Chapter Nine: A Different Kind of Wolf

"If your 'Shingan' won't tell you, I will. What drives me so deep? Aku! Soku! Zan! I bring my own brand of justice." --Saitou Hajime, Rurouni Kenshin Volume 14

"SIR KEN! SANOSUKE SAID I'M UGLY!"

"FEH!"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'FEH'? TELL ME YOU'RE SORRY, YOU OBNOXIOUS ROOSTER!"

"MAKE ME, YOU STUCK-UP FOX!"

Kenshin put a hand on his temple, as though to calm the raging headache that was nibbling at his brow. They had been traveling for two days, and Sano and Megumi had yet to make peace.

They were camped along the sea, planning to set off again in about a half hour. Sanosuke had been tending the fire and cooking the fish since; for as they soon found out, Kaoru's fish was...well, to put it politely, toxic. When they had thrown the massacred food into the ocean, Kenshin was appalled to watch three other dead fish float to the surface.

Kaoru had never been more embarrassed in her life, and went off to help Anji catch more food in atonement.

Anyways, Sanosuke had been tending the fire when Megumi remarked that she needed to change the bandages around his chest and back; and to be safe, his hands as well. Sano had replied that he didn't want to at the moment, and Megumi promptly gave him a ten-minute lecture.

"Geez," Sano had said, scowling. "Who knew such a freakin' eyesore could be such a pain in the ass?"

"EXCUSE ME!"

And thus, an arguement ensued, which lead to Megumi tattling to Kenshin.

"Sanosuke, you should apologize to Miss Megumi, that you should," Kenshin said to the irritated fighter. "You know very well Miss Megumi is not an eyesore, de gozaru yo."

Yahiko snorted, off a ways. "Yeah, and the way you look at her, you'd be a real hypocrite to deny it."

"I don't look at her," Sanosuke said indignately, and earned three looks from Kenshin, Megumi, and Yahiko that obviously read, 'Yeah, right.' Feeling defeated, Sanosuke resolved to pouting silently.

After a bit, Sano mumbled, "Yeah. I'm sorry."

"Good!" said Megumi, smirking. "Now let me see your bandages!"

Irritable, Sanosuke took of his gi and let Megumi check his wounds and replace his bandages with new ones.

Kaoru returned with another bucket of fish. She smiled brightly, and said, "Anji-san is an excellent fisherman! Who knew?"

"Heck, he probably phoned some angels and got 'em to round up the fish for him," Sanosuke said, raising an eyebrow. He winced seconds later, as Megumi tightened the bandages around his right wrist. "Watch it..." he hissed, but Megumi ignored him.

"As if there'd be any phones around here," Kaoru pointed out, setting the fish next to the fire. Standing upright and stretching, Kaoru afterwards turned on her heel and made her way back to the place Anji was fishing. On her way, she caught Kenshin smiling at her again, and before he could see, Kaoru turned her head and blushed.

Passing Yahiko, Kaoru was not surprised to see him get to his feet and follow her. After a minute of walking, Yahiko said, "I knew it."

"Knew what?" Kaoru asked in reply.

Yahiko glowered at her with his brown and yellow orbs. "You like that man...that... Kenshin." He spat the name out like it was a disgrace to the language. "And I'm suspicious of that Sanosuke, too."

Kaoru hesitated before speaking. "I don't deny that Kenshin is very different from the men I have met before...but I think Sanosuke has his heart elsewhere."

"Not from where I stand," Yahiko replied. "A rooster keeps more than one chicken." Yahiko met his sisters eyes, something that he rarely did. "And if he's not careful, a wolf may take advantage of his carelessness."

Kaoru was silent. She knew what Yahiko was really saying under his speech: 'I don't like either of them, and unless they prove themselves, I will kill them if they try to win you otherwise.'

"Very well," was all Kaoru said, and without another word, Yahiko bobbed his head, and walked off in the direction whence they had came. Kaoru sighed as her brother left, and picked up her pace.

