AN: oyeee! I've been getting over the most terrible of sinus infections ever! I really want to do something fun for this fic. Since I need to learn how to draw Misao anyways and I'd like to do some fanart for this fic myself, let's play a little game. I'm thinking of a number in my head. If your review # is that # that I thought of in my head, you'll win yourself one fanart pic for this story. You'll get to pick a scene for me to draw from the story. Sound fair?

(Yup this is encouraging you to review, encouraging me to write more, and more over encouraging me to get off my lazy butt and draw. It's a WIN WIN situation!)

Which also means you'll have to leave your e-mail address, so if you're the lucky winner I can e-mail you and congradulate you. I also e-mail people who leave particularily nice or interesting reviews. It amuses me vastly!

Osashiburi desu- it's been a while since we've last met

Konban wa- Good evening

Anywho onto the story!

Demo- But

Dozo Yoroshiku-

Rurouni (If you don't know what this means SHAME ON YOU!) Wanderer

Misao flinched at the rough touch. Green eyes instantly snapping awake and reaching for her kunai. Finding it wasn't under her pillow, Misao blinked rapidly and looked at her current surroundings. It was dark, and she was in a forest. Amber eyes met hers.

"Have a nice nap?" Those amber eyes mocked, his thin lips twisting into a smirk.

"Actually I did!" Misao told him indignantly trying to smooth out her hair, and clothing.

"Orusen went into the forest." Saitou told her, sitting back down cross legged to lean against a tree, sword sheath resting on his shoulder and knee.

"Oh. Why do you sit like that?" Misao asked him, wondering why it seemed so familiar.

"It's a resting position, and a good form for defense. Makes for drawing a sword quick and easy. There's food left for you and it's getting cold. "Saitou told her, refusing to look at her.

Misao frowned, yawned and stretched, crawling her way toward the fire. There was indeed foot in the pot. Misao sighed and got up to add more firewood to the fading embers.

"Do you still suspect...?" Misao didn't finish, knowing Saitou would understand.

Saitou nodded.

"Oh...I'd really hate to think that though...."Misao replied, unsure of how to proceed. She took the wooden spoon and nibbled on the rest of the stew. Saitou said nothing. Misao finished the left over froms the pot in silence, waiting to see what Saitou would say. He didn't flinch from his position. Misao sat.

"I hate the silence" Misao said finally.

Saitou's eyes met hers finally. Misao saw his eyes widen.

"Too quiet" He barely whispered, eyes searching. "Orusen's been gone too long"

Misao's eyes widened, and leaped for her pack to grab her kunai and sword.

Faster than she could possibly have realized she felt a knee connect with her gut. She tumbled backwards, coughing, gasping for breath. The man in the straw hat, and blue haori and white hakama stood in front on the pack. Saitou already had his japanese sword out and prepared.

"I warned you before that leaving Kyoto meant your deaths. And now I've had to prove my point" He told them, jagged katana red with blood. He held Orusen's head in his hand.

"ORUSEN!" Misao cried, tears streaming down her cheeks as she coughed.

Saitou's eyes widened. For him seeing Orusen dead was something that had been expected on a dangerous mission. But Misao was too innocent to be seeing such things. Saitou's urge to protect her took over, as he moved in front of her. Every sob that escaped her, made him flinch. He was once again tainting an innocent. Bowing his head, he remembered the last few months he'd had with Orusen. He'd been a good volunteer. He would be missed.

Saitou's head shot up and he eyed his opponent, sizing him up.The man's Katana was jagged and curled to a point. He probably enjoyed twisting it into people's bowels. It meant for a VERY painful death. This man had masked his ki from HIM. That night he'd been the messenger that had warned them before. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.

Flashback

"Are you Fujita Gorou, formally known as Saitou Hajime?"

"I am" Saitou replied, sword out and ready to attack if neccesarry.

"This is a warning from my master, do not leave Kyoto" He told Saitou and bowed.

"And if I should" Saitou asked him, eyes narrowingly. How dare this little insect threaten him!

"Then you will most surely die" the man had replied, and left.

end flashback

Saitou swallowed painfully. His eyes wandered to Misao, who was gasping for breath and crying still. This was not good. He could sense the lackies surrounding them. They could quite possibly die here.

Misao had never been struck so hard in her life. She couldn't control the sobs that escaped her. They'd done the most terrible thing to Orusen that was possible. She would not be overcome like this. She couldn't afford to be helpless. She looked up to see Saitou in front of her. He was protecting her. She had to stand up! Saitou would be fighting the man and couldn't worry about her at the same time. Wobbily, she rose to her feet, eyes wincing still in pain, as she struggled to get her breath.

"Y-you're supposed to t-take it easy on girls" She glared, eyes jade with anger.

"That is why you are not dead yet, little girl. I do not need the blood of a child on my hands."

"CHILD?" Misao snarled, throwing the closest projectile object at him in her rage.

The man grinned, creepily, brown eyes alight with...with...

SLICE

The two halves of the pot hit the floor. Misao's eyes widened.

"How?" She murmured, feeling fear creep through her veins.

"Save your cheap parlor tricks for someone who'll fall for them" Saitou told him.

The man chuckled. "I must say Saitou. This will be an honor for me, killing you"

Saitou's jaw clenched, his grip on his sword hilt tightening.

"You know. You won't be the first shinsengumi I've taken down. I've been hired to go after many former members over the years. However I just want to say that I will take this fight very seriously Saitou. After all it's not everyday I have the honor of killing the 3rd captain of the shinsengumi"

Saitou snarled, eyes practically glowing a golden amber. Faster than Misao's eyes could follow, the two were exchanging blows.

"I'm glad you're taking this seriously, Saitou" The man told him, his voice strained from keeping the Mibu wolf at bay.

