Authors Note: Hey everyone!! A major big GOMEN for all of you for making you guys wait for so long for this next chapter. Lately I haven't had much time to write because I've been busy with summer school (don't worry, its for extra credit) and working on a Gundam SEED site (hehe, so far its going great). Well now that you've heard my excuses *cough cough* let's get on with the story. First thank you for the reviews people, but I apologize now and for the future if some people may think Tsubame will be a tiny bit OOC, but I just feel its her way of maturing a little bit, but she still is going to have that shy girl in her as she was before, so do not panic Tsubame lovers, lol. Well here's the next chapter and I do hope I can get some more action in here than romance (too much is bad for your health). Oh and I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, just to make that point clear. Now on with the show!!!

The New Rurouni in Town
Chapter 2: Flash-forwards and Flashbacks

*Flash* Yahiko found himself standing in the middle of the night, somewhere out in an opening surrounded by a forest of trees, which was displayed underneath the shinning moonlight. However Yahiko was trembling with confusing, not because he saw numerous dead bodies that were fresh in front of him, but because he saw his sword was completely drenched in blood with a few side spills on his hand. It was their blood.

"What the hell? How did I do this?? Am I a murderer?? I can't believe this, I wont believe this!! I refuse to believe this."

But a shadowy figure revealed itself from the forest into the clearing, slowly making its way behind Yahiko. He was well aware of the stranger's advancements, but paid no heed to even turn around. Then it seemed the figure was chuckling with laughter as if it were mocking him.

"Oh but you can not deny the facts that it is your owns hands that spilled their blood, was it not? The stains speaks for themselves and you know it. Is it that you do not find yourself fit to be thought as a killer?"

"No it isn't that! Its just that I know better than killing someone without good reasons. This wasn't murder. It was a slaughter."

"But what about your sword? It is drenched in their blood and is it not the real purpose of the sword to kill? That is why you wanted to know more about swordsmanship, right? To kill"

"You're wrong!! You're wrong!! I wanted to learn so I could protect the people I love. That's all!!"

"Yes and you protect those people by killing others. Do not flatter yourself to think just because you protect people by killing your enemies excuses you from being called a killer or a murderer. The blood you spilled is as guilty as if you slayed your loved ones yourself."

Yahiko was furious. So furious that he lost all control and clutched the mysterious figure behind him and pined the person to the ground.

"Stop messing with my mind!! Just who do you think you are to know who I am?"

The figures upper face was still hidden in the shadows of the trees, and the person smiled mischievously.

"Oh better than you know.......better than you know."

*Flash*

Yahiko's eyes opened suddenly as he woke up disruptively. The Morning was already up, and the sunshine was overflowing his room by now. Slowly he got up, confused about the dream he just experienced. "Who the hell was that person" He thought. "Man I really gotta get some more sleep. Yeah that's probably it." Then his stomached started to growl miserably. Yahiko sweatdroped as his inner needs told him that he needed food and fast. "Man I hope I don't go off hallucinating again if I can't get any food again today." Then he heard Tsubame's voice from downstairs. "Yahiko! Wake up, its time for breakfast!!" He was fully pleased by the words as his eyes flowed with tears of joy. "Finally I can get through the day without worrying about eating. Ah the joys of life" "Yahiko you better come on down here soon, or I'll give it to the dogs outside." Within 3 seconds, Yahiko rushed out of the room and down the stairs and was on the chair, and was already chomping down on the well made breakfast. "No way I'm letting you put that food to waste." He said in between bites. Tsubame smiled a bit, seeing that Yahiko was content with the cooking. Then she rememberd she had to open up the doors since it was almost time to open the Akabeko and plus the waitresses needed to get in. "Yahiko-kun, I need to go off and open the restaurant up, but afterwards I would really appreciate it if you can help me out go out to the market place to bring some food supply for the day." Yahiko only murmerd since his mouth was totally stuffed with ricebowls and eggs, but with a more irritated facial expression that was trying to say "Hell no!" Tsubame smiled and said "Alright, I'll take that as a Yes." Then she made her way out of the room and into the restaurant portion of the house. Yahiko, who's mouth was still full, was panicking as he frantically tried to get Tsubames attention to change her mind, suddenly started choking and was in a frenzy mode looking for water, knocking down near glasses and plates that were in his destructive path for water. Finally he found out the well of water outside. Competing with the speed of light, he pulled up a bucket of water and downed the whole bucket as soon as it was in his reach. "AHH!!" he sighed in relief with a gasp of air. Yahiko then made his way back inside when he saw that Tsubame was back from unlocking the doors. However she had a peculiar frown on her face. Then he saw that the floor was full of broken pieces of plates, glasses, and other items that just happened to be "knocked off". "Oh shit..." was all Yahiko could think..

One hour later....

