MY LITTLE PRINCESS
A/N: Hello minna! Hehe...sorry for the late update! . You see, I have been very busy the past two months preparing for my ummm.. ::ahem:: my flight to Singapore. Uhuh, you heard that right! I'm moving to the city of Merlions. Hehe...You see, I applied for a scholarship last March. I got interviewed late April and the results came out late May. So, I've been really in a "stagnant" state. LOL
Well, I won't be leaving until August 3, so I still have like a month and a half staying here in the Philippines. I think I'll spend those weeks making my new website. It's pretty hard to manage two separate websites, so I decided to merge my Rurouni Kenshin and Chester Bennington site into my own personal online scrapbook (sort of).
Speaking of Chester Bennington, hehe...I watched Linkin Park live in concert in Manila last June 15! Wupeee! It was soooooo amazing! No words can describe how ecstatic I am up to now! I want more of the guys! ::screams:: m/ Truly one of the best days in my whole life! I hope to watch them again soon!
Neweis, let's start with the ficcie cuz I know you feel like shouting at me right now for taking so long to update...hehe...I read a lot of you guys saying the last chap was sad and heavy and all, so I decided to lighten things up (but not as light as a feather though). I know something like this is needed to ease the tension. Happy reading! All kinds of flaming are accepted! .
Disclaimer: RK is NOT mine. Standard disclaimer's apply.
Warnings: Usual OOCness and a few dirty words (again). And yeah, sorry for the title. I know it sucks.
Thanks you: To everyone who are still reading and reviewing this petty stowi of mine, thank you soooo much! At the bottom, as usual. .
Chapter 23. After Winter Comes Spring
Kenshin blinked twice in a slow and pained manner. The ceiling was blinding white because of the lights and he had difficulty focusing his sight for a few seconds. At long last, everything that looked double now fused into one.
"Finally, you're awake." A mocking voice broke through the maddening silence. "Don't worry, your Uncle doesn't know anything yet."
He heard faint foot steps and then a tall figure covered half of the light from the ceiling.
"You were sleeping for almost three days." A puff of smoke went up. "I know I'm not supposed to smoke, but I can't help it. Try to stay awake. I'll go call the nurse." the rather sardonic and cold tone of Saitou's voice went again.
Kenshin just looked up at the ceiling. He heard him leave his side and the door being closed but he never shifted his gaze. Once again, the room was as quiet as if talking was forbidden. In a deep and nameless remorse, he closed his eyes.
Realization came through. He was still alive. But...
But...Marge was no more.
He hoped that he wouldn't wake up. Self-loathing found its way unto his system like liquid being injected to one's veins. His eyes were now tightly closed and his breathing turned a bit ragged, while his fists shook in anger and disbelief.
I told her not to go! He screamed at himself.
I told her not to go! He repeated for the second time.
I told her...! Kenshin tried to say those phrases again but he felt like being choked.
I...I... He felt like his strength was being drained away again.
His jaws were clenched firmly and he was desperately trying hard to fight back the tears that threatened to flow.
"She doesn't need your tears." Saitou suddenly spoke and then sipped from his cigar. "If she's here right now, she'd really be disgusted to see what you're doing."
"You...don't understand..." Kenshin finally spoke in a shaky voice.
"That's just the shit. I really don't understand why you're acting like that." Saitou sat himself coolly on the couch parallel to Kenshin's bed. "It was her own decision, not yours."
Kenshin craned his head slowly to look at Saitou. "I wasn't there to protect her...what's reason of still being alive?..."
Saitou's eyes flashed in antipathy and discontent. "I thought you'd be smarter than what you are showing me right now."
Kenshin gulped and suddenly, he didn't know what to answer or to say. He just removed his sight from him and returned on staring at the ceiling.
A sudden knock was heard on the door.
"Even if you stare at that ceiling for the rest of your life, she'll never return. But, there's one thing you can do to honor her memory..." Saitou stood up to open the door. "Get up your ass up out of your petty misery."
Kenshin's eyes widened at those words. Didn't Marge tell her that he should continue on living? Even without her?
But how? How can he when she's already gone?
