Divine Commiseration

Chapter 10: Mercy is Weakness

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Rurouni Kenshin, including the most kick-ass character, Sou-chan!

Author's Note:

Sorry for the inexcusably wait! Half a year... Wow, that's a hella of a long time. Let's just say it was writer's block, crippled with an elite high school and my need to be the best. Sorry, but there is an extra long chapter!

Anyway, this chapter is totally going to be action packed (Soujiro fans, start cheering!), and perhaps you'll remember it from (I think) episode 57. All the research I used to write this chapter goes to the episodes GoldAngel2 sent me, and a bit from other fanfiction, especially the one-shot by Kalus.

Thanks to everyone for all the reviews and support! You guys are the very best, and thank you all for the bugging me to start writing again!

Soujiro's heart pounded as he watched Himura lying, defenseless, on the ground. After every comment the red-haired man made, a kick would come from the ex-Okashira of the Oniwa Banshu. Soujiro did not feel pity for his soon-to-be-opponent, but he was not exactly overjoyed to see Shinomori beating the man around. Himura wasn't even trying to protect himself... He looked like a rag doll being tossed around.

He himself felt as if he was sick, as if someone, someone like Anji, had suddenly punched him in the stomach. Air was suddenly gone from his body and he felt strangely shaken.

What was the truth? At the moment, what Shishio-san and the Battousai said sounded like it was the way of life. But how could it be? They were contradicting phrases spoken from the lips of men who had each been in the same position.

One, a mentor. One, that was betrayed by the government and killed like a maimed hunting dog.

The other, an enemy. Did he not know that if he had been in the same position as Shishio-san at the time he was to be killed, too? And now... He was still helping the cursed government! The man was indeed an amazing mystery.

To be betrayed. To be left behind. To be abandoned. All aspects that he didn't understand but knew so well. Why?

Had he really lost it? The feeling of... What was it, really?

If he had never felt it. If he had not ever met Himura. If... If... If he had never been here, at all, he would have not have to face this kind of inner chaos. He could not be wondering about it.

It was all his fault! If he had been dead, if he had just given up on Japan like all the other lowly cowards, then he would not have to be wondering about this kind of...

He looked down towards the men, Shinomori glaring down at Himura, who tried to stand up, trying so hard to convince Aoshi to become human once more.

Human.

How stupid he was. Being human made you weak. Being a monster let you take back every bit of mercy, and you were strong. You were stronger than ever and you had absolutely nothing to lose.

It seemed to be working. Aoshi's eyes seemed to be living again.

'Idiot. You do not know what you are doing. You will be crushed. But...' Soujiro paused, his mind blank once more in the way of a warrior, searching for his opponent's weaknesses. 'But... I will be able to see the secret attack when you prove yourself.'

He looked back over to Yumi, who was tapping furiously on the little machine that would secure their success. She seemed nervous, but did not look down once to her hand. Noticing him, her head tilted up and gave him a weak smile.

The room was completely silent, except for the erratic tapping, and though it had only been ten minutes since the start of the fight, both men looked exhausted. At the moment, they were in stance, ready to unleash their ultimate attacks.

Suddenly, Sagara seemed to notice Yumi again, the quiet of the room just pointing her out to him. His eyes widened, and his gaze traveled to her right hand. "No!" he burst out loudly. "Kenshin, every detail of this fight is going straight to Shishio! You can't show him your attack!"

The burst startled him, and he was shaken from his reverie. For once, a kind of strange nervousness attacked his chest and... He couldn't help it. Not even the allure of seeing Himura's ultimate attack could stop him from bolting behind a bookshelf.

He wasn't making the wrong choice, however, because as soon as Shinomori's body hit the ground, Sagara ran up the stairs and pushed Yumi aside, and broke the link between Shishio-sama and them by dropping it off the balcony.

"I hate machines anyway," Sagara said nonchalantly, grinning.

Yumi, on the other hand, was fuming. With her arms crossed, she simply stated, "Well, it doesn't matter. They already know everything."

Again, Sagara grabbed her by the waist, started dragging her down the stairs, and called to Himura. "Come on, Kenshin, let's go!"

Soujiro emerged from the dark as soon as the three left. Looking down, he saw a telegraph, coming straight out of the machine. It seemed the hardy thing didn't break from the fall after all. He walked down the stairs, and read the stripe of paper quickly.

