Author's Note: As an important note: this is set AFTER The Final. I have the movie verse in mind when I wrote this. Also, I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough about this, but the first FIVE CHAPTERS of this convoluted mess can be found at "a distant part of the sky"
Unbeta-ed so sorry but got so excited that I managed to finish another chapter so... here it is.
Sanosuke felt like he was being slowly suffocated by the worst streak of hot weather he ever had the misfortune of experiencing. It has been three days of doing nothing but lying sprawled by the engawa, the heat haze hanging heavily around them; a constant and oppressing presence that no one could escape. He'd heard talks about the heatwave of 1875 – apparently the worst and the hottest. So far. He wouldn't be surprised if this year would break that record.
"Sagara, move." He heard Yahiko mumbling beside him, complaining about the space that he was taking up.
Sano shook his head, rolling it just the tiniest bit, letting it hit the floor with a small thud. "Can't, kid." The sweltering heat was draining them of the energy for speech. It was almost like being drunk and hungover, only without the constant need to piss and vomit. He would've perished inside his tiny room if he had stayed there and not temporarily moved into Kaoru's home; which thankfully offered a bigger space, larger windows and a garden that was occasionally stirred by the gentlest but most useless wind. He can't wait for the rainy season to start. It has to start soon. Kami-sama, what he wouldn't offer as a sacrifice for just a little bit of rain.
Even Kaoru had reluctantly cancelled her classes. A historic first, apparently, since she had started teaching. But there was no way anyone can get up and do katas in these temperatures. It wasn't just impossible; it might actually be deadly. Imagine dropping dead mid swing and thrust. The last thing the Kamiya Dōjō needed were students fainting left and right due to nesshabyō.
Megumi was being kept in her clinic, busily attending those who were suffering from dizziness, muscle cramps and all the other summer illness that was plaguing their community. She'd come by a few days earlier to give them a list of what to look out for and what to do should anyone of them show signs or symptoms of heatstroke. It was her idea that he stayed at Jou-chan's, at least until the heat had abated.
Of course, he might have also told Megumi about the whole shenanigan in Shanghai thing. Megumi wasn't supposed to know. Saitou had threatened them with death and evisceration – whichever comes first – if they so much as breathed a word of this "mission", but fuck that. They needed all the help they could get to make sure that Jou-chan stays in Tokyo.
It took Megumi half a day to calm down when she realized that Kaoru was seriously considering helping out Kenshin's abominable brother-in-law. The other half she spent berating him for underestimating Kaoru's abilities and intelligence.
Sano rolled his eyes. "You sound like Kenshin. And it's not even true. I truly believe in Jou-chan's ability to kick ass and think up her own devious plots. I've been a victim of those two things, let me remind you. I'm just saying, what's the point of having me – Sagara Sanosuke, best street fighter in all of Japan – as her friend if I can't protect her? She doesn't have to kick ass and think up devious plots because that's what we're here for."
That earned him an ear pulling that he would likely never forget.
"You're a condescending, chicken-head chauvinist. There is no medicine for that, but I will get that fixed, Sanosuke. One way or another."
It sounded so much like a threat and Sano felt just a little bit unnerved. "What did I say?!"
"You don't understand what it's like for Kaoru and I. You're a male. You've never had to constantly work hard to prove your worth. You're never told to just stay in the kitchen and cook. Or marry and have children, demurely walking behind your husband."
"Woman, what do you think my constant fighting is for?" Sano asked exasperated. "It's to prove my worth."
Megumi arched her eyebrows. "Oh really? I thought it was just stupidity."
"And for the record, I do not and would never, ever think that Jou-chan should stay in the kitchen and cook. Except of course if she's going to cook for Yukishiro. Do you think she'll confuse ground pepper with gunpowder?"
"Let me talk to Kaoru."
He let out a humorless chuckle. "Che, Foxy. I was just joking. Jou-chan wouldn't - would she? Because that might actually be an even better idea-"
Megumi interrupted him with an open palm swatting the back of his head. "About going to Shanghai, you idiot!"
Sano was aghast. "You can't! You're not supposed to know about this. If you talk to her, she'll know that I told you and then you'd just prove her point that I don't trust her which will make her even more obstinate she'll end up moving to Shanghai and then Kenshin will definitely turn all Battousai on me."
"What's the whole point of this conversation then?!" Megumi asked her whole face turning crimson. "I thought you were asking for my help and advice."
"I am! I need help on how to murder Yukishiro and not make it look like murder. Buddha, what is wrong with you?!" He asked completely bewildered and because women liked to keep men confused, Megumi didn't bother answering him. She just let out an impressive growl of frustration before stomping her way towards the dojo.
Foxy and her stellar acting skills allowed her to very professionally suggest to Kauro that Sano needed to be taken in, just until the heatwave has finished ravaging their city. "He'll die inside his stupid, stinking tiny room devoid of any form of ventilation."
"A roasted chicken." Yahiko whispered, sounding almost awed. Sano would have promptly flicked him in the ear with his fingers but he figured he should use his severely depleted energy elsewhere. Also, he had promised Megumi to be on his behavior so not to turn Jou-chan off.
"Fine." Kaoru answered huffily, crossing her arms, looking none too pleased. She turned to him with narrowed eyes. "While you're staying here, you're going to follow my rules."
"Yeah. Yeah. You have a list. I know." Sanosuke muttered, trying his best to sound grateful. He didn't seem to have achieved that, since both Yahiko and Kaoru scowled at him. Kenshin, as always was just quietly observing. Although he seemed disinterested, his eyes were bright and alert, absorbing the conversation going on around him.
