A/N: Hello, there!

Well, there's no other way to put it - this story is weird. But it's one of those things where it wouldn't leave me alone, so here we are.

Shout-out to Ayezur, who not only is an extremely talented RuroKen author in her own right, but who actually nudged me into writing this down.

And also, Tae is a main character in this piece. Her name isn't in the list of people you can select as a protagonist (which is sort of sad), but she's going to be here nonetheless.

So, without further ado...

Prologue - Early and Late

-13th year of the Meiji. Mid-summer, 1880-

Seta Soujiro considered himself to be many things these days, but above all, he was a pragmatist.

The sun was nearly directly overhead. Soujiro pushed his thumb across his forehead, smearing the trickles of sweat. His hair was stuck to his skin - gross. Midday in any other season was tolerable - almost enjoyable to be outdoors. But it was July, so the heavy humidity combined with the heat made it nearly unbearable to be simply walking outside in such atrocious weather.

However... He stuck his hand in his pocket, and counted out the coins. There was enough for a decent meal indoors, away from the sun. It would take nearly everything he had, to afford such a reprieve, but...

But really, why bother to worry about budgeting now? Especially when he could use them to pay for a meal indoors, away from the heat.

He stopped in the middle of the busy street and squinted at the sky. The traffic parted around him, and he was automatically aware of the edge of sleeves and kimonos that came within a hair's breadth of brushing him, even though he knew none of these people were a threat. He'd had only one goal in mind when he stopped in Tokyo earlier that morning, but that could wait.

If that man was there, he would be there. If not...

If not, then Soujiro would deal with it after he ate.

Soujiro glanced around. He had assumed that there would be lots of restaurants to choose from - Tokyo was a big city, after all - and he was right: one street up he saw strips of brightly-colored banners rippling in the breeze, advertising itself, unnecessarily; the savory aroma wafting into the street was advertisement enough. Soujiro walked closer, trying to read the characters of the name. It wasn't until he stood in front of the entrance and the wind died down that he could make it out.

The Akabeko.

There was a handsome man at table four.

He grinned at Tae when she welcomed him, then blushed when she asked if the meal was for one. "Oh, no, I'm waiting for a friend," he said, motioning helplessly.

"That's fine," she responded, nodding. "Would you prefer to wait here, or would you like to be seated?"

"Oh - seated, please. That is, unless it would be easier if I stayed here -"

"No, of course not." She led him to the empty table and watched as he sat down heavily. "Would you like anything to drink while you wait?"

"Tea," he blurted. "No, sake. No - I should have some tea." He smiled weakly up at Tae.

The corner of her lips tilted up. "Should I bring both?" she asked.

"Just tea," he assured her. When Tae hesitated a moment, wondering if he would change his mind again, the man gave an awkward little laugh. "I am so sorry. I promise, I'm not really like this, it's just..." He ducked his head, peering up at her through his lashes. "...sorry."

"Oh, no trouble at all." She tilted her head, considering him. "Are you sure you wouldn't like me to bring some sake?"

"...sure. Sure, I'll have some." The man looked at her, his mouth curving up into a solid smile. "Thank you very much."

She bowed her head. "Please excuse me while I fetch some." She turned and walked back to the kitchen. At the corner of the room beside the screened staff hallway, she glanced back over her shoulder. The man was still watching her. She looked away quickly.

In the kitchen, Tsubame looked up from where she was placing cups and a tea kettle on a tray. "You can tell it's lunchtime, Tae-san!" the girl said cheerfully.

"Yes, there are so many people already." Tae pulled a small bottle of sake from the shelf. "Tell me when you're hungry and I can cover your tables."

"Oh, no - " Her cheeks pinked embarrassedly. "Kanako already offered and I told her yes - "

"Well, that's not a problem!" Tae laughed at the bashful look on the girl's face. "I don't mind." She stepped around one of the chefs to the pot of boiling water, ladling a few spoonfuls into a tea pot and placing it carefully beside the sake.

Tsubame watched her with a pinched expression. "But," she began haltingly, "but I could tell Kanako - "

Tae shook her head. "It's fine," she said. She glanced meaningfully to the tray in Tsubame's hands. "Shouldn't you take - ?"