Back at the camp, Kenshin found that his headache had finally disappeared.

Megumi and Sanosuke had ended another of their arguments, and were now refusing to look at one another in agitated silence. Their arms folded, they sat looking in opposite directions, scowling like they had never before. However, every few moments, one of them would look over his or her should to sneak a peek at the other, but quickly look away when the latter glanced back as well.

Such like kids... Kenshin thought fondly, chuckling slightly and closing his eyes to rest them. Kaoru-dono...

"Hey, Rooster," Megumi said at last, staring out into the sea.

"What, Fox?" replied Sanosuke, also not looking back.

Megumi paused. "...You're an idiot."

"And you're a vixen," Sanosuke said. Another silence came between them, until Sanosuke said to Megumi, "Hey."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry for calling you ugly," Sanosuke told her. "It's not true...and I'm sorry for biting your hand a few days ago." He paused, before asking, "Did the marks go away?"

Megumi looked down at her hand, where Sanosuke had voiced his pain back in the forest by clamping his teeth on her palm. "Yes. Thank you."

Sanosuke snuck a look over his shoulder, confused. "For biting you?"

Megumi almost laughed. "No," she said, "for being thoughtful enough to say you're sorry and actually mean it."

"Does that mean I win brownie points?" Sanosuke asked hopefully, smirking at the lady doctor's back.

Megumi leaned backwards, placing her palm behind her and turning to give Sanosuke a look. Sano gave her the sexiest smirkhe could, awaiting her answer.

Raising a dark brow, Megumi replied at last, "I don't see any brownies." She then turned away to resume looking out onto the ocean, her raven hair swirling like a long black cape about her shoulders.

Sanosuke did his best not to look irritated, though he was momentarily mesmirized by Megumi's shiny hair. Geez... he thought, and looked up at the blue sky with a loud sigh. Tousan, of all the things you had taught me, among them was not how to leash a fox.

-

A day later, they arrived in a town by the sea. This, according to Anji, was a popular spot of transport and trade, so they could easily get a ship to the Main City. The best way to do so, Anji had said, was to get hired on a certain ship so to take advantage of the ride.

"As for Sanosuke, Kenshin, Yahiko, and I being hired, it won't be as much of a problem," Anji said, as they walked down the street, "as for you women. Megumi must keep her true job a secret, and so you and Kaoru would be best disguised as cooks."

Sanosuke snorted. "As long as Kaoru doesn't explode the food and sink the ship."

Feeling her temper rise (another thing they had discovered about Kaoru was that, despite her graceful attitude towards Kenshin and Yahiko, she had a fearsome temper), Kaoru barked, "Watch your mouth, or I'll catch up and stick my foot in it!"

Turning his head to look at Kaoru, Sanosuke stuck out his tongue. "Feh. As if you could, Miss Midget. You have to be at least three feet shorter than I am."

Kaoru fumed, and Yahiko growled. "It'd be better for you t'shut your mouth, Sanosuke, before it's not only Kaoru who begins to feel like killing you."

Sanosuke sweatdropped slightly, and did not reply. This was probably so, because two seconds later, he had rammed right into a tall man in a blue uniform. Backing up unevenly, the rest of the group watched as Sanosuke rubbed his nose, angry.

"Geez, why doncha watch where yer..." Sanosuke looked up into the face of a very tall, menacing man in his late thirties. His sable hair was cut short and slicked back, save for about five long and slender bangs that hung down in his face. A pair of impossibly narrowed, wicked yellow eyes bored into Sanosuke's face; they far outmatched even the creepiest of demon's...but they were definately human.

"Oi," Sano stammered, unwilling to be intimidated. "Mebbe you should get somethin' to make those eyes o'yers a little wider, 'cuz in case ya didn't notice, YOU RAN RIGHT INTA ME!"

Kenshin, Kaoru, Megumi, and Yahiko sweatdropped. Anji looked on emotionlessly, knowing that it was beyond him to prevent Sanosuke's temper from controlling his words and actions.

