Ruroni-chan: HELLO EVERYONE!!!!! I've missed you all so much! I meant to post over the Winter holidays, but someone forgot to send me the work…

Gerry-sama: Don't start with me little girl, I'll bend you backwards an cut my funding for you.

Twilight-kun: …

Ruroni-chan: I'LL BE GOOD!!!! (Turns back to readers) You'll have to excuse any confusing parts of this chapter I was low on sleep when I wrote this, though both my Editors were on my ass to fix it.

Twilight-kun: ...

Gerry-sama: I suppose I should tell your mother about you not sleeping properly…

Ruroni-chan: What happened to Editor-Writer confidentiality?

Gerry-sama: I can't keep a secret from your mother Ruroni-chan.

Twilight-kun: …

Ruroni-chan: Then tell, Mummy-dearest that I need a haircut. (Blowes bangs out of face, they just fall back where the were)

Twilight-kun: (chuckling behind his hand) …

Gerry-sama: Don't push it My little Ruroni…

Ruroni-chan: (Ignores) Well anyway readers… I hope you enjoy the next chapter in our story. I'd like to thank those who have added me to their favorites list, it make me very proud to see that list of names of you all. (Bows) Please read, Review and enjoy the 19th chaper of Captain Sagara's Daughter.

Kenshin stopped sweeping the porch to look toward Katsu. The gelding had been especially nervous the past day. Hiraru should have been back three days ago. The man who had come everyday to take the gelding to the logging yard had brought him back early saying the gelding was too high strung to work. He'd also fed and watered the horse, but Katsu hadn't touched one bit of it. In fact he was pacing the line of the fence.

Kenshin pushed his senses out as much as he could, hoping to sense Hiraru coming back. Instead he felt a new set of ki by the front gate and went to see who it was before they knocked. A messenger stood surprised at the gate door. Kenshin smiled, "May I help you, young man?"

He nodded, "Korin-san asked me to deliver this to this address." The boy handed him an envelope, bowed, and left. Kenshin looked down at the envelope, he recognized Hiraru's hand writing. The envelope was addressed to everyone at the dojo, so he shut the door and hurried back into the dojo to show the others. Kaoru was making her rounds, and Yahiko was at work so Kenshin patently waited for them to come home.

Kaoru arrived first, and Yahiko came with Sano when he finally did arrive. Kenshin read the letter first, Kaoru and Yahiko hovering behind him. Something in the bottom of Kenshin's stomach dropped and he handed it to Sano, dragging Kaoru and Yahiko outside, without a word.

Sano watched them go wondering what would cause him to act that way. He turned to the letter…

Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko and Sano,

If you're reading this, I've screwed up, big time. Three nights ago I went to a party that was being held by one of the men who killed my father, Ikeda Toshimi to be exact. I'm sorry but it's unlikely I'll ever see any of you again so I figured it would be better to tell you than to leave you wondering. My name is Kojima Hiraru, I am the only daughter of a man named Kojima Shiro, also know as Sagara Sozo. Sano, I'm very sorry I didn't tell you earlier, I just didn't think you'd believe me, and then later I was afraid if I told you, you wouldn't trust me anymore.

I've fought my whole life to protect who I really am, and I just didn't know how to finally give up that way of life. This is why I couldn't tell any of you who and what am or who I was. I was actually searching for my father's swords, so I could become the head priestess of my family's temple. The rules requiring this are more complicated then I have room to write. Any way you look at it though, I failed, and most likely am dead. You can take what I left in my room and sell it to finish fixing the roof, but send a letter to the address on the letter I got a few weeks ago so my family can take Katsu home.

I thank you for all the kindness you've shown me.

Hiraru

Sano clenched his jaw, everything made sense now. Hiraru looked like the captain, that's what he kept thinking. Ikeda Toshimi, that was the general who'd lead the army that had attacked the Sekiho. This was wrong. Sano owed his life to the Captain, there had to be something he could do for Haru.

Sano stood, opened the screen to the back and stepped out. Kenshin and the others were standing outside. They looked surprised to see him. His hand tightened on something, it took him a minute to realize it was Haru's letter. "How long do you think it'll take to find out where this Ikeda Toshimi is?" Sano asked Kenshin.

Kenshin blinked, "Why?"

"So we can save Haru's stupid ass, bring her back here, and I can beat the crap out of her for being an idiot," Sano said bitterly. "You think I'm going to let her get away with lying to me all this time, because she got herself killed."

Kenshin smiled, "I'll go make a visit to the police chief."

"Good, I'll come with you, as soon as we know where Haru is we'll head out," Sano said, ready to move out instantly.

"I'll come with you," Yahiko said.

"No," Kenshin said, "There will be men with guns, and swords, you must stay here. Sano and this one will be able to handle things."

"But I was useful when that jerk kidnapped Megumi…" Yahiko whined.

