Tang Mu

Chapter 8

It is really getting dark out now. Cho is mewling happily from my
shoulder. Liya is still deciding whether or not she should be upset
with me for spoiling the little girl. Well, we were going to the bath
house and, as before with Liya, I doubted it would be wise to put the
same dirty clothes on after she was all clean. She couldn't argue with
that logic at least, so she contented herself with silently fuming
about my over-generosity.

"Now, where we go?" Liya gently brushed Cho's now loose hair out of
her face. The little girl was already tired and we hadn't even really
done anything yet.

"Well, Kaemon still has to really celebrate. I doubt that kid from
before is working this late, if you want to try the Akabeko again." I
think Cho will wake up for food. She always surprises me with her
appetite and no one will bother us if we have a child. Liya smiles
serenely at this. Her eyes tell me she's proud that I'm not letting
past events get to me.

"Welcome! Four?" Ms. Tae smiles warily. She remembers. I nod and smile
back. At least she's not kicking me out. That's a good sign. The other
two pass to go to the designated table. Ms. Tae stares at me with
nervous eyes, but she remains nonetheless. I do have a child in my
arms. It's not as if I'm going to attack her.

"That man there?" She nods at Kaemon. "It's his twentieth birthday
today. Do you have anything?" Her lip is trembling at our close
proximity. Suddenly aware of what my closeness is doing to her, I back
up a step. Shakily, she nods and manages a smile. I thank her and leave
to join the two already seated.

I rub Cho's back in an effort to wake her gently. "Cho-chan…" Her head
shifts on my shoulder. Much to Ms. Tae's awe, she drowsily rubs her
eyes on my shirt before using her tiny hands. The woman's gentle smile
widens. I think the child's display made Ms. Tae forget her fear of me.
It worked. I'm glad.

"Enishi-nii…we gonna eat?" Her dark blue eyes blink lazily as she rubs
them one last time. Tentatively, Ms. Tae approaches. She holds out a
piece of candy and smiles. I see the brat emerge from the back. He
glares at me, but notices the child and backs off with a
non-threatening growl.

"Cho-chan…This is Ms. Tae." I notice Liya grinning at me from the
corner of my eye, much to Kaemon's dismay. I can't help that his
little sister gets attention like this where ever she goes. It just
happens to be that I'm holding her right now.

"Hello…"

"Here you go honey!" Her smile broadens even more with the cuteness of
the four year old girl. I never thought I'd ever say, let alone think,
a word like 'cute'. It seemed so far from my vocabulary a year ago.
Change really does sneak up on you when you're not looking. It seems
like over night I became this soft, nice guy. Once I would have thought
that to be a weakness, but now that doesn't seem to really matter much
anymore.

A smirk set upon my face, I carry the child to the waiting table. The
atmosphere doesn't seem so tense anymore. Cho did her trick. I'm glad
we decided to do this. We should take Cho every time we come into town.

I pass my gaze over the table. Kaemon is looking victorious about
something. What is he up to I wonder? Is he actually going to make a
play for Liya tonight? This ought to be very interesting. Wait. Liya
is blushing. He already did something. Why is this annoying me? It's
amusing. That's all. That's right. I am amused by his attempts at
getting Liya's attention. Nothing more.

"What can I get for you guys tonight?" As we order, something
resembling lightening bolts flash between Kaemon and me. I am not one
to step down from a challenge, but this is ridiculous. Liya isn't some
prize at a festival. But, like I said, I am not one to step down from a
challenge. So, challenge away little boy.

Tsubame and Ms. Tae trot over to give us our order of sake and tea to
go along with a very tempting cream pie topped with a huge display of
fruit and a lit sparkler. The two women wish Kaemon a happy birthday as
he hands the sparkler to Cho. Her dark blue eyes light up with
excitement at the shiny firework.

Lifting my Choko, I offer a toast to the 'birthday boy'. My wicked grin
widens as my eyes narrow a silent challenge. Cho has already left the
table, but I pay her no mind. This is more important. Sure enough, the
twenty year old downs the whole choko in one gulp. He has answered my
challenge. Let the festivities begin.


* * *

"I can't believe you got him drunk." I give her my best evil smirk as I
adjust my glasses.

"We goin' home now, koishiiiii…?" Liya gives the intoxicated man an odd
look. Unable to contain myself, I burst out laughing almost waking Cho
in the process. I cradle her in my arms as Liya helps Kaemon to his
feet. Yes. I taught her what koishii means. Someone called her my
koishii as a joke a couple nights ago. I got playful and teased her
about it rewarding me with a growing blush. It was very nice indeed.

I can feel the brat of Kamiya Dojo watching us from the shadows. It's
alright though. I think he's just curious now. Cho's trick when we
entered the Akabeko did more than I thought it would. It was causing
the brat to second guess his earlier accusations.

There are, of course, other people in the shadows. Besides the brat,
two others catch my attention. One is Saitoh Hajime, Mibu's wolf. As
usual, he is watching me to see if I make trouble. The other has a more
sinister intent. I'm sure the 'wolf' has noticed the murderous ki
already. If the person makes a move, I won't be the one to attack him.
Perhaps Saitoh might even let me talk to the bastard in jail. I do have
plenty of questions. What is this revenge they're going after? Why
bother with Liya still?

"I loooove youuu, Koishiiiii…" Kaemon sings as he attempts to snuggle
while standing up. The said 'koishii' blushes furiously as if she's
mortified. Because she is. I realize this when I notice where the man's
limp hand is. Liya gives me a pleading look. She doesn't want to lose
the grip she has on him. We had decided that she should take care of
him because Cho is lighter. If someone were to attack tonight, I would
need to be able to act fast. Having a burden like Kaemon would tie me
down too much.

Once again, I don my wicked grin as I remove the man's hand from the
woman's breast to place it innocently on her arm. Though she looks
relieved, she continues to blush furiously. "I think he's having a bit
too much fun on his birthday." I find myself winking at her. Kaemon's
hand slips off her arm to rest on her breast once more. Annoyed onyx
eyes stare at the offending hand. "I guess you have no choice but to
keep it there until you can put him down." I laugh at the incredibly
rare dangerous expression she gives me.

I counter her glare with my own telling her how unhappy I am with his
wandering hand. She seems satisfied with that and walks the now twenty
year old down the street toward home. I watch her attempt at not
struggling with the man's weight. She may be gentle and submissive, but
she certainly has determination. Despite myself, I think I'm starting
to fall for this woman.

* * *

Author's Notes:

A choko is the little saucer-like-cup that you drink sake out of.
Brought to you by:
http://www.suihitsu.co.jp/eng/lecture/sake/jiten.html

The Japanese do have a birthday cake of sorts. It looks like just a
simple cream pie, but it has huge chunks of fruit that decorate the
middle. The Japanese don't usually do the sweets thing. I read that
it's because most of their food is starchy, so that explains why
their birthday cake is so simple.

I actually didn't learn this from a website. I frequent a Japanese
restaraunt. They serve the traditional Japanese birthday cake there.
They put a sparkler in the middle and everything. It's really neat.

Well, that's all from me. I decided to make this one short because
the last chapter was so long. I hope you liked it!