Tragedy has struck my poor little heart. The car, sadly, is out of my price range. *breaks into uncontrollable sobs* And of course they wait until I like love it and drive it and whatever and then they crush my heart with that accursed price! 13,5 when I only have the *ahem* 5 part.

So I'm writing. I came up with this whilst I was running my five miles because I was heartbroken.

Sadly written (which probably means violence or somethin somethin)

Tigereyes

P.S.: I don't think I ever wrote this! I only own Kaori and other various things. Icari are Lady Shiin's and Kenshin and friends are someone else's! *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Kaori turned over in her sleep. It was morning and that pesky sun was in her eyes. The curtains were drawn and the morning breeze blew happily in. This was not Kaori's idea of a good morning. Grumbling, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. The little crusty things fell away and she stretched her arms above her head and her wings flared to their greatest potential.

During this process, Kaori's eyes cracked open just a pinch. And through that pinch, she saw a girl sitting with her legs under her smiling as brightly as the morning sun. Kaori dropped her arms and folded her wings again. With her hands in her lap, Kaori looked at the girl expectantly. She had dark hair, much like that Kaoru girl from earlier, only she seemed younger. She had dark eyes and was human, not Icari. She giggled and Kaori gave her a puzzled look.

"I'm Misao. I guess you're Kaori?" she was happy and bubbly.

Kaori just nodded.

"Kenshin told me to give you these. I agree with him now, you do need new clothes," Misao said holding out a bundle of clothes.

Kaori looked down at what she wore. Her long brown skirt was dirty, she'd admit that, and had a few tears, but nothing outrageous. Her top was sleeveless and tight made of stretchy material. It too had seen better days but it wasn't terrible. With a sigh, she took the clothes and unfolded them. A short white skirt fell from the folds of a long sleeved shirt. Kaori looked at them disbelievingly.

"What does he take me for? I'm sorry Misao, but I can't wear them," Kaori said putting them on the floor in front of Misao. Misao just looked at her. Then she smiled again.

"Ok then. If that's what you want. So would you like some breakfast then?"

Kaori nodded negatively. "No thanks Misao. I don't normally eat breakfast."

"Ok, then Kenshin wanted to see you," Misao said standing.

Kaori furrowed her forehead. "Ok then. You must lead, I have no idea where I'm going."

Misao nodded and opened the door and led Kaori out. The halls were magnificent, now that Kaori was a little less wary then the day before. Shiny marble floors shone below and high, vaulted ceilings arched above. The walls were lined with beautiful paintings and sculptures of Icari. The same golden doors that Kaori went through with Sano loomed before her again. Misao moved aside and looked at Kaori expectantly and Kaori raised both eyebrows.

"You have to go in alone. Servants don't go in there unless bidden to. Sorry Kaori," Misao said and she began to walk away. Kaori sighed and rearranged her messy hair into a sloppy ponytail. Wisps of hair fell over her eyes and she pulled them behind her ear as she walked through the door. Sano was again parked on the cushions eating an apple. He wiped his chin with his arm as some of the juice dribbled onto his chin. He raised his apple to Kaori before taking another bite. Kenshin was leaning on the balcony's railing. He watched as Kaori walked in the room and closed the door noiselessly behind her. Kenshin frowned when he noticed that she had her own clothes on.

"I take it Misao woke you? I wonder where she put those clothes I told her to give you," he mused.

"I'm not wearing your clothes," Kaori said and Sano snorted and apple chunks blew out of his mouth.

"Sorry, I just had an image of Kenshin wearing a dress. Carry on," Sano said taking another bite and hiding his grin behind his apple. Kaori's mouth arched into a smile at that thought too. It was kinda funny. But she schooled her face to the impassiveness that she wore yesterday.

"Fine. Wear you clothes. Sano told me you can't fly," he said and Kaori interjected.

"I didn't say I can't fly."

"Then why didn't you fly away when you were being chased?" Kenshin challenged.

Kaori fingered the tips of her severed flight feathers. They were longer than before but still not the length that they needed to be to fly. "I just couldn't."

"Ok. Then you have to show us that you can fly," Kenshin said with a smirk on his face and arms crossed across his scarred chest. "And Sano will take you."

