Disclaimer:.....you know that I don't own anyone right? RIGHT?! good..well except for a few people that I will make up in the beginning

Chapter 4: Master Hiko, plans, Kaoru, and Wolfie

Shinta, a red-headed spy with purple eyes, had been inside working on his katas when the little light on the phone started to blink.

It must be Hiko or something, probably trying to see if it still works, he thought.

But as he stared at it, he realized that the blinking morse-code was from his sister.

Oh no! She only does this in emergencies! I wonder what's wrong, if it's that damn Wolf, I swear I'll make him eat his eyes!

He wrote down what the Morse code was conveying to him, Three traitors around the dojo, go to Hiko's place immediately!

Shinta's eyes widened in horror though immediately picked up the phone and tapped on a special button in the same combination that he received the message in.

He then dashed out of the dojo, feeling his sister's ki blast out suddenly. Shit, he thought.

He felt trepidation steel itself within his blood as he felt something bad about to happen, so he went in the direction of sister. He jumped into the thick trees and peered down to the battle before him.

He saw his sister reach into her pouch for something and then extended her arm and opened her fist to reveal the time machine that she was sent to retrieve for Master Hiko.

She wouldn't betray us would she? Kenshin thought though instantly wiped the thought away thinking, She'd never do that, that would be like going against me.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by her unsettling and fearful ki as the box in her hand started to glow. What the hell is going on? he thought.

Though in that instant, his greatest fears were realized as she disappeared within a bright flash of light, and all he did was stay in the tree. The space that she had currently occupied was empty, her ki disappeared completely from the face of the earth.

Shinta's eyes widened in horror, and thought, No, this isn't happening, she didn't go anywhere, she just disappeared like she always does, yea that's it, he thought desperately, his heart sinking as tears fell from his face.

"It's not true, it's not true.....she'll come back..just...like..she always..does," he choked back a sob.

He was suddenly brought back to reality when he heard voices below him:

"Well, now what? I'm not telling him, you can die early for all I care!" a man screamed, spasing out. He looks like Cho, Shinta thought disgusted.

"Shut-up Cho! We just have to come up with something that sounds plausible, that way we will stay alive!" another shouted. He seemed like Akira.

"Exactly, I mean we did get rid of that Himura kick, it's ok if we didn't get the little time machine," said a smooth one, who Shinta discerned as Enishi.

"If we stay here any longer, we'll attract unwanted attention so let's go!" said Cho who fidgeted as he looked around.

"Of course, let's take our leave," Enishi said as he ran off followed hastily by the others.

Shinta looked disoriented as he entered Hiko's Organization, tears falling freely downs his already red face. His journey to Hiko's office seemed to take forever as he thought of his kildhood with his big sister. She was always protecting her little brother, challenging other boys to fights.

And the one thing that I could do to help repay you for all the help and goodness that you have done for me, and I just stand there doing nothing...NOTHING!

Shinta's eyes resembled those of his ancestor, Kenshin, in that they were purple when he was happy and amber when he was pissed.

And right now, they were completely amber. He didn't even remember opening the door to Hiko's office.

Hiko looked up, now pissed that his day consisted of people interrupting his conversations, and saw that it was Shinta Himura, crying and amber-eyed.

"Boy, what is it? I haven't seen you like this since-"

"She's gone," his voice was emotionless.

"Who boy? What are you-"

"Urako-she's-"

"HOW?"

"The damn time machine you ordered her to steal, it just lit up and took her away!"

"What?! Damnit! I smell a set-up! Shit! And we played right into his God-Damned hands!"

He paused before continuing, though not before thinking,'And she's the best fighter we have, not to mention I'd be breaking the promise I made to her parents as well as to her fiancee,'

He shivered at he frightening thought, though knew that it was inevitable and that he'd have to break the news to him somehow.

"Shinta, look at me-she's a tough woman-you know that! It's not like she's dead-"

"Don't even joke about that!"

"Damnit get a hold of yourself! She's just lost, and someone who is lost can be found! Listen, I have a plan!"

Shinta's head snapped up at that, a small glow of hope shone in his eyes, as he asked,"Really? What is it?"

"You know of the spies we sent to the Kyoto Organization? The Oniwaban? Well, they also took snap shots of the formula for making one of those portable time machines, I'll go and get the scientists assembled! Make yourself useful and retrieve the snap shots of the formula from the Oniwaban! We have a hell of a mission to complete!"

Shinta cried anew, not because he lost his sister, but the fact that he was getting her back. He nodded vigorously as he left for his new mission.

Hiko sat back in his chair and thought,'Shit,' as he dialed his secretary, Okon, to tell her of the recent developments.

He picked up the small office phone and pressed the line 1 button.

His secretary picked immediately and asked what he wanted.

"Okon, write this down,"he told her sternly.

