Chapter 31: Extra Story--Yahiko's Fight (Beginning)

Kaoru (shaking the dojo with her voice): Yahiko! Yahiko!! Yahiko--!!! He's gone again! It's time for practice, where the hell could he-- (she notices spiky hair sticking out above the bushes) Got you! (seizing a handful of hair) Thought you could hide from me!!

(The hair belongs to Sanosuke, who is innocently grilling fish. They are instantly at each other's throats.)

Kaoru: You and your misleading hairstyle!!

Sanosuke: Are you making fun of my hair?

Kenshin (with a basket of laundry): What's all the fuss about? (seated around the well) Yahiko's gone?

Sanosuke: Probably out with some girl. He's old for his age.

Kaoru: I bet he's out blowing his money on snacks. The kid's a pig.

Kenshin: I think he's out training on his own. The sword should be beginning to make sense to him by now.

Kaoru & Sanosuke: NO WAY! in our opinion.

Kenshin (weakly): You think so...

Sanosuke: A girl. It's definitely a girl.

Kaoru: It's food. No mistake.

Kenshin: I really think he's train--

Kaoru & Sanosuke: No way.

Yahiko (strolling in behind them): Food... girls... what kinda stupid stories of desire are these? Disgraceful.

Kaoru & Sanosuke (sending him into orbit with a combined punch) You punk!!!

(They march off self-righteously.)

Kaoru: God!

Sanosuke: Kids these days.

Yahiko: Where did that come from!!

Kenshin (all smiles): So where were you, Yahiko?

Yahiko: Just for a walk.

Kenshin: If you're missing practice, it isn't "just" a walk.

Yahiko (going inside): If you hit four out of six days of practice a week, that's enough. It's not something to worry about.

Kenshin: Oro... (as the door closes) Hmm.

And then, a few days later--

(Yahiko peers around the door. No one is outside.)

Yahiko: All right, no one on my tail. (thinking) I thought Kenshin was getting suspicious, but no one noticed a thing.

(Kenshin, Kaoru and Sanosuke regard him cooly from their vantage point on the roof.)

Kaoru: It IS suspicious.

Kenshin: He's hiding something.

Sanosuke: Well, I've got some time to kill.

(They sneak after him, Kenshin hiding behind the well cover.)

Sanosuke: It's a girl, I'm telling you.

Kaoru: It's got to be food.

Kenshin: I still think he's training.

(They follow him to... )

Kenshin: The Akabeko...

Sanosuke: My favorite restaurant? (Great place to eat and run.)

Kaoru: So it WAS food!!

Kenshin: Oro.

Sanosuke: Feh.

Kaoru: So he's been sneaking in here...

(The restaurant is nearly empty, with no sign of Yahiko.)

Kaoru: That's strange. I'm sure he went in here.

Tae (catching sight of them): Oh, Kaoru, I haven't seen you in so long!

Kaoru: Tae!

(in the back of the restaurant)

Chef: Hey, kid! We're outta charcoal. Bring another bag!

Yahiko: Right!

Chef: Tell Tsubame to bring one too. It's getting crowded, so after that come help the customers.

Tsubame: O... okay.

(Tsubame is a girl around Yahiko's age, with short hair and a nervous face.)

(The four peek around the gate.)

Kenshin: I see. He's doing odd jobs here?

Tae: Yes. he told us not to say anything, but... He came in one day and asked us all to keep it a secret.

Kaoru: But why would he do something like this...

(Tsubame trips and falls, dropping the heavy bag.)

Sanosuke: Maybe THAT'S what we're after.