A/N: Hello, all!

This stupid little wordbeast of a chapter fought me the entire way. And, combined with an explosion of stuff at work, that's the reason why this chapter is late.

Tell me if it's not good and I'll pummel it some more.


Chapter Three: Wry Music

Soujiro was naturally an early riser, but to his chagrin, he slept later than anyone else at the Akabeko. He rushed through the steps to put on his complicated uniform, mentally counting the ki in the building. Everyone was down in the kitchen - the chefs, the wait staff, even Sekihara-san - everyone but him. He smothered his annoyance as he left his room and strode down the hallway. Tae was kind enough; perhaps she would not be too displeased since, after all, this was his second day.

He appeared in the kitchen doorway, his smile already in place, but the sight made him pause. Everyone was gathered around one of the pots by the fireplace, and Soujiro could smell the comforting aroma of dashi and kombu: miso soup for breakfast.

"Ah!" Tsubame noticed him and waved brightly. "Good morning, Soujiro-san!"

Other heads turned his way, and he nodded in reply. "Good morning."

"Would you like some miso?" Tae called, gesturing over the heads of Kanako and Hana at the pot.

"No, I can get some myself."

Tae brought over a bowl anyway and pushed it into his hands. "It's a long time until lunch," she explained, shrugging under his wry smile. "If you don't get some now, it'll all be eaten. Especially after Yahiko-chan gets here."

He stirred the broth around with his spoon. The heat from the soup was seeping through the sides of the bowl, warming his fingers. "And you, Tae-san?"

She blinked at him, and Soujiro realized that the apology he had meant to give hadn't come out. He gestured to the crowd, trying to hide his surprise at himself. "For eating," explained. "Don't you need to eat as well, before Yahiko-san - ?"

"Oh, he'll save me some," she said, and there was a knowing glint in her eye. "We've had an experience in the past, and he will save me some food."

She spoke matter-of-factly, and Soujiro found himself wondering what Tae had done to Yahiko when he'd thoughtlessly neglected her. Then he realized he was staring and promptly bowed his head. "Forgive me, Tae-san," he said. "I didn't mean to sleep so long. I guess I was quite tired last night."

Tae smiled. "No trouble at all! A new schedule does take some getting used to."

"Indeed." Tae's father came up behind them, bowl in hand, and Soujiro bowed again. "Other areas of employment are not so ruthless to their workers. I hope it will not be too much trouble for you to get used to."

"None at all," Soujiro replied brightly.

Sekihara-san sipped at his soup. "You seem like a man after my own heart, Soujiro-san," he said, and sighed wistfully. "I wish we could choose our own hours to wake from sleep."

Tae arched an eyebrow at her father, but said nothing.

"It's best to wake up early, even when you don't have to," Soujiro said. He shrugged. "You get so much more done if you do."

"Oh?" Sekihara-san queried. "Did your last employment allow you such freedoms?"

"Actually, I was a wanderer for the last few years," he said.

Tae and her father blinked in surprise. Tsubame leaned around Tae to gape at Soujiro. "Did you really, Soujiro-san?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yep, sure did."

"Like Himura-san." Tsubame looked up at Tae and they shared a look. "A rurouni, like Himura-san."

"That's true." Tae turned back to face him and she was smiling now, wider than before. Her ki was brighter, too - she was happier, Soujiro realized, since he'd revealed that he was a traveler. Why would that change...?

No. Her smile had only become real when he had been compared to the Battousai.

Soujiro studied Tae as she turned to chat with her father. Tsubame was acquainted with Himura-san through Yahiko, that he knew. And it was public knowledge that the Akabeko was the restaurant of choice for the Himura family, so of course Tae would have seen Himura-san, even conversed with him, perhaps. Soujiro checked her ki again to be sure - but no, he only felt bright optimism in Tae. She was not jealous of the Battousai's wife, then. But why would she be pleased at the comparison?

He filed the thought away in his mind until he could think on it further.


He was having tea in the kitchen just before they opened for lunch when he felt the stubborn ki of Kanako coming closer, growing steadily clearer. A few moments later, he heard her quick footsteps approach.

"Soujiro-san," she said.

