 Note: This story takes place after the Kenshin Kaden bonus chapter.
It was the largest baishin Sano had yet seen on the plains -- at least as large as jou-chan's dojo, and three or four times the
size of the average ger. The building and surrounding grounds bustled with activity; men and women, families and couples
arriving and departing with fair regularity. Each time the fur covering the door was shifted aside, the sound of voices raised
in conversation and laughter filtered out into the open air.
Sano thought it decidedly suspicious. Biting down hard on the latest in a long string of fishbones, his eyes narrowed in thought, he watched as a family -- the third such in the last fifteen minutes -- exited the building and practically waddled away. The sight decided him, and determined to test his theory he urged his horse down the slope. Tethering the animal to graze with its fellows he approached the entrance of the curious establishment, his stomach rumbling as he detected the aroma of well-cooked food. Reaching for the woolly door hanging, he held it open as a young couple emerged, an air of satiation clinging to their every move. Exchanging nods with the other man, Sano ducked inside the building, now even more convinced that his suspicions were correct. The interior of the baishin was slightly smoky, and bright with golden lamplight. Blinking at the dual assault on eyes grown accustomed to open air and evening's dusk, Sano surveyed his surroundings slowly, a grin breaking across his face. In the center of the room was a large, circular metal grill, around which two men in faintly stained aprons walked at a rhythmic pace, attending the food on the hot surface with meter-long chopsticks. To one side of the grill was an array of baskets and trays, each displaying a different vegetable or sliced meat. What space was left was filled with low tables, most of which were already crowded with happy diners. It was a restaurant, something he'd never thought to encounter in this land of wandering herders. Tossing his fishbone aside, intent on joining the throngs already at table, Sano cast beseeching eyes on the first waitress he saw.
An hour later he looked wistfully at his empty bowl, wishing he had the money to afford another helping. He'd never thought he'd find a restaurant with better food than the Akabeko, but . . . damn! This Mongolian barbecue gave Tae's sukiyaki a run for its money. Meat, vegetables, a tempting mix of spices, and rice; all cooked to perfection and served with sesame bread. "Is there something wrong, sir?" a soft voice inquired at his elbow, the voice's owner having noted his somewhat pouting expression. He raised warm brown eyes to the waitress who had first shown him to his table. There was some indefinable quality about her which reminded him of the Sekihara sisters. Perhaps it was the way she never seemed to open her eyes fully, or her gentle, affable manner . . . or the fact that she seemed to know something about virtually all of her patrons. Whatever it was, it encouraged him to share his thoughts. "I'm still hungry," he murmured petulantly, like a little boy denied his dessert. The waitress' eyes widened in surprise, even as they brightened with the glow of humor. "Then why don't you have some more?" It seemed a perfectly reasonable question, but Sano had a similarly reasonable answer. Sighing mournfully he patted his pockets. "No money." The cost of the first bowl had taken the last of his hard-won cash. At this the waitress laughed delightedly. "I'm afraid I must have neglected to explain: this is an all-you-can-eat restaurant -- please, help yourself to another serving." Sano caught her sleeve as she straightened to walk away, staying her motion so he could make sure he'd heard correctly. "All you can eat?" Nodding, she pointed to a stack of clean bowls arranged next to the selection of meats and vegetables. "Just use a clean bowl." Still somewhat dazed, Sano released her sleeve and rose to his feet. By the time he'd reached the bowls he was grinning, and at the first bite of the steaming food he knew he was in heaven. All I can eat . . .
"Sorry I'm late," Yahiko offered, taking a seat beside Kenshin at the Akabeko, "but the mail came just as I was leaving. We got another letter from Sano." "Oh?" Kaoru paused in supervising Kenji's dinner, her expression surprised. It had scarcely been a month since the last letter had arrived; for their erstwhile friend to write with such frequency was unusual. "What happened?" Opening the letter, Kenshin read the missive aloud. Typically Sano, the words were short and to the point:
"I wonder what could have made him change his mind?" Kenshin wondered aloud, tucking the letter into his sleeve for safe-keeping. Scant seconds later, Tae appeared in the opening of their compartment, her normally cheerful expression strained with worry. "Oh, it's terrible!" she lamented in response to Kaoru's careful inquiry. "One of my relatives has opened a restaurant in Mongolia, and she's being driven out of business!" Shaking her head ruefully, Tae explained how a single man was eating her cousin's supplies faster than she could restock them, and was paying next to nothing for the privilege. "I know exactly how she feels," the Akabeko's owner mourned, "Honestly, if I didn't know better, I'd think the man responsible was Sanosuke!" Too distraught to notice how her customers flinched at this observation, she rose to her feet, having joined them in the compartment as she related her story. "I just hope she can last until the fall, when the nomads leave the area, and the restaurant will close for the winter." The dining compartment was suspiciously quiet after she left; Kenshin, Kaoru, and Yahiko all thinking the exact same thing, but none of them willing to voice it first. Finally, Kenshin broke the silence. "Well, think of it this way: at least he is paying for his meals now . . . ne, de gozaru ka?"
Index of terms and expressions:
Sekihara Tae
Sukiyaki || Awards || Spoiler Warning || Disclaimer || Mind Your Manners! || E-mail Tae |