Chapter Ten: Chickenapped!

"You really are stupid lately, aren't you, Sano?" Himura Kenshin, Rurouni Kenshin Volume 14

"Sanosuke-san! Kenshin-san! Yahiko-kun, where are you?"

"Yahiko! Yahiko! Yahiko, where are you? Sanosuke? Kenshin!"

"Rooster Head! Sir Ken! Yahiko-kun!"

Anji, Megumi, and Kaoru proceeded through the streets, searching every alley for a sign of their friends. It was the morning after they had left, and none of them had returned. Kaoru was worried sick for Yahiko and Kenshin, and Megumi claimed she was ready to decapitate Sanosuke, because she was sure whatever happened was all his fault. Anji simply displayed concern for the entire trio.

"Where could they be!" Kaoru said, exasperated. "We've searched everywhere!"

Megumi paused, coming to Kaoru's side. "We've yet to look downtown."

"What!" Kaoru yelped. "It's got to be scary and dangerous there! What force on earth would cause Kenshin to go there?"

"Sanosuke," was Megumi's blunt reply.

Kaoru agreed. "Ah. Yes...then, let's go! Anji-san, come on!"

The giant followed the two young women as they dashed off down the streets in hopes of finding their friends.

-

Okay, Sagara, thought Sanosuke, gritting his teeth. You can do this. Toughen up. Just lift yer foot, an' give him a good kick...

Sanosuke's black shoe rose slightly from the ground, lifting menacingly into the air. I...I...I can't... Sano's foot slumped back to the floorboards, and he sighed in defeat. It was impossible. Inconceivable. Unthinkable.

Sano simply, positively could not squish that evil spider.

It was quite big, actually; its hairy black body was about the size of two of Sano's knuckles. The creature was quite fixed on trying to get near enough to Sanosuke, and Sano had this terrifying suspicion that it intended to bite him.

Sanosuke woke up from his faint to find himself trapped in a dark, musty room. His wrists were chained behind his back. Sano was mortified to find that they were actually handcuffs.

The last thing Sano remembered was...was...Oh yeah, thought Sano, as he lashed out at the demonic spider to back it off. There was me, Yahiko, and Kenshin...walking into that bar...and then the room started to spin...Yahiko passed out...Aoshi punched me...and then something about Megumi giving me a la--

Sanosuke flushed scarlet. No. Will. Not. Think. Naughty. Thoughts. he decided firmly, That had been a dream, I'm sure. He commanded himself to move on to his latest memory. Then that squinty-eyed bastard came in...and then...nothing.

Sano sighed, unconciously grinding his heel into the floorboards. Which happened to be the place where the spider had been perching, and so it was squished with a squeak of Sanosuke's shoe. Sano stiffened, looking at the dead creature with disgusted horror.

Suddenly, the door opened. Bright light shined into the room, causing Sanosuke to wince and squeeze his eyes shut with a soft groan. "Damn..."

Upon hearing a footstep, Sano looked up to find the wolfish man from the other day towering over him. He looked even more intimidating, his face enshadowed by darkness with light dancing behind him, lighting the pupils of his golden eyes.

"Oi..." Sanosuke stammered, scowling. "What th'Hell do you want?"

The man sneered. "Oh, I'm sorry. Were you busy?" Kneeling down besides Sanosuke, he wrenched Sano forwards and proceeded to unlock his restraint. Sano watched him out of the corner of his eye, wary of every move the stranger made.

As soon as the cuffs came undone, Sanosuke lunged into an attack. He figured that since this guy was nearing his fourties, he couldn't put up much of a fight compared to him, but Sano found himself proven immeasurably wrong.

Before Sanosuke's fist could collide with the golden-eyed male, the latter criss-crossed his wrists, seizing Sano's forearm. Without hesitation, the man flipped Sanosuke over his head and slammed him into the floor behind him.

