A.N. Welcome back, Minna-san, to my eighth chapter in the world of 'Fading Futures'. I want to thank everyone who read my fic so far and is now giving this chapter a go too, so arigato gozaimasu! And an even bigger thanks to Beth-kun, Hitokiri Taijiya and Jodibetz for your reviews. You're making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! I really didn't think I would get such responses for my first fanfic, you know?
Jodibetz: Just to answer the thing about Shinya being a little two serious. If you remember the story Shinya told back in chapter six, he did mention, in thought, that it wasn't completely a lie. That did actually happen to him, but he did have to change the story a little bit to make it fit into his 'I'm really from Yokohama' story, so they wouldn't think him mad. I mean, would you believe it if someone you just met told you he was from the future and was sent back to save the family by playing matchmaker? Lol! Plus with everything else that's going on for him. You have to remember this whole thing has his family and his own existence on the line. It would be enough to make anyone act a little too seriously, ne?
Beth-kun: Well, actually, I wrote a whole story board to begin with (Heh!). I know exactly where I want this to go. I just hope I don't disappoint anyone. I do promise some action in the near future though.
Hitokiri Taijiya: Well, I thought it would create a few question marks. I have a lot of stuff lined up for them. Kenshin and Kaoru, you have been warned. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.
Hope you like this Chapter!
Disclaimer: Sessha doesn't… Oh whatever! Just read the ones in the previous chapters. The same things apply here!
Last time on fading futures:
Shinya discovers the story behind Kenshin and Sano and Yahiko become partners in crime with Shinya in, as Shinya calls it 'Operation: get together'
Tanoshimimas! (Enjoy!)
Chapter Eight
Accidents Happen
The sun rose like a golden orb over Tokyo, spreading its golden rays over the still town. As the February sun rose over the waters of the river, it was set alight with thousends of tiny diamonds, glistening silver and gold. Throughout the town, the birds began to sing to the dawn in the skies, while down below people stirred in their beds, rising to greet the new day. Along the roads it was peaceful, very few up yet but merchants setting up their stalls ready for the trickle of customers to begin.
So quiet. So peaceful.
The sun made its way to the dojo belonging to Kaoru Kamiya, landing softly to warm the back of the only dojo resident who was standing in the garden. Kenshin Himura took a deep breath as he stood up and stretched. Unlike the rest of Tokyo, Kenshin had already been up for several hours, getting the chores for the morning done. He had already dressed in his usual magenta gi and white hakama. In the kitchen, breakfast of Miso soup was simmering gently, a larger quantity than usual (Sanosuke had decided to grace the dojo residents with his presence and had stayed in the spare room the night before). Now Kenshin was just finishing doing the morning laundry, which hung on the line, flapping gently in the early morning sun, white as snow.
It was just as he was finishing up on the laundry when he heard it. The low, insistent whispers people used when they were conspiring to do something. Frowning, Kenshin followed the sounds around towards the front of the dojo. His eyes widened at the sight.
Before him stood Sanosuke, dressed in his usual white with the Aku symbol on the back. Sitting on the porch was Yahiko, still in his night yukata and Shinya, dressed in a royal blue gi and off-white hakama, sitting cross-legged next to him. Each was leaning in as Shinya speed-whispered something he couldn't quite hear. Whatever it was, though, clearly had the other two very amused. However, as Kenshin rounded the corner, Shinya cut off.
"Ohayo Kenshin" the boy said cheerfully with a wave.
Kenshin stared for a moment. "O-ohayo Shinya" he managed. He glanced back at Sanosuke and Yahiko. Were they sick or something? Since when did they get up so early. However, before Kenshin could express that thought, Shinya spoke again lightly.
"I was just telling them this funny story I was going to tell them last night, but never go round to it. Really, you should come listen to it at some point."
A story? They got up early to hear Shinya tell a story! Kenshin definitely smelt a rat, but Shinya's face didn't show anything beside a cheerful smile. But something fishy was going on. "It must be some story, that it must" he said finally "for you to want to get up so early to hear it"
However, they were spared having to answer when Kaoru appeared at the door. "Ohayo Minna" she said, rubbing her eyes. Low blood pressure. Figures. "What's for breakfast, Kenshin?"
