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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Light streamed in through the windows. Yahiko slowly opened his eyes and regretted it. His head was throbbing like it had never throbbed before. He stared up at the familiar ceiling and wondered briefly how he had gotten back to hisapartment. Vague memories came to mind of him and Sano running through the darkness and eventually reaching Sano's old place that Yahiko now called his own. Yahiko slowly glanced around the room. He was alone. Where's Sano?
Yahiko sat up abruptly and the hangover hit him like a hammer. He slowly sunk back onto the futon moaning pitifully. It was a few good minutes before Yahiko attempted to get up again. This time he succeeded and barely remembered to grab his sakabatou before heading out the door in search of his missing friend.
"Yahiko! You look terrible!" Kaoru chided him when he stumbled into the dojo.
"Rough night." He commented, too tired and sick to argue with her. "Have you seen Sanosuke?"
"Oh, he was here this morning for breakfast." At the mention of food Yahiko had a sudden urge to puke. He held it down, barely. Kaoru didn't seem to notice. "And then he headed off to Aizu to pick up Megumi."
"You can't tell me he was in any sort of shape to ride over to Aizu." Yahiko didn't believe her. He felt terrible and he knew Sanosuke had been there drinking with him the whole time. Not to mention that Sanosuke had been OUT drinking him most of the night.
"Actually I think he was going on foot." Kaoru commented. Yahiko's jaw dropped open. "Well, I was just finishing up lunch if you want to stick around."
"No food thanks. It's hard enough to hold down your cooking when I'm feeling fine." Kaoru pulled back a fist to nail him but he winced and held up his hands begging her not too. He looked so pathetic that she didn't even swing.
"Well, some soup will probably do you good. And even I don't screw up miso soup. Come on." She took him by the arm and towed him toward the house muttering something about taking care of drunks. She took him to the eating room and pushed him inside. He stumbled in and sat down, feeling too bad to argue. Outa and Kenji were sitting in the room already. Kenji was playing with his food and he took a piece of fried tofu and threw it at Yahiko. Yahiko just sat there looking quite hung over and let the tofu smack him in the face. Kenji giggled while Outa scolded him. The sound of slow footsteps came from the hallway. A moment later Kenshin staggered into the room looking about as bad as Yahiko felt.
"Well, look who's finally up!" Kaoru's voice commented from the hallway. Kenshin winced putting a hand to his forehead.
"Could you please keep it down dear? My head is killing me." His voice was uncharacteristically gruff though polite as ever. He walked into the room and sat down beside Kenji and across from Yahiko. Yahiko had some tofu on his face and he stared off at nothing with his mouth partially open.
"Mornin' Yahiko." Kenshin gave him a little nod of acknowledgement. Yahiko blinked a moment and brought his eyes into focus.
"Oi, Kenshin." Yahiko greeted him sounding pathetic. The two just sat there staring at each other for a moment while Kaoru poured them some soup. When she placed the bowls in front of them Yahiko and Kenshin both looked down at them for a few minutes trying to decide if they wanted to chance Kaoru's cooking.
"Is Sano sleeping still or did the Sake kill him?" Kenshin asked as he looked around slowly realizing that someone was missing. Kaoru replied cheerily and Yahiko and Kenshin both found her voice and the message terribly annoying.
"No, he took off pretty early this morning for Aizu. He stopped by, had some breakfast, got directions to Megumi's place, and took off running."
On the road to Aizu a cheerful, and quite healthy, Sano was running along at top speed with a fishbone sticking out of one corner of his mouth and a grin that would have made both Kenshin and Yahiko hit him if he'd been around the dojo for lunch. He'd already been running nonstop since breakfast and he had a good chunk of his trip behind him. All sorts of interesting thoughts were floating through his head as he ran toward Aizu though none of them involved his adventures of the night before or his two hung over friends. Oddly enough, Yahiko and Kenshin both had a pretty clear picture of Sanosuke running to Aizu in their heads.
"Damn him." Yahiko muttered under his breath. Kenshin heard him and nodded his agreement.
"You say something Yahiko?" Kaoru asked. He just shook his head. "Oh, by the way, I sent out a letter to Kyoto while you two were sleeping. If all goes well our friends in Kyoto will be over here about the same time that Sanosuke gets back with Megumi."
"He's not coming right back after he picks her up?" Yahiko asked a moment later when he realized that Megumi lived closer than Kyoto.
"No, he said he was going to spend a little time in Aizu and then come back in time for Misao and Aoshi's arrival. I think he wanted to have an excuse to spend more time with Megumi, if you ask me." Kaoru was grinning. "Oh shoot, I totally forgot to tell him her good news! Oh well."
"It's probably better that way. I'm sure Megumi-dono would prefer to tell him herself." Kaoru agreed with her husband as she started eating her lunch. Yahiko and Kenshin were still staring at their bowls of miso soup when they felt the presence outside the gate. They both looked up at the same moment, instantly shook off their hangovers, and jumped to their feet.
"What is it guys?" Kaoru asked them in concern as they headed outside. They were both looked ready for anything though a moment before they barely looked awake. The front gate opened up and the man outside was surprised to find Yahiko and Kenshin both standing there with their hands resting on their swords. Sawagejou Chou gave them a look and then sighed disappointedly.
"Why can't I ever sneak up on you guys?"
"Chou." Kenshin eyed the Keishichou agent. He didn't seem to be there to cause trouble so Kenshin moved his hand away from the sword at his belt.
"Surprised to see me?" He asked as he casually walked into the yard.
"Very." Kenshin replied. There was something wrong. Kenshin took a look at Yahiko and knew he was feeling it too. "What brings us the pleasure of your visit Chou?" Chou was looking around, inspecting the surroundings. He turned and gave them an icy look.
"I'm here for your friend, Sagara Sanosuke." Kenshin and Yahiko's eyes narrowed.
"What?" Yahiko asked coldly.
"You heard me. I'm here for the rooster-head. Where is he?"
"He's not here." Kenshin replied. "You need to tell us what's going on."
"There's not much to explain. My sources told me that Sagara was back in Japan and it's my job to get a hold of him."
"You mean arrest him?" Yahiko asked though it was more like a statement. He was starting to get angry. Chou gave Yahiko a look and then his coldness seemed to melt away and he sighed.
"Relax kid Look, I just really need to find him. It's a matter of some importance. If he's here let me talk to him and I'll explain the situation."
"I told you, he's not here. Perhaps you can explain anyway?" Chou turned to Kenshin and seemed to mull over it in his mind for a minute.
"No, I think I'll wait for the rooster-head. When are you expecting him back?"
"We're not sure. He took off this morning." Kenshin was all business.
"Fine, well I'll be keeping an eye on the place so don't do anything stupid." Chou kicked back into threat mode.
"Such as?" Kenshin asked raising an eyebrow.
"Anything stupid." Chou returned, eyes narrowed, and face serious.
"If you think we're going to hand Sanosuke over to you without some sort of explanation then you're mistaken." Yahiko stepped up boldly. Chou looked frustrated for a moment and then his harsh exterior melted away.
"Che, you guys are terrible to deal with. Look, I'm not supposed to say anything but well," he swore and then continued. "We need his help."
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The secret police need Sano's help with what? *ponder* I bet you'll find out if you keep reading! Next chapter, Sano and Megumi are reunited, but things don't go the way Sano planned. Read on!