Sanosuke groaned, pinching his eyes shut again as a ringing came to his ears.

"It's not wise to attack someone like that," Sanosuke's captor smirked. "It could get you killed."

I didn't even see him move! Sanosuke realized, gritting his teeth again as he dared to open his eyes.

"Get up," the man commanded.

Grudgingly, and not without a death glare, Sanosuke got to his feet. Staggering slightly, Sano fixed his glare on the stranger angrily. "Would ya mind telling me--"

The stranger walked past him, pausing to look over his shoulder at the fuming youth. His bangs swung like vines in the wind as he did so, sweeping over the yellowness of his eyes and making them appear like clouds passing the sun. "Follow me. Don't try to run, either..."

As the elder man stalked out of the room, the katana at his side clinked menacingly, as though saying, 'You heard the man. Move it.'

Curious, Sanosuke felt inclined to do so. He followed the wolfish, powerful man into a well-decorated hallway; and then it occured to Sano that his prison had actually been a storage room. The man had quick, serious steps; his legs moved so quickly that Sano was forced to pick up his pace as well.

And then, quite suddenly, a weakness overtook Sano's knees. He hesitated and stopped walking, causing the other man to pause and turn around. "What?"

Sanosuke smiled sheepishly, clenching his fists over his stomach.

"I have to go to the bathroom. Really, really bad."

-

Kenshin opened his blurry lavender eyes, to find that he was lying on a soft futon, covered in warm blankets. The air about him was mild and clean, unlike the smokey atmosphere Kenshin had remembered at the bar.

Suddenly, a gut-wrenching fit overtook Kenshin's stomach, and he slapped a hand over his mouth. Looking about furiously, Kenshin was more than relieved to see a wastebasket ready for him at his bedside. Lunging forwards, Kenshin hurled into the bucket, ridding his system of the upsetting presence of overpowering alcohol.

"Ugh..." Kenshin straightened his back, hardly feeling any better. It had been years since his last hangover, and now Kenshin remembered why. Because it feels so awful...

Wiping his mouth on his sleeve, Kenshin sighed. Turning his head to look about the room curiously, Kenshin found himself in a comfortable room. Carpet of a rather peach color cloaked the floor, and pasty walls boxed Kenshin in. The window near his bed filtered in fresh sunlight, and the chirping of birds accompanied the sparkling, peaceful light. Also, when Kenshin looked to his right, he found his cape and sword lying neatly on a stand.

Getting up, Kenshin reclaimed his items, and headed out the door.

Kenshin entered a room that was a kitchen and a living room. The latter half was tiled floor, and cutely decorated with oak cabnets and a wooden stove. A dining table was tucked neatly in the kitchen, complete with a set of situated chairs. The other half of the room was carpeted and completely eqipped with pastel furniture, curtains hanging elegantly over the large windows. Black wood bordered the ceiling corners, forming an elegant web of darkness and light on the walls.

Simply, Kenshin felt that he had stumbled into a nobleman's house.

"Heeey, Aoshi-sama! He's awake!"

Kenshin looked just in time to see a short, yet long-legged girl bounding towards him. She was more cute than pretty, with big sparkling blue-green eyes and a wide grin. A perfectly constructed ponytail bounced around like a tail when she moved, and the girl wore a very odd outfit, one that would look normal on a young man rather than a woman. Even stranger: she actually looked quite fitting in them.

"Oro?" Kenshin sputtered, unsure of what to make of this strange girl.

"Hi," she smiled sweetly. "I'm Makimachi Misao!" Looking about and listening for footsteps, Misao leaned towards Kenshin and whispered, "But behind Aoshi-sama's back, you can call me Shinomori Misao, because that's my future last name...I'm going to marry Aoshi-sama, one day--"

"Misao, don't bother Kenshin-san."

Misao and Kenshin both jumped when they suddenly noticed Aoshi the bartender sitting in a nearby chair. "A-Aoshi-sama!" Misao said, smiling as though nothing had happened unusually. "Sure...sorry, Mister Kenshin."

