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Reprise Chapters 8-12
There is something stinky in the room where my computer is. So far I have cleaned half of it and have not found whatever it is. And the husband can't smell it and asked if I was sure that it wasn't the cattle lot. I think that by now I know the difference between cow smell and something DEAD.
Stupid mouse.
Cause I know that's what it is.
And here's some more of Reprise.
Chapter Eight: Friends, I Will Remember You
The Sword stood in the doorway. Saitou was talking to an older man, and then motioned him toward the back of the house.
‘I’m not too sure if he’ll allow you to examine him, but anything you can do would help, Doctor.’
‘Of course, Fujita-san. All care must be taken in this sort of case.’ The doctor bowed to Saitou and then to Rika, before going down the hall.
‘We could hear someone talking; Hiko thought I should greet Shinomori and Sagara when they came. Do any of them know that you’re alive?’ The Sword looked at him calmly.
‘Aoshi might guess but I’m sure the ahou doesn’t know. And he probably won’t be happy, either.’ Saitou gazed over at the front door.
‘Yes, that’s why Hiko sent me out. I can talk to them. ‘Course, I’ll have to introduce myself, too. I think it’ll surprise them that Hiko has a wife.’ She grinned over at the other man. ‘And a pregnant one at that!’
‘Yes, this makes how many? Don’t the two of you have anything better to do?’ Saitou narrowed his eyes and smirked at her.
‘Hiko makes pottery, the rest of us sell it. It’s actually a good living. And this little one is number five. Hiko says no more after this but…’ She grinned, one corner of her mouth turning up. ‘Besides, we’ve been married for over twelve years, we just didn’t have children during the first six years.’
All of a sudden, they heard several people coming. Saitou looked over at the door and said, ‘Chou is with them. Send him back to the kitchen. I need to implement some plans Hiko and I discussed. While we’re doing that, you can have your conversation.’ With that, Saitou left for the back of the house.
‘Of course.’ The Sword stood waiting, looking at the front door. Soon, Chou knocked and she called softly, ‘Come on in.’
Chou came in closely followed by Aoshi and Sano. Sano looked as if he hadn’t slept since Kenshin had disappeared and Aoshi was even more tight-lipped than normal.
‘Chou, your boss wants to speak to you out back by the kitchen. He has information he needs to have checked.’
Chou nodded and quickly left. He had answered any question the other two had asked him very briefly, especially about who his “boss” was.
The other two men stood looking at the smaller woman. Aoshi had one hand on Sano’s shoulder, mainly to keep him from running through the house trying to find Kenshin. When Chou had delivered the note to them, he had wanted to run all the way there but Chou had refused, making them go through a lot of back tracking and had been remarkably tight-lipped about the situation.
‘Well, I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Hiko Rika, I’m also known as the Sword and Shadow.’ As she spoke, Aoshi’s eyes widened a bit. ‘Ah, I see you recognize one of my names. Which one?’ One eyebrow raised at his slightly surprised expression and she was hard pressed not to laugh at Sano’s face. Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn’t this.
‘I remember rumors of a Lady Sword, but you disappeared from Kyoto before the war ended more than ten years ago. You know of us?’ Aoshi looked at the woman consideringly.
‘I don’t care about any of this! Where’s Kenshin?!’ Sano had gotten over his surprise and if it hadn’t been for Aoshi’s hand on his shoulder, would have been gone.
‘No, wait a minute. Please, sit down, there are some things that I must tell you and besides, the doctor and Hiko are with him at the moment. Let them examine him and get his wounds bandaged. Then, you can see him.’ Rika was firm about this, she knew that Hiko would get everything done and Kenshin dressed and lying down.
‘How badly is he hurt? Chou wouldn’t say much, just that he was at his boss’ house. And he declined to say just who his “boss” was.’ Aoshi pushed Sano over to a low stool and made him sit down. He could feel Sano’s muscles tensing under his hands as he stood behind him.
‘Bad bruising mostly, a couple of broken ribs, probably some cracked. Whoever had him beat him very badly all across his back. The other problem is that due to that, the dehydration and whatever mental torture he endured over the last several days, at the moment he’s more Hitokiri Battousai than Himura Kenshin. We think that’s how he avoided all the patrols and made it here, to part of the old Shinsengumi compound.’ Rika sighed as she sat down and then rubbed her back. ‘So, while Hiko takes care of the dehydration and wounds, I came out to talk to you.’
Rika looked at the two men, this was going to be the hard part. Hiko had told her how upset Sano had been after the Shishio incident, with Kenshin so injured and thinking that Saitou was dead.
Suddenly, she could see something click with Sano. ‘Kami, you’re Hiko’s wife?! When did that happen!?’
Riku was hard pressed not to laugh. ‘Ah, well, actually, we’ve been married for over twelve, almost thirteen years. I just don’t come into Kyoto very often, I have trouble breathing in this town.’
Both Sano and Aoshi were surprised, although Sano’s face was priceless. She giggled. ‘Sorry, but your face…’
Sano flushed and then stammered, ‘I’m sorry, but this isn’t anything I expected! Why didn’t Hiko say anything…’
‘Because I don’t tell all my secrets.’ Hiko walked in and smirked at the younger man. ‘Shadow stays home, mostly.’
Sano had tried to get up when Hiko came into the room but Aoshi’s hand on his shoulder had kept him sitting.
‘Kenshin is lying down at the moment; getting his ribs bandaged took a lot out of him. The doctor says that the bruising is the worst of it, whoever had him just pounded on him.’
‘Yukishiro.’ Sano’s voice was flat. ‘We know he’s in Japan, and this is something he would do. Not killing Kenshin right off, but torturing him.’ Sano looked up. ‘I want to see him, now.’
Hiko looked over at the young man. He had matured since the last time he had seen him. Hiko looked down at Shadow and quirked an eyebrow. A short shake of her head told him she hadn’t gotten any further. He sighed.
‘There is one other matter. Chou’s boss, the man who owns this house, is…’
‘Saitou.’ Sano interrupted him. ‘I figured it had to be him, couldn’t imagine Chou going with the Secret Police for anyone else. Now, I want to see Kenshin.’ He slid out from under Aoshi’s hand and stood up. ‘I understand he’s not all in the here and now, I don’t care.’
‘All right, can’t blame you. First door on the right.’ Hiko moved out of the doorway. ‘Just watch out for his fists, he’ll strike out if he feels threatened.’
Sano shrugged. ‘I deal more with the Battousai than you know.’ His face flushed slightly. ‘Thanks.’ He moved quickly away from them.
‘So, Aoshi, any questions?’ Hiko looked at him.
‘I’ve got people out trying to find any connection to this. Himura had told me of Yukishiro when he first got here, but we weren’t prepared for him to actually be here. In fact, from the information he had received, Yukishiro wasn’t anywhere near here.’ Aoshi glanced over at the door. ‘Secret Police falling down on their job, Saitou?’
‘Hn. We’re only as good as our information. We now think that the Battousai was being watched more closely than we knew. And since Hiko realized that he got away when my patrols started searching through the warehouse district, they’re currently starting a building by building search there.’ Saitou came in and stood calmly looking at them. ‘Ahou in with the Battousai already? Is that safe?’
‘Either that or having to fight with him. And since we haven’t heard anything from the room…’ Hiko shrugged.
**
Sano had gone quickly to the door of the room Kenshin was in and then stood looking down at his lover. ‘Damn, I knew I should have gone with you. Next time there won’t be any of this wandering around by yourself.’ He slowly walked over and sat down by the futon. Kenshin was sleeping, but it was an uneasy sleep. He could see the tremors that occasionally shook his body and watched his hands clench.
Sano sighed and slowly lay down next to the smaller man. ‘Ok, let’s see how this works.’ Sano slid his arm underneath Kenshin’s head, slowly moving as not to startle him. A low moan made him freeze and then when Kenshin settled, he finished moving his arm and just lay there watching him.
Kenshin’s eyes fluttered but didn’t open. He still felt as if he was floating, but now something or someone was near and he felt safer than he had earlier. He slowly turned his head toward the breathing he could hear. His eyes finally opened and he gazed in confusion at the boy next to him. Briefly, his eyes flashed gold but the other didn’t move, he just watched him carefully. Slowly, his eyes went back to normal.
‘That’s right, Kenshin. You’re safe, I won’t let anyone get near you or hurt you without a fight. Go back to sleep, I’ve got you.’ Sano murmured to him softly, watching as Kenshin’s eyes grew heavy and slid shut once again.
‘Sano…’
**
‘There won’t be anything that anyone can do until Himura wakes up and is more coherent. I’d like confirmation as to who had him these five days and where.’ Saitou looked around at the other three. ‘If you want to see him and then go back to the Aoiya, Shinomori, to let them know there, that would be fine. I know that your people will report there, anyway.’
