CHANCES ARE . . . .

(X MARKS THE SPOT)

By: TREASURE

CHAPTER 11 SEND YOU AWAY 'Kenshin . . . . Ano . . . ' She called out to him after they left Akabeko. 'Is something the matter? Are you still tired or hungry?' He walked back and stayed beside Kaoru. He thought that maybe the humid air is still making her dizzy. 'Um . . . I wanted to thank you for standing up for me back there. I wouldn't want you to get into trouble because of me.' She dropped her gaze and spoke a little softer 'After all I'm used to them by now!' She touched the X mark on her face. 'Don't worry about that, I was only trying to give her a reminder on basic etiquette. It really is rude to stare.' Kenshin then pinched her nose for her to lighten up.

'You sir, are getting rude yourself!' Kaoru was now trying to assess the damage on her nose.

'No I'm not, but if you keep that sullen mood until we get home, I think I shall punish you wit not an easy task of cleaning the whole dojo and doing 500 strokes with the bokken.

'Demo (but) . . . . '

'Without the students knowing of course. But punishment is a punishment, so if you don't want that, better plaster a smile on that pretty face of yours.' Kenshin walk ahead whistling a happy tune.

'That would be xxx yen.' Tae gave the bill to Tomoe.

'Would you mind if I ask if you are in need of a waitress here?' Tomoe asked as she handed their payment to Tae. 'You see I used to wait tables back in our city and I don't mind working like that again, once we have settled in.' She explained lengthily to be able to get to the point.

'Well, I think I will need another pair of hands, Tsubame is due to leave for the countryside tomorrow . . . . . .

Tomoe clasped Tae's hand 'Thank you so much! It means so much to my sister and me. I will be a very good waitress of Akabeko!'

'Nee-chan . . . . '

'What Megumi?'

'Ask her if she knows a place we can stay?'

Tae hear it the first time so Tomoe need not ask again. 'There is one, about four blocks down east. It's not that spacious because it's cheap, but it would suit your needs for the time being. Anyway you can look for a better place later. It's called the Rurufian homes.

'Arigatou, Madam, I'd be here early tomorrow!' Tomoe bowed and hurriedly gathered her things.

'Wait! I didn't even catch your name!'

'Yukishiro, Tomoe Yukishiro, and this is my sister Megumi. Forgive me for being rude. I've got so excited!'

'It' perfectly all right! You can call me Tae.'

'Were off Tae-san, se you tomorrow!'

'Tadaima!' Kenshin announced their arrival.

'Hey Sano, Busu (ugly) and cousin Kenshin had arrived maybe you could ask him permission for me to leave this place for a while, I think I need a fresh air to breath, I really can't stand Kaoru, especially those two being together.

'Grow up Yahiko! You said yourself that she's been saving you from Kenshin.'

'I still need some more proof, I still need to test her sincerity. I'm not quite convinced that she's just nice, there's still a part of me that says "she just painting herself in good light!"

'What ever you say Yahiko, but for me I just go and ask Kenshin for some cash and take a girl to a bar and have a good time.'

'Yeah Sano, like he would give a yen on a silver platter!'

'Watch and learn!' He winked at the smaller boy and just walked in where Kenshin and Kaoru were.

'Hey Kenshin, a, um, I don't mean to interrupt but could you spare me some cash, I feel I would be lucky tonight with the evens.'

'Is that so, Sano. If you could use some cash, well we certainly could use some firewood!' Kenshin gave him a business type look. 'If you double your effort you could finish a repectable pile before it gets dark, by then, we would both be happy!'

'Hey Kenshin, what about I do it tomorrow but you can give me the cash now!' Sano was driving a bargain.

'What if I hit you now and treat you with some cash later?' His eyes shows a glint of amber.

'Fine! I'll do it now!' He slowly walked towards the backyard. 'Hey Kaoru, what about you, have some money with you?'

'Ano . . . .?'

'Sano!' Kenshin lowered his head his bangs now covering a larger part of his face.

'Sorry! Got to go!'

'Yahiko! Go to the dojo at once and swing your bokken 500 times! Move!'

Yahiko grumbled, 'why the heck did he know I was listening?' He can do nothing about it, he went ahead to the dojo and do the unforgiving swings.

'Kenshin . . . Master . . . . you don't . . . . '

'Yahiko needs to bend some of his hang-ups somewhere else and not to you. He hasn't acquired the virtue of patience yet, he awfully gets too stubborn in some days.'

'Hai!'

'Maybe you should change to your training gi and hakama, there are some moves I want to show you, the pivots and swings may not be of your liking but once you get the mastery of it, you'll be able to hit five opponents in one blow.'

'That sounds promising!' Kaoru let out a certain excitement.

'And I'm sending you to Kobe at Hanya's so you can practice without interruptions.'

'Me? Going to Kobe?' Kaoru smiled, trying to keep a poker face, a certain sadness crept in her heart. "I knew it . . . . my scar had embarassed him again . . . . . I don't think I'll ever find a place to call my home." She tried to learn some of the details of her "expedition". 'When is he coming?'

'Not so soon. I still need to decide on that, I'll how much improvement you can do.'

'Hai!'

That night . . . . .

'I wish Kenshin would not send me away. I know Hanya will be good to me and all, but . . . . .' Kaoru looked around the room, the room she sometimes called her own, the room that seems to be there waiting for her. Just three months ago she's just a wanderer, now, she has her own room, a respectable job and a new friends, even if most of the time Yahiko is rude to her.

'Kami . . . . maybe Kenshin wanted to win a lady's heart, and if I'm around, how can he? Though there would absolutely be no competition, having another female form here could send a confusing message, after all I'm not treated as a maid here.'

'Right, I should learn fast that new technique, the sooner I'm off to Kobe, the better for Kenshin and his girl. I know I wouldn't be lonely there, I could help out at Hanya's dojo too.'

Down at the Rurufian (?) housing . . . . . .

'Nee-san, how long do you think we're going to stay in this suffocating enclosure like this?' Megumi sat on the tatami mat as she prepare to go to sleep.

Tomoe's thoughts was somewhere else. 'Megumi-chan, I was thinking about what you've said earlier . . . .'

'About what?'

'Us being fortune hunters . . . . I think I kind of like that. Yeah, I like that. Working at Akabeko would surely give us first hand information on who's who in town.'

'Ohohoho!' The fox laughed merrily.

05102006

A/N: I hope you like this chapter. Looking forward to your reviews.