Ice Assasin

Chapter Eight: Arrival and Sleeping Chaos

Author: Setzu

Rated: R

As Setzu had promised it hadn't taken much longer to find their way to the base of the large mountain. There was a small stream that ran around part of the base, and as you made your way up the mountain snow would begin to appear here and there until finally it covered the rocky earth.

Between the stream and where the snow barely began to cover the ground was a small cabin, it was right against the ashen rock of the mountain. It wasn't large, built for perhaps a small family, and was old. Its wood creaked quietly as Setzu walked up the steps to the tiny porch. She stood there for a moment, staring at the cabin with a smile. It had been in her family for many years, and only few knew that it was even here. She waved for the others to come forward as she opened the squeaky door and stepped inside.

"Oi! This cabin's a dump! I told…You," Sanosuke mouthed the lasted word in awe as he stepped in behind Setzu. He stood there with his hands in the pockets of his jacket, his eyes wide and wondering around the generously decorated abode. On each wall was a large tapestry depicting her family history from many, many years in the past. As well, on the fire place and various areas in the small house were swords from her forefathers.

"This is my family's cabins, it was created many generations ago by my ancestors and used when a time of need arose," related Setzu as she walked to one of the tapestries and let her hand gently slide down it. She glanced back and smiled as she noticed Kenshin and Kaoru were in awe as well.

"How come I never knew of this?" Kaoru questioned as she walked further into the main area where a table was set and a few chairs with a kitchenette. Her blue eyes flickered to Setzu's curiously.

"Only family were suppose to know it even existed, but seeing as I'm the last of my blood line I thought it suitable to use this place and let you learn about it," She smiled and hugged Kaoru. "If I could have told you I would have." Koaru nodded and hugged her back before letting her go.

"It's alright, I understand." She smiled as she wondered off to see what the other two rooms were. Setzu set her weapons down on the table as she turned to face the other two males. She gave a triumphant smirk to Sanosuke.

"I told you it wasn't a dumpy old cave." Kenshin smiled at her and her antics to upset Sanosuke who growled and crossed his arms over his chest.

"It may not be a dump but it isn't THAT great of a place." Both knew he was lying, which set a wider smirk on Setzu's face as she walked past him and patted his shoulder as if he was a little boy before walking out the door.

"Sure, sure." Kenshin and Sanosuke watched as she left before turning to each other.

"Where do you think she's going?" inquired Sanosuke.

"Probably to check the grounds for anything unusual or for any intruders."

"Oh yea, I suppose that would be a smart move eh?" Sanosuke scratched his head as he thought and Kenshin shook his head good naturedly at his friend. Kaoru walked out from the small hallway, hands on her hips as she stared both boys down.

"Alright, who is sleeping where? There are only two bed rooms."

"What!"

"Yep, only two." An evil grin suddenly appeared on Sanosuke's face as he nudged Kenshin.

"I know Kenshin wouldn't mind sharing a room with you, in fact, I know he'd love too...OW!" He glared at Kenshin from the corner of his eyes as he held his head in his hands, "Jeez, what is with everyone hitting me?!" He whined, "I was joking anyhow." Kenshin gave him his usual smile as he took his fist away from Sanosuke's head.

"Well then you should not joke about such things, that you should not." Kenshin glanced at Kaoru to see how she had handled the comment, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her reddened cheeks. He startled both as he nodded his head.

"But I will share a room with Kaoru," Each stared at him as if he had lost his mind, but he gazed back evenly.

"Kenshin! Are you all right? I mean, you don't have to, I don't see why…" Kaoru mumbled out surprised and shyly. Kenshin had never been so bold as to suggest something like that, even when protecting her.

"It will be much easier to watch you and protect you, that it will be." Kenshin stated firmly, his eyes speckled with amber for a brief moment, the mere thought of some one hurting his Kaoru made a fury sweep through him. Whether she could protect herself or not, he wasn't going to stop protecting her, not even for a moment.

Kaoru sighed and nodded defeatedly, when Kenshin had his mind set on something there really was no stopping him. Each occupant glanced up to the doorway as a cheery Setzu walked in and shut the door securely behind her.

"Looks like you'll be sleeping with Sanosuke," Kaoru smirked at Setzu. Perhaps this was a good thing, and she could play a bit of matchmaker. Setzu raised an eyebrow at her friend.

"And why would that be?"

"Cause Kenshin will be sleeping in the same room as Kaoru," Sanosuke wiggled his eyebrows, suggesting that it would be more than sleeping. Kaoru glared at him, but her eyes shot wide at Setzu's words.

