Gamble.

1879.

Jeers and cheers filled the small shack as the stone dice clattered into the corner.

"I don't believe it!" Ishizuka groaned, shaking his head ruefully as Sanosuke gathered the dice up and pocketed them. "I've never seen such a run of bad luck!"

Sano shrugged carelessly, jiggling the cubes in his pocket. "It comes and goes," he dismissed, feigning unconcern as he picked up his jacket and flung it over one shoulder. Inside his stomach was churning and his chest felt like ice. This game had been his last chance; he was now as broke as he had ever been in his life.

Bidding a casual wave over one shoulder Sano slid the door open and emerged onto the street, breathing a welcome lung full of fresh air.

Years ago Sanosuke had been befriended by an old gambler down on his luck. He'd been a raw hungry boy then, roaming the streets looking for trouble, eating from scrap bins or stealing from unwary shopkeepers. Old Unsho had taken him under his wing and taught him how to scrape a living with his dice.

Sano jiggled the cubes in his pocket again, hands buried deep and shoulders hunched against the cold. Old Unsho had also given him one good piece of advice and Sano cursed himself for forgetting it now.

"Never go into a game with desperation in your eyes or heart," he lectured. "Never play the game if you can't afford to lose."

"Fine words," Sano muttered under his breath. "When your stomach doesn't think your throat's been cut."

Muffled footsteps sounded behind him and Sano tensed and turned, ready to welcome some foolish footpad intent on robbery. All that he'd find in this nightwalker's pockets were fists ready to split his lip.

But it wasn't a robber hurrying towards him, warmly dressed against the cold. It was a fellow gambler, and coincidentally the man who owned the hovel Sano rented.

"Shinichiro san," Sano greeted, unclenching his fists.

"Sano-kun," Shinichiro said with a happy grin. "Bad luck on your loss."

Sano shrugged again, ignoring the unwelcome familiarity. Shinichiro was a familiar sight on the streets, gambling on the corners, drinking in the booths, emerging with his pudgy face creased in a broad grin from the whorehouses every morning. No one knew where he lived himself, indeed the rumour was he chose a different bed each night because he'd even rented out his own home.

"I'll make it up," Sano growled. Just then his belly growled too and his scowl turned to a frown. He turned it on the smiling man before him. "A bit cold to be wandering around in the dark, isn't it?"

"Sano-kun, don't be like that," Shinichiro protested. "I'm here as a friend." He gestured over his shoulder with his chin. "Come and drink some sake with me, warm yourself up. I have a proposition for you."

Disgust tightened Sano's already pinched features and he didn't try to keep the sneer from his lips. "I've heard your propositions before, Shinichiro." He turned his back and kept walking.

A hand clamped on his shoulder and Sanosuke looked down in surprise. Shinichiro backed off a little. "You're pretty proud for someone with such empty pockets," he said nastily, his little black eyes gleaming. "Especially for someone so behind on his rent."

"You'll get your rent," Sano said without bothering to look back over his shoulder. "And I won't be paying it on my back."

"Pretty soon you won't even have that option," Shinichiro called after him, voice squeaking angrily.

Another time Sano might have laughed at that indignant squeak, but tonight laughter was the farthest thing from his mind. Abruptly Sano turned a corner and headed in the opposite direction from his home. He'd only asked Katsu for financial help twice since they'd met again. Much as he hated to bow his head Sano decided it was time to go for a third.

But Katsu's house was dark and quiet, and even a bit of stealthy break and enter revealed a cold fire and empty floor. His friend was away, not unusual but not very welcome right now either.

Closing the place back up tight Sano thrust his hands back in his pockets and resigned himself to another hungry night.

"Cold night."

Jumping out of his goose-prickled skin, Sano swung around. Why hadn't he heard anyone approach?

His question was answered as a match flared in the darkness, briefly illuminating a lean face, thin lips clenched around a cigarette.

"Saitou," Sano breathed. The match went out and Sano squinted into the shadows, taking a step forward. "Were you looking for me?"

