MY LITTLE PRINCESS
A/N: Hello again everyone! I'm happy and sad to tell you guys that MLP has seven more chappies to go and it's done! Well, with the exception of the alternate ending, that is. For those who are still confused, THIS FIC WILL HAVE TWO ENDINGS; THE FIRST ONE BEING K/K AND THE OTHER ONE WHICH IS A/K. NO, IT WON'T BE SEPARATE STORIES, AS SOON AS THE FIRST ENDING IS DONE, I'M JUST GONNA INSERT THE ALTERNATE ENDING CHAPTERS IN THE SAME STORY (2 OR 3 PERHAPS).
Umm, nothing much has been going on lately here, except for the extreme heat! Whew! I think the temperature is somewhere between 32-37 degrees Celsius! I am planning two consecutive fics. First, is of course, Yoshiwara and the other just came up in my mind this morning, The Curse of the Scar, sounds eerie? hehe...You'll find out. And speaking of scars, in case I haven't told you yet, Kenshin has NO x-scar in this fic "just yet".
Warnings: The usual OOCness and please note: To all of you who wanted to see Kenshin suffer, you'll like this one out... ::laughs evily:: And um, after weeks of idleness, my WRITER'S BLOCK IS STILL INSIDE MY SYSTEM... (--) Do not expect any A/K interactions in this chapter cuz this will center on KENSHIN, okidoki? And, um, a little bit of bad language.
Thank yous: Where else?! At the end part! Thank you all in advance!
Disclaimer: RK is not mine. Standard disclaimers apply.
Ages: Same as in the last chappie (anime)
Chapter 22. Scars
"Your stance Yahiko." A well-timbered voice half commanded.
A slight groan went out of his lips but eventually did so.
"Koi." the smooth voice spoke for the second time.
Yahiko's eyes sneered as he concentrated at the tall, raven-haired man a few feet from where he was. Kaoru was damn hard at him, but Aoshi was twice as hard! And come to think of it, he wasn't even at his top level.
Why in the world did that old hag let Aoshi take over me again?!
Yahiko couldn't help but remember their first training together. He had been so eager and all for at last, he was going to be trained by a man. But heck no. He was relentless as if it's his last day on earth to train someone. And now, here they were again. And what a great day!
Seems like no one remembered--
"Yahiko! Concentrate!" Aoshi's voice rose a notch higher.
"Ha--i!" He gave out a heavy and exasperated sigh and finally set his shinai parallel to his body, eyes focused on his opponent.
A slight breeze of the winter air hit Yahiko's nape from the upper windows of the dojo. Sure, the heater was on, but he couldn't deny the sudden coldness that caressed his skin. And as quick as the breeze came and went away, Yahiko leapt and ran speedily towards Aoshi, shinai aimed right for his stoic face.
Aoshi kept standing still as if he wasn't at all concerned with Yahiko's attack.
A loud snap followed by a thud echoed in the empty room. Yahiko sat on the floor eyes wide in total surprise as he saw Aoshi's strong grip on the shinai. He couldn't believe it!
"What the--! You blocked my attack with your hand?!" Yahiko ranted.
Aoshi slowly put down the shinai and then reached out the same hand that caught the shinai to Yahiko. "You seem to be distracted."
Yahiko fell silent for a moment, his head leaning on one side. "Well...it's just that--- your hand!"
Aoshi simply looked at his palm which had a few scratches and some blood that formed on the edges of the wounds.
"Never let anything distract you while you are in battle. Remember that." Aoshi said, never minding if he did receive some abrasions.
"Oh, all right..." Yahiko sighed heavily. It's just that it's my birthday and no one seems to remember! Mou, I wish Uncle Hiko's here.
At that, the sound of party blowers and some balloons came flying inside the dojo.
"Omedetou Yahiko-chan! Merry Christmas!" Kaoru, Misao and Soujiro cheered.
Yahiko craned his neck slowly eyes round in excitement and surprise. "Minna...!"
"You don't think we forgot do you?" Kaoru came next to him smiling. "Happy birthday Yahiko." she embraced him and for the first time, he didn't flinch, he just felt...happy and delighted.
"Happy birthday Yahiko-chan!" Misao poked Yahiko on his nose.
"Aww! Don't do that you weasel!" Yahiko rubbed his nose.
"Oh, I'm not in the mood to argue right now, be thankful cuz it's your birthday Yahiko-chan!" Misao answered teasingly.
"Stop it with the 'chan' already!" Yahiko yelled.
