Author's Note:

This isn't ending any time soon. I'm just hoping I don't bore any of you with this. How are you liking the romantic angle so far? Too much? Not enough? Ehehe...there are two things in this story that I've decided to leave open-ended (meaning, it isn't mapped out in my head), one is the romance and two is...well, that's a secret. One of you readers know about it already, because she managed to ask the right questions. However, I didn't divulge much, did I? On the angle of the romance, you must all know that I have a free reign with it. I can basically do anything I want with the mush/sexual "tense-up"/love-conflicts as the mystery goes along. It may or may not be intertwined in the plot. I dunno. I haven't decided yet. Heehee...So many ways to go, so much fun!

With regards to any lemon that may occur in the story, I have decided that I will keep the Fanfiction.net version R rated, meaning any lemon in this story will not be found here, BUT said lemon will be attached to a link I will subsequently provide readers with on the Fanfiction.net text. ^_^ It's not that I'm shy or anything like that (What, me? Shy? Shyeah, right!), it's just that I'm giving consideration to the readers who began this story based on the R rating and not on an NC-17 rating.

Again, sorry this took long. It couldn't be helped. It had much to do with the Christmas season and me being dragged out of town (with no PC) unwontedly. This is the improved format. Goodness...took me a while.

Standard disclaimers apply. "Rurouni Kenshin" (c) Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shuiesha, Shounen Jump, and Sony. I do not own RK, pray as I might, every night, it just wouldn't happen that way. No matter how many candles I light, no matter how many chickens I decapitate...

More disclaimers. I would just like to say that although I will be mentioning (and have mentioned) a lot of people who actually existed in Meiji Japan, my account of their lives and personalities are all fictional, except for what I say is true and actual in my closing Author's Notes. Please, no one sue me for libel.

Chapter Six

THE SPY

Of course, when I woke up, I was in bed. I should have expected it. Not because I sleepwalk or anything like that, but because Kenshin is around, and...well, that pretty much sums it up. That man would make a good mother if the gods would permit the phenomenon.

So today we will be seeing Nakagura Daisuke. Whether he will talk about his wife's death is something yet to be known. Frankly, I'm not expecting much from the visit. I mean, I have it on good authority that men do not like talking about the death of their wives.

Sneaking a peek at Kenshin on the breakfast table, I tried to steel my thoughts away from that aspect.

I wonder if Kenshin is thinking the same thing, though.

He's all right now. Back to normal, so to speak.

What had gotten him so angry last night?

He had mentioned Saitoh. One would think that's a no-brainer. Saitoh getting Kenshin angry, as if that was *reeeeeeal unusual*. But there is more to it than that. All I had to do was ask him, of course, but then would he answer?

I ought to give it a try, anyway.

"Oi busu!" Yahiko cried, a bit of rice shooting out of his mouth. "When are you gonna test me?"

His demand snapped me out of my musings and I turned to him haughtily. "When I think you've trained enough," I replied. "It's only logical that you're not ready to take on Kenshin after practicing for just two days. Even Kenshin had to train for years to become the master that he is."

"What?!?" Yahiko exclaimed. "Are you expecting me to wait years before you test me?"

What an idiot. "Of course not. Just keep practicing, Yahiko."

Yahiko muttered a curse.

"Maa..." Kenshin said to soothe him. "Listen to your teacher, Yahiko-kun. She knows best."

Sanosuke, who was of course present for his morning-mooching, was too busy slurping his miso to contribute to the conversation.

Kyosuke sneered. "Don't worry, kid. If I had a teacher who was anything like Kaoru, I wouldn't respect her either."

Yahiko, who has obviously learned to hate Kyosuke in such a short period of time, scowled at him. "Stay out of this," he growled.

Kyosuke merely rolled his eyes around and continued to eat his onigiri. He then spoke to Kenshin. "What's on the to-do list today?"

"Like I said," Kenshin began. "You, Kaoru and I will go see Nakagura Daisuke. Sano will later check if the Oniwabanshu has responded."

"How about me?" Yahiko asked.

"You will continue to practice in the dojo," I told him.

Yahiko pouted. "No fair! I want to help!"

Mou! "Then go with Sano later..."

"I don't need a babysitter!" Yahiko yelled at me, banging down his bowl and throwing down his chopsticks in an eleven-year-old kind of tantrum.

I glared at him. "Obviously, you do!"

I could tell that got right smack in the middle, because he merely glared back and said nothing in response. It was a reluctant submission, but a submission nevertheless.

Seeing that things were resolved for the meantime, Kenshin gave a satisfied nod. "We shall leave for our errands just as soon as I finish with today's laundry."

I stifled a laugh. We mustn't forget our laundry, now must we?

Kyosuke however, shot Kenshin a puzzled stare. "Laundry? Jeez Himura, can't that wait?"

"I will do the laundry because it needs doing," he replied, sipping his tea calmly.

Kyosuke averted his gaze and made air circles around his ear with a finger. I could hear him muttering, "What a loon..."

Well, Kyosuke will never understand how important the laundry is to Kenshin, so I won't even explain it to him. Besides, it would be good to have Kenshin alone in a neutral place like our back yard.

"In the meantime," I said. "I'll be joining you in the dojo, Yahiko."

Yahiko gave a groan but I ignored it.

"You people are nuts," Kyosuke said. "I can't believe you're doing all these mundane things while a killer is on the loose, who by the way, is quite possibly plotting mine and Kaoru's demise as we speak if he or she hasn't planned it out already."

Mou! The melodrama would kill me first before the wacko-murderer does. However, I'll address his issues. "My dear Kyosuke," I said patiently. "We are aware of our delicate situation, but here's the big picture: We have close to nothing, and we need to think things through, if only for a couple of hours. Do...you have any idea where we should go with the information we've gathered?"

"We haven't even gone to Aizu for Taka!" He pointed out in irritation.

I shrugged. "Then go to Aizu yourself. We're not stopping you."

He gave me a suspicious stare. "But we will go to Aizu, ne?"

I looked at Kenshin. Aizu's a long way from here, and it will definitely cost much more to go there. I don't even know if we can afford it.

"We will see, Kyosuke-san," Kenshin said, getting to his feet. "In the meantime, sessha has to attend to the pile of dirty clothes, de gozaru yo."

Kyosuke cursed, and I was in no mood to appease him anymore. Following Kenshin's lead, the rest of us, except for Kyosuke of course, proceeded to our daily rituals.

Kenshin did his laundry, Yahiko and I trained in the dojo, and Sano bummed around, doing nothing, which according to him requires a lot of work. Kyosuke paced impatiently around the household. Though I did not remember him to be very industrious, more like Sano actually, I supposed our impending visit to Nakagura Daisuke was making him frisky.

