[KFFDisc] That Which Lingers - Part 16 (very rough draft)

Like it says, a very rough draft.  Pardon any stupid mistakes.  It may
take me a while to get back into the swing of writing this story.
^_^;;;

---------------
This story is set in my own ALTERNATE REALITY Rurouni Kenshin universe
which I've called "The Nightwitch Tales" -- think of it as Rurouni
Kenshin mixed with various supernatural and paranormal elements.
Other stories in this alternate reality are: "Night Visitor"; "All in
the Family"; and "Romancing the Wolf".
 
It takes place after the end of the Kyoto story arc.  After that, all
bets are off.  Elements of the Revenge story arc may show up in the
story.
 
WARNING:  This story is "semi-dark" -- it has dark elements (violence,
profanity, etc.) but it's not a darkfic!  Actually, there's quite a
bit of romance in it....     ^_-

As always, C&C is greatly appreciated!   ^_^

======================================================================
    THAT WHICH LINGERS:  A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic by MadamHydra
======================================================================
        Part 16:  HEART TO HEART
======================================================================

---------------
Disclaimer
    All rights and privileges to Rurouni Kenshin belong to Nobuhiro
Watsuki, Shuiesha, Sony Music Entertainment, and associated parties.
The characters of these series are used WITHOUT permission for the
purpose of entertainment only.  This work of fiction is not meant for
sale or profit.  Original portion of the fiction included here is
considered to be the sole property and copyrighted to the author.

---------------
Text Conventions
    (  ) are character thoughts
    / / and // // represent various sorts of mental dialogue
    * ----- * ----- *  marks the start/end of dreams or flashbacks
    [ ] denote visual or time notes

**********************************************************************

[the present, 11th year of the Meiji period, summer]

-----------------------------------

    Before Kenshin could respond, Asuko said, "Then pay close
attention to what I say, girl, and you too, Battousai.  Because of its
demonic creation, Kinslayer's sole function is to kill and destroy,
much more so than ordinary swords.  And once when a weapon like that
has tasted a person's blood, it never forgets and it thirsts for more
of the same.  Its hunger will never be satisfied until its victims are
dead.  More importantly, from what you've told me, that weapon
undoubtedly gains power over the wounds it inflicts.  Those injuries
will never truly heal as long as the blade exists."

    The blood slowly drained from both Misao's and Kenshin's faces.

    Asuko glanced sharply at Misao.  "Best sharpen your claws, little
kitten, because if you or Himura fail to destroy Kinslayer, your
precious Shinomori Aoshi and Kamiya Kaoru will most certainly die a
most slow and agonizing death."

-----------------------------------

    Shinomori's reaction to Takagi Asuko's words was typically
low-key.  He had blinked once when Misao flatly stated that she loved
him and he didn't so much as flinch at the old woman's warning.  He
had already guessed as much after his excruciating confrontation with
Kinslayer the night of Kaoru's disappearance.

    Kenshin's eyes glittered dangerously but said nothing as Misao
jumped to her feet and said in a low, tight voice, "So how do we
destroy the damn sword?"

    With a faintly malicious gleam in her narrowed eyes, Asuko stared
at her visitors, then shrugged.  "That is the real question, isn't it?
 No one knows for certain."

    "Do you mean you don't know!?" shouted Misao, who looked like she
was ready to pounce on Asuko and throttle the old woman.

    "There are certain traditional methods of destroying demon-crafted
items.  They might work.  Then again, they might not."

    Kenshin said evenly, "And those methods are?"

    The old woman was totally unintimidated by the various ice cold
and blazingly angry stares she was receiving.  She said, "Check again
with me later.  I may be able to give you some suggestions."  Asuko
flicked her hand in a dismissive gesture, clearly indicating that the
meeting was at an end.

    As Misao took an angry step toward the old woman, both Kenshin and
Aoshi rose to their feet to block her approach.  Kenshin gave the
ninja girl a slight shake of the head, warning her to back off.
Turning back to Asuko, the red-haired swordsman coolly said, "Very
well.  Until tomorrow."

    "But Himura...!" sputtered Misao.  Her voice abruptly trailed off
as she saw the look of frozen calm in his pale violet eyes.

    "Misao, now is not the time." said Aoshi firmly.  The last thing
he wanted was for Misao to get into trouble by offending someone as
dangerous as Asuko.  The current situation was bad enough already.

