A/N: Thank you all SO MUCH for all your lovely reviews, I'm so pleased you're all sticking with me for this ride. Please continue to do so - I do know where everything is going, and all loose ends will be tied up when the entire story ends. (Uh, several actual stories from now; Questions will have at least two sequels.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

When they finally visit Tomoe-san's grave together, they have a spare few moments of silent reflection (Kaoru standing slightly behind Kenshin for a time, allowing him a private moment of grief and possibly even a goodbye of sorts), before a young man charges up. The look Kenshin bestows the boy with is positively murderous, though the young swordsman seems to pay no mind.

"You've been summoned!" He doesn't bother to keep his voice down, and his hands flail energetically. "I'm sorry to bother you, Battousai-san, but I was told it's urgent."

"I have to walk my wife back to our inn." Kenshin's tone is positively icy. "It will be - "

"I know my way back," Kaoru puts in quietly, offering Kenshin a soft smile. "Go on."

"No, I don't think -"

"I'll walk her back." The youth - he really is no more than a boy, no more than a few years older than Yahiko - seems positively ecstatic to be such help. "Please, go ahead. I'll defend her with my life."

Kaoru absolutely does not laugh. She thinks it would crush the poor lad. Kenshin glowers a moment longer before nodding tightly, reaching out to lay his fingertips on Kaoru's wrist.

"I'll see you back at the inn," he promises in a low voice. "Be safe. Straight there, go nowhere else."

"Of course," Kaoru agrees, fighting back the urge to lean in and kiss his worries away. "Go on. We'll be fine." She waits until Kenshin is no longer in sight before turning to the boy with a smile.

"Do you mind giving me a moment alone? I would like to say goodbye."

He nods, backing away.

Kaoru prays to Tomoe for guidance. She believes that the gift of this sakabato may be the salvation that Kenshin so desperately seeks, and she wants with every fiber of her being to help him. She has no doubt that Tomoe would feel the same; perhaps she will help Kaoru find the right steps, even from the afterlife.

"Do you know her?" The heavily accented voice startles Kaoru from her meditative prayers, and she jerks upright. Her eyes keep going and going - a tall man, earring dangling from one lobe, stands over her. His hair is shockingly white, and his eyes are hidden behind small, colored lenses.

"I'm sorry?" Kaoru answers without thinking.

The man glowers, mouth taunt.

"I...no, not really. Not while she was alive."

"Then why are you putting flowers on this grave?"

"She's my husband's honored first wife," Kaoru bows her head, smiling softly. "I've come to pay my respects. Did you know Tomoe-san?"

The man is shockingly pale when Kaoru looks up. His mouth trembles weakly, and so do his hands. She steps forward, worried, afraid he might be about to collapse.

"No," he breathes in horror, "it can't be!"

He lunges before Kaoru has even a hope of dodging. She is the assistant master of her dojo, she carries on the traditions of her father's sword style...but even with all her speed and grace, this stranger is so quick that there is no hope of moving away. His hands wrap tight around Kaoru's throat, cutting off her hoarse shout.

Kaoru's blunt nails dig hard into his wrists, pressing until they break skin and draw a spare few droplets of blood.

The young messenger shouts, hoarsely, and when he smashes his sheathed sword against the arms of the man holding her (perhaps breaking something; there is a terrible crack), Kaoru falls backwards. The boy catches her. Shoved her behind his back, she flinches at the sound of the messenger's sword being drawn

"Do you have any idea who you're assaulting?" the boy hisses. "This is the wife of the hitokiri Battousai - he will kill you for this!"

Kaoru's attacker laughs. Laughs long, hard, and deep; so hard, in fact, that tears fall down his sun kissed cheeks. He collapses to his knees, bracing himself hard on his palms as his laughter turns to terrible sobs.

"I can't!" He weeps violently. It is obvious he is deranged. "I'm so sorry, but I can't! I've failed you again!"

The messenger drags Kaoru away.

She doesn't fight him.