Hello. A lot of content for future chapters is being drafted already, that's why I'm taking a while to update. I sure hope I'm doing it right. This is the first story where I'm drafting this much ahead of time, and I find that it actually helps me think about the whole picture, really nice. However, I'm still accepting comments and suggestions, so bring them on. While Firuze's cold-water treatment (for White and Black) was very good for me, I'm hoping I would not have to need it for this story, with all the comments I'm getting right now. On to the story.
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Tae did everything she can to facilitate the relationship between Jiro and Tsubame. Whenever he was around, she released Tsubame from most obligations in the Akabeko. For one, she was hoping Tsubame would end up with the nice young man. From all appearances, he was financially stable, and could support her if he wanted. And the two new friends got along very well, sharing similar interests and common beliefs. Alternatively, if it was not to be, she hoped that this relationship would finally spur action in Yahiko. She, like the rest of the community, had been waiting for too long.
Tae was happily pleased that she did not have to do a lot to move along Jiro's relationship with Tsubame. She even had an ally in Jiro's boss, who actually provided tickets to a play. "Are you sure your boss didn't set this up for you?" she asked Jiro with a nudge. "It's a really good plan, and that's coming from me!" Jiro just smiled and scratched his blue-black head.
When she heard about the date, Tae let Tsubame off for the whole day. And she let the young lady borrow one of her summer kimonos. It was a beautiful shade of blue, like the clear sky, tied around the waist by an obi of delicate blue, almost white. She then arranged her short hair and clipped it on her head.
So when Jiro arrived for the usual greeting, "Um, I'm here for Tsu………..Tsu…………", the young man just gaped at the young woman standing in front of the kitchen. Even the restaurant customers applauded and whistled. She looked down at her purse and felt the warmth in her cheeks.
He was quite something to behold as well, dressed in a more formal blue gi and gray hakama, his hair carefully combed to one side. He held out a hand as he opened the door of the restaurant. "Shall we go?" he asked. She nodded and walked out the door, still to the cheers of the customers.
It was not because the customers favored Jiro over Yahiko for Tsubame. Most of them were neutral on the popular issue. But Yahiko had been a fixture at the Akabeko for many years, and Yahiko typically just whisked her away to eat somewhere, both of them wearing ordinary clothes. Seeing Tsubame go out on a date wearing special clothes and escorted by a handsome young man was a change from the normal pace of life.
Entering the theater and finding seats was uneventful. Tsubame did notice how they were surrounded by people known in town to be rich, powerful, or both. It made her wonder how expensive the tickets were to this play they were to watch. She chuckled to herself how she fell for a trick Tae had used on her before without success. Strategy number 35: free tickets to the play.
In fairness, the play was a good one, with some of her favorite actors in leading roles. She was happy that they were given good seats, not too close to the stage but near enough to appreciate everything that happened. She was glad she decided to go with him. And as she looked at Jiro, seated beside her, she knew that he was glad, too.
About the time the curtains for the second act rose, she felt something warm placed over her hand. She looked down at it, and saw his hand, then felt the hand wrap over hers.
She did not know why, but it felt really good for his hand to be over her own. And she felt comfortable resting her head on his shoulder.
The play was too soon over, and they finally had to leave.
"Your boss is a kind man," Tsubame complimented as they left the theater. Matchmaking trick or not by Jiro's boss, she was glad he gave Jiro the tickets.
"Yuan-san? I guess," Jiro answered. "He just doesn't want people to know it. He's very gruff most days, stern and solid and in control."
"He's Chinese, your boss?"
Jiro chuckled. "Well, sort of, but his Japanese is excellent, none of zat hard-ah-tongue zat moast Chinese hab wen speaking Zhapanese."
Tsubame laughed heartily at the impression. "So how come he makes you so busy, this Yuan-san?"
"He doesn't like going out." But he looked up and thought about it. "No, no. That's not quite right. He can't go out without an escort. So I do most of the talking and delivering to clients."
"Why can't he go out?"
He shrugged. "I don't know the details."
Or, as Tsubame considered his eyes, he knew more details than he was willing to tell. Probably unimportant to her, she mused, so she did not pry any further.
They walked to the back door of the Akabeko, and stopped, before she entered for the night.
"Thank you for today, Jiro," she reddened and smiled delicately.
"Thank you for coming with me," he replied.
She found herself lingering at the door, waiting for something to happen. She saw him waiting as well, looking at her, as if deciding if he should say it, or do it. She did not want to say anything to break his stream of thought, and waited, as she admired his eyes, those eyes that kept many secrets.
She slowly found their eyes meeting, their faces coming closer, and finally, their lips meeting.
She closed her eyes, as she felt a large part of his being flow into her, slowly, quietly. She felt it like she had never felt it before. How much he had already given to her of himself, how much he had already opened himself to her, how much he had changed, because of her. She could not stop it. Not that she wanted to stop it. It was not a long kiss…………but it was longer than she expected. She was left breathless, intoxicated, giddy. She had been kissed before. But not like this.
He was brave, considerate, loving, handsome. Now, he was also a good kisser! He was faultless. He was just, just, perfect.
