Ah-ha-ha! Look at THIS! I updated in what I think might be record time!

This chapter: Hiru and Jake talk. Sanosuke and Aoshi talk. Kenshin and Katsu talk. There's a lot of talking going around. Ah, well, they'll get it figured out.

Chapter Seven

Subtlety

"I wasn't overreacting. The guy was glaring for no good reason and you know how that makes me feel." Hiru took a small sip from the glass of water Jake handed him.

"Drink more. I'm sure that hot head of yours is evaporating water like crazy."

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Asshole."

"Hey – cool it – it's not me you're mad at."

"How do you know that? Maybe I'm upset with you for dragging me back here. Or maybe I'm upset about not being able to give that Aoshi guy more of my mind."

"Trust me, I think he got the message."

"You should make this up to me." Hiru teased. He set the water on the bedside table and draped his arms around Jake's neck from behind. Jake felt his skin begin to break into a nervous sweat as the bed creaked with their weight.

"Don't be so tense. Not after what we've been doing." Hiru began rubbing Jake's chest, neck, shoulders and arms. He rumbled a laugh, pressing his nose to ink black hair and inhaling, "God you smell good."

Jake shifted to support the extra weight, soaking in the feeling of the partial massage, "You – ah – think that guy is taking Kenshin with him?"

"Better not be. Not so soon anyway." Hiru found a patch of skin at the juncture between ear and jaw to suck on.

Jake's eyes fluttered, "Why do you say that?"

"Because Sanosuke hasn't looked so happy and healthy in years – this guy is obviously good for him. Take this off." He tugged at Jake's t-shirt, pulling it from the belt.

"You like Kenshin at all?" Jake slipped the shirt over his head by Hiru's forceful motions and turned when silently ordered to.

"Of course I do. How could I hate him? He's so sweet and adorable." Hiru reclined on the bed beneath him, "What about you?" He undid Jake's hair from the loose pony tail and let the long stands drape as they pleased around shoulders bronzed to a point it was almost criminal. For a time he merely admired the side of Jake that was so clearly Japanese.

Jake ran a hand through his hair, forgetting why he kept it long until now, "I think he's exactly what Sanosuke needs. No one else here has that kind of personality. Katsu comes closest but Saitou has corrupted him. And what are we doing?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"You're undressing me."

"That's because I find sex easier when both parties are naked. Agree?"

"Yeah, but… now? Aren't we going to dinner?"

"Not until later. We have time to mess around."

"Why you want this from me is beyond my ability to comprehend."

"You still on about that? You're not that old – and you're one handsome man." Hiru's arms snaked over Jake's shoulders and pulled him closer until their noses were a moment apart.

"I just don't think its right for me to be having relations like this with someone so much younger."

"It's not like I'm under age or anything. Now shut up and commence with the screwing my brains out you sexy beast."

Jake chuckled, "How could I deny you when you talk like that?"

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"I see you've been doing well, if the nonstop articles in magazines about you are any proof." Sanosuke began circling Aoshi in a way that was almost predatory.

"You haven't done half bad, either. I'll admit I did manage to catch an article about you once, though it was focused solely on the museum itself. At the time, I didn't know it was you that ran this place." Aoshi was none better in the predatory stalking department and Kenshin was wondering if this was usual behavior for the two.

"I like to measure my success in gratification, not publicity."

"Each to their own."

Sanosuke's grin widened, "We always did have different ways of looking at the world."

"Night and day."

Sanosuke extended his hand in a sort of air-arm-wrestle-invite manner. Aoshi met him in the center and their hands locked together. A struggle began between their limbs– a sort of controlled battle for dominance.

There was the barest hint of a knowing smirk on Aoshi's face. If Kenshin hadn't been looking for it with a painstaking alertness he would have missed it.

"As always your hands are covered in calluses. No doubt from your feral behavior and tendencies for trouble."

Sanosuke smirked devilishly, "On the contrary – those calluses come from my weekly workout. I knew I'd see you again someday and was determined to stay in shape in case you wanted another rematch. I bet you're an even bigger pansy now than in high school."

