CHAPTER 5: AMARANTE'S EXPLANATION- PART 2

(I can't believe I'm here again. Two years ago I said I never come back to this story… But since I have two chapters already here, I might as well post 'em. The AN's may be a bit outdated… Sorry!)

"Wow," whispered Misao "This is one of the loudest silences I've ever heard… it's a small world, isn't it, Sano? Sano said nothing. He merely stared at Amarante's tear-stained face. Then, ever so slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He stared at it, then at Amarante. "I thought you looked like him…" He turned the paper around so she could see it. It was a Nishiki-E painting of Sagara Sozõ, done by Sanosuke's friend, Tsukioka Katsuhiro. Amarante stared at it. "Th-that's him, that's my uncle. Uncle Sozõ. How did you know who he was?" Sano pointed to a small boy standing behind the Captain. "That's me, 10 years ago. I'm a survivor of the Sekiho Army. And…" he pointed to the other boy "…this is my friend, Katsuhiro. He's another survivor. He painted this." Kenshin looked at the painting, then at Amarante. "No wonder you looked so familiar. The similarity is uncanny." Amarante glanced briefly at Sano. "Why do you have the same name? Are you related to him?" "No. I admired Captain Sagara a great deal, and took his name. He told me not to, but I did anyway."

Amarante nodded, not looking at Sano. He wondered why she had barely even glanced at him. Did she hate him for taking her uncle's name?

Misao wanted to know what had happened. "Well? What did you do after that?" Amarante swallowed. "I searched for my other relatives, of course. Only…when I found their house, it was deserted. I could only assume they were all dead. It was later that I found out Soujiro was still alive. He had killed his foster parents and was on his own. I knew I had to find him if I could. So, I've been searching ever since. I've been searching for years… I don't know how many. Hell, I don't even know how old I am!" Kenshin poked Kaoru. "See? This one is not the only one! That's what happens when one travels a long time!"

Misao turned to Amarante. "It's the 10th year of Meiji. If the revolution ended when you were 8, you'd be about 18 now. Meaning you've been searching for…" Amarante finished for her, "…ten years…" her voice was rather faint. Misao was sympathetic. "I know how you feel…searching for so long and finding nothing…" Amarante nodded, looking depressed. Kenshin looked at her. "Amarante-dono, you haven't finished your story…" She shrugged. "That's about all there is to tell…" "You haven't told us why you were running from the police…" Kenshin pointed out. All eyes turned to her. They hadn't known about that.

Amarante stared at the floor. "Remember I told you the ship I was on sunk? More importantly, how I lost most of my things? I lost the money I had saved as well. Uncle Sozõ didn't have much either. Not that I know of, at least. So, whenever I run out of money, I steal some more. I usually don't get found, but this time I was unlucky, I guess. I've never been caught before, either."

Misao stared at her. "You STOLE money?" Amarante nodded, looking ashamed. "That's ALL you DID? " Misao started laughing. "Don't look so worried, I have too! And Sano here's a freeloader, Yahiko used to work as a pick- pocket for the Yakuza, Kenshin was a hitokiri, and Megumi made opium for some crazy guy! We're all guilty of something! Well, all except Kaoru. I guess her only crime is liking Kenshin!" "ORO!" "SHUT UP, MISAO!" Misao giggled, and replied, "You wouldn't be so upset if it weren't true, Kaoru!" "GRRR!" Bokken appears out of nowhere, and Kaoru goes to attack Misao, who dodges it easily, laughing all the time. "Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Don't even try it! I learned martial arts training from Han'nya himself!" Amarante watches the two with a small smile on her face. She decided that she liked Misao.

Then, Yahiko interrupted. "If you've been in Japan for 10 years, why do you still have an American style dress, and why can't you speak Japanese fluently?" Amarante glared at him. "Because I do and I can't" She longed to tell him to shut up, but that would be rude, seeing as she had just met him. She decided that she did NOT like Yahiko. Cheeky brat.

Now we know about Amarante's past! What is going to happen next? You won't know unless you review, remember! What did you all think? Any laughs? Any tears? Any smiles? Any flames? ANYTHING? The next chapter is already written. You know what you have to do to read it.