Dedicated to: Jason (this should answer your question... well, at least half of it, anyways ^_^ I shudder just thinking about the situation that poor Sano-chan is in...), Gracey (lack of sleep? Thank you so much! *hugs her* I was a little hesitant about posting the chapter because I didn't know if it was up to standard. That why it took me so long to update. I promise, no more chapters were you can't sleep. That was the bombshell) Susan (Sorry I haven't gotten a chance to post things yet, if you read my author's page, you'll know exactly why. Thanks for the support!), Arashi (*laughs* You never know how I am going to end things, even I don't know sometimes! I really wish that I had made the last chapter a lot shorter, but I felt if I broke it up it wouldn't have the impact that I wanted. *shakes her* Have you died yet? College that bad huh? Email me whenever you get the chance ^_^), Calger459 (That's just too cool, one of the goddesses of RK omake scenes reading my stories and liking it. *grins* Megumi's your least favorite character, you say? I hope to convince otherwise! ^_^), sasori (I made a commitment to my reviewers. If I say I'll do it, then I'll do it. Like I said before, "strange" is my middle name! Actually, an author should be allowed at least one strange fic (or more) to vent themselves on. This just happens to be the one for me!), suzen (I'm guessing that SxM's relationship will probably go way, waaayyy down before it comes up anytime soon. It's my morbid sense of humor, those cliffhangers. I like to watch people's reactions when I cut it off at a critical point! *laughs maniacally*), Sanosuke (You're awfully intuitive for someone of your... um... Karina will shut up now. *smiles* But you're right. That's the conflict right now, but you won't see that until later. Good job on picking up on such a subtle clue!), Xara (El Tango de Roxanne!! Dammit, I knew I gave a wrong song title... everything made total sense to me, so don't worry about babbling =) By the way, you say you're brokeninnocence is looking for hostees? *grins* Drop me a line, I'm interested!), omochi (Actually, the husband reference is in keeping with the time in Japan. It's a reference from my other fic "The Handcuff Chronicles" in which Megumi had a fiancée. To my garbled understanding, being a fiancée and a husband was the same thing. If anyone can verify this or prove me wrong, then tell me. I hate being inaccurate in my fics), J.Liha (It caused such a strong urge you wanted to punch the screen? Trust me, you aren't the only one who hates that "drunk little f*ck"...), g3ozLizh (Seriously, you have the weirdest handle to type on the keyboard because it's all over the place ^_^ There's always something to improve, so when you do get a hold of your feelings, then tell me what I need to work on! *smiles*), kloud (Log in already! ^_^ I want to see what stories you've written...), M.Kasshoku (I guess this is what you've been waiting for, I hope I don't disappoint. The answer to your questions were in the email I sent you and also in this chapter. Of course, told through Battousai's eyes...), Shiari (So sorry for not including your name in the last chapter, I realized my mistake around the same time I saw "El Tango de Roxanne"... *grimaces* You'll find out the reason why later if it isn't clear enough now...), Crystal (Will this chapter also be worth the wait? Only time (or your reviews) will tell! Personally, I find it more scary than sad because I read over it and think, "I must have been on some really good LSD"), dementedchris (That six word review was awesome. I think you might have meant "hella long" instead of "powerful" though! *grins*), and Melps (Sorry about the nickname, I couldn't resist! That's why I love Zanza, you just don't know what your feelings are for him at this point. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? To answer your questions... read this chapter because I'm too lazy to type it up here -_-;;;)

Special thanks to Miyu Sakura, whose confidence returning reviews made me want to finish Battousai's second intermission. Getting a good review out of one who speaks her mind so truthfully (thankfully!) gives me warm and fuzzy feelings inside. It makes me know I earned it ^_^ You can keep Battousai, just not Hotohori from Fushigi Yuugi. Dammit, he's mine. *grins* This chapter's for you.

If you want a return on your replies on the next chapter, then sign your reviews. It's now a criteria because of the long list above. If you believe what you say, then put your name by it. C'mon, it takes like two seconds to sign in. You're certainly not as lazy as me =) On with the show!

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They Say Cameras Are Only Good For Pictures...12
By: Karina Kineshi (coronaflare@mail.com)

"Battousai."

I froze and slowly opened my eyes. This must be the woman that Shinomori spoke of. I had never met her before, so I didn't know what to expect. It surprised me that she managed to sneak up on me without me feeling her presence, but then again, I've been out of practice. I glanced down at my dark blue gi and bowed my head. "Yes, Tokio. I apologize for not removing my clothing. I have not..." I felt her hand on my shoulder, like a breath of air on my neck. "... I am not quite as comfortable as I should be."

