A/N: You were all saved from the cliffy from hell by my youngest son, Cameron. He said if I ended it here, he'd kill me . . . and he knew you guys would kill me because this was the absolute worst cliffy I ever did . . . EVER! So . . . he saved you from ME. LOLOL. On with the story. For a bit anyway. Hehehehehehe............................................................................................................. KnT
Chapter Twenty-One

1. Shades of Yesterday

Aoshi's head snapped up as the sound of screaming reached his sensitive ears. A shiver ran up his spine at the tenor of the screams and he exchanged a worried glance with Soujiro. Ever since entering the lighthouse the two young men had been on a roller coaster of awe, disbelief, and total shock. There was a little horror in the mix but not enough to send them screaming back out the door, but enough to make them wish that guys hugging wasn't such a 'fairy' thing to do. They had definitely gotten way more than they had bargained for.

Upon finding the interior fully restored to its colonial glory as they entered the front door when they expected to see the moldering ruins they knew to be there, both young men had found themselves frozen to the spot in mute disbelief. What was worse was when both of their clothes had changed even as they wore them morphing into colonial vests, linen shirts with ascot and lace cuffs, snug fitting black breeches, and half calf boots. Their hair was long and pulled back into smooth ponytails held with plain black ribbons. But somehow, by the grace of God, neither had been inflicted with the tri-point hat.

"I definitely do not like the sound of that." The tall dark haired youth frowned as he met the worried blue-gray gaze of Kenshin's younger brother. "That sounds extraordinarily bad."

"No kidding." Soujiro raised his eyes and looked at the ceiling above them as if it were going to tell them what was going on. "Who do you think it is?"

"I don't know." Aoshi didn't want to think about that, but before he could ponder not thinking about it, the screaming suddenly stopped leaving the air as empty as a tomb. "Shit!" He muttered under his breath as his eyes shifted skyward. "I don't like the sound of that either."

"What the hell is going on here, Aoshi?" Soujiro's face had gone from pale to ashen and now looked helplessly at the older youth. "How is all of this happening . . . and how in the hell are we involved? Are we ghosts too?"

"I don't know, Sou. I don't know, but we obviously have something to do with all of this, or we would not have changed, so get a hold of yourself and let's go see what we can see." Aoshi grabbed the shoulder of Soujiro's sleeve and pulled him with him as he started back toward the living quarters. "There has to be an answer to all of this somewhere in this place, and we have to find Himura and the girls, so pull yourself together."

"I am, I am. This is just fucking weird, you know."

"I know. Trust me, I know."

"By the way, Aosh?"

"Hmmmm?"

"You look great in green satin." Aoshi turned and glared at the smirking face of the younger teen. "It really brings out the color in your eyes."

"Stuff it pretty boy." Aoshi growled as he yanked Soujiro through a sculpted doorframe. "Or I'll retie that fancy bow around your neck." Soujiro laughed lightly as he stumbled behind the tall dark-haired man. He was beginning to discover just how much fun it could be to needle the overly serious braniac, and it was helping to calm his frazzled nerves as well. So, with a heart felt sigh, he slapped the stone faced teen on the back.

"Just trying to lighten things up a little, you know. It feels like everything is trying to close in and smother us in here." He shrugged and offered Aoshi a boyish smile when the glowering greenish-blue gaze raked his fine features. "I really didn't mean anything by it."

"Yes, well perhaps, but I really need you to stay focused, Soujiro. This is not the time for jokes."

"I know, but I can't help it. I'm really nervous." The boyishly handsome face turned pensive and Soujiro looked around the room they had just entered. "And I'm scared that something has happened to Kenshin."

"You can't help him if you can't stay focused, Sou." Aoshi carefully approached the door on the other side of the room, and reaching for the brass handle carefully turned it and started to push the door open. "You need to keep your wits about you if you are going to be of any use to either one of us."

"I know, I know, and whether you believe it or not, I really am trying."

"Uh-huh..." As Aoshi tentatively opened the door and stuck his head through, he was met by a frightened hiss that nearly sent him stumbling back on his rear end in shocked whiplash.

"Eeeeeeeeee . . . !"