"Yes sir,"she said, getting the computer ready.

"To all allies with the Hiten Mitsurugi Agency, Immediate meeting in 5 hours. Meet within the Hiten Mitsurugi Warehouse and send your best physics scientists there. My secretary will inform you of the newly acquired events. Bring any and all of your equipment with you.

-Hiko"

"Alright sir, is that all?" Okon asked as she finished typing.

"No, right now, we should pray," Hiko said, his voice breaking.

Shinta ran from the offices of his sister's Master and straight toward the Aoiya, the Oniwaban's Headquarters. By the time he got there, he was out of breath, due to the obvious fact that it was 10 miles away.

Omasu, Misao, Okina, and a few other members of the Oniwaban ran out to greet him, Aoshi stood in the doorway.

"I need help, you need to-"

"Himura!!! Where have you been?! You say that you will visit, and do you? Nope! Only in emergencies!" Misao yelled as she latched herself onto him.

Shinta looked at her in something akin to confusion as she squeezed the life out of him in one of her hugs.

"Shinta, we have heard the dreadful news, and we offer our services to you!" Omasu and Okina yelled to him as they held him tightly.

Shinta closed his eyes and returned the tight hug and said shakily,"Thanks you guys, you're the best, that you are!"

"Don't mention it Himura! Now, we know that time is slipping by quickly, so what do you need?" Misao asked, as she led him into the Aoiya.

"I need those snap shots that you guys took of the formula for the time machine, that I do!" he huffed as he attempted to gain his breath.

"Oh yes of course, be right, back! Lord Aoshi, where did we place those pictures?" Misao asked as she turned her attention to her beloved.

"Within my chambers, I'll show you," Aoshi he said as he turned towards his room.

Misao turned around quickly and gave Shinta a thumbs up for good luck before saying,"We're expecting someone to help us find your sister!" Then followed closely behind her Lord Aoshi.

Shinta smiled in spite of his situation at Misao and what she was endlessly doing for her seemingly lifeless love life. He didn't have anytime for any of that, though he could argue that really wanted to have that extra something to make him smile during rough situations such as this. He sighed, he really wanted his sister back, she was what he lived for, since she sacrificed so much for him.

And even though they had disagreements, their most recent one being about a man name Hajime Saito and what she planned to do about it, they still loved each other very much. He knew that she loved that man with all her being even if she tried to off set it by arguing with him and insulting him which usually resulted in fighting him.

It started to drizzle outside as he went out to get some air as well as some privacy.

He was amidst his thoughts, when something moving out in the corner of his eye caught his attention.

Long flowing black tresses flowed around the glowing goddess who had the most beautiful deep blue eyes came strolling along the sidewalk. Absently he could have sworn he could have sworn that he heard That's Amore by Dean Martin, in the background. Her lips tinted a light shade of red, which complimented her. She wore a white blouse covered by a light black jacket, she had a knee-length black skirt with black knee-high boots.

She headed towards the Aoiya, it seemed that she was in a hurry because she didn't even see Shinta until she almost knocked him over.

"Oh my!! I'm so sorry!!! I didn't even see you!! Are you alright?!! Oh my gosh!! I'm so stupid!!"she spewed, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.

"It is alright, that it is miss," he said gently as he smiled.

"Well, I'm sorry for almost knocking you over Mr..."she drawled, as she stared into his eyes.

"Oh, forgive this unworthy one, my name is Shinta, Shinta Himura,"Shinta said a blush

of his own appearing on his pale cheeks.

"Kaoru-" she began.

"Hey you two! If you don't want to die get out of the drizzle!" Misao shouted as she giggled.

"MISAO!!! I haven't seen you in ages!!!" Kaoru gushed, flinging her arms around the small girl.

"KAORU!!! I'm so glad that you could make it!!!! And what you mean ages? I saw you the other day!!" Misao screamed back at the girl as she squeezed her.

"I know, but it was so long!!!" she yelled as she pulled away and smiled widely.

"Oh, Himura, this is the young woman that we have brought to help your sister!" Misao said as she bounced into the Aoiya.

"Pleased to meet you. You say that you can help my sister? How is that, may I ask?" Shinta asked as he smiled widely at Kaoru, though with a hint of confusion.

"Umm, we talk about this in private? I don't want anyone to overhear us," she said as she twisted her fingers together.

"Of course!" Misao said happily as she lead them down into the wine cellar.

They walked down the corridor right of the entrance way to the Aoiya. The walls loomed high over their heads and the wooden floors creaked with old age. They entered through a wooden door and down spiraling stairs neighboring dank walls. Kenshin kept on giving Kaoru glances out of the corner of his eye; he couldn't help it! She was the epitome of beauty!! He could stare at her forever-though fate, at the moment, was preparing a different path for him, as they reached the small table.

