Summary: When Kenshin hears about Shishio's betrayal at the hands of the Ishin Shishi, he is determined to find the truth about his former comrade's death

Summary: When Kenshin hears about Shishio's betrayal at the hands of the Ishin Shishi, he is determined to find the truth about his former comrade's death. His quest for vengeance leads him to several top members of the former revolutionary outfit, but when someone starts beating him to the kill, Kenshin realizes that there is more to the story than what meets the eye. BKK.

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the property of Watsuki Nobuhiro. The situations in this story however, do belong to me.

Rating: T. This chapter has very slight references to torture.

Please not that the section in italics refers to the past. It is a flashback.

The Battousai's Return

Chapter Six

Recap

"Who are you?" Kaoru asked softly.

He turned and looked at her questioningly. She no longer seemed angry, but curious.

"What do you mean?"

"Who are you, that my uncle would be afraid of you?"

He smirked. "Miss Kaoru, no offense to your family, but it doesn't take a lot to scare your uncle."

"He wasn't just scared. He was petrified. Who are you?"

Kenshin bent his head. "I'm not anyone special. Just somebody who knew your uncle in the past."

"An old friend?"

"Something like that."

"Why would an old friend become an enemy and try to cause hurt to someone?"

"That's exactly what I want to ask him, Miss Kaoru."

End of Recap

Kaoru was perplexed. There was so much she wanted to ask, so much she wanted to know, so much that confused her about him. She watched him carefully, like a guard watches a prisoner, eager to detect any gesture or word that would tell her what he was thinking. But even as she followed his every move with her eyes, the irony of their situation didn't fail to amuse her. She was the prisoner. She was the one who was being guarded and watched, and not the other way around.

He spoke to her uncle as though he had no fear of him. As though speaking to one of the country's founders did not make him nervous in the least. Katsura was part of the Council of Patriots who had liberated their country from the oppressive rule of the Shogunate. They had given everything to create a new society and they ruled with an iron fist. The transition from the old, feudal order to the modern age had not been easy. Kaoru knew that lots of people had been left behind; promises to certain sections of the populace had been broken. She knew that the new government had many secrets, secrets that they would not want made public but despite all of this, they had turned their country into the powerful entity it was today.

The freedom they enjoyed was all due to the Patriots. But this man seemed to have no trace of reverence or respect for them. He spoke to Katsura with scorn and contempt. Kaoru had never heard that tone of voice from anyone who spoke to her uncle. People who approached Katsura did so with caution because they knew that the slightest faux pas or slip of tongue could land them in jail under charges of contempt of the country's supreme leaders.

How did this man manage to convey such blatant disgust and revulsion and not be even a little bit scared?

Kaoru stepped up in front of him. "How do you know my uncle?"

Kenshin was silent. He coiled the wire of the telephone tightly around his fingers and jerked it out of the socket. Shaking his fingers, he rid himself of the wire and stepped out from behind the table.

Kaoru leaned forward and grabbed his arm. "I'm asking you a question!"

"And I choose not to answer." Kenshin quietly plucked her fingers off his arm.

Kaoru glared at him. "I'll find out anyway. Wouldn't it be better if you just told me yourself?"

He stopped in his tracks. "You'll find out? And how do you suppose you'll do that?"

Kaoru shrugged. "It's obvious isn't it? Once I'm free, and you're caught by the police, I'll just ask my uncle."

Kenshin stared at her for awhile then suddenly his face crumbled as he burst out laughing. Kaoru stared at him. He kept laughing uproariously. He bent over, holding his sides as he laughed.

The sound of his laughter attracted the attention of the other inmates of the house and they began to filter into the room, wondering what had him in splits. Misao walked in, her sullen mood forgotten. She gave her head a little shake and stared with her mouth open. The Hitokiri Battousai was laughing? Kenshin covered his mouth with his fingers as he slowly regained his composure. He breathed slowly.

Misao couldn't help retort. "I'm calling Aoshi-sama, Himura. You have gone insane."

"Shut up Misao. I just haven't had such a great laugh in a long time."

Kaoru pursed her lips together and stuck her shin out defiantly. "What did I say that was so funny?"

Kenshin held her eyes steadily. Turning towards Misao and the other Oniwabanshu agents in the room, he said, "I don't remember calling any of you here. Back to positions."

