Kaoru sighed heavily to herself, glancing at her watch. It was starting to get late now, she should probably start heading home now. Her parents had arrived back and to his word, Hiko had talked to them, leaving Kaoru on a very stiff curfew.

Snow fell heavily around her like a curtain, making it feel almost as though the hospital was the only thing that existed in that tiny white world. She sighed again, closing her eyes for a brief moment, before she slowly stepped out into the quietly falling snow.

She'd hardly made it three steps when a door to the hospital swung open quickly behind her. "Miss Kaoru wait!" She stopped, turning and there he was, standing just outside the entrance, dressed in a coat that was much too large for him. "I'm sorry for everything, can we… talk?" He knew it sounded awkward but he wasn't use to speaking like this.

Kaoru slowly took a step toward him and then another, before suddenly she rushed forward, arm raised and neatly decked him with her fist. "You jerk! Now you want to talk after I've finished chasing you across the Black Maze and back! I have half a mind to leave you standing right here, Mr. Himura!"

"Oro…" He gently rubbed the tender lump that was growing on his skull. "I'm sorry Miss Kaoru."

She huffed, crossing her arms. "I…" she broke off, changing her mind on what she was going to say, " …missed you," she whispered, turning away from him.

He straightened slowly, expression guilty, as he gently wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry," he answered softly, keeping his embrace loose so that if she wanted to pull away from him she could. "This one…" he hesitated, Hiko's words coming back to his mind, but he wasn't sure if he truly believed them himself. "This one didn't have a choice." He bowed his head. "I'm truly sorry Miss Kaoru, that I am." Maybe it was too late to apologize but even then he found he wanted to try. He loved Kaoru so much, and… so far, she was still here, even despite everything he'd done.

She shifted around in his arms so she was facing him, scrubbing the tears from her eyes. She sharply pointed an accusing finger at his nose. "If you even think about disappearing again, I warn you now Kenshin Himura, your head will roll!" He swallowed hard as she made a violent slashing jester with her hand. "And what did I say about calling me Miss, Mr. Kenshin?"

"Not to?" he asked hesitantly, everything between them was still flimsy and awkward to him. "Mi-" he cleared this throat, but he couldn't do it. He looked away. "Miss Kaoru… I-I can't, this one doesn't deserve- not after I almost ki-"

She cut him off before he could finish. "Kenshin." Kaoru's hand came to lightly rest on his shoulder. "You have to remember, you were at your wits end, and Enishi was ballistic."

He couldn't bring himself to face her. "And you're alright with that?" he asked her honestly.

Her hand tightened on his shoulder. "Truthfully… it was terrifying." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "But I am here for you, Kenshin."

"Miss Kaoru if something like this happens again-"

"Then I'll be right there by your side," she answered flatly, the look in her eyes just daring him to argue with her. "If I'm not there, who will save you next time?"

"Miss Kaoru you can't-"

"You don't have any say on what I can or can't do Kenshin."

He was silent for a long moment, bowing his head. "This one wishes that you never saw what happened back at the mansion." He swallowed hard, trying to ignore the tears that were prickling at the corner of his eyes.

There was a short pause, before a gloved hand gently turned his face towards her. She was smiling gently at him, with no hint of fear or resentment. She brushed her thumb over his cheek, wiping a tear away. "I see, Kenshin and," she leaned closer, speaking quietly. "I'm glad I was there to stop you."

He tried to shuffle away from her but she wouldn't let him. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"I know." She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "I don't need you to protect me Kenshin. I can handle anything that happens, so please, don't leave me behind."

"I can't Miss Kaoru," he whispered. "If something happens again-"

"Then go to Hiko, it doesn't have to be me, so long as you tell someone."

"Miss Kaoru… I… Enishi was threatening to kill you from the start, and I couldn't-" his voice dropped in volume, "-not like Tomoe. I don't want to loose you." He wasn't sure if he should have said that but it was the truth. He cleared his throat, taking a deep breath of the cold air. "Enishi was waiting for me… at Hiko's house. I didn't have a choice." Her embrace never wavered, giving him strength to continue. "He said…" Kenshin swallowed hard, "he said, he'd kill Sano, Miss Megumi, Hiko and… you and…" He fell silent for a few seconds. "I panicked," he admitted with shame. "This one ran because Enishi told him to and I hid hoping if I did that it would keep all of us alive. I never meant to hurt you Miss Kaoru." His gaze fell to the ground. "I am truly sorry …"

She swallowed hard, her own temper boiling. She suddenly wished she could throttle Enishi herself. She ground her teeth together. "I should have punched him ten times harder," she growled, causing Kenshin to start.

