A/N:Sorry it took so long to update. I haven't been feeling well for quite some time now . . . but hopefully things will begin to look up soon. Thank you to all for the encouraging words. You guys are my second family, and you mean the world to me. You bring joy to this old lady's heart when she needs it the most. Thank you.
Review Response at end of chapter.
Chapter Eighteen
'Party of Two'
The insides of the lighthouse were very different in the daytime, just as it was outside, but the overwhelming feeling of loneliness and desolation remained ingrained into each and every brick and crack, each broken window, and each crumbled pile of aged dust that flitted across the floor.
It was a tomb whether in daylight or dark, and it was still a tomb causing Kenshin to catch his breath as the shroud of misery and all-encompassing emptiness reached out and wrapped him tightly within its dusty confines, making him feel as if he were walking back in time; a time when laughter had died, when love and joy had been murdered, and the innocents were buried in the deep of the sea and left forgotten. He could feel himself walking into his own past life and, with each step he took farther into the grayish cavern of the decaying building, the hazy clouds of the present began to peal away leaving swirling confusion in their wake.
He watched in abject astonishment as the walls began to ripple like so much moving water around him, giving him the sensation of being in a fish bowl, and then to his bewilderment, they began to rebuild themselves, the delicate glass of the hand blown light fixtures gathering their lost shards from off the floor and taking their places upon the now shining brass fittings. Furniture long rotted and blown away by the winds shimmered in the mists as their bright fabrics were restored and wooden legs reformed, bringing back to life the colors and simple elegance of the old Victorian era that had made them.
Scrolled door moldings, once dry rotted and termite ridden, reformed and refreshed the white paint that had set them off to such splendor in the first days, and the heavy brocade carpets re-wove their colorful patterns as they rolled and stretched their lengths once more across the wooden and stone floors, casting their spirit of elegance into the rebirth of an age. The pride of Hackler's point was coming back to life as it welcomed back into its embrace the loving soul of Edmond Fetlock and, as the last pane of broken glass renewed itself, the slender young man with the flaming red locks stood frozen in perfect awe and wonderment at the spectacle that lay before him. The breath lay frozen in his lungs, his hands hung limply at his sides, and his feet seemed to grow roots as the final brilliant carpet shimmered and smoothed itself flat beneath him. 'How . . . '
The 'Somber Man' had welcomed home its first Lamp Master with open and loving arms, and he felt tears of regret and loss sliding down his face as memories he had never known he carried with him came rushing back unbidden to drown him in their wake.
Memories of standing the catwalk watching for the ships in the Harbor as the magnificent beacon bore into the darkness lighting the way for all to see. His 'beacon' . . . his 'lamp' . . . his home. Edmond had loved the lighthouse almost as much as he had loved Cassandra. He recalled the hours of standing and holding her slender form cradled against him as they both watched the sea roll and crash against the base of the island. Hours spent listening to the gulls and the other birds as they 'cawed' and 'screeched' at each other over morsels of food they found floating in the water, or just standing and watching the flocks as they flew by in search of a landing or a school of fish just beneath the surface of the water.
Memories of chasing her up or down the long winding iron stairwell as she laughed and threw her clothes at him over her shoulder until she was wearing nothing but her corset and knickers, her deep blue eyes dancing with passion and mischief.
Memories of the hours they spent making love in his bed and each time she would pray to God that he had given her a child, but they had not ever been blessed with a baby . . . not until the very end . . . the very end . . . the end . . .
Kenshin-Edmond's violet eyes blew open in horror and grief as that long lost memory came floating to the surface of his subconscious and took form finally letting him remember something that had nearly killed him 300 years ago. 'She was pregnant with our baby when he . . . when he . . . Oh God . . . Daniel, you bastard . . . she was pregnant with my child when you killed her you fucking maniac.' Unbidden and unwanted, but uncontrollably tears came to burn the redheads eyes and a low moan of deepest grief was torn from his long tortured soul. 'You took everything from me . . . my beloved, my child . . . you took it all that night you threw her into the sea . . . and for what? Your stinking pride? Your foul, honorless manhood?' A ragged sob of loss shook his slender frame as he raised a hand to cover his mouth trying to prevent any further loss of sound as he stood in his pain. 'Why didn't you just leave us alone? Why? Oh God, why?'
