A.N.: Here I am again. Been awhile hasn't it?? GOMEN NASI!!!!!!! (please don't kill me) I've been keeping busy, even though school is gone. Gotta work. Gotta watch TV. (Specifically 17 hours of Yu Yu Hakusho, Inuyasha, Kenshin Music Videos, Wolf's Rain, and The First Inuyasha Movie!!! WHEE!)

(Wheee! Recently bought eps. 37-66 of UNCUT Yu Yu Hakusho on DVD,Think...the end o the Dark Tornament, and OMG is it awesome. Seriously. It's a must see.)

This chappie starts off a little "whoopee-doo-da-day," but have no fear, it gets tons better. I just had to get into it again, you see.

Now, on with the story. WHEEEE! (Thanx a lot Bri....wheeee....)

Disclaimer: (almost forgot) I don't own any copywrited stuff at all. Wheee!

WARPED REALITY: CHAPTER 6

Sanosuke was floating through clouds of blue cotton, enjoying the absolute peace...the serenity, the dead quiet....

'Sano...Sano...Sanosuke....get up....'

He heard something...someone calling his name through the quiet.

'Shush...I don't wanna...' he murmured. The clouds around him began to shiver and quake. An earthquake?!

'...Sanosuke...morning...Sanosuke....' The voice was more insistent now.

'But I don't wanna....'

"SANO, NO BAKA ROOSTER! WAKE YOUR LAZY BUTT UP BEFORE I SHAVE YOUR HEAD!!!"

Sanosuke awoke to someone shaking him roughly. That someone being Megumi/Kaoru.

"Seriously, Sano, you couldn't be a bigger lump if you tried," she was saying. "Ada! You're finally awake." She got right down to business. "Kenshin wanted to get a head start today. The distraction in the whole 'ki' thing is really starting to get to him now. We must be getting close."

She blinked as Sano popped his jaw. "Do you sense it?"

"The disturbance? Iai...but, there is a great deal of tension in the air. That, I can sense."

"You would," Kaoru/Megumi smiled.

Yahiko poked his head in through the door, holding a tofu bowl. "Hey guys, if your done flirting, we're leeeeeeeeaving."

"Excuse me?" Sano stood up. Yahiko ran, fast.

"I'll get you for that you little brat!!" Sano ran after him yelling.

Kaoru/Megumi sighed, shook her head. 'When will he ever learn...?' In the next moment, she wondered who she meant: Sano or Yahiko.

Kenshin poked his head in next, "Hurry up, Megumi-san, or Sanosuke will chase Yahiko there before we leave, that he will."

Kaoru/Megumi nodded, standing up. She followed him outside, stepping over a few tofu blocks.

Misao/Aoshi and Aoshi/Misao were already outside, attempting to wait patiently. Yahiko and Sano were currently running little circles around them. The sun was shining brightly, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, as opposed to the night before.

Kenshin adjusted his sakabatou in his hakama's belt, straitened up and followed the trail again. The Tenken had come very close to running through the inn they had spent the night at. The rain from the previous night had all but washed away the trail. In places where they hadn't been deep enough, they were gone; so tracking them from now on would be mostly educated guesswork.

This fact did not make Kenshin happy.

For now, the trail was definitely headed into the mountains, down a specific trail made from rushing water eroding the rock. The walkway itself was covered with meting snow and mud puddles, but it was a better place to start then clambering over the mountains.

"Come on. We must go now, that we must." Kenshin turned his head towards the others, prodding them to follow. Misao/Aoshi and Aoshi/Misao gladly followed, urgent to find a way to return them to normal. Kaoru/Megumi followed also, though not without a little tugging on Sano's arm to get his attention. Even then, Sano decide he had to chase Yahiko once more around the inn before the two of them caught up to the rest of the group, panting and bickering.

"Sano, I told you to quit it! Kenshin said we had to go!" Yahiko panted.

"One of these days, Yahiko...one of these days," Sanosuke grumbled, plodding along beside Misao/Aoshi, who had the same serious look plastered on 'her' face.

Aoshi/Misao chuckled, patting Sano on his shoulder. "Maa maa, Sano."

They were headed off into the mountains...that was the place that Kenshin sensed Kaoru's ki. She was getting closer...

'Just be patient...' he told himself. He would find Kaoru. He had to.

