A/N: Yes, Enishi is horrible. I also read the last of Ruro-Ken and I loved it. Now all I have todo is get twenty five more volumes to complete my collection. ( I want um all so I can refer when I need to) I'm sad. Well, I got that out and I know you don't care, so, here we go!

A Princess as a Pauper

The woods were nothing to be afraid of. Kaoru glanced around as she walked over roots and cracked small twigs. Misao held onto Kaoru's cloak, Yahiko at her side holding a small lantern as it was still dark. " Do you know where we're going Kao?" Misao asked peaking over her friends shoulder.

Kaoru's head fell to her chest as she closed her eyes trying to imagine the warrior that had brought her on the same path that they were on now. He had this flaming hair tied back in a peacemaker's blue bow. His eyes were violet and he was tanned. Since it was three years ago he had to have been in his early twenties by now at least. Kaoru opened her eyes and looked ahead maneuvering to the main road instead of the forest that was at it side.

" Hai. We need to get to the border though. That will only take a day from here, ne?"

" This is the main road princess," Yahiko addressed properly," If I'm not mistaken, there should be a small passover town called Lurait that has some nice inn's." he said. Kaoru nodded and looked ahead in the darkness. She had hardly adjusted to the dark, but light began to creep slowly above the horizon giving it a pink tinge at the rise while the rest of the sky still glowed a light blue.

Misao whimpered for a moment releasing her friend's cloak and walking to her side. " How bad?" Misao whispered.

" Nani?"

" How bad was it?"

Misao wrung her hands and stared at her feet as she asked the question. Kaoru gripped part of her dress and stop.

" It was.." she turned back to see a small version of the castle she departed from. " Bad, very bad." Yahiko sat on a rock picking up a piece of wood and twirling it in his fingers.

" Hey, pea brain. Don't ya get it. The princess doesn't want to talk about it." Yahiko asked in a hiss. Misao sat down on a rock adjusting herself on the sharp top and crossing her arms.

Kaoru kneeled on the ground after spreading her cloak to sit. She sulked and winced trying hard to forget about the experiance that she was just losing. " Misao-chan. Gomen, it's hard to say." she twisted more of her dress. She began to laugh a bit while tears streamed down her face.

A rustle came in the trees and Kaoru froze in her place. Automatically Misao jumped stealthily-like to her friend putting her hands in front of her and spreading her fingers prepared to fight what it was. Yahiko stood and looked to the top as leaves fell from the trees. There was a blur above him. Only one causing this much noise. Clenching his fists, Yahiko drew a dagger from his belt and held tight as he closed in on Kaoru. " Show yourself!" Yahiko roared into the night. What he and the rest of this little group feared was that Enishi had sent forces to retrieve Kaoru and he seeing as he was a prisoner.

He turned when something stepped on the ground. The face wasn't visable, and Kaoru really didn't want to looked as she crouched down in fear. There was something odd about Misao's behavior as she stood and gazed at the person. She gave a small whistle and one came back to her. She began to run to the figure and hugged it tighty.

" Konichi' wa Aoshi-sama." she said enclosing harder. He put his arms around her then pried her off looking to Kaoru.

Finally, feeling it was safe, Kaoru looked up and saw his face as he took a step closer. His icy blue eyes shined in the moonlight that was left. His dark bangs falling into his eyes as he looked at her rather skepically. He twitched for a moment, then placing his arm over his chest he bowed to her saying. " Your Excellency."

" W-who?" studdered Kaoru standing with her legs shaking under her.

" I am Shinomori Aoshi, leader of the Oniwabanshuu, your Highness." he answered monotone.

The name seemed familiar, but it was estranged to her." Oniwabanshuu?"

Aoshi didn't waste a moment when she asked. " We are the protectors of Antholl's royal family." Kaoru thought there was a shadow following her for years, but every time she turned there was nothing behind her. The stealth of a ninja was at her side every moment. Well, until she was taken to Eviary where it seemed to stop. This night would not have occured would have this group been behind her.

" Misao-chan. How do you know this man?"

Misao couldn't open her mouth when Aoshi took her place. " When we were no longer to stay at your aid Highness, we sent Misao to play as the role of a hand-maiden. She is in the Oniwabanshuu as well."

" How many are there?"

" Enough to protect the family." Kaoru felt assured and dropped her shoulders. In comparison to this leader, Kaoru was a foot shorter, and Misao was only to his elbow. " You are on a mission to the border?"

