Be Careful What You Wish For

 

A Rurouni Kenshin fanfiction

By Chibi Tenshi and Kirstian

 

Chapter Four

 

Camouflage – it was going to be the key to her survival.  Despite the rancid smell that had greeted her nose, she took a deep breath and submerged herself in the mud.  Her great beauty must’ve been far more potent than she had realised.  Perhaps there was an agent in the water, like a truth serum of sorts that opened people’s eyes to what she possessed.  As much as she appreciated the attention, this was bordering on insanity.  Was she going to be constantly plagued by people clamouring to be with her?

 

“All I wanted to be was desirable for Kenshin,” she bemoaned as she continued slathering on the mud.

 

As soon as she could, she would find a suitable disguise.  Though it would be hard to disguise her assets, she was fairly certain she could make do.  With the last of the gooey substance covering her skin, she leapt over the fence swiftly as the pigs around her made strange oinking noises.

 

**********

 

Muttering a quick apology, Kaoru dove for the boat and began rowing as if her life depended upon it.  The man by the lake screamed, “I would’ve given it to you for free!!!”

 

Her ears burned in mortification at the suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.  Grabbing an apple from the boat, she flung it in his direction, and observed with satisfaction as the projectile knocked the man into the water.  Then she rowed as fast as she could when the man started swimming in her direction.

 

“This is not happening to me!” she screamed as her arms worked the oars furiously.

 

The contamination had to be just within Tokyo.  It was probably the drinking water rendering her more irresistible than usual.  She could only pray for smooth sailing.  Somehow, she knew it wouldn’t be so.

 

**********

 

The boat didn’t last very long.  She had damn near been run over by a bunch of enthusiastic fishermen, and it was only with great skill that she had managed to avoid them.  She was fairly certain a few of them were still floating face down back where she had left them.

 

She crawled onto shore, and nearly groaned at the path ahead of her.  She would be safe in Kyoto.  Surely that would be the case.  She glanced around quickly.  If she remembered correctly, it was a road not travelled often.  And even if it were so, she could stick closer to the bushes and avoid human contact.  There was no telling who could’ve been coming from Tokyo. 

 

The sound of a carriage sent her diving for the bushes.  The horses screeched abruptly to a halt and began neighing.  She cursed long and hard, and prayed to God that someone would release her from this nightmare.  How had her day ended up like this?

 

She heard the creak of a door opening, and she ducked further down.  Glancing around, she tried to find a weapon to use since her arms had long grown weary of sending half of Tokyo through the air. 

 

“What beauty is this!

 

She looked up in horror to find a gaijin staring at her.  “I must have you!”

 

“I don’t understand you!” Kaoru shrieked in Japanese.  She fell clumsily, her skills having deserted her.  There was no Kenshin to save her this time, although given the current situation, he was more likely to just jump her – not that she minded, though now was not really the best time to be having such thoughts about a certain redheaded rurouni.

 

The blonde man advanced towards her, blue eyes shining in a worshipful light.  “Beautiful beautiful woman! Ki-rei,” he murmured awkwardly.

 

That word she understood, and it didn’t bode well for her.  Her fist clenched by her side, she would’ve sent it flying upwards had she not smelled something peculiar in the air.  Her eyes widening in horror, she watched as the tiny black and white creature beside her hunched its back and sprayed the gaijin for all it was worth.

 

“AAAAAAAH!!!!” he screamed.

 

“AAAAAH!!!!” she screamed as she jumped for the carriage.  As the horses took off, she glanced back and if she wasn’t mistaken, she thought she saw the most mournful look upon the animal’s face.

 

*********

 

The horses were leading her somewhere.  She wasn’t entirely sure where, but one thing was for certain, it probably wasn’t a good idea to remain in the carriage for this long.  Ignoring twin protesting neighs, she jumped off the carriage and found herself face first on the ground, sprawled in an entirely undignified, and unfeminine manner. 

 

Her muscles protested painfully at her movements as she dragged herself up.  Clambering upwards, she utilized tree-climbing skills she hadn’t used since she was a child.  What in the world was a girl to do? When she finally reached the top, she closed her eyes for a much needed rest.

 

***********

 

When she awoke, it was to the bright chirping of birds completely surrounded her.  Not too far away, it would seem as if a series of animal brawls had taken place.  The squirrels were practically tossing each other off the tree. 

 

Kaoru screamed, sending the birds scattering through the air, and she climbed down as quickly as she could.  She ran for it, not caring where she went.  Her second day would turn out more insane as the next as she discovered that forest animals could be as persistent as humans, if not more so.

 

**********

 

A strange noise echoed through the forest.  The scraping of wood against the ground would’ve caused a few eyebrows to raise in confusion, along with the wooden tub that was seemingly moving itself along some path. 

 

Kaoru shifted the tub a little so she could breathe and continued moving.  At this rate, she was never going to get to Kyoto.  Her forehead broke out in a sweat as she imagined being accosted by so many of her adoring fans (for lack of a better word here).  Surely there was some place close by where she could take shelter? Judging by where she was, Tokyo travellers wouldn’t be near by, and surely the animals would’ve gone on with their normal lives.

 

Her eyes brightened as she realised that she was near a series of familiar mountains.  Jumping up in joy, she grabbed the tub along as she began running in the direction for one of them.

 

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Disclaimer: We own no part of Rurouni Kenshin or any other presences, other then Tenshi and Kirstian themselves, who will appear in this fic.  If we did, Kenshin wouldn't be as clueless as he normally is, and he'd be called Tub-by.  In any case, we have no money.  We spent it all on Sesshoumaru's spandex Halloween getup.  XD  So don't sue.  We'll sick Vash on you.