Soujirou waited patiently. He had never minded waiting. It was actually soothing in its own way.
Those two hunters would be along shortly and the real fun could begin. The stone around him was thick and solid ensuring he couldn't hear the battle raging or the screams of the dying. Even so, he imagined that it was quite the ruckus. Part of him was glad he was locked in silence. He had a job to do and right now it was to sit and wait. It didn't matter what he thought about it. Shishio had commanded and he obeyed. That was how this worked, how it had always worked.
Except he couldn't help wondering if he was going to end up like Aoshi. He had reviewed the big hunter's techniques and had come to the conclusion that if Okita hadn't interrupted he might well be ashes now.
Power was not an automatic win however. Soujirou would make sure of that. So he was mediating in a position, the first one Aoshi had ever taught him, to clear his mind and strengthen his gift. It would be quite a feat to raise the number of dead he was planning, but if it had the desired effect then it was no matter.
Only one little thing bothered him. The big man had said four children, hadn't he? Yet Soujirou could only come up with three, and the mother too of course. Was it possible that the hunter was mistaken? Unlikely considering it was his family. Had Soujirou missed the other child somehow, even in a bloodlust? That seemed just about as likely. He had slaughtered everything living in that village down to the mice that leeched off the food supplies.
There was a movement then whoever it was paused. Soujirou looked up to see Kikisha staring boldly back at him. She was armed with a ninginta that would tower over her head if she stood it up straight. Blood and gore spangled her body, but she didn't seem to be injured.
"Pardon Master Soujirou." She said with a proper bow.
He knew there were werewolves that would fight on the side of their masters, but he was deeply distrustful suddenly. His suspicions were confirmed when her pale blue eyes locked on his gray ones and she lowered her shields. He saw deep hatred mingling with long standing patience and longing.
"I did not mean to disturb you." She said in a perfectly neutral tone never taking her eyes off him. Even so, she made no move to lift her weapon against him. She even had the nerve to turn her back to him as she tried to melt back into the shadows.
"Wait!" Soujirou called out. He would be lying if he said that caution dictated his actions. Curiosity seemed to be leading the way once again. He wanted to know what had put those deep emotions in her.
She paused and half turned, but before she could say anything the guests of honor arrived. The two hunters were breathing normally, but it was obvious they'd been running. Weapons out and stained with sickly crimson Soujirou was very aware of the scent of blood that now saturated the room with their arrived. He shook his head with a wry smile. They sought to destroy on a personal agenda of blood and death. By avenging the original deaths they caused more. Wasn't that aptly ironic?
"We have something to finish!" The big one snarled with rage. He had shed the mantle that had graced his shoulders before, revealing a finely honed body of pure strength. His hair was tied back and out of the way and his sword was held at the ready.
"I suppose we do." Soujirou remarked gracefully. He slowly uncoiled himself and started stretching lightly much to the hunter's disappointment.
There silver haired hunter was glancing around sharply and his eyes fell on Kikisha. Soujirou observed that she looked at him with just as much distrust as he did her. Neither moved however, waiting to see the victory of the showcase battle between Soujirou and Hiko. A wise move he supposed.
"Your time is up. We'll finish this." The hunter repeated. What a one-track mind. No matter, Soujirou didn't mind listening to him. Words held nothing but idle notions and wanton imaginings. Actions were what spoke loudest and achieved goals.
"Would you like first move Mister Hunter?" The boy vampire offered courteously. All he received in reply was a snort of contempt. "Then perhaps you would like some motivation?"
The hunter's ebony eyes widened then narrowed into slits.
"I do not require motivation." He hissed like the most dangerous of pit vipers, "Just seeing you face to face is enough to strengthen my resolve."
"Then perhaps your friend would like a demonstration?" Soujirou continued looking over at the younger man. Steel turquoise met him squarely with no sign of fear. There was a spark of insanity, but if it urged the man's courage into foolhardiness who was Soujirou to complain?
