A/N: To all my readers, sorry about the delay. One of my close friends just died, and didn't feel like writing for a while. But still, I apologize for making you wait.

Chapter 29
Sayonara

I stood to the side, watching people swarm in and out of the place, paying their last respects to him. Six years of friendship, all gone…just like that. I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall, thinking back to what the doctors said.

"We're sorry," says one of the doctor, shaking his head apologetically. "We couldn't save him."

"What happened?" I ask softly, tears streaming down my face.

"We're not very sure, but it appears that he has a weak heart, and has a record of heart failures. This car accident scratched his aorta and it might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back."

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN THE STRAW THAT BREAKS A CAMEL'S BACK? WELL GO FIX IT, I DON'T CARE IF HE'S DEAD OR NOT, MAKE HIM BETTER!" I started to go hysterical.

"We're sorry, we tried everything. Please, please, try to remain calm…"

"Remain calm? You expect me to REMAIN CALM?"


"We're very, very sorry. We wanted to save him as much as you did." After a slight pause, he spoke again. "I know this is going to sound weird, coming from a professional doctor like me, but, it was almost as if he knew his time was up."

"Wh-what d-do you mean?" I ask shakily.

"When we got to him, he was already gone. But, he had a small smile on his face and he looked very peaceful…very serene…almost as if he knew."

"Kaoru," says Mrs. Sagara softly, coming to stand beside me. "Are you okay?" she asks, scanning my face.

"Yeah," I say, nodding my head. "I'm fine. Was there something you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh yes, the service will begin in a few minutes."

"Right," I say, clasping my hands together. "I'll be there in a few moments."

"Kaoru," she says, reaching out to cover my hands with her own. "Thank you for doing all this. Sano would have wanted it."

"Thank you all for coming," says Mr. Sagara, as he took his wife's hand. "We're very honored at all the support you've given to us by attending this service. We've also reserved today to give everyone an opportunity to remember Sano, my son – to share with everyone present all the little ways he touched our lives."

"Please, anyone who wishes to say something about Sano, just come up to the podium and speak," says Mrs. Sagara. "This time is for you."

After a moment of uncomfortable silence in the crowd, Aoshi stood up.

"I considered Sano as one of my best friends. He was always ready to listen whenever I needed someone, and he would help me lighten up when I got too down on myself or confused. He was an amazing person, always putting others before himself." He stopped speaking for a moment, scanning the sea of faces, all concentrated on him.

"Sano was unique," he finally said simply. "There was nobody else like him, and there never will be. All I know is that I will miss him very much."

"I knew Sano not through articles or interviews. I knew him as the guy I could call on when I was having trouble changing a flat tire – and as someone who would say, "Stay right there, I'll be there in ten minutes." He was the guy I could ask if my tie was correctly knotted or what his thoughts on the stock exchange were. He was someone that would check his character judgments with me and someone who would start whispering to me a hilarious idea in the middle of a boring meeting. Sano was a unique individual. He was quiet and perceptive, although he could be loud when he wanted to, kind and honest, possessing a quick wit and a questioning mind. In this land of minute friendships started at events and held up by lunch meetings, I've experience two emotions that are equally impossible to describe…happiness, to have called him my friend and the overwhelming, all-devouring sense of loss."

I nodded and wiped away a tear as Aoshi sat down. Before I could even think about what I was doing, I stood up myself. Shaking with nerves, I walked to the podium. For a few seconds, I stood still, taking in deep breaths to try to calm myself. Then, in a loud, steady voice, I spoke.

"I first met Sano way back when we were in high school. We didn't immediately click together at first, but somehow, along the way, we became best friends. It didn't matter to him how ugly I looked. It didn't matter to him that nobody else wanted to talk to me back then, except for Soujiro. It didn't bother him that people were beginning to shun him because he was mixing around with me. He didn't believe any of the gossips that went around about me either. He just brushed them off carelessly and said, "People these days just have too much time on their hands, don't they?"

I pushed my hair off my forehead and took a deep breath before returning to my speech.

"He saw a side of me that nobody had ever seen before. The days I spent with him were one of the best ones in my life. He saw what was inside me, and he worked hard to keep inspiring my soul…which he did every single day. And that's what was so incredible about him. He could see the best thing in about everybody that he met. He could look deeper, into your heart, and talk to that place where you were your best self possible. He always had a smile for everybody."

