Wow, thanks for coming back. I haven't had this feeling of a story racing through my head for a long time, I'm glad to have it back. This is also the next time in a while that I'm writing a simple funny story, after writing serious and angst. I'm happy to be back in my element. 8 ) Sorry, rather dialogue-intensive.

……………………………………

Tsubame found it hard to sleep that night. She kept rehearsing the events of that afternoon in her head, remembering every bit and piece that she could of the mysterious but sweet young man who came to her rescue. She kept thinking about his smooth hair, his sad dark eyes, his unusual smile.

She found it hard to not think about him the next day either. She kept glancing at the door all day, checking if he suddenly entered the Akabeko for that meeting he promised. She was in the business for too long to make crucial mistakes, but still Tae noticed how she mixed up orders and forgot about others. Whenever she was free, she also looked through the restaurant's windows to check if he was just nearby. But when asked what she was looking for, she only grinned and said, "Nothing important."

She did this for the next three days. She knew for certain, absolute sure, that she saw him every day of those three days. He would pace around the Akabeko for a few moments, ask a few bystanders a few things, then disappear. Then she would see him again, either hiding at a corner, or standing behind a store post. He would disappear, then appear again.

"Tsubame-chan, how can you be manager of the Akabeko when your head is always in the clouds?" Tae wagged a finger at her as she scolded with dancing eyes. Tsubame was now helping Tae out a lot with the managerial work of the restaurant, and she was already being considered to take over the entire management. But not right now, with Tsubame so in the air.

"Sorry, Tae-nee-san," she lowered her head, then looked out the window again. "But don't you think it's odd?"

"What is?" Tae asked.

"It's odd," she said, and pointed to a corner. "See, over there? It's Jiro-san. I've been seeing him stand there and watch us, sometimes for a long time."

Tae did take a peek, but could not see what she was pointing at. Considering that Tae was one of the sharpest eyes in town as one of its matchmakers, two things could be concluded. This Jiro-san was REALLY good at keeping hidden, and Tsubame truly was quite crazy over this Jiro-san.

When Tsubame told Yahiko the same thing, he sat up and paid attention. "Details, Tsubame. Height, build, looks. I'll get that bastard. How DARE he stalk you………"

"No, no, Yahiko-kun!" she said. "He isn't stalking me! At least I don't think so……….."

"For how long now?" he asked.

"The past three days, more or less," she answered.

"And you don't call that stalking!" Yahiko slapped his forehead and shook his head at her.

In the meantime, Tae gave her the usual information from near and far.

"Seta Soujirou. 24 years old. Currently working as a courier and messenger. For whom, nobody really knows. People say he's the fastest and most reliable courier they've seen in years. Lives alone at an outhouse not far from the market. Came to live there, hm…………since about last month. He told someone that he's a native of Kyoto. And that's pretty much what people know."

Not bad at all. Nothing special, but nothing wrong with it either. He wasn't rich and spoiled, that's for certain, and she was glad to know that. Nor was he poor and lazy, and that was good, too.

"By the way, Tsubame-chan, about Seta-san," Tae said as she pointed outside, "you better start inviting your stalker over for dinner soon. It's such a pity if he just stands there and just looks at the Akabeko, don't you think?"

Tae was right about that, Tsubame mused. He did not seem to be the kind to be scared of people, so she did not understand his hesitation. She saw him disappear from a corner, but he did not seem to leave the corner. She decided to take a little action.

"Se……….I mean, Jiro-san!" she called out, softly at first, and called out again, just a little more loudly, as she waved. He finally appeared from behind the corner. She crossed the street, and came close to him. "Um, um, Jiro-san…………I am sorry…………I have to ask…………why are you, why are you…………why have you been watching from here?"

The young man cocked his head and gave a weirdly happy smile. "Have I scared you? Oh, so sorry. It's something I learned to do when I was younger. I was just trying to assess the movement patterns around your restaurant, and the frequency of certain visitors………" He stopped when he noticed Tsubame scratching her head. "Sorry. It was stuff I did as a right-hand man and errand boy years ago."

She was unconvinced. This was the weirdest explanation she had heard yet for stalking. "Who would actually ask you to spy on people?"

He bowed his head, and a sad smile replaced the happy one. "You would not want to know. He's dead now, anyway."

"I'm sorry," she quickly said.

"Don't be, Tsubame-san. It's better for Japan that way. But thank you all the same. He was a good man at heart."

She was still not completely convinced, but at least she knew now he was not planning anything malicious. She wrung her hands, and asked him, "This must be really up front of me, but would you like to have some dinner? At least, before you walk home………"

"It would be a pleasure," he said as they crossed the street. "But, what about Myoujin-san?"

"Yahiko?" He already knew about Yahiko?

He nodded. "Would he not be mad at you?"

She giggled. "Don't worry. A little jealousy won't hurt Yahiko-kun!"

He laughed a little bit with her as they walked inside.

