Chapter 2: Bad! Sagara Sanosuke's Introduction!

"Let me see here… Ah! I have Japanese History next, de gozaru yo!" Kenshin said happily as he headed down the correct hallway. He had gotten into a much better mood since meeting Yahiko and Megumi, and he wasn't worried about having friends anymore.

…but there was one thing still tagging on his mind…

"Those strange people… the ones that everyone is afraid of… why do I keep feeling like they're watching me?"

-

"This must be it!" Kenshin said happily as he stepped into the classroom. He was ignored by just about everyone in there except a few glances and stares. Everybody was too busy making conversation to notice him. He pushed his glass up on his nose and sat down in the third desk from the door in the front row.

After pulling out his Japanese History textbook, he stopped to examine the people walking in the door.

The boy had ripped the sleeves off of his uniform jacket and left it open, revealing his white shirt. His pants were baggy on him, and he kept his hands in his pockets. His arms were strong, and both of his fists were wrapped in bandages. A white scarf was tied around his head. His brown eyes centered on Kenshin who couldn't stop staring at the strange man. He reached up and ran his fingers through his spiky brown hair and sat down in the second seat from the door on the first row.

"Hey!" He said, grinning.

"Hello…" Kenshin said hesitantly.

"You joining any sports teams?"

"Oh, no, I'm not good at sports, de gozaru yo."

"I'm on a lot of sports teams," The boy said staring at the board. "That's why I like the class. The coach teaches it."

"Sano."

"Yo, Katsu!" The boy, apparently Sano, said as a young man with long black hair came in, his jacket undone, revealing his green t-shirt, but the sleeves still in tact. His had a green scarf around his head, and there was a sketchbook under his right arm.

"Um… who are you both?" Kenshin asked as politely as he could.

"The name is Sagara Sanosuke," Sano said waving with his index and middle finger. "That guy's Tsukioka Katsuhiro."

"Nice to meet you," Kenshin said. "I am Himura Kenshin."

"Yeah, we heard. Apparently, you're the talk of the school."

"Really? Why would that be?" Kenshin wondered.

"They say that the Juppon Katana have their eye on you," Katsu said seriously.

"Oro? Who are the Juppon Katana?"

"Ahhh… baka!" Sano yelled, grabbing his shoulders. "Don't you know? They're the meanest guys in this school! They rule this place!"

"Yeah!" Katsu said.

"Th-them?! They've even made a title for themselves?" Kenshin asked horrified.

"Yeah!!!" Sano shook him. "You idiot!"

"Orroooooooo….." Kenshin said, swirly-eyed.

"Oh… sorry about that," Sano set him gently back in his seat. "I guess I don't know my own strength! Ha ha!"

"Then why do you brag about it day by day?" Katsu asked.

"Shut up!" Sano growled at Katsu.

"Why a-are they… after me?" Kenshin asked.

"Well… It's only a rumor, but they say that they've got the little guy spying on you. What was his name… duuuhhh…." Sano scratched his head in thought.

"Wasn't it Seta Soujirou?" Katsu asked.

"YEAH! That's it!" Sano snapped.

"Who is Seta Soujirou?" Kenshin asked.

"He's a junior here. He got cropped hair, blue eyes, blah blah blah. He smiles and takes anything you throw at him… He's unafraid and some say he's void of emotions and his face is stuck in a smile. He's like the Juppon Katana's servant boy. He gets them and anyone else exactly what they want. Of course, no one asks him because they believe that there will be a price to pay. No one knows anything about that kid."

"Then, why would they be after me? Is there a reason?"

"Probably."

"What do you mean probably? Don't you know?"

"Nope."

"Oro…" Kenshin slammed his head on his desk. "What do I do?" The back of his shirt was suddenly grabbed. "Oro?" He was lifted out of his desk and into the air. "ORO?!" He looked down and saw the blonde-haired man from the dodge ball wall staring up at him.

"This… is him? Who'd a thought he'd be so scrawny?" The man said and smirked.

"Put him down, Chou, you ridiculous broom head!" Sano stood up, clenching his fists.

"I can't do that for you, chicken head, for two reasons. One, we've been searching for him for a long, long time, and two, you can't stop me."

"Oh, yeah? Well, I-" Sano began.

"Why have you been looking for me?!" Kenshin cried.

"You're Himura Kenshin, right?" Chou said.

"Hai."

"That's why."

"Oro?"

"Now, just hold still, and I'll make this quick."

"No, don't kill me!" Kenshin cried.

"Sorry, but-"

A flash ran through Kenshin's mind, and his eyes blanked out and closed. His head fell forward, his chin resting on his chest, and he remained unconscious for a few moments.

"I scared him into fainting!" Chou started laughing. "Ahahahaha-aha---ha---what?" A drop of blood hit his face.

