Standard disclaimers apply
***CHAPTER 3***
In the morning the men were ready for the hunt. Kaoru looked at them enviously and murmured, â??Oh, how I envy you! I wish you would allow me to join the hunt, Papa. Jut this once. I promise not to get in the way!â??
Soujirou immediately lent her his support. â??Kaoru rides exceptionally well, Father, for a girl.â??
Saitou said disparagingly, â??Now, Kaoru, you know full well it is foolish and dangerous for a sidesaddle rider to go galloping at fences.â??
Kaoru lowered her eyes. She dared not tell her father that Soujirou had taught her to ride a horse cross-saddle, just like a man. She could ride bareback, too. But unfortunately, Kaoru reflected wryly, this was not an accomplishment that would impress her father.
â??Besides,â?? Aoshi joined in, â??it is not right for ladies to be seen hunting.â??
â??Nonsense!â?? proclaimed a booming voice behind him. The indomitable Widow Tae Sekihara cantered up on her large horse. â??What were you saying, Aoshi Kamiya?â?? she demanded.
Kaoru bit her lip, enjoying the rare spectacle of Aoshi discomposed. Rallying, he turned to Tae who had ridden over from the adjoining estate specially to join the hunt. â??Naturally, maâ??am, I was not referring to a rider of your excellence and experience.â??
â??I should hope not!â?? roared the Widow.
Aoshi inclined his head. â??Iâ??m afraid, Kaoru is too young and inexperienceâ??â??
â??Aoshi, Iâ??m not!â?? Kaoru burst out.
â??Of course she is not,â?? the Widow agreed. â??Saitou, it is my opinion that your daughter should have her chance. She could ride alongside me. No trouble.â??
Kaoruâ??s hopes rose. She held her breath as she gazed up at her father. He might consider the Widowâ??s suggestion, but when forced to come face to face with the Widow, even Saitou had been known to lose much of his notorious bluster. The Widow Sekihara was well-known in the upper class as a loud, obnoxious woman, who has more money than class. But to Kaoru, she is a kind, strong and independent woman with a generous heart, who is not afraid to speak her mind.
But today Saitou was not to be swayed. â??Unfortunately, Kaoru has many other things to do today. Besides, should anyone call, I would be ashamed to see my daughter appearing flushed and disheveled from the hunt.â??
Anyone being Mr. Shogu Amakusa, thought Kaoru grimly.
Saitou went on, â??Now, Kaoru. I believe your mother has asked you to take some fruit preserves down to one of our tenants?â??
â??Yes, Papa.â??
Aoshi nodded his approval. â??It is heartwarming to see you upholding the traditions of a lady, Kaoru. The original meaning of the word lady, you know, is giver of bread.â??
Soujirou rolled his eyes.
The Widow laid a sympathetic hand on Kaoruâ??s shoulder. â??Never mind, my dear. You can ride with the hunt some other time.â?? Then raising her voice, she cried, â??Are we all set? Then letâ??s go!â??
â??Just a moment, Tae,â?? said Saitou testily. â??Please remember that I am the leader of this hunt. I will give the command to start.â??
â??Then letâ??s have it!â?? boomed the Widow.
Wistfully, Kaoru watched them canter away. â??One day,â?? she vowed, â??I will ride with them. And I will acquit myself so will that soon every gentlemen in the country will be proud to accompany me!â??
Meanwhile, there was her duty to be done. She found Mrs. Tokio Fujita, the wife of one of the farmers, sitting with her bandaged foot resting on a stool. She was clearly very pleased to see Kaoru, though agitated that her injury prevented her from rising and offering her guest proper refreshment.
â??Youâ??ll find some lemonade in the kitchen, my dear,â?? she said. â??Iâ??d be glad to offer you some, but I canâ??t rise to my feet.â??
â??Donâ??t worry about it. Iâ??ll get some for us,â?? offered Kaoru.
After getting the drinks from the kitchen, Kaoru inquired, â??How are your children, Mrs. Fujita?â??
â??They are a great comfort to me, child. Iâ??m a truly lucky woman. Why, even my youngest, Yahiko, brings home a few yen each week, hard-earned by stone-picking in the fields, or scaring the birds from the crops. And my eldest, Sanosuke, has two jobs now. In the afternoon he helps at the market, and then at night he keeps watch at Haruno Grange.â??
â??Is that the ruined house just beyond Yoshihara Woods?â?? asked Kaoru. â??I must admit that I have been intrigued by the place, but my father always forbade me to go there. He would never tell me why!â??
