Note on Updates:
I'm giving Sano a rest. But Kenshin gets a bit of a workout ^_^. Thanks as always for the great responses ^_^!!!! Just to warn you all, I've hit a bit of a block - always happens whenever I get to any serious plot developments (umm...maybe I should say, relatively serious plot developments? :P). Chp 15 is up, but I can't post it because I don't know when to end it (?!!!). Ack! And Chp 16 should be the last chappie...but...I...can't... (tears hair out and bangs head on table. Passes out.) The point of my drivelling is : updates will prob revert to once a week now (ducks).

DISCLAIMER:
I don't own RK!



*Chapter 14*


Kenshin waved good bye to Kazuo as he prepared to leave the dojo for the day. See you tomorrow then, Kazuo called cheerily as he waved back. Kenshin smiled back and nodded in response.

Another two weeks had gone by, and he had been teaching at the Kamiya dojo for a large part of the time. Kazuo had assigned him to take on some very young children, and he was enjoying the work. Although - those kids could be really boisterous.... Kenshin rubbed his knuckles ruefully. A bunch of them had decided that smashing their teachers' knuckles would be the ploy of the day.

He slid the dojo gates shut behind him and squared his shoulders. Miname had produced a stack of Missing Person posters with Sano's photo, and had even suggested good areas where he could post them. The posters didn't carry too much information - Miname had looked at him as if he were crazy when he suggested leaving an address or telephone number.

What are you, nuts? I don't know what kind of happy-neighbours society you enjoyed in the Meiji, but it's different now okay. Do you have any idea the kind of psycho cases wondering the streets these days? Kenshin secretly thought of Shishio, Jineh and even Enishi, but said nothing. In the end, all the posters contained was something Miname called an e-mail address where information could be sent to. She checked it, under Kenshin's prodding, every night - but to date they had received nothing of use.

He had taken to checking the posters daily, just to assure himself they were still visible, and on the off-chance he might stumble across Sano. They had even left one at a police station, which Kenshin reasoned (not unkindly :P!) would be the most likely place for his friend to turn up... He prepped the police officers with a tale of a mentally unstable best friend who would think he was from the meiji era.

Kenshin began his circuit. Number 1 - missing, he thought, frowning. He dug into his bag and produced a replacement, before making his way to the next stop.

Number 2 - also missing! he frowned again, pulling out yet another replacement. Were all posters regularly removed? He looked around and saw other posters that had been hanging there since he had started coming. Coincidence maybe, he dismissed, making his way to the third stop.

Number 3 - also missing!! Kenshin began to feel twinges of hope. Maybe Sano had stumbled across them - it would be just like him to tear them all down like that. He checked his bag - he had about ten spares left. He took one out, posted it on the wall and started for the fourth stop.

Something caught his peripheral vision as he left, and he turned to see what it was. he called. Two or three girls had quickly taken down his poster and were playing tug of war with it.

There he is!! From out of nowhere, another five descended upon him, squealing in excitement.

You're the one with the posters right? squeaked one of them, we've been following you for the past five minutes.

Kenshin stammered, clutching his messenger bag to his chest protectively. These girls had a slightly crazed look in their eyes which he recognised as closely akin to bloodlust.

Is that where they are? Another one closed in on him, eyes narrowed. She prodded his messenger bag fiercely. Hand them over at once!!

G..gomen, sessha had no idea it was unlawful to place posters in this area - many other people do it too... Kenshin unwittingly slipped into his archaic speech as he sweatdropped. His fingers clutched his bag even tighter to himself.

yet another girl burst into giggles. She grabbed both his cheeks with her fingers and pinched them exuberantly. No, definitely not unlawful, you lovely, lovely man! I could kiss you!! Will you give me a poster if I do?

It flashed through Kenshin's mind to say that he would give her a poster if she didn't. His cheeks were really hurting - her fingernails were at least an inch and a half long!

Stop that, Yuki! The fierce one began tugging at his messenger bag, Let's just grab this and run!

