The Past: Megumi Takani and Sanosuke Sagara adopted a 12 year old girl named Gin Etsu.
The Unexpected Guest: What if someone from Sanosuke's past comes back? And falls inlove with his daughter?
"Gin, I'm going to shop, Sano invited Kenshin and his family to have lunch here." Megumi said to the young, girl with long, dark, loose-braided brown hair and big blue eyes.
The girl called Gin stood up and approached Megumi. "Mama, I'll just do the shopping, you stay here and rest and wait for Papa." She took the basket from Megumi.
"If you insist, but be sure to buy all the needed ingredients okay? The list's already in the basket and here's the money." Megumi handed Gin the money. "Take care." Then the twenty year old turned to open the door.
Megumi, adopted Gin Etsu when she was 12, she was captured by the beauty of the child's eyes, so she adopted her for someone to help her around the house and in the clinic whenever her husband, Sanosuke, is away. It was eight years ago, when those blue eyes softened her heart, she was pure, innocent and poor, with no one to lean on, Meg has seen herself on Gin Etsu.
Megumi watched the tall figure walk away, She was proud of her, Gin is a very unique girl, She attended school and helped Megumi around the clinic. Oh, how she remembers so well, the first time their eyes met…
FLASHBACK------------------------------------------------
Megumi heard a noise, under the bridge she's passing, it's been 2 years since Sano and Meg has been married, She taught it was someone who's hurt, underneath the heavy rain, she listened closely…
"Huhuhuhu… (sniff)."
It's confirmed, someone needed help so she went under the bridge and looked for the source of the sound, she called out. "Is somebody there? Anyone hurt?" at the sound of her voice, the crying stopped, she saw a small figure, sitting in the darkest part of the bridge, probably keeping herself warm amidst the strong winds and pouring rain.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" then she approached the poor figure.
The head of the small figure, rose its head up and looked at the pretty face of an angel that came at her rescue. "I'm alright, I'm just hungry and cold."
Megumi felt warmness in the girl's eyes, she touched its forehead. "My God, you're burning, let me get you home."
Sanosuke was surprised when his wife got home with a twelve year old girl with her, Megumi fed her, clothed, and took care of everything she needed.
"Who's that girl? What happened?" Sano asked when Meg left the abandoned girl's room. "Is she sick?"
Megumi hushed his husband and pulled him away from the room so the girl can rest. "I found her crying under the bridge, she was burning and starving when I found her."
Sanosuke nodded, "We'll take care of her, She can stay here as long as she likes, she can help around whenever I'm away."
The Next day…
The girl woke up, the sun shining and blinding her, her head's a little wobbly and heavy, so she closed her eyes and shook her head, then opened them again and stood up.
"You're awake."Sano opened the door in time carrying the girl's breakfast. "My wife's in the clinic, she's attending to a patient." He sat opposite of her and she sat too.
"Thank you, for taking care of me." The girl said, her eyes meeting the eyes of her savior.
Sano laid the tray in front of them. "Don't thank me, Thank Megumi for she's the one who found you and took good care of you."he smiled, a smile of encouragement.
The girl smiled back.
"What's your name?" Sano asked after the girl sipped from her teacup.
The girl brought the teacup back in the tray. "Gin, Gin Etsu." Then she sipped again, the liquid comforting her cold throat and stomach. "I'm an orphan, I ran away from a syndicate who bought homeless children and make them work in the streets by begging."
"Uh-huh, where's your parents?" Sano asked after a minute of silence.
Gin's eyes started to fill with tears. "They sold me to those men to buy my other brothers and sisters food." Sano can feel her sadness and anger.
"That's why my wife, took care of you. She saw herself in you." Sano said looking at the blue eyes. "What happened to your parents now?"
Gin's hands are trembling. "They died a year ago, I didn't even look at their body."
There's a moment of silence.
"Sanosuke." It's Megumi. "Oh, you're finally awake."
Sano stood up. "I'm Sanosuke Sagara but you can call me Sano, Megumi this is Gin Etsu, Gin, this is Megumi, my wife."
Gin stood up, "Thank you, ma'am, how can I ever repay your kindness?" she bowed her head.
"You can stay here as long as you like, and don't call me ma'am, you can have me as your mom." Then Megumi embraced the little body with love.
Gin can smell her perfume, Oh, how she wished Megumi is her real mother. She embraced her back. "Thank you, mama."
END OF FLASHBACK-------------------------------------------
Oh, how she loved that little girl, but she turned out to be the most beautiful girl she has ever seen, Megumi wiped away the tear that had escaped her eyes, she goes back in and waited for her daughter's return.
An hour passed, the marketplace is so crowded, it took Gin a longtime before she completed the ingredients, she was heading home and so excited to tell it to her mother that she bought all the ingredients and not a single one is lacking.
"I'm sure Mama would be very happy, maybe I should buy her a new ribbon." Then she went to a gift store and purchased a wide, red ribbon.
