Would you Kill for Love?
I walked into police headquarters as though nothing was wrong with me and yet my arm hurt like hell. I had only wrapped the bandage quickly around my shoulder and arm and came straight to the station knowing Saitou would be pulling his hair out by now…okay so maybe that's a bit off…more like…smoking many cigarettes!
I walked down the passageway certain officers eyeing me off as though they knew something was up. I came across Captain Saitou's closed door and knocked once before entering without his permission.
"Aoshi!" Megumi spoke slightly stunned and I waved her to sit back down. Hannya was in the room also, with Saitou sitting behind his desk fully alert now.
"What gave you the right to take off that wire? I gave you no such order!" Captain Saitou demanded while standing up from his leather chair.
"They knew Saitou! Didn't you think it was a bit strange that all of this has happened so quickly? I mean them finding out exactly where Miss Makimachi and myself where? They knew exactly what was going on and they probably knew every word we spoke as well."
"You don't mean…"
"The wire was tapped…and we probably had a trace on us as well. Not to mention getting the cab so suddenly, just conveniently driving past the station." I replied cutting Megumi off.
"Where is Miss Makimachi?" Hannya questioned, but I kept quiet not replying to him.
"Shinomori?" Saitou spoke moving from around his desk to face me properly. I took a deep breath eyeing him off and spoke back.
"Look the only reason Miss Makimachi is alive is because she's with me. I can protect her and keep her safe until I find out all the information I need from her." I watched as Saitou was just about to butt in and I spoke once more becoming frustrated.
"Saitou for once in your life stop being an asshole and trust me! You have a lead, sure a dead one, but you have his name and some group called the Black Dragons. Go into the seedy parts of Japan and listen to the people talk. I'm sure you can dig something up. The only way Miss Makimachi will live is if she stays hidden."
"What if they find you?" Megumi spoke alarmingly as she got up out of the chair. I placed on a small smile facing her for a moment and then turned back to stare at Saitou.
"If it comes to that, I won't stop running and hiding with her. If needs be I'll make her disappear for good."
"And what if something happens to you?" Saitou asked, his arms crossing over his chest, his gold eyes narrowing.
"If I die, someone will know of her whereabouts and will not give her away unless I tell them to."
"Alright Shinomori… For now you are the eyes and ears of this case and Miss Makimachi's protector. Is there anything you need?" I placed on a smirk and spoke one word.
"Money…"
"WHAT!?!" I heard Megumi yell exasperated.
"They know who I am Saitou. Do you actually think I'm stupid enough to use my credit cards? They've probably got all the information that they can find on me and have my cell phone tapped. Here take it." I spoke placing it on the table after getting out the chip and placing it in my pocket. There was no way I was letting him have that much information into my cell phone. I watched Saitou move towards his desk draw and open it up pulling out an envelope full of money.
"How much do you need?" I snatched the entire envelope from his hands, his eyes widening ever so slightly at my fast reflexes and placed the envelope into my inner jacket pocket.
"I'm sure that will be sufficient for now. I'll be in touch." I replied heading for the door.
"Be careful Aoshi!" Megumi spoke and I turned around giving her a reassuring wave and left the office with Hannya following close behind.
"Sir, if you need help you ca-" I lifted up my hand stopping Hannya from saying anything else.
"I can't let you in Hannya, I'm sorry. I know we have been in dangerous situations together, but I want Hannya to make it to Momo-chan's seventh birthday…and the many others after that."
"Fearing the worst Sir?" Hannya replied while walking beside me once more as we exited the building.
"No just being rational. You have a family Hannya, I don't want them going to your funeral and my guilt rising within me, thinking that I could have done something to prevent it. If I ever felt the need I was in danger and needed someone to watch and protect Miss Makimachi it would be you Hannya." I got into my black Ute and started the engine watching as Hannya got in as well.
"Do not think I'm stupid Sir, I know you are being followed. Shall we play a game with them?" I smirked over at my long time friend and sped off down the streets of Tokyo a car screeching after us.
"I'm assuming we are supposed to know they are behind us correct?" Hannya question while taking of his jacket, shirt and cap while staring into the rear vision mirror.
"It is their way." I replied while placing my foot on the gas a little faster and headed round another corner swiftly getting everything out of my pockets and letting Hannya place them in his. Lucky for the both of us we were the same height, both dark haired and resembled the same build as well. I screeched around another corner and applied the brakes while swiftly getting out of the car and reefing my jacket and shirt off throwing them at Hannya whom was now sitting in the drivers seat of my Ute.
"Do you actually think they would buy this?" Hannya questioned once more and I shrugged my shoulders hoping to the gods they would.
"Take them right back to where they started from Hannya." I replied and then hit the side of the car door telling him to get going before they screeched around the corner themselves. I watched him speed off and quickly hid in a nearby alleyway behind some garbage watching and waiting. I sighed quietly in relief watching the black BMW race past heading after Hannya. I got up and placed Hannya's cap, shirt and jacket on and raced further into the alleyway knowing Sagara would not stick around for long and needed to make sure Miss Makimachi was okay.
