A/N: There is a story that I remember from when I was a little girl, I don't really remember how it goes per say, but I recall that the gist of it surrounded the fact that sparrows, though being a rather small bird, are really quite strong and resilient. They are also known to fly great distances to nest in the same place year after year, and have great endurance as well. The story as I recall had a band of young sparrows saving their flock from a pack of evil cats... they were very brave and very ingenious despite their being so young and so small. It was one of my favorite stories as a child... it is too bad I can't remember it better. But it did go to show that even something as small as a sparrow can prove to be greater than the sum of itself if put to the test of its courage and its own limits.
A/N: Haruko has been so swamped and overloaded by things going on at home lately that I just didn't feel like I could be one to add to her burdens by sending her something else to do. So I have decided to try and post on my own... again. My Saiai-Haruko is more than just my beta reader, she is my dear friend and I always try to take care of those I love. So... Saiai, don't be worrying yourself over this, and don't be feeling guilty (because I know you will). I just want you to be Ok... I want you to take the time you need to deal with whatever it going on... and take care of yourself. I am always here for you if you need a shoulder to cry on or an hear to listen. I love you and respect you more than I could ever put into words. You and I will catch up to each other in this place again soon. Just let me know if I can help... You are more than a beta reader to me... you should know that by now. Tsuki-san
Comments to reviews at end of chapter. Thank you to everyone who drops me a few kind or helpful words. God Bless. KnT
Chapter Seventeen
The Wings of Sparrows
November 1, 2001
Early Sunday Morning
5:22 a.m. I've Paine Campus
After much discussion, the guys had decided to wait until it was nearly daylight before they set out on the pathway for Evermore beach and ultimately Hackler's Point. It would take them a good hour to get there and by the time they arrived the sky should just be starting to turn to pink and yellow with the rising dawn thus setting the old lighthouse up for a full sunlight exposure before they ever went inside to look for the girls. This, they hoped, would give them a much needed advantage where as in the dark they would be much more vulnerable.
Kenshin's plan was simple. Enter the lighthouse after the sun came up in hopes that the Daniel/Hiko 'thing' would be exhausted from the nights events and be sleeping somewhere in one of the old rooms. That in turn would give them ample opportunity to search around the funnel and attached housing quarters for the girls. It was the general belief by the whole group that 'ghosts' didn't come out during the day, and if Hiko did, the five of them would deal with him... one way or another. Kenshin was through playing games. This last escapade of events had taught him something very harsh and very valuable.
Blood was thicker than water... but Love would always rise to the top and out weigh everything else. He loved Kaoru. There was no denying it... no pushing it aside... and no trying to diminish it. His heart cried out for her even as his soul screamed in pain over the loss of her psychic 'touch' beside it, and come Hell or High-water he was going to get her back. No matter what he had to do... he was going to get her back. Holding her in his arms had been like touching the face of heaven, and he was damned if he was going to lose that... again.
As they prepared to leave, the decision was made that they should leave some sort of message behind explaining where they were going and why. They had never bothered to do this before, but Kenshin felt that someone should know what was going on besides the five of them just in case something went wrong and they didn't make it back. He decided the best person to leave the message for was Ruakii's father, Saitou. 'Master Saitou will know what to do if we don't come back.' He said in a bland emotionless voice as he finished writing the detailed note and signed his name to it.
"He's going to think we are friggin' nuts, Himura." Ruakii had said as he placed the note on his parents kitchen table and shot the redhead a complicated look of wry morbidity. "My old man is going to have a fit when he reads this, and then he is going to come screaming after us with his hair on fire... you know that, don't you?"
"Yes, I know that. But it can't be helped. Besides... Maybe he'll bring the cops and half the town just to find out what the hell is going on."
"Oh, that would be just great." Ruakii rolled his dark brown eyes in mock horror. "I can just see it all now... Master Saitou to the rescue with his brigade of pitchfork wielding farmers and keystone-cops. Just great..." Kenshin's gaze turned hot as he glared at the other boy angrily.
"Hey, listen you rat-faced nimrod," He hissed into Ruakii's stubborn face. "I'm damn sick and tired of being blamed for shit I didn't do and for being seen as a punk who doesn't have the honor or brains God gave a piss-ant... you understand?"
"Dad doesn't think that anymore and you know it, but this thing we're planning on doing... it sounds crazy, even to me." Scratching the back of his head, Ruakii cast a nervous glance toward the stairs that led up to the second floor where his parents were sleeping. "I mean, all this stuff about 'ghosts' and reincarnated people... I don't know if Dad is going to buy all that crap or not."
