Disclaimer: I Do NOT own Rurouni Kenshin, that right belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki. This story is strictly fan-based. I do, however, own Sannai Erina and her late commander, Shiroji Sasuke.

Framed: Another Battōsai Appears

She couldn't stay in Tokyo for much longer. Rumors were starting to spread and she could not allow that. On top of that, for the past week she had a feeling that someone was following her. She ignored it, or at least tried to. The

presence only seemed to be around when she was out in public. It was a police officer, that much she knew. Probably keeping an eye on her in case she tried something. Sannai had worked at the Akebeko when it was busy, always

refusing payment, whether it be in money or with food. On her days off she would wonder around town, chatting with merchants and often buying a few things, mostly food. She enjoyed eating out, but preferred home cooked meals. She

wasn't the best cook, but she was good at it. One had to be able to survive when traveling like she did. She ran into the young boy she saw at the dojo Himora was living at. They talked every now and then and it seemed that he did not

mind her presence. It warmed her heart that he had accepted her. He asked about her sword a few times, either if he could see what kind it was or if he could hold it. She would politely deny him the privileges and he would pout. She had

also gotten into a brawl every so often, but it seemed to die down a considerable amount during her stay. She also met a retired artist. He was not old in the slightest. He just decided to give it up and became a journalist instead. His

name was Tsukioka Tsunan, but he asked her to call him Katsu instead. She happily agreed. They kept each other company whenever they wanted someone to talk to. Katsu often asked her for any information she had about the world.

She agreed to answer his questions whenever he asked them, but he had to paint something for her. He thought it was amusing and accepted the trade. He ended up painting her late commander; Shiroji Sasuke. She kept it rolled up and

in her shirt for safe keeping. He warned her that it may get ruined if she should get attacked and injured. She knew it was true, however she had nowhere else to place it. So he told her that if something were to happened to it he would

paint another one for her. Tae mistook them as a couple once and they both burst out laughing, saying they were just friends. Sannai sighed as she stood up from sitting on the ground in front of the Akabeko. She had gained many

memories in Tokyo. She had informed Katsu, Tae, Tsubame, and Yahiko that she would be leaving soon, but she promised to visit them again.

~o~o~o~o~o~

Yahiko was in a rather sour mood and everyone took notice of it. When asked what was wrong, he would snap and say "it's nothing". He had trained extra hard that day and rarely ate. Sanosuke would pester him about the possibility

that he was sick and had the local doctor, Doctor Genzai, take a look at him while Megumi, his assistant, was out of town. He clarified that there was nothing wrong with the boy, but perhaps he was just having a bad day. Yea, that was it

alright. He was having a rather bad day. He woke up to find out that Kaoru had cooked breakfast and then when he went out to meet Sannai as planned, he found out she was leaving. And that very night too! He thought that if he

trained extra hard it would help him relieve his anger, but found that it did nothing except somehow make him more upset. He was walking around the dojo when an officer walked up to the main entrance. "Excuse me. Would Sir Himora be

at home?" He asked catching Yahiko's attention. The boy nodded and called for Kenshin, saying that a police officer was here to see him. Kenshin appeared to greeted the man and asked him what he could assist him with. "Ah, Sir Himora.

I'd like to talk to you about the murders that have been happening recently." Kenshin smiled nervously as he dried his hands on the towel he held in his hands. "I don't see how that has anything to do with me, that I don't." The officer

sighed and closed his eye, nodding once. "Naturally that would be the case. You have told us before that you would prefer not to be involved in such events. However..." He opened his eyes and looked at the ground as if thinking on how

to say something. He looked up at Kenshin and looked him straight in the eyes. "This murderer is using the name Battōsai." Kenshin's eyes widened a bit before blinking a few times. He moved to the side and motioned him inside to talk

further on the situation. A few moments later and the officer was sitting down facing the three residents of the Kamiya Dojo. A moment of silence was passed as Kaoru passed out cups of tea to everyone. The officer began to give the

group all the details he could. Many deaths have been happening as of late. They were found either decapitated or they bled to death from the many wounds on their bodies. A couple of days ago, a woman was brave enough to come

forth and tell the police that her husband was killed by someone with an unusual sword technique and used the name Battōsai. Yahiko gritted his teeth at the information they had received. It seemed that his day was only getting worse.

