ZANZA!

Return of a legend:

Sanosuke tells of his past

by Treager-sama

Sanosuke choked on the strangers words, he knew... somehow he knew that he was part of the Sekihoutai. He was unsure what to say to the stranger, and the man across from him seemed to realize this, so he spoke first.

"It has been many years since I last saw you Sanosuke, but you were far too young to remember me. The very idea that you and I would meet again was inconceivable at best. Perhaps Captain Sagara fated our meeting to occur?"

Sanosuke couldn't believe what he was hearing... he knew of the Sekihoutai, Captain Sagara, and even him. Sano was at a disadvantage, for he didn't know who this man was. He paced around the room listening to the mans words, carefully digesting each one.

"My name is Kyosuke Hinoshito, but back then you used to call me uncle Kyo. I used to be a mercenary, working for whomever paid the highest price. A fighter for hire you could say. I met Captain Sagara during the days of the revolution... there was never a shortage of people to fight back then. He had all these ideals and principles, and I understood only one principle, 'live by the sword, and die by the sword'."

Kyosuke seemed to speak of Captain Sagara fondly, almost smiling everytime he spoke of him. Sanosuke knew that their relationship grew deeper than he let on. He raised a fist, stomping his foot angrily, he shouted,

"What does a mercenary who cares only about money, have anything to do with a man as noble as the Captain huh?!"

Kyosuke smiled, almost as if he expected it and turned to face the Zanbatou lying on the floor, quietly he spoke,

"He... he saved my life."

...

Yahiko's mouth fell open in shock.

"Wow, what a coincidence that you would meet another guy who Captain Sagara saved!!"

Sano fell over backwards in disbelief and smacked Yahiko across the back of the head.

"You idiot, it's the same guy I was looking for!! Arentcha listening to the story!?"

Yahiko rubbed the back of his head indignantly,

"HEEEEY knock it off!! It's not my fault your no good at telling stories!"

Kenshin sweatdropped and remained silent as the two went at each other.

"Little twerp" "Rooster head" "I'll get you for that, come here!" "If you can catch me!"

Sano and Yahiko both stopped midfight and looked at Kenshin, blurting simultaneously,

"Hey say something will ya!"

The rurouni sat up at attention, then looking left and right meekly pointed to himself, then a huge sweatdrop appeared when he realized they were talking to him.

"oro...?"

They both let go of each other and surrounded Kenshin with angry faces. They both grabbed his neck and started to shake like crazy.

"WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO WEIRD KENSHIIIINNN!?!?!?!"

His face turned a bright blue as their fighting continued.

"Ahem..."

Yahiko, Sano, and a very blue Kenshin all turned around to see Kaoru standing behind them. Their eyes grew to enourmous size as they began to make a break for it, but every direction they ran, a redfaced Kaoru intercepted them. Finally she pulled back and whacked them all so hard with her wooden sword it sent them flying into the river.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS WENT OFF AND LEFT ME LIKE THAT!! DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WA..."

Sano popped his head above the water, followed by Kenshin. Just then Sanosuke lifted his arm and a foot, followed by a leg, followed by Yahiko with a fish sticking halfway out of his mouth, dangled above the waters surface.

"MMmmfff mmm MFFFFF!!!"

Sano yanked the fish from Yahiko's gaping mouth and gave Yahiko a questioning gaze.

"Huh...?"

The young boy wriggled angrily and screamed,

"I said... LET ME GOOOO!!!"

Sanosuke shrugged and let go, and Yahiko fell face first in the river with a large spash.

"...ND YOU GUYS ARE SO INCONSIDERATE TO MY FEELINGS AND I SHOULD JUST SEND YOU ALL PACKING BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CONTRIBUTE ANYTHIN..."

Sano and Kenshin frowned guiltily and lowered their heads just as Yahiko came sputtering out of the water again.

"HEY WHATS THE BIG IDEA?!? I CAN'T B... bluuub bluuub blub"

Sano grinned as he shoved Yahiko's head back under water to silence him.

"...UST WAIT TILL YOU GUYS GET HOME!!! I HAVE ALOT OF THINGS TO SAY TO YOU THREE!!!"

With that, Kaoru stormed off down the street shouting about how there were going to wake up everyone with how loud they were being, as people began to emerge from their houses trying to find out what all the commotion was about. Kenshin and Sano began to wade out of the river and make the slow trek back home. Yahiko once again emerged from the water yelling loudly,

"HEY...cough cough... YOU COULD HAVE DROWNED ME ...cough cough... YOU KNOW ..cough?!?! SERIOUSLY, I COULD HAVE DIED IN THIS RIVER!!! ...cough cough... SANO!?! KENSHIN?!?!"

He looked around and saw the sleepy and angry people of Tokyo gathering around him.