"We failed to take the battle at the Aoiya. All is lost." A sigh of relief came from his lips before he could stop it. Misao was safe. At least... She should be. There was something he wasn't going to have to think about during his fight with Himura now.

He was silent as he walked over to Aoshi and gazed down at him. He looked proud that he had lost, but what pride was there to take?

"You lost, and yet you're still alive." The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself. Self control, it seemed, had fled from his body. His voice, however, was still has calm as ever. The mask that had kept him safe all these years was not going to fail him now.

Aoshi did not move, but his eyes followed the sound and glared at him. "You saw everything?"

He grinned. "Well, I didn't, actually. Sagara-san spooked me last minute, but it won't matter. You do know that now, when I defeat Himura-san, I'll be the strongest? But I don't care about it at all. That title will still be Shishio-san's."

The words did not have the effect he expected them to. Aoshi did not seem angry, did not seem to hold any acrimony against him or Himura, at all. He was quiet, silent, but still looked up to him. "That no longer matters to me."

"It doesn't?" He cocked his head.

"You will see, when you fight the Battousai. You will see that fighting with him isn't about winning. There's something else."

Soujiro stepped forward, preparing to strike the killing blow, but stopped just as his hand hit the hilt of his sword. "I would kill you, for not completing your mission, but I'm afraid I'm already late."

Without another word, he turned and walked to another door, hidden just behind an overturned bookcase. "See you around, Shinomori-san!"

His foot tapped lightly against the wooden floor, and then rushed him to bring him closer to his destiny. The calm mask that had fooled so many was thinly veiling the chaos that writhed and twisted beneath him. In mere seconds, he had arrived in his room, and awaited what was to be his destiny.

Misao's brow furrowed with rage and worry. Here she was, a pathetic excuse of a Okashira, trying to do battle with the most terrifying of enemies. Stupid Juppon Gatana! Stupid her and her lack of leadership!

'No wonder Aoshi-sama—no, for the last time, Shinomori—and the other left me. Because I really am just a little girl who's trying to do all this, even though I know I can't' She couldn't believe herself. What was she thinking!

Besides her, Kaoru gave a weak whimper of pain, her delicate hands clutching her abdomen.

"Kaoru-chan, do you think you can keep going? We'll get you inside if you can't! Kaoru, answer me!" Even to herself, Misao's voice was shaky and scared. And... Dammit, she was, and didn't she have a right to be!

Kaoru took a deep, shuddery breath as she grabbed onto Misao's shoulder. "Misao-chan, I want you to tear a strip off my shirt and tie it around the cut. If we can stop the bleeding, I can keep going."

"Don't force yourself, Kaoru-chan! You promised Himura that you would go with him back to Tokyo, and don't you dare break that promise! That stupid swordsman may be dopey, but I know you guys have a deep connection!"

The girl with the wooden sword looked up to Misao again. "Misao, do it."

Meanwhile, the cross-dresser next to them was looking on with a slight smirk in his cinnamon eyes. "I told you little girls to be careful, didn't I?"

"You just shut up, freak!" Misao yelled out the insult before she could stop herself.

"What did you say!"

Damn, if only she had the self-control of Soujiro! What she would do to have him on their side, so he wouldn't have to choose, or anything. And then he would be able to help!

'Makimachi Misao, if you make another comment like that on regret, you're never going to be grown up for anyone!'

Using a kunai to cut through the cloth, Misao followed Kaoru's instructions and wrapped the white fabric to wrap around her abdomen, to protect the 5-inch cut, which, though intimidating, was already starting to bleed more sluggishly.

Kaoru hissed in pain as she felt the cloth being tied, but, mentally, knew that she would be fine until the battle was over. "You just watch! We'll still beat you!"

Misao grinned. "That's the spirit, Kaoru-chan!"

'No matter what, we're going to have to get through this... We have to.'

He didn't have to wait long. Himura walked into the room, his eyes looking around warily, looking extremely battered. Blood was still dripping from the two side of his neck, his clothes looking a little worse for wear.

Yumi smiled at him, her usually perfect hair coming loose in wisps, framing her familiar, beautiful face. Sagara followed, looking at him with a strange combination of wonder and aggression.

Soujiro knew that he didn't look like a killer, or even a swordsman. He was short, small, slender, his built and face one of a pubescent boy. But that was why he was such a good assassin. So many people looked at him like an innocent, only to be cut down where they stood.

