What Was Lost Is Found
Darkness to light,
Sunlight to shadows,
an era ends,
a new one emerges.
What was lost is found...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A momentary splash of color amongst the green went unnoticed on the deserted
road. The slender form hid behind a tree at its side and sank to the grass
wearily, resting against the smooth bark. He closed his eyes momentarily, then
opened them again. Shining brown flared up for a split second, then dimmed once
more. He was here, his scent was on the wind. Nostrils flared and lungs
expanded, breathing deeply. That was him all right. Sanosuke. So the rumors
were true, then. A small smile played around the corners of well-shaped lips.
He had found him.
Hearing the distinct sound of feet on the road, the man jumped to his feet with
cat-like reflexes, landing in half-crouch, keen eyes scanning the road
anxiously. The shadows played over his smooth face, painting it with an even
darker handsomeness. Moments later a lean form came into view, striding down
the road purposely. Long brown hair whipped back from a slender, high-cheek
boned face and a green headband showed. His legs shaking, the shadowed man sank
back to the ground slowly, forehead covered with a thin film of sweat. It can't
be! Maybe he was mistaken...but no, there was no mistaking that face or that
stride. It was he. Katsu. So they were both here, living in the same area. He
wondered briefly is they knew about each other, but the though was chased from
his mind as once more, thoughts of his present situation crowded in again.
Shaking his head, he leaned against the tree yet again, and plucked a slender
leaf from the willowy plant growing at its base. Putting the leaf to his lips,
he blew and a high-pitched whistle floated through the heavily perfumed spring
air. He always whistled when he was thinking, it calmed his somewhat, helped
him think more rationally. First things first. He must find someplace to
stay...somewhere large if his plans were to work out. Then, and only then,
could he continue the search for Sanosuke. And now Katsu.
Rising and brushing his ebony pants off, he threw down the leaf and stretched.
It had been a hard journey and he needed rest.
"I will find them again, though," Souzou Sagara swore
mentally. "I will." And the dark form slipped from tree to
tree along the side of the road, heading towards the town.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Setting down his cup, Souzou finished the last of his tea and rose impatiently.
Today was the third day of his search. He had fully recovered from his grueling
journey and had completely sorted out all his thoughts. It was time for action.
But, his plan was thwarted until his could find Sanosuke or Katsu and this was
not proving easy. He checked to make sure his sword was secure in its sheath
and breezed out the door.
Wandering the streets of the unfamiliar town, his mind was swamped in memories
of his two favorite boys, who had been like sons to him. But, while his mind
was in turmoil, his eyes automatically scanned the crowds around him. The years
had been good to Souzou. No matter that it had been a decade since his supposed
"death". His eyes were still sharp and clear, possessing the ability
to see almost as well as an eagle. His face was smooth and refined as it had
been in the days of the Sekihoutai, unmarred by any scars or wrinkles. Straight
and slender as always, he strode down the rode, eyes searching. But his way was
blocked by a tall, lanky man in a white jacket that read "evil"
across the back.
"Evil? Souzou wandered.
Then his eyes snapped up as he caught a flash of red against the shockingly
blue sky. The ends of a red headband tied around a head of dark brown spikes
fluttered in the breeze. Red headband...hair...red headband...His eyes widened
and he stopped dead in his tracks.
"Sano..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sanosuke Sagara stopped and paused for a second in the middle of the road.
Wandering the town he had been thinking about heading over to the dojo to get
something to eat, when he had sensed someone close behind him. Ignoring it, he
only paused when he thought he heard his name. Half turning, his chocolate eyes
briefly flickered backwards. He saw no one he knew. Shrugging his shoulders, he
turned his back and continued on his way to the dojo.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The name left his lips unconsciously, before he could stop it. Using the
cat-like reflexes he had exhibited before, he quickly ducked into a small shop
on the side of the road. Seeing Sanosuke pause, then continue on, he breathed a
sigh of relief and followed his previous charge to the dojo.
But unbeknownst to Souzou, Sanosuke was now on his guard. Having seen the edge
of Souzou's red coat disappear into the shop, suspicions had begun to form in
the back of his mind. His hands balled into fists inside of his pockets and his
muscles tensed. Warily he continued to the dojo. He was ready.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Souzou stood beneath the tree and gazed up into its green, leafy foliage. His gaze
rested on a thick branch high up, and his eyes glinted in the morning sun.
