(A/N) Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed, it means everything to me. I also borrowed the ideas of "the will to protect" and the "will to destroy" from Linay-sama. I feel bad about forgetting to put that in the last chapter.
After realizing that the story notes I had for "A Bittersweet Elegy" really once went to Chapter 3, I decided that I should sit down sometime soon to see what kind of stuff I can come up with for future chapters. In truth, I don't even have a clue as to how this will end, tragic or happy or merely contented? I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm open to suggestions from others though I do have a VERY faint idea of where the plot will be heading in the future.
Lots of OOC in this chapter I think especially from Sano, but it couldn't be helped. I really hate the way I wrote this chapter, but I couldn't find any way to make it better. sigh such is my life.
Disclaimer: Watsuki Nobuhiro is NOT the rightful owner of Rurouni Kenshin, he just doesn't know it yet. BWAHAHAHAHA!! ... please don't sue me...
A Bittersweet Elegy
Chapter 3: Hear No Evil
"Great men are always of a nature originally melancholy."
-Aristotle
Two years later...
-
Katsura Matsuyo stood with his guest handing the man a thin stack of papers before excusing him to the door and saying his last goodbyes. With the last politician dealt with now, he was at better leisure to relax in the company of his comfortable, yet well endowed office. He sat back in his western fashioned chair and gave an inaudible sigh, his left hand reaching to smooth over his well conformed, short hair. Sometimes he really and truly did loath his job in office, but if he weren't the one occupying the position then there may as well be a bright beacon calling for trouble in his stead.
It was one thing to converse over political matters, it was a totally different matter to discuss absurd rumors tracing among the local civilians in Kyoto. His legislative guests this evening had been more inclined to debate on the latter rather than the former to his growing irritation. To avoid any suspicions or spite from his coworkers, Matsuyo had played along accordingly occassionally offering a small comment or chuckle to his elders. Then again, why not? Although these men believed themselves to be dwelling on simple gossip and rumors, he himself knew better.
The men had talked about the rumors of a manslayer to rival all those before him from Shishio Makoto to even the legend himself, Hitokiri Battousai. He killed mercilessly and swiftly rarely giving his victims the chance to even think of screaming or defending themselves against his vicious onslaught. Not a man like Shishio, nor a demon like Battousai, but a ghostly myth absorbed all in himself and his legacy. The supposed immediate death toll of this monster already surpassed the hundreds. In fact, Katsura mused to himself, he wouldn't be surprised if the number was already advancing near or in the thousands. A hefty number for a "time of peace", especially when the killer remained in the shadows and slaughtered only when instructed.
Rumors. Myths. Legends.
The other politicians had warded off their fear for safety with a mantra predicting the supernatural powers of storytelling passed down through old hags and naive, passionate children. They felt no need for fear or caution given such reasons. Katsura grinned to himself. He knew better and first-hand as well. In fact, he was the instructor of this new slayer, an employee with benefits all his own.
Speaking of which, he may as well call him out and into the open.
"Himura," he said lazily feeling himself recline further into the comfort of his leather chair. "I know you're in here, so save us both the trouble."
A shadow in the far corner of the room twitched and Katsura watched it with dull amusement as it slowly morphed shape until the ends fit into the sculpture of a man silhouetted against the stray light of the lamps in the room. He took a few slow steps forward until he stood on the opposite end of his employer's large, burgundy desk and awaited further instructions.
"Tonight went as planned?" Matsuyo asked resting his elbow on the side of his chair and reclining his chin into his palm.
"Hai, Katsura-san."
Katsura nodded approvingly glancing at the short figure in front of him with interest while taking in his rustic appearance and characteristic features; the crimson, auburn hair flaming from its high-held band atop his head that grew into short, smooth lines about his jaw and lip. The hitokiri had apparently accepted the facial hair after his time alone in a cell after the 'accident', as they had quietly named it. Katsura himself had become curious to his sudden need for a change in appearance, but shrugged it off out of respect and duty for his fellow operative.
The two were of almost identical age, Katsura leading with at most two years leverage, yet their physiques and demeanors gave no similarities between the two. One, a tall, stately politician with all the manners of a well educated man masked in expensive suits and socially accepted cuts; the other, a small, lithe swordsman lacking in extrovert qualities and hidden behind his tattered gis and worn hakamas. Similar yet different with a single common link that kept the both of them in good terms of one another: Katsura Kogoro.