Two nurses came in with a few peripherals and they started to do a check-up on the seemingly conscious but at the same time absent minded Kenshin.
----
Kenshin looked at his reflection on the mirror with the x-shaped scar evident. He placed his hands to trace over them ever so briefly. It was deep, and though it was already healed, it signified pain and remorse.
And will always be...
He soaked his face with water not minding if it dripped down his throat and wet his shirt. Breathing heavily he put his right palm over the mirror covering the reflection of his face. He bowed his head quietly watching as water flowed down from the stainless faucet.
Time goes and flows like water...It never stops...It never waits... he told himself in disdain. He blinked twice and then slowly turned the faucet off.
For the second time, he looked at his image on the mirror. Almost a month passed since the accident happened but it felt like yesterday when he was holding the lifeless body of Marge in his arms. Up to this time, he sensed he was somebody else as if a big portion of his being was robbed, never to be found nor returned again.
He cursed a muted word and slapped the marble wall of the bathroom on his side. He felt the pain, but he didn't dare give out a gasp or any sign of hurt.
For weeks, he kept the unnamed throbbing inside of him. Aside from Saitou and Marge's relatives, nobody knew what has happened. Not even Hiko or Kaoru...
No one knew...
And it seemed that no one felt the same loss and grief he was going through...
It seemed as if no one really did care...
Suddenly, he heard the doorbell ring. With a quick sigh, he gathered all the disposition he was able to muster and went out to open the door.
When he opened it, the mail man was there. "Mr. Kenshin Himura?"
Kenshin nodded opening the door a little more.
"You have a letter sir. Please sign here." the mail man said and gave him his packet after confirming his acceptance. With a quick thank you, he left.
Kenshin slowly closed the door and sat on his couch wondering who might give him a letter. It was placed neatly on a blue envelope embossed by bamboo shoots. He turned the envelope back to see who it was from but only his name and address was written on it. He carefully opened it and pulled out a white colored card with a simple black ink rendering of bamboos centered on its front.
He was surprised to see Japanese writing. In curiosity, he started reading it.
Grief is a longing: that the clock could be reset, the tape of life
rewound to the moment before the deathblow.
Grief is love: an ocean of it, drowning all memory of flaws and faults; sweeping
aside all hesitation and reservation; unconditional and bottomless.
Grief is goodbye: a long farewell, bitter and heart-wrenching, to a life lost
beyond recall, to a world that will never again be the same.
Grief is private: only the bereaved can truly know the inescapable prison of its
agony.
Kenshin read the last word, and at the bottom was the signature.
"Hajime Saitou." He spoke silently. For the first time since that day, a small smile crept upon his lips. He never thought Saitou's capable of writing such "stuff".
He carefully returned the card inside the envelope and set it aside on the couch table near Marge's picture. He stared at her image for a few minutes and then laid it with the front down.
It was now or never...
He had to go on living no matter what.
----
It was always in this place that he found solace...Amidst the stillness and incomparable serenity. Kenshin brought a fresh bouquet of flowers for maybe, the hundredth time on Marge's grave. He sat on the grass smiling at himself. Almost two months has passed...
"Sweetheart, how are you doing?" Kenshin started as if talking casually. "Well, I know you're doing fine." he paused. "Don't worry about me. I'm doing quite alright here."
A gust of wind blew over his face ruffling his hair for a while. "I, I just wanted to say sorry...for...for not realizing what your last words meant. I know I have been a coward trying to run away from them..."
Kenshin heaved a sigh looking up at the tranquil sky, the afternoon clouds marred by the red-orange color of the setting sun. "I don't know if I can finally accept it, nor live with it as much as you want to...But, I will try to go on living...For you...For the people I love...and the least, for myself."
He returned his gaze on the the tombstone carved with the words: "No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye, you were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why."
"I guess no matter how hard man tries to attain eternal life here in earth, he can never do." A quick chuckle went out of him. "Not even today's medicine...But Marge, I want you to know, I'd give up everything to have you returned to me."
It was agonizing. No matter how hard he tried, every time the memories come back, those vivid moments of him being "useless", he couldn't feel anything but to hate himself.
"You won't achieve anything if you continue acting like that." A sudden voice woke him up from his stupor.
