Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ As Time Goes By ❯ The Return of Roosterhead ( Chapter 3 )

I would like to thank all the reviewers for their comments, my husband for his support (and the rather brilliant suggestion that I actually try my hand at a wee bit of humor) and my sister for reminding me that I haven't posted for a week and a half.

This chapter takes place in late Autumn, approx. five months after the end of the chapter two. (Individual responses to my reviewers are at the end!)

***Heads up folks, there's some rough language ahead!***

As Time Goes By

Chapter Three

First Impressions

It was a perfect day for flying. Warm thermal currents rose from the Japanese mainland, then drifted slowly towards the dark, blue green of the Pacific, creating a perfect air scape for aerial acrobatics. One bird in particular was enjoying the tumultuous air currents as its sharp black eyes roved over the endless expanse of sea, searching for an easy meal. The gull wheeled sharply, then began to circle downward, detecting on the warm Autumnal breeze the faint tang of something burning....a scent that the mercenary avian associated with food. There were other scents in the air that the bird could not identify...the lung numbing odor of lead based paint peeling off white hot iron, the acrid tang of low grade coal being greedily consumed. There was one smell in particular that interested the air borne scavenger. It was oily and unmistakably organic...a macabre scent that carried up the heavens the heartbreaking screams of men and women as they fell victim to the mindless killer that was devouring a gutted out excuse for a stream ship.

With a cautionary squawk, the gull veered down, gliding effortlessly above the surging tide of people that were trying to escape the inferno, its only objective finding a meal within the fire tinged madness. With nary a thought, the bird swooped past the coal soaked flames, dodging the billowing pillars of stream that were erupting from a punctured boiler with effortless ease. A predatory glance proved promising. The unburned docks were littered with half burned bodies, the blood slicked sea teeming with wretched human flotsam. Yes, there was food to be had here. Cautiously, the gull landed next to a blanket covered form, intent on sampling the charred remains of a human hand.

"Back off, you buzzard !" Dr. Mara Mogensen snarled as she chucked an empty

iodine bottle at the screeching bird, her grey eyes snapping with fury. (Not unless you're keen on impersonating a bucket of chicken!) The slender woman seethed as she watched the offending gull beat a quick retreat across the smoky harbor, silently wishing that she could follow it away from the nightmarish scene.

Her face was grim as she pressed her sooty fingers against a woman's blistered throat and found that the combined forces of shock and third degree burns had stolen another life away, leaving the doctor feeling bereft and useless. Mara gently brushed her hand across the unseeing eyes, then wearily stood and stretched her aching back. (That makes forty -nine.)

"Look!" Someone shouted in a horrified voice. She turned towards the burning ship and swore furiously as more frantic screams rang out across the debris filled water, her eyes widening with horror as four soot covered passengers materialized out from the billowing smoke, struggling towards the unburned bow of the ship before the crackling flames engulfed them. The helpless crowd sent up a collective groan as one of the passengers, a slightly built woman, stumbled and fell lifelessly against the oil covered deck, then cheered when one of the male passengers staggered back and picked her up, somehow managing to endure the radiant heat that was causing the metal railings around him to warp and twist.

Mara locked her gaze on the tall male passenger, praying the he would find the strength to save himself and the unconscious woman in his arms.(Just hold on....) She was halfway done kicking off her heavy boots when an earthshattering explosion rocketed up from the bowels of the doomed steamer, followed by a shockwave that brutally slammed through the panic filled crowd. Mara shielded her eyes and desperately scanned the churning water, hoping beyond hope that at least one of the passengers had survived the blast, knowing that the chances of such a miracle were non-existent.

(This is really going to hurt....) It was the second to the last thought that raced through Sagara Sanosuke's mind as a red, writhing fireball blossomed up from where the engine compartment had once been. He threw his arms around the old woman and tried to shield her tiny body with his own. A hoarse shout escaped his lips as a suffocating curtain of fire enveloped them both, igniting the edges of his tattered cloak and singeing the hair on his arms and head. (Yup...this is hurting all right.....) With surreal calmness, he cradled the tiny grandmother against his powerful chest, whispering a heart felt apology that he had been unable to spare her from such an end, then collapsed down on the burning deck and closed his eyes.

A microsecond later, the resultant shockwave force tore into Sano, sending him tumbling head over heels over the bow of the ship and down towards the merciless sea. He clutched desperately at the shrieking woman, then cursed when she was ripped from his protective embrace and plummeted helplessly into the hard water. Instinctively, Sanosuke covered his head with his arms and went limp, the action sparing his neck from being broken as he plunged down into the debris filled harbor. The impact brutally knocked the wind from his lungs and for an instant he considered allowing his pain racked body to simply sink, then reconsidered and with a feral snarl, forced his cramping legs to tread water while he struggled to focus his bleary vision and get his bearings before some damn shark took a bite out of his ass and really managed to piss him off.

"Hold on!"

The man tried to turn towards the voice, his dazed mind dimly registering that it came from a woman. His attention was diverted however when he felt something brush up against his arm. (Awww shit!.....With my luck it'll be a tiger shark that hasn't eaten in weeks....) With a surprisingly strong yell, the soot soaked man twisted in the water, his fists ready to seriously pummel some fish flesh.

"Sweet merciful sake!" Sano shouted happily when he realized that the "thing" that had brushed up against him was in reality a "her". Closing his eyes for a moment, he mentally thanked the Gods (and gave himself a small congratulatory pat on the back) that the tiny, wisp of a woman had also survived the inferno. "You the damn toughest old bird I've ever laid eyes on !" He grinned as he reached out and pulled the water drenched elderly woman towards him.

