Alright! here's chapter 4, I'm sorry if the time interval was longer than expected, but Sanosuke's creator, one of my editors is swamped, so, you know shit happens. Update on the digital sword, thankfully, I've conjured up the first two re-vamped chapters. It will be a very different story, but the characters, motivations, yada yada, will still be the same. Once I hit the 7th chapter typed I'll post it all at once to avoid confusion. Ok, now here's elements of order, chapter 4, I hope you enjoy and as always R+R, I enjoy reading your comments as much as I enjoy writing.



Elements of Order

Battle of the River, a new team is born

At this moment in time, Kenshin, Raven, Kei and Sanosuke were facing off against several sound ninja. The four of them, weapons drawn, were back to back in the middle against the wall that was the river bank. The sound ninjas were advancing menacingly and it looked like they were going to release a barrage of kunai.

Like a pack of wolves, these loathsome scum of the ninja world thought they were going to win by sheer numbers. Regardless of ninja rank, especially with most of the being jonin, a team of genin could take them down with good execution and a bit of luck.

Kenshin reached a hand back and pulled out flash grenades, filled with phosphorous, these handy weapons would blind their opponents. He had Raven and Sanosuke directly next to him, Kei knew what his bombs looked like, but they didn't have a clue, so he whispered to them. "Close your eyes."

They both looked confused. "What? Are you some kind of mental?" Raven wasn't pleased, staring death in the face; this strange ninja covers him in glue and asks him to close his eye in a battle? He must have lost a few brain cells.

"If you value your eyes, you'll do it!" Kenshin barked and the two complied. Kei did as well and popped out two blades from his armguards and connected them, hilt to hilt.

Kenshin tossed the flash bombs and the sound ninjas were taken aback, almost like dawn suddenly hitting, they were left blinded from the attack.

"Aughh! My eyes, I can't see!"

"Find them, kill them!"

"You fools! How could you all fall for that?" The leader had closed his eyes and unleashed a blast of sound waves at the group after the attack, forcing the four to dive out of the way.

Kenshin dived, rolled and ran straight into the first ninja he could and started going to town, spinning, twirling, slicing and whirling. A fluid combat system was strange given his talents, but it worked very well for him. Slowly, as the ninjas were regaining their sight, his target wildly lunged at him, but Kenshin ducked out of the way, turned and delivered a Tornado kick to the ninja's temple, surely knocking him out if not killing him. Kenshin soon found himself surrounded by 3 very angry ninjas who were both blasting sound at him from their freakish arm attachments and trying to stab him with kunai.

Slashing, parrying, stabbing, this was truly war. He was forced on the defensive by two of them while the third tried to liquefy his body with the sheer destruction of sound. The two lunged at him at once and he crossed his blades to block the first, but the second managed to swipe at his mid-section. He drew blood, but Kenshin had managed to draw back his body to avoid anything serious.

Having caught the first one though, Kenshin moved back in and head-butted the ninja in the face, surely breaking his nose. Blood flooded the ninja's mask as his eyes rolled back in his head and he sank to the ground.

The KO'd ninja's partner increased his furious blows. "You bastard, you'll pay for that!" Kenshin backpedaled a bit, trying to stay out of his opponent's range. Unfortunately for Kenshin, the third ninja got a lock on him and unleashed an extremely powerful sound barrage at the young ninja. Kenshin's eyes went wide with surprise as he felt a force rivaling gravity press into his back and force air out of his lungs.

"AHHHHHHH! *cough*" He fell face forward and struggled to regain his breath, face covered in dirt and lungs pleading for air, he gripped his sabers for dear life. The two remaining Ninjas laughed sinisterly and the closest stood over him, cracking his knuckles. "Time to die punk!"

Kenshin coughed again and stared into the eyes of his would-be killer, his own eyes burning with determination. "I'm not dying anytime soon if I can help it!" He was trying to rise under his own power and managed to get up on his knees.

The ninja laughed and stopped him right there, grabbing his bandana and unsheathing a ninjato to behead him. "Oh but you can't help it! Nobody can save you now!" He raised the blade and Kenshin closed his eyes, praying to whatever deity he could, he couldn't die here.

"That's where you're wrong!" The two stopped as a black blade sheared through the ninja, cutting him in half. Kenshin was astonished, if not a bit sick from the blood covering him. Sanosuke had saved his life and helped him up to his feet.

