Hiker…

"Kaoru-chan! Are you ready for the class trip?" A young girl with long blue-black hair spoke excitedly to her best friend. Other students their age, both male and female walked around with the instructions of a couple of teachers.

"Misao-chan how can you be happy about lugging a large pack around the wilderness for nine straight days?" Kaoru spoke exasperated as she watched Misao shuffle around grabbing a pack and sleeping bag.

"It's only large if you intend to take everything you brought with you. What did you bring? A damn suitcase or something?" Misao spoke pointing at the large bulky bag Kaoru dragged over. Kaoru's face scrunched up in annoyance at Misao. She was the only one besides a couple of guys in the class that had ever been camping. Kaoru felt like camping was a thing of the past. Whatever happened to going on a plane to some other city and to be placed up at some exclusive hotel. She didn't like this camping thing one bit.

"Sit down Kaoru and I'll show you what to do." Misao spoke up pulling on her best friend's hands making her sit in the grass with her. Kaoru watched as Misao sifted through her relatively small bag for essentials. Kaoru watched with wide eyes as Misao brought out a beanie, stuffed with her own underwear. Kaoru watched with wide eyes as Misao looked around making sure no teacher was watching her and stuffed packets of chunk food into the beanie as well. It seemed to Kaoru Misao was not going to abide by the so-called rules of this expedition. Misao wrapped her scarf around the beanie then, knowing full well it would get colder as the days went on and especially at night too. For a couple of weeks now, dark clouds blocked the sun, telling everyone that the beginning of winter had reached Japan. A soft rumble of thunder floated through the sky but no rain fell just yet. Two school buses, both with trailers on the back were parked out the front of the school. Other students younger and older walked past, some with wistful face expressions, wanting to be going on a camping trip.

"Now grab the garbage bag and place it inside the backpack like this Kaoru and just for more safety, place another one inside that as well." Kaoru watched Misao place her sleeping bag in the strong garbage bags. Kaoru did the same and watched Misao place in a pair of long pants and a couple of shirts; one long sleeve and one short sleeved. Misao placed in some socks and the usual essentials like toilet paper, writing pad and plain white paper and her pen and pencils as well as a torch with extra batteries and some insect cream. Misao was already wearing another pair of dark blue pants, her black sneakers, a black skivvie and a dark blue long sleeved top over the skivvie. She wore her black baseball cap already and her hair was placed in a long plait that fell to her pert bottom. Misao watched with a raised eyebrow as Kaoru stuffed whatever she could into her pack and then tied up the garbage bags and clasped the flap down with great difficulty.

"Not a word Misao-chan." Kaoru spoke as she sat on the pack trying to flatten it down. Misao placed her hands up not saying a single thing and stood up placing her pack on with very little effort and walked towards the bus ready to place it into the trailer. Many of the boys in Misao and Kaoru's grade had placed the backpacks in there already. Each student were given a tag to strap onto the bags to make sure no one got the wrong backpack. Misao dumped hers under the bus after clipping on her name and walked towards the guys who were kicking around a soccer ball. Misao mixed with everyone in her grade and many of the students didn't mind at all. She was a very carefree and energetic teenager who would always have a go at everything and wasn't afraid to try anything once, even if she had to be the first one. Kaoru on the other hand was a little bit more restraint, not wanting to be as daring as Misao. Misao was, after all a country girl. She grew up in a small remote town far from the cities and would often go camping with her father and brothers. Misao laughed happily as she raced around with the guys but sometimes tackled a couple of them to the ground as they teased her by not passing her the ball.

"GATHER AROUND STUDENTS." Their physical-education teacher spoke loudly. Misao got off the ground, her hand going out to help pick up her classmate and friend. He had spiky brown hair that was never brushed and chocolate brown eyes. Whenever he could, he'd wear this red bandanna around his head, the end blowing freely in the breeze.

"Mr Sagara and Ms Makimachi today would be most appreciated." Mr Wannabe, the other teacher going on the trip spoke loudly.

"Better not get him angry Sano." Misao whispered softly to her friend and Sano wrapped his arm around Misao's shoulders and walked towards the group of students. Both unknown to them a lone girl with dark sad eyes and long black hair placed in a loose braid starred at them. She stood alone at the back of the group of students in her grade. She'd only been hear for about two weeks and received strange stares from other students as she was too shy to make friends and so she stuck to herself.

"I want class 10a on my right and class 10b to my left." Mr Marou, the PE teacher spoke loudly. The classes split up quickly, the rumble of thunder becoming louder. They all wanted to get into the buses before it poured down with rain.

"Now you may split into five and it can be mixed, but know this, WE are watching each and every one of you." Mr Wannabe and Mr Marou spoke together with great firmness. Two more teachers turned up as they were going with class 10a. Misao waved Kaoru over and watched as she dragged her pack with her, but stopped when Sano's best friend Souzou picked it up for her, placed on her tag and dumped it into the bus compartment. Souzou walked towards Sano and slapped him on the back knowing they'd be in the same group as Misao and Kaoru. They all watched as other students found their respected groups.

