"You don't have to do that, Tsubame." Yahiko grumbles, reaching for her extra bag of groceries. "Here, let me take one, at least." But she shies away, moving out of his reach.
"Yahiko-chan, I want to." She readjusts her hold and keeps walking, her pace slowed by the weight straining her hands. "It's my job too."
"Yeah, but…" He trails off and his mouth twists. She can read it in his eyes that she isn't strong enough, and that he's trying to figure out the best way to say it. "You…"
"You said that your arm was sore from yesterday." She gently reminds him. "Kaoru-san won't be happy if you hurt yourself more than that."
"Tch. That hag can stuff it. And you're too nice for your own good." He gives her an exasperated look, but his face is turning red and so is hers.
"You don't have to do that, Tsubame." Tae scolds, guiding her away from the grill. "It might be a little busy today, but I can still do it." But she stays close, the heat washing over her.
"Tae-san, I want to." She reaches for the clean plates, inspecting the top one for dust, before setting it down. "It's very busy, and the grill is full."
"It's hot." She warns. "And I don't want you to get splattered or burned." Tae's gaze turns ruefully to Tsubame's hands, which are already showing signs of work.
"I'm here to help. I know I can't do much, but I want to do as much as I can." Her soft hands are a thing of the past, like her family background. This era demands that she work as hard as anyone else.
Tae's expression softens, and she sighs in defeat. "Alright then. How about you start washing the vegetables?"
"You don't have to do that, Tsubame." Kaoru protests, taking the mattress from her. "Here, I can lay down your futon. Do you want a bath?" But she takes one side, anyway.
"Kaoru-san, I want to." She unfolds her blanket and makes sure the fabric is taut over the futon. "I'm the one intruding."
"Not at all! You're welcome here any time. And we'll find out who did this to the Akabeko. But first, let me do this for you." She's always admired Kaoru, but this time, Tsubame won't budge.
"I do this all the time in my room." Or, rather, she used to. She hiccups, despite herself. Her family is gone now, and just when she thought she had found where she belonged, that was taken away too.
"Oh, Tsubame, come here." Kaoru embraces her, and she smells sweet. "Don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll be here, okay?"
"You don't have to do that, Tsubame." Kenshin says, trying to tug the robe in her lap away. "This one can fix it." But she holds up a hand to stop him, then nervously lowers it.
"Kenshin-san, I want to." She finishes her stitch and knots the thread. The last minute tear had occurred when the owner tripped over himself, leaving his own room. "I can't let you sew on your wedding day."
"Oro…" He runs a hand through his bangs, looking rather sheepish. "This one is sorry for troubling you so with his clumsiness."
"It's alright. The bride will need some more time too. She'll look very pretty, won't she?" She's wished for the two of them to be happy together, and this day is the realization of that hope.
"Yes." There's a giddy smile on his face, and it only widens with his next quip, which makes her flush. "And this one and Kaoru-dono will surely return this favor when the time comes for you and Yahiko."