AN: I'm so sorry I haven't updated. Before my other computer died I had nearly completed the last chunk of the 21st chapter. It's been kinda hard. I lost ALL of my fanfics, and not all of them were posted on It was very hard for me and so writing sort of became a no-no until I could handle the loss. I'm back now, and am going to try and finish what I started.

Poor Sano is just seemingly ending up the comic relief in this chapter, I didn't plan it. Forgive me Sano fans bows deeply

And now for a bit of amusement because its late and I'm bored out of my mind:

Chibi Saitou sama- Why do you call Shinomori Ice block? Most fics just refer to him as the icicle or some other derogative form….. hehehe ice cube anyone?

Authoress- I do like the thought of ice cube…but I guess that's what we'd refer to as his little spawnlings if Aoshi ever gets over himself and finds a willing women. Well…I call him ice block because he's ice of course, but actually the block makes me thing of a square…

CSS- nods ice is a given,

Authoress- and well you know how they say, be there or be square?...I'd say he's definetly square.

CSS: Snickers

Authoress – I own nothing, This is all for my own sure amusement and I really am poor and starving now so you'll get nothing from me. Thank God I was not the writer of Rurouni Kenshin ne?

Soujiro led the way down the hall ways, katana still out, forcefully reminding Misao of the danger at hand.

"Where are you taking me?" Misao asked, doing the best to keep fear out of her tone. If he knew she was afraid things would get much worse before they got better. Saitou would be deeply angry at her at this point. Both Saitou and Aoshi must've realized where she was by now. She had jeopardized the mission, possibly even warning the enemy of an attack….Misao bit her lips, and clenched her fists, refusing to cry. When Soujiro had met her on the field he'd made it seem like he knew when they were attacking. He was either lying to her, or whatever time they attacked wouldn't have mattered anyways.

Soujiro prodded her forward, pushing her outside her thoughts.

"Well? Where are we going?" Misao replied, frustrated by his silence. They were at a dead end, with a table and a picture in front of them. Misao swallowed the lump in her throat. Was this where her journey ended?

"Turn around Misao" He ordered her. His tone, completely non sense free, made her turn. Fighting him at this point would do her little good. Maybe she could learn something. She barely remembered the pathways they'd taken thus far, trying to compare what she had seen to the map of the complex in her head. Misao watched him out of the corner of her eye, and heard him mess with a pot, sitting on a table. A huge sound of stone scraping on stone caused Misao to plug her ears and fall to her knees. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as she tried to cover her ears with her wrist guards. She turned around, and to her shock, in place of the wall stood a cave entrance.

"Let's go Misao san." Soujiro ordered her, helping her to her feet, harshly and pulling her forward.

Misao stumbled forward, eyes reproachful of her treatment. She couldn't see a thing. The door behind them slammed shut, the sound of stone on stone once again causing her to cringe.

"Soujiro..?" Misao asked as the darkness enveloped them. She couldn't see him, much less hear him after the noise.

"Misao san?" Soujiro replied, voice next to her ear. Misao jumped, startled.

"I can't see a thing" She replied after getting a handle on her emotions.

"Do you have a light?"

"It would be unwise for me to light a candle in a oil lined cave Misao san" Soujiro replied.

"W-what?" Misao asked.

"Kanryuu sama lines the inside of his caves with oil, and with the air already holding some gases from the closeness of the earth, it's a safe way of protecting what needs to be kept secret."

Misao frowned. What a horrible way to die. Being surrounded by flames. She shivered.

"Soujiro?" She called, wondering if she was alone in the dark.

"I'm here Misao san" He replied, his voice a bit further up ahead. Misao walked towards the sound and ran directly into a rocky wall.

"Ow!" She exclaimed, startled and hit the ground. Gentle hands had her by the shoulders and helped her up delicately.

"Take my hand Misao san" Soujiro's voice in her ear directed her. Misao blushed, glad for the darkness. Taking his hand, Soujiro guided her forward. She could hear the sound of leathery wings up ahead, and was startled as she felt clawed leather strike her face. Screaming she dropped the hand holding Soujiro's, flinging the creature off. Her cheek was cut, and bleeding freely. Gasping from the shock, Misao walked forwards stumbling into the back of Soujiro.

