Don't Play With Fire
-+Chapter Six+-

Kenshin Himura, a red-headed swordsman formerly known as Battousai the Slasher, looked at his friends one by one with a worried expression. "If he will not be stopped, blood will stain the entire country just as what happened years ago. We can't allow that to happen. I won't allow that to happen. Shougo Amakusa must be stopped."

"That's why you're going to Shimabara."

"That's why I'm going to Shimabara," he seconded with a nod, a stubbornly determined expression on his face.

"And we're going with you, Kenshin," Kaoru Kamiya said, sporting exactly the same expression as the swordsman. In fact, the tone of her voice seemed to be a lot more stubborn than the other. "We've been a team, and we'll continue to be a team. No matter what the odds are. And don't even try to talk me out of this!"

Misao Makamachi chuckled, easing the tension. "You really know when to be stubborn, Kaoru."

"She is always stubborn!" Yahiko Myoujin interjected, grinning widely at his companions, only to be whacked in the head by the Kamiya-Kasshun master with an empty rice bowl. "OWWWWW! Kaoru, what did you do that for?!"

"You should learn to pay more respect, Yahiko! All you ever do is make fun of me and my cooking!" the young woman exclaimed, taking the boy by his shirt and pulling him close to her. Her eyes were flashing dangerously. "I've done so much for you and you repay me this way?! You ungrateful git!"

"Hey, you two, stop it," Kenshin muttered, gently pulling Yahiko away while Misao took care of the raging Kaoru. However, Kaoru managed to jerk one of her arms away from the ninja's strong grasp, and as some sort of reflex action she grabbed another rice bowl from the table and hurled it to her opponent

only to hit Kenshin, who was then standing completely in between the two Kamiya-Kasshun warriors, for he spun around to talk to the boy about his manners. The bowl hit him hard on the head, and the swordsman dropped to the wooden floor with a loud thump that made his friends cringe. "Oro?"

"Kenshin!" Kaoru called out, pushing Misao off her and running towards the fallen samurai. She then started shaking him. "Kenshin, are you all right? Oh Kenshin, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you!"

"Orororororororororororororo" the redhead mumbled as the young woman continued to shake him.

It was then when one of the waitresses stepped into the scene and interrupted what was going on. "Himura-san?" she began, giving the group a quizzical look as they stopped what they were doing and settled back down around the food-laden table. "Um someone wants to see you. A certain Lady Magdalia and her companion, Rorenzo Shouzo. They noticed that you were here, and they requested me to ask permission from you and your friends for a private conversation."

Misao raised an eyebrow, apparently recognizing the names.

"Please tell them that we'll be right there," Kenshin replied politely.

The woman gestured to where Sayo and Shouzo were sitting, a table at the far right end of the tavern, and then, she left. The moment she did so, Misao turned to the others with a suspicious look on her features. "Guys, be careful. You most especially, Kenshin," she warned, lowering her voice so that those who weren't supposed to hear won't be able to. "I was told that this Lady Magdalia is Shougo Amakusa's sister. Shouzo Rorenzo is her bodyguard, and a trained martial artist at that."

"She's pretty," Yahiko commented as he looked at the people Misao was referring to. He then looked at the two ladies who were with them and grinned mischievously. "Not like these two girls over here."

Immediately, Kaoru and Misao fumed, and were about to launch themselves at the boy, when Kenshin stopped them. "This isn't the time to argue about that, please." He paused to glance at Sayo and Shouzo, who were patiently waiting at the other side of the room. "I don't know what they want with us, but we must not keep them waiting. If we can settle the problem at hand with them, the better."

They rose, and headed towards Sayo's table, trying to look as casual as possible while still keeping their guard up. As soon as they arrived, the two rose from their seats, the young woman bowing politely. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you, Himura-san. I'm Magdalia, and this is my friend, Shouzo. Please, sit down."

Misao's gaze caught the medallion the Christian woman was wearing, and recognized the symbol that was engraved there at once. It's true, she thought, clamping her hand into a fist as she took her seat. She is Shougo Amakusa's sister and that Shouzo must indeed be her bodyguard. But what do they want with us?

As if to answer the ninja's unspoken question, Sayo began, "I'm sorry to have disturbed you, but there's something I really need to know. I'd just like to ask a question just one question." She took a second to glance at Shouzo, who nodded in affirmation, then she reverted her gaze towards Kenshin and his friends, who were looking at her intently, waiting for her to ask the question. "Do do you know who Sanosuke Sagara is?"