Breakfast! How could he have forgotten about breakfast! Kenshin quickly told her as he dashed off to rescue the miso soup from burning, Kaoru quickly leaving to help set up the table. As they left, Shinya let out a deep breath.
"Kami, I thought he got us there for a minute." Shinya said breathlessly
"He's on to us" Yahiko added, "we gotta be careful. You think you can pull it off?"
Shinya's eyes glinted mischievously. If you looked close enough, you would have been able to see two little devil horns peaking up out of his unruly, jet-black hair. "Pa-lease, you're talking to the master of this stuff. Trust me."
Sanosuke winced. "Kami, Ko-oni's worse than the Kitsune. He's totally demented."
"Shaddup, Ondori-atama!"
o0o
It wasn't long before the table was laid and the Kamiya dojo residents were gathered round as Kenshin handed each of them green tea and started to dish out the miso soup. Each took the soup with a thanks (though Yahiko nearly snapped Kenshin's hand off when taking it, he was that hungry). As Kenshin went back to get the last bowls for himself and Kaoru, a fight broke out across the table. It seemed that the tall, ex-gangster had taken the rice-ball that Yahiko had claimed his only seconds before.
"Rrgh," growled Kaoru, her fists clenched and hand resting dangerously closed to her brokken. The vain throbbed as the fight continued.
Just as Kaoru was about to lose patience with the two, Kenshin made his way back in, watching the scene before him as if dreading missiles would be thrown in his direction. No one noticed Shinya watching Kenshin's movements out of the corners of his eyes. No one noticed how he mouthed under his breath 'Just a little farther…' Just as Kenshin got close to Kaoru, Shinya lay his leg in wait.
Wump! Bang! Kenshin tripped over the outstretched leg, bowls went flying, raining miso soup. Kenshin outstretched his hands to stop him from falling and grabbed the wall just in time… to land millimetres away from Kaoru's startled face.
Kenshin stared, wide eyed into startled sapphire, his face turning ten shades of red, somehow rivalling his hair in crimson. He was so close to her, close enough to breathe in the soft sent of jasmine that sent his head in a spin. Kenshin had to swallow to suppress the sudden urge to press his lips against hers.
Kaoru wasn't faring any better. Face glowing in a way that she was sure lit up the whole room, she sat, dazed, feeling the heat of his face, smelling the soft sent of pine-trees and, well, Kenshin. Her heart was beating a million miles an hour; she could feel in thumping against her ribs. Was he going to kiss her? Around them, all was silent, so focused they were on each other. Time had stopped.
Meanwhile, Shinya sipped his tea as if nothing had happened. The only thing that showed him to be guilty was the tiny, minuscule smile, hidden behind the cup at his lips.
Finally, Kenshin blinked. The spell was broken. Time began to move once more.
"Ano… Kaoru-dono… Gomennasai…" Kami, he couldn't even think straight while shrouded in her soft, sweet sent. Reluctantly, he moved away, blushing furiously. Kaoru stared.
Oh, he's blushing! Kawaii!
The part of her mind that was not so dazed reminded her that this, admittedly cute redhead had just spoken and she could finally breathe. "That's okay…Kenshin" she breathed, though deep inside her she was disappointed. She had wished he had kissed her.
Kaoru suddenly heard it – soft sniggering coming from the table. Both the rurouni and Kenjutsu instructor looked round to see Sano and Yahiko trying not to laugh. However, as soon as they made eye contact, the floodgates opened and the two roared with laughter.
"Wow…" Yahiko snickered, "when you fall for someone… you really do fall for 'em!" before dissolving into laughter again.
"Oro!" Kenshin turned bright red. Kami, he couldn't even remember the last time that he had blushed so much.
Kaoru was also turning red - this time from anger. "Mou! When I get my hands on you…!"
Sano and Yahiko bolted as Kaoru ran after them, whacking them hard over the head. Kenshin ran after them to stop Kaoru from beating them senseless. Shinya, on the other hand, was a little disappointed by the way it had turned out, but then again, he reminded himself, he hadn't been expecting those type of results just yet. There was still time yet for that…
o0o
It was a few days later when they got the chance again. Kaoru had dropped any suspicions she had with them and was back to normal again. It was a sunny day, quite warm for February time and the Kenshin-Gumi were sitting outside. Kenshin was sitting by the well doing the laundry; Sano wasn't there, he had gone out somewhere with a group of his friends (probably to make a longer debt by gambling again). Kaoru was sweeping the floors and Yahiko was practising kata with Shinya. It was as they almost finished practice when Doctor Gensai and his two granddaughters arrived.
