Izou Hen: The Legacy Arc

Summary: In Meiji 26 (1891), the remaining Kenshingumi members reunite again. Now that Kenshin and Kaoru are gone, it's up to them the mission of protecting Japan. S+M, Y+T, A+M, and 15-year-old Kenji-kun, of course. After-Seisou Hen, OVA spoilers ahead!

Author's notes: Thanks for reviewing, guys, that's so nice ^_^ About the Seisou Hen ending, yeah, I know Kenji sorta forgives his father in the end. I just liked the idea of keeping his grudge for a while. And also no Chizuru or whoever that chick was (oops, I'm spoiling it! ^_^'')

Disclaimers: Rurouni Kenshin © 1997 by Nobuhiro Watsuki.

III - Remember, then get over it

The Sun was already high in the sky; a nosy sunbeam came through the gap on the window, bothering the two lovers, trying to make them get up. Lazily rolling from left to right, Sano covered his eyes with his arm, but the light insisted on pestering him. The damned thing had succeeded on ruining his morning-after with the foxy lady by his side.

He noticed she'd moved her head, trying to go back to sleep as well. She laid on her belly with her arms up, her hands placed by both sides of her head. Her long, smooth strands spread over her back and arms in a black cascade. At her sides, his eyes followed the smooth curve of her breasts, which seemed to be slightly crushed due to her position; he was wondering if she wasn't feeling uncomfortable when she moved again, turning to him with her eyelids drowsily opened.

- ... hmm, hello - she said languidly, rubbing her eyes. - What time is it?

- 'Dunno - he answered, giving her a small kiss. - But it must be more than nine o'clock, for sure.

- Is it that late? Oh god, I've got to prepare breakfast! - she began to sit up, but he locked his arms around her waist, laughing.

- Nah, stay here, let that for Kens--

He stopped dead, realising his mistake. Taking a deep breath, he mumbled a near inaudible 'sorry'.

- ... It's ok. It's... usually like that in the beginning. Little by little, we'll get accustomed to their absence.

- Will we?

- ... Sooner or later, we'll have to - she whispered sadly. - Come on, we've got to get up.

Sano leaned against the wall right beside the shoji door, observing Megumi as she finished working on her intricate obi knot. The purple smock he'd grew accustomed with had apparently been discarded; whether permanently or just during her stay in Tokyo, he didn't know. Neither did he care for that, now that he discovered the joys of her kimono. It revealed a lot more than the smock, and enhanced her gracious, feminine figure. After one last glance at the big European mirror, she walked towards the door.

- Shall we go? - she said, already by the corridor.

- What about me? - he asked while she went into the kitchen, pulling the sleeves of her kimono up to her shoulders.

- What about you what? Go take a walk round the dojo. See if Kenji-kun is up. I don't know, make yourself useful somehow. - he heard her shout to him. Useful? Why not?, he thought. Let's see how much of that place my brain still registers.

The corridors, the rooms, the training hall, the gardens. He was able to remember basically everything. Here was where Yahiko had passed out due to the saké after that party; there was where he'd 'accidentally' found Kaoru's journal, and a few steps ahead was the spot where she'd beat the hell out of him and also of Yahiko, who didn't have anything to do with the whole event but happened to be passing by at that moment. On that other room was where Kenshin used to hide a certain piece of Kaoru's clothes, a secret only known by Sano - or at least that's what the ex-gangster believed. Each drawer, each crack on the walls had their stories. He soon concluded that the 'walk around the dojo' thing was making him nostalgic, so he decided to go looking for Kenshin's son.

It hasn't been a very hard quest, but the results somehow shocked him. Kenji was exactly where his father would have been: doing laundry. Unlike Kenshin, however, the redheaded teenager didn't seem very pleased with the idea. Actually, by the big scowl upon his face, he didn't seem pleased at all. The boy scrubbed the fabrics with so much force, it was amazing that the poor thing hadn't been ripped into pieces yet.

Sensing the other man's presence - due to his long training with master Hiko -, Kenji stopped with the 'clothslaughter' and looked up. Instead of Kenshin's warm smile, what Sano really got was a scary glare. Thankfully, in that exact moment they heard Yahiko's voice coming from the dojo gates.

- I'll answer it - Sano said, more to the air than to the boy, and went to take in the Myoujin couple.

- Good morning, Sano-san - Tsubame greeted with a small bow - How are you?

- Frightened - the man shuddered. - The brat is scary.

- What, but I just arrived here! - Yahiko complained.