Something like a smothered chuckle emerged from the darkness and Sano felt his face burn. Why on earth would Saitou be looking for him? Embarrassment made him bluster.

"Don't you ever get sick of lurking around?"

Saitou took a deep pull from his cigarette, the end flaring angry red. With a bored flick of one eyebrow he looked over Sano's shoulder at the house he'd just emerged from.

Catching on quickly Sano followed the gaze, panic flaring in his belly. "Are you waiting for Katsu?"

"It's late," the former Shinsen Gumi captain drawled. "Good little boys should be in bed."

"I'm not good," Sano retorted, taking another step forward. He was now only inches away from the older man and he breathed in the scent of solid maleness and bitter tobacco. "What do you want with Katsu?"

"Your friends have some dangerous hobbies," Saitou remarked casually. "Don't you know any normal people?"

"You're a fine one to talk to me about normal, you cold blooded-" Sano broke off, anger rising to smother his fear. "Leave Katsu alone, all right? He's a good man."

Another lift of that sardonic brow, another pull from that cigarette and Sano had to resist the urge to knock it out of his hand.

"Are you listening to me?" Sano challenged, feeling the familiar hopelessness welling in him as he challenged this man. He hated it with a passion.

"I should think the people in the next street are listening to you," Saitou remarked quietly. "You won't do your friend any good shouting outside his house in the middle of the night."

"What will do him any good?" Sano probed quickly. "In other words, what will get rid of you?"

Saitou sighed and flicked his cigarette away. "Perhaps stopping his work on an anti-government newsletter might be a start," he said casually.

Sano drew in a breath, worst fears confirmed. He shook his head, his anger churning in his belly. He couldn't believe that a few minutes ago his worst fears had been a missed meal or two. Now his friend was threatened by this ruthless killer.

"How dare you judge Katsu," he fumed through gritted teeth. "He only prints the truth about your wonderful Meiji. What the hell kind of government do you work for if it can't bear the truth?"

"One that craves stability," Saitou shot back coldly. "Men like your young friend threaten that."

"Honest men have nothing to fear from the truth," Sano flung back, fists clenched.

Now Saitou did laugh, but it wasn't a sound with any pleasure in it. In fact the quiet rumble sent a shiver down Sano's spine. "How very young you are," he whispered.

Suddenly narrow amber eyes were closer to his own and Sano was uneasily aware of that spicy masculine scent filling his nostrils. Saitou had taken one small step forward, but he might as well have covered Sano with a blanket, so overwhelmed were his senses by the older man's nearness.

"I... I've told you before," Sano managed, fighting the urge to step back. He was damned if he was going to show weakness before this man one more time. "It's not my fault that I'm young."

His eyes were so cold, Sano thought dazedly. Those icy orbs were studying him now, sliding over his face and down to his uncovered chest as if he had never seen him before. Where minutes before Sano had been clutching his coat to himself against the cold, now he felt as if steam should be drifting from his skin. How could such cold eyes burn him so?

Suddenly Saitou was stepping back and Sano felt himself return to reality with a bump. He was still on the dark street corner, and a sly breeze drifted around his legs, sending a prickle of cold up his spine.

"Do you want to help your friend?" Saitou said abruptly.

Unable to form coherent words Sano nodded.

"Then follow me." Without another word or glance the older man turned his back to the younger and strode away down the narrow alley.

By the time Sano found the strength to take a step he had to rush to catch up.

They walked down cold silent streets, glancing neither left nor right. Saitou because he knew where he was going and Sano because he couldn't seem to take his eyes from the lean back in front of him. A long warm coat covered Saitou's usual attire of stiff police uniform. The dark material flared out behind him as he strode down the street, long legs eating up the distance. Sano, who enjoyed his own height and the advantages it gave him found himself skipping every third or fourth step in order to catch up. It should have made him irritable, but all his anger seemed to have been burned away. All that remained was a confused trembling in his limbs.