"Yahiko-san, omedetou gozaimasu!" Soujiro greeted with the usual smile in his face.
"Oh, I get it. It's the usual surprise blah blah, right?" he looked back at Aoshi with sneering eyes. "Let me guess, you're a part of this too, huh?"
"Sort of." Aoshi simply returned with the slightest smile.
Yahiko raised a brow. "I expect plenty of food cuz you didn't have to tire me out so much with this fellow!" Yahiko pointed his thumb at Aoshi.
"Ano, Yahiko-san, before I forget, you have a call from Okita." Soujiro placed the bluetooth ear piece on Yahiko's ear.
"Yahiko-chan!"
"Oi, Okita-nii! Where in the world are you?!" Yahiko recognized the cheerful voice.
"E, gomen, I'm here at Nara helping out in my Uncle's sushi bar. Happy birthday!"
"Heh, arigatou. But you should've been here ya know?!" Yahiko exclaimed.
"Don't worry, I'll try to visit you as soon as I come home."
"Oh you better, and don't dare visit me without some of those sushi, understand?" Yahiko smiled.
"Eh, wakatta. Got to go now, I still have a lot to do. Just say hello to the others for me, ne? Happy birthday again!"
"Okidoki. Thanks, and you take care there." Yahiko ended the call and handed the device back to Soujiro.
"I've got a question..." Misao blurted in. "Are you sure your Uncle's sushi bar won't go bankrupt? I mean, from what I know of Okita..." everyone imagined a figure of Okita voraciously eating dozens of sushi.
"Nah! Maybe not!..." Yahiko and Soujiro said in one accord and elicited a string of laughter from their lot.
"Hey, speaking of food, I'm hungry! Let's eat!" Yahiko called out and everyone went out of the dojo to enjoy a tasty dinner.
----
Kaoru pulled the dishwasher's cover down and slowly removed the plates and utensils out of the dishwasher. It was past nine in the evening and everyone went home after hours of chatting and of course, eating. She was alone in the kitchen with only the sound of ceramic against each other cutting through the quietness of the night. It was always like this when Hiko and Kamatari aren't around. It felt sad, but the thought of the celebration earlier seemed to make it all up to Kaoru.
Just then, Yahiko's voice disturbed the room. "Hey!"
Kaoru was surprised at the sudden noise and accidentally dropped a glass which went crashing to the floor.
"I'm sorry!" Yahiko rushed to Kaoru's side to see if she was alright.
"Daijobou. Don't do that again, ne?" Kaoru half smiled and then started to pick up the shards of broken glass.
A gasp went out of her and she quickly held her forefinger.
"Are you okay?" Yahiko asked trying to hide his concern.
"Yeah, it's just a small cut. Kindly get me some tissue and an alcohol." Kaoru asked as she let the blood flow out of the cut.
Yahiko returned quickly producing the said articles in his hands.
"Thanks." Kaoru simply said and then poured some alcohol on the wound. She bit her tongue at the tingling pain and then covered it with a tissue.
Yahiko had his hands on his waists. "That's why Kamatari told me never to pick up broken glass."
"He did?" Kaoru smiled and was about to finish the remainder of her work when Yahiko placed a hand in front of her face.
"You just sit around and try not to be cut, okay? First Aoshi, now you. Heck, I don't know how many people are gonna get wounds today!" Yahiko threw his hands in the air and then proceeded to clean the broken glass and then worked on keeping the dishes.
"What about Aoshi?" Kaoru asked as he watched him place the spoons and forks in the pull boards.
"Well, I don't know if he was plain stupid or smart. He caught my shinai while it aimed for him. Like, he didn't care!" Yahiko said without looking at her.
Kaoru smiled. "That was reckless."
"You said so!" Yahiko retorted cautiously placing the bowls on the cup board.
Both fell silent for a moment. Kaoru crossed her arms on the smooth granite table.
"Ne, Kaoru." Yahiko spoke lowly.
"Eh?" Kaoru leaned back on the chair.
"Nandemonai..." Yahiko hesitated.
"C'mon, what's up Yahiko-chan?" Kaoru ribbed.
"Stop it with the chan, will you?" Yahiko's brows crumpled and then slowly faced Kaoru.
"Well?" Kaoru eyed expectantly.
"Arigatou gozaimasu!" Yahiko bowed low and said it with a rather shaky voice.
Kaoru gave out a silent laugh and a very wide smile. "What for?"
"For..." Yahiko met Kaoru's gaze. "For everything. I may not look like it, but if I haven't already told you and Uncle, thank you."