Other than Kaoru and Yahiko's less than enthusiastic welcome, Megumi's visit went exceptionally well. There was no mention of Yukishiro, Saitou or Shanghai.
Before leaving, Megumi told a completed baffed Kaoru that they needed to schedule lunch together, women only.
"Why?" Kaoru asked, her suspicious tone mirrored by the look Kenshin was sending his way, which Sano chose to ignore. Hands on his pockets, he looked around the dojo as though seeing it for the first time.
"Because Tanuki," Megumi answered impatiently before leaning forward, whispering something in Jou-chan's ear. When Megumi stepped away, Kaoru looked mildly interested, eyebrows all scrunched up. She finally nodded her agreement. Lunch soon. Women only.
Sanosuke would gladly kill Yukishiro if it meant knowing what Megumi had told Jou-chan.
Staying at Kaoru's ensured two things: he wouldn't be cooked alive inside his room and he could help out Kenshin and Yahiko should there be any trouble at the dojo. Not that anyone seemed inclined to do anything in this blasted heat. Three days since their meeting with Saitou and thankfully, nothing has happened. There were no unexpected visits from Yukishiro and no messages from Saitou either. Maybe Kaoru's demands were met with scorn and was not approved, because obviously, civilians don't get to dictate terms and conditions of a government mission.
Sano truly hoped that this was the end of Saitou's evil plan and if the gods were merciful, his career as well. Surely Saitou's superiors would recognize the sheer stupidity of that proposal.
Saitou's utter lack of conscience and his position of power in this fucking administration were a terrible combination. He would always be a heartless bastard, but he won't always have the authority to be obnoxious. One day, he'd be replaced by someone who didn't have some nefarious agenda to revive the Hitokiri Battousai for his own sick, personal reasons and Sanosuke was looking forward to that day. But for now, he was content to just lie down and dream about rainstorms.
It will start with a drop in temperature, a cold mist in the late afternoon and then a thunderstorm followed blessedly by a fucking deluge. One that would finally bring a reprieve from this endless summer. Cool, wet wind caressing his skin, enough to make him gasp out loud with ecstasy…
"This is how you're spending the day while Kenshin and I had to go out and buy food?"
Sanosuke could barely raise his head when he heard Kaoru's voice. "Lemmebe, Jou-chan. You're chasing the rain away."
"There is no rain!" Kaoru announced kicking at his leg.
"Ouch. Hurts." He faintly whispered and then slowly rolled away so he could look up into the cloudless blue-skies that held no possibility of even a drizzle. Sanosuke couldn't blame Kaoru for sounding irritated but it wasn't his fault that it was her and Kenshin's turn to go to the market and suffer through the scorching heat.
"Kaoru, didyaget watermelons?" Yahiko asked, his voice filled with deep lethargy,
"Sit up, both of you." Kaoru ordered, ignoring Yahiko's question.
"We got ayu, that we did, de gozaru." Kenshin sounded too chipper for someone who had been out in this damnable heat.
"'Sssssnot the same." Yahiko complained.
"Fine." Kaoru gritted out, "More for me and Kenshin then."
"No, wait!" With his half-opened eyes, he watched as Yahiko sluggishly sat up to receive the sticks of ayu that Kenshin was handing him. Bah! Sano continued to lie down, lifting his arms instead, which Kaoru not-so-playfully slapped away.
"Have some pity, Jou-chan." He mumbled pitifully.
"You can't eat lying down, Sano."
Hearing Yahiko enthusiastically devouring his ayu, Sanosuke mustered all of his energy so he could roll his eyes before grunting and forcing himself to sit up, cross-legged. They arranged themselves so that they sat in a circle, Sano and Yahiko's back facing the garden, willing for some breeze to dry out their sweat-stained shirts.
"Let me get the tofu inside, Kaoru-dono. I can also prepare some sobacha." Kenshin volunteered, smiling happily as they all grunted their agreement.
"What's he so pleased about? Were you walking hand in hand, or something?" Sano asked as soon as Kenshin was out of earshot.
Kaoru's already heat-reddened face turned a darker shade. Sputtering and choking for a few seconds, she sent him a glare. "Mou, Sano!"
The heat had effectively sapped Kaoru's usual litany of threats and her energy to follow through with it. Also, it wasn't exactly a denial. "Neh, Jou-chan," Sano impishly waved his stick of half-eaten ayu in front of Kaoru's face, the charred flakes of fish skin drifting down and settling on his pants, "I hope Kenshin doesn't have sweaty hands. Girls don't like that, I heard."
"Don't be dumb. Kenshin was holding the tofu bucket in one hand and the ayu on the other, how's he going to hold Kaoru's hand?" Yahiko pointed out.
Sano felt his grin turning into a frown. "Che, kid. Shaddap."
Kenshin hurriedly re-joined them, gracefully sitting down on the floor, balancing a tray filled with cups of buckwheat tea.
Evidence of today's extreme weather condition, even the kakigōri shop at the market had run out of ice and Kenshin was apologetic, serving the tea in room temperature. Jou-chan didn't seem to mind as she was the first one that Kenshin served, their fingers meeting briefly over the cup. Sano felt his nose wrinkling at the exchange of murmured thank you's and the blushing that ensued.
"'s okay, Kenshin." Sano said, grabbing one for himself, sniffing it before throwing back his head and swallowing in one big gulp. "Isn't this supposed to help with losing weight?"
This was sincerely an offhand comment, meant to start a conversation, but he probably should not have addressed this information to Kaoru, who was giving him a look that he wouldn't call affectionate.