They bolted from the room, not needing any encouragement from him.

Kenshin waited till the corridor connecting the room to the outer chambers of the house was empty. He turned to Kaoru.

"What do you know about your uncle, Miss Kaoru?"

Kaoru replied. "What everybody knows. He is one of the three great Patriots of the revolution. He, along with his comrades overthrew the Shogunate and set up a new, modern and liberal system of governance for us."

Kenshin smirked. "Right out of the history textbook, as I expected. But nonetheless, your statement is impressive. Can you judge why? This statement of yours Miss Kaoru, accepts that the knowledge you have about your uncle is what has been told to you and millions of others."

"I…..don't understand. What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, that you know only what any person on the street would know about your uncle despite the fact that you are Kogoro Katsura's niece. Facts and statements made by this government, things meant to be told to you."

Kaoru felt a chill run down her spine. She trembled. "What are you trying to say?"

Kenshin opened his mouth as though he was going to say something but stopped. His eyes shone with a strange light, and he seemed slightly mad. He held his hand out to her, fingers outstretched. She stared at it and stepped back. He backed away, curling his fingers into a fist. Pushing the chair to the right, he left the room. Kaoru sank into the chair. Her heart had started to beat faster. She had the unmistakable feeling that she was going find out something terrible. For the first time since this nightmare had begun, she was not sure if she wanted to know the reason why she had been dragged into this affair. Her captor seemed willing to share his reasons with her but she was no longer certain that she wanted to know them.

His eyes had blazed with anger, disgust and hatred when he spoke to Katsura. But, why? Had he been wronged by her uncle? Was there something about her uncle's past, she did not know about? Kaoru thought hard but she couldn't recall much.

Her childhood had been idyllic, basking in the love and care of her father. Her father, a gentle and compassionate man was a kendo teacher. He had turned his dojo into a small orphanage where he would take care of children whose lives had been uprooted by the revolution.

Katsura was a shadowy figure, about as real to her as the characters in her father's stories. When her father died, Katsura had offered his condolences and asked her to stay with him but she had refused. He had extended this offer a number of times but she had never responded affirmatively. He had no children of his own and was very fond of her, yet did that amount to knowing him? She couldn't tell. These thoughts troubled her.

She believed that Katsura was a noble man but he seemed to evoke nothing but rage and revulsion from the people who had kidnapped her. There is always another side to a story and truths that never see the light of day. But, the question remained, was she willing to hear the truth, or did the possibility that it may not be palatable put her off?

She looked around. Her captor stood at the door. Ducking his head out into the corridor, he beckoned someone standing outside. Kaoru crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him. When he was still, he seemed so calm. His face was relaxed and literally beautiful. Was he really such a bad person?

She hesitated. "You probably aren't going to answer this but I'll take my chances on it. I mean, it would be really weird if all this happened and I didn't bother asking you even once."

Kenshin looked back at her. "What is it?"

"What is your name?"

He was taken aback. Blinking a few times, he opened and shut his mouth twice before bending his head and finally replying. "Himura. Himura Kenshin."

Inspite of herself, Kaoru smiled. "It's a nice name. It fits you somehow."

Kenshin smiled. "Thank you."

There was a knock on the door and Misao appeared. Kaoru sneered as Misao entered the room with a sullen expression. Misao looked at her once and averted her eyes. If looks could kill, Misao would've been dead the instant she stepped into the room. Kaoru kept staring murderously at her.

Kenshin cleared his throat.

"Misao, get Miss Kaoru some food and clean clothes, and see that she rests. Katsura will be coming to collect her soon."

Misao bristled. "Why me? Why can't you get Omasu or Okon to baby sit her?"

Kenshin smiled. "Because I trust you to do a good job."

Kaoru stuck her chin out. "There's no way I'm going anywhere with her. Forget it."

"Save the princess act Kaoru. It's not like I'm dying to take care of you." Misao shot back.

Kenshin broke in. "Ladies, please be civil."

Misao peppered off a colourful retort. She walked forward and clamped her hand around Kaoru's elbow. She pulled her forward. Kaoru jostled back and pulled her arm away from Misao. She turned to Kenshin.

"I said I wasn't going anywhere with this bitch. I meant it."

"Miss Kaoru, much as I would love to have your company, I simply do not have the time. I'm sure you can cope with my absence for at least a couple of hours. It's not that long."

