Author's note:

A Very Happy New Year to all! Here's my newest chapter. Sniffs What do I smell? Oohh… Meeting… Sniffs again Competition?! Read on and enjoy!

Disclaimer:

Rurouni Kenshin Characters Not mine

Not mine Nobuhiro Watsuki

Disclaimer No sue

No sue On with the story!

Previously on "Believe in the 'me' of tomorrow":

"And we are the owners of the restaurant." The female added. "This child here is Tsubame and my name's Tae." She smiled. "Dozo Yoroshiku! (Nice to meet you)"

Yufa's eyes widened. She ran her memory for the names on her list. She knew they are part of it. She gave them a beaming smile and bowed and thanked them and Kami-sama repeatedly. 'Kami-sama! Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you very Much)!!!' She thought. "So, when will I start?" She asked, eager to know them more.

Believe in the 'me' of tomorrow

Chapter Five

"Quit yawning Yufa-san…" Tsubame complained then she also yawned. "It's affecting me…" She added. It was 7AM and they just came from the market after buying the ingredients they needed and some ghastly moments of haggling amounts. Tsubame frequently laughed as she saw Yufa gape at the prices of the vegetables. Who can blame her? With the prices of these things, she can start a buy and sell business back in Tokyo, and she'll be filthy rich!

Yufa rubbed the back of her head and gave Tsubame an apologetic smile. "Gomen… I'm not used on waking up this early." She said. After several minutes, Tsubame told her to go ahead and help Tae prepare the shop for its opening. "Huh? Why? Did we forget to buy something?" Yufa looked at the basket she held and peered into it.

"No… I… um… Have to do something…" Tsubame said, stuttering a bit. Yufa looked at her and gave her a quizzical look. At this, Tsubame avoided to look at her and looked at the fruit stand, which happened to be the most interesting figure for Tsubame. "I... um… I… I have to meet… someone…" Tsubame blushed more and Yufa gave him a knowing smile. "Don't tell Tae! She'll keep teasing me about it..." Yufa laughed and nodded, waking a hand in a 'shoo' motion. Tsubame beamed up and thanked her before running away, mixing herself with the crowd.

Kei turned and continued her way towards Akebebo. She yawned again and kept her gaze down, dozing for a bit then waking up, shaking her head. She was on the bridge when she dozed off again. She was lagging and woke up, only to find that she bumped into someone. The basket fell and she dropped back on her rear side. She winced and rubbed the aching part, shaking her head to wake herself up. "Gomen… Gomen… It's my fault… I'm not looking where I was going…" She said as she picked up her things.

"No… It's okay…" The person said and knelt beside her to help her pick up her things. Yufa was able to see a bit of the person from the corner of her eyes. He was wearing a blue hakama and had brown locks. When Yufa was able to put some things inside her basket, she stood up and the person followed her movement. Also standing up to offer her things. "Are you okay?" He asked. Yufa wasn't able to answer as she looked at him. A few seconds passed and he repeated his question. "Are you okay?"

Yufa woke up from her trance and nodded. "Yeah… Thanks…" She said and blushed. The guy had brown locks and chocolate brown eyes. He was wearing a blue hakama and had a pack slung over his shoulder. She kept gazing at him for a moment and blinked when he laughed.

"You better close your mouth if you don't want an insect to come in." He joked and Yufa quickly snapped her mouth shut. He laughed again and handed her the things he picked up.

If there's one thing Yufa observed about him, its' his smile. His smile never left his face even for a second. Yufa smiled at him, finding his smile addicting, She bowed again in a sign of saying thanks and apology. She walked ahead of him, towards Akebebo. 'He's kinda cute…' She thought and a small smile formed her lips.

Soujiro on the other hand, followed his gaze on the retreating back of the woman. He smiled and shook his head. "Oh well… That's life..." He muttered under his breath, thinking that he won't be able to meet the girl again. He sighed and looked at the village before him. "Nothing changed… Now… If I could only find Kamiya Dojo…" He added as he walked towards the village.

After several minutes of walking and inquiring, he finally stood before the gates of Kamiya Dojo. A small kid looked up at him. As usual, he was smiling and quickly gained the child's trust. Ayame tilted her head cutely to the side. "Hello there… Who are you?" She asked.

