Disclaimer: only in my dreams do I own Rurouni Kenshin, but mind you I do own the idea's for this little fic!
A/N: Thank you all who reviewed now on with the story. And I am not saying anything at the moment on who else will make an appearance, but if you think of most of the main characters (protagonists not antagonists though) They may be in here because you know how I am (just look at my other fic and you know what I mean. )
One could only fathom how long it would take to get to Kyoto, especially on foot. Kyoto and Hokkaido are on two very different parts of Japan. And to travel there without Kaoru being caught would prove to be an effort within it's self.
They had been walking in silence since the sun had come up, they had avoided towns at all costs; but they couldn't avoid a town now, they needed to buy passage on a steam boat to get back to Honshu ((A/N: that's the correct island isn't it?)) getting Kaoru on the boat would prove to be very difficult indeed.
"Kenshin how are we going to do this?" Kaoru said as they looked down upon the city of Fukushima.
Kenshin looked her over, "Well Miss Kaoru I think you may need a disguise, that town down there is swarming with police officers no doubt looking for you."
"I already knew that much Kenshin, but what kind of disguise, no matter what they will be able to spot me, I mean I may be a plain girl but I am easy to-" Kaoru stopped, she got an idea a smile cracked across her face. "I'll be back-" she said and she disappeared into the trees.
"Miss Kaoru I don't think it is a good idea for you to go off alone-"
"Kenshin" she said sharply, "I don't want a hentai like you watching me get dressed so back off!"
"Oro?" Kenshin said dully as the Battousai screamed inside his head 'What are you waiting around for? She may need some 'help'' Kenshin verbally squeaked another "Oro" as the rurouni inside of responded to the Battousai, 'No we will not! Miss Kaoru does not need any 'help' from you, that she does not!'
'You sound a bit perturbed little Rurouni, are you a little protective of the girl?' the Battousai snorted.
The rurouni glared 'What are you talking about we both are, and you know it!'
'Yes but unlike you my dear rurouni, I am not afraid to admit what our feelings for her are; and I wouldn't mind showing her either...'
The rurouni didn't get enough time to respond Kaoru had just walked out of the trees. Kenshin couldn't help but stare at her in disbelief. There was Kaoru standing in front of him dressed in a man's western style clothing. Not only that, she had done something to her appearance to make her a little more like a man than Kenshin ((A/N: Yeah I know that's not saying much there)). He couldn't put his finger on it but some how it worked.
"What Kenshin?" Kaoru said confused at his expression, "You said I should have a disguise, and they can't tell it is me if I dress as a man."
Kenshin looked at her unable to respond, "I-I um..." he stuttered. "Where did you get those clothes?"
Kaoru smirked and she slung a package over her shoulder no doubt holding her other clothes and started to walk towards the town. She turned around to see Kenshin standing there still looking at her. "Kenshin, don't just stand there, I can't do this without you."
"Yes ma'am!"
"Stop with the ma'am thing for now." She said sternly
Kenshin nodded and followed Kaoru down the hill, and into the town.
When they arrived in the town they noticed that police had all flocked there, not only that but there were flyers all around town with a very ugly figure on it, they seemed to be for a wanted person. Kaoru picked up one of the papers and read it and she gasped.
She grabbed Kenshin's sleeve to stop him. "Kenshin" she whispered trying to guise her feminine voice. "Do I really look like that?"
"Oro?" Kenshin looked at the wanted flyer and read it.
Wanted: Kamiya Kaoru for crimes against the government. Warning this suspect is suspected to be armed and dangerous if you see her, report to your local authority...
Kenshin looked at the picture, it wasn't skillfully done at all, she had a menacing look on her face and the picture looked more like an angry leprechaun than Kaoru. Kenshin smirked, 'At least they wouldn't be able to tell what she looks like from the picture.'
"What are you smiling at?" She said suspiciously.
"Nothing, we should buy our tickets that we should."
"You go ahead and buy them and I will meet you at the inn over by the docks." Kaoru grimaced she hated the thought of staying there but it was all that they could afford for the time being.
"I think you should stay with me..."
"Kenshin, you worry too much, I can handle myself! Besides it would look odd for two men buying tickets together." Kaoru didn't wait for him to respond as she walked off before Kenshin could protest further.