"Whoa! What the . . . ?" He shoved the door open and reached behind it grabbing for the flash of pink he saw diving off to his right. "Hang on!"

"RUN QUII!" The petite frame of an ebony haired woman dressed in a rose-colored robe tried to dodge away from Aoshi's quick grasp, but she just was not fast enough and his hand closed around her delicate wrist. One hard yank pulled her hard back against his chest and his arms wrapped around her preventing her from making another move. A strangled cry of terrified defeat issued from her throat as she began to struggle against the iron prison of muscles, but there was no escaping and she slumped back in defeat.

"Kaoru!" Aoshi's voice was a desperate cry of anxiety in her ear and then she was being turned around to face her captor. "Kaoru! Oh my God! Are you alright? It's me, Aoshi, don't you recognize me? Kaoru? What the hell happened? Where's Himura? Kaoru?!"

Startled blue eyes stared up into his lean, deeply concerned face and he could see the confusion and fear working through their stormy depths as the woman in his arms struggled to make sense of what was going on around her, and as Aoshi looked at her, he realized something very important and very frightening. The breath caught in his throat and his heart froze between beats.

This was not Kaoru. It was, but yet it was not. The face was the same, the eyes were the same, but the look in them was completely different. The soul that stared at him from the raging blue sea of emotions in that face was not the girl he knew. It was someone much older and much more troubled than the teenager whose body she wore.

"Cassandra?" The name fell from his thin lips as his mind tried to accept what his soul screamed was the truth. "Dear God. It's you in there, isn't it?"

"Elliot?" The woman's voice was a hushed whisper of disbelief as she stared into the tall dark-haired man's anxiety stricken face. "How . . . what are you doing here? If Daniel sees you, he'll kill you. Why would you risk coming here? Why would you do that?"

"Elliot?" Aoshi's head began to swim wildly and he released his hold on the now troubled woman so he could step away. "Why did you call me Elliot? My name is Aoshi Shinomori. I am not Elliot."

"What's gotten into you, Elliot?" Cassandra grabbed him by the shoulders and forced him to look her in the face. "Don't you even know who you are for Godsake? Don't you know why you're here or what's going on?" As the look of confusion intensified on his lean face, she began to fear that he may not be privy to the knowledge that she and Edmond were, or that Kaoru and Kenshin had been. "Elliot? Do you know me? Do you know who you are?"

"I... I don't..." Aoshi stuttered as a horrific pain began to pound against his temples with each beat of his aching heart and the worst idea began to occur to him. "Who . . . who am I?" He asked trepidatiously knowing full well that he was not going to like the answer.

"What the hell is going on?" Soujiro had rushed into the room behind Aoshi, and seeing Quii stumbling toward the other side, had sprinted after her pulling her into the security of his arms. Once she realized who it was that held her, she had all but smothered him with a crushing embrace and sobs of relief. "Aoshi? Are you Ok, Man? You look . . . you look like you're going to pass out. Kaoru, what's going on?" His gaze shifted to the ebony haired girl but she did not respond.

"She's not Kaoru." Quii's voice was soft and shaky as she turned to face a confused Soujiro. "She's only 'borrowing' Kaoru's body for the time being."

"Wha . . . excuse me? Did you just say 'borrowing'?"

"Yes, I did."

"Would someone please tell me what the fuck is going on here?" Soujiro disengaged himself from Quii's death grip and walked over to the other couple. Carefully he removed the woman's hands from Aoshi's shoulders and then turned her to face him. "If you aren't Kaoru, just who the hell are you, and where is Kaoru?"

"Oh my God!" As her eyes made contact with his face, the woman's skin turned a pasty shade of gray and her hands rose to cover her mouth. Huge blue eyes filled with tears and her breathing became tight and labored as she dissolved into sobs of disbelief. "Ethan . . . you're alive. Merciful God," Her voice cracked as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder. "You're alive. My beautiful little brother. You're alive again. We're all alive again. I don't understand . . . how? Oh Ethan . . . Ethan."