"I don't think so, Sano." If only her icy tone could cool them all off.
He nervously licked his lips, chasing some of the tea's aftertaste. "Well, what's it supposed to do, then?"
Kaoru very gently placed her now emptied cup on the tray and crossed her arms. "It's supposed to be refreshing, preferably enjoyed in silence."
Kenshin cleared his throat. "I believe it's good for the stomach and eyes, Kaoru-dono."
Kaoru turned to Kenshin; eyebrows raised. "Says who?"
"Says shishou?"
"You don't sound so sure, Kenshin." Yahiko mumbled in a dazed, half-interested tone. Kid still looked mildly disappointed that they weren't having watermelons for their afternoon snack.
"Oh really?! And Hiko-sama would know about this because?" There was a playful note in Kaoru's voice; her face, all lit up. Sano felt certain that some sort of flirting had transpired during the short trip to the market. He turned his attention to Kenshin, who was enthusiastically nodding his head, looking extremely pleased at the attention he was getting. Never mind the fact that it was about fucking sobacha. These two were just hopeless.
"I – well, he just – I never actually questioned it, Kaoru-dno, but why would shishou lie about tea?"
Kaoru was about to say something when Sano cut her off. "Geez. I'm sorry I asked." This has got to be the most boring, un-sexy topic anyone has ever attempted to be coy about. It ultimately answered the question of why haven't Kenshin and Jou-chan ever gotten past the stupid dono-s and violent bokken thwacking in the head. How in the hell did Yahiko ever endure this daily charade? He'd only been here three days and it was already getting on his nerve.
And okay, maybe if there wasn't any threat with Yukishiro and Jou-chan play-acting like an engaged couple (how is Kenshin not worrying about this was beyond him), maybe he wouldn't have been so impatient. But things needed to happen to further cement Kenshin and Kaoru's relationship. Enough for it not to be jeopardized by Yukishiro being all annoyingly charming, showering Jou-chan with gifts and compliments.
Not that Kaoru would be susceptible to such nonsense, but he'd seen Yukishiro give Kaoru that once-over and it wasn't totally without interest. Sano was a man. He was well aware of how other men looked at women that might have - well, potential.
Sure, Jou-chan wasn't the type that men would immediately take notice of but once she'd manage to wiggle herself into any person's life - just look at them as an example. Just look at Kenshin! Jou-chan managed to derail Kenshin's life long plan of being a wanderer in less than a year! Imagine what it would do to someone like Yukishiro who obvious have a creepy, older sister-complex and was clearly, severely deprived of kindness and sympathy.
Kenshin's brother-in-law might as well be a stupid looking puppy, probably with rabies, but that would only make Jou-chan be all gentle and nurturing towards him. Yukishiro would want to keep Kaoru for himself, because let's face it, who wouldn't want that kind of attention?
It was really time to get her out of Saitou and Yukishiro's evil clutches before she gets snatched away, forever.
Sano wriggled his ass closer towards Jou-chan, who in turn gave him warning look that if he moved another inch forward, he better be prepared for the consequences. He put up his hands in peaceful surrender, tilted his head and went for it. "I have an idea."
"Sano-" Kenshin started, which he immediately stopped with a dismissive hand gesture, keeping his attention on Kaoru.
"Why don't we go on a short vacation? Somewhere cooler. We shouldn't be staying in this gods-forsaken, fucking hellhole."
"Sano." This time Kenshin's tone was clearly that of a reprimand.
"What, Kenshin?!" Sano asked with growing annoyance. It was really mainly the heat but there was also the fact his friend had done nothing but ignore all of his precious pieces of advice on how to effectively dodge Saitou's unacceptable scheme.
"Language." The curt answer was given through tightly gritted teeth.
Welp. Looked like he wasn't the only with a shortened fuse today. Sano managed not to roll his eyes. "Jou-chan has heard worst."
Kaoru made a face. "I actually haven't but…"
"So whaddaya say, huh Kaoru?" Sano continued, starting to get into the idea. He didn't have to fake his enthusiasm. "Let's go somewhere north. Of course, you'll be, ugh, financing for it. But we can trek through the mountains. That's no problem at all. I'm a human map. A walking compass. That can save us some money. But if we really have to take a train or something, I swear we'll pay you back in household chores."
"Hey! Wait just a minute." Yahiko protested loudly. "Whaddaya mean, 'we'?"
"That would be an eternity of household chores, Sano." Kenshin remarked, eyebrows raised.
"Pffft, not like you don't want to do them, Kenshin."
Kaoru seemed to be seriously considering his suggestion, before sadly shaking her head. "It's a great idea Sano but we can't just leave Tokyo."
"Why the fuck not? It is miserable here, Jou-chan." He stared into her eyes, biting his lips, giving her the best pleading look he could muster.
"Do you need to go to the outhouse, or something, Sano?" Yahiko snidely asked.
Damn that kid, always cramping his style! Determinedly, Sano entreatingly clasped his hands together, shaking them in silent, almost prayer-like entreaty. Kaoru wavered for a few seconds but eventually insisted that they couldn't possibly. "We haven't heard back from Saitou-san-"
Sano threw out his arms in exasperation, missing Kaoru's nose by half an inch. "Oh, fuck Saitou and his stupid fucking fucked-up plan."
"Ano-" Kenshin had straightened up on his seat and Sano could sense his friend trying to get his attention.