"Oh, alright, but make sure you two keep it down, we don't need to hear your fun." She smirked deviously at her friend. She supposed she could live a little while with sleeping in the same room as Sanosuke, she'd just make him sleep in the very corner.

"Setzu!" Kaoru gasped with a deeper blush, inventing a few new shades perhaps.

"What? All I'm saying is be quiet, now why don't you go put your things in your room while I get dinner started hmm?" She smiled innocently at Kaoru as she went into the small kitchenette and took out the necessary utensils. Kaoru glared at Setzu and grabbed her bag with an annoyed huff; the matchmaking table had been turned on her. She walked to her room with Kenshin trailing behind her, a slight dazed look upon his face.

Sanosuke leaned against the wall as he grinned at Setzu who began to prepare the rice she had brought along. She raised an eyebrow at him when he didn't say anything, just watched her.

"Are you so fascinated by my beauty that you can find no words to speak?" She asked sarcastically. His grin broadened as he got up from his position and walked up behind her. He shocked her as he rested his chin on her shoulder, his mouth close to her ear.

"Oh, I'm more than fascinated, I'm bewitched," He was enjoying catching her off guard like this, the look on her face was priceless at his words. He smirked as he broke away from the stiff Setzu, her eyes wide.

"What…?" Was all she could manage as she turned around to stare at the retreating figure. His cocky grin had replaced the smirk as he grabbed his own bag and headed down the hall, but not without one last comment.

"Sleeping with you ought to be fun tonight," He winked at her suggestively as he disappeared, barely missing the rice that was thrown at his head.

"Why...I…You…Grr…you rooster!" She yelled out furiously as she came out of her shock, her eye twitching ever so slightly. She growled as she turned back and released her anger out onto the innocent rice before her.

The sun had just about set, only a light glow washed over the forest and mountain terrain. Swiftly and silently a figure swept through the trees. It bounded from shadow to shadow, alert of its surrounding as it came to a stop just outside of the small cottage. Lips curled up in a smile as it watched a young woman with braided hair that shone almost a dark purple walk up the steps of the porch. She was carrying a pail of water. The woman stopped right before she opened the door and looked around, as if she could feel the intruder. When she saw nothing she turned and went inside.

The shadow almost chuckled, but kept itself in check. It may have been earshot away from the cabin, but ears had trees, who knew who else was outside. With a satisfied nod the figured bound back into the shadows and away from the dwelling and towards its own camp.

A small fire lit the cave that was far away from the little home and violet eyes flashed merrily and silver hair swayed with the beeze as the shadow became a woman and sat down triumphantly.

"You thought you could hide her did you?" The woman known as Meimi chuckled to herself. "What ever you do won't matter, in the end my lord will get what he wants, and I will as well. When we meet, I have a little surprise for you…" Her chuckled turned into a dark laugh as she stared at the flames before her, reveling in the thought of her opponent's defeat.

In the small cottage Setzu shivered slightly, as if hearing Meimi's words. It was past dinner and all were getting ready for bed. She hesitated to go to her room, she wasn't fond of facing Sanosuke after the earlier events, and she had been silent to him as he grinned at her all through dinner.

"Are you alright Setzu?" Asked a concerned Kaoru as she sat down next to her friend, her head cocked to the side. The other woman snapped her gaze up to her friend, surprised before smiling.

"Oh yes, I'm fine. Why aren't you in bed?" Kaoru blushed at her friend's inquiry.

"I guess I'm just postponing, but it is getting late, I suppose I'll go. If you need anything, you know where I am." She smiled and hugged Setzu unexpectedly, but nonetheless she returned it. She watched at Kaoru left down the hall and sighed, getting up slowly. She might as well go too.

Kaoru took a deep breath before she walked into the small room, she smiled at Kenshin who had already prepared the two mats on the floor. She sighed in relief; at least there were two mats. She walked over and laid down on her mat, becoming slightly nervous at the way Kenshin was watching her.

"Good night Miss Kaoru." Kenshin watched her with fascination, she was beautiful. Her long dark hair was let down from its ponytail for the night, falling down her shoulder like a dark waterfall. He smiled at her as she laid down and he blew out the small lamp that lit the room, leaving it in darkness.

"Good night Kenshin," Her soft voice rang in his ears as he lay down as well and stared at the ceiling. She was grateful that it was dark so that Kenshin wouldn't be able to see the blush spreading across her face. She was actually sharing a room with him! She turned her head to the side so she could look at the silhouette of his face. She smiled lightly.

"Kenshin?" Her voice was quiet and calm, but held a note of curiosity to it.

"Yes Kaoru?"

"What do you think will happen?" Kenshin's eyes opened at the questioned and he stared at her. He contemplated the inquiry in his head before answering truthfully.

