Disclaimer: The usual.

Chapter 17: Umeko

Umeko kneaded the dough for dumplings. She's worried about the new girl Saya. The poor thing's been looking peaked. With her forty-odd years of life experience to draw on, Umeko has traced the source to a longing for a boy that is totally unsuitable. Not that there're any more good boys about...All able-bodied men are being swept up in the coming storm.

She supervised Kenshin as he cooked the rice. Dammit! When Katsura introduced her to the hitokiri, she had expected an older man, not some kid. Kenshin was the furthest anyone is from the Battousai parents frightened their children with. Heck! He played with the very same kids when he's done his chores.

Kenshin helped a young man who had fainted outside Umeya last year. That man was Okita Souji. Afterwards, they had chatted as old friends would over a cup of tea. If they were to meet as Miburou and Choushu...

Here comes that boy again...Umeko watched as the Second Patrol swung round the corner. Saya craned her neck for a glimpse of him. She noticed Suzu was watching the same boy with a very resentful look. Jealousy? But Suzu doesn't seem to be fond of Saya in that manner. On the contrary, he seemed to be very troubled...maybe he isn't too sure of his own feelings.

Her younger brother has charged her with guardianship of these three young people. By Buddha, she'll try her best to help them. Those kids don't deserve to be caught up in this revolution! Katsura regretted what happened to Kenshin and Tomoe. She called them to the yard after she put the dumplings to steam...

"I gave my word to Katsura-san. I chose this path and I'm not regretting it." Umeko nodded sadly. The belief and fire of the revolution burnt in young Himura. Fighting for his beliefs, he will gladly become Battousai. However, after the loss of Tomoe... Kenshin's eyes were soft as he touched the blue scarf that was Tomoe's.

Battousai will stay to see the revolution to conclusion. Being a hitokiri's a hard, lonely life. With his skills, Kenshin may live. But the gentle Kenshin will have to face what Battousai has done. A person never gets used to killing and the guilt of it will weigh on his soul. He may have to spend the rest of his life redeeming himself. At least, Kenshin will fight the demon within. His love for Tomoe will not allow him to lose.

Suzu was not surprised by Kenshin's conviction. Umeko turned her attention to Saya. Saya was evasive when questioned. She refused to communicate and simply shook her head. "Saya, do you want to go to him?" Umeko asked gently. "If you wish, I can help you get a post in the Shinsengumi kitchen."

A pair of round teary eyes looked at her with a mixture of hope and fear. Kenshin's eyes turned cold and hard as Battousai's. Don't think of using her! "Relax, I'm not asking you to spy on them..." Saya shook her head fiercely. NO! Suzu's patience with Saya finally snapped.

"Saya! You've loved him since I first met you! And you've been loving him all this while! If that bastard Tetsu's been such a cad to dump you..." Saya slapped Suzu hard and fled crying. So Suzu knows the boy. Tetsu eh? Umeko made a note to check on a redhead in the Shinsengumi called Tetsu. The marketplace gossip has always been quite reliable if you know where to listen...

"I cannot fail my master again." With that, Suzu went into the building. Umeko shook her head. Katsura had explained to her that the boy's been through a lot and asked for her patience. But he was being ridiculous. Was it a misguided attempt to soothe his own conscience for failing to save Yoshida at Ikeda-ya? What a headache! Normally, she wouldn't mind letting a stubborn ass go into a duel like that, but if Tetsu gets killed...

"No matter who dies, Saya-chan's the loser. If Tetsu kills Suzu, it'd affect him, and Saya." Himura Kenshin summed up her thoughts. He excused himself politely. The boy has grown. Umeko watched Kenshin leave. One day, that boy will be a great swordsman, far greater than Battousai, because a man's true worth is what he has inside...

Why? Why? Saya sobbed into her apron. She could have agreed to go. She could trust Umeko couldn't she? She stayed in her room until the sun set. Suzu brought up some onigiri. Receiving no reply from her, he left them outside her door. Girls! Suzu realized he was starting to look upon Saya as a sister...Guess Katsura-san wasn't too far off the mark...

Kenshin sheathed his sword and tossed Tomoe's scarf about his neck. Tonight Battousai will be abroad. He thought of the lives he had treasured and were cut short. Kasumi, Sumire and Sakura neesan, the three women who had given their lives to save his from bandits when he was a helpless child. Tomoe gave hers to protect him...

He peeled off the plaster to reveal his now telltale cross-scar. Ryouma once told him of the wide, wide world. Is Japan big enough for his journey of redemption? Once the new era has come...

A strange customer called at Umeya just as Umeko was closing for the night. Seeing her, he gave her a hug and a kiss on her brow. "My sugar-plum!" Umeko laughed softly and hit him lightly on his hat as he lifted her into the air.

"Ume-san! Not my hat!"

"Ryou-kun, how many times must I tell you not to use your fancy foreign ways on me?" She chided him gently as she welcomed him in. She sent a kitchen girl to prepare the spare room for their guest. Suzu peered out of his room.

"Bell-boy! Nice to see you!" Sakamoto Ryouma greeted him with a cheery smile. Suzu slammed the door shut. If things can't get any worse...

Author's notes:

Bell-boy? The kanji for Suzu's name happens to mean bell, if I remember correctly.

Ryouma&Umeko a couple? The kanji for Ume's name means plum. Love having Umeko trying to counsel her charges.