He eyed Himura with the usual smile on his face. Like himself, Himura was built small, his body quite slight, unlike Sagara, Saitou, and Shinomori, who were tall and lanky. His body was lithe, but strong. His stance was wary, but at the same time relaxed. Really, he was the very epitome of a successful assassin.

'I wonder why he just disappeared after the revolution like that...' There was probably a story behind it, something that was deeply moral and touching, he was sure. That kind of past, however, made Soujiro feel sick. Sick because those kinds of stories made him remind himself of... His past.

"Ah... Welcome, Himura-san." His voice came out as sure and polite as ever, and he knew without even having to check that his lips were curved upwards.

He couldn't help himself. A raw sense of excitement was running up and down his body, though he dared not to show it. Ten years of training wasn't for nothing, and he would be the winner if this fight.

But... At the end, would he kill the Battousai, the strongest man that lived during and through the bloody revolution that had almost ended his master's life? He did not promise Misao anything, yet there still seemed to be a vow behind their exchanged words.

Inwardly, he winced. He promised himself, that during this fight, he would not think of the ninja girl. He couldn't afford to think about her. She was just a temporary distraction, and he was nervous enough already. She would just force him to lose control.

The light danced through the room. "It's been quite a while, hasn't it. I'm glad you'd made it so far safely." He didn't know if he was speaking or if the Tenken was speaking, or if the noise that came out of his mouth had been speech at all.

"Given the circumstances, I'm grateful for your warm welcome." Himura's voice was curt, polite, but his right foot shifted into stance anyway. He was no doubt still fearful of his lover's life. "But unfortunately, I don't have the luxury to waste time on idle chatter right now, that I don't. Will you stand aside or will you fight?"

"On time? Oh, you mean your friends at the Aoiya. Well, I'm sure that they are fine, and the telegraph received in the room you were in should prove that." He stopped, and then kept on talking. "The tables have turned. Now we are the ones without the luxury of time. Not only that, now I have to work as hard as all ten members of the Juppon Gatana, all by myself. And so," he stopped there, and also moved his foot into stance as he prepared himself in Battou Jutsu stance.

Their gazes met, and he could heard Yumi softly say, "It's about to begin... Finally." A drop of sweat hit the trickled off her face–and they were off.

Both swordsman charged forward, their hands on the hilts of their swords. As was his habit, Soujiro wore a smile. Himura, however, had an intense look of concentration on his face.

The swords clashed and the pressure pushed Himura to the side while Soujiro used the power of their strikes to jump up, landing neatly. However, neither was hurt.

Unbelievably, Soujiro's prized sword chipped. He looked at it, surprised. "I'm impressed. It really doesn't look any different, but it seems you have a much better sword this time. You made my favorite sword, the Kiki Uchi Mongi, worthless!"

Here was where he was meant to be. In the middle of a duel, his mind was blank. At least, he hoped it was.

He started tapping his left foot while completely ignoring Sagara's babble in the background. "You've gotten better, Himura-san. You were good to begin with; it's amazing that you've improved even more. But it's a little peculiar. How could someone like you have become as strong as you are...? I just don't understand it." The speed of the tapping increased as he prepared to launch himself for an attack. "Oh well, you're still not a match for Shishio-san in any case, and you're not a match for me, either, as long as I put my mind to it."

And with incredible speed, he sped towards Kenshin, a light smile on his face and his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike. Kenshin moved, just slightly, to the side, the attack missing him by a hairs-breath.

While his eyes inwardly widened, he remained calm. He had really thought that, with that one strike, he could have taken care of the legendary manslayer. "I can't believe I missed," Soujiro voiced out nonchalantly, sounding to the others like he wasn't worried at all. "I guess I slipped a little. Oh well... I'll get him with the next one." The amazed look on their faces confirmed it: he had shocked them with his speed. He resisted an urge to smirk.

"Shukuchi... That is the speed that is even greater than the Hiten Mitsurugi's godlike speed. The Shukuchi..." Kenshin sounded stunned, his eyes hidden under his crimson bangs.

"I guess that I should have expected that a swordsman of your skill would know of the Shukuchi. You know, I didn't know what it was called either until Shishio-san told me." Soujiro smiled again, lifting his blade to his shoulder in a casual stance. He thought of what Shishio had told him about his special technique.

