Author: Arashi
Website: www.kenkaya.com (if you haven't been there, go... there's a whole slew of art for this chapter)
Beta Reader: Karina Kineshi (thank you so much for your time and super helpful suggestions!!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin nor am I making any money off this story!
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"You can't be serious!" Tokio didn't bother replying to Sanosuke's outburst. Instead, she took the outfit from Chou and set it on the floor in front of the ex-gangster with finality. She nodded her thanks to her fellow agent for picking the outfit up from her house and then she turned back to Sano.
"We use these a lot for undercover work and meetings with western officials." Tokio informed him casually. Sano stared in horror at the clothes arrayed in front of him: A black suit coat, matching black pants, white shirt, and a black tie. "Even Chou wears western suits." Tokio eyed the flamboyantly dressed agent at her side. "On occasion." Chou snorted.
"It ain't fun, rooster boy." Chou glanced at the black suit disdainfully. "Them ties choke the life out of ya." Everyone quickly realized that Chou's comments weren't helping matters. Sano looked like he was about ready to bolt.
"I'm not wearing a suit! I don't wanna go out tonight! I'm leaving!" Each comment was coupled with a frantic gesture that climaxed with him turning on his heels.
"Would you relax rooster-head?" Megumi grabbed the tail of Sano's gi as he started heading for the door. "It's not going to hurt you to wear a suit!"
"Lemme go Fox!" Megumi had about all she could stand of Sano's whining. In a flash she grabbed one of his ears and pulled down hard.
"Itai!" Sano stooped, trying to alleviate the agony by following Megumi's hand.
"I'll take care of this moron, Tokio-san." Megumi bent down to collect the articles of clothing, causing Sano to bend over farther and cry out in pain a second time. The others watched in embarrassment or amusement as Megumi hauled Sano out of the room and down the hall.
Anxious chattering ensued as Kaoru and Misao started making their plans. Aoshi sat in silence, contemplating his fate. Kenshin was forced to reply to all of Kaoru's questions. "Doesn't that sound fun Kenshin? Won't that be lovely Kenshin? Isn't this exciting Kenshin?" It was like she'd never gone on a date with him or something. Kenshin realized that things had been different since Kenji came into their lives, but still. We do plenty of romantic things. Kenshin mused to himself as he fell into a pattern of head nods and simple affirmative answers.
In the other room, Megumi stuffed the pile of clothing into Sano's unwilling hands and pushed him in the direction of the dressing screen. Sano walked like he was on the way to his own execution. He turned around once before disappearing behind the screen, giving her the most pitiful look she had ever seen. It was to no avail. Megumi put her hands on her hips and glared at him, causing Sano to jump behind the screen for cover. He began muttering quietly to himself as he took off his gi and hung it over the dressing screen.
Megumi stood waiting impatiently but when the white gi was draped over the screen her mind began to wander. I wish that screen wasn't in the way so I could watch him undress. A faint blush crept to her face the minute the thought popped into her head. It bothered her that Sano could throw off her senses so much. Ever since he'd returned to Japan she'd felt different around him and now that they'd worked things out, she found herself longing to be near him. Get a grip Megumi. She commanded herself. You're going to have to let him go soon anyway at least for a little while.
"Hey Fox?" A shirtless Sano peeked around the dressing screen meekly. "Um this is sorta embarrassing but I can't get my pants undone." Megumi's face went from a light shade of pink to pale white.
"Y Your pants?" Sano nodded and stepped around the dressing screen, apparently unaware of the thoughts that were running through Megumi's mind.
"I tied them too damn tight after the whole uh... incident." He, of course, meant when Yahiko had interrupted the two of them. Megumi started blushing, bringing her pale face back to a more natural color. Sano held up his bandaged right hand and pointed at it. "I can't get the knot untied with my hand all messed up." As Sano walked toward her he unwound the bandages from around his waist, revealing his well-muscled abdomen. "Do ya think you can untie it for me?" A sly smile spread itself across his rugged features. "I know how good you are with your hands and all."
"Baka" It was a weak retort but it was all Megumi could manage at that moment. Without making eye contact she reached out and found the tight knot that was causing Sano so much trouble. Staring at his well-defined abs didn't help her keep her mind from wandering. Megumi had no difficulty untying the knot and then she took a step away from Sano trying to fight the feelings that arose from such close proximity to the half naked man. He had a nice build before, but these past five years have done wonders for his body. Megumi was blushing again; she could feel it.
"Thanks Fox." Sano smiled disarmingly at her and Megumi quickly wondered if he was going out of his way to drive her crazy.
"Get over there and get changed" Megumi pointed at the dressing screen, half hoping that he'd listen to her. The other half of Megumi didn't want Sano to go anywhere. Sano loosened his pants so they hung temptingly low on his hips.
"Wouldn't you rather I go out like this tonight?" Sano spoke so casually that Megumi almost didn't believe what she'd heard.
"Chikusho Sano I I" Megumi realized she was stammering like a fool. "NO I would not rather you go out like that!" She pointed at him accusingly as he continued posing temptingly with that smug expression of his. "Every woman in Tokyo would be hounding after you!" Apparently, Sano had expected this exact reaction from Megumi. Megumi, on the other hand, slapped her hand over her mouth, feeling even more foolish for adding to his already healthy ego. He took a step towards her, dangerously closing the distance between them.
