Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic: These Changing Times
This fanfic series takes place two years after the Revenge Arc ends, in an alternate RuroKen universe. (Only because I started it well before the manga ended ^_^;;) Eighteen-year-old Makimachi Misao comes to Tokyo to stay with Kenshin and Kaoru... and to put her own troubles behind her. A newly attentive Sagara Sanosuke is more than willing to distract her. Then a certain Oniwabanshuu onmitsu turns up in Tokyo to help investigate a wave of vicious armed robberies sweeping the city...
Comments and constructive criticism are always appreciated. But be warned: this fic meddles with what seem to be considered the tried-and-true romantic pairings in RuroKen (in case I didn't already make that clear). So if you read further, please be kind and keep an open mind! ^^;;
Note: for those who are new to the language, go to http://www2.netcom.com/~sakka/times/glossary.htm to get information on the Japanese terms and expressions used in this chapter.
Chapter 4 - Cries in the Night
"Tasukete!"
The frantic scream shattered Sanosuke's concentration. He dropped the dice he'd been holding and jumped up, growling in frustration.
"Che," he groused. "Doesn't anyone ever sleep around here? Better go see what's going on. Kouji, take care of that roll for me, would you?"
"Hai, Sano -- but shouldn't we be coming with you?" Kouji said hopefully.
Sano grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Nah. This shouldn't take long. If she's single, I'll bring her back to meet you, ne?" The other men burst out laughing, as Kouji grinned sheepishly in return.
Sanosuke left the gambling hall quickly, glancing around for the source of the cry. He couldn't see anyone, but he heard a faint sobbing sound coming from a nearby alley. He approached silently, not wanting to further frighten whoever it was. When he rounded the corner, however, his eyes widened in astonishment.
"Tsubame-chan!"
The young girl was lying on her side, her face contorted in pain. Sano raced up to her, gently rolling her on her back. His breath caught. "What the hell...?" he whispered.
Tsubame was a mess. Her kimono was filthy and torn. One sleeve was missing completely, revealing an ugly gash on her shoulder. Her face was bruised and streaked with tears. Her eyes fluttered open, dark with terror... and she gave a little scream.
"Shh... it's all right, Tsubame-chan... it's me, Sanosuke," the fighter whispered soothingly, stroking the frightened girl's hair. "I heard you call for help... what happened?"
"Sanosuke-san," Tsubame whispered, relieved. Tears began running down her cheeks again. "Sanosuke-san... Tae-san is in terrible trouble..." She tried to rise, but cried out in pain. "Onegai... she needs help right away..." she panted as Sano placed his hand behind her back to support her.
"Tae's in trouble?" Sano felt something warm and sticky on Tsubame's back, and smelled the familiar tang of fresh blood. His whole body went cold.
... shit... she's been stabbed! She needs a doctor... fast!
"Daijoubu, Tsubame-chan," he said, fighting to keep his voice calm. "I'll help her... as soon as we get you to Genzai-sensei. Be brave... I'm going to pick you up now. I'll try to be gentle... but it may hurt a bit." He slowly slid one arm around her shoulders, but she grabbed his other hand frantically.
"Dame!" Tsubame moaned, her tearful brown eyes fixed imploringly on Sanosuke. "Don't worry about me... onegai... please save Tae-san..."
Sanosuke exhaled sharply in frustration. "Kouji! Akira! Get out here now!" he bellowed.
Within seconds, Sano's friends dashed into the alley. "Hai, Sano!" Kouji said, gasping as he saw Tsubame lying on the ground. "Is this the girl --?"
"There's no time... she needs to get to Oguni Clinic now!" Sano said, swiftly picking Tsubame up and handing her to Kouji. "Something's up at the Akabeko... so I'll leave her to both of you... haiyaku!"
"Wakatta... don't worry, we'll take good care of her!" Kouji said, motioning with his head for Akira to follow. The two men hurried down the street, while Sano took off for the Akabeko as fast as he could run. With every step his fury grew.
What kind of twisted bastard would do something like that to an innocent girl? And Tae... if she's been hurt, too... I'll be cracking some skulls before the night is over!
Several minutes later, Sanosuke burst through the Akabeko's open doorway... and into a crowd of policemen.
"Yokatta," Sanosuke said, gasping for breath. "Did you... catch... the scumbags... who hurt Tsubame-chan?"