Nothing but sheer Kamiya Kasshin forbearance got Yahiko and I through his laundry updates. Every ten minutes or so, he would pop his head into the dojo and say, "Himura's half-way through the pile," and then, "Himura's done soaping and I reckon he'll be rinsing soon," and then, "Himura's rinsed half the pile," and "Himura's ringing out the colored fabrics," and so forth.

By the time Kyosuke came around to "He's just starting to hang up the clothes," I'd just about had more than I could take. I ordered Yahiko to keep practicing and declared that I was going to talk to the rurouni, *by myself.*

Pushing past Kyosuke, I made my way down the dojo steps and went straight to where Kenshin was. Just as Kyosuke said, he was hanging the clothes out on poles.

"Kenshin?" I called to him quietly.

He smiled at me, brighter than ever, then went back to his work. "What can I do for you, Kaoru?"

I thought about how I should go about asking him what he was telling me about Saitoh last night. I'm hoping he's more affable about answering my questions now, but I'm still aiming for delicacy. "Why did you...look so determined last night?" There. That's as roundabout as I can get.

"Well," he began, flapping out another sheet of linen. "Saitoh came by last night."

Oh shit. I didn't expect *that.* "Are you serious? Why?!?!"

He looked at me, clutching the piece of laundry in his hands. Concern was written all over his face, the smile gone. "He talked to me...about using you as bait to lure out the Shikeigai killer. He knows about you and Kyosuke-san."

I could say nothing, and I felt the blood draining from my face. I should have known, I really should have known, but it still knots my stomach hearing it uttered to my face.

"Do not worry, Kaoru," he went on, reverting to his chore. "I will protect you."

I blinked. Protect me? Protect me from what? From being used? From Saitoh himself? I need details. "You refused him on my behalf, of course," I said hollowly.

"I refused him, period. I could not be certain how you would feel about the proposal, but sessha...I cannot let you do it."

I took a deep breath to steady my already strained nerves. "Kenshin, you know I'm bait whether or not I want to be, ne?"

He nodded gravely. "Yes, but we know Saitoh could make the situation worse. He has ways. A whispered rumor here and there about a former Shinsengumi captain who has decided to take a righteous stance...how he can have access to the two remaining Shikeigai...I will never trust him."

I decided to be forthwith. "What did Saitoh tell you last night, Kenshin?"

"Oh, things Saitoh is wont to say," he replied vaguely, smiling through something I just know shouldn't be smiled about. "So you see, Saitoh is on the case. I don't know if that helps our cause or...well, I just think we should be careful."

"Haven't we, been careful I mean?" I asked him.

"Probably not enough," he replied. "I'm considering whether Sano ought to be assigned to keep an eye on the wolf."

I scoffed. "Good luck keeping that a secret."

Kenshin chuckled. "Sano will handle it in his own way. Perhaps a little transparency will do more good than any more skeletons, if you'll pardon the pun."

I arched an eyebrow and said nothing in complaint. Instead, I said, "That's what you've been thinking about while doing your chores, isn't it?"

He chuckled again while he hung up the last piece of linen. "Well, perhaps doing the laundry did give sessha a lot of opportunity to think. But there are selfish reasons as well. I desperately needed to do something that was not off kilter. Something to assure me that our regular life is not yet entirely caught in the whirlwind."

I felt the full force of his words. Things have changed, and will continue to change. Is this what the Meiji is all about? Constant reformation? Is it so bad, that Kenshin would grasp the mundane for the slightest semblance of...repose?

"You are tired of all this," I concluded with a sinking heart. Perhaps this was too much to ask from him after all.

He smiled. "Tired, you say? Not in the least. I would never tire of protecting you and yours, Kaoru. At this point in our lives, it is what I live for."

How can he manage to be so heartwarming in this terrible time? "Kenshin, I really don't know what I'd do without you," I said quite sincerely, a grin beginning to spread on my lips.

"Perhaps die of indigestion, de gozaru yo."

"Kenshin!" I cried, holding down a smile.

"Maa...maa...I forgot. You're a master chef."

"Kenshin!" I cried even louder.

"Now that the washing is done," he said with a straight face, ignoring my protests while wiping his hands on his apron. "I am ready to go to Daisuke-dono."

The initial plan is to pretend that we were visiting Miyori, unaware of her death. The story is simple. Kyosuke is travelling on business and he happened to pass by my home, telling me that we ought to call on "Junko" (Miyori's Shikeigai name) since she didn't live too far away. I, supposedly not knowing she lived anywhere near the area because I did not know she had married Nakagura Daisuke, immediately agreed, amazed that I hadn't known the close proximity of our abodes. Though it may be weird that I never knew Miyori had taken up residence nearby, the oddity of it was possible, considering nobody knew Miyori and I knew each other. Also, we had decided that we would be using our real names. Kenshin and I did not live far enough to assume that Daisuke has not heard about the great Hitokiri Battousai taking up residence in a dojo two hours away on foot. Not to mention the fact that the dojo's teacher happens to be a woman who has adopted an ex-yakuza pickpocket and allows a former-streetfighter slash ex-ganster to feed off her measly income. Considering Kenshin's red hair, scar face and sword (known to be reverse-edged, by the way) is hard to miss, we would do less damage being open about our true identities rather than conceal it and be caught with our pants down, especially if Daisuke knows about the Shikeigai.

On the aspect of Saitoh knowing that we were snooping...well, he'd find out whether or not we told the truth to Daisuke, so the truth would either set us free or get us killed. And once again I say: Life's a rabid bitch.

According to Kyosuke, Miyori and Daisuke have a three-year-old daughter, so Kyosuke prepared something for the little tyke should she show up. It might help in softening up the father in our quest for what I consider to be delicate information.

I still do not know how we were going to broach the subject of "dead wife" to the husband. I know from experience that not only will it be difficult, it will not be pretty either. And even with my "vast wisdom" when it comes to probing for dead-wife tales, I couldn't really tell them, "Step aside, amateurs! I've done this before!" taking as reference my experience with Kenshin, because goodness knows, I'll wager my sword arm that no two situations of the kind are alike. Besides, it took a crazed lunatic with white hair, a diary and ten years of guilt before the Kenshin-gumi got to the crux of that affair. Granted, this situation probably has a lunatic as crazy as the other one, I'm betting the lack of white hair, a diary and ten years of guilt is the least of its difference.

Now we are on our way to Daisuke's home, taking a longer route because we had to be as inconspicuous as possible. Of course, Kyosuke had a lot to say about it.

