"Women begin by rejecting a man's advances and end by blocking his retreat." – Oscar Wilde
Jasmine: (Sad sigh) I guess not a lot of people liked last chappie…(Bursts into tears) EIGHT-HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO HITS AND FORTY-TWO REVIEWS! (Sobbing hysterically)…Right then…I don't own anything, and here's the next chapter…
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The Difference Between Love And Loathing – Chapter Six: Tae
(With Saito, Misao, and Chou in Victoria's Secret, March 18, 2005…12:04 p.m.)
"…Cin we go now? Ah'm starvin'…"
"Shut up, Ahou."
"Oh, come on. Ain't ya' hungry too, Boss?
"…Just…shut up…"
Misao was feeling quite bored, but she was determined to keep Saito in the store for as long as she could. She had stopped looking at the clothes a while ago, and she idly wondered if he'd ever figure it out and yell at her. Ah, well. It was amusing to listen to him and Chou argue. They sounded like an old married couple!
"But Boss…"
"No, Ahou. Be quiet!"
"MISAO-CHAN!"
And then she was randomly and furiously glomped from behind by an unknown assailant, causing her to squeak loudly and flop forward, nearly brought to the floor by the intensity of the attack. This caught Saito's attention, and he ran forward to help her…
…But Misao held up a hand to stop him.
"Ah haven't seen ya' in ferever, Misao-chan!"
The weasel giggled and rolled her eyes, knowing exactly who it was. "Jeeze, Tae-chan! Don't scare me like that!"
Sekihara Tae let go of the poor, slightly squished ninja, grinned widely, and reached down to straighten her fern-green camisole. Standing at a mere five feet three inches, she wasn't much taller than Misao. Her shoulder-length auburn hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, and a white handkerchief adorned it. "Well, it's been way too long since we last spoke ta' each other, and Ah jus' thought, hey, why not frighten mah bestest friend ta' death in the process of sayin' hi? Hee hee…"
Misao sighed, trying her hardest to appear stern. "Listen here, Sekihara-san. You can't just go around glomping people without a proper warning!" Not that she hadn't done the same thing to the waitress on a few other occasions, of course, but she was merely trying to make a point.
"Oh, come now, Misao-chan! If Ah cin recall c'rrectly, Ah've been the recipient of a few surprise attacks bah ya' a lot o' tahmes! Ah jus' wanted ta' git ya' back 's'all."
Chou walked over from staring at some lingerie, blinked, and poked Saito hard in the ribs, a bit confused at the sudden turn of events. "…Eh,Boss? Who's that?"
The waitress looked up, startled at the sound of a masculine voice. She stared at the two men, perplexed at why they were there. "Huh? Do ya' know these guys, Misao-chan?" When her eyes settled on Chou, there was an audible gasp of joy. "BLONDIE!"
The poor Osakan never knew what hit him. Suddenly, Tae was just…there…and her hands were rapidly fuzzling his hair.
"Oh, yer jus' so cute! Blondie, Blondie, Blondie!"
Chou's face rapidly went redder and redder as Tae went on and on in her ranting. He'd never been in a situation…quite like this before, and it was disconcerting, to say the least. He looked towards Misao, desperate for a little help, but frowned when he saw her doubled over in laughter. The amused snickers behind him indicated that his partner wasn't going to assist him, either. Just. Freaking. Great.
"YER A BLONDIE-BEAR! A SUPER-ADORABLE BLONDIE-BEAR, YES YOU ARE!" Insert mass-fuzzling here.
Misao couldn't take it anymore. She had to stop Tae before her stomach exploded from laughing so hard. "T-Tae, l-let go of the p-poor guy, p-please…" Chou…he looked like a tomato! She'd never seen anyone go that red before in her life.
The waitress sighed sadly and obediently backed off, staring mournfully at the messed-up poof of blondness upon the Osakan's head. "…Aww, but Ah haven't seen a fella with hair lahke that in so long…"
"Tae, Tae, you can't just attack some random guy like that! Sheesh, have a bit more self-control," the ninja winked conspiratorially and wrapped an arm around Tae's shoulders. "But…" The waitress looked up hopefully. "Since this is Chou-kun, and all…molest his poor hair as much as you want. It's fine with me."
