What's Wrong With Sunny Days?
When Sanosuke, Kaoru, and Yahiko reached Momijin village several days later it wasn't raining anymore. But it wasn't bright and sunny either, thank the gods.
"Small village," Yahiko said as they entered.
"It's not even on the maps," Sanosuke told him. "It's existed less than ten years and was founded when my master and some of her buddies got tired of living a life on the streets of Tokyo."
"Is you master the founder?" Yahiko asked.
"No."
"He husband?"
"She killed him before she left Tokyo."
"Who is the founder then?"
"I don't know. Does it matter?" He swung his bag down to his side so that it didn't obstruct anyone's view of the character on his back. Some of the people here knew him only by the wicked 'Aku' character that he wore, and he wanted to be recognized now.
"Sanosuke!" a girl around his age with long black hair hanging loose ran up to Sanosuke and flung herself on him.
"Mitsuko," Sanosuke detatched himself from her as quickly as he could. "Hello."
"I'm so glad you're back," beautiful Mitsuko gushed, grabbing onto his hand. "Master Miratomo has gotten worse. We were all worried that you wouldn't make it back in time."
"I'm here now," Sanosuke told her. "Where is she?"
"At Old Lady Kiku's place," Mitsuko wrapped one hand around his forearm and the other around his bicep. "It's so good to have you back-"
Sanosuke slipped his arm easily from her grasp. "I'm going to see her now," he told Mitsuko, apathetically. "Come with me," he said to Kaoru and Yahiko.
"Of course I'll come with you," Mitsuko reached out for his forearm again. Damn that girl! Sanosuke glanced back, then grabbed Yahiko and thrust him into the space between himself and the woman who kept trying to put her lily pale, uncallused, lazy hands on him. "Who are these people, Sanosuke?" Mitsuko asked. She didn't look at Yahiko who was right beside her, but to the other side of Sanosuke where Kaoru was standing.
"Friends," Sanosuke told Mitsuko. "Very good friends."
"Ah," Mitsuko stared coldly at Kaoru the whole way to the run down house that Sanosuke led his friends to.
Sanosuke rapped loudly three times on the frame of the sliding doors, then opened it and stepped right on in. "Kiku? Master?"
A hunched over old lady appeared, leaning on a cane. She smiled when she saw Sanosuke and beckoned him to follow her. "We were starting to worry that you wouldn't make it in time, Zanza," she told him.
"You should have more faith in me, Kiku," Sanosuke told the old woman. "How is she doing?"
"Not good I'm afraid," Kiku said sadly. "There's no doubt that she's dying. If she's gone tomorrow I wouldn't be surprised. But it'll do her good to see her prized pupil in such good health- and company." Kiku brightened and beckoned to the travelers again. "You don't need to come, Mitsuko. I'm sure you have other things to do. I'll take care of Zanza and his companions."
"Oh, it really wouldn't be any trouble-" Mitsuko started.
"Get lost," Kiku snapped, her eyes narrowing. Mitsuko hurried from the house. "This way," Kiku said, smiling at Sanosuke, looking once more like a kind, frail old woman. She led them to a side room that was dimly lit. There was a rolled out bed on the floor where someone was laying. "Go on," Kiku told them.
"Do you want to see her alone, Sanosuke?" Kaoru asked. Sanosuke nodded. "We'll wait right here then."
Sanosuke went into the room. "Master?" he asked softly as he approached her bed.
"Sanosuke?" Tetsuko Miratomo asked weakly. Her voice sounded hoarse. Not a good sign- but Sanosuke had known that his master wasn't in good condition before he made the trip.
"I'm here, Master," he said, sitting down beside her and frowning. He didn't like seeing his master like this. Even though she had been old and gray haired as long as he'd known her, he remembered her as being strong and lively, not sick and bed ridden. She was the only other person that he knew of who could use a zanbato- hell, she had taught him how to use the damn thing. Seeing his master like this-
"Stop looking at me like that, damn you," Tetsuko spat.
Sanosuke had to smile at that. "Still as sweet as always, I see."
