OOC: I know. Such an original title. I'm a genius.

IC: Akiyama kept her hood pulled over most of her face as she tried to inconspicuously ride her borrowed horse into a bustling town called Tokyo. It turned out that keeping her face hidden wasn't a good way to seem inconspicuous, so she drew the hood back, hoping her pursuer just hadn't thought to come here. People she loved had risked a lot to get her away from him, but keeping hidden and away from attention seemed harder to do than she thought. She rode the horse down a few roads slowly, giving a courteous smile to everyone she saw. She didn't get a courteous smile back most of the time, but it seemed like she would need some help.

All this wandering, and Aki still had no idea where the stables were. It's not like she could just shout that there was a horse for sale...that would kind of put a damper on the inconspicuous thing. Heaving a sigh, she pulled the brown mare to a halt and dismounted. She hated riding horses. She took the mare's lead and walked on foot until she saw a young woman, perhaps a couple years younger than herself, with long black hair pulled back with a blue ribbon and a ready smile. She seemed to be on a chore of some sort, but she also seemed friendly and familiar with the town.

"Excuse me, Miss," Aki said with a smile. "I'm new here, and I need to sell my horse. Could you tell me where the stables are?" She hoped the stables weren't in the center of some sort of labyrinth of streets. She could find her way around if she had a map, but she didn't have a very good sense of direction.

((OOC: I just watched the first ep on YouTube to give myself a quick crash-course-reminder of Kaoru. I'm a bit rusty at playing her, and all other things RK, but if I'm too far off, just tell me. xD How do we want to handle the other characters?))

Kaoru had been occupied with getting a few things from the town market when she noticed a young woman, perhaps a couple years her senior, looking more than a little lost. She smiled at the woman, and was rewarded with a smile and a question.

"The stables?" Kaoru repeated, trying to recall where they were located. After a moment's thought, she realized where they were. "They're not far, really. I could show you, if you like. It's on my way home." She smiled once more before adding. "Oh, I'm Kaoru Kamiya, by the way." She had finished her shopping, and so it would really be no problem to help this woman.

((OOC: Short and not exactly awesome, but a post is a post. xD))

OOC: Oh, it's on Youtube? Sweet. I'll have to tell Rashi. I think the anime may be a bit out of her budget. As for the characters...I can handle Yahiko and Kenshin. Could you handle Sano? xD He shows up in either episode 3 or 4. If you're not sure, I can take him for a bit, but I might need help with the others if I'm taking him on.

IC: The girl offered to show her to the stables and introduced herself as Kaoru Kamiya. Aki heaved a sigh of relief. "That would be wonderful, thank you!" She always hated the next part, the lying. But if she was going to evade Shindou, she'd have to make herself disappear. "My name is Arima Kiramoto. It's nice to meet you, Kaoru-san." She looked around the town and decided that it would be a good place to settle down and pretend she wasn't there...at least for a while.

"I think I might like it, here," she decided. "Do you know of a place where I can rent a room? And is there possibly a blacksmith around? I'm not a blacksmith, but I like to dabble in silver smithing," she said with giggle. "In fact, half of the bags this girl is carrying have my supplies in them."

OOC: Yup, but I don't know how much of it is up on YouTube, and so far the episodes I want haven't been super easy to find, so be warned. xD Yeah, I can try Sano. I've never played him before, but I'll give it a shot, although I might wait to bring him in here until after I see him in an ep, just to make sure I kinda get him right. xD I'm part way through ep 2 now, where we meet Yahiko (and Tae...oh man, the accent! >.<) As far as I'm concerned, Megumi could spontaneously combust, as she wouldn't really contribute much. xD

IC: "It's not a problem, Arima-san." Kaoru insisted. When the newcomer inquired about a place to stay, Kaoru turned to her with another beaming grin. "If you need a place to stay, you're welcome to stay with me. There's plenty of room at the dojo, and it never hurts to have another woman around."

