Chapter 2:

They were walking to the dojo when Kazuma suddenly hissed and clutched her right rib. Kenshin stopped walking and looked at her worriedly.

"What's wrong Kazuma?" he asked and lightly touched her rib and she winced. "Are you hurt?"

"Just a scratch…"she said laughing weakly. Kenshin pulled away the top part of her outfit and it revealed her chest wrapped in bandages (in the olden days they don't have bra's) He noticed that near her ribs was a big splotch of blood. If a wound caused that it had to be very deep.

"That's not just a scratch!" Yahiko shouted. Kazuma managed a smile.

"It's nothing really, I just need to rest for a few minutes" as she said that she leaned backwards against a tree. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out slowly.

"We need to get you to Megumi, she's a good doctor that she is" Kenshin said and pulled her arm around his shoulder so he could balance her, though he was having trouble because of her two swords strapped to her hip. Sanosuke sighed and pulled Kazuma from Kenshins arms and carried her bridal style. "Thanks Sano" he smiled. Sano shrugged and continued walking blushing lightly.

Kenshin took her top from the ground. "Her wounds should get some air" he said and Sano did everything not to look at the girl in his arms. He felt her stir and she cuddled to his chest making him blush more.

"Warm…"she mumbled in her sleep and Kenshin and Yahiko raised an eyebrow. "Master, Kenshin stole my marshmallows…can I kick his butt?" she mumbled and everyone's sweat dropped.

"I can't believe she still remembers that" Kenshin wondered out loud and shook his head smiling.

She stirred again and everyone looked at her as she began to mumble something.

"Sano…warm…strong…tired…"she mumbled and Kenshin and Yahiko looked up to see Sanosuke blushing madly but a smile on his lips. They reached the dojo and Megumi came out and looked at the girl in Sanosuke's arms.

"What happened to her?" Megumi asked shocked. "Come this way" she said and ran into the infirmary with everyone following silently. Sano put Kazuma on one of the futons and Megumi came back carrying bandages, a girl kimono (like kaoru's only black) and a basin of water and a wash cloth. She placed it all near the laying girl and looked at the boys. "Well, are you leaving or not?" she asked angrily and everyone ran out.

Half an hour later

Megumi came into the other room where the boys were. Kenshin jumped out of his seat.

"Is she alright?" he asked worriedly. Megumi smiled and waved her hand not to worry.

"She's fine, her wound re-opened though. It looked like a sword was stabbed on her ribs" she said quizzly and Kenshin shook his head.

"Kazuma's always so violent…she's always itching for a fight, If she doesn't stop soon it'll be the death of me that it will" he said shaking his head smiling. "May we go and see her?" he asked her.

"Well, I think it would be better to let her rest her-"she started but was interrupted when the door behind her opened. Kazuma stepped out wearing the kimono and her hair was in a ponytail.

"I'm fine! Just a scratch!" she said smiling. Megumi walked towards her hurriedly.

"You should go back to bed, you're wea-"

"No I'm fine really!" she said batting away migumi's hands.

"You are so much like Sanosuke it scares me" Megumi said. "So stubborn…" she shook her head.

"She's always been like that I'm afraid" Kenshin said laughing while Kazuma blushed and scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. Kazuma ran toward Kenshin and tackled him on the floor giving him a noogie.

"Haha…very funny aniki! (aniki means big brother in Japanese)" she said laughing while kenshin struggled.

"You're so violent…"Kenshin said and she let him go and stood up but gave Kenshin a peace sign.

"You know ya love me!" she said smiling and he nodded.

"You look very pretty in that kimono" he said and she blushed. "Like a real lady should" he said and she snorted.

"You wish, I feel so weird…Why do girls wear this stuff anyway?" she asked and Yahiko shrugged.

"Dunno, but it's pretty stupid if you ask me…" he said arrogantly and she threw an arm around his shoulders.

"Yea me too! I like this guy already!" she said and gave him a noogie. Kenshin shook his head smiling.

"Girls wear pretty kimono's to attract suitors" Megumi said. "It makes them feel feminine"

"Suitors? Pleez…"Kazuma scoffed. "Suitors are stuck-up snobs who have too much money…A real man has to be tough and strong!" she said in a matter-of-factly way.

"Suitors will insure your happiness and take care of you like a princess" Megumi argued.

"Ever heard of independence? Plus, they inherit their money! A real man should work! Those suitors are just wimps!" she said arrogantly. Kenshin put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

"We all have our opinions" he said smiling.

