Hello! Long time no write eh. Haha, hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and uh, I'm not here to bash about America or anything. I haven't even been there but from the news I listen and watch; America's having a tough time what with the Hurricane Katrina and Rita. So wish you the best okay!

Chapter 14: Succour

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

(Iris, Goo Goo Dolls)

"Listen. I didn't mean it that way okay? But seriously, just get another boyfriend."

"Really? I think it came out just the right way."

"Really. I really didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I'm apologising."

"Who thinks I'm going to forgive you?"

Yahiko sat up straight in his bed, wiping cold beads of perspiration that trickled down his forehead. It had happened more than a year ago and it's still haunting him. That time… Yahiko shuddered; he didn't want to think about it anymore.

As he sat on his bed, he wondered whether his parents' decision for sending him back to Japan was a good idea. He had been in America since he was 8 and he was 17 now! He came back to his homeland annually, but all his friends, his social circle; his life was still wandering around in America, amongst the Brooklyn neighbourhood, the New York life, the Manhattan Streets. He had been mover around so often it seemed as if he had attended almost all the international schools.

Looking out the window, he saw the weak sun rise in the chilly autumn skies. Trying with all its might, the sun tried to shine light on the wakening neighbourhood. Yahiko shrugged off his blanket and pulled on a clean shirt. Zipping up his sweater, he walked out of his room and down the stairs.

"Morning." Yahiko glanced at the clock. It was only 6 on a Sunday morning yet his father was up, drinking his coffee and focusing on the newspapers. Yahiko mumbled and headed towards the fridge. "Going somewhere?" Yahiko grunted his reply and pulled out a carton of milk. Screwing of the lid, he drank straight from the carton under the bemused eyes of his father. "Honey, drop that habit. You know how unhygienic it is!" Yahiko's mother chided as she tied her coat tighter around her.

Yahiko nodded and pushed the carton back. Popping two pieces of bread into the toaster, he impatiently waited for the bread to pop back up. His parents were both doctors. His father was the head psychiatrist of an ever-expanding clinic. His mother was an assistant working under the same place. They had started a joint venture first in Japan back in the nineties, and had expanded as far as the United States and even England. To oversee the whole business, the Myoujin family travelled to different parts of the continents. Due to the constant moving, Yahiko had hardly settled down anywhere.

Finally after the first 4 years, the Myoujin family settled in the uptown Manhattan. A two-storey studio apartment in the most chic of the area, they were rich. Almost every other week, his parents were invited for the most splendid parties. They had done therapy with big stars, talking about their feelings and emotions, going through with them their problems and faults, being paid about a hundred dollars every half an hour. Yahiko felt he had the rights to brag.

Yet, Yahiko's parents were probably the most down-to-earth people he knew. They had hardly cared when they were featured in news articles, they were never proud, stuck up, obnoxious doctors you read in the newspapers, they hadn't even bothered to bat an eyelid when somebody came in to interview them. All they cared was about Yahiko. They sent him to the best schools they could afford, they gave him everything he needed, they indulged in Yahiko, just a bit too much. Never having to work for anything so far, Yahiko felt that he had an almost perfect life. Almost perfect.

With the constant moving, Yahiko never had time to settle down much. With America still having racists every corner you turned, a rich Japanese was hardly acceptable. When he eventually found an international school to settle down in, Yahiko was 12. Being 12 meant having to grow up, being 12 meant that you had to go through puberty. Being 12 meant you had to hang with the cool kids. Being 12 meant that if you weren't cool by then, you would be a nobody.

Yahiko tried being poor. Or in the least, not rich. He wanted to make proper friends, not those that sapped his money dry. When he entered the international school, he had been bullied on the first day of school. Being Japanese and having a small stature had not helped at all.

Going home all bashed and bruised, with a cut lip, his parents were shocked. This was the worst brawl that Yahiko had been into. But, Yahiko persevered. Taking up kendo from a private teacher, Yahiko prepared himself for self-defence. Eventually, after 3 months of torment, Yahiko fought back, beating every single bully that had confronted him. And then, at 15, a drastic change took over Yahiko's life. He remembered that day clearly, when Yahiko actually became famous.

