DISCLAIMER: I do not own nor will I ever own Rurouni Kenshin. I am making no profit from this and I will remove this if requested to do so for any legitimate reason.
WARNING: This story is rated R for violence, so if you do not like graphic depictions of people dying I suggest you find something else to read.
The Last Battle of the Bakumatsu
Chapter 7
Sano held out the gi in front of him, smiling at Aoi's careful stitching that had produced a replica of his usual attire. The black character for evil stood out from the clean white fabric of his gi and he made a silent thank you to Aoi as he pulled it on. He sighed feeling a little disappointment that the bandages blocked the sensation of the smooth material on his skin. He quickly folded his yukata and hid his gold in it as he tucked the garment in his trunk. He laughed at himself over his cleanliness realising it was a result of him being prepared to leave at any moment.
Taking a couple of the bars from the folds of the yukata he closed the trunk. He made sure the straps were secure and tucked the gold into his pocket. From the door he carefully noted everything's position as a security measure against people searching through his belongings. It was a habit he didn't really need to keep here but he also remembered Misao's curiosity. With a final glance around he stepped out of the room sliding the door closed as he stood outside in the sunlight.
He could hear the noise of a discussion from another room floating on the soft breeze. He could only guess that they were talking about the fight or Megumi was telling what had happened when she had treated him. Deciding not to intrude and to avoid getting held into a conversation that would waste away the rest of the day, Sano silently walked towards the gate. He could have bet money on the fact that Kenshin was going to ask him where he was going before he left.
"Sano are you going out?" Sano smiled as Kenshin's voice reached him. He half turned to see Kenshin standing on the porch with a half opened door behind him.
"Yeah, you guys aren't the only friends I haven't seen in a while," Sano called back. Kenshin smiled but still carefully studied his friend.
"Just as long as you don't get yourself into trouble," Kenshin replied, hinting that Sano shouldn't go out and get drunk.
"Don't worry Kenshin, I'll meet you guys at the Akabeko later, my treat," Sano smiled as a bewildered Kenshin looked back.
"You'll pay?" the confused man asked unsure how Sano could have returned to Japan with money.
"Yeah, if you don't believe me ask the Fox about it. Anyway, I'll see you later," Sano disappeared out the gate. Kenshin thought about what had been said and then decided to ask Megumi about it. He needed to know if he should take along his own money like he used to when Sano treated everybody.
Sano wandered through the main streets of Tokyo seeing what he had seen in Osaka. These streets had been redeveloped so that now there were more Western style buildings than Japanese. It wasn't a major concern for him but he still felt a little resentful that they had such a large impact in only a relatively short time. It wasn't only the buildings. The fashion had also shifted with more Japanese people wearing Western clothes. Sano just shook his head, digging his hands into his pockets as he strode on.
As Sano moved off the main streets and deeper into the poorer parts of Tokyo the surroundings became more familiar. He felt more comfortable here since these were the streets that he had grown up on. As he walked he had to smirk as a few people recognised him by his old persona. Most were fearful of him but a few shot him loathsome glares and appeared to be prepared for any trouble Sano was willing to dish out. Sano didn't have to work hard to restrain himself, feeling some of the discipline he had learned and the confidence that his skills were far greater than when he had left.
Sano made the last turn into the street of his long time friend Tsukioka Katsuhiro. Sano stopped at the door and was about to knock when he heard voices inside. He quickly realised that those voices were approaching the door and moved to an alley further down the street. From here he watched unnoticed as two men exited the house with Katsu staying in his doorway. Sano recognises the two men to be from the Shinsengumi with the older, grey haired man being one of the high-ranking members. Sano waited until they pair walk away before he approached his friend, who was still standing in his doorway.
"So trading in the Sekihoutai for the Shinsengumi," Sano casually commented surprising Katsu by both his words and his presence.
"You really shouldn't sneak up on your friends otherwise they might stop trusting you," Katsu replied after regaining his composure.
"Well can I really call you a friend if you are inviting them into your place?" Sano serious voice matched Katsu's face. They stared at each other for a few moments before Katsu gestured for Sano to enter.
"They came here looking to recruit me," Katsu explained as they sat down opposite each other.
"What did you say and how did they know who you were?" Katsu was taken aback a little by Sano's urgency.
"Why are you so concerned? They are trying to bring down the Meiji government," Sano scowled at Katsu but decided to fill him in.