"I don't really care if he does or not, Ruakii. The fact is, that fucking animal took my girl, and he's using Hiko to help him pull it off although I'm not sure why yet or how for that matter. But I'm sure he's taken Kaoru because he thinks she's his wife reincarnated... and maybe she is for that matter." Kenshin's voice turned pensive and the catch in it betrayed just how deeply effected he really was by Kaoru's absence. "I... I just don't know what I believe anymore, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let him have her... in any sense of that word."
"I understand that," Ruakii had been wide eyed and lax jawed the night before while listening to Kenshin's retelling of the night he and Kaoru had been in the lighthouse, but he had been unable to dispute the truth of it when Kenshin was looking the way he was all yellow-eyed and scary. "But why did he take Quii? She wasn't part of the 'love-triangle' thing so what does she have to do with any of this? "
"Nothing." Kenshin shook his head and glared down at the fists his hands had formed themselves into. "She's got nothing to do with it, Ruakii. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but Daniel is whacked out enough he would have saw some sort of twisted opportunity in taking her with him. Maybe he thinks he can make Cassandra's spirit jealous... how the hell should I know? He's a fucking ghost for petesake, and he's insane besides." He chopped his arm through the air emphasizing his anger and frustration as he started toward the door, but as he placed his hand on the knob, he stopped speaking over his shoulder in a low and menacing voice. "All I do know is this, we are going up there to find the girls and bring them back before he actually finds the guts to try and do something to them because it's only a matter of time before he gets bored enough to want to try."
"You know, Himura..." Ruakii's voice shifted as a thought occurred to him. "It's almost like he wants someone to come out there and try to get them. You don't think he's trying to use them as bait... like he's setting a trap for somebody or something, do you?"
"Of course he is, you bloody idiot!" Kenshin's eyes flashed molten gold as he turned and looked angrily into Ruakii's face. "He's setting the trap for ME. He wants me to come out there because he thinks I'm some guy called 'Fetlock'." An exasperated sigh of pure frustration escaped the redhead's throat. "Don't you ever listen to anything?"
"Fetlock? Who the hell is 'Fetlock', and what the hell does he have to do with you?" 'You don't listen to anything... Shit! No wonder your grades suck in school... God...'
"I think Fetlock was Cassandra's lover, and I think Daniel was responsible for his death all those years ago too... I think he murdered them both." Kenshin paused for a moment to think and then continued. "He just kept saying the same things over and over again that night... he wasn't going to let me 'have her again'... he wasn't going to 'lose her to me again.' I think he killed Fetlock out of jealousy because his wife left him for the guy." The hand on the doorknob turned and the door opened soundlessly.
"You think he wants to try and kill you 'again' then?" The boys walked out of the back door of the house and joined the other three who were standing patiently waiting in the cold morning air. "Is that why he's trying to get you out there?"
"I don't know, to tell you the truth." Kenshin looked down at the toes of his black high-tops and considered his next words carefully. "You see, Cassandra hates him... I mean, really and truly hates him for everything he did to her. But if he killed Fetlock... she would never forgive him for that, and that was something else he kept saying over and over."
"What's that?"
"That he needed her to forgive him before he could move on."
"Huh? I don't get it."
"He's stuck here, Ruakii... in whatever plane of existence or consciousness his spirit is living in at the lighthouse. He's stuck there. He can't move on because Cassandra's hatred and anger are keeping him here... just as they are keeping her here as well."
"So, you're saying that the two of them are bound to haunt the lighthouse forever unless she can forgive him for being the abusive murdering bastard that he was... is?"
"Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying."
"Ah shit. That is just way too out there for me, man. Way, way too out there." He was scratching the back of his head again. "So... if he wants her to forgive him for everything, how is killing you 'again' going to help that?"
"I don't know... I don't know what he thinks he's after. I told you he's completely insane."
"If I may interject, my friends." Aoshi's cool tenor voice floated between Kenshin and Ruakii effectively drawing their attention away from each other. "I think I may have an alternative answer for you... if you care to listen."
"Oh please," Ruakii's sarcasm lifted it's ugly head and sneered at the much more composed Aoshi. "What does the Doli Lama have to say? I can hardly wait to hear this."
"Shut-up your shit, Saitou." Kenshin growled as he shot Ruakii a warning look that quelled the other boy into silence. "What have you got, Aoshi?"
"Well, it would seem to me after listening to everything you said last night, and the small portion of this conversation that we are dealing with an exceptionally intelligent if not insane mind. Would you agree?"
"Yes." The group found their way to the path and began picking their way through the underbrush and the over hanging branches.
"You say he recognized Kaoru as 'Cassandra' right away, and starting calling you 'Fetlock' almost immediately? Yes?"
"Yes."
"And his main interest is in reacquiring his wife's love or at least her respect and thus her forgiveness for his sinful past as well as his treacherous betrayal. Is this also right?"
