Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to its creator, Nobuhiro Watsuki, and to Sony and several other companies. However Jihan Masshwov do belongs to me, as several other OC in the story. I intend no profit from this fan fiction, it's only made for enjoyment.

First of all: If after the reading of this chapter you find yourself enjoying it, this is because of Michaela's hard work and patience marking me the plot flaws, the lack of coherence in the structure, bad grammar and such. So a deep bow and reddened cheeks in gratitude to this wonderful friend and great, talented authoress.

VERY ESPECIAL thanks to Fujifunmum, and Midori who also helped me a lot with suggestions and thorough beta reading, grammar and spelling corrections plus encouragement and positive criticism. (Poor girls… I've pestered them too much…)

I owe to these three ladies the fact that Shakespeare is not squirming in his grave due to my use of English language. Remember that, because they also deserve a huge part of the credits in this fic, if you like it. If you don't, then, it's not their fault, but mine, because I couldn't write something interesting enough to draw your attention…

Thank you also to for warm encouragement and positive feedback.

Last but not least, I remind you that this is not a typical or easy story, however I would be glad to receive positive criticism and suggestions.

To Jo-Chan (Guadalupe) and Michaela.

You can visit this little experiment I made with Photoshop, here you'll have the first glimpse of Jihan… and of course, there is an Enishi candy!

http://www.mediaminer.org/fanart/view.php?id=126221

88888888888888888888888

City of Kyoto, Earth, 1879

The short redheaded man walked the busy streets of Kyoto with patent uneasiness.

The city had changed greatly from the old chaotic times of the war. However, he could still feel the ancient ghosts haunting him from every corner.

He quickened his pace; he needed to reach his destination to fulfill his promise.

Himura Kenshin, ex- assassin who had marked the destiny of a country, assisted to shift the balance of a war, saving this same land later from the bloody designs of demented dark characters, was a man revisited by his past repeatedly.

Now, again that ominous past had risen to claim the payment for ancient debts.

- Tomoe…- the name had slipped through his lips almost unconsciously, as if the spirit of his late wife were the embodiment of that point

The dream in which she had begged him to go to Kyoto was still fresh in his memory as if he had awakened from it at that very moment.

Tomoe's words had been replaying in his mind once and again during his journey.

<Kenshin, I plead with you for your vow to protect the weak… I plead with you for the protection of my father… Please, go and protect my father from the last Miburo walking freely on Kyoto streets. >

Before leaving the dojo, he had already known that it had not been a hallucination or a simple dream, and if his dead wife had appeared before him, it was due to a matter of great importance. She had been the one who revealed to him that Kaoru was alive, and that was proof enough for him about the seriousness of her words. However, he had contacted some old friends before leaving Tokyo and he had received confirmation about the old man's arrest and Enishi's disappearance just in the middle of his trip by sea.

Kenshin had contacted some of his acquaintances from the time of the war inside the old Ishin to learn about the old man's fate. They, who now were high ranked officials inside the government, were taken aback about his knowledge of Oirbore's detention. Saitou had kept it a secret even to these officials, who were his direct superiors, and it was only the insistence and urgency of Kenshin's request that had caused enough commotion to force the ex- Shinsengumi to clear the old man's situation before his own bosses.

Once Kenshin's old acquaintances within the old Ishin had learnt about the redhead's request, they had rushed to comply it. They all were now high ranked officials within the government, and they knew that the Meiji Restoration wouldn't have been victorious without Kenshin's efforts. They were indebted to him, and he was a man that never had asked for money, influence or rank. Therefore, these friends from Kenshin's past had understood that they weren't in position to deny him the guardianship of his own father-in-law, the only favor he had ever truly asked.

Saitou would have the old man in custody only until Kenshin arrived to his office Then Mibu's wolf would have to pass the old man's custody to Kenshin, much to the cop's certain annoyance.

He hated to make use of his old name to get favors. To ask for favors meant that in return, he'd be asked to perform any task for the government, and he had already made clear that he didn't want to keep any ties with them.

However, now it was necessary and unavoidable.

Oirbore was the father of a wanted criminal, who was accused of high treason, and who had been evading capture. The police had enough reasons to keep him under custody, and knowing the Miburo as he did, Kenshin was sure that he wanted Enishi's father as possible live bait.

Anyway, Kenshin thought that if, as he believed Saitou was keeping Oirbore in his hands to lure Enishi going into a trap, it might not be the best of tactics to deal with his psychotic relative.

