BSPL
Chapter Ten
The Nervous Type
"But you can't just kill people. That's why we have police officers. If I just kill someone because I think they're bad or something the world would be in total chaos."
"Well I agree. It would be total chaos if just anyone had the authority to kill. But it wasn't normal people like you and me doing it."
"Of course not!"
"They had specially trained police officers doing it."
Misao strained her ear to listen to the conversation going on behind her. She was nearly comatose with boredom. The bullet train she was to take into Tokyo Metropolis had experienced an uncharacteristic delay due to minor track damage. Now she was completely stranded. She had to wait an entire hour in the station. She didn't have anything to do but eavesdrop and people watch. Misao stretched her slender legs, straight before her, and slouched down on the bench, chin to her chest. She would start blowing spit bubbles if things didn't get more interesting.
The three women behind her were discussing one of Misao's favorite topics: the Affliction. Misao loved discussing that time and talking about it with Aoshi. He had been blessed to be an active part of that violent step towards total revolution. Though Aoshi was young then, he was still able to participate. Misao was only two years old when the Affliction began; she was six years old when the last of the revolutionaries were imprisoned, killed or exiled. Yet she had been at the center of it all. Born to a man who was principal informer for the revolutionary side of the police department and government, Misao was an heir to the madness.
Misao sighed wistfully. Those would have been crazy times. Even though Misao thought her father was on the right side, history did not choose them as the winners. They'd lost. After achieving a marginal, fragile peace, the revolution failed and ended. They cleaned up the streets, but they were not allowed to implement many new and lasting policies. However, there were those that remained, revolutionary criminals who wouldn't let the dream die. Misao was one of them and so was Aoshi. She would find him again, and together they would make change come.
'Revolution…'
Misao pondered the thought. She only had glimpses of her memories, flashes of certain events and scattered memories of her father, who was killed midway through the movement. Aoshi didn't like to talk about those days, thus she got very little information from him. He claimed that she didn't understand the cost of revolution, that she was trying to resurrect a dead and misguided dream. Misao knew better, she was Oniwabanshu for a reason. Information was her specialty. She knew that Aoshi was up to more than he let on, he was starting something. As the sole carrier of the Makimachi name, there were still those who pledged to her their loyalty and favor. She could bring them together again to usher in a world she an Aoshi could approve of.
Turning her thoughts to lighter matters, Misao continued to eavesdrop. She found that people watching was no fun if she had to do it alone. She always felt the need to cross the line between watcher and active participant. In many situations that was okay. Even if it were not okay, Misao would often break into the conversations of strangers without reservation. She needed to say something, comment on what she observed. If Aoshi were here they could engage in a debate about who was right and who was wrong. He would sit silently and listen to her dish on life and morality. Then he would calmly suggest a viewpoint that she hadn't considered, his ice blue eyes sparkling with cold, mischievous pleasure.
Breaking away from her reverie, Misao turned her attention to the three women once again.
The women seemed to be in their mid to late twenties. They were all dressed in greenish-blue hospital scrubs. Despite the fact that they all seemed to bear the same station in life, they each held a distinctive stance in the conversation, which Misao found interesting. People with the same lot often banded together these days.
The Affliction was something many people would not argue or even talk about. Having been quelled a decade ago, lay people had were still trying to shove it away as an unfortunate internal war waged between the government and criminals, over the bodies and wellbeing of average citizens. There was still a general sense of discontent in the air, as neither side truly reached their aims. Neither side had clearly been victorious. In fact, for the average man, the line between enemy and savior was very thin. Despite this ambiguity, these days people usually had a definite opinion in their deep in their minds. This opinion they usually kept buried inside, fear keeps quiet. In Misao's opinion, when people did venture to talk about it, they usually took one of three stances:
There was that of the liberal doubter, the person who asked too many questions, gave few answers, scoffed the government and sided with the so-called criminals:
"Trained police officers? That's not true. That's completely false. They used gangs and prisoners on death row to give their "heaven's justice". That's why I don't put any trust in the government. They operate so far above our heads. There's no way to really know what's going on. They don't know what they're doing. Besides, they were all so corrupt they started killing each other. I don't even know how it started in the first place. Don't even get me started on these new I.D. implants, " the doubter said.
