"But Miss Tokio!" The petite red head protested pulling a wide-eyed innocent face with his hands up. Tokio narrowed her eyes speculatively. Would she have to be more persuasive? Himura really didn't deserve this, but that wouldn't stop her.
"You will take me with you Himura. And you will not," She put deadly emphasis on that last word, "Tell Hiko!"
Why not Tokio? Because you know that man would stop you one way or another? Her inner voice taunted and she felt her resolution waver. She didn't even know if Himura's mission would lead her where she wanted to go, get her what she needed. There was simply a good chance that the Shinsengumi would show up. That was it.
"Miss Tokio," He tried in a different tone. He had tried pleading, now he was going to smack her with logic. "You cannot go with me, that you cannot. It would be too dangerous. I could not assure your protection, that I could not. Master would skin me alive if I let something happen to you, that he would."
She wanted to smack him over the head, but instead she viciously jabbed the gearshift into forth while flooring the gas. The car screeched in protest and Kenshin grabbed instinctively for the dash.
"Listen Himura," She grated slowing down slightly to take a curve. Not enough. The silver Mercedes swung wide and the car on the opposite lane honked angrily. She gave the driver a not so nice gesture. This wasn't doing anything to calm her kidnapped passenger down. He almost looked like he would jack open the door and take his chances with the road speeding passing under the car. "I have a good reason. And if you don't take me willingly I'll fumble around my own way drawing attention and most likely blow your cover. Your choice."
"I will allow you to come Miss Tokio." He yelped and covered his eyes as she zoomed past a barreling semi. She clenched her jaw waiting for him to calm his beating heart and catch his breath. "On one condition. You must stay out of sight, that you must."
She nodded and turned into the supermarket's expansive parking lot. Turning off the engine she allowed a smile to creep up on her face in response to her victory. Then she recalled the danger she would face, not to mention Seijuro's fearsome wraith, and she felt sick. Sliding the keys out and stepping out of the car she took a deep breath. Himura gave a concerned look, his face very pale and sickly looking.
"I think," He began heavily, "I should drive home, that I do."
She tossed him the keys.
On the return trip, far more sedate and careful than the drive in, she wondered if she was ready for this. What would she do if she did find her daughter? She hadn't seen the girl for two years. When she divorced her husband she didn't want to leave him alone. He did so well with the girl, adored her. She just couldn't do it, she couldn't take the girl away from the man. Her relationship with her daughter was more distant. Perhaps motherhood was simply not something she was not cut out for. Young children tired her and when her daughter was a baby she was always on a short fuse. Never with the object of ire, but with anyone and everyone around.
They used to have a cat and the feline finally had enough. After living with them for three years the tom couldn't take anymore. He disappeared. Sometimes she got the feeling her husband wished he could do the same.
Had she done the wrong thing? She furrowed her brow. She questioned her decisions very rarely because usually they were right. Then again, usually they didn't include matters of the heart. Business was hardly clean cut and being an attorney was far from black and white, but she never had problems. A little thinking proved to solve most problems.
Was it selfish of her to remove herself from their lives? Petty because she couldn't stand the guilt she felt stir in her every time she laid eyes on her husband. He wasn't a bad man, far from it. He was sensitive and caring, but she had changed, met someone else. Not only that, but work suddenly became incredibly demanding. She seemed to spend longer hours at the office and those she spent at home were filled with tense silence.
Maybe if she had been there it would have been different. The girl would be safe and sound at her house visiting for the weekend. Not missing. Not, as she suspected, harbored with a group of killers. If she hadn't been careless murdered and dumped on the side of the highway. Tokio winced at that, but she was sure the girl was still alive.
Isn't that how other people shared their children even when they didn't care much for their ex? She didn't know. Divorce court was something she had never participated in. An apt, star pupil wasn't expected to stoop so low. Even fresh out of school she had been assigned the big cases. Usually having to deal with murder.
"What are you thinking about Miss Tokio?" Himura asked, his soft voice breaking into her thoughts. She blinked coming out of her thousand mile stare.
"My daughter, Megumi."
A/N: You guys prolly already figured that out, aren't you such a smart bunch. Tokio's driving was inspired by my Aunt's O__O The whole trip across Italy was filled with 'OMGs' and sharp intakes of breath from Alex and Patrice. Wimps. I finally put my headphones on. Oh, did I mention that Aunty tried to drive us off the side of a mountain? That was funny.
Reviewers:
Fyyrrose: Nooooooooooooooooooo, I'm still not going to kill 'that bitch' as my brother says. I don't know what you two have against her, at least Cara doesn't mind. Although, one time I compared Yumi to Lulu from FF10 O.O She had a herd of cattle. Oh, and killing Kagome isn't sufficent incentive, choose Miroku next time. I might act on the monk's behalf. Shunn-chan says that you're a meanie and I say Mango needs to stop eating my pet spiders! I think Shunn is kinda dead O.o but I'm not sure. I love kids Kite: *drool* Hehe. You need to shut up. I've only started the sequel and haven't thought of it for three months now. I'm concentrating on the fight between your boy and you know who. Since I'm not allowed to kill either of them (one for the plot one because of YOU) it's going to be difficult. I liked the other battle scene better >:) :D *starts singing Another One Bites the Dust*. I'll try to post in CA with Grammy's computer. Prolly at 3 am O.o;
MissBehavin: Mwahahaha, now! Jump him and hold him down. Megumi has a mind of her own, doesn't she?
Wistful-Eyes: Hey, no one ever said Saitoh was a nice guy ^___^ I wouldn't like him if he were O.o;; Humor and Saitoh *shocked look* >:) Do it.
eriesalia: Dunno, how stubborn do you think she could be? It wasn't too bad, hellion #1 and 2 blew it out of proportion. Oh, and Big Bro Sano too ^^;;; Oh yes, Sano, Aoshi, and Megumi with Kaoru and Kenshin as bystanders >:) No tease this time, honest ;)
Trupana: Humor and songs are good things. I wouldn't want to be hit with anything, I'm a big wimp, but needles scare the heck out of me. Wanna see me cry like a baby? Uh, sure, when I'm done with Res. and the sequel you can have little Meg O.o;; why not, I gave my umbreon character Tynan away today O.O Yup, has them in it. You can perceive any and all hints you want! Yes, you won ^^; I know, I want to go see it (without spending my money, that could be tricky). I read a thread on this message board comparing/contrasting Smeagol/Gollum and Kenshin/B O.o;;; Well, until I moved on to the thread of who would win: Saitoh vs. Seta. *cough*Saitohwithoutadoubtsqewerthesmileyboy*hack* O_______O I was kidding J, don't slaughter me... *runs*