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Disclaimer!: I didn't create Kenshin and it's characters! This is just
	what I do for fun!
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Couch Potatoes  part 1
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13 year old Shishi-o and Yumi sit on a couch. It thunders and pours
outside as the couple share some time alone with eachother.
 

Shishi-o: It's good to be reincarnated.

Yumi: As long as i'm with you, i'd go anywhere.

Shshi-o: And maybe after puberty I'll start my Kuni-tori on Modern day 
	Japan... *his eyes gleam dangerously*

*Yumi placates him*

Yumi: Umm, before you start that again, could you at least be a dear and 
	pass me the remote control.

{Shishi-o grumbles as he moves to the metal television set.
The TV just so happens to be positioned near an open window.
He places his sweaty palms atop the metal remote control which just happens
to be situated on top that metal Television. Before he can remove the 
object, lighting strikes the antennae sending sparkling currents of 
electricity Down the antenna, through the telveision, through the remote 
control and through an unfortunate Shishi-o}

Yumi screams.

--30 minutes later--

Yumi places the last of the bandages on a burnt Shishi-o.

Yumi: Why didn't you let me call 911?

Shishi-O: I'm okay. *an electric spark comes out of his uncovered fingertip*

Yumi: Are you sure?

Shishi-o: Yes... *he's unearthly calm*

Yumi tries to lighten the atmosphere.

Yumi: Well you look just like you did in the good old days.

Shishi-o chuckles 

Shishi-o: I think this is a sign that I should continue my Kuni Tori...

Yumi: Umm, I wonder if the TV's okay! I hope it's not broken.

Her expression is hopeful as she turns to Shishi-o.

Shishi-o: Why don't *YOU* go check. *still unearthly calm*

Yumi shivers before getting up. She gathers the remote control
and sits back down on the couch.

Yumi: You really have the devil's luck.

She turns on the television and the two nearly facefault at what they
see.

{:Click:}

The room is dark save the single spotlight on Hajime Saitoh. 
He sits in a chair while taking a deep puff on his cigartte.

Saitoh: Sure i've tried the patch. *deep inhale* 
 *exhales a puff of smoke*

{:Click:}

Yumi: Why is *he* here???

Shishi-o: Why are they still alive... and he didn't seem to age much either.

YumI: Could it be the lightening??

Shishi-o: Give me the remote...

The two inhale deeply before Shishi-o presses the "Power" button.

{:Click:}

Kenshin wearing a red apron, holding a dish of Chicken Terriyaki. 

Kenshin: If Ken can cook... So can you!

{:Click:}

Yumi + Shishi-o: AHHHHHHH!!

Yumi: This *can't* be happening!!!

Shishi-o: This is a nightmare!!

Yumi drops her head. As her head drops, she notices a shiny magazine.
She studies it suspiciously before slowly getting up.

*shishi-o buries his face in his hands.

Shishi-o: What's the matter with you?

Yumi: Shh!

She picks up a baseball bat.

Shishi-o: Don't you go breaking the television! My parents will kill me!!

Yumi ignores him and touches the bat to the shiny magazine.
She pokes at it until she realizes it's safe. She picks it up
and sits down next to Shishi-o.

Shishi-o: What's that in your hand??  

Yumi: Looks like a manual... or a TV guide.

ShishI-o takes it from her.

He begins reading.

[~~You have gained access to the "Celestial Satelite" corporation.~~]

Yumi + Shishi-o: "Celestial Satelite"?

they continue reading.

[~~ Yes, Celestial satelite. We wish to reward you for surviving death
and saving us the cost another meaningless reincarnation. The real
consolation is that we have taken images and people from your past life, 
and consructed programs for your viewing pleasure. While some programs are 
created, most of them will be live broadcasts from the Meiji Restoration
period!~~]

Yumi + Shishi-o: Oh no...

[~~ Oh yes! The Meiji Restoration! Now you can have the best of your old 
world with the click of a button! Before you continue on to the listing
and times of the various programs, We think it's helpful to let you know
that approximately 3 years have passed since you two died.

Programs we highly suggest and have high ratings among our Nearly Departed
are:

"Ken can Cook"
"How to Be a Battousai"
"All my Aoiya's"
"Tea with Tae"
"The Real World"
"Hiko and Pals"

Besides those fabricated programs, You will have the privelidge of
viewing *the* actual 3rd annual "Miss Meiji" pageant!! It is being prepared
for as we speak in your past life. Because of our technology, you will 
recieve the live broadcast from Meiji Japan 5 days from today! There will be 
5 more showings after this in case you missed it the first time!!