"You don't believe that conspiracy nonsense, do you?"
"It's not nonsense. The full story was never disclosed. All I know is that ten years ago my provincial governor turned up dead. He was a good guy, never did anything wrong by me. Next it was members of the city council. Then it was the deputy chief. Everyone started dropping like flies and I don't even know what they did wrong. If government kills government, if police kill police, and there's never a trail, how the hell am I supposed to know who to trust? And that I.D. stuff is total bull. If they think they can stick some I.D chip in me, they better think again."
Next there was the conservative loyalist. This was the person who blindly trusted in the government, supporting all their actions in the name of patriotism, both currently and during the Affliction:
"But it was the police that did it," the loyalist woman argued. "They were taking swift and conclusive action to insure that people like you and me were safe. Personally, I wish they'd start getting rid of these depraved criminals again. Why should I have to be taxed in order to feed and house a worthless criminal serving a life sentence? We need to be rid of them and these crazy politicians that get elected through deception, like that Yamada guy. Who voted for him? His money got him elected. We need to get rid of these liars. I'm not saying we need the fear and terror of the Affliction, but we need something. And about I.D. you already have a number. Giving you an ID chip and putting it in you just makes the system more efficient."
The doubter of course, would not let the conservative's statement go unchallenged.
"But what about Hiyasaki Asano? As the chief of police, he was the police and they killed him. He wasn't in jail or prison, and I don't think he lied about anything. In fact, I think the murder of Chief Kamiya a few years back had something to do with it. I'm telling you these nuts in office right now want to bring back the Affliction. Chief Kamiya always opposed it. So they did him in. And I don't care if I already have a number, I don't want them putting any chips in my body! I don't want some computer scanning me wherever I go!"
Misao frowned at the mention of Chief Kamiya. Mention of his name brought back painful memories of her temporary life as a normal teenager. She had been a good friend with the man's daughter, Kamiya Kaoru. Misao folded her arms and let out a frustrated breath. She always felt guilty when she thought of Kaoru. Misao had yet to meet another girl besides Kaoru who shared her tenacity and ideas. Even at the age of fourteen both Misao and Kaoru were headstrong rebels. Misao smirked at the thought of their mischievous adventures and declarations. It was probably for the best that they'd been separated. They were on opposite sides of the law after all.
Misao frowned. Did Kaoru still believe in her father's ideas? Four years is enough to change a person's mind. Especially when someone ends up dead. Nevertheless, Misao would still find Kaoru. Misao deduced that Kaoru would have taken one of three paths in life. (Misao had a habit of fitting people into threes) Kaoru could have gone the spiritual route and decided to forgive her father's killers and embraced a philosophy of pacifism. She also could have chosen the path of carnality, declaring bloody vengeance on her father's murderers. There was also the path of reason to choose from with its many discourses. Many of which could lead to apathy or inaction. What kind of person had Kaoru grown into? What path did she choose?
In any case, Misao only wanted to reunite with her friend from those days of innocence so long forgotten. Those days of mischief and innocence were small memories compared to the things she was involved in now.
Smiling, Misao turned her mind back to eavesdropping, picking up a stray newspaper, and pretending to read. The third woman was finally making her move into the debate. While the other two women argued, the third lady had appeared disinterested, casually flipping through a thick hardcover book.
Almost forgotten in the heated conversation, the third lady shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her face pensive at the mention of Chief Kamiya. Misao dubbed her to be the analytical listener and all around pessimist of the group.
"Well, they said that Chief Hiyasaki was the most corrupt of them all. He was linked to international prostitution rackets and they say that Chief Kamiya had made a deal with Yakuza," the loyalist continued.
"That's not true. There was never any evidence to support those claims," the quiet lady interjected.
Glad to have someone on her side, the liberal woman piped up.
"Exactly! Well said, Megumi. You are ever gracious and wise. This woman is wise enough to know that we can only judge by the facts."