The officers stared at Sanosuke. "Who are you?" one of them asked, eyeing Sano suspiciously. He suddenly realized what a bizarre sight he must be, barging in with his hands and gi smeared with Tsubame's blood. Before he could answer, a familiar voice intoned--
"That is Sagara Sanosuke." The cool disdain with which his name was spoken made Sano's blood boil. "He's no one of consequence. Continue your investigation..."
Sanosuke marched past the policemen toward the source of that hateful voice. Sure enough, there stood Fujita Goro... otherwise known as former Shinsen Gumi Third Division Captain Saitou Hajime. He flicked ash from his cigarette and smirked at Sano.
"Ahou," the tall, lanky officer said, exhaling a cloud of smoke in Sanosuke's direction.
"Kisama," Sanosuke snarled. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Feh," Saitou said, shaking his head. "I would think it would be obvious even to a moron like you. I'm a policeman... a crime has been committed... thus, I am investigating the crime. Was that simple enough for you to understand?"
As always, Sanosuke was overwhelmed by the urge to plant his fist in Saitou's face. No one had the power to piss him off like Kenshin's old enemy. But... the asshole was a police officer, not to mention a first-rate swordsman. Sanosuke knew that for now, it was smarter to let the insult go, no matter how much it galled him.
"What crime?" Sanosuke looked around. "Where's Tae? Is she okay?"
"No," Saitou said, his smirk disappearing. "I'm sorry to say she's not. Follow me..."
Sanosuke felt the same sick, cold sensation he'd had when he found Tsubame in the alley. No... she can't be... He shook his head sharply as Saitou entered the kitchen, looking over his shoulder to make sure Sanosuke was still following. The younger man hurried into the kitchen, where a few blankets had been spread out over the floor. Lying on the makeshift bed was Tae.
Sanosuke gasped. He barely recognized the Akabeko's proprietress. Her badly beaten face was distorted with lumps and bruises, and one eye was completely swollen shut. Her breathing was labored, and every now and then she twitched in her sleep, whimpering softly.
"How... how did this happen?" Sanosuke whispered fiercely, clenching his fists. "What kind of monsters did this to her?"
Saitou shrugged slightly. "So far we've found nothing except the Akabeko's empty cash box. It's clear there was a robbery. What doesn't make sense is why the thieves would go this far." He looked down at Tae, the glint in his amber eyes the only outward sign of his anger. His voice carried a hint of disgust as he observed--
"Whoever did this... did it out of pleasure, rather than necessity."
Sanosuke clenched his teeth and swallowed against the urge to smash something... anything. "She's not the only one who got hurt," he said. "I found Tsubame, one of the Akabeko waitresses, in an alley not too far from here. She'd been stabbed as well as beaten. I had some friends of mine take her to Oguni Clinic."
"Then she's still alive?" Saitou asked calmly. "If so, I'd like to interview her as well as Sekihara-san as soon as possible. They appear to be the only witnesses we have."
"Maybe not," Sanosuke said. "I'm wondering if this robbery had anything to do with the one I broke up a couple weeks ago. Hey... how come your guys never came to talk to me about that?"
Saitou stared blankly at Sanosuke. "There was an attempted robbery here before this?" he asked, dropping his cigarette on the floor and stepping on it.
"Yeah," Sano said, studying the officer closely. If he didn't know better, he'd almost say Saitou looked... stunned. "I figured you knew all about it, with your sources and all. That police guy who came in afterwards told me he'd let you know what had happened, and that someone would be contacting me later on to get the full story. That was the last I heard about it, though."
Saitou absently fingered the hilt of his sword, scowling. "Did this officer give you his name?" he asked Sano after a few minutes.
"Yeah, but I don't remember it exactly..." Sano ignored Saitou's contemptuous snort as he strained to recall the man who interviewed him after the first Akabeko incident. "It was something like Kiro... Shiro... damn, what was it?"
"Are you sure it was a police officer you talked to?" Saitou said. "It may have been an imposter. I imagine it would be difficult for you to tell the difference."
Sanosuke glared at Saitou. "The guy was wearing a Tokyo police uniform, and he showed me his identification papers. Looked pretty damn official to me," Sano spat. "And he said he worked for you. What else was I supposed to think?"
Saitou's eyes narrowed. "I think you'd better tell me everything you can remember about that night," he said, pulling another cigarette out of his pocket and glancing around. "But not here. Meet me at my office in an hour and we'll discuss this further."
Sanosuke nodded abruptly. "Is anyone taking care of Tae?" he asked sharply. "She should be at Oguni Clinic, not here on the floor."