The redhead had no clue about his brother-in-law's reaction to such strategy. It could go from a devastating attack to complete indifference. The old man might be Enishi's father, but the young white haired man had abandoned him once to follow Tomoe, never coming back to his progenitor's side. On the other hand, he was the only other surviving member of his family, and Enishi might try to regain his sister's smile by protecting their father.

Moreover, and in spite of Enishi's past feelings for his own father, whatever they were, if the man had treated his son with the same wisdom he had used to wake him up from Rakuminmura, Kenshin had few doubts about the reality of a true family reunion of the only surviving members from the Yukishiro household. By this time, Enishi had to be aware that Tomoe's last wish would have been exactly that.

Analyzing the possible scenarios, Tomoe's concern for her father's safety might be in order, but he doubted it.

There was no benefit to be achieved for Saitou from harming the old man through torture. The elder Yukishiro was not related to his son's activities at all, both men being separated by so many years that they barely could be informed about each others mere survival of the war and those years in between their meeting. Saitou had surely knowledge of that.

On top of that, Kenshin didn't even know whether Enishi was totally aware of the elder man's identity, as well as he hadn't known it until Tomoe's revelation. No, the old man had no useful knowledge to be extracted from him, and the Miburo didn't like to waste energy in unnecessary interrogations.

Kenshin sighed, brooding on his own role in the affair.

Saitou wouldn't be happy with the new turn in the events, and his interference in his plans. But he knew the Wolf, he would obey the orders given to him by his superiors even if he considered them wrong. Kenshin also knew that he would have to endure another lecture from Saitou about his 'naïve ideals' and his 'foolish notion of protecting the weak's happiness'.

He shrugged; he didn't care what the older man thought about his chosen path in life anymore. To be honest, he never did.

The redheaded man shook his head, quickening his pace once more. He wanted to reach his destination as soon as possible.

He left his train of thoughts as soon as the police quarters where Enishi's father was being held came in sight

<Ah, well… here we are>, he finally sighed, bracing himself for the task at hand. Facing the wolf always required a good deal of patience and being ready for the unexpected.

He entered the place easily, without facing any of the problems he was expecting due to the sword he was carrying. His face was still fresh in the mind of many of these policemen, from the past events during the Shishio affair. They all were too young to remember him from former times where he had lived in this same city during the Bakumatsu. However, he also was aware that someone had voiced his true identity, a fact that had spread like wild fire among the lower ranks of Kyoto police during the last time he was there fighting Shishio. Some sidelong glances and whispers that his fine swordsman senses could grasp confirmed that fact.

Once he was inside the place, finding Fujita Goro's office was easy. It was the most isolated and circumvented place of the precinct. After politely knocking he went in, just to find Saitou's aide inside, the ex Juppongatana member, Chou.

- Oh, it's you, Battousai… We were waiting for you to show up... though I must warn you: the boss is not happy…

- I'm also glad to see you in good health, de gozaru.- the short redhead snorted

The confused looks of the other man told him that his remark had taken Chou by surprise. However, considering whom he came to see, Chou should have expected his annoyed reaction. It was not a secret that Saitou and Kenshin had a sort of tense relationship.

The fact that Saitou was his equal and he respected him as a warrior didn't mean he had to sympathize with him. Maybe the older man reminded him too much of what lingered deep inside himself, a part of his own soul that he came to despise deeply, but which his adversary was too comfortable with.

- Come with me Battousai, Saitou-san is having a farewell meeting with the one you came for… You'd better hurry, the poor old man is a nice fool, he doesn't deserve to be charged with your brother-in-law's imbecility… and you already know how the boss is…

- Yes, I know he is not tolerant with other's miseries… And I see we both agree about my reasons for seeing Yukishiro-san, Chou-san… Enishi chose his own way freely… as much as we did. His father might have made mistakes raising him, but he was not the one who pushed him into a life of crime and murder.

- No, he certainly was not the one…- Chou's sidelong glance was almost a slap in Kenshin's face.

The barely veiled accusation made him cringe. He was aware that Chou knew all the painful details of the affair that caused Enishi's Jinchuu, since Saitou had commissioned the former Juppongatana to investigate the case. He was sure that the spiked haired man had access to all the reports, including the circumstances of Tomoe's death. Enishi might be too fixated on his sister to begin with, but the fateful event in Otsu had pushed him to his insanity and the life of crime he led to get satisfaction for Kenshin's late wife demise. After all, Kenshin was the main performer in that tragedy, and he couldn't blame Enishi for the deep hatred he still held against him.

