Ice Assasin

Chapter Nine: Found Out

Author: Setzu

Rated: R

Kenshin slowly awoke to the smell of jasmine assaulting his senses, and slowly popped his eyes open. He was met with a mass of soft black hair pressed against his face and he stared confused before moving his head away. The sun had just peaked over the horizon and was shining through the cracks of the window in the room. Sunlight danced over the woman in his arms and he smiled. He remembered now falling asleep holding Kaoru.

"Kaoru, Kaoru, wake up," he nudged her gently, not wanting to startled her awake. He could smell the aroma of food drifting down the hall from the kitchen and figured Setzu must have gotten up earlier to make breakfast. It was a task he normally attended too but didn't mind.

"Ugh…What?" she inquired, confused and still sleepy as her sapphire eyes slid open. A blush tinted her cheeks when she realized the position that they were in. "Um…Ah…Good morning Kenshin."

"Good Morning miss Kaoru," he chuckled at her shyness and sat up, brining her with him. "I think Setzu has made breakfast, that she has. We should go eat." She nodded and reluctantly removed herself from his embrace and smiled at him as she grabbed for her brush to untangle her hair. Kenshin watched her struggle with a particular gnarl and moved to sit behind her. He gently grabbed the brush out of Kaoru's startled hands and began to work on the knot.

"Um…Thank you." He simply smiled and continued to brush her hair for her. He loved the feel of her soft hair against his hands as he ran the brush through. When he was done he set the brush aside and stood. "I'll let you get ready on your own now," he smiled one last time and moved out of the room, leaving a dumbfounded Kaoru.

She picked up her favorite ribbon from her small travel bag and smiled as she thought over the affectionate act Kenshin had just done. She knew with out a doubt that a week ago he never would have done such a thing, but now…Things were just different. Each felt much more comfortable showing affection to each other even though neither had verbally admitted the feelings they had, and as she promised Kenshin, she would be patient as he decided how he truly felt about her.

Setzu hummed quietly to herself as she finished cooking the rice and began to cut the vegetables that she had brought with. So far the morning had been quiet and peaceful, aside from waking up from Sanosuke's loud snores. She knew she would have to tease him about it later when he woke up, and grinned to herself.

She glanced out of the corner of her eyes when she heard the soft padding of feet and spotted Kenshin come into the room.

"Aa…Hello Kenshin, sleep well?" he nodded, not catching the insinuating undertone to her voice. His mind was still set on the picture of Kaoru's sleeping face. Setzu rolled her eyes when that was the only response she received and continued to cut the vegetables for a few more minutes. When she was finished she deposited the vegetables into a pot to cook.

"Kenshin? Kenshin?" Wiping her hands on a clean cloth, she walked over to him and waved her hands in front of his face. "Is sex with Kaoru really that good?" Kenshin snapped to attention when the word sex popped into his head and Setzu laughed as he frantically waved his hands.

"Ah! No, no Miss Setzu! We did nothing of the sort!" his cheeks turned redder as Kaoru chose that moment to walk in, a confused look in her eyes as she stared at the two.

"What's going on? Are you all right Kenshin? Your red…"

"Kenshin's fine Kaoru-chan, he was just being a gentleman is all," she smiled and winked at Kenshin who sighed, giving up. Kaoru was still confused but decided to let it go.

"Alright then. Is breakfast ready?"

"Yup, just about. I'll dish it up, oh, and can someone wake the rooster-head?"

"No need, I'm here," Sanosuke grumbled as he walked in, still a bit tired. He yawned and plopped himself down in one of the chairs. "Now where's my food woman?" Setzu glared as she handed Kenshin and Kaoru their food.

"Call me woman again and you can forget about food," she threatened and he grinned as he took the bowl she finally offered him. He didn't answer her, but immediately began to chow down.

"Hey! This isn't half-bad! I thought since you were Kaoru's friend and all your cooking might be just as bad…" Setzu couldn't help but chuckle a little as Kaoru glared and huffed, finishing her food.

"My cooking isn't that bad Sano!"

"Have you tried EATING your own food little missy?" he raised an eyebrow at her as he sat back in his chair. She was about to respond, but then thought about it and frowned. He was right, she hadn't tried eating her own cooking.