"Quit complaining," I told him haughtily. "You're the reason we have to be discreet. Apart from the fact that Saitoh's looking for you, might I remind you that the Aizu mob wants your head as well!"

"Look, the word that I'm being protected by no less than Battousai has gotten around," Kyosuke replied just as loftily. "And frankly, even the great Saitoh would think twice if he saw me traipsing around Edo with Battousai."

"I do not recall making a resolve to protect you against the garou, Kyosuke-san," Kenshin quipped.

"Always the kidder, ey Himura?" Kyosuke said, slapping Kenshin on the back twice.

"Oro!" Kenshin sputtered in surprise, struggling to preserve the mochi we had brought along as a gift, after which I could see Kenshin forming a glare that could have struck Kyosuke dead if Kenshin had dealt it with a little bit more potency.

"Be that as it may," I said, stepping between the two men. "I wish you to be quiet. It's such a nice day, and when you talk too much, you have a tendency to ruin things."

"Hey!"

A teeny-tiny grin peeped out of Kenshin's lips. Oh, the rurouni liked that.

I don't care what other people say. I prefer my gentle and polite rurouni to have a little mischief in him. He'd be boring if he just kept de-gozaru-ing and oro-ing all over the place.

Between being caught in my thoughts and Kyosuke's periodic bouts of silliness, I hardly noticed that we had been walking long, and soon, we were standing in front of Daisuke's home.

The gate was about as high as my own, back in the dojo, but I could tell from the perimeter of the walls that the property was just enough to accommodate an average sized house, probably with the same floor areas as mine, minus the dojo.

"Well?" Kyosuke asked.

"Well what?" I responded stupidly. I was reluctant to start, considering I had no idea in hell how we were going to extract information from Daisuke.

Kenshin was more proactive. "We knock," he simply said, rapping his fist against the surface of the gate.

We stood before a young man, a bit older than Kyosuke and myself. Devilishly handsome with light brown hair cut short, like Aoshi's. His eyes were deep black, so intense that I could swear that his gaze was penetrating our very skulls. He's tall, and fit.

What a dreamy guy, and if I weren't so partial to red hair, I could have drooled on the spot. Mou!

"Nakagura Daisuke, I presume?" Kyosuke asked.

The man arched an eyebrow and gave each of us a suspicious glance, ending with Kenshin and the sakabatou at his sash.

"Yes, I'm Daisuke. What can I do for you?" He said.

I could see Kenshin fidgeting. Apparently, his proactive-ness had worn out at this point, probably because just like the rest of us, he hasn't quite figured out how we were going to go about this.

I might as well begin my stint. "We are good friends of Junko-san and we have come to pay her a visit. I had not seen her in such a long time and I just recently learned from my travelling friend, Kyosuke-san, that she lived in the area. Had I known of it before, I would have come to see her much sooner."

I smiled broadly and waited for his reaction.

Daisuke's face took on a melancholic expression. "I am very sorry, but apparently you haven't heard. My wife passed away last year."

I gasped, prompting Kyosuke to act as shocked as I was. Kenshin merely looked away. He is not as good at acting as Kyosuke and I so he demurred from doing anything more complicated.

"My goodness!" I exclaimed. "How? She was so young!"

"'Twas an illness," he replied somberly. "I am very sorry you came all this way for nothing."

I gave him a bow. Kenshin and Kyosuke did likewise.

"Please accept our condolences," I said. "We cannot express our regret enough. I remember her to be a wonderful woman."

Daisuke nodded. "She was."

I gestured to the plate Kenshin held. "Consider this mochi as a token from us to your family. Please, good sir, it's the least we could do for awakening such sad memories."

"Thank you," Daisuke said, accepting the mochi.

Then he said nothing more. He is expecting us to say our farewells.

I was racking my brain for a means to continue this visit inside his home when a small voice broke through the solemnity.

"Papa?"

All of us looked to the source and saw the child, a beautiful little girl with the same silken locks as her father's.

I'd hate to use her, but we're desperate.

Looking to Kenshin for something akin to permission, he gave me an affirmative nod.

Well, here goes nothing.

"Oh my! What an adorable little lady!" I gushed, crouching to give her one of my most innocent stares. It worked like a charm.

The child instantly smiled at me, though she stayed behind her father's legs.

"Ah! I came prepared in case a young host or hostess was abroad!" Kyosuke said, fishing something out of his sleeve.

I was impressed upon seeing that he had pulled out animal origami of a crane, a rhino head and a rabbit.

"Wai!" Cried the girl-child in delight, snatching the paper concoctions from Kyosuke's fingers.

"Soushi," warned her father with tender warmth he had failed to hide in the gentle reproach. "What do you say to the nice man?"

Shyly, Soushi bowed primly, holding the origami to her chest. "Thank you, sir," she piped, her cheeks aflame.

I saw Kenshin flash a genuine smile. This he could handle. He loves kids, and this one was even easier to like than most.

"Oro! How very polite Shoushi-dono is, de gozaru yo!" He remarked.

Soushi giggled. "He talks funny!"

"Soushi!" Cried Daisuke, mildly horrified.

"Is that so?" Kenshin asked, endeared by her frankness. "Well, sessha has always been strange, de gozaru yo."

Soushi giggle even more.

Daisuke sighed, obviously embarrassed by his daughter's roguishness. Though still not smiling but nonetheless more affable, he gestured towards the house. "Would you like to come inside? Some tea before you make your way back," he offered.

Bulls-eye! Nothing like winning over daddy's little girl to win over the doting daddy. Of course, when she's old enough to attract young men, I'll wager that formula would be radically reversed.

"Thank you for your kindness," I said, making another bow. Now that he's being nicer, I'm beginning to feel a smidgen of guilt because we were being so deceptive. "My name is Kamiya Kaoru. This is our companion Tenshio Kyosuke and this is my dearest friend, Himura Kenshin," I said while presenting them.

He stared at Kenshin for several seconds then he chuckled, breaking his silence. "Hitokiri Battousai and the woman kenjutsu instructor who took him in. The townspeople love talking about the two of you, though I don't believe half of what they say," he quipped, his tone bereft of malice. "However, Junko never mentioned she knew either of you."

Is he on to us? I wondered briefly if Miyori ever told Daisuke her real name.

Kyosuke's eyebrow had already arched in my direction and Kenshin was once again looking affected by the fact that his reputation preceded him.

I decided to see this to the end. "Oh, Junko-san was never friends with Kenshin. She knew Kyosuke and I, during the Bakumatsu."