"I'd like a demonstration of how to mount your head on my wall." The big one ground out.
"Hiko, can you do this or do you need me to do it. We don't have time for banter." The silver haired man, Enishi if Soujirou recalled correctly, said coldly.
A hollow echo of footfalls reached the large chamber and everyone turned to see a bedraggled redhead appear. He looked up with feral yellow eyes before blinking and looking out with violet.
"Master?"
"Stay out of this Kenshin." The one called Hiko snarled not even sparing the petite half breed a glance.
"Enishi!"
The half-vampire scrambled back blinking furiously and looking very guilty. The silver hair hunter ignored him with only the icy acknowledgment, Battousai. Soujirou's smile blossomed even wider. This was even better than he could ever hope. He had always wanted to spar with the Battousai.
"Now I should be a good host and entertain you." Soujirou said firmly letting his smile tighten a bit. It all came down to if he could crack iron composure. He wasn't an annoying child; he was just a curious and intelligent one. He had observed quite a bit of human nature. When they were angry or annoyed or some other silly emotion they tended to lose focus.
He closed his eyes lightly and gave himself over. There was no use putting more effort into the raising than he had to. Raising them alone sapped directly from his life energy, which would make his power extremely dangerous had he still been human. As it was, it only had the nasty side effect of exhausting him.
Five shapes began to form under his careful guidance. A deathly chill always seemed to accompany the dead, as if to remind the living of their soon-to-be fate. The numbing air combined with the scent of light decay mingled with the fresh coppery smell of blood. Soujirou was sure that both Kikisha and Kenshin were doing their best not to give over to the reflexive gag that came with a sharp nose. The smells tickled and teased at the back of his throat and he sneezed innocently.
"Bastard." Hiko snarled only to be cut off by Enishi's cry.
"Big sister!"
"Tomoe." Kenshin whispered under his breath looking very confused and lost.
"Did I do it right? I was just a boy the last time I saw her and she wasn't particularly at her best." Soujirou said pleasantly. They should be happy that he granted them another glimpse. It was a day he was sure that none of the three of them would forget. The day Kenshin lost his lover and sole companion by his own hand; the day that a certain young man lost his older sister and mother; and most importantly, the day a young boy lost his humanity. It was amazing how one dead woman could be the thread that connected them all so intimately.
"You desecrated Big Sister." Enishi whispered furiously, repeating those words until he was screaming it like a mantra. Reaching a fever pitch he turned on Kenshin and pointed, "And you let him. You killed her. You killed my big sister! It was your blade that tore through her heart and stilled it Battousai!"
Kenshin didn't back up, but he lowered his head in acknowledgment. He didn't say it was an accident or give excuses.
Hiko gave a level glare at Soujirou and pronounced, "Still using the same tricks. Maybe it worked with those two, but you should know that it won't work on me this time."
"But I brought you whole family Mister Hiko." Soujirou replied gesturing to the other four wraiths. They looked at him. The youngest was cradled in her mother's arms while the twins stood on either side with big smiles.
It was times like these that Soujirou wished the dead could talk. He'd like to know what they'd say. Would they try to talk Hiko out of revenge or urge it on? Would the woman say she still loved him and that nothing was his fault, even if he wasn't there to protect them. It was interesting to imagine.
"They won't stop me!" He said taking a firm step forward. Soujirou continued to smile, unworried. He wasn't expecting his powers to have the same effect the second time around. Aoshi had taught him that surprise was a crucial element, and once it was lost there was no way to regain it. Preservation instincts made sure that even the lowest of brutes learned quickly from life threatening situations.
"They weren't intended to." Soujirou informed him slowly, "I thought you would like some measure of peace before you were put to rest. Life as a human must be tiresome. To feel your body break down bit by bit and fail you."
"Better than being heartless." Kikisha said softly padding forward. She wasn't paying any attention to the others in the room. Her gaze was partial focused on Soujirou, but he noticed that she was focused on the family with a look of hidden emotion. Longing? Desire? Shame?
