"They get shot. What are you doing with that scarf over your face?" The scraggly headed kid asked, running a hand over her cheek.
"I can't tell ya, kid. Hey, What do you say we get something to eat, you look hungry." She said, pushing the scarf up so that the boy could see her eyes.
"Okay!" The boy said, grinning. "No problem." He led her toward the nearest cafe.
"Let's go downtown to eat. I'll spring for a cab." She said, whistling.
"Cool!" She knew that Kuriko rarely rode in anything but a transport tram.
"Fifth and Main." She said in english, adding an irish lilt to her voice.
The driver nodded and drove, putting up the privacy sheild.
"He's probably doubling the fee." Kaoru (Happy now?) said to the little brown headed boy.
"Yeah." Kuriko said, kicking the seat.
When the cab stopped, the driver turned. "Fifteen, International." He said, a gluttonous glint in his eyes.
She flashed a badge at him. "The wheel says Three, International. I suggest you stop overpricing your foreign customers, baka." She added in japaneese.
His eyes widened and as soon as she and Kuriko were out he sped off. Before she could pay him.
Laughing, she shook her head and led the way to one of the foreigner restaurants.
"Hola, Como estas?" She was asked by the greeter.
"Bien. En Englas, por favor." She returned the greeting. "and you?" She asked.
"Great. Have a nice time, miss." The greeter said, grinning.
"Come on, Kuriko. What do you want to eat. you can have anything you like." She said, watching the boy's eyes light up.
"Do i still get paid?" He asked, eyeing her warily.
"Of course. i just feel like splurging a bit. Eat up." She said, grinning.
Kenshin stared after her as she leapt from car to car. Stunned, he watched her until the car turned out of his sight.
Growling, he smashed the remote in his hand. Knowing that she would kill anyone that she didn't know right now.
"Damnit." He cursed.
"What happened?" Sanouske yelled into his earpiece.
"She's gone. Did you know she could car hop? Kuso. she's hurt, bad." He said, looking down at the spatters of blood on the rooftop. She hadn't even been on the rooftop long enough for that, and this was fresh.
"I might know where she is. Meet me in ruffian row market." sanouske said through the earpiece before it went dead.
Kenshin sighed, looked around him. He saw that the rooftops nearest to the building he was on were jumpable from here. Shrugging, he ran and lept from the ledge onto the nearest rooftop, rolling with the momentum. He jumped up and lept the open space between this new building and the next.
Soon, he reached the marketplace. Staring around, he saw sanouske's large form towering over the crowd.
"Sanouske." He yelled, catching the big man's attention.
"Come on, Kenshin. It's over here." He said, nodding toward the medicine shop.
Kenshin followed sanouske into the shop, watching the startled reactions from the old couple manning the store.
"Sagara!" The old woman said, grinning.
"Kaede-baba!" Sanouske said loudly, giving the old woman a bear hug.
"Who is this fine young man?" She asked, looking at kenshin sideways.
"This is Kenshin. Kenshin, this is Kaoru's grandmother Kaede-dono, and Sauske-sama." Sanouske introduced them.
"Konnichiwa." Kenshin said, his voice high and uneasy.
"You are looking for Kaoru, ne?" She asked them.
"Hai. is she here?" Sanouske asked, looking around.
"She's on bed rest in her apartment. I'll take you." Kaede said, walking to the back of the shop. Opening a door that they didn't see until it opened, she led them up a dank flight of stairs to a landing with a closed door at the top.
Opening it with a key she produced from her pocket, she let them in.
Staring at his surroundings, Kenshin was surprised.
White curtains blew from an open window, Flowered wallpaper and shelves covered the walls. On the shelves were various baubles and weapons. On the bedside table was a small reading lamp, a book, and a pair of reading glasses. A note was folded on one black pillow. It was addressed to Kaede.
Kenshin took the note and read it.
Kaede-baba.
I can't let you or grandpa get into any danger. I'll be back in a few days. I'm sorry.
Kaoru.
"Damnit." Kenshin cursed, tossing the note at Sanouske.
He stormed out of the room, out of the shop and into the street. She could be anywhere by now.
Told you i'd have updates.
Blah. -me.
