This is my another idea of Kenshin/Tomoe story. The story would probably written in drabbles. Hope you like it.

...

"I am sorry, Kazuno san," said Tomoe as she bowed apologetically.

"It is alright. I understand. It must be too sudden for you. I should not have asked you so soon," said Kazuno. His face flushed red with embarrassment and misery at being rejected. "See you around then."

"Take care," she bade him goodbye and walked back to the Yamanoya, the inn which she worked and resided in.

"Tomoe! Welcome back, I saw you with Kazuno san. So what happened?" Natsuo asked without a pause when she saw Tomoe entered the kitchen. She was the daughter of the owner of the Yamanoya. That afternoon, Tomoe went out of the inn after receiving a letter from Kazuno. Natsuo could guess what he had written. She leaned forward eagerly to listen to Tomoe's reply.

"I turned him down," Tomoe said.

"Why?" Natsuo asked, her voice filled with surprise. Kazuno was handsome, talented and a gentleman. Furthermore, he was the son of a wealthy merchant. Many girls had fallen for him. There were many prospective marriage proposals for him. Yet, he stubbornly refused them, arguing that he wanted to marry for love.

"It is not that I dislike him," Tomoe replied. "It just doesn't feel right."

"Well, I am sure everything will work out fine," said Natsuo encouragingly, feeling pity for Kazuno.

"Thanks."

"Let's take a bath," Natsuo suggested. After a long working day, they deserved a good rest.

"Yes, wait for me." Tomoe went to her room and gathered her bucket with a cotton cloth and a new set of clothes. When she came down of the stairs, Natsuo was already waiting for her at the front door. The public bath was at the opposite side of the town, across the river. On their way to the public bath, they chatted happily about almost anything, not realizing the man crossing the bridge from the opposite direction stopped walking and stared at them.

"Tomoe?" the man cried her name.

Tomoe turned her head and looked at the direction which she heard her name. She looked at the man, who was standing across her. His face was filled with shocked, confusion and happiness. His red-orange hair was tied in a messy ponytail and there was a crossed scar on his cheeks. His face was delicately chiseled for a young handsome man. His eyes were as shape as a finely honed blade, his bridge of his nose thin. She searched her mind. She was sure he did not look familiar to her. She had not seen him before so why would he know her name?

In the midst of her thinking, the man began to approach them. That was when she noticed that he was carrying a sword. It was against the law to carry sword by the Meiji government. Could he be a yakuza? She began to panic. The man was surely looking for her. He did not even seem to notice Natsuo who was standing equally startled. They had to get away, who knows what this dangerous stranger would do. Without thinking, she grabbed Natsuo hand, turned and ran back to the streets.

She turned the corner and saw the familiar barn house, she ran to the back of the barn house where the storage room was and pulled the shoji opened.

"Stay here!" she whispered to Natsuo as she placed her bucket, on top of Natsuo's bucket and practically shoved her into the storage room.

"Hey!" called Natsuo as she stumbled into the storage room, only to hear the shoji slid close swiftly. As she was catching her breath, she saw from the window, the back of Tomoe disappearing as she ran across the next street and a minute later, a silhouette of the man chasing after her. Not wasting a moment, Natsuo opened the storage door and put her head out of the door to glimpses at the retreating figure. That was the man on the bridge.

Tomoe knew this district of Edo well; she knew the stall houses and the dark alleys to avoid at any point of the time. She turned to glance back from her shoulder and saw the man was right behind her, chasing her. It was as predicted, the man was after her for some reason. She cursed silently, why would he be chasing her. She did no wrong.

Have to get away.

She did not see the horse galloping towards her in the opposite direction. When she looked straight to see where she was going, she was stunned at the sight of the hooves of the horse right above her head. She lifted her hands to cover her head and closed her eyes, awaiting the impact. Just then, she felt her body being pulled away roughly and collapsed into a hard wall.

"Watch where you are going!" the man on the horse scoffed.

Before she could speak, a voice said, "This one apologizes."

She tensed as she realized that she had not hit the wall but a man's chest. She could feel his breath when he apologized to the guard on the horse. Vaguely, she heard the hooves of the horse riding off as her heartbeat pounded in her ears.

"Are you hurt?" the man asked.

"No, thank you for saving me," Tomoe managed to speak out while she catch her breath from running. When she realized he was holding her, she tried to push him away but to no avail. "Please let me go."

"No."

No? She was frustrated and terrified by the man. She was grateful he saved her. On the other hand, he caught her. "Please let me go. I have work to do," she spoke as she lifted her head up to meet his eyes. She noticed his eyes were deep violet, like murasaki flower.

"Anata."

Her eyes widened as she stared at the man in disbelief. Why would he be calling her dear?

He lifted a hand to trace her face gently, taking in her black jet eyes, her sharp nose and her small lips. He could feel the warmth of her porcelain skin. She was beautiful. "You lived, my Tomoe," he whispered with a smile. His gaze was intense but soft and warm.

Without wasting a moment, he leaned down and closed the gap between their lips.

Slap!

"What do you think you are doing? Pervert," she almost shouted as she glared at him. Feeling slightly better at the sight of the red marks across his cheek. How dare he just kiss her? She did not even know him.

Now it was the man's turn to be surprised. He winced at the slapped she gave him. He did not recall a moment when Tomoe was well - violent. "Pervert?"

"That is right. What else do you call a man who harasses a woman," she chided, her eyes showed her anger and pointed at her other unfreed hand, "Now release me before I shout for help."

Kenshin stared at her with concern, "Tomoe, I am Himura Kenshin."

"Telling me your name does not mean we are acquainted, mister. And how do you know my name? We never met before," she said coldly with a frown.

"You do not remember?"

Remember what? She wanted to ask but stopped, startled. His question alarmed her. It made her recalled something. That there was a void in her memory.

"Tomoe! Where are you?" Natsuo called.

Natsuo voice brought her attention back, "I am here!" Tomoe lifted her freed hand to wave to her friend and tried to turn to look at Natsuo but he held her in death grip.

"Thanks kami you are alright," Natsuo said, relieved to see her friend still very much alive. She stared at Kenshin who was holding onto Tomoe's hand and asked, "Who are you?"

"I am Himura Kenshin, Tomoe's husband."

"Hus-band?" Natsuo mumbled as she looked at him in astonishment.

"What?" Tomoe snapped. She thought this man, Himura Kenshin must be out of his mind. Not only had he chased after her, trapped her and now he claimed that she was his wife. At least Kazuno had sense and was polite to ask. "You cannot just declare yourself to be my husband. I hardly know you."

"We married when we were in Otsu before the war ended. Do you not remember?"

Tomoe shook her head instantly. She had no idea what this man was talking about. His presence was making her anxious and confused. She hated this feeling. She preferred calmness and serenity.

"Himura san, there is something I need to tell you," Natsuo said as she gripped onto the sleeve of her kimono. She pressed her lips together nervously, "Tomoe has no memory of her past."