Disclaimer: Whoo! Don't own it.
I had to re-uploadthis Chapter and the nextbecause I got Tetsu and Tatsu's name mixed up nn;;
Chapter Five
Suspicions.
Shinpachi grinned. He'd finally steered clear of the kitchen, away from Heisuke and Sanosuke, and he was finally, finally going shopping for Tetsunosuke's real present.
"They're so oblivious…" Shinpachi mumbled, grinning deviously as he turned the corner to the market place, resting his hands together. "… Hrm… What could be the perfect present for puppy boy…" Again, another devious look that meant he probably wasn't going to get him a present at all.
"Shinpachi!"
Shinpachi swung around, tilting his head to the side as he noticed a rather tired Tetsunosuke running towards him. Calm and collected, he raised his hand and waved. "What's up, Puppy Boy?"
"I was just wondering," Tetsu said, now leaning on his knees to get his breath back, "Why you've been in the kitchen all day."
Shinpachi thought for a moment. So, Tetsu was catching on… he was a very intelligent person, it appeared. Unfortunately for Tetsu, Shinpachi didn't easily let up secrets.
"Well, I'm not in there now, so I wouldn't call it all day. And I don't think I was in there from Midnight last night either…"
"You know what I mean!" Tetsu retaliated, twitching.
"Unfortunately, Puppy Boy, I haven't the slightest clue."
"WHY YOU LITTLE…!"
"God… damn… it…" Tatsunosuke muttered, gripping his head in his hands. "Ruined! It's all ruined! Now, Okita's gone and told everybody… who knows what the outcome will be!"
"What outcome? What's Okita gone and told everybody?"
"About Tetsu's Birthday of course… and I just know that something bad's going to happen because of it… wait! YOU'RE…!" Tatsu jumped backwards – even though he was sitting, which meant it was quite a feet for him.
Ryoma stared back with a rather confused look on his face. "What's up, Dragon Boy? Here I come all this way to see you, and you're all mopey, then you seem like you're not happy to see me."
"That's because I'm not happy!" Tatsu spluttered, pointing an accusing finger at Ryoma who scratched his dreads, putting his sun-glasses above his forehead.
"That's a shame. And here I thought we were friends."
"Since when! I don't recall us being friends!"
"Hrm… maybe we're more than friends…" On seeing the terrified look on Tatsu's face, Ryoma laughed. "I'm just kidding, Dragon Boy. I came to ask you where your Father's grave is – but I guess that can wait. Iron Boy's birthday, huh?"
"Like I'd disclose that information to you, anyway. And yeah, it is."
"So that's what those badly wrapped things were! I thought they were things to go out to the trash, my mistake, huh? … Dragon Boy?"
"I'm…" Tatsunosuke grabbed the heaviest book he could find, "GOING THE KILL YOU!"
"So… you were planning a feast?"
"That's right." Shinpachi said, nodding, and waving his finger accusingly. "You shouldn't be so suspicious."
"I know… but… it's hard not too, you know? Everybody… they've…"
"They've what?"
"Well the thing is they've…"
Shinpachi arched his eyebrow.
"They've… completely forgotten that today's my Birthday."
"It is?" Shinpachi said, putting on mock surprise. "Nobody told me that!"
"Nobody? You mean you didn't know?" Tetsu asked, looking up at the slightly taller man.
"Nope. Happy Birthday, Tetsunosuke."
"… Thanks."
"And, that means I have to get you a present, correct?"
"Huh?"
"Of course, seeing as you're here, you can tell me what you want."
"… Right!"
Score! Thought Shinpachi, grinning to himself, here Tetsu is, and he can instruct me on what he wants. TAKE THAT, HEISUKE, SANOSUKE!