Chapter 5
Green Tea
The next morning, the fighting boarders of the Kamiya dojo decided to take on the leaders of the Shinko style once more.
"Aki-San," said Kenshin. "Do you remember where their camp was?"
"I can't tell you where it is, but I could lead you there," she answered.
"No!" shouted Sano. "I don't want you ever going there again! We'll just find it ourselves!!"
She met him with an unmoved stare. "After that encounter with Shindo at the dojo, I've learned running away from my fights is too risky." Her expression suddenly changed to a smile. "So you're going to have to put up with an extra ally, okay?"
"These guys fight with blades of any kind, right?" asked Misao.
"Mostly swords, but some of them have other types of blades, that they do," explained Kenshin.
"Yes!!" Misao shouted.
"Alright!" Suzuka exclaimed. "My first fight in.two days."
"These guys also apparently have overactive...ano..let's say an overactive motivation when it comes to individuals of the other gender," Aki added.
Kaoru made an odd face and shuddered. Suzuka growled and popped her knuckles. "Heh," Misao said in response. "Those are easier to beat up!"
"I like the way you think!" Aki stated.
Yahiko put on a rather discombobulated face. "What are they talking about, Kenshin?"
"Oro.....Sano, maybe you'd like to explain...?"
"Oh, no, Kenshin, he asked you."
"Well, Sanosuke," said Aoshi. "I heard you have one of those things, too."
"You do, Sano?" Aki asked with a laugh before he could defend himself. "You never told me that. Tou-San most definitely didn't know."
Everyone tried to keep in high hearts, but as they drew nearer to the camp, their conversations faltered and eventually stopped as did their journey. They stared down at tents and sacks knowing what they held.
"Himura-San, Sagara-San!" the police captain said, walking up with a salute. "Ohayo. I've come to tell you that the leaders of the Shinko style are no longer here. They snuck off in the early morning to Yutaro- San's mansion. We have surrounded the edifice, but the perpetrators have taken he and his staff hostage."
"What are their demands?" asked Kenshin.
"They request the presence of Himura-San and Sagara-San seeing as they know of their ambitious nation. They request you come alone and unarmed."
Kaoru gasped, Suzuka growled, Aoshi's icy blue eyes turned to frozen metal, Yahiko glanced in the direction Yutaro's mansion was, Misao took out her knives, Kenshin nodded in acknowledgement, and Sano clenched his zan-batou. "Lead the way," Aki said coldly.
The group started toward the well-known mansion.
"Why are we stopping?" Kaoru asked. "They want you and Kenshin. Kenshin already left his sword with one of us."
"If they want a dirty fight," said Aki, handing Kenshin his sword back from Yahiko. "We'll fight dirty."
The rescue party huddled to formulate a plan.
~
"What are they up to?" asked one of the Shinko as he stared out the window.
"Why are the police retreating?" asked another.
"Where are Sagara and Himura?" There was a knock at the mansion door.
"That should be them."
"Chuei, get that."
"Hai."
Chuei went to the double doors of the mansion and opened them. There stood a policeman of low rank apparently. "I have a message. The captain of the patrol says Kenshin Himura and Akiyama Sagara will arrive here at approximately sunset." Not being one to take his rage out on a mere messenger, Chuei nodded, and shut the door.
"Sir," he reported. "Bad news, I'm afraid."
~
"Which window do you think the hostages are in?" Aki asked behind the tall trees of the Izu mansion.
"I've got them!" said Suzuka, looking through a telescope.
"Do you think you and Aoshi can take care of the hostage situation?"
"Aoshi should be here in a minute with a ladder that should reach the window."
"Good. Sir, do you think we could borrow any cloaks from the police force?"
"Of course, I'll just get one of my men to find a few, ma'am," the captain reassured her.
"Kenshin, when we get to the gate, don't go any further. Sano, Misao, Kaoru, Yahiko, you four wait behind the gate until they come at us. We've got an hour until sunset. There can't be any mistakes."
"Calm down, battleaxe, like you said, we have an hour," said Sano.
Aki sighed and shook her head. "I wish I had a battleaxe."
~
Yutaro hung his head. He had been tricked by the leaders of the Shinko style again. Yahiko would never let him live it down if he knew. After hours of waiting for Kenshin and Aki, Yutaro figured they probably left for Tokyo before they found out or ran off at the news. Quite frankly, he didn't blame them.
He looked up at his staff. They were all tied and bound just like him. He looked at the expressions on their faces. He knew exactly what they were thinking. This would have never happened if his father was still here. Their only hope now was a miracle. As if to torture him, the gang of thieves placed him right under the window, but too low to see out of it.
Suddenly, the window opened and a ninja smiled down to him. The newcomer propped the window up with a stick. Wasn't she at Gensai's house with Yahiko? She crept past everyone to the door. She tried to open it, but the kidnappers had locked it. Surprisingly, she took something out and picked the lock. She lowered her mask and took Yutaro's gag off.
"How many guards are there?" she asked in barely a whisper. He just realized, she looked a lot like Kenshin. He quickly gathered his senses and told her there were two, one on each side of the door. She nodded and signaled out the window. Another ninja, this one a man, climbed the ladder they had propped to the window. "Take care of the hostages, I'll tend to the guards."
The other ninja nodded and swiftly unbound everyone.
The first shinobi put some brass knuckles on and opened the door.
The guards, surprised, poked their heads inside. Their heads met with the shinobi's brass knuckles and nearly fell to the floor, but she caught them before they hit with a crash.
"What are your names?" Yutaro asked as the second shinobi unbound him.
"Now is not the time for questions, Yutaro-San," he answered, hefting him up and out the window, followed by everyone else.
~
Aki looked down at the cloak she now wore. Kenshin wore one similar. She wondered again how well this plan would work. She really couldn't tell until Suzuka and Aoshi came back. Or the leaders of the Shinko-ryu noticed there were hostages missing. Whichever came first. She looked out at the horizon. From the looks of it, they had about ten minutes.
She could see the rest of the police patrol escorting the hostages from the mansion, Suzuka and Aoshi bringing up the rear. Yutaro safely in Aoshi's arms.
Yutaro said something to Aoshi and he put him down. The small boy walked up to her and Kenshin, and smiled. "I would tell you to not let them take my father's house, but I know you won't. So, take care of yourselves. That goes for you, too, Myojin."
"Yeah, I hear you," Yahiko responded.
"We should start for the gates, that we should," Kenshin said.
"Everybody knows what to do, right?" Aki asked.
"We know, stay in the trees until we hear the jerks going for you," said Sano.
"Good luck, Kenshin!" Kaoru shouted, throwing her arms around his neck.
"Yeah," said Sano, throwing an arm around Aki. "Good luck to you, too, of course."
She looked at her friend with a grin. "Thanks."
The sun was just starting to set when the fighters set off again, four of them hidden in the trees.
~
"They should be here soon," said one of the Shinko-ryu as the sun started to set.
