Later that evening, after they had finished setting up their rooms and were preparing for bed, Kenshin found himself alone in his room, the events of the day replaying in his mind.
He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling like the leaves outside his window. Despite the peace of being reunited with his family and the prospect of a new beginning, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
Konan.
The thought of her nagged at him. He knew she was likely preparing to leave soon, returning to the Hidden Rain before the Rinne Festival, an important event she couldn't miss.
The idea of her leaving without saying goodbye didn't sit well with him. There was something unresolved between them, something he couldn't quite place.
Driven by an inexplicable sense of urgency, Kenshin quickly dressed and slipped out of the house, heading towards the village gate. The night air was cool, the sky darkening as he hurried through the quiet streets of Konoha.
When he arrived at the gate, he saw Konan standing there, her posture poised and elegant as always. Shizune was with her, seemingly engaged in polite conversation. However, the moment Kenshin called out, "Onee-san!" both women turned to face him.
Konan's eyes softened as she saw him approaching, but there was also a flicker of something else—perhaps a sadness she was trying to conceal. "Kenshin," she greeted him, her voice as composed as ever.
Shizune, on the other hand, looked slightly puzzled. She glanced between the two of them, clearly trying to piece together the nature of their relationship. "Kenshin-kun, is everything okay?" she asked, her tone gentle but curious.
Kenshin stopped in front of them, his eyes focused on Konan. "I just... I wanted to see you off," he said, his voice quieter than usual. There was something in his tone that made Shizune's curiosity deepen, but she didn't press the matter.
Konan offered him a small, almost bittersweet smile. "Thank you, Kenshin, but you didn't have to come all the way out here."
Kenshin shook his head. "I did. I couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye properly."
Shizune watched the exchange with growing interest, her eyes flicking between them as if searching for the unspoken words that lingered in the air.
"I'll give you two a moment," she said finally, stepping away to give them some privacy.
Once Shizune had moved out of earshot, Kenshin took a deep breath. "Onee-san, is there something... I'm forgetting?" He wasn't sure why he asked, but the feeling that something important had slipped his mind had been gnawing at him all this time.
Konan's expression faltered for a moment, a brief flash of pain crossing her features before she quickly masked it.
"No, Kenshin," she replied softly, her voice steady but her eyes betraying the depth of her emotions. "There's nothing you need to worry about."
He frowned slightly, unconvinced. But before he could press further, Konan stepped closer, her hand gently brushing against his cheek.
"You've grown so much, Kenshin. I'm proud of the man you've become," she whispered, her voice filled with a tenderness that made his heart ache.
Kenshin blinked, momentarily taken aback by the intensity of her words. There was something about the way she spoke, as if she was saying goodbye in more ways than one. "Onee-san..."
Before he could say more, Konan leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, a gesture filled with love and sorrow.
"Take care of yourself, Kenshin," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please be well with your family. They are all that matter."
As she pulled back, Kenshin felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if this moment had happened before, but he couldn't quite grasp it.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the words died on his lips as Konan stepped away, her usual calm composure firmly in place once more.
A\N: Remember Konan did something similar after she wiped his memory and laid him on the bed? He was still just very barely conscious.
Shizune, sensing the end of their conversation, returned to escort Konan the rest of the way to the gate. "Take care, Kenshin-kun, it's getting late." Shizune said kindly, giving him a small smile before they turned to leave.
Kenshin watched them go, his heart heavy with an inexplicable sadness. He touched his forehead where Konan had kissed him, feeling a warmth that lingered even as the cool night air brushed against his skin.
Something was missing—something he felt he should remember, but it remained just out of reach.
As Konan and Shizune disappeared from sight, Kenshin turned and began to walk back towards the Uchiha compound, his thoughts filled with the mysteries that still surrounded him and the unshakable feeling that his connection with Konan was far deeper than he understood.
By the time he reached the Uchiha compound, the sky had fully darkened, and the soft glow of lanterns illuminated the path ahead. He entered the house quietly, careful not to disturb the peace that had settled over the home.
But the moment he stepped inside, he was met by the concerned gazes of Kana and Akane, who had clearly been waiting for him.
Kana was the first to speak, her voice tinged with worry. "Ken-chan, what happened? You left so suddenly."
Kenshin hesitated, unsure of how to explain the pull that had driven him to seek out Konan. He glanced at Akane, whose eyes were filled with both concern and curiosity.
"I... I went to see Konan," he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I felt like I had to."
Kana's expression softened, understanding the bond Kenshin shared with Konan, a bond she thought was simply something between him and his sister-figure. She nodded, not pressing for details. "I see."
Akane, however, stepped closer, her hand gently resting on Kenshin's arm. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his for any sign of what he was feeling.
Kenshin forced a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a little tired."
He could tell by the way Akane's gaze lingered on him that she wasn't entirely convinced, but she didn't push him. Instead, she offered a gentle squeeze of his arm before letting go.
Kana, sensing the weight of the unspoken words between them, gave Kenshin a reassuring smile. "Why don't you get some rest, Ken-chan? It's been a long day."
Kenshin nodded, grateful for the out. "Yeah, I think I will. Goodnight, mom. Nee-san."
"Goodnight, Ken-chan," Kana replied, her voice warm and comforting as he turned to head to his room.
As he left, Akane exchanged a look with Kana, who simply nodded, understanding without words what Akane intended.
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