Chapter two is up! Some Seisouhen spoilerage, maybe a little bit of Kyoto. And so our story continues . . .

Chapter 2

Kenshin slowly padded across the roofed porch that led to the dojo, thoughts tinged with darkness. He didn't even break his stride when Yahiko, winded from his workout and going to get some water, performed an exaggerated twist to avoid a collision. "So what's the deal?" Yahiko asked as he brushed past the rurouni. "Kenshin?" Yahiko shrugged unconcernedly as Kenshin kept walking, oblivious to his surroundings.

The former hitokiri was lost in his own world, brooding once again about the past he still wished so desperately to distance himself from. The Ishin Shishi may have disbanded at the end of the Bakumatsu but of course not all the Patriots had been so willing to give up on the revolution. Even now there were still small riots. Shishio and his Juppungatana had been a much larger upset, and even though Shishio's scheme held no connections with the ideals of the former Ishin he had once been a part of, he had posed just as deadly a threat.

The kanji on the note Kawaji had left him flashed into Kenshin's mind again.

Divine retribution.

Kenshin had the feeling that he was once again about to be plunged into a scalding lake of memories. So why, he was trying to decide now, did he agree to help Kawaji? Was it because he thought the police were ill-equipped to handle the task of reigning in the regrouping Ishin? Or–Kenshin had made it to the dojo and sat down absently, legs folded under him–was it because he felt partly responsible for the actions of the former Ishin?

That was it, Kenshin decided as he fingered his sakabatou. Ten years of valiantly trying to atone for his past crimes and rid himself of the name Hitokiri Battousai and still he felt as guilty as the day he had taken his oath never to kill again.

That day . . .

"Tomoe," Kenshin breathed, and he almost imagined he could smell the haku baikou she was so fond of. He had been so stupid. His shishou never let him forget it either, much as Kenshin tried to. He had been so on edge about being stealthily hunted that he hadn't seen the peacefully-disguised danger right in front of him until it cut him on the cheek. Kenshin lifted a hand to his scar and started as it touched something warm and wet. Bringing his hand in front of his face, he saw blood on his fingers. "My scar is–?" Kenshin frowned slightly. It had bled for a long time before it healed but until now it hadn't reopened. Kenshin was still looking at his hand and brooding when the dojo door slid open softly and Kaoru and Sano stepped in, ready to drill Kenshin for information.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked tentatively, not wanting to startle him. She needn't have worried, because Kenshin appeared not to have heard her. He was looking at his hand.

"Oi, Kenshin!" Sano said at a much louder volume.

Kenshin turned. "Kaoru-dono, Sano," He seemed surprised to see them.

Kaoru gave a gasp. "Kenshin, you're bleeding!"

Kenshin rubbed his hand across his cheek. A wound made with hate . . . "Yeah."

Sano flopped down and placed his hands on his crossed legs. "So level with us Kenshin, what does Kawaji need you for?" He slapped the note Kawaji had left on the floor. "And what does this mean?" Sano waited impatiently as Kenshin looked at the note with a far-away gaze. Kaoru was just as impatient to hear what Kenshin had to say as well, although she disguised her feelings much better than Sano.

Kenshin looked at the two of them. "I don't want to get either of you involved in this," He started, but Sano grabbed his gi before he could finish.

"Look, don't give me that line! After all the shit we've been through and all the times I've covered your back, don't even try and tell me not to get involved!"

"Oro!" Kenshin said dizzily as Sano shook him. "Okay, forget I said that then." He picked up the note, staring at it impassively for several long seconds. "This is what we used as a calling card for the Ishin Shishi," He said at last, talking slowly.

Sano sat back with satisfaction. Kenshin was finally going to tell them about his past.

"It was the worst thing to see, because that meant someone was getting killed. If someone is leaving them around now, it means the Ishin Shishi is regrouping, and probably gathering new members as well."

"Well just go out and defeat the guy in charge, what's so hard about that that the police can't handle it?" Sano asked with contempt.

Kenshin shook his head. "It doesn't work like that. The Ishin Shishi always had several different groups running, with a leader for each, to make sure that one good strike couldn't destroy them. There were members of the Shogunate who funded our cause too."

"Hm, so it is a little more difficult than I thought," Sano said thoughtfully. "But hey, the Shogunate's gone now, so–"

"No," Kenshin interrupted flatly. "Officially maybe, but there are still people high up in the system who changed their allegiance when the Meiji began. Many former Patriots hold jobs in the Meiji government. If the Ishin Shishi wished to form again, they wouldn't find it as difficult as people would imagine."

