Ciao!!!
Chibi signing in with Chapter 8! And it's myself this time since I'm home! I'm home! No more hospital (well, at least not until I have to get the metal plates holding the remains of my bones together out…) and no more hospital food (Seriously- a night at the hospital costs as much as a night in a three-star hotel. They could at least serve halfway decent food!).
Yasai: And you're still not mobile enough to go anywhere…
Which means: yes, you get an update! And if this isn't enough- I have posted the first chapter on another story, Romancing the King.
Yasai: Well, first things first, ne, Chibi? Here it is- Chapter 8. Hope you're not disappointed!
Enjoy the story!!!
"…." Denotes talking
….. denotes thinking
*~* means a change of scenery (either temporal or local, I think which one of those will be clear) has taken place
Disclaimer: I do in no way own any rights, moral or others, to Rurouni Kenshin, its characters or plot. Characters other than the characters from Rurouni Kenshin bearing any resemblance to persons living or dead are purely coincidental. I do not intend to make any profits out of this story, it's written for entertainment purposes only and any attempt by persons natural or legal to make money from it in any way is not in accordance with this author's express wishes.
Chapter 8 Breaking bondsSaito Hajime hated looking into a mirror. Not because his reflection was an ugly one, or because he couldn't stand looking himself into the eyes- no, a mirror served as a reminder for him of what he could have become hadn't he discovered the truth. Hadn't he met Kamiya Koshijirou. Hadn't he been confronted with the ugly other side of the Regime he had held in such high esteem.
It hadn't turned him traitor. He refused to believe that it was possible to betray someone who had betrayed oneself beforehand. They had mocked him, him and his code of honor, the one thing he stringently adhered to in his life. He was not above many things, but once he was forced to go against what was his innermost truth he turned into the rapacious wolf he was so often compared to.
Sneering at himself in his mottled green Regime uniform with the gold epaulettes denoting his rank in the military Saito left the guard barrack he had searched. No sign of any danger in the deserted building, not a single person hiding in the bunk beds. Only the slightly hunched over figure of Shinomori Aoshi meditating in front of a stearin candle inhabited the building apart from himself. Everyone else was outside reconstructing. Saito schooled his features into an expressionless mask and hid his feelings of contempt deep within himself. It would do him no good should any of his companions sense what he truly thought. Blinking against the dim yet too bright light outside he resumed his silent stalking.
Sano was positively glowing as he strolled through the Camp, hands stuffed into the waistband of his trousers and a whistled tune on his lips. His luck was definitely improving. He had managed to steal a kiss from Lady Foxy, and tonight he was going to be a free man once again. His red bandanna fluttered proudly behind him, adding to the cheerful note his whole being exuded. Sagara was back in the game!
Unfortunately, Sano had a knack for ignoring his surroundings when he was too pleased with himself, something that always came back to hound him. This time the hounding was done in the form of one very angry regime officer with slitted, yellow-glowing eyes and a mean streak around his mouth- at least in Sano's opinion.
"Watch where you're going, idiot!" the officer sneered at the young man. Sano bristled.
"I was looking the other way. I'm sorry officer."
"I don't like your attitude," the officer said narrowing his eyes.
"What attitude?" Sano asked cockily. Nothing could harm him at the moment. He was armed to the teeth with a kiss from Foxy.
Well, almost nothing could harm him- except for a series of lightning quick punches he didn't even see coming. His view adjusted a few seconds after his head stopped spinning and he could actually make out the worried face of Sae. "Are you alright, Sano?" He cleared his ringing head by slowly shaking it from one side to the other.
"I am. But who is that arrogant bastard who got me?"
"His name is Saito Hajime, and he's one of the sharpest Regime officers. He's been to the Camp before, you know, and it's never good to cross him."
Apparently the kitchen was where all the gossip came together.
"So what's this guy's deal? He didn't look so tough to me."
