Author's Note: I took the idea for this drabble from a review left for 'Tendrils of Sunset' by skenshingumi…although I did tweak the suggestion a little, and made the center of the drabble Kenshin instead of Kaoru or the both of them together. Thank you for the idea.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
------------
Alone
Words: 213
-------------
It felt odd being here alone. If he closed his eyes and lost himself in the hush of nature surrounding him, he could almost pretend that no time had passed, and that he was still a teenager, merely waiting for her to arrive. He could imagine the mild exasperation he'd feel as a result of her tardiness. And when she did finally make her presence known, he could hear her hurriedly making her way across the small clearing, shuffling up the wooden rungs, and lastly emerging onto the wooden platform with a grin touching her lips that was not at all apologetic. He could envision it all.
He could almost trick himself.
But when he opened his eyes, reality washed away all his imaginings and left him with only the truth.
Sighing, Kenshin let his gaze rake the scenery laid before him – the silent beauty of the clearing encased by trees. It was familiar and comforting, but it wasn't whole. He wondered if it ever would be again.
A bell rang in the distance. If he didn't leave now, he'd be late for class; it wouldn't look good if the teacher was tardy for his own lecture.
He stood, climbed down from the tree house, and walked back to the high school building…alone.