Hello, everyone! I am SO sorry that I haven't updated in like 4 years... literally. Life happens and I had so much I wanted to write but no time to write it if that makes any sense. So much has been going on! So I plan on updating as much as possible! If anyone has suggestions or just want to say hey leave a comment please! Once again, I apologize and hope you all enjoy the story :)

Chapter 5 FINALLY! I know everyone probably will be mad with me about this but this chapter will have a few flashbacks to understand why things are the way they are. Let me know how this works for you guys. I also cut this chapter into two because it was so rediculously long!

Chapter 5: On Our Way Part 1

*Kenshin and gang*

The sun, literally, just started to rise above the horizon as the gang walked on through the forrested area surrounding Tokyo. Since they knew Aoshi was in Nagasaki, they headed in that general direction. It felt like eternity, and of course, Yahiko wasn't making things any easier.

"I just want to fall down and sleep" he announced for the billionth time since they begun their journey. The group had left at midnight with nothing but their weapons and a small basket of food that Miss Megumi held on to.

"If you wanna sleep then be my guest! We'll pick you up after we fight the bad guys and just tell you about all the action that you missed just for a nap," Sano told him with an irritated voice. All of them were exhausted, except for Kenshin.

Kenshin was obviously deep in thought. His mind played with thoughts of his wife. He had JUST gotten her back when all of this happened. And a daughter, who was just as distraught, if not more than he already was. He was so deep in thought, he started to remember when he first met Sakina.

***Flashback***

Tomoe was gone. It hadn't been too long since he left her; lifeless. He knew that he couldn't dwell on it forever. There was a new government at hand and his life as the Battosai was not going to get any easier, even with the war getting to an end. At this point, the warrior wanted nothing more than to settle down somewhere he would never be found by anyone. As he travleled for that first year he finally had heard of this place. This "Medoriko" that had beautiful land and kind people. The first chance he got, he made sure to travel there to see if those rumors were true.

It took him about a few weeks to get there, with all of the hustle of looking for the Battosai, he figured laying low wouldn't hurt. Once he got to Kobe, he wandered into an old looking restaurant. The first thing he saw was one customer, around his early fourties, at a table in the corner. An elderly lady was rushing around the back with pots and pans, and a boy about his age, maybe even younger, came to him eager.

"Welcome, sir! Sit anywhere you please! Would you like to start with some tea? Maybe some fish for lunch today? It's my grandmother's special recipe!" He was so excited he didn't notice Kenshin's dumbfounded expression.

"Well... I'll take the tea for now," before the boy could run off Kenshin quickly asked him, "And do you know how to get to Medoriko? I heard it isn't far from here."

"Sure do! I go there all the time to pick up supplies for my grandmother. I'm actually going tonight with my brother if you would like us to bring you!" He sounded nervous, but it had to be because of the fact he just noticed Kenshin's sword.

Kenshin looked at the sword and then to the boy, "Don't worry, it's mostly for show. You can look at it if you'd like to." He unsheathed the sword and held it out for the boy to grasp.

The boy looked for a second, picked it up, and studied hard. Once he gave it back he finally felt comfortable to ask, "Why are you going to Medoriko? Not many of them had to deal with the war."

"Honestly, I just want to plant some roots. I've been out and seen a lot in the few years I've been alive. This one will have to tell you about it one day...ummm?"

"Agito! Agito Nori. That over there is my brother, Hanatari, and my grandmother, Rui. What's your name?"

"Kenshin Himura. Not to rush you, but when do we leave?"

"In ten minutes." He slyly announced as he went to the back to get ready.

It didn't take as long as Kenshin thought it would take. They left as the sun hit the hills and was just sinking below as they arrived. With the little sunlight there was left, Kenshin pulled out some coins to give Agito and his brother.

"Here. For you. Thank you for the ride." He practically shoved the coins into Agito's hand.

"No! Keep some of it because you'll need it. There's an inn just around the corner of the road up here in the wooded area of town," He only took 5 coins, "I should really start a business out of this. There's hardly anything in the restaurant business, that's for sure." The two of them giggled like school girls, while the older brother piled up stock in the small wagon they brought. In that short time of being with them, Kenshin already started to feel a little normal again.

"Thank you, Agito. And next time you come to get stock for your grandmother, come visit and we can catch up."

As he walked away, the boy, Agito, simply waved and replied, "It's a deal!"

Kenshin did as Agito told him and at the very end of the road it turned into wooded forrest, but not much. An inn that looked fairly old itself sat in the middle of a decent sized clearing. With the one bag he held on to, Kenshin made his way inside.

Once in, he noticed the sitting area for guests to eat like a dining hall and a small desk-like area with a young lady behind it. She was definitely tall, actually taller than him, from what he could tell.

"Can I help you?" She spat out the words as politely as possible.

"One room, please." He handed her 10 coins, as he noticed the prices on a sign next to her. Two coins a night. She took his coins and then stood to her full height, which was about a foot taller than himself, and walked over to a small table of people.

"Yoko, I need you for a minute." A man about the same height as her with a long, dark pony tail accompanied her back to where Kenshin was left.

"Sir, I'll take you-" He was cut off by another man rushing in.