The mountains. They loomed in the distance, growing larger and larger, dwarfing all the buildings and trees that any of them had ever seen. Kenshin felt even shorter.

"So, Kenshin...how much further??" Yahiko asked.

"I'm not sure..." Kenshin told the truth. "But I do know for a fact that we ARE getting closer. I can sense Kaoru...but moreover, the machine."

Yahiko rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, the machine." The boy wasn't sure if he believed Kenshin on that part. How could a machine be controlling anything? And why were they mainly the one's affected?

Since the sun was shining, the snow on the mountain trail was melting, leaving little muddy puddles that Yahiko became amused with. Jumping in every one, seeing how far the mud would splatter.

Sano had his hands in his pockets, watching Yahiko bounce around and every one just plod along. 'How boring,' he thought, sure, they were on a mission...and a very serious one at that...but that didn't mean that they had to all be serious themselves. Perhaps, a lively conversation, or something would quicken the pace, add amusement to the journey. Something like...a snowball.

"It's cold here," Kaoru/Megumi shivered slightly.

"I think the weather is beautiful." Aoshi/Misao spread 'his' arms wide at the sky. "The sun, the breeze the surroundings..."

Misao/Aoshi groaned. "It's muddy and slushy."

Sano raised his eyebrows, smiling.

"Hai, but don't you think that it's all kind of artsy?? The bare path with the small hill of snow all around, in the mountains?? So what's a little mud?"

"It's fun!" Yahiko laughed, jumping again. A little splash of mud landed on Misao/Aoshi's ninja outfit. In response, Misao/Aoshi stopped and grumbled: "That's why I hate mud." 'She' leaned over, brushing the mud off with her hand.

SPLAT!

A semi-melted snowball beamed her/him on the back of the head.

"What the hell?!" Misao/Aoshi fumed, rubbing the snow out of her/his hair. "Who was that?!"

She/he spun around, and saw Yahiko, hiding behind Aoshi/Misao, who was laughing. Then there was Kenshin and Kaoru/Megumi, who just kept walking on ahead. And then, there was Sano, who seemed normal except he was smiling so big his ears might pop off.

"You...."

Sano smiled bigger.

So as the rest traveled along mostly soundlessly, Sano and Misao/Aoshi were in the back, running around, with Sano giggling like a maniac and Misao/Aoshi yelling: "Remember that kodachi offer last night?? Do you want that?!?!"

More snowballs were thrown.

Kenshin sighed, lowered his head. Though he himself was only concentrating on the mission of saving his koishii, he had to admit that the others needed some cheer. That would make time go faster, with them happy...or at least, entertained.

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Sometime later, Kenshin came to a sudden stop as they were walking, causing the others all to stammer, so they didn't run in to one another. "What'd you stop for, Kenshin??" Yahiko asked.

Kenshin turned his head very quickly, scanning all the land around him. But he didn't say anything.

"Battousai..." Misao/Aoshi prodded impatiently.

"She's here," Kenshin said, somewhat detached. "I can sense her...and the disturbance...but where..."

Kenshin spun around in a little circle, scanning the sky, the snow, all the many, many rocks in the mountains. He could sense Kaoru's ki strongly, she was here. It felt like she was right next to him, yet all around him. He couldn't pinpoint exactly where it was coming from! The machine--- distraction!---was confusing all his senses!

"But I can't...I can't find her," Kenshin gritted his teeth, growing more frustrated be the second.

Misao/Aoshi turned around squinting. He could also sense the disturbance now. "Not when we're this close...."

Kenshin turned around, a sort of fire burning in his eyes. "You say that as if we were going to give up. Never would I abandon Kaoru...even if it truly were impossible to find her."

Aoshi/Misao tried to smile warmly. "That's not what he meant. You should know us, Himura...that we need to find Kaoru and this disturbance just as much as you do. We're looking until we can find her." 'He' looked up, toward the mountainous cliffs ahead, and behind. "Perhaps..."

Kenshin narrowed his eyes, following his gaze.

"Perhaps they are inside one of the mountains...."

"Inside?? How could they be inside??" Yahiko asked.

"Well, like a cave, or at the top...or in one of the overhangs." Aoshi/Misao murmured. "Like there...or there...or there..."

