The Fires of Vengeance

by Halcyon Seraphim

After realizing that his very presence is a danger to Kaoru and the others, Kenshin leaves the Kamiya dojo, unaware that he's leaving a little something more behind than just his friends. And years later, that something wants him dead... UPDATED! Chapter

6. Kindling

The Fires of Vengeance- Chapter 6: Kindling

Yes, I have finally decided to continue. Quickly, here's the disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. I know that all of the desperate lawyers out there are looking to make some money, but I have nothing to give anyway! Except for my mangas…but those are sacred, no da!

Anyway, onto the fic. (Note: The beginning of the chapter's a bit messed up and the paragraphs aren't indented. Bear with me, please.)

            Reiko studied the stupefied looks on Sanosuke's and Megumi's faces, utterly enjoying them. "You look surprised," she commented. "Did you honestly think I wouldn't find out?"

            After a few brief moments of silence, Megumi cried out, "Reiko, you're hurt!"

            "Quit dancing around the subject, Megumi," Reiko said coldly. "I am so freaking tired of all your lies. I just want to know where I came from. That's all. I have a right to know."

            She paused for a moment, studying them with quickly darting eyes. "I also want to know why my mother tried to kill me just now."

            The reaction this statement caused in Megumi and Sanosuke was incredible. Megumi jumped up and made a sort of whimpering noise, while Sanosuke, gaping at Reiko, jumped up and dropped his dish, causing it to break into dozens of tiny little fragments.

            "WHAT?!" they both shouted.

            "That surprises you as well? And here I was thinking that it's normal for your mother to rush at you with a knife clenched in her hand," Reiko went on sarcastically. "Now, wait. Wasn't my mother supposed to be away in China?"

            "Reiko…" Megumi said quietly.

            "Yes?" Reiko asked. "Am I getting an apology for your deceit, or am I getting the explanation I've been asking for?"

            "Your father…he isn't…he's not…what I mean to say is that…well…he—" Megumi began reluctantly. She was interrupted by Sanosuke putting his hand on her shoulder, a gesture telling her to stop speaking and let him do the explaining. He's not such a moron after all. He knows how hard explaining this to Reiko will be for me, she thought, smiling up at him gratefully.

            "Well, now," Reiko said, smiling maliciously. "You two seem to be getting along better than usual. Was I interrupting something? Perhaps you two wanted to make an illegitimate child too?"

            "Reiko!" Sanosuke and Megumi shrieked.

            "Aw…it seems I've touched upon a nerve. Just continue, and I'll shut up," she said smugly. Sanosuke sat down, and Megumi sat down beside him. "You're getting comfortable…that must mean that this is a long story. Well then, do tell." Sanosuke and Megumi glanced at Reiko sharply, causing her to feel just the tiniest surge of guilt in what she was saying to them. But that guilt was gone instantly, replaced by fury. They were the ones that had lied to her. If anything, she was the victim and they were the guilty.

            "Well, your mother met him long before we did. So did Yahiko. What happened between them before we came around is pretty much a mystery. I think Kaoru thought he was the Battousai and attacked him because someone claiming to be the Battousai was running around murdering people, claiming his style of swordsmanship was the Kamiya Kasshin style. Kaoru wanted to avenge her dojo because all her students were leaving since this person was tarnishing the dojo's good name. As it turned out, the real murderer wasn't the person Kaoru attacked. It was just some Battousai wannabe. And when Kaoru found him, she tried attacking him but nearly got killed in the process. Then the first person she met ended up saving her. And that first person really did turn out to be the Battousai. Regardless of his past, and considering the fact that he claimed he was no longer the Battousai, Kaoru let him stay," Sanosuke summarized.

            "You have to understand, Reiko. Kaoru's parents were both dead. She lived alone, and now she didn't have students to teach. You can hardly blame her," Megumi interjected quietly.

            "So, when did I come about? Nine months later?" Reiko asked.

            "No, about two years later, you wise ass," Sanosuke replied. "Now, the Battousai ended up saving Yahiko from a group of thugs who were forcing him to pick pockets. I was hired to kill him."

            "Hold on, Sano. From what you tell me, the Battousai doesn't seem like a bloodthirsty hitokiri. He seems like a really virtuous person," Reiko said slowly, a little bit confused.

            "I know," Megumi said quietly.

            "And Sanosuke seems like a bloodthirsty killer. You sure you're not my father?" she asked him. Sanosuke snorted into his drink.

            "WHAT?!"

            "I'm kidding, I'm kidding."

            "You better be, Jou-chan."

            "Or what?"

            "Or I'll f—"Sanosuke started, but immediately shut up when Megumi shot him a stern look. "Heh, heh. Anyway, he ended up defeating me, and then we became good friends. I used to be a fighter-for-hire, but I quit after that."

            "You were a fighter-for-hire? Isn't that like a hitokiri, Sano?" Reiko asked suspiciously. Her whole "family" was turning out to be a troupe of murderers and it was not amusing.

            "A hitokiri seeks his victims with the intent of killing them, but I made it clear that I didn't care whether the person lived or died," Sanosuke explained.

            "How considerate of you," Reiko replied sarcastically.

            "You want to hear the story or not?" Sanosuke snapped.

            "Fine," Reiko said submissively. "When did you meet Megumi?"

"When she was on the run from a man named Kanryu Takeda," Sanosuke said.

Before he could continue, Reiko interrupted, "Wasn't he that big shot entrepreneur who got arrested for being in charge of underground opium production?" Sanosuke and Megumi looked at her sharply.

"And you would know this how?" Sanosuke asked.

"The library at school has this whole collection of old newspapers. I read them for information on the Battousai when you told me he wasn't my father, but I happened to come across that as well. It didn't mention Megumi, though," Reiko explained.

"It didn't?" Megumi asked, incredibly relieved. "Thank Kami-sama."

            Sanosuke, on the other hand, just snickered. "You weren't even important enough to the opium network for them to mention you in the article? Damn, did you waste five years of your life!"

"What do you mean, I wasn't important?! I MADE THE OPIUM, STUPID!" Megumi screeched, slapping Sanosuke upside the head.

"Then no wonder everyone died," Sanosuke said, continuing to snicker.

"YOU STUPID LITTLE—"

Reiko cleared her throat. "I believe that you're getting a bit carried away, Sano. Continue with the story," she said, and the icy calm with which she spoke her words was enough to stop Megumi and Sanosuke's bickering. They slowly turned to look at her, and then flinched. For Reiko's eyes had changed again, from their curious lavender to icy blue. She looked like she'd be ready to hurt Sanosuke unless he spoke, but he couldn't bring himself to utter a single word. The expression in her eyes was worse than Kenshin's ever was when he was a rurouni in battle. Her expression was a mere half-step away from becoming the one they had seldom ever seen in Kenshin: the look of the Battousai.

Once Reiko noticed her guardians' expressions, she blinked several times. What is wrong with them? They look…afraid…terrified... She thought. Her eyes widened. They are afraid…of me. It's the same look that Masashi's friends gave me, and I'm sure Masashi would've looked at me the same way had his pride not been paralyzing him. She jumped up.

"You'll finish the story later, then, Sano," she said. Without waiting for a reply, she sped off to her room and slammed the door shut as soon as she was inside. Reiko fell to the ground, panting. What's wrong with me? She wondered helplessly. Why do I feel so…strange? I'm angry enough with my mother that I could hurt someone, but it's not the first time I've felt this way. But I usually just stamp my feet and throw a tantrum when I'm this angry… But this time, I'm different. I feel like I actually could take myself up on that offer and hurt somebody, maybe even kill them. And the worst part about it is that I'm completely calm about it…like murder would be a second nature to me. By now her breath had returned, and she walked over to the mirror. Reluctantly, she forced herself to look at her reflection. All she found, however, were two wide, lavender eyes staring back at her. She sighed. Maybe I'm just imagining it, then. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. My eyes didn't change color. But following this thought, a very obvious realization struck her. "If my eyes can change color to begin with…then they can obviously change back. I'm not imagining anything," she murmured. And now she knew. She knew that until that day, a part of her being was dormant inside her. But her fight with Masashi and then her nearly fatal encounter with her mother had added up to an awakening, an awakening of the darkest parts of her soul. "I'll suppress it," she told herself fiercely. "I have to. Even if I am half-hitokiri, I will never allow myself to resort to being one. I'll hold back till the day that I die, if I have to." She lay down on her futon, not concerned with the fact that her clothes were covered in dirt. And slowly, she drifted off to sleep.

Megumi quietly began to pick up pieces of glass from Sanosuke's broken dish.

"Leave it," he ordered. "I'll do it myself." Megumi stood and forced herself to smile.

"I'm doing it to save myself extra work, Sanosuke. You'd probably cut your finger and come running to me for medical aid," Megumi said with a false sweetness.

"Megumi." Sanosuke took her arm and pulled her up. "Enough. You don't have to pretend that everything is all right. You and I both know that things are far from all right. We saw a trace of hitokiri in Reiko now, and you know it. The question is, what are we going to do about it?"

            "Do about it?" Megumi asked, scoffing. She laughed scornfully. "Nothing, Sanosuke. We are going to do absolutely nothing. Reiko is not our child, therefore not our concern. She had parents who can worry about that."

            Sanosuke stared at Megumi for a moment, wondering if he should yell or simply backhand her. It was opportune for Megumi that shock had numbed him so much that he went with the former choice.

            "Parents, Megumi?" Sanosuke asked, stupefied. She nodded curtly in reply and began gathering the broken china again. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" Megumi paused and stood up slowly, looking anywhere but into Sanosuke's eyes, which bore a more enraged expression than she had ever seen in them.

            "Perhaps you misheard me, Sano. Reiko is not our concern. Neither of us spawned the little brat, so there is no reason for us to be worried about her. Let Kaoru worry. That is what she should be doing, after all, rather than lying in bed, bawling, and missing Kenshin," Megumi said coldly. Both were setting new records for themselves, for Sanosuke could never remember hearing Megumi employ that tone. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Why is she being so indifferent? Megumi knows all too well that we promised long ago to care for Reiko as if she was our child. Even Yahiko aided in raising her, and he loves her like a little sister. What in hell is she talking about? Sanosuke wondered. There was only one answer to his question. He placed his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him. The answer he was seeking was evident from the look in her eyes. Like windows into her soul, they explained the real reason regarding her apathy.

            The abnormal brightness in her eyes told him that she was fighting tears, and wasn't doing too good a job of it.