"We seem to be one short." Kaoru spoke up and looked around for anyone they knew who wanted to join.

"What about that chick over there?" Sano spoke nodding his head in the direction of the girl with dark hair placed in a braid.

"She looks pretty lonely." Souzou spoke up and they all watched Misao walk over towards her.

"Would you like to be in our group?" Misao spoke kindly offering her hand to help the girl up who sat on her backpack all alone. Misao watched her head jerk up at being so surprised. The teenager took Misao's offered hand, standing up and walking behind Misao, with her pack towards Misao's other friends. To Misao's, Kaoru and Souzou's surprise Sano picked up the girl's backpack and walked over placing it under the bus. He had pointed to her when he reached the teacher, placing on the tag and noticed her name, as it was the name of a large and very new medical center in the city.

"My name's Misao and this is Kaoru and Souzou. That was Sano or Sanosuke who took your pack for you." Misao spoke to the taller girl.

"I-I'm Takani Megumi…" Megumi spoke softly, her head slightly bowed in shyness. Kaoru had a sweet smile on her face, her hand going out to pat Megumi's shoulder.

"Class 10a on this bus and class 10b on the other." Mr Wannabe spoke once more and watched as students began pilling into the two buses accordingly. Misao watched as Kaoru grabbed Megumi's hand and they raced off to get a good seat in the second bus. Sano followed half in a daze and Souzou turned towards Misao as though wanting to know what the hell was up with him. Misao shrugged her shoulders not having a clue and they began walking towards the bus as well.

* * * *

Time passed for the five teenagers each one of them asking Megumi a question. She become all meek and shy at answering first off, but she finally realised that the only way they'd become her friends is if she opened up a little bit. Megumi knew that Sano would look her way every once in a while and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She'd only seen him from afar and the way his cool deep voice bellowed through the schoolyards made her heart pound just that little bit faster.

"OI! KITSUNE! You awake in there? It's your turn." Sano spoke loudly knocking Megumi out of her daze. It had been over an hour and a half and Megumi tried to suppress her anger at Sano who kept calling her kitsune. This time however Megumi blew her top, her frustration and anger erupted and straight into Sano's ears.

"STOP CALLING ME FOX YOU STUPID ROOSTERHEAD!" The other students turned to stare down at the back row of where they sat. The teacher's were trying to ignore what was happening behind them and kept talking amongst them. Kaoru, Misao and Souzou's eyes were wider then usual as they stared in disbelief at Megumi's outburst. Megumi's dark eyes were wide as she stared into chocolate brown ones. Sano watched as Megumi bowed her head, her creamy hands clasped together and she mumbled out a soft apology to him.

"G-Gomen nasai for saying that Sanosuke." To Sano's horror his heart pounded in his chest when Megumi spoke his real name. He hated it, hence the fact why it was shortened but hearing her say it to him, she made it seem so sweet. He watched as Megumi opened her mysterious dark eyes, looking up at him through her bangs as sadness rippled through them, which was very shocking for Sano to see. No one ever apologised to him because everything was his fault to begin with and yet Megumi had. Sano was about to speak but the bus jerked to a stop, the bus driver planting his foot on the breaks and Megumi jerked forward following towards the aisle floor. She however didn't hit the floor and instead lay on something slightly hard but rather soft and warm. Her eyes popped open to stare into Sano's once more.

"Are you okay kitsune?" Sano spoke softly and a soft groan escaped his lips when Megumi smacked him on the head ranting something about stupid roosterhead's and that she can take care of herself. Sano got up and turned around heading for the door as they were finally at their destination and mumbled 'inconsiderate kitsune onna'.

"Megumi please don't be so angry at Sano. He was only trying to be nice and didn't want you to get hurt. Actually, I've never seen him do that for anybody so he must have a small crush on you or something…" Kaoru spoke absently to Megumi, who had a light blush crossing her cheeks as they too headed for the front door to get off the bus. Misao and Souzou stared at each other for a few seconds, both grinning evilly knowing the exact same plan of getting two people together was rolling around in their brains.

"Shall we Misao-chan?" Souzou spoke stretching his arm out as soon as they got off the bus. Misao looked up at her other tall friend and a bright cunning smile crossed her lips as she hooked her arm with his.

"HAI!" Misao replied loudly. They walked like this to grab their backpacks and walked towards Megumi, Sano and Kaoru. They looked suspiciously at Souzou and Misao but they both held convincing innocent looks. Each of them placed on their travelling packs, Kaoru being the most difficult, nearly toppling over at the weight of hers, but Sano was standing beside her, an arm wrapping around her waist to hold her up.

"If you get tired Kaoru-chan, let me know and I'll carry some of your stuff okay?" Sano spoke looking down at Kaoru and making sure she was stable and then clipped the belt around her waist. She smiled in thanks and Sano stepped away and watched on in comical fascination as Kaoru waved her arms around as though trying to get her balance but fell backwards only to be caught by Misao.

