Tsukioka Katsuhiro was hunched over his writing table, working away at an article about a scandal in the police department, when he heard a knock at his door. He sighed irritably-in the old days, as an artist, he had refused to see anyone. Now, as a journalist, he had to be constantly available, never knowing where his next story would come from. He got to his feet and slid the shoji door open, stepping back in shock.

"Sanosuke?" His friend grinned and stuck out his hand and Katsu seized it. "Sano, it's so good to see you! When did you get back?"

"Yesterday morning. I would have been here sooner, but I had to find a place to stay and I wanted to see Kenshin, and they took me out to dinner…."

Katsu pulled Sano into the room and swept all the clutter off the table, getting out a flask of sake and two cups. "Well, you're here now. You should have let me know you were coming-we'll have to celebrate." He poured the sake. "This'll have to do for starters."

"I see you're keeping up the newspaper." Sanosuke read some of the articles pinned to the walls, yawning as he downed the sake. "Sorry. I'm just so tired-all that traveling."

"I can imagine. You'll have to tell me all about it."

"I will." Sano sat down, pulled a heavy gold coin out of his pocket, and offered it to his friend.

"What's this for?"

"Remember the time you loaned me money to go to Kyoto?"

Katsu raised his eyebrows. He did indeed recall giving Sanosuke money to follow Kenshin to Kyoto when the redheaded swordsman was asked to stop the former assassin, Makoto Shishio. Shishio had been planning to overthrow the government, a goal that Katsu had much sympathy with, but Sano had told him about the man and the suffering he would cause, and Katsu had taken his friend's side and loaned him enough for the trip. "I wasn't expecting you to pay me back."

"I know." Sanosuke smiled. "I want you to have it. You never know when I might need a loan again."

Katsu smiled back. "In that case, I'll take it." He put the coin in his own pocket and handed his friend the sake flask. Sano refilled his cup, Katsu did the same and the two men started to talk about the events that Sano had missed since he left. They emptied the flask and the journalist stood up. "What do you say we go get something to eat?"

Sanosuke blinked up at him. "That sounds great, Katsu, if I could keep my eyes open." He yawned again and Katsu eyed him thoughtfully.

"Tell you what, Sano-why don't I go get some food and bring it back here, and you can take a nap? I won't be long, and you'll feel more like eating if you get a little rest."

"Well…." Katsu's offer was tempting, but Sanosuke was reluctant to accept it. He had only just gotten back-he didn't want to be a nuisance to his friends already.

Katsu saw the indecision on Sano's face and said firmly, "That's what we'll do then. You rest, and I'll be back with some food as quick as I can."