A/N: Hey, they kissed, can't get too much better than that can you. Well, this one will be faster than usual becasue I have a very gracious reviewer who gives me a pleantiful of ideas. I thank him/her/them. Well, I hope that this will be to your liking. I know I will...

Restless

Kaoru didn't get the chance to even react after the warrior released his lips from hers. He grabbed her hand and started running in the direction of the door from wence he'd came. Kaoru barely kept up with him, but that didn't stop her from protesting what he was doing. She jerked his hand really hard and the first time he didn't notice. Kaoru was determined to stop him and as so she jerked hard again. This time the red-head stopped and swung around to see her with a scrunched up face of anger.

" Your Highness?"

" What are you doing?"

" Taking you out of Antholl and back to Eviary." Kaoru practically threw Kenshin's hand off of hers. There were tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, but not of any sadness. She looked into his violet with her stomach churning. She couldn't believe what he just did; not that it was against the law, but that she wasn't really going to have what she had wanted for so long. She had a seperate life from his and could do nothing about her place.

" I don't want to go back. I don't want to go back to that bastard!" Kenshin looked down on her body as her legs shaked. He had known for a while Enishi's acts, but he wasn't going to go and tell Kaoru what he knew. He wasn't going to say that he sympathized, he wasn't going to say anything. He turned away and started toward the stables where several horses let out a whinny. As he walked by, every soldier saluted him and he did so back.

Kaoru held her hand over her heart watching him walk away. It was like it was when she was brought to Eviary. Now she was wondering if she blamed him.

With her head turned down Kaoru started to run to Kenshin grabbing his hand swinging behind. " Sir Kenshin...?" she asked.

" Please, Your Highness, just Kenshin." He gave this smile that made him practically irresistable. Kaoru started walking with him releasing her hand from his.

" Your reasons?"

Kenshin found himself at a loss of words when she asked that of him. He knew what to say but it was something that had to be put together with delicate words. Kaoru was tapping her foot as he continued closer to the stable as if Kaoru had already agreed to follow him. She kept on him with her glare and crossed arms. Finally, he stopped halfway in the stable and looked at her.

" It was requested by Sano that you be escorted back." He told her softly. Kaoru let her arms fall to her side. She looked at the dirt floor covered with hay and slightly soggy. She drew her head up and looked at the warrior in his eyes to be sure, but she couldn't read anything like she could with other people. She knew the way Kenshin was making it almost mourn like that he had to be telling the truth. Kaoru looked back to the ground and imagined her brother talking to Kenshin. She had seen him speaking to Sano on occasion, but not enough to know that Sanosuke actually trusted the amethyst-eyed warrior.

" Is Sano alright Kenshin?" Kaoru asked rubbing her arm. Kenshin dare not even look at her at this point. He was turned away thinking solely on the contents of the letter.

" He is doing well," Kenshin lied. He was probably up to being beheaded for all the lying he was doing to a royal. He sucked in a breath and went to the pen that held a black colored horse.

" Where is he?"

Now that he was afraid answering would cause him to collapse. He made sure he was out of her line of vision when he told her the first piece of full truth.

" He is in a resistance underground that has been forming against the war. "

There was a heavy silence as Kenshin saddled the horse and walked her out of the stable. Kaoru was walking behind the horse watching its tail snap and wave. She saw a small sack with several protruding items coming from it.

" Did you go through my things?" she demanded.

" I did not touch anything that would be truly personal Your Highness." He answered reverting back to the loyal warrior. Meaning simply that the questions that she had asked him had scared the piss out of him.

He stopped on a trail and watched a few soldiers walk by leisurely to where they were to train. A ways away she caught sight of an instructer with what had to be at least twenty men with wooden poles going through basic training moves. These must have been the sons of the warriors. She even caught a few girls littered in the group that hd just as much intensity as the men had. She smiled. At least Hiko understood that if the men could do it, then so could the women.

" Your Highness. I know you must be devestated at the recent events. But this concerns both of our utmost attention. This is not a whim, it is not. I was requested as well as you to go to Eviary by your brother. " His voice was growing more stern and more serious. With one last downcast gaze she turned her head back up to see Kenshin looking toward her with one of his callused hands extended.