            "Megumi…" Sanosuke said slowly, "you didn't mean a word you just said, did you? I know you care about Reiko. And I also know that you would go to any length to stop her from turning into a bastard like…well…like him." Megumi blinked, and the look in her eyes changed, which caused Sanosuke to let go of her chin. Here it comes… He thought morbidly.

            "Sanosuke Sagara, do you know how to use your head?" she asked, sounding very much like her dear old self.

            "The Fox Lady had returned," he replied dryly. But deep down, although he would rather lose to Saitou a couple hundred more times than admit it, Sanosuke was incredibly relieved. It was partially because she wasn't bashing him over the head with a dish, but more so because he was happy to have the old Megumi back. "Now, why am I being accused of stupidity?"

            "In case you haven't noticed, Reiko already is a bastard—a child without a father. Think before you speak the next time."

            "I didn't mean it literally," Sanosuke said, glaring at Megumi.

            "Yes, but chances are, Reiko is at the door listening to every word we say. And I don't think she'll appreciate hearing that she's a bastard."

            Megumi's small remark caused Sanosuke to explode. "EXCUSE ME?! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO WAS ALL, 'REIKO IS SUCH A BRAT AND I HATE HER' TWO MINUTES AGO!"

            When Megumi spoke, her voice was at a completely contrasting volume when compared to Sanosuke's. "Well, let's just say I wasn't thinking then. It's just…"
            "It's just that you didn't want to think that Reiko would grow up to be a heartless manslayer after all we've done to block that out of her. And a part of you didn't want the additional responsibility of having to force Reiko to suppress killer instincts. Of course, there is also the knowledge at the back of your head that shouts out to you constantly, reminding you that the child that has suddenly been thrown into your arms…a child that comes from the man you love, but not from you. Am I right?" Sanosuke finished for her.

            "Okay, you know, that's not fair," Megumi said, annoyed. "Your comment about Kenshin was completely off. I couldn't care about him. As for everything else…how do you know that?" She knew that she was a shameless liar when it came to Kenshin, but Sanosuke did not need to know.

            "You let your guard down, and I read it in your expression. And in any event, I'm not the only one who should think before he speaks. You mentioned Reiko having parents, when you know all too well that Reiko has no such thing. Kenshin is off gallivanting Kami-sama-knows-where, leaving us to raise a child that looks and acts just like him. Now, Kaoru is actually a great mom, except in May when she loses all will to live and basically just goes insane," Sanosuke said matter-of-factly.

            Shaking her head, she said, "Only you could speak of such depressing things with that sort of tone of voice…"

            "Hmmph. Let's just say I'm used to it." Sanosuke went on with the same matter-of-fact tone. "And of course, we can't overlook the fact that Kaoru just tried to kill her very own daughter because of the insanity that I just mentioned. Besides, you know that if anything happens to Kaoru, the responsibility of raising Reiko will fall to you, Yahiko, and me."

            "Yahiko?" Megumi asked, the corners of her mouth twitching with the threat of a smile.

            "He's grown up. And you never know…he and Tsubame have been awfully chummy for quite a while," Sanosuke said. For the first time that afternoon, the two adults smiled. "Of course, the last thing we need is more children added to our ever-expanding family." Megumi rolled her eyes. Do these people think of nothing else?

            "Men."

            "Women," he countered. Megumi sighed, and they both fell silent. As the chirping of birds filled the room, she was reminded—with a sharp jab—of the night she spoke to Yahiko, right around the time Kaoru took it upon herself to end two lives. "Hey, Megumi?"

            "Yes?"

            "I hate May." Megumi chuckled.

            "So do I, Sano," she replied. "So do I."

What Megumi did not know, however, was that she was very wrong about the assumption that Reiko was behind her door, listening to their conversation. In fact, Reiko was sleeping deeply, but very turbulently.

            She kept seeing nothing but brief, second-long scenes. She couldn't see a single face clearly. But one thing was always present…always…

            Its smell haunted her, as did its color and the sounds of it dripping to the ground or flowing across it…she couldn't shake the coppery smell from her mind, nor could she stop envisioning the dark red color of this substance.

            Blood.

            This went on for quite some time before everything became dark and ended. The blood was no longer present. Reiko couldn't even sense a trace of it. Slowly, a scene began to form. She appeared to be in a cemetery and before her stood a man wearing a white coat with a red collar. She couldn't see his face, for his back was facing her. Reiko began to sigh, but broke off midway as she heard the man speak.

            "You made graves for those bandits as well as your parents?" he asked. Reiko looked around. Is he talking to me? She wondered. There was no one else there, so she was the only possible person he could've been talking to.

            "Sorry?" she tried to say, but no words came out. Okay…now I'm confused. Where the hell am I? She asked herself. Or, more accurately, what the hell am I?

            "They're slave traders, not my parents," a little-boyish voice said. So the huge man was talking to someone. And judging by the fact that this person was completely invisible, he had to be in front of the man. "My parents died from cholera last year. But bandit or slave trader, they're still people. And they're dead," the little boy went on. Reiko craned her neck to try and see him, but to no avail. Damn it. She swore inwardly.

            "So you made graves for them?" the man asked. Reiko heard the boy shift a bit, but he offered the large man in the white jacket no answer. "What are those three stones?"

            "Miss Kasumi, Miss Akane, and Miss Sakura. All three of them were sold off to pay some debts. I only knew them for a day. But since I was the only boy there, and since I had no parents, I was willing to throw away my life to save them," the boy answered. Reiko perked up. So we have a lot in common, that we do. I have no parents, either. She thought. The boy continued speaking. "That's why I tried to look for some good stones for them. But these were all I found. I don't even have any flowers."

            The man said nothing, but opened a jug he was carrying. He walked over to the stones protruding from the ground and emptied the contents of the jug out onto them. "No one should have to leave this world without knowing the taste of good sake. This is my tribute to these three," was the explanation he offered. Reiko couldn't help but smile. Sake loving old fart… She thought. "What's your name, boy?" the man asked him.

            "Shinta." Reiko froze, and the feeling that her heart had stopped beating consumed her. That was the name of Fujitaka Wakamaru's son…and also, in turn, the name of her father. But it couldn't be…or could it? Was that really her father as a child? This was insane. How could she have been seeing her father when he was young?

            "That's too gentle a name for a swordsman. From now on, your new name will be Kenshin. I promise to give you the best training I have to offer, Kenshin," the man told him. Kenshin? Gee, after kidnapping me, you'd think the stupid son of a whore could give me proper information on my bastard father. Reiko noted. "Come, Kenshin."

            "Come? Where?" Shinta—or, rather, Kenshin—asked.

            "Your training begins today. You, Kenshin, will become the apprentice to Seijurou Hiko the thirteenth, master of the Hiten Mitsurugi ryuu. And, as of today, you will call me 'Shishou'. Understood?" Hiko said.

            "Yes, Shishou," Kenshin replied. Hiko turned, and just as Kenshin was about to turn and bestow upon Reiko her first ever glimpse of her father, everything went dark.

            And Reiko awoke, still clad in a dirt-covered gi and hakama, only with the addition of sweat all over it. (A/N: Most of the dialogue between Kenshin and Hiko in the dream was taken from an episode in the actual show. I just added the very last part and also Reiko's opinion on everything.)

            "OH, KUSO!" she swore. "I was so close to seeing him…stupid bastard. He ruins my dreams, too. So, the Hiten Mitsurugi ryuu, huh? And Seijurou Hiko? That's quite a bit of valuable information, there. Now, what was his name?" Reiko thought hard, desperately trying to remember what Hiko had changed her father's name to. But no matter how hard she tried, not even a letter of the name returned to her. "Grr…how the hell is this possible?! I just heard the stupid name a minute ago!" she shouted, frustrated. Reiko jumped up and, uncaring about the events that had gone on earlier, ran to the kitchen.

            "Reiko!" Megumi chided as Reiko ran into the kitchen and skidded into her.

            "Sorry, Auntie Megumi," Reiko apologized, sitting down. "I didn't mean to."

            "You…called me Auntie Megumi…" Megumi said, sounding both shocked and flattered. Okay…she never cared when I called her that before. I didn't know she liked that nickname. Odd Fox Lady… Reiko thought, shrugging.

            Sanosuke eyed Reiko for a moment. It was amazing. She had undergone a complete transformation. Her eyes were completely lavender. And they weren't cold at all, but were instead filled with an innocent curiosity. Well…as innocent as your curiosity could be if two perverts helped raise you.

            "I have a question," Reiko said immediately, wasting no time. "What's the—"

            "Hold on a second, Reiko. Don't you owe us an apology for running out like that?" Megumi asked her.

            "Oh, right. Yeah, yeah, sorry 'bout that, Auntie Megumi and Uncle Sano," she said, smiling innocently but not sounding like she was very sorry at all.

            "From the way you sound, I can tell you're just saying that because you want something," Sanosuke said. But he was smiling, so Reiko could tell he wasn't at all mad.

            "Oro?" she asked. Sanosuke grabbed Reiko and ruffled her hair affectionately. To him, that word was a sure sign that the sane Reiko they all knew and loved had returned. "Ow…SANO! YOU'RE MAKING MY HAIR POOFY! STOP IT!" Sanosuke let go, but then hugged Reiko tightly. It was the first time he'd hugged her in a while, which made Reiko slightly nervous. What have they been doing since I was asleep? Consuming some of that opium? She wondered. She looked to Megumi for some support, praying to Kami-sama that she wouldn't hug her too. Kami-sama answered her prayers, for Megumi was looking at Sanosuke with an expression that was indecipherable to Reiko, but Sanosuke translated it to mean "Don't get too relieved just yet." God, she's such a pessimist. He thought, rolling his eyes.

            "Now, Reiko, what was it you wanted to ask us?" Megumi reminded her.

            "Yeah. What is the Hiten Mitsurugi ryuu?" Megumi face-faulted, and Sanosuke felt like banging his head against the floor.

            "Er…where'd you hear of that, Reiko?" Megumi asked her, trying not to look too distraught.

            "That's not important. But what is of consequence is what that is. Now, are you going to tell me or should I go ask Seijurou Hiko the Thirteenth?" she said, eyeing them coolly.

            "Yep, Reiko, you should definitely become a salesperson," Sanosuke said dryly, but it still remained obvious that he was trying to steer away from their present topic.

            "If that's true then you won't be able to fool me that easily," Reiko retorted. "Now. I'll say it again: what is the Hiten Mitsurugi ryuu?"

            "I don't know," Megumi and Sanosuke said in complete unison. Reiko chuckled.

            "When you two speak identical sentences at the exact same time then I know you're lying. As if you could ever agree on anything," she said, scoffing.

