I am so sorry about this delay but you know back to school. I'd like to thank my readers and reviewers who put up with these delays. You guys rock.

The price of turmoil

Chapter seven:

"Hey you!" "You shouldn't be alone in this forest". Aoshi dropped his hand from Kaoru's chin. She looked up at him; eyes wide with an emotion he couldn't read. Placing his hand on her arm, he turned to face the intruder. He had to act quickly to conceal his surprise, at the sight before him. 'I was expecting Kenshin maybe even Sanosuke but this.'

In front of Aoshi stood a man nothing special about him except he had a pack on his shoulder, probably on his way home from work.

"This forest is dangerous not even trained martial artists venture in here". The man chattered on in an amicable way, outlining, the dangers of the forest. (Like Wolverines)

Aoshi had a split second to make a crucial decision (and boy what a decision).

"My wife he began my wife and I... are fleeing from persecutors, we had no choice but to retreat into the forest, it is safer than our homes um…home". "She's wounded please we need help", he made a pathetic limping step forward.

Had this been happening in any other context Kaoru would have laughed aloud. Aoshi's display was brilliant with each word that fell from his forked tongue her chance of escape was dying before her eyes. The very concept of being trapped with Aoshi made her give a small gasp. The stranger turned a concerned gaze toward her.

"Miss are you all right?" he shot a wary glance in Aoshis' direction. She felt Aoshi's grip tighten on her arm. Fighting off a wave of nausea at what she must now do, she began to speak.

"My husband speaks the truth if we do not hurry our pursuers will be upon us." There nice and pathetic, she nearly believed her own story. With a jolt she suddenly realized, that for
Aoshi, this hadn't been a lie.

"Well then", the man cried, "come with me", and without another word, he turned to lead them out of the underbrush. Kaoru struggled to clamber over the forest vegetation. Aoshi still had a firm grip on her arm; she could already feel another bruise forming. The sunlight had now risen to its peak Sweat ran down her forehead to drip off her nose for a moment she had a flash of what she might look like and felt herself smile.

Aoshi glanced sideways, at Kaoru and was dazzled by her smile. 'What's she smiling about?' Turning away from her rather disarming smile, he turned his attention to their mystery guide.

"So where are you taking us ...sir?" It seemed, like the kind of thing, people would say.

"Oh come now, son don't be so formal the names Durham and what may I call you?" For some reason this mans comradely ignited something deep down in Aoshi and he felt it was safe to trust this stranger. However, before he could reply Kaoru gave a shocked gasp from behind him. Turning to see what she was looking at his eyes widened in...

A.N

I'm so sorry this chapter was short I'm going to try to update soon, and I know that … is corny.

Please review suggestions comments I love it all A.N next Chapter the real action starts. Both kinds! It will be up tomorrow and it will be long I'll stay up till three am if I have to. Till tomorrow!