"Well, he got you, didn't he? But they say his real skill is with a sword and- oh, my gosh, the miso soup is burning!" Sae ran off to her pots, one of which spewed black smoke.
"Sword? What's up with all those swordsmen pullulating from nowhere?" Sano said to himself before resuming his whistling. The creepy guy wasn't going to ruin his mood, and it wasn't like Sagara Sanosuke couldn't take a punch or two! Even though that guy had a mean left hook that had his jaw aching…
Whistling, he approached some guards working on reconstructing a barrack at the very edge of the Camp village where most of the debris had been cleared away already. Not waiting to be asked he simply lent a hand. Only a few more hours…
Nightfall came agonizingly slowly. Add to that a certain confusion induced by one very daring stupid rooster and a lack of new patients and you had a young female agent who was just itching for someone to make a snide remark so she could give them a good tongue-lashing. Megumi's eyes were scary, glittering with an almost unholy light of confusion, amusement and anger, Kenshin decided and rather quickly went back to sorting the various surgical instruments the physician had sterilized.
"So, Ken-san, how are you?" All right, she definitely lacked an occupation.
"Oro? I'm fine, that I am," he replied, keeping his eyes on his task and his ki under tight control. Amber shimmered just beneath the surface of his steely blue eyes. Saito Hajime was lurking about somewhere and he was not going to slip the way he had with Jinei.
"Well, that is nice to hear… you know what's good for you unlike some really idiot rooster-heads."
He chose not to say anything concerning that topic.
"Honestly, what does he think I am? His personal little Miss Kiss-me? I don't get that guy…"
Kenshin listened, his fingers idly twirling a scalpel back and forth.
"I mean, there he goes and injures himself, tries to be all sophisticated and cool in one, but still is so stupid it hurts… and then it turns out he was just stupid because he helped someone- not that he isn't stupid when he's just walking around… and he gets on my nerves and insults me… and then he asks for my help…"
Kenshin let her talk, his attention focused on the twirling scalpel. If he took out the one guard who patrolled the perimeter where he intended to escape with his group before it could alarm the rest then…
"I don't want to be rude or anything- but it wouldn't be half bad if he had a brain to go with that attractive looks of- I didn't say this, did I?" The doctor was redder than a tomato. Kenshin smiled.
"If you prefer it then you didn't say this, that you didn't."
Rubbing the lump on his head he regretted his words. The day was a drag. And it didn't want to end. And it would be good for his health to remember that the rest of the group was as edgy as he was. And he would be able to take out that guard. He would confront him as a distraction while the rest of the group slipped away, take him out with one move and then follow them. Yes, that was a good plan, that it was.
"Oro?" Twirling a scalpel between your fingers while thinking hard about something else resulted in deep cuts…
Night fell, and Saito still hadn't found any clue whatsoever as to the alleged presence of an infiltrator. The tall officer scowled, his predatory eyes gleaming dangerously as he made a last round through the Camp before everybody retired for the night. Passing by the makeshift hospital area, he idly noticed the man with the bandaged head was missing. Instead, a small redheaded person- with the long hair it was hard to decide whether that character was male or female- argued with the female worker bandaging two fingers on his left hand. Saito watched with something akin to amusement as the person got smacked upon the head by the irate doctor who apparently hadn't liked something the person had said. What a bumbling fool! The officer left them behind as he wandered closer to the outskirts of the Camp village, past a newly erected barrack where he spotted the idiot with the red bandanna hoisting one last beam into place. Ignoring the man since he was a fool he went round the bend in the road, cursing his luck and his superior for having him sent onto such a meaningless task. Saito decided he would take a roundabout way to the kitchen to get some Soba noodles to soothe his nerves. The twins who cooked did a really good job on his favorite food… Suddenly, the officer stopped dead in his tracks. An idea had formed in his mind. Smiling devilishly to himself he continued on his way towards the kitchen. Perhaps he would catch that intruder after all- should he be there.