Grabbing the lowest branch, he hoisted himself up and climbed lithely to his
chosen branch. He settled himself comfortably against the trunk and leaned dark
head back against it. His shining chocolate eyes took in all that was happening
in the courtyard below.
Though the leaves of the tree provided a shield from eyes below, Sanosuke was
uneasy. He had felt a presence all the way here and once he had entered the
dojo, it hadn't gone away. Now, he felt as if someone were watching him with
unseen eyes. Yet, it wasn't a threatening presence. It was just uncomfortable, not
knowing who it was, but yet...there was something almost...familiar about it.
Like a wraith from a half-forgotten dream, it teased him, lingering and poking.
As his frustration mounted, it began to show through. Brows knitted together,
he sat on the steps of the dojo and stared at nothing, eyes intense and
focused.
"Sanosuke? Sanosuke?!"
He looked up, startled. "Hmm?"
"What's the matter? You look really stressed," Kaoru's voice brought
him back down to earth.
"I...I felt...something. Like someone followed me here...like...there're
watching me...right now."
Kenshin looked up from where he had been crouched down by the cooking fire and
his eyes narrowed. "Someone followed you?" He stood up and his hand
rested lightly on the hilt of his reverse-blade sword.
"I don't know, Kenshin," Sano replied, amused at the reaction in his
friend. "I just felt a presence. But, it was almost...familiar."
Kenshin raised one eyebrow and cocked his head.
Yahiko chose this moment to remind everyone that he was still there. "I
think Sanosuke's just crazy. Anyone with his brain has to be." He smirked.
Next thing he knew, he was on the ground, pinned by a very irritated Sano.
"You little punk!" he said, before hitting his smartly on the head
and letting him go.
"Ouch! What was that for?! You big oaf!"
Giving Yahiko an exasperated look, Sano turned his attention back to Kenshin
who was still standing there, hand on sword hilt, listening. "Kenshin, I'm
sure it was nothing."
"No," Kenshin replied. "I sense it, too. Someone is watching us.
From his perch high up in the tree, Souzou grinned smugly to himself.
His eyes narrowing even further, Kenshin stared all around the courtyard. A few
minutes later, he relaxed and sat back down, but still kept his guard up. The
others, made uneasy by the fact that they were being watched, tried not to look
to perturbed and went back to whatever it was they had been doing.
Souzou smiled another small smile and his eyes left Sanosuke for a fraction of
a moment to rest on Kenshin. So this was the legendary manslayer, reduced to
nothing but a cook and housekeeper. Shaking his head a little Souzou focused
his attention back on Sanosuke.
Sitting on the steps, with Yahiko and the girls playing a game at his feet, he
grinned down at them with a brotherly air. He ruffled Yahiko's hair and pinched
the little girls' cheeks. The smile played around Souzou's lips once more as he
saw how happy Sanosuke seemed. Then his smile turned bitter and sad,
remembering all the years of happiness he had lost, when his death had been
announced and the Sekihoutai scattered and killed. Now he, Sano, and Katsu were
all that remained. But, now that he had found Sano, finding Katsu would be all
the easier.
Sano squirmed as he felt a shiver run up his spine. It felt as if someone were
dragging a finger up his back, caressing it with a long fingernail. Finally,
being able to bear it no longer, he jumped up and screamed, "I don't care
who you are, or what you want! Come out now! I'm sick of being watched!"
Souzou grinned his trademark half-grin and stood up upon the branch. Sanosuke
had always had a bit of a temper, and more often then not, it got the better of
him. Now, things were about to get interesting.
Below, Sanosuke stood in the courtyard, one fist clenched before him, while the
others stared. Kenshin's hand went back to his sword hilt, the food forgotten.
A small smile danced at the corners of Souzou's mouth. Sano looked like he had
improved much since their time together with the Sekihoutai. His tall, muscular
frame was tensed, ready to spring, and his eyes were intense and alert. He had
obviously learned much in ten years and it had served him well.
But now was not the time for idle observation and reflection. Leaping
gracefully from the top branch of the tree, Souzou flipped into the air and
landed cat-like in front of Sanosuke and his friends, coat swirling out behind
him. His eyes shone and his mouth twitched upwards slightly.
Sanosuke's face went white. "M-m-master Sagara," he stuttered.
"But...but you're...dead."
