Disclaimer - Rurouni Kenshin is most certainly mine, and -
(Scufflings can be heard in the background, and then a gunshot. Mere seconds later, Saitou appears)
Saitou - Hitoezakura is...preoccupied at the moment...However, what she was about to say was that Rurouni Kenshin is not her property, but the property of Watsuki...

Anyways...I'm really not in the mood for my AP Biology homework, so I figured writing a one-shot would blow some steam...however, I had no idea that I would end up writing a tragic one-shot...

I'll shut up now, you may read...

AS I LAY DYING

"It has finally disappeared…"

Tears slip down my cheeks as I stare down at the unblemished cheek, my voice trailing off, unable to continue. My hair pools around me as I cry, cry as I never have before, cry as though my heart has broke…

But my heart has broke…he's gone…

Where is that cross-shaped scar? It has faded away, with all your years of suffering and anguish, but only at the time of death does it truly disappear…

Can you see me from above? I suppose it doesn't matter…I will be joining you briefly, so please wait for me…

I slump onto your body, tears pouring from my eyes, as my life flashes before me…I flip through memories of the past like the pages of a story – Okaasan's death, Otousan's strictness and teachings, the letter that confirmed the death of my father, the battle with Gohei, the experience with Jineh, the anguish of Shinomori Aoshi upon losing his men, the anger I harbored towards Megumi, the trickery of Saitou, May 14th, Megumi's painful slap, my journey to Kyoto, the battle with Kamatari, Sanosuke bringing back your wounded body, Enishi's fury, my pain upon hearing about Tomoe…and then…your love, your kisses, our marriage, our child Kenji, our friends that we have treasured for so long…

I can't breathe any longer…are you waiting for me at the gates of heaven?

The Sakura blossoms are flying around us, inching towards my spirit, coaxing it out of my body…I can't hold on any longer, but before I die, let me look at your face one last time, let me remember my most treasured memory…

Himura Kenshin, Hitokiri Battousai, Shinta...three names for just one person…but each man admirable in his own way – Shinta, ready to defend the ones he loved in the face of death, even as a child. Hitokiri Battousai – killing, destroying himself inside to create a new era. Himura Kenshin – repenting for his sins until his own body could no longer contain his suffering and anguish.

I'm sorry…I think this is my last breath…

"Okaasan!"

I'm sorry Kenji…I will grant you one last smile…please accept it as my blessings for the future, my good wishes for the future…

I'm letting go…

"Hai Kenshin?"

"We're finally together…we're finally home…"

"Always and forever Kenshin…always and forever…"

Yes...this is very different from what I usually write,but please review anyways!

Ja ne!