Tokio nodded, face expressionless. "You seemed deep in thought there, Battousai. Care to explain what it was?"

I shook his head. She could see that? "It was nothing, really," I finished tiredly.

"All right." Her voice was devoid of emotion. She didn't seem the least bit offended when I did not tell her what I was thinking. Doesn't matter anyways... something told me that she wouldn't be that concerned. I met her eyes for a brief instant, then looked down again. I felt so small. She spoke again in her honeyed tongue. "There was something that concerns you, right? About the boy."

I nodded, still staring at the ground as if looking at her constituted some sin. I remember thinking of Tomoe again when I realized that she had the same soft voice and delicate features. I realized that I had been staring at her for a few seconds longer than I should have and now Tokio was regarding me with an eye of curiosity. Embarrassed, I tried to regain my composure. "The dreamweavers couldn't get into his mind. I don't know what is wrong."

She slowly closed her eyes and rubbed two of her fingers together, as if that could help the reasons to come. "They have never failed to get into a human mind. Never." Concerned, she peered at my face and tried to find the answer there. I felt my heart hammer wildly at the very gaze. It was that same detached manner that Tomoe always looked at me with. She continued, "He has incredible resolve, that he does. Have you figured out the reason why he expelled the chosen soul yet?"

I shook my head, "I don't know what I can do. This is something that cannot be solved by a mere mortal like me." I thought it odd when her shape kept shifting like water, even more so than us souls normally have. I was reminded of how Shinomori so put it, 'We are like sand. She is like glass.' He was right; I was deathly scared that just looking at her would make her shatter. I continued, "I don't know what it is about Zanza, but there's something there that I can't quite put my finger on... I really can't explain."

"Like what, Battousai?"

I paused, and then nonchalantly shrugged. I tried not to seem concerned; after all, I would never abandon my mode of thinking. We souls had nothing to do with the problems of others; this was something I had learned the hard way. No one has any right to interfere in the affairs of others, even if it was for the greater good. No one can mediate the conflict. It is between the two parties that are in it. No one else. I answered her question by staring her straight in the face. "I don't know, nor does it particularly concern me. I do not want to intervene in the affairs of others."

Tokio raised an eyebrow, a movement so subtle that I would have missed it if I hadn't been riveted to her eyes. "What about Sano-chan? It's obvious that you care about the boy's well being."

Despite myself, I snorted rather rudely. My heart iced over when I realized that this had to be some sort of treachery, acting so flippant to a higher deity. However, there was no trace of malice or anger in her face. It looked to be more of a inquisitiveness than anything else. "I'm very sorry that I am acting the way I am, but there is basis to my words. I learned a long, long time ago that you do not concern yourself with the affairs of others over personal feelings. Those are what get you in trouble and muddle your way of thinking. Your rational mind. It's true; I love the boy dearly. He has a certain aura about him that is instantly received by other souls..."

"That's because he is the chosen soul."

It struck me when she said it. I suppose that I had already known about it in the first place, after all, Shinomori told me. What was more shocking was that she had revealed the information so openly, as if it were common knowledge. Her openness nearly commanded that I ask her some of the burning questions that not even Shinomori knew the answer to. How many chances of a lifetime can I get like this? "How can you tell if one is the chosen soul?" I asked in an awed whisper.

"You can tell by the way they carry themselves. Although Sano-chan is a child, he is very much like an adult. Zanza is not the chosen soul because it appears he has a one-track mind, revenge."

"Revenge for what?"

She sighed. "Possibly, it's for the death of his captain. I don't know what goes on inside the human mind, powerful as I am."

"Then how do you know that it isn't for good?"

"I don't," was her simple reply.

I felt like jumping up in the air and saying "I told you so", but that would be too unlike my character. Although I was feeling that inside, I did not dare show it outwardly. Instead, I gave a wistful smile and stared at the ground. "This is why we should not interfere."

"It's for the greater good."

This comment angered me in a way that it shouldn't have. It was like listening to her voice had caused all those repressed memories to violently let loose. "What greater good?" I demanded. Tokio stiffened, but there was a calm serenity in her eyes that infuriated me further. Surely the divinity had to know! I gritted my teeth and growled, "There's no such thing as the greater good. Tokio, the reason why we're so damn concerned about other people is only when our own concerns are at stake! We don't care about whose lives we ruin, as long as it's for the "greater good", it's justified, right?"

"Battousai... we are not doing this for our own benefit. This is to get the chosen soul back into the body where it belongs."

I wrung my hands up, partially from the anger at not having her understand me and partially in defeat. "Yes, you are doing this for your own benefit." Her eyes instantly grew colder, but I trudged onward. Somehow, my principles became more important than any punishment I may receive. "You said yourself that you don't know what he thinks. If he has plans for good, then we should let him alone!"