"Oro," he squeaked, not expecting the sudden comment.

"Or better yet, I should have given him a kick in the pants, just like I did to that creepy boy back in the Black Maze.

"Oro-" Kenshin's brain screeched to a halt. "Wait, creepy boy?"

"Tanbe, utter slime ball if you ask me," she answered, still glowering fiercely. Kenshin winced, no doubt his friend had deserved being kicked, but still…

He cleared his throat. "You know," he began sheepishly. "Tanbe isn't as bad as you might think."

Kaoru gaped at him. "You're kidding!"

Kenshin sighed, "He's going to testify against Enishi for me."

"Are you sure that's a good thing? From what Misao was telling me, he sounds like the type of person more likely to stab you in the back, then help you."

Kenshin felt a pang of sadness at that, after all not too long ago he'd thought Tanbe was nothing more than a backstabber. "I've known him longer than I've carried the name Battosai and I owe him my life twice now." He fell silent for a while. "He made some bad choices, like this one but he's finally gotten himself sorted out." A smile appeared on his face then. "Tanbe was my first good friend and I still trust him with my life, that I do."

"You owe him your life twice?" Kaoru asked curiously.

"That's right. He was there the first time I fought Shishio."

"Then he saw what happened."

Kenshin nodded solemnly. "He won't tell this one what occurred though."

"Why not?"

"His answer's different than mine. He never trusted Tomoe…" he trailed off, shaking his head. "This one just doesn't remember what happened though."

She took his hands in her own. "Did you really look Kenshin?"

He opened his mouth to answer "yes" but then looking back now, he didn't remember sitting down once in the entire time he was in the Black Maze, to try and recall what happened. "No…" he whispered aloud, his voice sounding deafening to his ears. "This one…" he looked away. "I guess I really am too scared to know the truth… but…" He hesitated, before speaking his mind. "I want to know. I want to know what happened to Tomoe. Even if I am guilty, this one has to know the truth."

She took a deep breath, a determined look in her eyes. "And I swear, even if it is true, I won't leave, I promise to be here for you, Kenshin."

His throat tightened, that couldn't have been a light decision to make on her part but in all truth he was thankful from the bottom of his heart that she would. He couldn't find the words to express himself so he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, a watery smile on his face. She smiled warmly in return, and that strengthened his resolve to find the answer. Kaoru had given that to him when all he wanted to do was run the other way, and that was something he swore never to forget.

So it only seemed right as he closed his eyes, breathing deeply, that he tell her everything that had happened on that day, everything he could remember and everything he wished he didn't. So he began to speak, telling her about how Katsura ordered him to kill Shishio and how he didn't object, about how Tomoe had tried to stop him from going to the warehouse, about the brutal sword fight that had taken place surrounded by crimson flames. And finally of Tomoe screaming, "No!" before she fell into his arms dying, and then of the final words they spoke to each other as she completed the scar upon his cheek with a blood covered knife.

He'd felt numb as he spoke, a chill that wasn't from the cold. He admitted to going after Shishio in an utter fury after Tomoe had breathed her last breath and how desperately he had just wanted to hurt the man. How they had battled until a section of the roof had collapsed on Shishio and Kenshin had left him there to burn alive. Finally when he reached the point in his tale where he'd passed out from inhaling too much smoke, Kenshin stopped.

He fell silent, looking anywhere but at Kaoru, not willing to see her expression. He had never spoken about what had happened in that much detail before and now he was wondering what her reaction would be and if it was worth the price of finding out what happened. His gaze drifted out to the snowflakes that were falling quicker now, making the world feel even more closed in than before.

And he wondered then, how it was he'd been able to catch Tomoe in his arms while holding a sword, just as Kaoru asked him, "Why did Shishio retreat after Tomoe was stabbed?"