However, as much as Kenshin might have caused Enishi's insane wish for revenge, all the acts he performed to achieve it were of Enishi's exclusive responsibility. The white haired man was the one to blame for the horrific life he had chosen for himself.

As a sinner himself, Kenshin knew the heavy weight of responsibility for one's deeds and the necessity for atonement. Enishi's soul was still salvageable. The fact that he had protected Kaoru-dono and could restrain himself from killing his former associate revealed to him that he wasn't totally lost. He only needed a shoulder to lean on, and most probably, his own sheath, a mate with whom he could share his pain, his guilt, his burden.

Kenshin, a man whose hands were soaked in blood, had found not one, but two mates who had saved his soul… and were still doing it.

Then, there was no doubt in his mind that Enishi would finally find that special someone for him.

But at the moment and if the white haired was still alive, his father should be enough for him to start his path towards redemption… Always assuming that Enishi managed to make his way outside Japan before the Miburo could capture him.

Even with all the things that the young white haired had done to him, he had already forgiven him though he still couldn't forget the pain the other man had caused to his friends, all innocent people.

However, Kenshin felt that he was in no position to be the judge of anyone. Kenshin even wished secretly that his brother-in-law could evade Saitou and had the same second chance in life that he himself had been given by Tomoe's self-sacrifice. It was her sacrifice that made him vow to find a way to protect his father-in-law and even to help him and Enishi to escape, if necessary. That would be the ultimate atonement for taking Akira and Tomoe's lives and happiness: to give her brother and father a new chance to live and rebuild their household.

A brief smile crossed his features before Chou opened the door, thinking how many of his present acquaintances and friends would scold him for harboring such thoughts. Only Kaoru might agree with him, even a bit reluctantly, because she couldn't still completely forgive Enishi for the Hell on Earth that he had created for Kenshin. Kenshin thought that the only other two people who could understand his ideas about a new opportunity for Enishi would probably be Megumi and Aoshi (admittedly, the former Okashira would do it reluctantly), two wise people who knew the true value of forgiveness and second chances.

For that reason, he would rely on both for his next steps…

888888888

Before the man was remotely close to the cell, Saitou Hajime felt the familiar ki of his former Nemesis filling his sharpened senses.

He had come at last.

How Battousai had managed to learn what had happened, he still didn't know. No communications from Himura's allies in the Aoiya were detected towards Tokyo, though he knew that the former protectors of Edo Castle might still have good tricks up their sleeves, tricks that would have allowed them the possibility of fooling his surveillance upon them. He was certain that he should be close to friends and allies, but should be even closer to those whose abilities could rival the government agencies' net.

He still wondered who had alerted the short man. He had kept the old man's arrest a secret for three days, hoping that the younger Yukishiro would give some hint of his whereabouts or even try to actually recover his father, but as things were, keeping the old man was waste of time and recourses. Yukishiro, the younger, was nowhere in sight.

Several possibilities had come to his mind: either the traitor was murdered by an old acquaintance or dissatisfied client, or he had been kidnapped and taken abroad… or he himself had fled the country, expecting to recover his father through a proxy. However, none of these considerations made sense: if the young man was dead, Saitou would have been notified by his net by now. And if he was outside Japan, his overseas agents would have heard the rumor. After his defeat at Battousai's hands, several old enemies wanted Yukishiro's head, taking advantage of his moment of weakness before any possible recovery. In addition, after the traitor British banker's expulsion from Japan, the few allies the young criminal still had in the country would probably hand him to the authorities to avoid the Meiji government's rage.

No, he was not dead, he was not abroad, but he was not in any local hideout either.

It was as if Earth had swallowed him alive.

After the strange incident Chou related to him, Yukishiro's fate had acquired a new status to the police officer.

He had been ordered to capture him and bring the criminal to 'justice', to be executed by a prearranged sentence a foreign power had forced down Yamagata's throat. He had not bothered to know what particular crime the young white haired had committed to get such 'attention'.

Another stripe in the tiger's fur didn't make it bigger, he had thought.

However and due to the foreign intervention, he suspected that the traitor was related somehow with strange and very powerful weapons, according to Chou's account.

