7 reviews it has been since I've started. I am glad to say that your wish
is now my command. Let it never be said that I never break a promise.
Disclaimer: I don't own Ruroni Kenshin or its characters, with the exception of Juno. So to all you black-hearted lawyers, go away or I shall make good my threat (several Darkside heartless emerge and a group of lawyers flee in stark terror). By the way, I don't own the heartless either, but they do make good bodyguards. Heh heh heh.
But enough of torturing the scourge of our society, on with the story!
Chapter 4: Grousing rooster, angry wolf
Sanouske had never had such a bad day in his life. His nose broke, and the cure was worse than the disease. And all in the same day. Megumi had removed the bandages and breathing straws as to begin examining the nose tissue itself.
"Your nose is recovering very well, Sano." The doctor reached into her bag of medical supplies. "But I need to run one more test to be on the safe side."
"What did you have in mind?" A sour Sano asked. Even though he was still upset about earlier, he thought nothing could be worse than having the bone popped back into place.
"I need you to close your eyes for a minute." Megumi began to rummage through her supplies and picked out a small box marked, "sniff tester."
Sano leaned against the wall with his eyes closed; figuring now would be a good time for a nap.
"All right Sano, tell me if you can smell this." Megumi put what looked like moldy black fungus under her patient's nostrils and almost immediately, Sano hit the ceiling in disgust and splatted face down on the floor.
"Ugh! What the heck are you trying to do? KILL ME?!?" Sano demanded.
Megumi laughed for a second, it was pretty fun to watch that kind of reaction. "No, then I wouldn't be able to ask you something."
" And that would be." Sano inquired, rubbing a newly made bump on his head and began to wish Megumi was a man so he would have no compunctions about beating the crap out of her.
"I don't know if you were awake after the accident, but Kaoru and the others went to see a fortuneteller a while ago. I was just going to ask you if you wanted to come with them."
"You mean the little missy went to see one of those little wimps who use crystal balls to sweet talk about the future?" Sano smiled. "I'd rather see Saitou drunk."
Just then, a knock came from the door. Megumi opened it and who should be standing at the threshold than..
"I thought I heard someone call my name." Saitou said roughly. "But you're not going to see me drunk anytime soon, rooster!"
Sano jumped up from the floor and came face-to-face with his loathsome adversary. "Who're you calling rooster, you butt-ugly old has-been??"
Saitou stood motionless with a vein on his head pulsing. "I'm mistaken: I meant to call you "sake-marinated piece of garbage!"
Megumi quickly stepped in to calm the two smokestacks of rage. "Can't you two meet for once without wanting to tear each other's head off?"
"Let him think what he wants, I'll still tear him to shreds." Saitou turned away in disdain. "And to think that of all the people in Tokyo, he wanted me to bring you two."
"What do you mean?" Megumi asked, struck by the cryptic remark.
"The fortuneteller wanted me to bring you to see him." Saitou explained. "If you go, he won't charge you for the services. Though I fail to see why he'd waste his time on the amateur."
Sano felt his blood began to boil once again. But instead of saying something, he grabbed the black fungus thingy and threw it straight into Saitou's mouth.
The narrow-eyed police officer choked the bizarre object down his throat, then a loud grumble roared from his stomach. Saitou clutched his suddenly bulging mouth and ran out of the room, in the direction of the nearest empty barrel.
"Hey Megumi, how old was that thing?" Sano asked as he followed Saitou out.
"About 5 years." Megumi answered. "Why?"
"Hold that thought." Sano held up an index finger. An unearthly noise pierced the silence, and possibly, the sanctity of the dojo:
"RRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
For the first time all day, Sano laughed heartily. " You just made my day."
Saitou had discovered what it was like to be sick as a dog. "Ha, ha, very funny, rooster." He groaned. "Next chance I get I'll. (Oooooohh, don't feel so good.).
"What's the matter, Shifty?" Sano teased. "Under the weather?"
It took a while, but Saitou regained his fearsome composure. "I always said you made sick, but this is an insult!"
"I'll take you anytime, tall-dark-and-gruesome." Sano said mirthfully. "But we gotta see the fortuneteller. So lead the way."
