It's Good To Be Home
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin characters and all. I just have fun with them.
Chapter 4
"He was such a beautiful horse, strong and fast. I wept when I had to leave him behind," Sano relating a tale from America waved his hands around dramatically.
"I had no idea you could ride a horse, Sano," Yahiko said, "You found a creature that actually respected you?"
Sano knocked Yahiko over his head, "Not only did he respect me, but we had an understanding of each other. It's best to have a connection with your companions, even a horse. I doubt you'll be able to find anything or anyone who'll give you that much respect, kid."
"Don't call me kid!" Yahiko proceeded to gnaw on Sano's arm.
The others watched in amusement at their antics. Megumi had a small smile, but she had been quiet all day, ever since her conversation with Sano.
Kenshin spoke up, "Sano, where and how did you meet up with Otomo Kai?"
"After I left America, I went to Europe. I started off in England and made my way through the mainland. I met up with Kai in Germany. I met him in a tavern and we just hit it off. He was really good with different languages. I mean amazing how easily he picks them up." Sano stared thoughtfully at the sake that was poured out for him, "I was really sorry to part company with him in China."
"How was he when you left?" Kaoru asked.
"Bitter," Sano replied, "Not at me, but just at the fact that he was not allowed to go. It's funny, we both loved travelling, but at a certain point, you want to be home again. Truth is, I meant to be back sooner, but I...got sidetracked."
"Sidetracked?" Kenshin wondered.
"Hmph," Yahiko muttered, "He means he got lost."
Sano glared at Yahiko as Kenshin asked, "Lost? Wasn't Kai with you?"
"Yeah," Sano grinned sheepishly, "We had bit of difference on which way to go. I thought my way was the shortcut and well....there you have it. We argued over it and I won, so we went my way."
"Roosterhead," Megumi said quietly as Sano turned to look at her. She had a small smile.
Sano grinned at her, relieved that she said something. "You know me, fox, nothing would keep me away from you."
Megumi laughed, "Sure."
Kaoru stood up, "It's getting late, I think I'll turn in."
"Good night, Missy," Sano said as he, too stood up, "I think I'll go gambling tonight. Kenshin, Yahiko, care to join me?"
"No thank you," Kenshin said, "I think it's best for me to stay here tonight, that I do." Kenshin looked meekly at his wife's deathly stare.
"That was a good answer, Kenshin!"
"I'll go," Yahiko said eagerly.
"What!" Kaoru screeched, "You're too young, no way!"
"I'm fifteen! I'm not too young!" Yahiko yelled.
"Why don't you let him go, Kaoru? Someone needs to watch over Roosterhead, anyway."
Kaoru softened a little, "Well, if you think it's all right, I suppose so."
Sano grinned, "Worried about me, fox lady?"
Megumi answered coolly, "Well, since Yahiko is probably the more mature of you two, it's only natural to put him in charge."
Sano frowned as Yahiko laughed at him. Megumi bid the others good night.
Megumi was in for another restless night. What does Sano think of her now? She sighed, does it really matter? She grimaced, yes it does matter. Megumi decided to distract her thoughts of Sano and her family with some reading. She got up and looked at the books in Kaoru's possession, which wasn't too many. Her eyes fell on what looked like a new medical book. It must belong to Dr. Genzai, she mused, and he probably forgot it here, in his old age. Megumi laughed to herself. Besides, it's always good to keep up with current medical practices; she opened the book and began to read.
Megumi found herself so engrossed with text; she was startled when she heard a small crash. Her body tensed for a moment, but relaxed when she heard Sano and Yahiko's hushed voices.
"Dumbass! Wake up everyone, why don't ya!"
"Hey, you weren't exactly Mr. Graceful on the way over here, now were you!"
"Shut up!"
There was another sound of two bodies hitting the floor, than Sano and Yahiko began giggling like two schoolgirls. Megumi rolled her eyes and than soon heard slight snores emanating from the other room.
She got up and opened her door. Sano and Yahiko didn't even make it to their rooms. Sano had managed to get off his gi and now used it as a pillow. Megumi looked thoughtfully at his bare back. He was missing that stupid kanji of Aku on his back. She'll have to rectify that, she thought to herself as she procured a brush and inkwell from Kaoru's desk. She knelt down by Sano and carefully painted the symbol on his back. Megumi stood back and admired her artwork. She glanced over at Yahiko; he needs work done too. Megumi thought for a moment and than walked over to his sleeping form. One could imagine the fox ears popping from her head as she grinned mischievously. She began painting a mustache on Yahiko's face. There, he was so bent on being treated like a man, now he looks like one. Satisfied with her work, Megumi went to bed.
