I got new reviews. Msulle-chan your reviews leaves me so happy and motivated! I am so happy you picked up Cowboi Bebop! And because of this lil' ol' baby? I assure you that it's going to be quite an experience. Here's to no regrets!

That paperback is really drawing curiosity? I see... (cues giggles)

I'm happy you find the story so much fun, it is my intention that you feel like you're in for an adventure with every chapter of every main arc and a slice of life for every filler. I hope you do not fail you, all of you, really.

Did you know Yahiko was originally going to play a big part in Kaoru's rescue two chapters ago? I wonder how that would've panned out...

Anyways, I wish you all good fortune and as always, happy reading! UwU

He hadn't been in this side of Tokyo in weeks.

Tokyo had always been a place to take a minute to relax from the bustle of bounty hunting. His partner was drawn to other parts of their end of the galaxy, but he preferred the mostly crime-free Tokyo, amongst a few other places of interest.

That there was a vixen in these parts that caught his fancy was just a happy coincidence that happened to string along on his fortune.

Sanosuke whistled gaily as he made his way through the streets of a black market district, where rarities and valuables were sold at exorbitant rates and secrets could be exchanged over drinks. He frequented such parts of the locale to keep to tabs on a string of information, which usually served to favour investigations with Kenshin during one hunting mission or the other. He waved and joked to those who knew his face, while less the friendly and the wary steered clear of his path, sneering from the shadows or watching with a mix of suspicion and apprehension. Sanosuke did not bother with them, being off duty anyways.

He smiled at a fruit merchant as he picked up an apple and bit into it. He wasn't allowed to walk away though, as the ends of his jacket were tugged on by the apprentice minding the front stalls. The lanky child glared up at him, though the expression had no place on her messy orange her and her pronounced and seemingly permanent blush against her tan skin. Sanosuke grinned at the child and yanked at the goggles on her forehead. The child protested, holding out her hand in demand for the apple to be paid back, but Sanosuke only let the girl's goggles snap back against her forehead. She reeled back with a wince and stomped on his foot.

'Eddie's gonna have your hide and then you'll be sorry!' She declared angrily and stormed off to meet her boss. Familiarity was on the older, balding man's face, but it was marred by a frown.

'Zanza-san please don't give my girl grief. Just pay for the damn apple and call it a day, will ya?'

'Yeah yeah,' Sanosuke snorted, but it was a good-natured snort. 'Call back the debt you owe me for helping you with the market thugs, Blac-san.'

'You already called in all the favours I owe you.' Blac, the merchant, was unimpressed. The willowy hunter groaned and conceded, fishing out a handful of coins and dumping it in the merchant's hand. At the older man's surprise of being overpaid, Sanosuke went further to explain herself. 'Frowns don't suit Eddie-chan. She can have the change to buy new tech gear as my apology.'

Said Eddie brightened up at what she overheard and flashed her former enemy an approving grin. Sanosuke only laughed and bade goodbye, chomping away at the apple he ended up overpaying for. The bounty hunter sighed wistfully, his voice carrying half-hearted regret.

'Philanthropy's gonna kill me.'

He sighed, staring at the apple that was nearly finished, when suddenly - out of nowhere - he was robbed of his treat.

He didn't bother chasing after the culprit, as he quickly realised from its blur that the thief was not, in fact, a person, but an animal. Sanosuke did let out another forlorn sigh though, cursing karma for giving ill luck so soon after his unusual generosity. He threw his arms up and then had them crossed to rest hand behind his head after a glance at his wristwatch. Kenshin would take all the time in the world before having a reason to not return to Tokyo. And seeing him bored and idle, he laid down his options before him.

He could seek out a Kitsune, but the problem was that if she didn't want to be found, she would remain invisible to him. The vixen did not appreciate impromptu visits, the elusive and methodological being that she was. Sanosuke bit the inside of his cheeks as he felt his insides stir, despite already seeing her days prior, he was half tempted to damn protocol and try his luck for more time with her. The few times he sought her out regardless, she seemed to know that she was being sought out. She would message him soon after, either asking him to desist or telling him where she could be found.

