Megumi groaned as someone shook her shoulder semi-urgently. She felt like she had walked all over creation the day before. As her mind began to wake she realized she probably had. Well, that was exaggerating, but between walk from the camp to the village and trotting from the village to where ever, she had gotten quite enough exercise. Her legs protested softly as she stretched them and she wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep.
Instead, she cautiously opened her dark eyes and tried to scream. A hand went over her mouth and she was tempted to bite it. A pair of soft purple eyes were looking down at her with something akin to panic, although somehow she knew the man was utterly calm and in control.
"Shh, don't scream. This unworthy one was merely trying to wake you for breakfast."
She nodded slightly and the warm flesh was removed from her face. He hadn't held on too tightly, but she could still feel where each digit had rested. She sat up at the man backed off slowly. She frowned, looking around. She didn't remember laying down her last night. Then again, she didn't remember much of anything past watching the werewolves change and eating a hasty supper. Briefly she wondered where Yahiko had gotten to, but immediately assured herself that the boy could easily take care of himself. Right now she needed to be doing the same.
"Are you okay?" The man asked with genuine concern. She eyed him deciding that he was one of the odder-looking human beings she had ever seen. His hair was an indescribable shade of red. Megumi wanted to label it auburn, but since it was so dark in the room, the only light being the torch from the hall, she knew it must actually be lighter. His skin was pale and there was a pronounced x shaped scar across his cheek. It seemed old and badly healed, the doctor part of her noted distantly. He had a light, almost feminine built, but she assumed that underneath the baggy clothing he was wearing his body was purely male.
"I am fine." She replied stiffly. She wasn't here to make friends, and she tried to ignore the slightly hurt look he had when she replied. "What's your name?"
He seemed to hesitate before giving a large, guileless smile, "This unworthy one is named Kenshin."
Without meaning to her shields snapped up. She wasn't sure when she acquired such deep cynicism and instinctive vilification. She certainly hadn't learnt it from her mother, it almost seemed inborn if that was possible. Megumi shook her head in a subconscious gesture; this was a personal argument she had always had with herself ever since she understood the problem. Her medical mind said it was impossible for it to be just nature, it had to be nurture.
Except nothing in her childhood led to such deep psychological issues. Her mother had been a fair, stern woman, who was not overly affectionate, but still managed to make her feel loved. Thoughts of her late mother usually led to depression and she tried to straighten them out. She could wallow in self-pity later.
"I'm sorry, are you thinking of your family?" She started. She had completely forgotten the man was still standing there.
Lying seemed the safest course, however, it wasn't a total lie. Her mother had been her family.
"Yes. You said something about breakfast?"
The man, Kenshin? He seemed to collect himself and again, he flashed that smile. She was slightly surprised, but not overly so. It seemed she wasn't the only one hiding behind mannerisms.
Standing up her leg muscles twanged unpleasantly, but she knew that it wasn't life threatening, or even that much of an inconvinced. Her clothing was rumpled from being slept in. She made a wry face, well, it wasn't as if she had brought an extra pair.
As if anticipating her need Kenshin reappeared with a set of clothing. They were well worn, but clean and serviceable. The color was an unattractive light brown and there were darned patches here and there. She didn't want to consider what had happened to the last owner. Despite the female werewolf's reassurances she didn't feel secure in the slightest. While the man waited outside she quickly shed her old clothing and donned the new. When she asked what to do with the old the man took them.
It wasn't until she was seated at breakfast that she realized that she was here to spy. Well, that involved talking to people after all and she had missed a perfect opportunity. Silently berating herself she heard a very familiar, loud voice.
"What's it to you Ugly?" Yahiko shouted. He was up on his feet facing off with a very angry looking young woman. A very familiar and angry looking young woman.
Kaoru, enraged and insulted, flung back words of her own with fists clenched, "You little brat! You're not even here for a day and you're already causing trouble!"
Megumi wasn't sure what surprised her more. To have found Kaoru very much alive, or that she was arguing with Yahiko.
The two women had been good friends as children. Kaoru seemed to be the only child her mother allowed her to play with, now that she thought about it. Kaoru had lived only a slight distance away with her father. He generally helped Megumi's mother with things a woman would have difficultly handling alone. One day Megumi had gone over to play and found the place much in the state she had found her own just a week again. Blood, flesh, and hair scattered to the four winds and the house completely trashed inside and out. Her mother had found her, on her knees weeping. She was only ten at the time. Come to think of it, that was when she was pressed into apprenticeship. She supposed, after the years of separation and the mental shock she had received, that she simply forgot she ever had a friend named Kaoru.