As for the question of a blacksmith, Kaoru had to think a bit harder. After a moment, she nodded. "I think there's a blacksmith down the road from the stables. I've only spoken to him once or twice, but he seemed like a nice man." She didn't know a lot about how blacksmithing, or even silver smithing worked, but it sounded interesting. "Maybe you can show me something you've made sometime..."

OOC: Alright, so I found if you want the dubbed episodes on YouTube (which, you know, is all I can watch) it's best to just search for 'Rurouni Kenshin episode __' and then pick the one with the long title (Like 'Something stinks!' and I forgot the rest, but it's episode 4) Not sure what's the easiest way to find subs though.

When Kaoru mentioned that there was room where she lived, Aki brightened up, but she was also a bit confounded. She barely knew this girl, and already she was offering for her to live with her? And what's more, it sounded like she was surrounded by men. She thought of big, surly men around this young girl. For some reason, it suited her, but not really, either. Either way, for some strange reason, she felt she could trust Kaoru. She seemed kind and confident, like she could take care of herself even if she invited someone untrustworthy into her house. But she had a feeling that didn't happen often. "What kind of dojo do you live in Kaoru-san? And before I accept your gracious offer, I might need to meet the other tenants, and possibly an estimate on rent. As for my silversmithing, I left all my works with my aunt and uncle, I'm afraid," she said with a giggle. "My aunt taught me."

Aki remembered leaving her aunt and uncle with reassuring smiles on their faces. They likely had moved on with her cousins. She hated to think that she had made them leave, but she also knew it wasn't her fault. She still felt the guilt, though.

Kaoru brightened even more when Arima asked about the dojo. It was her pride and joy, and she always enjoyed telling others about it. "I'm the assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin style of swordsmanship. My father created the style to serve as a sword that protects."

She nodded when the other said she'd want to meet the others who lived there, supposing that was a rational condition to accepting such an offer. "That's fine. Once we stop at the stables, you can come home with me. Kenshin should just about have lunch ready, so I'm sure Yahiko and Sano won't be far." She almost let herself get angry over the memory of the last time she'd cooked for them, after all, it wasn't like Yahiko or Sano paid for their food, or anything, but she reminded herself that she was with a new friend, and that had been a few days ago...she wasn't even bothered by it now...

She recalled Arima mentioned rent, and she was stumped. "To be honest...I haven't charged rent from anyone, so I wouldn't know the first thing to suggest on the matter." She explained. "Yahiko's my student, and Kenshin helps out with cooking and cleaning..." She smiled at the other woman. "I suppose if you really wanted to pay for the room...whatever you think is fair would be fine...assuming you choose to stay with us."

She was a bit disappointed that Arima had left all of her things with family, but that was fine. Perhaps if the other woman made something here, she'd let Kaoru see it...

Aki thought a bit about the swordsmanship. That sounded really interesting, actually. Especially since the philosophy was about protecting others. It seemed sweet. Something she'd like to be a part of. She flinched, though, when Kaoru talked about the tenants. Had she heard right? Did she say "Sano"? Well, even if she had, it likely wasn't her old friend. Then Kaoru explained that none of her tenants paid rent. Aki was beginning to understand why she had made such fast friends with this girl. She truly was kind and trusting.

"I'll definitely be paying rent, Kaoru-san," she said with a smile. "And I might even become one of your students, we'll have to see." Finally, the pair found the stables. "One second." She took the mare into the stables and found the stable master. He appraised the horse and paid her a discounted price, as she had expected, but not as low as others would have given her, either. She slipped the coins into her purse and hefted the saddle bag with her supplies on her back after taking off her cloak. She threw the cloak over one shoulder and the saddlebag with provisions and clothes on the other.

After somehow managing a bow, she walked outside to find Kaoru still waiting for her. She gave her new friend a bright smile to let her know she was ready to go. She knew after talking to her that she'd have to tell her the whole story eventually, and give her her real name. But it couldn't be right now.