Hiko whirled, pressing his blade to her throat. She didn't flinch or look at the big man.
"It must have been hard for you. Thinking I was dead Father." She remarked and Hiko's blade dropped so abruptly it was a wonder it didn't hit the ground.
"Hiroko?"
"I go by Kikisha now." She interjected mildly, still not looking at him.
"But why?"
Soujirou blinked and grinned with unabashed amusement. This was much better than he could have ever anticipated. Not only had Kenshin shown up to complicate matters, but somehow Kikisha was Hiko's daughter. His brow furrowed. But he was most certainly human, there was absolutely no doubt about that. So how could she be a werewolf... unless she was only half. Clever to hide it for so long. Especially in the midst of several powerful beings.
"You came home to slaughter, correct Father? Well, I was there. You were not, therefore, the blame should not, in all honesty, be placed on your shoulders. I know you blame yourself. An egotistic move to be certain, but it is part of your nature. How would you feel if your surrogate family, your father's family whom the two of you loved dearly, were to be slaughtered in front of you? Would you cry or try to stop it. Or would you silently watch, etching every horrid detail into your retinas because you knew there was nothing, absolutely nothing, you could do." She paused with her face motionless and void of any distinct emotion, "And you were spared. Not because of luck, but because of your mother's blood running in your veins."
"But..." Hiko started and she shook her head.
"Soujirou, you are open to attack at any time. Unless you find this far too amusing and educational to end." Kikisha remarked glancing at him. They both knew that she was no match for him in either speed nor strength. For him to attack her, rather than one of the other occupants, would be a fatal ending.
"No buts. You did not witness Seiko clutching his precious katana, heavy and unwieldy, that he had swept up from his dead mother's hand. How he tried to hold it steady to defend his two sisters as a proper man should. How little Kohana cowered in her big sister's arms muffling hysterical screams because she had no idea what was happening." She snarled a bit and looked over towards the boy vampire, "Or how they looked when a monster clouded by a lust for life's blood was tearing their frail little bodies to pieces."
"But Satu's pack..."
"I asked them to direct me to someone who could help me claim what I desired most at that time. And something I still desire with all that's left of my impure heart. They pointed me towards Saitoh, and in turn he has helped me achieve my goal to this point."
"They said you were gone." The big man whispered torn between rage at being lied to and tears that one of his children still lived.
"As I asked. Father, you have never been anything but direct. I feared your drive would lead you into a danger you could not get out of and in turn all hope would be lost. You are not aware of how powerful Shishio has grown in the years that have past, nor how cruel. The land and people suffer under his rule. The heavy-handed rule of a true tyrant. I knew you would come after Soujirou, but you would not look beyond that. You would complete your revenge leaving others to deal with the mess left behind. However, I also knew that precious few could actually defeat Shishio. He is an unparalleled warrior. I doubt that even your friend or your student could defeat him in a fair fight."
"You were eight! How could you know all this? What made you think that you could make these kinds of decisions!" Hiko bellowed. "Those aren't things a child should decide. You should have stayed with Satu's pack where it was safe. Until I could find you!"
"I ceased being a child the moment his katana passed through Miki's tender throat."
"Yet you don't want revenge against me specifically?" Soujirou mused out loud earning some dark looks. "You told me where Aoshi was. Why? It wasn't something you were supposed to do, was it. You disobeyed orders to tell me."
His guesses seemed to have hit the mark.
"As I told you, he was kind to our little Misao." She insisted and his smile grew. He had never been apt at detecting lies, but even he could see how blatantly transparent her excuse was. Her jaw, which he noticed looked very similar in structure to the vampire hunter's, jutted defiantly, "I told you because you deserved to know."
