Katsu wasn't back yet.
When Kenshin, Kaoru, Misao, and Aoshi had come back and Katsu hadn't, Sano wasn't too worried. Katsu had never really said when he would be coming back, and it was still early yet.
And so he'd spent the time being showered with amusing (?) stories about all the things Misao and Kaoru had seen/heard of/wanted to get while shopping, the base message being that Aoshi and Kenshin were both far too stingy with the money and not understanding about what was really "necessary," and that overall both of them should have been grateful that they (Misao and Kaoru) didn't buy more.
Then later, when Yahiko came home after the Akabeko closed, he was a little worried, but not so much so, because he was sure to come any minute.
But he didn't.
And it was late now, and almost too dark to see.
And Katsu wasn't back.
Sano was sitting out on the porch, not really oblivious to Kenshin and Jou-chan's worried looks but uncaring of them. Where was he? Katsu wasn't a fighter, he couldn't defend himself if a whole group of people attaked him, or if anyone who was really good, and not necessarily "really" good as in "as good as Kenshin" good, but as in "not bad" good, which was very bad, well, bad for Katsu, not bad for whoever, because obviously he wouldn't be much of a challenge, unless he had some of his bombs on him, but Sano had made him stop making those awhile ago, hadn't he, and then Katsu'd gone and buried all the ones he did have, and maybe he remembered where he buried them, but even if he did, it wouldn't do him any good if he got attacked on the streets, because he'd need them then, 'cause you couldn't really go to a person and say "hey, I know you're kinda busy, you know, with beating the shit out of me and all, but could you wait a minute while I run out to the hills outside of town and go dig up my super-duper-totally-awesome-and-did-I-mention-huge-secret-hidden-cache-of-bombs? You would? Oh great, now, stay right there …"
No. that wouldn't really work very well.
At all.
Sano turned at a noise next to him, and saw Aoshi settling down next to him. Aoshi? What was up with that? The guy barely knew Katsu … well, they were sleeping together – not sleeping sleeping together, his mind clarified hastily, but like sleeping in the same room, and they had spent some time talking today before Katsu went off, hadn't they, and …
"I'm supposed to keep you from doing anything stupid." One sentence, and then the ex-Okashira turned his attention to the darkened road that led to the dojo.
It wasn't the longest sentence he'd ever heard the man say, but it was a lot, especially considering that Aoshi was the one who started it, even though that in and of itself wasn't so unusual, Sano guessed, but it was pretty close, or maybe it was just that Aoshi radiated that aura that said he should be a mute, but he actually really wasn't and it always surprised him a little whenever he talked, he being Aoshi, that is …
SHUT UP, SANO!!!!!!!
No one actually said that, but apparently Sano's subconscious was getting as tired of listening to him babble as he was, except it was kind of silly to say that he was as tired of listening to himself as he was and …
Right.
Sano sighed, and sat back to watching the road again. It sure was dark by now.
And Katsu still wasn't back.
**************************
Man, Sano rambles on when he's worried. Hope I didn't overdo that. And hey! I'm getting caught up – just one behind now, from that one Sunday or whatever. It's weird, 'cause these past two chapters have been really easy to write, and yet they're two of the longer chapters – I think the one before this (42) might even be the longest … … …. Oh, damnit! I didn't do anything special for #42! God, what sick, sick kind of person am I? *bangs head against wall*
Anyways.
FarStrider: No, it's really not. ^_^ But he doesn't know that and, to be completely fair, she deserves it. And don't worry 'bout it – you've reviewed like, three times, I think, and ii automatically assume that anyone who reviews once (unless it's a flame – but I haven't really gotten any of those. Maybe the huge warning in the beginning actually did something! *gasp*) will stay with the story for the whole time, 'cause anyone who cares enough to leave a review will probably be able to put up with me for as long as this lasts.
Kuroiyousei: Oh trust me, she's pretty damn horrible. And annoying. (So you were right on that.) But horrible too. You'll find out more about her as this goes on, trust me. (To "waiting" comment) *gulp* Are you trying to make me feel guilty? I think you are. Because if I feel guilty, then I always write more, in a pathetic attempt to assuage that guilt. And you like what I write (for reasons unknown to me), so you want me to write more. And I CAN SEE YOUR MIND! *rocks back and forth in corner*