If you can't tell, I'm trying very hard to get my story completely updated asap.

I hope you all appreciate that.

Please rate&review....or Okina will kidnap you.
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Makoto Shishio was sitting in his study when his fiancé Yumi burst through the doors. "The girls are back!" she exclaimed. Shishio lurched to his feet and smiled for the first time in hours. "They came into the city with a group of traders, Hanya spotted them and rushed them to the castle. They have obtained injuries." Yumi informed him as they rushed to the medical room. Shishio clutched his fists in rage as he thought of his nieces injured. They had been missing for four days. He had even gathered a team to search far and wide, but they had found nothing. Even his best ninja's came up empty handed.

Shishio threw open the door to the medical room where Kamatari was bandaging up the girls. The room was packed with concerned employees and personal friends of the girls. Kaoru glanced at the door and cried out when she saw who it was. "Shishio oji-chan!" Shishio smiled as Kaoru and Misao leapt from their futons and rushed to his side. Kaoru and Misao crashed into their uncle and embraced him. Shishio returned the embrace and gently rubbed the girls' backs. Everyone else in the room stood quietly as the reunion took place. Sojiro and Kamatari smiled at each other and Yumi laughed as the girls turned and hugged her closely.

Once the reunion was over Kamatari sat the girls back down on the futons and began to treat their injuries. She handled the girls with great care and spoke to Shishio. "These wounds are not life threatening my lord, and in a few days they will be able to take the bandages off." Shishio nodded and asked if they had been fed yet. "I'll run off and grab some of my rice balls for the girls" Yumi offered. "Thank you Yumi." the girls chorused in joy. Yumi bowed and exited the room only to return a few minutes later with a plate of food and some green tea.

As the girls ate their wonderful meal, Shishio began questioning the girls. "What exactly happened to you my girls?" he asked lightly mentally planning to hunt down the kidnapper himself. Kaoru swallowed her rice ball and relayed the past events as best as she could. "Well Misao and I had gone out for some supplies for dinner that night. We decided to stop by the Aoia to see how Ochika and Omasu were. Then after we left, we got past the Shirabeko when someone grabbed us from behind. I tried to fight them off but the injury on my arm from training that day prevented me from fighting with my full strength. Misao fought hard to make up for my lack of stamina, but then a smoke bomb was let off and it all kinda goes black for a while."

Misao picked up the rest. "When I came to, Kaoru was bandaging my leg wound from the fight. We looked around and found we were in a hut in the middle of the woods. When we tried to escape our kidnapper stopped us. He was an older man and told us he had done us a favor by kidnapping us. Before the old man could knock us out again…" Misao stopped. Everyone was looking at Misao and Shishio begged her to continue. Kaoru met Misao's eyes and knew what to do next. "The pain in Misao's lower leg was so intense she blacked out again. But I had found a bucket of water at my disposal. So I flung water at the old man and kicked his weapon out of his hand. The old man had fallen and he didn't get back up. I checked and saw he was unconscious because when he fell he knocked his head really hard on the wooden floor. So I grabbed Misao and we ran. I threw his katana into the river and carried Misao to the next village. There we caught a ride to Kyoto," Kaoru finished.

Misao glanced at Shishio to see if he bought the lie they had just told him. He did. "My, you certainly are getting stronger." he complimented them. Mentally he cursed the man who took his nieces, but he knew he could probably not find him. Unless…"Did you get a good look at the old man?" Shishio asked. "Nope, there was only a candle lit and he hid in the shadows. I knew where we were once we go to the village though. We were just outside Tokyo. Kaoru explained. Shishio nodded but failed to notice Hanya tense up. "Well, I'm just glad that my nieces are back home and safe." Shishio said.

"We all are." Sojiro said as a mumbled agreement went around the room. "Girls, perhaps once Kamatari has finished tending to your wounds you should rest up in your rooms." Yumi suggested. "Yes Yumi, we will" the girls agreed. "Good, I will come and check on you girls when I'm done with some paperwork." Shishio promised. Kaoru and Misao smiled as Shishio swiftly left the room. Kamatari finished cleaning and bandaging the wounds and sent the girls to bed. Hanya, who hugged the girls' goodnight, escorted Kaoru and Misao to their adjoining rooms. "We're so glad to be back Hanya, we really missed you and the others!" Misao said as Kaoru nodded her head in agreement. Although they couldn't see his face from behind his demon mask they could tell he was smiling back. "And I am glad you are back as well. Get some sleep and tomorrow, if you're up to it we shall do some more training." Hanya promised.

After saying their goodnights to everyone Kaoru and Misao closed their doors to the outside world, but had no intention of sleeping. Misao and Kaoru changed into their evening wear and sat on Kaoru's new western bed. "Misao, why didn't you tell uncle Shishio about the Battosai and Shinomori?" Kaoru asked. "Why didn't you?" Misao asked back. "Well…I don't know." Kaoru answered truthfully. "They didn't try to attack us or follow us after we…fought them. I mean even though they are evil and everything…" Misao drifted off. Kaoru agreed, but she still didn't like lying to their uncle. "And you lied about the old man too!" Misao confronted. "Yes I know, but he really was injured and now I doubt he'll come back after us. At least I hope he doesn't. In his own way he really did think he was saving us. And the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu teaches us that killing isn't the way. My father and mother taught me that, and I plan to live by that!" Kaoru said strongly.

Misao nodded her head. She knew Kaoru's parents once taught at a dojo, but were killed during Seinan wars eleven years previous. She had only been seven when her parent left this world, then she came to Kyoto to live with her uncle Shishio. Then three years after living with her uncle Misao became a part of the family. Along with Kaoru and her two brothers, Sanoske and Yahiko, Misao fit right in. Sano was twenty and currently out with the search party still. Yahiko just turned thirteen and was with Sano. "I can't wait till the boys get back." Misao said smiling. Yahiko and Sano had accepted Misao as a sister without any complaint. "I know what you mean.' Kaoru agreed.

"Do you think we'll ever see those guys again?" Misao asked as she thought about the mysterious Aoshi Shinomori. Kaoru thought about the Battosai who she had wounded and shuddered. "I hope not! They're the most notorious killers in all Japan. To meet them a second time would certainly mean death for us!" Kaoru explained. Misao flinched at her sister's words and prayed silently for Sano and Yahiko for a safe trip home. "Don't worry Misao I highly doubt we'll see them again. Even if we did the Jupongatana would protect us." Kaoru assured her. Misao nodded and thought of her uncles amazing bodyguards.

"Lets try to get some sleep." Kaoru said and began to snuggle under the covers. Misao, not wanting to sleep alone tonight, cuddled next to her older sister and feel into a deep dreamless sleep. Later on that night Shishio quietly slipped into Kaoru's room and smiled as he saw Misao in the bed as well. He shut the door and headed back to his study to finish his new plans. Yumi and Kamatari were preparing the next mornings breakfast as Sojiro and Hanya patrolled the castle grounds. All was quiet and safe in the castle. Except two pairs of blood lusting eyes were watching all. The Battosai and Shinomori had finally arrived in Kyoto and they were planning their attack on Mokoto Shishio.

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So, what do you think?

I realize my chapters are getting longer, sorry about that.

I'm just a detailed person.

Hope you are enjoying my story thus far.

Things are about to get very interesting soon.