Shinya glanced up as he waved a Konnichiwa to everyone. He watched as the two girls ran in yelling "Kennii!" and threw themselves at Kenshin, who laughed at their enthusiasm. Shinya, though he had seen Ayame and Suzume plenty of times over the few weeks he had been among the group, he had never seen Dr Gensai.
Dr Gensai was about Shinya's height with grey hair beneath a bandanna and a friendly face with warm, dark eyes. He had just come to drop his granddaughters off, as he had to go out of town to visit someone who was sick. Shinya nodded in greeting to the man and continued practice with Yahiko. Suddenly he stopped, an idea forming in his head. A second later he felt a sharp pain as Yahiko brought his Shinai down on top.
"Ow!" He yelped, hands jumping to his head to soothe the lump now forming.
"Gomen." Yahiko said "Kami, why you stop?"
Rubbing his head, Shinya grabbed the younger boy by the arm and dragged him round the other side of the dojo, flashing a glance at Kaoru and Kenshin to make sure they didn't notice.
As soon as they were out of sight, Shinya whispered, "I just had another idea for Operation: get together"
Yahiko immediately started to grin and lean in closer to hear. Hurriedly, Shinya whispered his plan. Finally, he said, "…but when you've done, don't forget to try to act normally, but wait a little. If you don't act normal, they'll get suspicious, but if you don't wait a bit, it won't do us any good either. You think you can do it?"
Yahiko smirked "I'm Yahiko Myojin of Tokyo. 'Course I can do it!"
Shinya grinned. "I knew I could count on you"
Silently, the two peered round the corner and, noticing no one was looking, they walked back into the yard again. Immediately, they got to work. Shinya and Yahiko told Kaoru they were done and asked the two girls if they wanted to play a new game with them while 'Kennii' was finishing the washing. Of course, the girls agreed enthusiastically and Yahiko took them to one side.
"What's the game Yahiko-nii?" Asked Ayame.
Yahiko smiled. "The game is called 'cupid'"
"Cupid?" the girls looked both confused and excited.
"Yep. In this game, the rules are…" and Yahiko hurriedly explained the rules to the two excited children, while Shinya watched out, making sure the two unsuspecting victims were unaware of their plans for them.
o0o
Kaoru glanced up from her sweeping, surprised by the lack of sound. Apart from the occasional, soft splash as Kenshin scrubbed at the stains, and the soft sweep of her brush along the path, everything was silent. She was only a little worried though. Both Ayame and Suzume were with Yahiko and Shinya – both of whom were good with a Shinai now. Nothing to worry about.
How wrong she was.
As Kaoru continued to sweep again, humming a soft tune, Ayame and Suzume began to creep up to her. Yahiko had warned them to be very quiet, or they would lose the game, so they stayed silent, creeping like cats on their mouse-prey. Kaoru stood quite close to the red haired swordsman, neither moving. Silent, quiet…
"BOO!" the girls caught the raven-haired woman off guard and with a loud "EPP!" she tripped and fell with a splash straight into the tub, toppling soapy water and clean clothes all over the place, landing head first into Kenshin.
Kaoru flushed furiously as she realised what had happened. Both she and Kenshin were soaked with sudsy water. Kenshin had fallen backwards, Kaoru landing on top of him, her face pressed into the v of his magenta gi. Hard, muscular, it was pressed against her face. She could feel the muscles ripple through it like a leopards. Kami, you wouldn't have thought it, just by looking at him. She could smell the soft, woodsy, masculine sent, making her feel so dazed. Kenshin, wide-eyed, fuzzily realised that the girl he loved most in the world was, at this very moment, lying on top of him, her face (soft, so soft) pressed against his chest. Both of them soaked.
Yahiko laughed after a moment. "Jeez, Ugly, you got it Bad if you're trying to get you both out of you clothes!"
Kaoru's head snapped up, almost nutting Kenshin in the process. "Yahiko!" She jumped up, her face roughly matching the hue of a fire engine. She couldn't believe it. She had just spent Kami knows how long with her face pressed into his chest. She felt like she wanted to die!