"Leave her alone!"

"What are you gonna do about huh? Shorty?"

"Would you like to find out?"

"As if it would hurt me." Advancing menacingly, the bulldog look-alike attacked him. Yahiko threw him off with a punch to the stomach, and a large kick to his privates; he was down for the count.

"Are you okay?"

"I could have taken care of myself. Go away."

"From the way I looked at it, you could have been raped."

"Leave me alone okay?"

After that day, they started going out. Her name was Mio. Pretty and popular, Yahiko's fame shot through the roof.

"You owe me big time."

"What? Why?"

"Hello! I have an unborn child inside of me because of you!"

"I didn't ask you to do it for me!"

"If I didn't, do you think you would have gotten out of that ridiculous gang of yours?"

"I could have endured the bashings! You didn't have to lay around with the leader right?"

"Go to hell Myoujin. You're paying for my abortion. And for all those times that I went out with you. Because you deserve it, you freak."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me! You're going to pay me until all your money run out. HA!"

"You're just a bloody leech you know that Mio. I should have seen it coming a long time ago."

"God, you are so childish. And naïve. You knew I wouldn't go out with you if you weren't rich."

"What if I didn't give you the money?"

"I tell you parents you got me pregnant."

"NO shit!"

"Pay up and nothing will happen okay? What about 250 for the abortion and 50 for the subsequent amounts? Weekly of course."

"I only get 50 a week!"

"It's mine then!"

Myoujin walked out of the house into the brightening sky. The mall wouldn't be open for another hour at least. What was he supposed to do until then? Sighing, he turned and headed back into the house. He trooped up to his room sullenly.

"I didn't kill anybody, I'm not even the father of the baby you just gave up! So why do I still have to be your boyfriend?"

"Because."

"What the hell do you mean by that? Because?"

"Yahiko, babe, I'm not rich. You know that. But I'm going to be back in Japan soon after you go. I might even go to the same school as you! So I'm just going to repeat myself one more time. You stay away from the other girls. You're my boyfriend; you're going to be the one who pays everything for me, even if I'm in another school. Do you hear that? It means all the desperate little girls out there vying for Yahiko Myoujin had better lay off. They don't, I tell your parents about your drug addiction."

"What drug addiction?"

"It's called smoking."

"I gave up already! You can't frame me!"

"Yes, I can. And I will."

"You're just like any other slut out there!"

"What?"

"Listen. I didn't mean it that way okay? But seriously, just get another boyfriend."

"Really? I think it came out just the right way."

"Really. I really didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I'm apologising."

"Who thinks I'm going to forgive you?"

Tsubame walked towards the ice cream counter. Bending down to see the wide variety, she saw a shadow loom over as she pointed at vanilla. "Two please," the voice said. It sounded very familiar.

Standing up straight, she came up to the shoulder of a young man. Looking up, she met his smirking grin and the glint of arrogance in his eyes. "Oh. You," Tsubame said, narrowing her eyes. "Yes, me. Got a problem with that?" he replied. "No. How much is that?" Tsubame turned to talk to the man behind the counter. "I'm paying for it" travelled to her ears from behind.

"What?" Tsubame spluttered, " I don't even know you!"

"Then why the kiss?" Yahiko questioned.

"I thought you looked kind of down. I've been to France and that's how they greet each other too." Tsubame shrugged off the question. Yahiko tilted his head to stare at the girl in front of him. Dressed in a white and pink polka dotted shirt, and a pair of white slacks, she was dressed casually, with just a hint of flair and cheek. She had even worn mismatched earrings, one side was that of a carrot, and the other was a turnip. "Yes?" Tsubame asked Yahiko defensively, eyeing him warily.

Yahiko took out his wallet and paid for the ice creams. Pushing the ice cream in Tsubame's hand, he sauntered off, looking randomly at the shops on his left and right. "Well, thanks anyway!" Tsubame called after him. Giving a lazy wave, Yahiko grinned and walked away.