Aoshi nodded and moved down the hall where he looked into the room where Kenshin was lying.
‘Well, I don’t think we’ll have to worry about Sano taking any hits.’ Aoshi shook his head, the others moving over to look over his shoulder or around him. In the short time the two had laid there, Kenshin had moved so that Sano now spooned him, holding him gently. Both were asleep; Sano from worry-filled days and nights, Kenshin from torture and abuse. Briefly, his eyes opened enough to flash gold at them, then closed.
‘Hmmm, well, he did say he’d had more experience with the Battousai than we knew about.’ Rika pushed everyone away form the door and slid it shut. ‘Aoshi-san, we will see you later at the Aoiya or here. Watch your back, and the rest of Himura’s party.’ She looked over at Saitou. ‘Do you have a room where I can rest? Hiko can wander around getting information but I need some sleep.’
Saitou gazed at her with one eyebrow raised. ‘Just going to move in, are you?’
‘Yes, I’m still not satisfied with Kenshin’s condition. He’s sleeping now, but when he wakes up later, anything might happen.’
Hiko looked down at her. ‘You won’t be doing too much, Shadow. You will remember that at eight months you don’t get around as well as you normally do. And taking your medicine is not a possibility, either.’
‘Yare, yare.’ She waved one hand at him as Saitou led the way to another room. ‘I know exactly what I can and cannot do. Go plan with Saitou, I’m going to sleep until Kenshin wakes up.’
Hiko chuckled and looked over at Saitou as she slid the shoji shut. ‘So, have any sake in this place? We can plan some more while we wait for everyone to report in.’
Chapter Nine: When You’re Down and Weary
Kenshin had been floating for awhile but something teased at his memory. He needed to get up, to do something. But even in his dreams, he just couldn’t remember what it was. He moved and a moan rolled out of his mouth as pain washed over him.
‘Shh. It’s ok, Kenshin. Lie still. Rika’s coming back in a minute with something to help with the pain.’ A soft voice murmured in his ear.
Eyes flashed gold as he tried to get up, feeling the constriction of arms around him.
‘Kenshin, look at me.’
He slowly rolled his head toward the voice. Sano had been lying there awake and had been able to tell Rika that he thought that Kenshin was waking up. Now Kenshin was awake but didn’t seem to be aware of where he was. He blinked his eyes slowly and awareness finally began to appear in his eyes as they went back to normal.
‘Sano. What…’
‘No, don’t try to move. You’re going to be even more sore today and I want Hiko to check all of your bandages before you try and sit up.’
Kenshin watched as he got up and went to the door. ‘Hiko, he’s awake.’
Hiko came into the room and looked down at the smaller man. ‘So, baka deshi, you’re finally awake. Let’s take a look at your back.’
Sano had moved back to Kenshin’s side and together they gently lifted him into a sitting position. Hiko was worried about how Sano would take this first look, being told that Kenshin had been badly beaten and seeing it were two different things. Kenshin hissed as they slowly sat him up, hands clenching but not fighting them.
Sano gasped as Hiko bared Kenshin’s back. The old sword wound had reopened slightly and the bruising looked worse than the night before. Hiko pressed gently, making sure that the bandages were supporting the broken ribs.
‘Yes, well, except for the broken ribs, it looks worse than it actually is. Rika will bring some medicine to help dull the pain.’
Sano swallowed and nodded. ‘OK.’ He touched Kenshin’s chin gently, turning his face toward him. ‘And you need to drink some more, too. There’s broth that she made for you.’
Kenshin sighed softly and leaned his head into Sano’s shoulder. ‘Sorry. I’m so sorry, Sano.’
‘Shh. Don’t worry about it. But we need to know…’ Sano realized that he had made a mistake even as he started to ask the question. Kenshin’s eyes flashed to gold as he started to try and get away from the younger man. ‘Wait, Kenshin, don’t…’
Hiko grasped Kenshin’s shoulders firmly. ‘Oh, no, baka deshi. Relax. We know that you were taken as you left Kyoto for my place, we need to know who had you and where you were.’ He looked deeply into his eyes and then murmured, ‘Let him go, Battousai. That’s not helping.’
Gold eyes slowly blinked and then started to fade back into violet. Kenshin swallowed convulsively, looking a little sick from all of the violent emotions he had been subjected to. ‘What…’
Rika came back into the room. ‘I told you two to wait. So impatient. Elder brother, drink this.’ She knelt beside Kenshin and held a cup to his lips. ‘It’ll help with the back pain and help you think a little clearer.’ She turned and glared at the other two men. ‘No more questions until I say so.’ Sano ducked his head and looked sheepish. Hiko just grinned back at her.
‘The questions have to be asked, Shadow. Might as well be now as later.’ He looked over at Kenshin who was starting to doze from the medication. ‘Putting him back to sleep won’t help.’
Rika gazed at him. ‘Nope, but relaxing him will. Sano, ask him your questions now. Saitou’s listening so we won’t have to ask anything twice.’
Sano looked as if he wanted to argue but then shrugged. ‘Ok. Kenshin, we really need to know who grabbed you. And where were you? Can you remember?’
Kenshin looked blurrily up at him. ‘Enishi. He kept hitting me. And hitting me. And hitting me…’ Kenshin began to shake, his head dropping and Sano caught him and held him firmly.
‘You are here and no one’s hitting you any more. Where were you?’ Sano had been told not to ask questions that were too specific.
Kenshin still shook but made the effort to tell him what he wanted to know. ‘A warehouse somewhere. There were several men there and when the police got too close, they all left. I think I was supposed to be killed at that point but… somehow I was outside and…’ Kenshin looked up, eyes gleaming goldly and suddenly said, ‘I got him out. Then I got him across town to here. Too much emotional damage.’
Sano had jerked but did not release his hold on his lover. Gold eyes gazed at him. ‘I couldn’t let him find you first, too much danger. This was… safer…’ The gold eyes slowly slid shut and the Battousai drifted into sleep.
‘Well, I thought that it had probably happened that way. Nice that it was confirmed.’ Saitou walked into the room and continued, ‘My men found the warehouse in which he was held. Not much there, just this…’ He tossed Kenshin’s sakabatou to Hiko. ‘Evidently the Battousai didn’t miss it. Sooner or later, however, I think Kenshin would have.’
‘Yes, and that’ll be all any of you will get from him until later this afternoon. There’s enough sleeping potion in his drink to put him under until then. He’s still too weak and I’m worried about the ‘emotional damage’ the Battousai mentioned. Hiko, help Sano lay him back down and we’ll leave him alone to sleep.’
As Hiko helped him, Sano shook his head. ‘No, you guys go do whatever. I told him I would be here and this is where I’m going to be. But, Rika-san, are you related to Kenshin? You’ve called him “Elder Brother” several times.’
‘That, my dear Sano, is a whole ‘nother story. Maybe I’ll tell it to you another time, ne?’ Rika glanced over at Saitou, ‘We should discuss your findings, before everyone shows up from the Aoiya.’
‘I stopped on my way back and told Shinomori to keep them away until this afternoon. Must have has a premonition as to this happening this morning. So, ahou, got him resting comfortably?’ Saitou looked over at the younger man, his face carefully blank. ‘Because if you do, I need to have a short conversation with you.’
Sano looked up. ‘Later. I’m not going anywhere… Let go of me, you psycho cop!’
Saitou just hauled him up and out of the room. ‘Keep an eye on our guest. I’ll bring the ahou back later.’
‘Yare, yare.’ Hiko waved a hand at their backs. Rika just grinned and leaned against her husband, the grin fading as she looked down at the sleeping Kenshin.
‘Emotional damage. I wonder what he meant. And I somehow have the feeling that I’m going to be the one that has to dig it all out.’ Rika sighed as Hiko rubbed her back gently.
‘I’m going to bet that it wasn’t a physical beating Yukishiro was after, it’s whatever he was saying to Kenshin while he was beating him that did all the damage. And here is not a good idea for finding all of that out.’ The two exchanged a long glance, with Hiko nodding slightly. ‘Just let me know before you want to go anywhere.’
‘Of course.’
Chapter Ten: You’ve Got a Friend
‘Aoshi-sama, it’s afternoon! We really want to see Kenshin! Why are you being this way!’ Misao stamped her foot and glared at the older man. The rest of the group stood behind her, waiting to leave.
‘Yes, I’m still mad that you didn’t tell us last night when you got the note. And you still haven’t said who the note was from?’ Kaoru frowned at him.
‘Yes, well, some explanations are now in order. Kenshin was grabbed by Yukishiro and badly beaten. He managed to escape when police patrols got too close to where he was being held. As Battousai, he made his way to a safe house.’ Aoshi looked around. ‘And this is where it gets a little more complicated. It would seem that Saitou didn’t die…’
‘What!!’ almost everyone yelled at the same time.
