Chapter 2: Unforeseen Liaisons
Aoshi gave the tall man a pointed frown: really, all the fumes that came out of those detested things always made him want to choke. It didn't help that the policeman had no windows in his office, no matter how large it was. The wooden walls were blank, and his desk was inconspicuously clean, making Aoshi feel something akin to wry humor: the Mibu Wolf was utterly meticulous. Even in this tranquil time, he wouldn't risk anything that could be used against him. Saitou drew in a particularly deep breath, exhaling loosely as he flickered his cigarette's end with his a twist of his wrist. "So," the older man drawled, "How could an ordinary cop be necessary for the Oniwabanshuu's plans for expansion?"
Flashing the Wolf a critical glance, Aoshi brought out a thick folder full of pertinent information to current times and criminals that had set government officials on the look-out: "We could set a deal. If you would provide official support from the government and keep an oath of silence about the Oniwa, we could, in turn do some necessary shadowing or background support for you. In order to maintain our function as an undercover organization, it would be agreeable to have some sort of legal backup, no matter how covertly it was offered."
Amber eyes met unflinching frosty blue ones with feral deliberation. Toying slightly with his cigarette, Saitou gave Aoshi a mirthless smile that signified nothing, the silence so complete that both men could hear the ticking of the officer's desk clock echo in their ears. Finally, Saitou opened his mouth, but only to mention a subject that had nothing to do with what Aoshi had just brought up: "Is the itachi still pining for you?"
Aoshi gave him a disapproving look before responding smoothly, "Hardly."
Wry laughter resounded in the room, making Aoshi's frown deepen, "The years do pass." The Okashira blinked—had Saitou just given in to a bout of nostalgia? The slight humor flickering in Saitou's eyes confirmed his last thought as he answered Aoshi's offer: "I accept, but only if you take up a preliminary task for me. A kind of assessment, if I may say so myself—so I can see if the Oniwabanshuu are up to the task. Depending on your performance, I will give the support you have asked for."
Aoshi was never a man for small talk: "what is the assignment?"
Saitou extinguished his cigarette before taking out a small folder from his desk, tossing it somewhat churlishly at the Okashira, who took the folder without comment, "Get me information on the arms trade in Japan through the vantage point of foreigners and natives alike. Ever since Kanryuu and Yukishiro have been wiped out, courtesy of the former Battousai, the arm race has been somewhat more clandestine, but definitely not eliminated. It is well-known that the British have been selling weapons illegally into Japan, but our main concern is to catch which Japanese tradesmen participate in this black market." Aoshi nodded slightly before opening the file and reading a bio on a couple, Hanabusa Setsuhiro and Yuuna. Looking up at the policeman with dawning understanding, Aoshi murmured, "The Japanese ambassador in England, and his wife."
Saitou nodded with dry approval, "Correct. They are newly appointed, and had been residing in England, but they have been abducted and held hostage under the expressed order of some British weapons kingpin in order to maintain the steady flux of arms in the nation. You will be in charge of finding Oniwabanshuu members to go undercover as the couple's son Hanabusa Ayo and his wife Hanabusa Meiko, who have gone into hiding to avoid captivity or assassination, so no one but I and a couple of other high-ranking officials who are acquainted personally with the couple know of their whereabouts. This is an internal secret that is kept from government heads for fear of betrayal." Giving the younger man a ferocious look that openly challenged him, Saitou continued, "Using the undercover name and status, the two who pose as the couple will infiltrate the activities of the arms dealers, bring back evidence and facts, and then retreat."
Aoshi mulled over the offer, weighing its risk factor and its relative importance. Gaining the information had a dual purpose for the Mibu Wolf: it would serve as a way to get rid of meddlesome foreigners, and it could also be used to blackmail the Westerner who held the ambassadors in captivity. Given that their performance would be impeccable, Saitou would not deny his support for the Oniwabanshuu afterward. Aoshi tucked the folder into his leather briefcase before nodding, "The Oniwabanshuu will undertake the operation."
Giving Aoshi a sly smirk, Saitou intoned in a low voice with his gloved hand languorously waving in dismissal, "I hope that the itachi has sharpened up on her social skills."
"Aoshi-sama…you went to see the psych—I mean, Saitou, ne? You smell like cigarette smoke!"
Aoshi looked down at the radiant woman who had rushed out to greet him, his posture relaxing somewhat and his mood lightening immediately. Misao seemed to have an alleviating effect on him: he could never be seriously troubled whenever he was with her. He gave Misao a swift yet thorough inspection: she was clad in a nondescript plum-colored kimono, her hair pulled back in an easy ponytail, and she was holding what seemed to be a heavy earthen pot. Misao shifted the pot from under one arm to another easily before saying, "Oh, this? It's a jar of pickled daikon. The cooks at the Aoiya seemed to have run out, so they sent me to get some more from the storage rooms. Why, do I look odd holding it?" Twirling playfully around, the jar tucked under an arm, Misao spun around, her clear laughter filling Aoshi's mind with glimpses of sunshine.