The girl's blush deepened. "Ah! Sorry, sorry!" She rushed out of the kitchen, nearly colliding with one of the other waitresses in her haste. Tae took a moment to place two cups beside the respective drinks and then followed Tsubame back onto the floor.

The man looked up hopefully when she approached. "Please forgive the wait," she murmured politely, placing the tray to the right of the cooking pot in the center of the table. "Have you decided what ingredients you would like in your pot?"

"I..." His face fell. "I'm sorry, but I don't know exactly... "

"Would you like me to come back in a few minutes?" she asked sympathetically.

"No, I..." He hesitated, then bowed his head to her. "Again, I apologize. I know my behavior is probably, um, erratic at best." He smiled heartbreakingly up at her, and Tae felt her heart speed up in her chest. "Please, forgive me."

His eyes were a lovely warm brown color. Tae caught herself gazing into them several seconds too long and took a quick breath. Silly, she scolded herself, fighting for composure. How can you be falling apart at a little thing like this?

"O-Of course," she returned, wincing internally at the slight stutter. "Please, you have no need to be sorry. I will come back in a few minutes."

She seated a small group standing in the doorway and took their order. As she went to the kitchen to get their drinks, she checked to make sure her handkerchief was fixed to her head. Her fingers ghosted over her hair, making sure her bun was as smooth and secure as she'd made it that morning. She told herself not to see more than was there - and there isn't, she thought firmly, there's nothing there. I only just met him, so his glances don't mean anything. He's flustered and that's all.

Though she wouldn't deny that she'd often dreamed about a situation like this: that a handsome, kind man would come into the restaurant one day. That she would see him and he would see her and there would be that spark of - of something. And that something would turn into frequent visits. They would have lively conversations and go on long walks where his hand would casually touch and then curl around hers, and... he would love her. And she would love him.

If she ever got married, that would be how it happened. She just knew it.

That might be the only way she would get married. And she knew that, too.

Tae pressed out the wrinkles in her striped yukata with her hands before picking up her prepared tray. He could be the one, a small, yearning part of her whispered, and she let herself smile.

She walked to the end of the staff hallway, her eyes already searching for the earnest, shy young man. When she found him between the bowed heads of the other customers, she stopped cold.

The man's face was tilted back, a radiant smile across his face. Tsubame had her arm out, gesturing for a pretty young woman in a violet-and-cream kimono to be seated across from him. The woman ducked her head, clearly apologizing for being late, but the man held out his arms. He took the woman's hands in his, briefly, and then he let them go as she sat down.

Kanako brushed past Tae and she started, realizing she had once again become temporarily frozen while staring at that man. She shook herself and began walking again. As she gently set down the tea tray, she could not help but berate herself. Of course. Of course. I knew better than to think like that. It really was nothing after all.

I should have known.

From the corner of her eye, Tae saw the main door slide open. Tae started toward it just as Tsubame looked up. Tae saw the girl excuse herself from the couple and begin to make her way to the entrance. Tae cut between tables, managing to catch Tsubame's arm before she reached the door. "I'll take them," she said swiftly.

She stared. "You'll take who, Tae-san?"

"I'll take the guests at the door. Please take care of that table you just assisted."

Tsubame's eyes widened. "Eh? Eh? But Tae-san, they were your customers!"

Tae smiled down at her. "It's alright."

Tsubame blinked, looking a little lost, but Tae had already turned away. She rounded the corner of the tall, decorative privacy screen and bowed hurriedly. "Irasshaimase! Welcome to the Akabeko!"

In the entry, one step down from the main floor of the restaurant, a solitary man looked up as he stepped out of his geta. "Thank you very much!" He said brightly. "It really is quite cool in here compared to the outdoors."

"Your words are too kind." Tae rose from her bow and smiled at him. Her voice, when she asked the next question, was cautious despite herself. "Are you... expecting anyone to join you today?"

He looked at her and a curious look passed over his face - as though he was actually considering about her question. "I shouldn't think so," he said. Then his eyes darted up to hers again and he grinned. "I hope not, anyway - I'm quite unprepared for company."

It was such an odd response that Tae had to fight the urge to chuckle. "I see," she said. "Then, please, if you would be kind enough to follow me..."

She led him to a table across the restaurant, away from the man and his beautiful friend - quite incidentally, Tae told herself - and asked him what he would like to drink.