‘Stop it. As I was saying, Kenshin made his way to Saitou’s, who sent a note to myself and Hiko-san. By the time we got there, his wounds had been tended and so Sano stayed and I came back to let the rest of you know what was going on. I was told not to bring anyone over until this afternoon, there were other things going on that needed doing.’
‘Aoshi, I think that’s the longest I’ve ever heard you speak!’ Megumi gazed at him with some amusement. ‘But shouldn’t you have taken me with you last night? I am a doctor.’
‘The note was specific.’ Aoshi looked around again. ‘Now, if there are no other questions…’
‘Wrong, lots of them. But seeing Kenshin is more important.’ Yahiko bounced his bokken on his shoulder. ‘Let’s go.’
**
Saitou hauled Sano into his study, Sano protesting the entire way.
‘Shut up, ahou. The Battousai isn’t going anywhere at the moment, and I’m sure that you’d rather yell at me in private. So, get it all out of your system now, before the rest of your group gets here.’
Sano stopped struggling against the cop. ‘Actually, I only have one question. How long has Kenshin known that you survived Shishio’s? You were the visitor about Enishi before we left Tokyo.’
Saitou knew that there were a lot more questions but decided to let it slide. ‘Actually,’ he smirked, and then got serious, ‘Since Yokohama. I was involved in helping resolve that conflict. And yes, I was.’
Sano started a bit at that, then shrugged. ‘Whatever. Can I leave now?’
Saitou sighed. Sano refused to look up and just stood passively under his hand. ‘You know, ahou, I didn’t do all of this just to torment you. There are reasons…’
‘Yes, I’m sure that there are. But, at the moment, I don’t care what they are.’ Sano stepped away from him. ‘I’m going back to Kenshin.’
Saitou’s eyes narrowed. ‘You know, ahou, this situation wasn’t your fault…’
Sano spun around, his eyes wild. ‘What would you know! If I had gone with him that day…’ Suddenly, all the days of worry and quilt caught up with him. ‘Kami, they didn’t grab him until he was alone… I should have…’
Saitou caught the boy in his arms as he slowly started to crumble, tears rolling down his face. ‘Fool, sooner or later, they would have gotten him. And maybe they would have gotten one of you also, if they couldn’t get him by himself. Did you think of that? It could have been worse.’ Saitou’s words were harsh, but he held the younger man gently, as Sano quietly sobbed, his hands clenched in the taller man’s jacket.
Finally, it was quiet in the room, Sano just stood there, a slight tremor shaking his frame occasionally.
‘Feeling better now?’ Saitou murmured into his hair. ‘You weren’t doing yourself or Kenshin any good, holding everything back like that.’
Sano numbly nodded. It felt good to be held this way, almost as if it were meant to be. ‘I… I need to get back to him now.’ He still wouldn’t look at the man, especially now that he had broken down in his arms.
‘Go back to the kitchen and get something to eat first. No one’s going anywhere for awhile.’ Saitou grasped the younger man’s chin and raised his face so that he was looking at him. A slight flush went across Sano’s face. ‘Ahou. Go.’ He gave him a push and then turned away. ‘Eat.’
Sano grinned a little weakly, then walked out of the room. ‘I never turn down free food.’
**
Aoshi led the group up to the door of Saitou’s house. ‘All right, remember that Himura is injured and is still reacting as Battousai if he’s startled. So, no loud noises, sudden movements, just stay calm while we’re here.’ Everyone nodded and looked somber. Aoshi gazed around and then said, ‘But you all could be a bit more cheerful. He’s not dying!’
The door behind him slid open. ‘No, but I’ll bet some of you wish that I was.’ Saitou stood and smirked at the group. ‘Come on in, Sano’s eating and the Battousai is still asleep. Hiko’s inside, he has someone else for you to meet before Himura’s awake.’
‘You really are alive! What did Sano say about that?!’ Yahiko glared at the man who just shrugged.
‘Actually, he figured it out before he even saw me. So, come in. As I said…’
‘Hiko has someone he would like you to meet. Me.’
Chapter Eleven: Remember Me?
Rika stood inside, smiling at them all. ‘My name is Hiko Rika.’
Hiko came walking up behind her. ‘And you’re going to be in trouble if you don’t sit down, Shadow.’
Megumi looked at Hiko and then back to Rika. ‘Ah, not a trouble free pregnancy, I take it. Here, sit down.’ She pulled a stool over and pushed her gently down onto it. ‘Has your doctor told you to rest and stay off your feet?’
‘Aa. And Hiko’s a pansy when it comes to this, a real mother hen.’ Rika grinned up at a scandalized Hiko who just narrowed his eyes at her.
‘Keep it up and you’ll go home, Shadow.’
Everyone just stared, wide-eyed.
‘You’re… you’re married!?’ Kaoru’s mouth hung open for a moment and then she said, ‘But when we were up at Hiko’s we didn’t see you there!’
‘Ah, well, that’s because I don’t live there. With four children under six, I have to be where I can have some help. Besides, we also have to be somewhere we can sell Hiko’s pottery. But enough about us. Let me explain about Kenshin’s injuries.’ She settled back a bit, allowing Hiko to rub her lower back.
The rest of the group sat down with their mouths hanging open. Four children! And all under six!
‘Hmmm. Anyway, when he was grabbed five days ago, he was on the outskirts of Kyoto. We think that they kept him somewhere near there until dark and then moved him to the warehouse district. All of you got nervous when he didn’t return after two days, especially Sano, who knew about Yukishiro. So, you sent a note to Hiko who came down from his mountain and told you that he hadn’t seen him at all.’ Rika stretched a bit, wincing. Hiko looked at her, sighed and then picked her up.
‘Ok, we’ll finish this in the other room. You need to lie down.’ Rika nodded and he turned and left the room.
Saitou smirked. ‘An attentive Hiko is a pretty amusing sight. Right this way, she has a room toward the back.’
When they had all gotten to the room, they found that Hiko had laid her down on a futon and was giving her a drink.
‘Anyway, late yesterday afternoon the police patrols moved into the same area where Kenshin was being held. Evidently, someone panicked and in the confusion the Battousai got away. He found his way here, Saitou sent notes to Shinomori and Hiko, we treated Kenshin’s wounds and now he’s somewhat better. But, and this is important, although his physical injuries aren’t bad -- bad bruising on his back and a couple broken and cracked ribs -- the emotional trauma was much worse.’ She glanced around at the group. ‘Sano made the comment about “dealing” with the Battousai and so far he hasn’t had too much of a problem.’
All of a sudden, Rika yawned and then grinned. ‘Sorry, I usually nap around this time.’
‘And she’s going to nap now. The rest of you can go and see my baka deshi. Just remember, no loud noises or sudden movements. And you might want to wait ‘til Sanosuke gets done…’
‘You make it sound like I’ve been gone for hours, Hiko. Oi, everyone, let me go see if he’s awake, and then you can see him.’ Sano walked on down the hall, back toward the front of the house.
He slowly opened the door and smiled when he realized that his lover was still asleep. ‘Hey, hey, Kenshin, ready for some company?’ Sano knelt by the bed after putting down the tray he was carrying and gently shook his shoulder. ‘Besides, you need to eat something.’
Kenshin slowly opened his eyes, blinking the sleep out of them. ‘Sano. What…’
‘Time to wake up, everyone from the Aoiya is here and want to see you.’
Kenshin frowned and then said, ‘Who…? Do I…?’
Sano looked at him, his lips tight and his eyes narrowed. ‘Kaoru-dono and Yahiko? Do you remember them? Megumi?’
Kenshin gazed up at him, confused. ‘I… I don’t think so. Should I?’
‘O…k. Well, this is an interesting development. What about Saitou?’ Sano immediately noticed that the smaller man got a little tense. ‘No, relax. No one here’s going to hurt you.’
Kenshin frowned. ‘But he’s Shinsengumi. Why am I here with the Shinsengumi?’
‘Oi, not good. Do you remember getting away from Yukishiro last night…’ Kenshin’s eyes flashed to gold. ‘Whoa, Battousai, remember everything that’s happened. Come on, get back into the here and now. You don’t have to worry, no one’s getting to you here.’
Sano watched as Kenshin’s eyes slowly faded back to violet. ‘That’s right. Ok, here’s some food, eat. I’ve already eaten more than my share and it’s not bad.’ He smiled a bit weakly at Kenshin and then helped him to sit up so he could eat. ‘While you do that, I’m going to go talk to some people.’
Kenshin nodded and began to eat. Sano watched him for a moment, then left the room. Outside the door he found Saitou and the rest of the group. He pointed toward the front room and Saitou nodded.
Sano looked around at everyone after they had gotten to the front room. ‘How much did you hear?’
Saitou shrugged. ‘Enough to know he’s not tracking yet. He really doesn’t remember anyone?’
