I walked down the street with the members of the dojo, sans Kenichi and Hayato who were training in the mountains. I was perched on Apachai's shoulders, my bottom resting on the overstuffed backpack he carried. Sakaki carried a massive bag on rice on his shoulder while Akisame held a paper bag of groceries and Shugure carried a smaller pack filled with fares.

"I hate not having Kenichi around," Sakaki sighed. "This shopping stuff gets exhausting.

"Well," Akisame said. "I see you recognize the value of your disciple when he's gone."

"Apachai was also very sad about Kenichi until Akisame bought him an ice-cream cone," Apachai declared, holding up his ice cream. I smiled and lapped at my own creamy treat, watching as Shugure did the same.

"Thank you, darling," I chirped. Akisame smiled at me.

"You're most welcome, my love," he said. "How are you doing?"

"Fine," I said.

"Hey, where's Miu?" Sakaki asked, looking around. We all stopped and turned, spying Miu in the pet store window, cooing at the cats.

"You're the cutest little ball of fluff, yes you are," Miu cooed. "I wish I could take you home with me."

"I'd hate to see her do jail time for stealing a cat," Akisame remarked.

"Get your face off the glass, Miu," Sakaki called. "It's time to head home."

"It's useless, Sakaki," Apachai said. "She will stay there with face to glass for at least an hour. Apachai has seen it happen before."

"Well, I'm not waiting for her," Sakaki said.

"Oh leave her," I said. "Miu! We're going on ahead!"

"Kay!" she called. "You're so cute. Yes you are! Yes you arrrre!"

"Maybe we should get her a cat for her birthday," I mused.

"That's probably not a good idea," Akisame replied. I sighed and leaned forward, my stomach bumping Apachai's head.

"Yeah," I moaned. I licked my ice cream, savoring the sugary taste. Akisame watched me, and then stopped.

"Hey, Apachai, could you bend down for a moment?" he asked. Apachai looked at him curiously but did as he was asked, until I was almost eye level with my boyfriend. Akisame smiled and moved forward, kissing me quickly on the lips, his tongue peeking out and swiping over my bottom lip.

"Mmm," he hummed. "How very sweet." I giggled and held out my cone to him, watching as he licked it.

"You could have just asked," I said.

"It tastes better the other way," he said. I rolled my eyes and urged Apachai to stand back up.

We continued walking, stopping when we heard a loud commotion. I looked over and saw two teenagers fighting on a fence. One boy with long white hair was singing as he fought while a spikey haired blonde boy was trying to hit him. We paused at the bridge, watching the two go at it.

"Impressive," Akisame said. "Random street fights can be quite entertaining."

"Yeah, those two are really going at it, aren't they?" Sakaki asked, impressed.

"Hey, check it out!" Apachai exclaimed. "There's something in the water over there."

Shugure perched on the rail of the bridge and looked around.

"Huh?" she asked. "Where?"

"That guy's moves are too flashy," Sakaki commented. "It reminds me of how Kenichi used to be."

"Why are you talking about Kenichi in past tense?" Akisame questioned. "He's not dead; he's just doing special training in the mountains this week. Somebody misses his disciple."

"Awe, Sakaki," I cooed. "You really are a big softy."

"Am not!" Sakaki argued.

"Yeah right," I said. "What about all those times you let Kenichi sneak away from his training and treat him to some ramen?"

"Hey!" Sakaki exclaimed.

"Oops, was that a secret?" I asked. I watched the white haired boy land awkwardly on the fence and was sure I had heard the sound of his bones breaking. He stood and grabbed the blonde boy, wrapping his body around him and plunging into the river below.

"Woah, they fell into the water," Akisame said.

"Eh, the guy in the hat had a death wish anyway," Sakaki said.

"Ah to be young again," Akisame sighed. "Those kids will risk it all for something they believe in."

"Risk it all? Hah! They may smell like sewer, but I doubt they'll die," Sakaki laughed.

"You make it sound like you're an old man," I laughed. "You'll probably keep up with our baby better than I will."

"I'd say that we should save them," Shugure said, "but we shouldn't get involved…in a duel."

The water moved violently and the white haired boy's hat floated to the surface. The blonde boy came up and swam to the side, climbing up the lader of the canal.

"You saw what happened?" Shugure asked Tochumaru. The mouse nodded. Akisame and Sakaki set their packages down and jumped over the railing.

"Let's do it!" Akisame exclaimed as he flew through the air.

"We gotta find opera boy before he drowns," Sakaki cried.

"I've got a question for you, Sakaki," Akisame began. "Where are you planning on landing?"

Sakaki turned to look at Akisame wide-eyed.

"What?!" Sakaki yelled. "Don't tell me you're aiming for the top of that sign too! You IDIOT!"

There was a loud thud and I burst out laughing as Akisame landed on the sign and Sakaki perched on his back. Akisame glared at the Karate Master, but rolled up his sleeve and plunged his hand into the water, fishing around for the teenager.

"Damn you're heavy," my lover said. I was a bit in awe that he could hold up the larger Sakaki so easily.

"Less complaining, more searching," Sakaki said, crossing his arms over his chest. I felt Apachai lift me off his shoulders and set me gently on the ground.

"I found him!" Akisame declared, pulling the boy up by the collar of his shirt. He handed the boy up to Sakaki who tossed him up to Apachai.

"Catch!" he called. Apachai caught the teen easily and held him cradled in his arms.

"Who's he?" Shugure asked. "That opera boy? But where is his…hat?"

"Apachai is thinking dead man's hat looks better on him!" Apachai declared. I giggled. Apachai looked like some Australian hiker with the hat and backpack. I moved forward and brushed the hair from the teens face. He was alive, though very injured.

"He's not dead yet, you big dummy," Sakaki said as he and Akisame climbed out of the canal. Akisame chuckled at this. I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, wanting to be held by my strong man. Akisame smiled and obliged.

"This young man was quite courageous today," he said. "Let's take him back to Ryozonpaku with us."

The boy coughed a few times, water seeping out of his mouth.

"Kenichi my friend," he muttered, "hurry. We really need your help…now. Please hurry back before the alliance is destroyed." I nodded in agreement and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Carry me?" I asked. He smiled at me affectionately.

"Of course, my love," he said, lifting me into his arms. I whimpered and pressed my face into his neck.