A/N: back from the dead, miss me? I'll probably revamp the whole story, 'til then, enjoy.

For those of you still reading (please come back my friends):

Rurouni Tomboy: a lot…and a cold shower…eheheheh. Bingo, but we won't delve into that until later chapters… so shhh keep It on the down low, lol. Lmao…a dress…. Unfortunately a dress wouldn't be as fun… you'll see what I mean once you've read the chapter.

Shannon: Thank you! I don't know if I did such a good job in this one, but I figure she'd poke fun at him some way, and this way just spoke to me

Aino Tenshi: Is it too late to express how much I love you? Lol, I still get the chuckles when I think about Kenshin naked as a statue. Wow, anyway, sorry for not updating? Forgive me?

XOQ: Your joy is rather infectious grins I'd say that she'd want a little retribution… probably nothing violent however evil grin

Quidditchgurl260: You're silly, go make me another baby, lols

Miko.lokI: alas, you have uncovered what I would've hoped to be a plot hole… Oh well, I'll make them suitably outraged… I'll think of something! Thanks for that

Wolborg90: My LOVE!! Lols, one of them anyway, ahahaha, you never fail to amuse me… read on my friend.

Neross-qod: I'm sorry! Forgive me, I am not worthy!! cries Hm… Unending servitude…I'll have to think about that Xp

EcstasyOfSesshoumaru: watches you act like a monkey I know… I suck, I'm sorry.

HarbingerLoki: cries I suck, I really don't deserve you awesome people. Maybe I'll change the characters and publish it as a book, and then you wouldn't have to wait for updates… And I'd get paid… lols.

Aleeza: it's oki, least you're nice about it . Look, chapter's kind of … long … enough… I'm sorry about Kaoru, but she works so well as the evil one in here… sorry again.

minina q naum é americana m…: I'm Lovin' you, man. thanks

Vanya The Ninja Maiden: Sorry, and thanks.

Kioji: o.o I'm sorry, you're so nice…thank you.

Ch. Six, Or Buttons and Zippers Are Trickier Than Previously Thought.

The red-headed swordsman contemplated the strange fabrics of the garments left to him by his assaultress. Violet eyes narrowed in annoyance as he recalled his rather humiliating defeat at the hands of the tiny female. To make matters completely worse, the creature decided to take pity on him by housing him and clothing him. With a growl he fought the urge to go looking for his pride. He wouldn't wear her charity. The offending odor of his soiled clothes then decided to make itself known.

He still wouldn't wear them. He tossed the garments on the floor, and sat heavily on the strange bedding he had awoken to. All the while his eyes never left the clean clothes left to him. Minutes ticked by, while the silent battle between his pride and the thought of clean clothes waged on. Maybe if he glared hard enough they would combust, and then problem solved.

As the silence stretched onwards, and the stench became increasingly unbearable, he found himself becoming increasingly restless. He stood. He paced. He sat back down. All the while his eyes never left the heap of clothes taunting him from only a few feet away.

With a snarl, he stalked towards the offending items and snatched them from the floor. Two very strange articles indeed. He studied them before deciding that the black one must go on top., and the other, by process of elimination, must cover his lower half. Nodding to himself, proud of his findings, he quickly removed his soiled garments. The first was easy enough to figure out, after a few attempts he had it pulled over his head, and it seemed right. With a small victory smirk, he turned his attentions to the other piece. It seemed just as easy as the last.

It wasn't.

It took him far longer than he's willing to admit to figure out just enough to pull the sturdy fabric far enough up to make him decent. He sighed, just content that that ordeal was over. Still clutching the fabric, he eyed his attire critically. Calling it strange would be much akin to saying being dismembered is an unfortunate accident.

Highly uncomfortable, he forced his mind from apparelicide and decided to journey forth and explore his new domain. Unclenching his fingers he moved to exit the room. Only to have the ill-fated garments slip from his slender hips, tangle about his legs, and cause him to have and impromptu acquaintance with the floor boards. Huffing, he stood and pulled the evil thing back up. Annoyed, he was only glad that the little creature was nowhere near to observe his momentary lapse. Cursing under his breath, he clutched the garment to him. It was much to big and the ends completely engulfed his feet as he shuffled out of the small room. A couple of rooms, a few stubbed toes, and several stumblings later the red head was contemplating the most vile torture he could inflict upon both his attire and the one who had forced him into wearing it. Completely ignoring the fact that he had put it on of his own accord.

A faint chuckle behind him caused him to whirl around and face the selfsame creature that had first inflicted this torture upon him. Without another thought as to what he was doing, he released his strangle hold on the garments that she had saddled him with, and reached for the sword that wasn't there. Gravity came into play at the worst moment possible. Her eyes grew huge and her face heated up and cloth hit the floor. Silence stretched between the two as he hastily gathered what remained of his dignity, securing the item at his feet about him again, and shot her an icy look. Loud, obnoxious laughter issued forth from the tiny female in front of him. The death glares he sent her only seemed to fuel her gaiety. Not only had his attempt at retribution failed, it had also made him look completely foolish in front of his former foe. From the looks of her broad smiling face as she wiped away tears of mirth, she had enjoyed watching him make a spectacle of himself far too much.

With a rueful chuckle, she finally calmed enough to finally speak." Do you need help with that?"

The trace of humor in her voice was not lost on him. "Misao," he growled, using her name as if had been doing it for years.

The anger that was boiling just below his frigid exterior was quickly replaced with apprehension as the laughter drained from her countenance. It was replaced with a calculating expression as she started circling him slowly. He remained rooted to the spot as she glided around him on almost predatory feet. Finally coming to a rest behind him, she stood, watching him tense at her closeness. She pressed against his back as her arms came around him. A flash of recognition raced through him, as if they had done this before, only to be drowned out by a flood of embarrassment; which he would never admit to, despite the flush staining his face.

As he started to relax in her hold, and if his pride would let him admit it actually began to enjoy it, her hands slowly drifted from their resting points just above his belly button. Lower. He nearly choked on his tongue in shock and embarrassment. Her fingers didn't stop. They traced the rim of the hated fabric that was quickly becoming a favorite friend of his.

Before he realized what was happening, she gripped the gaping ends of fabric, forced a metal piece through a hole on the adjacent side and pulled another metal piece towards the top, entrapping him in the twice cursed item and forcing a small startled yelp from the normally stoic swordsman.

Oh.

That's how it had worked.

He stood there stunned as she finished, and raised herself on tip-toes to whisper in his ear. He shivered, in disgust he tried to convince himself, as her warm breath hit sensitive skin. "The shirt's on backwards."

With a peal of laughter, she was gone from the room as realization dawned upon him. Different ways to kill mini females crowded his head.

A/N: dies I am so very sorry, Forgive, oh great masters of mine? Those of you who read previously (back in 04 and 05) please come back, I'll do better. puppy eyes

Beyond that, what you think, my friend?