Ruroni-chan: Okay, I'm posting this for all my readers who've been waiting in suspense and my editor who's been holding a katana to the back of my neck all week.

Gerry-sama: Good Ruroni-chan… now post it quickly and I'll let you join the mother's day breakfast as a treat.

Ruroni-chan: I don't even want pancakes if I can't have them with Mon Mere. (Cries) MOMMY!!!! I MISS YOU!!!!!

Twilivht-kun: Ruroni-chan is having mother withdrawls, right now so we're just going to let you read this while we try and comfort her. Now please, read, review and enjoy. Also don't forget to give some love to your mothers on their day, especially those of you who can.

It was dark, wherever Hiraru was. Her hands where above her head, trapped and bound. She could feel the blood that ran down from her wrists. Her shirt was ripped open and she could feel the damp on her skin. She was tied, but she could not sit, nor could she stand. Instead she was forced to kneel on cold stone. She wasn't sure how long she'd been there, but her back and shoulders burned from having to hold her arms up in that pose. Her sides hurt more than they ever had in her life, and she was sure she'd broken more than a few ribs. She knew for a fact, when one of the men had come in to beat her, she'd fought back. In doing so she'd twisted her arm so sharply she was sure it was broken.

Her hair was still tied back, but the red vest had been removed of her, as had the calming pressure that had been the ribbon on her brow. Her shoes, expensive boots, were gone as well, and she couldn't tell if the pain and wet feeling was blood and cuts, or pain from use and the damp floor. Thankfully the rest of her clothes hadn't been removed so she was reasonably sure she hadn't been raped, yet. Her weapons had been removed; she knew that without looking for them, because that comforting weight wasn't present.

Hiraru took all of this in with her head bent, chin to her chest, in a half daze. She would have preferred to be completely unconscious, but the pain and another piece of her mind wouldn't let her even drift off further than a form of light sleep. She floated into a form of consciousness at the sound of a door opening, and angry voices. She knew them but couldn't place them. Memories swam in her mind, fueled by those voices and the out of focus figures in the doorway, which Hiraru could see through her lashes. The memories became too much and she let the pain push her into unconsciousness.

Sano's eyes widened, when he first saw the figure tied up in a small cage, he thought it was the Captain. The hair cut exactly like the man he'd looked up to, the clothes the same as the captain's uniform, and the shape of the person's body amazingly similar. He swallowed with difficult. It wasn't the captain, the person had curves to his body, there were white bandages visible through the torn shirt, which contained her breasts so well she appeared to have a flat chest, and there was more hair than the captain ever had.

By the time Sano had taken it in, Kenshin had located the light switch and the keys, and he was opening the cage. Sano knelt next to him, and crawled though the door as soon as it was open. Now that he was closer, he could see the dark bruising on pale skin, and the left arm that hung from an unnatural angle. He reached for the leather ropes that held her wrists. He'd no more than touched her when her eyes flew open, blind with a fear and rage that he knew so well, the same rage and fear Sano had know every time he had a dream about the night the captain had died. She attacked him kicking at him, and twisting her broken arm. The kick was fast but missed, the scream that follow was unending as were the tears that flowed from her clenched eyes.

Sano reached for her again, touching her knee this time, she flinched and bit her lip. Sano held still for a very long time, he could almost feel Kenshin waiting to help. Hiraru sobbed softly, "Just be done with it and leave me. I don't want to see your face, I'd rather gouge out my eyes."

Sano took in his breath slowly. Meanwhile, Kenshin shifted behind him, "Hiraru-dono."

Sano removed his hand, "Captain Sagara…" He said slowly, "You look like him, but your not. I can't believe I didn't see it. Haru… is that even your real name?"

She moved, looking up at him, "Sano… No, my mind's just playing tricks on me…" She looked away, "How did you find out what they call me? No, don't tell me, stop it. Just stop torturing me. Kill me or beat me or rape me, just stop messing with my head." Tears ran down her face.

