A/N: And here it is! After finishing that fight we will now move on to bigger (and maybe better) things in my plot. Hopefully more things will be explained along the way too in the latter chapters. This one just builds up to it I think.

‘Words spoken by Kaoru telephonically to Kenshin’

Thoughts of the characters (Only Kaoru’s for this chapter!!)

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Previously: Not until it was fully up, did he hear the miraculous sound of her coughing. She was alive and shivering.

“K-Kenshin…”

He wrapped wary arms around her cold body, burying his nose in her hair.

The sun had risen high.

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Chapter Six: Traveling Companions

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When Kaoru managed to wake from her dreamless sleep, she heard Kenshin ransacking through the kitchen. She warily scratched her head, only to find paws and fuzzy ears in place. Dull aching prickled at her leg with a tight bandage wrapped around her leg. A glance at the window told that it was around noon and her transformation must have hit autopilot since she was still a wolf. For awhile she stayed still, reliving and sorting through last night’s memories.

And it hurt.

Her mind kept flashing two different perspectives of how things had been dealt and so far all she felt was a migraine and regret for her actions. Slowly the pain receded and soon dissipated. Holding a sigh, she stretched sore muscles and headed toward the kitchen noises.

“Good morning Kaoru,” came Kenshin’s sunny but strained voice. Yawning slightly, she nudged at the large sacks he was currently packing before giving a questioning look.

“Sorry but I didn’t really have time to cook breakfast. Eat some jerky though. It’s old and hard but with your teeth, I think you’ll be fine.”

Still drowsy, Kaoru didn’t complain as she jumped to the table to chew mechanically on the jerky.

Yuck. This jerky tastes like burnt tar.

Kenshin chuckled softly at the gagging noise his current house guest was emitting from the estrange jerky. He hadn’t bothered to tell her that the jerky was well passed its preserved date, bordering dangerously on toxic. Wolves did have strong stomach acid after all. Plus it was all he had so there was nothing else to do.

After securing the packs closed, he sat across Kaoru patiently waiting for her to dislodge the gruesome taste from her sensitive tongue. With a sounding clicking of her jaw, she swallowed the vile thing done grimacing. Then Kaoru turned her attention to Kenshin and spoke.

‘Ah Kenshin why are you packing so early in the morning?’

Kenshin leaned forward resting on his elbows to look closer at her. His intense stare made her scoot deeper into the chair, trying to escape probing eyes.

“Well Kaoru, I thought we might leave this place. I have a person that I’ve been meaning to visit who might be able to help us with our problems.”

‘Leave? So soon though? I mean we should probably rest after all we went through yesterday.’

“No, it’s best we move as soon as we can. Already it’s been half the day and I’m sure that they’ll be more of your pursuers coming once they figure out Jin-e isn’t coming back. It’s best to leave now while we still have the head start.”

It did make sense after all and so right then and there, Kaoru decided to ignore the gnawing pain at her leg. She would just bear through it, if it meant she and Kenshin would get out of this ordeal alive.

To live in a dull aching pain or to wait and die in comfort? No problem there…right?

She turned her gaze back to the packs wondering, when she saw two clearly separate bags.

‘Er… Kenshin? How am I suppose to carry a bag in the state I’m in?’

He blinked owlishly at her before turning into a full blown grin.

“You don’t have to worry so much. I’ve readjusted the straps to fit your form while you were resting. It should work but if it doesn’t, I can carry it.”

She nodded before another question blurted through their connection.

‘Kenshin, who exactly is this person you’ve been meaning to visit? How exactly can he or she help us?’

He drew back from the table, shuddering slightly. Kaoru cocked her head puzzled at his reaction.

Did I ask something wrong?

“Mah don’t worry about that now Kaoru. All you need to worry about is our journey through the mountains. I think we can get there maybe tomorrow morning if we set an easy pace and travel through night. My friend is something of a hermit in life so it might take some difficulty tracking him down, although I do have a vague idea where he might be.”

She nodded again, not really understanding but agreeing either way.

“Great! All right then, shall we get started?”

The packs were light and the handle straps were snug against her forearms. She could still manage to run even with the straps pinching her fur slightly. Her leg began to throb hotter at the added strain, but she said nothing. She awkwardly shuffled out the door, trying to get a feel to the sack.

Outside she inhaled deeply, waiting for Kenshin to lock up.

Everything still looked fairly clean even after dragging Kaoru and himself in wet from the night’s escapades. Kenshin took his time just staring at home before closing the door.

It would be quite awhile until he returned.