"No," he answered somewhat hesitantly, "You look…fine." Turning suddenly, Aoshi berated himself for his sudden unease with this sort of subject. He looked over his shoulder as he articulated tersely, "Call Okina—the three of us need to talk about the upcoming events for the Oniwabanshuu." It was amusing how he found it infinitely easier to talk about business than any other subject with Misao.
"Would you like to have some tea brought up to your room?"
Aoshi stopped, his back to her as he allowed the slightest of smiles to emerge on his face: it was just like Misao to make even business a matter of enjoyment, "Aa, I would appreciate it."
By the time Misao had prepared the tea and climbed assiduously up the stairs with the tray intact, the two men were already deep in counsel. When Misao opened the door mildly, the two men turned their head sharply to her, their wariness highly tuned until they recognized that it was only the awaited third of their meeting. Misao wedged through the door with an easy grin, closing the door shut with her foot as she exclaimed, "Fresh tea—with your favorite, Jiya! Pound cake!" Placing the tray carefully on the desk, Misao swatted at the old man's hand, chiding gently, "Mou, Jiya…only one at a time! You need to watch your weight." As the old man sputtered in mock indignation, Misao pulled up a chair seated herself between the two men, flashing a warm smile to both men before she asked pleasantly albeit seriously, "What's the news, Aoshi-sama… Jiya?" She turned to both men; her lucid eyes insisting on the whole scoop before they lit up with comprehension as she snapped her fingers for emphasis, "Oh! It has something to do with that psycho cop, ne? What did Saitou want from you this time, Aoshi-sama?"
Aoshi responded concisely, "I asked him to help us expand, and he said that he would if we took up this particular mission, which I accepted." Misao gave him her undivided attention, silently encouraging him to go on, "We are to have two of us go undercover as the Japanese ambassador's son and daughter…" After hearing Aoshi's summary of the meeting with Saitou and the train of his thoughts in deciding to accept the mission, Misao and Okina agreed wholeheartedly with his decision, bringing up insightful issues and questions into account, which Aoshi responded to without hesitation. Aoshi had the whole mission covered, and there seemed only to be one problem left over that Okina deftly brought up: "So it seems that you have concluded to pose as Hanabusa Ayo, but who will accompany you as your "wife", Aoshi?"
Misao looked down at the teacup in her hands—she wished to volunteer, but she feared being shunned by Aoshi, for whatever reasons he could come up with. Clearing her throat, Misao glanced at both the men who looked at her expectantly before she spoke up: "How about Okon? She has the discretion and etiquette to handle the task well. Omasu would be an equally good choice—she has charm and would be excellent as a social figure."
She chanced a look at her grandfather, who shook his head slightly, opening his mouth to say something in response. Misao shut her eyes, wishing he wouldn't talk up: Please, Kami-sama, save me the embarrassment. She only opened her eyes a few moments later out of surprise when Aoshi spoke up unpredictably, "Actually, Misao, I was considering you." Misao looked up at her Okashira, her mouth dry and her expressive eyes portraying disbelief as Okina beamed at the younger man over her head. Her guardian explained his choice steadily, "You possess the qualities I find necessary for this job. You do not mind, do you?" Shaking her head, Misao automatically brought the teacup to her lips, trying to keep her joy and excitement down so she could appear responsible and calm. She scarcely heard Aoshi's murmured words of finality, such was the extent of her mental absorption: "Good, then the meeting is adjourned." Neither men commented when they saw Misao take her leave first, cleaning up the tea set with haste as she bolted downstairs to the safety of the kitchen, where she could digest her thoughts in silence.
Misao swallowed audibly as she wrung her hands out of nervous habit: how in hell was she going to keep a straight face while acting as Aoshi-sama's wife? Pacing uncertainly in the kitchen, Misao sighed, sitting down dejectedly by the table as she looked out the window absentmindedly. Misao nearly jumped out of her seat in shock when two heads popped up right behind the windows. Omasu and Okon waved cheerily at her from the other side of the glass, each holding shopping bags and a list of things to buy: "Misao! We heard about your upcoming trip with Aoshi-sama! Do you want to come shopping with us for new clothes?" Misao scowled to herself: Jiya couldn't ever keep things to himself. Nodding reluctantly, Misao dragged herself out of the kitchen and joined the two women outside. Just because it made sense to dress in a way that befitted her role didn't mean Misao was eager to go shopping. Quite the contrary, Misao had never cared much for material needs like fine clothing or exquisite accessories—just as long as everything fit fine and didn't get in her way, Misao was quite content to wear whatever came her way. Misao found that none of her clothes fit the description of a poised gentlewoman; however, and she would have to exert herself to appear as such. She had never quite fit the role of "lady" before—now she found that for the sake of profession, she would be forced into it. Vaguely wondering about the disastrous possibilities that could occur, Misao shook her head as she joined her friends, coming to the conclusion that if her Aoshi-sama could act the gentleman, she could just as well. Heading out of the door, Misao felt herself getting jerked back by the collar. Damn—she had gotten her kimono stuck on an open splinter jutting out of the sliding door. Massaging her throat as she grimaced at her lack of grace, Misao discovered a slight difference from both of their situations: Aoshi didn't have to act the gentleman; he had always been one, whereas she had to start from scratch. Crossing her fingers with hope, Misao took a deep breath—she might as well enjoy the last bit of freedom she would have to herself for the next week or so, even if it was spent shopping.
