##

But Tomoe saw.

Like everyone else, She saw Karou complete the Ougi. It was afterwards, when everything went white and loud and everyone was blinded and deafened, did Tomoe look on. Compelled by something she could not explain.

She saw the Hellsword shatter.

Saw Karou follow through and strike, streaking by Ashura. Eyes shut with an expression of…sadness?

Saw an unconscious Ashura fall headfirst toward the ocean. Reverting to her naked human

Form, white hair flowing around her like an angel’s wings.

Saw a figure appear and catch her. Cradle her in its massive arms as it reared to its full fifteen feet to observe Ashura and then her.

Saw something…familiar about it. Or that the part of the Swordmaker within her recognized.

It hovered there for a moment longer, it’s features hidden by the harsh light. All save it’s horned and narrow, jackal-like face…it’s single red eye raking her like coals…

And then it was gone…Lost within the light as it faded to nothing.

The storm dissolved with it. Left only perfect night, stars and Silence.

So tired…So very tired…My mind must be…deceiving me…Yes…

She wasn’t aware that she collapsed, suddenly looking up into her Beloved’s warm violet eyes as he caught her.

…Anata…

They all stood around her. Looking like hell warmed over, but triumphant.

…My friends…

“It’s over Tomoe.” Karou said, smiling tiredly. “Ashura’s gone. You can rest now.”

Rest…Yes…but not yet…Should I…tell them…?

Yes…That’s right…I saw nothing…nothing at all.

“Not…yet…” Tomoe summoned the last of her strength. Just enough left for this final task. “We must restore Kenshin…to himself…”

“NO!”

Everyone but Karou stared at Kenshin in shock. She cut off their questions with a guesture for silence.

“I don’t care!” The panic in Kenshin-Battousai-voice was heartrending. “I’ll remain the Battousai if it means you live! We can find another way! I couldn’t bear losing you again, Tomoe. Not again...”

A hollow silence followed his words.

Then Tomoe reached up, as she done all those years before, tracing his scar with her finger.

The guesture was not lost on him.

“Live again…To be with you…The temptation is great.” She cupped his cheek, Battousai nuzzling her hand. “But this isn’t living, Kenshin. It would be selfish to stay when I don’t belong here, feeding off the living. We both know that.” Battousai closed his eyes, holding her other hand over his heart. “It’s time you let go of the past, my love. You’ve atoned for all you’ve done.”

She looked at Karou and the others.

“But if it’s punishment you seek, I sentence you to live.” He opened his eyes at that one. “Live the second chance you’ve more than earned. With those you love.”

He followed her gaze to Karou, understanding. Understanding for the first time.

“I accept, Tomoe. I accept with all my heart.”

Tomoe gifted him with a smile.

“Are you ready, Karou?” She asked.

“Yes.”

With the last of her strength, she reached up to kiss him. Kissed him with all that she was until she felt no more…welcoming the darkness once more as it embraced like an old friend.

Farewell…My second beloved…

##

A gentle wind began to blow around them as they kissed. Carried little puffballs of blue light with it that reminded everyone of fireflies, sweeping around them like a miniature storm.

Karou walked toward Kenshin and Tomoe, feeling the Swordmaker part from her painlessly as the ‘lights’ swirled around the three of them. Watched Tomoe’s body begin to glow in his arms, slowly scattering into more of the lights as Kenshin hugged himself…gasping for breath as his personas were restored within him. Stood and embraced Karou as if afraid she would vanish as well.

Finished, the lightstorm thickened as it circled above them, taking familiar shape.

A spectral Kenshin not Kenshin dressed in medieval clothing.

A Spectral Tomoe not Tomoe in what appeared to be some kind of marriage dress.

They reached out to stroke the other’s cheek, longing for more.

Then they were gone. Two stars streaking into the sky in separate directions.

Arain looked down in surprise as Excaliber appeared at her side. Saw the amulet appear around Shuriken’s neck as well. Murasame blink into existence beside Karou and Kenshin…

And Excalibron dropping to the pavement behind them.

“So it begins once more.” She murmured, looking at the sky. “I hope they get it right this time.”

Jubei scowled at Excalibron, walking toward it. “Should pitch that damn thing in the sea…”

Something dropped from the sky between him and the sword. Something big…

Silk.

Everybody screamed. Sano practically leapt into Megumi’s arms.

“I thought you said she was dead!” She yelped.

“She was!” Sano retorted, staring at the behemoth. “Still looks it.”

Megumi dropped him.

Indeed she did. A drenched, walking pincushion of wood shards. Bloodstained and beaten. The arrogance was gone, barely restrained insanity replaced by exhaustion. Sorrow.

