Chapter 2: Some old friends...

The next morning, I meet my family downstairs for breakfast. Biscuits and pancakes, of course, dad's favorite. Even though it had been 3 years, my mother still set a place for him at the table. No one ever complained about it.

"Mandeline said she was planning on visiting us today." Bethany says while eating a biscuit.

"ahhhh Why her?" I complain.

"Because she's a family friend and would like to pay her respects to daddy." Bethany argues back.

"But she's an idiot!"

Bethany kicks me in the shin. "OWW!" I yell. "Shush up would you?"

There is a knock at the door. "Speak of the devil…" I let my head drop on the table out of frustration and growl.

"Behave yourself!" Bethany tells me as she gets up to answer the door.

"Mandy! You made it!" she greated her.
"Bethany! It's been way too long." Says the idiot (Ok..OK..Mandaline….happy?)

Mandaline walks over to meet me. I get up and greet her with a hug. "Hey there Mandy. Long time no see" I say stubbornly.

"Ah Gareth… as handsome as ever. You look a lot..stronger than I remember." Mandaline blushes but I shoo her off.

Mandaline has always been beautiful. She has Beautiful curly brown hair, blue eyes, and all the right curves in all the right places. I'll never understand the nothingness that goes through her head though.

"Oh! Guys!" Mandaline calls for our attention.

"Sano said he was coming by too. He really wanted to see Bethany." Mandaline smirks and nudges Bethany in the arm, who, at this point, is as red as her hair.

"He didn't say that. Stop messing with me!" she yells back in panic.

We all laugh at the situation Bethany was in. I walk up to her and give her a reassuring pat on the back. "Ahh why won't you just marry him already?!" I tease her. She hits me in the chest. "Shut up! Its not happening!"

"The look on your face says otherwise" I say to make her blush even more.

She looks at me evilly and I begin to somewhat regret what I say. Who knows what she will do now at tomorrows fight.

We all sit down on the couch and mom brings out the old albums. We sit and reminisce of the old days.

Another knock came from the door. This time I got up to get it. It was just as Mandy had said, Sanosuke Inohara was standing in the doorway with a hand full of fresh flowers. "Sano!" I give him a hug and greet him. Sano is my best friend after all. We've been friends since grade school.

"Bethany! Wow… you're beautiful!" Sano embraces my sister and gives her the flowers. "For you, my dear. For a day such as this, it is the least I can do." He says. Bethany blushes and accepts the flowers. "Sano… You didn't have to.." sano interrupts her and takes one single rose from her bouquet. "This one is for your father… A great and mighty hero!"

Sano was from the orient. He had the pointed eyes and black, straight hair that he kept parted to the side. I can never remember the name of the country, but from what I hear, the warriors are very strong and honorable.

The entire day was a bittersweet one. On one side, there was the people I was with. We played card games and talked for hours. I had so enjoyed their company (Yes…even Mandy was tolerable today).

Sano and Mandy had decided that they would stay the night and everyone in the house was sound asleep. Except for me. I couldn't sleep. Just like every year, this day was the hardest day for my mind to rest. Thoughts of my father and the sword that I wanted to inherit.