This he pointedly ignored. Sano gently placed a hand on each of Kaoru's shoulder. "Jou-chan, it's been days. Let me tell you what most likely happened: the government has finally realized how incredibly idiotic Saitou is. And as punishment for the supreme insanity of that plan, they probably ordered Saitou to go with Yukishiro as his fucking bride-to-be."
Yahiko snorted. "Really? That's where you're going with this?"
"Why not?" He kept his full attention on Kaoru, who seemed to be at lost for words. "He's skinny enough to fit in a kimono. Put a ridiculous amount of powder on his face, make him wear some fancy wig and, Kenshin seriously, stop that!" He had to let Kaoru go as he slapped Kenshin's wildly gesturing hand away from him. "Where was I? Yes, Saitou and Yukishiro. They're perfect for each other. They definitely look like a couple bound for marital bliss. They can both fuck each other for all I care."
The sharp inhale came from everyone. "What?!" Sano shook his head at the stunned silence that followed. "Okay. Seesh. I'm sorry, that went a little too far." He turned to look back at Kaoru who had gone a shade paler, her eyes almost bulging out of her head. "I'm so sorry Jou-chan, you didn't have to hear that."
"What about me?" Yahiko raged beside him. "I didn't need that mental image, Sano!"
"Ano, Sano…" Kenshin's tone of voice didn't sound so good. In fact, the moment Kenshin trailed off, Sano felt a burst of energy from behind him and he briefly closed his eyes because of fucking course.
"Yukishiro is behind me, isn't he?" He asked already knowing the answer and not wanting to turn his head because, goddamn it, they weren't having the greatest of days but it had been relatively peaceful. And now all that was about to be ruined. Yahiko was right, Yukishiro had the worst perfect timing ever.
"And Saitou-san too." Kaoru added, wincing.
Sanosuke was shaking his head in denial. "How did - must be the heat. Depleted kis." He turned towards his red-haired friend, stabbing a finger in his face. "Did you sense them at all, Kenshin? How could you not have warned me?!"
"I was trying—" Kenshin made the same panicked hands flying all over the place gesture and Sanosuke was very tempted to throttle hm.
"That wasn't a warning. How is that a warning?!" Sano angrily hissed.
This only earned him an exhausted shrug followed by the most uncomfortable silence that Saitou's bored, silky voice eventually sliced through.
"You were saying about Yukishiro and I fucking each other, Sagara?"
"No! Stop!" Yahiko wailed, his hands immediately clamping on his ears; his young face agonized. "Why would you even repeat that!?I This is traumatizing! I hate all of you! Except for Kaoru." He leaned over to grab her hand, pulling her up with him. "Busu, let's get out of here. Let them - let them whatever. We don't need to be here."
Kaoru still seemed dazed as she let Yahiko usher her halfway inside the dojo, Kenshin also standing up, a protective hand settling on her lower back. Sano watched all this from the corner of his eyes, still unwilling to look at the faces of their unwanted visitors.
"It's the other way around, kid. We only need to talk to Kamiya." Yukishiro's grating voice was enough to confirm the truth of the situation. Kaoru snapped into attention and Sano had no choice but to turn around and look at the two people he currently despised with the force of a thousand burning Tokyo summers.
It didn't help that Yukishiro and Saitou looked startlingly, inexplicably - fresh. There was no other word to it. They didn't seem bothered by the heat. In fact, they look like they were barely sweating. Saitou looked polished as ever in his uniform and Yukishiro, cool and comfortable in that weird Chinese looking attire of his. Sano found himself meeting Yukishiro's haughty, unblinking stare.
"And why are you here? Are you always here?" There was no mistaking the rude, dismissive tone.
Sano bristled, but he kept his composure as he slowly stood up, his eyes never leaving Yukishiro's face. "I live here now. So, ha!"
"Is that true, Kamiya?" Yukishiro asked with mild concern, turning his attention towards Kaoru.
"Yes. But only until this heatwave - why am I even – I don't owe you any explanation!" Jou-chan angrily huffed, trying in vain to smoothen out her sweat-plastered hair.
Yukishiro was shaking his head. "You can't have men of ill-repute living in your house."
The precise, misplaced formality was quickly getting on Sano's nerve. He was about to let Yukishiro have a piece of his mind when Kenshin unexpectedly butted-in.
"That's rich, Enishi. Coming from a criminal like yourself."
Sano stiffened. He felt the muscles of his face stretching as his eyes widened in disbelief at Kenshin's muttered reply. He slowly glanced at the usually polite and/or silent ex-ruruoni and felt strangely pleased at the insolent expression that was twisting Kenshin's face. He'd never seen that look before. Holyshit.
"No matter." Yukishiro answered dismissively. "I'll make sure there won't be any gossiping. In the mafia, we aren't averse to cutting off tongues."
"You psycho!" Yahiko was understandably horrified by the information that Yukishiro had just casually shared although if pressed, Sano thought that was an effective way of stopping rumormongers. Brutal and absolutely wrong? Yes. Absolutely. But effective, nonetheless.
Of course, he wouldn't voice out that opinion. He remained silent as Kaoru gasped indignantly. "You can't do that. I'm serious, Enishi. If you do anything like that, I swear I am going to kick your where it will hurt the most!"
"A mere a suggestion, Kamiya. Clearly you don't approve, so we'll forget about it. Here," Yukishiro presented Jou-chan with a bright blue furoshiki; something round and heavy inside it. "I brought watermelons for you, future-wife."
"No one wants your stupid watermelons." Yahiko quickly muttered sounding both furious and despondent at the same time. "Take them away, please. For the love of Buddha."