" You may not wish to do this, but if not for your countries, then do it for your brother..." he said quietly. Kaoru nodded and took hold of his hand slowly and he led her to the horse helping her on. " Please Your Highness, hold on tight. I wish you unharmed by the time we reach Eviary."

This was a true warning. She took a tight grip around his chest and he started into a canter quickly making it to a gallop. His hair was tickling her nose and it smelled nice. She had to say that she was pretty well mesmerized by him. He was such an enigma. Maybe that was what made him such a person to be interested in. Her heart couldn't help but start beating a little off. His back was warm too.

" Are you alright Your Highness?"

It took Kaoru a moment to get the courage to answer,

" Hai..., and please Kenshin. Just Kaoru. "

--

Misao sat a top one of the building at the training base scanning the aera. She caught the entire little quarrell like thing between Kenshin and Kaoru without a hint of why they were talking. She took pleasure and even found them amusing. Until they disappeared into the stable. This was her shift and she needed to make sure that Aoshi knew she was dead serious on protecting both her friend and her employer.

She jumped down landing gracefully and began creeping toward the stable she could smell a mile away. She peaked sideways through the door and saw Kenshin take out a horse and still speak to Kaoru. They were inaudible. When they started nearing the door Misao looked up and found an awning to perch on. She watched them from above. They stopped and after several mintues of what to Misao was silence she watched Kenshin extend a hand and Kaoru looked more than reluctant to take it. That was the moment she jumped down and started running for the quarters where her and Aoshi were staying.

He sat reading quietly and she didn't want to disturb him.

" Yes Misao?"

" Kaoru's on the move, " Misao said. That made Aoshi draw his book more near his lap.

" And?"

" She's on the move with Himura. This isn't any leisurely stroll either. They're heading back on to Camill Road. Right now they're on the Warrior Pass. My guess is at the speed he's going it should only be a matter of hours before he hits Micea again." Misao reported. Aoshi took this as an opportunity. He stood and grabbed his cloak tossing Misao her's.

" Are we stopping them Aoshi-sama?"

" Iie, we're following them. Himura's intentions may be life threatening to Her Highness. "

He swept past Misao was like she was not even there. This was Aoshi's job, and when it came to protecting Kaoru, it was his top priority.

Misao bounded behind him as he started on the pass. As soon as an arch of trees appeared, Aoshi hid himself within them. Misao followed Aoshi quietly, she watched his stealth from behind as he jumped from limb to limb. There was a faint pound of hooves as they began, but it seemed to get farther as they tried to get closer.

Misao made one more jump and landed carefully by Aoshi ducked below a low limb and staring forward. She didn't have his good of vision and took her boniculars out and looked at Kenshin taking an awkward turn on the pass that usually took you to Jubyen, not Eviary.

The curiosity was eminating from both of them. Why Aoshi dare not move more than a flinch meant that he was in true wonder, and really deep thought. " Aoshi-sama?"

" Quiet Misao." She obeyed and continued trying to see what he might be seeing. It didn't seem to make any sense. Was Aoshi trying to make sense of it? Misao shrugged and began following Aoshi as he took the path that Kenshin was taking. The hooves would be impossible to hear for the normal human. But to Misao and Aoshi they were faint.

" Where is Himura heading Aoshi-sama? With Kaoru on his back there must be some reason. Do you think they might be eloping?" His silence didn't tell her all that much though. She continued following her and Aoshi switching paths every now and then. Aoshi stopped a few jumps ahead of Misao, not as curious as the first time. She saw what he saw. They turned into a very dense area of wood that covered both them and their hoove stomps. There was a falling limbs and a few measely trees.

" He's going to Eviary, but he knows that we are following him."

" How can he know? We're meters behind him."

" Himura is one of those men. He has a very good sense. "

Misao nodded. She knew there was always something up with Kenshin that she couldn't understand. There was always the legends of him that was all around the trio of countries. The fears, the sureness. The feeling of protection that they said they always had as long as he was around.