Mrs. Fujita shook her head. â??Itâ??s no place for the likes of you.â?? She lowered her voice. â??They say the Grange is haunted.â??
Kaoruâ??s eyes widened. â??A ghost! How exciting!â??
â??Iâ??m surprised you know so little about it,â?? went on Mrs. Fujita. â??Seeing as how the ghost is a distant ancestor of yours.â??
â??Of mine! Oh, Mrs. Fujita, please tell me more.â??
Anxiety clouded the older womanâ??s eyes. â??I donâ??t know if your father would want me to.â??
â??Please,â?? pleaded Kaoru. â??I promise you I will never reveal to him what I know, or who told me.â??
Mrs. Fujita was easily convinced. In truth, there was nothing she liked better than to sit and recount the strange stories of her neighborhood.
â??Itâ??s a sad tale, child. The girl involved was Sayo Kashiwazaki. Her father, Okina was a rich merchant and her mother was a Kamiya, so thatâ??s how you come to be related. Well, the story goes that she was being forced to marry a man she loathed. He was titled and rich, but she hated him. And in the meantime, she was planning to elope with her true love, a dashing but penniless young man. His name, I believe was Katsu Tsukioka.â??
Kaoru sat rapt. â??Go on,â?? she urged softly.
â??The lovers had arranged to meet in the summer house of the Grange and run away from there,â?? said Mrs. Fujita. â??But on the appointed night, Sayoâ??s father got wind of the scheme. He blazed into the summer house, caught the pair in the act of an embrace, and sliced into the young man with his sword, killing him in seconds.â??
â??Oh, how terrible!â??
â??Worse was to come,â?? said Mrs. Fujita grimly. â??Sayo was so distraught, she seized the sword from her loverâ??s poor, bleeding body, and flung herself upon the point, running it straight through her heart.â??
Kaoru could hardly speak. Oh, how she felt for that poor, doomed girl! â??That is the most tragic story I have ever heard,â?? she whispered.
Mrs. Fujita nodded. â??Her father was grief-stricken and overcome with remorse. He died himself not long after. But in his will, he decreed that the summer house must always be guarded, and that no one must enter it again. I donâ??t know if itâ??s true, but it is rumored that Sayo hid some gold there, which she was planning to take with her when she eloped.â??
â??And the ghost?â?? asked Kaoru.
Mrs. Fujita lowered her voice. â??Legend has it that on scented spring nights, Sayo returns, searching for her lover and the happiness she should have known. But my Sano will have none of it. Heâ??s a fearless boy, and says that on all the nights heâ??s been keeping watch, thereâ??s never been sight of a ghost.â??
â??Poor, tortured Sayo,â?? sighed Kaoru. â??I wondered what she looks like?â??
â??She was supposed to be very beautiful,â?? said Mrs. Fujita, sipping her lemonade, â??with brown hair and green eyes.â??
Kaoru flushed with excitement. Of course! That mysterious, unnamed portrait in the picture gallery! It must be Sayo. It could be no one else. The lively, spirited expression and defiant toss of the head were now explained. Kaoru was positive that the portrait must have been painted as Sayo was making her plans to elope!
Reluctantly, Kaoru rose to her feet. â??What a fascinating tale, Mrs. Fujita. Iâ??m only sorry I cannot stay longer, but Mama will be expecting me home.â??
â??Itâ??s good of you to spare the time to come, Kaoru,â?? smiled Mrs. Fujita. â??Youâ??ll be sure to thank your mother for the fruit preserves, wonâ??t you?â??
â??I will and please be careful with your foot, okay,â?? said Kaoru and waved goodbye.
Wandering down the road, with her mind still dwelling on the tragic tale of Sayo, Kaoru suddenly realized that she had walked to the exact spot near the forest where those robbers had attacked her the night before. She strolled down the road, her heart beating faster as he recalled her gallant rescuer carrying her off through the night. And here, outside Doctor Genzaiâ??s house, he had set her down. Here he told her he was her friend. Kaoru closed her eyes, trying to relive the episode, to experience once again the surge of elation and excitement she had felt with the cross- shaped scarred man.
Kaoru sighed. How foolish I am, she thought sadly, to dwell so much on the incident. Why, my mysterious stranger is no doubt miles away by now, and for sure has forgotten all about me. It is highly unlikely that I will ever see him again. I must put him out of my mind. I must think ahead, to my meeting with Mr. Shogu Amakusa this afternoon.