I was pushing my luck, mentioning the Bakumatsu, but if he knew who we were, it was better to have it out in the open. However, I was banking on the possibility that "Junko" never told Daisuke about her secret life. After all, Nakagura Shinpachi could have killed her in spite of his rumored bastard son's love for her.

Something akin to understanding crossed Daisuke's face. "Junko didn't like talking about the Bakumatsu much, and I doubt she would have told me about any acquaintance she may have with Hitokiri Battousai."

Kenshin gave Daisuke his brightest smile. "This unworthy one is no longer Hitokiri, good sir."

Good. Kenshin's still hanging in there.

Soushi laughed, unaffected by her father's aloofness. She was oblivious to words like "Hitokiri" or "Battousai." Bless her innocent soul! "He's so funny papa!" She squealed.

"He wasn't always like that, sweetheart," Daisuke said with just a hint of contempt. "Now go play with your paper animals."

Soushi sped away to heed her father.

Perhaps our welcome had ran out so soon...

"I didn't expect to receive such distinguished guests," Daisuke said to us, stepping aside and pushing the gate to open it wider. "Please."

Not so put off after all.

What is going on inside his mind? It was highly probable that he had no idea just how special our relationship to Miyori was, but it was just as probable that he knew nothing about us.

Taking his gracious invitation, we made our way inside then let him walk ahead of us.

"How did you happen to meet Junko?" Daisuke asked us, leading us to his receiving room.

You're on, Kyosuke, I thought.

"Oh," Kyosuke began smoothly. "She was travelling with a group of soldiers and she stayed in Edo for a couple of months. Kaoru and I met her while she was here."

He and Miyori had been stationed together here in Edo, so among us, he is the most capable of stretching the truth about her friendship with us. Kyosuke had been called Haruna of course, so it was unlikely Daisuke would recognize him by name, or even by face, because Kyosuke had never really spoken to Daisuke before.

"Quirky, that Junko. Always talking literature. A real bookworm," continued Kyosuke.

Daisuke cocked a cold smile. "Yes, she did like her poetry. Please make yourselves comfortable while I get us some tea."

He left us in the sitting room.

"Do you think he knows who we really are?" Kyosuke asked us in a whisper.

"Not unless he has anything to do with the deaths," I whispered back. "How about you, Kenshin? Picking up anything in his ki?"

Kenshin nodded gravely. "He is hiding something. His ki feels strained, and it's not because I was Hitokiri Battousai."

Kyosuke scratched his head. "Weird. D'you think he killed his own wife?"

"Oh, don't go jumping to conclusions again," I scolded him in a low tone lest we be heard. "Honestly, sometimes I wonder if you didn't trick the Ishinshishi into believing you're a genius."

"Hey!"

I turned away from them and let my eyes scan the room. It was mostly bereft of frills, as traditional Japanese homes tend to be, but there was one distinguishing factor. On the wall facing the door were shelves lined with books and scroll boxes. Most of them had English characters branded into its spine, tinted with various inks to make them decipherable at first glance. I could also make out German words and Russian characters. There were Japanese texts as well, and the Chinese characters were confined to the scroll boxes.

At the top of the shelf, a Japanese inscription was carved into the wood.

*"Yo no naka wo

nani nagekamashi

yamazakura hana

miru hodo no

kokoro narisuba."*

[Check A.N. (1)] "Why do we suffer so in the world? Just regard life as the short bloom of the mountain cherries," I read out loud.

"It's composed in the old way," Kenshin remarked.

Kenshin, it seems, recognized its style. Waka is the precursor of haiku. Fascinating that Kenshin knows that.

"It seems rather sad, ne?" I commented, a bit sidetracked by Kenshin's knowledge of any art not involving the wielding of a bladed weapon.

He was about to say something in response to my observation when Daisuke's voice came from the door.

"Most people would think so," said our host. He was carrying a tray, which held a pot of tea and cups. "But the author's daughter would say otherwise."

"The author is...?" I asked, truly curious. The poem is lovely, if not very cheerful.

"A woman called Fuji, but known as Shikibu Murasaki," he replied, setting the tray down before us and taking his place.

I know the name, and genuine interest came over me. "Tales of Genji," I said, referring to the first novel ever published in Japan, perhaps in the entire world, before the time of printing presses. Tales of Genji was compiled during the Heian period, under the reign of Emperor Ichijou and Regent Michinaga. It is an engaging piece of literature.

Daisuke nodded, somewhat impressed that I know about it. He gestured to the upper left-hand corner of the bookshelves. There, beside the thickly bound Tales of Genji was Diary of Shikibu Murasaki as preserved by Katako and Diary of Katako. Katako is Murasaki's only child.

"Those are Junko's most prized books. The poem at the top of the shelf is Murasaki's 'death poem', as her daughter Katako-sama phrased it. And as she said, she considers the poem to be joyous. It's one of Junko's favorites because she found fascination in the fact that the poem has mystery. Junko is quirky, as Tenshio-san said."

"The name Soushi," I put in sociably, hoping to make him more comfortable. "It is the name of the Empress who brought Murasaki to court as a lady in waiting. Emperor Ichijou's second wife."

Daisuke nodded again. "Empress Soushi gave birth to two emperors. More importantly, she was responsible for compiling the Tales of Genji. Junko thought it only fitting that the person responsible for putting together a great novel and thus bringing joy to many should share her name with our daughter."

He must be a fan of Murasaki as well to give in to his wife's literary whims.

"So how are you and Soushi holding up by yourselves?" Kyosuke asked. "Without Junko-san, of course."

His question lacked delicacy, but I shouldn't have expected less, or rather more, from our resident Thick-Skin.

Of one mind, Kenshin and I merely smiled through our grit teeth, hoping our clueless demeanor would blunt the sharpness of Kyosuke's words.

Daisuke frowned slightly, but he replied with civility. "We are doing quite all right. Soushi misses her mother, but she is a brave child, considering the death was so sudden."

Kenshin nodded solemnly. "Sessha will wager it was cholera. My parents were taken in the same manner, and just as quickly, good sir."

"Well, it wasn't cholera," Daisuke said. "It was actually a strange disease. The doctors could not explain it."

I could see Kenshin watching him intently as Daisuke spoke the half-truth, so I spoke to distract him from Kenshin's penetrative gaze.

"It's very fortunate that whatever malady Junko caught did not get to you and Soushi-chan," I said, sipping my tea calmly.

Daisuke looked at me pointedly. "We were very careful," he said, as if I should have known it already.

What a sullen man he is. I wonder if anything makes him happy.

