I disclaim ownership of InuYasha and all associated characters. Credit goes to Rumiko Takahashi, respectively.

Wow, chapter 10 already. Didn't think I had it in me! o_O; Sorry for the late posting, but I'm on time this week! This is one of the "longer" chapters...couldn't cut anything to save my life. So, enjoy!

Consider Yourself

Chapter 10

Checking Out The Competition

The restaurant was empty but for the employees, and everyone was trying hard to find something to do with their time. It had been this way all morning; so far, barely anyone had come in to eat.

"Guess everyone's preoccupied or something," Jakotsu said grouchily. His eyes were stuck to the glass windows, people-watching. Every time he thought someone was turning into the open door, his legs tensed, ready to push him up from his seat at the front register; and every time they didn't enter, his scowl grew deeper.

"Maybe we should put more ads in the paper again?" Alfred suggested as he calmly wiped down a stack of menus by his boss' side. "Maybe a coupon, too."

"We just did that last month...if we do it too often this place will come off as cheap." Jakotsu let out a frustrated rush of air. "What the hell, it's hot outside, this is the perfect place to come and eat! It's festive, it's different, so what's the problem? I don't get it, why no one else seems to think what I like is as interesting as it obviously is..." He quickly stopped griping and pouted instead. "What am I doing wrong, Alfred?"

"Nothing. They will come in time, I am positive. You cannot keep a man from good food for long," Alfred said with a chuckle.

Bankotsu sauntered up, propping his arms atop the register podium, giving his friend a quick glance before watching the windows as well. "Your scowls are scaring all the servers, you know. Probably any potential customers, too. You're pissed 'cause no one's in here, right?"

Jakotsu grumbled. "Go clean something." Bankotsu laughed and reached to pat his friend's shoulder. The scowl on Jakotsu's face dissipated and his eyes grew wide. Both Alfred and Bankotsu looked up to see a lone girl walking through the vestibule. In one quick whisper, Jakotsu exclaimed, "A customer!"

Before Jakotsu could spring up, Bankotsu had already swiped a menu from Alfred's clean pile and started towards the girl with a knowing look on his face. "Hey Manami, you showed up early." He engaged her in a side hug.

Jakotsu didn't miss the glint in her eye as Bankotsu proceeded to seat her in his section, and continued to watch them as they carried on a brief, friendly conversation before Bankotsu took her order.

Jakotsu's once brightened face was now critical. In a conspiratorial tone, he asked, "What do you think, Alfred?"

"About what?"

"Them. Or her, more specifically." From where he was, Jakotsu could get only a view of her back. Bankotsu's face looked happier than he had witnessed in a long time...there was definitely something between the two, and whatever it was rubbed Jakotsu the wrong way.

Bankotsu returned to hand the menu over to Alfred, but before he could escape, Jakotsu spoke. "Who is she?"

Bankotsu cocked a brow at his friend's grotty tone. "She's a friend."

Jakotsu's eyes slid back over to the occupied table. "Masami, was it?"

"Looks like someone's got some good ears! It's Manami. I'm gonna go put this order in," Bankotsu replied, before walking off again.

Jakotsu couldn't help but watch every time Bankotsu approached the table. Their conversations were animated and a bit lengthy, and it was plain to see that Masami or whatever was having a great time; but while Jakotsu always appreciated a happy customer, he couldn't wait for her to leave. When she finally did so an hour later, he approached Bankotsu when he was alone. "I know I told you not to ignore your customers, but you shouldn't pay that much attention to them, either."

"She left happy, didn't she?" Bankotsu shifted stances. "What's the problem?"

"There is no...problem. It's just-"

"You think she's my girl, don't you?" When Jakotsu only continued to look at him, Bankotsu folded his arms and said, "It's complicated."

Jakotsu's eyes searched Bankotsu's for any trace of deceit, but found none. He relented his stare by blinking twice, and said, "Just mind your tables properly. All of them."

Bankotsu nodded once with a straight face. "Yes sir."

Later on in the day, after an unexpected lunch rush, Jakotsu finally let his tongue loose. Turning to Alfred, who was wiping down checkbooks, he said, "She's too scrawny. I hope he breaks her in two."

Alfred barely stopped himself from laughing. "You still stuck on that?" With amusement in his eye, he replied, "Well you might not want to tell him that, he's too cocky already."

A/N: This story was written using prompt #4 - Rivalry from The Original List Of Themes, created by #100ThemeWriters on DeviantArt.