Turning to the loyalist woman, she continued: "On that note, how do you explain the Makimachi case? What was his crime? He was just some corporate mogul."
"See, that's what the liberals want you to think. He wasn't just some corporate mogul. He had to be involved in some way, or else he wouldn't have turned up dead," said the loyalist.
Misao's face went pale and her bottom lip twitched. She could feel a shout building at the base of her heart. It was all she could do to hold herself back from strangling both of the women, referring to her father as just some "corporate mogul". It was a long time coming, but Aoshi had taught her to hold back her fury when it was kindled.
'However, these guys can pay me for my woes. They're probably med students, or they could be doctors. In any case, they probably have money.'
The quiet one was the best groomed of the three. She had long black hair, her make-up was immaculate and she carried herself with a distinctly haughty air. Unfortunately, she hadn't said anything flippant or negative about her father or Kaoru's. The one who looked the wealthiest was the one Misao couldn't pick pocket, if she were to justify her actions as a small act of retribution.
"Whatever. I just don't believe it…people just started turning up dead. That's wrong. Uggh, I don't even want to think about it. I remember when Toro Nobuhiko of my favorite restaurant was killed. It was a good place," said the liberal.
"But they say he ran a fence and a drug operation, the restaurant was just a cover."
"But how do you know? Even if he was a criminal, that's what we have prisons and courts for! Suddenly, you don't even have to prove people are guilty anymore. You just kill them. What is this, Death Note?"
"Well I don't think the police would kill people if they weren't guilty. I'm sure they had proof. Besides, our politicians were using hard earned, taxpayer's money to fund lavish vacations and homes. I'm tired of white-collar crime ruining my daily life. And I'm tired of gangs all over the streets. I'm too afraid to even go for a jog at night. You can't deny that the crime rate went down exponentially during the Affliction. Murder, theft, rape and even white-collar crimes were at a record low."
"But at what cost? People were terrified. We were trapped by our own society. People were too scared to do anything. We call it the Affliction for a reason. While us normal people were being protected by Hajime's Swift Law, the so-called criminals were fighting for their lives. Why do you think the program insurrected?"
"You're exaggerating nobody was terrified. Besides, normal people like you, myself and Megumi have nothing to fear from the law. Like you said, the Swift Law protected us."
"But we do have something to fear! Didn't you hear rumors about the "no witnesses" rule? And if they go through with the I.D. plan, just being in the wrong place could get you killed."
Misao grasped the newspaper she was holding between small dexterous fingers and slowly tore it down the middle, her eyes and angry green flame. She methodically folded the paper before tearing it again in halves. The woman was right. Things were getting out of hand, and fast. The government had a new plan, contrary to her will and it looked like all systems were go. The plan, simply called "I.D." by the common man was a new form of population control and monitoring. Every person would be forced to re-register his or her social security ID number, followed by the physical insertion of a memory chip containing, said number along with all pertinent information regarding the individual including bank accounts, family history, employement, and criminal convictions. Proximity monitors and check points would also be implanted anonymously and in various undisclosed locations, along with satellite tracking. The government would have the ability to track the movements and actions of any given individual at any given time. With monetary transactions and accounts linked to the chip, any purchase could be used to track an individual. Bad news for someone trying to stay under radar. The workings and development of ID technology began during the affliction as a means to trace witnesses. If the witness could be tracked, controlled, and threatened, they could easily be contained…and spared. It was pushed down then, the original leaders of the Affliction were concerened about personal securities, now with the old crew dead, buried or imprisoned, ID was rearing its ugly head again.
"Well I admit if the "no witness" rule were true it would be very scary and wrong. But I don't really believe they did that. Though if it were true, they should just eliminate that rule next time around. You don't throw the baby out with the bath water. The Affliction was for criminals. They should be scared. That's what keeps violence down. Concerning I.D. if you're were you're supposed to be you have nothing to fear. Anyway, I guess something went wrong and things started getting a little out of control. But it was only temporary. I know they're going to reinstate the Swift Law. Personally, I can't wait."