"I do not know Kaoru, that I do not. All I do know is that sooner or later they will find us, but I promise you I will not let them hurt you." She could not help but smile at his answer, he was always so protective of her.

"You know I can fight for myself now though."

"I do not care, I will protect you always, whether you can fight for yourself or not. I understand you know how to take care of yourself, but that does not mean I have to like it." Kaoru held her breath as she heard Kenshin shift towards her and all of a sudden she felt arms encircle her in a hug. She lifted her light blue eyes to his amber ones, startled at the ferocity she saw in them. Did he want to protect that much?

"Kenshin…How, how do you feel about me?" She laid her head on his chest as she waited for his answer. Her heart was pounding so hard and fast she was sure even the enemy could hear it.

"I…Cannot say, you are a friend…." His reply was quiet as he closed his eyes and held her tighter to him. It was hard for him to even comprehend that he loved someone. His past had been so bloody and full of pain, he was scared of hurting her. He remembered the night they had all watched him half turn into the Battousai, he had barely even registered she was there. What if he fell back into the life of a manslayer and could not be called back? Would he hurt her? No, he could not ever lay a finger on her, but who was he to say he would never hurt her emotionally?

Kaoru closed her eyes tightly at his reply, her heart constricting. Was that all she was, his friend? It was better than nothing but it still struck at her heart painfully. She could not help but let a lone tear slide down her cheek, but it was wiped away by a soft, yet callused thumb.

"Please don't cry Kaoru," He whispered. "let me finish. You are a friend…and perhaps more but I do not even fully understand my emotions. You will have to be patient with me." She calmed down as she listened to him, his voice soft and gentle. She nodded into his chest.

"I will wait," he moved to part away from her but she shook her head and held onto him tightly. "No, stay." Kenshin nodded with a small smile and promised he would keep holding her for the night. It did not take long for the two confused adults to fall asleep, content in eachothers arms.

Setzu grumbled as she stared at the door to her room. She ran a hand down her face before slowly sliding the shoji door open and stepping inside. She stared in shocked awe at the sight before her. Sanosuke laid there with no shirt and a cocky grin playing across his lips as he winked at her.

"Why hello, are you ready to get the night on Neko?" Her eye began to twitch and she grabbed a pillow that sat next to her foot and chucked it at his head.

"You hentai! You are soooo sleeping in the corner! You come near me and your dead!" She was blushing furiously at having seen him like that and was getting angrier as he began to laugh. "What's so funny?!"

"Jeez, you really don't like guys do you?" He asked as he calmed down, a hand on his aching stomach as he smirked at her. He chucked the pillow right back at her but she dodged it and glared at him.

"Whether I do or don't is none of your business, and it is more so you than guys that I don't like," She snorted as she laid her mat out and grabbed her blanket. He pouted cutely at her and she looked away, not wanting to get entangled in the gaze.

"Ah, there must be something deeper than it just being me, you get wound up so easily. What happened? He dumped you on your marriage day? Cheated on you?" He pestered her heedlessly. She clenched her fist together as he continued on his rant. She was becoming quite angry as he pried into her life. With out warning she spun around and her fist shot out at his face, intent on actually breaking his nose this time. She blinked when she didn't make contact and stared at Sanosuke's hand that held hers tightly infront of his face once again. After the shock she angrily tugged her arm away.

"If you must know he died," She spat and was about to turn away, but an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her to him.

"So because he died you vowed to hate all men?" His mouth was right behind her ear again and she could feel his muscular chest pressing against her back. She glared when she realized he wasn't going to let go.

"No, I just vowed to hate you." To her astonishment he began to laugh deeply, she could even feel the rumble of his chest.

"Your spunky you know that?" he replied once he quieted down. "There is no need to hate me though, I know you don't really."

"Oh, and how do you know that?" She shot back.

"If you hated me you wouldn't be blushing."

"I…Don't know what you talking about," She stated indignantly, but she knew he was right.

"Do you think you can not love again? Are you afraid?" His voice turned into a low whisper that made her shiver as she sat there stunned, he had hit the right nerve. "You don't have to be afraid you know," His voice was almost gentle now, shocking her even more. He just kept jumping around with his moods didn't he?

"Love is for fools."

"So you think, for now." She raised an eyebrow at him.

"For now? How about for always." He grinned and shook his head as he released her and lay down on his mat.

"No, eventually you'll see it my way." She stared at him for a few minutes, watching him close his eyes.

"Your way?" But she didn't get a response since he had already fallen asleep. She sighed and crawled over to her own mat and blew out the light. What was going on? How did he make her feel like this? Why HIM of all people? With confused thoughts she slowly shut her eyes and let sleep fly her away to another world of wonder for the night.