"It took you long enough, Laddie." The snarling voice behind him caused Kenshin-Edmond to jerk around and automatically reach for the weapon on his left hip. He found the hilt of a sword rise readily to his palm and was immediately shaken. Looking down he realized his attire had changed right along with his surroundings and he was now wearing Victorian style breeches, stockings, boots that came to his knees, a shirt with flaring sleeves and an ascot tied around his neck in an intricate bow, and a satin vest of the finest deep blue silk.
'What the hell . . . Oh My God! I'm back in Evermore . . . 300 years ago facing Daniel March . . . again.'
For indeed, the man that stood before him was not his stepfather but the flesh and blood manifestation of the handsome emotionally disturbed ghost he and Kaoru had run into that terrible night a few weeks earlier.
"Daniel…"
"Very good, Laddie . . . I see ye be remembering things the way they are supposed to be." An apologetic sort of smile flittered across the rakish features as Daniel swept low in a bow of greeting. "It has been a good long time since our eyes last looked on each other . . . Aye . . . Edmond?"
"Aye . . . but not long enough." Kenshin-Edmond replied in a flat neutral tone as he took in the other's appearance and attire. He was wearing much the same type of clothing except he was sporting a heavy coat made of black wool that reached to his knees. The large split in the fabric from hem to tail bone gave him freedom of movement despite the confinement of the garment, and Kenshin-Edmond made a mental note not to underestimate that ability.
"Do I detect a note of . . . displeasure in your voice, Laddie?" Daniel's eyes took on a mocking gleam as he dusted off an imaginary particle from the lapel of the great coat. "And I thought you might be glad to see ole' Daniel after all this time. Am I wrong?" The change in the man's speech and demeanor was unmistakable, and violet crystals narrowed thoughtfully as Kenshin-Edmond searched for a reason behind the new smoother quality to the usually brusque uncouth individual. 'Hiko.'
"Aye, you are wrong if you think there would ever be a time I would be glad to see you . . . or Hiko for that matter. Neither of you have ever brought Kenshin or myself anything but pain and grief, but I see he has improved your personality and manners somewhat. I suppose that is to be applauded at least." Kenshin-Edmond smiled inwardly at the sour look that passed over the other mans face as the true meaning of his observation struck a cord within the fused soul and spirit. 'Didn't like that, eh? To bad you arrogant disgusting animal. I know what you are inside and behind those new manners and smooth speech . . . an animal. No matter what you do or say, Daniel, you will always be an animal.'
"'E's improved more than just my manners, Eddy, me boy."
"Really? Pray tell, what has the old man taught you that you didn't already know? How to drink more and stay sober longer?" The sharp features darkened dangerously and the green eyes narrowed into slits of fury as Hiko's anger stirred within Daniel's heart.
"Shut-up." He snarled. "You know what he knows . . . you know he knows how to fight, and between us, we will dispatch you easily."
"I think not," Kenshin shifted his weight more to his rear foot as Edmond eyed the seething man in front of them. "You will underestimate us just as Hiko underestimated his son . . . and you will be the one who is dispatched." Emitting a threatening growl of challenge, Daniel whipped open his great coat and exposed the hilt of a sword hanging from his left hip. It was intricately shaped with a twisted golden handle and etched leather grip. Several long tassels hung from its tip on golden ropes in the colors of red, yellow, and purple. The origins of the weapon were obvious.
"Is that Spanish steel I spy, my friend?" Daniel looked down at the sheathed sword and smiled smugly an ugly look entering his glittering emerald gaze.
"Aye, that it is. Cost me a fine penny it did, but there is no better steel to be had anywhere on God's green earth than Spanish steel." Glittering green eyes lifted and locked with hard violet and Daniel smiled acidly. "They say it can't be broken or tarnished, and that it holds an edge longer than any other blade made these days."
"Is that right?" The face remained carefully blank the eyes flat and hard and Kenshin-Edmond met the malevolent gaze evenly. "I had not heard that." Slowly he shifted his feet and placed the right in front of the left, turning it at a right degree angle. "I had always heard Japanese steel was of better quality because of its flexibility and tempered strength."
"Bah!" Daniel spat nastily at the mention of the Japanese and dismissed them with a wave of his hand. "Those little demons know nothing about makin' swords. They are the children of the Devil and anyone who is foolish enough to carry a weapon made by one of them will surely perish because of it."
