Disclaimer: Does it look like I own Kenshin, or am profiting by way of the redhead? That honor goes to Nobuhiro Watsuki, Studio Gallup, Sony, Shueisha, ADV, Media Blasters, Fuji TV, Shonen Jump and Viz. Away from me, O lawyers of greed!

A/N: Oguni-sensei is no spring chicken. Eventually, he will leave the world. In this author's humble opinion, only Takani Megumi can be his true successor.

December, 1884
Tokyo

On a very cold and cloudy day with fat snowflakes swirling in the air and coating the ground in thick white drifts, Himura Kaoru crossed the bridge over the Sumida River toward the Oguni Clinic in town. She was planning on spending the day there to help Oguni-sensei out. He had had various assistants come and go since Megumi had left for Aizu six years ago, but none had been as good as the Vixen. To try to ease the aging doctor's burdens, Kaoru, Kenshin, Yahiko, Yutaro and Tsubame now all took turns helping out at the clinic. The change in the weather had seen the old doctor fall ill and it worried Kaoru that he didn't have a permanent, knowledgeable assistant to help him. Help from those who weren't trained in medicine could only go so far.

Kaoru arrived at the clinic and entered after leaving her sandals in the genkan. She looked around for Oguni-sensei, but he was nowhere to be found.

'That's odd. He should be out here since he's expecting me,' she thought.

"Oguni-sensei? It's Kaoru! Are you here?!" she called out.

Silence.

Kaoru became a bit worried. No way would Oguni-sensei ever just leave the clinic open and unattended! Kaoru went through the clinic area and back into the living quarters, looking for the old doctor. She checked the kitchen and found it bare. It seemed as if no one had been in there for at least a day. Kaoru proceeded back to the bedrooms. She stopped outside the door to Oguni-sensei's room and tapped on the door.

"Oguni-sensei? Are you in there?" she called.

Silence.

"I'm coming in," said Kaoru as she swung the Western style door open.

When she got into the room, her eyes widened at the sight. Oguni-sensei lay in his bed, eyes closed, face as white as the snow falling outside. His chest didn't rise and fall with breath. He was unquestionably dead, looking as though he went in his sleep. The coldness of shock numbing her from the inside, Kaoru knelt at the side of the doctor's bed and checked for a pulse, hoping against hope. There was nothing.

"Oguni-sensei..." said Kaoru, face going pale as numbness chilled her.

Oguni-sensei had been the Kamiya family's doctor since before Kaoru was born and had been the one to deliver her. As she grew up, he had been like a second grandfather to her. He had cared for Kaoru's mother before she died and made her transition to the next world as painless as possible, for which Kaoru had always been grateful. After the death of Kamiya Koshijiro, Oguni-sensei had offered Kaoru as much comfort as he could, though he couldn't stay at the dojo with her because of his clinic.

His death was a blow to her and would be for the whole town as well when the news got out. Oguni-sensei had been one of the most trusted physicians for well over 50 years.

Kaoru stood up and left quickly, heading for the temple to get a priest.

Purification

Kaoru went to the nearby temple and notified the priest on duty of Oguni-sensei's passing. She and the priest returned to the clinic, where the priest immediately went to work with the purification rites.

He moistened the body's lips in the Matsugo no Mizu ceremony. Next the priest performed Kamidana-fuji, where he covered the household shrine with white paper to keep away impure spirits.

Kaoru placed a small table decorated with flowers, incense, and a candle next to the doctor's bed. A knife was placed on top of his chest to drive away evil spirits.

After the purification was taken care of, Kaoru returned to the dojo, where she found Kenshin in the backyard sitting on the engawa, watching Kenji try to catch snowflakes on his tongue. Upon seeing his wife back home so unexpectedly, Kenshin was on his feet instantly, looking Kaoru in the eye.

"Kaoru? Did something happen?" he asked.

"Oguni-sensei... he's..." Kaoru trailed off.

Kenshin understood and closed his eyes for a second to compose himself.

"Has he been purified?" he asked.

Kaoru nodded.

"Alright, I'll go inform Chief Uramura. Stay here with Kenji. I'll be back," said Kenshin.

Kaoru nodded and took Kenshin's place on the engawa. Kenji, who had watched the exchange between his parents, approached his mother.