"Should I check on the prisoners?" asked another. "We haven't heard a peep from them or the guards all day."
"Yeah, those two should have at least asked to switch posts with two of us."
"Fine, Chuei, check on the prisoners."
Chuei nodded and ran down the hall.
"Do you think anything happened to them?"
"Not unless Himura and Sagara have an army of shinobi," the leader answered with a cackle.
"Sir!" said Chuei, slamming the doors open.
"What is it, you blithering idiot?"
"The prisoners are gone and the guards..."
"What about the guards?"
"They look like they were hit with brass knuckles."
The leader was speechless. "Maybe they do have an army of ninja! I told you we should take more caution with them, sir!" The leader looked out the window again.
"Himura and Sagara are here. Let's greet our guests, shall we?"
~
"Well," said Kenshin. "Here we are. The Shinko-ryu should be here any minute."
As if to answer, four or five dozen men with swords poured through the windows and doors of the mansion. They looked as if they were about to attack, but they stopped right in front of the two. "I assume you're alone? No weapons that I can see. Good. I'll give one more chance to join the nation. So, what'll it be?"
"Look," said Aki. "The revolution is over. And we lost. Get over it . Making a nation isn't going to do anything. Part of the United States tried to do that, they fought a war, they lost. That didn't even happen that long ago. No way am I going to be part of a doomed nation." Kenshin blinked. "I agree with Aki-San, that I do. What's the point in being part of something that's doomed to failure?"
The leader cackled and drew his sword. "You aren't unarmed, we know about the hostages and your little plan. Do you think we were stupid enough to ask you two to come unarmed and actually expect it? Now take off those cloaks and fight!"
After the fight started, Sano, Misao, Kaoru, and Yahiko came around the edges of the gates, and Suzuka and Aoshi leaped from the walls of the gates onto their opponents.
"I thought you were alone!" the leaders screamed as he and Aki fought.
"I thought you knew about our little plan!" she answered, parrying and riposting his attack, which landed, sending him tumbling unconscious to the ground.
After a while, the police patrol, holding swords broke in the fight, to help with the numbers. Finally after all their struggles, the battle was over, and the Shinko-ryu was put under arrest yet again.
~
A week later, all the tenants of the Kamiya dojo were safely back in Tokyo.
"Where's Aki?" asked Misao, lounging back on the porch.
"Auntie-Aki said she had to go see a patient," said Ayame.
"Yeah! A patient!" repeated Suzume.
"I guess no one in this house will ever die of sickness," said Dr. Gensai with his usual smile. "Three doctors in one dojo."
"Kaoru!!" screamed Yahiko coming around from the back of the house.
"What?!" Kaoru asked, opening the door.
"I'm hungry and there's nothing to eat around here!!"
"Yeah, Jou-Chan," said Sano. "Some of us have stomachs."
"If you slackers would get a job once in a while we wouldn't have this problem!!" Kaoru countered. "Do you know how hard it is to support a house full of freeloaders?!"
"Kaoru," said Ayame. "Auntie-Aki said to tell you she was going to some of her patients' house, and she thinks she'll get paid."
Kaoru sighed. "Finally, someone who understands and helps my situation. Make that six freeloaders and one active worker."
"Thank you, Isha-San," said one of Aki's patient's mother as she started to go a few hours later. "You're welcome, just remember to put those herbs in her tea every morning when she wakes up, and every night before she goes to sleep. And make sure she drinks a lot of liquids," she reminded the lady. "I have a few more errands to run. I'll come back next week to see how she's fairing."
"Oh, I almost forgot," she said. "Here's your payment, Isha-San."
"Domo," Aki said, adding the bag of yen to the others from earlier patients.
"Again, thank you, Nightingale-San," the woman added.
The two women bowed to each other as the doctor left. Aki shuddered a little. She had to get used to people calling her "Nightingale".
On her way back to the dojo, she made a B-line to the Akobeko.
"Konnichiwa, Aki-San," said Tae as she walked in.
"Konnichiwa, Tae-San."
"Can I help you with anything? Tsubame, would you mind taking care of this table?"
The small girl bowed to her employer and went about her work.
"Actually, this is about Sano's....what he calls his 'tab'. How much does he owe?" she asked the owner of the restaurant.
"Hm...Sanosuke-San's tab, why do you want to know?"
"I figured you might want it paid off."
"Oh, you don't have to do that, I'm sure he'll pay us off eventually."
"Think of it as a favor to a friend. Now, how much does he owe?"
"Here's a copy of his tab," said Tai, handing Aki a slip of paper.
"Sano likes to eat to his fill, huh?" she said, looking at the total amount. She looked at her pay for the day. She took a bag and handed it to Tae. "I think this should cover it."
Tae looked at the bag and seemed to be weighing it. "Yeah, this should be plenty, thank you Aki-San." Aki smiled and headed out the door.
"Since when does Sano have girls paying off his tab?" asked one of Sano's gambling friends who had apparently come in for lunch.
"Oh, that's Akiyama Sagara, she was one of his friends in the Sekihottai. From what I understand, she was Captain Sagara's daughter."
"He never told us anything about her."
"She just came to town about two weeks ago."
"Before I go," said Aki, coming back in. "Here, Tsubame-San," she said, handing the girl what seemed to be a necklace. "I saw in the market right after I left the dojo this morning and thought of you."
Tsubame blushed and bowed. "Arigatou. C-could you tell Yahiko I said hi?"
"No problem," Aki said with a smile. "I'll see you later, Tae-San and Tsubame-San," she said as she left again.
While she was walking down the street to the Kamiya dojo, Megumi noticed one of her friends, headed in the same direction, of course.
"Hello, Aki-Sama," she said, getting her attention. "On your way to see Ken- Sama?"
"Him and the rest of the people I live with," she answered.
"Have you been off seeing patients?" Megumi asked.
Aki nodded. "You?"
"Yes, the clinic is usually packed during flu season. From what those jingling bags on your hips say, I'd think all your customers were paying."
"No, I don't charge servants and beggars. People with no money to spare, you know."
"Auntie-Aki! Auntie-Megumi!" shouted two familiar voices.
The two small girls laughed as Aki picked them up, setting one on each hip.
"How's everything been here?" she asked as she walked up to the porch. "From this cheerful greeting, you'd think you haven't fed them in three days!"
"That's the way Yahiko's been acting as of late too," said Misao.
"Bye, everyone!" Kaoru as she dismissed her class out the door. "Welcome back, you two. How are your patients doing now?"
"Kaoru!!" shouted another familiar voice.
"Yes, Yahiko?" Kaoru trying to hide her anger with a smile.
"There's nothing here but a bunch of dried up sushi!!"
"If you can hold your stomach's growling for a few hours, I'll treat us to something at the Akobeko," Aki said.
"You mean you-" Kaoru said, speechless after those three words.
"Yup, tonight, we eat something other than cabinet dust."