Kenshin found Sano the next afternoon under a tree, lazily reading a book. Sano looked up and grinned, "Did Yahiko manage to get the ink off his face?"
Kenshin shook his head and smiled, "No, he's pretty mad about it." Flashback
Earlier that morning, Kaoru came out of her room to find Yahiko and Sano sleeping off their drunken stupor. She was about to raise hell with Yahiko until she saw his face. She began laughing and Yahiko woke up.
"What's so funny, ugly?" He was irritated.
"Ha, ha. Look at your face."
Yahiko hurried to find a mirror. Megumi came out just as they heard an ear-piercing scream. Megumi laughed.
"So, he's discovered my artwork, eh?"
Kaoru shook her head, "Serves him right for getting drunk."
"Does that go for me too, Missy?" Sano opened a bleary eye at the two women.
"Especially you, Sanosuke!" Kaoru yelled.
Sano winced as Kaoru began giggling again. He glared, "What?"
"Your back. How appropriate, aku."
Sano frowned, "What are you talking about?"
Megumi smiled, "I thought something was missing, Sano. So I corrected it."
Kenshin came in with Kenji trailing behind, "Oh, Sano, when did you get a tattoo of aku on your back?"
"Eh? I didn't," He twisted around to look, "Damn it, fox! It'll take forever to come off!"
Megumi shrugged, "Maybe next time you won't come back so drunk, now will you?"
She and Kaoru went off giggling. All Kenshin could do was utter, "Oro?" End Flashback
"Anyway, what are you reading, Sano?"
"One Thousand and One Nights, I got it from a belly dancer in Arabia. Kai had to translate it for me. Took him a while to do it too."
"A belly dancer?"
"Yeah, she was really beautiful, too. Reminded me of someone."
Kenshin didn't ask, he didn't need to. He only nodded and left. Sano sighed and put the book down. He thought about the belly dancer. She was quite coy and had long dark hair. It was her coyness that made him think of Megumi. Sano closed his eyes and imagined Megumi in one of those revealing outfits. He imagined her little belly; exposed, creamy white and she would perform a dance for him. Teasing him and he'd reach his hand to touch her and...
"Sano? Sano, would you wake up?"
Sano opened his eyes and saw the object of his desire standing in front of him. Megumi had a hand on her hip and she looked very impatient. He gave her a coy smile, "Yes, foxy lady?"
"I promised Dr. Genzai that I would pick up some herbs and other supplies for him today. Would you help me?"
Sano grinned, "Couldn't get Yahiko to do it, huh?"
She smiled, "He hasn't left his room, yet." She gazed down at him, "So, will you help me?"
"Anything for my fox."
'Score one for Sano!' He thought as she flushed at his remark.
Megumi looked down at the book by his side, "You read?" She questioned, looking incredulous.
Sano glared, "Yes, I do damn well read!"
Megumi laughed, "It's just that I've never seen you read before."
Sano shrugged, "I never exactly had a whole lot of money to spend on books."
"Other than gambling and drinking you mean?"
"Ha." Sano got up, "O.K., let's go."
A few hours later, Megumi and Sano had their hands full with supplies for Dr. Genzai. They went to the old doctor's place and put everything in its proper place. Megumi was amazed that Sano didn't argue about the extra work. They bid the doctor goodbye.
As they were walking, Megumi asked, "So, where did you get that book?"
Sano hesitated, "Uh, a friend."
"A friend."
"Uh, yeah."
Megumi frowned at his evasiveness. "You got it from a woman, didn't you?" She tried not to sound too accusatory.
Sano stopped and looked at her, "Why? Are you jealous?"
She flushed and retorted, "Of course not! Where would you get such a ridiculous idea?"
Sano shrugged, "I don't know." He looked at her thoughtfully, than said, "One thing I can tell you is that I'm jealous of the man who asked you to be his wife."
Megumi stopped and looked at Sano, shocked. She opened her mouth to say something when Kenshin came running up.
"Sano, I've been looking for you all over, that I have."
"What's wrong?"
"Someone's at the dojo, wants to talk to you."
"You don't mean..."
"Yes, it is Saitou Hajime."