Shukuchi... So fast that it seems like magic. It closes the distance between opponents in mere a blink. So fast that it cannot be seen by the naked eye. Not even Himura would be able to read that, especially now that he had his thoughts–hopefully–under control.

Soujiro cocked his head to the side and looked towards his opponent once more, confidence lighting up his words. "You know, Himura-san, the truth is, what you saw just now isn't the Shukuchi. It was actually three steps short of the Shukuchi. That's why you were able to see it and avoid it. That is the case, right?" He started tapping his foot again, a light smirk on his face. "I was hoping that it was enough, judging from the contest of speed you had with Senkaku-san earlier at Shingetsu village." He laughed softly. "I'm sorry, I was taking you a little too lightly." Soujiro stopped and looked up at him. "This time, I'll only be two steps short of the Shukuchi."

He couldn't help himself—he was toying with Himura, but it seemed perfect for what was going on in his head, what he was trying to control. He felt... He felt as if he need to taunt and mock him. He needed to know that he was right. He needed to know that his philosophy was correct.

'Never mind that...' Soujiro launched himself at Himura again, and the red-haired man had to jump to avoid him. He knew that the fact that he had no emotions during battle made Himura confused.

With much consideration on his weaknesses, Kenshin also hurled himself into an attack. However, Soujiro was just too fast, and knew it. The attack was executed perfectly, and Himura was sure he hit the smaller boy. Nine strikes into the nine vital areas... However, Soujiro was still moving too fast to be seen.

"He did it!" Sagara cheered from the sideline, breaking out into a grin.

"No, I'm the one who's did it." Soujiro jumped behind Himura and, like whenever he was about to kill, wore an innocent smile. His sword moved from the side and carefully slashed his opponent on the back.

A moan of pain came out of Kenshin's mouth as splatters of blood hit the tatami mats. His breathe came out in short gasps, a glare placed on his face.

'He's alive?'

"What's this... Something isn't right. I was sure that I was going to finish you off with that one. Somehow this doesn't make sense." Soujiro cocked his head unconsciously, lost in thought. "First I wasn't taking him seriously enough and this time, Himura-san was totally vulnerable after his attack and I still couldn't finish him off. I don't get it."

"Just finish him off! You can think all you want when you're done," Yumi screamed from the side, dignity forgotten has strange worry wormed itself into her rational emotions.

Soujiro stopped, his mind trying so hard to be blank. He had been ready to kill Himura, no matter what Misao had said, no matter what sense of morality he had left, but... He had still missed his chance. Sure, he successfully weakened the man, but... "I didn't make a single mistake, I'm sure of it." His brow furrowed a little.

'In the end, it's only the fittest that survive. If you are strong, you live. If you are weak, you die. Battousai the Manslayer is hiding deep inside Himura Kenshin, and I want to drag him out with whatever means necessary.' Shishio's words were still haunting him, his face looming across his mind while the other parts of him, the other memories that were still fresh in his mind, tried to fight for control.

He had a sudden flashback of Senkaku, sitting next to the river right before he, Tenken no Soujiro, had killed him. 'The Battousai isn't just strong...'

Anger and impatience shook Yumi. "Why are you just standing there!"

"It's so silly..." Soujiro's thoughts were still dwelling on Senkaku, the man had seemed to change into an entirely different person after his fight, of which he had lost, with the ex-Battousai.

Yumi was not so understanding. "Silly! How dare you call me silly? I'm not some brat who doesn't know how the world works."

"Oh, sorry, I wasn't referring to you, Miss Yumi. I was just thinking how Senkaku-san said something strange to me." The words slipped out before he could stop them.

"Senkaku!" Kenshin looked up towards the boy, surprised that at such a moment, a man like that would be in his thoughts.

Gasping slightly, Yumi tried to gouge the emotions from Soujiro's emotionless face. "Senkaku? What's going on in that little head of yours, Soujiro!"

Like before, Soujiro ignored her and turned to Himura, his attention caught by a memory. "May I ask one question?" Without asking for an answer, he continued. "Why exactly, did you attack with the Ryu Sho Sen?"

"The Ryu Sho Sen?" Kenshin's eyes widened. What was the boy talking about?

"You let Shishio-san see your technique purposely," Soujiro pointed out, reminding him instantly of the encounter at Shingetsu.

