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I love it.

It was just the right amount of pacing.

Definitely cemented as one of my favourite RK stories of all time! I'd read through this fic before but it was only coming back to it some years later that I felt led to write a review - even after all this time, all of the beauty in your story-telling and characterization still grips my heart. You write so poetically and have a true gift. Your pacing, character and relationship development, and thoughtful diction is unmatched. Even though I've been away from the fandom for a while, I found my heart aching alongside your characters (and swooning over Kenshin). Please never stop writing (be it fanfiction or in your personal/professional life)!

I almost feel bad for only mentioning the latter part of the chapter when so much more happened, but I wanted to tell you that I think you did a great job. In most scenes like these, it's the first time but the woman knows exactly what to do, doesn't need help, and always have pleasure. While I admit you can have pleasure the first time, unless you have been thoroughly immersed in *that* knowledge, you can't know everything. The fact you had Kaoru ask Kenshin to guide her and tell her and show her shows the maturity of your writing. And it's so totally consistent with their character (Kenshin constantly confirming it's okay for example), it makes this one scene one of the the best I've ever (bothered to) read (because something I just skip because it's uninteresting, redundant, or not well-written). Congratulations !

Hey, it's been a loooooong time. When you took a hiatus, I eventually drifted to other fandoms, but I did not forget your stories. I did finish Invictus a few years back, and kept this one in store for the day I'd have time to appreciate it and the mood to this fandom. Which I do now, and WOW.

This chapter is WONDERFUL. You took the parts from the original manga and IMPROVED them with the context of this stoy. Because yes, this is even better than the manga, because of the additional layers of this universe. Everything was perfect: Jin'eh's taunts, Kaoru's situation, the fact she said Kenshin's name for the first time ever, her words and not others', that she's not scared when she was before because she's realized many things since then, the eyes, Kenshin's desire to protect her overriding his fears of showing her his strength, the fact he doesn't have a non-killing policy that seemingly adds to his threatening potential... All of this makes for an even greater impact. Now the previous truce has started drifting towards the first winds of friendship. I truly thought that she would not ask his death, because that would have been the best punishment, but then again, I guess it was the fact that he threatened her family that did it.
Anyway, I'll continue to read this slowly, as a reward for myself in-between my own work, and I thank you for the worderful story. Even if I waited years to finally resume reading it.

WOW. I could not stop reading this and now I'm sad it's over, even after 17 chapters. I am addicted to the your elegant storytelling. This fic is by far one of the best-definitely in my top five RK stories. Easily. You are extremely talented-and I hope you are still writing AND never stop writing. I adore the fierce Kaoru and the gentle Kenshin you created. The story was absolutely brilliant. THE best AU I think I'll ever read. Honestly. Thank you again for sharing your skills with the Ruroken community. I hope you update again in the future... I would love to see your other works completed. Please take care :D.

A friend recommended this fic to me and I am sad that I hadn't read it sooner. I am enamored with historical K-dramas and C-dramas... I constantly watch them in my free time. So to learn that one of my favorite OTPS had its very own fic dedicated to that time period for Japan?! I was enthralled. Your writing is one of the best in the community. The descriptions-the details-the sentence structure?! Every little thought carefully put into Kenshin and Kaoru... Their personalities are by far, my favorite. Kaoru is stunning. She is all fire and beauty. And Kenshin is such a gentleman, yet he is so fragile. The buildup of their relationship and the realization Kaoru has that he is not a demon is wonderful. And Kenshin needing her entirely-not just the sole duty of "wife"-her actual love-because he deserves to be loved, and he needs to be loved-because he's been so lonely... I could just go on and on about your story. I also adore all of the side characters too. Especially Sano! I truly love this work so much. I'm excited to read the rest of it and I'll post another review at the final chapter. Thank you, and I hope you're well :D!

Masterful and poetic. Love your writing style

Thank you for. writing this story. It was such a worthy and very interesting read Thank you for your Kaoru and Kenshin.

This is one of my comfort fics. I love the characterization. I love the historicism. I find Megumi a little jarring for the period but she settles into her role and it all works so well. I seriously love how Misao is affiliated with the Kamiya clan and the whole bathhouse scene. This whole fic is just a beautiful gem of a politics and protocol plot and its so so so good. Ive probably read it about eight times by now and rereading again!

i have plenty of things to say
1. this story is so well written, your grammar, spelling, and storytelling.
2. the way you developed your characters is amazing, totally love how Kaoru even if a woman, is this rebellious, I love how she is so smart and sly and how she is always thinking about her loyalties. It is a huge game of power and Kaoru is disregarded because of her sex, but she is so clever, she totally demonstrates that she is indeed fated to do other things. Love love love her character, female characters are supposed to be like THIS, stop maiden in distress tales. Thank you for this incredible character.
3. Kenshin is such a cutie pie. Even if he is a murderer or a demon, I loved the way you explained his good intentions, he is just worried about peace in his country and protecting his family. I feel he is slowly healing his heart and that is the most beautiful thing I read.
4. His relationship with Kaoru is so cute, the utmost respect they have for each other, how he respects her strength and intelligence, how she appreciates his beautiful heart, I just wish his servants could appreciate him.

Really this was a truly magnificent story, one of my favourites. Thanks for sharing

My heart! They are sooo cute. asjduwbwidndodnsus Finally Kaoru is accepting Kenshin, and this coming-back-home thing was very sweet

this story is too cute for me. Kenshin pains my heart, because he is so pure but everyone is afraid of him.

Oh, this Kenshin cracked me up!

"Right. No sleep. No drinking. Only one option left."

"Not only a demon but a blithering lunatic."

"They think you're lying."

He's having a miserable time! Great job.