A blinding burst of white light exploded in front of Aoshi's eyes and suddenly the whole world faded away and he found himself standing on a grassy knoll overlooking a vast green meadow filled with wild flowers. Behind him was a dense evergreen forest filled with juniper pines, conifers, and the occasional oak and cottonwood. Somehow he knew that just an hours ride to the north was the colony town of Sedgmont where he had been born and raised by his parishioner father and lady mother.

Without a sound, his tall frame crumpled to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs as he was sucked into the abyssal of time and memory. A cry of dismay tore its way free from Cassandra's throat as she dropped to her knees beside him and lifted his limp head into her lap. Tender hands caressed his hawk-like features as she began to croon brokenly over him her tears dripping onto the smoothness of his cheeks.

"Elliot," She cried raggedly. "Where have you gone? What is happening to you, my dearest friend? Please come back. Edmond needs you . . . I need you. Please come back. Oh God . . . don't do this to us. Not now, not this man."

"Who is he?" Soujiro knelt on the other side of Aoshi's supine body and worriedly felt the clamminess of his friends skin. "If I am your little brother, Ethan, who is 'Elliot' and how does he fit into this whole fucking mess?"

Cassandra looked up into the beloved face she thought never to see again and tenderly cupped it in one of her hands. "You understand then?" She asked in a broken voice. "You know who I am?"

"You must be Cassandra, Edmond Fetlock's lover. Right?"

She nodded and offered him a watery smile. "And you're my younger brother, Ethan O'Massy. There was four years between us, but we were always very close."

"I gathered. I'm sorry I don't remember." He offered her with half a smile and a shrug of apology. "But this was not something I was prepared for . . . neither was Aoshi. We just sort of stumbled into it trying to help Kenshin. You know Kenshin is my brother this time around. Sort of strange wouldn't you say?"

"Yes, it is quite strange, but it is even stranger how we have all managed to somehow stay in contact with each other in one way or another . . . even if it took a few years to make those contacts." Once more her concerned gaze dropped to the face of the unconscious man lying in her lap. "Elliot was my dearest friend from childhood and we would have married if my Father would've allowed it."

"Why didn't he? I don't understand. Couldn't you marry whomever you wanted back then?"

"Oh no. Many marriages were arranged by bargaining for dowries and land parcels, or political and social status. There were many other reasons to get married in those days that had nothing to do with love, and a young girl did what she was told not what she wanted."

"That sucks." Soujiro shook his head in disgust. "That's just not right. No one should be forced to marry someone they don't love. Is that how you ended up with Daniel?"

"Aye. He was the oldest son of the town's parishioner and was in line to inherit his father's parish and all of his lands. It was considered an excellent match and it made my father a very important man to be affiliated so closely with the Reverend." A hard look crossed her fine features as the memories filtered through her mind. "It more than doubled his business even before the wedding."

"His business? What kind of business?"

"He was a bread vendor. One of many, but being associated with the Reverend somehow made his bread tenfold better than anyone else's, and suddenly he couldn't make enough to go around. He became a rich man almost over night."

"That doesn't make it right."

"Perhaps not, but that was the way of it in those days."

"Cassandra?" Soujiro reached out and wrapped his hand around her wrist and brought her gaze back to him. "You still haven't really told me who Elliot is. You said he was your dearest childhood friend, but why weren't you allowed to marry him? What was wrong with him that he wasn't considered a good match for you and Daniel 'The Animal' was?"

The tears in her eyes brimmed over and spilled down her pale cheeks as she looked into the questioning face of the young man sitting before her. Even after three centuries the ache had never really gone away. Though the love she shared with Elliot was not a romantic one, she would have gladly married him and bore his children because she was certain that a lasting love would have grown between them. But it was not meant to be, and then she had eventually met Edmond and lost her heart and soul to his gentle smile and tender amethyst gaze. Life was strange and often cruel in the way it allowed Fate to shape destinies, but that was what free choice was made for.

"Elliot was considered a poor match because the best he could ever hope to be was a manual laborer somewhere. We would have always been poor and struggling for every meal to feed our family. He was a good, kind man, and I think we would have been happy no matter what our life had been like but my Father would not have his daughter marry a penniless man." A deep sigh of regret and old grief lifted her bosom and Cassandra let her gaze drop once more to the sharp features beneath her palm. "He was the Reverend's youngest son . . . He was Daniel's youngest brother, and because of our closeness, Daniel threatened to kill him if he ever came near me again after we were married."

