Chapter 16

Tetsu woke up very early the next morning for his job in the shop. He was to help Okita-san set everything up and to arrange the flower as well. He wasn't too trill about working, but when Hijikata-san said that he was his page, it made him happy.

He put on his work uniform, which include an apron. He walk down stairs to breakfast. "Oh, Tetsu-kun! You're up already? I was about to go wake you up," Okita-san said out loud as Tetsu enter the kitchen. They were the only two up, so they had the kitchen all to themselves.

"Are you excited for your first job ever?" Okita-san asked after a sip of his juice. "A little bit," Tetsu replied, "I never work before, so I don't really know how to handle costumer."

"Don't worry, I'll help you if you needed it." Okita-san reassured him. He smile and nodded.

After setting up the store, it was time to open the shop. Costumer were pouring in one by one, mostly girls. Tetsu shrug when even more girls pour in. "Wow, this is the busiest day we had since Valentine's Day." Okita-san whisper as he pass Tetsu.

"Excuse me," a teenage girl asked. Tetsu look up at her and put on the fake smile Okita-san taught him just earlier, "Yes, can I help you lady?"

The teenage girl shriek with love and hug Tetsu tightly, "You are just sooooooooo cute!" Tetsu tried to struggle to get free, "L-Let go of me! Huh?" he look up at the rest of the girl that jump at him as well. "Help!" he shouted in fear.

"Don't you think that's enough?" someone said through all the noise. The girls voice die down and got off Tetsu when they see who it was. Tetsu look up at Hijikata-san that just reach out a hand toward him. He grab hold on it and look at Hijikata-san with a bit of tears still stuck to his eyes from the event that just happen. They must have make a Yaoi pose or something cause the girl actually jump on the both of them with kisses.

Okita-san and Susumu stood by the counter laughing, well Okita-san anyway. "I think we just got ourselves a popular pair," Okita-san said to Susumu.

"Hijikata-san is going to be furious," Susumu replied back, "Then again, he actually save Tetsu."

Okita-san grin at his word and look back at the pair that were still stuck under the girls. "If you don't buy anything, leave!" Hijikata-san shouted angrily as he got up from the girls that jump on him. The noise quickly die down and the girls got up. They dash toward the flowers and grab a bunch of them and rush to the counter, "We want this!" they all said in unison, "But we want him to do it!" they pointed at Tetsu who stood up with a torn apron and t-shirt. It made him look like an abandon kitten mix with the look of a puppy.

Tetsu stare at them in horror and wish he could just dissipate into nothingness. He swallow hard and force himself to the counter. "C-Can I help you?" he asked with a frighten smile. Okita-san held himself back from laughing. The girls were trying to held onto Tetsu's hand as he hand them the money or took the money.

Thankfully, lunch came at last. Tetsu sat tiredly at the table with his head down on the table. "I'm soooooo tired." he mumble, "I can't believe girls can be this scary. Saya isn't like them at all."

"Who's Saya?" Okita-san asked. Tetsu realize what he just said and got up quickly, "S-She's nobody!"

Okita-san smirk, "Is she your girlfriend?"

"No!" he answered with a blush.

Okita-san poke his cheek, "Come on Tetsu-kun. Tell me."

Tetsu blush even redder. Okita-san smile, "Ok ok, I won't make you tell. Since I'll find out someday."

"Okita-san!" he shouted with a red face.

"It's time! Let's get back to work!" Okita-san ran out of the room. Tetsu frown angrily.

Fortunately, the store wasn't as crowded as before. Okita-san had to leave for a delivery, so Tetsu was the only one left. He stood behind the counter and look at the outside through the peek in mirror. He sigh in boredom.

Suddenly, a black limo pull up in front of the store. Tetsu sat up straight and bit his lower lips. He knew who it was instantly. A mass of hatred try to escape into his body. He doesn't know why, but he knew something that happen to him involve Suzu.

Suzu step out of the limo and into the shop. He grin, "Hello Tetsu. It's been a while. Your father wanted me to give you a message."

Tetsu clench his hand into fist under the cover of his new apron. "How did you know I work here?" he hold back the anger in his voice.

Suzu look around the store, "I thought Ryuunosuke-san would leave you somewhere better than this, but I guess I was wrong?"

"What did Tou-san want you to tell me?" Tetsu asked impatiently.

Suzu grin even wider and turn to the car. Natsuki and Tsumori came out of the limo, holding a sword and a box. They hand the sword to Suzu, who hand it to Tetsu. He quickly grab it and look intensively at it. /Why would Tou-san give me this?/ he look up at Suzu.

"Oh! We have a costumer?" Okita-san asked as he enter the shop. He suddenly become very stiff and glare Suzu. "Why are you here?" he asked with a death glare. Suzu simply smile, "I came to deliver a message to Tetsu and to the employees that works here as well. Tsumori." Tsumori put the box down on the floor. "I'll take my leave then. Tetsu," he look at Tetsu, "I'll be waiting."

They got out of the shop and back into the limo. Suzu glance back and grin before the limo drove away. Okita-san turn back to Tetsu, who was back to staring at the sword intensively. Okita-san turn to the box on the ground and pick it up. His nostril flare when he smell something inside the box.

Okita-san, Hijikata-san, Susumu, and Kondou-san all gather at the kitchen table with the box in the middle. Tetsu was sent to bed early with his sword. They told him to think hard why his father would give him a sword.

"So he finally show himself," Hijikata-san said to no one.

"I can smell blood from inside," Okita-san pointed out as he stare at the box. Everyone else turn to the box as well.

"I'm sorry," he whispered and open the box. As soon as everyone saw what was inside, they clench their hands into fists. "He'll pay for this!" Hijikata-san said angrily as he look at what was in the box. Inside the box, was the head of Ichimura Ryuunosuke.