Kenshin nodded, turning to Aoshi. "Aoshi-san...what happened...?"

Aoshi was sipping what appeared to be green tea. After raising the cups to his lips (reminding Kenshin very much of Anji), Aoshi replied, "Your young friend...Yahiko-kun, went off earlier to find the rest of your companions. Last night, you passed out as a strange man abducted your third comrade. I was unable to persuade him otherwise."

"S-Sanosuke!" Kenshin stammered, looking appalled.

Aoshi nodded, taking another drink of his tea. "Yes. By a tall man with slick sable hair and bright yellow eyes...I've never seen him before, save for sometimes he hangs around outside the bar."

"Hai..." Kenshin muttered, and bowed to Aoshi and Misao. "Arigatou gozaimasu. Thank you for caring for Yahiko and I, I very much appreciate it."

"Anytime," Aoshi said vaguely.

Misao grinned. "Yeah. Besides, Aoshi-sama only takes in the drunks who deserve it...the rest of 'em wake up on the sidewalk. But you seemed to be polite enough, even when drunk, so...besides, Aoshi-sama's so strong he'd be able to beat anyone who tried to threaten us! At the age of fifteen, he beat the town swordfighting champion!"

Aoshi closed his eyes. "That was before Shishio took hold of the country eleven years ago, and banned the teaching of swords outside the castle."

Misao itched her cheek sheepishly. "Yeah...but Aoshi-sama's still the strongest there is! No one can beat him!" She went right back into her religiously infatuated status concerning Aoshi.

Aoshi sipped his tea once more. "I suppose you'll be off to look for Sanosuke-san, then?"

Nodding, Kenshin replied, "Yes...I can't imagine the effect of him being in danger would have on some of our friends..." The redhead was actually referring to Megumi; but with a pit off irritation squirming in his belly, he had to admit Kaoru, as well.

"Ah...would one of them happen to be dubbed a fox?"

Kenshin looked up in surprise. "That is Sanosuke's nickname for Miss Megumi, de gozaru yo! How did you know that, Aoshi-san?"

Smirking slightly, Aoshi replied, "Last night, he kept yammering about a fox or some such creature...I had though he was going mad before I realized it must be his girlfriend or something."

Misao had gone into la-la land, probably wondering what sort of nickname her Lord Aoshi would give her in affection. Kenshin couldn't help but smile at her pleasantly dazed features; but turned his attention back to Aoshi.

Kenshin was about to point out that Megumi was most definately not Sano's girl, but decided to cut the topic short by saying, "Hai...well, I best be going...thank you so very much for your hospitality, and if there's any way I could repay you..."

"I'll be coming with you."

Kenshin took on a surprised expression, but quickly erased it so not to be rude. "O-oh...well, I suppose I could use some help looking for Sanosuke...and the others, but..."

Aoshi stood, setting down his tea and slipping on a trenchcoat that Kenshin couldn't help but admire. The white leather of a dragon's belly, with gold scales lining the inside of the broad collar...

"It was a family heirloom," Aoshi explained. Obviously, he had noticed Kenshin observing his coat. "My house was of royalty until Shishio took over. My father protested against Shishio doing so, for he..." Aoshi smiled secretly. "Never mind. But anyhow, my father was killed in action, and I took Misao from her perishing mother and came here to live. I've raised her ever since she was five, as homage to her parents and to mine."

Misao looked undeniably pleased at the whole situation, but said nothing of the topic.

"And what about you, Kenshin-san?" Misao asked perkily. "Are you some kind of desperado? I mean, with your spooky black cape and weirdo sword, you can't be an average scar-faced reheaded Joe, ya know--"

"Misao," Aoshi said firmly, and Misao ceased her chatter. He then turned to Kenshin to speak. "Kenshin-san, permit me to accompany you?"