The Osakan, meanwhile, was feeling quite dazed. His blond locks stood up every-which-way, giving him an almost-Sano look (except…not really…that's not possible without hair gel…). He leaned against the nearest wall and ran a hand through it, trying to get it back into a semi-normal appearance. It refused to go down, though, so he sighed heavily and gave up.
Saito couldn't help but chuckle at the stupefied look on Chou's face. The flaxen-haired man probably hadn't even figured out what had attacked him. Tae had practically snuck in like a stealthy ninja and struck before any of them had time to blink! But, enough of that…he hadn't introduced himself, yet. He coughed discreetly at Misao, hoping she'd get the message.
Fortunately for all, she did. "O-oh, right, Sekihara Tae, meet Saito Hajime, my bodyguard." The weasel stepped back to allow them to shake hands.
The detective nodded at Tae, a smirk gracing his lips at the look of awe on her face. "…Ah, nice to meet you. You definitely seem…" What was the word he was looking for? "…Lively…" Not the right one, but it'd have to do.
Tae couldn't help but stare, blinking in astonishment. "B-bodyguard? Misao-chan, why do ya' need a bodyguard?" Then she leaned forward to whisper into the weasel's ear, grinning evilly. "…And why's he so damn hot?"
Misao blushed a bit and glared at the waitress with angry blue-green eyes. "I-I think we should discuss this over lunch, Tae-chan. Why don't we go to the Akabeko and eat?" She really didn't want to talk about The Akuma in Victoria's Secret…it just didn't seem right (plus, theirony of it all would kill her).
Chou broke out of his stupor and immediately perked up at the mention of food. "E-eat? Yeah, Ah think we should go do that! Eatin' sounds good! In fact, why dun't Ah jus' meet ya'll there, huh? Bye now!" And he disappeared out the door without so much as a backwards glance, the twinkling of a bell the only thing marking his departure.
Tae watched him leave with a large sweat drop and a big grin. "Well, now, Ah balieve that the Blondie has the right idea. We cin chit-chat over a nice lunch at th' Akabeko, mah treat! C'mon!" She followed after him, leaving the wolf and the weasel alone together.
The ninja crossed her arms, immediately feeling a bit uncomfortable. She supposed that she'd have to get used to this, though. They'd be with each other a lot, for who knows how long. "…S-so, I guess…we should go too, huh?"
"…It appears so, itachi."
"Well, why aren't you moving?" Now she was starting to get annoyed. Stupid, egotistical jerk…
"I'm waiting for you, baka. I am your bodyguard, you know. I'm supposed to walk behind you."
"…WHO THE HELL MADE THAT STUPID RULE? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT!"
Saito sighed and raked a hand through his hair, starting to get fed up with Misao's little temper-tantrums. "Look, weasel, just go. And hurry up about it, why don't you? I, for one, am starving, and I'm sure you are, too."
The ninja huffed and blushed furiously, then ran to the door and angrily pushed it open. "You know, you could be a bit less mean, sometimes. I really wish you would."
"…Hn, whatever…"
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Komagata Yumi sighed when the little group left, thankful for a few moments of peace and quiet. "My, they certainly were a loud bunch, weren't they, dear?"
"Especially that annoying blond. I have half a mind to go after him and kill him just for talking to you…"
"Oh, darling, don't do that! I want him to come back. He was quite…amusing."
Makoto Shishio frowned down at his girlfriend and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really now? What exactly are you saying, Yumi?"
She laughed kittenishly and yanked on his collar, pulling him forward for a long, hot kiss. When the flirtatious woman ran out of breath, she pulled away and leaned back against the counter, panting. "D-definitely not what you think I'm saying, darling…"
"Humph. Well, one can never know with you, now can they?" Shishio wasn't even showing signs of slight asphyxiation, let alone wheezing.