Yet despite her resolution to be sensible and realistic, Kaoru was powerless to curb her soaring imagination. If this were one of Sayuri Kobayashiâ??s novels, she mused, then Shogu Amakusa would stride into the drawing room this afternoonâ?|I would look up, all fear and trepidation, and find to my delight that he was none other than my mysterious stranger!
But of course, that would be too convenient a solution. Regrettably, Kaoru realized, life was never as simple as that! Nevertheless, being optimistic by nature, it did occur to her that she may have formed completely the wrong opinion of Shogu Amakusa.
After all, she thought, here I am condemning the gentleman before I have even set eyes on him. Just because someone as sober as Aoshi approves of Mr. Amakusa, it does not mean he will necessarily prove to be a dull man. Why, he might be dashing, handsome, adventurousâ?|everything Iâ??ve ever dreamed of in a man.
And yet, despite her determination to face the future with sense and courage, Kaoru could not resist a final backward glance to the place by Doctor Genzaiâ??s house where the gallant man of the night had reached out and kindled such a flame of restless longing within her.
Yuiichirou the footman coughed discreetly at the drawing room doors. â??My lady, a Mr. Shogu Amakusa has arrived.â??
Yumi dropped her sewing and put on an expression of surprise. â??Mr. Amakusa? Oh, dearâ?|Aoshi did told me that a gentleman of that name might be waiting on him this afternoon. And now he has come before the men have returned from the hunt. How annoying!â??
Kaoru stubbornly refused to meet her motherâ??s eye. If her mother was determined to persist in this charade of pretending that Mr. Amakusa had come to call on Aoshi, then Kaoru was equally determined to play no part in the scene. It had amused her to notice that her mother had been increasingly agitated all day, and the stitches on her new tablecloth had become more and more ragged as the time approached for Mr. Amakusa to pay his surprise call.
When Kaoru failed to respond, Yumi turned to Misao, who was quietly occupied with scissors and black paper, making a silhouette picture. â??Misao, are you acquainted with Mr. Amakusa?â??
From Misaoâ??s genuinely perplexed expression, Kaoru realized that Aoshi had not confided the family plans for his sister and Mr. Amakusa. â??We have been introduced, but our meeting was brief,â?? she said.
â??Well,â?? said Yumi, â??it would be most discourteous to leave the gentleman standing in the hall. We must entertain him until Aoshi returns. Yuiichirou, kindly admit him.â??
As Yuiichirou left the room, Yumi whispered, â??Kaoru. Your hair is looking wispy. Hurry, tidy it up.â??
Kaoru repressed a smile as she crossed gracefully to the mirror above the marble fireplace to smooth down her unruly hair. Oh, Mr. Amakusa, she thought wryly, have you any idea of the chaos you have caused in this drawing room?
â??Mr. Shogu Amakusa,â?? informed Yuiichirou.
Kaoru closed her eyes. Please, she prayed, please let him be at least reasonably acceptable!
She forced herself to gaze on the man bowing before her mother and Misao. A leaden weight seemed to settle around her heart. Of course, he was not her mysterious stranger. That would have been too much to hope for.
Shogu Amakusa was a very tall man, in his late twenties Kaoru judged, with dark brown hair and green eyes. He was quite handsome, but even with his impassive face, his eyes were cold.
I cannot marry him, she thought wildly. I cannot!
Kaoru steeled herself not to squirm as he bowed down to her. She bowed down in return and favored him with a glance of complete indifference. On no account, she resolved, must he believe me to be a willing party to this match.
â??Iâ??m sorry that my husband and sons are not here to greet you,â?? said Yumi, vaguely waving her hands, and looking guilty, as if, Kaoru thought, she had deliberately concealed the men behind the long silk window curtains.
Shoguâ??s pale eyes gleamed. â??Indeed, Mrs. Kamiya, I am charmed to find myself in the company of three delightful ladies. Mrs. Misao Kamiya, it is a pleasure to renew my acquaintance with you.â??
â??Oh, yes,â?? smiled Misao, â??I believe we were introduced at my house in Kyoto.â??
â??Yes, thatâ??s so,â?? said Shogu, â??but I have also passed you near Miyagawa-cho on one occasion. You were just leaving the circulating library, but unfortunately did not appear to recognize me.â??
Misao paled. â??Why, no, Mr. Amakusa. To be sure, you must be mistaken. I donâ??t frequent the circulating library!â??
Kaoru had determined not to utter a word to Shogu. But now it was evident that Misao required her helpâ??and quickly. Accordingly, Kaoru settled herself next to her mother on the sofa, and inquired, â??Do you live in Kyoto, Mr. Amakusa?â??