"You are a very strange boy." Yukishiro commented matter-of-factly, looking down at Yahiko.
Chagrined, Yahiko grabbed the offered gift, the watermelon almost hitting Sanosuke in the knee. "You're one to talk!" The boy seethed. "Wearing orange in this heat. You're like a walking flame. It's so stupid."
Supremely unbothered, Yukishiro glanced down at his attire. "This isn't orange, kid. You need to get your eyes checked. This is tangerine."
Sano cocked his head to the side. "To be fair, it definitely has a lighter shade than orange."
Yahiko turned to give him a lingering glare and Sano briefly wondered if he was in any danger of being smacked by a fruit. He side-stepped a few inches out of Yahiko's reach, just to be safe.
Saitou, who has been uncharacteristically silent the whole time, lighted up a cigarette, took a long drag, blew out a thin blue line of smoke before sending each one of them a look of pure irritation. "Are you all done with this nonsense?" He didn't wait for the answer as he directly addressed Kaoru. "We need to talk, Kamiya."
Kaoru let out a small sniff before defiantly jutting out her chin. "Anything you have to say to me, you can say it in front of them."
Saitou smirked. "Shouldn't you be inviting us inside so we can have some tea? Isn't that the polite thing to do, Kamiya?" The words were dripped with caustic sarcasm, a reminder that he had yet to forgive them for the chaos that they've inflicted upon him a few days ago.
Kaoru belligerently crossed her arms, eyes flashing. "Here is fine, Saitou."
Unaffected by Kaoru's lack of hospitality, Satiou flicked the ashes from his cigarette, widening his stance. "The government accepts all of your request, Taunki. Congratulations." This was stated coolly, thin lips drawn into a tight mocking smile.
Kaoru looked confused. "Wait. No. What?"
"You can't be serious." Sano groused.
"The last one though, under the condition that it will be limited to two people. Unless you're going to pay for all of their expenses, then feel free to invite the whole of Tokyo." The words came out sounding all bunched up since this time, Saitou kept his lighted cigarette clamped between his teeth. Each word corresponding with a puff of disgusting fume.
Kaoru coughed a little. She waved her hand, trying to fan the smoke from her face and Sano heroically took the opportunity to step forward, shielding her from Saitou's offensive and probably unhealthy habit.
"One. Two." Sano counted, pointing at himself and then at Kenshin. Unfortunately, that presented Yahiko the opportunity to try and bite off his finger which he snatched at the very last second. "What the hell, kid?!"
"You are not leaving me here!" This was emphasized with the stomping of his foot.
"Fine. Can't she like bring two and a half?" Sanosuke asked Saitou who ignored him. As always.
"Of course, there are still a few guidelines and procedures that we need to discuss." Keeping the same stoic expression on his face, Saitou continued in the same uncaring monotone. "Rules that you need to follow but you and Yukishiro can announce your engagement at your own convenience."
Yukishiro was nodding approvingly. "The sooner, the better, hanayome."
Sanosuke watched as Kenhsin's face tightened. "It's all pretend, Yukishiro. Get a hold of yourself."
"It has to look real, you truculent fool."
Kenshin's eyes smoldered into something dark and fiery but he remained tight-lipped.
Indifferent to the silent exchange of murderous glares, Saitou went on. "We're getting ready to leave for Shanghai in a month's time, that should be enough to establish your relationship." The former captain of the third unit of the Shinsengumi finished with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulder, determined to deny the existence of everyone else except for Jou-chan. Which was ironic, since he obviously really couldn't care less about Kaoru being stuck in ship with Yukishiro, a thousand miles away from the safety of her own home.
"Well, isn't this exciting, Kamiya?" Yukishiro creepily crooned.
"I'm going to be sick."
"Puke on Yukishiro. Vomit would look good on that color. What do you think Kenshin, huh? Yeah?"
Kenshin very subtly nodded his head in agreement.
"Try. Die."
That was all the invitation that Sano nodded. He made a half turn, fingers curling up in a tight fist, but he felt Kaoru's hand touching his arms and pushing him away as she stepped forward, eyes focused on Saitou. "I think – I think I'm going to need a minute. No, a day. I need a whole day and-" She was blinking rapidly, as though trying to catch all the thoughts that were probably crowding into her brain.
Sano was almost sympathetic. Saitou wasn't. He hurled his unfinished cigarette on the ground in obvious frustration. "What is it now? You can't back out of this, Tanuki."
Kenshin moved to stand beside Kaoru, their shoulders pressed together in a show of unity. "Yes, she can. And you will allow her if that is what she wants, that you will."
Saitou brought his hands together, clasping them and then cracking his knuckles. "I've had it with all of your idiocy. This isn't some game!"
Kaoru was undeterred. "I'm not backing out. Just- I need to do some things before… before all of this." She made a sweeping gesture of her hand and for the first time, she sounded upset.
"Yes, of course. I understand." Yukishiro murmured, cloyingly insincere.
"No." Saitou firmly told Kaoru before turning his attention to Yukishiro, ordering him to shut up.
Giving Saitou a taste of his own medicine, Yukishiro blithely ignored the command. "This is all very overwhelming. Why don't you discuss all the bureaucratic concerns today, Saitou? Tomorrow, I can take Kamiya shopping for new kimonos and maybe even some western dresses."
"I can buy my own kimonos, Yukishiro." Kaoru replied testily.
"I don't doubt that." Yukishiro quickly replied, sounding doubtful. "It's your taste I don't fully trust."
Kaoru's eyes visibly twitched. "You can taste my fist when it slams into your face."
