One foggy morning at the river was enough to make him feel so mysterious. Why did she want this? And the deeper question—why did he accept? The thin but bothering fog surrounded the two of them like carnivores circling their prey. Both of their feet were soaked in the water and they stared at each other, standing face to face in the river, with him clutching the handle of his weapon.

Meanwhile as he had his own thoughts she stood there confidently, playing with her daggers with a hand. She stared at him cockily and he returned with a smile that tells her, "I'm going to get you." Her long braided pony tail moved side to side as she swayed repeatedly, waiting for the right time to strike.

"….my leg is still injured.", he broke the silence.

"It's too late to turn back now.", she smiled. "Face me!"

He grinned cockily and tapped his injured leg repeatedly, causing the water to splash. "I didn't say I'm going to quit. I'm saying that – you will have to see the slower version of my shukuchi!"

He swiftly sprinted to the quickest pace he can ever do with his injured leg, not minding the sudden, sharp pain that almost stopped him from moving. He has not done this since his feud with Battousai, and it felt good to do it again. Water sprayed on her unscarred legs as he continued to move faster than the speed of light. She stood still, amazed by his unbelievable sudden change of speed.

A few seconds later, her legs were totally wet, beads of water rolling down to her knees. He stopped to take one innocent look at her slim lower extremities.

She smiled at him, daggers in hand, "You're impressive."

He breathed in and out, catching more air. He smiled at her comment and winked an eye. He wasn't sure if she thinks that it's her turn to attack. What he really wanted to know is, if she knew that she made such great scenery to his eyes.

He sprung again to his feet, only this time he intentionally lowered his pace to watch the water hit her body and soak her clothes. He was becoming more and more concentrated in making her soaking wet that he did not even see one of her daggers tear a slit in his pants, revealing the side of his thigh and a little part of his underwear. He paused for the second time and eyed his uncovered flesh in disbelief.

"Are you becoming exhausted? You were too damn slow that I can actually see you.", she wondered cockily. She looked at the damage she did to him with pride, and before she knew it, she was staring at his smooth thigh with a little peaking white cloth that seemed to be his underwear.

She was too busy to realize that he was actually doing the same thing. Ogling, to be exact. He was obviously happy to see her clothes hugging her body and exposed her curves. It was again another good thing that Shukuchi had benefited him. The river was really a magical place, like what she had said. With a view like this, he thought, I wont be needing the fireflies.

However, he had a hard time holding his pants together. One more sudden move from him and it will fall down. If I do Shukuchi, it would rip and expose something to this girl. But he cleared the thought anyway, confident that he will win over her. Suddenly, she dodged all the daggers in her hand which made him dunk from surprise.

Rip.

Both gasped from shock from the sound. He wished that he was dreaming to hear such a thing. Quickly, he looked at himself and almost cried at the sight of his pants falling down to his knees. But, quick like he always was, he grabbed it and held it up, leaving nothing for her to see.

"Maybe we should do this another day.", he called out, admitting defeat.

She looked at him strangely, as if there were horns growing on his head. To him, she looked disappointed that they have to settle this some other day. But what she really felt is discontent. I cant believe you lost because of your pants!

Shrugging the thought off, she walked up to him with a grin that seemed to tell him that she's looking forward to the next duel they would have. She crossed her arms and winked an eye.

I didn't know that my curves would cause you to slow down, you naughty little Tenken.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

About nine in the morning, Misao's house was strangely different. Normally, it would be noisy and rowdy as ever. That very morning, the house was quite empty and boring. Some neighbors thought that the residents of the house were still having sweet dreams in their beds. But in reality, the beds were empty, and at the living room… three close friends were whispering in circles.

"Did you see what I just saw a while ago?", Yahiko whispered furiously. "Misao came home dripping wet and Soujiro was holding his pants up!"

Sanosuke scratched his head hard. "Where could they have been?"

Kenshin did the same, except that he was thinking. "Soujiro is wanted and he couldn't go any further… they must've been at the river nearby."

"Probably. What could they have been doing there…?", Kaoru wondered uneasily.

