Disclaimer: All the Detective School Q, Rurouni Kenshin and Peacemaker Kurogane characters belong to their respective creators. Slight OOC-ness expected. AU.

This fic is set in Bakumatsu Japan. Kenshin's still Battousai, although he wouldn't appear in that mode much here. Sano (Sagara Sanosuke) is still a kid.

Chapter 9

Dan residence.

"Not only you had to put him up to do a man's work, you had to send him to do a shinobi's job! Why can't you trust one of my girls to do that? At least they're trained…" Umeko chided. Katsura sheepishly apologized. An equally sheepish Kenshin knelt humbly next to his master. The commotion of Saitou and Kenshin's duel had attracted a lot of attention and it was only with a great deal of persuasion by their respective superiors that both combatants emerged without serious harm. Nanami shrugged. The case was getting more complicated and he did not need open warfare between Katsura's 'page' and a Miburou captain.

"Are you sure one of your so-called allies didn't kill Ryouma?" Umeko suddenly asked her brother point-blank. "That's impossible!" Katsura exclaimed, but the hesitant look on his face spoke volumes. "It could be Miburou. Everyone knows how much Hijikata and company hate Sakamoto." Sakamoto's page nodded in agreement, although he stole a glance at the sword at Kenshin's belt. Katsura's page had proven his prowess by lasting a full five minutes in a duel against the Shinsengumi's best.

"Umeko-dono, I swear that Master Katsura has nothing to do with Sakamoto-san's death," Kenshin declared. "That reminds me," Umeko suddenly exclaimed. "There was a one-time Choushu page, Kitamura, who was severely wounded in an attack the night Ryouma was killed. He is still fighting for his life… Could it be related to that unidentified body and the murders, Nanami-san? Is Dan-sensei feeling better?"

"Afraid not. The doctor has ordered full bed rest for sensei. But we will find out who is responsible for Sakamoto's death," Nanami hoped he would be able to keep his promise. Whatever dodgy business was flying about the Ishin clans, Nanami wanted none of it as far as possible.

"About that slipper," Umeko prompted. Both Kazuma and Megumi had shyly explained about the large slipper found at the scene that seemed to put a certain Shinsengumi captain at the scene, before they were interrupted by that street brawl. "Can you be sure?" Nanami asked Megumi.

"Of course she is sure. Megu has the best memory in all Kyoto," Umeko said. "If she says she remembers me mending Harada's slipper, I did."

"There, I told you it would be the Miburou," Katsura said in relief. "Sakamoto-sama would never invite a Miburou in… not without his sword in hand and a loaded pistol in the other." Kazuma pointed out. Nanami frowned. Sakamoto's feelings towards the Shinsengumi were well-known. He simply didn't trust them, especially the captains. However, there were other rumours that he was trying to recruit a certain page and bookkeeper from the group.


Late evening, Umeya.

"Glad you have re-joined us, Kitamura," Umeko brusquely wrung out a towel and wiped his face. "Nami will get you some porridge… Mind telling us what happened? No, don't get up yet…"

Kitamura Suzu blinked his eyes as they adjusted to the flickering lamp light. Someone was dripping water from a spoon into his mouth to sooth his parched tongue. "I w-was robbed…" he stuttered. "They must be very desperate to rob a poor boy like you," Nami replied as she waved her hand over the boy's meagre belongings. "You have not a coin on you," the waitress snorted as she shook out one very empty purse. "Only a couple of stone seals and writing materials. So whose page are you now?"

"I do not speak to upstart kunoichi turned waitress…" Suzu groaned. He never liked Nami or any of the girls at Umeya. "Aunt Umeko! May I throw him out into the gutter?" Nami tossed a shuriken at the patient, nicking the corner of his pillow. "Now, now, be nice…" Umeko carefully studied the seals. Her eyes were sharp enough to make out the names cut into them. The young man had a lot of explaining to do once her brother learns of this… She glanced in the direction of their patient. Nami seemed to be taking an exceptional delight in changing his bandages, especially when it came to cleaning out the wounds with strong medicated wine.

"Megu?" Umeko went carefully to the door and beckoned the nearest waitress. "I want you to take this to Dan-sensei's and tell them…" she whispered a message into her ear and Megu nodded. "Take Kazuma with you. I want both of you kids away from here." Umeko took a deep breath and waited until both Megumi and Kazuma were out of the building.

