Once again thanks for the reviews.

Special thanks to Blaze, Starian Princess, and Aikenka

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin

SANO'S PAST

Last time

Kenshin and Yahiko ran as fast as they could, trying to find Sano and Kaoru. Hoping that they were not too late.

_ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ -

"OUCH!!!"

Sano was alive, well, for the most part. He and Kaoru were found by Kenshin and Yahiko moments after Akane left. Unfortunately, Sano was still unconscious, and the three of them had to figure out how they were going to get the man to the clinic.

Kenshin thought that it would be best if he carried Sano's legs, as Kaoru and Yahiko carried his upper body. Kaoru never carried that much weight before, and started to mumble how the man needed to go on a diet. He was being spoiled with Kenshin's food. Yahiko complained that his body weighted too much for someone with such a small brain. Kenshin, was concerned about tripping --for he was going backwards-- or running into trees. After an hour of walking, and with painful back sprains, soar arms, arguing, and more bruises to add to Sano's body --for they kept on dropping him--, they got him to the clinic and into the ever loving care of Megumi.

"OUCH!!! That hurt kitsune." Sano cried as Megumi was setting and bandaging his ribs, non-too gently.

"You'll live." She stated flatly as she continued with her job.

Kenshin, Yahiko, and Kaoru were in another room, putting some ointment on their soar muscles.

"Kaoru, would you like me to put some on your shoulders?" Kenshin asked as he noticed that she was having some trouble with it. She gave him a death glare. Kenshin was not in as much pain as the other two, mainly because he didn't carry as much. She wondered if this was some sort of scheme. Kenshin read her very visible thoughts.

"Come now Kaoru. You know better to believe that I would purposefully make you carry Sano's upper body, so that I could put the ointment on your shoulders. Just relax and turn around, I hate seeing you in pain."

Kaoru was too sore to complain, so she just gave Kenshin one more death glare, to which he smiled to, and turned around. Kaoru loosened her obi and then kimono around her shoulders.

Although it was expected that she would be tense, Kenshin found that she was greatly so. He guessed that she felt guilty for what happened to Sano, though there was nothing that she could have done about it. He saw slight bruising on her shoulders and neck, where the bark of the tree made contact with her back. So he ever gently rubbed the ointment onto them, hoping that he was not causing her pain. Her muscles started to relax under the care of his callused hands, yet her mind was replaying the events that had happen earlier. Thankfully, Sano's body was conditioned to take great amounts of stress and pain, however, perhaps there was something that she could have done to help prevent the pain and now torture that he's enduring. Megumi was obviously worried about him, hence, the outcry of pain that Sano gave off. She knew that she would have to talk to him, and soon. Perhaps when the others weren't around would be the best.

Kenshin let out a slight sigh. Aoshi was right. Perhaps this was going too far, yet what to do to stop it. They couldn't really tell the truth now that Takawa Akane was there. Not to mention Yoru and Yara would be greatly upset. Maybe, after Sano heals some more, they all can sit around and discuss this.

Finishing Kaoru's shoulders, he gave them a small squeeze and smiled a genuine smile at her. Kaoru, looking up at Kenshin gave him a sad one in return. Evidently, she was still feeling guilty about what happened, he was just glad that no serious injuries befell the street fighter, or her.

Megumi cleared her throat and entered the room. She swept her long dark hair behind her shoulder. Her face gave away no emotion except for her cinnamon brown eyes, which showed both worry and relief.

"Sano suffered three broken ribs, a small concussion, a hair line fracture on his forearms, and a badly bruised stomach. He also suffers various cuts and bruises on his back, as if they were made from twigs and rocks." Megumi lifted her eyebrow at her last statement, seeing the guilty looks.

"He was heavy. It's hard carrying that man." Yahiko huffed.

Megumi smiled seeing how much the boy really cared for the ex-gangster.

"He should be all right in a few days. I've given him some medicine and ointment to help the healing process. But no fighting for him till his ribs are healed, which will be about a month."

The three nodded in agreement.

_ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _- _ -

Saito lounged around his desk.

Being a police officer was starting to get boring for him, especially when everyone was afraid, and refused to fight him. A cigarette hung from his lips as he leaned back into his chair with his hands behind his head. It was fun for him to torture Himura, but even in that he was limited to what he could do. Letting out a huff of air, his golden eyes briefly skimmed the papers that were on his desk.

A mugging here, an assault there. Oh, and a cat stuck up in a tree.

He was surprise on how petty people could be. For crying out it was just a cat, get a new one, or someone else to get it. Men like him need not waste his time on an animal that weighted five pounds. Even the mugging and assault proved pointless. He was looking forward to a fight, and the mugger had to surrender with out putting up resistance, and the assault happened to be a former felon, and wet his pants in recognizing him.

Was there no one who wanted to threaten the government anymore? Was there no one looking for a good fight?

His thoughts were interrupted as his office door flew open and crashed against the wall. A small elderly woman stormed in with a presence that was not to be ignored.

So he ignored her.

Saito continued to smoke his cigarette and thought of all the other pointless activities he had been through, when the woman heatedly walked up to his desk, trying to get his attention. He gave her a brief glance and continued with his own thoughts.

