2
"Would you happen to know much about the one called, the Battousai...?" her
voice was calm but cold.
"Why no Miss Athyli, I am not quite sure I know much about him at all, that
I'm not. All I know is that he is a shadow of the past, long ago
disappearing into the history of the new régime." Sage's eyes held back
many questions he wished answered. "Is there anything else...?"
Athyli opened her mouth to speak, but only shook her head. "No... I don't
believe there is."
"Alright then, let us begin," Sage responded, loosing his smile and letting
his features turn serious and hard. "Draw your shinai and then we can
leave."
"Right." The girl shook her head taking out her sword from the bamboo
sheath strapped to her back.
"Hold it in your hands as if you were about to attack me." Sage instructed,
starting to back away from Athyli slowly, keeping his Sakabatou resting
uneasily at his side.
Athyli brought out her shinai and flowed effortlessly into an attacking
stance, her bamboo sword poised at a downward and deadly angle.
"My gods..." Sage thought to himself as he surveyed Athyli's stance, perfect
in every possible way. "She wields her sword like one who's slain
many...Could she be who I think she really is...?"
After a few moments of continuous mental notes and silent observations,
Sage stood back with arms wide open to Athyli. "Come at me." He said
coldly.
"Pardon...?" the younger asked, eyes locked upon her sensei.
"You heard me Miss Athyli... Come at me with an attack..." his words were
colder than the ice that was to come during the next season.
"But I thought all you wanted for me to-" Athyli began, only to be cut off
by Sage's commands.
"I said come at me!" he had suddenly lost all kindness towards the girl,
had lost his Himura instincts, giving way to the manslayer that was in his
blood.
"Fine..." Athyli growled under her breath. "As you wish...!" her voice rose and
grew into a kiai, shooting up and bringing her shinai down and hard upon
Sage.
Faster than her eyes could register, Sage's Sakabatou snapped up and
blocked against Athyli's attack with the side of his reverse blade. He
struggled desperately to hold the shinai at bay and away from his body.
"You possess much strength and talent for one who claims to say they are a
beginner, that you do." Sage grunted, blades still locked with the smaller,
more fragile appearing girl.
"I thank you Sir..." she sounded back, pushing harder into Sage, driving the
blade of his Sakabatou against his neck, almost ready to draw blood.
With sudden rage, Sage shoved Athyli back, sending her down hard upon the
dusty ground. "You are most welcome Miss Athyli, that you are, but you
still have much to learn." his features then softened, back to normal as he
held his hand out to Athyli, helping her to her feet. "But there is plenty
of time to improve."
Athyli smiled lightly towards Sage and brushed herself off. "That there
is..." she blinked. "Uhhh... I didn't say that."
Sage blinked continuously. "Nope, never happened." He said stupidly,
glancing around.
"Shall we get going then Sir...?" Athyli requested, gesturing down the path
that led to the Akebeko.
"I suppose we shall, Miss Athyli." Sage smiled, sheathing his drawn
Sakabatou. He stepped forward, taking along his new student to the Akebeko
Beef Bowl restaurant. "I hope you do not mind, Miss Athyli, but... would you
mind if I asked you a couple of questions...?" Sage inquired as they began
their hike to the restaurant.
"No," Athyli said. "Not at all Sir."
"That is a good thing, that it is. So Miss Athyli, tell me why you chose
the Himura, Kamiya dojo out of all the others out in Kyoto and Kobe?" Sage
rose, glancing at the girl from time to time.
"My father." She said simply, not daring to glance back at Sage, feeling
slightly uneasy at him glancing at her so often.
"Tell me about your father, Miss Athyli, he seems like a nice man, that he
does."
Athyli then looked towards Sage, only to scowl at him. "You have no
business to ask of my family Mr. Himura." She growled, stopping dead in her
tracks. "Let us confirm this now, you ask for no information of my family,
is that clear, none!" her words were stone cold despite the amount of fire
she had put into them. "I do not wish for any to know much of my family."
