Disclaimer: How much would it cost? Nah…or maybe I should…nah. Decisions, decisions…oh, wait, I'm still dreaming…-_-;
Note: This fic is AU and begins from the end of the Seissou Hen, and involves elements of established fantasy genres.
Hearts of Revelation
The pale moon slowly made its way through the heavens, the twinkle of stars a wondrous display against the blackness of the dark skies over Meiji Japan. Within the walls of the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo, the maelstrom of awe, disbelief, and a multitude of feelings coursed. Such feelings hid the overture of danger and shadow that lay behind them, in the mysterious man who was Mizushin Junzo. For the meantime however, such dark thoughts were gone from the front of any of the minds of the peoples within.
"I just cannot believe it, Kaoru." Megumi stared, amazed, as she examined Kaoru's body in her room. She knelt back after a few moments., then raised a hand to her face, shaking her head. "It is, all gone. Not a single trace of Ken-san or your illness remains, as far as I can tell. It has completely disappeared from your bodies." She made to stand up, slowly still shaking her head in wonder. "Amazing." Megumi looked at Kaoru more closely once more. "You look, so young, once again." The doctor smiled slightly, hiding a soft pain as she gazed once more on the younger woman. "This is a wonderful gift that you have been given, Kaoru."
Kaoru nodded, a faint smile on her once-more youthful face, but then it faded. "Perhaps. But, seeing him fight again…" she shook her head, and closed her eyes. "…brings back so many memories." She raised up her head, and fixed up her kimono, which had been opened as Megumi had examined her. "I do not wish to return to those times, that I do not."
Megumi watched over the young woman she'd been tending for the past few days, seeing a mix of emotions flow across her face. She was changed, since the past few days, Megumi could tell. Like the woman she'd known as a mother and full-grown adult, but yet, she seemed to have regained the spirit of her youth once more. The doctor shook her head ever so slightly, the soft smile on her face changing its reasons of being there. Kaoru…how I envy you. She sighed softly, and turned around towards the shoji, sliding it open to reveal Tsubame standing right behind it. "Ah, Tsubame, what is it?"
The young girl's mouth opened to say something, but paused, as if hesitating. "Megumi-san, is she…?"
"Well? Yes. A miracle, isn't it? Ken-san as well…" Megumi nodded, smiling at the girl.
The other;'s face broke into a beam and she put her hands together, smiling up at Megumi. "Why, that, that's wonderful!" She turned around, her pace quickening.
"Tsubame, where are you going?" Megumi asked, as the girl moved of, stepping out the doorway and putting a hand on the shoji frame.
The girl stopped, and spun around, the smile still on her face. "I'm going to tell Tae-san, of course! Don't worry, I'll be back soon enough."
Before Megumi could do more then open her mouth the youth ran off behind a corner. Megumi shook her head amusedly, then turned around to look back at Kaoru. She tilted her head slightly, noting the look on her friend's face. "Kaoru? What is wrong? You should be happy both you and Ken-san are well once more."
Kaoru nodded, but did not smile. "Ano…Megumi. There's something else though. That man who helped us, he was the one who fought Kenshin."
"Kenshin." Sanosuke stared up at the night sky, taking in the natural splendor that lay above him.
"Aa?" The redhead spoke softly, a faint smile on his lips, expecting the next question to come.
"You're serious, right?" Sanosuke turned his gaze down at Kenshin. The calm expression and the kind of smile that his friend gave him answered his question perfectly, and he turned his gaze back awayf rom Kenshin's face, to gaze out at the dojo's grounds. "Ten years ago, I would not have believed anything of that you know?" He lowered his face, and looked at his feet, his hands fiddling with a small twig. "Life sure changes people a lot. But yet, there are some things that don't change, eh, Kenshin."
The other man nodded. "True." He looked up at the bigger man. "Sano?"
"Yeah?" The other kept his gaze as it was.
"Arigatou."
"Tch, you shouldn't have to say that…" Sano shook his head violently, tossing the stick out into the darkness. "You've saved me from myself twice before. It's the least that I could do, Kenshin." He paused in his train of thought, looking at nothing. "It feels so weird, you know. Coming back here, and everything is the same but not. Home, but not home." A chuckle escaped from his lips. "I've changed too, I guess."
"Don't worry about it, Sanosuke. Even it has been more than ten years, I would like to say…" Kenshin smiled at his friend, "…welcome back."