Despite the family relations built between Matsuyo and his uncle, none would deny the untainted tie the demonic manslayer shared with his past employer, friend, and role model. Some might even say that the hitokiri's hair only burned so lividly because of the respect he held for his deceased companion who escorted him through the beginning trials of life during the Bakamatsu and taught him what life should truly be meant to live for rather than the ideals of a desperate nation thriving to survive and change.
"You've done well, Himura-san," the former spoke, turning in his chair ever so slightly to watch the man in front of him. "Arigato."
"Don't thank me," came the stern reply. "Such actions should have no thanks."
"But I do thank you for what you've done," Matsuyo continued gesturing towards the hitokiri demurely. "Your country would thank you for what you have done for it in the past and what you are doing for it presently. You're a hero to them."
The shorter man shifted from one foot to the other casting his gaze silently to the floor so that his eyes were shielded by his bangs. "You would dare to call me a hero?" It was an unthreatening question filled with angst and a hint of bitterness.
"Yes I would, and so would your countrymen," was the curt reply. "And what of it? It's the truth."
"Consider me a hero if you will," Kenshin slowly said, shifting his stance ever so slightly under his eyes as they lifted beyond his bangs to peer brokenly at the man before him. "But history would call me a monster."
"All the same, titles are easily gained and lost."
"Mm."
"But enough of this talk," Katsura said waving a hand in front of his face placatingly. "None of us enjoy dwindling in the past anyway. Your assignment is completed with no witnesses, correct?"
"Hai, Katsura-san."
"And are you ready for a new assignment in a few days?"
"Hai."
"Mm. Your next task will take place in two days outside of Kyoto, preferably a good distance away." He stopped to search quickly through a stack of papers on the corner of his desk before pulling out a small sheet with scarce wording. "You will be assasinating a group of officers traveling back from Tokyo supposedly carrying information concerning the whereabouts of the rebellion."
"Then what good would it do to kill the officers?"
"I'm not finished." He sat back and folded his hands over his lap. "Obviously, all of the officers in the end will be executed for being associated with the Shimenkakumei, but not before information has been attained. Leave a few for information before finishing them. We need that data."
"Understood." Himura leaned forward taking the sheet offered to him and scanned the contents.
"The details of location and time are included." Katsura's gaze narrowed slightly. "This is important, Himura. You haven't failed me once, and I trust you with this alone."
"Hai, Katsura-san." He bowed and made towards the door to exit when his employer's voice broke his thoughts bringing him back into the room.
"And Himura," Matsuyo began turning back towards the stack of work piling upon his desk. "The girl's off-limits. Avoid her. Don't let her see you or your work until you're gone." He gave a meaningful glance towards the hitokiri lingering in the doorway. "I don't like the bloodshed of women, but if she sees you... you know what to do."
"Hai, Katsura-san."
And before his companion could even lift his head once more, he was gone into the stillness of the night and the waning sighs of the soft breeze.
"I can't believe I won't see either of you for nearly a month!" a female voice sweetly said to her two companions as they moved slowly towards the carriage waiting at the residence's gates.
"Ahh, Jou-chan," a deep voice sounded close to her ear as they moved. "You'll be fine."
"It's not me I'm worried about!" she retorted, annoyance sounding thoroughly through her voice.
"We'll be fine too, don't worry. Just remember where you are and who's there with you." the voice's owner gave her a slight jostle at his implications and was rewarded with a blushing frown and a quick slap across his chest.
"That doesn't give me much reassurance, Sanosuke." She bunched her form trying to hide her burning face in the man's shoulder before both her companions could see the bright crimson hue she had taken on.
"Maa, maa, Jou-chan. You still shouldn't worry. Yahiko and I will be fine here. You've made sure of that already." He felt her relax slightly in his arms before continuing. "And I know Iwasaki-san will take even better care of you in Kyoto than we could here." He paused a moment in thought. "Or anyway, he better..."
Kaoru chuckled lightly to herself at her friend'd protective stance over her before glancing beside them to the boy walking quietly there his head hung slightly and his arms crossed securely against his chest. "Yahiko?"
"Nani?" his voice was soft, but he didn't even bother to meet her gaze.
"Are you sure you'll be ok?"
"Of course I will, busu," he spat straightening his posture slightly and giving her a fake frown that she easily caught on to.
She sighed softly to herself looking out beyond her human carriage to the real one waiting a few yards away.