Despite the desire that slowly budded in him, he dismissed the idea, not wanting to risk being blown off and entering the bad mood that came with rejection.

Then he thought of a friendly Tanuki, with a nice spacious den and a pantry of free food. She was familiar and homely and incredibly fierce, but he could live with the aggression that came with antagonizing her. The racoon dog was likely to be abrasive and defensive though, with a big chance of her being very cold with him altogether. With a wince, he remembered his partner and wondered if she would be angry at him too, and mark him guilty by association.

He ultimately decided to visit her regardless. He missed Kaoru and if she didn't exactly feel the same, well he couldn't blame her.

Sanosuke plucked a cheesy corn dog from the mobile stand of a street barbeque, earning ire of the owner. The man waved his fists and called out curses, but this was someone whom Sanosuke was fairly sure was still indebted to him so the bounty hunter only waved him off.

His little thief swooped by again, but this time the hunter was ready for it. He caught the critter by the tail and yanked it back, then found himself staring into the bead eyes of a street fox. A Belyayev, if his memory from forgotten days of his elementary school served him right. The silver fox seemed to be sneering at him as it nibbled away at his food unapologetically. Sanosuke laughed - the little thing reminded him of an equally pretty vixen with a penchant for casual cruelty. He asked around about the status of the animal, and once it was confirmed to be little more than an elusive robber and a masterless fiend, Sanosuke pocketed it in his tied up jacket, leaving it head and front limbs free and peaking out.

'Well hello there Kitsune-chan.'

...

Kaoru wiped the sweat off her brow before glaring at the sun through the domed sky. On days like this, she sometimes felt like the wether regulator of the sector was broken, and the dome was nothing bot organic perforated glass that amplified and concentrated the heat of the sun. That day was one of such days and that it was laundry day did not help matters in the least.

'Heaven help us all,' she murmured to herself, hanging out the last of her curtains to dry. She stretched from side to side, already feeling exhausted despite the day just peeking into noon. With a yawn, she hoisted the empty laundry baskets under her arm and made her way back into the house. She thought of ordering in something exotic, but then she perished the thought, reminding herself that she had to be cautious of where she ate and how she spent money. She made her way to the pantry and helped herself to a bag of edamame from the shelf and a small tub of Greek yoghurt from the fridge. Hopefully, she had enough time for a convenient brunch before -

'Get out here you hag! You owe me a freaking rematch!'

-well then. Kaoru visibly slouched with dejection at the shrill challenge her newest student had yelled out to her.

Yahiko's voice was from the compound and by the dojo, but the pantry was closer to the kitchen, which's door was wide open to the front of the said dojo - courtesy of Kaoru who didn't bother with the slider door when she returned from her laundry duties in the yard. This more than let Yahiko be heard as he screeched his challenges and insults.

'You can't get the drop on me this time, you fat Tanuki!' He roared with determination, and Kaoru's mouth quirked as she imagined him waving his shinai about imperiously. She inhaled deeply, contemplating between humouring the boy who often intercepted her meals for fruitless rematches, or actually helping herself to her meal after a morning of hard work. She made her choice fairly quickly.

Twenty minutes later Kaoru was helping herself to her bowl-sized serving of edamame parfait topped with almonds. She sat on the stairs of the dojo porch, watching as Yahiko fumed and glowered and huffed and puffed. Kaoru had promptly thrashed him with her tongue, chewing him out and spitting him out like yesterday's tofu. The boy had not in any way taken liking to this, but when he charged, Kaoru had landed him on his back with a dodge and a kick.

'Pipe down you feral brat. I'll get back to you after eating. I just finished my chores for the day!'