"Surely there are better ways to - taste your fist?" And again, that utterly inappropriate smile that raised all of their hackles.
"It will be better if you don't warn him, Kaoru-dono. That it will." Kenshin muttered his first unsolicited advice regarding his brother-in-law.
Yahiko had a more hands-on approach. "Please, let me hurt him. Just a little bit, Kaoru."
"Hey, get in line kid." Sano cracked his knuckles, hunching up his shoulder, ready for a fight.
Even Saitou seemed to have reached his limit of enduring Yukishiro's presence. "Are you ever going to make him leave or should I do the honor, Himura?"
Kenshin sent Yukishiro his most menacing glance. Eyes like sharp blade, glinting dangerously as lightly bounced on his heels. A gesture that seemed innocent enough, if one wasn't aware of Ryūtsuisen and how Kenshin could easily launch himself into the air, giving him the opportunity to do a two-handed sword swing, effectively bringing his sakabatou down on his enemy. "I'm going inside to prepare your tea, Saitou and when I come back –" Kenshin's face was as neutral as a stone, but his voice held an almost threatening cadence to it.
Yukishiro grinned at Kenshin, his own eyes blazing with barely suppressed madness. "Oh, don't worry about me, brother-in-law. I really do have to get going." Enishi cocked his head to the side, as he sent Kaoru a lopsided grin. "I have an engagement party to plan and prepare for."
Kaoru blinked at him. "I'm sorry, what?"
"How do you think the people of Tokyo will know about our engagement, Ài qī? We should publish an announcement in the local papers. A few in Kyoto, too."
"Ahou!" Saitou roared, snappily pivoting towards Yukishiro, nostrils flaring. "Do you want to bring down the whole Oniwabanshu to Tokyo, you halfwit?"
Yukshiro looked mildly affronted and was about to open his mouth when Kaoru stepped in between the two, using her arm to slightly push Enishi out of the way so she could glare up at Saitou.
Gotta give Jou-chan props for being ballsy enough to let herself be sandwiched by two mentally unstable killers.
"This is exactly why I need a few days, Saitou. I need to inform my friends so they wouldn't…"
"Attempt to rescue you?" Kenshin offered not unkindly.
"Shake some sense into you?" Yahiko added, raising his eyebrows.
Sano tsked. "Or actually, make Kenshin's shishou shake some sense into him." He gave his friend a pointed look. Of course, the very idea rattled Kenshin enough for him to sputter his usual, "O-oro!"
"A few days! A minute ago, it was just a whole day and now you need more. You can't make demands and then delay things, Kamiya. That is not how this works." Saitou's booming voice seemed to surround them.
Jou-chan wasn't in the least bit concerned. She huffily crossed her arms, shrugging her shoulder in mock surrender. "Fine. You deal with an angry kunai-throwing Misao, then."
Saitou took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing into tiny slits that made him look like he was imagining inflicting upon them very many violent deeds. "Two days, Tanuki. No more, no less. I don't care how you do it, but you get everything in order and then that's it. My patience is wearing thin."
Saitou continued to harangued Jou-chan about the many inconveniences of her dilly-dallying and Sano was shaking his head and rolling his eyes when he noticed Yukishiro listening expressionlessly, not saying a word.
There was something about his silence that made Sano nervous. Until he realized that Kenshin was doing the exact same thing. He could feel the unspoken warning that was being exchanged between the two men and he wondered briefly if the mention of Kyoto had brought them both at the same point of remembrance. The memory of a fateful winter and what their separate conspiracies have brought upon the woman they had vowed, and in the end, failed to protect.
"Duly noted." Kaoru was saying. "And now it's my turn." She had her face tilted up, the loose strands of her dark hair sticking into her dampened face, making her look like a fierce warrior in a midst of a battle.
"Turn for what?" Saitou asked, eyebrows raising in confusion.
"Get the hell out of my dojo. Both of you. Now!"
And Sano actually started to applaud Jou-chan for the way she said it: all fiery courage and that sweet viciousness that only a woman could muster. Now that's his Jou-chan and he had never liked her as much as he did in that moment.
Of course, trust Jou-chan to turn against him the minute Saitou and Yukishiro disappeared.
"No!" Sanosuke stubbornly shook his head, planting his feet wide apart. Unmovable. He will not be swayed into this stupidity.
"Sano, it makes sense."
"It does not!" He turned towards his as-usual-silent friend. "Kenshin, talk to her."
Kenshin looked to him then to Kaoru, grimaced a little before turning back to him. "She has a point, Sano. That she does."
Didn't see that coming, Sano thought sarcastically. "Oh, fuck you, Kenshin. Why don't you go to Kyoto and warn Misao and the Ice Man? Yahiko and I can handle going to Shanghai."
Yahiko was quick to jump in on the conversation. "Kenshin has to go with Kaoru, you know that."
Sano curled up his mouth. "Are you volunteering to go? Because that'd be perfect. Let the adults deal with this whole thing."
Kaoru blew the air out of the side of her mouth, taking a moment to calm herself. "Yes, let an eleven-year-old kid travel alone to Kyoto. That sounds like a great idea, Sano."
"I'm not a kid! And I am going with Kaoru. She promised me." Yahiko gave Kaoru a familiar petulant look and Sanosuke had to bite back another angry retort because of course Jou-chan will fall for that sad-little-boy expression that Yahiko had been successfully using against her for kami knows how long. Since she'd rescued him from the Yakuza, probably.