Kaoru paused at the question and regaining her voice she nodded. " I will escort you." Turning on his heel Aoshi began down the path. Kaoru had caught sight of a sword at his waist and then really felt reassured.

Misao was at Aoshi's side the entire time, only falling back to ask if Kaoru was okay. Momentarily did they stop at a town halfway to the border to eat lunch and purchase a few supplies. They sat, Aoshi disappearing into town while Misao stayed behind with Kaoru and Yahiko. " How long have you been with them?" Kaoru did feel a little unsure because of what was going on. The Oniwabanshuu knowing her whole life and protecting her. Misao was one of them and never told her. What if it was a plot?

" Since I was young. Aoshi-sama took me in and trained me. "

" He seems cold."

" He hides his emotions so enemies don't get the better of him. He is a very good man though if you've been around him long enough," Misao took off small pieces of her o-hagi and ate it." He puts his whole heart into his job. He was ordered by your father long ago to watch you. He knew that something might happen and wanted you protected. Aoshi kept an eye on you like a hawk. I guess that's why he's the okashira."

" Okashira?"

" It means leader; it's prestigeous title."

" Sounds like it." Misao never said a word to the comment as she took the last bite of her o-hagi and stood starting into the town. Kaoru pulled her cloak closed and followed Misao. Where was she going?

" We need to get you into something more discrete," stated Misao turning to a shop and looking at the sign. It looked well enough to buy a few simple garments for Kaoru after all. " No one needs to know you're the princess. It will make the travel easier. And your hub won't find you so simply." As hyper and air-headed as Misao was, she was smart in times of crisis. Maybe that was why Misao was to act as a hand-maiden, disguising her ninja ways from Kaoru to protect her.

" Madame, do you wish assistance?" the shopkeeper asked. Misao turned and nodded after writing something on a piece of paper.

" I need a pair of pants and a shirt for these sizes." the man looked at the paper. After adjusting his glasses and squinting at Misao's scrawl he gawked to the girl then laughed.

" These are women's sizes miss, certainly you must be.." he gazed down to Misao's growing serious face as she placed her arms across her chest. Clearing his throat, the man nodded and shuffled to the back looking through a pile of clothes." I think this will be to your liking?" he held up a creme colored shirt and a deep brown pants. Taking them away Misao held them to Kaoru and gazed in her friend's eyes who was unsure.

" Hai, this will do. I believe this will cover it." she took out a green bag and placed it on the man's desk. He untied the golden tie and a few silver coins spilled out in a clatter.

" It's enough," he took it up greedily. " If your friend wishes to change there is a room in the back." he pointed to a doorway. Taking Kaoru's shoulders, Misao pushed her into the room and gave her the clothes. Kaoru looked at them as though they were going to bite her and removed her cloak.

" What are these?"

" Typical military garb. Should hide you nicely." Misao said.

" I don't really wear this kind of clothing," Kaoru stated pulling off her dress. " I don't think that I even wore a pair of pants since I was real little. People always told me I had to wear a dress since I was a princess." Kaoru jumped around behind the curtain putting on the pants and buttoning up the shirt. She stepped out and let Misao look at her. Twirling her finger, Kaoru did so holding out her arms and letting Misao look.

" Gorgeous. Absoloutly perfect." Misao clapped her hands together and went behind Kaoru unbraiding her hair and taking out a pin bunning it up high. " No, that looks regal..." she let it fall as she murmured to herself. She turned Kaoru to a mirror and looked at her smiling. " It looks good down. I didn't know your hair was this long." Misao looked again noticing that Kaoru was shoeless. " Shoes? I forgot."

Walking away from Kaoru, the small girl talked to the shopkeeper and measure out with her hands a shoe. The man gawked at her again saying that the boots didn't come in the size. Misao took out another bag and the man swept to the back and brought out a pair of boots. Misao thanked him and came back to Kaoru forcing her to put them on. They were up to Kaoru's knees and she wiggled in them beginning to walk. A smile grew on her face at the shoes and twirled.

" I've never felt this free." she commented hugging her body. The collar of her shirt almost revealed herself at the top button. She liked it.

Misao pushed her friend from the back after shoving the other clothes into her bag. " Let's go. Aoshi-sama is waiting." Kaoru walked next to her friend putting the cloak back on. The old shopkeeper looked in awe at the beautiful girl her just clothed.

Outside, Aoshi stood looking generally irritated at Misao who showed Kaoru off in her pauper clothing. " What has taken you Misao?" he asked.