He had run at her again, but with her parfait in her other hand, she had the side of her palm strike his wrist and make him loosen his grip on his shinai. She had flicked her wrist at that moment and propelled the wooden sword out of his grip from the flat base of the hilt. She had given him a pointed look after she disarmed him, before going to eat her brunch.

'You suck.'

'I'll get you for that after I'm done eating,' the sensei growled in between mouthfuls. Hunger was the only thing that kept her from giving him a proper thrashing with her sword, hands and mouth, and Yahiko was going to milk out the opportunity to do as much verbal damage as he could before he was paid back in more than kind.

It was to this sight Sanosuke was greeted as he walked into the Kamiya compound. Yahiko as backing him, but Kaoru caught sight of the bounty hunter and her back stiffened into a rigid, upright posture immediately. She slowly ate her food, her eyes a guarded gaze as she followed his approaching moment. She felr=t no small satisfaction at seeing him fidget under her stare, and when Yahiko noticed he no longer had her attention, he turned to see what or who had taken it from him.

'Hey! Its the thug!' Yahiko grinned cheekily, throwing his hands up in excitement, 'you're just in time too. I was just about to whip the old hag into the next sector!'

'I'm twenty-one, short stack.'

'Say that to my face, you foul wench!' Yahiko indignantly dared, his voice raised theatrically as he stormed towards her. Kaoru helped herself to another spoon of her parfait, the other hand holding Yahiko's forehead to keep him from any closer. She made a great show of swallowing her food before repeating herself.

'Short stack.'

Before Yahiko could throw a punch to follow his indignant yell, Sanosuke latched onto his hair and tossed him aside.

'Geez for a student you sure are rude, you brat.' He threw the remark over his shoulder at the dejected child, before turning to Kaoru, who was watching him guardedly as she helped herself to more of her brunch. 'And for a sensei, you seem to indulge him.' He muttered to himself. If Kaoru heard him, she didn't show it, so he cleared his throat and smiled at her, feeling a bit uneasy at the lack of her usual warmth and friendliness. Kaoru's eyes darted to the entrance from which Sanosuke had appeared, almost expecting to see red and magenta, but there was no such thing. She let her eyes fall to her plate, the only sign of her dejection. The expression wasn't missed by the bounty hunter, and he sighed, before taking a seat beside her.

'Hey Jou-chan,' he said easily enough, his smile relaxing a bit when she saw that she had relaxed at the greeting. He was pleasantly surprised to see she took to the title well enough. He had started to see her as such in the past weeks.

'Hey Sanosuke. I wasn't expecting you to be in town this soon.' She said truthfully, her voice wistful. She tilted her head and offered him her bowl. 'Edamame parfait?'

'Please.'

Kaoru let out a slight snort at how greedy he sounded, wordlessly handing him the leftovers of her brunch.

'Does that mean you're ready to face defeat, you Tanuki?'

Kaoru sighed listlessly and stood to her feet. She gave Sanosuke an apologetic look and then went into the dojo for her bokken.

Thirty minutes and a Yahiko-whooping later, the three were in easy conversation, with Sanosuke animatedly telling stories of the solo hunts he had taken since they last saw. He wisely left out the ones that involved his partner in any way, but while Yahiko understood his reasoning and deep down even sympathised, his curiosity about his role model was hungry to know about his escapades.

'What about...' Yahiko trailed off, not quite bold enough to finish his question under Kaoru's unreadable stare. Sanosuke glanced between student and sensei nervously, before clearing his throat. Kaoru seemed to catch herself, and her eyes softened when she realised Yahiko's motivations was nothing but admiring curiosity. She sighed and turned to the bounty hunter.

'Well then, what about him?'

Sanosuke blinked, taken aback.

'Him? You mean-'

'Kenshin, yes.' Kaoru nodded, hoping that she only sounded casual and indifferent. Sanosuke thought he saw a bit of curiosity, but he couldn't say for sure. She had an excellent poker face. 'I'll bet you and he had tons of wild missions since we all last saw.'

Sanosuke took the hint and nodded.