Half-choked with rage and nausea, Saitou, Sano, and Megumi left the Dojo in pursuit of knowledge.. and extra-strength digestive.
Back at the Silver-eyed Star, Yahiko and Juno were in the private room. Yahiko looked around the room at all sorts of lit candles incense burners.
"So, do you travel a lot?" Yahiko asked the fortuneteller. Juno was shuffling his tarot deck and put three cards face down like he did with Kaoru. "Yes, once in a while I like see the world. What would you want to know?"
It didn't take long for Yahiko to figure that out: "Will I be as good a swordsman as Kenshin is?"
"Hmm. Interesting ambition." Juno nodded. "Let's see what the cards have to say about your past." He flipped the first card over. "The three of coins. You've been a bad boy haven't you?"
"What would you know??" Yahiko burst out in indignation.
" I've heard of like father, like son, but never "like teacher, like student!" Juno laughed. "I know that at one time, you were a pick-pocket on the streets. Tell me, how do you like Kaoru as an instructor?"
"She gets upset at the slightest thing, not to mention what a horrible cook she is." Yahiko answered.
Juno shook his head for a minute. "Be that as it may, she was kind enough to take you on as a student of the Kamiya Kasshin style and put a roof over your head. Don't you think you think you should be grateful?"
Yahiko drained his tea very quickly before dignifying with a response. " .what's your point?"
"If circumstances were different, you would have been as bad as those thieves you defeated during their attempted robbery of the Akebeko's home." Juno exclaimed. "But let's move on, shall we?" He flipped over the second card. "The five of swords."
"What does that card mean?" Yahiko asked. "Looks like a bad game Sano used to play for money."
"The five of swords is very fitting." Juno continued, "According to this, your progress is growing at a steady rate. And some of the people are beginning to recognize your abilities."
Yahiko felt a smile grow on his face. "You should have seen me in Kyoto, I mopped the floor with some of the best men the Juupongatana had!"
"I've seen otherwise, you were nearly blow up to smithereens." Juno reprimanded the cocky apprentice, "but finished up with great panache. Nice mimic of the Hiten Mitsurugi style. But what would you do when you feel your skills are complete?"
"What do you mean?" Yahiko asked dumbfounded.
"If you were to master both the Kamiya Kasshin and Hiten Mitsurugi styles, what would you do with your skills?" Juno asked. " There is little need for swordsmen in this day and age. Not to mention the fact that there are few in power who would use your skills to justify their means."
Yahiko thought seriously about this matter. He remembered what happened to Aoshi Shinomori and the Oniwaban group under their employer, Konryu Tekeita, A wicker death merchant who kidnapped Megumi to further his blood- washed empire of wealth.
"I'm not gonna end up as some tool for a criminal!" Yahiko snapped back at the remark. "I've seen too many reasons not to."
"A wise answer." Juno acknowledge sagely. "With all the evil in this land already vanquished by you and your friends, there would be a void for someone stronger to take over. Would you be brave enough to test your skills then, Little Yahiko?"
That old remark hit Yahiko's nerves most unpleasant. "Not you too??" the latter whined. "Why can't everyone stop it with the "little" thing?" He buried his head in his knees.
Juno did not laugh throughout Yahiko's grousing. "It can't be helped, even though you've become a man on the inside. But I wouldn't think of it as a curse. Your opponents underestimated you and ended up sorely defeated because of it."
Yahiko raised his head slightly, piqued by Juno's wisdom.
The fortuneteller rose from his spot and began to rummage through a chest. He then sat back down with cloth-wrapped bundle in his hands. "It would be a rough and thankless road ahead. But, you're still alive: you've shown true courage during the day you might have died, fighting the Juupongatana along side the Oniwaban. That's never easy. But, I prattle on. It is time to see your future." Yahiko watched as Juno's hand picked up the third card and turned it slowly over.
Just then a bell rang from the lobby. "A visitor." Juno said with the card in his hand. "You'll have to excuse me a bit." He walked out to answer. Even though Yahiko was curious to find out about his destiny, he followed Juno out of the room as well.
"Oh, Officer Saitou! Glad to see you brought the company I asked for." Juno greeted the wolf cheerfully.
