbled backward. Tomoe had struck the man in front causing him to be jarred and move back. Tomoe fell, and Kenshin raged. He rushed forward sword in hand and took no mercy on the man that forced this. He fell in his blood and Kenshin to Tomoe's side picking her up and cradling her. He didn't finish the battle he only started running.

­--

" You can't stay here forever Himura," he didn't respond, " I know you must feel safe, locked in your own mind, but this will not do anybody any good."

" It will save them from my stupidity."

" No it won't. You didn't do anything Himura. You did what you had to do, things happen. This, none of this, is your fault."

" I should have been able to help her!" he cried. He'd shot his head up, his eyes wide as tears continued to pour down heavily. " I should have thought about her more! It was my duty, but I shold have declined! I should have protected her! She was slaughtered! She was killed by my hand and my hand alone! It is me too blame!"

" Shut up Kenshin!" Misao's voice broke his and richocheted in the dungeon. He looked to her painfully, but he stopped his useless yelling. " None of this, none of this. What you did then, and what you do now, what you will do in the future. None of them connect. Shoulda, woulda, coulda, that's all your doing. But, this is all Enishi's twisted sick mind trick. Himura, I know you better than that. Enishi thinks he has the upper hand, but he doesn't, and you have to show him that..."

She trailed. Kenshin's eyes had went to a normal size. He listened to her and played it in his head as it went through over and over. Aoshi had rose from his kneel and pulled out his kodachi opening the bars. He stepped in.

" She's right Himura. It's lies..." Aoshi said. Kenshin was still thinking. Still listening to what was in his mind. Still playing it over and over again and thinking to then and to to what was happening now. Aoshi didn't care if he made it through to the warrior, or if he even wanted to stay in the chains or not. All Aoshi did was break the chains freeing the warrior from his imprisonment and bringing him to his feet. Kenshin was hardly steady. Aoshi handed over the sword in his hand, Kenshin taking it slowly and sheathing it. He looked into Aoshi's icy eyes, eyes holding determination, and to Misao's, ones with not only determination, but a strong fire. He nodded and stumbled forward.

--

Akira steadied himself on the horse as he led his men to battle. There was an unerasable smirk on his face. He looked back to the men who were looking determined, but were also terribly frightened of what was ahead. And with Akira in the leading position, they were petrified. He looked up at the fluttering of wings that came. A pigeon with a letter from Hiko to him. He furrowed his brows and held tight to the reigh with one hand as he scanned the note with the other.

It has come to my attention that there is a mistake. I urge you to turn back,

Hiko

Akira had to frown and looked back to his men as he stuffed it in his pocket. One of his officers at his side looked at him and asked,

" What was it sir?"

" Just a warning letter. It's nothing, we move on." He said. The offiicer shrugged and followed his commanding officers orders.

Akira thought of why he was doing this. Why he was betraying the army he was in for Eviary. Other than the reasonable sum of wage he recieved from both, it was for a few reasons. Two people. For Kenshin, and for Tomoe. He couldn't bear to see her be injured so mercilessly, by her own husband's hand like it was his fault to begin with. He remembered that day that the love of his life was slew. He would love her no matter who she married, though she didn't have direct feelings for him, it was in her eyes rather then her expression. And he would go to the ends of the earth to make her happy. But Kenshin made her happy somehow. Somehow the man who deserved nothing of what he had, was the man that she loved and planned to make an heir with. He seethed as he thought of that day.

--

He was lined up in the few rows of men as Kenshin called out their places. He turned his back to look ahead at the advancing rebel army with pride on his face. But Akira wanted to spite at the pride that he emitted. He furrowed his eyebrows as he turned to look at the russling of leaves behind him. There she was, the white angel in all of her beauty and wonder. She peaked from behind that tree looking at her husband in fear. Akira looked back up again afraid, and then ran to her.

" Tomoe, what are you doing here?"

" Just go back in you line Sir Akira."

" Tomoe, it is unsafe."

" You think I don't know that? I'm watching my anata, I want to make sure my baby gets to see its father." She said, unconsciously placing her hand on her stomach. She gulped and looked past Akira.

" Get out of her Tomoe-dono, please. I beg of you. You neeed shelter. In your condition..."

" To hell with my condition, I know what I'm doing." She said stern and looked on to Kenshin. Akira looked at his feet and nodded in comply.

" I love you Tomoe, I know its a stupid time, but I love you." And he ran off and back to his line.

As he fought, Kenshin taking down the men two at a time, Akira looked back at Tomoe still hiding from alls sight. She saw what all the warriors saw. The lock that Kenshin and the rebel leader were in. They were both arching back to do their attacks, and as he turned, he saw Tomoe running to her husband in fear she would lose him. In that instant, she was struck by Kenshin's sword as she struck the other man. She fell with her blood spraying from her back. Akira was blinded by that moment. Watching the Battosai strike his own wife. He swore that he would get Tomoe back.

--

Sighing slightly, Kenshin walked down the halls of the dungeon with his almost dragging.

" Himura, what else bothers you?"

" I don't know..."

" Himura, surely..." Misao askeed.

" Tell us what is on your mind." Aoshi said monotone.

And he did.

--

Kenshin remembered going into battle as he always did. Not recognizing what he was doing or who he was doing it too. He body moved mechanically against the rest of the soldiers, knowing who to strike and who to stay from. He moved artfully, knowing he was going to come home alive to a wife and a child. And he kept that in mind as a way to keep him going. He pushed and pushed, until he was stuck in battle with the leader. His target was this man. He swung and the man blocked and it kept working that way again and again.

He felt himself deadlock with this man that was stronger than he wanted. Stronger than he wanted to fight. He jumped back and they deadlocked again. When they backed up and were ready to srike one last time, he heard her moving in. But he didn't think it to be her. He still continued with his strke, but nothing went fast. It went as slow as it could. She jumped in with a knife in her hand she'd retrieved fromt he ground. He was unable to stop his attack as it went down her back, tearing her dress, spraying her blood on his face. She fell, and he went to his knees with her. He looked up at the man stunned by the cut in his chest. Tomoe lay on her side with her eyes wide open in shock as blood continued to spill. He took care of the problem when his sight turned red, hitting the man that had forced this and turning, not to even see him fall.

He was at her side, picking her up and stopping as much blood flow as he could with his shirt. She looked at him with her deep dark eyes, shocked and she smiled as he ran to get her to a doctor.

" Gomen..." she rasped.

" Tomoe, why?'

" I just wanted to make sure you stayed safe."

" I promised you." He wasn't lecturing her though. He was on the brink of tears. " I promised you Tomoe."

" I wanted the baby to see its daddy. So, it will get to. I promise. If I do not make it, I ask yout o promise me you'll do this. Cut it out, let it live. Please, let it live. Okay?

" That doesn't matter. I'll get you to Gensai, and you'll make it. You'll have the baby, okay? I promise you..."

" You're always so sweet..."

" Don't close you eyes." He said to her as they drooped. " You'll stay here okay? Just stay..."

She nodded as she nuzzeled into his chest.

­---

" She lasted for a little bit, enough for her to talk to me for a few more moments in bed. She fell to a deep slumber. Very deep. And she made it a week..."

" Did you take the baby?" Misao asked, quiet and gently as not to sound eager. He didn't give her a hint...he looked at the throne room door that opened wide.

" Hello Kenshin!"

A/N: Sort of kind of cliffie. Who came. There are several choices. Tell me. This was to explain about Tomoe. Sorry, it may be boring... but I had to. She plays a key role in this story. Till next time, KenSan out!