ALTERING RULES
By: Chiki Yumeshisa

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is not mine…….all original ideas are mine to claim

SETTING: AU - In a country called Daikan, in what seems like the medieval times. I'm glad to see that so many people are open to the idea.

AN: Thank you so much for your reviews, everyone. It means so much to me, after all these months, I remember how it feels to recieve them. I'm glad so many of you were open to the idea, and many of you remember this story. I hope you don't mind the bumpiness of the ride so far, as it will only become bumpier. Buckle your seatbelts, here is the next chapter.

Warnings: None.

Thanks to Shinigami's Angel for the suggestion on the amber eyes! Otanoshimi ni!

CHAPTER 2
- Freedom -

Saitoh got up from his resting place, against a tree, the gnarly wood making an uncomfortable rest as he leaned his head against it. Unlike all the others, he was sitting facing the wagon with all the slaves in it. He had thought to get some sleep, but what with that everlasting Sanosuke romping about, he couldn't. Just as it was annoying him to hell, he caught sight of one of the figures in the wagon jump out.

It was a girl, he knew, by the length of her hair and her grace even when she hurled herself over the side.

Then again, he could never be too sure – Kenshin looked like a girl too. Why he decided to grow his hair that long, he didn't know. Nor did it really matter.

He dusted himself off of the blades of grass and dirt that had scattered on his armor and his cape. Checking to be sure that his sword was in its case, he headed toward the cart.

Sanosuke glanced up as his figure approached. "Oi, Saitoh! Where are you heading?"

His amber eyes narrowed into two slits. "Stay out of my business."

Kenshin gave him an awkward smile as he finished off the last of his berries. In his lap he had a map, and he rolled it up quickly, heaving a sigh.

Saitoh understood him perfectly: they had missed the opening ceremony all due to a stupid breakdown and the gathering of new hands. When they were needed the most, they had been sent off. To make it worse, they would not be able to get back to the palace until the next day, what with the repairs they had had to make. Two of their main wagons with supplies had broken down, and they were waiting around in the sweltering heat.

No, he did not like it at all.

Sanosuke shrugged. "Always so uptight. Don't get your panties in a bunch." He said. Saitoh's eyes twitched in irritation. "It was a simple question." It was all Saitoh could do not to strangle the man where he stood.

"Don't test my patience today, Sagara - " Saitoh began, but Kenshin cut him off.

"Calm down, you two. It's time for a little break. Cool off." The younger man's voice was sharp, full of authority.

The two glared at each other, before Saitoh nodded toward the cart. "Isn't it interesting, how we seemed to have picked up some defiant hands?"

Kenshin glanced toward the wagon. "What do you mean?"

"One of them is getting away as we speak."

Kenshin carefully folded up the square checkered cloth that his portion had come in. He was always like that: neat and picky. "It will not get far."

Sanosuke jumped up, to see. "Where? I don't see……."

"Of course you don't." Saitoh interrupted, smoothly making his way past Kenshin, who gave him a small nod. "Isn't it interesting that it's a woman too."

"Just make sure that she gets back safe." Kenshin pointed out. "She's property of his Majesty. He will not be pleased if……"

Saitoh grunted, shoving past Sanosuke. Without a backward glance, he made his way toward the direction he had seen the slave run. And here he had been craving to use his sword. He was known for giving mercy to no one, but, he heeded Kenshin's warning. Usually, he would do what he wanted, but in this, he decided it was best not to test the King's or Kenshin's patience.

He still didn't see what would be so wrong if he got rid of just one. Brooding, he followed the path the woman had taken. He reasoned it wouldn't hurt to thrash her around a little to vent his frustrations. He was in a very bad mood.

He noticed that the slave was struggling under the weight of the chains she had wrapped around her stomach. It was biting into the thin material of her clothing. Her bare feet snapped the twigs that littered the ground. They bled, and were cut and bruised. He also noticed that she was headed toward the thicket, and he smiled to himself: a chase was always more fun when he let them take the lead. He was about to go after her as she disappeared, when another soldier called out his name.

"Sir Saitoh! You're needed at the front!"

Saitoh frowned. Just when his adrenaline had started pumping. He looked off in the direction of the trees. She could wait – he'd be sure to find her. Sighing, he changed his course, making his way toward the carriage. She could have a big head start – he'd still find her.

- - - -

Kaoru kept going, no matter how winded she was. She was afraid to look back. She was tempted to go back, afraid to get captured. But what she had started could not be undone, so she pressed onward.

She winced as she stepped over a particularly jagged stone on the floor. A new wound opened on her left foot. Eventually, that pain would turn numb, as it had all the other times. She had sold her only pair of shoes for a loaf of bread before, so she had nothing to protect her feet.

As she entered the thicket, it seemed to welcome her with open arms. By that time, sweat stuck to her like a second skin and her breathing was ragged. Her throat was so dry, but she dared not stop, for fear someone had seen her.

It felt like and eternity before she finally collapsed by a small stream that was snaking through the thicket, making a tempting bubbly sound. She fell to her hands and knees by it, drinking by thrusting her whole head forward. She had drunk all the water that had been in the small flask she had been given with that potion of meal.

The water was cold and refreshing, and it soothed her parched throat. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she sat back on her heels when she was finished drinking.

Tired out, and hungry, she opened the small sack she had secured around her waist. The bread was crumbled, and the berries squished: she didn't care. She ate it all with a greedy haste, making sure she got every crumb.

