A/N: Thank you to all who have reviewed this story so far it makes me happy to know you've enjoyed it D things are starting to heat up and Mari's plan is going the way she wants it to. So please review I'll give you cookies if you do.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or it's characters...I wished I owned Sojiro though pouts

Kenshin, Sanosuke, Shishio, and Aoshi were training far back into the woods. Well they weren't really training. Aoshi was leaning against a tree thinking, as always. Sanosuke continually threw and apple in the air and caught it for his amusement. Shishio sat sulking against a tree wondering what the hell Yumi's problem was. Kenshin layed on the ground his hands behind his head, looking up at the bright blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds. He sighed and sat up looking over in Aoshi's direction.

"Hey Aoshi, what are you thinking about?"

"How we can get one new girl in the whole school and not have any others."

Kenshin blinked a few times confused, "Oro? Why does it matter if theres only one new girl in the school?"

"It doesn't but don't you find it kind of odd?"

"Now that you mention it," Makoto finally spoke up, "It does seem kind of strange to just have one new student."

"Exactlly. Theres something strange about that Mari girl and I can't grasp what it is."

"Well we'll just have to find out what it is." Sano said throwing the apple in a random direction. They heard someone shout ow.

Yumi came through the brush rubbing her head, "Ow rooster head what the hell do you think your doing! Are you trying to kill someone!"

Sanosuke glared at her, "It was just a stupid apple Yumi, it's not gonna ruin your hair."

"You really get on my nerves sometimes you know that." She growled at him.

"Good, cause the feeling is mutual."

Shishio rolled his eyes and threw an apple he found on the ground at Sano, "Your both starting to piss me off. All you do is whine and complain at each other."

Yumi glared at him through her dark bangs, "Yeah, and your one to talk."

"What! I didn't do anything. I randomly come up to you in P.E. today and you bite my head off!"

Sano walked over to a surprised Kenshin and Aoshi. They listened to Shishio and Yumi bitch back and forth at each other. Sanosuke tilted his head to the side, "Hey aren't they usually I love you I love you so much, not I hate you I hate you so much?"

Kenshin nodded his head. Aoshi grew suspicious, something wasn't right and he knew it Makoto and Yumi's fighting had to do something with that Mari girl. He walked back in the direction of the house, his leaving unaware to Kenshin and Sano who were having a blast watching the couple fight...well Sanosuke at least.

Aoshi trudged through the thick woods back to their house. He kept a watchful eye on everything around him. He was sure something was going to happen, he could tell by the way Mari looked at him earlier that day. That's why he made that threat if she layed even a finger on Misao he would do something about it. He sighed and took off his shoes at the front door, Misao noticed him and happily bounced over to him (Not literally but it would be funny if she did). Aoshi sat near the edge of the door and looked back in the direction of the woods hoping everyone else was allright.

Misao stared at him with a worried expression on her face, "Aoshi what's wrong?"

"Theres something different about that Mari girl, she's not all she says to be. I'm trying to figure out what she really wants but nothing is coming tp mind. Shishio and Yumi are back in the woods fighting and Sano is having a blast watching."

Misao stared at him dumbfounded, "Makoto and Yumi are fighting! That's something new."

Aoshi nodded, "Yes and they started fighting during P.E. and it never happened until after Mari came."

Misao held her chin in a thinking way, "Wait, Yumi said something about coming out of the locker room and noticing Mari and Shishio talking but I don't know why that would make her upset."

"Yes it seems theres more then you were told."

"I guess Kaoru and I could ask her later, Megumi will be working late tonight anyway."

"Okay well I'm going to take a shower let me know when dinner's ready." Aoshi said standing up giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

-Back in the forest-

Sanosuke bit into his apple as he watched the couple before him continue to fight. He sighed and layed his head back against the tree, "Will those two ever stop?"

Kenshin blinked eyes wide, "I dunno didn't think they could go this long."

Shishio suddenly stopped his rambling and put his hand over Yumi's mouth telling her to be quiet. He looked around the forest suspiciously, "Did you guys hear that?"

Kenshin's eyes narrowed as they scanned the forest carefully, "Yeah. Did you hear that Sano?" He asked looking over at his best friend.

Sanosuke Sagara shook his head coming out of his daze, "Huh? What are we talking about?"

Makoto rolled his eyes and took his hand away from Yumi's mouth, "Nevermind stupid lets get back I'm hungry." He said leaving.

"Hey that's my line!" Sanosuke shouted running after him.

Kenshin just shook his head but smiled. He looked back at Yumi, "You coming?"

"Yeah just give me a minute."

Kenshin smiled, "Okay!" With that he walked after his two bickering friends.

Yumi smiled and sat down on a rock. She sighed and looked up through the trees at the piercing blue sky. She heard it too something was in the woods. Her thoughts were interuppted when someone jumped down behind her. She tried to scream but it was muffled by the hand that kept her quiet. Yumi felt dizzy she tried to focus but her eyes slowly slipped shut as she passed out.

-Later at night after dinner-

Kaoru stood at the sink humming happily as she washed the dishes. She stopped humming for a second something was troubling her. Yumi never came home. Her thoughts were interuppted when she heard the door open. She turned her head to see Megumi come in. She smiled slightly, "Hey Megumi I have a plate for you in the fridge."

"Thanks." She sat at the table exhausted.

"So how was work?" Kaoru asked setting Megumi's plate infront of her.

"Busy as always. This looks dillicious Kaoru."

Kaoru smiled, "Thank you Megumi." Her smile was soon replaced with a frown, "Megumi you haven't seen Yumi by any chance have you?"

Megumi blinked, "No why? Isn't she here?"

"No she never came home Kenshin said she wanted a little time alone in the forest."

"Hmmm strange."

-In Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Shishio's room-

Makoto sat on the wide window ledge looking outside with a seious look on his face. Kenshin saw this and sat on his bed looking at his troubled friend, "Hey what's wrong?"

"Yumi never came home with us."

Kenshin blinked, "That's right she did say something about needing to stay behind to think about stuff."

Shishio scowled and jumped off the ledge grabbing his sword while walking to the door.

Sanosuke came out of the bathroom drying his hair, "Where are you going?"

"To find Yumi. Damn girl must've got lost." He slammed the door shut and was on his way out.

Kenshin and Sano looked at each other for a minute and just shrugged going back to whatever it was they were doing in the first place.

- In the forest-

"Yumi's becoming more of a pain in the ass day by day." Makoto grumbled to himself. He frowned, "Then she gets all mad at me when I didn't do anything. God what a weirdo." Shishio calmly walked through the forest. His eyes closed concentrating. He heard a sudden movement and drew his sword, "Come on out!" He heard feet coming at him very fast whoever or whatever it was wanted to get somewhere fast. He felt a sudden impact on his body and someone cling to him shaking. He looked down to see Mari. He lowered his sword, "Mari! What are you doing here!"

Mari looked at him frightened, "Makoto it was horrible I saw these guys drag Yumi off I ran as fast as I could!"

"What! Where'd they take her?"

"That way." She pointed deeper into the forest.

Shishio gritted his teeth, "Mari I need you to go tell Kenshin what happened the house is that way." He told her pointing behind him. He ran off without saying anything else.

Mari smirked, she had him right where she wanted him, "Oh I'll tell Kenshin allright." She grabbed her cell phone and dialed a number, "Hey hun, it worked he's heading in your direction. Yeah I'm heading there now see you later." The next part of her plan, to get Aoshi Shinomori alone and kill him.

A/N: Ohhhhhh I don't think I like that Mari girl very much and I made her XD. Oh well. Please review and tell me what you think.