"Yes, you seem to have the grasp of it, but what are you getting at?"
"Each of the most important dead players have been accounted for among the living... you said even the ghost of Cassandra referred to you as 'Edmund' the first time you saw her while you and Kaoru stood on the staircase. That in itself would be a fairly good indication that you must look like this man."
"Ok, I'll go along with that... what else?"
"You described this Daniel March as being tall, with a slender but muscular build, and having black hair and brilliant green eyes."
"Right."
"How old was he do you think?"
"I don't know... about 25 maybe. Why?"
"How old is your step-father?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Humor me... how old?"
"About 45 I guess... give or take."
"Hmmmm... about a 20 year difference. Interesting."
"Aoshi. What the hell are you getting at?"
"Have you ever seen any photographs of your step-father from when he was younger?"
"I... um... now that you mention it, no, I don't think so, why?"
"Imagine him about 20 years younger, thirty pounds lighter, and with much longer hair... what do you see?" Several moments passed by in silence and then there was a horrified gasp.
"Oh my God... oh no, it can't be. Hiko... and Daniel?"
"It would explain why he took an almost instant dislike to you even when you were a child, Himura. Old hatreds run deep and know no age or time... they last forever."
"We... we never got along. I mean, I could never do anything right... he was always on my case, and I could never back down from him... I.. I just..."
"Couldn't?"
"Yes." Kenshin's voice was small and low as the implications of Aoshi's deductions sank into his stunned brain. "I always hated him. It just got worse the older I got."
"Understandable." Aoshi nodded and met his friends worried gaze. "His penchant for drinking and violence is also well explainable now being that Daniel was the same sort."
"It would stand to reason, I suppose, but why in the hell did it have to be MY step-father?"
"It would not have mattered WHO he was to you, Himura. Don't you see? It was inevitable that at some point in time the three of you were bound to end up sharing the same life existence again... and in this same place." As Aoshi finished his explanation, the five young men broke out of the dense foliage and onto the white sands of the beach. "Fate would have brought you all here eventually to finish out what was started 300 years ago."
"But, Aosh... It was finished. He killed us." Kenshin's voice was flat as he delivered what he felt was the final verdict of the conversation, but Aoshi wasn't finished.
"Perhaps... but if it was truly finished and over, then why is Daniel's ghost stuck here, and why have the three of you been pulled back to this place?" Kenshin didn't have an answer to that question. Indeed, he did not even have an idea as to what the answer could be, and that bothered him.
Sunday Morning
Saitou's Kitchen
6:42 a.m.
The sun was just starting to peak through the horizontal blinds as Saitou wandered down the stairs and into the kitchen. It was going to be a cold morning he could feel it in his bones already, and he began muttering uncomfortably to himself about old age and arthritis as he began going through the motions of making some coffee.
He was just filling the coffee maker with water when he heard the thunder of running feet over his head along the upstairs hallway. The disturbance went from one end of the narrow walkway to the other, and he frowned as he imagined the perpetrators of the offending noise.
"Damn kids..." He muttered in exasperation. "Can't they ever WALK anywhere." Flipping the 'ON' switch, he turned and headed toward the stairs intent upon telling Ruakii and Quii to stop all their jumping and running around before they woke up their mother, and their guests, but just as he was about to mount the staircase, he was met with the alarmed visage of his wife as she ran down. "What's the matter, Tokio?" Something in the look on her face caused his chest to tighten up and Saitou reached out to catch her as she reached the bottom. "What's wrong?"
"The kids..." Her voice was filled with panic and fear as her wild eyes locked with his concerned ones. "It's the kids, Hajime... they aren't here."
"What do you mean they aren't here... where are they?"
"I... I don't know, but neither of their beds was slept in last night." Her hands grabbed the front of his velveteen robe in frantic trembling grips. "Neither one of their costumes are in their rooms... they never came home from the dance last night..." A cold chill of dread ran down Saitou's spine as he looked into his wife's frantic face. It wasn't like either of their children to stay out all night. Even Ruakii and his Devil-may-care attitude had never stayed out past his given curfew... at least not to their knowledge. They had always found him in his bed each and every morning just as he was supposed to be, but today... 'Where are my children?'
6:45 a.m.
Girl's dormitory
Misao's Room
"They went WHERE??" Megumi's outrage and fear resonated off the walls of Misao's room as she listened to her friends explanation of where their boyfriends had gone and what they were preparing to do. "Are they insane?" She stood up off the bed and stomped across the room only to whirl around again and glare at the two other girls whom were setting quietly watching her tirade. "What do they think they are going to prove? Nothing, that's what... they'll just end up getting themselves killed... or worse."
