"Here Kenshin," Kaoru said, dumping a sack of groceries into his already overflowing arms. "These should last us about a week or so. Now where did I see those ribbons they were selling last week..." She walked blithely off, ignoring his frantic attempts to balance the pile that was dangerously close to toppling on the street. He hopped around trying not to drop anything, and in the process, providing a great deal of amusement to passersby with his little dance number.

"Anou...Kaoru-dono, aren't you done shopping yet? We've been walking around all day..." Kenshin's voice held just the tiniest bit of a whine.

Kaoru pretended not to hear him, flitting off to another shop that displayed some rather interesting knick-knacks. After all, it wasn't everyday that a person supporting a couple of freeloaders, not to mention the additional friend or two, managed to find enough money to indulge herself for a while. She planned to enjoy every minute of this day.

Kenshin sighed. His feet were beginning to hurt. Fighting all sorts of bad guys out for his blood had been easier than accompanying Kauro-dono on this shopping spree. He stared wistfully behind him. Yahiko had managed to escape just after lunch, going off for a walk with Tsubame-dono. He wished he'd been as lucky. As he turned to follow Kaoru-dono, a thunderous explosion threw him forward, making him fall flat on his face. The massive amounts of chi that accompanied the blast took his breath away. Not even Amakusa Shougo had been able to manipulate that much, he thought, stunned.

"Kenshin! Kenshin!! Daijobu desu ka?" Kaoru's worried voice finally pierced his shock.

"H-hai, Kaoru-dono," he replied, picking himself up. He turned to look back, and his eyes widened in awe. There in the skies above downtown Tokyo, a fiery black dragon raged, trumpeting its triumph to the heavens.

"Oro..."

* * * * *

Sanosuke yelped and dove for cover as Yahiko somehow *threw* a flaming dragon at Hiruma Gohee. Hoarse screams of excruciating pain assaulted his ears before he managed to plug them with both fingers. Curling up to make himself as small as possible, Sanosuke promised himself to *never ever* seriously piss off the little runt again.

* * * * *

When the screams of pain had dulled down to a sort of gurgling noise, Hiei-chan regretfully recalled the Kokuryuuha. As always the dragon resisted him, struggling to find another human to chomp on. Though he personally would have enjoyed toasting someone else, he didn't think he'd be able to talk Kurama-chan into believing that it'd been necessary. He gave the black dragon the equivalent of a bonk on the snout and hauled it back onto his arm. Sulkily, it complied. Ignoring the charred lump that used to be Gohee, Hiei-chan sat down besides Kurama-chan, placing his friend's head in his lap. With gentle fingers, he began to stroke the fine red hair, smoothing away the tangles that had snarled its silken length.

He cuddled the unconscious youko closer.