Yay, I'm back! So... on with the show! I can blab later. Diclaimer: I own Kenshin. No, really, I do. See, it says right here *holds up a scribbled card that says "To Akai: this is Kenshin 4 U"* My godson made it for me. Isn't it cute?


Light of the Snow-Red Village
Part VI - Flickering Shadows: Pine of Winter - Chapter 1

by Akai Kitsune

~*~
You calm the storms
You give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won't let me fall
~*~

    The dojo was quiet, almost peaceful, the mid-spring wind causing only the slightest quiver in the tree branches above the building. The inhabitants had only begun to rise, awakened by the rays of the sun and the cheerful, carefree cries of songbirds.

Splash.

    "Kyaa!"

    "Ha! Tokyo Samurai Myojin Yahiko has accomplished his revenge!"

    "YAHIKO!"

    "Itai!"

Kenshin groaned, pulling himself off his futon as he rubbed his head sorely. "What on earth-?"

Hikari stirred in her own bed, drawing her arms up to cover her ears. "Mmph," she muttered, "Wanna sleep in today..."

He smiled at her, as she rolled over and settled back into deeper sleep, and roused himself, hoping to settle down the fight that was brewing down the hall. Yahiko had, apparently, not appreciated Kaoru's wake-up call of the previous day, and had chosen his own method of payback.

  'I may as well let her sleep in. I doubt their lessons will begin for a long time...'

  '... better start breakfast...'

~*~

    Sanosuke strode into the Kamiya yard, the grin cast across his lips accompanied by a drooping fishbone, his hands shoved in his pockets. He took a quick glance at his surroundings, seeing nothing of great interest, and caught the sound of action occurring in the kitchen.

He smirked. Normally he would jump at the chance at a free meal - something he seemed to get regularly when he dropped by, however much Kaoru would stomp about and complain. On this particular day, though, he had different plans.

He slipped into the house, a few loose coins jingling in his pocket, to made a quick visit and a... subtle kidnapping.

~*~

    "Sano-san," Hikari peered up at the tall man curiously as he led their path down the main Tokyo road, "Where are we going? Without even telling tousan or Kaoru-san?"

Sano grinned at her around his fishbone. "We're going shopping for supper, of course." It had taken great effort to get the girl out of the house - especially without anyone noticing - but there was no turning back now, at least in his opinion. Still, it wouldn't hurt to tell her.

Her eyes widened, growing even more incredulous. "S-shopping? Sano-san, you never have any money!"

Sano sweatdropped. "Well you don't have to point that out... besides, we're going to get some before we go to the market."

    "Get some?" she repeated, one eyebrow raised.

He halted, turning to face the building he had stopped at, and reached over to grab her collar and pull her beside him. "Right here," he smirked expectantly, one arm around her neck, "Since Kenshin isn't all that cooperative, I need you to help me out."

Hikari gave him a suspicious look. "A... gambling hall?"

Sano nodded vigorously. "Yep! Just between you and me, kid. And I get the feeling you'll be even better than your dad..."

~*~

    "Snake eyes!"

    "Dammit, not again!"

The men sitting in a circle in front of Sanosuke and Hikari scowled, handing over their money with extreme reluctance. Hikari beamed, happily tossing the bills into the cup at her feet. "Arigato!"

Sano laughed. "I knew it! Finally, a partner who can enjoy herself while she works. So what's the split, Hikari-chan? 50-50?"

She shrugged, gazing in awe at all the money they had won. "I've giving mine to Kaoru-san though."

Sano winced, waving a hand hastily. "Well - ah - don't tell her about where you got it! This isn't something they should know about, really."

She sent him a sly, sideways glance. "Why Sano-san, we're not doing anything illegal, are we?"

He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Well... Kenshin did it..."

    "That's true," she admitted with a laugh. "I guess they can't be mad at us for getting supper, ne?"

Sano chuckled. "They can't be mad at you, maybe." He sighed and glanced into the cup again. "Man, you're one bundle of good luck... it's a wonder Kenshin never gambles. He'd probably make a killing with you..."

    "I don't think he'd like that idea," she smiled slightly, shaking her head.