"I thank you. Aoshi... means a lot to me." Soujirou replied softly feeling an alien prick at the back of his eyes. He brushed a hand over the closed lids to dispel it and looked out. Their conversation had gained the attention of the two near-combatants. A smirk graced the silver haired man's handsome face, but his shaded glasses covered the satisfaction in his eyes. It didn't matter. One way or another the human's time would be up. Preferably by Soujiou's hand. "Well, now that everyone is comfortable I think we should begin."
Hiko made no move to pick up his guard. His ebony eyes lingered on his suddenly untouchable daughter who had abandoned him twelve years prior. He was probably considering her words. No matter. There were still three very focused, deadly fighters in the room with him. Two of which were keeping one eye on each other and one eye on him.
"Perhaps Mister Himura and Mister Yukishiro would rather fight each other then." Soujirou suggested with a slightly dark smile. Part of him was protesting there were too many for him to handle by his lonesome. Then there was the other part of him that insisted that he wanted to fight each and every one of them to test his skills.
"No, I do believe we do not need violence for this matter. It is an old matter, that it is. One I should have resolved a long time ago with Enishi." Kenshin said softly.
"I disagree Battousai. Some things can only be said with sharpened steel." Enishi snarled.
Kenshin shook his head in a gentle manner, "I think words should be exchanged first."
"As touching as this is there are battles to be fought." Kikisha, no Hiroko, interjected dryly, hefting her weapon. "My comrades require my aid. I hope that all of you come out of this room in one piece. Consider my words Father and find me when this is finished." She turned toward Soujirou and gave him another respectful bow, "With your leave?"
Soujirou gave a slight, cautious nod feeling the smile slip from his face. He didn't think there could be a more confusing being out there. She was asking his permission? To go out and kill other vampires no less!
Hiko's eyes refocused slight to watch his only remaining child disappear. Soujirou dropped the spectral family soundlessly. Kikisha had done far better a job than he had ever hoped he could do. It would be easy enough to take advantage of the current state of the enemies. Two were ready to start a death match and the other had cracked.
But this was wrong! This wasn't supposed to be this way. His deep rooted faith in Shishio and his belief in the strong survive was in jeopardy. It simply didn't fit in with the behavior being shown. Honor, where did honor fit into that? Could he have honor and did he want it? He had never even considered respecting an enemy to such a degree, yet a mere werewolf halfling had given him the deepest regard.
He eyed Kenshin and Enishi. The half vampire had obviously not lost his patience with talking, but the vampire hunter was still shouting.
"Do you wish to continue this fight?" Soujirou asked politely, shaking the doubts from his mind. Shishio had ordered him to test them. It was his job. He was strong and he wouldn't back down. If they weren't prepared to fight him then they were weak and deserved to die!
The hunter seemed to collect himself and look up.
"I won't fight you."
Soujirou blinked. That was certainly not what he expected.
"Unless you have the sheer audacity to get in my way." The man said fixing him with a glare, "In which case I can promise that you will not leave this room of your own accord."
"Perhaps I should simply step aside?"
"If you know what's good for you."
Soujirou glanced over at the other two and shook his head. Neither of them were a threat to him, being so immersed in completing some personal vendetta.
"And you would suddenly let such a vile beast escape? I thank you for your gracious offer, however, I must decline. Master Shishio insisted that I give you and your friend a proper welcome."
"Your funeral."
He gave a slight, mocking bow and gently tapped the stone floor. The man readied his sword keeping a sharp eye on the boy vampire. By some unseen signal the fight began, a violent synchronization with the ringing steel that belong to the other pair in the room. It seemed the half vampire's patience had finally worn through.
Soujirou knew that even with his enhanced strength and endurance that he would be hard pressed against the man's iron will and body. It was equally thrilling and unsettling to find a mere human man who could equal not just any vampire, but himself.
The man was hanging back, looking for one quick strike. For all his show ponying he seemed to be in a hurry and was looking for a one hit knock out.
Soujirou leapt to the side feeling the steel slice a thin cut into the top of his right shoulder. A blow, that if it had connected, would have severed the vampire's arm completely. Soujirou grinned boyishly at the close call and returned the favor. His hit was far less successful as the big man easily avoided the metal tip before slamming the flat away with his own blade.
