Dark
Chapter Eleven
A/N: Gosh, I'm sorry! I really did try to update, but I was SO sick yesterday. I broke out in a severe case of hives, and stuff. It wasn't good. Not at all. It itched. I tried as hard as I could to write this chapter.. I saved that fruitless endeavor and I am shocked at how horrendous it was. But here is chapter eleven, now I'm gonna shut up.
Kenshin: I bet you all expect a rude comment, don'cha?
Sano: Don'cha? That is NOT a word, Kenshin!
Dove: My head..
Kenshin: Oops! Sorry. Here. *Hands authoress a bowl of hot Miso soup* I heard you asking your mom for some.
Dove: Yum. *Groan* I can't write! ARGH!
Sano: We cou-
Dove: NO! *Leaps up, spilling Miso soup everywhere. Especially on herself.* OW! HOT!
Kenshin: Oro..
Dove: *Growl* WHAT ARE YOU 'ORO'-ing about?!
Kenshin: Nothing.. why don't you go to bed instead of writing?
Dove: BECAUSE I'M IN A BAD MOOD AND IT'S GONNA AFFECT THIS CHAPTER NO MATTER WHAT YOU SPLIT-PERSONALITY LITTLE RED-HEAD FREAK!
Kenshin: Okay..
Sano: Right. Good. Just smile and nod.
Dove: WHAT ARE YOU SMILING ABOUT!?! *Lunges*
**Fifteen minutes later**
Kenshin: I know you're in a bad mood, Dove-chan, but please let me out of the well! *Treading water*
Dove: NO!
Sano: *Groans from hog-tied position under the bed.* Ow..
The next few weeks passed in a sort of mechanical blur. Battousai continued his job, almost without paying attention. Even as he slit someone's throat he was thinking about Kaoru. Wouldn't she like that.
He kept her at his apartment, on his waterbed. Megumi checked in every other day to make sure that her body was not rejecting the marrow. Oddly enough, it wasn't. At all. In the slightest bit. How strange, she'd just completely accepted Battousai's gift and that was that.
Aoshi and Misao had left in the second week, promising to come back later. They had some sort of mission to complete. Sano came over four or five times a week, just to check on them.
Coming home from his latest day's work, Battousai put his sword half-heartedly back on the rack. He changed into his usual gray sweatpants after a hot shower, and took a seat next to the bed.
Kaoru, even in a coma, was beautiful in his eyes. Her face was pale, but there was more color to it than he'd ever seen. Megumi had an IV in her, keeping her hydrated.
Almost nervously, Battousai picked up the hand without the IV and gently stroked the palm. She was almost breakable to the touch. So porcelain. How could her father hate her so much? Every time he thought about Koshijirou he felt a wave of pure rage go through him.
How could he endanger such a fragile thing's life?
More than once, Battousai considered asking permission to assassinate him. But oddly enough, every time he considered it, he saw Kaoru's dissapproving face. And didn't bother.
He squeezed Kaoru's hand gently and was about to put it down, when..
It squeezed back.
He almost leapt to his feet. He leaned over Kaoru, and looked closely at her eyelids. They were twitching! Careful to hold his excitement in, he spoke softly and calmly.
"Kaoru?" She let out a very soft sound. Like a squeak. "Come on, Kaoru, wake up!" He allowed the slighest bit of emotion to invade his voice. She groaned this time. "Come on you silly girl, open your eyes!"
Kaoru moved her head slightly, with a weak sigh. And then she said something. One, single word.
"Kenshin.." That was it. Battousai stared at her in open astonishment. After three weeks of being in a coma, the first thing she said upon coming out of it was his name? It confused him. A lot.
"Kaoru? You're still there, right? Don't got back into that coma, wake up and open your eyes!" She groaned at him. That sound was as fierce as any words. 'Shut up, I'm trying to sleep'. But he wasn't going to let her. "Wake up! Now!" He ordered. She opened her eyes and glared at him for a moment.
He saw no flicker of recognition in her eyes. If anything, she looked afraid of him and confused.