Soujiro smiled. He'd known she would come to him sooner or later. That challenge he'd felt yesterday and the strong suspicions that she'd worn openly were still there, buried beneath a cool assurance of herself. Someone with that inclination, that bold and baseless belief in themselves, could not simply step back and leave him alone. A few of the Juppongatana members were like that, too - especially Cho. It was only after several rousing defeats that Cho had admitted that Soujiro was not a fluke or simply lucky; he deserved to stand by Shishio's side.

Not that Kanako would plan to take Cho's route to test him, though.

He took his time swallowing the rest of his tea before turning to face her. "Yes, Taniguchi-san? How can I help you?"

"Tae-san would like you to shadow me from now on," she said, looking unfazed by the broad grin on his face. "Since my section will become yours, it's time you became familiar with which tables you are responsible for waiting on."

"Of course," he said, and followed her out onto the main floor. Near the main doors of the restaurant, Tsubame glanced back at them curiously, then returned to sweeping the mats.

"Tae seats customers in a pattern," Kanako said, pointing. "First is Tsubame's section at the front, then mine, then Hana's. Ideally, we should all have equal tables that are occupied in our sections."

"Ideally," Soujiro agreed.

"Sometimes we have regular customers come in, like the Ishidas or the Himuras, or even single customers like Sagara-san."

He hid his amusement. Ah. Well, he'd wondered what happened to the man with aku marked on his back. He supposed it was too much to speculate that the fool had somehow killed himself in the last few years. "Do they come in often?" he asked.

"Sagara-san is rather unpredictable," she said. She faced the sea of rectangular tables, one hand tangled up in her hair. "The Ishidas do, but the Himuras haven't been out since they had their second child."

Second...? Soujiro started a little, taken aback despite himself. He shouldn't have been surprised; he'd known the Battousai was married, and children did seem to inevitably follow afterwards. If his wife was a beautiful woman, then it would be even more understandable.

But still, two children seemed a little excessive.

"Ah," Soujiro murmured, feigning detachment.

Across the room, Tsubame opened the front doors and stepped outside to continue sweeping. The moment she vanished from view, Soujiro felt a spike in Kanako's ki. "Alright," she said, turning to face him. "I know you're hiding something. What is it?"

He looked at her. "Hide?" he echoed innocently.

"That's right." She nodded her chin at him. "I saw your speed yesterday. I would have run into you if you hadn't moved aside in time - "

"I do my best," he interrupted cheerfully.

" - faster than I could see," she finished in a hard voice. "That's not a skill that comes naturally."

"It did to me," he answered truthfully.

"You're not answering my question."

"What question is that?"

Kanako glared fiercely. "What is a swordsman doing as a waiter in a sukiyaki restaurant?"

Soujiro had to admit, the girl was perceptive. He hadn't expected anyone to figure it out so soon. "I don't have a sword," he said obviously, holding out his hands as if to show her.

As he'd hoped, he'd embarrassed her. She flushed. "But I know you are," she said stubbornly. "My brother was a swordsman, and he moved just like you. If you don't tell me what you're really doing here, I'll tell Tae-san."

He smiled at her, suppressing a laugh with some effort. Was she honestly planning to blackmail him? "How boring!" He said cheerfully. "It's not a secret. Tell Tae-san now, if you want to."

Her eyes flashed. "Maybe I will," she declared, but her bold words betrayed the flicker of unease that had trickled into her ki. "You're not one of the swordsmen that the Meiji era has set adrift - there's something off about you. It's too simple, you being here. Why? What do you want?"

Now he did let himself laugh, a small, mocking chuckle. "You are so eloquent, Taniguchi-san. I'm afraid I can't answer with the same kind of beauty."

Her eyes widened in fury. She opened her mouth to respond when Tae suddenly emerged from the kitchen and strode past them, calling after Tsubame. Soujiro followed her with his eyes, noticing odd little things that he never had before: the ripple of her apron strings as she strode away, twirling backwards like a ribbon blown in the wind. How graceful and silent her steps were on the mat floor. How even though she was here, in her restaurant, in her home, there was still an air of cool confidence in place that never seemed to waver.

Never, but for that day five years ago.

The one day that had convinced him to come back.

"Soujiro-san," Kanako said, and his head snapped around. She had ducked her head and was slowly raising it again, her eyes flickering up to meet his. "I suppose this has no meaning for you, but I do not trust you."