"If he has plans for bad, then what? He used ill means to get into the body, so therefore our actions are justified."

"Ill means?" I repeated incredulously. "What ill means?! No one was hurt!"

"They might very well be in the future."

I turned around in triumph; she sounded like she was in a corner. "That's just the chance that we're going to have to take. You can never guess the future or plan it."

Tokio glared at me. I think my blood congealed instantly. "Then... aren't you being a bit hypocritical, Battousai? You say one thing and then contradict yourself."

"Huh?" I was at a loss for words. What was she talking about?

"You say that we should not interfere with other people, correct? How come then... you want to leave everything to chance?" I didn't like where this was going. Not one bit. I knew exactly what she was going to say before she even said it. "Chance is beyond our control. Chance is the wonderful thing in life that allows us to meet new people and gain our own experiences. In fact, chance consists of new experiences that make us stronger. You cannot ignore people and still leave everything to chance. They are both intertwined with each other."

I cursed myself for sounding like a complete fool. Then again, I did not totally understand things like she did. Maybe I just liked listening to myself talk. It sounded right and in my mind it was a flawless plan: if you don't get involved, you cannot get hurt. My heart dove straight into the pit of my abdomen and I hesitantly met her eyes. Surely, this was the part where I was terminated for such a rude outburst. I closed my eyes and waited for my fate.

Instead, she said, "Battousai, you worry me."

This was not what I expected. I was expecting a flash of light, a blaze of fire, and suddenly I couldn't see anymore. I was half hoping it, I'll admit. Sometimes I wondered if life was really worth living after all... "Sometimes I worry myself," I admitted with a small smile.

She shook her head with all seriousness and pierced my eyes with hers. This didn't seem like a simple crack at my sanity. It went much, much deeper than that. What she said next wiped the smile and all my emotions clean off the slate. "Battousai, you still love Tomoe. I can see it in your eyes. This was the reason for your objection, wasn't it?"

A silence ensued.

"You don't want history to repeat itself, do you?"

"I don't want anyone to be hurt," I said simply. I might have said it clearly, but I felt like dying inside. Her perceptiveness was amazing, but still very uncomfortable. It frightened me that she could read me like she could read a book. "And if you do not mind, I would rather not discuss my personal life..."

"You don't have to discuss it with me for me to see it. It's plainly written in your eyes." Tokio's body slowly faded from view, like ripples in a pond that were losing momentum. I suddenly felt queasy when I realized that I had not spoken nearly enough about Sano-chan than I was supposed to. That's what I came here for, but instead I talked about myself.

How utterly selfish of me.

"I wish for you to inform me of any upcoming changes in the Zanza crisis. I trust you shall not fail."

"No, Tokio."

"If there is nothing else you wish to speak with me about, I will leave you."

I didn't want her to go. I didn't want to stay either. She knew too much about me from only five minutes, and that unnerved me. Most people who had known me their whole lives have still not figured me out. "Wait, Tokio..."

Her nearly translucent form slowly regained just a trace of color. "Yes, Battousai, what is it?" The way she spoke so softly... Tomoe... Tokio... I could swear they were one and the same.

I cleared my throat but did not make any other movement. "Do you think... if you aren't busy... maybe you can..." I was stuttering again. Good Lord, was there any escape?

She merely smiled. "No, I'm not busy at all. Do sit down and tell me all about it Battousai; I'm very interested in knowing."

"But... what about Sano-chan?"

Tokio looked deep in thought for a couple of seconds and something flashed in her eyes. Then again, it could have been the way she was shimmering back and forth. I could have just imagined it. "Let the Fates and Shinomori handle it."

"The Fates? Shinomori?" I asked in disbelief. The divinity was letting a meager souls handle this conflict?

They're liable to mess things up...

"Times are changing," Tokio said. I saw a brief glimmer of regret flash in her eyes.

Times are changing?

"How so?"

I will never forget that smile that she gave me in that moment. Bittersweet, just like the one Tomoe had on when her own life rapidly ebbed from my very own sword. Not the detached smile without emotion behind it, but the same smile... except her eyes had a sad twinkling. Like she knew something that I didn't, and it amused and both saddened her greatly.

Thou lookest far into eternity...

"God is calling my name. I can no longer be the divinity if I don't have a mortal body." She paused, and then smiled again. I saw heartbreaking grief etched on her features. "I'm dying, Battousai."

Dying... dying?

I don't think that I spoke for the longest time. I just stared at her, her face not betraying any emotion whatsoever. Did time stand still? I do not know. Since I was rendered incapable of forming any cohesive thought, Tokio gave me a small smile. "You look shocked. Why does this shock you?"

