Author's Notes: A big thanks to those of you that took the time to review. Writing about side-characters like this isn't always easy or the most popular of fanfics, but I still feel it needs to be done, so I'll continue on. Please do encourage friends to take the time to read and review this if you are enjoying it though ^^;;

Australian Slang used in this chapter:

"blue"- fight

"bail out"- leave in a huff, abandon

"larrikins"- harmless pranksters, people who enjoy themselves all the time

"blokes"- guys

"cracking onto"- hitting on someone romantically

"fair go" - a chance

"pash"- heated/passionate kiss

"dills" - idiots

"blow-in"- stranger/new comer

"dingo"- wild dog in the outback.

As always- if you take the time to read, please take the time to review ^^

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~ Chapter 2: The Simple Things ~

Moving him slowly, Kikyou looked down the hallway of the farmhouse trying to decide which room was that of the brown-haired doctor she was helping.

Noting her thoughtful gaze, Suikotsu pieced together what was going on and spoke up, "My room is the one at the end of the hallway."

"Oh. Thank you," She replied, a bit surprised that he was coherent enough to realize where she wanted to take him.

As she helped him down the hallway, the three "friends" could be heard in the main room.

"Suikotsu, don't you worry about the kids, I'm sure we can think up some excuse for any noises coming from your bedroom," Hiten said with a smirk.

The brown-haired doctor sighed and quietly remarked to Kikyou, "I don't get out much since I have the kids to look after. The three of them once had a bet I'd never have a woman in my life until Inori or Chiyo grew up."

"That's awfully cruel of them to taunt you when you are being so serious about your job," She replied.

Suikotsu shrugged, "They don't mean any harm. No reason to get in a blue over it."

Jakotsu's voice was heard next, "Yeah, plus sometimes laying down with someone else can make you feel a lot better, isn't that right Bankotsu?"

The shorter of the two braided men frowned, "Jakotsu…"

"What?" His taller companion said innocently.

Glaring back down the hall towards the commotion, Suikotsu muttered, "But if they keep it up, I might have to bail out on the larrikins."

Kikyou just smiled slightly. Despite their rather vulgar implications, she could tell that the three men did care a lot about the well being of their rather reserved and serious-minded friend.

"No worries, Mr. Suikotsu. Once I get you safely laid down, I'll make sure they don't cause any trouble while Manten is healing and the children are about."

"Thank you, Miss Kikyou," He smiled to her as the door to his room was pushed open.

Looking about the room, the city doctor noted the quaint little eccentricities of life in the bush. The wooden-framed bed had what Kikyou assumed to be a hand-made quilt laid out on it, the pattern simplistic yet lovely. The room had just a small nightstand to one side and a few pieces of the childrens' artwork taped to the walls.

Helping him to his bedside, she paused and pulled back the blanket.

"That won't be necessary until later tonight," He remarked.

She glared, automatically getting the wrong idea.

Suikotsu raised his hands in innocence, "I meant it's too warm for a quilt now- but when it gets colder at night, then I'll need it!"

"Oh. Pardon the misunderstanding."

"It's quite all right, with those blokes in the other room making such a fuss, it's no wonder that you took it that way," Suikotsu replied, wincing a bit as his head brushed the pillow.

"Should I fetch another pillow for you?" She questioned.

"No. Manten and the children will need theirs just as much. No worries, I'll be all right."

Nodding, Kikyou headed back for the door, "I'd best go keep an eye on the patient."

"Thanks again, Miss Kikyou."

She gave a smile and a quick nod before leaving the room and heading back down the hallway.

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Back in the main room, the three friends still stood discussing the situation.

"Hey Hiten, why aren't you cracking onto her yet?" Jakotsu asked with a nudge.

"Eh, she's too withdrawn for me. Plus, the bloke needs a fair go at one of his type," He replied with a shrug.

"So I take it you're still paying off your tab with Miss Kaguya?" Bankotsu questioned with a smirk.

Hiten glared, "I am not paying off my tab with…" He paused as Kikyou walked past him and into the kitchen, and rephrased himself, "with…that."

"Then again, he did have a fairly large tab last time we were in with him," Jakotsu remarked to the side.

"Well surely he wouldn't be letting the woman be the dominate one in the relationship. So it has to be the tab issue," Bankotsu whispered back to Jakotsu with a smirk.