"Who are you?" She asked. Battousai stared at her.
"What do you mean?" She just looked at him, obviously confused and afraid.
Battousai wasted no time at all in calling Megumi in. The doctor questioned Kaoru extensivly, trying to pinpoint the problem.
Finally, she got it, and went to share her knowledge with Battousai.
"She doesn't have amnesia, Battousai. This isn't Kaoru. This is a completely different person."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know how she has the different 'hers' in her head?"
"Yes.."
"Well, this is another 'her' basically. She was in so much pain when she came to for those precious seconds, she must have created a whole new 'her'."
"She came to?"
"Just as you went under, she regained conciousness for a few seconds."
"Oh.."
"Normally, alternate personalities have their own names. I've already taken the IV out, and given her a check-up. My work here is done. Good night." And she left.
Battousai headed back into the bedroom. Kaoru was sitting up. She wore a simple hospital gown, the kind that DIDN'T open in the back. (Battousai had made sure of that, she was entitled to her modesty.) She looked at him casually, much less afraid now that she was a bit more awake.
"Who are you?" She asked again. He considered. Should he tell her his name, or the other one? 'Well, there's a nice question. My name, or my name?' He half-smiled.
"Kenshin Himura. You are?"
"I'm Rumor."
"What?"
"My name," Now she just sounded impatient. "Is Rumor." Battousai kind of stared at her.
"That's a weird name."
"So is Kenshin." She responded stoutly. Battousai smirked.
"I suppose it is, but that's not the point.. Rumor. Are you hungry?"
"Yes.. I suppose I am.." She admitted with a shy smile that differed from Kaoru's wide grin so much that Battousai was momentarily taken aback.
"Well, I just happen to have some food." He strolled out, and found the kitchen after a moment of hard thought. Now that he really considered it, he'd eaten perhaps every two days. Maybe that was why he was distracted? Starvation? Chuckling very softly to himself, Battousai opened the refridgerator.
"Well, Rumor, we have what looks like.. um.. actually.. I haven't been to the store in forever. And that Ramen looks ancient. Would you prefer going out somewhere?" He tacked that last part on hesitantly, unsure as to whether or not she would try to run away if he took her out.
He didn't know what to expect from her, and from what he knew of DID, she had no memory of their first meeting. That was probably why she was so confused, but she was being quite amiable about it.
Now, if he'd been dealing with Kaoru, he would know that she wasn't going to try anything. Her eyes were to open. But Rumor's eyes were very.. closed. Almost like his own, close to impossible to read.
Battousai almost grinned as he remembered the panic in Kaoru's eyes when she'd realized that he knew she'd tried to get away. Had she hidden the pure surprise and fear at his sudden appearance and the guilt that came instantly afterwards, he probably wouldn't have figured it out.
"Okay." He jumped. She was right behind him – how had she masked her movements? He looked at her suspiciously for a moment. She took another step, and he saw how sloppy her movements were. Obviously he had just been to busy thinking to notice her.
"Good. First, we need to get you into some clothes and on the way back from the resturant how about we buy you something to wear?" She just nodded.
Battousai got her the freshly washed clothing that Sano had brought for her and she changed.
They went to a small, family-owned Japanese resturant. How funny – Japanese cuisine in Japan.
Afterwards, they got a few nice outfits for.. Rumor/Kaoru.
And then they went home.
It was, all-in-all, very normal and completely unlike how it should have been. She was still a prisioner.. all though it really didn't seem that way anymore. But even if she wanted to go, he wouldn't have let her. Luckily, she seemed content where she was.
They got back to the apartment. Not three seconds after they walked in, did Kaoru let out a shout. Battousai whirled back around, and watched as she stomped on her attacker's instep (Stopping just short of breaking the foot) and then stepped back a bit as she flipped said attacker over her shoulder.
Sano looked up, dazed.
"Geez, Missy, I just touched your shoulder!"
She stared at him for a long moment, and then burst into tears. Battousai went back to her, making it a point to step on Sano as he went past. The ruffian made a sound an awful lot like a squeak.