"Holy shit!" Soujiro looked down at the still face of his friend as his mind began to whirl with the impact of all the information he was trying to absorb. "What happened?" He asked as he looked back at her grief-stricken face. "What happened to him?"

"I don't know." She replied in a flat voice. "He helped Edmond and I escape Sedgmont and we never heard from him again. I liked to think he got married and lived happily ever after."

"Do you really believe that happened?"

"No, I don't."

"What do you believe, Cassandra? What do you believe really happened to him?"

"I think Daniel killed him." Deeply sad blue eyes rose to lock with concerned blue-gray as she continued to stroke the pale clammy face in her lap. "That's what I think happened. Daniel knew about Edmond and me, and he knew that Elliot was trying to help us get away from him. You see, Elliot wanted me to be happy and he knew what an animal Daniel was, so he was willing to do anything for me. Absolutely anything . . . even defy his brother."

"Oh Cassandra, I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago, Ethan. Everything was a long time ago. All that matters is we are all here now, and we have to help Edmond."

"Wait," He stopped her when she made to move away. "You said you couldn't believe I was alive 'again' . . . what happened to me? Please tell me, what happened to me?" Part of him didn't want to know, but another part was screaming to hear the whole truth. He just had to know.

"Ethan..." She shook her head. "It doesn't matter..."

"Yes, it does. Please tell me."

"Why?" The grief in her gaze told him he didn't want to know, but he pressed her anyway.

"I have to know. Please."

"He killed you, Ethan. The same as everyone else. You challenged him to a duel for my honor . . . and he killed you. You were barely sixteen years old, and he killed you." She dropped her eyes as tears slipped down her face once more. "Shot you straight through the heart, he did, before you even had the chance to cock your pistol."

"Jesus . . . He killed us all. Every fucking one of us. You, Edmond, Elliot, and me. All of us. Why? Why would he do that? What was so fucking important to him that he had to kill so many people . . . and his own kin for that matter?" Soujiro's voice was hoarse as emotion constricted the muscles of his throat. "What?"

"His pride, Ethan. It was always his Pride."

"Fuck that." Tears began to spill down his flawless face and he absently felt the comforting embrace of Quii's arms as they wrapped around his neck and shoulders. "That's just sick and wrong, Sandy." He whispered in a strange voice that came from somewhere deep inside of him. "He had no rights to do that . . . no rights at all."

"I know, Ea . . . I know." Cassandra leaned across Elliot's body and pulled her brother into her arms pressing his tear wet face into the curve of her shoulder. "But it'll be alright soon, sweetling. I promise it will be alright." As their hearts fell into sinc and their breath mingled the white light that had engulfed Aoshi/Elliot rose up from his body and swallowed them within its all encompassing embrace. They sagged soundlessly to the sides of their supine friend just as unconscious as he was.

Quii sat stunned into silence as she stared at the three still bodies on the floor. "What am I supposed to do now?" She whispered in terrified anxiety. "Daddy? Where are you?"
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There was blood everywhere. It was splattered across the wall and the ceiling, it was speckled on his clothes and in his hair, and it was pooling on the floor beneath the heavy body of the man wearing black. A crimson stain was spreading over the front of the now visible white shirt that stretched tautly across the man's chest, and his breathing had become hoarse and shallow as the heavy blood loss started to take its tole on his system.

Lying not more than three feet away from him was his own severed hand bloody palm up, fingers relaxed and open. Several more feet from there lay his sword where it had come to rest after dropping from the lifeless hand and rolling as far as its momentum would take it. The only blood on its surface was the smear of its owners across the intricate golden hilt. The blade remained clean.

The ghastly stump of his wrist ran freely as the radial artery pumped with his faltering heart beat and spilled the red life-giving liquid of his body's soul out onto the wooden flooring. The man in black was bleeding to death from his wounds, and the ferocious golden eyes of his nemesis were watching in frozen shock as the puddle grew wider.