‘Yes, but it’s damn selective. I mean, he remembers me, Hiko and Rika, and you. We really need to find out what happen while he was in Enishi’s hands. This is just freaky.’ Sano stood shaking his head.
Aoshi grimaced. ‘We might catch some of the small fry but Yukishiro and his top lieutenants are already gone, I’m sure. We do know the name of an officer that fed them some information.’ He looked over at Saitou who was frowning. ‘I was told just before we came over here.’ He handed him a note. ‘We’ll let you clean your own house.’
‘Thanks. You probably need to check your people, too’ Saitou turned and looked at Megumi. ‘Well, do you think it would help if he saw some of you? Maybe it would trip something in his memory.’
Megumi shrugged. ‘I don’t know. You didn’t say anything about a head injury, how did Yukishiro get his hands of Ken-san in the first place?’
Both Sano and Saitou looked blank. ‘Do you know, we never asked that question.’ Sano scratched his head and then looked at Megumi. ‘How about you and jou-chan come see Kenshin and at the same time, check him over.’
The two women nodded and left the room with Sano. As they walked back to Kenshin’s room, Sano looked pensive. ‘Let me go in first, I don’t want surprises.’ He slid the door open and stepped in. Kenshin was still sitting up, drowsing over his tray. Sano looked at how much he had eaten and sighed.
‘Kenshin, how about a couple visitors?’
Kenshin looked up and smiled. ‘Sure, Sano. Look, I ate some lunch and drank all the broth and tea.’
Sano realized that Rika was still drugging the broth, keeping him calm and relaxing him. ‘Yeah, so I see. Let me take the tray and you can talk to these ladies. This is Kaoru and Megumi.’
Megumi and Kaoru stepped into the room and looked at Kenshin. He smiled sweetly at them and briefly there was a flash of knowledge in his eyes but then they went blank again. Suddenly, Sano remembered the Battousai and how he had said it was safer at Saitou’s. He wondered if that was why Kenshin wasn’t remembering anyone but a select few.
Megumi knelt by Kenshin and smiled at him. ‘I’m a doctor, too. May I examine you for any head wounds, Ken-san?’
Kenshin jerked back a bit but then allowed Megumi to run her hands over his head. Kenshin jerked again and Megumi said, ‘Sorry. I think that’s where you were struck. But it didn’t break the skin that I can tell.’ She looked at his eyes and then smiled again. ‘But otherwise, his head seems to be ok.’
Kaoru also knelt down beside him. ‘So, Kenshin, are you feeling better now? We were all very worried about you, you know.’
Kenshin looked confused, ‘But, why would you be worried? Do I know you?’
Kaoru smiled sadly and said, ‘Yes, but don’t worry about it for now. When you want to, you’ll remember.’
Chapter Twelve: What, every chapter needs a title?
After a few minutes, it was obvious that Kenshin was going to go back to sleep. After helping Sano lay him down so that he was comfortable, the two women walked back to the front room silently.
Standing outside the door, Kaoru looked at Megumi. ‘He’s not remembering to protect us, ne?’
‘I think that’s exactly right. Being hit on the head hard enough to knock him out but not break the skin probably wasn’t enough to give him amnesia. No, once everything is resolved, I think Ken-san will regain his memory.’
Yahiko stood up as they walked into the room. ‘May I go see Kenshin now?’
‘He’s asleep, Yahiko.’
‘Yes, but…’ Yahiko stood, head down. He had been just as worried as everyone else, and he needed to see him to know that Kenshin really was there. Misao stood behind him, silently agreeing with him.
Saitou interrupted him. ‘Go. And tell the roosterhead to come back with you. There are a few things that need to be discussed.’
Yahiko frowned at Saitou, then shrugged and left with Misao. No one really knew what to say to the cop, they had thought he was dead and now they were having to redefine how they looked at him.
A few minutes later, Sano, Yahiko, and Misao, along with Hiko and Shadow, walked in.
‘That was a short nap.’ Megumi pushed a stool toward Shadow who simply smiled and then sat down.
Saitou looked around. ‘We found the main base that Yukishiro set up here. It would seem that he followed your party here and then left as soon as he realized the Battousai was somewhere he couldn’t get to him. I’ve got people tracking his movements, but this will probably send him underground, at least for awhile.’
Rika, after a quick look around at the frowning faces, said, ‘I’m going to take Kenshin home with me for awhile, as soon as he can travel. Other than the beating, he hasn’t said anything about what happened while he was being held.’ One eyebrow lifted as she looked inquiringly at Sano, who shrugged.
‘He hasn’t said anything to me, but his sleep’s disturbed. And the Battousai keeps popping in and out at odd times. It’s almost as if he’s keeping Kenshin from remembering.’ Sano started walking out the door. ‘I don’t like leaving him by himself, even if you say Yukishiro’s gone, I don’t trust the bastard not to try something anyway.’ With a flip of his hand, he was gone.
Rika looked over at Hiko and then sighed. ‘Sano’s not going to like it, but I’m going to ask all of you to stay here when I take Kenshin home. It’s going to be hard enough getting him to open up, and having extra people won’t help.’
Saitou snorted softly. ‘Feeling a little closed in, Sword?’
Hiko frowned. ‘Don’t push it, Wolf.’
‘Now, boys.’ Rika suddenly smiled. ‘And yes, I am. But then, I really don’t like being in town.’ She looked around once more. ‘This is going to be hard on everyone, especially Sano. But, probably in a day or two, Kenshin and I will be gone. And all of you will either wait here or go home, I don’t want any visitors for at least a month.’
‘A month? Are you nuts!’ Yahiko bounced up, his eyes wide. ‘I mean, come on, it won’t take Kenshin that long to heal!’
Everyone, except Saitou and Aoshi, were stunned.
Megumi compressed her lips and then said, ‘You think the emotional damage is that bad.’
‘Yes. Just the fact that unless pushed, Kenshin is not acknowledging anything that happened tells me a lot. Away from here, I know I can get him to tell me what happened.’ Rika sighed. ‘Sano will not be happy about this, and I will probably send for him before the month is up. Just don’t tell him that.’
‘Hn. I will put the ahou to work helping track Yukishiro. That will keep him busy and out of trouble.’ Saitou went over to the door. ‘Right now, I’ve got some business to attend to.’
As he left, Kaoru shook her head. ‘Nice to know some things don’t change.’
Aoshi said, ‘I also have people looking around. And since both Saitou and I have found a couple of people who gave out information on all of you, any other rats are either laying low or have left. So, staying in Kyoto should be all right. But I know that there are things you must do in Tokyo.’
Megumi nodded. ‘As much as I would like to stay, I can’t leave the clinic that long. Dr. Genzai can’t handle everything by himself for too long.’
Kaoru sighed. ‘And I have a new class starting. I would rather stay here but…’
Yahiko glared at them. ‘Man, I can’t believe you two!’
Hiko looked at him. ‘They are making their decision based on current information. Staying here, unless you want to help Saitou, will not help anyone. My baka deshi will heal, Shadow will get him to tell her all that went on and eventually, Yukishiro will get caught.’
Rika stood up. ‘And I’m hungry. For a single man, Saitou has a surprisingly well stocked kitchen. And Kenshin needs to eat small meals often, also.’
Megumi, Kaoru and Misao followed her out to the room. ‘We’ll help, and you can tell us how you know Ken-san.’
The voices faded toward the back of the house. Hiko grinned at Yahiko. ‘Has Kenshin been doing any training with you?’
‘Some. He won’t show me anything I haven’t seen him do, but that’s OK. We’re kind of combining the two styles.’
Hiko looked surprised. ‘Interesting. Well, come out back. I’ll see what you know and give you a good workout.’ He smiled a bit evilly. Yahiko glared back.
**
As Sano went back to Kenshin, he knew that plans were being made behind his back. He was determined that this time he wasn’t going to be left out. He looked down at a sleeping Kenshin, knowing that he was dreaming and unhappy. He quietly sat down and began to rub Kenshin’s forehead, watching as the worry lines on his face smoothed out and his breathing eased.
It didn’t seem very long before Kenshin slowly woke back up. ‘Hmm, Sano?’
‘Yes, baby?’
‘Can we go home now?’ he asked plaintively. ‘You never did say why I’m with the Shinsengumi. Did they catch me?’
Sano sighed. ‘No, we can’t leave, not yet. And it’s just Saitou. You came here to keep everyone at the Aoiya safe, remember? And you need to heal some more before you do any real moving around. How do your ribs feel?’
‘Ok, I seem to be able to breathe a little better.’ Kenshin was still drowsy and he couldn’t seem to get his eyes all the way open. He frowned. ‘Why am I so sleepy?’
‘I think Rika is putting a sedative in your drink to help you sleep. You need to rest all you can right now.’
‘Oh.’ And Sano watched as Kenshin slowly drifted back to sleep, this time more relaxed. Sano sat and watched over him as his lover slept.