"What's wrong?" Battousai asked, almost kindly.
"Nothing." She looked up at him with now-dry eyes. He saw a difference in her eyes.
"Kaoru?" He asked hesitantly.
"Of course! Who else would I be? And why is Sano on the floor?"
After a ten-minute explanation, Kaoru nodded. "Oh, Okay. I get it now."
Everything was good and calm and nice and relaxed.
Now who thought that was going to be acceptable to the gods?
The door literally burst in off of it's hinges. Kaoru yelped and jumped behind Battousai, who had risen almost in perfect synch with Sano to meet this new challenge.
"You're out-manned, and out-gunned, Battousai. Don't move." Came a soft, calm voice. In strolled a man who wore a black ski-mask, black gloves, a large (Black) closed trenchcoat with the bottoms of black pants showing and black boots.
All-in-all, Kaoru decided that the color-code sucked.
Battousai growled, low in his throat. On instinct, Kaoru grasped the back of his shirt. Where that instinct had come from, she didn't know. But it was there.
"What do you want, Shishio?"
"Oh, not MUCH.." The man laughed, evil bronze eyes glinting underneath the mask.
A/N: There ya go. *Pleased with herself* I wrote a reasonably long chapter. I'm trying at least! *Grumble* I thought it might be fun to drag Shishio in, too. Am I spelling his name right? I know there's another part of his name.. is it Makoto or something? A little help here? *Sigh*
Kenshin: LET ME OUT!
Dove: No!
Sano: Then untie ME!
Dove: NO!
Dove's Brother: What are you doing?
Dove: Ah.. just kidnapping some nice aniem characters. That's all.
Dove's Brother: Well, drowning girly-boy probably isn't a good idea.
**Five minutes later**
Dove's Brother: Hello.
Kenshin: Hi.
Dove: *Slams the lid on the 'drowning duo'.* Grr.
Sano: Well. Thank Kami-sama for small favors. I'm still on dry land.
Dove: Then shut up!
Sano: …
Aoshi: What are you doing, Dove-chan? *Figures out what's going on* Oh. *Unties Sano, rescues Kenshin and Dove's Brother* There. Okay. Now that my pointless role in this is done, I'm leaving. *Makes good on his promise.*
Dove: *Grumble* Okay, quick note. From Sunday (The 6th) to the 18th, I'm going to be at a Cyber-Defender's Institute (CDI) So I will be updating only once, MAYBE twice a day. We're getting laptops to use during it, so during our lunch break I'll try to write a chapter to post later that night, okay? See, despite the fact that I'm going to be in class from 8am to 5pm I still am going to try to update as fast as I can! I'm such a nice authoress. ^-^ Oh yeah, about the fireworks. Wouldn't you know that my boyfriend only actually made physical contact with me TWICE? Once to stop me from killing one of his relatives, and once because I complained that I was cold. -.-' He's hopeless..
Now that I'm done chatting about something no one cares about.. 192 reviews for chapter 12. I'm going to go try to write it.. and I'll leave.. *Rolls a die* Kenshin to read the review responses. *Toddles off*
Kenshin: *Reading the above words* 'Toddles'? *Gets smacked upside the head with a shoe* Ow. Okay, okay. Here we go.
Starburst – Oh, thank you! ^-^
Koniko-chan – Lol! Sorry, but Sano recorded that *Points thumb at horribly disguised Sano sitting in a tree with camera* Oh, Kenshin wrote that silly part *GLARE*
CurlofSerenity – Huh. Well, thank you for the info! ^-^ You can borrow Sano and he'll give you a massage, if you like. ^-^ Sano: WHAT?! | Dove: *GLARE* | Sano: Oh.. ehheh.. right! ^-^'
Daine – I just enjoy torturing the readers. ^_-
Seiyo – As you command! ^-^
Ferai – Lol. Any bribe will do. *Grumble* Geesh, does everyone instantly think 'food' when they hear that word? What do you mean, you feel sorry for Kenshin and Sano! They moved in with ME! *Not actually mad or upset at all but putting on a really good melodramatic show*
Moonblossom – Lol, everything works out in the end. I think. Heck, I dunno WHAT is gonna happen! Ask the muses!
