A/N: I'm so pleased with all the hits that I'm working on the third chapter already! I have some ideas…but please review! I don't whether anyone actually likes the story or maybe I'm just working for nothing. I can't tell yet. Onto the story!

STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY

Kaoru could feel herself getting more and more uncomfortable as they approached the Yukishiro mansion. She remembered how frightening those black cars were, and how they had shot at her. Her apprehension grew as she looked at Aoshi, recalling how he had not wanted to approach this place at all. Nervous, she played with the hem of her drab uniform, revelling in the thought that she would at least see her friends again.

Aoshi stopped the taxi a few metres away from a grimy looking bar. "This is where you will get your first assignment. Be here tomorrow night at 7. Don't be late. At the bar, ask for a glass of orange juice; it's the password." Aoshi's voice sounded cold and uncaring, and Kaoru got the hint that she was supposed to leave not. After muttering a hasty thank you, she left to find her way to the Yukishiro mansion. Luckily, it was not far, only a few blocks up the hill.

Used to the exercise, Kaoru arrived quickly. She knocked on the servants' gate and waited for the fingerprint and pupil scanners to complete their duty. She noted that the time was a little after 12, so everyone would be eating lunch. Hopefully, she could sneak in unnoticed and talk to her friends. She knew that they would help her.

Slowly stepping past the guards on duty, she made her way to the servant quarters. They were small and uncomfortable, but the rooms were protected by a steel ceiling in case of air raids. Speaking of which, Kaoru hoped she wouldn't get caught in one tomorrow. The bombs were thrown arbitrarily into the city; the pilots uncaring of how much destruction they caused.

Feeling the heat from the furnaces through the walls, Kaoru entered the bustling kitchen. She immediately spotted her roosterheaded friend, Sagara Sanosuke. Orphaned as a baby, Sano had to learn his keep from the very beginning. Luckily for him, he had been taken in by a kind officer. Unluckily for Sano, the man had been killed as a traitor during the war. Sano had been forced onto the streets, watching as his adoptive father was beheaded and paraded around the city.

Kaoru's eyes softened as the she looked at the large man, easily directing his staff by shouting orders. His assistants Sae and Tae were already bustling about, just having finished the midday meal, and were starting the cleanup procedure. Kaoru supposed that this was as good a time as any to go talk to Sano.

She pulled his sleeve until he noticed her. "Jou-chan, where have you been? We were so worried about you, and I was ready to go looking for you. What happened to you?" Sano shouted as he grabbed Kaoru into a bone –crushing hug, completely disregarding the rest of the kitchen staff. Tae and Sae gave her identical looks of worry; silently confirming that she was unharmed.

Kaoru giggled, and whispered, "I'll tell you and Megumi all about it. I really need your help."

Sano nearly dropped her from surprise, and set her down neatly on the floor. Nodding at her, he ushered her into the dining room with a bowl of soup and unasked questions. Kaoru just smiled; satisfied that she was going to get some help. She was not ready to face Kenshin or Aoshi without some backup.

After eating her lunch with her friend, Myojin Yahiko, Kaoru decided to head back to her rooms. She could feel a headache beginning to form from Yahiko's incessant chatter. Though he was only twelve, he worked hard. As a junior guard, it was his duty to patrol the inside of the servant's quarters, making sure that everything was alright. Along with his partner Tsukayama Yutaro, the pair of troublemakers never ceased to give Kaoru a headache. Hence, she was heading down to her rooms for a nice warm bath.

All thoughts of her bath were banished from Kaoru's head as she saw her friend Takani Megumi waiting for her. Sitting patiently, Megumi was stitching more rolls of bandages when Kaoru entered. As one of the personal physicians of the Yukishiro household, Megumi was a busy woman. Kaoru felt guilty for pulling Megumi form her duties, but she knew that her best friend would definitely want to know what happened.

"Megumi, have you been waiting long? Did Sa--" Kaoru's question was cut short by Sano's entrance. With chewing on his trademark fishbone, Sano cut straight to the chase. "Jou-chan, I want to know everything. Tell us." He stared at Kaoru, waiting for the story to begin.

And so, Kaoru told her two best friends everything. She described her mysterious taxi-man, Shinomori Aoshi, and told them about her meeting with the Hitokiri Battousai. She ended with her new mission, and waited to see what their reactions would be. Predictably, Sano and Megumi began to bicker.

Sano was very vocal about his disapproval of the whole mess. He wanted to meet the people who were forcing such stress and hardship on his Jou-chan. He may be a simple cook in appearance, but when he walked the streets, people gave Zanza a wide berth.