This was a mistake.

A very wise man once said that aside from starting a land war in Asia, the most dangerous thing a person could do was to engage a Sicilian in a battle of wits....especially when death was on the line. What this wise (and now dead) person forgot to add was that there was one thing even more dangerous, that insulting a woman about her age (no matter how sweet she might appear and how relieved you are that she wasn't blown up into tiger shark chow) is a very, very bad idea.

"Whap!" With the speed born of an insulted ego, the old woman brought a half charred fan up out of the water and smacked Sanosuke right on the bride of his nose.

"Ow!" The injured man yelped. "Dammit, that hurt you old bat!"

"Whap! Whap! Whap!" He dodged the last two blows, shocked right out of his water logged mind as to the reason why the delicate little grandmother that he'd tried to save from death was currently pummeling him on the head with a smoldering flower shaped fan. (Women....Sheesh!)

"Why you rascally whippersnapper!" The elderly woman warbled as she struggled to keep her head above the icy waves.....and give the arrogant young whelp a right proper beating. "I've half a mind to twist your ear for that disparaging comment." "Whap! Whap! Whap!"

The last whap pushed him over the edge. "Knock it off, you wrinkled wildcat !" Sano growled as he threw his arm around the now nearly incensed woman's chest and began towing her towards the wharf. "Tell ya what Grandma, if we make it to land before my legs give out, you can twist both of my ears til the damn things fall off." He hissed as a ferocious cramp tore through his left leg, causing both of them to briefly bob beneath the bitterly cold water. "Until then, will you do me a favor and keep your big yap shut?"

"Pervert! Fiend! Masher!" She screeched as she thrashed wildly against the tall man's iron grip, crowing with delight when he cried out in pain, shouted something about having the mother of all leg cramps....then promptly began to sink like a lead life preserver. "That'll teach you to insult your elders!"

(What a way to go.....) Sano thought as he began to drift helplessly downward. In all honestly, he had always imagined that when the Gods called him home, they would do so in a spectacular fashion complete with flames, explosions and manly sword clanging, his death lament being performed by at least eight or nine heartbroken, incredibly hot women. This was certainly not along those lines. (Here lies Sagara Sanosuke, age 26 . He was smacked on his head by a mal tempered old bitty and drowned. The End.) The epitaph alone was enough to inspire his cramped up legs, and with a mighty cry...he promptly inhaled a mouth full of water. (Look at it this way.....) He thought as he once again began sinking downward. (At least I won't have to put up with her bitching.....) His mortal musings however, were suddenly interrupted when a thin white hand grabbed him by the top of his head and yanked....hard.

"OW!" He sputtered as his much maligned head broke the surface. "Way to be gentle!"

"Quit being a pansy ass and start swimming!" Sano's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he realized that his rescuer was a pale foreign woman with eyes the shade of Himalayan granite. (Hello!) What also caught his attention and considerably improved what had been a rather shitty day, was the fact that she was actually kinda pretty (in a severe, no nonsense kind of way) and that from the waist down, in a state of glorious undress, her thin pantaloons doing little to hide a pair of legs that were downright delightful.

(How utterly typical.....) Mara's eyes narrowed to venomous slits. (I try and help out and look what happens....I get saddled with a geriatric xenophobe and some jerk who'd rather stare at my ass than get back to shore in one piece.....) "Hey! Knock it off!" She snarled as the old woman tried to whack her for the fifth time.

"Foreign devil!" The crone howled, then turned to the dark haired man and gave him a impressive blow to the side of his head. "Impudent pup!"

"What in the hell is your problem?" Mara bellowed as she wrenched the battered flower fan away from her pint sized attacker and chucked the damn thing into the harbor. "Pull that again lady, and I'll let the sharks have you! Do I make myself clear?"

The subdued woman meekly nodded.

"And you..." Mara snapped at the dark haired man, her grey eyes crackling. "Less ogling and more swimming!"

Sano rewarded her with a sassy leer. "Can't I do both?"

"Not if you want to keep your teeth!" Mara grated as he caught hold of a barnacle covered pier. (Good holy hell! The man got blown thirty feet in the air, set on fire and is now trying to hit on me!....) She wasn't sure whether to be impressed or check the oversexed idiot for signs of serious head injury. (I'd bet on the latter...) Mara tried to pull herself and the muttering malcontent she was carrying up out of the sea, then swore when she lost her grip on the slippery wood and fell back into the harbor, simultaneously earning a nasty gash on her elbow, a scathing rebuke from the white haired woman and the joyous experience of being guffawed at by a certain brown eyed lecher. (The next time a boat sinks....I'm staying home....)

"You know what your problem is ?" Sanosuke drawled as he pulled both dripping women up out of the water.

Mara quirked an eyebrow. "Enlighten me."

"You think that you have to do everything by yourself." With a mighty heave, Sano sent the elderly lady flying up onto the dock, grinning happily when he heard her land right on what he hoped was her bony little ass. (That's what you get for calling me a whippersnapper!)

"Are you out of your freaking mind?" Mara shouted as she tried to scratch her way up the pier, her morbid little brain imagining all sorts of injuries that the dunderhead's little stunt had inflicted on the seventy year old . "You might have given her a fractured pelvis, or a concussion, or...."

"Spawn of a motherless demon!"