"What's worse than getting themselves killed, Megumi?" Tomoe looked at the raving girl with dispassionate eyes as she sat playing with the material of her pajama's. "I would really like to know what you consider worse than death? Demon possession maybe? Or perhaps being maimed for life? What?"
"Shut-up Tomoe..." Megumi hissed malevolently at the stone faced girl. "You have no idea what's at stake here... You don't know what their getting themselves into..."
"Oh, and YOU do?" Tomoe shot up off the bed and shoved her face up into Megumi's glaring visage. "Maybe it's YOU who doesn't have a clue what's going on. Maybe it's a lot more important to them that they go out there and try to bring Kaoru and Quii back than it is for them to worry about YOU and all of your spoiled-brat problems... did you ever wonder about that?" It was rare for Tomoe to voice her opinions much less her anger, and this outburst was no different. It brought a look of surprise to Misao's pale worried face, but before she could interject a single word Tomoe was railing at Megumi again. "Do you think you have the corner on the 'worried girlfriend' market? Well, you don't. I'm worried about Ruakii too, but I know what he's doing is the right thing... they are ALL doing the right thing, and I'm worried about all of them."
"You think I'm not worried about them? I'm worried as hell about Sanosuke... I don't want anything to happen to him... I... I love him." Suddenly it seemed that all of the steam went out of Megumi's anger and she slowly backed away from Tomoe looking briefly at Misao. "I... I just don't think this is his fight... that's all. He's not involved in this... neither is Aoshi... I don't understand why the two of them had to go, that's what has got me so upset." Her voice cracked and she moved away to look out the window at the rising sun. "They didn't have to go. They didn't have to put themselves in danger... why did they? Why did they do it? Why?"
"Because, Megumi." Misao stood up and walked over to her distraught friend and put an arm around her drooping shoulders. "Because they are all friends... and because friends help each other... and because Kenshin and Ruakii needed them to go... they needed everybody they could get."
"I know... but what if... what if they don't come back?"
"Don't think that way you stupid ninny. Of course they are going to come back." Misao's fierce blue-green eyes stared out the window as she thought of her tall silently strong Aoshi. "He knows I'll kill him if he doesn't come back."
"Oh Misao... sometimes you say the stupidest things..."
"Maybe so, but that is the only way I am going to think about this... so, you, me, and Tomoe are going to have to stick together on this one. We gotta be there for each other. That is the only way we are going to get through this." 'That and pray a lot... Aoshi, you better come back... do you hear me? You better come back.'
7:12 a.m.
Hackler's Point
It was strange looking at the lighthouse during the daytime. With the sun shining on it, it looked no more than the derelict old building that it was and nothing more. It was easy to see that most of the tiles had been blown off the roof of the living quarters, and all of the window pains were broken leaving gapping holes for the wind to invade and escape through. The once whitewashed stones had long since faded to a dismal grayish tone which only added to the lonely forlorn effect of the scene. The doors had long since rotted off their hinges and either lay on the ground or leaned at odd angles inside the doorframes.
This was no longer a place of fear and ghostly haunting's. It was a place of sadness... a place of loneliness... a place of emptiness. It was like the ending of a sad story that had finished very badly. It went unused... it was neglected... it was forgotten.
Traversing the rickety and dangerous wooden bridge in the daytime was a simple matter, in fact, it was an eye opening experience to the four young men who had already been across it in the dark. Each found himself wondering in his own mind how they had made it across without falling through to their deaths because it was filled with so many rotted and splintered out boards as well as places where there were no boards. It was a sobering experience, and not one any of them was likely to forget very soon.
No one said a word as they reached the other side, but the looks that were exchanged said more than enough. There would be no more late night treks across that particular bridge again... not in their lifetimes... not without a good flashlight anyway. Boy, were they stupid or what?
They were stupid.
"All right, we're here, now what?" Sano looked up at the derelict tower with narrow eyes as he squinted against the newly arriving morning sunlight. "Are we just gonna go straight in and start looking, or are we gonna scout around for your crazy old man first?"
"We really should find Dad first, Kenshin." Soujiro met his older brother's questioning gaze as he measured the number of rooms in the living quarters against how much time it would take to search them all plus the rooms beneath the funnel. "We ought to know where he is before we go poking our noses around in there too much."
"I suppose you're right, it would be better to know where he is first off wouldn't it?"
"I would tend to agree with that, Himura." Aoshi strode gracefully up next to Kenshin and they both stood eyeing the two-story living quarters. "Do you think it is safe to assume that he is in there or would he have taken himself off to some other part of the building?"
"No, I think he's probably right in there inside one of the rooms... it's just a matter of finding which one and making sure he stays in it."