Chains rattled as he was guided through the roads in what was very much like a funeral procession. Whispers reached his ears as he walked, lead by a group of Police officers that were armed with guns. These officers weren't escorting him to prison, they were too smart for that. Their intention was to execute him in the eye of the public but for what reason? He chuckled but that only got him pistol-whipped to the face. It barely seemed to faze him but he did taste blood from the impact.

"Ouch, Officer. That hurt." he said, faking a pout.

The Officer who hit him growled and was about to do it again but one of his fellow Policemen stopped him, shaking his head and muttering that it was nothing more than a trick to stall for time. They finally got him to where they wanted him, chaining him to the wall in order to prevent him from somehow escaping their gunfire. It was then that a young girl, holding a small doll approached one of the Officers and tugged lightly on his uniform.

"Sir? Did he do something wrong? He doesn't seem like a bad guy." she said.

The cruel Officer from earlier turned and kicked the girl away. It wasn't a particularly hard kick but to a young girl no older than 5 it was still sure to hurt. The Officer then let out a small cry as something hit the back of his head. He looked to the ground, trying to see what it was. A stone?

"Now that wasn't very nice. She asked an honest question, Officer." said the man who was currently chained up, dangling slightly from the ground.

He then looked to the little girl who was currently wiping tears from her eyes.

"Dearest, Little One. I am definitely a bad guy and I pray that you can remain as innocent as you are now. Life has dealt you an unfair hand but it's not the hand that counts. It's what you choose to do with it. Now, turn around and close your eyes. Shield your ears, Little One. This is something that one such as yourself should never witness. Be strong and follow your beliefs. Let them lead you, even if others believe it to be wrong. Be true to yourself and you wont go astray." he told the girl.

He watched as the girl nodded slowly, turning and doing as instructed.

"Good girl." he mused.

"That's enough, Pirate!" exclaimed the cruel Officer.

"Komizu Dai Gishi. Have you any last words?" asked the Officer from earlier wo seemed to have more rationale than his companion.

"Yeah. I do, actually." said the Pirate.

"Out with it!" said the Officer in need of some anger-management classes.

"Fuck the Police." said Komizu.

This made the Officer snap. He abandoned his gun and drew out the sword that was at his side before charging at the chained-up Pirate. Guns were too good for a man like this.

"No! Don't get that close to him!" exclaimed the other Officer but it was already too late.

The Officer was far to close to stop his charge. Komizu lifted a leg and deflected the sword away before wrapping his legs around the Officer's neck, slowly squeezing the life from him. The crowd gasped but no one dared to approach, even the remaining Officers were momentarily frozen in shock, watching as their companion was slowly strangled.

(( Possible theme song for Komizu. I was looking up amvs after I typed up this post and came across the one below. The song fits well for what I have for him so far. xD ))

((OOC: Really, really memorable last words. I admit I don't know how Kaoru and Aki are going to be able to help. xD))

Kaoru smiled brightly at Arima upon her return, and was about to offer the other woman help carrying her bags when she heard a commotion up ahead of them. She had seen a couple officers go by, though only just out of the corner of her eye, as she had been focused on watching for Arima. Still, it had looked like the officers who made a habit of pushing their weight around and generally mistreating the townsfolk.

"Something's going on up there." She informed Arima. "And we've got to go that way to get to the blacksmith's and the dojo." Feeling that was enough of an explanation, she set out at a quick pace, unable to run with the things she'd got from the market still in her arms, but going as quickly as she could manage.

Realizing that Arima may not understand why a commotion like this was important, she filled her in as best as she could. "We've got a few police officers here in town that like to push the people around...they'll even stage public executions of innocent people, just because they can." She wished she'd had thought to bring her practice sword, or even asked Kenshin or Sano to come along with her, as without any sort of weapon there was little she could do.

She reached the crowd in time to see a small girl get kicked away by one of the officers. Kaoru crouched down, setting her purchases at her feet, and checked on the girl, wiping the tears from her face. She heard what the man who seemed to be up for execution said and stood once more to watch as one of the officers lunged and was caught and strangled by the chained man, apparently named Komizu.