There, two bits in one day! And now I'm off... to... check the air conditioner! We just put it in and maybe, just maybe... part of the smell could be coming from there!
I love the country, just not the mice.
Stupid mouse.
Cause I know that's what it is.
And here's some more of Reprise.
Chapter Eight: Friends, I Will Remember You
The Sword stood in the doorway. Saitou was talking to an older man, and then motioned him toward the back of the house.
‘I’m not too sure if he’ll allow you to examine him, but anything you can do would help, Doctor.’
‘Of course, Fujita-san. All care must be taken in this sort of case.’ The doctor bowed to Saitou and then to Rika, before going down the hall.
‘We could hear someone talking; Hiko thought I should greet Shinomori and Sagara when they came. Do any of them know that you’re alive?’ The Sword looked at him calmly.
‘Aoshi might guess but I’m sure the ahou doesn’t know. And he probably won’t be happy, either.’ Saitou gazed over at the front door.
‘Yes, that’s why Hiko sent me out. I can talk to them. ‘Course, I’ll have to introduce myself, too. I think it’ll surprise them that Hiko has a wife.’ She grinned over at the other man. ‘And a pregnant one at that!’
‘Yes, this makes how many? Don’t the two of you have anything better to do?’ Saitou narrowed his eyes and smirked at her.
‘Hiko makes pottery, the rest of us sell it. It’s actually a good living. And this little one is number five. Hiko says no more after this but…’ She grinned, one corner of her mouth turning up. ‘Besides, we’ve been married for over twelve years, we just didn’t have children during the first six years.’
All of a sudden, they heard several people coming. Saitou looked over at the door and said, ‘Chou is with them. Send him back to the kitchen. I need to implement some plans Hiko and I discussed. While we’re doing that, you can have your conversation.’ With that, Saitou left for the back of the house.
‘Of course.’ The Sword stood waiting, looking at the front door. Soon, Chou knocked and she called softly, ‘Come on in.’
Chou came in closely followed by Aoshi and Sano. Sano looked as if he hadn’t slept since Kenshin had disappeared and Aoshi was even more tight-lipped than normal.
‘Chou, your boss wants to speak to you out back by the kitchen. He has information he needs to have checked.’
Chou nodded and quickly left. He had answered any question the other two had asked him very briefly, especially about who his “boss” was.
The other two men stood looking at the smaller woman. Aoshi had one hand on Sano’s shoulder, mainly to keep him from running through the house trying to find Kenshin. When Chou had delivered the note to them, he had wanted to run all the way there but Chou had refused, making them go through a lot of back tracking and had been remarkably tight-lipped about the situation.
‘Well, I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Hiko Rika, I’m also known as the Sword and Shadow.’ As she spoke, Aoshi’s eyes widened a bit. ‘Ah, I see you recognize one of my names. Which one?’ One eyebrow raised at his slightly surprised expression and she was hard pressed not to laugh at Sano’s face. Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn’t this.
‘I remember rumors of a Lady Sword, but you disappeared from Kyoto before the war ended more than ten years ago. You know of us?’ Aoshi looked at the woman consideringly.
‘I don’t care about any of this! Where’s Kenshin?!’ Sano had gotten over his surprise and if it hadn’t been for Aoshi’s hand on his shoulder, would have been gone.
‘No, wait a minute. Please, sit down, there are some things that I must tell you and besides, the doctor and Hiko are with him at the moment. Let them examine him and get his wounds bandaged. Then, you can see him.’ Rika was firm about this, she knew that Hiko would get everything done and Kenshin dressed and lying down.
‘How badly is he hurt? Chou wouldn’t say much, just that he was at his boss’ house. And he declined to say just who his “boss” was.’ Aoshi pushed Sano over to a low stool and made him sit down. He could feel Sano’s muscles tensing under his hands as he stood behind him.
‘Bad bruising mostly, a couple of broken ribs, probably some cracked. Whoever had him beat him very badly all across his back. The other problem is that due to that, the dehydration and whatever mental torture he endured over the last several days, at the moment he’s more Hitokiri Battousai than Himura Kenshin. We think that’s how he avoided all the patrols and made it here, to part of the old Shinsengumi compound.’ Rika sighed as she sat down and then rubbed her back. ‘So, while Hiko takes care of the dehydration and wounds, I came out to talk to you.’
Rika looked at the two men, this was going to be the hard part. Hiko had told her how upset Sano had been after the Shishio incident, with Kenshin so injured and thinking that Saitou was dead.
Suddenly, she could see something click with Sano. ‘Kami, you’re Hiko’s wife?! When did that happen!?’
Riku was hard pressed not to laugh. ‘Ah, well, actually, we’ve been married for over twelve, almost thirteen years. I just don’t come into Kyoto very often, I have trouble breathing in this town.’
Both Sano and Aoshi were surprised, although Sano’s face was priceless. She giggled. ‘Sorry, but your face…’
Sano flushed and then stammered, ‘I’m sorry, but this isn’t anything I expected! Why didn’t Hiko say anything…’
‘Because I don’t tell all my secrets.’ Hiko walked in and smirked at the younger man. ‘Shadow stays home, mostly.’
Sano had tried to get up when Hiko came into the room but Aoshi’s hand on his shoulder had kept him sitting.
‘Kenshin is lying down at the moment; getting his ribs bandaged took a lot out of him. The doctor says that the bruising is the worst of it, whoever had him just pounded on him.’
‘Yukishiro.’ Sano’s voice was flat. ‘We know he’s in Japan, and this is something he would do. Not killing Kenshin right off, but torturing him.’ Sano looked up. ‘I want to see him, now.’
Hiko looked over at the young man. He had matured since the last time he had seen him. Hiko looked down at Shadow and quirked an eyebrow. A short shake of her head told him she hadn’t gotten any further. He sighed.
‘There is one other matter. Chou’s boss, the man who owns this house, is…’
‘Saitou.’ Sano interrupted him. ‘I figured it had to be him, couldn’t imagine Chou going with the Secret Police for anyone else. Now, I want to see Kenshin.’ He slid out from under Aoshi’s hand and stood up. ‘I understand he’s not all in the here and now, I don’t care.’
‘All right, can’t blame you. First door on the right.’ Hiko moved out of the doorway. ‘Just watch out for his fists, he’ll strike out if he feels threatened.’
Sano shrugged. ‘I deal more with the Battousai than you know.’ His face flushed slightly. ‘Thanks.’ He moved quickly away from them.
‘So, Aoshi, any questions?’ Hiko looked at him.
‘I’ve got people out trying to find any connection to this. Himura had told me of Yukishiro when he first got here, but we weren’t prepared for him to actually be here. In fact, from the information he had received, Yukishiro wasn’t anywhere near here.’ Aoshi glanced over at the door. ‘Secret Police falling down on their job, Saitou?’
‘Hn. We’re only as good as our information. We now think that the Battousai was being watched more closely than we knew. And since Hiko realized that he got away when my patrols started searching through the warehouse district, they’re currently starting a building by building search there.’ Saitou came in and stood calmly looking at them. ‘Ahou in with the Battousai already? Is that safe?’
‘Either that or having to fight with him. And since we haven’t heard anything from the room…’ Hiko shrugged.
**
Sano had gone quickly to the door of the room Kenshin was in and then stood looking down at his lover. ‘Damn, I knew I should have gone with you. Next time there won’t be any of this wandering around by yourself.’ He slowly walked over and sat down by the futon. Kenshin was sleeping, but it was an uneasy sleep. He could see the tremors that occasionally shook his body and watched his hands clench.
Sano sighed and slowly lay down next to the smaller man. ‘Ok, let’s see how this works.’ Sano slid his arm underneath Kenshin’s head, slowly moving as not to startle him. A low moan made him freeze and then when Kenshin settled, he finished moving his arm and just lay there watching him.
Kenshin’s eyes fluttered but didn’t open. He still felt as if he was floating, but now something or someone was near and he felt safer than he had earlier. He slowly turned his head toward the breathing he could hear. His eyes finally opened and he gazed in confusion at the boy next to him. Briefly, his eyes flashed gold but the other didn’t move, he just watched him carefully. Slowly, his eyes went back to normal.
‘That’s right, Kenshin. You’re safe, I won’t let anyone get near you or hurt you without a fight. Go back to sleep, I’ve got you.’ Sano murmured to him softly, watching as Kenshin’s eyes grew heavy and slid shut once again.
‘Sano…’
**
‘There won’t be anything that anyone can do until Himura wakes up and is more coherent. I’d like confirmation as to who had him these five days and where.’ Saitou looked around at the other three. ‘If you want to see him and then go back to the Aoiya, Shinomori, to let them know there, that would be fine. I know that your people will report there, anyway.’
Aoshi nodded and moved down the hall where he looked into the room where Kenshin was lying.
