Winter Memories

Disclaimer: Arigato to the incomparable Watsuki-sensei for letting this unworthy one borrow. This humble one is making no profit from this fanfiction.
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Kaoru and Kenshin stepped outside into the winter wonderland. To Kaoru it was a thing of beauty, to Kenshin it was a reminder of the girl he'd loved and who had died on his sword. He sighed to himself. Hopefully whatever it was wouldn't take long and then he could retreat indoors.

Kaoru left his side and started rolling a snowball on the ground. Kenshin watched her curiously. "Well don't just stand there silly. Do what I'm doing," she teased.

"Oro?" asked the perplexed kenkaku.

"Roll a large ball of snow just like I'm doing," said Kaoru.

"Alright, Kaoru..." said the still mystified Kenshin. Honestly Kaoru was so hard to understand sometimes.

Kenshin rolled a large snowball just as Kaoru had. Kaoru directed him to put it on top of the first. She then packed it down so it'd stay on top. Kaoru rolled a smaller snowball and piled it on top of the first two while Kenshin watched inquisitively.

"Alright Kenshin, I need two long sticks now," said Kaoru. Kenshin shrugged and retrieved two long sticks from the woodpile. Kaoru took one from him and stuck it into the right side the middle snowball. Kenshin hesitated a second, then did the same on the left, his lips tugging into a small smile as Kaoru's project started to take shape.

Kaoru retreated into the dojo and then returned with three cherries. She handed one to Kenshin and stuck the other two side-by-side on the top snowball. Without any coaxing, Kenshin, who was smiling now, stuck the third cherry below the other two.

"A man made of snow," he said.

"A snowman," said Kaoru happily. "Whenever it snowed like this, my father and I would build one in the yard."

Kenshin thought for a moment, then bent down and started rolling another snowball. Now Kaoru was perplexed.

"What are you doing?" she asked. Kenshin looked at her with a smile.

"The snowman doesn't want to be lonely," he said with a wink. Kaoru smiled and started rolling another snowball as well.

Kenshin and Kaoru stacked the two snowballs, then put on the third one. Kaoru went to get three more cherries for the face as well as two more long sticks. While she was gone, Kenshin rolled two smaller snowballs and stuck them on the other snowman's chest, wearing a rather lecherous grin on his face as he did so.

When Kaoru returned she glared at him. "Kenshin no hentai," she said in exasperation.

"This is a snow woman," said Kenshin taking the sticks and sticking them into her sides. Kaoru smiled and shook her head, then stuck the cherries in for the face. Much to Kenshin's chagrin, Kaoru took some extra snow and added an extra appendage to the front of the original snowman. When she caught his mild glare, she just looked smiled innocently. When they finished, two snow people stood right beside each other.

"That was fun," said Kenshin.

"The fun's just starting," said Kaoru. She pushed Kenshin over into the snow and then laid down next to him.

"Kaoru?" he said. Kauro started moving her arms and legs in the snow.

"Do what I'm doing," she said. Kenshin hesitated and then mimicked her again. After a few seconds, Kaoru stood up and so did Kenshin. Kaoru pointed to where they'd been lying.

"What do you see?" she asked. Kenshin looked and then smiled.

"Tenchi," he said. Kaoru nodded, pleased that Kenshin was learning so quickly.