If what his agent had told him was true, the weapons he had seen could constitute a grave danger to Japan. He had seen the powerful arms Yukishiro could provide to the country's enemies. It was a miracle that they could destroy the Rengoku so easily.

Considering that the man was such specialist in sophisticated weaponry, Saitou suspicions concerning Yukishiro's links to those new weapons Chou had reported increased tenfold, especially since as it seemed the man was attacked with them.

The Miburo's mind analyzed the situation: if a foreign power was pressing the Japanese head of the Army to get a sentence of death for the former Triad boss, that meant they didn't want to be involved directly, through the use of their own agents and local recruits in the country. Why, he didn't know. That meant that the other group behind Yukishiro worked separately from any government agency, and thus was not related to the foreigners, at least not to those actually bothering Yamagata.

Maybe they were old acquaintances but it made no sense. Yukishiro's syndicate was totally eradicated from Japan, and the other bosses swallowed what had been left in the mainland, as his agents had confirmed. There was no struggle to seize the power there, especially with the former boss trying to escape outside Asia.

Unless… Unless Yukishiro had been recruited by a foreign government trying to shift the balance of power in the area.

That might explain why some foreigners were so interested in his execution and why an unknown group, probably unrelated to his own destroyed syndicate was also behind his head.

Yukishiro had not been in contact with anyone after his failed revenge against Battousai besides the English banker. The Briton had some suspicious links in the country, and Saitou had some of them under surveillance. However, he might have been acting as something more dangerous than as a simple keeper of values for known criminals. It made no sense to cry over spilled milk, even if the man were still in Japan, he would have not been able to touch one hair on his head, much less interrogate him, without creating a big diplomatic rift.

However, the local contacts of the Briton were there, just within his arm's reach. And he'd go for them.

Considering all those facts, now Yukishiro's activities and whereabouts weren't a bureaucratic affair anymore.

He had been wrong. The man might still pose a threat to Japan's stability.

And now, he had to let go of the only lead he had to seize him.

<Damn Battousai! >, he cursed inwardly.

After the toll that revolution had taken on him, the red-haired should know better than to put sentimentalism over the welfare of the nation.

But that was asking the impossible.

He once had thought they were equals, but as many times lately, he had been wrong.

The younger man's naiveté wasn't a simulation or a self induced delusion that could be wiped off by the adequate stimulus. Battousai truly believed the foolish ideas he preached in his discourses to his enemies.

Saitou thought dryly that he was not inclined to waste his personal time in scum, he only cleaned the world of it.

When Saitou finally reached realization that the old Hitokiri's had lost his edge, he understood that the match he had so eagerly expected was totally pointless now. The man was no longer his equal.

Battousai was gone for good. There was no point in fighting someone who would never release himself of all bonds and fight without restrains. He was sure that at this point, in any fight he would emerge the victor.

But what kind of victory would he achieve then, never knowing if he had defeated his adversary on equal grounds or just because the other chose to restrain himself?

That would have been disappointing, not the kind of match he wanted.

The Hitokiri had never emerged again after his fight in the Kamiya dojo, even in the worst moments during Jinchuu.

When he had received Himura's note to meet his challenge, he already had made his decision. The man he wanted so badly to fight against no longer existed, he couldn't accept a battle from someone who was only his own pathetic shadow.

And that day, the Bakumatsu finally had come to an end for him.

From that moment on, only a few memories were left of that past, and a new path to establish his personal code of justice among those who threatened his land opened before him, free of ancient demons and ghosts but watching to prevent new ones arose. That was his duty, perpetual vigilance in service of his land, no loyalties to anyone else.

And Yukishiro was among the new shadows menacing the peace of Japan.

He puffed a new little cloud of smoke from his cigarette, while secretly enjoying Battousai's annoyance. He might not be his old adversary, but he still got pleasure from bothering him.

He had knocked the door on trice by now, but Saitou had made no move to recognize the other's presence, despite them both knowing of his awareness of it.

Finally, with a smirk nestled on his face, he let him in.

- You may come in, Battousai.

- Were you delaying the inevitable, Saitou?- now it was the shorter man's turn to tease him.