Kaoru got up from her feet and then hugged Yahiko for the second time that day. "It's me who should say thank you."
Those words were said with an unidentifiable tone. But Yahiko only knew one thing...Tears slowly fell down his eyes. The reason? He really wasn't sure.
Kaoru felt the slight shudder of Yahiko's lithe body. "Are you crying Yahiko-chan?"
"No, I'm not! And don't call me chan!" Yahiko answered with a quivering voice.
"All right, so you aren't..." Kaoru smiled and hugged the boy a little tighter. "Merry Christmas..."
----
"Do you really have to help out?" Kenshin's forehead furrowed as he eyed the television set while he had his conversation on the phone.
"Sweetheart, it's part of my job as a volunteer. And besides, the train will leave any minute now."
"I just can't understand how an earthquake can reach San Francisco! And come to think of it, it's winter!" Kenshin returned rather troubled.
"Don't worry, I'll be back tomorrow for our Christmas party. And besides, it was just a small quake and--"
"Okay, okay, I understand. Just be sure to call me back, okay?" Kenshin cut in not wanting to lengthen the conversation.
"Thank you sweetheart! You take care always, okay? I love you so much!" The charming voice returned.
"You too Marge. I love you sweetheart." Kenshin smiled and then both ended the call.
He returned his sight on the tv screen and had the volume a little louder.
"A small earthquake which registered 2.2 on the Richter scale hit uptown San Francisco at 6:30 am. Only minor injuries were confirmed and no deaths. All establishments are safe except for some smaller ones which received trivial casualties..." The news reporter went on and Kenshin was having thoughts of calling back home in Japan but he was really weary and so he decided to greet them later on.
----
A familiar face was smiling at Kenshin. Marge? He asked. No answer. The face just smiled...Her sweetest smile.
Yes...It was Marge. The woman he loved. The woman he adored...
Marge? He asked again. Why are you here?
She didn't reply. Instead, her pearl white palms cupped Kenshin's face.
A smile crept upon his lips and it was proportioned by Marge's gentle look.
Kenshin... her sweet voice called out.
He tried to hold her hands but she suddenly flew away and no matter how he reached for her, he couldn't!
But it was strange, Marge kept on smiling while her hands fell down slowly at her sides.
Where are you going? Marge! Where are you going!?
Kenshin suddenly woke up from his dream and looked around the dark room panting heavily. He gulped hard and then closed his eyes. It was just a bad dream... He felt his phone vibrate inside his pockets and pulled it out. It was already two in the morning. He answered it for the number was unknown.
"Hello?" Kenshin answered with a gruff voice.
"Yes, Hello? Is this Mr. Kenshin Himura?" A voice was on the other line.
"Y-yes. What can I help you out with sir?" Kenshin shifted to an upright seating position.
"Well, it's...it's about Miss Marge Zutherland."
Kenshin grew shocked at the mere mentioning of her name. "Marge?! What about Marge!? Did something--"
"M-Mr. Himura, please calm down." The man's shaky voice tried to compose Kenshin. "There was a very strong aftershock in San Francisco...Miss Zutherland's reported to be missing from among the volunteers..."
"What did you say?!" Kenshin boomed standing up from the sofa. "Where the hell are they in San Francisco?! And how can a building collapse these days?!" Kenshin was frantic and his fingers clutched his hair sorely.
"T-they were helping to move out damaged materials from a building when the after shock hit. For some unknown reason the building's earthquake protection system failed and it collapsed, some managed to get out but Miss Zutherland and some of her colleagues and other workers were trapped inside the wreckage." The man on the other line tried not to blabber.
Kenshin heaved out a heavy sigh. "Are. They. Doing. Fine?"
There was a moment of silence, and then Kenshin lost his temper. "I'm asking you damn it, are they all right?!"
"I cannot assure you anything right now sir, but I can only tell you the location of the--"
"Just give me the fucking address, will you?!" Kenshin cut in as he picked up his coat from the couch, phone in hand and rushed outside the door not minding if he forgot to close it.
There was only one thing in his mind...
Marge...
----
Kenshin was finally able to calm a little when he was near the said location. For the past few hours, he was restless as if he was already forgetting how to breathe. The road was closed and so, he just gave the driver his fare without getting his change back. He didn't care about anything right now. He just wanted to make sure that Marge was alright.
His worry and grimace turned from bad to worst. His eyes couldn't believe what was in front of him. The pavement was cracked open and the what used to be a 50 floor building lay miserably on the ground. Paper, wood, plastics, metal and crushed concrete sprawled all over the place in a tangled mess of ruins covered with piles of snow.
