AN: Hello there, my dear readers! It is time to finally update this little story. I hope you can forgive the long wait, so enjoy.

Now to reviews.

mpowers045: Thank you.

Dracus6: You'll just have to wait and see.

TOSoldtimer: I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thank you.

pervy sage: Not at all. If anything, Anthony Hopkins is a perfect voice for Diego considering he played him so well.

A Fox in Japan

3 The First Patrol

In the restaurant, the three Californians sat alongside Kenshin and Sanosuke, deciding to spend some time with the two after the little incident with the thugs. It took a little while for the people to get out of their shocked state at the fight that erupted but all came back to normal.

Diego was happy that he could catch up with the man he had met around ten years ago, with Kenshin sharing the sentiment.

"It is good to see you again, Kenshin Himura," Diego said with a smile as he shook Kenshin's hand. "Allow me to introduce my family to you. This is my son, Alejandro, and his son, my grandson, Joaquin."

Alejandro gave a slight bow with his head. "I'm honored to meet you."

Joaquin then mimicked his father's reaction. "I'm honored as well."

Kenshin nodded. "It is very nice to meet you all, Diego told me a lot about you," he said. "And this is Sanosuke, a good friend of mine."

"Hi there," Sanosuke said.

"I'm happy to see that you decided to once again visit Japan," Kenshin said.

Diego chuckled. "Well, I'm not getting any younger, so I decided to go at least one more time while I can," he said before looking at Kenshin's katana. "I see that you decided to pick up a sword once again,"

"That I did," Kenshin said before taking out his blade, showing how it was sharpened on the opposite side while the other was kept dull. "But I decided to do it a bit differently."

Alejandro raised an eyebrow. "That is quite a peculiar design."

"Indeed," Diego said before putting up his hand. "May I?"

"Of course," Kenshin said with a smile and handed his sword over to the older gentleman.

With one hand on the hilt, while the other carefully handled the blade, Diego examined it. "Hmm, yes, yes. Very good craftsmanship. Well-balanced."

Joaquin tilted his head. "It looks really weird, though. Why make the cutting side dull?"

Alejandro patted his son on the shoulder. "Not all swords are the same, Joaquin. We don't see these types of swords often but they do exist," he said before turning to Diego. "I recall that there are swords in China that have a similar inverse blade design."

"Very true," Diego said as he handed the sword back to Kenshin. "I assume that you adopted this particular design because of your views on harming another person."

Kenshin sheathed the sword. "Indeed, don Diego. I stand by what I said all those years ago."

"Say," Sanosuke began. "Are you people some sort of nobility?"

"Well, our family is very prestigious," Diego said. "My family carried the title of don for decades, and we are among the wealthiest in all of California. Why we were the envy of many Caballeros as well."

"But we don't care about money!" Joaquin quickly chimed in. "We use it to help people in need."

Alejandro chuckled. "What a righteous heart he has," he has before ruffling his son's hair, much to Joaquin's dismay. The boy really wanted to assure people that they weren't like those 'evil rich men who cared only for the money'.

Sanosuke chuckled. "Don't worry, kid. I wasn't accusing you or anything like that. Though, I must admit you can handle yourself quite well, Sir Alejandro."

"Of course I can, señor Sagara. Otherwise, all those lessons with the sword I got when I was a little boy would have gone to waste," Alejandro said whiling giving his father a glance, with Diego only smiling.

"Ah, so that's how it is," Sanosuke said. "Oh right, I should probably thank you for earlier."

Alejandro nodded. "You are most welcome, señor Sagara."

"Please, just Sanosuke, or Sano is fine. Still, I could have handled those guys but the help is still appreciated."

"Say, don Diego," Kenshin began. "How have things been in California during this decade?"

"Oh, pretty peaceful," Diego answered. "But there is still some… unrest happening sometimes. But nothing we couldn't handle."

That got Alejandro to remember something as he looked to an open window and saw the silvery glow of the moon outside. "Speaking of which," Alejandro said before rising up. "I think we should go. It's already late."