Kenshin stood up breathing in a gulp of air and gave out a short laugh. "You think so?"
Saitou didn't reply. He had his cigarette to keep him quiet as always.
"I never knew you were a poet." Kenshin teased without looking at him, his hands shoved inside his pockets.
"Don't flatter me." Saitou returned coldly. "So, are you sure about this?"
Kenshin slowly looked back at him and nodded twice. "Yeah. I'm going back home."
----
Kenshin stopped walking upon reaching the main door of the house. A heavy sigh went out of him. Was it enough that he came home? Or was he still running away from everything?
He placed his palm over the identification pad, and within seconds, the door opened welcoming him. He expected Kaoru or Yahiko to be there, or even Hiko, but it seemed like no one was around.
"Kaoru? Yahiko?" he called out entering the lobby. "Uncle? Kamatari? Are you in here?"
"Kenshin! Is that really you?!" A sweet voice returned. "My goodness! Why haven't you told us you're coming home?" Kamatari came out from the kitchen and gave Kenshin a hug.
"Oh, I just wanted to surprise you guys." Kenshin gave out a short smile.
"You shouldn't have, you silly thing." Kamatari paused as he saw the bandage over Kenshin's left cheek. "What happened with this?" he asked caressing the covered spot.
Kenshin gave a watery laugh. "That's alright. It's just a cut."
"What? Don't tell me you got into a fight?!" Kamatari exclaimed in surprise.
Kenshin forced a smile. He wished that he could've gotten it from a fight, it could've been easier to deal with it every time he sees it, but it was worse than a fight. "Uh..no...of course not." he paused controlling himself. "A-anyway, where's Uncle and the others?"
"Well, they've been out since this morning making the final preparations for your Uncle's farewell party from the banking firm." Kamatari smiled.
"I see..." Kenshin nodded yawning.
"You're just in time, you'll surprise him! I'm gonna go there later on, so you can come along with me, ne? Rest for a while then, deary." Kamatari gave him a hug and helped with his luggage.
----
Kamatari and Kenshin arrived at the bank's activity center. Chandeliers and those "classic" displays accented the place. Kenshin sighed. It was the things he expected to see, but not the ones he surely wanted to see.
"Are you okay Kenshin dear?" Kamatari eyed. It was weird. Kamatari wore a formal tuxedo but it didn't stop him from talking "sweet".
"Ano, I think I'll just wind up a little. I want to keep a low profile for a while. I'll follow later on." Kenshin said before they entered the main door.
"Whatever floats your boat my dear." Kamatari returned and waived a hand.
Kenshin watched his figure disappear from among the crowd inside the hall. He decided to stroll a little bit inside the building and remembered there was this balcony he used to go to always when he was still small. He quickly found his way through it and within a few minutes, he found himself standing on the familiar place, hands crossed over the steel hand railings.
Nothing much has changed... He noted to himself. The smell of the evening air was the same, though it can be recognized that the number of lights he could see from the distance multiplied greatly.
He breathed a good heap of air again. He missed it...It felt different from that of America...
He was home alright...
He closed his eyes for a moment and opened them again to stare at the black sky, illuminated by the millions of stars and the round moon.
"Are you looking down on me from up there right now Marge?" he talked to no one.
A breeze of wind swept over his face as if telling him "yes". He smiled and then shoved his hands on the pockets of his tux and then decided to join the celebration.
He came in unnoticed and decided to keep it that way. Walking on, he pressed through the throng of people holding martini glasses, talking, laughing and doing everything else they can do.
He came upon a huge, circular marble pillar of the hall. He settled there, leaning on his back. From his position, he could see the whole place and quickly recognized who was up at the presidential table. On the center was his Uncle, of course. Beside him were his work mates. From extreme right, was Kamatari with Yahiko next to him, who looked adorable in his coat and tie.
And then, he was quite taken aback when his sight came upon a certain girl. And then he realized it was no other than Kaoru. She looked somewhat different with her hair caught up neatly in a bun showing her strong jaw line. She was wearing a white V-neck cut dress accented by a string of white pearls that gently hugged her bare neck.