"We could just stay here then." It's amazing how his voice can range from a rough growl to a tantalizing purr. Megumi thought and then shook her head in an attempt to clear her mind. She knew Sano was doing everything in his power to lure her in and she was almost falling for it. What is he up to? The answer suddenly struck her as she glanced around the room trying not to pay any attention to the half naked man who was trying and succeeding in turning her on. The SUIT!
"Kuso rooster-head! Get over there and get changed!! We're going OUT tonight!!!"
Crestfallen, Sanosuke's shoulders slumped. Damn, I was so close.
"We're here!" Yahiko walked into the room and made his announcement happily. Tsubame was at his side wearing her cute western working outfit and a smile. Kenshin, Kaoru, Aoshi, Misao, and Tokio greeted the two of them. "So where's Sano?" Yahiko glanced around the room.
"Changing." Kaoru informed him. Yahiko and Tsubame sat down on the floor next to their friends and Misao and Tsubame immediately began catching up on old times. Kaoru joined in the girl talk, leaving the three men alone to discuss their predicament.
"Oi Kenshin Do you know how to dance western style?" Yahiko leaned close to the red haired man. Kenshin shook his head, staring at the floor the whole time.
"I do" It was a short, simple comment but it totally got Yahiko and Kenshin's attention.
"Really Aoshi?" The man nodded impassively in response to Yahiko's question.
"Please explain it to us Aoshi." Kenshin didn't want to beg, but the possibility that he might not have to make a total fool of himself was too good to pass up.
"It's not pleasant." If they hadn't been worried before they would have been after Aoshi made this straightforward comment. "You hold your hands like this." Aoshi demonstrated by pretending that he was wrapping his arm around someone's waist with one arm and holding their hand up with the other. He looked like he was showing one of the forms for a strange martial arts style. Kenshin and Yahiko mimicked him until they heard Misao, Kaoru, and Tsubame giggling. All three of the men dropped their hands out of the air and while Yahiko and Kenshin looked around in embarrassment, Aoshi picked up his tea and took a sip.
Everyone's attention turned to the door as Megumi stepped inside and cleared her throat. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Sagara Sanosuke!" She stepped aside and indicated the open doorway with her hands. Kaoru, Misao, and Tsubame all started cheering but stopped after a moment when Sano didn't make his appearance. "Get in here rooster-head." Megumi hissed.
"I don't wanna." The unhappy voice came from the hallway.
"Come on Sanosuke!" Kaoru encouraged him. She, Misao, and even Tsubame were intrigued by the idea of Sano in a western suit. An anguished sigh heralded the ex-gangsters appearance. Shocked silence and collective jaw dropping followed.
"Holy shit!!" Yahiko was the first to regain enough composure to manage his crude expletive.
"Rooster-head looks GOOD!" Misao was on her feet in an instant. Even with shoulders slumped and hands in his pockets, the former gangster and freeloader cut a dashing figure in the black western suit. Megumi had forced him to remove his headband and straighten up his hair, along with buttoning up the shirt and coat and actually wearing the tie. "Stand up straight man! Let us see how you really look!" Aoshi eyed Misao in silence while she and the other girls watched Sano with giddy anticipation. Kenshin and Yahiko noticed the strange phenomenon as well.
When Sano slowly pulled his hands out of his pockets and straightened up, the women all sighed contentedly. "Western suits are SUGOI!" Kaoru's eyes twinkled.
"They even make rooster-head look good!" Misao's eyes were also sparkling as she turned back to Aoshi. "You brought your suit didn't you?" The former okashira of the Oniwabanshu nodded impassively.
"Hai..."
"Wear it tonight Aoshi-sama! Won't that be wonderful?" Aoshi didn't bother replying as he got to his feet and exited the room with an excited weasel at his heels.
Meanwhile, Sano was taking the only enjoyment he could get out of being forced to wear a western suit. He took pleasure in the looks on his female friends' faces as Tsubame and Kaoru approached him hesitantly. "Um" Tsubame looked particularly embarrassed. "You look really really nice Sanosuke-san."
"Turn around Sanosuke." Sano could see the amusement in Kaoru's eyes. Sano's smug look crept back onto his face, as he turned around nice and slow. He paused with his back to them and turned his head, posing casually. Tsubame and Kaoru both giggled as they watched Sano model the western suit. He continued rotating after a moment and as he came around he caught Megumi's eyes. Sano felt like a piece of meat as Megumi's warm brown eyes traced up and down his frame. A very willing piece of meat...
"Careful ladies, I'm afraid the fox doesn't like to share!" Sano held up his hands warding the other two women away jokingly. Megumi awarded him a halfhearted smack for his comment while Tsubame and Kaoru laughed lightly.
"What the hell's going on Kenshin?" Yahiko turned to the man he had always turned to for help and advice. The former rurouni's large eyed stare didn't comfort him.
"Oro" That's all he can say at a time like this? Yahiko got to his feet in disgust and marched over to Tokio, doing his best to ignore everyone else. I'll teach that rooster a lesson for distracting MY woman! Yahiko dropped to his knees in front of Saitoh's wife and bowed low, touching his forehead on the floor in submission.
"Tokio-san, would you please let me borrow one of your western suits tonight?" Tokio and Chou both blinked in astonishment. Tsubame's well-trained ear picked up on Yahiko's question and she was at his side in an instant, totally forgetting about Sanosuke.
