You're continuing? Wow, either you're really bored or you're really nice…I'm going with the nice part…

And I got five reviews (Woohoo! That's 2 more than my established quota to do my Happy Dance), so I did my Very Happy Dance in my room (my brother saw it and asked me if I was auditioning for the part of 'Hyperactive Mentally Instable Patient in an Asylum for the Mentally Instable').

Anyway, I just want to say THANK YOU to: NoshMono, Loliana 84, Fireruby, WhiteRabbit5 and Demons Amber Eyes for reading and reviewing.

To Fireruby: I had people put Japanese names in a hat and drew one out. Obviously, I picked Sayuri and coz I liked it, I kept the name (Okay, so I wanted that to be her name! I cheated!). I think it's quite pretty, and I read somewhere that Sayuri, written in a certain way means "Little Lily", my name being Lillienne and all…

This is the second chapter, it does not reveal a lot, but I'd like to call it a little stroll in the garden of silliness and intrigue…

I know it isn't that entertaining, but I feel it is necessary to include some of the scenes that you'll be reading…

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. In a perfect world I would, but I live in the real world…and sadly I ain't got no money…so, it's utterly useless to sue me…but for good measure: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, but Nobuhiro Watsuki and a bunch of other people do…

Promises From the Past

Sano looked at her questioningly, "Why? What's he to you?"

Sayuri smiled at Sano, "What's HE to ME? Well, Himura Kenshin is ONLY the reason why I came to Tokyo in the first place."

Purses and Wolves

"You came to Tokyo because of Kenshin?" Sano asked astonished.

Sayuri nodded, "Yes.  I came here to see Himura Kenshin."

Sano frowned, as a thought came to his mind, "What for?"

Sayuri looked away then, "Um, it's kind of personal."

Megumi lifted an eyebrow, as a thought came to HER mind, "Really now, personal…"

Sayuri gave a small smile, "Well, it is sort of between Himura-san and me really, but it's not a secret…though I really should talk to him first before I can let you know…"

Then, Sayuri gave a bright smile, "But that's for another day. With my ankle on vacation, I can't go and see him right now."

Sano wanted to press Sayuri into telling them her business with Kenshin but thinking of how stubborn she could be, he let it go. But he had his suspicions about her business…suspicions that did not bode well for a certain tanuki-chan…

Megumi wanted to press Sayuri into telling them her business with Kenshin but sensing that Sayuri was really reluctant to talk about this PERSONAL business, she let it go. But the curiosity was eating at her…she wasn't called a fox for nothing…especially since she had certain suspicions about this personal business…suspicions that did not bode well for the future happiness of a certain tanuki-shihondai…

"Okay, then, Megumi-san, how much do I owe you?" Sayuri asked.

Sano looked at Sayuri and then at Megumi, "You know what, this is on the house, ne Megumi-san?" He tried to smile endearingly at Megumi.

Both Megumi and Sayuri frowned. Well, Megumi frowned at Sano's polite use of her name.

Sayuri frowned because she disagreed with Sano's announcement, "Look, I don't want your charity…I really appreciate the thought but I'd like to pay the doctor's fee…after all, I hardly know you…"

But if you're here because of what we think you're here for, you're going to get to know us much better pretty soon… both the tori-atama and the kitsune thought.

Aloud, Sano said, "It's not like that…I just think that your day has been bad enough and you could use a little kindness…"

Megumi shook her head at Sano's statement What's with him today? Is it 'Sano-be-nice Day'?

"That's very sweet of you really, but I insist on paying," Sayuri replied.

Before Sano could reply, Sayuri turned to Megumi.

"Megumi-san, arrigatou de gozaru yo, I really appreciate what you did for me," she made an elegant little bow from the examining table.

Sano and Megumi blinked at the 'de gozaru yo' and looked at each other with astonishment.

I heard this woman swear a lot today and now she's 'de gozaru yo-ing'? It's kinda like Kenshin making up for his hitokiri self…wait a minute…no…I couldn't be right, could I? Sano thought to himself.

She already talks a bit like him…if she'd called me Megumi-dono, I'd be completely convinced that she's here for what I think she's here…granted…it would make sense… Megumi thought to herself.

Sayuri continued, "And I must insist that you bill me for your services."

At that, Sano tried his bit again, "No, no, really, you don't have to. We're friends, so it's on the house…ne, Megumi-san?"

