Disclaimer: I do not own Peacemaker Kurogane or Ruronin Kenshin.

SPOILERS for the PMK manga and RK OVA. Coming issues may be a tad slow because of history research for what happened between Ikeda-ya (1864) and Toba Fushimi (1868). I will try to write in some fillers.

Sakura-Shinguji: Get well soon. Thanks for the idea of the fangirls' revenge. The Kohagi Inn was featured in RK as the inn where Battousai, Tomoe and other Choushu guys were living prior to Ikeda-ya incident. It was stated in the manga that it burned down, most likely due to the crackdown on anti-bakufu forces after Ikeda-ya.

M. Kasshoku: Sorry. Shishio has tendered his resignation to the newspaper at least. He's made a career move to become the shadow assassin of the Ishin.

A big thank you for all the reviews, suggestions and letters to Shishio or Umeko. Keep them coming (grin).

New Kyoto Post

Working for a Brighter Future!

Issue 11

From the Editor's Desk

I am pleased to announce that I will be taking over the post of Chief Editor. I am Ikeda Koji, younger brother of the former Chief Editor. I just got in from the Edo area and I'm new to Kyoto. I will try my best to keep up the fine standards set by my departed brother.

- Ikeda Koji, Chief Editor

NOTICE

The YMSA is officially disbanded upon orders from certain authorities. Any surviving members are reminded that their katana maintenance service discounts will expire this coming Tuesday. Banner-makers who have yet to be paid can file their claims at the temporary Small Claims Court behind Mibu Temple Orphanage. Please be reassured that there will be no wolves waiting there.

- Lawyers Koubo and Satkura

NOTICE to WAJ Members

Due to increased demands of our grief management group, we will be forming two new groups to assist new widows come to terms with their loss. Interested members are to attend the group that best suits them.

Group 1: Tuesday Afternoons at Umeya Chrysanthemum Room

Group 2: Wednesday Afternoons at Mibu Sandals

Members attending the Wednesday group are reminded not to throw stones and other projectiles at the next-door neighbors, namely the Shinsengumi HQ by request of Emiko-san who runs the sandal store. We have enough problems finding venues.

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Need to get back? Want to put a curse on some ahou? We offer a wide range of charms and curses to meet all your needs. Current hot offer: Shinsengumi dolls and nails kit. Contact Emiko at Mibu Sandals.

Mystery at Kyoto Shrine

Straw dolls bearing the names of several Shinsengumi leaders were found nailed to trees behind the local shrine. Names include Hijikata Toshizou, Okita Souji and Kondo Isami. The most common name is one Saitou Hajime. On a note left pinned to one of the Saitou dolls was written:

Jerk! Do you even intend to marry me! I'm sick of waiting!

Authorities are investigating what is believed to be a childish prank. The Shinsengumi members whose names were mentioned were seen undergoing a purification ritual to rid themselves of ill-fortune later in the day.

Flash Mob!

A group of teenage girls were seen gathering outside a temple room in which some men were undergoing a ritual purification bath. They fled upon discovering that the men inside did not include one Okita Souji. Okita was reported to be feeling unwell and declined the ritual bath.

Umeko's Kitchen:

My baka brother's gone missing in the countryside with his staff. I can only thank Sakamoto-san for his assistance in running this paper, even though he gets chased out of town once in a while. The letters are piling up. LET'S GO!

Dear Umeko-san,

I am living with my companion, an older lady. I think I'm starting to develop feelings for her… She used to carry a tanto with her whenever I'm about. Recently, she has stopped carrying her dagger and she even introduces herself as my wife when we're selling medicine on the road… Does she like me?

- Shin

Dear Shin,

Yes. When a woman refers to a man as her husband, she normally has a good impression of him. I used to refer to mine as 'damned bastard' until his death, but that's another thing. If you intend to woo the said lady, go slow and be patient. We don't want that tanto appearing again, do we?

- Yours, Umeko

Dear Umeko,

My men think I'm at death's door! Yesterday, they reserved a plot for me at the Choushu cemetery (cough-cough). Should I lead them into, I mean on an outing to prove I am fully capable of leading (cough-cough-cough)

- Taka Su Gi (cough-cough-ack)

Dear Taka-sensei,

You haven't been taking care of the cough, have you? Visit Kitsu-dono's clinic and see if she has any remedy for it.

- Your concerned shamisen pupil, Umeko

Dear Umeko,

Remember me? Things have spiraled downhill since my last letter. My master got beheaded by a Miburou scum. I failed him. I don't know what to do… I have nowhere to turn to… Help… I don't know if I can get over what happened.

- Page

Dear Page,

You seem to be suffering tremendously from your loss. The girls and I will be willing to make an exception for you at our grief management group. Drop by this Friday. It's in the house on the left of the Black Cat Mansion as the rooms at Umeya are all booked this week. Or is it the one on the right? I'm very bad at giving directions… Gomen…

- Yours sheepishly, Umeko

Runaway Children

Two boys about 7 to 10 years of age ran away from the Mibu Temple Orphanage last night. The teachers here will greatly appreciate it if the following boys are found and returned safely.

Sanosuke has spiky hair, reminiscent of a rooster. He is loud and enjoys fighting. He prefers to fight with his fists and is rude, ill-disciplined and obnoxious.

Tsukioka Katsushiro has floppy shoulder-length hair and is a known pyromaniac. Be careful of his homemade fireworks. He also enjoys defacing walls with graffiti.

(Sweat-drop) On second thoughts, don't return them!

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The Sake Shack is open for business! Do drop by! We regret that due to lack of fighters, we will not be able to resume our night matches.

Missing Person:

My friend Kenni has gone missing about the Gion Festival after he failed to show up at the party where I was going to introduce him to my best friends and colleagues in a local peacekeeping unit. I've failed to locate him since. He is slim, short, in his mid-teens with red hair. I fear that he may have been killed by Hitokiri Battousai. If you have information on Kenni or Battousai, please contact Soujirou or Sou-chan via Umeya.

Reply to Ad: Souji-kun, Kenni is alive and well, for now. He got urgent matters out of town. Shouldn't you be taking better care of that cough of yours? – Anonymous

Author's notes:

(Historical fact) The Ikeda-ya incident forced the Ishin Shishi forces to meet the Shogunate forces in a battle the Choushu were ill-prepared for. Needless to say, that's where the increase in new widows comes from.

I know Sano and Katsu probably met in the Sekihoutai and in RK, Sano has a family in a post town somewhere, but I'm twisting things a bit.

Umeko has no direction sense. Kenni and Sou's friendship? Well, Sou doesn't know Kenni's real identity yet. And guess who's in town for Saitou. (grin)