Disclaimer: I do not own PMK or RK

Chapter 26: Shifting Sands

Saya...please wait for me! Tetsu clung onto the reins as the horse sped onwards to the port. On foot, it had taken him a good half-day last year, and he was running a race with Suzu then. Looking back, he had acted like a kid. They were both kids then. Now one lies dead in a dingy shack while Tetsu was racing against time.

Saya gazed out at the calm waters. They had reached the port late in the night. Ryouma found them rooms in a fishermen's inn. Then he and Umeko went down to the bar for a few rounds of sake. Saya was tired and fell asleep as soon as she lay down on her futon. When she awoke in the morning, she found Umeko nursing Ryouma from his hangover.

Saya-chan, this is the sea... Her dead father had told her when she was little and he brought his family to the bay. Those big boats are going far away... She'll be on one of those big boats. Going to Nagasaki with Umeko.

"All aboard!" The wiry ferry captain called out. Umeko kissed Ryouma before they boarded the vessel. "Take care of my sugar-plum and her girl or I'll put some holes in you!" He called out a friendly threat to the captain. The captain gave a mock salute. "Yes sir!"

Sayonara, Tetsu-kun...

The screaming of seabirds woke him. Shouldn't he be dead? Suzu felt for his wound and found none. He found himself sitting on shining white sand. This was where he had set out on his journey with his master so long ago. His body felt light. He must be dead. Standing in front of him was the man he admired and respected above all others.

Sensei? Yoshida nodded. His face was as impassive as always.

Sorry, master. I messed up again...

We all make mistakes, Suzu... Yoshida stretched out a hand to his page. Did you ever regret following me to Kyoto?

Suzu carefully thought of all his experiences since following Yoshida. It was a hard life. But he had met many people. Some bad but mostly good. Tetsu, Saya and Kenshin, even the outrageous Ryouma, Umeko and Kikujo. No, sensei, never.

Suzu, is something holding you back? The specter questioned. No, sensei, Suzu smiled and took his master's hand. Tetsu-baka will come through for Saya. Two souls started on their journey into eternity.

Hijitaka was worried. He has made some bad decisions before but this one tops them all. He walked to the edge of town where the road led to the port. If anything should happen to the boy, horse or both... wonder if Hajime will act as his second when he commits seppuku now Souji's gone. Kondo will not be pleased...

"Sagara-san! Sagara-san!"

He almost knocked down a spiky-haired lad. He stopped. The lad was young, as young as Souji was when they first met. He was running after a tall young man with his fringe falling over half his face. Sagara-san stopped. Hijitaka was reminded painfully of his younger self.

Did he really appear that way to Souji? The boy's face was beaming with hero-worship. Sagara had the air of a natural leader despite his peasant clothes. If he were samurai, he could have gone far. Pity the man's a peasant.

"Sano, I told you to stay at the orphanage," Sagara chided.

"I know, but I hate it there. I'll run away and be on the streets again," Sanosuke whined. "Sagara-san, you apologized to me that day when you knocked me down like I wasn't some beggar kid...why?" Sanosuke frowned. Most people would have given him a scolding or even a beating.

"Because all men are equal, Sanosuke. That's the way it should be," Sagara ruffled the boy's hair fondly and smiled.

"Hijitaka-san! Can you teach me please?" A boyish voice piped as its owner struggled with a bamboo sword. He caught Souji as he over-balanced and steadied him.

"This is how you grip a sword..." He instructed his eager young pupil.

Hijitaka watched in amusement as the slim-built Sagara finally relented and allowed the boy tag after him. He did not catch their exchange, but he gathered the bond between the youth and boy had been forged every bit as strong as the one between him and Souji. Hopefully, they will survive the coming storm.

The storm was coming. Both Ishii and bakufu forces were moving. It will be common people who suffer in a civil war. The innocent and the young...

Hijitaka-san, believe in Tetsu-kun, please... He could almost hear Souji's voice in the rustling leaves. Yes, he should believe the lad.

"Think he'll come?" Umeko asked as Saya leant over the side of the ferry. Saya smiled and shook her head. It was foolish. She thought she had decided to leave Tetsu and Kyoto behind her when she left Umeya. The matron sighed and fanned herself. The captain gave the orders to raise the sails.

The workers scattered as the horse galloped full-tilt onto the docks. Tetsu fumbled, trying to rein in his very energetic steed. The horse whinnied and reared, almost unseating its rider. Crap! Tetsu felt himself slipping off.

"Gotcha!" A pair of strong hands took the reins and brought the horse under control. Tetsu blinked as he looked at his rescuer. Ryouma slapped the horse lightly on its neck. "Sprightly beast!"

It was that strange guy. Tetsu rubbed his very sore behind as he dismounted. In the strange man's hands, the horse had suddenly gone docile. Tetsu glared at the beast. Then he remembered the ferry and Saya.

"The ferry!" He ran to the harbormaster's office, leaving the horse with Ryouma. Ryouma called out to a friend, who led the beast away to be watered and stabled. Tetsu's knees gave when the harbormaster told him. Too late. The ferry had set sail for Nagasaki a short while ago.

"IRON BOY! Ichimura Tetsunosuke!" Ryouma called to the lad. "Come with me if you want to catch up to her! Quick, while there's still time!" Tetsu found himself being dragged along by Ryouma as they dashed down the waterfront.

Notes:

OK, my file got a bit corrupted so I'm reloading...

A bit of SuzuYoshida fluff. Got a feeling I messed Suzu's death scene. Sayonara Suzu.

A cameo by Sano and Sagara. Dunno how they met, but just play along with me.

Whatever Ryouma has planned better not be too crazy.