"Wha…what are you talking about?" Hiten stammered.

The two ranchers narrowed their eyes on him, Jakotsu finally speaking up, "We saw that pash she pinned you in last week. You were up against that bar and ready to be…."

Kikyou walked up behind them and cleared her throat, causing all three to start.

"If you gentlemen wouldn't mind, there are young children present."

Hiten looked to Jakotsu, "He started it."

"You're the one denying it!" He retorted.

"We at least I'm not sleeping with my best fri-"

Jakotsu picked him up by his shirt, "What have I told you about bringing that up?"

Bankotsu placed a hand on Jakotsu's shoulder, "Calm down, he's just upset."

"I'm not having him insult you!"

Kikyou sighed, "Three dills if I ever saw any. They act just like brothers, but I know they aren't related. Is that what living out this far from it all does for a community?"

Seeing Chiyo walk up beside her, the female doctor smiled, "Is the baby all right?"

"No worries, Miss. Tadashi and Yuuta helped me clean up the kitchen."

She nodded in reply.

"Don't mind these three; Miss. Mr. Bankotsu and Mr. Jakotsu are always teasing Mr. Hiten about Miss Kaguya."

"Oh?" Kikyou questioned, wondering how much these poor young children had seen or heard with Suikotsu's friends around.

Chiyo nodded, "Ever since Mr. Hiten started staying late after the bar closed, they knew he was..."

Hiten placed a hand on the child's shoulder, "Now Chiyo, why don't we leave out the details okay?"

"But Mr. Suikotsu said it was perfectly okay as long as you and Miss Kaguya loved each other. That's why people that love each other do, right? Like Mr. Jakotsu and Mr. Bankotsu?"

Bankotsu coughed; a light pink tinge showing through his tanned skin.

Kikyou's eye twitched very slightly, "Life out here is so…laid back."

Chiyo looked to the adults' reactions and blinked in confusion, "What's wrong? I mean, I gave Yuuta a kiss once on the cheek…that's….not bad is it?"

The three men sighed, and Kikyou rubbed at her temples, "Okay so not quite as bad as I thought…"

"No, Chiyo. It's all right if you wish to kiss someone. Just wait until you're a bit older before anything else, okay?" Kikyou answered the girls question since the three ranchers seemed to all be caught up in their embarrassment.

"As for you three," She continued standing, "You should just be grateful that's all she's figured out."

Leveling a cold glare, the three nodded their understanding to Kikyou's words.

"Ah! Manten!" The young black-haired girl said, noticing her older brother beginning to come out of the anesthetic.

"So..Souten?" The larger man asked, looking over to the bedside.

"Yay! Hiten! Manten's okay!" The girl yelled out, causing Hiten to rush over that way.

"Hey there bro, how you feeling," He asked sitting on the arm of the chair Souten occupied.

"Well my head's still a little fuzzy and my leg…" He halted on seeing Kikyou approaching, "Mate, who's the blow-in? She one of yours?"

Hiten's cocky grin spread, yet he shrugged, "Just a lady doctor that came in to help you out since Suikotsu went and fainted."

"So she's free game?" He whispered back.

Laughing Hiten nodded, knowing how much his younger brother was looking for someone.

"Souten- can you get me a brush- my hairs have gotten crooked," Manten whispered to his younger sister before plastering a wide grin on his face as Kikyou walked up to the bedside.

"Ah, Manten, correct?"

"Oh yes, Missy, that's correct."

"Your leg should be stiff for a bit, we'll have to put it in a splint of some sort. Other than that, you just have a few minor stitches."

"Thank you very much, Missy. I'm certain thanks to your capable hands that I'll heal in no time," Manten replied, taking the brush from Souten and casually brushing the three hairs that stood atop his head.

Kikyou was about to reply when she felt a tug at her sleeve, "Miss Kikyou?"

"Oh, it's one of the boys…"

"Yes…um…"

"It's Yuuta, Miss," The black-haired boy answered.

"Okay, Yuuta. What is it?"

"Mr. Jakotsu said there was some steak in the refrigerator that he's willing to fix up for lunch."

"All right, tell him that would be nice," Kikyou said, hoping that the tall black-haired man wouldn't make too much of a mess in the kitchen.

