Hiker…

(Evening - Day 3)

All the grade 10 students sat exhaustedly around the campfire Kenshin and Aoshi had built about half an hour ago. The class had done more walking then the 12 kilometers as the food and water drop had been placed in the wrong area. Students had to split up, taking different paths to find the supplies. After about an hour of searching the students had gathered around Tokio to listen to her instructions but a loud yell had got everyone's attention as Sano, Souzou and Aoshi were heading towards them with all the food and more one-litre bottles filled with water. Aoshi stared around at the tired students as some females huddled together leaning against each other for support while the guys either laid down, not carrying about warmth just yet or sat back to back with their friends. Aoshi could remember his friends and other students in his grade being exactly the same.

"How is everyone feeling tonight?" Tokio spoke, a small smile tugging her lips as the students groaned and mumbled at being tired, hungry and rather sore. They'd travelled along a pathway, which wasn't too steep, because as the days went on the walking would get harder and yet they were already complaining. Aoshi's eyes moved from Tokio listening to some students complain about too much walking or the fact it took so long in getting here because of the 'disappearing' food drop. Kenshin was the closest to the fire having cooked up some sort of stew for the students and once the aromas became known to them, they moved closer with their bowls ready for a much needed meal.

"Oh! Food!" Kaoru spoke happily as her stomach grumbled for the hundredth time and she grabbed Misao's hand squeezing it for more emphasis. Aoshi watched silently as Misao's face cringed as they were still bandaged up from the wire that cut through her skin on the rope course. Aoshi moved backwards, into the darkness of the night without anyone realising and moved through the shadows to head for Misao's bivvie area.

She had left the group around the fire, making sure to not get anyone's attention, but they didn't seem too worried as everyone was huddling around Kenshin to get a serving of the stew. Aoshi squatted down to look into the dark bivvie tent to see Misao way at the back, a small torch hanging from the corner of her mouth as she unwrapped the bandage on her left hand to see her wound had reopened.

"Need any help?" Aoshi spoke watching Misao jump and she whipped her head around, the torch shining brightly in Aoshi's eyes, but he lifted up his hand to block it so he could actually see into the tent.

"Sorry I scared you." Aoshi spoke and crawled into the tent, making sure not to step on the other sleeping bags, which were spread out ready for Megumi, Sano, Kaoru and Souzou to fall dead asleep in them. Aoshi sat down on the sleeping bag next to Misao's looking silently at her. She had not said a single word instead her other unbandaged hand came up to take the small torch out of her mouth.

"Do they hurt Misao?" Aoshi questioned and watched as she nodded her head silently. Aoshi arched an eyebrow at the way she was behaving towards him knowing she was embarrassed and maybe a tad nervous as well.

"Would you like me to go Misao?" Aoshi spoke once more and a light chuckle escaped his throat as Misao shook her head negatively without saying anything else. She kept staring down at her bleeding hand not doing a thing about it. The bleeding was concerning Aoshi and he sat closer to Misao and grabbed one of the water bottles and a small first aid kit he kept in his cargo pants lower pocket. He undid the lid placing some water on a cloth and handed it to Misao watching as she silently cleaned the blood off not making any sound of protest at the coldness of the water. Aoshi cast his eyes away from Misao as he grabbed out the ointment he had brought with him, a couple of non stick bandages and some wraps for her hands.

"Come closer Misao…I'm not going to bite." Aoshi spoke that small smirk still crossing his lips at seeing Misao's cheeks darken in colour. Now he really knew his presence and him talking had an effect on Misao. Aoshi watched silently as Misao scooted closer and was biting her bottom lip as he set to work on bandaging up her hands once more…taking care of her again.

* * * *

"Sanosuke? Why are you eating all the way over here? And by yourself as well…." Megumi spoke walking up to him as he sat on a large rock looking down the pathway they had traveled from.

"It may seem strange to you and everyone else, but I sometimes like peace and quiet. It gives me a chance to think a few things over."