Kaoru sputtered. "What! Ugh…what made you think that I even wanted to be with you? I don't like you! I don't want to have anything to do with you, oh god; I'm not even attracted to you! Stop thinking like that!"

Kaoru stopped short when she saw the devilish smile lighting up Misao's face.

"What's so funny, Misao?"

Misao smirked. "Well, for someone who claims to hate you so much, she doth protest too much, don't you think Himura?"

Kenshin glanced back sternly. "Get going Misao."

Misao tugged at Kaoru's elbow again, pulling her out of the room. They followed a long corridor, taking a left at the end. A few more rooms later, Misao pulled a bunch of keys out of her pocket and shook them. Picking a small bronze key, she dug it into the keyhole and turned. The door opened onto a winding staircase. The girls climbed the stairs in silence. There was a small room at the top. Misao stepped aside and jerked her head, gesturing Kaoru to walk in first. Kaoru stepped past her, her eyes boring into her former friend. The hurt caused by the betrayal was still fresh and raw.

Misao entered and shut the door behind her. The walls of the room were bare, painted a soft shade of grey. There was only one window. It was high in the wall, far above Kaoru's reach and barred across with iron. It was a room meant to contain, to conceal and imprison. Misao pulled one corner of a tatami mat to reveal the wooden floor underneath. She reached for a metal ring on the floor and hoisted it up. A rectangular piece of the wooden planks rose to reveal a small hiding place inside. Kaoru peered over Misao's shoulder, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Her eyes opened wide as she espied swords, the kind you'd only see in a museum neatly stacked one against another. They all had an accompanying short sword, probably for ceremonial purposes. There were other weapons as well, kunai, sharp discs of hard metal, hooks, arm guards, needles, and spears. Misao withdrew her hand, fishing out some clothes. The trapdoor slammed shut as she dropped the ring unceremoniously. Kaoru jumped.

Misao threw the clothes towards her. They were simple; a pair of worn jeans and a white cotton shirt. They felt crisp and smelled faintly of flowers. Kaoru picked the clothes up slowly.

"You'd better change fast. Himura will want to see you before Katsura gets here."

Kaoru looked at Misao poisonously. "Fine. Get out."

Misao shook her head. "I'm sorry. You're going to have to change with me here. I'll just turn towards the door. Tell me when you're done."

"How do you know I won't strike you the minute your back is turned?"

"You wouldn't accomplish much. Besides, the house is a labyrinth. You'd get lost even if you managed to leave this room, which is unlikely."

Kaoru smirked. "You have everything planned out, don't you Misao? Everything moves like clockwork. I never imagined deceit would be so clinical."

Misao flinched. She turned around. "Hurry up and change."

Kaoru glared at her for a few minutes. She raised her hand to strike her but stopped. Her fist shook with the pressure but she stepped back. Misao was right. There was no escape at the moment. She had to wait and bide her time. Her hands dropped to her sides.

Kaoru reached behind and pulled the zipper of her dress down. She slipped the dress off her shoulders. It slid past her hips and landed around her ankles. Kaoru kicked it away. She quietly pulled the shirt on, slipping the buttons into the button-holes slowly.

As she was pulling the jeans up, she tossed a glance towards the trapdoor once again.

"What's with all those weapons?"

Perhaps it was the fact that the question had been asked by Kaoru, or perhaps Misao was eager for her to know about the Oniwabanshu or maybe the façade of trust that had been built during her assignment resurfaced once more but despite the focus on secrecy, Misao found herself talking to Kaoru.

"We are spies. We have been spies for centuries. During the revolution, the Oniwabanshu were key players in the fighting. But, that doesn't matter anymore. And anyway, only the kunai and shuriken belong to us. The swords belong to Himura. Hitokiri usually need more than one sword."

Kaoru froze. "What …..did you say?"

Misao turned around haltingly. "What happened?"

Kaoru wet her lips with her tongue. "Kenshin…..I mean Himura…..did you say he was a hitokiri? An assassin?"

Misao smiled sadly. "You'll never know what he was, or what he meant for this country and for the revolution." She bent her head. "Himura was the strongest of all the Patriots. He worked as an assassin for Kogoro Katsura, your uncle.

