Chapter Five: The Beautiful Bandit
"I'd rather be in danger than be alone again!" Kamiya Kaoru, Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 2.
Sanosuke watched miserably as Megumi explained the situation to Anji. The giant man listened politely, sipping his water, as usual. Megumi made it seem like Sano had treated and spoke to her like an evil tyrant, and the boy frequently had to correct her.
"And," Megumi continued, "When I asked him to help me, Sanosuke pushed me away onto the ground without even apologizing, beginning to bark at the men like he was God or something--"
"I did not!" Sanosuke yelped, agitated. "You were the one clutching me like you were the one trying to be harmful! I had to get you off of me, but I didn't push you to the ground!"
"Did too," Megumi said, smirking secretly at Sano's offended expression.
"Did not," Sanosuke barked back.
Megumi flipped her hair over her shoulder, replying serenely, "Did too."
"DID NOT!" Sanosuke shouted at the top of his voice, pounding his fist on the turf like a five-year-old. Spending so much time with those orphans must have rubbed away most of his maturity.
Anji silenced Sano by saying firmly, "Sanosuke, be silent, and let Megumi-san finish her story. It's not polite to interrupt."
"Hmph," Megumi said in victory, giving Sano a sickeningly sweet grin, that wasn't really so sweet. "Anyways..." And she went on through her tale, telling Anji and Sanosuke of this seemingly unbeatable red-haired swordsman with the cross-shaped scar on his left cheek.
Anji suddenly put down his cup. "Did you say that this man had red hair? And a scar on his cheek in the shape of an X?"
Megumi nodded. "His name is Kenshin. He was very kind and courteous to me, unlike some people." She threw a nasty look at Sanosuke, who promptly returned it.
"Kenshin..." Anji looked lost in thought for a moment, before beginning a long conversation consisting mostly of asking Megumi many questions, in which the Lady Doctor answered them with slight confusion. Sanosuke quickly grew bored, and before five minutes had passed, Sano had fallen asleep against a nearby tree.
"Megumi-san," Anji said, after Megumi had finished her reply. "Sanosuke and I will help you rescue your friend from the Kairyuu."
Smiling, Megumi thanked the giant. "Thank you," she said happily, at the thought of seeing her courageous Kenshin. In contrast, she looked sourly to the softly snoring Sano. "But does he really have to come, Anji-san?"
Anji nodded. "Sanosuke is vital to Kenshin's destiny, I am sure. He'll play a big part in what is to come."
Megumi looked shocked. "Th-That brute?" she stammered, despite herself. "Involved with Sir Ken? How can he be helpful?"
Anji smiled slightly. He knew quite well that Megumi had exaggerated about Sanosuke's treatment towards her. It was obvious Sano was incapable of such abuse, after being raised by such a father as Souzou. Anji knew a lot more about Sanosuke that the young man realized.
They both looked over at the snoozing boy. "It seems Sanosuke was bored of our talk. It is getting late, however." Anji said, poking his campfire with the tending stick. "I will go and inspect the Kairyuu village, and you can wait here tonight with Sanosuke."
The utter horror that crossed Megumi's face was almost comical. "You're going to leave me with him?" she gasped.
Anji smiled in his barely noticeable way. "Sanosuke isn't as bad as you may think, Megumi-san. If you give him a chance, I believe he can grow to be quite an impressive man."
Not waiting for a reaction, Anji got to his feet, and said, "I'll be back in about an hour. If Sanosuke wakes, tell him I said to continue his training. He won't learn the Futae No Kiwami by taking naps."
The huge man then strode off into the dark forest, surprisingly as quiet as a cat.
Megumi sat alone, tending the fire silently by herself. She wasn't sure what to do. Anji seemed trustable, but Sanosuke irritated her to no end. He's so rude, annoying, loudmouthed...
Megumi frowned, looking over again at the sleeping Sano. He was still shirtless, curled up beneath the huge tree like some sort of spiky-maned cat.
A chill rifted the air, and Megumi felt it pass right through her kimono, causing her to shiver. Sanosuke, in his sleep, let out an uncomfotable hiss, pressing against the tree like it could shield him.
"So smart, Roofie," Megumi muttered sarcastically, standing up. After briefly glancing around the campsite, Megumi picked up a jacket that was obviously--judging by the size--Sanosuke's. As she lifted the rough fabric, she froze when she saw spatters of blood and stains of dust.
Where did this man come from? Megumi wondered, lifting the coat to her noseShe winced--the smell of dried blood, sweat, and grime was not a pleasing one.