Kenshin hacked a bit more, but managed to stand on his own power. "Thank you."

Sanosuke nodded. "Killing a foe that is defenseless and outnumbered is without honor. You fight far too courageously for that to be your end."

Kenshin nodded and smirked. "Thanks, but how in the hell did you get free?"

Sanosuke pointed behind him and Kenshin followed his gesture to see two ninjas crushed between two slabs of rock and was thoroughly impressed. "Wow, that's ridiculous!"

Sanosuke gave him a tiny smirk. "These ninjas are undisciplined; it was easy to catch them off guard quickly."

"Oh well, sucks for them. Regardless, I can finally down this little punk!"

The last sound ninja fighting Kenshin was slowly backing up. He had lost his nerve now that he was outnumbered with two ninjas who had taken out multiple teammates of his.

"Of course, what do you plan to do?" Sanosuke flashed his blade menacingly as his strode forward a bit, intimidating the enemy. Kenshin grinned wickedly. "Launch me!"

Sanosuke was taken aback. "Are you daft? Why do you want me to launch you?"

Kenshin formed a rasengan in his hand. "If you trust me, this fight will be over quickly."

Sanosuke paused for a moment, but nodded and performed the hand seals. "Earth release: Gaia's breath!" The ground flowed smoothly under Kenshin's feet and then swelled up rapidly, launching him high into the air.

The sound ninja panicked and fired blast after blast of concussive force. "Stay away! Stay away!"

Kenshin flipped and then started a dive, releasing flame from all around his body and putting the Rasengan hand forward. The blasts had no effect as the Rasengan spun right through the forces and the flames shielded the remainder. He gave a great battle cry as he came down like a comet. "This is payback you bastard! RASENGAN!"

The ninja was instantly shredded to pieces. Small chunks were spread out in the area, and Kenshin pulled his hand out from the indent his jutsu had made. Rocks crumbled a bit and the smoking crater was able to comfortably fit Kenshin around width-wise.

Sanosuke whistled in a low tune, clearly impressed at his companion's power. "Well done sir."

Kenshin nodded and gave him the thumbs-up. However he quickly regained his battle composure as he realized the other two were absent. The two looked over at the sound of blades clashing and were greeted with the sight of Kei forcefully plowing a ninja's head into the ground and whirling his double ninjato around, deeply gashing the man's unprotected back.

The last ninja in the deceased man's company had resolved to just barrage Kei with sound. Kei was blown back a bit, they were about to aid him, but they heard the sound of lightning striking, illuminating the area. "Lightning release: Flying thunder god!"

Raven held the bolt of lightning in his hand and rained electricity into the opponent on his side. The man stumbled back, burnt and charred from what looked to be attacks from Raven's glowing staff. The man fell face forward, completely paralyzed. Raven whirled and ran in Kei's direction.

It seemed like they had the situation well in hand. Kei had landed next to Raven and whispered something to him, which the ninja nodded to.

Kei summoned wind to surround his arms and then ran along the river side, charging the last enemy. The water from the river enveloped his arms and he jumped high and flipped to avoid one last barrage. Now with his arms covered in fiercely churning water, he launched torrents of the combined elements at the sound ninja.

"Storm release: hurricane drills!" The two ninjas screamed as the charging water tore through most of their attempts at stopping it. Raven leaped and made the boar, ram and snake hand signs. "Lightning release: shattering thunder!"

The lightning came out in a large current, combining with Kei's technique, electrocuting the ninja and causing massive blunt force trauma from being struck with hurricane force and obstacle by trees. The two breathed a sigh of relief. Kei saluted Raven with his sword, showing his respect. Raven returned the gesture with his staff. "Good work."

The leader was the only one left, scared witless from the complete decimation of his forces by 4 teenagers! Teenagers for kami's sake!

They all turned to hear the incoherent babbling and half-completed sentences offering a truce. None of them heeded his words as they all readied their weapons to annihilate him.

Kenshin was the first one to speak. "You want a truce?! Are you insane?! You come into our land, threaten and attempt to kill us and you want a truce?! I'm going to end you personally!"

The faceless ninja was stepping back, but the sound of gears turning and wheels rolling made him stop and laugh. "Fools! For this impudence, you will pay the ultimate price!"

