Hi Everyone! Thanks for the great reviews, I am so glad you like it! I know, poor Sano barely survived the last chapter, but it will get better for him, honest! (Don't look at me like that! I really, really mean it!) Okay, so you know me too well already.

Gypsy-Chan: Your welcome for the laundry part. (Looks innocent)

Prudence-Chan: Hehe, sorry, but no Band-Aid on earth is going to be enough to help Sano. ^_^

Susan: Part of what makes the story funny to ME are the strange things that pop into my mind while writing it, and it just wouldn't be fair if I didn't share them with you, LOL! So I am glad you enjoy that!

And yes, Sister Weasel, you were the 100th reviewer. YAY! Over 100 reviews! I realize there are not a lot of humor stories that get over 100 reviews, especially with so few chapters. ^_^ I never thought I would write something so popular! I am sooooo happy I could hit Sano! I hope there are more where those came from! The more reviews I get, the more brain fuel for funny ideas.

(Gets up and passes out chocolate to everyone who reviewed) People who have just had chocolate can find almost anything funny. Hehe!

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, just Sano's bruises. Although I'd rather own Kenshin! ;-)



The Morning After

Chapter 8



Everything was dark. Dark and painful. Try as he might, he couldn't seem to break free from the darkness. He could feel his body, but couldn't seem to move anything. With one last, major effort, he finally managed to open one of his eyes, but even that was excruciating. He saw a wooden ceiling, clouded by a haze of bright stars. Stars? Indoors?

With a muttered oath, he squeezed his eye shut and then opened them both, finding his vision to be a little clearer. MUCH better! Now he surveyed his surroundings. Where was he? More importantly, WHO was he? He couldn't remember a thing! He finally managed to gain control of his body and sat up. Looking around, he spotted a bucket of water and looked into it. {Well, whoever I am, at least I am good looking. A little scruffy perhaps, but nothing that can't be fixed.}

Sniffing the air, he wrinkled his nose. {And what is that horrible smell? Its…its…ME! How uncouth! I must have been knocked out a really long time cause that is the only way I would ever let myself get so disgusting!} Making a face, he managed by sheer force of will to get on his feet. He didn't know where he was, but surely someone would let him take a bath! He didn't think he could stand his own company anymore.

Spotting a door, he slid it open and found it led outside. Squinting against the fading sunlight, he made out three figures standing around and talking. Pulling himself together, he approached them. Noticing him, the three stopped talking and turned towards him.

"Good evening! Who knew I would be so fortunate as to have the company of three very lovely ladies after my little nap! If one of you would be so kind, could you assist me in getting a bath? I just can't stand to be dirty you know." All three of the "ladies" just stood and stared. Especially the red haired one with the scars!

*Sweat drop* "Sa-Sano?" Kenshin stuttered. Looking horrified, he backed up a few paces and hid behind Kaoru. "Have you lost your mind de gozaru?"

"I am sorry." Sano apologized. "I guess you are a little shy. I know I shouldn't be so forward with women. Where are my manners?" Shaking his head, he turns to what is in his opinion, the most beautiful of the group, Megumi. No fox ears have popped up yet, so you can see why he still thinks that. "If you would be so kind, do you think I could have a bath? I wouldn't want to offend someone as beautiful as you are with my stench."

Megumi was amazed. She didn't know what happened to Sano, but it was for the better! With an amused expression, she pointed the way to the bath and got it across that she would follow shortly. Being polite, he took his leave of a stunned Kaoru and terrified Kenshin, and left. Megumi had some last parting words, fox ears and all. "Oh hohohoho! Even as a gentleman, he will still hit on anything with too legs! Especially if they are a shapely as yours, Ken-san! Oh hohohoho…"

"What just happened?" Asked Kaoru to herself more than Kenshin after Megumi left. "Sano has manners? And better grooming habits? What have we done to him? Is this some kind of sick joke?" Frustrated and confused, she failed to notice Kenshin. He was slumped on the ground, staring at nothing.

Finally, she did take note of him muttering something to himself. Leaning down, she heard. "My pride as a man has been ruined de gozaru ca." She got down on the ground and gave him a hug. "Don't feel that way Kenshin. I mean, it's not the first time someone has mistaken you for a girl. The author's brother-in-law thought you were a girl the first time he saw you."

Kenshin looked up, feeling even worse now. "Where did you learn how to comfort people de gozaru yo?" Kaoru finally saw her mistake and quickly tried to recover. "Never mind that! I am the only one that really matters, right? And I don't care if you do look like a girl, as long as you are not as pretty as I am. You can cook better than me, but you aren't going to look better than me!"

With that she grabbed Kenshin by his collar and headed for home. She figured now that Sano has had a personality transplant, he could win over Megumi on his own. And she also remembered that she and Kenshin had neglected Misao, Aoshi, and Yahiko all day long! Some hosts they were!

With a purposeful step, she headed for home, dragging the still depressed Kenshin behind her. He was very morose and thinking that no real man like Sano or even Saitou would act like him. He was a lost cause. Kenshin was so deep in his misery, he didn't hear what Kaoru heard. Passing one house, she would have sworn she heard a familiar voice. Deciding to look for herself, she went behind the house and into the yard, Kenshin's gi still clutched in her fist.

"SAITOU!" Kaoru shrieked. That got Kenshin's attention and he leapt to his feet, only to fall over again at what he saw. Saitou, the man's man of Japan, was bent over a laundry tub. True to his nature though, he still had on his gloves and long sleeves, both soaking wet, and a very soggy, limp cigarette clutched between his teeth. Children were everywhere, laughing and playing and pulling on his clothes, and Tokio was happily sweeping the porch. It was like something out of the twilight zone to Kenshin and Kaoru.