The lace was itchy, and the layers of petticoats made Misao feel like some bloated, porcelain doll. It didn't help that Aoshi looked sleek and elegant in his dark suit. Frowning slightly, Misao prayed that she wouldn't get her skirts caught on some sharp edge or trip over her laces. Mounting the awaiting train with anticipation, the petite onmitsu woman allowed a small smile to play over her features: at least she had the whole train trip to look forward to. The speed and smoothness of trains never ceased to entertain her, and she would have hours to marvel over its efficiency—they were headed to Nagoya.
Aoshi peered over his book to watch his vivacious protégé marvel over the advanced technology of the steam engine through his cabin's tinted window, watching her talk in a lively manner with a coal shoveler. Misao was fresh and down-to-earth, never the one to limit herself by social class or physical boundaries. She was caught up in a deep discussion with the soiled young man, her eyes sparkling as she gestured wildly to the large engine outside of their boxcar, her laughter filling the hallway. The young man was eyeing her in a manner that displeased him. Rising to his feet, Aoshi walked out of his cabin to Misao's side, putting a large steady hand on the young woman's shoulder as he gave the young man a warning glance. Misao turned around with a pleased smile on her pretty features, her enthusiasm evident in her tone as she gestured to the thickset worker by her side, "Aoshi-sama! He knows how the steam engine works!"
"Come, Misao."
"Can't I—"
"I'll explain it to you." He was rewarded with a bright smile that lit up her face as she followed him back to their compartment, the coal shoveler already forgotten as she waited eagerly for Aoshi to explain the mystery of trains.
"The steam engine, invented by a Westerner by the name of…" Aoshi wasn't sure if he could think straight with Misao's full attention on him. A slight smile perked up her features, and her attentive eyes settled on him as she listened to him with curiosity. Once he had finished his explanation, he tore his eyes off of her face and gazed out the window, catching the green scenery with an idle eye. It was getting hard for him to stay on focus with her around; he wondered how long it had been since she held such a sphere of influence over him. He heard Misao sigh as she got up to leave the compartment—no, this would not do, he still had one more thing to tell her: "Misao, come here. We still have to talk about… business." Misao complied as she sat lightly in front of him, her slender hands held tightly in her lap as she chewed on her lower lip uncertainly. "Concerning our roles, it may seem awkward at first, but you must give your all to this assignment—the well-being of the Oniwabanshuu rests upon our success."
Misao nodded, although she was already fully aware of her circumstances as she murmured softly, "In other words, we must appear to be a convincing married couple."
Aoshi's gaze flickered over her, approval etched on his solemn features, "Correct. Both in the Hanabusa residence and at social outings—we will share meals, evenings and a bed." His impassive features did not give way to the amusement he felt stir within him as he witnessed Misao flushing in response.
Misao recovered rapidly as she gave her Okashira a wavering smile, "Well, it won't be too much of a stretch—I used to crawl into bed with you whenever I had nightmares." Her attempt at lightening the discomfiture of the moment; however, failed as the two fell into deep thought, both of them mentally confirming that circumstances were not quite as simple as they were when she was only an innocent child and he a less hesitant youth.
Glossary:
Daikon: Japanese radishes (kinda like kimchi, but not! Nothing can beat kimchi! Ohohohoho!)
Notes: So Saitou DID have a reason for mentioning Misao earlier, ne (that sly cop). I love making interactions with other characters. It's quite clear that the others see how important Aoshi and Misao are to each other, and they often point that out in the manga/anime. They serve as support, enlighteners and prompters at the same time (like Megumi and Kenshin in 'Muted Discourse'). They are indispensable (to me) to keep a good story going… they add a heightened dimension and sense of reality that is both fresh and encouraging. Hence my use of 'psycho cop' in this chapter (that's such a cool nickname… they should make a movie named after that! Hahahah…ah, I'm such a dork).