All four looked at him unimpressed. He simply smirked and pointed at them and in a commanding voice shouted. "FIRE!"

There was a click and a boom, a large projectile hurtled over the sound ninja's head and into the midst of the heroes. Kenshin had been the nearest but there was a space between him and the remaining three, that's where the projectile landed and ignited. Kei, Raven and Sanosuke were blown back, flat laid out, and Kenshin was blown forward, right into the waiting hands of the commander.

The commander gripped Kenshin's neck from behind and pointed the sound release opening from his hand right into his ear. Kenshin struggled mightily, clearly aware of his currently dire situation. The man gripped harder, forcing him to take some labored breaths. "Now now, I can't have you getting away that easily. We'll destroy your friends when they try to rescue you and if you try anything funny, I'll blow your brains out. Understand?"

Kenshin swallowed his pride and bit back his seething hatred. "Crystal clear you damned snake."

The commander simply chuckled and squeezed harder, forcing Kenshin to thrash. "You arrogant brat, I should kill you right now, but there's no fun in that."

Kenshin wheezed. It was getting extremely difficult to breath. He felt his knees going weak and his head was lightening from the lack of oxygen. He could release fire, but if he messed up, his brains would end up all over the river bank, not to mention his newfound friends would be blown to smithereens.

Kami, give me the strength to fight and to protect the ones that are important to me. Let me survive this, I still have to protect Fumiko, Kei, Kakashi, the whole village. Kenshin prayed silently as he watched his party recover.

Kei was covered in tiny shrapnel and Raven, as well as Sanosuke, were very burnt. The commander called their attention over. "Oi! Brats! I have something you may want."

The three looked at him, none worse for the wear, but they were ready to kill until they saw who the commander had in custody. Kei swore silently, the fool had gone ahead of them and got himself captured. He tried to come up with a plan, but answered the enemy. "What are your terms...?"

The commander laughed the loudest so far. "My terms?! My terms are for you to die!" He snapped his fingers and a gigantic cannon rolled out of the trees and leveled it's barrel at the group.

Kenshin gritted his teeth. It can't end here, Kei, Kakashi…………Fumiko. His body had been deprived of oxygen too long, he started slipping into unconsciousness. Will I ever see you again? I hope you're safe at least. He felt his body go limp and his mind was slowly shutting down, lungs crying for air like peasants for food. I can't believe it'll end here, I tried. I tried so hard, and we almost had him. I guess I have to try HARDER.

Kenshin struggled one more time in a last ditch attempt, but was forcefully slammed against a tree, fully taking whatever stale air that remained out of his lungs and putting him on the precipice of death. UGH, not smart.

As all hope seemed lost a feminine voice rang out into the blood-red moonlit night. "Drop him right now!"

The commander looked around but saw nothing for a bit. "Who commands it?!"

He saw a shape moving silhouetted in the moonlight, which jumped from the top of the waterfall and landed directly on the cannon, destroying it and the men operating it from the inside. Fumiko had completely wasted the cannon in one very impassioned strike. As the dust cleared the commander looked at his wrecked weapon and into the very mad eyes of the Kunoichi who destroyed it. "I do!"

The sound ninja was panicked, so he did the first thing that came to mind, he tried to blast her, but failed to notice another shape moving with one crimson and black eye. As she dodged, she charged him and he was about to try again, but heard the sounds of birds chirping.

Birds at night? That was the last thing that went through his head before Kakashi's legendary technique obliterated it. "RAIKIRI!"

The lightning crackled and frayed out. Fumiko had charged and tackled Kenshin out of the line of fire and was now laying on top of him, clinging on for dear life as she heard Kakashi yell out his technique. The two rolled and she was relieved to hear him coughing and gasping for air vigorously.

She had put her head down to avoid possible injury but looked up when she heard his raspy voice. "Fumiko! You saved me?" She looked at his face and he was smiling widely. She smiled back. "Glad you're ok knucklehead."

Fumiko was a little worried when Kenshin's facial expression turned to horror. He had seen Kakashi's handiwork and felt a bit sick to his stomach. She tried to turn her head around, but he put a hand on her cheek and turned it back. "Don't look."

She did as instructed but still felt her gut wrench at the sight of Kenshin covered in blood. "Oh Kami, how did this happen, where are you hurt? Let me see."

