Disclaimer: All standard disclaimers apply. None of the Rurouni Kenshin
characters belong to me. (Damn it!) Also, the title is taken from a Hong
Kong film and I acknowledge all rights of the associations associated
with it and again, the title is NOT MINE! Nothing here belongs to me
except the plot.




(Waaah, so waffy, so waffy! I can't help it really. Am listening to the
theme song of a romantic movie, both Japanese by the way but the song is
in English. Arrgghhh! But I like it. I'm a sop at heart although I'm a
little sceptical and maybe too realistic. A big gomen nasai to fans of
Kaoru and Kenshin, I know their part was a little short but so many
people have done Kaoru and Kenshin that I decided to just go with the
flow and not dig for things I didn't feel. And I am into Sano and
Megumi. Maybe Sano isn't the brightest but heck, he certainly rates as
one of the sexiest. You will not tell Saitou-sama I said that though
...hehe ... This is going to be the last chapter. Love wins the day.
(Actually I already thought it won back in the other chapter.) All is
revealed, who was responsible for the flower?

Thank you all for reading. *bows*)




Epilogue



When Megumi and Kenshin regained consciousness the following day, they
were delighted to realise that they had reverted back to their own
bodies. For the second time Kenshin awoke to find a concerned Sano at
his side but this time Sano asked at once if it was him. "Blink once for
yes, twice for no."

The moment he replied that it was him, Sano was up and running, shouting
for Kaoru who almost bowled him over as they passed along the corridor.
"Kenshin!" she screamed happily, dropping butterfly kisses on his lips
and cheeks that he didn't have the energy to respond to. But his eyes
told her vividly of his joy.

As for Sano and Megumi, they barred anyone from going into the room for
the next four days. As Yahiko had so nicely put it, "Don't wanna even
think about what's going on in there."

Within two weeks, both couples were married, to the relief of the town
(Kenshin and Kaoru) and to the general amazement of practically everyone
who knew them. (Sano and Megumi) But all four seemed very much in love
and there was a rapport between them that made even some old married
couples envious.

............................

Behind them, the town was full of lights and boisterous shouts of joy
and laughter. It was the annual Lantern Festival. She remembered it was
just like the times when she had been a young girl herself, enjoying
such events.

"Feeling nostalgic?" The handsome man walking beside her asked with
gentle courtesy and she shook her head. "No lanterns from me, but here."
In his outstretched hand was a sparkling pink flower. In the dusky light
of the first hours of night, it glowed like a beacon. A sign of their
triumph.

"Very funny, Sagara-san." Tomoe didn't smile but she couldn't hide the
pleasure in her voice as she took it from him. "I'm glad they made the
best of the Magic we could gather to help them."

"Hai. I had faith in Sanosuke. He wouldn't have done otherwise. It was
Takani Megumi I was worried about."

"Ha. At least you had faith in him. I was afraid that my silly husband
would ruin his chances and I would have put Kaoru-san through all that
for nothing."

Sagara Souzou laughed softly as invisible breezes lifted his red head
ties. One of them lightly flew across Himura Tomoe's eyes and he quickly
reached out to brush it away. Their hands touched and she coloured.

"Looks like everyone's dreams have come true then," he said, tucking his
hand behind him, secretly pleased. He had met her on one of her earthly
wanderings, saw her keeping watch over her husband. He too had been
watching over Sanosuke and Katsu. Eventually they had started talking
and both discovered they had the same problems, the same prayers for
their loved ones who didn't seem to be able to make any progress in
their respective relationships. With some divine permission and a lot of
scheming, they had managed to arrange for Kenshin and Megumi to be alone
that fateful morning. But that was the most they had been allowed to do.
Had there been no real love between the couples, nothing would have
worked out.

"Looks that way. We've given them all the help they need. From now on,
they are on their own."

"And what about the Magic?"

"I guess it will go to another who wishes all the best for someone they
have left here on earth." A shadow of sadness crossed Tomoe's face.

"It's alright, Himura-san. Enishi's time will come."

She turned and stared at him. He knew about Enishi but it was quite
startling how quickly this man was learning to read her, to know her.
Almost faster than Kenshin. Funny, how life could be so good, even after
life here on this earth. She thought she would be cursed to an existence
of loneliness and pain. Instead she had been given heaven twice.

Imperceptibly the flower was already starting to fade, its radiance
dimming. But the light in Tomoe and Souzou's eyes remained even as they
walked deeper into the woods and vanished from view.


OWARI

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