"Oh that reminds me, you ever find out what happened to that missing cow?" Hiten asked, turning back towards the other two ranchers.

"Nah. We're thinking a dingo got ahold of it. There's been no trace of it for days," Jakotsu replied.

"That's awfully strange still. You think you'd find its bones at least."

Getting caught up in the conversation, Yuuta looked over to them, "Do you think it was a UFO?"

Hiten laughed, "No, Yuuta. Where'd you get that idea?"

"Mr. Bankotsu said it might have been the other day."

Hiten and Jakotsu turned to look at the braided-man in question.

"What? I was…just joking with him," Bankotsu said nervously, then he turned towards the kitchen, "So uh…let's get lunch started."

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Back in the confines of his bedroom, Suikotsu laid listening to the sounds of the others talking in the other room.

It was then that a light knock was heard on his door.

"Come in."

"Mr. Suikotsu?" Chiyo asked, tentatively peeking her head in.

"Oh Chiyo, come on in," He spoke up on seeing the young girl.

"You weren't sleeping, were you?" She questioned.

"Nah, as long as those ranchers are all here I doubt it'll be quiet enough to sleep. Plus, given my injury, it's probably for the best if I stay awake as long as possible."

She nodded and crawled up onto the bed next to him, "I'm glad you're okay, Mr. Suikotsu."

"I'm just glad none of you children were hurt. How's Makoto?"

"He's taking a nap. We got the kitchen cleaned up for now and Mr. Jakotsu and Mr. Bankotsu said they'd fix up some of the steak for lunch."

"And Manten?"

"He just woke up and since he's brushing his hair and talking funny to Miss Kikyou, I think he's fine."

Suikotsu laughed, "He should be nicer to her, given that she's the one that helped him."

"Are you jealous Mr. Suikotsu?"

"Jealous? Of what?" He asked, blinking.

"That Mr. Manten likes Miss Kikyou too."

"Manten likes anything that Hiten hasn't already set eyes on, Chiyo. Don't worry about it."

"Well…Miss Kikyou is awfully nice. She'd be lots of help if she stayed around here."

Suikotsu reached out a hand and placed it on the young girl's shoulder, "Chiyo, I have you and the other children to help me. Miss Kikyou has her job in the city to be worried about."

"But, wouldn't you like it if she stayed? You do think she's nice don't you?"

"She's very nice, but Chiyo…"

"Mr. Jakotsu has Mr. Bankotsu, Mr. Hiten has Miss Kaguya and Mr. Manten keeps trying to find someone. I just thought that you'd want someone to love too," Chiyo replied with a nervous smile as she jumped down off the bed.

Walking to the door, she paused, "And I think she likes you too, Mr. Suikotsu."

Pushing the door open, the young girl made her way down the hallway, not noticing that the female doctor she spoke of was standing inside the doorway of the neighboring room.

"Someone to love, eh?" She murmured to herself, "Is that what I'm looking for too? Or has what happened in the past killed that dream of mine?"

"Miss Kikyou?" Suikotsu's voice came from inside the room, and she felt she had no choice but to listen to it.

"Yes. It's me, Mr. Suikotsu," Pushing the door open, she smiled slightly, "I was just checking on Makoto."

"Do you…have a moment to talk?" He asked after a second's hesitation.

Afraid this was about what she'd overheard, she paused, "…about what, Mr. Suikotsu?"

"I just wanted to speak with you about Manten's injuries, so…I can attend to them properly when…when you go back home."

Walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed, Kikyou couldn't help but note the slight change of tone when he spoke of her leaving, "Despite it all- his friends, and these children…he really is quite lonely underneath it all."

Suikotsu looked up to her, catching her quick glance out the window and the emotions it held, "Is it really that lonely in the city too? Ironic isn't, Miss Kikyou? To be surrounded by people yet, seemingly alone."

Gathering a bit of courage, he reached over and took her hand, "There's no need to be tense here. We're all family, or at least try to be."

She nodded her understanding and looked back out the window, the light breeze blowing the dust across the rugged earth, "It's beautiful, in its own simplistic way."

"Indeed it is," Suikotsu replied; but his gaze was on the lady doctor instead.

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Preview for Chapter 3:

Life begins to edge its way back towards normal as the sun begins to set, but a winter thunderstorm could leave them all in a predicament that you can never be quite ready for- an outback flood.