Sanosuke blanched when the little old lady poked her head over the edge of the wharf, her beady little eyes blazing with revenge. (Oh, Shit....) In reality, the tool of her vengeance ended up being two day old bait....nice, rancid, smelly fish parts that his tiny nemesis poured out of a wooden bucket and right onto his upturned face. He cursed and frantically tried to wipe the offending muck out of his eyes, losing his grip on the pier in the process and sending himself and that cackling foreigner right back into the water. (The next time a boat sinks.....I'm letting myself drown and save these two the trouble....)

Mara coughed up a lung full of water, the threw her head back and howled with delight when the furious man's head broke the surface, his wild brown locks still littered with fish scales and who knows what else. (Karma's a bitch, aint she?)

"I'm gonna kill her!" Sano vowed as he pulled himself and the still giggling younger woman up the pier and onto the wharf. "That old crow won't know what hit her!" His voice was no more than a vengeful rumble in his chest as he strode towards the defiant little snip.

"Back for some more?" The old woman crowed, clenching her age spotted hands into tiny fists.

"Bring it on Grandma!" Sanosuke roared, forgetting in his righteous indignation that he was a foot and a half taller and outweighed his adversary by oh....at least eighty or ninety pounds.

"THAT'S ENOUGH !"

Both combatants paused mid swing.

"You want to duke it out? Fine! Go off somewhere and have at it." Mara angrily brushed her dripping hair out of her face and glared at the two mismatched opponents. "But before you do, I suggest that you look around and see just how lucky both of you morons are to even be alive." She struggled to her feet and clutched her bleeding arm. "It's a damn shame that whatever Gods you fools worship chose to spare your sorry asses and take so many others instead."

"Blasphemer!"

Mara's lips curled in derision at the older woman. "Go to hell."

"Hey!" Sanosuke called out. "C'mon lady, I wasn't really..." He stopped when the pale woman turned and regarded him with a look that bespoke bitter disappointment and almost palpable contempt....then silently slipped away into the gathering crowd.

Early the Next Morning

"Are you sure you feel well enough to leave?"

Sanosuke glanced up at young medical assistant, seeing disapproval in the man's weary black eyes. "I'm positive." Cursing softly, he draped his still damp cloak over his shoulders, then hissed in pain as the blackened, coarse wool rubbed against the burns that wrapped around his neck like a crimson band.

"Listen pal, I appreciate your concern and all, but I'll be fine. Believe me, this is nothing." Technically, the statement bordered on being a downright whopper of a lie. He hurt...from the tips of his bandaged feet to the frizzled ends of his singed hair. (Note to self: In the future, please try and avoid being blown up.....Thank You.....That is all.)

"At least let me send for a carriage." The younger man begged, knowing full well that his reluctant patient was in no condition to go anywhere. "Just tell me where your belongings are and I'll fetch them for you."

Sano's mouth twisted up sarcastically. "That's probably not a good idea." He jerked his head back in the direction of the half burned harbor. "Unless you're keen on going for a little swim." He'd lost everything he owned when the steamer sank. Normally, this wouldn't have bothered Sanosuke in the slightest. He was and had always been a man who traveled lightly, eschewing the lure of material wealth, preferring instead the more insubstantial things that truly made life enjoyable. (Still...It's been six....almost seven years....I wanted to show them where I've been....How much I missed them....)

"I'm sorry." The smaller man muttered in embarrassment. "I didn't mean to ...."

"Don't worry about it." Sano's smile this time was genuine. (He might be a little slow on the uptake, but his heart's in the right place....) "It's not like I really had anything of value." With a resigned snort, he carefully stood up, praying that his unsteady legs would support him. (Just the money I've been saving up since I hightailed it outta here ....and the gifts I found for my friends.....) His expression was unusually downcast as he went recalled the small treasures that he'd carefully lugged across four continents, two oceans, and over one white capped sea, only to have them consumed in a freak fire less than a nautical mile away from home.

Sanosuke had been as drunk as a skunk when he'd swiped a deck of face cards for Yahiko in San Francisco, and sicker than a dog with malaria when a tender hearted pharmacist in New Orleans had given him a bottle of a miracle drug called "Aspirin". The ex-gangster had carefully saved most of the medicine for Dr. Genzai to study, knowing that the physician would be interested in the western pain killer. For his little miss, he had managed to trade four weeks worth of manual labor for a blue glass vial filled with sweet french perfume. (She would have loved it....the bottle was the same color as her eyes...)

Then there were the surprises for the children.(They better have kids by now....) The black forest in Germany had been a wonderland of wooden clocks and hand carved toys that had proved irresistible. Sanosuke smiled as he remembered the small brightly painted soldier that he'd chosen just in case they had a boy, as well as a tiny carved treasure box in the event that there was a girl as well. He'd splurged in Bombay and purchased Suzume and Ayame matching ivory combs that resembled lotus blossoms.

Sano had struggled to find something special for Kenshin, a memento that was appropriate for such a remarkable man. In the end, the gift had found him high in the mountains of Tibet. It was a bleached linen scarf that some old monks had given to Sanosuke specifically for his friend. (They prayed for you....that you would find peace and happiness....) He sighed, remembering the rich incense of the temples and the awe inspiring mountains that seemed to hold the sky up with their jagged peaks. The loss of the scarf was especially painful, since it seemed to portend that perhaps his best friend had not fared well over the past six years.

(Dammit....I hope he's okay....I hope they all are.....) Sano's frown deepened as he shakily made his way to the hospital entrance, then leaned his weary head against the door frame, closing his eyes as painfully raw memories began to seep up from the darkest corners of his heart. (Especially her....) Even now, after six years and who knows how many miles, he still missed Megumi....still wished that things had gone differently in the weeks that preceded his abrupt flight from Tokyo. She was the greatest regret of his life, a living reminder of his stupidity and selfishness, and the reason that he'd decided to come back to Japan. His chances for obtaining her forgiveness were non-existent, her once treasured friendship a tattered memory that no amount of pleading could ever mend.

