There's someone in your office.
Saitou Hajime lit another cigarette and favored his fellow officer with a cool glance. he enunciated. He didn't need his few precious breaks diluted by common idiocy.
The officer shrugged. She's been in there since you went out on call. Refuses to leave until she sees you. He raised an eyebrow. Pretty little thing... I wouldn't complain if she were after me...
Saitou gave a heavy sigh of digust, flicking some ash onto the man's uniform before entering his office. He was eternally annoyed by men who couldn't keep their hands where they belonged.
Smoking's bad fer ya, police-man.
Saitou almost winced, but closed the door behind him. Enjoying my desk, weasel girl? he asked calmly.
Makimachi Misao grinned mischievously and waggled her thin legs where they were sprawled over his spotless work desk. she said cheerily. How's life been treatin' you?
Saitou sighed, decided there was no way he was likely to get his desk back, and pulled up a chair. I'm guessing this isn't a social call, he observed, as close to resigned as Saitou Hajime ever got.
Smart man. Misao toyed with the end of her braid. I got a job for you...
Saitou sighed, leaned back and prepared to listen. If there was one thing he'd learned during their , it was that it was better to let the girl rant and say no when she was done.
Okay, so here's the idea. In about two weeks, it'll have been a year since we beat Shishio n crew. I wanna have a big party at the Aoiya for everybody so we can celebrate. But I noticed there seemed t' be some unresolved issues with the whole crew, things I couldn't really pin down in the muck. And if we're gonna have a party, I want it to be a damn good party, so those things can't get in the way!
All very lovely thoughts, Saitou said dryly. Where do I come in?
Misao grinned. Glad you asked! Since you're a police guy and you're good at observing people, I want you t' go down t' Tokyo and watch em all for a week. Take notes. Make your own guesses on the issues if you wanna. And when the week's up, bring em all up here and give me your notes. Then you're done.
Saitou raised an eyebrow at the sheer audacity of the request, but remained unruffled. I have two questions. First, what could I possibly tell Battousai that he would permit me to stay for a week in his home, and second, why should I do this at all?
Both good questions. Misao leaned back in the chair. But I thought of that already. First, tell Himura about the party, but say you had aminor problem with transportation and you won't be able to take them for a week. Second... She leaned forward and fixed him with a wicked grin. If you do this for me, I won't tell Tokio-san about the party.
Saitou narrowed his amber eyes. And I won't have to go, he completed, finally understanding what semblance of a logic that was behind this plan.
Misao grinned.
It was a tempting offer... Tokio had always been so insistent on meeting his , and though he frequently told her he had no friends, she refused to listen. It was his punishment for marrying a spunky girl, he supposed. And she would insist on going. And then, he'd have to deal with those ... and there certainly were issues... And they'd all be in one place.
When do I start? he asked resignedly.