Megumi, on the other hand, felt that challenging the Resistance would only propel Kaoru into danger. Not wanting to risk her friend's life, she was advocating compliance with Kenshin's wishes. It wasn't as if anyone here was actually loyal to Enishi; the man was cruel and power hungry. Not a pleasant person at all. Tomoe was more aloof and cold, expressing only her displeasure when things did not go her away. But Megumi found her company calming, and might consider Tomoe a friend. If Kaoru really was going to betray Enishi, Megumi would make sure Tomoe got away safely.

Kaoru could feel her headache worsening and gladly sipped the medicine Megumi had given her. Promising that he would accompany her to the bar, Sano left to oversee the dinner preparations. Megumi tended to her sick friend, worried that Kaoru too sick to perform her duties as the grocery maid that night.

Luckily, Kaoru recovered, and by 8, she was already on the way to the grocery store. This time, she took a slightly longer route and passed by the bar again. She also watched carefully for any taxis, jumping into the shadows at the slightest sound of an engine. The night was growing chilly and she pulled her thin jacket around her. Since the uniform consisted of a comfortable pant-shirt-jacket combination, Kaoru felt lucky that she wouldn't be freezing tonight.

The grocery store was a large underground building. The grocery trucks were bringing in food for the city from the farms to the north, so the groceries only arrived at night. Though the Yukishiro family was rich and powerful, even they had to wait for some special commodities to be delivered. The basics like bread and milk were delivered daily to the household, but it was Kaoru's job to bring back the real delicacies. Tonight her list consisted of rare chocolate, mangoes and a few bottles of wine. At least it was relatively light.

Kaoru hated waiting in line. The other people would always glare at her uniform, cursing her and her master for the plight of the city. Sighing, Kaoru made herself as inconspicuous as possible, praying that the trucks would be early tonight. No such luck. They only arrived at 6 in the morning, and the attendants were instantly mobbed by the crowd. Presenting the Yukishiro ration card, Kaoru quickly gathered the merchandise and left.

As her stomach began to grumble, signalling that it wanted breakfast, Kaoru thought once again of the enigmatic Aoshi. She wondered if he was still around, posing as a taxi driver and kidnapping innocent civilians. She remembered his stoic face, devoid of any expressions other then amusement and annoyance. If Misao was his beloved, then she almost felt sorry for the younger girl. What a boring man. Unlike Kenshin, who was more interesting. Unlike Aoshi, Kenshin exuded an unstable aura; she could feel him fighting to keep himself under control. It was strange that the Hitokiri Battousai would be here of all places.

The long walk back home was uneventful. She reached the kitchens well before 8, earning a pat on the head and steaming breakfast. Tired from her night, she immediately fell asleep. Luckily for her, she was quickly awoken by Sano at 6:00, telling her to get ready to face her mission. She put on her darkest clothing and cloak and slipped into the shadows behind Sano. They made their way quickly to the bar.

"Wait here," whispered Kaoru. "I'll be out in an hour, and if I'm not, something has gone wrong."

Sano nodded in understanding and slid onto the pavement, making himself comfortable for the time being. But his anxiety was written all over his face. Kaoru just hoped she would be back on time-Sano was very unpleasant when angry or worried. She really didn't want him involved.

Kaoru stepped into the bar and was immediately assaulted by bright lights and loud music. It was an archetypical club, complete with the dancing patrons and surly barkeep. If anyone stabbed or shot her in this place, the sight could easily be hidden in one of the dark corners. She quickly made her way to the bar and sat down nervously.

The barkeep grumbled at her. "I've never seen you around here before. I'm Hiko Seijuro, pleased to meet you."

The surly man looked anything but. Kaoru gave him a shaky smile as she mumbled, "I'll have a glass of orange juice, please." She hoped that this was the right place and person to say this. Honestly, she just wanted to go home and hide until all of this was over.

Hiko grinned at her and pointed at the door behind him. Gulping nervously, Kaoru walked up to it and slowly turned the handle. Hiko just sighed and pulled the door open, causing Kaoru to stumble. Catching her easily, the large man pushed her through the door and locked it, leaving Kaoru in the darkness.

A/N: Ok here's the third chapter. I hope everyone is enjoying it…I am writing it pretty quickly, aren't I? I have some idea of what the next chapter will be like, but I'm hoping for some suggestions too! Please, Please REVIEW? Flames are welcome…that way I'll know I should stop writing!