Soujiro bent in front of her. "Could you please tell Kenshin that Soujiro is here? I'll be waiting okay?" He said to her and Ayame ran to tell Kenshin the news. As expected, a red haired male appeared in his sight followed by two females and a male. They all had that 'danger' look on their face. "Quit looking at me like that… I just came here to say hi and ask for help in finding a room to stay…" He replied to their silent question and they all sighed in relief. Soujiro smiled again when Kaoru invited him in.

"So, how are you?" Kenshin simply asked and Soujiro shrugged, saying he's fine and he came back since he already understand what Kenshin meant with the words he left during their fights. Kenshin smiled. "I thought so… And you grew a bit taller…"

"About time, baka!" Sanosuke said as Soujiro was about to answer Kenshin on that remark. "It took us some time to make you understand that you're fighting on the wrong side!" At this, Soujiro laughed and decided to let this comment pass since its true. His life as a wanderer hasn't been easy. He met several people on his way and during these meetings; he understood every words Kenshin uttered during the last time they met.

"If you want, you can stay here… Since I'm letting Kenshin, Yahiko and this useless guy here, adding another one wouldn't be a problem. Of course you have to help us with chores." Sanosuke was about to bite back on the term 'useless' but Kaoru cut him off. "It's true, baka! All you did was sleep, drink and gamble! You don't even help Kenshin and Yahiko on the chores! You even damaged one of the walls! Admit it!" At this Sanosuke shut his mouth and grumbled away.

Soujiro laughed and accepted Kaoru's offer. "Thank you Kaoru-san… I won't be a burden here… You'll see…" He added and Kaoru muttered an 'I hope so' under her breath and glared at the still grumbling Sanosuke.

After several moments, Suzy came running to Kenshin and Kaoru. She had a wide smile on her face. "Ken-san! Kaoru-san! Guess who we met on our way here!" The child babbled excitedly. We, meaning Dr. Gensai and herself. They were not even given a chance to guess when Suzy answered her own question. "Misao-chan and Aoshi-sama with others are here!" Kaoru and Megumi smiled at this and quickly went to the entrance of the dojo to greet Misao.

Kaoru hugged her friend and nodded at Aoshi. She gave a wave to the Oniwabanshu-gumi. "Is this a visit your friend day?" Megumi asked Misao as she hugged her. She nodded her head towards Soujiro's direction and smiled. "What are you doing here?" Megumi added.

Misao waved and Soujiro gave his usual smile to her, Aoshi and the rest of her gang. "We've been working real hard and Okon here demanded a vacation, so we brought them here." She answered, as a group of five made their presence known. An old man, two females and tow males. "Actually…" She added to Soujiro. "I never expected to see you here! Where's Yahiko?" Kaoru answered, saying that he will meet Tsubame at the market and Misao gave a knowing smile. "Our Yahiko's growing up…" She said, faking a tear as she said that. Right on the spot, Yahiko and Tsubame appeared. "Speaking of the devil…" Misao said as she hugged Tsubame.

"Oi, nice to see you again busu (ugly)." Yahiko said and nodded towards Aoshi, who in turn, sat beside Kenshin. Misao's vein popped and the usual argument started with the two. Kenshin and Soujiro stared at them, giving a sigh while Aoshi and Sanosuke decided to ignore them entirely. Yahiko's gaze dropped to Soujiro and he gave him a wave. "What are you doing here?" He asked and pointed at Soujiro.

"He'll be staying here." Kaoru simply answered and Yahiko nodded in understanding. "So… how's your little date with Tsubame?" Kaoru asked slyly and in reply, both Tsubame and Yahiko turned crimson, earning a laugh from the group, of course, excluding Aoshi.

Tsubame quickly said that it's not a date and invited them to Akebebo for a party since it's not always that they meet together. They all agreed and were ready to go when Tae appeared at the dojo. Her face all worried and stopped in front of them, panting.

"What happened to you?!" Megumi asked as she saw Tae. "Is something wrong?"

Tae was still panting when she answered the question. "Good to see you all here…" She started. "I need your help! A group of goons appeared at my shop and demanded to give them money. I just escaped them and left Akebebo unguarded. I have a feeling that Tsubaki, the owner of the new restaurant sent them since the only restaurant they haven't touched is hers!" Then her eyes widened. "Kami! What if Yufa arrived there?! They'll hurt her for sure!!!" Tae cried at them. Tsubame tried to console her as all of them headed for Akebebo.