"Yoko! It's happened... again!" The young man, Yoko, looked to the woman and Kenshin who nodded their concent. As quickly as he was there, he was gone.

Kenshin didn't want to pry or get too much attention so he merely asked his host, "What's happening?" He could see the anger on the woman's face.

"Stupid rebels that want to stir up trouble. This is the third time this week my brother has had to go help take care of them." After she said that, there was a very loud scream from upstairs.

"Tehoma?! What was that?!" Called a much older woman with greying black hair and a simple kimono on.

"I don't know, mother, but it can't be good!," The woman, now known as Tehoma, bolted up the stairs in search for the person with such a loud yell. All around guests and workers at the inn stood in wonder as to why there was such a comotion. Tehoma was finally heard after a few minutes, "Bastard! Leaver her alone!" After that, there was a man's sloppy drunk voice and a scream like the earlier one; obviously another girl's.

Kenshin didn't want there to be any trouble in this place he wanted to now call home, so he followed some of the workers and a few brave guests as they went to where the altercation was taking place. Once there, the scene was not exactly what he expected.

Tehoma was trying to use her tall body to get on one of the drunk men's back and beat on him while two others picked on another girl that was hunched down in the corner of the wall. Kenshin went straight on impulse through the crowd, and before anyone could help him or object, he approached the mess in front of him, "Why don't you leave these girls alone? I think I'll be a much better fight for you."

One of the drunks let go of the girl in the corner, but Kenshin couldn't make out if she was alright or not. He was too focused on the idiot in his face, "You might be but I prefer women." With that said, he spat in Kenshin's face.

Kenshin proceeded to wipe it off and once he did sent punch whirling through the air that was placed right into the man's jaw, knocking him unconcious. The one on the ground with the girl then stood to fight but Kenshin took him out with a elbow to the face and shove into the wall. He turned to help Tehoma, but as the man flew her off of him, he stood only for a second before he drunkenly fell to the ground. The small crowd that could see all of the fight cheered, but Kenshin diverted his glare to the girl on the ground. Very dark brown hair cascaded down her sides and around her light pink kimono as she was sill in the corner like before. He went to her and helped her up. It took her a moment to look at him, but when she did he knew that he would love this place. Her dark brown eyes looked into his and barely whispered, "Thank you, sir. You didn't have to do that."

"Of course I did! I could never let anything happen to an innocent, young lady like yourself." Then a rush of men came through to where they were standing, one of them being Yoko.

"Are you alright, sis?! I would have been here sooner if some of them hadn't been parading around in the streets. Are you hurt? Who helped you? I was told you and Tehoma were being attacked!" He was gripping her shoulders tightly now, and she snaked her hands around his wrists lightly.

"I'm fine thanks to Tehoma and this man, especially." She smiled lightly to him.

"Thank you so much, sir! What's your name?" Yoko beamed to him his gratitude.

"Kenshin. Kenshin Himura." He smiled right back to the two of them.

"Well, Kenshin, you saved my two baby sisters so no charge to stay for the time you're here! I'll make sure my father does it myself."

"You don't have to do that. I merely wanted to help out."

"And you did so this is your reward! Thank you again, and I'll let my youngest sister show you to your room now," with that he patted Kenshin on the shoulder and walked past him to address the mob of people that were trying to see, "Nothing to see here! Move along!"

As the crowd broke apart ever so slowly, the young girl Kenshin saved tugged on his sleeve, and directed him to follow after her. The two walked in silence, and Kenshin finally really got to observe her. He noticed her hair and kimono, obviously, but he also noticed how she hummed the sweetest little song and how she would tell everyone hello, even if she didn't know them. It was just so adorable to him and he never really got to see this until now.

While he was deep in thought, he was caught off guard as she spun around to face him. With a light blush in her cheeks, she handed him a key and said, "Thank you so much, Mr. Himura and welcome to Daite Inn. Please let us know if you need anything while you're here. You're my hero, I guess."

"Please, just Kenshin and it really isn't that big of a deal. I'm just happy you're doing well, Miss...?" Up until then he realized he hadn't caught her name even once.

"Oh that's right! How rude of me! Sakina Daite. I need to get back to the kitchen, though. Thank you again, Kenshin, again and good night!" He didn't even get to say anything, because she had started to jog down the stairs.

Kenshin knew he wanted to stay and be close to her after that. As he opened the door to his room he whispered to himself, "Good night, Sakina."

***end of flashback***

"KENSHIN!" Sanoske whipped Kenshin upside the head after the fifth time he called his name.

"Ow! Sano... really?" Kenshin rubbed his abused head.

"Sorry, man, but I called and called but nothing was working. You doing ok? You seem to be doing that a lot lately" he nudged that time.

"I'm managing, I guess. Where are we now?" He looked around not very familiar with what area they were in. In front of him was the girls and Yahiko looking distraught for him.

"Not too far from the river that leads to Kyoto. From there, we can find Sano's friend that will let us use some horses to go up to Nagasaki." Kaoru announced.

"Alright. Until then, it wouldn't hurt to find us some food. There seems to be a little place up here so we can stop and rest for a few hours." Kenshin said as he realized just how tired he and the rest of them had to be. They had to be walking for over six hours now.