Despite his current actions, Kaoru still felt, deep down, that the small girl was right and this man really wasn't bad. "I think we should try to help him." She told Arima, though she wasn't sure what she could do. Sano and Kenshin had both told her time and time again that she shouldn't be so rash, but she just wasn't the sort to overlook what seemed like wrongdoing to her. Taking a deep breath, and leaving her shopping by the small girl, Kaoru pushed her way through the crowd. "Stop right there!" She said loudly, hoping the man would release the officer before he killed him. "The girl asked a good question. Just what is this man charged with?" She balled up both fists and planted them on her hips, looking as formidable as she could manage, and feeling far tougher than she looked.

((OOC: So yeah, that's how I think Kaoru would handle it. xD Aki's probably convinced her new friend is nuts. xD I think I'm going to wait until they get back to the dojo before I bring in my OC, Kazuki, although she, like Aki, goes by a couple different names. xD))

As soon as she stepped out of the stables, there seemed to be a commotion. A group of police had dragged a prisoner into the streets and were generally not acting like police officers should. It made her a little uneasy about deciding to stay here. But then Kaoru started walking forward. Aki's load was heavy, but silversmithing, while not quite as physically demanding as blacksmithing, still demanded a little more muscles than most women had, so the load didn't slow her down. Her new friend decided they should help. Well, if she was going to be her student at some point, that certainly made sense.

Kaoru stopped to comfort the little girl who had been kicked away and stormed into the fray. The scene with the police was tense, to be sure. The prisoner was literally squeezing the life out of one of their own, and they all stood around like stunned deer. She looked down and decided the best thing she could do was help the little girl. She wasn't familiar with this town, so as a newcomer, she felt she would be the most help out of the way.

"Hello, little one," Aki said, carefully kneeling down with her burden. She offered a smile to the little girl. The girl looked up and sniffed, offering her a halfhearted greeting. "What's your name?"

"Shi...Shinako."

"That's a beautiful name. Where are your parents, Shinako-chan?"

Shinako perked up to attention and searched the crowd. "I...I don't see them!"

"That's okay, Shinako-chan. I'll stay with you while the crowd moves away. By then, either you'll see them, or they'll see you." Aki set her things on the ground, her bag with supplies on the bottom, clothes, then her cloak. "Here. Sit on my bags, and I'll stay here with you. My name's Arima. You can call me Ari."

The girl nodded and thanked her new friend "Ari-san."

Aki turned her attention back to the situation at hand and hoped it didn't get to violent. Before she could really comprehend what was going on, a man of short stature broke through the crowd with an easy tread. He didn't have to fight his way through or push his way through. He just strode up as if he belonged nowhere else. He had long red hair pulled back, a red and white, gi, and cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. The man paused and looked down at Aki and Shinako. He smiled and nodded before continuing his walk.

