Within the Shadows- Sanosuke's Adventure in London

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Rurouni Kenshin.

I decided to answer Arashi's challenge of writing about Sanosuke's adventures before, "Run to You- Tales of Meiji 16", with a fic about Sano in London meeting the notorious criminal, Jack the Ripper.

Chapter One

The West Indian Docks were open at the crack of dawn, but all of the workers were there before hand, readying the port for the huge shipment that was due from the United States at a quarter past six in the morning. Men lifted, boys hauled, and all pushed themselves to get the cargo off of the ship before the rain came. It was a particularly dreary morning for the folks of White Chapel, dreary in the sense that they had not yet gotten over the shock of the events that had occurred in the past few weeks.

Murder was what made the residents fear the streets at night, for there were awful killings committed that made one wish the victims died mercifully before a sharp knife was plunged into their bellies to savagely rip them open. The dreariness of White Chapel floated over the district like the poisonous vapors of a dark corner in hell, and with no witnesses or clues to put an anxious mind at ease, the residents could do nothing but be afraid.

When the ship finally arrived at the dock, the first one to get off was not the captain, or any of the crew. A tall, lanky form made his way quietly to the remote part of the ship, near the end of the dock. He ever so carefully lowered himself into the water and swam the short distance to see which city the sea had taken him to. He had traveled across the ocean once, to get away from his homeland. Now he seemed to be addicted to seeing new places (whether he was forced to leave his current location or not), and heeding the advise of a fellow in New York he decided that his next stop would be the land of England.

Once he reached the dock he pulled himself up one of the wooden poles and hoisted himself over the edge onto the dry wooden planks. He immediately spotted the workers taking the cargo off of the ship, and among those items, he spotted his sack.

As easily as he sneaked off the boat, he pulled his sack away from the other pieces and sauntered away from the dock, taking in the sight of the dreary city. It looked as if he was the only one out in the streets at that hour. He walked slowly, breathing in the musty air and splashing into one puddle after another, walking with an uncertainty that made him question his choice of destination. Damp walls surrounded the city blocks, rails dripped with rainwater, and puddles reflected the bleak visage of the town. In walking just a few blocks he felt the eerie pull of fanatical fear, and it made his breath catch in his throat.

What the hell is it about this place that gives me the creeps? That damned jerk in New York told me this would be paradise. Baka yarou lied to me! This isn't paradise! I feel like I just stepped into the threshold of a nightmare.

He quickly scanned the area and decided that it would be best to head West since he figured that would take him deeper into the city, yet what he hoped to do was put as much distance between this area and himself as possible. He was in London for only a few minutes and he already had enough of the sights. He didn't need to meet any of the people, and he sure as hell didn't want to find out what it was that made everything in this town feel as if it were on the verge of sinking into an abyss.

Shit, all I want to do now is get to France. This is supposed to be a pleasant detour of my European trip. Someone told me about the beauty of the English countryside, but where would I go to find any of that? Farther West? Up North? He was already agitated at the prospects of being lost in a strange country when another thought came into his head to make him feel absolutely helpless-

Damn…which way is France…?

If he stopped it meant he had to stay in this city for a few seconds longer, but if he continued he risked getting himself lost. He wished he had a better sense of direction- and he wished he hadn't listened to his rotten friend back in America. But then he remembered one time when getting lost actually helped him. If I get lost, then that may not be such a bad thing. Getting lost was how I got to meet the Fallen Monk Anji, which led me to learn the Futae No Kiwami. If I get lost again maybe something good will come out of that. I'll leave it all up to fate and see where the direction of the wind will take me.

He paused a moment and felt a breeze pass over him, and slip into his wet clothes. Then just as he had told himself, he turned to see where the wind blew and headed in that very direction. If the breeze changed direction then so did he for he had put his faith so strongly into the element that he believed it would guide him to the destination he had hoped for. He walked for blocks before he abruptly turned a corner and when he came around to the other side the wind stopped dead-and so did he.

He was not alone in this early morning hour after all for at the end of the block he spotted a young woman. She stumbled slowly down the street, her body hunched over and her hand reaching out periodically to grab hold of the next window ledge or lamppost to steady her. He studied her for a moment and saw that she was drunk. She was so drunk that she did not notice that the bodice of her dress was not completely tied, and this made her bosom dangerously close to being exposed. As she continued to walk she stepped on the hem of her dress, tearing the seam apart and digging holes into the fabric with her heels. He worried that she would inadvertently strip out of her clothes before she reached the corner, but he was relieved to see that she finally stopped at a bench a few yards away from him and let her body collapse onto it.