The sight that welcomed them was quite unexpected. The crowd of people looking was expected but the scene in front of them isn't. Six men were standing outside Akebebo as a small female figure was staring back at them unflinchingly. 'Hey… That's the girl I've bumped on my way here…' Soujiro thought. 'What is she doing?'

"Yufa-kun! Get away from them!" Tsubame shouted and one of the goons looked at her.

Yufa changed from her kimono into her hakama. At first, she changed back for the simple reason that she felt more comfortable wearing the garment rather than a tight kimono. She ignored Tsubame's cries and decided that it's best this way. Kenshin and the others tried to budge their way in but other men, obviously from the same group, blocked their entrance. They can't fight them since there are a lot of innocent people who will be affected if they used their swords.

"Yeah… Get away from here… 'Coz if not, we're going to make you feel sorry for beating up some of our members!" Kenshin's group gaped at this fact. They can't imagine how girls like Yufa, petite and looked innocent, was able to beat up five thugs.

Yufa gave a smile in return. "How touching… You mean you went all the way here just to announce and tell everybody that a female like me was able to beat up your members?" The thugs flinched at her words and she still stared at them, not flinching. "By the way, you missed Tsubaki's restaurant. I believe that came first before our restaurant." She stated then gave a knowing look. "Not unless she's the one who told you guys to get these establishments out of her way?" She added.

Several store owners agreed at what she said and started shouting curses. The men who blocked them were able to punch one of them senseless and the others fell silent.

Yufa saw this and in an instant she lifted her head that she was looking at them, her face expressionless. It angered her that they have to hurt these people. It's worse that they have to hit an old woman who is fighting for her rights. She mentally counted from one to ten and said in a calm voice. "I pity you guys…" She stated simply. "With big bodies… I wonder why Kami-sama created you to have such small brains." Tae-san gasped and the others stared at her, quite taken by surprise with her courage and forwardness. Even Kenshin's group stared at her.

The thugs gritted their teeth and shouted at her. "What?! Take that back or…"

Yufa cut them in mid-sentence. "Or what? You'll punch me senseless?" Yufa gave a mocking laugh. "You only attack people who you knew won't fight against you. You're lower than low…" She added in a venomous voice, her eyes narrowing. "Why not try fighting those you knew who would fight back or maybe you're afraid?" She shook her head. "Shameless… Worthless… You people are the parasites of the society…" She finished in a low omnibus voice.

The people gasped. Kenshin and the others are getting ready to attack in case this girl wasn't able to face them all. Soujiro never met someone as brave as her. At first he thought she was quiet and the type who would just take anything that would happen in her life. In short, weak. Tae and Tsubame stared at Yufa. They knew she was cheery and never saw this side of her. The others were surprised that a female, as fragile as she looked, have guts to stand in what she believe in.

Irritated, one of them attacked Yufa suddenly. Yufa moved to the side, sending the guy head straight to the Akebebo's wall. Yufa winced then sighed. "Aside from the things you have destroyed inside, you owe us the fixing of our wall..."

The guy stood up, staggering and went back to his group. Soon, a guy, about 7 feet, with a bulky body emerged from Tsubaki's restaurant. He walked out, followed by several more men. "Hmm… This town is interesting after all…" He said in a gruff voice as he slashed his sword over Akebebo's walls, cutting it into half. The people screamed, others run, but mostly stayed to see the outcome of the situation. "I've never met someone like you. Interesting…"

"There's a first time for everything…" Yufa replied simply. And was taken by surprise when one of his men grabbed a female, the same age as her and held a sword over her neck. She stepped forward but saw that the sword was pulled close to the girl's neck. Yufa stopped and turned to look at the bulky man. "Let her go!" She demanded.

"I haven't introduced myself… I'm Garada… Head of this group, whom you see now…" He simply stated "…And I want to see if you're the type who is all talk and no action. Fight them if you can or we'll get this young woman's life…"

AN:

He-he-he… Good noh or bad? Reviews and Flames are highly accepted… Thanks!!!