"I'm determined to be a nasty, mean spirited bitch until the day I die," Tetsuko told him, her voice raspy. "It looks as though I don't have much longer to go- and don't start protesting that that's not true!"
"I wasn't going to, old woman," Sanosuke told her.
"And don't call me old, you impudent scamp!" Tetsuko snapped.
"But you are an old woman," Sanosuke teased, knowing that she'd like it better if he treated her like he always had rather than acting like she was a breath away from dying.
"And you're a young man now," Tetsuko grinned up at Sanosuke. She had bad teeth, but they only added to her character. "You should be married. I believe I heard a young woman speaking outside my door- one who wasn't that lily-livered, pampered brat child whose been wanting to jump your bones since you were twelve."
"You did," Sanosuke smiled. "Her name is Kaoru Kamiya."
"Your wife?" Tetsuko's eyes gleamed.
"A friend," Sanosuke said.
"You lover," Tetsuko corrected.
"No, only a friend."
"But a good friend," Tetsuko persisted.
Sanosuke nodded. "We are good friends."
"I see," Tetsuko grinned mercilessly. "You two must name your first daughter after me."
"Master," Sanosuke slapped one hand to his forehead. "We're not that kind of friends."
"Why not? Is she ugly?" Tetsuko asked.
"No."
"Is she a wus?"
"Definately not."
"Are her teeth as rotted as mine are?"
"Nope."
"Ah, I see," Tetsuko shook her head slowly, her joints creaking as she did so. "So that's why you don't like her."
"Master. . ." It was Sanosuke's turn to shake his head.
"Bring her on in. I want to get a look at my star student's fiance before I die."
"She's not my fiance," Sanosuke said seriously. "She's in love with another man." Sanosuke frowned as he said this and felt a tightness in the back of his throat. Why? It wasn't as if he was in love with Kaoru as well. She was Kenshin's woman- Kenshin's woman who he'd left behind, but still Kenshin's woman. And Kenshin was a buddy. Sanosuke never looked at his buddies' women and wasn't going to start now.
"Did this other man journey with you?" Tetsuko asked, sharply.
"No-"
"Well where is he then?!" she demanded.
"He's gone to Kyoto," Sanosuke responded.
"Without his woman? Is he mad then?"
"Not mad," Sanosuke said. "He had important business to attend to. It would have been dangerous if she had gone with him, so he left her behind."
"And you've been taking care of her?" Tetsuko's smirk was of pure mischief.
"Don't start thinking along those lines, old woman," Sanosuke warned his master. "You'll bust a blood vessel."
"I would see this woman," Tetsuko decided. "Summon her in, Zanza."
"Master!"
"Now," Tetsuko ordered.
Sanosuke stood and walked to the door to get Kaoru and Yahiko. He brought them both into the room. "Kaoru, Yahiko, this is my master, Tetsuko Miratomo. Master, these are my friends Kaoru Kashin and Yahiko Miyojin." Kaoru and Yahiko bowed low to show their respect.
"I see," Tetsuko looked at Yahiko for a moment. "Miyojin, you say? I've heard of samurai with that name."
"My ancestors," Yahiko told her.
"I see. And you, girl, are a friend of Zanza's?"
"Yes," Kaoru responded, glancing at Sanosuke a little oddly.
"He needs a wife you know," Tetsuko told Kaoru. Sanosuke scowled at his master. "He's around the right age to be settling down and marrying, and raise himself a Zanza junior. I'd like to see him at least engaged before I pass on."
"Master," Sanosuke said through grated teeth as Kaoru blushed.
"Master Miratomo," Kaoru said, all seriousness, "if you pass on before Sanosuke finds himself a fiance, I promise you that I will make sure he finds himself a good wife in your stead."
Oh well done, Kaoru, Sanosuke thought, grinning.
Tetsuko laughed and shook her head. "I like you, girl," the old woman chuckled. "If you ever want to marry my little Zanza here, you have my blessings. If not, any woman you approve of for him has my blessings as well. You hear that, Zanza? When I'm gone you are to ask this girl here permission to marry."
Sanosuke rolled his eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me, boy!" Tetsuko roared. "I'm serious! How else will I die with peace of mind? I have to know that the punk-child who's been like a son to me will be married to a nice girl."