LunaAngel – Oh. Um.. well. Thank you! ^-^
Konton – Lol!
LadyChrisA - *munches on apple* ^-^ *Glares at book-dropping hubby* HEY NOW! NONE OF THAT! I LIKE MY REVIEWERS UNINJURED THANK YOU! *Walks off in a huff.*
MysticGohan – Lol! I don't mind rambling. *Smirks at Sano* It's okay if you call me Dove-chan, that's my name! ^-^
Fire – Thank you!
Daine – Mmmm.. *Lunges for bribe* ^-^ Yup, Party's in full-swing now! ^-^
Kurokumo – *Giggle* I'll take that as a compliment.. a hemorrhage is when.. huh. What IS a hemorrhage? Basically it's when you start bleeding, like from your gums or something. A bloody nose is a hemorrhage.
Dark Angel – Hullo and okay! ^-^
Mary Wolfe – Thanks!
Faerie-chan – Lol! Thanks, I was wondering who'd bring the dip..
Baka-Ryu – What? You WANT me to make really bad cliffhangers? I'M SURE THE OTHER REVIEWERS LOVE THAT! *Heh Heh*
Koniko-chan – Well, thank Kami that I won't be keeping people from concentrating on work! ^_- Have fun at work..
L3al3yanime – Ah, all will be revealed in due time. ^-^
Manekineko – thanks!
Janet – Thank you!
Wolf – Lol! ^-^
Ferai – Ah, please do! ^-^ and I did.. for the most part..
Sailor Scout Buddy – Ohh.. okay. That's a secret. And.. um.. yeah. Happy 4th.. *Rescues Soujiro*
Beriath – Thanks!
Evillaughingtalkingwall – Lol! I get the point. ^-^
Gena – Thanks!
LadyChrisA – Lol! *Takes proffered Kenshin+Food.* Heh. ^-^
Pidge – No one. Let's say it's courtesy of the syndicate. ^_-
Kawaii Ayame – Okay.. no problem.. ^-^ I'm glad you like it! I love writing the love-hate thing. ^-^
MoonBlossom – MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA.. *Cough*
Chris – Lol. Of course!
MysticGohan – Um. Okay. It's a secret. Enjoy your brownies. My English class never taught me anything useful like that. We were Pre-AP and all we learned was how to fill out a worksheet on poems, how to write hyphens, and how to use Stems. YAY. *Growl* And then she threw a research paper on as at the end of school and never explained it and it ruined my grade (Still got a 4.0.. heheh..) and.. and.. and!!! ARGH! *Has mental break-down*
Wishstar – Okay! *Thwacks Kenshin* Kenshin: OW!! Why did you hit me!? | Dove: Reviewer told me to. ^-^
CrazyFireKitsuneGirl – Thanks! Yeah, they were kinda cool. All sparkly and stuff. A piece of one of the rocket's landed next to my boyfriend's dad's chair. It was funny. ^-^
Eikichi – Okay.
flyinangel777@yahoo.com – Yup. Okay. Thanks. ^-^
Kyia Star – It took me all day to write this one.. expect chapter twelve tomorrow.
Fire – Lol! Can't have that happen!
Conscience Fairy - *Sobs* NOOO! YOU HATE ME!! Ow. Now I have a headache. *Complains* Glad you like the story, even though to hate me.. ^-^
XP-Dark Angel – Lol! It gets better! Really!
Thanks for all the reviews! I have 13 pages of reviews, I'm in awe! I love long reviews, just an FYI ^_- And bribes are still being accepted! I'm trying to make chapters longer and less.. cliffy. ^-^
Kenshin: Yeah, right.
Dove: *GROWL*
Kenshin, Sano, Dove, Dove's Brother, And other people that pop up randomly: See ya next chapter!