*~*
Misao watched the evening star light up on the horizon as she made her way home to the farm together with all the others. Shiro and Kuro were walking in front of her, carrying the heavier equipment, Omasu keeping close to Shiro, her husband, and Omime close to Kuro whom she was engaged to. Okon and she herself were a few steps behind, walking in amiable silence. The older woman had adopted a somewhat motherly role for the girl, wanting to protect her and give her what she assumed Misao had never had.
But I have, Misao thought, when we still were together and our Okashira hadn't decided to ally himself with our enemy. Hannya, Beshimi, Hyottoko- what do you think of s now? We, the proud Oniwabanshu, lost to the eddies and currents of time… but as long as I'm around we will not be dead. I guess I'm the only Oniwabanshu left- so doesn't this make me Okashira? Sure does! And I'm going to recruit a new force- the Oniwabanshu will rise again!
"What kind of face is that, little Misao? You look as if you want to go out and conquer the world!" Okon laughed. Misao smiled brilliantly.
"You know, Okon- that's what I'm going to do!"
"And how, Misao darling?" Shiro asked, "are you going to threaten them all with a broom?"
"I will use my kunai!" the girl blurted.
"Kunai?" Omasu asked, "but those are weapons a ninja from Japan would use. How will you use them?"
"Hey, who knows- our Misao may be a ninja from Japan. After all, we only found her what- four months ago?"
"Yes, all right. If Misao is a ninja then so are you, Omime. And if really think about it- the way you handle your sickle when cutting the wheat… are you sure Okina didn't train you as a ninja?"
"Okon, stop joking! The day I'm a fighting ninja is the day Okina will stop pining after beautiful young girls, and we all know how likely this is going to happen, ne, Misao?"
"I don't know- perhaps once Jiya finds his true love…"
"Misao, there is no such thing as a 'true love' for my father! Okina is much too… jumpy to have one!"
"And here I thought the farm was your father's true love, Okon."
"Kuro, how long have you been living with us now? And you still don't understand that the one thing my father craves are…" Kuro pouted.
"Omime, my love, I know! But one can dream, right?"
Omime laughed, soon joined by the other five. Okina swearing off girls was too funny a concept.
"Now, let's get home, guys. This ninja for one is a little tired," Okon said once the laughter had died down and the tears of joy had been wiped from their eyes.
"Yes, Okashira!" Omasu, Omime, Shiro and Kuro bowed and started laughing again. The joking and laughing went on all the way home to the farm.
'Yes, Okashira'… I wonder if they would be willing to form the new Oniwabanshu… I wonder if they would be willing to call me that…
*~*
The night was dark. Since it was only a few days before the new moon the celestial light of the night wouldn't rise until close to midnight. Kenshin was actually thankful for that. His eyes were accustomed to seeing in the dark, so he stealthily crept along the wall of the barrack he and Sano had rested in for the night. The taller man was right behind him, so close he was breathing down Kenshin's neck, but due to his sight not being so good at night he needed the agent to guide him.
"Miss Kaoru, Yahiko and Miss Megumi should wait for us at the side of their sleeping quarters, that they should," the agent whispered, "hopefully Miss Tae, Miss Sae and Miss Tsubame will have reached them already."
Since three more buildings had been restored that day the workers were once again separated. The escapees had decided to meet at the building Kaoru and Megumi were kept in since it was closest to the edge of the village and the mine. Sano nodded once and tried to creep along as silently as Kenshin, but his larger form and impaired sight made that somewhat difficult.
"Sano!" Kenshin whispered reproachingly after his companion had once again bumped into some wreckage creating noises that could alert the night patrols to their presence.
"Sorry, Kenshin," Sano whispered back managing to sound sheepish despite the lack of tone in his voice. The two men unobstructedly made their way over to their target destination where six shadowy figures were already huddling close to the walls of the barrack.
"There you are, finally!" This was, of course, Megumi. The six figures huddled closer to the new arrivals. A few packages were distributed equally between the members of the group, having been retrieved earlier from where they had been hidden in the ruins of the neighboring barrack. "Food, clothes and medical supplies," Sae informed Kenshin and Sano. The agent nodded his approval.