He shook his head. â??No, Miss Kamiya. I have a large estate in Shimabara which I have inherited from my master, the Great Hiko Seijuurou, and which requires my attention for most of the year. But Iâ??m required to visit the capital from time to time on business. Aoshi and I share the same Kyoto banker, which is how we happen to be acquainted.â??
â??And how fortunate,â?? said Kaoru sweetly, â??that you should happen to be visiting this remote part of the country, just when my brother is paying us a visit.â??
If Shogu detected the acid undernote to her tone, he was careful not to show it as he replied, â??I have the honor of staying with the Widow Tae Sekihara.â??
Kaoru could not resist goading him further. â??Then Iâ??m surprised you did not join her on the hunt today.â??
Out of the corner of her eye, Kaoru observed her mother creasing and uncreasing her lace handkerchief. Poor Mama! She was clearly frantic in case it came to light that Shoguâ??s call was no casual incident.
Fortunately for Shogu, he was saved the need to reply. The doors burst open and the men surged into the room, in high spirits after the hunt.
â??Damned fox got away,â?? declared Saitou, â??but we gave him a good run!â??
As Shogu rose to his feet, Aoshi stepped forward and made the introductions. Then he said, â??Iâ??m sorry we were not here to receive you, Shogu. But I trust the ladies have been keeping you entertained.â??
Never one to be subtle, Aoshi cast an inquiring glance at Kaoru. She stared back at him, frostily.
â??Indeed,â?? murmured Shogu, â??your delightful sister has almost made me feel one of the family.â??
Kaoru nearly choked. Soujirou, in total sympathy with his sister, quickly turned away and study earnestly Misaoâ??s silhouette picture.
Really, fumed Kaoru, this was carrying matters too far! One of the family, indeed!
To her horror, she heard her father asking their guest if he would do them the honor of dining at the mansion that evening. It came as no surprise to anyone to learn that Shogu was not, in fact, engaged to dine elsewhere that day, and so the matter was fixed.
Over dinner, Kaoru contrived to say as little to Shogu as was politely possible, while Shogu boasted of his accomplishments during the Bakamatsu. Her father listened intently and was very impressed with the legendary warrior. She was highly relieved when at last the dinner was over and Yumi gave the signal for the ladies to withdraw.
Yet within fifteen minutes, the gentlemen appeared in the drawing room. Kaoru irritably poured the tea, reflecting that her father was losing no opportunity to throw her and Shogu together.
Saitou rubbed his hands. â??Isnâ??t this pleasant,â?? he declared genially. â??We rarely have visitors, Mr. Amakusa. I have said to my wife quite often that we must entertain more regularly. We are inclined to become dull, you know, living so quietly in the country.â??
Even the loyal Yumi could not bring herself to utter a word in support of this blatant lie.
Shogu leaned forward and commented, â??Sir, in my experience, country life can be just as much a social whirl as it is in Kyoto. Why, the Widow Sekihara informed me only this morning that she is planning a large masked ball. I hope you and your family will be attending the event?â??
Kaoru lowered her eyes, lest her father should witness the glimmer of amusement shining from them. The hateful Shogu Amakusa had caught him out! Normally, her father discouraged all visits to the Widow Sekiharaâ??s despised house. But now he was trapped, like a fly on a pin.
Saitou squirmed in his chair. â??Ahâ?|a masked ball, you say?â??
â??That sounds like fun! Iâ??ve no doubt that all the influential people will be there,â?? put in Soujirou, grinning faintly.
â??Yesâ?|well, no doubt we will all attend. Why not?â?? said Saitou, sounding slightly dazed. â??Now, Kaoru, Iâ??m sure it would please our guest if you played for us on the shamisen.â??
Shogu nodded. â??How delightful to see a shamisen once more. Its tone is so much sweeter than these newer musical instruments.â??
Maybe itâ??s because your tone deaf, Kaoru thought sadistically.
Saitou looked pleased. â??Never could get on with the piano. We have one in the music room, of course, but I have always encouraged my daughter to play the shamisen and the harp.â??
â??And you must sing to us, too, Kaoru,â?? insisted Yumi as Kaoru took her place beside the instrument. â??She has the most charming voice, Mr. Amakusa.â??
He smiled. â??Really, Iâ??ve no doubt that Miss Kamiya is a very talented young lady.â??