On that account, this mission is proving to be difficult. We could not seem to get past any of his barriers. Though Kenshin has told us that *something* was not being said, that doesn't help us much either. Maybe we ought to come out and say it, telling him out right that we did not believe the "strange disease" diagnosis of the doctors.

I can usually summon patience when it comes to gathering information, but I cannot see myself moving into Daisuke's household to wheedle secrets from him like I used to do with the Shinsen-gumi.

The desperation I felt was quite irritating, and I was seriously considering blowing our cover when I saw Daisuke's eyes looking at the door.

Following his gaze, I saw Soushi with her origami along with what seemed to me as several paper dolls. She squirmed a bit, blushing awkwardly.

"What is it, sweetheart?" Daisuke asked his daughter.

"Soushi wants to ask Funny Man to play," she said, lifting her paper toys to her face shyly.

"Soushi," Daisuke said in disapproval. "Himura-san is quite pre-occupied at the moment."

"Oh but Himura-san would never deny a lady anything," I quickly said, an opportunity presenting itself to me that very instant.

Though I find it abhorrent of myself to use children in any way, this might be the only means to get what we need without arousing any more suspicion. "Would you, Himura-san?" I continued, eyeing him pointedly.

Kenshin looked a bit astonished by what I had said, responding with his signature, "Oro..."

We locked eyes for a second, and I ardently prayed he would not hate me for making him do this. Did he understand what I needed him to do? So convinced was I that this may be the only way to get the information we needed that I was about ready to volunteer myself as Soushi's playmate.

But Kenshin did not fail me. "Of course this unworthy one would honor both ladies' faith in me," he said, rising to his feet.

The relief I felt was slight, for though I know he knew what I wanted to be done, I could not be sure if it had diminished any respect that he might have had for me.

I turned to Daisuke. "He's very good with children, Nakagura-san. It will do both of them good."

"Will it?" Daisuke asked with a hint of amusement. "Quite frankly, the good deeds of Himura-san which I have heard he is apt to do of late are many. Trusting him with children is one of them."

Kenshin smiled and bowed before leaving with Soushi.

Emulating Kenshin's smile, I tried to push down the feeling that I had done something very bad, but it could not be done. It was fantastically horrible of me to subject Kenshin and Soushi to such a deception.

Soushi, so innocent and pure...I was that child once. Maybe not as inculpable, maybe not as pretty, but that just makes it all the more unforgivable, because if I, tainted and dishonest as I was...am, deserved better than to be used by the Ishinshishi for their ends, then Soushi, by far, deserves better than being used by a jaded bitch.

THE HITOKIRI

We had little choice in the matter. Kaoru should understand that.

I saw the guilt in her eyes over having to make me do this.

In that split second glance we shared, she was already asking for my forgiveness, forgiveness for something that could hardly be considered deplorable.

She has created a moral standard, which is harder on her own person than it is on anyone else. Why does she judge herself so harshly? How can she equate the Ishinshishi's deviousness with her own slight deceptions? But it would be like her to do so.

That woman thinks worse of her herself than she ought.

Before she revealed her secrets, I thought I was the most self-depreciating person ever to walk Japan. It is disturbing to find out that there is someone worse at it than I am, not because I like being the worse, but because it is Kaoru, the very woman I love for her courage, should be so afraid to think herself worthy. Will it always be this way? Is her own refusal to be happy with herself my true rival for her passion?

"This is Prince Genji," Soushi began, handing me a paper doll of a very distinguished-looking Japanese statesman. "And this is Fujiwara Korechika." She then handed me a western-garbed soldier. "And this is Lady Koshoushou...Lady Murasaki...Fujiwara Sanenari...mother named them herself, from her books." (2)

"From her favorite books?" I asked, referring to the set Daisuke had pointed out earlier.

Soushi nodded. "Mama always tells Soushi stories, and Soushi plays them on toys."

I took it to mean that she applies the tales on her paper dolls. "Tell me a story then, so that I might be familiar with it when we play."

Soushi smiled and nodded. She pulled me to one of the stone bird feeders in the garden, carved into a small house with a roof. The windows gave the birds access to the food. The house sat on a stone base, and the whole apparatus was about Soushi's height.

Ordering me to settle right in front of it, she placed her paper dolls on the ground, including Kyosuke's origami, and plucked a new doll from beneath the stack. This one looked like the cut out of a woman from a photograph.

"Is that your mother, Soushi-dono?" I asked her gently.

She shook her head. "This is Auntie Ikue, Papa's half-sister. She's a witch."

I blinked. "Oro! A witch, you say? Surely, only in the game...?"

Most likely a stern aunt to earn Soushi's child-like disdain.

"Oh, but Auntie's bad," Soushi said, sticking the Ikue-doll into one of the windows of the birdfeeder. "Daddy said so."

I was frowning now. Soushi certainly didn't sound malicious. She was stating it like it was a fact. "Is that so? Perhaps your father was joking."

"Nooo," Shoushi continued, placing the paper dolls in some kind of position on the grass. "Daddy sent her away, because she made mommy die."

"P-Pardon me..." I said, feeling flustered out of my wits. "She...made Miyori-dono die?"

Soushi nodded.

It was only then I realized I had used her mother's real name, and she recognized it. I should not be surprised that Miyori told her daughter her real name, but then...that hardly matters.

It is preposterous. I have been too much among murders and secrets and dramatic revelations... "How did she make Miyori-dono die?"

"A spell," Soushi replied, speaking in an exaggerated mysterious tone. "Magic words. She said she learned it from the wolf."

My stomach twisted.

No. She spoke of spells, for goodness sake. And a wolf...a wolf!

Preposterous! Ridiculous!

"Soushi-dono...where is your aunt right now?" I asked cautiously.

Soushi smiled. "In her loo-loo bin castles. With men in robes..."

"You've been there?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Nooo, but Auntie drew pictures of it. Soushi kept them for dolls. Funny man want to see?"

I looked towards the sitting room where Kaoru, Kyosuke and Daisuke were seated, immersed in an animated discussion. Daisuke had his back to me, and I hoped he'd stay that way for a few minutes.

"I would very much like to see them please," I said.

Soushi ran off to fetch the pictures.

Is there anything to what the she is saying? She would not lie, but she sees things through child-eyes. It could very well mean something else, or nothing, for that matter.

Keeping a cautious gaze on Daisuke, I waited for Soushi to return. She appeared moments later with thin sheets of parchment that looked rather worn (and torn), probably from constant handling. Handing them to me, I quickly fixed my eyes on the illustrations.

