Hello again! I would like to apologize for my lack of posting, I've had a writer's block like never before, but really there is no excuse, and I'm sorry I've taken so long. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Ice Assasin

Chapter Seven: To the Mountains We Go!

Author: Setzu

Rated: R

The stars twinkled in the darkened sky of the next morning above the Kamiya dojo where four figures stood quietly in the shadows. It was in the morning, but before the sun began peaking over the mountains to cast its glorious shine over the city. The wind was gentle and carried only a slight chill. One of the figures motioned with its hand to follow as it leap silently from the protection of the shadows and quickly scurried across the dojo yard and to the gate. The other three soon followed with the same skill and grace. With a nod to each other the group went out into the deserted streets and made their way to the outskirts of town.

None of them spoke as they silently weaved in and out of the shadows until they made their way to the outskirts. Now, instead of having houses lining the streets, trees began to become visible. Their branches swayed with the breeze as the stars began to disappear and the sun barely came over the tip of the mountain.

"Come, we should travel in the trees from now on," Whispered a femine voice authoritatively. Green eyes glanced warily around as she waited for her companions to enter the foliage. A hand rested threateningly on the sword at her hip. When she was positive no one saw them she followed after the other three and into the protection of the forest.

"I don't see why we have to be so quiet Neko." The tallest of the four whined as he slouched against one of the trees. The woman stared in surprise and confusion.

"Neko?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow. The man nodded.

"Yea, you move like a cat so I decided to call you that, got a problem with it kitty?" He taunted. The woman growled and took a step towards him but a hand on her shoulder stopped her and she turned to meet blue eyes.

"Calm down Setzu, he is just trying to get a rise out of you." The smaller woman smiled at her friend before shooting a look at the cocky man. "And Sanosuke stop harassing her," she chastised.

"Come on miss Kaoru, we should keep going, that we should," Stated the shorter man. Setzu gave him a nod of approval before ushering Kaoru to get walking again.

"Kenshin is right, the longer we linger, the more dangerous it gets."

They all nodded and continued on their way again, alert and ready for anything. The sun was now up and glistening beautifully down on them, it would prove to be a gorgeous day. Setzu began to relax slightly as they came deeper and deeper into the forest, and closer and closer to their destination. None of them knew where they were going save Setzu.

"So where exactly is this place?" Questioned Sanosuke with one of his cocky, annoying grins plastered on his face as he trailed along right next to her.

"I've told you, in the mountains."

"So it's like a crappy cave or something?"

"No, not a cave."

"Then what is it?"

"Will you shut up?"

"No." Setzu sighed exasperated an annoyed.

"Why?"

"Because I like to annoy you," Sanosuke was obviously enjoying the torture he was inflicting upon his new companion. Setzu's left eye began to twitch slightly as she tried to keep her anger in check. Kaoru, who was walking a little way behind the other two along with Kenshin smiled and chuckled at her friend who was having a rough time with Sanouske.

"How long do you think she'll last before she tries to kill him?" Questioned Kenshin, who was also finding this quite amusing. Kaoru turned her smile to him making his cheeks tint slightly, he loved her smiles.

"Oh, I'd give it maybe five more minutes."

"OW! You bitch what was that for!"

"Or, maybe not," Trailed off Kaoru as both looked to Sanosuke who was holding his head in pain and standing next to a very happy and triumphant Setzu holding her sword, still in it's sheath.

"Ha, teaches you right! I told you to be quiet."

"Do you ALWAYS go around hitting innocent people who happen to like to talk?"

"INNOCENT?"

Kaoru shook her head with a sigh as she turned back to Kenshin who had been staring at her. He blushed again and turned away. Kaoru smiled to herself after she caught him looking at her.

"Thank goodness we aren't like those two huh?"

"Yea, I'm glad…" Kenshin trailed off surprised as Kaoru suddenly took his hand in hers. She smiled shyly at him as she tugged him towards the other two.