"Kenshin?"
"Hai?" He smiled pleasantly at his companion.
"Don't say that, it sounds fine coming from Kaoru, but from you…" Sano shuddered.
"Oro…don't think that way!" Kenshin.
A stony silence enveloped that pair as they struggled to erase various images from their minds. Fortunately for them, the awkward moment was broken by Yahiko running up to them. "Oi, let's eat dinner!"
"Dinner?" Sano and Kenshin looked up at the boy, a confused look on their faces.
Yahiko smiled cockily. "Yup, dinner! Tsubame and Tae made a storm of a dinner in celebration of Kenshin and Kaoru's getting better, as well as you getting back, and we're having a feast tonight!"
"All right!" Sano smiled, punching the air above him. "Its been way too damn long since I've had great Japanese food!" The two ran off at a slow run then, with Kenshin chuckling to himself as he followed at a more sedate pace. He walked around the dojo's corridors, and finally stepped into the main training room, where Tae and her husband, along with a few other old friends from the Akabeko, had set up their little banquet for the night. The bustle of people in the room was almost disconcerting, in a good way. Tae, Tsubame, a few of Kaoru's students, and other old friends. The warm feeling in his heart throbbed steadily, and the feeling of being healthy once more buoyed Kenshin's spirits higher than he'd felt since… He paused in thought, at that, realizing he'd never really felt more at peace in his whole life, and in that moment the feeling almost overwhelmed him. His life, at that moment, was almost perfect, if it was not for the enigma Junzo, and the reappearance of both Saitou and Chou. Kenshin sighed, but the smile that had appeared on his lips remained. What ever was coming, he would be facing it with a stronger spirit to live than ever, and nothing could put him down.
"Ken-san!"
He turned around to spot Megumi and Kaoru walking up to him, both dressed in their kimonos. He smiled at them both, and Kaoru blinked, noting the change in her husband's smile. Megumi however didn't, but walked into the room to leave the two behind at the entrance to the dojo. "Ken…Shinta." Kaoru spoke softly to his, standing a few bare inches from her beloved.
"Kaoru…" Kenshin took a small step forward, and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close in an embrace, smiling as he did so.
Kaoru felt the strength in his arms, and felt the warmth of her husband's closeness and embrace. She closed her eyes as her hand found their own way to hold him, and she felt herself tremble and cry. "Kenshin…Shinta."
"Don't cry now, Kaoru…it is not truly a time to shed tears." Kenshin released her, as he spoke, slightly amazed at her reaction, but calmed once he saw the expression on her face. She smiled at him, with the line of tears on her face.
"Kaoru-dono…you look better when you don't cry as you smile." Kenshin smiled at her and touched a finger to wipe the last errant tear from her face.
"Kaasan…" At this the couple turned around to see their teenage soon standing by the doorway, looking at his mother. "Kaasan, its time to eat. Everyone is waiting."
Kaoru nodded and turned to Kenshin, who was staring at his son. Kaoru beamed and took her husband's arm. "Aa…let's go, neh?"
Kenshin nodded, and they stepped past their son and into the room, where their friends greeted them, first of which was Tae, and her husband who stood a step behind was he watched the two women embrace each other. Kenshin let his wife slip from his side as she did so, and turned to look once more at Kenji. "Kenji…"
The youth nodded, a tightened expression on his face as he struggled to reply. "T-tousan." Kenshin hadn't really noticed the struggle it took for Kenji to say those words now, delighted by the mere fact that his son still accepted him as his father.
Kenshin smiled fully and raised a hand to pat his son's head, and rested the hand on the boy's shoulder. "Kenji…" With a soft grunt of affirmation, Kenji walked by, letting his father's hand slip from his shoulder.
The room was a chaotic storm of laughter and smiles, for the most part though, with many faces. Tsubame chatted with Suzume and Ayame, who were young teenagers not much older than Kenji, just fresh coming out from adolescence. Yahiko on the other hand, was speaking to his one-time rival, Yutarou, who was an assistant master in the dojo, second to Yahiko himself. On one side, Sanosuke was happily startled with meeting his younger brother, one of the dojo's students, with Megumi watching on in amusement. Kenji barely noticed all this as he stalked off to the side, and seated himself off away from the bulk of the people. The night drew on, and he kept mostly to himself. He still watched on, as his father and mother smiled, laughing a little as he conversed with his friends.
