These chapters are just flying out lately. I must warn you however, I am taking a joint project with a friend who I have been plot beta-ing for a while, so that may slow the chapters down somewhat. It shouldn't cause too much a problem.

Remember the Kenshin gumi is not mine.

Once again I would also like to thank the reviewers, and the female Chris, for always responding. You're the best!

Ravyn

On a quick side note thank all of you for your patience with the typing errors. I attempt to get my chapters out to you as quickly as possible so I may not catch all of them. I do have my twin sister going back and reading it as well, but once this story is revised I will go back and correct the mistakes you all so nicely mention. Not that it really helps now...oh well.

Misao really didn't know whether to sit down and curl into a very tiny ball or if she should just keep running. Little arms tightened around her shoulders and Misao adjusted her grip around the tiny little legs and kept on running.

Aoshi had woken them up and softly explained that they where getting off.

This of course was a complete surprise to Misao, getting off a moving train was really not something that you trained for, and breaking bones was not something she considered fun.

They had scrambled to the back of the train and Misao had sent out her 'feelers' to find out what exactly it was that was forcing them to get off the train. She had immediately looked at Aoshi in quite a bit of alarm.

He had, of course, known what her look meant and softly informed her that he had it covered. How exactly you have twenty werewolves boosted with amulets and this Ki felt much older covered Misao didn't know.

Once they reached the back of the train Aoshi has scooped Misao up, who had been holding Rei, and jumped. Misao and Rei both shrieked, Misao in protest and Rei in laughter, and soon after Aoshi had put them down the running had began.

Misao was still trying to figure out exactly what good running was doing, when the train that was running at much faster paces was long gone, but the man in front of her was years older in experience so maybe she would give him the benefit of the doubt.

A low howl pierced the early morning light.

Then again maybe trusting was something she should go ahead and not take at face value so early in the game. "Aoshi-sama!"

Aoshi turned then, watching Misao and Rei bounce forward. Misao looked exhausted, and if he wasn't the main source of protection he would have scooped her into his arms.

"Not much farther Misao." Aoshi gently told her. "We should be running into them at any moment."

True to his word after Misao stumbled and looked up again she met a sight, which was awe inspiring in her currant exhaustion. Three jeeps, all with some sort of heavy artillery attached, stood out in stark contrast to the wild terrain around them.

"Okashira!" Several voices shouted. "You found her!"

Misao blinked and looked at Rei. "Your sure popular." Her words where soft and only Aoshi heard them, and in return he gave the handful of Oniwabanshu members a 'be quite' look.

"Okashira, the jeep on the far end is for you," A woman said easily tossing him a set of keys. "We will take care of the rabid dogs."

Several nods. "With pleasure to." They all seemed to be eager to take on a pack so Misao was going to keep her mouth shut. Normally she would have had one or two sarcastic words, but right then she needed at least two pots of coffee to be able to jump-start her day.

"Omasu, be careful. Remember to destroy the Amulets on their necks before you attempt to kill them." Aoshi said as he steered Misao and Rei into the jeep that had had been given the keys for. "Were going to the safe house for a while and once things settle down we will go to the Aoiya."

Misao heard several calls and then Aoshi shut her door. Leaning back Misao just faintly paid attention to the soft voices and then the opening and closing of the car door.

"Buckle up." Aoshi softly told Misao. "It's going to get bumpy. The actual trail disappeared a few years ago so all we have to go on back here is a lack of trees."

Misao turned. "Rei, you best get that seatbelt on tight."

Rei nodded and did so, her little face set into a firm expression.

Misao discovered several very important factors while riding in that jeep on that particular trail. The first was to always carry earplugs because little children squeal very loud. The second was that Aoshi drove worse than Kaoru did when she was under pressure.

It wasn't that either of them were particularly bad drivers, they just liked to cut things to a fine edge. Where she would have been moved to dodge the tree a good ten feet earlier, they waited till the last possible moment.

