I'm really enjoying the free flow of this story. It hasn't happened in a while for me. Thanks for coming back. By the way, as you probably notice by now, in this story SeisouHen did not happen, and never will. I calculate that Tae would now be about 30, so I took pity on her……………The things I can do when I should be studying………….

………………………

It was the best part of Tsubame's day. Sometimes it was in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, and sometimes just before her work ended. But no matter what time it was, it never failed to cheer her up, and make the day better.

The door of the Akabeko slid open smoothly, and the young man, dressed mostly in blue, stepped in. "Anou, is Tsubame-san around, please?"

Tsubame finished serving tea, excused herself, and approached the young man. "Hello, Jiro-san."

"Just passing by," he then said, and took out a stick with four octopus balls from behind him. "I found this little stall with really good octopus balls. Here, I bought you some to try," as he presented her with the stick.

The young man then stood quietly but resolutely for a few moments, and waited for the young lady to bite into the treat. She did, and savored the tender filling and the sweet ball around it. "It IS really good, thank you very much," she beamed at him, as she finished the octopus balls.

"I'm glad you liked it," he returned a very happy grin. "Well, I must be off now. Have a nice day, Tsubame-san."

"You, too, Jiro-san," she bowed at the door as he walked away.

Tsubame never knew how he managed it, but he always seemed to know what little treats she would like. Once it was sponge cake, the best kind, from a store at the far end of town. Another time it was her favorite kind of bread from the bakery. Maybe he had asked Tae, maybe she happened to like the same things he did. In any case, she appreciated the gesture, and she liked seeing him every day.

Toward the end of the second week of their acquaintance, Tsubame noticed that Jiro not only visited during the day, but also in the evening, around the time the Akabeko cleaned up after the day's work. He did not always have something then, and he did not ask to be fed. They just talked about the day, as he helped with the heavier work, without being asked.

She always thanked him afterward. "With Yahiko busy now with the dojo, he can't help around here as much as before."

"Does Myoujin-san already know about me?" he asked with some concern.

"Of course, he does," Tsubame answered. "But don't worry about it, alright?"

Of course Yahiko knew about Jiro. In the last two weeks, he had heard nothing else.

Both whispers and loud gossiping had been done about it, both in his presence and in his perceived absence. A young man had been recently seen visiting the Akabeko often, and meeting with one of the most elusive young women in town. The young lady seemed to like this young man, welcoming his advances. Most people knew the young man only as Jiro, and Jiro was generally liked by those who had met him. Not less than 10 young ladies envied the Akabeko's pretty waitress for being chosen by their object of affection. Thus, most people wanted to know: what did Yahiko plan to do about it?

Tsubame herself peppered Yahiko with little stories about Jiro this, Jiro that. How he came almost every day of the last two weeks. How he would bring her a little something every time he came, usually a small sweet treat. How he and she would talk about almost everything. It was really, REALLY, getting on his nerves already.

But if Yahiko, or anyone, asked Tsubame what was her relationship with Jiro, she would merely give the universal denial: "We are just friends, that is all."

"What is it about Jiro that you like so much, anyway?" Yahiko finally asked in exasperation.

"For one thing, he doesn't force me to talk," she explained with a little blush. "It's alright with him if I keep quiet sometimes. I also like it that he doesn't force himself to keep a conversation going. It's nice, really."

"Hey, I can do that, too, you know!" Yahiko sulked.

"No, that's not necessary, Yahiko. It's great how you talk and talk about things that are going on all around town. And you don't force me to talk, either. I just like it that Jiro-san, well, is not like any of the other young men in town. Nice and sweet. Very considerate. Handsome, too."

"In short, Jiro is just perfect," Yahiko sighed and concluded.

"Almost," she made a shy smile.

Poor Yahiko had also seen some of those meetings between Tsubame and the mysterious but friendly Jiro. There had been several times when he chose to pass by the Akabeko, but saw Tsubame talking with a young man with flat smooth hair. The young man had a peculiar smile, sad and secretive and cheerful all at once. She seemed to really enjoy these meetings, much to his dismay. He walked past the Akabeko, without her noticing.

He was seeing the only girl he had really liked in his life…………slowly deserting him. He did not know what to think. He did not know if he should already be concerned. He started to doubt, what Tsubame felt about him. He thought, for years, he already knew.

He was still feeling the sting, alone in his head, while he ate with the Himuras one afternoon. Worse, Tae piled on the pain, giving Kaoru the usual weekly gossip, mostly about Tsubame's Jiro. Tsubame served the tea and kept the hotpot filled as the old friends chatted, and kept glancing at Yahiko's worried face.

"Tsubame looks really pretty, don't you think, Uncle Yahiko?" Kenji nudged Yahiko, the way the grownups were wont to do.

"Doesn't she always?" he tousled the boy's hair and gave Tsubame a teasing grin.

Tsubame breathed a little more easily after that.

"She's looking pretty for the messenger man!" Kenji then stuffed his mouth with sukiyaki.