The light of dusk drifted over the city, causing the shadows to disappear and make way for the coming day. In this light he saw the paleness of her face from beneath the mass of tangled blonde hair that hung loosely around her head. One sleepy eye revealed a hint of blue, which caught his attention for he noticed that the blue eye was focused right on him. There was something about that gaze that moved him.

Boy, is she trashed! I've seen Jo-chan drunk but never like this! I didn't think this kind of drunkenness was possible. What would make her want to drink herself into such a state?

He wasn't sure if it was the light that reflected off of her eye, or if it was the breeze that returned to lead the way again, but he felt himself move toward her just as she slumped forward and tipped over the edge of the bench. When he caught her he held her steady, and lifted her so that she sat up with him kneeling in front of her. He was surprised that she was still conscious, and up close he saw just how alert she actually was. Her eyes were wide as they stared down at him, and her soft fingers reached out to trace lines across his face.

"Blimey…I must be dead," she mumbled and reached out with her other hand and patted both of his cheeks. "Ah, you feel real enough. You must be my guardian angel. Are you here to take me to heaven?"

His eyes grew wide. In his experience with the English-speaking folks of America he had been called many nasty, loathsome, vulgar things, which he preferred not to remember, but an angel? He wasn't familiar with the term yet something about the flow of the word and its speaker convinced him that it was indeed a compliment. Her eyes beckoned him for a response, and it was her vulnerability that finally wove its way into his stubborn heart.

When he spoke the English words came forth wrapped among layers of his Japanese accent resulting in a soft purr that had become much more apparent as his grasp of the language improved. Whether he complimented someone or swore at them the sound of his voice had been all it took to melt the hearts of many American ladies.

"No. I'm Sagara Sanosuke. I'm not an angel, but I can be your guard if you'd like. It looks like you need one now because you madam, are totally wasted."

She giggled, girlish and sweet. It was nothing like the mischievous giggle he knew and loved so much and for that he was grateful. Painful memories- he wanted to forget what he left behind and why he felt he had to run away in the first place.

Get her out of your mind! What you did was for the best now get over it. You'll see her again, maybe…someday.

He felt a slight push against his shoulder and realized that the woman had playfully shoved him. "Sagara Sanosuke, huh? Now why would I need a guard? I can take care of myself just fine. Those blokes behind you will wish they never messed with me."

Behind me? What the hell..? Sano looked over his shoulder and immediately wanted to beat the hell out of himself. He had been so taken with the past that he wasn't aware that a group of men had come around the corner and stopped dead when they saw that the woman had her hands on him. One of the men took exception to that and stormed at Sanosuke.

"Hey freak, get away from her! She's supposed to be with me tonight!" When the guy got close enough he found himself flying over the bench to the other side of the street, landing in a heap just before a shop window. The others looked at their friend flying, awestricken by the power that propelled him such a long distance. Then they all looked at Sanosuke who now stood in front of the woman, and they were all ready to condemn him. One man dared to step into his face.

"Who in bloody hell do you think you are? Do you know who you're messing with? Where the hell did you come from, and why does Mary have her hands all over you!" His finger rose to poke Sano in the chest, but the man reconsidered when he saw the glare in Sano's eyes. Then he looked toward his fallen comrade and grew brave again. "You had better hope that my friend is still alive, and you better get away from Mary. She's our girl."

Sano was unmoved and it took all of his will power to keep himself from tearing into the guy right then and there. He hated guys who talked tough when they had twenty friends to back them up, and he hated guys who bullied helpless people even more. He had seen too much of that happen in his homeland, and quite a bit in America as well. He began to think that it was a common practice around the world and wondered if there would be a change in that practice some time in the future. He hated to think that there were helpless people falling victim to the kind of terror that a group of angry young men could form, and he didn't want to believe that the woman standing behind him had anything to do these men. He dared a glance over his shoulder to see if she was okay and to advise her to stay out of the way, but before he could fully turn his head she was up on her feet and out of the corner of his eye he could see that she was no longer dazed from the liquor-she was burning with anger.

"I am no one's girl."