"I can't believe I'm actually going to Kyoto. I haven't seen Misao-chan in years it seems," she whispered barely loud enough for the two men walking with her to catch.
"Oi, that's because you haven't seen her in years," Yahiko corrected giving her a meaningful stare that was quickly returned with a soft smile.
"I suppose it has been a few years since the accident." Kaoru stopped looking at her socks and sandals scrutinizingly as her hand lifted to her collar brushing the coarse trails left there from a night long past.
Both men stayed perfectly quiet at her quandry, opting instead to situate her comfortably in the open carriage.
"Kenshin would have loved this; to see Kyoto just before winter when so many of the festivals were coming."
Sano withdrew his arms from around Kaoru no longer having to carry her any further now that she was well seated on the bench in the carriage. He watched silently as she situated herself to a decent position before looking back at him, tears dwelling in the corners of her eyes as she thought back to her lost rurouni.
"Ahh, Jou-chan," Sano began softly, his gangster mask falling at the sight of his adoptive sister's sorrow. "I thought we'd been over this."
When she answered with a muffled sob into the sleeve of her kimono, he placed his large hand over hers on the seat and continued.
"Kenshin would have wanted you to be happy. That's all he ever really wanted in life. He wouldn't want you thinking of him like this, it's almost disrespectful to his name as your friend."
"I can't help it though, Sano," she sniffled wiping a few tears from her cheeks with the back of her opposite hand. "He died because of me. I don't think I'll ever get that image out of my head. All I saw was him and the police... and the sword... and... he fell."
Averting her eyes elsewhere, she blinked back a few remaining tears that threatened to spill.
"Kaoru," Yahiko said stepping into the carriage across from her and looking at her squarely. "We all know how much you loved Kenshin, but Sano's right. He wouldn't want you mopping around him like the busu you are. Iwasaki-san wants you to join him in Kyoto, he wants to give you a better life than any of us could ever give you. Don't ruin it for yourself. If you don't stay in Kyoto for yourself or even for us, do it for Kenshin."
It was weird. The kid was actually getting pretty good at these little speeches. Three years ago, Kaoru would have passed out from hearing such a thing from Yahiko, but now it seemed almost normal. So in turn, she gave him a heart-felt smile and leaned forward towards him to wrap him lovingly in her arms. After a moment, he reciprocated the hug, rubbing her back soothingly for a moment before they broke apart.
"Thank you, Yahiko," she said as he moved to jump down from the carriage. "I'm sorry for all the trouble."
The boy shrugged his shoulders seemingly apathetic, but Kaoru knew better as Sano moved forward to give her a quick hug.
"Don't worry about it," he said smoothly standing back up straight and giving her a cocky grin. "You just worry about taking care of you. Remember to send us a letter when you get there."
"I will."
The carriage jolted a bit as the driver climbed up into his seat and began talking to the group of officers they were to be traveling with.
"Do you think all these policemen are really necessary, though?" she asked looking around at the fair sized group across the road.
Sano shrugged looked in the direction she had suggested. "Dunno. Iwasaki-san was concerned about your safety coming up so I guess it's no surprise that they're here."
"I still don't understand the need to have twenty officers escort me from Tokyo to Kyoto. It's not that dangerous," her lips pouted a bit at the thought as she glared at the crowd waiting to depart.
"I bet it's because of that new hitokiri," Yahiko snickered casting a glance also at the officers. "I bet Iwasaki-san is afraid of losing his precious Kao-chan to the big, bad assassin."
Kaoru glared at him, her cheeks flushed and her visage slightly paled. "That's not funny, Yahiko."
"Which part?" Sano cut in throwing her a wry grin.
"All of it."
"Aww... Jou-chan is afraid of the big, bad hitokiri!" Sano jested sounding a bit too much like Yahiko for anyone's comfort.
"No," she immediately replied huffing a bit as she tried to smooth the front of her lavender kimono.
"Ah, come on," Yahiko said crossing his arms about his chest and smirking haughtily. "You don't really believe in those rumours do you?"
"Well you never know, there could be a new hitokiri lurking in Kyoto. Kami knows there have been ones before. Just because it's a rumour doesn't mean it's not true."
Sano sighed cutting his humour for a moment to glance up at Kaoru. "That's why you have all these officers with you."
For a moment, she looked uncertain before nodding slightly in acceptance.
A few shouts were heard between the driver and the officers before the carriage Kaoru was sitting in slowly began to move forward behind the twin bays pacing in front of the coach.