Ugh…Wordlessly, Keji picked himself up from the floor and made his way out of the room. He left the dojo main room and walked out silently into the garden of the dojo, making his way over to a small wooden bench beneath a tree. He sat down on it, looking over the small pool. A small waterfall-like construct of bamboo allowed the water to make a soft sound as it splashed onto the small pond. Kenji sighed, the turmoil of emotions in his mind troubling him. He slumped into the contours of the bench, gazing on the moon's reflection on the rippling pond.
"Kenji-kun?" A feminine voice called out to him, softly.
Kenji turned around to spot a young woman behind him, and the expression on his face softened. "Oh, its you…what do you want?"
She walked over to him, and hesitantly took a seat on his bench. "Ano…I was just wondering, why you're out here by yourself. Especially since it's a party for your parents."
Kenji shrugged. "Yeah, it is. I just like being alone, I suppose." He turned to look at her. "You shouldn't bother yourself about me, Chizuro. Go on." He faced the moonlight again.
She didn't move though, keeping her gaze on the pond. "No, I don't mind. To be honest, I felt that it was a bit crowded inside."
Kenji shrugged. "Mmm, I see. Well, you can stay here with me then, I guess." His voice grew softer at the end of his words. The air around them grew silent, save for the soft rush of water and the breath of the wind as it rustled to branches above them.
Not too far away, Yahiko watched the two sit quietly by the pond, a faint smile on his face. "What do you think of them, Tsubame?" The young woman at his side, who was at the moment leaning slightly against Yahiko smiled at the romantic sight.
"Kawaii…" she whispered.
Yahiko chuckled softly at her word, and raised his hand to rest it on her far shoulder, in effect putting an arm on her. "Let's leave the two for now then. I don't think they would appreciate it if someone was watching."
"True…" Tsubame smiled, looking up at Yahiko. "I know you didn't, neh, Yahiko-kun?"
The shihondai smiled, a slight red tint appearing on his face. "Neither did you, you know…"
The girl merely smiled up at him, and raised a hand to hold Yahiko's hand on her shoulder.
It was more then two hours later when the party ended, and their guests began to leave, until only their closer friends remained. Tae and Kaede left the last, excluding those of the former Kenshin-gumi. "I'll hope you visit the Akabeko again, Kaoru." Tae smiled pleasantly, bowing slightly at her friend.
"We will, don't worry about that." Kaoru replied cheerily.
Kenshin watched on while his wife handled the goodbyes, something he wasn't particularly good in. Sano stepped up behind Kenshin then and rested a hand on the older man's shoulder. Or was the other younger now? No, Kenshin was still older, by a margin. He hoped. It was just too weird if Sano was the older one now, now that that Junzo guy screwed up their ages, and whatnot.
"Kenshin. Its getting late." He did not need to speak the question that was in his mind.
"Aa, yes it is." The redhead nodded and turned around, as Sano let his hand fall from Kenshin's shoulder. "They should be here soon. Very soon."
By the time he and Sano had stopped talking, Tae and her husband had left through the dojo's front doors, a few others carrying away the last of the things Tae had brought over from the Akabeko. Kaoru waved at them as they vanished, then lowered her hand and turned to Kenshin. She reached his side when he said, "They're here."
Kaoru looked puzzled at this, and asked, "Who is here?" Sano merely nodded, acknowledging what Kenshin had said. Kenshin noted Sano's reaction, and smiled to himself. Sanosuke. You've gotten stronger now. I wonder, how much so?
"Kenshin…!" Yahiko had called out, his voice clipped as he slid open the shoji of the dojo training room. Kenshin and Sano moved fluidly, Kaoru trailing behind her husband, her face an expression of slight fear and confusion. This was dispelled the moment that they entered, to see two tall figures inside. One released a cloud of smoke, fiery embers flying in the slight draft that wafted inside. The other merely stood, a stoic expression on his face as he watched, not hostile, yet not truly friendly. Kenshin nodded, a smile on his face as he greeted the two men, one clad in the dark blue of the police uniform, the other in a clothing reminiscent of those worn during the Bakumatsu.
"Ah, Hajime, Mizushin." Kenshin nodded. The welcoming response not reciprocated bySaitou.
"Good evening, Himura-san." Junzo bowed slightly, paying respect to the two masters of the house. The former Shinsengumi captain gave Junzo a look. The other noticed it, but didn't react any more than flickering his eyes to the other. He straightened then, and put a hand on his daisho. "I hope you do not mind, neh?"
