~Chapter One- Arrival to Orasumi Manor~

Karou, Kenshin, Yahiko, Sanoske, and Misao, all arrived at the huge mansion a little later then Kenshin had hoped for, but it was no big deal. This was a holiday for them all, so time was of no concern.

Karou spread her arms out and smelt the fresh mountain air.

"Wow! It's really beautiful here! Just smell the air, and listen to the birds!" She exclaimed with happiness in her voice.

Kenshin smiled at Karou's strange behavior. He hardly ever saw her at peace and content with things, only on vacations. The rest of the time it was work, work, and, you guessed it, more work.

Back in the busy, continually growing city of Tokyo, Karou did nothing but train Yahiko, and occasionally another that wanted to learn, the Kamiya Kashin style sword method, and also took care of her dojo, and sometimes took part time jobs to put food on the table for Yahiko and Kenshin, who resided there as their home for a while at least.

It wasn't just Karou that had all the work though to do. Yahiko was continually training, and trying to get better day by day. He also did chores that Karou assigned him, and tried his best to be helpful around the dojo when he could.

Kenshin was usually doing laundry or washing dishes at the dojo, playing with little Sazume and Ayame, or at many of times, helping people with enemies. It's what he had wanted to do after all, so why bother get in his way? That's what Karou would tell herself.

While Karou, Yahiko, and Kenshin had their work cut out for them, Sanoske didn't do much. The most he ever did with help Kenshin in battle, but other then that, he was a very lazy person, who didn't even pay tab at the accebeko, a small restaurant in Tokyo.

Misao had just recently moved into the dojo with Karou and the others, so she was still getting into the habit of things to do around the place, but she certainly wasn't lazing around.

Their other friend, Magumi, was a doctor, that didn't have much time for vacation, or anything else for that matter. It was a busy time, so the group went on this holiday without her.

It came up so unexpectedly too, that Karou or Kenshin had no time to arrange something with Miss Magumi.

As Karou let the wind brush past her with much gentleness, the huge doors the mansion were opened, and a very short, wrinkled man stepped out to greet them.

"Ah! Welcome, Himura, Kamiya, and all your other followers! It's very good of you to accept my offer to join me in this mansion for a few days of relaxation. It's the least I could do for what Himura did for me!" The old man said aloud.

Kenshin grinned. "It was really no big thing, that it wasn't, but you really didn't have to do this for us."

The man shook his head. "Nonsense. You people completely deserve this!"

Misao tapped Kenshin's shoulder.

He turned, and saw an angry face looking back at him.

"HIMURA, YOU IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT!!!!!!! OF COURSE WE DESERVE THIS VACATION!!!!!!!!!! STOP PRETENDED THAT WE DON'T!!!!!!!! I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY BE ON ONE BEFORE I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW!!!!!!!!!!"

Kenshin blinked. "Oro?" Was all he could think of to reply.

Karou smiled at him.

"She's right though Kenshin! This vacation isn't just for us, it's for you! You should be rewarded sometimes! Please be happy!"

Somehow Karou always had a way to make Kenshin stop being so responsible like, and so he nodded and smiled.

"Miss Karou is right, that she is! And so is Miss Misao! I suppose we all deserve this holiday, that we do!"

The old man nodded.

"Very well, let my servants show you your quarters, and then we will meet in the back gardens for some tea! How does that sound to you?"

"OH THAT WOULD BE SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Misao and Karou jumped up and stated.

Yahiko rolled his eyes. "I'd rather go look around the woods. I heard there are some really cool places to go check out in these forests!"

Sanoske bent down into Yahiko's face.

"You mean like ghost's and creepy bums and stuff like that?"

Yahiko blinked. "N..No. I'm just saying…it'd sure beat going to a boring old tea party in a garden!!!"

Karou lifted her hand and hit Yahiko's head.

"OUCH!!!!!! THAT HURT!!! WHY'D YAH DO THAT, KAROU!!!" He screeched as he held his head.

"Be a little more polite would you!!! It's not everyday some rich guy invites simple people like us to stay at his summer mansion for a few days! Don't you dare ruin it for everyone!!!" Karou whispered into Yahiko's ear, trying hard not to yell.

The old man's hearing was better then she had expected though.

"It's quite alright, Miss Kamiya. If I was a young lad as he, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near a tea party and a garden either. Please, I insist, let him do as he pleases. This is a vacation. I want all of you to feel as if you can do anything you please, when you please."

Yahiko smirked at Karou.

"Hey Karou, I like this guy! At least he has some sense, unlike you!"

Karou's eyes turned red.

"YOU LITTLE BRAT!!!!!!!!! I'LL MAKE YOU REGRET WHAT YOU SAID HERE AND NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Sanoske and Kenshin had to grab onto Karou to keep her from damaging Yahiko's ego, while Yahiko stood there and made faces.

In the background, the old man smiled and motioned for them to follow.

"Please, come this way."

The only one who followed was Misao.

"Oh yes! Thank you so much, Sir! I can't express how cool this is!"

Yahiko, Sanoske, Kenshin, and Karou all watched Misao and the old man walk into the mansion doors, and suddenly remember to follow.

"WAIT FOR US!!!!!!!!!" They all cried as they dove into the doorway before it closed.

When Karou opened her eyes, what she found in front of her w breath-taking!!

"Whoa…..it's so…perfect." She could feel herself getting overly passionate about the beautiful mansion that she had been invited to live in for a few days.

"You like it, Miss Kamiya?" The old man stated.

Karou smiled and blushed at the same time, in some sort of fantasy look.

"Like it? It's so lovely! I couldn't ask for a more perfect place to stay! Thank you so much, Sir Orasumi."

The man nodded, and motioned for Karou to follow 2 servant girls that would take her up 4 flights of stairs, up to her quarters.

Karou laced her handed together and followed as told, up the stairs. She didn't even look back at the others.

Misao was busy admiring the talk stairs, going up and up and up and not stopped for many floors! The place had to be at least 10 stories high!!!

Yahiko looked at pictures on the walls and priceless vases and paintings.

Kenshin didn't notice though. He watched Karou go up the stairs, and eventually disappear into the many steps, too far up to see anymore.

He smiled gently.

Sanoske noticed and grinned.

"So, Kenshin? You think she likes it here?"

Kenshin's smile grew.

"Yes."

Sanoske nodded.

"Well, looks like you did something good for everyone, including her! Good for you, buddy."

Kenshin looked up at Sanoske with a bit of confusion, then he took in a breath of air, and smiled again.

*I hope everyone enjoys themselves.* He told himself in mind as he began to follow another servant lady, that would take him to his quarters.

~Ok! I hope you liked the first chapter! There's more to come! ^-^ ~