"Truly?" Kenshin-Edmond carefully ran the edge of his thumb along the edge of the polished wooden sheath and pushed the hilt of his sword free with an almost inaudible 'click' as he continued to watch Daniel warily. The big man was inching closer to him the more he talked. 'He thinks he has me occupied . . . he thinks I am not paying attention . . . watch him . . . he's planning . . . ' "I have always found Japanese steel far superior to any other in both balance and edge."
"Humph! That is because ye are a Godless pig, Eddy. You never did know what was the most important thing about fightin' when it came to a confrontation . . . did you?" The emerald eyes narrowed and filled with hatred. "This Hiko . . . e's a ruthless bastard . . . worse than I ever was in me day . . . some of the things he has done."
"He never killed his wife, Daniel." Kenshin-Edmond watched with satisfaction as the other man paled significantly. "Hiko is many things . . . none of them being good or kind, but he never killed anyone in cold blood . . . he never picked his beloved up and threw her screaming into the winds and then watched until her body smashed itself upon the rocks . . . 'HE' never did THAT."
"Shut-up!" Daniel shouted as he whirled away from the penetrating violet look. "You don't know anything about it . . . You don't know what happened."
"You are right . . . I don't know . . . but Kenshin does, or have you forgotten that night he and his beloved followed you up to the catwalk . . . or did you not see them there? Did you not know they watched you pick up MY CASSANDRA AND THROW HER OVER THE CATWALK?!!"
Daniel slowly turned to face the raging man as his voice cracked with grief and pain. Green eyes once narrow in fury were now wide with disbelief and confusion. "No . . . they didn't see it . . . I told them I did it . . . they didn't see what I did . . . they didn't . . . I swear they didn't . . . I . . . "
"Silence you filthy pig!" Edmond screamed as Kenshin faded somewhat to the back of their mind. "I have his memories in my head. I can see what YOU did . . . You fucking bastard! She begged for her life and you just threw her over like she was a bag of rotten vegetables . . . HOW COULD YOU??? HOW?" The voice cracked on a sob and Edmond threw his head back and screamed in emotional agony.
"Noooo . . . You can't know that . . . you can't." Daniel slumped against the wall with a look of defeated grief and stared at the sobbing red head. "I loved 'er . . . I did." Tears began to slip down the handsome craggy features as he was flooded with the memory of her body dropping out of his arms and he lifted a trembling hand to cover his eyes in despair. "I loved 'er."
Sunday Morning
Saitou Kitchen
7:00 a.m.
After the initial shock of Ruakii and Quii being gone, Saitou had made Tokio sit down at the kitchen table while he made them both a cup of coffee. That was when she had found the note; the note that Kenshin had left some twenty minutes earlier before he and the others had left, and as she read its contents to her husband over their coffee, both of them became more than just a little concerned.
"Hajime," Tokio's worried brown eyes searched out the glittering topaz of her husband's thoughtful gaze. "What does this mean? Kenshin's talking about 'ghosts' and 'murder' and he says that Quii and Kaoru have been kidnaped . . . Do you think this is some kind of Halloween joke?"
"No, Tokio." The sound of his voice was low and carefully controlled. "I do not think this is a Halloween joke. If I have learned anything about Kenshin in the last few weeks it is that he doesn't like to joke around . . . about much of anything, and he would never joke around about Kaoru. You've seen how they are."
"He loves her."
"Exactly. He wouldn't leave like this unless he really believed something about it, but …" His wolfish eyes narrowed as he struggled with the 'strangeness' of the note. "He wants ME to know where they went, why, and what for so that if they don't come back …"
"He wants you to come after them . . . doesn't he?"
"I think so. I think he wants me to come looking for him and the others just to prove he's not to blame . . . again."
"Oh Hajime," Tokio leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder as worry overcame her. "You're going anyway aren't you?"
"Of course . . . I can't leave all those kids out there, on their own. For God's sake, three of them are mine." Tokio rose and looked at him quizzically.
"Three?"
"Yes, honey . . . three. Ruakii, Quii… and Kenshin." Golden eyes flared with barely suppressed rage as he lifted the cup to his lips and took a drink. "And if that bloody maniac has my little girl out there in that old lighthouse . . . I swear, I'll kill him if he so much as touches a single hair on her head." A movement off to his left caught Saitou's eyes and his gaze darted to catch what had made it. A small gasp of surprise filled his lungs as he met the stalwart if not stoic gaze of a very wide awake five year old.
