Disclaimer: None of the RK characters are mine. I'm getting more
convinced of that every time I write this...boo hoo... but the original
characters are mine yada yada ....you get the point....



Chapter Five: Things to Come


Three days had passed since Shinohara Sasaki had done his mischief. In
Tokyo the sun shone bright and gentle, caressing the grey slate roofs of
the houses, warming cold wooden beams. The peace was soft and pervasive.
It was not to last.

"Hey Sano, where are you going?" Yahiko called as he halted the bokken
in mid-swing. Racing to the entrance of the training hall, he grinned as
his friend sauntered up, a day-old fishbone in his mouth. He had
snatched it from the dinner plate yesterday.

"Still a fishbone," he commented. "Although this must be the worst
tasting fishbone yet." Kaoru, who had been the one to cook the dinner
that night, promptly threw her rice bowl at him. In true Kenshingumi
style, Kenshin's head had been the unwitting recipient.

"Ahh, gonna see the Kitsune at the clinic," Sano replied but was
surprised when a quick frown marked the teenager's brow. "What's wrong,
Yahiko-chan?"

"Don't call me 'chan'", came the standard reply. "Oh well, hope you have
a good time."

"Hey, hey, something's up." Sano followed Yahiko back into the dojo.

"It's nothing."

Sano took a swift step forward, grabbed Yahiko and tucking him under his
arm, proceeded to rub his knuckles into the latter's scalp. Yahiko
hollered and squirmed, arms flailing. Then he did something that the
Yahiko of three years before would not have thought of: he brought the
bokken behind Sano's knee and gave a firm tap. Not calculated to hurt
but rather he hit a reactionary nerve. Sano's leg jerked and losing his
balance, he was forced to release Yahiko.

"Whoa, smart move, kid."

"I've learnt a lot," Yahiko smirked. "Not that you'd noticed though.
You're so busy making cow eyes at Megumi."

"I do not make cow eyes!" But in spite of his teasing words, Sano could
sense the deeper emotions that the light tone covered. 'Don't tell me
the kid is jealous that I've been spending time with Megumi.'
Well, he had been spending a lot of time with the Kitsune but...Sano's
eyes softened with understanding. Yahiko was just like Outa in a way; he
was the kid brother that Sano hoped Outa would one day become.

"Remember when I told you at dinner that I'd picked up some new tricks
in China?"

Dinner had been such a raucous affair, what with the sake, the mountains
of food that Kaoru, Kenshin and Megumi had cooked. (Although Megumi had
let slip that Kaoru had been allowed to do nothing but stir soup) And
Sano had had such a lot of things to tell about the places he had gone
to. China, Mongolia, Turkey ...Yahiko still had no idea where that was...

"Ahhh? In China?"

Sano rolled his eyes. "I knew we shouldn't have let you try the sake."

Yahiko turned red. "Look here rooster-hea-"

The older man simply grinned. Then he raised a finger and beckoned to
Yahiko. "Angry? Wanna work it off with a little practice?"

Yahiko was shocked for a second. In all his life, he had never gone up
against Kenshin or Sano. Kaoru had sparred with him on numerous
occasions; after all she was his master. But Sano ... 'What a
challenge!' Yahiko's heart quickened with excitement and his eyes shone
with a light that was absent from the eyes of most boys his age. "It
would be my pleasure," he answered and bowed seriously.

For a minute there the boy looked all grown up. 'He is growing up, baka.
He's thirteen now.' When Sano had left, Yahiko had been no taller than
Sano's waist. Now he was at least a good four inches taller. And darker
too, with the beginnings of lean muscle and sinew starting to show up on
his body. "Come on Yahiko. Let's see what you've learned from Jou-chan."

....................................

"Kenshin!" Kaoru almost careened into her husband as she ran down the
corridor. "Kenshin, do you hear that? There's a fight in the dojo!
Yahiko's been training. He-"

"Is sparring with Sano, koishii," Kenshin said gently as he slipped his
hand into hers and led her silently to the dojo.