For some reasons, the three stared at each other quietly.

"I wouldn't want to think the obvious.", Sanosuke grinned.

"Sano!", Kaoru glared.

"Yeah!", Yahiko followed. "What makes you think you have a brain?"

"Guys! Don't be like that!", Kenshin protested. He sighed before continuing, "Look. Maybe they were taking a walk by the river and then Misao misses a step, which explains why she is wet! And then she happened to grab Soujiro so suddenly by the pants, which explains why it's torn by the side!"

"That has to be it!", Sano nodded his head in content.

Suddenly Kaoru started hitting her head. "It's my fault!"

"What?"

"I told Misao that she should be taking care of Soujiro! She must've taken it too seriously…"

Yahiko clenched his fist. "The best thing to do is to find out."

All agreed. Then there was noise from the other room….

"Hey, Sou-chan! I'm going out somewhere to buy you new clothes!"

"Okay, thanks so much!"

Sano cleared his ears and strangled Yahiko repeatedly. "Did you hear that? DID YOU HEAR THAT? She called him Sou-chan!"

Kenshin rubbed his temples and gave an irritated look. "Now I'm getting suspicious!"

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

After thirty long minutes, Kaoru, Sanosuke, Yahiko and Kenshin, who are now known as the Detective Squad, were cleaning the living room and pressed their ears from time to time to hear what the Tenken was doing inside his room. Luckily, he was just humming a weird tune to himself. A few more minutes later, Misao arrived.

"I hope you like these!" were her welcome line, as what the Detective Squad had heard.

There were shuffling of bags and something that sounds like clothing for a while. The Squad remained attentive.

"Wow…", Soujiro gasped.

"Would you want me to go so you can put it on?", Misao asked.

Again, they pressed their ears harder.

"No. Stay there, I don't mind."

The Squad exchanged stares.

There was shuffling again. Kenshin was thinking about Soujiro taking off his pants. Kaoru was thinking about Misao looking at him. Yahiko and Sano were thinking of tempura.

"Oh my! I cant believe it's that long, Sou.", Misao gasped.

Kaoru tightened her grip at the broomstick. "What's long?", she asked furiously. The three men widened their eyes and shrugged their shoulders.

"No, it isn't. Take a closer look."

Kaoru was sweating.

"Oh yeah. You look so goooood, Soujiro."

"That's it, I cant tolerate this!", Kaoru screamed. She pushed the sliding door to her side, making the rest of the Detective Squad drop to the floor of Misao's room. Kaoru heard Kenshin and the others gaps, but she remained her yes shut tight. Eventually, she opened them and looked at the well- dressed Soujiro… all in RED.

His pants were red as well as his top, and he got rid of his collared shirt too, exposing his chest. He looked hot… and Misao loved it.

"What do you think, Kaoru? Does he look nice?", Misao asked, blushing.

Kaoru remained in surprise. "It's good, Misao…", Kenshin answered for her. Sano and Yahiko exchanged naughty stares ant giggled.

"Actually, I thought at first that the pants were a bit long, but I think it's just okay.", Misao said. Soujiro stared at himself from head to toe. He wondered how he switched from oh-so-innocent blue to loud-dresser red. But it's definitely better than to walk around with a slit on your pants! He justified.

"Isnt red so… provocative,", Kaoru finally spoke.

"What?", Misao asked, wondering if she heard her right.

"I mean—it's nonetheless good! Though it's a little loud."

Soujiro took a second look at himself. I look like Yumi…! He turned to Misao, who was smiling confidently at the clothes she bought for him. He sighed. You guys can call me The Devil.

"Hey, Seta!", Sano called. "You remind me of a dancer I once saw in a bar." His friends giggled at the thought.

Yeah, right. Whether I'm with the Juppon Gatana or not, I'm still a dancer! Soujiro sighed. Oh no. Don't tell me you want me to dance.

Soujiro looked at Misao, who had the biggest grin EVER.

"DANCE, SOUJIRO, DANCE!"

From the look of it, it seems he had no choice.