            "Fine," Sanosuke submitted.

            "Sanosuke!" Megumi barked.

            "What? She'll find out anyway, whether we tell her or not," he snapped at her. Megumi shook her head, but said nothing more.

            "So what is it?" Reiko asked, the severity of her voice translating to mean that it was the last time she was asking and that she had better receive an answer. She already had a small idea of what it was, but she wanted to be absolutely certain.

            Sighing, Sanosuke answered her. "It's your father's style of swordsmanship. The Hiten Mitsurugi ryuu's teachings cause a person to develop skills that will never fail to slay an opponent."

            "Why am I not surprised?" Reiko mumbled.

            "Unless, of course, you use a reverse-blade sword," Megumi said, looking at Sanosuke pointedly.

            "A reverse-blade sword? What in all the hells is that?" Reiko asked Megumi.

            "Reiko! Honestly, you speak like you've had absolutely no discipline whatsoever!" Megumi snapped at her.

            "Hey…" Sanosuke said, glaring at Megumi. "I talk like that."

            "So I rest my case."

            "Why you stupid fox la—"

            "So you obviously can't blame me," Reiko interrupted innocently, eager to get on with her interrogation. "It's Sano's fault."

            "You're not helping!" Sanosuke spat.

            "Yeah, whatever. Go on, Megumi."

            "A reverse-blade sword is just what it sounds like. A sword with the blade on the wrong side. A sword like that couldn't kill anyone," Megumi explained.

            "Unless you flipped it, of course," Sanosuke added, as pointedly as Megumi had earlier.

            "Shut up, Sanosuke. You know he only did it—"

            "Quite a few times for a rurouni with a vow never to kill!"

            "But you know it wasn't his fault—"

            "Man, you are a stupid wench! Your affection has locked in your senses, Megumi! How could it not be his fault if it's a part of him?"

            "Don't call me a wench, you-you-you cock head!"

            "What was that, you Ke—"

            "Shut the hell up, children!" Reiko interjected loudly. "Honestly…" She shook her head. "You fight like an old married couple. I'm surprised you haven't done it already."

            "Done what, Reiko?!" Megumi and Sanosuke shrieked at the same time.

            "Gotten married, of course. What were you thinking about?" Reiko asked, smiling wickedly.

            "You're only supposed to embarrass Yahiko, Reiko! I have been mortally offended," Sanosuke said, feigning hurt. "And let's just say I'd rather die than involve myself with someone like Megumi in those kinds of ways."

            "EXCUSE ME?!" Megumi shouted.

            "You heard me, wench!" Sanosuke replied.

            Megumi snickered. "You'd never say that to Sayo…"

            "Sayo? Who's Sayo?" Reiko asked curiously.

            "The person you were about to be named after since Sanosuke here was still obsessed with her," Megumi went on wickedly.

            "Shut up, Megumi!" Sanosuke shouted, but his tone was no longer the usual one he employed when arguing with Megumi. It was much more severe. Megumi could remember only a few other occasions when Sanosuke has spoken to her like that, and Reiko couldn't remember any.

            "I'm sorry, Sanosuke. But now you know that I'm not the only one with a few hidden feelings that should be buried…" Megumi said quietly. She rose and smoothed out her kimono. Reiko watched both her and Sanosuke's movements very carefully. If there was one thing she was skilled at, it was deciphering concealed emotions.

            "Sano…" Reiko said softly, "this Sayo person…she's dead, isn't she?" Sanosuke glanced at Reiko sharply. Yet another thing she's been able to inherit from Kenshin—the ability to read people's emotions. Sanosuke thought. Unable to say anything, he simply nodded.

            "Well then, now that you've got your answers, I'd better be off. Oh, and Reiko," Megumi added, pausing, "I'll talk to Kaoru, okay?"
            "Don't bother," Reiko said, every shred of ice she bore earlier returning. "I doubt she'll be in any state to care. Why are you going to see her, anyway?"

            "I'm not going to the dojo simply to see Kaoru. Gensai-sensei's sister is coming to visit, and since there isn't enough room for all of us I offered to stay with Kaoru and Yahiko for the next two weeks," Megumi explained. Under normal circumstances, Reiko would've asked to come along. But at the present moment, she had no desire to ever return to the Kamiya dojo, even if it was the place where most of her memories had sprouted.

            "You know, Megumi, you don't have to go serve as company for one insane person and another who's hardly ever around. You can stay here. I don't mind…" Reiko said, but her voice was devoid of any wickedness. She couldn't help but feel that she was responsible for the abnormal hostility that had just sprung up between Sanosuke and Megumi.

            "You may not mind, but I'm sure I'll only serve as a nuisance to a certain someone who's finally discovered what it's like to have someone pry into your emotions," Megumi said coldly, slipping on her shoes.

            "He doesn't mind. Do you, Sano?" Reiko asked, looking at him with the cutest look she could muster.

            "Whatever. Just tell your friend to stay out of my way," Sanosuke said, grunting. He stood up. "Do what you want. I'm going to go waste money on sake and gambling, and I don't really give a crap about what anyone has to say about it."

            "Great, Uncle Sano. I'll go with you," Reiko said.

            "Not the way you're dressed. Do you want to be a complete embarrassment to me or something? And I don't want people saying that I've been abusing you or something. Go change, and while you're at it, ask someone to look at your wounds," Sanosuke ordered. "I'll wait for you."

            Knowing that by "someone" Sanosuke meant Megumi, Reiko took her hand and led her to her room. Once they were inside, Reiko stuck out her arms.

            "My wounds opened up again," Reiko explained simply.

            Megumi blinked. "What do you do to yourself, Reiko?" she asked incredulously. "Nearly all of your wounds have opened up again! And I know this couldn't have happened because of…well…"

            "It wasn't my mom's fault, if that's what you're referring to," Reiko put in. "Let's just say that for the first time in my life, I was able to stand up for myself successfully."

            "Masashi Ikeda?" Megumi asked, grabbing a roll of bandages from a cabinet in Reiko's room. Reiko folded her arms and glared at Megumi.

            "That's not fair! How do you know that?" she asked, annoyed.

            "Sanosuke," Megumi replied briskly. "Now, let me see your wrists."

            "Um…Megumi…can I ask a question?" Reiko asked cautiously as Megumi re-wrapped Reiko's wrists.

            "Go ahead."

            Reiko felt uncomfortable asking Megumi a question such as the one that was forming on her lips, but she still couldn't help herself. "You…well…did you love my father?" she asked. Megumi looked up slowly, and once she did, she saw that Reiko's cheeks were slightly red. She smiled a smile that appeared to be rather alien on Megumi's face.

            "I did…" she admitted, "…until today."

            "Until today?" Reiko asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's changed today?" Megumi pursed her lips and offered no reply.

            "Where else do you need to be re-bandaged?" she asked instead. Reiko sighed. She already knew the answer, of course. For an eight-year-old child, she sometimes understood a great deal more than the adults around her did. And sometimes…it caused her unimaginable pain. They're so stupid. She thought sadly. It's their unwillingness to forget about the past that causes them pain. Although, I must admit, I'm not one to be talking. I can't forget my past at all. I remember every minor sin I've ever committed. Ah, well, there's no use thinking about it now. I'll find some way to repent for it later. If Reiko had only noticed that her pacifistic nature was leaking through, that would have put her mind to rest about becoming a hitokiri for the time being.

            "Er…I think the wounds on my ankles have opened up as well," Reiko answered. Once Megumi was finished treating her, Reiko walked over to the corner of the room with her clothes spread out. "Do you think it'll hurt if I wear a kimono?" she asked. Megumi shook her head.

            "I can't say you have much of a choice, anyway, when it comes to wardrobe. Your only gi and hakama are dirty," Megumi remarked. "And what's this, actually asking to dress in a kimono? I thought you hated them because they are uncomfortable and restrict movement."

            "I don't want to draw anymore attention to myself today, Megumi," Reiko said sagely. "That I most definitely do not. Two violent encounters are enough for me in one day. I'm not even going to take my bokuto."

            "Okay then, Reiko," Megumi said, sliding the door open. "Call me if you need me." With those words, she left Reiko's room.

            "What, she thinks I'm not old enough to dress myself?" Reiko mumbled to herself. A few minutes later, Reiko emerged fully clothed with her hair tied in a low ponytail.

            "Done yet?" Sanosuke called from the hall.

            "In a second, Sano!" Reiko called back.

            "Damn, women take forever to get ready," Sanosuke mumbled.

            Entering the kitchen, Reiko called, "I heard that!" She shook her head. Men. She thought, frowning. Asses, every single one of them. Reiko looked around the kitchen. Spotting what she was looking for, Reiko grabbed a kitchen knife. She inspected the blade, then tested its sharp edge with her index finger. She hastily pulled it back as it started to bleed. I guess Sanosuke likes to keep his knives sharp. How fortunate. She slipped the knife in her obi. Just because she wanted to be inconspicuous didn't mean that she wished to remain unarmed.

            "REIKO!" Sanosuke shouted, annoyed.

            "I'm coming!"

"Sanosuke…I still have some questions about what happened before I was born," Reiko said once they were walking toward Sanosuke's usual gambling corner.

            "You mean questions you were going to ask before you felt the sudden urge to run out of the kitchen?" he asked.

            "Er…yeah."

            Sanosuke chewed on his trademark fish bone thoughtfully. "Reiko…before we go on, can I ask you a question?"

            "You just did…but go ahead and ask another," Reiko said. She looked at Sanosuke with mild surprise.

            "Not that I have any problems with it, but about everything that happened…why aren't you a bit more upset?" he questioned. Reiko looked away from Sanosuke and stared straight ahead, her eyes sad and unfocused. This sudden emotion in Reiko made Sanosuke regret that the words had ever left his lips. She had changed so much in the course of a few weeks and, frankly, Sanosuke had no clue what to expect from her anymore.