"Thank you, Miss Sae."
"Kenshin, when will we set off? The guard has just marched past, and I'm afraid we will be seen if we stay any longer," Kaoru worried, gripping the arm-long piece of wood she had made into a crude bokken tighter.
"We will go at once, that we will," Kenshin instructed his little group, "please stay close together."
They darted through the wreckage under the expert leadership of the ex-assassin. Kenshin instinctively picked the shortest and most shielded ways through the last remains of the Camp village. His feet made no sound upon the wet earth, and try as they might the others could not imitated his way of becoming a shadow among shadows. The lightless night enveloped them except for the white puffs their breath formed in the starlight since it was near freezing temperature.
Once outside the village Kenshin heaved a sigh of relief and led his group into a small ravine washed out by the vicious thunderstorm two nights before. "From now on to the mine the way should be easier, that it should," he said looking at Yahiko and Tsubame in particular who were both breathing heavily from flushed faces. "There we will slip through the first watch perimeter. The guard has a long stretch of terrain to control so we should get past it no problem. Once we are past the guard, there will be the fence. Sano, you will be the first to go through. Yahiko, Miss Tsubame, you will be second. Then Miss Megumi and Miss Kaoru. Then Miss Tae and Miss Sae. I will follow last. Sano, you will have to stand guard while I retrieve my weapon and the rest of the things I buried." Kenshin had once again adopted a more authoritative tone in his voice and dropped his peculiar repetitive speech patterns. "Are you all set?" Nods from everyone assured him of their readiness. Kenshin got up, eyes glittering in the starlight. "Then we go, that we do."
He set off in a trot towards the looming pit in the darkness that was the mine. The cold was biting at his exposed flesh- he hadn't been able to get his hands onto another shirt, and his was hanging open due to Aoshi's attack the day before. Suppressing the urge to chatter he clenched his teeth determinedly and imagined all the dangers his little group would have to face. Their chances were slim enough without their leader giving their position away with his chattering teeth. Saito could await them. Aoshi could find them. The other two riders could be lurking at the Camp perimeter to stop them. And he was still not in optimal condition. Almost immediately following these thoughts he was rewarded with a rush of adrenaline to his system that managed to chase away the cold. The rugged breathing behind him informed him his companions were still following.
And then the ground abruptly dropped beneath his feet. Holding up a hand he signaled for the group to stop. Waiting a few seconds to get his bearings Kenshin silently surveyed the nightly landscape. The barren tundra seemed even more forbidding when covered in a shroud of darkness. Clouds had started building up in the sky, and from the looks of it there would once again be rain tonight. The moon was beneath the horizon still; only the light of the stars peeking through the racing clouds reflected from the ice that crunched underneath his feet as he carefully picked his way around the mine. Avoiding frozen spots on the ground that could send them hurtling to their death in the seemingly bottomless pit next to them the group followed as silently as possible.
Kaoru clung as tightly to Megumi as she could. In the darkness she couldn't see the bottom of the mine, but just the knowledge that it was indeed a long way down was enough to trigger her fear of heights. The female agent knew of her weakness and supported her the best she could, but still it took all of Kaoru's considerable determination to walk the narrow ledge that surrounded the darkness at her feet. Nervous sweat beaded her brow, she didn't even feel the cutting wind on her body as she tried to overcome her greatest fear. Her heart raced unbearably fast, and only the knowledge that she would sentence seven other people to death if she screamed kept her from doing so. Just when she was sure she would rather give up than walk one more step at the edge of disaster the mine lay behind them and Kenshin had them once again huddle close together behind a line of shrubbery he had remembered to be there.
"We will wait for the guard to pass before we move on," the agent explained crouching close to the ground.
