Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. I ~do~ however own a pair of the
world's softest socks! Ooo! Envy me! Mwhaha!
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Kenshin reached the food market just as they were closing up. A woman was standing outside of the door and switching the Open sign around so that it read Closed. He walked up to her calmly, and cleared his throat.
The woman turned around, a bit startled, but offered a smile. She was a pretty young woman with a face full of innocence and strength. She had her long dark black hair pulled back in a high pony tail, with a blue ribbon sitting in it. Around her form she wore a small blue dress, that hugged her form tightly, and let was still modest. Over it, was an apron that read simply 'Kamiya Food Market.'
'She was a small woman, with eyes that shone with innocence, and yet held a sort of determined strength. Her looks did nothing but compliment the depth of her eyes. Her form was, slim, and curvy. And her black hair waved gracefully behind her. I could feel my voice catch in my throat for a moment. But it quickly passed, as I was eager to hear her name.'
Kenshin offered her a smile. "Hello." He watched as she reached behind her and untied her apron, slipping it over her head and off, to let it dangle over one arm. She continued to smile.
"Hello sir. I'm sorry but we were just closing up."
"Actually madam, I'm here on an investigation." Kenshin reached into his trench coat and then brought out a badge, flashing it at her before putting it away again. "Name's Himura Kenshin. Private investigator." He smiled.
The woman seemed a bit surprised, or taken a back. But she quickly offered another of her innocent smiles and nodded.
"Of course. I've heard of you. My name is Kamiya Kaoru."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Kaoru." He offered, hoping lightly that it wasn't too informal.
"The pleasure is mine Detective Himura." She smiled. "What is it you have come here about?"
"I'm investigating the disappearance of a man named Sagara Sanosuke." Have you heard of him?"
"Heard of him? Well sure. He works the poultry section here. Has for about fifteen years now." She frowned. "I thought he was sick when he didn't come in today..."
"So you don't know what could have happened to him?"
She shook her head, frowning.
"I'm really sorry Detective. I haven't a clue."
Kenshin turned his gaze towards the door of the food market. "Your father owns this place, correct?" He watched it lightly, his gaze never tearing from it.
"Used to." She said quietly. "He passed away recently, leaving it to me."
"I'm sorry for your loss." He spoke genuinely, looking back to her. "You say that Sano worked here for fifteen years?" He asked.
"Yes." Kaoru nodded. "He was our prize worker. My father trusted him more than anyone. Thought of him as a son almost." She smiled.
"I see. When was the last time you saw him?" He asked. She thought for a minute.
"Hmm. Last night. He left a few minutes before I closed up for the day."
"And what time was that?"
"I guess... Around seven?" She said, looking perplexed.
"Hmm. And do you have any idea where he was headed?"
Kaoru shrugged, shifting the apron to her other arm and then crossing them about her chest. She sighed.
"My only guess would be to his house. He lives on 12th avenue, in house number 112." She smiled faintly. "I'm really sorry I can't be of more help Detective."
"You've been plenty of help, that you have." He said reassuringly, and turned.
"Where are you off to now Detective Himura?" She asked.
"Please. Call me Kenshin." It was all he said before disappearing into the night.
Kenshin hurried down 11th avenue, making his way for 12th. Night had snuck up on his very quickly, and now he cast his gaze down to the cobblestone sidewalk he was traveling on. Full of puddles, and only visible by the distant yellow glow of street lamps. The air was misty and the sky was drizzling lightly. Kenshin figured there would be some fog soon enough.
He stopped when he reached 12th avenue. Turning down on it, he walked the street until he came to house number 112. It was a small blue house. Nothing special.
Kenshin walked up to the door, and knocked on it loudly. No answer. 'Strange.' He thought. 'I would have suspected Megumi to be home by now.'
Humming lightly, Detective Himura circled the length of the house, peering in windows and checking the back door. All sealed shut. The blinds were drawn, and the curtains closed. There was no getting into this house.
