AN: Whee! New chapter! New Chapter! I was finally able to pry myself away from my Final Fantasy game playing ^-^;; So I decided to update! ^-^

Genesis: Thanks, and the whole "incident" was just spur of the moment ^-^

Willow: I'm working on the Barra chapter, so it might be up within the next few. Heck! It might even be up in this chapter. Gotta read to out!

Omochi: lol, yup! Barra is…erm…different ^-^;; So he can do pretty much everything…except keep quiet.

No Name: Wow, second time with no name ^-^ Don't worry, I'm still goin at it.

Sabrina-Star: Hmm….do you mean Kaoru/Barra pairings? ^-^ lol, anyway, I plan to add more Barra because everyone loves the cat oh so much.

rc: Thanks for correcting me ^-^ Otherwise I would have kept doing it.

Isis: I'm going to try to get more into Kaoru's father's past later on. I kinda have an idea of what to do for it already. ^-^

~*^-^*~

The Kenshin-gumi arrived in town just before dark. They would have arrived sooner, but Barra insisted they stop and catch him some fish for the hard effort he made of carrying their supplies.

"Hard effort my ass…"

Kaoru had mumbled. She knew Barra's powers were extraordinary. And she knew exactly what he could do. Carrying the backpack was like carrying a trout.

"So…is this the place?"

Kaoru asked, panting as she turned to Kenshin. She pried Barra off her shoulders and placed him on the ground. She rubbed her shoulder where fresh puncture marks from him claws were, glaring at him.

"…Iie. But I remember this town. It's about a five mile walk from here."

Kenshin replied, glancing around at the familiar shops. Kaoru sighed. She had really hoped this was the place. The sooner this whole thing was over, the better.

"Okay. We should get some rest. We'll leave first thing tomorrow."

Kaoru nodded in conformation as she started toward the 'Inn'. Kenshin and Barra followed, not far behind.

~*^-^*~

"I'd like two rooms please?"

"Hai. There are two vacant ones right down the hall, first and second doors on your right. You'll be charged when you leave."

"Arigatou."

Kaoru graciously accepted the keys and threw one to Kenshin.

"Oro?"

He barely caught it and grinned sheepishly. Kaoru led the way and came to a stop in front of the first door.

"You can stay with Barra in that room. I'll stay in this room."

She instructed, slipping her key into the door. Kenshin blinked. He really did not want to spend a night with Barra.

"You expect me to share a room with him!?"

Barra asked incredulously. Kaoru nodded and pushed the door open, letting the smell of the cheery wood fill her lungs.

"Yup. Got a problem with that?"

"As a matter of fact I do."

The cat hissed from his spot at Kaoru's feet. Kenshin winced under the cats' glare. It did not seem to faze Kaoru even a bit. She shrugged and stepped in her room. She looked to Kenshin, who had remained quiet and looked confused.

"Are you okay with it?"

"…Whatever you want, Kaoru-dono."

He forced himself to say. He could feel Barra's eyes boring through him. He shuddered and walked towards the room. He heard Kaoru whisper something to Barra before she closed her door and the cat followed him. With shaky hands, he opened the door and stepped in. Barra grinned. Maybe there was an upside to having an oblivious man in the room.

~*^-^*~

Kaoru fell back onto the plush bed the Inn provided. Sighing, she hugged a pillow to her chest. Scanning the room, her eyes landed on a tin bathtub.

"A bath!"

The thought made her giddy. She was sweaty and couldn't wait to shed her clothes. Her strength renewed, she hopped off the bed and walked over to the tub. The bath water was already drawn with hot water; apparently the attendants were very prompt about having everything on hand. Except soap, she realized, noticing the object was nowhere to be found.

"Of course they wouldn't have soap, Kaoru. Why would they?"

She mumbled under her breath as she headed towards the door. Maybe Kenshin had soap…

~*^-^*~

"Nani?"

Kenshin asked Barra. The cat had been staring at Kenshin for the past five minutes. Barra said nothing and stalked back and forth in front of Kenshin.

"Nothing…I was just wondering though…"

Barra stopped at Kenshin's feet and scratched at his collar.

"Could you maybe take my collar off? My neck itches."

He continued to scratch at his neck. Kenshin eyed the cat wearily, wondering what he was up to. But Kenshin did not see any harm in taking off the collar. He shrugged and scooped the cat up, placing it in his lap.

"Alright."

His fingers went to the collar as he began to loosen it. Barra smiled, his eyes glinting. Just then, the door opened.

"Kenshin, do you have any… soap….Dame!" (AN: See, I'm using rc's example XD).