Kenshin frantically searched for someone to talk to amidst the deafening sounds of sirens, people shouting and the sound of machines clearing the place out.
Kenshin saw a group of police vehicles parked in one side and decided to go there. He reached out for a tall man with white curly hair in a brown coat. "Excuse me, sir?"
The man looked at him stress and worry apparent in his face. "Yes, may I help you?"
"I am looking for a person who is reported to have been in the building." Kenshin tried to calm himself.
Upon hearing that, the man took out his tablet from his pockets. "What is the person's name?"
"Zutherland. Miss Marge Zutherland. She belongs to the volunteers that came in here earlier today." Kenshin kept looking on the collapsed building which was about 10 or 15 feet from where he was standing.
"Ah I see, Zutherland Marge." the man returned as he found her name on his database.
"Is she alright? Did you manage to get her out already?" Kenshin hoped for the best but he still couldn't deny pang of worry eating him from the inside.
The man sighed and shrugged his shoulders in perturb. "I'm sorry Mister, but she is still inside the building."
"What?! And you're just standing here?! Are you just gonna let them die in there!!!" Kenshin slammed the hood of the car in front of them.
"Please calm down sir, we're doing everything we can." The man replied in a comforting tone.
Kenshin looked at the wreckage again and seemed to see no one making an effort. "Does that look like you are doing everything you can?!" Kenshin pointed at the wreckage fuming with anger.
"Our team has been working non-stop. Even with all the equipments, they're humans too, you know? And with the snow falling in, our job's twice as hard!" The man's voice rose a notch higher.
"This is bullshit..." Kenshin cursed under his mouth and without any prompt, he turned his heel to go inside the collapsed building.
"You can't go in there! Stop him!" The man shouted.
Suddenly, two men grasped Kenshin by the arm. In rage, Kenshin shook them off, and when they grabbed him for the second time, he punched their abdomens so hard that they fell to the pavement gasping for air.
From a distant, Kenshin could still hear the man's voice ordering him to stop, but Kenshin just ran and ran until he found himself inside the dilapidated building.
Twisted metal, broken glass and pieces of what used to be furnitures and other things were scattered in the dimly lighted labyrinth. He couldn't breathe easy for there was just a little bit of air. Busted water pipes spilled water all over the place and some live electrical wires dangled on some parts of the trampled building.
"Marge!!! Where are you?!" Kenshin's voice echoed. His footsteps were muted by the water under his feet.
"Marge!!! Answer me! Where are you?!" He shouted for the second time but there was still no answer.
More rubble met his eyes and the place seemed to get colder.
"Marge!!! Answer me please! Are you alright?!" Kenshin's voice turned frail and he was near crying.
His violet eyes roamed the warren again, and all of a sudden, a streak of light caught his attention. He quickly ran towards it not minding if his pants was already soaked in water. "Marge! Marge! Is that you?!" he repeated those phrases for countless of times.
The light seemed so near but he felt he was running for such a long time. Suddenly, he felt a shooting pain in his cheek. He stopped and held it, and in his palm, he saw blood. He looked at his left and saw the edge of a metal piece. With a groan, he continued running while blood ran down his face.
Kenshin's face turned rueful while his mouth was open in pity and anger at the same time. He found her sitting with her back on the wall. A pillar on the building lounge pinned her legs to the floor. Her face was covered with dust and sweat but she still managed to produce a smile upon seeing Kenshin's face.
"Kenshin..." she whispered.
Kenshin knelt down beside her not knowing what to say or to do.
"It's..it's good I brought along this small flashlight..." Marge tried to humor Kenshin with her flimsy voice.
"I told you not to go Marge, I told you not to..." Kenshin sobbed.
Marge reached out a hand to his bloody cheek. "Kenshin, what happened to you...?"
"Never mind me..." Kenshin placed his hand over hers. "Let's get this off of you." Kenshin didn't look at her and was trying to find a way to remove the concrete off her.
"No, no, please...It'll hurt me more..." Marge protested in her shaky voice. She took in a deep and trembling sigh. "And besides..."
Kenshin blinked looking at her pale face.
"I..." Marge's jaw clenched in deep pain.
"Marge?! What's wrong?" Kenshin cupped her face with his bloody hands.
"I think I won't be able to live any longer..." she forced an awkward smile.
"What are you saying sweetheart?" Kenshin shook her a little. "Just hold on for a little longer, we'll get you out of here." Kenshin tucked a few locks of her curly hair in the back of her ears.