"I hear you, Master," Sanosuke said.
"Good. Now all three of you get out. I want to get some sleep."
The three didn't dare disobey the old woman's orders.
"Your master is an interesting woman," Kaoru told Sanosuke once they were on the street once more.
"Not quite what you expected, huh?" Sanosuke grinned wryly.
"She's as crazy as you are, Sano," Yahiko remarked.
"I'll take that as a compliment directed toward both of us," Sanosuke said, voice sharp.
"Whatever floats your boat," Yahiko said with a shrug.
"Who's that girl who met us when we first got here?" Kaoru asked.
"Yeah, the one who was hanging all over you?" Yahiko snickered.
"That was Mitsuko," Sanosuke scowled at the reminder.
"But who is she?" Kaoru persisted.
"Who is she to you?" Yahiko added.
"She's an annoying little wench whose greatest aspiration in this life is to be a whore," Sanosuke spat.
"You don't like her," Kaoru said. It wasn't a question.
"The girl can't work. She let her looks go to her head and won't do anything that might raise calluses on her whimpy hands."
"But she likes you," Kaoru stated.
"She might," Sanosuke admitted. "Then again, she might just think I have money and that I'd pay to get with a slut like her, though she'd be wrong."
Kaoru seemed to relax at that. Why? Sanosuke wondered, then decided that Kaoru was probably just worried that he'd be a bad influence on Yahiko.
"Come on," Sanosuke told his friends. "We can stay at my master's house. She won't mind if we're there."
Sanosuke went back to Kiku's place that night to sit up with his master that night. Kaoru knew that he planned to stay the whole night with her, but some time after midnight, she woke up and heard his unmistakable heavy steps on the mats. Guessing what this meant, Kaoru got out of bed and went into the front room where she found Sanosuke pacing.
"Sanosuke?" Kaoru asked softly.
Sanosuke stopped pacing but didn't turn toward Kaoru. "She's dead," he said, his voice even softer than Kaoru's.
"I'm sorry," Kaoru took a few steps forward.
"Don't be. It was her time."
"Are you alright?" She had to ask.
"Of course," Sanosuke's voice cracked and he turned his back to Kaoru.
Kaoru thought she knew why. "It's very dark in here," she told Sanosuke.
He turned toward her again and knelt on the mats. Kaoru walked slowly over to him and saw a glint of wetness on his face. She knew better than to say anything about it, however, or even pretend that she saw it. "When I was about eight, I ran away from home to join the Sekihotai under Sozo Sagara. I don't remember my father- well I can just see his face in my mind if I try hard enough, but it's always like I see him shadowed. Do you know what I mean?"
"I do," Kaoru knelt beside him, close enough to be company, but not too close to make Sanosuke uncomfortable.
"I remember my mother more, but still not very well. It seems that I respected Sagara more than my parents because I ran away to fight with him," Sanosuke laughed bitterly. "I don't even remember my real surname.
"When the Sekihotai was massacred, I tried to save Sagara. He'd been shot and could barely move. The few other men who'd escaped with us sacraficed their lives to give me the chance to save Sagara. We reached this ledge that dropped into a river. . ."
Kaoru had heard this story before, but a watered down version of it that wouldn't give Suzume nightmares. She remained silent as Sanosuke retold his tale to her.
"Sagara told me to leave him and run. He knew that I wasn't the one that the government was after. I was just a kid after all. But I tried to stay with Sagara. He wouldn't let me stay with him. He picked me up, even though he was bleeding from half a dozen bullet wounds, and threw me off the cliff. I saw him get shot as I fell.
"Tetsuko found me suffering from hypothermia the next day. It was in the middle of winter, and I had been dunked in the water then laying on the river bank half the night. She took me to the city and helped me recover," Sanosuke smiled vaguely at the meamory. "She wouldn't let me sink in self pity. She always told me that if I started to fall in that well, she'd drag me out by my hair. I hated her for it at first- this annoying old bat who as constantly badgering me, insulting me, and yelling at me. All I wanted to do was curl up and die. Tetsuko wouldn't let me. She made me so mad. . . But she made me better. It wasn't long at all before I was able to get up and do the things I'd always done. But there was still all this anger inside of me." Sanosuke sighed. "Tetsuko was into gangs at that time, and as her student I got involved in gangs too. I didn't indulge in the cold blooded murder that most gangsters did. I remembered my Sekihotai training, which had ground a lot of principles into my head- protecting the weak, upholding justice, and so on. Not exactly the kind of stuff you expect from a gangster, huh?"
