Author: Arashi
Website: www.kenkaya.com
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin nor am I making any money off this story!
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Sagara Sanosuke was still swearing, ranting, and raving five minutes later when Fujita Tokio arrived to pick up her son. Tsuyoshi seemed to be quite amused by Sanosuke's reaction. He was getting used to seeing how Himura Kenshin's friends and companions reacted when they found out who his father was. There was something particularly satisfying about the large man's reaction. Tsuyoshi found it even more amusing when his mother finally showed up. Sanosuke took one look at Tokio, turned around slowly, and then ran off behind the dojo.
"What a strange man." Tokio commented to Kaoru as they watched Sano run for cover.
"Well you have to understand that he and your husband have had some interesting encounters."
"Oh? That wouldn't happen to be Sagara Sanosuke would it?" Tokio asked, turning to Kaoru with a smile that seemed to say, 'I already know the answer'.
"Why yes it is. Sano just got back today from wherever the heck he's been for the past five years. It might take him a few days to get readjusted."
"Well, when he does get used to the idea of me being Saitoh Hajime's wife I think I'd like to talk to him and get to know him. You are all such wonderful people and I've heard some interesting things about Sagara Sanosuke." Kaoru raised her eyebrows. She could only IMAGINE what types of interesting things Saitoh would have told her about Sanosuke. Tsuyoshi interrupted their conversation by drawing attention to a variety of scrapes and bruises he had on his face and arms.
"Well, look what that rooster-head did to me. He threw me into that bush over there TWICE!" Tokio looked concerned and put a hand to her son's face, inspecting the cuts and bruises. Tokio glanced at Kaoru for confirmation of her son's tale. Kaoru sighed and nodded her head.
"Yes, Sano threw him into the bushes twice. I tried to stop him but Sano can be a bit stupid and stubborn sometimes."
"I'm assuming he had some reason for his actions?" Tokio was dumbfounded.
"Well your son was in another fight with Higashidani Outa who just happens to be Sanosuke's little brother. I think he was just trying to protect him." Kaoru turned to glance at Outa who was still standing where Sano had pulled him to his feet. He looked a little embarrassed and lowered his head as Kaoru spoke to Tokio.
"I see" Tokio rested a hand on Tsuyoshi's shoulder. "Tsuyoshi, go apologize to Outa-kun." Tsuyoshi knew better than to argue with his mother and he marched right over to him.
"I'm sorry for getting in another fight with you." Tsuyoshi mumbled. Outa shook his head.
"No, it was my fault. I shouldn't get so worked up when you tease me. I know I'm not very good at kendo and I do screw up sometimes. And I'm really sorry about you getting thrown into the bushes. I didn't ask him to do that or anything." Tsuyoshi gave him a little smile.
"It's ok, I know it wasn't your fault. Well um, I guess I'll see you tomorrow at practice." Outa grinned and nodded. Tsuyoshi continued with an evil smirk. "I'm looking forward to making fun of you again." The two boys both smiled at each other and then clicked into competition mode.
"And I'm looking forward to kicking your butt!" Outa threw back at him.
"That'll be the day, moron!" If Tokio hadn't been standing right there Tsuyoshi and Outa probably would have resumed their fight. Fortunately she was quick to intercede and dragged Tsuyoshi away, giving a polite farewell to Kaoru as she left.
"Well Outa, don't you think you've caused enough trouble for one day?" Kaoru came up beside Outa and rested a friendly hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you go wash your hands and then head to the kitchen? We have some rice balls saved just for you." Outa smiled up happily at Kaoru.
"Thanks Kaoru-dono." He started to run off to find the food but he stopped a few feet away and turned back to Kaoru with a questioning look. "Um, Kaoru-dono?"
"Yes Outa?"
"Do you think" he faltered a moment and then continued. "Do you think Sanosuke was happy to see me?" There was uncertainty in the boy's voice and face. Kaoru gave him a confident smile and nodded.
"You bet!" A radiant smile spread itself over Outa's face as he turned and ran off happily. Kaoru watched him go and thought to herself how cute he looked with the little "Aku" on his back. During the summer he was living there at the dojo because he had nowhere else to stay while he took lessons. It was nice having someone using one of the extra bedrooms again. Ever since she and Kenshin had gotten married they shared the same bedroom, of course. And Yahiko had moved out into Sanosuke's old place. This left a lot of spare room and no one to use it properly. So when Outa told her and Kenshin that he had no place to stay for the summer they had been quick to offer him a room and food. After all, he was Sano's little brother, which made him an honorary member of the 'dojo family'.