"Papa took Kaoru and Quii…" Cleo said in a matter of fact tone as she looked at the gapping adults setting at the small table. "He wants Kenshin to come get them so he can kill him . . . only it isn't just Papa that is waiting for Kenshin to come." Tokio got up and moved over to the little girl, picking her up in her arms and brushing the flaming hair out of her eyes with a gentle hand.
"What are you talking about, Honey?" She asked quietly exchanging confused looks with her husband. "Who else is waiting?"
"The 'bad man'." Cleo looked straight at Saitou as she spoke and the seriousness of her little voice sent chills up the worried mans spine. "The 'bad man' who killed the people who were supposed to be my mommy and daddy a long time ago…"
"Wha… " Saitou half rose out of his chair as the strangest feeling of deja vu rushed past him setting his hair on end. "What do you mean by that, little one?" Tokio brought Cleo over and handed her off to Saitou who settled her carefully in his lap and locked gazes with her. "What people are you talking about?"
"I dream it sometimes," She said as she looked into the troubled golden gaze. "There's a man and a lady who are going to have a baby . . . I'm the baby, but 'the bad man' comes and he kills them and I don't get to be borned to them. He's a really bad man . . . he cries a lot and tries to hurt himself, but he's already dead so he can't." Saitou's shocked gaze lifted from the child's honest angelic face and stared hard into the alarmed features of his wife. 'What am I listening to? Past life memories that almost were? Dear Lord . . . was she supposed to be . . . '
"What did your mommy and daddy look like, Sweetheart? Do you know anyone now who looks like them?"
"Uh-huh… "
"Who?"
"Kenshin looks like my daddy did . . . I think that is why I always loved him so much better than everybody else. I think he was supposed to be my daddy…don't you?" Saitou closed his eyes in disbelief as he hugged the child to him and gently stroked her hair as his thoughts began to fly into chaos. 'Kaoru. Oh my God . . . '
"Tokio?"
"Yes, Hajime?"
"Go wake up Dharma . . . we need to get dressed. All of us."
"ALL of us?" Tokio looked pointedly at the little girl, and Saitou nodded.
"Yes, ALL of us. We have to get out to that lighthouse as soon as possible."
"To find the kids?"
"Yes, but mostly… " He paused and looked down at the bright red hair cradled against his broad chest. "Mostly to stop Kenshin's stepfather from killing him and Kaoru . . . again."
"Killing . . . ?" Her voice squeaked with alarm as she stared at him in horror.
"Yes, kill . . . now go . . . hurry! There isn't a moment to spare."
"Don't splutter to me of grief and love, you heartless animal." Edmond wiped his eyes on the back of his hand as he turned and faced the withering form of Daniel where he was slumping against the wall. "You never loved her. You loved having control over her and making her feel like your servant instead of your wife, but you never loved HER."
"She was my Princess. I worshiped 'er!" The larger man roared in defense of his own emotions as the tears poured down his face. "And she gave me naught but coldness and an empty bed in return. She'd rather spread her legs for the likes' o' you than honor our marriage vow's and give me the children that were my right as her 'usband . . . she was a whore!"
"She was beautiful and the most affectionate and loving woman I ever knew." Edmond's voice dropped into a low and dangerous tone as his fingers tightened around the shaft of the sword sheath. "She was open and giving and would have stayed with you if you hadn't been such a vicious drunken ass."
"Wha . . . what are you goin' on about?"
"You were a filthy drunk, Daniel. You beat her when you drank. You beat her until she was an unconscious rag doll in your hands and then you beat her more. You broke her arms, her ribs, her jaw . . . you abused her beyond the point of her being able to bear it any longer, so she left you. She left you in search of peace and freedom from a life worse than any hell or prison you could have had her put into."
"I never…"
"LIAR!!" Edmond's shout rang off the white plaster walls and beat back down upon the other distraught man causing him to flinch beneath the power of its wrath. "Do not lie to me . . . I saw the scars . . . I heard from her own lips the atrocities you heaped upon her soft flesh and then denied to her eyes."
"Never… " The denial rose as the emerald eyes filled with panic.
"You murdered your unborn child…"
"NEVER!!"
"LIAR!!" Edmond screamed. "She was eight months pregnant when you beat her in a drunken rage and nearly killed her. The babe died in her bloody arms after she pulled it from her own body while you passed out on the bed . . . oblivious."