"Well they can't be that organized yet," Sano protested. "I mean only one guy's been killed. By the way, did Kawaji say who it was that was murdered?"

"It was a commerce official, in charge of tariffs on Western imports," Kenshin said. "That in itself says that the new Ishin is already well established, if they're already sending out hitokiri. They must have been training for a while already."

"Hitokiri?" Kaoru echoed. She could remember hearing stories as a child about the ruthless men of the Bakumatsu who had paved the way for the Meiji. To think that another era of revolution could begin–

Sano was nodding in understanding. "So Kawaji thinks you can get him an inside scoop on this huh?" He asked.

"Yes. The person that wrote this," Kenshin indicated the note, "was the chief of a clan in Choushuu and also my boss, Katsura Kogoro."

"Is he the one that got you–" Kaoru searched for the right word. "Started?"

Kenshin nodded. "He brought me to Kyoto as an assassin."

"I can't believe people like that!" Kaoru exclaimed. "Lying to boys who don't know what to think and enlisting them to kill people!" Kaoru would have been furious if anyone tried to get Yahiko to join a group like that.

"It was nobody's fault but my own that I joined," Kenshin said harshly. His tone softened when Kaoru gave him a startled look. "Katsura-san was a nice man. He was always kind to me." Katsura had openly told Kenshin right at the start what he wanted him to do–kill people. Kenshin had convinced himself it was for the protection of the oppressed, and had accepted the job without hesitation. After seeing how closed Kenshin was becoming the more he killed, Katsura regretted his decision to bring the boy to Kyoto and always had a comforting word for him. He had even been the one to suggest that Kenshin and Tomoe go hide out in Otsu. Still, the damage was wrought, and Kenshin had to face facts–he was a cold-blooded killer, a hitokiri known far and wide for his battoujutsu.

"Kenshin? Kenshin!" Sano waved a hand in front of the reminiscing rurouni's face.

"Maybe you shouldn't help Kawaji-san with this," Kaoru said, seeing how talking about his past was affecting Kenshin.

"No. I have to do it. I helped create it, I should help to destroy it." Kenshin gave a sudden bright smile. "And with Sano to aid me, we have nothing to worry about."

"Damn right!" Sano gave a thumbs up.

"And Myoujin Yahiko too!" Yahiko cried as he crashed through the dojo's sliding door, shinai stuck in front of him.

"How long have you been listening?" Kaoru asked as Sano made a snide comment about Yahiko's ability to help. Yahiko pointedly ignored him.

"Long enough. And I'm not getting left out of this. Any fight of yours, Kenshin, is mine too!" Yahiko exclaimed.

Kenshin laughed as the dark memories filling his head dissipated. "I would be honored to have your help, Yahiko."

Yahiko gave a triumphant laugh. "Haha! See there Sanosuke, you're not the only one Kenshin can rely on!"

"Yeah but I'm the only one who makes a difference!" Sano retorted.

"Why–you–!!"

Listening to Sano and Yahiko's verbal sparring, Kenshin's thoughts drifted to everything that he still had left to do that day. He needed to cut some wood because it wouldn't be long before the first freeze. Laundry of course but he didn't need to worry about that until later. Maybe he should cook something for lunch too. They'd been having meager meals for the past couple of weeks (the Akabeko hadn't been visited in a month), and after the news from that morning maybe it would clear some of the tension. Besides, he'd already told Kaoru that he would get lunch.

"Kenshin!"
"Hai!" Kenshin said guiltily as Kaoru called his name for the tenth time.

"I said, are you going to do the roof today? Honestly, what are you so spaced out for?"

Kenshin grimaced–the roof. "Hai, Kaoru-dono," He said meekly. This was a task Kenshin had successfully avoided so far, letting Sano earn his keep, but it hadn't been touched since the year before and there were some leaky spots. Not that Kenshin minded the occasional gust of wind or snow, he had gotten plenty used to that over the years, but the rain was annoying and Kaoru would be furious with him if it wasn't done before winter had settled in. Maybe if he hinted at it Sano would volunteer . . . Kenshin looked up to see Sano had finished his argument with Yahiko. Now was a good a chance as ever.

"Kaoru-dono, it may take a while with only one person and I think there may be rain tomorrow-" Kenshin didn't even have to finish, Kaoru promptly turned to an open-mouthed Sano and shoved him forward.

"Great, get Sanosuke to help you then, he could stand to put in some hours of honest hard work."

"Huh? Are you trying to tell me I don't work honest?" Sano asked, daring Kaoru to say no.