"Yeah, cabinet dust!" Suzume said with a giggle.
"What about dust?" asked Kenshin, apparently coming back from housecleaning.
"We get to see Tae-San and Tsubame, Uncle Kenny!!" announced Ayame.
"We're going to the Akobeko?" Kenshin asked as Aki set the girls down.
"Yeah, Kenshin, where have you been?" asked Sano.
"And you," Aki said, glaring at him. "Owe me a very big favor."
"Why...?" he asked, confused.
"I paid off your tab," Aki said with the trademark Sagara smile as she went into the dojo.
"Auntie-Megumi!" Ayame and Suzume shouted. "Play with us!"
"I've had a long day with patients too, but it's nice to play every now and then," Megumi said, following the girls inside.
"Wait, I want to play, too," said Suzuka, running in after them.
"She paid off my tab at the Akobeko?" asked Sano, even more confused than when she explained.
"That's what she said," said Misao. "You know, they're both doctors, maybe one of them can tell me what these headaches are," she pondered, walking in after everyone else.
"She paid off my tab at the Akobeko?" Sano asked again. "Sano, I think you should go in and get some rest, you're starting to repeat yourself, that you are..." Kenshin said. "By the way Sano, how's your leg?"
"She paid off my tab at the Akobeko?"
"I think he's gone straight from repeating himself to shock," said Aoshi.
"Yes, Sano, Aki paid off your tab at the Akobeko," said Kenshin, walking his friend in.
~
"Is everyone ready?" Kaoru called through the dojo.
"You know I am," said Aki, walking in from the girl's room.
"Are we going to the Akobeko?" asked Yahiko, running in from the kitchen.
The door from the porch slid open and Sano hopped in, trying to get his other shoe on. "Yeah, I'm here."
"Hello, everyone," said Dr. Gensai walking up the front steps, Ayame and Suzume trailing behind him as usual.
"You say something, Kaoru?" asked Misao, walking in, standing next to Aki.
"I'm ready, Kaoru-San," announced Megumi, coming out from the back porch, Suzuka and Aoshi at her side.
"Kenshin!!" Kaoru called. "Where are you?!"
"Oro...sorry, Kaoru-Dono, I think the bucket attacked me," Kenshin said as he stumbled out of the classroom, his foot stuck in a bucket.
"Kenshin, this is no time to fooling around, we're about to go to the Akobeko," Kaoru scolded him. She eventually sighed and helped the small wanderer pry the offending mop-bucket from his foot.
"Yes!!" Yahiko shouted as everyone walked down the familiar Tokyo street.. "Food!"
"Kenny, is this the restaurant I came to the first day I was in Tokyo?" Suzuka asked.
Kenshin nodded. "That it is, Itoko-Chan."
"Oh, okay, just refreshing my memory," she explained.
"Well, what do we want to eat?" Kaoru asked. Ayame, Suzume, and Yahiko shouted a few suggestions excitedly. "Um, Aki-San has the money, why not ask what she can afford?"
"Didn't I tell you? I rented the Akobeko for the night. We've got the whole place to ourselves. At least until they close," Aki explained.
"Exactly how many patients did you see today?" asked Megumi, rather bewildered.
"Hm," Aki said in concentration. "Let's say I have the rest of the cases of the flu in Tokyo. Servants and beggars not included."
"Hey, Kenshin," said Sano. "That guy walking down the street is that...Saito?"
Kenshin looked in the direction Sano was looking. "I think it is."
"Who's that woman with him?"
"That must be Tokiyo! We finally get to meet her! Hey, and there's Eiji!" Misao exclaimed.
"Who?" asked Sano.
"Tokiyo is Saito's wife, that she is," Kenshin answered.
"And Eiji's this kid we found while we were on our way to Kyoto," Misao clarified cheerfully. "You should meet him, Aki."
"If we keep standing here we could wait for them to come to us," Aki said.
"Well, if it isn't Himura," Saito said as he and his company approached. "Looks like you've added a few to your company, too. What kind of animals did you stumble upon this time?"
Aki and Suzuka gave each other strange look. What was he talking about?
"Now, Hajime, you should be more polite to your friends," his black-haired wife stated.
"Himura doesn't mind, it's an inside joke. See, Kaoru, here, is a raccoon. Megumi is a fox. And the smaller one is a rat. I mean a weasel."
"HEY! WHAT WAS THAT 'RAT' CRACK FOR?!" Misao retorted.
"We'd better get to the Akobeko. Saito, was it? You three can come, too. We've got the whole night with the whole restaurant for you to explain." Aki said, noticing the time. Sano crossed his arms and started grumbling under his breath as they started out again.
"I've got it," Saito said. "That one's a wolf," he added, pointing to Aki. "And that one's a panther," he finished, pointing to Suzuka. "You finally found some worthy animals of prey, Himura."
"Now you're part of the family," Misao said dryly.
"Or in Aki-Sama's case, part of the pack," Megumi said with a small cackle. Suzuka quietly chuckled and shook her head.
"Eiji, how've you been?" Misao asked.
"Yes, Eiji, how have you been fairing since the last time we saw you?" Kenshin added to the inquisition.
"A lot better," he said simply.
"Here we are," Aki said as they finally got to the Akobeko. "Hello, Tae- San. I hope you don't mind if I brought a few more friends than I intended."
"There's no problem there, I've told everyone the restaurant's closed early, and you've already paid for tonight. I got a few friends help bring out a table. So, sit and enjoy your night."
"Say, Tae," Sano said as everyone took a seat. "When you said you got a few friends to help out, did you mean--?"
"Hey, Sano!" said a familiar voice, bringing in the appetizers.
"What? Did Tae force you to work here, or did you willingly get a job?" Sano asked.
Another one of his friends walked in and answered, "Actually, we volunteered to help Tae so we could meet this mysterious girl you never told us about."
"Oh, you mean the battleaxe?" Sano decided to change introductions after a Aki delivered a hard elbow in the ribs. "I mean, Aki."
"Yeah, from what Tae says, she's been in Tokyo long enough for you to at least mention her. I mean, I was just sitting there eating lunch today, and all of a sudden, this lady walks in and says she wants to pay your tab for you. What are we supposed to think? I thought you went insane and kidnapped her for her money and she was doing your bidding."
"Sano? Kidnap anything? He may mooch off his friends, but he wouldn't do that."
"Yeah, I thought she was sister after I heard her name for the first time."
"Nope, he may have stolen my surname, but we're not blood-related in the least."
"Um, right, guys, this is Aki," Sano explained.
"Tae already told us that."
"Yeah, we were just waiting for you to tell."
"Guys, I think you should let our guests eat," Tae said, walking in, Tsubame close behind. After everyone had their fill of appetizers and dinner, the table was taken into the back and everyone sat in the middle of the restaurant-including the staff-and had their own friendly conversations.
"Saito, how did you get those names for Aki and Suzuka?" Sano asked, slightly curious.
