Tae's LIAC perch on the end of her bed, listening as she rifles through the clothes in her walk-in closet.

Tae (semi-frantic):  I have nothing to wear, I have nothing to wear, I have nothing to wear!!

Tasuki (sotto voce to Tamahome):  What's she doin'?

Tamahome (likewise):  Looking for something to wear on her first date with Seki.

Tasuki (confused):  What's so difficult about that?  It's not like he doesn't know what she looks like -- he sees her everyday!

Yuuki (condescendingly):  He's probably seen her in everything she owns, too.  That's not the point.

Leaning back on the bed, Tasuki turns to glare at Yuuki.

Tasuki (voice snide):  Oh really?  What makes the new LIAC such an expert on Tae-chan?

Yuuki (unruffled):  Not an expert on Tae... just not in the dark about women.  (He smiles slightly as Tasuki's expression darkens further):  They always worry about what to wear and how they look on their first date.  Just you wait -- I bet she wonders if she should wear makeup, too.

As if on cue, Tae's voice rises in a frustrated wail from the closet.

Tae:  If I dress up, then I have to wear makeup.  If I don't dress up, I don't have anything to wear that he hasn't already seen.  This is so like me:  I finally get a date with Mr. Right, and I only have the clothes of Ms. Wrong!

Kenshin (speaking in soothing tones in the direction of the closet):  I'm sure you'll look fine in anything you wear, Tae-dono.

Tae's unladylike snort is audible even through the half-closed closet door.

Tae:  Fat lot you know.  Your sense of fashion is a hundred years out of date, and even then you're not really in style.  Whoever said you could wear magenta with that red hair, anyway?

Kenshin (his expression wounded):  ORO?!

Immediately, Tae's contrite face appears around the edge of the door.

Tae:  Oh my God -- did I say that out loud?  I did!  I said that out loud!  Kenshin, I'm so sorry!

She emerges from the closet obviously distressed, wringing her hands anxiously.

Tae:  I didn't mean it, honestly I didn't!  I'm just so nervous!  I know it's silly -- it's just Seki and I've been going to lunch with him for months -- but I am.  How I can be this worried when he's seen me so sick that I can hardly stand and my nose is shining like Rudolph's is beyond me!  Of course, even if I had something to wear I'd probably spill my dinner on it first crack out of the box, so it's not like it really matters.  I'm doomed to feel stupid and embarrassed, either way.

Tae's voice has gotten higher and louder the longer she's talked, her words coming so fast they're barely distinguishable. Her LIAC watch with something akin to appalled amazement, not quite believing how worked up she's making herself.

Tae:  If only I had Barbie's figure I could go nekkid, and then at least he'd be too distracted to notice any mistakes I made.  I'd also be seven feet tall, so then I'd feel stupid because I'd tower over him like an NBA player... Good thing I'm not Barbie, I guess, except that I really don't want him to be bleeding out his eyes this soon in our dating relationship so nekkid is definitely out.

Japoro (under his breath):  Never mind that there are laws about public decency even if you do have the figure of a super model.  (Raising his voice to a more audible level, striving to inject a note of reason):  Tae-dono, why don't you just go buy something to wear?

Reacting as if he's just uttered the most brilliant thing she's ever heard, Tae scoops Japoro up in an exuberant hug.

Tae:  Perfect!  I'll just go buy something!  Why didn't I think of that?!

Tamahome (to Tasuki):  Because she's been struck stupid by love?

Tasuki (to Tamahome):  If anyone would notice the signs it'd be you, Tama-kun.

As Tae disappears out the door with Yuuki in tow -- she'll need a second opinion on what to buy, right? -- Kenshin and Japoro roll their eyes and sigh, watching as Tasuki and Tamahome engage in their daily brawl.

{Noon the next day.}

Tae's LIAC perch on the end of her bed, sweatdrops in evidence, as she rifles through the clothes in her walk-in closet.

Tae:  What to wear, what to wear, what to wear?!?

Tasuki (sotto voce to Tamahome):  Didn't she buy an outfit yesterday?

Tamahome (likewise):  She did.  She decided it wasn't the right thing to wear after she got it home.

Tasuki (confused):  So why doesn't she just go back to the store?

Yuuki (sounding exhausted from trying to understand the vagaries of women):  She thinks it's silly to wear something new when he sees her everyday.  (Shaking his head):  She also mumbled something about "denying the girly impulse" -- at least, I think that's what she said.  It was awfully hard to make out.

Kenshin (cocking his head to indicate the exceedingly girlish complaints coming from the closet):  I don't think denial is going to work for her.

Japoro and the others nod resigned agreement a moment before Tae throws the closet door open in triumph.

Tae:  I've got it!

The LIAC look her up and down, trying to determine what makes this particular shirt and jeans better than all the others she might have selected.

Tae (explaining in annoyance as the silence lengthens):  Seki hasn't seen this shirt before.

LIAC (in knowing chorus):  Ohhhhh.

Tae (rolling her eyes):  I would've thought that was obvious!

Japoro (to Yuuki, as Tae disappears into the bathroom to dry her hair):  How long does the traditional dating period last?

Yuuki (morosely):  Months.

Japoro (likewise):  Do you think we'll survive?

Yuuki (grimly):  I think it might be either her or us, Japoro-kun... her or us.

Kenshin:  I'm too old for this.  Why couldn't she go through adolescent love pangs at 15 like everyone else?!