"Really Yahiko-kun? You want to wear a western suit?" Yahiko looked up at her, his face blushing slightly as he nodded.
"Uh yeah."
"That's so wonderful! I think tonight will be really special!" Tsubame practically jumped for joy. Tokio turned to Chou who shrugged and got to his feet to go retrieve another western suit from their collection.
"Uh Tokio-dono?" Tokio and Chou both turned toward the legendary manslayer as he clapped his hands together in front of his face respectfully. "Would you please get me one as well?"
Aoshi watched the others in silent and concealed amusement. Kenshin and Yahiko struggled into the white dress shirts and fumbled with the buttons for a moment before figuring out how they worked. Sano leaned against the wall casually, offering the two helpful suggestions. The women were all waiting for them back in the other room and Aoshi could only imagine what they were all talking about.
Yahiko pulled on the black suit coat and then picked up the tie, eyeing it as if it were a dead animal. After a moment he put it around his neck and tied it the same way he would tie the belt of his practice uniform. Sano laughed and Aoshi couldn't help but smile to himself. The look on Yahiko's face was priceless.
"Chikusho! How the hell am I supposed to know how to tie these stupid things?" Sano walked over to the young swordsman and pulled his hands out of his pockets. Without a word he untied Yahiko's tie and flipped up the collar of his white shirt. He straightened out the tie around Yahiko's neck and pulled it so that both sides were the proper lengths. Aoshi's eyebrow rose slightly as he watched the practiced motions of the former gangster. When he was finished, Yahiko's tie was perfect and the young swordsman was impressed. "Whoa, thanks how did you learn how to do that Sanosuke?"
Sano slid his hands into his pockets again. "It's not hard to figure out if you try." He sounded nonchalant enough but Aoshi detected some hidden depth to his words. His motions were too practiced to simply be something he 'figured out'.
"Ororororo Sano can you tie mine too?" Kenshin had succeeded in making a bigger mess than Yahiko. Sano chuckled and headed toward his red-haired friend.
"Sure Kenshin."
By this time, the younger children had gotten tired of playing outside. Outa, Kenji, Tsuyoshi and the two young swordsmen Eiji and Yutarou were back inside the room with the women and Chou.
"How would you two like to spend the night at Tsuyoshi's house?" Kaoru ruffled Outa's hair while Kenji crawled onto her lap.
"Really? Can we??" Outa didn't bother hiding his excitement.
"You bet! We're going out tonight and I don't want to leave you here by yourselves." Kenji seemed hesitant.
"I wanna go with you mommy!" Kaoru chuckled and bounced Kenji lightly with her knees.
"Mommy's going to be staying out late tonight Kenji. Aren't you sleepy?" Kaoru mimed an exaggerated yawn. "Mommy's already sleepy." Kenji tried to fight it but he couldn't keep himself from yawning. Kaoru laughed and gently kissed the top of her son's head. "You'll have fun at Tsuyoshi's house." This time, Kenji didn't object.
"Hey everybody." Sano stepped into the room and drew everyone's attention. "We're all dressed." He stepped to the side revealing Yahiko, Kenshin, and Aoshi all dressed in their black western suits. Kenji practically got tossed across the room as Kaoru jumped to her feet and ran to her husband. Misao was at Aoshi side a moment later while Tsubame timidly approached Yahiko. The women were in awe and expressed their pleasure to their respective men.
"Oh Kenshin you look sooooooo wonderful!" Kaoru wrapped her hands around her husband's neck and kissed him lightly on the lips. When she remembered they weren't alone she immediately blushed. Even married, it was inappropriate to publicly display this sort of affection. Kenshin didn't seem to mind at all.
"You look the BEST Aoshi-sama!" Misao jumped for joy next to the tall man. Aoshi didn't reply and instead he busied himself with straightening up his already immaculate tie.
"Yahiko, you look really nice in that suit I like it." Tsubame blushed while Yahiko glanced away from her smiling face and scratched the back of his head.
"Well, rooster-head" Megumi approached Sanosuke and brushed an imaginary piece of lint off one of his broad shoulders. "You look alright I guess." One of Sano's eyebrows rose in disbelief.
"That's it? That's all you have to say?"
"Well to make it perfect you need a hair cut." Megumi reached up and twirled a strand of his long brown hair with her delicate fingers. "And you need to get rid of that silly beard." Sano rubbed his jaw, suddenly reminded of the fact that he hadn't shaved in a long time.
"I haven't felt like getting my hair or beard cut these last few months" Sano looked thoughtful for half a heartbeat and then he winked at Megumi. "But for you fox, I'll do anything."
"Hold on Sagara-san." Tokio called out to them before Megumi and Sano could exit the room. Sano stopped and made his way over to Saitoh's wife. "I'm afraid I can't allow you to cut your hair tonight." Megumi looked upset.
"But why?"
"He's less recognizable with the longer hair and the beard. Coupled with the suit, no one should be able to recognize him." Megumi sighed and Sano rested his hand on her shoulder gently. Tokio continued after a brief pause. "But tomorrow he'll need that hair cut." Megumi smirked.
"Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait one more day to get you cleaned up." Sano chuckled and plopped down on the floor next to Tokio.
"Now that that's settled. It's time to relax a bit!" Sano took the tray of sake sitting next to Tokio and moved it directly in front of himself. He opened a bottle and took a long drink. "Thanks for the sake Tokio."
