Author's Note: WOW!! My FIRST Kenshin and Kaoru romance!! Actually, this is my first romance EVER!! I'm not really a romantic so I don't write them often until I have a good idea – like this story! ^_^  The thoughts of the characters are in // . . .//. And YES I know where I'm going with this!! I do have a point!! Please don't be too hard on me on your reviews (but not too easy either). Thank you very much for reading! ^_^

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, but I do own this chocolate sprinkled donut!! Enjoy the story!! ^_^ MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Prologue: Working For A Goal

Two silhouettes of figures reflected off the surface of the wall. One wanted complete dominance and power while the other wanted riches. However, both were willing to work together in order to reach the same goal.

"So, shall we begin?" the shorter shadowed figure asked.

"Of course, explain to me how this works," the much taller shadowed figured answered.

"Certainly. This is called a dark possession. Meaning that not only do you fully posses the person, but you can posses him or her for as long a time as you need. There are some rules, of course."

"Naturally," the taller figure commented as the shorter one nodded his head once, ready to explain and sort out the complications.

"First, you must know the person. Second, you must have fought the person while you were alive. Third, that person must have an equal amount of raw power in order to kill the person you want on Earth, that is still alive." The shorter figure stopped, waiting for the other to answer.

"Yes, yes I do believe I have all of those requirements. I even know who is capable for me to use as the dummy."

"Excellent."

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Misao hurriedly shoved all her clothes into a very tiny bag along with her extra sharp kunai – just sharpened this morning. At the same time Misao tried to multitask. She was eating her breakfast, or rather shoving it in her mouth, while she packed all her clothes and tried to find something to wear. Misao ended up just wearing her usual ninja outfit because, in all honesty, she detested wearing any kimonos of all sorts – they tended to weigh her down.

"Okon, Omasu, Shiro, Okina and Kuro!! I'M LEAVING NOW!! I'll see you all when I get back from my visit!!" Misao yelled at the top of her lungs, her words sending seismic waves that threatened to topple over all the Japanese shrines. Before Misao left the door, Okon caught up with her.

"Hey, Misao? Aren't you forgetting something?" she asked  as she continued to wipe the dish she was holding. Puzzled, Misao tried to think.

//Ok, let's see . . .I've got my ninja outfits, tons of weapons, some kimonos *shudder*, and presents for Sano, Kenshin, Kaoru and Yahiko! Yup I think I have everything .  Wait, Okon IS right I am forgetting something . . .///

"AOSHI-SAMA!!" Misao yelled. "Oh my gosh!! I ALMOST LEFT WITHOUT HIM!!" Misao yelled again as her hands automatically clamped to her face. Dropping the suitcase with a loud 'thud,' Misao ran as fast as she could to the temple near the Aoiya.

            Of course, no one living in Kyoto could not possibly shield themselves from  hearing Misao's extremely loud voice. Like many of the citizens of Kyoto, Aoshi had to suffer the consequences of living in the same city as Misao, let alone in the same house. Aoshi clenched his eyes harder in order to try to concentrate. He had been TRYING to meditate all morning – no thanks to Misao and her commotions.

//I must concentrate!// Aoshi thought as he tried to clench his eyes some more. //Imagine that. Misao almost left without me. Doesn't sound like a bad idea either – I really have no urge or want to see the Battousai and his little friends. NO! I MUST concentrate! Focus inner thoughts on . . .//

Misao rushed to the temple. By the time she got there she was out of breath. //Hmmm Aoshi looks so concentrated . . .maybe I shouldn't bother him? Wait! The train is leaving in about fifteen minutes! Sorry Aoshi . . .//

"AOSHI-SAMA!!" Misao yelled. //Oooops, I didn't mean to be so loud. . . So much for not disturbing him . . //

            Aoshi inwardly flinched. //I did not think it was possible, but Misao has indeed gotten louder since the last time she shouted my name . . .// Aoshi slowly opened two crystal blue eyes as he looked at Misao.

"Yes, What is it, Misao?" Aoshi asked coolly and calmly – two emotions he rarely felt inside.

//WOW!! He said a whole SENTENCE to me!! I could just . . .wait he asked me something . . .uhh ummm -  I hope I don't screw this up!//

"Well . . .umm . . .our train is leaving in fifteen minutes could you please come join me?"

"I will meet you at the Aoiya entrance shortly," Aoshi answered tranquilly as he shut his eyes and went back to meditate a little more.

//I could just JUMP for joy! Wait! What am I standing here for?// Misao thought as she quickly ran out of the Aoiya.

"See you there Aoshi-sama!" Misao yelled back as she practically bounced back to the Aoiya.

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"YAHIKO!! I JUST told you not to walk on that floor!! I just finished mopping it!!" Kaoru yelled with a voice that was capable of rivaling Misao's. Yahiko just kept laughing at Karou.

"Sorry, ugly girl!! It's not like you did a good job mopping anyway!!" Yahiko shouted as he got ready to run just in case Kaoru decided to run after him – which she did.

"COME BACK HERE, YAHIKO!!" Kaoru yelled in anger. Unfortunately, Kaoru slipped and fell on her own just-washed floor. This gave Yahiko a perfect chance to run away – and he did. Kaoru growled in frustration as she knocked her head against the floor.

"I don't think that banging your head on the floor is going to get it mopped any faster, Missy." A familiar voice commented.