"Takahashi is exceedingly quiet, but she gives off the air of something that could hurt you if you get on her bad side," the policeman explained. "And Sagara-the other-could be part of a pack, but she's also dangerous individually."
"Hajime, what animal would I be?" Tokiyo asked with a sly grin. "And it better not be a rodent," she finished with a threatening death glare.
"Of course you're not a rodent, dear," Saito answered, a bit on the nervous side.
"Well, what kind of animal would she be, Saito?" Aki said, lifting an eyebrow.
"Yeah, Saito, what animal would she be?" Sano added.
Everyone leaned in, waiting for his answer. Tokiyo smiled and batted her eyes. For some reason, that seemed to frighten him.
"You are the most noble of all creatures," he said, obviously thinking. "A deliverer of good omens, yet imposing. You are the almighty dragon."
"What, might I ask is your definition of 'imposing'?" his wife asked, batting her eyes a little more. Apparently that look meant "say the right thing or you sleep in the dog house for a week, cause you ain't getting in mine, pal."
"Imposingly all-knowing, my dear," Saito explained.
"Oh, darling, you're so flattering!" Tokiyo said, grabbing his arm as he sighed in relief. Aki and Misao looked at each other in disbelief and immediately started laughing. "That was smooth, Saito," Aki said sarcastically.
"Oh, I just remembered," Tae said. "Guys, I have some extra saké in the back I've been saving for a special event. You think this is special enough?"
"Sano got his tab paid off!" one of Sano's friends said.
"I'd say a miracle is worthy of extra saké any day!" the other added as they got up and headed for the back.
"Why DID you pay off the tab, Aki? You didn't have to. I would have paid it off eventually," Sano said.
"What? Were you going to pay it while in your coffin?" Aki asked. "Besides, now we're even again," she finished with a smile.
"I'd say you're more than even!" Sano's friends said as they brought in five jugs of saké
"Sano, you owe Aki a load of favors, that you do," Kenshin said with a laugh.
"Oh, and no one owes me anything?!" Kaoru inquired, rearing a fist back while pulling back a sleeve.
"No, Kaoru-Dono, that's not what I was saying! We owe you a lot that we do!" Kenshin defended himself with.
"He's right, Kaoru-San, most everyone here owe you more than they let on," Aki added.
After a while of arguing, everyone eventually came to agreements with their disputes. Except, for some reason no one could understand but them, Aki and Sano. Their fight had been about something that happened in the Sekihottai ten years ago, so everyone stayed out of it. The only thing was, they didn't show any sign of stopping. Finally, one if Sano's friends got an idea of how to stop the disagreement.
"Sano, why don't you do what we do when we get into something like that?" he asked, the idea somehow just dawning on him.
"You mean a drinking contest?" the other inquired.
"Yeah! That's it! No one can out-drink Sano, but we've never seen him go up against a woman before, this should be interesting."
"I don't know, guys, she might not be up to it," Sano said.
"What's the matter Sano? Are you chicken or something?" Aki asked.
"Not all of him, just his head," one of the acquaintances explained.
All of a sudden, Misao burst out into laughter. "HIS HEAD DOES LOOK LIKE A CHICKEN!!"
"Come on, Sano-Kun, stop acting the big brother for once," Aki said, crossing her arms. "You don't think I've never had a drink in my life, do you? I've done quite well on my own for ten years without you. Not that I don't want you around, of course."
"Fine," said Sano, finally giving in. "Get two jugs."
"We're drinking straight from the jugs? I may have a drink every now and then, but I also have manners."
"You have a glass."
"Oh, right, just a second." She looked around for a bit and then poured her water over Yahiko's head.
"What was that for?!" he asked.
"I heard that snicker!" Aki said.
"It...was a sneeze."
"Right, Yahiko," said Misao. "And I'm an eighty-four year-old man."
"I don't know about everyone else, but I'm taking bets on this one," Suzuka said.
"My money's on Sano," said Yahiko. "Of course I don't HAVE any."
"I don't think anyone here has any money except Aki-San," Kenshin said.
"Okay then, no money. Just votes. What do the rest of you think then?" Suzuka asked.
"Aki-San, of course," Kaoru said with a chuckle.
"I say Aki-San, that I do," Kenshin added.
"The wolf," Saito and Tokiyo said in unison.
"Aki-Chan, of course," Misao put in.
"We haven't known Aki that long, and the baka forgot about her, so Aki, of course," one of Sano's friends.
"Aki-San," said Tsubame said in a small voice. "Sorry, Yahiko-Chan, she's been nice to me lately."
"Of course I would go for the one who pays," Tae said.
"The doctor of course," Megumi said.
"Auntie-Aki!" Ayame said excitedly.
"Yeah! Auntie-Aki!" Suzume repeated.
"Well, I guess you know who I'm going for," Dr. Gensai said with a slightly surprised smile at his granddaughters.
"What do you say, Eiji?" Misao asked the small boy.
Eiji examined the two contestants consideringly. "The girl."
"What about you, Aoshi-Sama?" Misao inquired.
"I'm going to go with the majority and common sense here. Aki."
"What about the bookkeeper?" Sano asked Suzuka, rather annoyed at the current moment.
"What do I look like? A baka? You have one vote out of sixteen! Of course I'd go with Aki," she explained. "Besides, no one wants the wrath of the battleaxe. Except maybe Yahiko."
"Can I change my vote?" Yahiko asked.
The boy was answered with a chorus of "No!".
"Daijovu, Yahiko-Chan," said Tsubame patting him on the back.
"When are you two going to start?" he asked after he noticed he was blushing furiously and everyone was watching.
Aki and Sano shook their heads and started.
After a while Sano started feeling woozy and started to sway. Aki didn't seem the least bit phased. No matter how phased Sano was, he kept drinking, as did Aki.
"One more," was all anyone was able to decode from Sano's slurring. He said something else no one could quite catch, covered his mouth, and stumbled out of the restaurant as fast as he could. Everyone winced as they heard his stomach empty its contents into an empty barrel.
"How did you keep drinking all that time without doing...that?" Misao asked, pointing outside.
Aki handed her the jug of saké she had been using. Misao took a swig and started laughing.
"What is it, Misao-San?" Kenshin asked.
"Green tea," she said, unable to stop laughing.
"Aki-Sama, you're a little cheat, aren't you?" Megumi asked.
"Hey, I just drank what was in front of me," Aki explained. "And the jug SAYS 'saké'. I just didn't say anything when I tasted green tea. Besides, he owed me a favor, and I needed a laugh. He won't be laughing in the morning...."
"I'll say," said Misao, now in a small fit of giggles.
AN: I decided to do a character poll. It works like this: Review and tell me who your favorite character is. I'll have the results soon. The choices are:
Kenshin
Karou
Megumi
Sano
Aki
Suzuka
Misao
Aoshi
Yahiko
Ayame & Suzume
And of course any others you like.