Tsubame shook her hand to check the time on her watch. Twelve in the afternoon, she was on time. So where was Misao and Kaoru? They had promised to help her find some stuff for her upcoming project.

"SAVE THE DOLPHINS!" Tsubame yelled. Kaoru looked at her apprehensively. "You sure you want to do that for English? Save the dolphins?" Tsubame nodded her head vigorously. Enthusiastic about saving the rest of the world too, Tsubame practiced good habits. She separated the trash and recycled and re-used as much as she could. Sometimes, she went to the extent of buying organic food products so she wouldn't be 'downing harmful chemicals frequently'.

Even Misao didn't seem very excited about the idea. "I know you really want to do a super woman act, but Tsubame, you're just one seventeen year old kid. Uh… I don't know."

"It's alright if you don't want to do it with me. I'll find somebody else!" Tsubame patted her best friend's back. Heaving a sigh of relief, Misao walked over to Soujiro. Tsubame grinned at Kaoru and pushed her towards Kenshin. "It's alright. Worse comes to worse, I'll do it by myself." After a few persistent pushes and feeble explanations, Kaoru left Tsubame alone.

Tsubame sighed and looked around the room. Almost everybody had a pair. Right, off to save the dolphins! She would come up with a presentation, telling why dolphins were important to the ecosystem, how we could save them and all that. And she would make it so great she wouldn't need a partner to help. Hah! We'll see who gets the A!

Kaoru spotted Tsubame standing in the middle of the shopping centre, idly holding her half melted cup of vanilla ice cream. The transparent lurid green plastic spoon was dangling from her left hand, her eyes glazed over. She hurriedly walked over to her friend and tapped her shoulder. Tsubame started, turning to look at Kaoru. "What you do that for?" she asked accusingly. "So that those people over there would stop staring at you," Kaoru countered matter-of-factly. She pointed to a group of gawky teenagers eyeing Tsubame with earnest. Tsubame rolled her eyes and stuck the plastic spoon into the cup.

"Where's Makimachi?"

"She's coming. Said she would be a tad late. Soujiro."

"Mm, that's all she ever does now eh. Sou this, Sou that, ever since Aoshi's left already. Wonder how's he doing over there. You think they're married already?" Tsubame asked thoughtfully. Digging the plastic spoon into the soft ice cream, she stuck it into her mouth and savoured the flavour. Vanilla was brilliant, even at 12.

Kaoru didn't have a chance to answer as a flash of black and red charged at her stomach, forcing her to double over. "Misao," Kaoru groaned, clutching her stomach. Misao grinned and patted Tsubame. "Look at this! Sou bought me this skirt and it's so stretchy, I can run. Ta dah!" Tsubame laughed and linked her arms with her best friends. "Off to the shops we go! It's off to the shops we go!" She sang happily. Unbeknownst to the trio, a man watched them from where he sat.

"You know, if I use blue for the sea, and the dolphins are blue, then would they be able to tell? Even with the huge poster and everything…" Tsubame asked Kaoru. Kaoru held the bottle of glitter in her hand. "What if you used green for the sea?"

"Then it'll look like a patch of grass."

"Blue sea, grey dolphins?"

"Ick."

"MISAO! Help!"

"You know, I could actually use pink dolphins."

"Ugh! Don't try that Tsubame."

"Fine. Help then! You're just sending texts to your beloved Sou!"

"Okay, why must you have a sea then?"

"Because dolphins come from the sea!" Tsubame cried out despairingly. This was not helping at all. Misao protested almost immediately, "You don't draw squids in the sea do you? You draw them as cute little pictures you see on the Internet!"

"Fine then. I'll just take blue and white glitter to make a dolphin. Happy?" Tsubame replied huffily. Misao nodded her head and took a bottle of pink and silver glitter. "And you can make stars with these to show how much you should like dolphins!" Tsubame took the bottle and placed them in the basket. Kaoru looked up from the bottle of white glue she was holding in her hand. "Here, take this. It's extra adhesive." She tossed the bottle into the basket, making Tsubame drop the basket on the floor, as she crashed into someone behind her.