To Be Continued
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin characters and all. I just have fun with them.
Chapter 4
"He was such a beautiful horse, strong and fast. I wept when I had to leave him behind," Sano relating a tale from America waved his hands around dramatically.
"I had no idea you could ride a horse, Sano," Yahiko said, "You found a creature that actually respected you?"
Sano knocked Yahiko over his head, "Not only did he respect me, but we had an understanding of each other. It's best to have a connection with your companions, even a horse. I doubt you'll be able to find anything or anyone who'll give you that much respect, kid."
"Don't call me kid!" Yahiko proceeded to gnaw on Sano's arm.
The others watched in amusement at their antics. Megumi had a small smile, but she had been quiet all day, ever since her conversation with Sano.
Kenshin spoke up, "Sano, where and how did you meet up with Otomo Kai?"
"After I left America, I went to Europe. I started off in England and made my way through the mainland. I met up with Kai in Germany. I met him in a tavern and we just hit it off. He was really good with different languages. I mean amazing how easily he picks them up." Sano stared thoughtfully at the sake that was poured out for him, "I was really sorry to part company with him in China."
"How was he when you left?" Kaoru asked.
"Bitter," Sano replied, "Not at me, but just at the fact that he was not allowed to go. It's funny, we both loved travelling, but at a certain point, you want to be home again. Truth is, I meant to be back sooner, but I...got sidetracked."
"Sidetracked?" Kenshin wondered.
"Hmph," Yahiko muttered, "He means he got lost."
Sano glared at Yahiko as Kenshin asked, "Lost? Wasn't Kai with you?"
"Yeah," Sano grinned sheepishly, "We had bit of difference on which way to go. I thought my way was the shortcut and well....there you have it. We argued over it and I won, so we went my way."
"Roosterhead," Megumi said quietly as Sano turned to look at her. She had a small smile.
Sano grinned at her, relieved that she said something. "You know me, fox, nothing would keep me away from you."
Megumi laughed, "Sure."
Kaoru stood up, "It's getting late, I think I'll turn in."
"Good night, Missy," Sano said as he, too stood up, "I think I'll go gambling tonight. Kenshin, Yahiko, care to join me?"
"No thank you," Kenshin said, "I think it's best for me to stay here tonight, that I do." Kenshin looked meekly at his wife's deathly stare.
"That was a good answer, Kenshin!"
"I'll go," Yahiko said eagerly.
"What!" Kaoru screeched, "You're too young, no way!"
"I'm fifteen! I'm not too young!" Yahiko yelled.
"Why don't you let him go, Kaoru? Someone needs to watch over Roosterhead, anyway."
Kaoru softened a little, "Well, if you think it's all right, I suppose so."
Sano grinned, "Worried about me, fox lady?"
Megumi answered coolly, "Well, since Yahiko is probably the more mature of you two, it's only natural to put him in charge."
Sano frowned as Yahiko laughed at him. Megumi bid the others good night.
Megumi was in for another restless night. What does Sano think of her now? She sighed, does it really matter? She grimaced, yes it does matter. Megumi decided to distract her thoughts of Sano and her family with some reading. She got up and looked at the books in Kaoru's possession, which wasn't too many. Her eyes fell on what looked like a new medical book. It must belong to Dr. Genzai, she mused, and he probably forgot it here, in his old age. Megumi laughed to herself. Besides, it's always good to keep up with current medical practices; she opened the book and began to read.
Megumi found herself so engrossed with text; she was startled when she heard a small crash. Her body tensed for a moment, but relaxed when she heard Sano and Yahiko's hushed voices.
"Dumbass! Wake up everyone, why don't ya!"
"Hey, you weren't exactly Mr. Graceful on the way over here, now were you!"
"Shut up!"
There was another sound of two bodies hitting the floor, than Sano and Yahiko began giggling like two schoolgirls. Megumi rolled her eyes and than soon heard slight snores emanating from the other room.
She got up and opened her door. Sano and Yahiko didn't even make it to their rooms. Sano had managed to get off his gi and now used it as a pillow. Megumi looked thoughtfully at his bare back. He was missing that stupid kanji of Aku on his back. She'll have to rectify that, she thought to herself as she procured a brush and inkwell from Kaoru's desk. She knelt down by Sano and carefully painted the symbol on his back. Megumi stood back and admired her artwork. She glanced over at Yahiko; he needs work done too. Megumi thought for a moment and than walked over to his sleeping form. One could imagine the fox ears popping from her head as she grinned mischievously. She began painting a mustache on Yahiko's face. There, he was so bent on being treated like a man, now he looks like one. Satisfied with her work, Megumi went to bed.