Kenshin stopped himself at the back door, staring at it curiously. "I'm sure Mrs. Megumi would understand." He said aloud to himself, as he pulled a pick from his pocket, and began working at the door. 'After all,' He reminded himself. 'She did hire you to do an investigation.'
Soon the lock gave way to his pick, and he gently turned the knob, stepping into the house.
Closing the door behind him, he glanced around. He was in the kitchen. He was surprised to see it didn't look like it had been used in a while. 'Odd' he thought to himself as he moved around. No dishes in the sink. No food left out. No sign of life at all.
Moving on into the next room, he entered into the living room, but passed it quickly as he made his way up stairs. He would have to find Sano and Megumi's room. He moved down the hall until he reached the first door, but upon opening it he discovered it was only a bathroom. He moved on, searching the other rooms until he came to the last.
He gently laid his hand on the cold doorknob, and pushed it open softly. He didn't even need to open the door all of the way to discover something was terribly, terrible wrong. He stood in the doorway, gazing around the room. 'I knew someone didn't smell right.' He thought to himself.
Because it was obvious at that moment, that this room was not shared by two.
The small room had but one bed in it, twin size and with only one pillow on it's surface. The small dresser that sat to the left of it, he imagined, would hardly be enough to hold both Sano's and all of Mrs. Megumi's things in it. Everything about the room pointed to one thing. And that one thing was something that Kenshin instantly made sense of.
"Takani Megumi..." He said aloud to himself. "And Sagara Sanosuke." He closed his eyes, shaking his head. "Of course. I should have caught it there. They don't share the same last name." He frowned. 'But why? Why would she lie about him being her husband? It just didn't make sense.'
Kenshin turned, intent on heading back to his office to think, but ran straight into the barrel of a gun.
He stumbled back, eyes locked on the weapon as the owner of it spoke.
"That's far enough."
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A/N: *Smiles* ^_^ Don't you just love cliff-hangers? Hehe. *Dances around to evade the rotten garbage*
You people aren't very patient now are you? Oh well. I guess I'll just have to upload again soon. But hey! In the meantime you can always check out one of my other fics! (Hint hint. Nudge nudge.)
Anyway! I love you all!
~Kimmy-chan
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Kenshin reached the food market just as they were closing up. A woman was standing outside of the door and switching the Open sign around so that it read Closed. He walked up to her calmly, and cleared his throat.
The woman turned around, a bit startled, but offered a smile. She was a pretty young woman with a face full of innocence and strength. She had her long dark black hair pulled back in a high pony tail, with a blue ribbon sitting in it. Around her form she wore a small blue dress, that hugged her form tightly, and let was still modest. Over it, was an apron that read simply 'Kamiya Food Market.'
'She was a small woman, with eyes that shone with innocence, and yet held a sort of determined strength. Her looks did nothing but compliment the depth of her eyes. Her form was, slim, and curvy. And her black hair waved gracefully behind her. I could feel my voice catch in my throat for a moment. But it quickly passed, as I was eager to hear her name.'
Kenshin offered her a smile. "Hello." He watched as she reached behind her and untied her apron, slipping it over her head and off, to let it dangle over one arm. She continued to smile.
"Hello sir. I'm sorry but we were just closing up."
"Actually madam, I'm here on an investigation." Kenshin reached into his trench coat and then brought out a badge, flashing it at her before putting it away again. "Name's Himura Kenshin. Private investigator." He smiled.
The woman seemed a bit surprised, or taken a back. But she quickly offered another of her innocent smiles and nodded.
"Of course. I've heard of you. My name is Kamiya Kaoru."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Kaoru." He offered, hoping lightly that it wasn't too informal.
"The pleasure is mine Detective Himura." She smiled. "What is it you have come here about?"
"I'm investigating the disappearance of a man named Sagara Sanosuke." Have you heard of him?"
"Heard of him? Well sure. He works the poultry section here. Has for about fifteen years now." She frowned. "I thought he was sick when he didn't come in today..."
"So you don't know what could have happened to him?"
She shook her head, frowning.
"I'm really sorry Detective. I haven't a clue."
Kenshin turned his gaze towards the door of the food market. "Your father owns this place, correct?" He watched it lightly, his gaze never tearing from it.
