By the time Katsu had finished with the story (the real story), Misao-chan had dissolved into helpless bundle of giggles, as had Kaoru-dono, while Himura and Myoujin-chan were slightly more composed, and even Shinomiri Aoshi seemed to have a certain wry humor shining out from hid eyes.

And best of all, now they were laughing at Sano.

Well, fine.  With Sano.

But only because Sano would laugh at just about any funny story in the world, no matter who ended up being ridiculed.  It wasn't him being cruel, or unkind, just Sano being Sano.

Said roosterhead was currently wiping the tears from his eyes.  "Man, Katsu.  I'd forgotten how funny that really was when it happened."

Katsu raised a wry eyebrow.  "For you, maybe.  It took me quite awhile to see the humor in it."

"Yeah, it did, didn't it?"  Sano chuckled slightly.  "I still say it would have been way easier on you if you had just slept with her from the start, man."

Katsu wrinkled his nose.  "Ew.  You know I'd never do that, Sano."

"Why?"  Katsu and Sano both turned to look at Misao-chan, who was blushing hotly.  "I mean … why would you never … you know.  Did you take a vow or something?"

Sano snorted, presumably finding something hilariously funny about the idea of Katsu with a vow of celibacy.

"Not … exactly, no."  Katsu took a sip of the tea that Kaoru-dono had handed him before he began the story to cover his smirk.  Ahh, the innocence of youth.

"Then … what?"  Another rperson might have been insulted, perhaps. But not Katsu.  Besides, it was mildly interesting to see how deeply the girl could blush.

"Ah … would this fall under the 'you'll understand when you're older' category, Katsu?"  Katsu sighed when, at Sano's remark, the girl's blush disappeared completely and was replaced with a twitxhy rage.  Much less amusing to watch.

"No, no it would not, Sano.  And thank you for denying me beyond all doubt any way of ducking out of answering that.  The reason, Misao-chan, that I would never have slept with her is because she is a 'she.'"

She looked nowhere near understanding, though, judging by the look on his face, Shinomiri Aoshi did.  Myoujin had left after he finished the story, and Kaoru-dono and Himura followed him soon after.

Katsu sighed.  "I don't sleep with women."  Maybe the blunt way would work.

She frowned, and assumed a look of total incomprehension..  Maybe it wouldn't.

Judging from his almost choke there, it worked just fine on Aoshi.  Oh.  There was a nasty potential problem.  Katsu hoped the man wouldn't turn out to be one of those types that were disgusted by the mere thought of a man who slept with other men.  He'd begun to take a liking to the tall ninja, and it would be a shame to wreck that over something as small as sexual preference.

"So you did take a vow!"

"No."  Katsu wondered if the girl was really that dim, or just innocent.  Probably innocent.  "I sleep with men."

It took awhile for this to digest.  Once it did, however, her expression was nearly worth the wait.

"YOU WHAT?!?!"

Katsu sighed, again.  Or maybe she was just a tad dim.

**********************

Hmmm.  I still like it, but not as funny as it was in my head.  Well, when is it ever?  Ambiguity is king.  And I really didn't mean to make Misao sound so stupid (because I don't think she is), it just came put that way.  Don't kill me!

Kuroyousei: Knew you wouldn't be too disappointed.  ^_^  Tokio rocks – she really, really should have been in the manga.  And I'm not sure I need to say this, but if you are going to do the whole daily-update story, you've got to a) pick a topic you can write about once a day, every day, for however long, and b) be reasonable in regards to chapter length.  But I 'spect you could already have guessed that.

Nicky: Yeah, Saitou in a bad mood's pretty scary.  *shiver*  And I don't think Saitou would ever agree to marrying a woman he couldn't at least get along with, no matter what.  So, he and Tokio are cool.  Not in love (or else there' be no room for Sano!), but friends.