'Oh totally, we definitely got into a hella trouble, you have no idea.' And the younger bounty hunter launched into detail. It was all very fascinating, and even Kaoru didn't bother to feign indifference, genuinely enthralled by all the shenanigans they had gotten into. They were still talking when a critter dashed into the compound and bounded straight for Sanosuke. Kaoru let out a squeal of surprised and flinched away. Yahiko flinched as well, but he quickly recovered, and when he saw what startled his sensei into an uncharacteristic girly reaction, he and Sanosuke laughed.

'Geez, you big baby!' The boy teased holding onto his sides as he laughed. 'It's just a fox! I didn't know you were a scared-cat!'

Kaoru sniffled from her spot on the edged of the porch and then sniffed, turning her head away.

'I am not.' She declared, with a heavy emphasis on "not". 'I was simply startled, taken by surprise.'

'Uh-huh...' the bounty hunter was not convinced.

'You were totally scared.' Yahiko insisted triumphantly and then made a smoochy face at his sensei. 'I bet you wanted some shiny knight to come and save you!' He teased.

'I have HAD it, Myojin!' She lurched at him, but he ducked out of her way and behind Sanosuke, sticking his tongue at her. She was just about ready to leap again and wring his neck till the boy went limp, but then she caught sight of the animal and turned doe-eyed immediately. 'Oh my gosh it's so adorable is that a Belyayev fox oh it's so cute it must have been the runt of a litter and become a stray oh my gosh!' And she squealed again, but this time in delight. The males winced at the pitch of both squeal and her breathless rant.

'Geez, Jou-chan. Pipe down a bit, yeah?'

'Yeah, what Sano said ya hag!'

Kaoru ignored them in favour of the fox that was curiously sniffing at her fingers. It nibbled at them, causing her to flinch, but its snout sought her touch, and it started to lick her skin. Kaoru could have melted into a puddle of goo right there and she cooed at the animal in delight.

'Isn't he the sweetest-'

'It's a she-'

'-isn't she the sweetest thing I've ever seen? Yes she is, yes she is!' She looked up at Sanosuke with wide eyes, and Sanosuke couldn't help but fins himself smile along with her. He decided then and there that bad moods and solemn dispositions did not suit the young sensei at all. She smiled genuinely as she asked for the fox's name.

'Belyayev, I imagine,' he said, but when he noticed her dead-pan expression, he shook his head, realizing that he misunderstood her question. 'Oh damn, I meant Kitsune -chan!'

'That's so lame!' Yahiko drawled out, bored of watching the feisty and slightly terrifying sensei he knew be reduced into girl mush at the sight of a small animal. Kaoru found that she had to agree and she gave him a dry expression.

'Really? Kitsune? You couldn't have tried harder?'

'I think its cute,' Sanosuke stubbornly insisted, his hand scratching behind the fox's ears. Kitsune-chan quietly yapped away in delight. 'It suits her.'

'Uh-huh,' she drawled flatly. She turned to her student. 'It's a weekend, and honestly, you may as well be the devil himself-'

'Yeah right, you banshee-'

'-you have,' she glared at him pointedly but let the jab slide, 'impressed me coming all the way here to insist on a spar. Practice the kata I taught you in the dojo, and give me fifty rep of ten sets each. I'll call you when Sanosuke's about to leave.'

Yahiko stuck his tongue out at her, but he picked up his shinai and marched into the dojo. He slid the door shut, and soon the sound of yells, grunts and wood swiping wing flowed freely in the background.

Kaoru gave Sanosuke a mischievous grin.

'Now I know Kenshin was the only one who went on self-imposed exile, but you don't love me that much Sanosuke,' she leaned forward towards him conspiratorially, grinning from ear to ear. 'Who's the missus?'

Sanosuke laughed, not surprised he picked up on his true intentions for being present in the Tokyo sector.

'Doesn't matter Jou-chan, it's nothing serious.' He grinned at her, 'and didn't this kind of thing rather too scandalous for you?'