    "Why not?"

    "He doesn't like depending on people," she admitted. "He'd probably be able to do it himself... but he usually doesn't want help unless he really needs it."

    "Even if it's from you?" he asked, puzzled. She nodded. "Well, he'll get over that. That's what I'm here for - to teach him how much his life is going to suck if he doesn't live a little."

Hikari shared his brief grin, then reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small pocketwatch to check the time. "Um... shouldn't we be getting back soon? Tousan was going to let me sleep in, but... he's not going to be happy when he finds out I'm gone..."

Sano smirked. "Oh, he'll be all right. He probably knows you're with me... don't know how, but nothing seems to get past him when it comes to you."

She blinked at him. "You knew?"

    "Huh?"

    "You knew that he knew I was-"

    "I told you not to worry about it!" Sano waved her off, standing up and stretching. "But I'm gettin' hungry anyway, so we'd better get moving."

Genji peered up at him, leaning back. "Taking off already, Sano-san? You haven't even won all our money yet!"

    "Well I'll be back," Sano assured them with a casual grin, giving Hikari a soft pat on the shoulder. "Right, kid?"

She raised an eyebrow at him, not giving him a straight answer, and he shrugged. "Either way. Let's go - we can drop by the market on the way back and pick up some fish. Jou-chan'll like that."

They made their way towards the exit, waving goodbye, and started out for the marketplace.

Hikari smiled cheerfully in the light of the sun, her feet shuffling in the dusty path below her. "You know, I think Kaoru-san's right."

    "What's that?"

    "When tousan and I first came here, I wasn't used to the big city. She said I'd get used to it, though. We've been here for almost a month... and I don't feel so out of place anymore."

Sano grinned. "You can get used to anything, I guess. Hell, look at me - I'm starting to tolerate Jou-chan's cooking!"

    "It's not that bad," Hikari chuckled softly, chiding him. She tugged at his pant leg, halting him. "Sano-san, kneel on the ground for a minute."

Sanosuke blinked, but obliged. His curiousity and puzzlement quickly changed back to a grin, as she pulled herself onto his shoulders. "You do this often?"

    "Nope!" she replied as he stood again, holding tightly to his bandanna ties. "But tousan... he's kind of short for this." Sano laughed. "Don't do that, it's true! So I was wondering what it'd be like on a really tall person."

    "And I fit the bill, eh? Well, I'll manage."

    "Arigato!"

Sano chuckled, shuffling down the road. The girl's cheerfulness was infectious almost - almost - to the point of annoyance, but she always managed to make people laugh. Especially Kenshin.

Serious, brooding, dangerous Kenshin. Since their initial trip to the gambling joint - an innocent, casual excursion between friends and honest men, unlike those gatherings between city yakuza who'd rather stab you in the back than pay off a debt - he had learned a great deal about the rurouni who'd pulled him from the underworld and thrown him back into the realities of everyday life. Kenshin was quiet, but he somehow understood that Sano was trustworthy - to a point, for no man would trust completely in only a few weeks of knowing someone - and so was willing to share his thoughts when it was appropriate. Sano, in response, had discovered that part of his new 'job' was to get his friend to lighten up. It was proving to be very difficult.

But Sagara Sanosuke lived solely upon challenges.

    "So what kind of fish would Jou-chan go for?" he looked skyward, meeting Hikari's eyes as she glanced down at him.

She shrugged. "I don't know... just don't get catfish."

    "Catfish?"

    "Yeah," Hikari giggled, her eyes jovial. "Tousan brought home a catfish once, after a fishing trip. Kaoru-san just about had a fit! She made tousan promise to never, ever bring home a catfish again. But the rest of us ate a lot that night."

Sano grinned. "All right then, no catfish. What about blowfish? I heard that's supposed to be damn good."

    "Sano-san, isn't it expensive?" she asked, incredulous.

He chuckled, holding up a few coins. "Yeah, but don't forget - this meal is compliments of my fellow gamblers!"

He tossed the coins in the air, then suddenly found himself staring at nothing. Opening and closing his hand a few times, his eyes widened, cursing. "What the hell-?"

