25. Peace Of Mind

Sigma is currently in his jet in mid flight over the ocean. He is heading south east towards the South Atlantic Ocean to a location only known to a certain few. In the far distance where there is no shore in sight a large and thick fog comes into view. Sigma enters a set command on the dashboard and it triggers a hatch door to rise up to the service of the water. It opens up, Sigma performs a barrel role diving into the open hatch and the hatch doors close behind him. Sigma maneuvers through a narrow tunnel, arrives at another hatch door that opens up allowing him entry and closes right after. The jet levels out over a large island covered in forest and mountain regions. Sigma lands the jet in an open grassy area not to far from the hatch and exits it with a large backpack.

"Halt! You shall not continue without answering the riddle!" Said a voice in the vicinity.

Sigma smiles, lowers his head, and awaits for the riddle.

"What is at the end of a rainbow?!" The person asks remaining hidden.

"The letter W!" Sigma

"Awe~ come on!~ You could at least pretend to think about it!" Said the voice of a young girl who reveals herself by hanging upside down in a tree.

"That wouldn't be fair to you Mei Ling." Kenshin said then pulls over the top part if his mask all the way back and pulls down the bottom part having his entire face revealed.

Mei Ling takes a good look at Kenshin's face, smiles brightly, drops down from the tree, lands on her feet and heads straight for him. Mei Ling is a small young child, her height is as high as Kenshin's waist, long blonde hair braided in a ponytail, has on a dark green kunoichi (female ninja) uniform, a small pouch mounted on her lower back and two baton sticks are mounted together on her back.

"Kenny!" Mei Ling says as she leaps into Kenshin's arms.

"Hey Ling Ling. How have you been?" Kenshin

"I've missed you so much!" Mei Ling.

"Come on. Tell me everything I've missed while we head on over." Kenshin says as he walks on a man made path through the dense forest.

Kenshin walks for about an hour and comes to an opening where he meets a large and thick wooden gate connected to a stone wall. With one hand and one easy effort, Kenshin pushes open the wooden gate and comes to a large Japanese style home with a large pond in the center. Everyone that is walking around, working or is simply having a conversation stops what they are doing to look and see who it is that opens the wodden gate. Their faces brought about surprise and they all simultaneously bowed in his presence.

"You'd think they got used to you by now." Mei Ling

"Right?" Kenshin said then begins to walk towards the far end of the large home setting.

Kenshin stops at a door, gently sets down Mei Ling and ruffles her hair.

"Gimme a minute OK Ling Ling?" Kenshin

Mei Ling nods her head and takes a seat on the floor in front of the sliding door. Kenshin takes a deep breath, slides open the door and sees a woman on her knees on a pillow at the center of the large room with her back facing the door surrounded by lit candles. He steps in and closes the door behind him. She wears a white kimono with purple flowers and has long blonde hair.

"3 months, 8 days, 23 hours, 19 minutes and 46 seconds... That's actually half the time it took you to come visit me compared to the last time." Woman

"I still find it disturbing that you do that." Kenshin says putting his backpack down.

He then walks around to her front and get down on both knees facing the woman. She opens her eyes revealing their emerald color.

"Your face tells me that you lost control of your emotions.. Which lead to something very unsettling for you." Woman

"Hehe... I actually expected an "I told you so" or "This proves that it was to soon to send you out"." Kenshin

"As much as I want to... You've done plenty of good. Especially for the homeless children of New York. I can't imagine what would happen if I took their hero away from them." Woman

"Well I'll be sure to let them know your opinion on the subject." Kenshin

They both smile at the sarcasm. She then reaches her hand out and gently rests it against Kenshin's cheek.

"What troubles you my love?" Woman

".... Well I, met Hanue..." Kenshin says hesitantly.

"Oh? I didn't know that he was back in town. I bet he spotted you from a mile away. He was simply crushed when father passed on.. How is he?" Woman

"... Well he's.... Not.. Dead..." Kenshin said under his breath.

"... Oh boy..... What exactly is not dead?... Exactly?" Woman

"Well~ let's just say he'll, have a permanent horizontal scar on his... Stomach...." Kenshin

"Something I have to solve in the forseable future I presume?" Woman

"If the problem comes up then I should be the one to address it... Just know that he created this Anti Manifest Zone field that interrupts with the Manifest and the master's connection.... So its his own fault. Right Joo?" Kenshin

A large flame appears beside Kenshin and out of the flame appears Moeru Joo.

"Yes my king." Moeru Joo

"Impressive entrance as always Moeru Joo. How is your condition?" Woman

"... I'll be fine. For the most part anyway. Thank you for your concern Makoto." Moeru Joo

"That's good to hear. Now, unto the other reason why you're here?" Makoto

Kenshin smirks at her uncanny ability to "read in between the lines" so to speak.

"..... I just.. Needed to remember." Kenshin

"Remember what exactly?" Makoto

"... The reason I have to be in control." Kenshin

Both Makoto and Moeru Joo gave a gentle smile. Makoto puts her hand under Kenshin's chin, raised his head a little and kisses his forehead.

"Take your time my love." Makoto

Kenshin nods, gets up and walks towards the door.

"I almost forgot.... Welcome home my son." Makoto

".. Thanks, mom." Kenshin says with a smile then makes his exit followed by Moeru Joo.