"I guess not," Kaoru agreed.
"I got into a lot of fights though- fighting helped me forget my anger. Tetsuko and some of the other people in her gang taught me to fist fight- street fighting's probably a better term for it. But Tetsuko taught me to use the zanbato-"
"Tetsuko taught you the zanbato?!" Kaoru demanded incredulously.
"You wouldn't think that a woman would be able to pick up something that heavy, let alone swing it around like a ribbon, would you?" Sanosuke's smile was tainted with saddness. "But now she's gone."
"She wouldn't want you moping around," Kaoru told Sanosuke.
"I know," Sanosuke responded. "So I'm not going to. But. . . nevermind."
Kaoru leaned over and lightly touched Sanosuke's shoulder. "I'm here if you need me," Kaoru said softly.
They sat in silence for a long time after that. Kaoru wondered if Sanosuke had fallen asleep- she knew that she was getting ready to do so herself. The sun had just started to rise and Kaoru was starting to nod off when she heard Sanosuke speak again. "Look's like it's going to be another gloomy day," he said.
"It does," Kaoru agreed, sleepily.
"Thank the gods," Sanosuke muttered.
"Huh? You don't want it to be a nice day?"
"I can't stand nice days when someone I care about has just passed on," Sanosuke told her. "It's better that it's gloomy and the weather reflects what I feel inside but don't want to let show."
"I see," Kaoru rubbed her eyes and sat up straigher. "My father once told me that we have gloomy days so that we can appreciate the sunny ones."
Sanosuke considered what she said for a moment. "I'll look forward to sunny days then," he told her at last. "But for this bad day, at least, I'm glad that the weather's not bright and sunny."
When Sanosuke, Kaoru, and Yahiko reached Momijin village several days later it wasn't raining anymore. But it wasn't bright and sunny either, thank the gods.
"Small village," Yahiko said as they entered.
"It's not even on the maps," Sanosuke told him. "It's existed less than ten years and was founded when my master and some of her buddies got tired of living a life on the streets of Tokyo."
"Is you master the founder?" Yahiko asked.
"No."
"He husband?"
"She killed him before she left Tokyo."
"Who is the founder then?"
"I don't know. Does it matter?" He swung his bag down to his side so that it didn't obstruct anyone's view of the character on his back. Some of the people here knew him only by the wicked 'Aku' character that he wore, and he wanted to be recognized now.
"Sanosuke!" a girl around his age with long black hair hanging loose ran up to Sanosuke and flung herself on him.
"Mitsuko," Sanosuke detatched himself from her as quickly as he could. "Hello."
"I'm so glad you're back," beautiful Mitsuko gushed, grabbing onto his hand. "Master Miratomo has gotten worse. We were all worried that you wouldn't make it back in time."
"I'm here now," Sanosuke told her. "Where is she?"
"At Old Lady Kiku's place," Mitsuko wrapped one hand around his forearm and the other around his bicep. "It's so good to have you back-"
Sanosuke slipped his arm easily from her grasp. "I'm going to see her now," he told Mitsuko, apathetically. "Come with me," he said to Kaoru and Yahiko.
"Of course I'll come with you," Mitsuko reached out for his forearm again. Damn that girl! Sanosuke glanced back, then grabbed Yahiko and thrust him into the space between himself and the woman who kept trying to put her lily pale, uncallused, lazy hands on him. "Who are these people, Sanosuke?" Mitsuko asked. She didn't look at Yahiko who was right beside her, but to the other side of Sanosuke where Kaoru was standing.
"Friends," Sanosuke told Mitsuko. "Very good friends."
"Ah," Mitsuko stared coldly at Kaoru the whole way to the run down house that Sanosuke led his friends to.