" The guy was annoying. He was not going to let me get Kaoru in the clothes." Aoshi turned and motioned them to come. Yahiko was already at the exit waiting for the trio to come.

" What took 'um?" inquired Yahiko as Aoshi passed. There was only silence but Yahiko shrugged it off.

It was now high noon, and Kaoru kept staring at Aoshi who's silence was eriee. " How did you know?" she asked breaking the groups silence.

" Misao." Aoshi stated quietly. Kaoru nodded. That made sense. " Where exactly are you headed Excellency?" Aoshi asked.

" The border, to the medicine place. Megumi's."

" Aa."

Kaoru bite one of her nails then stated," You don't sound so pleased." Misao looked up to Aoshi after Kaoru spoke to see that even he was unpleased with what she said. " Aoshi-kun?" Kaoru asked.

" It is nothing to worry over, Highness." he assured, monotone as ever. Misao let out the breath she had held for a while. Visable as it was, no one said a word but sensed the tension. There was something wrong between the three that cast glances to one another; Kaoru couldn't figure what.

---

Megumi stood in front of the red head who had taken the will of gettig himself from bed. She put her hands at her hips, obviously peeved. " You are blind Ken-san," she said, her voice strong," get back to bed." she ordered.

" This one only wishes to help, that he does."

" Kenshin..." Megumi's voice grew testy. Realizing that even if Kenshin could sense, he couldn't see. " Back. To. Bed." she said in a motherly like way. Kenshin slumped his shoulders and gave into Megumi's command walking over and sitting on the bed in defeat. " You need your time to get well too Ken-san," Megumi said leaning on him.

" Megumi-dono. All I want to do is help." Kenshin told her pleasently. Her hand rubbed up and down his back as she laid him down.

" I need to check you eyes, alright?" she asked. Kenshin nodded and turned his head to the general direction of the ceiling. Megumi began to strip the bandages away and placed a cool cloth over then.

" Is there any sticky feeling left?"

" Not much."

" And is there pain?"

" I suppose if you didn't have your medicines." Answered Kenshin with a laugh.

" I guess. But I didn't put give you alot so you would feel something."

" Only pain I feel is in my shoulder."

" I see." Megumi took off the cloth. " Keep your eyes closed." she commanded.

" Hai."

She looked. The medicine had been administered in just the knick of time considering that there was only a red from the burning and a few darker that would heal in a few weeks or less. " Try not to dart you eyes around, I will open them." Kenshin nodded. Megumi moved his eyelid up just for a peek and did the same to the other. " Good. A little redness, but that should go away. You're still foggy though. Did you see anything?"

" As you said Megumi-dono. Foggy."

" But not black?"

He shook his head.

" Good. " she started to walk away and then stopped." Ken-san. I do need alittle help. But if you get tired at all you lay down. Got it mister?" she asked Kenshin eagerly sprang up and nodded to Megumi.

----

It was five by the sun Kaoru guessed. They had been walking for such a long time. Apparently only she felt it in her feet seeing as Yahiko and Misao didn't mind. She dropped at a rock and looked as everyone looked to her. " Give me a moment to catch my breath." Misao walked to her and Aoshi spoke.

" The border is near Highness."

" How near?"

" Over that hill." he pointed what was west. Kaoru nodded and rose. Aoshi got them there quickly and she was very happy about that. He was, as was she, determined to make it to the border before the sun set. That was soon.

" Princess," Aoshi addressed as he cleared his throat.

" Hai...?"

" I don't expect you to like what you are about to see."

Reaching the top of the hill Kaoru took in the sights then threw her hands to her mouth restraining from crying. Aoshi had placed his sword sheath in front of her to stop her from moving. Yahiko placed a hand on her shoulder turning his attention to the side so he didn't have to look.

" What happened...?" she asked falling to her kees. Aoshi kneeled with her and said:

" It has been this way for three years princess. Ever since you left. Eviary took control the moment you and His Highness were wed. Not even we could stop it. Your father and brother did not see it fit to waste the army on such a matter."

" Such a matter! They've taken over the border!" Kaoru cried. She hooked to Aoshi's collar and shook him gently. " How..-why!"

" I don't know Highness." Aoshi pried her off and stood helping her rise. " We will make it in. If the Eviarian army allows, or no."

A/N: Problem, problems. Oh how this will be settled. That was longer than I thought it would be it was. Enjoy! Till next time. KenSan out!