"It's the least I could do for you Sagara-san." Tokio glanced at the blonde agent at her side. "Well, it seems everything is settled here. Chou and I will be leaving." Tokio rose to her feet. "We'll be back tomorrow to brief you on everything you'll need to know to start off this mission. Once again, I cannot thank you enough for agreeing to assist us." Sano waved her thanks away with his hand.
"Yeah yeah It's not like you guys left me any choice. Besides, if someone is trying to mess with Japan they have to go through us first."
Tokio and Chou collected the children and left after saying their goodbyes. As the two of them walked the children back to Tokio's house the blonde haired Keishichou agent stretched casually and regarded her with his trademark one-eyed look. "You want me to keep an eye on them right?"
"Of course."
The sun set long before the Kenshin-gumi arrived at the summer festival. Sano had insisted that they start out the night by dusting off a few bottles of sake. No one had had the heart to argue with him, whether they joined in the drinking or not. After a few rounds of toasting Sanosuke's return the ex-gangster, the young swordsman, the lady doctor, the current okashira of the Oniwabanshu, the head instructor of the Kamiya Kasshin dojo, and the former rurouni were all enjoying themselves immensely. Uncomfortable ties forgotten, Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Kenshin were finally ready to hit the town, hoping they could show their women a good time. Aoshi had remained quite and reserved throughout the pre-festival party but the former okashira of the Oniwabanshu was determined to show a certain young woman that even he was capable of enjoying himself, from time to time. Confident in the knowledge that he alone knew how to dance western style, Aoshi made his way to the festival with his close friends around him and his closest friend beside him.
"I've always wanted to try western dancing!" Misao's eyes sparkled from the moonlight and the colorful lanterns lining the streets. She turned and smiled up at Aoshi.
"And western food!" Kaoru chimed in happily from where she walked, arm in arm with Kenshin.
"Ya think they sell sake around here anywhere's?" Sano had his arm draped around Megumi's shoulders and it was hard to tell if it was affection or simply a way to keep himself walking straight. The look on Megumi's face indicated the answer to that question without anyone actually having to ask.
"No more drinking rooster-head. I'm not going to carry you back to the dojo!"
"Awww, c'mon fox." The others laughed or smiled while Sano begged Megumi to let him buy more sake. Their 'discussion' continued until they arrived in the midst of the summer festivities.
"Oh Kenshin, I see a dessert booth!" Kaoru dragged her husband over to a small stand on the side of the street. The rest of the group followed slowly as everyone took in the sights and the smells. The streets were packed with people and many vendors had opened up booths and small shops selling everything from food to souvenirs. The western theme prevailed and many signs advertised 'Western Food' or 'Western Apparel'. Quite a few of the people in the crowd appeared to be foreigners and this added to the exotic nature of the festival.
As Sano and Megumi followed the others to the dessert stand, Sanosuke noticed a stand adjacent to it that drew his attention much more than food. "Beer!" Sano steered Megumi away from the others.
"Beer?" Megumi inquired. "Isn't that some kind of foreign alcoholic beverage?" Sano laughed.
"Yup."
"I thought I told you no more drinking."
"But I haven't had beer in ages!" It had only been a month or two, but that was one of the details Megumi didn't need to know. She sighed and gave up, allowing Sano to order two mugs of the frothy amber liquid. Sano handed her one of them and then held his up, saluting her. Then he said something Megumi didn't understand, clinked his mug against hers, and downed the contents in one large gulp. As he wiped his mouth with the back of his bandaged right hand, Megumi eyed him suspiciously.
"What was that?" She asked after she had sampled the beer.
"What was what?" Sano was as oblivious as usual.
"What you just said. Was that some strange drunkard talk from Mongolia?" Sano laughed easily.
"No, not Mongolia. It's English for 'cheers'."
"English?" Before Sano could reply two foreign men next to them at the beer stand raised their mugs and repeated the strange word while saluting Sano. He nodded back and said the word a second time, raising his empty glass. He was about to turn his attention back to Megumi but the men approached and started speaking to Sanosuke in a language Megumi could not fathom. Sano stammered a moment and then replied in the same language. After a minute of conversation, Sano pointed off down the street and explained something to the two men. They smiled, tipped their hats to Megumi, and disappeared into the crowd.
"What was that all about Sano? I couldn't understand a word you said to them!"
"More of that English stuff" He grinned at her. "I think they were asking directions to one of the bars in the area I think I told them where to go." He snickered. "Not that it matters."
"When did you learn how to speak English?" Sano rolled his eyes and put his arm back around her shoulders.
"Why is it that none of you even stops to consider that I might have done something other than drink, gamble, and get in fights for the past five years?" Megumi blinked.
"Because we know you." Sano pulled his arm off her shoulder and pretended to be offended. "So answer my question already! When and why did you learn to speak English?"
"Well" Sano grinned mischievously and put his arm around her shoulders once again as he led her through the crowd and back to their friends. "After a few months of not being able to understand people at the gambling parlors, I decided it would be in my best interest to learn." Megumi scoffed and muttered under her breath while Sano laughed.
"What's so funny Sano?" Yahiko looked over at his friend when Sano and Megumi rejoined the group.
"The fox, of course!" Megumi slid out from under Sano's arm and walked over to Kaoru and Misao, pointedly ignoring the ex-gangster.