"Mommy, are you sad?" he asked.

"A bit, yes," said Kaoru. "Kenji, come sit with me for a second. There's something I need to tell you."

Kenji sat down by his mother and regarded her with a wide-eyed gaze as Kaoru figured the best way to tell the boy about Oguni-sensei's passing.

"Kenji, do you remember last year when you told me about the white rabbit?" asked Kaoru.

Kenji nodded pensively. Indeed, that snowy day from 11 months ago was still vivid in his memory. His little heart began to thump in his chest. Something was definitely wrong.

"Oguni-sensei has become like the white rabbit and has died," said Kaoru simply.

Kaoru wasn't surprised when not a moment later, the small body beside her was shaking and sobs were torn from a small throat. Oguni-sensei had been like a grandfather to Kenji, always having a new toy or piece of candy ready for him whenever he visited the clinic. She gently encircled Kenji in her arms and rocked him as the tears fell from her own eyes.

Kenshin headed to police HQ and found Chief Uramura sitting at his desk. On seeing Kenshin enter, Uramura was immediately on his feet and bowing respectfully. Kenshin waited patiently for Uramura to straighten up before speaking.

"Oguni-sensei passed away in his sleep last night. My wife found him this morning," said Kenshin in a hushed tone.

"Oh, no..." said Uramura. "Alright, I'll go have a look at the body and issue a death certificate."

Kenshin and Chief Uramura went to the clinic and into the doctor's room where the body lay on the bed. Uramura glanced at the body and shook his head. It had been Oguni-sensei and Megumi who had saved the lives of all the policeman the berserker Whale Mouth had beaten up when he had escaped jail and rampaged into Tokyo six years ago.

"He was one of our best doctors. He'll be missed," said Uramura as he drafted a death certificate.

Kenshin said nothing.

"As far as we know, he didn't have any living relatives. You and your wife were the closest thing he had to a family. Would you be willing to hold his wake and funeral?" asked Uramura.

Kenshin nodded. It was certainly true. He, Kaoru, Megumi, Yahiko and Sano had been the closest thing Oguni-sensei had like a family to him. He had patched them up on numerous occassions and now it was their turn to do something for him.

The next thing to do was send notice to Sano and Megumi in Aizu. Megumi would definitely want to attend the wake and funeral since Oguni-sensei had given her the chance to become a real doctor by working for him.

Aizu
Takani Clinic

Sano was sweeping the clinic floor after a long day with many patients. He was very tired because there had been an unusually steady flow of them and he had spent the day assisting Megumi, Saranou and Meika as they attended to various illnesses and injuries. His muscles screamed for respite, but first there was cleaning to do.

'This sucks. Travelin' 'round the world was easier than workin' in this damn clinic. But if it nets me the Vixen, it's worth it,' Sano thought to himself resolutely.

Just then, Takani Saranou entered the room with a telegram and held it out to Sano.

"A telegram from Himura Kenshin in Tokyo," said Saranou.

"From Kenshin?" ejactulated Sano, letting the broom slip from his hand with a clatter and taking the telegram.

Sano and Kenshin had been writing letters back and forth to each other in the four months Sano had been living in Aizu. A telegram would only be sent for a matter of great importance. Nervously, Sano opened the envelope and read its contents.

"TO: Sagara Sanosuke and Takani Megumi:

URGENT

Oguni-sensei has crossed the River of Three Hells. Funeral preparations under way. Please come and pay respects.

FROM: Himura Kenshin"

"Aw, shit..." said Sano softly.

"I take it the news is not of a pleasant nature?" said Saranou.

"Yeah, Oguni-sensei, the doc Megumi worked for in Tokyo, just died," said Sano. "Kenshin wants me 'n Megumi to go to the funeral."

"Of course. I'll go find Megumi and let you tell her the news," said Saranou.

"Thanks," said Sano. "This ain't gonna be too easy for her to hear."

"What's not going to be too easy for me to hear?" asked Megumi, entering the room from the kitchen.

Sano held out the telegram for her. Megumi looked into his sad brown eyes and guessed as to the nature of the epistle. With a trembling hand, she took the telegram and read it. Tears came into her eyes.

"I never even knew he was ill. If someone had told me..." she trailed off.

