A/N: Hello again. I hope everyone is well. I want to say sorry again for the response time. Things have busy around here- moving, summer session class ending, week off, school beginning, sister leaving for basic training -she sold her soul to the Navy, not really sure why- but I'll be the supportive sister- everything else going on right now has kept me on my toes as of late.
Anyway, I've enjoyed the reviews that you all left. Thanks so much, they really made me want to finish this chapter earlier... however that never really happened. Gomen! So without further ranting and mumbling here's chapter 3!
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Stopping sharply she turned and looked the man right in the eye. Tai saw her stop and the expression of confusion and wariness caused him to also stop in this tracks. Neither Sora, nor Tai said a thing, both staring at each other trying to figure things out. The loud neighing on Yumi broke them out of the staring contest they had seemed to be having.
"Can I help you?" Sora asked with a little irritation in her voice. It had been a long day and now there was this total stranger. All she wanted to do at the moment was going home and sleeping the rest of the day. However, with this guy following her things wouldn't be that easy. Granted the man was nice in helping them, but still...
Tai didn't know what to say to the barely restrained fury the crimson orbs hid. He didn't know what to do, and as if on reflex he ended up taking a step backwards.
"Look, I don't know who you are or what you want... thank you for you good intentions and all, but right now I just want to go home." Sora continued.
"I...I'm sorry, it's just... I was told that the town's inn happened to be this way... I didn't mean to seem like I was following you or anything, really... it's..."
"No, stop. I'm sorry." The beautiful auburn haired woman said touching his hand and stopping him from continuing on his mumbling. "It's just, well you've kind of seen what sort of life I lead around here...it's been extra strenuous lately..."
"No, no it's alright. I guess I don't exactly know your particular situation too well, but I know first hand how hard life in the West can be." Tai replied flashing an understanding smile.
"So you're looking for the inn? You're new here, so I guess you would need a place to stay... by the way, my name is Sora. Sora Takenouchi. And I apologize for being so rude..."
"I'm Taichi Kamiya. But everyone who knows me calls me Tai." He stopped her apologies once again not feeling the need to make her ask for forgiveness. Politeness was something that he missed, being that people out this far from the civilized world hardly ever were anything but selfish and rude.
"Nice to meet you. You are probably looking for a place to rest your horse. She's quite a beauty." Sora smiled as she took a few steps closer to him and his horse. Yumi instantly warmed up to the stranger patting her neck and speaking in calm happy tones.
"Her name is Yumi. And yes, I am actually looking for a barn of some kind being that I don't know exactly how long I'll be here." He said scratching his head.
"Well, let's get you settled at the inn and then we'll work out housing for your horse." Sora smiled as she motioned for Tai to continue walking behind her.
After a block or so, Sora stopped in front of a large two story building. On the outside the place looked quite inviting for an older looking building.
"This place was one of the first buildings that were built in this town. Right before the gold rush came and brought all these people to California." Sora said as she walked up the three front steps. Turning around in the doorway she opened the door to let Tai inside.
Once Yumi was tied off at the hitching post, Tai walked up the steps and entered the cozy little establishment. As soon as he entered the warmth of the inside made the older exterior not matter.
"The place my not look like much, however it's cheap and it's home." Sora smiled as she walked through the entry way. "Mrs. Paterson? Mrs. Paterson are you down here?" The girl called out into the adjacent room that reminded Taichi of his family's parlor room, where they entertained guests. In the middle of the room near a large window sat an elderly woman in a rocking chair.
"Sora? Is that you sweetie?" She asked as she looked up from her knitting. "Are you home already? Mrs. Anderson didn't keep you too ling today with her laundry and seamstress work did she?"
Tai couldn't help but watch the elderly woman interact with the younger woman. The old woman with glasses and a hunch seemed like a sweet grandmother figure. And the smile on Sora's face, he felt as if he was interrupting a private matter between close family members.
