Standart Disclaimer: Unfortunatly I neither own Rurouni Kenshin nor the characters but at least the story is mine.
Again, kisses, flowers and all other kind of very grateful gifts to Mara, without whom you would never be able to read this fic! I honestly don´t know what I would do without her!!!!
Originally I wanted to begin with the Osaka Plot in this chapter but I absolutely was not able to resist this little piece of silliness. I hope you will enjoy it...
Oh, yes, people kept asking me about TOKIO´s role in this story. Like I promised, I will mention her and her relationship to Saitou (which is by the way one of the reasons why this is also called "drama"...), but I refuse to give any hints, so you must keep on reading =^_~=
By the way, it could be that I need more time than usual for the next chapter, becuase I´m going to write my final exams at the end of that month. Please wish me good luck and don´t forget me!!!!
Chapter 3: Womanising a weasel
Although it was very early in the morning, the streets of the little city were already full of life; young women were chatting together while attending their shoppings, men were going of to their work and children were playing. Only two, a man and a girl, did not seem to fit into the picture...
"Don´t tell me you actually got me into this!" the female´s voice ringed through the street, while she angrily folded her arms in front of her chest. "Please tell me that this is only a weird dream and when I wake up I´m laying rapped up in my futon and nothing of this ever happened! Please, Saitou!"
Mockingly the older man lifted a sardonic eyebrow, looking down on the girl walking beside him with conspicuous wicked amusement. "I´m sorry, Makimachi, but I don´t tend to lie this early in the morning."
Misao snorted loudly and remained in her defiant pose, not in the mood for his damned ironic witt. As time passed, she actually thought that there was no conspirancy at all but that Saitou had woken up some day telling himself that it would be an excellent idea to ruin a poor little weasel´s life by driving her nuts. And he was on the best way to achieve this goal!
Okay, she began to numerate the troubles this insufferable maniac had already sent her through since she travelled around with him. Fine. She let him mock her all of the time. Not great but she could stand it. She risked loosing her life either by one attack of the enemy, by a crack-up or by non-stop passive smoking. All this was not pleasant but bearable. But his newest idea was way too much to endure.
"Why the hell are we going on a SHOPPING TOUR?!" she finally demanded for the one hundredth time this morning.
Lifting his cigarette, he looked at her with a bored flick of one eyebrow. "As I have already told you, Weasel Girl, nobody in Osaka is supposed to know about our real identity and your onmitsu outfit isn´t quite what I would call unobtrusive. We are still far enough away from Osaka so that we can buy you a new gaderobe without getting under suspicion."
"But..."
"No but!" Emitting a trail of smoke from the corner of his thin mouth, he smirked sarcastically. "As hard as I try, I absolutely can´t see the stress about wearing a kimono."
Lowering her head, she shortly bite her lip. "It´s uncomfortable", she answered after a minute of silence. "How am I supposed to fight in a kimono? Or to do something else that is interesing?!"
"Well, if we have some luck, we will be able to end this story without any bloodshed." Saitou lifted his burning cigarette to his thin lips. "Although that would be a shame."
Against her will, Misao had to grin slightly. There were not many aspects in Saitou´s personality she shared, but she couldn´t help but admire his cool attitude towards fighting. Years had passed since the Edo dynasty, but he was still Mibu´s wild wolf, his fangs sharp as ever. Like the Oniwabanshuu, he had not lost his spirit.
Not that this made him more congenial for her!
"How long until we arrive at this famous vendor´s shop?" she asked unenthusiasticle.
Mockingly he shook his head. "How did you managed to survive as a ninja with so little of patience?" he asked sarcastically. "I don´t know either so don´t bother me with unneccessary questions."
Folding her arms once again, the girl stared daggers at him. "You don´t know how lucky I am when this is all over!" she snapped. "Everything is better that spending my time with YOU!"
She wasn´t really surprised by not getting any answer. It was just TOO characteristic for this arrogant smart ass!
Suddenly he raised his head. "I suppose we have reached our destination", he explained, pointing towards a huge house with a black lattern on it. "When we reach Osaka in two days, you will hopefully have gotten used to your new femininity."
Misao felt like dragging her kunai into his smirking face. New femininity? That bastard!
But he was still not done with his insults. While opening the door to the shop, he gave her a last uninterested look. "Since I doubt you to have any good taste, I will be the one who will choose your gaderobe. You just have to be quiet and to behave yourself like a proper Japanese girl for once."
"I always behave like..."
"Can I help you?" a low male voice asked.
