Disclaimer: Again, I don't own anything Rurouni Kenshin or Samurai X. And I'm kind of getting tired writing this, so from here on in, just assume when you see a chapter in this story that I still don't own anything. If, by some miracle, I do suddenly receive rights to Kenshin, I'll be sure to let you all know!

Author's Note: Since Saito was having such a fit when I posted the last story, "Lone Wolf," (because I apparently left out most of his thoughts), I was forced to include this deleted scene to cool him off. - - sweatdrops as amber-eyed cop glares - -Ah... yes... Anyway, on with the story! - - edges away from katana - -

Lone Wolf (Alternate Scene)

He looked down at Battousai's lifeless body. "Damn." He couldn't believe this, how could Battousai die? What right did he have to die? Saito scowled. It just seemed so wrong. Battousai was supposed to die as a swordsman.

"Damn you!"

He glanced at the ki burning in the shadows. "How?"

"Heart failure." It was a woman's voice.

Saito paused for a moment. If Kaoru wasn't there...? How many women had Battousai had?

"Damn."

She stood and walked toward him, commenting, "You can stop damning him now. I'm sure he didn't die just to inconvenience you."

Saito took at look at her. Never mind, it was just the doctor girl, ever devoted to her patient. He was a little disappointed. Brief though it had been, it had been an amusing mental image of Battousai with a woman on each arm...

But there were more important things to worry about now. For instance, the fact that Battousai had died in such a dishonorable way as having a heart attack. What decent swordsman had a weak heart? And what decent swordsman died without being in battle, disregarding Okita, who was an exception. Saito hadn't quite worked out why he was an exception. He just was.

Saito scowled, his hand tightening on his sword hilt. "He can't die this way," he muttered to himself. He was tempted to ask the doctor woman how long Battousai had been dead. Battousai deserved the chance to pass on with some good wounds. Then at least he could fake having died in a good fight. Saito's fingers twitched on the katana. Maybe if he stabbed Battousai's body a few times right now, he'd bleed. It might work. And if it didn't, well, it wasn't like he was going to feel anything...

Suddenly he noticed that doctor lady was talking. Something about understanding. What?

"Understand?"

She was rambling about death coming readily for Battousai. What the hell was that all about? Of course Battousai could die. Saito had planned on killing him dozens of times. What did she think he was, an idiot who would try to kill someone who couldn't die?"
"Stupid woman," he muttered.

She looked pissed. Good.

"Of course death comes readily. Of course he can die. Why don't you listen to what I say before you assume what I mean? He shouldn't have died this way. He was a swordsman. He lived by the sword. He should have died by the sword. That was an honor he deserved." He looked back at the Battousai, thinking, "And I wanted to at least get a few more hits in on you. Fighting with you was at least worth my time." His fingers twitched on the hilt again. Maybe he should just stab him. He could avoid the gi, and no one would even have to know.

His amber eyes slid toward the doctor again. Well, she would know. But if she didn't shut up soon, he was considering attacking her, too. How did Battousai put up with these people? This one just kept going on about life and death. She had no idea how close he was coming to killing her. What was this crap about Battousai wanting to be normal? That rurouni little wimp was supposed to be normal?

"Don't talk like you can understand Battousai's mind," he snapped. He snorted. Normal...

She was off again. Didn't this woman ever shut up? How do I want to die? Do you think I'm in the mood to consider that? How do you want to die? I can arrange it...

"With a sword in my hand," he said, finally answering the stupid dying question. He wondered if those two dufuses were still outside. Maybe he'd take out his aggression on them, too. "I am a swordsman, and I always intended to die like one."

And this idiot had to screw it up. He caught himself just before he kicked Battousai's body with the toe of his boot. An annoyed look flickered across his features, and his eyebrow twitched as a thought came to his mind. It would be just like Battousai to fake his death and get out of this fight. He was probably just sleeping there. If he were kicked hard enough, Saito figured maybe he'd get up.

She'd stopped talking again. He had no idea what it was about this time, so he just winged the answer. "I never thought about who would win. We've fought before, and it's always come to a draw. It stood to reason that in the end we'd kill each other. I've always known it. But after Shishio, he wouldn't fight me. That stupid rurouni oath of his had to come in the way again."

She was quiet for awhile, and Saito couldn't help but smirk smugly to himself. Not bad for having come up with that without even knowing what she was talking about. "I should tune her out more often," he thought.

Until she began laughing. Long. And loudly.

Saito cringed. He hated when women laughed like that. His wife laughed at him like that all the time. Usually before she pointed out how he was being an idiot. He hated that laugh. And this woman's was even more annoying. "What?" he snapped.

Oh, god. Here it was. She was recounting the past again. A little mimicking voice started making fun of her in his head, "You said he was a failure. I remember you saying that twenty years ago..." Come on, were women built with amazing memories that were used only to throw things back in his face? Who would remember a stupid thing like that? A little thought bubble appeared over his head of a chibi doctor going on in that annoying mimicking head voice he'd created while a chibi Saito stabbed her repeatedly.

She was going on about irony now. He was finding it ironic that while they stood over Battousai's body, Saito was considering killing his doctor. That was irony.

He let her talk, throwing it a little, "How ironic what is?" to let her know he hadn't gone comatose yet. Finally, the infuriating fox woman left. And he was alone with Battousai again.

Now, what had he been doing when the crazy woman had butt in?

Oh, that was right, he'd been contemplating stabbing Battousai to give him some decent wounds. Probably too late now anyway... Maybe he should just go home. This whole thing had been a bust. He could attack the rooster head on the way out. That might be fun...

Author's note 2: Well, there you have it. Saito's deleted scene. I just felt that this set of stories was getting a teensy bit dark (yeah, I know... what do you expect in a deathfic), so I thought some lightening up was in order.

On another note, I'm being offered little odongos if I write the reflections of these two young ladies... how tempting;) So, please stay tuned for a new story soon.