    "Wow, what did you guys play?!"

Sano and Hikari blinked and glanced behind them, and caught sight of Yahiko, a shinai strapped across his back, his hands jingling the coins previously in Sanosuke's possession. "I can't believe you took her," Yahiko scowled, glaring at Hikari.

Hikari pursed her lips, indignant. "And what's wrong with me gambling?"

The aspiring samurai turned his frown upon Sano, pointing a finger. "You didn't offer to take me, that's what!"

Sano smirked, patting his head roughly. "You're bad luck, brat."

Yahiko bristled, shoving the hand away. "What did you say?!"

    "Don't touch me!"

    "Stop, you bitch!"

The three of them turned, alarmed, as a woman suddenly rushed towards them, a terrified look on her face as she fled from the two men behind her. As she pushed her way through the crowded marketplace, running past them, Sano's hand shot out and grasped her wrist.

    "Let go!" she demanded, her eyes flashing with defiance and fear as she struggled against him.

    "Hold still," he growled, teeth biting hard upon the fishbone. He pushed her between himself and Yahiko, turning to the men who were chasing her. "Who the hell are you?"

The men returned the glare, eyeing him with disdain. "We've got no business with you. Hand over the woman and we'll be out of your way."

The street fighter merely gave them a long, simpering look. "Yeah? And what if I don't want to hand her over?"

One of the men cracked his knuckles threateningly. "There are plenty of whorehouses downtown, boy. You're likely to find a much more willing woman than this one if you go looking."

Sano's lip twitched. "Not interested." A sudden pain on his foot made him wince, and he glanced back with a scowl. "Shit! Woman, what the hell are you-"

The woman sent him a glare and flicked her hair, her eyes narrowed and dark in contrast to her fair, soft-skinned face. "I'm no prostitute, you idiot. Let me go and don't interfere with something you know nothing about!"

Sano glowered at her, favouring his sore foot. "If you keep insulting the one who's trying to help you, I just might."

    "Help me? You're trying to-"

    "Get out of the way!" the forgotten antagonist roared, charging towards them. Sano sidestepped and tripped him, grasping Hikari's legs to keep her from falling down.

    "Sano-san!" Her hands clenched tightly to his hair, eyes wide in surprise as he spun quickly and slammed his foot into the surprised face of the other man. "Careful!"

    "Yahiko," Sano called behind him, "Finish them off, will ya?"

Yahiko was already upon them, shinai drawn and quickly knocking the pair out. "Done!" he grinned, glancing back at the woman. "See? Nothing to worry about."

The woman stared at the three of them, astonished and a little wary. "Do you even know what you're doing?"

    "You don't seem to appreciate the aid of fools, Megumi."

Surprised by the sudden voice, Sano, Yahiko and Hikari whirled around to look into an alley. Hidden within the shadows, a short, spiky-haired man sneered at them. "Now, are you going to come back quietly?"

    "Who the hell are you?" Sano demanded roughly, raising a fist.

The odd-faced man remained hunched in the corner, ignoring him. The woman he had addressed as Megumi crossed her arms, shaking her head in negation. "You tell Kanryuu - I'm never coming back! So he may as well give up right now!"

Sano's eyes widened. 'Kanryuu - Takeda Kanryuu? That shady businessman? Shit. Who's this woman he's after, then?'

The last remaining combatant of Kanryuu laughed at her, a low, ugly cackle. "Give up? When I can take you back to him right now? I don't surrender so easily." His slitted eyes narrowed. "Tell the boy to move aside."

Megumi's eyes widened, but Yahiko didn't move, the shinai raised threateningly. "You come near, and I'll-"

The man's hand flashed, and suddenly Yahiko gasped in pain and alarm, stumbling to his knees as something struck his leg. Sano cursed, Hikari falling from his shoulders to hold onto his back, and reached out towards a nearby stall, grasping the first solid object that reached his hand. The little ninja, or whatever he was, probably wouldn't expect to be knocked unconscious by a daikon radish. Such an event was a challenge to incur.

Sano lived solely upon challenges.