Without replying to the indignant teen, the tall, wolfish man put his palm on Sanosuke's forehead, and pushed him out of the way. Sanosuke, surprised by the unexpected force in the stranger's arm, stumbled aside.

Watching the man stalk off, Sanosuke scowled angrily. "What a jerk..."

"Are you alright, Sanosuke?" Kenshin asked, scratching his head sheepishly.

Before Sano could reply, Megumi smacked his forehead in punishment. "You idiot!" she barked. "I thought being a fighter was all about knowing how to analyze your enemies! Even I could tell that man was out of your league, and could have eaten you for breakfast if he wanted to, you stupid Rooster!"

"Hmph," Sanosuke muttered, rubbing his brow, causing his bandanna to slide a bit. "I wasn't scared o'him...what harm could a cricket-eyed ol' geezer do?"

Sighing in defeat, Megumi said to Kenshin, "Lets go."

Within the next twenty minutes, Anji found an inn that they could stay in, and by combining all the money they had together, Anji found that he and Kenshin combined had enough to pay for a room.

"Only one room?" Megumi said as they debated in the mediocre lobby. "''That's disgusting! There's no way I'm sharing a room with that perverted Rooster-Head!"

Sanosuke gave her a jaded look.

Kaoru pulled out her pack, glancing around the lobby. When she seemed satisfied no one was watching, she opened it slightly to show her companions. "Look," she said, and they did.

They all gasped, except for Yahiko, who knew the contents already. The pack was filled with money, maps, teasures, and useful gadgets such as a compass and a telescope. Kenshin was surprised to find that even a few small rubies and diamonds lay in the depths of the bag.

"This is amazing!" Megumi cried, excited. "With this, we could probably buy our own ship!"

"What for?" Anji said in reply. "We'll only use it once, I should think."

"You never know," Sano mumbled, and Megumi gave him an approving look. He smiled as well, looking now at the floor; his cheeks and ears reddened. She smiled...

Kaoru fished out a few choice coins, and handed them to Anji. "That's enough for another room," she told him. "So now, we can have two!" Though, I can't see the problem sharing a room with Kenshin...it's not like Kenshin's so little a gentleman he'd try anything...because he's so...

Megumi seemed pleased with this, while Sanosuke looked slightly disappointed.

Standing, Kenshin and Anji went to the counter to arrange a room. The clerk, a perky woman with a pleased smile, greeted them cheerfully. "Hallo there," she told them in a Kansai accent. "I'm Sekihara Tae. How can I help you?"

Kenshin smiled politely. "We would like two rooms, de gozaru yo!"

Tae told them the price, and Anji handed her the money. After swiftly and deftly calculating it, Tae gave them two keys and bid them a good afternoon. "Thank you," Kenshin said, and they both returned to the table.

"Done," Kenshin announced, handing Megumi a key. She tucked it into her pocket without a word.

Sanosuke looked about. "Hey," he said at last. "I wonder if they have a bar in this town, anyways."

"It's just like a Rooster like you to want to get drunk," Megumi muttered.

To her surprise, Sano blushed slightly. "Actually..." he mumbled, "I've never tasted sake before. We had too little money for it, and my Dad said it would put a bad influence on the...er, kids." Sano's eyes echoed with regret and grief for a moment, and his mouth pursed into a tight straight line; and for a moment, the man sitting in Sano's chair, wearing Sano's clothes, and wearing Sano's shoes; did not appear to be Sano at all.

"Oro?" Kenshin said, surprised as well, snapping Sano back to reality. "Never? It was one of my master's habits, to drink sake on a regular basis. I was brought up with it."

Anji said, "I haven't had a drink ever since fleeing from Shishio, and I don't want any."

"Kaoru won't let me," Yahiko said, scowling, "she says I'm too young."

Sanosuke looked excited. "Awright!" he yelled. "Then me, Kenshin, and Yahiko will go hunt down a bar, ne?"

"Absolutely not!" Kaoru barked. "Yahiko's too young to be drinking!"