"So, what can you tell us about her?" Misao asked bluntly, as she got into her chair.

Kaoru fidgeted a little before answering,"I was the one who blocked her visions, and sent them to someone else."

Shinta looked at her wide-eyed, heart crumbling as he thought that this beauty was the very person to block his sister's visions? The one who started this mess? He looked down, eyes changing color rapidly as he clenched his fist tight into a ball.

"I didn't want to,"she continued,"I never wanted to, but I..."

"But you what?" Shinta asked curtly, which surprised Misao and hurt Kaoru.

"I was forced..my brother..he has a way of forcing people to do his will..and he doesn't believe in mercy....he says that the weak are food for the strong..that If you're strong you live, if you're-"

"Weak you die," Shinta finished absently, as he looked up into the sapphire orbs of the woman across from him.

"Yes...I take it you know of Shishio Makoto?"

"Know him? He is the one who killed our parents!! He's the one who wanted to take Urako away for himself!! He's the one who set her up and sent her back into the past!!" Shinta shouted as he stood abruptly, knocking over his chair in the process.

"Stop yelling at me as if I were the one who did all those horrible things!!" Kaoru shouted back, pounding her fist on the table.

Shinta looked over to her, and hit himself mentally for speaking in such a way to her. Besides, she was innocent-she was forced to block Urako's visions. His eyes turned back to their original hue; purple, and walked back to his fallen chair.

"I am sorry, that I am, I am just enraged because of the situation that we are currently in-and the fact that my sister is in the past and not here," he said as he picked up his chair and sat in it. He sighed, he really wanted his sister back.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you, I guess I haven't experienced the loss that you have, and I am willing to be at your disposal. I really want to help," she said, a look of caring in her eyes as she brought her hand down upon his.

He looked into her orbs and found that she was truly beautiful when she spoke from her heart; her passion overwhelming what she felt needed to be done. He smiled, admiring her spirit for his own sake-for his sister's sake. He could have kissed her for that, but brushed the thought away-he just met the girl! He was suddenly aware of some pressure on his hand and looked down to see that it was her hand. He smiled and turned his hand and squeezed hers in turn.

"Thank you, I am sure that your services will be taken graciously, that they would," he said, and noticed a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Himura, we have what you wanted," Misao broke in, smiling at the couple miskievously.

The couple suddenly reddened and let their hands go, though both were secretly pouting at the loss of warmth from the other.

Aoshi came in with the needed photos and handed them to Shinta.

Shinta looked at them quickly, scanning the photos to verify that they would help out in his search for his sister.

"I thank the Oniwabanshu for their excellent efforts, that I do-I am eternally grateful and in your debt, that I am," Shinta said as he put the photos back inside the case and sat up once again.

"Think nothing of it Himura!!! We're like family! We'd do anything for you! Right Aoshi?" Misao asked, green eyes sparkling with affinity.

"Of course," Aoshi said and nodded his head towards the small group.

Kaoru watched him get up, a feeling of loss welling up inside of her."Bye Shinta, I'll see you next time!" she said almost too earnestly as she saw him get up to go.

Shinta looked at her and smiled lovingly and replied,"It has been a pleasure Miss Kaoru, that it has-I'll see you tomorrow, that I will."

Kaoru got up and walked out with Misao and Shinta walked out with Aoshi-the two locked eyes for a fleeting second before they turned into the door that lead out into the world.

"You see that? That little-"

"Shhh..we'll get our revenge on the traitor!"

"We'd better! Let's go..Master Shishio isn't gonna be happy about these turn of events!"

"No, even I pity her fate-even at the hands of her own brother. But it can't be helped, she chose this path,"

"Yea, let's get out of this crappy weather! I'm freezing!"

"Alright, let's go, I'll have my team seek her out and bring her in, ok?"

"Ok, ok-let's just go already!"

Kaoru left the safety of the building, her happiness slowly drifting away as she was aware that she was being followed.

Well, I knew that this would happen...I just hope that what I had provided them had helped-and that guy...I feel so bad that I had to put him through all of that-well now he'll be happy when his sister is returned to him...he was so nice even when he was angry...I wish that I had never blocked those visions, she thought dejectedly.

She rounded the corner, and went into the alley, wanting this meeting to be in private. The drizzle had increased into a steady pouring, mirroring her feelings. She had stopped and rested her back against the brick wall, waiting for the men who followed her to appear. But, she wouldn't go without a fight, she unsheathed her hidden koddachi from her sleeve. Her head snapped up at the noise of footsteps nearing her position.

"Miss Kaoru...what are you doing? Are you not going home?" asked the man in front of her.

Immediately she felt relief flowed through her veins and w as barely aware that she flung her arms around his form in a death hug.

"Oro! Miss Kaoru, Are you ok? I saw some men following you that I did," Shinta said, concerned, though slightly shocked at her sudden action.