"What? He was an assassin for my uncle?" Kaoru sat back in shock. Misao's ferocity and conviction made it clear that she was not lying.

She held her head in her hands. "That doesn't make sense. Why would my uncle need an assassin?"

Misao stared at her feet. "Kogoro Katsura was in charge of strategy and planning for the Ishin Shishi. A part of that strategising included identifying targets within the Shogunate and its supporters who needed to be eliminated. Katsura decided who needed to be killed, and Himura would do the job for him."

"I can't believe that. You're lying! My uncle would never order somebody's assassination."

"No? Just how do you think the revolution was won? The Ishin Shishi took out their main opponents so that the Shogunate was weakened."

"No. I know about this. I've read about it. There were battles, battles in the streets because the people rose as one and fought against the Shogunate and….." She trailed off.

Misao stretched her arms above her head. She looked at Kaoru and sighed. Sitting cross-legged, she placed her hands on her knees and spoke.

"Look, I didn't want to be the one to tell you all of this Kaoru. I asked Himura to tell you but he didn't want you to know anything, so that you could go back to your life and not think about it."

"This cannot be true."

Misao shrugged. "I am sorry, but it is. Himura didn't want to involve you but he couldn't trust Katsura to be truthful with him. He knows Katsura very well. Himura knew that unless we threatened something precious to him, he would not talk."

She stood and picked up the dress Kaoru had just discarded and stuffed it into a laundry bag. She quietly unlocked the key and placed the bag outside on the staircase.

"Wait a minute. What does he want from my uncle?"

"Information. Truth. Answers. Answers he will not get anywhere else."

Kaoru sat up straight. "Let me get this right. Himura wants some information from my uncle and that's why he kidnapped me?"

Misao nodded. "That's right. You are the only thing he could count on. Himura knew that he couldn't get anything out of Katsura any other way. We didn't mean to hurt you Kaoru. But we needed to find out the truth for ourselves. The rumours we've heard, the stories floating around……we needed to check for ourselves."

"That's bullshit! I've never heard such crap in my life. You brought me to the hideout of a dangerous criminal and you still have the gall to sit there and pretend as if what you're doing is right! I can't believe your hypocrisy. You're trying to insinuate that my uncle who has never done anything but good for this country is wrong and your boss who's an assassin is right!"

Misao set her shoulders defensively. "I am not trying to insinuate anything. I am telling you that your uncle is not a saint. Maybe what Kenshin did was wrong, but he did it for the revolution. He became a hitokiri so that people like you or me could choose to live as we wished. He didn't lie about his methods or his ideas. He didn't try to hide behind pretty words. He did what he thought was right and he stands by it, which is more than I can say for your uncle!"

"My uncle was a Patriot!"

"Yes! A patriot who forgot the very people who made him!"

"Misao." Kenshin's soft voice crept into the room. Misao snapped her head towards the door, where Kenshin stood quietly, holding a bowl of miso soup. He shook his head. She backed away from Kaoru and stormed out of the room. Kaoru turned away, facing the wall. Her shoulder heaved as she panted. Shouting at Misao hadn't felt very nice.

She heard him sit down beside her. Kenshin placed the soup-bowl in front of her.

"You need to finish this."

Kaoru reached out to grab the bowl. She picked it up and flung it clear across the room. The bowl crashed into pieces and the soup went hurtling across the floor, staining the tatami mats.

"I don't want it!"

Kenshin didn't say a word. He stood and quietly picked up the pieces of the bowl. When he had collected them all off the floor, he went and placed the pieces outside. The soup had seeped into the mats; there was nothing he could do for them. He simply picked them up and put them outside as well.

He returned and sat down across her, leaning against the wall. Kaoru glanced at him. He was staring at the floor. She bit her lip.

"Are you really an assassin?"

"What difference does it make?"

She hesitated. "It makes a huge difference."

"Very well then. I used to be an assassin."

"So, you aren't one anymore? I mean, you don't go about killing people anymore do you?"

"Why does it concern you, Miss Kaoru?"

"Because I want to believe that you're not a bad person. Because even now, despite all the hurt you've caused me, I really want to believe that you aren't….going to hurt me." Her words could barely be heard. She was whispering so softly.

"If that is all the assurance you want, I'll make it clear to you. I will never hurt you Miss Kaoru. And I apologise for everything I've put you through in the past four months."

