"It's all about the bling-bling." – Saito (Outtakes)

Jasmine: (Gah-rinning)

Chou: (Sighing) …Yer back…after one helluva cliffhanger.

Jasmine: Aww…come on! That little cliffy was nothing! Wait until you see the later chappies…tee hee…

Chou: …Feh

Jasmine: Okies! Let's see…may this pain of not owning Rurouni Kenshin cause my body to randomly and spontaneously combust, and may the ashes be thrown into a large and dirty lake! I wuff my reviewers, but where'd everyone go? I'm sad now…

To GreenEyedFloozy-chan: …I loathe you. I. LOATHE. YOU. SO WHAT IF CHOU IS TALL AND HAS BLOND HAIR? THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING AT ALL! (Goes off to write "WTUACDKS (IAHM)")

To Saitouu Ryuuji-sama: (Gah-rins) Thanks! I tried to make the last one kinda funny, 'cause this one's gonna have a bit of drama in it…Oh, and thank you muchly for the sneak-peak! But…YOU'RE MEAN! (Bursts into tears) IF SAITO DIES, THEN I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN! I think I know who it is, though…is it Okita?

To Lexi-Teniro-chan: (Evil gah-rin/gah-lint) Oh…you will find out soon enough, my partner-in-crime…tee hee…this should be fun…

To SoulCali508-san: Thank you! (Happy)

To Amanra-sama: (Wide eyes) OKAY, OKAY! HERE IT IS!

Jasmine: Okies, let's get this thing going…please review! I really want to improve…so…seriously, tell me if it sucks! (Well, not really, but you're free to criticize!) I just want to know if I can do anything better…and, I'm almost begging you here…please review me! Oh, and there's gonna be Japanese translations at the bottom of the page, 'cause I use a few in this…so…finally…on with the damned fic!

(Drama Alert! There will be slight drama in this chappie, and it will not have as much humor as the others! You have been warned!)

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What A Flamin' Spirit: Chapter Five – Past Horrors And The Evil Plot Almost Unfolds!

Ah dunno…if Ah can do it…can Ah…trust her?

Just tell her, ahou! WHO CARES IF YOU CAN TRUST HER?

"I-it's just…" Chou trailed off, nervously toying with the ripped end of his coat sleeve. Yes, his coat sleeve was very interesting at the moment. "…kinda…er…"

Tae smiled and tried to not show her disappointment. "Aww, that's kay, Sawage…er…Chou…Ah don't need ta' know if'n ya' don't feel comfert'ble tellin' meh!" She tilted her head to the side, but her lips curved down slightly. Chou felt like a complete and total baka. He blinked apologetically down at the waitress.

Kuso…now Ah've gotten the gal all sad…

…GOOD JOB, IMBECILE!

The broom-head sat in thought for a few seconds, trying to figure out a way to explain exactly why he was in Tokyo to Tae, without giving too much about his job away. Er…mebbe…Ah could try the fast approach? Like…blurting it all out at once…yeah…that should work… "W-well…ya' see…Ah'mapoliceofficer-spy-thingfromKyotoandAh'vebeensenthereta'Tokyota'takedownadrug-smugglin'ringthathasbeensetup! (Translation: Ah'm a police officer-spy-thing from Kyoto and Ah've been sent here ta' Tokyo ta' take down a drug-smugglin' ring that has been set up!")

Tae blinked in confusion. "Eh…what…was that?"

Chou sighed. GAH! So much fer the fast approach…er…mebbe…Ah should just…tell her? Ah mean…this feeling…why do Ah feel like…Ah can trust her? Dammit…why…why…do Ah want ta' tell her things…about meh? Things…that Ah've never shared with anyone! Why do Ah want her…ta' get ta' know meh? Ah've…never felt this way bafore…and Ah'm not so sure Ah like it… The broom-head sighed. It seemed that he wouldn't be able to ignore…whatever this was. Did…did he really want her to know? The damn woman…what was she doing to him? "So…ya' wanna know? Ya' really…wanna know meh? 'Cause…Ah can't say that Ah'm a very good guy…that Ah ever was a good guy…and…and as soon as ya' know what…Ah've done…ya'll hate meh…Ah can tell…and there'll beh no turnin' back…"

The waitress' eyes widened and she sat up abruptly, startling the poor broom-head, who almost yelped in surprise (once again). "Hate ya'? HATE YA'? Chou, please…Ah don't think there's anythin' ya' could say ta' make meh hate ya'!"

Chou bah-linked. "…There's…not?"

Tae flushed and swallowed hard, realizing her embarrassing mistake. "W-well…yeah! Ah m-mean…e-even though we jus' m-met 'n s-stuff…ya're a r-really nice g-guy, Ah can t-tell!"

"…Ah…am?"