-----------------------------------

    As they reached the gates of the Takagi family compound, they
found Tokio patiently waiting.  She handed a book to Kenshin and said,
"This is the Isimara text.  It's a collection of old Kyoto legends
collected by a Takagi family scholar over a century ago.  It contains
the story of Minobe Koji and Kinslayer.  There are also some other
legends which you might find of interest."

    "Thank you, Tokio-dono."  Kenshin took the book, then turned to
Saitoh.  He said coolly, "I want to question the Minobe family."

    "Junichi's aunt is the only member of the family left in Kyoto."
The policeman shrugged.  "Early tomorrow morning, then.  At the Aoiya.
 Oversleep and I'll go without you."

    Kenshin gave Saitoh a curt nod of agreement and led the others out
into the street toward Okina's restaurant.

    As soon as they were out of sight of the Takagi compound, Sano
heaved a great sigh and wiped at his forehead.

    "Brrrr!  That old crone... what a terror!"

    Kenshin said, "She's a dangerous woman.  Takagi Asuko sits like a
great spider amid her web, constantly watching and gathering
information."  He glanced back at Misao, who was trailing behind them
beside Aoshi.  "Cross her and she'll make your life a misery.  You'll
be forced to watch your back for the rest of your days, never knowing
when the weight of her vengeance will fall."

    "I know, I know!  But it drives me crazy that this old witch is
playing games with us!  She doesn't give a damn what happens to Kaoru
or Aoshi-sama!"

    "True.  The only reasons she's helping us is because Tokio-dono
asked her.  And she's probably enjoying the opportunity to tease
Saitoh."

    Aoshi said, "The Takagi have a reputation of being a family of
wealthy, if somewhat eccentric scholars and they were one of the few
upper class families who did not join either side during the
Bakamatsu."

    "So his wife's loaded, huh?  It's weird to imagine Saitoh marrying
into such a rich family," said Yahiko.

    Kenshin shook his head.  "While Saitoh thoroughly understands the
power and uses of money, it means nothing to him personally.  Whatever
he's done, it's never been for his own gain."

    Sano glanced at his friend.  (That description fits you pretty
damn well too, Kenshin.)

    Aloud, the fighter muttered, "Well, I never would've thought to
meet someone capable of giving Saitoh a run for his money in the area
of pure nastiness.  But that Asuko woman...  No wonder Tokio can stand
being married to him.  She's probably used to that sort of behavior."

-----------------------------------

    At the front gate of the Takagi compound, Saitoh watched Kenshin
and the others disappear down the street.  As he turned and headed
down the walkway back to the house, he could see several young girls,
ranging from three to six years old in age, peeking at him from behind
a mass of shrubs.

    He scowled in irritation.  It was already starting.  For some
peculiar reason, he seemed to fascinate the members of the Takagi
household.  Whenever he was in the compound, people would watch him.
The children and the young women were the worst.  Thankfully, the
children were relatively well behaved.  Otherwise, the situation would
have been absolutely intolerable.

    (But the young women of this family....)  Saitoh grimaced
slightly.

    Usually he was the watcher, but when Tokio's family was around, HE
was the person being watched.

    Saitoh didn't find the role reversal the least bit amusing.  He
scowl as he stalked off to look for his wife.

-----------------------------------

    Tokio had decorated this room.  He could tell by just looking at
it.  Her unmistakable touch was in every detail, from the selection of
the bedcovers on the futon to the arrangement of the willow twigs in
the alcove.  As he watched his wife unpack with her customary
efficiency, he said irritably, "Why can't those silly girls leave me
alone?"

    "Young women tend to find 'dangerous' men quite interesting,
Hajime.  It's not unusual."

     He knew that.  However, in the case of the Takagi females, their
interest seemed to be more academic than romantic.  It was
understandable, considering the sorts of things the old Takagi women
taught them, but it didn't make their attention any easier to bear.
 
    Several years ago, he had been indulging in a little sword
practice inside one of the walled side gardens.  The next thing he
knew, there had been nearly 15 young women silently peering over the
wall, watching him in breathless fascination.

    "They're just interested in my sword technique."
 
    Tokio couldn't quite suppress a soft giggle.  "But your technique
is so formidable...," she said in a playful voice.

    A faintly horrified look appeared on Saitoh's face.  "Don't tell
me you've been swapping bedroom stories with your relatives...!"

