Disclaimer: I do NOT own RK or PMK.

This is after two major incidents in the PMK and RK series. One, in the RK storyline, Kenshin has killed Tomoe by accident and learnt the truth about her. Two, in PMK, Vice-chief Yamanami has deserted. Okita has brought him back to face punishment (seppuku). Also, Okita has acted as Yamanami's second (responsible for ending the seppuku-ee's life by beheading…)

Yes, I know Okita was in RK as well, but I am drawing most of his character from the PMK version in this fic.

So we have two very depressed young men trying to drown their sorrows… where else but the local Sake Shack.

BTW, Sakamoto Ryouma's a character from PMK canon. However, his interactions with my OC Umeko are taken from the New Kyoto Post fanfic.

Sake and Sorrow

He shouldn't be drinking. Sake is no good for his cough. Still, Sou found himself drawn to the seedy tavern known as the Sake Shack. Murderer! You bloody-handed murderer! Akesato's accusing stare and voice haunted him. Of course, it didn't help to learn that after that emotional outburst at Yamanami's funeral, the woman has vanished. There are more than enough vacant shacks where a body could hang for days before being discovered.

He had stolen the haiku book of Hijikata Toshizou to try provoking the man and get his mind off things. However, Toshi was simply put, not one to begrudge him a little bit of poetry to lighten up his mood. Except it wasn't working.

Saizou protested as his young master stepped into that tavern. Even the piglet knew instinctively that this was no place for anyone to be alone. Okita shushed his pet and looked for an empty table before placing his order. A flash of red hair. Could it be? It must be an illusion. Kenni will not be in such a dump. He found himself a place and called out his order.

"Tomoe…" Kenshin murmured drunkenly. He was slightly tipsy as he had been drinking for a while. He spat out the sake in his mouth. It tasted like blood. Tomoe's blood. He had gotten it all over him that day. Tomoe… pale, dying in his arms. He reached to touch the plaster on his cheek. The cross scar below…

"Buhi!" Saizou careened into Kenshin's ankles. A pig in the Sake Shack? It took a while before Kenshin's sake-muddled mind recalled where he had seen the critter before. Looking around, the redhead spotted the pig's owner at a lonely corner table. Staggering to his feet, Kenshin took his sake jug in one hand and the pig under his arm. He went to join Sou.

"Ken-ni?" Okita murmured in surprise as Kenshin joined him.

"Your pig, Sou…" Kenshin shoved the struggling pig into Okita's arms. "It's bad to drink so much with that cough…" Kenshin chided as Okita coughed. "My shishou always said that sake should only be drunk…" Kenshin stopped to fight a wave of nausea. On a full stomach…

"You don't look too good yourself, Kenni… Aren't you too young to be drinking?"

"Iie, I'm old enough to get married…" Kenshin looked away.

"Shouldn't you be at home with your wife then?"

"She died…" Kenshin gulped down more sake. "Aw, I'm sorry…" Okita apologized and placed a comforting arm round the redhead's shoulders.

"How about you? Did Hotaru ditch you?"

"If only she had… A friend of mine died. Seppuku… He's a good guy…"

"I'm sorry…"

"Kenni-kun? Will you be working at Umeya?" Kenshin shook his head. He was now Katsura Kogoro's bodyguard. There was one thing bothering him… Tomoe's brother, Enishi. Tomoe had said he was returning to Edo, but certain sources claimed he was still in Kyoto. This was no place for some 12-year-old to be.

"Sou? Can you look out for someone for me? He's about twelve… Name's Yukishiro Enishi. He's my brother-in-law."

"Sure… Can you look out for one Akesato for me?" Kenshin blinked. Akesato was a top courtesan in Shimabara pleasure district, and a Choushu spy. Still, she had vanished, into thin air…

"It's an obligation I owe my friend… I'm afraid something happened to her…" Okita explained as he gulped down another cup of sake. He coughed.

Sake Shack owner Nagi peered at the pair in the corner. He rubbed his eyes and stared again. The pair looked like… Oh holy Buddha! He almost dropped his jugs in shock. They must be blind-drunk. No way will one Miburou captain and a Choushu bodyguard be on such chummy terms. Nagi prayed that they do not sober up soon and start a brawl in his joint.

Maybe he better get help…

Unaware of the panic they inspired in the shack owner, the pair poured out their sorrows over more sake.

"Life's so bloody unfair… I suppose you thought you could get settled down have a dozen kids…"

"And you thought you'll never have to act as your friend's second…"

"Say, Kenni… do you think there is anything in life to look forward to?"

"The future… I believe that the future will be much better, Sou. We can only do what we do now, so the children will have a better future…"

"Say, Kenni… if you ever have kids, can I be their foster father?"

"Only if you let me be foster father to yours…"

"Deal… A toast to our friendship…" Okita coughed before passing out drunk. Kenshin followed suit. Saizou nudged his master, then the redhead. Failing to rouse them, the pig settled under the table and waited.

Umeya. Sakamoto and Umeko were enjoying a cordial late night chat over tea when a flustered Nagi burst in on them.

"Nagi-san, what's up? You look like you've seen… well, the Emperor in bed with the Shogun's wife…"

"Or the Yanks finally decide to turn Japan into the 41st state of the USA." Sakamoto grumbled as he fiddled with his pistols. Umeko shot him a warning glare. No firearms in the restaurant.

Nagi gulped down some tea to steady himself. "It's much worse… Miburou captain… hitokiri… You better come take a look-see, Umeko-san…"

The trio hurried to the Sake Shack, which was fairly empty by now.

Ah well, Umeko sighed. At least they passed out in a corner where no one was likely to see them, except the sharp-eyed Nagi. Kenshin was dozing on Okita's shoulder and the young captain's arm was placed on the redhead's shoulder. Saizou grunted at the newcomers but made no protest as Umeko scooped him up and onto the table. The pig nuzzled his master's face. But Okita was too drunk to protest.

"Umeko, that's Okita…" Sakamoto whispered.

"I know. Please keep it to yourself," Umeko murmured. She attempted prodding Kenshin, then Okita. Both did not even stir. Let's get Sou and Kenni home.

"Ryouma, you take Kenshin. Nagi, would you mind informing the Miburou to pick up their captain in an hour's time?" Nagi could only nod helplessly.

It was the morning after his drinking session and he had a splitting headache. Okita groaned. He staggered into the restaurant. "Umeko-san, one of your anti-hangover teas please…"

"Sure, young sir!" Umeko sang out.

"How's Kenni?"

"Having as big a hangover as you, Sou," Kenshin grinned weakly as he brought the herbal-ginger tea.

"Maybe this will be a lesson to you lads not to over indulge," Umeko clucked as she bustled by.

Author's Notes:

I had to throw in the chummy drinking session... It took longer than I thought. Maybe the next chapter will be the real confrontation between the Shinsengumi captain Okita and Battousai...