---

Immediately Kenshin settled the pace bordering close on back-breaking. He felt quite paranoid about any movement, pushing his senses on full alert. The waves of tension rolled of him, making Kaoru worry endlessly. Not only had that but, the pain gnawing at her leg had turned to a full-blown searing burning sensation.

The urge to chew her leg off constantly popped into her mind. Yet she doubted it would help much.

“Kaoru are you tired?”

Shaking her head, she increased her speed to prove her point. She ignored the sigh from behind, concentrating on the trees and plant life brushing passed her. They traveled further through the woods when Kenshin’s voice broke their silence.

“Kaoru would you like to stop now?”

‘I’m fine Kenshin.’

“How about we change your bandage?”

‘I told you. I’m fine. Let’s just keep going.’

The words almost came out sounding like a growl in their minds, making Kaoru regret it. So it didn’t surprise her when Kenshin stopped abruptly forcing her to do the same.

She sat down with her pack still on, waiting as Kenshin brought out new bandages for her leg. Already the once snowy white bandage was now covered in grime, dirt, and leaves from their hard trek. Her jaw clenched tighter when his fingers prodded the wound.

When the bandage was off blood slowly broke through the thin layer of skin, still not fully knitted together. Turning back the pack, Kenshin took out a bottle of water to clean the dribbles of blood. He slowly petted her fur when Kaoru snapped her jaw at the cold.

Sadness filled Kenshin tighter than a balloon but not regret. He’d hardened his resolve to help Kaoru anyway he could. During the fight, she had lost her mind and he couldn’t stand the sight of the Beast using her body. The memory still sent chills down his spine. She’d been through so much and she was hurting and in pain at the moment. He wanted to help in anyway.

He tied the bandage tight, smoothing it out before grabbing his pack.

“All right Kaoru, shall we keep going?”

She took off ahead of him without a second glance back, the bandage crinkling at her furious movement.

---

The walk into the tavern was quite a journey from his home, deep within the wilderness, but it was worth it to enjoy a strong drink of sake. The large man sauntered in through the doors, sitting down silently on a stool.

Right away, the bartender recognized the striking man with his dark hair and muscular build. The strange and unique white cloak dipped in crimson draped upon his shoulders in an arrogant sort of way. He was the town’s potter however rumors told of another occupation the hermit kept secret.

The bartender left the large bottle of sake and cup near the mysterious hermit. The large man grunted his thanks, leaving the cup and money on the table. He grabbed the bottle under his cloak to walk back home.

It was getting late and Hiko Seijurou had a feeling a guest would be coming soon. He’d had to hurry if he wanted to greet his guest head on.

---

The shadows grew thicker as the sun brimmed against the horizon. Kaoru could sense the crystal tingling at the magic chi building up, waiting to explode during her transformation. She sensed the curious glance Kenshin had sent her as the sun began to set, but she ignored him.

She had been ignoring him all day since the bandage incident.

What made it all very strange was that she couldn’t exactly pinpoint why she felt angry at him. Her mind wouldn’t open up to him no matter how many times her inner morality screamed at her to. The silence felt thick between them.

What is wrong with me today?

Why is he treating me like an invalid?

Why does he worry so much when we barely know each other? He never tells me anything about himself but he demands to know everything about me.

When can I have a full normal day just to relax? It’s just so damn hard.

Why did this have to happen to me?

Her eyes watered slightly at the situation. Things had gotten so hard and one day she knew everything would just blow up in her face, if it hadn’t already. She wanted to cry and let it all out.

Before these thoughts could take her anyway else, the sun dropped underneath sending the familiar surge of energy through her body. She slowed her run and then jumped behind some bushes to cover her morphing. Last time she had changed, she’d been too shocked to realize she was in the nude before Kenshin had graciously given her his jacket to wear.

Kaoru waited for the change to happen patiently, wanting to feel, see, smell, and hear everything through the abilities of a human. Being a wolf or any other type of animal was fun and exhilarating at times, but it got tiring.

And so she waited.

And waited.

And waited.

She frowned looking at the crystal. The energy’s light dulled at her gaze and the only thing glowing was the bandage wrapped around her leg. A sense of relief numbed the pain at her leg and she ripped the bandage to discover a nasty slash already scarred.

Her wound had healed.

But she hadn’t changed.

Puzzlement and anxiety, she frantically nudged at the crystal whose light and energy emitted dimmer than usual. Finally she looked to the sky and to her disbelief saw no moon.

Tonight was a new moon.

Gah… What are the odds!?!?

Her jaw gaped. The crystal relied on the moon’s light and with no moon meant no changing. She would have to wait for three days to change back.

