Chapter Five
Saitoh stood with his back braced and his eyes narrowed with displeasure. A snarl threatened to cross his thin lips as his boss continued in the same cold, dangerous voice stating what he already knew. Not that he was about to admit that.
"I acted on my orders." He managed to say in a stiff, unforgiving voice. No trace of plea or excuse lingered in it. He disdained people who refused to take responsibility for their actions. Yet, why was he doing so now? Being hypocritical. "However, I concur that a mistake was made."
With that he whirled on his heel and stomped out to find Sanosuke; wondering what the moron had done with the child. He found out as he stepped into the common room.
Draped over the smaller couch was the young man's large body. He was sprawled out selfishly hogging the whole thing with limbs sticking over the edge. His eyes were closed and his mouth was slightly ajar. Saitoh wouldn't have been surprised to find a thin trail of drool coming out of the corner of his mouth.
Hooked slightly under the young man's arm and curled in a small ball on the thin cushion was the child. She appeared to be asleep, but the wolf wasn't fooled. Her breathing was rather erratic and although a curtain of ebony hair shielded her face he could see her eyes peering through.
Rather than take a seat in the chair directly adjacent he chose to lean against the wall behind it. His fingers itched to pull out a cigarette and let the nicotine soothe his frayed nervous. Right now he wanted nothing more than to pound that man's face into putty. He wasn't pleased with having to deal with someone other than Kondo. Instead he merely fingered the smooth, unopened pack. Smoking wasn't permitted in the building and he couldn't go outside leaving the child there.
"What's your name?" He asked ignoring the looks he received from the others in the room. They took a hint and cleared out to their various lodgings, leaving the wolf alone with the child and the unconscious Sano.
When she didn't answer he asked again, "What's your name?"
This time she stirred pushing the hair out of her face revealing a hate laden glare. She stared up with accusing brown eyes while doing her best to sink out of sight under Sano's body. This both amused and annoyed Saitoh all at the same time. He kept his face blank training his golden eyes directly at hers. No one could withstand that look for long without squirming in discomfort.
To his surprise she returned his glare and announced insolently, "You killed my daddy. Are you going to kill me?"
Idly he flicked his gaze over at her. How to answer? He obviously could not promise to spare her life yet, not without clearing it with his superiors. He should have just finished her in the parking lot.
His glare hardened at the sleeping form of Sanosuke. If the boy hadn't interrupted him... That wasn't quite fair. He wasn't sure if he would have actually pulled the trigger. His unbridled pride sneered protesting that he would have because that was what was required and needed. Duty and honor insisted on it. Yet, some small part of his remained unsure. Could he have?
Although he hadn't had much contact with children every single moral he had been taught growing up screamed to spare the children. Children were innocent, sinless. That went with his philosophy, his life long code, Aku Soku Zan.
It wasn't as if children were sinless. Sometimes they were capable of far greater evils than adults. They learned what they were taught, or what they weren't.
So instead of acknowledging her question he repeated once again in a bored tone, "What's your name?"
"Takani Megumi." She announced jutting out her chin proudly. She was bold, no doubt about that. Smart also. Studying her closer he noted that when her looks matured she'd most definitely be a heart breaker.
If she got the chance.
Sano stirred slightly before looking up bleary eyed, his hair in even more of disarray than usual and his clothing was crumpled from his short nap. Rolling over he almost squished the child before doing a double take. So instead of rolling smoothly off the couch onto his feet with a well practice gesture, he ended up contorting and landing on his rump and elbow.
Saitoh couldn't resist, "A bit young for you."
"Fuck Saitoh, that's sick." Sano grumbled soothing his offended rump before trying to straighten himself out. He didn't get very far because Megumi launched herself at his neck and clung for dear life. Saitoh couldn't tell who was more shocked, the girl or Sano.
"Watch your mouth around the child." He actually didn't care; however, he didn't want her picking up any bad habits that might come back at him later. It was bad enough he had to listen to Sano demean himself by sounding like a low intelligence grunt with a two word vocabulary. Nothing he told the boy seemed to get through his thick skull.
As Sano frantically tried to dislodge Megumi from his neck Kamatari strolled in. He was dressed completely in drag, most likely just returned from a mission. His eyes swept the room and Saitoh fingers itched to tear the foil on his pack. This could get very ugly, very fast. Kamatari was incredibly nosy, too much so in Saitoh's opinion.
"What is that?" He asked with a smirk pointing to Megumi. She looked up at him with huge, frightened eyes before ducking behind Sano.
The young man, just grateful to still be breathing, stood up only to be attacked from behind.
"That," Saitoh answered, his voice dripping with contempt, "Is a child."
Kamatari ignored his snide tone completely and he waited for the drag queen to start screaming in outrage or start whining. He was prone to episodes such as those when things happened to upset him. What happened next was completely unexpected.