Diego looked outside and saw what his son was talking about. "Yes, indeed. I'm sorry, but we have to go."

"Ah, do we really have to?" Joaquin asked.

"Family business, son," Alejandro answered and the boy immediately knew what his father was talking about.

Joaquin gave his father a nod before rising and giving a small bow. "It was an honor dining with you, señor Himura, señor Sagara."

Kenshin smiled at the kid's politeness before rising and bowing back. "I assure you, the honor was ours."

Diego then tipped his hat. "I hope we see each other again. Adios."

"Actually, don Diego, there is a place you can find us," Kenshin said halting them. "It's called the Kamiya Dojo, and we are residents there. You could give a visit if it isn't any trouble."

"Though we better hope that Kaoru doesn't find it a bit too crowded," Sano said before wincing as Kenshin hit him slightly with an elbow.

"We would be honored, señor Kenshin," Alejandro said.

The three Vegas then said their goodbyes before leaving the restaurant, having already paid for their meal, with Kenshin and Sanosuke watching them leave.

"They seem like a nice bunch," Sanosuke commented.

Kenshin nodded. "I couldn't agree more."

"I wonder what this family business they were talking about is."

A grin crept up Kenshin's face. "I think I might have an idea."

That got Sano's attention. "What do you mean?"

"I'll let them explain when they visit."

The de la Vegas soon arrived back at their hotel, and Alejandro wasted no time in preparing. In their room, he discarded his fancy clothing before donning simple black pants and a black shirt. Then came the cape, followed soon by the mask, gloves, and the black hat for a finishing touch.

Then he took his rapier and holstered it on the belt, then some knives, soon followed by the whip and a pistol. His father didn't really like him using a pistol, but Alejandro was a careful man, and only used it sparingly. Not once did he ever kill a person when he used it.

Alejandro then stood in front of a large mirror and was met with the image of a man whose name made any tyrant's blood run cold, while the poor rejoiced at hearing it.

Zorro.

"You look great, papa," Joaquin commented.

Zorro chuckled. "Why thank you," he said. "But I'm pretty sure you told me that about a thousand times."

"I know, but that's what I think every time I see you," the youngest Vega said. "I can't wait to wear it as well."

Zorro grinned before shaking his head. "My boy," he said before patting Joaquin's shoulder. "If everything goes well, you may not need to wear it at all." Seeing his son look disappointed, Alejandro elaborated. "Look, this costume is a great and dangerous responsibility, not a pastime that you can just enjoy. I know you are aware of how dangerous this is."

Joaquin sighed. "Yes, yes, I know, papa. But that is why I train with the blade. To one day become Zorro."

"Joaquin, right now you are learning to use a sword for self-protection, not for you to take up the mantle," Alejandro explained. He knew first-hand the risks that came with being Zorro, and he would sooner die than expose his son to such dangers. But despite how much he talked Joaquin never got that idealized vision of Zorro from his mind.

"Alejandro," Diego said as he walked into the room before pointing at the window. "It is time for you to go."

Zorro nodded before giving his son a kiss on the forehead. "I'll see you soon tomorrow morning, mi hijo."

"Be careful, papa."

Zorro gave him a smile and walked over to the window. Checking to see if there was anyone who would notice him, he found no one and took out his whip. He jumped out of the window and with a strike of the whip he swung to a roof of a nearby house.

Diego then put a hand on his grandson's shoulder. "It's time for you to go to bed, Joaquin. It's already late."

"Si, abuelo," Joaquin said before Diego began escorting him back to his room. "Um, may I ask one thing before bed?"

The elder Vega considered it for a moment before answering. "Of course."

"Do you think that I will one day become Zorro?"

A sigh escaped Diego's lips. "I'm not sure. Who knows what the future holds," he said. "But just so you know, being Zorro, while dangerous, can also be boring."

