Disclaimer: Again? Sheesh, I still don't own Rurouni Kenshin, but I heard
that it would have provided an exceptional Christmas gift . too bad that
Christmas is over.
Definitions: Let's see.
¤ Baka deshi - idiot pupil
¤ Gomen nasai - I beg your pardon, excuse me
¤Kuso - shit
¤ Busu - ugly woman
¤¤**¤¤
A Love for One Hated
By: Mystic Song
Chapter 3: Running Away
¤¤**¤¤
"Sir!" A young boy cried out on the streets, chasing down a man with fiery red hair that was heading towards the palace. "Sir, may I ask you a question?"
The man with the red hair paused in his tracks and slowly turned around to face the young boy. He was no older than 10, with spiky black hair and a smudged face. "How can I help you, little boy?" The man with the red hair asked, violet eyes sparkling.
The boy suppressed a growl at being called a little boy. "My name is Myojin Yahiko, and I am not little!"
The red haired man chuckled. "My apologies, young boy. You are not little at all, that you are not. Since you gave me your name, I will give you mine. Himura Kenshin." He held out a hand for Yahiko to shake.
Yahiko considered the man's hand for a moment before shaking it, his eyes darting to a reverse-blade sword hanging at the man's side. "You carry a sakabatou, why? Aren't swords outlawed?"
"Well, you are carrying one yourself, that you are." Kenshin replied merrily, gesturing to the bamboo stick strapped to Yahiko's back.
"It's a shinai." Yahiko corrected, his eyes stern. "I was wondering ... " Yahiko paused, his strict eyes suddenly softening and began to moisten, catching Kenshin's undivided attention. "Have you seen my kenjutsu sensei come by? Two men that were heading towards the castle took her. She has long black hair, blue eyes, she's 17 ... have you seen her?"
Kenshin looked down at the young boy with sympathy. Certainly his instructor meant a lot to him for him to be this worried. However, the thought of a female kenjutsu instructor intrigued him. Swordswomen were not common.
"I am sorry, Yahiko-chan," Kenshin said somberly, "I have not seen your sensei. I only just came into town, that I did."
"But you're going up to the castle?" Yahiko asked eagerly, eyes shining with hope.
"If I see her, I will ask her to return quickly, that I will." Kenshin said, not eager on making any promises to the young boy on the possibility that his sensei could in fact be a prisoner.
Yahiko bowed quickly. "Thank you, Himura-san." He then turned and fled towards a dojo close to the edge of town.
Kenshin sighed and turned to the castle. His instructor, Hiko Seijuro, had requested for his return to the castle. Hiko was a fatherly figure to Kenshin, and they both knew it. Hiko took in Kenshin as an orphan, and trained him to fight. As the years wore on, a Lord Makato Shishio was threatening Hiko's kingdom. Shishio planned to wage war with Hiko, knowing that Hiko himself would join ranks and lead his army onward. Shishio immediately sent assassins after Hiko's steward in hopes that no one would be able to take the throne if Hiko was killed. However, the steward's brother (also an assassin) managed to save the steward's then 2-year-old daughter. Kenshin knew no more about the subject, just that he was 11 when this event happened, and had been training in the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu ever since. When Kenshin turned 18, he had been caught up in the war between Shishio and Hiko, and became the hitokiri Battousai, sent to murder important officials in Shishio's army. Kenshin had to admit that he didn't enjoy fighting, but he fought for the hope of protecting the people from Shishio's rule.
Kenshin appeared on the streets to be a simple wanderer, a rurouni. He wouldn't kill anymore. All the gore he had acquired throughout the years had stained his hands, and he wanted nothing more to do with it. Now that Kenshin was being beckoned to the castle once again, he was nervous at the fact that he might be requested to kill again.
Kenshin sighed and stepped up to the castle doors he didn't realize he had reached so quickly. 'I guess I got swept up in my thoughts, that I did'. Kenshin lifted a hand and knocked on the door.
"Baka deshi, you're late!" Hiko greeted once Kenshin had stepped inside.
"Gomen nasai, Shishou." Kenshin bowed repeatedly at his master's feet.
"Enough of that!" Hiko boomed, "Stand up! We have business to talk."
Kenshin flinched inwardly, hoping that it didn't have to do with another assignment that involved killing.
"Oh, grow up baka deshi." Hiko said suddenly.
