oh my god, I loved this story! And I totally love Naruku--she reminds me of Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter. Naruku is so cute and so perfect for Kenshin! Which is good because I always pair up Kaoru with Soujiro and there's no one for poor Kenshin...but I think Naruku is such a good match for him. And even though I hate Hitomi, I liked that she got to be happy in the end. It's better than the standard "omg, bitchy girl gets her comeuppance!" because most people aren't just straight-up **. Most of the time they think they are doing the right thing and they just want their own happy ending.

I also totally loved that you included Saito because he's one of my favorite characters! And he wasn't OOC at all. You did such a good job.

I want to read all your other stories now too!

Rabbit, I'm sorry for my tardiness in reviewing this. I've been away a lot for the last several months.

I had already seen a version of this last chapter, but it's been so long since I've seen it, it was new again to me. ^^

As always, there are so many fine nuggets. I liked the way Sanosuke defended Megumi when Hitomi was acting up a little too much in her anxiety. Saying that Megumi is a good doctor and that she knows what she is doing is something that Sano can never seem to say directly TO Megumi, but it would be just like him to say it without hesitation to someone else.

I also liked that Megumi was in earshot. She didn't mention it to him, but I know she had to appreciate it.

I liked the scene between Hitomi and Kenshin, with all of the table, all hearts on the sleeve. Kenshin, finally being open, was right. He darn well should have been forthright from the beginning! Foolish man just never seems to learn. ^^ I also emjoyed hearing him say he doesn't have all the answers. Sometimes, for many circumstances, he likes to behave as if he always knows best when we all know that that's not so. There has always been that answer or two that he could never find no matter how long he searched or waited. Seeing him admit that makes him seem like he is truly being honest with Hitomi.

I was glad to see Hitomi make those full and peaceful realizations of where love had bloomed and where she stood now. That she couldn't find her answers by clinging to another person. And being woman enough to let go. She finally gained a little respect in the eyes of this reader.

The redheaded children were adorable too! It looks like there was a little more fertility with the pairing of this tale than Kenshin's canon union with Kaoru. ^^

Also, I went and read your reviews for the final chapter. I was most amused by the review from one who didn't know you were diliberately mary sue-ing on Hitomi's part, or that your explainations for a shift of affection from Kaoru to Naruku are in your previous stories in the series.

I've also seen in quite a few animes, cartoons, and stories where the enemy was down and there were a few moments for quality time or conversation. That's just being a little overly critical for the sake of it.

I think I also might mention that Kenshin was fifteen when he was married to Tomoe. Even blending the essense of Watsuki's vision to the OAV, I think perhaps as Kenshin got older, he had become a lot warmer and more touchable. There is also the fact that Naruku would be infinately more, well, "cuddly" than the frosty beauty that Tomoe was.

As for Hitomi ending up a fisher's woman? Actually I love the idea. In a mirror to Kenshin, it makes sense Hitomi would find happiness in a more humble life. A little cottage by the sea sounds serene and peaceful and one of the more beautiful places that the planet earth has to offer. I liked the image a lot. Kenshin's prediction came true. All in all a satisfying story, with an ending that brings a smile to the face.

I appreciate the honor of looking it over for you, Rabbit. ^^

Yeah...I forgot to drop a review here. Overall, I think you may have accomplished what you set out to do. I'll admit; I liked Hitomi, but she was an obnoxious OC to deal with. But it was interesting, seeing as though you were shooting for that in the first place.
Her ending somehow seemed fitting - she settled into a quiet life, much like Kenshin had.

I really don't have any criticism to give; the reviewer below has already done that, lol. But thanks for finishing this.

I had a lot of problems with this story. It's not that the whole thing stunk, the action scenes were well choreographed, and the basic plot of Kenshin leaving retirement to catch yet another bad guy was a good one, but the OCs were a definite handicap. I just don't like Mary Sues, and having two of them catfighting over Kenshin...

There wasn't enough explanation of how Kaoru could just let go of her love for Kenshin. Leaving her in the story was a mistake if you wanted to go with a Naruku/Kenshin love affair. Short of death, nothing would keep the Kaoru whose love for Kenshin enabled her to overcome Jin-eh's spell, the girl for whom he suffered a nervous breakdown when he thought Enishi killed her, from letting Kenshin go. And if the only reason Naruku feels Kenshin is falling for her is the fact that he saved her, then Kaoru has just as much reason to believe he could love her as well. God knows he was constantly saving her in the anime.

I'm with your other reviewer too on the lip-lock between Naruku and Kenshin while Nobu Sho was presumably writhing in pain, unaccountably silent, after Naruku kneed him in the groin. What was he supposed to be doing during their whole rather personal conversation? And why did Uramura ignore the prone villain on the ground, walking up to talk to Kenshin and Naruku for several minutes of polite conversation before bothering to take the guy into custody? Kenshin was also oddly physically affectionate towards Naruku too, considering he wasn't even that touchy feely in public towards his own wife, Tomoe, in the OAV.

The ending was pretty unsatisfying as well. I wasn't any fonder of Hitomi than I was of Naruku, but did she really deserve to get stuck as a fisherman's girl? Sucks to be Hitomi. You could at least have given the woman a rich husband who showered her with affection so when she saw Naruku again she'd be one up on her rival in the socio-economic sphere. As it is, Naruku wins and Hitomi gets the dubious pleasure of a life among shellfish. It's second best, and a depressingly plebeian second best at that.

So, this'll be the last time I see one of your stories that I read for the rest of the year. As sad as that sounds to me, I think I'll be able to wait just a little bit longer. Just a little, ^^.