Marge's head swayed sideways and another gasp escaped out of her. "Kenshin..." her head went down gesturing Kenshin to follow with his eyes.
"Oh my god...no..." Kenshin whispered in vain disbelief.
A straight piece of metal supporter was stuck in the right most part of Marge's back. "It...has been...there for almost an hour..." she gasped again. "Maybe...I, I managed to stay alive because I knew you'd come, and..." another shot of pain reverberated through her. "And...I wanted to see you."
"No..." Kenshin's voice trailed off in a rickety sob. "Please, don't leave me..." Kenshin couldn't look at her. "Don't leave me..." Kenshin gave up and tears came running down from his eyes. His knuckles turned white and his fingers almost ripped his pants while they dug deeply into the cloth.
Fear...
Disgust and disappointment in his self...
Hopelessness...
Anger...
Pain...
He didn't know where they were coming from, but they stroke him so hard that he felt like being tortured. And on top of that, Marge was in front of him...She was about to lose her life and he couldn't even do anything to save her.
Marge's wobbly hands reached out for Kenshin head, and with all gentleness, caressed his flame red hair. "Ken...shin... Promise me, promise me not to blame yourself or anyone for this..." She gulped hard feeling a wave of coldness washing over her. "I..." beads of tears flowed down from her eyes unconsciously, but she struggled to still smile. "I want you to live, and stay strong as you are..."
Kenshin clasped her hand and held it so hard. "Don't go...Don't go..."
"Go on living Kenshin...I know you can..." she felt her life draining out in a fast pace. "Merry Christmas...I...love...you..." her breath turned shallow and her words were more than a whisper.
"I love you too..." Kenshin's tears didn't seem to end. "Marge, I will always love you..."
To his horror, she didn't answer. Her breathing suddenly went still. And her hand...She wasn't holding him anymore...
He didn't want to believe it, he craned his head up and put up all the courage he could muster to look at her...But she was gone...Her eyes were already closed, her skin paler than the palest white...But her lips were curved in a happy and sad smile.
Kenshin forgot how to talk. He just let his arms wrap tightly around her limp and lifeless body whispering her name from among his painful sobs. He felt his world crashing down at him with all force. Where did he go wrong that God gave him such a punishment? All he did was to love her...
The earth seemed to stop spinning and glazed lights met his eyes. People with muted shouts came to get him. He struggled hard but his head went whirling and no strength was being given by his body. He knew he was shouting but he couldn't hear his own voice.
He felt himself being dragged away...Away from Marge...He wanted to fight back but he couldn't. His eyes were open wide but he was in an awful delirium. He sensed the left side of his face go against something but he didn't know what. A jolt of pain sent him shouting again, but he couldn't do anything to free himself from the strong grip of the men that held him.
All he wanted to do was to go back to where Marge was and hold her...
No...He couldn't do that anymore...
He had to accept it no matter how hard...
She was no longer alive...
They say Christmas time brings every miracle there is. But then, why didn't any miracle happen right now? It was totally unfair...
The snow fell continuously...To most, it brought a different kind of joy and awe no rainfall or sunshine could ever bring.
But to some, it brought a different kind of loneliness and emptiness no coldness could ever bring...
And then, all went dark...
Tsuzuku
----
A/N: Whew! Now that's done! I hope you all liked it. Of course, time to say my thanks to all of you!
Kiyoshi-chan - hehe...I hope this one's a cute chap too. I think not, ne?
Chibi Binasu-chan - Wow...What a long review...hehe...Thanks for the very nice comments. I do hope I cleared up the K/K and A/K ending now, ne? (well, if you read my A/N at the top page, of course) ThE first ending will be of course, K/K. But due to an insistent public demand, (sort of), I decided to put up another ending, which is A/K. To sum it up, there will be TWO endings in this story,k? And um, before I forget, I know you'll be able to write longer chapters and very good stories too, even much better than this petty story of mine. ::nods:: Like hey, I don't claim to be very good, (in any case, I'm not! hehe...) I started writing when I was as young as you. Good luck! And about the doumo-arigatou thing, Doumo Arigatou is a formal "Thank you". One could say simply doumo or arigatou when used informally.
r3jectedfr3ak - A lot of thank youness!
Sakura Blossom-Cilla-85:P - I guess you're more sorry for him now... thanks...
ixchen - And update comes your way! How's you?
Maryel - Ummm, did I make you cry here or did you like it? (T.T)
Angel338 - Sorry for the late update, ne? I was carried off by the summer heat! Wupee!
