The snow falls
from the sky, causing the temperature to drop
to a rather cold level. Inside their home, Tomoe
tells Kenshin of her past. Her family originally
hails from Edo. Tomoe speaks of her father highly,
saying he was a good-natured man that treated
everyone with respect. As for her mother, Tomoe
says she was like her father, but was rather
weak. When Tomoe's mother had given birth to
Enishi, she passed away. Since then, Tomoe acted
not only as Enishi's older sister, but also
as his mother. She describes Enishi as a good
boy who judges people rather harshly. The worst
tantrum he threw was when Tomoe's engagement
was announced.
Kenshin continues
to listen, though a bit shaken up after his
wife's latest comment. Tomoe explains that her
fiancé was the second son of a samurai
family and also a childhood friend. Not mentioning
his name, Tomoe includes that he was hardworking.
When her late fiancé proposed to her,
all Tomoe could do was give a look of wonder.
A smile did not come upon her face at the time,
thus, leading her fiancé to seek other
ways of making her happy. Tomoe's fiancé
postponed their wedding and went off to join
the Kyoto Mimawari Gumi in hopes of becoming
a renowned warrior. He never returned. Deciding
not to wait for the news of his death, Tomoe
went to Kyoto alone. The happiness that she
should have had died with him. All along, Tomoe
blamed herself for her fiancé's death.
Kenshin holds Tomoe close in his arms to comfort
her when she begins to tear.
When the snowfall
grows heavier, both Kenshin and Tomoe find themselves
covered by a blanket and seated next to a warm
fire. Kenshin explains that he left his master
in order to protect the happiness of the people
of Japan. Battousai was born to help a new era
rise, but Kenshin admits that one man cannot
accomplish such a large task by himself nor
bear the burden of man's happiness. Kenshin
says he will stay a hitokiri until the new era
is created. Yet, when that time does come, Kenshin
tells Tomoe that he would like to find a way
to protect people's happiness without taking
others' lives. That way, he is able to atone
for his crimes committed as a hitokiri. For
once, a smile is seen on Tomoe's face.
The next morning,
while Kenshin is asleep, Tomoe is up. After
getting dressed, she takes her diary and heads
to the door. Looking back upon the sleeping
boy, Tomoe realizes that he not only took her
happiness away, but gave her happiness of a
new kind. In order to prevent Kenshin from being
killed, Tomoe must leave the farm house. Once
finished saying good-bye to her second love,
Tomoe closes the door behind her and departs
into the snow-covered outside.