He shrugged, trying to rouse himself from his distant thoughts. He made his voice sound amused. "Is trust so very important?"

She swallowed. "It is to Tae-san."

Soujiro blinked. Naturally, he wanted to say, with words light on his tongue, but he couldn't. His jaw clenched and he couldn't make himself utter the phrase. How strange, he thought, distantly surprised at his reaction. Odd that such a simple statement could confound my control.

When Soujiro did not reply, Kanako nodded slowly. She looked as though she might say something more, and then she paused. Her eyes darted to look over his shoulder and she took a step back. He felt the confidence in her ki shrink and withdraw, and she inclined her head hastily then turned away.

"Soujiro-san," Tae said, coming up behind him. "We - oh, where did Kanako-chan go?"

He turned to face her. "Back to the kitchen, I suppose."

"Ah. Well, we're going to open soon." She glanced at him then looked again, her eyes sharpening. Soujiro watched as she reached toward him, fingers outstretched, and for a split moment he thought she was going to touch him.

Tae seemed to realize what she was doing and recoiled. She curled her fingers into a fist. "I'm sorry," she said, and used her other hand to motion to her collar. "It's twisted under - no, other side," she amended when his hand flew to adjust the wrong edge of the starched fabric. She smiled slightly and nodded once when he looked back up at her. "Much better."

Yumi-san would have just fixed it, Soujiro thought as Tae moved off toward the kitchen. She would have sighed, rolled her eyes and muttered something about 'maintaining those good looks' and just shoved his collar back into place.

But Tae-san didn't know him that well, yet. That must have been why she didn't touch him.

He wouldn't have minded, though.

The thought took him by surprise. Tae-san can't hurt me, he rationalized to himself. No one, not even Yahiko-san can stand up to me. There has never been hostility in Tae-san's ki, so naturally I've had no need to be defensive -

But that wasn't all. Not really.

Soujiro knew himself, now, better than he thought he'd known anyone - even Shishio-san. And in the past few years of wandering, he had come to believe himself. Trust himself.

He wouldn't have minded Tae's touch, and that was the truth.

A smile tugged at his face, at the irony of the situation. He had meant for this to work the other way around and yet, somehow...

Well. He'd just have to work faster.


Sekihara Kosuke joined his daughter at the front of the restaurant, ignoring the polite half-bow she automatically sent his way. "It seems to be a rather steady evening," he observed, just loud enough to be heard above the soft murmur of conversation.

Tae nodded. "Yes, it is."

"How is Soujiro-san settling in?"

She gave him a side look, and he caught the amusement in her eyes. "You've been here all this week," she said. "I know you've been watching him, too."

He shrugged, feigning airy unconcern. "I want to know what you've seen."

Tae looked out over the open seating area. "He took over Kanako's waiting responsibilities a few days ago - "

"The transition?"

"Seamless." She shot him another quick look, to show she was aware of his pretended carelessness. "He has made no mistakes that I can think of; he never confused any of the orders, he is prompt with his deliveries, and I have never seen him react with anything but polite cordiality toward the customers."

"I see."

"In fact..." She paused, then went on. "In fact, I've had several customers who spoke very highly of his service to me when they left the restaurant. Not only that, but a few have mentioned..."

"Yes?" He prompted when she hesitated again.

Tae frowned. She took a small breath and stiffened, looking straight ahead. "A few have mentioned that they approve of his handsome face."

He stared at Tae, amazed. "They said that to you, Tae?"

"Not directly to me, no, but I've heard it more than a few times in the week that he's been here."

He gazed at her for a moment, trying to understand why she seemed so displeased. Then he smirked. "I told you that a handsome man would bring more custom."

"So you did, Otōsan." Her eyes narrowed slightly, and Kosuke turned to follow her gaze. As if he could hear their conversation, Soujiro-san had looked up from across the room. He smiled at Tae and inclined his head slightly to Kosuke before turning to address a table.

"And you are not pleased about it," Kosuke said to his daughter.

"I'm just annoyed, that's all," she said, still staring after Soujiro.

He raised his eyebrows. Tae was usually so collected; she really must have been irked to admit it aloud. "Why? That I was right? That people chose to come here because of Soujiro-san? Because he is handsome?"

Tae whipped around, her arched brows furrowed into a scowl. "Otōsan," she hissed.

"It was just a question." He blinked back innocently.

