Fine dining and fine words.

"Whoa."
That is all that escapes me as we walk into this restaurant.

The waiters,the matre de,everyone treats Kenshin like a prince,he walks away from us temporarily to change into the clothes he brought in his backpack while I observe this magnificent restaurant.

Think beautiful light fixtures with varying degrees of white gold like flower designs flowing down,walls with ornate hand drawn artistry of dragons,ancient warriors and beauties with flowers of many kinds native to Japan.
Even the workers here are dressed as though time has stood still at the peak of the eighteen sixties.

I am rather struck dumb of a sudden.

"Come along Trouble."
Uncle Goji speaks to me breaking my trance from the movie level stunning before me.We have never been anywhere this fancy before.

Most of our most expensive meals are barely the cost of a salad here.

Kenshin returns,dressed eye catchingly but simple in a white button down long sleeve shirt and black criminally well tailored black trousers.He notes but doesn't seem to regard my moment of noticing him.

Maybe he didn't actually notice?

I even see before the waiter seats us that there is a small room that many couples are swaying to soft music in and then do I turn my head towards Kenshin who has eyes screaming a bad intention.

"No."
"I haven't even asked anything!"
"NO."
"That would be a bit rude of you after all.He has been kind to you and got a lot of business to the shops."

My eyes shoot up fast to Uncle Goji who has eyes of his own filled with mirth over the exchange that has Kenshin smiling as though he has won a grand battle versus a vicious opponent."See..You should be more friendly."

That exchange occurred and it seemed so nice for a few moments and quiet as I watched Uncle Goji stare at the prices of the menu while Kenshin stops him cold on even attempting to pay as well as the mirth with them both.

I wonder what kind of bond they really have?They seem so close and how come I never knew or even seen him or them together for that matter?
Yet.

Both of them look so happy.
Almost like a father and son for all of a few minutes.

"What would you like Lovely?"

I think I startle enough to scare the elderly couple by our side and the newlyweds on my other side, so much they dropped the untensils they held onto.
"I...I think I will have the chicken and lemon rice.Thank you."

Kenshin smirks,noting where my eyes kept glancing over.
Traitors.
My whole face and heart.
Traitor.

"Bring a large slice of the caramel and dark chocolate cake as well.You must share though."

Uncle Goji laughs so hard while I cut my eyes at both of them so instead of speaking more I turn my head harshly away to stare out at a admittedly amazing view of the city at night that I had no idea could look so calm and alive.

Like the night filled with stars.

"What are you doing son?"
That mirth I was referring to earlier?

Gone.
So fast I could have barely batted an eyelash and it would be passed on.

"Father.I am here to celebrate the first victory of our cause.I promised I would treat them to a meal and discuss the future steps to win."
I honestly don't even bother to stop my sudden full on stare at him,it is like Kenshin became a stone doll,devoid of that annoyingly heart fluttery manner of his.
Even Uncle Goji seems to be stilled by it.

"I heard about it from my assistant this morning.It was all over the gossip sites,the news sites,even our fellowship pages were filled with numerous comments about your 'Cause' which led to quite a bit of negative calls today from more than one patron of our school."

I feel like a small child sitting at this fine gold and white clothed table,ornate artwork beyond my skill level around me and between two people that are more scarily calm than I am right now.Wise thing is to stay quiet,that is what my doctor told me when I feel like this.

"It is only the first day Father.The reception was positive,the sign up sheet was at seventy five percent for support.Mori-San here,she composed such a beautiful call to arms that the many of the supporters came due to her.I did nothing but be there."

With eyes like he has they should be spotlights. 
Ito-San is a tall man that seems almost overbearing after a manner,he seemed that way when he was younger too but now he just has an air to him.
Like he feels...

Heavy.

Meanwhile the woman beside him holds the crook of his arm with a tightening grip as the tension mounts while her face remains as though a fairy without a trouble on earth and her eyes like doe eyes remain fixed to my own.

I nod my head,unsure if it would be proper for me to introduce myself or my Uncle while Kenshin hasn't yet.

The waiter seems shaken just by the sight of the Itos,I try to settle him with an attempt at as soft smile but it falls short over the angry feeling brewing quickly.
"Forgive me.I-It will be a little longer on your meals.An accident occured in the kitchen."

"Take care of yourselves.No rush at all."
Kenshin speaks up,he splits off the curry bread given to us by the waiter for our wait while Mr Ito stands barely moving somehow and it is horror movie frightening.

"Forgive me Goji-San.Father,this is Mori-Sans uncle.Mori Goji,This is Mori Yukihana to introduce them properly.My apologies to you both."
Kenshin almost seem to almost be embarrassed that he forgot,even more so odd is that his father barely even turned his head to regard my Uncle (who as nice and polite as men comes he acts just as cold suddenly too)

Yet those eyes of Ito-San,they looked through me as though I am very little,a wounded kitten with no claws or something like that.
Beneath.

"You have to wait a bit on the meal,why don't you kids go off to the dance hall for a bit.We haven't talked properly and it is easier to talk at ease in our age alone with our own age.Don't you agree Ito-San?"

The heavy feeling that Ito-San carries became heavier as he waved his permission to Kenshin while I watched Uncle Goji look so serious I barley recognize him but it is only all to brief as Kenshin takes my wrist in hand and pulls me along behind him into the side dance hall.I kept looking back for moments and moments and find myself confused over my uncles behavior but find it better to wait until I can talk privately.

"Please...please don't run.Okay."

Kenshin still has a hold on my wrist that is about as harsh as a newborn birds feather.I look up from that calloused hand of his to see a face that looks tired and worn quickly.
Can someone age a decade in minutes? That makes me wonder.

What is talking to me now I wonder.
My brain seems to feel so confused,like it has no idea whether he means don't run in a bad getting felt up or kissy- kissy when I give no consent way but my heart.
It says 'No way. 'on that.
It is so thrilled just to have my wrist being held tenderly that my heart doesn't really care what it means.

My gut though.
I have prayed to GOD to give me a gut that speaks more honest than anything else.

"I am staying put...For now.I am not about to let a perfectly good slice of cake be lost over being pulled to a dance hall."

"Will the slice of cake by me a slice of your time?I have never danced before with anyone I ever wanted to until now and this song is lovely enough to pull me out of the mud I will be in very soon."

That hand that held my wrist releases it,instead becoming fully stretched out towards me leaving the decision to be mine and wholly mine alone while his eyes soften again to become almost childlike and innocent unlike his typical self with me any other time.

I can't look at that calloused hand much longer before giving an answer yes or no.