The first picture showed a rundown facility, dreary by the dark clouds shaded into its background, drearier still because of the unkempt foliage climbing up the stone walls of the perimeter gate. On a wooden plank just outside the sturdy gate were the words Kitakata no Anshouji (3). I recognized it as a temple in Aizu, which had been converted into a field hospital during the Bakumatsu. It may not be big enough to accommodate "patients" for long periods of time, but there were a few private storehouses surrounding it. The rich owners of such storehouses lost the usury of their own property during the Bakumatsu, forcing them to abandon not only their warehouses, but also Kitakata itself. I saw a date at the bottom of the sketch. The artwork is older than Soushi, meaning Ikue's insanity, if she really is insane, has been plaguing her even before Miyori's death. Perhaps it was that mental condition that drove her to do things...she shouldn't do.

The second illustration showed a Temple not too far from here. It was the Zojo-ji Temple (4), with a few monks standing about on the front lawn. I recognized it by the historic Sammon gate, its three sections representing each stage for the attainment of Nirvana. With the property's high perimeter gate, numerous Temples, abundant cherry blossoms of spring and tinted leaves when autumn came around, many frequented its buildings. This was drawn on the year of Miyori's death. Apparently, there had been a transfer of some sorts. I did not know they had turned the Temple into something of an asylum. Or maybe they didn't. At this point, I could not be certain of things having learned them from a three-year-old.

"Here, Soushi-dono," I said, giving back the sketches to her. "Keep these. They look like they need to be kept."

Soushi smiled and nodded. "We play first! Let Soushi tell you the story of the witch who lived in a magic cuckoo's nest..." she began, pointing to her Ikue paper doll tucked into the birdfeeder window.

Well, the child couldn't have phrased it better than anyone else.

"Is the battle won, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked, crouching down beside Soushi and me on the grass.

My alter-ego, the paper bunny, was in the midst of defending a turnip from the greedy hands of Fujiwara Korechika, Aunti Ikue's henchman.

"Madame, fly! Fly with the turnip!" Soushi cried, shoving the paper crane into Kaoru's hand.

Quick to take her cue, Kaoru immediately went into character brilliantly, making swooshing sounds of a bird in flight and then dazzling the child by launching into a swiftly made poem.

*"The crane belonging to the sky and light

Swooped to save the turnip's virtue

With the breath of the gods to aid its flight

No greed nor goodness could successfully pursue."*

She recited in a lulling voice.

Soushi was uncontainable in her delight, permitting such an elegant end to her little paper-doll skit.

"It's the least I could do," she said, patting Soushi's head and looking at her tenderly.

Ah, a token of her guilt. Kaoru...Kaoru...

Kaoru smiled at me. "Can you leave your post, Kenshin?"

"With the turnip saved it would seem so," I replied, as charmed about the poem as Soushi.

I stood up and saw Daisuke and Kyosuke coming up behind Kaoru.

Daisuke looked as sullen as ever, obviously none the better from conversing with them, but he didn't seem any worse. Whatever it was he was feeling, he was not keen on expressing it.

"Did you and Soushi have fun?" Daisuke asked me, his eyes going from me to the sketches Soushi had lying on the grass.

"Of course, Nakagura-dono," I replied, bowing to him. "Soushi-dono has a very fertile imagination. She is a creative little girl."

"Yes," Daisuke said. "A very fertile imagination. Sometimes, she spins tales even I could not fathom, but she is a child, after all. Everything is make-believe. Everything. Flights of fancy."

"Indeed!" I responded with my bright and clueless grin. "This unworthy one wishes he could be half as talented!" The underlying meaning in his words have only served to heighten my suspicions. The child's tales may have merit after all.

"Wouldn't that be nice?" Said Daisuke in a flat tone. "Your companions have begged their leave, and since you have finished your skit with Soushi, I'll be wishing you a safe journey."

"That is very kind of you," I said, effecting a bow.

We said our proper goodbye soon after.

Soushi, sweet one that she is, told us to come back.

Though we all smiled at her, none of us made any promises.

"Well," Kyosuke said on our way back. "Did you learn anything from the brat?"

Kaoru scowled at him. "Don't you go calling her a brat, Tenshio. You've no right," she scolded.

Kyosuke raised his hands in surrender. "Jeez...bite my head off, why don't you. It was just an expression. "

"Shut up," she snapped in a huff.

Kyosuke turned to me. "Man, your girlfriend's so cranky. Is it that time of the month already?"

"Oro!" I cried. "Kyosuke-san, I am certain that we all share feelings of frustration regarding this matter. Some more so than others."

"Yeah, yeah," muttered Kyosuke. "So what did you learn from Soushi-chan."

"Daisuke-dono has a half-sister," I informed them.

"Great," Kyosuke responded with a sigh. "More useless information. It's bad enough I had to bust my brain just to keep up with that infernally boring tirade about The Tales of Genji..."

"Would you just let me finish, if you please?" I requested in an annoyed tone.

Kyosuke grumbled but said nothing more.

"Thank you," I told him pointedly. "Soushi-chan told me in a roundabout way that this half-sister, Ikue-dono, is insane, and quite possibly responsible for Miyori-dono's death."

Kaoru and Kyosuke looked at me in shock.

"She told you that?" Kaoru demanded, disbelief in her eyes.

I nodded, my feelings of uncertainty abounding. "Quite. Of course, it is entirely possible that she made it up the way she sees things as a child, but I am reluctant to discredit the information so hastily. It just might be true."

"Well..." Kyosuke began, flustered. "Where's the sis now?"

"In the Zojo-ji Temple," I answered. "The child showed me sketches, both of them dated. She was formerly confined to a temple in Aizu, and then after Miyori-dono's death, she was transferred to the temple here in Edo."

"Shit!" Kaoru suddenly exclaimed. "This complicates things. We have to talk to this Ikue."

"Right," Kyosuke put in. "Information from a kook. Real reliable."

Kaoru frowned. "Be more constructive, please."

"According to the child, Ikue-dono told them that 'the wolf' made her do it," I continued.

This got both of them to stare at me again.

A few seconds later, they became more vocal.

"I knew it!" Kyosuke shrieked. "Oh my God! He's crazy! That righteous rage thing..."

"Calm down! It could be anyone, anything! She's crazy for goodness sake. Now you think she's reliable? Talk about double standard..." Kaoru exclaimed, irritated.

"Hello!" Kyosuke yelled, rapping his knuckle on Kaoru's forehead repeatedly.

Kaoru shoved him away. "What the hell is wrong with you? You're such an idiot!"

"I'm the idiot?" He demanded, incredulous. "Well, girl, it takes one to know one!"