"I understand, that I do, Miss Athyli. I am most sorry to have upset you."
Sage apologized, bowing to her as a sign of humble respect.
Athyli then realized how bitter she had just sounded. "No, Sir." She
expressed regret back. "I should not have acted so self-righteous. I should
have told you before that I was sensitive on family issues." She returned
Sage's bow.
"No need to apologize Miss Athyli, come now, we are already late enough."
Sage motioned for Athyli to continue on with him. "On our way we can ask
each other questions, and all you have to do is look at me if I brush
against one of your delicate subjects, alright?"
Athyli nodded. "Sounds plausible to me, Sir." She smiled, Sage feeling for
the first time that it was sincere.
* * * At the Akebeko, Sano, Megumi, Yahiko, Kenshin, and the others, all await Sage's arrival. "Sano, you should really lay off all the sake, that you should." Kenshin laughed, holding Kaoru's hand affectionately in his own. "Listen, Kenny... I don't need you... or the any other of yous, tellin' me what I should... or shouldn't do!" his speech was slurred and he waved his hands about, not realizing the bottle of sake that was in it was nearly full and spilling out upon the others. "Perhaps Sir-ken is right, Sano, dear." Megumi said, attempting to pry Sano's hands from the bottle. "Maybe you should lay off the sake for a while..." "Forget it Megumi..." Yahiko piped in. "You forget what a stubborn old mule Sanoskue has become." "You mean, what he always has been." Kenshin chuckled in retort. Yahiko scratched the back of his head. "I suppose you're right Kenshin." Just then, the doors to the Akebeko slid open, a laughing Sage and giggling Athyli entering into the restaurant. "Well would you look who decided to show up!" Kaoru laughed, looking over to her son. "our guest of honor has finally arrived." "That's a lie..." Sano mumbled, too drunk to grasp the fact that Kaoru was only jesting. "Well, come sit down!" Yahiko said, calling him over to their table, overcrowded with too many family and friends. "Wait!" Sage chuckled, still amused by the story Athyli had just finished telling him. "Before she feels any more awkward than she already does, I'd like to introduce you to Miss Athyli Tassimurae...!" With that almost everyone stood at once, nearly felling the under-sized table as they did so. Sano tried to stand, only to fall flat on his face and pass out as a result of too much to drink. "That's Mr. Sanoskue Sagara." Sage whispered into Athyli's ear. "Don't mind him..." Athyli's mouth shaped into an "Ohhhh...." Megumi stood before Athyli and shook her hand with a polite bow. "Please excuse my husband Miss Tassimurae." She began. "he has a tendency to get carried away with his drinking habits." "It is quite alright." Athyli responded, chuckling behind a delicate hand. "And this is Mr. Yahiko Myojin," Sage pointed, Athyli bowing to him. A young girl, no older than five, stepped up to Yahiko and tugged gently on his dark green hakama. "Papa..." she said timidly. "Mama says she needs your help in the kitchen." Yahiko looked down and kneeled beside the young child. "Cyamae... aren't you going to say hello to Uncle Sage...?" he smiled, taking the child's tiny hand. "Hewwo..." she waved nervously to Sage. "Hello Cyamae..." Sage waved back with the tips of his fingers. He then turned to Athyli. "That's Cyamae, my 'niece', Yahiko's daughter." Athyli smiled and stooped down to the child's level. "Hello Cyamae," she said sweetly. "I am Athyli, it is very nice to meet such a pretty girl as yourself." Cyamae's pale cheeks flushed bright red as she quickly bowed to Athyli and thanked her for her compliment. "Thank you." She said hurriedly. "You're very pretty too, yes you are." She giggled, her small voice more precious than any Athyli had ever heard before. "Why thank you Cyamae." Athyli smiled, rising to her feet and looking down upon the small girl. Yahiko looked rose to his feet as well and looked down to Cyamae. "Go ahead and tell your Mama that I will be there shortly, alright...?" Cyamae nodded and looked to Athyli. "Bye-bye pretty Miss Athyli." She waved as she headed back towards the kitchen. Athyli waved back, "Bye Cyamae...!" She smiled and turned back around towards everyone else. "She is a very sweet child." She remarked. "She is being raised very well." Yahiko stood straight, upright with pride. "Why thank you, 'pretty Miss Athyli.'" Kenshin and Kaoru laughed, along with Megumi and Yahiko as Sano laid on the floor, still out cold. "And of course you've already met my mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Kenshin and Kaoru Himura..." Sage presented, shifting near the married couple that sat side-by-side, arm-in-arm, at the table. Athyli bowed to them again. "It