The man brushed invisible motes of dust off his blue jacket and hakama and spoke without looking up. "Tea, please."

Tae inclined her head. She stopped by one of her other tables on the way to the kitchen, and eventually returned with the small pot of tea. "Forgive the wait," she murmured. She knelt by the table in precisely the same moment that she set the tray silently down. Her body was angled exactly 90 degrees from her customer and as she sat back on her heels, she noted the two-inch space between her knees and the table's edge. Perfect - her form was perfect.

"Take as much time as you want," the man told her. "The longer you take, the more I get to spend indoors out of the sun."

Tae paused, surprised at how - how candid he was. She opened her mouth to respond, but the clatter of delicate pottery broke her concentration. She turned with the rest of the Akabeko to see what had happened. The handsome man was blushing furiously. An overturned cup stood by his elbow, and he scrabbled to mop up spilled sake from the tableside. The beautiful girl in the violet kimono had her head tucked down delicately against her chest, managing to look somehow embarrassed and meekly proud at the same time.

"I'm sorry," the man gasped to the girl across from him. "I'm so sorry - "

Then Tsubame hurried over with some clean towels, blocking the view. Tae turned away with a soft sigh. She had imagined a scene like this in her ideal future: perhaps the first, or even the second time her enamored husband-to-be came into the Akabeko, he would be so entranced by her hands or her voice that he'd spill his tea. She would distract him without even realizing it...

But she looked nothing like that beauty.

"I was only distracting myself." The words came out before she could stop them and she stiffened, hoping that the customer beside her hadn't heard.

He blinked a few times at her, his interest clearly caught, and Tae's heart jumped in horror. "You want a distraction?" He asked her, sounding only mildly stunned.

Tae froze. She curled her hands into the folds of her apron. Her mind screamed in a blank roar, what do I say? What do I say?

Then her years as a waitress and her training as the assistant manager took over. She spread out her hands on her knees and a warm calm filled her. It was times like this, she'd often told Tsubame, where you remain honest but polite. Hopefully the customers will forgive your grave faux-pas if you show them your earnestness.

So Tae smiled. "Forgive me," she said gently. "I did not mean to speak my heart aloud. I do at times wish for a distraction, it is true. But by no means did I mean to imply that I wished you to provide a - a diversion." She realized as she spoke that he might have found suggestions in her words that she didn't mean. She bowed her head again. "I sincerely apologize."

He didn't reply for a beat. Then two. "No, of course not," he said. Tae listened for sly irony, sarcasm, or even innuendo in his tone, but there was none. His voice was as light as before.

Tae straightened, relieved that he didn't seem bothered by her mistake. She pulled out her small notebook from her pocket. "Then, could I ask what ingredients you would like in your beef hotpot?"

"Tofu, cabbage and udon noodles," he said promptly.

She nodded, jotting down his last request with a slight flourish. "I will return with your meal momentarily." She stood.

"Soujiro," he said.

Tae stopped. He smiled up at her. "That's my name," he said. "Soujiro."

Tae stared at him for a few moments, wondering how to respond. Soujiro laughed. "You asked for a distraction, so I gave you one. It seemed to work pretty well."

Despite herself, an answering smile was trying to spread across her face. "It did," she admitted. "Thank you, Soujiro-san."

She went to the kitchen and delivered his request. When the raw pieces were assembled on a plate, she took them back to Soujiro's table and carefully tipped them into the cast iron pot, careful not to jumble or mix anything. Soujiro's eyes were on her all the while, watching as she began to build the heat below the pot.

"You didn't tell me your name," he said suddenly.

Her eyes darted to meet his, then away. "My name?"

"It really is polite to introduce yourself when someone tells you their name," Soujiro said.

"Oh - forgive me." She sat back on her heels and folded her hands in her lap. She had only ever told a few customers her name before - rarely had anyone asked - and she looked up almost shyly. "I'm Tae. Sekihara Tae."

"Pleased to meet you, Sekihara-san." His grin widened. "Are you from Kyoto? You have that distinctive Kansai accent..."

"Yes, my family is from Kyoto. Have you been there yourself?"

"Oh yes, lots of times."

Tae opened her mouth to ask another question, but after a moment, slowly closed it again. She raised her eyebrows, ever so slightly. "You... you're distracting me again."