"One of my men has medical training... he examined her as soon as she was found," Saitou said. "He says she's not in any immediate danger, but he feels certain she has at least a few broken ribs, and a possible broken arm. He recommended we not move her until the doctor arrived."
"That could take awhile... he's probably working on Tsubame-chan right now," Sanosuke said, turning to leave. "I'll go tell him to get over here as soon as he can."
"Fine. Just don't forget our appointment," Saitou said, striking a match against a countertop.
..................
It was almost dawn by the time Sanosuke emerged from Tokyo police headquarters. He'd never felt so exhausted... not just in body, but in mind as well. Saitou's questioning had been relentless, forcing Sano to recall details he hadn't even realized he'd observed that night three weeks ago. Not only had he remembered the full name of the officer who had taken his statement after the aborted robbery, he'd even been able to give Saitou a detailed physical description of the man who called himself Lt. Hiroshi Washuu. Saitou hadn't revealed his suspicions, but Sanosuke figured the guy was either an imposter... or worse, a cop taking bribes from whoever was responsible for the Akabeko robbery.
After identifying the lieutenant, Sanosuke thought that would be the end of it... but Saitou wasn't satisfied until the fighter had recounted every image, word and gesture he'd seen during the first attempted Akabeko robbery. Three times over. Despite his increasing urge to throttle the investigator, Sanosuke cooperated as best he could, well-aware of Saitou's value as an ally in this case. He hadn't missed the feral gleam in Saitou's eyes as he listened to Sanosuke's description of Lt. Hiroshi. Mibu's Wolf was on the hunt again... and Sanosuke knew from experience the Wolf would not stop until the prey was firmly clasped in his jaws. Which meant the bastards who'd hurt Tae and Tsubame would be caught that much faster.
Sanosuke cracked his knuckles, remembering his parting words with Saitou --
"Say nothing of our conversation to anyone," Saitou said as Sanosuke rose to leave. "And let me know immediately if you remember anything else."
"All right," Sanosuke said. "But I'd like a favor in return."
Saitou raised an eyebrow.
"I'd like to... assist... you in interviewing any suspects you find." Sanosuke flexed his fingers as he spoke. "Get my meaning?"
The officer sighed. "Yare, yare. Only a fool like you would be so obvious."
Sanosuke smothered yet another flare of temper, staring at Saitou coldly.
Saitou took a long drag of his cigarette. "Why not?" he finally replied.
"Good. I'll be in touch," Sanosuke said, waving casually as he walked away.
It was a long walk from headquarters to the rented room Sanosuke called home. He trudged wearily through the dark streets, shoulders hunched against the predawn chill. The night's events had left him badly shaken, a feeling he hadn't experienced since Yukishiro Enishi brought his Jinchuu to Tokyo years ago. The time since then had been so peaceful that Sano had almost forgotten what it was like to live with the constant threat of violence and loss hanging over himself and the people he cared about. It was like a heavy, choking cloud... smothering laughter... blotting out light.
Sanosuke rubbed his eyes vigorously, trying to snap out of his dark mood. After all, Tae and Tsubame were going to be okay -- Genzai-sensei had said as much when Sano had stopped by the clinic to let the doctor know he was needed at the Akabeko. Sano had briefly looked in on Tsubame-chan, who hadn't been able to rest comfortably until she knew Tae-san was safe. Sano had reassured the girl, who promptly fell asleep, a faint smile on her bruised face.
Her murmured thanks echoed in Sanosuke's head --
"Honto ni... arigatou gozaimasu... I knew we could count on you... Sanosuke-san..."
Sanosuke stopped walking, eyes shut tight, fists clenched. He punched a nearby wall, leaving a crater several feet across.
Gomen, Tae... Tsubame-chan... I failed you both this time... but I swear on my honor as a Sekihoutai... I'll find whoever did this and make them pay!
With a sharp nod of his head, Sanosuke began walking again... then pulled up short after a few steps. Instead of the rundown building where he lived, he stood before the back gate of Kamiya Doujou. In the midst of his brooding, he'd been completely unaware which direction he was headed in.
"Che," he swore softly, smiling ruefully. Might as well go inside... it's almost breakfast-time anyway.
He leapt over the gate, landing as lightly as he could so as not to wake anyone. The sun was just beginning to rise, turning the eastern sky faintly pink... but wisps of early-morning mist still hovered over the ground. He wandered toward the well, thinking he should probably try to wash the blood out of his shirt. As he passed the vegetable garden, he was distracted by a shadowy figure kneeling among the plants. A wave of warmth washed over him, momentarily submerging his depression.