"Just that you don't work at all," Kaoru replied.

"I do too!" Sano fumed. "I've gotten–I've helped–" He turned to see Kenshin laughing. "Hey, just what did you get me roped into?"

In lieu of his newly assigned job, Kenshin was obliged to forego cooking dinner that afternoon. He hadn't been worried when Kaoru said she was going to the market with Yahiko to get provisions for supper (Yahiko hadn't been thrilled) but Sanosuke had quickly stopped her, saying that Megumi had mentioned she may drop by later on, and that meant she would probably bring something to eat.

"Come on Jou-chan, I bet the fox does show up, you know she likes surprising people." Sano nudged Kaoru's shoulder.

"Oh, get off of me, I know what your reason is!" Kaoru said angrily. "Fine then. It'll be nice to see Megumi-san anyway, she hasn't been by in a while."

"Yatta!" Yahiko exclaimed, glad to get out of such a girlish thing as shopping.

"Where do you think you're running off to?" Kaoru demanded as he scampered towards the gate. "You haven't cleaned the dojo since practice."

Yahiko scoffed, brushing the rebuke aside with a wave of his hand. "Feh, it'll wait 'till tonight, I gotta do something right now."

"You better do it tonight!" Kaoru said threateningly.

"So where are you off to all in a rush?" Sano asked as he waited for Kenshin to exit the house so they could get supplies to fix the roof.

Yahiko's face colored. "No where important, I was just going to walk around and practice reading people's ki's, like Kenshin," He muttered, gazing into the distance.

"Ooh, trying to find a certain someone?" Sano crooned. "Say hi to Tsubame for me, ok, Yahiko-chan?" He easily avoided the attack an incensed Yahiko launched at him, slipping out the gate as Kenshin came over.

"Ready," Kenshin announced before noticing the livid look Yahiko was giving Sano. "Is something wrong?"

"This chicken-head's just jealous 'cause he doesn't have a girlfriend!" Yahiko snarled, shoving past Sano.

"Is that so?" Kenshin asked, hiding a smile as Yahiko stormed down the street. He glanced at the sky. "We better get going Sano, it's already starting to get cloudy."

"That's what I kept telling you," Sano retorted as the two headed to the open market at a leisurely pace after waving goodbye to Kaoru. "What were you doing anyway?"

"Telling Ayame-chan and Suzume-chan a story," Kenshin replied. "I promised I'd finish before we left."

Sano groaned. Kenshin was a stickler for promises. "Sheesh, what're we gonna tell Jou-chan if there's a storm before we finish? It was the kid's fault?"

"Don't worry about it, we'll get it done."

Sano looked over at Kenshin's relaxed appearance. His dark mood from that morning seemed to be gone. It was a good thing, because Sano knew if Kenshin hadn't changed his serious look and lightened up Kaoru would have been worrying the rest of the day about his involvement against the new revolution.

Sano's eyes widened as a thought struck him. That was why Kenshin appeared so cheerful and unconcerned now. Because the rurouni knew if he didn't, Kaoru would worry. Sano had noticed that whenever Kenshin was about to take off on a dangerous mission he gave all signs of being calm and even indifferent about it. In the past, Sano had always thought Kenshin was rather naïve or just plain stupid. It had never occurred to him that the rurouni was just putting up a front. But that was just what it was, Sano reflected now, a front. It had everyone thinking exactly what Kenshin wanted all of them to think; that everything was going to turn out fine.

I've seen through you now, Sano thought with satisfaction, and just to let Kenshin know that he couldn't put anything past Sagara Sanosuke he said, "Kenshin, I know you've been thinking all day about what Kawaji said . . ." He knew he was right when Kenshin gave an almost imperceptible start.

"I had thought about it a couple of times," Kenshin admitted. "But–"

Sano held his hand up. "Don't say it. I know what you're thinking, and I'm warning you, if you even try to do something without letting me know," Sano's eyes glinted, "you'll have to answer for it later, and believe me, I won't let you forget it."

"I'm sure you won't." Kenshin agreed. "You've been thinking about it as well?"

"Well, only just now really," Sano said. "But remember Kenshin! No running off like you did to Kyoto without telling me first! I can fight too, you know. And think of the hell I'd have to endure from Jou-chan if I didn't go after you."

Kenshin gave a surprised laugh at Sano's concern. "I wasn't thinking of doing anything like that, I know how much I hurt everyone last time."