Chapter Eleven
A/N: Gosh, I'm sorry! I really did try to update, but I was SO sick yesterday. I broke out in a severe case of hives, and stuff. It wasn't good. Not at all. It itched. I tried as hard as I could to write this chapter.. I saved that fruitless endeavor and I am shocked at how horrendous it was. But here is chapter eleven, now I'm gonna shut up.
Kenshin: I bet you all expect a rude comment, don'cha?
Sano: Don'cha? That is NOT a word, Kenshin!
Dove: My head..
Kenshin: Oops! Sorry. Here. *Hands authoress a bowl of hot Miso soup* I heard you asking your mom for some.
Dove: Yum. *Groan* I can't write! ARGH!
Sano: We cou-
Dove: NO! *Leaps up, spilling Miso soup everywhere. Especially on herself.* OW! HOT!
Kenshin: Oro..
Dove: *Growl* WHAT ARE YOU 'ORO'-ing about?!
Kenshin: Nothing.. why don't you go to bed instead of writing?
Dove: BECAUSE I'M IN A BAD MOOD AND IT'S GONNA AFFECT THIS CHAPTER NO MATTER WHAT YOU SPLIT-PERSONALITY LITTLE RED-HEAD FREAK!
Kenshin: Okay..
Sano: Right. Good. Just smile and nod.
Dove: WHAT ARE YOU SMILING ABOUT!?! *Lunges*
**Fifteen minutes later**
Kenshin: I know you're in a bad mood, Dove-chan, but please let me out of the well! *Treading water*
Dove: NO!
Sano: *Groans from hog-tied position under the bed.* Ow..
The next few weeks passed in a sort of mechanical blur. Battousai continued his job, almost without paying attention. Even as he slit someone's throat he was thinking about Kaoru. Wouldn't she like that.
He kept her at his apartment, on his waterbed. Megumi checked in every other day to make sure that her body was not rejecting the marrow. Oddly enough, it wasn't. At all. In the slightest bit. How strange, she'd just completely accepted Battousai's gift and that was that.
Aoshi and Misao had left in the second week, promising to come back later. They had some sort of mission to complete. Sano came over four or five times a week, just to check on them.
Coming home from his latest day's work, Battousai put his sword half-heartedly back on the rack. He changed into his usual gray sweatpants after a hot shower, and took a seat next to the bed.
Kaoru, even in a coma, was beautiful in his eyes. Her face was pale, but there was more color to it than he'd ever seen. Megumi had an IV in her, keeping her hydrated.
Almost nervously, Battousai picked up the hand without the IV and gently stroked the palm. She was almost breakable to the touch. So porcelain. How could her father hate her so much? Every time he thought about Koshijirou he felt a wave of pure rage go through him.
How could he endanger such a fragile thing's life?
More than once, Battousai considered asking permission to assassinate him. But oddly enough, every time he considered it, he saw Kaoru's dissapproving face. And didn't bother.
He squeezed Kaoru's hand gently and was about to put it down, when..
It squeezed back.
He almost leapt to his feet. He leaned over Kaoru, and looked closely at her eyelids. They were twitching! Careful to hold his excitement in, he spoke softly and calmly.
"Kaoru?" She let out a very soft sound. Like a squeak. "Come on, Kaoru, wake up!" He allowed the slighest bit of emotion to invade his voice. She groaned this time. "Come on you silly girl, open your eyes!"
Kaoru moved her head slightly, with a weak sigh. And then she said something. One, single word.
"Kenshin.." That was it. Battousai stared at her in open astonishment. After three weeks of being in a coma, the first thing she said upon coming out of it was his name? It confused him. A lot.
"Kaoru? You're still there, right? Don't got back into that coma, wake up and open your eyes!" She groaned at him. That sound was as fierce as any words. 'Shut up, I'm trying to sleep'. But he wasn't going to let her. "Wake up! Now!" He ordered. She opened her eyes and glared at him for a moment.
He saw no flicker of recognition in her eyes. If anything, she looked afraid of him and confused.
