A/n Hi everyone! I'm back with the first chapter of a new story in the Kenshin-gumi tales. I hope to see a lot of my readers from my battousai/kaoru retelling of beauty and the beast. I'm going to cycle through my stories, posting one chapter each week. This way all the stories will be constantly updated while giving me time enough to work on more of their chapters.

Anyways, I don't see many Aoshi/Misao stories as much as I see stories for the others. I always seem to have a hard time writing Aoshi, so forgive a little ooc-ness that may happen.

Red Riding Hood in another favorite tale of mine. I'm taking from a few sources here. I'm taking heavily from the Canon movie-tales version of the movie…I'm borrowing the storyline at first before it branches off into my own. Also borrowing a few things here and there from "The Company of Wolves." That I saw a long while back. So, enough of my talking. I hope everyone enjoys the story.

"Bring him here." Takeda ordered, sitting back on his massive chair. Two guards opened the door to his chambers and in walked three men. Two were guards and the man standing between them was in iron shackles. He was naked from the waist up, his dark hair hung in his face as he gazed at the floor. Takeda reached down to pet the head of a large grey-white wolf; he then stood and walked to the man. He took his face in his hand and jerked his head up so that he could look him in the eyes.

"Name?" Takeda asked, letting his chin go.

"Aoshi." He said simply. "Shinomorie Aoshi." His face passive, his voice calm.

Takeda smiled. This was who he had been waiting for. He turned to the guard on the right. "Remove these shackles and then leave us. All of you."

"But sir…we found him like this prowling around the grounds." The guard protested.

"I know. Just do it." Takeda demanded, turning on his heal to sit at his chair once again. He picked at a plate of meat and other food that sat on a small table near his chair. He watched as the iron shackles dropped from Aoshi's wrists and the guards quickly hustled their way out of the room, shutting the door behind them. Aoshi stood, arms at his side, head lowered but bright eyes gazing out at him from under the locks of dark hair.

"You trust me enough to be alone with me?" Aoshi asked.

"Trust has nothing to do with it." Takeda popped a bite of fruit in his mouth. "I own you, we are connected. Takeda sat back. Pulling his gi to the side to show an ugly red scar on his pale flesh. "I sold my heart to the devil for you. The very blood that gives you life bonds you to me forever."

Aoshi said nothing. For there was nothing to say, he knew what Takeda said was true. "What will you have me do…Master?"

Takeda smiled wolf-like as he indicated a chair beside him. Aoshi crossed the room and sat in the chair. His every move was a fluid grace...sinful in its perfection. "The first thing I want you to do is make certain people disappear."

…. .. … . . ….

Two years later.

…. . … . . …

"Misao!...Misao what are you doing!" Sanosuke called up the tree. His sixteen year old cousin Misao was perched precariously on one branch. "Get down from there! You're not even supposed to be this deep in the woods. I'm going to tell your mother!" The man yelled, his head tipped upward.

"Empty threats." Misao said to herself as she glanced down at her nineteen year old cousin. "You wouldn't dare!" she called down even as she slowly started to make her way down the tree.

"Hell yeah I would!" Sano retuned. Though he knew he wouldn't do anything to threaten the relationship he had with his favorite cousin. Neither Misao nor Sanosuke had any siblings, so they grew up close and adopted each other as brother and sister. They kept many secrets, and watch each other's backs. "You're not allowed off the tail Young Lady." Sanosuke continued to scold his younger cousin as she dropped the last few feet to the ground, her red cloak flaring out like fiery wings.

"Your mother is going to kill you if you rip that cloak." He shifted his bow to his shoulder and took Misao by the arm. Sanosuke was a hunter. He hunted for food for his family and he sold the pelts for money. He was supposed to be hunting right now, not dragging a girl back onto the trail.

"Hey! Let me go, I'm a big girl. I can walk myself, snitch." She yanked her arm away from his grasp and punched him in the arm. But it was like punching a tree. His muscled arm had no give and he was hardly thrown off balance.