Misao...
He could barely make out her features in the mist, but he caught sight of her raven-black braid trailing down her back. Her head was bowed, her eyes closed, her hands clasped in her lap. She was still in her sleeping robe, though she was wearing a haori over it to guard against the cold. She seemed completely unaware of his presence.
She must be meditating... or she definitely would've noticed me by now.
He smiled, remembering how he'd teased her about her morning ritual one day while they were shopping. "Meditating? You? That must take all of, what... five seconds? If you can even sit still for that long..."
She'd whacked him with the empty tofu tub. "Urusai," she huffed. "At least I try to enlighten myself... unlike some people I know."
Sano had winked at her then. "I prefer more... tangible... forms of enlightenment," he said, his low voice lingering over each word. He was rewarded with another smack from the now-blushing Misao, who nevertheless met his suggestive gaze head-on with a teasing grin.
"I don't think sake and dice qualify as tools for spiritual growth," she said playfully. "Unless you're donating your winnings to the local shrine..."
They'd both laughed heartily at that. Sano enjoyed Misao's quick wit immensely... almost as much as he enjoyed coaxing that bubbly laugh out of her with his own teasing. It was one of the reasons he flirted with her -- she almost always used laughter to cover her embarrassment. Not to mention the fact that she was adorable when she blushed...
Sano heard Misao emit a long sigh, followed by a shakily indrawn breath. He squinted, trying to get a better look at her face.
She sounds upset... almost as if she's --
The thinning fog revealed her profile, which confirmed his suspicions -- those were definitely tears on her cheek. His stomach twisted.
Oh, Misao... not again... tell me you're not crying over that jerk again... he doesn't deserve your tears, dammit!
As he listened to Misao's quiet sobs, Sanosuke longed to take her in his arms... wipe away her tears... make her smile again.
I just wish I could get her to talk about what happened... it's so unlike her, to hold anything inside. That's why it weighs so heavily on her heart...
Misao suddenly shifted, dropping her head into her hands and crouching over, her body shuddering.
That's it! I've seen enough suffering tonight... time to do something about it...
He entered the garden, bending down on one knee next to Misao. She sat up and whirled around to face him.
"S- Sano!" Her pale face flushed scarlet, and she hastily dragged her arm across her eyes. "I... I didn't hear you come in... what are you doing here? It's barely daybreak!"
He studied her silently for a minute. "Do you always cry when you meditate, Misao-chan?" he said softly, tracing the path of one tear with the tip of his finger. "I wasn't aware that was part of the ritual."
She pulled away from his hand, her blue-green eyes shimmering. "Don't," she pleaded brokenly.
"Don't what?" Sano dropped his hand, but his eyes remained fixed on hers. "Don't ask you what's wrong? Don't comfort you? Misao... I can't just sit here and watch you cry. Talk to me... let me help you..."
For a moment he thought she was about to relent. Her tears spilled over again, and her lips parted slightly as if she was about to say something. Then her eyes dropped to his blood-spattered gi. "Oh, Sano... you've been hurt!" she cried. "Are you still bleeding?"
She reached out to push aside the bloodied garment, but Sano nudged her hands away. "I'm okay. It's not my blood," he said wearily.
"Then whose...?"
Sanosuke looked away, unable to answer her. His throat felt strangely tight, his eyes hot. He kept hearing Tsubame's frightened cries, her pleas for him to help Tae. And I couldn't do anything... not a damn thing...
He was startled by Misao's light touch on his arm. "Sano?" she said tentatively, the sorrow on her face replaced by concern.
"It's Tsubame-chan's," he said thickly. "The Akabeko was robbed tonight... the thieves hurt Tsubame and Tae pretty badly. Tsubame-chan tried to get to me... so that I could help... but by the time I got to the restaurant, it was too late."
"How terrible!" Misao's tone was a mixture of horror and anger. "Will they be all right? Do the police know?"
"Genzai-sensei says they'll both be fine after a few days' rest. As for the police... we've got Saitou on our side for this one," Sano said, a half-smile briefly crossing his face. "You know how single-minded he is. Those scum-sucking thieves won't be free for long."
"Knowing Saitou, they won't be alive for long, either," Misao said, shuddering. "That guy doesn't know the meaning of mercy."
Rage flooded Sano's body. Without thinking, he jumped up, roaring, "Mercy? Those fucking bastards don't deserve to live another day! If you'd seen what they did to Tsubame-chan... to Tae..." He lashed out at the scarecrow Kenshin and the kids had made, sending its head flying across the yard with one punch. "Forget Saitou... if I get my hands on them, they'll wish he'd found them first!"