    She got to her feet.  Delicately gripping the edges of his shirt,
she looked up into his face and murmured, "Do you really think I would
do something like that to you?  You're my husband and I don't share
anything about you with anybody....  Not with my relatives and not
even stories."

    As Saitoh visibly relaxed, a mischievous smile appeared on Tokio's
face.  "That's not to say that I haven't been asked for details.
Repeatedly.  I've even been offered some rather tempting bribes."

    He groaned.  "Oh, let me guess.  Asuko...."
 
    "Well, she did offer me a 200 year old manuscript by Masaki Muro,
but I managed to resist."

    "That meddling old bitch."  A malicious little smile appeared on
Saitoh's face as  he said, "It's a pity that Aoshi, Battousai, and
that idiot Sano aren't spending the night here.  I'd love to see them
deal with the horde of females, both young and old, lurking around
this place."

    (And I can just imagine the Weasel Girl's reaction....)
 
    Tokio laughed softly as she smoothed the wrinkles from Saitoh's
shirt and returned to unpacking.  Still somewhat tense and irritable
from the meeting with Asuko, Saitoh was about to start rummaging
through his baggage when Tokio turned around, holding matches in one
hand and a pack of cigarettes in the other.

    He frowned.  "Don't tell me I'm looking THAT stressed."  But he
took the cigarettes and matches.
 
    Tokio merely gave him a placid smile and murmured, "The koi pond
is very relaxing in the moonlight," she murmured.

    He snorted but allowed her to gently nudge him out the door.
 
-----------------------------------

    As Okina and the other Oniwabanshuu awaited their visitors'
arrival, the old man thought, (Shiro said that both Aoshi and Misao
were injured and that Aoshi seemed to be in particularly bad shape.
What happened in Tokyo?  And then there's that message about
Kaoru....)

    When the knock came, everyone rushed over to open the front door.

 
    "Himura!"

    "Okina-san.  I'd hoped to see you again, just not under these
circumstances," said Kenshin with a polite bow.  His faint smile
abruptly disappeared.  With a tense look, he added, "Do you have any
news about Kaoru?"

    Okina shook his head.  "Sorry, I've heard nothing.  I've had all
the people I can spare keeping an eye on the main approaches to Kyoto,
but with all that's happening in the city, it's possible she managed
to slip in without our knowledge."

    "Yes, of course.  You have other concerns, also.  I understand."

    (So grim,) thought Okina as he observed Kenshin absently stroking
an oddly familiar piece of blue silk that was wrapped around the
swordsman's right wrist.

    After exchanging happy, if subdued greetings with Yahiko and Sano,
Okina turned to Aoshi and Misao who had been lagging slightly behind
the others.  While his expression do not change, the old man was
quietly appalled by their condition.  Misao's left arm was splinted
and in a sling, but he was more disturbed by the shadows lurking in
the girl's eyes.  And the mere fact that there was detectable signs of
exhaustion and pain in Aoshi's face and posture told Okina that Aoshi
was definitely hurting.

    Even as these thoughts were going through Okina's mind, Aoshi
wavered slightly and put his hand on the door frame to steady himself.
 As Misao and nearly everyone else jumped to help him, the former
Okashira shook his head sharply, then straightened up.  "It's
nothing."

    "You need to get some rest!" Misao protested.

    "What we need to do is to discuss what happened in Tokyo and
what's going on in Kyoto," he said in a firm voice.

    Omasu blurted out, "Misao, how did you hurt your arm!?"  At the
very same time, Okina asked, "What happened, Aoshi?"

    The old man and the other Oniwabanshuu were left momentarily
speechless as Aoshi and Misao answered simultaneously.
 
    "I broke it," Aoshi said flatly.
    "I tried to kill him," Misao replied in an equally flat voice.

    The two of them exchanged quick glances, then they spoke, again
simultaneously.

    "It wasn't her fault."
    "It wasn't his fault."
 
    Okina blinked, then took a deep breath.  "Obviously, there's a lot
you need to tell us about.
 
-----------------------------------

    After they all settled into one of the rooms overlooking the
restaurant's courtyard garden, Misao, Kenshin and the others began to
describe the ominous events in Tokyo.  Misao started out with her
meeting with Saitoh's wife and the first encounter with the black
sword.  She faltered as she described her nearly fatal attack on
Aoshi, but grimly plowed through the ugly tale.  When she was
finished, there was a long silence.