The ten-year-old Yahiko scowled. "I can drink sake if I want to! Sanosuke said I could come, so I can and want to!"

"Yeah, Missy," Sanosuke said, leaning towards her and giving her the puppy eyes. "Let Yahiko come. I promise that nothin' bad will happen."

Kaoru hesitated, finding herself turning pink at Sanosuke's closeness. She did not see Kenshin's eyes narrow, on the other side of the table. But the swordsman said nothing. "I don't know..." Kaoru said.

"Please?" Sanosuke begged, pushing out his bottom lip for effect.

Giving in, Kaoru sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine! But you keep a good eye on him, you hear? And no more than one drink, for any of you! Don't come back drunk! Be back before dark!"

By this time, Sanosuke had dragged Kenshin and Yahiko to the door. "Yeah, I heard ya, Missy--'No less than one drink and stay out as long as ya want, and make sure to be drunker than skunks when ya come back'!"

"SANOSUKE!" Kaoru yelled, but Sanosuke had already shut the door. "That man is insufferable..."

Megumi rolled her eyes. "You just figured this out?"

-

"Aku. Soku. Zan."

Blood flew through the air like ocean waves, as a man hit the ground, dead. It was late at night, and the undercover assassin Hajime Saitou had finished off his latest target with ease, just outside the local bar. Flicking the blood from his sword, Saitou replaced it in its sheathe.

Pulling a slip of paper from his pocket, Saitou checked off the name of the victim. He had two assignments, and when he lowered his amber eyes to the next name, he was slightly amused.

"Kamiya Kaoru, female, 155 cm, black hair, blue eyes, age of seventeen. Often accompanied by a young boy or a wolf. Charged with extreme theft, assault of government enforcers, and disobedience to the government's commands and laws. Armed with a sword..."

Saitou pulled out a cigarette, and upon lighting it, he pressed the lit head into the paper. Catching it on fire, Saitou dropped it to the ground and watched it coil and dissapate.

Then putting the cigarette to his lips, Saitou thought back to the spiky-haired young man he had ran into earlier. He had a girl among his group that fit the description perfectly, and the boy at her side, as well.

"Hn." Saitou sneered, walking off down the alley. "Looks like I'm off Rooster hunting."

-

Sanosuke found himself giggling inanely as he took another drink of sake. Kenshin was swaying slightly at the bar counter, mumbling nonsense as he did so. Yahiko had passed out on the floor, but Sanosuke was unaware of any of this.

"Two 'undred bottle o'sh...sake on da wall...two bottle o'sake...take 'un down pash it 'round..." Sanosuke's tune was interrupted when he again felt the burning sensation inside his throat as he robotically took another drink of alcohol.

"Oi...'Shi..." Sanosuke stammered to the bar tender, named Aoshi. The fighter had discovered that his glass was now empty. "Hit me..."

Without a second thought, the emotionless, handsome but stiff-faced bartender socked Sanosuke upside the head. The young man fell right off his stool, and onto the hard wooden floor.

"Dammit!" Sanosuke yelled, his voice slurred. "I meant...a drink...bashtard..."

Aoshi pretended to be surprised at his mistake. "Gomen nasai, Sanosuke-san," Aoshi said, with hollow regret.

Sanosuke was so drunk, that no less than three minutes ago Sano had mistaken Aoshi (somehow, in his twisted little mind) to be a girl. When Sano tried to kiss him, Aoshi prevented him from doing so by handing Sanosuke another drink.

Sanosuke unevenly crawled back onto his bench. The room spun crazily in Sanosuke's eyes, and he grunted slightly when trying to make it stop.

"I think you've had enough, Sanosuke-san," Aoshi said, although Sano hardly understood anything he said. "You and Kenshin-san still need to return to your place of stay. The young one, as well."

Normally, Aoshi would have refused to give one as young as Yahiko a drink, but Sanosuke previously insisted that Yahiko had just turned thirteen, and they wanted to celebrate. Aoshi wasn't convinced when Sano added that Yahiko was simply small for his age, but he eventually gave in for the sake of business.