* * * *
I swiftly ran up the back way towards the dingy apartment I lived in, my gun poised in my hand as I scanned around the place wanting to know if I had been followed. Not a soul in sight. I came towards the high wood fence and clicked the latch walking into the small backyard and closing the gate without making a sound. I made my way up the three steps, memorising where the creaks where and missing each one. I fished through my trouser pockets grabbing a single key and unlocked the back door heading inside, while softly closing it behind me and locking it once more. Again I scanned the small room, searching each blind spot to my eyes cautiously and found nothing except a small note lying on the coffee table. I opened it up, reading the contents inside:
'Shinomori,
Always taking too long so I left. Don't panic though, she's safe and sound asleep in the bed. Keep the money by the way…you'll need another favour from me someday soon…
Sagara'
I shook my head crunching up the note and placing it in my pocket while walking towards the bedroom door and pushing it open. It gave off a small screeching noise but just like Sagara said, Miss Makimachi was sound asleep, curled up on her right side, hugging one of the pillows to her chest.
I slowly walked away from the door, but leaving it open and made my way towards the bathroom taking off Hannya's cap, shirt and jacket. I grabbed a needle and thread and held it in my mouth for the mean time while grabbing a small mirror to have a look at he bullet hole at the back of my shoulder…luckily in some sense it had gone straight through.
"Need a hand?" I turned swiftly around seeing Miss Makimachi leaning against the doorframe. I silently watched as she moved around the bathroom grabbing a few towels and opening up a cupboard getting out a first aid kit. She took the needle and thread from between my teeth and walked out of the bathroom not saying a single word.
"I was using that you know." I spoke from inside the bathroom.
"Stop being stubborn and come out of there. I've read about this stuff before so stop being a baby and let me help you." I shook my head walking out of the bathroom and into the main room where Misao sat on the couch already to sew me up. Great…this was going to be one hell of a case I needed to solve so I didn't have to put up with a brat like this!
"Come on already! It could get an infection." Miss Makimachi replied once more and I sat on the ground letting her attend to my back first. I hissed softly, my hands clenching as she began cleaning the wound with disinfectant.
"This might hurt…" She mumbled softly and I nodded my head, but kept still as she began to close the wound, stitching my skin back together…well that's what I hoped for anyway. I had my eyes closed lightly dozing, the full effects of being shot finally hitting me hard and fast. My eyes snapped open however when I felt a hand press against my chest, my green-grey eyes staring into blue ones.
"How long have I been asleep?" I questioned her and watched as she placed on a small smile while finishing off the sewing on the front of my shoulder.
"About five minutes… Here drink this…" Miss Makimachi spoke while handing me a glass of really foggy water.
"What is it?" I spoke back, but ended up drinking the contents anyway and moved to get up heading for my bedroom not even waiting for an answer. I flopped down onto my bed, pulling my gun out of my holster and placing it on the chest of draws, while I pulled the other one from the back of my trousers and held it tightly in my hand, ready for action. As soon as my head hit the soft pillows I took a deep breath inhaling the feminine scent caressing them and I began to fade away…falling to sleep…while mumbling softly to Miss Makimachi…
* * * *
(Begin the dreaming…)
"Aoshi-niichan come play with me?" I groaned hearing her voice. How long had it been since I heard it the last?
"Iie Kaoru-chan I can't. I've got to go to work." I heard myself reply to the six year old Kaoru. Her deep blue eyes pouted at me, her tiny hands dropping the flowers she had been picking in rejection.
"Aoshi-niichan doesn't love me anymore?" Was Kaoru's soft reply, her shoulders shaking slightly as she sniffled, tears falling down her chubby face. I hated it when she'd give me this huge guilt trip…it always worked on me. I was walking towards her and sat down at the pond, placing Kaoru in my lap looking at our reflections. I was merely 14 and taking care of Kaoru as though she were my own child and yet I was still a child myself. Mother…mother had gone, wanting to be with father again. She had died…right before our eyes; riddled with cancer…her one wish for us was to go walking in the forest on a beautiful sunny and windy day, to throw her ashes into the air…
'So the breeze can catch me and help me float my way to heaven…where I can watch over the both of you…with tochan beside me…'
"You know that's not true Kaoru-chan. Aoshi-niichan loves you very much, just as much as kachan and tochan do. Even though they aren't here anymore they'll love us forever." I heard myself whisper to my sister as we both stared into the pond.
A bright smile was on Kaoru-chan's face now, the sadness in her eyes forgotten. I watched as she stood up in my lap, her small hands coupling my cheeks.
"Will Aoshi-niichan love Kaoru-chan forever too?" I could see myself smiling brightly back at her…never was I so open to smile…except for my Kaoru-chan…my imoto-chan…
"Hai, Hai Kaoru-chan…" Giggles bubbled up from her throat as she jumped out of my lap running towards the neighbours house.
"Ja ne Aoshi-niichan, I'm going to Gensai-sensei's place now!" Kaoru-chan had yelled waving happy at me.