His eyes went wide. The blood covered knife- Empty hands while he caught Tomoe-

He gasped, and just like Tanbe said, all the little pieces came together. "Oh god…" he couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe he was-

"Kenshin!" He started, gaze falling onto Kaoru who was looking at him anxiously. Tears filled his lavender eyes as he struggled to find his voice. She tightened her hold on his hands, not daring to let him go. "Kenshin?"

"This one-" Tears ran down his face, the cold air biting at his wet skin. Then he laughed, a clear light sound. "I'm innocent."

Kaoru promptly clocked him over the head with her fist, though she was mindful of the bandages wrapped around his skull. "You idiot! Don't go scaring me like that!" she scolded him. He wasn't really listing to her though, his gaze once again upon the falling snow. He remembered now.

He'd grabbed hold of Tomoe with both hands as she fell, his weapon missing. Shishio had knocked his sword from his grip and had been about to deal him the killing blow when Tomoe- she had stepped in the way, dagger raised to strike Shishio down as she took the blow that was meant for him. She'd died saving his life.

"I'm innocent," he whispered to the wind. He never thought that he would get to say those words with such truth. He gave another laugh of joy, pulling Kaoru into a twirl, even as tears ran down his face, mourning the loss of his first love who had given her life to protect him.

He gently pulled Kaoru closer, her smile just as large as his own. She leaned forward, gently placing a kiss on his lips. He returned it, heart fluttering in his chest and in that moment, with all his mixed emotions, he swore silently to himself that he would never again leave his life behind, not his friends, not his guardian and most of all not Kaoru.

The two lovers slowly parted, faces blushing ever so slightly even after kissing each other so many times. She shook her head at him, a smile dancing in her eyes. "You're such an idiot."

"That I am," he answered, a sheepish smile on his own face.

"We should head in, it's chilly out here." She held out her gloved hand to him. "Come on, I bet Hiko's waiting for us."

He hesitantly asked, "But didn't they kick you out, Kaoru?"

She scoffed. "I'd like to see them try and keep me out!" She began swinging her free hand around in a fist. "You of all people should know by now how stubborn I can be." He couldn't argue with that point. She smiled, moving closer to him. "Come on." Without hesitating he took her hand, allowing her to pull him back towards the hospital.

A carefree smile spread across his face, excitement building in his chest. It felt just like the first day he had stood outside what had been, at the time, his new school, the place he had met Kaoru, Sano and Megumi.

Only this time there wasn't any fear or hesitation. His smile grew as he moved forward, entering the hospital, leaving the snow behind. It was refreshing, just like back at the school entrance. He was moving back into his life. His gaze fell to Kaoru as she tugged him towards the coffee shop. He was taking his first step all over again, only this time he wasn't doing it alone.

The End

By Alatus

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And thus ends the epic tale of Yesterday's Reckoning. Big thanks to every single person who took the time to read this story! I hope you thoroughly enjoyed it as much I did writing it.

I have to say I'm fairly proud of this chapter, more or less anyway. It does wrap the story up nicely, and ties it back into the first chapter of Tomorrow's Day, which is also called First Step. That's what the school entrance that Kenshin's referencing at the end here is about. Hard to believe I've completed another story. It's been blast and I hope you all enjoyed the ride!

Big thanks to my reviews:

Mikchika-chan: Thank you, I've been told conversation is my forte. Yup this is the final chapter, wow, I still can't believe I finally completed this story! I think you're right about the last chapter being a transportfor this one and might be part of the reason I didn't like it entirely. I hope the part where Kenshin and Kaoru sort things out is alright, I'm not the best at writing romance scenes, very little experience even. In fact I think this is the third one I've ever written in a story before. Theoretical stuff can be interesting if you have the right teacher that is. No fun if it's material that you've already covered several times before though, ugh, I swear I got the same thing over and over again in Canadian history when I took it in grade 7, 8 and 9. Anyway, thank you ever so much for reviewing my fanfic and I hope you enjoyed the last chapter!

Chibi Heishi: Hope you enjoyed the last chapter and the ending was satisfactory. It's always sad to come to end of the story, but I have to say it's better then there not being an ending at all. Thank you very much for the review and I hope you enjoyed!

Thanks once again to everyone! And I'm off to figure out what to do with my next big fanfic project!