It was true that she was no longer a little girl that could be carried off by wild animals. But there were other dangers of being caught out in the words all alone where there were more than just beasts, but men. And though she didn't really know the danger, she was obviously old enough to experience the evil of evil men. "Doesn't mean I won't pick you up and carry you out of this forest." Sanosuke grumbled as he rubbed his arm. "There are dangerous things in the woods Misao. Hunters and beasts and strangers."

"Yeah, yeah." The girl waved her hand at his warning. "I wear this red cloak so hunters won't mistake me in the first place, remember." In fact, Misao wore the hooded cloak because her Grandmother Gensai made it for her. She even put a protection spell on it to keep her safe from harm.

"Yes but a stray arrow or-"

"I know Sanosuke!" She stomped her foot on the smooth dirt path that cut through the woods. She batted her bangs from her eyes as she glared up at him. "I'm capable of taking care of myself. Accidents happen and will happen if I'm on the path or not."

Sanosuke fell in step beside his cousin as she picked her way over moss covered logs to get back to the path. "I know." He finally said. "But I've seen some pretty strange things out here and…well, with your father still gone, I've gotta be the one to protect you."

The mention of her father cooled Misao's temper like a bucket of water on tipped on a fire. Her father had gone off to fight in a far off war…he'd been gone for almost five years now. There wasn't word of his death, and yet there had been no letters from him and no mention of him in the letters from others that had gone off to war. Misao knew because her mother asked all her friends whose husbands and sons were off fighting. Sanosuke was a sickly boy growing up and he was still carrying his illness, it was the only thing that kept him from joining the ranks of solders, much to his annoyance. So he jumped head first in his duties to protect and provide for his family; including Misao and her mother.

"What were you doing out so far anyways? Your grandmother's cottage is in that direction." Sanosuke pointed to his left.

"I was just going for a walk, and then I thought I saw a fairy!" Her face was set in hard determination. "I will catch one someday…or at least get a good enough eyeful that I can describe them in detail."

Sanosuke paused for a moment before continuing their walk. "You listen to Grandmother Gensai's stories too much, ya know that?"

"It's all true." Misao snapped.

"How do you figure that?" The teen shoved his hands in his pockets, his bow bouncing against his back.

"How else could such stories be passed down for so many generations if they weren't true? Grandmother's swore she experienced half of the things she's told me. She seen elves and fairies and knows of the dark creatures that roam around. She said you can't trust a man whose eyebrows meet. Like that Shishio." Misao grinned when her cousin uttered an insult under his breath. Shishio was feared and hated by all who knew him. The sly, ugly demon that he was. "Grandmother says that a man whose eyebrows meet is a werewolf."

"I can think of better names." Sanosuke mumbled.

They chatted as they quickly ate up the ground of the well-worn path and before long the stone and wood homes sprouted up as the trees gave way to a grassy valley. On the edge of the forest, just before the trees died away completely, was Misao's home. A small three room cottage, it was well kept and comfortable. But Misao paused in her tracks, with a gasp she ducked off to the side and dragged a startled Sanosuke with her. They peeked from behind the trees.

"Is that Lord Takeda?" Sanosuke asked in surprise at the regally dressed man on the front porch of the cottage. "Is he still trying to get to Aunt Megumi?"

Misao's father was a relative to a well-to-do family. He and lord Takeda looked much alike in some ways, except that Takeda was a thin sort of fellow with dirt colored hair, while her father was large with dark hair. But they had the same tall frame and facial structure. Takeda had been smitten on her mother Megumi from the moment she and her father were married, so her mother had told Misao.

"Looks like..." Misao whispered. "He's been harassing mother and awful lot now that father is gone. You think after so long he would just give up."

"Harassing?"

