Thank you for any and all feedback. The story has to evolve so I'm trying to get there for everyone. Anyway, I hope that everyone had a happy holiday. Once again just to state that I do not own the characters below.

A pang of guilt washed through her as they passed through the entry. She really should have called her friend the other night. Coming on a weeknight had been part of her master plan to scope out the rumors she had heard. As it was she had to swallow to fight down the wave of nausea that threatened her. Whether the rumors were true she didn't know. However, the hot new nightspot was definitely a haven for the less respectable citizens of the realm.

"Quite a change from the other night." Kaoru shouted over the music as they entered the main room of the bar.

Misao flashed her a smile as every instinct in her told her to either flee the place, or pull out a blade and fight. As it was, her fingers slowly found the handle of her favorite dagger she had slipped under her shirt. As her green eyes scanned the crowd she couldn't tell who was precisely predator versus prey, but knew they were there. She was a touch startled to realize that several species had actually proliferated the bar. She sighed. So many prowlers and so many willing victims.

"Are you sure this isn't just another S&M club?" Sano yelled at her.

Misao shrugged, grateful the tall brunette had accompanied them. If Okina had not pushed her, she wouldn't have come at all. She had chosen Tuesday night for her initial visit for a reason. Friday everyone came out to play. She feared that Okina had been right in his fears. 'Liaisons' appealed to a certain crowd. As a woman flounced by bound in a tight corset, she wasn't quite sure who that crowd was exactly.

"Drinks?" She called out.

Kaoru nodded and started making her way through the throng of people. With little choice but to follow her, Misao looked around. Kaoru ddiverted from the main bar and split off to the left and ascended a short staircase. Startled, she had little choice but to follow her. Up here the music wasn't quite as thumping and movement was manageable. Proving timing was everything, Kaoru spotted a couple leaving a table and the trio seized it before anyone else could.

"What can I get for you?" A waitress appeared, clearing the dirty glassware.

"Vodka soda with lemon." Kaoru ordered.

Misao hesitated. "Vodka red bull." Screw it. She deserved a night off. Okina had promised the other sentinels had everything under control. The spell Han-ya had concocted fro her should last the night.

"Beer. Shot of jack."

The woman rolled her eyes. "What kind of beer?"

Sanosuke grinned lazily. "Surprise me."

The waitress vanished and Misao rolled her shoulders, attempting to ease the tension. The table had a great vantage of the dance floor, and Misao scanned over it, her fingers absently reaching down to caress the second blade she had hidden inside her boot. Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed that Kaoru also appeared to be looking for something, or someone.

"Who are you looking for?" She demanded, her verdant eyes searching for some threat.

Kaoru blinked and opened her azure eyes wide. NO one."

"The stranger from the other evening perhaps?" Sano asked mildly.

Her blue eyes glared. "Shut it." She snapped.

Not used to seeing Kaoru get touchy she jumped on it. "What stranger?" She asked.

"Some redhead." Sano answered sitting back. He grinned at her. "A handsome fellow if I do say so."

"Didn't know your tastes were swinging that way." Kaoru hissed.

"I can appreciate a pretty face." Sano shrugged. He flashed a brilliant smile at the waitress as their drinks arrived.

"Like the woman from last night? And yet you couldn't seal the deal."

"She needed to warm up to me is all. I got her on the hook."

"Did you want to start a tab?" Their drinks arrived.

Sano pulled out his credit card and a twenty. She plucked the twenty and tucked it into her bra before putting his card in her pocket. With a wink and a kiss she disappeared back into the masses.

"Who is this redhead?" Misao asked curiously. "And why would you think to find him here?" Ash followed with a slight frown.

"She met him here." Sano stated as he picked up the 22 oz beer bottle in front of him. "Holy shit!" He exclaimed as he saw the label.

Kaoru snorted. "You told her to surprise you."

"Yeah and usually you get a bud light or maybe a Heineken. I didn't think she'd bring me a fifteen dollar beer. He glanced again at the label. "How'd they get their hands on this stuff anyway? They only make like twenty kegs."

"Your fault. If I was in her position I would have done the same thing." Kaoru squeezed her lemon.

"You would not."

"Perhaps not a rare commodity like that, but it wouldn't have been something as basic as a bud light."

"You would really take advantage of a customer like that?"

"You asked for it." Kaoru snorted, sipping her drink. "You told her to surprise you; sounds like you got exactly what you wanted."

"Back to the conversation at hand." Misao leaned forward, interrupting the banter. "You met a guy here Tuesday? Why didn't you tell me?" The possibility was not a good one.

Kaoru looked back at her, startled. She shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal."

"Please." Sanosuke shook his head as he sipped his beer. "You were blushing as you parted ways. You liked him."

"I spoke to him for five minutes."

"And you met him here?" Misao asked again, attempting to keep the topic of the conversation on this elusive stranger.

"I didn't exactly meet him here. I met him on the train. But he was here before I left."

"He probably followed you to the train, Kaoru!"

She glanced at her strangely. "He didn't seem like a stalker. Besides, I told him where to find me and I haven't seen him since. That was three days ago."