Tsubame and Yahiko were walking side by side as they entered Osaka's thrifty market district. Tsubame had a warming smile on her face. However Yahiko didn't quite seem so radiant as she was. In fact, he seemed totally exhausted and was barely able to keep in pace with Tsubame. "See now that wasn't too bad back there? It only took you one hour to clean up your whole mess." Tsubame said "One hour my butt! The only reason I did it that fast was because you kept on threatening me with 'no dinner'!" Tsubame giggled. "Well it certainly did work, ne?" Yahiko frowned and only turned his head off somewhere else, obviously fumed. The two stopped at a few stands to buy some vegetables, fruits, and meat. Then when they were approaching the fish vender stand, Yahiko suddenly remembered what happened yesterday and sweatdropped. "Um Tsubame, I think you had enough fish back at you're place, last time I checked. Why don't we go somewhere else?" Tsubame took a look back at Yahiko. "Hmm?? Well I have been having some customer demand for salmon and tuna lately, and 'last time I checked, which was after you knocked off my rack of fish from this morning' I saw we really didn't have any left. I wonder who's fault with that?" Yahiko only redden in embarrassment. "Well lets just get some fish and get out of here." His memory of seeing a cat as a fish was still haunting him, probably until the day he dies. As Tsubame was picking the tuna and salmon, and paying for it, the vender suddenly recognized Yahiko. "Hey you're the Cat Crazed Mad man, aren't you?" "Wha-What??!!" Yahiko flinched back with an even more redden face. Tsubame looked suspiciously at her companion. "Yahiko...?" He didn't like the sound of that. "What?? I didn't do anything!! I swear!" Surely Tsubame didn't looked convinced. However the vender kept talking. "Hell how could I forgot that yesterday. This young man right here was about to devour some.." "WELL I think its time for us to go, RIGHT Tsubame-chan?" Yahiko cut off the vender, with a huge sweatdrop. And before Tsubame could say a word, Yahiko dragged her by the hand outside. However Tsubame was slightly blushing. "Um Yahiko-kun?" Tsubame asked silently "Hmm, yea?" "You could let go now.." Then he remembered he was holding on Tsubame's hand, then he suddenly extracted his hand from hers, now with the two blushing. Tsubame had to find a way to get out of this. Then she had an idea. "Oh, um, Yahiko, I never got the chance to even ask you how were things back in Tokyo doing and how's everyone doing?" Yahiko was pleased that he was able to get out of that embarrassing moment. "Everyone is doing good, last time I checked, which was about a few months ago. Kenshin and Kaoru are going great, you know, Kaoru trying to kill him everyday if its not from jealously of his cooking or not cleaning up the dojo. Also there's their son Kenji. He's 4 right now, and he told me one day I was visiting that he wants me to teach him how to use the sword one day when he's older. Cute kid, really. Megumi and Sanosuke are finally married. Those two baka's finally got through all the bickering and finally admitted their feelings. If you ask me, took them damn too long." Tsubame smiled, remember good times she had in Tokyo. "Well it seems that not much as changed back in Tokyo since I left." "Yeah..since you left..." Yahiko trailed off.