"Sparring with Sano? But why...?" Then a smile crossed Kaoru's face and
she understood why. For years Yahiko had held Kenshin and Sano as the
standard to which he himself would one day reach and hopefully, surpass.

Positioning themselves such that they would not be a distraction and yet
had a clear view, the Himuras watched the practise match avidly.

"Sano is holding back," Kaoru frowned after she saw Yahiko dodge a blow.

"Of course he is. He is much better than before, though he hasn't yet
shown the new skills he said he has learnt. I do wonder how I would fare
against Sano now," Kenshin murmured and Kaoru looked at him with no
little apprehension in her eyes. Kenshin had not practised the Hiten
Mitsuryugi Ryu for three years now, ever since his fight with Enishi. On
cold winter days he suffered terribly from cramps and aches. But he
never complained. He too had surpassed his limits with magnificent
courage. Yet sometimes she wondered if it had not broken him in a way.

....................................

The kid was much faster than he expected. Sano spun as Yahiko leapt
nimbly over his head in a move that unmistakably resonated of Kenshin's
own style. 'I know Kenshin swore not to pass on his Hiten Mitsuryugi but...'

And then Sano paid for his lapse of attention when the bokken caught him
right in the chest, his solar plexis to be more precise. His eyes
widened as the breath was knocked from his lungs and Yahiko leapt in for
a finishing blow.

"Hiten Mitsuryugi-Ryu Shou Sen!"

The bokken arced towards his neck. If it hit him he might really be
stunned, he thought. If. Defence had never been his strong point; he
excelled in endurance. And so it was that Sano raised his arm and
slammed his elbow down on the wooden sword. The impact jolted his
muscles but it didn't hurt.

Yahiko gritted his teeth, the arm that held the sword up quivered and
yet didn't go down under the pressure Sano was exerting. But the bokken,
sandwiched between his hand and Sano's elbow would not be able to take
it much longer.

It's not about your strength. If your opponent is stronger than you,
than use his strength against him ......

Kaoru's lesson came floating back along with the memory of Gohei. 'Use
your opponent's strength against him eh?'

When Yahiko's arm went slack Sano immediately followed suit to prevent
himself from falling forward. He had expected the boy to leap back.
Instead Yahiko ducked low and landed a neat slice right across Sano's
ribs. Sano stared at him, surprised. 'He knew I wasn't gonna fall for
that and came up with another attack. He read my movements perfectly.'

"Think you still want to humour me? If this had been the sakabatou you
would really need to see Megumi now." He was panting but the excitement
washed away any weariness.

Sano smiled, pride and sheepishness mixing together. "Well done, Yahiko.
You could beat half the men I fought with on my trip," he complimented
frankly. "I guess I'll have to get my act together now."

"You gonna show me what you learnt in China?" Yahiko grinned and slapped
the bokken against his open palm, looking like he was about to break out
into a swagger.

Oh, now he was getting a little too cocky. From the corner of his eye
Sano could see Kaoru scowling in silent disapproval. Then Jou-chan
caught his eye and she gave a firm nod. Yahiko needed to be taken down a
peg or two.

"No problem." In his mind Sano could just see Xu Shen's disapproving
face. He could almost hear the man's gentle rebuke. 'Gomen, my friend.
But I'll make sure something comes out of this "needless display", as
you would term it.'

When Yahiko charged him, Sano stood his ground. Then in a move so fluid
and fast that it reminded Kenshin of water racing down a mountain fall,
Sano punched the air.

Yahiko never saw what hit him. He was still gaping as he flew back, feet
lifted clear off the ground. He crashed into a rack of shinai reserved
for the other pupils and lay there, absolutely stunned. 'He didn't even
touch me.'

Kaoru gasped and hurried over to Yahiko. Kicking shinai aside, she
grabbed him by his collar and shook him. "Yahiko? Daijoubu?"

"I will be if you stop shaking me," he muttered, plucking her hands off
him. Then he caught sight of Sano and getting to his shaky feet, walked
over and demanded at once. "What the heck was that?"