Kaoru smiled ruefully. "Life's been hellish only since the past two days."

Kenshin smiled back. "Really? I would have thought you'd be going through hell having to listen to Misao prattle on and on for four months."

Her smile disappeared. "I can't ever forgive her."

"Why not? If there's anyone you shouldn't be able to forgive, it's me. Whatever she did, she did at my behest. I sent her to shadow you. I sent her to bring you back."

"I thought she was a friend. I trusted her!"

"Miss Kaoru, perhaps you have not noticed but, she is the only person who has given you any answers here."

Kaoru was silent. Kenshin leaned back against the wall. The captor and captive both seemed to be lost in a world of their own.

Sanosuke waited while Fujita Goro a.k.a Saitou Hajime looked over the file that had been created on Kaoru Kamiya's disappearance. The flinty officer read each page painstakingly. Every now and then, he would look up from the file to stare at the man sitting in front of him. Sanosuke forced himself not to look away each time those relentless eyes bore into him.

Saitou shut the file and tossed it onto his desk. He stood and walked to the solitary window in his room. His movements were slow and measured. Everything about him had the air of unhurried, cool control. He was in charge and it showed. He calmly took a cigarette from the pack in his pocket and struck a match against the 'NO SMOKING' sign on the wall. The match flared for an instant, lighting the tip of the cigarette before burning out. Saitou tossed the match into the bin and looked out.

"How long have you known this Kaoru Kamiya?"

Sanosuke turned in his seat so he could face the officer. "Forever."

Saitou gave him an exacting look.

Sanosuke cleared his throat. "I mean, I've known Kaoru since pre-school. We grew up in the same neighbourhood. Her father used to run a dojo and I used to drop by for free meals."

"Is that so? You made freeloading a profession I see."

"Hey. I wasn't freeloading. I used to do my share of the chores around the house. I would fix things and help shingle the roof and stuff."

"Hmmm. Freeloader and handyman. Quite the charming combination."

"Hey! What're you getting at? This is about Kaoru, not me!'

"Yes, yes I know. When was the last time you saw her?"

"Well, we were at our favourite club. I was dancing with my girlfriend. Kaoru was sitting at the table with another friend of ours, Misao. When I returned, she wasn't there." He stopped.

Saitou stubbed the cigarette out. "Go on."

"Misao says that she saw Kaoru dancing with some guy, and that's all we know. I tried to get to Misao but she had to leave urgently. Her mother was ill and she had to go back."

Saitou looked up sharply. "Go back where?"

"Nagasaki."

"Hmm. That was the last time any of you saw Ms Kamiya, isn't that right?"

"Yes."

"Tell me something Mr. Sagara. Does Ms Kamiya tell you everything about herself?"

Sanosuke's frown deepened. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, if she were dating somebody, would she tell you?"

"What kind of a stupid question is that? Of course she'd tell me!"

"Are you sure? Maybe she went off on a private weekend with a boyfriend she didn't want you to know about."

Sanosuke stood up. The chair he'd been sitting on clattered to the floor. "Kaoru would never do that! If she had a boyfriend, I'd know him. If she were going on a vacation or private weekend, as you call it, I'd be the first to know! But there's nothing like that! Kaoru's a very private person. She doesn't like guys easily. There's no way she'd go off somewhere with some guy she'd just met! She's in danger! And if you won't do anything about it, I will!"

Sanosuke turned and stormed out of the office. He pushed an officer on his way out. The officer turned and called out indignantly but it was very doubtful that Sanosuke heard him.

Chou exclaimed. "Boss, the man is vandalising policemen! Aren't you going to pull him in?"

Saitou chuckled. "No Chou. We don't need to do anything about him. He'll cool down in time."

"If you say so boss. By the way, what about this girl?"

"Yeah the girl. Did you recognise her?" Saitou picked the file up, closely scrutinising the face of the missing girl.

Chou scratched his head. "She does seem familiar. But I can't put my finger on where I've seen her before."

Saitou smirked. "I'm not surprised. That is the niece of Kogoro Katsura, the Interior Minister of Defence."

"She is?!" Chou exclaimed incredulously. He took the picture out once more, carefully studying it. "I never would have thought it."

"Exactly. Don't you think it's strange? The niece of one of the most powerful men in the country goes missing yet we do not receive an official summons for it but a raggedy fellow off the street comes to us for help."