"Used to." She said quietly. "He passed away recently, leaving it to me."
"I'm sorry for your loss." He spoke genuinely, looking back to her. "You say that Sano worked here for fifteen years?" He asked.
"Yes." Kaoru nodded. "He was our prize worker. My father trusted him more than anyone. Thought of him as a son almost." She smiled.
"I see. When was the last time you saw him?" He asked. She thought for a minute.
"Hmm. Last night. He left a few minutes before I closed up for the day."
"And what time was that?"
"I guess... Around seven?" She said, looking perplexed.
"Hmm. And do you have any idea where he was headed?"
Kaoru shrugged, shifting the apron to her other arm and then crossing them about her chest. She sighed.
"My only guess would be to his house. He lives on 12th avenue, in house number 112." She smiled faintly. "I'm really sorry I can't be of more help Detective."
"You've been plenty of help, that you have." He said reassuringly, and turned.
"Where are you off to now Detective Himura?" She asked.
"Please. Call me Kenshin." It was all he said before disappearing into the night.
Kenshin hurried down 11th avenue, making his way for 12th. Night had snuck up on his very quickly, and now he cast his gaze down to the cobblestone sidewalk he was traveling on. Full of puddles, and only visible by the distant yellow glow of street lamps. The air was misty and the sky was drizzling lightly. Kenshin figured there would be some fog soon enough.
He stopped when he reached 12th avenue. Turning down on it, he walked the street until he came to house number 112. It was a small blue house. Nothing special.
Kenshin walked up to the door, and knocked on it loudly. No answer. 'Strange.' He thought. 'I would have suspected Megumi to be home by now.'
Humming lightly, Detective Himura circled the length of the house, peering in windows and checking the back door. All sealed shut. The blinds were drawn, and the curtains closed. There was no getting into this house.
Kenshin stopped himself at the back door, staring at it curiously. "I'm sure Mrs. Megumi would understand." He said aloud to himself, as he pulled a pick from his pocket, and began working at the door. 'After all,' He reminded himself. 'She did hire you to do an investigation.'
Soon the lock gave way to his pick, and he gently turned the knob, stepping into the house.
Closing the door behind him, he glanced around. He was in the kitchen. He was surprised to see it didn't look like it had been used in a while. 'Odd' he thought to himself as he moved around. No dishes in the sink. No food left out. No sign of life at all.
Moving on into the next room, he entered into the living room, but passed it quickly as he made his way up stairs. He would have to find Sano and Megumi's room. He moved down the hall until he reached the first door, but upon opening it he discovered it was only a bathroom. He moved on, searching the other rooms until he came to the last.
He gently laid his hand on the cold doorknob, and pushed it open softly. He didn't even need to open the door all of the way to discover something was terribly, terrible wrong. He stood in the doorway, gazing around the room. 'I knew someone didn't smell right.' He thought to himself.
Because it was obvious at that moment, that this room was not shared by two.
The small room had but one bed in it, twin size and with only one pillow on it's surface. The small dresser that sat to the left of it, he imagined, would hardly be enough to hold both Sano's and all of Mrs. Megumi's things in it. Everything about the room pointed to one thing. And that one thing was something that Kenshin instantly made sense of.
"Takani Megumi..." He said aloud to himself. "And Sagara Sanosuke." He closed his eyes, shaking his head. "Of course. I should have caught it there. They don't share the same last name." He frowned. 'But why? Why would she lie about him being her husband? It just didn't make sense.'
Kenshin turned, intent on heading back to his office to think, but ran straight into the barrel of a gun.
He stumbled back, eyes locked on the weapon as the owner of it spoke.
"That's far enough."
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
A/N: *Smiles* ^_^ Don't you just love cliff-hangers? Hehe. *Dances around to evade the rotten garbage*
You people aren't very patient now are you? Oh well. I guess I'll just have to upload again soon. But hey! In the meantime you can always check out one of my other fics! (Hint hint. Nudge nudge.)
Anyway! I love you all!
~Kimmy-chan