"Mou! I ought to--"

Alright, they're at it again. Better to diffuse the situation before they start pulling at each other's hair in the middle of the road. "Calm down, the both of you," I said, stepping between them. "We are not even certain this can be considered a plausible lead."

"We'll go to her, then," Kaoru said decidedly. "The monks might allow us to see her."

"I doubt that, Kaoru," I responded in a gentle tone. "We might have to do it another way."

Kyosuke groaned. "Great...breaking and entering. It's bad enough that I've got that thing with the mob, now you actually want to get me in trouble with the local police."

"You know, it's just like you to shirk," Kaoru told him haughtily. "I'll go with you Ken--"

"Oi! I don't shirk," Kyosuke said hotly. "Keep your judgements to yourself, Kamiya. You can play judge and jury to your own conscience all you want, but leave me out of it!"

Kaoru's eyes misted over.

Oh no. Kyosuke has once again struck a sensitive chord.

She promptly kicked Kyosuke's shin.

"Ouch! You bitch!" Kyosuke cried, crumpling to the ground.

Kaoru stalked off wordlessly, leaving both of us behind.

"Very good, Kyosuke-san," I muttered, taking off to catch Kaoru. "Kaoru...wait..."

Kaoru was walking fast, and I had to jog to keep up with her.

"He's right, you know," Kaoru told me, a trail of tears already going down her face. She swiped them off with her sleeve. "I have no right to make judgements when my own actions have been so fucking deplorable. To use that child..."

"We had no choice," I told her. "It needed doing."

"Oh, that's what the Ishinshishi believed," she said, sniffling. "In the end, it was only the children who contemplates whether or not it was worth all the suffering."

I sighed, taking her gently by the arm to stop her from walking so briskly. She halted at my prompting, standing before me with her eyes drawn down to my feet, her lashes moist. I led us both to a more secluded spot where we could talk without curious on-lookers to over hear us, then I took out my handkerchief. I gave it to her and she used it to dry her eyes and cheeks.

Taking her face in my palms, I made her look at me. "Kaoru," I began in a low voice. "What we did was nothing like the methods the Ishinshishi employed. Do not let your suffering and guilt delude you. We did nothing to endanger Soushi's life, and that makes a world of difference."

"Maybe," she responded, her voice a bit stuffy. "But you cannot discount the fact that the idea to form the Shikeigai came from somewhere, the ends justifying the means. What if...what if all of that became part of me, and little by little, I'm becoming them? What if I start justifying my actions by how they turn out in my favor? Everything is happening so fast, and it's like lately I've been acting on instinct. I don't want to become what I am learning to hate..."

"That will never happen," I told her emphatically.

"How do you know that?" She insisted.

"I just know," I replied. "I just know."

We just stood there quietly, her face in my hands, her eyes looking up at me in hope. It would be so easy to kiss her. But I know that would only bring me disappointment at this time, so I merely brushed my lips against her forehead, enfolding her in my arms after.

Her body tensed, then relaxed.

It would be nice to stay this way for as long as we want, and I was already nuzzling my nose in her hair when we were so rudely interrupted.

"You know, you guys are really sweet. Are you sure you're not, you know, getting it on?"

Kaoru tore herself away from me, her cheeks gone absolutely red. "Up yours, Kyosuke," she said, bumping her shoulder against his as she walked past him.

Thanks a lot, Kyosuke, I thought sourly. My grin involuntarily manifested itself into a sneer. It could not be helped. "You have perfect timing, Kyosuke-san."

He shrugged, smirking. "Hey, I'm an easy guy to talk to. I can arrange for you and Kao-chan to have some serious private time, if you know what I mean."

"I find nothing appealing about a conspiracy, so no thank you." I said. "Leave us be."

"Ohoho...sure Romeo. Whatever you say." (5)

Why did he just call me Roumii-o? These Shikeigai children use so many allusions I could not comprehend. It's like they have a library in their brains. Handy for necessary reference, but just plain annoying when it makes me feel like a moron.

We took the path going back to the dojo, wondering whether we had made progress or not.

As night fell, all of us, including Sano and Yahiko, sat on the porch to talk about matters concerning the case.

"The Oniwabanshu have sent word that they've begun their investigation on Anenokoji Yasushige," Sano reported. "They said it's going to take a while since Yasushige's based in Tango, but they're on it. They'll have something substantial by next week if not sooner."

"Wow. That's pretty fast," Kyosuke remarked.

"Well, they're professionals," Yahiko huffed, lording his knowledge of it over Kyosuke.

"And they ain't making you pay for anything?" Kyosuke asked.

Kaoru grinned. "They owe Kenshin a lot and they're very good friends of ours. They can be depended on and we don't abuse it, so they oblige us."

I nodded. "That is correct. They know that I would not ask their help unless it was very necessary, and they will use all of their resources to come up with something. Because of that, I appreciate their efforts very much."

Kyosuke laughed. "You're the man, Himura! I bet they're the least of your connections."

"I have more connections than you can possibly fathom," I said. I am not bragging. I am simply saying so to shut him up. I'm getting a little tired of his sneering.

"Touché," he muttered.

I recognized it as a foreign word for some Western kendo practice. Fencing, I believe, and I knew it to mean that I had struck him in the right place.

We discussed how we were going to have access to Ikue. Yahiko insisted on taking part, but Kaoru would not let him. It swelled to a big argument, with Yahiko insisting that he was no longer a child and Kaoru telling him that he had better things to do than sneak around playing detective. Yahiko was impossible, finally he threatened to get in on the snooping whether we permitted him or not, saying that he'd be more useful being allowed to take part than if he did it behind our backs.

Kaoru could very well lock him in the woodshed like she did me once upon a time, but we all knew that would only make Yahiko more stubborn, and we also knew that Yahiko's threats ought to be taken seriously. So, adamant as she was against it, Kaoru told him he could go with us when we went to the Temple to ask the monks if we could visit it's inmates, or inmate, if there was only one. We had to ask first, of course. No sense in breaking into the Temple in the dead of night when it might be perfectly all right to visit Ikue during regular hours. If the monks deny us permission, it is only then that we would resort to drastic measures.

Sano chuckled. "I gotta hand it to you kid. You're stubborn."

"I learned from the best," Yahiko said with uncommon wit.

Kaoru and I blinked, and Sano began to laugh. Kyosuke joined him when he figured it out.

We both blushed, saying nothing to deny it.

Amidst the laughter, the gate shrieked, prompting Kaoru to make a face.

"Mou! That thing needs oiling!" She exclaimed. When she looked to see what had caused the gate to create such a racket, she froze.

We were all silenced by the sight of the figure that stepped through.

"Good evening, Kamiya-san."

