Author:

HELLO!!!! Well sooooooooooooo sorry it's taken me so long to update! And sorry this chapter will be kinda short because I want to get it out now! *Hugs reviewers * you guys are the best! I love you all! You guys are so nice to me really! Also since I am also working on a Inu-Yasha fic at the same time named 'Phases of the always changing moon.'

Its so hard to keep up *sob * and also a lot of school work most Bio and English. *throws things at Teachers *

I wish I could turn into a Samurai and beat the crap out of my teachers for no good reason. I could do that now but I would get in trouble.

Kenshin: ^^x'''''''

Gara: ^o^''' hee hee ummm ya.well come on its ok if a samurai beats someone up who does evil better then a angry cutie dressed with pigtails girl. (Way to much Miwako and Jrock for Gara-chan)

Oops gomen Gara-chan keeps talking *has sweat drop * all stop now so you guys can read the next chapter (like any of you guys actually read the top part -.-''')

ON TO CHAPTER 4

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Chapter 4

Protection

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Soujiro helped Kaoru off the large rock and smiled softly at her.

"Kaoru-san." Soujiro was answered with a slight nod but she did not say a word.

Soujiro lead her back to the streets and the two walked none saying anything. Soujiro could feel the anger that was around Kaoru.

"I told you not to stay." Kaoru said softly not bringing her head up. 'Now he will see me as weak and that's all I need. I will never be able to protest without feeling stupid.' She cursed at herself.

"I'm sorry Kaoru-san." Was all he could say he didn't look at her he just looked ahead to where they where to go.

The two walked till they where at the gates and the two stopped looking at the tall steal that looked so cold.

"Kaoru-san I wont tell Shi-sama about what happened if you don't see that man again." For once Kaoru heard seriousness in his voice as he said it.

Kaoru didn't say anything she just moved past him and pushed the gates open the cold steal made her shiver slightly.

Soujiro followed but once at the door of the large mansion Soujiro left Kaoru to go inside by herself.

"Ah Kaoru-san your back!" A maid said with a fake smile on her face.

'Why do they even bother, I know they all hate me.' Kaoru bowed slightly in greeting.

"Dinner will be served in the main hall." The maid said sweetly as Kaoru was walking.

"I will be eating in my room." Kaoru said plainly.

The maid sighed aloud in announce. Kaoru walked to her room and put everything down and started to undress till she stepped on something soft.

"OW!" Kaoru screamed when she heard the voice.

"Watch where you're going!" The blanket moved as Kaoru stared at it with wide eyes.

"NEH!" Kaoru jumped slightly.

"I said" A boy pulled the sheets off of himself and slightly glared at Kaoru. "Watch where you're going."

Kaoru blinked a couple times before realizing whom it was.

"You're." Before Kaoru could say anything a women's voice came through the door and knocked.

"Kaoru-san are you alright?" The door knob was turning so Kaoru pulled the boy up and pushed him into the open closet and slammed it closed and leaned on it just in time.

"I heard you scream is there something wrong." The older women looked around and Kaoru felt a little nerves. "No it was only a.a Spider! Yes a ugly spider!" She hated herself for thinking of such a stupid excuse.

'That boy is going to die when she leaves.' Kaoru thought as she smiled nervously.

"Oh.ok Kaoru-san if that was it then I will go now." The maid looked one last time as she was going to the door.

Kaoru sighed aloud but froze when the maid turned to Kaoru. "Oh almost forgot." Kaoru started to panic 'did she know? What if she does?'

"Dinner will be up soon." The maid smiled and bowed politely as she left and closed the door behind her.

Kaoru frowned and hit her forehead. "Baka."

"Can I come out now." The voice of the boy came through the closet a little annoyed.

Kaoru slightly growled and moved off the door opening it and looking at the boy frowning.

"You're the boy that was with Kenshin and Megumi." Kaoru moved so Yahiko could get out removing a obi off of his head as he did so.

"Yes, my names Yahiko lady." Yahiko stud in front of Kaoru proudly.

"My names not Lady its Kaoru." Kaoru frowned slight she felt like was fighting with a younger brother or something.

"This is a nice place." Yahiko said looking around and touching things as though they where toys.

