Disclaimer: Sanosuke Sagara refuses my ownership and is back by the rest of his copyrighted compatriots!











Confessions of a Dangerous Hairstyle:

A Ruroni Kenshin Fan Fiction

by

C M Forde







"The Oniwabawhat?"

Sano turned to Misao and shook his head as the city bus rolled along the streets. It had been no more than an hour since Kenshin had been kidnaped, and Karou was still distressed, leaning on Misao's shoulder and clutching her best friend's arm. Sano frowned, angry about the whole situation, and looked out the window. "Oniwabanshu, they're a ninjutsu hairstyling clan, probably the best in all of Japan."

Karou sighed, "Do you really think they'll help us Sano? I've heard about them, they're not supposed to be the most friendly hairstylists in Kyoto."

He shook his head, "I don't know, but they're the only chance we have. I heard that their lead stylist is supposed to be unbeatable. Not as good as me of course, but pretty damned good."

Misao frowned and crossed her arms over her chest, "I bet he's a total dipshit."

With a hiss of air brakes the bus came to a stop in front of what looked like a large Buddhist temple, vines overgrowing the outer wall and giant trees spread out beyond it, interspersed with buildings that looked to be at least three hundred years old. As Sano as the others climbed off of the bus, the tall man stuck his hands in his pockets and withdrew a pack of cigarettes, one of them finding its way into his mouth. "This is the place," he said as he lit it.

"Wow, this is nice." Misao seemed a bit stunned as she walked out of the bus, blue eyes locked on the gates up a line of steps and a bronze plaque next to them, 'Oniwabanshu Hair Styling Clan'.

Sano took the steps two at a time as the girls followed up behind him, and he rang the buzzer next to the gates. Immediately a voice came over the speaker, "Who's there?"

Karou frowned, "Kind of rude aren't they?"

Sano just tapped the button again, "Sagara Sanosuke, weilder of the Futai no Kiwami here to see Shinomori Aoshi."

The voice over the speaker didn't seem impressed, "No one sees Shinomori-sama without an appointment. Futai no Kablooey or not."

The knuckles on Sano's hands went pure white as he punched the button, "It's Futai no Kiwami jerk face! And I don't need a damned appointment to see you're lame ass master. I'm Sagara Sanosuke, the best hair stylist in Kyoto!"

"No one sees Shinomori-sama without an appointment."

Misao managed to grab Sano and weigh him down enough that he fell off of the gates he was attempting to scale. There was a slight squabble then as Sano tried to peel her off and got a fist to the groin for his troubles. But they both stopped in mid stangle as they heard Karou speaking. "Please, we have to see Shinomori Aoshi. Kenshin, my boyfriend, he's been kidnaped by the Juppon Gatana. We can't rescue him on our own, we need your help!"

"Listen lady, I already told you no one sees Shinomori-sama withou-"

The voice was interrupted by another, deeper voice. "Come in." Then with a buzz the gates in front of them opened and they moved through into a lush green courtyard. While the gates closed behind them they all looked up to see a man approaching them with ebony midnight hair parted down the middle and bangs just above his eyes and a white trench coat with a crimson interior, the collar flipped up around his neck. "I am Shinomori Aoshi," he said with the same voice that was over the intercom. "So you're Sagara Sanosuke, the one who beat Hajime Saitou. You don't quite meet my expectations."

Sano frowned and raised his fist in a challenge, "You wanna try me girly boy? I'll style you into the gutter, right Misao?" He turned to see his girl friend just sort of gaping and staring at Aoshi, drool running out of the corner of her mouth. "Misao? Hey Misao!" His hand waved in front of her face for a few seconds before she snapped out of it with a confused look and kicked Sano in the shin. "Oww dammit! What'd you do that for?"

"Shut up!" Her face was red as an apple and for the life of him Sano couldn't figure out why. So he just rubbed his leg painfully before an eeirly familiar voice drew his attention back towards Aoshi.

"Well, if it isn't the Rooster Head himself. Are you stalking me or something?" It was the woman from the swimming pool, elegant in a black dress that seemed the perfect counterpoint to Aoshi's coat. She stood next to the other man, almost leaning on him, and for a good few seconds all that was running through Sano's mind was, 'Foxy Lady.' Then he got kicked again.

"What're you staring at stupid?!" Misao growled.

"I don't know, what were you staring at toothpick?" And another scuffle broke out, leaving Karou to deal with the situation. She wisely chose to ignore the fighting couple.

"Shinomori-sama, I'm sorry to have to come to you like this, but it is urgent. My boyfriend needs help, and you're the only person we could come to."

He nodded, "Well I normally don't help people. And you're no exception. Megumi, separate those two."

The woman approached Sano and Misao and yanked them apart quite elegantly, leaving Sano completely shocked that she was again touching him; it was like some kind of dream come true. "If you would please calm down so that you can get to your rooms..."

Misao calmed down long enough to stop kicking and punching the air violently around Sano, who was a good inch and a half out of range. "Rooms? And just who are you anyway?"

She sighed and took a step back, "Doctor Takani Megumi, I'm Aoshi's fiancee and I help him run the Oniwabanshu."

Sano was stunned, "Fiancee?! You're engaged to that jerk?"

Misao seemed equally stunned, "Fiancee?! He's engaged to your skanky ass?!"

Megumi just frowned, "Yes Weasel Girl and Rooster Head, that jerk is engaged to my skanky ass." She spun on her heel then and started walking towards one of the other buildings, "If you're going to be guests here then you have to be dressed appropriately. I can't have you all looking like street thugs and prostitutes."

Sano gave a look to Misao in her bathing suit coverup of cutoff jeans and a tank top and took the time to note that she did indeed look like a prostitute. Then his attention was drawn back to the smooth curves and fine movements of the woman ahead of them and followed eagerly. "So Megumi, is Aoshi going to help us or not?"

She turned then and put her hands on her hips, "Wether he helps you or not all depends on how well you preform in the duel tomorrow."

Karou gawked, "Tomorrow! You mean we're spending the night here? But what about Misao? She'll have to call her parents and-"

Karou's words were silenced by a hand over her mouth while Misao smiled and made sure she couldn't move with a nice submission hold, "Don't worry about that. Everything's going to be fine, I always stay out without telling my parents. It's no big deal really. Show me to my bedroom!"

While Megumi and Sano walked away, Karou pulled Misao off of her and frowned, "What're you talking about Misao? Your parents freak if you don't call them every hour!"

Misao thumped her best friend in the nose, "Shut up! This could be my only chance to spend the night alone with Aoshi!"

"You mean Sano."

"That's what I said wasn't it?"









__________

Author's Note: The Mysterious Woman has finally been revealed! The Stoic Stylist is prepared to Duel! And a love rectangle seems to be in the mix! What is up next for our brave band of heros? Will Sano be able to defeat Aoshi? Will Misao lose herself to the seductions of a night alone in the Oniwabanshu Hair Styling Clan? Will anyone but Karou ever remember that Kenshin is the reason they're all here? And will the next chapter come at a timely pace without the urgings of the wonderfully inspirational Cherry? Wait and see next time with: Cherry Blossom Night! (In ode to my biggest fan!)