‘Well, I don’t think we’ll have to worry about Sano taking any hits.’ Aoshi shook his head, the others moving over to look over his shoulder or around him. In the short time the two had laid there, Kenshin had moved so that Sano now spooned him, holding him gently. Both were asleep; Sano from worry-filled days and nights, Kenshin from torture and abuse. Briefly, his eyes opened enough to flash gold at them, then closed.
‘Hmmm, well, he did say he’d had more experience with the Battousai than we knew about.’ Rika pushed everyone away form the door and slid it shut. ‘Aoshi-san, we will see you later at the Aoiya or here. Watch your back, and the rest of Himura’s party.’ She looked over at Saitou. ‘Do you have a room where I can rest? Hiko can wander around getting information but I need some sleep.’
Saitou gazed at her with one eyebrow raised. ‘Just going to move in, are you?’
‘Yes, I’m still not satisfied with Kenshin’s condition. He’s sleeping now, but when he wakes up later, anything might happen.’
Hiko looked down at her. ‘You won’t be doing too much, Shadow. You will remember that at eight months you don’t get around as well as you normally do. And taking your medicine is not a possibility, either.’
‘Yare, yare.’ She waved one hand at him as Saitou led the way to another room. ‘I know exactly what I can and cannot do. Go plan with Saitou, I’m going to sleep until Kenshin wakes up.’
Hiko chuckled and looked over at Saitou as she slid the shoji shut. ‘So, have any sake in this place? We can plan some more while we wait for everyone to report in.’
Chapter Nine: When You’re Down and Weary
Kenshin had been floating for awhile but something teased at his memory. He needed to get up, to do something. But even in his dreams, he just couldn’t remember what it was. He moved and a moan rolled out of his mouth as pain washed over him.
‘Shh. It’s ok, Kenshin. Lie still. Rika’s coming back in a minute with something to help with the pain.’ A soft voice murmured in his ear.
Eyes flashed gold as he tried to get up, feeling the constriction of arms around him.
‘Kenshin, look at me.’
He slowly rolled his head toward the voice. Sano had been lying there awake and had been able to tell Rika that he thought that Kenshin was waking up. Now Kenshin was awake but didn’t seem to be aware of where he was. He blinked his eyes slowly and awareness finally began to appear in his eyes as they went back to normal.
‘Sano. What…’
‘No, don’t try to move. You’re going to be even more sore today and I want Hiko to check all of your bandages before you try and sit up.’
Kenshin watched as he got up and went to the door. ‘Hiko, he’s awake.’
Hiko came into the room and looked down at the smaller man. ‘So, baka deshi, you’re finally awake. Let’s take a look at your back.’
Sano had moved back to Kenshin’s side and together they gently lifted him into a sitting position. Hiko was worried about how Sano would take this first look, being told that Kenshin had been badly beaten and seeing it were two different things. Kenshin hissed as they slowly sat him up, hands clenching but not fighting them.
Sano gasped as Hiko bared Kenshin’s back. The old sword wound had reopened slightly and the bruising looked worse than the night before. Hiko pressed gently, making sure that the bandages were supporting the broken ribs.
‘Yes, well, except for the broken ribs, it looks worse than it actually is. Rika will bring some medicine to help dull the pain.’
Sano swallowed and nodded. ‘OK.’ He touched Kenshin’s chin gently, turning his face toward him. ‘And you need to drink some more, too. There’s broth that she made for you.’
Kenshin sighed softly and leaned his head into Sano’s shoulder. ‘Sorry. I’m so sorry, Sano.’
‘Shh. Don’t worry about it. But we need to know…’ Sano realized that he had made a mistake even as he started to ask the question. Kenshin’s eyes flashed to gold as he started to try and get away from the younger man. ‘Wait, Kenshin, don’t…’
Hiko grasped Kenshin’s shoulders firmly. ‘Oh, no, baka deshi. Relax. We know that you were taken as you left Kyoto for my place, we need to know who had you and where you were.’ He looked deeply into his eyes and then murmured, ‘Let him go, Battousai. That’s not helping.’
Gold eyes slowly blinked and then started to fade back into violet. Kenshin swallowed convulsively, looking a little sick from all of the violent emotions he had been subjected to. ‘What…’
Rika came back into the room. ‘I told you two to wait. So impatient. Elder brother, drink this.’ She knelt beside Kenshin and held a cup to his lips. ‘It’ll help with the back pain and help you think a little clearer.’ She turned and glared at the other two men. ‘No more questions until I say so.’ Sano ducked his head and looked sheepish. Hiko just grinned back at her.
‘The questions have to be asked, Shadow. Might as well be now as later.’ He looked over at Kenshin who was starting to doze from the medication. ‘Putting him back to sleep won’t help.’
Rika gazed at him. ‘Nope, but relaxing him will. Sano, ask him your questions now. Saitou’s listening so we won’t have to ask anything twice.’
Sano looked as if he wanted to argue but then shrugged. ‘Ok. Kenshin, we really need to know who grabbed you. And where were you? Can you remember?’
Kenshin looked blurrily up at him. ‘Enishi. He kept hitting me. And hitting me. And hitting me…’ Kenshin began to shake, his head dropping and Sano caught him and held him firmly.
‘You are here and no one’s hitting you any more. Where were you?’ Sano had been told not to ask questions that were too specific.
Kenshin still shook but made the effort to tell him what he wanted to know. ‘A warehouse somewhere. There were several men there and when the police got too close, they all left. I think I was supposed to be killed at that point but… somehow I was outside and…’ Kenshin looked up, eyes gleaming goldly and suddenly said, ‘I got him out. Then I got him across town to here. Too much emotional damage.’
Sano had jerked but did not release his hold on his lover. Gold eyes gazed at him. ‘I couldn’t let him find you first, too much danger. This was… safer…’ The gold eyes slowly slid shut and the Battousai drifted into sleep.
‘Well, I thought that it had probably happened that way. Nice that it was confirmed.’ Saitou walked into the room and continued, ‘My men found the warehouse in which he was held. Not much there, just this…’ He tossed Kenshin’s sakabatou to Hiko. ‘Evidently the Battousai didn’t miss it. Sooner or later, however, I think Kenshin would have.’
‘Yes, and that’ll be all any of you will get from him until later this afternoon. There’s enough sleeping potion in his drink to put him under until then. He’s still too weak and I’m worried about the ‘emotional damage’ the Battousai mentioned. Hiko, help Sano lay him back down and we’ll leave him alone to sleep.’
As Hiko helped him, Sano shook his head. ‘No, you guys go do whatever. I told him I would be here and this is where I’m going to be. But, Rika-san, are you related to Kenshin? You’ve called him “Elder Brother” several times.’
‘That, my dear Sano, is a whole ‘nother story. Maybe I’ll tell it to you another time, ne?’ Rika glanced over at Saitou, ‘We should discuss your findings, before everyone shows up from the Aoiya.’
‘I stopped on my way back and told Shinomori to keep them away until this afternoon. Must have has a premonition as to this happening this morning. So, ahou, got him resting comfortably?’ Saitou looked over at the younger man, his face carefully blank. ‘Because if you do, I need to have a short conversation with you.’
Sano looked up. ‘Later. I’m not going anywhere… Let go of me, you psycho cop!’
Saitou just hauled him up and out of the room. ‘Keep an eye on our guest. I’ll bring the ahou back later.’
‘Yare, yare.’ Hiko waved a hand at their backs. Rika just grinned and leaned against her husband, the grin fading as she looked down at the sleeping Kenshin.
‘Emotional damage. I wonder what he meant. And I somehow have the feeling that I’m going to be the one that has to dig it all out.’ Rika sighed as Hiko rubbed her back gently.
‘I’m going to bet that it wasn’t a physical beating Yukishiro was after, it’s whatever he was saying to Kenshin while he was beating him that did all the damage. And here is not a good idea for finding all of that out.’ The two exchanged a long glance, with Hiko nodding slightly. ‘Just let me know before you want to go anywhere.’
‘Of course.’
Chapter Ten: You’ve Got a Friend
‘Aoshi-sama, it’s afternoon! We really want to see Kenshin! Why are you being this way!’ Misao stamped her foot and glared at the older man. The rest of the group stood behind her, waiting to leave.
‘Yes, I’m still mad that you didn’t tell us last night when you got the note. And you still haven’t said who the note was from?’ Kaoru frowned at him.
‘Yes, well, some explanations are now in order. Kenshin was grabbed by Yukishiro and badly beaten. He managed to escape when police patrols got too close to where he was being held. As Battousai, he made his way to a safe house.’ Aoshi looked around. ‘And this is where it gets a little more complicated. It would seem that Saitou didn’t die…’
‘What!!’ almost everyone yelled at the same time.
‘Stop it. As I was saying, Kenshin made his way to Saitou’s, who sent a note to myself and Hiko-san. By the time we got there, his wounds had been tended and so Sano stayed and I came back to let the rest of you know what was going on. I was told not to bring anyone over until this afternoon, there were other things going on that needed doing.’
