Sanosuke finished the laundry and was lounging in the sun with his one of his arms cushioning his head.  He had just gotten into a pleasant nap when he heard dragging footsteps approaching.  He tiredly cracked open an eye to see Yahiko standing above him.  With what looked like a fading handprint on his face.  Sano sighed, "Kaoru?"
 "Yeah."  The boy then sat and joined Sano in sky gazing.
 "Why did she hit you?"
 "Why did she hit YOU!"  The boy immediately replied.
 Sano yawned, "She thought I did something wrong."
 "What did you do?"
 "I saw her naked."
 Yahiko sat up, his eyes full of wonder.
 "Why are you looking at me like that, kid?"
 Yahiko blinked, "Cause you're still alive."  Sano tried to cuff the boy, but Yahiko dodged before falling back on the grass and laughed till his sides were sore.
 "Ha. Ha. Now,kid, it's your turn.  Why did Kaoru hit you?"
 Yahiko shrugged, "I don't know.  I called her a hag like I do everyday.  Maybe she's cranky for being up so late last night."
 "What are you talking about?"
 "Well...she came in really late last night, cried for a while, and went to bed."
 Sano cursed and hit the ground with his fist, "If only those two would LISTEN to me.  They are so fucking stupid sometimes- hey, don't go repeating the stuff you hear, 'kay kid?"
 Yahiko stood up and looked at Sano with disgust written fully on his face, "What do you think I am, a child?!  No, don't answer that."  Yahiko spotted Kenshin approaching, "Hey Kenshin, let's see if Kaoru's smacked you too!"
 Kenshin stopped besides Sano and sat down next to him.
 "Hey Kenshin, are you going to go after those samurai-bandits?!  Cause if ya are, You've got back-up right here!  Right Sano?"
 "Right."  Sano smiled at Yahiko before looking at Kenshin, "What time did Kaoru come in last night?"
 Kenshin's brow furrowed, "She didn't go out last night.  As a matter of fact, she went to bed early.  She said she was sick, why?"
 Sano fought another yawn, "Yahiko said that she came in pretty late last night."
 "Yeah, and she was crying, too.  She's such a baby sometimes!  All week long she's been throwing snot whenever no one's been looking.  That is SO annoying.  That's why I hate her- OUCH!  DAMNIT, SANO!"
 "Shut up, Yahiko-chan."
 "CHAN!"
 "QUIET!"  The three guys turned to find Kaoru tapping her foot angrily, "IF you all are tired of talking about me behind my back, I would appreciate it if SOMEONE started dinner. KENSHIN."  She glared at him for a moment before continuing, "And YOU Sano, I thank you for washing the clothes, but did it ever occur to you to  DRY THEM?"
 "What?"
 "You heard me."  She picked up the sodden mess of clothes and threw it at Sano. "I put lines up around the back, all you need to do is hang the clothes. Sanosuke,  how did you ever survive before you came here?!"  She put her hands on her hips and now glared at the boy, "And you Yahiko, you little sneak, you better have those moves down I taught you by Thursday or else!"  She glared at all of them one more time for walking back to the house.  When her foot hit the bottom rung, she turned to address the still shocked trio before her, "Also, you all might as well know that I've got a job." she paused, "In a restaurant. And I'm not tell you guys where or why, so, so there!"  She stomped up the stairs and walked inside the house.
 When they guys knew  they were alone, they all looked at each other.
 "Yahiko, follow Kaoru tonight and tell us where she goes and what she does.  Right, Kenshin?"
 Kenshin, who was preoccupied by his thoughts, nodded.
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