Disclaimer: :D It's NOT mine. I swear. If Sano WAS mine, I would not need to write about him, as - O_O; *cough* The things you do not recognize are mine.
This Chapter: ^_^ Developing relationships, and a glimpse of the past.
CHAPTER TWO :: I REMEMBER YOU
_____________________________
"Who IS THAT?!"
Ayuka jumped as a female voice pierced the silence that had been the walk around the hospital with Doctor Genzai. Excluding, of course, the two granddaughters, who had skipped merrily alongside the two, flashing Ayuka amazed glances.
"This, Megumi, is my great niece. Ayuka."
Megumi eyed the young girl. 'She doesn't look capable of doing much work. She's filthy, too.'
"It's uhm.. a pleasure to meet you, Miss Megumi," said Ayuka, with a small bow.
Megumi paused. 'Meh. She's not that bad. I've been needing some help around here, anyhow.' She smiled.
"Likewise," Megumi said, peering at the girl. "Do you have any experience dealing with medical situations?"
Aykua blinked. "Er, some." Megumi's face fell. "But.. I'm a really fast learner! And I DO know how to do simple tasks."
Megumi nodded, showing her acceptance. "Good. We could certainly use a hand around here.. I'll take you to my room. We'll be sharing it for a bit, the hospital is over-crowded right now.. we need all the room we can get."
Ayuka nodded, suddenly feeling like a huge bother.
Following Megumi down various hallways, Ayuka glanced into a few of the rooms, barely restraining a gasp when she realized most of the patients were children. Young children, at that.
Megumi glimpsed at Ayuka, noticing her shocked face.
"There's something going around. We're not sure what it is, but the symptoms include difficulty breathing, constant nausea, headaches.. it seems they're in a lot of pain. They don't sleep well. We can't keep any food down them, either." She sighed. "Ever heard of anything like it?"
Ayuka paused. "Actually.. there was something like that back where I live." She shrugged. "The doctor in the town just made them drink a lot of water, and insisted on rest.. He didn't try to get them to eat anything."
Megumi stared. "That's what we are doing, but how do you know that?"
"My father was the doctor."
"..."
*THWACK!*
Ayuka stared, rubbing the top of her head where Megumi and thumped her. "Ow?!"
"You're the DAUGHTER of a DOCTOR, and you DON'T HAVE ANY MEDICAL EXPERIENCE!?"
"I have SOME experience, I just didn't enjoy it!"
Megumi fell over.
Ayuka frowned.
"I'll bet you're completely spoiled, aren't you?"
"No! I am not!" Ayuka bristled.
"Are too."
"..No, I'm NOT!"
"You're acting like it." Megumi smirked.
"I wonder why!" Retorted Ayu.
"Because you.. you.." Megumi stopped in mid-laughter. "Ohoho!"
"..What's SO FUN-.. funny.." Ayuka started giggling as well. "Why are you laugh.. laughing!?"
"I can't believe we're acting so childish! Oh.. it's been a long day, I do need some sleep." Megumi smiled. "I'll show you to the baths. You look awful." She smirked.
Ayuka glared at her. "You would too after sitting in a carriage all the way here."
Megumi nodded, and leading Ayuka through the halls and pausing to walk in a room, and bring out a large bundle of cloth.
Ayuka blinked. "What are those?"
"What you'll be sleeping in, and clothes for tomorrow."
"Er.. I have clothes."
Megumi nodded. "Well, yes, but I doubt you'd want them to get dirty. And around here, they're certainly going to get dirty."
"Ah." Ayuka said. "Thanks." She glanced down the hallway and pointed to a room. "There, right?"
"Mmhm." Megumi said. "We passed my room. There's a futon set up for you."
"Right." Ayuka said, walking into the baths. "I'll be there in a bit."
Megumi walked back to her room. 'She isn't bad, not at all. It's definitely good to have someone decent to talk to. And to work until they fall over.. maybe not.' She smiled to herself, laying down to sleep.
Ayuka leaned back in the water (which is, uh, -magically- heated. O_o;;), resting her head against the side of the wood and closing her eyes.
-FLASHBACK- (A rather long one.)*[1] It's not all in italics, because all italics annoys the heck out of me.
The road was long. It was dark. Ayuka was getting extremely tired of sitting and riding in the carriage. She wanted to sleep. She wanted her teddy bear. She wanted to lay down, she was REALLY getting annoyed a- What the heck was that?