Nobody is perfect.
Something was not right with this man. Was this all an act? Was this just a beautiful dream? Or was there something the man was hiding, behind the smile, behind the mysterious eyes?
Himura-san's warning to Yahiko rang again in her ears.
"He…is capable of murder, clean and swift. Even if he has changed, it is best to remember that."
But Jiro could NOT be a killer! He couldn't! ………………
………………Could he?
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The head of the Kamiya dojo was doing her small part to ready her prodigy against his greatest rival, warning him about the former Tenken no Soujirou.
"Tenken no what?" Yahiko asked her. They were at the practice area, sweeping and scrubbing the floor, and tidying up the scattered swords and masks.
"Didn't you listen to Sanosuke, to Misao, when you were younger? Don't you remember when you were 10? The man assassinated Prime Minister Okubo!"
"But didn't a group of freedom fighters kill Okubo then?"
"No, NO! You've forgotten. Kenshin said then it was Shishio's group who did it. Tenken no Soujirou was the one who personally did it. Kenshin told me." Kaoru paused.
"So what are you afraid of?" Yahiko placed his hands over his head. "You taught me well, and Kenshin taught me well, too. And I have enough experience already."
Kaoru stood up from her scrubbing. "He can kill if he wanted, and kill well. He's very fast, very capable…"
"He still does not understand, does he, koishii?" Kenshin frowned, and stopped sweeping.
"No, he doesn't," Kaoru said.
"Maybe a short demonstration will explain………" he said, setting aside the broom.
"Kenshin! Remember what Megumi told you!" Kaoru cried.
"It will be alright, it will not be too hard on me," he smiled, and took a wooden sword from the wall. He then stood, without assuming a pose, in front of the young man. "Starting position, Yahiko."
Yahiko did not understand, but took another wooden sword, and did as he was told. Kenshin copied his stance, each having the starting position of the Hiten Mitsurugi school.
"Begin!" Kenshin ordered.
"What!"
"Begin!" he repeated.
Yahiko nodded, and obeyed. First, he drew out the sword, and Kenshin copied. He stepped forward, and so did Kenshin. He moved in quickly and struck his side, as Kenshin did exactly the same thing. Getting frustrated, Yahiko mounted the Ryu Sui Sen, but Kenshin followed suit.
"What are you doing, Kenshin?" Yahiko eventually asked, swords locked. "You're copying me!"
"Precisely," the older man said.
"Huh?"
"You've lost focus!" Kenshin grinned, as he quickly drew back the sword and gave him a sudden push, making Yahiko fall to the floor on his buttocks. The redhead then moved in, and leveled the sword at Yahiko's throat. The poor young man did not exactly know what happened, and just stared at Kenshin.
Kenshin took back the sword, and sat down, half-panting. "From my experience, that is basically how the Tenken fights. First, he confuses his opponent by imitating their technique, using it against them. Then he confuses them even more with his unusual speed. Having done both, he goes in for the kill." He caught his breath a little more. "Now, do you understand?"
"Yeah, thanks," Yahiko sat up. "Still, I don't think Jiro's anything to be afraid of!"
"You have been warned," Kenshin shrugged.
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Yahiko could not understand what happened to his favorite girl. She was happier than usual, and seemed to be always on air. But every time she met his eyes, a little of that happiness faded, and she quickly removed eye contact. If he asked why she was so dreamy lately, she said nothing.
Tsubame visited him at a dojo, a few days after her date with Jiro, as if she wanted to make amends for it with Yahiko. She described the play to him, how wonderful the artwork for the backdrop was, and how good the actors were. Nothing about Jiro. They talked of other things after that, and planned the trip to the Chinese restaurant he proposed earlier. For now, he was happy to be with her, and asked no questions.
He found it a bit odd, how desperate she suddenly wanted to be with him all the time, but how anxious she looked whenever they were together. He knew his rival had something to do with that, but he did not know why. And he did not want to ask, for fear of hearing what he did not want to hear.
That she loved him.
She lingered on and watched Yahiko as he gave the last lessons for the day, early that afternoon. She proposed to treat him at the Akabeko, in return for walking with her back to it.
After that last class, he gave her a little grin and followed the children to the door, as he always did. But as he reached it, he saw a man standing just beyond the front porch.
It was Jiro.
"I knew I would find you here," he said with a knowing smile at Tsubame.
Yahiko clenched a fist. Something had happened between them, he knew it! He gave Tsubame a menacing glare before he could stop it. She bowed her head and hid her eyes.
Many of the younger students recognized Jiro and ran to him to say hello. "My wagon is still working, Jiro-san, thank you!" one boy greeted. "I can make better paper planes now!" another wrapped his little arms around Jiro's legs.
But with his face higher than most of the little group of students, Jiro looked unusually victorious as he grinned at Yahiko. It only confirmed his doubts, and riled him all the more. He was quite ready to pounce on him, killer or not, and beat the life out of him. Especially if Jiro said that he had taken more from Tsubame, than he should. Yahiko was only restrained by the sight of so many children, his students, surrounding Jiro. He turned his anger at the mess of swords still on the floor, and began collecting them.