"...um guys...?"

...

"...THERE IS JUST ENTIRELY TOO MUCH LAZINESS AROUND HERE. I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN THIS DOJO AND NO ONE EVER HELPS OUT AND...

Kaoru had been at it for a good 2 hours now. She had covered every topic ranging from how no one appreciates her cooking, to how she gets no respect as a teacher, to the color of Kenshins hair... yep, even that.

"...WHY EXACLTY TO YOU HAVE RED HAIR ANYWAY KENSHIN!?! YOU ARE JAPANESE AREN'T YOU?! I MEAN YOUR ALWAYS DOING WEIRD THINGS LIKE THAT!! AND THATS ANOTHER THING! ABOUT YOUR WEIRDNESS..."

Kurogasa, Saito, Sojiro, and even Shishio didn't measure up to the trial that Kaoru now put Kenshin through, not even close. Sanosuke waited quietly beside his friend knowing that his emotional beating was coming very soon. Although there probably wasn't enough time in an entire week for her to vent about the things that he got on her nerves about. This had to end, and it had to end now just as she was taking a breath.

"Ya know lil missy, a woman as pretty as you looks great even when they're angry..."

The air around Sano sparkled as he held a beautiful rose in his hand in standard bishounen fashion.

"...mebbe even prettier when your angry."

Sano's smile cracked, the rose wilted, and the little sparkles all shattered as Kaoru glared at him coldly.

"...AND YOU!!! THAT KIND OF STUFF WON'T WORK ON ME!!! YOUR THE WORST OF THE LOT!! WHY I OUGHT TO THROW YOU OUT RI..."

Kenshin smiled sincerly and nodded boyishly,

"He is correct miss Kaoru, you are very pretty... even when you're yelling like that, that you are."

Kaoru's starfilled eyes grew to enourmous proportions as tears ran happily down her cheeks, her hands clasped tightly together, swooning at the rurouni's casual gesture.

"Oh Kenshin, you really think I'm pretty?!?"

He sat with a stupid smile upon his face and sweatdropped with embarassment, completely taken surprise by this unexpected reaction. Kenshin began to blush ferociously.

"I... I um... well that is to say... erm... I just meant..."

Kaoru giggled girlishy and blushed at Kenshin.

"Did you hear that Sano?! Kenshin said I was pretty!!"

Kenshin and Kaoru turned to see that Sanosuke's seat was completely empty. Suddenly as if on que, noises could be heard coming from kitchen.

"Hey you two lovebirds out there want anything to eat? Getting yelled at makes me hungry!"

...

Sanosuke inhaled the last of the rice hungrily and placed the trademark toothpick between his lips with a satisfying grin, signifying the meals end. Kaoru and Kenshin sat together... very close together. Kaoru had latched herself onto Kenshin's arm, much to his embarassment. Suddenly Kaoru frowned and gained a thoughful look in her eyes.

"Has anyone seen Yahiko...?"

Both Kenshin and Sanosuke shot terrified glances at one another yelling "WE FORGOT YAHIKO!!" and flew out of their seats toward the the door. They didn't get very far, for standing in the doorway was a very miserable, wet and angry looking Yahiko.

"Do you have any idea what happened after you guys left... hmmmm... do ya?!"

All three of them imagined something different, a Yahiko drowning in the river, caught in a battle, or something like that...

"After ugly ran down the street screaming like a maniac and woke everyone up, I had to appologize to practically everyone in town! I was wet, tired, cold, and hungry, and you guys sat here laughing and having a great time!!! I'm goin to bed, good night!"

The group watched him storm off to bed and exchanged smiles after he slammed the door closed. Shortly after Kaoru went off to bed, Sanosuke and Kenshin sat alone chatting quietly into the night.

"You know Sano, you never did finish your story..."

Sanosuke smiled and shook his head,

"The thing about you Kenshin, is you never cease to amaze me... yes there is more to tell."

Kenshin sipped the sake softly as Sano guzzled a jug easily.

"...Such as how the Zanbatou became yours, and how you learned the skills necissary to use such an unconventional weapon."

He nodded as he wiped his mouth with his sleave casually.

"Nothing gets past you Kenshin... alright, I'll finish it, but tomorrow okay?"

The Rurouni nodded with a gentle smile and finished his drink and went off to his room.

"Sleep well Sano..."

"Yeah, you too Kenshin"

Yet Sanosuke knew that he wouldn't get much sleep tonight or he would be plagued with dreams from the past. Dreams of that day so long ago. He stayed awake for as long as he could, but even with his great stamina and strength, he drifted. Sano struggled to remain concious but in the end he gave out and fell softly into a deep sleep...

...but the dreams came anyway.

...

TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 5!