He shook his head. "This isn't mine, I kind of lost track of whose it was." She unstuck herself and it took a moment for her to register it, but when she did, she started retching and ran to the river to vomit. Kenshin sighed. Even covered in blood, he found that sight just as bad. "Jeez, that's kind of gross."

Kakashi removed his hand from the last enemy's head, or rather the space where it had been and surveyed the area with some astonishment. 4 young ninjas against several of what he assumed were jonin. That was mind-boggling. They had to have some kind of luck on their side, but he knew that without his and Fumiko's timely intervention, all would have been lost.

Kakashi turned to see his female student retching into the river and couldn't help but grimace at the sight. She wasn't so used to the death that came with being a ninja, apparently. He turned his attention to the newcomers and kept his sharingan uncovered to survey their behavior. "Kei, come here, and bring those two as well. Kenshin, clean yourself up and get Fumiko to her feet."

They did as they were told. Kei escorted Raven and Sanosuke over and motioned for them to sheathe or dissipate their weapons. Kenshin walked up next to Fumiko and kneeled to splash some water on himself, trying to get the dried blood out. Still feeling a bit sick himself, he also splashed some non-bloody water on himself, trying to rid himself of the nausea he felt.

Fumiko simply stared at the water a bit longer, seeing it turn red from the vital fluids that were being washed away. Waited until Kenshin was done before taking a drink from cleaner water to clear her mouth of her sick. Kenshin got up and was about to tell Kakashi to give her another minute but she put a hand on his shoulder and shook her head. "I'm fine, really. Let's just get over there."

He nodded and started walking back with her in tow. Kenshin started coughing again, still not fully recovered from the attempted strangulation and blast of sound. He limped a bit and felt Fumiko wrap and arm around his waist to help him walk. He draped an arm over her neck, gestured his thanks and the two made their way back to the group.

Kakashi surveyed his group and his mouth tightened. Bleeding, bruised, internal damage and more enemies possible in the wilderness, they needed to report this to the Hokage. Enemies on Konoha soil were a dangerous sign. Kakashi picked up one of the ninjas Kenshin downed and took off his mask, the bloody mask was covered in deep red snot, obviously the ninja who had his nose broken.

Kenshin recognized his own doings and spoke up. "I wasn't aiming to kill, just administer one hell of a beat-down. We can take him back for Intel right?"

Kakashi nodded and covered his sharingan up. "Well you managed to keep one alive, everyone else here seems to be dead."

The rest of them looked around, confirming that fact in the dull moonlight. Kakashi turned to Raven and Sanosuke. "Ninjas from Kumo and Iwa, strange to see around these parts. What are your names?"

Raven stepped forward and did a goofy, flamboyant bow. "They call my Raven, Mr. Silvery hair."

Sanosuke kneeled. "Sanosuke, sir. And you are Sharingan Kakashi aren't you?"

Kakashi was taken aback, even after all these years; the young ninjas of far villages knew his name. "Yes that's correct. And I assume you both know that you are now at our mercy, being in our lands."

The two looked up, surprise evident in their eyes. Kakashi simply beckoned them to ease. "Relax, if it weren't for you two, I might have to be bearing the corpses of two of my students." He motioned to Kei and Kenshin, the latter nodding.

"I take it you haven't been formally introduced. Even when you didn't know the ninja you were fighting with, you fought. That's incredibly noble. I thank you for your sacrifice and efforts."

Raven grinned and Sanosuke smiled.

"Well Raven and Sanosuke, I'd like you to meet Kenshin, Kei and Fumiko." Kakashi motioned to each one respectively. Kenshin and Kei nodded, Fumiko bowed.

Kenshin limped over to Sanosuke and extended his hand. "You saved my life back there, and for that I owe it to you. Any time you need me all you need to do is ask."

Sanosuke shook his hand. "You're most welcome; it was an honor fighting with you." Kenshin smirked. "Right back at you. You have some wicked moves."

Sano nodded. "Likewise."

Kenshin winced as his leg wobbled. "Um, hey Fumiko, could you take a look at my leg? I might have banged it up more than I thought."

"Ugh, I swear, you always have some kind of mishap." She looked at the rest of the combatants. "Although, I suppose this time it's not just you. The rest of you, I'll take a look at in a minute, just rest."