The quiet lady called Megumi interjected again. "And who are they? Do you even understand how the Swift Law works? Kill.Evil.Swiftly. You both think you know so much. The truth is we all suffer because of crime and corruption. But we should, because we're all corrupt. We all have some evil inside. How can anyone judge who lives and dies? I do wrong and so do you. What if I commit a crime? Aren't we allowed to make mistakes?" Megumi's lips were trembling and she spoke with a passion that shocked her two counterparts and electrified the eavesdropping Misao.
"Does that mean I have to die for it?" Megumi practically shouted. "Yes, the violent crime rate went down - at a very bloody cost. That peace we had was built on human bodies. And what about now? Do you want to know why crime is spiraling out of control again? I'll tell you why, the Affliction wrecked the economy, and people are getting desperate again. Poverty and crime go hand in hand. Like she said, the program insurrected. If they start it up again what will happen?" Megumi nearly screamed.
"Amen!" shouted the liberal.
"Would you two calm down? You'll draw attention," the loyalist hastily whispered.
"Don't say "amen" because I'm not on your side. I don't deserve to live…if I kill someone," Megumi added the last part as an afterthought. "But I don't want the elusive they to decide. I should just kill myself. If they kill me then we'll all be killers." Megumi was silent for a moment, as were her two friends. Then, as if she had just realized that she'd made a serious and embarrassing social blunder with her tone of voice, Megumi burst into peals of high-pitched laughter, covering her mouth with a primly manicured hand.
"Or we could study medicine and make a positive contribution to society," Megumi stated as she brought her laughing fit to a close.
"I'm not sure if I like those options," the liberal woman said with cautious humor, eyeing Megumi suspiciously. "Kill myself or study medicine."
"That's right. Become a doctor… or else. Save this insufferable race," Megumi muttered to herself as she buried her face in her book.
Misao tilted her head to the side sharply and squeezed her eyes shut, rubbing her chin. This conversation proved to be more interesting than most she came across concerning the Affliction and the ID program. Megumi had surpassed Misao's predictions for the response of the quiet analyzer. She'd have to make sure she sat behind this Megumi on the train.
"Kenshin, what the hell is this?" Sano said as he poked through Kenshin's clothing selection.
"Eh, what do you mean Sano?" Kenshin asked, a slightly bewildered look on his face.
"I said, what the hell is this?"
"It's my clothes," Kenshin said slowly.
Sano looked at Kenshin as if he had suddenly sprouted bunny ears. Holding up his selections, Sano tried to reconsider Kenshin's choices. Among Kenshin's small bundle of clothes, he had chosen several items of the same disgusting quality. Sano picked up one particularly offending item, a hot pink t-shirt sporting a very large decal of Sailor Moon.
"What, you don't like them?" Kenshin asked somewhat distracted as he leafed through another box of dirt-cheap clearance items.
"You can't possibly be serious."
Kenshin stopped leafing through the box and turned to face Sano, a small smile on his face.
"I am."
"Hell no. I don't know shit about fashion, but you gotta be kidding me!"
Kenshin laughed a little at Sano's horrified expression. He knew his choices were bad, but he was not particularly concerned about shopping. In fact, Kenshin hated the idea. From the moment they set foot in the store Kenshin felt uneasy. He felt smothered, uncomfortable, and irritable. When Kaoru left him, he'd had an attack of nerves then settled himself to meditate for the following hours until Sano showed up. Kenshin cringed at the thought. He didn't like the idea of being escorted. There was something strange and slightly perverse about the fact that Sano was the one to escort him to the department store, having been escorted by him many times while in prison. Feeling stifled by the routine his life seemed to have already taken, Kenshin unconsciously scowled and clenched the pink fabric of the Sailor Moon shirt.
"Sano, all the clothes in this box are on sale. Ten for ten," Kenshin said as he leafed through a box full of fashion monstrosities.
"Look, you're bound to get some attention you might not want…wearing pink. What, with your long hair and all…"
"What? Are you afraid of what people might think?" Kenshin smirked, looking up at Sano, a golden gleam in his eyes.
Sano sputtered. "What? No! Actually, hell yes I am! Anyway. Whatever. Pick what you want."