She was walking merrily when a moving figure caught her sight in a dark part of an alley, the figure looks tired and weary, she approached it carefully and the man's face is revealed, it reached out for her, it's clothes is very dirty and worn out
"Help me, thirsty and hungry…" the man said in a weak voice. "Help…"
Gin automatically dropped her things, she came to the man's rescue. "Oh! My, let me help you." She heaved the man's weight into her body, but found no way on how to carry her things. "Akira! Can you carry my things, let's go straight home, this man needs help."
Akira, a young boy, passed by and approached them, he carried Gin's things and arrived at Megumi's house.
"Thank you, Akira." She carried the basket and the man inside the house. "Mama! Mama! Someone's hurt!" she called as soon as she stepped inside.
Megumi came rushing. "Bring him to the room, let me examine him." Why.. Is this…?
Gin carried the half-lifeless body to the patient's room, Megumi ordered Gin to bring some fresh clothes, warm water. After she accomplished all this, Megumi asked her. "Where did you find him?"
Gin stared at the man's handsome face. "I saw him in a dark alley, he was calling for help and was thirsty and hungry." Then she placed the hot towel on the man's forehead.
"Sano must know this, Gin, I must go over to Kenshin, you stay here and take care of this man." Then she stood up hurriedly and left.
Gin was left puzzled. "Does Papa know this man?" then she removed his upper uniform and saw many scars on its chest and abs. "What's happening?"
The man awoke from the smell of a seafood and soup cooking, suddenly he felt his stomach twist and his throat prick, he got up and followed the scent… There's another scent aside from the food… As far as he can remember, a young woman helped him, then he saw it, she didn't notice him because she was too busy, Minutes passed before she realized she wasn't alone. "Why..why did you get up, sir? You must rest." She approached, he smelled her perfume, so that's her, a sweet rose. "I'm sure you're thirsty, here's water, I'm nearly done, please go back to bed."
"I'm sorry to worry you, may I know my rescuer's name?" the handsome man asked.
"She's not here, she went to Kenshin, Doctor Megumi will be back soon." She answered, going back to her work, understanding the man has said the other way around.
He walked a little closer to her. "No, I mean you, may I know your name?" he said, looking at the blue, innocent eyes.
She rose her head up from her work. "Oh, sorry, Gin Etsu." She blushed at this embarrassment.
"No need to apologize, I shall wait in my room." The man said, leaving.
"Very well." Gin answered.
After an hour passed, Megumi, Sanosuke, Kenshin and Kaoru arrived…
"Gin, is he awake?" Sano asked her. "Is he alright?"
Gin nodded in bewilderment. "Yes, he said he's going to wait in his room."
"Gin, bring the food as soon as you're done." Megumi said to Gin.
"Yes, Mama." She answered, preparing the food.
"I'm going to help you, Gin." Kaoru said, pouring soup on a large bowl. "You go guys." Megumi and Sano left.
"We're going to make sure it's him." Kenshin said leaving after Sano and Megumi.
Gin turned to Kaoru. "Aunt Kaoru, what's happening? Does Papa know that man?" she asked, the only clueless on what's happening.
Kaoru prepared a tray and placed the plates, chopsticks and the bowl of soup. "I'm not sure, but I think Captain Sagara's alive."
Meanwhile…
"It's you! We thought you're dead! Where are you for these past 20 years?" Sano asked as soon as he saw his captain's face.
"Sano, please, take it easy, he's too tired." Megumi calmed his husband down.
"If you don't mind my asking, where have you been in this past 20 years? What happened?" Kenshin asked, waiting for Sano's rumbling to end.
Souzou Sagara didn't said anything for awhile. "I have to live on the mountains, an old couple living there took me in, I survived by hunting, the old couple died years ago and they left their house on me."
"But your body!" Sano shouted, still can't believe that he's alive.
Souzou laughed. "I had to exchange faces with a killed Tokogawa soldier, yes, I was shot, not one, but many times, then I had to wait for a chance, I killed one of their comrades and exchanged uniform with him, I was barely alive when this couple found me, they provided me shelter, in return I shall hunt for food for us."
Sanosuke still can't believe what he just heard. "But 20 years?…"
"I have to lie-low, they're still in a full power of killing those who stand in their way, I looked for you for almost 10 years, receiving the news that you're still alive, but I don't know where to find you, until I ran out of luck, but then the sweet rose downstairs found me." He answering, brushing his hair away from his face.
"Oh, the girl down there, she's my daughter." Sanosuke answered. "We've adopted her."
Souzou nodded. "Oh, I thought so, I felt she didn't have any of your careless attitude, Sano."
Megumi laughed heartily. "We all knew that, But still Sano loves her."
Souzou looked at Megumi. "I presume you're Sano's wife?"
Megumi nodded.
"Sanosuke, you're so lucky to have beautiful women like your daughter and wife." Souzou added.
Sano placed his arm across Megumi's shoulders. "I know!"
"But, if you do not mind my asking, don't you have any plans on having your own child?" Souzou asked, smiling at the couple.
Megumi touched her flat tummy. "We have."
"Megumi! You're pregnant?" Sano asked surprised. "This is the best!" then he embraced her tightly.