Still, he was determined to let her know how deeply he regretted what had happened, how hard he had tried to become a better man, and how desperately he still loved her....even if that love would never be returned. (And why should it be?) He'd left Japan with nothing and thanks to the fire, was returning with nothing but a well patched, worn out excuse for a jacket, a pair of tattered pants, and six years of worth of experiences. (She'd laugh at me and tell me that I'm still nothing more than a stupid ex-gangster with no manners .....) Sano swore softly as he recalled the similar look of disgust he'd seen reflected in the grey eyes of a pale foreign woman, her unspoken rebuke more painful than a slap across the face. (The sad part is that she just might be right....) With that happy thought in mind, Sanosuke bid goodbye to the anxious medical student and slowly walked out into the fog drenched streets, anxious to make his way to the Kayima Dojo in time for lunch.

Meanwhile, Over at the Aforementioned Dojo

"Kenji! Stop.....please hold still!" Kenshin muttered as his son tried to squirm out of his grip for the fourth time. "You can't go to the market with Mommy and me unless you are wearing your sandals!" Kenji ignored his father, somehow managing to break away and run down the hall, delighted that yet another escape attempt had succeeded. (What I wouldn't give for a nice, simple sword fight with all the Shishin Gumi Divisions right now.....anything but dealing with a five year old!) Kenshin's eyes flared amber for a brief second before he sighed, and patiently walked in the direction of his son's high pitched laughter. (Why is this so difficult ?.... I never had a problem with Dr. Genzai's granddaughters...) They were already running late, Yahiko was probably waiting for them at the market, and Kenji's obsession with not wanting to wear any form of footwear wasn't helping matters. (We'll be lucky if there is any fresh tofu by the time we get there!)

Twenty minutes later, the Himura family finally made it out of the house and into the courtyard. Kenshin was frazzled, still wondering how his wife managed to take care of their child while he was away, Kenji was sniffling, and Kaoru, having had many such shopping adventures with her son, was oblivious to everything but the thought that she was finally able to leave the house and get some fresh air before she killed someone.

"Is Mara coming with us?" Kenji chirped as he bounced up and down. "She said she was gonna!" The boy craned his neck in the direction of the dojo. "MARA!!!!" Kenshin's eyes widened as the shrill sound lanced through his already much abused eardrums. Kenji repeated the call, somehow managing to intensify the pitch and volume, causing the fine hairs at the base of his fathers neck to stand straight up. (Who needs to learn sword skills when you can immobilize your enemies with a scream......)

"Kenji." Kaoru gave her son "THE LOOK" . Kenji shut up.

"Promise me that you will teach me to do that." Her husband implored.

"It's a mom thing, you don't stand a chance." Kaoru turned to greet the newest addition to the Himura household, then gasped and ran towards the gaunt physician, her blue eyes dilating with worry.

"Are you all right?" Kaoru's asked as she embraced her friend, then pushed her towards the bath house, noting with concern that Mara was dangerously pale, her normally alabaster skin taking on a sickly grey cast. Kaoru's eyes hardened protectively when her gaze traveled to the dark green gray circles that marred the tender flesh under Mara's red rimmed eyes....the bloodstains on her linen blouse and thin wool skirt.....the lingering scent of smoke mingling with the tang of disinfectant that tainted her curly, braided hair.

(No...not remotely....) Donning a bright, and utterly false smile Mara nodded as she knelt down and scooped Kenji up in her long arms. "I'm sorry I didn't make it home last night." She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the happy sound of the boy's laughter and tried to block out the graphic mental images of childish bodies savaged by fire and smoke, their little faces forever frozen into grimaces of pain and fear. (Just breathe.....keep it together just a little while longer....the last thing they need is me breaking down in front of them.....) "There was a bit of trouble down at the harbor."

Kenshin watched the exchange silently, his placid expression belying the deep feelings of concern that he felt. (A bit of trouble she says....somehow, I seriously doubt that....) Closing his eyes, Kenshin reached out with his mind, allowing insubstantial tendrils of thought to brush up against Mara's chi...and found within that energy no easy answers to his unspoken question. (AUGHH!) It nearly undid him....that first hesitant caress against her life force....the unnatural strength and ferocity of her unfiltered emotions threatening to overwhelm....to destroy. (How is this possible?) His eyes snapped open and with a silent scream, he took step away from the woman, his head and heart aching with her remembered agony even as his own primal defenses leapt into action, filling his bloodstream with endorphins, his battle hardened body tensing in violent anticipation against the unexpected mental assault. Kenshin groaned as he pressed his hand against his pounding forehead, amazed that such a slender woman was capable of generating such a fierce battle aura, frightened at the unspoken implications of such a discovery. (Have I mistaken her character?......Misjudged her intentions towards my family?) Without waiting for an explanation, he quickly walked over and snatched his son from Mara, then positioned himself between the tall woman and his protesting wife.

(What on earth is Kenshin doing ?) Kaoru pulled at her husband's sleeve, desperate to understand his abrupt behavior. (If I didn't know better, I'd swear he was trying to protect Kenji and me....) She looked over at her pale faced friend and found her confusion mirrored in the woman's grey eyes. (He should know better than that....Mara would never do anything to put us at risk....) Over the past five months, Kaoru had come to rely upon the wiry doctor as both a dear friend and trusted confidant. Sure, the woman was about as warm and fuzzy as a rabid porcupine and as social as a bucket of moldy tofu. And yes, Mara did have the propensity for swearing like a card shark, wearing pants and thumbing her pert nose at every imaginable social convention. (She's also fiercely loyal, surprisingly tender hearted and one of the most compassionate people I've had ever met.) Kaoru pursed her lips and regarded her husband carefully. (Surely he doesn't still have those silly reservations about her staying with us....)