"Oro?" Kenshin exclaimed, face faulting.
"I am not going to ask you to kill anybody, your killing days are over. They've been over since you left to wander two years ago. And how do you expect to kill anybody with a reverse-bladed sword?" Hiko scolded.
"Gomen nasai." Kenshin apologized again.
Hiko grunted. "There is a girl here that is being targeted by Shishio's men." Hiko said, walking through the great hall and into a side lounge where he gestured Kenshin to follow. "She does not like it here, though I have no idea why." Hiko paused to admire his luxuries surrounding him. "She is planning to run, this very night if I'm not mistaken. You are to look after her, and once you are sure no one has become suspicious towards her, you are to bring her back here."
"Suspicious of what, de gozaru yo." Kenshin asked curiously.
"Never you mind that. You baka deshi have a habit of getting into things you are not meant to get into." Hiko said, sitting slightly forward in his seat.
"Oro?" Kenshin asked, violet eyes wide as saucers.
Hiko could have slapped himself on the head. Here sat the hitokiri Battousai, one of the most feared assassins in all of Kyoto, being taken aback by a meaningless insult. "Be serious Kenshin. This girl may very well decide the fate of the throne."
Kenshin immediately pulled off the rurouni act at the mention of Hiko using his actual name. "Gomen, Shishou." Kenshin's eyes narrowed in seriousness. "So you basically want me to guard the girl."
"Hai." Hiko said, leaning back in his seat.
"Is this girl," Kenshin began, "A kenjutsu instructor by any chance?"
"Hai," Hiko said, facing Kenshin inquiringly, "Have you met her before?"
"No!" Kenshin said quickly, holding up his arms, "I only heard that there was a missing sensei."
"Kuso." Hiko said, reaching over to a table and grabbing a jug of sake to take a long draft. "You better go, Baka deshi."
"Hai, that I will." Kenshin bowed and exited the room. 'What to do first? Perhaps see if the girl is still here at the guesthouse ... maybe Sano could be of some use' he thought.
¤¤
Kaoru ran out of the castle as best she could with a kimono on. 'I have to get out of here!' Kaoru thought repeatedly.
Kaoru reached the guesthouse and threw open the door. She tore off her obi as she clambered up the steps and took the comb out of her hair, allowing the raven hair to cascade down her back.
"Kaoru-dono?" A timid Tsubame asked from the bottom of the steps.
Kaoru slid the kimono off and turned to her closet, hoping to find a gi and hakama, only realizing that her closet only had kimonos and sleeping yukatas. Kaoru walked over to the door and pulled a robe over her scarcely clothed body.
"Tsubame-kun?" Kaoru called. "Please fetch me a gi and hakama, and quickly!"
Tsubame hurried up the steps, confusion spreading across her face. "Hai, Kaoru-dono." Tsubame slipped into the Battousai's room and pulled out a white gi and cobalt hakama from his closet. She was about to go towards Kaoru's room when she noticed that the red gi and white hakama that Kaoru was wearing the other day was laid out on the Battousai's futon.
"Oh, this will not do!" Tsubame said. She quickly hung up the gi and hakama before heading towards Kaoru's room. "Here you go, Kaoru-dono."
Kaoru hastily grabbed the articles of clothing and stepped behind a screen to change. She rapidly wrapped her chest in bindings before pulling on the gi, and swiftly pulled on the hakama. She then grabbed an indigo ribbon and tucked into the ties of the hakama.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Kaoru-dono?" Tsubame asked, very concerned for Kaoru's behavior. "The visitor will not be arriving for at least another twenty minutes!"
"I mustn't wait! I have waited for too long as it is." Kaoru said frantically, stepping out from the screen. She exited her room and headed down the steps, black hair trailing behind her. Kaoru was about to open the door and leave when a strong hand rested on her shoulder, holding her back.
"Sano!" Kaoru writhed, "Please, I must go!"
"Sorry, Jou-chan." Sanosuke said, "You must stay here. Lord Seijuro hasn't given you leave yet."
"But it's important! Otherwise they might come looking for me, and hurt all of you in the process!" Kaoru argued.
"So you know then?" Sanosuke asked, looking down at Kaoru.
Kaoru bit her lip. "Yes, I know. Ojisan told me. But if I don't return, then the people in the town will start to notice, and there's already a rumor that's going around that the stewardess has been found."