Her face turned a bright red, but she huffed and crossed her arms.

'I'm not a prude,' she muttered finally, pouting at his teasing expression. Sanosuke chuckled and bumped shoulders with her.

'Well I'll take you out for drinks sometime before I leave and we can talk all about it, Miss I'm-grown-up-enough-for-grown-up-things.'

'I am!' she insisted indignantly, still pouting. Sanosuke laughed again, and the fox yapped along happily. Kaoru gave the animal her most betrayed expression and covered her face. 'Kitsune-chan? Even you?'

The vixen lapped at her chin in apology and nozzled its snout passed her hands to lick her nose. Kaoru giggled and scratched at its chin.

'I'll hold you to that promise for drinks Sano.' she said with a smile.

'Of course, I don't wanna be a stranger.' He tapped at her nose and then at his before settling the animal that had been stretching for Kaoru into her lap. She happily accepted the fox, a small and rueful smile on her face.

'I'm glad,' she said finally and looked up at him. Sanosuke thought she might be tearing up with how glassy her eyes looked but he blinked, and he saw that he could've been mistaken. Nevertheless, he smiled back, figuring she was wishing his partner hadn't been so adamant on becoming precisely a stranger.

'He'll come around, Jou-chan.' he said finally, ruffling her hair and earning her glare. She swatted his hands away before returning to pet the fox in her lap.

'It doesn't matter Sanosuke, don't worry too much,' she said, tilting her head up to look at the sun that wasn't burning with so much ferocity any more. 'Its fine either ways. He can do what he wants.'

Sanosuke didn't believe the aura she was projecting concerning the matter, but he decided it wasn't important. She'd be fine, he was certain of it.

His phone rang, interrupting the tranquil that had settled upon them and he quickly apologized before walking away to take the call. Kaoru idly watched him, comparing his gait and mannerisms to his partner as she absently stroked at the fur of Kitsune-chan. He was relaxed and easy-going, whereas Kenshin was deliberate but polite. Sanosuke didn't keep his distance, but Kenshin only got close with an air of purpose. Once he was done, he would withdraw at arm's length and polite. Sanosuke was casual but Kenshin was formal and traditional. They both moved like fighters, but one carried himself as a man of strength and fists, the other with the precision of a swordsman.

A killer.

She shook her head. Kenshin wasn't a killer. He was just an idiot.

If Kaoru were to describe the two in one word, Sanosuke would be a voyager and Kenshin would be a pilgrim. One sought thrill, the other sought salvation.

She shook these thoughts from her mind when she saw that Sanosuke was coming back. From the expression on his face, she guessed it was time for him to go.

'Kenshin just picked up a new trail for a hunt, might be a big one.' He looked a mix of excited and reluctant. 'Guess I gotta hold of the drinks till another time. Wait for me?'

'Oh but what else can this young, naive maiden do but wait, Sagara-san?' she declared dramatically, holding the back of her hand to her forehead. She stayed still like that for a few more seconds. but then Kitsune-shan started licking at her chin and then the two of them snickered. She turned her head towards the dojo. 'Yahiko! Sanos's leaving!' There was no answer, but more sound of training, so she tried again. 'Yahiko!'

'I'm coming!'

The sounds stopped and Yahiko showed by the door, breathless and sweaty. He gave Sanosuke a nod.

'You're leaving already?'

'Yep.' Sanosuke nodded sagely, picking up the fox and placing it on his head. 'We've got a bounty. Robber, a few kills under his belt. Nothing sick or anything just a desperate guy whose gone too far. Duty calls, young chap.'

'Your head's a chap.'

You're an idiot,' Sanosuke decided with a snort. Kaoru snickered again as well.

'Whatever. Anyways I'll go pack my things. Where do we meet up?'