Out of disgust, Megumi brushed off the dust fervently as she walked over to Sano. When the grime made its obstinacy clear by refusing to go away, Megumi replied by beating it. The grime gave in, and flew away in little clouds.
"Aha," she said proudly, having won her war. Megumi then bent down and covered the idiot Rooster-Head with his own coat, the collar concealing his bare shoulder and the back blanketing all the way down to the waist.
Sanosuke shifted in his rest, grumbling something. His bangs hung in his face, and his brunette hair splayed over the knobbly roots of the tree like fanned out kunai. Sano's bronze skin melded in with his sandy highlights, his thick lashes concealing his chocolate eyes that were deeply rimmed with fire and grief.
"Stupid man," Megumi couldn't help but comment. It was her way of hiding her thoughts of how very striking this insufferable man seemed, sleeping so soundly with only slight disturbance. She almost had the urge to bend down and touch his face, as though to soak up Sanosuke's heart-shattering peacefulness.
Megumi immediately whirled away from Sanosuke, mentally scolding herself for thinking such thoughts. What about Sir Ken? Megumi thought. Sir Ken is certainly more attractive than this insolent fighter.
Storming over to the fire, Megumi stabbed it with Anji's tending stick. She thought of Kenshin, with his amazing sword powers, his long red hair flowing in the breeze he created with his supersonic movements...
"Hey, Fox Lady!" came an annoyingly familiar voice, killing off Megumi's musings. "Where's Anji?"
Megumi turned to glare at the awakened Rooster. "He's gone off to the Kairyuu village. He'll be back in a little while, baka."
"He left without me?" Sanosuke yelled, enraged. "That bastard! Leaving by himself like that..."
Seeming quite ruffled, Sanosuke nibbled the end of his coat thoughtfully. Or, at least, this was how he appeared; Megumi wouldn't accept the idea that Sano could actually think.
"Is that all Anji said?" Sano asked Megumi.
Megumi remembered Anji's instructions, and replied, "No. He said you were to train your...your...Frilly No Ka-What's Its until he gets back."
Sanosuke stood, throwing his jacket carelessly to the forest floor. Smirking mischeviously, Sanosuke said, "Well, then, I guess I'd better go train my 'Frilly No Ka-What's Its', huh?" He was obviously mocking Megumi.
"Mm," was all Megumi said, to Sano's surprise. He was actually getting to enjoy bickering with the Fox Lady.
Sanosuke turned without a word more, off to find more rocks to smash. The reason he liked to argue with Megumi was partially because it took his mind off Souzou and the orphans. His determination was to concentrate his thoughts on his fighting, and not the aching grief that ate his heart, inside out. Even now, though Sano tried his best to act normal and exceptionally spunky, he felt that rage and brokeness rake at his soul.
The other reason Sano enjoyed fighting with Megumi was because--though he had an internal fit admitting it to himself--he wanted her to pay attention to him. Sanosuke wanted Megumi to have a reason to talk to him, to look at him--even if it was a scowl or a glare, it was still attention.
This made Sanosuke feel quite immature inside, but he couldn't help but let himself pout, whine, and make snotty retorts, if it meant getting reactions from someone like Megumi. To see her features focus on him, even if it was in disapproval, was Sanosuke's desperate way of making himself feel loved.
Thinking about his spiritual fragileness and weakness almost made Sanosuke break down again. The urge to cry and throw boyish, angry fits until he died arose. But Sano wouldn't let himself give in like that again, now that he had someone to pretend he had to protect, to pretend he might be able to be loved by.
Megumi, though she didn't know it, was Sanosuke's shield from insanity. But what, exactly, can the poor man do, when insanity's queen happens to be in the form of his shield?
Sanosuke was hopelessly trapped in the bowels of his own mind.
-
Megumi jabbed at the fire again, crossly thinking of how insufferable Sanosuke acted, and how wonderful Sir Ken was to her in contrast.
Not to mention that idiot left me here all by myself without even asking me to come with him, Megumi thought, irritated. I could be kidnapped by some stray Kairyuu thugs or something. Baka tori-atama! Sir Ken wouldn't be so thoughtless.
Suddenly, a twig cracked loudly. Megumi froze, waiting for the Rooster to come striding out of the woods, yelling some foolishness. But no Sanosuke came. Megumi wondered if it was Anji, returning early. But the hulking shadow of the giant did not appear.