"Who are you?" She asked. Battousai stared at her.
"What do you mean?" She just looked at him, obviously confused and afraid.
Battousai wasted no time at all in calling Megumi in. The doctor questioned Kaoru extensivly, trying to pinpoint the problem.
Finally, she got it, and went to share her knowledge with Battousai.
"She doesn't have amnesia, Battousai. This isn't Kaoru. This is a completely different person."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know how she has the different 'hers' in her head?"
"Yes.."
"Well, this is another 'her' basically. She was in so much pain when she came to for those precious seconds, she must have created a whole new 'her'."
"She came to?"
"Just as you went under, she regained conciousness for a few seconds."
"Oh.."
"Normally, alternate personalities have their own names. I've already taken the IV out, and given her a check-up. My work here is done. Good night." And she left.
Battousai headed back into the bedroom. Kaoru was sitting up. She wore a simple hospital gown, the kind that DIDN'T open in the back. (Battousai had made sure of that, she was entitled to her modesty.) She looked at him casually, much less afraid now that she was a bit more awake.
"Who are you?" She asked again. He considered. Should he tell her his name, or the other one? 'Well, there's a nice question. My name, or my name?' He half-smiled.
"Kenshin Himura. You are?"
"I'm Rumor."
"What?"
"My name," Now she just sounded impatient. "Is Rumor." Battousai kind of stared at her.
"That's a weird name."
"So is Kenshin." She responded stoutly. Battousai smirked.
"I suppose it is, but that's not the point.. Rumor. Are you hungry?"
"Yes.. I suppose I am.." She admitted with a shy smile that differed from Kaoru's wide grin so much that Battousai was momentarily taken aback.
"Well, I just happen to have some food." He strolled out, and found the kitchen after a moment of hard thought. Now that he really considered it, he'd eaten perhaps every two days. Maybe that was why he was distracted? Starvation? Chuckling very softly to himself, Battousai opened the refridgerator.
"Well, Rumor, we have what looks like.. um.. actually.. I haven't been to the store in forever. And that Ramen looks ancient. Would you prefer going out somewhere?" He tacked that last part on hesitantly, unsure as to whether or not she would try to run away if he took her out.
He didn't know what to expect from her, and from what he knew of DID, she had no memory of their first meeting. That was probably why she was so confused, but she was being quite amiable about it.
Now, if he'd been dealing with Kaoru, he would know that she wasn't going to try anything. Her eyes were to open. But Rumor's eyes were very.. closed. Almost like his own, close to impossible to read.
Battousai almost grinned as he remembered the panic in Kaoru's eyes when she'd realized that he knew she'd tried to get away. Had she hidden the pure surprise and fear at his sudden appearance and the guilt that came instantly afterwards, he probably wouldn't have figured it out.
"Okay." He jumped. She was right behind him – how had she masked her movements? He looked at her suspiciously for a moment. She took another step, and he saw how sloppy her movements were. Obviously he had just been to busy thinking to notice her.
"Good. First, we need to get you into some clothes and on the way back from the resturant how about we buy you something to wear?" She just nodded.
Battousai got her the freshly washed clothing that Sano had brought for her and she changed.
They went to a small, family-owned Japanese resturant. How funny – Japanese cuisine in Japan.
Afterwards, they got a few nice outfits for.. Rumor/Kaoru.
And then they went home.
It was, all-in-all, very normal and completely unlike how it should have been. She was still a prisioner.. all though it really didn't seem that way anymore. But even if she wanted to go, he wouldn't have let her. Luckily, she seemed content where she was.
They got back to the apartment. Not three seconds after they walked in, did Kaoru let out a shout. Battousai whirled back around, and watched as she stomped on her attacker's instep (Stopping just short of breaking the foot) and then stepped back a bit as she flipped said attacker over her shoulder.
Sano looked up, dazed.
"Geez, Missy, I just touched your shoulder!"
She stared at him for a long moment, and then burst into tears. Battousai went back to her, making it a point to step on Sano as he went past. The ruffian made a sound an awful lot like a squeak.