" How do we get around that?"

" Stay out of his range."

--

The day was certainly a hot one out, and it was especially for one spikey-haired emperor. He'd turn to look over his shoulder ever cautiously. There couldn't be any tail whether it be friend or foe. This was critical.

He was in the dead center line of all three of the countries. The border was heavily armed any way you turned. Guards would look his way but never see due to the camoflague he wore. He backed gently against a tree and continued onward. By the vague map that he had picked up from a friend he was able to creep to past the wooded area and into a more deserted place. As he did, he felt the sweat begin to smear the camoflague on his face and make his shirt stick to his back heavily.

It was like the wood became a desert. He started to cross the sand at full guard, all senses on. He turned his head again back at the patrolling guards. They would never suspect anyone to want to come out in this place. Not with the heat. You would probably die of sunstroke after a few hours. He wiped his forehead to see the cover to be smearing all over his forearm. He began ridding himself of the rest of it as he inched onward.

He smiled when he found the thing that he was looking for. A large pile of stones that could be mistaken for a mound of mountains. He looked around it and felt for what he was looking for. His hand and his eye both saw it. What looked to be an ' out of place ' rock. A smile erupted onto his face in an almost cocky manner and he began tugging. It took a little more strength than he thought it would, but there was an opening with a set of stairs leading downward in the dark. He stepped into it. Automatically he felt the temperature difference and his body began to cool. With the might he used before had he forced the place to be sealed off and looked down the long winding steps if the hidden cavern.

About twenty steps down he found a torch that he was looking for. He took the lantern from his pack and lit it with the torch continuing down lantern guiding him. A few voices came into range that wee talking amongst themselves. It rattled off the walls as well as his footsteps. As he proceded closer, the voices hushed one another and steps came toward him.. He looked at the paper that Katsu had given him. There was a word that was written in the corner and he said it.

" Crest." Simple. The voices began up again and the people backed away.

Thirty more steps and he was at the bottom looking at what had to be over one hundred rebels. It wasn't just tough bulky men, but women and teenagers. Mothers that were protecting young children and following their husbands. There were women fighters with their swords or spears placed next to them. Some sipped tea looking serene even though you could clearly see the roughness in their faces. Others were scared. There was no certain age limit or class at this point.

One woman began to come over to him smiling with ruby red lips.

" You finally made it, huh tori-atama?"she asked.

" Nice to see you to Megistune." She laughed at him. Megumi the Medicine woman helped the resistance by making certain poisons or helping with any kind of substance she could conjour. As well as when they planned to go into battle, she would be the resident doctor.

" I'm glad you could come. These people need better leadership." Sanosuke nodded.

" I understand," he scanned everybody once more time. " This will be a very difficult thing to do, but I have Kenshin going to Eviary to infultrate to palace walls. I think that jou-chan will help us too."

" So, Her Highness is aware?" Megumi sked leading him to a blanket she had laid down on he rocky cavern bottom. Sanosuke sat cross-legged taking off the pack and the rest of the camoflague.

" Not only is she aware I'm guessing, but she will more than willing to take down her husband." Sanosuke slipped out of the heavy camoflague and into a light white jacket and pants. He made sure ' AKU ' was written on the back. " He's done too much to her for her to let him go for it. And then her and Kenshin I know have a relationshp somehow. She's never loved that bastard, but Kenshin is another story." He picked up a jug of sake that Megumi had produce drinking directly from it.

" You're aware that if you die what the consequences may be?" Megumi asked. Sanosuke nodded at what she said wiping off his mouth and laying out on the blanket. He looked at everybody smiling and talking to one another despite ragged features. He looked back to the lady doctor.

" Are you scared?"

" Of war?" she asked. After that she shrugged. " Everyone's afraid, but against that I'm ready for what lies ahead."

Sanosuke merely nodded.

--

Kenshin had entered a dense area of wood that covered them from the followers he'd gathered. It was obvious that it was Misao and Aoshi, but even they shouldn't follow him. He hardly wanted to take Kaoru with him due to the emense amount of danger he was putting her life at, but if he didn't take her, there was no way to get within the palace walls.