Minutes passed with only their heartbeats to accompany them. Each member of the group descended into him- or herself, trying to quell the anxiety that grew with every passing second. Tsubame, who looked the most exhausted out of them, leaned against Tae, cradling her shoulder in her good hand with a pained expression on her face. Yahiko squatted next to her, trying to be a reassuring presence yet exuding profound nervousness. Sano had plucked a slim twig from one of the bushes and chewed on it. Sae put her arm around Tsubame and reassuringly stroked the girl's hair. Megumi sat with her head on her knees staring off into space, Kaoru next to her in similar state. Kenshin had stretched one leg before him, the other supported his left arm which cradled his face as he stilled himself enough to be able to react to the slightest sound that did not belong among the normal sounds of the nightly tundra.
The piercing cry of an unfortunate creature falling prey to a predator alerted Kenshin. Quickly scanning his surroundings he found that the guard was already nearby. One finger pressed to his lips he motioned for the others to stay still while he soundlessly moved to the edge of the bushes and tried to catch a glimpse of the guard. The man was standing a little more than thirty feet away, is flashlight trained into the direction from which the cry had sounded barely a second before. Mumbling something about stupid animals the guard took to patrolling once again. Kenshin hid himself deeper in the bushes again. Holding their collective breaths the group watched the cone of light from the guard's flashlight move along the bushes. Closing his eyes so that they would neither be blinded nor reflect the light Kenshin counted off the seconds the guard took for walking past their hiding place. "I don't know why they still want us to patrol… we've got the fence… and with the new big shots here those damn vermin would be really stupid to try and escape!"
Sano glared into the darkness. Vermin? If only he could show that bastard who exactly was vermin… Megumi's and on his arm calmed him down somewhat. The foxy lady had the same kind of righteous anger in her eyes, but shook her head when Sano clenched his fists. It was as though she wanted to tell him that one wasn't worth it…
Tsubame nestled deeper into the space between Tae and Sae, hiding her face from the light that appeared blinding after the near total darkness only moments before. Yahiko sat behind the three women, scowling. The guard's words had hit a nerve with the youngster, but he wasn't going to jeopardize their future by lashing out.
Once he could no longer detect any sign of the flashlight Kenshin counted to twenty before getting up. With one signal of his hand he led the seven escapees on a mad dash towards the barbed-wire fence that circumfered Camp Freedom. Blindly trusting his memory he skimmed his hands along the sharp metal, creating a rattling sound which could be attributed to the wind. After a few moments' breathless anxiety he found what he had been searching for: a small metal clasp holding the part of the fence he had sliced before together. Pulling on it with all the strength his fingers could muster he wrenched it free.
Sano didn't even wait for his signal before he slipped through the narrow slit that had opened in the unyielding metal meshes. Helping Yahiko and Tsubame, Sae and Tae and Miss Kaoru didn't prove to be a problem for the tall fighter, but once he touched the foxy lady he began to tremble. Well, of course the agent had to sway her hips seductively against the palm of his bandaged right hand. Sano was downright grateful when she was past the obstacle and only Kenshin remained. Checking one last time that nobody was around, relying on his eyes, ears and sense of smell as well as his ki-sensing abilities the agent finally nimbly slipped into freedom himself. Moving at a speed that made him a blur to the eyes of his companions Kenshin once again took the lead, this time only guiding the seven ex-workers fifty feet into the terrain before stopping again. "Wait here. I'll get the rest of our supplies. Sano, make sure nobody comes near you."