Sanosuke rapped loudly three times on the frame of the sliding doors, then opened it and stepped right on in. "Kiku? Master?"
A hunched over old lady appeared, leaning on a cane. She smiled when she saw Sanosuke and beckoned him to follow her. "We were starting to worry that you wouldn't make it in time, Zanza," she told him.
"You should have more faith in me, Kiku," Sanosuke told the old woman. "How is she doing?"
"Not good I'm afraid," Kiku said sadly. "There's no doubt that she's dying. If she's gone tomorrow I wouldn't be surprised. But it'll do her good to see her prized pupil in such good health- and company." Kiku brightened and beckoned to the travelers again. "You don't need to come, Mitsuko. I'm sure you have other things to do. I'll take care of Zanza and his companions."
"Oh, it really wouldn't be any trouble-" Mitsuko started.
"Get lost," Kiku snapped, her eyes narrowing. Mitsuko hurried from the house. "This way," Kiku said, smiling at Sanosuke, looking once more like a kind, frail old woman. She led them to a side room that was dimly lit. There was a rolled out bed on the floor where someone was laying. "Go on," Kiku told them.
"Do you want to see her alone, Sanosuke?" Kaoru asked. Sanosuke nodded. "We'll wait right here then."
Sanosuke went into the room. "Master?" he asked softly as he approached her bed.
"Sanosuke?" Tetsuko Miratomo asked weakly. Her voice sounded hoarse. Not a good sign- but Sanosuke had known that his master wasn't in good condition before he made the trip.
"I'm here, Master," he said, sitting down beside her and frowning. He didn't like seeing his master like this. Even though she had been old and gray haired as long as he'd known her, he remembered her as being strong and lively, not sick and bed ridden. She was the only other person that he knew of who could use a zanbato- hell, she had taught him how to use the damn thing. Seeing his master like this-
"Stop looking at me like that, damn you," Tetsuko spat.
Sanosuke had to smile at that. "Still as sweet as always, I see."
"I'm determined to be a nasty, mean spirited bitch until the day I die," Tetsuko told him, her voice raspy. "It looks as though I don't have much longer to go- and don't start protesting that that's not true!"
"I wasn't going to, old woman," Sanosuke told her.
"And don't call me old, you impudent scamp!" Tetsuko snapped.
"But you are an old woman," Sanosuke teased, knowing that she'd like it better if he treated her like he always had rather than acting like she was a breath away from dying.
"And you're a young man now," Tetsuko grinned up at Sanosuke. She had bad teeth, but they only added to her character. "You should be married. I believe I heard a young woman speaking outside my door- one who wasn't that lily-livered, pampered brat child whose been wanting to jump your bones since you were twelve."
"You did," Sanosuke smiled. "Her name is Kaoru Kamiya."
"Your wife?" Tetsuko's eyes gleamed.
"A friend," Sanosuke said.
"You lover," Tetsuko corrected.
"No, only a friend."
"But a good friend," Tetsuko persisted.
Sanosuke nodded. "We are good friends."
"I see," Tetsuko grinned mercilessly. "You two must name your first daughter after me."
"Master," Sanosuke slapped one hand to his forehead. "We're not that kind of friends."
"Why not? Is she ugly?" Tetsuko asked.
"No."
"Is she a wus?"
"Definately not."
"Are her teeth as rotted as mine are?"
"Nope."
"Ah, I see," Tetsuko shook her head slowly, her joints creaking as she did so. "So that's why you don't like her."
"Master. . ." It was Sanosuke's turn to shake his head.
"Bring her on in. I want to get a look at my star student's fiance before I die."
"She's not my fiance," Sanosuke said seriously. "She's in love with another man." Sanosuke frowned as he said this and felt a tightness in the back of his throat. Why? It wasn't as if he was in love with Kaoru as well. She was Kenshin's woman- Kenshin's woman who he'd left behind, but still Kenshin's woman. And Kenshin was a buddy. Sanosuke never looked at his buddies' women and wasn't going to start now.
"Did this other man journey with you?" Tetsuko asked, sharply.
"No-"
"Well where is he then?!" she demanded.
"He's gone to Kyoto," Sanosuke responded.