Green Tea
The next morning, the fighting boarders of the Kamiya dojo decided to take on the leaders of the Shinko style once more.
"Aki-San," said Kenshin. "Do you remember where their camp was?"
"I can't tell you where it is, but I could lead you there," she answered.
"No!" shouted Sano. "I don't want you ever going there again! We'll just find it ourselves!!"
She met him with an unmoved stare. "After that encounter with Shindo at the dojo, I've learned running away from my fights is too risky." Her expression suddenly changed to a smile. "So you're going to have to put up with an extra ally, okay?"
"These guys fight with blades of any kind, right?" asked Misao.
"Mostly swords, but some of them have other types of blades, that they do," explained Kenshin.
"Yes!!" Misao shouted.
"Alright!" Suzuka exclaimed. "My first fight in.two days."
"These guys also apparently have overactive...ano..let's say an overactive motivation when it comes to individuals of the other gender," Aki added.
Kaoru made an odd face and shuddered. Suzuka growled and popped her knuckles. "Heh," Misao said in response. "Those are easier to beat up!"
"I like the way you think!" Aki stated.
Yahiko put on a rather discombobulated face. "What are they talking about, Kenshin?"
"Oro.....Sano, maybe you'd like to explain...?"
"Oh, no, Kenshin, he asked you."
"Well, Sanosuke," said Aoshi. "I heard you have one of those things, too."
"You do, Sano?" Aki asked with a laugh before he could defend himself. "You never told me that. Tou-San most definitely didn't know."
Everyone tried to keep in high hearts, but as they drew nearer to the camp, their conversations faltered and eventually stopped as did their journey. They stared down at tents and sacks knowing what they held.
"Himura-San, Sagara-San!" the police captain said, walking up with a salute. "Ohayo. I've come to tell you that the leaders of the Shinko style are no longer here. They snuck off in the early morning to Yutaro- San's mansion. We have surrounded the edifice, but the perpetrators have taken he and his staff hostage."
"What are their demands?" asked Kenshin.
"They request the presence of Himura-San and Sagara-San seeing as they know of their ambitious nation. They request you come alone and unarmed."
Kaoru gasped, Suzuka growled, Aoshi's icy blue eyes turned to frozen metal, Yahiko glanced in the direction Yutaro's mansion was, Misao took out her knives, Kenshin nodded in acknowledgement, and Sano clenched his zan-batou. "Lead the way," Aki said coldly.
The group started toward the well-known mansion.
"Why are we stopping?" Kaoru asked. "They want you and Kenshin. Kenshin already left his sword with one of us."
"If they want a dirty fight," said Aki, handing Kenshin his sword back from Yahiko. "We'll fight dirty."
The rescue party huddled to formulate a plan.
~
"What are they up to?" asked one of the Shinko as he stared out the window.
"Why are the police retreating?" asked another.
"Where are Sagara and Himura?" There was a knock at the mansion door.
"That should be them."
"Chuei, get that."
"Hai."
Chuei went to the double doors of the mansion and opened them. There stood a policeman of low rank apparently. "I have a message. The captain of the patrol says Kenshin Himura and Akiyama Sagara will arrive here at approximately sunset." Not being one to take his rage out on a mere messenger, Chuei nodded, and shut the door.
"Sir," he reported. "Bad news, I'm afraid."
~
"Which window do you think the hostages are in?" Aki asked behind the tall trees of the Izu mansion.
"I've got them!" said Suzuka, looking through a telescope.
"Do you think you and Aoshi can take care of the hostage situation?"
"Aoshi should be here in a minute with a ladder that should reach the window."
"Good. Sir, do you think we could borrow any cloaks from the police force?"
"Of course, I'll just get one of my men to find a few, ma'am," the captain reassured her.
"Kenshin, when we get to the gate, don't go any further. Sano, Misao, Kaoru, Yahiko, you four wait behind the gate until they come at us. We've got an hour until sunset. There can't be any mistakes."
"Calm down, battleaxe, like you said, we have an hour," said Sano.
Aki sighed and shook her head. "I wish I had a battleaxe."
~
Yutaro hung his head. He had been tricked by the leaders of the Shinko style again. Yahiko would never let him live it down if he knew. After hours of waiting for Kenshin and Aki, Yutaro figured they probably left for Tokyo before they found out or ran off at the news. Quite frankly, he didn't blame them.
He looked up at his staff. They were all tied and bound just like him. He looked at the expressions on their faces. He knew exactly what they were thinking. This would have never happened if his father was still here. Their only hope now was a miracle. As if to torture him, the gang of thieves placed him right under the window, but too low to see out of it.
Suddenly, the window opened and a ninja smiled down to him. The newcomer propped the window up with a stick. Wasn't she at Gensai's house with Yahiko? She crept past everyone to the door. She tried to open it, but the kidnappers had locked it. Surprisingly, she took something out and picked the lock. She lowered her mask and took Yutaro's gag off.
"How many guards are there?" she asked in barely a whisper. He just realized, she looked a lot like Kenshin. He quickly gathered his senses and told her there were two, one on each side of the door. She nodded and signaled out the window. Another ninja, this one a man, climbed the ladder they had propped to the window. "Take care of the hostages, I'll tend to the guards."
The other ninja nodded and swiftly unbound everyone.
The first shinobi put some brass knuckles on and opened the door.
The guards, surprised, poked their heads inside. Their heads met with the shinobi's brass knuckles and nearly fell to the floor, but she caught them before they hit with a crash.
"What are your names?" Yutaro asked as the second shinobi unbound him.
"Now is not the time for questions, Yutaro-San," he answered, hefting him up and out the window, followed by everyone else.
~
Aki looked down at the cloak she now wore. Kenshin wore one similar. She wondered again how well this plan would work. She really couldn't tell until Suzuka and Aoshi came back. Or the leaders of the Shinko-ryu noticed there were hostages missing. Whichever came first. She looked out at the horizon. From the looks of it, they had about ten minutes.
She could see the rest of the police patrol escorting the hostages from the mansion, Suzuka and Aoshi bringing up the rear. Yutaro safely in Aoshi's arms.
Yutaro said something to Aoshi and he put him down. The small boy walked up to her and Kenshin, and smiled. "I would tell you to not let them take my father's house, but I know you won't. So, take care of yourselves. That goes for you, too, Myojin."
"Yeah, I hear you," Yahiko responded.
"We should start for the gates, that we should," Kenshin said.
"Everybody knows what to do, right?" Aki asked.
"We know, stay in the trees until we hear the jerks going for you," said Sano.
"Good luck, Kenshin!" Kaoru shouted, throwing her arms around his neck.
"Yeah," said Sano, throwing an arm around Aki. "Good luck to you, too, of course."
She looked at her friend with a grin. "Thanks."
The sun was just starting to set when the fighters set off again, four of them hidden in the trees.
~
"They should be here soon," said one of the Shinko-ryu as the sun started to set.