Saitou´s expression chaged into a polite, friendly smiling mask. "It´s our pleasure to meet you", he greeted in an oddly agreeable tone while bowing modestly to the shop owner who came busily towards them. "I´m searching for some kimono and hakama for me, but I´m sure I will succeed on my own." An evil smile appeared on his face. "What is of real importance is this young lady´s gaderobe."
Misao fought the urge to attack him with her demon kick and gave him a strained smile instead. The mean wolf was actually enjoying this!
The vendor looked from Saitou to Misao and back to Saitou again and slowly a lecherous grin spread over his face. "I see."
It was quite obvious what he thought to see and Misao felt the desire to sink into the soil. Did she look like a whore or what?
But before she was able to articulate her anger, Saitou went on speaking.
"Well, we are looking for some clothing both for daily use and for special events." The ambiguity of his smile matched the seller´s easily. "It shall be a gift."
"A gift? Oh, how insightful!" the seller jubilated. "I´m sure we will find something that matches the lady´s beauty."
Misao swallowed over this. Although she knew that the man was only complimenting her in order to get Saitou´s money, it made her feel a kind of craving and suddenly a sad thought formed itself in her. Aoshi-sama had never told her how pretty he thought she was. Not once.
Probably because she was not.
Silent and grave, she followed Saitou and the vendor who showed them some of his clothing before modestly returning behind his counter, but her sadness was quickly repulsed by her amazement at Saitou´s behaviour.
Although she had never thought this possible, the wolf had a very discerning eye for quality and skill. With a critical look he walked through the shop and examined the garments, only ordering her to pick goods of extreme high quality.
Misao resisted for five minutes to break the silence, but when she was already loaded with two yukatas, three kimonos and some obis, she absolutely wasn´t able to suppress the question anymore.
"Why the freaking hell do you know so much about female clothing, wolf?!" she demanded whispering. Then suddenly a idea popped into her head. "Do you sometimes do this with your wife? Shopping I mean?"
Saitou paused, steel eyes lifting and meeting the girl´s blue-green ones´. If it were not for the wolf, she would have sworn to see something like the faintest hint of bitterness in its dephts but most probably the flickering lamp was the cause of that illusion for he returned to his normal insufferable self at once.
"Weasel, one day your curiousness will kill you and I can guarantee you that I won´t mourn for you."
Without waiting for her reaction, he continued his shopping, not even bothering about the girl who stared irritated at his back.
Then she shrugged her shoulders. Well, it was not the first time Saitou was a mysterium to her.
While she followed him through the shop, one particular kimono suddenly grabbed Misao´s attention.
It was a beautiful midnight-blue fabric made out of the finest silk with butterflies etched in silver and violet, a clothing both modest and ravishing.
Although she never liked female clothing very much, she couldn´t but gasp at the pure beauty of the garment. With hesitating movements she picked it up and let the soft fabric run through her fingers, admiring how the butterflies´ colour seemed to change with every ray of light that touched their fragile wings. In her whole life, she had never seen something that exquisite before.
"Do you like it?"
Misao looked up to meet Saitou´s cool gaze and nodded. Then she sighed, and put the kimono back in his place, still eyeing it longingly. "Unfortunatly I will never be able to afford something like this, so let´s simply forget it."
Saitou did not answer but pulled off his gloves and ran his long fingers along the intricate designs both embroidered and woven into the silk.
"I have underestimated you when I said that you don´t have any taste, Itachi Musume", he murmered to himself. "Really underestimated you." Then he turned to the shop owner. "Excuse me? We are wondering how much this particular kimono would cost."
"Have you gone crazy?" the girl hissed but it was already too late since the vendor had already joined them, his eyes suddenly strongly reminding of money signs. "Oh, you really have got an eye for the finest quality", he called out. "It´s the best thing we are selling at the moment! Isn´t it pure luxury just to feel the silk? I always thought..."
"How much?" Saitou asked a second time without loosing his polite tone, but with a dangerous glimmer in his eyes.
A little bit scared the seller named the horrible high price.
"Like I said, it is far too expensive!" Misao wagged her hands. "We..."
"We'll take it," Saitou interrupted her, casually placing the money on the counter.
Violently Misao shook her head. "Have you gone nuts? I could never accept this."
"Of course you can."
"But WHY the hell would you offer me something like this?!"
"Because you could need it."
The seller looked from one to another, astonishment clearly seen on his face. Then his lecherous grin returned to his face. "Well, young lady, if the gentleman insists on offering you this wonderful work, I would not say no", he told the onmitsu girl in a awkwardly intimate tone. "I am sure you will find some way to reward him."