"I will."
Kenshin continued leafing through the box, just as an eager young woman trying to get to the cheap clothes brushed against him. Kenshin stiffened, nearly imperceptibly and moved away. She brushed him again. He moved away. Before he knew it, she had pushed him completely away from the box. Kenshin stood there watching her, bewildered, before he was nudged once again by another female shopper, eager to get to the sale box. Kenshin watched the pale hands of the two women ruffle through the clothes. Like tiny spider legs, their skinny fingers crawled over the clothes, picking and throwing items here and there. Mesmerized by their fingers, Kenshin stared absently, the voices of other noisy shoppers drifting around him. A nudge on his shoulder made him aware that Sano was by his side, asking him things, questioning him. Turning his head to face Sano, Kenshin could see a slightly bewildered expression on the man's face.
"Hey, what's your problem Kenshin?"
But Kenshin wasn't listening. He couldn't seem to isolate Sano's voice above the others. The store was getting increasingly noisy. Why was everyone so loud? Kenshin looked around, trying to find a source for all the commotion. He only saw people, tons of people. Mostly, women, their dark heads bobbing towards the clothing items. Their small, high-pitched voices rising and falling in a miasma of annoying sounds. Kenshin looked to the ground. The sounds and crawling fingers pressed down on him. So many feet. So many hands. So many people…pushing, walking, fighting and talking. And then he was moving, but he was standing in place. Colorful female voices washing over him, screaming and sighing. He was moving again, there were hands on his shoulders, but he was still. Someone was shaking him. Sano.
Kenshin blinked. Sano had him by the shoulders, pulling him off somewhere. 'Don't fucking touch me.' Kenshin shrugged violently away from him, practically snarling at his confused friend.
"Kenshin, what the hell?"
Kenshin straightened out his clothes, and brushed his shoulders. What had just happened? 'I lost myself…where am I? I'm shopping. Outside. Did I do something?'
Sano was looking at him strangely, his eyes narrowed, mouth slightly dropped. He was wearing that serious, but confused look he often gave Kenshin.
"You can close your mouth Sano," Kenshin growled low in his throat as gathered up his cheap clothing items.
"What?" Kenshin snarled as Sano continued to stare.
Sano shook his head, his dark brows knitting together. "Nothing man."
"I have to pay for this," Kenshin bit out as he headed to the register.
"Right."
Sano scratched his head, and followed Kenshin, hanging back a considerable distance. No need to walk the man to the register. Sano could tell Kenshin was about to explode, for all the obvious reasons ex-cons usually do. The man was panicking. Sano scowled. He shouldn't have listened to the women. Better to let Kenshin feel himself and the rest of the world out before they moved in on him. Sano watched as his crazy friend joined the line, careful not to touch anyone. The man definitely needed to move around a bit. That could prove difficult with two concerned women trying to insure his comfort and happiness.
'We'll get wasted tonight Kenshin. You better be down for that. Knowing you, you'll probably snap by tomorrow. But at least we can have some fun tonight first.'
Sano smirked, enjoying the thought of drinking with his friends. He wondered if Kenshin would be eager to party, or if he'd pull a disappearing act. Megumi would definitely drink. That would be nice. A drunk Kaoru would be a lot of fun too. Sano wondered about Kaoru. He liked the girl. Did she drink? She was probably underage, being a high school girl. Didn't matter. He had no problem corrupting the youth. Besides, Kaoru was asking for it, having hooked up with Kenshin. If Sano could help it, everybody would get completely wasted tonight. Especially Kenshin. Did Kaoru have any ID? Sano shrugged. He had connections. He could get a toddler past the bouncers of the clubs they were gonna hit.