The last lesson that Misao learned was that aspirin should be carried in great abundance so that when you got a sudden headache you had something to chase it away with.

~*~

Sleeping in moving vehicles is never any fun. You wake up with a stiff neck and your legs ache with the need to stretch. Luckily Kaoru was short, so she did not need to have as much legroom as some, but she had never found it comfortable to sleep curled into a ball with no where to stretch to.

As Kaoru attempted to stretch her legs she turned sleepy eyes to Kenshin. His hands for instance, where the long tapered hands of a musician. They where also clutching the steering wheel so hard that the knuckles where white.

Her eyes slide up his arms, the muscles in his shoulders and forearm where very tense. Her eyes continued to move upwards till they reached his jaw, which was clenched, and his eyes they where pure molten pools of heated gold.

"Your still angry." Kaoru words where more of a statement than a question, her voice soft and sleepy. "You shouldn't be."

Kenshin said nothing for some time. "It was a direct challenge on my claim of you." His words where almost a growl, not quite, and Kaoru forced herself to sit up and attempted to clear some of the grogginess out of her brain.

"I take it that was a problem?" Kaoru spoke softly, partly because she really couldn't find the energy to argue with him loudly, and partly because he was driving and she had no wish to cause them to wreck.

"Yes."

Kaoru simply waited for him to elaborate and blinked in surprise when he pulled over to a gas station. Kenshin turned off the engine and took several deep breaths. " I am going to refuel the tank." His words were back to that carefully spoken manner and Kaoru nodded. Kenshin stepped out of the car and Kaoru watched him quickly fill the thank and then swiftly move to the small gas station to pay.

Kaoru undid her braid and worked her fingers through her hair and attempted to work out the snarls that had been lightly worked in. Kaoru wrinkled her nose as the heavy locks tangled around her fingers. Reaching over once her hair was piled into a haphazard bun; Kaoru attempted to find something to listen to.

Shifting her sore ankle Kaoru sighed, as all she picked up was static. Looking around she didn't find any music lying around so she was forced to wait in silence.

Kenshin came back and had apparently bought some munchies, and hopefully some sort of soft drink. Kaoru figured she might be able to survive the next few hours if she managed to get some type of sugar in her system.

"Here." Kenshin said dryly, "see if there is anything in there you feel like munching on. Unfortunately we really don't have time to stop and getting anything more nutritious."

"Oh!" Kaoru said digging through. "You get anything salty?"

Kenshin shook his head and handed her a water bottle. Kaoru nodded her thanks, hiding her disappointed groan at the lack of sugar, and then crooned in delight when she found a bag of potato chips. "Thank you." Her voice was shy again and Kenshin nodded.

The only sound was the faint munching of chips for the next few miles down the road.

"So," Kaoru questioned as she licked the last bits of salt of her fingers. "Are you going to explain why you where so upset?"

Kenshin sighed as he pulled back onto the main road. "Kaoru, you must understand, this is not some type of fling. I am playing for keeps." Kenshin tossed her an amber tinged glance. " There is no such thing as a one time deal for me. With you I want everything."

Kaoru nodded her head slowly her eyes wide. The chips had given her enough energy to pull herself awake for a discussion with this man, but that was a bit more than she had expected. Some voice in the back of her head told she already knew this, but Kaoru forced it away as she switched hands and attempted to finish sucking the salt off her finger tips.

"Please stop that." It was a groaned out plea.

Kaoru paused mid finger and stared at Kenshin's slightly pained expression and she quickly dug around for some napkins. It was a waist of good salt but his eyes had a certain look to him, and he was gritting his teeth so hard she could hear them.

Kenshin breathed hard again and groaned. "Kaoru right now I really whish we were near some place private so I could pull over and ravish you till your delirious." Kaoru stared at him with wide eyes. "But I won't. At least not right now." He added that as if it was an after thought.

Kaoru licked her lips and nodded slowly. "So what you're saying is...you seem to find me highly attractive." Kaoru no BAKA, where is your brain?