"We heard rumors that you're a good swordsman, Jiro-san," some of the older students said. "Maybe you could show us a thing or two?"
"Yes, yes, please!" the younger ones added.
Soon a little crowd circled around the young man and pulled him into the practice area, asking him for a demonstration.
"Well, I don't know," Jiro scratched his head. "I would need an opponent, of course…….."
"Sensei! Sensei can do it!" a young supporter chimed.
Many of the other students nodded as well. "Myoujin-sensei? Sure, why not? We'll see who's a better swordsman!"
"And we'll see who's a better match for Tsubame-san!" a few nudged each other and giggled.
Jiro blushed, Tsubame paled, Yahiko gritted his teeth.
"A match! A match! A match between Jiro-san and Sensei!" the clamor began. Soon many others were joining in the cry.
Yahiko just tossed his head and kept organizing masks and shinai, as if he heard nothing. But his hands were starting to sweat.
Kaoru soon came rushing over, with Kenshin just behind her. "What's the ruckus about?" she asked.
"We're asking Myoujin-sensei and Jiro-san to do a demonstration for us," one student explained. "Is it alright, Himura-sensei?"
"Why are you asking me? Ask your sensei if he wants to fight him!" Kaoru shrugged and answered. "As long as they don't destroy the walls and floors, it's fine with me."
But as he tried to maintain a cool demeanor, Yahiko remembered Kenshin and Kaoru's warnings. Jiro can kill, if he wanted. He had killed before, and can kill again. He had thought of ways to go around any imitations of the Kamiya Kasshin or Hiten Mitsurugi schools, but he had not practiced them yet. He had not counted on fighting the Tenken no Soujirou so soon.
"Maybe Myoujin-san is afraid of fighting me?" Jiro challenged with a sly grin. The assembled crowd hooted.
The Himuras saw the concern in Yahiko's eyes, as he answered, "Why………….should I be afraid of you?"
But the children did not notice it, and took up the cry. "Sensei! Sensei!"
Yahiko's anxious eyes scanned the crowd. It was composed of all his students, with bright eyes full of trust with their teacher, trust he did not know if he can keep if he chose to fight. It had Kaoru and Kenshin, looking nervously on – and he definitely did not want to disappoint them. Then there was Tsubame. He had lost too many times already to the smiling newcomer, he cannot fail again!
"Maybe he is afraid to lose face, in front of Tsubame-san?" Jiro asked and smirked.
That got to the kendo trainer. He faced his rival and clenched a fist. "I will NOT lose to you!"
"Prove it," the rival quietly said.
"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" the boys chanted and clapped as they moved to the sides of the practice area. Jiro and Yahiko walked to the center of the large room, and placed a good distance between each other.
Poor Tsubame walked backward until her back hit a wall, and wondered how the duel would end.
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The male reviewers are supporting Yahiko, I wonder why. Then there are those who choose to remain neutral, which is good, too. Thank you for all the analysis, guys. It really helps. I'm really glad I'm creating some discussion for the characters. I might only get 5-6 regular reviewers now, but at least they're all helpful! Thanks again!
By the way, with all the typing I've been doing these last few days…………..I have a draft of the ending started. I already know who she ends up with, and I have an ending I would be happy with. That is, unless someone gives me the cold-water treatment again and gives me a better one!
Maeko-Nohara – Don't worry about being dense; it happens to me, too. I added the kids because I figured that by now Yahiko's relationship with Tsubame would be a community project! I like my country because I got to be an RK fan on a minimal budget. My biggest expenses were for the Jinchuu arc manga volumes and the Kenshin Kaden (which I used graduation money on).
MK zantaz – Thanks for the tips. It made me rethink my plans for an upcoming chapter. Thanks for reminding me about Kenshin's influence. And thanks for understanding both guys so well, it really helps!
Junyortrakr – I have some idea about guys wanting to keep status quo until there is reason to break it. I think that's what I'm using for poor Yahiko. Thanks much for relating – is that a good thing? 8 )
Zezura – What's with all the gum? What am I supposed to do with it? 8 ) I like strawberry Orbit and Mentos Cool Chews fresh mint (my sugar pills, very handy). I used to have a lot of Kool Air mint, too.
Pnaixrose – Hi, kabayan. I agree, Tsubame and Yahiko compliment each other. They're actually a better example of the sword-and-sheath principle than Kenshin and Tomoe.
WhiteRabbit5 – Thanks so much for liking the kids. I figure the students would be quite your normal kendo students, with Kaoru showing tough love like always. Thanks for liking the one-shot!
Cat H – Hello, and thanks for reading and reviewing. I made Tsubame introduce herself quickly, so it would be seen how rattled she got when she met Jiro. Semi-humorous? Yeah, I guess so. I figure Yahiko would have been told by Kenshin about Soujirou, but not as Jiro by Tsubame and not as a person within his vicinity! And besides, it's been 8 years, and Yahiko never met Soujirou back then. Jiro would be FedEx! But he does more than that. More damaged than Kenshin? Yeah, he is, poor Sou-chan. Kaoru called Kenshin "Himura-san" just to tease him at that scene.