As such, Kanryuu's thug didn't know what hit him.

Satisfied that the enemy was down for the count, he rushed to the boy's side, checking the injury briefly. "Oi kid, what'd he hit?"

Yahiko winced, holding a hand against the wound. "It... got my leg. I don't know what it was, but it's not bad... I don't think..."

Sano pulled the hand away, and sure enough, his upper thigh was bleeding, although not heavily. Hikari slipped off his shoulders, kneeling beside them.

The street fighter grinned, straightening. "Well, as least it didn't hit anything important. Looks pretty close, though."

The boy burned crimson at the implication. "Sanosuke!"

But Sano's attention was elsewhere. "Where do you think you're going?"

The woman, momentarily forgotten, froze, halfway through the entrance of another alley. Slowly, she turned back to face them, her expression challenging and resistant. "What do you think?" she retorted, sending a brief, contemptuous glance in the direction of her fallen pursuers. "I'm going to get out of here while I still can. I appreciate the help, but unless you expect more from me - which you're unlikely to get, knowing your type - I'm leaving this place."

Sano scowled, and in one quick motion pulled her back into the streets, ignoring her yelp of protest. "You're not goin' anywhere until we get a story out of you. Why the hell is Kanryuu after you?!"

    "Let go!" she demanded, pulling her hand away. "I don't have to tell you anything!"

    "Yahiko's hurt because of you," Sanosuke pointed towards the pair still on the ground, as Hikari tore at her hakama to wrap Yahiko's wound. "We at least deserve a reason why. And you're not leaving until we get it."

She glared back at him, rubbing her wrist, but made no objection. Her gaze fell towards Yahiko, and a glittering of remorse entered her eyes.

Sano, catching sight of that, moved back, apparently satisfied by her silence. "Kid - can you walk?"

    "Of course I can walk," Yahiko snapped, getting to his feet. He was quickly proven wrong, as he stumbled, leaning heavily against Hikari. "I can walk, I said!"

    "No you can't," Sano groaned, shaking his head. "Hikari, give him a hand, will you?"

Yahiko scowled, carefully pushing her away to support himself.

    "Wait," she called, grasping his arm. "Let me help you, all right?"

    "I don't need help," he muttered, struggling to free his arm.

Hikari's grip was harder than he thought, and she pulled his arm around her shoulders, her hand curving at his waist. "Baka," she chided gently, "Sometimes even a samurai needs help from his comrades, ne?"

He didn't respond, lips cinched tightly in frustration, but he didn't struggle against her, either.

Sano smirked and picked up the abandoned shinai, motioning for the woman to walk in front of him as Hikari and Yahiko led the way back to the dojo.

  'An excursion to the gambling hall turns into a fight with a rich, dangerous businessman, an injury for Yahiko, and a snappy woman who treats people like dirt. Kenshin's going to love this one.'

  'Looks like I won't be taking Hikari back there for a long time, if ever.'

  'Damn. And she was real good luck, too...'

~*~

Notes: Again, apologies for the delay. I may be able to write whenever I like, but that doesn't give my beta-readers unlimited free time. I hope you'll all be patient with me.

Hikari's gambling "skill": Once again, my beta-reader Lee-san's idea, ^_^ When he requested a trip to the gambling hall - not of Sano and Kenshin (that came later), but of Sano and Hikari, I really couldn't resist the idea. However, since Kenshin's skill at dice stems from Hiten Mitsurugi, I decided that Hikari's would be based more on luck, and the smattering of skills she might have picked up during her travels. Of course, her being completely innocent to the whole experience, Kenshin trusted Sano to take her to a place that was... shall we say... clean? As for Kenshin knowing she was with him - of course he did. Nothing happens to her without him knowing about it. Well, now, anyway.

Apologies ahead of time about Megumi. I can't realy write her at all... I have no skill whatsoever at writing the elegant fox-lady, despite my self-proclaimed nickname. If you have any strong objections towards her actions, please let me know, and I'll either adjust my writing to correct myself, or explain my choice. ^_^ Either way, I like to know these things...

    More coming soon! (hopefully...)

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