"Ah! Sorry about that!" Tsubame turned and bowed hastily.

"It's okay. Oh you again." A voice replied.

"Are you following me?" Tsubame asked Yahiko suspiciously.

"Why would I? You're as ugly as the raccoon over there!" Yahiko smirked and tilted his head towards Kaoru. Kaoru instinctively picked up a pair of scissors and threw it the Yahiko. Yahiko deftly caught it in his hand and twirled it casually. "My, my, what a temper. Be careful, cousin. You could have gotten me hurt."

Tsubame snatched the scissors from him and almost yelled, " Leave her alone you spoilt child! Your behaviour is despicable. Get out of my sight!" Yahiko looked at her apprehensively. This girl meant what she said. From the way she stood and held the scissors like a dagger, she looked as if she was going to force it into his heart. Putting up his hands in mock retreat, Yahiko backed off and disappeared into the crowd.

Tsubame scowled at his retreating figure and tugged at a brown bear on the shelves. Maniacally, she twisted the bear's arms and legs, warping its face and squeezing its stomach. "This. This is what I want to do to that idiot. That. That, thing!" Tsubame said through clenched teeth. Kaoru wrenches the bear out of Tsubame's hands and placed it back on the shelves. "It's okay, really, I'm pretty much used to it. Don't worry yourself, it's seriously alright," Kaoru said comfortingly, patting Tsubame's shoulders.

"Whatever. That idiot is going to pay."

"Hey, miss. Do you have a minute to spare? I would like to ask a few survey questions." A man approached Tsubame. The three had left the store and Tsubame was waiting outside the toilets in the corridor, waiting for the other two to come out. In her right hand, she held a brown paper bag full of art supplies, and in the other, she held a drink. Starting at the questions, Tsubame looked up at the man and smiled, "Sure."

"So, what's your name?"

"Tsubame."

"Okay, do you have friends with you now? How many?"

"Oh, yeah, I do. They're both in the toilet."

"Okay." Tsubame watched as the man scribble something eligible on the board. "How old are you miss?"

"Seventeen."

"Good age." The man murmured. Suddenly, he moved closer towards Tsubame. Backing off a little, Tsubame put up a strong front. Was this guy a rapist? Murderer? Robber? Oh no! Weren't they announcing on the news last night there was a robber on the loose? Instinctively, Tsubame grabbed her paper bag tightly around her chest. Her drink lay on the floor forgotten.

"So, babe, what about you handing over the cash in your bag and call it quits eh? Or would you prefer handing something else over? What about your clothes?" The man leered.

"I'm warning you, stay away from me… I scream and my friends would come out immediately," Tsubame said, hoping that her voice sounded stronger than she felt. The man pulled out a key from his pocket and locked the toilet door. "Well, well, seems like there's nobody who can help you know huh? Scream all you want, I'll cut your throat," The man loomed over her dangerously, a sharp knife in his right hand. "Get away from me!" Tsubame yelled. She heard frantic knocks from the toilet.

"Tsubame! Is that you? Shit, I can't get this open. Tsubame! Hold on! Misao will get us out of here!" She heard muffled noises coming from behind the door. "I told you," the man sneered, "now, do as I tell you, and I'll leave you alone. What about taking off that shirt of yours? Or that pair of slacks huh?"

Tsubame clutched the brown paper bag even tighter, fear in her eyes. This couldn't be happening, it's all a bad dream, and I'll get up any moment now. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again, yet the same scene played out in front of her. The man grabbed her shoulder and tightened his grip, his foul breath lingering in the stale air. "So you just want to play hard to get huh? Drop the bag man." He wrenched the brown paper bag out of her hands, spilling the entire contents on the floor. The pounding on the door became more frantic. Looking over the man's shoulder, Tsubame couldn't see anybody walking down the corridor. Her voice refused to co-operate with her. Her throat was dry like sandpaper, her heartbeat increased ten fold every second. Tsubame closed her eyes, defenceless.

