Kenshin had hopped up from the table a moment after Saitou left with Saiko. Saitou did not even bother to grab her bag or say goodbye. That meant something had to be horribly wrong. With a promise to return Kenshin stalked out of the Akabeko and started listening intently to try and figure out what had happened. An older man was headed toward the Akabeko with a younger cuter female gabbing. Kenshin decided to listen to the gabbing to try and get his first clue. The old man grinned bragging to the girl like it was his own tale of heroism.
"So" he started "this Zanza guy," "Who is that" she interrupted "just hush and listen" he snapped. "Anyways this Zanza ex street fighter kid saw that big gangster that has been messing with the neighborhood trying to rape the Umino girl so he stepped in and beat the crap out of him" he said taking a sad pause before continuing "some punk wanting in the gang slid him back the knife he had used to force the girl with him and he stabbed the Zanza kid, but get this the kid pulled the blade out of his shoulder muttering something about it being nothing compared to the last guy who stabbed him." Kenshin smiled, Sano was gloating about the first time he met Saitou in his own way.
"Hioshi-san you didn't say he had a knife" the girl's high voice squealed. The man rolled his eyes and continued "anyways while Zanza still had the knife in his hand the gangster lunged at him and forced the knife in the poor kid's gut. The police couldn't get him off until after he tore a big hole in the kid's stomach" the man said solemnly "worse thing is I heard he takes care of a little girl, I do not think it is his though, but I have seen them together they are really cute, father or not." Kenshin was surprised, Sano seemed to brag about Saiko at every turn it was odd that no one even knew about her parentage, but maybe Sano wanted it that way, a baby without a mother had enough troubles.
Satisfied with the answer, especially after over-hearing that Dr. Gensai was taking Sano in for surgery, Kenshin headed back for the Akabeko with as big of a smile as the situation warranted. Kaoru was almost moved to tears hearing of Sano saving the poor girl from being brutalized. Yahiko was disgusted that no one else bothered to help the girl or Sano. The group sat in silence none of them in the mood to eat just hoping that Dr. Gensai would save their friend.
Kenshin and Kaoru were up by 7 the next morning ready to visit Sano. They were both shocked to hear that Saitou was not there yet. It did not really matter anyways because Sano was not even awake so the two of them decided to go check on Saitou and Saiko. Saitou had pulled himself together during the night, although he did not sleep a wink. Thank goodness Saiko had slept in his arms, hopefully happily. Saitou had even found the flowers he bought Sano cast aside in the street on the way home the night before and picked them up. They were slightly trampled but they were perking up in the vase full of water.
It was only 7 so Saitou figured Sano would still be sleeping from the surgery. He wanted to see him as soon as possible but he know if he annoyed Dr. Gensai his visit would be too short for poor Saiko. She cried for Sano as soon as she woke up. Saying "Dada no here, dada no here, dada no nigh nigh" with tear filled eyes. Saitou scooped her up and held her tightly whispering to her softly "Saiko please do not cry, we will see dada soon I promise." "Where dada?" she cried angrily. "Dada is hurt Saiko, please he loves you just like I do, but we have to wait to see him." She did not seem satisfied with his answer but her crying calmed and turned into gentle sobs.
Saitou stood up with Saiko in his arms and after a while she spoke softly "I love da e." Saitou smiled "I love Sa-chan" he responded. "Dada love Sa-chan" she asked. "Yes Saiko, you know dada loves Sa-chan" he replied. "Dada love Da e, Da e love dada?" she asked starting to smile. "Yes Dada loves Da e, and yes Da e loves Dada." Starting to get confused at what the little girl wanted. She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. "Dada come home" she finally said. "Very soon Saiko I promise" Saitou pledged.
Around 7:30 Kenshin and Kaoru reached the Sagara household and knocked lightly on the door. Saitou answered with a half-asleep Saiko in his arms. He invited them in and offered them a seat in the main room. Saiko woke with the commotion and smiled at the couple. "He is alive Saitou" Kaoru finally said. Saitou looked up saying "I know, the ahou is much too stubborn to die like that" masking any pain he felt with his fake smile. "I just figured it would be too early for him to be awake so we were going to go later so we could spend as much time with him as possible" Saitou finished. Kaoru blushed, she had not thought of that.
"Saitou-san, will the police really need to interrogate him?" Kenshin asked concerned. "I doubt it, he just has to tell them why he had to fight the gangster, and I will make sure no matter what they will believe it" Saitou retorted gently. "Do they know?" Kenshin started to ask. "Not at all, being that I am Fujita Gorou and all to them, but do not worry no one suspects anything strange of me, plus I could just make up a good explanation if necessary" Saitou answered the half question. Kenshin sighed and softly spoke "The townspeople do not even know that Sano is Saiko's father, the ones I heard talking think he is her caretaker or something, how strange is that?" "Oh" Saitou responded a little surprised "Interesting, but that is fine, it is probably because we spend most of our time here, Saiko gets plenty of time outside since the garden is fenced in anyways."
It was around 9 when Sano woke up. All he could feel was the sweat on his brow and the intense pain in his stomach and shoulder. He tried to sit up put someone pushed his shoulders back down. He grunted but gave up easily. It took him another moment to remember everything that happened the day before. Everything was still fuzzy, but he knew he go into a fight and that he was stabbed. It was at dinner, with Saiko. Saiko.
"Where's" he started, but before he finished he heard Dr. Gensai say "Saiko is safe I am sure, Kenshin and Karou said they would go see her and Saitou, ...you know you could have told me you two were." Sano grimaced eyes still closed as he spoke "Not everybody is so accepting, we just keep to ourselves you know, I mean I do not care, but Saiko is already talking, I don't need her learning any bad words because of us." "Hnnn" Dr. Gensai replied "Does explain a few of your injuries the past year." Sano started opening his eyes "One of those was Saiko but yeah I guess I see your point."
Sano was still flat on his back it was already 9:30 and still no Saitou. Dr. Gensai had told him the bleeding had stopped, but he had to be really careful so he would not pop his stitches. Megumi still appeared to not be there. Sano knew she was still working, but why would she avoid him? 'Maybe it is her day off' Sano concluded and just hoped he could see his baby soon.
At 11 Saitou, Saiko, Kenshin, Kaoru decided Sano should have been awake and they decided to go see him. Saitou had dawned his police uniform in case the police showed up to quell any questions they had for his presence. Karou had dressed Saiko for Saitou, knowing he had no fashion sense at all. She put Saiko in a light blue yukata with her much of her hair sticking straight up, no brush could stop the Sano in her from showing through.
"You know Saitou, maybe you should get her hair cut" Kaoru asked innocently. "Dada said Da e cut hair!" Saiko said happily. Saitou smiled "He did? All right Saiko, but later, we need to check on dada before we worry about hair." Saiko smiled running ahead to Kenshin grabbing his hand happily. For some reason children could really relate to the wanderer. She chattered happily to Kenshin "Cut hair! Da e cut Sa-chan's hair!" It was still a bit of a walk till Dr. Gensai's so Kenshin scooped her up and carried her in his arms thinking seriously about how much he actually wanted a child.