There was a rustle of leaves, and Megumi felt goosebumps arise on her arms. "S-Sanosuke!" she yelled, trying to sound fearsomely angry. "Stop playing around! This isn't funny."
The darkness seemed to close in, and Megumi huddled closer to the campfire. There's something wrong, Megumi thought, growing afraid. "Sanosuke!" she shouted, standing up and clutching the fire stick tightly.
No answer came.
A bead of sweat ran down Megumi's long neck, and she bit her lip nervously. It's probably nothing, she tried to assure herself. Besides, I'd better stop shouting for the Rooster-Head, or he might come running...he'll think I'm afraid of the dark, and I'll never hear the end of it...
Megumi apprehensively sat down, trying to act like everything was normal. "I'm not afraid," she mumbled to herself.
"RAAAR!"
Megumi screamed as two lithe arms wrapped themselves around her shoulders from behind. Squirming and yelling, squeezing her eyes shut, Megumi shouted, "SANOSUKEEEE!"
There was a pause, before Megumi's captor said sweetly, "Yeeees?"
Megumi's eyes opened wide, an embarrassed blush crossing her face as she turned her head to find Sanosuke grinning at her. "Y-You...you...SANOSUKE NO SUKUBE!" Megumi elbowed him away and dealt Sanosuke a blow over the head with her stick. It broke in half, to Megumi's shock and slight amusement.
"You idiot! How could you do that to me?" Megumi scolded, as Sanosuke rubbed the growing lump on his skull. "You nearly gave me a heart attack, what, sneaking around like that! Stepping on twigs and whatnot to scare me, and then you jump out like that!"
Sanosuke scowled. "What are you talking about? I just got here."
"Now you're lying to me!" Megumi said in exasperation. "I can't believe you! You're just trying to scare me again, you...jerk! Go off and smash your rocks before I break this stick into thirds by pounding you six feet under."
Scowling, Sanosuke sneered and stood. "You're the one who's unbelievable. Accusing me of stalking you...hah! If I wanted to stalk someone, I'd go off and find a girl who's worth it. Not some snotty geisha who thinks she's queen of--UWAAAHHH!"
Crumpling to the ground with a shriek, Sanosuke suffered injury of being viciously kicked where no man would appreciate. Megumi sneered angrily down at him as agonized tremors ran through Sanosuke's body, barking angrily, "I told you, I am NOT a geisha! I'm a doctor, and don't you forget it!"
"F-For a doctor, you sure are a violent b--!"
Megumi cut Sanosuke off, whirling around in relief when she heard another twig crack. "It's Anji-san!" she said hopefully, but it was not.
A small, black wolf stood in-between two trees, his eyes fixed on the injured Sanosuke, who was still lying in agony on the ground. Though it was young and lithe, it had the agile trim of a alpha male. On each side of the head, the wolf had two brown streaks of fur that jutted out wontonly.
Megumi looked at the canine nervously. "Sanosuke..." she whispered, backing up towards the fallen man.
"What now?" he hissed, attempting to get up. Instead, he fell right back down onto the grass, biting his lip to prevent himself from groaning.
Megumi kept her eyes on the young wolf, that was now inspecting her. "I think we're in trouble," was all she managed to say.
Suddenly, the wolf looked up directly into Megumi's eyes. She gasped--the eyes that stared into hers were a hypnotizing yellow, with flecks of green and black on the rim. They were inhuman, but they certainly didn't belong to a wolf.
"A...demon?" Sanosuke stammered, managing to finally sit up. He glared at the wolf, but the wolf paid no attention, and continued to stare at Megumi evilly. "Megumi, you might want to look away..."
Looking up, Sano noticed Megumi had not even heard him, and was staring right back at the wolf. Fright overtaking pain, Sanosuke stood shakily and hid the wolf from view by standing in front of her, gripping her forearms and shielding Megumi's sight with his chest.
The lady doctor blinked, looking confused. "What?" she asked, but Sanosuke had no time to answer. There was a loud snarl, and Sanosuke turned just in time, throwing out his forearm to block the lunging wolf. His plan worked, and instead of Sanosuke's neck, the wolf caught Sano's forearm in its jaws.
Blood spattered, and Megumi screamed. Before the wolf could let go, Sanosuke whirled it around with amazing force, flinging it in the opposite direction and into a tree.
The young he-wolf got to his paws unevenly, stole an angry glance at Sanosuke, and threw up his head in a howl. The cry echoed and bounced off trees, causing the night birds to take flight in flocks due to their trauma.