Saitou just glared at them with his evil eyes. "Are these ALL your kids?" Asked a flabbergasted Kaoru. Tokio answered. "No, some of them are neighbor's children, some are ours, and some are adopted. But they all love it here. Children just aren't afraid of him anymore since you beat him up. Would you two like to say for dinner? It's his turn to cook tonight."

Kenshin jumped to his feet and grabbed Kaoru's arm. "No thank you! We have guests waiting for us at home and have to be going do gozaru!" With that he took off, this time dragging Kaoru. He wanted to get out of there in a hurry. The way Saitou had been looking at them, any food he cooked was sure to be poisoned. Although now he did feel better! He might do laundry and cook and take care of kids, but at least he wasn't a jerk who could cook, do laundry, and take care of kids! The world looked much brighter now!

* * * *

Back at Dr. Genzai's home, we find a clean Sano and a very enchanted Megumi eating dinner with old doctor and the two little girls. Dr. Genzai was fascinated with the memory loss, but the girls wanted their old Sano back. This one was just too weird. Later, when they were alone with their grandfather, they demanded to know what had happened to him.

"Well," mused the old doctor. "When he was hit on the head really hard, it seems he lost his memory, so now he isn't acting like himself. Either he will be able to remember on his own, or else he will remember if he gets hit on the head hard enough again."

The older girl understood, but the smaller one didn't. And you know children, when they want something bad enough, they are going to make it happen. Poor Sano!

* * * *

It was later that evening and Sano and Megumi were sitting under the stars on the roof. Megumi had never seen him so romantic! Not only the sky had stars that night, but her eyes as well. Things were really heating up, and they were only moments away from kissing! So it was a great annoyance to both when Ayame and Suzume managed to struggle up onto the roof. Sano stood up, planning to take them back down to the ground.

Running and squealing towards the now standing Sano, with all the power they could muster, they pushed him off the roof! He tumbled with a polite yell to the ground, hitting his head hard, just as the two little girls had hoped. Suzume knelt on the edge of the roof and giggled. "Sano fall down, go boom!"

Taking the little girls back with her, Megumi scrambled down and to Sano's side. He was barely conscious and trying to say something. She leaned in close and tried to listen. "Where…is…they money I asked for?" He then fell back unconscious before she could hit him herself.

Sighing, she knew she had her old Sano back. "Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. But I think I kind of like the defective model better anyway, as long as it gets a bath every now and then. At least this one doesn't hit on

Ken-san!" With another sigh, she drug the unconscious man inside and into bed, and then went to bed herself.

* * * *

It was the middle of the night, and Sano had finally woken up. He was excited, because he finally remembered what he wanted to ask Megumi! He had no memory of any of the events that day where he wasn't acting like himself. He knew it was too late to win the bet, be he didn't care about that anymore.

Moving silently into the hall, he looks at his choices of doors. If memory serves (Which is HASN'T lately! Kind of like his luck gambling I suppose…) her room was the second door on the left! Sliding open the door, he crept into the dark room. It was so dark he couldn't make out anything except the outline of the futon. But he could hear the quiet breathing of someone sleeping.

Settling down on the edge of the bed, he whispered. "Hey, you awake?" They stirred, and he didn't wait for them to respond before he plunged it. If he waited, he knew he'd lose his nerve. "Good! Listen, I really need to talk to you! You and I both know I don't treat you that well and we don't get along most of the time, but that doesn't mean I don't like you. To tell you the truth, I have feelings for you, and I was hoping maybe you had some for me too." He took another deep breath and kept going. "I was wondering if maybe we could try to get to know each other better. Maybe a date! What do you say?"

Wow. The most honest Sano has ever been with anyone before. How…sweet. -_-; He waited for her answer, holding his breath. The occupant of the bed sat up. "I am flattered you feel that way Sano-san, but I really don't think it is meant to be. We can just be friends." Answered an amused voice.

"AAAAGGGGHHHHH!!! DR. GENZAI!" Yelled a horrified Sano. Without pausing he ran, busting through the rice paper wall and crashing into someone standing outside.

"Get off of me you big jerk!" Cried a muffled female voice. He felt like he just wanted to die. If she was out here, then she must have heard everything! Backing off and helping her up, he waited for the fox ears and laughing, but they didn't come. Daring a look, he found her staring at him with a pointed look.

"It took you long enough you big ninny! I heard every word you said! Like you discovered with Ken-san and Kaoru-chan, VERY interesting things can be heard through rice paper walls!" She then grinned evilly. "I'm sorry he doesn't return your feelings, but I can console you, OH HOHOHOHO!" Pop! There go those fox ears again! But for once, Sano didn't mind at all…



Hehe! So what do you think? I decided I would leave it for you to decide what happens next, LOL! Maybe Dr. Genzai will get in on the action! Anyway, Gypsy-chan, that thing about laundry in the last chapter was just to throw you off! Did it work? I was planning on putting it in, but didn't have a good chance to do it in the last chapter. And Sister Weasel, you can tell Dave I talked about him in this chapter and told on him for thinking Kenshin was a GIRL! Shame on him!

Anyway, I dunno what I am gonna do next, maybe pick on Hiko or Yahiko or bring in Soujiro. Any opinions or ideas? Let me know! Even any other characters if you want someone else to appear. I am very flexible and my demented mind can work with almost anything. And I never write my chapters till the last minute, so your reviews will have a chance to be taken into consideration. Please review! I love them all, and they inspire insanity.