Disclaimer: I do not own Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple.

Recap: Shigure read Kenichi's Journal, revealing his true feelings, and leaving Shigure to deal with her own emotions, instead of trying to disregard Kenichi's.

AN: Readers, Writers, and friends alike, If you like my stuff, watch my Bio from now on, I'm going to be using it as some-what of a Progress/Alert board, Keeping informations about stories, and what's coming up next.

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*Ryōzanpaku dojo*

"So, how did you all sleep last night?" asked Miu,sitting at the table with the rest of them and forcing face to smile, even though she didn't get a wink of sleep the night before. There trip to Akisame's Clinic the previous night did nothing to aid in her rest, though she would not admit having lost sleep over it."Hello?...Wake up!" she exclaimed with a yell.

"What-Hu?" Sakaki asked wearily, rubbing his eyes with his right wrist, trying to stifle a yawn, his eyes bloodshot.

"A-a-hhh...pahh" Apachai said wearily, lumbering his large form to the table for the morning meal, running his eyes as he sat, then attempting to stifle a yawn.

"You two look Horrible!" Miu observed, watching them both trying to stifle yawns, shaking her head is a motherly fashion and shaking her finger at them. "You should always get a-" she was cut short as she let loose an enormous yawn, blushing and covering her mouth with her hands as sh finished, eyes large in realization she had been caught.

"And here you were trying to lecture us about not sleeping!" Sakaki pointed an accusing finger towards Miu, "You didn't sleep a wink either!"

"Ooh hush", Miu sighed, then continued, "So what were you two doing all night?" She asked, her face the picture of curiosity.

"Well you see-" Sakai started, being interrupted by this horrid roaring noise sounding somewhat like a dying cow, and an angry demon.

"AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!" Roared the Elder, "MY TREE!...APACHAI!"

Miu and Sakaki watched in amused silence as the Elder burst into the dining area, eyes glowing, and ensued to chaise Apachai around the Table as Apachai jumped over him, running for the door.

"Ap-ap-ap-ap-" Apachai chirped as he ran for the door, spamming on brake's as he saw the figure in the doorway.

Upon looking to the door way to see what caused the childish Muy Tai Master the room went still, the Elder grinding to a stop behind Apachai. Silence reigned as she stood there, framed in the doorway.

Smiling, the elder put his hand on Apachai's head, picking him up, and making way for Shigure to enter, "We missed you last night Shigure, will you please join us for the morning meal?" he inquired, still smiling at her.

Shigure shook her head, picking up her plate and walking back to the doorway. Unable to meet any of her friends eyes, fearing what they might see.

The Elder, still smiling, turned to face her once again, "Thats fine Shigure, we will talk later, Now if you all will excuse me, I need to try out this new tool I acquired a second ago, I'm going to see how well it pulls nails from tree's", still smiling, The Elder turned, still holding a helpless and mortified Apachai by the head, roughly a foot from the ground, and walked from the room, Smiling all the while, a glow being seen from his eyes as exited the room.

Sakaki shivered, then sighed aloud, closing his eyes aloud and shaking his head, then in a low voice mumbling, "Poor Apachai, probably nailing dolls to the Elders tree again...never learns...well, more for me!" proclaimed with a grin earning over to take Apachai's food, only to have Miu smack his hand with the rice spoon, shooting a hard glare his again, he turned back to his own food, again stifling a yawn, with his left hand, and pulling a beer out from under the table with the other.

"Might as well eat now, its not like there going to come back any time soon" Sakaki went on matter-of-factly, nodding at the food, grabbing his chop sticks at Miu's absent minded nod.

Watching Sakaki, Miu sighed, frowning as she now had to yawn as well.

Upon yawning, she noticed the beer, and began to open her mouth to protest booze so early in the morning, deciding against it, she closed her eyes, thinking to herself. Sakaki is taking this hard, he might act like he doesn't care at times, but he really does care, a lot more than he is willing to admit, he probably stayed up all night pacing the room, so I'll let it slide this one time. Coming to this decision, she nodded her head, opening her eyes to see the first beer can already crumpled along with a second, and Sakaki dutifully working his way through his third, having already consumed half of his food.