Why does this shock me? I looked at her in disbelief. "But... but you're... you're the divinity!" I stammered. She merely arched an eyebrow at me. "You can't die!"

"I have a mortal body, I can die." Tokio stared at me for what looked like eternity, searching my face for something. Or maybe she was just doing something else that I would never know of. Her head lifted up as if she was listening for something. Upon not hearing what she was listening for, she continued. You have many questions that you want to ask me, right? I will start by answering your first. Why am I dying, correct?"

I nodded numbly. She's dying! My mind echoed. I guess I didn't get over that simple fact first. "S-Sure..."

"Well... of course you know that I am the wife of one Saitoh Hajime..."

Who could forget? I was just as shocked as everyone else when they found out that Saitoh was actually married. To those who have met Tokio face to face, they were in a dead faint when they found out that this beautiful woman was actually the wife. Shinomori and I made jokes a long, long time ago that Tokio was probably very ugly and had three legs. It gave me a good laugh.

As if seeing my thoughts, she started to laugh a little bit. Her eyes grew distant and a constant smile was twinkling in her eyes. "I remember everyone having the exact same reaction to this. They ranged from 'She must be a goddess' or..." She playfully glared at me, "'She must be three legged.' Right, Battousai?" I shrugged my shoulders sheepishly and tried to apologize, but she held up her hand and stopped me. I think she knew I was sorry. "I wish to spend more time with my husband. I wish to step down from my position as Divinity so I can get cured."

"What? Get cured?" What is she talking about? I found myself wishing that Shinomori had explained to me more of her elusive life. I found myself wishing that Shinomori were up here with me.

She nodded. "You do remember why I am the Divinity, and when I am able to come to Gehenna. Since I have only one soul, I can only come during my sleep." Her eyes started to get sad. Her form flickered slightly. "Only eight hours a day would not work. He said that I must be asleep most of the day just to handle affairs in Gehenna. I agreed to the conditions, and then I became the Divinity."

"You mean... you agreed to be the Divinity? It's not something that happens as soon as you are born?"

Tokio smiled. "Of course not. I was chosen because of my individual life experiences. All the Divinities had different opinions and were as varied as the stars in the heavens. I just happened to be the first with only one soul."

"So... what happened with that?" I asked, totally spellbound. This certainly beat doing nothing in Gehenna all day. She had a musical quality to her voice that made you want to listen for more. Like a siren's song. "What happened?"

The clouds around her abode suddenly turned darker and darker, as if a storm was brewing. "I fell ill. Very, very ill. I still am to this day. I sleep almost twenty hours a day." She turned her head away from me, but I could still feel her incredible sadness. Her hair covered her eyes, and I thought I saw a tear slide down her cheek from under those black locks, but it might have been just a trick of the light. "Hajime brings me my food in bed and feeds me by hand. I'm... I'm too weak to lift my chopsticks on my own. Eiji cleans around the house in my place." She looked ashamed.

Without her face showing, she looked eerily similar to Tomoe. I wanted to put my arms around her and try to comfort her, but the number one rule that Shinomori told me numerous times was never to touch another soul with any emotion. Was feeling sorry for another soul an emotion? I didn't know, but I didn't want to risk it. I could only get her to keep talking. I was pretty sure that no one else had been revealed this information before. "Does Saitoh know? What disease is it?"

Tokio shook her head mournfully and flicked some hair out of her eyes. "I can't tell anyone of the underlying reason for my illness. Doctors are puzzled, just as they should be. They label it chronic fatigue, but can find no explanation or why it suddenly appeared." She paused. "Hajime knows nothing, but yet he cares for me so sweetly... you never would guess that by looking at him..." All at once, she straightened up and dabbed at a corner of her eye with her trailing kimono sleeve. "I'm so sorry Battousai, I did not mean to reveal the details of my personal life to you. You must be largely uninterested."

This was Fujita Tokio, the goddess in our eyes. The reason why no one has met her became crystal clear: she cannot get up to greet anyone. It gave me a whole new insight on Saitoh Hajime and the man that he truly was. I wish that I had known sooner. I got on my knees and bowed, my face to the ground. I stood up again and said to her, "You take care of all of us. It's time you take care of yourself. You can't be totally selfless all the time because if you don't take care of yourself, no one will."

"Hajime will," she answered quietly.

I shook my head. "I don't doubt that, but you have to think about yourself. You are sacrificing your own happiness for that of others. Tell me Tokio..." Without thinking, I put two hands on her shoulders, but they passed right through her body. Even though this shocked me, I went on. "... are you truly happy?"