"Oh, I'm interrupting you…I apologise Sanosuke…" Megumi spoke softly and turned around ready to head back to camp but she froze in her footsteps hearing Sano speak to her once more.

"You don't have to leave, I could always use some company, even if it is from a kitsune like yourself." A smack on the arm was Megumi's answer to his small statement but she ended up sitting next to him on the rock, her hands still clasping her bowl which still contained a fair amount of food.

"You really should eat fox…someone as skinny as you needs to fatten up. ITAI! HEY! What the hell was that for?" Sano bellowed rubbing the back of his head as Megumi smacked him again but with more force this time.

"I don't need to fatten up you baka roosterhead!" Megumi spoke abruptly and turned her head away from him.

"What is it with stupid females like you? I was merely saying you should eat because we have to go rock climbing and abseiling tomorrow. You'll need your strength." Sano replied his face scrunching up in annoyance as he stared into dark eyes as Megumi had turned her head to reply back.

"What is it with baka males like yourself Sanosuke? Why didn't you just say that in the first place? Do you think we females have some microchip implanted into our brains to automatically work out hidden messages in the garbage some of you males speak?"

"I at least thought a smart fox like yourself would have understood what I meant. Oh and another thing, STOP calling me Sanosuke, we are friends you baka!" Sano shot back and turned his head straight to look down the darkened path. Megumi bent her head, her cheeks heating up as Sano's words rolled around in her mind. He called her smart…and his friend… After a minute of silence, with Megumi mixing her stew making sure it stayed warm and Sano staring off into space, Megumi finally broke the silence.

"Sanosu- err...Sano?"

"Hn?" Sano replied as he turned his head to look down at Megumi. Sano swallowed nervously as she was smiling up at him and then he blinked his eyes a couple of times as Megumi held out her bowl of food for him.

"Kenshin cooks really good food and I'm not that hungry, so I thought you might like it since I watched you scoff yours in one mouthful." Megumi watched as Sano took the bowl from her and began eating the stew but then he stopped and with his mouth full of food he replied back.

"I didn't scoff it down as you think, but thanks for thinking of me kitsune, I should be touched or even flattered you thought of me." Sano smiled cockily down at Megumi and she bent her head, her hands fisting as he called her fox once more. He knew she hated it, but he just couldn't pass up the opportunity to see her dark eyes flash and her cheeks darken in colour. Sano elbowed Megumi to get her attention once again.

"Nani?" Megumi spoke her hands still fisted in her lap as she had crossed her legs to sit more comfortably on the large and slightly cold rock.

"Thanks for the food Megumi." His smile was still lob-sided, but Megumi found it surprisingly cute for the rebel male student. Megumi bit her lip, nervousness coming over her once more as she nodded her head silently, her throat having clogged up, as she was unable to speak. After a small moment of non-bickering between the pair Sano spoke again.

"Did you happen to bring me a drink as well?"

"NANI!" Megumi spoke, a vein nearly popping on her forehead. Sano started laughing, almost choking on his food as he held up one hand trying to calm down the angry fox.

"I'm kidding fox, chill out."

"Why you...you BAKA!"

"ITAIIIIIIIIIIII!" Students around the campfire watched a slightly peeved Megumi stomp back towards the group and sit down warming herself up.

Students stared between her and Sano as he walked slowly back, his hand rubbing his cheek as he sat on the opposite side of the fire amongst many male students wanting to know what he spoke to receive the red handprint on his face. Sano shook his head at them and stared into the fire, his eyes catching Megumi's over the flames and they locked together for several minutes.

Students watched as Megumi started giggling to herself, her hand moving over her lips to try and conceal it, but her laughter made Sano smile, just a little bit though…his cheek still hurt. Who would have thought that Megumi, this quiet almost shy girl completely changed because of Sano, turning her into an outspoken and rather "brutal" girl not afraid to hit him for being a baka roosterhead.