" Kenshin?" Kaoru questioned watching him cut down limbs and trees that were in his way. " Where are we?"

" It's a road less traveled Kaoru-dono. It will get us there sooner, I assure you." He said calmly. The speed of his steed never changed until even he realized they were in a little too deep. He started to slow the horse to a trot and stare at the circle of trees in a lost way. He looked over his shoulder from where he had come. It was of no help because he really didn't even know where he was in the first place. He kept his unsureness steady and walked the horse through the unknown place.

Kaoru had taken her head off his back and looked over his shoulder at the area they were in. Indeed it was dense, but there was a small path below overgrown with shrubs and roots. There were grasses protruding and leaves scattered heavily. She saw it and looked ahead. She had been on this trail before. As a child when her father was taking her to Jubyen to see the sights. He'd taken this road to lose the guard and prove that he was capable of defending himself.

" Lantern Trail..." she whispered smiling at the old memory.

" You know where we are Kaoru-dono?" Kaoru nodded.

With a curious smile she asked:" Do you Kenshin?"

" I am afriad I have forgotten this route. Taken it I have, remember it? I have not." He laughed to himself like this was all a joke and Kaoru had to admit this was something rather stupid on his part. He shrugged at his mistake.

" Keep going straight. They'll be a fork in the road and you turn...right. That will take you into Micea from the back I think," she gazed around at the scenes. " But guessing where we are that might take a day at full gallop," She stated. Kenshin nodded. He knew that and the day light would soon be setting leaving them with nothing but dark, dense wood to sift through. He thought ahead that he would deal with it when that time came. And it came very quickly.

When the sun did set Kaoru turned to Kenshin for him to know what to do. He stopped int he middle of the road and mounted the horse letting Kaoru stay a top as he cleared an area of leaves and twigs so they could settle against the trees. He helped her down and she touched it gracefully. Kenshin led her to the blanket he'd laid out for them and she sat on it. She liked to look up at the stars, but the canopy of the forest covered it to where only little slithers came through.

Kenshin sat next to her with his feet folded formally below him. He handed over a blanket that she suppose was suppose to be for him and suppose that there was only one of. She unfolded it and sat it across his lap as he handed her half of his dinner. They both stared upward even though the sky was impossible to see and made out shapes in the openings of the canopy like you would with the clouds.

Kaoru's eyes drew heavy and she found herself leaning up against Kenshin as a pillow. He didn't stop her. They took their chances while they could. Each of them knew when it came to getting to Eviary they would have to draw separate ways and probably never come across one another for another decade.

" Are you mad at me?" Kenshin asked in a whisper. Kaoru looked up to him as he continued to stare at the canopy.

" About what Kenshin?" she asked back. He finally looked down to her. His eyes were real bright, but they were soft for the moment. She could barely make him out as tired as she was.

" About bringing you to Eviary that while ago," he said," I always thought you would think it was my fault I put you through that hell."

" You didn't arrange the marriage, you just escorted me. Like you're doing now. There is no reason to blame you."

She snuggled up against him again smiling with her eyes closed. Kenshin stroked her hair real easily rubbing his fingers against each lock like it was something special. Kaoru felt this and it was making her forget all the atrosity that had occured lately. She pushed herself almost into his chest ans felt him lean down and kiss her head first to draw it up and then when she did kissed her against the lips. She was pleased this time, not shocked. And he pressed his lips against hers again. She had good feeling about this night.

--

Aoshi and Misao had stopped themselves in the trees far enough to see Kenshin and Kaoru getting cozy. Misao was a branch below Aoshi swinging her legs and giggling at everything. Aoshi had returned to his own stream of thoughts carefully watching Misao to make sure she was alright. He wouldn't admit that he knew that this would come real soon. He didn't have to.

Misao turned her attention to Aoshi for a moment with a blush getting deeper on her face.

Yeah right.

A/n: Yay, WAFF. I hope enjoyed that. And I thank my anonymous reviewer who really encourages me. Please! Continue. Till next time, KenSan out!