is a pleasure to see you again." "Likewise, I am sure." Kaoru smiled, curling more into Kenshin's arms. As they all began to settle back down into the under-sized table, a new unknown person stepped into the Akebeko. "I'll get this..." Yahiko grumbled, pulling his white, frilly apron on and walking up to the person. "Welcome to the Akebeko Beef Bowl, how may I help you today Sir?" The mysterious person grumbled something to Yahiko and handed him a piece of paper with something scribbled on it. "Of course Sir..." Yahiko smiled politely. "She's right over there...!" he pointed to Athyli. "Thank you kind man," the strange man mumbled in reply. "I don't suppose you could give this to her, could you?" he held out a medium-sized red envelope. "I sure can." Yahiko bowed, taking the envelope from him. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" "No..." he growled in response, "I must be leaving now." "Well thank you for stopping by, we are happy to have helped." "Trust me... you've helped enough as it is." With that the man turned round and left, Athyli only just then noticing him. She rose in her seat as Yahiko stepped up to her and handed her the envelope. "That man that was just here told me to give this to you, Miss Tassimurae." Yahiko said, pulling off the apron as Sage and everybody else laughed at its frilliness. Athyli took the envelope in her hands and looked at the symbol that was written on its front middle. Her eyes widened. "Miss Athyli...?" Sage began, still laughing a bit at Yahiko's apron. "Miss Athyli what's wrong?" The girl rose completely. "I am sorry but I must step outside..." she said grimly, her hands clutching the blood red envelope tightly. With that she stepped out of the Akebeko. "Why do you suppose she is acting so strangely...?" Megumi questioned as Athyli exited. "I don't presume I quite know Mrs. Megumi...that I don't..." Sage put in, staring questionably at the door.
* * * Athyli stepped out under the darkening night sky, a strong and frosty breeze now whipping her long hair about her face. "I know you are here Ieyasu Tosho..." "And I know you are here..." a familiar voice said from beyond the shadows. "I should not have doubted your tracking skills Tosho, and I should have realized that the leader of the Musei Dôkoku clan, should have easily been able to find their right hand woman." Athyli smirked, glancing over to the shadows to see Ieyasu's almost red eyes glaring fiercely at her. "Tell me what is it you want Tosho, and maybe I shall consider letting you walk away alive." "It is I who shall consider letting you walk away alive, Oniken! You have no right to leave the Musei Dôkoku clan, without any notice! Perhaps I should teach you your lesson Oniken, perhaps I shall finally put you out of your misery!" "Try if you wish Tosho. But you'd be missing out on a perfect opportunity..." Athyli smirked wider, her hazel eyes flashing with an evil glint. "Opportunity...?" Ieyasu asked, raising and eyebrow and letting his profile show outside of the shadows. "Yes Tosho... opportunity... You see... With me being enrolled into the Himura, Kamiya Dojo, I have all access to the Hiten Mitsurugi style and...its masters..." "You mean-?" Ieyasu began. "Yes Tosho... I'll also have all access to the one formerly known as the Battousai, my friend... And not only the Battousai, no... But his son, his wife, and all their dear little friends..." she let out a truly evil, cold chuckle. "Excellent, my sweet..." Ieyasu purred, emerging from the shadows and stroking Athyli's cheek with a warm and bandaged hand. "Revenge will soon be ours..." "No Tosho... yours..." Ieyasu took Athyli's hands in his and laughed. "No Oniken...it will be ours... Besides... remember what happened the last time we disagreed..." Yes, yes she remembered. She remembered it all too well. The pain she had tried to make cease, but to no avail, haunted her dreams every lonely night. Athyli winced as the image played through her mind. "Yes, Tosho... I remember..." she said, agony striking her fragile heart. The pain of loosing one so dear at such an early age was too much of a burden for her weak spirit. "I shall be staying here in Tokyo for a few weeks Oniken... And I will make sure that I see you again before my time is spent..." with that, Ieyasu turned around, preparing to leave. "Oh... and one more thing Oniken..." Athyli looked up to him. "Don't call me Tosho...!" with that he backhanded her across the face and sent her to her knees. "And don't ever forget that..." The girl kneeled on the wood-paneled walkway, biting back against the tears of grief that overcame her heart. One of these days she would regain her dignity, one of these days she would slay Ieyasu and lead the Musei Dôkoku clan into undeniable victory.