Kaoru seemed to catch sight of her just a few seconds after her own discovery. The young woman's mouth gaped in shock and she stared with her dark blue eyes. Megumi felt a slight smirk cross her lips. How different things were now.
"You look like a catfish Ugly!" Yahiko hooted. When Kaoru paid him no mind he followed his gaze. Megumi raised an eyebrow and he blushed defiantly. The whole room was silently, all eyes locked on the two women, sensing tension.
Kenshin had reappeared. He took in the scene with a wide, sweeping glance before quietly padding over to Kaoru. He said something in a low tone. Her eyes widened, but she nodded. Swiftly, she lunged over the table and grabbed Yahiko by the ear.
"Dishes for you, troublemaker." She said, giving the appendage a slight twist. Yahiko growled and struggled, but he was still dragged down a hall, complaining the whole way.
Megumi, although hungry, got up to follow. She wasn't sure why. This wasn't something she'd particularly like to confront, but she was never a woman to run away when things got unpleasant. That sort of thing was a last resort.
She had only gone about ten minutes time into the labyrinth before she was completely lost. She had no idea where the kitchen was or how to even get back to the dining hall.
"Are you lost?" A crisp, cool voice asked behind her. She whirled to find herself not quite face to face with a young woman. The woman was easily taller than she was by about three inches and her face was a set expression that gave away nothing. She didn't seem annoyed, displeased, or to even care that Megumi wasn't where she was supposed to be. Something tickled at the back of Megumi's mind, but she couldn't place it. "Tell me where you need to go and I will escort you there."
"The kitchens." Megumi wasn't happy with looking like a directionless lack wit and something about the woman made her uneasy.
"Easy enough."
She glared balefully at the back of the black hair. The oddest thing about the hair, besides its shorn length, was there were streaks of gray running through it.
Her guard didn't seem inclined to talk, or even make sure she followed. She only hoped that the woman was actually leading her where she wanted to go. It wasn't like she had much a choice.
She wondered if Enishi was healing all right. It had only been two days, but she truly doubted Hiko could keep the man down for a whole week. He had amazing heal capacity, but even people like that had limits. And she was sure he would push his above and beyond what they could stand. Reach and shatter were two different things entirely. She also considered that little female werewolf. It wasn't something Megumi was sure shouldn't belong in her head. After all, the female had been aiding a vampire who was trying to kill them. Still, she hoped her pack found her anyway.
She could smell the kitchens long before she could actually see or hear them. The smells of bread and meat hung heavy in the air making her wish she had finished her breakfast before going off on some fool's errand. More than likely Yahiko was scrubbing pots by now. In fact, it may be a bit vindictive, but she hoped he was.
"Here." The woman grabbed her arm and she reflectively lashed out. The woman barely flinched. Again, she didn't look irritated or peeved, even though there was a growing red mark staining her cheek, "Sorry, I should give more warning. I was going to pull you aside so that Kenshin and Kaoru may speak with you. They simply had to get rid of your companion first."
They didn't wait long. Both Kaoru and Kenshin showed up at relatively the same time, although they came from different directions. Megumi observed the expressions on Kaoru's face. Apprehension, directed at Megumi, annoyance, directed at the stranger, and warmth directed at Kenshin. Kenshin wore the same silly mask that had been in place when he woke her up.
"What is this about Kikisha?" He asked and Megumi mentally smiled. There was an edge to his voice and eyes that wasn't there before. Apparently she wasn't the only one put on edge by the tall, slender woman with streaked hair.
"Nothing much." Kikisha replied flippantly, then shot him a look of disgust, "Must I spell it out? Obviously you guys do not pay enough attention to my reports. Perhaps I would do better to tell Lord Shishio instead, hmm?"
She waited for them to say something and when it was obvious no one had a smart retort she continued in her usual voice, "This is the healer that was traveling with those two vampire hunters. We rounded her up in a village, so I'm assuming they sent her and the boy in here to spy. Not that they can actually do much without getting back out again. But Saitoh has that arranged, so no worries."
"That worries me." Kenshin growled under his breath.
"I suggest you set that aside then." Kikisha said in a deceptively mild tone. Megumi wasn't sure who Saitoh was exactly, but he was apparently very important to the woman and also to whatever the trio was neck deep in.
She was actually more worried about what the woman had said. Getting it out. They hadn't thought of that. Of course, the plan was half baked anyway, something that would have never happened if she were in charge. Just like Hiko to shove us into danger without regard or care, she thought.