- Not you, silly! You lost your title to that other lil' guy over there. - Sano murmured, waving his head to the backyard.

- Oh, I see. I guess he doesn't like you very much.

- 'Doesn't like'? He hates me!

- Don't worry about that, Sano-san. He only knows you from stories, that's why he's a bit unsure of how to act when you are around. - assured Tsubame. - And where is Megumi-san? - just as the words left her mouth, the lady doctor came out to the veranda.

- Oh, hello! - Megumi greeted. - You are right on time, I was just going to call them for breakfast. Come in, come in! Kenji-kun, aren't you coming?

The boy just growled something that sounded like 'later' and continued abusing the defenseless clothes.

Once inside, the group split. Megumi went back to the kitchen to pick up the food; Tsubame followed her to help. The men stayed at the main room.

- Now that the girls are out there, you're gonna open that stupid mouth of yours - Yahiko snarled between his teeth. - what's the deal with the French girls?

- Hey, hey, take it easy, man! Why all that despair now, huh? Isn't your little wife pleasing you? Hmm?? - Sano teased, poking the other on the ribs.

- Of course she is, but-- hey, why am I saying those things to you?!? That's none of your business!!!

- What's wrong, boys? - Tsubame came back, clueless.

- A-uh-nothing!!! - Yahiko stuttered.

- Forget about it, Tsubame-chan - Megumi chirped, placing a small platter full of rice balls on the short table. - They were probably talking about women. That's all men talk about when they get together, ohoho. Anyway, why don't you tell us the rest of your journey while we eat, Sano?

- Yeah, tell us about the girls already!

- Yahiko! - Tsubame frowned, her cheeks bright red with both anger and embarrassment. - How insensitive! You shouldn't ask about those things! At least not in front of me!!

- Bad, bad Yahiko! - Megumi chimed in. - Shame on you!

- You should have kept your mouth shut, Yahiko - Sano agreed, giving him a 'we can talk about that later on' wink. - But you don't need to feel menaced, girls. I assure you the Japanese ladies are much more charming than any other woman in the world. - he said, putting his arm around Megumi's waist for good measure. Yahiko didn't need another hint before putting his hand over his wife's and stroking it gently.

- I'm sorry, Tsubame-chan. I didn't mean it to hurt you. - at that, the young woman had to turn her head so that her husband wouldn't see her flushed cheeks.

- I'll shut my eyes to that small slip of yours, - she said, trying hard to sound cold - but don't do that again.

- Well... - Sano cut in - Now that everyone is happy and peaceful again, I'll go on with my story. I believe the ladies won't want me to talk about Paris, so I'll jump to--

The sound of steps interrupted his speech. Looking out to the veranda, the group found Kenji passing by the door, the sakabatou hanging at his left side.

- Hey, Kenji! - Yahiko called out. - Why don't you sit here with us? Sano was just going to start from where he stopped yesterday.

- I'm not interested in his stupid stories - the boy snapped, causing some gasps of surprise. - I'm gonna train, don't expect me to be around by lunch. Ah, - he glared at Sano and Megumi - could you guys please be less noisy tonight? I couldn't sleep at all yesterday, thanks to the little party you had. I don't want to know what you do when you are alone in the room.

- ... Oh, my!... How impolite of him. - after the boy had left, Tsubame commented, still quite perplexed by his revelations. - That's not the type of thing which should be said aloud, especially with other people nearby. That's, that's intimacy!

- See? - Yahiko whined. - His case is worse than mine, and you are not even half as mad.

- Don't try to use his mistake to minimize yours - she answered. - After all, we have to be understanding towards him. His parents passed away just two weeks ago, he must be suffering a lot--

- It's not enough a reason for him to be like that. I bet all of you are missing Kenshin and Jou-chan as well. I, for one, miss them like hell. That kid can't go like that, kicking everyone around just because he's having to face an awful situation. He'll have to stop being so spoiled. And if he doesn't get over it by himself, I'll make him - Sano roared, cracking his knuckles in anger. Megumi, noticing that, put her hand over his fist to calm him down.

- Relax, Sano. It's ok. I'll talk to Kenji later.

- ... Fine. But I'm telling ya, if he wasn't Kenshin's son, the lil' brat would be getting a nice spanking from me.

- Enough interruptions for today, ne? - Yahiko broke the tension. - Sano, what were you going to talk about now?

The room was silent. None of them had the courage to look up. Over the short, dark wooden table, the dishes had been empty for a good while by then. Sanosuke had spent all morning telling the others about the places he'd seen during his journey, the foods he'd eaten, the inns he'd slept in, the roads he'd taken. And also, the people he'd met on the way.