Just as the man wanted to rip her shirt off her, a strong arm grabbed it and a familiar voice said dangerously, "Touch her, and you'll pay." Tsubame opened her eyes gingerly to find Yahiko standing half in between her and the man. "Myoujin…" She said faintly. "All under control Sanzou. Stay out of this." Was his reply.

"Wench!" The man yelled and ran blindly at Yahiko. Deftly, Yahiko caught the knife and tossed it aside. "Whoa…hold your horses cowboy, we'll get you to the sheriff right away," Yahiko joked. As the man tried to pull a punch at Yahiko's stomach, Yahiko dodged nimbly and grabbed Tsubame's hand, half throwing her out of the way. "Get out before you get hurt!" He yelled. Yet, Tsubame, thrown onto the floor, stayed rooted to the spot, watching Yahiko fight her battle.

Just then, Yahiko's phone rang, piercing the quiet corridor. Cursing under his breath, he dodged another blow and pulled it out from his pocket. Jamming it between his chin and shoulder he snapped, "What?"

"Myoujin! What's happening!"

"Ah, it's you cousin. I didn't know you had my number. What do you want? I'm kind of in a tussle right now." Yahiko kicked the man's shin, causing him to swear colourfully. "Ah!" Yahiko cried out as the man picked up his fallen knife, slashing at Yahiko's arm. Jumping to the side, he threw a bottle of white glue at the man's face, hitting its target accurately.

"What's happening to Tsubame? Is she okay?" Kaoru cried out in despair.

"I'm fine, thank you," Yahiko replied irritated, "And she's fine too. Except she looks uh…mute. You sure she can talk? She's just staring into space. You should get a doctor to see her. Traumatic, I say. Anyway, have to go! Busy, busy me! " With that, Yahiko hung up and tossed the phone to Tsubame. "Keep it for now," he said shortly.

After a few moments, Yahiko had beaten the man up. He too had sustained a few injuries besides the one the man had given to him earlier with the knife. Wiping the blood carelessly on his white shirt, he pulled Tsubame up. Giving her the key, he gave a wan smile at her and walked away.

Just as he was about to leave, Tsubame grabbed his hand and gave him a small tug. "Thank you, thank you very much," she said softly, tears welling up in her eyes. Yahiko shrugged and replied, "Going to get the guards. If the man gets up, throw the glue pot at him. It'll knock him out till the guards come. By the way, you really should get your friends out of there."

Tsubame stared numbly at her hands. She had almost been raped. She, Sanzou Tsubame was almost raped. And she had been saved; by the most annoying brat she had known her entire life. Unlocking the toilet door, a group of anxious women left, leaving her two best friends behind. Looking at their faces, Tsubame burst out in tears. Misao and Kaoru lunged at Tsubame, letting her tears pelt down on their shirts. From behind them, Yahiko smiled wistfully, before letting the guards in.

"This is the six o'clock news, and I am Aki Yamato. Breaking news: a young man in a shopping centre has finally caught the rapist that the police have been trying to nail for the past few months. Let's zoom in on the action with Kai Koto, with the note-worthy saviour."

"Good evening viewers, this is Kai Koto with our defender of society. He just saved a young lady from being raped in one of the toilets of a shopping centre. Delivering a few blows, he had knocked out the guy by the time the security guards had arrived. Only just arriving back from America, Mr Myoujin Yahiko has single headedly taken down a serial rapist. What do you have to say for yourself young man?"

"Uh… Nothing actually, just that, we should play our part in society and I was just protecting one of my friends, that's all."

Kenshin who was watching the news and slurping his ramen almost puked when he saw Myoujin Yahiko on the news.

Yay! Are you guys not happy! I kind of rushed through this part a bit, and sorry if it's a bit messy here and there. But please do read it carefully because some parts will be quite important in the next chapter yeah. Review if you want to :D Ming.