In the distance, Kenshin made out another bunch of girls heading in their direction at top speed, screaming in outrage. Oh no.... ! The frontrunners had already reached them and were plunging themselves into the group. He found himself in the middle of an all-out fight.

*****

What happened to you? Miname glanced up from a magazine she was reading as a dishevelled and very battered Kenshin, minus messenger bag, let himself in the front door.

Don't ask, he groaned, making his way to the bathroom to wipe his wounds. Those inch-long nails! Would he get infected?

Ten minutes later, he re-emerged. He sat down on the chair next to Miname, still shell-shocked from the experience.

Miname put the magazine down on her stomach and looked at him expectantly. Come on, I had lots of bad news in school today, I need something to laugh at.

Kenshin shot her a dirty look, before running his hands over his cheeks which were still throbbing from the assault. Something strange is happening, he managed at last, I went to check all the posters after work, and found that every one had been taken down. Not only that, when I tried to post new ones, these rabid women pounced on me and demanded that I give them all the posters I had. I can't understand it. Is there some poster craze going around?

Kenshin had observed Miname in the throes of her bubble tea craze, her cellphone attachments craze, her electronic dating toy craze... amongst others.

Miname shrugged and went back to her magazine, Don't be a cry-baby. I'll print up a new stack tonight if you want.

Kenshin retreated to the kitchen, offended.

Miname started giggling to herself over one of the pages. Now this is nice, she commented, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

she was sprawled over the counter, Look at this! Now that's what I call a man! She thumped the magazine insistently on the surface, Come loooooookkk..... she wheedled.

She did this almost twice a week! Kenshin knew he would get no peace, so he obligingly took a look at her magazine, expecting yet another chiselled-featured flavour-of-the-week actor...

He cried, grabbing the magazine with both hands and bringing it up for a closer look.

There was no mistaking it - it was Sano all right! He was lounging casually on a black leather bench, grinning his lazy, lopsided grin. He was wearing an unbuttoned linen shirt and jeans.

What is this?!?! Kenshin scanned the copy, 'The hot new face of ActiveMan: Sagara Sanosuke...?'he read.

What are you saying..? Miname tugged at the magazine, wanting another look, Are you saying that's your friend, Sano? Phew, the photo you have of him doesn't do him ANY justice... Oh well, at least this explains the mystery of the missing posters.

What? How? Kenshin was still staring at the photo in surprise. How did they manage to get Sano to sit still for a picture?

Fans
, my dear, fans. Your friend is now FAMOUS. She twisted the magazine to show him its cover, 'Hot Today' she read.

Right, right, Kenshin rubbed the back of his head as he allowed her to take the magazine back from him, But how do I get to see him? he muttered.

Miname studied the copy herself. ActiveMan, huh? Ogawa Inc.? Leave it to me, she said confidently.

*****
She had sounded confident, but in truth she was nervous. She seemed to have got on the bad side of all her classmates, Daisuke included. Plus, that incident in the woods...! She had debated whether or not to bring Kenshin along, and decided in the end that it would be best if he followed.

You'll probably need to grovel, Kenshin, she hissed, as they made their way to the massive front door of Daisuke's mansion. You beat him up real bad.

I barely used any strength..! Kenshin protested.

She rolled her eyes and pressed firmly on the doorbell. The door was quickly opened by one of the many black-suited men wondering around, and they were ushered into a large receiving room. The ceiling-to-floor windows afforded views of the lush landscaped gardens outside.

Miname tapped her foot impatiently as they waited for Daisuke to appear. Kenshin, in marked contrast, had seated himself on the sofa and was sipping green tea serenely.

Let me do the talking, she instructed. Don't want to make him suspicious with your sessha's and de gozaru's

Kenshin shrugged his acquiescence. He was radiating zen-like calm and peace, whilst Miname was ready to tear up the carpets. Argh. Hate him! She stared daggers at Kenshin, who merely beamed back at her.