            "Sano…there are different types of pain, as well as different ways of dealing with it. One way of coping with pain is by pretending it doesn't exist, or by pretending that the incident that caused some sort of pain never occurred. Others find it easier to cry…shedding tears as if that sheds the pain as well. I used to be among that group of people, only there was seldom a chance when anyone gained knowledge of my tears. And then there are others…they are all too aware of their pain, but they aren't ruled by it. They don't cry, either, but rather move on with their life. That is the kind of person I wish to be. Only…I can't. I can't move on with my life. What he did is unforgivable. Someone like the Hitokiri Battousai doesn't deserve to walk upon this Earth. In so doing…he corrupts the very land that innocent people tread upon. I base this feeling not on all of his murder victims, but solely on how he has wronged my mother. I don't blame her for what happened. How can I? So, I will tell you right now to avoid shocking you later. I will find the Battousai, and I will make him pay for what he did. And as you said before about gambling and sake, I don't give a damn about what anyone has to say about it. So, as you can see, I'm not moving on with my pain. But, reverting back to my previous topic, Sanosuke…just because someone doesn't openly display their pain, it doesn't mean that the pain has affected them in a smaller measure than someone who does. So you really have no idea whether I'm upset or not," Reiko explained, scanning the expanse of land before her. Sanosuke was stupefied. This was wisdom he would never have expected to come from an eight-year-old child. And yet…after all that's happened, she doesn't hold Kaoru responsible. You know…I have to say, I envy her. She can be angry at the true cause of her pain, not just at the person who inflicted it. She can look past Kaoru and stare her true nemesis in the eye…she can stare at him. Sanosuke thought, his mouth a grim line. When Captain Sagara died, I was angry with the Imperialists. I hated them as a whole, when the true cause of his death was the commanding general. And, as much as I hate to finally admit it to myself, I hated Captain Sagara for leaving me. I hated him for not listening to me when I told him to run…when I wanted to save him. I despised him for putting his pride, and his stupid understanding of those bastards, before his life. And most of all, I hated the fact that he didn't fight back. He may as well have told God to save a spot in the afterlife for him, the way he handed himself in so willingly. That is, if there is someone known as God. The thin line became a frown, for Sanosuke disliked uncovering a truth about himself that was as despicable as this. Have I condemned you, Captain Sagara? He wondered miserably. Has my unprovoked hatred damned your soul?

            "Sano…" Reiko began gently, although to Sanosuke the interruption seemed rather forceful. Despite the fact that his thoughts had originated around her, he had completely forgotten about her being right beside him. I'm a really attentive guardian… He thought with an irritable sarcasm. That Fujitaka Wakamaru bastard could've snuck up behind Reiko to finish was h—what Kenshin started, and I wouldn't have even noticed!

            "Yeah?" he asked, finally aware of his surroundings and the ground he strode on.

            "Did he…that is to say…did…did my parents love each other?" she finally blurted out. "Even just a little?"

            "I can't say much about the Battousai, but I know this: your mother loved him more than she loved life itself. She would've braved any danger to be with him or to protect him," Sanosuke replied, the smallest bit uncomfortable with having to explain that to Reiko. Reiko, on the other hand, obviously wasn't uncomfortable with hearing it, for she was chuckling.

            "The Battousai needed my mom to protect him? Wow. With a wuss like him on their side, I'm surprised the Imperialists even won the Revolution!" Reiko said, allowing her eyes to light up for the first time in ages.

            Even Sanosuke had to snicker. "You've definitely got a point there."

            "Hey, Sano?"

            "No…not another question!" Sanosuke said in an exasperated tone. "Will your inquiry ever end?"

            "Nope. We learn by asking questions. That's probably the only good piece of advice I've ever received from my teacher," said Reiko.

            "She seems like a wise woman," Sanosuke commented.

            "Is that why she hates it when we ask questions?" Reiko asked, quirking an eyebrow.

            "…Never mind then."

            "Anyway, what's this about you not being sure about the Battousai? You knew the guy for a year and you could never tell if he liked my mom or not? You must seriously be a chicken head!" Reiko said, laughing.

            "Don't call me that!" Sanosuke shouted, kicking a nearby rock.

            "Okay. Can I call you 'Cock Head' then?"

            "REIKO!"

            "You're avoiding the question, Uncle Sano."

            Sanosuke sighed wearily. The child could never make anything easy, could she? "Okay. The truth is, I do know. I just didn't want to tell you. You see, I don't believe that the Battousai loved Kaoru. She was just a possession to him, something he could use to satisfy his every whim and then discard once he grew tired of it. That's it. He never loved her, and I doubt that he ever respected her."

            Reiko was silent for the next few moments. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking, for her face remained completely impassive. Damn, do I wish I had some of those mad Hiten Mitsurugi skills right about now. Sanosuke thought enviously, although he wasn't quite sure who he envied.

            "Sano," Reiko said curtly. "I'm going to share a view I have about humanity with you. At the heart of every single person on this Earth, there always exists some merit of selfishness. No matter how pure, kind, and compassionate someone can be, there is always a small shadow cast across their heart. That shadow is the foulness of blatant self-interest. For, when a person dies, we mourn. But we do not mourn for them. We mourn for ourselves. Our soul concern isn't that the deceased person is gone from this world. We care because they're gone from our world. And that is the true nature of every human being, Sano. At the heart of the matter, we're all selfish. You can call me a misanthrope for all I care, but that is the truth I have come to notice."

            Sanosuke was forced to stare at Reiko again. Her words were flowing from her, passionate and unchecked. They were bitter words, and the most terrifying thing about them was that they made sense. They described his feelings about Captain Sagara's death perfectly. Sanosuke had grieved for his own loss, not his captain's.

            "Although…" Reiko began with a slight grin, "deceiving ourselves is always fun." Sanosuke shook his head and was about to ruffle Reiko's hair again, then thought better of it after being met with Reiko's most hostile gaze yet. Only…it was a hostile gaze with a touch of friendliness to it, and maybe even trust. "You touch the hair, Sano, and you die."

            "Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Never let it be said that just because you dress like a boy, it makes you act like one too. Because, deep down, you're all female," Sanosuke said, frowning faintly.

            "You know, coming from you, I'm not sure that's a good thing. You said that like it was meant to be an insult," Reiko commented.

            "It was."

            Reiko glared. "Well, at least the sole concern of a woman isn't the price at the local teahouse," she responded bitterly.

            "Hey, I don't visit teahouses!" Sanosuke retorted.

            "Much," added Reiko.

            "Okay, that's it, you asked for it!" Sanosuke shouted, trying to grab Reiko. Reiko deftly avoided him, ducking and punching him in the stomach. Jumping back, she stuck out her tongue and proceeded to run ahead. Sanosuke followed her slowly, once again consumed by his thoughts. That was amazing. She hit me with the futae no kiwami, that's for sure. But she hardly used any force. And it still smarted worse than the flames of Hell. I'm probably going to be bruised there. To think that such power can be emitted by someone so small. I was only fooling around with her…but she was doing the same to me. One thing is certain, then. Reiko must never meet Seijurou Hiko. There's no doubt that she'll end up wanting to learn the Hiten Mitsurugi ryuu to exact her revenge on the Battousai, and with power like hers…she could succeed. Sanosuke anticipated. And if she does succeed, if she does kill him, there will be no coming back. Reiko will become exactly what we all fear…she'll be no better than the Battousai. And I may be the one who's becoming a pessimist, but if Reiko leaves us and becomes a hitokiri, Kaoru will never be able to recover from it. She won't have an annual insanity; she'll have a permanent one. And at that moment, Sanosuke came up with an idea…a way to convince Reiko to never go off and leave Kaoru. "Reiko!" Sanosuke called, jogging to catch up with her.

            "Oro?" Reiko asked, expecting the worst. He's going to yell…but I had to show him how well I've learned his moves somehow…and a few seconds ago seemed like the most opportune time. She thought.

            "Let me tell you a story."

            Well, that I didn't expect.

            "A story?" Reiko asked suspiciously. "What kind of story?"

            "One about your parents," Sanosuke answered quickly, knowing that combination of words would be sufficient enough to make her listen. "A while ago, shortly before he left for good, the Battousai left us for the very first time since we met him. He was asked to go to Kyoto to kill someone named Makoto Shishio. At the time, he made us believe that he no longer had the will to take lives. And so, when Toshimichi Okubo came to the Battousai to ask him to go get rid of Shishio—who also happened to be his successor—we were confident that he would reject completing the task. After all, we believed he was our rurouni now, not their manslayer. That day was May 7. A week later, the Battousai went to go see Okubo and give him his answer. That answer, as you can guess, was assenting. He agreed to go kill Shishio. He willingly decided to go pour more blood into the ever expanding river of it that flows through his soul."

            "At least he doesn't dream about it," Reiko interrupted softly.

            "What?"

            "Nothing. Go on."

            "Well…he left Tokyo that day and went to Kyoto. That is where Shishio was supposed to be. And the only person he said good-bye to that day…was Kaoru. But don't be fooled, Jou-chan, and think that this was a considerate gesture. For by saying good-bye to her and then walking away, he destroyed her worse than he could've if he used his sword," Sanosuke explained. Acrimony and sheer, unchallenged hate could easily be heard in every word he spoke.

            "And my mother just stood there, and watched him walk away? She let him leave, without even bothering to run after him or try to stop him?" Reiko asked, a baffled expression on her face. Sanosuke nodded. "But…why?"

            "There was another occasion when the Battousai threatened to leave us. It was before Megumi. A hitokiri from the Revolution, one who possessed the Shin no Ippo, was killing officials here in Tokyo. The Battousai was asked by the police to go and protect the man's next victim. He agreed," Sanosuke continued.

            "The Battousai was eager to help the Imperialist pigs even after the Revolution, eh, Sano?" Reiko asked sardonically. It was common knowledge for everyone who knew Sanosuke that he despised the Meiji government and the people who had established it. Reiko, upon finding out that her bastard of a father was one of them, completely agreed.

            "He was."

            "And he didn't even fear Jinei Udou, the hitokiri who became known as Kurogasa? The Hiten Mitsurugi ryuu must be very formidable, then," Reiko assumed. Kuso! Sanosuke thought angrily. My story's only going to make her want to learn the Hiten Mitsurugi and get revenge on him even more. This isn't helping me at all.

            "That, or Jinei's Shin no Ippo wasn't as formidable as you might think. Wait. How do you know about Jinei?"

            "Like I said before, I've been reading old newspapers. It's probably the only useful thing I ever got out of that stupid school that mom sent me to."

            "Ah."

            "Continue."

            "The Battousai asked me to go tell Kaoru and Yahiko that he needed to stay away in order to full assess his abilities. But when I told them, Kaoru refused to sit still and let him leave. She went after him, and was present during the fight with Jinei," Sanosuke went on.

            "And did Jinei come out of the fight alive?" Reiko inquired.

            After a pause, Sanosuke replied, "No."

            "What a shock."

            "Now, that was the first whiplash that the Battousai struck Kaoru with. The second time, I suppose she just couldn't follow him. It was one wound too many. Kaoru stayed in bed for days until Megumi was able to convince her to go after him to Kyoto. When he came from the fight with Shishio, we thought that the worst was over. We assumed that the Battousai would never leave us. But he did. And this time, he happened to leave on the very same day: May 14," said Sanosuke.

