Disclaimer: I do not own RK or any of the characters in it… they are property of their brilliant creators.
Chapter Two: Lunchtime at the Akabeko
Yahiko didn't stop running until he was safely within the anonymous, smothering crowds of Tokyo. Trying to catch his breath, he tried to walk normally again and succeeded within a few minutes.
He knew that he had been fortunate to escape that girl at the bridge a few minutes ago, but he couldn't help feeling disappointed. She had gotten the wallet back and that meant he'd have to steal another one to get the money he needed to pay the Shuei Yakuza, the people that he owed money to.
And to get some lunch. He had just realized as his stomach growled, that it was near noon, and with that realization he began to wonder when had been the last time he had last had a filing meal.
In too long. Far too long.
And so he began to work again.
The sun blazed above the heads of the people in the city as noon approached. The shadows shortened, fleeing the sun, and the people in the crowds did the same, trying to find a cool place to eat and relax somewhere indoors.
There was one man, however, who could've cared less.
He was the one carrying the wrapped up zanbatou, strolling through the exact same streets Yahiko walked in. The man was tall and skinny, dressed all in white, wearing a blood-red headband on his head. He had short, spiky brown hair that stuck up, and was known all in the underworld as Zanza the fighter-for-hire… but you didn't need to know his name to figure out he was a dangerous man. Regular people avoided him as he passed, and it was no wonder why… Zanza was looked intimidating. And for many of the thieves around the city, that was enough to keep them away. They didn't dare approach him, even though he was a pretty easy target, carrying a large weapon around with both hands and leaving his pockets unprotected.
Zanza himself had not expected any thieves. And when he noticed his wallet missing a few hours later, he was surprised. And angry, but there was nothing he could do about it. All he knew was that the thief, who ever it was, had to have been one brave son of a bitch to have even dared to come near him…
Piece of Cake...Yahiko thought.
Hegrinned, putting away the stolen wallet. Sure, the guy he had just robbed looked a bit… tough, but that hadn't stopped him! He was Myojin Yahiko, descendant of Tokyo samurai and he feared no one!
His stomach rumbled, reminding Myojin Yahiko, descendant of Tokyo samurai, that it was time for lunch.
Feeling a little more cheerful, Yahiko decided to go eat, and began to wander around the city in hopes of finding something to eat, his nose lead the way. He wondered whether or not he ought to save his money instead of using most of it to eat, but at that instant, he passed a restaurant that had such delicious, appetizing scents wafting out of it, that he couldn't resist. Temptation overpowered him, and he stepped inside that restaurant.
"Welcome to the Akabeko," a woman with dark brown hair stepped towards Yahiko, slightly startling him, "Would you like to try our special?"
"Special?" Yahiko asked and studied the woman a little more closely. She was a cheerful, motherly looking woman wearing a kimono with red and orange stripes (some kind of a uniform, he guessed), who had her dark brown hair in a sensible looking bun. She seemed to be the type of woman who is seldom depressed, always looking on the bright side of things.
"Beef stew," the woman said kindly, " Go find a seat, and we'll bring your food in an instant. Unless you want something else? No? Okay, then. Your meal will be ready in a little bit."
"T-thanks," Yahiko stammered, unused to her kind tone. He slowly walked into the restaurant, avoiding tables that had people already occupying them and sat himself at a small table near the back, hearing people's conversations around him, and looking around himself. There were no suspicious looking people here, and no vague Yakuza members he knew…good. He liked this place already. He relaxed and waited...
A few minutes later...
"Excuse me?" a girl's soft voice asked besides him, "Did you order the special just now?"
He looked over to the direction of the voice and was immediately swept away by what he saw.
It was a girl, wearing the same kind of uniform that the woman he had met at the entrance was wearing. She had short, dark brown hair, big dark brown eyes, and was carrying a steaming tray.
"The special," He asked, entranced, "Yeah. It was beef stew right?" Without realizing it, he turned a bright pink.
She nodded, a little flushed herself, and set the tray down.
"Here you go," she said, and gave him a shy smile before she left.
"Uh…Thanks…," he suddenly felt stupid for not saying anything more interesting.
He stared at her for a few seconds until she was gone, and at that instant the smell of the food finally reached his nose.
And then he began to chow down, shoveling every morsel down his throat.
A/N: I'm sorry you all had to wait so long for an update, and I apologize for this next long wait! I can't type anything until the after the Chrismas break, because I don't have a computer at home. This next chapter will be getting into the story…this was just a chapter before all the plot kicks in. Thank you so much Old Fiat, and Smilingcheerios for your reviews! It means a lot to me…and thank you to those who didn't review, but read it anyways! Ihope this chapter doesn't sound too rushed or confusing or anything, but I was wanting to update beforethe Break...Until next time…Ja Ne and Happy Holidays!