Turning red, Misao already reached out for her kunai as a strong hand landed on her shoulder. "So am I", Saitou returned calmly. "Will you please pack our purchase?"
"Oh, that´s my assistant´s work", the vendor explained. "She works in the back room."
"I see. Misao, why don´t you help this gentleman´s assistant while I search for some clothing for me?" the wolf suggested, still using his dangerous calm tone, while his eyes indicating her to follow his orders at once. Then he smiled at the seller. "She is a bit over-exited because it´s her first journey. I hope you will forgive her."
The seller grinned in return. "But of course I do. Young women are always difficult, aren´t they?"
As both began to laugh suggestivly, Misao, deep red in the face, decided to accept Saiout´s earlier offer.
Everything was better than enduring these two anymore.
With quick steps she walked into the back room where a slight woman in her midthirties was already waiting for her, a big smile on her face.
Already tired of the whole farce, Misao barely nodded while giving her the clothes Saitou had choosen for her. "Would you please wrap it?"
The smile of the woman increased. "A stressing day?"
"You won´t know." Unable to resist the kind offer, Misao sat down on a futon and observed how the woman packed her purchase in elegant boxes. When she came to the midnight-blue kimono, she stopped, a thoughtful expression on her face. "A beautiful work", she murmered to herself. "You really have a fine taste, lady."
When Misao only nodded with a wry smile, the bright blue eyes began to look astonished. "Don´t you like it?"
Blustering the girl shook her head. "No, I love it. It´s the most beautiful thing I´ve ever seen in my life. I just wonder why...", lookinginto the woman´s eye, she decided to tell her her problem. "You see, the kimono is a ...present or something like this... from a man I know and I don´t have any clue why he would offer me something like this."
Then she noticed the assistant´s grin. "Is there a problem?"
With a little giggle the woman began to fold the beautiful work. "Oh no, not at all. I just thought that you must be very lucky to have a man like this."
"Lucky?" Misao couldn´t believe her ears. Lucky to have this crazy, cold-blooded cop around?
"Of course!" The assistant gave the girl a cheerfully sly look. "He really made an effort to find something very special for you and did not look at the prize. Not many men are willing to do this in order to please their women."
Misao looked wide-eyed at her. Well, if you wanted to look at the whole business like that...
But before she could think further about this topic, Saitou´s cold, unconcerned voice was heard from outside. "Are you ready, Misao?"
"Yes!" Hastily she jumped up and giving the smiling woman a shy smile herself, she grapped the packets and hurried outside where Saitou was already waiting with some packet of his own, leaning on the wall, cigarette smoke wreathing his head.
Nervous without knowing the reason why, Misao avoided his cold stare. "Well, here am I."
"I am still able to see quite well, Weasel." Turning around, he indicated her to follow him. "I suggest us to head for the nearest inn and change clothes there. Then we can instantly head for Osaka."
Resigned she made up her mind to follow him but then stopped in her tracks. No, she couldn´t do it again. She couldn´t accept his generosity (or whatever it was) another time without...
"Saitou?"
"Yes?"
"Well...I...thank you."
She almost choked when Saitou turned around and gave her a long thoughtful glance.
His eyes were so cold, she thought bewildered, fighting the sudden urge to step back. Although being used to Aoshi´s icy orbs, she felt her heart beat faster. The former okashira´s cool blue eyes never studied her open like this, his eyes never slided over her face and down over her fragile figure as if he had never seen her before in his life.
Suddenly Saitou was stepping back and Misao felt herself return to reality with a bump. "You´re welcome", he offered dryly before continuing his path.
Staring at his back for some for long seconds, followed him with slow, hesitating steps, wondering what the hell was up with her?
********************************************************************************
His ice blue eyes locked on the still lake, the man sat in silence, perfectly dressed in elegant black and looking more than a statue than a mortal. From time to time, he touched the scar on his forehead only to pull it down instantly as if the touch had burnt him, a hateful expression on his face.
Saitou Hajime.
It had been fifteen years since he had seen this man for the last time but ever since that dead idiot Motoki had mentioned his name, this name so deeply imprinted in his heart and his memory, he could think of nothing else than him anymore, him, whom he found maddening and intolerable annoying and whom he longed to destroy since he had not been able to gain his friendship.
The man sighed deeply.