Sanosuke, who had been relatively silent during this time, burst out. "There must be something weird with your head if you don't get why Kenshin did that! Shishio must have told Senkaku that if he didn't drag one attack out of Kenshin, then he'd kill him right there, am I right? The point of it was that he was saving his life." The tall man stopped. "He showed him mercy, even though they were enemies... That's exactly the type of guy Himura Kenshin is!"

Kenshin smiled, giving a quiet chuckle. "Sano..."

In his mind, his eyes narrowed. Soujiro wasn't prepared to learn all this. He didn't want to learn any of this, at any time, because all he need to do right now was kill his opponent and let it be over. 'Because... Because then, I won't have to worry about these strange things anymore. I can be the Tenken and be able to... Be able to do what? Hide in a name?' But another part of him answered back, the truth hollow, but at the same time still impressive. 'But... Hiding in a name is exactly what Himura Kenshin did... He was the Hitokiri Battousai, and it seems that being an anonymous killer has done him good.'

"I don't see the purpose of showing mercy. You should have killed Senkaku-san right there. It was because you didn't kill him, that Senkaku-san started saying such weird things." He said the words before his inner self could stop him. 'Those are your thoughts. You cannot let them be seen by the enemy.'

"Say such weird things?" The red-haired man stared, trying to find out what the boy was attempting to say. Perhaps there was a weakness... Or some way of stopping the destructive youth.

Soujiro stopped suddenly. What was he doing? He had to get on with it, like Yumi had told him to. The sooner Himura Battousai was killed, the sooner he wouldn't have to worry about the strange things he did and said. "Whoops, I'm wasting time again. I'll make sure I finish you off with the next attack" Soujiro smiled wickedly, trying hard to conceal his squirming emotions. No matter what anyone said or did, Himura was going to die with the next attack.

"One step short of the Shukuchi."

'Misao... I'm sorry.'

Ending Note: Okay, change of plans! When I said two chapters left, I mean two chapters left, starting from now! I was planning on finishing the fight right at this chapter, but it seems to just take too much time to write such a battle. I'm sorry to everyone for making you wait again, but I promise that the chapters will come very easily after this. I know I can make it good now! Now, don't anyone complain about the length of the chapter! I made up for my 'slight' delay by having this chapter way longer than usual! Thanks for all the support and reviews! You guys are so great!

Responses to Reviews:

GoldAngel2: You are my role model when it comes to fanfiction. Really! I try my hardest so one day, I can write as well as you. I hope that my absence towards this story wasn't for nothing, and that at least I improved a little. Thank you for your support and the episodes–I wouldn't have been able to write this story without them, as you can tell by the dialogue. I've been repaying by debt really badly, because you've asked me to read your story perhaps a dozen times and I still haven't. I really am sorry, and, learning from my past experiences, I can only promise that once I finally do read your story, I will write a review for every chapter. Thanks again for everything!

Nakashima-Michiyo: Sorry for the very, very late update, and I'm so glad you understand my woes with school! Here's a new chapter, hope you enjoy it!

Kerrie-chan: Thanks for the compliment, and here's a new chapter!

Marilda24: Well, at least this story has another two chapters to go! Next chapter will end the fight, and the chapter afterwards will probably be an epilogue. All the same, this story is winding down. Thank you for your support, and enjoy!

MSN-CHAN: Since you wrote two reviews, there are two responses to you, the other one being at the bottom. Sorry for such a long wait and no Sou/Mi moments, but I can promise a bit of fluff when the epilogue rolls around. The last chapter was weird because I changed a few things. Yes, it's supposed to be Misao who gets hurt, but I had Kaoru getting hurt instead, so Kenshin can fight more... I don't know, more desperately, I guess. Here's a new chapter and thanks for all your support!

Tenken's Lover: Ahh! Don't kill me! Especially don't kill me since I didn't update for such a long time! Yes, Soujiro will find a few things out after the battle, and there will be a bit of fluff in the epilogue. Thank you for your review!

Rhythm 0f The Rain: Yes, not so much Sou/Mi... In fact, this chapter didn't even have Misao making a big appearance! I should change one of the genres from romance to something else, but I guess only time can tell, right?