"The pleasure is more yours than mine." Saitou refuted. "Do you have anything for indigestion?"
"Yup. A ginseng and cherry tree potion. One of my bestsellers." Juno led the company in.
Among the company already inside, Kaoru was first to notice the Saitou wasn't exactly himself. "Did something happen?" she asked Megumi. "Saitou looks kind of sick."
"You don't need to worry about him, little missy." Sano exclaimed. "It's just something he ate." He then went to join Kenshin with smile on his face.
Saitou cleared his throat and walked away from the group. In minutes, Juno brought back a large cup of cup of tea and a small vial. He put a few small drops, causing the tea to bubble. Saitou then took a small taste. Finding it surprisingly pleasing, he drained the rest of the drink. "Give the potion a few minutes to work through your system and you'll be fine." The fortuneteller advised. It did not take Saitou long to figure out his next move once his ailments were over- pluck Sano like a chicken and roast him on a skewer.
Pretty soon after, Juno and Yahiko were back in the private room. "Well, I'd hate to be your friend once his indigestion goes down." Juno said as he settled himself in.
"Ain't that the truth?" Yahiko chimed in. "So what's the last card?"
".The Chariot." Juno laid the card on the table. "Your future is . uncertain. Your skill will continue to grow, that much is certain. But to what end. the cards refuse to tell me."
Yahiko sat, riveted to his spot. "What do you mean, the cards won't tell you?"
Juno shook his head in dismay. "Usually when this happens, it means that it would be unwise to continue. All I know is that part of your strength will be derived from the Kamiya Kasshin style. The other part, you have to figure out on your own." Juno unwrapped the bundle in his lap carefully. When the last layer of cloth was removed, Yahiko saw what looked like a sword in a beaten up sheath. Juno removed the case, revealing a gleaming blade that looks as if fresh from the forge. Yahiko gazed at the sword with awe.
Juno sheathed the sword slowly, and looked down at Yahiko with a serious gaze. "This was given to me by a master sword smith during my travels. He told me to give it to someone untouched by hatred. I've kept it as a good luck charm but I think the time has come for it to have a new owner."
Yahiko felt his heart beat slightly faster as Juno held out the weapon to him. "Be mindful, Yahiko. A sword that protects is only as good as the one who uses it. Keep that in mind when the time comes for you to use it."
Yahiko was absolutely speechless. A real sword of his own. "Hey! This has no edge!."
Juno couldn't help chuckling at Yahiko's reaction. "That's because this sword is similar to a sakabato. Only with no edge at all. You can a smith sharpen it later, if you want. Your reading is now over, but I hope that there will be no need for you to use that sword at all."
Yahiko hurried back to the others, just in time to witness Saitou's recovery. "All right, where is that excuse of a rooster?"
Sano strode into the open. "You're looking' for me, or are you planning on calling in sick?"
Everyone else in the room sweat dropped and made some room. But just before either Sano or Saitou could begin their fight anew, jagged lightning tore between them. All eyes looked around for the source and found Juno with smoke coming from his hand.
"I don't know about you guys, but I do not allow fighting in my house." Juno warned. "Under penalty of deep frying." His hand sparkled with electricity to illustrate.
"I believe that you two should settle your problem some other time, that you should." Kenshin said to Sano and Saitou. The two aforementioned turned their backs to each other, sulking.
Juno however, turned to Kenshin. "I believe that you are next for a reading. There is nothing to be afraid of."
With that said. Kenshin followed Juno into the private room.
Okay, this is LONGEST chapter by far. It took me a long while to write it, that's why it's so big. I think that I will take a break for a while since I'm beginning to feel a little tired. Nonetheless though, I'll still work on this. Next up, Kenshin's fortune!
Special thanks go to:
LadyWaterShaman: Three reviews you've given me. I'm touched that you keep coming back to enjoy my little project.
Setine: Ditto to you, too. I hope you found this funny, it sure made me smile.
Himura Jeni: Technically, you were the THIRD and seventh review I've got altogether. Weird isn't it? Anyway, I hope you're pleased with this huge gem of a chapter.
For now, I'm off for a little R&R and a little insult sword fighting, Monkey Island style.
Until next chapter, *clamm oy mydan!
