Denial
By: pnaixrose

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Chapter 1: Bored

Damn.

It was a hot, sunny day and yet the only thing a certain fifteen year old boy could do was sigh in great irritation. It was weird to see a frustrated frown on his usual cheeky face. He was usually the type of boy that would somehow try to make something fun out of anything.

You'd think that a teenager would be up and about doing something on gorgeous day like this instead of lounging on a small bridge, wouldn't you? Anyone else his age would at least be forced to doing chores.

Nah. That wasn't Myojin Yahiko. No one could tell him what to do.

Not even that busu at the Kamiya dojo.

Yeah, other times Kamiya Kaoru would be able to persuade him to do his portion of the house chores, but today he was feeling rather irritable. He knew he had surprised his older friends by just barging out the front gate all of a sudden. He had even surprised himself a bit. But he couldn't help it. He needed adventure. He needed something to happen in this city.

He was bored to death.

Can you blame him? After all, he lived with the instructor of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu Style, knew a female doctor who had been forced to help make opium in the past, knew two former members of Sekihora members, was great friends with the owners of the restaurant Akabeko, met the 13th successor of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style, personally knew the members of the Oniwabanshuu, met Mibu's Wolf, fought and defeated one of Shishio's group, and lastly he was good friends with the legendary Battousai.

A pretty colorful crowd, eh? And there was still more to be mentioned.

But now, everyone seemed to be settling down from the usual dangerous and nervous atmosphere he had gotten used to. Kenshin especially. But Yahiko couldn't blame the poor guy. Kenshin deserved to live a peaceful life from now on. After all those lives he had saved, Kenshin deserved at least that.

But Yahiko personally wanted to see him kick some butt again.

However it didn't seem like it would happen anytime soon. With Kenshin's sakabatou sword tucked away in his room as he tried to live normally, life has been quite dull for the last few months. Yahiko took this time to train under Kaoru's teachings and to beat up the simple robbers that come up once in awhile. But that was a rare occasion since no one would dare do anything wrong with the Kenshingumi in the town. But lately, it has been beyond boring. He needed something to occupy his mind.

Besides, he didn't want to go home yet. Kaoru is sure to be steaming mad that he left without doing the chores. Women are always so picky about chores aren't they?

As he stared at his appearance in the water's surface, he sighed again, running a hand through his messy raven hair. He hadn't changed much since his adventurous days with the Kenshingumi. There was the same uncontrollable hair, the same dark brown eyes and the same grin. The only thing that had changed was that he was taller now. And he could definitely say more built due to his training. Nothing big though. It was still the same proud Yahiko except for the fact he had grown up a bit more. Physically, not mentally.

He heard a loud growl interrupt his thoughts and grew embarrassed as the people bustling over the bridge looked his way. He was starving. It was about noontime already and he hadn't even had breakfast yet. He stopped leaning against the bridge ledge and stretched his arms, deciding to get going.

Yahiko grinned. It was the perfect time to visit the Akabeko. Besides, it was something to do, right?

"Yahiko-kun! It's nice to see you today!"

As soon as he had stepped into the restaurant, the lunchtime crowd's bustle reached his ears. The place was jam-packed. After all, Akabeko is a really popular place in their town. But even with all the excitement in the air, the friendly voice of the owner, Sekihara Tae, was still heard.

The boy grinned as he walked over the older woman who had just delivered some food to a table. "Tae-san," he said politely. "You look well and busy."

She laughed as she walked quickly to deliver more orders. Yahiko was amazed at how fast and relaxed she was when working. That must be something you have to pick up when you own a restaurant. He was the rather impatient type so he couldn't even imagine how calm she was with all the noise. If he was in her position, he'd probably explode and kick all the noisy people out with his bokken. That's probably why he wasn't a restaurant owner, eh? "Of course! That's my life. Busy, busy, busy," she replied with a smile. "So what are you up to today? Did you stop by to talk with Tsubame?"

A soft smile came to his lips. Sanjo Tsubame. There was something about that girl that he couldn't put his finger on. Yes, she was sweet and caring and cute and a whole lot of other things, but she just simply amazed him sometimes. Sometimes just thinking about her made him smile. Yes, he knew it was weird but it was yet another thing he couldn't help doing.

