Wow... I never really understood Tomoe's character. I've only looked at Kaoru's POV of her, and all I really got there was an epitome of perfection that her tomboy-ish nature could never compete with. ;) Thanks for helping me delve into the mysterious lady's heart, and making me realize the healing impact she had on our broken hitokiri~

I simply ADORED the ending. It's ingenious how she decides that in healing Kenshin's soul, she'll destroy the hitokiri, and in result avenge her fiance. Simply. Ingenious. I never really understood how and why she could've loved Kenshin so... until now.

Lovely masterpiece!

With much love,
tweakinuears

I could pop a cap in your belly for discontinuing this. x[

That was a lovely look into Tomoe's life. The only words I'd suggest you change are at the end of chapter 5. You could write "The End" and mark it as complete. We (the fans of RK who are most likely to read your fic) would feel it's complete there as we can piece together her new plan. I doubt she meant her own death, but perhaps you did?

Anyway, since you're unlikely to revisit this fic, just know that I liked it and felt it all fell in place at (what I perceive as) the end.

LOL, "I suspect he slips out the window when he hears me coming."

"Out, damned spot!" Poor Kenshin. :(

"He says it so casually that, for a startled moment, it almost sounds like encouragement." Who knows, maybe it is. (wince)

Heh, go a little easy on Mr. Yukishiro; he's a nice guy, after all. Unless it was the homelessness that mellowed him?

"Such an unusual kind of vengeance... trying to restore the conscience to the tattered, wounded soul of this young man..." That makes sense, that her "vengeance" has changed its meaning.
"But... if I can help him... if I can soothe the madness that is devouring him... perhaps even ease it from him entirely... would not the Hitokiri be destroyed just as surely?" Ah, yes, that's it.

No, why hasn't this been continued?!?!

Great work, btw; this is EXACTLY the sort of canon KT fic I've been looking for. They're so hard to find! Thank you for writing this!

Hahaha, "I don't want to give her... uh... hospitality!" That's what I love about you, Ken-chan; always the gentleman. ^_^

I always have wondered about the books in his room. I like your speculation on that.

So hilarious to get that from Tomoe's POV, when he realizes she hasn't run away. ^_^

Actually, from the proposal scene, I am under the impression that Tomoe's just a smidgen taller than him, but it's hard to tell because she slouches a lot.

Lol, "I cannot possibly imagine what he might have to say to me at this moment. Perhaps he cannot imagine either, for nothing else seems to be forthcoming."

I always thought that she gave him her given name because she wanted to protect her identity by not revealing her family name. Only thing I could think of that would explain why she'd introduce herself like that.

"And I feel my own eyes widen slightly as I realize that, if only for a little while, the haze of grief and pain that has clouded my heart for so long... was also forgotten..." Nice line to end with.

"Akira-san never carried me, never held me in his arms like that. He never got the chance..." Ah, that is so sad.

I like that the Okami pulls Tomoe aside for a conversation before they start the day's work. Makes sense. Oh, but I don't think that Tomoe would give her family name. Best be cautious.

Lol, "Until last night, I wasn't sure he even understood what a girl was."

Oh man, I love those scenes in the manga when people like the Okami and Tomoe and I'izuka make the great Hitokiri Battousai go SD. ^^

"...like another young, angry boy I know..." (screams) This is so good!

AH, this is so good! I love seeing things from Tomoe's POV, since she's so hard to read when she first shows up. ^_^

I really admire how you managed to bring in Tomoe's view and her thoughts so flawlessly. She's my favourite character beside Kenshin and it's really hard to find stories showing any respect towards her. It's a shame you haven't continued this story in over eight years, but I'll continue to hope and will wait for your next update.

Hope to see more soon!

This has been in my C2 for ever so long that I'd forgotten how beautiful it is.

Finally a story which starts the K&T love story where it began! AND it follows the manga! Too many people write about K&T beginning their romance at Otsu and base the romance on the OVA... which is ok but the manga is better (in my opinion anyway).

Your characterization is lovely and well realized, and I noticed you did research! (Re: Satsuma-Choshu not liking each other at this stage)

Your written expression is absolute poetry...i have yet to read a version of 'Tomoe's diary' written with even half of your finesse.

Kudos

I read this a few years ago on your website before I knew much about this arc of the manga. I really enjoyed it then, and I reread it, and I still like. This was one of the first fan fictions I ever read.

Nice story and thanks for writing. :)

i've never seen the story in the bakamatsu era being told this way, from this point of view... its actually really interesting! i luv it! update soon!

*~tsukiko~*

Beautiful.

I've never seen such a clear grasp of Tomoe's character. I've never been able to fathom it myself. And though I've hesitated to read this because I'm a Kaoru fan (I've seen this story on many favorites lists), I 'm so glad I did.

THANK YOU for all your time and effort!

Bah!

Even if this follow the manga plot in Tomoe's point of view and the ending is obvious...

You must continue this!
Please! =(