"Is that all you wanted to ask?"

"Well, no." He held her gaze for a long moment before looking away. "Have you begun teaching him English?"

"We've had two lessons. He's a fast learner."

The clipped responses now. He looked at her from the corner of his eye. "Does he not get along with your staff?" he asked bluntly.

She sighed. "It's fine, Otōsan. Everyone seems to like him, and even Yahiko is warming to him."

"Do you not get along with him?"

"No, he's fine. He's..." Tae searched for the words and, finding none, simply shrugged. "He's fine."

"Hm." It was an odd response, to be sure. He told himself to ask about Soujiro later, after he'd been at the Akabeko for a few months. "How is Kanako?"

"Very well, I think. She packed her things this morning and is planning to leave tomorrow morning on the train."

"I see." Kosuke nodded. It would work out perfectly, then. "And I shall leave with her."

"O-Oh?" She stared at him with wide eyes. "But you haven't mentioned leaving before. Why have you suddenly decided to go now?"

He rolled his shoulders, shrugging. "You don't need me here, Tae. And you know how much I hate goodbyes."

Tae rolled her eyes. "Sae mentioned how abruptly your last visit ended. I suppose I should have expected it."

"I try to keep my children on their toes." He grinned as she scoffed in mock frustration. "But really, Tae, I meant what I said. You've done extraordinarily here - more than I'd ever hoped. Not even a new hire was enough to shake your conviction. You've been nothing but professional and confident, and it's made the Akabeko stronger for it. I'm very pleased."

Tae stared at him, her face frozen between wide-eyed surprise and shy pride. "I... thank you, Otōsan," she murmured.

"Don't go all bashful on me," he chided teasingly. He reached up and squeezed her elbow reassuringly. "The Akabeko is yours, and I would have no one else have mastery of it but you. I've always known you'd do well, Tae."

Tae bowed her head and covered his hand with hers. "Thank you for your faith in me," she whispered.

He smiled at her. "Of course," he said lightly, "that doesn't mean I won't still expect you to write me letters about the Akabeko. The Shirobeko doesn't get off easy, and neither will you."

Her head dipped lower, and he could tell that she was smiling in return. "Say hello to all of them for me," she said.

"Of course," he said again.

"And Sae. Tell her... give her my best wishes."

The smile slipped a little on his face. "You could tell her that yourself," he said gently.

Tae shrugged and turned away, breaking his hold on her arm. Her lips were tipped upward - not a true smile any longer, but a wide one nonetheless. He had taught her that smile, long ago. "We both know my feelings about that," she murmured.

Kosuke nodded. "Yes," he said, though he wished he understood them.


Soujiro was filling a teapot with hot water when he felt Yahiko approach. "Tsubame told me something interesting the other day," he said casually, his arms loosely crossed over his chest.

Yahiko's ki did not feel casual, no matter how he tried to sound. Soujiro flicked his eyes up at the boy then away. He poured airy curiosity into his voice. "Oh? What was that, Yahiko-san?"

"That you were a wanderer for a while."

"It's true." The pot filled, he sent Yahiko a smile as he turned to place it on the tray beside the tea cups. "For the last few years, I was a wanderer."

Yahiko waited a few moments before replying. "Huh. Guess I was wrong - I wouldn't have guessed you'd be the wandering type."

"I didn't know there was a type of personality that wanderers needed to have."

"Oh, I didn't mean that. I just... it seems that all the great men I've ever known have wandered at some point in their lives."

Soujiro turned to face him. "Is that so?"

Yahiko opened his mouth to reply, but one of the chefs spoke over him. "Hang on, hang on," Nizuno said, waving his knife in a dismissive motion. "I can't help overhearing what you're saying - "

Urato sniggered.

" - and I just have to say, if being a wanderer means you're a great man, then you're wrong about the kid."

Soujiro tilted his head to the side, waiting, while Yahiko groaned. "Hey now, that isn't what I meant at all - "

"Yeah," Urato added, "he isn't a man at all, 'cause he's still a kid!"

The two chefs burst into laughter. Yahiko rolled his eyes. "You've told jokes about his age all week long," he said. "Aren't you two tired of telling them?"

"Nope," Nizuno said cheerfully. "In fact, we've thought up a nickname for the kid."