That was when he noticed a smirk on Tae-san's face. Uh-oh. He knew that face. Yahiko groaned loudly as the restaurant owner stopped working and looked at him slyly with one hand placed at her hip.

"Oh Tae-san, not this again," he complained. You see, his friends, especially Tae-san and the busu, thought that he liked Tsubame more than a friend. But that was utterly impossible! Sure he had given her flowers and saved her but that doesn't mean that he likes her! He had just...simply wanted to do all those things! Yeah, that was it! He had free will, didn't he?

Women and their 'romance.' Feh.

"I came here because it's lunchtime and I'm hungry," he continued with a stubborn tone in his voice.

The woman giggled as she continued with delivering the food. "I didn't even say anything! But sure, take an empty seat if you can find one."

Yahiko grinned once again, happy that the subject had passed. "Just put it on my tab, okay?" He couldn't remember the last time he had paid that stupid tab. Tae-san knew it, too. He probably would never pay it.

"You know, Yahiko-kun," she said as she got that evil glint in her eyes again, "If you marry Tsubame maybe that tab will disappear. After all, she's the one who will get this restaurant after me."

"Tae-san!" The boy sighed in frustration. Yet for some odd reason, the blood had run up to his cheeks. Marrying Tsubame? As in she would be his wife?

W-Well...that wouldn't be such a bad thing...right? Not that he liked her or anything.

Ugh. He was confusing himself.

After Tae had laughed her heart out, he chose a spot in the corner, patiently waiting for someone to serve him while picking up gossip from the loud people seated around them. This was one way of having fun. 'Overhearing' what juicy bits were happening in the city surely was more fun than lazing about the bridge.

"Yahiko-chan?"

He almost jumped in surprise. He hadn't seen the girl coming. He gave a small pout as he realized who it was. "Chan!"

Tsubame giggled softly, a shy smile coming to her lips. "Yahiko-kun."

It was their little joke between them ever since they met a few years back. On that fateful day, Tsubame had called him "Yahiko-chan." He of course didn't like the name. Ever since then, he'd been trying to correct her mistake that she still makes, even though sometimes she does it on purpose just to annoy him.

The boy laughed causing Tsubame to smile also. "Busy day, ne?"

She nodded as she took a seat across from him. "There's so much to do."

"Not for me."

The girl blinked her cute brown eyes. "Why not?" Then a smile came upon her face again as she heard him sigh. "I know that sigh! You're bored again aren't you, Yahiko?"

He let out a chuckle. The girl surely knew him well. But it wasn't surprising. Whenever he had finished his chores at the dojo, he usually came to the restaurant to help out. It was almost like a second home to him. "Yeah. There's just simply nothing to do around this boring place."

The girl across from him rolled her eyes. "That's what you say everyday."

"But it's the truth, Tsubame!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms dramatically. "Everyday it's the same routine! I can't stay cooped up for much longer. I miss..." His tone softened and he smiled. "I miss my traveling days with Kenshin."

He noticed that his friend's smile was smaller, almost looking like it was being forced upon her face. "But Yahiko," she said. Yahiko noted that her tone was softer than usual also. "I was– Tae-san and I were so worried whenever you and the others left. I know that your journeys must've been fun and exciting but sometimes there comes a time when you have to settle down." A blush came to her cheeks as she smiled sheepishly. It looked as if she had just said something embarrassing and wanted to take it back.

"Settle down? As in..." Yahiko made a disgusted face. "...get a girlfriend?"

It wasn't that he hated girls. But the idea of getting a girlfriend seemed...very confining. It sounded as if you weren't able to be free. Besides, he was only fifteen! He'd have all his life to think about girls! Anyway, he bet that if he went adventuring to other cities he would meet more girls than if he stayed in this town.

Tsubame laughed, her voice sounding like its normal self again. "Maybe I'm being too much like Tae-san, ne?"

Yahiko grinned in response. She sure was! Before you knew it Tsubame would become a gossiping, matchmaking duplicate of Tae-san.

...Nah. He couldn't picture her like that when he really thought about it. Tsubame was unique, a real one of a kind. Yahiko knew of no other woman who was as sweet and caring as her. It was almost a miracle that he had met her! Most of the females he knew were either hags or just plain creepy in their own way. It may seem mean, but it was the truth! After all, he did live with Kamiya Kaoru.