Her frosty voice chilled Sano down to his bandages. He was afraid to fully look at her, but she had already stepped around him to confront the one who had laid his claim on her. She looked up into the man's face, and he looked down at her with a lecherous grin spreading across his lips. He reached out and twirled a lock of her hair. "Oh, but you are our girl. We have the money right here that says-."

For the moment Sano did nothing but watch the woman closely for it seemed as if she suffered from a particular ailment whenever she drank too much booze-much like a close friend of his back in Tokyo. When she pulled her fist back and knocked the man in the teeth, Sano was truly convinced.

Yep, she's a mean drunk, just like Jo-chan.

The man went down with a few less teeth than he woke up with this morning, and the rest of them were ready to gang up on her. Sano knew that he had to take over now. He knew that this would get ugly and he was prepared to take them all down. Being stranded in a miserable town already had him pissed him off, but seeing a group of men attack one woman was more than he could stand. His fists were itching to break some bones. He would have put half of the gang down were it not for the presence of a strange individual who lurked behind them, just a few yards away. Sano stopped short of his strike and just shoved away the man who tried to lunge for the woman. When he looked toward the presence he saw that the man had come closer. There was something about him that made Sano's chest grow tight, something dark and sinister that made it hard for him to breathe. His inner spirit emitted something foul, and it bore right through to surround Sano's ki.

"You are attacking the wrong person," he said, his firm voice commanding everyone's attention.

The members of the gang turned towards the voice and looked the man over. A dark overcoat over pressed shirt and slacks, and perfectly shined shoes- he looked too distinguished to be wandering around at such an early hour in what was undoubtedly, a bad part of the neighborhood. The group of men figured as much and immediately dismissed him.

"Push off, you posh bastard. This fight ain't any of your business. Unless of course, you want to join in and get your ass beaten like them," said one man who jerked his head toward Sano and the drunken woman. The gentleman held his hands up and took a few paces back.

"I don't want to fight with any of you. I am merely pointing out that your anger is directed at the wrong person. Obviously, that poor woman has no idea that you all just saved her from certain death. You all arrived just in time before that man could do his damage." He pointed his finger directly at Sanosuke.

Nani? What the hell is this son of a bitch talking about?

Sano felt the group become agitated as their gazes shifted to concentrate on him. He sighed heavily, knowing that their fight was going to resume; only this time the gang was going to attack him instead of the woman. That was fine with him. Sano looked over at her to see how she was. To his amazement she was poised and ready for the next man who dared to put any kind of moves on her, and Sano had to admit that he was really starting to admire this woman.

If we get out of this in one piece I'm definitely sticking with this girl.

He put her out of his mind for the time being, and turned back to the gang to match penetrating stares with them. It didn't take much probing to look deep down into all of them, for whatever it was that drove them was mirrored in the gaze of each of these thugs. It gushed forth and momentarily took over the ex-gangsters senses, feeding him feelings of hopelessness and dread, for an impending doom that they all felt they were fated for. Sanosuke felt his own emotions churn and the fear that these men felt now flowing within him.

What the hell is going on? Why am I afraid all of a sudden? These guys are no match for me, and I know that. I can easily fight them off and protect the lady at the same time. Why am I holding back?

Sanosuke felt the strength of his whole being run down to concentrate in his legs, for something within told him to run.

Run?! Sagara Sanosuke has had enough of running! I ran from Japan; I ran from America; and now less than half an hour in England and my spirit is telling me to run again.

He looked over at the gentleman who now extended his hand, offering Sano to the gang. A wicked smile contorted his features, and a gleam in his eye made the fighter grow cold all over. The voice matched every bit of the evil gleam, and Sano knew that he could not listen to his spirit this time.

"We've finally caught you. You have eluded the police for much too long, but now these men can finally put an end to your spree, and you won't be able to kill anyone ever again."

One man from the group pulled out a large knife, and took a step forward. "You committed all of those murders? And you were trying to go after our Mary so you could kill her too? You're going to regret you ever came to this city." With that said the gang approached Sanosuke, some cracking their knuckles, others picking up stray pieces of broken glass, sticks, and old pipes. The fear was still inside of Sanosuke and he hated the fact that he couldn't shake it off. It wove a big, tight ball of uncertainty in his spirit, and for just one moment he doubted that he could handle the gang at all. He looked up and saw them advance.

Why am I afraid? Why am I so fucking afraid! If I let them hurt me, I won't be able to live with myself. If they kill me, then I'll deserve every bit of hell that is due to me afterwards.