Each time the man's blade swung closer, but Soujirou never allowed a solid hit. He would heal faster than any mortal, but after raising so many souls from the dead he was drained and tired.
Tapping frantically in time he shot forward to the full capacity of his speedy attack. His concentration was slipping, yet he refused to acknowledge his body's demands. He wasn't weak, he was strong!
The blades crossed and he found himself backpedaling one step at a time to keep from being thrown to the ground. Surprised at the cold furiousity of the attack made him look up into flat ebony eyes. Soujirou hadn't had cause to fear anything for over a decade. Now he was feeling his body react in classic ways even though he didn't have a pulse nor a salvia.
He instinctive cringed as a fist came down towards the crown of his head and only ingrained habit brought his sword up fast enough to counter the blow.
"You don't like me looming like that, do you boy? Did someone beat you before you were changed?" The man thundered hammering harder. He looked slightly annoyed that Soujirou's speed kept the strokes from hitting.
Soujirou darted around wondering how he could keep track so easily. Even the most experienced, skilled fighters had difficult keeping track of the boy vampire when he unleashed his true speed. Yet this hunter was not only keeping up, but making strikes as well.
Again, he towered over Soujirou making him feel small, and weak. But he wasn't weak! He was never going to be weak again!
With renewed vigor he met. They were so close that he could feel the man's warm breath hit his face and the cloth from Soujirou's shirt slid across human skin.
Again he was thrown back. This time it was right into the middle of the other dueling pair. Luck was with him because Kenshin pulled his intended blow. Reverse blade or not it would have stunned Soujirou giving his opponent an easy victory.
He risked a quick glance over. The silver hair vampire hunter was panting wildly and he was almost hyperventilating. Not from the fight, but from self-induced hysterics. Rather than slowing him down it only seemed to pump the tiger-like man to new extremes. The long blade flashed as he became airborne. The hunter crashed down on the petite red head driving him down to his knees.
Before Soujirou could recover himself from being tossed into the wall Hiko had him by the throat. The lack of breath didn't bother him of course, but the big man insisted on pressing him against the wall heavily. When he raised his hand Soujirou couldn't help it, he flinched expecting to be hit.
Instead the man shook his head and lowered his large fist.
"You are a pitiful shell of a boy." The hunter finally remarked gruffly and dropped him in a huddled mass.
Soujirou peered up feeling like he was drowned in emotions. Fear and shame mingled into heavy, pounding waves that rushed across him. Visions flashed and mixed until he couldn't tell what was real.
"Please, please don't do it!" He screamed covering his head and for once lost his ever-present smile. Pressing against the wall he tried to edge away only to be blocked off by some heavy boots. Expecting several hard kicks he curled into himself. "I'll be good, I promise, I promise! I'm a good boy! Why are you hurting me? Why? Why!"
He quivered and fell silent expecting a heavy hand, completely forgetting where he was. He was so cocooned in his past that he couldn't hear the present.
He could feel rain soaked his skin, or was it blood? He peered down at his hands through tear blurred eyes and only saw red. He had killed them, he had killed them and they were dead! It was by his hand. He didn't want to kill them. He was a good boy. But he wasn't, not really. They always told him was a crude, lazy boy he was and how he dropped the rice on purpose. How he was dirty, filthy, just like his slut mother. Dirty, dishonest blood that could only come from a dirty, dishonest woman.
And such a naughty, dirty boy would never be anything else. He would always be weak and evil and disgusting. That's why he deserved it. They said he deserved it!
Every beating, every kick, every cruel word. He was a bad boy and he deserved it. Every submission to older brother's needs and every blamed laid by younger brother, he deserved it.
How kind his family was to feed and take such good care of such a filthy mongrel. They were doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. The boy was his father's child after all. It would reflect badly if he were left on the street now wouldn't it? So much easier to hide him and work him.
