----------------------
Opening Notes
----------------------
Midi:-grins, hands clasped in front of her- I take it that you all enjoyed Larcenciel's special presentation last chapter?
Larcenciel: -groans-
Midi: Shut up you! –throws a coke can at his head- Well, I hope you did, because, as promised, here is your special treat for this chapter: Snow White, as reenacted by Larcenciel!
Larcenciel: Nuuu!!!!!!!!!
Midi: -.-() Erm...I think that we'll just save that for the end of this chappie... Anyway, I'm so happy! I got 22 reviews for this chapter!!!! XD
Larcenciel: -twitches and rocks back and forth, muttering under his breath- The dwarves...they're out to get me...
Midi: O.O By the way, this is sort of a short chapter. I'm sorry, but I needed a filler chappie. But this is the first and most likely last one, so...()
-
To The Readers:
Mirai Diavolo: -stares at your review open-mouthed- 6"3?! –faints dead away, but is revived by Larcenciel- Holy chicken – you're tall! And yes, I do stay up way too late for my own good. Considering I'm falling apart, I believe I've already crossed over into the dark side and am officially zombie material. –sighs- Thanks for the review! Isn't pushing the pretty button fun?! -hint hint--nudge nudge--wink wink- XD
Tenshi-no-Hana-Chan: Hello, my fellow angel friend! Oh no! Are you a koneko now? –uses her Holy Mystic Sacred Special Ninja Non-Ninja Sparkly Fairy- dust Powers of Doom to change her back- Now you're okay! :D
Sweet Kao: THANK YOU! –bows appreciatively- Thanks for your compliments!
InuLimbo: Yo, my new friend! Wow, you really like the story? That gives me such a WAFF – Warm And Fuzzy Feeling.
Sakura Nights: -sighs dreamily, absently petting the hair of her Battousai plushie- Yeah, he can really melt a girl with those one-liners, can't he? More mushiness takes place in this chapter! Enjoy!
Kimi.the.water.spirit: Hiya Kimi-chan! Your opinion means a lot, so I'm happy! Thanks for the review. I hope you enjoy the chapter, ne?
Satu-chan: Yes, Katsura is an insane and psychotic asshole. I mean, he is trying to sell Kaoru on the black market. Thanks for the review!
Reignashii: Here's the chapter, fresh outta the oven! XD Well, my brain anyway...
Lendra-chan: Since you clicked the button, I present you with an update!!! I was so proud of myself for writing mushiness! –hugs herself- There's more mushiness ahead, so stay tuned!
Tiaravball15: Yesh, it ish nice when the author updates, ne? Enjoy!
Nanakilover/Brukaoru: I know! It took me FOREVER to find out what the hell he was saying! It turns out it's a song written by Monty Python...who knew? By the way – –goes into demon mode- - UPDATE YOUR FIC, MY FRIEND!!! XD By the way – I'd like it if you'd tell me when you get your website finished so I can link it from mine.
Jaiex: IT WOULD TAKE ME FOREVER TO WRITE OUT ALL THE ANIME I WATCH! But since you reviewed and therefore I love you, I will try. -A-hem-: Rurouni Kenshin and Hana Yori Dango and Inuyasha tie for first, and the rest aren't in order and the ones I own are in bold – Trigun, Wolf's Rain, Rave Master, Blue Seed, Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, Vision of Escaflowne, Tenchi Muyo!, Key: The Metal Idol, Tenchi Muyo! XGP, Samurai Deeper Kyo, Martian Successor Nadesico, Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040, Witch Hunter Robin, Real Bout High School, Sakura Wars, Burn-up Warriors, Dragon Half, Fushigi Yugi, Ceres: Celestial Legend, Boogie-Pop Phantom, Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, G-Gundam, Battle Athletes: Victory, Yu Yu Hakusho, and a bunch of others I love but can't recall at the moment. (Trigun kicks serious ass. I had the box set before it ever even came on Adult Swim.)
Angela Himura: I loved writing that fluff. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Drain Star: Wow! Is this your first time reviewing? YAY – a new face! I'm so glad you're pleased with Perhaps in the Past! –bows-
Brittany: I'm not sure when I'll write the lemon, but when I do, I'll make sure to add it at the end of a chapter so people can send me their e-mails so I can send it to everyone. I've never written one before, so I hope you aren't disappointed. And I don't see how lemons are perverted – sex is an act of love between two people.
Pixel-the-evil-Fairy: I absolutely love your name!!! XD No need to beg, my friend – here is the update!!! –pulls you off your knees and grins-
Amai-Sakume: Hello! I know what you mean by reading the whole story. It's too hard for me to review every chapter because it gives me a headache and I get so confoosed!!!
Cobra: I hope that isn't super-glue!!! LOL – here's the chapter! Hope you enjoy!
RokaChik3: Goodness! You're such a wonderful reviewer! I felt so warm and fluffy inside when I read your comments! Your powers worked! Here is the update you wanted!