'What do I do?' His mind was racing as he considered the options open to him at the moment. 'Do I tie a tourniquet around his arm and stop the bleeding . . . do I save his fucking useless life, or do I let him die?' A shaking hand reached up and wiped at the blood spatters on his face as he struggled with the moral issue of his predicament. 'Can I live with myself if I let him die? God? Help me!'

With a foul curse, the Angel-wolf sheathed his bloody katana and rushed over to the fallen man kneeling by his side. Frantically he pulled the tie of his ascot undone and proceeded to wrap it as tightly as he could around the bleeding stump until the flow of blood was cut off, and then he secured the ends in a tight square knot. Next he tore open the man's shirt and surveyed the damage to his chest. It was not as bad as he thought it was going to be, but the gash was still very deep and there was a lot of bleeding. Looking around, he stood up and moved to one of the tables where he pulled one of the linen runners off. He packed this into the wound and applied pressure.

"There," He snarled under his breath as he stood up and moved away trying to wipe the blood off on his breeches. "I don't owe you anything else, do you hear me, Hiko. I don't owe you anything else, and Edmond doesn't owe Daniel anything else either. We're finished here . . . this is over. It's all over." As he turned to walk out of the room, the big man laying on the floor groaned and moved. 'What the . . . no way.' The Angel-wolf warily walked back over to where his enemy lay on the floor and looked down with shocked golden eyes.

"It will never be over, Eddy . . . You 'ere me, me boy? It'll never be over as long as there's breath in this body." Unbelievably, Daniel's left hand shifted to his boot, and before the Angel-wolf or Edmond or Kenshin could understand or react, the hand pulled back and sent the glint of sliver flying through the air, dead on mark.

Pain blossomed inside of the red-haired man's belly, and as his eyes blew open wide in amazement, he felt himself dropping to his knees. His hand reached for the pain and found something solid, he pulled at it, and was surprised to feel the weight of a short blade as it came loose in his grasp. Looking down he saw the dark stain appear on the lower left side of his blue vest, and was almost fascinated as it began to grow larger.

"You fucking bastard..." He rasped as he looked up and met the malevolent green gaze of the man he had just saved.

"I told you, Eddy. This will never be over, Laddy . . . never."

"Fuck you, Daniel." The Angel-wolf reached for his katana but his vision began to swim. "I'm going to end this now . . . once and for all. I refuse to let the likes of you win, you Godless son-of-a-bitch." Edmond's clear cultured tones started breaking through as the sword began to slide free of the wooden sheath. "I promised Sandra I wouldn't die, and, by God, I'm not going to..."

The blinding white light rushed through the room and swept over the two grievously wounded men dropping them into the world of oblivion as quickly as it had all of the others. Finally everyone was accounted for. All of the players had been brought back together, and the critical rip in the fabric of Time shuddered as the five conjoined souls passed through on their way back to another time where things were much simpler, and much deadlier; however, this time the rules had changed and Fate was not involved. This time, it was up to the players, themselves to set aright that which had gone awry.

The race for a simple man's Justice had begun, and only the wits and intelligence of those involved would be able to dictate the outcome.

I was writing and got this way bizarro idea... and I just couldn't help myself... I was dancing all over the house like a fool. My husband and oldest son think I am totally whacked out. But I couldn't resist. This should take 2 maybe 3 chapters. I'm so excited I almost peed my pants (j/k)

Review Response:

Half-breed-demon-fox: I have been nicknamed 'the dragon-lady' for about 15 years now. I got my tattoo 3 years ago, but I've been collecting dragon's and dragon paraphernalia since I was about 12. I had one friend who said I was 'dragon wicked', and she called me 'Madam Dragon'. Anyway... :) I hope you liked these two chapters. I had fun with them. God Bless Kid.

Lere: I loved that site you sent me!! I found a whole bunch of really interesting stuff that I am thinking of putting on my webby. You are always thinking of me... I love you, sweet friend. How was your testing? I have been thinking about you the last few days wondering how you did because I have been so bad in not writing to ask you... sweat drops. I hope you can forgive a lax old lady who should be more on the ball with her friends lives. Thank you for always reading. I look forward to you being there. You mean so much to me. God Bless, Lere.

