From: "floribelle maximo" Tsubame's First by flori-dono Disclaimer: This is a Rurouni Kenshin-inspired fan fiction. The author is not making any money out of this. The characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shounen Jump, and Sony and others that should be mentioned but weren't. Tsubame had not been feeling well since last week. Her head was throbbing constantly and she was always picking on her food. She seemed to have lost her appetite. Tae-san had noticed and had asked her about it but she would only smile, saying it was nothing. But today, it was worse. Her headache had become unbearable. Aside from that, she was having slight cramps on her lower abdomen. Tsubame just wanted to lie down and rest, but luck wasn't on her side. Tae-san had gone to Tokyo to visit her sister, Sae, and she was left to serve alone at the Akabeko. Thankfully, the flow of customers coming in was steady and slow. Tsubame could afford to sit down once in a while to close her eyes and rub at her temples. "Oi," A voice coming from behind startled her. Her round metal tray slid from her light grasp and fell onto the floor in a loud clang. "Yahiko!" she gasped, as the spiky-haired boy of fourteen came hurriedly to her side. "Gomen," he apologized. They both knelt down to pick up the fallen tray and their heads bumped together as the leaned forward at the same time. "Ouch!" Tsubame winced and put a hand to her already aching head. "I'm so sorry," Yahiko started, putting his arm lightly around her shoulders. "Are you okay?" She blushed and hurriedly stood up, tray in hand, letting Yahiko's arm fall to his side. "Yes, it's just that I feel somebody's banging hard at my head," she said. He looked at her with concern it was only then that he noticed how pale her face was and there were creases of pain around her eyes. Come to think of it, it had already been a week that Tsubame seemed off color. She had grown a little thinner since then. "You should rest you know," he said. She smiled. Yahiko was so kind to her and that was why she lo... No! She shook her head in self- denial, the motion sending new bouts of pain zooming up her temple. "Come on, you really look like you need it. Don't worry, I'll wait on the diners," Yahiko urged, taking the tray from her. Tsubame was tempted to accept his offer but she really felt guilty. "Demo..." Yahiko waved a finger at her, imitating Kaoru. "Uh-uh, no buts young lady. You go upstairs and nap for a while." She sighed and smiled at that. "Alright, I'll go up and rest, if that will make you happy," she said. "I'll be more happy if you promise to be my wife someday," he mused then frowned at the direction his thoughts were going. She saw him frown. "Yahiko, is there anything wrong?" He felt his face flushed as if he was caught doing something illegal then laughed. "Oh, nothing... just you," he added that last one silently. "Arigatou Yahiko, " she said, bowing formally. "Hai," he returned. "Now shoo, before I get real angry." Tsubame laughed, then walked away leaving Yahiko to serve the rest of the customers. *** Tsubame went inside her room. "Thank Kami-sama for Yahiko," she said to herself, and proceeded to strip off her clothes and changed into her yukata. Tsubame stilled, and her face paled as she took off her underkimono. Blood! She sat down, a little dazed. She tried to remember the things she did earlier that day. No, she didn't do anything strenuous. So how come... "Oh no," she cried softly. She had not been feeling well for a week and maybe... maybe she was seriously ill. Was she going to die? She needed help. But whom could she turn to? Tae was away and she knew Megumi was off for her round of housecalls at that time of the day. Yahiko? No! She shook her head vehemently. That would be too embarrassing! But she needed to get help... soon! What if she bled to death? Yes, Kaoru. She'll go to Kaoru! Hurriedly, she got back into her uniform and raced down the stairs where she almost bumped into Yahiko. "Whoa, Tsubame!" he said, steadying her. He could feel Tsubame tremble and he suddenly became concerned. "Anything the matter?" Tsubame felt the tears coming down her face. "Yahiko, could...could you come with me to Kamiya-san?" "Why?" he asked. He knew it was something serious. Tsubame never cried if it wasn't worth crying over for. "I'm... I'm... I can't say, but please. Could you..." Yahiko nodded. They went out of the restaurant together and walked hurriedly. He advised Tsubame not to run and she hesitantly agreed. Yahiko glanced at her and wondered what could be wrong. Her face was paler than before and there was worry in her eyes. When they got to the dojo, Yahiko looked for Kaoru but couldn't find where she was. "What's the matter Yahiko?" Kenshin said as he hung a white sheet on the clothesline. "Hey, where's ugly?" he asked. "Who are you calling ugly?" Kaoru said as she stepped in the backyard, bokken in hand. "I'm sorry Kaoru," Yahiko said, his apology surprised the girl. "Okay, so what's wrong?" Kaoru said. "You