Kakashi nodded. "We'll rest for tonight. None of you are in any shape to travel, so get some sleep." He set about tying the sound ninja up and placed him hanging from a tree by his torso.

"Hey Kakashi-sensei!" Kakashi turned to the sound of Kenshin's voice and was greeted with an unlit explosive. "Put that in his mouth, I want to get a good night's sleep."

Kakashi stuck the grenade in the ninja's mouth and put the ninja's mask back on. He then sat at the base of the tree opposite and assumed his guarding position.

Kei had lain out his things and was lying up against a tree for support, eyes threatening to succumb to the sweet bliss of sleep. Raven was already in his sleeping bag and dozing off and Sanosuke simply laid his head on his bag and slept on his earthy bed.

Fumiko shook her head. "Oh well, I can't wake them up now. From what I can tell though, they're not too bad off, just tired."

Kenshin nodded as he was lying up against the tree, with Fumiko hovering above his leg with her medical chakra. "It was a rough day. So what's the damage doc?"

She rolled her eyes at his remark but smiled. "Nothing too bad, your leg just got some minor internal damage, this should fix it up." The warm green glow washed over his leg and he felt his muscles relax. They had unconsciously tightened up from the pain he was in.

Kenshin let out a relieved sigh. "Ah, that feels great. Thanks." The glow faded and Fumiko wiped sweat from her brow. "Sure thing just let me wrap this up. Keep it still for tonight so the healing can take some effect."

Kenshin nodded. "Yes ma'am. I'll be a good patient." Fumiko smile and punched him lightly in the arm. "Goofball."

He fake-flinched. "Hey, I'm fragile right now." She laughed. "As if."

The wind blew and they both shivered from the chill. Fumiko moved her hands up and down her arms, trying to warm them. She looked around and saw that everyone else seemed fairly comfortable. "I was going to suggest a fire, but that might wake everyone else up."

Ken shook his head. "It's fine, give me a sec." He shot out a small fireball from his hand and it landed on the cannon wreckage, igniting the wooden structure for a nice, big bonfire.

"But what if it gets too big?" Fumiko was about put it out, but Kakashi called out over the campground. "I'll keep an eye on it, literally."

The three remaining awake laughed at his little joke. "Good one Kakashi- sensei. Fumiko, why don't you get some sleep too?" Kenshin patted the ground right next to him and she obliged.

He laid his head back and started closing his eyes. "Good night." She followed directly after. "Night." Kenshin was asleep before his head hit the tree pillow. Fumiko was getting close to deep sleep, but another cold gust of wind caused her to shiver again and get closer to the heat, which meant closer to Kenshin's direction. She rolled over and was now using his shoulder as a pillow; she unwittingly cuddled up to him and was out like a light.

A smile spread over Kenshin's face as he felt the sudden warmth on his side, already dreaming, one could only guess what he thought it was. Unknowing and not caring what it was he drew it closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. There they stayed for a long while, with Kakashi chuckling to himself. "This will be an interesting morning."

A few hours passed and Kakashi was staring at the fire intently until around 4 AM roughly. He heard a yawn and looked over to see Kenshin stirring. Kakashi said nothing as he waited for his student to realize what predicament he was in.

The world came into view as Kenshin's head came off of the bark as he yawned one more time, he was going to raise his arms to stretch, but felt something warm around his right arm. As he picked out the sleeping shapes of his comrades, he looked at the dark green scenery, illuminated by the bonfire. He smelled something intoxicatingly sweet and he drank the scent in, slowly turning his head, expecting to see Fumiko on the other side.

To Kenshin's surprise his eyes laid on her pink hair a lot sooner than he'd expected. She was attached……to his arm. Kenshin wasn't normally intimidated by closeness to Fumiko, but somehow, her sleeping like that, wrapped around his side, him holding her around her waist and her smiling warmly, he felt slightly nervous. Nervous and yet calmed at the same time, his mind told him that this wasn't normal, but his heart told him differently. Not wanting to move, because he would risk disturbing her, he checked over on Kakashi's location.

The silver-haired ninja simply gestured his acknowledgement and waved him back to sleep. Kenshin's head tilted back and he tightened his grip a bit. He didn't feel her adjust in discomfort, so he let himself slip back into the plane of dreams. I could almost swear that old Kakashi hid a smile under that mask…….

