Disclaimer: All characters, settings, plotlines, pieces of dialogue et cetera that are from the original Rurouni Kenshin manga/anime are property of Watsuke, Shonen Jump comics and associates. I mean not to infringe on such copyright. I'm only here to give my two cents. (I'm hoping that will be enough to buy the rights to the Kyoto Arc!)

A/N: Okay, so I said this chapter will be up by Tuesday (or was it Monday?) and here it is, Sunday already! My deepest apologies, everyone. I do admit, I don't have a great excuse for not updating...I guess between Open House at school and a history project due in three weeks...well, you know.

Also this week I finally got Naruku's site up. Please check it out if you have the chance. (There's a link to it in my bio.)

Tanoshimu!


Chapter 8

Sano: Adventures in Shinshuu (Part two)

-

By the time the sun was high in the afternoon sky, Sano and his family, unknown to that fact as they were, were headed into town. Earlier, Sano had offered to buy lunch for them at what he teasingly called "the local restaurant." It was a surprisingly decent thing for him to do, so Uki agreed.

As they ate, however, Sano's attention was more focused on who sat a few tables away. Fudozawa. Growling under his breath, Sano wondered why he had to show up just everywhere Sano was.

"C'mon Outa, finish your vegetables," Uki said behind Sano. Next to him, Higashidani seemed to be staring off at Fudozawa as well. Sano threw a glance his way and wondered what Higashidani would give to be able to throw some punches at Fudozawa.

Being the honorable and compassionate son that he was, Sano decided to do it himself. Without a word to anyone, he stood up and strode toward Fudozawa's table, where he was laughing and talking in a loud voice, acting like he owned the place.

Just seeing him made Sano's fists clench uncomfortably. Yesterday he had just wanted a good fight. Today, it was different. Today Sano knew that Fudozawa was the reason his family was living in meager circumstances. Today he knew that Fudozawa was a conceited, self-serving bastard, and everything else on the list Sano had compiled.

"Hey!" Sano barked, slamming his fist down on Fudozawa's table. It seemed as though the whole restaurant had gone quiet.

Fudozawa did not look impressed with Sano's furious actions. Gohei and Kihei, who were sporting swollen lips, black eyes and bruises, respectively, looked positively petrified. Fudozawa raised an eyebrow at Sano's unwelcome intrusion.

"Street fighter," he addressed Sano, who glared in return. "You watch your step, or you're not gonna live to an old age, kid." He said this with a wicked grin.

Sano frowned. "Don't talk to me like you're some cop, M-baldy."

The two of them glared and snarled at each other, their gazes transfixed.

Behind Sano, Uki had a determined look on her face. She sat up from the table, wiped her mouth and strode toward Sano and Fudozawa. Outa trailed behind her, a similar expression darkening his round features. Higashidani sat behind them, his face contorted into a perturbed frown.

"Hey!" Uki called out to the two glaring men. She reached Sano's side. "Don't get into a—"

Before she could finish her thought, Fudozawa raised his hand and smacked her hard across the face, his eyes never leaving Sano.

Uki gasped and clutched the wound, which was sure to bruise. Everyone was completely silent.

Sano was seething. In a low, menacing voice he said, "I was just gonna throw a few punches, but now I'm really gonna mess you up, asshole. I hate people who prey on innocent people! Didn't your parents ever tell you never to hit a girl, you—"

Fudozawa leaned forward into Sano's face. "Oh yeah? What're you gonna do, punk?"

Sano didn't answer, but instead grabbed Fudozawa by the front of his collar and punched him hard in the face.

Fudozawa seemed to be in shock as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. He blinked, wiped the blood away and then grinned. "Why don't we take this outside, street fighter?"

"Heh," Sano replied. "Fine with me."

They stalked out the door, Gohei and Kihei following behind Fudozawa, while Uki and Outa followed behind Sano.

Outside there was already a circle of onlookers forming. People from the restaurant as well as regular people walking in the streets stopped what they were doing to form a circle outside.

Fudozawa smirked, but Sano's face remained impassive. They entered the circle, each on one end. Stripped to the waist, Fudozawa smacked his fist into his open palm, making a thunderous noise.

Sano was not intimidated. He too discarded his coat, but instead of trying to menace Fudozawa, he simply stood there.

Fudozawa roared and slammed his open hand into the ground. Where he had struck there was now a deeply inset handprint. The crowd murmured in anticipation.

"That's his special technique," one person whispered excitedly, and rather loudly.