"I'm so sorry about that Misao san, the bats are a frequent nuisance here. They usually feed off the livestock, but they haven't been able to get out because of the mines. Sometimes they settle for a few of our workers if they can catch them alone. She wiped her cheek off, and reached for his hand, settling her grip tightly on his hand, sticking close to him.

Sanosuke groaned. Leave it to the ice block to break into a run. Probably trying to ditch him. Bastard, Sano thought, breaking into a run after him. The cave was getting dark and darker as it went on. Sano could barely make out the boot scuffs rebounding back down the cave as he followed Shinomori. Sano had decent hearing, but the further he went into the cave the further the echoes of Aoshi's boots seemed to surround him, getting louder.

"Shinomori?" He asked, regretting it, as his voice rebounded loudly, a thousand times down the tunnel, piercing his ears. He fell to his knees clutching his ears trying to protect his poor ear drums. He felt someone harshly grab his shoulders, fighting at first until he heard Aoshi's harsh whisper in his ear.

"Fool, you could've alerted the guard, or burst your eardrums. Make as little sound as possible from here on and follow my lead" Aoshi pulled him roughly to his feet, and Sano shrugged off the help. Jerk. He thought sullenly. He could've warned me before hand.

Sano followed after Aoshi, the sound of the echoes of his boots from the floor nearly deafening. So Kanryuu had a few tricks up his sleeve to keep uninvited guests out. Sano gritted his teeth avoiding making any sound, remembering the effect of his yell. Sano could feel the room expand before him as he could no longer feel the walls. He looked to Aoshi, feeling his ki, in the dark, rather than being able to see the ice blocked bastard.

Aoshi had stopped. Sano waited, wanting to say something but knowing he'd regret it. Aoshi veered towards the left. Sano could almost feel the atmosphere change. This part of the cave was much more moist, and smelled like something was rotting in it. Sano snorted in disgust, and realized much to his relief, his voice didn't echo with intensity.

"God damn, that cave would've made me deaf." Sano complained, hands over his head as he stretched.

"It's a shame it didn't" Aoshi muttered. There had been 3 cave openings. He had sensed Misao's ki down this one. But something didn't smell right.

"What the hell is your problem Shinomori" Sano retorted, hating that the ice block was treating him like some green rookie. Sano walked towards the wall of the cave, and hit something with an "Ouuf"

Swearing up a storm, Sano felt what he'd hit. It was a table. His hands reached around and across the table and he held a wooden stick. Feeling the tip, and reaching his hands back from the slickness, he realized it was a torch and what he was touching was the oiled tip.

"Hurry up Sano" Aoshi snapped. Something wasn't right about this room and he wanted to be out of it as soon as possible. The smell was different. Glancing at the walls around him, using his abilities as a spy, he tried to figure out why the surrounding walls seemed and felt so different. Aoshi sniffed the air again, trying to place the smell and ran his hands along the wall.

"Hey Iceblock we're in luck, I found something" Sano told him cheerfully, looking for the matches he had in his seikihoutai jacket.

Aoshi rubbed his fingers together trying to place the consistency. Then he knew, and he also knew what was in Sano's hands. Turning he watched, too late, as the street fighter lit the match.

"SANO NOoo!" Aoshi cried, tackling the man, as the very air lit on fire around them. Aoshi's trench coat had shielded them both from the majority of the flames, and he grabbed the idiot, rolling through the dirt. He decided to throttle the tori atama brained idiot himself if they lived through this. First he would slice tiny little cuts all along his body…then roll him down Mt Fuji…yes….that would be fitting….

They rolled out of the way of the fire, as it passed down through the tunnel burning up the oil, and some of the gas in the air. Convinced that neither of them were covered in flames anymore, but now dirty and grimy, Aoshi grabbed the street fighter by the throat and pulled him to his feet, slamming him against the rocky wall.

