Elllo, Ello, Ello! Here we are again! From the reviews I received, it looks like there isn't a whole lot of citrus interest. It's all good. For those of you who haven't voiced your opinion please do; I don't have to make the decision for a few more chapters.
Chapter 5
Sanosuke hadn't slept much the previous night; it was amazing to him that he'd managed to be awake before noon. He was worrying about Kaoru. A lot of rough stuff had happened in his life, so seeing Kenshin messed up didn't faze him too much. But Kaoru... she was still so young. Her face had been so warped by distrait when she saw him lying there in the front room.
She's probably been awake for a while now, I ought to check out how she's doin'... I wish I could beat down the little punk who took a shot at Kenshin... 'bout all I'm good for really
He lugged himself off his futon, not bothering to fold it before he lumbered off toward the kitchen. The customary crashings and bangings could be heard before he even turned into the appropriate hallway, signifying that breakfast would probably be a while in coming. Blowing a stray lock out of his face in displeasure, Sanosuke swung about face and plodded toward the back garden for a little fresh air.
I hate slow mornings... makes me feel like I'm being wound up for something...
Without warning, a soft figure barreled down the hall and straight into his chest. It struggled a bit, but Sanosuke grabbed it firmly by the shoulders and pushed his arms far enough away to get a good look at his assailant.
Megumi? "Where ya goin so fast doc?" she was obviously upset by something, "How's Kenshin..."
She muttered something about positive hopes and burst out of his grip before he could say anything else. He watched her hardly break stride to open the small gate and rush down the dirt path into town, her thick, dark hair streaming behind her like a banner. There was a subtle loveliness to her flight that, though it could hardly be considered grace, suited her quite perfectly.
What the hell am I doing... she hates me more than the plague...
Breakfast was a tense and rather tedious affair; Kaoru didn't say a single word to either him or Yahiko. Sanosuke couldn't help but wonder if something he had said the night before had offended her in some way. Rather than saunter away with dishes on the table like usual, Sanosuke sat at the table long after he had finished He stared, entranced, at the loveliness of Kaoru's lithe hands as she removed the crockery and brought it into the kitchen proper. Soon he found himself helping, which was more than enough to shake Kaoru of her dazed mood.
They were nearly enjoying themselves when Sanosuke felt an oddly recognizable chill travel up his spine.
Shit...
Not wanting to alarm Kaoru, he quietly excused himself from the kitchen dashed up onto the wall surrounding the dojo. He crept low, taking advantage of any tree cover available, until he saw what had been making him feel so uneasy.
Why the hell is he just standing there?
A tall Japanese man dressed in a western police uniform stood before the large front gate, katana and jitte at his side. He raised the brass knocker and gave a few raps before politely stepping back and waiting for a reply. Kaoru emerged into the courtyard, visibly puzzled when Sanosuke jumped down by her side.
"Be ready..."
"What are you talking about?" Kaoru smirked as she undid the latch, "It's just the door..."
"Sagara-san, Kamiya-san..." Hajime Saitoh bowed, slightly sarcastically.
"What do want... officer..." Kaoru crossed her arms and glared out at the man, "We don't want any trouble."
"But it seems trouble wants you," he chuckled back.
Sanosuke's fists began to form balls as the officer continued to laugh at his own joke, "Answer the lady..."
"I assure you my visit here is purely business, business concerning Goro Fujita and the department that pays him..." Saitoh laughed again, "There was an attempted robbery here last night and one count of assault with a deadly weapon, ne? Haha, allow me to guess the victim."
"You're hardly as funny as you think Saitoh..." Sanosuke glowered back, taking notice of how much the previous comment had affected Kaoru. "Cut to the chase."
"I will need you to show me the place where the incident occurred. Tell me everything you remember."
Chapter 5
Sanosuke hadn't slept much the previous night; it was amazing to him that he'd managed to be awake before noon. He was worrying about Kaoru. A lot of rough stuff had happened in his life, so seeing Kenshin messed up didn't faze him too much. But Kaoru... she was still so young. Her face had been so warped by distrait when she saw him lying there in the front room.
She's probably been awake for a while now, I ought to check out how she's doin'... I wish I could beat down the little punk who took a shot at Kenshin... 'bout all I'm good for really
He lugged himself off his futon, not bothering to fold it before he lumbered off toward the kitchen. The customary crashings and bangings could be heard before he even turned into the appropriate hallway, signifying that breakfast would probably be a while in coming. Blowing a stray lock out of his face in displeasure, Sanosuke swung about face and plodded toward the back garden for a little fresh air.
I hate slow mornings... makes me feel like I'm being wound up for something...
Without warning, a soft figure barreled down the hall and straight into his chest. It struggled a bit, but Sanosuke grabbed it firmly by the shoulders and pushed his arms far enough away to get a good look at his assailant.
Megumi? "Where ya goin so fast doc?" she was obviously upset by something, "How's Kenshin..."
She muttered something about positive hopes and burst out of his grip before he could say anything else. He watched her hardly break stride to open the small gate and rush down the dirt path into town, her thick, dark hair streaming behind her like a banner. There was a subtle loveliness to her flight that, though it could hardly be considered grace, suited her quite perfectly.
What the hell am I doing... she hates me more than the plague...
Breakfast was a tense and rather tedious affair; Kaoru didn't say a single word to either him or Yahiko. Sanosuke couldn't help but wonder if something he had said the night before had offended her in some way. Rather than saunter away with dishes on the table like usual, Sanosuke sat at the table long after he had finished He stared, entranced, at the loveliness of Kaoru's lithe hands as she removed the crockery and brought it into the kitchen proper. Soon he found himself helping, which was more than enough to shake Kaoru of her dazed mood.
They were nearly enjoying themselves when Sanosuke felt an oddly recognizable chill travel up his spine.
Shit...
Not wanting to alarm Kaoru, he quietly excused himself from the kitchen dashed up onto the wall surrounding the dojo. He crept low, taking advantage of any tree cover available, until he saw what had been making him feel so uneasy.
Why the hell is he just standing there?
A tall Japanese man dressed in a western police uniform stood before the large front gate, katana and jitte at his side. He raised the brass knocker and gave a few raps before politely stepping back and waiting for a reply. Kaoru emerged into the courtyard, visibly puzzled when Sanosuke jumped down by her side.
"Be ready..."
"What are you talking about?" Kaoru smirked as she undid the latch, "It's just the door..."
"Sagara-san, Kamiya-san..." Hajime Saitoh bowed, slightly sarcastically.
"What do want... officer..." Kaoru crossed her arms and glared out at the man, "We don't want any trouble."
"But it seems trouble wants you," he chuckled back.
Sanosuke's fists began to form balls as the officer continued to laugh at his own joke, "Answer the lady..."
"I assure you my visit here is purely business, business concerning Goro Fujita and the department that pays him..." Saitoh laughed again, "There was an attempted robbery here last night and one count of assault with a deadly weapon, ne? Haha, allow me to guess the victim."
"You're hardly as funny as you think Saitoh..." Sanosuke glowered back, taking notice of how much the previous comment had affected Kaoru. "Cut to the chase."
"I will need you to show me the place where the incident occurred. Tell me everything you remember."