Kenshin shook his head. "Iie. Weapons in this house are a common thing. Are they not, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin turned to his wife, who was standing beside him with a hand on his shoulder.
"No, I suppose not." She whispered.
A brief silence enveloped everyone, before Junzo broke it. "Well then, I assume that you all have many questions for me. I will explain what needs to be said, and once I'm done, you can ask me questions, all right? Please, let us sit, if we may?" Junzo gestured at the floor. "It may be a bit, before we stand once more."
Almost wordlessly, they did. On one side, were Junzo and Saitou, one the other were the rest. Saitou's eyes narrowed. "Only for those already involved, thank you."
Sano shrugged, and turned around to look at Outa. "Oi, Outa." He grinned and winked. "Get lost." The younger borther was about to complain, when he saw the glint in his older brother's eyes. He shrugged and rubbed the back of his head. "Ummm, okay." At this point Yahiko put his hand on Tsubame's shoulder, as he was still standing along with her, and Yutarou.
"Yutarou, take Tsubame home." The seriousness in the senior trainer's voice startled Yutaruou, who merely nodded. The other took a few steps, leading him outside. Tsubame turned to follow, but Yahiko restrained her. "Tsubame." She stopped, and looked into his eyes. "Take care, all right?"
She looked down at the floor, and then back up, a sad smile on her face. She was no fool, and both of them knew it. There were few reasons Yahiko would say such words, and in this scenario. "I will. I'll wait for you, Yahiko-chan."
Yahiko dropped his gaze. "Drop that, Tsubame." She merely smiled at him, and left. He straightened after a moment, and turned back to the small gathering, where Junzo was beginning to explain already.
"Well now, let us get started shall we?" Junzo clapped his hands together, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Where to start? Perhaps, the first question I should answer is, who am I really? Mmm?"
"That would be helpful." Kenshin nodded, seemingly being one of the few who were calm on his side.
Junzo nodded. "All right. Who am I? To start, I'll say that, yes, I truly am named Mizushin Junzo. My reference to Hajime-san here—" he glanced at Saitou, "—was true. In a sense, he was a former captain to me, in the Shinsengumi. However, you never fought me back then. You never really saw me either."
Kenshin nodded. "That would make sense, since I'd have recognized you earlier if I had."
"Well, yes. My age is, like yours, changed, somewhat. Although, I would still be young, even if I hadn't undergone the deaging process. You see, I was like Okita-kun back in the war, a so-called genius of the sword. However, unlike Okita, I was a small child at the time, and was not allowed to participate in any of the battles, despite the fact they considered me as good as, if not better, than any of the unranked Shinsengumi. I resented that, and left Kyoto. I disappeared from their sight, quite surprisingly, but perhaps that was because of the arrival of a man, the one who was called Battousai. That distracted them quite a lot, during that time. And they did not send anyone after me. I was not to find out why, until I met up with Hajime-san here many years later."
Junzo looked at Sano evely. "And yes, my story is true. Everything. This includes what I've told Himura-san here and his wife about Shishio Makoto, and ridiculous it may sound. But the evidence is here, they are healed. And they saw what beasts came after them. There is no more proof needed than that." Sano's mouth worked, wondering how Junzo knew what he was about to ask. Junzo merely smiled at the man's slight surprise.
Suddenly, another thought popped into Sano's mind. "Hey, where's Chou?"
Saitou blew another cloud of smoke from his lips. "Chou? I sent him on a little errand. Otherwise, me and Junzo would have to be dealing with some uninvited guests on the way home"
Sano frowned at this, wondering who would actually trouble Saitou and Junzo, seeing as they were already intimidation to see with their blades. At least, intimidating to lesser men than those present.
Not too far away, Chou sneezed. "Where did that come from?" He frowned, and looked back at the small squarish thing in his left hand. On it were three small dots of red, hovering over the small device. "They're near." He quickly put the artifact into his pocket and pulled out his favored weapon, his Hakujin no Tachi, the sword-whip. After so many years of fighting, even if it was on the side of the Meiji government, he'd trained hard and long, and fought just as much. His senses and abilities were superior to what he was so long ago.