"Oh, you have a visitor with you?" The old woman spoke up looking over at the other person in the room. Squinting even with thick glasses, the older woman tried to take a better look at the guest. "So I finally get to meet this boyfriend you keep talking about. What was your name again...oh yes I believe it's Matt, right dear?"
"Um... this is Taichi, Mrs. Paterson." Sora corrected the white haired woman. "Actually he was looking for a place to stay. The room across from mine was vacated just yesterday; I was going to put him up in there."
"Oh, yes go right ahead. Although I wish you would bring around that nice young man sometime. I want to meet this sweetheart of yours. You are such a sweet girl; you really should start thinking of settling down."
"Mrs. Paterson, Mr. Yamamoto and I are not courting. Please don't get the wrong idea about us." Sora corrected the elderly woman. "I have to go now. I'm sure Mr. Kamiya is tired from his long trip."
"Oh yes, I'm sorry young man. I hope you like it here, and maybe we could chat a little later." The older woman waved as Sora quickly ushered Taichi up the stairway and out of the parlor.
"I have to apologize. Mrs. Paterson is a little... a little..."
"Blunt?"
"Yes. And once she gets something into her head, it's nearly impossible to get it out. Anyway the room is right this way." Sora continued as she led Tai up the long staircase and onto the second floor. The narrow hallway right off from the top of the stairs broke off in a 'T' intersection. Along the hall were various doors leading into tenants individual rooms.
"This is it." Sora said with a smile digging into her small purse pocket for the key. Opening the door she entered before Taichi. "There's a small stove over here, so you can cook your own meals, otherwise Mrs. Paterson often cooks large meals for the tenants." She continued talks as rummaged through a box.
"Sorry that it's not cleaned up better. The last tenant left in quite a hurry... and I haven't gotten around to clearing most of his stuff out. If you need any of the things left behind, feel free to use them."
"But won't he um... want his things?" Tai asked looking at her as she handed him a box of cleaned bed sheets and various things.
"Well, even if he did, I don't think he'll come back from the grave to get these few belongings. Whatever you don't need, you can drop off in my room. It's just across the hall. I'll get around to cleaning them and getting them to people who need them. If there's anything you need, just let me know. Oh and here's the room key too."
"You sure seem to have such a busy lifestyle." Tai observed as he watched the girl before him pull the key to the room off a keychain and quickly tidy up the small room for him. "You really don't need to clean all this up. I mean it's not like this is your job or anything...
"Well, it sort of is." Sora said with a sigh. 'One might think a saloon girl makes a lot of money, but not enough to survive out here. So on top of that job, I look after this place and help out Mrs. Paterson a little. Rent's free that way." She said forcing a smile. Really all she wanted to do was sleep. Today was not her day.
"Oh, before you go. About my horse."
"Sorry, I completely forgot. Well, the rent at a nicer barn is quite expensive around here; however I happen to have a little space left over where I house my horse." She told him. "I wouldn't mind you leaving her there. It's really a safe place. And the couple that lives there are willing to feed the horses on days I can't make it there."
"That would be great. But you have to let me pay for housing her or something." Taichi offered. "I know- why don't I take you out for dinner or something tonight?" He suggested not really thinking over his request. Never before had he been so straight forward with a woman.
"That's really nice, but tonight isn't going to work. I have an appointment to keep, you see Mr. Yamamoto, Matt, as you know him is actually going to treat me to diner. But I'm sure we'll meet up some other time. And you really shouldn't trouble yourself. It's nothing, besides my horse gets a little lonely at times. I'm sure she'll like a roommate for a while."
Before Taichi could say anything more, the mysterious woman with the beautiful eyes and warm smile was out of his new room and into her own. With a sigh, Taichi set the small box of objects down and sat on the bed in the corner. The room really wasn't that bad, a little on the small side; however it was only him... only him.
For the first time since he arrived in town and met up with the auburn haired temptress, he remembered why he had ventured out this far. 'I need to get back to my reason for being here. Taichi this is no time to be thinking about anything but your revenge..."