* * * *

"Sounds like Megumi-chan is finally opening up." Kaoru muttered to herself as she sat further away from the group but still watching through the thick foliage and smiling. She knew Sano and Megumi had bickered and it ended up with Sano being hit, but hey it happened to him all the time, but the only person he'd actually try and smack back by sparring with Souzou and Misao. He'd never dream of hitting a female, but to him Misao didn't count, she was a tomboy after all. He'd actually said that to her one-day and boy did he get a beating of a lifetime. After that day, the word had disappeared from his vocabulary.

"Aa, that is a good thing though Kaoru." Kaoru shrieked slightly, her hand flying to her beating heart as she turned to face the dark figure who moved out from the shadows and into the moonlight.

"K-Kenshin-san, you scared me to death!" Kaoru spoke her cheeks darkening in colour as the older man came closer to stand besides her looking down into her blue eyes. He always held that small smile, always smiling for everyone and Kaoru couldn't help but smile back at him.

"May I sit with you Kaoru and its just plain Kenshin by the way." Kaoru nodded her head and shuffled over letting him sit beside her.

"It is a wonderful night…not to cold, just yet." Kenshin spoke breaking into a small conversation with Kaoru. Aoshi had told him to give her his number but they still had a day left with them and hopefully he would have the courage to slip it into her hand.

"Hmm yes it is." Kaoru replied looking up at the stars. She began to fidget in her seated position as Kenshin sat cross-legged, his knee brushing her own. She finally cleared her throat getting back her voice and started her own conversation.

"So Kenshin…what are you studying at the university?" Kaoru turned her head and felt the heat begin to rise in her cheeks as Kenshin's violet eyes had already been staring down at her and she didn't even know for how long.

"Teaching actually…It may sound strange for someone who doesn't get too upset or overpowering bu-"

"I think it suits you." Kaoru interrupted staring up at him. He had blinked a couple of times and his lips parted to ask her why but Kaoru began to fidget anyway and tell him what she meant.

"I don't know you that well, but you seem very smart and you are really kind too. Students need that you know. They need someone to relate to and to talk to as well. The teachers at our school get along well with the students, well most of them anyway. I can tell you'll be really good at it Kenshin. I don't really know how to explain it, I just know. You have the patience to listen, I mean take me for example. Look how childish I was being on the rope course and yet you stayed with me all the time and were encouraging me even though I wasn't really listening. That is extreme patience you showed...because...I'm pretty stubborn, but at least I can admit that." Kaoru chuckled lightly at what she said but turned her head to face Kenshin when she felt his hand cup her shoulder getting her attention. His eyes glittered brightly in the night and an even brighter smile crossed his lips.

"Arigatoo Kaoru that really means a lot to me. You shouldn't put yourself down though; you were truly brave to do something like that. How many people can say they've walked amongst the trees and gone down a flying fox and survived?" Kaoru giggled her hand reaching up to pat Kenshin's on her shoulder.

"You should be a student counselor as well. Your really sweet Kenshin." Kaoru bit her lip after she realised she blurted that out loud and her cheeks flamed with embarrassment. To her amazement Kenshin's cheeks had darkened as well. Now he held a shy smile on his lips, his eyes diverting away from hers for split a second and then he turned his head away and mumbled out another reply.

"Arigatoo Kaoru…" Kaoru let out a small giggle and then leaned her head against Kenshin's shoulder, biting her lip again thinking she had made the wrong move but soon she felt a small weight against her own head, Kenshin tilting his and placing it on top of hers as they stared over at the horizon and glancing up at the stars.

"Do you know anything about astronomy Kaoru?" She replied with a soft no, her eyes closing for a minute when Kenshin right arm crossed over her shoulders holding her comfortingly close to him. Kaoru opened er eyes watching as Kenshin lifted up his left hand pointing out certain constellations to her and began telling her small stories about them.

* * * *

"Go Kaoru…" Souzou spoke from his hidden position and slowly moved away making sure not to distract them. As Souzou kept backing away from the couple he didn't realise he was going to bump into someone until it was too late. The young girl let out a small squeak as she tripped over a tree root growing above ground and landed awkwardly amongst a lush green bush.