Kenshin, Yahiko, Kaoru/Megumi, and Sanosuke looked around. "What I can't see nothing." Yahiko muttered.

"That's because you're too little," Aoshi/Misao, "that you can't see over the edges of the pathway, or over the overhangs. I can."

"Ahem..." Misao/Aoshi looked a little perturbed. "That's only because you're in my body, you half-pint. I can't see a thing down here."

"Nor can this one," Kenshin coughed quietly. Yahiko and Kaoru/Megumi smiled and nodded.

Aoshi/Misao grabbed Sano by the shoulders, shaking him gently in a 'buddy hug.' "Hey, we're taller! We can look," 'he' beamed. Mostly to Sano, she added, now look up. See any caves."

"Let's see, snow...snow...rock..."

Aoshi/Misao gazed over the mountain ahead of her. She had a weird feeling, a sort of vibe coming out of the mountain. Then she saw what most people who were not members of the Oniwaban group would have overlooked: A patch of snow that had melted away from a warmer area of rock, revealing a darker pit. It was a cave mostly disguised by rocky overhangs, and would have been completely invisible from the ground if all the snow hadn't melted away.

"THERE!!" he/she yelled, startling everyone.

"You found it??" Kenshin stammered, standing on his tippy toes, trying to see what Aoshi/Misao had seen. No use.

"Yes! I felt a strange disturbance coming from this mountain, and I can see a very disguised cave. What better place could there be? If all the snow were still here, it could be invisible."

"This direction...hai, hai...the disturbance is stronger. Let's go!" Kenshin grabbed his sakabatou with his left hand, keeping himself ready for anything.

"Follow me!" Aoshi/Misao used his arms to lift himself over the edge of the walkway. She lent a hand down to the short rurouni, pulling him over as well. Misao/Aoshi simply jumped over the ledge, dusting herself off after she did,

"Oooo, cool, let me try that." Yahiko was amused. He lept up, but unfortunately for his, he slipped on a pile of slush and slipped, falling back down again.

"Ouch."

"I could've told you that would happen, Yahiko-chan," Kaoru/Megumi sighed, helping him to his feet. He grumbled some inaudible complaint, and then allowed Aoshi/Misao to help him over.

Sano, who was already over the edge, lent a hand to Kaoru/Megumi, who was struggling to get her leg over the edge of the walkway. She looked up, a little confused.

"Here," he said, pulling her over.

Now that they all were out of the walkway, Aoshi/Misao leading the way. "Now, how far away exactly is this cave?" Kenshin mused, as Yahiko leaned on him to keep from falling backwards again.

"Not far! Keep it up guys; we're almost there. Almost to Kaoru. And a way to become normal again!" Aoshi/Misao said cheerfully. "Though I must say, I will miss being this tall Aoshi-sama."

"..." Misao/Aoshi grumbled.

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They climbed. After they got used to the strange landscape under their feet, the going went quicker. For most of the time, Yahiko sat perched on top of Aoshi/Misao's shoulders, keeping a lookout for anything strange or dangerous.

But, the trip up was uneventful. Seeing as their enemy hid in the cave before them, Kenshin wasn't surprised. He was, however, very impatient to reach Kaoru. And his impatience grew the closer they got to the cave.

Aoshi/Misao set Yahiko down. "Here this is it," 'he' whispered, pointing with one hand and placing a finger over his mouth for 'shhh' with the other.

Kenshin glared. "Hai."

"THIS stupid little hole??" Yahiko mused. The cave was only a few feet wide, and just barely tall enough for someone as tall as Sano to enter, let alone Aoshi.

"Hai...it is probably much larger inside." Misao/Aoshi crossed 'her' arms.

"Well then, lets go!" Sanosuke ducked slightly, entering the cave first. Everyone else was right on his heels.

Kenshin popped the sakabatou out of the sheath just an inch using his thumb. "Hurry."

"Hai." They all follow him deeper into the cave, surprised at how the ice- covered walls spread out in every direction, widening and expanding the hallway so the an elephant could march unharmed down the center.

"So, what happens—" Sano began a bit too loudly. Kaoru/Megumi grabbed him by one of his ears and pulled him down to her level.

"Shhhhh.... do you want them to notice us?? Keep you're voice down."