"When I got back a month ago, Saito railroaded me into working for him. He sent me to investigate a merchant who also deals in weapons and used to support the Shinsengumi. Needless to say that I have been caught up in all the recent Shinsengumi mess and I know that this guy isn't going to be any better than the present system. In fact I'd say he'd be worse considering he has a lot of foreign help," Sano watched his friend mull over the new information.
"Isn't Saito going to be annoyed if you interfere without his approval?" Katsu didn't need to ask but wanted to know how much influence Saito had.
"He said he has some internal security problems to deal with. Probably some corrupt cop leaking information but it gives us time to play around with the leftover Shinsengumi members." Katsu smirks as well feeling a familiar sense of comradery even though they will be fighting for a government they both hate.
"That would explain how they knew about me since I have had a few warnings for my newspaper. They came here looking to recruit me to go with others that they say they have already recruited. I've been given till tomorrow to think about it and then they are going to take me somewhere for some sort of meeting." Sano considers the new information as Katsu gets a bottle of sake.
"It seems they are just trying to get together a bunch of thugs and antigovernment terrorists to increase their army. That old guy who was here is probably the highest-ranking Shinsengumi still in Tokyo. That means if we crash the party we can have a pretty good time," Sano grins in anticipation of another fight. He downs a cup of sake and waits for Katsu to respond.
"It might be nice to get into a fight where your comrade doesn't knock you out," Katsu smirks at Sano's discomfort.
"Hey, at least this time we'll be fighting for the right reasons," Katsu raises an eyebrow in question. "If you want to see Japan destroyed by the Shinsengumi then you are more than welcome to sit this one out. Personally I have spent a couple of weeks having to hold back around them and I'll looking forward to cutting loose." Sano finished another cup of sake and Katsu silently contemplated his options.
"It's lucky then that I kept a few bombs for self-defence," Katsu smiled as Sano nodded his approval. "So I guess the plan is for me to lead you to them and then we have some fun at the Shinsengumi's expense."
"That's the idea," Sano smirked but then his face became serious. "We just need to take the old guy alive though so that we can give him to Saito," Katsu's face showed some contempt for the idea.
"I don't see why," he replied, his voice showing his dissatisfaction.
"Because he'll make our lives hell if he doesn't get something out of it," Katsu understood the reasoning and refrained from further comment.
"Okay, since that is settled how about you tell me about your trip over some sake," Sano took the cup that Katsu just refilled and finished it off in one gulp.
"Sorry but I have other plans. You can join me if you like," Katsu wondered what Sano was referring to.
"You mean hang out with you and the Battousai, I think I'll pass on that." Katsu drank some of his sake and Sano just waited knowing his friend preferred to be alone.
"That's fine but before I go I have a few other things that I need your help with," Katsu fills both their cups waiting for Sano to explain.
The Akabeko was almost empty when it was nearly always pack at this time in the evening. Since those events a couple of days ago the streets were empty before dark. The police had issued warnings about the Shinsengumi and were out in force during that time but it did little to calm the people's nerves. They all knew about the kidnapping of the politicians and were worried by the apparent lack of action. However for those that had braved the night to visit the Akabeko all this activity was almost routine.
"Why can't we eat? What are we waiting for?" an impatient Yutarou pleaded as he sat with the group. He had gone to the dojo for an afternoon training session and had gladly accepted an invitation. It helped that it was at the Akabeko and Tsubame would be there.
"Because it was Sano who invited us and he isn't here yet," Kaoru stated firmly getting a little irritated by Yutarou's constant protests. Kenshin and Kenji sat next to Kaoru and they were opposite Yutarou and Tsubame. Taking up the last side of the booth was Megumi and Misao who sat patiently. Misao's patience was mainly due to her early start to go and find Aoshi after her late conversation with Sano. At the moment she was struggling to stay sitting upright and Megumi seemed to be gauging the girl as if she was about to lay a bet on how long she would stay conscious.
"Fine, I'm tired of waiting for some Chicken head I don't care about. I'm leaving," he got up and started to walk out and nobody tried to stop him.
"That's good I don't remember inviting you. Who are you anyway?" Sano deep voice seemed to fill the empty space of the Akabeko. Sano stared down at the teenager that he had no recollection of.