"I have to be happy. This was an assignment that God Himself gave to me. My emotions are out of the question." She reverted back to her seemingly cold and unfeeling self.

However, I knew better. There was always something underneath. Tomoe let the mask crack once, and Tokio let the mask crack but seconds ago. I felt like I was one of the most qualified people on earth to talk to her. "I see. When you step down from being the Divinity, your illness will be cured. After all, it is a divine illness because it is unexplained and unaccounted for." She looked up at me, stunned. I had figured it out. "You want to spend more time with your family, but you don't want to abandon your position."

Tokio didn't respond verbally. Instead, she directed her eyes towards the ground. One of the most powerful people in Gehenna was also the most forlorn.

"It's okay to want to be happy, Tokio. That's what everyone wants..."

She nodded, slowly taking in every word. "Yes, I suppose you're right." Tokio looked up at me, face still expressionless... but her eyes had a different light in them. She appeared to be as happy as a prisoner could be.

She was a prisoner, just like me. A dancer.

"Tell me Battousai, do I remind you of your lost love?"

I somehow expected it, so I had an answer ready for her. "Yes, I guess... yes." She glanced at me, awaiting more. I knew I wanted to say more, but I wasn't exactly sure on how to say it. "I loved her very much."

"Do you... do you wish to speak of it?"

I suddenly felt very tired. My heart always felt like dying whenever I talked of Tomoe. I wanted to keep her memory alive, but I found that talking to people about it lessened the pain. Even today, as before, it killed me inside. "There really isn't anything to say. She's dead, and I killed her."

I half expected Tokio to slink back in shock, but she didn't. Instead, she smiled at me and put a hand on my heart. Her hands slid through me as mine had earlier. It felt like a welcome summer's breeze. "It is easy to see you still love her. You were thinking of her earlier, as you do most of your time. I just thought that talking about it would help lessen the pain that you feel every day."

"Nothing can lessen my pain," I said flatly.

"On the contrary, Battousai." She pointed at my chest. I looked down and saw that my gi had somehow fallen off my shoulders. It was hanging limply around my waist. "You want to be happy too. Happiness is forgiving yourself."

My clothing... was coming off?

"Tell me, what was she like?"

I scrambled to find words that would describe what I felt for her. Somehow, all words that came close to encompassing Tomoe had yet to be made up. "She was... she was a ground to me. 'The sheath to my sword' as was said before. Tomoe... looked a lot like you, only..."

"Only what?"

I smiled and added a touch of humor to the situation. "I believe she was more beautiful. No offense, of course."

Tokio laughed. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I do not take offense. What did you feel for her?"

I stammered again. There was no escape from making a fool of myself, I learned grimly. "I-I think it was love. I wanted to be with her all the time. She made me feel unlike anyone else could."

"Go on," she urged.

She didn't have to tell me twice. A torrent of words rushed out, and it felt like I was laying myself: my soul, heart, and mind, in front of her. I could only wonder and hope that Tomoe could hear me now. "I admired her intelligence, I felt like I didn't deserve someone as smart as she was. And her beauty... of course I've already talked about that. I had never... seen someone as pretty as she was..."

"Yes..."

"When we made love that night, I just... I just wanted to spend the rest of my life in her arms." I wasn't embarrassed anymore. I was truly speaking from the heart. "The way she talked, the way she cried for me, the way I could see her emotions in her eyes... I loved every detail of her. Every facet. I needed her." I stopped. "She needed me too. I... I let her down."

"How so, Battousai?"

Under normal circumstances, I would have laughed at such a foolish question. Instead, I felt something trail down my cheek, something that I have not felt in so long...

Blood! Not blood!!

I frantically wiped my right cheek off and stared at my hand, expecting to find the horrid crimson tint covering it. Instead, I saw nothing. Nothing except...

A tear.

Water glistened my cheeks as I continued my story. I never thought I'd say this, but... it felt so good to cry. "I haven't cried in so long. I... I didn't even cry when Tomoe was killed. I shut myself away from my body and wandered aimlessly. Crying is a sign of weakness, and... I don't want to be weak. Tokio..." I glanced tearfully at her, hating myself for being such a coward. "Am... am I weak?" I pleaded. I didn't want to know the answer.

Tokio gathered me into her arms and embraced me. She felt very solid and real to me. It wasn't like before anymore; I actually felt her touch. All my clothes had totally worn off now, I was no longer hiding anything anymore.

Never again to hide.

I buried my face into her shoulder and cried. I felt a tear trickled down the back of my neck as I realized that she was crying too. "We are not weak, Battousai. This... this just made us stronger."