Kenshin moved, using the reverse side of his sword to cut the leather ropes. Hiraru's hands fell to her lap and her feet came out from under her, causing her to actually sit on the ground. Sano tried to gently remove the ropes from her wrists but the leather was so tight that he couldn't loosen the knots. Kenshin spoke again trying to calm her, "It's alright Hiraru-chan, we got your letter. We'll take you to Megumi-san and get your wounds cared for."

Hiraru looked at him. Slowly her hand reached out, touching his face, "You're real…" a small smile passed over her face, and her eyes went to Sano, "You came… I didn't ask you to come, but you did…" Sano picked her up, carrying her to the small door of the cage. He let Kenshin pull her out, then he followed. Once more he picked her up, ready this time to take her out of the room, but she stopped him, "My things… I promised Korin, I can't leave without them… Please… Sano… I can't leave without what belongs to me."

Sano sighed, "Alright, Kenshin will get them, he'll get everything." There was a table on the other side of the room, it had things Sano could easily identify as Hiraru's and things he had to guess were hers. Kenshin moved over to it, silently, and began to pick the items up.

Kenshin took up the bag, placed a wig inside it, offered the red Kimono to Sano, folded the scarlet vest into the bag, and made sure Hiraru's weapons fit inside too. Sano wrapped Hiraru in the simple kimono, her injuries now mostly hidden, as was her modesty. Once they were outside Kenshin turned to the still cowering Ikeda, "Where are the items Hiraru-chan…'stole' from you?"

Ikeda whimpered, "First floor library, North wall shelf, in the glass case."

"Show me," Saito pulled the man to his feet and Kenshin and Sano followed after, Hiraru in Sano's arms.

Sano had barely entered the library when his eyes went to the lone glass case in the room. It held two items Sano would never forget, "The Captain's swords…" He breathed, he thought it had been under his breath but Saito had heard it.

"Well, that's enough proof for me," He growled, "Ikeda Toshimi, your under arrest for kidnapping, stealing family heirlooms, and assault. Himura, since I doubt you'll get her to a doctor without them, I give you permission to remove Kojima Shiro's swords and hold them for his daughter." Saito removed both swords from their case and held them in Kenshin's direction, "Now take her to that vixen woman, I don't want to have to do more paperwork than necessary, and I certainly don't want to explain why the two of you are here. The driver of the carriage will take you wherever you want to go." Saito said, his eyes not leaving the sickly figure of Ikeda, "Now get out."

Kenshin took the swords and bowed, "Thank you, Saito-san, we couldn't have found her without your help."

Saito growled, "I'm just paying off my debt. Go."

Ruroni-chan: (Still crying) I want my mommy!!!

Twilight-kun: Can't we shut her up some how?

Gerry-sama: I'm working on something give me a few more moments….

Ruroni-chan: I hope all of you out there know how important your mothers are! You should be lavishing them with lace and sweets this weekend! Show them you understand the crap they put up with all year and for today, wait on them hand and foot!

Gerry-sama: (with cell phone) Ruroni-chan… I have a very sweet lady on the phone who would love to talk to you…

Ruroni-chan: (Still crying) I don't want to talk to anyone if it's not my mother!

Gerry-sama: Okay… (Into Cell) Oba-san, I'm sorry about how rude your daughter is being…

Ruroni-chan: (Knocks Gerry-sama over to get to phone) Hahaue! Momma!! I miss you so much… Yes, I'm getting proper sleep… I know my last e-mail came in really late… I am getting plenty of sleep, I swear… Actually this week I have been sleeping until noon… Yes ma'am I will… Yes ma'am…

Gerry-sama: (Grins at Twilight-kun) Am I good or what?

Twilight-kun: (not happy) Okay… I'll admit it… you're good…

Gerry-sama: Alright since Ruroni-chan is in the middle of a very important call, (looks over at Ruroni-chan who is sitting like a proper lady for once) A very, very important call, I'm going to say this. She loves getting your e-mails and will continue to post as often as she can. Remember the more of you who review the more often she posts. She would also like to thank…SadowBlade-san who reminded her to post, and made her feel love. This post is for you SadowBlade-san.