Sano sent a glare in the direction of the person who said this. He realized there was a group of ugly-looking men all guffawing. They must have been part of Fudozawa's yakuza. That changed things a little.

"Let's see this technique then," Sano said loudly to Fudozawa. "C'mon."

Fudozawa charged forward, his mighty arm raised. He landed his blow square in Sanosuke's face. But Sano didn't even flinch.

"Is that it?" he asked.

The crowd, which had hushed at Sano's first invitation, went up in frenzy. "What is he?" Seemed to be the general consensus.

Fudozawa was speechless. Sano took that opportunity to show him some of his own technique. He slammed his fist into Fudozawa's side. The recipient of Sano's attack stumbled backward, coughing spastically.

"I'll show you, punk," Fudozawa managed to get out. He charged again, but this time Sano was not satisfied to take the attack. He got their sooner and sent a blow to Fudozawa's burly chest.

That did it. Fudozawa fell to the ground, a deep bruise forming where Sano had struck him. Even though he was unconscious, Sano was surprised how well he had taken the Futaenokiwami.

From the crowd, Fudozawa's rank of yakuza moved forward. "You knocked him out, but do you really think you can take on fifty of us?"

Sano smirked, getting into an offensive position.

Before the yakuza could strike, Uki rushed forward. "Stop it!" she cried.

Amazingly, they did. Sano stood normally. "What is it, kid?" he asked. He was surprised to see her bruise from Fudozawa's slap had already been patched up. Not only that, but salty tears were running from her brown eyes.

"Don't you think you've caused enough trouble around here?" she said fiercely. Shocked, Sano realized she was talking to him, not the yakuza who were ready to strike. "It's about time you leave."

"Uki…" Sano trailed off, his eyes becoming downcast. "I didn't know. I just wanted to—"

Uki glared. "And don't you think it's a little weird that you've been living at my house and I don't even know your name?"

Sano recalled the story of how Kenshin and Kaoru met. It struck him as odd how closely his current situation was.

He bit back a laugh and instead looked down at Uki. "It's Sanosuke."

Her eyes widened and her crying ceased. "S-sano?" she blinked her tears away, staring at him with an expression that made it look like she had seen something otherworldly. "Is it really…?"

He didn't answer. Instead he turned to Outa and promptly kicked him.

Uki's shocked expression changed to fury. "Just what was that for?"

"Your sister's getting roughed up and you don't do anything?" Sano asked Outa. "You need to learn what's right, kid."

Outa didn't answer, but neither did he cry. Uki came behind him and set her hands on his shoulders protectively. "Outa's just a little kid!"

"Well he's never gonna grow up if you don't stop coddling him."

"Shut-up!" Uki cried. "Even if you are our brother, you have no idea what we've gone through."

"Oh yeah?" Sano retorted. "Well I haven't had an easy time, either. But at least I know that you stand up for people, and when things are bad you don't just let it be."

"You don't know anything," Uki sobbed, her tears starting up again. Her voice quieted. "Besides…Outa takes care of me…" she touched the bandage on her wounded cheek.

Sano inhaled, staring at his sister in awe. He then turned to Outa, who faltered under his gaze.

"Fine," Sano said softly. "Fine. If you won't let me fix things here…" he turned back to Uki, his eyes shining and honest. "Let me take Outa back to Tokyo with me."

Everyone quieted. Even the leading yakuza men, who had been planning an ambush on Sano and were slowly creeping forward, had frozen.

Uki stood facing Sano, her mouth in a thin line and her eyes stony and blank. Outa looked curiously from Sano to Uki. They seemed to be silently battling. He took a deep breath and spoke up.

"Onee-chan," he said. Uki snapped her head toward him. "I—I would like to…to go to Tokyo." He looked down, afraid of what he would see on his sister's face.

A sound from the doorway of the restaurant turned all heads toward Higashidani.

With the help of his cane, Higashidani hobbled from the restaurant over to where his three kids stood. In one fluid motion, he smacked them all in the head. "Why are all my kids such idiots?"

From there rose a cacophony of protests and retorts.

Higashidani chuckled as his three kids quieted down. He gathered them all in his arms, drawing them into a painfully squashed group hug. "Oh, what a wonderful day this is!" he sang hysterically. "What a family reunion!" He seemed to be the only one celebrating.

Sano easily dislodged himself from Higashidani's grip, and after that Higashidani calmed down. Uki and Outa broke away, rubbing sore arms. Sano could see tears glistening in Uki's eyes.

"Dad…" she whispered to Higashidani. "He wants to take…" she couldn't finish and instead burst into fresh tears.