The most baffling thing about his presence was the sense of relief she felt pass through the crowd, and even Shinako. Who on earth was this?

~~~

OOC: Kenshin and Yahiko's part is slightly in the past, but it'll catch up.

IC: "Are you SURE Kaoru would mind if we bought candies?" Yahiko whined, knowing perfectly well that Kaoru would mind and why exactly she would. The faces in the police were scaring everyone, so she wasn't seeing as many students. She needed to spend her money wisely. But all this tight money-spending wasn't helping Yahiko's mood any, either. He was bored.

Kenshin laughed and walked over to another stall. "I think she wouldn't mind if you learned to make candy, or took up a job at the Akabeko to earn money for candies. But I don't think she wants us spending her money on our own whims."

"Yeeeeah, I knooooow." Yahiko kicked his feet as he walked behind Kenshin with exaggerated slowness. Before he knew it, he bumped into him. Kenshin was stock still. Yahiko furrowed his brow and looked around Kenshin to see a prisoner being brought out, probably for one of those public executions they had heard about recently. "Those policemen look knew...I've never seen them before."

"Yahiko." Snapping to attention, Yahiko listened intently. "Go find the police chief."

"Right!" Yahiko dropped all his pretensions of being bored and ran off in the opposite direction to find the police station.

Kenshin knew rushing in probably wouldn't be the best solution, so he walked toward the commotion. He saw the girl being kicked away, heard what the prisoner said to her, and saw him turn the tables as he began strangling the police officer with his legs. The crowd and the other policemen stood still, too shocked to do anything. Then he saw Kaoru rush in with someone he didn't know. Kaoru confronted the police while her new friend stayed behind to comfort the little girl. When he passed them, he looked down and nodded to the young woman to let her know her help was appreciated.

Kaoru demanded to know what the prisoner was being charged with when he walked up and stood next to her. He looked at the scene. Instead of standing still for shock, now the police officers were standing still for not wanting to reveal their own crime. Kenshin trusted the police chief, but something must have gone horribly wrong with these new recruits. Walking forward, he stopped next to the prisoner and his victim, but also between them and the other policemen.

"This man isn't charged with anything, is he?" he asked. The policemen looked offended, but said nothing. "He just looked like a criminal and so you decided to make an example of him. The example these people need is that you will protect them, not indiscriminately pick them off for implied crimes." He turned his attention back to the prisoner and looked him straight in the eye. "And the example you must set is for those you give advice to," he said, meaning Komizu's talk with the little girl. "The little one took your words to heart, but how must she feel watching a man she deemed good strangle a man to death?"

It was only when Kaoru stepped forward that the Pirate released the Police Officer who quickly scrambled away, gasping for breath. He glanced at the woman who stood there, demanding to know what he was charged with. This was an interesting turn of events. He was now back to dangling there. That Officer had been lucky that someone had stepped in when they had. Another moment and it would have been light's out for him...permanently.

"This man is a murderer. Many dark stories and rumors surround him. On top of it all he's a Pirate, a thief." said the Officer from earlier, having managed to regain his breath.

"Your words hurt me, Officer." said Komizu with a small chuckle.

He seemed to enjoy angering this particular Officer. However, this Officer didn't seem to be enjoying it anywhere near as much. It was then that someone new appeared on the scene. He was a man with red-hair and a cross-shaped scar. Komizu had heard of such a man before, there were very few that hadn't. He stared right back into Kenshin's eyes as the other looked at him. Komizu looked at him without fear but with, instead, a look of interest.

"Nice eyes you've got there." he told the other, smiling slightly.

Those eyes were definitely the eyes of someone that had taken the life of another. Komizu could tell because he had such eyes but he had also seen such eyes many times in his life. He listened as Kenshin spoke to him and couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

"The Officers should learn to be more considerate of others, then. I wasn't about to sit by and watch as they abused the poor girl." he said.

"However, I did not lie when I said I was a bad person. Everyone is a bad person in someone's eyes, are they not? It depends on who looks upon that person. If that girl believes me to be good then she is free to do so and if the Police believe me to be bad then who am I to say differently?" said the Pirate.

He had an interesting way of thinking about things but it was a strangely passive way for someone that the Police seemed to think was so bad. After all, he was bad enough for the Police to need fire-arms, not just swords.

(( We can say that the Police chief already knows him. xD Komizu is a bit of a troublemaker. xD ))

OOC: Now seems like a good time to bring in Sano. xD Because the more the merrier, right? His part will be a little in the past. Yay for catching up. xD

IC: Sano strolled along at a leisurely pace. He'd indulged in a bit of purely therapeutic, if slightly illegal, gambling that morning, and had won a fair bit. He planned on surprising everyone back at the dojo with the offer to buy dinner, because he knew Kaoru hadn't had much luck earning money lately, and perhaps he'd even pay a bit on what he owed Tae. Maybe. Probably not, though. He saw a crowd ahead, and started to head down a different street...until he heard an all too familiar voice...no, make that two.

And if Kenshin and Kaoru were here, that meant trouble couldn't be far off. He cracked his knuckles as he broke into a run. Ah well, he'd had a quite morning, he could use a little excitement now...