Kaoru ignored him. Perhaps, she thought fervently, as she ran her fingers over the shamisen, perhaps Shogu Amakusa is merely being civil. It may be that secretly he is disappointed in me and has changed his mind about marriage. Oh, please let him return quickly to Shimabara, and not bother calling here again!
But there was no avoiding the legendary warrior from the Bakamatsu. The following day Aoshi and Soujirou had arranged for Shogu to join them in a ride over to Sendai to inspect a new horse. Kaoru was invited to make up the party.
â??Itâ??s very kind of you, Aoshi, but I would only slow you down if I rode with you,â?? Kaoru demurred.
â??Nonsense,â?? Aoshi said with a frown, â??Why, only yesterday you were saying how much you would like to join us on the hunt. Now Iâ??m offering you the opportunity of a gallop, and here you are, hesitating. Be ready by eleven oâ??clock.â??
Kaoru said alarmingly, â??Perhaps Misao would like to accompany usâ??â??
â??Misao and I have various household matters to discuss,â?? interrupted Yumi. â??Sheâ??ll be quite content to have a quiet day here with me, while you enjoy a pleasant outing with your brothersâ?|and Mr. Amakusa, of course. Oh, and Kaoru, be sure to wear your new gi and hakama. After all, you will want your brothers to be proud of you.â??
Really, thought Kaoru. This is a conspiracy against me. I hope the gods will take pity on me and send a downpour, or better yet a storm.
When Kaoru and her brothers met with Shogu, she judged from the admiring expression in his pale green eyes that her appearance gave him every satisfaction. Even in her simple blue and white outfit, she looked lovely.
It was a glorious day, with fluffy white clouds scudding across the blue sky, swept by a fresh breeze which soon brought a flattering flush to Kaoruâ??s dazzling complexion. She was mounted on her favorite chestnut mare, and noticed with some amusement that Aoshi and Soujirou had drawn a little ahead, clearly to give her and Shogu the opportunity to become better acquainted.
Shogu lost no time in opening the conversation.
â??Very pretty countryside, isnâ??t it,â?? he remarked. â??But I must confess, I feel more at home in Shimabara. The landscape there has a more rugged quality. Tell me, Kaoru, are you at all acquainted with that part of the world?â??
â??Iâ??m afraid not,â?? replied Kaoru coolly. â??Though if you find Shimabara so attractive, Mr. Amakusa, no doubt you will be anxious to return there?â??
He gave her a frank glance. She looked into his pale eyes and quickly averted her head. Oh, how she hated this man! Yet it was not his appearance which repulsed her, for he was quite handsome. Instinctively, she was conscious of something elseâ?|something lurking and evil about this man which sent a shiver right through her, although she was already warm from the ride.
Shogu, blissfully unaware of Kaoruâ??s loathing, continued placidly: â??I will not return to Shimabara until my business here is successfully concluded. My first wife, Shura, died a year ago. To be frank, it is no secret that Iâ??m seeking a replacement.â??
â??Really?â?? said Kaoru disdainfully.
He paid no heed to the distaste in her tone. â??Iâ??m sensible of precisely the type of girl I want. Shura was a loyal wifeâ??unfortunately, we were not blessed with childrenâ??but she was rather frail, and, well, even her mother said that she was somewhat plain. For the next Mrs. Amakusa, I want to choose a more lively girl. She must be healthy and strong, of course, but I should prefer her to possess more than her fair share of good looks.â??
Beneath her bangs, Kaoruâ??s fine eyes were fiery with indignation. Merciful heavens, anyone would think he was in the market for a horseâ?|she must have good teeth, a sound disposition, glossy coat, and lively eyes! She couldnâ??t even picture this man being married, let alone his wife giving birth to his children.
Clearly interpreting her silence as becoming modesty, Shogu continued, â??I have a great deal to offer the right lady. I enjoy a sizable income, and when the legal tangles are resolved, Iâ??m confident of receiving a large sum from the Emperor, plus a high-ranking position in the government.â??
â??I should have imagined,â?? said Kaoru icily, â??that to search for wife here in the country would be a sad waste of your time. There must be a number of eligible ladies in Kyoto who would be only too delighted to compete for the prospects you have to offer.â??
â??No,â?? said Shogu firmly, â??I donâ??t want some simpering Kyoto miss. I need a wife who understands the ways of the country. And Iâ??m not prepared to invest a great deal of my time in the search.â??