Kenshin found Sano the next afternoon under a tree, lazily reading a book. Sano looked up and grinned, "Did Yahiko manage to get the ink off his face?"
Kenshin shook his head and smiled, "No, he's pretty mad about it." Flashback
Earlier that morning, Kaoru came out of her room to find Yahiko and Sano sleeping off their drunken stupor. She was about to raise hell with Yahiko until she saw his face. She began laughing and Yahiko woke up.
"What's so funny, ugly?" He was irritated.
"Ha, ha. Look at your face."
Yahiko hurried to find a mirror. Megumi came out just as they heard an ear-piercing scream. Megumi laughed.
"So, he's discovered my artwork, eh?"
Kaoru shook her head, "Serves him right for getting drunk."
"Does that go for me too, Missy?" Sano opened a bleary eye at the two women.
"Especially you, Sanosuke!" Kaoru yelled.
Sano winced as Kaoru began giggling again. He glared, "What?"
"Your back. How appropriate, aku."
Sano frowned, "What are you talking about?"
Megumi smiled, "I thought something was missing, Sano. So I corrected it."
Kenshin came in with Kenji trailing behind, "Oh, Sano, when did you get a tattoo of aku on your back?"
"Eh? I didn't," He twisted around to look, "Damn it, fox! It'll take forever to come off!"
Megumi shrugged, "Maybe next time you won't come back so drunk, now will you?"
She and Kaoru went off giggling. All Kenshin could do was utter, "Oro?" End Flashback
"Anyway, what are you reading, Sano?"
"One Thousand and One Nights, I got it from a belly dancer in Arabia. Kai had to translate it for me. Took him a while to do it too."
"A belly dancer?"
"Yeah, she was really beautiful, too. Reminded me of someone."
Kenshin didn't ask, he didn't need to. He only nodded and left. Sano sighed and put the book down. He thought about the belly dancer. She was quite coy and had long dark hair. It was her coyness that made him think of Megumi. Sano closed his eyes and imagined Megumi in one of those revealing outfits. He imagined her little belly; exposed, creamy white and she would perform a dance for him. Teasing him and he'd reach his hand to touch her and...
"Sano? Sano, would you wake up?"
Sano opened his eyes and saw the object of his desire standing in front of him. Megumi had a hand on her hip and she looked very impatient. He gave her a coy smile, "Yes, foxy lady?"
"I promised Dr. Genzai that I would pick up some herbs and other supplies for him today. Would you help me?"
Sano grinned, "Couldn't get Yahiko to do it, huh?"
She smiled, "He hasn't left his room, yet." She gazed down at him, "So, will you help me?"
"Anything for my fox."
'Score one for Sano!' He thought as she flushed at his remark.
Megumi looked down at the book by his side, "You read?" She questioned, looking incredulous.
Sano glared, "Yes, I do damn well read!"
Megumi laughed, "It's just that I've never seen you read before."
Sano shrugged, "I never exactly had a whole lot of money to spend on books."
"Other than gambling and drinking you mean?"
"Ha." Sano got up, "O.K., let's go."
A few hours later, Megumi and Sano had their hands full with supplies for Dr. Genzai. They went to the old doctor's place and put everything in its proper place. Megumi was amazed that Sano didn't argue about the extra work. They bid the doctor goodbye.
As they were walking, Megumi asked, "So, where did you get that book?"
Sano hesitated, "Uh, a friend."
"A friend."
"Uh, yeah."
Megumi frowned at his evasiveness. "You got it from a woman, didn't you?" She tried not to sound too accusatory.
Sano stopped and looked at her, "Why? Are you jealous?"
She flushed and retorted, "Of course not! Where would you get such a ridiculous idea?"
Sano shrugged, "I don't know." He looked at her thoughtfully, than said, "One thing I can tell you is that I'm jealous of the man who asked you to be his wife."
Megumi stopped and looked at Sano, shocked. She opened her mouth to say something when Kenshin came running up.
"Sano, I've been looking for you all over, that I have."
"What's wrong?"
"Someone's at the dojo, wants to talk to you."
"You don't mean..."
"Yes, it is Saitou Hajime."
To Be Continued