I don't know what to say. Sorry for not updating, though I don't know who is reading this. Oh well, my friend wrote the first chapter, and begged me to continue it for her. So….I am.

Don't worry, there will be more original characters coming soon --Megumi, Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, and even someone you may have never expected…

I love writing love triangles, and this is my perfect chance. Be prepared for jealousy, love, and betrayal. (In later chapters) And also an odd love….octagon, yes.

Hope you like. Sorry, this chapter was just to kind of introduce my character, Mitsuko. Things will get a LOT better, soon.

Disclaimer: All original characters belong to Watsuki-sama. Mitsuko belongs to me, and Kurai belongs to...well..Kurai.

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"You're my next targets." She spoke clearly, but softly, as she stood outside the sliding shouji door of Sanosuke Sagara's anything-but-cleanly-and-orderly home.

People from various other apartments of the same kind were staring at her; after all, who had really ever seen a woman like her, or the one who had just entered, in those parts.

Prostitution was common, but neither of the two women were interested. One was identified as Kurai Sagara, and the one outside knew her extremely well.

They carried themselves well, all of them. Mitsuko knew that for a fact. Of the four of them, they had all appeared to make it out unscathed, at least apparent after years of searching and hoping, spying and wishing.

They each had reasons to feel broken, but they didn't take them, they just let it go.

'I wonder how they could….I wonder what they did afterwards,' Mitsuko thought with a well audible sigh.

She began to walk out again, interested in finally making herself known to the last important person on her mental list.

Her hair was straight, slick, but a deep brown color, while his was jet black, almost raven like. Over the years since they had last met, she had drown up immensely. No longer smiling, her lips set firmly into an even line, and her eyes…her deep brown eyes had grown cold and unforgiving with not only the times of the Meiji, but with herself. She wasn't too tall, but about average height, and her frame was slightly; she didn't eat often, her diet consisted mainly of tea and rice when she cooked, which was rare. She often just went without, not noticing a bit.

Besides, the light weight was helpful for dodging attacks, but she was easily injured when hit head on.

Luckily, that wasn't often.

She was easily picked out of the crowd --unlike the kimonos or hakama and gi which were so very popular, she donned a long, onyx colored skirt, which covered her feet, so the make of her shoes couldn't be known. Her hair rustled against the collar of her shirt, a slightly western made creation. It was an odd, cotton made blouse, the sleeves emblazed with black patterns of no particular meaning, unlike the 'aku' kanji worn on Sano's back. The sleeves ended at her singer tips, her hands now hidden.

Only because she wasn't anticipating battle.

The last time…she could remember the last time she had fought, and it wasn't pretty for either of the two. He used a sword, something she oddly wasn't familiar in battle with. She never used one, thinking that that was too much the way of the samurai. Instead, she followed in her brother's footsteps, explosives her area of expertise, and adding a whip and num-chucks for both long distance and short distance battles.

Shortly after the fight, she remembered leaning at the base of the grave, sobbing for forgiveness, pondering heavily the thoughts of suicide. Again.

{/Flashback/}

Darkness shrouded in misery, the young girl wept over the simple stone, tears gleaming from the chocolate orbs as her brown hair fell over her shoulders, hiding her pale face from view.

"I never meant to hurt you…"

In truth, she was talking to all of them. --All were Sekihoutai members, and most, if not all, were dead. She was, at one time, a member herself, the younger sister of Katsuhiro Isukioka. But that had ended tragically, with the death of the taichou, Souzou Sagara, her idol and, not to mention, her childhood crush.

Lied to by her "family", being told that the taichou had not died, rather abandoned them all, she set out to find revenge, being found by a particularly nasty group of soldiers and forced to work for them, going against all she had worked for as a member of the fallen "false Imperial army".

But she didn't mind. This was revenge against her once idol.

But discovering the truth years later, she felt cold. Icy with regret for becoming a traitor.

"Taichou, I never meant to do what I did. Forgive me, please forgive me…" She spoke with a rather odd calm nature, her voice low and silky as she wept over the grave marker.

{/End flashback/}

But it was difficult to tell, had she really been forgiven? Were the years between his death and the present more like forgiveness , or hell?

She rapped upon the doorframe, blinking away tears.

"Who is it?," A raspy voice answered her unspoken call.

"Just open the door, Tsunan."

He could see her form vaguely through the rice paper door, and he smirked. He knew not why a pretty young girl was visiting him, or what intentions she may have held, but he was willing to chance it.

"As per your request," He replied, sliding the door open to reveal a pretty, young girl, appearing to be in her teens, except for the fact that her eyes were so unforgiving looking.

She looked vaguely familiar, especially with the green ribbon tied under her hair. She looked….almost like himself.

"Thank you. May I step in, Tsunan?" She didn't dare to tell him who she was yet, hoping to catch her brother off guard.

He said nothing, just merely stepped to the side, allowing her to step inside.

She did so, gazing at the empty quarters with confusion. She didn't see much besides the obvious, paper, ink…

Of course, he was an artist, after all.

"Did I have an appointment with you, miss…?" He asked, still not knowing what she was doing there. He never received visitors other than Sano occasionally.

"No, I came unannounced," Mitsuko spoke, nonchalantly.

"Ah…I see. May I ask what you're doing?" He was beginning to become nervous, anticipating the worst.

"Is that any way to treat your sister, Katsu?" Mitsuko asked, a smirk playing on her lips.

Katsu paled. This was worse than what he expected.

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Next chapter:

Who is this Mitsuko? Is she really who she says she is? And if she is, why did she wait ten years to come back to meet Katsu? And what will happen when two friends turned enemies have to fight each other?

I'd like it if you reviewed. XD