"Kitamura, you have some explaining to do," Umeko turned her attention to the patient. "What are you doing with a copy of my brother's seal when you are working for Itou?"

The dark-complexioned boy turned pale. He tried to bolt past the matron but was floored by a roundhouse kick by the waiting Nami. He flew across the floor and banged against the far wall. "Kitamura Suzu, calm down," Umeko bent down. A big mistake. The boy lashed out.

"Aunt Umeko!" Nami shouted a warning too late. Umeko clutched at the blade stuck in her belly. A bloodstain spread on her purple obi. Nami went to her aid. The patient made use of the distraction to flee.


"Mizukami Saizou, Itou-san has an assignment for you," the hooded figure whispered as she sat next to a white-haired, bespectacled Shinsengumi taishi. The albino youth sipped at his green tea and adjusted his uniform haori. No doubt he had slipped away from his group instead of reporting directly to the barracks after his duties. "Who's the target, Lady Risa?" he nibbled at a candied haw.

"Kitamura Suzu. He has gone missing and Itou wants him dead before he…" Risa frowned. She was sick of the swordsman's devil-may-care attitude to things. Spy, assassin for hire, mercenary… He was all and none. His loyalty was always in question and it was a miracle the Shinsengumi chiefs had not ordered his death yet. Risa studied him from under her hood. He might be a good recruit for Meiousei, if he weren't so unpredictable.

"Reports to his Choushu buddies on that scam? Got you," Saizou finished his tea. "Relax, Saizou. It wouldn't involve any pigs," Risa giggled. To her delight, the calm swordsman choked. The swordsman had a weird phobia of pigs, which often sent him up the nearest tree when Okita's pigs roamed the yard.

"What the?" Mizukami stared in disbelief as his target fled past them. The Meiousei girl cursed under her breath as the swordsman give chase and was immediately forestalled by a pig-toting Okita here for his daily sweets.

"Okita-sama! Call him off!" a wail sounded as the hapless would-be assassin dangled from the edge of a roof with a pig nipping his ankle. The pig's owner was too busy laughing to pay any heed. Risa snorted in disgust and ordered takoyaki to go.


"How's Dan-sensei?" Kyu inquired when he met Yukihira emerging from the sickroom. "Sh, he's sleeping. He is worried about the case. He got Nanami-san to report to him earlier. And obviously, the case hasn't moved forward at all. Don't you have to sweep the yard or something?" Yukihira scolded. Ryu was already busy raking the leaves.

Nanami looked at the boys sweeping the yard as he analyzed the different clues. The slipper evidence seemed to point at Harada Sanosuke, but it was unlikely Sakamoto would be caught off-guard in the presence of a Miburou. The victims made no or little attempt to defend themselves. The higher authorities' insistence on closing all investigations into the case hinted at a bakufu cover-up. Then there was the case of the forged orders which Sakamoto was investigating. Who would dare use Choushu leader Katsura's name to…

His answer came very soon and unexpectedly in the form of a message brought by Megumi and Kazuma.


"Aunt Umeko's shaken but her life is in no danger," Kenshin reported to a pacing Katsura Kogoro. His employer was sombre. The wound could have easily been deadly, if the blade hadn't been deflected by her thick obi and the thick leather wallet, a gift from Sakamoto, tucked in it. Umeko used it to hold her recipe sheets. The blade opened up a ragged scratch in her side, so Nami said. In fact, the stubborn Aunt Umeko insisted on overseeing the preparation of the food for the evening diners once her wound was bandaged.

"Himura, I want that brat found, alive…" Despite their constant bickering, the Katsura siblings were close. "Let's not involve Dan-sensei on this." It was an internal clan matter and Kitamura, as a member of the clan, would pay a dear price for his part in this scam and his attack on Aunt Umeko. Nami, Hotaru and a few other kunoichis were already combing the town.

Author's Notes:

Anyone recall Risa from Hell's Concerto? She has a brief cameo here.

Kunoichi – female ninja.

Mizukami Saizou is an RPG character I created. He is an albino Shinsensumi swordsman with a sweet tooth and pig-phobia.