'Stubborn as ever, she will never change.' Kenshin thought idly as he watched her retreating back.
Kaoru was walking through the town when she got the urge to go into an armory supplies store to purchase herself a bokken, if she was going to be on the run she wanted to be able to defend herself even if she had Kenshin. She picked up a well built one and took a couple of practice swings when she felt a prickle on the back of her neck. Kaoru shot around to see Saitou standing in the shadows of the shop.
"What do you want? Kenshin is on the other side of town." She said venomously.
"Glad to see you're alive, now let's see if you can stay that way," He smirked.
"Why so you can fight Kenshin?" She shot him a vindictive glare. "Do you have a one track mind or something?"
"Hardly," Saitou lighted a cigarette and inhaled "Being able to fight The Battousai is a perk. But the truth is you are nothing more than bait, and you're kind of useless bait if you're dead."
Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "Bait, for what?"
Saitou just laughed as he turned to leave. Kaoru stood there as he walked pass her, she didn't even make an attempt to stop him, she knew her efforts would have been futile.
Kaoru paid for the bokken and left the shop and made her way towards the inn. 'I can't tell Kenshin about Saitou,' she thought. 'He is worried about me enough as it is, I am always making him worry about me.'
When Kaoru arrived at the inn Kenshin was already waiting in front of it for her. Raised her eyebrows at his expression, she didn't want to talk seeing the police men standing around the dock.
"Our boat leaves in an hour." He said.
"An hour?" She whispered "How did you get tickets for today?"
"It's winter, not many people want to travel during the winter, but don't fret it Miss Ka-"
Kaoru elbowed Kenshin little harder in the stomach than she intended when she noticed people were listening. "Kenshin!" she whispered harshly "Did you get hit in the head or something? You can't sit here and call me Miss! Or Kaoru at that!"
Kenshin slapped himself for his mistake, 'Baka Rurouni!' he thought. "We should go, or we'll miss the boat."
Kaoru nodded, she was going to speak as little as possible her voice was to feminine and would give her away fast.
It didn't take them long but they had made it to the passenger ship that would take them to Aomori. Kenshin led Kaoru to the room that they would have to stay in for the duration of their trip.
"Kenshin?" She questioned him as she looked into the dank little hole in the wall. That is defiantly what it was, the room was small not much bigger than an over sized closet, and had bunk beds with a small bucket in the corner and a mirror next to it.
"I'm sorry Miss Kaoru," Kenshin said closing the door behind them. "I thought getting the earliest tickets out of here would be the best thing and well, they only had one room..." Kenshin blushed a little, he felt a little awkward having to share a room with Kaoru, but he just reminded himself that at least she would be safer with him there. Not to mention the battousai inside of him was screaming 'Oh yeah baby!' The rurouni started twitching at the Battousai's thoughts, 'No don't think about miss Kaoru like that!'
"Well I get the bottom bunk," Kaoru said, she didn't much like the idea of falling off of the top one in the middle of the night.
The ship started to move and they were off, soon they would arrive in Aomori, and they would be one step closer to Kyoto.
"I think I am gonna be sick," Kaoru chocked as she ran for the bucket in the corner of the room and emptied her stomach of the lunch she had earlier that day.
They arrived at Aomori it had taken them a long time, but it was worth it, now came the difficult part, they had to make it all the way to Kyoto(1) alive.
To be continued...
(1) for those who don't know it is about 420 miles (I think anyway, maps are evil!) of walking between Aomori (yeah that's right it's a real town I didn't pull the name out of my bum) and Kyoto, well they should have some 'fun' on the way don't you think?
A/N: well pretty light and uneventful chapter, (well except for the semi- random appearance of Saitou, and Kaoru's adventure in the land of cross dressing.) but it will get better I promise. Just a warning, please notice that the next chapter is my reasoning for rating this story pg-13 (it would be rated R but I hate going into description on touchy subjects.)
Oh I also have no qualms about delaying the next chapter if I don't get to many reviews so just press that little button on the bottom of your screen, you don't have to say much you could say BLIPPITY BLIPPITY BLUE! For all I care as long as I know that you are reading my story.
Until next time! waves