"And what about you? You were the most irate, socially inept student in our class. Honestly, you were famous for your temper and record."

"Yeah? And to think you were the reason for half of my visits to the principal."

"You were the reason for all my visits. You were an animal, Sagara."

"And yet we both left on good terms."

A quiet, almost indecipherable laugh escaped Aoshi's chest in the form of an exhale, "You're as strong as ever. I still think street fighting is your true calling in life."

"Same to you. You were the only one in school able to hold your own against me – I recall we drew blood nearly every time."

"I can't complain – you never hit me in the face."

"I wasn't so mean I'd destroy your only way to make money."

"Hah!" The sound wasn't so much a laugh as it was a mock, "You always were quick with the insults toward anyone with high marks."

"Guess I just don't like smartasses, that's all."

They fell into silence and their staring contest deepened.

"Ah," Aoshi seemed almost to hesitate, "I must concede. Unlike you, I haven't been as diligent about staying in shape. You're far too strong." They broke apart and Sanosuke re-extended his hand, but in a more friendly manner. This time, they shook hands civilly.

"I'll admit it is good to see you've done well, you animal."

"Likewise, stone-face. By the way, we're having dinner later this evening at East Castle. You're going with – no arguing."

Kenshin was momentarily stumped but he quickly slipped into a smile. He'd never seen anyone talk to Aoshi that way before.

"As pushy as ever, I see."

"Only with you. You'd weasel your way out somehow if I gave you enough leverage. The only way to get you to do anything is to demand it."

"That's not true."

"Sure it isn't." Sanosuke crossed his arms and smirked, "Actually, I feel sorry for you, stone-face, I really do. If you ever meet the right woman you'll be bowing down to her almighty personality. Lord knows just any woman wouldn't suffice. If that were the case you'd work so much you'd never get to know her."

"What?" Aoshi looked insulted.

"That's right. She'd be too passive for you. You need a woman that can outsmart, outthink, and outdo you at every turn. Otherwise, you'll die a virgin."

Kenshin's hand went to his mouth to stifle his laugh. The sheer shock and insult on Aoshi's face was reward enough for setting this up.

"Himura." Aoshi looked at his model, "You, too?"

"I'm sorry, Aoshi. I've just never seen you like this before." Tears of amusement were building in Kenshin's eyes. Sanosuke hid a devious smirk and nudged past Aoshi.

"Now look what you've done, stone-face." He knelt in front of Kenshin and wiped away one of the tears that escaped, "You've made him cry." Kenshin began to play along– falling forward, wrapping his arms around Sanosuke's neck, and giving Aoshi the most overdone sad face he could conjure. He tried to look desperate, pleading, and hurt. It must have been a success, because the look Aoshi gave him was one of utter focus.

The camera came out before Kenshin could move and snapped a photo. He stilled to decode what had transpired, and a moment later his face melted into a knowing smile.

"You're never without one. I should have seen that coming."

Aoshi fiddled with the cheap point-and-shoot camera, "The lighting in here isn't the best, but your expression…" he looked up at Kenshin, his face having returned to its usual blank slate, "it was too perfect to waste."

The door burst open and Bobby barreled in, "Who owns that dead sexy black and dark blue Camaro sitting in the drive? I want to molest it!" No one managed to squeeze a word out before Bobby gasped as though he were drawing his last breath.

Sanosuke stood, letting Kenshin go, and held his hands palms out toward Bobby, "Calm down, Bobby." It was too late.

"Oh my god!" He froze, hands on his face in true Edvard Munch style, "Aoshi Shinomori." Aoshi stared unblinking at the vibrant blue eyes and petite figure before him. Surely this kid couldn't be over 16; what was he doing here? Perhaps he was the child of a staff member.

Bobby's eyes rolled up and he fainted, hitting the floor with a soft thud. Sanosuke grimaced and his brow furrowed slightly. He was a bit annoyed that Aoshi's mere presence sent Bobby into a world of adoration.

