Disclaimer:  Rurouni Kenshin is not mine.

Warning/s: Pointless, plotless, OOC-ness and *short*.  Very short.

Candle Flame

    Whoosh...

    A young boy struck a match against the side of a matchbox, igniting it, and using it to light the candle before him.  He absentmindedly threw the burnt stick aside, focusing instead on the small, steady flame burning near the end of the wick.  It emitted a soft, yellow light, the only light present in the otherwise pitch-black room.

    "What are you doing, Kiyosato?"

    The boy---Kiyosato---glanced behind him to his female friend, wearing his usual smile.  "Nothing, Tomoe-san.  Just lighting a candle."

    Tomoe emerged from the shadows to settle down beside him and stared at the flame intently, captivated.  There was a pause, then, "Why?"

    "Well..." he began sheepishly, unsure how to phrase what he was about to say next, before deciding to just say it bluntly.  "Isn't today one year since your mother died?"

    Tomoe kept an impassive front, although she gasped inwardly at the memory.  It had only been a year, a relatively short time to grieve.  And although she never showed it outside, Tomoe grieved deeply for her mother's death.

    "Yes." she said, hoping he didn't notice her discomfort.

    He did, though.  "Sorry."

    "..."

    They lapsed into silence, although an uneasy one, unlike the shared, comforting silence they were used to.  In the next room, Tomoe's one-year-old brother, Enishi, was fast asleep, his soft breath barely audible.  Other than that, the house was perfectly silent and still.  Their father was away again.  He had been away more often since his wife died.

    In the candle-lit room, Kiyosato was first to break the silence.

    "Uhm...it's late," he said, standing up and taking the matchbox.  "I guess I should go now."  He glanced at the candle, silently asking whether he should put it off or leave it burning.

    Receiving no response, he turned to go, but a soft touch to his arm stopped him.  He glanced behind him.  It was Tomoe, her head bowed.  He looked at her curiously, waiting.

    "...thank you..." she said softly, simply.

    He just smiled in response.

    "I'll be back tomorrow." he said, and went off, gently sliding the shouji close behind him.

    Tomoe stared at the closed shouji for some time before turning her attention back to the candle flame, looking at it intently, captivated once more.

~~~

…

I reread it, and realized just how absolutely pointless and senseless that was.  And short.  (*sigh*)  I'm very very sorry.  Please pardon me.  Perhaps one of these days I'd rewrite and repost this.  Perhaps.

I don't know if there already were safety matches back then, but let's just assume there were, alright?

That's all.  Please r/r.