Disclaimer: I own Kenshin!! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! :: is in padded room
with straightjacket on :: He's all mine... :: drools while falling over ::
Author's Notes: DANG!!! Reviews already? ^___^ I've been demanded to write RIGHT NOW. Well, by more than you reviewers. Seems my muses are trying get into full gear, especially Sireta :: twitches ::. But she's my alter ego, she's always fighting for control. Poor lass lost most of her adrenaline in the last field of daises and teddy bears I set her in. ^____^And for all those of you who want my muses, FEEL FREE TO CHOSE WHO YOU WANT. I can't handle them all. They pull me in fifty different directions at once. :: sweatdrop :: AND AN IMPORTANT NOTE!! I don't know how many of you have seen Trust and Betrayal, but I have to clear something out. In case you are not familiar with Katsura Kogoro, he's really not the kind of man I've made him to be in my story. He was kind to Kenshin when Kenshin worked for him. He's not the evil guy I made him to be. I did that for the sake of the story, so don't judge him by this, okay? I didn't know if any of you were or not, so I had to clear that up. :: sweatdrop ::
~Silhouettes of Shadows~
***Chapter 10- Trusting The Wolf***
Kenshin sat in the dojo, staring at Saitou. He still didn't trust him enough. His eyes were calculating as he searched his ki, but the hostile feelings seemed to be ebbed. He didn't like that. It made him nervous. Just what exactly what he planning?
"I can attack you if it would make you feel better." Saitou grinned. "Is that what you want? Sure would be sad to soil your woman's non-killing swordsmanship dojo with your blood, now wouldn't it, Battousai?"
"Shut up." He demanded. "Aoshi, has Misao arrived back with Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Kenji?"
Aoshi shook his head. "Not yet, I'm a little worried."
"Trust me, your woman is fine, Shinomori. I've got police watching the girl, okay? We have to go all out on this."
"If you had police watching, what happened when Kaoru got attacked?" Kenshin seethed.
"I said I had police watching Shinomori's woman. I was responsible for yours, and I happened to be busy at the moment picking up supplies for my wife if it matters that much to you, Battousai." Saitou stated.
"She could have been killed!" Kenshin shouted. "Or worse, she could have ended up killing someone on her own. You wouldn't know what kind of guilt that lays upon a person, especially someone like her."
Saitou smirked. "In all truth, she's not my responsibility. Would you have rather of had me protecting her, or you?"
Kenshin backed down and glared at Saitou. He really didn't like the guy, but for now he supposed he'd have to trust him. Kenshin sat against a wall, staring Saitou done. Annoyingly, all Saitou would do was smirk back at him in that way told you of his strange sense of humor.
"You want to kill again, don't you Battousai?" Saitou asked.
"If you'd like, I can kill you right now. We still have a large score to settle." Kenshin threatened. "I can't entirely give up killing until after I've dealt with Katsura, now can I?"
Padding footsteps resounded throughout the dojo, telling them all of the arrival of Yahiko, Sanosuke, Misao and little Kenji.
"Where's Jou-chan? What happened to her?"
"Do you wish for me to check her out, Sir Ken?"
"Yeah, where is busu?"
"What's Saitou doing here?"
So many questions all at once, Kenshin eye started to twitch. He hadn't had to deal with this kind of pressure in a while, and it was frustrating him. Saitou stood and walked over to Yahiko, who was still holding onto Kenji. He crouched down to survey the squirm child closely.
"So this is the spawn of Battousai, is it?" Saitou smirked, ready to place a hand on the kids face. "I wouldn't be surprised...."
Saitou found his wrist in a tight grip. "Don't touch him. I've let you in here, but that doesn't mean I trust enough to be near my son. Megumi, take Kenji to the back. Kaoru should be in her room, and you can lay Kenji down in there if you wish to check Kaoru over on your own." Kenshin stated; his voice strained with almost inaudibly hidden anger.