There was inquisitiveness in his eyes, amazement and even some
embarrassment, probably because he realised how easily Sano could have
beaten him. Yet there was no sulky resentment in Yahiko's eyes. 'And
that is why Kenshin puts so much hope in Yahiko,' Sano though fondly.

"Yes Sano, I'd like to know what that was as well. It wasn't the Futae
no Kiwami." Kenshin came close as well and Kaoru automatically slipped
an arm around his. They were so loving, little gestures of affection
came naturally.

"That was what a friend in China taught me. It's called "Iron Fists"."
Sano held up his fist, turning it over. "Unlike the Futae no Kiwami,
this skill doesn't depend on physical strength and speed. Not directly
anyway. It has mostly to do with 'ki'."

"With 'ki'? The fighting spirit?" Yahiko scratched his head.

"Think about it this way. Ever seen leaves or tiles snap and shatter
when Kenshin fought?"

"Hai, when he confronted Enishi." Even when he himself had confronted
Kujiranami Hyogo, the same thing had happened, on a lesser scale of course.

"The same thing happened with Shishio." Soft violet eyes met Sano's and
for a moment they shared the same memories of that desperate time. "Back
then I wondered how something you can't touch, like sword-ki, could be
used to break something physical. But in China I learnt how. It all has
to do with this," Sano tapped his temple. "The strength of the body,
combined with the will of your mind and heart."

"It must've taken you a long time to master then, Sano," Kaoru teased.
But the look he gave her was serious and full of earnestness.

"It did Jou-chan. You know me, meditation and all, that ain't my style
but I tell you, the guy I met sure disciplined me. After we tried to
beat the crap out of each other that is." He chuckled at the memory. The
fight had ended in a stalemate. Xu Shen had been so impressed with
Sano's strength he had agreed to teach him the "Iron Fists".

"Do Ryu Sen is executed along very similar lines," Kenshin elaborated.
"One has to channel the 'ki' and then release it in an unseen blow or
strike. Although to channel it without a medium through the air is much
more difficult." Kenshin slapped Sano on the shoulder. "Looks like you
might want to have the rematch with Saitou after all Sano."

Sano shuddered and shook his head. "No thanks, Kenshin. The last person
I wanna see is that psycho-cop." That wasn't entirely true, he did
really want the satisfaction of extracting reluctant praise from the
sour policeman but... "Anyways, I promised Xu Shen I would use the skill
only when absolutely necessary."

"Sounds like he is someone important to you," Kaoru ventured. Sano
smiled whimsically in return.

"In some ways he reminded me a lot of Kenshin. He was some fighter, but
always restrained and controlled. And like Kenshin before he settled
down, Xu Shen was or rather, is still on a journey. We parted at
Shanghai. But wherever he is, I'll always remember him. There aren't
many men like him around."

"I'll say. I can't imagine what would happen if a nut got his hands on
your skill," Yahiko snorted. Sano wondered if he should tell him about
the monk who had flown up a cliff side using what was roughly called
"The Art of Ki".

Kaoru smacked Yahiko on the head. "Baka, not just skills make a man.
Character too. You could do to learn from Kenshin. And from Sano too,"
she added.

"I never thought I'd see Jou-chan say that about me," Sano jerked a
thumb at the young woman who was engaged in a furious wrestling match
with her senior pupil. Kenshin merely smiled.

"You've changed a great deal Sano. I knew that the moment I saw you
again but I didn't know how much until now."

To his horror, Sano felt himself flushing. 'Man, I feel like Yahiko
now,' he thought. But it felt good to have Kenshin's approval, to know
he had reached the standard he set for himself. And obviously, Megumi
felt the same way. She had been so sweet on him that sometimes he
wondered if he was dreaming.

"Weren't you on your way to see Megumi-donno?" Kenshin tactfully changed
the topic.

"Yeah, was going to. Hey Yahiko!"

"Nani? Itee!" Kaoru's fist connected with his head.

"Wanna go with me? We can pop by the Akabeko and pick up some lunch. And
I can clear my tab with Tae," he commented with supreme nonchalance as
he began walking for the gate.