Sano stayed down close. "Fine, whatever. My question is: What happens if we DO find any enemies. Do we beat the crap outta them, interrogate them or what??"

Kaoru/Megumi poked Kenshin, wondering if he DID know what he was going to do if he came upon a foe, when they all about had heart attacks at the sound on another voice, new to some of them, all to familiar for the rest.

"Good question. You better figure out the answer quick," the voice said. It sounded as if it belonged to a small child or woman, but Kenshin knew better.

"So, it was you, Seta Soujirou the Tenken," Kenshin shouted, crouching down into the Battojutsu position.

"Oh, you knew?" the boy asked innocently.

"Who else leaves a trail made of grooves caused by the Shukuchi?" Kenshin was starting to get really pissed off now. (A.N.: And we all know what that means, ne??) His anger was a bit confused at what to be targeted at: this boy, the place, his friends, Kaoru's unknown captor, or everything in the whole damn world.

It found its target at Soujirou...

Even though they were in a cave, the wind seemed to increase, blowing the cool snow-and-dirt smelling wind in little cyclones around the room. A small puff of dust released itself from the floor, blowing right past Kenshin's feet.

Soujirou copied Kenshin's stance, cocking his head to the right and smiling wider. "You seem a bit perturbed, Himura-san. I bet you never thought you'd see me again."

Kenshin clamped his eyes shut. "You bastard. You kidnap my Kaoru and think I would be amused with you're idle chitchat?? Tell me, the in the name of Kami-sama—" Kenshin open his eyes as Soujirou cut him off.

"Who is this Kaoru?"

Kenshin mentally slapped himself for forgetting that Soujirou had actually kidnapped Megumi-san, at least to him. Now the dumbass was going to get all innocently confused. Kenshin didn't have time fore this!!

"Step aside, and I will not fight you," Kenshin lowered his gaze so that his thick bangs ell over his face. "Step aside Tenken."

"Gomen nasi, Himura-san, but I cannot do that. I have direct orders to kill anyone who tries to rescue Megumi-san." The Tenken closed his eyes anime- style, so that they poked upward like rainbows. "Anyway, I'm not too worried about fighting you. Remember, you had to resort to using the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ouki Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki when you last fought me. And now that I know its secrets there's no way that I can lose."

"If you don't mind my saying, you haven't fought me before," Kenshin murmured, almost inaudibly.

"Nanigoto?? (Translation: What was said?)" Soujirou asked, opening his eyes wide.

Kenshin lifted his head, revealing eyes that where practically a glowing amber. With the movement, the small strap of leather that held Kenshin's hair in place broke, so that it blew free in the wind. Kenshin was glaring fiercely, and Soujirou swore he could see fangs as he spoke in a deeper, somewhat detached voice.

"Iai, you have never fought me: The Hitokiri Battousai."
A.N.: Yes, I know, that was a bad place to end it. But think of it this way, I can't wait to write thee next part, so I'll update quicker. Wheeeee! If you didn't notice, you may not care, but the character(s) feature is now Megumi and Sano...but it's still also a Kenshin/Kaoru fic too!! I'm just widening my viewer option.

I wrote this entire chapter while watching/listening to Anime Music Videos. Music ranging from Evanescence to Linkin Park, Slipknot, Creed, Madonna and Limp Biskit. Hey, it's what I do to get inspiration. Speaking of which, IF YOU KNOW OF ANY GOOD ANIME MUSIC VIDEO DOWNLOAD, SITES PLEASE TELL ME!!!!!

Arigato!

P.S. If you've never seen the Yu Yu episodes with Jin, you won't get the whee! thing, because he always goes around saying 'whooo! and wheee! and such,' you'll just think I've lost my mind. But it wasn't my fault...::sniff:: Bri did it first...::sniff::

Dake kuchiokashi!!!! (Just joking!!!!)

But in not dake kuchiokashi matters, I feel real safe. Not! My parents leave for awhile and my mom takes special care to warn me to lock the door because someone hacked some people in Peoria, and that's not far from here. ::Shaky:: Whee-e-e-e.... And I don't think she meant 'hack' as in computers. Yippee! I feel great! I guess I'll survive...goodie....

Now I have to go get myself prepped up to update my Inuyasha fic...and do dishes.

So, sayonara!

-GCN anime dragon :P