"And how do you propose we 'make sure' he stays put, Himura? You gonna bitch-slap him or what?" Ruakii never would change it seemed and even with a dark look of disapproval from Kenshin he didn't seem to know when to quit.
"I'll do whatever I have to, Saitou, and if that means cold-cocking the old man, then I guess I'll have to give it my best shot. You got a problem with that?"
"Nah, not really. Just wondered what other surprises you had wadded up your sleeve, that's all. I mean, what with you leaving that note for Dad and everything... God knows what you're gonna come up with next."
"Why don't you just stow it, Rat-boy, and let Kenshin think." Sano's larger frame loomed threateningly over Ruakii's shorter one blocking out the sun for a moment as he stepped in between the two boys before sparks really started to fly. "You're really starting to become a problem at the moment so unless you got any better ideas on the situation at hand... shut the hell up already so we can figure out what to do... or else I'm gonna help you shut-up."
"Oh yeah, rooster-head." Ruakii snarled and shoved his nose up into Sano's face. "You think you can take me on... then let's go right here, right now... come on. Let's do it, man... Let's go..." But Ruakii's bravado was short lived when a powerful side kick caught him directly in the hip sending him sailing through the air about ten feet where he came to rest in the rocky sand with a loud 'OOF'. "HEY!" He shouted angrily. "What the hell was that for? He was the one spitting on my shoes."
"Not hardly, Ruakii." Aoshi stepped up to the fallen teen and extended his hand to help him up. "You've been trying to start something with someone all morning for some reason, though why you would want to considering what we're up against at the moment completely evades me."
"I have not." The exclamation was emphasized by Ruakii angrily dusting the moist dirt and snow off his damp jeans. "I just don't like being told what to do all the time... and like I said before, I think this is a stupid idea... there is no way it is going to work."
"I did not hear you coming up with anything better when we were discussing strategies last night."
"That is not the point..."
"Of course it is." Aoshi snorted in disgust at the other teen as he turned his back on him. "You are very good at judging but very poor at contributing... now come back here and make yourself useful before I lose my temper and hit you again."
"YOU... you're the one who hit me? I thought it was Himura?"
"That is why you aren't the brains of this operation, Saitou." Sanosuke growled in angry frustration at the wide eyed and obviously confused youth. "You don't pay attention, you don't listen, and you never have anything to say that's worth hearing."
"Fuck you, Segara."
"Get a grip, all of you." Kenshin's voice was low and furious as he positioned himself in the middle of the small group. "This is not doing us any good... in fact, its hurting our cause tremendously. This isn't about whose smarter or better or whatever else you got on your minds. This is about the girls, now pull your heads out of your asses and lets get back on track with what we are here for. Got me?"
There was a collective mumble of assent as each of the other players embarrassedly agreed with him and forced their attention back to the task at hand. One of them had to go inside and locate Hiko, and then make sure he was as well confined as possible.
That was Kenshin's task. While he was doing that, the others were to wait until he returned. If he didn't, two of them were to go after help while the others were to go inside and try to find the girls. If he didn't rejoin up with them, no one was to go looking for him under any circumstances... no one. He was to be left behind until help arrived.
"I don't like it." Sano shook his head emphatically.
"It's not for you to like, Sano. It's just the way it has to be."
"Bullshit! You don't have to go in there alone."
"Yes I do. There is no reason to waste two of us tracking down Hiko... and I'm really the only one of us who can take him on anyway so it stands to reason it should be me." Narrow amber eyes met and held the gazes of each member of the group until they had all nodded in reluctant agreement. "If I find him asleep, I'll just punch him one solid and make sure he stays asleep for a while longer..."
"And if he wakes up? What then?" Aoshi's bright green eyes searched his friends face with concern. "How will you handle him at that point especially if he is still possessed by our friend 'Daniel'?"
"I don't know, but I'll find a way and I'll deal with it... you guys don't worry about me... you worry about finding the girls and getting them out of here, and no matter what happens, you do not come back for me... understand? You do not come back for me."
"Kenshin..." Soujiro's gray-blue eyes filled with hurt and worry as he reached out and grasped his brothers shoulder. "I can't let you..."
"Yes you can." Kenshin pulled the younger man into a tight embrace and held him close for a long moment. "I love you, Sou... I love you more than you can ever know, and I'm trusting you to find my Kao and get her out of this hell hole... do you hear me? I'm trusting you to do that for me."
"I hear you..." Soujiro's voice was muffled against Kenshin's shoulder as he hung on tightly burying his face against his brothers heavy black jacket. "But I'll never forgive you if you don't come back. You hear me?"
"I hear you... I hear..."
"Then you better fucking not get cornered or hurt, got it?"
"Got it..." Kenshin pulled back and the brothers exchanged a poignant look before letting go of each other. "Aoshi?"