"Shut up, Sano!" Kaoru yelled at him as she tried desperately to get up, she ended up falling over anyway. Sano laughed as he walked over and stretched out his hand for Kaoru to take.

"Here, Missy, let me help you up," Sano said – still laughing. Kaoru grumbled a bit before taking his hand and finally getting to her feet.

"Oh yeah - Sano? Could you please go to the Akebeko and purchase some food? Misao and Aoshi are going to be here very soon and it wouldn't be proper for us not to have any food ready for them."

"Umm Sure." Sano said, putting his hand behind his head.

"You did get that job I told you to get right? You're not going to need to borrow some of my money again are you?!" Kaoru said, her voice starting to drip with venom.

"Of course I did! Come on Kaoru!! Fighting is not the only thing I'm good at!! I have plenty of money!!"

"Good, then! Oh and if you see Yahiko tell him to come talk to me." Kaoru said as she armed herself with a very thick-handled mop and walked outside. Sano laughed as Kaoru went on her search for Yahiko.

"There is NO way I was going to get that job as a laundry washer down at the Shiko's Laundry place!" Sano mumbled to himself as he put his hands in his pockets and continued to walk out of the dojo. "Besides! When it comes to money – that's what best friends are for!!" Sano said happily as he walked to a certain home of a certain person. Once Sano found that home he knocked on the door. The person inside groaned as he came and opened the door.

"Hello Sano – do you need money from me AGAIN?"

"Now Katsu! I'm your best friend!" Sano said as he put his arm around Katsu. "I'm so insulted that you think of me that way! Is it a crime to visit my best friend? Is it – ok, I give. I need money again – but I'll pay you back!!" Sano said as he gave his friend  an extremely wide smile.

"Uhuh, yeah sure. Hopefully somewhere in my next life. Come on in, Sano." Katsu said as he went inside. Sano followed Katsu inside.

"Hey Katsu! We're gonna have a party at the dojo – wanna come?" Sano asked hopefully.

"No, thank you."

"Awww Come on! It'll be fun!!" Sano said as he followed Katsu around as if he were Katsu's tail while Katsu was searching for where he stashed his last huge amount of money.

"Aha!" Katsu said triumphantly as he got out a large bag and gave it to Sano. "Here, you can also use some of this to help pay your debt at the Akabeko."

"Hey! How'd you know I have a debt?!" Sano asked, surprised.

"Hn, by now everyone knows the person who owes more than 500 yen to a restaurant!" Katsu answered mockingly.

"Shut up you big turd!"  - was the only insult Sano's little brain could come up with.

"Whatever you idiot! Actually I stopped by Tae and her Akabeko and while I was eating she was telling me that my best friend owed her 700 yen. I had a lot of money then so I was able to pay off the 200 yen. You can probably use this money to at least pay of another 300 yen. Now go, Sano, before I change my mind and not give you anything."

"Thanks a lot, Katsu!! I could just hug you –" Sano said enthusiastically.

"Please don't. Now get going." Katsu said as he pushed Sano toward the door. As Sano was thanking Katsu, he forgot about the low beam and for the zillionth time since he began visiting Katsu, he hit his head on it.

"Oww" Sano whined as he rubbed his forehead. Katsu laughed.

"I never get tired of seeing you do that, you idiot. Bye now. Till the next time you need money from me." Katsu said as he closed the door on Sano, who was still rubbing his aching head.

//Such a nice friend. I will pay him back, some day, some how.// Sano thought as he walked back to the dojo, still rubbing his head. //And then I'll be able to do something about that damn beam!//

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            Misao continued to wander around the many compartments of the train, marveling at almost everything.

//Wow! Who knew people could make such a huge chunk of metal move!! They even have a kitchen and bathroom compartment! Which reminds me . . .I'm hungry.// Misao then walked around the different compartments until she finally found the one she and Aoshi were sharing. (A/N: These trains aren't like the ones the Kenshin-gumi rode in. They're the Russian style, the train wagons that are attached to each other have a long corridor on the right and the individual or group compartments are on the left. They each have their own door but they share walls and no windows face the corridor. The windows face the outside of the train only. These compartments the regular built-in seats that all trains seem to have on either side. And yes, these trains DID exist in the Meiji Era. If you've sent the movie "Anastatia" – then you would have seen these types of trains. I hope this clears a few things up. ^_^)

"Aoshi-sama? Are you hungry? They have a kitchen on here – do you want anything?" Misao asked Aoshi as he was once again trying to meditate. He opened his beautiful blue eyes again.

"No thank you, Misao." He said calmly as he closed his eyes again.

"Ok . . .umm . . .that's where I'll be if you need me." Misao said as she took some money from her suitcase and then went to the kitchen. After spending all her money, which was the reason Misao left the kitchen in the first place, she went back to her compartment.

As Misao entered it she noticed that all her things seemed to take up one side of the compartment. Leaving her the three seats that remained next to Aoshi. Misao smiled an evil smile. She quietly went over to the two chairs next to Aoshi and moved their armrests up so that she could sleep there. She then sat down next to Aoshi and put her head lightly on his shoulder.

//He feels so warm . . .for some reason this feels . . .right . . .// were Misao's last thoughts before she drifted into a blissful sleep that she hadn't had in a long time.

YAY!! One finished chapter!! Naturally, I have Misao and Aoshi sorta paired up!! They're one of my favorite couples!! Anyway, review and tell me what you think!! ^_^