    Okina thought, (Ah, Misao-chan, that explains the shame and sorrow
in your eyes... and here I was thinking that you were feeling guilty
only because Aoshi had been injured protecting you or something like
that....)
 
    Aoshi's version of Misao's ambush was short, concise, and
unemotional.  Okina sensed there was a great deal that Aoshi was not
saying, but he trusted the younger man's judgment that the things left
unsaid were not really relevant to the matter of the black sword known
as Kinslayer, the events in Kyoto, or to Kaoru's disappearance.

    The chilling tale continued... the mysterious dreams and
visions... the sword's dark powers... the flashbacks that both Saitoh
and Kenshin had suffered....  Kenshin and the other's story would have
been unbelievable under normal circumstances, but after the bizarre
incidents plaguing Kyoto over the past few days, the events in Tokyo
seemed perfectly plausible.

    Over three hours after they started, Kenshin finally concluded
with the information provided by Tokio's grand aunt Asuko.  When he
stopped speaking, Okina folded his hands and murmured, "So you've
returned to Kyoto to find Kaoru and to destroy Kinslayer."

    "Yes."
 
    Okon whispered, "But... but it's incredible to think that
everything that's happened in both Tokyo and Kyoto is being caused by
a stupid chunk of metal!"

    "Perhaps, but that 'chunk of metal' is apparently infused by a
demon's power.  We have no idea about the limits of that demon's
power.  It is quite possible that the unnatural phenomena occurring in
Kyoto could easily spread throughout the country unless we do
something to stop it," murmured Aoshi.

    Misao flicked her braid over her shoulder and said to Aoshi, "You
won't be able to do anything if you fall on your face from sheer
exhaustion!  You're nowhere close to recovering from your injuries!"

    Kenshin rose to his feet and quietly said, "We have an early
morning meeting with Saitoh and we all need to get whatever rest we
can.  We may not have that luxury later."

    Sano also hauled himself to his feet, muttering, "Yeah, like when
the excitement really starts."

    "We'll see in the morning, then," said Okina.

    As Kenshin, Sano, and Yahiko were led out of the room by Omasu,
the other Oniwabanshuu dispersed to attend to other matters.  Now
alone with Aoshi and Misao, Okina took the opportunity observe Aoshi a
bit more closely.  Glancing at Misao, the old man casually said, "Why
don't you take a bath and get something to eat?"

    The girl didn't budge.  Instead, she stared stubbornly at Okina
and said evenly, "Nice try, Jiya, but you're not getting rid of me
that easily.  And you don't need to protect me from the truth,
anymore.  I can handle whatever you've got to discuss."

    Okina's eyes narrowed.  (Yes... I think she can,) he thought as he
detected a grim determination in Misao that contrasted sharply with
her usual bubbly personality.

    He turned to Aoshi and said crisply, "How bad is it?"
 
    "Several cuts on both legs, torso, and left shoulder, some broken
ribs on the right side, a stab wound in the abdomen, and a
concussion."

    Misao twitched during Aoshi's dry recitation of his injuries, but
otherwise managed to remain outwardly calm.

    "And how are you feeling?" continued the old man.
 
    "I've felt better, but I'll manage.  Dr. Takani did her usual
excellent work."
 
    "You'd best go to bed, then.  As Himura said, things are probably
going to become very hectic very soon."
 
    Aoshi made no protest.  He merely rose to his feet with less than
his usual grace and headed for his room.

    Misao stared after him as he departed, then quickly rose to her
feet.  Just before she left the room, Okina said, "Misao, are you...
all right?"

    She paused at the doorway.  Bowing her head, she whispered, "All
right?  After what I've done to him?"  Misao uttered a bitter chuckle.
 "No, I'm not 'all right', but like Aoshi-sama said... I'll manage."

    "Misao, it wasn't your fault.  From everything that Aoshi told me,
it was the sword who made you...."
 
    She spun around and glared at him.  "But you don't understand how
that sword works!  It doesn't simply take over your mind!  Those
murderous feelings don't just appear out of the blue!  That sword dug
up and magnified every single angry thought that I might have had...
all the resentment and frustration that I felt because of his
behavior....  That's what's so sickening, Jiya... finding out just how
much anger and bitterness that's inside of me!"