This was exactly why he should go with them to Shanghai. He was the only one who couldn't be emotionally manipulated by soft longing glances or pleading pouts. Kaoru was such an amateur. A message would suffice. Weren't there, what do you call thems? Telegrams. Expensive as hell, but they're supposed to be reliable.
"We can't just send them a message. I don't trust anyone else, Sano. You have to do it."
Nope. Kaoru employing both the lip-biting and sad puppy eyes will not work on him. He wasn't a lovesick idiot like Kenshin or a lonely orphaned boy like Yahiko. No. No. NO.
"They're a network of spies, Jou-chan. Trust me, if they don't already know about Yukishiro spending the night at the dojo-"
"He has never spent a night here!" Kaoru indignantly interrupted.
"-and getting ready to throw you an engagement party-"
"There will be no such thing!"
"I'm going to bet everything that I own that they're already on their way to Tokyo to clear things up and hopefully, violently end Yukishiro. Which I'd be more than happy to help."
"Yeah, me too. Count me in on that." Yahiko's enthusiasm was undeniable.
"Why am I never heard in my own dojo?! There will be no ending of people under my roof!"
"Fine. We can do it wherever."
Kenshin cleared his throat. "Can I talk to Sanosuke alone for a moment, Kaoru-dono?"
Sano crossed his arms and sent his friend a warning look. "No, Kenshin. There is nothing to talk about."
Kaoru had obviously given up and was done for the day. She flung both her hands up in submission. "Yes, fine. I'm tired of dealing with him. I'm going to take a bath. Yahiko, you can slice up that watermelon. We'll eat it after dinner."
Yahiko sulked, arms hanging heavily on his side. "I don't want it anymore."
"It's just watermelon." Kaoru pointed out.
"But it's from Kenshin's stupid brother-in-law and who knows if he poisoned it or something. Just throw it away, Kaoru."
"Brat! I'm not wasting any food. I'll eat all of it myself, then."
"You'll grow fat and people will think you're pregnant that's why you and Kenshin's idiot brother-in-law are suddenly getting married."
Kaoru violently shuddered at the idea. She let out a tiny scream before stomping off into the house, angrily muttering. "I can't believe I have to deal with this level of immaturity from all of you."
"Ano, Yahiko – I think you should apologize, that you should."
"Ugh Kenshin. I really hate you right now." Yahiko stated dully before following Kaoru inside.
"Me too." Sano declared as soon as Yahiko was out of ear shot. "This isn't the I Told You So Moment, but let it be noted that I truly think that this is all your fault." Kenshin opened his mouth to protest but Sano beat him to it. "Also, you're not going to trick me into going to Kyoto, Kenshin."
"Not a trick." Kenshin assured him, turning serious. "Think about it, Sano. Why would Enishi want to announce the engagement in Kyoto?"
Sano scoffed. "I don't know. Maybe because he is a halfwit. Look at that. Finally, something Saitou and I could agree on."
"No. There has to be a reason."
Sano considered this for a moment, frowning. "If there was, why would he announce it for everyone to hear?"
Kenshin held his chin between his bent forefinger and thumb. "Maybe that's how he's hiding his plan. Putting it all out in plain sight."
"I don't get it."
Engrossed with his own thoughts, Kenshin started to walk around the engawa. "Enishi doesn't have to go back to Shanghai. He could've easily used whatever connection he has with this government to escape-"
"New Flash, Kenshin, this government is helping him escape. Quit pacing."
"No. Something's not right." Head bowed down, Kenshin kept walking into a tighter and tighter circle. His hair hanging around his face like a curtain, hid his expression but Sano knew what was truly bothering his friend.
"Of course, something is not right. He's trying to steal, Jou-chan!"
Kenshin finally stopped walking, snapping his head up to look at him. "Not like that."
"Please. Didn't you see the way Jou-chan was trying to fix her hair when your manic brother-in-law arrived?!"
The baffled look suited the rurouni but not this Kenshin, whose scrunched-up face was etching deeper worried lines around his eyes and mouth. "Ano - what does have to do with anything?"
Sano chose to ignore him. "And who gives watermelons just because?!"
Kenshin wasn't in the mood to discuss the many troubling signs that Sano had seen earlier. His fixation, so obviously, painfully misplaced. "What do we know of Enishi other than he arrived in Yokohama, had gotten arrested for smuggling firearms and selling them to Shishio?"
"We know that he's insane." Sano answered sulkily.
"The government was already after him. They knew he was coming to Japan. They were waiting for him."
"Well, they sure didn't know about his fucked-up Jinchuu. So much for intelligence work, neh?"
Tired or bored by pacing, Kenshin sat by the engawa steps. "They captured him. But he was released almost immediately. Even Saitou couldn't do anything about it."
Something clicked inside Sano's brain and he vigorously rubbed his jaws. "So, it's not just Yukishiro's clientele that Saitou is after?"
Kenshin looked up at him. "I know why Saitou is doing this. I don't know why Enishi is willing to go back to Shanghai and follow Saitou's plan."
Sano gave Kenshin a deadpanned look, shoving both of his hands inside the pockets of his hakama. "Well really, it's mainly to annoy you. I mean if that wasn't obvious enough."
Kenshin turned his face towards the gate that was still broken, hanging on its hinges. It had been too hot to repair it but Sano had a feeling that tomorrow, that will be the first thing in Kenshin's To Do List.
"He has contacts in Kyoto." Kenshin continued after a while, "And you're right. The Oniwabanshu is a network of spies. If anyone can discover what else is going on - if you and Misao can dig up more information about how and when he was able to get in touch with Shishio and who else was involved maybe we can figure out what's going on without going to Shanghai."