Misao stared at her friend, pretty sure that her mouth was hanging open. Koaru rarely dated and was particular with the few men she had allowed to take her to dinner. In the eighteen years she had known her, the woman had only two somewhat serious relationships and neither had lasted more than six months. Both had been men she had known for a period of time before agreeing to date. The woman wasn't prone to show interest in strange men. "Is that why you agreed to come back?" She asked, incredulity completely leaving her flummoxed.

"You insisted!"

"For some redhead?" She glanced at Sano who was watching the byplay with amusement. "I'd expect that from him. Lord know how many times he's dragged us to some wretched place for some chit with perky tits-"

"Hey!"

"But you're usually much more sensible."

"Lay off her Misao. She's entitled to her kicks just as you and I are."

"My kicks?" She rounded on the brunette, her eyes wide.

"The other night when you blew her off. And all the other nights. You think we don't know that you have some secret relationship?" he drank half his bourbon. "Are you having an affair with one of your grandfather's colleagues? Is he married and thats why we haven't met him? Come on, Misao, spill."

The idea she was having an affair was ludicrous. She couldn't even fully recall the last time she'd had sex. Every since she had answered her calling two years ago, she had been too busy to have much fun. Save her relationship with these two, she might have died from the extreme stress. It wasn't unheard of.

"If I wasn't hard up, why do you think I would have been so insistent on coming here?" She demanded.

Sanosuke snorted as he took a long drink from his beer. "Not that it matters." He muttered.

"What doesn't matter?"

He waved a hand. "I'm surprised the waitress noticed us at all. No one else seems to."

"You are such an arrogant asshole." Misao sniped, taking a long pull from her drink.

So far, so good. She wasn't quite sure why the waitress had seen them, other than the fact she wasn't looking for 'prey'. One didn't just walk into a 'den of sin' without precaution. Of course, there were setbacks.

A tall man strode by the table and Misao immediately felt her eyes drawn to him. His commanding presence caused the mass of people to part before him. He was tall, dark ebony hair falling casually over his forehead. His eyes were dark, missing nothing. What kind of a lover do you think he would be?

"Either very generous, or very selfish." Kaoru answered, her blue eyes following the stranger. Misao blinked and looked at her friend. Kaoru grinned mischievously. "I vote extremely generous." Apparently she had murmured the question aloud.

Sano smirked. "what?" Misao made a face at Him. "I am human." Despite the fact that half the people in this place weren't.

Distantly she heard Kaoru and Sanosuke continue to bicker. Her attention was focused on the tall man. He reached the bar. The tall bartender immediately broke off conversation with another patron and handed him a bottle of something. The two exchanged words, the woman flipping her hair flirtatiously. For some reason the gesture sent up a surge of jealousy. He finished his conversation with the bartender and turned, surveying the crowd.

He sipped from his bottle. Misao studied him. He appeared almost bored, but something about his stance told Misao that it was merely a facade for something much more. He grew still and cocked his head to the side. His dark eyes seemed to flow over her though he didn't notice her. Then his gaze moved on. He inclined his head as he spotted someone and began once more heading through the crowd. As he passed once more by the table his eyes glanced in her direction. She sat up and grinned, but then he was pass, uninterested. She felt a sliver of disappointment.

"Seriously, there is something strange going on." Sanosuke muttered.

Misao blinked and returned her attention back to the pair. "What are you talking about?"

"Even that guy barely looked at you and you were practically undressing him with your eyes."

"What do you want me say?" She demanded crossly.

Next to her, she sensed Kaoru grow still. She turned her attention o her. Sanosuke chuckled. "And there he is."

"Who?"

Sano sipped his beer. "The elusive redhead."

She turned and easily spotted him. More to the matter, he was who the tall stranger had spotted. The pair were a sight to behold and Misao felt her mouth go dry at the sight of the two handsome men. The redhead had an untouchable beauty to him. Her fingers itched for a camera, a vocation that she rarely, if ever, had time for anymore. His flaming red hair would draw attention from anyone, anywhere, at any time. However, it was the detached air of confidence that demanded both awe and fear. No wonder Kaoru had wanted to see him again.

The pair moved through the crowd and Kaoru shrunk back into her seat. The pair passed by and Misao could almost taste her friend's disappointment. Misao sighed, feeling a twinge of guilt for the spell of unnoticability. Then the pair paused and the redhead spun around abruptly. Misao blinked in surprise. His eyes were searching the crowd for something before heading back in the direction he had just come from. He paused as he reached the table and slowly his gaze found them.

Kaoru sat up and brushed her hair back from her face. Though Misao detected no animosity from the stranger, she felt as if she had just witnessed a lion picking out his prey.

"You're here."

Kaoru nodded. "As are you."

Sanosuke's brown eyes darted between the pair. "That was anticlimactic."

The redhead's eyes glanced at him and blinked. "And here you are as well." He murmured.

Sanosuke blinked and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Have we met?"

"No."

Misao wasn't quite sure what was going on, but the the tall stranger was studying the exchange, his face revealing nothing. "I'm Kenshin." The redhead held his hand out to the brunette.

