A long deserved peaceful day had finally been granted by some higher powers
to the Kamiya Dojo and its occupants. It had been several weeks since the
ship had arrived in the port of Tokyo, and ever since, not a day went by
without some government official showing up at the gate. Soon, it was clear
what their intentions were, that the plot and demise of Shishio Makoto were
to never reach the ears of the general public. Disgusted, the young dojo
owner had to endured the fat, wealthy politicians with their money-poisoned
solutions, one after another, seeking to own Kenshin's loyalty.
Finally, the steady stream of bribers thinned, and eventually came to halt on that blessed day. Kaoru gave a contented sigh as she finished her sweeping of the practice hall, leaning against the doorframe to watch Kenshin with his laundry duty. Everything was back to normal. Everything was at last.perfect.
But.it was far too perfect, she realized. Even without plots to overthrow the government, minor conflicts were a part of everyday living too. And the majority of the conflicts came from a certain rooster-headed companion, whom she had not caught a glimpse of since their return.
She cursed herself silently for not noticing this before. True, Sanosuke had seemed rather sullen on the trip from Kyoto, but Kaoru herself had suffered seasickness, and was not up for talking for much of the journey. She had only assumed that Sano had felt likewise. And with the constant barrage of visitors, her thoughts had not been on the ex-gangster's lack of visits.
Not like she was terribly worried about him. If something life threatening had befallen Sano, surely they would have heard news of it. Surely.someone would come.
"Kenshin!" she cried out, possibly more panicked-sounding than she had intended to. The rurouni turned away from the wet fabric before him to look at Kaoru, a small, worried frown creasing his face. "Yes, Kaoru-dono?"
"Have.have you seen Sano at all lately? Maybe when you've been out shopping or something?"
Kenshin straightened up from his squatting position, wringing his wet and soapy hands dry. "Hm.I have not seen him. It seems I always miss him when I check in on his apartment. But.his friend, Katsuhiro-san, I have talked to. He said Sano has been rather anti-social ever since our return, and that it looks like he hasn't been sleeping much at all."
"Then shouldn't we." The girl's voice trailed of, unclear of what to say. Kenshin approached her and laid a hand on her shoulder, offering a gentle smile. "He'll be fine, Kaoru-dono. Sanosuke has seen things that would make any person want to withdraw. He is merely taking time to deal with a few things."
The former assassin did not know the half of it.
Finally, the steady stream of bribers thinned, and eventually came to halt on that blessed day. Kaoru gave a contented sigh as she finished her sweeping of the practice hall, leaning against the doorframe to watch Kenshin with his laundry duty. Everything was back to normal. Everything was at last.perfect.
But.it was far too perfect, she realized. Even without plots to overthrow the government, minor conflicts were a part of everyday living too. And the majority of the conflicts came from a certain rooster-headed companion, whom she had not caught a glimpse of since their return.
She cursed herself silently for not noticing this before. True, Sanosuke had seemed rather sullen on the trip from Kyoto, but Kaoru herself had suffered seasickness, and was not up for talking for much of the journey. She had only assumed that Sano had felt likewise. And with the constant barrage of visitors, her thoughts had not been on the ex-gangster's lack of visits.
Not like she was terribly worried about him. If something life threatening had befallen Sano, surely they would have heard news of it. Surely.someone would come.
"Kenshin!" she cried out, possibly more panicked-sounding than she had intended to. The rurouni turned away from the wet fabric before him to look at Kaoru, a small, worried frown creasing his face. "Yes, Kaoru-dono?"
"Have.have you seen Sano at all lately? Maybe when you've been out shopping or something?"
Kenshin straightened up from his squatting position, wringing his wet and soapy hands dry. "Hm.I have not seen him. It seems I always miss him when I check in on his apartment. But.his friend, Katsuhiro-san, I have talked to. He said Sano has been rather anti-social ever since our return, and that it looks like he hasn't been sleeping much at all."
"Then shouldn't we." The girl's voice trailed of, unclear of what to say. Kenshin approached her and laid a hand on her shoulder, offering a gentle smile. "He'll be fine, Kaoru-dono. Sanosuke has seen things that would make any person want to withdraw. He is merely taking time to deal with a few things."
The former assassin did not know the half of it.