"Aoshi-niichan you have to come to the school play and watch me. I can't do this without you…please say you'll come and watch me?" I stared down into pleading blue eyes. Kaoru was now 12 years old…how time flew when I was working so hard to provide for us. It was simpler now, me becoming a police officer, but I had responsibilities to attend to and Kaoru knew this very much.
"Kaoru-chan, you know I can't make this promise for you, but I'll see what I can do okay?" I watched her place on a small smile and then I bent down giving her a comforting hug, which she ended up returning, never able to stay mad at me for too long.
I had come that night, bursting my way into the school hall, certain parents looking at me as I moved down the aisle wearing a police uniform. I knew the Captain would have a field day knowing I left the office without permission, but this was something I wouldn't miss for anything.
I moved into the middle and located a spare seat and sat down watching the curtain rise and there stood my Kaoru-chan looking all grown up. She held a bright smile on her lips, but how I looked into those eyes seeing their sadness as she scanned the room trying desperately to see me in the crowd. That is when her eyes met mine and they sparkled with happiness knowing I was here and supporting her…watching her…giving her the attention she desperately needed at an age where she was growing up, becoming a young teenage woman.
The one night show had ended successful, parents commenting on the wonderful props and how well each student was in character. I had stood up that night…giving the class my own standing ovation and then other parents followed, but selfishly I was only clapping for Kaoru-chan.
I was getting up ready to leave the hall when I watched the red curtain begin to move around, someone trying desperately to come out.
"AOSHI-NIICHAN!" I heard being yelled and stopped walking towards the exit and turned around watching as Kaoru-chan raced towards me, jumping up and hugging me tightly around the neck.
"Arigatoo Aoshi-niichan…" Kaoru-chan had whispered softly into my ear. I pulled away slightly and smiled down into her sparkling eyes.
"I'm so proud of you…" I could hear myself whisper.
"Will you love me Aoshi-niichan? Will you love me always?" Kaoru had spoken. She said this every night, knowing what my answer would be, but needing to hear it anyway.
"Hai, hai Kaoru-chan, now get some rest… I'll see you tomorrow morning." I watched on as she fell asleep…fading away into nothingness. I tried reaching for her, pulling her back into the light but she wouldn't come. Kaoru-chan wanted to leave…wanted to leave me alone…
(Dreaming has ended…)
* * * *
"DON'T GO!" I yelled snapping my eyes open and grabbing my gun seeing a blurred figure sitting beside me. I pointed my gun at its chest, but listened to it squeal lightly and fall off the bed, the sound of water splashing everywhere. I focused my eyes properly and stared down into wide blue ones, Miss Makimachi's hand placing over her rapidly beating heart.
"You scared the shit out of me." I spoke gruffly while sitting up, flinching lightly at the growing pain in my left arm, but placed my gun on the chest of draws with my other one.
"I scared the shit out of you? You scared the shit out of me!" Miss Makimachi replied while standing up and taking the now empty bowl of water and cloth out of the room.
I eventually got up and followed her into the main room watching as she grabbed the cloth trying to rid herself of water. She turned around facing me and I grabbed one of my shirts off the lounge and handed it to her.
"I'm sorry for scaring you." Her blue eyes stared silently up at me and then she snatched the shirt from my hands and walked towards the bathroom. I moved around my small kitchen looking for a clean mug but found none and ended up sitting on one of the stools and began unwrapping the bandage around my arm.
"Let me do that…" I heard Miss Makimachi say and she walked towards me now dressed in one of my white work shirts. It fell loosely around her stopping mid way down her thighs. I hate to admit it…but Sagara was right, she had great legs. I cast my head to the side letting her take care of me. When the hell had I ever done that before? I cast my mind back to the woman I had…well been acquainted with but not once did I let them help me like Miss Makimachi was. Aside from the fact I never took a bullet for them either…
"You were sweating and I came in to look after you. You told me not to go…not to use anything…not to touch anything…not to call anyone and so I stayed in the room until you started moaning something. I went to get some water and a cloth and then you…
"Scared the shit out of me." I finished for her and Miss Makimachi placed on a small smile while doing up the bandage once more.
"You should be fine, but take these…it will help with the pain." I got off the stool taking the tablets Miss Makimachi had given me and let the dissolve in a semi-clean cup. I brought it over to the coffee table and watched as Miss Makimachi moved towards the television and flip it on searching the channels for something to watch. She was unable to however, as I moved over flipping it off and waving for her to sit down.
"I think its about time we have a talk Miss Makimachi, wouldn't you agree with me?"
* * * *
To be continued…
* * * *
Authors Notes: Minna-san, this is running smoothly and I'm so happy! I thought I'd leave it here so I could start a fresh chapter of Misao's story and what she's gotten involved in.
Don't panic though cause all should be revealed soon…maybe…and yes Kenshin and Yahiko will be in this story as well…playing vital roles okay? H and Sagara should be revealed soon as well…you'll see…he has some pretty interesting photo's to show…ja ne…