Misao watched silently as Sano vented his anger on the poor scarecrow. She remained on the ground, her hands gripping the folds of her sleeping robe. It had been a long time since she had seen Sano this enraged -- and it was a little scary. But she knew in her heart he would never turn on her, no matter how furious he was.
She also knew it was best to let him blow off steam, especially in this case. She and Sano were alike in many ways... they both were proud of their fighting skills and lived to use them for the benefit of the people they cared about. But even with all his power, he'd been unable to protect his friends last night. When she put herself in his place, she understood exactly how guilty and frustrated he must be feeling.
Sano stopped pummeling the remnants of the scarecrow, panting slightly. The unbridled fury glowing in his eyes had disappeared, leaving only sadness and fatigue behind. His shoulders slumped, and he dragged his sleeve clumsily across his face. "Chikusho," he growled hoarsely.
The storm having passed, Misao rose, brushing the soil off her knees. She walked up to Sano, gently touching his arm again. "It's not your fault, you know," she said. "You couldn't have known what was happening."
Sano turned to face her. Misao was shocked to see tears glistening in his brown eyes.
"That's not true," he said, his voice quivering. "I should've known something was up when I walked in on a bunch of thieves at the Akabeko the night before you first arrived in Tokyo..." He heard Saitou's voice echoing in his memory --
... say nothing of our conversation to anyone ...
-- but his need to share his pain with someone outweighed Saitou's command. Besides, he trusted Misao. She acted flighty sometimes, but Sano knew she was no empty-headed female. Being a member of the Oniwabanshuu, she knew when to keep her mouth shut, and she was fairly good at strategic thinking. She might be able to fit some pieces of this puzzle together in a way he hadn't yet considered.
It felt good to tell Misao everything that had happened. They left the garden and sat together on the porch outside the doujou practice room. She listened closely without interrupting, her grave eyes never leaving his face. Every now and then she would lay one of her hands over his when his emotions threatened to spin out of control again. The gesture both calmed and pleased him.
"... so, it really is my responsibility. If I'd only made sure the police followed up... I would've found out that lieutenant was lying to me. Then maybe none of this would've happened." Sano's mouth hardened in self-reproach. "Saitou's right -- I am a moron."
Misao snorted. "I never thought I'd live to see the day when you would admit defeat to that psycho cop," she said heatedly. "Should I start calling you 'ahou' now, too?"
The gibe had its intended effect. Sano stared at Misao... then began chuckling.
"Good one, Misao-chan," he said with a tired grin. "I get your point. I'll stop feeling sorry for myself now."
"Yoshi," Misao said brightly. "Now, I know something that'll make you feel better..."
Sano raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?" he said.
"Yup... a hot bath," she said, sliding off the porch. "Come on... I'll help you start the fire."
Sano couldn't let that one go. "Mmm... sounds like fun. So you'll be joining me, then?" he asked, lowering his voice suggestively. "Will you wash my back for me?"
Misao nailed him with a Kecho Geri to the gut. "Dame!" she growled. "But if you start being nice to me, I'll see what I can do about your gi."
"I thought I was being nice," Sano grumbled, rubbing his sore stomach. "Letting you know how much I enjoy your company and all..."
Misao couldn't help giggling. "Mou! You're impossible," she said in mock-frustration. "Now give me that shirt. And no smartass comments!" she thundered as Sano opened his mouth to tease her some more.
"Che. You're no fun," Sano pouted. He shrugged out of the gi and handed it to Misao. "Take good care of that," he said, sauntering off toward the bath house. Misao watched him walk away, smiling slightly.
Mmm... nice shoulders... wish he would go shirtless more often...
She shook herself. What was she thinking? She'd been hanging around Sano too long... his lascivious ways were rubbing off on her.
"Is everything all right, Misao-dono?"
Misao nearly jumped out of her skin. "Himura! You scared me to death!" she said reproachfully, turning to face Kenshin.
"Sumanu," he said. "I thought I heard Sano shouting awhile ago. Did something happen?"
Misao didn't even bother to try to avoid Kenshin's steady gaze. He was bound to find out about this sooner or later. Better he should find out from her... then he could help her tell Kaoru... and Yahiko. She took a deep breath.
"Yes," she said. "Something happened. Sit down and I'll tell you everything..."
-- End of Chapter 4 --