Kenshin groaned miserably and opened his eyes, only to immediately close them again when met with blinding light. Feeling decidedly sick, and strangely hungover, he cracked one eye and glared ineffectually at the morning sun peeking over the snow-capped mountaintops in the distance. That caused him to jerk upright and stare openly. Mountains? Why was there a mountain range on the horizon? And for that matter, why was he alone in the middle of nowhere?
Lost and confused, Kenshin just shook his head and said the first thing that came to him naturally.
"Oro?"
Getting no response to his inane question, he levered himself to his feet with the aid of his reverse blade sword and proceeded to wobble, still disoriented. Not recognizing the area, he carefully replaced his sword at his side and began walking in a random direction. As soon as he found a road, he could surely find a town or a person and ask directions. Sooner or later, he would figure out where he was and how to get back to Tokyo. Kaoru would be upset if he didn't finish the laundry.
He had only been walking for a few minutes when he saw a thin wisp of smoke just a little ways away from him and a little to the left of his present course. Deciding that a fire would mean that someone was there to tend it, he veered towards the source of the smoke. Even if the people there didn't know where they were, he wouldn't mind sharing the fire for a few minutes. The early morning chill was slightly uncomfortable.
Watching the trees and grasses as he walked, Kenshin realized that he must be a long ways from home. Not recognizing most of the plant life, he was certain that he wasn't even in Japan. He wondered once again how he had gotten out to where he was and swore silently that someone had better give him an explanation when he got back.
Circling a cluster of trees, he found the source of the smoke. A small group of men sat beside a well-used road, a small fire crackling merrily a few feet from them. Putting on his best airhead smile, Kenshin started forward. Hearing him approach, the six men rounded on him.
"Excuse me, I didn't mean to startle you, de gozaru," Kenshin said, rubbing at the back of his head as he remembered the lump that was there from the last time he had snuck up on Kaoru. She had not been pleased. "I'm afraid that I'm lost. Do you know how to get to Tokyo, de gozaru ka?"
"Never heard of the place," one of the men growled.
"Oh. Then could you please tell me which way it is to the nearest town, de gozaru ka?" Kenshin tried again, choosing to overlook the scowls directed at him.
"There are no towns for at least a full day's hard traveling," a second man said, studying Kenshin with an interested look that made the redhead decidedly uneasy.
"You could stay with us though," a third man offered, openly leering.
"I travel faster alone. But thank you, de gozaru," Kenshin responded, taking a step back. His instincts as a warrior told him that it was time to leave.
"But this isn't a safe area for a pretty lady to be wandering around alone in," the second man added, still staring.
"ORO?"
"They're right, this isn't a safe area," a new voice added from behind Kenshin. He almost spun instinctively to fight, one hand moving towards his sword, when the speaker leapt neatly over him to land fist first on the second man's face.
The new arrival flipped over the man he had just hit, not even bothering to watch him crumple, and proceeded to beat the living snot out of the other five men. Kenshin watched the blue-haired teenager move assuredly through the full-grown men, carefully noting his fighting style. He was impressed by the skill that the youth possessed. In a matter of seconds, the fight was over and all six men were unconscious. The teenager grinned at their still forms before walking back over to Kenshin.
"Um, arigato, de gozaru," Kenshin stammered. "But that wasn't necessary. I could have easily outrun them, de gozaru."
"I see," the blue-haired teen said. "The sword is just for show. Let me guess, you're traveling with a lot of money, aren't you?"
"Oro?"
"Not to worry," he continued hastily. "I'm not here to rob you. But I wouldn't object to payment for my services." He grinned, holding out one hand.
Kenshin grinned ruefully. He was certainly in a strange place. He began rooting through his clothes, looking for some sort of money. Perhaps if he paid the boy, he could get directions out of him. He needed to get home. After a few moments of rummaging, he came up empty handed.
"I don't seem to have any money on me, de gozaru," he apologized. The teenager glared at him angrily.
"Do I look like a charity? I don't work for free! Why are you wandering around in the middle of Konan without any money?"
"I'm lost, de gozaru," he admitted sheepishly. "Could you tell me where I am?"
"Nothing doing," the teenager grumped. "No money, no services. Look, if you can't pay me, I'm leaving you here, lady."
"ORO! I'm not a woman, de gozaru!"
"Then why are you dressed in pink?"
"I like pink," Kenshin muttered.
"You would," the teen snapped. Grumbling, he turned to leave.
Kenshin glared after him, pouting. He would have just let him leave, but he was honestly lost and didn't like the idea of wandering around aimlessly in some country he wasn't familiar with. Besides, the teenager did try to help him, even if he was a money-grubbing brat. Silently, he fell in behind the blue-haired youth.
"Why are you following me?" he snapped over his shoulder.
"I'm lost, de gozaru," Kenshin said as if it explained everything. He got a glare in return, but decided to ignore it. After a few minutes, the blue-haired boy rounded on him furiously and took a quick swing at him, which Kenshin easily avoided. He had already seen the fighting style and he was much faster.
"Quit following me," the teen snapped, still brandishing his fist.
"Not until you tell me where I am, de gozaru."
Again, a fist was raised towards Kenshin. However, the blue-haired boy seemed to think better of it after a moment and folded his arms crossly instead, recognizing a warrior when he saw one. A warrior pushing the limits of crossdressing, but a warrior nonetheless. The teenager stared at him for a few moments before shaking his head and turning around to continue down the road. Kenshin resumed following him, this time a little further behind, wary of being swung at a second time.