They’d never seen her so…human.

With only pride and sheer defiance keeping her standing, she glared at them. “I could kill you all right now.” She raised her good hand, clenched into a fist as she eyed each and every one of them. “Even scratched like this.”

Snarled in disgust as she let it drop to her side.

“A waste of my time!” Sounding more like herself, she bowed in sarcasm. “I’ll let you enjoy your victory…” She sneered. “…If you call it that.”

That sent a chill up everyone’s spine. “What was that?”

“You killed my baby brother.” Glared at Jubei. “Even defeated my big bad sister Ashura.” Glared at Karou. “But if you brats thought that poor imitation in the Engine room was Mother, you’re bigger fools than I thought.”

Silk let that sink in with glee, hurting them to lessen her own pain.

“This was only a minor setback, kids. It may not be in your lifetime…or your children’s lifetime…but the Himeno Clan will rise again, and next time you humans won’t be so lucky.” She kicked Excalibron up into her hand, bowed once more with a flourish. “Sayonara, my former enemy. I only hope your descendants prove to be just as entertaining!”

But as Silk turned and walked away, she allowed the grief within surface…girlishly hiding her face beneath her hair as she softly cried…and smiled with pride for her sister.

“I glad you finally found what you’ve been searching for, Neesan…”

Everyone watched Silk vanish into the darkness, pondering Silk’s words. Knew them to be true. But it did little to dampen their spirits. They defeated them once…Humanity could do it again.

Yahiko finally broke the silence.

“Can we please go home now?! Before anything else happens?!”

##

Two weeks later.

The long, so very long, postponed wedding of Kenshin and Karou had finally come.

Karou wanted to marry Kenshin the moment they dragged themselves home. Just in case. But like everyone else, they were too worn out for anything but lounging around the Dojo for a week to recover. Even Yahiko found tormenting Karou took more energy than he had.

That second week was a different story. As scary as Ashura was in that final battle, she had nothing on Karou while she threw the wedding together in record time. Anyone or anything that stood in her way faced a wrath that defied human reasoning. Even for Karou.

Everyone noticed a change in Kenshin as well. A most welcome change. No longer did the past haunt those deep violet eyes, hang over him like some dark cloud. Karou explained that Kenshin had not only accepted the Battousai, but the Battousai had finally accepted him. Tomoe had healed the scars of his heart that separated them so long ago with the forgiveness they both sought all along.

They were wed on a fine spring day, in the very street they’d first met. All their friends and ‘family’ attended, thanks to a little magic. Even Hiko and Satiou made it, who surprisingly hit it off much to Kenshin’s utter dismay. The following party at Tae’s was also legendary, Tae wondering which would take longer: Cleaning up the mess or for Chou, Okina and Hiko to out drink the other.

“Battousai.”

Kenshin turned to see Jubei, ready to leave. “Thought you’d stay till the sake ran out, Jubby.”

“Nah. Now that I’ve been paid, got no reto hang around.” His eyes flickered over to Megumi briefly, who was conversing with a very pregnant Misao. Smiled. “Besides, how will I give you my wedding present if I don’t?”

Karou raised an eyebrow. “Present?”

“I’m gonna let you enjoy the married life for awhile.” He slyly winked at Karou, who blushed and fumed. “A couple months, maybe a year. Then I’ll come back and kill you.”

Kenshin belly laughed, Karou staring at him. “I look forward to it.”

He raised his hand. Jubei looked it for a moment…then shook it, both grinning.

Karou rolled her eyes.

On the other side of the room...

"You'll be leaving in the morning as well?"

"Its high time I've returned to my Duties at Avalon." Arain admitted. "Though I will visit whenever I can.” She gave Sano a wicked look, motioning over to Megumi and Misao. “And I fully expect see Megumi in the same condition when I return, Sano.”

Sano choked on his Sake, Soujirou and Shuriken chuckling.

“Well, It’s a long trip back to America, and I’m gonna enjoy it.” Shuriken remarked. “Dad’s probably gonna lock me up until he can marry me off so I might as well.”

Arain didn’t miss that look. Smirked inwardly. “And you, Soujirou, now that everything’s over?”

Something flashed in his eyes. His jaw tightened in determination.

“Not quite everything.”

Shuriken gaped at him. “What are you babbling about?” That look in his eyes unnerved her. “Ashura’s sleeping with the fishes. What’s left?”

“You hired me as your bodyguard, Miss Shuriken.” Calm as always, bolstered by god knows how many drinks. “My services conclude when I escort you safely home.”

“Are you saying I can’t protect myself?”