"Kenshin be real! She doesn't act like a lady, she should learn proper etiquette!" Megumi said. They all saw Kazuma stiffen and she looked to her side sadly with this trembling expression in her eyes.

"Kazuma, she didn't mean that…"Kenshin began but she didn't meet his eyes and ran out of the room.

"Megumi! What did you do that for?" Yahiko yelled and Megumi looked regretful that she said that. "I'm gonna go talk to her…" Yahiko said and was about to go when Kenshin stopped him.

"I think she just needs some time alone, if she talks to someone like you…she'll be even more upset" he said. "You remind her of someone and it's a very delicate sitiation" he explained looking at the door Kazuma ran out of.

"I think you're wrong Kenshin…" they all looked to Sanosuke. "I know that look…I'll talk to her" he said and walked out of the door. He saw Kazuma sitting on the porch looking down at the Koi pond. Her knees were hugged to her chest as she stared at her reflection sadly. Her hair was let down completely and scattered on the floor beside her. He walked and sat down next to her. "Mind if I sit here?" he asked and she shook her head not letting her eyes leave her reflection.

"Wanna talk about it?" he asked and she shook her head. He sighed a little. "She didn't mean it you know…"he said still looking at her.

"…I know…" she whispered quietly.

"So what's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing…I just remembered something…"she said quietly still looking at her reflection. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and grimaced. He saw the look, the look she had in her eyes when she did that…She felt low, like she didn't belong and she thought what Megumi said was right. She looked at herself so angry and sad. She grabbed a rock and threw it at her reflection making it shatter. Her eyes were burning hazel, like burning wood cracking. "Do you have a gym here?" she asked in a calm voice, but it was strong.

"Yea, I'll show you the way…"he said and he got up and she did too. But when she got up his eyes widened as he looked at her. She looked different when her hair was down and flowed to her knees, she looked ethereal. She looked at him confused and he just blushed and motioned her to follow him. When they got to the gym, they saw a note on top of some clothes. "It's for you…" he said as he read the note and handed it to her.

' Kazuma,

I knew you'd come here so I laid out some training clothes for you. I'm sorry for what Megumi said. She didn't mean it.

Love,

Kenshin'

She took the clothes and left to another room to change. She came back wearing black pants that were tied at the waist with a sash and her hair was on one long braid. She was wearing training shoes (the ones they wear in DBZ). She was wearing her bandages to cover her chest and had black fingerless gloves. She walked toward a punching back and Sano sat on the floor still watching her. She had this really angry look when she went in front of the punching bag. She got into a fighting stance and brought her fist back and connected it with the punching bag in a strong blow. Sano's eyes widened at her strength. She punched and punched and then she brought her fist back and punched it hard. The punching bag flew out of the chain and slammed against the opposite wall. If he thought she was strong before, he was wrong. She panted and then smiled slightly. She walked toward where the clothes were to see her samurai sword. She picked it up and unsheathed it. She practiced many fast and graceful moves with it and then she sheathed it again and looked at Sano.

"Wanna fight?" she said smiling and he smirked and got up. He took of his shirt to reveal his stomach and his chest bandaged (he does have that stuff!). He walked toward her.

"Judo style?" he asked and she nodded. They both got in a fighting stance and he lunged forward at her but she dodged and flipped him on his back. They sparred for an hour until they stopped and sat down near the Koi pond. Sanosuke tried and massage his shoulder that was sore but no avail. Kazuma saw his discomfort and sat behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. He tensed and relaxed when she massaged it. Her touch was warm and flowing and it was undoubtedly relaxing. She massaged his back and made it crack and he let out a soft sigh when the muscle relaxed. She worked her was back up to his shoulders and he closed his eyes relaxing completely.

"Hey you two-"they heard Yahiko say and they both looked to their right to see him standing there with eyes wide. Then he grinned and ran back into the room he came from.

"Damn brat" Sano said growling but with a smile on his face. Kazuma sill continued to massage his shoulder and shrugged.

"He's okay…"she said and he let out a much appreciated groan when his neck cracked. "Thanks Sano…for everything" she said smiling and he looked at her from the corner of his eye and smiled.

"No problem, I just didn't want Megumi to change the only okay girl I met." He said and she blushed a little.

"I'm the only 'Okay' girl you met?" she asked still rubbing his shoulders.

"Yep, most of the other girls throw themselves at suitors and wear too much make-up. That's just creepy if you ask me…"he said and he heard her laugh.

"I agree with you there" she said." Let's head back, the squirt is probably spreading lies by now" she said and they both got up and headed back to the dojo to change.

(Oh yeah! Super long chapter! Review! no flames!)