Note from author: HI! Welcome back! We get to talk to Hiko in this one... yay. Ugh. I'm trying to write one chapter a day until I am done. Which should be soon (The mystery is almost solved). So... Yeah...

"Do you know a Hiko?" I asked Sagara hopefully after I had escaped the brawl.

"YEAH! I beat him in a Sake drinking contest!" What was it with these guys and drinking contests? "Hey. I bet he took my sake!" Brilliant deduction Sagara.

"Ya think?" I said sarcastically.

"Yep, and he was over at the dojo last night when the sake was stolen!" I was impressed. That was the most intelligent thing he had said since I had met him. I didn't dare ask why he hadn't told me this earlier. It might break his concentration.

"Where is this Hiko?"

"He's probably at the Akabeko, if he hasn't already left that is. He likes to get drunk before he leaves. I'll take you there! We can buy some ramen. My treat."

"But you don't have any money."

"I know," laughed Sagara. I didn't get it. So we were off to the place where I was planning to steal ramen from to—steal ramen? It didn't matter to me. Food was food, and I was always hungry. Starving from lack of money does that to you. We walked to the Akabeko. I was still hungry even though we did just eat at the dojo. Who can stand Karou's cooking anyway? Or get full on it?

"Here we are," said Sagara, "Its late, so he'll be pretty drunk." I looked up at the dark sky. It was late. I was almost getting tired too. We entered the restaurant. Sagara lead me to the corner food stall where I saw a man with long black hair. He could be the girly man's master; he was older, and very muscular. He carried a sword, but he kept it concealed underneath his coat. I, being a private eye, notice such things. He was flushed from drunkenness, and barely able to sit up. "That's Hiko?" I asked Sagara. He nodded. I sat down next to Hiko to have our little chat. I figured I could be incredibly straightforward with him. I could ask my questions without worrying he would lie, and if he did lie, I would be able to tell. "Hiko," I started.

"Whotha heck 're you?" he said, slurring his words together.

"Zi—"

"Nice ta meetcha Zi," he said interrupting me, "I'm Hiko, an' you have very nice legs." I felt my face turning beet red. Sagara laughed.

"See? What I tell ya Zi? Drunk as they come." He thought it was funny. That client of mine actually thought it was funny. Was I ever gonna hit him when we got out of there.

"Aren't you tha friend of tha idiot apprentice of mine?" Hiko asked Sagara.

"You mean Kenshin?"

"Yeah, whatever his name is. Is this young lady wif you?" he said turning to me, "Would you consider goin' out with an older man like me? Not a rooster head like that Sano next to you." Not again. Why did everyone think I was Sagara's girlfriend?

"No, thank you" I said, trying to be polite.

"Ya sure?" I could smell the sake in his breath.

"Positive."

"What??" That was the last straw.

"DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT STEAL SAGARA'S BLASTED SAKE?" I screamed.

"Sake? What sake?" said a confused, drunken man. Obviously he was clueless. That left me without any suspects.

"Good day Mr. Hiko," I said standing up to leave.

"But you haven't gotten any ramen yet," said Sagara.

"That's ok, I want to go home. I'll work on your case tomorrow morning Sagara." I was really tired.

"Ok Zi," said Sagara, "I guess I'll see you then."

"BYE LEGS!" said Hiko unusually loud. As I was walking out I heard Sagara ask Hiko if he would buy him some sake.