Sanosuke looked down to the ground. "I understand, but if you can, you must return back. It's safer here."
Kaoru sighed. "If I must, I will. But please, I have got to hurry!"
"Alright, Jou-chan. But take this." Sanosuke handed Kaoru a velvet black cloak. "It belonged to your mother when she traveled."
Kaoru fingered the cloak before pulling up the fabric to her face. 'It smells like peppermint' she thought. Kaoru quickly threw the cloak over her shoulders and dashed out of the house.
It was dusk out as the sun slowly sank behind the distant hills. Kaoru fled out past Hiko's gates and into the town where the lamps were beginning to be lit. She pulled the cloak tighter across her shoulders and drew the hood over her head, the wind nipping at her uncovered skin.
After a few minutes of weaving throughout the many streets of town, she arrived at a bridge. Kaoru slowed her pace, pushing the hood back from her head, taking in the sight of her home and dojo.
Kaoru took cautious steps forward after noticing a light on in the dojo. "I wonder who's there." She whispered to herself.
She approached the dojo and peered through the slightly ajar shoji door. There Kaoru found a young boy huddled in a corner of the dojo, softly crying. "Yahiko!" Kaoru cried.
The boy looked up at the mention of his name. "Kaoru?" He said disbelievingly, his voice low and cracked. Kaoru nodded reassuringly at him as he sprang up from the floor. "Kaoru, you busu, you left me!"
Yahiko ran into Kaoru's arms and they both knelt down the floor, her fingers running through his dismantled hair. "I'm sorry, Yahiko, but two men took me up to the castle."
Yahiko was content in Kaoru's arms. She had taken him in when he was an orphaned little boy and watched over him. Kaoru was the sister he never had, and he loved her dearly. "I saw you being carried away by them. Where are they now, and how did you escape?" He struggled free from Kaoru's grip to pick up a displaced shinai.
"I'm not sure where they are now, but they took me up to the guest house at the palace. I just ran away the next day." Kaoru said simply.
"Won't they be after you then?" Yahiko asked, wide eyed.
Kaoru's eyes widened and her jaw sagged. "I forgot ... " she murmured. "Oh, Yahiko, I must go! You need to do something for me; you need to watch out for the dojo for me. When the students come, tell them that my uncle fell ill and I needed to visit him. Also, if anybody that you don't know comes to the house, tell them that your sister is ... shopping, or something."
"My sister?" Yahiko asked, fairly confused.
Kaoru nodded. "Hai. I will ask Misao to pretend to act as me, and I'm sure she'll watch out after you."
"Will it work?" Yahiko asked anxiously.
"I hope so." Kaoru said. She felt a little uneasy at that moment and swung around. "I feel as if I'm being followed." She whispered to herself.
"Then go!" Yahiko exclaimed. "But promise to come back!"
"I will!" Kaoru said determinedly, "Keep strong!" She whispered, gently ruffling his hair. Normally Yahiko would resist, but given the current situation they were in, Yahiko didn't bother to complain.
Kaoru drew the cloak closer to her body and ran out of the dojo. Yahiko, meanwhile, dashed to the window. "Be safe." Yet once Kaoru stepped a few yards away from the house, she turned to face Yahiko one more time, black hair streaked blue in the moonlight, blue eyes sparkling. She then drew on the hood, took a step back, and disappeared into the night. Yahiko gasped.
Kaoru tried to hold the tears back as she rushed towards the Aoiya, which was less then two miles away from the dojo. Once she arrived at the front door, she anxiously knocked on the door.
Hurried footsteps ran to the door and slid the shoji screen open. A pair of green eyes peered out from behind the door. "Kaoru!" The girl gasped, her long black braid swinging as she jumped back in shock. "I thought you were gone!"
"And she was." A stern voice said from behind the girl. The girl turned a disapproving look at a tall man with short black hair, bangs falling lazily into his face as he gazed in meditation at the fire.
"Misao," Kaoru said while gasping for air, "I need you to watch after Yahiko for me, and pretend to be me."
Misao's eyes widened. "Sure, Kaoru, anything, but why?"
"Hurry, Kaoru." Aoshi said suddenly, startling both the girls. "You are being followed. I can explain to Misao if necessary."
Kaoru nodded and turned to flee.
