A/N: Sheesh, how long has it been? Since January! Wow have I been lazy. Well everyone, now that school is FINALLY over I have the time to write again! Am in the mix of starting a new story, but this, being my little writers block story, was calling me back. So here is another pointless chapter of me trying to find Fuji…still. I'm wondering if anyone is still interested in reading this. Oh well! =^_^=
Still Looking…
Over two weeks later, we rejoin our reporter Ms. Tomoe as she sets off once again in her search for Fuji. That little tree that just had to fall on her caused Ms. Tomoe to again be trapped in the clutches of the Kenshin-gumi. She had stayed with Megumi while her wounds healed with daily visitations from all her friends. Sure Kenshin and Kaoru and the rest of them were all very nice people, but it just seemed that accidents always occurred to Ms. Tomoe when they were in the same room. She couldn't count how many times Megumi had dropped something on her head when Sanosuke came around. Or when things ended up being thrown at her when Kenshin and Kaoru would arrive looking rather disheveled and have to face the bantering of everyone else. So, after two weeks, Ms. Tomoe couldn't take it anymore and finally resolved to leave. Of course she was expected back to visit them and would have to go at the risk of Kaoru hunting her down for life, but that was something she knew she would never escape.
The first thing she had done was call her boss, Mr. Boss, and check if anything new had come up. He of course greeted her cheerfully after remembering who she was, and then proceeded to banter her with questions on her trip as if she was on vacation! Then, the man stupidly asked how she was calling him from 19th century Japan when cell phones didn't even exist yet…this caused her cell phone to disappear as somebody in the universe finally realized the mistake. Thank Kami he hadn't said anything about the laptop.
So, to put a long story short (too late), we find Ms. Tomoe on the search for Fuji…again.
"You know, it would have been helpful if I'd bothered to learn Japanese before coming here." Ms. Tomoe said to no one in particular as she tried to make out the sign at the fork in the road. As she was reading, or rather, trying to read the sign, she failed to notice a carriage coming toward her at an alarming speed. The carriage passed by without stopping, leaving Ms. Tomoe plastered to the ground with horse hoofs and wheel tracks imprinted to her back.
"That's it!!!" She exclaimed, painfully jumping up, "I'm quitting this damn project and becoming a rurouni!!!"
"Are you alright Ms. Rurouni?"
Ms. Tomoe turned around at the newcomer, somewhat embarrassed that her little outburst had been heard. She found herself staring into the blue eyes of a boy, with very light silver hair, and worn out looking blue traveling clothes.
"AHH!" She exclaimed suddenly, startling the boy, "I know you! Your Seta Soujiro!"
"Yes, I am. Pleased to meet you Ms. Rurouni, but are you alright?" He asked again.
"First of all, the name is Hotaru, Hotaru Tomoe. I'm a reporter traveling on an assignment. I'm not a rurouni, that was just a little threat I was making after that *#@&$^! carriage ran over me. And second, I'm fine, very used to this king of stuff happening to me."
"Oh, ok then." Soujiro said, and started to continue on his way. A moment later he was knocked to the ground as Ms. Tomoe grabbed onto his legs.
"Wait a minute! This is perfect! You can help me!!!"
*sweatdrop* "Uh, Ms. Tomoe..?"
"Yes?"
"You have my attention, so would you mind getting off of me?"
A few hours and one hot meal later, Ms. Tomoe and Soujiro are back on the road. After explaining her situation, Soujiro gladly offered his help to Ms. Tomoe. Now they were on their way to Hokkaido, where Fuji was rumored to be. She sent an email to Mr. Boss about her progress, praying that he wouldn't mention the fact that the Internet was non-existent back in this era. Traveling with Soujiro was a lot less stressful than the past few weeks had been. Maybe because nothing life threatening had happened to her as of yet…but she wasn't going to start asking questions now.
"Ah, Hotaru-san, look here." Soujiro pointed. "This sign says that there is only one more day left until we reach Hokkaido."
"Really!?! That's wonderful! The first thing I plan to do is take a long bath, then eat a good meal, and then do some sightseeing!"
"Hotaru-san, weren't you supposed to be looking for Fuji?"
"Yes yes but a reporter does need some rest and relaxation once in awhile. I need to reenergize myself!"
"We had better move out of the way, looks like there are a bunch of people coming." Soujiro said and moved Ms. Tomoe to the side of the road while she continued to fantasize about this little 'vacation.' The group approached them and was about to pass when…
"I knew I wasn't seeing things! It's Hotaru-chan!!!"
Ms. Tomoe's dream sequence ended when she heard that voice.
"I knew it…it was too good to be true…" She said as she looked at Kaoru, Kenshin, Yahiko, Sano, Megumi, Ayame and Suzume, who were all looking back at her excitedly. "Ok Ms. Author, you can begin the nightmare sequence now…"