"Should I check on the prisoners?" asked another. "We haven't heard a peep from them or the guards all day."
"Yeah, those two should have at least asked to switch posts with two of us."
"Fine, Chuei, check on the prisoners."
Chuei nodded and ran down the hall.
"Do you think anything happened to them?"
"Not unless Himura and Sagara have an army of shinobi," the leader answered with a cackle.
"Sir!" said Chuei, slamming the doors open.
"What is it, you blithering idiot?"
"The prisoners are gone and the guards..."
"What about the guards?"
"They look like they were hit with brass knuckles."
The leader was speechless. "Maybe they do have an army of ninja! I told you we should take more caution with them, sir!" The leader looked out the window again.
"Himura and Sagara are here. Let's greet our guests, shall we?"
~
"Well," said Kenshin. "Here we are. The Shinko-ryu should be here any minute."
As if to answer, four or five dozen men with swords poured through the windows and doors of the mansion. They looked as if they were about to attack, but they stopped right in front of the two. "I assume you're alone? No weapons that I can see. Good. I'll give one more chance to join the nation. So, what'll it be?"
"Look," said Aki. "The revolution is over. And we lost. Get over it . Making a nation isn't going to do anything. Part of the United States tried to do that, they fought a war, they lost. That didn't even happen that long ago. No way am I going to be part of a doomed nation." Kenshin blinked. "I agree with Aki-San, that I do. What's the point in being part of something that's doomed to failure?"
The leader cackled and drew his sword. "You aren't unarmed, we know about the hostages and your little plan. Do you think we were stupid enough to ask you two to come unarmed and actually expect it? Now take off those cloaks and fight!"
After the fight started, Sano, Misao, Kaoru, and Yahiko came around the edges of the gates, and Suzuka and Aoshi leaped from the walls of the gates onto their opponents.
"I thought you were alone!" the leaders screamed as he and Aki fought.
"I thought you knew about our little plan!" she answered, parrying and riposting his attack, which landed, sending him tumbling unconscious to the ground.
After a while, the police patrol, holding swords broke in the fight, to help with the numbers. Finally after all their struggles, the battle was over, and the Shinko-ryu was put under arrest yet again.
~
A week later, all the tenants of the Kamiya dojo were safely back in Tokyo.
"Where's Aki?" asked Misao, lounging back on the porch.
"Auntie-Aki said she had to go see a patient," said Ayame.
"Yeah! A patient!" repeated Suzume.
"I guess no one in this house will ever die of sickness," said Dr. Gensai with his usual smile. "Three doctors in one dojo."
"Kaoru!!" screamed Yahiko coming around from the back of the house.
"What?!" Kaoru asked, opening the door.
"I'm hungry and there's nothing to eat around here!!"
"Yeah, Jou-Chan," said Sano. "Some of us have stomachs."
"If you slackers would get a job once in a while we wouldn't have this problem!!" Kaoru countered. "Do you know how hard it is to support a house full of freeloaders?!"
"Kaoru," said Ayame. "Auntie-Aki said to tell you she was going to some of her patients' house, and she thinks she'll get paid."
Kaoru sighed. "Finally, someone who understands and helps my situation. Make that six freeloaders and one active worker."
"Thank you, Isha-San," said one of Aki's patient's mother as she started to go a few hours later. "You're welcome, just remember to put those herbs in her tea every morning when she wakes up, and every night before she goes to sleep. And make sure she drinks a lot of liquids," she reminded the lady. "I have a few more errands to run. I'll come back next week to see how she's fairing."
"Oh, I almost forgot," she said. "Here's your payment, Isha-San."
"Domo," Aki said, adding the bag of yen to the others from earlier patients.
"Again, thank you, Nightingale-San," the woman added.
The two women bowed to each other as the doctor left. Aki shuddered a little. She had to get used to people calling her "Nightingale".
On her way back to the dojo, she made a B-line to the Akobeko.
"Konnichiwa, Aki-San," said Tae as she walked in.
"Konnichiwa, Tae-San."
"Can I help you with anything? Tsubame, would you mind taking care of this table?"
The small girl bowed to her employer and went about her work.
"Actually, this is about Sano's....what he calls his 'tab'. How much does he owe?" she asked the owner of the restaurant.
"Hm...Sanosuke-San's tab, why do you want to know?"
"I figured you might want it paid off."
"Oh, you don't have to do that, I'm sure he'll pay us off eventually."
"Think of it as a favor to a friend. Now, how much does he owe?"
"Here's a copy of his tab," said Tai, handing Aki a slip of paper.
"Sano likes to eat to his fill, huh?" she said, looking at the total amount. She looked at her pay for the day. She took a bag and handed it to Tae. "I think this should cover it."
Tae looked at the bag and seemed to be weighing it. "Yeah, this should be plenty, thank you Aki-San." Aki smiled and headed out the door.
"Since when does Sano have girls paying off his tab?" asked one of Sano's gambling friends who had apparently come in for lunch.
"Oh, that's Akiyama Sagara, she was one of his friends in the Sekihottai. From what I understand, she was Captain Sagara's daughter."
"He never told us anything about her."
"She just came to town about two weeks ago."
"Before I go," said Aki, coming back in. "Here, Tsubame-San," she said, handing the girl what seemed to be a necklace. "I saw in the market right after I left the dojo this morning and thought of you."
Tsubame blushed and bowed. "Arigatou. C-could you tell Yahiko I said hi?"
"No problem," Aki said with a smile. "I'll see you later, Tae-San and Tsubame-San," she said as she left again.
While she was walking down the street to the Kamiya dojo, Megumi noticed one of her friends, headed in the same direction, of course.
"Hello, Aki-Sama," she said, getting her attention. "On your way to see Ken- Sama?"
"Him and the rest of the people I live with," she answered.
"Have you been off seeing patients?" Megumi asked.
Aki nodded. "You?"
"Yes, the clinic is usually packed during flu season. From what those jingling bags on your hips say, I'd think all your customers were paying."
"No, I don't charge servants and beggars. People with no money to spare, you know."
"Auntie-Aki! Auntie-Megumi!" shouted two familiar voices.
The two small girls laughed as Aki picked them up, setting one on each hip.
"How's everything been here?" she asked as she walked up to the porch. "From this cheerful greeting, you'd think you haven't fed them in three days!"
"That's the way Yahiko's been acting as of late too," said Misao.
"Bye, everyone!" Kaoru as she dismissed her class out the door. "Welcome back, you two. How are your patients doing now?"
"Kaoru!!" shouted another familiar voice.
"Yes, Yahiko?" Kaoru trying to hide her anger with a smile.
"There's nothing here but a bunch of dried up sushi!!"
"If you can hold your stomach's growling for a few hours, I'll treat us to something at the Akobeko," Aki said.
"You mean you-" Kaoru said, speechless after those three words.
"Yup, tonight, we eat something other than cabinet dust."