"Kaoru, I think we better give you the lightest pack to carry." Misao spoke up looking around and watched as Sano shrugged his off knowing he would be carrying even fewer things then Misao. Kaoru took hers off also and stretched her arms and neck at how heavy it truly was. Kaoru stood up placing Sano's on and sighed in relief.

"Kaoru we are camping you do know that right?" Sano began a small bicker between himself and Kaoru as they walked off following the rest of the students.

"What an idiot…" Misao heard Megumi grumble as she picked up her pack and placed it on doing up the clip around the waist as well.

"Actually, Sano can be quite considerate when he wants to be Megumi-chan. Sure he may have this gruffness about him but deep down he is really sweet and I know you want to find out about that inner part of him." Misao spoke her elbow jabbing into Megumi's side and her eyebrows rising slightly to give her statement more emphasis. Megumi's cheeks turned red in embarrassment as she tried stuttering out a reply but couldn't get more then three words together. She raced off smacking Sano over the held telling him to shutup and began a small conversation with Kaoru. She was taking her embarrassment out on poor Sano when he was the one that made her heart pound a mile a minute and her cheeks turn red. Yep, everything would always be Sano's fault. Misao looked beside her when she heard a loud clap and then the swishing sound that two hands make when rubbed together.

"Are you ready for a little match making scheme Misao-chan?" Souzou spoke evilly and Misao nodded her head, placing her pack on, doing up the strap tightly and off they walked, their heads moving close together plotting a few scenes out. They reached an area, completely quieting down as a professional instructor was speaking. She was a fairly short woman, not as short as Misao and she had short dark black hair placed in a ponytail.

"My name is Saitou Tokio and I'll be your qualified instructor through the full nine days and so you may call me Tokio. My husband will be with the other group and half way through the course we shall meet up with them for a big luncheon and then move on our separate ways again. Please pass around this paper and you must read it carefully. We are after all in nature's back yard now and we must respect the environment. I do hope we can all get along as a team as teamwork and encouragement will get everyone through this." All the students listened to Tokio ramble on about what was going to happen through the nine days. Misao listened intently, her eyes lightly up in fascination at the things they were going to do. Kaoru on the other hand seemed to cringe more and more.

"Now each group will have different jobs to do each day. There is hygiene, cooking, collecting firewood and making a safe fire. Other groups will be given small tasks and will also need volunteers to carry food supplies and the usual pots and pans. Now for the hygiene please make note that you cannot just go to the bathroom anywhere."

"This gets worse and worse…" Kaoru spoke softly to Misao. Misao stopped listening to Tokio and softly spoke to Kaoru trying to encourage her in what was going to happen and to explain a few things as well.

"Excuse me young lady? Do you have something you wish to say to the rest of the group?" Misao and Kaoru broke apart and Misao shook her head negatively but stuttered out her answer.

"Gomen Tokio-san. I was just trying to explain to my friend why there were so many rules and I figured it was because the wilderness is open for professional hikers and tourists and well there are specific areas of where you can camp and where you can't. I think the same goes for relieving ones self. Its just like you said that we need to respect nature because we aren't the only ones living in the forest…so to speak…" Misao bit on her lip hesitantly as everyone turned to stare at her.

"Well that is very true young lady. May I ask your name?" Tokio spoke from the front of the students. Misao shuffled her feet in nervousness and mumbled out her name.

"Makimachi Misao…"

"Aa, the daughter of the famous hiker and explorer of these parts of Japan. I was a student of your fathers when I was at school, so how is he these days?" Tokio spoke a smile on her face.

"He's dead." Misao spoke abruptly back, silence flowing thick over the group. Misao tightened the strap once more around her waist and spoke again as though the conversation that was uttered before never occurred.

"Are we going to reach our destination before it gets too dark and we'll be walking in the rain?" Tokio gave a silent nod and then clapped her hands as she set off, the two teachers staying up with her and the students shuffled behind them. All of the guys and Misao were excited about doing all the courses. Misao did not say a thing as she only smiled at how excited some of them were becoming. A small frown crossed her lips as she stopped in her walking looking up at the overcast sky. Misao blinked a few times not wanting to cry or feel any pain over her father leaving her mother and three brothers behind.

"Hey Weasel you're slowing down!" Sano yelled back and Misao brushed her hands over her face and raced towards him. His arm wrapped comfortingly around her small shoulders as he gave her a small lob-sided grin. Yep, it was Sano's famous grin that he only gave to people he cared about.

"Hey Misao-chan lets make a bet?" Misao stared accusingly and questioningly up at Sano wanting to know what was the catch.

"No catch Misao-chan just races in the courses we have to do okay?" Misao knew Sano was trying to make her feel better and to forget her sadness over her father. Misao smiled up at him, her hand coming up to run through his spiky hair and nodded her head in agreement. Challenges had been made. This was going to be a crazy nine-day adventure for everyone.

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To be continued…

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