Sano stated at it for a few seconds. "Sanosuke." He said slowly. He glanced at Kaoru. Her friend was sitting still, trying to contain her frustration. The redhead looked at her and blinked once again. "I'm Misao." She looked at her friend.

Kaoru looked down at her drink in her hands. The redhead turned his attention to her once more. "And you're Kaoru. We meet again."

She looked up from her drink. She smiled brightly, her whole face lighting up. "You remembered my name."

"How could I forget?"

Misao studied her friend and then at the redhead. The tall man at his side leaned down and whispered something in his ear. Something about the way he stood, triggered her instincts. It wasn't threatening, but she recognized a fellow hunter.

The redhead shook his head at his companion. "I assume you made it home safely the other evening." He stated, his attention once more on Kaoru.

"I did, thanks to you."

"I didn't do anything."

"You got that guy to stop harassing me."

Misao's head whipped around at the words. "Some guy was harassing you?"

"Oh my god Misao! Would you relax?" Kaoru told her. "Between the two of you, I don't need any parents."

She pressed her lips together and looked up at the redhead, a blush creeping up her neck. Misao glanced once more at the two men. The taller one flickered a glance in her direction. He pulled phone out of his pocket and turned away from them.

"How have you been?" Kaoru asked Kenshin.

"The better question is how are you? I'm surprised to see you back in here. I recall you saying another bar was where you frequented. Yet here you are, two nights within a week."

"I told you my friend had wanted to come." sHe nodded towards Misao. "Would you like to join us for a drink?" She moved over and began to look around for another chair.

"I would like that." He nodded slowly, settling into a chair he pulled from a nearby table. "What brings you in on Friday night? I would have thought would you be working?"

"I'm usually off on Fridays."

"And how did you manage that?"

"I work Sundays. So can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can ask."

"Will you answer the question she asks?" Misao asked almost absently. Her attention was divided. The handsome stranger had disappeared into the throng of people. If he indeed was a fellow hunter he could have received a phone call about some activity. She had been given the evening off, but that didn't necessarily mean Okina wouldn't call her. A kick under the table had her attention once again. "Ouch." She she grunted as she caught Sano's dirty look.

Kenshin slowly turned his violet eyes on her. She noted the faded scar on his cheek . Remnants of a story flitted through her head though she couldn't quite pinpoint it. "Of course. If the answer is within my capabilities of answering."

Kaoru glared at her for half a second and then offered Kenshin a bright smile. "You had said that you had intended to be alone here the other night. You don't seem the type to want to come to a place like this on the weekend. What brings you here on a Friday night?"

He grinned and leaned towards the woman. "I needed to speak with a colleague about a few things. And despite what you told me, I had hoped to find you here."

Kaoru blushed and gulped down her drink. "So you're familiar with this place?" Sanosuke intervened.

The redhead now turned his attention to him. "I'm friends with one of the bartenders."

"Really?" The brunette look around. "Which one?"

"The one at the main bar." Kaoru stated, her voice tense.

"Is she single?"

"Really Sano?" Misao couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"What?" He shrugged.

"To my knowledge she is." Kenshin answered, amusement clear in his eyes.

"I'm sure she could have her pick."

Kenshin shrugged. "I'm sure she could. But I wouldn't know."

Misao shook her head with a chuckle, applauding Sano for diffusing Kaoru's jealousy. The tall stranger appeared from the crowd his phone in his hand. He paused when he sighted them. His dark eyes darted around the table and Misao wondered if he actually saw her this time or not. "Kenshin, we need to go."

The redhead sighed before he nodded. He rose, His violet eyes turning to Kaoru. "Until the next time we meet Kaoru-dono." He smiled at her. He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "It was a pleasure to meet you two." He told her and Sano. Then the pair were heading towards the door.

"I would have expected more." Sanosuke said with a shake of his head.

"And what would you have expected?" Kaoru demanded.

"He could have asked for your number."

"Well," Kaoru pressed her lips together. "So what if he didn't."

"He said until next time. When will that be?"

"How am I supposed to know?"

"Exactly."

Misao rolled her eyes in disgust and drank the last of her drink. She surveyed the crowd, not really sensing any malice in the large group. Despite the rumors, it seemed that the bar might be fairly harmless. No one was asking for more than they wanted. Even other hunters were checking out the place and didn't appear alarmed. "Are you ready to go?"

Sanosuke tossed back his shot finally. "I thought you'd never ask."

"The Akabeko?" She suggested.

He nodded and lifted his hand to catch the waitress's attention. "Where they don't rip me off and they make up my tab as they go."

"It's still your own fault." Kaoru argued as the waitress brought their tab. He signed it.

"You should be on my side." He told her.

"Except your side is wrong." Misao told him rising from her spot. She glanced once more around the bar. Even now. She could sense no malice. Perhaps it might be nothing more than a place for them to gather. Okina had once spoken of maintaining balance. Now if she cold only figure out how to balance it with her own personal life, she would be set.

Kisses until next time!