JD Fielding: I hope this finds you in better spirits that the last time I heard from you. I have spent so much time thinking about you, dear one. I have worried over you as well. You are such a good person, and you have so many wonderful gifts to offer the world. Never give up, and never give in. You are a valuable and important person in my life.

I am glad you liked the last chapter... I hope you are equally as entertained with these two. I really went off on a loopy spin, but it just hit me out of nowhere and screamed to be written... so I had to do it. I am gritting my teeth in anticipation of the reviews hoping that I didn't go too far. I guess we'll see. Take care, dear friend. Until we meet again.

Tsuki-san

Kagura: The little one-two poem... that cracked me up. Shades of 'Freddie' coming at me. I thought I'd LMAO. You are the absolute kick in my butt, Girl. Don't you ever change. I hope you liked this... it's a BIIIIG reach. But I just couldn't help myself. Love and hugs... tuski

Catti-dono: I can hardly wait to see what you're going to say... as for the ideas you say you are having for more stories? Send them to me. I can always catalogue them. You know how much I love your ideas. ((((HUG)))). God Bless sweet friend. Tsuki-san

Rain Angst: I like it when I can make you cry. Go curl up in that cabin in a warm old quilt in front of the fire. I can see you like that. Hope you liked these chappies. Take care.

Unknown beedee: Oh so glad to hear you have started a new fic!! Can't wait to read it. Thanks for reading... glad you thought the 'in skull' banter was funny. So did I when I wrote it. Hands beedee a huge lolly-pop here's your sugar, baby. Love ya.

De Lazy Lime: ARE YOU SICK!!! You didn't read this in the middle of the friggin' night? What's wrong with you??? j/k LOLOL I'm glad you're over the save Hiko thing... cause he's sorta toast at the moment. Hope you liked these chappies despite the 'chop Hiko up' thing. God Bless you funny kid. See ya soon.

Midi Tenshi: Computers never let you fade away... they annoy you until you explode and do violence. :) I appreciate your words of support... and I don't know about getting better with every chapter I write. My husband thinks I did some serious weed while writing this last one... bad weed. LOL I guess I'll have to see what happens. As for your fanfics... just keep writing. The more you write, the better you get. It's called practice, and as long as you don't give up, you're getting better. Take care, Tsuki-san

FangsOfTheDragon: So I grab you and shake you around a bit? LOLOL Sorry, didn't know my writing had violent tenancies wink. Thank you sincerely for the compliments. They mean so much, and I don't think you are rude. I am feeling better, thank you. I'm just glad I wrote something that entertained you. BTW, I don't remember if I told you before, but I love your name... I love Dragon's. It is so cool. Take care. Tsuki-san

xia xue: Yes! You made it! You are so funny, you just kill me. You play a sh-t load of different games, man... that is awesome! My kids have FFX... they keep dying too. Cool game... totally rocks. Actually, I don't read a lot of romance... I like horror and supernatural ficts... but I'm a hopeless romantic at heart. Happen's to ya when you get old... but I'd rather read a bloody vampire book than a friggin' harlequin romance. Tsuki-san

Psychotic catster: You crazy little animal. You are so funny, and so cute, and so totally jazz tweaked. You are definitely my kind of kid. I'm glad you still like the story... sorry it took me so long to update... I hope these two chapters didn't freak you out, baby. I hope you didn't go on a sugar overload... I'd miss you if you were gone. Much love... Tsuki-san

Lendra-chan: You prolific little scamp!! How am I supposed to keep up with you if you keep starting new fics??? I'm old... My brain can only absorb so much material at one time. LOL. But rest assured... Slowly but surely I will get to them. And I will get to your friend too. I am in the middle of getting my kids back to school... but when things calm down... well, you know. Anyway, God bless your pretty little head. I love to see you in my reviews. Take care you sweet thing. Tsuki-san