Joaquin gained a look of confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Well, while you can stumble upon some bandits or brigands, there is also a chance that you don't stumble upon anything, and just end up roaming the night with nothing going on," Diego explained. He knew from personal experience that you don't always find danger in the night, which can also happen several nights in a row. "But enough about that. Time for bed."

Joaquin nodded and went with his grandpa to his room.

Zorro ran across the rooftops of Tokyo buildings, his eyes scanning the areas with the precision of a hawk. Despite the vastly different location, this didn't really feel different from what he usually did. The lights throughout the city were put out, making it easier for him to blend in shadow.

Jumping down from the building, his cape fluttering in the night's wind, he landed as silently as a cat. He moved into a shadowy alleyway, becoming practically invisible to everyone who could pass by.

He moved through the alleyway, seeing and listening for anything suspicious. If just some random passersby came he would quickly hide. He was like this for some time now, looking out for any suspicious activities, but unable to find any. The most he found a couple trying to sneak off together. And if that was a crime, then Alejandro could have been considered quite a crime lord.

After searching for a while with no results, Alejandro came to the conclusion that this would be an uneventful night. Just a simple patrol and nothing more.

Deciding to do a little more patrolling, Zorro moved through several more alleyways before he was met with a peculiar sight. There were two local men, both carrying katanas on their hips, and seemingly engaged in some sort of a private conversation. Deciding not to leave any stone unturned, Zorro climbed on the building roof next to them and leaned down on his stomach.

"There is a new shipment of weapons in the nearby storehouse," one of them said. "We found out only yesterday, and it was decided that we should meet there to… acquire some."

Zorro's eyes narrowed as he listened to what was being said. It looked like this night may not be uneventful after all.

"A new shipment?" the other said. "That's great news. If we get our hands on some of them, we won't be this 'inconsequential gang' that the authorities called us."

"We'll be in the big leagues for sure," the first one said. "Now let's go. We don't want to waste any more time."

The other nodded before the two went away in a hurried step. Zorro decided that he got enough out of them and quickly followed. After several minutes they moved to an area with fewer buildings, right where the warehouse was. Several more men waited for them, with Zorro deducing that there must have been a dozen of them, all armed.

One spoke something and made several gestures. One of them lockpicked the front entrance and the rest followed, with two standing outside, likely standing guard.

Moving stealthily, Zorro was able to move to the other side of the warehouse. He checked over to see if the guards noticed him. They didn't. He picked up a pebble and threw it at the side of one's head. The man then got upset and began arguing with his companion under the assumption he was the one who did it.

Zorro grinned. This was too easy. He quickly walked over to the arguing men, who didn't notice him coming. But when they did, Zorro quickly grabbed each of them by the head and slammed them together, making the two grunt as they fell down out cold.

Inside the warehouse, the rest of the thieves looked over the crates and barrels that were located inside. One opened a crate seeing it filled with cabbages but then moved them away until he reached the wood, which was placed too high for a crate of this site. Grinning, the thief knocked the crate over, spilling the cabbages and removing the fake bottom, revealing several rifles hidden there.

"Men, we are very fortunate," he said as he picked up one of the riffles. These weapons were sure to elevate them in the criminal underworld.

One of them was looking over the barrels. He took out his sword and stabbed through the barrel, letting some black substance leak out.

"Guys, I found the gunpowder!" he exclaimed gaining others' attention.

The one holding the riffle looked at his companion. "Well, don't waste it," he said in an annoyed tone. "We need those barrels to-"

A cracking sound was suddenly heard, surprising them before the first thief yelped from the sudden pain in his hand, making him let go of the rifle.

They heard some laughter come from the entrance and saw a cloaked man dressed completely in black with a whip his hand.

"Buenas Noches, mi amigos," Zorro said as he tipped his hat. "I don't believe that shops work so late at night so I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave."

"Who is that freak?" one of the thieves asked as he took out his sword.

"Looks like a reject from Kabuki," another commented.