He smiled. How could have he not recognized his little girl quickly? But then, she was no longer a little girl, right?
Just then, Hiko got up from his chair and everybody hushed with attention focused on him.
He approached the rostrum and sincerely looked at everyone. "I wish to express my gratitude to each and every one of you. For almost twenty-five years, we have been together through many challenges. But with great effort, we were able to conquer every obstacle. Today marks the end of my career as one of your colleagues. I'm a bit sad, but I'm happy as well because I can now finally spend more time with my family." Hiko paused and placed his hands over the corners of the rostrum.
"The family whom I have gained my every bit of strength from. And with pride, I want to let everyone know..." He paused for the second time, a smile evident on his face. "To my niece, Kamiya Kaoru," Kaoru was surprised and looked at Hiko with questioning eyes. "My dear, you now have full authority of the Kamiya dojo which rightfully belongs to you. I have watched how you grew into be the woman who you are today. I know your father's proud of you as much as I am."
Kaoru stood up saying a quiet thank you to Hiko and bowed at him and the into the audience. Claps surrounded her and slowly abated when she sat down.
"To Yahiko, I recognize all your efforts even though I may not always show it. Indeed, you have been one of the best gifts we received."
Yahiko bowed down to Hiko as well, a feeling of pride welling inside him as the audience applauded once again
"To Kamatari, thank you for looking after the kids during the times I cannot. Truly, I can never ever repay your sacrifices."
Kamatari bowed too, his eyes tear-jerked, his white handkerchief in hand. For the third time, the crowd clapped.
Hiko sighed and then scanned the audience again. "To my nephew, who is sadly, not with us tonight, though I rarely praise him, I want to tell everyone how proud I am of the boy."
A sudden mocking smile went up Kenshin's lips. He was wondering what got into Hiko's mind. Maybe it was just him getting old or something like that.
"Finally, to all of you, I want to say thank you once again. Always aim high. Good luck and more power! Let's enjoy the night together!" Everybody applauded greatly for the fourth time, and as soon as the music started, couples went into the dance floor.
Kenshin was about to leave the balcony when he noticed someone going up the stage and shook hands with Hiko. An unknown feeling told him to stay just for a while. He then saw the man walk near the presidential table, and much to his surprise, asked Kaoru for a dance.
His eyebrows crumpled for a second searching his memory bank. He had seen that man some time before.
Now he remembered. It was Shinomori Aoshi. It was the time when he scolded Kaoru for being home late, and it was this Aoshi that accompanied her home.
Shrugging his shoulders, he left the hall and decided to go back to the terrace once again. Somehow, he didn't feel like he belonged to that place just all too suddenly.
The reason why? He couldn't explain...
Taking another look at the dancing figures of Kaoru and Aoshi, he left.
----
Kenshin didn't know how long he has been standing on the terrace. And yet, he didn't care. He just wanted to be alone...
Without any prompt, a couple of soft hands covered his eyes. He gulped as a shiver went up his spine as he remembered how Marge used to do this to him.
He placed his hands over them and touched them ever so lightly. "I know it's you little princess..."
Kaoru smiled and then let go of her hold on his face. "Okaeri!" she greeted with a smile.
Kenshin couldn't help but stare at her. She looked beautiful from up the stage, but she looked awfully good in front of him. How old was she again? Eighteen?
He smiled upon seeing her and gave her a quick embrace. "How'd you know I was here?"
"Oh, Kamatari told me you arrived. I figured this is the only place where you always go when we come here." Kaoru returned leaning over the barricade.
"Sou...ka?" Kenshin replied watching her every move. She looked very different alright. He felt like seeing someone he hadn't even met before.
"So, what brings you home?" Kaoru looked at him only to find out that he was staring at her. She bowed a little to hide her face and decided to talk to break the seemingly tensioned atmosphere. "...and Mar-- W-what happened to your cheek?"
"Ah, this?" Kenshin placed his hand over the bandaged portion of his cheek. "Never mind it's..." Kenshin couldn't go on and he returned his gaze on the wide horizon.
Kaoru's eyes were questioning but she knew all too well when Kenshin says the words "never mind", so she kept a little distance. "Um, by the way, I'll be graduating from college next month."
