Author's note: LA!!! See… I'm back and updating… I just KNOW I've lost fans, but too bad cuz they'll miss a GREAT ending which should be the next chapter or the one after.

She stood there looking at the female clad in black. The woman had been giving her a hard glare. She tossed the small homemade bomb in the air slightly to light the fuse on the torch above her head. With a sadistic sort of grin she tossed it again then swung the sword at it smacking it right in Kaoru and Sano's direction. The bomb headed right in their direction and Kaoru attempted to drag Sano's heavy body away. She was making progress, but not enough to dodge the explosion completely. Pieces of the stone wall gave way to the blast of heat.

"Pity… I missed…" Regret can clearly be heard in the female's voice. She then was on the move to charge right at the defenseless Kaoru, who had been huddling over Sano waiting for the debris to clear up. "I won't this time." Yumi continued on her war path. Kaoru then looked up at the precise moment and raised her wooden weapon to block the shot only to have her wooden blade shorten by half.

"What is your problem?!?!" Kaoru glared at her after looking at her useless weapon.

"I want your death…" Yumi skidded to a stop and Kaoru backed up slightly shocked. She reached a corner finding Yumi ready to charge at her again.

"I've done nothing to you!!!" Kaoru screeched running around the corner.

"Lord Aoshi…" Beshimi was rushing back to the group that had been trudging along at a pace slower than his nimble speed.

"What have you seen?"

"There are several carriages; all are heading in the same direction… the palace."

"Perhaps allies…" Misao pointed out.

"Especially now… Shishio seems to have complete control of the village to the kingdom. He'll want this wedding over with as soon as possible." Aoshi mumbled a bit.

"Then, my family is in danger; I have to get back to them." She got wriggled from her spot on Hannya's back, but the tall lanky male held fast. Aoshi narrowed his eyes slightly at the tall

"Not in that state of mind." Hannya told her flatly. Aoshi narrowed his eyes a bit watching Misao's nether regions rub against Hannya's back. Mentally scolding himself reminding him that his mind should stay focused during important times like this. But still…

"But…"

"Let her down Hannya… I'll carry her." Aoshi cut her off. Hannya looked at Misao who pouted and climbed off the tall male's back. She smiled softly at him before jumping onto Aoshi's back.

"I'm glad you've got enough sense to not run off like you planned."

"Of course, never miss a chance to be close to Aoshi-sama…" She held onto him.

"Right…" He did everything in his power to hide the smirk of pride that headed right to his ego. "When we get there, Misao… we all need to have clear heads if we expect to help at all." He told her before the feeling of something moist seeped through the back of his shirt.

"I know…" Her voice betrayed the fact she was indeed crying. "I'm just worried."

Kaoru's a strong girl… She won't succumb easily." Aoshi simply pointed out. "She has overcome many male suitors, Shishio may simply have more expendable people, but he is no different then the others." He sent a quick glare to the rest of the oniwabanshu as they snickered mentioning something about a "whipped" man.

"True…" She murmured softly wiped her tears away instantly with a faint blush to her face.

"Damn…" He cursed himself for letting his thoughts stray. "We have to hurry if we expect to not miss the action." He commanded as the troops picked up speed.

"Ugh!!" She felt her body fling back against the bars holding her sister and her barely holding on father. She looked at the blade coming at her face and she ducked saving all but half of her beautifully long raven hair.

"Stay still!!!" Yumi growled whirling around, before she could swing again several guards had gripped her arms making her drop the weapon. "What do you think you are doing?!?!" She yelled at the guards who were now dragging the foxy sister, the extremely weak father. The guards said nothing as they were all dragged back up to the main throne room.

"Kenshin!!" Kaoru watched the red head get slashed hitting the ground harder than he should have.

A/N: Lol… I feel dumb… I had this chappie typed up! ;; Thx to Tsuki-chan for the review that made me remember to check the chapter.