"Tsukayama Yutarou," Kenshin pointed out and Sano then ignored the boy as he walked around him.
"Oh the rich kid, who invited him?" Sano asked as he stood at the entrance of the booth. Yutarou stood to his side fuming and ready to pounce but he was beaten to it. Misao had almost been out cold until she noticed a familiar package under Sano's arm and immediately sprang forward to grab it. Sano was aware of Misao movements and stepped aside causing the drowsy woman to stumble into the empty booth across the aisle.
"I thought I already told you to be patient Weasel," Sano smirked as Misao dusted herself off.
"So when do I get my present?" a disgruntled Misao asked as she made her way back to her seat.
"After we have eaten," Sano replied as he placed the three packages and a black leather bag down next to where he was going to sit.
"About time," Yutarou grumbled as he sat back down next to Tsubame. Sano regarded him for a second but was stopped by Tae as she exited from the kitchen.
"And how do you expect to pay for this, not to mention your tab from five years ago?" Tae stood with her arms crossed waiting for Sano to answer. He pulled a bag from his pocket and handed it to her with a charming smile that caught Tae off guard since he never used to use it on her.
"Here, take as much as I owe you. I trust you, so I know you won't take anymore," Sano continued to smile as Tae cautiously took the bag. She carefully opened the bag, half expecting a snake to jump out and bite her.
"This can't be right," she looked from the bag to Sano's smiling face not quite comprehending what she was seeing.
"What's the matter? Not enough there?" Sano smile switched into a smirk since he knew perfectly well there was more than enough money to satisfy his substantial debt. Tae's eyes fixed Sano as she tried to speak but they glazed over and Sano's arm shot out to catch her as she fainted. There were several alarmed cries from everybody else as Sano easily picked up the woman.
"Tsubame-chan, is there anywhere I can put her," Sano asked the concerned girl who was already out of her seat.
"Yes, follow me, we can put her upstairs but will she be alright," Tsubame lead Sano away as she spoke.
"Don't worry she just fainted," Sano replied as they left the room and tramped upstairs.
"What made her do that?" Misao's question echoed everybody's thoughts. Kaoru reached out and picked up the fallen bag and looked into it herself.
"Oh my," Kaoru exclaimed as she eyed the money. Kenshin leaned over her shoulder to take a peek and was similarly taken aback. They passed the bag across to the other curious members of the group as Sano's voice drifted in from the kitchen.
"That bag is only two bars worth," Megumi nearly choked as looked in the bag, quickly calculating the value of one bar and all eight of Sano's bars of gold.
"Two bars of what?" Yutarou asked as he scratched his head in confusion.
"Gold," Megumi absently murmurs causing everybody to look at her. "Sano brought back eight bars of gold from America. He must have gone to a money house to exchange them," Megumi sits in a stunned silence as the reality of the situation sinks in.
"You mean that is only a quarter of what Sano is worth," Misao incredulously asks only getting a dumb nod from Megumi.
"Enough talk time to eat," Sano practically bellows. He is following Tsubame back to the booth. Tsubame is carrying the food while Sano has both arms full of sake.
"I'll get the rest of the food," Tsubame announces after she deposits the first tray load in front of the group.
"I'll help," Yutarou adds jumping up to follow Tsubame. Sano glances suspiciously at him but it isn't noticed by anyone else since Misao has swooped on the food. Sano busies himself with the sake, passing out a couple of bottles to Kenshin, Misao and Megumi. Megumi was the only one that saw Sano's disenchanted sigh as he swallowed his first cup of sake. Before she could move to his side both Yutarou and Tsubame returned with the rest of the food and sat down between them. Everyone was surprised to see Kenji get up from where he was seated and stand in front of Sano with a pair of chopsticks in his hand.
"You forgotten already," Sano states making Kenji's head drops a little in shame. Dispelling the guilt from being a little harsh on the kid he reaches out and adjusts his grip on the chopsticks. Kenji smiles brightly again as he looks at the chopsticks moving in his hand. He turns around and picks up some food but before it reaches his mouth it slips out and onto the floor. The boy sits down and attempts again to pick the food up and lift it to his mouth. He succeeds on his fourth try and turns to look up at Sano for approval.
"Pretty good short stuff, now let's see if you can do it first time." Sano pats Kenji on as he comments and everybody watches in disbelief. Refocusing on his task, Kenji takes another piece of food and succeeds in getting it to his mouth first time.