"Just say what you came to say!" Kaoru cried out in frustration. She had never had the head or patience for clever word games, Megumi recalled.
Kikisha raised a eyebrow, a gesture that hauntingly echoed what Megumi had done to Yahiko. She ran her hand through her short hair and sighed, for once not seeming a haughty, cold bitch.
"You know, this is my ass on the line. Well, I actually did not need to speak to either of you. I should not have anyway. But I assumed, out of the kindness of my black heart, that you humans would like a heads up on this."
"We are most appreciative." Kenshin murmured in pacifying manner. Kaoru shot him a dirty look, clearly not approving of his slight groveling. Kikisha didn't seem to notice either of them. Her flat eyes were fixed on a point beyond them. Abruptly she shook her head.
Pacing slightly she looked at the two, "I will say this quick. The walls have ears after all. Look what happened to poor Katsuhiro. I wish we could cut him down."
Megumi realized with a heartfelt shudder that this 'Katsuhiro' must have been the tattered strips of flesh that was introduced as a warning. Just what had she gotten herself into?
"Saitoh's pulled everyone into this. Once those hunters hit here that's that. Anyone in the way will be slaughtered. Now go." Kikisha said lowly. Her eyes never left their faces, but there was a nervous quality to her. If she had a tail it would have been lashing.
Reluctantly the pair retreated, but not before Kaoru gave Megumi one long, promising look. She held the girl's stare for a moment before dropping her gaze. She had never thought of herself as snobbish, despite how the villagers tended to label her because of her aloof manner. But seeing someone who she thought was dead as a walking food item was hardly flattering.
"Walk with me please. Someone else will take care of your chores." Kikisha requested. Megumi searched her tone for command, something at least that she could refuse, but only found an open invitation.
Once they were safely in what looked like a small vegetable garden, one the lady doctor assumed was to grow food for the humans, Kikisha paused. She gestured towards a stone, but Megumi refused. Kikisha nodded as if pleased. Like she had passed some test or something. It rankled and chafed and Megumi could clearly see why Kaoru didn't like the woman at all. She seemed to be very good at pushing people where she wanted them to go.
"You have no reason to trust me," Kikisha began, peering intently at Megumi's face, "But I hope that you will at least listen and give what I say sound consideration. I intend to tell you many things I have not even told Kenshin, despite that he leads the human rebellion. Being half vampire he would have difficulty, I think, understanding. But you are freshly caught, you remember the outside world clearly. Most of the humans here have been captive for so long they do not recall anything, but the life they possess now.
"It is the same for the werewolves, although they have been captive for far longer. The younger ones fear yet yearn for change just the same, while the older ones fear it is a hopeless conquest; their freedom. There are few that would stand with Saitoh in his secret uprising, the majority of the packs are terrified of Shishio. For good reason. You are a smart woman and I am sure your friends told you the horrors he has committed."
Megumi wanted to growl. Of course, his Lordship hadn't told her a damn thing! Kikisha paused, eyeing her and she forced a pleasant go on out of her mouth.
"Your hunters are just part of a long chain of beings out to kill the vampire lord. I can see why they would use you. You seem very intelligent and you can keep your mouth shut. Two very good traits for a spy, although I would bet you have had no training."
She paused considering, "Hiko was never very good at being social. Not that it excuses his behavior. Anyway, if you will allow me, I wish to aid you in your spying. I know much." She gave a wry smile and a touch of amusement glinted in her eyes, "Some would say too much. However, I know everyone's past, including the vampires. My knowledge is at your disposal, provided you grant me a favor in return."
Megumi bit the inside of her lip. This was sounding too good to be true. How did she know that this wasn't so elaborate set up? She knew Kikisha couldn't be a vampire, because it was daytime. They were all sleeping. They couldn't fight their nature. Which brought her to a vital question, one that should have puzzled her far before it actually did. If the vampires slept helpless during the day, what was to stop the wolves and human slaves from revolting and slitting their throats while they peacefully slumbered?
"It is very tempting," Megumi began cautiously, choosing her words carefully. Under normal circumstances she enjoyed to banter, but she didn't see the other woman very tolerant of playful words, and this was deadly serious anyhow. Once again she cursed Hiko's pride and her own stupidity. She wasn't a spy and she wasn't a diplomat. Whatever in the world convinced her that she could be either? "I have a question first, and I would like to know the favor before I agree."
Kikisha nodded, this time with respect, "Go ahead. If it is within my knowledge I will answer, provided it does not endanger my pack."