Kenshin gave a faint smile at that. "Kaoru everything you do is really attractive to me." Especially that cute little mou you're fixing to make.

Kaoru blushed faintly. "Mou!"

There was silence for several minutes as they pretty much just listened to each other breath.

"So, something about those Vampires back at the Akebeko really bothered you." Kaoru softly started. "I mean besides the entire attempt at kidnapping and the direct challenge."

Kenshin gave a faint growl and Kaoru once again watched as he tensed up. His Ki darkened again and Kaoru watched in fascination as sharp shots of lightening colored sparks swirled through his Ki.

"I take that was a really bad thing." Kaoru said softly.

"Kaoru." He closed his eyes, something that alarmed Kaoru as they where currently driving down the road, and then he opened his eyes and sighed. "Kaoru for me, as the Battousai, it was a direct challenge on me."

"You, as in personally?" Kaoru questioned confused. She had been the one who had almost been carried off like a sack of potatoes.

"Right now I have a indirect claim on you." His tone was light but Kaoru could read the anger in his voice. "Right now I can control my instincts Kaoru, but one day I am not going to be able to."

Kaoru chewed on her lip. "And what happens when that happens?" She wasn't even going to go into this claim ordeal just yet, she would save that little argument for when she had more energy.

Kenshin shot her an amused look. "Full of questions today aren't you?" He felt his grin pull into a smile at her blush. "Normally I would more than likely mark you on your wrist."

"Mark, as in bit me?" Kaoru clarified her eyes wide.

"Preferable." Kenshin said with a nod. "Later on I would mark your neck. That would be a dominant bite mark, and if you decided to be changed, that is the point where I would use my Ki and blood to change you."

Kaoru held up her hand. "That is more than I needed to know thank you."

Kenshin watched her hand and the pulse point just below her wrist with something like longing and groaned. There was no help for it. The darker aspect of his abilities where clamoring for him to do something, and if didn't get some type of physical contact soon he was going to simply rip the clothes of her back and take her in the back seat. Something he wanted, but not now, and definitely not somewhere as uncomfortable as that.

Watching for an exit he pulled over and drove till they had cleared the view of those passing above him.

Kaoru watched Kenshin quite a bit of wariness. "Kenshin?"

Kenshin simply unbuckled his seatbelt then reached over and unbuckled hers. Grasping her wrist he placed a feather light kiss on it and then pulled her into his lap and kissed her.

Kaoru managed a faint mou of surprise before his lips locked onto hers. One of his arms slid around her waist and his other hand tangled itself into her hair, his fingers searching for her hair tie and quickly pulling it out.

Kenshin pressed her closer before allowing his tongue to once again dip in and ravish the insides of her mouth. He could taste the salt off the chips she had eaten along with the same taste that was Kaoru. But when she started to kiss him back, her own tongue demanding the right to play, he knew he was a lost man if he did not end this quick.

He wanted something to keep the darker, physical side of himself at bay, not something to encourage it to have her where he sat. Kaoru was the type that deserved a lot more than quick shag in the back seat of a vehicle. Besides there was no way in hell he was letting anyone have even an opportunity of seeing anything and they were still to far out in the open for his liking.

Pulling back he rested his head against her forehead and sighed in relief when he felt the darker edge of his nature back down. Physical contact was something that a part of him craved and needed, and for now simple kisses where enough to hold part of him at bay.

Kaoru fluttered her eyes open and pulled back to stare at Kenshin. "And that was for what?"

Kenshin gave her another faint kiss. "We better get going. We have another three hours before we reach Kyoto and then we still have to make to the safe house." He gently placed her back into her seat and pulled the handle, which caused her, and the seat to fall backwards.

"Try to get some rest."

Kaoru stayed sprawled and then attempted to shift into a comfortable position. His suggestion had been more of a command and she figured she might as well deal with that later as well. This high handedness, however, would come to a screeching halt pretty soon. That and his continuation of avoiding certain questions.

Giving a sigh she tossed a loose strand of hair behind her. "Can I have my hair tie back?"

