Author's note: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. And I wish to say any cliché's in this fic I deeply apologize for because well I've been watching Rurouni Kenshin for sometime now and I have recently taken a liking to reading these fics and I have yet to see a plot anywhere near the same as this one so if it's the same then I guess it's true Great Minds think alike!

A/n: I AM SO SORRY!!! I swear reality is so unfair!! But the good thing is that I'm done with school for this semester so I have absolutely no reason to not be updating. SO just keep on my butt and it'll get done. Okay? Okay!

"There's an entrance here…" Tokio said reaching for the ring and pulled before slipping backwards and right into Saitou.

"Stupid." Yahiko muttered as Kenshin pulled the disk open. There were stairs leading into the dark.

"This will take us through way under the palace, even lower than the dungeon where Kaoru and her sisters are being held at. It will be the long way but when we surface we'll be in Misao's room. If I'm correct the halls will be guarded heavily as well as the throne room." Tokio said. "We'll have to stay close since it is dark down here and is poorly lit. You hear that Little Yahiko!" She said walking down the steps hearing the boy mutter. Saitou brushed past Kenshin feeling the man's presence close behind. Once he could make out the petit figure of Tokio he placed his hands on her waist letting her lead the way.

"Got to get to Aoshi..." Misao muttered to herself trying to fight the burning in her lungs. She felt some of the smaller branches pull at the skin on her arms and legs. She closed her eyes still jumping from tree to tree until she ran smack into a brick wall. She felt her nose snap slightly as she hit the ground with a thud. "That… was stupid." She muttered raising her hand only to feel liquid run down the side of her face and some on her lip. Immediately she pulled her hand away from her face and saw that it was covered with blood. "Just lovely…" She muttered before shadows stood over her body with their weapons pointed right at her.

"Get up…" One shouted as she sat up. "I said get up, bitch!" He yelled yanking her by the arm.

"Who do you think you are grabbing me like that?!?" She turned and gasped. They were part of Shishio's band of soldiers. 'How many soldiers does he have?!?!' She thought as a smirk crossed their faces.

"Princess Misao…" The one holding her smirked before a 'clank' was heard and the soldier fell along with his comrades.

"Lady, Misao are you okay?" A soldier wearing different colors approached her. "These fiends didn't hurt you did they?" The male instinctively tore his shirt for her to wipe her face with.

"Uhh… no?" She wiped the blood from her face, and then went to tilt her head back before he stopped her.

"Don't… you're bleeding far too much and could choke on your own blood tilting it back. Lord Aoshi would have my head if I allowed you to do that."

"The soldiers…"

"I know they'll be coming so we must move." He handed her the remnants of his shirt to hold and continue to wipe her face. "Climb on…" He knelt as she got onto his back and he sped off. Somehow he managed to be quicker than her with the added weight.

"Where are we going the palace is…?"

"It's gone… A few days back a being had come with explosives… powerful ones. Bombs were spread throughout the palace and it reduced it to rubble."

"But the amount of explosives to take out such a big place…"

"We were baffled by that much knowledge as well but it couldn't be helped. Just know there is nothing left behind anymore. Even the village was destroyed." The soldier continued explaining.

"Shishio did it didn't he??"

"Yes, it was smart of Lord Aoshi to believe either yourself or another from your kingdom will appear. So for eight moon cycles to rise and set I have been waiting."

"I see…" She said softly as he stopped at a river. He stood there for a few moments. "Just wait a moment, Lady Misao." He said as his gaze intensified on the water. Baffled Misao stared until it became obvious… in the middle of the large river a smooth stone was in the middle. It was difficult to see since the water was continuously moved… but after a bit there seemed to be two different stones.

"One is a copy played by the river and the sun…" He explained. "The heat makes waves proving its intensity and being in the heat long enough can fool the eye. It is strange but this river is far to warm to swim in and between the heat of river and the heat of the sun there appears to be two or more stones that will keep one from drowning. …There…" He jumped as Misao held on tight still holding the material to her aching nose.

"Please don't let me drown!!" She felt her body jerk once before he jumped again and she jerked once more.

"Where is Lord Aoshi?" She heard him speak as several voices were heard.