"Time sure flies, doesn't it? Congratulations then." Kenshin said without looking at her but kept an air of satisfaction in his voice.
"Eh...sou..." Kaoru simply muttered.
"So, where are you planning to work?" Kenshin asked crossing his arms over the hand rail and bending a little.
"Well, um, Aoshi hired me already. He uh, got a share out of their family's company." Kaoru pursed her lips as she waited for his reply.
"The guy who danced with you earlier?" Kenshin glanced at her for the briefest moment.
Kaoru raised a brow. "You were there all along, weren't you?"
"Just a little bit. You know I don't like such affairs, so I went out." Kenshin wondered if it was the affair he didn't want or the thought of Kaoru seeing with Aoshi. He mocked himself. It was a silly thing to even think of.
"Aoshi has been a very good friend. Though he doesn't talk too much, and others might call him weird, he has been very good to me all these years." Kaoru smiled.
Kenshin didn't answer. He just sighed and took in another gulp of air. Maybe it was just or him, or he could be tired. He felt like he wasn't himself right now.
"So, um, when is Marge coming in here with you?" Kaoru began another topic. Hiding the feeling of jealousy in one of her masked smiles.
Kenshin's eyes turned rueful. The mere mentioning of her name was enough to make all the memories return to the surface choking at him. It was a long moment of silence before he finally answered.
"She won't...be coming her anymore." He simply said in an emotionless state.
Kaoru sensed something wrong and was a bit surprised at his answer. "How could that be? You said the next time you come home, she'll be--"
Her voice was cut off by the sound of bandage being removed from the skin. She gasped as the moon shone over his face. On his left cheek, an x-scar tainted his once clear face.
"Oh my, what happened?" Kaoru gently placed her hand over his cheek and felt the rough texture of the scar beneath her skin.
He slowly removed her hand from his face and looked at her with such gravity in the eyes. "She's gone. She's gone Kaoru."
"What do you mean she's gone?" a sudden pang of panic struck her.
Kenshin wiped his face with his palm and sniffed. He looked up at the dark sky trying to stop the downpour of his emotions as well as his tears.
"What's wrong?! Tell me what's wrong!" Kaoru clung at his coat like a child wanting something.
Another pained sob went out of Kenshin and his eyes told the whole story. "Two months..." Kenshin exhaled shakily. "Two months ago...an earthquake happened in San Francisco." he paused biting at his lower lip.
"S-she...went there to check if anyone was hurt..." his voice was shaky and it seemed like he wasn't making any sense. "A strong aftershock came, and...and..." at last, he couldn't take his feelings anymore, his tears came running down like they used to during the first few weeks when he did nothing but to stare at her picture. "She got trapped in one of collapsed buildings..." he finished in a quick sentence.
Kaoru gulped and her eyes shot wide open.
"She's dead Kaoru! She's dead!" Kenshin's squeaky voice exclaimed in no more than a pained whisper.
Kenshin found himself embracing Kaoru while repeating the words, "I told her not to go! I told her not to..."
Tears streaked down from Kaoru's face without her own knowing. "I'm sorry..." she whispered onto Kenshin while patting his back.
"Did you know I got this scar trying to save her? Worse, I was there, and I watched her die without even doing anything!" Kenshin mumbled and kept on crying.
"Shhh...it wasn't your fault..." Kaoru quietly uttered.
She felt so guilty yet she didn't know why. That guilt was eating her from where she was standing. Yes, she once thought of having Marge out of the picture, but she never imagined such thing to happen! Kaoru quite hated her for having Kenshin as her lover, but she never wished her dead!
She couldn't understand what she was feeling right now. Hell! She didn't even want to feel anything if possible! Because in any way she wanted to see it, she finds herself being the selfish one!
Now that Marge is gone, Kenshin's really devastated and needs someone he could lean on to. But it doesn't mean that she would be able to really separate her true feelings for him with that of her sympathy! It's impossible for her to be with him everyday cheering him up without her own sentiments being needed to be filled up in the process.
She knew it was definitely wrong. And to feel relieved that Marge is gone is the greatest "wrong" of all. It made her disappointed in herself. She never knew she could think of such despicable things!