It still felt like yesterday when he had met the captain of the third division of the Shinsengumi in Kyoto. From the first moment on it had been fatal attraction. He had admired the wolf, as people choose to call him, most in the world and had hundredth of times begged for his love and companionship, willing to kill and to die for him, but Saitou had never had more than coldness for him.
His eyes narrowed. But now the time for revenge had finally come. He had always knew that fighting Japan meant to fight Mibu´s wolf, whose whole self was centured around his duty to protect his precious country, and he was eager to do it, eager to destroy the man who had burnt his youth to cinders.
"Sir?" One of his servants interrupted his bitter thoughts. "The ship is ready. Anytime you like we can sail off to Japan."
Standing up with one gracious movement, the man smiled cruelly. "Hajime-kun", he whispered into the wind. "I will tear apart everything that is dear to you. This is the new promise."
********************************************************************************
Uncertain with herself Misao wandered up and down in front of the full length mirror, eyeing suspicious how she looked in one of the more sedate clothing Saitou had chosen for her.
Of course she had worn kimonos before when Okon or Omasu had forced her to do so but never a garment like this, which was, as far as the color, the embroidery, and its cut were concerned, clearly meant for a woman - and she did not even want to think about for what kind of woman!
Without any success she fighted to pull the neckline close, embarrased about
exposing so much of her pale shoulders. Her face began to burn as her eyes swept over her reflection. She knew that in her new position as a ´mistress´ she could not wear juvenile girl clothes but why the hell did Saitou have to choose only garments that outlined her curves so clearly?!
Again she walked up and down in front of the mirror. Despite her embarrasment she had to admit that the wolf had chosen the right clothes for her. She never looked so mature before, so much like a woman.
A little smile formed itself on her lips. She wondered what Aoshi would say if he saw her like this...
Deeply stock in her daydreamy, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a knocking on the door.
"Ye..yes?"
The door slid soundlessly open and Saitou stepped into the room, making the room seem even smaller. Misao froze. Like herself the older man had discarded his usual clothing and was now wrapped in a dark yukata that made his eyes glow with cold amber fire. It occurred to the girl, all in a rush, that this was the first time she'd seen the man in anything but his uniform. He looked less conform, wilder, more like the wolf he was supposed to be.
She was not sure at all if she approved the change.
Thanks to some generous god, Saitou did not notice her look for he was to occupied with watching her figure intently. "Well, I think it should work", he finally stated cooly. "There is only one thing you forgot."
"And that would be what?" Misao asked brashly.
Suddenly his face was only inches away from hers. Her breath stopped, feeling
him so near to her, and in a rush of ramptant pulse and heat, she nearly
did not notice how he securely placed a barrate in her hand. "Your hair."
Looking down at the barrate and then at him, she finally understood.
And she had already thought...well, what was it that had just occured to her?
"Weasel, I´m waiting."
Still sort of paralyzed, Misao turned towards the mirror, and began to arrange her hair with shaking hands. When she was done, she thought to see a foreigner for an instant, a woman whom she had never met before in her life but there was no one in the mirror but herself, with her hair clipped back, looking very pale and grown-up.
"This is way better. I suppose our real journey can begin by now", she heard Saitou explaining in his usual unconcerned tone. "I don´t want to lose more time so let´s set off at once."
Turning around, one half of the girl wondered why she always ended up staring blankly at his back while the other half tried to figure out when she'd lost control of all this.
That meant, if she ever had control of it at all.
********************************************************************************
Well, I asked Mara about Japanese clothes, and she suprised me once again with her incredibous knowledge. So notice: the following information come from MARA not from me!!! I´m far to ignorant to know these things ^_^
Men's kimono:
The woolen men's kimono is dressed quite easily. It is of a dark, firm
material, men use a small, hand's breadth obi, the knot or bow is on the back.
If you are on the street, you wear a 'over-jacket', called 'haori' over
the kimono.
A hakama with fine strips and a longer 'over-jacket'(mon-tsuki) over the kimono, it is altogether more elegant. On the mon-tsuki you find the three family-'coat of arms' (mon). You wear white socks (tabi) and elegant sandals (zori).
Women's kimono:
You find more variations here: The length of the sleeves indicates if a woman is married for example, the sleeves of unmarried women's kimonos are longer. The
colour indicates the age, the colours are subdued for older women.
For a complete kimono you need a 'under-dress' (naga-juban) and the
actual kimono is hold together with the obi, which is quite improtant since there is only one size for kimono, so that you have to adopt the length by folding it under the obi. The colour of the cord, which with you have to tie the obi (obi-ji-me) indicates the occasion on which the kimono is worn (red = happy, grey/black = sad, white = normal)
Again, kisses, flowers and all other kind of very grateful gifts to Mara, without whom you would never be able to read this fic! I honestly don´t know what I would do without her!!!!
