**Pechan still owns no Rurouni Kenshin characters.

~ A Jealous Pup ~

The next day Ryu took a quick bath, and got dressed. He wore a grey top and black bottom. His hair was drying, and he let it stay down as he walked about the house. At the kitchen, his mother was eating some rice. She wore a simple yukata, and her black hair was not pinned up. Ryu thought that his mother was one of the most beautiful people that he had known. All the other boys did too. She smiled at her son, "Hey tough guy. What do you plan to do today?"

Ryu shrugged, taking out a bowl. "I don't know. I suppose I'll walk around town."

"Take your sister with you."

He frowned, scooping some rice, "Why? She doesn't need an escort."

Tokio swallowed her rice. "Don't' say things like that. She's your sister, so watch her."

"She doesn't watch me."

She smirked, "You need her to watch you?"

"No!" he scowled.

Tokio put her dish in a bucket to wash. She walked by, and ruffled his long hair, "Ahh, don't take things so seriously Ryu. I swear, you've been like this since puberty hit-"

"MOTHER!!"

"-and quite frankly, you're not as fun as you used to be!"

"I'm not supposed to be fun! Where in the son's description does it say I have to be fun?"

Tokio bit into a pear, "See? Like that. All this teen angst inside you." She clapped, "I know! You can be a painter!"

Ryu sighed, "Mother...... thanks for the tip. But, I really want to go out now."

She waved, "Ah, go ahead. I can't stop you. But, be careful, okay? You know how nervous I get when you're sister isn't there to watch you."

Ryu used all his strength not to slam the door. Why is she the favorite?!! She flirts with anything!! Should he do that to? Was he supposed to put out?!!

"I'd rather you not, Ryu."

Ryu fell over, hearing his father say that. He grumbled, "I talked out loud again, didn't I?"

"Something you inherited form your mother, not me," he said, walking by, "Don't dwell on this sibling rivalry. If you think about it too much, your sword performance get's cut in half."

Ryu got up, rubbing his head, "Yeah, okay Father."

He didn't reply as he walked into the dojo. Ryu sighed, walking out of the gates.

He wandered around all day. One of the students, Iwata, approached him, "Hey Ryu! What's up?"

"Do you want something?"

Iwata chuckled, "Naw man, I was just wondering..... you're sister's, like, you age right?"

"Yes. What of it?"

"Well, you know how I'm only a year younger than you, you wouldn't think I'm too young for her, right?"

He frowned, thoroughly annoyed by being asked such retarded questions. "Iwata, go ask her yourself."

"No way, man!! What if she'd turn me down?"

"Then she does. Then you move on."

Iwata nodded, "Oh, I see what you mean!! I mean, I gotta give it a chance, right? Otherwise I'll never know!" he cheered, "Dude, thanks! That's the kind of sage advise I need! Seize the day!!"

Ryu walked around the old man carrying the cart. Iwata was still walking with him. "Thanks man, you just gave me the courage to go ask her out! Where is she?"

"She's still at the dojo."

"Cool! I'm gonna go ask now! No point in waiting, huh?"

Ryu closed his eyes, and said, "By the way, she thinks you're too fat. I should now, I read her diary."

Iwata fell over, crushed. Ryu just stepped into a soba bar, not at all caring Iwata was crying over his sister.

~~Back at the Fujita dojo~~

Mina sneezed twice, and wiped her nose, "Hey, cool!" she turned to her mother. "Hey mom! Is it two or three sneezes that means someone just said they loved you?"

Tokio looked up from the bowl she was scrubbing. "Hmm. I dunno. Let's see.......... you're father's a jerk!!"

In the distance, they heard Goro sneeze three times.

"Ah, well there you have it!" smiled her mom, as she continued cleaning.

Mina giggled, "Hey, where's Ryu?"

"He went out. And I think he's in one of his moods again."

Mina frowned, "Oh great. Why is he like that, now? We're supposed to be twins! But he is soooooooooo different than me now! He even looks different! We used to look the same! Until, well, until a few years ago, then he started to look more like dad and I look more like you."

"Ah, you mean when you both struck puberty-"

"MOOMMMM!!"

Tokio laughed, "Nah, I'd say you guys still have a lot in common," she rinsed the bowl, "If I know your brother, he's probably in a soba bar. Why don't you catch up with him there?"

Mina got up, "Oh, okay! I'll just go change into a kimono. Should I wear green or pink today?"

Tokio smiled, "Girl, with a face like mine, guys aren't gonna care what you wear!!"