(smell ya later in Al Behd)
Disclaimer: I don't own Ruroni Kenshin or its characters, with the exception of Juno. So to all you black-hearted lawyers, go away or I shall make good my threat (several Darkside heartless emerge and a group of lawyers flee in stark terror). By the way, I don't own the heartless either, but they do make good bodyguards. Heh heh heh.
But enough of torturing the scourge of our society, on with the story!
Chapter 4: Grousing rooster, angry wolf
Sanouske had never had such a bad day in his life. His nose broke, and the cure was worse than the disease. And all in the same day. Megumi had removed the bandages and breathing straws as to begin examining the nose tissue itself.
"Your nose is recovering very well, Sano." The doctor reached into her bag of medical supplies. "But I need to run one more test to be on the safe side."
"What did you have in mind?" A sour Sano asked. Even though he was still upset about earlier, he thought nothing could be worse than having the bone popped back into place.
"I need you to close your eyes for a minute." Megumi began to rummage through her supplies and picked out a small box marked, "sniff tester."
Sano leaned against the wall with his eyes closed; figuring now would be a good time for a nap.
"All right Sano, tell me if you can smell this." Megumi put what looked like moldy black fungus under her patient's nostrils and almost immediately, Sano hit the ceiling in disgust and splatted face down on the floor.
"Ugh! What the heck are you trying to do? KILL ME?!?" Sano demanded.
Megumi laughed for a second, it was pretty fun to watch that kind of reaction. "No, then I wouldn't be able to ask you something."
" And that would be." Sano inquired, rubbing a newly made bump on his head and began to wish Megumi was a man so he would have no compunctions about beating the crap out of her.
"I don't know if you were awake after the accident, but Kaoru and the others went to see a fortuneteller a while ago. I was just going to ask you if you wanted to come with them."
"You mean the little missy went to see one of those little wimps who use crystal balls to sweet talk about the future?" Sano smiled. "I'd rather see Saitou drunk."
Just then, a knock came from the door. Megumi opened it and who should be standing at the threshold than..
"I thought I heard someone call my name." Saitou said roughly. "But you're not going to see me drunk anytime soon, rooster!"
Sano jumped up from the floor and came face-to-face with his loathsome adversary. "Who're you calling rooster, you butt-ugly old has-been??"
Saitou stood motionless with a vein on his head pulsing. "I'm mistaken: I meant to call you "sake-marinated piece of garbage!"
Megumi quickly stepped in to calm the two smokestacks of rage. "Can't you two meet for once without wanting to tear each other's head off?"
"Let him think what he wants, I'll still tear him to shreds." Saitou turned away in disdain. "And to think that of all the people in Tokyo, he wanted me to bring you two."
"What do you mean?" Megumi asked, struck by the cryptic remark.
"The fortuneteller wanted me to bring you to see him." Saitou explained. "If you go, he won't charge you for the services. Though I fail to see why he'd waste his time on the amateur."
Sano felt his blood began to boil once again. But instead of saying something, he grabbed the black fungus thingy and threw it straight into Saitou's mouth.
The narrow-eyed police officer choked the bizarre object down his throat, then a loud grumble roared from his stomach. Saitou clutched his suddenly bulging mouth and ran out of the room, in the direction of the nearest empty barrel.
"Hey Megumi, how old was that thing?" Sano asked as he followed Saitou out.
"About 5 years." Megumi answered. "Why?"
"Hold that thought." Sano held up an index finger. An unearthly noise pierced the silence, and possibly, the sanctity of the dojo:
"RRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
For the first time all day, Sano laughed heartily. " You just made my day."
Saitou had discovered what it was like to be sick as a dog. "Ha, ha, very funny, rooster." He groaned. "Next chance I get I'll. (Oooooohh, don't feel so good.).
"What's the matter, Shifty?" Sano teased. "Under the weather?"
It took a while, but Saitou regained his fearsome composure. "I always said you made sick, but this is an insult!"
"I'll take you anytime, tall-dark-and-gruesome." Sano said mirthfully. "But we gotta see the fortuneteller. So lead the way."
Half-choked with rage and nausea, Saitou, Sano, and Megumi left the Dojo in pursuit of knowledge.. and extra-strength digestive.