"What's wrong?" Battousai asked, almost kindly.
"Nothing." She looked up at him with now-dry eyes. He saw a difference in her eyes.
"Kaoru?" He asked hesitantly.
"Of course! Who else would I be? And why is Sano on the floor?"
After a ten-minute explanation, Kaoru nodded. "Oh, Okay. I get it now."
Everything was good and calm and nice and relaxed.
Now who thought that was going to be acceptable to the gods?
The door literally burst in off of it's hinges. Kaoru yelped and jumped behind Battousai, who had risen almost in perfect synch with Sano to meet this new challenge.
"You're out-manned, and out-gunned, Battousai. Don't move." Came a soft, calm voice. In strolled a man who wore a black ski-mask, black gloves, a large (Black) closed trenchcoat with the bottoms of black pants showing and black boots.
All-in-all, Kaoru decided that the color-code sucked.
Battousai growled, low in his throat. On instinct, Kaoru grasped the back of his shirt. Where that instinct had come from, she didn't know. But it was there.
"What do you want, Shishio?"
"Oh, not MUCH.." The man laughed, evil bronze eyes glinting underneath the mask.
A/N: There ya go. *Pleased with herself* I wrote a reasonably long chapter. I'm trying at least! *Grumble* I thought it might be fun to drag Shishio in, too. Am I spelling his name right? I know there's another part of his name.. is it Makoto or something? A little help here? *Sigh*
Kenshin: LET ME OUT!
Dove: No!
Sano: Then untie ME!
Dove: NO!
Dove's Brother: What are you doing?
Dove: Ah.. just kidnapping some nice aniem characters. That's all.
Dove's Brother: Well, drowning girly-boy probably isn't a good idea.
**Five minutes later**
Dove's Brother: Hello.
Kenshin: Hi.
Dove: *Slams the lid on the 'drowning duo'.* Grr.
Sano: Well. Thank Kami-sama for small favors. I'm still on dry land.
Dove: Then shut up!
Sano: …
Aoshi: What are you doing, Dove-chan? *Figures out what's going on* Oh. *Unties Sano, rescues Kenshin and Dove's Brother* There. Okay. Now that my pointless role in this is done, I'm leaving. *Makes good on his promise.*
Dove: *Grumble* Okay, quick note. From Sunday (The 6th) to the 18th, I'm going to be at a Cyber-Defender's Institute (CDI) So I will be updating only once, MAYBE twice a day. We're getting laptops to use during it, so during our lunch break I'll try to write a chapter to post later that night, okay? See, despite the fact that I'm going to be in class from 8am to 5pm I still am going to try to update as fast as I can! I'm such a nice authoress. ^-^ Oh yeah, about the fireworks. Wouldn't you know that my boyfriend only actually made physical contact with me TWICE? Once to stop me from killing one of his relatives, and once because I complained that I was cold. -.-' He's hopeless..
Now that I'm done chatting about something no one cares about.. 192 reviews for chapter 12. I'm going to go try to write it.. and I'll leave.. *Rolls a die* Kenshin to read the review responses. *Toddles off*
Kenshin: *Reading the above words* 'Toddles'? *Gets smacked upside the head with a shoe* Ow. Okay, okay. Here we go.
Starburst – Oh, thank you! ^-^
Koniko-chan – Lol! Sorry, but Sano recorded that *Points thumb at horribly disguised Sano sitting in a tree with camera* Oh, Kenshin wrote that silly part *GLARE*
CurlofSerenity – Huh. Well, thank you for the info! ^-^ You can borrow Sano and he'll give you a massage, if you like. ^-^ Sano: WHAT?! | Dove: *GLARE* | Sano: Oh.. ehheh.. right! ^-^'
Daine – I just enjoy torturing the readers. ^_-
Seiyo – As you command! ^-^
Ferai – Lol. Any bribe will do. *Grumble* Geesh, does everyone instantly think 'food' when they hear that word? What do you mean, you feel sorry for Kenshin and Sano! They moved in with ME! *Not actually mad or upset at all but putting on a really good melodramatic show*
Moonblossom – Lol, everything works out in the end. I think. Heck, I dunno WHAT is gonna happen! Ask the muses!
