Author's Notes: Yeah. Long time. No See. No write. I am really, really rusty. But I have some ideas for the continuation of this segment.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kenshin-we all wish we did.

"Puahahahaha! Buahahaha!"

Sano clenched his teeth, fisting his hands at his sides, shoulders slumped in defeat. "Look, kid! I told you to knock it off, and if you continue-"

"You will wh-what? Puahahaha!" Yahiko spat, laughing the hardest he has ever. "Are you gonna Futae no Kiwami my ass?"

Sano wanted to slap the snot out of the child, but took the care and dignity to massage the back of his head. He took tentative steps to then take a small mirror from his pant pocket, marveling at the ghastly black and red and blue gracing his right eye. "The damn Missy can punch, I will give her that much…." He lowly snarled.

"What do ya mean she can punch? She left more bumps and bruises on you than any adversary you have ever had! I will give you that much!" Yahiko fell to the ground rolling around is his laughter, with Sanosuke growing more irritated. "You-you really couldn't keep to the plan could you!? It's one thing when you go hunting women down in some dark and dingy alley in the middle of the night, but this is Kaoru we are talking about, and she can at least feel your presence! All you had to do was listen to see if she was mumbling Kenshin's name, or something. But no… having to mount a stack of wood just to look her down-"

"Look! I wasn't staring her down! Sure, her creamy complexion was painfully open to my line of sight-and she did have amazing curves-but that's beyond-"

"Sanosuke! Yahiko!" Her voice was enough to freeze the two in place, Yahiko almost dead white on the floor. "I am going to strangle the two of you, ship you off to China, and ask that they feed you to the tigers! And you," she jabbed a finger at Sano murderously. "What were you doing peeping in on me when I was in the bath? I ought to slug you a few more times."

"Now hold up a second," Sano interrupted, a mischievous grin on his face. "I thought you were someone else-" His brown eyes were shining with radiant pseudo-innocence as he held Kaoru's death glare. "I thought a little fox was occupied in the bath house, so I thought I'd repay her by sneaking up on her…."

"And then do what?" Kaoru questioned-at least this time her raging fire subsided by many levels.

"Flowers," Sanosuke chimed in so romantically. He pulled a small bouquet of red and pink roses from behind, presenting it to Kaoru. "I never gave her enough thanks and credit for all the times she took care of me. I remember Megumi stating that she didn't have enough time to stroll the streets of Tokyo to pick up some pretty flowers for the clinic. I wanted to brighten up her mood as of late, and thought doing the job myself might get me some ohagi points!" Kaoru's face was smitten, her cheeks red. Sanosuke couldn't believe this was getting him out of trouble.

"Oh, Sano! That is the sweetest thing I have heard! Of course Megumi would enjoy the flowers," she purred as she snatched the bouquet. "I have to stop by the clinic to pick up Ayame and Suzume, so I will personally do you the honors of delivering it myself!"

Just as Sano opened his mouth to protest, Yahiko bopped Sano with his shinai. The older man dug his fingers into Yahiko's gi as he was about to fling him over the fence. "Don't do it…I have another idea," the smaller figure whispered, thanking the Gods Kaoru was off in dreamland as she ogled the flowers childishly.

"So. Damn. Hungry." Sano's stomach was growling its dissents of not having had anything to eat all day. "Why didn't you fetch me something before we hit the road, kid?" He kicked at Yahiko, who in turn fell flat on his face.

"I'm not a dog, Sano!" The child snapped.

"Even then, you still need to be holding your end of the bargain!"

"We almost got butchered! You heard her-she said she was going to ship us off, and I wasn't even spying on her, especially when she was naked! What were you thinking;-"

"I wasn't; it's because I am so damn hungry all the time!"

"Get a job you loser! Everyone else here in Tokyo works to feed themselves!"

"Did you forget I am an ex-fighter-for-hire, or do you want to sell me a fight, kid?"

Yahiko pushed himself off the cold, hard ground, taking care to straighten his clothes. He brushed off the dirt that caked his face and continued walking after Sano. "At least it was Kaoru who attacked you, and thank goodness Kenshin didn't go battousai on you."

"Feh, idle threats now? Kenshin ain't gonna do shit." Kenshin going battousai on me, Sano thought absentmindedly, that will be the day. "So what now, mastermind?"

"We spy on Kaoru and Megumi!"

"You have got to be on some new kind of opium, child! What are you smoking? Kaoru is someone we can easily spy on and get away with it, Megumi on the other hand will poison us with some unnamed drug! She's got access to Western Medicine and such; ain't no way I am eavesdropping on Megumi!"

"Stop your bellyaching, will ya?" Yahiko sighed. "If she was in the bath, naked, maybe that would be another story?"

Sano's cheeks burned red, his brown eyes as wide as saucers. "Are you giving me permission to look at Megumi…naked?"

"Just listen," Yahiko mumbled, his attention focused on the clinic ahead, where both women would be. "Women like to talk, right? And who do you think they confess their most darkest of desires to? Other women of course!" Stupidity was shining in Yahiko's eyes as he met Sano's unbelieving frown. All Sano could do was nod. "Come on, you have to help me up through the window, and I will sneak you in from the back!" And with a quick hoist, the child was through a window.

It was too easy to get into the clinic. Way too easy…. Sano thought to himself. Both Sano and Yahiko marveled at what an accomplishment it was to disguise themselves as indoor plants and go unnoticed. Several patients happened by the two, their confidence in hiding igniting further. When the coast was clear, Yahiko made a beeline to the clinic's common room where lunch and breaks were usually taken. The child threw a rock at Sano who waddled down the corridor toward Yahiko.

"You're taking too long, bird head!"

"These bush branches are chaffing my gonads, dammit!"

Yahiko kicked the plant pot next to him. "Shut up, idiot! I hear some people coming. Hurry, get into that far corner, and I will stay here. Keep your ears opened!"

The pattering of feet filled the common room, as Megumi and Kaoru entered.

"Wow. They're so beautiful! And to think that idiot Sano can be of good use! I have never seen such pink roses in my life!" Megumi blushed, as she delicately arranged the flowers in an unoccupied vase. "Now, Kaoru, do tell me! Has Sir Ken been doing it right?"

Yahiko and Sano's suspicions peaked.

Kaoru looked away sheepishly, her lips quivering. "W-why, y-yes, Megumi. Thank you for following up! Kenshin has been helpful, in more ways than one."

Cough.

"What was that?!" Both women screamed in unison. Sano was now biting his tongue. He also remembered to cup his mouth with both hands.

A pause. Silence. "Hmmf, must be Dr. Gensai. The old man likes to sneak around here. With all the beautiful women around, can you blame an old guy? Hohohoho!"

"Sometimes…Megumi, it takes too long…." Kaoru trailed off.

"Remember it has to be done at night! And Sir Ken is just the right man for this-he better be; he is such a gentlemen! The way he holds his sakabatou! Honey, the man is a mad genius!" Kaoru gave Megumi a quizzical look as the older lady fumbled for something in her bag. "Here, this is something I made the other night. It should help Kenshin get it done faster, much, much faster."

Kaoru nodded, thanking Megumi. "I must be leaving soon. Should I take this tonight?"

Megumi gave Kaoru a sinful smile. And an even more sinful laugh.

When the coast was clear, Yahiko and Sano met outside the clinic. "SEEEEE!" Yahiko bellowed. "Another night of no sleep."

"No," Sano trailed off. "It's Kenshin we need to by spying on!"