"Fox'll pick ush up," Sanosuke mumbled, grinning drunkenly. "Foxy..." He then went off into la-la land, think not-so-appropriate thoughts of Megumi.

Aoshi ignored him, rolling his eyes.

The door of the bar opened, and Aoshi looked up to find a tall man entering the building. Narrowing his dark eyes, Aoshi studied the man as he walked in. The stranger was tall, thin, sable-haired, and despite his slickness, he was intimidating and strong. A katana was slung at his side, and the man owned two glowing, yellow eyes. Sniffing slightly, Aoshi smelled the faint scent of blood about the man, and narrowed his eyes.

"Konwanba," Aoshi said, not bothering to say good night, since it would imply that it was very late, and discourage the customer. "Good afternoon. Can I help you?"

Sanosuke turned around to look at whom Aoshi was speaking to. His fuzzy brain recognized the wolfish man, and Sano sputtered, "Oi...you da bashtard who pushed me dis morning...chikusho...wanna fight?"

Saitou ignored the drunken youth momentarily, and studied his companion. He had already seen the unconcious boy on the floor, but didn't dwell on the sight. Instead, Saitou was much more interested in the drunken redhead.

"Hn." was all Saitou said aloud. After a closer look at the oblivious swordsman, he confirmed that within his ki dwelt a warrior's spirit, one that could foil his plans if he stayed to deal with him.

Saitou turned away to look at the babbling rooster-head. Gripping Sanosuke's shoulder, Saitou told him firmly, "You are coming with me."

Aoshi tensed, sensing the young man's fuzzy ki spike with indignation. A bar fight would most likely ensue.

"Get yer handsh offa me..." Sanosuke said, making a weak attempt to brush Saitou off. When it hit Sano that it wouldn't work, Sanosuke tried to punch the wolf, but it failed. Saitou dodged easily, and struck Sanosuke in the abdomen.

His eyes rolling up in the back of his head, Sanosuke slumped over Saitou's arm in a faint.

Saitou watched as Kenshin turned confusedly to see Saitou sling the lanky young man over his shoulder. "Ex...excuse me..." Kenshin stammered, for he was the cute and polite type of drunk. "What're you doing...de gozaru...ka?"

"I'll return your companion to you once I finish questioning him," Saitou said, turning about to leave.

Aoshi stopped him by saying, "Please put Sanosuke-san back in his seat."

"Are you to force me?" Saitou said, turning his head to smirk at the bartender.

Sighing and pulling aside the side of his long jacket, Aoshi revealed a weapon that Saitou recognized as something that appeared to be a long sword. "I will if needed," Aoshi replied.

A steely silence ensued, as the two intimidating men glowered at one another. Aoshi's onyx eyes bored into Saitou's gold, and for a moment lightening seem to flash between the two.

Saitou grinned at last. "I would kill you, but I have other business to attend. Besides..." Saitou's smirk did not flee. "Your bar has been quite useful to my assignments. I'll spare you this time around out of gratitude."

Quirking an eyebrow mockingly, Saitou turned on his heel to walk out of the tavern, Sanosuke still slung over his shoulder. Kenshin made to stop him, but instead tripped and landed on the floor. He fell unconcious, slipping into the world of dreams and oblivion.

Saitou paused and glanced at the two unconcious people at his feet, flicking his gold gaze back up to meet Aoshi's. Smirking again, Saitou snickered and walked out of the bar with his prisoner.

"Hey!" Aoshi ran out form behind the counter to make chase, but when he had reached the doorway, he had found that the wolfish man had disappeared. No trace was left, except the faint smell of cigarette smoke and blood.

End of Chapter Nine

MadiSano: Saitou! Yaay! ...Sort of. He's a bad guy so far, can you tell? (Snickers.) Misao arrives in the next chapter, and then we have Sano and Saitou fighting like cats and dogs. Rather, like Roosters and Wolves. Aoshi will have more interaction with the Kenshingumi henceforth; and I'm still debating on whether or not to let him and Misao come along on the journey. What do you guys think?