We held each other for the longest time. I did not want to let go. A flash of fire and a puff of smoke, and I recognized Señora Soujirou. She had just appeared out of nowhere, but Tokio did not release me. "Yes?"

She bowed for Tokio and nodded at me. "¿Tokio, vendrás?" I noticed that Soujirou was gripping the hem of her apron very tightly, and I saw the way her eyes were downcast even though they were looking at Tokio.

Tokio nodded. "Yes, I shall come." Soujirou disappeared and Tokio held me by my shoulders. "The time is now, Battousai. Let's go help."

"Yes. I want to help."

*****

I have to admit, it threw me off guard when Tokio suddenly threw that lantern at Sano-chan. It was such an unorthodox way of doing things... but then again, what did I know about orthodox? To my amazement, they boy actually caught the lantern. It illuminated his features for one instant before he dissipated into thin air. The lamp clattered to the ground.

When I first saw the scene, I thought a war had been waged in this very area. Glass littered the floor all around me, glittering like shattered diamonds. The giant cauldron had been overturned and the precious liquid inside had spilt all over the floor. In the middle of all the chaos, two very dumbstruck Fates stood and stared at Sano-chan's previous position.

Where was Shinomori?

I saw something else that had been overlooked in the turmoil, a circular portal of light in the floor. From it issued various static noises and occasional flashes of light. Shinomori stood at its very edge, watching the center. Tokio stepped forward for a closer look; the fog was obscuring our vision. I followed.

The air was being disrupted with interspersed sounds of gunshots. I had no idea where they came from, but as I drew nearer to the circle, I felt my heart grow cold.

Zanza.

The soul was lying directly in the center, with no clothes on just like the rest of us. The only article of clothing he had on was his red bandanna, strangely torn at one end. He was flickering in and out as Tokio had been, but the more I watched him, the more opaque he became. He was truly rooted in Gehenna; there was no escape now.

"Tokio." Shinomori used a tone of voice that I had never heard before. It sounded like... hatred. I stared up at him, shocked at the changes that had been incurred in my gentle friend. His face looked hard and battle scarred, his hair damp and clinging to his forehead.

Something else about him made my heart fall. He had clothes on.

This simple fact startled me more than any other. Now that I had finally shed my clothes and revealed my inner feelings, why had Shinomori assumed my former stand? While I felt free, he looked to be confined. Just like I used to be.

Shinomori prodded the fallen soul with his foot, but made no move to help him up. The wind grew chill. The three Fates crowded around the body, not willing to tear their eyes away from it. Shinomori was the first who spoke. "Immediate termination..." he said to no one in particular. I shivered at the coldness.

Tokio shook her head. "We must give him a trial, Shinomori."

"I know the law Tokio. What he did was mortal transgression." His eyes grew steely. "He hurt so many others. He deserves to die."

"Shinomori, I don't believe--"

I believe this as well, Tokio. Hiko murmured, keeping her eyes on the soul before her. She did not see the disbelief on Tokio's face. You... you don't know the pain...

"Tokio... you shouldn't be stressing yourself like this. I... I don't want you to get hurt. Something as strenuous as a trial might damage your..." Hajime started to speak, but instantly stopped when she saw everyone's eyes on her. They were all painfully aware, as I was, that they were husband and wife, but no one else knew of her condition except me. Hajime turned her head away and profound sadness was etched all over her features. I knew she didn't agree in termination, but when it came to choosing health over morals...

She was having a hard time with that one. Hajime didn't finish, but everyone knew her answer anyways. She would choose Tokio over Zanza in a heartbeat.

"Very well... I shall..." Tokio's in command persona wavered. She was going through the same conscience questioning as Hajime had. It shocked me that even though they had seen what this man had done, they were willing to kill him so easily. He needed another chance, just as I had. Just as any of us had. Were we going to take this man's life away from something as small as that? If that was the mentality, I should have been dead long ago.

I was against it, and I was not afraid to say it. "If you truly believe in retribution, you will give him another chance. You can't just kill him like that."

"But... Tokio..." Hajime started.

Shinomori growled as Zanza started to stir. "Kill him now."

All eyes turned to Soujirou who had been strangely quiet throughout this episode. She had been taking in all the sights, just as I had, and was mulling over each and every detail in her mind. Her opinion would be as respected as Tokio's. With Tokio wavering like that, morality was losing.

I was alone on one side.

Soujirou finally spoke. Tokio watched her with an undecided eye. "Merece un ensayo. No quiero su sangre en mis manos. ¿Qué es una vida más?"

I think the temperature in the room rose a couple degrees with Soujirou's suggestion. I agreed with her mode of thinking: one more life, one more soul. It didn't matter in the end. She didn't want his blood on her hands. "Let him have his trial. It's his right. We should extend it to him."