Twilight Sky: Wahh! Sorry for not updating for so long! I'm so, so, so super sorry! School is really horrible to me, and so was writer's block. I was expecting to update during winter break, but that turned out to be a dud because I went on vacation. Well, enough of excuses. What did you think of the last chapter? I hoped you liked it! Thank you for your support and I hope your stories are coming along well!

Shinji Ikari: You know, from all my seven months of not updating, you were one of the reviewers that truly made me feel guilty for not updating. However, I do have my school work to worry about, so hopefully that excuse will work. Now, on to your wonderful (as usual) review. I know I changed a lot with the fight and the dialogue and especially what happened at the Aoiya, but I promise they were done with good intentions in mind. I'm glad you enjoyed the dialogue parts with Kenshin/Aoshi/Soujiro listening, and I know there are a lot of mistakes (it urks me to have to rewind and rewind and rewind to try to find if I have every word in the right place. Needless to say, that's why I have so many dialogue errors, as you will also find in this chapter). There are a few places you pointed out that I now realize is seriously flawed (Misao ordering Yahiko, etc.), and I will go back and change those as soon as I'm done with this darn story. I'm trying to revamp the story right now, because after I saw the Soujiro episodes, my mind exploded on how I should have written this story. :sigh: Oh well, that can't be helped. As for the Soujiro episodes, let's just say that they both inspired me and cracked me up. Since all of us otaku's have a thing against most dubbed voices, I won't even get to how many times I twitched when I heard Soujiro's voice.The animation disappointed me, however. I guess they changed artists right then and there, so the faces were drawn much differently. It was strange. Other than that, I liked how the whole scenes were done, and I have watched them enough to be able to quote some of it, making this chapter easier to write. Well, I must get on with the rest of these responses before my laptop's battery goes out on me. Again, thanks for all the critiques. I shudder to think of what kind of OOC this story would have been without your guidance. I'm not kidding—it would have turned out with them making out by this chapter, instead of going all angsty. XD!

You know, from all my seven months of not updating, you were one of the reviewers that truly made me feel guilty for not updating. However, I do have my school work to worry about, so hopefully that excuse will work. Now, on to your wonderful (as usual) review. I know I changed a lot with the fight and the dialogue and especially what happened at the Aoiya, but I promise they were done with good intentions in mind. I'm glad you enjoyed the dialogue parts with Kenshin/Aoshi/Soujiro listening, and I know there are a lot of mistakes (it urks me to have to rewind and rewind and rewind to try to find if I have every word in the right place. Needless to say, that's why I have so many dialogue errors, as you will also find in this chapter). There are a few places you pointed out that I now realize is seriously flawed (Misao ordering Yahiko, etc.), and I will go back and change those as soon as I'm done with this darn story. I'm trying to revamp the story right now, because after I saw the Soujiro episodes, my mind exploded on how I should have written this story. :sigh: Oh well, that can't be helped. As for the Soujiro episodes, let's just say that they both inspired me and cracked me up. Since all of us otaku's have a thing against most dubbed voices, I won't even get to how many times I twitched when I heard Soujiro's voice.The animation disappointed me, however. I guess they changed artists right then and there, so the faces were drawn much differently. It was strange. Other than that, I liked how the whole scenes were done, and I have watched them enough to be able to quote some of it, making this chapter easier to write. Well, I must get on with the rest of these responses before my laptop's battery goes out on me. Again, thanks for all the critiques. I shudder to think of what kind of OOC this story would have been without your guidance. I'm not kidding—it would have turned out with them making out by this chapter, instead of going all angsty. XD!

Grand Admiral Gin: Thank you for the compliment, and I'm glad I have a new reader! Here's another chapter–enjoy!

Genki Ninja: Ack, sorry, sorry! There's no Sou/Mi for a while, though there will be next chapter, I hope. And there will be a little fluff in the epilogue!

Erica Madarine: Yes, I have changed quite a few things with the plot (or, as I like to call it, screwing with everyone's minds), but it will all be for the good of Sou and Mi!

Cathy Mark: Hope you had fun with Sou, and don't worry, I probably fantasize more than you do! They will be together at the end (I hope!)! Heehee... Keep the happy readers in suspense.

Sagara Akio: I'll try to make the ending very sweet! I'll try, I promise, but the key word is try. I want to make sure they're in character!