Megumi flicked her long hair back, wary of the woman's openness. Kikisha looked at her levelly and Megumi realized the woman hadn't smile, even bitterly, the whole time. Her strong face wasn't set in stone, but her emotions were worn far more subtly than most humans.
"Listen, you would not trust me if I were less than truthful, correct? Yet, I am being as easy as I can and you still suspect me. Perhaps if you ask and I answer we may form a tentative alliance?"
"Why don't you just kill all the vampires while they sleep? I mean, they're sitting ducks right now." Megumi blurted out, realizing too late that what she said was hardly diplomatic. To her surprise Kikisha let out a low chuckle. "And here I thought I would have to part with something dear."
"Well?"
Kikisha reached up and tugged at something. Her fingers were securely curled around nothing at all and the skin on her neck indented with each slight tug. Megumi remembered vaguely something about collars and she realized right away the folly of such an act. If the wolves fell on the vampires, they would die also, for betraying their masters.
"Humans are weak things. They fear much. We are set to guard the vampires while they sleep. That means from everything. Including mutantious slaves. Believe me, after the few attempts in the beginning the attacks have ceased. Occasionally someone is foolish or desperate enough to try. Let us say the results are far less pretty than our friend Katsuhiro's."
"But wouldn't your collars prevent you from attacking when Enishi and Hiko gets here?"
Kikisha gave her a small, wan smile, "Now, my dear, you are digging too deep. Perhaps if you had asked that question first I would be obligated to answer, but as it is now you hold no sway over my tongue. It is my turn to name the favor I would ask. In return for the information I provide I wish something of yours that will act as a white flag. I will report my findings to your friends and return with theirs."
Before Megumi could answer Kikisha cut her off with a swift motion. She glared pointedly at a large bush. Her arms crossed beneath her breasts and she tapped her foot slightly. A large, shameful shaggy wolf walked out. He gave a short, quizzical bark.
"Of course I knew you were there. The question is why. Saitoh will rip your hide. You are supposed to be out looking for Misao and Okita, they did not return last night."
He gave a low snort and yipped something. Kikisha furrowed her brow. "Well, that is a relief. But what are you doing here? Do not tell me you convinced Saitoh to allow you interior patrol, what was he thinking? He spoils you and Okita far too much."
The tan wolf barked sharply and wiggled.
"Yes, that is my opinion. So what are you doing exactly? Spying on your girlfriend?" Kikisha asked, mischief in her voice. Megumi was surprised. Girlfriend? Her? That was ridicules! And what was with her host, suddenly turning juvenile? Megumi halfway expected Kikisha to break out into song about kissing in a tree.
The tan wolf jumped as if he had been scalded and beat a hasty retreat. Megumi felt the blood rush up and tinge her cheeks pink.
Kikisha turned back and murmured to herself, "Always the child, although I know he will have to grow up sometime. It is the way of the world."
That confused Megumi to no end. Weren't Kikisha and the tan wolf the same age? They looked it. Both looked just before their twenties, still fit with youth. Then again, Hiko had said it was difficult to tell by looking. Perhaps they were actually centuries apart.
She turned towards Megumi with an apologetic look, "I did not mean to embarrass you, however, he can be quite the pestilence when he wishes. It was the quickest and easiest way to get him to leave us. Do we have a deal?"
"Yes, but I want some information. I'm not sure exactly what you are, but you're not a werewolf, are you? I mean, you look like one and all. After awhile I realized I had seen you as a wolf, but I didn't couple that with your human form until just now."
Kikisha sighed and Megumi was sure she heard a few unsavory words directed at the tan wolf uttered. She sat down on the stone and looked up warily.
"Then we have a deal, starting now. So I will answer your question, since it does not relate directly to my pack, however, you may not tell this to anyone. Not even Kenshin or Kaoru. Especially not to your young male companion." She waited for Megumi's nod and continued, "You are partially right. I am not exactly a full werewolf. My mother was a werewolf, however, my father is a human. I can change shape between wolf and human when I choose, not by the sun and moon, however, I do not possess the natural talent most werewolves have. I do not have a heightened sense of smell or super strength in human form."
"And that's the true reason you are annoyed at that idiot?" Megumi guessed, "He looked rather surprised."
Kikisha shook her head ruefully and a small smile played on her lips. Megumi observed this wondering what their relationship was exactly.
"It is. No one was supposed to know I can choose my shape, let alone Mister Big Mouth. Saitoh will have my hide now, because I was not careful enough!"