Now some guy was using the name Battōsai and claiming to be his idol. "That's ridiculous! People around here know about Kenshin once being the Battōsai and know his face. Besides, he's taken an oath never to take a life again." It was

silent as the four sipped their tea and thought things through in their heads. Then Kenshin mouthed his idea. "Perhaps I shall meet with this woman. Try and get information concerning the description of this man. " The officer set down his

almost empty cup. He opened and closed his mouth a couple time, seemingly having trouble with how he was going to say something. Finally after a moment he told them that the widow refused to talk to anyone. The only thing she's said

when questioned was 'I need some time to myself.' Yahiko groaned and fell onto his back mumbling something about not going to get anywhere for a short while. After finishing his tea, the officer excused himself and said that if he learned

anything he would inform them right away. With a slight bow he left the dojo to patrol the area once more.

~o~o~o~o~o~

A hand placed a piece down on a board and then rested it in his lap over his other arm. "Nothing I say will make you stay a bit longer, will it?" Katsu asked as Sannai made her move on the board. She shook her head and motioned for him

to make his move, taking a sip of her tea. Katsu studied the board and then made a move, but Sannai made him regret it. "I win again, Katsu." The journalist sighed and nodded. He placed some money in her hand and then suggested,

with a slight pout, that they should play another game. She laughed a bit and agreed. They played a few games of dice and after losing ten rounds he gave up. They stood up after finishing their tea and Sannai put the cups away then

they headed out to the Akabeko. They were greeted by Tea and Tsubame instantly and were seated at their usual booth. Tsubame served them this time, for Tea was busy with many customers of her own. But of course they didn't mind.

After they ordered their meals, Katsu cleared his throat to get the woman's attention. "I have a parting gift for you, Sannai. It's not much though." He reached into his shirt and pulled out a rolled up piece of paper and handed it to her.

She looked at it, slightly confused before taking it out of his hands. She unrolled the paper, which had weights to make it look more like a scroll, and her eyes widened. "It's something to make sure you won't forget about us." On the scroll

was an oil painting he had finished the night before. It was of her four friends in Tokyo. Yahiko was in the front of the group, wearing his bokken on his back like usual, and holding two fingers out in front of him in a peace sign like manner,

along with a smug like look on his face. To his left behind him was Tsubame, her hands at her chest holding a tray, and smiling. Behind her was Tae, holding a hand to her mouth and looking like she was holding back a giggle, with her

other hand brought up to her chest. To the right of Yahiko was Katsu himself, smirking a bit while juggling a few of his small hand bombs in his left hand. She smiled and held back tears of happiness. "Thank you, Katsu. This will be my

treasure." Tsubame came back with the food just as she was about to fold it up. The young girl's eyes widened in amazement. "That's beautiful!" She said and smiled. "I'm glad you got something, too." The comment made Sannai raise a

single eyebrow in question. Tsubame excused herself quickly after placing the food down and ran into the back of the restaurant. Sannai giggled a bit and after saying "Itadakimasu" with Katsu, she started to eat her meal. They made

small talk until Tsubame came back with something in her hands, holding it close to her chest as if protecting it. "He dropped it off earlier this morning. Tae got something similar as well." She handed her older friend the scroll and she

opened it. Sannai laughed a bit as she looked at the picture. It was her with her sword drawn out a smirk on her face, but a little dark look in her eyes. On the bottom right corner of the painting was a cute picture of Sannai with an arm

wrapped around Tsubame's neck from behind, and her other arm stretch out in front of them making a peace sign. She smiled and touched the painting gently, tracing the sword that was painted. "You even got the sword right." She

noticed as she folded it and handed it back to the girl. Katsu smirked as he chewed on the food in his mouth. After swallowing he took a sip of his drink before nodding at Sannai. "After knowing you for about, what, a month? You'd think

I'd notice what kind of sword you carried." Sannai smiled and reached over the low table and hugged him the best she could. "Thank you. That's sweet of you to think of everyone." When she let go, Katsu blinked before looking away, a

small blush on his cheeks. "Ah, it was nothing really." Tsubame giggled a bit and then left to tend to her other customers.