Kaoru snapped open her eyes and quickly stepped away from him, blushing furiously, and eyes darting to wherever he wasn't. "Oh..ummm-I was-"

"Come on little girl-your brother wants to see you right now!" a man yelled from the mouth of the alley.

Shinta stiffened a little, eyes darting to the men in the alley. His orbs narrowed dangerously as he unsheathed his reverse-blade sword that his sister gave to him as a 'coming of age' gift. It glistened in the rain, promising pain to whoever met with either side.

Kaoru stepped up to them and said,"If you want me, come and claim me!" She got into a fighting stance that Shinta had never seen before, and unsheathed a small koddachi.

The men quirked an eyebrow at her brave yet foolish statement and quickly unsheathed their own weapons.

Four men, I'll take the one to the left then arc around until I come up to the last one, she thought before she advanced.

Her hair was plastered to her delicate face, her nice blouse sticking closely to her body as she ran towards her opponents. She hit one with the hilt of the koddachi, then did an arcing maneuver so that she faced her opponents' backs and sliced their backs. She did not kill them, just put them in severe pain, though did not realize the man that she hit with the hilt of her koddachi had gotten up.

Shinta realized the situation before the man delivered and hit him with the flat end of his blade, crushing his face. The last man sagged against the soaked brick wall, flinching every once in a while.

"Thank you so very much! I did not notice that he got up, and would have been killed had you not shown up!" Kaoru said, blushing a little, resheathing her koddachi.

"Miss Kaoru you sure know how to fight, that you do-but you're welcome! It was my pleasure, that it was. But if I may, why did they follow you?" Shinta asked, resheathing his own reverse-blade, and walking with Kaoru to an overhang.

Kaoru shivered and asked,"Is it alright if we go to my place so that we'd be more comfortable?"

"Miss Kaoru, won't those people who are looking for you, be at your apartment?" Shinta asked, concern lining his face.

Kaoru's eyes widened in realization and said aloud,"Oh shit, you're right! Sometimes I don't think, thank you Shinta for making me see that, otherwise, I'd be walking into a trap."

Trap. His and Hiko's conversation concerning Urako walking into a trap resounded in his mind.

He narrowed his eyes at that and filed that word away for later discussion as he said,"Anytime Miss Kaoru. Not to impose, but we could go to my apartment that we could."

The Wolf narrowed his eyes in annoyance as he listened to what his assistant had to say. I really want to go back home and get out my aggravation in a sparring match with my woman, he thought and smiled wickedly. A headache was building up within his temples and he sighed angrily.

"...And we have had news of the woman Battousai being taken away..."

The Wolf's eyes snapped open at the mention of his soon-to-be-wife's name and snagged his assistant's uniform in his fist and asked fiercely,"WHAT WAS THAT? WHAT HAPPENED TO HER? WHERE DID SHE GO? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DISAPPEARANCE?"

"We...we don't know.."

"WELL THEN FIND OUT!" he screamed, getting frantic. She can't be gone, she wouldn't be done in by pathetic mongrels from Shishio's Organization.....what happened? he thought desperately.

"Yes sir!!"

His assistant ran out of the room with a new mission from his master.

I need to talk to Hiko, now! he thought, eyes squinted in anger. If I find out that she has...no she wouldn't be...she can't be...I would have felt her ki screaming out to me....someone must have taken her somewhere....SHIT-where the HELL is she?

The Wolf grabbed his small phone and punched in the number for Hiko's Org ( it was 1-800-You-wish, made by Urako ).

The phone rang and the Wolf waited patiently, though his gloved hand was clenched in a tight fist.

Hiko's voice rang through his ears as he gruffly asked,"What?"

"Wolf here, I want answers and I want them now!!" he snarled.

"Look, here's the scenario:: Urako stole the portable time machine from Kyoto Org, was then surrounded by traitors within my Organization and then the time machine somehow came to life and took her away," Hiko reiterated, hating himself for letting this happen.

"WHAT???" he screeched.

Hiko pulled his precious eardrums away from the loud noise, and responded,"Don't worry, we are on it-I have all the scientists coming over to work on another time machine so that we can go back and her."

"You know that if you fuck up then she'll be staying there for a long ass time, right? And if that happens, all hell will break lose and I'll pull my Alliance away from the Hiten Mitsurugi and declare my Underground war upon you and any other Orgs that stand in my way?" he stated, unwavering in his accusations.

"I understand that completely but you have to know that it is not entirely all my fault," Hiko said.

"Then don't fuck up-I'll be sending my physics scientists to your warehouse to get this thing resolved-and it better be!" he snapped and hung up.

"Bye, Saito...," Hiko sighed and hung up his phone, and ran a hand through his long black greenish hair.

"Shit," he said aloud, for about the upteenth time that morning.