"Take care, Jou-chan," Sano called to her as she slowly began to move away. "Remember to write us, we'll be there in a month."
"Bye, Kaoru," Yahiko called waving briefly before settling to watch the carriage recede into the street.
"Bye, Sano. Bye, Yahiko," Kaoru called back in turn as the carriage pulled out into the main road and began to pick up pace. "I'll miss you!"
Sanosuke and Yahiko waited until she was out of sight before turning and heading back towards Dr. Genzai's house where Kaoru and Yahiko had taken up residence the past two years. They walked in silence as the mumblings of the street and crowd drifted to their ears and settled their nerves.
"You think she'll be ok?" Yahiko asked softly keeping his eyes cast to the dirt before him.
He was answered with an abrupt pounding to the top of his head as the ex-gangster angrily retorted, "Of course she will. Do you really think Iwasaki-san would let anything bad happen to her? He probably wants to friggin' marry Kaoru sometime soon."
"Yeah, I know, but the hitokiri..."
"...is just a rumour made up by tired old hags trying to remember their glory days during the Bakumatsu." He stopped and turned to glare at the younger boy. "Look, when Kenshin was the Battousai, people didn't rumour his existance, they knew he was real. Same with Shishio Makoto. Rumours end in truth and there is no truth behind those rumours."
Yahiko glared back at Sano calculating his opponent's words carefully before continuing, "How do you know for sure?"
Sano paused before looking away abruptly and starting back towards the house. "Shut up, kid."
Mercy was a funny thing. While some would call him merciful for ending his victims' lives swiftly and virtually painlessly, others would say he was a merciless murderer killing indiscriminately and feeding off of blood and death alone. Either way, he killed, and so whether or not he practiced the tact of mercy became of no generic consequence to him provided the task was completely accordingly. Mercy was, after all, just a meaningless display. In the end, it would finish just the same with or without it.
With such reasons drilled deep within his cerebral region and governing his decisions, he silently stalked his targets from the bordering brush edged along the campsite and waited until one or possibly a few were ignorant enough to pass close enough in his direction for him to dispose of them as soundlessly as possible so as not to expose himself to the rest of the party and consequently the woman whom he was to be avoiding. Currently, he had taken six of the officers and was intently surveying the eight gathered around the fire pit while gauging the other six that had receded to their tents for the night.
His existance had gone undetected as of yet, the only clues left to the conversing, uniformed men being the ever subtly change in shadow as he moved deftly about the site in calculating circles examining the layout of the camp and the whereabouts of each member of the group. There had been twenty men total plus the woman who had not ventured from her tent since his arrival almost an hour ago. Eleven tents scattered about the premisis conveyed that the men would sleep two to a tent while the woman would be left to herself. Just as well, it made his job by far easier especially with her lack of appearance. The horses and coordinating wagons were settled a few yards outside of the camp saving him the risk of startling one of the animals and alerting the men to some sort of disturbance.
He glanced in the direction of her tent. A lone candle glowed through the palpable material of her shelter dancing in the laden fires of his cold, amber eyes and reflecting dimly in the metallic sheen of the small, circular trinket he carried on a chain about his neck. Without a thought, he tucked the round object securely into the neck of his dark, navy gi before steering his gaze back to the men satisfied that she would not be leaving from her position anytime soon.
Carefully he crept forward, his feet moving soundlessly against the padding of the forest floor as he came closer to the circle of men gathered and talking uproariously around the large, warm fire. Hopefully, another would excuse himself to attend to natural indulgences at present or at least soon so that he could continue with his mission and maybe even speed up the process. Though he was an assassin by profession, lurking and creeping in the shadows at night was not exactly something he revelled in. He preferred the facial approach more by far where hand to hand combat was a possibility. That at least gave the men some sense of honor in death unlike being picked off one by one inconspicuously. Stupid woman. Why did such large groups always have to travel with a woman?
Too late to persuade them otherwise now. Now it was time to wait patiently unless he was willing to forfeit his secrecy.
"Hey," one of the men around the fire said to his comrades standing abruptly and taking a sweeping look around the area. "Where do ya suppose Etsuya went?"
The men all looked about in unison for a moment before another cut in slapping away their questions.
"He probably just went off to take a piss, the guy's had quite a bit to drink."
With a quick shake of his head, the man standing dismissed the notion saying, "Naw, he's been gone too long for that."