~o~o~o~o~o~

Sannai stopped walking suddenly and Katsu noticed a moment later. He stopped walking, turning to look back at her. He was about to ask what was wrong when he saw Yahiko jump at her. Sannai easily dodged and smiled when he

rolled around a bit on the ground. "Sorry Yahiko. Perhaps next time." Sannai managed to get out without laughing lightly. The young samurai grumbled and jumped up, pointing his bokken at her. "I'll get you sometime, Sannai!" The

woman giggled and covered her mouth. "If you say so." Then he stood in a fighting stance and the elder woman tilted her head, slightly confused. "Yahiko?" He smirked and told her that if he landed a hit on her she had to stay for at least

another week. She sighed and, knowing that he wouldn't be able to land a blow on her, she accepted. But she was surprised when he came right at her, in public! She dodged the attacks as she predicted his moves as he swung at her.

He was skilled for his age, she gave him that much. She knew he trained under the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu at the dojo he stayed at. So he had some experience. The one sided battle seemed to drag on and soon a crowd started to form. It

was something Sannai did not want. So she used her sword, keeping it sheathed, and swung at him, blocking an attack and hitting him on the side. She made sure not to put much strength into it in order not to hurt the boy. The crowd,

which seemed disappointed, broke up and soon they were paid no mind to. But Yahiko jumped back up and charged at her again. Sannai smiled a bit and kept knocking him back whenever he came at her. He went at it for at least an hour

before becoming tired. Sannai put her sword back on her hip and turned to look at Katsu, who was leaning against the wall of a building they were by. She smiled and then her eyes practically popped out of their sockets when a rock

smacked her right in the head, causing her to fall to the ground. Yahiko punched the air in victory and looked at the girl who was spread out on the ground dizzy. Yahiko and Katsu walked over and looked down at her, and just when her

friends were going to ask if she was alright, her eyes narrowed slightly and she jumped up, swinging her sword and blocking a few kunai from attacking her friends. "Show yourself. I do not appreciate you attacking my friends in order to

get to me." Her voice was annoyed and a bit cold. A moment later a few men and woman came into view, holding weapon ranging from knives to flails. "What is this? The middle ages? What the hell you carrying a flail around for?" Yahiko

questioned, raising a brow at the group, but it was an insult to the ones who carried the weapons. Sannai got into a fighting stance and pushed Yahiko back behind her. "Katsu, take Yahiko and run. Please, I can't protect you from all of

them." She plead when she was him about to argue. After a moment he nodded, grabbing Yahiko around the waist and carried him away as he ran, the boy struggling to get free from his hold. The group smirked and charged at her, but

Sannai threw a smoke bomb down and the attackers stopped, covering their mouths, unsure if it was toxic or not. When the smoke cleared, they saw the woman running away, and she was a few yards away from them. They all charged

after her and Sannai made a fearful expression as she ran. She turned down allies in hopes of losing them, but they were closely following her. Why were they after her? She blinked and slowed down, recognizing the area she had visited

a month ago. She jumped a bit, shocked when she heard the group still after her. "Persistent, aren't they!" She squeaked and jumped over the wall that surrounded the property. She landed on the ground, skidding a bit before spinning

around to see the group jumping or climbing over the wall. She sagged her shoulders and her left eye twitched a bit. She had no choice, she had to get rid of them. Avoiding them without a fight was futile. She straightened her body and

took a stance, her hand close to her sword, ready to draw it. When they came close enough she swung at them, the force itself made the group fly back towards the wall and crash through it. Only a couple stood conscious and she quickly

knocked them out with the butt of her sword. She sighed and sheathed her sword, glad that, that was taken care of. Then a voice caught her attention and she turned towards it, her eyes wide with surprise. "Who the hell are you?"

S: I swear Kenshin. You're too nice.

K: Heh, heh. Well Sano, I couldn't just ignore her when she was in need of assistance, that I could not.

Y: But that's what usually causes trouble for us!

s: I'm sorry to be a bother to you all.

K: Eh...really Sannai-dono. It's no trouble at all, that it is not!

k: No trouble? My dojo is in need of repair. Again!

s: Next time on Another Battōsai: The Kamiya Dojo: Repairs And A Place To Stay. I promise I'll fix everything!