Good thing about that too…His eyes whipped around from side to side, his senses alert and already feeling the presence of his opponents. A roar of malicious intent reached his ears, and he quickly spun around to see a shadowy humanoid beast leap out at him, claws bared. "Tch!" With a quick twist and snap, his blade snapped back and cut neatly into the hide of the Shadowfang. It dropped on the ground, the tint of its blood staining the ground as it clutched its neck. "Not enough to kill you just yet, huh?"
A flicker at his side told him of where the one of the other two were. He ducked down low; just enough to feel another of the featureless beasts pounced through the space he was just in. Close. But it's always close. He smiled, his open palm hitting the ground and providing him with the support he needed to deliver a powerful attack at the beast that was passing over him. His blade hissed in response when he pulled in over him, and slashed into its lower abdomen, then cut straight up towards its face. The rest of Chou's blade finished it off as the rest cut further into the moving body until the weapon halved it completely in two, from skull down the length of its spine. The two halves dropped as dead weights on the ground, the internal organs of the creature spilling along with its blood, the crimson liquid quickly creating a gory puddle on the ground.
Spatters of the decidedly acidic blood stained Chou's uniform, causing the man to grumble as he rose once again to spot the last of the three charging straight at him. He whipped his weapon around once again, and ripped the last into pieces to join its brethren that lay dead on the ground. A shadow above him reminded him of the last one, the one he hadn't killed yet. A focused expression revealed itself on Chou's face as he moved to grab and draw his wakizashi at his side to defend himself. The small blade caught the claws of the beast, and snapped them with the force the swordsman put behind his counterslash, ripping the shadowfang's hand into two pieces, blood flowing from the gaping wound like a small river.
This is over…"Next thing, I think for Himura-san is the question—" this time referring to Kaoru, "—what is the school of Hitten Kage Ryuu, neh?"
"Indeed, that is so." Kaoru nodded. "I've never heard of such a school before, and I believe I'm quite knowledgeable in this topic."
"Neither did you know about Hitten Mitsurugi Ryuu, before. But, I'm not ridiculing you." Junzo pointed out, when he noticed the blush on Kaoru's face. He leaned back a bit, before continuing. "Hitten Kage Ryuu was a style created during the Sengoku period, like Hitten Mitsurugi Ryuu. It is one generation younger than Hitten Mistsuruigi however, because the style was made by Seijirou Hiko the Second, master of Hitten Mitsurugi. He found that the power of Hitten Mitsurugi was superior to almost all other styles, and since the practitioners of it were far fewer, they tended to be even better. With this foresight, he made in secret the style of Hitten Kage Ryuu with the one man that defeated him in his days. But what I know is that with that man's help, they made Hitten Kage Ryuu, the brother style to Hitten Mitsurugi. This man became the first Master of Hitten Kage Ryuu, and we call him the Nameless Master. By we, I mean the practitioners of Hitten Kage. Hitten Kage is said to be the power that would stop Hitten Mitsurugi if the wielders of that art ever used their powers for injustice. As long as there was reasoning behind the wielders of that blade, the masters of Hitten Kage Ryuu would not interfere, and remain, as the name, in the shadows.
"However, it was not meant to be. We slowly died off, one by one, the masters of the art, due to the same sickness you once had, Himura. During the end of the Bakumatsu, their numbers, always few, had become lesser. One of them found me, and he taught me all he knew. He was the most powerful of those that remained. He died soon after, and now I am the only one remaining. He said that that was the curse of Hitten Kage, and that to wield it one had to reach a certain level of strength. They believe this is so, because the greatest masters of our style never fell to such a sickness. By which I mean, the Nameless Master, and his first heir. Until me, they have been the only ones in our history to have wielded it and not died."
Junzo shook his head. "I'm so sorry. I hope I didn't bore you."
"Hardly, Junzo." Kenshin waved a hand. "This little story has been quite eye-opening for me. But now, I have a question. Why did you have to play so much, and fight me like so a while ago?"
Junzo chuckled. "Ah, there is little time. I needed to get you to rebound back to your full strength as soon as possible. According to Hajime-san here, that was the most effective was."
"Don't look at me like that, Battousai. You know the truth, and don't deny it." The man returned the look Kenshin gave him with a glare.
Kenshin sighed, turning his gaze from Saitou back to Junzo. "Hai…that is true. However, I still do not really appreciate what you did. But I can understand, at least."
Junzo nodded, a slight show of relief on his face. "Himura-san, truly, I apologize for my actions once again. I know these words are painful. You never really gave me an answer, hence I must say them." Junzo bowed on the dojo floor, still his sitting, cross-legged position. "Himura-san, your help is needed once more. For one last time."