He chuckled. "Yep."

She smiled.

"Sumimasen!" A voice called behind her, and automatically Tae turned to look. "Please excuse me," she murmured, and stood to answer it.

She meant to go back to Soujiro's table, if only just to ask him if he needed more tea or if the food was to his taste. But more customers streamed into the Akabeko, and Tae and the other waitresses were kept busy filling orders, delivering food, and seating the waves of people that kept pouring in.

It was not until much later that she happened to glance in the direction of his table and noticed he was gone.

She looked around the room for him, past Tsubame and Kanako, and Yahiko, finally arrived to bus tables, towards the doorway. And there he was, standing on the half-step beside the screen. Soujiro watched her notice him and inclined his head. "Gochisosama deshita," Tae saw him say. He bent his head respectfully.

Tae repeated the action a little self-consciously, knowing there was an entire room of people between herself and Soujiro. Anyone could be watching, after all, so she was limited in her reaction. If she were standing beside him, she would bow properly and say thank you for the distractions, thank you for your smile -

But she was not.

So she only smiled, and hoped that he recognized the gratitude in her eyes.

Soujiro remembered his way through the tangled streets of Tokyo well enough from the last time he visited. Less than ten minutes after leaving the Akabeko, he found the object of his search.

The Kamiya dojo.

His eyes flickered from the rectangular notice on the side and up to the gate itself. It was high enough that no one could see inside the school grounds, but Soujiro didn't mind. Having the buildings hidden from sight made the place a mystery, and Soujiro rather liked light mysteries.

He studied the wood grain at eye level, tracing it with his eye. What does it look like, where you live? He asked silently. What do you see, through your eyes?

Soujiro had heard several rumors during the past year: some said that the legendary hitokiri had stopped wandering, others said that he had given up the sword altogether or even taken his own life. One man had even assured Soujiro that the Battousai had recently married.

The questions had become too much, each one vying to be answered, until he had to come back to Tokyo. He had to see for himself if anything he'd been told was accurate.

But now that he was here...

Soujiro placed his hand very carefully against the gate. The Battousai was alive, alright - he could feel that same warmth, that same honesty from his ki radiating from somewhere within the dojo complex. It was stronger, more solid, in a way, than when they had fought in Mount Hiei.

Himura-san was there, but he wasn't alone. Soujiro's eyes narrowed. There was another person there, with an unfamiliar ki - like a tranquil stream, or the gentle fall of evening. Soothing, yet strong.

They were right, Soujiro thought. Himura-san is married.

He wondered what she looked like, this girl who loved the Battousai.

He thought of what would happen if he did gointo the Kamiya dojo. It was a pretty amusing thought ; neither of them would sense him approaching - his own ki was far too suppressed for that - and they would be surprised. Himura-san might even be angry to see him again so soon. And the girl could be afraid of him, if Himura-san had told her about him. Soujiro smiled, envisioning the match that would no doubt follow. It would be a fun fight.

Or the hitokiri might ask him if he had found truth - if he had heard as much about Soujiro as Soujiro had heard about him - and wanted to know. And what would he say?

No.

'Truth' might simply be a lie.

And then the Battousai might fight him anyway.

Soujiro slowly lowered his hand. "Not yet," he said quietly. He looked up at the top of the gate and into the branches of a shady dogwood tree. "Not yet," he said again. He memorized the gate, the name plaque, and fixed them in his mind. Later he would come. And when he did, perhaps he would have some answers.

Perhaps then he might begin to understand.

He smiled. "Until then," he said cheerfully. He walked away, down the dusty road and out of Tokyo, while the summer cicadas sang in the trees.

For the next few weeks, Tae thought of Soujiro. She hoped, selfishly, that he might come back into the Akabeko - not to be her eventual husband, of course, he wasn't handsome enough for that - but just to talk. And because he was different and unusual and a part of her craved that in her monotonous life.

Then as time went on and he never came back, she thought of him less and less. He would not return. She thought she had known all along, really. So she tucked his memory into the back of her mind with the other disappointments and rejections in her life, only to be remembered on cold winter days or dark nights when sleep evaded her. Eventually she stopped thinking about him altogether.

She almost forgot him. But not quite.