" I guess." Kaoru could only get out as she plopped down onto the soft bed.

"Megumi told me some stuff about you. She said you where a great fighter and very pretty." Yahiko looked over at her.

"But you're nothing like that." Yahiko said a little mockingly.

Kaoru would have punched his lights out by now but she learned to be a little more patient and new kids said stupid things but she found herself throwing a shoe at the young boys head hitting him and sending him to the ground.

"Hey!" Yahiko growled as he rubbed the bump on his head and faced Kaoru.

"Well its not nice saying stuff like that so you disserved it!" Kaoru said with a winning voice.

"Kaoru-san Dinner!" The maid had come back and Kaoru told Yahiko to go back into the closet. Yahiko did as he was told and went. Kaoru moved off of her bed and to the door opening it to face the maid with a cart of food.

"Here Kaoru-san I hope you enjoy your food." The maid smiled and left Kaoru with no other words.

"You can come out now." Kaoru said watching the door as Yahiko came out.

Yahiko looked at the food with wide eyes. "WOW!"

Kaoru laughed slightly. "You can have some but don't eat all of it!"

Yahiko nodded and started to pig out a rice ball in each hand he took bites. "So. where is everyone else?" Kaoru watched the boy eat.

"Humf themf?" Yahiko swallowed what was in his mouth.

"They don't know I'm here." Yahiko looked at Kaoru.

"What are you doing here then?" Kaoru looked a little confused.

"WEEEEEELLLLLL Megumi was worried about you and so I decided I should protect you so she doesn't have to worry!" Yahiko puffed out his chest then ate another bun and some beef.

'He looks at Megumi, as his mother doesn't he. She was worried so he tries to make it better for her.' Kaoru smiled at the strength in the small boy.

'Megumi is going to be so worried about him.'

+++(To where the others are)+++

"Where could he have gone!" Megumi looked around the boy was gone from the inn they where staying in.

"He is probably sneaking food." Sano suggested

Megumi frowned. "Then you would be with him." Sano smiled sheepishly.

Kenshin had finished bathing and had now entered the lit room his wet hair in a low ponytail and his normal clothes on.

"Kenshin have you seen Yahiko?" Megumi looked at Kenshin with worried eyes.

"I haven't Megumi-dono." Kenshin sat on the floor against a wall.

Sano suddenly said something.

"Hey Megumi, Kenshin look!" Sano held up a paper that had messy writing on it, it read.

' Megumi, Sano and Kenshin.

I'm going to be gone don't worry all be back soon! Don't worry Megumi that girl will be safe I promise!

Yahiko.'

Megumi looked at Kenshin and Sano, They all sat there in silence. 'What had the note meant.

"What is he talkin about?" Sano looked the note over again.

"He's going to where Kaoru is." Kenshin said aloud not really to anyone.

"How do you know Kenshin?" Sano spun to look at Kenshin.

"Yahiko saw that Kaoru meant something to Megumi and so he wants to help her." Kenshin looked over at Megumi which when he looked at her he knew he was right.

"Megumi is like a mother or a older sister to Yahiko." Sano said aloud his eyes flickered.

"Megumi and I came across Yahiko when Yahiko had just lost his family and was pic pocketing others to survive." Sano looked at Megumi with soft eyes then to Kenshin.

"He has told me before that she means a lot to him." Sano said looking at the floor.

"Megumi-dono and Sano-dono are the only thing's Yahiko has. so its understandable." Kenshin slightly gave a weak smile.

'I have changed over such a long time.' Kenshin though to himself and it was true he had.

Everything was now in motion and it was his turn.

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YAY!!! I finished the chapter gomen that it's so short I wanted to get it out as soon as I could without hurting myself!

Kenshin: oro? *Pokes Gara-chan who is on the floor with cooking spoon to see if she is still alive *

Gara-chan: *twitch * meanie!!! I'm not dead yet!

Kenshin: *is already digging a grave for her * oro -.-x

Gara-chan: *Kenshin picks Gara-chan up and throws her into the grave * this sucks.

Kenshin: *does the praying thing * poor Gara-dono. *claps and walks away *

Gara-chan: ummmmmm Kenshin? Help? *Has sweat drop * he could at lest put flowers. -.-'''