Misao glanced around, taking a deep breath. She didn't remember this neighborhood well. It had been quite sometime since she'd visited Tokyo. It had been years since she'd seen Kaoru. She was here for Aoshi and there were a lot of leads to follow. But first she wanted to find Kaoru. When Misao left Kaoru, the girl had been on a purity streak, while Misao was willfully heading down a path of destruction. Was Kaoru still a misfit goodie-goodie? Misao and Kaoru had both been rebellious, only in different ways. Misao was hell-bent on tearing down the powers that be just for the sake of it. Kaoru was all about justice and righteousness. Of course, it made perfect sense. Misao had been raised by criminals, it was only fitting that she would eventually become one. A police officer and a homemaker had raised Kaoru. Of course she had a bloated sense of justice. In any case, Kaoru was wild about "doing right" even to the point of "doing wrong". Thus, they often found themselves together in detention.
If she remembered correctly, Kaoru's home was quite far from the station, so she could have a long walk ahead of her. Curiously enough, the conscientious objector Megumi had been walking in front of her since they left the station.
'Seems like she knows where she's going. Maybe I can ask her.'
"Excuse me miss," Misao called out with her most polite voice. The longhaired objector turned.
"I'm sorry, but I'm looking for the Kamiya Dojo, can you help me out?" The woman gave Misao an appraising once over, critical cinnamon brown eyes searching her person.
'Wow. Do I look that suspicious? What's the big deal? I've found a sharp one,' Misao thought. She closed her eyes and smiled her sweetest smile.
"Sorry. I can't help you." The woman answered coldly before turning briskly.
'Ouch. Interesting. She took to long to answer me. Does she think I'm following her? Actually I wasn't, but now I'll have to. She obviously knows where the Kamiya Dojo is, and is hiding it for some reason. There'd be no other reason to analyze me and answer so coldly. This "Megumi" could simply be a huge bitch, but I don't think so. Kaoru what's going on with you? Does this have anything to do with your father?
Misao stopped to ask another passerby for directions, keeping one suspicious eye on Megumi.
Megumi turned down a narrow street, hugging the curb and digging for her cell phone.
'Pick up the phone Kaoru. Why am I always so paranoid? That girl was probably harmless, some nut from tracks. But I think she was following me. She could have been one of Kaoru's high school friends. Yeah right. Kaoru doesn't really have any friends. Besides, there is no way that girl is in high school with all those piercings and blonde hair. Plus she was way too polite for her kind. No way some track punk chic is hanging out in this neighborhood for the fun of it.'
"Hi. Kamiya speaking."
"Hey you."
"Hey, Megumi! What's up?"
"Are you expecting anyone?"
"No. Why?"
"Do you have any friends that would drop in unannounced? Actually, are you advertising for the school? Do you know anyone with blonde hair?"
"Whoa. Whoa. Slow down. What?"
Megumi rolled her eyes. "I'm going home and some strange girl asked me where the Kamiya dojo is."
"So?"
"I don't know. She looked suspicious. Why would anyone be looking for the Kamiya dojo?"
Kaoru swallowed loudly. That hurt. As usual, Megumi had pricked one of Kaoru's wounds without a second thought.
"Why wouldn't they?" Kaoru snapped back.
"Look you idiot, I'm just trying to watch out for you. I'm not thinking about your stupid school. Don't forget who you are. Anyway, I told her I didn't know. But if she's up to something I guess she'll find it anyway."
"Well thank you Megumi, but we're pretty easy to find. I haven't exactly been hiding. Maybe it's an old student or something."
As much as Megumi hated to admit it, the little raccoon was probably right. Megumi pressed her lips together and blushed in embarrassment. She looked around quickly, as if someone were watching her before bidding Kaoru a hasty goodbye, stuffing her cell in her purse.
Megumi knew she had a tendency to be unnecessarily suspicious. However, she found no fault with herself for being this way. Unmerited suspicion was a necessary tool for her survival. It had gotten her out of more than a few jams. For a person with her history and connections it was a very necessary and integral part of her personality. Kaoru ought to be the same way. She was just too trusting. Kaoru probably had even more reason than Megumi to sleep with one eye open.
'Didn't your father teach you anything?' Megumi thought as she walked briskly down the road, trying earnestly to reach the dojo before the little blonde punk did. There was no real reason to rush. The girl would eventually find the place and if she were up to no good, there was little Megumi could do to stop her.
'Well at least I can watch and listen.'