"Sanosuke..." Megumi whispered, afraid.
"WATCH OUT!" Sanosuke suddenly turned and tackled Megumi to the ground, covering her body with his own as a shower of arrows peirced the air. Only a few struck him; the rest buried themselves harmlessly into the earth. Without hesitation, Sanosuke ripped the shafts from his skin, managing to keep Megumi beneath him at the same time.
Sano cried out when the wolf pounced on him again, but in order to protect Megumi, threw the canine off by rolling over. Megumi lay, terrified as Sanosuke fended the strange animal off.
"Sanosuke!" Megumi yelled again, upon seeing a flicker of movement. "There's something in the trees!"
It was too late; as Sanosuke looked up, a person leapt downwards and smashed him into the forest floor. Sanosuke gasped in surprise and pain; and in reflex he threw his assaulter off.
The cloaked assailant tumbled to the ground, but bounced to his feet again, lashing out and giving Sanosuke an audible punch under the chin. Sano caught his oppenent's wrist as it withdrew, flinging him up into the air over Sanosuke's head. Sanosuke's original plan was to slam the attacker into the ground and render him helpless, but instead he found that he was the one getting the butt of things.
Quite literally, in fact--the end of a sword's sheathe slipped from the cloak covering the attacker, slamming the crook of Sanosuke's arm and causing him to release his prisoner. The assailant landed perfectly on his feet, charging at Sano seconds later and flinging him to the turf by slamming the hilt of the sword into his abdomen.
Sitting then on Sanosuke's broad chest, the opponent pressed his sword to Sanosuke's jugular. Sanosuke grunted helplessly; unable to do anything.
The wolf growled a few feet away, but made no move.
"Well," said the attacker, whose face was concealed by the hood of the cloak, which had stayed in place despite the skirmish Sano put up. He turned his head slightly at the wolf, who still stayed put. "It looks like we win, isn't it so, my brother?"
Sanosuke's eyes widened--that was not a man's voice! The melodious tone of his captor was that of a woman's. Damnation! I got my ass beat by a WOMAN?
"Sanosuke!" Megumi cried again, unsure of what to do.
"Nkh..." Sanosuke swallowed loudly, trapped. He dared himself to speak, asking the lady warrior, "What do you want?"
The cloaked girl stood, putting one foot on Sanosuke's throat. He knew she'd crush his windpipe if he tried anything funny. "My brother and I are no one of great importance to you, traveler...though, you put up a great fight. One like I haven't had in ages," she said. "But I'm not going to be surprised if you've heard of our endeavors."
She threw back her hood, revealing her stunning features. Her raven hair was tied back in a high, sleek ponytail, her wild bangs hanging slightly in her crystal blue eyes. The thief lady's long neck disappeared into a violet blouse that was evidently marred by battle and tough traveling. The evident fitness of a swordsman was about her.
Sanosuke found himself staring again--this habit was beginning to become a problem--and a small pit of irritation gathered in Megumi's stomach. The lady doctor ignored it, smothering her secret jealousy with fright of what was to happen next.
The girl bandit pointed her sword at Sanosuke, tickling his nose with the tip. "I smell the City on you. Is that where you are from?"
"Technically." Sanosuke muttered, turning his gaping into a glare. "And I know who you are, too--the famous lady bandit, Kamiya Kaoru!"
Kaoru smiled. "I am; and of course, my brother Yahiko, too..." She motioned politely to the crouching wolf, who shimmered oddly and morphed into a young boy. His yellow-flecked eyes shone out from behind his mussed midnight hair, scowling at Sanosuke.
"Then I s'pose you've come to steal," Sanosuke said, smirking. "Weeeell, you can go right ahead--in fact, I've got a lovely pile of freshly crushed rocks just over there, and you can take my dirty, bloodstained jacket while your at it! My shoes are of even better quality!"
To prove it, Sanosuke lifted his leg and shook his worn-out, muddy shoe at Kaoru comically.
"Hmph," Kaoru said, feeling a little silly inside. "I was hoping you'd have some food with you...not many people pass through the forest. I can see you don't have anything worth stealing..."
With that, Kaoru put away her sword and released Sanosuke from captivity. Sanosuke sat up, wincing from the bruises Kaoru had left him with. To his surprise, Kaoru held out a hand to help him up. Sanosuke took it, unsure of what to expect as Kaoru assisted him to his feet.
"Er...thanks?" Sano said, scratching his head and blushing.