* * * Back in the Akebeko, Sage found himself starting to inch away, nervously from the incredibly drunken Sano as he regained consciousness. "Are you sure you're going to be alright, dear...?" Megumi asked uncertainly, poking him quickly in the side a few times as he fell back over and drooled upon Kaoru's light blue and green kimono. No reply. Kenshin looked about. "Where do you suppose Miss Tassimurae is Sage?" he asked, eyes roving the room. "I don't know, father, perhaps I should-" Sage started to get up but was only pushed back down by his father. "No, Sage, I'll go see where she is, you just stay here. Besides... this might give me a chance to talk with her while it's quite, that it might." Kenshin smiled down to his son as he managed to squeeze out of the corner and away from the table. "I'll be back soon that I will." Sage looked to Kenshin as he left, not being able to contain the pride he felt for his family.
* * * "Miss Tassimurae...?" Kenshin asked as he stepped out into the now pitch- black night world. "Miss Tassimurae are you around...?" he came across an area of shadows that appeared darker than the others and heard the tell- tale sound of a young girl's sobs coming from the area. "Miss Tassimurae...?" he asked again, placing a hand on what appeared to be her shoulders and kneeling beside her. "What ever could be the matter...?" Without knowing, Athyli flung her arms around his neck, letting her tears stream down her delicate cheeks ever more. Kenshin, shocked at first, surveyed Athyli with questioning eyes, but then realized her pain, bringing his hands up and embracing her gently. "Miss Tassimurae, please tell me what is the matter. That is the only way I can help you, that it is, is if you tell me." "More than you could ever understand, Master Himura... More than you could ever understand..." Athyli wept, bitter, warm tears, tears that choked her words like the sorrow that choked her soul. "I believe I understand Miss Tassimurae, that I do." Kenshin said softly, gazing down upon her magnificent beauty and trying to comfort her as best he could. Sage feeling as if he needed to do something, stood up and wandered quickly outside to see where she had gone. He then looked over seeing Athyli and his father trying to comfort her. Maybe he should go back inside and stay with all the festivities. He smiled; he was going to do just that. He turned on heel when his father spoke out. "Sage you don't have to go back in, that you don't." Athyli stood up wiping her eyes. "Everything is alright now Sage, no need to worry. Your father is a very kind man." He smiled. "Well it's good to hear my student is no longer in distress." He was still kind of worried about her. Athyli nodded, following them back into the Akebeko, forcing a light smile upon her pale pink lips. The blood red envelope lie hidden amongst the folds of her top, concealed from the others' sight. "You shall get your kill, Tosho..." she sighed to herself, stopping in the doorway and glancing back out into the shadows. Sage called her back over to the table, ordering a round of Sake for them all. Sano grinned happily as he did, taking his Sake and downing it quickly. Athyli kept to herself, still maintaining her artificial smile. She looked down at her cup of Sake as it was brought to her and thanked them all... What have I gotten myself into...? She asked herself. Why do I continue to kill...? Her hazel eyes looked to her hands momentarily. She could smell the innocent blood stained upon them, could feel the pain she caused. Her eyes held a look of horror for a moment. "Miss Athyli...? Miss Athyli, what's wrong...?" Sage asked, looking to her distraught face. Her mind snapped out of its current state as she looked to him with a smile. "Nothing, sir..."
