Another chapter. Feels short to me but it ends in a good place for the next chapter to pick up from and roll with. We actually get some KK interaction and more things are set into motion – this fic isn't going to be done anytime soon, so please sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride .

Shiin

000

Megumi waved away Kaoru's attempts to help her and half-dragged, half-carried Sano into her tent where she dumped him onto one of the pallets with a not-too-gentle thud.

Kaoru winced in sympathy. Megumi was not in a good mood and hurt or not she seemed ready to take it out on Sano.

Sano's eyes flickered open and he groaned softly.

"Idiot." Megumi balled her hand into fists to keep from hitting him... or strangling him.

Sano blinked several times as he tried to focus on her face.

"What were you thinking running off for EIGHT damned MONTHS with barely a goodbye?" Megumi snarled.

"Hunting demons," Sano said weakly.

Megumi snorted and glared at him. "Apparently since you are in such bad shape."

"You should see the demons," Sano raised a hand to his head and flinched. "Pain killers please?"

"I should kill you," Megumi retorted but grabbed her medicine bag and dug about it until she pulled out the small bottle containing her pills. She dumped several into her hand and held them out to Sano who tossed them back and swallowed with a grimace.

"Tastes horrible."

"Poor baby," Megumi tsked. "Deal with it."

"Water?" He asked.

Kaoru got to her feet and came back with a canteen which she handed to him and he took a swig, grinning thankfully at her.

Megumi sighed again and tugged his gi off his shoulders and around his waist hissing at the mass of bruises across his chest and shoulders.

"Did the demon throw you into a mountain or something?"

"No... just a very large rock."

Megumi shook her head and grabbed her container of salve and began to spread over the bruises.

Sano yelped at her ministrations. "That stings!"

"Stop complaining," Megumi retorted.

"So did you miss me?"

"No," Megumi replied. "I had peace and quiet for eight months."

Sano winked at Kaoru over Megumi's shoulder.

"You never do well with peace and quiet Fox, you like action."

Megumi glared at him, "pity the demon didn't break your jaw."

"He tried," Sano said cheerfully and Megumi shook her head.

"Kaoru this is Sanosuke, Sanosuke this is Kaoru," Megumi introduced them.

"So you're Kaoru," Sano grinned. "Heard the news about Kenshin finally taking a wife."

Kaoru snorted. "Depends on your definition of 'take'."

Sano shook his head, "he's hard to get to know."

"Understatement of the century," Kaoru replied.

"Want me to knock some sense into him?" Sano offered.

"You will be knocking nothing into anyone until you are healed," Megumi said. "You're body is one big bruise. You have a concussion - which is probably why you are so lucid at the moment - and you have more sprains and pulled muscles than I can count. Rest and a lot of it for you."

"Confined to bed?" Sano asked.

"Yes. Without me."

Sano winced, "Fox...!"

"Eight months," Megumi snapped.

"I said goodbye," Sano muttered.

"In a hastily scrawled letter," Megumi's eyes glinted dangerously. " 'Dear Megumi, I'm off to hunt demons. See you soon…Sanosuke'."

Sano tried to make himself smaller. "Sorry?"

"Not good enough."

Sano was saved from replying when Kenshin suddenly entered the tent.

"Sano," he said softly.

"Hi, Kenshin." Sano scooted away from Megumi who had resumed glaring at him. "The Sekihoutai are back."

"Anything to report?" Kenshin inquired.

"The demons are definitely getting more numerous. They're massing near the north along the Hiten-Kasshin border."

Kaoru stiffened at the mention of her old home. "Are they going to attack?" She asked softly.

Sano shook his head, "doesn't appear so, at least for the moment. Where they are contains the deepest well of magic in the two countries. They're tapping into it and drawing strength from the looks of it."

Kenshin muttered a soft curse. "Things are moving faster than we expected."

"Yes," Sano's voice was serious, all humor gone.

"How are your men?"

"Tired... sore... hungry... raring to get back into action." Sano grinned.

Kenshin nodded, "good then. We move out in two days time."

"Where?" Kaoru asked softly.

Kenshin's eyes flickered over to her. "To Kasshin."

000

Kaoru sighed and wrapped her arms around Karuna's neck, pressing her face against the mare's cheek.

Kasshin.

Kenshin had made the announcement to the camp two hours before.

She was going back to Kasshin.

Nervousness formed a knot in her stomach.

It went without saying that her family would not welcome her back with open arms and glad faces.

She had been the sacrificial - the one least needed and the one everyone had wanted rid of.

And now she was returning to the place - to the people, that hated her...

When had she begun to think of Hiten as home?

The people there as friends and in some cases family?

Karuna nickered softly and she stroked the palomino's neck.

Two days time.

Two more days.

Then they would return to Kasshin.

Kaoru was not looking forward to it.

There was the soft pad of footsteps behind her and she turned to see Yahiko and Misao looking at her with worried eyes.

"You've been out here for hours," Misao said softly.

"I just need some time to think," Kaoru replied.

"You don't want to go back." Yahiko said.

"No... I don't," Kaoru sighed.