"Yeah, cabinet dust!" Suzume said with a giggle.
"What about dust?" asked Kenshin, apparently coming back from housecleaning.
"We get to see Tae-San and Tsubame, Uncle Kenny!!" announced Ayame.
"We're going to the Akobeko?" Kenshin asked as Aki set the girls down.
"Yeah, Kenshin, where have you been?" asked Sano.
"And you," Aki said, glaring at him. "Owe me a very big favor."
"Why...?" he asked, confused.
"I paid off your tab," Aki said with the trademark Sagara smile as she went into the dojo.
"Auntie-Megumi!" Ayame and Suzume shouted. "Play with us!"
"I've had a long day with patients too, but it's nice to play every now and then," Megumi said, following the girls inside.
"Wait, I want to play, too," said Suzuka, running in after them.
"She paid off my tab at the Akobeko?" asked Sano, even more confused than when she explained.
"That's what she said," said Misao. "You know, they're both doctors, maybe one of them can tell me what these headaches are," she pondered, walking in after everyone else.
"She paid off my tab at the Akobeko?" Sano asked again. "Sano, I think you should go in and get some rest, you're starting to repeat yourself, that you are..." Kenshin said. "By the way Sano, how's your leg?"
"She paid off my tab at the Akobeko?"
"I think he's gone straight from repeating himself to shock," said Aoshi.
"Yes, Sano, Aki paid off your tab at the Akobeko," said Kenshin, walking his friend in.
~
"Is everyone ready?" Kaoru called through the dojo.
"You know I am," said Aki, walking in from the girl's room.
"Are we going to the Akobeko?" asked Yahiko, running in from the kitchen.
The door from the porch slid open and Sano hopped in, trying to get his other shoe on. "Yeah, I'm here."
"Hello, everyone," said Dr. Gensai walking up the front steps, Ayame and Suzume trailing behind him as usual.
"You say something, Kaoru?" asked Misao, walking in, standing next to Aki.
"I'm ready, Kaoru-San," announced Megumi, coming out from the back porch, Suzuka and Aoshi at her side.
"Kenshin!!" Kaoru called. "Where are you?!"
"Oro...sorry, Kaoru-Dono, I think the bucket attacked me," Kenshin said as he stumbled out of the classroom, his foot stuck in a bucket.
"Kenshin, this is no time to fooling around, we're about to go to the Akobeko," Kaoru scolded him. She eventually sighed and helped the small wanderer pry the offending mop-bucket from his foot.
"Yes!!" Yahiko shouted as everyone walked down the familiar Tokyo street.. "Food!"
"Kenny, is this the restaurant I came to the first day I was in Tokyo?" Suzuka asked.
Kenshin nodded. "That it is, Itoko-Chan."
"Oh, okay, just refreshing my memory," she explained.
"Well, what do we want to eat?" Kaoru asked. Ayame, Suzume, and Yahiko shouted a few suggestions excitedly. "Um, Aki-San has the money, why not ask what she can afford?"
"Didn't I tell you? I rented the Akobeko for the night. We've got the whole place to ourselves. At least until they close," Aki explained.
"Exactly how many patients did you see today?" asked Megumi, rather bewildered.
"Hm," Aki said in concentration. "Let's say I have the rest of the cases of the flu in Tokyo. Servants and beggars not included."
"Hey, Kenshin," said Sano. "That guy walking down the street is that...Saito?"
Kenshin looked in the direction Sano was looking. "I think it is."
"Who's that woman with him?"
"That must be Tokiyo! We finally get to meet her! Hey, and there's Eiji!" Misao exclaimed.
"Who?" asked Sano.
"Tokiyo is Saito's wife, that she is," Kenshin answered.
"And Eiji's this kid we found while we were on our way to Kyoto," Misao clarified cheerfully. "You should meet him, Aki."
"If we keep standing here we could wait for them to come to us," Aki said.
"Well, if it isn't Himura," Saito said as he and his company approached. "Looks like you've added a few to your company, too. What kind of animals did you stumble upon this time?"
Aki and Suzuka gave each other strange look. What was he talking about?
"Now, Hajime, you should be more polite to your friends," his black-haired wife stated.
"Himura doesn't mind, it's an inside joke. See, Kaoru, here, is a raccoon. Megumi is a fox. And the smaller one is a rat. I mean a weasel."
"HEY! WHAT WAS THAT 'RAT' CRACK FOR?!" Misao retorted.
"We'd better get to the Akobeko. Saito, was it? You three can come, too. We've got the whole night with the whole restaurant for you to explain." Aki said, noticing the time. Sano crossed his arms and started grumbling under his breath as they started out again.
"I've got it," Saito said. "That one's a wolf," he added, pointing to Aki. "And that one's a panther," he finished, pointing to Suzuka. "You finally found some worthy animals of prey, Himura."
"Now you're part of the family," Misao said dryly.
"Or in Aki-Sama's case, part of the pack," Megumi said with a small cackle. Suzuka quietly chuckled and shook her head.
"Eiji, how've you been?" Misao asked.
"Yes, Eiji, how have you been fairing since the last time we saw you?" Kenshin added to the inquisition.
"A lot better," he said simply.
"Here we are," Aki said as they finally got to the Akobeko. "Hello, Tae- San. I hope you don't mind if I brought a few more friends than I intended."
"There's no problem there, I've told everyone the restaurant's closed early, and you've already paid for tonight. I got a few friends help bring out a table. So, sit and enjoy your night."
"Say, Tae," Sano said as everyone took a seat. "When you said you got a few friends to help out, did you mean--?"
"Hey, Sano!" said a familiar voice, bringing in the appetizers.
"What? Did Tae force you to work here, or did you willingly get a job?" Sano asked.
Another one of his friends walked in and answered, "Actually, we volunteered to help Tae so we could meet this mysterious girl you never told us about."
"Oh, you mean the battleaxe?" Sano decided to change introductions after a Aki delivered a hard elbow in the ribs. "I mean, Aki."
"Yeah, from what Tae says, she's been in Tokyo long enough for you to at least mention her. I mean, I was just sitting there eating lunch today, and all of a sudden, this lady walks in and says she wants to pay your tab for you. What are we supposed to think? I thought you went insane and kidnapped her for her money and she was doing your bidding."
"Sano? Kidnap anything? He may mooch off his friends, but he wouldn't do that."
"Yeah, I thought she was sister after I heard her name for the first time."
"Nope, he may have stolen my surname, but we're not blood-related in the least."
"Um, right, guys, this is Aki," Sano explained.
"Tae already told us that."
"Yeah, we were just waiting for you to tell."
"Guys, I think you should let our guests eat," Tae said, walking in, Tsubame close behind. After everyone had their fill of appetizers and dinner, the table was taken into the back and everyone sat in the middle of the restaurant-including the staff-and had their own friendly conversations.
"Saito, how did you get those names for Aki and Suzuka?" Sano asked, slightly curious.