Kenshin smiled. "Yes," he said, and Aoshi walked to the door. They were about to leave, when Misao spoke up from behind.

"A-Aoshi-sama!" she cried. Kenshin turned to find her suddenly donned in what looked like a mix of streetfighting clothes and a ninjutsu outfit. The only disturbing thing about this was that her shorts came up past the middle of her thighs, and Kenshin had to look away before Aoshi knew he had looked.

How was I supposed to know she was going to be wearing her jammies, for God's sake! Kenshin thought, left brow twitching.

Aoshi looked at her, indifferent. "Misao, you'll stay. I don't want you to be endangered by anyone. Stay here."

Misao looked momentarily flabbergasted at Aoshi's voice of concern, but then fired back up with twice the gusto. "Aoshi-sama! For years, you and Uncle Hannya have trained me to be a first-class kunoichi! Why can't I go? Please!"

He gave her a look. "Because I know what is best." And, nudging Kenshin out the door and onto the street, Aoshi shut the door behind him.

The city looked as normal as ever; the sun was shining behind gray clouds, lighting the bright blue sky. The streets were alive with traffic, and when Kenshin looked among the crowds, he noticed quite a few government enforcers among them. Looking closer, his blood froze when he saw one of the TSC (Ten Swords Corps, if you have forgotten) from Megumi's village.

It was the man with many swords and tall, broom-like hair. He had a fairly innocent and casual expression on his face as he examined the crowds, as though he didn't expect anything unusual.

Aoshi noticed Kenshin's nervousness. "Kenshin-san? Are you all right?"

"That man..." Kenshin looked at Aoshi. "Aoshi-san, maybe it's best if I go alone. I don't want you to get into any sort of mess."

Aoshi examined Kenshin with his dark eyes. "You're in trouble with the government, aren't you?" Aoshi said at last.

"Ah..." Kenshin was never a good liar. He looked at Aoshi, and nodded stiffly. "I'm afraid so, Aoshi-san. I'll take my leave."

Before Kenshin could go, Aoshi gripped his shoulder. There was a sort of light dancing in his eyes. "What have you done, may I ask?"

Kenshin considered not answering, brushing Aoshi off, and walking away; but the reaction didn't seem to fit the situation. I owe him for last night...Kenshin thought, and replied softly, "I prevented the TSC from killing a lady doctor."

Aoshi grinned slightly. "So you're the Battousai."

"B-Battousai?" Kenshin stammered, confused. "What's that?"

Aoshi led Kenshin off the steps of his porch, and led him through the town. They were careful to keep clear of government dogs and keep an eye out for Sanosuke or Yahiko. Eventually, Aoshi found a wanted sign tacked up against a light pole.

It read, "Battousai the Manslayer--red hair, x-shaped scar, purple eyes. Real name unknown. Convicted of disobedience of the government's rule, the protection of an illegal surgeon, and the assault of TSC members. Please contact officials if you have any information about this man." Below the text and rough sketch of Kenshin, it read: "5000.00"

"Five thousand," Aoshi murmured. "Seems they're suspicious of you for more than saving a rogue damsel in distress, Kenshin-san...Manslayer? Did you kill anyone important?"

Kenshin shook his head, dumfounded. "No...no, I didn't..."

"Perhaps it's because of your sword?" Aoshi guessed. "The government also might have named you that, so that no one would help you escape."

The shorter man looked up at Aoshi nervously. "Are you...?"

"No, I won't tell," Aoshi said, grimacing slightly. "It'd take more than you to pursuade me to help out the government. To help...Shishio." His eyes darkened.

Kenshin sighed in relief. "Thank you. So very much..."

Aoshi studied him for a minute, before remarking, "You sure don't act like a swordsman, Kenshin-san. And you'd best put that hood up, before anyone recognizes you. It's better to look suspicious than to be caught."