"Then he pro'lly went to bed, like the rest of you girlies should be doin' soon en'uff." The other snickered to himself eyeing his coworkers humourously before taking another quick swig of the bottle in his hand.
"Naw, he has the rest of the night shift to sit in for soon, so he couldn't have gone to bed."
The rest of the group speculated on his reasonings momentarily before realizing that others of their party were missing too.
"It seems that Daisetsu, Kakuei, and Haruki have also decided to step out," the latter spoke eyeing the woods around them indiscretely. "Maybe they found something we should take a look at."
Again the entirety of the brigade began to look about themselves for any sign of the others only to come up with nothing. The forest was as silent and ineffectual as always giving them no clues to its further residents, particularly a dark hitokiri waiting quietly behind the enclosure of tents watching them mutely.
"Let's go see what they found," one man said moving to advance into the woods just as Kenshin crept closer, his katana drawn and his other hand fingering the hilt of his wakazashi.
"What about the miss?" another asked quickly glancing back at the tent the woman was commissioned in. "We can't just leave her here unattended while the others sleep." His voice betrayed his emotional distress over the thought of leaving her defenseless, though the thought was not left unwarranted. After all, Kenshin mused, a man such as himself was stalking about the campsite waiting for an opportuntiy to seclude and kill.
The other men obviously caught on murmuring amongst themselves over the course of action to be taken before settling on a plan. The man who had spoken in turn secondly to the group took the initiative to explain the details of his operation. "Two of us will stay here to watch the miss. That way she'll be properly attended and we'll have a good share of scouts. The rest of us will do just that, scout about, we don't know which way the others headed in, so we need to split up to cover more ground in less time. This needs to be fast. Who volunteers to stay here?"
At first several hands flew up, each man glancing quickly back at the woman's tent before a few relinquished and lowered their arms until only two remained. Funny, either these men were cowardly when it came to patrolling, or they were especially fond of their dubbed 'miss'. Once again it really didn't matter. If anything, this new situation would definently ease his job considerably cutting the needed time to finish the task four times over. What great sudden luck.
After a moment's hesitation, the party dispersed ambling slowly in their own separate directions into the shadows of the forest, small flaming branches held in front of them to project some light on their immediate area and pistols held stiffly in front of them. Watching the paths each man took diligently, Battousai set to work pacing low in the brush like a wolf on its prey.
Carefully, he followed the light of one man's torch deeper and deeper into the woods easily avoiding clusters of frail twigs and leaves that would betray his position. Once the man had moved securely away from his comrades and coincidingly the campsite, he struck swiftly and silently before the sound of the man's unceremonious fall could be registered to the rest of the group.
Straight up through the mouth and jaw. It was the safest and fastest method of disposal he could presently practice without alerting anyone else of his unwelcome presence. The immediate piercing of the brain left no time for gasps or cries while the forward momentum was ceased so that the necrotic fall would be silenced by the body as it fell down upon itself rather than forward into a thicket. His theory proved itself true when the man's downward plight ended in the faintest of rustles he could have hoped for. Quickly, he stomped out the man's torch before it could alight to the dry foliage about it and stealthily moved ahead to his next target to lay in waiting and repeat the process.
Indeed, even with the sudden advancement of his assignment's pace, it would still prove to be a long night.
A sudden rustling of grass and brush several yards outside her tent caught Kaoru's attention halting her hand from its occupation. Though her tent was centered farther in the center of the ring of tents, she was still acutely aware of each sound and movement made around her from the dull snores and shallow breathing of the men based already within their tents to the low crinkles of leaves and debris outside the cleared area caused by the wind and small, curious animals. Her pulse quickened slightly as her head tilted in the direction the noise had come from watching the dim silhouettes beyond the fabric of her refuge with intent, sapphire eyes.
She would have been crass and naive to completely ignore the single occurence despite the fact that many women her age would do just that reasoning that it was just a rabbit who had passed by and been a bit louder than usual. Rabbits weren't heavy enough to cause that loud of a clamour among the thicker sticks lying farther out in the woods, but a person could, and the men made of habit of relieving themselves farther away from her current abode to avoid disturbing her. Curteous fellows, she had thought to herself earlier.
When no sound ensued minutes later, she shook the event from her mind conducting her attention back to her journal held protectively in the nook of her lap, a pen gripped tightly in her right hand as she began to continue her writing.