            "But…how is that possible? I was born ten months later, not nine. Did he come back, or something? He did, didn't he? He came back and tried to force himself on her!" Reiko cried.

            "Calm down, Reiko. He never came back after that."

            "Then…how was I born ten months later?"

            "For that, you'll have to ask Megumi. She delivered you," Sanosuke said airily. Reiko started.

            "Me-megumi?! I always knew she had expertise in that area…but she delivered me?" Reiko asked incredulously.

            Sanosuke smiled. "You're not too fond of the Fox Lady, are you?"

            "I never said that. It's just strange to think about…Megumi…" Reiko said slowly. Then she shuddered.

            "Not really. In any case, we all saw you right after you were born," Sanosuke explained. Reiko shook her head.

            "Well…now, at least, I can understand why my mom chose May of all months to go insane," Reiko noted.

            "Yes. But I don't think she'd be able to stand it if another person betrayed her. Her insanity wouldn't occur once a year. If another injustice is inflicted upon her…" Sanosuke went on hesitantly, "…then I don't think she'll ever be able to come out of her madness."

            "And by this other person you mean me, do you not, Sanosuke?" Reiko asked Sanosuke, glancing at him calmly. "You think I intend to betray her, don't you?" She didn't need a response, for she was absolutely certain that this was the case. "In that case, rest assured, Sano. I have no intentions of leaving my mother to fend for herself. I am not like that bastard in any other ways besides his looks, of that you can be sure." If only that were so, Reiko. Sanosuke thought longingly. Life would be so much easier.

            "Okay then, Reiko," Sanosuke answered, feeling a small measure of relief at the idea that his plan had worked. I'm sorry, Sano. Thought Reiko sadly. That was a lie, for the most part. I won't leave my mother to fend for herself, for she'll be with all of you, but I will leave her. I have no choice. If I hope to end my own Revolution, the one that's taking place inside my soul, then I have no choice but to make the Battousai pay. And pay he will. Of that, Sano, you can most definitely be sure.

The walk back home was less of a burden on Reiko's mind, but not any less of a physical burden. Sanosuke wasn't kidding when he said he was going to waste all his money on sake and gambling, for that was just what he had done. And he mostly spent it on the sake. Reiko had drank some of it, and she shuddered to think of the state her "uncle" would be in had she not.

            Allowing Reiko to practically carry him on her back, Sanosuke said, "Reiko, Ah'm gonna shmack ya if Ah find out that ya drank shome of ma shake…" ("Reiko, I'm going to smack you if I find out that you drank some of my sake.") Reiko rolled her eyes.

            "In the condition you're in, I'd like to see you try, Sano," she said simply. "And how much do you freaking eat, Sano?! Carrying you is like taking a few trips to hell and back!"

            "Yeah, well, ya've never really taken shome of those trips, so ya wouldn't know," Sanosuke said drunkenly.

            "What's that supposed to mean?"

            "That ya have no idea what Hell feels like. Ya've never had to shee all o' your companions killed just 'cause shome shtupid asshole decided he could profit offa it," Sanosuke went on. Reiko paused for a moment. Was Sanosuke about to open up and explain exactly why he felt such fierce rage towards the Imperialists? "Why're ya shtoppin'?"

            "Because you weigh more than Yahiko after a trip to the Akabeko."

            "Damn, Reiko, Ah don' weigh that much."

            "You've never carried yourself."

            "Good point."

            "Would you like to try?"

            "Nah, ya sheem to be havin' lotsa fun. Even if it ish nothing like the hell Ah went through."

            "Just what happened in this hell you speak of?" Reiko asked curiously.

            "My captain was killed…right before my eyes. Then the damn Imperialists showed his severed head and that of the other members of the Sekihoutai off like they were trophies," Sanosuke said resentfully. Reiko noticed that, when he spoke, he no longer sounded drunk.

            "You…were part of the Sekihoutai, Sano?" Reiko asked quietly. She knew the story of the Sekihoutai, of course. Every child born during the Meiji Era did. After all, they had wandered around, falsely promising innocent people that their taxes would be cut in half. But why would Sano have been part of such a group?

            "Yeah, I was part of the Sekihoutai. And I'll say it with pride. I feel no shame about that. The Sekihoutai was labeled the false Imperialist army on completely unfair pretenses. We were told by those dirty Imperialist pigs that we were to spread the word about taxes being cut in half. When they realized that this wouldn't be at all profitable to them, the Imperialists called us liars and sentenced us to death. My captain…he didn't even fight back. He behaved like a true samurai, I guess. He dreamed of a day when there would be no superior and inferior titles and when all people would be treated equally. He wanted the oppression of the weak to stop. He must've died believing that it would. And he died in vain."

            Reiko stared at the ground as she walked, still supporting Sanosuke. She wondered how long he had kept that bottled up inside him and also why he had chosen to tell it to her then. It must've been because he was incredibly drunk…but even so. He had sobered up a bit after remembering his past, and yet he still shared it with her.

            "Why, Sano?" she asked.

            "Nani?"

            "Why did you decide to tell me about your past?"

            "Because, well, I know about your origin. So it's only fair for you to know about mine," Sanosuke replied matter-of-factly.

            "Hey, Sano?" Reiko asked seriously.

            "Hmm?"

            "Are you sober enough to walk on your own yet?" she asked pleadingly.

            "Yeah, sure." Sanosuke began to use his own two feet, taking the load off of Reiko.

            "Thank you."

            It was a rather silent walk back to Sanosuke's place of residence.

"You've recovered quite nicely, Mori-san. I would suggest staying in bed for a few days, though. In case your fever isn't completely over," Megumi told a patient of hers. "And I would avoid drinking alcohol at any cost."

            "Yes, Megumi-sama," he said, rising and bowing. "Thanks for all of your help. I really appreciate it. You're an excellent doctor."

            "Go on, you," Megumi said with a slight smile. Now, there was someone who didn't piss her off to the point of wanting to shove something up his—

            "We're back, Megumi!" Reiko called. Speak of the devil.

            "Ah, it seems that your…daughter has returned?" Mori guessed.

            "Try friend's daughter."

            "Oh. Then is that your friend's husband, too?" Mori asked with a small smile.

            "Don't be fresh with me, Mori-san!" Megumi snapped. Then she also smiled. "That is only the idiot whose house this is."

            "Well then I better get going so I don't intrude. Thanks again, Megumi-sama," Mori said gratefully. He said his farewells to Reiko and Sanosuke, and then departed.

            "'Megumi-sama?'" Reiko repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What did you do to earn yourself that kind of title?"

            "Nothing, really. I treated him when he was stabbed after getting caught up in a bar brawl. I guess he thinks I'm a good doctor," Megumi said, shrugging.

            "Megumi, we say Kami-sama. You're more than just a good doctor to him. I think he likes you."

            "Don't be stupid, Reiko. He's married."

            "So what? Ever heard of adultery?" Megumi sighed and instead decided to ask her own question.

            "What happened to him?"

            "He spent all his money on sake and gambling, so I think that's why he's asleep on his feet," Reiko explained to Megumi, glancing up at Sanosuke.

            "I'm perfectly awake, thank you very much," Sanosuke grunted. "But I won't be in a few minutes. I'm off to bed."

            "Okay then, Sano," Reiko answered, glancing at Megumi pointedly. "And Megumi, being the eternally helpful doctor, will aid you in your…um…journey."

            "I'll what?!"

            "Reiko, you have got to be kidding! I'm not two years old anymore! I don't need to be walked to bed! Hell, I didn't even need someone to tuck me in when I was two!"

            "You shut up, Sano. It's not like you'll remember it in the morning, anyway, so just go," Reiko ordered.

            "Yes, but I will remember it in the morning. Why make me suffer so much?" Megumi asked.

            "You two are so immature," Reiko said in a huff. Sanosuke and Megumi shot each other weary looks.

            "Okay then, Reiko," Sanosuke agreed. "I'll let Megumi walk me to my room, but only if it'll make you shut up."
            "I'm shutting up, that I am," Reiko answered with a triumphant little smile. And so, with Sanosuke's arm draped around her neck, Megumi helped him walk to his room.

            "So, Sanosuke, you've managed to get yourself drop-dead drunk. I didn't think you would seriously take yourself up on that idiot offer. What were you thinking?! And you better not have taken Reiko to a teahouse or a bar…I'll flay you alive if you did! You're so irresponsible, Sanosuke, that sometimes I wonder whether or not Reiko should be the one watching you! And in your drunken stupor did you ever think about what would happen if Fujitaka Wakamaru attacked?! My God, Sanosuke, sometimes I just want to wring your neck! How many times does trouble have to smack you in the face before you actually notice it and at least attempt to avoid it?! You better not have let Reiko gamble or drink sake, by the way! With Kaoru insane and Kenshin wandering off without giving a damn about his unborn child, we have to take care of her! I know you don't even know the meaning of the world responsible, but you could've loosened up on your selfishness for just one night! Reiko must be suffering after all that's happened! And you decide to take her out for a night on the town even though you must've known it was wrong! What do you have to say for yourself?" Megumi lectured. But Sanosuke gave no reply. In fact, it didn't even appear as though he were listening. But Megumi knew that he was.

            So then why was he bearing all of her accusations with silence and no indications of even wanting to contradict her?

            "Sanosuke! Did you even hear a word I just said?" Megumi asked, annoyed. He continued walking in complete silence. She would've thought he had died on his feet if she couldn't feel the steady, rapid beating of his heart against her shoulder. And it was this beating that interrupted her just as she was about to voice yet another complaint. W-why is his heart beating so fast? She wondered, somewhat helplessly. Then she scoffed. I'm an idiot for worrying about him. It's probably just the alcohol. And he's not arguing with me because he's too drunk to realize that I've even said anything.

            Shaking her head defiantly, she slid open the screen to Sanosuke's room and led him to the futon. Slowly, she kneeled so that he would be able to lie down.

            But as she did, she realized that Sanosuke was still holding her arm and had pulled her down till her face was but a few inches away from his.

            "S-sanosuke, you can let me go now. You don't need my help anymore," Megumi said, somewhat shakily.

            "I'm sorry," he whispered. But as he didn't let go of her arm, Megumi knew that he wasn't apologizing for that.

            "For what?" she asked, curiosity retrieving the concerned quality from her voice.

            "For…everything. It was wrong of me to keep accusing you about him," he said, still very softly.