Kenshin looked up, startled as the collar fell from Barra's neck. Kaoru stood, frozen in the door.

"Kaoru-dono?"

He heard a sickening gurgling sound and he reluctantly turned around. His eyes widened in shock and horror as he eyed the hideous beast before him.

"Oro!?"

He squeaked and scampered to Kaoru's side.

"BAKA! Go get me my bells!"

"H-hai!"

Kenshin sprinted out of the room and to Kaoru's room. She didn't really need her bells, but she figured it would get him out of the way, if at least for a few minutes. Meanwhile, Kaoru eyed the large black mass wearily. Sparks flew from its' skin, melting parts of the bedposts and chairs. Two red eyes stared back at Kaoru and a large slit for a mouth grinned.

"What a fool you have for a traveling companion."

"No kidding."

She muttered and hid her hand with the ring behind her back. Almost sighing with relief, she felt it expand in size. She kept her position in front of the door, eyeing what was once Barra. It took a step forward. The floorboards groaned in protest as it stepped. It hissed, and sparks flew towards Kaoru. She dodged, but a few sparks still hit. She took a deep breath as she felt her shoulder burn. The spark had eaten right through her coat and shirt. Luckily, the ring was almost big enough to slip around Barra's head.

"Kaoru-dono! I've got it!"

Kenshin pushed the door open with force; another big mistake on his part.

"Itai!"

The door hit Kaoru in the back, knocking the ring out of her hand. She watched in horror as it rolled under the bed.

"…"

Nobody said anything.

"Now what are you going to do, master?"

Barra mocked. Kaoru gritted her teeth angrily and glared at Kenshin, who stood behind her, still holding the bells.

"Kenshin no BAKA! Go get the ring now!"

"Hai Kaoru-dono!"

He dove under the bed, searching frantically for the lost ring. Barra chuckled, but it came out as a disgusting crackling sound. Kaoru winced as sparks once again flew in her direction.

"Once I get you back in that collar, I'll make sure to never leave you with Kenshin again."

"Once? Don't you mean if?"

Barra lunged forward, knocking Kaoru off her feet. She grunted as her already injured shoulder slammed into the ground. Barra swiped a hand at her, which she nimbly dodged, rolling the other way.

"Kenshin!!!"

"I'm trying!"

Came the muffled answer. She rolled out of the way again as Barra through a fist down, this one inches away from her head. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest.

"I got it!"

Kenshin yelled as he crawled back out from under the bed. Kaoru's eyes lit up with hope.

"Throw it to me!"

She instructed. Kenshin nodded and chucked the ring up. It flew over Barra's head and next to Kaoru.

"Foolish."

Barra sputtered and swiped the ring out of her reach. He took another step, causing Kaoru to back up; straight into a dead end.

"Now what are you going to do, master? Now that I'm free…you can't control me."

"B-Barra! Stop this now! Onegai?"

Kaoru tried to reason with the beast. Barra made no move to stop as he raised his hand above his head.

"This is it!"

Kaoru whimpered and drew herself into a ball. She waited for the final blow.

"Kaoru! Catch!"

Kaoru's eyes shot open as she heard Kenshin. Surprised, she watched him slid the ring across the floor and through Barra's legs. She snatched it and sighed in relief. It was to its' full size.

"Hah! Who's laughing now?"

Kaoru threw the ring up. Barra tried to jump back, but it was too late. He hissed as the collar landed around his neck. He frantically clawed at it, trying to get the ring off.

"Curse you!"

His screamed was drowned out by sickening crackling noises. Kaoru shielded her eyes as a bright light emitted from him. As quickly as the light came; it faded. She hesitated before opening her eyes. Before her sat a small gray cat with red eyes. He looked blankly back at her. Then, it began to cough. Kaoru sat back, waiting for what she knew was going to happen. Sure enough, Barra coughed up the ring she had been wearing earlier. It rolled next to her. Smiling, she picked it up and slipped it back on.

"Welcome back, Barra."

She said breathlessly. Kenshin blinked and slowly stumbled over to Kaoru. She looked up at him, relief and anger mixed in her eyes.

"K-Kaoru-dono? Daijoubu?"

"Hai…We need to have a little…. chat."

"Oro?"

Barra chuckled from his position on the floor and curled up, falling asleep. How he could do that after what he had just done was a mystery to Kenshin.

"Kenshin…"

"Ano…Kaoru-dono…I have some soap."

~*^-^*~

AN: I couldn't help it! Don't worry, Barra's back to normal now ^-^ But….yeah. Thanks everyone for reviewing! Keep it up ^-^

~Neoshipper~