Author's note: Here is the next chapter! Sorry for the late update, but I was a bit busy. It managed a bit shorter like the other three, but I hope you'll like it.

The Lonely Tiger- Chapter Four

The two group separated, and silently made for the target. Meanwhile, Kenshin began to interrogated his master carefully:

'Is that true, what Odora-kun said?... Did you really kill his grandfather?'

'His grandfather was the XII. Hiko Seijuuro, my master.' Kenshin turned to him with a surprised face. 'He died, when he teached me the last technic...'

'Amakakeru Ryu no Hiranameki... I see.' He thought back that, when he almost killed Hiko, because of this. 'But, why were you left her?'

Hiko didn't answered, only a few minutes later:

'The truth is... that I was afraid. Heh, strange to hear this from me, isn't it?' he smiled, but his eyes were sad. 'I couldn't stood face to face with her. She was so kind, so sensitive... I never wanted to hurt her. I always hoped, that she will find a good man and have a happy life... Ch, I was a big idiot!'

'So that's the reason, why are you live in the mountains alone...'

'You never mantioned, that he's your father.' began Saitou, and lighted a cigarette.

'It wasn't important. I never thought him as my father.'

'You still too defiant.' smiled at him submissively.

'That's why you like me, don't you?'

'Ch, stop daydreaming moron.'

'You still too kind, Mr. Immortal.' teasing him the young samurai.

'Hrm... You want to make me angry, pussy-boy?'

Odora narrowed his eyes, and stopped. Saitou turned towards him with a wide smile.

'What'a hell are you doing?' asked Sano loudly.

'Pussy-boy, hmm? Then, would you play a little... wolfy?'

'Hn, just watch!' answered Saitou, and they wrapped their swords.

'Stop it, please! Are you crazy?' cried angrily Kaoru, when the two samurai began to laughted.

'Oro?'

'Don't panic Battousai! It's only a bad habbit of us.' said Saitou, until he can stopped laughing.

'I swear, they're psycho!' sighed Yahiko.

'I wonder, how could you endured each other...' muttered Kaoru.

The forest grew dark. They proceed on their way, in death silence, and listened every single noise. Finally, they found the house. In front of it, there was a big camp-fire. About 15-20 men sat around there, and cheerfully talked. Next to the house, a small group of women kneeled with bound hands.

'Those girls...' whispered Kaoru frightenedly.

'They are slave-traders. They took the young women and sold their to the brothels or something like that.' explained Saitou. 'Where's that damn Shinomori?'

'Look!' pointed Kenshin to the bushes, from where a young girl, with a big cloak, stepped in.

'Um, hello! I'm lost, can you help me, please?' began in a sweet voice, and shyly stared at the ground.

'Wow, how cute!'

'You got the best place darling!'

'Come on, don't be shy!'

But before they could caught her, some kunai stopped them, and five other ninja appeared behind her...

'Ch, not bad for such on annoying girl!' smiled Hiko widely, when the bandits fell to the ground.

'Shell we go?' asked Kenshin calmly.

'Let's go!'

The bandits became very confused, because of that fast attack. Sano and Kenshin stayed behind with Kaoru and Yahiko, while Odora and Saitou unstappably forced their way. They were a perfect team. Their movements were in keeping with each other, and the two Gatotsu unsparingly devastated the enemies. The bandits tryed to escape, but Hiko stopped them.

'Where is she?' Odora nervously turned around, but he couldn't found her. Suddenly, a hulk man attacked him from behind. With an elegant movemant, he dodged it and easily killed his oppenent. One of the goons quickly ran towards the safety forest. Odora jumped to caught him, but a shrill scream strucks his ears.

'Yahikooo!'

The boy kneeled next to the unconscious man, when he heard Kaoru's voice. An arrow kept straight towards him.

'Yahiko!' whispered Kenshin, and jumped to protect his friend, but suddenly the arrow stopped. The offender silently fell down. Saitou idly moped his sword, and lighted a cigarette. Odora stood in front of the boy, still pressed the blade. The hilt was in a few millimeters before Yahiko's face. The arrow pierced into that. Yahiko's eyes became very big and frightened, when he glared at him.

'Yahiko! Are you all right?' Kaoru ran to him worriedly.

'Ye...Yeah.'

"Man, that was amazing!" thought surprisingly Sano. "Damn it! Maybe Saitou was right... I have no match against this guy."

Odora, without any word, drew the arrow from the hilt and put back his sword. But Kenshi and Saitou observed, that his right hand was quivered a bit.

'Thank you to saving Yahiko!' said greatfully Kaoru, but Odora interrupted her.

'I'm not done for him... If I let the brat die, my mother and Yaso-san would be vary angry.' muttered himself softly.

'Yaso-san?' wondering Kaoru, but Ochika's voice stopped her.

'Oh no! Misao-chan!'

'What happened?'

'I... I think... They kidnapped her!'

Aoshi angrily turned to the forest. He noticed a shadow, who tryed to stole away. Immediately caught him, and passed throught the tree.

'What are you doing with her?'

'Aoshi wait! You'll throttle him!' intervened Kenshin. Aoshi let him, and slowly recoved his calm.

'Shit!... You almost... kill me!' huffed the stranger, while he tryed to cought his breath.

'Arg... My head!' Misao nervously got up.

'Feel yourself better?' asked a kind voice, and Misao marvellously turned to it's owner. First, she nearly swooned, when she looked at the woman. She was a lady on that picture!

'Am I so fearful?' smiled affably at her. Misao finally regained her calm, and animatedly said:

'We are looking for you Lady!'

'For me?'

'Yes! Oh man, Odora-san and Hiko-san will be vary happy!'

'You... You mantioned Hiko-san?' asked agitatedly the woman, and her eyes were filled with tears. She seized Misao's hand and hopefully began:

'You know him? Is he near? Please tell me, is he all right?'

'Um... Yes, he's fine..' blushed the girl shyly.

'So, you two already become friends, don't you?' a tall man stepped in, and cheerfully looked at them. He wore a dark blue kimono, with a katana on his left side. His features was smooth and calm. His long, brown hair simply collapsed on his shoulders and his black eyes curiously searched Misao's face. Her face went red, because of this intensive look. She must admit, he was a very handsome man. A mysterious smile appeared on his face, when began to spoke:

'Welcome to our hiding-place little girl! I'm Yoro Karasu...