Tokio looked deep in thought. I saw Hajime's panicked eyes grow even more so with each passing second. Her voice finally cut softly through the air. "I shall give him his trial..."

"But—"

Tokio held up a hand to silence Hajime, who pronouncedly breathed in and out. "... abiding by the law of Gehenna... is all I can do."

Everyone's shoulders relaxed, except for Hajime's. I felt relieved, but also scared. If what Hajime had said to be true, Tokio might not be able to cope with this new burden. And she didn't even want to do it in the first place because she had grown weary of it... I remembered our conversation before Soujirou interrupted. Would she really go through with this? Could she take it? If not... will she truly die?

Tokio must have read my thoughts again as she proclaimed with a strong voice. "This is my last decree as Divinity. This trial shall commence, regardless of what the future Divinity's opinions on the matter are."

You're... you're stepping down? Hiko asked in shock. For what reason?

Everyone's eyes held a sort of alarm, including Shinomori's. He had stopped glaring at Zanza long enough to look at Tokio with a wide-open mouth. I stood proudly next to her; she wanted happiness just as much as I did. I was happy for her; she would finally be free...

"I have already chosen the next Divinity. In fact, they are standing in this room as we speak." Everyone looked around at each other, trying to find any sign of who would be the chosen one. Tokio smiled, and she became even more transparent than before so that her outline was the only thing visible to us. I caught a passing glance between Hajime and Tokio, but did not see the words that Hajime mouthed to Tokio.

I love you.

A glittering yellow light surrounded Tokio's head as she was mysteriously lifted into the air. Fog was billowing under her feet, but I could feel no wind. I could feel the tiny droplets of fog against my bare body, but I didn't feel cold anymore. It was like the glow that surrounded her gave us more than enough heat.

As she rose farther and farther into the black canopy of Gehenna, her form became more and more overtaken by light. Finally, I could no longer see her outline. The dazzling yellow had replaced it. Her last words rang through Gehenna, never to be heard again as Divinity. "I trust you will do what is right..."

She trusts us that much...

While the fire in the sky died away, I saw the liquid that had been in the cauldron start to glow with a fire of its own. It had pooled on the ground. Slowly, I made out a couple of shapes. Is it possible... it was seeing the present? Even without the cauldron containing it, it still retained its power?

The other members in the room crowded around, leaving Zanza still on the ground. I saw... Saitoh Hajime. The ex-Shinsengumi member looked so peaceful in sleep. He was leaning over the body of his bedridden wife, chopsticks in one hand, the other hand lying protectively on her shoulder. I heard a collective gasp behind me when they saw Tokio's true form. Her face was emaciated, like she had not eaten in days. Her skin was ghostly white and almost translucent. Her cheeks looked almost hollow and her eyes were sunken into her head. Despite these, she was still a very beautiful woman.

"Tokio..." Shinomori whispered. He couldn't believe it as much as I could. This was our goddess? Instead of being the picture of immortality as we expected, she was the very form of death.

She can not die.

As if something out of a book, a strange light surrounded Tokio's still earthly body. Saitoh did not wake up. In total speechlessness, we saw color return to her cheeks and flesh fill out her figure. Her hair became full of luster and her hand moved slightly. She opened her eyes and took in a breath of air, face beaming with a happiness I had only seen so rarely. Tokio stared at the ceiling, mouth slightly open as if she had never breathed before. After this, she smiled contentedly and effortlessly raised her hand, letting it rest on Saitoh's shoulder. With this, the man's eyes snapped open. He turned his head to see Tokio smiling at him.

"I love you, Hajime."

Saitoh looked dumbstruck. No, he was beyond dumbstruck. I had never seen him this way before and doubted anyone had before. The last thing any of us saw before the liquid grew black was a decidedly female hand clasp over one that held two chopsticks. "I'm home," she whispered.

Just at that moment when the fluid had completely lost clarity, a burst of fire made us all look skyward. The fire became a glow, and grew brighter and brighter until none of us could see our surroundings anymore. I was forced to shield my eyes; I don't think the Fates or Shinomori were immune to this either. I felt that hotness again and tried to see from behind my eyelids.

The blaze gradually died away, and once I felt that I could tolerate it, I opened my eyes. I nearly gasped in shock when I saw that the light had encircled one of our very own, signaling who was to be the next...

It had chosen.

The first male Divinity in the history of Gehenna, Shinomori Aoshi.

*****

Now, I probably should let your heart stop hammering before I continue. Some of you with weak wills might not be able to understand what I'm going to say next. It concerns lots of topics that there is a lot of controversy over. Perhaps Shinomori is the best person to give his input, he was chosen to be the Divinity, but it won't stop me from giving my opinion on matters.