"If you so much as BLINK without my order to do so I swear I will kill you here and now. Do you realize what you could've just DONE? We've more than likely alerted the guards by now and because of your recklessness Misao could be DEAD." He cried through clenched teeth, ki rising alarmingly.

Sano's arms grabbed the ex Okashira's wrists squeezing.

"Release me" He gasped, brown eyes glaring at him.

Aoshi dropped him. "If you want to tag along you will follow MY lead. Or We will finish this here, and I will go after Misao alone."

"Who the hell died and made you in charge?" Sano retorted, glaring at the ice block.

"I was the Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu, and I have more tact, and training in my pinky, then you do through out your entire body. Now Shut up and follow me" Aoshi replied moving on.

"Some Okashira you are now" Sano muttered angrily, as he followed along intent to repay the ex Okashira in full, later. He'd punch the living snot out of the ice blocked bastard and roll him down Mt Fuji. The street fighter's mood increased as he imagined ice block tumbling.

He did have a point though, the longer they spent arguing the longer the genki ninja girl was within Kanryuu's grasps. Despite her annoyingly optimistic personality and screeches, even she didn't deserve to be at his mercy. Sanosuke wasn't about to risk her in a stupid battle with the ice block.

"Hush" Aoshi stopped, hearing a strange sound. Screeching. He glanced towards a mass of shapes heading towards him as the screeching got louder. Eyes wide he realized the sound.

"DOWN!" Aoshi ordered, dropping down using the collar of his trench to protect the barest parts of his neck, as leathery wings flew by, all around him.

"Why? AHCKK" Sano cried, scratches and leathery wings passing him. He dropped to the floor, wrestling a few out of his hair. Throwing them, he buried his face into the dirt, as the bat swarmed over him. Once the sound deceased, he lifted his head out of the dirt, wiping his face off on his coat, and touched his hair in alarm. It was SINGED! Sano nursing the bruised pride of his hair followed after Aoshi, who'd decidingly left the street fighter in the dirt. Bastard…

(earlier)

Misao breathed easier as they came towards the light of the tunnel. Soujiro picked up his pace into a run, nearly dragging her behind him as she struggled to keep up with his sprint. At least she could see where they were going, she thought. They continued to pick up pace and Misao knew her lungs would be aching after this. She pushed her grumblings out of her head and focused on the ground ahead. She could break an ankle by being careless with all the bumps and gravel in the dirt. She focused on her breathing, gasping for breath as they continued.

Her mind strayed to amber eyes, molten golden with desire for her. Saitou…she breathed, heart clenching in protest. He didn't care for her. She needed to push past this, to push past him. She'd be forced to go home after this, Aoshi would challenge her to the duel after this and she would undoubtably get her ass handed to her, and be forced to go back. Gods she didn't want to go back. Of course that was assuming she'd survive this. Was it better to die here? She shivered and shook her head. A Makimachi never gave up. She had no idea what Kanryuu would do to her and that thought brought more shivers down her spine. She stopped, gasping for breath and Soujiro allowed her the break.

He pushed her on again and the further they went the more her lungs burning. She finally pulled upon the hand that was guiding her, Soujiro stopped, but rather than letting her rest he picked her up into his arms, completely shocking the ninja girl who squirmed in his grasp.

"S-soujiro!" She wheezed. "What are you doing?"

"Speeding things along," He told her with a smile, bursting into his shukuchi.

Misao shielded her face, turning it into the crook of her shoulder, into his haori. Soujiro eyed the girl, who seemed so strong one moment, and yet so frail, the next as she buried her face into his arm. She was soft and hard, pliable and unyielding, strong and yet utterly weak and helpless at times. She was demanding and at the same time expecting him, despite being the enemy to protect her. Women are a strange delicate creatures, He thought to himself.

Of course this thought left his mind to wander, and marvel at how light she was, and the fact that the opening of her ninja outfit, and the way he held her gave an excellent view of just how womanly she was. A first glance would've told him she was no bigger than 13 from her height. But she had womanly curves, a developing body, muscular and limber. She was becoming a women.