"Oh leave her alone rooster-head, at least she can cook," she taunted him as Kenshin grabbed all the dishes. He had volunteered to clean since Setzu had cooked. He eyed both Sanosuke and Setzu and sighed.

"If you two fight, mind taking it outside?"

"No need, I'm actually going to go do some scouting. I'll be back in a little bit," Setzu stated as she grinned, having had the last word against Sanosuke in the argument. She grabbed her sword sitting on a small nightstand table and tied it to her belt before heading out.

"That woman is intolerable…" grumbled Sanosuke as he stood and stretched. Kaoru smile and shook her head.

"You like her and you know it."

"I didn't say I didn't like her, I just said she was intolerable." Both Kenshin and Kaoru were surprised that he had admitted his affection for Setzu and were at a loss of words, however Sanosuke easily filled that void.

"Anyway, if anyone here likes someone it's you two. Just say you love each other already." Then with that he too left the room, going outside for a 'stroll' leaving the two blushing adults.

Something wasn't right, she could feel it, almost taste it. Could it be they were found so quickly? Setzu sighed as she sat perched up in one of the high trees, her mind wandering over what she had found. First she had done a quick perimeter scan of the area and then moved out a little more into the forest to look for anything unusual. At first all seemed all right, but then she came upon a small worn path that hadn't been taken for probably centuries. It was hard to tell, but it looked like some one might have been walking on it recently. It could easily have been some animal, but her gut was telling her other wise.

"Impossible, how would they know we were here?" she murmured to herself. The area was so secluded and she had told no one of the exact location of the cabin. They would all have to be more alert from now on. This would also cut down on their time greatly, and she didn't like that. No, she didn't like that at all.

Slowly, she climbed down the tree and landed with a dull thud on her feet. She began to trek back towards the cabin, wanting to have a talk with Kenshin. Perhaps they should set up a night watch system? It couldn't hurt she mused to herself.

She snapped her head up in attention as a rustling came from nearby and she stopped. Her eyes narrowed and she bent slightly, ready to spring out of the way if someone lunged at her. She didn't speak and she quieted her breathing. For several minutes she stood stock-still, alert, but nothing else moved. Slowly she stood straight and began to move again, wary, but the moment she did something lunged out and tackled her.

"HA!" Damnit, she recognized that voice! She growled and stared up into the deep brown eyes of Sanosuke.

"Get off me Sanouske!"

"Aw, why? You made it hard to sneak up on you and now I've finally caught you off guard little kitty."

"Because I said so that's why! And don't call me little kitty!" She huffed and struggled to push him off but he was by far a lot larger than she was and he was putting a good amount of his weight on her so she couldn't get up. She finally stopped and sighed, exasperated.

"What do you want?"

"Why do you assume I want something from you?" he asked innocently as he stared down at her. He became even more amused when she growled. "Alright, alright, I'll let you up." Reluctantly he slid off of her and stood up. He watched her dust herself off and grinned.

"Come on, you know you like being under me," he chuckled as she blushed deeply and spun away and stalked down the path. "Geez aren't you in a mood. I was just teasing." He jogged up next to her and matched her pace.

"I am not in a good mood Sanosuke."

"And why is that?"

"I think we've been found," she stared at him hard and the humor left his eyes.

"Seriously? Are you sure?" She sighed and shook her head as they approached the cabin.

"No, but my gut is telling me so and I found fresh mark from someone traveling." Sanosuke nodded quietly and sighed.

"We ought to have a meeting about it then. Come on," to her dismay he grabbed her hand and walked up the steps of the cabin and walked inside. He blinked in confusion when he only saw Kenshin who was doing some cleaning. Setzu immediately let go of his hand before Kenshin could see.

"Where's Kaoru?"

"I think she went to fetch some water."

"Damnit, she shouldn't be going outside alone," Setzu hissed to herself and slid a hand down her face. Kenshin looked at Sanosuke and Setzu with worried eyes.

"Why?"

"I think we're found out…" Setzu whirled around to the door as they heard a scream, Kaoru's scream. "Oh hell."