But what was she going to do?
There were only two things:
It's either she helps Kenshin go through and put her emotions on the line--in where she could be the one to hurt him or the one to get hurt.
Or...
Keep her distance from him and save herself from any kind of fault or guilt her conscience was throwing at her. But she couldn't just abandon him, right? Especially now!
But fuck, he left her before! Why should she even care right now?
But it was a different case! She protested silently.
She closed her eyes and stopped her thoughts for a second. She told herself to just prepare for whatever will happen.
Right now, all she could do was to give Kenshin a shoulder to cry on to.
Grief is a longing: that the clock could be reset, the tape of life rewound to the moment before the deathblow.
Grief is love: an ocean of it, drowning all memory of flaws and faults; sweeping aside all hesitation and reservation; unconditional and bottomless.
Grief is goodbye: a long farewell, bitter and heart-wrenching, to a life lost beyond recall, to a world that will never again be the same.
Grief is private: only the bereaved can truly know the inescapable prison of its agony.
Tsuzuku
----
A/N: Well, that's it for now! I'm sorry if it's a little short. I guess I still have some sort of hangover from the LP concert. Hehe...I'll make it up on the next chappie! Ja ne!
Note: I saved the reviews starting from June 12, 2004. I checked my e-mail this morning and I saw one of the latest reviews. To you, (forgive me, I wasn't able to write or remember your name) THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
animegurl23 - Don't worry, I will finish this fic no matter what. Well like what I said, it was my scholarship application process that killed my sked. Hope you understand! Hehe!
Maryel - Thanks, and same comment as animegurl23's (please read )
Shin1 - Hmmm, well, I really need to finish this one out. I feel like wanting to end this "dramatic" part of RK! hehe! Thanx!
Lady Zhen Ji - HeY, thanks! Let me know about this one, too, ne?
RuroKenFan - It did? Well, like what I always ask from the people who tells me this fic made them cry, is it a bad thing or a good thing? Hehe.. Yeah, m/ you keep rocking too! m/ (I just got from LP's concert, and believe me, it rocked my whole life!)
kenshin's-angel - Hmmm, I'm glad I made this chap a little light to give you guys a little break from pulling out your kleenex, eh? hehe...thanxie!
Kitsune KeNsHiN - Thank you again! Yeah, even the concert ended! It just lasted for an hour! ::sigh::
Dudet - Hehe...Hope you're not yet in the nut house! Your parents might sue me! Hehe! As for me, I guess I'm the one who needs to go into the nut house! I'm going nuts craving for more LP!
Aryanne - hehe...well, I guess that's the way it is for our dear Kaoru! (darn Watsuki...) But hey, don't worry, she won't be in my next ficcie, k?
gabby(hyatt - thanks to you! you people are great too!
flyingangel777 - helow! how have you been?
B-chan - Oh, I'm sorry about your friend. That's really awful. I lost four friends of mine (they drowned) when we were on 7th grade. Tsk, tsk...I'm happy I made this a little "soft" to lighten up things for you people.
Kiyoshi-chan - hehe...well, she's gone indeed.
wolfpack - OMG...That is soooo sad! I guess I should say sorry if this story made you remember it and all. I really didn't know and of course, I never mean to. Gomen ne? Life is such unfair at times. I do hope you're moving on with everything. Good luck! Have faith!
lilk0k0 - hehe..yeah, poor Kenshin. Without a doubt!
Shaeya Sedjet - Aww, thanks for the very nice comment!
The-Wolf-Of-Stars - Hehe...me understands. No one's obliged to like a woman who takes Kenshin away from Kaoru in the first place!
Angel338 - Well, I hafto apologize with the updates if they come in too slow, but I'll try to at least update once a month. (Especially when I get to S'pore, I'm sure the updates will come in slow as to I still have to buy my own laptop there) Thanks!
The Nonesuch - Hehe... Please read my comment to Angel338
QueenKagom - hehe, it seems you read my mind, eh? Fluff will come in later,k?