Once assured his group was as safe as they would be Kenshin moved another twenty feet until he reached a small hill topped by a dead bush. This was the landmark he had set foe himself, the landmark beneath which supplies, his weapon and a pistol for Megumi was buried. Dropping to his knees he uprooted the bush and began scratching at the frozen earth. Thankfully it was still almost as loose as when he had first heaped it on top of his precious supplies, so unearthing his hidden stash wouldn't damage his hands. Digging deeper he created a heap of soil next to him. His fingers were nearly frozen by the time he finally touched the cloth of one of the cloaks he had wrapped the weapons and food in. Giving it a mighty pull he managed to get it out of the earth, showering himself in chunks of frozen clay and stones. Somehow, the package seemed heavier than it should… dread filling his stomach the agent pulled the cloth open to reveal…
… stones. Nothing but stones. Realization hit him the same moment the sound of gloved hands clapping reached his ears. He frantically cast looks around in the darkness but it wasn't until the blinding brightness of a portable searchlight assaulted his sensitized eyes that he could discern where the unknown foe had hidden himself. He half heard the cry of surprise coming from the members of his group, and the leaden feeling in his heart that he had failed froze him in place.
"Great work, Battousai. I didn't think you would make it this far when accompanied by the likes of this bumbling rooster. I commend you- you have really hidden yourself well. Even though I saw you twice I didn't recognize you until much later. But it seems your stroke of luck has run out… I have caught you. Oh, and I think you were looking for that, weren't you?" Kenshin deftly caught his weapon as it was thrown at him. "I am, however, not heartless. I didn't kill your dear companions though it would have been a matter of seconds, and I have decided to give you a chance. Fight me and win, and you may walk free."
Kenshin clasped his right hand tightly across the hilt of his sword, his weapon of choice, the weapon he had adopted six months earlier. The one weapon he could truly fight with to the best of his abilities and not be in danger of breaking the vow he had made upon the death of his partner, the vow never to kill again.
"Oh, and I suggest you flip the blade of that ridiculous sword of yours right away or you won't stand a snowball's chance in hell against my Gatotsu."
The agent just silently glared at his antagonist. His body was tense like a bowstring drawn to snapping point. His eyes were fixated on every move the Regime officer made as he slid into his trademark Gatotsu stance.
"No! Don't fight!" Kaoru's voice broke the strained silence. "I don't want you to get hurt!"
Kenshin didn't listen. Kaoru's voice had snapped the restraints his opponent had placed upon himself. Hurtling at Kenshin with unbelievable speed, blade extended along the length of his outstretched left arm, right arm trailing behind to give him a greater balance and maneuverability Saito attacked. Left with no choice Kenshin evaded the only way he could- by taking to the air. "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu – Ryu Tsui Sen!"
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu?" Yahiko wondered, wide-eyed at the display of skill before his eyes.
"Unbelievable," Megumi muttered, "it's even more astonishing when seen live."
"Hell, why did Kenshin never tell me he could do that?" grumbled Sano, unconsciously clenching and unclenching his bandaged fist.
"Anti-air Gatotsu!"
The spell was broken as Saito suddenly stopped his forward movement to crouch his body into a stance that looked as though he were about to leap into the air as well. Thrusting right up with his weapon he met his mark just as Kenshin descended from the apex of his leap. Blood showered the Regime officials face and he shook the agent's shocked and limp body off his weapon. Panting, Kenshin landed painfully on his back.
"Kenshin's not healed yet," Kaoru whispered in horror. Quickly deciding what she could do she jumped in front of the agent lying limply on the frosty ground.
"You won't kill him," she declared boldly, facing Saito without a sliver of fear or doubt in her.
"Move her out of the way, Battousai," was the Regime officer's only reply.
"No, I won't move," Kaoru insisted, "Kenshin's hurt and can't fight you. Leave him alone!"
"It's alright," came a strained voice from behind her. "I'm alright." A hand touched her shoulder. Kaoru turned around to find Kenshin looking at her with eyes that were glowing amber. A thin trail of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. Without hesitation he pushed her aside, not roughly, but none too gently either. With a surprised gasp Kaoru landed midway between her friends and the two antagonists.
"Come on, Saito." Kenshin's voice was colder and more ominous than ever before.
"Whoa!" Sano exclaimed at the transformation. Megumi shuddered.
"That's him. That's the man from the legends told in the Agency. The Battousai. Colder than the Antarctic, faster than lightning, ruthless… I couldn't believe it until I saw it."