"I know," Higashidani returned. "But Outa will have a better chance in Tokyo."

"With him?" Uki questioned, sounded slightly bitter.

"He's your brother," Higashidani replied softly. "And that means he's Outa's brother, too."

Sano glared around at the crowd of people, who were gradually breaking off and going back to daily life. Even the yakuza seemed to have given up, and were now setting up a transportation for Fudozawa's unconscious body.

It was really a shame, too. Sano would've liked the good fight he had come for. It would have to wait. Sano would have to wait to get out his anger about Enizu. He turned back to Uki and his dad.

"Well?" he asked. "I know of a dojo that would take him in. He could learn kendo, and be strong."

Uki looked down, refusing to meet his eyes. Higashidani gazed at him, his face tired and worn. Neither of them said anything.

Sano sighed angrily, turning away. "Fine. I guess I'm not good enough to take care of my own brother, eh?" It was one thing that was actually important to him. Soon after learning that he had a little brother, Sano wanted to make sure that Outa was raised to be strong, to be the kind of person that Sano would be proud to walk beside.

Higashidani always said, 'A man grows up looking at the back of the man in front of him.' Sano had been watching the backs of some good men. Kenshin, Captain Sagara…He wanted Outa to grow up looking at Sano's back.

But when Uki and Higashidani didn't say anything, he just walked away, knowing that Outa wasn't the coward.

Uki's eyes widened in surprise as Sano slowly retreated from the road. She snapped out of her sad, mournful thoughts and knelt down in front of Outa, turning him to face her instead of Sano.

"Listen, Outa," she said purposefully, giving a sidelong glance at her dad. He slowly nodded. "You…go to Tokyo." As soon as the words were out her mouth, she was crying. "Become strong, Outa. Be good."

Outa burst into tears as well and wrapped his arms around his sister. "I will onee-chan!"

Uki released him reluctantly so Higashidani could scoop his youngest son up. "Be good to your brother, Outa."

Still crying, the little boy nodded.

"You're very brave," Higashidani went on. "Don't forget about us."

The three family members hugged. When they broke apart, Outa turned around to where Sano was quickly disappearing.

"Sano-nii!" He cried, running after him with tears in his eyes and laughter in his throat. "Sano!"

Sanosuke turned around to see his little brother running wildly toward him. He could barely make out the figures of Uki and his dad, standing behind Outa. "Hey kid," he greeted Outa.

"Hiya Sano!" Outa grinned.

Unable to contain his strange feeling of happiness, Sano ruffled Outa's hair. "Right then," Sano muttered to himself. "We're off to Tokyo!"

-

Megumi stitched her patient up with fluid, methodical movements. She tied off the string with nimble fingers and allowed a small smile to come forth. "You keep off that leg for a few weeks," she told the old man.

"Yes. Thank you Takani-sensei," he replied, swinging himself gingerly off the operating table. He stood stiffly and awkwardly bowed to her.

Megumi did the same in return and went to the sink as her patient walked out the door. She took her hair down and turned on the faucet, sticking her hands underneath the water.

Once she heard the door shut, Megumi turned off the faucet and simply stared down at the porcelain sink. Somehow, Sano's face emerged among the soap and water that was being washed down the drain. She turned the faucet back on so it would wash away quick, and a stray black lock of hair was sucked into the drain as well.

Megumi jumped when she heard the door opening.

"Oh, did you forget something—" she began, assuming it was her patient from a moment before. When she turned around to face the intruder, her heart nearly stopped.

Sagara Sanosuke was standing in her doorway, grinning and looking as shaggy and rugged as ever. He extended his right fist to her, which was wrapped up in bandages rather messily.

"Sano…" Megumi whispered, leaning back against the sink and clutching her chest where her heart beat irregularly.

"Hey kitsune," Sano replied.

Ignoring his slightly bloody right hand, Megumi launched herself toward him, pulling him into a tight hug.

"Didn't know you were that glad to see me," Sano murmured, stroking her hair.

He stepped back from her, and it was then that Megumi noticed the little boy behind Sano, his round face peeking out at Megumi.

Sano stepped forward, his lips descending on Megumi's. He was about an inch away from kissing her when Megumi placed two fingers on his lips, stopping him.

"Not in front of the kid, Sano," Megumi said teasingly. She removed her fingers.

Sano looked away, a blush staining his cheeks. He coughed. "Um, yeah. Megumi, this is my brother, Outa."

The little boy came all the way into view at last.