After the women had their fill of the western desserts the group was on the move again, unconsciously heading toward the sound of music. They found an open plaza full of people laughing and dancing. The band was at one corner on a raised stage playing a slow, beautiful waltz.
"I've never heard anything like that before" Yahiko commented as they stood around the edge of plaza. Happy couples twirled by following the basic three-step pattern of the waltz. Many of the people appeared to be foreigners and even those who weren't were dressed in western clothing and appeared to know what they were doing.
"Doesn't it look fun Aoshi-sama?" Misao turned to the tall man at her side. "I think they call it a waltz or something like that right?" Aoshi nodded but was too busy studying the movements of the dancers to reply. He had some experience with western customs but every song was a little different and he wanted his timing to be exact when he 'performed' the dance.
"Do you want to try it dear?" Kaoru turned to her husband. Kenshin's eyes widened as she led him by the hand toward the dancing people.
"Oro"
"Come on Aoshi-sama! Let's go dance with Kenshin and Kaoru!" Misao gave Aoshi just as much choice as Kaoru had given Kenshin. Tsubame turned to Yahiko shyly. They smiled at each other, but the young girl didn't say anything.
"You want to do it too don't you?" Yahiko asked, reading her mind easily. Tsubame's face lit up like one of the colorful lanterns hanging around the plaza.
"Can we?" Yahiko shook his head.
"I would but right now I'm feeling kinda dizzy from all the sake we drank earlier. Maybe we'll try in a bit. Besides, I want to watch them make fools of themselves first." Yahiko paused and looked around, noticing the absence of part of their group. "Hey, where'd rooster-head and the fox go?" Someone smacked Yahiko upside his head.
"Oi, who you calling a rooster?"
"Don't call me a fox!" Both Megumi and Sanosuke made their comments at the same moment, and Yahiko wasn't entirely sure who had actually hit him.
"Oh, there you two are" He rubbed the back of his head, not overly thrilled by their sudden reappearance.
"Sorry for disappearing like that Rooster-head found another beer stand." Megumi shook her head in annoyance. Ignoring her, the tall man glanced around.
"Where's everybody else?" Yahiko pointed toward the group of dancers and Sanosuke and Megumi easily spotted Kenshin, Kaoru, Aoshi, and Misao. Kenshin had a look of total and utter confusion on his face as he tried to remember what Aoshi had told him to do with his hands. Kaoru took control and placed them in their proper locations. It seemed the wife was a quicker study than her husband. As they started dancing, Sanosuke, Megumi, Yahiko, and Tsubame could hear Kenshin's comment as though he were standing right next to them.
"Oro."
Meanwhile, Aoshi stepped up to Misao and bowed slightly. With his usual serious expression he approached her and placed one hand around her waist while taking one of her hands in the other. There was a certain fluidity and grace in the way Aoshi slid into the waltz, but there was something strange about it.
"I can't tell if Aoshi's about to dance or start practicing some crazy form of martial arts." Yahiko leaned over to Sanosuke as he made the comment. Sanosuke agreed with the young swordsman's observation. As Aoshi and Misao started dancing the ex-gangster made his own comment on the matter.
"His footwork is perfect, but the man looks like he's on a battlefield not a dance floor." The look of concentration plastered to Aoshi's face fit Sanosuke's description perfectly.
"You're right!" Yahiko laughed. "I swear he had the same look on his face when he and Kenshin fought for the first time!" Yahiko and Sanosuke both started snickering but when they saw Kenshin and Kaoru dance by they broke out into full-fledged laughter. Kaoru pulled him along doing her best to imitate the others around them, but the poor man had no idea what he was doing.
"Kenshin no baka! That's my foot!" Kaoru started chewing Kenshin out and Yahiko turned to grin at Sano.
"Kenshin may have a lot of coordination when he's got a sword in his hand" The young swordsman started the comment and Sanosuke finished it.
"But without it, he's hopeless." When Kaoru grabbed Kenshin and started dragging him along, Yahiko and Sanosuke started snickering again.
"You two are being rude." Megumi tossed her long, black hair over her shoulder. "I don't see either of you rushing out there to dance. At least Aoshi-san is attempting to show Misao a good time, and Ken-san isn't running away and hiding." Sano would have needed to finish off another twenty mugs of beer for him to miss the tone in Megumi's voice and the implied message behind it.
"Come on Fox." Sano grabbed Megumi by the hand and started out onto the dance floor. "You too Yahiko, grab your girl already"
"What? I don't want to..." Yahiko started to yell at Sanosuke but the look on Tsubame's face made him change his mind. He sighed and led her out after Megumi and Sanosuke. Aoshi and Misao were still dancing and while the former okashira had a serious look on his face, the look on Misao's face was one of sheer enjoyment. Sanosuke vaguely wondered if dancing with Aoshi was the most enjoyable thing she'd ever done with him. Kaoru had taken control of the waltz and she twirled Kenshin around once, causing him to lose his grip on her. He staggered back and ended up hitting what he thought was a wall in the middle of the dance floor.
"Chikusho Kenshin. Watch where you're going." It was Sano. Kenshin turned to look at his friend in surprise.
"Oh I'm sorry Sano. I didn't mean to bump into you." Sanosuke grinned at him.
"No problem. Just watch where you're dancing. Now, if you don't mind, Megumi and I were about to show you fools how to waltz." Kaoru was there to collect her husband and she shot Sano an angry look.