"Yes?"
"Your in charge now. Give me fifteen minutes. If I'm not back, send Sano and Ruakii back to the school and you and Soujiro go inside to look for Kao and Quii... Got me?"
"Yes, Himura... I got you... fifteen minutes."
"Thanks."
"Not a problem." And then Kenshin was turning and walking away from his friends and his brother. His young shoulders were thrown back and his brilliant red hair was blowing in the cold breeze that was coming up off the waves that crashed into the rocks far below. His stride was steady and unfaltering and when he reached the door to enter the ground level of the lighthouse, he stopped and cast a stern look over his shoulder at his comrades as if to say, 'Don't give up on me, fella's... I'll be back.' And then he disappeared into the shadows beyond the outside.
Novemberdusk: Hiko an 'Ape'? Hehehehehe... I like that. Had me laughing my head off the moment I read it. And Sano a 'Dog'? I loved that too... Your whole review absolutely sent my mind reeling with psychedelic possibilities. But I have to say 'no', everyone else is not reincarnated... so, no they won't really be part of the fight, persay... but I promise it will be interesting. Thanks for reviewing. Look forward to hearing from you again as always.
Paisita (mapaulina): Glad you like the story, and glad it left you with a smile. I'm always happy to please. God Bless. XD
Catti-dono: I know you waited for a long time... and I know how much you love this story. I love you too you know. I hope you liked this chapter as well. As for Quii and how she is going to fit into all of this... well, she is just sort of a distraction that is being used to each parties best benefit. Depends who is using her... As to our letter-to-letter conversation a bit ago... thank you so much for everything you said. It is nice when someone actually understands 'how' I feel and knows what I'm talking about. God Bless, dear friend. You are often in my thoughts.
Kagura: Ahh, Ruakii... love him don't you? I do. I think I told someone else that I had based him on a good friend of mine I had in High School years ago. The tough guy you love despite the obvious asshole gene's he carries. And yes, Quii is pronounced 'Key'. I have tried to keep true to basic characters... but everyone is shifted slightly askew... gives me more room to play around. God Bless, my friend. I so love reading your reviews. Hope you liked the chapter.
BelleDayNight: Belle!!! HEHEHE I wanted to slap Quii too... but then I was rolling my eyes for Kaoru's benefit the whole time I was writing the dialogue... someone had to do it. Kenshin wasn't really wasting time... he was just trying to get across his point that there are some things in the world that are greater than self-pride and laying blame... and as for him being a 'male whore'.... hmmmm, not my intention... he's just a safety guy. Doesn't want to get 'his girl' in 'trouble'. Anywhoo... Yes, I love Aoshi, and Sano always has to get his 2 cents worth in... I'm just glad you liked it. Your opinion means a lot to me, you know. Seeing as how we are trading them these days... LOL.
Lere: Oh my beloved Lere... How I love to see and hear from you. Thank you, Thank you for every word. I think I knew you believed in reincarnation... seems like we talked about that one day a while back... seems to me anyway... or perhaps it was the 'Karma' aspect because I believe in that as well... anyway, I thank you from the bottom of my old ladies heart. You are my touch-stone. I love you always.
JD Fielding: It is always an enlightening experience to hear from you. You are one of my favorite people and dearest friends. I value everything you say to me... in fact, I often gauge whether or not the chapter was really any good on how long and how detailed your reviews are. LOL... that is the honest truth.
Yes, the fight is going to be a winger... and I can hardly wait to get there myself... it is going to be full of surprises... of course, the whole fiction has been full of surprises... it's supposed to be.
I'm pleased that you enjoyed the 'morallity' conversation Kenshin heaped on Ruakii's shoulders. There were a few people who didn't quite understand what it was for... but, not surprising to me, you picked it right up... you always do. God Bless, JD... Thanks for hanging around.
XxSilentxDreamerxX: This is a new name for me to see... I would have remember this one... I am always glad to see new names... I am happy you took the time to drop me a few lines and tell me you liked the fic. And I sincerely hoped this chapter well enough to do it again. wink
Alex: Hang on! Don't go letting go... I don't have any repelling equipment to come get you if you fall off. wink. Glad you like it. Hope you liked this one too. Hope I can keep you guessing.
Ice Angel Kaoru: Yes, yes... you were right... Hiko is Daniel. LOLOL. Sorta sorry about making you remember 'The Scarlet Letter', but I did kinda use it as a premise for the story between Daniel and Cassandra... interesting that you're the only one who seemed to make the connection... at least, you're the only one who mentioned. (I never liked the story either... it always made me cry... the movie was worse... but I LOVE Gary Oldman so I had to watch it.)