"Not bad short stuff," mimicked Yutarou as he also patted Kenji on the head. However Kenji just gives him an angry glare to show the attention was not appreciated.
"Don't worry about the rich kid, you're doing alright," Sano chuckled and joined Kenji in eating after finishing his first bottle of sake. They all continue to eat and drink with only minor conversation passing between them. It was mostly about life in Tokyo since Sano had left. Sano was too busy eating and drinking to offer any of his own stories and nobody was willing to ask. Through it all Misao was sweating on one of the three packages that she knew to be hers. As the meal wound down Tae reappeared and took a seat next to Sano.
"Sorry about what happened before," Tae's humble apology brings Sano's charming smile back to his lips.
"No need to apologise, I don't mind a beautiful woman fainting into my arms." Tae acted like the good host but was desperately trying to stop herself from blushing from Sano smooth, enticing voice.
"It was inappropriate, especially since you owe me money," Tae struggled to remain controlled as Sano pouted at her.
"If you only care about my money then I guess I'll have to keep your present." Tae looked surprised by this revelation but couldn't respond as Misao suddenly exploded with energy.
"Finally, the presents. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" Misao pleaded with out stretched arms. Sano just looked at her for a few moments before relenting. He picked up the three packages and passed one to Misao and the other two to Kaoru and Tsubame.
"I hope they are the right size since I didn't know if you had grown or by how much," Sano spoke over the sound of ripping paper. Misao didn't hesitate while Kaoru was a bit more sedate and Tsubame offered a quite thank you before opening hers. All three held a silk, Chinese style dress. Kaoru's was a sapphire blue, Misao's was emerald green and Tsubame's was ruby red. All had gold trim and their owners admired them as Sano opened the leather bag he brought.
"This is for Tae and this is for Kenshin," he hands Tae a smaller package similar to the ones he had just handed out and Kenshin a box. Kenshin opened the box to find an intricately crafted ornamental knife that was decorated with designs of dragons.
"Sano, this is too much," Kenshin modestly admitted.
"Nonsense, I got Yahiko one like it except it has tigers on it," Sano commented as he removed another box like Kenshin's and a bottle of whiskey.
"Then I thank you Sanosuke," Kenshin bowed deeply and Sano tried to ignore the embarrassing action.
"Thank you for the wonderful gift but aren't you forgetting someone." Tae was happy with her gift of a black silk scarf with an emerald dragon printed on it but had noticed Megumi trying very much not to be noticed. Sano glances around the group and spots Megumi looking decidedly uncomfortable.
"I didn't forget the Fox," Sano admitted as he picked up the leather bag and placed it in front of Megumi.
"The bag? Was that the best thing you could come up with or are you just trying to cover up you forgot about me?" Megumi indignantly asked as the room became dead quiet, however Sano seemed unfazed.
"You should try looking at it before you criticise me," Sano calmly replied as he swallowed a cup of sake. Megumi looked down to see that Sano had turned the bag around as he placed it in front of her. This side now showed that it had Dr Takani Megumi written on it in both English and Japanese. The gold lettering seemed to shimmer in the light.
"You are not exactly easy to shop for Fox. I doubt you'd wear a Chinese dress and any other trinket I could buy you, you would probably throw out. So I thought something more practical would be better suited to you." Megumi traced the lettering as he spoke and felt the soft leather underneath her fingers. She smiled realising he seemed to have taken a while to think about what to get her.
"Thank you Sano," Megumi speaks softly and they share a small smile before Sano uncorks the bottle of whiskey.
"This was supposed to be for Dr Genzai but since he died I think we should all toast him," Sano poured some of the whiskey into everyone's cup. They look nervously at the strange alcohol as Sano pours each cup.
"What is it?" Kaoru asks as Sano finishes off pouring the rest of the drinks.
"Whiskey, a western alcohol that's about twice as strong as sake," Sano smiles as they all study the new drink. "So what are you waiting for, let's drink," Sano downs his cup and waits for everyone else to follow suit. They all hesitate and then copy. Kaoru, Tsubame and Misao all show some discomfort with the taste, while Megumi and Tae are able to hide theirs a little better. Yutarou studied the empty cup with an interested look as he assessed the new taste with some approval.
"Now let's get drunk," Sano cheered as he picked up a bottle of sake and started guzzling it.