Nevertheless, Sanosuke smiled a moment later, "Quick – someone call doctor Katsu. We've got a man down."

"Is he alright?" Kenshin looked up at him, eyes full of concern and curiosity.

"He's fine. Just one of his fanboy moments. Bobby is a lot like a puppy – he gets worked up and emotional easy. When he does, he'll sometimes faint."

"How strange."

"Hiru says it's in the family blood, but oddly enough Hiru only faints if he stays angry for too long.

Kenshin appeared interested and went on to ask, "With his mood swings how often does that happen?" Aoshi, from his place in the room, slowly tipped his head slightly to one side. The angle was not much different from the previous one, but his thoughts were tearing apart and analyzing the relationship growing between his model and his high school classmate.

"Surprisingly, not very often. In fact, I've only seen it happen once and heard about it another time. For instance, we had a thief break in one night and when Hiru caught him he read the man a riot act. Apparently, the guy was so terrified he turned tail and ran – Hiru pursuing. When Saitou stepped in, hog-tied the guy and then acted in his defense, Hiru became so bent out of shape at not being able to rough the thief up that he just tipped over mid rant. He was out for nearly 15 hours."

"Is he that scary when he gets going?"

Sanosuke's hands went to his pockets, "As the old saying goes, you ain't seen nothin' yet. The guy's crazy."

Aoshi was analyzing. Kenshin rarely talked so freely with anyone. Sure, he was open-minded and kind to everyone he met, but to have an honest and carefree conversation with someone he hardly knew? What was going on? There was no way someone as socially inept and scatterbrained as Sanosuke Sagara was pulling out the best of Kenshin Himura.

"Sagara." Aoshi interrupted their conversation and stepped almost between them.

"Yo?" Their eyes met - Sanosuke's bright, open pair against Aoshi's isolated, stoic pair. At first there was a pause and a bit of uncertainty if words would be exchanged or not, but Aoshi soon dove into a blunt, probing question.

"What did you do to Himura?"

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Hiru lazed on the bed, wrapped in sheets and blankets, listening to the trickling of water from the bathroom. Jake entered the room, fresh from his shower, and sat on the edge of the mattress, towel-drying his hair.

"You alright?" Jake turned and pressed the back of his hand to Hiru's forehead, "You're really warm."

"I feel amazing right now."

"You look like you just ran a marathon."

"Yeah… the most amazing marathon in the world."

Jake chuckled, his eyes wrinkling a bit at the sides, "I'm not that good."

"You're right," Hiru smiled dopily, "you're better."

Jake laughed richly at that remark, "Don't inflate my ego. You should be kissing up to Sanosuke or Katsu. They're the ones who decide if you get a raise or not."

"First of all, you don't have the ego to inflate. You're the most modest individual I've ever met. Two, I got a raise last month. I'm happy. Especially right now."

"That's good."

Hiru played with the lip of Jake's towel, "Also, I've decided we can't let Kenshin get away."

Jake ruffled his long dark hair, "I'm not sure we can keep him here. From what I heard he has a job he needs to get back to."

"I can get him fired."

Jake gave him a disapproving look.

"What? I can. Just need to make a few phone calls, blackmail someone here and there – and he'll be ours to keep. And he'll have Sanosuke back to his old self - no. He'll have him better than that."

"I think we'll be fine without your conniving schemes. I'm surprised you haven't plotted out world domination. Lord knows you have the mindset for it and the personality to potentially achieve it."

"Aw, you're so sweet. But what do you mean we'll be fine?"

Jake shook out a clean shirt and pulled it on, "I don't think we could keep those two apart even if we wanted to. I've seen people like them before. People who just snap together as if they've got years of background. Kenshin will be back. And if he's not, I'm betting Sanosuke will become so lovesick Katsu will do something about it."

"Yeah," Hiru slung his arm over his face, "Katsu is kinda mothering that way. Sees one of his precious 'babies' in need and steps in to make everything right."