Clutching his head with those bloody hands he tried to squeeze his eyes shut. Every person, every man, woman, and child he had slaughtered, crowded against him. He could feel their icy fingers mingling with the drops of cold rain. They tore and begged in complete silence. Blaming the bad boy for killing them.
His hand brushed against the katana that had fallen to the ground. Skin parted against the sharpened steel down to the bone, but he wrapped his hand around it.
"Bad boys need to be punished." He whispered pressing hard enough that he could feel the bones crush and nick. There was a harsh, grating sound as the outer shell broke bringing a sharp snap of pain. Soujirou ignored it. He was bad.
"Soujirou? Soujirou?"
That wasn't his name. Who was this Soujirou? There was no one here but the sinful child.
Lukewarm flesh brushed against his wrists making him whimper. Now it was coming. His self-punishment wasn't enough. Now he would receive his true punishment. He just hoped that they would beat him. If big brother did... did that... again... he couldn't take it. It hurt too much, and it made it difficult to work.
"What's wrong with him Himura?"
"This unworthy one thinks that he was not treated well as child, that he was not."
Familiar voices; nice voices.
Hopefully he cracked a blue eye and winced. It was wrong to hope he would escape.
Instead of hard brown eyes there were worried, violet ones.
"Are you all right?" That voice certainly did not belong to the man in front of him, "Himura, is he okay?"
"He is now I believe."
Soujirou opened both gray eyes wide to see Misao staring down at him. She was coated with dried crimson and a knife flashed between her fingers as if it were dancing with nervous energy. She seemed to have lost her braid. It ended prematurely just above her shoulders.
"Your hair..." It was pointless, yet it was all that came out. He had meant to reassure them that he wasn't weak, that he wasn't bad. He had failed again.
"It was cut." Misao blushed in anger and mortification. "It will grow back later."
"Hiko?"
"Master left to fight with Shishio, that he did." Kenshin reassured soothingly, never rising from his half crouch. "He is a gentle man. He would never abuse anyone such. It disgusts him what was done to you."
Soujirou looked around and licked his lips being careful of his fangs. There was no blood, no rain, and no desperate spirits of the dead. He could understand why the man wouldn't kill him. He wasn't worthy of such a great blade or such an honorable death.
He couldn't voice such thoughts so he remarked instead:
"Enishi did not kill you."
Kenshin smiled wryly and Soujirou noticed several deep gouges and long wounds running down his slender body. They had been hastily wrapped, but red had colored the white cloth as easily as any dye. He noticed the half man was leaning ever so slightly on his sheathed sword, but the old scar on his face seemed lighter.
"He did try, that he did. However, it appears that his sister's spirit did not approve. I should thank you for bring Tomoe to life so that she could ease her younger brother's suffering."
Soujirou blinked. If he had brought her it had been entirely an accident. Perhaps while the others were tearing at his body and mind she had slipped away. Such a wistful, gentle smile if he recalled correctly. She seemed the type to forgive, even in death.
"Uh, now that's just weird." Misao remarked and Soujirou silently agreed. It was rare that he was thanked for anything at all least of all raising the dead.
"Enishi joined Hiko to face Shishio." Kenshin said shaking his head, "It seems that he will forgive me for his sister's sake, yet he will not let the matter of Shishio's murder go so easily."
"You are not with them." Soujirou observed.
Kenshin shook his head slowly, "I have vowed not to kill, that I have. And currently as leader to the humans here I have other obligations to fulfill."
Soujirou considered that. He wasn't sure what he was going to do now. He had lost. He had failed his lord. He couldn't return with such a disgrace looming over him. He was weak and didn't deserve to be in his lord's service.
"What are you going to do now?" Misao asked curiously. She was fingering her shortened braid softly. Whatever she had held against him seemed to have floated away. Perhaps it had gone to join the dark shadows that had been haunting her eyes.
"I... don't know. I failed Lord Shishio."