Or better yet… she glowered at the two boys laughing. She began to roll back her sleeves. The two boys immediately shut up. With an "eep!" they bolted, a raging Tanooki behind yelling, "get back here you jerks!"
o0o
Shinya sighed as he walked back towards the dojo. Kenshin had been busy cleaning all the clothes that they had got dirty and Kaoru was entertaining Ayame and Suzume. Yahiko had to go to work at the Akebeko and Sano hadn't come to the dojo yet, still doing whatever he was doing. That left Shinya as the only dojo resident left to go down town and do the shopping. Resting on his shoulders were two buckets hanging from the pole supported by his slim shoulders. They groaned under the weight of the contents.
Miso, salt, soy sauce, he grumbled. Did she really need to buy it all at once? His shoulders were killing him. Unlike Kenshin, Shinya was not a full-grown man and, while he was rather toned and built like an athlete, Shinya was not built to carry heavy things for long.
With a sigh, Shinya set the buckets down and massaged his sore shoulders. The sun was warm on his back and he leaned against a tree, wiping the sweat from his brow. If he didn't know any better, he could have sworn that it was summer. He'd only rest a little while before he had to continue to the dojo, or Kaoru would have his head, but he intended to make the most of his resting time.
It was while he was sitting there, eyes closed as he felt a soft wind caress his face when a shadow fell across him. Frowning, Shinya opened his eyes to find Sanosuke standing over him, his trademark fishbone sticking out of his mouth. When he saw violet eyes flicker open he smirked
"Mornin' sleepy head"
Shinya stuck his tongue out and stood up, dusting off his hakama with a hand. "So, where have you been?" he said accusingly, "running up more dept's at the Shuei-ya?"
"Ha, ha. No I wasn't (though I did lose a couple of sen…)"
Shinya rolled his eyes and picked up the buckets again. "So, you coming to the dojo again?"
"Yeah." Sanosuke smirked "seems like I've been missing out on the fun. I saw Yahiko in the Akebeko" he added, seeing Shinya's confusion.
"Oh. Been putting more lunches on your tab? I feel sorry for Tae-san"
Sanosuke glared at him but continued. "Looks like you gave Jou-chan and Kenshin a bit of a dunking. What you got planned for next 'fall', Ko-oni? You gonna get them falling into each other when Kenshin wakes Kaoru?"
Shinya grinned "Tempting, but no. We've gotta stop this 'push one into the other' stuff. If we keep it up, they'll get suspicious of us. We have to come up with some more tactics"
Sanosuke looked startled "Tactics? Are you a Gunshou or something? You make it sound like we're at war!"
Shinya looked up at him gravely. "In a sense, we are at war, Ondori. The enemy is fear. And, just with any enemy, you have to overcome it. If Kenshin and Kaoru are going to get anywhere fast, they first have to overcome their fears. Only when the enemy is defeated can they truly find happiness."
Sanosuke stared at Shinya. Just then, he reminded him of a curtain redheaded rurouni. Shinya caught the stare, how he looked at him as if he had grown an extra head. Quickly, Shinya flashed him a big smile and said, "at least, that's what I've been told!"
Sanosuke fell over anime style.
Recovering, Sanosuke said, "So what do you have in mind?"
Shinya shrugged. "Dunno yet. Kenshin and Kaoru are more…difficult than some of my other friends were when I played matchmaker with them, but I'm sure that an idea will come…" Shinya trailed off as they rounded a corner. There, sitting in the branches of a sakura tree was Kaoru. Dressed in her white gi and dark blue hakama of an assistant master of Kenjutsu, She sat with her legs dangling down, her back to them. Resting against the thick trunk of the tree was a wooden ladder. Shinya noted that the ladder was considerably less stable than the metal step ladders back in his own time. Kaoru had, so far, not yet seen the two.
Sanosuke was just about to yell to her when inspiration struck. Quickly, Shinya jumped up and stopped him.
"Wha-?" Sanosuke started, but caught that mischievous gleam in those amethyst eyes. He frowned. "What are you scheming now, Ko-oni?"
Shinya smiled, looking back to Kaoru, who was still oblivious to their presence. "Just something that'll get Kenshin looking for Kaoru. It could be an opportunity to get them alone, but not in a pushy way."
Sanosuke, being the rather slow-minded person, looked confused, so Shinya elaborated. "Do you think you could knock the ladder over without actually going to it? You know, like throwing a rock at it or something?"
