Falconess is back!! After a few months of not posting, not writing, and not updating...I've decided to pick up my work again. The problem is getting my work into the right text doctument. I no longer have the word program I used to use, and ff.net doesnt take ".rft" type documents.... which is what I've been using. I found that changing it to the correct format isn't pretty.. lets just say that the spacing is horrible, and it stretches across the screen way to much for my liking. Unfortunately, this will be a short chapter... because... eh.. .! I forgot what my story was about.. and am currently searching for the notes which were the outlines for the rest of the story. So.. this is basically a chapter that I inserted to keep you guys on your toes, and draw it out before I actually find what the future plot is. 3 Heck.. I forgot what my original characters looked like! So... I'll be rereading my own works, and correcting mistakes here and there.

A few questions answered.... contrary to popular belief, Mishimaro does not LOVE Kaoru, not in the relationship most are thinking of. He thinks of her as a Sister, and only loves her as a sister. -.-;

The reason why Ketsa hates Kenshin- As stated in the first chapter, Ketsa and Kaoru had strong ties with the Shinsengumi, their father was a member of it... actually, he was a top officer in it. For those of you who haven't figured out who their father is... that will be revealed later. Kenshin was a member of the Ishin Shishi (sp?). Those two groups were mortal enemy's.

Another strong reason why the amnesty is there- Also in a previous chapter, can't quite remember where.. it's the one where Kaoru is poisoned, right after Kaoru throws herself in front of Kenshin, to prevent Ketsa from attacking her fiance, Ketsa tells her that Kenshin had killed their mother. In a later chapter, more details of the night of that raid will be explained. Battossai had apparently been one of the attacking, and Ketsa while visiting his mother, is told who her killer was-- Battossai. The village had several families that belonged to the Shinsengumi, hence the reason why it had been targeted for attack.

Any other questions?

"Ichi.. ni, san shi", beaded sweat trickled down a raven haired woman's forehead, as she swung a bokken before her. Her wooden weapon struck another's weapon. The other wielding the wooden blade, was rather tall... muscular, with gray-white hair. After each strike, he would move the blade, first horizontal to the ground, then vertical, diagonal, each time... he waited for her to strike his blade, as a sort of counter. With each movement, they went faster. Finally, they finished that exercise, they went on to a small sparring match. The two faced each other down. Finally, the male commented.. "you won't be using a bokken..." Turning around, he walked about till he found a branch on the ground, large enough to wield. Breaking off some limbs, so that it was one large stick, he tossed it to her. "There's your weapon." His eye's seemed to dance with humor, a small smirk upon his lips, threatening to laugh at her.

She, Kaoru, in turn, glowered at him, he couldn't be serious! "What do you expect me to do with this?!" Her lips curved in a frown, as she watched him unsheathe his katana, that had been resting against a nearby tree.. "Enishi! How's this fair?" A similar cry came from a young boy, he had been watching in the same tree where that katana rested. His hair black, just as his eyes. It was a mop of spikes on his head. Yahiko, was still young and prideful, he refused to be taught by HIM... but he watched any ways. After living with the man for a few weeks, the tension had dissipated, he even started to call the man, old coot. Only because Enshi had white hair. The only thing that Yahiko didn't like about him now, was his attraction to Kaoru. He only wanted Mishimaro to be her lawfully wedded husband. FAT CHANCE!

"You can't fight her with a katana.. Not if she only uses a stick!! You aint playing fair... watch it or I'll fight you.." Yahiko sneered, more talk then show.

Enishi, seemed to roll his eyes, the smirk growing wider, only causing his friends to glower more. "You don't know anything do you?" His laughter rung, hearing the boys curse, and the woman's growl. If you want to be a true swords master.. You must hold the teachings of one... That.. my dear Kaoru," His head bobbed as he nodded at the stick, "is the Zantetsuken" (btw... I got this from XXX holic... .!)

"The legendary sword of Goemon Ishikawa's? The weapon that can cut through Iron? I wish.. this is just a stick that I'm holding!" Her face was beginning to redden in frustration. She hated to lose, even though she hadn't quite won against Enishi yet, but any disadvantage irked her to no end.