"Hee hee…true, true."
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Tae walked over from the Akabeko ordering counter and sat down at the nearest table, gesturing for Misao to take the seat next to her. "Ah already ordered fer us, and we'll git the food in jus' a minute. But now's not the tahme fer that. Okay, Misao-chan…spill. What's with Mr. Saito-The-Hottie-Hajime and Blondie-Bear, huh?"
The ninja couldn't help but face-fall at the absurd nicknames Tae came up with. When she recovered, she sat down heavily in the chair and rested her face in her palms, sighing as she did so. Where to start? So much had happened in the course of a day. It seemed as if her life had been completely thrown upside-down in a matter of hours. "Well, let me see, here…do you know about the murderer known as "The Akuma"? You must recognize the name. This is the guy that's been going around killing women and…mutilating their bodies." It pained her to say it, for she knew that she could (and might, probably, unless she was more careful) be the next. Misao really didn't want to end up as a sad little heap of muscle and bone thrown together in some plastic bag and carelessly hidden in a secluded place somewhere in Tokyo. That just wasn't the kind of end she had envisioned for herself. (Or for anyone, for that matter…she didn't even want that to happen to her worst enemies!)
The waitress' eyes widened at that dreaded name. "The Akuma? O' course Ah know 'bout him! But…what does…he have ta' do with…" Her hand immediately flew over her mouth as she gasped in shock. "N-no, Misao-chan…ya' didn't git –"
She interrupted her with a groan. "I did, sadly. The police took it and are checking it now for fingerprints, but I doubt that there'll be any. The Akuma isn't so stupid as to make an amateurish mistake like leaving such damning evidence behind. Besides, he didn't leave any on any of the other notes that the other women got, so…yeah…"
"Oh, Misao-chan, Ah cain't balieve that this is happenin' ta' ya'. Why you, though? Ah jus'…don't git it…out o' any of the other females he coulda picked, why pick you?"
"I've been asking myself that same exact question over and over again, Tae-chan. And even though I don't really know the answer, either, I can say one thing…why anyone, really? I suppose I just got lucky. Or, should I say, unlucky?" Misao sighed again, scowling, but visually cheered up when a burger, a big plate of fries, and a large Sprite was placed in front of her. "Hey thanks, Tsu-chan!" She grinned up at the shy little waitress, now in a much better mood.
Sanjo Tsubame smiled back, blushing slightly. "O-of course, Misao-san. Ypu always g-get the same th-thing when you c-come here, anyways, so I always know e-exactly what you want," she placed a salad down near Tae and a little container of Italian Dressing. "E-enjoy."
Tae stopped her before she could leave, though, and winked mischievously. "So, Tsu-chan, how's the thing with Yahiko-kun goin', huh?" Both Tsubame and Yahiko worked at the Akabeko, and Tae owned it. She liked to know what was going on at all times between her favorite waitress and waiter.
The shy girl blushed crimson and rubbed her hands together slowly. Misao had seen her do it before during certain situations, and she figured that it was merely a nervous habit. "O-oh, p-pretty well, actually!" She grinned happily, nearly bouncing up and down with joy. "H-he's actually taking me to th-the movies on Friday t-to see a movie! He e-even let me pick which one!"
The waitress started in on her salad and raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. "And here Ah thought that our own 'Mr. Tough-Guy' didn't lahke 'Chick-Flicks'. Well, Ah s'pose Ah stand c'rrected. Tsu-chan, if'n ya' cin git Yahiko-kun ta' go ta' a movie lahke that with ya', then ya' cin git 'im ta' do anythin'. Really, take mah advice and hold on ta' that boy as best as ya' can. Love lahke yers only comes once in a blue moon." Every few words were punctuated with little stabbing motions from Tae's fork.
Tsubame nodded, beaming widely. "Th-thank you, Tae-san. I a-appreciate that."