Understanding took his face and broke into a grin "No problem" scanning the undergrowth Sanosuke found a good sized and shaped stone, testing it in his hands. He took careful aim and threw it. At first, Shinya thought it was going to miss, but it struck the side of the ladder. The wooden frame wobbled, teetered on its ends and fell, its landing muffled slightly by the grass.
"I guess you're good for something, Ondori" Shinya chuckled
"Shut it, Ko-oni"
"Come on. We'd better go to the dojo now. Just remember: if Kenshin asks, we didn't see Kaoru. Kenshin'll be able to find her, but he'll get suspicious if we said we saw her and didn't help her out."
Silently, Sanosuke and Shinya slipped away.
o0o
Kenshin was panicking.
Not that he was the type of person who usually panic's. He had once been the most feared hitokiri of the Bakumatsu, whose name was, even after eleven years of Meiji, feared throughout Japan, spoken in whispers lest they call the demon upon them. He was once the Hitokiri Battosai. Yet even now he made a name for himself, though for a different meaning. Kenshin Himura, the rurouni, who had protected Tokyo from the corrupted police swordsmen, who had helped stop the Jinpuu squad. He was the wanderer who had stopped the Shinko style from taking over Izu, who had prevented Shishio from breaking up the whole country with his Juppon Katana in Kyoto. Kenshin was not a man who usually gets scared.
Just then he was.
It was getting late. Shinya and Sanosuke had returned, Shinya having found Sanosuke on the way back from the grocery shopping and Yahiko was still out at the Akebeko on a late shift. However, there was still one person who was not accounted for. Kaoru had gone for a walk earlier that day after Kenshin had finished the laundry. He had offered to look after Ayame and Suzume until she came back. Kenshin hadn't minded. He would do anything for Kaoru.
However, that had been several hours ago and the sun was starting to dip lower in the sky. Still, she had not returned to the dojo. Shinya, looking concerned, had told him they hadn't seen Kaoru at all coming home from shopping. Kenshin knew he probably shouldn't worry about Kaoru. She was the assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu. It wasn't like she was helpless. But as the sun was beginning to fall behind the horizon, Kenshin couldn't stand it any more. What if she was hurt? What if someone had attacked her? What if she was…?
Abruptly, Kenshin stood, surprising the other two as he shook the table. "Sessha is going to look for Kaoru-dono" he said simply to the stunned Shinya and Sanosuke before leaving through the house and out of the gates before you could say 'Doryusen'.
Ko-oni and Rooster watched the space Kenshin just left. Sanosuke gave a low whistle. Shinya just smiled. "Told you it would work" he said smugly.
Meanwhile, Kenshin extended his ki sense as far as it would go, looking for the soft ki of the kenjutsu instructor, feeling for any sign of danger, any fear. His heart was thudding wildly until –
There!
Kaoru's ki flickered between annoyance, wiry humour and a little fear, but it didn't seem like she was being attacked. Merely…stuck?
Kenshin followed the ki to a large, sturdy sakura tree close to the river. There, sitting in its branches, shivering, was Kaoru. Throat sore from shouting, shivering from cold and feeling more than a little hungry, she sat between the lowest branch and the trunk, knees drawn up and arms wrapped around them. Kenshin spotted a ladder, fallen to the ground. Looking up, it was obvious that it was too high to just jump down without causing a serious injury.
As Kenshin came into view, Kaoru's sapphire eyes brightened. "Kenshin!"
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin picked up the ladder and lent it back against the tree. "Hold on, Sessha will help get you down"
Holding the ladder steady, Kenshin watched as Kaoru began to descend the rugs slowly. Kenshin noticed that she was trembling. He suddenly remembered she was afraid of heights. When the Gumi had gone to Izu last year for a holiday at Hana's home, Hana – Dr Gensai's little sister – was going to meet them across the bridge, over a river deep in a canyon. Kaoru had been terrified and nearly fainted before they had even crossed the bridge.
(Chosha's note: This happens in the episode where they meet Yutaro and Raijuta – but only in the Anime, episode 18)
Idly, he wondered why Kaoru was up there at all.