Megumi was now really confused at Sano's behavior. Megumi-san? Maybe Kenshin's politeness has rubbed off on him…

Sayuri let out an exasperated sigh, "Really Sano, it's not like I can't afford to pay Megumi-san for her services…"

When she heard Sayuri's statement, Megumi finally understood Sano's strange behavior.

And here I thought Ken-san's politeness…demo, Sano trying to help Sayuri is kind of sweet…he can be a gentleman sometimes…maybe there's still hope for someone like him… Megumi smiled to herself.

Sano was replying to Sayuri, "I'm not saying that you can't afford to pay…"

But he was cut-off by Sayuri's exasperated, "Then let me pay the doctor…"

"But it isn't necessary…" Sano cut in.

"It is necessary to me!" Sayuri shouted at him.

"But it isn't necessary for you to pay!" Sano shouted back.

"I don't care! I'm paying the doctor now whether you like it or not and that's it!"

"That isn't it!" Sano shouted.

"Oh? And why isn't it so?"

"Because you can't pay, that's it!"

Sayuri glared at Sano, "And what makes you think I can't pay?" she ground out.

"Coz you ain't got no money!" Sano glared back.

Sayuri frowned at that, "What the heck makes you think I got no money?"

Sano let out a frustrated sigh, Kami-sama, save me from crazy females, "Coz you got mugged, remember? That's how you got into this mess in the first place."

Astonished, Sayuri said, "I did get mugged! How could I forget that?" she shook her head.

Oh yeah, my theory on that head injury was right on target Sano thought to himself.

Megumi finally decided to intervene, "Sayuri-san, although I understand your side, I really feel that my service should be on the house…"

Sayuri was about to protest but Megumi continued, "Don't think of it as charity but a good deed from new friends in Tokyo, alright?"

Seeing that refusing the kindness of Megumi after that pretty speech would indicate bad manners, she nodded, bowed and accepted it with, "Domo arrigatou de gozaru yo, Megumi-san, Sanosuke-san."

Sano and Megumi blinked again. There she goes with that 'de gozaru yo' again they thought.

Suddenly, Sayuri laughed out loud as if responding to a joke.

Sano and Megumi looked at her curiously, "What's so funny?"

Sayuri, who was still laughing, shook her head, "Nande mo nai."

"Really…" they said skeptically.

Sayuri shrugged her shoulders, "Oh, well, if you real want to know…the joke's on the mugger really…"

Sano and Megumi looked at each other trying to figure out that confusing statement, "The joke's on whom?"

Sayuri chuckled to herself, "The joke's on the mugger! You know, the guy who mugged me, robbed me of my belongings, who got me chasing down the streets of Tokyo like a mad woman, who got me to sprain my ankle, bump into Sano and eventually made me end up being here at the clinic!"

Sano and Megumi still were confused, "But what's the joke?"

"He didn't get anything!" Sayuri answered, expecting them to get the joke.

"Huh?" "What?" Sano and Megumi reacted.

"He didn't get anything!" Sayuri answered again, a little louder this time.

Sano and Megumi shook their head, not getting the joke.

"HE. DID. NOT. GET. ANYTHING." Sayuri said very slowly as if explaining something very simple to two year olds.

She looked at both expectantly, waiting for them to react accordingly to the joke.

Sano scratched his head, "Really, woman, I understand your Japanese, but I still don't get the joke!"

"What's not to understand? The guy mugged me but he didn't get anything!" Sayuri explained.

"What do you mean he didn't get anything?" Sano asked confused.

Sayuri rolled her eyes in exasperation, "It means exactly what it means."

Megumi tried to get things clearer, "You mean to tell us that he stole your purse but there wasn't anything in it?"

Sayuri sighed in relief and nodded, "Exactly. All he really got was a paper fan and a piece of string…well… and a nice purse."

Sano looked at her unbelievingly, "You mean to tell me you were carrying a purse that didn't have anything in it?"

"Exactly!" Sayuri nodded enthusiastically.

Sano shook his head, "Then what's the whole point of carrying a purse with you?"

Sayuri rolled her eyes, "It looked good with the outfit!"

Really, Kami-sama, this is too much Sano thought to himself.

Aloud, he said "Okay, that explains the joke's on the mugger bit, but not the 'what makes you think I can't pay' part. How can you pay when you hadn't any money in your purse in the first place?"