            "Oh God! What have I done?! Sano, you're ill!" Again, this didn't bring out the enraged response that Megumi had expected. He only smiled…a smile that had never been revealed to Megumi. There was no contempt, no bitterness, and no arrogance. And although Megumi had no knowledge of the fact, it was a smile that had not graced his face since his days with Souzou Sagara.

            Had she traumatized him by talking about Sayo earlier? Was that why he was being so abnormally nice?

            "Megumi, I never understood your attachment to Kenshin and why you couldn't let him go, even when it became obvious that he loved Kaoru. Or, pretended to love Kaoru. But today I realized that I was doing the same thing with Sayo. She was gone and I couldn't let her go. Rather than keeping her memory, her happiness and mine close to me, I could only remember her death, and in so doing, I damned her and damned myself," he went on quietly. "I, like you, wanted something I could never have. And I didn't like being reminded of the fact that I felt that way. So I'm sorry for all the times I made you feel that way."

            "Forget the Battousai, Sanosuke. I'm not attached to him anymore," Megumi said crossly. And it was the absolute truth. After their fierce argument earlier, she had opened her eyes to reality. Megumi buried her love for Kenshin, and did not wish to speak of it anymore. She still wanted to see Kenshin desperately…to beat some sense into him after what he did to Kaoru and Reiko. "So don't apologize. I repaid you with my comment about Sayo earlier today."

            "But this isn't only an apology. It's an explanation."

            "Well, why bother?! Why now, of all times?" She couldn't help but get furious. Sanosuke wasn't behaving in his usual hot-headed manner, and it was unnerving her.

            "Why, you ask? Because a very wise person opened my eyes to something today. She made me aware of the true reason why I was always upset when people died. I was angry with them for leaving me, which is completely selfish. I cared only for what I was losing. And in both the case of Captain Sagara and Sayo, I never realized just what they were worth until they were gone."

            Now something was definitely wrong, Megumi noted. Sanosuke was making sense. Since he loosened his grip slightly, she took the opportunity to pull back and turn away.

            "Megumi," Sanosuke called out to her softly. She slowly turned to look at him again. "I don't want to make that mistake again." He gently brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. Megumi stared at him with wide eyes, both in response to his remark and to how his touch had made her chest feel tight and caused her heart to beat wildly. He has to be drunk. She thought desperately. But as she looked into his eyes, she recognized that they didn't bear the empty, glassy look of someone under the influence of alcohol. They were clear and completely honest. "I don't care if you hate me for this later, but I'll only feel true to myself if I go through with it." And using no force whatsoever, he pulled her towards him and kissed her. It was only a second later that Sanosuke realized Megumi hadn't offered any resistance at all.

            He let go and drew away from her, turning away from her before she decided to inflict serious pain on him. "And now I suppose you want an apology for that, too, right?" he proposed morosely.

            Sanosuke couldn't see it, but Megumi had a cheerful smile plastered on her face. "Your stupidity never ceases to amaze me, Sano," she said. "If you need to be forgiven for what you have just done, then I will require the same when this is all over." She bent over him and, with a small amount of hesitation, returned his kiss.

The following morning, Reiko awoke to a pounding pain in her temples.

            "Orororororo…" she murmured. It took a moment for her thoughts to gather themselves, and once they did, it took Reiko a few seconds to remember where she was. "What in all the hells is wrong with me?" she asked herself. And then she remembered. Oh yeah…I had sake yesterday. This must be what a hangover feels like. Ow…and to think, Sano wakes up to this every morning. Slowly and painfully, she forced herself to get off her futon. Another string of "oro"s followed this process.

            "Breakfast, Reiko," Sanosuke informed her, slightly opening the screen to her room. It took him a moment to realize that Reiko wasn't in her usual "I hate the world and hope you die" morning mood, and that her usual sullen silence was different. "Reiko?" he asked concernedly, opening the screen wider.

            "Oro…" Reiko mumbled in response to his question.

            "What's wrong? And why are you still dressed in sleeping attire?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

            "I think…oro…I think I have a hangover…" Reiko said groggily, rubbing her head. Sanosuke almost fainted with self-reproach.

            "A hangover?" he asked, both with incredulity and a slight touch of fear. "How in hell did you get a hangover?"

            "I…er…" Reiko smiled sheepishly, but said no more.

            "So you did drink some of my sake. Well, that certainly explains why you're not up before dawn like you usually are."

            "I'm going back to bed," Reiko informed him, plopping herself back on her futon.

            "Oh no, you're not," Sanosuke answered, taking her by the arm and pulling her back up. "Megumi's forcing you to go to school today."

            "You have got to be kidding me. I can hardly stand!" Reiko pouted. "And she's not the one who had to carry you for several kilometers since you were too drunk too walk."

            "She's also not the one who drank sake when she was underage!"

            "You're still going on about my drinking your precious sake?"

            "It doesn't matter who's going on about what. You're still going to school today."

            "No, I'm not. I'll tell Megumi that I don't feel good."

            "She'll just examine you and give you medicine."

            "Not if I tell her I have a hangover. In that case, she'll kill you and then give me medicine."

            "You wouldn't dare…"

            "Would you like to try me?"

            "No."

            "Didn't think so."

            "Oh, come on Reiko, that pain is nothing compared to learning the futae no kiwami. You'll be fine."

            "Okay, fine, be a jackass. Anyway, can you please give me clothes?" Reiko requested.

            "They're right there," Sanosuke said, pointing to the other side of the room.

            "Sano!"

            "Oh, fine." He retrieved a kimono, only to have Reiko protest fiercely.

            "I'm not wearing a kimono today of all days! You think I'll even remember how to tie an obi?" she complained.

            "All right, all right. Here, then. Megumi was nice enough to wash your male clothing," Sanosuke said, handing it to her.

            Reiko sighed. "Must you call it that?"

            "It's what it is."

            "Yeah, yeah."

            Sanosuke retreated out of her room, and Reiko began to get dressed at a snail's pace.

            "At this rate, she'll miss half her classes, Sano. What's taking her so long?" Reiko heard Megumi inquire as she entered the kitchen. "And she wasn't even dressed when you went to get her for breakfast?"

            "I wasn't feeling well," Reiko answered for Sanosuke. Megumi turned.

            "What?" Megumi immediately shot Sanosuke a suspicious look. "What exactly hurts?"

            "My head," Reiko replied as he looked at her pleadingly.

            "Mmm hmm…and what else?"

            "I feel kind of nauseous…" Reiko went on. Sanosuke looked as if he was about to bang his head against the table. Megumi nodded knowingly.

            "Just how much sake did you have, Reiko?" she asked casually. Sanosuke proceeded to allow his head to meet the table several times. "Stop that," she snapped at him. "Your hard head will break it."

            Reiko raised her eyebrows. So much for my little plan. It looks like they did nothing but argue yesterday. Reiko thought, disgruntled. And I was so sure that Sanosuke's drunkenness would give way to honesty. Oh well. You win some, and you lose some.

            "Shut up, you hag."

            "Don't call me a hag, you rooster!"
            "Oh, sorry. Would you prefer fag instead?" This earned Sanosuke a slap upside the head from Megumi. Reiko rolled her eyes.

            "Such children," she remarked. Sanosuke, rubbing his head, glared at her.

            "You're not one to talk!" he barked.

            "Oro…" Reiko said, her head starting to throb again after Sanosuke raised his voice.

            "Shut up, you," Megumi said, hitting him upside the head again. "It's already your fault she's got a headache, so there's no need for you to add to it."

            "Last night was not my fault!" Sanosuke protested.

            "Ah, and what exactly about last night isn't your fault? What happened before you and Reiko came home, or after?" Megumi asked in a drab voice.

            "…both."

            "Oh, yeah, that's believable." Um…am I missing something? Reiko wondered with half-lidded eyes as she watched them bicker. Shaking her head at the idiocy of the adults around her, she sat at her usual place in front of the table.

            "Can I have my rice now?" she asked.

            "I didn't make rice today."

            "So does that mean I have to cook?" Reiko asked, glowering.

            "No. I made ohagi," Megumi said.

            Sanosuke smiled. "I can guarantee your cooking skills, too, in addition to your medical skills. Still can't say much about your personality."

            "Would you like me to hurt you again?" Megumi asked, with an expression that matched Reiko's.

            "Hey, auntie Megumi?" Reiko asked, grinning evilly.

            "Yes?"

            "Why not give Sano some rice instead? I don't think he deserves your great cooking," Reiko suggested.

            "Oh, that's not fair! The only rice we have that's cooked is what Kaoru gave me weeks ago. And she was the one who made it!"

            "Enjoy," Reiko and Megumi said in unison as Megumi gave Reiko her breakfast. Once she was done serving her, Reiko practically pounced on the food.

            "Wow, Megumi!" Reiko said approvingly through a mouthful of food. "This is great! Can you teach me how to make it?"

            "Of course. Although I'm sure you could make it better than I can. We all know you're a fantastic cook," Megumi answered with a smile. "And don't talk with your mouth full."

            "Sorry," Reiko said humbly as Sanosuke grunted at Megumi.

            "What? I complimented her skills, not his," Megumi told him. Even though Reiko was busying herself with stuffing her face, she didn't miss the exchange. They should know by now that whenever they say the word "him" like that, then I'll know who they're talking about. It's sad to know that the Battousai was a good cook too. Is there anything about my personality or skills that doesn't come from him? Reiko asked herself agitatedly.

            "Reiko, you eat about as much as Yahiko. Where does it all go?" Sanosuke asked incredulously. Reiko thought about that for a second.

            "Don't ask me. It's not like it changes the fact that I'm still puny, so I eat as much as I want," Reiko replied, with a rather Soujirou Seta-like smile.

            "Ah."

            "Anyway, I'm off to school."

            "What?" Sanosuke asked in shock. "About a second ago you were about ready to throw a tantrum just so you wouldn't have to go anywhere!"

            "Well, don't discourage her," Megumi said dryly.

            "It has nothing to do with school. I just want to see if Masashi is still in one piece after the beating I gave him yesterday," Reiko answered coolly, rising. "Later." She retrieved her bokuto and set out.

"Kamiya, how nice of you to join us, even if it is twenty minutes late," Inoue-sensei said icily as Reiko entered the classroom.

            "Inoue-dono…how…er…pleasant to see you whole and healthy," Reiko lied, not bothering to mask her obvious deceit.

            Inoue-sensei sighed. "Take a seat, Kamiya. Today's lesson is one that even you will fail to dislike."