Just as Kaoru was half way down the ladder, Kaoru's foot put weight on a slightly broken rug. That slight extra weight caused the rug to break with a loud crack. Kaoru screamed and fell backwards, but Kenshin quickly caught her, placing himself between her and the hard ground. With a loud thud, the two fell to the floor.
Kaoru groaned and sat up, her hand resting on something hard and yet soft all at the same time. Confused sapphire met dazed violet. Kaoru blushed ten shades of red. She was sitting on Kenshin, who was sprawled out under her, her hand resting against his hard chest. She blushed even more crimson when she realised she was just staring at him. With an 'Eep', Kaoru scrambled off him.
"Kenshin! Sumimasen!"
Kenshin slowly levered himself of the ground and dusted the dirt from his gi and hakama (now he remembered why he always seems to be doing the laundry. It was little wonder, considering.) "That's okay, Kaoru-dono, that it is. As long as you're not hurt" carefully he straightened his gi, noticing that he would need to wash this one soon. "If Sessha may, why were you up a tree, Kaoru-dono?"
Kaoru blushed "I was siting, thinking… When my father was alive, he used to take me down here and he used to show me this wonderful thing. He could make a bird come down and sit on his palm. I wanted to do it, but it always used to fly away. But father used to keep helping me and in the end, I could do it too." She smiled wistfully. "I like to come here sometimes and remember that…" Suddenly, her eyes brightened. "Hey, do you want to try, Kenshin?"
Kenshin hesitated "Sessha doesn't…" however, when he looked into her face, he found he just couldn't say no. "Sessha would like to try, that he would. But Sessha is not sure he will be very good at it."
Kaoru smiled and indicated that he should sit down next to her. From inside her gi, she produced a packet of birdseed. Carefully she held the bag. "Hold out your hands" Kenshin did as he was told and cupped them in front of him. Kaoru tipped some of the birdseed into his palms. "Now, you have to be really gentle, or they won't trust you"
Kenshin looked down at his hands, his eyes covered with his scarlet bangs. "Sessha doesn't think he will be very good at this, that he does not" he whispered. Kaoru placed a hand on his knee, causing him to look up. Sapphire eyes held his own.
"You will, Kenshin. Even if you don't think so, you are gentle."
"Kaoru-dono…" but he stopped when Kaoru hushed him and directed his cupped hands outwards. They sat very still, neither of them moving. The seconds ticked by, but no birds came. Kenshin, downhearted, was about to tell Kaoru that he knew they wouldn't come, when a small bird fluttered down and landed on his cupped hands. It tilted its little head, beady black eyes staring at him, surprisingly bright. It cocked its head for a moment, listening, then began to peck at the seed in his hands. Kenshin stare in wide-eyed wonder at the sight. Kaoru's smile was radiant. "Kaoru-dono…" he breathed, but there was a sudden lump in his throat, preventing him from saying more.
"See?" she said, "That proves it. You are gentle, perhaps more than anyone, or me. You are gentle, Kenshin."
Kenshin just watched the bird pecking the seed trustingly in his cupped hands, stubbornly refusing to let the tears gathering in his eyes to fall.
To be continued…
Chosha's Notes:
This was a bit of a hard chapter for me, but I couldn't miss the opportunity to give Kenshin and Kaoru a few…moments together. As you can probably tell, I'm a big fan of the Kenshin/ Kaoru paring. That last part of the story, of Kenshin and Kaoru and the tree, I was inspired by the picture of Kenshin and Kaoru under the sakura tree.
If you think about it, Kenshin had been a wanderer for ten years after the war (he is now settled in the dojo, so isn't wandering any more though), but he has never let anyone close to him since then. Kenshin is guilt-ridden by what he did, so its not surprising that he would not think himself as 'gentle'. I thought it would be a good time for Kenshin to start realising this, along with Kaoru's feelings towards him and everything.
Originally, this chapter would have been combined to the next one. However, the next episode would be too long to add to this one. (Sessha is not saying anything…) One last thing - 'Gunshou' is some sort of military officer, but you probably already knew that…
So. How was this chapter? Good? Bad? Please REVIEW!
Next time on Fading Futures:
Shinya's irritated, Yahiko and Sano take up the matchmaking up to the next level and Kaoru and Kenshin find themselves in a bit of a predicament. What? Find out on the next episode: Alone Time
Mata Aimasho, Minna-san! See you next time…
Chosha Kurenai xXx