Sayuri looked at Sano as if he said the stupidest thing of all time, "I didn't say that I didn't carry any money with me."

He gave Sayuri the once over, took in the light yellow silk kimono with daisies embroidered on the hem and on the sleeves, the orange obi with yellow and white stripes, frowned and asked, "So where'dya put it?"

Sayuri gave him a confident smile, patted the area above her heart, "Somewhere safe."

Sano looked at the Sayuri's patting hand, "Oh, right …safe…" and continued looking at that 'area'. Nice… went through his head.

Megumi and Sayuri noticed Sano still ogling. Megumi gave him a sharp rap on the head and a "Hentai!"

Sayuri frowned at him, "Not there, you idiot!"

Rubbing the spot where Megumi hit him, he looked at her all innocence, "What? I was looking at her hand…"

Megumi snorted "Yeah, right…"

Sano was about to reply when he saw Sayuri reaching into her obi, "What are you doing?"

Sayuri got out a small black pouch, "Getting my money…what else would I be doing?"

Megumi, knowing what Sano was thinking, glared at him, "Smut-brain!"

Sano put his hands up, all innocence again, "What? She was putting her ha…"

Megumi snorted again, "Yeah, right…"

By now Sayuri had some money in her hands and turned to Megumi, "Megumi-san…"

But Megumi forestalled her, "Sayuri-san! I thought you already accepted my generosity. I meant it. I won't accept your money."

Sayuri sighed, "Oh well…" then she smiled at her, "Actually the money is for a coach to transport me back to the ryokan I am staying at. I don't think I can walk back there…and I'd really like to get some rest after this eventful morning."

"Hey, I can carry you back to your inn, if you want me to…" Sano suggested with a leer.

Megumi glared at him, "Cool it rooster boy…"

Sayuri merely smiled, "No, you carried me around enough for one day. And I don't think that you're up to carrying me that far, the inn I'm staying at is at the other side of town."

Sano grinned boyishly at her, "Oh well, I had to try. But I'll get you a coach if you want me to."

Sayuri nodded with relief, "Would you? That'd be very nice of you. Here, take some money to give the driver a down payment."

Sano took the money, "Okay, I'll be back with the coach," and went out the door.

***

Later, in the coach, after thanking Megumi again and saying goodbye, Sayuri was looking out the window pensively. Sano, who insisted on accompanying her to the inn, was sitting beside her.

She turned to him, "I have been informed that Himura Kenshin lives with a woman in a dojo. Kamiya Kaoru, I think her name was."

Sano nodded, "Yeah. Jou-chan has got her hooks in Kenshin, and he's pretty happy staying there."

Sayuri again looked out the window pensively, "This Kaoru… is she the same Jou-chan you talked about with Megumi, who is possessive of Himura-san?"

She was looking at Sano now, and he saw an odd speculative look in her eyes.

Sano studied her face for a second more before answering, "Yeah, the same Jou-chan. She is very protective of him."

Still with that odd speculating look in her eyes, Sayuri took in Sano's answer, "Protective and possessive?"

Sensing that there was something else going on here, Sano answered carefully, "You could say that…She cares about him a lot."

"Mmm," Sayuri seemed to be weighing his answer.

The thoughts that Sano had back at the clinic about this 'personal' business of hers with Kenshin came back…and the feeling that it might affect the happiness of a certain tanuki-chan was reinforced.

Sayuri looked at him again and curiously asked, "So what is she like? Is she pretty? Is she nice?"

Sano wasn't quite sure how to answer.

But Sayuri rescued him, "I'm sorry. I'm embarrassing you. I didn't mean to ask you these questions. Forget them…"

With a little frown, she turned to stare out the window again.

Sano was left with his thoughts…which weren't very reassuring.

***

When the coach arrived at the inn, Sano carried Sayuri inside after paying the driver the rest of the fare. The innkeeper, when she heard of Sayuri's accident, offered her another room that was on the first floor so that Sayuri wouldn't have difficulty with getting about, since climbing stairs with her ankle was out of the question.

Seeing that Sayuri was comfortable, Sano made his way to go.

Sayuri smiled at him and gave a small bow, a glint of mischief in her eyes, "It has been an interesting time. Thank you for everything you did for me…especially breaking my fall."

Sano smiled at that, "It has been interesting for me too. And I was glad to have been there to break your fall."

