The Chosen Path
Chapter 6

Usagi glared at the light that seeped through her window. "Of all the days..." she moaned.
She rolled over, slamming the pillow over her head. "Migraine. Damn." She muttered, sliding her long legs out of the small cot.
She moaned, closing her eyes and moving slightly toward the edge of the bed. She blinked as she fell on the floor, taking the blankets with her.
"Aww, jeez! Just peachy! Can't a girl get some fucking rest around here?! I need my damned beauty sleep ya know!" she complained, dragging herself from the pile of cloth. She grabbed her clothes; a white turtle necked body suit that resembled a swimsuit with huge holes on her stomach and back, a pair of tiny tan shorts, and knee high soft tan boots that looked like they had been made of scraps of leather. She checked her white arm ribbon and quickly did her hair in a braid.
Usagi grinned, slipping a long, slender sword around her waste and heading to the door. The small hut was nothing special, in a small village of similar huts that belonged to different people who might not even know one another for all she cared. It was a peaceful atmosphere...
"Usagi?!"
She spun around, sword drawn and at the man's neck in an imperceptible instant. She smiled, lowering the weapon and replacing it at her side, oblivious to the man's shock as she did so.
"Sano! What are you doing here?" she asked lightly, blowing back her bangs.
Sanosuke stared at her.
"I live here." he answered matter-of-factly.
Usagi shrugged. "What an odd coincidence; so do I. Or at least for the time being. Where are you headed? The dojo?"
"Iie. I'm going to go hang with some friends at the Okabeko." Sanosuke grumbled, walking toward the stated designation.
Usagi smiled pleasantly. "Sounds nice enough, I'll walk you there. I'm going to run to the dojo in a little while. I promised Kenshin I would return." She fell into step beside the taller man.
Sanosuke glanced at her. Her stature suggested that she was proud and strong. She never wavered in her steps, though the stares of all were upon her. He was baffled by how easily she took their looks and brushed them off. And there was also the fact that she was so unbelievably short that she just barely came to his elbows when she took a step.
"So is this how it's always been?" he asked after a moment.
"Huh?"
"You and Kenshin. You just disappear and reappear whenever you want to and he just goes with it?"
It was stated so innocently that Usagi had to reconsider what he'd said before replying.
She sighed. "Iie. It never was and never will be like that. During the war we saw each other any chance we got aside from missions. I never journeyed far from his side. We were always a traveling pair you could say. A man and his shadow. When the war ended I performed one final act of friendship before we separated and it was believed on both our parts that we would never see each other again. I suppose it was just fate that I would choose to seek him out again."
"Yeah, fate." Sanosuke frowned. "Usagi?"
"Hai?"
"Why do you want to help me with my fighting?"
Usagi smirked. "Well, you see Love, there is no greater boredom than perfection. I have reached that which I strived for, demo, I find myself growing bored with the imperfections of my enemies. Their ways of defending themselves are becoming beyond predictable and I am unable to break the simplest sweat when I battle. This is the main reason that I strive not to sculpt my skills further, but to learn other methods of fighting that may improve the chances of my counterpart. Do you understand?"
Sanosuke frowned. "So what you're saying is that you play games with your enemies by letting them think they've won and then killing them." He said.
Usagi looked at him. "Not exactly, mostly I will use one style of combat specifically against one enemy. I have the ability to meld the styles into one, but I will not use it often."
"Honto?"
"Hai. The game of cat and mouse is as old as time itself. I am well accustomed to it, but I feel that it has grown childish and immature. I have no desire to initiate such a technique. As I said, there is nothing more boring than perfection. Everything becomes more of a nuisance than a challenge when you reach that ideal stage. I have surpassed myself time and time again, only to be forced into the tediousness of previous times. It is my purpose in life to improve the skills of others now. Since my own are beyond flawless. Does that answer your first question?"
"Not very modest are you?" Sanosuke sweat-dropped.
Usagi shrugged. "Ne, truth is truth. It is only a matter of time before a pupil becomes the master. The youth of today have a strong sense of pride in their heritage, as Yahiko exemplifies, but the warriors of the past are the ones with experience and wisdom. Like Kenshin, those are the ones that no longer require training."
Sanosuke face faulted. "Are you saying I'm a child?" he almost shouted.
Usagi giggled.
"Of course not Sano! I'm merely stating that your experience hardly compares to what would be considered a valuable amount. I could call upon my past and defeat you as easily as if you were a newborn child with no more than my fists."
Sanosuke smirked, surprisingly unfazed. "We'll just see about that this afternoon." He stated confidently.
Usagi rolled her eyes. "Yet another flaw you bear, one should never display their confidence before a battle; for he may loose and his dignity would be lost as well."
"Speak from experience?" Sanosuke cut back.
Usagi shrugged, smiling slightly. "Perhaps."
Sanosuke cast her a curious look at this unexpected reply. "Really?"
"Ne, none of your bee's wax!" she giggled. "Catch me if you can Sano-chan!" she cried, dashing ahead.
Sanosuke grinned. He chuckled as he began to sprint after her. "Matte Usagi-chan!" he called after her, never noticing the "chan" ending he had added.
Usagi's angelic laughter echoed back to him and he increased his pace.
For some reason, despite his laughter, Sanosuke found himself noting how he never seemed to gain on the impish young warrior. No matter how fast he ran; she was always the same exact distance ahead of him.
He was sweating, he knew, but she hadn't even lost her breath. She was still laughing in delight as he followed her.
When they finally did stop Sanosuke kneeled over with his hands on his knees to catch his breathe. Sweat beaded his forehead as Usagi smiled at him lightly. She stood beside his hunched figure casually.
"Sano-chan," she grinned. "That was fun!" she giggled.
Sanosuke mock-gagged. "Yeah, fun." He wheezed.
Usagi chuckled, glancing at the Okabeko. They had stopped right in front of it.
"Sano-chan, I told you I'd accompany you here. So I gotta book it now."
"Alright, will you be around later?" Sanosuke looked at her almost pleadingly.
Usagi shrugged. "'course. I'll be staying for as long as Kenshin does. Might be forever, might be a day. Who knows?" she grinned. "In any case, ja ne!" she turned toward the direction of the dojo, disappearing into the mass of people that were trying to get their shopping done early or what not.
Sanosuke sighed as she left. He stepped into the diner, smiling as his friends waved him over.