Megumi snatched up Kenji from Yahiko and rushed to the back to the home. Yahiko stared at Saitou. Saitou glared at him and Yahiko scowled back. He didn't like him.
"I can't believe you let Saitou in here, Kenshin." Sano proclaimed, leaning against one of the walls. "I would have thought you'd have slain him before he could get within a hundred feet of this place."
"Saitou says he's hear to help, since he was assigned to by the police. I'm giving him a chance since he appears to know something that I don't." Kenshin answered, hoping that the vague answer was enough.
Sano nodded, cracking his knuckles. "Well if he tries anything funny, I'll keep him in his place."
"Himura, I have a message from Katsura. I ran into the guy uptown on my way to get these guys." Misao stated.
Kenshin turned to her. "What did he say?"
Misao sighed. "He told me to tell you that he is awaiting your arrival, and he knew Gohei was going to be defeated. And that in the end, all he was trying to do was keep you stronger, and that's what he ordered you to kill Kaoru. She served her job as your sheath after Tomoe died, and now it's time to bring the Battousai out again. That's all he said to me."
"That bastard." Kenshin seethed, venom in his eyes and acid dripping in his words.
"Misao, why don't you go back and help Megumi-san." Aoshi stated. "I think the rest of us here need to be alone."
Misao held in her outburst, knowing right away that Saitou would never let her live it down.
"That right weasel. Go help the kitsune treat the tanuki." Saitou added.
She turned but left Saitou with a parting gift for his words--- a kunai stuck in his pant leg. She smirked before she turned into the room Kaoru was supposed to be in.
Saitou bent down and took out the kunai, flipping it through his fingers a few times before handing it to Aoshi. "Keep your woman in check, or next time I won't be so kind. Now, since it's just us men, I think we should go outside. You never know when those women could get a trick up their sleeve and try to spy on us."
Yahiko glared. "Don't you think they have a right to know? You know what, you're really creepy."
Sano's hand flew on top of Yahiko's head. "Keep it quiet, you can't do anything about him. We all hate him."
"That's nice to know, moron."
"What did you call me?"
"Moron."
"Why you...."
"Now is not the time to be acting like that, Sanosuke." Aoshi intervened. "I'm sure Battousai would agree."
Sano nodded and followed the rest of them out after telling Yahiko to stand watch. The boy did what he was told to do, but not without his own bout of sailor's mouth toward his brother. Sano only dismissed it with a wave of his hand and left him they're cursing. He met up with the others in the middle of the yard.
"Now, Saitou, tell me exactly what you know." Kenshin demanded. "I'm not letting this go on any longer."
"Katsura's plans are quite simple, actually. He sent Gohei here first, because he knew that he had a grudge against the girl in the first place. Next he was planning on meeting with you, maybe to talk something out, a truce or something. But the thing was, he has a few more tricks up his sleeve. The guy has a few unexpected people working on his side at the moment, such as Jineh Udo. Jineh is only working for him for the chance to fight with you, though. And next, he has Kamatari and Soujiro, two of Shishio's underlings that want you dead, also. Most of this information came from an interrogation with Chou, the sword collector of the Juppongatana. He seemed pretty open to telling me this." Saitou told him. "Since that was told, I'm guessing their planning a full scale attack on the dojo. With that, they're guaranteed to get at least one or two casualties."
Kenshin's hands crunched together at his sides, fists so tight they drew blood from his palms. "I take it Jineh will be the next to attack?"
"You're wrong Battousai." Saitou stated.
Sano stepped forward. "What are you talking about? If it's not him, then who?"
"I'm not saying Jineh wasn't the next one to make a move. I'm saying he's wrong. He's not the next one to attack, because he already has."
Aoshi side glanced back to the building to see Misao running out and pushing Yahiko aside.
"Saitou, you're wasting my time!" Kenshin growled.
"You were so intent on me, that you didn't notice him." Saitou smirked. "I was going to tell you, but, you were to busy deciding to if you would kill me or not so I decided I'd make you wait."