Taking this as wise advice, Kenshin tugged the midnight hood over his fiery hair. Only his lavender eyes shone out from the shadow it cast.

"Wonderful. No one will suspect you," remarked Aoshi, with slight sarcasm. "Now, we'd best get searching for that friend of yours...he could be in danger."

Kenshin was about to sigh in defeat, when another wanted poster caught his attention. "S-Sanosuke!" he yelped, bounding over to inspect the paper intensely. Aoshi joined him.

"Sagara Sanosuke--brown hair, red bandanna, brown eyes. Convicted of disobedience of government's rule, and keeping illegal persons in residence. Please contact officials if you have any information about this man." Above the caption showed a drawing of a grinning, spiky-haired young man. At the bottom of the page, it read: "3500.00"

"Oh, no..." Kenshin gasped. "Sano..."

-

"What are you doing in there?" Saitou growled, leaning against the wall next to the bathroom door. The boy had been inside for over five minutes.

"What people normally do inside a bathroom," came the snotty reply.

Saitou hissed back, "For five damn minutes?" When another arrogant remark greeted him from the other side of the door, Saitou began to lose patience with the boy. "If you don't get out here, I'll bust down the door, slice out your liver and kidneys with the sharpest object nearby, while taking out a few broken rib fragments while I'm at it. If you want, you're brain can be replaced with toilet paper...not that it'd make much difference."

The young man snorted mockingly. "Like Hell, your gonna bust down the door."

Saitou replied with a menacing blow to the bathroom entrance, and he heard a surprised yelp from inside. "W-What th'Hell are you doin'!" the captive yelled. "You weren't serious about--"

Saitou kicked the door again. "Do I seem like the type to fool around?" he sneered, pulling out a cigarette. So far, he wasn't intending on breaking the door--he was simply trying to intimidate the youth into doing what Saitou wanted. But if things got too irritating...

"STOP THAT!" yelled the boy, when Saitou banged on the door again.

"Come out and make me," replied Saitou, taking a long draft of his cigarette.

There was a pause before the reply came. He sounded slightly nervous. "Hey...is that smoke I smell?"

"Yes," Saitou replied, smirking. "I've set fire to the bathroom door. Burning it down and barbecuing the annoying idiot inside sounds much more fun than simply kicking it down. Can't wait until you start screaming."

"YOU CRAZY BASTARD!" yelled the young man, bursting out of the bathroom and leaping into the hall in a leap-and-roll drill, only to find that there was, of course, no fire.

Saitou smirked once more, puffing on his cigarette as he watched a prominent vein appear on the boy's forehead. "Hey...you lied...there's no fire...!" the kid realized.

"Oh my goodness," Saitou said with a sneer, peering down sarcastically where the fire had supposedly been. "I'm so pleased that you've told me--I would have never noticed! I'm utterly flabbergasted at your intelligence...and look, you've even constructed a rope of towels to escape from the window in the bathroom. You sure fooled me."

Indeed, inside the bathroom, a makeshift rope was lying, pooled on the floor where it had been dropped. The young man looked sheepish, before asking curiously, "What's 'flabbergasted' mean?"

Saitou sighed, flicking his cigarette at the boy's shoe. He moved it out of the way just in time, kindly stomping it out right after. "You weirdo!" yelled the kid. "You coulda really set the place on fire! Didn't ya know, smoking's bad for you?"

"Hmph. While you're at it, go save the whales and begin a campaign to encourage recycling." Turning on his heel and signaling the youth to follow, Saitou led the loudmouthed young man down the hall again. Saitou expertly ignored his questions, obnoxious remarks, and annoyed glares issuing from the rooster-headed boy.

"What's your name, anyways?" the youth asked, daring to jab the older man in the shoulder. "Hey, I'm talkin' to you!"

"Hey, I'm ignoring you," replied Saitou in the same, mocking tone.

Steam spewed from the boy's ears as he yelled, "You could at least tell me yer damn name, already!"