"Never . . . oh God . . . never . . . I'm not that monster, I'm not . . . I love 'er . . . I loved . . ."
"You murdered my child too." Daniel stopped mid plea frozen and stunned. His blank dead eyes rose and locked with Edmond's amber tinted lavender gaze as he tried to understand what the blathering redhead had just said. 'Your child . . . your . . . child . . . '
"Your child . . . my precious Cassy was whelping your child when she . . . ?" Realization finally dawned in the dark green orbs and the cast of a shroud of furious rage could be seen fluttering down over the sharply defined features as Daniel absorbed the information, and then he screamed shaking the window panes with his fury. "Me precious Cassandra was pregnant with your bastard??"
"That child was no bastard, Daniel." Edmond snarled dangerously as his own fury began to boil again. "It was a child made of love and commitment . . . I loved her! I loved her with all my heart and soul . . . "
"YOU LEFT 'ER BEHIND TO FACE ME ALONE, YOU BLEEDING COWARD!!" Daniel shouted into the smaller mans face and watched him flinch as the arrow hit home burying itself deep in Edmond's conscience. "You left her unprotected from me wrathwhile you ran off with your tail between your legs like a whipped pup."
"She told me to go . . . she said she could handle you on her own." Guilt washed over him in waves of hot lava burning him as his soul withered in agony.
"And you believed 'er? You bloody fool. It's as much your fault she's dead as it is mine." An evil laughter rose to fill the room and Edmond closed his eyes against the rising grief within his heart as it covered him and threatened to consume him."It might as well as been your 'ands that pushed her over as well as mine . . . you abandoned 'er and she died."
"I know," the admission was weighed down heavily with pain as it fell from his lips and drifted into the room like a foul cloud of ill will that boded despair and defeat for the younger man. "Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I told myself that over and over after I came back and found her gone? After I found the bedroom completely destroyed with her blood spattered all over it . . . and a shred of her nightdress still clinging to the edge of the catwalk?" Amber eyes lifted and bore malevolently into the hated object of all his grief and rage. "Don't you think I blamed myself every moment of every day after that that I hadn't listened to my own instincts and stayed . . . stayed and faced you instead of her? Don't you think I know that, you insolent murdering ape? I blamed myself for everything, but it was your filthy animals hands that took her from me . . . you took everything from me . . . my whole world . . . my whole life . . . every reason I had to live. You stole my beloved!"
"Noooo!" Daniel screamed and pulled his rapier from its leather scabbard. "She was MY beloved . . . You stole her from MEEEEEEEEE!"The Spanish steel whistled through the air in a deadly over head arch as he sprang agilely through the air toward the unmoving redhead, and in his mind it seemed to him that he was going to split the smaller man in half before he had the chance to react. 'Die, Edmond!' His mind squealed in bloodlust as he brought the blade down in blinding fury and mindless strength. 'Die, you bloody bastard!' But as the shining blade cut through the air it met nothing but empty space where the other man had been standing only a split instant before, and the unrealized force of the blade sent Daniel stumbling into the center of the room. His blind rush had missed its target completely, and now his back was entirely exposed.
The blow came hard and swift catching him at an angle across the shoulder blades crushing him to his knees with its power and pushing the air from his lungs in one great 'whoosh'. Pain exploded through his upper body and little blue and amber stars appeared dancing in the peripheral of his vision as the smothering darkness threatened to claim him. The clattering sound of his blade bouncing across the floor greeted his numb ears and he fell forward onto the palms of his hands trying to catch his breath. 'What . . . what did he hit me with?'
As if reading his mind, Edmond's voice drifted down to Daniel's ringing ears rubbing salt into his aching pride. "I hit you with my sheath, Daniel . . . My very 'Japanese' sheath. They make them out of wood you see, so they can be used as a weapon just as well as the sword in some instances . . . and since I have no intention of killing you, striking out at you with my sheath instead of my very 'Japanese' Katana seems to be the better alternative; otherwise, I would have nearly cut you in half with the level of force I used." His booted feet stopped just inside of Daniel's visual perspective. "Japanese steel is folded over 200 times and is razor sharp . . . you would have been dead before you hit the floor. There would have been no second pass or duel for us to engage in for that matter. You are out classed and out matched this time . . . just as Hiko was by his son, Kenshin. I suggest you stay down and stay out of my way. I have come for Cassandra . . . and Kaoru." The boots walked away. "Don't get in our way . . . WE are out of patience."