The man sighed, they just weren't getting it at all.... A mutter escaped him, "No wonder the brat is so inept at sword fighting." he said this just loud enough for the 'brat', Yahiko to hear. He received a sound, "WATCH IT!!!" Of course, he knew the kid wasn't so bad at fighting.. it was fun to tease. He began to explain.. "A thing can have the same power, for that which it is named.."

His two listeners eye's widened, mouth parting slightly, if that was true, simple object held wondrous opportunities. "Really?!" Their answer was brutally rejected.

"No..that's just a wives tale... Actually, a true swordsman should not have to depend on his sword. It's not his weapon that cuts, it's his technique stupid girl..' He received a shrug for an answer. The fight soon commenced.

Kaoru had no choice but to dodge the attack he threw at her, her weapon useless. Zantetsuken... HAH! She rolled away, as he slashed at her from above, having flipped the blade so as to not kill her. They continued a game of cat and mouse for a bit, till finally the girl was becoming steadily tired, and decided.. 'ok... so this is the Zantetsuken... a master can make his weapon cut, regardless of the weapon..' With that, she attacked, slashing at his abdomen, he dodged just in time. As a counter, he flipped his blade and swung at her blade slicing it in two. The match was over. "But... I thought.." She growled in frustration, "ARG!!" and threw the remains of the stick at his head, growling more when he merely tilted his head and dodged it. "Not fair..." She clenched her teeth at his laughing, ready to swing a punch, however, she stopped, eye's fixed upon a spot at his side. He was still laughing, until he realized that he had yet to be hit. His own orbs followed hers, and there... on his side, the fabric of his clothing was sliced, a clean cut, and you could almost see the traces of a scratch that lay upon his skin. They were silent for a bit, as Yahiko approached, glancing at what they were staring at he to was silent. "There... must have been a thorn on that stick.. yeah.." The others nodded agreeing, not wishing to pry any further into the matter... Kaoru, a master swordsman? It was luck.. mmhm... that's it. Luck...

The sound of laughter filled the clearing, water was flown about, shimmering in the streams of sunlight. In the middle of a small, clear pond, two children were splashing one another. It was a touching site, the two were yelping as they dunked each other, pushing their 'opponents' head into the water, and giggling as they watched him/her come up, sputtering. It was supposed to be a bath, yet somehow it had ended up in a water war. The two were still wearing their cloths, so it hung to them like a second skin. Nearby, resting on the bank is a man that we are all to familiar with.. Kenshin. A small smile rested on his lips as she watched, slightly irked, yet amused. Next to him, two pairs of his cloths lay on the bank. It was for the children to wear once they were done. At least, until their own clothes were finished drying.

When the two were done with their little escapades, they waded back to shore, and separated to get dressed. They came back, still giggling.. and plopped themselves on either side of Kenshin.The young boy grinning, facing Kenshin. It was a funny sight, these young one's dressed in clothes three times to big, and if not held together, would fall right off. It's good that Kenshin was short and small. Else wise, the tops could almost pass as a womans kimono. "Mister, you're awright!" Said the boy, a little blush on his cheeks. Soon he caught himself however, coughed abit.. "well..at least for a GROWN UP".

The girl giggled, teasing her friend. "Meru has a crrruuuushhhhh" her head stuck out, as she leaned forward to see past Kenshin and stick her tongue out at her friend.

"NUH UH!! Ewwwww.. he's a GUY!"

"But.. he looks like a girl"

"Does not"

"Does to"

"Not"

"to"

He resented that... Kenshin did NOT look like a girl, at least... he didn't think so. A soft sigh escaped his lips, and the rurouni glanced back and forth between the to, silencing them with a stare that read, 'if you don't stop,.. I'll throw you back into that pond' "So.. where do you kids live?" The childrens preppy attitude instantly vanished, and both were quite. He waited for one to speak. it was the girl who spoke up first, her soft lips turning in a frown.....

TBC

I know... a boring chapter. Bare with me for a bit! I apologize for taking so long to post... and in the end releasing such a mundane and short chapter. I'm thinking about postponing this story, and going back through the previous chapters and rewriting the whole thing. . Should I rewrite it or not? Rewriting will mean it'll take longer to get new chapters out. But then again, the previous chapters would be better and longer, and the story might have been changed a bit.

Falconess