A/N: I forgot to mention it in the last chapter, but I think you should be aware that my MSWord doesn't like me anymore, so I'm typing this all out on Notepad 0o I'm doing the best I can, but some typos will slip by.
'Today is the day. My past will be sought out and my future will unfold.' I got ready and packed my accumulated things. I grabbed one of Kenshin's onigiri and said my goodbyes to everyone.
I turned and stood out on the road, facing Tokyo. 'What now?' Where was I to start? All I knew was that I'd shown upone day outside Edo Castle. 'Well, I might as well start there.'
I arrived at the gate of the old building. I paused before the grouns in brief hesitation before pushing open the great gates. The doors to the castle itself were surprisingly aged, but well built and opened with ease. The grand interior told me that this must be the main entrance. I turned around, taking in my surroundings. There was a large staircase before me, and for an abandoned castle, it didn't look too bad.
Abandoned? The figure at the top of the staircase told me otherwise. The man turned, revealing a face. I felt something hit me. Hard. I glanced around, but found no perpetraitor. There was something about that face... 'I really should stop staring. He'll think I'm strange.'...'I mean, I guess I am rather strange, but all the more reason not to stare!'
Then again, he himself was staring. And the the expression on his face looked so out of place that I almost laughed aloud. 'Nope. Can't have that now, can we?' I looked down. This seemed to revive him from his stupor. He recomposed himself and descended the stairs gracefully.
-------------------------------POV-----------------------------------
I've returned every year for the past ten. We came to take over our enemies. We conquered the castle, but... I lost my four comrads. My dearest friends were gone and all for naught. She'd managed to escape at some point. Out of their grasp, yes, but lost to us as well. And so I come back here each year, to mourn them, and maybe... maybe even looking for her still.
I had set aside my high hopes. I told myself she was gone. And now, all of the suttle hopes I had suppressed through the years came surging back when I saw her. I composed myself, acknowledging that it might not be her. But I remained awestruck by her resemblance to my young charge. 'They're's nothing to lose,' I thought. I desecended the stairs to stand before her. "Do you have a name, miss?"
"Misao."
My heart leaped. "Misao--?"
A shadow came over her face. "Just... Misao..."