- ... After that... - Sano got back the strength to talk. - After that, I decided it was time to come back. It was very hard to sleep after that, because of all my worries with Kenshin's well-being. There were times when the tiredness would take over me, and when that happened I dreamt on the Kenshingumi, the people here at the dojo, our days as a family... I saw Kenshin's state and wondered how you guys were doing, if you were alright or in trouble. I thought about the dojo twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, so I came to the conclusion that the best thing to do then was to come here and see it myself. - he stopped for a second, taking a deep breath. - It's strange... I wanted to believe that the first people I'd find here in Japan were Kenshin and Jou-chan, but inside... inside, I guess I knew that had been the last time I've seen my friend alive.
Then... I got into a cargo ship, as a stowaway, of course. It anchored at Yokohama harbour. It took me a day or so to come to Tokyo by foot. From then, you know what happens.

Again, they fell silent. So silent, that they could hear the small breeze shaking the cherry tree leaves. Far away, a bird sang. After a few moments of that sorrowful stillness, though, Tsubame wasn't able to hold back her emotions and began to sob.

- Oh no no no, Tsubame-chan, don't cry - Sano whined, then told Yahiko on a harsh whisper, - What are you waiting for, give her a hug, you idiot! - , which was promptly obeyed.

- But it's hard not to cry after what you told us about Ken-san, Sano. I myself had a hard time trying to look tranquil... - Megumi said, and a small tear confirmed the information, rolling from her left eye. This time Yahiko was the one to scold Sano for him to hug his woman.

- Well, I admit it was a sad story, - Sano confessed, holding Megumi's head against his shoulder - but we have to go on, guys. Life continues, ne? I believe they don't want us to weep all day and all night over their gravestones. Let's remember the good moments we've had with them. Talking about good moments, I haven't seen Tae yet. How's the Akabeko?

- That's the Sano we know. Always thinking about food! - Yahiko teased, taking a rice bowl on the forehead for his remark. - The Akabeko is up and running as it's always been.

- And progressing! - Tsubame chimed in, full of proud. - We even have plans on buying the building next to it and making an expansion of the inn. We have added a lot of new dishes since the last time you've been there, Sano-san, you should try it!

- Tsubame-chan is happy like that because Tae had just made her a partner on the administration of the restaurant. - Megumi laughed. - But she's right, the Akabeko is a success. And some of those new recipes they have now are absolutely amazing!

- So, why don't we go there now? I've talked for the last two hours and a half. My throat is dry and I'm starving! Come on, it's lunch time already. - Sano cheered, getting up.

- I can't believe she's kept my debit all those years. And she kept the interest rates!

- Oh, don't look it that way, Sano-san - Tsubame told him with a laugh. - That money will be of great help. Now we can easily buy the neighbouring terrain and make our so dreamed expansion!

- Maybe, but that was all the money I had! - Sano moaned.

- Well, now that you have plans of staying here in Tokyo permanently, it would be a good idea to find a job. - Megumi growled, then whispered on his ear - Especially if you were serious about the 'three kids' thing. Children consume lots of food, did you know that?

- What, you mean you are already-- he was whispering, wide-eyed, but she interrupted him.

- No, silly! I mean, how am I to know? It takes a while for the first signals of pregnancy to show up! The thing is, unlike you and the rest of the male population of the world, we make plans about the future.

While Megumi discoursed about the differences between men and women - of course, all of them favouring the latter group -, Sano became uneasy and started to look to and fro, searching for the source of his concern. It was soon found. Sano quickly pulled Megumi's body closer, almost losing his balance.

- What are you-- Megumi began to yell at him, but had to shut her mouth when she looked at the spot she was before he pulled her. The young boy that was just beside her now laid on the ground, screaming in pain, a long arrow thrust at his right shoulder.

Author's Notes: The next chapters might take a bit longer to be posted. It's because school classes start this Monday, and there's also a new thing to destroy my free time: it's called 'pré-vestibular'. Basically, these are massacring extra classes which supposedly prepare us to college entrance examinations.
But never fear, I'll be here ^_^ Prudence-chan's tormented mind is creating some really unique enemies for the Kenshingumi. Be prepared.
By the way, if Kenshin's dead, they should change the name of their gang, isn't it? Nice question. I should use that on the next chapters. Any idea for the new name? Love, Prudence-chan

Chapter IV: The plot thickens. Tokyo is being attacked! And there's no Kenshin to save the day this time.