Tenxjigoku: YOU ARE MY NEW BEST FRIEND!!! –hugs- I feel so loved and appreciated! It's such an honor to hear you say that!!! –hugs again-
Serenitylight81: Hi! I hope you are liking the fic! Here's your update, enjoy!!!
Andy: Thanks! –does a happy dance- XD I'm really glad you review, and as a special gift I HAVE UPDATED!!! –trumpets sound in background-
Captured Moon: I would update for a Klondike Bar!!! Casting a pretty obvious hint there, ain't I?! XD Just kidding. Anyway, yeah – Katsura is seriously f-----ed up. I'm so glad you reviewed, CM-chan! Thank you!!!
Brianna: Hi! Welcome to the story!!! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
KiwiTenjou: Hello KiwiTenjou! I'm so glad that you're enjoying yourself and I promise I'm going to keep writing!
Dadsnavgirl831: Mwahahaha.........yesh, Megumi (I hate her, but.........you can't have RK without her) and Misao (who ties with Kaoru for my favorite character) shall appear soon. Misao appears first, and then I'm planning on having Megumi come in some time after that. I'm so glad you like Perhaps in the Past!!!
KenshinslilAngel: Hey! Thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! XD
-
Midi: I'm giving all of my reviewers that put me on their favorites lists shout outs at the end of the chappie so they'll know how honored I am!
Larcenciel: Suck up.........
Midi: -stomps him into the dirt- !!! By the way – I think that's the most amount of reviews I've ever received from a single chapter! Lemme count.........O.O 28 reviews?!!!! HOLY CHICKEN, BATMAN!!!
O-O
T-T
Oh wow! I love you guys too!!!! –sobs with joy- Enjoy!
End of Opening Notes
----------------------
Build:
-
Chapter Twelve
-
Reflection
----------------------
The room was strangely quiet.
Sanosuke glanced around cautiously as he walked through the open doors, trying to step as lightly as he could.
"The mission failed?"
Sanosuke started and turned around quickly. The man that had spoken was standing in the low light cast from the fire that burned steadily in the fireplace to the left of Katsura's desk. As a flicker of particularly bright light sprung from the bricks, blue eyes flashed calmly in a serene, pale face.
"Yes. Battousai escaped with the girl." His eyes narrowed. "How are things going here, Aoshi?"
Aoshi shrugged, face so blank that it rivaled the blandness of the Battousai's.
There was a short silence.
"Do they still think I'm dead?"
Sano nodded once firmly.
"No one is aware that you are alive."
His lips were pressed tightly together as Sanosuke spoke.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Aoshi?"
"Of course. And if I am dead to the world, then no one will be able to inform the Battousai that I will be coming. Things are looking up."
----------------------
Kaoru fell to her knees and stared off into space. What...what had just happened?
as though years of emotions that had been locked away tightly inside him were now breaking through and flooding him almost overpoweringly
His eyes...oh, his eyes.
She had once told him they were beautiful, and she had meant it. But when...
years of emotions
So many things, running through his beautiful, exotic cat's eyes. She'd never seen anything so ethereal.
And for an instant...
The barest of an instant...
When –
"Shinta..."
- she could have sworn she saw a flash of amethyst among all the amber. A deep ravine of ravishing violet that shone like dreams through a nightmare.
It had been beautiful...
----------------------
"Fuck."
It was one word that so many used to release emotion, but right now it wasn't doing a damn thing for the Hitokiri Battousai.
Without even thinking about what he was doing, he turned on his heel and slammed his fist into the wall as hard as he could.
What the hell is wrong with me? Why do memories like that resurface? I've pushed it all away. That lifetime is dead to me now.
I don't want to remember.
So stop it.
Leave me alone.
I don't want to remember.
You sure about that?
Shut the hell up, Battousai.
-smirking- You know you want to. Face the past and then murder the girl. You must or your revenge will never be complete.
I said shut up. I have more urgent matters to attend to, so go back to sleep already.
-laughing and then silence-
There was an angry, ragged intake of breath and then he slammed his fist into the wall once more.
----------------------
"So I take it you're planning on leaving soon then, Aoshi?"
The other man turned and looked away from the flames for a moment. "It will depend how quickly and suddenly they leave for Kyoto. It's his obvious destination."
Sanosuke blinked and then nodded. "He wants to talk to his informant."
Aoshi chuckled, a rare feat for him. Sanosuke's jaw almost dropped.
"You'd think that he would be smart enough to steer clear of that city." He shook his head, as though in disappointment. He looked as though he were about to speak once more, but then bit back his words and instead turned to Sanosuke. "Do you have any suspicions?"
For a moment, the brown-haired man said nothing, but then shrugged. "I'm suspicious of everything. This situation alone is suspicious. I'm suspicious that Kenshin will know what we'd expect. He'll know what we think he'll do and what we think he won't. And then, he'll go and do something that isn't on either list at all."
Silence.
"He always was too intelligent for his own good." Sano snorted, gave a curt wave, and left.
----------------------
Kaoru sat there for a few minutes, still unsure of what to do.
"We're leaving."
Alright.
They were leaving.
