³Tsubame and the Kaitou² by Stephanie Taylor ³Kai - kaitou?² ³Thatıs right,² the voice answered in the darkness. Tsubame shivered. Was it from the cool night air or from fright? She pushed the thought from her mind and stood as tall as she could. It was better if he didnıt know she was scared.... ³Go away,² she instructed. ³Leave me alone.² The girl took a few steps further down the road to pass the form blocking her way. Kaitou.... Tsubame knew the word. A mysterious thief. She didnıt have anything on her worth stealing, but of course he didnıt know it. ³Wait a sec,² the kaitou told her. ³I wasnıt done introducing myself!² The figure held out an outstretched arm towards her and launched into his speech. It had taken days of writing and memorizing. He wasnıt going to let her leave now when he finally had the nerve to try it out. ³I am a kaitou,² he began dramatically. ³Iıve been watching you for a long time. Tonight I have come to tell you that I am not an ordinary thief. My name, Kaitou, refers to the fact that I will steal your heart.² Tsubame started at this and her fear intensified. This person was a lunatic. She had to get away from this situation! ³Iıll be seeing you again tomorrow,² the kaitou continued, feeling that his intro was being well-received, seeing as the girl wasnıt walking off. ³I just wanted to tell you that I....² Here he got a bit nervous. ³A.... ano.... I like you a lot.² He felt his face flush. ³Ano.... ja ne.² The kaitou ran of into the night. Tsubame hurried to the Akabeko. ³That was very disturbing,² she decided. ³Kai - kaitou?!² Tsubame nodded, embarrassed. Yahiko snorted. ³Thatıs ridiculous.² The black-haired woman put down her tea cup. ³I have to agree with Yahiko for once. This is totally strange. And that was a dorky speech too. I think you shouldnıt go out alone from now on. Whoever this guy is, he has a major problem.² ³What did you say?!² Yahiko demanded. ³That this guy has a major problem; why?² Kaoru returned defensively. ³Well, before that.... about agreeing with me! Iım the one thatıs always right, not you, Ugly!² Kaoru picked up a piece of wood and threw it at Yahiko. Tsubame looked up at Tae, trying to ignore the fight going on beside them. ³What do you think about it?² The young woman ran a hand through her smooth brown hair. ³Well, thatıs a very interesting story. As for what you should do about it, I think the answer is just for us all to keep watch for this said kaitou. If youıd like you can just stay with me and he might not turn up again. Yahiko-kun can go on the errands and things. Iım sure he wouldnıt mind if itıd help you feel better.² ³What?² Yahiko sputtered. ³I already do a lot of work!² ³Help them out!² Kaoru yelled. ³Donıt be so selfish. Youıre one of the laziest - hey!² Tae stopped Kaoru from picking up the table to toss it in Yahikoıs direction. Tsubame looked over her shoulder. Was an insane maniac peering at her through the window? ³Yahiko, Iım scared,² Tsubame confided later that night. The two young people were finishing up cleaning the Akabeko. ³Itıs okay,² the spikey-haired boy replied. ³I can protect you from anything. Nothingıll happen anyways.² Tsubame wished heıd be more concerned. He sounded pretty laid-back. ³Iıve gotta get back to the doujou now. Tae will be here in a few minutes. Youıll be okay, right?² Tsubame sighed and sat down. Yahiko gave her a silly smile and was gone. The girl looked down at her feet. She didnıt like being alone. She wondered why Yahiko wasnıt being very understanding. This was a serious matter! Even if the kaitou wasnıt as terrible as suspected, Yahiko should be more caring. Tsubame closed her eyes to get a bit of rest. ³Tsubame, Iım glad weıve met again,² a familiar voice called from the doorway. ³Yahiko!² she yelped. ³You scared me. Oh!² The person standing before her wasnıt Yahiko. It was the kaitou. He was dressed entirely in black and standing in shadows. Tsubame couldnıt see his face. Where was Tae-san? Why wasnıt she here? Tsubame wondered how long sheıd been dozing. ³Whatıve you been doing today?² the kaitou asked casually. ³It isnıt your business what I do,² Tsubame replied, trembling. ³Please leave. Youıre strange, and you need help.