It was in the grey light of early morning that he was able to find enough quiet to practice his forms.    His last master had beaten at least that discipline into him, as well as an ability to read movements much better.

He had once said that he would get stronger by creating a stronger offense, but well he was young then and too brash to think things through.   Sure, he knew that he could take plenty of beatings that would have killed any ordinary person, and somehow recover, but he would rather not be known for that.

He would never be one who in the heat of battle could read and strategized an opponent's moves like Kenshin or Saitoh in order to defeat that person – but he had given himself many new skills to employ instinctively.  

His arm and hands were more than the things that allowed him to use the iron fist that had come in so handy in the past.  The sweep of wind they created could also be a devastating force in itself.  

He stopped when he heard the gate to the compound unlatch.  He had figured out enough during his stay at the dojo so far to know that this would be Yahiko, coming in to prepare the rooms for the students.   As the official assistant master, those sorts of tasks fell to him now. 

"Hey Sano, whaddya doing up so early?"  Yahiko looked at him suspiciously.  The very idea of Sano being up early still was too weird for him to understand.   Sano would have told him he had been practicing, but Yahiko hadn't believed him the first time, so he had given up.  

Yahiko's face brightened up for a moment,  "Hey, are you finally taking off to Aizu?!"

"Geez, would you give it a rest already?" Sano glared at Yahiko. "You've been asking that already three days in a row."

Actually, it had now been almost a week

A door slid violently open, "Yahiko!!"  Kaoru's irritated expression told the two gentlemen that they were about to hear one of her usual tirades.  "What did I tell you about butting into people's affairs!"

"Wha?" Yahiko sputtered, "If it weren't for people like me butting into other people's affairs then nothing would go right.  You seem to forget that Megumi and I had to kick you out of here back when Kenshin had to go fight Shishio, you hypocrite."

"He has a point," Sano tapped his finger against his chin. "As much as I hate to admit it."

"Of course I'm right!" Yahiko clenched his fist.  "So you're going to go right?" 

"Well good morning everyone," Kenshin smiled.  "What is everyone doing up so early today?"

"Sano is going to go to Aizu to see—"

Sanosuke clamped his hand over Yahiko's mouth, "Stop putting words into my mouth Yahiko!"

"Megumi-dono?" Kenshin beamed back.  "But there is no need to do that.  She's already in Tokyo."

"EH?!"  The other three turned to look at Kenshin.

"Have you seen Megumi-san?"  Kaoru looked startled.  "She didn't stop by did she?"

"No," Kenshin withdrew something from his sleeve.  "I received a letter yesterday from Okina-san with another letter inside for Megumi-dono."

"Okina?"  Yahiko scratched his head.

"Megumi-dono was in Kyoto last week, and Okina said that he knew Megumi-san would be heading this way so he wanted to send her something through us."

"What could that man want with Megumi?"  Kaoru asked, voicing the question that each of them was wondering. 

"Heh," Yahiko grinned, "Maybe it's an Okina-style love letter!"

As soon as he had blurted that comment out, all four of them made faces.  

"That's just sick!" Sano poked Yahiko in the shoulder.

"Why , " Yahiko smirked, "Jealous?!"

"Why you little –"

"Is she in trouble, Ken-san?"  Kaoru's worried question stopped yet another sparring match between Sano and Yahiko.

Kenshin shook his head as he took out Okina's letter.  "No, I don't think so.  Okina never said anything other than simply to give her this letter when she came by.  She is supposed to be here for business, and it doesn't sound like anything unusual."

Kaoru looked over his shoulder.  "Himura-san, please give my regards to the lovely doctor when you next see her. She is to be in Tokyo the next week and left behind her lovely kimono which I bestowed upon her whilst she was in Kyoto for business.   You must not neglect to do so for this poor old man—"

"Bleah," Yahiko made a face, "I was right."

"Well," Kaoru smiled painfully, "I'm sure it's just a harmless little letter then.  We'll just be glad that it brought good news.  With Sano back as well and Megumi coming to Tokyo, we'll have ourselves a nice reunion."

"Yeah," Yahiko gave Sano a meaningful look.

