"This must be Himura's new girlfriend", said a man with droopy eyes named Iizuka. "You must be pretty jealous, Miryu-chan"
"What do you mean, Iizuka-san?" she asked, her sapphire eyes turning into a cold shade of amber. Although she did not say it, her eyes told him that she would kill him if he said anything again. She pinched his sides, and carried on with breakfast.
The others did not see Miryu imposing her wrath at Iizuka, and continued to ogle Tomoe. The men there fixed their eyes on her slender waist, her icy coal-black eyes and her expressionless, but flawless face.
"She's so pretty" one of them said.
"She's older than Himura!" exclaimed another.
"She's just as anti-social as he is!"
Kenshin came into the dining hall, and said, "Hey, knock that off" His violet eyes showed anger and annoyance. "I just-"
Then, Iizuka broke in, "Are you embarrassed, lover boy?" Not knowing the danger he was in by trying to "interrogate" Battousai and Battouryu, he continued further. "Who tasted better, Miryu or this new one?"
That was the last straw for both Kenshin and Miryu. The former held up his katana, and unsheathed it a little with his thumb, while the latter took out her whip and cracked it with all her might, nearly striking Iizuka's nether regions. They left in a huff, with an air of full of dignity.
Katsura only smiled, "Iizuka-san, be careful when you try to anger those two"
A while later, the pair met Katsura in the courtyard of the headquarters, where the most devastating news awaited him.
"You were attacked?" he asked them. Shock was evident in his eyes, speaking not even a word. "What is your guess as to why our secret weapons, Battousai and Battouryu were attacked by agents of the Bakufu?"
"A traitor, perhaps?" Kenshin asked. "It is a great possibility, Katsura-san"
Miryu agreed with Kenshin, but she was still unsure of the matter. No one in the Choushu faction seemed suspicious, as struggles in position and power were almost unheard of. "Katsura-san, further investigation is needed before we can conclude that there is a traitor in our midst"
"You're right, Tsubasa-san" Katsura said. "Once again, you must take every step carefully. Trust cannot be used to see others in these days"
"Speaking of trust, I heard that you've found a young girl that was drunk last night" Katsura said in a slightly teasing tone, turning to Kenshin.
"Katsura-san..." Kenshin said, surprised that the leader of the Choushu Ishin-Ishishi who always seemed so serious could actually tease him.
"There's nothing wrong about bringing a girl to our headquarters, but you must treat her with caution"
Meanwhile on the other wing of the headquarters, Tomoe was sweeping the floor. Her thoughts raced back to her beloved Kiyasato, her childhood sweetheart. Forgive me, Kiyasato-san, I still cannot find the right time to strike them… she said to herself. No matter, I will wreak revenge on your behalf, I promise that.