Kaoruâ??s smile was glacial. The man seemed totally lacking in subtlety. His intentions were only too clear. It was as if he had allotted himself a limited amount of time to complete his matrimonial businessâ?|within weeks, it seemed, the bargain would be struck, contracts signed, and the hapless bride bundled up to Shimabara as if she were a prize bale of wool.
For the remainder of the journey, Kaoru talked with Shogu in the curtest of tones, refusing to advance one jot of information about herself.
What a relief when the little town of Sendai came into sight. Kaoru had imagined that Shogu would want to view the horse with her brothers. But to her chagrin, as they approached the stables, Shogu murmured to Aoshi:
â??I admit, after my ride I have a longing to walk a while. Would you allow me to escort your charming sister in a stroll beside the river, while you complete your business at the stables?â??
Kaoru flashed an imploring glance at Soujirou, who at once attempted her rescue. â??Oh, but Iâ??m convinced Kaoru would prefer to see the horse,â?? he said firmly.
But Aoshi sided with Shogu. â??No, it occurs to me that a crowd of us viewing the horse might unsettle the animal. Kaoru, you walk for a while with Mr. Amakusa, and then you may view the horse later.â??
Shogu assisted Kaoru down from her mare. â??Come, Miss Kamiya. I have an idea that the river path lies this way. Isnâ??t it an enchanting sight, framed by the cherry blossoms?â??
As they walked along the path, Shogu informed Kaoru further on the matter of his Shimabara estate. â??Once Iâ??ve receive the money the Emperor will reward to me, I will buy the remaining land there. Then me and my bride will live there permanently. It is an imposing house, much admired and envied by all the people.â??
Kaoru gazed at the ducks squabbling in the water and said nothing at all.
Suddenly, she felt Shoguâ??s hands on her shoulders, whirling her round to face him. His expression was livid.
â??So! Have you nothing to say to me?â??
Kaoru was amazed and frightened by his swift change of mood. Nevertheless, she threw back her head and challenged him boldly, â??Please remove your hands from my shoulders, Mr. Amakusa!â??
His fingers dug hard into her shoulders. â??I donâ??t believe you are shy,â?? he hissed. â??I have observed you closely, and Iâ??m convinced you are a girl of spirit. Yet, with me, you turn away your head, and answer yes, no, really, like all the other simpering girls.â??
â??Let go of me this instant!â?? Kaoru demanded, her heart thudding with fear. â??Or I will scream for my brothers.â??
Shoguâ??s response was to seize her right arm, jerking it painfully up behind her back and rendering her immobile and helpless.
He laughed softly. â??But your brothers are back in the stables. There is no one to hear you. No one.â??
She opened her mouth to scream, but he was too fast for her. He drew her close. To Kaoruâ??s horror, she found his face near hers and his lips pressing down upon her own.
Nauseated, she kicked and struggled wildly. But he held her fast, searing her pinioned right arm with pain as he covered her cheeks, her mouth with hot, moist kisses.
Kaoru, overcome with repulsion, closed her eyes, convinced she would faint. Just as she knew she could bear it no longer, there came a cold voice:
â??Let her go, you bastard!â??
Shogu released his grip on Kaoru and spun around. â??What theâ??â??
His voice faded as he regarded a short, red-haired man with a cross- shaped scar standing on the path before him. But it was not so much as the commanding presence of the newcomer that momentarily silenced Shogu. It was the fact that the man was wearing a sword and eyeing him with amber eyes, filled with hatred.
Authorâ??s ramblings:
SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY!!! My computer was infested with an eek virus (whatever that is). Iâ??ve put Katsu in place of Sano bec. I couldnâ??t bear the thought of Sano dying. I kind of invented the war between Japan and France, the hunt and the masked ball, too lazy to do some research on Japan. The names of the places I got from my database and the atlas. Hey, this is the fun of fic, you can invent so many things. Iâ??m trying to incorporate as many RK characters as I can. THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all of you who have read and reviewed my fic. LSR-7, Thanks a million if you think my English is good, I always have a dictionary on hand which is a very useful tool, especially when youâ??re writing a story. But Iâ??m still having some difficulty with the subject-verb agreement, not to mention the complicated prepositions. JML, Arigatou gozaimasu for the basic Japanese lesson. Iâ??ve omitted the chan, san and the nii-chan bec. itâ??s confusing to me. CHIBI-ANGEL & CRYSTAL OKAMINO, I love your fic about Sou-Kaoru-Kenshin love triangle. I canâ??t wait for the next chapters. Until then minna. Itâ??s twelve oâ??clock in the midnight and Iâ??m very sleepy. SAYONARA.
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