How did I come up with this story? Hell... I don't know. LOLOLOL.
And yes, I will always give warnings at the beginning of chapters where there is going to be lemon/lime activity. No worries. Thanks for reviewing girly. Love to hear from you. wink
De Lazy Lime: Yo Woman? Wuz UP? You still I see... LOL. Yes, now we all know why Hiko was such an asshole... Ta da!! It's in the gene's... or the stars... or whatever... the planetary alighnment stuff.
I loved my Hiko in the 'White Warrior' too... I have to admit after I read this review you really got me thinking about things... guess I'll (we'll) just have to wait and see what the muses have to say about it all... eh? Hope you liked the chapter you crazy lemon headed girl... LOL.
Midi Tenshi: My Angel girl... I'm pleased you now know 'What the bleep is going on'... XD. I can't believe that you just read the whole dang story clear to 4 in the a.m. (Damn that's late at night... or early in the morning... depends on the perspective I guess... anyway... it's just damn ugly). XD I'll have to hop on over to your author's page and check out some of your fictions... I do that with a lot of my fans who write. That's where a lot of the stories archived on my webpage come from. Have you seen my webby? If not, go to my author's page and click on the link... You'll like it... and I'll check out your stories. :) Hope I see you here again.
Ginny-cry: No... I haven't considered making a ghost movie... I haven't even considered sending anything in to be published. Don't think I am that good. But thanks for saying so. :)
Kean: Another new name... I like this. I'm flattered you've been reading since the beginning... and I'm even more flattered that I finally wrote something 'WoW' enough that would make you want to leave me a review. Great review btw. I rarely have anyone tell me that my 'emotion' writing sucks them into its depths... that was a cool way of putting it. Thanks. I like it. I hope you liked this chapter too. I'm trying to keep the roller-coaster going... there's still so much to do and say... I hope I hear from you again. God Bless.
Sick Galaxy: Thanks for the Muffin... chewing... but's where's the milk??? winks Gotta love ya, baby. Thanks for reading... Love to see you here... always love it.
InuLimbo: Glad things cleared up for you. LOL... didn't know they were so cloudy... Hope you enjoyed the new chapter... I know I left you with another cliffy, but hell... that's the spice of life... yes? Hope to hear from you again. BTW Love Inuyasha. Just opened my new IY fanart gallary on my webby.
Lendra-chan: My sweet Lendra... Always happy to hear from you, sweetling... I am still worried as hell about you... You just didn't seem yourself in your last chapter of 'Waterfall'. I am hoping everything is alright... please let me know if I can help. God bless and much love.
Unknown bee dee: You little rat! You finally update... and then you tell me your mad at me!! LOLOL. Yes, I am plain evil... cause I just left you with another cliffy... so how'd you like that? Hmmmm? winks and grins maliciously I loved your new chapter. The way FF.net has been acting lately... I don't know if my review made it through... so I'm telling you now. IT WAS GREAT!! Hope you liked this chapter... even if it was another cliffy... See you soon, girly. Take care.
Roku-chan: ROXIE!! Oh how I love to see your name!! I just don't get to see you anymore... and I miss you. How is my Roxie-chan? Well, I do hope... and staying out of trouble (right). I know FF.net's review window has been acting stupid lately... and I haven't gotten several people's reviews... some of mine aren't making it through either. No worries... but you could drop me a letter once in a while... hint hint. Take care, young one... Much love. Moms
Rain Angst: I am sooooooooooo glad you're still reading. :} And I am more than a little glad that you think this is a great story. I love your name. It always makes me think of a downpour dismal day... yet, I always see this little cabin up in the mountains with smoke coming out of its chimney... and firelight winking from the little glass paned windows... every time... weird huh?
Chibi-battousai: So, you liked my 'thought' talk? Me too... it always adds such a cool ambiance to the whole concept of the scene and the 'feeling' I'm trying to get. Thanks for noticing. Glad you liked it. BTW– I like Ghost stories too... and scary movies... they're the best.
Half-breed-demon-fox: Yah, another new name! Glad you love the story. Hope you liked this chapter. Would be great to hear from you again. Love your name.
Videl1621: VIDEL!!! It's Videl... It's Videl... Whoopie!! Hehehehe... glad it gave you chills... I like that... and no problems with however long it takes you... I KNOW how busy you are... I just feel bad that I haven't seen you on-line for such a long time. Have missed chatting with you. Hope everything is going well for you... And I can't wait to see what you have to say next... God bless my dear friend. It is always a joy to see your name... it just makes me happy all over... I swear it does.
Steph: Another new name! WhooHoo!! Glad you love the story... and glad you took the time to drop me a few words to let me know that I am being successful in maintaining the feeling of suspense. I get worried sometimes that I am losing my touch... you know? But I appreciate your letting me know that I haven't. I hope you liked this chapter too, and I hope I hear from you again. Thanks.