Sorry it is so short, but I have recently suffered a seizure and severe writer's block is always a side effect or drawback afterwards. But it has been a reasonably long time since I updated so I knew I needed to do something. I hope this will suffice until I can get my head back on straight. Thank you to everyone whose reading . . . and thank you to those who stop to drop me a line or two. God Bless to all . . . much love from the Old Lady.
Lere: I have always hated putting people through torture... but for some inane reason, I love doing it to you. HEHEHEHE You're so cute when your anxious. I love you, woman.
Half-breed-demon-fox: A little blush is good for the complexion... oh don't ya know. I am glad you still love the story. Thanks for hanging in there.
Catti-dono: Do-jo master of fanfic stories?? WoW! That almost makes me feel bad about this cliffie... almost. wink Good to see you, dear one.
JD Fielding: Yes, the analogy of Kenshin and his friends to the sparrows was intention. I love it when you get my philosophy stuff. Not everyone does... but you always seem to pick right up on it.
I love Ruakii too much to ever really change his character much. He has his moments of glory when he shines and shows everybody he's not the total ass they thought he was... but he's still a big jerk when he wants to be. He just can't help it... it's in the gene's.
I'm glad that I am able to get my emotional 'points' across. That is more than half the battle writing my stories... getting to moods of my people into the words and the words onto the paper... and the meanings and feels into the readers head. Thanks for noticing. I'm flattered.
I offer to you great thanks as always for your words... you remain as always one of my dearest and most beloved fan/friends. Thank you ever so much for the story referrals. I am getting to them slowly but surely. And enjoying them immensely. God Bless, JD. Loved your last Chapter.
BelleDayNight: Belle, Belle,Belle.... Sorry... not a really big fight, but it is still coming... and no saving the damsel in distress... but it is coming... I swear. I like playing with Saitou and Aoshi's characters... but you know that already, LOL. Thanks for helping me out with my other fic. And thank's for all your support. You're the best!! I'm still waiting on 'Heart of A Wolf'... but I understand what you mean when you say 'they take a lot out of me' when you write the ones that are close to your heart. Love you, Belle. God Bless
Nguardian: Little bro's are soooo persistent... but a necessary evil. Hehehehe I have 3 teenage sons... I know all about 'little brother' problems. I was happy to get to talk to you online the other day. It really MADE my day. Thank you so much. You don't know how much it meant to me. I think you are a wonderful person. God Bless
Alex: Didn't quite get Kaoru back... but he did get to kick a little butt... Glad you like the story.
Steph: Yes... Ruakii is a pain in the butt... but you gotta love him anyway. I am flattered you liked that scene so much. It was actually quite difficult to write... a lot of emotional dynamics to consider, but all in all... I was fairly satisfied with it. I'm glad you were too.
Rain angst: Yup... still see the cabin in the trees... thanks for the kind words. So glad I've been able to keep your attention.
Kaoru-890: I always try to stick to a two week schedule if I can... sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. Thanks for reading and I'm so glad you are enjoying. Take care
Reignashii: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I really appreciate your review. You sound like a very 'bubbly' type of person. I like those. Hope to see you again. God Bless
HaPPy BuNNy: AnD She'S BaCk... I love your stuff... I wish you could've remembered what you wanted to ask...hmmm. Anyway... Being the 'vabomavoarom' sounds like the good thing. Hehehehe So I'll say Thank You. Does Hiko get killed? Maybe... Maybe not... have to wait and see, kiddo. See you soon. Take care.
De Lazy Lime: De Limey Girl!! Love your letters and your reviews. The writers block is slowly melting... but I really loved reading your ideas. The brain in your head must be more than half hentai... hehehehehehe. I wouldn't have you any other way. And as for your imagination running away with you?? Damn Girl... I think it would leave powder burns behind it when it passed. God Bless my dear friend. Much love and gratitude.
Kuroi Tamashii: Yes, yes, yes... another cliffie... followed by yet another cliffie... I'm wretched and cruel... I hope this update finds you with dry eyes and no heavy objects in your hands (to throw at me). God Bless... see you soon.