He glared at him. That had been a dirty trick, yet again.
"Misao, what is it?" Aoshi asked.
"Kaoru's... not there." Misao breathed. "The only thing Megumi and I found was this note."
She tossed it to Kenshin. He held it in his hand and crumpled the paper up, shielding his eyes.
"I'm running after her again. Sanosuke, you and Aoshi are going to stay her and make sure Saitou doesn't do something he's going to regret later. If you want, you can have Megumi fix up something, if you know what I mean." Kenshin whispered to Sano. "To be sure he doesn't try anything."
"I heard that Battousai."
Kenshin glared at him. "Well you're not on my favorite persons list at the moment, so it doesn't exactly matter much to me. Aoshi, can Misao call out to the Oniwabanshu for help with this? They may take the time I'm gone to make the full-scale attack. Yahiko, make sure you defend the dojo's name well, since Kaoru can't do it on her own. Tell Megumi to watch Kenji and keep him far away from everything else."
He turned to leave.
"Battousai." Saitou stated. "You need a weapon."
Kenshin pulled stopped to the side, completely forgetting he had left his weapons in the dojo. He fisted his hands together again in frustration and stomped off toward the dojo, grabbing his katana and sakabatou. He'd leave the wakizashi there.
Saitou puffed on his cigarette again, grinning. "He's losing his touch. He's so intent on protecting that woman that he doesn't even notice he's going the wrong way."
Sano got right up in his face. "Well maybe he knows a shortcut!"
"Don't give me that lame excuse, moron."
Author's Notes: Another short chapter. I'm sorry. I APOLOGIZE!!! I'm trying, but I'm trying to get myself to update. I've been slacking because I've been watching my DVDs. Which reminds me, I have to write the new chapter to The Legend of Himura Kenshin still. :: shakes her head :: My god I'm behind. I'll try and make the next chapter longer, I promise. But don't expect an update until after I update Building the Hitokiri, Breaking Through, and The Legend of Himura Kenshin, okay? So it may be a while.
Love and hugs,
Crystal Renee
Author's Notes: DANG!!! Reviews already? ^___^ I've been demanded to write RIGHT NOW. Well, by more than you reviewers. Seems my muses are trying get into full gear, especially Sireta :: twitches ::. But she's my alter ego, she's always fighting for control. Poor lass lost most of her adrenaline in the last field of daises and teddy bears I set her in. ^____^And for all those of you who want my muses, FEEL FREE TO CHOSE WHO YOU WANT. I can't handle them all. They pull me in fifty different directions at once. :: sweatdrop :: AND AN IMPORTANT NOTE!! I don't know how many of you have seen Trust and Betrayal, but I have to clear something out. In case you are not familiar with Katsura Kogoro, he's really not the kind of man I've made him to be in my story. He was kind to Kenshin when Kenshin worked for him. He's not the evil guy I made him to be. I did that for the sake of the story, so don't judge him by this, okay? I didn't know if any of you were or not, so I had to clear that up. :: sweatdrop ::
~Silhouettes of Shadows~
***Chapter 10- Trusting The Wolf***
Kenshin sat in the dojo, staring at Saitou. He still didn't trust him enough. His eyes were calculating as he searched his ki, but the hostile feelings seemed to be ebbed. He didn't like that. It made him nervous. Just what exactly what he planning?
"I can attack you if it would make you feel better." Saitou grinned. "Is that what you want? Sure would be sad to soil your woman's non-killing swordsmanship dojo with your blood, now wouldn't it, Battousai?"
"Shut up." He demanded. "Aoshi, has Misao arrived back with Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Kenji?"
Aoshi shook his head. "Not yet, I'm a little worried."
"Trust me, your woman is fine, Shinomori. I've got police watching the girl, okay? We have to go all out on this."
"If you had police watching, what happened when Kaoru got attacked?" Kenshin seethed.