    Okina watched in silence as Misao gasped for air as she tried to
regain some self-control.  Finally, she said, "You don't understand.
I really hurt him, and I'm not talking only about that sword.  It was
what I said to him about Hanya, leaving me behind, nearly killing YOU,
betraying the other Oniwabanshuu... all that!  And he still risked his
life to save me and he could die because of it!"

    Alarmed, Okina said, "But I thought Aoshi was recovering!"
 
    Misao shook her head wearily, "Asuko said that the wounds caused
by Kinslayer won't heal properly as long as the sword exists.  And if
those wounds reopen, he could very easily die a slow and painful
death."

    "I... see."
 
    She took a deep breath.  "That reminds me.  He needs his bandages
changed."  Misao slipped out the door and headed toward the kitchen,
leaving a sorely troubled Okina alone with this thoughts.

    (In this past few months, she's been through so much.  The loss of
Hanya and the others, Aoshi's slide into darkness and madness, the
battle with the Juppon Gatana....  At the beginning of this year, she
was still a child, but now... now she's a young woman, trying to deal
with harsh and painful experiences.)

    Okina didn't know whether to be glad about her hard-won maturity
she displaying or to mourn the loss of her carefree innocence.  But
she was right.  He and the others couldn't shield Misao from the dark
side of life any more... not after her experience with Kinslayer and
coming face-to-face with the darkness inside of herself.

-----------------------------------

    Alone in his bedroom, Aoshi slowly pulled off his shirt and fell
back onto the futon.  That painful encounter with Kaoru and Kinslayer
had been a definite setback to his recovery.

    In his exhausted state, he failed to notice someone approaching
his room.  Suddenly, the door slid open without so much as a warning
knock.  As he sat up with a barely suppressed grunt of pain, Misao
stepped inside carrying a tray loaded with a basin of water, some
packages of medicine, and enough bandages to wrap a small army.

    "What are you doing here?"

    "Megumi said that your bandages needed to be changed every day,"
she said with slightly forced cheer.
 
    He shook his head.  "There's no need for you to do that.
Tokio-san changed them on the boat yesterday evening.  Okon can attend
to it tomorrow morning."

    If she had been behaving in her usual bouncy, overenthusiastic
way, he might have summoned the willpower to resist her attention and
send her packing.  But he saw the fear in her eyes, the fear put there
by Takagi Asuko's harsh warning, and realized that Misao desperately
needed some reassurance about his condition.  She needed to see with
her own eyes that his wounds were healing -- for the moment.

    He sighed wearily, then backed down.  "But if you insist...."
 
    She gave him a relieved smile, then set about organizing her
supplies.  He watched bemusedly as Misao heaped roll after roll of
bandages on the table.   But as he eyed the growing pile with a
definite air of misgiving, he murmured, "I don't think all that's
necessary."

    (If she gets carried away, I might end up looking like Shishio.)
 
    "Misao, do you actually know what you're doing?  Why don't you
just call...."

    "Just let me handle it, okay?"

    "But...."
 
    Misao glared at him.  "Do you have a problem with that?"

    Her bravado evaporated as he hesitated a little too long.  Misao
bit her lip and said in a quiet, restrained voice, "I... I just wanted
to...."  She looked away.  "But if it really bothers you, then...."

    At that moment, it would have been easy to make Misao go away and
leave him alone, but Aoshi couldn't forget the fear and concern in her
eyes when Asuko told her that he could die from the wounds Kinslayer
inflicted.  He couldn't ignore the total conviction in her voice when
she said that she loved him.  He couldn't stand the defeat in her
sagging shoulders and drooping head as she turned to leave.

    And he found that he didn't WANT her to go away.
 
    He didn't want to be left alone.
 
    Aoshi shrugged.  "Go ahead, then."

    "You... you don't mind?"
 
    "That's irrelevant.  Just do it, Misao."
 
    He was rewarded with a quick flash of a smile as she moved behind
him and started to pull the old bandages loose.  To his pleasant
surprise, although she didn't have the experienced touch of Dr. Takani
or Saitoh's wife, Misao definitely knew what she was doing.

    Despite all her care, removing the bandages was not a painless
operation.  Occasionally a bandage would cling to the wound, forcing
her to use water to soak the cloth free.  Once the bandage was gone,
she would dab some greenish cream from a jar on the wound and proceed
to apply a fresh dressing.