They knew her better than anyone. They had seen what had been inflicted upon her, known what had happened - the events that had forced her family to cast her away to Hiten under the guise of marriage to Kenshin. They didn't know all the details or hundred percent of the truth, but they knew that something had gone wrong and that if Kaoru had stayed much longer it would have been her death.

"It won't be the same as last time," Misao told her.

"I know that," Kaoru replied. "But will that be better or worse?"

Neither Yahiko or Misao had anything to say for that.

Kaoru gave Karuna one more hug and then stepped away from the mare.

"Let's have something to eat," Misao murmured. "You'll feel better on a full stomach."

Kaoru let them pull her away and back to the camp where Misao proceeded to shovel food onto her plate and watched carefully to make sure that she ate everything that she was given.

The camp was already a bustle of activity. Two days before leaving meant nothing – many things had to be accomplished before they left. Tents were still being dug out from under the freak snowfall and Kaoru saw that hers was still buried beneath it.

Kaoru helped clean up after the meal and put the dishes away. As soon as she was done she found herself being given more chores to do so that momentarily the thought of returning to Kasshin and the consequences of it, fled her mind.

000

Kenshin felt a flicker of something at the edge of his consciousness. Opening his eyes slightly he saw Shulya standing before him, her form shimmering around the edges but at the same time still solid.

"I'm not dreaming," he said.

Shulya shook her head, "stupid Kinglet. Just because it is easiest to appear in dreams does not limit me to them that it does not."

Kenshin grit his teeth silently at her nickname for him.

"You are making a mess of things that you are," Shulya said softly.

"I'm doing what needs to be done."

"The little one is still too hurt; bringing her to Kasshin so soon will set things into motion faster than you can anticipate."

"I have no choice." Kenshin replied.

Shulya nodded, her eyes shadowed. "For what you need resides there. Both of them reside there."

"Both?" Kenshin queried softly.

"Yes, both." Shulya told him. "Though you have one already in your possession even though you are blind to it." Her lips pulled together in a thin line. "I thought to make it easier for you… it is not easy to make a storm such as this. But you would not take the chance that was being offered." She tilted her head, birdlike at him. "What are you so afraid of Kinglet?"

"Don't call me that!"

Shulya nodded. "What is it that you fear then…Kenshin?"

Kenshin stared her at for several moments without speaking.

She sighed and shook her head. "So stubborn…" Her eyes suddenly took on a devious lit that Kenshin and for that matter, Kaoru had never seen before. "I could always make it so that you are snowed in… alone…with the little one…"

Kenshin closed his eyes and said a soft prayer.

Why was the dream-witch so intent on playing matchmaker?

"I don't want to hurt her," he gritted out between clenched teeth.

"Or do you not want to hurt yourself?" Shulya asked softly. "You still do not trust anyone but yourself."

"Do you blame me?" Kenshin replied.

"No," she closed her eyes. "You are right not to trust anyone after what has been done to you. But you are foolish not to trust someone who could help you. You are a good king. You love your people, you protect your people… you do what's right by your people and they love in you return." She smiled a bit sadly. "You do the best you can. I am proud of you for that."

Kenshin ducked his head, bangs falling over his eyes.

"But," Shulya said and he raised his eyes again. "You are not doing right by Kaoru. You took her from her home… you avoid and barely speak to her… you kept her in the dark for the reasons why." She shook her head. "And yet somehow affection even love for you has managed to grow in her."

Kenshin bit his lip, saying nothing.

"Talk to her Kinglet," Shulya murmured. "Get to know her. Allow her to know you. You will need one another when the time comes – and the bond you have will mean either victory or death."

She suddenly stepped toward him, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look at her. A soft look fell across her face as she gazed at him. "You can do it little King."

She let go of him and then there was a gust of wind and she disappeared leaving Kenshin to stare at an empty space.

He sighed and raked his hand through his bangs, mulling over what she had just said.

000

The tent was empty when Kaoru went into it. Kenshin was probably off someplace brooding or plotting or doing whatever else he did when he disappeared for hours, she thought.

She was tired.

Errands and chores had kept her on her feet for hours and then Misao had decided that it would be a great time to practice swordplay.

The smaller girl seemed intent on keeping Kaoru so busy that she couldn't think.

So far it was working.

Kaoru lay down on the bed pallet with a sigh. Her feet ached, her arm ached, her wrist felt as weak as water and her head hurt from where she had been too slow to duck and had gotten whacked with Misao's wooden sword.

Everyone was too smart to give the girl a real sword – for that Kaoru was thankful though her head still rang faintly and there would probably be a bruise on her temple in the morning.

She was half-asleep when there was a rustle of cloth at the tent entrance. Opening her eyes slightly she saw Kenshin duck beneath the overhanging cloth and enter the tent.

"My tent's still under two feet of snow," Kaoru said softly, pushing herself into a sitting position and flinching at the stab of pain that went through her.

Kenshin nodded silently.

Kaoru sighed and tucked her bangs behind her ears as she stared at him.

Getting him to talk was like asking a stone to produce water.

"We leave for Kasshin the day after tomorrow?" Kaoru asked.