What was she supposed to do?
She didn't exactly have anything to bring with her.
In fact, she didn't have anything to bring with her. So what was she supposed to do? Was there something for her to get? For her to retrieve?
Her eyes suddenly lit up and she ran for the shed.
----------------------
Battousai's fists clenched and unclenched as he stood before the broken mirror. It was making him angry.
Stop resembling me.
He lifted his shaking hand to finger the shards that had been forced backward into the wooden wall from the force of his punch.
They were crimson.
He glanced back down at his fist.
I want to kill it.
He felt his throat constrict as he tried to utter the words.
I want to kill it.
"NO!! STAY BACK!!!"
Make it stop.
"NO!!! IT WASN'T MY FAULT!!! IT WASN'T MY FAULT!"
No!
man above him simply glared and swung the sword down once more. The boy tried to dodge again, but leapt too late, and the tip of the blade met the side of his cheek, carving a long, bloody gash
These memories...
one day be horrible scar
"WHY?! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? WHY WON'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE!!! YOU AREN'T REAL!!!"
He grit his teeth and clenched his raw fists.
They weren't real.
It was time to leave.
He looked once more at the crimson mirror and then turned around and left.
----------------------
He slammed the screen open with a loud crack and looked down at the wooden deck, assuming her to be sitting there like she'd been when he left. His eyes narrowed.
Kill her.
Go away.
-snickers-
Where is she.
Where is she.
Where is she.
----------------------
Kaoru slipped quietly and quickly into the shed.
She almost stumbled over a rock near the entrance but managed to catch herself before she fell.
"Damn rock," she mumbled, dropping to her hands and knees anyway to search the ground. She shivered when the light behind her faltered a little, but ignored it.
----------------------
Where is she...
----------------------
She was about to give up when her hand barely brushed something soft and comforting. She sighed in relief and clutched it to her chest, already beginning to feel better.
Kaoru brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear and made her way to the door but froze almost instantly.
The door was being blocked.
By the Battousai.
And he did not look very pleased.
----------------------
Where the hell is she!
She probably escaped while you were wallowing in a pool of self pity, Himura.
Shut the hell up!!!
Great job. You've really fucked up this time, haven't you?
SHUT THE HELL UP!!!
I'm tired of sleeping. Let me out.
No!
You know I'll eventually break out. Give up.
No. I will not allow it.
-laughter-
----------------------
"What are you doing."
Kaoru gasped. His voice was cold. Not just cold – witheringly so. Filled with nothing and yet everything and slicing through her very soul even more sharply than his wakizashii ever could.
"I..."
"What are you doing."
He doesn't ask questions. She'd noticed it before, but it became more and more frightening all the time.
"I was...trying...to..."
"I asked what you were doing," he interrupted, amber eyes glowing with an unearthly deadliness that seemed to wrap Kaoru up in iron bindings. "And I suggest you tell me."
Kaoru stumbled back.
She'd stopped fearing him.
But now – the light in those swirling cat's eyes.
There was no longer a feeling of the present of the future.
All those eyes did was -
"I was looking."
His gaze sharpened and he reached forward and grabbed her by the arm.
"You were looking for what."
She took a deep breath and then looked straight up into his eyes, the reverie of the epithermal violet lingering in her mind. It was covered by amber, but it was there. And that's all she needed to know.
"This." She lifted up the maroon sweater he'd thrown at her days ago. He stared for a moment and then let his gaze drift back up into her face.
"You were looking for this sweater."
She nodded, face neutral.
"That's fucking stupid."
She didn't reply.
He stared for a moment, but then turned to leave.
"You were right."
The Battousai stopped, frozen in place.
"Wh-"
"You were right. I am scarred. And so are you. I can see it in your eyes. They show nothing of the here and now. All they do is-"
Reflect the past.
----------------------
Midi: As said before, short. I have some sad news for you, today my friends. I accidentally dropped Larcenciel in a blender, and now he is under steady recuperation. Therefore there will not be a showing of Snow White for you all today. –bows her head- Forgive me.
-SILENCE-
Midi: Okay, now that that's over, here's the chapter preview:
----------------------
Preview of Next Chapter
----------------------
"You shouldn't speak of such things."
"Why not?"
His gaze was cold. Undeniably so.
"You are quite possible the single most aggravating girl I've ever met."
She shrugged.
"Not my problem, Battousai."
"It should be your problem, Kamiya."
She glared. "Why don't you just kill me and get it over with?"
"I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to do something much worse."
----------------------
And that's where I'll leave you, simply because it's funny watching everyone's reaction to my EXTREMELY evil cliffhangers.D
Everyone pray for Larcenciel's recovery, because we all want to see Snow White.
Or maybe I can just drop him in the blender again for you guys. You choose. Ja ne!
Okay, here's a disclaimer because I haven't done one since Chapter Two: I do not own the masterpiece known as Rurouni Kenshin. All I own is a dirty sock, a piece of lint, and then a stupid fairy, and he's been blenderized, so actually I only own a sock and some lint.