"Hey! Miss!" a loud customer yelled out in frustration. "Where's my food!"

Tsubame seemed to realize that she should've been working and jumped up in a hurry. The girl gave Yahiko a loving smile. "Gomenasai, Yahiko-chan," she said apologetically. "Ano...did you want to order something?"

The boy nodded in response as he suddenly remembered how starved he was. He quickly ordered something small and grinned to himself as he watched Tsubame hurry away from him. Tsubame really has changed over the years. Taller, a different voice, and slightly longer, sleeker hair. But she still had that same lovable smile that would probably never change.

But he liked it better that way.

It was mid-afternoon, the time when most of the lunchtime customers of Akabeko left the cozy, little restaurant to go about their business once more. Yahiko had stayed there all afternoon waiting until most of the customers had left so that he'd have time to chat with Tae-san and Tsubame. But he felt so guilty just sitting there doing nothing that he decided to help out with the cleanup by going to the backyard to get some water from the well. A lot of dishes needed cleaning. But he didn't mind doing it. He usually helped out the restaurant by doing this chore anyway.

He picked up a bucket that was filled to the top with water with one hand. The teen grinned cockily at how easily he had picked it up. He couldn't believe that before he had needed two hands to carry the thing before.

"Looking good, Yahiko-sama," he said to himself as he lifted the bucket up and down to show off to nobody in particular.

A laugh was heard behind him and Tsubame appeared next to him, wiping her hands with her apron. "Looks like you've gotten much stronger, ne Yahiko-chan?"

He glared at her. "KUN," he insisted. But then he grinned, showing off his muscles again by easily lifting the bucket up and down again. "But yeah, I sure am stronger!" He winked teasingly. "Glad you noticed, Tsubame-chan!"

He was only teasing. Yahiko didn't know that he had certainly caught the young girl's attention by showing off his strength. If he had paid attention, he would've seen the heavy blushing upon his friend's face, but at that precise moment, a loud voice distracted him.

"YAHIKO!"

The boy winced. Damn that busu. Why was she here? And why the heck does she have to scream so loudly? Wow. He was going to be in deep trouble if he went back in there.

Next to him, Tsubame was laughing her heart out. In fact, she was laughing so hard that she had to hold her aching stomach.

"What's so funny?" Yahiko asked miserably.

She smiled up at him, still giggling a bit. "Gomen. The look on your face is just so funny. But I'm guessing you're in big trouble?"

"YAHIKO! GET YOUR BRATTY, SPOILED BUTT IN HERE!"

Yahiko had needed to cover his ears from Kaoru's recent outburst. In the background, he could hear Sanosuke laughing and Kenshin desperately trying to calm the lady down. If Yahiko walked in there right now, it would be complete pandemonium. Well, at least for him.

"Yeah," Yahiko replied with a huge sigh. "I'm in pretty big trouble."

"Too bad. But it's your fault," Tsubame scolded with a smile on her face. "You shouldn't disobey Kaoru-san, Yahiko. She's a bit on the temperamental side."

"A bit!" he exclaimed as he rolled his eyes. "Try a lot! But anyway, let's get outta here!"

The girl blinked in confusion. "Huh? Me? But Tae-san will-"

Tsubame didn't get to finish. Yahiko had already grabbed her hand and began running away from the screaming restaurant.

No way was he going to face an angry Kaoru. At least not yet.

When Yahiko and Tsubame had finally stopped running, they had reached a quiet spot by the river. Yahiko had finally let go of his friend's hand and collapsed on the cool grass, panting hard. Tsubame was laughing hard as she too fell in exhaustion to the ground.

"That was actually fun, Yahiko-chan," she said with a smile while she panted hard. "My legs feel like jelly but it was fun."

Yahiko put a grin on his face as he sat up, his arms supporting him from behind. "Sometimes it feels good to just run like crazy, you know?" he said. "I feel like a complete idiot but oh well." He looked to the girl who was lying on her back with her brown eyes closed. She seemed to be relaxing and enjoying the slight breeze that was sweeping through their hair. "You've never done that, Tsubame?"

She shook her head and opened her eyes to look back at him. "Is that what your adventures had felt like, Yahiko? All exhilarating and exciting?" She really couldn't remember the last time she had run so fast, in fact.