Behind him, Kaoru and Yahiko froze, their hands still in the act of
pulling each other's hair and cheeks. "N-n-nani? Did he just say that?"
Kaoru whispered. Kenshin nodded in mute amazement.

"Is that Sano?" Yahiko murmured sceptically before racing after his
friend. "I can't wait to see Tae's reaction!"

....................................

While they strolled down the street, Sano noted that it was
uncharacteristically quiet for a weekday. True, most people were stuck
at work now but there were normally more people. But he shrugged it off
and kept his attention on his conversation with Yahiko.

"So, how are you and Tsubame getting along?"

"What do you mean?" Yahiko blushed and looked away at once.

"Kami, you are obvious. So, I gather the little crush has blossomed into
something more permanent?" Sano said in the smarmiest voice he could
muster, fluttering his fingers. A swift kick on his shins followed and
he hopped in agony.

Yahiko was about to retort with a remark about Sano and Megumi when
swift movement ahead caught his attention. Then the light struck an
upraised blade and there was a keening cry.

"You there, yamette!" Sano roared as he bounded forward, having spotted
the scuffle as well. Beside him, Yahiko already had his bokken clasped
in his hands. But they were too late. The man didn't even look back at
them but with cat-like agility bounded away, leaping up onto a roof and
vanishing.

Yahiko pushed the man over, gingerly pressing his fingers to his neck.
"He's dead, his pulse is already fading," he pronounced flatly even as
he saw the neat incision, directly where the heart was. "Poor man."

"Yeah well, we gotta find that guy. We can't let an assassin go running
around Tokyo murdering other men." Even if they are armed to the teeth,
Sano whistled softly as he knelt and pushed aside the man's travelling
cloak. He had a katana and wakizashi, and inside his cloak was an
assortment of shuriken, throwing knives and suntetsu. "Yahiko, look..."

"Stop there you murderers!" Sano's blood ran cold as he heard the
cocking of guns and instinctively he reached out for Yahiko, trying to
pull the boy behind him. Yahiko brushed him off, glaring at the
policemen who had rushed up from behind.

"What the ......Zanza!" The police exclaimed in fright, clutching their
guns even tighter at that revelation. "Stand there and don't move you
criminal!"

"Come on guys, Sano and I didn't do this!" Yahiko fairly shouted in his
exasperation. Then his face brightened as Chief Uramura arrived, panting
slightly, his sabre drawn. "Chief!"

"Yahiko! Sagara-san!" The chief stared in surprise at Sano, of whom he
had last heard was on a boat to nowhere in particular, and then at the
dead man at his and Yahiko's feet. "I see trouble follows you everywhere
my friend," he chuckled and waved the guns away.

"But Chief!"

"Go back down to the central part of town. Leave this to me, please
men," he requested firmly and they reluctantly obeyed. "Perhaps you may
be of help my friends," he sighed, squatting down next to the body.
"Another one. And I'll bet he is like all the rest."

"All the rest?" Sano and Yahiko repeated.

"Since yesterday there have been random outbreaks of fights and a couple
of slayings. This is the sixth one so far. Some of the deceased are
known to us as dangerous men, strangely enough some of them are
criminals, others are anti-Meiji elements who seemed to have surfaced
after years of hiding. And there have been a good number of unsavoury
characters that have entered Tokyo."

Since yesterday. No wonder they hadn't heard anything. For the past two
days they had been cooped up in the dojo celebrating his return. "Oh no,
Megumi went to work for the first time this morning as well," he said,
dread rising in his chest. Yahiko was worrying about Tsubame as well.
"How bad is it?"

"Well, if the situation isn't corrected soon, I'd say Tokyo's fast
heading for trouble," Uramura replied grimly. "As it is most of the
citizens are afraid to go out although the shops are still opened."

Yahiko and Sano exchanged looks. "I'll go check on Tsubame, you go get
Megumi." Turning to the police chief Yahiko promised that they would
help put down any fights they came across. Then he and Sano sped off at
top speed for the town.

.................................