"You, too, Kenji?" Yahiko slunk a little deeper into the table. Tsubame stopped breathing again, and returned to the kitchen for some air.

Tae did not notice Yahiko's anguish as she picked up from the little boy's comment. "Yes, she is, Kenji-kun." She then faced the adults again and continued. "Jiro-kun has been visiting the Akabeko pretty often, as you might have heard. He's a really helpful young man, and very kind. That's why I don't mind him coming over. Really, what is there not to like about him?"

"That is good to hear," Kenshin interjected as Yahiko's face fell even more. "But you have not told us what he looks like, this Jiro."

Tae gave it some thought. "Well, he looks handsome enough, but it is not his face that you immediately notice." She paused for dramatic effect. "It's the smile."

"Huh?" Kaoru raised her brows as she wiped Kenji's face.

"He has this disarming smile, which could melt any girl's heart. The problem is, I can seldom tell what his happy smile means at any given time."

"That sounds a lot like someone I used to know………" Kenshin commented.

"But nowadays, the more he talks to Tsubame, it seems that the smile is now starting to have meaning."

Kenshin nodded. "I'm glad to know that."

Tae gave him a weird look. "Strange that you should say so, if you haven't met Jiro-kun, Kenshin,"

"I think I might have…………" he answered. "People with that description are hard to forget."

The Akabeko door opened.

"Anou, I am looking for Tsubame-san….."

"Just in time, Jiro-kun!" Tae greeted, and pulled him in. "We were just talking about you. It's about time you met Tsubame's other friends."

Tsubame also came over as she heard the usual opening line. But surrounded by friends, and seen by Yahiko, she settled with smiling at Jiro, then waiting for what happened next, as she kept looking at his dark eyes. The young man's eyes, however, were quickly moving from Tsubame, Myoujin-san, and the familiar redhead among the group Tae pulled him into. The poor young man did not know who to address first.

Tae cleared her throat, and ended the deadlock. "Friends, allow to me introduce………"

"Seta Soujirou," Kenshin said slowly, his face showing glad surprise. Kaoru looked at her husband, wondering where he had met the young man.

Yahiko was first indifferent to the guest…………but the guest's appearance was oddly familiar………

"It is good to see you again, Himura Ba..., I mean, Himura-san," Jiro smiled and bowed to Kenshin.

That weird smile. NOW Yahiko knew who the person was. It was him!

Kenshin was about to begin the niceties and inquiries about the last few years, when suddenly he noticed Yahiko fuming and readying a fist.

"So you're the one…………" Yahiko snarled, and stood. "That………that stalker!"

"Yahiko! You just met the man!" Kaoru scolded.

"Shut up, old hag! This is the man who has been stalking Tsubame! And getting all cozy with her!" Yahiko drew up his full height, and looked down at Jiro, a few inches shorter.

"My, my, what strong accusations, Myoujin-san!" Jiro smiled wide, quite disarming the startled Yahiko. "Let me assure you that my friendship with her is true and sincere. I have no plans to hurt her, like you."

Yahiko hmphed, turned his back on him, then he faced him again and growled. "I don't know what kind of spell you placed on her, but I won't give her up to you!"

The smile was still innocent. "I only want to be her friend, Myoujin-san. If she wants it to be more than that, that is for her to decide, yes?"

He said it so calmly that Yahiko was infuriated even more. He drew out his fists and charged forward, but Kenshin placed himself in between the two young men. "Yahiko! You will stop this right now! You do not know what this man can do!"

Yahiko pulled back, warned by the redhead's stern face. "Fine, I won't bother you," he grumbled. "But if I hear that you made her cry, I SWEAR I'll kill you!"

"And you will hear from me if you ever mistreat Tsubame-san," Jiro's eyes blazed as he kept his little grin.

"Gentlemen!" Kenshin repeated.

"If it is alright with you, Himura-san, I must pay your household a visit some time, especially, when HE is not around……..would that be alright?" Jiro asked.

"Of course!" Kenshin gave his own non-committing happy grin to the young man.

"Then, I must be going," he bowed to the group and to Tsubame. "Iam glad to know you all." He placed a small paper box in Tsubame's hands, then exited, closing the restaurant door behind him.

As soon as he was gone, Kenshin gave Yahiko a serious gaze. "Never, never, do that again."

"Why? Why should I be afraid of that little twerp?" Yahiko asked, slouched again with his back to the wall of their booth.

"Because that 'little twerp', as you say, is capable of murder, clean and swift. Even if he has changed, it is best to remember that."

"But Ken..."

"No buts, Yahiko. Do not rouse his anger again."

Tsubame looked down at the little box, then looked earnestly at Kenshin. "Is it true, Himura-san? About Jiro-san?" Yahiko looked at him as well, and waited for his answer.

Kenshin lowered his head, and took a deep breath. "What I have said is true……...but I will say nothing more. If you want an explanation, Tsubame-chan, get it from Soujirou himself. It is his past, so let him tell it." He faced Yahiko. "I will repeat. What I have said so far IS true, so be careful, Yahiko."