At the edges of his consciousness Battousai felt the anxiousness his friends were exuding. He hadn't lost himself in the cold rage, the adrenaline rush and the moment as before, but his senses were heightened nonetheless and he knew he was more the manslayer he had been six months ago than the friendly, clumsy men these people were used to. But there was no choice. He had to end this fight as fast as possible, or else they would be the ones to suffer.
Saito attacked once again with his trademark attack. Battousai raised his weapon to block before evading the following slash by dropping into a crouch and stabbing at Saito from below. The Regime officer jumped back, giving him an icy glare from yellow eyes. Amber clashed against it, and then the fight was really on. Moving faster than the eye could follow the two swordsmen danced around each other in the deadly waltz of close combat, neither having enough time to pull off any special technique. This was fighting at its purest.
Battousai felt his chest constrict further and further. His bruised ribcage had become agonized once again when Saito had slammed the hilt of his sword into his sternum. He had to act now.
Putting all his strength into a burst of speed the agent gained enough distance from his opponent to use one of his most dangerous techniques. The Regime man recognized the danger the instant it arose and dropped into a Gatotsu stance unfamiliar to Battousai. Nonetheless, the agent chose to attack. In a flash, he was in front of Saito again, lashing out with his sword pulled from its scabbard in his lightning quick Battoujutsu. Saito blocked it and the following saya with his own weapon and scabbard but couldn't block the leaping kick the agent threw at him once he had realized his attack had failed. Before he could gather his wits again another Battoujutsu was executed and the blade of Kenshin's peculiar weapon hit the back of Saito's neck with enough force to make the officer drop to the ground like a stone. He remained still. Raising his weapon Battousai was about to make sure that he would remain like this forever. I don't carry responsibility for me alone. I have to kill him!
Finis.
Just kidding. The story will go on… so keep reading and reviewing!
Natsuko: I'll help you chase the plot bunnies. I think my crutches are pretty good for that! And I would be honored if you want to advertise SL *blushes and catches little fluffy pink plot bunny*. There you go- for romance! *grins* I'm sorry to say the wait for the next chapter will be one whole week again since I'm going back to my internship and SSS full force next week. Thank you sooo much for worrying about me *huggles Natsuko*
moomoo: I broke my ankle while trying to evade an attack at a fencing tournament. Messed it up pretty good- shattered one bone, broke the other in half and snapped two tendons. No walking for another eight weeks.
As to learning Japanese: I'm planning to start doing so in half a year, together with Portuguese. I still need time to get comfortable with Italian and Spanish, and I am not capable of learning more than two new languages at a time. I'm accused of starting to speak Esperanto because I make a horrible mix out of five languages already… so I'm not going to mix in a sixth until I have at least partially cleared up the mess in my head.
lebleuphenix: No new characters… but more Saito. And I'm not going to be this stupid ever again! *promises* I feel so much better when reading from you *is about to cry from joy*
Dragowolf: Not very much Misao in this one, I'm afraid- but more in the upcoming chapters, I promise. In fact, the next chapter…
Yasai: Don't tell!
*grins* My muse won't let me spill the beans what will happen in the next chapter *sniff*. But I promise Misao and Aoshi.
Darkening: Are you a statistic fan? Well, I try to make every chapter around 5 000 words. And I don't know whether I will finish before next year… with my life anything could happen. Hell, my parents and little brother are moving to New Zealand next year!
Brenna: Thank you ever so much for your encouragement. And yes, I am on pain medication since shattered bones are not really feeling good (and since I got my crutches I am hitting my leg on everything. I swear, I'm clumsier than Rurouni!)...
@all: Thanks for reading. I hope you had a nice trip… and why don't you check out my new story, Romancing the King, while waiting for me to update???
Yasai: Definitely worth your time. I was involved in writing it. Oh, and before I drop off screen please feed me and review!!!
Ever hungry muse she is… I got to go, so Cya!!!
Chibi-chan