"In the most polite of ways, of course." Misao snapped. She didn't like the way he looked at her mother, even now Megumi stood at her front door, and the lord was far too close for this type of civil conversation. She could see on her mother's face that she was trying to be polite, but was uncomfortable with the aristocrat.

"Lord Takeda is a powerful man now that many other high nobles are off with our King fighting in the war." The unspoken settled heavily between them. If he wanted to, Takeda could demand Megumi marry him…even if her husband still lived.

"Mother knows she's pushing her luck every time he comes by to invite her to court…I think she's trying to stall for as long as possible. He has little influence out here…but once in court the pressure would be too much for her." Misao whispered harshly, her temper starting to rise.

… . . …

"You will be much more comfortable there." Takeda said. Though he smiled, his eyes were flat and Megumi forced her back to stay straight as a rod and look him in those flat eyes.

"Thank you, My Lord, but my place is here. I like working my little garden and my mother is nearby."

"Such a lonely existence." Takeda leaned against the thin wooden pillar that held up the porch and he wrapped one arm around it. "You'll have so much more with me."

"I'm not so lonely, I have my maid Tae, my mother is just beyond the woods there, and of course there is Misao." Megumi forced a polite smile, her hands clasped in front of her. "Hiko will return soon."

"You say that all the time…it's been five years without a single word."

Megumi's smile faltered but returned just as fast. "I know it will be soon, this war cannot last forever."

"Yes, well…" Takeda's voice trailed off and he turned on his heal and stepped off the porch. He learned to give up quickly once Megumi talked of her husband returning. He was fast growing tired of waiting. His large bay horse stood to the side munching on long grass that grew in the front of the house. With one surge of motion the lord pulled himself into the saddle. Instantly a large white-grey wolf that was lying in wait in the long grass got to his feet and loped his way over to stand next to his master's steed. "I'll see you again, M'Lady." Takeda tipped his head to the woman before yanking the horse around to leave.

Misao picked that moment to step from the woods and onto the path. Sanosuke reached out for her but only snatched air, so he quickly joined her side as Takeda road past. He looked down at the two of them as they side stepped to allow the lord clear passage. His eyes were empty, but his smile held and hint of the sly thoughts in his mind. He gave the two teens little attention as he continued on, his wolf trotting behind him. The canine gave them hardly a glance as he followed his master at an easy pace.

"One day the pelt of that beast will hang on my wall." Sansuke said in a whisper once the Lord was out of earshot. "He lets that creature have too much freedom." He added with a snort as the two of them turned to join Megumi who waited for them on the porch.

"Misao." Her mother said, her hands going to her hips as the young girl started up the steps. "You'll all dirty, and you've torn the hem of your dress again."

Misao glanced down at the yellow material that brushed her caves. The shortness of the dress showed her young age, but her mother was already making the ankle length skirts that women wore. She was of age and her mother made sure she dressed as such. "I hate dresses anyway." Misao said. "It's hard to climb trees in them. My legs get all tangled up."

Megumi huffed. "You're not supposed to be climbing trees anyway!"

"Just because I'm a girl." Misao stated, having had this argument at least once a week.

"Yes!" Megumi's eyes flashed and Sansuke took a step down the steps.

"Father taught me to climb trees." Misao said, her eyes down cast as she reached down to grab at the torn hem on the side of her skirts.

Megumi swallowed her argument with a snap of her mouth and heaved a sigh. Misao loved her father and everything he had taught her was sacred, just as sacred as the stories her mother-in-law told her about fairies and elves.

"I have to get going." Sanosuke said as the silence stretched between them. "I'll come by and chop some more wood for you in the morning Aunt Megumi."

The dark haired lady flashed a grateful smile at the teen. "You're a good boy." She said as he waved and turned to walk away. Megumi watched his brisk pace for a moment before turning her eyes back to her daughter. She sighed again. "Wash up, we have supper to make.

"Yes ma'am." Misao said automatically and dashed into the house as her mother stepped aside.