* * * At the Akebeko, Sano, Megumi, Yahiko, Kenshin, and the others, all await Sage's arrival. "Sano, you should really lay off all the sake, that you should." Kenshin laughed, holding Kaoru's hand affectionately in his own. "Listen, Kenny... I don't need you... or the any other of yous, tellin' me what I should... or shouldn't do!" his speech was slurred and he waved his hands about, not realizing the bottle of sake that was in it was nearly full and spilling out upon the others. "Perhaps Sir-ken is right, Sano, dear." Megumi said, attempting to pry Sano's hands from the bottle. "Maybe you should lay off the sake for a while..." "Forget it Megumi..." Yahiko piped in. "You forget what a stubborn old mule Sanoskue has become." "You mean, what he always has been." Kenshin chuckled in retort. Yahiko scratched the back of his head. "I suppose you're right Kenshin." Just then, the doors to the Akebeko slid open, a laughing Sage and giggling Athyli entering into the restaurant. "Well would you look who decided to show up!" Kaoru laughed, looking over to her son. "our guest of honor has finally arrived." "That's a lie..." Sano mumbled, too drunk to grasp the fact that Kaoru was only jesting. "Well, come sit down!" Yahiko said, calling him over to their table, overcrowded with too many family and friends. "Wait!" Sage chuckled, still amused by the story Athyli had just finished telling him. "Before she feels any more awkward than she already does, I'd like to introduce you to Miss Athyli Tassimurae...!" With that almost everyone stood at once, nearly felling the under-sized table as they did so. Sano tried to stand, only to fall flat on his face and pass out as a result of too much to drink. "That's Mr. Sanoskue Sagara." Sage whispered into Athyli's ear. "Don't mind him..." Athyli's mouth shaped into an "Ohhhh...." Megumi stood before Athyli and shook her hand with a polite bow. "Please excuse my husband Miss Tassimurae." She began. "he has a tendency to get carried away with his drinking habits." "It is quite alright." Athyli responded, chuckling behind a delicate hand. "And this is Mr. Yahiko Myojin," Sage pointed, Athyli bowing to him. A young girl, no older than five, stepped up to Yahiko and tugged gently on his dark green hakama. "Papa..." she said timidly. "Mama says she needs your help in the kitchen." Yahiko looked down and kneeled beside the young child. "Cyamae... aren't you going to say hello to Uncle Sage...?" he smiled, taking the child's tiny hand. "Hewwo..." she waved nervously to Sage. "Hello Cyamae..." Sage waved back with the tips of his fingers. He then turned to Athyli. "That's Cyamae, my 'niece', Yahiko's daughter." Athyli smiled and stooped down to the child's level. "Hello Cyamae," she said sweetly. "I am Athyli, it is very nice to meet such a pretty girl as yourself." Cyamae's pale cheeks flushed bright red as she quickly bowed to Athyli and thanked her for her compliment. "Thank you." She said hurriedly. "You're very pretty too, yes you are." She giggled, her small voice more precious than any Athyli had ever heard before. "Why thank you Cyamae." Athyli smiled, rising to her feet and looking down upon the small girl. Yahiko looked rose to his feet as well and looked down to Cyamae. "Go ahead and tell your Mama that I will be there shortly, alright...?" Cyamae nodded and looked to Athyli. "Bye-bye pretty Miss Athyli." She waved as she headed back towards the kitchen. Athyli waved back, "Bye Cyamae...!" She smiled and turned back around towards everyone else. "She is a very sweet child." She remarked. "She is being raised very well." Yahiko stood straight, upright with pride. "Why thank you, 'pretty Miss Athyli.'" Kenshin and Kaoru laughed, along with Megumi and Yahiko as Sano laid on the floor, still out cold. "And of course you've already met my mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Kenshin and Kaoru Himura..." Sage presented, shifting near the married couple that sat side-by-side, arm-in-arm, at the table. Athyli bowed to them again. "It is a pleasure to see you again." "Likewise, I am sure." Kaoru smiled, curling more into Kenshin's arms. As they all began to settle back down into the under-sized table, a new unknown person stepped into the Akebeko. "I'll get this..." Yahiko grumbled, pulling his white, frilly apron on and walking up to the person. "Welcome to the Akebeko Beef Bowl, how may I help you today Sir?" The mysterious person grumbled something to Yahiko and handed him a piece of paper with something scribbled on it. "Of course Sir..." Yahiko smiled politely. "She's right over there...!" he pointed to Athyli. "Thank you kind man," the strange man mumbled in reply. "I don't suppose you could give this to her, could you?" he held out a medium-sized red envelope. "I sure can." Yahiko bowed, taking the envelope from him. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" "No..." he growled in response, "I must be leaving now." "Well thank you for stopping by, we are happy to have helped." "Trust me... you've helped enough as it is." With that the man turned round and left, Athyli only just then noticing him. She rose in her seat as Yahiko stepped up to her and handed her the envelope. "That man that was just here told me to give this to you, Miss Tassimurae." Yahiko said, pulling off the apron as Sage and everybody else laughed at its frilliness. Athyli took the envelope in her hands and looked at the symbol that was written on its front middle. Her eyes widened. "Miss Athyli...?" Sage began, still laughing a bit at Yahiko's apron. "Miss Athyli what's wrong?" The girl rose completely. "I am sorry but I must step outside..." she said grimly, her hands clutching the blood red envelope tightly. With that she stepped out of the Akebeko. "Why do you suppose she is acting so strangely...?" Megumi questioned as Athyli exited. "I don't presume I quite know Mrs. Megumi...that I don't..." Sage put in, staring questionably at the door.
* * * Athyli stepped out under the darkening night sky, a strong and frosty breeze now whipping her long hair about her face. "I know you are here Ieyasu Tosho..." "And I know you are here..." a familiar voice said from beyond the shadows. "I should not have doubted your tracking skills Tosho, and I should have realized that the leader of the Musei Dôkoku clan, should have easily been able to find their right hand woman." Athyli smirked, glancing over to the shadows to see Ieyasu's almost red eyes glaring fiercely at her. "Tell me what is it you want Tosho, and maybe I shall consider letting you walk away alive." "It is I who shall consider letting you walk away alive, Oniken! You have no right to leave the Musei Dôkoku clan, without any notice! Perhaps I should teach you your lesson Oniken, perhaps I shall finally put you out of your misery!" "Try if you wish Tosho. But you'd be missing out on a perfect opportunity..." Athyli smirked wider, her hazel eyes flashing with an evil glint. "Opportunity...?" Ieyasu asked, raising and eyebrow and letting his profile show outside of the shadows. "Yes Tosho... opportunity... You see... With me being enrolled into the Himura, Kamiya Dojo, I have all access to the Hiten Mitsurugi style and...its masters..." "You mean-?" Ieyasu began. "Yes Tosho... I'll also have all access to the one formerly known as the Battousai, my friend... And not only the Battousai, no... But his son, his wife, and all their dear little friends..." she let out a truly evil, cold chuckle. "Excellent, my sweet..." Ieyasu purred, emerging from the shadows and stroking Athyli's cheek with a warm and bandaged hand. "Revenge will soon be ours..." "No Tosho... yours..." Ieyasu took Athyli's hands in his and laughed. "No Oniken...it will be ours... Besides... remember what happened the last time we disagreed..." Yes, yes she remembered. She remembered it all too well. The pain she had tried to make cease, but to no avail, haunted her dreams every lonely night. Athyli winced as the image played through her mind. "Yes, Tosho... I remember..." she said, agony striking her fragile heart. The pain of loosing one so dear at such an early age was too much of a burden for her weak spirit. "I shall be staying here in Tokyo for a few weeks Oniken... And I will make sure that I see you again before my time is spent..." with that, Ieyasu turned around, preparing to leave. "Oh... and one more thing Oniken..." Athyli looked up to him. "Don't call me Tosho...!" with that he backhanded her across the face and sent her to her knees. "And don't ever forget that..." The girl kneeled on the wood-paneled walkway, biting back against the tears of grief that overcame her heart. One of these days she would regain her dignity, one of these days she would slay Ieyasu and lead the Musei Dôkoku clan into undeniable victory.