"Kenshin? Are you all right?" Mara asked cautiously, her clinical gaze raking over the smaller man's features. (If I didn't know better, I'd swear that he was in pain....) She took a hesitant step forward, then froze when her actions caused Kenshin to slightly bare his teeth and reach for the sword that no longer hung at his side. (Oh Shit...) Mara took a steadying breath and slowly raised her hands, pitching her voice until it was as low and soothing as possible. (Just what I didn't need to deal with today...)

"I've upset you." She took a tentative step away from the shorter man, praying that he wouldn't revert back to the amber eyed facet of his personality. "I apologize."

"I want you to tell me exactly what happened ..." Kenshin whispered hoarsely as he struggled to regain control. "Please...it's very important."

"A steamer from Shanghai caught fire less than a mile from shore." Mara shuddered as she recalled the terrific explosion that nearly ruptured her eardrums and sent body parts flying for several hundred feet.

"How many people died ?" Kenshin's voice was a mere whisper.

"Eighty six." Mara's face crumpled. "Fifteen of them were children." She took another step back, fighting against the urge to break down and sob. "There was nothing I could do to save them, their burns were too severe...."

Kaoru closed her eyes , remembering the terrible feelings of loss that she'd endured when Typhoid had destroyed her unborn daughter and nearly driven her insane with grief. (No wonder Kenshin reacted so strongly....)

"I'm the one who should ask your forgiveness." Kenshin put Kenji down and watched as his son ran over to Kaoru, obviously unnerved by his father's strange behavior. "I'm afraid that I misinterpreted your emotions and reacted without thinking."

"Don't worry about it....I should have been more up front with you." Mara sighed, thankful that a possible row had been avoided. "It's just that my training kicks in when all hell breaks loose."

"So does mine." Kenshin managed a weak smile of his own.

"All right...that's enough of that." Kaoru huffed, her eyes suspiciously bright. "By the time you two idiots are finished apologizing there won't be a single piece of tofu left in Tokyo." She gave Kenshin a quick peck on the cheek, ruffled Kenji's unruly mass of hair, then grabbed Mara and pushed her towards the bath house.

"I want you to take a bath and get some sleep."

"But I promised Kenji...." Mara grumbled as she tripped going up a step.

"Kenji understands that you haven't had any sleep for nearly two days and need to take a nap." Kaoru looked at her son. "Don't you dear?" The boy nodded, even though his expression was crestfallen. Mara bit her lip in remorse as the five year old valiantly tried not to whimper.

"Kenji, tell you what....you and I will go on an "adventure" later today." Mara looked up at Kenshin and was amused at the already hammered look on the man's face. "Somehow I suspect your mom and dad will be the one's needing a nap by the time this day's over. How does that sound?"

Kenji clapped his hands and laughed. "Will I get a surprise?" He knew that the tall woman was notoriously easy to wheedle treats out of.

"Only if you are a good boy and mind your parents."(Ah....Bribery, the time tested, sure fire way to get a kid to behave!)

"I promise!" Kenji was bouncing again.

"Will you be all right ?" Kenshin asked quietly.

"I'll be fine." (Until I fall asleep and get to relive everything all over again....) She smiled wearily at the couple and their son. "I just need to crash for a few hours. Now, quit worrying about me and go have some fun together!" Mara turned on her heel staggered off into the bath house before any one else could say a word.

(Somewhere in Tokyo....Hopefully)

Sometimes life wasn't fair. This was one of those times. With a long suffering sigh that barely hid the grumbling sounds of a still empty stomach, Sano looked up and down the unfamiliar street. (Dammit !....At this rate, I'm going to miss lunch!) So far, his entire morning had consisted of wandering around Tokyo like a damned tourist, being hit on by a toothless hooker, and nearly being tossed in the clinker on suspicion of being a vagrant. (At least I'd get something to eat in jail....)

Hopelessly lost and ravenously hungry, Sano fought against the urge to gnaw at the bark of the maple tree he was leaning against, and tried (for the eighteenth time in ten minutes) to remember exactly where Kaoru's place was. (Let's see.....it's five blocks away from the Akabedo, seven from the police station, twelve from the pleasure district....) He snorted in disgust and looked around the bustling street, hoping perhaps to see a familiar face....a woman with eyes that put the sky to shame, a small redheaded man that he loved like a brother, a scrawny little boy with a wooden bokken....(No, Yahiko's a young man now....) The thought made him feel old.

Six years....while not quite a decade, in many ways had been longer than three lifetimes and five times more fun. During his travels, Sanosuke had fallen in love with the music of Beethoven, eagerly devoured the works of Jules Verne, gained an appreciation for the scandalous poetry of Walt Whitman and found to his immense surprise that he could knit like a domestic god and cook a mean pot of chicken and dumplings. In France he had become addicted to eclairs and tried his hand at painting in the style of the emerging impressionists. In Italy his preference for double espressos had resulted in many sleepless nights, his admiration for Michelangelo's genius had left him in tears. There were the fencing lessons with a one armed Scotsman, the dancing lessons with a tempestuous ex-nun. In Arabia he'd learned to cook couscous , and on the banks of the mighty Mississippi an embittered confederate soldier had taught him the delights of gin rummy, black jack and the art of wearing a "perfect poker face".