It was Saitoh.

THE SPY

Not good enough, apparently.

"Oh shit," Kyosuke hissed, scrambling to crawl into the house.

"Don't be ridiculous, Tenshio-san," Saitoh said, smoking as usual. "I see you plain as plain. So I was right. You've been here all along. It doesn't take much to smell a rat."

Kyosuke paid him no heed. He edged behind Kenshin, not quite like a frightened child, but more like an adult who didn't want to look too much like a frightened child. Kyosuke watched him warily, his face growing paler by the second.

Goodness, I know Saitoh scares all of us to a degree, but I had no idea Kyosuke practically wet his pants when the wolf was in such close proximity.

Kenshin did not look at all pleased by our visitor. Why should he? Saitoh was never a welcome sight to him. "What are you doing here, if I may ask?"

"I just came to ask you a few questions," Saitoh said, taking his usual police stance and not joining us on the porch. Well, good. I don't want him littering my porch with his cigarette ashes. It's bad enough he'll probably throw his stubs on my pristine front lawn.

"We don't have to answer any of them," said Kenshin, annoyed.

Saitoh shrugged.

What a smug asshole.

"What were you doing visiting Nakagura Daisuke this afternoon?" He asked, not bothered by Kenshin's words.

"None of your business," Kenshin replied.

"And what's it to you, anyway?" I asked him in return. I don't have to be polite to him anymore. He knows who I am.

"That is not of your concern, Naoko," he said, using my female Shikeigai name, which utterly disarmed me.

I felt myself go completely sallow, and along with the instinctive fear that gripped me for a split second, my anger rose, directed towards myself, because I was allowing Saitoh to affect me. "Why should our concerns be yours and your concerns not ours?" I asked impetuously.

"Because I work for the government you brats fought to establish," he replied. "I'm not the one to blame here."

"Saitoh," Kenshin began. "If you expect us to answer questions pertaining to our own affairs, I suggest you leave. We will not entertain them."

"Fair enough," Saitoh replied. "I did not come here specifically to pry. I came here for two reasons. The first is to pressure Tanuki and Tenshio for their consent in helping the law handle this situation."

Sano scoffed. "Using people again? That's so you, Saitoh."

"Why thank you, rooster head. You know I'll take that as a compliment."

Sano shook his head in disgust.

"I've already told you the answer to that, Saitoh," Kenshin said.

The police officer raised an eyebrow. "Yes you did, Battousai, but I'll let the rats speak for themselves."

Kenshin glared at him in indignation. Saitoh's name-calling didn't help any.

I smiled at Saitoh through my teeth. "Gee, if you had asked nicely, I might have, but since you're so rude about it and all, you can just take your little request and leave, Saitoh-san."

Saitoh grunted. "It's not that simple, Tanuki. I can get you for obstruction of justice."

"Of course you can't," I said. "Technically, I'm not interfering in your investigation. I have no legal obligation to do anything for you, unless you get a court order. Can you get a court order for such a thing? I don't think so."

Saitoh stared at me, his face expressionless, then he turned to Kyosuke. "And you, Tenshio. What have you to say? Are you going to weasel your way out of your responsibilities as well?"

Kyosuke jerked, surprised that Saitoh had spoken to him. "Er...n-no! I mean...! I-I'd rather not..."

"Rather not what, Tenshio?" Saitoh asked, pinning Kyosuke with his eyes.

"Y-You know...help..."

"Say that again!" Saitoh barked.

Kyosuke's body gave another twitch. He had no power to stop Saitoh from tearing him to bits.

"Quit bullying him, Saitoh!" I cried, feeling a sudden kinship to Kyosuke. We had both felt Saitoh's hand before, and I'm not going to let him subject us to any form of harassment he may inflict. No matter how much of a nuisance Kyosuke could be, he doesn't deserve it.

"Get off my property. I won't let you impose yourself on anyone in this house. You've already done your worst during the Bakumatsu," I said, summoning all my will power to keep the tremble in me from surface to my voice.

"It was the best way, if you ask me," Saitoh said.

I stood up, my stare shooting daggers at him. I pointed to my gate. "Get out."

Saitoh sneered. "My second reason for coming here is to make you understand that I will do everything and anything to accomplish my goals. Get that into your heads." With that, he gave his bow and turned to leave.

We watched him leave, depositing his cigarette stub before stepping out of my gate and shutting it.

"You alright, Kyosuke?" I asked, noting some beads of sweat forming on his temples.

"Y-Yeah," Kyosuke replied, taking deep breaths to calm himself.

Yahiko peered at him. "Gosh. Can't you get a grip?"

"Kid, you don't know the things that animal can do," Kyosuke replied, running his fingers through his hair. "Man, I need a drink."

"There's some sake in the woodshed," Sano told him.

I did a double take. "How did you know that?" I demanded. I kept a jug of sake in the woodshed for special occasions and for cooking. I hid it there precisely because Sano had a tendency to finish my supply sooner than my budget permits me.

Sano snorted. "Jou-chan, you know me better than that."

I shook my head. He's right. "Well then go fetch it. Kyosuke looks like he's ready to collapse."

"Yes ma'am," Sano replied, eager to partake, I'll wager. He immediately got off his rump to get the bottle.

"Busu, did Saitoh hurt you too back in the Bakumatsu?" Yahiko asked with childish curiosity as Sano jogged to the woodshed.

It was Kenshin's turn to tense. Oh great, now they all need a drink. I swear these men are so volatile.

I sighed then gave my reply. "Yes, Yahiko. Saitoh did hurt me, but I suppose it was easier for me than it was for Kyosuke."

"Puleez," Kyosuke said with a roll of his eyes. "You were screaming bloody murder every time he..."

"Ixnay ethay etailsday oronmay," I interjected, my teeth grit. [Check A.N. (6)]

Yahiko was waiting for him to continue, but having understood my Pig Latin, Kyosuke made a rather lame detour.

"...did things."

"What things?"

"Things," I said, waving off the question. The topic of conversation was not improving Kenshin's mood one bit. "What do you think Saitoh meant when he said he will do everything to attain his goals?" I asked, hoping to have a more progressive discussion going.

"He will use either of you whether or not he has obtained your consent, de gozaru yo." Kenshin said bluntly.

I frowned. Of all the rotten luck...

"Oh," Kyosuke responded. "Bummer."

And that, in a nutshell, is the biggest understatement ever to grace the Meiji.

"And another thing," I continued. "What 'goals' is Saitoh talking about?"

Everyone looked at each other, a thick silence settling.

Kenshin's sigh broke the tension. "Perhaps I will have some of that sake."

 

 

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