Ah, how he missed all the good old times, the tall man thought smirking

- It seems you have better informants than I suspected, Battousai… Too good for someone who pretends to live a simple life… I wonder how you found out about this man's arrest, and how you managed to get his custody so quickly and easily…

- You wouldn't believe me if I told my sources… and concerning my contacts, you know who they are…

- You should reconsider this Battousai. Your former brother in law might be involved in a new conspiracy, and that man might as well be the only link we have to get hold of him.- he pointed to a bent form sitting on a corner of the room, an eerie dullness filling his eyes.

- Saitou, you and I know that Enishi's father had no clue about his son's activities. They were separated for fifteen years, and after the fight on the beach, Enishi was not in any state to be plotting again, much less involving a man that he had left so long ago. To keep him caged as a criminal is beyond pointless, it's a crime in itself.

- You never cease to amuse me with your endless silliness and self-righteousness, Battousai. Very well, I can't prevent you from taking him into your custody. You have been granted permission to keep him under your guardianship. Now listen carefully, he is not allowed to leave the country, because he is still subject to investigation. In addition, if I find him linked to any crime of his son or the mere fact that he is protecting your brother's whereabouts, the old man is mine. Do you understand, Battousai?

- No need to act menacing towards me. You know that I'm concerned for Japan's security and welfare as much as you are.

- It's good that you keep that in mind, and that your mercy to your enemies doesn't cloud your mind at the moment of truth.- Saitou turned to the old man - Tears and wails, and depression won't change reality nor they will erase your own failure fulfilling your responsibilities of a father. I hope you have that in mind and pay for your past mistakes by doing the right thing when time arrives. Remember what I told you, and the damage that your son caused and what he still can cause.

He left the room when Battousai knelt by the old man's side and the sobs of that Yukishiro fool started anew.

< Feh, Battousai and his family are truly pathetic…- he finally thought- I wonder if the kami had surrounded him with all those incredible creatures because of his weakness...>

They weren't worth his time. He had more important things to care about at that moment.

888888888888

The soft wind that moved the chime and arose waves in the pond nearby made Kenshin shudder. Kenshin had decided that they needed to stop at the Aoiya, a secure place where they would be safe and nobody would ask suspicious questions. Besides, he knew that there was not better place for Enishi's father than here, where Tomoe's story was known and nobody would upset the poor man even more. Okina had taken care of him personally and Misao had vowed to cheer him up, at least until they went back to Tokyo.

Besides, he would require a favor from the Oniwabanshuu.

As he had thought, Saitou had treated his father in law with fairness. At least, he hadn't been physically harmed, and the old man seemed clean and well fed.

But his emotional state was an entirely different matter.

The Miburo hadn't spared one single detail about Enishi's crimes, at least the ones that Saitou had reports about. The elder Yukishiro was perfectly aware that his son was a criminal when he rescued Enishi from that Kyoto version of Tokyo's Rakuminmura.

However, Tomoe's father had never suspected the deep abyss of cruelty that his own son had fallen into. To become one of the bosses of the powerful Chinese syndicate clawing his way to the top with corpses literally speaking, selling weapons to overthrow a country's government, all that sounded too unbelievable for the boy that had left his father's house when he was only nine years old.

The man couldn't accept Saitou's words as the naked truth, but once Kenshin confirmed it, he had finally admitted the facts lying in front of him. He had been sorrowful and ashamed when he heard the redhead's confirmation of the other man's words, and Kenshin wondered how the man would react when and if he confronted his son again. However, after such tragedies, he had the feeling that the man would not abandon his son again.

A fact he confirmed when after explaining to the old man how he had learnt about what had happened and Tomoe's intervention in it, he begged him to stay and find Enishi. The old man had seen Tomoe's hand in their reunion, and he was not ready to disappoint the spirit of his late daughter.

Kenshin still remembered the chat they had shared clearly.

- Be assured, we'll make our best efforts to find him, Yukishiro-sama- Kenshin had said- the people here at the Aoiya have very good connections, and if there is anyone capable of finding your son, they are the right ones.

- You can call me Hiroshi, son.

- Misao-san had said that you once told her you've forgotten your name… I see you've remembered…

- No, not quite, no, not quite, Kenshin. I just didn't want to remember who I was and what I am now. But my daughter's lovely hand had preserved it in her diary.