"I said I had police watching Shinomori's woman. I was responsible for yours, and I happened to be busy at the moment picking up supplies for my wife if it matters that much to you, Battousai." Saitou stated.
"She could have been killed!" Kenshin shouted. "Or worse, she could have ended up killing someone on her own. You wouldn't know what kind of guilt that lays upon a person, especially someone like her."
Saitou smirked. "In all truth, she's not my responsibility. Would you have rather of had me protecting her, or you?"
Kenshin backed down and glared at Saitou. He really didn't like the guy, but for now he supposed he'd have to trust him. Kenshin sat against a wall, staring Saitou done. Annoyingly, all Saitou would do was smirk back at him in that way told you of his strange sense of humor.
"You want to kill again, don't you Battousai?" Saitou asked.
"If you'd like, I can kill you right now. We still have a large score to settle." Kenshin threatened. "I can't entirely give up killing until after I've dealt with Katsura, now can I?"
Padding footsteps resounded throughout the dojo, telling them all of the arrival of Yahiko, Sanosuke, Misao and little Kenji.
"Where's Jou-chan? What happened to her?"
"Do you wish for me to check her out, Sir Ken?"
"Yeah, where is busu?"
"What's Saitou doing here?"
So many questions all at once, Kenshin eye started to twitch. He hadn't had to deal with this kind of pressure in a while, and it was frustrating him. Saitou stood and walked over to Yahiko, who was still holding onto Kenji. He crouched down to survey the squirm child closely.
"So this is the spawn of Battousai, is it?" Saitou smirked, ready to place a hand on the kids face. "I wouldn't be surprised...."
Saitou found his wrist in a tight grip. "Don't touch him. I've let you in here, but that doesn't mean I trust enough to be near my son. Megumi, take Kenji to the back. Kaoru should be in her room, and you can lay Kenji down in there if you wish to check Kaoru over on your own." Kenshin stated; his voice strained with almost inaudibly hidden anger.
Megumi snatched up Kenji from Yahiko and rushed to the back to the home. Yahiko stared at Saitou. Saitou glared at him and Yahiko scowled back. He didn't like him.
"I can't believe you let Saitou in here, Kenshin." Sano proclaimed, leaning against one of the walls. "I would have thought you'd have slain him before he could get within a hundred feet of this place."
"Saitou says he's hear to help, since he was assigned to by the police. I'm giving him a chance since he appears to know something that I don't." Kenshin answered, hoping that the vague answer was enough.
Sano nodded, cracking his knuckles. "Well if he tries anything funny, I'll keep him in his place."
"Himura, I have a message from Katsura. I ran into the guy uptown on my way to get these guys." Misao stated.
Kenshin turned to her. "What did he say?"
Misao sighed. "He told me to tell you that he is awaiting your arrival, and he knew Gohei was going to be defeated. And that in the end, all he was trying to do was keep you stronger, and that's what he ordered you to kill Kaoru. She served her job as your sheath after Tomoe died, and now it's time to bring the Battousai out again. That's all he said to me."
"That bastard." Kenshin seethed, venom in his eyes and acid dripping in his words.
"Misao, why don't you go back and help Megumi-san." Aoshi stated. "I think the rest of us here need to be alone."
Misao held in her outburst, knowing right away that Saitou would never let her live it down.
"That right weasel. Go help the kitsune treat the tanuki." Saitou added.
She turned but left Saitou with a parting gift for his words--- a kunai stuck in his pant leg. She smirked before she turned into the room Kaoru was supposed to be in.
Saitou bent down and took out the kunai, flipping it through his fingers a few times before handing it to Aoshi. "Keep your woman in check, or next time I won't be so kind. Now, since it's just us men, I think we should go outside. You never know when those women could get a trick up their sleeve and try to spy on us."
Yahiko glared. "Don't you think they have a right to know? You know what, you're really creepy."
Sano's hand flew on top of Yahiko's head. "Keep it quiet, you can't do anything about him. We all hate him."
"That's nice to know, moron."
"What did you call me?"