One Weirdo (A.k: Curious Reader oO): You know, you're the first one to remind me that these are HUGE GIANT spoilers! I almost forgot, but I am spoiling everything for everyone! Oh well. :shrugs: Teehee. They don't call me Wicked for nothing!

mt: Thank you for the compliments! I've tried making this as perceptive as I can, but emotions are just about all I can do! I suck at battle scenes, so I hoped the ones above turned out okay.

Thank you for the compliments! I've tried making this as perceptive as I can, but emotions are just about all can do! I at battle scenes, so I hoped the ones above turned out okay.

Mysterious Samurai: Oops, sorry for the late update! It's been a little more than a while, hasn't it? Here's the start of the battle, and the chapter was way longer than I planned it would be (notice how I have to split those chapters in two now!), but hopefully they'll be good enough to wait for. XD!

Oops, sorry for the late update! It's been a little more than a while, hasn't it? Here's the start of the battle, and the chapter was longer than I planned it would be (notice how I have to split those chapters in two now!), but hopefully they'll be good enough to wait for. XD!

Smiling Blue-Clad Warrior's Obsessor: Love your penname, 'cuz that's exactly like me! Yes, I was going to only have two chapters left... But guess what? I changed my mind! So we have two chapters after this to finish it up! Yes, I intend to write another Sou/Mi fic, this one much darker. If you want, I can send you a teaser (it's only a few paragraphs because I'm quite iffy about it).

Sushi-san: Ooo, goodie! Another Soujiro fan! Yes, this story will come to an end soon, and none-too-soon, because I'm planning another Sou/Mi story! Yes, there will be one romance scene at the end, probably in the epilogue or something like that. Hope you enjoy it when it comes, though!

ChaosGhost:sobs: My story... My precious baby (because, as you know, an author's stories are his/her children) has been called brilliant! There are a lot of typos in this because most of the time, I'm rushing to hurry and post the chapter, but it will all be fixed in the end! Here's more of the fic, and hope you didn't mind the wait!

Trina: Thanks for the compliment and here's another chapter!

MSN-Chan (A.k.a: MiSao-ChaN): I'm so sorry for not updating for, what, seven months yesterday? Gomen, gomen. Yes, school is incredibly difficult, but I'm been trying to plow through that. Now, I haven't read that recommended fic, but I'm sure I will soon! Here's a new chapter to you!

Hiroko: Sorry, another cliff-hanger! Here's a new chapter, and thanks for thinking this is a great fic!

Seta Misao:bows: Thanks for the compliment, and there are quite a few good fics (still out-numbered by bad ones) here, but isn't that always the case? My next story will be sole romance/angst, and if you want, I'll send you a teaser. Thanks for staying so faithful to this unworthy fic!

xT-Zealot: Sorry, sorry, my last update was even worse than this. I don't think I've ever put an innocent story on hiatus for seven months before, though! The worst was like, four months. I feel so bad! Well, wish you luck on your writing, and I hope you write more stuff soon!

Battousai's Girl: Thank you for the compliment, and here's a new chapter, though not updated ASAP. Luv ya too for all your support!

Chikky-chan: Wahh! Don't cry, don't cry! Here's a new chapter, though it's late! It's still longer than usual! Thanks for your support!

Rachridgeback: Sorry for the late update:eats brownies: Brownies are the worlds bestest brain food... they make me want to write more of this story! Thank you for your continuous support!

Soujiro's Girl: Some of the scenes made you melt? Aww... Thank you! Here's a new chapter—enjoy!

The-eater-of-words: Sorry for the late update! Here's a new chapter, and I hope you enjoyed it!

ebenezem: Don't get mad, don't get mad! Here's a new update, straight from the bizarre mind of Wicked! Sorry that it's another cliffhanger, but I thought it was the perfect place to stop. Enjoy!

Somnus: Yes, I'm alive, though a little bit buried under all the work I have. Thanks for enjoying the story so far, and I'm glad that you enjoyed how I characterized Misao and Soujiro. Yes, this story is going to end, but never fear! There will be an epilogue posting us on how the two do after the Shishio era. Here's a new chapter–enjoy!

Kerichi: Thank you for thinking this story is amazing! It did take me a while to get Soujiro and Misao into character, and to not have them seem like 2-D characters, as they kinda were in the series. I tried doing my best on Soujiro, but it turns out that he's quite easy to write. The hard part are the battles. :winces: I hoped those turned out well! I really hope this chapter didn't let you down!