"Well, if he sent that idiot out in the first place…" Megumi started indignant. She was surprised that she felt that she was friends with this strange woman. They were so alike yet so entirely different.
Kikisha snorted. "Sanosuke was lying through his inch long canines. Saitoh would never have done that. At least he will be flayed with me."
Megumi wondered how to ask this delicately, without looking like she had an interest. Subtly had always been her weapon of choice, but now she was messing with someone who might recognize it for what it was.
"You are wondering about my relationship with him, correct? Well, it is nothing. He is courting a young werewolf lady named Misao. Sano and I are merely friends, in the barest sense of the word. He and Okita both just have a way of sucking you in, despite your intentions. Stay away from him if you can, although I doubt you will be able to. I should go, I've spoken too much already."
With that the young woman shifted into her shaggy wolf form and slid off leaving Megumi alone to face the maze.
"Wonderful." She muttered to herself. While this Kikisha seemed to be a wellspring of knowledge, her manners, like all those of the werewolves were severely lacking.
"Megumi, can we talk?" Kaoru was looking at her with a slightly downcast expression and her hands were clasped in front of her. "Can I sit down?"
Megumi felt irritated, but she bit back a nasty reply.
"You looked like you'd seen a ghost," Kaoru began, heedless of how true her words were actually ringing. "I was really surprised too. I mean, I never thought you would be the type to go along with three guys! Then again…"
"It's not what you think." Megumi said shortly, "And last I remember of you was bawling my little eyes out because I had thought my best friend in the whole wide world had been shredded into tiny bits of flesh."
Kaoru's mouth clicked shut and she blinked. Megumi realized that although they had been inseparable as children, the years between had afforded them insights. Each had grown differently, and both were far more jaded. Still, she needed all the help she could get her, and this was Kaoru she was talking about. She had always been too kind and compassionate.
"I… I didn't do it on purpose!" Kaoru stuttered, red faced and rather ruffled. She put her hands on her hips and hissed, "It's not like I wanted to be a walking entrée for a bunch of blood sucking beasts!"
Megumi decided this was a good time to switch the subject. It had always worked as children. Get Kaoru worked up about something, then suggest something else. Watching as she was torn between the two before diving fully into the latter.
"Ken is quite exquisite." Megumi commented with a full lip pout and a sly look in her eyes. Oh how she had missed this! She hadn't been able to tease anyone in years, and Kaoru was a perfect target! "With those gorgeous violet eyes and that coppery hair. And with manners, you don't find that in men very often. You're much too violent a girl to be with him!"
Kaoru's eyebrow twitched spastically and her fists were clenched. Bingo. Hit a sore spot, not that Megumi had any lasting interest in Kenshin; she was here on business after all. What was that saying, don't mix business and pleasure? Besides, it was quite obvious by the way the two looked at each other that they would be in lovesick puppy mode for quite awhile before fessing up. Funny, Kaoru never held back with her other emotions. A shame.
"You hussy!" She screeched, working herself up into a fine tizzy. "You stay away from Kenshin, do you hear me? It's always been like this. If it was mine you wanted it! Well, Kenshin isn't a toy and I'm not giving him up to you!"
Megumi eyed her sweetly before replying in a sly voice. "But Kenshin is a person, right? So I can't help it if he is attracted to my natural charm. That wouldn't be stealing him now would it."
Kaoru made an interesting sound that was somewhere between a choke and a growl. She narrowed her blue eyes dangerously, "Honestly Megumi, I don't know how I put up with you as a child! You're so… so insufferable!"
Megumi simply put on her shocked mask, "I'm hurt that you feel that way Kaoru, I thought we were friends!"
The younger woman glared before she sighed, "You shouldn't piss me off. Friends?"
Megumi let a smirk curl around her face and pretended to consider it before holding her hand out. Kaoru looked confused, "You don't think I'm going to open my arms and hug you, do you? I prefer my personal space. Friends."
"So what did that woman want with you? She gives me the willies half the time and annoys me to no end the other half." Kaoru said, plucking a dandelion. Idly she pulled the plant apart, piece by piece. The discarded bits withered on the ground at her feet.
"Nothing much." Megumi said evasively while actually thinking that the werewolf had told her too much. She wondered what she could give as a white flag and decided that she would have to finish her report today. Kikisha would most likely object to approaching them in human form, or she would have already done so, without immunity.
As she and Kaoru made their way back inside the gloomy, cramped labyrinth she couldn't help but wondering how Enishi was healing.