"Saitou, Hajime Saitou."

"Never heard o'you," the kid said proudly. "But I'm Sagara Sanosuke!"

"Never heard of you," Saitou returned Sanosuke's comment, smirking when he heard him sigh in exasperation. Sagara Sanosuke... Saitou's brow furrowed for a moment. I'm sure, though, that I actually have heard that name before...damn, I must be getting old. I can't remember.

After a moment, Sanosuke said, "You know what, Saitou? I really don't like you."

"You know what, Sanosuke? I really don't like you," Saitou parroted, without even looking at him.

Sanosuke fumed, angry at being mocked like so. He was silent for a bit, without speaking at all. Sanosuke simply glared menacingly at the back of the wolfish man's head, wondering if he could burn two perfect holes in that slick hair of his by simply glowering at him.

Just to see Saitou's reaction, Sanosuke hooked his forefingers around his lips and pulled a face, sticking his tongue out impishly.

Saitou twitched, and said firmly, "You look like a deformed rooster hybrid that has been crossed with some sort of brainless monkey--oh, I apologize. That's your normal face."

Sanosuke quit his grimace, outraged. "Cricket-eyed old man..." Sanosuke mumbled crossly, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Evil geezer..."

Saitou didn't even bother to reply to the insult, as Megumi would have done. Instead, he awarded Sano with another of his evil smirks. "You wait to see how evil I am before doing injustice to the remark. I still need to question you."

"What?" Sanosuke stammered, astonished. "Why? Is it a crime to go to the bar, or what? Did I take your special stool and upset you because I wrinkled the groove in it from your pervy ol' ass?"

Saitou really wished that he could simply kill off the kid and be done with it. He was getting too full of himself, despite Saitou's hammering on Sano's self-image. "No. I need some information on one of your companions," Saitou answered, sliding open a door and shoving Sanosuke inside, ignoring the indignant remarks.

The room was darker than the hall, lit by a dimming gas lamp. Two chairs, facing one another, were present in the middle of the room. Weapons and such decorated the walls--already, Sano had picked out a massive axe, plotting to cleave Saitou's head.

Unfortunately, Sanosuke didn't get the chance. He was roughly shoved into the chair furthest from the door, and his wrists cuffed to the arms. "Hey--!" Sanosuke stammered, but Saitou ignored him.

"Be silent." Saitou sat down in the opposite chair, studying the fuming Rooster-Head glowering at him. "Do you have a friend by the name of Kamiya Kaoru?"

"Nope," lied Sanosuke.

Saitou narrowed his eyes evilly, and Sano quickly changed his mind when Saitou began to finger the hilt of his katana, while studying a particuarly sharp knife on the wall. "Well, I mean I--I have a friend named...erm, Kaori, but...no K-Kaoru. Sorry. Nope. Got the wrong guy. Sorry. Heh."

"Convincing." Saitou sneered. "Where can I find her?"

Sano looked up at the ceiling, pretending to not have heard Saitou. Deciding to cut the persuasion short, Saitou stood. Whipping out his sword so quickly that Sanosuke barely saw Saitou budge, the tip of Saitou's katana came flying towards Sano's face.

Uttering yelp, Sanosuke's eyes turned to swirls when the very tip of one of his unruly bangs was severed. In the same motion, Saitou returned his sword.

"Heh..." Sanosuke muttered, grinning in attempt to hide his fright. "Um...I th-think Kaoru--I-I mean, Kaori--is stayin' with K-Kenshin..."

"Kenshin?"

"Yeah," Sano muttered. "Her, um, brother. Yeah. K-Kenshin's this big, huge guy...a real muscle-head, y'know? Uses a big ol' zanbatou with an edge, and chews tobacco...spits like a camel, too...don't wanna get too close...and he's got these little yellow eyes peekin' out beneath his metal headband, a freaky spray-painted mohawk...and a big ol' bronze knuckles... heh, uh...he's, um...pretty intimidating."