"Without his woman? Is he mad then?"
"Not mad," Sanosuke said. "He had important business to attend to. It would have been dangerous if she had gone with him, so he left her behind."
"And you've been taking care of her?" Tetsuko's smirk was of pure mischief.
"Don't start thinking along those lines, old woman," Sanosuke warned his master. "You'll bust a blood vessel."
"I would see this woman," Tetsuko decided. "Summon her in, Zanza."
"Master!"
"Now," Tetsuko ordered.
Sanosuke stood and walked to the door to get Kaoru and Yahiko. He brought them both into the room. "Kaoru, Yahiko, this is my master, Tetsuko Miratomo. Master, these are my friends Kaoru Kashin and Yahiko Miyojin." Kaoru and Yahiko bowed low to show their respect.
"I see," Tetsuko looked at Yahiko for a moment. "Miyojin, you say? I've heard of samurai with that name."
"My ancestors," Yahiko told her.
"I see. And you, girl, are a friend of Zanza's?"
"Yes," Kaoru responded, glancing at Sanosuke a little oddly.
"He needs a wife you know," Tetsuko told Kaoru. Sanosuke scowled at his master. "He's around the right age to be settling down and marrying, and raise himself a Zanza junior. I'd like to see him at least engaged before I pass on."
"Master," Sanosuke said through grated teeth as Kaoru blushed.
"Master Miratomo," Kaoru said, all seriousness, "if you pass on before Sanosuke finds himself a fiance, I promise you that I will make sure he finds himself a good wife in your stead."
Oh well done, Kaoru, Sanosuke thought, grinning.
Tetsuko laughed and shook her head. "I like you, girl," the old woman chuckled. "If you ever want to marry my little Zanza here, you have my blessings. If not, any woman you approve of for him has my blessings as well. You hear that, Zanza? When I'm gone you are to ask this girl here permission to marry."
Sanosuke rolled his eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me, boy!" Tetsuko roared. "I'm serious! How else will I die with peace of mind? I have to know that the punk-child who's been like a son to me will be married to a nice girl."
"I hear you, Master," Sanosuke said.
"Good. Now all three of you get out. I want to get some sleep."
The three didn't dare disobey the old woman's orders.
"Your master is an interesting woman," Kaoru told Sanosuke once they were on the street once more.
"Not quite what you expected, huh?" Sanosuke grinned wryly.
"She's as crazy as you are, Sano," Yahiko remarked.
"I'll take that as a compliment directed toward both of us," Sanosuke said, voice sharp.
"Whatever floats your boat," Yahiko said with a shrug.
"Who's that girl who met us when we first got here?" Kaoru asked.
"Yeah, the one who was hanging all over you?" Yahiko snickered.
"That was Mitsuko," Sanosuke scowled at the reminder.
"But who is she?" Kaoru persisted.
"Who is she to you?" Yahiko added.
"She's an annoying little wench whose greatest aspiration in this life is to be a whore," Sanosuke spat.
"You don't like her," Kaoru said. It wasn't a question.
"The girl can't work. She let her looks go to her head and won't do anything that might raise calluses on her whimpy hands."
"But she likes you," Kaoru stated.
"She might," Sanosuke admitted. "Then again, she might just think I have money and that I'd pay to get with a slut like her, though she'd be wrong."
Kaoru seemed to relax at that. Why? Sanosuke wondered, then decided that Kaoru was probably just worried that he'd be a bad influence on Yahiko.
"Come on," Sanosuke told his friends. "We can stay at my master's house. She won't mind if we're there."
Sanosuke went back to Kiku's place that night to sit up with his master that night. Kaoru knew that he planned to stay the whole night with her, but some time after midnight, she woke up and heard his unmistakable heavy steps on the mats. Guessing what this meant, Kaoru got out of bed and went into the front room where she found Sanosuke pacing.
"Sanosuke?" Kaoru asked softly.
Sanosuke stopped pacing but didn't turn toward Kaoru. "She's dead," he said, his voice even softer than Kaoru's.
"I'm sorry," Kaoru took a few steps forward.
"Don't be. It was her time."