The silence that met Junzo's statement was palpable. However, the younger swordsman kept his position, his head on the wooden dojo floor despite this. Kenshin looked upon the bowed form of Junzo with surprise. Mizushin Junzo. Even when you explain who you are to us, I doubt that any of us understand who you truly are. However, there are a few things I can detect from you, the only I am sure of… Kenshin smiled and reached out a hand to rest on Junzo's shoulder. The other's face rose slowly from the ground.
Pride,
"Get up, Mizushin-san." Kenshin spoke steadily, a faint smile on his face. The other did so in a smooth manner, and straightened. Despite the pride he could sense in the man, he had actually bowed to seek Kenshin's help.
Duty,
Junzo looked into Kenshin's eyes evenly now, a calm and resolute look in those orbs of silver-blue that sparkled with a light he hadn't seen in anyone else's, save for two youths. Yahiko, and his own son.
Honor,
The eyes of fighters. Kenshin's smile grew ever so slightly.
"Himura-san." Junzo uttered the name with a slight degree of confusion.
And that is all I need to see from you.
"Junzo, when you leave, there are those here who shall walk with you on this path. But, for now, I will not give my answer." Kenshin's eyes closed. "I am sorry, but I need to see this other place first. Only then, shall I give my answer."
Junzo nodded, seemingly satisfied with the former-rurouni's answer. "Very well then. When we leave, we shall do so the day after tomorrow, I shall keep my half of the bargain which I promised you of." Kenshin's eyebrows furrowed, then his eyes widened, as he remembered one of their earlier conversations. Junzo stood up slowly, to follow Saitou, who had already gotten up the moment he heard Kenshin's reply. Junzo turned and walked towards the open shoji, leaving those of the Kenshin-gumi behind.
He paused as he reached the edge of the doorway, and put a hand on the shoji frame, turned and gave Kenshin a smirk. "You've earned to right to know the Dragon's Soul, Himura Kenshin. You will not die of Hitten Mitsurugi's power. Goodbye, for now."
Kenshin stood up and walked out to see Saitou don his police cap and speak sternly to Junzo, who replied with a calm smile. Most of the others stood as well, their thoughts on the few, but insightful, pieces of knowledge varying greatly. Kaoru wrapped her arms around Kenshin, and rested her head on his back. Kenshin shook his head a bit, and raised a hand to touch her arm
"Time for bed, Shinta." Kaoru spoke softly into Kenshin's ears.
A sad smile crossed his lips. "Shinta. Kenshin. I just want to rest for tonight, Kaoru-dono." Kaoru nodded, and loosened her embrace. "Let's go, koishii." He smiled warmly at her. "I'm looking forward to that rest."
A few short moments later, the husband and wife could hear a few shouts coming from the vicinity of the dojo. Yahiko's voice it seemed. "OI! What the hell are you still doing here for Yutarou! Outa! Kenji!"
"Run! Yahiko-chan's mad!"
"N-nani!? Yahiko-CHAN!?"
The rumble of a few sets of feet running around reached their ears.
A deeper voice joined in after a moment. "Oi, YAHIKO-CHAN, you're getting slow on your feet aren't you?"
"Oi, shut up, you rotten chickenhead!"
The crash of noise increased.
"Oro…"
Glossary:
Common Japanese terms only.
Thanks/End NotesI was thinking of making this chapter a bit longer, but decided not to. I almost ran into a writer's-block (Oh my Kami-sama!) but fortunately, Chou's little scene pulled me out of it. ^_^ Hope you didn't mind, neh?
JML, counter-school is right. See above, eh? And don't worry about Kenji, he's going to get over it in this fic sometime onwards.
Crystal, thanks for reading!
Shadow Chaser, here's another little glimpse of Chou, hope you like it since you seem to like the guy. And Junzo is mysterious, yes…a bit of an understatement really, since he's also got so many different layers of thinking and the way he acts is seemingly chaotic, as you can see by comparing his roles from chapter to chapter.
Test, as you can see here, Junzo's explaining. That should cover your question. ^_^
ILOVEHIKO, you'll likely be seeing our beloved Shishou somewhere, but I'm having a bit of a time trying to integrate some other characters into my story. -_-;
At any rate, that's all for now people! Remember, R&R!