I bit my bottom lip and closed my eyes for a few seconds. "The world is a worse place without him, but it will never be a terrible place because of all the love he shared when he was here. I will miss him always, but I'm glad…glad, that I got to know him, as a best friend should."

Just as I was about to head back towards my seat, a thought struck me. I headed over to the pianist and whispered something into his ear, to which he nodded in reply.

Walking back towards the podium, I paused hesitantly, before speaking. "There is this song, which I would like to sing…in loving memory of him." I nodded at the pianist and a soft melody began to fill the entire place.

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
To never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's you way,
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
While you were the one with all the dreams.
Beautiful face without a name, for so long,
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything that I would like to be.
You're everything I would like to be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
But you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
But I've got it all here in my mind.
I want you to know, I know the truth, of course I know it,
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I would fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, I can fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings.
You are the wind beneath my wings.

Halfway through the song, I couldn't struggle against my tears any longer. They started to run down my face, but I paid them no attention. I was almost done, and it seemed right to cry for Sano, whether I had promised him or not…for all the love that he had showered on me…for all the love that I had lost. I knew I would feel the pain of his absence forever, but it was so important that I'd had the chance to say good-bye.

"Himura Kenshin?" says Sano's mother, coming to stand next to me.

He shook his head slightly and with great difficulty, tore his gaze away from Kaoru, who stood in one corner, crying into Soujiro's shoulder.

"Mrs. Sagara," he says, bowing slightly as a form of respect.

"You don't have to be so formal, dear," she says, laughing a little.

"It's only right of me to do so," he replied, smiling back at her.

"Anyway, thanks for coming. I really appreciate it," she says, looking out at the crowd.

"Sano would have appreciated it," she says after a slight pause, turning to look at him.

"He was a great guy…a truly wonderful person," he says quietly.

"Yes, he was," says Mrs. Sagara, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he says, hurriedly handing her a tissue. "I didn't mean to make you cry."

"It's all right. Nothing to worry about," she says, gratefully accepting the tissue and dabbing gently at her eyes. "By the way, Sano wanted me to give this to you," she says, handing him a brown envelope.

"What's this?" he asks, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

"I have no idea. He left behind a few envelopes addressed to different people. I found the whole lot of them in his bedside drawer in the hospital room when I cleared his things the other day." She turned to look at him. "It must be something important, because in his letter to me, he stated very clearly that I was to hand it to you personally, no matter what."

"Right. Thank you very much," he says, pocketing the envelope securely. "If you don't mind my asking," he begins hesitantly. "How…how did Sano…" he trailed off, unable to finish his question without making him look stupid in front of her.

"I know what you're trying to ask," she assured him, patting him gently on the arm. "I don't really know what happened either. But what I do know is that he knew…he knew that he didn't have much time left."

With that, she walked away, leaving Kenshin standing by himself, deep in thought.

"Do you know where his room is? Or would you like someone to escort you up?" asks Mrs. Sagara gently, turning to look at me.

"Oh, that wouldn't be necessary. I know where his room is," I say.

"Wait, Kaoru," she calls out suddenly, halting me in my tracks. "Sano left this letter for you."

"A letter?" I ask. "H-how did he…" I trailed off, staring bewilderedly at the light blue envelope.

"You'll understand things better after you've read it," she says, smiling warmly at me, then giving me a slight push towards Sano's room.

I walked down the carpeted hallway, my feet sinking into the thick, plush carpet. When I reached the door that led to Sano's room, I paused, my right hand resting lightly on the doorknob, and my left hand clutching on to the envelope. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

The moment I stepped into his room, I caught a faint whiff of the cologne that he always used. I closed my eyes at the familiar scent and smiled. Slowly, I walked around the perimeters of his room, letting my fingers trail lightly over his belongings. I finally came to a stop at his bedside and sat down gently on it. I picked up the framed picture of him, Soujiro and I laughing together, which sat on his bedside table and gazed longingly at it, remembering all the happy times we had. A lone teardrop fell onto the picture and I wiped it off gently, before replacing the picture frame back to its original position.
Finally realizing that I still held the envelope in my left hand, I turned it over slowly, and tore it open, as carefully as I can, making sure that I did not rip anything. This was the last thing that Sano left behind for me and I intended to keep it in good condition. I unfolded the paper inside and began to read.