Megumi couldn't fight to save her life. However, she was sly and intelligent. These were her most treasured features of defense.
'All right. I'll be there in one minute.'
Megumi gave her self a small slap. She was unfortunately, quite fond of the little raccoon and wanted to be there if something were to happen. Even if the blonde girl had completely innocent intentions, it was still a rare thing as of late for Kaoru to get a visitor besides Sano. Plus with Kenshin crashing at Kaoru's one couldn't be too careful. She wanted to know what this girl was all about.
Megumi rounded the corner to Kaoru's house and stopped in her tracks. Kaoru was standing in front hugging the blonde girl tightly. They were both squealing and bouncing with happiness. She could feel her cheeks burning.
'So I was wrong. Kaoru does have other friends. I guess it makes since that she'd have a few hiding away somewhere.'
Megumi made deliberate noise with her approach and soon the two girls turned to face her, a look of mischievous triumph in the blonde girl's eyes.
"Megumi! You've got to meet my long lost friend, Misao!"
"Nice to meet you." Megumi bowed her head in recognition without stopping her trek towards the house.
"So you did know. What? You don't trust me?" Misao asked, laughter and triumph in her voice.
Megumi snorted and brushed past Kaoru into the house.
Megumi noted the confusion and embarrassed blush that formed on Kaoru's cheeks, as she brushed past.
'Oh well. I don't care. If stuff like this hurts your feelings or embarrasses you then you need to get tough. Especially if you're living with Kenshin.'
The ride on the subway car was anything but comfortable for Kenshin. He had never actually enjoyed riding the subway, but in this moment it felt particularly more unpleasant than before. Things had changed since he'd last ridden the trains 10 years ago. For one, dyed hair had become all the rage, so his mere appearance no longer seemed to command the curious distance it once had. There were an incredible amount of young people with red hair and strangely colored contact lenses. He was no longer a peculiar purple-eyed anomaly to the casual viewer. Kenshin was still getting his fair share of stares. His hair, unlike most was red from root to end, however this was not enough for people to keep their distance. Maybe his aura was not as dark and frightening as it once was. Was that a good thing? The evening train was packed to the max, and to Kenshin the common air seemed too thick.
'Nobody is afraid of me. They're pressing against me as if I were anyone else. I'm just like everyone else. Am I just like everyone else?'
Kenshin smirked at the thought and roughly adjusted his standing position, much to the chagrin of the woman standing next to him. She sniffed in disapproval and Kenshin shifted again, only to mistakenly jab someone with his movement.
To his frustrated, struggling mind, new to the world as he was, it seemed that every manner of person was pressed against his body. Of course that was not the case, and he knew this to be true. Nonetheless, Kenshin felt a persistent and angry tugging in his limbs to lash out at the various bodies that touched his own. He couldn't help envisioning himself plucking out a few eyes that lingered too long on the length of his hair. Sure red hair was popular these days, but waist length locks had not caught on. Kenshin glared at one wayward youth who blatantly stared. The youth held a tiny device, Kenshin assumed to be an MP3 player. He'd read about those things, though he'd never seen one in prison.
His fingers were itching to rip away the MP3 player that boomed too loud and defied his sonic boundaries. Rip it away and smash it to pieces, along with its disrespectful owner. Cram a bar of soap down the throat of the man to his left with the offensive breath. Make the woman to his right realize it was not a good idea to touch and/or shove him too hard no matter how many times he shifted his position.
'It's a free country. I can move as much as I want. If anything, it's you that shouldn't move. Do you know who you've just touched?'
Sano watched Kenshin's darkening expression with a mixture or worry and amusement.
"Hey Kenshin."
Kenshin didn't answer, but Sano could tell by the slight shift of Kenshin's head that he'd been heard.
"At least wait until we get off the train before you snap. Better yet, wait until we've gotten totally wasted, then I can lose it too. We can start some shit together."
Kenshin turned to Sano then, smirking.
"But what about your job? You've got standards to uphold."
"Fuck it."
Kenshin laughed at that and relaxed a bit.
"Good to know."