He saw the flicker of a blade approach his throat- and his powerful arm knocked it out of range allowing his fist to crack into the man's jaw. As the body fell to the ground he saw the rest of them charge at him. He clashed his fists together, and the shock of that brought the fighter in him back with a vengeance. All at once, he broke noses, jaws, ribs, and limbs, his fists and legs swinging expertly to knock them all down with one blow. The woman had moved out of the way, now completely sobered to witness the rain of bodies that Sanosuke pummeled. She said nothing when the last one fell at her feet, and she merely watched with quiet anticipation as Sano lunged for the one who caused him so much trouble.

The finely dressed man had backed away when the bodies had begun to fall and when he saw Sano's intense gaze fixed on him, he began to shake. He barely ducked out of the way when he saw the fist fly at him, and he felt a violent force throw him back among a spray of brick and concrete.

Sanosuke cursed under his breath when the man dodged him, and seeing that a brick wall was going to be his target now his fist connected with the side of a building and caused the wall to explode into a choking cloud of dust. If he couldn't knock the jackass down like the others then he would let the blast from his Futae No Kiwami do it for him. He peered through the blinding cloud and saw that his victim had rolled away toward the corner of the street. The man was dusty, and shaken but to the fighter's disappointment still conscious. There was something about this man, something that urged Sano not to let him get away, so he stalked forward, his fists ready for another round. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had been in such a fight, but he knew that the man, who now took to crawling away from him, had no desire within him to fight. But Sano couldn't forget how he had been made to feel earlier. The helplessness that had taken over his mind to raise doubts about himself still burned in his memory and he never wanted to feel that way again. The man stopped at a light post and Sano was right behind him. He grabbed the man by the collar and pulled him forward so that they were face to face. It was Sano's turn to grant the wicked smirk.

"You know you've been very rude to this visitor. I don't want to have my tour of London ruined by some stuffy jerk who can't even be brave enough to finish a fight he started. You seem to have a problem with me mister, and I think that we should settle it right now." Sano thrust the man forward and stood purposely at a distance, his hands now inside the pockets of his gi. His menacing presence made the man visibly shudder.

"You are the killer! Only someone as evil as you can kill all of these men at once."

Sano shook his head slowly. "I'm no killer, and these men aren't dead. I don't kill people." His expression grew darker as he moved closer, "But after I'm done you're going to wish that I did kill you."

The man's face turned pale. His lower lip quivered, and he stumbled as he tried to back away. He looked around erratically and spotted a group of policemen who were heading in their direction. A sigh escaped him as the police arrived and after taking in the scene of unconscious men, they immediately seized Sanosuke. The fighter had been too focused to notice that his wrists were being shackled together, but when he finally came to realize what was going on he let the desire to fight drift away.

A drunk woman, a litter of beaten bodies, and now a brick wall that had been destroyed to put him in even more trouble- Sano knew that it looked bad and from his experience in America he knew that the best thing to do was cooperate with the law. He allowed them to lead him toward the local police station but before he stepped away from the scene he glanced around to face his accuser. He looked upon pieces of brick, and dusty piles of cement but the man was nowhere to be seen. Sano gritted his teeth in aggravation, a low growl escaping his lips- the man who had appeared out of nowhere to cause him trouble, had easily dodged the mess and just disappeared. The wind began to blow again and it pointed Sanosuke to the direction of the police station.

End of Chapter 1

The Jack the Ripper murders occurred in the fall of 1888. In my research I learned that the events in Rurouni Kenshin happened between the years of 1863 and 1878, which means that Arashi's fic, "Run to You- Tales of Meiji 16" takes place in the year 1883. I realize that I'm about ten years shy of putting Jack the Ripper into the same time and place as Sanosuke during the years he wandered around the world, but this idea WOULDN'T go away. So I took Arashi's advise and wrote it anyway. (Thanks, Arashi!) Part of my inspiration stemmed from the release of that Jack the Ripper flick, "From Hell" and part of it came after reading Chapter 14 of "Run to You- Tales of Meiji 16".

I've had a lot of fun writing this and I'm sure that there are hundreds of other cool stories that can be written about Sano's travels through the world. Where do you think Sano went after he fled Japan? What did he do during those five years? Take the challenge and find out where YOU see Sano during his five-year absence. If you need some inspiration then I recommend a visit to so that you can read the epic story that started it all!