------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jealous...No way! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 3 Two's Company The palette of the horizon shone a lazy orange. It was getting late. "At this rate, we won't have anything for dinner." Kenshin sighed, a soft sound mingling with distant splashing... splashing? His eyes shot open until they found the recogintion they sought. With no hesitaion, Kenshin plunged head first into the shimmering lake. -------------------------- Sano stalked leisurely to the Akabeko. He whistled a melancholy tune... he wasn't *sad* but for some reason, he didn't find himself happy. Maybe he didn't have the energy to be happy... He then felt more than heard a low grumbling noise. He grinned before touching a bandaged hand to his taut, bound stomach. "Don't start talking to me now." His stomach grumbled again, a little more loudly this time... "Pipe down, Kaoru's buying us dinner." After the next low growl, Sano looked down towards his ab... "Oi! If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." He suddenly felt a burning sensation. He looked up to find a woman staring at him oddly while clutching her child. "What's wrong with you?" He examined her concernedly as she scuttled away. "Che!" Sano turned as he reached the familiar restaurant. As he entered Tae emerged from the kitchen and gave him a half-scornful look. She attempted to approach him but a dainty waitress beat her to it. "Um... How can I help you... sir." She seemed to be embaressed... Sano had never seen her before... and she wasn't bad looking either... Sano flashed a dazzling grin... "Well, I seemed to have lost my adress. May have yours?" The brown haired girl flushed deeper... "Well..." "There will be no such thing!" Interruted a feminine voice. Sano sighed. "Come on Tae!" Tae positioned herself between the fighter and the waitress. "This girl happens to be my neice, and during her stay here I do *not* want her corrupted by the likes of you!" "Okay." Sano complied reluctantly. "Now..." Tae beamed "go have a seat. What can I get you?" Sano raised a hopeful eyebrow. "By any chance, have you seen Jou-chan?" Tae seemed puzzled. "She's right there. Why?" Sano recognised the raven-haired woman sipping almost nervously. "Thanks Tae." He smiled then walked towards her. -------------------------- "Will you be alright?" Kenshin was incredibly warm. Even to this stranger. She reminded him of Kaoru... then again, everything of late seemed to remind him of Kaoru. He pushed the thought aside as the girl finally looked up. "I'm not sure... I mean... I have nothing left." She buried her face into dirty hands. "Why's that?" Kenshin questioned. It took a while for her to answer. "I can't go back home." She began to sob again. "Don't worry, I'll help you. You can tell me when you're ready." -------------------------- "So where's this Ryu fellow?" Sano sat right next to Kaoru. "He couldn't make it." Sano's glare become one of frustration. "This guy is not dependable at all." Kaoru shook her head. "No it's not that. It's just a bad time." "Bad time my ass!" Replied Sano. Kaoru eyed him in such a way, that his even the water in his glass froze. He looked down before taking a sip. Kaoru placed a hand on his shoulder. He found that her eyes were warmer now. "I'm sorry Sano, It's just that during certain times of the month--" Sano turned beet red. "I DO *NOT* WANT TO KNOW!" He began gulping more water. Kaoru looked puzzled. Why'd he react like that? She was just going to explain why Ryu couldn't be there... what else could she be talking a--- Kaoru began to blush as well. Tae stormed over to their section. "What's wrong with the two of you?" She noticed Kaoru blushing and Sano looking like he was to blame. Sano noted the contempt in Tae's glare... if looks could kill, he definately would be dead. "What's wrong Tae?" he questioned innocently. "What's going on over here?" "Can't me and Jou-chan just sit and talk?" He placed an arm around Kaoru and smiled. Tae began to prod Kaoru... "Where's Kenshin?" "I think he's fishing." She replied non-chalantly. ::Something's not right...:: Tae thought. Sano squeezed Kaoru more tightly... "Ne, Jou-chan... Hows about us ordering something?" Kaoru's eyes narrowed. "Do you have any money?" Sano sweatdropped before coughing. "Aww come on! You dragged me here! The *least* you could do is buy me something! I'm so hungry, I can't think straight... I might just tell Kenshin something I shouldn't..." Kaoru shrugged her shoulders. "Oh please! I'd sooner tell him myself than support your free-loading." ::Tell Kenshin waht???:: Tae thought to herself... Tae eyed them suspiciously. Sano's arm was draped casually over Kaoru's shoulder and he begged and whined in her ear. They looked cotent... ::What's going on??:: Tae's thoughts were interrupted by Kaoru's voice. "Fine fine!" She sipped her tea as Sano belted out empty thanks. "You won't regret this Jou-chan. That's why I love you soo much." "Yeah yeah. Go ahead." "I'll have the usual... make it two." He glanced appreciatively at Kaoru. "I.." she said "Can order for myself! I'll have my usual." She nodded deliberately at Sano. "You women these days." Tae absent-mindedly took down the orders and walked away. -------------------------- "Is she okay?" Megumi nodded and turned to Kenshin. "What i'm concerned about is you! You can't go saving *everyone*. Just how long were you in those soaked clothes anyway? You could catch a cold or something worse. You should take care of yourself more!" Megumi finished with a slight pout. Kenshin looked rather sheepish. "Suimasen de gozaru." Megumi sighed and watched Kenshin. She suddenly remembered what she had overheard yesterday... ::Poor Kenshin...:: she thought. Suddenly, the dark-haired girl emerged