never get nice if there wasn't anything wrong!" "Kuso, Kaoru. I'm not kidding!" Yahiko yelled in an outburst. "It's..." "It's me..." Tsubame said as she too joined in the small group. "Tsubame!" Kaoru said. "Uh, can I talk to you Kaoru... alone?" Tsubame said while wringing her hands. Kaoru noticed the girl's nervousness. "So that was why Baka-chan was all riled up!" she thought. "Okay, we'll go inside," she said as she led Tsubame inside the house. Yahiko glanced at the pair and sighed. At last, Tsubame seemed a little less worried when Kaoru appeared. Kenshin looked at the boy beside him and guessed at the thoughts going inside his head. He smiled. He knew what he was feeling. Yahiko wanted to protect Tsubame from anything that would hurt her, just like what he felt for his wife. The boy was indeed growing up. He was in love! "What are you smiling about?" Yahiko asked Kenshin as he spotted the rurouni with a silly smile on his face. "Oro?" Kenshin said. "I'll just finish this. Why don't you just sit down for a while and stop worrying about Tsubame." Yahiko nodded grimly and sat down on the porch trying to keep his mind off the girl. Meanwhile... "What is it Tsubame?" Kaoru asked as she slid the door close. Tsubame looked up, tears glistening in her eyes. "I think I'm seriously ill Kaoru," she started. The other girl put a hand on her forehead. "You seem to be normal although a little off color..." "I'm hemorrhaging!" Tsubame cut in. "Huh?" "I mean... I... I'm bleeding from my private parts," she said in a rush. Understanding dawned in Kaoru's eyes, and she smiled at the obviously panicking girl. She chuckled. She sat near the girl and held her hand in hers. "Alright Tsubame, you and I are going to talk," "Is it something serious? Am I going to die?" Tsubame asked. Kaoru smiled kindly. "No, there's nothing wrong with you." "Then how come..." "We are going to talk about being a woman," Kaoru stated. And they did just that. *** "Aren't they finished yet?" Yahiko asked as he paced the porch. Kenshin shook his head as he had grown dizzy following the boy walked back and forth. Suddenly, the door slid open and out went Kaoru and a more relaxed but still a little dazed Tsubame beside her. "Hey, so what was wrong?" Yahiko asked. Tsubame blushed and she and Kaoru exchanged knowing looks. "Oh nothing," Kaoru said as she saved Tsubame from answering. "We had just a little talk." "A little talk!" Yahiko shouted, waving his hands in the air. "You were there for more than an hour!" "We just talked, Yahiko." Tsubame said quietly. Yahiko quieted down at that. "So, how are you?" he asked the girl. "Oh, just fine," she replied. "Come on, let's go back to the restaurant." "Are you sure you're fine?" Tsubame nodded. She bowed before Kaoru as she thanked her, and then she hugged her after that. Kaoru hugged the girl in return. She remembered when she experienced what Tsubame went through and she had no other woman to talk to. The one who told her about the stuff was old Doctor Gensei, and it was somehow embarrassing for her. But that was a long time ago and she was glad she was there for Tsubame. Tsubame said farewell to Kaoru and Kenshin and Yahiko followed her outside the dojo, obviously still curious about what happened. Kenshin put an arm around his wife's shoulders. "So what was that all about?" he asked. Kaoru turned in his arms so she could put her arms around her neck. "Let's just say that Tsubame has now grown up and has turned into a woman." Kenshin understood and chuckled. "I guess, I have to talk to Yahiko now about the birds and the bees, huh?" Kaoru laughed. "Yeah," she said. "But for now, I think WE could use a little less talking..." Kenshin laughed as he let Kaoru drag him inside the house and into their room. *** "I'm a woman," Tsubame thought and smiled to herself. All her worrying was really nothing. She was glad Kaoru was there to explain things to her. Yahiko saw the girl smile. "At least she seems better," he thought. "And that is the most important thing of all." Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up a little and saw Tsubame beaming at him. He gulped. She looked so beautiful, so different. Somehow she looked more mature, more grown up. "Arigatou Yahiko," she said. "For... for what?" he stammered. "For everything, for being a good friend," she said and then kissed Yahiko on the cheek. Both the boy and girl blushed. And before Yahiko could say anything, Tsubame started to walk again. Yahiko, still in a befuddled state of mind, just followed her back to the restaurant. "Hey, Tsubame wait up!" he shouted. Tsubame turned around and laughed. "Well hurry up,Yahiko-chan!" Yahiko frowned and shouted that all of Tokyo could hear, "DON'T CALL ME YAHIKO-CHAN!" ***end*** --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE TYPING FOR YOU! Tired of filling out forms and remembering passwords? Gator fills in forms and passwords with just one click! Comes with $50 in free coupons! Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------