"I'd like to see you try." She taunted him. Sanosuke only smiled and slid Megumi's hand onto his shoulder.
"Try and keep up Fox." He said confidently and before she could reply he started off. "Here we go."
"Do you know what you're doing?" Megumi asked in astonishment as she tried to keep up.
"Absolutely. You seem to be forgetting my vast knowledge and experience in world customs."
"Sorry, I just can't picture you learning to dance in a foreign country." Sanosuke gave her a look and then he grinned.
"Yeah, I guess that is a little hard to believe. And since it is a long story, I'll just have to prove it to you that I know what I'm doing. Try and stay in step Megumi. One, two, three One, two three There now you're getting it!" Megumi and Sanosuke whirled off leaving Kenshin and Kaoru to stare after them in shock. Yahiko and Tsubame were about to attempt to dance but instead they just stood there with the other two watching Sano and Megumi.
"He's good" Yahiko muttered.
"I hate to admit it, but you're right Yahiko." Kaoru commented, not taking her eyes off Sano and Megumi. They waltzed right by Aoshi and Misao making it obvious how badly the two of them were dancing. Suddenly, Aoshi didn't appear to be enjoying himself at all. In contrast, Sanosuke had the biggest grin on his face. Megumi appeared to be a quick study and the others could hear her laughter as Sano twirled her around. When Sano and Megumi whirled by Aoshi and Misao the second time everyone could see that Aoshi wanted to stop dancing, though Misao seemed perfectly oblivious. Kaoru, Kenshin, and Yahiko all refrained from dancing, too embarrassed by their own ineptitude.
"I'm not giving that rooster-head anything to tease me about." Yahiko commented when Tsubame gave him a shy look that seemed to say she wanted to try dancing again. "No way I'm going to dance." He folded his arms resolutely.
"Kenshin, would you like to try again?" Kaoru asked her husband. Kenshin gave her a little smile trying to think of a good way to get out of it. Kaoru read his face perfectly and she looked away angrily. "Never mind!" Aoshi had finally broken away from Misao and he stalked over to them, his stoic expression back on his face. Misao followed behind, practically wailing.
"Aoshi-sama! Let's dance some more!" Aoshi didn't reply as he came to stand by the four on the sidelines. The men exchanged a glance and the same thought. Not one of them wanted to be made fun of by the dancing idiot.
"Dancing's for sissies anyways." Yahiko muttered as they all watched Sano and Megumi twirl by. As they turned, Sanosuke aimed a look back at the guys. His face said it all. I'm better than you are! Haaa ha ha ha haa ha! Yahiko growled while Kenshin looked embarrassed and Aoshi stood emotionless. The dance finally finished and Sanosuke and Megumi came back over to the group. Sano didn't say anything but his look had already spoken more than enough.
"That was incredible." Kaoru admitted to Sanosuke. "Where'd you learn to dance like that?"
"England actually." The comment was short and to the point. The cocky grin said the rest.
"You're amazing Sano!" Misao piped in. "Do you want to dance one with me?" She looked hopeful. If anyone had been paying attention to Aoshi at that instant they might have seen something flash across his face before it resumed its normal look. His clenched fist told the rest of the story.
Tsubame stepped up timidly and asked in her quite voice. "Sanosuke-san, would you dance with me too?" Sano hadn't had time to reply to Misao before the young waitress had stepped forward. Her usual timidity and fear of asking people things was overcome by her desire to dance. Yahiko was floored.
"Tsubame!?" It was all he could manage to say to her. Sanosuke just held up his hands and smiled at Misao and Tsubame.
"Sorry ladies, I don't want the fox to get jealous." He was eating it up.
"What exactly is there to be jealous of might I ask?" Megumi looked sly. "If you two really want to dance with the big rooster, go right ahead. But I warn you..." She got quiet and whispered just loud enough so the entire group could hear. "His breath reeks of sake and beer." Misao and Tsubame were instantly turned off.
"Yuck. Thanks for warning us Megumi-san." Misao then turned to Aoshi and laced her arm through his. "Besides, I think Aoshi-sama is a great dancer." Aoshi didn't protest her arm though his. He didn't protest her comment. In fact, those who really knew Aoshi knew that he was suddenly very happy and agreeable.
"You really want to dance Tsubame?" Yahiko was still trying to figure out what to do to make her happy. She turned her beautiful hopeful smile back to him.
"Really? You'll dance with me?" Yahiko scratched the back of his head, looking from Tsubame to Sanosuke and then back to Tsubame.
"Aa." He took her by the hand and with a backward glance at a grinning Sano he headed out to the dance floor. Megumi eyed Sano and then playfully elbowed him in the gut. He grunted.
"Don't do that. All the spinning and the beer is getting to me."
"Leave Yahiko alone." Sano blinked at her innocently.
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about. Just leave Yahiko and Tsubame alone."
Sano looked like he was about to play dumb but a sharp look from Megumi cut it short. "Alright, I'll be good. No teasing, I promise." He held up an open hand and shook it in emphasis. A new song was just starting and Yahiko and Tsubame began their second attempt at Western dancing.
"Why don't we go back out there so you can show me some more of your moves?" Megumi asked Sano slyly, raising her eyebrows in emphasis as she said the word 'moves'. He grinned and the two of them walked, hand in hand, back onto the dance floor.
