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I’ht me here? What do you intend--"

"Today you work Toed "I feed you to my horse"

JEWEL STEEL AND NIGHT RAIN

He’d lost track of her

Lost all sight of where his sisterthe westerne of Jukai forest Followed it even as her steps doubled back and across the gedly Ignored the twinges of frustration that cut through his chest But Mariko’s trail had disappeared thishole

Inexplicably

The elderly nored his queries while pushing him from the threshold of his ramshackle lean-to

"Do you knoaway from the sun "Now I’hter had greatly reseh "You’d do better to ask iven tih he’d been sucking on the meat of a yuzu fruit

Kenshin had al about the way the old man had brushed him aside so easily Brushed aside such a respectful request fro samurai

In his concern for his sister, Kenshin had almost threatened an elderly man But he’d forced his ht hihts could become irrevocable action

Kenshin would never coh he definitely thought the old , he had no proof

His sister’s trail now hopelessly lost, Kenshin had been forced to return to his camp What he’d found when he arrived was even rown restless in his absence Their supplies were dwindling

Their direction was now lost as well

Kenshin had realized it was time to return home To resupply and devise a different tack

His men had been thrilled with the news Far more thrilled than Kenshin wished them to be After all, they’d failed in their task to rescue their lord’s only daughter

They--and he--had failed Hattori Kano

It was true Mariko had never been greatly beloved airl, ar questions Mariko had never shied away from an opportunity to learn She’d pestered metalsmiths Peered over the shoulders of alchely still as she’d watched Nobutada--the ifted swordsman of his father’s samurai--practice his kata

Kenshin had always kno irritated theunder his father’s crest had been These were not the places for a young girl Not the proper interests for the daughter of their esteemed daimyō

Nevertheless his father’s men needed to fall in line Now of all tih today

An example would need to be made One his father would undoubtedly approve

As their convoy crested the hill leading into the valley of his father’s do a tune in ti tribute to the beauty of ho by a humble foot soldier The men at Kenshin’s back beca swell of the sea, the h their ranks

Jubilant Boisterous Even in the face of failure

Kenshin’s long-si point He yanked his reins to one side, curving his horse around the vanguard of the convoy Kane reared once before driving his hooves into the fragrant earth The convoy ca died down

As the melody faded, Kenshin took a moment to seek out his quarry Then he prodded his warhorse alongside the neat foraru