Rooftop Reflections

the second chapter, takes place near the end of episode 46, technically its own story but since it fits along the same Sanosuke/Kenshin musing lines, i decided to just upload them together. enjoy. reviews and constructive crit being most welcome, flames as always used to toast marshmallows. it's my first venture into writing in an age and a half, so be gentle, ne?

Seeing him again... he'd finally arrived. Sanosuke, who'd come with us to Osaka. Sanosuke, without whom it would have been impossible to stop the Purgatory. Sanosuke...

"SANOOOO!"

The chill night breeze flutters through my hair as I relive the events of the hours before. When Shishio's men had pulled out the Gatling gun, my heart had stopped. In my mind, I saw the members of the Oniwabanshuu, and how easily such a machine had destroyed them all. I saw Sanosuke's broken and bleeding body sinking into the river. I saw...

His strength. His salvation. And my heart began to move again, my lungs began to breathe again, as the bullets were foiled by the rising crash of water. Sanosuke...

Sano, still the weakest point in my heart, had grown even stronger in his need not to be left behind. His desire to share some of the burden on this one's shoulders...

It warmed me considerably on this cool night, sitting on the rooftop alone.

"Kenshin?"

Or perhaps not so alone. "Kaoru-dono?"

Soon there may as well have been a party on the roof. The entire household was awake, wishing us the best. To Yahiko and the members of the Oniwabanshuu, I entrusted the protection of Kyoto, Aoiya and Kaoru. When it was time to leave, again, everyone wished us well.

But the most precious thing to my heart was not the words said and the well-wishes of those who would stay behind, but the willingness of one who came with us.