"He prob'bly didn't say cuz he didn't want us makin' a fuss over him," said Sano softly. "We're goin', right?"

Megumi looked to her brother, who merely nodded.

"Of course. Let's get packed," she responded.

"I'll buy us some train tickets," said Sano.

Kamiya Dojo

Kenshin was awakened from a light sleep by the sound of muffled sobbing. He turned his head and saw his wife's form wracking quietly in the light of the Hunter's Moon that shone through the rice paper window screen.

Kenshin turned over on his side and began gently rubbing circles in Kaoru's back with his free hand. Kaoru turned over slowly and looked at Kenshin with her tear-streaked face. She melted into his embrace and gratefully cried into his yukata while he stroked her hair. After a bit, Kaoru's sobs died down as she became calmer.

Soon, she was asleep, nestled deeply in Kenshin's warm embrace. They stayed like that for the rest of the night.

On the train...

Megumi's thoughts were far away as she gazed out the train window at the scenery whipping by them. The only sound she heard other than that of the train wheels clicking over the track was the incessant growling of Sano's stomach.

"Sanosuke, tell me a story," Megumi said at length.

"Huh?" asked Sano.

"About your train travels across the States. What was it like?" continued Megumi.

"Not as nice as this. I rode in or on top of freight and box cars," explained Sano.

"You never once paid for a ticket, I'll venture?" inquired Megumi.

"You know me!" said Sano with a cheesy grin.

"All too well," said Megumi with a roll of her eyes.

"Well, there was this one time I was ridin' through the Great Plains in a box car. The train stopped at some station in Nebraska. This big guy got on and tol' me to get off. I told him to fuck off. He attacked me and I punched him off the car. I hid real good when the cops came to the car and saw him lyin' on the ground. They didn't catch me," the Rooster finished with a cocky grin.

"Charming story," said Megumi.

"You want charmin', you read Murasaki. You want bad-ass adventure, you listen to me!" declared Sano.

"I'll remember that," said Megumi disdainfully.

Shinbashi Station...

The next day saw the return of the sun. The snow glittered like diamonds as each little crystal refracted the sun's rays. It was a beautiful winter's day. The Himura family along with Yahiko, Yutaro, whose right arm had been treated by Oguni and Megumi, and Tsubame met Sano and Megumi as they exited the train. Snuggling into their hanten for warmth, everyone walked to the Oguni Clinic where the wake would be held today.

As they walked, no one made a sound or did any of their usual antics. Even Sano, Yahiko, Yutaro and Kenji were on their best behavior. Kenshin and Kaoru both felt like they had been to far too many funerals in their lives.

The sun's cheerful brightness mocked the little group's mood.

The wake...

Oguni-sensei's body had been washed and draped in a fine white kimono with the right flap folded over the left. A bag containing six coins for fare to cross the River of the Three Hells was placed in the casket along with a few things Oguni-sensei had been fond of in life. The casket reposed on an altar with the head facing north.

The Himura family entered along with Yahiko, Yutaro and Tsubame, followed by Megumi and Sanosuke. Megumi knelt down near the coffin to act as the chief mourner. Throughout the morning, townspeople, many of whom had been patients of Oguni-sensei all their lives, as well as Chief Uramura, Third Officer Shinichi Kosaburo and Higashidani Outa came to the clinic and passed by the coffin. Each would stop and say a few words to Megumi, who thanked them for dropping by, then would put their condolence money by Oguni-sensei's coffin.

Everyone took their seats with the Kenshin-gumi up front. The priest read a sutra. Each of the Kenshin-gumi offered incense three times to the urn beside Oguni-sensei's coffin. The wake ended when the priest completed the sutra. Each departing guest was given a gift, which was of the value of about half or one quarter of the condolence money they had left. The Kenshin-gumi prepared to stay overnight with Oguni-sensei's body.

Procession to the temple...

The next day saw a return of the gray, dreary weather. White flakes of snow poured in a steady descent from fat, gray clouds. It was as if the weather were in mourning for Oguni-sensei as well. Kenshin was the first one awake and sighed when he saw the snow falling outside. Snow always brought him sad memories.