Misao closed the door behind her and walked to where Aoshi sat silently on the ground. "Tell me, Aoshi-sama." She said as she sat upon her knees.
Aoshi's eyes flashed open, ice blue eyes falling on Misao. "She was kidnapped by two of Lord Seijuro's men in an effort to protect her from being murdered for being the stewardess."
Misao gasped. "I never knew! Why didn't you tell me, Aoshi-sama?"
Aoshi blinked slowly. "I did it for Kaoru's protection, I have never breathed a word until now, but you need to know what you're up against."
Misao fell onto her butt. "Stupid Lord Seijuro, kidnapping her would only raise the townspeople's suspicions."
"And they did." Aoshi added.
"So now Kaoru needs someone to play her here while she runs. But where would she go? After all, she is being followed."
"Kaoru will be caught, it's inevitable for her to escape."
"Why is that?" Misao asked.
"She is being chased after none other then the hitokiri Battousai. Yet he is not the only one. There is another hitokiri on his tail."
.tbc.
¤¤**¤¤
A/N: Dum Dum Dummm .. Haha! Who knew Kaoru could be soo popular with those Hitokiris? Well, I'm sad to say that I won't be able to update until somewhere close to a week. I'm going on vacation to Pennsylvania! Hehe! Oh well, I'm sure you can ALL wait . I'll make the next chapter exceptionally good for everyone, and post the fifth chapter like the day after! How's that?
Well, thanks for all the reviews! : Falconess106: I'm glad that Hiko's OOCness hasn't discouraged you, though I think in this chapter he acts more appropriately. It's great that you love the story! flyinangel777: Well, Kenshin's here, hopefully you're not disappointed! Cricket-chan: hahaha, I'm glad to hear it! Ponchita: ooo, just wait, there are some better ones! ChibiBattousai: I bet then that you're really upset that you're going to have to wait a week for the next update, but maybe I can sneak the story along with me when I leave and have time to update when I'm there . hehe! . ;-) XW: Well, first lets start with a steward. In this case, a steward is a man who assumes the roles of King when the King is incapable. Therefore, in Kaoru's case, a stewardess takes the roles of a steward. Bando-Eido no Megami-sama: Good, you understand! :-D ewunia: Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it. Koishii Sweet: You're always the first to review! Thank you!
Definitions: Let's see.
¤ Baka deshi - idiot pupil
¤ Gomen nasai - I beg your pardon, excuse me
¤Kuso - shit
¤ Busu - ugly woman
¤¤**¤¤
A Love for One Hated
By: Mystic Song
Chapter 3: Running Away
¤¤**¤¤
"Sir!" A young boy cried out on the streets, chasing down a man with fiery red hair that was heading towards the palace. "Sir, may I ask you a question?"
The man with the red hair paused in his tracks and slowly turned around to face the young boy. He was no older than 10, with spiky black hair and a smudged face. "How can I help you, little boy?" The man with the red hair asked, violet eyes sparkling.
The boy suppressed a growl at being called a little boy. "My name is Myojin Yahiko, and I am not little!"
The red haired man chuckled. "My apologies, young boy. You are not little at all, that you are not. Since you gave me your name, I will give you mine. Himura Kenshin." He held out a hand for Yahiko to shake.
Yahiko considered the man's hand for a moment before shaking it, his eyes darting to a reverse-blade sword hanging at the man's side. "You carry a sakabatou, why? Aren't swords outlawed?"
"Well, you are carrying one yourself, that you are." Kenshin replied merrily, gesturing to the bamboo stick strapped to Yahiko's back.
"It's a shinai." Yahiko corrected, his eyes stern. "I was wondering ... " Yahiko paused, his strict eyes suddenly softening and began to moisten, catching Kenshin's undivided attention. "Have you seen my kenjutsu sensei come by? Two men that were heading towards the castle took her. She has long black hair, blue eyes, she's 17 ... have you seen her?"
Kenshin looked down at the young boy with sympathy. Certainly his instructor meant a lot to him for him to be this worried. However, the thought of a female kenjutsu instructor intrigued him. Swordswomen were not common.
"I am sorry, Yahiko-chan," Kenshin said somberly, "I have not seen your sensei. I only just came into town, that I did."
"But you're going up to the castle?" Yahiko asked eagerly, eyes shining with hope.