A/N: Sorry about the un-ended coding that made the whole last chapter underlined. Tell me if I accidently do things like that with the html. I'm not very awake in the morning (hence my psychotic, non-sensical replies and careless html), but it's the only time I can do it. Mwahaha, I write this in advance of course, and right now I'm stuck. But the shit's about to hit the fan ^^ I know, I'm a rabble-rouser. One who thinks way too much. I was looking for a cheap copy of Reflections on Ebay. Why don't they have any? I'm not going to pay $30 for something I'll watch once, get depressed about, and ship up to fyyrrose. I need to see it for my story, even though I've read some pretty detailed summaries. Grr. Seeing is good, that way I know ALL the little details that someone else might not find important. Moving on, that was just my little vent for the day.
Reviewers:
FYYRROSE: Look at you! You're slacking! And I only have two fics posting right now, it's not too hard! And I can't believe you backed out with Soujirou and Kaoru! I finally find a fair exchange... Never mind *throws hands up in disgust*I may just do that anyway, yes, *that*. That means more "research", but I was thinking the Rack and ultimately the Wheel. Mwahahaha, Eevee with torture knowledge.
Tri: Everything has a purpose, even Aoshi's death *grins* Yes poor Sou, but I'm not allowed to do anything too bad to him... *darts eyes around watchfully* *whispers* They won't let me. Which is too bad, because that could be fun- er, I mean horrible! Just awful!
Mary-Ann: Character development seems to be my greatest strength. And I get annoyed because other people don't bother to do it. Just because they're already existing characters doesn't mean you can just pluck up a stereotype and plop it in your fic. Mwahaha, I get that alot, that I seem to know where I'm going O__O; I suppose I do actually. This time around at least. Saitoh is probably the easiest character for me to get into. Maybe because I'm like him to a degree, or he's rather practical. Ah, crude violence doesn't bother me as much as it should. I was watching The Last Samurai yesterday and, sadly, it didn't bother me besides giving me a killer headache (the sound was too loud). I know that some people are a bit more sensitive, but you're right, I have to be this way. I'm outlining a very harsh world (I mean, come on, Shishio is the ruler here!). Even so, I try to keep it tasteful and well done. The manga has people chopped in half and hanging from the wall ^^;;
kamorgana: She's really never been an interest of mine, but I've seemed to have taken a shine to her in this fic. A depressed Misao... some would say that's impossible. ^^ The way I see her is she wouldn't just give up or accept it, she'd get angry. Really, really angry. Maybe insanely so. Even so, I can't see that blocking out her personality. Dang she's got a strong one ^^;; That humor fic was fun, but I shouldn't have let my reviewers bully me so much O__O I think that Saitoh finally got it through his thick head, when he [Sano] and Okita returned from spying, that he should show some respect. Which, amazingly enough, I think Sano is actually capable of! In wolves, if a lower ranking animal didn't submit to the alpha they'd probably fight, and the lower one would be driven out. Saitoh's doing most of the behind the scenes work, but he'll show up later. I couldn't leave him out! Blasphemy >:) I'm very pleased with this. Then again, I'll be even happier when it's done *laughing*.
MissBehavin: They could, but you know me, I'm twisted *grins* I mean, look at what I did with Aoshi, Megumi, Kamatari, Chou, Soujirou, and Yumi in TDTI. A masterpiece of insanity! Everyone needs to be protected from themselves at one point and time. Sano strikes me as a very loyal, compassionate soul despite his other less-appealing behaviorisms and mannerisms. Don't like Enishi? Or rather what he did. But if you consider it, if he hadn't killed Aoshi, do you actually think that the vampire would have given him quarter? Nope. Then Enishi would be dead. I don't know who would mourn him, not Hiko! In fact, he'd have to get up and finish off Aoshi himself and he'd be cursing Enishi for not doing it in the first place. Okay, okay, I try to be nice to Hiko, I really do! He hasn't had any arsenic yet has he?
Wistful-Eyes: Interesting yet. I bet she could be a hellva lot colder than Aoshi if she put her mind to it. We'll see about all these fun relationship webs I've weaved. *picks stick webbing off* I hope I don't get tangled up O.o
eriesalia: Yes, two characters, who as far as I can tell really need it (and not only in this fic, but other people's too). Aoshi died for a reason *grins* I can't stress that enough. Trust in the story teller ;) And I thank you for sticking around!
I just found this funny because I immediately thought of Aoshi:
I haven't killed off many of my characters, but sometimes it just happens. Death scenes aren't easy to write--they can too easily get sentimental--. ~Fenogelio, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke