Disclaimer: *stands at podium and clears her throat* Watsuki has been found. I repeat, Watsuki had been found. The information was relayed to us from a caller by the name of MaraJadeblu. Watsuki is once again locked in the closet. See fine print below for prize info.

Warning: *glaring at her fingers* They're trying to add more characters without my permission...

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Souken no Shibun

Over Dinner

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Dinner passed rather quickly for the four. Kaoru was going on about the Kasshin style to Kyouki, Kenshin would mention this and that, Yahiko stirred up trouble with Kaoru, and Kyouki sat in rapt attention to the three. It didn't take long for them to finish eating so they just sat around the table continuing to talk and drinking their tea. Except for Kaoru, who discreetly poured her cup bit by bit into Yahiko and Kyouki's when no one was looking.

Megumi had shown up at some point to check in on Kyouki and was given a short explanation of what was going on. She was surprised, of course, considering that everyone seemed in such high spirits. Well, that and she didn't believe Kyouki would be able to take on Kenshin. If the baka neko was the best the Shibun had to offer, then there wasn't any cause for worry.

As could be imagined, this started a good half hour long argument between the two, much to the others' amusement. Eventually, it dwindled into a simple insult contest, fueled further by comments dropped by the three others present. At this point, Kyouki whipped out chopsticks and waved them threateningly, only earning her another insult from Megumi. She leapt forward to attack the good doctor but ended up falling flat on her face due to the fact that Kenshin had a tight grip on the edge of her hakama. So she finally settled for glaring at her opponent until Megumi's departure.

After a few minutes spent calming Kyouki down, the four discussed their plans for the next day. Since it was Yahiko's day off, Kaoru decided that she and Yahiko would be training the entire day on and off. Kenshin would, of course, be doing his usual chores. Kyouki shrugged when the question was put to her, stating that she'd probably just hang around watching the training. Saito would most likely be returning anyway, and if she wasn't there, he could accuse of her evading arrest. Besides, if he had come up with some kind of new information she'd probably need it in order to better inform the other people.

For this she received a few blank stares and after blinking dumbly in response, she remembered that she hadn't discussed the list with them yet. "Oh yeah..." She yanked the a piece of rice paper from her sleeve and held it up on display for a moment. "This was something I meant to talk to you about but that whole 'Rei' business sort of sidetracked me." She set the paper in her lap and leaned back on her hands. "For about a year now, I've been keeping track of the Nentou and the Souken's movements. His dealings were of the usual for his type: corrupt political figures, shady dealings, and taking part in an underground turf war."

Kyouki took a sip of her tea and continued. "Those were things that I certainly couldn't have handled by myself no matter how much I might have wanted to try. But when this came up," grabbing the list and leaning forward, she set in on the table, "I knew I could at least warn the people targeted."

Kenshin picked the crinkled rice paper up and quickly scanned over it, eyes narrowing. "A list of people to be assassinated," he stated rather than asked. Kyouki nodded anyways to confirm his words as he passed the paper onto Kaoru and Yahiko. Kaoru blinked at the proffered paper a moment before taking it gingerly, unsure of Kenshin's actions. However, he made no move to retract the list and she motioned Yahiko over to her side to look at it as well. Both pairs of eyes widened as they took in the names.

Yahiko snickered. "They actually did bother to think of you, busu..."

Kaoru frowned playfully and ruffled the kid's spiky hair. "Looks like the Tokyo Samurai's hit the big time as well. Are you ready for it, Yahiko-chan?"

Yahiko puffed his chest out. "You bet I am. I'm gonna kick all their asses."

Kaoru's smiled. "Good. Then you'd best be off to bed."

"What?!"

Kaoru waggled a finger at him. "You've already seen the list, Yahiko. Besides, think how many people we may have to fight. You're going to need all the energy you can get."

Yahiko's brow furrowed as he clenched his fist. "You've got a point... but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

Kaoru shrugged. "Doesn't matter if you like it, you're still going to do it." Yahiko simply huffed in reply and begrudgingly headed to bed. She turned a curious eye on Kyouki as soon as he was gone. "Since you don't even remember being a part of the Shibun, how did you manage to get this?"

Kyouki wrinkled her nose. "Well... I remembered a name, Nentou, and had this undeniable urge to find out everything I could about him. I didn't meet with much success at first," she smiled, "but then I came upon this rather helpful member of the Oniwabanshuu during one of my trips to town. We struck it off rather well and once she was sure I wasn't with the bad guys, she smuggled me what information she could about the Shibun."

Kenshin arched an almost disbelieving eyebrow. It was possible that one of the members might leak information... He wondered if Aoshi and Misao knew about this girl. Kaoru blinked. "The Oniwabanshuu?"

Kyouki nodded. "Yep. She was all fired up to kick my ass until she realized I wasn't going to do much of anything with the information she gave me. So we sat down to lunch. She told me about the Shibun and I told her about painting, Michika, and strangely enough, my amnesia." She shrugged. "She was rather spunky without being overly annoying like Michika. I only had one complaint and that was that she kept talking endlessly about this one guy. I swear, I never seen anyone so obsessive over a member of the opposite sex..." She sweatdropped. "But then, I only have two years experience."

Kaoru and Kenshin looked at each other a moment, then back at Kyouki. Kenshin smiled somewhat nervously at the younger girl. "Kyouki-dono, what did this girl look like, de gozaru ka?"

Kyouki looked between the two, feeling slightly uncomfortable and wondering why they were so curious. "Um, well... She had braided ebony hair, was kind of petite, and had the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen." Her face took on an appreciative expression. "Definitely prettier than that Natsuo character's," she announced, nodding and holding a finger in the air dramatically.

Kaoru had to reach out and grab the edge of the table to keep herself from falling over from shock. Kenshin sweatdropped, keeping his rurouni smile in place. "This girl... her name wouldn't happen to be Makimachi Misao, would it, de gozaru ka?"

"As a matter of fact, it was. Do you know her?"

Kaoru and Kenshin simply sighed. Loudly.

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A/N: *whines* Already the thought of more characters is confusing me... and more chapters are going to get nice and compressed come tomorrow when I have time. And tomorrow's chappie should be extra long, too! Whee! And... I do mean long... *wrinkles her nose* That's if everything works out like it's supposed to.

To Cymberleah: *snickers* Yep... you now know the torture I go through every chapter now. *cackles* *clears her throat* And I thought the tea thing was cool, too. I got the idea from this website... the box was so pretty... it had so much tea in it... if only I had the money. *sighs*

To MaraJadeblu: *chuckles* I think the only person that likes Natsuo at this point is SMDSP. *smiles* But you got to have someone to hate on, right? Yes, the sweatdropping was from that one night... And I'm sorry my compression confused you. I didn't mean for it too. It's just that after a certain of chappies, the compy's going to go screwy... I found that one out trying to upload a chapter for Author Lady one time. So I'm taking precautions. (fine print: You're reward should you choose to accept it... a plushie of every major RK character. This note will self-destruct in 30 seconds... give or take.)

Kya ha ha ha!! I haven't been poked yet! Yay for me! *hands it to Author Lady* Here ya go, beta person!