Sano spit his apple again. "I'm doing what?!?"

Kaori's eyes widened. "Hell no," then turning to Sano's hurt look, "It's not you though."

"You better go now. If you don't, I'll just call the Hunters. I'm sure that they would like to have you back in their company," Kenshin said with a grin.

"You wouldn't," Kaori spat.

"Fine then, hang around and find out."

Kaori stood him down for a moment, giving him a glare that made Sano shiver and it wasn't even aimed at him.

After a moment more, she turned on her heel and opened the door in one smooth movement. Sano followed after giving Kenshin a confused sidelong look.

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Kaori squeezed her eyes shut as she gripped Sano's arm with all she could muster. The wind was blowing her hair around and every one of her muscles were tensed.

"You mind letting my arm a little loose? It's totally purple. I'm not going to drop you. Who do you think I am? Kenshin?" Sano teased as she opened her eyes and loosened her grip. She was tucked neatly in Sano's arm and she liked it, save for the terrifying height that he was flying at.

He flared his wings and they came to a soft stop. Sano held her in front of him and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Ready to fly?" he asked and before she could breathe, let alone protest, Sano dropped her. The surprise was etched onto her face and she couldn't even scream. Sano watched with a look between amusement and a wish to catch her, he hovered above her falling form. Kaori opened her wings, and to her slight surprise (and Sano's horror) she didn't stop falling. The severed flight feathers slowed her a bit but she still fell. The tree line was growing closer and Sano was a good half-mile above her. He drew in his wings and plummeted like an osprey but he didn't catch her before the trees.

Kaori hit good many branches before she landed her hand on one. Battered, cut and bruised, she dropped the last ten feet to the ground. Rubbing her arms and sitting up, she looked out upon her landing site. A soft grass clearing surrounded her and smiled at her luck. She was at her family's monument. She walked over to one of the red stones and put her hand on it. Her smile faded and she dropped her hand to her side.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I couldn't keep a promise. Just one simple promise.." She put her head in her hands and cried softly.

Sano landed soundlessly behind her and watched as her back and wings shook with he sobs. He walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She turned her head sharply and glared, but her glare dissolved.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly.

"My family. I promised that I would fight to the end. I lost.I just.oh Sano," she buried her head in Sano's shoulder and neck and sobbed. Taken a little by surprise, Sano hugged her as she cried to her heart's content or until she ran out of tears to cry, whichever came first. Sano rocked gently as her sobs subsided and she sat back on her own.

"Ok?" he asked gently.

"When I was six or seven, my family and I were walking through the woods, here actually, when the Hunters attacked. My mother, she put me in that cherry tree there," she pointed to a tree in full pink blossom, "and I watched them kill my father and older brother, Sachi, and carry my brother Shinta and my mother off to, to do what ever they do to people they catch. So when I was about twelve I brought these stones from a ruin to mark their graves and to remember them. Sometimes I'm afraid, sometimes I'm afraid that I'll forget them."

Sano sat back, processing her whole life's story given to him in a matter of a minute. Kaori stood and touched a monument gingerly. She sighed and turned to look at Sano. He had a look of genuine concern on his face and it looked funny on him. She smiled and began to walk past him. But before she past him she grabbed his arm for him to follow her. She led him through dense forest and stepped sure-footedly as Sano stumbled behind her through the brush. Kaori smiled to herself as she neared some ruins.

Large foundations still partially stood and there were some walls still standing. Kaori began to trot to a significantly together building. Three of the four were still there and the roof was still mostly intact. Vines with pretty pink flowers blossomed and there was the remains of a statue of a lion guarding the door. She bounced in and Sano followed a little slower.

Kaori crashed on a pile of blankets and pillows. Nothing compared to the ones that Kenshin but she seemed deeply happy to be on them. There were tattered blankets for curtains and there were dead flowers in dirty water in chipped cups and vases. She was practically beaming and Sano cocked an eyebrow.

"Problem?" she chirped.

"It's-" he began.

"Mine," she finished for him.

She bounced up with more enthusiasm than he had ever seen her have. She moved to a corner to dig through a basket and announced that she found what she was looking for with a squeak.