The blush got worse. It turned into a bah-lush. Tee hee…poor Sekihara-chan…she resembles a tomato… "Y-yeah! And…Ah'd l-like ta' g-get ta' kn-know ya' b-better…so…" She trailed off, clasping her hands together resolutely. "Ah promise, Ah won't think any differ'nt of ya'…so…please, go on…"

"…" Chou sighed, placed his head in both of his palms, and rubbed at his temples in annoyance "Dammit, Ah dunno what yer doin' ta' meh, 'cause Ah've never told anyone this bafore…yer the first, so ya'd better listen! 'Kay? Izzat clear ta' ya'?"

The waitress gah-rinned at the broom-head happily, noticing with excitement that he was no longer blushing or stuttering! Tee hee…mebbe Ah am gettin' somewhere after all…and then there's the plot…Ah can't wait! Ah'm sooo bad… "'Kay! Perfectly!"

"Ugh…sheesh…Ah take it there's no way Ah can git outta this?"

"Tee hee…sorry, bucko, but nope!"

"Damn ya'…Ah bet yer weavin' some kind o' jumon ta' git meh ta' act this way…Ah well…here it goes, Ah sp'ose…"

There was a short silence. Chou took a deep breath, and then began to speak again.

"…Ah was born and raised in Osaka fer a while when Ah was young, prob'ly…seven-ish. Mah fam'ly was very poor, so Ah had ta' work ta' help mah parents buy us food. We had many, many, hard times…and mah father was quite the drinker…jus' couldn't stay 'way from the stuff, Ah guess. He drank away a lot o' our money…and definitely wasn't always in the best o' moods, ta' put it lightly…Ah 'member that he used ta'…beat mah mother often…he screamed at her, hit her, told her that she was a worthless piece o' shit…but he'd never touch meh. Ah haven't ta' this day figured out why…mebbe it…"

Tae listened on, eyes going wider and wider as the broom-head continued.

"…was his twisted way of sayin' that he loved meh. 'Cause…he never actually told meh he did, so…Ah jus' figured…anyways, that's off the topic. Lemme see…we lived…in an old, small, dingy buildin' near the edge o' town, 'long with a few other people. It always stank…and there was never any privacy. Ah hated it there…and…Ah hated the humiliation o' havin' ta' dress in stinkin' rags, while…the other kids got nice, clean clothes. Ah hated the fact that Ah couldn't go ta' school 'cause we couldn't afford it…and that Ah went hungry a lot…'cause, on many occasions, Ah gave mah food ta' mah mother…who…who had constantly seemed like she was gonna die at any moment, 'cause she had always been so frail…Ah just…didn't want her ta' go…and leave meh 'lone with mah father…"

"…Ah'm so sorry, Ch-"

The broom-head cut the waitress off abruptly, oblivious to the fact that she had tried to speak. He was now completely immersed in his tale…as though he wanted to get it all over with as fast as he could. "…Ah guess mah little seven-year-old mind couldn't bare the thought. Ya' see…it was us against the werld. Meh, mah father, and mah mother. That was it…we were is'lated…mah father had been disowned bah his fam'ly a while bafore he met mah mother…and Ah don't think mah mother even had any fam'ly left, 'sides us…so…that was it. Ah took most o' the 'sponsibilities, 'cause mah father sure wasn't 'bout ta'…and…Ah was so young…the werst part is, now that Ah look back at it…" Chou hesitated, swallowing hard. "…Ah...was always in constant danger. The roads Ah traveled down…without shoes, mind ya'…were riddled with thieves and bandits. Men that would sooner stab ya' and leave ya' dyin' in a ditch somewhere than lookit ya'…"

"…" Tae didn't dare say a thing…she'd never been so shocked in her life. She…didn't know whether to comfort the katana-gari…or just stay quiet.

"So…yeah…then…" There was a long pause. The former member of the Juppongatana lowered his head, staring forlornly at the ground. How many years had it been since he'd even given his past a thought? And now…saying it all out loud…he didn't want Tae to hear this! He didn't need her damned pity!

"Chou…" The waitress smiled softly at the broom-head and wiped at her eyes, surprised to find liquid there. "…Ah…never would have guessed any of this…but…if'n ya' don't want ta' go on, Ah'll understand…" She reached forward and gently touched his cheek, causing him to look up in surprise. "…We all have things that we don't want ta' talk 'bout, and Ah feel bad fer makin' ya' tell meh…"

Chou blushed furiously. Was it bad that he liked her touching him like that? Was it bad that he wanted to tell her more about himself, despite the fact that his brain was screaming at him to stop? Was it bad that he was following his heart, for once? "Ah…Ah c-can go o-on…fer a-a bit l-longer…" He…ever so slowly…brought his arm up and covered Tae's small, petite hand with his own large one. She grinned happily at him, and he went an even deeper shade of red.

"'Kay then, if'n ya' feel comfert'ble 'bout it…" The waitress didn't remove her hand. The best part…though…was that Chou didn't move it, either.