"Gomen ne Kurohato." Souzou spoke once he flashed his torch down on the poor struggling girl that was trying to get out of the bush, but instead got more tangled up in it. Souzou let out a small chuckle watching as Kurohato got up but fell back down, her feet tangling up with the thin but relatively strong branches.

"Souzou-kun it's not funny anymore, please help me up?" Kurohato spoke pleading up at Souzou. His dark eyes stared into her bright green ones for many seconds but finally he placed his torch on the ground and squatted down untangling her feet from out of the branches.

"What are you doing all the way out here Kurohato-chan? You should stay near the campfire to get warm." Souzou glanced up at her to see she was staring back at him, her cheeks darker then usual.

"You weren't at the campfire with the others and I was a little worried, so I went looking for you and was walking this way but then you ran into me anyway, so your okay…" Kurohato spoke, but dying off in the end as she became embarrassed about telling the truth. She was not a good liar, never quick enough to make up lies on the spot. Kurohato could never lie to Souzou anyway…he could see straight through her.

"You were worried about me Kurohato?" Souzou spoke softly, his hand reaching under her chin to lift her head to look into her bright green eyes. She was biting her lip, her cheeks a lot darker now as she nodded her head in affirmation. Souzou's heartbeat began to speed up as he stared silently at the teenager in front of him. His hand had frozen at her ankles, not wanting to let her out as he could be in her presence a little bit longer.

"A-Arigatoo Kurohato, but I'm okay you know. I've been camping many times and ever since my father died, I've had to take up a lot of responsibilities at looking after my mother and my sisters, so I think I can handle this trip."

"Gomen ne Souzou-kun, I didn't mean to pry…I was jus-" Souzou placed a finger on Kurohato's lips stopping her blabbering. She thought he was angry with her, but he'd never really had anyone worry about him so openly, well besides Sano, Misao, Kaoru and maybe Megumi, but that was usual for him.

Souzou never had anyone outside his small group of friend's worry about him so openly like Kurohato. Souzou shook his head at Kurohato and gave her a small smile trying to make her feel better and went back to untying her ankles from the bush.

"Worried…I know, but you needn't bother about me Kurohato. I'm okay really…I have family and friends to care about and look after so I'll be fine." Souzou finally stood up, his hands taking Kurohato's to help her up as well. She was as tall as him with her straight brown hair rolled up into a simple bun with smaller pieces framing her pale face. He'd never known Kurohato would openly confess her worrying for him. They'd been neighbours for many years and played together when they were kids, but ever since high school they had drifted apart.

Souzou still remembered some of the ridiculous promises they made each other during festivals, making sure never to forget with a pinkie promise. He had forgotten though…he had forgotten about her. She had drifted off, to be with the most popular and 'beautiful' people at the high school while he stayed back and hung with Sano, his most trusting friend of all…his best friend. Sano was the rebel, but since he, Misao, Karou and Souzou became good friends he had mellowed out slightly even though he still had that gruffness about him, but Souzou was like that too.

Souzou shook his head, getting rid of old memories and bent down grabbing his torch and began moving off to head back to the campfire, but haltered in his footsteps, his dark eyes wider than usual at Kurohato's question…

"But who'll take care and look after you Souzou-kun?" Souzou slowly turned around to see Kurohato's eyes wider then usual, staring endlessly into his own, desperately wanting an answer from him. She stood stock still, her hands clasped in front of her, close to her rapidly beating heart…full of nervousness. She took a deep breath and walked closer towards him, her left hand clasping his lightly. She was shaking with nervousness, but her eyes told Souzou everything that she felt for him, but instead of letting him search her eyes she cast them away for a moment and spoke her question.

"Can I Souzou-kun? Can I be the one?" Kurohato's green eyes stared up at him again; noticing his cheeks had darkened in colour at such a bold and everlasting question like that one.