"Dad! Daddy, tell them to stop!"
The carriage came to a halt.
"What, what is it Ayu?" Senkurou blinked.
The person driving the carriage peered around at the two.
"Look!" The little girl, a much younger Ayuka of around 6, pointed to the side of the road, where a little heap was laying, wearing white. At least, it looked white. It was caked with dirt and goodness knows what that darker brownish red was.
"Oh my God.. Ayuka, sit here."
"Daaad-"
"I mean it!" A much younger than present Senkurou jumped out of the carriage, running over to the side of the road.
A little boy laid there, brown, unruly hair spiking out from the head of a young boy, wearing white clothing. His hair was held out of his face with something red. It was obvious he wasn't in good shape. Senkurou frowned, picking the body up and bringing him into the carriage with Ayuka.
Ayuka stared in wonder.
"Daddy.. who is it..?"
"I don't know, but he isn't in good shape. We're going to take him back to the town we passed a little while ago."
Ayuka whined. "Daaddyy.. I'm tired.."
"We'll find an inn and stay there for the night."
"Ok!" Ayuka piped up.
"I'm going to go talk with the driver for a while, if he starts acting differently, yell at me, ok?"
Ayuka nodded. She wasn't really old enough to understand the significance of the boy's condition.
"Ungh.."
Ayuka squeaked in fright, staring at the now moving figure. "Daaad.. Dad he's moving and making noise.."
"He'll probably move around a little. Don't worry."
She felt the carriage turn, and head back the way they had been coming at a rather faster pace than what they had been going.
Ayuka stared wide-eyed at the boy, who was lying on his back on the opposite side of the carriage. He shivered. Ayuka blinked. "A-are you.. cold?"
Obviously, the boy couldn't reply.
"Uh.. uhm.. Dad!"
"What, Ayuka, what?"
"I think he's cold."
The carriage stopped, and Senkurou opened the door to the carriage, handing her a bundle of dark cloth. "Cover him up with that."
"O-ok." Ayuka said, as the door closed.
After covering the boy up, Ayuka sat and stared at him, her legs tucked in to her chest.
~
They had taken the boy to a hospital, checked into an inn, and left the next morning. Senkurou had stopped by the hospital to check on his condition. The boy was going to live, and it was quite likely thanks to Ayuka's sharp eye. They never saw the boy again. The boy never knew who found him.
-END FLASHBACK- (End very LONG flashback.)
_____________________________
A little while down the road from where Ayuka was basking in the water while pondering long forgotten memories, a restless Sanosuke sat up in bed, deciding to go for a walk to calm his nerves. He had been plagued by the same dream many nights in a row.
He remembered the day the Seikhou Tai *[2] had been slaughtered. He remembered them taking the bullets for him. He remembered Sagara pushing him out of danger, over the ledge, giving Sanosuke a chance at life. He had crawled, in pain, trying to find some civilization for hours, until coming upon a road. He had figured if someone found him, he would live. If no one found him, he would die.
Someone found Sagara Sanosuke that day. He hadn't known who. He barely remembered glimpses of their faces. He'd never spoken with them.
"Wonder who she was..." Sano muttered to himself, kicking a rock absently.
_____________________________
Back at the dojo, Ayuka promptly sneezed.
"Hm.." Ayuka rubbed her nose, pondering the boy she had saved so long ago. Lately, Ayuka had been recalling that night more often. "Maybe it's a sign.." She muttered. "I'm supposed to find him or whatever." She snorted. "Yeah, right."
_____________________________
"Ha.. hachoo!" Sano glared angrily around him. "Damn flowers." He frowned, turned, and headed back to the dojo.
_____________________________
NOTES
[1] :D Episode Five of Kenshin, sillies. You remember how Sano was saved by Sagara, etc.? Well, if you don't, I explain it anyway. ^_^;
[2] That was who Sano stayed with. ;-; And were slaughtered. But Sano lived!
Next Chapter: Sano is STILL a freaking restless moron who loves to get in fights.
Sano: ..I am not. That's completely uncalled for.
Chii: ..Yes you are. O_o
Sano: I don't have allergies, either.
Chii: *growls* Shut UP.
Sano: Ok. ^__^!
Chii: ...