Ah, Nobu Sho is a fool. But, oh well. He got what he deserved in the end. Poor guy...I hope he can cope well with his injury though. I did find it odd that there was a ...rather intimate kiss between the two in the open with Nobu Sho laying right there. Somehow, I get the feeling that you were waiting to put something like that in, lol.

Thus, all that's left is for Saitou to welcome his new child, and Hitomi and Naruku to settle their differences. O...it's not going to be pretty, is it?

^^, well, good luck with your novel. And I'll be waiting for the next update.

BWA HA HA! I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO TAKES A MILLION YEARS TO UPDATE!!

... yeah, it really sucks... TT-TT

But it was worth it! Intense action packed chapter, complete with romance and jealousy! Oh, Kenshin and Naruku's kiss made me tingle with happiness (it's about damn time!). And it was such a passionate kiss too! Seriously, this was an amazing chapter, and the confrontation with Nobu Sho was incredibly well done. There was no over-dramatization but certainly enough to keep the reader going "asahHAOaokdsngodsjgoo!! *flaps arms around* o_O" You've been doing wonderfully with this fic, and I think it's an excellent addition to the Naruku canon series.

Huh, constructive criticism? *thinks* ... Someday, I will find a grammar error or something and I will say "ha! something to fix and make better!" Until then... yeah, not much to say... ^^

*waves flag* Yay, usashi-chan! KEEP AT IT! WHO! XP

O_O. this is bloody brilliant. Me likes it a lot! M...Hitomi is kinda clingy...reminds me of some of my friends ^^;; I like Naruku, shes cool! I can't wait til you update. Toodles!
-Sanura

Nice story!I am waiting for more,don't forget about FW

Has it really been seven months since you updated this fic? Hm...I don't quite remember it being that long...then again, I have quite the spontaneous memory.

Conflict. Conflict. Conflict! The first swings between Naruku and Hitomi have finally been met, though I didn't expect the two of them to actually get into a bit of a scuffle such as the one that had been displayed. Hm...Saitou's not gonna be happy knowing that his wife went into labor during a mission. Though, I'm sure that he's not happy as it is, considering Sano's...methods.

Well, the fic has sparked a new anticipation in me once again. Mainly because of the tension between Hitomi and Naruku. Somehow, I think that Hitomi is going to end up a lot more scarred leaving this stage than she did as she was entering it. Guess I'll wait to wait for it, though. Well, it's alright, though. I'm very patient with your fics. ^^

OMG, it's updated! Yay! I was so happy when I saw this update! What a long time coming. This was a /great/ chapter though, probably my favorite so far. Though I do find it strange that your climactic part is so dramatic (what with Tokio giving birth, the Naruku-Hitomi confrontation AND Nobu Sho on the loose!) while the earlier parts of this fic were a lot more mellow and dealt more with emotion than happening. I love both parts, but it seems weird to make that jump from character-driven to plot-driven story.

I liked the scene with Aiko (was her name Aiko?). She was funny. Sort of seemed like a ditz, though! Still, I enjoyed it, probably because it dealt slightly with Sano's backstory. Very nicely tied-in.

Now, my favorite part of the whole chapter...Hitomi and Naruku's fight! I love the way it's written, and everything that Naruku says has me jumping up and cheering. THIS is what assassin-chick-Mary-Sue authors should know! Next time I see one, I'm going to be like, "No, your Mary-sue can't be in love with Kenshin and visa versa...Read If You Want Rainbows and know the truth!" Hitomi is so deluded.
Anyway, I can't WAIT to see what happens in the next chapter. Please update soon!

HA HA!! Ha...! Ha... Hmm, I actually kinda feel sorry for her now...She's still bitchy, tho'... Heh, anyways, excellent chapter, definitely. My favorite part was Naruku and Hitomi's conversation, SO well done. Hitomi didn't change who she was, although it was obvious some pretty nasty realizations started to come up. I think you did very well in keeping her in-character during the confrontation, good job! TOKIO'S IN LABOR! YES!! I wanna see the wittle Saitou-chan! Actually, I kinda hope it's a girl. I dunno, it'd seem Saitou would have more trouble with a girl while still being a devoted father, y'know what I mean? Probably not. Oh well, I just hope it's a girl ^^

Truly my pleasure to help, White Rabbit.

The movement in the last scene with Naruku and Hitomi is just great. The emotions are high, blood is up, truth brought forth like a double-edged weapon. Then all to come crashing down as someone with a need greater than the quarrel (and somewhat more than quarrel) of the two women. Seen clearly in the mind's eye, very well done.

I hope chaper seven is indeed not very far off, because I'm eager to see many things, including what levels of fluster dear, unflappable Saito might reach over the arriving of his new child.

(-chuckle-) There should be a town named after reviews? I'm willing to go along with that. In fact, I wholeheartedly agree.

This is my first experience with your Naruku, and I find I quite like the girl.

I think I chose to read this story first because of the title. I'm a sucker for interesting titles, even if I was going to be flung into a situation I wasn't entirely familiar with. I spend so much loose time reading and writing RuroKen, getting into the heads and inner hearts of the characters, I feel like I know them well, and Naruku is slipped in with them so smoothly I kind of felt like I am a frequenter of the Kamiya dojo, and I've been away for a while and came back to find that they made a new friend while I was gone! I'm obligated to get to know her, then. :D And I will.

Think I'll read "Steps of Courage" next and work on doing just that.

nice chapter

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS FIC. well i love all your naruku fanfics. i hate Hitomi so much. your NARUKU series is probably the best rurouni kenshin fics i've ever you please update. PLEASE.