"Liar," Sayuri countered fondly.

Sano just shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah, well…life…you know."

Sayuri nodded bemusedly, "Yeah, life…I know."

Not knowing how to go from there, Sano said, "I guess then I'll be on my way."

Sayuri looked at him, "I guess then this is goodbye."

"Actually, I was thinking of maybe I could take you to the Kamiya Dojo when your ankle is better," Sano said hopefully.

A small smile appeared on Sayuri's lips, "You want to know why I am here to see Himura-san, don't you?"

Taken a little aback by Sayuri's direct statement, the only thing Sano could say was a sheepish "I guess you have me there…"

Sayuri looked at him again, nodded once, "Okay, then. Pick me up in two days, I think the ankle will be sufficiently healed by then and you can take me to the dojo."

Surprised that she had agreed, Sano looked at her for a second before saying, "Okay, in two days I'll pick you up here around eight in the morning?"

"That sounds fine."

Sano then took a deep breath, "I'll guess I'll leave now. See you in two days. Goodbye."

"Goodbye," Sayuri replied.

And Sano walked out the door, thinking of the day's strange events and the woman sitting in the room.

Sayuri watched Sano leave the room, thinking of the day's strange events and the wonderful world of coincidences.

***

The next day, Sayuri was sitting at the back of the dining area of the inn, having some green tea.

The ankle was feeling better and it didn't hurt that much anymore.

Tired of being in her room, she had asked the innkeeper if she had anything that Sayuri could use as a cane. The innkeeper returned with a beautiful cane that used to belong to her grandfather and graciously let Sayuri borrow it. Thanking the innkeeper, Sayuri used the cane to relocate herself to the dining area, where presently she was sitting with a cup of green tea in front of her.

Taking a sip, she noticed a shadow falling on her from behind.

Looking at the cause of the shadow, she saw a blue policeman's uniform and two immaculate white gloves lighting a cigarette.

"Officer, is there a problem?" she inquired politely.

The policeman exhaled some smoke, looked at her with unreadable eyes and answered, "No."

Sayuri smiled at him politely and turned to her cup of tea again, dismissing him.

But the policeman moved to stand at the side of the table.

Good manners made Sayuri look up at him again. She looked at him questioningly.

The policeman exhaled some smoke again, "Strange for a young woman to travel all on her own."

Sayuri gave him a bland expression, "What makes you think I'm traveling on my own?"

The policeman smirked, flicking his cigarette, "Innkeeper told me."

"I don't see that being any business of yours," she told him calmly.

Just as calmly, he answered, "There are a lot of things out there that could happen to a female traveling on her own. Some may even be unpleasant. It's my job to prevent these things from happening."

Sayuri coldly nodded at him, "Good for you, then."

The policeman just raised an eyebrow at her reply.

After a few seconds of silence, Sayuri looked at him regally and asked, "Anything else?"

The policeman gave her one of his hard stares, "Yes. Reports came in of some mugging yesterday. Pickpockets are at their all time high. Apparently, they prefer young, well-dressed females as their victims."

With not so much as a flicker of her lids to betray herself, Sayuri gracefully nodded her head, "Thank you for the warning. I'll be extra careful with my things then. Anything else?"

When the policeman just went on smoking, Sayuri asked, "Do you warn every young, well-dressed female about the dangers of Tokyo?"

The policeman gave a tiny smile at that, "I only warn granddaughters of one of the richest men in Japan."

"Thank you for including me then," was the calm response from Sayuri.

"You're welcome," was his reply as he took out another cigarette and lit it.

Sayuri wrinkled her nose a bit, "Filthy habit."

The policeman smirked, "I know. I do it to annoy people."

Sayuri gave him a tiny smile, "Congratulations, it works."

He gave a brief nod, "I try."

Another few seconds of silence. The policeman kept on smoking and Sayuri took another sip from her cup.

She put the cup down, sighed, and asked resignedly, "How many did he send?"

Again that tiny smile appeared on the policeman's face, "Two."

A look of surprise crossed Sayuri's face.

The policeman looked at her, "I expected more. After all, you're a high risk. A very lucrative target for kidnapping."

 "Actually, I expected more, too. I guess only two bodyguards to shadow me is his idea of letting me travel alone," Sayuri smiled at the policeman, "They probably thought sending a police officer to check on me wouldn't be that obvious, since he probably instructed them to be out of sight. Lucky you, you got picked."