"If I see her, I will ask her to return quickly, that I will." Kenshin said, not eager on making any promises to the young boy on the possibility that his sensei could in fact be a prisoner.
Yahiko bowed quickly. "Thank you, Himura-san." He then turned and fled towards a dojo close to the edge of town.
Kenshin sighed and turned to the castle. His instructor, Hiko Seijuro, had requested for his return to the castle. Hiko was a fatherly figure to Kenshin, and they both knew it. Hiko took in Kenshin as an orphan, and trained him to fight. As the years wore on, a Lord Makato Shishio was threatening Hiko's kingdom. Shishio planned to wage war with Hiko, knowing that Hiko himself would join ranks and lead his army onward. Shishio immediately sent assassins after Hiko's steward in hopes that no one would be able to take the throne if Hiko was killed. However, the steward's brother (also an assassin) managed to save the steward's then 2-year-old daughter. Kenshin knew no more about the subject, just that he was 11 when this event happened, and had been training in the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu ever since. When Kenshin turned 18, he had been caught up in the war between Shishio and Hiko, and became the hitokiri Battousai, sent to murder important officials in Shishio's army. Kenshin had to admit that he didn't enjoy fighting, but he fought for the hope of protecting the people from Shishio's rule.
Kenshin appeared on the streets to be a simple wanderer, a rurouni. He wouldn't kill anymore. All the gore he had acquired throughout the years had stained his hands, and he wanted nothing more to do with it. Now that Kenshin was being beckoned to the castle once again, he was nervous at the fact that he might be requested to kill again.
Kenshin sighed and stepped up to the castle doors he didn't realize he had reached so quickly. 'I guess I got swept up in my thoughts, that I did'. Kenshin lifted a hand and knocked on the door.
"Baka deshi, you're late!" Hiko greeted once Kenshin had stepped inside.
"Gomen nasai, Shishou." Kenshin bowed repeatedly at his master's feet.
"Enough of that!" Hiko boomed, "Stand up! We have business to talk."
Kenshin flinched inwardly, hoping that it didn't have to do with another assignment that involved killing.
"Oh, grow up baka deshi." Hiko said suddenly.
"Oro?" Kenshin exclaimed, face faulting.
"I am not going to ask you to kill anybody, your killing days are over. They've been over since you left to wander two years ago. And how do you expect to kill anybody with a reverse-bladed sword?" Hiko scolded.
"Gomen nasai." Kenshin apologized again.
Hiko grunted. "There is a girl here that is being targeted by Shishio's men." Hiko said, walking through the great hall and into a side lounge where he gestured Kenshin to follow. "She does not like it here, though I have no idea why." Hiko paused to admire his luxuries surrounding him. "She is planning to run, this very night if I'm not mistaken. You are to look after her, and once you are sure no one has become suspicious towards her, you are to bring her back here."
"Suspicious of what, de gozaru yo." Kenshin asked curiously.
"Never you mind that. You baka deshi have a habit of getting into things you are not meant to get into." Hiko said, sitting slightly forward in his seat.
"Oro?" Kenshin asked, violet eyes wide as saucers.
Hiko could have slapped himself on the head. Here sat the hitokiri Battousai, one of the most feared assassins in all of Kyoto, being taken aback by a meaningless insult. "Be serious Kenshin. This girl may very well decide the fate of the throne."
Kenshin immediately pulled off the rurouni act at the mention of Hiko using his actual name. "Gomen, Shishou." Kenshin's eyes narrowed in seriousness. "So you basically want me to guard the girl."
"Hai." Hiko said, leaning back in his seat.
"Is this girl," Kenshin began, "A kenjutsu instructor by any chance?"
"Hai," Hiko said, facing Kenshin inquiringly, "Have you met her before?"
"No!" Kenshin said quickly, holding up his arms, "I only heard that there was a missing sensei."
"Kuso." Hiko said, reaching over to a table and grabbing a jug of sake to take a long draft. "You better go, Baka deshi."
"Hai, that I will." Kenshin bowed and exited the room. 'What to do first? Perhaps see if the girl is still here at the guesthouse ... maybe Sano could be of some use' he thought.
¤¤
Kaoru ran out of the castle as best she could with a kimono on. 'I have to get out of here!' Kaoru thought repeatedly.
Kaoru reached the guesthouse and threw open the door. She tore off her obi as she clambered up the steps and took the comb out of her hair, allowing the raven hair to cascade down her back.