Kenshin had shivered at those fateful words… So Enishi had given the diary to his father… So he knew the sorrow he had caused to her, the anguish, the hatred, the betrayal… the redemption… He had read…

- Hiroshi-sama…

- Just plain Hiroshi, son. I was pompous and formal once upon a time. Now I know the true value of things. Yes, the answer to the question you dread to ask is yes… I've read the diary. I saw it shortly after you left it in the temple, and I read it again when my son gave it to me at the inn. I have known all these years. I just didn't want to remember, until I met you… until I met him. Then I assumed the responsibility that had to be assumed to cure the wounds on both of you.

- I… just… I want you to ask your forgiveness…

- I never was the one who had to forgive you. She had done it before her death. The knowledge of her forgiveness, her love for you, and the brief happiness she knew at your side is enough for me. It is now as it was during your brief stay with us in the outcast realm.

Kenshin had shut his eyes, forcing the big lump down his throat.

They were silent for a long while. They hadn't needed words anymore, understanding filling the void.

8888888888888

The lanky police officer took a long drag from his cigarette, listening attentively to Chou.

- They are at the Aoiya, as you suspected.

- Were the Oniwabanshuu's services required?

- They were making discreet investigation about Yukishiro, but as it seems, they are at the same point we have reached.

- Very well. Keep me posted. From this moment on, you can't let Battousai or Yukishiro's father be out of your sight. You must follow them wherever they move. Even if that means traveling outside Kyoto or back to Tokyo. I'll expect a regular report each day delivered through the usual channels. Obviously if you find something more urgent you will contact me right away.

- But… Boss… Follow Battousai everywhere? Tokyo? What will happen to our other cases?

- I'll take care of them. Now, go. Haven't you heard your instructions?- he said and added with a chilly tone- You have your job, and I have mine.

Saitou Hajime had a new aim: he would find the traitor and if any conspiracy was being devised, he'd trampled it under his foot mercilessly.

888888888888

Kenshin wondered how a lively person like Misao could endure the treatment he was facing right now.

He was used to meditation and deep concentration as each and every good swordsman, so what he was experiencing beside Aoshi was in fact nothing out of the ordinary to him. However, he still couldn't reconcile the image of the hyperactive teenager and her devotion for the frozen man that sat by his side.

- I assume that there is something else besides what you have already requested from Okina and the new Okashira, Battousai.

- Yes, there is.

- Why don't you ask them about it?

- Because you are the one who is aware of the value of second chances in life.

- Explain yourself Battousai. I'm not fond of your word games.

- I might need your assistance to help someone to leave the country, if necessity arises.

- I take for granted you are talking about the Yukishiro's. May I inquire why would you help a conspirator to flee from justice?

- You know that Enishi was in no shape for any kind of revolutionary game or criminal quest. From what his father had told me as much as for what I could recover from his belongings and what Chou told me, I understand that he was planning to leave Japan for Europe as a starting point to an unknown destiny, probably South America judging from some clues he had left behind. It would seem that he was planning to settle down with his father as far as possible from Asia, to prevent being involved in any illicit activity again.

- Saitou might not agree with you, Battousai.

- Indeed.- the short redhead snorted- However, you will be the first one to confirm if Saitou's suspicions are founded or not. If they are, which I truly doubt, I will be the one chasing after Enishi. I won't allow him to cause more harm to innocent people. But if, as I suspect, he is not involved in anything illicit and he truly wants to start a new life, I'll make sure he has that chance.

- You are too confident of and merciful to your enemies, Battousai.

- Yes, I'm. That's why we are having this chat and sharing a cup of tea, Aoshi. I truly believe in second chances.- The other man seemed expressionless, as always, but Kenshin knew better. He had touched a sensitive fiber inside the ninja- I was given one once, and to honor the memory of the lady who sacrificed herself for this unworthy one's second chance, I'm ready to give a leap of faith and trust in her brother's goodwill. It's the least I can do to repay my debt.

- When the time arrives, everything will be ready. But Battousai, you'll have to make sure they get there at the precise moment.

- I'll do it.- the diminutive man got up and walked outside but before leaving the room he turned and bowed to his host- Aoshi, thank you. I'm indebted again to you.

The tall man only nodded his acknowledgement, and waved all the disturbing thoughts aside in search for enlightenment once more.

However, he realized few moments later that to attain such a goal would be highly improbable for at least several weeks. An unexpected groan left his mouth when Misao's happy shouts heralded the unpredicted arrival of Kamiya Kaoru to the Aoiya.

Oh, yes, he would definitively make sure to find Yukishiro and send him on his way as soon as possible. His mental sanity required it.

888888888888888