Back at the Silver-eyed Star, Yahiko and Juno were in the private room. Yahiko looked around the room at all sorts of lit candles incense burners.
"So, do you travel a lot?" Yahiko asked the fortuneteller. Juno was shuffling his tarot deck and put three cards face down like he did with Kaoru. "Yes, once in a while I like see the world. What would you want to know?"
It didn't take long for Yahiko to figure that out: "Will I be as good a swordsman as Kenshin is?"
"Hmm. Interesting ambition." Juno nodded. "Let's see what the cards have to say about your past." He flipped the first card over. "The three of coins. You've been a bad boy haven't you?"
"What would you know??" Yahiko burst out in indignation.
" I've heard of like father, like son, but never "like teacher, like student!" Juno laughed. "I know that at one time, you were a pick-pocket on the streets. Tell me, how do you like Kaoru as an instructor?"
"She gets upset at the slightest thing, not to mention what a horrible cook she is." Yahiko answered.
Juno shook his head for a minute. "Be that as it may, she was kind enough to take you on as a student of the Kamiya Kasshin style and put a roof over your head. Don't you think you think you should be grateful?"
Yahiko drained his tea very quickly before dignifying with a response. " .what's your point?"
"If circumstances were different, you would have been as bad as those thieves you defeated during their attempted robbery of the Akebeko's home." Juno exclaimed. "But let's move on, shall we?" He flipped over the second card. "The five of swords."
"What does that card mean?" Yahiko asked. "Looks like a bad game Sano used to play for money."
"The five of swords is very fitting." Juno continued, "According to this, your progress is growing at a steady rate. And some of the people are beginning to recognize your abilities."
Yahiko felt a smile grow on his face. "You should have seen me in Kyoto, I mopped the floor with some of the best men the Juupongatana had!"
"I've seen otherwise, you were nearly blow up to smithereens." Juno reprimanded the cocky apprentice, "but finished up with great panache. Nice mimic of the Hiten Mitsurugi style. But what would you do when you feel your skills are complete?"
"What do you mean?" Yahiko asked dumbfounded.
"If you were to master both the Kamiya Kasshin and Hiten Mitsurugi styles, what would you do with your skills?" Juno asked. " There is little need for swordsmen in this day and age. Not to mention the fact that there are few in power who would use your skills to justify their means."
Yahiko thought seriously about this matter. He remembered what happened to Aoshi Shinomori and the Oniwaban group under their employer, Konryu Tekeita, A wicker death merchant who kidnapped Megumi to further his blood- washed empire of wealth.
"I'm not gonna end up as some tool for a criminal!" Yahiko snapped back at the remark. "I've seen too many reasons not to."
"A wise answer." Juno acknowledge sagely. "With all the evil in this land already vanquished by you and your friends, there would be a void for someone stronger to take over. Would you be brave enough to test your skills then, Little Yahiko?"
That old remark hit Yahiko's nerves most unpleasant. "Not you too??" the latter whined. "Why can't everyone stop it with the "little" thing?" He buried his head in his knees.
Juno did not laugh throughout Yahiko's grousing. "It can't be helped, even though you've become a man on the inside. But I wouldn't think of it as a curse. Your opponents underestimated you and ended up sorely defeated because of it."
Yahiko raised his head slightly, piqued by Juno's wisdom.
The fortuneteller rose from his spot and began to rummage through a chest. He then sat back down with cloth-wrapped bundle in his hands. "It would be a rough and thankless road ahead. But, you're still alive: you've shown true courage during the day you might have died, fighting the Juupongatana along side the Oniwaban. That's never easy. But, I prattle on. It is time to see your future." Yahiko watched as Juno's hand picked up the third card and turned it slowly over.
Just then a bell rang from the lobby. "A visitor." Juno said with the card in his hand. "You'll have to excuse me a bit." He walked out to answer. Even though Yahiko was curious to find out about his destiny, he followed Juno out of the room as well.
"Oh, Officer Saitou! Glad to see you brought the company I asked for." Juno greeted the wolf cheerfully.
"The pleasure is more yours than mine." Saitou refuted. "Do you have anything for indigestion?"
"Yup. A ginseng and cherry tree potion. One of my bestsellers." Juno led the company in.
Among the company already inside, Kaoru was first to notice the Saitou wasn't exactly himself. "Did something happen?" she asked Megumi. "Saitou looks kind of sick."
"You don't need to worry about him, little missy." Sano exclaimed. "It's just something he ate." He then went to join Kenshin with smile on his face.
Saitou cleared his throat and walked away from the group. In minutes, Juno brought back a large cup of cup of tea and a small vial. He put a few small drops, causing the tea to bubble. Saitou then took a small taste. Finding it surprisingly pleasing, he drained the rest of the drink. "Give the potion a few minutes to work through your system and you'll be fine." The fortuneteller advised. It did not take Saitou long to figure out his next move once his ailments were over- pluck Sano like a chicken and roast him on a skewer.
Pretty soon after, Juno and Yahiko were back in the private room. "Well, I'd hate to be your friend once his indigestion goes down." Juno said as he settled himself in.
"Ain't that the truth?" Yahiko chimed in. "So what's the last card?"
".The Chariot." Juno laid the card on the table. "Your future is . uncertain. Your skill will continue to grow, that much is certain. But to what end. the cards refuse to tell me."
Yahiko sat, riveted to his spot. "What do you mean, the cards won't tell you?"
Juno shook his head in dismay. "Usually when this happens, it means that it would be unwise to continue. All I know is that part of your strength will be derived from the Kamiya Kasshin style. The other part, you have to figure out on your own." Juno unwrapped the bundle in his lap carefully. When the last layer of cloth was removed, Yahiko saw what looked like a sword in a beaten up sheath. Juno removed the case, revealing a gleaming blade that looks as if fresh from the forge. Yahiko gazed at the sword with awe.
Juno sheathed the sword slowly, and looked down at Yahiko with a serious gaze. "This was given to me by a master sword smith during my travels. He told me to give it to someone untouched by hatred. I've kept it as a good luck charm but I think the time has come for it to have a new owner."
Yahiko felt his heart beat slightly faster as Juno held out the weapon to him. "Be mindful, Yahiko. A sword that protects is only as good as the one who uses it. Keep that in mind when the time comes for you to use it."
Yahiko was absolutely speechless. A real sword of his own. "Hey! This has no edge!."
Juno couldn't help chuckling at Yahiko's reaction. "That's because this sword is similar to a sakabato. Only with no edge at all. You can a smith sharpen it later, if you want. Your reading is now over, but I hope that there will be no need for you to use that sword at all."
Yahiko hurried back to the others, just in time to witness Saitou's recovery. "All right, where is that excuse of a rooster?"
Sano strode into the open. "You're looking' for me, or are you planning on calling in sick?"
Everyone else in the room sweat dropped and made some room. But just before either Sano or Saitou could begin their fight anew, jagged lightning tore between them. All eyes looked around for the source and found Juno with smoke coming from his hand.
"I don't know about you guys, but I do not allow fighting in my house." Juno warned. "Under penalty of deep frying." His hand sparkled with electricity to illustrate.
"I believe that you two should settle your problem some other time, that you should." Kenshin said to Sano and Saitou. The two aforementioned turned their backs to each other, sulking.
Juno however, turned to Kenshin. "I believe that you are next for a reading. There is nothing to be afraid of."
With that said. Kenshin followed Juno into the private room.
Okay, this is LONGEST chapter by far. It took me a long while to write it, that's why it's so big. I think that I will take a break for a while since I'm beginning to feel a little tired. Nonetheless though, I'll still work on this. Next up, Kenshin's fortune!
Special thanks go to:
LadyWaterShaman: Three reviews you've given me. I'm touched that you keep coming back to enjoy my little project.
Setine: Ditto to you, too. I hope you found this funny, it sure made me smile.
Himura Jeni: Technically, you were the THIRD and seventh review I've got altogether. Weird isn't it? Anyway, I hope you're pleased with this huge gem of a chapter.
For now, I'm off for a little R&R and a little insult sword fighting, Monkey Island style.
Until next chapter, *clamm oy mydan!
(smell ya later in Al Behd)