"She's so darling!" He squealed in a falsetto voice and darted forward. Within seconds Megumi was being crushed to his chest with his hands running through her hair.
Sano flopped back down in the chair with the look of a dead fish.
"What's your name baby doll?" Kamatari cooed and Saitoh resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the sheer idiocy of it all. He might as well dump the kid off on those two, they'd do just fine.
Megumi pushed away from him roughly and glared; her eyes narrowed. She shoved away a strand of raven hair from her round face and announced, "Don't do that."
Kamatari rocked back on his heels highly amused. A knowing smile was on his face and glee shone in his eyes.
"Honey, I asked you a question. Where are you manners?" The man-woman tsked and straightened his clothing fastidiously.
"Takani Megumi."
Saitoh cleared his throat glaring at the trio with flat amber eyes, "I need a smoke, watch her."
- A/N: I try to update at least twice a week since this is pretty much already completed (I wrote it when I was in Italy a month or so ago). I don't really have a set time or anything, even though it would probably be easier.
- Reviewers:
L. Sith: *bows* Thank you, although I suppose I've conformed in my other story :( I don't think they have a plan ^^ unfortunately for them =]
MissBehavin: I know, poor Meg, hehe. There are worse people than Sano to play babysitter :D She'll be seeking out psychitrists after this one. "You see it was like this doctor..."
eriesalia: Hehe, I'm trying to keep her in character even though she's only a child. Somethings are just inborn ^^;; Of course Sano's a big softy :) Don't worry about missing a chapter or whatever. I'll drag in the rest of the cast (or most of it) eventually. Yes, Meg will have them where she wants them. Who can resist a cute, pouting six-year-old? Not me I can tell you :)
Fyyrrose: I'm not playing any game O:-) your imagination is getting the better of you, honestly. I'd think most *people* would be scared enough to pee their pants .;;; Yes, poor Sano. He'll live. He's not the hero type, that requires selfless giving and what not -.-;; No Martyr-complex there. And you're talented, you've got the commas remember! And more reviewers than me ;.; *laughs*
Trupana: ^^;;; I wouldn't exactly describe him as dreamy either, but she has this thing... Anyway, he's an awesome character. Ah yes, the big brother, whether he wants to or not *grins*. I'm not anti-romance or anything, it just gets a bit tiresome when practically everything is fluff or WAFF or just romantic period (especially k/k stuff).
Saitoh stood with his back braced and his eyes narrowed with displeasure. A snarl threatened to cross his thin lips as his boss continued in the same cold, dangerous voice stating what he already knew. Not that he was about to admit that.
"I acted on my orders." He managed to say in a stiff, unforgiving voice. No trace of plea or excuse lingered in it. He disdained people who refused to take responsibility for their actions. Yet, why was he doing so now? Being hypocritical. "However, I concur that a mistake was made."
With that he whirled on his heel and stomped out to find Sanosuke; wondering what the moron had done with the child. He found out as he stepped into the common room.
Draped over the smaller couch was the young man's large body. He was sprawled out selfishly hogging the whole thing with limbs sticking over the edge. His eyes were closed and his mouth was slightly ajar. Saitoh wouldn't have been surprised to find a thin trail of drool coming out of the corner of his mouth.
Hooked slightly under the young man's arm and curled in a small ball on the thin cushion was the child. She appeared to be asleep, but the wolf wasn't fooled. Her breathing was rather erratic and although a curtain of ebony hair shielded her face he could see her eyes peering through.
Rather than take a seat in the chair directly adjacent he chose to lean against the wall behind it. His fingers itched to pull out a cigarette and let the nicotine soothe his frayed nervous. Right now he wanted nothing more than to pound that man's face into putty. He wasn't pleased with having to deal with someone other than Kondo. Instead he merely fingered the smooth, unopened pack. Smoking wasn't permitted in the building and he couldn't go outside leaving the child there.
"What's your name?" He asked ignoring the looks he received from the others in the room. They took a hint and cleared out to their various lodgings, leaving the wolf alone with the child and the unconscious Sano.
When she didn't answer he asked again, "What's your name?"
This time she stirred pushing the hair out of her face revealing a hate laden glare. She stared up with accusing brown eyes while doing her best to sink out of sight under Sano's body. This both amused and annoyed Saitoh all at the same time. He kept his face blank training his golden eyes directly at hers. No one could withstand that look for long without squirming in discomfort.
To his surprise she returned his glare and announced insolently, "You killed my daddy. Are you going to kill me?"
Idly he flicked his gaze over at her. How to answer? He obviously could not promise to spare her life yet, not without clearing it with his superiors. He should have just finished her in the parking lot.