… . . …

Lord Takeda watched from the top of a hill the harvesting going on in what looked to be a grassy meadow tucked into a nook in the forest. The golden grass however, was wheat and a handful of farmers worked methodically with curved hand blades cutting and stacking and tying the crop. Beside him sat three other men on horseback. Two were his guard and the third was the bookkeeper of his treasury.

"Crop looks disappointing this year." Takeda prompted, turning his gaze to the smaller bookkeeper as his horse shifted its weight from one side to the other.

"Very much so." The bookkeeper agreed. The little man has mouse brown hair and big teeth that tight lips seem to curl over as he spoke. "This is one of the fields of…" He paused as he looked as a one of the many scrolls he carried. His ink stained fingertips in dark contrast to the cream paper. "Of Kenshin Himura." He traced the entry with one finger. "He hasn't paid his taxes. They were due six months ago."

Takeda narrowed his eyes at the red-headed man working the field. He was smaller than most men, but his movements were fluid and graceful. It was a wonder the man hadn't gone off to war with the rest of the abled bodies five years ago. Perhaps he had been too young at the time, or a coward. Whatever the reason, Takeda couldn't care less. "Bring him in." The lord said at last and he yanked on the reins to turn his horse to head back to his manor house.

… . . …

Kenshin glanced up as two large bodies stopped just beside him. The red-head straightened from his bent position to turn to the soldiers. His friends beside him paused, but made no move.

"Can I help you?" Kenshin asked, flashing a smile. The men kept their flat mask in place.

"We're to escort you to Lord Takeda's manor." One said.

"With the upmost urgency." Added the second.

Kenshin blinked, and glanced back at the friends, some standing now with worried looks on their faces. Kenshin had in his hand a harvesting scythe and wickedly curved blade almost a foot long and razor sharp. Hardly a flick would be all that would be needed to slit the throats of both men down to their neck bones. The men knew this, the guards knew this too. But Kenshin was already tossing the tool aside. He had no desire to spill blood for no reason. He wouldn't put his friends of his family at risk for nothing. Still all smiles, he waved at his friends and went with the soldiers.

… . . …

"But why do you haveta deal with him?" Misao said as her mother tight braded her hair for the night. The two women sat on Misao's bed in their white nightgowns. Megumi making quick work of the black tresses of her daughter's long hair.

"Because Misao, it's the polite thing to do." Megumi said back and didn't notice that her daughter stuck her tongue out to show what she thought of the polite thing to do. "First of all he's a Lord and as such we must show him respect. Secondly, he's your father's distant cousin and it's always good to be on good terms with family."

"Ugh, I can't believe I'm related to him, the slime ball." Misao turned as her mother finished with her hair.

"Misao!" Her mother scolded.

"What? Mother, I know you agree"

"Even so it is not for you to say." Megumi lifted a finger. "You need to start acting more like a lady now; it's what would make your father proud."

Misao sighed and nodded her head before climbing under the covers and pulling them up to her chin. Her mother blew out the single lit candle and softly shut the door behind her.

… . . …

Supper was getting cold. Kaoru sat at the table with a single lantern glowing brightly. She was wrapped in a cloak despite the heat pouring in from the fireplace. Kaoru was sick and her fevers would not seem to go away. It was quickly getting dark; Kenshin should have been home over an hour ago. Their toddler, Kenji had already eaten and was fast asleep in the next room. Perhaps the men had let the time get away from them; they were always trying to finish the last row even when the last row was five rows ago.

With a sigh, Kaoru shifted her aching body, snuggled deeper in the warmth of the fabric and waited, silently, patiently.

A/n this chapter closes a little slow. I wanted it to end in a cliff to bring the readers back for more, but stretching the story just didn't feel right. All we know at that moment is that Kenshin is in trouble, and that Takeda is a scumbag…like always. There will be more Aoshi-sama in the next chapter I pinky promise. Thanks for reading everyone! Please leave a review!