Her fingers intertwined into his haori, clutching with desperation, as hot breath came in contact with his skin. She buried her face into the crook of his neck, assumingly the air causing her eyes to tear and seek more protection from his reluctant grasp. Electric waves swept over the boy. W-what was she doing? Even more embarrassing, what was she doing to him? He'd never felt these things…she was just a girl? Worser still, currently she was the enemy, and he seriously doubted with the way Kanryuu treated their other captive, she would survive the ordeals. Snap out of it Soujiro, whatever spell this girl weaves around people is dangerous!

He stopped, coming to a halt before the door to the hallway. He felt along the wall searching for the key stone, and having brushed across it with his fingers, pulled. The door opened up before them easily. He set her down. She blinked, the light hurting her eyes, and he grabbed her hand pulling her into the house hallway with him. Her grip tightened on his as the smell of death, and gunpowder around her filled her senses. Soujiro, desperately wanted to let go of her hand, not liking these new strange feelings, but found himself giving her a smile, and a reassuring squeeze. What was he doing?

Saitou peeked around the corner, holding the man by the throat with his sword. It was clear. He prodded the man forward eyes darting, ears sharp paying attention for the slightest trap. He jabbed the man forward who by now was blubbering. Pansy. Blood dripped freely down his stained back, when the man seemed to be less compliant then Saitou needed. These sort of grunt labor were walking casualties. Kanryuu hadn't changed a bit since the revolution.

flashback

Saitou brushed the forehead protector off his head, wiping his sweat with a cloth handed to him by one of the lower ranks. Having just finished sparring with a new candidate, Saitou felt his muscles ripple, his blood flowing. He wanted another fight. Taking a deep breath he controlled the blood lust within him. It was his own fault for drinking sake before the match. The man he'd fought was a decent swordsman, but unmatchable to Saitou's Gatotsu.

Saitou sheathed his sword, and fixing the folds of his blue and white haori. They put him up against mediocre swordsman at best simply to show them the might the Shinsengumi held. Saitou was the third captain of the Shinsengumi, the wolves of Mibu. He awaited the appointed leaders decision on the swordsman's approval, or rejection, and took a sip of the offered water. Saitou hated the intricacies of politics within the leaders. He knew there was more than met the eyes within his leaders. One particular man made him especially loathing of the way the Shinsengumi was being run.

Takeda Kanryuu.

The moment Saitou saw him he knew, he knew with the eyes of the gods that this man was a snake. Saitou muttered his prayer Aku Zoku Zan, against the evil he felt pervading from the man. Wolf eyes peered at each member as he watched the man give his word and honor to the cause of the Shinsengumi. Penalty for disobeying them meant death, by seppuku or by the other members. Saitou waited for his dismiss knowing leaving now would cause more problems with him and Hijikata then he cared to deal with. Meeting Hijikata's look, he bowed, and was released to celebrate. He left the building, alert, knowing that these were not safe times and that someone's ki suggested sinister actions. He heard footsteps behind him, hand going to his sword, as yellow eyes gleamed balefully over his light blue clad shoulder.

"Hajime was it? Saitou, Hajime?" Takeda had asked him. Saitou's look neither diminished nor increased with the slight nod.

"Well then, your swordsmanship is extrodinary. I'd like you to meet a few of my men."

"Another time perhaps" Saitou's yellow eyes faced forward again and he started towards the barracks.

"Are you sure? I'm a powerful ally , and you could use the support in the higher ups. I understand that I may be a green leader in your eyes, my battlefield experience lacking, but make no mistake I am an excellent tactician. I know how leadership works and am quite capable of making moves, as well as waves, and calculating people. It's my job" He added cheerfully, his smile oily at best.

"How wonderful that the Shinsengumi has been blessed by your talents" Saitou said neutrally, hoping the man would leave. The longer he stayed the longer he rubbed Saitou the wrong way. .

"I have heard some troubling things, Saitou san. Things I felt I should bring to your attention, so you may defend your honor. Rumors sweep the area, landing conveniently within my own sphere of influence. I tell you all of this to make my dues as a fellow Shinsengumi, so you may protect your honor"

"Rumors such as?" Saitou asked, yellow eyes reveling nothing of his thoughts within. The blood lust surfaced, and once again Saitou regretted the sake, and wished he could end this man's babbling.