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

"Ken-chan?" Usagi peeked into the room. Kenshin and Kaoru were standing face to face. Kaoru was all misty eyed.
"Onegai! I don't want to go alone!" she was saying.
Usagi cocked an eyebrow. "This sounds interesting." She smiled. "Might be worth some amusement."
Kenshin sighed, defeated. "Demo, Usa-chan said…"
"I know! But she can wait and I really need those seeds! Can you come?! ONEGAI?!?!?!"
Kenshin cringed and Usagi giggled.
The red head looked her way and she steeped into the dojo.
"Ne, what's going on?" she grinned. "Looks interesting."
Kaoru steamed, glaring at her. "Nothing that concerns you. You wouldn't be interested." She said haughtily.
Kenshin looked helplessly between the two women as Usagi smirked.
"Try me." She challenged.
Kenshin sweat-dropped as he took note of the unmistakable shimmering of playfulness in her eyes. "She's playing with her. Not again!"
Kaoru began to boil. "If you must know, Kenshin was just about to take me to buy some seeds from the market. They're having a special one-day sale today, but it's only for two or more people. See, you're not interested. Let's go Kenshin!"
Usagi smirked. "Actually, that sounds rather interesting. Mind if I tag along? I would love to walk with you and learn what commoners do."
Kaoru's left eye was twitching terribly. "Commoners?" she wheezed. "Grr…"
Kenshin quickly grabbed Kaoru's arm and headed to the door.
"Come now Miss Kaoru, let's hurry now. Usa-chan, will you come as well?"
Usagi grinned and nodded. "Hai! Let's go!" she fell into step beside him as they left.
Kaoru glared at Usagi's grinning face the entire time.
Kenshin wondered if the insanity would ever end.
"Not likely." His mind answered.
He sighed.


-OK! Finally it's done! Yeah! I am so sorry for the delay! I've been really backed up with school and family obligations as well as some other aspects of my life. Gomen! I'll hopefully be able to have the next chapter out by Wednesday. I'll be starting to upload one chapter per week from now on. Gomen, demo that's the best I can do right now. Anyway! Please review and tell me what you think! I need the encouragement right now!