Tae made a few short introductions with Tae, led him to a table, then went to the kitchen to ready rice and vegetables. But when Tae understood who the special guest was, she dragged the young lady back to the table with the young man. "He's your guest, Tsubame-chan, so act like a good host!" she said happily. Tsubame blushed but gladly sat opposite Jiro. "It's on the house, sir!" Tae smiled her patented customer smile with the extra twinkle in her eyes. "What will you have?"

"Any kind of sushi, thank you," he bowed and answered.

"What a nice young man! He doesn't ask for much, too!" Tae commended aloud. "Wait for a few minutes while I have them prepared, alright?" He nodded, and she disappeared into the kitchen.

Now that she had him all to herself……Tsubame did not know what to do next. It was always so easy to talk to Yahiko, so dinners with him never felt like dates. As for the dinners with all those other young men – she was just being polite. She never liked those dinners. But then all the other dinners started with discussion of simple things………like………like………..

"Please, let us not talk about the weather, Tsubame-san………." He said with a happy grin.

"Yes," she agreed without looking at him. But if not the weather…………

"How is Himura-san?" he began, and she sighed with relief. "I guess that's a benign topic, do you agree?"

"He's alright," she said. "He teaches at the precinct and takes care of the advanced students that Kaoru-san has. Kaoru-san still whacks him every once in a while, but he is the man of the household. Kenji gives them a hard time most days. He is probably confused why his father lets his mother whack him on the head sometimes." She then stopped. "But why are you asking, Jiro-san?"

"I just wanted to know," he said, as he kept the odd grin.

"How do you know him?" she asked.

"Do you really want to know?" The smile lessened a bit.

"Yes."

He took a deep breath, then sighed. "I met Himura-san when I was 16. To explain the circumstances of the meeting would take a lot of time, so I will not elaborate. Suffice to say, he knocked sense into me, and changed my life, I think for the better. I've been trying to live up to most of his ideals since then. It's been working for me, I'm happy to say." He suddenly looked up with a happy grin. "But enough about that. How long have you been a waitress here, Tsubame-san?"

And the two went on to discuss about their current jobs, both the good and the bad days. They sympathized with each other as they related childhoods without real parents, and compared stories of life with surrogate parents. They even talked about the kind of customers they frequently met in their individual jobs. She was surprised at how much she told him, and from the way he looked, she could guess he was finding it unbelievable how much information he divulged as well.

Tae thoroughly enjoyed the view from the kitchen. Tsubame was having a good time with the young man, a young man who was not Yahiko. She seldom saw her light up and really talk for long with anyone, so this was a very good development. And she too began to like the demeanor of the elegant young man. Her mind was made up while the two said their farewells after dinner, both with red, warm cheeks. As soon as Jiro was safely out the door, Tae pulled her aside and complimented her, giggling like a happy teenager.

"I never thought I would say this, Tsubame-chan," Tae began, "but after what I have seen today, and after years of waiting………….I'm positive! He's the one!"

"What!" Tsubame exclaimed.

"You heard what I said!" Tae now had the sparkle of the well-trained matchmaker. "I'm doing everything I can to make this work!"

"But what about Yahiko………."

"I've tried to get him to propose for months, and nothing happened. Maybe Jiro-kun might be more sensible!"

"But, Tae-nee-san…….."

"You like Jiro-kun, don't you?"

Tsubame could only nod.

"Then I'll make it happen," she said, and winked.

………………………………

I know there is controversy on Jiro-kun's age. I'm sticking to it being 16 at the time of the Soujirou-Kenshin fight. So add 8 years, he's now 24. I'm glad for the chance to see the Soujirou-Kenshin fight in Japanese around the time I made this chapter. And I swear, Kenshin is a very good psychiatrist. Btw, what Sou-chan essentially has is a very long use of repression, a psychological defense mechanism, and not a clear psychological problem with a name and category. 8 )

I apologize if this chapter is short, but I think I have nothing much else to say for this chapter. The next chapter will probably be longer. The next one might take a while, because it's finals season already. Thanks in advance for being patient. Thank you for the reviews! Suggestions and comments are really welcome, because they'll improve the story.

Cat H – Thanks for the brainstorming session, and thanks for the useful suggestions! I'll try to remember them. I'm glad you liked the 'Jiro' bit. Moi – Yeah, I also see S/M many times in the RK section, and I've liked it for the most part. Thanks for saying this hasn't been done before. I hope I do justice to this. Junyortrakr – Thanks much. Yup, Yahiko doesn't stand a chance! WhiteRabbit5 – Thanks a lot, especially that part about Yahiko-kun and –chan. Chikifriend – Thanks much. I thought you'd only read my KK fics. 8 ) Wow, thanks for thinking 'Jiro' is sexy! Thanks about peeling me off the wall, but I need to think my way through the story, too, that's the big problem. Shihali – Thanks for the assurance, and you can borrow Jiro, no problem. 8 ) PraiseDivineMercy – Hey! Thanks for coming back, and thanks for waiting! Pnaixrose – Which pairing wins? I don't know yet! Thanks for reading!