"What's your name?" the teenager asked suddenly.
"Oro?"
He sighed. "If you're going to be following me, I want to know what to call you, unless you really want me to call you 'oro' from now on."
"Kenshin Himura."
"Tamahome," the youth said immediately. He glanced back at Kenshin curiously. "Where are you from? I don't recognize your accent."
"I'm from Tokyo, de gozaru."
"Never heard of it."
Kenshin shrugged, not surprised. He had heard Tamahome mention Konan earlier but hadn't recognized it. There was no doubt about it. He was extremely lost.
"What country is this?" he asked suddenly.
"China. You are lost, aren't you?"
Kenshin's eyes bulged. How did he get to China? He must have paused on the road, staring into space like a dunderhead, because Tamahome stopped just ahead of him and turned around.
"Look, kid," he began, stopping at the furious outburst it earned him.
"ORO!"
Tamahome sighed. "Fine, fine. How old are you?"
"Thirty, de gozaru!" Kenshin said indignantly.
Tamahome's eyes bulged. He had expected an answer lower than that. MUCH lower than that. In fact, he had thought that the redhead was fourteen or fifteen. Hearing an age twice what he expected left him in a mild state of shock. When he finally came out of it and began thinking of everything that had been assumed about the diminutive man, he couldn't help himself. He snickered.
On the other hand, Kenshin was far from happy. First, he had been mistaken for a woman and now for a child! It was absolutely humiliating. And now, the teenager was laughing at him. He huffed indignantly and proceeded to sulk.
"Calm down," Tamahome chuckled. "Look, I'm heading to the capital to look for some work. Someone there will probably know how you can get home."
Kenshin nodded and allowed himself to be led down the road once more, still pouting. His mood was not improved upon whenever Tamahome stole a quick glance at him and resumed snickering. It was settled. When he got home, someone was going to pay dearly.
* * *
Kaoru nearly tripped over Sano where he had passed out in the doorway to the dojo and now lay snoring in a puddle of drool. Seeing as to how he was blocking the door, she calmly stepped on him to get by, deaf to the grunt of protest beneath her feet. Still standing on him, she noticed a book just beyond his limp fingers and knelt down to get it, her knees resting on Sano's head.
Curious as to why the rooster-head had a book, she plopped down on his lower back and proceed to flip open the book. Kanji appeared before her eyes on the ancient pages and she nearly dropped the book in shock. Regaining her wits, she snapped the book shut and dashed off, leaving footprints down Sano's spine as she disappeared.
She could barely read a few words in Chinese. However, what she had seen was enough to have her worried. In front of her eyes, Kenshin's name had appeared. Using words that would have made Sano turn crimson, she sprinted for the one person she knew of that spoke Chinese.
"Megumi!"
* * *
Saito bit back a groan as he opened his eyes. He felt like he had been hit by a train. The first thing that came to his attention was a small group of men attempting to take his sword while he was unconscious. Growling, he locked his fingers around the hilt and rolled to his feet, ignoring the hazy, rolling feeling running around in his skull.
"Don't worry," a dark-haired man said, unfazed by Saito's death glare. "Just give us the sword and your money and we won't hurt you."
Despite being groggy and lost, he realized when he glanced around, he was more than a match for the three men facing him. They all had swords drawn and facing him, but he was unconcerned.
"I have a better proposition," Saito said in what was decidedly not a friendly voice. "You tell me where I am and I might let you live."
At the laughter he received for what he believed to be a generous offer, he drew his sword and shifted his stance slightly. The harsh chuckles grew louder.
"You're outnumbered three to one and you want to fight?" the dark-haired man guffawed. He shook his head. "All right. We did offer to spare you." Saito smirked.
At the first sign of movement, he slipped forward and cut the spokesman in half. Before the other two could do more than open their mouths to shout, he beheaded the second and skewered the third, pinning him to a nearby wall.
"I repeat," Saito said slowly, as though he was speaking to a moron, which in his opinion, he was. "Where am I?"
"Kutou!" the surviving man babbled immediately. He whimpered and gingerly closed his hand on the blade of the sword still holding him upright by his shoulder. "You're in the slums at the southern end of the capital!"
"Thank you," Saito said, pulling his sword free. Released, the man slumped to the ground. Saito raised his sword again.
"Wait a minute," the man cried. "I thought you said you would let me live!"
"I said that I might," Saito responded in a monotone. "You are, however, unaware of my philosophy. Aku soku zan."
The man opened his mouth to protest, or perhaps to plead for his life. He never got the chance. A moment later, his head was pinned to the wall by the same blade that had held his shoulder only a few seconds ago. Saito pulled his sword free and cleaned it with one smooth motion before sheathing it.
If he was truly in the capital, he could find someone more worthwhile to talk to. Eventually, he would find someone who would tell him whatever he needed to know. Straightening his uniform, he began traveling north through the city. In the distance, he could see the towers of a large castle. It would be good place to ask for directions.
To Be Continued…
Sorry! Couldn't help picking on poor, tiny Kenshin. *mad cackle* And you know that Saito had to throw a fit and attack someone. It just wouldn't be him otherwise. R&R needed to feed the starving, twitching ego before it starts eating passing pedestrians.