A/N: Yay, new chapter! Updated rather quickley I might say. Oh well, the muses were throwning ideas at me again. (It hurts). Anyway I'd like to thank my reviewer. (I guess I can't exspect many reveiws if I update in less then a freakin' week...sigh -.-)
WhiteRabbit5: The summary was misleading in a good way...? O.o Um, I re-wrote it? Anyhow, thank you so much for the review, it pushed me to write like crazy! Some of your questions will hopefully be answered in this chapter (not all mind you, it'll keep you reading); anyways your first guess on the 'one once thought as dead' was...not telling. JUST READ! Elegant style of writting? YAY I'M ELEGANT! whooo. Thank you again for being my first reviewer EVER. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Believe me, if I did own RuoKen, this wouldn't be a fanfic, but I would have made it into the REAL anime. But I do own the OC's and plot, so no touchy. but I don't own RuoKen...-.-
" " dialoge
Italics thoughts, or if used in dialoge, stress on that word
O0o...o0OO0o...o0O change in scene
0o.Chapter 1.o0
Sunlight beamed down upon the bustling streets of Tokyo, making its everyday occupants seem alive and animated. Businessmen, shopkeepers, farmers, and families were continuing their everyday normal lives in complete and utter peace. And Sanosuke Sagara was not happy about that. He stood outside of his house, arms crossed, leaning against the doorway, and watching the clouds lethargically drift across the sky. Unfolding his arms, he let his hands drop to pick absentmindedly at the worn walls. After picking a rather large splinter off the wall and positioning the piece of wood between his lips he thought, Normal everyday life, eh? Rolling his makeshift toothpick around in his lips just for the sake of occupying himself, Sanosuke began wondering what he could do that day. Let's see, I know Katsu is busy with his paper. Can't go see what the fox is up to, heard she's sick. And there's the dojo… Sanosuke sighed, his eyes becoming hooded. Images of Kenshin calmly doing the laundry with Yahiko and Kaoru practicing in the background. Kaoru chasing Yahiko around with her boken because of something he said and Yahiko being beaten into a bloody, pulpy mess when Kaoru caught up with him. A scene like that happened every day. Every single damn day. Sanosuke thought in a sudden foul mood.
Slamming his fist against the wall, Sanosuke turned abruptly and started to walk out of ruffians row, in the opposite direction of the dojo. For the past week now he had been avoiding the Kamiya dojo; it seemed that every time he entered there he would be overcome with annoyance. Annoyed by what however, was the question. He went over the list of possibilities for a third time. Hm, Yahiko's getting a little too much like a punk, I'm allergic to the type of soap Kenshin uses, or I've finally had enough of Jou-chan's cooking…Sanosuke grunted exasperatedly. No, none of them were right. He loved Yahiko like a brother and if he ever tried to turn punk Sanosuke would just beat some sense into him. He would have told Kenshin already if he was allergic to the soap, even though Kenshin never washed Sanosuke's clothes. And even though a meal from Kaoru could get him poisoned, Sanosuke would always stomach it if it was free. He would hate to admit the real reason he was shunning all them, even though the answer stood out like a giant pink elephant juggling Twinkies. (A/N: even though Sano doesn't know what Twinkies are…)
Sanosuke was still lost in thought when he noticed that he was getting bumped into frequently. Snapping his head up he found himself looking over the heads that belonged to Tokyo's populace. He was a little perplexed as to how he had made it so far into the city by now, but then again in his moody musings he had started to walk quickly. Grunting for the second time that day Sanosuke used his towering height to his advantage and scanned the crowed for signs of Kenshin or the others. Feeling relieved at not seeing any red hair or bright hair ribbons, Sanosuke began to hum tunelessly and roll the toothpick around in his mouth again. He was just striding up the street, not really caring were he was going when something caught his eye.
Sanosuke enjoyed being a colossus amidst the regular people of Japan; there were few people who could match him in height. So he was genuinely surprised when he caught sight of a man many yards ahead that seemed to be about, if not more then, his own stature. Sidestepping with an uncanny grace to a fish stand alongside the road, Sanosuke watched the progression of the tall man with growing curiosity. The man was dressed in dark blue clothes, not the traditional gi and hamaka but rather like a uniform of sorts. Sanosuke could not see the man's face, for it was obstructed by the placid flapping of the banners that were connected to the front of the fish stand. It was hard to place but Sanosuke was certain he had met this man before. The man then unexpectedly turned into an alleyway and walked off the main road. Sanosuke still stood by the stand, mentally going over all the tall men he had met in his life.
"Hey, are ya gonna buy somethin' or just stand there? HEY!" Sanosuke whipped his head around to look at the very exasperated stand owner.
"Huh, oh, no I'm, ah sorry- I'll be leaving." With that Sanosuke merged into the congested street and began to amble towards the dojo, temporarily forgetting the tall man. His earlier self-inflicted guilt trip made him want to go and confess to his friends his hidden reason for his absence these past few days. That it was all too peaceful over there… And there it was; the hideous, vile truth.