When the little waitress left, Misao blinked at Tae in astonishment. "What the hell was that about? I've never heard you give a speech like that to me, before!" She bit into her burger gleefully, then started scarfing down the fries. The poor little spuds never stood a chance…
Tae sighed and rolled her chocolate-brown eyes. "That's 'cause Ah don't lahke that Shinomori guy yer with, Misao-chan," before the itachi could retort venomously, the waitress interrupted. "Now, now, lemme finish bafore ya' start ta' go ballistic on meh. Look, Misao-chan…the man's cold. He doesn't have one humorous bone in his body. Ah've never heard him laugh bafore, or, hell, Ah've never even seen him smile. Tell meh, how many tahmes has he told ya' he loves ya'?"
Misao idly sipped her Sprite, thinking hard. Aoshi-sama had told her that he loved her…at some point in time. If only she could remember…
He had…she knew he had. But if he did, how come she couldn't think of it?
"I-I…I can't remember, Tae-chan…"
"What, does that mean that he has so many tahmes that ya' can't think o' the number, or that…he really never has, an' yer jus' tryin' ta' cover it up?"
Tae's words bit deep. No, Aoshi-sama truly hadn't. But he would, eventually, she was sure of it! If she loved him enough, then surely…he'd love her back…
The waitress felt bad for ruining Misao's good mood, so she decided to change the subject. "Okay, well, Ah don't care 'bout Shinomori. If you really love the guy, then it's fahne with meh. If'n yer happy, then Ah'm happy. Hell, Ah'm still single, so Ah shouldn't beh talkin', eh?" She grinned widely. "Now, ya' still haven't told meh 'bout those two gentlemen over there…"
Misao turned around and blinked at the table behind them. Chou was inhaling his food like there was no tomorrow, and Saito was calmly sipping at a large coffee and reading the morning paper. Hey, hadn't the damned man said that he was starving? Well, why the hell wasn't he eating anything?
The ninja was just about to have a word with him, when Tae interrupted her again. "So, what's Blondie-Bear's name? Ah don't think ya' introduced us properly, Misao-chan!"
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Well, Tae-chan, you did kinda attack the poor man! His name's Sawagejou Chou, if you really want to know. …And maybe you should stop calling him 'Blondie-Bear', huh?"
"Oh, why? Ah love that name! And b'sides, Ah think it suits him perf'ctly!"
"…Tae-chan, you're an idiot."
"Humph. At least Ah don't have the hots fer mah own bodyguard."
Misao jumped her words, eyes going wide. "E-E-EH? WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BY THAT?"
The waitress grinned smugly, eyes giving the weasel a knowing look. "Don't think Ah haven't noticed the way ya' stare at 'im, Misao-chan. Ah mean, Ah don't blame ya'…he's purdy damn hot! 'Course, not as hot as that Blondie-Bear over there, but he's still way up there in the totem pole of hotness!"
Stare? STARE? When had Misao ever stared at Saito? They had only been with Tae for a few minutes, and the ninja couldn't recall ogling the wolf at all in that short span of time!
Damned Tae putting strange thoughts into her head. Aoshi-sama was the only guy for her, and they'd get married one day and have kids, then grow old together. That was her dream. He was her world, her everything! She couldn't imagine life without her Aoshi-sama.
So, then why whenever she'd try to imagine those beautiful, icy-blue eyes of his, she only saw endless, unflinching amber and molten gold?
Yes, her life had certainly been thrown into chaos in merely a day. It's strange, the way Fate likes to work, isn't it?
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Jasmine: Okay, guys…I'm posting this fast, and I'm in a hurry, so forgive any mistakes. I'll fix them later. Oh, by the way...yes, there are a few side-pairings. Chou/Tae, Yahiko/Tsubame, Sanosuke/Megumi, Kenshin/Kaoru, and...Shishio/Yumi. I'll try to make them all appear in some way...but Chou/Tae is definitely the biggest of the side-pairs.I hope I get some more feedback, this time…the lack of reviews kinda had me down, so I didn't start this until today. I shall respond in my bio when I have the chance. Well, until next time, loyal reviews, this is Jasmine Reinier, sighing off.
"People only have hope…because they cannot see Death standing behind them."