~~~

Kaoru was relieved, though not entirely surprised, when Kenshin showed up, stepping out of the crowd next to her. He always seemed to be where he was needed most. She smiled faintly as she greeted him. "Kenshin..."

Her attention was drawn back to the police when the officer who'd been choked began to explain this man's 'crimes'. His words made her even more irritated. "Dark stories and rumors?" She repeated. "If you're going to start executing people based on rumors and stories, then everyone will have to line up for their turn." She was thinking of Kenshin, and the stories that surrounded his manslayer days, and of Sano, and the Sekihotai's tarnished reputation. Both were good men with many stories and rumors to the contrary.

As if thinking of Sano summoned him, she saw him step out of the crowd more to the middle than she and Kenshin had. He must've been off gambling, coming from that direction. "Sano..." She began, but stopped herself, temporarily filing away the anger that stirred up, and focused instead on what he was saying.

"So, I go off for a few hours..." He began, circling around to stand just a bit away from Kenshin. "And you go and do something fun without me." He had heard Kaoru's words when he'd approached, and hadn't paid much attention to the crowd. "So we've got what? Another false execution or something?" He didn't have to know much about the situation to know that he'd support whatever side Kaoru and Kenshin stood on.

OOC: My first post as Sano, I hope it didn't suck. xD And Kaoru seems to say people's names when they arrive like that, so I had her do that. xD At least if Aki's close enough, she'll hear their names. xD Also, he came in from a different direction, so I figure he hasn't spotted Aki yet. Because....something, I don't know, it's just how it played out in my head. xD

OOC: Looks Sano-ish to me. xD I'll bring Yahiko and the good police guys in soon.

IC: Shinako somehow wormed her way into Aki's lap as Komizu let go of the officer and started explaining himself, or at least tried. He sounded like he was giving himself excuses. Shinako gripped the cloth of Aki's kimono that she hated wearing. Aki patted the little girl's back, trying to console her. "Shinako!" Aki looked up and smiled at a woman who looked like she had tried to pull all her hair out. She smiled and gently let the little girl know her mother was there when she didn't react at first. Shinako jumped up and ran to her mother.

Now that that was taken care of, maybe she could help a little more with the situation at hand. She stood up and gathered her things along with Kaoru's, knowing how volatile crowds can be, and accidentally let out a small scream at who she saw join the fray. She covered her mouth and looked at the crowd around her, only a few people seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary, but it didn't last long. There, among those standing with her friend Kaoru was Sanosuke Sagara. The boy she hadn't seen since her father left for war. the boy she had been told was dead these ten years, executed, so to speak, with the rest of the Sekihotai. She didn't quite know whether to run away or run to help or...

No. She would help. After all, he deserved an equally shocking revelation for just casually strolling back from the dead. This might get back to Shindou...it might not. But she knew two things. She had at least two friends in this group, and she was tired of running. So, she walked up to the confrontation and said, "I'll tell you what's happening, Sanosuke. These men seem to think that no one can change, and no one has any intention to. They seem to think that they can take fanciful stories for evidence and do what they like."

The man Kaoru named Kenshin nodded in agreement.

"Shut up, woman!" one of the officers shouted, throwing a punch to her shoulder, likely hoping to knock her down. However, she caught the fall with her right foot and stayed standing in place. She shot the officer a look, though. It seemed everyone else did, too, because he didn't try anything else.

"I'm not under arrest, and I'll speak as I wish," Aki said simply, shrugging her bags on her left shoulder back into place.

Kenshin began to speak again.

"Komizu-san," Kenshin said, bringing back everyone's attention to the prisoner. "You say you are a bad man. As Kaoru-dono explained, if we go simply on our actions and our reputations, we should all be condemned as these men want to condemn you. this is an era of change and forgiveness. If a manslayer can be forgiven and given a post in the government, or even the freedom to wander as a simple swordsman to protect any he can reach, then any man has the capacity to change and become someone he can be proud of. He can have the power you spoke of to decide who he is."

