Friday- Kaoru's departure, what now?

"Alright you three, I'm trusting you not to go crazy!" Kaoru glared especially hard at Sanosuke as she gave her farewell speech at the dojo gate, Megumi was expected to arrive at any moment. "That means no mayhem or destruction of any sort. Yahiko, I expect you to do at least 200 strokes of each new exercise I showed you. Expect a merciless beat down when I get back if you don't..."

*Can't Megumi walk any faster?* Yahiko thought to himself *We're not going to be able to do anything fun at this rate*

"And make sure that the laundry and dishes get done, I don't want to come home to a huge mess..."

*Geez Missy, we get it already… doesn't she trust us? I'm a responsible guy! Yeah that's right… hmm I wonder how many babes could come here on short notice...* Sanosuke scratched his chin before continuing to pretend-listen to Kaoru's rant.

"Mm hmm... well, I think that's just about everything... oh! Is that Miss Megumi already?"

*Not a moment too soon, I'll have to thank that fox sooner or later...* "Go on now, you know you'd better not keep her waiting." Sanosuke gave Kaoru a friendly shove out the gate as Megumi came to a stop.

"Oh wonderful you're ready!" she smiled, "I'm running a bit late as it is, so lets get a move on shall we?"

Kenshin helped Kaoru position the pack on her back more comfortably, "Don't worry at all about us now Miss Kaoru. We will be sure to behave ourselves, that we will."

*Speak for yourself Kenshin...*



***

"Wow, she's really gone isn't she..." Yahiko voiced a few moments later as the three polished off what was leftover from the midday meal.

"We are alone, that we are."

A huge smile spread across Yahiko's face as he jumped up to march around the room, "THAT means we can do all sorts of man-stuff! Like walk around without shirts and bathe in the river and... and eat all kinds of meat! Yeah... RAW MEAT! Grr... Kaoru just doesn't get it, sometimes a man's just got to be a man... all manly and..."

"Gosh... we get it already Yahiko!" Sanosuke spit out his fish bone and sat up from his reclined position, "So what kind of trouble should we get in Kenshin? Now the little lady's off, we don't have to worry about drinkin and pickin' all kinds of fights. Tear down Tokyo… you and me buddy! Waddya say?"

"I dunno about that Sano... I'm rather fond of Tokyo..."

"Well I'm sure as hell not sticking around here... I'm going to the market. Need some stuff for dinner..."

"Do you have money Sano?"

"Nope... but Kaoru's got to have some in her room somewhere right?"

"Orrrrro?" Kenshin fell flat on his face as Sanosuke picked his plate up and walked into the kitchen, "Are you really planning on going in there? Because that's an invasion of Miss Kaoru's privacy, that it is. I'm not sure I can let you do..."

"Woohoo! Panty raid! Lets go Sano!" Yahiko stopped in his path and ran in the direction of Kaoru's room.

{O___o;;} "Wonder where he learned about those" Kenshin sat back up and looked meaningfully at Sanosuke, who had become very interested with a spider on the ceiling, "Sano..." {X__x}

"Better go get the little rascal, see ya Kenshin!"

"Ooo Miss Kaoru will not be pleased..."



***

"Lets see… if I were Missy… where would I keep my dough..." Sanosuke muttered to himself as he and Yahiko rifled through various colored kimonos and ribbons, "and behind drawer number 2... WOOOAAH my my my..."

"Hey what are those..."

"Looks like you got your wish Yahiko..."

"Ewwww I didn't seriously want to see her underwear..."

"Mmhmm… unique taste in color..."

"Akk, Sano put those back!"

"Here we go, see I was right! This ought to be enough cash to see us through a few days. Common boy, we're going shopping..."

"Find everything ok?" Kenshin glared from the doorway.

"Hey Kenshin! You'll especially want to have a look in here… see what you're getting into..."

{@_@} "Oro? Oro, oro, oro!!" Kenshin face fell again, "Sanooo... whyy..."



***

"Ha! This is how a man shops!" Yahiko was having a splendid time picking out groceries, "No tofu, no wimpy noodles!"

Sanosuke stared blankly ahead of him in complete disbelief, *What possessed me to bring him along... ooh hey! THAT's what we need* He grabbed several bottles of sake at a time and started piling them into his basket.

"Hey Sano..." A familiar voice called, "I see old habits die hard..."

"Katsu! Just the man I wanted to see!"

"Oh really, what's on your mind?"

"Party at the dojo, tomorrow night. Invite all the old gang," he paused to leer at a woman walking by, "... and anyone else you happen to pick up for that matter."

"Count on a full house then Sano, I'll see you tomorrow night."

"See ya Katsu..." *Now where did the little brat get off to*



***

"Are you sure you don't want me to cook..." Kenshin watched nervously as Sanosuke and Yahiko piled kindling and firewood in the open center of the dojo, "In the kitchen..."

"Don't worry Kenshin... a good old-fashioned campfire never hurt anyone... ouch!" Yahiko had accidentally dropped a log onto Sanosuke's foot. "That's enough wood... now a little oil..."

{O__O;;} "Sano..."

"And a match..."

"Yahiko, we'd better stand back..."

Sanosuke glared at them before lighting the match and dropping it on a small pile of dry leaves beneath the kindling. Small flames began to crackle merrily and a wide smirk crawled across his face.

"See, I told you two I knew what I was doing… hey did it go out or something..."

"Sano, you shouldn't put your head so close, that you shouldn't!"

"Oh here's the problem, the flame can't catch any of the oil..."

Kenshin's hair was blown back gently by the small explosion.

"Are you alright Sanosuke?" Yahiko stared at the huge bonfire in absolute giddiness, "Man that was amazing!"

"Yeah I think so... Sanosuke tenderly touched the scorched skin where his eyebrows had been "Oh well… they needed a trim anyway…" [AN- Sorry Sanosuke fans... I had to do that... his skanky ass bushes scare me, Joe Higashi esque (for those of you who know Fatal Fury ^__-)]

"D'ya think it's ready for the meat?" Yahiko's eyes grew bigger as Sanosuke nodded and began sharpening three long sticks, "Alright! I'll go get it!"

{o__o} "You're going to cook in a bonfire?" Kenshin raised an eyebrow.

"Sure why not? They fire roast meat at the Akabeko all the time!"

"Here they come!" Yakiko ambled over slowly under the weight of three large chickens.

{O_o;;} "WHOLE chickens?" Kenshin watched nervously as the two eagerly stabbed the poultry onto the waiting roasting sticks, "Whole chicken over a bon fire?"

"Bigger the better..." Sanosuke grinned wickedly as he slowly swung the chicken into the flames.

"And the more manlier-er!" Yahiko accidently smacked Sanosuke forward into the dirt as he positioned his over a coal bed, "Don't you want yours Kenshin?"

{n_n()} "Thank you kindly... but I'll pass, that I will..." Kenshin sidled over to the porch cautiously so as not to appear rude, "Lunch was quite filling, that it was... heh heh... I think I shall just settle down for the night."

"You sure buddy? I was gonna take Yahiko gambling after this... show him some tricks ya know? It'll be a good time..."

"I am content with hearing the exploits of your losing tomorrow, that I am. Goodnight."

"Hmm, well more for us then right Yahiko?"

"Mm-Hmm!"

"First thigh?"

"Sure thanks... You think we could get some rice going over this thing too?"

"Probably… oh… damn kid you made me burn the leg!"