Originally I wanted to begin with the Osaka Plot in this chapter but I absolutely was not able to resist this little piece of silliness. I hope you will enjoy it...
Oh, yes, people kept asking me about TOKIO´s role in this story. Like I promised, I will mention her and her relationship to Saitou (which is by the way one of the reasons why this is also called "drama"...), but I refuse to give any hints, so you must keep on reading =^_~=
By the way, it could be that I need more time than usual for the next chapter, becuase I´m going to write my final exams at the end of that month. Please wish me good luck and don´t forget me!!!!
Chapter 3: Womanising a weasel
Although it was very early in the morning, the streets of the little city were already full of life; young women were chatting together while attending their shoppings, men were going of to their work and children were playing. Only two, a man and a girl, did not seem to fit into the picture...
"Don´t tell me you actually got me into this!" the female´s voice ringed through the street, while she angrily folded her arms in front of her chest. "Please tell me that this is only a weird dream and when I wake up I´m laying rapped up in my futon and nothing of this ever happened! Please, Saitou!"
Mockingly the older man lifted a sardonic eyebrow, looking down on the girl walking beside him with conspicuous wicked amusement. "I´m sorry, Makimachi, but I don´t tend to lie this early in the morning."
Misao snorted loudly and remained in her defiant pose, not in the mood for his damned ironic witt. As time passed, she actually thought that there was no conspirancy at all but that Saitou had woken up some day telling himself that it would be an excellent idea to ruin a poor little weasel´s life by driving her nuts. And he was on the best way to achieve this goal!
Okay, she began to numerate the troubles this insufferable maniac had already sent her through since she travelled around with him. Fine. She let him mock her all of the time. Not great but she could stand it. She risked loosing her life either by one attack of the enemy, by a crack-up or by non-stop passive smoking. All this was not pleasant but bearable. But his newest idea was way too much to endure.
"Why the hell are we going on a SHOPPING TOUR?!" she finally demanded for the one hundredth time this morning.
Lifting his cigarette, he looked at her with a bored flick of one eyebrow. "As I have already told you, Weasel Girl, nobody in Osaka is supposed to know about our real identity and your onmitsu outfit isn´t quite what I would call unobtrusive. We are still far enough away from Osaka so that we can buy you a new gaderobe without getting under suspicion."
"But..."
"No but!" Emitting a trail of smoke from the corner of his thin mouth, he smirked sarcastically. "As hard as I try, I absolutely can´t see the stress about wearing a kimono."
Lowering her head, she shortly bite her lip. "It´s uncomfortable", she answered after a minute of silence. "How am I supposed to fight in a kimono? Or to do something else that is interesing?!"
"Well, if we have some luck, we will be able to end this story without any bloodshed." Saitou lifted his burning cigarette to his thin lips. "Although that would be a shame."
Against her will, Misao had to grin slightly. There were not many aspects in Saitou´s personality she shared, but she couldn´t help but admire his cool attitude towards fighting. Years had passed since the Edo dynasty, but he was still Mibu´s wild wolf, his fangs sharp as ever. Like the Oniwabanshuu, he had not lost his spirit.
Not that this made him more congenial for her!
"How long until we arrive at this famous vendor´s shop?" she asked unenthusiasticle.
Mockingly he shook his head. "How did you managed to survive as a ninja with so little of patience?" he asked sarcastically. "I don´t know either so don´t bother me with unneccessary questions."
Folding her arms once again, the girl stared daggers at him. "You don´t know how lucky I am when this is all over!" she snapped. "Everything is better that spending my time with YOU!"
She wasn´t really surprised by not getting any answer. It was just TOO characteristic for this arrogant smart ass!
Suddenly he raised his head. "I suppose we have reached our destination", he explained, pointing towards a huge house with a black lattern on it. "When we reach Osaka in two days, you will hopefully have gotten used to your new femininity."
Misao felt like dragging her kunai into his smirking face. New femininity? That bastard!
But he was still not done with his insults. While opening the door to the shop, he gave her a last uninterested look. "Since I doubt you to have any good taste, I will be the one who will choose your gaderobe. You just have to be quiet and to behave yourself like a proper Japanese girl for once."
"I always behave like..."
"Can I help you?" a low male voice asked.