(And now I'm back in Japan....) Sanosuke pushed away from the maple tree and sauntered down the twilight colored boulevard, cursing softly as the rough hewn stones bit into the tender flesh of his burned feet. (Half starved, bone weary and lost to boot!) His mouth quirked into what might have been a regretful smile as he turned the corner, missing Kenshin, Kaoru and their bouncing bundle of energy by a mere twenty seconds as they departed in the opposite direction towards the market and the delights that such a place offered.

Twenty Minutes Later

(It's so beautiful....so clean and pure....) He made this pilgrimage twice a month, solemnly engaging in a time honored ritual that left his troubled spirit free from worry and doubt. Yes, here in this makeshift shrine, Kenshin basked in the knowledge that he was truly at peace and one with the universe, that within these four walls he was no longer an ex-assassin searching for redemption, but a humble devotee worshiping at the altar of domestic nirvana. With barely contained anticipation, he stretched forth his hand towards the display, eager to partake of the thrice milled, double processed and lightly scented soap flakes . (What the hell ?.....) Kenshin jerked his hand back as though some unhallowed thing had suddenly desecrated this holiest of sites and glared up at the already cowering proprietor, his violet gaze flickering with the faintest hint of amber fire.

"You changed brands." It was a statement more than a question.

(Dang it! I KNEW this was going to happen....) The store owner bowed apologetically, wondering if perhaps his uneventful mortal life was drawing to a close. (I warned my wife that if messed with the Battousai's laundry, the Battousai would mess with us....But NO.....She insisted

that we try and new and improved western version..... )

"Himura, please understand.....there was really nothing I could do. Nowadays, people demand goods from the west. We have to stock them in order to keep our business up and running."

Kenshin folded his arms tightly against his chest, still reeling from this most unexpected of betrayals. "Is that so?"

"Now, why don't you give this brand a chance?" The sweat dropping grocery man cajoled, his nimble little mind scrambling to come up with a sure fire way of keeping a loyal customer happy....and his head securely attached to his scrawny shoulders. "It's supposed to make your clothing snuggly soft!"

The former manslayer was unmoved. " I prefer the other brand."

More sweat dropping commenced. "Perhaps a free sample might allay your concerns ?"

(Free samples naturally, are entirely another story....especially when you're on a tight budget and have a five year old who had in the last three and a half minutes managed to knock down four canned displays and shred two pounds of cabbage without any sign of remorse.) With a gravely injured air, Kenshin slowly nodded and accepted a brightly packaged box of western style laundry soap, his sour expression mirroring the deep qualms that tore through his loyal little heart. (Why can't things just stay the way they were....) He was so wrapped up sudsy angst that he barely registered the frantic shouts of his beloved wife as she tried to pull their darling child down from a shelf before he managed to give the assistant grocer a fatal heart attack and permanently damage the Himura family name.

"Kenji!" Kaoru hissed as she jumped up and snagged her wayward son by his ankle. "You get down here this instant or so help me...."

"I don't wanna!" The five year old shouted shrilly, reaching out towards a bright package that had caught his attention.

"Smooth one Kaoru." Yahiko snorted as he dodged an avalanche of soba noodles. "Congratulations! You spawned a demon." With the patience of a seasoned war veteran, the seventeen year old caught all eight packages, tossed them back up to the correct shelf, then grabbed the pint sized offender and snugly tucked him under his arm without breaking a sweat.

"Lemme go!" Kenji shrieked, his blue-violet eyes bulging.

"You shut up and I'll let you go." Yahiko's voice was sterner than steel. "But if you so much as squeak, I'll tell Mara that you were disobedient." The young man smiled wickedly. (That lady's my ace in the whole when it comes to keeping this kid in line....) "And we all knows how Mara feels about disobedient little brats.....don't we."

Kenji sighed in defeat and went limp. "I promise." (There were times that admitting you were wrong were perfectly acceptable. This was one of those times.) "I'm sorry I was naughty."

"What would I do without you." Kaoru sighed wearily.

"Go stark raving mad?" Yahiko offered snidely as he set the subdued child back down. "Honestly, that kid of yours could drive a monk to drown himself in sake."

"He's not just MY kid!" Kaoru growled as she began picking up several packages that she'd dropped. She winced slightly as she bent over, her still healing body protesting the action. (Unfortunately, his father is too busy playing with the laundry detergent to notice that I need some help!) "Dammit, Yahiko, I'm doing the best I can." Her whispered protest caused a swift pang of remorse to surge through Yahiko, reminding him sharply that the diminutive woman standing beside him was still recovering from a loss that no mother should be forced to endure, as well as the unspoken worry that her husband would soon be contacted regarding another damn assignment that would take him away from his family and force Yahiko to assume a role that he knew he had no hope of even succeeding at. (I can't even remember my own father.....How in the name of hell am I supposed to try and help take care of this looney kid?) His expression softened slightly as the aforementioned loon walked over to his mother and gently hugged her leg as he quietly apologized for causing her to become upset. (It's not his fault.....He's just trying to understand why his dad would rather waste his time working for a corrupt government rather than spending time with his family....)Yahiko's mouth tightened into a thin, hard line as he recalled the events of the last few months, struggling to contain the festering anger and bitter sense of outrage that the painful memories created within him. (We all are.....)