The journey seemed to be taking forever, but Sano couldn't find it within himself to mind. This had taken on all the aspects of a strange dream as he followed this man down endless streets, content to shape himself to this more powerful will.

Sano felt as though he could walk in these footsteps forever.

Finally though Saitou turned into a wide gateway, pushing through a smaller door set into the large.

"Who lives here?" Sano whispered, finding his voice oddly loud in the night quiet.

"A friend," Saitou said briefly. "I stay here when I'm in Tokyo."

His words seemed to break the spell Sano had been under and he shook his head, anger again rising in his chest. What was he doing following this man meekly around Tokyo in the middle of the night?

Saitou stepped up onto the veranda and slid back a heavy wooden door. It glided silently open and beyond him Sano could see the gentle glow of a flickering lamp. Straightening to his full height the older man looked down at him, eyes cold and veiled as usual.

You're here to help Katsu, Sano said to himself. Throwing caution to the winds Sano straightened his own shoulders and followed Saitou.

"Sit down," Saitou ordered shortly, walking past Sano to another door. "Eat."

Abruptly he was gone and Sano blinked at the closed door, then flicked his eyes around the room. The paper lamp skittered in the gentle motions of the air, sending golden shadows into the corners of the wide empty room. A few cushions were arranged around a low table, and a stack of black and red bento boxes sat next to a bottle of sake.

Traitorous tummy rumbling reminded Sanosuke how long it had been since he had eaten, and without further hesitation he lowered himself onto one of the cushions and flicked the lid.

His eyes rounded at the succulent collection inside and Sano grabbed an expensive looking set of chopsticks and dug in. Minutes later the edge was off his hunger but his curiosity was as sharp as ever.

The room appeared plain but on closer inspection even a tasteless fool like himself could see the fine expensive touches. And this meal hadn't appeared out of thin air, not to mention the lit lamp. No one in their right mind would go out leaving a lamp lit, so that meant someone else was in the house. Servant maybe?

The door slid soundlessly open and Saitou stepped into the room, suddenly making the large space seem smaller. Sano froze, a particularly luscious shrimp only inches from his lips. The older man had discarded his uniform and was now wrapped in a dark blue kimono. It was so starkly plain it should have looked severe, instead it only highlighted Saitou's high cheekbones and fine amber eyes.

It occurred to Sanosuke, all in a rush, that this was the first time he'd seen the man in anything but his uniform. He wondered then, was this what Saitou Hajime had looked like back then, when he was third district captain of the Shinsen Gumi?

This time when Sano shivered it had nothing to do with the cold.

"Did you leave me any?" Saitou asked, folding his long legs gracefully and sitting on the cushion opposite.

Guiltily Sano looked down at the few grains of rice in the bottom of the box and the shrimp still clutched in his chopsticks. Refusing to give in to the blush dying to paint his cheeks the younger man defiantly opened his mouth and popped the morsel onto his tongue.

He almost choked on it when Saitou shot him a sharp glance, those deadly eyes narrowing even further. Finally after holding Sano's eyes for long seconds he looked away, picking up a second box and lifting the lid.

What was that about? Sano thought shakily as the man looked away. He chewed and swallowed, the shrimp tasting like rubber in his mouth.

"You secret police live pretty well," Sano said brashly, trying to figure out when he'd lost control of all this. Had he ever had control at all?

"I told you, this is a friend's house," Saitou said calmly, selecting a morsel and chewing it thoughtfully.

"You actually have a friend?"

A small smile twisted thin lips, but Saitou's eyes stayed on the box as he probed delicately with the tip of one chopstick. "You might be surprised," he murmured.

"Look, can we cut through all this?" Sano said, desperately trying to hold onto the situation. "You said we can make a deal to protect Katsu?"

"That's not exactly what I said," Saitou corrected, laying the chopsticks on their holder and lifting the sake bottle. "There's only one cup, I'm afraid." He met Sano's eyes squarely. "We can share, if you like."