Soon everyone had arrived. The casket was hoisted on the shoulders of the soshikigumi, the neighborhood funeral collective who helped with all funerary arrangements. The Kenshin-gumi walked behind the soshikigumi, their heads bowed in respect. They were followed by many of the townspeople on their way to the temple.

At the temple, the priest returned and the funeral ceremony began, this time with only the Himura family, Sano and Megumi and the three teenagers in attendance. Again, each of them gave three offerings of incense to the urn while the priest read off a sutra.

After the reading, a new Buddhist name, or kaimyo was purchased for Oguni-sensei by Himura Kenshin for a fee of 1,000 yen. This would be the name he would be mentioned by from now on for fear that his ghost might haunt the speaker of his old name.

The funeral ceremony took all day with the readings, offerings and burnings of incense. During the day, Kaoru needed to shush Kenji, who with the passing of long hours, grew increasingly irritable.

At the end of the funeral ceremony, flowers were placed in the casket before it was sealed and put on the palanquin for transportation to the crematorium, which rested beyond the borders of Tokyo proper.

The cremation...

After the funeral, the coffin and palanquin were again hoisted onto the shoulders of the soshikigumi. They moved slowly through the streets toward the edge of the city, out of the city proper and down the dirt road toward the crematorium.

Kenji fidgeted restlessly in Kaoru's arms. Having been cooped up in the temple all night and day and now being out in the cold evening air, the little boy was understandably at his limit. Kaoru hoped she could get her son to behave himself for just a while longer, though she was sympathetic.

When they reached the crematorium, Kenshin handed the permit to the chief cremator. The coffin was handed from the soshikigumi to the crematorium staff.

The still of the winter air was shattered by a shrill cry as a little boy, distressed by the day's events, finally snapped and burst into tears born of exhaustion and cold.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAA AAAAAAA!"

Kenshin was by his wife and son's side in an instant, lifting the little boy out of his harried mother's arms.

"Kenji, Kenji, it's alright. We can go home now," Kenshin said placatingly.

His efforts were rewarded by another shriek and a vicious yank on his hair.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAA!"

"ORO!"

Kenshin and Kaoru looked into each other's eyes and mutually nodded. Indeed, the hour was late, the air was cold and Kenji's cries voiced everyone's exhaustion from the events of the day.

"Sorry everyone, we'd better go before Kenji yanks all Kenshin's hair out by the roots," said Kaoru with a bow. "We'll meet up with you tomorrow."

Everyone bowed their quiet goodbyes and the Himuras turned and hurried to the dojo before the fractious Kenji did anymore bodily harm to his tired parents.

The next morning...

Having gotten a few hours of sleep the night before, the Kenshingumi walked to the crematorium for the final solemnity for Oguni-sensei, the bone picking.

Yahiko sighed inwardly. Having been the only surviving relative, he had had to pick his mother's bones at the tender age of seven. This ceremony brought back bitter memories for the young swordsman. Feeling a slight brush on his left arm, he glanced over to his side and saw Tsubame smiling at him. Yahiko's cheeks turned red as he returned the smile quickly before looking back ahead.

Yutaro felt a pang of jealousy knife through his heart as he caught sight of Yahiko and Tsubame's hands joining. However, now was neither the time nor the place for their rivalry, so he repressed it and looked straight ahead.

The group solemnly approached the pile of ash and bone that remained and began picking bone fragments out of the ashes with chopsticks. Along the right side, Kaoru picked out a fragment of foot and passed it to Megumi's chopsticks, who passed it to Sano, who passed it up to where Kenshin stood at the head. Along the left, Tsubame passed fragments to Yutaro, who passed them to Yahiko, who passed them to Kenshin. They moved along the body in this manner. Kenshin put each fragment he received into the urn, starting with the feet and ending with the Adam's apple.

Kenji stood back from the rest of the group, being too short to help with the bone picking. Pulling his hanten tighter around his shoulders, the little boy shivered and wondered to himself why it was necessary for them to return to this place and stand out in the cold. A night's sleep had improved his mood somewhat, but he didn't know how long he could take just standing out here in the cold, not even able to play or romp in the snow as he loved to do.

The solemnity completed, the priest sealed the urn with a sutra over the lid to keep Oguni-sensei's spirit from haunting anyone. The urn was then taken to be interred in a graveyard that held his deceased relatives.