He nodded and closed his eyes, as if bracing himself for what was to come next. "…Well…durin' one horr'bly muddy season, Ah couldn't find a job…and…fer 'bout a week're so…we were complet'ly broke. We had absolutely no money…and no money means no food…so…so…and…mah mother…she seemed ta' beh wastin' 'way even as the hours went bah…Ah didn't know what ta' do…Ah felt it was mah fault, in some way, 'cause Ah was the one bringin' all the money in…and Ah couldn't even do that…"

Tae's right arm started to inch forward slightly.

"…and…w-we needed f-food badly, so…mah father…he…basically…sold meh."

Tae gasped out loud, and her advancing arm stopped. "WHAT?"

Chou smirked coldly and opened both eyes to look at her. "Ya' heard meh cerrectly. Mah father…sold meh ta' 'nother family…fer some cash. That's it. Though, we did need the food…so Ah s'pose he had his reasons…"

You're trying to avoid the inevitable…I can tell…

Shut up! Ah'll tell her! Just not yet…

"H-he…SOLD YA'?" How could a father do that? How could…he have sold his own son?

"Yup. Ah lived with that other family fer a while…never really got ta' know 'um, though…but that's a story fer 'nother time…what…what Ah really wanna tell ya'…well, not really…but Ah gotta…"

Tell her! You have to! It's now or never, bucko! She has to know…that you…

Yeah, yeah, Ah get it…Ah have ta' tell her…but that doesn't make it any easier…

Tae sniffed, and her arm started to move again. Can anyone say…surprise glomp? You bet!

"Do ya'…'member…Sh-Shishio Makoto? A-and…his…J-Juppon…Juppongatana?"

The waitress blinked. "Those crazy freaks that tried ta' take over Japan? How could Ah ferget?"

Ouch. That had to sting!

"Y-yeah…crazy…heh heh…well…er…does the name, "Sword-Hunter Chou" ring a bell ta' ya'?"

The waitress blinked and tilted her head, thinking hard. "Hmm? Sword-Hunter Chou?" Sword-Hunter Chou…Ah've heard that before…but from where? Wait a second… Tae blinked, and her eyes widened in sudden understanding. She looked at the pile of swords by Chou's side. "Y-Y-Y…Y-Ya'…ya're…"

Chou threw himself forward and clamped his hand over her mouth, stifling the scream that had been forming. "W-WAIT! Ah won't hurt ya', Ah promise! Ah haven't yet, have Ah? Don't scream…please?" He waited for her to nod her head before he slowly let go. "…Sorry fer that…it's just…ya' know…" The sword-hunter blushed and rubbed the back of his head, ashamed at what he had done.

Tae worked hard to keep her composure. One o' the Juppongatana? Jus' what have Ah gotten mahself inta? Damn…he's still hot, though…and…he hasn't hurt meh at all…so…Ah s'pose Ah can trust 'im…Ah hope Ah'm not bein' naïve…'cause this is a huge risk… "…All r-right…Ah b'lieve ya'…so…er…"

"Oh, Ah'm not part o' Shishio's Ten Swords no more, if'n that's what yer thinkin'….Ah'm actually a cop, now…heh heh…go figure…" The broom-head sweat dropped.

"A…cop? Izzat why yer in Tokyo?"

Chou sighed. "…Yup, that's it…Ah'm assigned to take down a drug-smugglin' ring, but none o' the townspeople have any leads fer meh…ya' don't happen ta' know anythin', do ya'?"

Tae was just about to answer, but stopped herself when she saw Tsubame slowly approaching the table, carrying two cups of steaming hot tea and their lunch. "Well, Ah'll have ta' get back ta' ya' on that one, Chou, 'cause here's our food!"

The sword-hunter's face visibly perked up. "F-food?" His stomach gave a huge growl. When was the last time he'd had food? It seemed like FOREVER… "Heh…and here Ah thought food was a myth! 'Kay then, lunch ferst, talk later…"

The waitress mentally grinned and rubbed her hands together eagerly. And now's the time fer mah plan…this shall beh fun indeed The evil glint that followed went unnoticed by Chou, who would soon have to face an extremely embarrassing situation that he would remember for the rest of his life…

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Jasmine: Ugh…I haven't updated in awhile…

Chou: …Good…nobody likes this fic 'nyways…

Jasmine: (Holds up Saito plushie) AT LEAST I HAVE THIS!

Chou: (Wide eyes) WHAT IN SEVEN HELLS IZZAT?

Jasmine: (Huggles it) It's my Saito plushie! Isn't he KAWAII? I got him from Samuraiduck27-sama! Now all I need is a Chou plushie, and my life shall be complete…

Chou: …(Goes off to corner and barfs)

Jasmine: (Sweat drops) ANYways, please review and tell me what you think! 'Till next time, loyal reviewers, this is Jasmine Reinier…signing off!

"People only have hope…because they cannot see Death standing behind them."

R and R!

Japanese Words:

Jumon: Magic spell
Kuso: Shit
Juppongatana: Ten Swords
Ahou: Fool/Idiot
Baka: Idiot
Katana-gari: Sword-hunter