"That means the Minister does not know of her disappearance."

"Or that he does not want us to know of her disappearance."

Chou looked at his superior curiously. What was it that Saitou had figured out from his short conversation with Sagara? He looked at the picture of the girl once more. She was smiling. He turned to Saitou once more but he was no longer there. He had left, leaving behind a trail of cigarette smoke.

Katsura sank. The velvety soft feel of the armchair caressed his body. He snuggled lower into the chair. His feet were propped up on a cushion on the table. A warm cup of tea rested at his elbow. A manservant was laying his evening clothes out meticulously, brushing a spot of lint off here, smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles there. Presently, he finished readying his master's garment for the evening and left after inquiring whether the master would like anything else. Katsura shook his head and allowed a benign smile to light his features.

The manservant beamed with pride and pleasure. He bowed out of the room. The wooden heels of his shoes clicked on the marble floor of the corridor. The sound was soon buried in the host of small noises emanating from all over the house. Floors being mopped one last time, cutlery clinking, glassware and crystal being placed on tables. Flowers arranged and cut in lightning speed. Kogoro Katsura was expecting guests.

He was playing host to his comrades, fellow commanders of the former Ishin Shishi, now metamorphosed into the ruling oligarchy of the country.

He rose from the armchair and dressed with care. He needed to look in control and he needed to show that his hand was still powerful. That he commanded respect, and inspired fear. That he was without doubt, deserving to be in the exalted company of his guests. That he was the man who had commanded the Battousai for all the time he was a part of the Ishin Shishi. He was still the Kogoro Katsura who had found a way to bend the Battousai to his will, and to control him, like a martinet controls his mannequins. The Battousai had been made to do his bidding; such was the power he had. He had to remember that. Remember and never forget.

He looked at his reflection. His eyes seemed tired. The skin under his eyes was dark as well. He shivered. The Battousai was free; he longer had any hold on him. If he knew where Kenshin was hiding, then his troubles would be over. It would not be difficult to imprison him and persuade him once more. No matter how strong the man, the drug always won. The deadly poison he had once unleashed in the Battousai's mind could work again, yes, it could work again.

"Is this the drug?"

"Yes Katsura-sama. But…but it's very potent. Please be careful with it,"

"But of course. We shall use it very sparingly."

"A few drops taken at mealtimes will render the patient incapable of remembering whatever transpired in the hours preceding."

"That's exactly what I need. The work of an assassin can be so brutal. I do not want to torture them by letting them remember what they had to do for the sake of revolution. Its better that they forget. Killing can be so strenuous."

"And Katsura-sama! A word of caution, do not let them get accustomed to this drug. It could have severe side-effects."

"What kind of side-effects?"

"Painful seizures, the patient could go mad. There is no guarantee that the memory loss is permanent, when they see what they have done, they might not be able to take it. The physical pain alone could render them useless."

"I shall remember that."

A knock on the door pulled Katsura out from his reminiscence. He turned. His butler stood at the door.

"You guests have arrived, Sir."

Katsura nodded, and returned to his reflection. The dark circles had not yet disappeared but the mere memory of the years when the drug had turned Kenshin into a soulless killing machine had warmed his heart. He dipped a small sponge into a vial of foundation and smeared it under his eyes before smoothing it over his cheeks. The artificial colour blended into his skin and removed the telltale marks of fear and tiredness.

He put the foundation away. Then carefully, he lifted the top of his lacquered dressing table. It revealed a false bottom. Katsura slid a piece of board aside. Nestled inside a small hole was the vial of the drug he'd used on Kenshin years ago.

He stroked the vial gently with his fingers and picked it up. Holding it up to the light of the lamp, he purred with pleasure. The crystalline liquid was beautiful.

"He must be found."

The butler raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon, Sir?"

Katsura pursed his lips. "Nothing. Let's go." Kenshin must be found. If he were with me again, what couldn't I do? The Council reports to a Triad now, but with Kenshin under my control, and the other two dead…..what couldn't I do? I must not fear him. I must not be afraid. He should fear me. He should be afraid. Just like the old days.

The door to the banquet hall opened. His associates rose to greet him.

"My friends, it is good to see you again. I feel as though I could power another revolution."

Author's Note

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter.