No... not the cliffhanger... -.-"

This is an amazing story! The suspense is killing me! -.-" PLEASE update soon...

Uhm...well...I just read it? Yerk. Torture. Kenshin's body stayed in so much better shape back when he was a practicing hitokiri. Matsuo is so...irritating. Politics are so...but this is just... It's a very good story, although I lack the energy to do a proper critique--anyway, you will keep it up now that you've started again, won't you?

Glad to see you have returned. You've been missed.

The torture inflicted on Kenshin is horrific! How he continues after this...

Waiting for more.

AM

Ep! Poor Kenshin. D:

And I didn't know that about HakuBaikou! That story was fantastic and I think it was the first one I read in this community. She'll be missed.

I am thrilled to see an update for this story. I hope you don't give up on it or the fans of your writing. The original version of this story was one that caught my attention when I first starting getting into RuroKen fanfiction. This version seems to even surpass that. The historical detail and the incredible grit of characters such as Kenshin and Katsura played off the almost maniacal short-sighted stupidity of Matsuo,the wariness of Suzuku or the spirit of Hirokatsu make for gripping reading. The torture was a bit hair-raising and I would hate to think of the kind of research that would uncover that bit of historical information but it certainly made the torture more convincing. I also found the whole part with Kenshin trying to kill himself something that makes sense for anyone of that time who would know what he was about to endure. It shows that Kenshin was human enough to know he could have a breaking point.
By the way, the new author's name threw me. I would have read this sonner if I realized it was the BakaBokken story and not someone else using the name. It was a great to see it was indeed what I was hoping for.

Wow. You're back! And this chapter is really good.
I have to say, one of my favorite things about your writing is how you go and research everything you use. It's really good to have it backed up with actually history. Thank you for writing and I'm glad that you're back!

Thank goodness! I thought we'd lost you to the ranks of the rabid yaoi OOC fangirls, but this chapter has renewed my faith in your writing. (there must be something in the water. First you, then Vathara...it's a veritable epidemic of shonen-ainess)

I really like Hirokatsu. The moment when he grabs Katsura by the kimono and yells at him was incredibly cool. While I can understand Katsura's POV, and to some extent agree with it, I LIKE Hirokatsu's attitude a lot more.

The inclusion of references to Tomoe's memory was a very nice touch. It makes sense that she'd be Kenshin's reason for fighting when anyone else would've given up, and his solace for "when the pain became too overwhelming".

Matsuo isn't just a sadist, he's a stupid sadist, which makes him more dangerous and doesn't bode well for his future. If Saitoh's motto is 'slay evil instantly' I wonder what his motto for incompetence is? What really got me was Matsuo's moronic idea that he could switch a random prisoner for a redhead with a distinctive scar. Just because Matsuo had never seen Kenshin before doesn't mean Okita, Saitoh, or someone else hadn't. Matsuo isn't much for thinking things through, is he?

Suzuka's POV makes for a fascinating read. He's far more interesting as a self-interested political animal than if he were unswervingly faithful to his lord.

Trust that freak Matsuo to know the most painful shinsengumi torture techniques. You're right in your historical note, it was indeed the method used to extract information on the location of Ikeda-ya, and you described it realistically enough to make me wince while reading.

Can't wait for more good (non-yaoi) postings!

thanks for the update! A really good story :D. Please be sure to update soon!

Wow. That was...amazing! I couldn't tear myself away from the screen. It was terrific! Just the right amount of detail, too, especially the during the first part.

(And OW, I cannot IMAGINE having someone driving nails into my feet. That was just nasty.)

I'm glad you updated--this is terrific! I'll be looking forward to the next part!

great fanfiction! poor kenshin... that ruthless btch matsuo... update soon!

and i think i read hakubaikou's fanfiction... i'm sorry to hear that...

*~tsukiko~*

I'm so glad that you updated! The tortue was indeed brutal, but extremely well written. I hope that Katsura's plan to rescue Kenshin works. I hope you can update this soon!

Oh my gosh. That made my feet ache! I cannot imagine going through something like that.
Anyway, love the story. Kenshin is so much like I envision in this, it's eerie. Keep up the good work!

good chapter. I'll expect an update by next summer, you know! is midnight sleepy time, sorry. no advise. the torture was captivating.

Brutally detailed. Awesome!

WORTH... THE... WAIT! Honest!
I love this story. Can't wait for next update!