"No seriously. I mean that. I got this job to extend my business as Zanza. Somehow seems like I'm going straight. That ain't my style. Don't worry about me man. Look out for yourself."
"Same goes for you. I won't snap. Not yet anyway. I've got too many things to take care of first."
"Oh really? Like what? Kaoru?"
"I've got to get a job. I'll feel really bad if I get sent back before I can work in a decent place."
"Is that a joke? Anyway, I thought you wanted to stay sane especially for tonight."
"Tonight?"
"Yeah, me and that girl of yours planned some shit. You know, to celebrate your freedom and stuff. Megumi pitched some ideas too. They're taking care of dinner, and I'm handling the real fun."
"Girl?"
Sano rolled his eyes and gave Kenshin a knowing look.
"You know who I mean."
Kenshin causally glanced away.
"She has a name. Anyway what's this about real fun?" he asked non-chalantly.
"You'll see."
Kenshin sighed. Knowing Sano, the real fun would involve heavy drinking, and women. It had been a considerable amount of time since Kenshin had been drunk. It had been so long, Kenshin couldn't recall a time of true drunkenness after the age sixteen. Then again, he had started drinking rather early. By the time he was sixteen his senses had already been dulled. Alcohol had already lost its pleasure for him, and it took far too much to get him drunk anyway. Kenshin wondered if he still had a strong tolerance. After so many years, it probably wouldn't take much to send him reeling.
"Kenshin. You're looking spaced out again," Sano commented as the subway screeched to a stop.
"Get used to it. I know what I'm about."
Sano smirked. "This is our stop." Sano began pushing his way, none to gently through the crowd. It wasn't his style to be gentle. Sano noted with pleased amusement that Kenshin wasn't any gentler.
"I wondered what kinda guy you would be on the outside. How you'd handle this shitty place. Somehow I thought you'd be more polite."
"I haven't been out long enough for you to see what kind of man I'll be, Sano," Kenshin answered quietly.
"Yeah well, tonight just keep your dysfunctions under wraps until I'm toasted. After that anything goes. For both of us. Deal?"
Kenshin smiled. Sano was quite the character, brash and casual enough to match his own unique personality.
"Deal."
"So wait a minute. You're living with this guy?" Misao's green eyes were wide with shock and pleasure.
Kaoru blushed, hiding a smile, as Misao squealed with delight.
"This is so juicy!"
"Misao. It's only been a day. We're not really living together. He's just crashing here for a while until he gets on his feet. That's all it is."
"Then why'd you blush?" Misao gave her a knowing look. Her perceptive skills were shaper than the average bear. Misao knew there was something going on with Kaoru.
"You don't have to answer. I already know. You did it to him."
"Eh? After just one day? I'm not that kind of girl."
"You mean the kind with a sex drive?" Megumi casually added as she walked into Kaoru's room.
"No. Unlike some people, I just know how to control mine. Besides I hardly know Kenshin."
Kaoru instantly regretted the words as they left her mouth. She could see the same mutual question dawning on Misao and Megumi.
"Then why are you living together?" the two asked in near unison.
Kaoru growled, eyeing both of her friends. "Oh no you don't! We are not having this conversation. I won't let you two delinquents lecture me. Don't forget you both crashed here when I barely knew you. So don't even think about judging me."
Megumi sighed, casting Misao a look. The blonde girl seemed to be re-considering as well. It was true that Kaoru had taken Megumi in on the recommendation of a friend; asking for nearly nothing in return and knowing equally nothing about Megumi's past involvement with the drug trade and mafia.
"We may be delinquents but we didn't spend ten in the slammer. At least I didn't, anyway. Plus you weren't sleeping with us," Misao added with a wink in Megumi's direction.
"Argh! For the last time, nothing happened!"
"Anyway, speaking of sex I got a text from Sano. They'll be here in an hour. What are you going to wear? You need to look hot tonight. I don't want you embarrassing me," Megumi added
"Tonight? Where are we going?" Misao chimed, bouncing on the bed.
Megumi threw her an incredulous look, hands on her hips. "We?"
Kaoru sighed. It was going to be a long night.
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