"Shut the hell up!"

Kenshin turned his head to the officer who spoke. "That goes for you as well. Every person in that crowd knows that what you do is wrong. But standing up and admitting your mistakes is the first step to taking your destiny in your own hands."

"Who ever said that I wasn't proud of how I am now? The Police could never understand. However, a person with eyes like yours might." he told Kenshin.

It was then that the Police Officer decided to start harassing Aki. Komizu looked around for a moment before kicking a pebble, hitting the Officer in the head. The Pirate was a really good shot with such things.

"When will you learn to stop picking on women and children? I may be a Pirate but you're a Barbarian." said Komizu, growling slightly at the Officer.

"I have never once denied any of my past wrong-doings and I can't say that there wont be others in the future. However, unlike the Police around here, I don't go after women, children, or those that can't defend themselves." he said.

The fact that the Officers were picking on civilians really seemed to get to Komizu. He couldn't have been all that bad if he cared so much about others. However, it was still a mystery as to why he seemed to want to continue to call himself a bad person. The Pirate didn't really care if he was considered 'bad', in fact, he seemed to prefer that he was.

"If I get out of here then I might just tell you about myself but only after you fight me. It'll be a friendly little fight, nothing serious. Just a little bit of 'fun' between us warriors." he added to Kenshin, smiling as he suggested a little sparring match.

It had been so long since he had last fought a true warrior, seriously or for fun. If Kenshin agreed then he would be very happy. Even if he should refuse and Sano were to agree Komizu wouldn't mind. He would prefer to fight against Kenshin but both of them looked like formidable opponents.

Kaoru heard a small scream from the crowd, and looked around to spot its source. She smiled when she saw her new friend, Arima, emerging to join their group. Her smile turned to confusion when the other woman addressed Sano, Sanosuke, by name, even though Kaoru had yet to have a chance to introduce them.

Sano had a similar moment of confusion, turning to see who had spoken to him. It was a woman, but not a woman he'd met since coming to live here. His mind was blank for a split second, but then it clicked. That voice, older than when he'd last heard it, but similar enough. Same for that face, that expression, and those eyes. "Aki-Akiyama?" He blinked a couple more times, taking in the kimono she wore, before adding. "You look...girly." He hadn't seen her in ten years, and hadn't even been sure she'd survived. He wouldn't have put it past those monsters that had attacked the Sekihotai to take out the families of it's members. He was drawn out of his astonishment by an officer who really seemed to have a death wish. His instinct had been to flatten the guy, but Aki held her own. He smirked. He really shouldn't have expected any different from her.

Kaoru's confusion grew, as Sano addressed Arima as 'Akiyama'. She wanted to ask what was going on, but realized now wasn't the time. She'd demand all the answers she needed later when they were back home. She watched the officer's reaction to Arima's-Akiyama's? words, and wished not for the first time that she had her practice sword with her. Even if Kenshin and Sano could handle things, she really, really wanted to put a couple large, painful, knots on this guy's head.

Sano's gaze drifted to Komizu as he spoke. He couldn't quite figure this guy out. He seemed to go from explaining why he was, indeed a bad person, to explaining that he had some form of a code of honor, to challenging Kenshin, and if he followed the guy's gaze just right, perhaps Sano himself, to a sparring match later on. His eyes darted back to the officer who seemed to have a temper and a poor sense of self preservation. "Look, I know I was a little late to the party, but everyone seems to think you don't have a good reason to have this guy chained up." He jerked his thumb at Komizu before continuing. "And I know you don't have a good reason for going after my friend. So why don't you just do what Kenshin suggests and admit your mistakes or whatever so we can all go about our business." He absently cracked his knuckles, silently daring this so-called officer to try and punch him like he had Aki.

((OOC: That was a lot to respond to. xD Hope the post was all in-character and stuff. xD))