"I guarantee you, you WILL die before this night is done" Saitou whispered, eyes glowing from battlelust.

The man slashed, weakly. It was a testing blow. Saitou parried fiercely, knocking the man back and lunging. The man dodged, smiling.

"So this is the strength of the wolf of mibu. You'll need more than fangs to bring me down" He told him, sprinting towards him.

Saitou grimaced, and parried again, looking for an opening. Whoever this man was, he was good. Quick, fierce, he attacked only to retreat. He was trying to tire him out. It was working. This had to end, and end quickly. Saitou grimaced as the strength of his attack jarred his wrists. He would not give in.

"Coward. You fight me at the end of the evening after a long days travel. Were you afraid of loosing?" Saitou snarled, deciding he was tired of defending and leapt to the offense. He came quick, quicker than the man was expecting, his parry was off. Saitou went up and around his sword and got a good slash on his sword arm.

"Argghhh!" The man cried, retreating and switching hands.

"Double handed? I must say I'm impressed. But it'll take everything you've GOT to keep me at BAY!" Saitou told him charging and forcing the man back.

"Ahhgg....So it seems I've underestimated you, Hajime." The man told him grinning. He sprinted towards Misao.

"No you DON'T!" Saitou snarled, leaping to stop him. The man flipped over him, suffering only a wound to the leg. Misao cried out as he grabbed her roughly, sword to her neck. She struggled, but he only pressed the sword further to her throat.

"S-Saitou! Kill him! Do it now!" Misao pleaded, green eyes wide with fear.

Saitou's eyes narrowed, they glowed yellow in this moonlight.

"You are a coward" He whispered, eerily. He was fuming, his anger giving him an incredible rush of adrenaline. His Ki rose. The man shifted, nervous and wiped the sweat off his brow.

"But I'll still win this Hajime. One way or another you take a hit"

"What makes you think the girl means anything to me?" Saitou shot back.

Misao felt the tears form. Perhaps he was faking it....perhaps he wasn't...but it struck blood deep from her soul. Did he really not care?

"We're at a stalemate Hajime. Drop your weapon and she lives"

Saitou stood there, waiting.

The man's eyes widened, as he felt a sword connect through his throat.

"Gomen nasai about this, but I didn't think it was fair of you to have taken a hostage" a polite voice said behind him.

The man's head rolled, his body dropped, and twitching. Misao sunk to her knees trembling.

"YOU!" Saitou snarled, sword out.

"Ah Konban wa Hajime san, Oshaiburi desu ne?" The boy told him smiling.

Misao trembled on the floor, gasping for breath. She felt a blanket being thrown about her shoulders.

"Gomen nasai miss, I didn't mean to startle you, but I could sense the bandits from the road and figured I'd come and help" He told her with a smile.

"I should arrest you here and now!" Saitou told him fuming.

The boy smiled.

"I would understand if you did Hajime san, demo, I've become a rurouni, now"

Misao's trembled as she wrapped the blanket around her and stood wobbily.

"S-Saitou...who is this?" Misao asked, teeth chattering.

Saitou eyes glared towards the smiling boy.

"Allow me to introduce myself, My name is Soujiro Seta. I was formerly involved with Shishio Makoto, but now I am a rurouni, wandering to discover myself. Dozo Yorishiku" Soujiro told her bowing politely.

Misao nodded, and walked towards Saitou. She was still shaking, and splattered with blood.

"So why are you out on the road Hajime san? Are you heading towards Nagoya as well?"

Saitou froze, eyes narrowing towards the boy.

"Ah. Perhaps we could travel together then ne?" Soujiro asked politely.

"Why are you going to Nagoya?" Saitou asked him.

"I have heard that there are numerous gang factions spreading, and starting to cause problems. I hoped that I could help if I went to Nagoya. I'm still having a hard time trying to figure out a balance between what Shishio sama taught me and what Himura Kenshin said. It's not easy. I don't know if I agree with either method. But his death couldn't be helped" Soujiro told him poiting to the now headless man.

Misao was now shaking and her teeth were chattering.

"Excuse me" Saitou told him, picking up Misao into his arms and taking her towards the river. Misao said nothing about being in his arms, merely continued to shake.

"Shh....you're alright Itachi..." Saitou soothed. "He's gone"

"Orusen?" Misaos voice whimpered tears streaming down her cheeks.

"There was nothing that could be done for him" Saitou whispered softly. He stroked her hair.

Misao trembled, a sob escaping from her. "He didn't deserve that"

"No, he did not" Saitou replied gently, and set her down by the river.

"Take a drink. It'll help calm you" Saitou ordered, taking a seat on a near by rock. Misao did as she was told.

Her mind was in a daze. Orusen was dead. Saitou had nearly been defeated. She was weak. She couldn't even move while they had fought. She had stood there and allowed herself to be taken as a hostage. As a HOSTAGE! She was useless to this mission.

"Why are you doing this?" Misao asked him, tears streaming down her face.

"Because you're a mess" Saitou told her taking out a handkerchief and soaking it in the water.

"I'm a failure. I'm a threat to your mission. Why are you doing this?" Misao repeated.

"You're not a threat. You couldn't have possibly done anything in that situation to make things worse. You actually survived. That's more than I can say about half of the damn rookies I've taken on outings. You did exactly what I wanted you to do. Stay put and stay out of the battle."

"You're a LIAR! You said it yourself you DON'T care!" Misao snarled eyes turning jade.

"Itachi.." Saitou told her

"No, DON'T Touch me!" Misao snarled, slapping his hand away from her.

"You can't keep doing this to me! You need to make a decision about us! I'm tired of being pulled in only to be pushed away!"

"Doing what to you Itachi?" Saitou replied eyes narrowing.

Green eyes filled with tears. How could he be so calloused? She sprinted off.