Hey Colleen,

I really liked this Oneshot. The Idea of Kenshin feeling unclean (expecially when looking on his hands) is not really new but you wrote it in a very unique and different way. I like the Idea that Kenshin is not taken aback by the stains of blood but of tallow. I don't know about swordstains either but I think, that this tallow would be much more disturbing than the blood, that can be chiburi-ed away without leaving a trace on the blade.

I liked that you put the failed sword-cleaning as a sign for Kenshins inner disturbance and his mind going nearer and nearer to the verge of madness... hope you understand my crappy english :)

Fascinating! I didn't know there was such a thing as tallow stains on katanas - I must have missed that line Kaoru said about it. I do know that cleaning a sword is a really prolonged ritual, but I always assumed the clove oil would remove the stains.

I liked the use of the first person perspective - you did a great job of showing Kenshin's need to remain dispassionate in order to survive the Bakumatsu.

I think that that piece was very well written. You did a great job of capturing the feelings and emotions that would be running through his mind in that situation. Very well written.

I liked this fic.

That was beautiful in its own angst-ridden way. I enjoyed reading this immensely. Please, continue writing. Very good...

WILL YOU STOP THAT?

I'm going to die from the shock to my system reading so much good fic at once! GAAAH!

First the 'Of Two Minds' and 'Washload Blues' and now THIS?

You're starting to scare me.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEHAH!

I really like this short short story... it captures a moment perfectly and gives it a sense of realism that makes me shiver. Frankly you could tell most people that a sword was green and purple after being used, not too many people have been in a swordfight. :)

This was like a poem, beautifully written, great image.

That's really good! You don't know that much about swords? Really good!

huh... sessha likes

You describe the problems of cleaning a sword very good. Japanese soldiers had found a very good way of keeping the blade clean. They used rose-oil and powder to keep their swords in good condition. Unfortunaly this is a very time consuming action, but afterwards the blade will looke like new. By the way, nice story. ;-)

Oooo... *shivers* Good. VERY good.