‘Aoshi, I think that’s the longest I’ve ever heard you speak!’ Megumi gazed at him with some amusement. ‘But shouldn’t you have taken me with you last night? I am a doctor.’
‘The note was specific.’ Aoshi looked around again. ‘Now, if there are no other questions…’
‘Wrong, lots of them. But seeing Kenshin is more important.’ Yahiko bounced his bokken on his shoulder. ‘Let’s go.’
**
Saitou hauled Sano into his study, Sano protesting the entire way.
‘Shut up, ahou. The Battousai isn’t going anywhere at the moment, and I’m sure that you’d rather yell at me in private. So, get it all out of your system now, before the rest of your group gets here.’
Sano stopped struggling against the cop. ‘Actually, I only have one question. How long has Kenshin known that you survived Shishio’s? You were the visitor about Enishi before we left Tokyo.’
Saitou knew that there were a lot more questions but decided to let it slide. ‘Actually,’ he smirked, and then got serious, ‘Since Yokohama. I was involved in helping resolve that conflict. And yes, I was.’
Sano started a bit at that, then shrugged. ‘Whatever. Can I leave now?’
Saitou sighed. Sano refused to look up and just stood passively under his hand. ‘You know, ahou, I didn’t do all of this just to torment you. There are reasons…’
‘Yes, I’m sure that there are. But, at the moment, I don’t care what they are.’ Sano stepped away from him. ‘I’m going back to Kenshin.’
Saitou’s eyes narrowed. ‘You know, ahou, this situation wasn’t your fault…’
Sano spun around, his eyes wild. ‘What would you know! If I had gone with him that day…’ Suddenly, all the days of worry and quilt caught up with him. ‘Kami, they didn’t grab him until he was alone… I should have…’
Saitou caught the boy in his arms as he slowly started to crumble, tears rolling down his face. ‘Fool, sooner or later, they would have gotten him. And maybe they would have gotten one of you also, if they couldn’t get him by himself. Did you think of that? It could have been worse.’ Saitou’s words were harsh, but he held the younger man gently, as Sano quietly sobbed, his hands clenched in the taller man’s jacket.
Finally, it was quiet in the room, Sano just stood there, a slight tremor shaking his frame occasionally.
‘Feeling better now?’ Saitou murmured into his hair. ‘You weren’t doing yourself or Kenshin any good, holding everything back like that.’
Sano numbly nodded. It felt good to be held this way, almost as if it were meant to be. ‘I… I need to get back to him now.’ He still wouldn’t look at the man, especially now that he had broken down in his arms.
‘Go back to the kitchen and get something to eat first. No one’s going anywhere for awhile.’ Saitou grasped the younger man’s chin and raised his face so that he was looking at him. A slight flush went across Sano’s face. ‘Ahou. Go.’ He gave him a push and then turned away. ‘Eat.’
Sano grinned a little weakly, then walked out of the room. ‘I never turn down free food.’
**
Aoshi led the group up to the door of Saitou’s house. ‘All right, remember that Himura is injured and is still reacting as Battousai if he’s startled. So, no loud noises, sudden movements, just stay calm while we’re here.’ Everyone nodded and looked somber. Aoshi gazed around and then said, ‘But you all could be a bit more cheerful. He’s not dying!’
The door behind him slid open. ‘No, but I’ll bet some of you wish that I was.’ Saitou stood and smirked at the group. ‘Come on in, Sano’s eating and the Battousai is still asleep. Hiko’s inside, he has someone else for you to meet before Himura’s awake.’
‘You really are alive! What did Sano say about that?!’ Yahiko glared at the man who just shrugged.
‘Actually, he figured it out before he even saw me. So, come in. As I said…’
‘Hiko has someone he would like you to meet. Me.’
Chapter Eleven: Remember Me?
Rika stood inside, smiling at them all. ‘My name is Hiko Rika.’
Hiko came walking up behind her. ‘And you’re going to be in trouble if you don’t sit down, Shadow.’
Megumi looked at Hiko and then back to Rika. ‘Ah, not a trouble free pregnancy, I take it. Here, sit down.’ She pulled a stool over and pushed her gently down onto it. ‘Has your doctor told you to rest and stay off your feet?’
‘Aa. And Hiko’s a pansy when it comes to this, a real mother hen.’ Rika grinned up at a scandalized Hiko who just narrowed his eyes at her.
‘Keep it up and you’ll go home, Shadow.’
Everyone just stared, wide-eyed.
‘You’re… you’re married!?’ Kaoru’s mouth hung open for a moment and then she said, ‘But when we were up at Hiko’s we didn’t see you there!’
‘Ah, well, that’s because I don’t live there. With four children under six, I have to be where I can have some help. Besides, we also have to be somewhere we can sell Hiko’s pottery. But enough about us. Let me explain about Kenshin’s injuries.’ She settled back a bit, allowing Hiko to rub her lower back.
The rest of the group sat down with their mouths hanging open. Four children! And all under six!
‘Hmmm. Anyway, when he was grabbed five days ago, he was on the outskirts of Kyoto. We think that they kept him somewhere near there until dark and then moved him to the warehouse district. All of you got nervous when he didn’t return after two days, especially Sano, who knew about Yukishiro. So, you sent a note to Hiko who came down from his mountain and told you that he hadn’t seen him at all.’ Rika stretched a bit, wincing. Hiko looked at her, sighed and then picked her up.
‘Ok, we’ll finish this in the other room. You need to lie down.’ Rika nodded and he turned and left the room.
Saitou smirked. ‘An attentive Hiko is a pretty amusing sight. Right this way, she has a room toward the back.’
When they had all gotten to the room, they found that Hiko had laid her down on a futon and was giving her a drink.
‘Anyway, late yesterday afternoon the police patrols moved into the same area where Kenshin was being held. Evidently, someone panicked and in the confusion the Battousai got away. He found his way here, Saitou sent notes to Shinomori and Hiko, we treated Kenshin’s wounds and now he’s somewhat better. But, and this is important, although his physical injuries aren’t bad -- bad bruising on his back and a couple broken and cracked ribs -- the emotional trauma was much worse.’ She glanced around at the group. ‘Sano made the comment about “dealing” with the Battousai and so far he hasn’t had too much of a problem.’
All of a sudden, Rika yawned and then grinned. ‘Sorry, I usually nap around this time.’
‘And she’s going to nap now. The rest of you can go and see my baka deshi. Just remember, no loud noises or sudden movements. And you might want to wait ‘til Sanosuke gets done…’
‘You make it sound like I’ve been gone for hours, Hiko. Oi, everyone, let me go see if he’s awake, and then you can see him.’ Sano walked on down the hall, back toward the front of the house.
He slowly opened the door and smiled when he realized that his lover was still asleep. ‘Hey, hey, Kenshin, ready for some company?’ Sano knelt by the bed after putting down the tray he was carrying and gently shook his shoulder. ‘Besides, you need to eat something.’
Kenshin slowly opened his eyes, blinking the sleep out of them. ‘Sano. What…’
‘Time to wake up, everyone from the Aoiya is here and want to see you.’
Kenshin frowned and then said, ‘Who…? Do I…?’
Sano looked at him, his lips tight and his eyes narrowed. ‘Kaoru-dono and Yahiko? Do you remember them? Megumi?’
Kenshin gazed up at him, confused. ‘I… I don’t think so. Should I?’
‘O…k. Well, this is an interesting development. What about Saitou?’ Sano immediately noticed that the smaller man got a little tense. ‘No, relax. No one here’s going to hurt you.’
Kenshin frowned. ‘But he’s Shinsengumi. Why am I here with the Shinsengumi?’
‘Oi, not good. Do you remember getting away from Yukishiro last night…’ Kenshin’s eyes flashed to gold. ‘Whoa, Battousai, remember everything that’s happened. Come on, get back into the here and now. You don’t have to worry, no one’s getting to you here.’
Sano watched as Kenshin’s eyes slowly faded back to violet. ‘That’s right. Ok, here’s some food, eat. I’ve already eaten more than my share and it’s not bad.’ He smiled a bit weakly at Kenshin and then helped him to sit up so he could eat. ‘While you do that, I’m going to go talk to some people.’
Kenshin nodded and began to eat. Sano watched him for a moment, then left the room. Outside the door he found Saitou and the rest of the group. He pointed toward the front room and Saitou nodded.
Sano looked around at everyone after they had gotten to the front room. ‘How much did you hear?’
Saitou shrugged. ‘Enough to know he’s not tracking yet. He really doesn’t remember anyone?’
‘Yes, but it’s damn selective. I mean, he remembers me, Hiko and Rika, and you. We really need to find out what happen while he was in Enishi’s hands. This is just freaky.’ Sano stood shaking his head.