Kik-ting: Creepy, creepy, creepy... that's the name of the game, kiddo. Hehehehehe. And, Nooooooo, Kenshin is NOT going to die... but that's not to say he isn't going to get messed up... HEHEHEHE... you'll just have to wait and see. Oh I'm evil... so evil... love ya kid. Hope you liked this chapter.... sorry about the cliffy... sorta. :)
Twishinky: Oh ho... look whose back... LOLOL.... nice to see you, Trish... winks.
Thanks for the 'Genius' bit. I could throw a bit of that your way too, you know. Hope to see you again... looking for your updates as well. Love ya... no, really... I do. :P
The Wolf of Stars: WoW! I love your name. Awesomely cool... reminds me of a book series I read... my fav. book series actually... by Sara Douglass. The Enchanter books... there was a character in there named 'Wolfstar'. I read your name and it just immediately brought those stories to mind. Anyway... I digress... I have to agree... If only guys in the real world were like this... but alas, only in my fondest dreams and fantasies. Of course... a lot of Kenshin's better traits are patterned after my own 'bad boy' husband. He has a lot of those high personal moral standards about being accountable and responsible... and according to his father (before he passed away a couple of months ago), he was like that even when he was a young 'bad kid'. But not everyone is as 'perfect' as Kenshin. sigh. Thanks for the review. Hope you liked the new chapter... Hope to see you again. Really do love your name. Btw... Wolfstar was a beautiful birdman... gorgeous... drool
Nguardian: Good to see you again... Glad finals are over for you. Finals suck... I remember. I am gratified to see so many questions on your mind... so much wonderment... does my heart good to know I have to setting on the edge wondering what is going to happen... but mostly... I'm just glad to see you. I've missed you. Truly. You get used to seeing and hearing someone's voice and when they aren't there for whatever reason... you just miss them. Like missing a friends phonecall or something. Anyway... glad to see you girl. Hope you liked the chapter.
HaPPyBuNNy (LiL AniMe ChiX): WoW! uP and DoWn We Go AgAiN...gasp! LOL. I love it... you crack me up every time I read your reviews. It's like reading one of those movie trailers for an action flic... gasp... hehehehe. And as for Megumi, Misao, and Tomoe... well, if you read this chapter, it should have answered all of your questions... or at least most of them. Thanks for making my day, and thanks for reading and reviewing. Hope you are always here.
The Lone Lemon: So I scared you... did I? Mwaahhahahahahahaha... cool. Is it chilly in here?
Psychotic-catster: Ho hooo... she's made it up with everyone else... Yee Haw! LOLOL. I know, I'm bad... but damn... it's good to see you here with the rest of the pack winks even if you are an impatient little so and so... LOL. And actually... I was always pronouncing 'Kao" in my head as "Kay-O" not 'Cow"... but that does put an interesting spin on things don't it? LOL. Anyway... You funny girl... I love your reviews... you make me laugh... you make me think... your just plain crazy and I love you. Hope you liked the new chapter. God Bless.
Mishorou Mie: Love you for loving it. Hope you loved this chapter. See you soon.
Articunomage: Another New Name!!! I'm gonna pass out... WOWSERS!!! Welcome... Welcome... Thank you for the review... and for the ideas... I will take them into consideration... there are some things that you suggested that I really liked... I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope I hear from you again. Thanks for taking the time to let me know what you think... and thanks for the feedback. It is greatly appreciated... as are the ideas. God Bless.
Xia Xue: WoW! You almost got left out kiddo. I was just getting ready to send this off to my beta reader when you sent in your review. I do sincerely hope that your 'virgin eyes' have recovered since our last meeting. winks. And I hope I haven't scarred you for life... winks again. Bless you... I love hearing from you even if it is only a line or two. Hope you liked the update. Take care... see you soon.
Anonymous Reviewers: To all of those who reviewed and did not leave a name... thank you for the kind words, and for the encouragement. Thank you for taking the time to stop and write this humble author a few lines and let me know that I have succeeded in entertaining you. I would gladly give you a personal 'thank you', but you need to leave me your name before I can do that. But, thank you just the same.
God Bless to all of you who read and review... and God Bless to everyone who reads... this is my personal favorite story... though I have another in progress as well, called 'Beloved of The White Flame' which is a Sequel to 'The White Warrior and The Angel of Destruction'. This particular story just seems to have more of 'me' in it than most... I don't really know why... it just does.
A/N: Sorry about the cliffy... having a little writers block... need to take a breather and think... also need to judge the 'Kissing Contest' and get the winner posted. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please Review.