The policeman continued looking at her with a speculative gleam in his eyes. He took out something from the brown leather messenger bag that he was carrying and put it on the table.

It was a dark orange silk purse with tiny daisies embroidered on the side. Sayuri picked it up to look at its contents.

"A paper fan and a piece of string," the policeman informed her.

Seeing that it was exactly what was inside, Sayuri put the purse aside, "Everything's there. Thank you for returning it to me."

Wanting him to leave her alone, Sayuri looked at him in the face and said, "Now that you've returned my purse, checked on me and warned me of the dangers of Tokyo, you probably have some other business to attend to. I'll write a note to my bodyguards to tell them that you performed your errand satisfactorily and that they should pay well for the favor."

She made to get up, when the policeman's words stopped her, "What makes you think my business here is finished?"

She raised an eyebrow, "What else is there?"

But instead of answering her immediately, the policeman sat down opposite of Sayuri and took a long draught from his cigarette.

Leisurely exhaling the smoke, he casually said, "I heard that you're here to see Himura Kenshin."

Sayuri nonchalantly shrugged her left shoulder, "So? I don't see that being of any interest to the police here."

"It isn't," was the smooth reply.

Sayuri raised an inquiring eyebrow.

The policeman looked at her directly then, "But I am interested in it."

Sayuri nonchalantly shrugged her left shoulder again, "I don't see why that could be of any interest to you. I'm here to visit Himura-san on some personal business."

"Perhaps you're right. Maybe your personal business with Himura wouldn't interest me," he replied.

"Then you can take your leave," Sayuri suggested.

The policeman gave her one of his direct stares again and smiled coldly, "I said it wouldn't interest me if the person seeking Himura wouldn't be the granddaughter of Matsuo Takashi."

A long silence ensued. Analyzing each other, the policeman and Sayuri projected the aura of utter calm and serenity. But their thoughts were weighing their opponent.

Sayuri broke the silence with a casual, "I still don't see how that is interesting."

He gave her that cold smile again, "Then I'll enlighten you. The only granddaughter and heir to the fortunes of Kuroi Takashi, the Black Eminence, almost anonymous background force of the Ishinshishi, is here in Tokyo to see Himura Kenshin, former renowned Hitokiri Battousai, who played a considerable part in the Meiji Restoration. If it weren't for who you are and who he is or was, it wouldn't interest me at all. But you are who you are and he is who he is…"

Sayuri gave him a cold laugh, "Really now. You make it sound like I'm here for something sinister."

The policeman man stared at her directly. Sayuri stared right back. She knew this game. Make your opponent nervous, so he'll fidget, and if he fidgets, he looses.

Determined to win the game, Sayuri cleared all expression from her face and concentrated on the man before her. There wasn't any expression on his face either.

Seconds went by, both staring at each other with unreadable faces, both determined to win the game.

There was utter silence, while two people took in the measure of each other.

The policeman moved first to take a draught from his cigarette. The game was over, Sayuri the winner. He briefly inclined his head towards her, smiling coldly, as if to acknowledge her victory. But Sayuri wasn't fooled. She knew she didn't win. It was a tactical retreat on his part.

Abruptly, the policeman stood up and straightened his uniform.

She studied him closely and asked, "Do you want me to write that note to my bodyguards so that they'll compensate you?"

Looking every inch the proper policeman, he smiled at her politely, "That isn't necessary ma'am, I was just doing my duty."

She took the exemplary cop routine with a small smile on her lips, "Very well. But before you go, may I know your name?"

"Onamae wa Fujita Gorou des," came the smooth reply.

"Goodbye, Officer Fujita," Sayuri inclined her head at him.

He gave a brief nod and turned. About to take a step, he stopped when he heard Sayuri's words addressed to his back.

"What do you suppose would my bodyguards' reactions be, if they'd find out that they sent the proverbial wolf to check on their lamb?"

He looked over his left shoulder, directly at Sayuri and said, "You really are your grandfather's granddaughter," turned his head and walked away.

Sayuri was watching him walking away and said to herself, "And you really are the man my mother told me about…Saitou Hajime."

Fade to black.

To be continued…Promise.

___

I know, I know, that was boring but thank you for reading through it. The next chapters are going to be more informative (and hopefully more entertaining.)

And please don't forget to review…