"Kaoru-dono?" A timid Tsubame asked from the bottom of the steps.
Kaoru slid the kimono off and turned to her closet, hoping to find a gi and hakama, only realizing that her closet only had kimonos and sleeping yukatas. Kaoru walked over to the door and pulled a robe over her scarcely clothed body.
"Tsubame-kun?" Kaoru called. "Please fetch me a gi and hakama, and quickly!"
Tsubame hurried up the steps, confusion spreading across her face. "Hai, Kaoru-dono." Tsubame slipped into the Battousai's room and pulled out a white gi and cobalt hakama from his closet. She was about to go towards Kaoru's room when she noticed that the red gi and white hakama that Kaoru was wearing the other day was laid out on the Battousai's futon.
"Oh, this will not do!" Tsubame said. She quickly hung up the gi and hakama before heading towards Kaoru's room. "Here you go, Kaoru-dono."
Kaoru hastily grabbed the articles of clothing and stepped behind a screen to change. She rapidly wrapped her chest in bindings before pulling on the gi, and swiftly pulled on the hakama. She then grabbed an indigo ribbon and tucked into the ties of the hakama.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Kaoru-dono?" Tsubame asked, very concerned for Kaoru's behavior. "The visitor will not be arriving for at least another twenty minutes!"
"I mustn't wait! I have waited for too long as it is." Kaoru said frantically, stepping out from the screen. She exited her room and headed down the steps, black hair trailing behind her. Kaoru was about to open the door and leave when a strong hand rested on her shoulder, holding her back.
"Sano!" Kaoru writhed, "Please, I must go!"
"Sorry, Jou-chan." Sanosuke said, "You must stay here. Lord Seijuro hasn't given you leave yet."
"But it's important! Otherwise they might come looking for me, and hurt all of you in the process!" Kaoru argued.
"So you know then?" Sanosuke asked, looking down at Kaoru.
Kaoru bit her lip. "Yes, I know. Ojisan told me. But if I don't return, then the people in the town will start to notice, and there's already a rumor that's going around that the stewardess has been found."
Sanosuke looked down to the ground. "I understand, but if you can, you must return back. It's safer here."
Kaoru sighed. "If I must, I will. But please, I have got to hurry!"
"Alright, Jou-chan. But take this." Sanosuke handed Kaoru a velvet black cloak. "It belonged to your mother when she traveled."
Kaoru fingered the cloak before pulling up the fabric to her face. 'It smells like peppermint' she thought. Kaoru quickly threw the cloak over her shoulders and dashed out of the house.
It was dusk out as the sun slowly sank behind the distant hills. Kaoru fled out past Hiko's gates and into the town where the lamps were beginning to be lit. She pulled the cloak tighter across her shoulders and drew the hood over her head, the wind nipping at her uncovered skin.
After a few minutes of weaving throughout the many streets of town, she arrived at a bridge. Kaoru slowed her pace, pushing the hood back from her head, taking in the sight of her home and dojo.
Kaoru took cautious steps forward after noticing a light on in the dojo. "I wonder who's there." She whispered to herself.
She approached the dojo and peered through the slightly ajar shoji door. There Kaoru found a young boy huddled in a corner of the dojo, softly crying. "Yahiko!" Kaoru cried.
The boy looked up at the mention of his name. "Kaoru?" He said disbelievingly, his voice low and cracked. Kaoru nodded reassuringly at him as he sprang up from the floor. "Kaoru, you busu, you left me!"
Yahiko ran into Kaoru's arms and they both knelt down the floor, her fingers running through his dismantled hair. "I'm sorry, Yahiko, but two men took me up to the castle."
Yahiko was content in Kaoru's arms. She had taken him in when he was an orphaned little boy and watched over him. Kaoru was the sister he never had, and he loved her dearly. "I saw you being carried away by them. Where are they now, and how did you escape?" He struggled free from Kaoru's grip to pick up a displaced shinai.
"I'm not sure where they are now, but they took me up to the guest house at the palace. I just ran away the next day." Kaoru said simply.
"Won't they be after you then?" Yahiko asked, wide eyed.