"Lunch's ready!" Kaoru called from the door. "We're so glad, you're back Capt. Sagara, Sano has told us many things about you." Behind her is Gin, holding the cups and the teapots in a tray.
"Gin, this is Captain Souzou Sagara, an old friend." Sano said.
Gin bowed her head, Sano sat in the head of the table, Megumi sat on his left, Gin on his right, next to Megumi is Kenshin then Kaoru, next to Gin is Souzou.
"Gin, you're cooking is much better than Kaoru!" Sano exclaimed, chomping on his tofu.
Kaoru tried to get close to Sano so she can strangle him. "You…! I'll drown you, baka!" but Kenshin held her back. "Kaoru, relax!" then she sat beside Kenshin her ears red. "Though Sano's telling the truth." All of a sudden, Kaoru's pulling Kenshin's cheeks out. "Grrr! And you're on his side!"
"Kaoru, why don't you just accept it? My daughter's better in cooking than you!" Megumi added jokingly. "What do you think, Souzou?
Souzou helped himself with a gulp of the soup. "The soup is perfect, and the fish is perfectly steamed." And smiled at Kaoru. "But my verdict is still hanging, I have to wait for Kaoru's."
Kaoru pouted her lips in an annoyed way. "Very well then, tomorrow, come to the dojo for breakfast! And I'll prove that my cooking is worth Kenshin's side." Then big waterfalls (ehem, I mean tears.) fell from her big eyes.
"Gin, why so quiet?" Megumi noticed when she's just sitting there eating her food. "Are you not feeling well, honey?"
Kaoru looked at the young woman. "Oh, I'm sorry if I offended you, Gin, I admit myself that you're a good cook." Then she smiled sweetly at the silent girl.
Gin smiled back. "Oh, it's nothing Auntie, you shouldn't apologize, I just have nothing to say." Then she poured tea on her Papa, Kenshin and Souzou's cups.
"Thank you Gin, say, would you like to see my son, Kenji? He said he misses you, would you come for tomorrow's Kaoru's cook-off?" Kenshin asked, keeping a light tone.
"Yes, Uncle, I'll be there, I missed him, too." Gin answered.
Sano peeped into the rice pot. "Sure we're short of rice and steamed fish, do you have more?" He asked to his daughter. "You know you're father is very tired of the long day's work!" then laughed off.
"Long day's work?" Megumi pressed hard on the word work.
Gin stood up. "Don't worry, Mama, I cooked extra, wait, I'll just get it downstairs."
Souzou also stood up. "I'll help you."
"Hey, didn't you notice, I think Souzou likes your daughter, Gin, Sanosuke." Kaoru said when Kenshin, Megumi and Sano are left behind.
"Yes, he called her sweet rose when he told his story." Kenshin said, drinking his tea then Kaoru refilling it.
Megumi tilted her head. "We must think about that, He's a little bit too old for her." She said, then taking her fish in.
Sano, as usual stuck a fish bone in his teeth. "But he didn't seem to grow old, not even a line on his face or white hair."
"But he's a nice man, don't you think?" Kaoru said consolingly.
Souzou filled the rice pot with rice and Gin steamed more fish and poured tea to the teapots.
Souzou is watching her every move, silence passed and the man spoke. "Gin, why so far away from me?" he asked, his voice evident begging a little care from her. "Maybe you're a little surprised of all that happened."
Gin placed the teapots into the tray and turned the fish. "Forgive me for my lack of attention, Yes, I was surprised to hear that you're papa's old friend but it's no need to be sorry, sir." Then she poured soup on the soup bowl and placed it in the tray.
"Thank you for saving me, instead of leaving me." He said when he stood beside her.
Gin nodded. "It's nothing, sir, It would be my conscience to leave you there." Then she placed another fish in the steamer.
Souzou smiled and turned to her. "You're so kind, Gin, how can I repay such kindness?"
"Good sir, it's my Mama's teaching to do good without asking for conditions, It's enough for me to see you so well and recovering." Then she turned away, her cheeks pink, pretending to stir the soup.
Souzou smiled, she did care for him. "Very well, we are done here, let's now go upstairs because they may start starving up there."
Yey! My first ever RRK fanfic, please do review me! It makes me go on! I want to know if somebody is reading and if you do appreciate it please tell me, if not tell me why,Please! So I can have room to improve, but please no BAD words ,
Gin Etsu is just my own character, she just popped out of my mind, I want to have a different kind of pairing, since I revived (hehehehe!) Captain Sagara, I will describe her to you so you can have a whole picture of the character…
She's much taller than Megumi Takani, maybe an inch but not taller than Sanosuke Sagara, she has dark brown loose, braided hair and has blue-crystal eyes, the lashes are more simpler than Takani's, she's a little bit slim and can be quiet around strangers (i.e. Souzou Sagara ), her lips a little bit fuller than Megumi and redder because she's only in her twenties, her skin's not white nor fair, maybe a little more Asian like brown or lighter brown, If you noticed something more about Gin Etsu during the story, please do tell me!
Apologies for the bad English! Hehehe, also with Japanese words, I can't remember the others except for the word Baka-stupid…