"I am truly sorry, señores," Zorro said as he put away his whip and took out his rapier. "But if you won't leave, I'll have to force you to leave."

They laughed at the threat. "There are ten of us, and only one of you," one of them said. "And since you saw us we cannot let you live."

"How unfortunate," Zorro said.

The bandits then charged at him, their weapons drawn and ready to kill. Zorro grinned before taking out several pellets from a pouch on his belt and threw them at the charging men. The pellets then exploded, covering them in a cloud of smoke. The sudden attack made them come to a halt in surprise.

Zorro quickly ran into the smoke and punched one of them in the face, easily knocking him out. Another in panic swung wildly in the smoke but then felt a pain on his back which made him scream. Another looked around in fear before he heard a scream from one of his comrades, soon followed by another scream.

The thief quickly ran and moved outside the smoke, but then he saw one of his comrades on the floor face first, a bloody 'Z' on his back.

"He… he i-isn't human," the thief stuttered. "He's a demon!" The thief then ran away, accidentally knocking over a barrel that began leaking gunpowder.

Zorro slashed another 'Z' on a thief's cheek with the tip of his rapier before kicking him away. The smoke then cleared and showed the four bandits that were left. Now that they were able to see clearly, they looked at Zorro with hatred in their eyes.

"Let's kill him!" the one in the front yelled as the four charged.

Zorro then parried his katana before slashing a 'Z' over his right eye, stunning him. The three left then continued their assault as they slashed at him with their blades, with Zorro avoiding and parrying then strikes.

The one with a newly acquired scar over his eye glared at Zorro as he saw him engaged with three of his companions. He looked over to the rifles and ran over to them.

Clashing of blade on blade was heard throughout the warehouse as Zorro continued parrying the attacks from the thieves. He then dodged a slash from one's katana before driving the point of his sword into his shoulder, making him drop the weapon.

He then focused on the last two, deflecting a strike from one before kicking him away while continuing his assault on the other, forcing him back. The bandit wasn't prepared for the quick thrusting strikes from the rapier before his katana was deflected from his hand. Zorro grinned before slashing a 'Z' into his chest.

This was going well, Zorro thought. There were no casualties here, and the bandits will probably rethink their life choices after this night. No matter where in the world, bandits were still bandits.

Then he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. He saw one of the bandits from before, but this time aiming a rifle at him. Zorro's eyes as the bandit fire the rifle, making him dodge, the bullet only passing through his cape.

Much to their misfortune, the bullet exploded on the ground, with some sparks landing on the trail of gunpowder that led to the barrel and igniting it. The hissing sound caught everyone's attention as they looked in complete horror as the fire followed the trail of gunpowder that led right into the other barrels.

Zorro and the bandits that were still conscious quickly ran for the door. Once Zorro and another bandit got out there was a huge explosion behind them, the kinetic force throwing them away. Zorro rolled on the ground and quickly got his feet before turning around.

Almost a third of the warehouse was reduced to wrecked timber and stone, while the rest was catching fire. The two he left unconscious on the floor were also affected by the blast, with them being severely burned.

"Oh, Madre de Dios," Zorro muttered as he watched the destruction caused. He didn't think that something like this would happen on his first night in Japan as Zorro.

He then heard a groan and saw that the bandit with a scarred right eye rubbing his head in pain. The moment the bandit opened his eyes he looked at Zorro in fear before running away.

Zorro took one last glance at the burning building. Whatever bandits were in there were most likely dead, otherwise, he was pretty sure some of them would have gone out by now. He closed his eyes and sighed before sheathing his sword and retrieving his hat which was thrown from the force of the explosion.

Putting his hat on, he quickly ran from the place. The local authorities were definitely going to be there soon and he didn't want to be seen there.

AN: And this is it for now, dear readers! We got some character interactions and more action in this chapter. I hope I made it enjoyable.

Once again I implore you to check out my other stories as well, you won't regret it. And leave a review, they are great motivators.

See you next time!