Kenshin shot her a playful smile. "No."

Kaoru bit back a growl and frowned. Laying back she noticed what exactly her problem was since her left elbow really wasn't her idea of a great pillow, she was going to have to find something else to use as one. Opening tired eyes once again Kaoru looked around.

Her eyes landed on a leather jacket in the back seat. "Kenshin, can I use your jacket as a pillow?" A sweater of some sort would have been preferable but this would work.

Kenshin gave his assent and Kaoru half wrapped herself in it to ward of the air conditioner, and used one sleeve bunched up as a pillow.

Kenshin looked over some time later and smiled at the picture she made half- wrapped in his jacket with her dark hair spilling around her small frame. His heart ached with the sight she made and he found himself promising that he would do whatever it took to keep her safe this time around.

Whatever it took.

~*~

"Mi...is she awake yet?"

The soft voice gently tugged Kaoru back into the living world and Kaoru became aware of the soft pillow under her cheek and the lightweight of the blanket over her shoulders.

Opening her eyes she blinked repeatedly at the soft blue paint on the walls. Tilting her dark head slightly to the side she met a pair of wide curious eyes.

"Kitten." Kaoru drawled her voice husky with sleep.

Misao dropped over her friend, sprawling onto her hip and stomach and looked thoughtful. "You think?"

Kaoru nodded sleepily. "Green eyes, curious nature, and that most adorable pout, I think we have a new addition to the family."

Rei looked at them and then pointed at herself. " Rei a kitten? You are giving Rei a nickname?"

Misao laughed. "Sure thing Koneko."

Rei squealed. "I get a nickname!"

Kaoru sighed as she sleepily sat up. "So easily pleased. Wish I liked my nickname as much."

Misao nodded. "So did you have as much fun getting here as I did?"

Kaoru looked around. "Actually I am not quite sure where we are, how I got here, or why I am on a futon."

Misao shrugged. "I am asking the same questions. I can tell you that we are Kyoto and somewhere in the mountains and that it is nearing nightfall."

Kaoru blinked. "I feel asleep in the car." After being kissed so thoroughly that her toes where still curled. Best not to think about that.

Rei bunched her little brow together. "Rei remembers now! The pretty lady, I think someone called her Fox, said that dinner was ready and that Rei should come and wake both of you up!"

Kaoru looked down at her half-buttoned shirt, the tank top, and the Mickey Mouse boxer shorts. "Sounds good."

The only thing that kept her form blushing beat red and hiding under the covers, she had been carried into the house in her currant outfit, was that Misao was sporting similar clothing and had grass stains to boot.

"Misao why are you covered in grass stains?" Kaoru questioned as she kicked the covers off. Her breath caught in a faint hissing noise as her ankle caught in the sheet. "And did Kenshin leave some crutches for me or to I get to hop?"

Misao and Rei looked at each other. "Rei thinks Kao needs to know that there are lots of steps." Rei said worriedly.

Misao nodded her head. "Crutches and stairs really don't mix. And there aren't any."

Kaoru nodded her head. "Hopping it is then." Chewing on her lips she tosses Misao a curious look. "To be completely curious here, where is Kenshin?"

Rei caught the questioned and blinked innocently. "BIG man took Kenshin into room. Been their long time."

Kaoru laughed at that. "Which would explain why I don't have my crutches." She wrinkled her nose. "But remind me to only complain about being carried, not the manner I am being carried in. I discovered that a bag of potatoes are really uncomfortable. "

Misao laughed as she helped her friend off the Futon. Misao acted as a steadying force as Kaoru balanced on one foot.

Three flights of stairs and several stops later they reached the bottom. Kaoru and Misao turned to look at the little Kitten who looked around, panting slightly from the workout of hoping down so many steps. "Rei has no idea where she is."

Misao looked at Kaoru, who looked at Misao, and both nodded. Slipping an arm around Misao's neck they proceeded to the left. They had meandered down the hall for a short period of time when Rei gave a cat like shriek and dove behind Misao.