"Ugh! That's it, I've had it." Yahiko scrubbed a hand through his hair and strode away. "Never mind, Soujiro-san, we'll talk about it later."

Soujiro turned to watch him leave. Nizuno waited until the moment Yahiko disappeared through the doorway before letting out an excited breath. "As I was saying, Soujiro-san, it's original, okay? So indulge us: Sou. How's that for a nickname?"

He blinked. Nizuno and Urato blinked back, expressions of hopeful amusement barely contained on their faces. "Ahh," Soujiro said eventually and smiled. "Actually, I've already had someone use that nickname for me."

"Aw, what? Really?" Urato blew out his breath in a huff, stirring the side of his bangs. "You sure?"

"Yep, pretty sure."

Yumi called him Sou the most. She told him once that she quite liked nicknames, and had a secret one for Hoji that she'd refused to tell him. Every once in a while, when Shishio was relaxed or in a good mood, he used to call Soujiro 'Sou' too. And Hoji... well, he used it too, as a way to prove he fitted in with their intimate circle, but Soujiro had never responded to the name from him.

Funny - out of all the nicknames the chefs could pick, they'd chosen that one.

"I thought you were going to name me something that had to do with my young face," Soujiro said, picking up his tray.

"You aren't the only young boy that we mess with here," Nizuno said, nodding to the doorway where Yahiko had just vanished.

"Besides, there's always our first nickname for you," Urato put in, sounding as if the answer were obvious. "You'll always be 'the kid', no matter if you get a not-so-new nickname."

Soujiro only smiled. "Fair enough," he said easily, and swept out of the room.


Everything was packed. Her bags stood by the door, waiting for the morning. The room was cleaner than she had seen it in a long time, at least in her time of living in the Akabeko. It was odd, knowing this would be her last night in the restaurant. It had become more like her home than her actual home, and she was sad to be leaving.

But that night, the only emotion she felt was seething anger.

The others had gone to sleep hours ago. She had listened as the muffled, nocturnal noises slowly tapered off and vanished altogether, and she knew she was the only one awake. When she judged that enough time had passed that she judged she wouldn't accidentally wake them, she'd sat up, pulled over her little writing tray and lit a candle.

It was silly, she knew. She should be sleeping, really she should - she'd be exhausted tomorrow, and she hated traveling anyway - but she had to do something.

She did not trust Soujiro.

Kanako thought she'd made that clear to him on his second day. Any other person might have come back to her with a list of their stellar qualities, explained the reasons or history why he'd been dishonest in the first place, or even apologized and begged for her to understand. She had threatened his job, after all; that was his livelihood, not to mention his dignity, on the line.

But she had not mentioned it to Tae.

And Soujiro never mentioned the conversation again, either. Kanako waited for a delayed response in the following days where he continued to shadow her, but it never came. He didn't even act like the threat had bothered him at all!

There was something more to Soujiro. There must be. A traveling swordsman didn't just decide to work as a waiter in one of the numberless restaurants in Tokyo in a passing fit of fancy. What of his pride as a swordsman? What about keeping his skills sharp? And where was his sword, come to think of it? Didn't he care that that side of him would eventually be forgotten, his years of training wasted?

He did care, though.

He tried not to show it, but he did. Soujiro had made an excuse for his speed and tried to hide it. That meant he still minded quite a bit.

Which brought her back to her original question: why was Soujiro in the Akabeko? What did he want?

She still didn't trust him.

And that was why she decided to write a letter. I have to tell someone, she thought, dipping her brush into the small pot of ink. Someone needs to know about Soujiro.

So even though she would see him soon, she decided to write a note to her brother. There was a strong chance that he would not get it before she arrived - it would take a few days to return home - but she hoped he would. He had to.

Onisan, she wrote, the pen scurrying across the page as the words flowed into her mind. Forgive the directness and informality of this letter, but it is of utmost importance. A mystery has arisen that worries me greatly, and it is your knowledge of the sword and those who wield it that will help me to solve it.

There is a man here at the Akabeko who I believe is a swordsman of considerable skill. He brought no weapon that I know of, but I have seen his speed at close quarters and he constantly wears a smile whose chill would transfix a beating heart. At our introduction, I was not told his family name. His given name, though, I can supply: Soujiro.

If anyone could help her, Kanako thought, it would be her brother.