"In case she stops by and I'm not here," Kenshin ignored the disgusted silence from Sano, "I'll leave the letter inside on the tea table."

"Okay!"

"Sure."

"Alright."

When they were still standing there, stil watching him intently,he coughed.   "Well, now, I'm sure we have many things to do today right?"

 "Of course!" – they again responded as a group and each turned on their heels and walked in a different direction, their eyes still fixed on the letter in his hands.

Kenshin sighed as he walked into the main room and placed the letter on the table.  He'd have to remember to someday talk to Okina-san about his . . . methods.

~

The letter on the table was soon joined by several more to Megumi from Okina, only intensifying the curiousity of the inhabitants of the Kamiya dojo.

Kaoru found it sweet; Yahiko plain old embarrassing; and Sano was rather disgusted by the whole thing.

When a letter addressed to Aoshi Shinomori joined the stack of flowery ones to Megumi, Kaoru cornered Kenshin near the washing tub to demand an explanation, "Is Aoshi-san coming here as well?"

"It appears so," Kenshin paused in his washing, "I forgot to mention that didn't I?"

"Yes you did," Kaoru glared at him, "Not that I have a problem with it, but don't you think it's odd that Okina writes to both of them here, and they're both to appear here just out of the blue like this?"

"I suppose so," Kenshin smiled unconcerned, "But they're our friends after all.  We're just fortunate to have them all here at once."

"I guess you're right," she smiled back.  "Well this will certainly be a very good time then.  I'll go tell Sano and Yahiko the news."

~

Sano was a little bit more than irritated now.    That the doctor had yet to show up was one thing, but that she clearly had somehow charmed that old ninja into what he assumed were daily proclamations of love annoyed him further.    That fox was so careless when it came to men and their feelings!

The letter for Shinomori also perplexed him.  Granted, he knew that Himura and the tall, aloof ninja had developed a respectful friendship, partly due to the gap Misao, Okina and the other Oniwabun had filled, but he admitted that he was still surprised to see that none of the dojo inhabitants were overly concerned that he too apparently would be passing through. 

When Aoshi Shinomori finally showed up the next morning, Sano was the only one in the dojo.  Kaoru and Yahiko had taken their students out to the river to practice their swimming.   Kenshin had wandered off to find tofu in the markets. 

Aoshi bowed politely.  "Sagara-san. You have returned."

Sano was still a bit taken a back from Aoshi's sudden appearance.  "Yes.  I suppose Kenshin told you that I have been traveling."

"It was a good journey, I hope?"

"Sure." He shrugged, "I learned quite a few things and saw a number of places, but I decided it was time to come back and focus on tying up some loose ends."

"A good thing, then." Aoshi answered somewhat cryptically.

Kenshin had mentioned that Aoshi was still dealing with issues of his own.  Sano frowned trying to figure out if that was the explanation for the last remark.   "Well, everyone's out.  If you want to wait inside,  Kenshin should be back shortly." Sano would rather not sit here with Aoshi.  Conversation with Aoshi was like pulling teeth out  , or rather, all his teeth out one tooth at a time.

"No," the man turned his back. "I will go tend to a few things and come back."

"Sure," Sanosuke shrugged.   He could care less whether the man stayed or came back later.   "But you can take your letter from Okina-san now, if that helps. It's in the main room."

Aoshi nodded, and with Sanosuke watching, went in and reemerged quickly.   "Thank you." He bowed again, "Please tell Himura that I will return later today."

Sano nodded, but then stiffened as he noted that Aoshi was carrying a stack of letters.  "I don't recall there being more than one letter to you, Shinomori."

"I will take the letters for Megumi-san and give them to her."

"I don't think so,"  Sano's expression darkened.  "Kenshin said that she'd be here herself to pick them up."

"They're from Okina-san."  Aoshi was evaluating Sanosuke quietly.

"That doesn't mean it's any of your business,"  Sano held out his hand, "You're not Okina or Megumi."

Aoshi took a step towards the door.  "You are simply making this more complicated than it need to be."

"I'm not letting you leave with those letters," Sano grasped the collar of Aoshi's jacket and glared at him.  "You may have a right to poke your nose into Okina's life, but not hers."

