What If?
-a YYH/RK crossover

Part 8
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"What the hell?  Where'd they go?"

Scratching his head, Sanosuke craned his neck around, trying to get a 
better view of his surroundings.  It was market day in downtown Tokyo, 
and the jostling crowd had separated him from his friends.  The young 
man spent a few more futile minutes trying to catch a glimpse of 
Kenshin and the others before finally giving up.  Muttering to 
himself,he shoved his hands into his pockets and scowled his way 
through the mass of people.  "K'so, now I'll have to pay for my own 
food..."  

* * * * *

Hiei-chan blearily opened his eyes, the noisy hum of a busy crowd 
jarring him from his sleep.  He lifted his head and stared around.  
"Ne, Kurama-chan, where are we?"

Kurama turned to look at him.  "Oh, you're finally awake?" he 
asked,smiling wearily.  He shifted Hiei-chan a bit, working the kinks 
out of his shoulders, before answering.  "As far as I can tell, we're 
outside some kind of major city.  It's kind of funny but... it sort of 
feels like Tokyo, don't you think?"

Hiei-chan shrugged, lids drooping once more.  "Dunno, I *yawn* s'ppose 
so..."

Kurama stifled a yawn of his own.  "I guess we'd better find an inn 
soon.  I'm bushed."

"Mmm-mmm."  Hiei-chan snuggled his face deeper into the curve of 
Kurama's neck, already falling back into his interrupted slumber.

Kurama's eyes warmed with amused affection before he clasped Hiei-chan 
closer and headed for the bustling city.

* * * * *

Sanosuke leaned back against the bridge railing, absently chewing on a 
blade of grass.  <K'so!  Kenshin and the brat are probably off having 
fun now.>  He scowled, scuffing a shoe on the wooden planks. <Man, I 
wish I knew where they went...>

As he was considering going off to bug Megumi, always an enjoyable 
pastime, a flash of red across the river caught his eye.  Turning his 
head, Sanosuke saw Kenshin trudging towards the tavern district, 
carrying Yahiko on his back.  A wide grin split his face, his mood 
immediately improving.  Maybe Kenshin would agree to have another 
little match, he thought, running after them.  Funny, though, he hadn't 
noticed that particular outfit on Kenshin earlier.  <I wonder where he 
got that Chinese getup?>