Kiriko's Close Call

The next morning Kenshin just arrived in the City of Odawara. Since he left Eko and his mother, Kenshin didn't get anymore leads. He was starting to get worried again. I thought I would have caught up to her by now, Kenshin thought as he wandered the streets of Odawara.

Kenshin walked further into town. It was around lunch time and he was starting to get a hungry. Now let's see if there's a decent place around here to get something to eat. I'm actually starting to miss Kaoru's cooking, he laughed to himself. Kenshin looked at the different restaurants. Hhhmm let's see what we have here. He turned around in a circle and read all the signs. Kenshin's eyes stopped on the Odawara Tavern. There was a long line of men waiting to get in. Well that seems like the popular place that it does. Kenshin decided to check it out and see what all the hub-bub was about.

Mr. Tsai was right. It was a crazy in the tavern that day. Word must have spread about Kiriko because there was a line of men waiting to sit in her station. Kiriko ran around in frenzy helping all she could at one time. Mr. Tsai was impressed. She was faster then she looked and very agile. Kiriko could move in between people with out them ever knowing she was right beside them. She got the guys in and out in a fast pace. Mr. Tsai decided if she wanted to stay permanently, she was more then welcome to.

Sataki watched with disgust as some of her customers were trying so hard to get a seated in Kiriko station.

"Hello?" Kenshin said trying to get Sataki's attention.

"Hi. Where do you want to be seated?" Sataki asked very rudely not paying much attention to Kenshin.

Kenshin looked around and saw the huge line for one section of the restaurant and hardly anyone in the other sections. He saw a girl in a pink and red kimono running around but Kenshin didn't want to wait in that line. "Well I definitely don't want that section." This statement got Sataki's attention.

"Oh, you don't?" She smiled sweetly at Kenshin, "Well, let me show you to my station."

She took Kenshin's hand and led him towards the tables. This confused Kenshin because a second ago this girl wouldn't give him the time of day. Kenshin sat down in the booth.

"My name is Sataki and I'll be your server today."

"Hello Miss Sataki. Do you suggest anything?" Kenshin smiled at the pretty girl and Sataki smiled back brightly.

"Why yes. The special today is the beef stew with a side of pickled plum rice cakes."

"Okay, that sounds good. I'll have that"

"Coming right up." Sataki ran off to get his food.

Kiriko served every table with a smile but she was worn out. She didn't see her father come in because she was too busy. She finished cleaning off one of the tables then began to set it up for the next group. She went in the back to get her tray when she saw Ayana and some of the other girls peeking around the corner looking at someone.

"Look he's carrying a sword." One of the girls whispered.

"I bet it's for show. He probably doesn't even know how to use it. Look at how little he is." Another girl snickered.

"Yeah but he is kind of cute. I like his eyes." The girls started to giggle.

"Yeah he is cute but he also looks familiar." Ayana said as she picked up her tray.

"What going on?" Kiriko asked Ayana.

"Oh were checking out this guy who just came in. He's carrying a sword but he looks kind of small. See check him out. He's the one with the red hair."

Kiriko gasped once Ayana said red hair. Oh please don't let it be who I think it is, oh please, oh please, pleeeeasssseee. Kiriko closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly around the corner. Then she opened them. NO! Kiriko dropped her tray and ran into the back room. Ayana didn't have a clue to what just happened. She ran after her. By the time Ayana got back towards the bathhouse, Kiriko was already putting on her gi.

"What's wrong Kiriko? What just happened back there? Where are you going?" Ayana was beginning to get worried.

"I have to go." Kiriko stuffed her kimono in to satchel.

"Why? What's going on? You can't just leave a room full of people waiting for you. Please tell me." Ayana grabbed Kiriko by the shoulders to get her attention.

"It's a long story. I can't go into it right now but that guy….well he's my father." Kiriko could see this only confused Ayana more. "I'm not ready for him to find me yet. I know I sound crazy but please tell me if there's a back door out of here."

Ayana didn't question Kiriko anymore once she saw the desperate look in her eyes. "Okay. Do you have all your money with you?"

Kiriko nodded.

"All right. Follow me."

Ayana led her to a back ally where they took the trash out each night.

"See that trail. Follow it into the woods. It will take you out of Odawara and lead you to a different trail that's runs along side Tokaido Trail. It's actually a short cut from here to Kyoto."

Kiriko wasn't too sure about this short cut. She kind of wanted to stay on the main road but she also wanted to get further ahead of her father.

"Are you sure about this?" Kiriko asked with uncertainty on her face.

"Yes. This is how I got here from Kyoto. You're not the only runaway in the world, you know." A small smile formed on Ayana face.

"Thank you for everything. Take care." Kiriko gave her a hug and ran off along the trail.

"Bye Kiriko and good luck!"

Kenshin heard the crash of a tray from the back. Sataki jumped then mumbled something like, "those clumsy girls", under her breath.

Sataki served Kenshin his food. He thought it was excellent. As he ate, he noticed that the crowd in the one section of the tavern was getting restless. Sataki stood there looking at the crowd with a grin on her face.

"What happened to the girl in that section?" Kenshin asked in between mouth full.

"Oh… there's a new girl working in that section. I know she couldn't handle of all those people. Hee,hee,hee. I better get over there and do something about this."

Kenshin watched her leave then he went back to his food.

"Where is Kiriko?"

Kenshin nearly choked when he heard that. He looked up to see who asked that question. An old man was talking with Sataki. He looked like he was about to pull his hair out.

"I don't know daddy. I knew that girl was no good. I can handle this crowd."

"I know you can, honey. But these guys are asking for her specifically. NOW WHERE IS KIRIKO?"

Kenshin heard him clearly this time. He got up from the booth and ran over to the old man.

"Did you say Kiriko? A girl about seventeen with dark red hair and blue-violet eyes?" Kenshin asked.

"Yeah that's her."

Kenshin started to smile, "Where is she? Is she here?"

Mr. Tsai looked at Kenshin suspiciously. "Who the hell are you?"

"Oh I'm sorry. I'm her father Kenshin Himura. I've been looking for her the past four days. Is she here?"

"Well that's what I'm trying to find out, too. She was working in this section, now she just disappeared."

Kenshin frowned. He didn't like the fact that Kiriko was working in a place like this and how long had she been working here. This only made Kenshin worry more. All these men are grimy, loud and rude. They all look like criminals. What if one of them kidnapped my little girl? Kenshin's eyes started to flicker just by the thought of it. Just then Ayana walked by with a tray of food.

Mr. Tsai stopped her, "Ayana have you seen Kiriko?"

"Hhmm…why yes. A few minutes ago…You didn't see her. She went flying out the front door. I tried to stop her but she said she had to leave right away."

Kenshin over heard this information. She probably saw me and snuck out. Kenshin gave his money to Sataki. "Thank you for the meal. Goodbye." Then her ran out of the Odawara Tavern.

Ayana smiled, Kiriko will be way in Kyoto bye the time he finds her, and then she went back to serving her customers.