"Come on, we should catch up and keep them from killing each other."

"Yea, I suppose we should." Both walked hand in hand towards the other two until they came close, where they reluctantly let go of eachother. If one of the two saw they had been holding hands they wouldn't hear the end of it.

"Will you stop calling me Neko?!" Cried Setzu annoyed. Both Sanosuke and herself had stopped walking as they argued. They were facing eachother and she had one hand on her hip while the other one clenched and read to punch.

"Now calm down Neko, you aren't about to hit a sexy man like me are you?" Sanosuke grinned at her and winked as he straightened proudly. Setzu stared at him dumbly for a moment before bursting out in laughter. Sanosuke watched her curious and annoyed.

"What? What are you laughing at?"

"Your…Aha…A sexy man?"

"Hey! I am too!" his comment only seemed to throw her deeper into her fit of laughter though. Sanosuke stood there, pouting like a little boy until she calmed down and Kaoru and Kenshin walked over.

"Why is she laughing?" Kenshin stared oddly at the bent over Setzu. She was holding her stomach and trying to stop laughing.

"She's wrong in the head, that's why," Whispered Sanosuke as he twirled a finger around the side of his head and pointed at her. Setzu shut up after the comment and glared at him.

"What did you say?"

"I said…"

"Would you two quit it, I'm hungry and tired and want to get to the place you told us about Setzu," Kaoru whined as she stepped in between the two to keep a WWF smack down from happening. Setzu rubbed her temples before nodding to her friend.

"You're right, sorry. We aren't that far from the base of the mountain so it won't take long at all." Kaoru smiled happily as she then grabbed Setzu's arm and proceeded to walk again.

"Let's go then!" Seztu smiled and laughed as each of them walked arm in arm towards their destination. Kenshin and Sanosuke watched as both women went along merrily. With a shrug Kenshin walked after them, and soon enough a grumbling Sanosuke followed.

"Damn women…"

"What do you mean they're gone!" Thundered a furious man. He was sweating and held a Katana in one hand.

"They…Well…Are gone Sir," replied a nervous man. He was older than most, perhaps around his forties and was beginning too bald. He wrung the fabric of his shirt between his hands as he kneeled before the other.

"Is there any indication as to where they might have gone?" hissed the man as he stared at his sword, a smirk beginning to spread across his face.

"No, no…Sir."

"I see…. You may go." The kneeling man let out a relieved breath as he hurriedly got up and headed to the shoji door. He suddenly gasped and clutched his stomach where a sword was protruding. He turned slowly to his liege.

"You may go to the other world, no one fails me." The killer laughed sickeningly as the old man fell to the ground lifeless. His laugh was short lived however as a voice caught his attention and he turned sharply to the shadows.

"I perhaps know where they are Yugamu," Related a purely femine voice. A woman with gorgeous silver hair stepped from the shadows and stared Yugamu in the eyes with her deep violet eyes. She smirked as she walked right up to him and trailed a hand down his sweating chest, the man had been practicing before these interruptions.

"You are to call me your Lord, Meimi, not by my real name." He narrowed his eyes and grabbed her hand away from his chest. She pouted, but relented to his wishes none the less.

"My apologies my lord."

"Now tell me, you know where they are?"

"Perhaps, but I wish to check it out myself." Yugamu looked at her for a moment, contemplating.

"Alright, you may go, and when you return I want a full report," He stated sternly as he pushed her away and walked out from the training room. She chuckled to herself as she watched him go, he would be hers one day and she would become powerful with him by her side.

She left the training room and headed to her own bedroom to begin packing for her small 'vacation'. She smirked as she slid the shoji door to her room open and stepped inside before closing it. A smile spread across her lips as she went to her bed where a man lay down, waiting. She kissed him quickly before tracing the scar down the left side of her cheek.

"Come to bed Meimi," Pleaded a male voice. She smirked down at the young man.

"Of course Hibiki."