Back at the Dojo

(Wake up....) Mara shut her eyes tightly, trying to ignore the voice in the back of her mind. (Wake up....someone's here.....) She groaned and pulled the blanket over her head, blocking out the midday light that was filtering into her bedroom. She was tired, bone weary...still hours away from getting enough sleep to think coherently. (Quit being paranoid....It's just the Himura's coming back from the market....) Mara rolled to her side, bringing her long legs up against her chest in an effort to stay warm and secure. Closing her eyes she willed sleep to return, to transport her away from the reality that she had somehow managed to exist in for over five months, for the welcome familiarity of dreams to give her the illusion that she was back home, safe and secure. (WAKE UP NOW !)

Dark grey eyes snapped open at the sound of worn hinges creaking, announcing the arrival of someone to the courtyard. Mara held perfectly still, senses hyper alert as she waited for the welcome sounds of a five year old or the quiet conversations that his parent's favored, sounds that would allow to her body to relax, her mind to settle.....the memories of unwanted hands on her body to diminish, the horrific smells of charred flesh to disappear.(It's too quiet!) While guests were not unheard of at the home, experience had made Mara very wary. She silently rose from her bed, trying not to yelp as her bare feet touched the cold floor, and crept to the outside entrance of the dojo to see who had opened the front gate.

(What in blue blazes is HE doing here?!?) Mara clamped her hand over her mouth. It was him....the tall passenger that she'd helped pull out of the harbor. (Did he follow me?) She frowned and considered the possibility, then quickly rejected it. (No....I always take a different route home just in case) Mara watched him carefully as he looked around the empty courtyard and then walked into the house, gasping when his tattered cloak shifted, revealing the kanji for "wicked" on his back. (This is not good...not good at all!). She knew that the chances of this man being a friend were now pretty nonexistent. Her friends just didn't entertain the "wicked" type.

(Ahhh, crap! They go off to the market and look what happens....we get robbed! How utterly typical!) There was no sound for a few minutes then the man came back out of the house, scowling dangerously. Mara jumped as he started towards the dojo, and quickly ran into the main part of the building, scanning for anything to use as a weapon, anywhere that could be a good hiding place. Mara knew that her only hope was to try and hide until the man left with whatever he managed to salvage from her room. She flattened herself against the corner in the darkest end of the dojo and forced herself to wait. (Please, oh please just go away!)

Sanosuke quietly entered the dark building, tensing for a second before crossing the threshold of the dojo. He seemed aware that he wasn't alone, and stood still for a second, allowing his eyesight to adjust to the low light level. He carefully peered into the unlit dojo, his eyes finally coming to rest on the shadowy form of a figure in the corner. (Now why would Kaoru be out here alone?) He smiled and started forward, then stopped again....his brown eyes widening with confusion. (What in the name of the Greater Gods is SHE doing in here?)

Mara fought the urge to scream as she saw the man coming towards her. She looked around for anything to protect herself with since the wooden swords that Yahiko trained with were too far away (Yeah, like I have a clue in Christmas how to use the damn things anyway.....My best chance is to run for it and hope that someone sees or hears me before he can catch up.) Pressing her body up against the corner, she waited for the best opening to make a break for it.

Sano stopped and gaped at the tall woman, wondering idly if she was some hunger induced illusion that his food deprived brain had cooked up. (Not that I'm complaining or anything.....) As far as hallucinations went, this one wasn't half bad. Her hair was down for one thing, the black curly locks falling past her shoulders in a riotous mass that pleasantly reminded him that she was indeed a stranger to this country, her unusual height and pale color only adding to the favorable impression. (Not bad at all....) To top it off, this particular figment of his imagination was clad in nothing more than a threadbare yukata that did little to hide the curvy body beneath it. (I should try fasting more often....)

"You have ten seconds to get the hell outta here or I'm calling the cops!" Mara put her hands on her hips and shot him a look that could have frozen the left side of Mount Fuji. "You heard me pal, move it!"

"Now wait just a damn minute!" Sanosuke growled. "You're the one who shouldn't be here lady!"

"I happen to live here, you moron." Mara's hands clenched into fists.

"The hell you do!" Sano snapped angrily. (This isn't fair! First I get blown up, then I get lost, and now this......woman.....is reading me the riot act....in her bathrobe!) He rolled his eyes and took another step forward. "Look lady, why don't you do yourself a big favor and tell me where Kenshin and Kaoru went."

"Over my dead body." Mara hissed, her eyes darkening with fury. "Listen up asshole, cause I'm only going to say this once. I don't care which one of your relatives Kenshin carved up during the Bakamatsu. He was a teenager and under the undue influence of evil men!" She wagged her finger at the tall man and continued her lecture, oblivious to the look of complete and utter confusion that had etched itself across Sanosuke's tanned face. "It's time to move on with your life."

"Huh?"

Mara smacked her forehead with her hand and sighed. (The poor man obviously suffered brain damage when he hit the water....What a pity.....) She sadly gazed at his confused expression. (He really is a handsome, brave man....It's a damn shame that he's about as bright as a bucket of warm hamster vomit....)

Sanosuke covered his face with his hands and cursed. (She's insane....I bet Kaoru took pity on her and let her hang out here until the paddy wagon arrived....) He smiled sympathetically at the deranged woman and took another step forward, determined to ease the fears of such a troubled mind. (Poor lady....)

"Easy there, I'm not going to hurt you." His voice, low and soft, echoed in the dimly lit building. He was almost to the woman, when suddenly she bolted and started running like her life depended on it.

"What the hell?" Sanosuke shouted, trying to catch the slender woman as she tore past him. He couldn't figure out what in the name of the Lesser Gods some looney chick in a sleeping robe was doing creeping around Kaoru's dojo, but didn't dare let her get away. "Lady? Hey! Get back here!" He groung his teeth in frustration and took off after her.

