The screaming of dying men in rapid succession could be quickly heard by Tomoe and Kenshin in the dead of the night, and within seconds, they could see blood being splattered on the door laced by paper. "Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryuu… Ryu-Kan-Sen!" they heard a very familiar voice of a female shout before another man died with a very blood-curdling scream.

"Miryu…" both Kenshin and Tomoe said to each other, before the former took his katana, and opened the door to help her. But all that he could see were five or so dead ninjas, and one Tsubasa Miryu, katana unsheathed, kimono stained with blood, and sapphire eyes deeply stained with a hue of amber more frightening than the fiercest storm. She looked extremely exhausted, and was barely gasping for air.

"Finally, I found you…" she said, before collapsing to the ground, while her eyes returned to their original color. Kenshin immediately carried her into the extra room that had been waiting for her, while Tomoe began to boil water to dress her wounds, which were little, but deep. After all was done, Tomoe remained in Miryu's room to take care of her, while Kenshin returned to theirs to get some sleep.

Now is my chance, Tomoe said to herself, unsheathing her dagger and aiming it at Miryu's heart. But… she couldn't do it. Miryu had not only protected her in many occasions, but was extremely kind to her, despite her caution. The girl was an important asset to the Ishin-Ishishi, and was the one whom Kenshin loved like a sister that he never had. She had an innocent, childish charm, and was yet a full-grown, wise, woman in her own right. She admired her strength and resolve, and began to develop a soft spot for her…

"If you want to kill me, Tomoe one-san, do it now", Miryu said, now wide awake. "I am defenseless, with both my katana further than arm's reach, and Heaven knows where you kept my throw-daggers…" In truth, she was ultimately surprised that Tomoe would even consider trying to kill her in her sleep. Her sapphire eyes were filled with confusion, and a hint of fear. But, in whatever circumstance, Tsubasa Battouryu was not entirely afraid of death.

Tomoe gulped, and tried to stab her, but stopped just inches away from her chest. In anguish, she threw the dagger, and tears started to fall from her coal-black eyes, although she did not appear to be sad at all. "I can't… I just can't!" she exclaimed. Miryu rose, and picked up the dagger. It was like she knew something that the older woman did not, but everything became clear, when she asked,

"Kiyasato Akira… was he your husband-to-be?"

"How did you…"

"He mumbled your name repeatedly while Kenshin was killing him. His will to live was so strong that he left a mark on him that would not stop bleeding until now…" Miryu replied, sheathing the dagger and returned it to Tomoe. "Kenshin might not have noticed it, but I have Tomoe one-san. I am not saying that I have no part in killing your husband-to-be, but you must know that in a coup, in an uprising, a revolution, death will most likely occur. Do not blame others for his death, only for his own foolishness to join this mess in the first place, just like mine and Kenshin's"

It was MY foolishness, not his… Tomoe thought to herself. "Miryu, you do not understand… The both of you took my only hope of happiness, and I needed to vent my anger on someone other than myself, lest I go mad…"

"I do not understand yet the love between man and woman, but I do know one thing: You must treasure that love with all costs", the young hitokiri answered, "I don't want to see or hear any pair of lovers suffer because of their love for each other…" She knew that Hiko had been deeply scarred by her mother's tragic passing, which was half-caused by the latter's blind obedience, and she did not want their suffering to be repeated by any other.

Tomoe nodded her head, and asked Miryu, "How is it like, being able to smile, to show your joy to the world?"

"It is the finest gift Heaven could give", Miryu replied, with a smile that immediately softened Tomoe's heart. "Not only it can enable us to shake off our sadness, it can also stop me from being killed by the 'older-sister' I've risked my neck for during this past year"