Saitou´s expression chaged into a polite, friendly smiling mask. "It´s our pleasure to meet you", he greeted in an oddly agreeable tone while bowing modestly to the shop owner who came busily towards them. "I´m searching for some kimono and hakama for me, but I´m sure I will succeed on my own." An evil smile appeared on his face. "What is of real importance is this young lady´s gaderobe."
Misao fought the urge to attack him with her demon kick and gave him a strained smile instead. The mean wolf was actually enjoying this!
The vendor looked from Saitou to Misao and back to Saitou again and slowly a lecherous grin spread over his face. "I see."
It was quite obvious what he thought to see and Misao felt the desire to sink into the soil. Did she look like a whore or what?
But before she was able to articulate her anger, Saitou went on speaking.
"Well, we are looking for some clothing both for daily use and for special events." The ambiguity of his smile matched the seller´s easily. "It shall be a gift."
"A gift? Oh, how insightful!" the seller jubilated. "I´m sure we will find something that matches the lady´s beauty."
Misao swallowed over this. Although she knew that the man was only complimenting her in order to get Saitou´s money, it made her feel a kind of craving and suddenly a sad thought formed itself in her. Aoshi-sama had never told her how pretty he thought she was. Not once.
Probably because she was not.
Silent and grave, she followed Saitou and the vendor who showed them some of his clothing before modestly returning behind his counter, but her sadness was quickly repulsed by her amazement at Saitou´s behaviour.
Although she had never thought this possible, the wolf had a very discerning eye for quality and skill. With a critical look he walked through the shop and examined the garments, only ordering her to pick goods of extreme high quality.
Misao resisted for five minutes to break the silence, but when she was already loaded with two yukatas, three kimonos and some obis, she absolutely wasn´t able to suppress the question anymore.
"Why the freaking hell do you know so much about female clothing, wolf?!" she demanded whispering. Then suddenly a idea popped into her head. "Do you sometimes do this with your wife? Shopping I mean?"
Saitou paused, steel eyes lifting and meeting the girl´s blue-green ones´. If it were not for the wolf, she would have sworn to see something like the faintest hint of bitterness in its dephts but most probably the flickering lamp was the cause of that illusion for he returned to his normal insufferable self at once.
"Weasel, one day your curiousness will kill you and I can guarantee you that I won´t mourn for you."
Without waiting for her reaction, he continued his shopping, not even bothering about the girl who stared irritated at his back.
Then she shrugged her shoulders. Well, it was not the first time Saitou was a mysterium to her.
While she followed him through the shop, one particular kimono suddenly grabbed Misao´s attention.
It was a beautiful midnight-blue fabric made out of the finest silk with butterflies etched in silver and violet, a clothing both modest and ravishing.
Although she never liked female clothing very much, she couldn´t but gasp at the pure beauty of the garment. With hesitating movements she picked it up and let the soft fabric run through her fingers, admiring how the butterflies´ colour seemed to change with every ray of light that touched their fragile wings. In her whole life, she had never seen something that exquisite before.
"Do you like it?"
Misao looked up to meet Saitou´s cool gaze and nodded. Then she sighed, and put the kimono back in his place, still eyeing it longingly. "Unfortunatly I will never be able to afford something like this, so let´s simply forget it."
Saitou did not answer but pulled off his gloves and ran his long fingers along the intricate designs both embroidered and woven into the silk.
"I have underestimated you when I said that you don´t have any taste, Itachi Musume", he murmered to himself. "Really underestimated you." Then he turned to the shop owner. "Excuse me? We are wondering how much this particular kimono would cost."
"Have you gone crazy?" the girl hissed but it was already too late since the vendor had already joined them, his eyes suddenly strongly reminding of money signs. "Oh, you really have got an eye for the finest quality", he called out. "It´s the best thing we are selling at the moment! Isn´t it pure luxury just to feel the silk? I always thought..."
"How much?" Saitou asked a second time without loosing his polite tone, but with a dangerous glimmer in his eyes.
A little bit scared the seller named the horrible high price.
"Like I said, it is far too expensive!" Misao wagged her hands. "We..."
"We'll take it," Saitou interrupted her, casually placing the money on the counter.
Violently Misao shook her head. "Have you gone nuts? I could never accept this."
"Of course you can."
"But WHY the hell would you offer me something like this?!"
"Because you could need it."
The seller looked from one to another, astonishment clearly seen on his face. Then his lecherous grin returned to his face. "Well, young lady, if the gentleman insists on offering you this wonderful work, I would not say no", he told the onmitsu girl in a awkwardly intimate tone. "I am sure you will find some way to reward him."