"Aoshi-sama?" Aoshi didn't need Misao to finish her question. Without a word he quietly led her back into the fray. Kenshin and Kaoru were suddenly left standing alone.
"Well dear?" Kaoru turned to him. Kenshin blinked ignorantly.
"Oro?"
"No playing dumb with me Kenshin, we're going back out there and enjoying ourselves. Come on." She hauled him back toward the dancers. When they made it out onto the floor Kenshin stood looking around in confusion once again. He took a moment and watched as their friends and the other people danced by. Kaoru put her hands on her hips angrily. "Kenshin, can you at least TRY it again?" Kenshin seemed to be thinking hard about something as he turned and gave Kaoru a searching glance. "What?" She asked him. He didn't reply except to step very close to her putting her hand on his shoulder and his on her waist. He gave her a particularly ravenous smile causing her to blush. The look he was giving her was one they usually reserved for the bedroom. "What are you up to?" She managed to ask as she giggled.
"Hold on tight." She blinked in surprise as he started them dancing. Before, Kaoru had to do everything in her power to keep him going but now the former rurouni was in charge and somehow in the last few minutes he had figured out everything you needed to know for proper western dancing. The song was quicker than the waltz and Kenshin spun and twirled Kaoru to the beat. As Megumi and Sanosuke danced by Kenshin heard his friend call out encouragement.
"You got it Kenshin!" He, of course, coupled the comment with a particularly impressive display on his and Megumi's part but Kaoru didn't care. She was enjoying the feel all women get when dancing with the man they love. Aoshi and Misao seemed to be faring better to the quicker dance as well. Yahiko and Tsubame were doing just fine. If Sanosuke hadn't been there to show off, the two of them probably would have impressed the others by how quickly they picked up western dancing. The four couples danced and whirled away the next few hours. By the time they decided to quit, the women were in a state of sheer bliss. Each of their men had become expert western dancers through the course of the night and try as they might, none of the men could deny the fact that they'd enjoyed themselves.
"Are you smiling Aoshi?" Kenshin grinned up at the taller man as they made their way through the streets. Aoshi tried to keep his emotions in check but somehow the corners of his mouth had turned up far enough to be noticed by others. Misao, of course, had been aware of his smile while they were dancing. He'd stopped trying to hide his smile from her years ago.
"Aa." Aoshi smiled over at the red-haired man who had turned his life around and then he looked back at the young woman bouncing along at his side.
"That was wonderful! And now, I think there's going to be fireworks!" Misao was even more excited than usual after the western dance. "Don't you just love fireworks Aoshi?"
"First, we should go find some food." Sanosuke commented as he loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his white shirt. "All that dancing made me work up an appetite."
Everyone agreed and Kaoru happily led them to the dessert stand she thought was the best on their way through the first time. They were soon stuffing their faces with a variety of tasty foods. Stuffing, of course, being a relative term for each of them. Yahiko and Sanosuke were inhaling, Misao and Kaoru were pigging out, Kenshin, Megumi, and Tsubame were sampling, and Aoshi had one bite of a baked sweet potato that Misao swore was the best one she'd ever had in her life. Yahiko had to pause for a minute while he choked on some hastily swallowed food. Tsubame patted him on the back trying to dislodge whatever had gotten stuck. When he had started choking he had stepped back in surprise and bumped into Megumi causing her to drop her half eaten sweetened rice cake on the ground. She quickly bent over, picked it up, brushed off the obvious dirt, and with a sly grin turned and offered it to Sano. Sano ate it right out of her hand leaving a gooey mess on her fingers from all the other food he was already chewing.
While everyone ate and socialized, Megumi noticed an interesting occurrence. The buttons on Sanosuke's black suit coat were mysteriously unbuttoned. Every few moments after freeing himself from the confines of the coat, one of the buttons on his white shirt became unfastened as well. The tie disappeared before too much time had passed and miraculously appeared around Sano's forehead, tied just like his red headband. The change took place slowly enough that none of the other noticed, except Megumi. Of course, none of the others really cared. By this time, Megumi was enjoying herself too much to force Sano to keep himself presentable. It's amazing he kept that suit on for as long as he did. Besides, we're through dancing and now it's time to relax and enjoy everyone's company. Megumi watched Sano as he threw his arms around Kenshin and Yahiko, laughing and joking around with them. It was like old times again, only better.
A little while later, the group wandered into a clearing by the river to watch the fireworks. Sano took off his coat and laid it out on the grass for Megumi to sit on. He gave each of the guys an encouraging look and soon all three of them removed their coats and placed them on the grass with the same flair Sanosuke had used. Aoshi's large Cajun trench coat provided more cover than any of their suit coats and there was enough room for both Aoshi and Misao to sit together, as long as they sat close. The other guys didn't mind as they sat down in the damp grass next to their female companions. Each of the couples were far enough away from each other to have a little privacy while still being close enough that everyone could talk if they wanted to.
"You've picked up manners too?" Megumi smiled playfully at Sano. "This entire evening has been like a dream. If someone would have told me five years ago that you'd come back like this I would have laughed in their face." Before Megumi's imaginary fox ears made their appearance, Sano leaned over and pressed his lips against hers, effectively cutting off any further comments. He pulled away after a moment and smiled at her warmly. Megumi took a moment to recover and then her fox ears made their appearance. "Ok, maybe you really haven't picked up any manners." She pushed him away teasingly. "I don't know about other countries, but in Japan it's still considered inappropriate to do this sort of thing in public."