Mara sped out of the dojo and into the courtyard, running as fast as she could , a surge of adrenaline giving her extra speed. She could hear the man yelling at her to stop (Yeah, like that's going to happen, buddy!) as she ran past the gate and into the street. She looked both ways for a second and then took off down the street in the direction of the marketplace, kicking up dust and leaves as she did so.

The man was impressed . (This nutcase can haul some serious ass !) He knew that he had the advantage of size, but would be hard pressed to catch up with her if he didn't seriously pick up his speed, as she was already half way down the street. (Shit, and I thought coming back to Tokyo would be a nice change of pace) he thought as he ran after her.

(Come on, MOVE!) Mara's mind screamed as she tried to maintain her pace, ignoring the burning sensation in her lungs and chest. She knew that in a few minutes her legs would give out and then she would be in serious trouble. A quick glance behind her showed that the man was already closing the distance between them. (What a day!) Mara gasped, fighting the dizziness as she forced her exhausted body to keep moving . She nearly cried with relief when she saw four people turn the corner, one of them with a head full of hair the color of fire. (Thank God!)

"Kenshin!" she cried, her voice breaking with the effort.

Kenshin, Kaoru, Kenji and Yahiko all looked up at once. To their collective shock, concern and well.....immense surprise they saw Mara running towards them in nothing but a sleeping robe (and a rather disheveled one at that). The person that really caught their attention though was the tall, dark headed man that seemed to be chasing her. At this point, several things happened at once:

Mara tried to tell Kenshin that there was a strange man who was hell bent on revenge that had been snooping around the dojo, but couldn't since her lungs had stopped working, so everything that came out of her mouth consisted of wheezes, coughs and gasps.

Sanosuke tried to warn Kenshin that there was a strange lady that had been sneaking around the dojo but couldn't because the aforementioned woman had suddenly run behind his friend and was pointing at him like he was sort of pervert , while trying to catch her breath.

Kaoru was trying to calm Mara down before she tore into Sanosuke, while attempting to readjust her sleeping robe (the top being partially open ) so that all of greater Tokyo wouldn't see her friend's ....uh.....chest, while also trying to knock her pupil over the head.

Yahiko was trying to get Sanosuke's attention while trying to sneak a peak down the doctor's robe (without looking like he was peeking, naturally) He could tell by the look on Kaoru's face (and the fact that she was trying to give him a concussion) that he had been caught in the act.

Poor Kenshin, naturally, was caught in the middle. He had to try and decipher Mara's

pants and accusations , calm down Sano who was loudly protesting his innocence, try and cover Yahiko's eyes in order to avoid having a livid Kaoru knock the boy into next Tuesday, all while balancing a bucket of tofu, three sacks of groceries AND a bouncy five year old. (Hey, who said being the hero was ever easy).

The whole incident eventually culminated in a series of drawn out explanations, stammered apologies and finally a touching group hug, which lasted for approximately 9.6 seconds before Sano cracked off a comment about what a "nice rack" the doctor had and was promptly slapped silly.

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In the next Chapter....

"Still, the man has a good heart...what could go wrong?"

(Oh, you'd be surprised....) Sano covered his face and groaned loudly, his creative mind coming up with all sorts of awful scenarios that usually ended with the tall woman stabbing a lecherous old twit in the chest with her chopsticks and being hauled of to jail. "Fine! I'll keep an eye on her tomorrow night." He walked over to his friend and stared at him menacingly. "But I'm telling ya right now, I don't care if this guy's a friend of yours. If that son of a bitch lays a finger on her, I will personally kick his ass!...Do I make myself clear?"

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Rurouni Kenshin is the exclusive property of Nobuhiro Watsuke and associated parties. The characters and are used as an expression of fan appreciation for the non-profit purpose of entertainment only and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of the above listed entities. Original portions of this story (Including...but not limited to the character of Dr. Mara Mogensen) are the copyright of the author. This is a fictional story and any similarity with person(s) living or dead is entirely coincidental.

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First of all, I would like to thank everyone who reviewed!

Marstanuki - Thanks for the review. I appreciate it!

Mad Melma - Yes, the Wolf of Mibu will show up.....eventually, as will his elusive better half. (Hang in there!) Thanks for reviewing twice!

Imbrium Iridum - You guessed correctly! I love Sanosuke too. In fact, he is my favorite character in this series. I hope you like the characterization. It will change as time passes and he goes through some "interesting" experiences. I stayed up until 2:00 am to finish this chapter because I promised you an update by Tuesday. Thanks for your support (and your wonderful stories!)

Shiomei - Thank you for your kind compliment. I am touched that you would consider this one of your favorite stories. It really means a lot to me!

Beverlyhighland - I promise that there will be plenty of more angst and waff for K/K. (Two chapters from now and you'll be at serious risk for tooth decay!) Kenji will also learn to love and adore his father...it will just take some time. (He is after all a five year old....) :)

Icegal - Don't worry. Like I said at the beginning. I am an eternal optimist and love these characters. Yes, they will go through some hard times and serious challenges. No, Kenshin won't die and Kenji won't be am embittered little punk. *Fires a bazooka at the kleenex mobile*

Kyaa-Kyaff - Thank you so much for the review! I hope you like the next chapter.

Hana Himua - Sorry that my chapters are so dang long. I'm glad that you took the time to read it! Miya Chan - No, Mara and Kenshin won't be getting together. In fact, those two will struggle to get along for some time. Both of them have their hearts in the right place, but are stubborn and inclined to look at the worst in a situation.