Megumi came creeping to Sanosuke's side, giving Kaoru a miniature death glare. Kaoru ignored it, looking instead at Sanosuke. Yahiko, Kaoru's half-demon brother, also joined the group. He glared continuously at Sanosuke, apparently sculpting a little grudge against him. After all, Sano did throw him into a tree.
"I apologize for having bothered you for no reason," Kaoru said earnestly.
Sano scratched the nape of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah...sorry about the bruises, too, little guy."
Yahiko looked offended. "L-little guy?" he sputtered angrily, an evident, wolfish hiss in his speech. "You bastard! I am not little!"
Sano glanced at Kaoru in surprise. Kaoru looked at Sano in embarrassment and silent apology. Megumi glowered at Kaoru jealously. Yahiko glared at Sanosuke in rage.
"I--er, I'm sorry..." Sano stammered, trying to act like nothing unorthodox had happened.
Kaoru smiled, and Sano looked at his feet. "So, where are you two heading?" Kaoru asked. "You can't expect to get through the forest without trouble."
"We already have," Megumi said, deciding to be the speaker. "I was traveling with my friend Sir Ken when we were attacked by the Kairyuu. Sir Ken was captured and I ran into saphead--I mean, Sanosuke, when trying to escape. He's agreed to help me get Sir Ken back, along with Anji, his sensei."
Sanosuke looked annoyed. "Anji ain't my sensei."
"Well, he's teaching you how to fight, isn't he?" Megumi snapped back.
Folding his arms, Sanosuke replied, "Anji and I have a deal, and it's none of your business of what it's about. And who th'Hell told you I'd get your nitwit of a swordsman outta trouble?"
Megumi was outraged, turning on Sanosuke with a killing glare. "H-How dare you!" she cried. "Anji-san promised me you'd help!"
"Anji isn't my boss!" Sanosuke growled, turning to meet Megumi. "And niether are you!"
Static flashed through the air. Kaoru and Yahiko stood silently amid the verbal storm, turning their heads back and forth to each speaker. Yahiko looked curious but annoyed, while Kaoru seemed a bit embarrassed.
"Are they married, sister?" Yahiko asked in a bare whisper, one in which no normal being could hear, unless you were standing in the vicinity that Kaoru was.
Immediately after Yahiko whispered so, the Fox and the Rooster sneezed at the exact same time.
Kaoru giggled softly. "I don't think so." There was a pause as Kaoru and Yahiko watched the two fight relentlessly, but when the argument transformed into Megumi attempting to strangle Sanosuke and lance him with the remains of her fire stick, Kaoru intervened.
"Miss Megumi and Mister Sanosuke!" Kaoru said, immediately getting the two's attention with her announcing voice. "Yahiko and I will assist you in rescuing your friend from the Kairyuu Pirates. You now have the Kamiyas on your side!"
"You can't lose," Yahiko said with certainty.
Sanosuke grinned, despite that Megumi was still pinning him in a deadly position. "Does this mean ya've forgiven me for punchin' you out, Kamiya-kun?"
The wolf child gave Sanosuke an evil glare. "No. Once the Kairyuu are finished, you're next, you jackass." He then turned on his heel and stalked off like he owned the world.
Everyone sweatdropped, until Kaoru said, "I...uh, think Yahiko approves of you, Mister Sanosuke...he usually doesn't bother to pay special...unpleasant...attention to his opponents."
"Does that mean Foxy approves of me, too?" asked Sano sweetly, daring to pinch Megumi's thigh.
Seconds later, the fighter found himself lying face-down on the ground with a visible slap mark and bruises, and a dainty shoe grinding into his cheek. "PERVERT!"
-
Kenshin let out a howl as fiery agony zoomed through his veins. He was tied to a large, circular board in a small clearing in the forest. Deprived of his sword, gi, and provisions; Kenshin's skin was broken in several places, peirced by kunai.
A ragged gasp of pain broke through Kenshin's lips as another dagger peirced his right arm. Of course, Kenshin could withstand pain as a swordsman, but to suffer the ice-cold taste of metal for endless minutes, only for the pain to dullen and then swell again when another kunai tore his flesh, was something that Lord Hiko had not prepared him for.
Then again, the irritation of Lord Hiko's arrogance and long lectures should have prepared Kenshin for hours of agony, but unfortunately, it was not so.
"Shura-sama," one pirate said with a grin. "Shall we used poisoned kunai next?"