            "Then you must've been planning this one for years, since not one of your lessons has be able to obtain and hold my attention for longer than ten minutes," Reiko replied with equal cynicism, but adhered to her teacher's wishes nonetheless. Glancing around the room, she noted that Masashi was no where in sight. Nudging Satoshi, the person sitting next to her, Reiko asked, "Where's Ikeda? As far as I know, he's never missed a day of school in his life."

            Satoshi looked at her with slight surprise. "You mean you haven't heard?"

            "Heard what?"

            "That someone beat the crap out of Ikeda. He had to get seriously medical attention since most of his ribs were broken. His dad decided to transfer him to another school since Ikeda refused to tell him who did it. His friends won't say anything, either. In fact, they haven't spoken to a single person all day—not even each other. Not that I'm complaining. It's an improvement over, 'Reiko is such a whore and we should all kill her,'" Satoshi explained. Noticing that Reiko looked away from him with a pained look on her face, he asked, "What's wrong?"

            I couldn't have…I didn't know my futae no kiwami was strong enough to have that kind of outcome. What if he dies? Then I'll become a murderer, that's all. I'll be nothing more than a replica of my father. The Battousai is like a permanent disease. His vindictive blood flows through my veins and makes me more and more like him every day. Even though he's gone, he's left behind his legacy for me to, albeit unknowingly, carry on. Reiko realized. She was interrupted when Satoshi placed at reassuring hand on her shoulder.

            "It's okay, Reiko. He's gone now and you don't have to feel guilty about whatever transpired between you two. If anything, he deserves what happened to him. And I hope he suffers some more in that new school of his," Satoshi said.

            Reiko froze. Satoshi had actually dared to touch her. She had come to the conclusion that all men, no matter their age, were selfish idiots who cared for nothing more than a way of pleasing themselves. The only two males she actually trusted were Yahiko and Sanosuke. And now a boy she hardly knew had tried to reassure her. For one thing, who did he think he was? And for another, who did he think she was? An idiot who didn't already know that both his words and his gesture were false?

            "Do me a favor, Yagami," she said, pushing his hand away briskly. "Don't touch me again." Satoshi rolled his eyes.

            "You really are a man-hater," he said with a nefarious smile. As he smiled, Reiko realized that he was rather easy on the eyes. She was surprised Sora hadn't ever declared him as one of her future husbands.

            Reiko frowned. Thinking of Sora caused her anger to blaze worse than Kyoto had during the Revolution. For her own sake, Reiko decided to pretend Sora didn't exist.

            Mrs. Inoue clapped her hands to gather their attention. "For today's lesson, we will be learning about one of Japan's most recent legends. Can anyone guess who I'm talking about?"

            "I can guess all too well," Reiko murmured angrily. Satoshi heard her and was curious as to who Reiko meant, but said nothing. It was best not to get her any more irritated than she already was. All I did was try to comfort her. Sheesh. He thought.

            One boy finally raised his hand. "Um…the Hitokiri Battousai?" he answered tentatively.

            "Exactly, Kyone," Mrs. Inoue praised him. "The Hitokiri Battousai. He was a man who helped make Japan the nation it is today…or so we think. Because the question is, did the Battousai ever really exist? Or is he simply a legend created to cover up for the man who really did usher in a new regime?"

            "He's real, all right!" Reiko heard some boy shout out. "My dad fought on the same side as him!"

            Satoshi sighed. "Shut up, Kensuke. You know your dad never even met the man."

            "What he said. My dad actually saw the Battousai once!" another boy said, the one named Akira.

            "My dad spoke to him!"

            "Yeah, well, my dad knew him! He says they were good friends!"
            "Can that guy even have friends?"

            "Yeah, Noriyoshi, he probably killed them all off for fun."

            "Well, what would any of you know? My mom told me he was my cousin's uncle twice-removed!"

            Reiko burst out laughing at that. She laughed until she was doubled over, tears streaming out her eyes. It was only a short while later that she realized her tears were that of despair, not mirth.

            "Kamiya, are you finished yet?" Mrs. Inoue asked after several silent and uncomfortable moments had gone by.

            "Yeah. I'll be fine," Reiko replied, wiping her eyes.

            "Anyway, you all think you're so cool, talking about how your parents met him. I saw him. He was a hired killer for the government a few years ago, and I saw him kill someone."

            "Oh yeah?" Akira asked. "Then please, by all means, share what he looked like."
            "He had gray hair and was very tall."

            "Gray hair? How old is this guy?" Kensuke asked incredulously.

            "He fought in the Revolution. He'd have to be in his late forties by now…" Satoshi replied. Reiko started, realizing that she had never bother to inquire as to her father's age.

            "What was he wearing, then?" Akira asked the boy who claimed to have seen him.

            "Er…western clothing, I think."

            "You're a moron," Akira answered. "Why would the Battousai bother wearing western clothing? So he could make himself conspicuous? What kind of 'hired killer' would want to do that?"

            "He was insane, wasn't he?" the boy answered. Reiko rolled her eyes. They all acted as if they had known him personally.

            "Hey, Reiko, who was the Battousai to you?" Satoshi asked upon noticing her vexed look.

            After a moment's consideration, Reiko replied, "Nobody."

            The time passed by at an unbearably slow and dreary pace, and Reiko found that lunch was a welcome reprieve once it arrived.

            "Inoue-sensei, I request permission to spend my lunch period in the library," Reiko said once they were dismissed.

            "Again, Kamiya? Just what is it that you're always so interested in when it comes to the library?" Mrs. Inoue questioned.

            "I like to read."

            "But you never read books, Kamiya," Mrs. Inoue went on. "You're always digging in the old newspapers."

            "So? Are you saying that people who look at newspapers can't read?" Reiko asked coldly.

            "Not at all. I am simply curious as to why a child would concern herself with matters in Japan that were taking place years before she was born," Mrs. Inoue pressed.

            "What is the answer that you want, Inoue-sensei? That I'm plotting to overthrow the government? That I'm really a spy sent by a foreign nation to send back information on Japan's affairs? Because if those are the answers that you seek, then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you," Reiko answered the unspoken question. Mrs. Inoue shook her head.

            "Kamiya, you're so mistrusting of everyone that it sometimes seems like paranoia. I wasn't asking you because I suspect you of plotting to overthrow the government. The thought never crossed my mind. It just seemed as though you'd finally found something that interested you, and I wanted to help. After all, I can't teach you anything in the school curriculum. You just don't seem to care," Mrs. Inoue explained. Reiko was slightly taken aback.

            "Well…I don't need your help, Inoue-sensei. I was sort of just looking for a way to kill time during lunch."

            "Why would you want to kill time? I saw you…you always enjoyed lunch. You had friends. What's changed? Why have you suddenly withdrawn from them?" Mrs. Inoue asked.

            "Why the inquiry, Inoue-sensei?" Reiko asked in return. "One would think you're worried about me."

            "I am."

            "Why concern yourself with me?"

            "I know we started off on the wrong foot. But I'm still your teacher, and if I can't reach you in the classroom, I can always do it in a place where you're willing to listen," Mrs. Inoue said firmly, and a little too passionately for Reiko's liking. It made her feel like she was depriving her teacher of oxygen, the way that Mrs. Inoue was spouting touchy-feely nonsense like that.

            "Okay. I do have a question. I'm interested about legends of Japan and the amount of truth that is at their foundation. Today we learned about the Hitokiri Battousai, who happens to be my favorite legend. It doesn't make sense that a man would relinquish incredible power and disappear, so I've always wondered why he did what he did. Why kill hundreds of people and then hide when it's time to take credit for it?" Reiko wondered aloud. Of course, that was a lie. But she did want information on the Battousai, and if she had to cooperate with her teacher to get it, then so be it.

            "Well…I can't say I know much about the Battousai. But the way you talk, it seems as though you know he's alive," Mrs. Inoue said with a slight smile.

            "I'm pretty sure he does. Although I'm sure he's not nearly as powerful as the stories claim he is. That's just a load of stupidity invented to entertain tourists. But I do believe that the man existed," Reiko replied.

            "I see. Reiko, I, too, believe that the man existed. In fact, I know he does," Mrs. Inoue agreed. She looked down and away from Reiko's piercing stare, which caused Reiko's eyes to lighten. What isn't she telling me? She wondered. Or rather, what is she about to tell me?
            "Reiko…" she began slowly, once again abandoning formalities and using her pupil's first name. "I've met the Battousai before. Actually, I've only seen him before. But that one encounter was enough for me to remember him for the remainder of my life. The Battousai, you see, killed my parents right before my eyes. They were both on the side of the Tokugawa shogunate…and the Battousai was ordered to murder them." Mrs. Inoue's hands were clenched in her lap and tears were falling onto her plain, light yellow kimono. "This was years ago…I was younger than you are. But I'll never forget his face. And…this is going to sound stupid…but when I first saw you, I remembered him immediately. There's something about you that bears a resemblance to him, and that's why I was so hostile towards you on the first day. And guilt, as well as your shocking resemblance, drove me to be hostile towards you for the next few years. When you wore a gi and hakama for the first time, you gave me that same feeling for your clothes were rather like those that the Battousai wore. I half-hated you, Reiko, when I didn't even know you. And for that, I'm sorry." She looked up now.

            …only to find that Reiko was looking back at her with wide eyes. Well, that was to be expected of any normal girl. After all, she had just told the child that she resembled a hitokiri. But Reiko was far from being a normal girl. She didn't retaliate as would be expected from someone like her, nor did she glare or glower at Mrs. Inoue. She just stood there, seemingly paralyzed with some unidentifiable emotion.

            How? Reiko asked herself helplessly. How? How is he able to bring me pain without even doing it on purpose? He made my first day of school hell without realizing it. And here is yet another person whose life he crippled…whose existence he made broken. This woman looks at me and sees you, father. She sees the man who relentlessly stained his hands with the blood of her closest family. You haunt every aspect of my life, dear daddy, and for that…I'll make you regret every aspect of yours.

            "Reiko?" Mrs. Inoue asked softly, cutting into her turbulent thoughts. "I understand that you're not the kind of person who can forgive anything, so I won't ask you to." Reiko opened her mouth to contradict her, but then realized that she was correct. There was a time when Reiko would've been able to forgive anything, but that had to have been at least a year prior to this…at a time when she thought her mother took an annual trip to China and when she didn't even think of who her father was or what had become of him. She was carefree, living her life day by day, never thinking ahead.

            She was a child.

            But by now, her childhood was slowly dwindling away and being replaced not by maturity or adulthood, but by an ugly void. Only this void was more like a black hole…sucking in every single one of her happiest memories and replacing them with sheer, utter, and unchallenged loathing. She wondered how many more people led shattered lives because of the man she so resembled…the man she so detested.