² ³I do not. I just like you. Thatıs no big sin, is it?² ³Well, no....² ³Say, do you like that Myoujin Yahiko?² ³I donıt need to answer that!² ³Hm. Just wanted to know if Iıve got a chance with competition like that.² ³No, you donıt! Please, go away.² ³Iıll take that as a maybe, alright?² ³No, I said -² ³Aw, come on. Donıt burst my bubble, Tsubame. Okay, Iım off.² Tsubame watched as he disappeared. ³A very weird guy is stalking me!² ³Yahiko-kun!² Tae was reprimanding. ³How could you forget that I wasnıt returning until midnight? You left Tsubame-chan all alone for an hour, and now look at whatıs happened.² ³But Tae-san, I didnıt remember either. Itıs not completely his fault.² ³If you say so, Tsubame-chan. But you both must be more careful in the future. This kaitou is a thief. A person who steals! Itıs unlawful. He may be armed and dangerous.² ³You donıt know for sure that itıs a he. It could be a girl,² Yahiko commented. ³Yahiko-kun!² ³Iım sure it was a boy,² Tsubame managed to reply. ³If you say so. With all the bishounens these days itıs getting hard to tell, donıt ya think?² Kaoru coincidentally stomped into the room. ³Are you insinuating something about Kenshin?² Yahiko rolled his eyes. ³Hey, I didnıt mention any names. Geez. You already know I think Kenshinıs totally cool.² ³Who then?² Kaoru asked, skeptically. ³Wait, are you saying that Iım not a girl?! That bishounens look as female as I do? How dare you....!² ³Kaoru-san,² Tae interceded. ³Yahiko-kun wasnıt talking about you.² ³See why I get mad at her so much? All I do is make a simple remark and she gets bent out of shape.² Kaoruıs angry face glared at him. Yahiko ignored it. ³This is my third visit already. Why wonıt you talk to me yet? Iım trying to break the ice but you arenıt helping.² Tsubame sighed. This kaitou was quite persistent, she had to give him that. But she asked herself why she ended up alone so often when they were all trying so much to keep him away.... ³Tsubame, please talk to me. I just wanna be friends.² He didnıt seem too dangerous at the moment.... Tsubame figured it wouldnıt hurt to talk to him a little. Maybe she could convince him that he wasnıt interested in her after all. Tae wouldnıt be back anytime soon. It was up to her to get rid of him. ³Okay, what do you want to talk about?² She hoped her voice didnıt sound as nervous to him as it did to her. ³Oh, anything. Have you ever been to a festival?² ³Yes.² ³Hm. I guess I canıt ask stuff with yes or no answers if I wanna get to know you better.... Whatıs your favorite thing to do?² ³I donıt know.... but Iım sure we donıt have much in common.² ³Do you like my clothes? I put this outfit together myself.² ³Itıs nice. Oh look, I donıt know you. The idea of your being a thief scares me. Please.... go away.² ³Come on. Your Yahiko friend was a pickpocket. Thatıs a thief too.² ³How do you know that?² ³I have connections. The point is, you like him, donıt you? Anyways, I told you that Iım not stealing anything but your heart.² A large sweat drop appeared on Tsubameıs head. The kaitou turned super deformed. ³Oh, does that sound dumb to you? Ehehe.... I thought it was a good line myself.² The sweat drop slid down Tsubameıs cheek. The SD kaitou put a hand behind his head and looked uncomfortable. Not that Tsubame could see him well; he was in the shadows again. ³So, whatıs up?² he asked. ³Wonıt you leave me alone?² Tsubame pleaded. ³Fine, fine. For now. Ja.² Tsubame filled the wooden bucket with water. She thought about what Tae-san had said about this kaitou deal. Maybe it would be a good idea to see if she could find out who he was. It was such a scary thought, though. Tsubame didnıt want to know. The kaitou appeared again two weeks later. Tsubame was eating a plum and humming a tune when he dropped in on her. She wondered how he had gotten into the restaurant when it was locked, but she wasnıt left much time to ponder this since he stepped closer to her. ³Tsubame-chan, ³ he addressed her, and she tensed at the suffix. He acted so familiar with her and she didnıt like it. She wished Yahiko were here. ³Donıt call me Œchanı,² she told him. ³Thatıs my line,² the kaitou murmured to himself in amusement. ³What did you say?