Kenshin nodded slightly, "yes."

Kaoru bit her lip. 'What do I say? Kenshin please leave me here – I can stay with Tomoe and Enishi. I am really NOT looking forward to having to see my not-so-dear relatives again.'

"What is in Kasshin that is so important?"

"The Sakabatou," Kenshin replied.

"Saka… what is that?" Kaoru blinked.

"A sword," Kenshin replied.

"Something tells me it's more than just a simple 'sword'." Kaoru retorted.

Kenshin nodded, "a very magical and powerful sword."

Okay… "And it's located in Kasshin because….?"

"Kasshin has forgotten it's magic. Where better to keep a magical weapon than in a place where no one knows what it can do or tamper with its wards? They regard it as just a simple very old sword. Nothing special or worthy of note."

He had a point, Kaoru sighed.

"So we have to go to Kasshin and grab the sword and that's it?" Kaoru asked.

"Yes," Kenshin nodded.

Sounded simple enough.

Kaoru still didn't like it. Pushing back her bangs she hissed softly as her wrist throbbed at the motion.

"What happened?" Kenshin asked, seeing the expression on her face.

"Misao was a little enthusiastic today with practicing swordplay," Kaoru muttered.

She blinked as she suddenly found her wrist being cradled gently in his hands.

"Slight sprain," Kenshin probed it gingerly.

He got to his feet and her eyes followed him as he grabbed a small bag and pulled out a small blue colored jar and roll of bandage and then sat down in front of her once more.

"Hold still," taking her wrist again in his hand, he unscrewed the jar lid with the other and spread bitter-smelling salve over it. Kaoru's wrist turned hot and then totally numb. Setting the jar down Kenshin ripped a piece of bandage into usable length and then wrapped it firmly around her wrist.

"Thanks," Kaoru blinked.

Kenshin nodded and pushed back the sleeve of her gi and rubbed some more of the salve into her arm and shoulder, which turned blissfully numb.

"Better?" He asked screwing the jar closed again and placing it back into the bag.

Kaoru nodded wordlessly, "…yes… thank you…" she said when she finally found her voice.

Kenshin nodded silently again and got up to put the bag back where he had found it.

Kaoru chewed her lip quietly as she watched him.

Okay… he was being friendly – sort of….

She blinked when she realized she had been staring at him and he had been watching her silently in return, an eyebrow raised in question as he waited for her to say something.

"Sorry," Kaoru blinked and shook her head.

Damn this was awkward and she hated it.

"Go to sleep Kaoru," Kenshin told her, getting to his feet.

"What about you?"

"I'm going for a walk. I will be back later."

She stared at his retreating back but somehow couldn't muster the energy to get up and go after him.

Sighing, she lay back down on the pallet and pulled the blankets under her chin and soon she was asleep.

000

The next day Kaoru woke up with only rumbled blankets beside to her to tell that Kenshin had ever been there.

After looking for him for a little while, she found him with Tomoe and Enishi.

Tomoe smiled slightly as Kaoru appeared her eyes warm, and patted the ground beside her, gesturing for Kaoru to sit.

"What's going on?" Kaoru asked, accepting a mug of coffee from Tomoe.

"We're plotting," Enishi replied tensely.

"Oh?" Kaoru looked at Kenshin. "About what?"

"There are not enough people in Hiten to amass into an army to fight the demons that are coming," Kenshin's voice was clipped.

Kaoru blinked, that didn't mean what she thought it meant did it?

"Kasshin?" She asked softly.

Kenshin nodded, "the magic that your people let dwindle must be awakened and renewed if we are to have a chance stop the demons. Kasshin's neglect of their magic was what helped the barriers between the demon world and ours collapse. Had it been tended to correctly, we would not be facing an army of demons. As it is, they outnumber us currently at the moment and we need to swell our ranks."

"Kasshin… is a peaceful country," Kaoru said. "We have an army true, but it is more for show – they are not trained in warfare or magic."

"Then that needs to change and quickly," Enishi said softly.

Tomoe nodded in agreement.

"What are we going to do? 'Hi, there is a demon army ready to take over the world – we need your help to defeat it'?" Kaoru said.

"Basically," Enishi grinned, unnerving her slightly.

She blinked as both Tomoe and Kenshin turned to look at her at once.

"Oh no… I know what you are thinking and it isn't going to work. I'm a half-blood remember? They are not going to follow me. Kasshin isn't Hiten where sword arm's strength means you rule – you rule by blood and rank. Whose blood is bluest and truest gets the crown." Kaoru made a face.

"That is something that can be changed," Tomoe said softly and Kaoru looked at her suspiciously. Either, she'd seen something or knew something Kaoru did not.

Possibly both.

Most likely both.

"Are you and Enishi coming along too?" Kaoru asked.

Tomoe nodded.

Kaoru blinked. That would be interesting… her relatives would take one look at Enishi and Tomoe (or Kenshin) and run screaming – hell, they'd run screaming from half of Kenshin's people.

What an interesting family reunion she was going to have.

Dear gods Kaoru what have you brought home for a family visit?

Suddenly she didn't feel half as bad about going back to Kasshin.