Of course, there was more to it than that. Outa had quickly wormed his way into Kaoru's heart and as a young mother she had quickly taken Outa in under her wing. Yahiko had taken on a big brother role, and Kenshin offered the boy all sorts of fatherly advice. It's amazing how the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo melds every person under its roof into one big happy family. Kaoru thought to herself. And now that Sanosuke is back everything finally feels complete.
"Kaoru-dono? Where did you say the rice balls are?" Outa came around the side of the dojo.
"They're in the kitchen, where else would they be?"
"I looked in the kitchen, there's no rice balls anywhere."
"Hmmm.. that's odd." Kaoru thought out loud as she headed to the kitchen to find the missing rice balls. She found Kenshin and Kenji washing some laundry. Kenji kept splashing the water at Kenshin and Kenshin kept saying in his sweet innocent way, "You shouldn't splash the water, that you should not." Kaoru called over to Kenshin.
"Do you know what I did with those rice balls for Outa?"
"They're in the kitchen I believe." Outa stepped out of the house.
"I just looked in the kitchen again. They're not there." Yahiko was coming around the side of the building and Kaoru called over to him.
"Yahiko, do you know what happened to the rice balls? They were for Outa's lunch." Yahiko just shrugged and said, "No clue." Kaoru put a finger to her lip in puzzlement as she tried to figure out where they could have disappeared to.
"Maybe Sano knows." Yahiko commented as he walked past Kaoru on the way to the dojo.
"Where'd he disappear to?" Kaoru asked glancing around.
"He just went in the bath house to get himself cleaned up finally."
"Come on Outa, we'll go ask Sanosuke if he knows what happened to them." Kaoru and Outa walked off to the bathhouse. As they approached they could hear Sano humming and singing to himself and the sound of water splashing around. Kaoru stepped over by the vent and called inside.
"Hey Sano, do you know what happened to the rice balls that were in the kitchen?" There was a slight pause and then Sanosuke replied.
"Nope, sorry Jochan." Kaoru turned to Outa and shrugged.
"Well, we can go check the kitchen again Outa. Come on."
Inside the bathhouse Sanosuke sat enjoying himself in the warm soothing bath. He paused a moment listening for Kaoru to ask him anything else. When it seemed she was gone Sanosuke happily reached into a tray half full of rice balls. He popped a whole one in his mouth and hummed as he chewed. A flashback to Tsuyoshi flying into the bushes popped into his mind. He shook his head sadly and thought to himself, I can't believe I threw Saitoh's kid into a bush. And there's no way that beautiful woman is his wife. Oh wellno sense worrying about it now. He shrugged and swallowed the rice ball. Then he sighed contentedly and sunk under the water to clean his face and hair. He stayed under holding his breath for as long as he could and then he lunged out of the water with a big gasping breath, sending a huge wave splashing all over the floor of the bathhouse. He gave a triumphant laugh and then leaned over to grab another rice ball. To his disappointment he found they were all soaked. He paused a moment looking at them forlornly. Then he shrugged, grabbed one, and was just about to pop it into his mouth when the door to the bathhouse flew open.
"I thought so!" Kaoru's voice was hard as steel as she stood in the doorway pointing her bokken at Sanosuke angrily. The rice ball had made it halfway to Sano's open mouth but it stopped right there. Sano's mouth snapped shut in guilt but then a sloppy grin burst onto his face.
"Can't a guy get a little privacy?" Kaoru looked like she was about ready to scream. She marched right over to Sano and nailed him on the head with her wooden sword.
"Pests don't need privacy! They need extermination!" She reached down and picked up the remaining rice balls only to find that they were all sopping wet. It was then that she noticed the floor was also covered in water.
Kenshin and Kenji were finishing up Sano's laundry when they heard the screaming and the sound of a bokken hitting someone in the head repeatedly. "And that's why you don't mess with mommy." Kenshin whispered to Kenji.
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Short, sweet, and hopefully entertaining. (at least a little, right??) Next chapter, Sano makes a predictable suggestion. Yup, it's time for a party at the Akabeko!! *cue happy eating music* Guess who can hold his sake? (and I'm not talking about Sano, that's just a given!)