Huh, so they're living their lives as peacefully as can be, and I don't like that? Do I really want another of Kenshin's enemies to show up and put everyone back into danger just so I'll have more excitement? Sanosuke stopped himself from wiping imaginary dirt off his shirt. I guess I miss the chaos of battle…and great, now I sound like Shishio.
With his private confession through he found that his journey to the dojo was much more enjoyable and relaxing the one away from it. The sky was azure, the wind balmy, and the sunlight was merry enough to push Sanosuke out of his depression and out to enjoy the day. He smiled and started to hum an old drinking song, his typical cheery self returning to him. Even catching a glimpse of the unusual tall man did not damper his new found bliss. Unfortunately, that unusual tall man had felt any happiness die when he caught sight of Sanosuke.
O0o...o0OO0o…o0O
He was walking down the teeming main street of Tokyo, wandering aimlessly around the town in hope of becoming familiar with his new homestead. He had not wanted to come and live in Tokyo, in fact he had resisted the decision every day until the move. But some higher power had remained firm in their decision and ordered him to go to Tokyo and find some rest; a well needed vacation of sorts. This city was no different from the one he left, so why did he have to leave in the first place?
You need rest Mr. Fujita; you've done enough for the government already. Please take the new house and job as a token of thanks from the Meiji Government. That is what some no-name official had told him; it was an order in disguise in all reality. True, he had done a tremendous amount of work for the government, and nearly lost his life in the process, but he was quite content with his old ways. Why should he be forced to change now?
Although he was still brooding over his sudden change in location, the day's enchantment began to melt his feelings and produce something that could be called cheerfulness in the man. He was beginning to enjoy his day's outing; hearing the demanding cries of venders, the haggling squawks coming from women at those venders, and the squeals and joyful shrieks coming from the children playing in between. He saw the freshly grown, caught, and exported goods lining the roadway and thought of how much Tokio would enjoy shopping here. That is when he saw him.
The spiky chestnut hair held up in that ridiculous red head band, the indolent glazed look in his eyes, and that arrogantly placed toothpick rolling in between those lips that only spouted dim-witted ideas and plans. Oh look, it's the drunken rooster. He thought, without the expected surprise one would think he would have. He however was rather busy mentally beating himself for forgetting that they lived in Tokyo, to experience any shock whatsoever. Realizing that he was becoming so agitated that he might damage something, he turned abruptly into an alleyway that he was nearing. All his pervious cheerfulness now changed into vast annoyance sprinkled with rage, and the fact that he was quite new to this city prohibited him from finding his home quickly. All he wished now was to go home, tell Tokio to pack the items that she had unpacked, and turn around to old city, old home, and old life.
O0o…o0OO0o…o0O
Many miles away from the happily congested city streets of Tokyo ran a not very well known path. Used more now by wild beasts instead of civilized folk, it had become unkempt and a chore to deal with; rather like an unruly child who was just recently playing in a mud hole. The path had once been wider, but weeds had obstructed most of the pathway, leaving only enough room to manage traveling in a single file line. But even though this path had its numerous disadvantages, these two companions had chosen it. Though if someone might stumble across this small caravan they would laugh at the travelers' foolhardiness. Instead of wearing the type of clothes any sensible person would wear, these girls had don movement prohibiting kimonos and awkward getas.
The girl in the front evaded any dirty obstacles with feline grace, often turning to glace over her shoulder and chuckle at her companion behind her. The girl behind her did not possess much grace it seemed; she moved in a rather choppy dance to avoid any dirt smeared branches at leg level. She had been doing her strange waltz so some time now, with her arms extended to her side in an effort to gain balance and her traveling pack grasped in her right hand. The next time the girl in front peeked back, she laughed louder then she had previously done. The girl in the back stopped her progression and glared at her.
"And what do think's so funny Ashira?" she snapped irritably.
"You of course, dear sister. You look like an angry bird with the way you're hopping around back there." Ashira replied good-naturedly. Her sister in the back folded her arms across her chest, the traveling pack dangling from her hands.
"Well my dear sister, I wouldn't be hopping around if I didn't have to travel all the way to Tokyo wearing this stupid thing. Which I might add was your idea." She stated accusingly. Ashira halted and turned to meet this challenge.
"My idea? You're the one you wanted to look nice when we get into Tokyo and meet him. I just gave in to your demands Kakiku."
"Yah I wanted to look nice, but I didn't think that I'd have to blaze my own trail to get to Tokyo in the first place. And when did I ever demand that we look nice? I just thought it would be nice to look presentable! But now I really don't care if we show up half-naked!" Kakiku said in a gradually rising voice.
Ashira sighed through her teeth. How was she supposed to calm down her fire-ball of a sister now? Searching through a delicate pile of replies she said,
"Alright, I understand; just stop shouting will you?" Kakiku opened her mouth to state that she was not even raising her voice when Ashira held up her hand. "And yes, I know; you weren't shouting. Could you calm down now? Please?" she nearly pleaded.