Saitou glared at Sanosuke as though he wished to kill him. Which, he most likely did. "You..." Saitou said, pulling out another cigarette as he sat down, "...are the dumbest, saddest idiot to ever pollute the earth."

"I'M SERIOUS!" Sanosuke shouted, wriggling in his restraint. "You ever see a single guy schiscabob a flipping manta ray and fry it over a campfire, and EAT it? You ever see a single guy rope a couple o'sea turtles by using the freakin' hair on his back for rope? YOU EVER SEE A GUY WHO TOOK A CHOMP OUTTA HIS OWN SHOE AND KNOCK AN OFFICER OUT WITH IT BY SPITTIN' IT AT HIM?"

Saitou sighed, rubbing his temple. "This is going to be...complicated, isn't it?"

"Damn straight, it is!" Sanosuke answered proudly.

End of Chapter Ten

MadiSano: No personal comments here, except that...I DON'T OWN RUROUNI KENSHIN! Hahaha... yet.

PSQUARE: Actually, I think you may have overlooked Megumi and Sanosuke's introduction to one another. Here it is: "And to think you actually cared what those thugs thought," the fighter growled sneeringly, "Miss…uh…"

"Megumi," she replied. "And for your information, Roofie, I don't appreciate anyone saying or thinking those sort of things about me!"

The boy sneered. "My name's Sanosuke, and I swear if you call me 'Roofie' one more time, I'm goin' to--to…" he drifted off, unsure of what to say next. He wanted to say 'throttle you', but he barely knew Megumi enough to threaten her like that without the confidence she knew he wouldn't.

So you see, they do tell one another their names. But thanks SO MUCH for making the comment... It made me think a bit more carefully. And also, I apologize for beginning SanoMeg so swiftly, and developing it so quickly. I realize now that Sano is going a little too fast to be realistic...man! (hits self over the head) Rats. I'm sorry... But your praise to me is so heartwarming! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You're a very inspiring reviewer, and I have come to respect you deeply already for your wise comments and such close observations. It's good to know I have someone who'll tell me if I've screwed up, but at the same time point out the good as well in an even balance! And as to Kaoru... I agree. Kaoru is a little OOC. And it saddens me to know that it's my fault! Waah! But I have such a hard time writing Kaoru... it's pretty much my first time writing her seriously, so I'll have to get a bit deeper into the fic until I get used to her character, I suppose! And Anji should be stricter with his pupil. Now that I think of that, I suppose Anji was relying on Sanosuke's determination and angry spirit to lead him to the secret of the Two Layers...but even he didn't expect Megumi to come along! Heh.As for Sanosuke's perversity...okay, so I was having fun. I freely admit it. I brought out the little womanizer inside Sanosuke, that he only allows to show maybe twice every five books in the anime, or once every six anime episodes. But Sano does talk a bit aboutbrothels and things in the manga in the later books, freely and without shame.Of course, Kenshin's face is been red and and he's hissing at Sano to mind his manners. "Don't make me look like the only badboy, Kenshin!" is Sano's reply to that, but... y'know.I suppose I DID intensify Sano'sattitude in that area a little too much... oh well. But this may surprise you--althogh Sano may seem a bit pervy here, he's actually quite innocent when it comes to actual sex. Kind of like a middle school boy, who jabbers on and on about mature things, but when he gets down to it, he's as shy as anything. Have you ever seen/read Naruto?The main character, Naruto, is immature and perverse in the beginning due to severe trauma, and as the story grows on and his leadership and determination is demanded, Naruto must mature beyond that in order to survive. That's whatI plan for Sanosuke, as well--using Naruto's maturing as a model. Not copying, or anything, but just as a basic idea. Heh. Thanks also for the compliments on my spelling/grammer. MyMicrosoft Word program is down, so I have to use Wordpad. IT HAS NO SPELL CHECK AT ALL! So if you see a spellingerror, it's because I'm typing too fast, and my fingers stumbled. Also,when I save documents on fanfiction. net, it tends to make mistakes by joining mywords together.Lol. And oh my goodness, you caught Kikyo! No,don't worry...it's no crossover! Lol!No one else caught that--good job!Hahaha! I'm really impressed with you! I just liked the name Kikyo...no Inuyashas will be prowling about. No Shippo, no Miroku, or Shessomaru... lol. No worries. I hope I don't dissappoint you in my furtherupdates...thanks so much, andI hope to hear from you soon!