            "Reiko," her teacher repeated, taking her hand. "Please, Reiko, if I destroy my unwarranted contempt for you, will you get rid of your own contempt towards me?"

            "Are you implying that my hostility towards you was unprovoked?" Reiko asked, finally speaking again. Mrs. Inoue shook her head.

            "Not at all. You have every right to hate me until the day you die. I just want to make our lives more enjoyable, for we've still got a few years together. As of today, my hatred ends. As for yours…I'm not asking for it to end. I'm asking for a truce," Mrs. Inoue explained.

            Reiko looked at Mrs. Inoue hesitantly. A truce would certainly make life easier for both of them, and for herself especially since Masashi had fled. Feh. He'd probably be too afraid to speak to me even if he was still here. Reiko noted. But without replying to her sensei, she turned from her and began walking away. How could Reiko agree to a truce? She didn't deserve to be forgiven. Her teacher had completely fathomable reasons for hating her. I look like the man who killed her parents, and I've done nothing to make him pay for his sins. She should hate me.

            "Reiko. I truly am sorry."

            At that, Reiko paused in leaving her classroom. She turned around slightly and faced Mrs. Inoue. Forcing herself to smile a smile that ended up with a bittersweet quality, she replied, "Not as sorry as I am."

            Mrs. Inoue nodded knowingly. "I understand, Reiko. You may remain hostile towards me for as long as you see fit. And I do grant you permission to use the library for the remainder of your lunch time."

            "Arigatou, Inoue-sensei."

"Okay…let's see…'Sword Techniques of the Tokugawa Era.' That might have it!" Reiko removed the book from the shelf and flipped through it. Eventually, she came across something that appeared useful. "Oh, come on! What the hell?! One paragraph?!" Grudgingly, she fixed her attention on the page and began reading to herself.

The Hiten Mitsurugi ryuu is among the most lethal of all sword techniques. Developed by Seijurou Hiko the first, it was designed to be able to slay a group of opponents at one time with a single strike. Anyone with knowledge of the Hiten Mitsurugi ryuu has never failed to slay a foe. Not much is known about this ancient sword style, but the one aspect about it that is almost definite is that in passing down full mastery of the technique, master is always murdered by disciple.

            "No…" Reiko breathed, staring at the page in horror. If what the book mentioned was true, then Seijurou Hiko the thirteenth had been killed a long time ago. There was nobody left alive who could teach her the Hiten Mitsurugi ryuu—the only method she had of exacting vengeance on her father. It was hopeless, for she couldn't even learn the basics from a book.

            "What are you reading, Reiko?" a voice came, startling her. Reiko spun around and stuffed the book behind her, in between her sash and her back.

            "Er…hi, Minako!" she said upon realizing who the speaker was. Minako approached Reiko.

            "You weren't at lunch today, so I decided to see what you were up to. I see you're going back to your old habit of spending every minute of your free time in the library," Minako commented, sitting down.

            "Yes…and your point is?" Reiko asked, suspicious of where this was leading.

            "Oh come on, Reiko!" Minako snapped, suddenly angry. "I'm not one of the teachers, so you don't have to avoid me!"

            Reiko flinched at the sudden outburst. It was completely unlike Minako to shout or complain, but that was exactly what she was doing, and Reiko was the cause of it.

            "I'm not avoiding you," she answered.

            "But you're deftly avoiding the question I asked. Why are you here? I thought that after you found out the Battousai wasn't you father, you decided to stop digging into Japan's recent history."

            "Yeah, well, that's when I thought he wasn't my father," Reiko mumbled darkly.

            "Wh-what?" Minako asked, raising an eyebrow.

            "I'm sure you heard me. He is my father…"

            "But…how can that be? Yesterday you said he wasn't!" Minako exclaimed. Her eyes had lit up, another thing that was completely uncharacteristic of her.

            "Well, yesterday I found out he was—the hard way," Reiko replied, slipping the book out. "And I was looking through this to find out more about his sword technique." She handed her the book.

            Minako glanced at it, but didn't bother to look through it. To her, there were more pressing things she needed to find out. "You mean to tell me that Hitokiri Battousai is your father?! Reiko, that's-that's amazing!"

            "I can think of a lot of words to describe my situation, and amazing is not one of them," Reiko said, taking the book from her and putting it back on the shelf. "You speak out of awe because you think of the Battousai as a legend, whereas I think of him as a bastard who left my mother before I was even born. To me, you speak out of ignorance."

            Minako looked down, and Reiko could tell she had lost all traces of her excitement. "I'm sorry, Reiko," she said quietly. "I couldn't possibly understand your feelings. I have no idea about what it's like to grow up without a father, and I hope never to gain that knowledge."

            "You should also hope never to gain the experience of having every one of his victims look at you and see a mass murderer, Minako," Reiko advised.

            "I'm sorry," Minako repeated. Reiko frowned, for she was getting tired of the numerous apologies that were coming her way as of late.

            "Don't be. You didn't know what it's like, so I don't blame you," Reiko replied, forcing yet another smile and wondering why that simple action was proving so difficult.

            "Don't lie to me with that smile," Minako said. "I know it was forced. But then again, I haven't seen you smile for a while…"

            "Yeah, well, I haven't had much to smile about for a while. But I forgive you for your ignorance." This time, Reiko smiled a truly genuine smile, one that was even able to add a bit of joy to her eyes.

            Minako hugged Reiko and mutter a quick "thank you." She looked as if she wanted to ask more, but at that moment, Satoshi ran into the library.

            "Reiko! I've looked all over for you! Inoue-sensei sent me to tell you that lunch is over and you better get to class," he announced. Reiko was about to protest, but Satoshi grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. "Bye, Minako!" Pulling Reiko along with him, he ran from the room.

            And so Reiko discovered another thing to protest.

            "Y-yagami! Who in all the hells do you think you are?! You can't just drag me around like a dog on a leash!"

            "Would you have come otherwise?" he asked without glancing back.

            After a moment's hesitation, Reiko answered, "Probably not."

            "Exactly."

            "But you can let go of me now!"

            "Nah, I'd prefer to have you squirm a bit more. Since you seem to hate me so much!" he answered cheerfully.

            "YAGAMI!"

            Back in the library, Minako stood with a bemused smile on her face. "I think…" she began slowly, rising, "I think Reiko's finally found herself a comrade with wits to match her own."

Silently, her eyes fixed on the earth, Reiko trudged on the cherry blossoms that littered the ground. The time from lunch to the end of school had been unbearably painful for her. Mrs. Inoue had forced them to write brief stories on what they would imagine an encounter with the Battousai would be like, and each one had been more blithely simple than the last. "I would ask him how he felt when he won the war." "I'd shake his hand and thank him for protecting everyone who wasn't on the side of the Shogunate." And, of course, there was the ever popular: "I'd tell him that he was really cool and that I want to be just like him!"

            Her classmates made her sick. None of them seemed to realize that the Hitokiri Battousai was a hardened killer, someone who would stab them in the gut before they had a chance to say hello if he found out that they knew his identity. The smartest thing for them to say would be that they'd run from him, with their tails in between their legs, and never look back! But none of them could fully understand that the Battousai was not the man they thought he was, that he wasn't some war hero who had fought for what he believed in and had killed to save Japan. He was simply an assassin who decided to use his skills with a sword as a profession. As far as Reiko could tell, there was nothing noble about taking the lives of people you didn't even know.

            In fact, the only person whose answer she didn't absolutely detest was Satoshi's. He said that he would simply avoid the Battousai, pretend that he did not really know his identity, lest he would add wood to the spark that was an assassin's bloodlust.

            And suddenly, Reiko was hit with a wave of light-headedness. Her knees felt weak and she was forced to lean on a nearby tree to keep from falling. Slowly, her nausea began to subside. But it returned full-throttle as a singly cherry blossom landed on her outstretched arm. With it came an image of hundreds of dead bodies, all littering the ground as abundantly as the cherry blossoms did. And…of course…she could smell it and hear its infuriatingly steady dripping.

            She knew that she was amidst blood, and that this blood belonged to her father's victims. Why else would she be awash in it when she was thinking of nothing but hate for her classmates and for him?

            The images began to disappear, being replaced by reality. What was that? She wondered. He's going to haunt my daily existence too? Oh, I hope he's not dead. I want the pleasure of killing him myself! Reiko began to run towards Sanosuke's home, but then slowed down to a fast walk as she realized something. You're turning into him, you fool, a voice inside her head told her. You have a thirst for vengeance, a thirst that can only be satisfied by his death at your own hands. Reiko shook her head fervently. I'm not like him. I have a reason for hating him, a reason for wanting him dead and wanting to do it myself. That reason is what he did to my mother and how he robbed so many people of their happiness.

            Without noticing it, Reiko had unintentionally run into a very large figure. Whoever he or she was, Reiko didn't have enough force to knock them down, so she herself was thrown onto her back.

            "Ow…" she mumbled, rubbing her head.

            "You should watch where you're going, brat," the man said angrily, glaring down at her. Reiko stared at him wide-eyed, for there was no mistaking the voice that accompanied the white, red-collared cape that the man wore.

            "Seijurou Hiko…" Reiko breathed.

WHOO! Another chapter is complete! I'm sorry this took me months to get done, but I've been pretty busy lately. Damn teachers…I swear, they haven't even finished grading one project and already have the sheets printed out for a new one! And I'm sorry if this chapter was a bit…unprofessional…but since I was writing this over a long period of time, I had mixed feelings throughout it. I'm hoping to have the next chapter out sooner, but for now, enjoy the nice lengthy-ness of this one! ^^ I'm hoping the length (and the quality of the fic too, of course) will compensate for the amount of time it took to get this done.

Please review! I do accept flames, but be warned that they are sent back to whoever wrote them. (Ever heard of karma?) I do, however, keep a few to use on our dearest mummy dude! (holds up pitchfork and looks at Shishio evilly)

Shishio: Hey! That's mine!
JK (laughing evilly): Oh, you won't be needing it.
Happy Beauty Yoshimi (aka Evil Authoress or whichever other name you might know her by): Yep…all the stress has finally gone to her brain. HELL IS MINE TO RULE, I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW!

(JK pauses in chasing after Shishio to stick her tongue out at Yoshimi.)

Yoshimi: OH THAT'S IT! (chases after JK)

Sanosuke: You know, I'm starting to think that women are—

Kaoru: (has a pan an inch above Sanosuke's head) Don't even think about it.