Miu sighed, closing her eyes to steady her already complaining mothering instincts to reprimand the karate master about drinking in the morning, and opening her eyes to see yet another beer out, the third crumpled, balancing precariously atop its brothers.

On seeing this Miu sighed, deciding to just eat in the stretching silence, and trying not to close her eyes for to long this time, fearing that their might be missing beer trucks in the vicinity if she didn't watch him carefully.

Sakai, now finishing his sixth beer, put down his chop-sticks, looking over to Miu.

"So who is going to be the one to tell Shigure about Kenichi?" Sakaki questioned, hoping it wouldn't have to be him, fearing the raven haired woman's wrath upon hearing the grim news.

"Uhhhhh" Miu hummed, a scared smile creeping to her face as her eyes closed , scratching the back of her head and facing Sakaki, "Well, since I'm only a young girl, with me entire life in-front of me...I was thinking you could do it" Miu replied with sweet smile, beginning to gather there dishes to take to the kitchen for washing.

A look of terror crossed Sakaki's face upon hearing that he had been dumped with the responsibility, "Thats no fair!' he exclaimed,"You can't ex-" He stopped his tirade of excuses as the Elder walked through the door way, face that of a smiling terror.

"500 dolls on my beloved tree" The Elder mumbled darkly, taking his seat, a smile coming to his face as he looked at Miu, "Miu, be a dear, no food for Apachai until you can see one side of my Tree again" he requested, smile still etched into his face.

Sakaki shivered again, offering The Elder a beer, more out of politeness than anything, knowing he would wave it away.

The Elder smiled at Sakaki, this time it was genuine, turning away to Miu, requesting his morning Tea. Miu immediately nodded in compliance, turning away with her and Sakaki's dishes as she made her way to the kitchen, dropping off the dishes into the sink and going for the tea.

Upon Miu's leaving,The Elder quickly turned to Sakaki, accepting the beer in Sakaki still outstretched hand, and quickly opened it, turning it topside quickly, then crushing it, throwing it into the ever-growing pile before Sakaki.

Sakaki looked at The Elder, Confusion written on his face, "But you never drink in the morning" he stated, looking at The smiling Elder, his confusion obvious.

"I believe that is is necessary before going to tell Shigure about Kenichi's state" The Elder answered sagely, wisdom showing in his eyes as he checked the door, making sure Miu was still busy before taking another and repeating the process.

On hearing this Sakaki nodded with understanding, closing his eyes and sighing his relief in knowing that he would not have to be the one to tell the young weapons master.

The Elder, upon seeing Miu enter the room, gladly accepted his tea, sipping it and commenting to Miu about how good it was, turning to Sakaki to scold him for drinking so early in the morning, then turning his scolding to Miu for her tolerating such at the Morning meal. After finishing, adding, as if a second thought, "Maybe just this once" he winked to Sakaki.

Sakaki, taking the cue, Winked back, then thanked The Elder for his tolerance on this occasion, then leaning over to place his head to The Elders ear, whispering lightly, "Ill leave a few behind Akisame's statues", then turning to leave the dining room, stretching and saying he was of for his morning exercises.

Miu Turned to her grandfather, a questioning look in her eyes, her eyebrow arched, and unspoken question hanging in the air.

The Elder smiled, "Just a brief pointer on addressing Shigure about the matter at hand' The Elder answered, smiling sweetly at his granddaughter as she looked at his for another second, nodded, accepting the answer and asking to go do the dishes, at which The Elder curtly nodded, turning back to his food as she bowed, leaving for the kitchen.

Looking around in her absence, The Elder turned his ear to the door, listening to make sure Apachai was still at work.

Hearing grunts and 'ap-ap-ap-pa's' The Elder grunted, turning back to his food, stopping mid turn, noticing Sakaki left a beer beside him, hidden under the table.

"You wonderful person" The Elder silently thanked Sakaki, cracking it open and repeating the cycle yet again.

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Hope you liked it, R&R guys.

My Regards,

-Shaw, SR-