“Of course not. But it’s a dangerous journey, even for two. I cannot-“ Paused. Steeled his voice and nerve. “Will not, let you go alone in good conscience.”

Sano and Arain looked on in amusement. They’d seen this coming weeks ago.

Shuriken was stunned, caught between anger and…what?

She didn’t even know herself.

*Must you be so stubborn about it?* Arain remarked in her mind.

Arain laughed in reply.

She composed herself, smoothed out her Kimono again, and gave him her best glare.

“And if I fire you?”

His reply was to step away from the wall. Blast her point blank with that damned smile and those eyes. Even dared to stroke her hair affectionately.

“We both know you won’t.”

Sano raised an eyebrow, impressed. *Must have learned that from Yumi. Or Kamatari.*

Shuriken only blushed fiercely in reply, not trusting herself to speak.

A very unexpected guest was next to speak with Kenshin.

“Oboire!” Kenshin greeted the old man with a hug.

“Can’t stay for long, really. Much to do, you understand.” He took off his hat and bowed to Kenshin in respect. “It’s a long way to the Murasame Shrine after all.”

“Oro?” Kenshin looked at the Familiar Katana in the old man’s belt. Really looked at him for the first time. “ORRROOO!!” Kenshin immediately dropped to his knees and prostrated himself. “Gomenasi Yukishiro-dono-“

He chuckled. “There’s no need for that, son. I just wanted to thank you, Himura Kenshin.”

“Oro?” Kenshin blinked. “But I’ve done nothing but…”

“Give my daughter back her heart. Her smile. Something she lost when her mother died, my boy. You’ve also returned my son to me, and I can’t ever repay you for that.” He clapped Kenshin on the back, Laughing. “Not to mention a healthy pair of grandchildren!”

Kenshin could only Oro in reply.

“I’ll take care of them for awhile, till after the honeymoon at least. Give me some time to get to know ‘em, probably will be as much a handful as their mother was at their age.” He patted Kenshin on the back again, then bowed once more. “Sayonara, Himura Karou and Kenshin.”

A gust of wind, and he was gone.

“That was Tomoe’s father?” Karou asked.

“Hai. I first met him in Rukamura, but I never knew…” He smiled, drawing her close. “I guess I’ve come full circle now.”

*Indeed you have, young one.*

Merlin watched the young couple from his table, away from the party to ponder a moment.

Neither of them showed any side effects of their merger with the Swordmaker. Nor recollection of any memories or secrets that would tempt others to follow. Even though it meant more work for him, he was glad: Kenshin had had enough trouble for two lifetimes.

Avalon will take care of this from now on. Somehow.

He smiled to himself. He remembered a legend he’d heard about Cultivators: If one regained their humanity, they could be granted a second chance at life. He wasn’t sure if it were true or not, but maybe he would share this with Kenshin…

##

One week later.

“You’re almost there, Usagi, keep pushing.”

“If you say that one more time I’ll kill you after Marko!”

“You say that every time, dear.”

“This time I mean it! You-AHH!-are never touching me again!”

“I give it a month.”

“That long?”

“You shut up!”

An hour later of screaming, death threats and sarcasm, Another Jamison was welcomed into the world.

They named her Tomora…In honor of Tomoe’s memory.

Sometimes when her parents weren’t looking, her eyes seemed to glow.

She grew to be as beautiful and strong willed as her namesake, with lovely dark hair and eyes like dark pools. Inspired by the tales of her aunts, she journeyed the world to embark on her own adventure.

And among her travels, she met her own redheaded swordsman, just like her namesake.

But that is another story…

Owari.

Author’s notes.

*Sentora lays on the floor and laughs wildly.*

It’s done! It’s finally done!!!

*Sits up and clears throat.*

Yes, well…I’m sure you guys have questions about the ending. Sorry to say, I can’t answer them yet. You see, Darkness before Dawn grew from an Original story I’ve been working on for a while, and I’d thought it would be fun to drag Kenshin and co. into its world for a visit. I can’t reveal much about it right now, but I will say it will reveal the truth behind many mysteries in our world, including what really happened to Atlantis. If you’re interested in hearing more, mail me.

This has been a lot of fun and I’m sorry to end it. Once again I’d like to thank every one who’s taken the time to read or comment on this little mess of mine. I’d also like thank everyone who had a hand in it’s completion: Anything Nothing, Miss Led, Ashfae, Fox, Rurouni, this couldn’t of been done without you guys!

Silk: Are you done yet? We’re waiting here!

Shaddup you! Anyway, the cast of Darkness before Dawn will like to thank the readers with a little something they threw together. See you guys next story!