The double doors swung open and Daisuke sauntered in. His eyebrows had disappeared into his brow line. What do you want? He came to a stop some distance from her, his arms firmly crossed.

Hi Daisuke, she managed lamely. Argh, she hated asking for favours. Um. Needjahelp she muttered, glowering at the carpet.

Excuse me? the shadow of an evil smile flickered across Daisuke's features, I must have heard wrong. Did you say you needed my help?

She grunted something that sounded like a yes. Then added as an after thought,

He was shaking his head. Unbelievable. You set your thug friend on me, than you expect me to help you without so much as an apology? I don't know...

What's that supposed to mean? She flashed back angrily. Who came after me in the first place? Both her hands were on her hips as she faced off against him. Oh crap! she thought. She could see Kenshin massaging his temples in the background. Oh, darn it, sorry okay? He wasn't even my friend then. He just butted in. She glared at Kenshin.

Daisuke looked a little taken aback. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Hmm. I forgot that Reiko had asked us to rough you up. He shifted his weight .

Yeah. And so? she eyed him beadily.

He rolled his eyes and coughed, . He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels.

I guess we're even then, she said, sounding unconvinced.

Okay, okay - Daisuke was getting impatient, What do you want?

Ummm... only the most profitable thing in your ActiveMan business right now - Sagara Sanosuke? Miname grinned weakly at him.

Excuse me? Daisuke gaped at Miname. Sano? What do you want with him-? His face darkened as he drew his own conclusion. Are you trying to lure him away from my company? Too bad, he's already signed an exclusive contract to Ogawa Inc.

Miname protested, No, no, no. Nothing like that. Um... What do I say? I need him because I want to send him back in time to the past? Daisuke will never believe that! She threw one agonised look at Kenshin who seemed ready to intervene, then said the first thing that came to her mind, Actually...we're both his biggest fans, we love him, he's soooooo cute - and we're dying to get his autograph.

Kenshin smothered a groan.

Daisuke relaxed his stance, but he still looked sceptical. His biggest fans, huh? He glanced at Kenshin with a look that spoke volumes. If you say so. He shrugged, Oh well, I guess it can't hurt. We're conducting a photo shoot by the pool now. I'll bring you there if you like.

He motioned them to follow him as he made his way out of the room.

Kenshin struggled to control his voice.

Oh shut up, Kenshin! Miname whispered back irritably, I got us in, didn't I? Once Sano recognises you we can explain everything properly...

*****



Notes: Wow - that went on longer than I thought it would. So I've split my chapter in two... Daisuke has no problem figuring out that Kenshin is a guy now ... because....Kenshin is wearing a tee-shirt that says I'm a man - live with it?!?

About Kenshin's abs (?!) - it didn't cross my mind until just - but if Kenshin has washboard abs, why does he use a real washboard when he does the laundry? He could simply take those clothes and rub them.... (shuts eyes) oh. maybe I shouldn't go there.....

Ryulabird:Oops, unfortunately I had to give Sano a rest in this chapter. Infact - (checks notes) - I think his fortunes have taken a turn for the better... yikes! (starts editing hastily).

kyanos: Thanks for the review! I figure that Sano must have really nimble teeth, you know, with all that fishbone practice and all ^_^. I'M also looking forward to see how this will all turn out!!! (tears up yet another draft for final chapter and smashes head into computer monitor)

faerie-chan: Duct tape - and anime?!!? Wow, that's a cruel way to make sure your friends stay and watch... XD!! Just kidding.

NightRain: NOOOOOOO!!! Keep reviewing..... !!!! Wail! :P. Yah, I'm surprised at how fast those chapters came. It must be Sano - once I start writing about him being tortured, I can't seem to stop....

AkaiKitsune:Yes, originally, I thought of having Sano smash open the display to a japanese restaurant to get at the plastic food displays, but compassion stayed my hand (nods in saintly fashion). Poor Kenshin - Kazuo has less faith in his abilities than you do - he's been given the little kiddies class ^_^