We hope you are as excited as we are!! Have fun thumbing through our
listings and we hope you enjoy!~~]

Yumi stared in disbelief. She didn't even notice Shishi-o's menacial
laughter. 

Shishi-o: I'm a genius. Because of my genius, we have contact with them
	*is suddenly calm* We can see them... but they can't see us.

Yumi: I think i'm going home.

		######### Back in Meiji Japan #########

Kenshin and Megumi pace nervously in front of the paper sliding doors of
a grand house.

"Kenhsin" Megumi touches his shoulder as she speaks.
"Maybe we should wait until we get home. This is hardly the place."

Kenshin stopped pacing and turned to Megumi. He rakes his fingers through
the loosened ends of hair.

"I know, but I don't want to see her have her hopes up for long.
Once Kaoru sets her mind to something--"

His words are stopped as Saitoh suddenly appears.
"What are you doing here?" Kenshin asks, his voice as nervous as his 
mannerisms.

"You are a judge as well I presume?" He takes a long drag of his cigarette
as he speaks.

Kenshin's eyes widen.
"Don't tell me you are a judge too?!"

Saitoh exahles as he removes his white gloves. They still smell like
Tokio's lemony scented soap.

"Himura Kenshin, Hajime Saitoh, Shinomori Aoshi, Seijiro Hiko, and
 Seta Soujiro."

Kenshin narrowed his eyes.

Megumi spoke.
"Why are the judges all fine swordsmans?" 

Saitoh closed his eyes.
"Battousai, I suggest you pull your woman form this contest. Tommorow
the preliminaries will be held at the old court house..."
 Saitoh hands Kenshin an emvelope.
"Maybe you can do some friendly persuasion."

With that he left, leaving a startled Kenshin and Megumi.

			---Kyoto, same time--- 

Misao walked nervously between Okon and Omasu.

She felt worse than she should have. Tommorow would be the preliminaries.
She glanced at Omasu in her beautiful red Kimono. She then glanced at her
own silk, blue kimono as they turned the corner.

::I have to lighten the atmosphere...::

"Okon!"
Misao exclaimed.

"What is it?"
Questioned the startled woman.

"I-uh... I was wondering if you could umm... hmm..."

It fell silent again as the three women made it back the fully restored
Aoiya.

They barely made it through the door when Jiya rushed towards them.

"How'd it go?"

Misao smiled a pained smile just before Aoshi walked into the entrance hall.

"Aoshi-sama..." Misao tralied off as she plunged into her own thoughts.

Jiya began to shake her shoulders.
"How'd it go??"

Misao snapped out of her trance.
"Huh? Well.. uh."

"Oh, don't be shy 'Miss Kyoto'."
Okon finished.

Jiya gave Misao a back breaking hug as a small smile crept across
Aoshi's face. He almost immediately regained composure and walked towards
Omasu.

"And you?" he questioned.

"There's only one 'Miss Kyoto', and Misao is it."

Omasu winked at Misao, eliciting a teary-eyed smile from the girl. 
It was strange being choosen over someone she had idolized for practically
her whole life. It made it muh easier to go forward with that support.
 
Aoshi then turned to Misao. His expression was blank an unreadable.
"Congratulations Misao... but I think you'd find it in your best interest
to resign your title and leave the contest."

######### 2 days later in Shishi-o's Living room in the real world #########

Yumi sits comfortably on the couch.

Yumi: A girl could get used to this. 
	*She reaches for the remote control and clicks the Power button.*


{:Click:}

Voice: What if we told you you'd only pay $9.95 a month?

Aoshi sits emotionless

Voice: What if we told you that long distance calls are free on weekends?

Aoshi sits emotionless.

{:Click:}

Yumi: Here it is! 

		--Television--

Kamatari walking down Broadway with hairy legs and pink pumps.

Kamatari: Find out what happens--

Sano in leather braced against a pole.

Sano: When people stop being polite--

Magdaria at church

Magdaria: And start getting Real.

Soujiro: The real world, New York.


			TO BE CONTINUED...
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NOTES:

1. Yes, there is a plot!

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