"And who are you?"

Kaoru looked up and kept looking. In front of her was the tallest and broadest man she had ever seen and his Ki was so strong that he practically reeked authority and strength.

"Shishou, you know who they are." A rather exasperated voice interrupted and Kaoru lowered her eyes to see Kenshin behind him. "Kaoru what are you doing on that ankle?"

"Well we got woken up for dinner by the Kitten hiding behind me," Misao said smartly, "And how else would we get down here?"

Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "You walked down three flights of steps?"

Kaoru blinked innocently. "Not really walked, it was more like hopping. And besides no one was around to help besides Misao, how else was I to get to the food?"

Kenshin crossed his arms. "I would have come and brought you down, or someone could have brought you a tray."

Kaoru jutted out her chin. "I am not staying cooped up in my room like some child who needs to be punished."

Misao turned her wide blue eyes on Hiko, and Rei who was always watchful of her favorite person, mimicked her. "Which direction would the eating area be in?"

"Eating room in." Rei echoed. She walked over and in a move that was very Misao like reached over and tugged on Hiko's leg. "Rei is very hungry whoever you are."

"His name is Hiko." Kenshin offered guilelessly.

Rei looked up at Hiko. "Please Hiko-san can we please go to eat?"

Hiko looked down into the pale green eyes and lowered himself down to her level, and Misao and Kaoru where left wondering how he maintained that position, and propped his onto his hand. "Hungry are you?"

Rei nodded. "Yes Hiko-san."

Hiko nodded again, his great dark curtain of hair falling over his shoulders. " Would you like me to show you how to get there?"

Rei placed on hand on her chin, much as she had seen Aoshi do when he thought, and slowly nodded. Hiko reached over and swung Rei up onto one of his shoulders and walked.

Misao and Kaoru moved together to shift Kaoru around, Kaoru could practically fell Kenshin's amusement, and managed to get a whole five hops down the hall before strong arms had swung her up.

"Kenshin! Mou!" Kaoru groaned as she once again found herself being carried around. Kaoru was a girl who had been taking care of herself since she was sixteen, thanks to some well thought out computer hacking, and being toted around was not on her to do list.

Misao just bounced along like usual, but Kaoru caught her looking at her in a way that seemed to scream 'we need to talk' in rather loud waves. Kaoru nodded slightly and made a motion for later.

They walked in the dinning room not long after and Kenshin gently settled her into a chair.

"Kenshin please tell me you and Aoshi allowed them to pack some clothing before you dragged them through who knows what?" Megumi questioned as she sat down next to Sano who was already there.

The silence was enough of an answer for her. "Men!" Megumi hissed.

Dinner was brought in and quickly served out. For a long time the only sounds where that of eating and Rei and Hiko talking in a conspiring manner on how to hold chop sticks. The little girl was still struggling with them and Hiko had taken it open himself to assist her.

Dinner was peppered with Baka Deshi's, colorful comments, dark retorts, and a variety of nicknames. For Misao and Kaoru it was just awe inspiring to watch them go back and forth. It was very obvious that they had been at this for years, but it really got interesting when Yahiko decided to bring Misao into it with a well placed weasel comment.

This of course caused her to respond with a derogatory comment on the young man attempting to be like Saito, and those two were off. Kaoru was rather glad that they had decided to leave her out of it, between her ankle and pounding headache she was likely to get rather nasty.

Hiko called dinner after Rei had stifled two very large yawns behind her hands and informed everyone that he expected them all up early to do some light training. All of the sword users paled and the table was quickly emptied of occupants.

"Kenshin, take Kaoru and Misao back up to their rooms for the evening. I will put Rei in the room next to mine." There was no surer protection than Hiko if someone did decide to be very stupid and break in. Of course they had to find the place first.

"Once you get them back up to there rooms come and see me, there are a few more things we need to discuss before you turn in for the night." Hiko warned as he scooped the sleepy child up and strode from the room.