"It's not so bad. This place is kinda a sausage fest. Having someone like Katsu around makes it seem like less of one, even though it isn't."

Hiru grinned, "Keep talking."

"Huh?"

"Just keep going. You're fun to listen to when you ramble about people."

Jake shook his head and dropped the towel to slip on his boxers, "What do you want to hear?"

Hiru admired his backside before it disappeared behind clothing, "Anything. Just never stop entertaining me with your mouth."

Jake slipped his belt into the loops of his jeans, "Was that innuendo?"

"Only if you want it to be."

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"I tried to pick some of Bobby's more formal clothing. His idea of formal is still rather casual, as you can see."

"Thank you. They fit perfectly." Kenshin ran a comb through his hair, Katsu straightening his shirt for him.

"Alright Kenshin, I think we're all set. Saitou is probably harassing Sanosuke and arguing while we two gentlemen peacefully prepare for a night of some of the best food in the state."

Kenshin breathed a laugh, held his breath, and began chuckling.

Katsu smiled, "What has you amused?"

"I never expected such a terrifying event in my life would lead to me meeting some of the kindest people I've had the pleasure of getting to know."

Katsu's smile became sly and smug, "You know, there's more here to see and discover. I'm sure Sanosuke has already invited you back, considering the circumstances alone, and if he hasn't he's just being shy."

"He told me I was welcome here if I ever needed anything."

"And you are. Kel feels indebted to you for saving his skin that day in the kitchen. Other than that, the rest of us just really like you. But we don't need to worry about your popularity among the boys. It's Sanosuke, Mr. Owner-Pants himself, who guests need to impress."

"Do I need to be concerned?"

Katsu stood behind Kenshin as they both looked in the mirror, "From what I can see he should be more concerned about impressing you."

Kenshin set the comb down, "Why's that?"

Katsu's smile turned fond and he proceeded bluntly and honestly, "Because if he lets you go without saying anything it would be incredibly stupid of him."

Kenshin's mouth fell into a thoughtful line.

Katsu continued, "You two have something. I don't know what it is yet, but it's something. And if either of you let that die, then it would be a terrible mistake."

Kenshin regrouped his thoughts, "Are you implying we should date?"

The artist's smile turned into a broad grin, "Catching on, are you? I was hoping to be a bit more subtle."

"I've been receiving hints from Bobby, Hiru and Chou about it."

"They're not harassing you, are they?"

"Oh no, not at all. Hiru has asked me on three different occasions how long I plan on staying and how long it will be before I'm back. Then he kept grumbling something about Sanosuke being single all his life."

"That's because he has been. He's quite socially inept in certain ways. He can't social network to save his life."

"That's where you come in, right?"

"Yup." Katsu beamed proudly, "While Sanosuke can be friendly, he prefers to limit his interactions to his close friends. He gives speeches to crowds, but he also spends days or even weeks writing and practicing them."

"That must have been what he was typing the other night."

Katsu watched Kenshin twist locks of red hair, his eyes looking at the sink.

"Kenshin," Katsu set a hand on his shoulder, "if you want to stay, all you have to do is ask. Sanosuke would never turn you away. Not after what my goofy brute of a boyfriend did, and not after getting to know you. He likes you. A lot. And that alone is quite a surprise to all of us. For a man that has avoided dating and relationships like some kind of disease, Sano certainly seems taken with you. I've never seen him like this, and I'd like to keep seeing it."

Kenshin felt his lips bow into a timid smile, "Thanks."

"Oh," Katsu stopped before he left the bathroom, "and just in case you didn't already figure, he's bisexual."

Kenshin did a combination of a nod and an amused shake of his head, "Thank you."

"Meet you downstairs when you're ready." Katsu winked at him and vanished.

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7.4.2011

11.20.2014

Alright, Kenshin's Soul, hit me with your awesome reviewing skills whenever you're ready.

Next chapter: Saitou motivates Sanosuke, Bobby says too much, Hiru loses his temper, and someone makes the first move. We won't name names.