Keeping a journal was a sort of therapy for her. Each entry spanned up to a few pages long in length and covered all topics no matter how general or genial they may seem. It never mattered to her. Before the fire she had kept scores of finished journals in her room dating back to her seventh birthday when her father had first presented her with a small, empty book for her to express her thoughts and creativity in. Since then, it was merely a habit; a habit she thought all women should have and keep no matter the consequence of their possible discovery and exposure. It was an outlet no woman should be left wanting.
She sighed softly to herself as she wrapped her yukata tighter about her shoulders and moved to lean her chin on the palm of her left hand as the right continued to move in fluent arcs and crosses about the page discussing what was currently on her mind.
Another pitting crackle of brush in the woods yards directly in front of her snapped her attention back to her surroundings as the almost indecipherable and faint clink of metal slidding from flesh frenzied about her ears threatening to draw a startled shriek from her lips. She fought the impulse to panic settling instead to force herself to accept deep breaths and wait for any new occurences in the region around her.
She waited.
Even when the minutes slid by in couplets, Kaoru waited listening sharply for any sonance besides her bated breath and the strong pounding of her heart in her head. She could hear the soft roar of the fire outside and the light conversation between two men sitting idly close to it. She could also faintly hear the footsteps of the other men as they circled the area a good distance away just as keenly as she could detect the cryptic crunch to her left as yet another nameless object seemed to topple over upon itself under the protective tresses of the sylvan night. Sure enough the sound repeated itself only moments later as the footsteps of the patrol began to decrease considerably in number.
Needless to say, she was suddenly terrifyingly aware.
Next chapter:
See No Evil
(A/N) spasms and dies Man, this was a hard chapter to write and I really had a hard time with it. Maybe when I have more time I'll go back and fix it up a bit since I feel it to be lacking considerably in the "effects" department. Anyway, I'm using wordpad to write this since microword is being weird with my comp, so please just ignore any mistakes. I do make it a habit to go over my work and correct things that are blatantly obvious to me before posting, but being human and all I do miss stuff.
Here's the deal, and this is important, I'm a review hound. I live off of them basically and without them I DIE!! Even though I've settled on a basic plan to update maybe once a week, I may be assuaged by my reviewers to speed up the process. I don't care if your review is just one word, I just want to know if anyone is reading this, that's all. I only write when people read after all.
Blah, blah, blah.. hopefully the next chapter will be better and my sudden battle with writer's block with be over. I hate writing action, it's just so hard and intuitive. Next chapter is extremely important since a certain someone suddenly meets another certain someone. Anyway, until then!!
REVIEWER RESPONSES:
-Naomi-chan- gobbles up chocolate bar you gave her greedily Mmmm... nothing that sugary motivation to get a new chapter done. I really appreciate you reminding me about my borrowing Linay's theme, I nearly freaked when I realized I had forgotten to credit her. I'm also so happy that you added me to your favorites, I feel so honoured I could cry . I'm sorry this chapter is late but I've been too busy to do much about it. Hope you forgive me. I can also assure you that Battousai-san is in for quite a shock next chapter... whether for better or for worse, we'll have to see. Thanks also for the encouraging words, when I was strugling with this chapter I just kept going back and reading your review and somehow I ended up finding the ability to continue.
-Psychotic Tanuki- People don't give authors enough credit just like you said. It is so hard emoting what you see and hear and feel into words that aptly describe the scenario in detail. They need to make a devise that writes stories for you. You like plug it into your imagination and it writes out everything you're thinking perfectly for others to read. Then again, where would the stress of writing be then?
-Nicky- I can definently tell you that I won't kill Kaoru deliberately in this fic. I like her too and I think she's been through enough as it is. I can't promise you though that her hard times are over looks around nervously Heh heh.
-april-moon- I'm glad you're enjoying it and sorry about making you cry. At least she's ok though.
-Jen- Aww... I don't want you to cry either. Please don't, it'll work out somehow. After a while the mood will ease a bit, but I'm trying to work on a more somber basis. Hope you like it anyway.
-kouri- gobbles cookie Thankies!! gets nervous sudddenly Well, everyone kinda thinks Kenshin's dead since all they really saw of him was the officer knocking him unconscious with the hilt of his sword at a distance. That's why they're still separated. Glad you liked the chapter!
-Shiomei- It's great to hear that you liked it and I hope to hear from you again in another review!!
-nobody- cries herself Please don't crying, it'll get better. You'll see. At least Kaoru's alright and she does forgive Kenshin.
-koe760- Glad you like it!! Hope ya liked this chapter too!