ANONYMOUS-CHAN: Ohhhh, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I was hoping Aoshi and Misao wouldn't be too much in demand, because I'd have such a time trying tokeep them all evenly into the story. I think we'll leave them behind (perhaps set them off on a journey of their own?), and maybe meet up with them again later! Umm...as forTomoe... I hope I don'tspoil anything for you by telling you this, but I'll tell you since you asked.BEWARE! SPOILERS AREPRESENT! Kenshin kills Tomoe on accident while trying to save her from evil government people while he's still Battousai. Before that, Kenshin always killed without real reasonunder the revolutionist's orders.His excuse was, "I am an assassin. Do not ask me why I kill you."But when he killed Tomoe, Kenshin understood the precious value of life, so he became an independant swordsman. He fought against the government still, but he was now only a warrior, and not an assassin. Thus, he became the Hitokiri Battousai of legend, because he finally came out into the open. Fouryears after Tomoe died, Kenshin left the sword and became Himura Kenshin, the wanderer. That's when he recieved the reversed-blade sword, from a friend.(Spoilers Ended.) Phew... if you didn't skip that, which I doubt you did (I'm trying to be courteous.), and didn't understand something, make sure to ask me about it. As for Yahiko, I think he's the perfect example of a Meiji swordsman. Young, hard-working, both a teacher and a student, eager to prove himself, with a strong sense of justice, a huge amount of determination, and the deep urge to protect the weak with his sword and spirit. Also, I do not think he was much like Kenshin when he was his age. At Kenshin's age or around that time, Kenshin was beaten, scrawny, and traumatized by death and disease. Sort of like in R&R, and then Kenshin was picked up by Hiko, as well just like in R&R. Kenshin was toughened and steeled by the training of Mitsurugi, trained to kill. Yahiko was trained to protect; two very different things. GREAT QUESTION! It made me think. Well, I hope to hear from you soon! Thanks a lot!

STARSHIPDELTA: Oh, I'm so glad you approve of Aoshi. I'll take your advice, and from this point on, try thinking a little more narrow-minded and a little dark when doing Aoshi, but then throw in some somber affection when he's dealing with Misao. Does that sound about right? I hope so. Tell me, please! And... how well is your approval of Saitou? Any suggestions on how I could do him a bit better? Thanks so, so much! Seeya!

ENCHANTEDSLEEPER: You made me laugh! Haha! You seem quite full of energy, that excites me. Okay, but if I take over OnePiece, and you RuroKen, you have to let me borrow Sano every weekend. Haha! Joking,joking... lol... thanks for the review!Bye!

Well, that's it, folks.But before you go, I have one... teensy...WARNING!Strange humor is present in the next chapter,I warn thee!This includes mischevious geisha, Saitou losing his temper,the revelation of a very personal secret of Sano's, and Aoshi and Kenshin being trapped in a geisha house! Not to mention... well, I won't tell you anymore... it'll ruin parts, y'know? Well, I'll see ya soon, and PLEASE review! Love you!

-Buy your Hitokiri Battousai plush doll at amazon .com for $6.50, complete with katana and miniature Rurouni Kenshin tag! Squeeze it, and it'll slice out your jugular! Producers will not be responsible for any critical and/or (usually) fatal injury to the buyer.-

Joking again... Ja ne!