Temper flaring, she trudged back to where she had left Kenshin. Her mind barked out to him, ready for the stunned expression and shotgun lines of questions.

‘Kenshin! I think we have a problem! Something went wrong when I –’

Her out-roar died in mid-sentence when she found no one in clearage she had stopped at.

What? Where did he go?

She huffed irritated and sniffed the air to catch his scent. Something, not quite like Kenshin’s but very familiar and similar all the same, caught her attention. Deciding to explore it out, she moved swiftly to navigate through the foliage deeper into the woods. She soon stopped upon a faded trail. The scent grew strong and fresh.

She suppressed a grin, rushing forward. Being a wolf did have its perks even if it was so damn tiring to stay as one.

She skidded to hide beneath a few bushes near the scent. From her hideout, she could see a small ancient house, blowing smoke from a chimney out in an adjacent room separate from the main house.

Huh. I wonder what’s that rundown house doing all the way out here in the middle of nowhere?

With stealth, she crept toward the house instinct yelling for her to find Kenshin while curiosity controlled her body pushing her forwards. She had to know whose scent it was that smelled so familiar and close to Kenshin’s scent.

Except in the next second, a glint of metal flashed for a second. Reverting back to instinct, Kaoru jumped backwards as the sword smashed cutting into the ground.

The wielder straightened his stance to glare coldly at her.

Whoa. He’s… big.

Kaoru felt herself shrink at the large man with dark hair off to his shoulder. His cape billowed at his movements adding more to the intimidation factor.

“Excuse me, but you’re on private property.”

His voice rumbled low and reverberating in her sensitive ears.

Damn. I shouldn’t have let curiosity got the best of me.

She tried to growl but instead let out a squeak. When the swordsman guffawed, she could feel the heat rushing to her face.

Thank God wolves don’t blush!

Ready to attempt again, she was interrupted when a very ruffled and huffing Kenshin entered the area.

“Ah Kaoru! Where are you! I have a change of clothes for you!”

The panting redhead looked around until he glanced at Kaoru –still in wolf form – and the large man –still holding the sword pointed at the wolf –. A baffled expression covered his face as he looked from person to wolf back and forth.

Incoherent babble filled the silence of the other two before Kenshin lost it.

“Mah! What happened!?!?!?”

“Shut it baka deshi. Can’t you see I’m trying to fend my home from this mongrel of a wolf!”

Kaoru sat down, innocently blinking at the men.

Wait a minute… Student?!?

“Ah Shishou that wolf is my companion.”

“What?”

Wait a minute… Teacher?!?

‘Kenshin, I think you have some things to explain.’

This time, the growl came out successfully with the desired effects on both men. Kaoru almost laughed when they both jumped.

Kenshin nervously chuckled at the mess of the situation.

“Shishou this wolf is actually a girl named Kaoru. And for some reason she’s under a Curse which should have reversed its effects by now –“

‘There’s no moon tonight so I can’t change. The transformation draws energy from the moonlight.’

Kenshin slowly nodded in understanding.

“Well that is a problem Kaoru.”

She groaned.

“Ah sorry to put it so lightly Kaoru. Don’t worry the moon should come back after two more nights. Oh! Also please meet my teacher Hiko Seijuro. He is the man that we have come to find.”

“Baka deshi why the hell are you talking to that wolf? Have you finally lost it?”

“I told you Shishou that this is actually a girl changed into the body of the wolf.”

“You think of me as a fool?”

‘No he’s right. I’m just cursed but you can call me Kaoru.’

And then both men stood in silence, all staring at her. She tilted her head to the side watching them curiously.

Kenshin spoke first.

“Kaoru I didn’t know you could communicate to more than one person in that form.”

‘Yeah. So can your teacher help us or not?’

The man of the topic slumped in disbelief, staring at the two as if Kenshin had lost his sanity and at the wolf as if she had… well talked.

“Damn. I knew I shouldn’t have drunk so much. I could’ve sworn that wolf talked.”

‘I did.’

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A/N: I decided I needed a dosage of humor in my blatant life and added that tidbit. Note! Hiko was expecting a visitor –just cause he’s cool like that- but he wasn’t exactly expecting a talking wolf.

Shishou: another way of saying Teacher (similar to sensei)

Baka-deshi: stupid pupil

All right! I do know that quite a few people click or browse through this story and it would be GREATLY APPRECIATED if you dropped me a word or two! Please!! It’s depressing to NOT know how my readers feel about this plotline or my writing in general so make my day and review!

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p.s. FAT CATS RULE!