To my dearest Kaoru,

By the time you read this letter, I wouldn't be by your side anymore. I'm sorry that things had to end this way. I really am. But, if I were given the chance to turn back the hands of time, I still wouldn't change a single thing. Why, you may ask. The answer is pretty simple, actually. If I didn't get into that accident, whether it was planned or not, someone else in the world would have gotten hurt. It's fate. I'd rather be that someone than another person, because God knows, I wouldn't wish anyone to go through what I had to go through while I was in the car. And I'm also thankful, that you didn't follow me to the car that day. It would've killed me to know that you had gotten hurt…all because of me. By the way, I hope you didn't kill any of the doctors for not being able to save me. It wasn't their fault. Besides, I knew I didn't have much time left. Even though they told me I was only suffering from minor cuts and bruises, deep down, I knew something was wrong. I never told anyone about my heart condition, because I was diagnoised when I visited London. So don't feel bad, I didn't die from that accident.

There's this other thing, which I've kept bottled up inside me for 6 whole years, which I've always wanted to tell you about. I'm sorry I never mustered up enough courage to say it to you personally until it's too late because somehow, whenever I took one look at you, the words just died on my lips. Yeah, yeah…I'm a coward. Sue me. Anyway, in the past six years that we have been friends, somewhere along the line, I fell for you. Incredulous as it may sound, but it's true. I don't blame you for not returning any of my feelings though because one, you are so innocent that you didn't suspect anything, and two, because I know that you love Kenshin with all your heart. The reason why I'm telling you this is not to make you feel guilty, but so that you'll learn something from it. Never hide your true feelings, Kaoru. Don't wait until it is too late to tell someone you like them. Do what you feel is right. Do what your heart tells you to do. And in case you don't realize it yet, Kenshin is a keeper. Though he may have the world's worst temper and may seem suspicious of you at times, it's because he's insecure. I can tell, from the way he looks at you, he really does love you. Don't ever let him go.

Before I end this letter, I want you to know that meeting you was one of the best things that happened to me. I mean it…from the bottom of my heart. Thanks for always being there for me. Please do take good care of yourself, Kaoru. You mean the world to me. Enclosed with this letter is the necklace which I always wear. I want you to have it, because I know that you'll treasure it as much as I did. Oh, and remember that white cap that you always liked? It's yours now. Go ahead and take it. At least you'll have something to remember me by.

And Kaoru, please don't forget me.

I'll be watching over you.
With love,
Sagara Sano.

"You are such a roster, Sano," I say through my tears, to no one in particular. "A big, big roster." Just then, I heard a faint click and to my surprise, music began to fill the entire room.

No mountains too high, for you to climb
All you have to do is have some climbing faith, oh yeah
No rivers too wide, for you to make it across
All you have to do is believe it when you pray
And then you will see, the morning will come
I saw the teardrops, and I heard you cry
All you need is time, seek me and you shall find
You have everything and you're still lonely
It doesn't have to be this way, let me show you a better day
And then you will see, the morning will come
And all of your days will be bright as the sun
So all of your fears, just cast them on me
How can I make you see...
I'll be your cloud up in the sky
I'll be your shoulder when you cry
I'll hear your voices when you call me
I am your angel
I'm your angel

"Goodbye, Sano. Rest in peace. I'll always remember you," I whispered. Through my tears, I smiled, then, I laughed a little. And when I laughed, I felt a light flutter against my cheek and my smile widened.

I had just been kissed…by an angel.

A/N: Sorry again about killing Sano… originally I was planning to keep Sano alive for Megumi and things, especially after I received the "threats" from my readers, but after my friend's death, I kinda figure, death is part of life and added it in. Hope no one kills me. And I promise to update soon.

Sorry for this slightly dull and delayed transition chapter, next chapter will have more action, promise.

Next Chapter: Kenshin finally earned his ticket to an one-way guilt trip for his stupidity, and Tomoe will experience a little of Kenshin's anger, first-handed too.