"Would you Kurohato-chan?" Souzou whispered softly, daring not to speak any louder; might his voice crack as he stared down at her smiling face.

"Hai Sou-kun…" Souzou stared down at the cute teenager that he used to play with when he was younger. She had let out a small giggle remembering what she used to call him when they ran around playing games like tag. Souzou's hand gripped Kurohato's tightly making sure this was real and moved his other hand up to cup her soft cheek making sure to never loose eye contact as he nodded his head answering her back.

"I'd like that Hato-chan…I really would." Kurohato's smile brightened even more as the answer she had been dreaming off escaped his lips. She quickly stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek before tapping his shoulder and racing off.

"Your it Sou-kun!" She spoke loudly and raced off heading back for the camp a soft giggle escaping her lips and floating into the night. Souzou took a deep breath, trying to stop the blush that was creeping into his cheeks and began racing of, heading after Kurohato.

* * * *

(Back in the tent with Misao and Aoshi)

Misao head lifted up as she heard laughing coming from the campfire and then louder laughing coming from the forest but then heading towards the campfire.

"Megumi-chan seems happy for some reason and I wander hat is up with Kurohato-chan and Souzou…" Misao spoke absently as she flexed her right fingers and moved her hand around trying to get used to the bandages once more.

"You know their voices and laughter of by heart? That is quite impressive." Aoshi replied after a short moment.

"I listen…and I have known Souzou and Kurohato-chan for a long time." Misao watched as Aoshi nodded his head and he absently spoke as he bean rolling up the old bandages and placing them in a be.

"It's the same with myself, Kenshin and Tokio. We have known each other for many years." Aoshi lifted his head noticing Misao was staring silently at him with one eyebrow raised.

"What?" Aoshi spoke his arms crossing over his chest.

"I don't believe you. There is something more…something different between you and Tokio-san. Am I right?"

"You are treading on very thin ice Misao. That is not your business." Aoshi immediately replied almost regretting the harsh tone he used. No on was this bold with him, not even Kenshin spoke of his feelings for Tokio…well not since days ago, but now he knew never to bring it up. Aoshi crouched low and got out of the bivvie tent that being the only thing he spoke to Misao.

"Gomen ne Aoshi…" He stopped when he heard Misao's soft voice and slightly turned his head over his shoulder seeing her hands fisted in her lap and her head bowed apologetically. Aoshi sighed out loud and spoke once more then left, heading back to the campfire.

"People I care deeply for never leave my mind, even if they are with someone else. It has been years since I've seen her, but she has not changed. They say, time heals all wounds, but in my case that's never meant to be. I don't forget people I care for…its just…who I am I guess." Misao crawled to the entrance of the tent and poked her head out watching Aoshi walk silently back to the campfire. Misao narrowed her eyes watching as Tokio followed him with her eyes as he headed of towards the area Kenshin had placed their tent. Misao's mouth parted open in surprise and realisation as things began to lick in her mind.

"You loved her Aoshi, didn't you? You told her and…she didn't want it…didn't want your love… Is that why you hurt inside…why you feel so alone…feel you needn't open up to anyone?" Misao mumbled to herself and moved back over to her sleeping bag and got inside wanting to sleep some more as she had taken one of Aoshi's tablets again.

"Misao-chan you really should eat something before going to bed." Misao heard Megumi speak as she moved towards her sleeping bag and got in zipping it al the way up.

"I'm not hungry…I just need some sleep." Megumi could tell something was wrong. She wasn't blind as people thought she was. She had seen Aoshi moving out of the tent and heading off towards his and Kenshin's. Something happened between them and she would get to the bottom of it…but right now it was time for sleep…and to think of ways to get that baka roosterhead to notice her more.

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *

Authors Notes: HIYA! It's been awhile but oh well. Finally this chapter has finished and no Tomoe is not the girl for Souzou…she was Kenshin's old flame remember?

Anyway I made up my own character for lonely Souzou, which worked out nicely…err…I think.

Well ja ne people…see you next time…