Kyasuri - Well, I guess she's not spending her life in an asylum...She's gonna go to heaven! hehe...Thanks again!
PEACH - And I missed you too. Thanks for the nice review! Surprises, hmm, well, there it was. Marge is already (xx)
Boomerang-chan - LOL!!! Nice dialogue you got there! Really got me laughing! Hehe... Thanks again!
Shin1 - I did? O, I'm flattered... I hope the sad chappie didn't make you all sad...
QueenKagom - Yep, a few more chaps for K/K...but whew, that's gonna be hard to get into...
kenshin's-angel - hehe...I actually made a drawing of him.. I'll try to post it if I can, k? Thanks.
Kyo Terayashi - Thank you to you again!
Videl621 - Bout this one? I think it's a little, duh... I don't know...Thanks neweis!
shiro-tanuki - More misery for now...hehe...
nene-chan - That's bcoz I am weird... hehe...thanks too!
lilk0k0 - (00) she what?! ::faints:: speaking of bottling blood, there was this episode in C.S.I. I watched last week, and they were bottling blood. ::shivers:: ei, thanks agaiN!
kawaiililaznkitsune - hehe..I am? LOL...Doumo!
dewey - Well, here's his punishment! Such an ordeal!
Angela - Awww, that's okey, I mean, suwerte lang 'yun! Why don't you text me? My number's 0916-268-0959 Good luck in college! Whew! Just a few more weeks!
tintin-chan - errr, sorry but here's more torture... . Yeah, I know what you mean. Salamat ng marami!
Aryanne - Well, Marge is quite out of the story now...better say your prayers, err goodbyes! hehe...
are-en1 - hehehe... I'm sorry for the late updates. You see, I don't really spend much time home specially this summer. But I'm really trying hard to update as fast as I can, k? Thanks for the nice review!
Fuuko-san - Okay,okay! I know you're the most eager for the A/K ending! Heheh! Hey, LP's gonna have a concert at the ULTRA on June 15! Tickets are already out! I do hope I can watch! I'll have my enrollment on May 12 at UP Baguio... Hope to see you soon!
The evil witch - hehe...I wouldn't call this brill...or is it?
yuhi-thedoerofevildeeds - Well, okey naman po! Bout you? Sorry if I'm not texting you often, waz me masyado bread ngyaong summer, lam mo na, punta dito, punta dun! ehehe... You tc always, k?
The Nonesuch - and now, he loses Marge... Hope you liked this anyways...
Super Sheba - Thanks for the review too!
Enchantress of the Night - Awww, thanks for the encouragement. I've got a friend who will be in UPLB this year, ka-batch ko and I think he'll take up Ag.Eng. Sabi nga, swerte swerte lang! Hehe!!! Thanks for the review! Yah, promise, as in malay ko bang papasa nga ako dun e nakakabangag yung questions! But anyways, it's done na, so, there's no use fidgeting.
Angelin - hehe...he won't now! 7 more chappies to go.
ponchita - lol...there's a bigger twist now...hey, thanks again!
wolfpack - hehe...well, there it goes...they um, broke up finally! hehe..I hope you're doing fine with your work.
flyingangel777 - is this good too? ty...
shel - in a few more chaps or so... how's you?
BelleDayNight - His wedding is officially off... I'm so bad... hehe...
Shaeya Sedjet - hehe...you can say that again! And another thank you!
alex - lol...jumping, huh? .
Pia Bartolini - Yeah, I know what you mean. I read chap 21, and I was quite like "huh"...well, can't do anything bout that now...I think I did the same here...I dunno...
Mika - hehe...well, it's your call. My M/L is always open anyway... ty
Naoko - Awww, very nice of you... I hope you take care too, ne? Thanks!
Mystic-fox - hehe...thanks!
Silent Tears of Agony - It's different because I am the craziest author on FF.net! hehe...I'm feeling really weird today...
Kobayashi Eiko - Well, sad to say, but Marge is out of the story now!
Zalphinian - And I'm glad it's over, but at one point, in just a few weeks, I'll be back in school again! Come to think of it, I'll be in college!
Kitsune KeNsHiN - Yep, and just 7 more to go... ::sniff:: thanx!
TenkunoMeiou - hehe...did you enjoy watching Kenshin suffer?
nes - it is? (?.?) oh well! You tc!
Angela - Here's the update! I'm sorry if it took me so long, ne?
A/N: Well, that is it! I have to go now! Till next time! C ya!
diary15