Zalphinian - I see what you mean. I read the chap again when it was posted on FF.net and I couldn't help but raise a brow on myself. I felt like being left hanging. I dunno, something was sorta missing. lol...remind me not to make such scenes again! .
tintin-chan - Muzta? Well, I hope we can meet up before I leave the country. I'll be returning to baguio on the last week of June. Where are you studying btw? Just text me at 0916-268-0959 if you want to meet up, ne?
CharlieTheOtakuNymph - hehe...so you did a lot of brainstorming, huh? lol...TY!
MZ. AMBeR EYES - A little, (and it sucks too) but I assure you, it won't be the usual Tomoe-Kenshin-Kaoru thingy.
lilkawaiiaznkitsune - hmmm...seems like Kaoru's guilt went into you,huh? . just kidding
Fuuko-san - Did you go to the concert? God, it was soooo amazing! I want more! Yeah, the enrollment did take hours! But now, hehe, I'm leaving the country for S'pore! But, of course, we'll still be connected with each other thru FF.net, ne? Take care always!
S3r3nity - hehe...thingamabob...just wait for that,k? Thanks!
Ginny-cry - To celebrate or not...that is the question! Hehe...hope you can answer that question as well!
dewey - Like they say: Boy meets girl, boy loses girl!
DeeDee-Chan - Lol...Marge Simpson! lololol...got me laughing there! I dunno, the came from out of nowhere, I guess!
Kyasuri - well, it's the memorial homes for her!
alex - thankie! .
Chibi Binasu-chan - I think I read Behind Violet Eyes some time before, but maybe I forgot to place a review or something like that. Anyways, I know you're a good writer! About the shinai I got a lil scared with that finger of yours being cut by a katana btw I have this friend, (Syou Takehira. Met him during the World Youth Fest) he and his opponent were hitting each other with shinais (well, actually they were playing with each other). They were both bare handed and Syou pulled Jun's shinai. There was this exposed shred of bamboo on the shinai and Syou's hand got scraped, so I thought I could put that one too. . Hey, be careful next time, ne?
Angela - Oh, dormitories are fun! hehe...sure, I'll make sure to send every updated chap to you,ne?
Rekka's Angel - OMG! I missed you! Where have you been!? ::hugs:: Hope you show up here at FF.net more often now, ne?
Sakura Blossom-Cilla-85:P - hehe, you seem to have a soft side for Marge,eh? Thanks again!
May - is wanting to see Kenshin not end up with Kaoru a good thing or a bad thing? Hehe, either way, I hope everything's fine with you at school!
nes - Halo! Well, yeah, the last chap was indeed heavy, so I decided to lighten things up with this chapter. It's not too much, but I guess it'll lighten up the mood a little bit. .
CurlsofSerenity - ::sweatdrops:: hehehe...sorry to confuse you! The earthquakes happened in SF. Hmmm, I did a lil research before writing the story. There's this quake in Japan that was like 2 something that trampled some small buildings (but then I guess that's because Japan has such a thin crust). Was I able to put the unit on the aftershock? I think not. I think I used the word "a strong aftershock?" Hmmm can't remember. Anyways, do forgive me for that technical-research (either way) error. Sumimasen! .
TenkunoMeiou - Maybe it's because I got a sad life myself! lol...nah! I'm flattered by you guys again and again...
yuhi-thedoerofevildeeds - Belated happy birthday gurl! I'm glad I did something special for you on your bday! Hey, did you manage to go to the LP concert? It was awesome! Laterz!
PEACH - hehe...I think I forgot her name too...lololol...can't be too pessimistic in life, ne? Life MUST go on! .
Pia Bartolini - Hehe...quick! Someone warn Aoshi! lololol...::gives you an oilstone:: wink
Videl621 - Hmmm...haven't decided myself yet! Well, just have to face what happens!
BelleDayNight - ::sniff:: I want to rock with LP more! But nuuuuu! They're gone! Waaaaaaahaaaahhhhh! ::regains composure:: I dunno, everytime I read the word "rock" I remember LP's concert last Tuesday! Thanks neweis!
Silent Tears of Agony - Yeah, I received lots of comments that the last chappie was a sad one. anyways, thanks as always!
(Your name here) - Thank you too!