SHAUNTELL: Well, I've drawn a decent picture for R&R at last...yatta! It's not very good, so I'll have to do a remake of it because I kept erasing parts over and over again. Oh well! Lol! Hmm...as for ideas...well, you could always choose a scene from the fic. What would be really pretty, as a KK moment, would be Kenshin lying injured in the grass, with Kaoru hovering over him with angel wings (remember, Kenshin thought she was an angel when they first met?), holding Kenshin's face and looking him in the eyes. If you made Kenshin really dark and shadowy, and Kaoru really light and magical, it would take a great effect on the picture! It sounds a little complicated... but it would be really beautiful, I think. The surprised/mesmirized look on Kenshin's face...aww! Thanks for reviewing, and I look forward to hearing from you again!

CREWEL: I like it best when Sano makes the moves and Megumi reacts, and then Megumi surprises Sanosuke by romancing him when he least expects it...I'm thinking about putting some tragic events that'll pressure Sano and Meg's relationship, but of course it'll only be even more wonderful in the end! Sano's so sweet! Thanks very much!

STARSHIPDELTA: Writing Saitou and Aoshi is super fun! I'm still getting used to Aoshi, though...this is my first time using him, so I think I'll get in a bit deeper with his personality in the next chapter. He's really so very complex! Who knew? Lol! Saitou's just plan FUN to write! Next chapter, you get to see a lot more of him! Thanks so much, you're so funny and encouraging. See ya!

ANONYMOUS-CHAN: It's Yahiko's resemblance to Enishi that will cause suffering to strike. Not meaning to sound melodramatic, but...you'll find out. Later. As for Tomoe, I think she's...a female Aoshi? Lol--kidding, kidding! I think Kenshin's scar is the perfect symbol of Tomoe's presence in the RK story. She's the ending of the headless manslayer (when she died, Kenshin stopped killing blindly under the leadership of his revolutionary leader, Katsura), Tomoe's the beginning of the real Hitokiri Battousai (Kenshin started to kill with reason and respect after she died), and she is the thing that keeps Kaoru and Kenshin apart...Kenshin's x-shaped scar, the form of his sin and unforgiveness. She's the cold, inner beauty of Battousai the Manslayer, and she's the sweet sadness of Kenshin the Rurouni. Though she's my favorite over Kaoru, I like Kaoru and Kenshin's relationship MUCH better! After all, Kenshin thought of Tomoe as more of a comrade than lover, and he was only 14 when married, so how the heck would he know what love really is, anyways? Oh well, we're talking about Kenshin...so maybe he did! But Kaoru is definately Kenshin's true love, and unlike Tomoe, she succeeded to bring Kenshin true happiness. The OAVs are poor compared to the books--grr! The last one (Reflections) is awful--with a Tomoe-like Kaoru! Kenshin didn't fall in love with Kaoru because he saw Tomoe in her, but because she gladly gave him open honesty and love like Tomoe could not. Not to mention Kaoru matures realistically throughout the manga (the anime is so-so), unlike Tomoe, who suddenly rears out of character before her death in book 20. Even the author admits his disappointment in the fact...okay, I'm getting really critical! Oro! I'd better stop, before I flip out and hunt down Watsuki (the author) to rant in his face! Poor guy...lol. But the OAVs are poor compared to Watsuki's gorgeous masterpeice, even so. You really should read the manga sometime--all the way to book 22 is out in English, for $7.95 (at normal price)! Great...now I'm become a saleswoman! Aaah! Thanks very much!

-Buy your Sanosuke plush doll at amazon .com for $6.50, complete with Aku jacket and miniature Rurouni Kenshin tag!Squeeze it and it punches you! Producers will not be responsible for any critical and/or fatal injury to the buyer.-

Lol, I'm joking...see ya! And please review!

(Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me, because I'm planning on taking over One Piece first. Shh--don't tell!)