Akane wanted to make a dramatic entrance, to emphasize her reason for being here, but so far it had no effect on the police officer before her. Akane's green eyes narrowed. This man and Kamiya were as opposite as night and day. It was surprising that they were even related. But no matter, she had a mission and a message to give.

"Saito Hajime. I Takawa Akane, have defeated your would be son-in-law for his right to choose his wife. I now challenge you! I will represent my granddaughter, Yara, and you your daughter, Kaoru. Who ever wins will earn the right for marriage to Sagara Sanosuke. I will contact you later for the challenged date." With that Akane stormed out with her superior presence, slamming the door shut.

"..."

Saito was not sure what had just happened, but apparently, a complete stranger beat-up Sano, and was now challenging him, as Kaoru's father.

Saito just shrugged his shoulders, maybe he would get the fight that he was looking for. Glancing where the elderly woman once was, maybe he wouldn't. But at least it was a break from felon's wetting their pants, and rescuing cats from trees. So, why not give it a try.

After all, what was the worst that could happen?

_ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ -

Kaoru sneaked into the room Sano was being kept in. The others thought that it would be good to eat at the clinic, and refused to let Kaoru help cook, saying it was for the best for the patients. Yahiko left to get some ingredients while Kenshin was left with Megumi cooking. Once in awhile she would hear their laughter. There was a time she would get upset by it, but after Kenshin confessed his feelings for her, she knew that he and Megumi were just good friends. Besides, that laughter told her that she would not be interrupted in her little quest. She was already a bit nervous and didn't need Kenshin, Megumi, or Yahiko to add to it.

Sano was wide-awake in an up-right sitting position. It was almost impossible for him to get as comfortable as he wanted, and his body hurt. He noticed Kaoru timidly walking in and closing the shoji door. She kept her head down as she approached his futon. Of course in this position she could not see the basin of water Megumi left behind. Before Sano could warn her, Kaoru tripped over it, causing it to spill over. Fortunately, she caught herself from falling, unfortunately, her foot slipped on the water, causing her to fall on her backside painfully. Sano tried his best not to laugh, doing so would only cause him more pain, but the image of Kaoru's feet flying up in the air and her falling down, made that impossible.

Kaoru glared at him, but got some twisted satisfaction watching Sano wince in pain every time he laughed. Then the guilt hit her. Kaoru sat herself up, thanks to the fall she was not that far from Sano, and kneeled before him. Her head was still down as she bowed forward.

"Sumimasen. I should have done more to help you."

Sano looked at her for a moment. His gaze traveled to her hands. On the back of one, a bruise was forming in a straight thin line. The other one had similar markings, like they were purple scratches. He remembered the attack and briefly watching Kaoru fight against the restraints that held her to the tree. Sano wondered if she struggled more, or if the fight lasted longer, would those bruises turn into gashes and eventually scar her all around. For it was obvious that she would have similar bruising everywhere the restraints were. A smile touched his lips.

"Kaoru, look at me." When she refused to do so, Sano moved his hand with slight pain, and rested it under Kaoru's chin. Slowly he tilted her head up. Relief flooded him as she did not resist and he could rest his sore arm by his side. "Jou-chan, there is nothing for you to be sorry about. Besides it was my fight."

Tears came from her eyes, "But I could have…."

"What? Caused more harm to yourself? Most definitely. But I'm glad that you didn't. I know that we fight and argue quite a bit, but never forget, you are important to me. Kaoru, if you were seriously hurt at all that day, nothing Kenshin could do to me would amount to how I would feel. I'm a fighter, I get into fights, I have for most of my life. But you Jou-chan, skilled as you are, you don't."

Kaoru gave him a questionable look. A few tears still flowed down her cheek, but the crying had stopped.

"I'm not the best when it comes to words or expressing how I feel. But Kaoru you are like true family to me. Sure it was Kenshin who beat the truth in me, but it was you who accepted all of us. It was you who treated us as equals, regardless of what we had done, or who we killed."

Kaoru took in a deep breath. Sano just smiled at her.

"Sano…"

"Please don't feel bad. I know for a fact that you would never leave us purposefully, nor allow any real harm to come to us. Except for your cooking." Sano let out a gentle laugh, this one not hurting him as much. Kaoru started to pout and fume at his words. Finally, she smiled. She reached for the tea set that was by his bed.

"Would you like some more tea?"

"Most definitely. Now kitsune is the type of woman who can make really good tea. I guess she just puts all of her love into it for me. A man like me is lucky to have a woman like her to fix him tea, including his injuries."

"Mou, Sano."

From outside the room, Kenshin listened to the two friends talk and joke towards each other. He heard Kaoru fall earlier and wanted to make sure she was okay, but stopped after she started to speak. Megumi walked up behind him and smiled at what he was doing.

"Everything better Ken-san?"

"Hai, everything is as it should be."

Through the door they hear Sano cry out in pain, but there was also amusement in his voice.

"Watch it Jou-chan. I'm injured remember."

T.B.C.

Sorry that this chapter was kind of short. I was about to put the fight scene in here, but thought it would do better as a chapter of it's own.

I hope that the scene between Sano and Kaoru was not that bad.

Please review, and make any suggestions or requests about what might happen, or who you might want to see in this fic.

Thank you.

Oh, and no matter how long it will take, I will finish this story!