"I found it!" She held up another black skirt and a black sleeveless shirt that was black. The shirt and skirt had a white flame running up the sides. She tossed them onto the blankets and pillows and dug some more in the basket. She rummaged for a while but couldn't seem to find what she was looking for. She sat back on her heels and pulled her hair back. She sighed and moved around looking for something, muttering to herself.

A loud crash of the brush was heard and Kaori and Sano immediately looked out the door. Kaori's eyes narrowed and she rose, pulling a bow and quiver from behind the basket. With one smooth movement, she stood and nocked an arrow. And in about the same time, Sano was standing and blocking her way to the door.

"Move Sanoske. It's the Hunters and I want to give them a proper welcome," she said in a low tone, touching her fingertip to the sharp tip of the arrowhead.

"Precisely why you shouldn't go out there. What if they realize who you are and haul you back? What then?"

Kaori growled softly, but she let the bow down to her side. Sano smiled then did an about face, making his face impassive and emotionless.

He walked through the door and stood before a small pack of hunters, about seven of the relentless hunters stood in a semicircle before him. Sano stood coolly and confidently as Kaori watched from a crack in the foundation.

"Can I help you?" Sano asked nonchalantly.

"We be lookin for a human girl, bout this tall end she's got wingies like those," he pointed to Sano's, "sept they're brown."

"Why would you be looking for an Icari?" Sano practically purred.

"None specifically sir," another said with a little better manners and grammar.

"If you don't mind me askin, why aren't you in the sky?" another asked.

"My business is my own," Sano said with an edge.

'My Sano's got quite the spirit, and a tight ass.' Kaori thought to herself as she absently rubbed her wingtips.

One of the hunters began to sniff the air.

"She be in ther," he said gesturing to the ruins.

"There's nothing in there for you," Sano said stepping in front of their path to the door.

"If she be in there, we'll pluck you flying man," the first one said.

And before you could breathe, Sano had thrown him across the clearing and into a tree. He had a steely look in his eyes and he flared his wings regally.

"You will NOT disrespect me! Get OUT you scum!" he said in a cool, harsh tone, emphasizing his points with an increase of volume.

Most cowered and went to their fallen. But one lurked behind Sano unawares. He had brandished a knife and was ready to stab Sano between the wings. That is he was before Kaori shot him in the head with her bow. With a hollow coconut noise and a little blood, he fell to the earth.

Sano turned surprised and unfortunately so did the rest of the Hunters. Kaori was standing in the doorway with her bow in hand and two other arrows nocked and ready to fly.

"Who's next?" she questioned sweetly.

Instantly they leapt into action. The Hunters all lunged at her and she shot each and every one down. Sano stood in awe as she picked them off as if they were inanimate stuffed animals or something. No expression was on her face, her mouth was a grim line and her eyes were sharp for her targets. She was wearing the clothes she pulled out of the basket with her hair loose around her. She ruffled her wings when they were all either dead or dying.

"Don't ask," was all she said and she reached behind the wall and produced a quiver and a katana.

"Ok then. Let's go home."

Kaori smiled at that. 'That isn't my home. Not with Icari. I'm human. Not an Icari.'

He offered her his hand and she looked at her wings and didn't take it. Sano looked at her questioningly.

"You have to know that you can't stay here. At least for the time being. They'll comb this place and the surrounding areas for weeks maybe. Even you couldn't hide from that," Sano said but she turned her back on him and began to walk the other way.

"I'm no Icari," she mumbled as she walked into the trees.

Sano stood puzzled. With a confused sigh, he ran after her. She took obvious deer trails that gradually inclined up. She was always three or four steps ahead of him, despite his running, he never failed to hit a tree root or rock. Kaori walked sure footed as a mountain goat, until she broke into an all out sprint. Sano sighed and picked up his already quick pace. He lost sight of her as she ran through a large bush. He struggled through the shrubbery (a Shrubbery! Ni! Sorry couldn't help it) and watched as she winked at him then threw herself over a cliff's edge.

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Ok! That's all you get! Wooo! That was fun!

Review and you get a box of chocolates and a new car!

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