Disclaimer: I do not own RK in any forms possible, except for the fanfics that I will submit.

Chapter Twelve

Hell!!!

After the eyebrow-raising lunch in Saito's house, Tokio invited them to sit and talk for a while.

"Hajime, you'd like Himura-san for a friend, since both of you date back to the Bakumatsu."

"Tokio, I'm not sure I'll li—"

"I assure you, you'll like him. Right, Kaoru?"

Kaoru nodded happily. But before she could say anything, the door slid open. Saito immediately grabbed his sword; Kenshin put a hand on his bokken.

"Mother! So there you are! Father, you're here too?" said a Kenji that was sweating profusely.

Tensho was panting and could only gasp out a "Konnichiwa!" to the families sitting there.

Tokio was truly happy at the appearance of the unexpected guests, much to the disgust of her husband. Saito shot a dirty look at Kenshin, who shrugged.

"Battosai, honestly I expect you to keep better control of your children."

Kenji went straight into Plan A that was devised by Tensho. "Father, can you tell us a story?"

Kaoru glared at her son, which resulted in an annoyed Tokio. "Come on, Kaoru. You wouldn't want to spoil their childhood. Himura-san, tell the story, please."

"Alright, kids. What story do you want?" said Kenshin smilingly.

Tensho simply said, "The three little pigs. With actions too, if you don't mind, Himura-san."

Kenji, however, requested a slight twist to the story. He wanted the pigs changed into roosters. There was pure delight in Saito's face by now.

"Battosai, normally I hate you and fairy tales, but I'll make an exception this time." He then whispered something into Kenshin's ear.

Kenshin finally had a chance to tell his story. "Once upon a time, there were three roosters living in three separate houses. One lived with a tanuki, another with a kitsune and the last one with an itachi."

The children listened with utmost interest; Saito with a glint in his eyes; while the women were laughing their heads off. They were laughing at no doubt, women thingies, as Saito put it.

"One day, a hungry wolf came to their houses. He knocked on the first rooster's door. The tanuki opened the door with a bokken in her hands, and knocked the wolf on the head many, many times. The wolf went to the next house seeing stars."

The children squealed with laughter, while Saito's face turned blacker.

"The wolf repeated the same process in the next house. The kitsune invited the wolf in, and force-fed him some powder. The powder turned out to be paralysis powder. The wolf went out with a throbbing head and almost unmovable legs."

Saito was literally shaking with rage.

"The wolf went to the last house. Luckily for the wolf, the itachi wasn't in. A fight ensued in the house. The rooster was strong. He broke the wolf's ribs with a well placed Futae no Kiwami."

Saito had broken three sake cups with his bare hands.

"The wolf was very, very furious by now." Kenshin shot a glance at Saito. "He used a Gatotsu to kill the rooster. The wolf devoured the rooster hungrily. When the itachi reached home, she found a wolf in the rooster's place. She unleashed a tobikunai attack that will hurt the wolf badly. But the wolf was too quick for her. He caught all of the tobikunai. After that, the wolf went home to his wife. End of story."

Saito was absolutely in seventh heaven by now. His face was filled with glee.

Kenshin seized the chance and asked for his leave, as he did not like the idea of a happy Saito.

When they reached home, they saw Sano sitting on the dojo doorstep with a lump the size of an egg on his head. Kaoru rushed over to Sano and asked, voice dripping with sarcasm, "What's the matter, Sano? Did you get drunk and fall in a gutter? Or did you knock yourself on the head for losing the gold coins to us? Hmm?"

Sano simply shook his head.

Kaoru continued her talk, "Or did Megumi turn down your proposal?"

A voice from behind said, "The other way round, tanuki. He didn't turn down the proposal, he didn't even propose in the first place."

Kaoru answered, "What? But I thought he was holding a ring! And he even wanted privacy! Explain, tori-atama."

"Yes, Kamiya-sensei. The theory is five plus one equals to three plus two."

"Explain your ridiculous behavior to Megumi! Although she's my nemesis." Kaoru added the last sentence in an undertone.

"I just did as her brother told me to! Truly!"

"Sano, you can never lie!" Kaoru brought the bokken down on Sano's head, hard.

Sano let the bokken hit him. Kaoru brought it down, again and again, till she was satisfied. "There! Now you'll wake up." And she stormed off to cool down.

"Sano, this one wants to talk to you. Follow him." Kenshin said calmly amidst a sweatdrop on his head.

Megumi stood at the door, eyes welling with tears. A lone tear fell, and wetted her kimono. The children noticed her crying, and gave her a few words of encouragement before running off again.

In Kenshin's room, Sano sat there, silent for once. Kenshin gave him a cup of tea, and said, "Sano, what did you actually do to Megumi-dono? This one seriously thinks that Kaoru overreacted a bit."

"I just invited her to lunch, that's all!" Sano said, without lifting his head. Suddenly, he lifted his head to sneeze, and Kenshin noticed something weird about him. His trademark red bandanna was missing. "Hell!!!" Sano shouted.

"And? May this one know more?" Kenshin inquired.

Ki Reading

Chapter Twelve: Hell!!!

Plot: Saito's invitation; the kids' interference; what the heck Sano did to Megumi (Part One).

Thoughts: Well, this chapter was originally to be about yours truly, Saito Hajime, but I thought it was too short. Thus I extended it, one sentence at a time.

Feelings: Happy, that I finally managed to finish the chapter. Quite down too, when I knew that my arm wasn't twisted, it was broken. So updates will be slower compared to before.

Reviews: The usual please, barman. A flip-flop108 please.

Preview:

Chapter Thirteen: Twists

Plot: What the heck happened between Sano and Megumi (Part Two); kids stir up more things.