Lendra-chan: My Alendra... my sweet girl. God Bless for your praises. I'm just glad that you were alright... I can handle you being in a rush and ending up with a goofy chapter... that's allowed. I'm also flattered your still over here reading my offerings. Yours are improving more all the time. I saw you had a new one... I need to look at it. Just haven't had the time. But I will.
MZ.AMberEYES: sorry about the cliffie... sort of. Hehehehehehehehe. OOPS! I did it again too. (Still hope you like the chapter :) ) God Bless my friend.
Sick Galaxy: Thanks for the lollipop... but what am I going to do with the plastic sword? Hmmmmm... beat my kids??? grins wickedly.
Glad you loved the chapter... hope you like this one too. One of my favorite parts was when Aoshi kicked Ruakii too... I was giggling when I wrote it. He was the last person anyone would expect to reach out and 'wail' on the smart-ass. Take care, kiddo. Hope to see you soon.
Rei Ronin: Bliss? WoW! Thanks Ronin! I have tried really hard to keep everything as equal and even as possible... in that I tried not to let one aspect of the story drown out any of the others before everything had a chance to play its way out. Thank you... You make me blush, you sweet boy. God Bless, Ronin. This dingy old lady loves hearing from you.
The Wolf Of Stars: Goosebumps... kewl! I love doing the goosebump thing. Hehehehehe
As for emotional... that is what real life is all about. Emotions and learning to live with what they do to our lives. I'm glad you liked what I wrote. God Bless. See you soon.
Masakomegami: Yes, I created both 'Ruakii' and 'Quii'. They are my OC for this fiction. I also created Kenshin's mother, 'Dharma', and his little sister, 'Cleo'. I hope that isn't too many OC for you. I hope the story is good enough to keep your attention. Take Care.
Roku-Chan: ITS ROXIE!! It was wonderful to talk to you on-line the other day. I was soooo happy to see you... I missed my Roxie-chan. You are one of the brightest lights in my fanfiction world... I miss you when your gone. wink God Bless you little 'fairy'... hope to see you again soon.
Psychotic-catster: I don't care if you review first or last, sweetie... I just love reading your reviews. You make me laugh. The 'Cow' vs 'Kay-o' thing has had me going forever now... and no, you don't say her name 'Kay-o-ru... hehehehehehehe. Glad you still like the story... hope you enjoyed this chappie. God bless you funny thing. Hope to see you soon.
Kagura: Greetings! Hehehehehe... 'wreck the day'? That's funny. I can even hear that dumb little sing-song in my head. Yes, Quii has much to learn... Aoshi is the Doli Lama... and Kenshin, superman spandex? WoW! Now there's a mental... Hehehehehehe. Hope you liked this chappie, my friend. God Bless.
Anime Artist Queen: Does your name indicate that you are someone who draws 'Anime'? If so, do you post it anywhere in particular? I sort of hated making Hiko my bad guy... but he was the only one in the pile who could pull it off without my creating a whole new character. I didn't want to use Shishio... he wasn't 'big' enough or 'suave' enough to pull it off. Too rough around the edges. Anyway... I hope you liked this chapter... Hope to see you again. God Bless
Twishinky: Twisha!! Hey girly! Wuz up? Nail biting blithering idiot? I like that... you know... I really like that. HEHEHEHEHE. I am the Queen of cliffies... undisputed. Ta Da... see me in all my wicked glory! J/k Glad you liked it. Waiting for you to update 'Internal Affairs'.
Oh... before I forget. Put tabasco sauce on your nails... that'll break you biting them. Hehehe God Bless, my dear friend. Much love.
Polaris-fire-star: sorry about scaring you... and sorry about the cliffies. Well, sorta sorry... the story supposed to be scary... and I have a thing for cliffies. I'm evil, I can't help it. But I hope you liked the story. I hope to see you again. God Bless
Mishorou Mie: You always love it. And I'm still happy. Hope you liked this one too.
Luraia Soul: Hope I didn't take too long... and I hope it was worth the wait. God Bless
ixchen: Hey, I know you grins. Your welcome for the story. And don't worry about not reviewing every single chapter. You've been with me for quite awhile now, I just love seeing your name when I get to. Thank you. Take care.
xia-xue: Better late than never, my friend. Playing 'games' eh? Hey, schools out... my boys are on their Play Station and X-Box almost 24/7... no worries. Just love to hear from you when I do. Glad you still like the story. God Bless... don't stay up all night... your eyeballs will fall out. :)