Kaoru eyes Kenshin in a very weary manner. "Why do I get the feeling I am about to be hauled around again?"

Kenshin smirked at that and walked over, and in the fashion of transportation that Kaoru was finding to be the norm, hooked her around her knees and back and simply started walking.

Misao yawned tiredly as she followed them down some hallways and then back up the many stairs. "Why are we on the third floor again?" Misao questioned.

"Its the most easily protected. Shishou is on the ground floor with me; Yahiko, Tsubame, Megumi and Sano are all on the second. Aoshi is up here with you two when he is here, and to be honest it's really the only place where we had full sized rooms left open." Kenshin explained easily.

Walking in he gently placed Kaoru on the futon and then looked her over. "Do you want to shower tonight or in the morning?"

Kaoru flushed. "I really don't see how that involves you. If I need help Misao will be more than willing."

Kenshin smiled and leaned close to her ear, his voice and mannerisms the picture of playfulness. "It would be more fun if I helped you wash your back, that it would." His voice was silky smooth and it took a second for what he said to register.

"Mou!" Kaoru exclaimed, flushing dark red. Reaching forward he kissed Kaoru lightly and pulled back with a grin. "I love that blush."

Kaoru grabbed her pillow and smacked his to smug face with it. "Out Himura."

He flashed her another playful smile, on that seemed to tug at her heartstrings, and slipped out of her room.

Kaoru had just settled down when the door creaked open and Misao slipped in the room. Flopping down on her stomach she took in Kaoru's flushed face and grinned.

"Someone got a good night kiss." Misao teased and she had to muffle her laughter in the blankets when Kaoru flushed again.

"Misao!" Kaoru whined. "You're supposed to be on my side!"

Misao shook her head. "I am! Its just that he is far to good looking for me to believe that you are not enjoying whatever it is that he has done to you!" Misao bit back another giggle at her friend's expression. "I mean honestly Kaoru, the man has the most beautiful hands I have ever seen! And you seem to like them more than I do anyway."

Kaoru pouted. "Do you think I am not aware of that?"

Misao grinned. "No, I think it was the first thing you noticed about him, and then it was that long silky red hair, and then those eyes." Misao trailed off when she noticed Kaoru really wasn't paying attention to her any longer. "So tell me did I loose you at the hair or hands?"

Kaoru looked down and then back up, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Just trust me when I say he had really soft hair."

Misao bit down on a squeal rather hard and almost swallowed her tongue instead.

Kaoru growled at her. "And what about you and Aoshi?"

Misao stopped laughing. "What about us?"

Kaoru snorted. "As if he isn't just your type. Tall, dark and handsome with eyes to die for and a set of shoulders on him that could make you weep. Of course he is a bit of a cold fish, but you're enough powder to light any bomb anyway."

Misao flushed. "He is not a cold fish!"

Kaoru hid a smile. " Oh really?"

Misao nodded. "Yes."

"How so?"

Misao opened her mouth and then shut it with a click. "That was very sly of you."

Kaoru just grinned. "If I have to spill the beans then you do to."

Misao reached down and fiddled with the hem of her blanket. " He took me onto a train."

Kaoru blinked. "How did that go?"

Misao sighed. "I flipped. He held me though, Kaoru. He didn't make me feel stupid for being terrified of them, he just held me and apologized for not having a different means of transportation." She looked up at Kaoru and sighed again. "I have not felt that protected in any situation, much less a train, in years. But you know I never got the impression that he felt like I was a child who needed protection...but something else."

Kaoru nodded her head. "I know. Want to be let in on a little secret?"

Misao inclined her head in question.

Kaoru took a deep breath and quickly told Misao everything that had happened between her and Kenshin. She told her the gist of almost all the conversation, there were something's that could be left out, such as random kissing, and the fact that she and Misao apparently had been reborn.

Misao sat there for some time with her lips parted in surprise. "Are you saying what I think you saying?"

Kaoru nodded her head.

Misao grinned and bounced up and down excitedly. "Do you know what this means?" Misao all but beamed up at Kaoru. "Aoshi-sama is already mine!"

