Theme series notes

First off general disclaimer. I do not now nor have ever nor will ever own Rurouni Kenshin. The story and all the things and pretties that go with it are the property of somebody else (actually a few somebodies…anou). The only things that are mine are Yori, Suzuko, Umeko, Hiroshi and Matsu as well as the delightful little horror of a kami but that's it! That being said, on we go…

Sanosuke's theme

More in the style of my first piece this can be seen as taking place either between Baby Baby / Melody or Melody / Family Theme. A little peek into Sanosuke and Megumi's relationship. Japanese terms at end.

That damned Himura spirit made me realize I must do something about the current state of my ward. I do listen to my elders when there is need, and I can feel my aura flush in embarrassment at the gentle rebuke.

"You do know that your family must have an heir, right?" Parting shot…damn him…

Anou…he was right. I must speak with the Tanaki guardian before the night is out. After listening to the song that the Himura's mortal makes I am jealous, yet proud as well. I have not yet realized all the components of Sano's soul, yet, Himura-kami has only one to guard while I have many and am hundreds of years younger. I am not blind, just, inexperienced.

The driving force is not his fists, but the drumming of Megumi. Kaoru adds little crashes with her high hat and Kenshin is the harder crash of cymbals in his life. Yahiko's kami hold the tambourine and his sensei from the Sekihotai plays a metallic sounding free standing piano that he says he got from the future. His memories of the past are bitter sweet and are echoed through out by violins, sometimes harsh, sometimes soothing. The spirits of his friends provide much on their strange sounding strings and I push him with a sound that is my own. His is faster paced and not quiet as lovely as Kenshin's, but I enjoy the rush of excitement and enthusiasm it brings more than the moping sound of the Himura's charge. But still, that talk with Megumi's guardian is pending, and I must move quickly.

I dart down to where Sano is sleeping and give him a little nudge, almost, a sense of urgency. Yes, he's waking up. Now, to get him to follow. I have a plan! Swiftly I change into the form of a small feline and brush against his door. I can hear him getting up. Good. His door slides open and he almost trips over me. I hiss. He looks down.

"Gomen, neko-chan." He yawns as he scoops me up. "But cats go outside, not inside." I scratch his face and hope that Megumi's guardian is around as I race through the streets of Tokyo at the dead of night with an enraged gangster on my, um, paws. We make the clinic in record time, and I see that the guardian Takani spirit is waiting for me. I stop and let the Sagara that I am currently at odds with trip over me and go flying. I disappear before he can even curse.

I needn't have worried. Megumi is out and leaning against a willow, fast asleep. I know it's cold out. Sano knows it's cold out. He'll know what to do. I sit by the doctor's familiar kami and smile back at her, then we both turn to watch.

Sano approaches slowly and quietly, then reaches out a hand to shake Megumi's shoulder. She blinks bleary eyes at him and they converse for a bit, before Sano picks her up and takes her inside. I cackle a bit before flitting off to the next closest member of the Sagara family. I hear the Takani-kami cursing at me, and laugh even louder.

--

I never thought he'd be so gentle. Usually it's harsh words and insults if we don't beat at each other. Why is he doing this? His hands are calloused, yes, but warm and gentle as he puts me down on my futon. I hadn't realized he knew where my room was. Suddenly I am aware that I am shivering, and he pulls the blankets up to cover me. They don't help. Why did I have to be as silly as Tanuki girl and fall asleep outside in the colder months anyways? I take a breath to curse at him, but find myself coughing instead.

He rubs my back until the worst is over, then, seeing how cold I am, he lifts the blanket and wraps me in his arms. Somehow, I am warm instantly, and I fall asleep.

--

It feels right. I held her until I joined her in the realm of dreams. Megumi…

If you don't know the Japanese terms you must be new to the fan fiction world but here they are anyway.

Aa - informal yes

Ai shiteru - I love you - this is a emphatic way to say this and is considered impolite to utter it in public. If you need to express yourself or your feelings when others are around suki da will suffice and that too is a little much. It is not a light phrase - like 'I love spaghetti' this is more along the lines of 'I value your continued existence so far above my own that it is not even mentionable and I'm about to have a conniption if you don't love me back with your entire being.' type of thing.

Anata - you, an endearment when used from wife to husband

Anata wa? - and you?

Anou - um…literally

Ara - oh!

Arigato - thank you

Baka - if you don't know this one it's a descriptor - idiot, moron, imbecile…

Battousai - unsheathed blade, slasher

Busu - ugly/old hag

Chichi - father, used by family members, more like daddy than father

Daijoubu - alright

Daijoubu ka/ daijoubu desu ka - are you alright? Everything alright? Second more formal

De gozaru/ yo/ka - equivalent to desu or da but highly archaic and formal. Yo is an emphatic and ka indicates a question. All mean - if meaning can be assigned really - is, are, was, etc…

Dojo - training hall

- dono - an archaic suffix meaning along the lines of Mr. Mrs. Ms. But much more polite

Futon - a sleeping mat that can be folded up and stored during the day so the space can be used for other things, very comfortable I may add.

Genki - health, good spirits

Gomen - sorry

Gomen Nasai - very sorry

Haha - mommy

Hai - yes

Hajimemashite - pleased to meet you

Hiko - flight/ act of flying

Hiroshi - generous

Iya - informal no

Jinchuu - earthly revenge

Kami - spirit/ancestor/god/goddess/etc

Kaoru - fragrance

Kenji - not sure I'd have to see the kanji but something to do with a sword most likely

Kenki - fighting spirit

Kenshin - heart of sword

Ki - chi, prana, life energy

Koibito - girlfriend/boyfriend though I imagine at the time it would mean more like lover

Komban wa - good evening

Matsu - pine tree

Megumi - blessing/bounty

Motto - much, more, bigger

Musuko - son, used by family members

Neko-chan - kitten, kitty

- nii - uncle

No - indicates a possessive… Kenshin no baka - Kenshin's an idiot - shin no kami - god of death

O genki desu ka? - are you feeling healthy?

Okaasan - mother - less formal 'kaasan

Omegami-sama - goddess

Oniisan - older brother

Ore - informal, even gruff, male 'I'

Oro - Kenshin's surprise, shock, stupefied, embarrassed noise, possibly a mispronunciation of ara

Otousan - father - less formal 'tousan

Oyasumi/oyasuminasai - good night (when going to bed)

Rurouni - a made up word by the wonderful creator of rurouni Kenshin -sama that means roughly wanderer

Sakabato - reverse blade sword, really two words - sakaba and to

- sama - more polite form of -san

- san - Mr. Mrs. Ms.

Sekihotai - Sanosuke's political affiliation

Sensei - teacher

Sessha - another archaic term used by Kenshin meaning 'I' or more literally 'this unworthy one'

Shamisen - guitar like instrument with three strings

Suzuko - little bell child

Tanuki - raccoon

Umeko - plum blossom child

Yori - trustworthy

Zutto - very much so, similar to motto