"Moron."
"Why you...."
"Now is not the time to be acting like that, Sanosuke." Aoshi intervened. "I'm sure Battousai would agree."
Sano nodded and followed the rest of them out after telling Yahiko to stand watch. The boy did what he was told to do, but not without his own bout of sailor's mouth toward his brother. Sano only dismissed it with a wave of his hand and left him they're cursing. He met up with the others in the middle of the yard.
"Now, Saitou, tell me exactly what you know." Kenshin demanded. "I'm not letting this go on any longer."
"Katsura's plans are quite simple, actually. He sent Gohei here first, because he knew that he had a grudge against the girl in the first place. Next he was planning on meeting with you, maybe to talk something out, a truce or something. But the thing was, he has a few more tricks up his sleeve. The guy has a few unexpected people working on his side at the moment, such as Jineh Udo. Jineh is only working for him for the chance to fight with you, though. And next, he has Kamatari and Soujiro, two of Shishio's underlings that want you dead, also. Most of this information came from an interrogation with Chou, the sword collector of the Juppongatana. He seemed pretty open to telling me this." Saitou told him. "Since that was told, I'm guessing their planning a full scale attack on the dojo. With that, they're guaranteed to get at least one or two casualties."
Kenshin's hands crunched together at his sides, fists so tight they drew blood from his palms. "I take it Jineh will be the next to attack?"
"You're wrong Battousai." Saitou stated.
Sano stepped forward. "What are you talking about? If it's not him, then who?"
"I'm not saying Jineh wasn't the next one to make a move. I'm saying he's wrong. He's not the next one to attack, because he already has."
Aoshi side glanced back to the building to see Misao running out and pushing Yahiko aside.
"Saitou, you're wasting my time!" Kenshin growled.
"You were so intent on me, that you didn't notice him." Saitou smirked. "I was going to tell you, but, you were to busy deciding to if you would kill me or not so I decided I'd make you wait."
He glared at him. That had been a dirty trick, yet again.
"Misao, what is it?" Aoshi asked.
"Kaoru's... not there." Misao breathed. "The only thing Megumi and I found was this note."
She tossed it to Kenshin. He held it in his hand and crumpled the paper up, shielding his eyes.
"I'm running after her again. Sanosuke, you and Aoshi are going to stay her and make sure Saitou doesn't do something he's going to regret later. If you want, you can have Megumi fix up something, if you know what I mean." Kenshin whispered to Sano. "To be sure he doesn't try anything."
"I heard that Battousai."
Kenshin glared at him. "Well you're not on my favorite persons list at the moment, so it doesn't exactly matter much to me. Aoshi, can Misao call out to the Oniwabanshu for help with this? They may take the time I'm gone to make the full-scale attack. Yahiko, make sure you defend the dojo's name well, since Kaoru can't do it on her own. Tell Megumi to watch Kenji and keep him far away from everything else."
He turned to leave.
"Battousai." Saitou stated. "You need a weapon."
Kenshin pulled stopped to the side, completely forgetting he had left his weapons in the dojo. He fisted his hands together again in frustration and stomped off toward the dojo, grabbing his katana and sakabatou. He'd leave the wakizashi there.
Saitou puffed on his cigarette again, grinning. "He's losing his touch. He's so intent on protecting that woman that he doesn't even notice he's going the wrong way."
Sano got right up in his face. "Well maybe he knows a shortcut!"
"Don't give me that lame excuse, moron."
Author's Notes: Another short chapter. I'm sorry. I APOLOGIZE!!! I'm trying, but I'm trying to get myself to update. I've been slacking because I've been watching my DVDs. Which reminds me, I have to write the new chapter to The Legend of Himura Kenshin still. :: shakes her head :: My god I'm behind. I'll try and make the next chapter longer, I promise. But don't expect an update until after I update Building the Hitokiri, Breaking Through, and The Legend of Himura Kenshin, okay? So it may be a while.
Love and hugs,
Crystal Renee