The next morning……

The three ninjas sleeping independently stirred. Kei stayed lying up against his tree and staring at the clouds, waiting for the morning grogginess to wear off a little. Raven rolled out of his sleeping bag and took the opportunity to splash some water on his face. Sanosuke merely rose from his bed to dust himself off a bit, he had received an earthy coating when he'd tossed and turned on the cold hard ground.

Sanosuke stretched and un-kinked his back, have a few cracks sound out. His hair was a mess and his eyes were drooped heavily, obviously denoting his reputation for not liking mornings. He yawned and rubbed his eyes. "I hate mornings, too bright, too early."

Raven snickered and shrugged, wiping the water from his face with his sleeve. "Too early for you maybe you big lug. I'm as chipper as possible!"

Sanosuke shot him a groggy stare and decided it was too early to care. "Yeah, alright, just point me in the direction of the river. "

Raven jerked a thumb over his shoulder and Sanosuke stalked over to take a drink and wash his face. Raven smirked at this Neanderthal display. "You're an odd one, caveman."

Sanosuke merely shrugged it off. "I'm not the only one now am I?"

Kei walked between both of them. "You're both weird……." And he kept on walking.

The two stared on, neither amused. Raven shook his head playfully. "I think he's the weirdest, wouldn't you agree?"

Sanosuke chuckled. "I'd have to say I do." He then cocked his head back, noticing something he thought strange.

Raven followed Sano's gaze behind him and saw Kenshin and Fumiko still sleeping in the half embrace. Sanosuke raised an eyebrow. "Does that seem odd to you?"

Raven shrugged. "Not really my place to say, we did only meet them yesterday. I can't help but be jealous though, she's a fox."

Kei was walking back to his spot after going to pick a peach for breakfast when Sanosuke stood and tapped him. "Are those two involved with each other or something?" Sanosuke pointed in the sleeping duo's direction. Kei smirked. "Oh, you mean them? That's not out of the ordinary…... I just try to keep my head ducked when they have their lovers' quarrels…..yeah, best advice I can give you."

Kei continued strolling to rest on his spot as the two ninjas laughed. The hardy laughter of Sanosuke and loud chuckling of Raven had reached Kenshin's ears. He slowly opened his eyes, painfully at the bright sun. The world timidly crept into view as he saw Raven and Sano laughing along with Kei looking at him from afar. Kenshin was confused for a moment until he heard soft breathing on his shoulder and comfortable warmth on his right side.

Suddenly he'd remembered what he'd woken up to last night. That wasn't a dream?! Kenshin looked a bit sheepish and his mind scrambled to figure out what to do. Ok Kenshin, calm down, it's just Fumiko sleeping next to you. As for your arm, why is it there?! What gave you the bright idea to do that?! Ok, calm, calm, just calm down. Why don't you wake her up for starters, you knucklehead?

Kenshin's inner wisdom surprised him sometimes; it was almost like she was his conscience. He moved his shoulder a bit, trying to wake her gently. Raven and Sano were still snickering at his attempts. Kenshin shot them a glare. The only thing accomplished by Kenshin's attempts, was that she grabbed on tighter.

"No…..don't leave me."

Kenshin was very close to freaking and waved a hand in front of her face to check if she was still dreaming. Thankfully for him, she was. He breathed a sigh of relief. What else would wake her up? Hmm, something gentle but noticeable should do the trick, but what?

Suddenly, his mind hit an idea, but he very nearly cast it away. Hmm, now if I were to do that, would I live? He shrugged to himself in his mind. Worth a shot, besides, that'll be a great way to start out the morning.

Fumiko had left her forehead exposed at the angle she had her head, so Kenshin brushed his lips against it. This made Sanosuke and Raven stop laughing and stare at him in utter shock. Kenshin secretly smiled to himself at their expressions and she started coming out of her deep slumber.

Fumiko's head was swimming as she stirred and yawned. She had felt a kiss on her forehead, but couldn't determine if it was real or some form of lucid dreaming. The first thing she saw was a pair of deep hazel eyes inches from her own. For a minute she couldn't comprehend what was going on until she felt a hand around her waist. She fought a blush back as she cleared her throat. Kenshin immediately let go.

She got up and returned to her pack behind the tree. "I need to....uh… get ready."