Sanosuke and Kaoru exchanged looks and the fox, sensing the undue tension, leapt off his head and sauntered off. The bounty hunter was only absently aware of this and he glanced away first, the sensei's pointed glare telling him that she was not going to take his side on this. He was on his own.

'Sorry brat licensed hunters only.'

'I know a guy, shouldn't take too long,' the boy shrugged, hoisting his shinai on his shoulder. Kaoru sighed and Sanosuke palmed his face.

'Kid we can't take you along. Jou-chan here got really hurt last time and she's a helluva swordswoman. You're slick, I'll give you that, but you're still a punk-ass kid and all you'll end up doing is getting your punk ass hurt.' He suddenly seemed severe and more responsible and Yahiko sobered up quickly. 'Stay and learn to be a better fighter. You'll get your time to put it to use. But not on my mission.'

'You sound like him,' Kaoru muttered sourly. He gave her an exasperated look but she only rolled her eyes and stood up, putting her hands on her hips. 'I understand that you're following directives. I know who wears the pants of the relationship between you two and I get it.' His exasperation turned to indignant horror, but she patted his shoulder sympathetically and then chuckled. 'No but I really understand the sentiment, I appreciate it.' He seemed to relax and then gave her a gratefully apologetic look.

'Let's talk about it? After I get back?' He said patronisingly. 'And after we'll take it to the dumbass?'

'Don't I get a say in this?' Yahiko snapped from the door, feeling annoyed at being ignored.

'No!' Kaoru yelled and then turned back to her friend with a smile. 'Sure Sano. We can talk about it over drinks as well. Now go, be safe. Both of you.'

'Alright Jou-chan,' he smiled and then lifted his head to look at Yahiko. 'Don't stress Kaoru out so much you punk! Or you'll get it when I show up again.'

'Whatever dad!' the boy sneered and flipped the older man off. Sanosuke was ready to pummel him but at Kaoru's insistence, he left.

'I can't believe you let him go!' Yahiko whined indignantly. 'We could be on a super cool bounty hunting mission right now!'

'Hush, Yahiko.'

'Who are you, my mom?' He threw his hands up in the air exasperation. 'Adults just think you can barge into any independent youngin's life and just take charge these days...'

'Yahiko.'

The boy paused and looked at his sensei suspiciously. The tone of voice she had adopted to call him was unusual. He noticed that Kitsune-chan was back in her arms, and Kaoru was striking the fox with the airs and graces of a wealthy single mother of three. He raised his brow.

'Yeah?'

'How soon could you catch up with Sanosuke?'

He made a face, the question taking him aback.

'Not long. Why?'

'Follow him please.'

Yahiko's eyes widened and a grin started to make its way onto his face. Kaoru handed Kitsune-chan to him and he took hold of the animal tentatively. The vixen herself seemed indifferent to Yahiko after a few sniffs and licks, settling in his hold to snooze. The boy smirked at Kaoru, who had a coy smile on her face.

'To return the fox?'

'Naturally. Sano can't just keep picking up strays from the streets and dropping them in my care, that's just irresponsible,' her tone lacked the expected reproach it was supposed to have. 'He's already done that with you but he won't get away with it twi-'

'Kaoru,' Yahiko gave ger pointed look. 'You picked me up from the streets.'

'Oh yeah...' Kaoru blushed and then covered her face in embarrassment. 'Just go already.'

'Gotchya.'

SQUEALS IN MANDARIN.

I did it! I did it! I did it, yeah! Kaoru and Yahiko are working in tandem to get on that mission baby!

Fun fact: The Belyayev fox is a common household pet in this world, but in reality, the name refers to lab foxes that have been bred for tameness over many fox generations in Russia. Descendants of the red wild fox, the silver fur is one of the many side effects of the selective breeding done to ensure domestication is a growing dominant trait with every generation. It's a simplistic explanation, but hopefully enough. You should totally check them out, I think it's pretty neat.

Well, how was it? I hope you all liked it! Please let me know what you think in the review section!

See you all soon!

=UwU=