"Are you alright?" She had to ask.
"Of course," Sanosuke's voice cracked and he turned his back to Kaoru.
Kaoru thought she knew why. "It's very dark in here," she told Sanosuke.
He turned toward her again and knelt on the mats. Kaoru walked slowly over to him and saw a glint of wetness on his face. She knew better than to say anything about it, however, or even pretend that she saw it. "When I was about eight, I ran away from home to join the Sekihotai under Sozo Sagara. I don't remember my father- well I can just see his face in my mind if I try hard enough, but it's always like I see him shadowed. Do you know what I mean?"
"I do," Kaoru knelt beside him, close enough to be company, but not too close to make Sanosuke uncomfortable.
"I remember my mother more, but still not very well. It seems that I respected Sagara more than my parents because I ran away to fight with him," Sanosuke laughed bitterly. "I don't even remember my real surname.
"When the Sekihotai was massacred, I tried to save Sagara. He'd been shot and could barely move. The few other men who'd escaped with us sacraficed their lives to give me the chance to save Sagara. We reached this ledge that dropped into a river. . ."
Kaoru had heard this story before, but a watered down version of it that wouldn't give Suzume nightmares. She remained silent as Sanosuke retold his tale to her.
"Sagara told me to leave him and run. He knew that I wasn't the one that the government was after. I was just a kid after all. But I tried to stay with Sagara. He wouldn't let me stay with him. He picked me up, even though he was bleeding from half a dozen bullet wounds, and threw me off the cliff. I saw him get shot as I fell.
"Tetsuko found me suffering from hypothermia the next day. It was in the middle of winter, and I had been dunked in the water then laying on the river bank half the night. She took me to the city and helped me recover," Sanosuke smiled vaguely at the meamory. "She wouldn't let me sink in self pity. She always told me that if I started to fall in that well, she'd drag me out by my hair. I hated her for it at first- this annoying old bat who as constantly badgering me, insulting me, and yelling at me. All I wanted to do was curl up and die. Tetsuko wouldn't let me. She made me so mad. . . But she made me better. It wasn't long at all before I was able to get up and do the things I'd always done. But there was still all this anger inside of me." Sanosuke sighed. "Tetsuko was into gangs at that time, and as her student I got involved in gangs too. I didn't indulge in the cold blooded murder that most gangsters did. I remembered my Sekihotai training, which had ground a lot of principles into my head- protecting the weak, upholding justice, and so on. Not exactly the kind of stuff you expect from a gangster, huh?"
"I guess not," Kaoru agreed.
"I got into a lot of fights though- fighting helped me forget my anger. Tetsuko and some of the other people in her gang taught me to fist fight- street fighting's probably a better term for it. But Tetsuko taught me to use the zanbato-"
"Tetsuko taught you the zanbato?!" Kaoru demanded incredulously.
"You wouldn't think that a woman would be able to pick up something that heavy, let alone swing it around like a ribbon, would you?" Sanosuke's smile was tainted with saddness. "But now she's gone."
"She wouldn't want you moping around," Kaoru told Sanosuke.
"I know," Sanosuke responded. "So I'm not going to. But. . . nevermind."
Kaoru leaned over and lightly touched Sanosuke's shoulder. "I'm here if you need me," Kaoru said softly.
They sat in silence for a long time after that. Kaoru wondered if Sanosuke had fallen asleep- she knew that she was getting ready to do so herself. The sun had just started to rise and Kaoru was starting to nod off when she heard Sanosuke speak again. "Look's like it's going to be another gloomy day," he said.
"It does," Kaoru agreed, sleepily.
"Thank the gods," Sanosuke muttered.
"Huh? You don't want it to be a nice day?"
"I can't stand nice days when someone I care about has just passed on," Sanosuke told her. "It's better that it's gloomy and the weather reflects what I feel inside but don't want to let show."
"I see," Kaoru rubbed her eyes and sat up straigher. "My father once told me that we have gloomy days so that we can appreciate the sunny ones."
Sanosuke considered what she said for a moment. "I'll look forward to sunny days then," he told her at last. "But for this bad day, at least, I'm glad that the weather's not bright and sunny."