Disclaimer: I do not own Rurunoi Kenshin
This was a collaboration with another author but I think the author changed their screen name and I accumulated too many messages to find them. Whoever you are thank you for your help.
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The smell of fish permeated the small seaside town, a town where everyone knew everyone else - and no-one did anything strange. A man walked out from a bar, whistling to himself, wrapping his green scarf back around his shoulders. It was noon, almost time for him to go out and catch some fish. Nice nice fish... He stopped his carefree walking and backtracked.
Tacked to the side of a small noodle shop was a new wanted poster. The man's face on the poster was shadowy and downcast, his features not easy to see and a cross-shaped scar marked his left cheek. but it was not the scar or the newness of the poster that caught his eye. It was not as much the high bounty either as it was the name. 'Himura Battousai - wanted for murder'.
Shaking his head, the man smirked and adjusted his scarf. "Battousai, huh?" he muttered to himself, ignoring the strange gazes he got from passerby. Reaching out, he tore the poser from the wall, nodding thoughtfully. The bounty on this man was large and beutiful - such a sum the man had never even seen in his life... Oh, such a tempting prospect. He folded the paper and put it into his sleeve, beginning to whistle again and continuing down the road to the docks.
Before he reached the docks, however, he was stopped. "Hey! Well, who isn't but my favorite nephew!" An old man stepped out from out of a decrepit antiques shop, spreading his arms in a supplicating, welcoming way.
The green-scarfed bounty hunter sighed. "I'm your ONLY nephew, old man," he said shaking his head, "And you only call me that when you want something. What is it this time? A thief? Someone break in again to steal a fake Hokusai?"
The old man twitched, folding his spindly, thin arms into his sleeves. "Don't be difficult, boy," he snapped. "You're a bounty hunter, aren't you?"
"When there's no fish, yes, I am," shrugged the other man.
"Well then, can't you help me stop this red samurai stealing priceless antiques?" he asked, his hold on his temper loosening.
"What's in it for me, old man?"
The old man made a face. "'What's in it for me'?" he parroted. "Money!" he paused. "Probably."
"Probably?" the man raised an eyebrow, adjusting his scarf. "Not good enough, old man." He turned, waving goodbye dismissively. "see you around!"
"In it for you, Yuuichiro?" the thin old man reached out to slap the green-scarfed man's shoulder. "we're family - come on - family do nice things for each other!"
"Not interested." said Yuuichiro, pulling his scarf up to cover his face. "See you around, old man."
"Oi! You little-!" The man awkwardly ran to catch up with him. "I'll tell you what I know about..." he grinned. "The Battousai!"
Yuuichiro stopped, then slowly turned around. "...Old man..." he sighed. "Why is it that I always end up helping you?"
The old man grinned. "Maybe because I know all the buttons to push?" he paused, covering his mouth. "I-I mean - it must be fate!" he exclaimed unconvincingly.
Sighing, Yuuichiro stretched and adjusted the hidden knife in his sleeve.
"Alright. You're on, old man. Who's been stealing your antiques this time?"
The old man folded his arms smugly. "It's this red samurai. he shows up, I can't see him stealing anything, yet somehow, every time he leaves, something's missing!"
Yuuichiro nodded. "You want me to catch him red-handed?"
"Yes! My boy, that's exactly what I want you to do!" yelled the old man enthusiastically, clapping Yuuichiro on the shoulder.
"Oi. I haven't been a boy in a long time, old man - I'm twenty-five," muttered Yuuichiro. "Fine. I'll stake the place out." He walked into the shop, the old man's arm still around his shoulders.
Smirking, the old man raised a finger. "I'll only give you the information on Battousai if you catch the red samurai. If you fail..." he shrugged, a look of fake sympathy on his face. "No info."
"You devious old-" Yuuichiro cut himself off and glared at his uncle. "Don't worry, old man," he said, "I'll catch this guy EASILY!"
"Now that's what I like to hear, boy!"
"Stop calling me 'boy'!"
"Well then, don't call me 'old'."