Kaoru's eyes widened and her jaw sagged. "I forgot ... " she murmured. "Oh, Yahiko, I must go! You need to do something for me; you need to watch out for the dojo for me. When the students come, tell them that my uncle fell ill and I needed to visit him. Also, if anybody that you don't know comes to the house, tell them that your sister is ... shopping, or something."
"My sister?" Yahiko asked, fairly confused.
Kaoru nodded. "Hai. I will ask Misao to pretend to act as me, and I'm sure she'll watch out after you."
"Will it work?" Yahiko asked anxiously.
"I hope so." Kaoru said. She felt a little uneasy at that moment and swung around. "I feel as if I'm being followed." She whispered to herself.
"Then go!" Yahiko exclaimed. "But promise to come back!"
"I will!" Kaoru said determinedly, "Keep strong!" She whispered, gently ruffling his hair. Normally Yahiko would resist, but given the current situation they were in, Yahiko didn't bother to complain.
Kaoru drew the cloak closer to her body and ran out of the dojo. Yahiko, meanwhile, dashed to the window. "Be safe." Yet once Kaoru stepped a few yards away from the house, she turned to face Yahiko one more time, black hair streaked blue in the moonlight, blue eyes sparkling. She then drew on the hood, took a step back, and disappeared into the night. Yahiko gasped.
Kaoru tried to hold the tears back as she rushed towards the Aoiya, which was less then two miles away from the dojo. Once she arrived at the front door, she anxiously knocked on the door.
Hurried footsteps ran to the door and slid the shoji screen open. A pair of green eyes peered out from behind the door. "Kaoru!" The girl gasped, her long black braid swinging as she jumped back in shock. "I thought you were gone!"
"And she was." A stern voice said from behind the girl. The girl turned a disapproving look at a tall man with short black hair, bangs falling lazily into his face as he gazed in meditation at the fire.
"Misao," Kaoru said while gasping for air, "I need you to watch after Yahiko for me, and pretend to be me."
Misao's eyes widened. "Sure, Kaoru, anything, but why?"
"Hurry, Kaoru." Aoshi said suddenly, startling both the girls. "You are being followed. I can explain to Misao if necessary."
Kaoru nodded and turned to flee.
Misao closed the door behind her and walked to where Aoshi sat silently on the ground. "Tell me, Aoshi-sama." She said as she sat upon her knees.
Aoshi's eyes flashed open, ice blue eyes falling on Misao. "She was kidnapped by two of Lord Seijuro's men in an effort to protect her from being murdered for being the stewardess."
Misao gasped. "I never knew! Why didn't you tell me, Aoshi-sama?"
Aoshi blinked slowly. "I did it for Kaoru's protection, I have never breathed a word until now, but you need to know what you're up against."
Misao fell onto her butt. "Stupid Lord Seijuro, kidnapping her would only raise the townspeople's suspicions."
"And they did." Aoshi added.
"So now Kaoru needs someone to play her here while she runs. But where would she go? After all, she is being followed."
"Kaoru will be caught, it's inevitable for her to escape."
"Why is that?" Misao asked.
"She is being chased after none other then the hitokiri Battousai. Yet he is not the only one. There is another hitokiri on his tail."
.tbc.
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A/N: Dum Dum Dummm .. Haha! Who knew Kaoru could be soo popular with those Hitokiris? Well, I'm sad to say that I won't be able to update until somewhere close to a week. I'm going on vacation to Pennsylvania! Hehe! Oh well, I'm sure you can ALL wait . I'll make the next chapter exceptionally good for everyone, and post the fifth chapter like the day after! How's that?
Well, thanks for all the reviews! : Falconess106: I'm glad that Hiko's OOCness hasn't discouraged you, though I think in this chapter he acts more appropriately. It's great that you love the story! flyinangel777: Well, Kenshin's here, hopefully you're not disappointed! Cricket-chan: hahaha, I'm glad to hear it! Ponchita: ooo, just wait, there are some better ones! ChibiBattousai: I bet then that you're really upset that you're going to have to wait a week for the next update, but maybe I can sneak the story along with me when I leave and have time to update when I'm there . hehe! . ;-) XW: Well, first lets start with a steward. In this case, a steward is a man who assumes the roles of King when the King is incapable. Therefore, in Kaoru's case, a stewardess takes the roles of a steward. Bando-Eido no Megami-sama: Good, you understand! :-D ewunia: Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it. Koishii Sweet: You're always the first to review! Thank you!