Turning red, Misao already reached out for her kunai as a strong hand landed on her shoulder. "So am I", Saitou returned calmly. "Will you please pack our purchase?"
"Oh, that´s my assistant´s work", the vendor explained. "She works in the back room."
"I see. Misao, why don´t you help this gentleman´s assistant while I search for some clothing for me?" the wolf suggested, still using his dangerous calm tone, while his eyes indicating her to follow his orders at once. Then he smiled at the seller. "She is a bit over-exited because it´s her first journey. I hope you will forgive her."
The seller grinned in return. "But of course I do. Young women are always difficult, aren´t they?"
As both began to laugh suggestivly, Misao, deep red in the face, decided to accept Saiout´s earlier offer.
Everything was better than enduring these two anymore.
With quick steps she walked into the back room where a slight woman in her midthirties was already waiting for her, a big smile on her face.
Already tired of the whole farce, Misao barely nodded while giving her the clothes Saitou had choosen for her. "Would you please wrap it?"
The smile of the woman increased. "A stressing day?"
"You won´t know." Unable to resist the kind offer, Misao sat down on a futon and observed how the woman packed her purchase in elegant boxes. When she came to the midnight-blue kimono, she stopped, a thoughtful expression on her face. "A beautiful work", she murmered to herself. "You really have a fine taste, lady."
When Misao only nodded with a wry smile, the bright blue eyes began to look astonished. "Don´t you like it?"
Blustering the girl shook her head. "No, I love it. It´s the most beautiful thing I´ve ever seen in my life. I just wonder why...", lookinginto the woman´s eye, she decided to tell her her problem. "You see, the kimono is a ...present or something like this... from a man I know and I don´t have any clue why he would offer me something like this."
Then she noticed the assistant´s grin. "Is there a problem?"
With a little giggle the woman began to fold the beautiful work. "Oh no, not at all. I just thought that you must be very lucky to have a man like this."
"Lucky?" Misao couldn´t believe her ears. Lucky to have this crazy, cold-blooded cop around?
"Of course!" The assistant gave the girl a cheerfully sly look. "He really made an effort to find something very special for you and did not look at the prize. Not many men are willing to do this in order to please their women."
Misao looked wide-eyed at her. Well, if you wanted to look at the whole business like that...
But before she could think further about this topic, Saitou´s cold, unconcerned voice was heard from outside. "Are you ready, Misao?"
"Yes!" Hastily she jumped up and giving the smiling woman a shy smile herself, she grapped the packets and hurried outside where Saitou was already waiting with some packet of his own, leaning on the wall, cigarette smoke wreathing his head.
Nervous without knowing the reason why, Misao avoided his cold stare. "Well, here am I."
"I am still able to see quite well, Weasel." Turning around, he indicated her to follow him. "I suggest us to head for the nearest inn and change clothes there. Then we can instantly head for Osaka."
Resigned she made up her mind to follow him but then stopped in her tracks. No, she couldn´t do it again. She couldn´t accept his generosity (or whatever it was) another time without...
"Saitou?"
"Yes?"
"Well...I...thank you."
She almost choked when Saitou turned around and gave her a long thoughtful glance.
His eyes were so cold, she thought bewildered, fighting the sudden urge to step back. Although being used to Aoshi´s icy orbs, she felt her heart beat faster. The former okashira´s cool blue eyes never studied her open like this, his eyes never slided over her face and down over her fragile figure as if he had never seen her before in his life.
Suddenly Saitou was stepping back and Misao felt herself return to reality with a bump. "You´re welcome", he offered dryly before continuing his path.
Staring at his back for some for long seconds, followed him with slow, hesitating steps, wondering what the hell was up with her?
********************************************************************************
His ice blue eyes locked on the still lake, the man sat in silence, perfectly dressed in elegant black and looking more than a statue than a mortal. From time to time, he touched the scar on his forehead only to pull it down instantly as if the touch had burnt him, a hateful expression on his face.
Saitou Hajime.
It had been fifteen years since he had seen this man for the last time but ever since that dead idiot Motoki had mentioned his name, this name so deeply imprinted in his heart and his memory, he could think of nothing else than him anymore, him, whom he found maddening and intolerable annoying and whom he longed to destroy since he had not been able to gain his friendship.
The man sighed deeply.
It still felt like yesterday when he had met the captain of the third division of the Shinsengumi in Kyoto. From the first moment on it had been fatal attraction. He had admired the wolf, as people choose to call him, most in the world and had hundredth of times begged for his love and companionship, willing to kill and to die for him, but Saitou had never had more than coldness for him.