Mouth dry at the very prospect Sano shook his head mutely, watching as the older man poured a dram and lifted the shallow dish to his lips. Saitou's lips parted as the dish approached his mouth and unconsciously Sano mimicked the gesture, tongue tip touching the centre of his upper lip.

Then Saitou paused, steel eyes lifting and meeting Sano's. The flickering lamp must be to blame for the sudden fire in those eyes, Sano thought feverishly. He wanted to look away but couldn't, he forced himself to watch as the dish finally met those lips, caressing it as Saitou lifted the edge and swallowed the fiery liquid. Sano swallowed with him, eyes following the strong neck muscles to the open neck of the dark kimono.

Then he was turning the cup, holding it out, those long graceful fingers, bare of gloves, offering the dish temptingly. "Are you sure you won't share?" he asked politely, and Sano saw there was still a trace of liquid in the bottom of the dish.

Sanosuke almost swayed forward before he realised what he was doing. With a muffled curse he leaned back, shaking his head. "I just want to talk about Katsu," he insisted.

"Of course," Saitou nodded, laying the cup down on the table. "There's going to be a purge very soon," he said without preamble. "The local police have been ordered to crack down on the anti government newsletters."

"Damnit," Sano cursed, hitting his bandaged fist into his good hand, welcoming the sting of pain. He needed to clear his head and focus on the problem at hand. "Goddamned Meiji," he spat. "Enlightened government, my ass."

"It's a local matter, and ordinarily I wouldn't interfere. But if I had a vested interest in Katsuhiro I could steer the locals away from him."

"Vested interest?" Sano repeated. "Katsu wouldn't work for you in a million years."

Saitou poured another measure and sipped again. "Indirectly he might." He met Sano's eyes squarely. "Through you."

"Me?" Sano shook his head, frowning. "Let's forget the fact that I'd starve and die before I lifted one finger for the stinking Meiji government," he began. "What the hell could I do for you?" You've always made your opinion of me plain, he thought to himself.

"The secret police can't operate in the dark," Saitou returned in his usual cold tone. "People like yourself, people with their ears to the ground gather the information I need. From many small pieces I can put together a large picture."

Sano shook his head again. "As if I'd inform on the people I know?" he scoffed.

"I'm not interested in petty thieves and gamblers," Saitou dismissed impatiently. "I don't need to know what you don't want to tell me. All I insist on is that what you do tell me is accurate."

Sano thought furiously. "And how long would I be under this obligation to you?" he probed. "For Katsu's freedom?"

"You're no good to me short term. This would be a permanent position." He named a weekly sum that made Sano blink. Not a fortune by any means, but it would pay his rent, and feed him too if he didn't go mad and treat his friends to dinner too many times.

Temptation twisted his stomach, bitterness twisted his lips. "Fucking Meiji government think they can buy any man," he cursed. "If it wasn't for Katsu..."

"You'd rather starve and die," the older man drawled. "Yes, I heard you the first time."

Shamed anger clenched in his chest but he screwed up his pride and met that sardonic grey gaze. "I would actually," he returned as calmly as he could manage. "Maybe a man like you thinks a man like me shouldn't have any pride." He climbed to his feet, keeping his shoulders squared and his head up. "But sometimes it's all we have."

He turned for the door, walking away from the flickering light, back out into the darkness of the night. At the door he paused, looking out down the path into the cold road.

"How will I find you to make my reports?"

"I'll find you," a voice said at his shoulder and Sano swung his head and met Saitou's eyes, only inches from his. Something was pressed into his hand and he squeezed his fingers around it, recognising the clink of coins in a leather bag.

Sano squeezed it tight, searching for a trace of triumph in those steely eyes, but finding only the usual cold unconcern.

"Second time tonight I've been asked to whore for my supper," Sano whispered. "I almost wish I'd accepted the offer to spread my legs."

He was a long way down the cold streets towards home before he finally convinced himself that his parting words had actually provoked a response in those cold cold eyes.

Now he just had to figure out what it had been.

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