Kenshin's cheek bled massively. His eyes opened, glaring gold through the rims of his glasses.

"You'll put me down now," Kenshin said, his voice deeper and angrier than before.

"I'm not afraid of you!" Chou yelled. "You can't-"

He didn't have time to finish his sentence. Kenshin's foot collided with Chou's face. Chou fell backwards and Kenshin hit the ground.

"Ohh…" Kenshin moaned slightly, his closed eyes twitching slightly. The blood stopped flowing, but the liquid remained on his face.

"What's going on here?" A deep voice said.

"O--oro?" Kenshin opened his eyes halfway and stared at two boots and pants-legs standing in front of him. He felt too weak to get up to see who it was and was about to fall faint again.

"Chou, get in your damn seat. I know the principal can't do anything to you," The deep voice said. "-but rest assured, I will."

"Hmph," Chou said.

Kenshin felt a hand around his wrist.

"Yo', Kenshin, are you all right?" Sano asked. Kenshin's eyes looked up at him. "That was awesome!"

"Wh--what was?" He asked.

He felt himself being lifted again, but this time it was gently.

"Oro?"

"So, you drew blood on this kid, huh, Chou? Well, guess what. Your punishment just got worse."

"Oh, man," Chou whined.

"Hey, kid, are you okay?" The man asked. His voice still seemed menacing. A cloth was placed against his cheek.

"Wh-what happened?" He asked as the man placed his glasses back on his face.

"I don't know," The man said. Kenshin looked up at him. He was tall and much more muscular than any teacher he had ever seen. He also had more hair than any male teacher he had ever seen. It was long and black and hung down his back in a ponytail. His eyes were piercing and thin, and his mouth was curved in what seemed to be a permanent frown. He wore a white t-shirt with a plaid shirt hanging lazily over it and blue jeans.

"Who are you?" Kenshin asked.

"I'm the teacher, Hiko Seijirou," He said. "Sit down. You're fine."

Kenshin felt his strength returning as he sat back down in his desk, thoroughly mortified. What happened? I remember being captured, and then it all blacked out until I was on the floor. Did he hit me?

"So, are you Himura Kenshin?" Hiko asked, staring down at him with his intense eyes.

"H-Hai…." Kenshin said, even more afraid of this man.

"Hmm… You look familiar…" Hiko leaned in close to his face and stared him in they eyes. "Have we met before?"

"N-no, sir… I don't believe we have, de gozaru yo," Kenshin said.

"Whatever. OKAY!" Hiko rose up and clapped his hands twice to get everyone's attention. "So, it's time for us to learn about what we came here to learn about. Today, we're talking about the revolution and the Tokugawa regime. Does anyone know anything about it?"

Sano threw his hand in the air.

"Go for it, Sagara," Hiko said flatly.

"Lots of people were killed!" He said.

The girls giggled. "Yes… people died… and does anyone know… why?"

Silence.

"Himura."

"O-Oro?" Kenshin looked up at him.

"You got anything?"

"From 1601 to 1868, Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa family. They acted as advisors to the Emperor in an elite organization, the Bakufu. Then, in 1854, a man named Matthew Perry threatened military action against Japan if they did not open their ports for foreign trade. The Bakufu agreed to any of the terms that the foreigners set, splitting the country between the ones who supported the Bakufu and the ones who didn't, wanting to expel the foreigners from their land. The Shinsengumi, for example, worked for the Bakufu and slaughtered any who tried to rebel against the government's decisions. On the other hand the ones called 'loyalists' fought to free Japan from the Bakufu and foreigners in the name of their Emperor."

"Not bad," Hiko said. Everyone was staring at Kenshin.

"We already studied this at my old school," Kenshin explained.

"Well, which side was right, Himura? Humor me."

"There wasn't a right or wrong side to be on, sir. People were only trying to live their lives and fight for what they believed in."

"That's right," Hiko nodded, a smug look on his face. "-but who won?"

"The loyalists, sir. They took control of the government and the Meiji Restoration began soon after."

"So, do you have an example of one of these loyalists, Himura?"

"Hmmm…." Kenshin looked down at his desk for a moment.

Oh, brother, what a waste 'a time… Chou thought to himself.

"Yes, sir," Kenshin said, his eyes shadowed by his bangs.

"-and---"

"Battousai."

What? Chou almost fell out of his desk.

"How do you--- know about Battousai?" Hiko asked. "He's hardly ever mentioned. Did you-"

"I don't know how I know, sir… I just… do…. de gozaru yo."

Everyone had gone silent.

"I'm gonna put notes on the board, and if I see anyone not copying them, I'll make you copy the Japanese History book… It's gotta be good for something, I guess," Hiko shrugged as he wrote the notes on the board.

Kenshin stared into space, his eyes glazed over. Battousai… He thought to himself.