"Sure, sure," Yahiko rolled his eyes and waved it off. Kenshin only shook his head.

But Yahiko was not off the hook yet. Tsubame moved in and cleared some of the dishes off their table. She refused to look at Yahiko. "You were very rude to Jiro-san, Yahiko," she said.

"So? You said yourself that you two are 'just friends', right?" Yahiko smirked.

"You were very rude to my friend," she said, and returned to the kitchen without a second glance back.

"She's right, Yahiko," Kaoru added. "Go apologize."

Yahiko went to the kitchen, dragging his feet. He found Tsubame soaping the dishes with clenched teeth. "Look, Tsubame, I'm really sorry for what I did back there. I promise it won't happen again."

She continued washing the dishes.

"I won't do it ever again, alright, Tsubame?" he pleaded. Still he was ignored.

"It's pointless to keep trying, Yahiko," Tae came beside him and said. "She only washes dishes when she's really angry."

"I screwed up, didn't I, Tae?" Yahiko asked with a sigh.

"Yes, you did," she said.

………………………………

"Alright, Himura-san," Kaoru tugged at his sleeve, alone with her husband on the dojo's front porch. "What do you know about this new guy that we don't?"

Kenshin looked straight ahead. "Kaoru, do you remember Sano's stories years ago, about what happened to us at Mount Hiei?"

"Which ones?"

"Did he tell you stories about a Tenken no Soujirou?"

"Let's see…………he was a boy you fought, right?"

Kenshin nodded.

"The last one, before Shishio himself, if I'm not mistaken. He was very fast, but unstable."

Kenshin nodded.

"PLEASE don't tell me Tsubame's Jiro-san is that same boy………"

Kenshin nodded.

She fell silent, as the information sank into her consciousness. They kept walking in silence for a few minutes, as Kaoru suddenly recalled Sano's vivid details of that fight, and the reported difficulty Kenshin had with that boy. "Tell me the truth, dearest," Kaoru finally said. "In a fight with that young man, does Yahiko stand a chance?"

Kenshin faced his wife. "Unless you do something, Kaoru…………no."

"Are you saying I didn't teach that boy enough!" Kaoru placed her hands over her hips.

"It is not that, Kaoru," Kenshin shook his head. "Yahiko has never killed anyone in his life, yet. Soujirou has, and he might again. In a duel, Yahiko will hold back on taking life. Provoked enough, Soujirou might not hold back. You have to make Yahiko realize that Tsubame's Jiro is no ordinary street bully he is used to handling. His rival is smart, and could be dangerous. He must take extra measures."

"Why don't you tell him that yourself?"

"He will not listen, as you saw this afternoon. Hopefully, as his master, he will listen to you."

"Tough chance of that happening, Kenshin!" Kaoru laughed.

"Just try, all the same."

"Does this mean you'll help me?"

"No, thank you," he answered. "Soujirou has probably changed over the last few years. Yahiko is all grown up now. What I know about them, might no longer be true. I cannot tell right now who is best for Tsubame. I think both of them have an equal chance. Therefore, I want to keep an eye on both of them, without taking either side. I want to be fair to both."

"Fine by me," Kaoru said, and patted her husband on the shoulder. "Wish me luck with our clueless suitor, then!"

Kenshin nodded with a smile.

………………….

Maeko-Nohara Thanks much for coming back, missed you too. I like Kaiba too, to some degree, although I don't watch a lot of YuGiOh, sorry. Wow, thanks for being a big fan. Aw, don't hate Tsubame-chan, she's a nice girl even if she's a shy type. In my opinion she has inner strength, not outward forceful strength. What horrors in store for the unlucky couple? I have plans but they're not concrete yet. I reply to reviewers so they know they made my day, so I hope to make their day, too. I'm glad you like the anime I liked, too! This is getting long, so I'm stopping for now. Thanks again.

Chiki – I don't read a lot of E/K either, don't worry about it. I still prefer Kenshin for Kaoru. White and Black was about Enishi and Misao, which I do understand does need some time to swallow. Thanks a lot for liking the stuff so far, and thinking it was "scrumptious" (!). Sorry about Tae being pushy.

Pnaixrose – Thanks for liking the suspense. 8 ) I'm glad I didn't make grammar mistakes, yay!

Virtually Forgotten I'm glad I got your vote. Suggestions will always be welcome to make this thing nicer!

Jyortrakr – thanks for the tips, and thanks for the support!

WhiteRabbit5 – My happy faces? 8 ) Sure, you can borrow them! Ah, hehe, point very well taken about Shishio. 8 ) My point in making Sou-chan say that is this: yes, the man was ambitious and ruthless. Still, to an impressionable boy, it was better than nothing. And the man did treat the boy well for a few years, in his twisted way. Sou-chan did not hate Shishio, even after Kenshin knocked sense into him.

koburaa thanks for the love 8 ) Hope you come back!

After this chapter I'm really disappearing for a while to good on finals, hopefully. But if finals gets on my nerves and I do get to type up a chapter, I hope you'll come back to read. Thanks and see ya!