² Tsubame demanded, suddenly no longer afraid. ³Oh, nothing, Tsubame-chan.... Tsubame-chan?² Tsubame had turned away from him. He watched in surprise as flames enveloped her and she began to laugh. The kaitou was starting to get scared. This wasnıt like Tsubame at all. Tsubame whirled around and grabbed at his gi. The kaitou swallowed nervously. ³I know who you are, Kaitou,² she declared, staring into his eyes, giggling. ³I know itıs you, Yahiko. This is the strangest thing youıve ever done..... I canıt wait to tell Tae-san.² The kaitou struggled to get out of her grip on him. She let go and stood smiling. ³P - please, Tsubame-cha - Tsubame, donıt talk about this to anyone! I beg you!² Tsubame blushed. The kaitou was relieved to see her back to normal. ³You.... you really.... you.... like....?² The boy turned red and gasped. ³I.... I.... yeah, but I didnıt want to say so!² Tsubame smiled shyly. The kaitou bit his lip and looked at her, self-conscious of his unusual display of affection. ³Okay, well, this is how it is. Iıve liked you all this time but Sano and Ugly and Kenshin tease me about everything! So of course I couldnıt tell you what I think because Iıd never hear the end of it. So.... so.... I got this idea from a play I saw once.... obviously it was a dumb idea! I just wanted to say I liked you without anyone else knowing!² The kaitou felt his face redden even more as he saw the expression on her face. He suddenly realized what sheıd known all along: that everyone already knew about his feelings. Tsubame was in wonderment that he hadnıt known it all along too. ³Iıve just made a major fool of myself,² the kaitou cursed. Tsubame nodded. An uncomfortable silence followed. Tsubame finally broke it hesitantly. ³Saa! Letıs go to the doujou!² She put as much enthusiasm into her voice as she could. The kaitou made a face. ³Not in these clothes Iım not.² ³Canıt you change?² ³With you here?² ³I can go into the kitchen.² ³Oh. No, you donıt have to.² Tsubame flushed in embarrassment. The kaitou noticed this and laughed. ³No, no, I left my clothes outside.² Tsubame didnıt understand. ³Look.² The kaitou pointed out the window. It was raining heavily. ³Iıll just have to wait until later to go home. Iıll bring my stuff inside, though, so it can start to dry off.² Tsubame sighed. Yahiko was very, very strange.... ³Kyaaa!² Tsubame hurried to the door. Yahiko had only gone out to get his clothes.... what had happened? Tsubame opened it a crack and peered out. Four people under umbrellas were standing around the soaked kaitou. ³Yahiko! What in the world are you doing in that hideous outfit out in the rain? Weıve been looking for you everywhere!² ³Why are you fooling around the Akabeko in the middle of the night? We were worried.² ³Heıs probably looking for Tsubame..... the moonlightıs romantic, you know.² ³Donıt be silly. Yahiko would never visit her in that get-up.² ³Ohohohoho!² ³What are you up to, Yahiko?² ³Weıre all going home right this minute. Iım freezing.² ³Kenshin, I think Jou-chan needs someone to hold her and warm her up.... Iıll trade umbrellas with you. Mineıs smaller. Itıs cozier for two.² ³Oro.....² ³Yahiko, I expect to hear the entire story when we get back.² ³Jou-chan, give your umbrella to Yahiko.² ³Why should I?² ³Wouldnıt you rather wrap your arms around Kenshin than huddle with a drenched kid?² ³Letıs just go.² ³I can share an umbrella with you.² ³No way.² ³Iıll share with Ken-san.² ³No way!² ³Yahiko! Weıre going!² The kaitou grimaced. Tsubame grinned as she eased the door closed. Rurouni Kenshin characters, names, etc. İ copyright by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Sony Entertainment, and associated parties. The characters of this work are used WITHOUT permission for entertainment only. This story is not meant for sale or profit. Story İ copyright 1998 by Stephanie M. Taylor Comments and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated! Please e-mail me by removing the spaces: dioptase @ quixium .com Stephanie's Anime Fan Fiction Collection http://KawaiiKenshin.tripod.com/fanfic.html