LunaAngel – Oh. Um.. well. Thank you! ^-^
Konton – Lol!
LadyChrisA - *munches on apple* ^-^ *Glares at book-dropping hubby* HEY NOW! NONE OF THAT! I LIKE MY REVIEWERS UNINJURED THANK YOU! *Walks off in a huff.*
MysticGohan – Lol! I don't mind rambling. *Smirks at Sano* It's okay if you call me Dove-chan, that's my name! ^-^
Fire – Thank you!
Daine – Mmmm.. *Lunges for bribe* ^-^ Yup, Party's in full-swing now! ^-^
Kurokumo – *Giggle* I'll take that as a compliment.. a hemorrhage is when.. huh. What IS a hemorrhage? Basically it's when you start bleeding, like from your gums or something. A bloody nose is a hemorrhage.
Dark Angel – Hullo and okay! ^-^
Mary Wolfe – Thanks!
Faerie-chan – Lol! Thanks, I was wondering who'd bring the dip..
Baka-Ryu – What? You WANT me to make really bad cliffhangers? I'M SURE THE OTHER REVIEWERS LOVE THAT! *Heh Heh*
Koniko-chan – Well, thank Kami that I won't be keeping people from concentrating on work! ^_- Have fun at work..
L3al3yanime – Ah, all will be revealed in due time. ^-^
Manekineko – thanks!
Janet – Thank you!
Wolf – Lol! ^-^
Ferai – Ah, please do! ^-^ and I did.. for the most part..
Sailor Scout Buddy – Ohh.. okay. That's a secret. And.. um.. yeah. Happy 4th.. *Rescues Soujiro*
Beriath – Thanks!
Evillaughingtalkingwall – Lol! I get the point. ^-^
Gena – Thanks!
LadyChrisA – Lol! *Takes proffered Kenshin+Food.* Heh. ^-^
Pidge – No one. Let's say it's courtesy of the syndicate. ^_-
Kawaii Ayame – Okay.. no problem.. ^-^ I'm glad you like it! I love writing the love-hate thing. ^-^
MoonBlossom – MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA.. *Cough*
Chris – Lol. Of course!
MysticGohan – Um. Okay. It's a secret. Enjoy your brownies. My English class never taught me anything useful like that. We were Pre-AP and all we learned was how to fill out a worksheet on poems, how to write hyphens, and how to use Stems. YAY. *Growl* And then she threw a research paper on as at the end of school and never explained it and it ruined my grade (Still got a 4.0.. heheh..) and.. and.. and!!! ARGH! *Has mental break-down*
Wishstar – Okay! *Thwacks Kenshin* Kenshin: OW!! Why did you hit me!? | Dove: Reviewer told me to. ^-^
CrazyFireKitsuneGirl – Thanks! Yeah, they were kinda cool. All sparkly and stuff. A piece of one of the rocket's landed next to my boyfriend's dad's chair. It was funny. ^-^
Eikichi – Okay.
flyinangel777@yahoo.com – Yup. Okay. Thanks. ^-^
Kyia Star – It took me all day to write this one.. expect chapter twelve tomorrow.
Fire – Lol! Can't have that happen!
Conscience Fairy - *Sobs* NOOO! YOU HATE ME!! Ow. Now I have a headache. *Complains* Glad you like the story, even though to hate me.. ^-^
XP-Dark Angel – Lol! It gets better! Really!
Thanks for all the reviews! I have 13 pages of reviews, I'm in awe! I love long reviews, just an FYI ^_- And bribes are still being accepted! I'm trying to make chapters longer and less.. cliffy. ^-^
Kenshin: Yeah, right.
Dove: *GROWL*
Kenshin, Sano, Dove, Dove's Brother, And other people that pop up randomly: See ya next chapter!