good story so far, but there are a few...typos (specifically your japanese words) just a heads up for later chapters or future stories, bokuto= gambler (usually in the yakuza) and the words u had probably wanted to use was boken=the wooden sword that kaoru fights with or a shinai= the bamboo sword that yahiko always carries around with him, and another one would be kendo= the martial arts style =]

These two chapters were very well written and captivating. I think you have a great story line, thus far. I like how the characters' personalities very much reflect those in the anime/manga. Anyway, I hope you come back to finish it some day. =)

Man, Kenshin is such an enigma sometimes. More so than Aoshi, i think. Anyways, I think you did a great job of catching that peaceful kind of chaos that was around them in Kyoto. Things were still kind of "ah, um... yeah" if ya know what i mean :D. Ha, you probably don't :B

But I really liked the Aoshi/kaoru-ness. It was perfectly done. No: "his icy blue eyes hid behind ivory bangs as she realized that, for no particular reason, he loved her as passionately as a guy can ever love a girl that has no apparent affinity to him," like in most fics. Aoshi and Kaoru don't have much in common, but you work on that and make it their strength ^^

anyways, you know that your author alerts sit in my inbox until i finally have time to read them? yup, so that's why my reviews usually come so damn late. sorry 'bout that :D

excellent job, and i'm so looking forward to kenshin's!

although i'm a huge KK fan, i really loved the way you portrayed the interaction between aoshi and kaoru. i thought that it was believable as well as poignant. i'm glad that this will be more of a prequel, and i hope to see more of story.
thank you again for writing.

oh i love it! i love your style and how the story unfolds. and when kaoru speaks to aoshi, it really is a projection of her own feelings and thoughts towards kenshin. i thought that was a really nicely done. great connection that I hadn't really seen. thank you for writing.

Oh, interesting! I have to say though, I'm not overly fond of the Aoshi/Kaoru pairing...

But still, I love your writing. Update soon!

I liked the secrecy in the Aoshi and Kenshin tea time.. maybe Kenshin might devulge some of it in his POV? Hmm.. it may have concerns on a certain tanuki's thoughts.. or feelings?

I love AK! Aoshi sort of stalking Kaoru made me swoon! lol

I'm still a KK fan though.. maybe if we could just get rid of Himura without marrying him off or killing him.. lol

-gasps-

Maybe Kaoru should have tried that speech on Kenshin! Perhaps she could get the same reaction.. Hopefully..XD

Hey..

Good work here.

I'm not much for pairings.. but this made a very interesting read.. the atmosphere and once more the manipulation of the characters.

While I wonder what words passed between Aoshi and Kenshin.. the conversation(s) between Aoshi and Kaoru are what kept me wondering as I read through.

I will look forward to more of this.
..

Great chapter, and interesting interaction between Aoshi and Kaoru. I love going inside the characters heads and exploring their thoughts.

I look forward to the next chaper. ^_^

I liked it, though I'm not sure I like where it's headed since I'm not much of an Aoshi/Kaoru fan, but I loved hearing her tell him off. Aoshi enjoys being glum and stoic a little too much, and Kaoru is just the person to try to kick him out of his depressed mood.

I like that you made her ponytail messy while she was waiting for Aoshi. It was a great and subtle way of getting across her anxiety about talking to him.

Nicely written!

Fabulous first chapter! :)
I'm glad you decided to cut out the filler descriptions. Being an avid RK fanfic reader, I should already know what each character looks like. :D Anyway! Update soon, I really want to find out where this story is headed and some AK wouldn't hurt as well *wink wink* Keep up the good work! :D

What a fabulous chapter! Aoshi and Kaoru are both perfectly in character. Both of their characters were amazing in the anime...right until the Shishio arc was over and the fillers came along and their characters were reduced to comic amusement...I was not amused at that. I believe the manga keeps them both strong characters...or at least stronger! I loved when Kaoru kicked butt against the scythe man in Kyoto. That was awesome! And Aoshi returns with his mind restored. *Sigh* I need to re-read your mountain story...

this was unusual, and yes, when you put it this way, Kaoru's and Misao's situation is pretty much similar, hopelessly similar... yet it's light-heartening to see a potential connection sprouting between Kaoru & Aoshi as the result..
..Not so much of a little girl, huh, Aoshi? :)

Ahh, thank you! You didn't mention "ice cold blue eyes" or "raven locks cascading down her back" or any crap like that! It makes me so happy! You made the appealing physical aspects very subtle, which I think is wonderful because not very many people are able to do that. You definitely focused more on the characters and the "now" than the "can be" (ie mushy romance and gooey declarations of love, which I hope won't be). It made their encounters much more powerful and significant, because you could see it in their eyes as the "present" without being clouded by thoughts of the future or next chapter or whatever. All in all, excellently written with wonderful imagery. I don't know why, but this chapter just seems so much more alive to me than some things you have written in the past. I can picture every part of this chapter and every scene or facial expression... it doesn't happen usually, especially when I'm reading fanfics (tho' not generally yours). Okay, so to sum it up: you rock. XD