"Takahashi is exceedingly quiet, but she gives off the air of something that could hurt you if you get on her bad side," the policeman explained. "And Sagara-the other-could be part of a pack, but she's also dangerous individually."
"Hajime, what animal would I be?" Tokiyo asked with a sly grin. "And it better not be a rodent," she finished with a threatening death glare.
"Of course you're not a rodent, dear," Saito answered, a bit on the nervous side.
"Well, what kind of animal would she be, Saito?" Aki said, lifting an eyebrow.
"Yeah, Saito, what animal would she be?" Sano added.
Everyone leaned in, waiting for his answer. Tokiyo smiled and batted her eyes. For some reason, that seemed to frighten him.
"You are the most noble of all creatures," he said, obviously thinking. "A deliverer of good omens, yet imposing. You are the almighty dragon."
"What, might I ask is your definition of 'imposing'?" his wife asked, batting her eyes a little more. Apparently that look meant "say the right thing or you sleep in the dog house for a week, cause you ain't getting in mine, pal."
"Imposingly all-knowing, my dear," Saito explained.
"Oh, darling, you're so flattering!" Tokiyo said, grabbing his arm as he sighed in relief. Aki and Misao looked at each other in disbelief and immediately started laughing. "That was smooth, Saito," Aki said sarcastically.
"Oh, I just remembered," Tae said. "Guys, I have some extra saké in the back I've been saving for a special event. You think this is special enough?"
"Sano got his tab paid off!" one of Sano's friends said.
"I'd say a miracle is worthy of extra saké any day!" the other added as they got up and headed for the back.
"Why DID you pay off the tab, Aki? You didn't have to. I would have paid it off eventually," Sano said.
"What? Were you going to pay it while in your coffin?" Aki asked. "Besides, now we're even again," she finished with a smile.
"I'd say you're more than even!" Sano's friends said as they brought in five jugs of saké
"Sano, you owe Aki a load of favors, that you do," Kenshin said with a laugh.
"Oh, and no one owes me anything?!" Kaoru inquired, rearing a fist back while pulling back a sleeve.
"No, Kaoru-Dono, that's not what I was saying! We owe you a lot that we do!" Kenshin defended himself with.
"He's right, Kaoru-San, most everyone here owe you more than they let on," Aki added.
After a while of arguing, everyone eventually came to agreements with their disputes. Except, for some reason no one could understand but them, Aki and Sano. Their fight had been about something that happened in the Sekihottai ten years ago, so everyone stayed out of it. The only thing was, they didn't show any sign of stopping. Finally, one if Sano's friends got an idea of how to stop the disagreement.
"Sano, why don't you do what we do when we get into something like that?" he asked, the idea somehow just dawning on him.
"You mean a drinking contest?" the other inquired.
"Yeah! That's it! No one can out-drink Sano, but we've never seen him go up against a woman before, this should be interesting."
"I don't know, guys, she might not be up to it," Sano said.
"What's the matter Sano? Are you chicken or something?" Aki asked.
"Not all of him, just his head," one of the acquaintances explained.
All of a sudden, Misao burst out into laughter. "HIS HEAD DOES LOOK LIKE A CHICKEN!!"
"Come on, Sano-Kun, stop acting the big brother for once," Aki said, crossing her arms. "You don't think I've never had a drink in my life, do you? I've done quite well on my own for ten years without you. Not that I don't want you around, of course."
"Fine," said Sano, finally giving in. "Get two jugs."
"We're drinking straight from the jugs? I may have a drink every now and then, but I also have manners."
"You have a glass."
"Oh, right, just a second." She looked around for a bit and then poured her water over Yahiko's head.
"What was that for?!" he asked.
"I heard that snicker!" Aki said.
"It...was a sneeze."
"Right, Yahiko," said Misao. "And I'm an eighty-four year-old man."
"I don't know about everyone else, but I'm taking bets on this one," Suzuka said.
"My money's on Sano," said Yahiko. "Of course I don't HAVE any."
"I don't think anyone here has any money except Aki-San," Kenshin said.
"Okay then, no money. Just votes. What do the rest of you think then?" Suzuka asked.
"Aki-San, of course," Kaoru said with a chuckle.
"I say Aki-San, that I do," Kenshin added.
"The wolf," Saito and Tokiyo said in unison.
"Aki-Chan, of course," Misao put in.
"We haven't known Aki that long, and the baka forgot about her, so Aki, of course," one of Sano's friends.
"Aki-San," said Tsubame said in a small voice. "Sorry, Yahiko-Chan, she's been nice to me lately."
"Of course I would go for the one who pays," Tae said.
"The doctor of course," Megumi said.
"Auntie-Aki!" Ayame said excitedly.
"Yeah! Auntie-Aki!" Suzume repeated.
"Well, I guess you know who I'm going for," Dr. Gensai said with a slightly surprised smile at his granddaughters.
"What do you say, Eiji?" Misao asked the small boy.
Eiji examined the two contestants consideringly. "The girl."
"What about you, Aoshi-Sama?" Misao inquired.
"I'm going to go with the majority and common sense here. Aki."
"What about the bookkeeper?" Sano asked Suzuka, rather annoyed at the current moment.
"What do I look like? A baka? You have one vote out of sixteen! Of course I'd go with Aki," she explained. "Besides, no one wants the wrath of the battleaxe. Except maybe Yahiko."
"Can I change my vote?" Yahiko asked.
The boy was answered with a chorus of "No!".
"Daijovu, Yahiko-Chan," said Tsubame patting him on the back.
"When are you two going to start?" he asked after he noticed he was blushing furiously and everyone was watching.
Aki and Sano shook their heads and started.
After a while Sano started feeling woozy and started to sway. Aki didn't seem the least bit phased. No matter how phased Sano was, he kept drinking, as did Aki.
"One more," was all anyone was able to decode from Sano's slurring. He said something else no one could quite catch, covered his mouth, and stumbled out of the restaurant as fast as he could. Everyone winced as they heard his stomach empty its contents into an empty barrel.
"How did you keep drinking all that time without doing...that?" Misao asked, pointing outside.
Aki handed her the jug of saké she had been using. Misao took a swig and started laughing.
"What is it, Misao-San?" Kenshin asked.
"Green tea," she said, unable to stop laughing.
"Aki-Sama, you're a little cheat, aren't you?" Megumi asked.
"Hey, I just drank what was in front of me," Aki explained. "And the jug SAYS 'saké'. I just didn't say anything when I tasted green tea. Besides, he owed me a favor, and I needed a laugh. He won't be laughing in the morning...."
"I'll say," said Misao, now in a small fit of giggles.
AN: I decided to do a character poll. It works like this: Review and tell me who your favorite character is. I'll have the results soon. The choices are:
Kenshin
Karou
Megumi
Sano
Aki
Suzuka
Misao
Aoshi
Yahiko
Ayame & Suzume
And of course any others you like.