Are Takani and Sagara soulmates? This question is a hard one to tackle. Since I was not there, I did not see the miracle, but from what Shinomori and the Fates have confirmed... I was shocked myself to hear it. Sano-chan actually touched another soul in love? And his love for her was so strong he was able to break a barrier despite great pain? I had the pain once of brushing by this so called "glass barrier", and I never want to feel that sensation again.

When the boy touched the old woman, she briefly snapped out of her trance. Especially during something as significant as a rape, I think that this is a giant sign. It was that forbidden touch that was the last piece to the puzzle; it was just enough to combine the two souls. Without that touch, I'm sure that Takani Megumi would not have merged and the man would have easily had his way with her. I also somehow think that Zanza knew about what Sano-chan was going to do. The whole plan must have depended on that crucial instant. A bond between two souls like that from two worlds is supernatural.

Do I think they are soul mates? Dare I say, yes. However, I've heard Hiko toy briefly with the fact that although they are soul mates, they may not truly love each other. Now that Takani Megumi knows that it was indeed "Sanosuke" who paid someone to do something that vile, she might hate him with such a passion that love is out of the question. Megumi-sensei is now a part of the chosen soul, and with her incredible hatred for men, it's doubtful that Takani and Sagara will get together again.

Ever.

Sano-chan was forced back into the body, but that doesn't mean that all will go well from now on. Takani still thinks that Sano-chan was the one who caused her suffering, even though it was Zanza. Human emotions are so hard to predict, but I think that she will not love Sanosuke anymore. The revelation that your own love betrays you is one that hurts more than any flesh wound.

Shinomori as the Divinity? I really don't have anything else to say on the matter except I'm happy for him. If Tokio thought that he was capable enough to handle it, then let him handle it. I am still very concerned about the trial of Zanza though. Shinomori showed a great dislike towards that soul and was willing to terminate him instantly. With Shinomori as the judge, jury, and executioner, I fear for Zanza's well-being. If Tokio had not decreed that Zanza was to have a trial as she left, I wholeheartedly believe that Shinomori's first act as Divinity would be to terminate him instantly.

Lastly... I come to the topic of Tomoe and my other life. I have watched my other personality on earth, griped with him over how incredibly stupid he looked at times, and applauded his skill in fighting Shishio Makoto and other formidable opponents. I also approve of his judgment in letting me fight Saitoh that day in the dojo; he would have been killed instantly if I had not taken over. It certainly wasn't drunkenness, maybe it was anger, or possibly it was divine intervention. I lean more towards the last reason because Tokio must have realized I still have work to do, and maybe she wanted me to smack some sense into her husband. I know she disapproves of his fighting, but being a good wife, she outwardly supports him.

While I watch my Rurouni personality on earth, I watch the woman who had grown attached to him.

Kamiya Kaoru.

To my chagrin (and some pride), I was surprised to find out that she had the same dark hair like Tomoe did. I knew that my Rurouni and I thought on the same level sometimes. However, that's where the similarities stop. While Tomoe was quiet and demure, this woman is loud and brash. Tomoe would never dream of hitting me with her play sword and forcing me to do the laundry. Tomoe would never raise her voice in anger at me or grow jealous if I so much as looked at other women. She also would never cling to me like a sobbing baby and beg me not to leave her.

I find that clinginess disturbing.

Though... it's nice to see that Shinta is finally happy, even if it's with a woman that I don't have strong attachment to. I'm sure everyone is clamoring for my true opinion on the matter, but the sad and simple fact is, it doesn't matter. Tomoe was as instrumental to my life as is this new woman Kamiya. They were just what we needed at the time we needed them. I needed Tomoe as a ground to my personality, and Shinta needs Kaoru to help ground him.

Our personalities are so different; it's only logical that we need different women. While I do not like her as much as I do Tomoe, I believe Shinta doesn't like Tomoe in the way I do. Kamiya Kaoru was just what Shinta needs, he wanted someone to depend on him and give her protection. Tomoe was just the opposite; she didn't need anyone to protect her. That's what drew me to her. After having so much responsibility placed on my young shoulders, I yearned to feel free from the burden.

Speaking as a separate entity, yes, I do love Tomoe over Kamiya Kaoru. I always will. But if Shinta spoke separately, he would most likely say Kamiya Kaoru over Tomoe. If ever we were to merge, in that highly unlikely situation, if you would have asked me you would probably be a bleeding, broken mass on the ground. I would sooner choose a favorite grain of sand on the beach than whom I love more.

Don't make me choose. It's not at all necessary.