Kenshin gave a soft sigh. He had little, so it didn't take him long to pack for the trip ahead. He had some clothes to wear, some food to eat, and his sakabatou at his hip. There was little more that Kenshin needed for this trip with Megumi to the neighboring village. He didn't know what the future had in store for him, but he always liked to be optimistic and take life one day at a time. As he looked out into the main gate of the Kamiya dojo, however, he wondered just how many days he had left, if any.

Kaoru was fuming and throwing a fit that Kenshin was leaving with Megumi. Though she would never admit it, Kaoru wanted Kenshin at her side at all times. She trusted Kenshin, as he was an honorable man. It was Megumi that she didn't trust. Megumi was like a fox, cunning, wily and manipulative, and Kaoru knew she was trying to seduce Kenshin. Kaoru tried to calm herself by thinking that Kenshin could never love Megumi, that he loved her instead. And yet Megumi was all the things Kaoru was not. Megumi was sophisticated, refined, poised, calm, cool and fearless. Kaoru only made herself more depressed as she envisioned Megumi working her way into Kenshin's heart. Kaoru knew by the smile on Megumi's lips that Megumi had planned this all along. Megumi had said she needed Kenshin's help in going to a far away village to obtain valuable medicine, which was true, but was just an excuse to be alone with Kenshin. Why could he not see it? Could he possibly want to be alone with Megumi? Or was Kenshin going to spurn her advances with his usual gentleness? Perhaps Megumi would try, and fail, at winning Kenshin over. Kaoru clung to that thought eagerly and calmed down, but only a little.

Kenshin carefully passed Kaoru and stood beside Megumi at the main gate of the Kamiya dojo. He bowed to her, with a soft smile.

"We will be going now, Kaoru-dono. This one is not sure how long it will take, but we will be back as soon as we can."

Kaoru blinked, staring at the two for a moment. She shook her head and waved her hand dismissively.

"Have a safe trip! Don't cause any trouble and come back soon!"

Megumi simply grinned down at Kaoru, giving a simple wave before she slid her arm around Kenshin, wrapping his arm around hers and pulling him closer. She enjoyed the look Kaoru gave her as she closed the heavy wooden doors of the Kamiya dojo, and walked arm in arm with Kenshin down the street. She enjoyed being so close to Kenshin, and her heart beat a little faster. She looked to him, into his strong, kind cerulean blue eyes, and smiled. She hoped that the people passing by on the street would notice them and think to themselves what a wonderful couple they made, even if they weren't really a couple. Megumi hoped that soon they really would be a couple. Megumi had fallen for Kenshin the moment she had met him. He had an unending kindness in his heart, a gentle and endearing soul, and he was honest to a fault. He had saved her, cared for her, protected her, and trusted in her. He treated her like a real woman, sharing his hopes and sorrows, the good times and the bad, and had always had faith in her. Despite her many faults, all the mistakes she had made and the terible things she had done, he had only smiled to her with his kind eyes and held out his hand to lift her up. He was a wonderful man indeed, and Megumi loved him dearly, loved him more than anyone, and wanted to win his heart. The question was how Megumi could win his heart. Holding him so close, it felt they belonged together and for the first time in her life, Megumi was afraid she might upset Kenshin, might lose him as a friend and as a soul mate. But Megumi was determined to be with Kenshin, even if it meant hurting Kaoru.

"Thank you so much for protecting me as we travel to Tsukishiro, Kenshin-kun. It is a long walk and I am afraid I might be attacked along the way"

Kenshin smiled softly to Megumi and shook his head.

"It is no problem, Megumi-san. This one wouldn't want you to get hurt, and this one is honored to help you in any way this one can,"

Megumi smiled and pulled Kenshin closer, almost purring as she and Kenshin walked along the crowded streets. She had a spring in her step, and she couldn't remember when she was happier than each passing moment she spent with Kenshin. After the turmoil that lead to Megumi and Kenshin meeting, Megumi had found she loved Kenshin all the more because he was dependable and kind. She had her eye on Sanosuke for a while, he excited her, kept her on her toes, but in the end that was not what she wanted. As time went on, she knew the excitement would not last, though Sanosuke was spontaneous and exciting he was unfaithful, untrustworthy and unstable. Whatever she had felt for Sanosuke was gone.

After many long hours of traveling, Megumi and Kenshin finally arrived at the Inn they had planned to stay in. Megumi and Kenshin bowed to the Inn Keeper, and went up to their room. Megumi shut the door tightly behind them with a mischievous grin, and it took a moment before Kenshin's head tilted slightly

"Megumi-san... There must be some mistake... There is only one bed in this room...."

Megumi purred seductively as she wrapped her hands around Kenshin's waist, trailing her hot lips along his neck in soft, gentle kisses

"I know, Kenshin-kun. I told the Inn Keeper we were a married couple, and we would only need one bed..."

Kenshin shivered, and his skin became hot as Megumi untied the belt from around his waist. Kenshin gripped her hands tightly in his and shook his head

"But we are not a married couple, Megumi-san. So we should not be sleeping in the same bed."

Megumi tried to move her hands from his grasp, but he wouldn't let her hands free. She kissed at the soft curve of his neck, making him shiver, but he soon pulled away from her, retying the belt around his waist.

"This one will go get another room, Megumi-san"

Megumi whimpered and held onto Kenshin's shoulder with a sigh. She shook her head, and went over to a panel on the wall, pulling down another futon. Kenshin sighed in relief, and Megumi slid into the bed with a sigh. Tonight was not her night... but tomorrow was a brand new day!