"I'll get him." Another answered before retreating footsteps were heard.

"You can step down now, Lady Misao." She heard him speak.

"T-thank you…" She uttered letting him go. She could finally see his face and recognized him as one of Aoshi's elite soldiers… honestly how could she forget the ugly mask he wore?

"Hannya…" A voice interrupted the stare both had on each other's faces. "Misao…" Aoshi's gaze turned to the female before fury crossed his face. "They hurt you?" He approached her taking the shirt to check her nose.

"No… I forgot about the wall…" She sweatdropped as he checked her nose.

"Silly." He murmured wiping the remains of blood. "You didn't break it…"

"Aoshi…" She murmured softly hugging him. "He poisoned father… Megumi fixed that but when father isn't dead before his wedding to Kaoru he'll kill him anyway, probably kill Megumi and… and… He's going to truly break Kaoru to the point of not living. He'll make her a mistress and… I don't want him running our family's kingdom!!!"

"I know… I've been waiting to hear if all alright with you three before we move."

"Tsubame, is hurt, Kaoru and Megumi are both well, father is weak and…" She was quickly building into panic before she finally became quiet. "Kaoru is sweet on Kenshin Himura, but he is nowhere to be found. And Kenshin has a weird past that Shishio knows about and… it's all confusing and stupid."

"Himura…" Aoshi muttered softly and nodded to Hannya who began to get the soldiers together. "So the Battousai has become one of her suitors…"

"You mean you know the Hitokiri Battousai?!?" Misao asked.

"WE leave now and we may get there by morning." Aoshi said placing a kiss upon her lips.

"BUT AOSHI!!!!" She began whining.

(At the palace)

"Hey let me go!!!" Kaoru struggled against the guard knowing it was futile. She glanced behind her and saw Tsubame being dragged behind her in the grasp of other soldiers. Of course she should've been paying attention or she could've braced herself for the rough throw she got when they went through the doors of the throne room. "Ow…" She groaned hearing an echo from Tsubame. Kaoru stood up with her usual glare at Shishio but she soon found her lips trapped against his own. When she didn't respond he yanked her hair, making her gasp in slight pain. He took advantage of her parted lips and all she did was freeze in place.

"Now, my darling fiancé… Where is your sister?"

"I… I don't know." She uttered out. "I remember that girl came in injured and Misao grabbed her by the throat. One of the guards came to separate them but got hit and his keys stolen and Misao left promising to bring… someone to our rescue." She kicked him in the shin before getting slapped once more by the wrapped hand.

"Why was this girl injured?!?!" Shishio demanded as one of the guards who brought them in cleared his throat.

"Cuz I was clumsy and dropped food. One of your guards couldn't keep his pants on and tried to rape me. When I wouldn't comply I was beat up." Tsubame raised her badly swollen face to Shishio. It was obvious this had happened a few days before but they were deep blows. Her lip was still swollen hand prints were left on her face. "It would be a pity if she went to her beloved Aoshi." Tsubame said pushing herself upwards.

"Dammit…" Shishio turned. "Leave… the girl with you." He motioned to Tsubame as the guards grabbed her. Kaoru sort of sat there on the floor. Glancing around the room proved that Yumi was no where to be found in the current moment. "Yumi better have done her job of getting rid of the Oniwabanshu…" He muttered.

"I want to go back to my cell, preferably my room." Kaoru demanded and winced when he turned to look at her.

"My princess… do you really think that I will let you go when I just summoned you?" He gripped her shoulders roughly bringing her to her feet. "Not in the least. I have some unreleased tensions I need help with." His hands on her shoulders moved to grip her close to his body while one hand lowered to squeezes her bottom. "Ones you WILL help me with."

"How much further, Ugly?" Yahiko whined.

"Would you shut up, Brat?!?" Tokio said. "We should be near the dungeon area now."

"Let go of me!!!!" Tsubame cried out. Just before the group they could see one of the soldiers propping the young girl against the wall.

"You bitch; nearly got me killed with your big mouth…" He pushed her to her knees. "I'll fill that gaping hole with something; maybe you'll learn to keep it shut."

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Tee Hee! Review please!!