His eyes narrowed. But now the time for revenge had finally come. He had always knew that fighting Japan meant to fight Mibu´s wolf, whose whole self was centured around his duty to protect his precious country, and he was eager to do it, eager to destroy the man who had burnt his youth to cinders.
"Sir?" One of his servants interrupted his bitter thoughts. "The ship is ready. Anytime you like we can sail off to Japan."
Standing up with one gracious movement, the man smiled cruelly. "Hajime-kun", he whispered into the wind. "I will tear apart everything that is dear to you. This is the new promise."
********************************************************************************
Uncertain with herself Misao wandered up and down in front of the full length mirror, eyeing suspicious how she looked in one of the more sedate clothing Saitou had chosen for her.
Of course she had worn kimonos before when Okon or Omasu had forced her to do so but never a garment like this, which was, as far as the color, the embroidery, and its cut were concerned, clearly meant for a woman - and she did not even want to think about for what kind of woman!
Without any success she fighted to pull the neckline close, embarrased about
exposing so much of her pale shoulders. Her face began to burn as her eyes swept over her reflection. She knew that in her new position as a ´mistress´ she could not wear juvenile girl clothes but why the hell did Saitou have to choose only garments that outlined her curves so clearly?!
Again she walked up and down in front of the mirror. Despite her embarrasment she had to admit that the wolf had chosen the right clothes for her. She never looked so mature before, so much like a woman.
A little smile formed itself on her lips. She wondered what Aoshi would say if he saw her like this...
Deeply stock in her daydreamy, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a knocking on the door.
"Ye..yes?"
The door slid soundlessly open and Saitou stepped into the room, making the room seem even smaller. Misao froze. Like herself the older man had discarded his usual clothing and was now wrapped in a dark yukata that made his eyes glow with cold amber fire. It occurred to the girl, all in a rush, that this was the first time she'd seen the man in anything but his uniform. He looked less conform, wilder, more like the wolf he was supposed to be.
She was not sure at all if she approved the change.
Thanks to some generous god, Saitou did not notice her look for he was to occupied with watching her figure intently. "Well, I think it should work", he finally stated cooly. "There is only one thing you forgot."
"And that would be what?" Misao asked brashly.
Suddenly his face was only inches away from hers. Her breath stopped, feeling
him so near to her, and in a rush of ramptant pulse and heat, she nearly
did not notice how he securely placed a barrate in her hand. "Your hair."
Looking down at the barrate and then at him, she finally understood.
And she had already thought...well, what was it that had just occured to her?
"Weasel, I´m waiting."
Still sort of paralyzed, Misao turned towards the mirror, and began to arrange her hair with shaking hands. When she was done, she thought to see a foreigner for an instant, a woman whom she had never met before in her life but there was no one in the mirror but herself, with her hair clipped back, looking very pale and grown-up.
"This is way better. I suppose our real journey can begin by now", she heard Saitou explaining in his usual unconcerned tone. "I don´t want to lose more time so let´s set off at once."
Turning around, one half of the girl wondered why she always ended up staring blankly at his back while the other half tried to figure out when she'd lost control of all this.
That meant, if she ever had control of it at all.
********************************************************************************
Well, I asked Mara about Japanese clothes, and she suprised me once again with her incredibous knowledge. So notice: the following information come from MARA not from me!!! I´m far to ignorant to know these things ^_^
Men's kimono:
The woolen men's kimono is dressed quite easily. It is of a dark, firm
material, men use a small, hand's breadth obi, the knot or bow is on the back.
If you are on the street, you wear a 'over-jacket', called 'haori' over
the kimono.
A hakama with fine strips and a longer 'over-jacket'(mon-tsuki) over the kimono, it is altogether more elegant. On the mon-tsuki you find the three family-'coat of arms' (mon). You wear white socks (tabi) and elegant sandals (zori).
Women's kimono:
You find more variations here: The length of the sleeves indicates if a woman is married for example, the sleeves of unmarried women's kimonos are longer. The
colour indicates the age, the colours are subdued for older women.
For a complete kimono you need a 'under-dress' (naga-juban) and the
actual kimono is hold together with the obi, which is quite improtant since there is only one size for kimono, so that you have to adopt the length by folding it under the obi. The colour of the cord, which with you have to tie the obi (obi-ji-me) indicates the occasion on which the kimono is worn (red = happy, grey/black = sad, white = normal)