He smirked. "All right then." She really IS cute when she gets flustered.

Kenshin grabbed his already packed stuff and walked over to Raven and Sano. "So boys, enjoy the show?"

Raven paid little to no mind. "So you two are going out, it's no biggie."

Sano nodded. "It's natural to see couples sleeping together."

This flabbergasted Kenshin. "I…..uh….but we're not…….dating." he scratched his head nervously.

Raven looked at him skeptically. "But you were just…..doing that whole display." He motioned to the spot where the two were sleeping together.

Kenshin was strapped for answers. "I don't know what to tell you."

Sanosuke looked at Raven who just made little circles around his ear with his finger. "I think you've lost a few screws."

Kenshin laughed and started walking away. "Come on guys I doubt it would happen."

Kakashi slung the sound ninja over his shoulder and cast his eye over to Fumiko who was packing her stuff in a bit of a flustered state. He noticed everyone else busy doing something, Sanosuke and Raven were conversing about something or other, Kei was munching on a peach and Kenshin was testing his leg out.

Kakashi approached his student and took a seat to get within her vision range. "Is something troubling you, Fumiko?"

Fumiko didn't answer, she simply kept on packing. Kakashi sighed. "Is this about you sleeping next to Kenshin?" She flinched a bit. "You know in actuality it's not that bad, some could see you were simply trying to get warmer."

Fumiko zipped up her pack and sighed. She sat down next to him and kept her feet out in front of her, clicking the toes of her shoes together every so often. "I know sensei, I just…feel odd."

Kakashi nodded. "I think I know what that could mean, but, maybe I'll let you figure it out on your own, if I tried to guess, you might not take it well." He stood and put his bounty on his shoulder again, hearing the ninja groan Kakashi tossed him on his head and he was out again.

Fumiko shuddered, Kakashi could be scary sometimes.

Kakashi looked toward Konoha and shrugged his catch on his shoulder again. "Ok guys, it's time to get moving again."

Kei said nothing, grabbed his pack and was in the trees in an instant. Fumiko rolled her eyes at him. He's so mysterious. She thought to herself in a mocking tone. "Wait up Kei!"

Kei knelt down where he had landed and his eyes locked onto hers. "……Is there something the matter?"

Fumiko shook her head. "I don't think so, but I didn't get a chance to check your wounds out for myself last night. "

Kei scoffed."Yeah…. I noticed." His eyes passed over Kenshin quite briefly. Fumiko knew what he was referring too and grabbed him by his collar once again capturing his wandering attention. "Breathe a word of this to anyone and I'll show you just how unpleasant I can be. So quit you're whining and let me see if you're alright."

Kei put his hands up in some semblance of defense but his voiced did not rise over the normally flat tone. "Alright, fine…….no need to get so defensive…….."

She disregarded that last statement and examined him with her medical chakra, mostly healing wounds and burns, but nothing as major as Kenshin's injury had been. After a minute or so of silence she rose from her spot and dusted off her hands. "Other than your foul mood, there seems to be nothing wrong."

Kei seemed disinterested. He called down to Kakashi. "Sensei….. when do we leave?"

Kakashi looked over at the two newcomers and whistled. "Does either one of you feel like you need an examination or are you ready to leave?"

Sanosuke inspected himself, stretched a little bit and Raven rolled his shoulder a couple of times. "I'm just fine, how about you Raven?"

Raven shrugged. "I'm dandy, seems like Kenshin's the only one who got his butt whooped." He and Sanosuke, as well as Fumiko laughed.

Kenshin rolled his eyes. "Laugh it up chuckleheads. Without me, we wouldn't have taken those jerks by surprise." He jumped into the tree opposite Kei and cocked his head toward Konoha.

Kakashi followed. "Right then, let's get a move on!"

A chorus of "Right!" was sounded by the other three and they were off back to the village. After the group had gone, a figure walked into the clearing and picked up a gear from the cannon that had been destroyed and burnt. Ice-blue eyes carefully studying the object before he crushed it into dust.

"Soon Konoha, very soon……………" The figure walked away, malicious intent rife in his aura.

Seems like trouble's a-brewing, I hope they're ready for it

I hope you've enjoyed this new chapter, as always if you read it and enjoyed it, hey, even if you didn't like it, reviews are greatly appreciated and go toward being making this quality writing possible, lol