"Sorry, Runt," Sano ruffled Yahiko's hair, "it's for your own good." The two men tried to leave out the front door, but Katsu headed them off. The gelding seemed nervous, ready to run. It took them a while, but they finally managed to get past the crazed horse, and head toward the police station. Kenshin and Sano had no idea that Katsu would escape the dojo and head for Ikeda Toshimi's manor, the same place they would end up going to.

Just as Kenshin and Sanosuke got to the police station they practically ran into Saito on his way out. "Battosai, Rooster Head, I should have known you would be coming here. Kojima couldn't keep her head above water long enough not to come in contact with you. Of course she did say you were a friend, Rooster Head."

"What the hell are you talking about Saito?" Sano yelled, trying not to hit him.

"You received one of these didn't you?" Saito held up a letter with Hiraru's handwriting on it. "She said she sent you two a letter, and asked me to make sure you and the others didn't butt into her business. Idiot. She really thinks her words, much less wild dogs, could keep me away, it's the least I owe her mother." He turned to a carriage that was waiting, "Well? Are you two coming?"

"Of, course," Kenshin climbed in sitting across from Saito, and Sano climbed to his normal spot on the top of the carriage. Once they were on their way Sano opened his mouth and got himself in trouble, "So Saito, how did you get involved in this?"

"Shut up, Rooster Head," Saito stabbed at the top of the carriage, "That's none of your business."

Kenshin kept his calm face on, "This one is curious as well, Saito-san. How do you know Hiraru-chan?"

Saito's eyebrow twitched, "If you must know, I don't know her. Her mother almost married me, and I was the pupil of her grandfather's sword brother."

"WHAT!!!" Sano yelled.

"Shut up, Rooster Head, I can't hear myself think with all that crowing." Saito stabbed the roof again. He watched Kenshin, "I never met your Hiraru before a week ago. My Hiraru and Akata-sama's Hiraru were both beautiful women, quiet, but caring. Hiraru Akata was still beautiful when I met her, and before my Hiraru was stolen by that fool Kojima she was beautiful too. That bastard killed them both."

"Watch what you say about the captain!" Sano yelled.

Saito stabbed the ceiling for the third time, and again Sano barely dodged it, "Uh… missed. You know Hiraru said something similar to that. Something about showing respect to the dead." Saito looked away, and Kenshin almost didn't hear him, "I do respect the dead, I just respect those that keep themselves alive a lot more."

Kenshin suppressed his smile, "So how are we going to find out where Hiraru-chan is?"

Saito snorted, "If I'm any judge, she most likely dressed so Ikeda's son would notice her, and then met the father through the son. We'll just go to Ikeda; he'll tell me what we need to know…besides, Cho said he never saw her leave the manor, and that there was some cause for alarm three days ago. I'm assuming it was caused by her. That brat does tend to act without fully thinking things through all the way."

A noise like a growl could be heard from above, and Saito's sword went into the ceiling yet again. This time there was a satisfying yelp, after a wolf grin spread across Saito's face he continued, "Either way the police have had suspicions that he's been stealing historical artifacts that should be going to the owners' families, there's also suspected torture, and kidnapping. Cho has heard the guards talking about a young woman that's going to be forced to marry his son, if that's true it's forced marriage. That will add another charge against him. No matter what, I've got men waiting to arrest him so we can search his house, as soon as we know where Hiraru is, they'll come in for the kill."

Kenshin glared, "Kill?"

"Poor choice of words," Saito shrugged, "If Hiraru is in the manor, you two will remove her and as soon as you're clear my men will come in for the arrest. After that don't worry about Ikeda, I'll deal with him myself. Ikeda does have a lot of guards."

Kenshin and Saito traveled in silence for several moments, even Sano was quiet. Until the driver slowed the horses, which had been running hard for the past twenty minutes, "Lieutenant, the Ikeda Manor is coming up." He warned them.

"Good," Saito said, "Rooster Head, move to the back of the carriage. I don't want Ikeda to think the police need riffraff to speak with him." Sano grumbled, but the two men could hear him climbing to the back.

Ruroni-chan: (Jumps up and down happily) I'm so excited!!! I can't wait to post my next chapter!!! I hope you all liked this chapter Now press the button in the corner and review!

Twiligh-kun: Wait a minute how come I didn't have any lines this time?

Ruroni-chan: Because I haven't heard from you in like two months…

Twilight-kun: …

Gerry-sama: (Holds up phone) Ruroni-chan… Your mother wants a word or two…

Ruroni-chan: (running for the door) I'm not HERE!!!!.....

Gerry-sama: She says she's reading the Fanfic now… And she knows everything, (puts ear to phone) She also SAYS YOU AND HER ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY LONG TALK!!!!!

Ruroni-chan is gone. Remember to review!