Kakiku unfolded her arms guiltily and began pricking at the sleeves of her kimono, staring at the extremely interesting ground. When she was through staring at the same rock for nearly two minutes she averted her gaze upwards and her eyes met the slightly exasperated stare of Ashira.
"What?" Kakiku asked. "You want me to apologize or something?" The reply Kakiku got was her sister's eyebrows moving up to greet her hairline.
"You know you're too stubborn for your own good, right?" Kakiku stated matter-of-factly.
"Only as stubborn as you." Ashira replied, receiving the unspoken apology.
With the argument evaded, Ashira turned back around and started to proceed further onto the overrun path; Kakiku only shook her once and began to follow her.
After thirty minutes of hiking in absolute silence, the path Kakiku and Ashira had taken came to greet a more commonly traversed road. Kakiku made a small noise of refreshment and breathed in the sweet unconfined air. The joyful sunlight strained through the obscuring leaves above to dapple the path before them. A content smile tugged at the corners of Kakiku's lips as she looked about her new open surroundings. She had chosen not to look anywhere near her sister, she was still upset over the argument, but when she gazed over Ashira's back she saw how stiff it was. Ashira was walking with fluid grace; arms clasped in front, her physique emanating a cold, distant formality. That is how she always became when she was upset or in thought. With a sigh on her lips and a roll in her eyes, Kakiku sped forward and flung her arm over her shorter sister's shoulder.
"Aw, c'mon Ashira, you're not still angry are you. 'Cus if you are I'll apologize for real this time." She proposed helpingly. Ashira shook her head.
"No, of course I'm not still upset at you. It's just," she bit her lower lip, "Do you- do you think that he'll like us. I mean, we're not exactly acceptable Kakiku." She finished in a near whisper. Kakiku's eyes widened momentarily as she shook her hand.
"Acceptable? How can you not be acceptable? You're like the perfect image of a Japanese woman! Of course he'll like you! And as for me," she chuckled in the back of her throat, "I'll just rely on my good looks, charm, and insane luck. But you? You've got nothing to worry about, so cheer up before I make you!" After saying this, Kakiku took her arm off Ashira and jogged ahead of their two man parade. Ashira smiled warmly at her sister and called out,
"What are you talking about? I'll be worried over all the stupid things you could do to get both of us kicked out of Tokyo!" Kakiku chose to ignore this friendly stab at her intelligence and replied,
"Besides I've already sent the letter to him so he's probably over the shock and ready to greet us with open arms. So once again, don't worry!"
With the reinsurance in place the two sisters progressed more hopefully to the place that held the outcome of their future, Tokyo.
O0o…o0OO0o…o0O
The tall man Sanosuke spotted in the street was nearing the location of his new house, still determined to leave Tokyo in all haste. He was calmed for only a moment at finding the street that led to his house, but then he quickly set his mind back to the task set before him. Upon nearing the gate that led to his house, the tall man noticed a boy, who had the look of one set on a mission, standing outside. The boy looked up when he heard footsteps and called out to him.
"Excuse me sir, but do you live in this house?"
The man did not even slow his walking when replying.
"Yes I do."
"Then I am assuming that you are Officer Goro Fujita?"
"I am. What do you want?" Goro Fujita replied with a curt nod of his head when he had reached the boy. Looking up to the impressive looking man, the boy became somewhat nervous.
"Oh, nothing sir, I'm just here to deliver a letter." He said holding the piece of paper up.
Officer Fujita took the letter with another nod to show his thanks when he noticed that the boy had not left. With a face that betrayed no emotion, Fujita took an amount of coins from his pocket a dropped them onto the upturned hand of the messenger boy. The boy clamped his fingers around the money tightly and ran off, not wanting to see how much the man had given him and run the risk of vexing the stern officer.
Fujita opened the gate to his unwanted house and closed it gently behind him. The desire to leave Tokyo immediately was set aside for a moment at the arrival of this queer letter. Fujita studied it in his hands. It was not anything like the formal a crisp letters from he government he would receive time to time, rather its paper was dirty and worn, with no addressing marks on it. He stopped upon the stone pathway and unfolded the paper cautiously. His eyes widened with uncharacteristic shock when he saw that it was addressed to…Hajime Saito.
A/N: Yah, this was more lighthearted then the prologe, what, do you exspect me to kill off someone in every chapter? Anywho, just to let ya know, I'm pretty sure that Kakiku and Ashira are not real Japanese names. It's their names and I'm not changin'.
Ooookay readers, I've got a question for you. Where did Saito live before hand? I'll confess that I was writing that off the seat of my pants, so I don't rightly know.
Also, please review with ANY questions or comments. Even flames are gratefully accepted. If you find anything wrong in the chapter, let me know! I want to convey my story to you readers in the best possible way. NOTE: the next update will not be as quick as this one. Tanks!