Checking over her shoulder at every given moment, she listened hard for any sounds of footfalls, but only heard the sound of the stream, as she followed it. She felt a faint sense of triumphant joy run through her. She had gotten away! She was finally free.

Surely she would be able to survive, so long as she had the water. She was certain there was food enough in the forest. If not, she'd try her hand at capturing her meal. There was nothing to worry about for the present.

After walking for what seemed like a long time, she froze when she heard a couple of voices. They belonged to men.

She crouched down. So, they had begun to search for her after all. She cursed her luck and crept slowly toward their voices, to check how far away they were. She didn't want to run straight into them. Holding her breath, she peered out.

There were three men, dressed casually in what looked like robes. Monks? She thought, confused. What are they doing here? They were dressed in dark maroon colors, two of them hooded, while the other proudly displayed his bald head. Well, at least they weren't soldiers. Still, they might not take kindly to a slave girl. She was about to back away, when another man came running.

He wasn't a monk, with the way he was dressed in a simple tunic and breeches. He had an unclean face, clearly not having shaved. How disgusting. He seemed excited. "Torr has managed to rally the Hunters. In no time, Daikan's army will be crushed. We will have the advantage."

One monk nodded. "So it is written. But it worries me that a single man will be able to turn the tide."

The dirty newcomer didn't flinch at his murmur. "Nonsense, one man will not be able to take out Shishio-sama's army."

The bald monk seemed pensive. "Have our spies returned yet?"

"No." Came the reply. "But one has managed to infiltrate the palace. He has given us some valuable news so far. He has been there for quite a while without any trace of suspicion and we have yet to hear from him."

Kaoru's eyes widened. A spy?! These people were not from Daikan – they were from Torr, an opposing country. She felt faint when she heard the news: the Hunters were on their side….. The whole army would not last very long. They were known to be the most brutal of men, if they could even be called that. She had heard rumors that they looked more like wild beasts.

There was a spy too, in the castle. That was probably why there had been increasing wars……..and the Daikans always seemed to be losing.

Now Daikan was on its last strand of hope. They had been pushed in, closer to the capital, having lost the battles around the perimeters of the land. Hands were now being hired by the King to help build fortresses. It was an act of desperation.

If that spy continued to give out the military plans and positions, Daikan would see its end in a couple of months. Kaoru crawled backward, hoping against hope that they would not hear the rustle of leaves or the clinking of chains at her waist.

They must have, because their conversations stopped all together. One monk turned his head toward the bush she was hiding behind. They listened intently, and Kaoru forced herself to freeze. Perhaps they would think it was nothing.

She held her breath, listening, as they began to approach. "There were Daikan soldiers up the glade." A monk was saying. "They could have come out here."

Kaoru watched between the leaves, her lungs bursting for air. She was afraid that if she let it out, they'd hear it and come to further investigate. If they did, she was sure she could take out two. Maybe three…….but all four would be difficult – especially since she wasn't in the greatest of conditions. But when she thought about it, she'd put up a fight all the way till her death if she had to.

"They would have no reason to come out here." The other answered. "There was an 'unfortunate accident' that they met with on the road. They will not be going anywhere for the while. It's just a small troop, but that's less to worry about."

The last man straightened, stopping in his footsteps. "Then I should get the word out that it's okay to go – the opening ceremony has probably finished, so the security around the main shrines are probably down. And what with this section being disabled, we'll have an even better chance."

They seemed to forget all about Kaoru, and they began to make their way out of the brush.

Once certain that they were gone, Kaoru slipped back as quietly as she could, ignoring the pain that the chain around her waist was causing.

She had to get word out! She had just heard the plans of the Torrins, and they were already going to be moving. She had to let someone know. But……..who? And who would listen to her? A servant that was a woman? But still, she had to try. There had to be someone who would listen.

Maybe she could tell Sano……..or even Kenshin…….

The thought of having to return after she had tried to escape made her stomach churn uneasily. Would she willingly put herself back in captivity? The idea was not appealing at all, but there was no other way. She'd endure the beatings she would receive, so long as she would be able to help save Daikan in any way. She had no love for the country – but she loved the people. If there was one thing she could not stand, it was the death of many.

She could clearly see Misao's face in her mind, and could imagine all too vividly her fellow slave locked in the combat that those men had in plan. I am a slave, the same as you…she had said. Freedom was forever out of her reach.

However, there was a slight problem now. As she got to her feet, she realized that she had no idea where she had come from, or even where to begin looking for the small troop. She remembered following the river, but had she followed it upstream, or downstream?

She took a step forward, deciding to take the direction of going upstream. She gasped, when she heard a gruff voice behind her say, "And what have we here?"

Her blue eyes nearly popped out of her head.

Fearing to turn around, only one thing was in her mind: those men had found out she had heard everything!

Now what?

To Be Continued………

AN: There are so many unanswered questions of my own, and you know, I had to be vague enough with the ideas so that I could play around with them for future chapters. I am trying my best with this, as it is a new idea. Do tell me if I should continue. I have in mind a few ideas, so most likely I will, but…….If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. I'll be willing to listen and use them if the shoe fits. Again, major thanks to those who have reviewed!!!! Please let me gather my thoughts, but I do promise another chapter. How long it will take depends…….

Again, reviews are important for the continuation of this fic, so please do by clicking that button!