from Kenshin's room. Yahiko's eyes became as round as saucers. "Wow!" he watched in amazement. "I'm surprised she fit in busu's clothes!" Kenshin smiled. "They seem about the same age and size." Yahiko turned disgustedly towards Kenshin. "You take notes of that hag's size?" Kenshin blushed. Megumi quiclky injected... "You have to admit, they do have similar builds." The girl began to shift uncomfortably. She felt as if she was under a microscope. Kenshin noted her discomfort, and began to approach her carefully. "I'm sorry. You look wonderful. You must be hungry, would you like something to eat?" She nodded quietly. She looked like Kaoru... but her eyes shone a dull coal.. as if she'd lost all hope. And she had no bangs... just a part in the middle with hair that flowed sharply to her shoulders. He turned to Yahiko who stoood with Ayame and Suzume. "Are you guys hungry?" They all nodded. "What about you Megumi?" Megumi nodded as well... she had nothing to do, besides, she needed the chance to talk to Kenshin... besides... she was hungry! "Well, I didn't catch enough for us to have dinner, but If you want, I can take you all to a restaurant..." Everyone nodded again. "Well, let me go get some money." Kenshin entered his room. He tumbled in his closet until he came upon a leather pouch. He frowned a bit. He remembered how he recieved this money. Saitoh handed it to him. He said it was 'the government's way of saying thank-you'. At first he declined, but Saitoh insisted, bringing up money he probably owed Kaoru... Kenshin remembered blushing before accepting it. It had been a hefty sum. But he had given most of it to her... It would have been nice to take everyone out on his birthday... ::but I guess Kaoru's too busy these days...:: He stuffed the pouch into his gi and returned to the impatient crowd. "So where are we going?" Kenshin asked. Yahiko was ready to answer. "To the Akabeko of course." He blushed slightly. "Where else could we go? They have the best food in town." Keshin grinned at Yahiko. Megumi decided to seek revenge for his earlier comment to Kenshin... "And I suppose that Tsubame-chan has nothing to do with this decision?" Yahiko Face-faulted. Keshin smiled. "Shall we go?" He scooped the two toddlers into his arms before turning to the girl. "Shall we go... Sorry, but I never caught your name?" The girl looked down. "You can call me Rei." Yahiko stod next to her. "Shall we go?" He asked, trying to be smooth and debonair. She raised an eyebrow and sighed before accepting his offer. -------------------------- "Ibn' i ib bo ba?" Sano continued to stuff food into his mouth. Kaoru whapped the back of his head. "Don't speak with your mouth full!" A peice off fish fell out of Sano's mouth onto his lap. "Look what you did!" he exclaimed. "I bought it anyways!" Sano picked it up and ate it. "I asked if it was in two days?" "What?" Kaoru asked. "Baka.." Sano said. "Oh! Yes. And every thing'll be ready." "But where is it?" Sano finished his soba. "At Ryu's house." "Where's that?" Sano finished the last of his meal. "It's that dojo just past the bridge. That's his family's dojo. It's really beautiful... When my parents were still alive I used to stay at his house when I wasn't practicing... but after they died, I spent a lot of my time at my house. He came by when he could. We helped eachother... then he moved away... and I never saw him again..." Kaoru looked down. She rarely spoke of the past. There was too much to deal with in those shadows. She'd rather live for the future and use the past to push her forwards... in that moment she realized another thing she had in common with Kenshin. She felt Sano's arm drape around her again. She smiled. He was like a playful older brother. "The more I hear about this guy, the more I want to meet him. Are you *sure* there's nothing going on?" Kaoru looked at him. "Yes I'm sure!... Are *you* jealous?" Sano laughed. "Oh please! Jou-chan, you are one funny chic." Tae handed the bill over to Kaoru. ::He's *still* got his arm around her?!? Kenshin *needs* to know about this!:: Kaoru handed her the money. "Thanks Tae." Tae turned to leave. "Tae!" Tae turned to Kaoru. "What is it?" "If you ever see Kenshin, please don't tell him about this?" Tae sighed. :: Kaoru How could you!:: "Alright." "Thank you!" "No problem." Tae waved dismissively at the two. "Shall we go?" Sano extended his arm. "Okay." -------------------------- Yahiko walked besides Rei. In his head he imagined what could happen once he walked into the Akabeko... He glanced up at Rei... ::Tsubame will be so jealous!:: Yahiko smirked to himself. ::She'll appreciate me more when she sees another woman in my charms. Ha ha!:: Yahiko hadn't realized that the last part of his thoughts were aloud. Kenshin cleared his throat. "Yahiko, are you alright?" Yahiko looked ahead. "I'm fine." Ayame pointed ahead. "The bridge!" Meanwhile... Kaoru and Sano walked arm in arm. It was late and no one was around to stare. Beisdes, they were having fun. "We reached the bridge already!" Kaoru exclaimed. "Time flies when you're having fun." "You said it, not me." Sano replied. Kaoru squeezed had his arm in a death-grip. "I should just make you vomit that meal I just bought you." Kaoru saw many figures approaching... The seemed vauguely familiar... except for the woman. Sano observed them as well. "Sano, do we know them?" Kenshin strained to see ahead of him. There were two figures approaching. A few more paces... Everyone spoke.. ??"""Kaoru?Kenshin?Yahiko?Sano?Nee-chan?Megumi?"""?? Then came silence. Nothing could be heard... nothing but faint howling... a strange howling...?? TO BE CONTINUED! ___________________________________________________________________________ NOTES: 1. I gave some hints about Ryu's identity in this chapter...