    "That medicine...."
 
    Misao said, "Megumi gave it to me the night before we left Tokyo.
She told me how to use it and how to change your bandages."

    "Why did she do that?"
 
    "I asked."
 
-----------------------------------

    "Stay still.  There's just this one last bit, then I can do your
ribs."  Misao had her head down, concentrating on the most troubling
wound -- the deep stab wound where she had plunged one of her throwing
darts into the middle of his abdomen.

    He endure all her earlier ministrations in stoic silence, but even
Aoshi couldn't suppress a few grunts of pain as Misao did her best to
wrap his chest to prevent his broken ribs from shifting.

    She winced as he gasped sharply as she pulled the bandage tight.
"I'm sorry!  Just a little more, Aoshi-sama."

    Exhausted and hurting, he wearily said, "Misao, after all we've
been through, don't you think you could drop the '-sama'?"

    Misao abruptly froze.

    Aoshi could have imagined any number of reactions to his words,
but he certainly didn't imagine the reaction he actually got.

    "Please... don't."  Misao slowly looked up at him, her eyes bright
with unshed tears.
 
    Aoshi stared back at her in mute confusion.
 
    "Please... don't say things like that... just to make me feel
better.  Say it only if you really mean it."
 
    "I... don't understand."
 
    She said quietly, "The only time you ever do things like that --
letting the walls around your heart and soul down -- the only time you
do that is when something bad happens to you and you think I need
something to make me feel better!"

    "Is that what I'm doing?" he said in a thoughtful voice.

    "Yes, it is!  That time when you smiled at me in the forest?  You
only did that because you thought you were going to die!  And now
you're doing to make me feel better again, only this time it's because
you think that you're probably going to die from these wounds if
Kinslayer isn't destroyed in time!" she said accusingly.

    "Misao, I...."
 
    She shook her head slowly.  "Don't misunderstand.  It's not that I
don't want these sorts of things.  I WANT you to smile at me.  I WANT
to call you just by your first name.  But... but don't do those things
just for me!  Do them because you really want to!  Because they make
YOU feel better!"

    Misao blinked back her tears.  "I was doing the wrong thing by
trying to force you to change... by trying to force you to take down
those walls of yours before you were ready."

    "Where did you get that idea?"
 
    She looked away, then whispered, "Tokio told me that there's a
very big difference between encouraging someone to change and forcing
them to change."

    "You spoke to Tokio-san... about me?"

    "Yes."

    At first the idea of asking Saitoh's wife for romantic advice
seemed ludicrous to Aoshi, but then he thought, (But who else could
she really ask?  Certainly not Okon and Omasu, given the way they
seemed to have romantic crushes on every handsome man that passed by.
Even if Kaoru was around, she'd know less about men than Misao.
Tokio's probably the only mature woman Misao knows who's familiar with
men like myself or Saitoh.)

    And now he was beginning to understood the subtle change in
Misao's behavior over the last several days.  She certainly hadn't
tried to avoid him.  On the contrary, she rarely let him out of her
sight.  But she had apparently given up on her habit of trying all
sorts of silly and annoying things in an attempt to force some sort of
reaction out of him.  She certainly hadn't become a saint, but her
restraint had definitely made the last few days much less stressful
for him.  Instead of having to be on the constant lookout for her
latest antic, he found himself gradually relaxing in Misao's presence.
 

    (I think I need to tell her that.)
 
    "Misao...."
 
    She sniffled, then mumbled, "Yeah?"
 
    "Thank you."
 
    "Huh?"
 
    "For caring enough to ask for advice and for following that
advice, no matter how difficult.  I know it couldn't have been easy
for you to be so patient.  It... means a great deal to me."

    She stared at him in stunned disbelief.
 
    Aoshi didn't smile, but he didn't need to.  "I'm not certain if
I'm capable of living without 'walls'.  I doubt it.  But perhaps, with
time and with the right teacher, I can learn to how to allow the
people I... care about... within those walls."

    The brilliant, beautiful smile that slowly appeared on Misao's
face  and the joy in her bright blue eyes were a greater reward than
he could have ever hoped for....

-----------------------------------
(end of part 16)

**********************************************************************

Next part:  Kaoru and Kinslayer arrive in Kyoto!   =^_^=

--------------------------------------------
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http://www.oocities.org/~madamhydra/