His glare hardened at the sleeping form of Sanosuke. If the boy hadn't interrupted him... That wasn't quite fair. He wasn't sure if he would have actually pulled the trigger. His unbridled pride sneered protesting that he would have because that was what was required and needed. Duty and honor insisted on it. Yet, some small part of his remained unsure. Could he have?
Although he hadn't had much contact with children every single moral he had been taught growing up screamed to spare the children. Children were innocent, sinless. That went with his philosophy, his life long code, Aku Soku Zan.
It wasn't as if children were sinless. Sometimes they were capable of far greater evils than adults. They learned what they were taught, or what they weren't.
So instead of acknowledging her question he repeated once again in a bored tone, "What's your name?"
"Takani Megumi." She announced jutting out her chin proudly. She was bold, no doubt about that. Smart also. Studying her closer he noted that when her looks matured she'd most definitely be a heart breaker.
If she got the chance.
Sano stirred slightly before looking up bleary eyed, his hair in even more of disarray than usual and his clothing was crumpled from his short nap. Rolling over he almost squished the child before doing a double take. So instead of rolling smoothly off the couch onto his feet with a well practice gesture, he ended up contorting and landing on his rump and elbow.
Saitoh couldn't resist, "A bit young for you."
"Fuck Saitoh, that's sick." Sano grumbled soothing his offended rump before trying to straighten himself out. He didn't get very far because Megumi launched herself at his neck and clung for dear life. Saitoh couldn't tell who was more shocked, the girl or Sano.
"Watch your mouth around the child." He actually didn't care; however, he didn't want her picking up any bad habits that might come back at him later. It was bad enough he had to listen to Sano demean himself by sounding like a low intelligence grunt with a two word vocabulary. Nothing he told the boy seemed to get through his thick skull.
As Sano frantically tried to dislodge Megumi from his neck Kamatari strolled in. He was dressed completely in drag, most likely just returned from a mission. His eyes swept the room and Saitoh fingers itched to tear the foil on his pack. This could get very ugly, very fast. Kamatari was incredibly nosy, too much so in Saitoh's opinion.
"What is that?" He asked with a smirk pointing to Megumi. She looked up at him with huge, frightened eyes before ducking behind Sano.
The young man, just grateful to still be breathing, stood up only to be attacked from behind.
"That," Saitoh answered, his voice dripping with contempt, "Is a child."
Kamatari ignored his snide tone completely and he waited for the drag queen to start screaming in outrage or start whining. He was prone to episodes such as those when things happened to upset him. What happened next was completely unexpected.
"She's so darling!" He squealed in a falsetto voice and darted forward. Within seconds Megumi was being crushed to his chest with his hands running through her hair.
Sano flopped back down in the chair with the look of a dead fish.
"What's your name baby doll?" Kamatari cooed and Saitoh resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the sheer idiocy of it all. He might as well dump the kid off on those two, they'd do just fine.
Megumi pushed away from him roughly and glared; her eyes narrowed. She shoved away a strand of raven hair from her round face and announced, "Don't do that."
Kamatari rocked back on his heels highly amused. A knowing smile was on his face and glee shone in his eyes.
"Honey, I asked you a question. Where are you manners?" The man-woman tsked and straightened his clothing fastidiously.
"Takani Megumi."
Saitoh cleared his throat glaring at the trio with flat amber eyes, "I need a smoke, watch her."
- A/N: I try to update at least twice a week since this is pretty much already completed (I wrote it when I was in Italy a month or so ago). I don't really have a set time or anything, even though it would probably be easier.
- Reviewers:
L. Sith: *bows* Thank you, although I suppose I've conformed in my other story :( I don't think they have a plan ^^ unfortunately for them =]
MissBehavin: I know, poor Meg, hehe. There are worse people than Sano to play babysitter :D She'll be seeking out psychitrists after this one. "You see it was like this doctor..."
eriesalia: Hehe, I'm trying to keep her in character even though she's only a child. Somethings are just inborn ^^;; Of course Sano's a big softy :) Don't worry about missing a chapter or whatever. I'll drag in the rest of the cast (or most of it) eventually. Yes, Meg will have them where she wants them. Who can resist a cute, pouting six-year-old? Not me I can tell you :)
Fyyrrose: I'm not playing any game O:-) your imagination is getting the better of you, honestly. I'd think most *people* would be scared enough to pee their pants .;;; Yes, poor Sano. He'll live. He's not the hero type, that requires selfless giving and what not -.-;; No Martyr-complex there. And you're talented, you've got the commas remember! And more reviewers than me ;.; *laughs*
Trupana: ^^;;; I wouldn't exactly describe him as dreamy either, but she has this thing... Anyway, he's an awesome character. Ah yes, the big brother, whether he wants to or not *grins*. I'm not anti-romance or anything, it just gets a bit tiresome when practically everything is fluff or WAFF or just romantic period (especially k/k stuff).