Sagara Sanosuke was not in love with Saitou Hajime. In-furiated, perhaps, or in- … in- … in-some-word-that-means-"fed-up-with."
Oh, damnit. And fuck a flapping freak. You'd think that a guy who hung around so many goddamn geniuses (Aoshi, Kenshin, even damn-his-funny-eyes Saitou) or just people who were kinda smart (Jou-chan, Kitsune, Katsu) would know more words.
Anyways, the point is that he was not in love with, or in lust with, or even infatuated (Oh! Big word! Score one for Sano!) with a certain narrow-eyed, cricket-looking, psychotic cop. And he was damn sick of the damn kitsune making suggestive comments to that direction whenever he annoyed her (which seemed to happen a lot …), and of Jou-chan and Kenshin making all those oh-so-subtle-hints that they thought so too. Hell, even Katsu joined in on the fun whenever he was feeling really annoyed with Sano (which, thankfully, didn't happen anywhere near as often as it did with Megumi – Katsu was a lot more abrasive on a mild day than the Kitsune was, even at full-wrath-mode).
It … made him … tired.
Not angry, not defensive, not insulted or offended (well, not entirely) just … worn out. And a little annoyed. Drained – now there was a good word. It made Sano feel drained. Especially when, every now and then, said psycho cop dropped in to bully Kenshin into helping the government with some huge plot and ended up getting the whole dojo involved. When that happened, they screamed little looks and dropped bricks that might have once been told a story by their mothers about what a hint was. All of them would, not just Kenshin – who seemed to have taken it on him to become a matchmaker – and the Kitsune – who was just nosy.
Gods, did they really think he was that dense? Sano sighed, knowing the answer and wishing he didn't. Luckily, Saitou himself seemed not ignorant (they were being obvious to Sano – it must be like they were waving little banners in front of the psycho cop) but uncaring. Like it really didn't matter to him. He mocked Sano, and insulted him almost constantly, but he never once touched on that subject. For which Sano was willing to allow him, forgive him almost anything.
Except for shoving that sword through his shoulder. That had fucking hurt. And, of course, he'd never tell Saitou that – that Sano would listen "Ahou" every other words for the rest of eternity with a glad heart if it meant that Saitou would never, not once, even skirt on the borders of recognizing that subject. The bastard probably already knew, though – he didn't miss much, if anything.
Damn him.
Even that fight he wanted so desperately, that all his friends seemed willing to blow all out of proportion – that fight didn't mean anything. He didn't want to fight the crazy bastard. He didn't want to smash his skull in (all the time) or permanently maim him (temporarily maiming now …), and he didn't want the bastard respect, or his pride, or anything like that. Respect would be nice, but Sano knew it wasn't going to happen anytime soon (e.g. at all). He wanted … closure. He wanted to be able to look at the fucking asshole without feeling like something was missing, like he was looking at someone with only one ear or no scar where one should be. He wanted …
Fuck.
When had he ever known what he wanted when it came to the bastard? (A lot of times … and never.)
He did know one thing, though, and he held on to that one constant, that one thing that would stay no matter what. Sagara Sanosuke did not love Saitou Hajime, and Saitou Hajime did not love Sagara Sanosuke.
He knew that.
********************
Hmm. Now this could be the truth, or it could be pure denial. We'll see. And very soon, Misao will find out that Katsu is gay. And that, my friends, (un)faithful readers, and annoying masochists, is one of the scenes I am writing this entire, fucking huge (trust me, it will be) story just for. Just so I can have a setting to put that (and a few other) scenes in.
Goddamnit, I'm pathetic, aren't I? *shrug* Well, now you know I don't like to do things by halves. (Not unless they're all like mandatory and shit – then I'm a lazy bitch! ^_^ And maybe I shouldn't act so proud about that …)