Sick Galaxy: If you knew how bloody hot it was down here, you'd know how much I appreciated that little fan you gave me wink. I'm glad you liked the 'in skull' conversation. I thought it was cool and I had a blast writing it. I sat in front of my computer giggling. My son thought I was deranged. HEHEHE. I hope I didn't go to far off into no man's land this time around. Anyway, take care you funny thing. I love what comes out of your pockets... can't wait to see what you come up with next. Tsuki-san

BelleDayNight: Hummmm.... didn't we just talk... you sound so familiar. LOLOLOL As I said last night, congrats on the excellent grade in anatomy. I knew you could do it... and I know you are going to pass patho too. Then, just think, you get a break... like a week or something right? Oh blessed peace. God Bless dear friend. I'm always here to chat and listen if you need to vent. ((((HUG)))) Tuski

Luraia Soul: Thank you, thank you. Tell me, did I go to far into the ozone with this last chapter? I'm really nervous about it. Tsuki-san

Dead Raine: I'm glad you love it... did I ruin it??? Tuski

RK YGO YYH IY: Awesome name... are those all the fanfics you write or read??? There are anywhere around 3-6 chapters left. That is a guess. Did you like what I did with the last chapter, or did I go too far? Tsuki-san

Steph: Hey girly! Glad to see you! Thanks for the compliments and support... you always say the coolest things. I love your reviews. What did you think of the last chapter? Did I go to far overboard?? Tsuki-san

RKfaN930: Thank you, I am feeling better, and thanks for the 'good person' compliment. I appreciate your support and your review. It means a lot to me. I don't recall seeing you before, but I'm old... anyway, if I haven't said thank you and welcome before... THANK YOU and WELCOME. :) I hope you liked the last two chapters. I am really hoping I didn't ruin the premise of the story. I'm worried. Tuski-san

kean: tell me the truth, my dear friend... did I go to far???

Nguardian: Blessed friend... thank you for beta'ing for me. You did a wonderful job. You are becoming a dear friend, and a trusted companion. God Bless you always... I hope everything is well for you... and thank you for following me all over the webb. LOL. Now that's loyalty. I love you, girly. Take care. Tsuki-san

Kik-ting: Love to hear from you kiddo. You write the sweetest reviews, and they're so honest. I hope you liked these two chapters. I hope I didn't blow it. Let me know what you think... Please. Tsuki

Twishinky: You beautiful woman you... just crossed paths again after what feels like ages and years. So good to see you again. I've missed you. I know how much you love this story... I hope I didn't tweak it so much that it loses it's flavor... what do you think, twishy? ((((HUG)))) Tsuki

star0704: Thank you. I don't know when the last time was I received a review that was filled with so many compliments and so much praise. I am almost speechless and I am definitely blushing. Thank you so much. I hope you liked the last 2 chapters. They are definitely a surprise... for everyone, including me. Tsuki-san

Monkeechickk02: Hey Girly! Glad you liked it. Hope our little trifle makes a good showing. Loved your chapter by the way in case I didn't tell you. It was cute. Take care. Tsuki

HaPPyBuNNy: Hehehehehe...you know, after you said what you did, I had to go back and look. And sure and sh-t. You were right. Just about 80% of the chapters end with Hiko in one way or another... totally bizarre. So did one of these... I laughed my butt off. That's funny. I didn't even realize. What a weird old lady. LOLOL Tsuki-san

Kaoru-890: Coolness... if I described it well enough for you to see it in your head, then I did my job. God Bless, Kaoru. ((((HUG)))) Tsuki-san

ChibiNoMiko: Were the next chapters worth the wait? Or did I ruin your expectations? I am obsessing over chapter 21. Tsuki-san

Ixchen: You got two chapters you bouncing jack-rabbit. Did you like them??? Tsuki-san

Pixel-the-evil-fairy: did these last two chapters meet up with the rest? I am really worried about chapter 21. If enough people don't like it, I plan on rewriting it. So, please let me know what you think. God Bless, Pixel. Tsuki-san

Alright, I am obsessing about chapter 21. My sweet beta thinks it's fine and that it goes well with the rest of the story. But I am still obsessing. I need honest opinions from you guys. Did I go too far out into loopy-land with it, or does it make sense? If it doesn't, I'll do a rewrite. God Bless everybody. Much love... KnT