The boy laughed slightly and looked at the serene water that was glistening in the warm afternoon. "Kinda," he answered truthfully as he thought back to those days. "Except most of the time, we were all scared half to death because of the certain circumstances we came upon." Yahiko turned back to her and smiled. "But I think how it was so unpredictable was one of the reasons it was fun."

"I wish I was there with you."

"Nah," he replied chuckling. "Sometimes it was really scary, Tsubame. I wouldn't want you there."

"You'd protect me though, ne Yahiko-kun?" she asked quietly as she sat up. "I heard a lot of stories about Kenshin-san and Kaoru-san. You'd protect me like how Kenshin-san would protect her, ne?"

Yahiko grinned. He remembered all of the times that Kenshin had so boldly protected Kaoru from getting hurt. She was a strong woman. Annoying, but strong. She could've taken care of herself but Yahiko guessed that it was Kenshin wanted to protect her. Those two lovebirds...

Ugh. But sometimes the thought of the couple made him sick. He lives with them for heaven's sakes!

"Of course I'd protect you, Tsubame," he answered honestly. "I wouldn't let anything harm you. You're my friend." Yahiko would probably go crazy with rage if anyone even laid a hand on her. She's too sweet to get hurt.

The girl's smile unnoticeably weakened as she nodded. "Yeah."

"But those two make me sick sometimes," Yahiko rambled. "I wonder when they will finally get married. We all know that they like each other. They probably know they like each other. They just won't admit it."

"They'll probably get married soon," Tsubame said. "Kenshin-san's just shy."

"Well he better get his shy butt over to busu and marry her. I think she gets grouchier every day Kenshin doesn't make a move."

Tsubame laughed loudly. "That's mean."

But Yahiko only grinned in response. He liked making her laugh. It made him feel good for some reason. The boy stared at her laughing face quietly. He was somewhat dazed by her smile."I wonder when I'll finally find someone to like," he said suddenly.

Tsubame raised her eyebrow in confusion. "I thought you didn't want a girlfriend."

He shrugged. That was true. Why had he said that? Boy, he was even confusing himself these days. It was probably the boredom. "I don't know."

"Why didn't you want to be in a relationship in the first place?" Tsubame asked as her curiosity grew. Then she grew red in embarrassment. "If you don't mind me asking."

Yahiko lifted his shoulders up once again. "Seemed confining to me at first. Like it would keep you from doing things you want to do. But now that I think about it, it really isn't like that at all." He turned to her with a smile. "Kenshin loves Kaoru. He isn't tied down by her. If anything, she helps him achieve greater things. I hope it's like that with all girls, especially the one I begin to like. I wonder if she'd let me go if I decided to travel around the country or something," Yahiko suddenly stopped his rambling as he realized what he was saying. Whoa. He didn't know he could be this sappy. What had gotten over him? He had never had these thoughts before. "Oh wow, I'm sorry, Tsubame," he said. "I was just thinking. I'm probably wrong."

He watched the biggest, most beautiful smile form on her lips and was suddenly frozen. He felt so...captivated by the brightness of her face that he thought that he could never tear his eyes from her pretty face ever again. Yahiko suddenly felt his heart thumping against his ribcage.

"Not at all, Yahiko-chan," she said softly.

After what seemed like an hour of just silence even though it was only about fifteen seconds, Yahiko cleared his suddenly dry throat and stood on his feet as he forced his eyes to stare down at the grass instead of Tsubame. He helped his friend stand as a breeze blew through them again. "L-Let's go. I'll have to face busu sometime. Might as well get over it."

She laughed in reply as they started back the same way they came from, however this time they were walking and Yahiko wasn't holding her by the hand.

The boy was perplexed the whole walk back . He had suddenly just felt slight tingles run up his spine as he saw Tsubame smile. It was weird. Tsubame had smiled around him a million times before and he hadn't felt that until now. And it wasn't only that. Why had he changed his mind about having a relationship with a girl so quickly? Wasn't it just a few hours ago that he wanted adventure and had concluded that loving someone would slow you down from that?

What was wrong with him?

Yahiko shrugged the thoughts away and concluded that it was probably nothing.

He had no clue that he was terribly wrong.