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As soon as Ōka the lantern into his path, intent on catching hiuard She hoped that--with the sliver of tiht her--she would have a moment to clamber off the rooftop unnoticed and quietly inform Ōkami of the teahouse’s most recent arrivals

She could, of course, si Simply shout down at him from her perch But if Mariko could help it, she did not wish for Ōka on hi her Or worse, seeing her

So she was left with nothing but a lantern

Unfortunately Marikothe lantern at the Wolf:

The surprising weight of metal suspended from a chain

And the quickness of the Wolf’s reflexes

As soon as he heard the grate of swinging metal from above, Ōkami shoved Yumi away and looked up in the saue lantern struck the Wolf hard in the face, causing hie-and-white koi darted in every direction as the splash resounded through the courtyard, drawing the attention of everyone within earshot

Mariko blinked, her eyes andperfect ovals Ōkami swiped the hair from his face and imh he’d knohere she was all along

That did not exactly go as planned

Yu her perfectly painted lips

At the gate’s entrance, Mariko’s brother stepped fro doors, drawn by Yu water Mina in Kenshin’s footsteps

Mariko ducked lower, hiding herself fro Ōka for a miracle

When the Wolf stood suddenly--recri from his fine clothes--Mariko cut hi Then she jerked a thuh that offered a sufficient explanation As though it offered her a valid reason to swing aay leading toward the ures now proceeding in their direction Though his fury remained intact, he narrowed his eyes In less than an instant, understanding settled across his features

From where it had fallen beside hi Then he whistled once, the sound like that of a waterbird

Again the terror gripped Mariko’s throat, catching her voice in a vise

Each second brought her brother a step closer If Kenshin had trailed her this far--trailed Mariko all the way from Jukai forest to the imperial city--her brother likely suspected the Black Clan of kidnapping her Did he know the identity of the exiled boy who led this band of nize Ōkae of the roof, her pulse roaring in her ears

She felt powerless Helpless Her blood surged on, ignited by fear

Kenshin and his companions rounded the corner beneath where Mariko crouched Soon they would see Ōka distance The Wolf did not look perturbed at this Nor did he attempt to flee He merely motioned for Yu an arc of crystalline water behind hiers shook Mariko could not be certain what the Wolf intended to do But it was obvious he uards Even against the celebrated ht of the finest member of the yabusa party

Locked on the Dragon of Kai

An icy chill brushed across Mariko’s skin

Ōkaarments

Which meant he had to know the reasons Hattori Kenshin had trailed hi toher convoy