Sano chewed on his lips. Already knowing where this was heading but it was starting to make sense. Accepting defeat, he sat down beside his friend. "Saitou said the ship to Shanghai will leave in a month's time."
"So, you see Sano," Kenshin didn't have to look at him this time, his voice was already enough to convey the urgency of the task at hand, "if there's anyone who can actually stop Kaoru-dono from going to Shanghai, it's you."
"Oh, goddam you Kenshin." Sano softly swore.
"Do it for Kaoru-dono."
Sighing, Sano finally turned towards Kenshin. "Of course, I'm going to do it for Jou-chan. But only under one condition."
Kenshin was shaking his head, refusing to look at him. "Sano-"
"You better start getting your shit together. I mean it, Kenshin."
Kenshin gave him a long look, the tiredness in his eyes evident now that they were sitting side by side.
"Fine. Yukishiro doesn't want Jou-chan that way." Sano continued, willing Kenshin to understand just what was at stake here. "Whatever you say. But soon enough, he will become interested. You know it because this is exactly how and why you fell for her."
"It's not." Kenshin's protests died on his lips but he resolutely stood up, restarting his interrupted pacing. "It's different and this isn't the time—"
"Yes, it is." Sano argued, standing up as well. "It's now or never."
Kenshin abruptly stopped, keeping his eyes on the ground. "Sano, what if - what if she's meant to have a choice?" The barely contained anguish in Kenshin's voice was enough to make Sano want to strangle him and at the same time, affectionately pat him in the head.
"What the hell did Hiko ever do to you as a child that turned you into this?!"
"Oro?!"
"Why are you such a little masochist?!" Sanosuke clarified.
Kenshin took a deep breath. "Because I didn't have that. With Tomoe, that is. It was - at that time, it didn't feel like I had a choice. There was only just her. It felt like the world was ending and it was - there was no one else but her and me."
Sano didn't know how to respond to that. It was a different time. The trauma that it left Kenshin, more than just the scar on his face, went deeper than anything that Sano thought he had the capacity to understand. He couldn't imagine himself being in that situation and so maybe, this was why Kenshin held on to his walls and never allowed anyone else near enough to even touch that part of him that - kami, the end of the world - he wouldn't know how that would have felt like.
"I have no regrets." Kenshin continued in a gentler, quieter voice, "About meeting Tomoe and loving her. But I don't want Kaoru-dono to feel like there's was only ever just me."
There has to be a way to help his friend. "What's wrong with just you?! You don't have to test what you and Kaoru have, Kenshin. It's there. It's real."
Kenshin sighed and looked around them. "So is everything else."
"What does that even mean?"
"Sometimes, it feels like – like I'm trapping Kaoru-dono in box. So that no one or nothing else can get to her. I want her safe. More than anything. But not that way. I won't do that to her, Sano. I won't."
"First of all, there is no box large enough to fit Jou-chan. But I think I understand." He paused remembering his own conversation with Megumi. "Stupid Know It All Fox."
Kenshin gave him a strange look. "What?!"
"I don't agree with everything you've just said but I understand what you're saying." Sano titled his head up, briefly looking up the darkening sky. "Don't play hero in this one, Kenshin." He paused long enough to let Kenshin think about that. He patted Kenshin in the head, smiling at the slightly irritated look that crossed Kenshin's face – a mere glimpse of the fearsome, yet deeply wounded Battousai. "Don't sacrifice your happiness."
Kenshin smiled at him, a true one. "Her happiness is my happiness."
Sano gagged. "Ugh. That's – eurgh. Stop saying icky things like that to me. Tell them to Jou-chan. Jeez."
Kenshin chuckled. "Fine. I will. I'll tell her." Sano felt that Kenshin was being serious and that he meant it, so he didn't push.
"So, you'll go to Kyoto?" Kenshin finally asked.
Sano shook his head. "Yare yare. The things I do for true love."
End Notes and Trasnlations
Fun fact. That 1875 heat wave just got broken: news/2022/6/28/tokyo-swelters-in-worst-june-heatwave-in-japan-since-1875
Nesshabyō – heat stroke
Ayu - or sweetfish is usually grilled and is associated with the summertime in Japan. The fish have a sweet taste sweet that some say is similar to that of a watermelon.
Sobacha buckwheat tea is made of organic roasted buckwheat. This herbal tea has a toasty aroma and nutty, sweet flavor which can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Kakigōri (かき氷) is a Japanese shaved ice dessert flavored with syrup and a sweetener, often condensed milk.
furoshiki - an almost square piece of cloth that is traditionally used to wrap, carry or protect items. It is folded in a manner similar to origami to create beautiful gift-wrapping and bags.
Hanayome – bride
Ryūtsuisen (龍りゅう槌つい閃せん, Dragon Hammer Flash) – Usually initiated by a powerful jump, this technique places its user above the opponent, thus opening up more vulnerabilities in the latter. This technique's practitioner uses the momentum of his fall to strengthen a two-handed sword swing that brings his blade down on his enemy's head or shoulder. Ryūtsuisen is arguably Kenshin's favorite attack, as once noted by Kamiya Kaoru.
Ài qī – beloved wife in Chinese
The first telegram in Japan was in 1869
Yare yare (やれ やれ) - Japanese interjection that is mainly used by men and means "Good grief", "Give me a break"
I think that's everything.
Also, please someone write Sanosuke and Misao investigating Yukishiro's connections in Kyoto with Aoshi grumpily following them around because they seem to be having waaaay to much fun playing detectives. Thank you. LOL.