Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin... at all.

A:N: I promise to try to update every week or two. Monthly updates aren't good enough for me...


Tsubame followed Yahiko, closely, as she listened in on the conversation between him and Yutaro. She would look to her left, and sometimes to her right, so the other two wouldn't find her one bit suspicious.

The group of three walked passed restaurants that smelled of the exotic, European food. It was a bit different for Yahiko, and especially Tsubame, to smell something so far away from home. When Tsubame inhaled this unusual scent, her face scrunched together and she wore a bitter expression of distaste.

After escaping the strange aroma of the European cuisine, they turned the corner to find the streets more empty than the ones they had gone by. The two young boys returned to their discussion, but as that went on,
Tsubame could hear the sound of quick footsteps, getting louder and closer. She turned around to find no one, but the empty road. Then, Tsubame realized that something was missing. She looked down at the pocket on her right to find it empty; she turned around and saw ahead of her a tall figure running away with a familiar bag, which belonged to Tsubame.

The girl ran up to the black-headed swordsman with a shinai bound around his body. "That man"
she shouted, pointing to the figure, running away, "He stole my money! He pickpocketed me!"

Yahiko grabbed his shinai, and ran up to the man, getting a good hit on his back; the tall man stumbled forward, and then looked back at Yahiko. "Got a problem, kid?" he asked, with an evil grin.

"Yeah," the spiky-haired kid replied. "That money doesn't belong to you. Give it back, and I promise not to hurt a fool like you."

The man chuckled, and broke into an uncontrollable laughter. He finally stopped to say, "What, you afraid to get your ass beat, kid?" He unsheathed his sword, revealing a fine blade that looked more pleasant than the man's facade.

Yahiko tightly gripped his shinai, holding it out in front of him.

The man laughed the same irrepressible laugh, and said, "You can't beat me with a stupid toy like that!" He continued to cackle on.

Yahiko became angered at the man's comment. "Try me."

The man stopped laughing, and as soon as he did so, he quickly went into attack mode, and lunged his sword at Yahiko. The sword barely went over Yahiko's head. When he saw this, he used the move that Kaoru had taught him: the move that seals the opponent's weapon.

The man wore a surprised look on his face as he saw the boy he had underestimated with his own blade caught between the hands of the young swordsman.

Yahiko immediately made his move and used the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryū Secret Move: Blade Crossing,
easily defeating the pickpocket, who lay on the ground helpless and conquered. Yahiko returned his sword to its place and grabbed the bag of money that laid next to the man. He walked to Tsubame,
handing her the bag that belonged to her.

Tsubame's face lit up, and she gave Yahiko a smile. "Thank you, Yahiko-chan."

Yahiko smiled, and let out a small chuckle. "That was nothing! Besides, that man was nothing but an idiot. And by the way, could you not call me -chan?"

Tsubame laughed at this, knowing how much Yahiko hated to be called -kun and all the times she was corrected. "Okay then, Yahiko-kun."

Yutaro broke in on the dialogue, and made a request, saying, "Hey, let's get back to the mansion.
Our lunch will be served shortly. If you'd like, Yahiko, you can bring your friend along."

Yahiko agreed. The group walked off towards Yutaro's home. Once they arrived, Yutaro brought them to an elaborate room, where he seated both his guests.

"I'll be right back," Yutaro said, and walked out of the room.

There was a bit of silence after Yutaro had left. Then Yahiko finally said, "You know, you kind of look familiar... and sound like it too."

Tsubame felt herself go red after hearing Yahiko's statement.

"Have I met you before?" Yahiko added.

Tsubame, or Tsume as she was known to Yahiko, lightly said, "I don't think we've met..."

Yahiko looked at Tsume for a really long time. Tsubame could feel her face blush even more,
knowing that Yahiko was examining her.

Yahiko sat back in his chair, his arms crossed, and said, "Never mind. Just pretend like that never happened."

Tsume felt frustrated, but hid that feeling so Yahiko wouldn't find the truth just yet.


A:N: Well, I hope this chapter was better than the last. I really tried to make it longer than the last chapter, but if it isn't any longer, gomen.Please R&R!