*5 years ago* A carriage was already waiting for her outside with her bags already loaded up. Everyone, including Kenshin, Kaoru, Sanosuke, Miss Tae, and Megumi where there inside with the 16 year old girl Tsubame, ready to give her at least a goodbye before she left. "Tsubame, its going to be really hard for us not to see you for some time, that it will." Kenshin said. Kaoru was sobbing a bit with tears but said, "But we have faith you will create a great business Tsubame. Just make sure to keep in touch." Tsubame tried to force herself to give at least a smile to help the others feel better. Though really she was sad she wouldn't be with her friends. However she new she couldn't just stay here, under Miss Tae's protection. She needed to go out in the world and live in it like a real woman. "Oh thank you everyone for so much you've giving me. I promise I won't lose touch and make sure you guys visit once I find a place to start my business." Then Miss Tae came up with tears in her eyes and hugged Tsubame gently. "Tsubame, you've always been like a daughter to me, and it hurts to see you go off so soon like this. But I know you got to do what you got to do. Just make sure you'll be alright." Tsubame was shedding tears too. She didn't want to see Miss Tae like this. "Its alright. Its alright. You don't have to worry about me, because I'll be alright." Then after a few seconds, she released herself. Megumi then suddenly saw something was missing. "Hey isn't Yahiko supposed to be here?" Then Kaoru instantly went into a fuming mode. "I swear that brat has no manners. Where could he be?" Sanosuke only laughed a bit. "Hehe, I know. You would think a guy would at least come to say goodbye to his girlfriend." Then he felt an elbow strike him on the side. It was no other than Megumi who had a frown on her face. "Idiot..you just can't turn down a chance to embarrass Tsubame, can't you?" (And Tsubame was embarrassed as her face was blushing red from Sanosuke's comment) "Geez, haven't you heard of a joke, you fox vixin?" "Well you drunken playboy, I wouldn't call it a joke if you go off joking about peoples feelings." And before they knew it, the two were already in another of their long love spats. However Tsubame was wondering where Yahiko was. Kenshin tried to comfort her. "Don't worry about him. I'm sure he'll try to make it before you leave. " "No that's fine." She said with an empty smile. "Anyway the carriage is supposed to leave by now. So I think I'll get going." And with a final hug from everyone, except Sanosuke and Megumi who were still at it with each other, she exited out of the doors of the Akabeko's. As she closed the door and headed off to the carriage, she heard a voice from behind. "Hey, I got a goodbye here too, you know.." Tsubame's eyes widen in surprise. She knew this voice. It could only be. "Yahiko!" She exclaimed as she turned around and saw him lying against the wall beside the door. "Yea, nice to see you too," he said. Slowly she came up to him, but she didn't know what to say. She was so speechless. All she could do was twiddle with her short hair, trying to think of some words to come out of her mouth. "So...seems pretty exciting to be out there, starting a new buiness, new life, and all that." "I guess you could say that...it is for the best..." Yahiko was struggling with himself whether to go and yell his top off at Tsubame or just wish her the best of luck. It was hard just standing the idea that in a few moments, he wouldn't see her for a very long time. I guess I better make the best of these last moments...but what should I say?? "You know Tsubame.." Yahiko started out. "hmm? Yes Yahiko.." Tsubame silently questioned with a real smile. "Well..um.." He was scratching his head, just trying to think how he could continue. He already started it, now he had to finish it. "I'm really going to miss you..a.lot.." Her eyes threaten tears at that moment as she heard it. "Really Yahiko- kun?" He was blushing terribly by now. "I mean yeah, of course! Who's going to get me all the free food, without Tae-san knowing about it?" Tsubame silently laughed just a little bit. But Yahiko tilted his head, where the shadow concealed his eyes. "But also, who's going to be there to watch me practice during my sessions and to cheer me on? Who's going to be there when I need someone to talk to? Who's going to be one I protect if the person I want to protect the most isn't even around?" That slammed Tsubame hard in the heart. Suddenly, forgetting about the trip and everything, she just wished she wouldn't have to go. She didn't want to let him down. She felt like crying and holding on to him, and telling him she would be there. But Yahiko wasn't finished. "But you don't have to worry about me. I'll get stronger and stronger so when I do see you again, I'll make sure I am capable of protecting you from anyone. I still am weak." "No Yahiko-kun. Don't say that! You are a strong person, and that's why....." The teenager boy lifted his head up, who's eyes were stinging from hidden tears, out of curiosity. "And that's why what?" Tsubame struggled to get it out with threatening tears. "And that's one reason why I admire you so much. I admire your bravery, the way you make me laugh and feel joy, the way you support me, but most of all, the way you always care for me." Now it was Yahiko's turn to be speechless. He couldn't say anything. Everything she said was true. His eyes was fixed on Tsubame's brown orbs of light. Tsubame was also captivated with Yahiko's own, and slowly the two crept forward their lips towards each other, barely brushing each other when suddenly a loud strike of thunder ruined the moment. The two seemed to regain conscience and step back away, blushing like they never had before, and now the area was being plummeted with rain, soaking the two.

"Well Yahiko-kun, I really must be going." Yahiko looked sadden, but replied. "Alright..well I guess sayonara Tsubame- chan." "Yeah...Sayonara Yahiko-kun." And before she left, she leaned in and gave Yahiko a tender kiss on his left cheek. Then she turned and ran towards her carriage and was off down the road towards her life. Yahiko was just standing there, in the rain; not caring if he would get soaked and catch a cold even after the carriage was out of view. He stood there for a few minutes, until he suddenly broke down and fell on the muddy road...crying....

*End Flashback* "Yahiko! Yahiko!" Tsubame exclaimed, now worried since Yahiko seemed like he was off in his own world. Then she had an idea. "Little Yahiko!!" "Ah! Stop it with the little stuff!!!" Yahiko finally came back to reality due to his "little" reaction. "Oh, you scared me there. What were you doing?" she asked him. The rurouni just kept a straight face and began to walk. "Just thinking..." "About what?" she asked as she began to walk also to catch up with him. Still keeping a straight face he said "stuff..." Then before Tsubame could question him any more, they heard a loud scream coming from a feminine voice far off behind. A scream that signaled someone was in danger. The two people looked back over their shoulder to see who it was. Quite a few feet away there was a woman in a white Kimono dress with long dark brown hair flowing behind her, running away from what seemed to be like ordinary men, if you considered the fact half of them were carrying swords, and the other half pistols. Yes the woman was in danger of her life, and she was coming their way. Then Yahiko suddenly recognized the woman from a long time ago. A very long time ago indeed. "I think I know that woman..." Yahiko said silently as he was trying to get a fix on the woman. Tsubame slightly frowned but had to ask. "Who?" Then after a few seconds he was sure it was the person he was thinking. "It's Marimo.."

To Be Continued... How will Yahiko save his long friend Marimo from danger? And why is Yahiko getting these weird dreams of murdering people? All of this and more on the next chapter...

So people what do you think? Again I apologize for the delay of the chapter. I just never knew I would get so many reviews. I almost thought I wouldn't have enough time and just quit this, but all of you convinced me to keep on writing ^_^. Keep up those reviews, even if they are bad, Reviews=me happy!!!! + More chapters. Simple equation, isn't it? Well just wait up for the next chapter, believe me, I got a BIG action scene coming up. Sorry since there was no real action in this one, but I'm sure to make up for that with the upcoming event. Also don't worry about more moments; I got a lot more ideas up my sleeve. Well that's all for now.