Stunned, Megumi kneeled down in front of him so they were eye to eye. She seemed unable to comprehend. "Brother…?" She said softly. "But—" She looked back up at Sano quickly. "Really, Sano?"

"He was born after I left home," Sano supplied. "But he's definitely my younger brother, no matter how wimpy he may act."

In front of Megumi, Outa was looking uncomfortable. But the lady doctor just turned back to him and smiled. She kissed his cheek. "You're practically family," she told him. Then, glancing at Sano with a smile she whispered, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you grow up to be less of a brute than your baka older brother." She winked and Outa giggled, happy to be let in on such a big secret.

"Hey!" Sano scowled. "What are you telling him, fox?" He took Outa by the shoulders and snatched him away from where Megumi was.

Megumi giggled and stood up again. "Oh, nothing…"

"Sure, sure," Sano replied, grumbling. "Listen, I need you to…patch up my hand again."

As soon as she heard this, Megumi threw her hands up in exasperation. "Always, always with the hand, isn't it? Please don't tell me you used Futaenoki whatever again, Sano, you know you're not supposed to!"

Sano could only give a sheepish smile in reply.

"He never learns…" Megumi said, mostly to Outa who giggled.

Thirty minutes later, Sano's right hand was properly patched up and he and Outa were leaving the clinic, mostly because a new wave of clients had arrived.

"Was that your girlfriend onii-chan?" Outa teased, something Sano didn't know he was capable of, being only eight.

"Hey, let's have none of this 'older brother' business," Sano admonished. "It's weird. Just call me Sano."

"Is Megumi-san your girlfriend, Sano?" Outa amended, this time sounding honestly curious.

"Sure is!" Sano replied proudly. He was relieved when Outa didn't have a skeptical face after that. Most people did when Sano told them that the fox-doctor was his woman.

After a few moments of silent walking, Outa spoke up again. "She sure is strong, isn't she?"

It seemed like an ordinary thing to say, but it made Sano stop in his tracks. It was a moment before he replied, "Yeah. Yeah she is." He suddenly remembered the way Uki's bruise had been patched up so expertly.

"Outa?" Sano said, after a second of thinking. "Have you ever thought about what you wanted to do? When you were no longer with Uki or dad?"

Outa slowly shook his head. "Because…" he began in a small voice.

Sano knew why. He had lived most of his eight years trying to scrap up money. Fudozawa had created a life that had no future for Outa.

"I just wanted us to leave Shinshuu," Outa said.

Sano almost smiled. Outa had gotten that wish. "I know, kid."

They continued walking.

"Sano?" Outa questioned delicately. "Do you think…that I could be a real doctor like Megumi-san?"

Sano couldn't stop a broad smile from breaking out on his face. "Absolutely, Outa. I think you'd make a great doctor."

It had been Sano's original intention to have Outa learn the Kamiya Kasshin and become strong like Yahiko and Kaoru were. But now that Outa had said that…it made so much sense.

Even though she was his girl, Sano really looked up to Megumi. And it had taken until then to realize that seeing Outa become a doctor like Megumi would make him just as proud as seeing him become a swordsman like Kenshin.

So maybe it wasn't a question of watching the backs of good men, but rather watching the backs of good women.


A/N: I hope that I did better with this chapter, maybe. There were a lot of reasons that I wrote this whole sequence with Sano and his family. The number one reason was to introduce the conflict of the story (Enizu.) Also to get Outa and make him be a doctor instead of a swordsman. And also because I really enjoyed writing Uki. Out of all the characters in the RK manga, I relate most to her. Even more than I relate to my very own OC! Weird how that works, huh?

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. Hopefully the next chapter will be up shortly, because it's going to be one of those chapters I'll just love writing.

Zioncross: I'm really glad to hear that Sano and Megumi were in character. I know that's a real challenge for a lot of people, because they tend to want to overplay Megumi and Sano's personalities.

Another Baka: Thank you, and I love your penname.

Cathy Mark: Thanks for sticking with me. Glad you liked it.

Crewel: I hope you liked this SM part, even if it wasn't as passionate as you thought. There's defiantly going to be at least one more really good Sano/Megumi part, so look out for that. Aww…thank you.

Naughty Girl: Well, he hasn't quite disappeared yet. Even if Misao thinks it's okay for now, Soujiro will be back. But I'm not saying how soon.

Erica Madarine: I'm glad you liked it. And I hope I'll update sooner too!

Also, a special thanks to kei-san, who is going through my old fics so she can join us here. Thank you for all your encouragement over the weeks!

You guys seriously rock.