I would like to dedicate this chapter to my dear family and friends who have joined me so far in this amazing journey called life. It is very hard to leave you but there will always be a part of my heart that will remain forever faithful to my beloved Veracruz and all of you who I cherish deeply.

"Veracruz,

Vibra en mi ser.

Algún día hasta tus playas lejanas

Tendré que volver."

Agustin Lara

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me but to Nobouhiro Watsuki. I am merely borrowing it for entertainment purposes. I am not getting any money or any other profit from this.

Chapter 3

A matter of honour

Aoshi shut his mouth in horror at the terrible image being displayed in font of his eyes. His emotionless face slowly being clouded by anger. His gaze travelled from his terrified wife who was, luckily, unharmed (or at least not physically), to the cyan eyed youngster smiling in the opposite corner of the room. The idea of slicing someone's throat had never been as tempting as then.

"Shinomori-san" the boy greeted happily bowing slightly "I am unquestionably glad I have finally found you. Although..." he smirked "It seems that it was you the one who found me, ne?"

"Misao..." Aoshi's voice betraying his cold mask, showing his perturbed state which, of course, the kid didn't seem to notice. Then again, maybe he wouldn't want to notice. "Get out of my house…Immediately"

"Oh, Shinomori-san, there is no need to be rude…" the boy replied shaking his head from left to right, mocking him as he mimicked a mother nagging her child "…specially when YOU were never treated like that by us…" The Tenken lifted and eyebrow and narrowed his eyes, his grin growing wider "…or isn't your wife aware of the magnificent welcome the Yuppon gatana gave you?"

"Aoshi..." Misao's eyes travelled quickly from one male figure to the other one. Had her husband been keeping secrets from her? Had he lied to her? And if he had done it about this particular matter, had he lied to her about other things before? Had he been lying to her when he told her that he wanted to be with her? Had everything been just a way to get rid of Okina's continuous pressuring about the need of the Okashira's getting married and sleeping with her at the same time?.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a cold voice coming from her husband "Misao, please, leave us alone"

In that very instant something broke. Misao bit her lower lip in order to contain de mixed emotions rising inside her. Anger, impotence, sadness, disappointment... It was all the same. Maybe she would forgive him. Yes, she would always forgive him no matter what, nevertheless, the glass had irreparably been broken.

She exited the room unceremoniously, slamming the shoji door behind her on her way out. She had never been that lady-like after all but the fact that her husband had treated her like she didn't deserve to share the room with them was more than she could have taken without any sign of emotion.

The Okashira turned his gaze to his companion and sat carefully on the tatami as if nothing had happened. His cold voice never cracking.

"Why should I help you?"

"Oh it is very simple, Shinomori-san... you owe me..." Soujiro's expression remained as immobile as before.

"Is that so?"

"Your wife is already gone, there is no need to pretend any longer" the boy added dismissively "Half of the Juppon gatana wanted you dead, and the other half didn't appreciate you enough to even bother to try protecting you..."

"Get to the point Seta-san..."

"Well... why do you think you are still alive? For it has certainly nothing to do with your fighting skills... You are not as intimidating as you think... In other words, they didn't touch YOU because they would have had to deal with ME"

The ninja chuckled slightly. The boy had made a point. Actually, he had wondered why none of the Ten Swords had attacked him during his stay at Makoto Shishio's hideaway. Ironically, now that he knew he would rather not to; even after Himura Kenshin's words, he still hated the feeling of being weak. Nevertheless, as much as he hated to admit it, the former assassin was absolutely right. He owed him.

... And it was a matter of honor...

End of chapter 3

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Ok, this chapter has been officially, the hardest I have ever had to write! It is kind of weird. Sorry everybody out there who has been waiting, I know it's not probably what you were expecting, but I'm going crazy with this moving . Anyway, Love it? Hate it? Let me know! Comments welcome at or just push the review button and tell me what you think!

KimmieI hadn't realized I had use the F word twice during this fic, I don't mean to be insulting, but sometimes, with the heat of the thoughts, strong words reinforce the nature of the characters. Sorry if you were offended before and I will try to mind my words in further occasions.

I'm so sorry it has taken me this long to update but I've been in the middle of this hurricane. High school is over and I've got to prepare some stuff in order to get into College… uuU

This may be the last chapter I get to write while living in my hometown (Veracruz) so it has a very special meaning to me. I'll be soon moving to Cholula, Puebla (a very nice city that has 365 churches so you can visit a different one every day of the year!) in order to study College and become a Physicist as I have always dreamt of.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME FOR REVIEWING. YOU ROCK!