Tsubame's hand shook as she placed the dish of broiled eel down on the
table. The men she was serving were just plain scary, she decided. 'And
they've got weapons too. Isn't that against the law?" Tae-san had wanted
to stop them from entering but a glare had sent her back to the kitchen
with their orders.

"Hey Fuu, didn't restaurants use to have entertainment girls?" Three of
them leered at Tsubame while the other two smirked. "What did they call
them back in the Edo days, meshi-mori onna, wasn't it?" Before Tsubame
could back away one of them reached out and yanked her to him.

She screamed and struck out at once, hammering his face with the tray
she still held. With a curse he let her go and Tae swept Tsubame into
her arms as they cowered against the wall. The other people looked up in
fear. Everyone stopped eating.

"Why you little bitch!" All five got to their feet, snatching their
weapons into their hands.

"But I do believe you were at fault," Tae pointed out as
matter-of-factly as she could but the sight of the large gangsters
frightened her so much she could hardly look at them. 'Oh, if only
Himura-san were here with Kaoru-san. Even Sanosuke ...'

"Excuse me."

Tae's head jerked up at the sound of the voice and her hands tightened
on Tsubame's shoulders.

"I do believe I'm addressing you five men."

Tsubame was straining to see who had come to their rescue when the men
turned around and she saw a stranger dressed in dark blue and black, a
low wide brimmed hat obscuring his face.

"Who are you?" One of the men demanded rudely.

Tsubame let out a stifled cry of alarm when she saw another draw out a
chain with a curved blade behind his back. They were going to ambush the
stranger! Before she could call out a warning, he struck, flinging the
weapon with deadly accuracy.

The stranger moved so fast he seemed like a blur. Snatching out his
blade, he caught the chain as it looped around the sword. And then he
pulled his arm back and to Tsubame's utter amazement, the chain fell to
pieces, cut through in several places. What manner of warrior...

"Fuu, look at that sword!"

Even with her untrained eye Tsubame could see it was a fine and unusual
blade. The metal shone bright and clear in places, and yet a smoky sheen
seemed to swirl up and down the blade. The hilt was embossed in silver
with black markings.

"Arashi no Ken! Only one man carries that..."

Tae's hands tightened some more and Tsubame looked up to see Tae looking
extremely alert and strangely animated. And then all of a sudden the men
were grovelling and pleading for mercy. They seemed about to get down on
their hands and knees when the stranger ordered them to leave.

"And don't come back. If I see you in Tokyo, you know what I'll do," he
warned as they fell over themselves to get out. "And as for the rest of
you kind patrons, I would advise you all to go home this instant and not
leave your homes." They did as he asked.

"Oh, and I suppose it's all very well and good for you to show up and
drive all my customers away?" Tae left Tsubame and advanced on the stranger.

"Tae ..."

'Tae? Not Sekihara-san?' Tsubame stared at her furious boss and gulped.
The man had sheathed his sword but shouldn't Tae-san be thanking him
instead of scolding him?

"Tae...I missed you," the man said in a low coaxing voice.

"Well, I didn't. So what if you haven't shown your face here for a
year?" Tae shoved him and Tsubame almost fell over with shock. Just then
Yahiko came bursting into the Akabeko.

"Are you alright?" he asked anxiously, coming to her at once. Then he
noticed Tae and the man. "Who's that?"

"I don't know. I---aghh!" At once Yahiko and Tsubame shut their eyes as
the man pulled Tae into his arms and ......

After about five minutes, a quiet chuckle could be heard and then a deep
mellow voice said, 'You can open your eyes now."

Tsubame was as red as a tomato but Yahiko still had enough of his senses
about him to ask, "Who are you?"

Tae beamed at him, still locked in the stranger's arms. "Yahiko-chan,
Tsubame-chan, meet Sekihara Kyosuke."

They both gawked.

"That's right. Meet my husband."





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Comments: Okay, some of you might be going like "What the hell??!" But
don't you think it's funny? Tae (at least in the second half of the
anime) keeps nagging Kaoru about her weight and nabbing Kenshin as her
husband. And I got thinking: Where's Tae's husband esp. since she seems
the marrying sort? Whatever it is, please don't hate me. ^_^

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