Wow. I think you captured Aoshi's personality absolutely perfectly, and that in itself is a major feat. I think this is one of the best AM fan fics I've ever read, it's completely realistic and in canon with the anime. Great job, I hope you continue writing AM fics.

I love how you can portray a sense of poetry and rhythym in your writing. It's a great talent that many writers have and one that i, too, would also like to have. ^_^ Your stories are very inspiring to me, and they give me fresh hope. Great piece!

You've picked the perfect scene to explore ... there's so much left hanging in that part of the manga, and you've expounded on it so well.
I really like that Misao finds herself thinking about Aoshi, even in that time of grief - it's such a normal thing, and yet so guilt-inducing. Love the realism there. Aoshi's comments on grief were accurate, perhaps, but they seemed a little too cold, even for him. But his reactions following that made him seem so real that I was awed. "I didn't mean it that way." Heh.
Basically ... great work. :)

*laughs hysterically without knowin why* nice endin...da whole thing is nice...

aaw... I really wish Watsuki drew more of that sceen! Then again, maybe he ment to play with our heads like this? ehh, now I'm all like "Kaoru's ddead." When I know full well she's not? heh.

Good ficcie, choi! heh.

I know I've already read and commented on this story somewhere..something about how nice it was for somebody to write about the night wherein Misao was crying near the well over what she thought was Kaoru's death. I've always imagined what else could have happened after seeing Aoshi noticing Misao's presence and tears that night. Granted that there are few moments in the manga where we could see how much Aoshi cares for Misao, its satisfying for me to read fics dealing with those unseen moments. More please *grin*

I love it. X3; Such agnst. It seems.. Just so right with those two. Misao is strong, but- Aoshi completes her to help her be strong. I love it ^^;

Arg I wanna read the manga's so bad but I can't read Japanese...A!

Sofa-Chan

sigel phoenix, you write some of the best aoshi and misao one-shots. i've enjoyed reading them and look forward to others in the future. the characterizations are well done and the subtlety of their relationships seeps through your fics. you also explore their personalities and what makes them tick thoroughly.

Incredible! You have just put into words what I have always felt about that scene! Despite how brief it was, I just believed that it held more significance than it was ever given proper credit for.

After Misao's spirited speach and then hearing her tears of grief, I had always thought Aoshi came to a resolution within himself to take on some responsibility in this whole Enishi affair. After all, it technically wasn't his battle to begin with and brining the diary was more of a favor than an answer to call. Still, after finding the situation how it was, and then seeing how deep Misao's heart was set on this, he concluded that he would help the Tokyo crew make ammends or find their peace. While he could have done it just to pay back Kenshin, I always liked to think that it was partially done for Misao's sake as well. ^_^

I love your closing paragraphs in this one; especially the last two lines of the fic. It REALLY helps explain why Aoshi began to go about proving Kaoru's death being fake. I mean, Aoshi is really the most practical of them all (well, along with Saitou, I guess). The most practical thing to have done was accept Kaoru's death and move on to finding Enishi; yet he was the one who presented the idea of her being alive. This story gives an excellent view on why such a logical man would look into such a hopeful possibility.

...And have I ranted LONG enough on this yet?! ^^; Sorry, but this one REALLY hit close to home. Summing up this story in three words?

"My thoughts exactly." ^_^

Wow, impressive use of vocabulary. Good, short story; it was sweet.