* * * Back in the Akebeko, Sage found himself starting to inch away, nervously from the incredibly drunken Sano as he regained consciousness. "Are you sure you're going to be alright, dear...?" Megumi asked uncertainly, poking him quickly in the side a few times as he fell back over and drooled upon Kaoru's light blue and green kimono. No reply. Kenshin looked about. "Where do you suppose Miss Tassimurae is Sage?" he asked, eyes roving the room. "I don't know, father, perhaps I should-" Sage started to get up but was only pushed back down by his father. "No, Sage, I'll go see where she is, you just stay here. Besides... this might give me a chance to talk with her while it's quite, that it might." Kenshin smiled down to his son as he managed to squeeze out of the corner and away from the table. "I'll be back soon that I will." Sage looked to Kenshin as he left, not being able to contain the pride he felt for his family.
* * * "Miss Tassimurae...?" Kenshin asked as he stepped out into the now pitch- black night world. "Miss Tassimurae are you around...?" he came across an area of shadows that appeared darker than the others and heard the tell- tale sound of a young girl's sobs coming from the area. "Miss Tassimurae...?" he asked again, placing a hand on what appeared to be her shoulders and kneeling beside her. "What ever could be the matter...?" Without knowing, Athyli flung her arms around his neck, letting her tears stream down her delicate cheeks ever more. Kenshin, shocked at first, surveyed Athyli with questioning eyes, but then realized her pain, bringing his hands up and embracing her gently. "Miss Tassimurae, please tell me what is the matter. That is the only way I can help you, that it is, is if you tell me." "More than you could ever understand, Master Himura... More than you could ever understand..." Athyli wept, bitter, warm tears, tears that choked her words like the sorrow that choked her soul. "I believe I understand Miss Tassimurae, that I do." Kenshin said softly, gazing down upon her magnificent beauty and trying to comfort her as best he could. Sage feeling as if he needed to do something, stood up and wandered quickly outside to see where she had gone. He then looked over seeing Athyli and his father trying to comfort her. Maybe he should go back inside and stay with all the festivities. He smiled; he was going to do just that. He turned on heel when his father spoke out. "Sage you don't have to go back in, that you don't." Athyli stood up wiping her eyes. "Everything is alright now Sage, no need to worry. Your father is a very kind man." He smiled. "Well it's good to hear my student is no longer in distress." He was still kind of worried about her. Athyli nodded, following them back into the Akebeko, forcing a light smile upon her pale pink lips. The blood red envelope lie hidden amongst the folds of her top, concealed from the others' sight. "You shall get your kill, Tosho..." she sighed to herself, stopping in the doorway and glancing back out into the shadows. Sage called her back over to the table, ordering a round of Sake for them all. Sano grinned happily as he did, taking his Sake and downing it quickly. Athyli kept to herself, still maintaining her artificial smile. She looked down at her cup of Sake as it was brought to her and thanked them all... What have I gotten myself into...? She asked herself. Why do I continue to kill...? Her hazel eyes looked to her hands momentarily. She could smell the innocent blood stained upon them, could feel the pain she caused. Her eyes held a look of horror for a moment. "Miss Athyli...? Miss Athyli, what's wrong...?" Sage asked, looking to her distraught face. Her mind snapped out of its current state as she looked to him with a smile. "Nothing, sir..."