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Walking down the stairs, Taichi reentered the parlor where he had first met the nice old lady who owned the place. Not really expecting the woman to still be in the same place two hours later, he was surprised to see her sitting looking out the window.
"Oh, Mrs. Paterson, I didn't expect you to still be here." He said after he startled them both.
"You sure know how to startle an old woman." Mrs. Paterson smiled as she laughed. "But why stand there in the door, please come in and sit down."
"Thank you ma'am, don't mind if I do." He said as he entered and sat down on the couch next to the rocking chair.
"So I hear from Sora that you're new in town." The old woman began.
"Yes, I just rode in this afternoon. I've been on the trail for a while now. And it sure is nice to get a soft bed to sleep in. By the way, have you seen Ms. Sora? Her room was locked." Taichi asked wondering if she was still around.
"Actually that young Mr. Yamamoto came around calling for her. He's such a nice young lad. She left only a few minutes before you came down. She's such a nice girl, and she works so hard here, I just wish she could settle down soon with a fine young lad." The old woman continued.
"She sure is an amazing woman." Taichi added after hearing of all the things Sora helped out with around the inn. The only thing the old woman didn't seem to realize was that Sora actually had another profession after she left the inn. Not wanting to intrude on Sora's business, he was contented to hear stories of what the beauty was like outside of her saloon life.
"She looks so good with that young Matt gentleman. I wonder why she won't take him up on all his offers to settle down. He's left her all sorts of gifts every now and then."
Taichi didn't know why the stories about Matt bothered him so much. From the moment he met the man, Taichi couldn't help but like him. Also he knew that Matt had an obsession with Sora. That was before he too met the alluring creature that was Sora. He couldn't help it. Something inside kept bothering him when she was near. It was a nice feeling, and he looked forward to it every time he talked to her.
"How about you lad? Have you ever been seeing a girl?" The old lady asked looking up at his almost day dreamy face.
"Me? Well, actually I was married." He began.
"Really? Well where is the wonderful woman you married?"
"She passed away in a horrible accident. That's sort of a reason for my traveling all this way away from the East. I needed to get away from the sadness and figure a few things out."
"Ah, I understand perfectly. It's always hard to overcome a loss in the family. That's what all three of us have in common then." The old lady mused to herself, more so then for him to hear.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, my husband and son died long time ago, and well, Sora came out here under similar circumstances. Her family died in a horrible accident as well. I'm sure if you need someone to talk too about your loss, she would be able to help you."
"Thanks, I'll remember that in case I need anything. Well I think I'm going to go on a quick walk around town." He said standing up and stretching.
"Well be careful. It sounded like there was another large bar fight over at the saloon earlier. Some one even died this time. That place should be shut down, really."
Taichi nodded as he politely excused himself from the den and decided to clear his mind. Ever since he had seen her he kept thinking of her, the auburn haired saloon girl. As much as he wanted to forget about he, there was just something that couldn't let him stop him of thinking of her.
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Sora walked down the street of town arm in arm with her blonde haired admirer. Matt was all smiles as he made small talk as he walked with the girl of his dreams. After helping back at the bar to create a believable saloon fight, Sora had agreed to let him take her out on an official date.
For the most part Sora thought Matt was a great guy. In fact if the circumstances were different, she would have even thought of taking him up on the offer of a better life as his wife. However, as it was, she was a woman on a mission.
The last attempt to find the men behind her family's killers had been nearly successful. Spending the night with the right sleaze ball could be quite beneficial, especially after she drugged the guy so much that she could easily search the apartment for clues. She was so close to finding information on the gangster's main base of operations, however the closer she got, the more dangerous it was going to be.
The incident this afternoon was proof enough of that fact.
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A/N: Ta Da! Chapter complete. Again sorry for the delay. Working hard to keep the chapters moving! Keep a look out for the next chapter of the fic! THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!!!
Ja Matta Minasan!