Shura, who had taken the pleasure of aiming the daggers, smiled slightly. "I think not," she said. "Now that Mister Samurai is awake, we can finally do battle the honorable way. I'd say he's learned his lesson for cheating."
"When, Lady Shura?" questioned the same pirate.
Considering it, Shura smirked. "Dawn. We'll kill him dawn, and not a second later."
Kenshin twitched slightly, his brow furrowing in dread. What has become of Miss Megumi? he wondered. She's probably dead by now...oh, Kami-sama, help me...
A huge shadow shifted in the darkness of the trees, hesitated, and disappeared with silent footsteps.
"Hang in there, Shinta."
End of Chapter Five
MadiSano: Sorry about the uneven KenKao and SanoMeg. KK fans want them to hurry up and meet, while SM fans want more attention focused on Sano and Megumi! It's a very complicated balance, so please have patience with me and have tolerance for other pairings, too. It's hard, yes. (laughs)
I was a little disappointed in how I couldn't get Kaoru into full swing in this chapter. But I plan to begin the long-awaited KK in the next chapter! YES! FINALLY! (Dances) ...Anyways, I know Yahiko was OOC and Kaoru a little bit as well, but I got frustrated with the whole thing and just did what I wanted. Now I feel idiotic, but I've prolonged this update long enough. Feh.
STARSHIPDELTA: I'm glad you liked the SanoMeg! I'm pretty good at their fight scenes, and I'm adjusting into the whole romance thing. Megumi and the snake...hehehe, I had to irritate Kenshin in some way with her. I could NOT let myself have Megumi slobber all over him like in the books and episodes...I wouldn't be good at it anyways. "Rufus". Lol, Megumi was a bit out of whack that time, ne? Rufus...Oo Sano is better, yes!
CREWEL: SanoMeg is in the earliest stages now, so I think I can let it develope better with each chapter, going from teasing to flirting to...well, Sano being sweet stuff and Megumi blushing her head off stuff? Heh. Thank you for the review, and I'm glad you like the SM.
SHAUNTELL: YOU ARE SO RIGHT! ...Sorry, that was an explosion. But Sano could whoop Shura easily! I was writing the pre-version of my author notes, and before I knew it I had an entire rant going on about how Sano should have taken care of Shura, that it was pathetic of how they made him trip (TRIP? SANO WAS TRIPPED BY A MEASLY PAIR OF NUNCHAKUS?), and so on and so forth. I couldn't bear to put it on, though! Funny you should mention it! Lol! As for the love triangles (or squares, if you wish to be technical), I'm afraid to say their staying. Sorry. But, it's kind of obvious of who will be with who in the end...heh. Thanks so much!
PLUTOBABY494: I know! Meg forgot about Kenshin. Not nice, ne? (How Megumi forgetting Kenshin was possible, I dunno...we'll just go with it! Hehe!) I suppose Megumi's easily destracted by Roosters? Maybe? Heh. Thanks for your review!
RKADDICT001: Hello, new one!Thanks for reviewing. I have so much fundoing Sano and Megumi scenes--they always fight, fight, fight! But it's what makes things fun, huh? Heh. Thanks!
ANONYMOUS BUTVERY INTERESTED: Well. Kaoru took out the trash--er, I mean Sano--huh? Um... haha. (sweatdrops.) Sorry that Kenshin wasn't in much of this chapter--but he's in the next one a lot. Once I get the characters all together, Kenshin will truly become the main character, and Sano will be back to being the sidekick again. (sighs) ...Most of the time, anyways. Yahiko, technically, doesn't hate everyone...he of course looks up to Kenshin, but as you can tell he's currently a little ticked with Sano. Eventually Yahiko gets upset with Kaoru...for reasons I won't reveal here...Lol. You are so observant, it makes me glow with glee when I read your reviews! Thanks so much...and as for Tae, Tsubame, and so on...some will appear, some will not. There are so many characters in RK I think I'd pop if I wrote them all in! Tae will probably appear...Tsubame, maybe...I'm thinking about putting Hiko in as a character, and not a figment of the past. If that happens...poor Kenshin! Lol! Well, see ya, and thank you!
Also, on Yahiko being a werewolf...it was either that or him being a flipping VAMPIRE, okay? Yeesh. I had to think of something original!
...Oh yeah, I have a new idea...Who wants SAITOU IN THE FIC? (grins like mad) I'm thinking about it and I'm beginning to like the idea.
Next Chapter: When the Fire Rises
Thanks for reading, please review--Ja Ne!