"Good." Sano grunted, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Still, I'm sure you understand that I did have good reasons-" Kenshin stopped, smiling as Sano gave him a cautionary look. "Maa, maa, I'm keeping you up to date on everything that happens. Come on, it really will start to snow if we just stand here and talk all day." And with that, Kenshin picked up his pace.

Feeling satisfied that he'd knocked some sense into Kenshin, Sano ambled after the small figure that was rapidly becoming smaller.

"Oi, Yahiko! Go find me some more nails!" Sano shouted, wondering not for the first time how Kaoru had managed to come up with the money to buy wood and not a commodity like nails.

"Yeah, I'm going!" Yahiko shouted back irritably. The sun was high in the sky now and already Sano and Kenshin had been on the roof for several hours. It seemed that there were a few more repairs needed than they had thought. Sano was sure Kaoru had known that when she told them to fix it. Sneaky girl.

"Kenshin! How's the other side coming!" Sano hollered. Kenshin answered from the other side of the roof.

"I'm almost finished!"

"Almost finished?" Sano murmured, looking at the numerous worn places he still had to patch. "Yahiko, are you getting those nails or what?!"

"Look, you're not the only one doing slave labor!" Yahiko shot back as he crawled up a makeshift ladder to hand Sano several wooden nails he had crafted. "Busu's got me cleaning the dojo too, so why don't you be a man for once and stop complaining!"

"Heh, the reason I'm up here is because I am a man," Sano taunted. Yahiko made no reply as Kaoru's voice came drifting from the dojo.

"I heard that Yahiko!"

"I hope so!" Yahiko shouted back, stomping down the ladder. "It's tyrants like you Kenshin was fighting against in the revolution!"

"Ah-hah, Yahiko," Kenshin protested as he heard the spiky-haired boy's comeback. "It wasn't quite like that." He winced at Kaoru's response.

"Stop encouraging him Kenshin!" Obviously she hadn't quite understood what he had said. "And quit talking because you're not getting any work done!" Kenshin obligingly returned his attention to the roof, and Yahiko and Sano went back to the task at hand as well, amid much grumbling.

An hour later, Sano took out his frustration on the last board, smashing the homemade nail into it with enthusiasm. "Yep, that oughta do it!" He said, tossing down the mallet he'd been using as a hammer. Sano grabbed his jacket that he had long since taken off due to the unnaturally hot day and headed to the other side of the roof. "Almost finished huh?" He asked Kenshin, who was kneeling with a mallet in his hand and staring unseeingly at a board. Wiping his forehead, Kenshin leaned back to inspect his work.

"Oh, Sano–Oro?" Kenshin looked down in surprise. He'd hardly traversed half of the roof. "I guess I was thinking about something else," He explained needlessly.

"Obviously," Sano said dryly. "Well look, I'd love to stay," they both knew it was said tongue-in-cheek, "but I told some guys I'd meet them for some games,"

"Gambling you mean?" Kenshin interrupted with mock-innocence.

Sano snorted dismissively. "Cheh, whatever, so I'll see you around. Tell Jou-chan I didn't slack off, ok? Oh, and I'll stop by and see if Megumi's coming after all. See ya!" Throwing his coat over his shoulder, Sano hopped off the roof.

Kenshin looked down again at the mallet in his hand and blinked as if to drive away his thoughts. He'd better get moving.

busu - ugly

hai - yes, I agree

haku baiko - the perfume Tomoe wore

maa maa - hmm, hard to translate, kind of like 'now now, calm down'

oi - hey

oro - the Kenshin version of 'huh?'

yatta - alright!

Some notes on the names: Jou-chan is Sano's affectionate little nickname for Kaoru. 'Jou' means 'girl' , and 'chan' is an affectionate suffix for kids and girls, so I guess you could roughly translate this as 'missy' as some people do, but I think the connotations of this in English aren't always good, so I prefer to use the Japanese. As for the 'chan' Sano sticks onto Yahiko's name . . . well, as Yahiko doesn't consider himself a little kid, it's Sano's way of being patronizing and annoying him. 'Dono' is just an ultrapolite suffix, more so than 'san.'

Well, not much happening yet, but I promise I'll get to it! Let the comments flow! Thanks to all my reviewers, I appreciate the input.

Nekotsuki: Yeah, I needa work on expanding my themes. Hopefully this chapter is a little better. As for length, I'm hoping to have it pretty long . . . 20 chapters? Thanks for reading!

Terry McElrath: Glad you like the 'dictionary', thanks for reading!

xZig-zagx: Muchas gracias for the enthusiasm, I hope I don't disappoint!

Hitokiri-san: Glad you like it so far, and thanks for reading!