Shio's Betrayal

(Sniff, Sniff) Shio opened his eyes slowly. It took a few minutes for his eye's to focus but his nose was up and ready to go. When he was finally able to see, he saw Kiriko in the kitchen preparing, what smelled to be a wonderful breakfast. Why is she on her bad ankle, this thought made him sit straight up. He looked at his lap. She had put the blanket she was wearing on him.

"Good morning, Shio. I hope I didn't wake you." Kiriko placed a bowl of miso soup, rice and tea in front of him.

"What are you doing on your ankle?" He snapped totally disregarding the food for the time being.

"Well…what ever you did to my ankle it feels-"

"You know you shouldn't be on it." He looked down at his bowl, "Where did you get all this stuff?"

"I went to the store earlier-"

"You went to the store! You know what, I hope your ankle gets worse and your foot falls off"

Kiriko rolled her eyes then sat down in front of him; "Will you shut up and let me thank you for the help you gave me. The only words that should be coming out of your mouth is 'Your welcome, Kiriko.'"

Shio chuckled. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry for being such grouch."

"And…"

Shio gave her a small smile, "And…it was my pleasure to help you, Kiriko."

She blushed slightly, "well…eat up."

They ate silently. This is wonderful, Shio thought as he ate hungrily. This time Kiriko watched him.

"I see you like it."

He finished his bowl then cleared his throat; "Um…it was okay."

"HA!" Kiriko laughed, picked up his bowl, and took it to the kitchen. Shio noticed she was wearing the same gi and hakama that he found her in. It was clean but didn't flatter her body like the kimono did.

"You know…you should wear kimonos more often. You look good on you."

Kiriko stopped washing the dishes and turned to face him. Why do her eyes look like that? What did I do wrong?, he thought.

"What?…What is it?"

"How would you know what I look like in a kimono? You've never seen me in one." Kiriko folded her arms over her chest.

Shio didn't like the tone of her voice. He was trying to pay her a compliment.

"Well…I saw you wearing one at the Odawara Tavern…"

Kiriko rushed over to her things and started packing. This was totally confusing to Shio. He got up and walked over to her. Before he could reach her, Kiriko pulled out Laplatina and swung it towards his neck. He jumped back before it could connect.

"What the hells wrong with you?" Shio rubbed his neck.

"You've been following me." She said this calmly keep her sword pointed at him.

"What?...What are you talk-"

"Don't play stupid with me. You just happened to be in Odawara at the time I was working there. Next you peep at me from the trees in the forest. And finally you just 'all of a sudden' pop up to rescue me from that goon. You've been following me the whole time!" She yelled the last sentence.

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about!"

"Yeah right!" She grabbed the last of her thing and headed to the door. "Who sent you my father!"

"Your father!….Kiriko I don't know your father!" He didn't want her to go like this. She was extremely angry with him and he didn't understand why. He really had been at those places at those times by coincidence. He tried to grab her arm again but she was unbelievable fast with the sword and slapped his hand away. If Laplatina had been sharp, she would have certainly sliced his hand off before he even knew what happened.

"Keep the hell away from me, Shio, if that's really your name! I don't ever want to see you again! And tell my father that his little plan didn't work!" She slammed the door so hard that it shook his little apartment.

Shio stood in the middle of the room glaring at the door and rubbing his sore hand. After a few moments, he went into the kitchen to finish cleaning up then went back into the room to roll up the futon and blanket. Finally he got dress and picked up his sword. I should have never helped her…I'll definitely think twice before I help another female out again. He walked out the door and headed north. Besides I don't need her in my life right now….I have more important things to do…… like finding the Battousai.

Kiriko ran in no particular direction. She just wanted to get away from his place as fast as she could. She ran almost two miles. When she finally stopped, she collapsed in an open meadow. Kiriko sat there for a moment looking at the trees and mountains in the distance then she burst into tears.

"WHY AM I CRYING!" she yelled to the sky. She must have startled the wildlife because a flock of birds came flying out of the trees in the distance.

"It's not like I like him or anything," she said quietly to herself She stopped crying and wiped her eyes, but maybe I was over reacting…he really could have been at those places by coincidence…no…NO…my father probably hired him in Odawara…my dad really doesn't want me to find out about his secret. Kiriko got up and dusted herself off. Well I'm gonna find out even if it kills me. She grabbed her things and headed north.