"Why do you think I pulled away?" The look Sano gave her made Megumi wish they really were alone. Sano spoke again, but this time Megumi didn't understand him. The foreign language rolled off his tongue like honey and though Megumi couldn't comprehend the words, she felt her face blushing at the message and the emotion it conveyed.
"What does that mean Sanosuke?" She was in awe, staring at the face of the man who seemed to have changed so much in one night. He reached out one of his rough, calloused hands and tenderly caressed her cheek. The touch of his capable hand served to remind Megumi that the man sitting beside her was truly the man she had met five years earlier.
"It means, 'you're beautiful'" Overhead, the first of the fireworks exploded in the night sky as Sanosuke leaned in to kiss a very willing Megumi yet again.
Kenshin and Kaoru were soon caught up in the romantic moment as well. The two of them lay back on the grass and Kaoru snuggled against her husband's chest. Kenshin put a protective arm around her, holding her close as they stared up into the sky watching the fireworks. Kenshin placed a loving kiss on the top of his wife's head and then stroked her hair tenderly.
Yahiko and Tsubame took things a little slower. At the age of fifteen, Yahiko was still not entirely sure how to act around Tsubame. He placed his coat on the grass as he'd seen the others doing, and then he'd plopped down a good foot and a half away from her. It was a gradual process, but one at a time, Tsubame and Yahiko inched closer to each other. Finally, Yahiko put his arm around her. Sanosuke's probably going to tease me about this later. Yahiko hazarded a glance over in Sano's direction and was relived to see that Sano wasn't paying attention to him at all. He and Megumi were cuddled against each other on their backs, staring up at the sky.
Meanwhile, Misao cheered every time a particularly large or loud firework exploded. Aoshi sat by her looking up at the sky on occasion. The rest of his time was spent staring straight ahead. Unbeknownst to most, Aoshi had amazing peripheral vision. He was watching Misao the entire time with the 'Aoshi smile' plastered to his face. Misao pointed up as a particularly large firework exploded in the sky. Aoshi followed her hand and watched the red lines trace through the air before dying out, leaving only a smoky outline. When Misao set her hand down, she 'accidentally' placed it right on Aoshi's hand. He looked down at their touching hands and then right into Misao's smiling face. Misao tightened her hand giving his a little squeeze and Aoshi pulled his hand around slowly, entwining her fingers with his own.
Kaoru and Kenshin were still snuggling when Kaoru turned to whisper a simple phrase in his ear. "I love you, Kenshin."
"And I love you, Kaoru." They snuggled together closer as Kenshin tenderly brushed her cheek with his hand.
Yahiko and Tsubame sat close, but the slight chill in the night air caused the young Akabeko waitress to shiver. At least that's what Yahiko thought. "Sit closer to me, Tsubame. I'll keep you warm." Tsubame gave Yahiko a shy smile as she inched even closer to the young swordsman.
"Thank you Yahiko-kun." She slowly and tentatively rested her head on his shoulder. Yahiko pulled her closer until there was no room left between the two of them. He gently rested his cheek on her head.
Misao edged a little closer to Aoshi. "Aren't the fireworks beautiful?" She asked him quietly as she watched the night sky. Aoshi wasn't looking at the fireworks when he replied in agreement.
"Absolutely beautiful"
Realization hit Megumi as she lay on the ground, nestled against Sanosuke for an hour as they watched the fireworks in silence. His warmth, his strength, the way he made her feel protected, the way he looked at her, the way he touched her, the way he kissed her Megumi loved each of these newer developments in their relationship. In these last five years, he managed to grow up without changing the fundamental parts of his character that attracted me to him in the first place. I cared about this rooster-head five years ago but maybe I only thought I loved him The feeling I'm feeling right now is more than I ever felt before. Right now, there's not a doubt in my mind I love him. A sudden urge overcame her senses and she knew she had to let him know what she was feeling.
The fireworks exploded above their heads in rapid succession as the grand finale began. Megumi stroked her finger over the muscles of Sano's chest as the last of the fireworks raced up to the sky. "I love you Sagara Sanosuke." With a loud boom, the last firework arched its way through the sky and trailed down toward the earth. There was no response from the ex-gangster and after the noise died down, Megumi realized why. His eyes were closed and he was snoring softly. A night of dancing, drinking, and sweeping Megumi off her feet had exhausted him. Megumi lowered her head to his chest and smiled wryly to herself. Same old rooster-head
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*wipes forehead* Phew! Chapter 14 took a little longer to edit than I had anticipated. I had to rewrite quite a few parts so I hope everything works out alright. There's a little bit of OOC-ness for some of the characters but this can all be attributed to the fact that five years have gone by. If Sano hasn't matured even a little in five years there would be something wrong. *grin*
I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter of gushy romance and WAFFY-ness. Next up, the first part of the mission begins. It's time to get serious as Zanza and the Battousai face each other once again! Will everything go smoothly?
As always, looking for some constructive criticism and feedback. Please review and THEN go check out my website at www.kenkaya.com! Chapter 14 is being posted with the largest collection of artwork yet! Check it out, sign the guestbook, and then if you just happen to be an artist and you feel like contributing, please send me your pics! The guys in suits? C'mon... who could resist drawing that?