Kaoru face vaulted at her friend's explanation. "Only you Misao, only you." Misao just shrugged and went on to talk of how she was going to capture her Aoshi-sama now that she knew they where meant to be together, because didn't that just take away lots of the worries?

Not to long after that, Kaoru was getting tired of listening to seduction plans, she managed to kick Misao out of the room and lay in the quite and think to herself anyway.

Kenshin was so damn confusing. One minute he was treating her very carefully, as if he let his normal behavior loose he was going to scare her, and the next he was touching and kissing as if there was simply no tomorrow.

His kisses.

He was very good with his lips, and really his tongue was not something she even needed to start thinking about. Misao was right about his hands though, they where gorgeous and in her hair they felt wonderful. It was probably not a good idea to start thinking about what exactly he could do with his hands or she would be up all night.

If she was going to be brutally honest with herself then she might just go ahead and admit she was not unwilling to find out exactly what he could do to her. Every time his eyes flashed that raw burning amber she felt some part of her respond, something that was buried in her bones and seemed to be calling for him.

Kaoru wasn't some innocent child who knew nothing of the ways of men and women, boyfriends where something she had gone through rather quickly as a teenager but once her parents had died she had never done anything besides go out for a quick drink or late dinner.

And now here she was with a Vampire practically thrown in her lap who not only was laying the groundwork for something more permanent he was doing so with every glance and every stolen kiss. Every time he looked at her it was becoming harder and harder for her to except the fact that he was not a solid figure in her life.

An every time she closed her eyes she saw another reason, something from the so called past, that told her she was meant to be here, in his arms, and involved in his life.

And it was the scariest shit she had ever dealt with. For the first time in quite a while she really wished she her father to talk to.

~*~

Hiko leaned against a window pain and watched the clouds move across the moon.

"Coming here, my Baka Deshi, has only bought you so much time." Hiko warned his student.

"I know shishou, but we had to get them out of Tokyo." Kenshin responded. "I know most of the activity is based here, but at least we have the Oniwabanshu to keep an eye on things."

"Isn't there a branch in Tokyo?" Hiko questioned thoughtfully.

Kenshin nodded. "Yes Shishou but most of them were wiped out in a raid not long ago, they where based out of Tae's Akebeko, but Aoshi was forced to move most of the survivors back here to retrain and let them recoup. I don't think he has found a group of people he is willing to risk completely yet."

Hiko sighed. "That puts us at a disadvantage."

Kenshin shook his head. "Not really. Before I left I contacted Soujiro and he had my number and is supposed to keep me informed with consistent updates."

Hiko nodded. "For once Baka Deshi you have done something right. It is time for you to get some sleep as well. We shall met in our usual spot tomorrow at dawn to go over some basic moves." He turned and pinned Kenshin with a look. "If you have a mate, and don't tell me that Kamiya girl isn't, she is you just haven't got off your tail end to finish it, then you are going to need to improve to your minimal skills."

Kenshin bowed hiding a smile. "Yes Shishou."

Kenshin turned and left and headed up on silent feel to the room on the third floor that held the most valuable treasure in the house. Sliding the door open he stood there for several moments watching the covers move as she slept. Slipping in he knelt by her futon and watched her simply breath.

Pressing a soft kiss to her forehead he moved out of the room and headed or his own bed, aware that it was going to be a very lonely night without Kaoru in his arms.

No flashback this chapter. I know! I am sorry, but I simply did not have the inspiration for it. Feel free to drop a hint of so of anything you want to see appear. I have some random Yahiko and Tsubame or Sano and Megumi moments if you all would like to see those.

I know I have butchered the Kyoto time line and that its confusing still, but I will explain more. And my apologies for the Aoshi/ Misao fans, once again inspiration was lacking. Kenshin was holding a Katana to my throat and demanding more time between them, and while Aoshi is very threatening with his twin Kodachi, Kenshin takes the cake.

As always please review.