If they" Kanryuu gestured back towards the headquarters "hadn't seen you fight with their own eyes they might've never allowed you the title and rank you have now. You haven't the heritage for it."

Saitou winced a well known fact among his "comrades" that was continually used against him when he fought. Cowards, the lot of them. They would never say it to his face with a sword in hand. He'd proven himself on the battlefield and in the sword hall, no they would slander him from a distance, and with eyes and ears sharp for his presence.

" We could learn much from each other, you and I. You are after all the third captain of the guard, and me being the key strategist" Kanryuu told him, dark eyes alight with an evil gleam.

"I will willingly give you these names to rightfully defend your honor, if you would grace me with your presence and meet with a few of my men"

Yellow eyes turned their full stare upon the wretch of a man.

"Another time" He said simply but firmly, his ki flaring, giving Kanryuu a warning. The god's cursed men for less than what this man was insinuating him to do. Saitou would not no sooner eat with this man than a snake himself, and if he had it his way he would have nothing to do with him, on the field or off.

"It's a shame, we couldn't come to an agreement. I'm sure we'll see each other around. Remember these words. We destroy enemies when we make friends on them" He told him simply "Think on it"

He left, and Saitou uncoiled the rage he'd concealed. How dare he? Insulting his family as well as trying to fufill his own personal gains! Should he inform the commander? But surely the commander had to know he was a snake. Saitou, taking a deep breath sighed. Not all men who filled the ranks of the Shinsengumi were honorable. He would let it go. If he crossed him again, Saitou would cross swords with the man.

flashback end

Saitou's amber eyes flared molten gold in their intensity. Kanryuu would die by his sword. If he had killed him then and there none of this would've happened. He wished he'd drank more sake that night lopping his head off. He prodded the man forward, digging his sword point, painfully into the man's back again.

"Hurry up filth" He snapped, needing to get there before Shinomori could beat him to the kill.

Misao tensed as Soujiro led her down the hallway. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, but her fear didn't leave. Why were her senses going off? She was terrified of where she was heading. Was this how Hannya and the others felt in this accursed house. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she forced them down. The enemy would not see her cry. She would avenge them. Unlike Aoshi she would not let her fallen comrades be dishonored.

He led her down the hallway, a tan and brown decorated floor beneath them. It's mahogany brown pieces stood out in contrast of the lighter wood. It was quite pretty despite the man it was made for. Soujiro turned to the left, a new hallway before them. This hallway was cheerful, paintings along the walls, flowers in vases, from an experienced flower arranger. The tables were covered with knit patters, trimmed with gold. Soujiro stopped at and slid open a Shouji door. This hallway had to be living quarters because of the door, and the paintings around the hallways. It was homely. Soujiro led her forward.

A women sat, back turned to the doorway. Her body was perfect. She wore a purple kimono, Her pale neck gleaming beautifully in contrast. Her obi was gold, with intricate cranes upon the fabric itself. Her obijime was blue against the golden birds. She sat with the grace and dignity of an emperess. Misao found herself lanky, and awkward in comparison, nearly wishing away her ninja life. She hadn't even seen the lady's face. She turned and Misao caught her breath, the wish flaring.

Her face was pale, beautiful, and her hair probably the length of her knees if Misao had to guess. Her hair was a luster filled mahogany black and she wore it down, framing her beautiful face. Her lips were a red rose, gleaming and beautiful among her face. The women did not look at them but stared at the ground, eyes closed. Whoever this women was she was gorgeous. Surely she couldn't be Kanryuu's. Aoshi had said in a conversation to Okita that she'd overhead that he never took women to his bed. Then why…The women lifted her head proudly and glanced into Misao's eyes, burnt sienna meeting ocean green and Misao's heart stopped. A more accurate description was that it melted, trapped in the flames of a burning dream.

"Misao san, Meet Hajime, Tokio the mate of Saitou"