Aoshi grimaced. ‘We might catch some of the small fry but Yukishiro and his top lieutenants are already gone, I’m sure. We do know the name of an officer that fed them some information.’ He looked over at Saitou who was frowning. ‘I was told just before we came over here.’ He handed him a note. ‘We’ll let you clean your own house.’
‘Thanks. You probably need to check your people, too’ Saitou turned and looked at Megumi. ‘Well, do you think it would help if he saw some of you? Maybe it would trip something in his memory.’
Megumi shrugged. ‘I don’t know. You didn’t say anything about a head injury, how did Yukishiro get his hands of Ken-san in the first place?’
Both Sano and Saitou looked blank. ‘Do you know, we never asked that question.’ Sano scratched his head and then looked at Megumi. ‘How about you and jou-chan come see Kenshin and at the same time, check him over.’
The two women nodded and left the room with Sano. As they walked back to Kenshin’s room, Sano looked pensive. ‘Let me go in first, I don’t want surprises.’ He slid the door open and stepped in. Kenshin was still sitting up, drowsing over his tray. Sano looked at how much he had eaten and sighed.
‘Kenshin, how about a couple visitors?’
Kenshin looked up and smiled. ‘Sure, Sano. Look, I ate some lunch and drank all the broth and tea.’
Sano realized that Rika was still drugging the broth, keeping him calm and relaxing him. ‘Yeah, so I see. Let me take the tray and you can talk to these ladies. This is Kaoru and Megumi.’
Megumi and Kaoru stepped into the room and looked at Kenshin. He smiled sweetly at them and briefly there was a flash of knowledge in his eyes but then they went blank again. Suddenly, Sano remembered the Battousai and how he had said it was safer at Saitou’s. He wondered if that was why Kenshin wasn’t remembering anyone but a select few.
Megumi knelt by Kenshin and smiled at him. ‘I’m a doctor, too. May I examine you for any head wounds, Ken-san?’
Kenshin jerked back a bit but then allowed Megumi to run her hands over his head. Kenshin jerked again and Megumi said, ‘Sorry. I think that’s where you were struck. But it didn’t break the skin that I can tell.’ She looked at his eyes and then smiled again. ‘But otherwise, his head seems to be ok.’
Kaoru also knelt down beside him. ‘So, Kenshin, are you feeling better now? We were all very worried about you, you know.’
Kenshin looked confused, ‘But, why would you be worried? Do I know you?’
Kaoru smiled sadly and said, ‘Yes, but don’t worry about it for now. When you want to, you’ll remember.’
Chapter Twelve: What, every chapter needs a title?
After a few minutes, it was obvious that Kenshin was going to go back to sleep. After helping Sano lay him down so that he was comfortable, the two women walked back to the front room silently.
Standing outside the door, Kaoru looked at Megumi. ‘He’s not remembering to protect us, ne?’
‘I think that’s exactly right. Being hit on the head hard enough to knock him out but not break the skin probably wasn’t enough to give him amnesia. No, once everything is resolved, I think Ken-san will regain his memory.’
Yahiko stood up as they walked into the room. ‘May I go see Kenshin now?’
‘He’s asleep, Yahiko.’
‘Yes, but…’ Yahiko stood, head down. He had been just as worried as everyone else, and he needed to see him to know that Kenshin really was there. Misao stood behind him, silently agreeing with him.
Saitou interrupted him. ‘Go. And tell the roosterhead to come back with you. There are a few things that need to be discussed.’
Yahiko frowned at Saitou, then shrugged and left with Misao. No one really knew what to say to the cop, they had thought he was dead and now they were having to redefine how they looked at him.
A few minutes later, Sano, Yahiko, and Misao, along with Hiko and Shadow, walked in.
‘That was a short nap.’ Megumi pushed a stool toward Shadow who simply smiled and then sat down.
Saitou looked around. ‘We found the main base that Yukishiro set up here. It would seem that he followed your party here and then left as soon as he realized the Battousai was somewhere he couldn’t get to him. I’ve got people tracking his movements, but this will probably send him underground, at least for awhile.’
Rika, after a quick look around at the frowning faces, said, ‘I’m going to take Kenshin home with me for awhile, as soon as he can travel. Other than the beating, he hasn’t said anything about what happened while he was being held.’ One eyebrow lifted as she looked inquiringly at Sano, who shrugged.
‘He hasn’t said anything to me, but his sleep’s disturbed. And the Battousai keeps popping in and out at odd times. It’s almost as if he’s keeping Kenshin from remembering.’ Sano started walking out the door. ‘I don’t like leaving him by himself, even if you say Yukishiro’s gone, I don’t trust the bastard not to try something anyway.’ With a flip of his hand, he was gone.
Rika looked over at Hiko and then sighed. ‘Sano’s not going to like it, but I’m going to ask all of you to stay here when I take Kenshin home. It’s going to be hard enough getting him to open up, and having extra people won’t help.’
Saitou snorted softly. ‘Feeling a little closed in, Sword?’
Hiko frowned. ‘Don’t push it, Wolf.’
‘Now, boys.’ Rika suddenly smiled. ‘And yes, I am. But then, I really don’t like being in town.’ She looked around once more. ‘This is going to be hard on everyone, especially Sano. But, probably in a day or two, Kenshin and I will be gone. And all of you will either wait here or go home, I don’t want any visitors for at least a month.’
‘A month? Are you nuts!’ Yahiko bounced up, his eyes wide. ‘I mean, come on, it won’t take Kenshin that long to heal!’
Everyone, except Saitou and Aoshi, were stunned.
Megumi compressed her lips and then said, ‘You think the emotional damage is that bad.’
‘Yes. Just the fact that unless pushed, Kenshin is not acknowledging anything that happened tells me a lot. Away from here, I know I can get him to tell me what happened.’ Rika sighed. ‘Sano will not be happy about this, and I will probably send for him before the month is up. Just don’t tell him that.’
‘Hn. I will put the ahou to work helping track Yukishiro. That will keep him busy and out of trouble.’ Saitou went over to the door. ‘Right now, I’ve got some business to attend to.’
As he left, Kaoru shook her head. ‘Nice to know some things don’t change.’
Aoshi said, ‘I also have people looking around. And since both Saitou and I have found a couple of people who gave out information on all of you, any other rats are either laying low or have left. So, staying in Kyoto should be all right. But I know that there are things you must do in Tokyo.’
Megumi nodded. ‘As much as I would like to stay, I can’t leave the clinic that long. Dr. Genzai can’t handle everything by himself for too long.’
Kaoru sighed. ‘And I have a new class starting. I would rather stay here but…’
Yahiko glared at them. ‘Man, I can’t believe you two!’
Hiko looked at him. ‘They are making their decision based on current information. Staying here, unless you want to help Saitou, will not help anyone. My baka deshi will heal, Shadow will get him to tell her all that went on and eventually, Yukishiro will get caught.’
Rika stood up. ‘And I’m hungry. For a single man, Saitou has a surprisingly well stocked kitchen. And Kenshin needs to eat small meals often, also.’
Megumi, Kaoru and Misao followed her out to the room. ‘We’ll help, and you can tell us how you know Ken-san.’
The voices faded toward the back of the house. Hiko grinned at Yahiko. ‘Has Kenshin been doing any training with you?’
‘Some. He won’t show me anything I haven’t seen him do, but that’s OK. We’re kind of combining the two styles.’
Hiko looked surprised. ‘Interesting. Well, come out back. I’ll see what you know and give you a good workout.’ He smiled a bit evilly. Yahiko glared back.
**
As Sano went back to Kenshin, he knew that plans were being made behind his back. He was determined that this time he wasn’t going to be left out. He looked down at a sleeping Kenshin, knowing that he was dreaming and unhappy. He quietly sat down and began to rub Kenshin’s forehead, watching as the worry lines on his face smoothed out and his breathing eased.
It didn’t seem very long before Kenshin slowly woke back up. ‘Hmm, Sano?’
‘Yes, baby?’
‘Can we go home now?’ he asked plaintively. ‘You never did say why I’m with the Shinsengumi. Did they catch me?’
Sano sighed. ‘No, we can’t leave, not yet. And it’s just Saitou. You came here to keep everyone at the Aoiya safe, remember? And you need to heal some more before you do any real moving around. How do your ribs feel?’
‘Ok, I seem to be able to breathe a little better.’ Kenshin was still drowsy and he couldn’t seem to get his eyes all the way open. He frowned. ‘Why am I so sleepy?’
‘I think Rika is putting a sedative in your drink to help you sleep. You need to rest all you can right now.’
‘Oh.’ And Sano watched as Kenshin slowly drifted back to sleep, this time more relaxed. Sano sat and watched over him as his lover slept.
There, two bits in one day! And now I'm off... to... check the air conditioner! We just put it in and maybe, just maybe... part of the smell could be coming from there!
I love the country, just not the mice.