"I doubt that will matter much." Misao said twisting her lips with distaste. "If those two destroyers have their way he wouldn't see sunrise."
"Perhaps."
"Himura, you put just as much into this gamble as we werewolves did! Show a little faith will you?"
"I think," Soujirou gave a wry smile, "That I will become very unpopular if such an event were to occur."
"So you're leaving then?" Kenshin asked in a quiet voice. "I wish you good luck then. The answers you will realize and seek won't be easy to find."
"Maybe so." Soujirou replied thinking the best way to leave and get to Aoshi's grave before sunrise. As far as he knew, only two werewolves knew the location of the cave. Maybe he could find some solace there, and just maybe he could find the correct answers to the answers Kenshin was talking about.
Miki- flower stalk Satu- fairytale Kohana- little flower Hiroko- magnanimous (my Mother commented that it was arrogant to name your child that ^^)
A/N: First off, this is out of order because I decided it was the only way this was going to make sense. Megumi's chapter will be next. That said, I'm not sure if I pulled this off. It was tricky X__X I made a deal with fyyrrose way back in December that I could do anything I wanted to Soujirou so long as he didn't die. Tricky. Plus, I still needed Hiko and Enishi, and I promised myself that I would be nice to Kenshin for once ^^;; One the downhill slide. The climax chapter is about half done and then I have one little one after that. WARNING: I have given the go ahead to fyyrrose to write an alt. ending. I hold NO responsiblity to who she kills or how X__X
Reviewers:
Wistful-Eyes: Believe it or not, Sano's death wasn't premediated nearly so much as the others. The problem was how to write it without going off the deep end ^^;; Bloodthirsty is... um... not fine, but you know, aggression needs to be discharged.
Mary-Ann: Misao is a strange, strange character to write. I have problems with her. For some reason I don't see her as naive (which I do Kaoru to some extent), yet her personality is "optimistic!!!" and outgoing so she seems that way. Then you have to take in the account that she really is only 16, and to be honest, the maturity of a 16 yr old is nothing to brag about. I think a lot of people sell her short when they write her. Hmm, you're right of course. It is like that part. Maybe I subconsciously slipped that in? I haven't seen that eppy/read that part of the manga since way back in Sept.? Fight scenes seem to be my specialty; I don't know if that's a good thing.
FarStrider: ^__^ you killed "Sano" in your [Saitoh's] story too! So no mudslinging ^__~ Misao was originally destined to die when I was composing a hitlist (yes, I've been plotting these deaths for months) and Sano wasn't. Yes, thank you so much for the word! It's part of my vocab now O__O
MissBehavin: He was born annoying, he'll die annoying, and only his student will mourn him. I know, in PMK I was like NO, don't say that! BAD, BAD shinobi! And Yoshida implied it and then at the end of 23 Okita said something about it. Chou was originally going to be decapitated with a wire strung across the hall ^^ but that was much more satisfying. Fyyrrose of course suggested it. Saitoh is coming in on the next chapter! Really. And who says that Misao ruined things? *whispers* I'd tell you if Saitoh dies or not, because I already know, but *laughs evilly* its more fun this way!
Cookie: ^^ poor Sano. Thank you for reading!
Fyyrrose: There Raven. Your boy lived and I didn't make him a total coward. Happy? *starts laughing* I'm still listening to "Shinsengumi Taishi." Last night G-ma told me to stop playing it over and over and over and over. Its good fight music, what can I say? But I also like some of the other fight music tracks for variety. And then there's Ryouma's and the trio's songs tossed in there. You shouldn't have swords. That's like me wanting to daggers/that crossbow in Italy. Damn, I would have gotten them too if it weren't for stupid customs and Kerry. You forgot Bill Gates and OJ Simpson. But anyway, who says the "good" guys always win? Look at PMK, they won that battle, but shoot, half of them die before the end of the war. Besides, its funny to think of Hiko and Enishi as "good". *shrug* And the werewolves are not exactly innocent either!