chapter | part six: recognition
[Yahiko is on his way heading towards the Akabeko where he has managed to get himself a part time job. Secretly this job was just a reason to give a helping hand to Tsubame and a reason to be by her side. While he was on his way, he sees Tsubame heading towards the Akabeko as well.]
Yahiko: Tsubame!! Hey Tsubame!!...... Wait up!
[Either Tsubame didn't hear him, was ignoring him, or something because she didn't even respond to his voice whatsoever. In spite of this, Yahiko just shrugs it off and sets off running towards her to catch up. When he finally catches up to her, he places his right hand on her shoulder to stop her from walking on.]
Yahiko: Tsubame-san, didn't you hear me? I was calling out to you, but you didn't even respond. Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?
[Yahiko was heavily breathing, trying to catch his breath. Tsubame turns around slowly to face Yahiko. It was at this moment that Yahiko realizes he made a mistake. It wasn't Tsubame at all that he had been chasing and grabbed, but instead it was a girl that resembles her somewhat. Yahiko quickly removes his hand from her shoulder and bowed. The girl looked shocked and a little frightened by how he approached her. He bowed again in apology.]
Yahiko: Sorry. I'm so sorry. I thought you were someone else.
Girl: Who? Oh, it's okay.
Yahiko: Amazing, you really do look like her though. By the way, I'm Yahiko.
Girl: I'm Hotaru, and who is it that I look like?
Yahiko: Her name is Tsubame, well I'm sure you've figured that out.
[Yahiko face blushes this as he says it. Hotaru notices this, and was wanting to return to her own search for the person that her group were in search of.]
Yahiko: Hey, if you are heading this way, why don't I walk with you for a little bit? It's not really safe for a young woman to be walking around by herself, you know. Perhaps you'll even get a chance to meet Tsubame and see for yourself how much alike you two are.
Hotaru: It's okay. I really need to go on my way now.
Yahiko: No, I insist. Besides we're heading in the same direction. I'll just tag along with you until I reach my destination. Okay?
Hotaru: Sure. Why not.
[The two started back on their path. Yahiko couldn't believe he had mistaken someone else for Tsubame, and he kept on glancing at her, truely amazed at the similarities. Even though Hotaru was well aware of Yahiko's presence and his wandering eye towards her, she couldn't kick that sinking feeling that she had for some time now. It was the feeling that someone was watching her and following her. She glances around through the streets and the few people who did pass by. At first, she thought she did catch a glance of a young man watching her from across the street, but she saw no one or anything out of the ordinary.]
Yahiko: So tell me a bit about yourself.
Hotaru: Ah. Well. Perhaps this is a good oportunity to find out about this place, and find that one. I'm here visiting with a group of friends. We were searching for someone. Perhaps you know or heard of him. He's said to be one of the strongest.
[Yahiko realizes then that she was one of them. One of the girls that Kenshin, Saitoh, and Aoshi were talking about the other night. He stops dead in his tracks and Hotaru follows suit.]
Hotaru: You have an idea of whom I am speaking of?
[Yahiko feeling threatened at this moment grabs his shinai that he keeps strapped to his back as usual and stands in a defensive stance.]
Yahiko: Who are you and what do you want with Kenshin?!?
Hotaru: Huh?
[Hotaru didn't know what to say or what to do at this moment. She felt completely vulnerable without her friends there and without her sailor powers. Not that she would use her powers against this innocent guy, but it was the sense of security that it gave her. A stand off ensued. Yahiko waiting for a response and Hotaru staring on. Hotaru grabs at her kimono to where something was obviously hidden underneath.]
Hotaru: I..... I'm sorry...... but I don't know who this Kenshin that you speak of is....
Yahiko: Liar!!
[At this point they were close enough to the Akabeko that the real Tsubame steps outside to clean around the area and get some fresh water from the outside well when she spots Yahiko and some girl, and they did not seem to be on good terms.]
Tsubame: Hey Yahiko!!
[She smiles when she sees him and walks on over to where the two were at. However, once she realizes the situation, she walks over to where Yahiko is standing.]
Tsubame: Yahiko, who is this girl?
Yahiko: She's one of the girls that are after Kenshin!
[Tsubame takes a look at Hotaru. Hotaru gives off an innocent confused look.]
Tsubame: Yahiko, you're scaring her.
[Yahiko finally sees this, and lowers his shinai slowly, but still determined to find out what Hotaru was up to.]
Yahiko: Why are you looking for him?
Hotaru: Honestly I don't know who he is. All I am trying to do is find someone who is residing somewhere around these parts, and that his reputation is that being of one of the strongest.
Tsubame: I think she's telling the truth. She is making almost the same face I do when I'm being as sincere as possible.
Yahiko: Why are you looking for this person then?
[Hotaru looks down towards the ground. She didn't know how to respond to this. She knew she couldn't tell him the truth. That she really was here from the future, she fought secretly as Sailor Saturn, the senshi of death and rebirth, to protect the Earth, and to protect the royal family. No way would they believe her.]
Hotaru: Ummm....., well...... that's confidential. I cannot tell you that, but I promise that we are not here to hurt anyone.
[The silence between the three were broken when a voice from within the Akabeko was calling out to them. It was obvious that Tsubame was taking to long on her trip to fetch the fresh water.]
Tsubame: Well..., I have to get back to work. Yahiko; Hotaru; can we continue this conversation later?
[Hotaru didn't like to lie, but in this case she would have to make the exception. She knew she couldn't talk further of the whys or the details of the mission. So she puts on a fake smile and looks up to the two of them.]
Hotaru: Sure, if you would like to continue this later we can.
Yahiko: Hmmm... I don't like that tone of voice. It's almost the same as the one Tsubame-chan gives me when she is trying to avoid something. Well, if you're serious, I can be found over at the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu dojo or here at the Akabeko.
Hotaru: Whoever this Kenshin is, he has to be at the top of our list to look for.
[Hotaru slowly walks away from the two at the Akabeko, and her heart was lifted a little. She wasn't sure that she was going to be able to get out of that situation. From now on she'll have to be careful of who she speaks with and tell about who she's looking for. She sees a figure among the people passing the restaurant, and for some reason she felt like she was still being watched and followed, but she tucks this emotion away. She rounded off the corner of the street and continues on her way to meet up with the others as planned earlier. However, she must have made a mistake on her path somewhere because instead of staying on the main road, she found herself on a dead end street.]