"And you do, Sagara?" Aoshi answered calmly.  "You walked out five years ago on your acquaintance with her, with no further word.  You don't even know the first thing about the decisions she has had to made, the problems she has since then."

Sano felt himself grow angry.  Was Aoshi implying that he and Megumi  were . . . together?!

 As I said," Aoshi detached himself from the other man's grasp. "You're making this more complicated than it ought to be.   She came to us for help, Sagara, and I and Okina agreed to help her."

So, was that it?  Sano cooled slightly.    "Is she in trouble?"

Aoshi sighed. "If she were in trouble, would I be sitting here having this discussion with you? You should at least know me well enough to say that I would have taken care of it already by now, Sagara."

"You have no personal interest in Megumi, then?"

Aoshi's expression turned cold. "I don't see that is any of  your business, Sagara-san."

"Why you," Sano was furious all over again.   "Give me her letters back.  I'll let her decide that for herself."  He reached in and attempted to grab the other man's arm.

Aoshi evaded the other man's blow and stepped aside.  "You're much better than you used to be. However, you are wasting my time and yours over such an insignificant thing."

"Well then, I'll just have to beat you and take back those letters, won't I?"  Sano grinned. 

Aoshi sighed, and calmly took off his jacket.  "I see from your stance that you have been trained in the martial arts."  He tossed the sword sheath that was hidden under the coat onto the ground.  "Very well then.  I will fight you with only my fists as well."

Sano smirked as took up his first stance.   Aoshi was smart enough to recognize the first style he used, but he wouldn't know that he had trained in several.  He would have that at least to his advantage.

For several moments they stared at one another.  Then, it was unclear who moved first, but they were soon leaping, bouncing, and jumping all over the courtyard , a flurry of fists and feet. 

They did not pause when a man and a woman entered through the front door.

"Ken-san!"  the woman's eyes opened.  "What is going on here?"

Kenshin looked at the trenchcoat on the ground and the letters scattered on top of it. 

He gathered several of them and handed them to the woman.  She scanned it quickly and pocketed them.

"Just men being men, I'm afraid, Megumi-dono."  

She turned her head worriedly.  "You have to stop it!" 

When he didn't move, she glared and ran into the courtyard, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!!!!!!!!!"

At the sound of her voice, the two men stopped suddenly mid air and then nimbly fell back to the ground, on opposite sides of her.

She stared at each of them horrified as she could see the trickle of blood down one chin and the purple welts on the face of the other. 

"Megumi-san."

"Kitsune!"  

As they each straightened up and she saw that neither was seriously hurt, she lost her temper.  "Fighting inside Kenshin and Kaoru's home.  Explain yourselves!"

Kenshin stepped forward then and placed his hand on Megumi's shoulder.  "I think whatever it was is not worth discussing now. Those letters came for you from Okina-san."

"Shinomori here was going to take them," Sano spoke up nursing his cheek.  "I wasn't about to let him just walk out with them."

"I was going to bring them to you." Aoshi responded coolly.

She punched each of them in the stomach.  "Idiots!" She hissed, "Do you have any idea how stupid you both sound?   I have a mind to let you both sit there and bleed all over your sorry selves."

Kenshin looked flustered, "I can take care of them, Megumi-dono.  Please don't go to the trouble." 

She stood there for a moment looking at the ground in anger.    "I appreciate it, Kenshin.  There are some  important things I must deal with right now.  Give Kaoru and Yahiko my regards.  I will come back later this week to say hello."

"Of course, Megumi-dono," Kenshin smiled weakly as the woman tossed her head and ignoring the two men beside her, strode out the door and back into the streets of Tokyo. 

= = = = = = =

A/N:  My apologies.  I am literally writing like crazy to get this up before I leave, so hopefully there aren't any big errors or gaps I've left behind.

I hope you enjoyed this first skirmish.  There are more to follow.   Between who I won't say.

One other thing -- I also hope it's understood that neither is in the right here.  There are some good points and intentions on both their parts.  I agree with both actually on some issues, but really, I also agree with Megumi.