Two days before the fight.
Kaoru had decided to buy some tofu and other proteined food to prepare something that would give some strength to everybody before the big fight.
She was of course secretly hoping that she'd come across Misao who would hopefully come back from Kyoto with the precious Diary.
She had already bought some rice, and was now heading to a market place where she knew she'd find some fresh tofu, when her attention was drawn by a young girl with her hair tied in a familiar long plait.
"Misao !".
She ran after her and called out loud for her: "Misao ! Misao !"
The two girls were very happy to find each other again. Their friendship hadn't dropped in intensity even though the two girls had been separated for a couple of month after Shishio's battle.
Misao immediately showed her the Diary and in a couple of minutes Kaoru explained her plan to her best friend.
Misao immediately agreed to participate.
For once in her life Kaoru wanted to be the one saving Kenshin. He had saved her so many times. Since she'd met him she had always had the feeling that her kendo abilities were so little compared to Kenshin's abilities in battle, and that she had only been a burden for him.
But this time she was determined to show him she could be of help to him. There was no way her plan could fail.
Both girls headed for all the places where they thought they could get some pieces of information on Enishi.
They knew Enishi were getting his weapons from the continent. There weren't that many places where you could buy Chinese katanas.
They were said to be much more solid and resistant that Japanese ones; at least that was the opinion of many rebels that had fought during the bakumatsu.
Kaoru learned that a Chinese boat had just arrived to the port a week ago. She gave what was left of her money to one of the ship's mate, who was pretty astonished to see a girl in this area of the town.
The guy told her he had sold all kinds of weird new Chinese explosives tools to a tall white-haired guy that was living in a large mansion behind the forest.
All the strange equipments had been delivered to him four days ago.
"Let's go Misao !" Kaoru ordered.